"You're going to break your neck," Effie said as she stood with Rosie in her arms as Haymitch pulled himself up onto the branch of one of the nearby trees.
"No I'm not - come on. Hand her up."
Effie sighed and lifted Rosie up to Haymitch, who was now sitting on the strong branch.
"When I said picnic," Effie said as she took out their camera, "I thought it would be a quiet afternoon. On the ground."
"Take the picture."
Effie lifted the camera to her eye and clicked. "Now get down."
Haymitch handed Rosie back to Effie and ungracefully jumped down, moaning to himself as he rubbed one of his knees. "Shut up," he muttered when Effie began to laugh.
"Darling," Effie said, reaching up and cupping his cheek. "You don't need to pretend you're still young. Or impress me by climbing a tree."
"I was impressing Rosie."
"Mhm." Effie walked back to where she had laid a quilt out. Rosie quickly crawled to her doll as Effie methodically began to take out the food.
"If the healer's right," she said as Haymitch plopped down beside her. "I'm four months already."
"Four months?"
Effie nodded. "She said it was only an estimate. The doctor in Four will be able to tell us more. It is odd, though. When I was pregnant with Rosie, I was starting to put weight on at this time."
"You don't look like you have."
"I know."
"There's really another baby in there?" Haymitch asked, poking her stomach. "You're sure?"
"The healer did every test she could to confirm it."
Haymitch looked over at Rosie, who was chewing on her doll's hand. Another kid. Another baby. Two of 'em. Could they do it? Well, of course they could. They had practice. Some practice. A little bit. Haymitch turned back to Effie.
"You're sure?" he asked.
Effie smiled. "Yes. And everything will be fine. Hectic. Loud. Tiring. Yes. But fine." She kissed him gently. "We can certainly do this."
Effie leaned forward and brought Rosie into her arms. She handed Haymitch the camera.
"Another picture," she said. "Safe on the ground, of course."
Effie nodded off in the sun with Rosie sleeping on her stomach beside her. Haymitch sat awake watching them for a little bit before getting up and walking a few steps away.
It was that feeling again - overwhelming. Underserving.
He knew where that lead him last time though.
He knew how much pain and anger he put both himself and Effie through for no reason but his own insecurity. He wished he could hide it like Effie. But then again - they wouldn't balance out each other if he did.
"Haymitch?"
He turned around to see Effie had propped herself up on her elbow.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
Haymitch stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet. "How I'm not gonna fuck up this time."
Effie sat up and fixed her dress. "You won't," she said confidently. "Rosie won't let you."
