Prompt : could you please write a chapter where Katniss and Peeta find the victors and Effie on the couch after a long night! Thank you! =)

Late Reunion

The chime of the elevator woke Peeta up.

It was unusual, he was more used to wake up to Katniss' screams lately. He glanced at her sleeping form next to him on the bed, the sheets were clenched in her fist, stretched tight up to her chin, her face was crunched in fear even though she was still asleep and her breathing was regular. He had spent enough time watching her throughout the night when his insomnia kicked in to know it would be some hours still before the nightmares truly hit her. The clock read three in the morning. It was late for guests – that he supposed were Cinna and Portia – to be leaving.

He climbed out of the bed, careful not to jolt Katniss, and peered down the corridor curiously. It was a reflex to hide when Effie exited another hall. She walked to the living-room and Peeta followed her as discreetly as he could, confused by those nightly roaming. The escort was still dressed with the blue skirt and pink blouse she had been wearing at dinner despite the fact that she had sent them to bed ages ago, arguing that they all needed their beauty sleep to face the upcoming Quell.

The door to the living-room was closed which was unusual. She hesitated for a second before opening it but the second she did, voices echoed down the corridor. Peeta recognized Haymitch's amidst others. He crept closer silently. He shouldn't have bothered, Effie was always loud and her voice would have covered the clumsiest of approach.

"I heard Cinna leave." she declared on the threshold, managing to sound both hurt and ironic. "Am I allowed back in now?"

"Why, love?" Chaff's now familiar voice boomed out. "You missed us already? Better get used to it."

It was followed by laughter but it was strained. Effie finally stepped in with a huff, leaving the door half-open behind her, and Peeta didn't lose any second before hiding behind it, trying to figure out what was going on in the penthouse. What was Chaff doing with their mentor, their escort and their stylist? He knew Haymitch and Chaff were friends but he also knew the seventy-fifth Hunger Games would have put a damper on every victor's friendship with other victors.

He couldn't quite see what was going on inside though.

"If you sit closer you will end up on his lap." Chaff laughed again.

"One thing I won't miss is your stupid jokes." Haymitch retorted.

"Liar." Eleven's victor replied good-naturedly. "There will be no one else to remind you you shouldn't get involved with an escort."

"For the thousandth time, Chaff…" Effie sighed, clearly infuriated with the man. "We are not involved."

"So you keep saying." a younger voice mocked. Finnick, Peeta thought. "Yet, that vein on Haymitch's head is popping out every time I do that…"

There was the clear sound of a slap on flesh.

"Keep your hands to yourself if you don't want me to tear them off." Effie warned but there was amusement in her voice. "And don't torture Haymitch. He is old."

"Hey!" Haymitch protested. "Not the song you were singing yesterday, sweetheart."

"What happened yesterday?" Finnick asked curiously.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Haymitch replied and Peeta could hear the smug smirk in his voice.

Chaff's laughter boomed again.

"Can we switch subject before I get sick?" another female voice droned out, very obviously drunk. Johanna Mason. "I swear we always end up talking about Haymitch and his escort bitch in bed."

Peeta hoped they were joking because the images that flashed through his brain weren't things he wanted to consider. Ever.

"Careful." Haymitch growled, displeased.

"Tacky as ever, I see." Effie hissed. "Which reminds me. Please quit undressing in front of my children."

"Last time I checked you didn't have any kids and please don't ever reproduce." Johanna sneered. "Panem couldn't take it."

"I mean Peeta and Katniss as you are well aware." Effie shot back. "They do not need to witness your bouts of exhibitionism."

"I don't know… The boy seemed to like it well enough." Johanna cackled. "Haymitch certainly did."

"Who wouldn't?" Chaff asked.

There was a round of collective laughter but Effie didn't join in.

"You are all uncivilized pigs." the escort declared.

It only made them all laugh harder.

"Ah, admit it, love…" Chaff was panting in his hilarity. "You will miss us."

There was a long moment of silence and Peeta got ready to bolt away, certain someone was about to leave.

"Please, Finnick, pour me another drink." Effie requested finally, her voice felt strained, almost choked up.

Peeta didn't see what happened next but given Johanna's disgusted groan, he suspected Haymitch had tried to comfort Effie.

It was obvious nothing mysterious was happening in the living-room. No conspiracy of any kind, at least. Slowly, he crept back toward his room. He was surprised to find Katniss sitting in bed, her arms around her legs, a lost expression on her face.

"Where were you?" she whispered. "I woke up and you were gone."

"Sorry, I heard some noise." he explained, climbing back into bed and settling once more against the pillows.

She was hesitant like she always was when she laid back against him. "What was the noise?"

He deliberated between telling her the truth and brushing the question off but he thought it would be harder on her in the arena if she knew how friends Haymitch and Effie truly were with the other victors. How they had managed to keep that from them for that long, Peeta wasn't sure.

My children, Effie had said.

He wondered what else she was hiding from them. How good of an actress was she? What lengths was she prepared to go for her victors? Because if what the others had been joking about was true… If she and Haymitch were involved in some way…

He pushed that out of his mind.

That train of thoughts wouldn't help Katniss.

"Just Haymitch." he lied.