When Effie slowly opens her eyes, the first thing she notices is light. It's been days, weeks or even months since she has seen any form of light. Being locked in a cell, deep down in the capitol. Her own home. Or at least, the place she once called home. The place she grew up in, raised to be prim and proper. Learning to think and love how the government wants you too. No. She could never call that place home again. But where would she ever find that place after all that happened?
She hates that the obvious solution to this problem would be Haymitch. Hates how her heart starts racing whenever she thinks of his name, his hair, his voice. She loves him. She has for years and yet, he pushed her away. Yet, he left her to the wolves. She wonders. What would it have been like if she were with him right now. If Haymitch hadn't disappeared all of the sudden while they were watching Katniss and Peeta, once again in the arena, fighting for their lives. If he loved her back.
Effie pushes that thought out of her brain before she can concentrate on the answer, because the truth is, it doesn't even look like she will survive this war. So why even bother and wonder what could have been and what not.
She tries to concentrate on where she is right now. Her head turns in every direction but there is nothing. No walls. No ceiling. No people. No nothing. The only thing she can see is the floor under her. A marble kind of texture. Bright with light, she doesn't know where it comes from. On more thing she notices is her clothes. A long white shirt. Hospital gown, she thinks, but it doesn't make any sense. Obviously, there is no hospital anywhere near her.
Maybe she should stand up and look around. With one hand she pushes herself up and that's when it gets really crazy. No pain. Effie moves again, already waiting for the stinging pain of her hips or ankles or her back. But there is no pain coming. She jumps around a few times but still. Nothing. The only thing she can feel is that she must be tired. Her limbs feel like millions of weights were attached to them.
Effie looks around her again. Where should she go? Which direction? Everything looks the same. The only thing showing that it is not just a white big room is the floor, getting darker and darker in the back until she can't see anything than black. Is she dreaming? Another hallucination maybe. She had a lot of those since her stay in the cell. But normally they would be plagued with nightmares, and she would feel pain. Odd. After a lot of thinking, she chooses to just try and walk forward as much as she can. There must be an end, right?
"Sweetie, don't run away." A voice behind her says and Effie freezes. She would never forget the voice even after all of the years that passed.
Very slowly, Effie turns around, not knowing what to expect. Is this a trick? How would they get that voice. Millions of questions are swarming her brain and then her jaw drops, and her eyes grow wide. There is nothing that can describe what is going on in her right now. Her heart begins to race and her breath hitches in her mouth. This can't be real. This can't be real. She tells herself over and over again. It's a dream. It's a dream. A trick. Don't fall for it, but she can't help it. She stares and waits.
Before her, an old woman is standing. Her frame is small and thin. Her grey hair frames her head just like when Effie was younger. The woman's face has wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes. Her eyes, blue like a calm ocean. Just like Effie has. She has thin lips with cracks in it and her grey eyebrows perfectly suit her eyes. She looks beautiful for her age. She wears one of her old woollen dresses, the ones she would knit herself while Effie would snuggle up in her lap.
"Grandma." Is the only thing Effie manages to get out of her lips. She feels sick, her stomach clenches. This is not real. It can't be. Her grandma is dead. Has been dead for years. Decades, really. The old woman nods, a sad smile on her face. "Am I dead?" Effie asks, still trying to figure out what is going on.
"No, sweetie." Grandma whispers, shaking her head. Slowly, the woman approaches her and stops one step in front of her grandchild. Her old and skinny hand reaches out for her face.
Effie leans into the hand automatically and it's the first time she notices that she is crying. Tears are rolling of her cheeks and her grandma wipes them away, before closing her arms around Effie. She falls into the older woman's frame, holding on to her for dear life while sobs rock her body. Grandma whispers soothing things in her ear and pets her hair, but Effie can't make out anything the woman says. She never wants to let her go to big is the pain of loosing her all over again. It was painful enough to see her in a hospital bed, dying.
