prompt : Katniss and Peeta can hardly recognize Effie without the make up, wigs and dazzling dresses, Katniss comments she looks MUCH better. Of course with a side of Hayffie!

Without Sparkles

Katniss slipped her hand in Peeta's as they were reaching the end of the slope leading to the Victors' village. The young man glanced at her and gave her a surprised but warm smile, tugging her closer to him and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She had to adjust the quiver and the bow but she leaned against his side willingly enough.

The easiness between them was still new and tentative but Katniss thought she could get used to it. Life was starting to feel… Perhaps not good but tolerable again. The war was behind them, she didn't feel as if someone was breathing down her neck anymore and the ghosts… The ghosts would never disappear, Haymitch's own nightmares were a testament to that, but she was starting to think that maybe, with Peeta's help, she could learn to live with them.

A lot of people had taken shelter in the village while rebuilding was underway and had remained there once it was done – it was better than having the feeling they were living in a graveyard, she thought, having neighbors was nice – so it wasn't unusual to see people heading there anymore.

Yet the woman in a bright yellow dress dragging a huge pink suitcase behind her was unusual.

"Who's that?" she asked Peeta – Peeta was the sociable one, he was always trying to strike friendships with their neighbors while Haymitch and Katniss watched from the window.

"I don't think she's from around here…" he answered cautiously.

It wasn't a conscious decision to step away from each other or for Katniss to make sure the bow was in easy access. The woman's progress was slow so it didn't take long for them to catch up with her.

"Can we help you?" Peeta offered.

Katniss' first reaction was and always would be distrust but Peeta was always helpful.

The woman turned around, clearly startled, but she smiled brightly at them as soon as she saw them. Her blue eyes filled with tears she blinked back hastily, her blond hair framed her face in neatly ordered curls… She was very beautiful and somehow familiar but Katniss couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Oh, my darlings!" she exclaimed, reaching out for them with open arms.

Peeta was gaping, obviously stunned, but Katniss quickly stepped back. The woman froze, the smile faded but was forced back in a second, slightly strained.

"My apologies…" she breathed out. "Of course. It was presumptuous of me to…"

"Effie…" Peeta whispered. It took a second for Katniss to process that new piece of information and by that point, her boyfriend was already crushing their former escort against his chest. "I'm so happy to see you!"

Effie – because, yes, now Katniss could see that it was indeed Effie – remained rooted to the spot for a second before embracing Peeta back tightly. Her blue eyes found Katniss' over his shoulder, she was uncertain probably because of the way she had reacted.

Katniss took pity on her and moved to hug her too. Peeta left her his place easily.

"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you without the… Capitol stuff." Katniss whispered in her ear.

She felt the tension leave Effie's body as she hugged her closer, relieved that it wasn't her presence that made her react negatively.

"Oh, yes…" Effie's laugh sounded fake. "Fashion changes, you know."

Katniss stepped back with a genuine smile on her lips. "I think you look much better like that."

"You look amazing, Effie." Peeta added, already grabbing her pink case from her. "Let me get that. Where are you staying?"

"Well… I…" she stammered.

Katniss wasn't the most observant of people but she saw the problem at once. "Do you want to stay with us? We have enough room…"

"Oh, that's very sweet of you, dear." Effie replied. "However I was hoping… That is… Would you happen to know where…"

"Effie."

All three of them turned in the direction of the newcomer. The newly purchased bag of liquor bottles escaped Haymitch's numb fingers and landed in a puddle of mud. He didn't seem to notice.

Clearly, Katniss thought, there was a first time for everything.

"You're late." Haymitch said and kept it at that.

Katniss and Peeta exchanged a glance, unaware their mentor had kept in touch with his former colleague.

Effie's eyes were full to the brim with tears again but she didn't shed one. "A little."

"Four years isn't a little." he retorted, picking up his bag in a clinking of glass. "Isn't it rude to keep people waiting?"

"Awfully." Effie laughed, sounding choked up. "Am I too late?"

Katniss didn't know what she was expecting but it certainly wasn't to find herself with her arms full of a bag of bottles. It obstructed her sight for a few seconds and by the time she had that under control, Effie was safely enclosed in Haymitch's arms. She could hear hurried whispers but she couldn't say what that was about or who was doing the whispering.

"Let's go." Peeta nudged her.

Effie and Haymitch didn't seem in any hurry to let go of each other so Katniss fell in step with Peeta, carrying the liquor bag while the young man dragged the former escort's case behind.

"What was that about?" Katniss asked.

"I think we're going to find out sooner rather than later." Peeta shrugged, with a warm smile. "I guess we just gained a new neighbor."