For who could ever learn to love a beast?

They chose to stay in on that night; not doing anything, not visiting anyone, just cuddling up on a pile of blankets and pillows, enjoying the warmth coming from the fireplace, listening to the blizzard raging outside. It was so peaceful and intimate, Effie wished the night would never be over.

She was in Haymitch's arms and he was spooning her from behind. His finger ran up and down on her naked arm. Both of them were still a little dizzy, buzzing from the aftermath of their lovemaking. Effie stared at the orange and yellow flames. The colors were mesmerizing. Dangerous yet beautiful. Before the war, he had said same words about her when he was drunk enough to be honest.

"Are you happy?" Haymitch whispered into the silence. Effie froze for a moment before turning around in his arms to face him.

"Why?"

"Just answer the question." His grey eyes shined strangely.

"Yes." Effie gently kissed his lips. But the answer didn't seem to bring any relief to him.

"Why...?" She asked again. She caressed his stubble lazily with the back of her fingers.

"Why did you decide to come? What made you stay?" He ignored her question completely.

"Well...I had to bring Peeta home and...you were here, while no one was waiting for me in the Capitol. Why are you asking me these questions?" Haymitch's weird questions scared her. Though unlikely, she was afraid after a year he would finally decide that he didn't want her company after all and showed her to the door. She knew the man loved her even if he couldn't convey it verbally; his actions said enough.

"Do you know what day it is?" The sudden change of topic made no sense but Effie nodded nonetheless.

"Twentieth of February."

"And...?"

"What do you mean 'and'?" She asked, confused.

"Have you forgotten? You arrived here with Peeta a year ago." The hint of hurt in his voice surprised her. He was never one for anniversaries.

"Of course not! How could I?"

"Don't know...You always make unnecessarily big shit around everything but never mentioned our...anniversary, technically it is an anniversary...so I thought...you are here out of habit. Not because you want to but because you have nowhere else to go." He didn't look at her. He lay on his back and his eyes on the ceiling. His words upset Effie and her first thought was to hit him; to slap some sense into his head.

"Are you an idiot?" She whispered, she tried so hard to swallow back her tears. Although, she couldn't tell why she was crying. "I am here because I want to. Because I am your partner. Because I love you! I've been in love with you for years, and you know it! When will you ever believe it? Believe that there are people who loves you? That I love you?"

"I don't deserve anyone's love." He looked at Effie briefly then turned his gaze back to the ceiling. "For who could ever learn to love a beast?" He quoted an ancient tale. It was Effie's favorite, he knew that but he didn't know why. He found it stupid. No one would ever fall in love with a beast.

Effie sat up and straddled him.
"You are not a beast." She took his hands and pulled him up. When he was sitting up, she wrapped his arms around her waist and then burrowed her face into the crook of his neck "You are not a beast." She whispered.

"I am. I killed people...children. Innocent children."

"I did, too… Do you know why Beauty and the Beast is my favorite?"

"I don't want to hear your stupid childhood stories from the Capitol… How could you love a fucking killer?"

Effie leaned up and looked at Haymitch. He avoided her eyes and focused his gaze on her lips. If he hadn't, he would have seen how deeply his words hurt her.

"It's my favorite because the beast reminds me of you." Her silent tears streamed down her face. "Because he wasn't a bad person. He just needed someone who could open his eyes to how wonderful he was. Or could be. You are not a beast. You were forced to do those awful things, you had no choice. You aren't alone. I did awful things too. Don't you remember? How can you love me then?"

"I..."

Effie carefully ran her fingers through his hair. "You are not a beast. But even if you were, I would still love you. I could tell you a hundred reasons why I love you and you wouldn't believe any of them." Effie kissed his lips. Haymitch tightened his arms around her and deepened the kiss.

"I hope you don't think you are Belle, princess." He mocked when they broke apart.

"No. But we could have a Belle."