"Oh sweetie, I missed you too." The woman says, pushing Effie away just enough to inspect her face. "You've grown so much." She says with a smile. "Such a beautiful woman."
Effie forces a smile on her face, tears still rolling over her face. "Where am I?" she asks, needing answers. What is this place?
Her grandmother's smile falters a bit, but then it's back in place in a matter of seconds. "I have a very important task." She says and Effie's eyebrows shoot up, but the woman continuous. "I can't tell you too much. You have to trust me. Do you trust me?"
"Of course." Effie whispers, not needing to think about it at all. It's a stupid question, really. There is no reason at all for her to not trust her grandmother.
"Good." The woman grins, wiping away some more tears of Effie's face. "I need you to close your eyes, sweetie." Effie's face grows worried. "I promise, I won't go away for now."
Effie closes her eyes. She doesn't even want to think about what her grandmother meant by `won't go away for now´. For a moment it is quiet, and she is afraid that maybe she is alone again. Maybe she should open her eyes again. She doesn't. Second's pass and then she feels her Grandmothers hands on her arms, squeezing them.
"You can look around now." The woman says and she does.
The moment she opens her eyes, sounds start flying around her. Effie stands in the middle of a huge modern room. It takes her exactly two seconds to know where she stands right now. It's her parents' house. The height of the walls and doors. The colour and the furniture style is modern and abstract. She sees people.
Her mother, in one of her wigs but drastically younger than Effie can remember, is laying in the bed. Next to her mother stands a younger version of her father too, holding her hand like a proper husband would do. Doctors are rushing around the bed, calling out things. There is a painful scream on her mothers' part and then Effie can see her older sister, Ophelia, a toddler right now, happy and laughing.
"Daddy how long before I can see my sister?" the young girl asks.
"Only a few more pushes Miss Trinket." One of the doctors says, completely ignoring Ophelia.
Her mother screams once more, eyes closed in pain and then there is a baby crying. There are cheers and claps and one of the doctors takes the baby and shows it Ophelia, who is smiling at the little bundle in his arms.
"Hello Euphemia. I'm Ophelia." The little girl giggles. "Your sister."
Effie looks around and starts walking through the room, completely confused on what she is seeing. Okay, not completely. Obviously, this is her birth, but how is she here. In the same room. In the past. Effie turns her head to her grandmother, who is busy watching the baby the doctor is holding. Out of curiosity, Effie tries to touch something, only to find her hand disappearing in the object. She gasps and pulls her hand right back, looking at it with wide eyes as to make sure it's still there.
"I wish I could have been there when you were born." Her grandmother states behind her. Effie can hear the disappointment in her voice as she says it.
"Why are you showing me this?" Effie asks, turning around. She doesn't understand. Nothing makes sense. Why is she seeing this?
"I can't answer your questions, sweetie." The woman says, shaking her head and starting to walk to Effie again. "We should move on. We don't have much time. You will have to choose soon." Grandma winces after she said this, looking at Effie's wide eyes. What does she mean with choose? "No more questions." The woman says with a finality to it. Effie just nods. "Close your eyes again."
This time, she feels the cool air first. Therefor Effie isn't completely surprised when she opens her eyes and finds herself standing in snow. There are fancy decorations around trees and lanterns. The smell of hot chocolate fills her nostrils. Behind her is an ice rink and in just a few seconds she can spot the toddler version of herself, skating on the ice.
"Look grandma, I can spin!" little Effie exclaims happily, turning around and around on the ice. Laughing all the while.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetie." The woman says, also on the ice but a lot slower.
Effie smiles while watching. Her grandmother looks so young in this memory. Her hair still has some of the blonde strands and she is fit enough to even be on the ice.
Little Effie stumbles and falls, but she doesn't start crying. Grandmother helps her up and they both laugh while she pets the ice off Effie.
"Are you thirsty, sweetie? Let's get some hot chocolate." The woman says.
