Hello hello! Welcome in this new Xmas story!
Warning: This is crack. You'll find every Christmas romantic movie cliché you can imagine here. This is a fluffy, smuty, cliché pot-pourri.
I hope you'll enjoy reading it as I had fun writing it, and please give me your thoughts about it in the comments! ;)
A little precision, obviously, this is a modern AU and the ages are not canon. All the characters are slightly younger than they are in 'reality'.
That being said, I leave you with the story….
September
Effie wakes up early on a fine mid September Saturday morning.
She still has to get used to her brand new apartment, above her brand new shop.
To her brand new life.
She had opened her tea house/ dressmaker workshop, The Capitol, a week ago, with the help of her best friend Portia, and so far it has been a hit! Their customers loved her pastries and drinks, and the concept of buying tailor made clothes or bringing some to be mended while taking a nice cup of tea had immediately seduced them. It was just what she wanted it to be, a bubble of relaxation in this otherwise quite serious town.
It's their first day off since the opening and she wants to take a break and go have walk outside, take a look at the town. She had been truly living here for a week but she never had the occasion to visit with all the fuss around the new shop.
She knocks at Portia's door to ask her if she wants to join her, but her friend only looks at her like if she's crazy with her eyes still half closed and slams the door at her face. She laughs as she gets down the stairs leading to the back door.
Once she is outside, she takes a big breath of fresh air. The sky is blue with a few remaining white clouds, the air is warm and still humid from the rainy night. The sidewalk is still wet and she has to avoid the little puddles to protect her brown suede boots and the hem of her jeans. It's still warm enough that she can walk outside with a simple blouse and her thin burgundy leather jacket.
With her sunglasses on the nose, she makes her way through the small center of the town, with its red brick building and white painted doors. She sees a few little shops that catch her eyes and meets several of her customers who greet her cheerfully. Some even stop her to talk for a few minutes. Everybody seem nice and welcoming around here.
After all this walk and chit-chat, she feels the need for a good cup of coffee and spots the only diner of the town, right next to the little public parc, The Hob.
She remembers this diner from the first time she had come here years ago. She had been on a 'road trip' with her -now ex – boyfriend, Seneca, and they had stopped there for lunch. She had had the best coffee of her life there. And the owner had been quite agreeable to look at, albeit quite grumpy and rude, so it had been a nice bonus.
She makes a way there, wondering if the owner had changed since this trip. It had been… what? Four years ago?…
She enters and sits at the counter. The owner comes and he is the same tall blond man she remembered. Only a little older and less… neglected.
"What do you want sweetheart?" he asks without even glancing at her.
"A cup of coffee, please." she answers with her whitest smile, "And I'll ask you not to pet name me." That last part has the merit of making him finally look at her. She however didn't expect him to gauge her with a lifted eyebrow and narrowed eyes.
"You can go and make your own coffee sweetheart. I ain't serving the competition." he grumbles turning his back at her and going back to his previous occupations.
"What?" she gasps. She had never encountered someone so rude in her entire life. Well twenty-eight years are not a life time but it's long enough.
"You heard me, you can make your own coffee, get out of my place."
"I'm… I am not competition! What are we? Children?" He doesn't answer her and goes back to his kitchen.
She crosses her arms on her chest, flabbergasted. She is not losing this argument. This is all completely stupid and she refuses to have this childish hostility ruining her, until now lovely, experience in this town. So she waits.
When he comes back, his eyes fall on her and he rolls his eyes. "Still here?"
"Well yes! I am not leaving without my coffee." she states calmly.
"You know I have to close the diner at night yeah? You might be a little cold sleeping on the tiles." he answers without looking at her and then goes away in the back again.
She is not used to being ignored like that, and he doesn't seem to mind ignoring her for the rest of the day. But she won't be defeated, she decides to make herself unignorable.
"The weather is truly lovely today. The landscape is really beautiful around here, especially with a clear blue sky to enhance it! And the weather is so clement, it's still so warm at this time of year, I didn't even need to put a coat on this morning! It's a shame we're so far from the ocean thought, then it would have been truly perfect! Have you ever been there? I used to spend my summer vacation there when I was a child. I loved it! The salty breeze in your hair, the smell of seaweed, the warmth of the sand between your toes..." Surely if she kept talking he would get bored and give what she wanted, right? He did not seem the type to like company and small talk much…
He is still not back from the kitchen so she keeps going.
"Have you always lived here? I remember this diner from the first time I came here. I was on a road trip with my boyfriend. Well ex-boyfriend now, but whatever... We were doing the same road me and my family used to take during our vacations. Going up from New-York to Maine. My father was a big fan of lobster. And then we would get back down by the coast, so we could enjoy it for as long as we could. Hmm, childhood is such a carefree time. Adulthood is hard and annoying in comparison…
He finally storms out of the kitchen with a to-go cup of coffee in his hand.
"Coffee. To go. Out. Now." he sighs, exasperated, pointing the door with his finger.
"Thank you!" She sing-sangs with a bright smile, like a petulant child who just got his whim fulfilled. He rolls his eyes but for the first time keeps his gaze on her for more than a fleeting second. "And, you know, we're are absolutely not in competition. You make delicious coffee and…. greasy things," she winces waving at a dirty plate shining with oil on the counter, "and I make tea and pastries, I won't ruin your business." then she jumps from her stool and struts to the door, sipping her coffee and swaying her hips. She can feel his eyes on her, no doubt lingering on her perfect behind.
"T'was a pleasure meeting you. Hope it won't happen again!" she hears him scream behind her as she passes the door. It brings a smile to her lips as she resumes her tour of the town.
