A/n. Thank you all for the alert and reviews. A quick update this time because it may be long before the next one comes, major exams and paper in the way. Feedbacks are greatly appreciated. :)

All characters in the Hunger Games belong to Suzanne Collins.

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I'm sorry for the double notification on this chapter but I just realized a major mistake and I have to change it.

"I can't believe the day has come when I see a permanent scowl on Effie Trinket's face," says Haymitch.

"I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"It must be a tragedy in Trinket's household."

I roll my eyes. I know he thinks that whatever issue I have is very trivial, what do I know about suffering when there are two children in the next rooms having, literally, life or death matters in their hands.

I can't tell him my source of worry of course; that Rosie was not feeling too well when I left her. I've been hiding behind my cheerful mask all day and I thought I had the room all to myself but Haymitch just had to come in to the lounge and see my troubled look. Why can't he just stay at the bar cart when I need him to?

"What do you think of the tributes?," I ask changing the subject.

"The girl is feisty for sure but I don't know if she has any useful skills. The boy on the other hand,"

"Yes, I know...," I sigh, cutting him off.

The girl is seventeen, who was giving me attitudes the whole time. She looked at me from head to toe when she had the chance to, not caring that I was fully aware of her action. I know back in Twelve my look seems out of place, with my wig and full make up, but when she is in the Capitol she'll just see how 'normal' I am compared to the rest of the citizens. But the boy is just thirteen years old, barely into puberty it seems from his lean posture and with the protruding bones, I don't think he will get much stronger in a few days. I didn't have the heart to comment on their table manners but I had to, otherwise Haymitch would get all suspicious again. The girl wiped her mouth with her sleeve when I told them off and she can't stop glaring at me ever since. It's bad enough that I pulled their names out but telling them how to behave seems to be too much. I can't really blame her for shooting daggers at me, she must have thought she was almost out of the reaping.

"How is she?" I ask my mother.

"She's better now, her fever has gone down,"

I wipe Rosie's hair away from her sweaty forehead. My heart breaks looking at her even paler than usual complexion.

"How long can you stay or do you need to leave soon?"

I look at my watch. "I have few hours, I'll be fine as long as I make it back before dinner,"

"That's great! Emerald just called me for a fitting, she wants a new dress for the interview, something to match with Caesar's. I'll also have a late lunch with my friends since I missed the reaping lunch yesterday," she chatters on.

"Bye, Effie!" she says as she kisses my cheek.

"Goodbye, mother. I'll see you later."

"I still wonder why you can't just get a Caretaker and save you all this trouble," she says before she closes the door.

She knows well why I can't get a Caretaker. A Caretaker is someone who takes care of the kids in the Capitol when the parents are unable to. I never had one growing up because my mother didn't start working until I was old enough to tend to myself. Mothers in the Capitol don't usually have careers; they just stay at home or out and about when the husbands are at work. Workingwomen like some of my fellow escorts and stylists are usually single, or at least not having a family. When a single income is enough, you might as well enjoy the day or busy planning for the coming social events.

Unlike Avoxes, Caretakers choose this job on their own, and they have to be trained to do that. You wouldn't want to hand your children to someone branded as a traitor. Although I can afford one, I don't want to employ them because just like everyone else in this city, they gossip and soon everyone would know I have a child. My mom knows this too but she still let it slip sometimes. She wouldn't ask me to give up my job though, she's too proud having someone in the family involved in the Games.

My grandmother was a stylist for One and she created some of the most glamorous tribute costumes I have ever seen. My mother has her talent, a sharp eye for colors and patterns and hands able to sew the most difficult patterns. Unfortunately, or should I say fortunately, it is not good enough for the Games committee. She tried again and again, year after year, to apply to be a stylist, but she was rejected. She ended up opening her own boutique and channeling all her passion for the Games on me. Growing up, she always kept my spirit for the games, encouraging me to take part in the festivities and when I got in, she was the one throwing me a congratulatory party with all our close friends and family. She is very proud that her daughter is an escort even if it is for District Twelve.

