Chapter 5: A Magic Dress

She woke up a little before dawn, neatly tucked in a bed that was entirely unfamiliar. Disoriented and still groggy from sleep, she turned on the light and looked around the bedroom, panicking a little before the memories of the previous day finally sank in. She flopped down on her back and sighed, staring at the circular glow of the lamp on the ceiling.

Too much had happened the previous day. Entirely too much.

She wasn't surprised she had dropped asleep right where she had been sitting. She supposed Haymitch must have carried her to bed after all.

It was early yet. Far too early to be up and about in a foreign house like she would have done at her parents'. And there was no maid to ring for a breakfast tray or even just coffee…

She sat up anyway, knowing she would be too keyed up to go back to sleep, and slipped her legs from under the covers to check on her ankle. The swelling had gone down a little. Satisfied, she unwrapped it only to wrap it tighter and then sat cross-legged, glaring at the huge shape of the wedding dress tossed over a chair in the corner.

Then she noticed the small zipped pouch on the nightstand. She found needles, unpractical scissors and plain white thread inside. The sewing kit she had asked for.

Well, then… No time like the present.

It was hard work, made harder still by the lack of proper scissors. She didn't mind the task though. She liked sewing. It would have been better if she had had some paper and a pen to sketch a pattern first but she had her ideas well in her head – fast and practical would have to do. She hummed a little as she worked away the hours to a reasonable time to be up, pausing only to watch the sun rise over the line of Haymitch's property. It was a beautiful sight despite the overgrown backyard.

When she heard the house getting alive a couple of hours later, she was ready.

She hadn't meant to make an entrance but Haymitch and the children were already in the kitchen by the time she joined them, still limping and hopping a little to spare her ankle.

Like the previous night, they all stopped what they were doing – taking a hurried breakfast still in pajamas, apparently – to stare at her. The girls were gaping. Haymitch was staring.

"Good morning!" she chirped cheerfully, stealing the mug Haymitch was holding since he had obviously just finished pouring himself a cup of fresh coffee. He lifted his eyebrows at her and she winked. Any protest he would have mustered at the theft vanished from his face and he wordlessly reached for another mug in the cupboard.

At least, she mused, even if she was penniless and homeless, she clearly still had game.

"You're magic…" Prim whispered with awe.

Haymitch snorted.

Katniss was more pragmatic. "How did you do that from that other ugly dress?"

Effie turned a little so they could have a better look at what now appeared to be a white cocktail dress far too chic to be worn at breakfast. She had taken out the puffy sleeves and only kept the bodice part of the dress intact. She had also stripped it down from its multiple layers of tulle and organza, using some of that fabric to add a shorter flowy chiffon skirt to the bodice. It wasn't a masterpiece but it would do for now.

"Do you like it?" She pouted a little. "I couldn't quite perfect the seams. It would have been easier with a sewing machine…"

"There's an old one in the garage." Haymitch offered hesitantly. "There's lot of shit in the garage… House came with everything in it so I shoved what I didn't want in there… There might even be clothes and shoes in those boxes…"

"Yeah, for old ladies." Katniss mocked. "Why don't we ask mom? They're about the same size."

Effie wasn't keen on borrowing clothes from a woman who had given up the two darling girls as if they were friends. She had very little intentions of becoming friends with Aster. "I might take you up on the shoes if you think they would fit… I should not put the heels back on right away."

"Are you staying?" Prim asked, her bright blue eyes were imposingly wide – and hopeful.

She searched Haymitch's gaze first and glanced at Katniss to make sure no objection would come from that quarter and then she smiled. She didn't even have to force herself. "For now, yes."

Prim let out a joyful shout that made both Katniss and Haymitch smile indulgently. Effie herself couldn't quite bite down her smile even as she sat down and took a sip of her stolen coffee. She made a face. Far too sweet. It was drown in milk. She liked her coffee strong and bitter to give her a kick.

Prim had grabbed a passing Buttercup and was now holding him against her chest, all lost in her happiness.

"Darling, cats do not belong on the breakfast table." she remarked without even thinking about it.

The girl put the cat back down, her smile still bright, and leaned toward Katniss to exchange a private whisper that wasn't that private. "I told you she was a real magic princess."

Effie chuckled and Haymitch shook his head but there was a smile floating on his lips too. Breakfast turned out to be a disorganized affair that was interrupted by the entrance of a large black man with a missing hand. The infamous Chaff, she supposed.