She decides to make a stop at the grocery store. She has to buy a few things to fill her quite sadly empty personal fridge. She really can't keep stealing things in the shop's kitchen…
She is reading the label on some flavored water bottle in the drinks section when she feels eyes on her and hears whispers. She lifts her head to see two middle aged men looking at her insistently. They are… hard to miss with their colorful and eccentric style. The shortest one is wearing a Prussian blue suit with whites shiny shoes, and the chubby one black jeans with a flowery pink shirt under a heavy studded leather jacket.
The instant their eyes meet they are on her and she cannot escape.
"You are Effie Trinket, the owner of The Capitol shop, aren't you?!" The chubby one says, shaking her hand strongly.
"Well, yes! That me." she answers as the other man takes her other hand and gives her a hand-kiss.
"We are sooo delighted to meet you! I am Caesar Flickerman and this is my husband Claudius Templesmith. We own the local radio and newspaper, it would be an honor for us if you accepted to come and see us one day. We'd love to make an article about you and your adorable boutique." The man in the suit tells her. She doesn't know what to answer. She didn't expect that at all. Who would have thought such a small town had it's own radio station?
"Oh, hmm.. It would be an honor! I.. I'd love to!" She stammers.
"Great! Oh, you're the latest subject you know! All everybody is talking about!" He laughs with the whitest teeth she has ever seen.
"Oh and bring your associate with you! Portia isn't it? People would love to hear your story I'm sure!" The other -Claudius – adds.
"Oh, yes, I… I'll ask her, sure!" she feels a little overwhelmed by all this attention. She had come here to live a calm life and there she was, the new freak in town… "Thank you so much for your proposition, this is really nice of you! I'll call you later okay? To … organize everything."
"Oh yes! Of course my dear! We're not in a hurry. It's not like you were to leave us soon right?" Caesar jokes putting a had on her shoulder and laughing loudly again.
"No, no indeed. Well, I'm afraid I'll have to go back home though.It was a pleasure gentlemen. See you soon I hope."
"Oh yes, go darling. We do not want to steal your time! Goodbye, See you soon!" Claudius replies and they both laugh while she retreats slowly but surely to the store's exit.
"Yes, goodbye!" She says and waves at them as she leaves the shop. She sighs in relief. They were really nice but also quite… overwhelming.
She decides to go back to her apartment. She had had enough awkward socialization for today and the sky is getting cloudy anyway.
She comes back to find Portia stealing and eating yogurts directly in her fridge. She rolls her eyes and laughs at her friend as she settles on the stool on her kitchen island, still holding her cup of now lukewarm coffee.
Portia steals it too and takes a sip of it. Effie lets her hands fall on the counter with a fond exasperated sigh.
"What?"
"Stop stealing my things!" she answers laughing at seeing the genuinely confused expression on her friend's face.
"What? Did you expect me to go to the grocery stores in my pyjamas?"
"You could have gotten dressed." she laughs again.
"It's the weekend, I just got up!" Effie could hear the 'duh' at the end of her sentence. She takes a last gulp of her coffee before handing it back to her. "It's real good! Where did you get it?"
"The diner, on the square. Had to fight but it was worth it!"
"Take me with you next time! If the owner is as good as his coffee I might get used to get both of them in bed." She says with a wink.
"You'll be disappointed." she replies shaking her head, both at the memory of the coffee adventure and at her friend's attitude. She was obsessed with men. Worst than her mother even. At least her mother had harassed her to get married once, not to 'get laid' every two days. She doesn't want to get laid -what an awful expression – just for the sake of it, if it has to happen one day she wants it to mean something.
"We'll see that!" she answers and plants a kiss on her cheek as she hops out the apartment. "See you later Eff, Don't want to miss Real Housewives of BH!"
She takes what's left of her coffee and heat it in a mug before falling on her couch and turning the TV on. Her cat, Lady, comes to snuggle on her lap. Portia was right, the new episode sounded quite epic and she couldn't miss it.
xxx
She takes Portia with her to the diner the next Monday morning. It's 8:30 so they have half an hour before opening the shop.
Of course, she immediately elbows her the moment he appears. Effie turns her head to look at her and she mouths "handsome" with wide eyes.
He comes to their table to take their order and sighs when he recognizes her.
"You're back... What do you want?"
She opens her mouth but Portia is quicker.
"We'll have eggs, one blackberry muffin and two black coffees, please hum… What's your name again?" she asks him seductively.
"Haymitch." he grumbles reluctantly while scribbling their order on his paper.
"Thank you Haymitch." She almost purrs as he retreats to the kitchen. Effie rolls her eyes and fakes a gag of disgust which makes Portia laugh.
They're talking about the amelioration they could do in the shop when he comes back with their order. He all but throws the plates and mugs on the table but Portia thanks him with a bright smile and doe eyes.
They keep talking business as they eat, but Effie can feel they are being watched. She has that weird sensation tickling her nape. Portia isn't fooled either and throws a few glances in his direction behind Effie's shoulder. She grins, that's no good sign…
"He's looking at you..." she whispers through her teeth.
Here we go...
"I am sure you're wrong." she replies, hiding her face in her cup of coffee.
"Oh I'm sure I'm right. He keeps glancing at you, looks like he can't help it..."
"He hates me, well us. He considers we're competition to his diner. He certainly cannot wait to see us out of here… He certainly fears that we're here to steal his recipes." She can't believe in any other explanation Portia might give her.
"If you say so." Her friend humors her and drops the subject (for now).
She can't keep her tongue for long. Not five minutes later she goes back to the Haymitch matter.
"Damn he has gorgeous eyes… So grey..." She almost drools in her hand.
"Hush..."
"Fixed on you..."
"Will you stop?!" she hisses.
"Well… on your ass..."
"Oookay that's it, we're leaving!" She say as she stands up and takes her purse to go pay the bill.
She arrives at the counter with a knot in her stomach, not keen on repeating the scene from last time.
"Here you go. Thank you for the breakfast." she tells him with a shy unsure smile as she hands him the money. She expects a nasty reply but she is surprised.
