Anonymous requested: "Haymitch trying to feel the baby punches and kicks from Effie's pregnant belly? :3 just thought it would be cute" (Consider this like a deleted scene from OPLaBB)

"…There! Did you feel it that time?"

Haymitch stared wearily at Effie Trinket as she moved his hand for what seemed like the hundredth time across her lower abdomen. For the past few weeks, this had become a normal occurrence. Ever since she felt the baby move for the first time, the woman was determined to make Haymitch feel it as well. He exhaled tiredly, his fingers tingling from the lack of blood flow as Effie pressed his palm hard against her stomach.

"How about now?"

"Princess," Haymitch muttered, blinking lazily as he watched her. "Are you sure you're not just imagining this?"

"Of course I'm sure!" She snapped, moving his hand to another spot. "You try having someone rudely kick against your bladder and then we'll see whose just pretending!"

"Alright, alright," Haymitch sighed, waving his free hand in defeat. "Then maybe it's just too early for me to feel anything. After all, what is she the size of? A lemon?"

"An avocado," Effie corrected with a frown, repositioning his hand. "Honestly, Haymitch, a lemon was two weeks ago. She's grown a lot since then."

"Well excuse me for confusing my fruits," he mumbled, wishing for something heavy in its alcohol content right now. "Can I go to bed now, or are you going to continue to have me feel absolutely nothing until the sun comes up?"

Defeat flashed across the escort's face and for a moment, a sense of guilt came over the mentor. He watched as she released his hand (a wave of relief momentarily coming from that as the normal blood flow returned) and looked away. She was just excited after all. She didn't realize the stress he faced every day with the approaching rebellion and figuring out how this would all pan out with his impending fatherhood. No, all she really had to think about was this baby. And maybe it was better that way.

"Wait," he reached out, taking a hold of her wrist as she began to stand up. "One more time."

Gently, he placed his callous hand onto the apex of her stomach. He really didn't plan to feel anything. It was, after all, a move of sympathy on his part. A second passed. Then another. Effie sighed softly from beside him, her own excitement seeming to dwindle away. Maybe another night. As he began to pull his hand away, it was then he felt it. Small. Delicate. It resembled the feeling of a piece of clothing brushing lightly against the skin. A poke of an object inside of a pant's pocket. Haymitch turned and looked at Effie almost stunned.

"Was that?"

The smile immediately returned to the Capitolian's face as she nodded silently. Haymitch exhaled, releasing the breath he didn't realize he was holding as he pressed his hand a little firmer to her stomach. It moved again against his palm, only this time a little stronger. The corners of his mouth twitched into a small grin as he focused on nothing but the movement. That was a baby. His baby. Slowly, he lifted his eyes and met Effie's gaze.

"You weren't kidding," he mumbled, nodding towards her stomach. "She-"

"I know," Effie said, but her tone was far from the 'I-told-you-so' tone he had expected. "Amazing isn't it?"

Haymitch nodded again, "Yeah," he agreed, his attention returning to her stomach as the baby kicked once more. "It's truly something else…"