The man was welcomed with cheers from Prim and some enthusiasm from Katniss. Haymitch didn't bother standing up, simply dropping his chin in a lazy nod as a greeting. Chaff's dark eyes fell on Effie immediately and his eyebrows shot up.

"Effie Trinket." she offered when it became obvious nobody would make the introductions. She outstretched a hand that he shook over the table, dragging a spare chair from the corner of the kitchen and wedging it between Katniss and Prim. He also poured himself a mug of coffee like he was at home so she deduced he was probably used to coming and going from the house as he pleased.

"Trinket?" Haymitch snorted. "Why am I not surprised you've got a ridiculous last name?"

She pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes and tilted her head at him in warning. The teasing was all well and good but there was a little too much of it for her tastes so early in the morning.

"We never did make it to last names, did we?" she deadpanned.

There was an incredulous cough from Chaff. The man was glancing between them as if he didn't know if he ought to be delighted or plain wary.

Effie surmised he had never found an unknown woman at his friend's breakfast table before.

"Mind filling me in, buddy?" Chaff asked, laughter in his voice. "Cause… Didn't really understand what the kid told me yesterday."

He ruffled Katniss' hair, which seemed to annoy the girl a lot – Effie could relate. Even at the girl's age she would have murdered anyone who had dared mess with her hair.

"Sure." Haymitch nodded but before he explained anything, he winked at her. "It's Abernathy, by the way."

"And Everdeen." Katniss added firmly.

"Yeah." Haymitch smirked. "Abernathy and the Everdeens. Keep saying we should make a rock band or something."

"Katniss could sing." Prim said.

"I'm not singing." the girl retorted. "Finish your cereals, we need to get you dressed for school."

It was on the top of Effie's tongue to remind Katniss she was not the parent there but since Haymitch didn't comment, she kept her peace. Instead, she listened to Haymitch recounting what sounded like a crazy tale of a woman in a wedding dress high jacking a stranger's car.

"Quite the story." Chaff commented when Haymitch was done making it sound as embarrassing as he could. She actually had to glare and correct him a few times because she had not dramatically limped all the way to his car and she had not almost gotten run over by a truck while rushing across the street and straight into his arms. "Thought I'd drop the girls to school today…" He sought Haymitch's eyes who simply nodded his agreement and then turned back toward Effie. "You need a ride back into the city? I've got to head back there anyway so it ain't out of my way and it will spare you a long bus ride."

"They need you again?" Haymitch asked, clearly curious. "You went there yesterday."

"You know Coin." He shrugged. "She's pissed you won't take her up on her offer so I'm the next best thing."

Effie tried not to look too curious but she must have failed because Katniss leaned in to explain. "Coin's Uncle Haymitch's old boss from the army. He hates her. She's got a security firm or something. Uncle Chaff's a consultant but she wanted Uncle Haymitch to work for her 'cause he's the best."

"That's one way to sum it up." Chaff snorted. "So? You want a ride?"

Effie flashed him a polite smile. "Thank you but I will be staying here for a while."

The man frowned, the fingers he had been drumming on the rim of his mug abruptly stilling. "Define a while."

"Effie's a magic princess." Prim explained casually as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "She's going to fall in love with Uncle Haymitch and become our new mommy."

"Time for school." Haymitch cut in swiftly. "Girls, go get dressed or you're gonna be late…"

Once the girls had scampered away, Effie shot to her own feet, an excuse already on her lips, and she would have made her own escape if Haymitch's hand hadn't shot out and grabbed her wrist. It wasn't a tight grip and she could have broken it at any time but his thumb ran up and down the inside of her wrist once in a very discreet plea so she chose to sit back down.

"The sex was that good?" Chaff scoffed, partly amused and partly…

Effie wasn't sure, she didn't know him enough to say.

It didn't stop her from huffing. "How rude. And offending. I will have you know I am a lady and…"

"Nothing happened. It ain't like that." Haymitch cut her off, with some amusement of his own. His hand lingered on her wrist a few seconds longer before he retracted it to grab his mug of coffee.

"Yeah?" Chaff challenged. "What's it like, then? Cause…" His dark eyes passed over her, studying her and dismissing her in the same breath. "No offense but we don't know you. I ain't sure I want you around my kids."