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
She doesn't comment on the moniker this time. It's better than all the things she had imagined so she prefers to leave it at that and leaves with a smile. "Have a good day Haymitch."
He waits until she has turned back and began to walk to the door to answer -well grumble - "Yeah, you too." in her back.
"Maybe he doesn't like you, but he sure likes your ass..." Portia says with a smile, wriggling her eyebrows, once the door is shut behind her. "Couldn't take his eyes away from it all your way here."
"Oh come on Portia, can you stop this?" She knows where it's heading. She needs to find a man, it will do her good, she needs to find her self-confidence back… bla bla bla.
"YOU come on, he's hot! You could use a little heat in your life, it would relax you a little."
"He's rude..." She replies. She could never have a rude man with no manners at all.
"And so what? Rude can be good in bed you know..."
"Portia!"
"What don't play prude with me Eff. I am sure you noticed his eyes. They're gorgeous. And his hands, god I love big hands… And his ass isn't too bad either, I am sure he works out..."
"Are you done?" Effie sighs exasperated and embarrassed to have her friend drooling in the middle of the street. "If you like him that much why don't YOU go for it?"
"Oh jealous aren't we?! I have no chance at all, he only had eyes for you. And you need it more than I do! I only want what's best for you!"
"Why, thank you! I am very flattered!" she huffs as she opens the shop doors and all but runs to the kitchen to avoid the rest of this conversation. She can hear Portia laugh a "Love you Eff'!" behind the door. Rude…
She knows she hasn't had a man in a long time, she doesn't need Portia to remind her every day. But she has decided she could be perfectly happy all by herself. Women don't need men to be complete. They are just a… convenient bonus when you get the chance. She did not, that's all. End of the story. Now she has her own life to take in hands! And that's already a handful…
However she can't help a smile to tug at her lips thinking Portia might be right. She isn't a nun. She always like to know her charms still have effect on men. Especially when it's on handsome ones.
The business is calm that day, it's raining a little and people seem to prefer staying at home to going shopping. It's 3 pm when they get their first real customer of the day. Not just a "Oh thank you, I'm just looking".
It's a beautiful woman in her thirties, curvy with tanned skin, beautiful black hair and deep brown eyes with not a drop of makeup, coming in with a baby in a stroller.
Effie's absolute opposite.
She puts her raincoat on the hanger and comes to Effie with a big bag full of clothes.
"Hello, I need these clothes to be mended by Thursday, do you think you can do that?" she asks with a wince. She seems to be a busy mother. She keeps rocking the stroller to calm her fussing baby and in the bag Effie can see at least two different sizes of young boys clothes.
"Oh, I'll take them to my colleague and she'll see what she can do." Effie answers with a smile, taking the bag and going to Portia's study. She gives it to her friend who asks her to make the woman wait while she inspect the bag and estimate the amount of work.
She comes back in the shop and offers a tea to the woman in the meantime.
She seats at the white table by the window and Effie comes closer to keep her company. She bows above the crib to take a look at the little girl inside. She is as beautiful as her mother. She can't be much more than six month but she already have pretty black curls and striking grey eyes.
"She is precious." She says still smiling at the adorable little thing.
"Yes, she is..." The woman answers thoughtfully. "Her name's Posy. And I'm Hazelle. Hazelle Hawthorne." she introduces herself outstretching a hand to Effie.
"Effie Trinket. Glad to meet you." she gives back with a smile, shaking her hand warmly. "So, you have other children?"
"Ooh yes! Three boys!" she laughs. "Not a piece of cake..."
"Wow! Congratulations!" Effie offers genuinely. She can't imagine the courage that woman has to raise four children. She isn't even sure if she would be good with children. The last she had held in her arms was her baby sister and it was 24 years ago.
"Thank you. Do you have any yourself?" Hazelle asks, with genuine interest.
"Oh, no. Not at all." Not 'at all'? What did she say that?
Hazelle laughs at her (poor) choice of words. "Not at all? I am sure you must have a very handsome man at least. Pretty as you are."
"No, not either." she feels blush coming to her cheeks. Her sentimental life is really not the subject she is the more at ease with. Even more with a woman who has the life she never even dared to dream of...
"I cannot believe that!" She is saved by the appearance of Lady making eights between Hazelle's legs. She bends to scratch her neck. "Oh hello! You're very pretty. I know someone who would love to meet you!"
"This is Lady. She is really sweet, never saw her claws. Well except when she wants her food." she jokes.
Portia comes back from her study with a piece of paper for Hazelle. Certainly an estimation for the clothes. She leaves them and cleans up the empty cups. The two women talk for a few minutes and then Hazelle comes back to her counter.
"Thank you for the tea and the little break." she says with a big smile. "You can't imagine how good it feels to have an other woman to talk to! Others mothers are all about their children and I really don't need that. Got enough with my owns!" They laughs as she rummages in her purse to find her money.
Then she beams seeing her tray of fresh pastries. "Oh my god they look amazing! Can I get a box of those mini croissants and apple turnovers please?"
"Yes, of course! How many do you need?"
"Five of each, please!"
"Here you go!" she says handing her the box. "I've put six of each." She added lower with a wink after Hazelle paid for everything.
"You're an angel!" she exclaims as she walks to the door, quickening her pace after looking at her watch. "See you on Thursday!"
After closing the shop that night, her thoughts go back to the grumpy owner of the diner. Haymitch.
She has to admit he is really agreeable to the eyes. And it's not like they had anything to destroy. They're not friends, they barely know each other. He doesn't even know her name. After all, sex is the only men want, right? It wouldn't change the world. If he has more eyes for her ass than for her then maybe she might have a shot on that area…
And maybe it would give her a little confidence back, knowing that her charms are still effective on men. Maybe that's what she needs to loosen up and begin to enjoy life again. She wants to have a life full of experience and good memories, like she's sure this Hazelle woman does.
