leftyeffie requested: "hi, this is my prompt. I hope I don't take much of your time. :) sorry~ baby olive asked the parents' history. On how they got together, managed, and got through the rebellion and war. Ofc it would be so awkward for both Effie and Haymitch but I just wanna see on how they would handle the situation and show their great love and affection for their daughter. Because as we all know, Olive wasn't planned :( thanks!"

They had both equally dreaded the moment Olive's class would begin to review The Hunger Games. Her third grade teacher had even phoned home and asked if they would prefer not to have their child present at the lecture. Effie and Haymitch had considered it, even spent a few sleepless nights arguing about it amongst one another. But they couldn't do that to her. She had to know what happened. It was important. Even if, though they did not voice it to each other, they worried what she would think of the roles they played.

On the first day of the lecture, Effie had a plate of cookies on the table awaiting Olive's return home. She knew very well that their daughter had many questions, at least something sweet would take the edge off all of this. Haymitch picked absentmindedly at the peeling corner of the dining room table. Effie let it slip by this time. After all, it was better than him drinking away is anxiety. However, both became absolutely still the moment the front door creaked open and their young daughter slipped inside.

"Mom? Dad?" she asked, looking to either of her parents. "How exactly did you and dad meet? It wasn't because mom got a flat tire on the side of the road, was it? I want to know the truth now."

Effie looked at Haymitch before turning her attention to Olive. "Why don't you have a seat, dear?" she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Have a cookie. Peeta made them today. They're your favorite. Chocolate chip."

Olive did as she was requested and took the seat opposite to her father. Effie placed a glass a milk in front of her as well as a napkin for her cookie. Unlike usually, Olive seemed uninterested in the treat. Instead, her eyes gazed fixedly on her father. Effie chewed uncomfortably on the inside of her cheek, taking her own place beside Haymitch.

"Sweetheart," Effie began. "You know we love you very, very much, right? And the only reason we lied to you about how we met was because you were to little to understand. But I suppose," her eyes flickered to Haymitch's. "Even that was wrong and we are terribly sorry."

"My class talked about The Hunger Games today," Olive said quietly, picking at her cookie. "My teacher mentioned something called the Quarter Quell. That dad was a part of the second one. And then later, he won and became something called a mentor."

"That's right," Effie nodded. "Victors of The Games became mentors. And that's the reason I met your father. I was an escort. Those were the people-Capitol citizens-who did all the planning and took care of the tributes until…" she paused. "But your father and I worked together for years. Didn't quite get along, mind you. But we were a team nevertheless."

"When did you and dad decide to start liking each other?" Olive continued, taking a bite out of her cookie. "Was it during Aunt Katniss and Uncle Peeta's Game?"

"Well, yes and no," Effie started. "You see, Olive, your father and I-"

"Your mom got pregnant with you," Haymitch interrupted. "Not much longer after Peeta and Katniss's Game." He felt Effie's elbow jab into his side and he looked at her. "What? I thought we weren't lying now?"

"You didn't have to word it like that," she hissed. "Olive," her voice became soft as she took her daughter's hands into her own. "You weren't a mistake. In either of our eyes. Even before you were born we loved you so much. And when the rebellion happened, you were the only thing that kept me going while I was," she inhaled sharply. No more secrets. "While I was in prison."

"You?" Olive recoiled. "You were in prison? But mom, you follow more rules than anyone I know."

"It wasn't like that, Olive," Effie said quietly. "Panem had become a scary place. President Snow feared the loss of his power so he started locking away good people. People who didn't deserve to go away. People who had just been following orders. People who were my best friends. Portia-" Effie stopped when she felt Haymitch rest his hand over her's. She swallowed, curling her fingers around his own. "It was a dark time in our history, Olive."

"How did you get out?" Olive whispered. "How did you get out of prison."

"I got her out," Haymitch replied, letting Effie have a moment to recollect herself. "I was part of the rebellion that started the civil war in Panem. The second I learned the Capitol had your mother as well as your Uncle Peeta, I didn't rest until we got them home safe. You were born the day of the rescue. Lucky timing, in my opinion. On both your part and ours."

Silence fell amongst the family for a few moments. Haymitch happened to glance over at Effie just in time to see a few tears slip down her cheeks. Gingerly, he gave her hand a squeeze. Her eyes lifted and a soft smile grew upon her features. She returned the pressure, letting him know that she'd be alright. That they were doing the right thing.

"What happened next?" Olive asked, breaking the stillness. "What happened after I was born?"

"The war," Effie replied, her voice thick with emotion. "For the first few months of your life, your father wasn't around much. District Thirteen was set on winning the battle against the Capitol. Your father played a huge part in it. He was the reason we probably had less causalities than we otherwise would. But in the end, we still lost some very important people."

"It ended faster than any of us had anticipated," Haymitch finished. "And in a matter of a few weeks, I was able to get you and your mother home. I had to stay behind and take care of some things before I could join you."

"And that leads us to where we are now," Effie concluded. "Together as a family. All of us. Our story is a lot bigger than a silly faulty car. But know that if you take anything from this, Olive, you were the reason Haymitch and I survived. That in a way, you won the rebellion for us. Gave us a reason to keep fighting. And I know you must hate us for lying. Neither of us would blame you if you did. But we love you and we didn't want to ever hurt you."

Effie finished with a sigh, finally revealing everything they had hid from their daughter after all these years. Then she and Haymitch waited, watching as their daughter seemed to make sense of all of this. She was so young. So very young. Someone her age shouldn't even have to think about this. Effie began to immediately regret allowing her to sit in on the lecture. If this tore a rift in the family, she'd never forgive herself.

Suddenly, Effie felt two arms fling around her. Surprised, she looked down to see Olive's face buried in her chest. A mixture of joy and relief filled her and Effie held her daughter close. After a minute, Olive lifted her head up, looking from her mother to her father.

"I could never hate you," she exclaimed. "You're my parents. I love you both so much. And it's okay about the story," she smiled. "I thought the car one was boring anyway. This one was much more interesting."

"Well," Effie chuckled. "Perhaps that's one way to put it."

Her eyes met Haymitch's as Olive began to ramble on about how cool it was that her parents were "heroes" in the war. Slowly, a smile crept on her features as he gave a crooked one in return. She felt his hand reach for her's underneath the table and their fingers intertwined. Everything was okay now. Everything was just fine. Absolutely, positively fine.