Her little self, cheers and starts skating to the end of the rink, stepping of, and then running right past her. Those where times. The climate wasn't controlled back then, allowing for the capitol to still have seasons. They never had heavy winters or summers like in other districts though. Still, it could get awfully cold or warm back then.
"You still drink hot chocolate when it's Christmas time." Her grandmother says and Effie's eyebrows shoot up. "Don't look so surprised, sweetie. I told you I would always watch over you, didn't I?"
It's true. Grandma told her that only moments before she died. Effie was a teenager and sat right beside her hospital bed, begging her to hold on. Her hand so tight around Grandmas, they should have been afraid it will break of at some point. She can still remember the terrible sound of the machine, right after her heart stopped and the millions of tears that wouldn't stop falling.
"Isn't that what all people say, when they don't want the other person to hurt?" Effie whispers, a sad smile on her face.
"Maybe, but it's the truth." Her grandmother says, stroking Effie's cheek before telling her to close her eyes again.
Soft music is playing in the background. They are standing in her grandmothers living room. A fluffy, cream coloured couch is in the middle of the room, a small round table in front of it. Around the walls are various plants and many bookshelves. An old radio, standing on one of the shelves is the source of noise.
"Grandma, can you read for me?" a now around twelve-year-old Effie asks, taking place right next to the knitting woman on the couch.
"Aren't you a little to old for bedtime stories, sweetie?" the woman asks, already putting down the knitting needles and grabbing the book.
Little Effie moves closer to her, snuggling up to the woman and wrapping the blanket she brought around the two of them. "You can never be too old to hear a story." She says beaming and her grandmother taps her nose chuckling.
The woman starts reading a story about a princess and a poor boy, falling in love. The girl knows the story by heart, it's her favourite.
"You loved that book." Grandmother says behind Effie, hooking her arm in her granddaughters.
"I still have it." Effie responds matter-of-factly and the older woman smiles again. She already knew. Of course, she would know. Effie smiles too, happy to hear the story out of her grandmothers mouth once again.
Halfway through the story, grandmother starts coughing terribly. The girl knows what to do, she stands up, walks to one of the shelves and gets the inhaler inside. In a matter of seconds, she is beside her grandmother again, helping her to use it.
"This is when you started getting sick." Effie whispers, a sad look on her face. She knows that only in a few more months from this moment, her younger self would have to say her last goodbye.
"You started reading the story to me when I couldn't do it anymore." Her grandma says, nodding to the couch.
The girl has her book in hand and continuous telling the story. The woman lays her head on her granddaughters' hair and watches with a smile on her face.
Together they stand there, watching their younger selves. At one point, Effie starts crying again. Why couldn't she just stay here forever? In her grandmother's living room, arms locked together, while watching their best moments. It seems so unfair. Loosing someone and knowing you will never get the chance to talk to them again. They wait till the story ends before Effie has to close her eyes yet again.
Liquor, coal and sweat fill the air. Effie doesn't even need to open her eyes to know who she is about to see again. Still, she does. They are in the penthouse. Tall colourful walls are decorated by various sculptures and paintings. In front of them is the bar cart. What a surprise, Effie thinks. On one of the stools sits the man she really doesn't want to see right now.
His blonde hair is as ruffled and long as it always is. A stubbly beard covers his chin. His suit is wrinkled, and his shirt buttoned up wrong. In one hand he is nursing a drink, his grey stormy eyes focused on the liquor.
Behind him, Effie sees herself. One of her lilac dresses with puffy shoulders. A pink wig on her head with matching flowers in it. They are arguing.
"You're just a lazy old drunk who doesn't do anything!" she screams, pointing one of her perfectly manicured fingers at him. "If you would just do your job, maybe we could save those children! Where is the man who won the quarter quell because of his smarts!"
"You stuck up bitch don't get to tell me what to do and what not!" the man roars, standing up, very much backing her up in the corner of the room. "It's your fault they are here in the first place!" he says, grabbing one of her hands. "Because you're stupid finger draws their name out of the bowl and sentences them to death!" he practically spits in her face.
