Our Own "Happy ever after..."

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and no money as been made out of this.

Chapter 6

Effie entered the Penthouse still thinking about the conversation she had overheard. Should she tell someone? Should she tell Haymitch? Maybe I should just forget about it... Somethings are just better left alone... And I'm quite sure I should've not heard that... But they were talking about Thirteen... No! If I go and start wonder about things that are not my businesse it will only end up badly for me!

She decided to keep those thoughts out of her mind for now. It would do her no good. Besides, Effie was curious about what Haymitch had in store for the day. He wasn't much of a romantic man, but he had his moments. Like when he had LITERALLY defended her from Jasmine, stating that she was way hotter than Eleven's Escort. Ok, maybe that wasn't that much romantic. That wasn't romantic at all. But it was Haymith, and for him it was a lot. Besides, he had been sober at the time. Almost sober. Now that she thought about it, Effie wondered if her padrons had gonne low...

Effie looked around, trying to figure out where her favorite and only Victor was. Had he gonne back to his bedroom? Or maybe he had already left... The dinning table was already clean, wich meant it had passed more time than she suspected... If she hadn't known that Chaff was giving an interview, she might had considered going to Eleven's floor, but it just wasn't worth it.

Sudendly, she felt something wrape around her waist. Haymitch kissed up and down her jawline, making her moan. Uncounsciouly, she leaned back into his embrance, happy to just be herself for once. He was taller than her, even with her insanelly high high-heels. She liked to think that their bodies had been made to fit eachother perfectly.

"You ready to leave?" he was still resting his shin on her shoulder.

"You have yet to tell me where we are actually going..." she turned around. They stared at eachother, and she could see that for once, he had dressed himself in a proper way. Grey trousers and black shirt. It wasn't the mots glamorous suit ever, but it was better than she expected Haymitch to pick for himself, ever!

"It's a surprise." she pursed her lips in response, not quite sure of what to expect out of that. "Don't worry, it's nothing as bad as you are imagining. I just thought that you would prefer to spend sometime out of the Penthouse."

"You know what? You can actually be nice when you want, sweatheart." Effie sent him a devious smirk, knowing how much it anoyied him when she used that word.

"My word." was the only answer she got, mumble under his breath.

They enjoied the confortable silence in the limusine. No matter what she did, it seemed Haymitch wouldn't be telling her much. But she enjoied it anyway. It had been a long time since she last had a boyfriend. In fact, she hadn't had one since she had started seeing Haymitch. But that was another thing they prefered to ignore.

Slowly, Haymitch placed his hand over hers. In years before, he would have placed it on her legs, knees, and if he was daring (or drunk), on her tights. He knew that things had changed over the years. He knew thing were going to change in the future. He knew he couldn't get away from whatever he had developted for his Escort. But he also knew that he could never put her in any danger.

He remembered one conversation they had shared a few years ago. For such a modern person, Effie had quite the like for old , not old, just... Not from their time. At the time, she had listed a number of things she would like to do, only that she didn't have time. So, Haymitch still trying to apoligiese for his tantrum in Twelve and for ruinning her visit and making her work more than necessary, he decided that a day off couldn't do much damage.

Besides, their kids had done great this year. They might actually get a chance. Of course he knew better than to get atached, but his Escort was a diferent matter. That was the fist thing that caught his eye when she had first started working with him. She cared! She tried to help the kids even if she knew she might get emotionaly hurt. From what he remember, the woman who had been in Effies place before only cared for her screen-time. There had been some problems between them, but thankfully the danm creature had decided she prefered to work in the fashion world rather than at his side.

He was ripped from his thoughts when Effie placed a kiss on his cheek. He first felt confused at the sudden show of afenction, but as soon as he saw the street they were in, he smirked down at her.

"You didn't have to do this, you know?"

"And you didn't have to try and keep me sober, and still you did."

"What can I do? I've allways liked a good chalange." from the look she was giving him, he had donne the right thing, bringing her there.