The retort she had been about to let loose died on her lips. Mostly, Chaff seemed concerned for the children and she could respect that.

Haymitch winced. "The girls need a woman in their life, Chaff, and Effie's got nowhere to go."

That simplistic explanation made her huff again. He was making her look so desperate…

Was it that far from the truth though? If she left Haymitch's house today, where would she go? At her sister's, she assumed, because that was the only plan B she had managed to think of. And chances were Lyssa might not be willing to host her. Not for long anyway. And her sister would also probably insist on her mending bridges with their parents which meant that Effie would have to crawl, grovel and beg for forgiveness and mercy.

She was not in any mood to crawl, grovel or beg.

"I've been telling you for years, you need to find someone." Chaff mocked. "I didn't mean to grab the first stranger you could find and play house with her." The man shook his head. "She's hot. Fine. She's hot. So what? Once you've fucked her a few times you're gonna get bored and…"

"Do you mind?" Effie hissed through clenched teeth. "I am sitting right here."

"Sorry, love." Chaff deadpanned. "I'm telling it like I see it." He had barely glanced at her, his attention was back on Haymitch. "And they need a woman… Fine. Does it have to be the rich runaway bride? Cause that's not a move that inspires immediate trust to me, buddy. How about we look into nannies or au pairs? Pretty sure you can't fuck those but they're also less likely to pick up and leave without notice."

Would she forever be known as the runaway bride now? Probably.

Effie rubbed her forehead.

"You mind giving us a second, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked, his face and his tone hard.

She wanted to protest the return of the pet name but decided it wasn't worth the humiliation of having to sit there and listen to a stranger disparaging her for things she already felt guilty for. "Not at all."

She limped out the room with her head high.

"What the fuck, buddy?" Chaff exclaimed before she was even properly out of the room.

She didn't approve the vulgarity but she could understand the feeling under it all. This was crazy. She knew it. Haymitch knew it. People were bound to comment on just how crazy. Chaff was probably the first one in what would be a really long line.

She dragged herself to the living-room, surveyed the mess of it all and nervously started tidying. She wasn't entirely comfortable moving things in a house that wasn't hers but if she were to stay there… She started small. She folded a plaid that had been left half dangling off the back of the couch, fluffed a few pillows that immediately let out small clouds of dust, piled up the wayward books she found…

She was seriously considering how to tackle the threadbare rug that must have been full of dust and who knew what when Prim came sauntering into the room, happy as you pleased. The girl very naturally held out her arms and Effie picked her up without thinking even though she was starting to get a little too big for that kind of things.

"I'm so happy you're staying." the girl said, squeezing her neck almost too hard to be comfortable.

Effie didn't know how to answer that, not in the least because she suspected Chaff was doing his best to convince his best friend in the next room that she should leave with him back for the city, so she chose the easy way out. "I see you love My little Pony."

Prim was wearing leggings covered with various ponies, pink sneakers, and a long-sleeved pink sweater that made Effie regret the lack of proper sleeves on her own outfit. It was a little too cold for repurposed wedding dresses. She resolved to go through the boxes in the garage. The clothes may be for old ladies as Katniss had said but she might also find something a little more weather appropriate. And she could always try and make it a little more fashionable.

"Do you like My Little Pony?" Prim asked, perking up. "Who's your favorite? My favorite's Pinkie Pie."

"My nephews watch it sometimes." she hummed. "I can't say I really know it though."

She got her face under control before she could wince. Lyssandra had two sons and the extent of Effie's interactions with them was limited to those holidays and parties when it was appropriate for children to attend adults gatherings for a little while. She didn't know if Lyssa's methods of education were entirely the same as their mother's but she was raising her sons to be members of the elite and that didn't include fun time with their aunt.

The only reason she even knew they liked cartoons was because she had caught them watching them in her parents' living-room when she had come back from a shopping session. Mother probably would not have approved so Effie had closed the door to make sure nobody would bother them for a while.

Even so, her nephews were nothing like the two girls. The boys were polite, well-behaved and, frankly, a little boring.

"It's this one." The girl pointed out at the picture of a really pink pony on her leg.

"Nice choice." Effie approved. "Is pink your favorite color?"

"I like all the colors." Prim shrugged. "What's yours?"

"Pink." She grinned.

"Oh…" The girl suddenly grinned back. "Then pink's my favorite too now. After school I'll show you Lady. She's our goat. You didn't see her yet."

