Another missing scene but really there is next to no spoilers this time. (also this might be a little OOC, I stuck with Haymitch being sober since Woody confirmed it but I think I like book!canon better. It feels weird for Haymitch to be completely sober post MJ)

Reunion

The second Peeta turned his back to head to his house, Haymitch grabbed Effie's waist and pulled her to him.

"Haymitch, he could see." she hissed, unable to shake off her smile.

She looped her arms around his neck nevertheless, not truly caring either about who would see or what people would think. It had been months since Haymitch had taken Katniss away from the Capitol, months since they had last seen each other and phone calls that stretched late into the night hadn't been enough to compensate for the lack of insufferable infuriating victor in her life.

"Let him." he shrugged with a smirk.

She hadn't warned him she was coming. She had told him Peeta would be coming back, yes, but she hadn't warned him she was planning to come along. After years of an undefined complicated and volatile relationship, she hadn't been sure the months in Thirteen would count. Now, safely wrapped in his arms, on his front porch, it seemed stupid to have doubted it.

When he leaned in, she stretched her neck to meet him halfway. The kiss was hungry, messy in all the right way and it ended in a series of small pecks. Their mouths brushed together a final time and she bit her bottom lip to fight her grin.

"We are outside." she pointed out.

"Yeah, and?" he challenged, nudging until her back was against the closed front door. "There are more geese in my backyard than people in the Village, sweetheart. And nobody will care anyway."

It amazed her that he didn't seem troubled by the idea of anyone seeing them. Hiding had become such an ingrained reflex over the years… Almost an instinct, really. Being out in the open… It felt…

"You are still sober." she whispered almost with awe, her hand coiling briefly around his nape before cupping his cheek. The grin burst forth again but she didn't try to prevent it this time. "Unshaved, though." Her nails scraped against his stubble. "It's a good thing otherwise I may not have recognized you."

He brushed his nose against her cheek before dropping a kiss on her jaw. "It's impossible to find liquor in this place. 'Thought about distilling turnips but… You know. Might as well stay clear of the stuff."

"I'm so proud of you." she beamed, framing his face with her hands and pulling him closer to her. He responded to her kiss eagerly, his hands slid from the small of her back to her hips, pinning her to the door. She couldn't stop kissing him. "So proud." she insisted against his mouth.

He shrugged and drew back, clearly embarrassed, but leaned right back in to steal another kiss. "I figured I had something worth staying sober for." he mumbled between two pecks. "The girl… It was difficult for a while. And I was kind of hoping you would drop by…"

"I do like you better sober." she teased.

"I like you better without all that crap." he snorted, tugging at the puffy sleeve of her dress.

She pursed her lips, her eyes darting to his lips and up again. "Take it off me, then."

He actually lifted her up to carry her inside and she couldn't help but laugh.

She felt drunk on happiness.