That's why she went off to have a fitting for Emerald Flickerman. With her husband's famous annual fashion change, she has to keep up her appearances. It is a small thing of the Games that she can take a pride in, dressing the wife of the interview's host. I'm glad her success allows her to work from home while her employees managing the boutique, so that she can look after Rosie when I can't.

Time passes by quickly as I nurse Rosie back to health. She is so much better now. Her face doesn't look as pale as before and the tinge of pinkness that is usually present start coming back on her cheeks. She even laughs at some of the funny faces that I pull. I can't bear to leave her. I sigh. A glance at the clock telling me that I'm going to be late if my mother does not come anytime soon.

I hear the door being unlocked.

"I'm here, I'm here. I'm sorry I'm late!" my mother cries. "I got carried away chatting about Finnick when we saw him walking across the street. Oh, how lucky you are to see him up close. Do you know him well? You surely see each other often during the Games. Don't you all mentors and escorts work together?"

"To your first question, no mother, not really. And for the latter, besides Haymitch, I don't work with the other mentors."

"That's unfortunate. You should try harder to be assigned to a better district, hopefully Four. Then maybe you can introduce me to Finnick," my mother says dreamingly.

I shake my head at that. The Capitol's obsession with Finnick Odair can be overrated.

"Well, I have to go now, I don't want to be late for dinner. Bye, Rosie," I tell her as I kiss her forehead. Her lips start to quiver as she realizes my departure.

"Don't cry now, baby. Mommy loves you," I half-shout to her as I gather my things quickly to get out of the house before she starts wailing. "Bye, mother! Thank you so much!" I say for the last time before I close the door.

I walk as fast as I can to the training center. As I take my shortcut through an alleyway, a path that I wouldn't normally take seeing how shady it is, I see someone who looks like Haymitch from the corner of my eye. I take a step back to make sure I wasn't hallucinating and there he is, talking to… Finnick Odair. It's weird that his name was just mentioned by mother earlier. They probably just want to get some fresh air; I thought when I notice the back door of a bar behind them.

"Who else knows about this?"

I stop on my track just when I was about to continue walking. As rude as it is to eavesdrop, my curiosity gets the best of me.

"You, me, some other victors. Just stick to the ones from Three, Seven, Eight and Eleven for now. And of course Four. I'll see what –"

Haymitch ceases talking when our eyes meet. Finnick turns his head following Haymitch's gaze to see what the pause is about.

"Hey there, miss Trinket," Finnick says as he flashes his famous smile.

"He-hello mister Odair," I stutter, "It's good to see you," I manage to say.

"Later, fish boy," Haymitch says as he taps Finnick's shoulder and walks towards me.

I seem to stop breathing when Haymitch eyes didn't leave mine as he comes to my side.

"Shall we?" he asks.

I only remember to move again when he puts his hand to the small of my back and leads me forward to the direction of the training center. Even if he didn't mean it to, the minor gesture feels like comfort after everything that I witnessed. Their conversation may means nothing but I can't help but thinking of the worst when I overheard it.

"I didn't know you like to go to this side of the city, it doesn't seem like a proper place for you," he says.

"I think the same can be said for you. I didn't know you need a company to drink, besides Chaff," I say, my last part thick with implication. I need to know if he's going to get himself in trouble.

His hand goes to my waist and he pulls me tightly to his side as he whispers, "Now listen sweetheart, forget about what you saw and heard earlier, it won't do you good anyway if anyone hears you roaming at that part of the city."

I nod as I look at him. I don't want him to think that I nod because I'm scared, but because I understand. He's right though; whom would I tell? They might even ask me what I was doing there since it's not my kind of place.

"Ah! We're here! And early for dinner. Don't you just love to be on time," he sneers above whisper level, clearly mocking my obsession with punctuality.

I let him walk ahead of me to have some time for myself. I have to find out if he is doing something treacherous now more than ever. There's no way I'm letting him know about Rosie if he unknowingly puts her life in jeopardy.