Chapter Seventy-Nine; A Happy Idiot

(Stephanie & Haymitch's POV)

Stephanie waited in horrified silence; her own words ringing in her ears.

She had never wanted to say them but Haymitch had pushed her and pushed her.

"You saw me last night with another woman, is that right?" Haymitch said and Stephanie found she couldn't quite decipher his tone.

"Yes," Stephanie whispered brokenly.

Suddenly Haymitch leaned back against the leather car seat, expelling a very obvious sigh of relief.

Stephanie glared at him darkly.

What the hell was he doing? Did he feel no remorse?

The quick upsurge of anger at Haymitch's dismissiveness overcame her despair for a moment.

"Well what the hell do you have to say for yourself?" Stephanie demanded angrily.

Haymitch rolled his eyes – actually rolled his eyes at her. Stephanie gawped in astonishment that he could be so damn flippant at a time like this.

Haymitch was at a serious risk of being hit in a moment if he wasn't careful, Stephanie thought dangerously.

"And where was this?" Haymitch asked her, decidedly ignoring her demand that he explain himself.

Stephanie wanted to tell him that he had no right to ask her questions but Haymitch's cool demeanour and composure made Stephanie suddenly unsure.

It had been Haymitch. Hadn't it?

"The main hallway of the one that led to the back room the tributes were in," Stephanie said, still frowning at Haymitch, though her eyes now flickered uncertainly. "I was in the corridor facing it," Stephanie added.

Haymitch eyed her coolly with an arched brow.

"Any reason why you decided to hide in hallways spying on me?" Haymitch asked.

Stephanie bristled in utter outrage.

"So you aren't denying it!" Stephanie exclaimed.

"Damn it Stephanie! You were the one who ran off to who knows where – because I certainly don't. You don't seem to tell me anything it seems until it is ready to blow up in our faces!" Haymitch said, his voice just barely below shouting.

Stephanie was stunned into silence, as an uncomfortable feeling of guilt settled in her, chasing away the anger for a moment.

Haymitch looked at her, seemingly satisfied that she seemed to be chastised.

"Now – the woman you saw me with," Haymitch said.

Stephanie looked up at him, suspicion prevalent in her gaze.

Haymitch shook his head despondently before he looked at Stephanie and when he spoke his tone was quiet, and his grey eyes were almost mournful.

"Did it even occur to you to think about what you are accusing me of?" Haymitch asked her.

Stephanie stared at him perplexed and Haymitch sighed deeply.

"Sweetheart, trust is a two way street. You obviously think I have been going behind your back with another woman…"

Stephanie didn't deny that was what she had been thinking but she felt far less sure than she had been that morning when she woke.

"Do you really think I would do something like that? That I could do something like that to you?" The look of hurt disbelief was clear in Haymitch's grey eyes and Stephanie swallowed; a feeling of dread – dread that she had been incredibly stupid crept into her gut.

Stephanie remained silent, not knowing what to say.

Haymitch leaned back suddenly, looking out the window; his gaze distant.

"Who was she?" Stephanie asked quietly as she dropped her gaze. But her tone wasn't accusatory, merely curious now.

Haymitch gave a dry chuckle. "You've met her before actually," he replied.

Stephanie looked at him in confusion.

"She caught is in a rather…compromising situation." Haymitch gave Stephanie a wry smile.

Cogs in Stephanie's head began to turn slowly as a thoughtful look came over her.

Stephanie tried to recall as much detail about the woman she had seen in Haymitch's arms as possible.

Shoulder length bronze hair – a distinctive, white clip.

The memory hit Stephanie with the speed of a bullet.

She and Haymitch had been involved in 'close combat'. She had entered Stephanie's room to return her clothes and had caught them and then ran out.

Green eyes, shoulder length bronze hair, white Capitol uniform – a distinctive white clip.

The Avox girl who had caught them before.

Haymitch saw the recognition dawn on Stephanie's face and flashed her a rueful smile, but in his eyes there was still an element of hurt.

That after all Haymitch thought he knew Stephanie and she him, that she would so easily suspect him of cheating on her, of going behind her back.

It was the fact that Stephanie had seriously thought that Haymitch could sink so low, had thought him capable of hurting her like that. She wasn't even going to ask him about it at first – already signing it off as fact. She wasn't even going to deem him with an opportunity to explain himself. He had to practically force it out of her. That was what stung like hell.

Ironically as Stephanie's heart was eased, Haymitch's was burdened. The bite of betrayal had left Stephanie only to hit Haymitch; well perhaps not so strong as betrayal, but he certainly felt the bitter sting of something by Stephanie's evident distrust that would cause her to dismiss everything she knew about Haymitch – that he loved her, that he wasn't some Capitol sleaze dog – to suspect him at all.

"Wait," Stephanie said, her brow creasing with confusion once more. "I still don't understand. Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we get there," Haymitch replied.

Haymitch sighed tiredly. "The reason you saw…" Haymitch began to explain when Stephanie cut across him.

"You don't need to explain anything. I believe you. I'm sorry I ever doubted you." Stephanie took Haymitch's nearest hand in both of hers, raising it to her lips to press a tender kiss to the scarred knuckles, her eyes burning brightly, apology and remorse for her foolishness evident in her gaze along with complete trust.

Haymitch smiled ruefully at her then, shaking his head as he pulled her towards him. "You're a damn idiot, do you know that?" Haymitch murmured, even as Stephanie pressed herself closer.

Their lips immediately met and Stephanie raised her hands to cup Haymitch's jaw as she stroked her thumbs against the slight stubble.

Stephanie sought to put everything she felt into the kiss; to let Haymitch know that she trusted him implicitly and that she was truly sorry for thinking he could do that.

She didn't know what had occurred or where they were even going but Stephanie found she didn't need to know. She loved and trusted Haymitch without condition.

Haymitch didn't instantly forgive Stephanie. He was still slightly annoyed that she doubted him so easily, but her words that she had denied him having to explain, showed to him that she did trust him and she was truly sorry and besides; he loved her.

When they parted Stephanie rested her forehead briefly against Haymitch's, looking intently into his eyes for a moment. "I am truly sorry Haymitch," Stephanie enforced in a quiet whisper.

Haymitch lifted a hand, threading it through her hair as he pulled her in for another kiss. His other held her securely around the waist, while one of Stephanie's hands smoothed through Haymitch's hair, the other wrapped tightly around his shoulder.

As they broke apart Stephanie nestled closer to Haymitch, tracing a line of loving kisses down his jaw, before she nuzzled her face into the familiar crook against Haymitch's neck.

Strands of his hair traced ticklish patterns across her cheek even as Stephanie reached down to entwine her hand with Haymitch's, his other arm still holding her to him tightly.

As Stephanie inhaled the familiar scent of Haymitch only one thought occurred to her. I'm safe.

"Yes, but I am happy to be an idiot this time," Stephanie told Haymitch.

She smiled as she felt Haymitch chuckle.

Stephanie raised her head to once more press a kiss to Haymitch's cheek. "I love you, Haymitch."

"I know. I love you too."

In case anyone wants a reminder of the 'Avox' mentioned, it was back in Chapters 33 (Close Combat) / Chapter 34 (Deal with the Devil).