Sorry I wasn't able to update last week. Anyways, this week is our periodic exams but I still made this chapter because I need an outlet for all the stress. Please enjoy

Note: italic= flashback and italic+bold=written notes

It was after dinner and Amaryllis and Maximillian were on the couch; watching some of the previous games. They've already watched three: the 25th, 38th and the 67th. They observed every single detail- from the bloody and mutilated bodies to the movement and demented expressions of the careers. Neither of them winced but both of them were filled with fear for both of them doubt that Amaryllis could survive in the arena.

The tape stopped with the announcement of the year's victor and the whole screen filled with static. Maximillian glanced at Amaryllis; asking her to place the next tape into the slot. She unwillingly got up, grabbed a tape from the stack and placed it into the slot.

The screen flashed to life and Maximillian's eyes filled up with horror as he realized that it was the 70th Hunger Games. The arena looked like a woodland except for a huge dam. Most of the tributes frantically ran towards the cornucopia but the girl from 12 quickly turned her heels and rushed away from the bloodbath. She wasn't fast enough though for a career's arrow shot though her chest. The camera zoomed into her lifeless body but only for a second and the camera's attention quickly returned to the massacre.

Amaryllis felt her fellow tribute shift. She grabbed the remote and turned the television off. Maximillian didn't seem to notice; he wasn't looking at the screen anymore. He looked out into the distance but he stared at nothing in particular.

"Max are you alright?" She asked with concern in her voice.

He gave her a fake smile and replied. "Oh, you turned the TV off... Why?"

"Does it matter? We both don't like watching these and your not even paying attention anymore." she stated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Let's continue, just please not that one." his voice sounded like he was begging. Amaryllis noticed this and gave him a questioning look "Why?"

Before he spoke up he sighed and seated himself in a more comfortable position. "Well, since I'm going to die I might as well tell you..."

"I'm an orphan you see. Dad said that my mother died at childbirth. He died in a mining accident years later and the girl you saw on screen was my sister..."

She could have never known this fact about him if he had never told her. He would sometimes rage his hatred towards the games but she always thought that that was just a normal reaction for a newly-reaped tribute. She was wrong though; his hatred was fueled by his sister's death.

She knows what it's like to have a loved one taken to the games for one of her friends at the orphanage was reaped before but she can't really feel the actual pain of it being a family member. She tried to understand and comfort him though for that's the only way she could ever help him.

"Do my parents know?" she asked.

"They know she's dead. I don't know if they are aware of the details... They probably do; they've met her." he replies.

"Should we tell them?"

"No!"

She respected his wishes and didn't further question him on the matter. She, in fact, didn't question him on any topics about his personal life because some things are better left unknown and unsaid.

She hopped on top of her bed and looked at her parents expectantly. They walked towards her bed tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.

"Sleep tight sweetheart..." Haymitch said sweetly as he looks down to his daughter.

"You too daddy..." she replied.

"Need anything else sweetie? A trip to the bathroom or a glass of milk perhaps?" Effie asked.

Amaryllis pondered for a moment before turning her attention back to her parents. "Tell me a bedtime story." she requested.

"Erm, I'm not really good at this and there are no story books here. I'm really sorry sweetheart..." Haymitch replied.

"I brought some books... It's in my pack." she replied.

Haymitch and Effie grabbed her bag and reached in to get the books. They pulled out a few classics: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone, The Fault in our Stars, Sense and Sensibilities and Silas Marner.

"This is an interesting collection. I've read some of these when I was a young girl." Effie said.

"Did you like them mommy?"

"Well, they were all good reads but their not really bedtime story material." She replied.

"I know a few short stories that might peak your interest." said Haymitch.

"Please tell them." She smiled sweetly at her parents. She has no idea that her father intended to tell not a fictional story but ones that actually happened.

He told her of his childhood and his life before he was reaped. Most of these stories were also unfamiliar to Effie so both mother and daughter listened intensely to the stories. A particular story shocked her a little though

"Let me tell you about the time there was a rat in the house and we were all starving. We desperately wanted to catch that little vermin." he began.

"Wait, what does your hunger have to do with a rodent?" Effie asked.