She's not jealous, no. She knows it's too late for her to have that kind of life, and she isn't made for that. She has been told that enough times at any family gathering. But there are plenty of other ways to accomplish something.
She goes back the next mornings to get her coffee, and sometimes breakfast. She doesn't always take Portia with her, she needs some calm too. To observe her prey and find a plan of action.
He keeps calling her sweetheart, no matter how many times she rebukes him. And they can't talk to each other more than three words without ending bickering like children over stupid things. It's as amusing as it is infuriating.
One day, it's earlier than usual and she sits at the counter. It's the first time since their first encounter.
He comes with her cup and her blueberry muffin. "Here you go sweetheart."
"I do have a name you know, Haymitch. You just have to ask."
"Sweetheart works for me." he replies tuning his back to her to arrange his cups and mugs behind him. Not even an attempt at bickering, not an ounce of sarcasm. This is the most honest and plain he has been with her so far.
She puts the money on the counter with a sigh, and stands up to leave. She is tired and she doesn't have the strength to fight that day. It's been four days already that she tries to have a proper conversation with him to no avail. If he is really that not interested, she is not going to lose her time and energy on him any longer.
She thinks the can feel his eyes on her but she isn't sure, and she doesn't want to look at him to see his disdainful smirk on his impossible smug face again like everytime he succeed in making her run away from the place. Instead she walks away, her chin up, swaying her hips like she knows perfectly how to do.
"It's Effie." she throws over her shoulder as she crosses the threshold.
xxx
She hasn't gone back to the diner after that. She had been busy all weekend and to be honest she had been a little mad at him. Even without the whole "competition" feud, what had she done to him to deserve such disrespect and dislike?
But now it was Monday afternoon and she needed that good cup of strong black coffee. Hers had seemed pale in comparison this morning and she was as tired as she would be on a Friday night.
She decides to take a break, Portia can handle the shop alone for half an hour, and makes her way to the diner.
It's completely different from when she comes in the morning. There are people laughing around a full plate of muffins, children just out from school buying some candies… The whole place seemed much more warm and welcoming. Even Haymitch seems different. He doesn't grumble at her when she settles on her stool and for the first time she actually gets a polite 'Good afternoon'. Well, good afternoon 'sweetheart', but she can't ask for too much…
"Can I have a cup of coffee please Haymitch?" she asks him petulantly.
"Yes of course, Effie!" He replies playfully, mimicking her accent and high pitched voice, and turns to fill her cup. That is more familiar.
"In a merry mood today aren't we?" she says as she takes her cup.
"Had not seen you this morning. I had hoped that you had find a way to make your own coffee and you would finally live me alone." he answers with his infuriating smirk.
"Ah ah, very funny." she deadpans. "Well, no, I haven't. That's why I am here now. Maybe you could give me your secret you know. And I could tell you mine to make your muffin less dry. It would be a win win!"
"Wow oh oh! Stop you right there. What's wrong with my muffins?" he frowns and points a finger at her. She would never have thought he would truly be offended by her teasing. However the offer was genuine, his muffins were a little dry.
She is opening her mouth to speak but she is cut by the doorbell and Haymitch almost running to the door. He holds it while Hazelle and a pack of kids come in. She enters last and shoves a little blond toddler in Haymitch's arms before diving into the stroller to take the fussing baby – Posy – in her arms.
"I am so sorry we're late, I had to go to the principal's office. Gale fought with Finnick again." she pants while rocking the baby against her chest.
"No problem, you need anything?" he replies calmly after planting a kiss on the little girls head.
Effie is watching them from her stool. Of course she should have known. That explained everything, Posy's grey eyes, Haymitch's indifference… They are both around the same age, both handsome. She feels a little pang of jealousy. For Haymitch or for the beauty of their family she couldn't tell. She feels herself becoming red with embarrassment. She was about to make a pass on her only friend in town's husband. Or boyfriend, she had seen no ring on him. Not that she had looked…
She watches him as he scolds the oldest of Hazelle's boy and then prepares a cup of coffee for Hazelle. Then she goes back to watch the children. Three black haired boys, the little Posy… but who were the blond toddler and the other girl with the black braid? Why didn't she mention them the other day? They do not look exactly like the four others. Different fathers maybe…
She is taken out of her reverie by Hazelle coming to sit beside her.
"Hi Effie! How are you?" she asks her with a big smile.
"Oh hi! Well great! Great." she is a little startled but her good education kicks in and she put herself back together. "That's a beautiful family you two have there! You must be very happy!"
Hazelle's eyes grow so big she is afraid the are going to pop out of her head and Haymitch all but drops the mug he is giving Hazelle. She catches it at the good moment and saves it from a dreadful fate. Just a few drops spilled.
"We are not together" she laughs. "Well, I admit it was easy to assume. But no, not at all." she adds with a strategic emphasis and a wink for Effie, "We're just old friends. I only bring back the girls from school with my boys, it's easier for Haymitch when he's working." The commotion has woken up Posy who is fussing again in her mother's arms. She excuses herself to go get her bottle.
She sees Haymitch behind the counter. Still holding the little girl with one arm and preparing glasses of milk and a plate of cookies. He still has that horrified expression on his face. She feels mortified and knows her cheeks must be crimson red now.
"I'm sorry." she tries but he only waves a hand in her direction without a glance. "I would never have thought you had children. But now it seems obvious." she adds, looking at how at ease he moves with the toddler sprawled on his shoulder.
Hazelle comes back to the counter to say goodbye before he replies, and then leave with her smaller group of kids.
She stays a little longer than needed, under the pretense of doing some book-keeping. She observes Haymitch taking care of his girls. He still has the little one in his arms as he give the dark-haired one her glass of milk and her cookies and asks her to go do her homework at one of the tables. She sighs and grumbles but execute the order after he tells her something Effie doesn't hear.