"I cannot wait." she deadpanned a little too flatly. She was not exactly ecstatic with their choices of pets and she could honestly say she would probably not be a fan of the goat. Or the geese. Or the psycho cat.

"Can you do my hair?" Katniss asked before she was even properly in the room.

"Of course!" Finally something she was good at. Effie carefully placed Prim down on an armchair, making the girl giggle, and took the hairbrush and hair ties. "What are you in the mood for today?"

"I like braids." the girl offered. "I don't like it when it's in my face."

Effie hummed thoughtfully and then beamed. "How about a crown braid?"

"Oh…" Prim gasped. "Like a princess? Can I have one too?"

"Of course. I might need pins, though. Do you have some of those?" she asked. At their blank expressions, she sighed. "I left mine on the dresser in my room? Prim, can you go get them?" By the time the girl came back with the pins, Effie was almost done with her braiding. She pinned down a few wayward strands and smiled at the finished product. "Here you go. Lovely."

Katniss patted her head and then went over to the gold-framed mirror that truly needed a wash. Actually, if they moved the mirror to the other side of the room it would also give the impression the room was bigger and it would be far more practical. She was sure there must be a glare from the window every time the sun shone too brightly. Assuming the sun ever shone in this part of the country…

"I like it." the girl declared without any particular form of enthusiasm.

"My turn?" Prim asked with what could only be described as puppy eyes.

Effie went to work.

That was how the two men found them, with her deftly securing the girl's blond strands into a braided crown around her head.

"Look, Uncle Haymitch!" Prim laughed. "I'm a princess!"

"You certainly are, sweetheart." Haymitch humored her.

Chaff looked a little less amused and there was not a lot of warmth when he looked at Effie. They must have resolved the runaway bride question though because he didn't offer her a ride again. "You're ready, kids?"

Effie quickly finished the girl's hairdo, then there were a lot of hugs and kisses and talks about lunch boxes and before she knew it, it was only her and Haymitch in the house.

"Chaff's gonna come around." he said awkwardly. "It ain't against you. He's protective. And this whole idea…"

"Is insane." she finished for him, standing up to walk closer to him. She had never liked having a conversation from opposite sides of a room.

"That." Haymitch snorted. "And it ain't really me. I ain't really the spontaneous kind. Or the generous one."

"Says the man who took in two little girls because they had nowhere else to go." she whispered, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Yeah, well…" He wasn't at ease with praises, that much was obvious but she was also standing far much closer to him than she had intended and it seemed to distract him from any awkwardness he could be feeling. His eyes retraced the length of her neck, wandered down her collarbone… She watched his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed hard. His voice turned rough. "Chaff thinks I'd be thinking more clearly if I just fucked you."

So crude…

She wouldn't like that usually.

She abhorred crudeness.

Then why did the words send a thrill down her spine?

Almost unconsciously, she straightened, jutting her chest forward a little, slightly tilting her head to the side…

She should be more afraid than she was. He was still a stranger and they were alone, with her swollen ankle she was at his mercy. The thought was more exciting than scary though.

"And would you?" she challenged.

His grey eyes darted back up, stopped on her lips before meeting her gaze. "Probably."

Again, she felt the compelling urge to shed her clothes and let him do whatever he wanted to her body. Somehow, she knew that it would be more than worth it.

"You do realize it is not in my interest for you to think clearly, then?" she pointed out. "If I let you have me, I will end up homeless…"

She was teasing. Mostly.

She might perhaps also be enjoying the chase.

He snorted. "Can't have that…"

His hand clenched her waist and she wasn't sure at which point he had placed it there or at which point she had stepped even closer, so close there was less than an inch of actual space left between them.

She leaned in even more and he followed the move but she avoided his lips at the last moment to aim for his ear. "Perhaps your friend is wrong though… Perhaps if you have me once, you will find you never want to have another woman again…"

His whole body stiffened.

"Now that…" he drawled "… is a scary thought."

She felt the tip of his too long hair sweep the bare skin of her shoulder first and then… His mouth barely brush her neck. Barely.

It was still enough to send a jolt of electricity down to her core.

She was smiling when he drew back and, given his smirk, he must have felt the same way. The tension building up between them… When it would release, it would be exceptional.

"I'm gonna see if I can find that sewing machine and those boxes of clothes…" he said. "The garage's a mess. Might take me a while. You should rest that ankle."