Effie doesn't want to look at this. She knows this argument to well. It's the first and only time she ever mentioned his games and the first and only time he mentioned it was her hand who kills those children.
"Can't we go to the next place you are going to show me?" Effie asks her grandmother, not too keen on seeing what comes next. She has dreamt about this night to much already. Like a lovesick schoolgirl. She looks away.
"No." the woman answers, with a strictness to her voice Effie isn't used to. "And I want you to watch."
Effie is taken aback by the cold tone of her grandmother's voice. There were only a handful of times when she used that tone with her granddaughter. Effie turns her head back at the scene, already knowing what comes next.
The escorts other hand slaps Haymitch hard across the face. The noise echoes through the whole room. She tries again but this time, he pins both of her hands over her head. They are close. Too close. Their breath hot on the others face. His eyes are burning with rage but also with the same desire that the escort feels.
"You are a bubbly, blind, manner obsessed, stuck up bitch that can't shut up for ten seconds straight and doesn't know when to stop challenging me." He states, his mouth so close to hers.
"And you are a nasty old drunk, who doesn't do anything except being rude and being lazy. Maybe you should learn when to stop arguing with me." She shoots right back at him.
His mouth is on hers in a split second. She pulls him closer, burying her hands in his hair while he grabs her by the waist. Even in their kiss, you can see they fight. It's like a war movie. Tongues battling each other and hands gripping and touching.
"I needed you to see this. I am sorry for my tone." Grandmother says, turning to Effie again.
She doesn't really understand why exactly she would need to see this. The only thing happening is her heart aching. It seems like her grandma sees it in Effie's eyes too, because she lays a hand on her arm.
"You love him." The woman states and Effie shakes her head but there is no denying. "Don't lie, sweetie. I wasn't born yesterday."
"It doesn't matter." Effie says, not meeting her eyes. "He doesn't love me back." She whispers, her voice breaking in the middle of the sentence. Effie quickly blinks the tears she knows are coming away.
"Are you saying that because you truly believe it's the truth or because Haymitch wants you to think that way?" Her grandmother asks sadly. "Because that doesn't look like he hates you." The woman continuous, pointing at the, still very much kissing, escort and mentor. "Before you answer, let's get going. I think they need their privacy." She says, winking at Effie.
Effie can't help herself when her mouth suddenly drops open and her face starts burning up. Her and Haymitch's relationship is not a sweet one. There is a lot of touching and other particular activities she never wants her grandmother to see. "You didn't.. You haven't…" Effie stutters and her grandmother starts laughing, her head falling back.
"Sweetie, trust me, there are things a grandmother doesn't want to see. Don't worry about that." The woman says, only to be interrupted by a very loud moan that has Effie cringing. "We should really get going so shush now and close your eyes."
Effie is happy when the inappropriate sounds stop, only to hear very loud sobs of her other self. She is yet again, big surprise, in the penthouse. But this room has various shades of pink and lilac. Clearly her room. Given the sculptures she thinks its between the 69th or 70th Hunger Games. Trends come and go, after all.
"So, back to my question." Her grandmother reminds her, before she can look around some more. "Do you really believe that man doesn't love you?"
Effie doesn't know how to answer that. Does she think that? It seems like an easy explanation and she does not want to think about it too much. "What else should I think? He always pushes me away." She answers, sighting.
"You know his reasons for it." Grandmother says. "I can't show you his memories, but I have seen him hurt too." Effie shakes her head, not believing her. Why would he hurt when he is the one pushing her away. Effie ignores the disappointed look her grandma gives her and concentrates on the scene before her.
The escort sits on the floor next to her bed, her make up completely smudged. Sobs rock through her body as she hugs her knees tightly.
"Sweetheart, you alright?" Haymitch says, already opening her door.
Effie rolls her eyes at this. Of course, he wouldn't knock before stepping into a room. She swears that man has never heard about manners whatsoever.
