But Effie was putting on a good show. When Haymitch came home, her paleness had left and her energy seemed to be a little more restored than in the morning. She happily handed over Rosie to Peeta with the two usual bags that accompanied a night over at the 'aunt and uncle's.

"I made pasta," Effie said. "Nothing fancy - but I just didn't have time -"

"I'm sure it's delicious. Wait … do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Haymitch grinned. "Silence. God, I love it."


The pasta was delightful - as was the evening afterwards. When the sun hit their bed the next morning, Haymitch reached over - half-asleep - meaning to pull Effie back against him, but she pushed him away. Groggily, he watched her get out of bed and head for the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" he muttered.

"I'm going to bed sick …"

"Sick? Did you catch what Linus had?"

"I think …" She coughed a little. "I'm going to shut the door - don't worry - go back to sleep."

A year ago - that's probably what Haymitch would have done. But now, he rolled out of bed, scratching behind his ear as he shuffled to the door of the bathroom. "Can I get you anything, princess? Glass of water?"

"No … I won't keep it down."

Haymitch sighed and opened the door. "Should I get a healer?"

"It's vomit, Haymitch. And a bug from a sick kid. I think I'll live."

"And Rosie?"

Effie sighed, resting her head on the toilet.

"I'll have the healer come just in case. You know - you are allowed to get sick. Mothers get ill."

"Very funny, Haymitch."


Katniss was at the house minutes after the healer arrived. It made Haymitch laugh - knowing that she obviously wanted to know what was going on.

"Nosey," he said when she poured out the coffee.

"Hey - does it hurt to show concern?"

"You just wanna know why we have a healer here. Effie's vomiting. Effie has a bug. A bug that she caught from the kids across the street. Exciting, huh?"

Katniss rolled her eyes. "Wanna know what's exciting? Your kid screaming in the middle of the night. Did you know she can say 'dada'?"

Haymitch smiled. "I did indeed. Made sure that was her first word."

"Huh - who'd have thought you'd gone for that."

"As long as I beat Effie to the punch. She can only go 'Mmm' when she wants Eff."

"Oh - that's what she's trying to say … she 'mm's a lot more than 'dada'."

"Well 'mm' is her favorite, didn't you know?"

"Don't be hard on yourself. She adores you."

"She's a mommy's girl. I've no issue with it. It's better that way - it tickles Eff pink. Not the bad kinda pink that Eff doesn't like but … fuck it, you know what I mean."

Katniss laughed. "God, you always sound so chipper when you two have had a night off. It's kinda gross."

"Well, I'll make sure you get every minute of it."

When the healer came down, she told Haymitch everything was fine and that Effie was in bed. That's all Haymitch really needed to hear before he went upstairs to see her as the healer told him to. She stayed behind with Katniss.

"Everything all right, then?" Haymitch asked. "Just the bug?"

But Effie seemed in a bit of a daze. She was biting her fingernails and - at first - didn't hear Haymitch.

"What?" she asked. "Oh … sorry. No … not a bug."

"Flu?"

Effie shook her head.

"What's wrong?" asked Haymitch, trying to read her face. "Is there something wrong? Is it bad?"

"No … I …" Effie finally looked over to him. She looked … happy. Very happy. "Haymitch … we're pregnant again."