The whole scene is quite endearing. It give him a whole new dimension. He seems softer, kinder, but also much more serious and focused. She is much intrigued now.
Then she remarks the old stuffed cat toy the girl is clutching at her chest. She is nibbling at its ear as she dozes off on Haymitch's shoulder. She must be the one Hazelle wanted to introduce Lady to then.
Haymitch is navigating easily between the tables with only one free arm, like of it was completely normal for him. He takes orders and serves customers but there is no more joking and easy flirting. No bantering or sarcasm. He is all business now, like if he wanted to give a good example.
Just as she finishes her coffee, the oldest girl finishes her work. She wanders around the diner, looking bored, so Haymitch gives her her sister and asks her to take her upstairs. She holds her sister's hand tight and they disappear in the stairs behind the counter.
Effie gets up and gather her money to pay for her coffee. Haymitch comes back behind the counter and waits.
"You have beautiful daughters." she tells him as she hands him the money.
"Thank you, but.. they're… not mine." he grumbles and stammers a little. She finds that cute.
"They are, biology or whatever this is about aside. And they're really adorable." she says in the softest voice she has ever used with him. She doesn't want him to feel she's making fun of him on such a subject. He snorts at that.
"You haven't met Katniss." he mutters as he gives her change. She laughs and retreats.
"Goodbye Haymitch."
"Goodbye sweetheart."
For the first time she gets out with a real smile on her lips. Not a I won this argument smug smirk. A real fond smile.
That night she thinks about him. She compares the grumpy, sarcastic man she had first met and fought with, with the affectionate 'not-father' she met that day. She comes to the conclusion that he won't be a man for a one night stand, but it doesn't make her want to get away from him, in fact, it's quite the opposite.
xxx
One day the next week, Hazelle comes at the shop during the day with Posy and Haymitch's little blond girl. Effie welcomes them warmly, she is happy to see Hazelle, she is one of the rare people in the city who genuinely likes Portia and her. The others are mostly interested in the new girls in town.
"Hey! May I present you Primrose Everdeen? Primrose, this is Effie." Hazelle says showing Effie to the little girl.
Effie comes closer and shakes softly the little girl's hand. She laughs and babbles an adorable "Hi, I Pwim".
"Hello Prim, I'm Effie." she beams at the toddler, she is adorable with her blond curls and her little red velvet dress.
"She couldn't go to the nursery because she has a cold, so I thought I would bring her here to console her. So we could have some girls time together and maybe you could show her Lady. She adores cats. As you can see." Indeed Prim is still holding her stuffed toy to her chest, it's almost as tall as her and the sight is absolutely too cute.
"Oh yes of course! You know what, we could go behind in the garden it's still warm and Lady live half of her life there." she says waving at them to follow her.
She brings an extra chair for Prim and they settle there with a pot of tea and a plate of sugar cookies and blackberry cupcakes.
Like she had thought, Lady is sprawled on the grass, looking at something under the bush that Effie can't see. She goes to take her in her arms and brings her to Prim. The little girl beams at the sight of the big calico cat with her long fur and her squirrel tail.
"Prim, this is Lady." the little girl looks at Hazelle, looking for her approbation, Hazelle nods and the girl jumps from her chair into Effie's arms to take Lady. Fortunately, Lady is really placid and she lets the little girl pet her and play with her while the two women talk.
"Prim, what do you say to Effie?" Hazelle chides her gently.
"Thank you Effie!" she screams holding Lady in one arm and her stuffed toy under the other.
She is lovely. She overhears her talking to Lady and introducing her to her Buttercup while she talks with Hazelle and it makes them both laugh.
After a while, she gathers her courage and asks her about Haymitch and the girls. Telling her he had mentioned they were not 'his'.
Hazelle thinks for a minute before answering, she is struggling with Posy who's moving while she feeds her.
"Well, he wouldn't like me to talk about that I think but… I think I can say that… He took them in almost two years ago now. He was their closest relative when their parents died. A cousin or something, I'm not sure." she says in a low voice so it wouldn't carry to the girl.
"But Prim she is..." Effie gasps. She must have been a baby…
"Not even three, yes. She doesn't remember them, she only knows Haymitch. Katniss is more difficult. She was five." she says thoughtfully with her eyes on the toddler.
Effie is horrified. She cannot even imagine what these girls have been through… She startles when Hazelle's phone rings, it's her job so she has to answer the call.
In the meantime, Effie watches the little girl play with Lady's fluffy tail.
"I'm so sorry Effie, it was supposed to be my day off but one of the old women I take care of just fell and I have to go to help her. Can you watch the girls for me? I'll be back as soon as I can!" she begs her.
"Oh yes, no problem don't worry! Go! I got this!" Well, she doesn't really… she never really had to take care of children before. Even when she was with her sister they always had their governess nearby, and it was so long ago…
"Thank you, you're the best!" she shouts as she runs back to the shop and to her car.
Fortunately, the girls are angels and the afternoon goes very calmly. Posy sleeps or plays with her rattle most of it and Prim plays with Lady, eats cookies and falls asleep in the big armchair in Portia's study.
By 4:30, the shop's phone rings and she answers it. Hazelle asks her to bring the girls to the dinner. She had to go get the kids at school and it would be easier to meet there. She accepts right away. She doesn't need to be convinced, she was waiting for any excuse to go back to the diner. Not that she wants to see Haymitch, no. She was just stressed to be alone with the girls and she would be reassured to have someone with her, that's all.
She settles Posy in her stroller, takes a very tired Prim and Buttercup in her arms and walks to the diner.
She arrives there first and Haymitch throws her a puzzled and almost angry look as he comes to her.
"What are you doing here?" he asks her, still frowning with wariness.