He walks in her room without saying much. He looks around, spotting her next to her bed and slowly walks over, lowering himself to floor height right next to her. Effie hides her face in her arms, clearly embarrassed but still too upset to hiss at Haymitch for his rudeness to just walk into her room without asking.
The mentor places himself awkwardly next to her. "Look princess, you knew they weren't going to make it." He sighed, placing one arm around her. "I warned you to not get attached." he whispers in her ear, kissing her forehead.
Effie doesn't answer, she turns to him and hides herself in the crook of his neck, sobbing in his shirt and not caring one bit if she smears makeup on it. Haymitch pulls her closer, holding her but not saying anything else.
As she looks at her grandmother, Effie can clearly see that the woman glares daggers at her right now. "Just because he holds me while I cry, doesn't mean he loves me." Effie sighs, frustrated, throwing her arms in the air.
"Would your mother hold you?" Grandma shoots right back and it's like a slap in the face. Effie knows that her mother and father don't truly love her, and it hurts. It hurts so much to not hold up to their high standards. Effie could never compare to her sister and that is the reason why she is the disappointing child. At least she had her grandma, who loved, still loves, her.
Grandmother also seems to notice the pain behind Effie's eyes and adds. "I am sorry, sweetie, that may have been a little hard, but you need to open your eyes. I am not saying that as soon as someone hugs you they love you, but we need to look at his personality. Is Haymitch someone who hugs at all? Don't even mention, comforts someone?"
No. The obvious answer is no. He is not. Never was, never will. Yet again, Effie doesn't want to think about it. It hurts and it's nothing but pain. What is her grandmother trying to do? What is the whole point of this? She loves him. She really does and that's the reason it hurts the most, isn't it? Because she had hope, stupid. Stupid woman with stupid dreams. Effie really thought they could be together even in the world they lived together. A world where love is the thing that destroys people the most.
Of course, she knows Haymitch has his reasons to push her away. She has known him for years. Has heard him scream himself raw in nightmares. He had told her at one point what happened to his family and girl when he was nearly passed out, drunk. As she keeps thinking about it, she realises that it isn't even the fact that they couldn't openly show affection or love that bothers her. It's the fact that Haymitch left her. That he planned a whole rebellion without ever mentioning it to her. What did he think? She doesn't understand and probably never will. All she knows is, it hurts.
The next time she opens her eyes they are again at the penthouse. But It looks the complete opposite to her own room. The smell is nasty, and things are all over the place. Haymitch's room.
The door opens after a few soft knocks and Effie walks into the room, in one of her nightgowns. She spots the man on his bed. A bottle in one of his hands. It isn't his first, there are two more standing right beside the bed. Empty.
Sighting she walks up to the bed, careful not to startle him. Haymitch doesn't look up to here. When he tells her to go away, taking another swig of his bottle, she doesn't leave. On his arm is still the bangle she gave him just a few days ago.
Effie can still remember the shock on her face when she saw the bangle on Finnick's arm, only for him to show his wrist proudly, saying he managed to give a copy to his friend for the 75th Hunger Games.
The escort places a hand on his arm before straddling him and hugging him tight. Haymitch tries to push her off.
"I don't need your pity." He growls but stops fighting after a good five and a half seconds.
"You lost a friend. You shouldn't be alone. Chaff wouldn't want you to drown yourself in that bottle." She says carefully, trying not to upset him even more.
She feel shim tense but doesn't back off. After a while he relaxes, and his own arms find their way around her tiny frame. They don't talk.
"You are as much comfort for him as he is for you." Grandmother tells her, a hand on Effie's shoulder. Effie doesn't answer, her eyes are still focused on past Effie and Haymitch.
"I need to hate you." Haymitch blurts out, drunk. "People I care about die."
"Well then you won't have to worry about me." Effie says, and he hugs her closer, burying his nose in her neck. He starts kissing her on that place.
"I want you safe." He says against her skin, barely audible at all. "Somethings happening. I need you safe."
