Effie and Seneca huddled in a dark corridor, Effie wasn't stupid she knew she was in danger and she knew Seneca was too "Seneca, I'm so sorry." She said in a hushed voice, this was all her fault, her tributes would be his demise "It wasn't you who asked me to change the rules darling." He said and that was obviously a jab at Haymitch, Seneca had made it very clear that he did not approve of her relationship with him "Seneca if there was anything I could do you know I would, I'd go to snow himself if I thought that it would save you from danger." She said reaching for his his hand "I know you would Effie, but I fear I can't be saved." He told her seeing tears pricking at her eyes.
"I can't lose you Seneca." She cried, and he lifted a hand to brush the tears from her cheek "Effie It's okay." He said softly but she shook her head "No it's not, we should've just settled down when we had the chance." She sighed, "There's no good in what ifs and could've beens now Effs." He said making her look at him "If I'd have just said yes when you proposed, we could've avoided all of this."
"Effie!" He said trying to get her out of her frenzy "I don't blame you, if you had agreed to be my wife it would've been because of the pressure both our families were putting on us, and that's no way to live. You have an amazing career and I had a shot at my dream job what more could we want." He calmed her and she knew he was right but all she could think about was what if this was goodbye, she was going home tomorrow to prepare for the victory tour, and who knew when snow would come after him.
"Seneca, Is this goodbye?" She asked, looking up at him "Well you are leaving." He said and she interrupted "You know what I mean, is this goodbye for good?" She asked and he shrugged "I don't know Effie." He said truthfully running his hands up and down her arms "I love you." She said softly leaning up to kiss him which her returned "I love you too." He said and she wrapped both her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly, when she finally calmed down enough to get off of him she still held his hand "Effie, you are the most beautiful most talented woman I have ever known. And you were the best friend I could've possibly ask for so… goodbye Euphemia darling." She smiled with teary eyes even in their final goodbye he had to tease her with her first name. "Seneca, you were they first boy I ever kissed, they first man I ever loved and I won't ever forget you, I promise. Goodbye Seneca Crane." She said and gripped his hand tightly as he felt his hand slip from her grasp "It's okay to let go Effs." He said and she did, and regretted it as soon as it happened, watching him walk away. She stepped back into the penthouse, her heart heavy, trying not to cry.
"Have fun with your boyfriend?" She heard Haymitch sat as he backed her into the wall "He's not my boyfriend." She said dismissively just trying to get away from him "Sure looked like he was from where I was standing, or do you kiss every man you meet like that." He said accusingly "Leave me alone Haymitch, I'm not in the mood and jealousy doesn't suit you." She said pushing his arms away from her "As if I'd be jealous of him, that slimy Capitol bastard." He said and as soon as it left his mouth Effie's hand made contact with his face "Don't you dare." She yelled, her voice raw, tears now flowing down her face, she could see his reflex, his hand was raised and she could see him fighting his instincts but she didn't care anymore she had handed a death sentence to her best friend and had dared to insult him "Go ahead, fucking hit me like you want to! We're all the same to capitols, I'm just like them so fucking hit me!" She broke down in tears and he was there to catch her, holding her up "Sweetheart you need to breathe." He said, he could tell she was hyperventilating, she had worked herself up into a fight, she was fully sobbing "They're going to kill him Haymitch." She sobbed and he knew exactly what she meant he lifted her up and carried her into his room, because there was no way he was leaving her alone, he undressed her and she didn't protest as he took one of his T-shirts, then he led her into the bathroom she managed to calm down long enough to remove her makeup and shakily remove the pins holding her wig.
"Haymitch." She reached out for him clawing at his shirt obviously looking for sex, it wasn't an unusual coping mechanism but he couldn't do it not when she was like this. "Look princess, I ain't gonna take advantage of you like this, I'm not like that." He said as he led her back into the bedroom, "Just try and sleep, I'll be right here." He said tucking her into bed and slipping in beside her, she snuggled in to him burying her head in his chest still sobbing "Look princess I'm really sorry I know you love him." He said stroking her blonde locks.