"Hazelle was at the shop but she had an emergency and she asked me to watch them." she whispers because Prim is still half asleep on her shoulder.
His eyebrows relax and he takes a deep breath. He goes for taking the girl but when he sees she's sleeping on Effie's shoulder he recoils with an eyebrow lifted in surprise.
"She had a big day, playing with my cat, running around Portia and eating way too much biscuits." she explains with an apologetic smile and he laughs a little. It's the first time she sees him doing more than smirk she muses.
Instead he crouches to rock the fussing baby and give her her pacifier. It's funny to see him like that, tender and with a fond look on his face. A week ago she would have thought it impossible.
He stands back and shows her the closest table. "Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you." she answers with a smile sitting down slowly not to disturb Prim.
He brings her the coffee to the table and caresses the girl's blond hair. She doesn't wake up but she buries her face even further in Effie's neck. Haymitch walks away, still wearing that fond half-smile on his face. She thinks he doesn't even realize it.
Hazelle arrives with the rest of the little tribe and takes care of the – again- fussing baby while Haymitch serves everybody cookies. She apologize for the unusual situation and thanks Effie for taking good care of the girls.
Despite all the noise around, Prim doesn't move from her arms, she can feel she is awake at her breathing and the way she holds her neck in her tiny arms. Haymitch's smile has disappeared and he watches her with an expression she doesn't quite know how to decipher from behind the counter but she acts like if she hadn't noticed, chatting cheerfully with Hazelle.
A few minutes later they are all saying goodbye to each other and Hazelle and her kids are gone, while she is still stuck here with Haymitch and the scowl back on his face. He calls Katniss, gives her her glass of milk and her muffin and tells her something, gesturing toward Effie's table. Then the young girl comes and sits at her table.
"Hello, I'm Katniss." she introduces herself with a pout, like if she had been forced to. Well she certainly had been. Effie shakes her hand and introduces herself back.
Katniss looks at her for a while and Effie feels uncomfortable under her suspicious gaze. She doesn't completely look like a child, she can see in her eyes that she has grown up too fast. She is definitely a strong and mature little girl. After a while she relaxes and seems to decide that she likes her well enough.
"Prim seems to like you so you must not be too bad..." she shrugs before going back to her muffin and her homework.
"Well, thank you..." she replies a little surprised but the girls doesn't pay attention to her anymore. She can hear Haymitch blowing air from his nose to contain his laugh.
She finishes her cup of coffee and goes to the counter to pay and leave. She has to go back to the shop, she has been away for too long already.
Prim moves in her arms and yawns. She looks at her before snuggling back in her neck.
"You smell good." she whispers in her ear like some kind of secret. She laughs and kisses her head lightly. She is falling back to slumber already.
She stands in front of the counter and gives Haymitch his money.
"She's right you know, you're not that bad." he tells her with a smirk. She huffs. Trust him not to leave that pass.
"Why, thank you. Finally you see me at my true value!" She jokes with her free hand on her heart. They both laugh as they move to the edge of the counter so he can take the girl in her arms. He suddenly looks less cocky and rubs his nape.
"Thank you, for today. She really seems to have had a good time."
"Pleasure's all mine. She is an angel." she replies with a fond smile looking at the little girl.
"Yeah." he confirms as he leans to take her from her arms. It's the closest they have ever been and she can feel goosebumps in her nape, following the path of his breath. She retreats slightly and sees him looking at her with a smirk.
"And she is right too..." he whispers giving a small head sign toward the toddler in his arms.
Effie clears her throat, feeling strangely self-conscious. "Well, thank you for the coffee, goodbye Haymitch. Goodbye Katniss."
"Goodbye."
"Bye sweetheart."
She gets out without looking back. It's only once she is safely outside that she tries a glance inside by one of the windows. She sees Haymitch burying his nose in Prim's hair and kissing her head as he takes her upstairs.
She likes to believe it might be to smell her perfume again..
xxx
On that evening, she is in her apartment with Portia, and they talk around a cup of plant infusion in their pyjamas. And of course the conversation heads to Haymitch and the girls.
"You changed your mind about him didn't you?" Portia asks her a lascivious look, wriggling her eyebrows. "I didn't know you were into daddy things..."
"Can you take your mind out of the gutter for five minutes?!" she huffs before bursting out laughing.
"I mean it though. You changed your mind about him. You do not rant about how rude and neglected he is anymore."
"Yeah, well. I don't know.. Maybe seeing him in a different light changed some things, yes." she answers thoughtfully. Her mind back to his eyes on her and the feeling of having him close that afternoon. "You should see him when he stops playing the vulgar card, he can actually be quite charming."
"What? Did he make a move on you that you forgot to tell me about?" Portia asks leaning against the counter to inspect her face, frowning and narrowing her eyes. "I know when you lie to me Euphemia."
"No!" she huffs without missing a beat, feeling the heat coming to her cheeks. "Well not really..."
"Not really?..." Portia repeats, skeptical.
"Well, he said I was 'not that bad'." she faces Portia and her lifted eyebrow and sighs. "And that he liked my perfume..." she surrendered. Waiting for the teasing to come. She knew she would never hear the end of it.
"Your perfume? He could smell your perfume?"
"He only came to take Prim from my arms. She was sleeping."
Portia is really fixing her flushed face now and she just wants to hide.
"You really have a crush on him!"
"No I do not!"
"Yes you do!"
"Portia, No!"
"Okay you don't." she gives her the point, lifting her hands in surrender. "I have to confess something too."
"Tell me..." she is intrigued now, and she is ready to jump on any occasion to switch the subject of her love life.
xxx
It's Monday morning and she is on her way to the diner.
Her week-end has been quite eventful, they spent the days with Caesar and Claudius for the interview and the article. They had been adorable with them, but it had been exhausting to follow them and their enthusiasm. And their young friend Cressida who took their picture had made them run all over the city to find the perfect scenery.