Effie's eyes grow wide as she realises what he meant with ´somethings happening´. He had warned her, and she was to stupid to realise it. He often said weird things when he was completely drunk, how was she supposed to know he warned her. Effie was wrong. So, so wrong. Effie's heart starts beating faster and she can feel herself starting to sweat. She tells herself it doesn't mean anything. He doesn't love her. It's easier that way. Even if it's wrong.
"Sweetie, are you alright? You look pale." Her grandmother asks, worried.
"Can we move to the next?" Effie answers, with sadness to her voice. "Please, I can't watch this right now."
Granma nods and Effie closes her eyes. She can feel the woman's hands taking her own. "This is the last one before you have to choose." Her grandmother whispers.
Effie doesn't know what to expect at all. There is nothing more to come except her getting imprisoned and tortured for information she never had in the first place. What will grandma show her and what does she mean by choose? Still so many questions.
She can hear a beeping sound of a heartbeat. The smell of wherever there are is clean. It smells sterile. Effie waits for her grandmother's signal to open her eyes, but it doesn't come. Instead, she feels her Grandmas hands on her own, yet again.
"Don't panic." The old woman tells her. "You can open them now."
Effie does and her heart drops for a sweet second. She stares at the room she stands in. A hospital. She can see a bed, the machines that make the noise and Haymitch who sits right in front of her view, next to the bed, so she can't see who lays in it.
"I need you to wake up, princess." Haymitch says, his voice oddly soft.
Effie tenses. Haymitch normally only calls her princess. Who is in the bed? Maybe it's Katniss, he calls her sweetheart often enough she thinks. Maybe he started calling her princess too. After all, he uses pet names for nearly everyone he knows. There is a new kind of worry coming up as she slowly makes her way over to Haymitch. Did the girl get hurt? If yes, how bad? If no, who is laying there.
Step after step she starts walking around the bed. Effie can only warily make out what the person looks like. She still can't see the face. It must be a woman though. The frame is tiny and bony. The person must be starving. Effie takes one step more and that's when she catches a glimpse of strawberry blonde hair.
Her eyes widen as she takes on step further and further. It's her. She is lying in the hospital bed. How is this even possible? She was in the cell and then she blacked out and then she woke up in this weird dream.
"I am so sorry." Haymitch sighs.
That has her focusing on the man beside her other self. Haymitch looks dreadful. His face has an empty expression. He has bloodshot eyes and dark blue circles under them, hinting that he didn't sleep. His hair is just us wild as his beard. He looks truly awful. One of his big hands is on her tiny one, holding on for dear life it seems like.
"He hasn't left your side since they found you." Her grandmother says. "He doesn't let anyone but Katniss mother near you, because she is the only one he knows and trusts with you."
Effie doesn't know what to say. Her eyes are tearing up at the thought of Haymitch caring about her. Not leaving her site one second to care for himself. And she doesn't even want to look to long in his empty eyes. She can feel his pain. It's written all over himself, so she looks back at herself.
She is hooked to a lot of machines, there are needles in her hands, dropping liquid in her. Her skin is bruised everywhere she can look. Every possible colour is on her once so pale skin. There are freshly sewed scars on her arms. One on her neck too.
That's when she notices the hospital gown. She has already seen it earlier. She is wearing the same gown as that Effie in front of her. Effie starts checking her arms and that's when she sees the same exact scars too.
"Sweetie, I am afraid you have to choose now." Her grandmother whispers behind her.
Effie turns around and sees her grandma with a glass in her hand. She doesn't know where that came from but then again, where did any of this come from? The liquid in it has a weird blueish and greenish colour. Her grandmother herself looks like she is about to burst into tears. She wears a sad smile on her face, but Effie can see her shiny eyes.
"You either drink this and wake up." She nods to the hospital bed. "Or you stay." She whispers, taking a deep breath. "I would rather have you choose life."