Haymitch gave her an amused look. She raised her eyebrow in confusion. As a girl that was raised in one of the poorest districts, Amaryllis could already put two and two together. When you're starving to death, you will desperately try to get a meal. Even if that meal is labelled as a pest.

"Mom, dad and I are from District 12." Amaryllis stated.

"I know that dear but I-" She cut herself off mid sentence when realization finally hit her. She gave him a disgusted look before exclaiming "Haymitch, that's utterly horrific! Why would anyone want to consume such a foul creature?"

"Well, he did make up for a decent meal." he smirked.

"Can we- just- next story please!" She stammered in disgust.

"Well, I don't have anymore that will not make you respond like that. Really Effie, if you were starving to death- you'd eat anything that's edible." Haymitch stated.

"Maybe you can tell us some stories, mommy." Amaryllis requested.

"I do have a few that I would like to share with both of you." she said in reply.

Her stories were about her luxurious childhood which was in contrast to Haymitch's poverty-stricken one. Amaryllis listened with great interest. She imagined life in the Capitol- it seemed so much better than a life in one of the districts. Haymitch on the other hand, found none of her stories amusing; a Capitol citizen's hedonistic lifestyle.

After a few more stories, Amaryllis' eyes began to droop and she started to yawn. Her parent's tucked her in, sang to her the lullaby, kissed her on the forehead and said goodnight.

Effie closed the door shut and heaved a big sigh and gave Haymitch a sad and distant look.

"What's the matter princess? Is there something wrong?" Haymitch asked.

"You don't really think I'm that shallow and hedonistic do you, Haymitch?" she asked.

Haymitch scratched head and gave Effie a concerned look. Of course he knows; he's aware that her childhood isn't as luxurious as it first appears to be but sometimes it annoys him that the Capitol can indulged themselves with such pleasantries when the people of the districts can't. He made it too obvious and that hurt her.

"I know... I'm sorry..." he said with sincerity.

"It's okay... " she said in reply.

"Why didn't you tell her the truth?" he asked.

"I did, I just left out the bad parts."

"Why did you?"

Effie sat on the couch and signaled Haymitch to sit next to her. She flung herself into his arms and cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's just too much we can't send her into the arena. We just can't. I don't want to upset her... I tried hide the pain... I don't want her to know that my parents pressured me."

Haymitch held her in his arms and asked. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want her to feel pressured..."

"But princess, we don't pressure her..."

"We do- we expect her to win the games."

It's true that they both want her to win and it's true that she still wants to live but her thoughts can change once she enters the arena. Will Max's protection change the amount of trauma? He's not really sure.

Haymitch recalls his own games: bloody, violent and traumatizing. His past is a nightmare that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Before meeting Effie he only has two ways to escape the nightmares: alcohol and death. He chose the former and slowly but surely he's starting to move on with his life. Though the scars will never heal, he knows that he can get through. But what about Amaryllis? What kind of scars will she have? How dreadful will be the nightmares that will haunt her if she wins? What kind of escape will she have? Will she choose death?

She's just a 12 year old girl; so fragile, innocent and clueless of the world. How tragic it would be for her to loose such an innocence and how unjust it would be to shove a young clueless and defenseless girl into the real world. It is unlikely that she will live but if she does her life could be worse than death itself. Is Haymitch willing to let his daughter experience the hellish terrors of the arena for the rest of her life? It was the kind of trauma that can drive one to total insanity; living a life filled with hate and despair. Can a 12 year old handle that?

"She'll try to win if she wants to win..." he said in reply. What more could he say anyways? Amaryllis will have to make the final decision; if she will try or not.

He got up from the couch and walked to the kitchen. He reached for the nearest bottle of liquor and he promptly dumped half of it's contents down his throat. He didn't notice that Effie was standing beside him but he did notice it when she took the bottle from his hands.

"Alcohol, really Haymitch? That's how you will help out tributes?" she asked.

"Give it back!" he whined like a little kid.

"No, you need to be sober to mentor them properly." she said in reply.

"Effie, I need it. I'm hurt too you know. I worry about our daughter..." he said.

"Haymitch... liquor is never the answer..." She said as she gently places the bottle back to the counter where Haymitch has found it.

She gently places her hand on his cheek and she slowly draws him closer to her. They lips brush against each others and they drew in closer; deepening their kiss.