"Uhm... so... Any place you would like to go first?" Haymitch tried to think of anything, anything but the way Effie was leaning in his shoulder, giving him a perfect view of her... assets.

"I don't know... what had you planned?"

"Well, I was thinking that we could go for a walk... maybe then have lunch, and then, I have another surprise."

"Uhm... Two surprises in one day? Something really good must've happen..." the car stoped and Haymitch decided to be the gentleman Effie was training him to and pull open the door for her, ofering his arm. "How charming..."

"I know... what can I say, maybe I'm hopping for something good to happen..."

"Keep up like this and it will." Effie stood on tip-toes and kissed his cheeck, again.

We must really look like two teenagers, acting like this. Oh, screw it, this is Effie's day off and I'm gonna make it great! And maybe later, who knows...

Together, they started walking down the street. To Haymitch, it was quite a weird expirience Usually he and Effie had to be carefull around other people, but there, it seemed nobody cared about them. It was kind of refreshing.

And even the people and the stores, the atmosphere and everything in all, it seemed so diferent... It was hard to explain. It wasn't like Twelve or the other Districts, but it wasn't like the Capitol either. It was more friendly. The kind of place where any stranger that crossed your way would greet you. It wasn't all modern and extravagant like the rest of the city. It was more... wellcoming, warm, cozy...

Effie was bursting with excitement. Her already bubly personality was even bublier, and she just couldn't stop looking around, clinging to his arms.

Contrasting with the fancy shops tipical of the Capitol, those were much smaller, and the people selling the products didn't lie or dragged you threw the all place only to try and convice you to buy something.

Sometimes they had to stop because Effie couldn't stop herself and had to buy something. But to Haymitch relief, it wasn't all that bad. She even got him a scarf black and yellow.

"Now you can't complain about the cold weather and snow." that's what she had said to him when he asked why the fuck she had bothered.

The Capitol woman had also bought one scarf for herself (not that she would wear it, since the weather was completely controled by machines in her home-city), with blue and light brown shinning colors. There was also a black t-shirt, with what seemed to be a blue eye, that Haymitch knew very well sne would only use as a pajama. There also was an actual pajama, pink with litle white foxes.

They were getting to the end of the street, when Haymitch sneaked an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Effie gladly relaxed in his arms, as they entered what seemed to be a litle restaurant.

To the ones outside it wasn't possible to see the space inside, but she had to be honest: Haymitch had picked quite the place. The walls were made of strange material that seemed to have litle cristals reflecting the light coming from outside, while the ground was covered in a soft black carpet. The dim light made the wight sofas seem darker than what they actually were, and the tables were like the ones one would have on their living room. Another good thing about it was that it wasn't even very crowded.

"Haymitch?" Effie tried to get his attention once they were sat. There was something bothering her.

"Uhm...?" he didn't look up from the menu, only quircking an eyebrow to show he was listenning.

"It's not that I'm not enjoying being here with you and the walk or that I don't apreciate the effort you place in this but... This is a litle out of character for you. You are not the romantic type, and even if I joked about it earlier... Why did you plan this? Why now? Why no-"

"Because you can't keep control." he placed down the menu and scratched his chin, something he allways did when he couldn't find the right words to expresse himself. "Every single year you work until you're exausted. Every year you come closer and closer to a breacking point, and I can't just stand and watch you do that to yourself. I know the Games are hard to you, they are to everyone who has a concious. Even if you've never said it before, I know you feel guilty about all those ki-"

"Haymitch! What are you doing!? You know you can't just say those things!" she hissed throught her theeths has she smiled towards a table where an old couple sat.

"That's why I choose this place. Nobody here cares about those things, and it's very rare to see a Peacekeeper around here." he grabed her hand. "I know what you are thinking right now. I know why you told her who you're family was and why you showed her the cross!" he let out a breth and looked at the window. " Just... don't get to atached. You allways do and you allways get hurt. I don't like that."

