I woke up at the sight of Effie asleep next to me. Her head is resting on my left arm with hers resting around my chest. She looked so peaceful which is not often these days. I like her looking like this, bare, peaceful, happy. She's meant to be happy. It's what she deserves. From the start, she's been thrown in a world she never liked. Sure she loves her wealth, the privilege that came with being a Trinket. She loves her status and people adoring her. At the same time, she loathes her job, the people who took pleasure from children's suffering and death. She never wanted to work as an escort but made the best out of it helping the tributes she barely know but still cares for.
She's been through so much and she overcame it all maintaining her heart. If anyone will tell me the first day I met her that we'll end up right here, I wouldn't believe it. I am glad no one told me. Despite all the things we both went through, I wouldn't change any of it for this moment alone. I once said I will never want to marry and fall in love again but Effie broke all those rules I set for myself. I fell in love with her and I did marry her. She may think that she got me trapped but it's the opposite. I love this life. I love being trapped with her.
"Have you been watching me all night?" she asked snapping me out of my thought.
I looked at her blue eyes and for the first time since she got out of prison, I saw a spark in them. The fire that I admired from day one, it's back.
"I may have", I answered with a smile.
She smiled back and it's no longer forced. It's an actual genuine smile and it looks good on her.
"You know it's rude to stare", she commented.
"Well, if we're going that direction I'd say it's also rude how you screamed those profanities last night", I teased and that earned me a slap on my arm.
"Do you think the children heard us?" she asked with worry.
"Maybe but who cares? We're married", I answered. Effie rolled her eyes around. "What?" I asked.
"Haymitch, it's only on papers. We never had a ceremony and all those shenanigans that came along with it", she answered.
Classic Effie. It used to annoy me but I missed it. I truly miss her appetite for manners, formality, and being proper.
"Well, in that case…" I muttered and reached something from my bedside table. Effie pulled away for a moment so I can get it and when she saw the little box I am holding, she frowned. "…we should with this", I said and gave the box to her.
Effie took it without letting go of that frown on her face. She gasped as soon as she saw the ring inside the box.
"Haymitch…" she said almost whispering.
"That belonged to my mother. My father gave it to her on their wedding day. I held on to that for years just waiting for the right person to give it to and I finally found her", I explained.
Effie Trinket being speechless is the best thing anyone will see from this woman.
"Effie Trinket, will you marry me…formally, with shenanigans that came along with it?" I asked.
"Aren't you going down on one knee or something?" she asked me back with a smile.
"Oh, princess…I don't do that. I just spent last night doing my best to send you to heaven. I think that's much better than going down on one knee", I answered and that made her laugh. "So, do you want to wear a nice fancy wedding dress and get married to me in front of other people?" I asked again.
"Of course! Yes! I want to marry you…formally", she answered and hugged me tight. "You have to put this on me right now", she demanded once she pulled from me.
I simply chuckled and obliged. I put the ring on her finger and it fits there perfectly like it's meant to be worn by her.
"Oh, Haymitch…this is gorgeous! I love it. It's so beautiful", she muttered.
It's Johanna's last day in District 12 so Peeta cooked a feast for all of us at their house. I know the kids are eyeing each other with how Effie and I interact with each other. We were talking about the geese at my backyard and she's telling them how dreadful they are. I know she doesn't hate them because she's feeding them when I'm not looking. In the middle of the conversation, Johanna suddenly gasped. It put all of us on alert. I almost jumped out of my seat when she grabbed Effie's arm thinking she's having an episode of something.
"Is this an engagement ring?" she exclaimed.
Katniss and Peeta's eyes fell on the ring on her finger.
"I think it's more like a wedding ring", Katniss muttered.
"Well, it's meant to be a wedding ring but she wanted to wear it now", I muttered which fueled more questions from the kids.
"You proposed?" Peeta asked.
"I thought the two of you are already married or something?" Katniss followed.
"No…they said it's only on paper, right?" he argued.
"Forget that shit! We're looking at this big rock on her finger. He definitely proposed. Did you get down on one knee?" Johanna asked me.
"Are you going to hold the ceremony here?" Peeta asked once more.
Effie turned to me with a smile. She's overwhelmed with the questions but I can see she's happy. I held her hand under the table and gently squeezed it. She took a deep breath and turned to them.
"Well, he did propose and no getting down on one knee happened. The wedding will be held here in District 12. Since all of you seemed so excited and eager about this news, you'll be helping me organize the whole thing and it's going to be fabulous", she said and everyone sighed out loud at the thought of organizing.
"You should've seen it coming guys", I teased and then laughed.