"It is already better." she argued but did as she was told and sit down on the couch.

Once he left, she grabbed one of the newly dust-free pillow and muffled a very girlish scream into it, feeling both ridiculous and elated. She tossed it back in place, that stupid smile still hanging on her lips, and managed to sit still for exactly ten minutes before she felt guilty for doing nothing when Haymitch and the girls had been so welcoming.

He hadn't lied about it taking a long time because it was nearly lunchtime by the time he came back into the house.

In the meantime, Effie had reordered the meager collection of dvds, rearranged all the books she could find in the house on the shelves by color because it was far more pretty, straightened all the tilted framed paintings, gathered everything that clearly wasn't in its proper place and endeavored to find where that proper place was… She had found a sad-looking grey feather duster and had done her best to clean everything she could with mild results and she was in the process of figuring out how to make the vacuum cleaner work – a first for her certainly – when she heard a man clearing his throat.

"You know…" he commented in that mocking tone of his. "As much as I dig the sexy maid fantasy… If I wanted a housekeeper, I'd just hire one. Pretty sure they'd know how to make that work too."

She glared from where she was sitting on the floor, inspecting the old – and heavy – vacuum cleaner. "Do not make fun of me."

"Wouldn't dream of it." he lied, his eyes dancing with mirth. "I'm serious though. You don't have to do that…" Finally, he seemed to look around the living-room and realize she had been busy. His gaze lingered on the rainbow shelves she was particularly proud of. She was sure the girls would love it – well, Prim at least. He almost choked. "What did my poor books do to you?"

"They were everywhere but on the shelves." she remarked. "Now they are in their proper place and you will find them a lot more easily."

"In this mess?" he scoffed, making a beeline for the closest shelf and running his hand on the spines as if the books were living things that needed comforting. "Look..."

It was almost a growl and she cut off what she already knew would be a rant. "You live with two young children, it is important the house is kept clean and tidy."

"It is clean and tidy." he snapped defensively. And in bad faith, in her opinion. She didn't say anything, she just stared at him, lips pursed, eyebrows lifted, until he rolled his eyes. "Fine. Maybe I ain't that obsessed with housework…"

"You do not say." she deadpanned, outstretching a hand so he could help her up.

He pulled her to her feet, careful of her ankle, and bringing her back into his space. She had to steady herself by placing her free hand on his chest. He was still in his pajamas, she noticed, or at least she supposed they were pajamas since he was wearing white cotton pants stripped with red and white and a thin long-sleeved grey shirt not unlike the one he had lent her the night before.

The chest wasn't as firm as she had expected but it was not soft by any mean either. And it was warm through the fabric.

"Smart ass." he accused.

She didn't bat an eyelash. "Always."

He was already smirking but it deepened. "Is that a promise?"

She licked her lips, dug her front teeth in her bottom lip for a second…

He audibly groaned.

She chuckled and stepped away from him before she lost control and simply kissed him.

"You play dirty." he protested.

"Wouldn't you like to know." she purred.

She was pushing it. The way he was looking at her…

"I'm gonna go have a shower, get dressed… That sort of stuff." he declared, a little abruptly, averting his eyes.

"Will it be a cold one?" she asked innocently.

He shot her a wounded look. "It's not nice to kick a man when he's down, you know… And there I was gonna offer to take you out for lunch…"

"Oh, a date…" she hummed. "Were you hoping to get lucky afterwards?"

He shook his head, unable to hold out his own chuckles. "You're impossible."

She didn't bother trying to fight her grin. "I have a feeling you like it."

"What can I say, I'm a masochist." he deadpanned. She decided he didn't mean that literally though. There was no way a man like him wasn't dominant in bed. "I found some boxes of clothes, I left them on the kitchen table if you want to sort through them… The sewing machine's gonna need some tinkering. I took a look but I'm gonna need parts if you want me to fix it… We can look into that in town after lunch." His eyes glanced down at her bare feet. "If the ankle's alright…"

"It will live." she assured him.

"But will I?" he asked dramatically, a hand on his chest, walking backwards toward the door.

She shook her head, the smile clinging to her lips and let him scamper up the stairs toward his cold shower.

Chaff is NOT sold on this arrangement XD Soo What did you think? Who's your favorite little pony? Do you think they will make it to lunch? Will Chaff come around? Let me know!