"It's diferent this time." she didn't dare to look at him. She knew he was right. Every single year there was one more child hunting her dreams. And she knew she wouldn't be able to take it anymore.

"You don't know. Even if the boy's strong and the girl good with knifes and an arrow, it might turn out just like before. Even if our stylists are good, and even if Sponsors are finally looking at Twelve, it might not be enough."

"But if I give up, then wh-"

"I'm not saying you have to give up!" Haymitch grabed both her hands this time, his eyes pleading while hers were shinning with tears. "I'm just... I just don't want you to get hurt, yeah? I don't think I can do this without you..." his last sentence had been in a whisper.

"I'll do my best." she squized his hands to making understand she was serious.

"Goodafternoon. Are you ready to order?"

Both Escort and Victor had been so focused on the conversation that neither had seen the waitress come closer. She seemed to be a young woman with black and golden stripes and more or less flat nose.

"Tigris?"

"Effie! You look good! What are you doing here? And with your Victor! It's been ages since I last saw you!"

"I could say the same! I thought you were a stylist!" Haymicth was starting to regreat bringing Effie here.

"Oh, well, you know... It was fun but way to much work! I mean, who doesn't like some litle fame,but it just wasn't worth it." the woman caled Tigris waved her hand as if saying that it meant nothing. "This is much better. I have much more free time now. Anyway, can I take you're order?"

"Ah..."

"We would like numbers three, seven and forteen. And two beers." Effie looked at Haymitch, surprise with him for joining the conversation like that. Kind of rude, if he asked me.

"Right away."

Tigris went back to the kitchen humming. Seconds later she came back with three plates and two mugs of craft beer. She placed them on the table and left.

"Haymitch, what are these?"

"These ones here are Bruschetta with meat and cheese curd, those are Tapioca dumplings with sweet and sour sauce and there also are duck croquettes."

"For your own good, I hope these are tasty."

The rest of lunch went smoothly. They kept teasing eachother and talking about nothing and everything. Effie actually enjoyed the food, and even promessed that next she would be the one picking the restaurante for them.

When they finally finished, Haymitch stood up. However, instiead o going to the bathrooms, like she thought she would do, her Victor walked over to Tigris who was cleaning some glasses. After hearing whatever she hasd said, the the woman disapeared again in the kitchens.

"What did you tell her?" Effie asked as soon as he arrived back at the table. He didn't sit, thought.

"Time for your surprise, princesse. I hope you like it, 'cause it was fucking impossible to find it."

"Find what?" Haymitch grabed her hand and walked with her to what seemed to be a stage.

In the midle of it there was a table with a black screen. Suddendly, music started playing and Tigris handed Haymitch two microphones.

"Hay- Haymitch? What's all of this?" Effie stared at the microphone he had just handed her.

"Do you know how you allways say how much fun it would be if we could do some o the stuff people did before Panem existed? Well, guess what. The drunkard from Twelve found a place where his Escort could do some karaoke."

"Wait, hold on. You can sing?"

"I had to present a talent when I won the Games, didn't I?"

"Haymitch... I... Thank you. And you're not a drunkard. No matter how many times I call you that."

Lyrics started appearing on the screen and Effie had to admite that, belive it or not, Haymitch Abernathy was a good singer. He really had outdone himself. Soon, she joined him in the song.

Later, they wouldn't remember what songs they had sang. In that moment, they were happy and relaxed, their minds far away from all the problems.

Haymitch could see that Effie really was happy. She was in her element after all. Happy, loud, bubbly, that was his Effie. And seeing the looks and smiles she was sending him, he knew he had acomplished his goal.

To be continued...

A.N.: Hey everyonne! Sorry for the really late update. But here itr is anyway. I just thought that Effie would love karaoke! And besides, I wanted Haymitch to look a litle more relaxed and in love than usual. Anyway, I hope you enjoyedand sorry for any mistakes, I will come back tomorrow to fix them, but right now I gotta go get everything ready for school. Adeus.