All in all she thinks it had gone pretty well, but she is a little afraid to see the result.
And right now, what she truly needs is her morning coffee and the company of someone she appreciate.
She enters in the diner. It's earlier than usual and there are not many people inside. Only Haymitch behind the counter, the girls taking their breakfast, and two other clients she had never seen before. A middle aged man with a thick brown beard, and a thin woman in her late forties with grey hair and grey eyes. She stands straight and serious and seems cold. Effie feels a shiver down her spine when she looks at her with her piercing milky grey gaze.
She turns back toward the counter and sees Haymitch fixing her with an amused smirk.
"Good morning, Euphemia." he greets her, containing a laugh. She sighs as she spots the newspaper on the corner of a table.
"Oh no... They used my full name?" she winces as she tears the pages to find the article.
"Come on princess, it's not that bad.." he laughs, putting a fresh cup of coffee in front of her.
"Princess now? To what do I owe… Oh!" she gasps when she sees the main picture in the center of the page. Her high school Homecoming Queen picture… with her too dark foundation, her glittery eyeshadow and her ridicule crown around her tight hairdo… How did they even get it?
"Well Homecoming Queen was too long, Laura Palmer too creepy and Prim insisted you looked like a princess, so… Princess it is!" he shrugs nonchalantly.
She rolls her eyes and shushes him so she can read in peace. She really hopes the article will make up for this outrage!
She reads it silently, sipping her coffee and biting her thumb nail. She doesn't even realizes she is doing it until she feels Haymitch's hand tugging on her arm. Hopefully, the article is good, it shows her under the right light and not like the latest freak in town like she had feared. She relaxes and asks Haymitch for a refill.
She almost jumps in fright when she sees the grey woman appearing from nowhere at her side. She is gauging her and her gaze is everything but kind. When Haymitch sees her he frowns and comes closer.
"What do you want Alma?" he asks her harshly. He doesn't seem to appreciate her much either.
"I'd like to pay." she answers and hands him some money. Then she turns back toward her and outstretches her hand. "I am Alma Coin, the director of the real estate agency."
Oh, yes she must have seen her name somewhere on the papers when she had bought the shop. Hopefully she hadn't had to deal with her directly, her associate Boggs had been a far more pleasant encounter.
She shakes her hand and introduces herself needlessly.
"Effie Trinket, glad to meet you." she tries to smile but it feels strained even to her.
"I hope you are enjoying the town Miss Trinket. To the pleasure of seeing you again." she says taking her change on the counter before turning around and walking to the door. She all politeness and propriety, but it's so cold it becomes frightening.
When she opens the door she falls face to face with an older man on his way to enter. He must be in his late fifties with totally white hair and beard. They both froze at the sight of each other.
"Alma. What a pleasure meeting you here." he tells her with a big smile tilting his head slightly to the side.
"Corry. I did not expect you here." she replies with a fake smile of her own.
Effie feels strangely ill-at-ease but she cannot take her eyes away from this enthralling scene. It's like witnessing a train wreck.
"Well, I should have known I would find you here. You're still hooked on this beverage are you?"
"Maybe I am. You should be careful though, you know it's dangerous for old hearts."
"Since when do you care about my heart, dear?"
"Since I learned I could destroy it." with those words, she walks passed him and leaves without a glance back.
The man enters and salutes her with a wide carnivorous smile. She has to admit she begins to be afraid and to regret coming this morning. If she was falsely polite, he is falsely cordial. She has yet to decide which one is the worst.
"The famous Miss Trinket, I presume." he states as he shakes her hand. He quickly throws a glance at Haymitch but doesn't give him a word. Instead he goes back to Effie. "I am Coriolanus Snow. Congratulation for the article, it was quite entertaining."
She couldn't say why but she doesn't hear it as a compliment.
"Well, thank you M. Snow."
His faces close as he takes the cup of coffee from Haymitch's hand but, his smile reappears when his eyes fall on Effie again. "If you need anything, you're welcome in my pawnshop my dear." He says as he hands her his card. "I hope we'll meet again, it's been a pleasure."
She waits until the door has closed on his back to release the breath she had been holding all along. She shudders and hears Haymitch laugh sympathetically next to her.
"Divorced. Now they're fighting for 'who owns the most of the town'. For now, Snow wins…" he explains her. "Two snakes together… couldn't end well..." he adds thoughtfully.
She scoffs at that, still horrified by the encounter. She prays that she won't ever have to see any of them again.
"Don't worry princess, as long as you don't have money problems, there's no reason for you to see them." he reassures her, like if he could read in her mind. She doesn't answer and simply keeps drinking her coffee.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Haymitch clears his throat and leans over the counter to look at the article.
"You do look like a princess you know." he says.
She thanks him hesitantly, not really sure it's a compliment in his mouth. And she happens to be right because he continues teasing her.
"You look... stuck up. With too much makeup. A ridiculous dress… Yeah, a real princess!" he laughs.
She knows he is trying to coax a response out of her with falsely mean gibes. To make her jump on the occasion to bicker.
"The typical spoiled rich brat who never needed anything in her life." He continues.
She knows perfectly he is mostly joking and that it's not meant to hurt, but she can't help herself. She takes it the wrong way. It hits too close from home.
She doesn't answer right away. Searching for a good word to retort. But she takes too much time and he keeps going.
"You didn't change that much though. You still have a thing for ridiculous clothes and makeup."
She laughs to hide her hurt, but it still stings, especially considering that she makes most of her clothes herself, or Portia does. She sees his smirk disappear as he picks up on her strained smile and fake laugh. It sounded wrong even to her.
"Princess..." he is interrupted by the door slamming open on Hazelle, running inside to urge the girls outside. She just pecks Effie's cheek, congratulate her for the article and excuse her lateness in a breath, and the next second she is gone with the girls.