He wraps his arms around her and she presses closer to him in return. They eventually loosened their kiss but they still held each other in a tight embrace. They looked at each other's lust-filled eyes then he carried her bridal style and walked towards her room.

It happened approximately 13 years ago. Both of them has gotten particularly close to their tributes. They both thought that one of them could win for they both made it to the top 10 but alas, a spear took away the boy's life and a mutt caused the girl to perish. It was only her 4rd year as an escort and she wasn't so used to the pain then so she wept while the lifeless body of their tributes were shown. Haymitch on the other hand, walked towards the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of absinthe for it was the strongest drink he could find. He walked back towards the sitting room and took his place next to Effie's.

"The pain will pass, princess..." he said before he dumped the contents of the bottle into his mouth.

She looked at him with disgust. How could he say that? How can he so easily shrug of their deaths? She thought to herself. "It's not that easy, Haymitch!"

"Oh, I see that you have finally realized how awful the games are eh?" he said sarcastically.

"Do you really think I'm that heartless? Every year since I've become an escort, every single damn year I cry because I see our tributes get slaughtered on screen."

"Then tell me... Why do you support this?" His voice became grave and urgent.

She could tell that he was serious and that he wants an honest answer, so she told him the truth "We were taught the the games was merely a spectacle- a yearly event that everyone, including the districts look forward to. I used to believe that but not anymore. I can still recall my first reaping- I can remember the fear that was written in the eyes of every single child. I tried to act happy; I always have but I know the truth and I am well-aware of the situation of the districts."

"You still haven't answered my question." he stated with urgency.

"I know... You see Haymitch we're slaves and prisoners too but the only difference is that those who imprison us are the people that are close to us. They're not our enemies but our allies and if we show just a hint of defiance we will be severely punished. I can't stand up to them. I'm not as strong as I appear to be." She finished.

It is then that Haymitch sort of felt sympathy towards the district escort. She has a good point; physically they're well-off compared to the districts but in other aspects they suffer just as much- if not more. It's true that Effie is still annoying and it's true that the Capitol lifestyle disgusts him but now he knows her side of the story and for that he can accept her better.

He mouthed an apology to her. After that she scooted closer to him and cried on his shoulder; she told him about her childhood- how she was pressured by her parents to be perfect in everything. It was hard on her so he let her cry on his shoulder.

They both felt a sudden closeness to each other and this prompted him to open up to Effie as well. He told her of his past and his games. They talked and drank alcohol; there were no boundaries between the two of them for they now know of each other's thoughts, nightmares and dreams.

There and then, they held each other tight and looked into each other's eyes. Their lips inched closer until they touched. They broke away and looked at each other once again. Both of them were overwhelmed with desire and unbridled passion.

They woke up the next day still seeking each other's touch. Their bodies were pressed against each other beneath the thin bed covers. The initial shock didn't come as quickly as it should.

The sunlight seeped through the window of Effie's bedroom; waking the sleeping couple up. Unlike 13 years ago neither one of them was shocked or upset. They smiled at each other and exchanged good mornings.

"I still can't believe we haven't done that for 13 years. I didn't know I can resist you for so long." Haymitch smirked.

"Yes, I feel the same about you... I love you so much." Effie said in reply

"I love you too."

"We better get up before the kids do. We don't want them finding out about last night." said Effie as she got out of bed.

"Awww, let's stay awhile princess..." Haymitch begged disappointingly.

"Oh, you know I love to but-" she cut herself off when she noticed a small piece of paper slipped under her door. She took it into her hands, smoothed it out and read the note together with Haymitch.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I was awoken by a strange noise in the adjacent room, which turned out to be mom's. Anyways, I'm really glad that you two are really trying hard to make a sibling for me but that won't be necessary. I'm quite content of our little family and Max is somewhat of a big brother to me so...

ps: Max said that both of you are gross but I still love you though.

Your daughter,

Maryl

Well, I guess Effie and Haymitch can stay in bed a little longer *wink* *wink*. Yes, that's the most smut I will do. Anyways, can someone suggest a good name to be Amaryllis' original name. You know, the one she had before being taken away. You'll get credit of course and I'll use it in some of the flashbacks.

Classes were suspended so YAY! :D Anyways, I hope you guys liked this one. Your reviews and comments are much appreciated