We watched Effie smoked her fears outside. Despite the freezing air, she wanted to be out there so she can breathe. I shouldn't have brought what they did to her in that cell. Being in my home made me feel comfortable that I can say anything I want. Katniss sat next to me while Peeta is finishing up in the kitchen.

"So, how is she really? What happened earlier was new. I never seen her like that before", she asked while staring at Effie outside.

She knew her as the escort who was always bubbly and extremely annoying. She always did her best to make them forget about the games though she failed at it each time, still, she tried and Katniss and Peeta appreciated it. Now, she's seeing a different Effie. When we left the Capitol, she told me how vacant Effie's eyes looked. I told her it's the war. It happened to everyone. I should've known better.

"When she was locked up for the second time, she was kept in that grey room. There's no window or other color for that matter. It was meant to drive her insane. Effie closed her eyes for almost two weeks just so she could dream away to another place. It's how she coped with the sadness, hunger, and pain. Her eyes could barely look at the light when we got her out of there. It took her two days before her eyes fully recovered. She never got over that coping mechanism. She would drift off from time to time. At first, it was good memories. She would mention about Cinna and his wonderful taste then when rallies broke out at the Capitol, she started drifting off into nightmares like the one earlier", I answered.

It's not that hard to explain things to Katniss. She understands better than anyone how it feels to be trap in the past.

"That must have been hard. She is having nightmare when she sleeps and when she's awake, she's still having nightmare", she muttered.

I didn't realize that but she put it better than I did. Effie is basically living nightmares every single day awake or asleep. I am no doctor and the way we dealt with out nightmares was different. It was different with Katniss and Peeta and Effie will definitely not take on my way of dealing things. She hates drinking whisky.

"I can't take her back to the Capitol. I can't leave her there and I won't leave her period. She got no one there and Plutarch won't be able to be there for her always. President Paylor will always come after her because she's the last living escort", I said.

"It's fine with me and Peeta. We love her here, you know that. Johanna will be thrilled that you will finally let her stay here", Katniss agreed.

I looked at her.

"Johanna?" I asked.

"Yeah…she's been calling here after she learned about Effie's second arrest. I have to talk to her for almost an hour to stop her from storming the Capitol to break Effie out. She's very pissed. She said that if you will not get her out of the Capitol, she will do it herself and she will force Effie to stay at District 4", she answered.

It's amazing how Effie formed a bond with Johanna during their time in prison during the rebellion. Johanna mentioned that it was Effie who took care of her when she was being tortured with electric shock. She even said that Effie took some of the beatings for her when she cannot manage to get on her feet. That was before they separated them and all she could hear was Effie crying from another cell. When we rescued her and Effie got left behind, she beat up that soldier almost killing him for leaving Effie behind.

"She's staying here with me. She's my wife. She's going to live here in this house", I said firmly

Katniss smiled which is rare nowadays but it's always a gem whenever she does.

"I'm glad. Peeta will be happy to hear that and speaking of Peeta, I should go and check on him, see if the dinner is ready. You should get her back inside before she freezes to death out there", she said and then left.

I went out and Effie is smoking her third stick of cigarette. Her eyes are fixated onto the dark woods. I put a coat around her to keep her warm.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to…it just happened. I wish it didn't. I don't want the kids to see me like that", she apologized.

"No one is upset, princess. It's Katniss and Peeta. Do you think those two will think differently of you?" I asked.

She laughed at that. They already thought about that of her the first time they met especially Katniss.

"I guess that's true. I have to admit. I missed being here. It's nice, familiar, and very refreshing", she muttered.

I think this is the first time since she got out of prison that I saw her relaxed and at peace. Back in her apartment, she's always on edge because of the soldiers roaming around and the rallies.

"The kids missed you. They love having you here", I mentioned and that put a big smile on her face. "Stay", I said.

She looked at me in surprise.

"Stay here with us in a permanent sense. We both know you no longer belong in the Capitol. It's not the same Capitol you grew up in and your family is in here so stay with us. Stay with me", I elaborated.

Effie Trinket loss of words is still something I can never get used to.

"Where would I stay then?" she asked.

"Where else you think? Of course, you're staying with me at our house. You're my wife, remember? We belong together", I answered and gently touched her face while my other hand took the cigarette from hers and threw it away. "I told you. I'm never letting you go again, princess", I added.