She drinks the lasts drops of her coffee in one gulp and stands up.
"Effie..." he sighs, looking truly sorry. But she doesn't give him time to finish, she won't acknowledge her humiliation.
"It's alright! I simply need to go back to the shop, I'll be late, Portia isn't here this morning and I still have a batch of cookie to make! See you later." she babbles with the best smile she can draw on her face as she hands him the money and runs outside.
She spends the whole walk to the shop wondering what's wrong with her. She knows that he always teases her and it had never bothered her before, she always had something to retort, even when it was about her appearance so that wasn't the problem. It had more to see with the use of the new moniker having a negative connotation in his mind and his mouth. And because he wasn't entirely wrong. he would have been right a few years ago. But she is a completely different person now and she hates being dragged back then… She would have never thought he would think that of her just because she takes care of her appearance. She thought he knew her a little better than that now.
The rest of this rainy day goes as usual. They get few customers and are debating about closing earlier because of the early falling night and the dreadful weather when the doorbell rings. She comes back inside the boutique to find Haymitch there with the girls.
"Oh, good afternoon! What can we do for you?" she greets them with her best commercial smile.
"Hum, Katniss torn her coat and hum, she needs hems. And Prim harassed me to go see Lady again so..." he stammers, rubbing his neck with his free hand.
"Oh! Yes of course! No problem!" she replies, a little surprised. She really doesn't know what to say to him. She feels ridiculous for her behavior that morning…
"Oh, hello!" Portia comes to her rescue from her study. She goes to Katniss. "So I heard you needed my help?" The girl nods with a guilty pout. "Come with me." Portia drives her and her bag to her study, she glances behind her shoulder to wink at Effie.
Now they are alone, and an unpleasant silent settles in the room. After a second she comes back to herself.
"Oh yes, Lady! Hum, she must be here I think." she says, waving her hand showing him to follow her.
Indeed, Lady is there, sleeping in the shelves under the stairs leading to their apartments. Prim squeals in delight the moment she spots her and almost jumps from Haymitch's arms. He puts her down and she runs toward the cat. She doesn't pay any attention to them anymore.
"Thank you." he tells her with a small smile. She simply smiles back, there is not much more to say.
"Haymitch..." she begins but he speaks at the same time.
"Princess..." she snorts at the return of the infamous pet name. She need a little time to gather her thought and think about the words she'll use.
"I'll go make some tea." she declares. He lifts his hand to stop her but she's already gone.
She comes back with two mugs of steaming green tea. She opens her mouth to speak first but he cuts her, lifting a hand in front of her face.
"Listen, I really didn't mean to vex you or hurt your feelings, sweetheart. It was just a joke. A stupid one maybe but..." he says, and she can see a slight blush creeping on his cheeks.
She cuts him and puts him out of his misery. It's obvious that he's not used to apologies.
"It was not that. I know what I'm worth in terms of beauty, I do not need your opinion on that." she says with a sly smile. He laughs a little and seem to relax a bit. "It just that… I didn't expect the term 'princess' to be such a foul word for you. And I don't like people assuming things about me like that."
"I didn't mean it to sound like an insult. Really. I'm sorry." he says, putting his hand on her shoulder. He takes it away immediately but she can still feel the warmth of his hand lingering on her skin through the wool of her red turtleneck.
She smiles back at him and they stay silent a moment, watching Prim squeezing Lady in her tiny arms.
"How wrong was I?" he finally asks. Looking curiously at her.
"Not that much. In a way." she answers keeping her eyes on the little girl. "I was rich, and I did have everything served to me on a silver plate. For a while." she stops for a second. Thinking about what she should tell him and what she should keep for herself. "I have even been a model when I was young." he huffs that she is still young, but she waves that remark away and continues. "But it doesn't mean I was happy like that. And anyway it's over now. I hate that you see me like this. I know what real life is, you know, I'm not just that 'spoiled brat' as you say."
She doesn't realize her voice is wavering and tears are pooling in her eyes until she feels Haymitch's hand on her arm again and she stops talking.
"I'm sorry Princess. I really didn't mean any of it." he says in a low regretful voice, frowning and stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "Well, except the clothing part. Seriously what are those?" he asks pointing at the big pearls on her skirt belt.
This times she knows he is joking and she laughs with him. He is still holding her hand but she doesn't comment on it. She doubts he realizes it.
Then they fall in silence again but this time it's comfortable. Only broken by Prim babbling and laughing.
Suddenly they hear hurried footsteps behind them, and Katniss barges in to show him her freshly mended coat and the little black bird Portia had embroidered on her tee-shirt.
They go back to the shop and she sees Haymitch taking his wallet out of his jacket.
"Oh no no! It's on me! I insist!" she says stopping him with a hand on his arm. Then she goes back behind the counter and takes two chocolate cookies she hands to the girls. They both jump on her to thank her and take their gift.
"No really, you don't have to do this." he says, shuffling awkwardly on his feet.
"It's my pleasure. As a giftto win the loyalty of my customers" she says with a wink. "Don't worry, I won't spoil them." she adds for him only and he looks at her with an exasperated and embarrassed look.
"I really didn't..." he begins but she doesn't let him finish.
"I know. They won't be good to sell tomorrow anyway. You're saving me from a waste of perfectly good food. Or from ten extra minutes of running on Sunday morning." she jokes to lighten the mood.
It works for a while, but then she feels him tense again.
"Not that you would need it." he says. She believes he means the running part. "You're much better now anyway." he adds as he follows the girls outside.
He means prettier than on her pictures she presumes. It's clumsy but she can't help finding his attempt at flirting with her cute.
She waves them goodbye by the window and turns over. She ends up face to face with Portia and her cunning grin.
She won't hear the end of this…
xxx