Tears start running down Effie's cheeks. On one hand she wants to stay with her grandma, the one who always loved her and accepted her and was there for her, but on the other hand she wants to wake up. She wants to see Haymitch again, not in some memory, but really see him. God, she wants to hug him and have his strong arms around her body, holding her tight while she snuggles up and hides her face in the crook of his neck, but…
"I will always be with you, sweetie." Her grandmother says, already handing her the drink. "I want to see you happy. He makes you happy. Sure, there are bad days, but the war is now over. There is nothing for him to worry about anymore. Except you finally waking up." The woman says, wiping away the tears on Effie's cheeks. "I am so proud of you. I always will be. Remember that." She whispers, stepping back.
Effie's hands shake hard when she closes them around the glass. She takes a deep breath, before finally bringing it to her lips. It tastes a little bit salty, but she can manage to swallow it all in one go. Effie wipes her mouth when she is finished and then runs up to her grandma as fast as possible, holding on to her like a lifeline.
"I will miss you." She whispers one last time before darkness consumes her and the world turns black right before her eyes.
Pain, so much pain. Everywhere, her arms, her legs her stomach. There's a beeping sound and one of her hands feels warm. She tries opening her eyes, but it doesn't work. Effie tries again and the light burns her eyes so much, she instantly closes them again. It takes her a few more tries before she can manage to leave them open, squinting them together as much as possible.
She looks around and finds a window. It's dark outside. Night? Probably. It wasn't night in her little dream. Did the liquid take that long or was it really just a hallucination? She doesn't know, but the thought of her grandmother makes her eyes begin to water again. The tears don't drop though.
Haymitch's hand is still in hers. His face is placed on the bed right next to their intertwined hands. His eyes are closed. Sleep took him over after all. Should she maybe wait before waking him? No, she figures. Who knows how long she will be awake. Effie calls for him but exactly nothing comes out of her mouth except for a small croak.
She didn't speak in a long time. Effie squeezes his hand as hard as she can and then calls for him again. This time half of his name actually came out before her voice gave up. It seems it was enough though.
Haymitch startles awake, his eyes searching the room for any kind of intruders before fixing on hers. She stares right back as he seems frozen into place. Effie squeezes his hand again and he squeezes right back. He stands up and leans over her bed to the other side, pressing a button. Probably for a nurse to come, before he sits back down.
"Took you long enough, princess." He smirks, the sight of relief all over his face. "I was starting to get worried." he says, putting his other hand against her left cheek.
Effie melts into his hand, grabbing his wrists with one of her own. "It took a whole lifetime." She whispers, her voice still croaking a little. He seems to be confused. Of course, he is, maybe she will tell him about this weird dream one day. "You don't have to understand."
"I am sorry, princess." He answers, not meeting her eyes. "Plutarch said they were going to get you." You can hear the hatred in his voice. "You were supposed to be safe."
"It's okay." She whispers, tearing up again. Effie could get lost in this moment. His hands on her. She needs to know the truth though, so she finally asks. "Do you love me?"
Haymitch's eyes meet hers in a split second. Worry fills his face. "You know I can't say those words."
"Then don't say them. You love me, yes or no?" Effie asks, holding her breath.
"Of course, I do." He states and Effie's heart skips a beat. He moves his head closer to hers. "How about you?" Haymitch asks and she can see the uncertainty on his face. Does he think she hates him now?
"I love you too, you stupid man." Effie replies, moving her hand from his hand to his shirt, pulling him closer with as much strength as she can manage, which isn't much at all.
He chuckles at her effort and then his lips are on hers. It is different than any other kiss they ever shared. It's a sweet kiss and when he gently puts his hand under her chin, his thumb drawing lazy patterns on her cheek she feels like crying all over again. All the words he couldn't say, the emotions he can't put into a sentence, are in this kiss.
"I am never letting you go." He whispers when they break apart, his head pressed against her forehead.
"Good, because I don't plan on leaving." She whispers right back, pressing her lips against his once again.