Okay, so one of the readers nzlouise said something about this fic being a little too unrealistic and I have to agree and that will change from now on. I do have this problem though- what about the previous chapters? How can I make them seem realistic as well?

I thought about it and I eventually came to the conclusion that psychology holds the solution to my predicament. Well, I have already "psychologized" my friends, family, complete strangers, fictional characters and myself so why not do it to the spawn of hayffie (wtf! spawn of hayffie? What a title!)

Another issue is on Amaryllis' real name. I would've given her a name similar to a person she was based on but the problem is she wasn't based on anyone I know -_-. (Actually, this is my first fic wherein no OC's were based on people I know so I guess that means I'm improving right? right?

The problem isn't really that no name is good enough, it's actually the exact opposite. I've narrowed it down to a few of your suggestions but they're still many _ Anyways, I'm still open to suggestions. Maybe next chapter we'll know her original name.

Anyways, please enjoy this chapie :D

They all ate together in silence. No one dared to speak up for the simplest of words can stir up the memories of last night. Amaryllis kept her head down; trying to avoid any eye contact. She wanted to run from the table and head outside but she found herself stuck to her spot instead.

Maximillian gave his fellow tribute a concerned look. He knew her thoughts quite well. In the note she made it seem that she's okay but that's not really the case. She expected them to be the perfect parents; her standards were impossibly high and last night's encounter has certainly changed her view on her parents. They seemed so flawed and imperfect and a part of her couldn't accept that. He knew he has to speak up, he must break the growing tension else Amaryllis might do something she'll undoubtedly regret.

"We're thinking of forming an alliance with some of the other tributes." he stated.

"Well, that's all and well but you two better choose someone who's trust-worthy and don't forget to break off the alliance when there's only 10 left." Haymitch said in reply.

"10?" he asked.

"Yeah, better safe than sorry."

Maximillian turned his attention towards Amaryllis once again; she seemed to have relaxed ever so slightly. They continued their meal without any spoken dialogue. Amaryllis was the first one to finish her meal then she immediately excused herself from the table.

"I'm going to prepare for training. I don't want to be late." she said.

"It's good to see that your taking your training seriously..." Effie stated.

"Uh yeah, why wouldn't I? Gotta go bye!" she said before rushing off into her room.

Effie and Haymitch thinking that last night might be the cause of their daughter's strange behavior look at Maxilillian questioningly. He of course, noticed and he decided to answer them in the most least-awkward way possible.

"Erm, she's just curious about the tree tapping station; didn't get a chance to try that out last time." he said in reply.

"Tree tapping?" Effie asked for that's not normally a thing that can strike one's interest.

"Yeah, you need to know the good spot on where to strike the spile. Penetration is also an important factor. It has to be in really deep to get the maximum amount of that sweet sweet sap. Maybe you two can give her some pointers in that." he smirked right before he stood up and walked away.

They followed him with their gaze; their mouths still open in shock. It was then that their suspicions have been confirmed. Both of them were regretful about last night. Will their daughter ever return to them again?

"Please open the door, Maryl. I know that you lied; training is hours from now." Maximillian exclaimed as he kept banging on her door.

"Can't you just leave me alone!?" she exclaimed in reply. She doesn't want to be bothered. Maybe a few minutes alone with her thoughts can help her sort things out or maybe it won't. It is evident that she needed help but she just can't admit that to herself.

"It's just me-Max, so please let me in."

She paused for a few minutes before speaking up. Should she open up to him? Maybe she should, who else can she turn to anyways? It is also a possibility that he can help her out. He is older therefore he must know more about these kind of issues. "Alright then..." she said in defeat.

She let him enter the room and he sat on the edge of her bed. She kept her head down while playing with the hem of her shirt; distracting herself from the extremely uncomfortable conversation that is to come. She tried to avoid any sort of eye-contact with him; trying to shut him off from herself entirely.

"Maryl?"

"Hmm?"

"I know you're still disturbed about last night." he stated.

"W-what!? W-what happened last night? I cannot recall." she stammered in reply.

She remembered the events perfectly but a part of her still firmly held on to the belief that acting like it never happened will make things less awkward. Even when she was just a child she has this tendency to escape from her problems; her lullaby has always been her means of escape but now it serves as a reminder of the very thing that she's trying to runaway from so now she only has one choice and that is to try to forget.

"Denying that it never happened won't help your cause."

"I-I'm not denying anything!" She said in defense.

"Okay then, I guess I'll just have to remind you about last night. Effie and Haymitch-" he was cut off.

"DON'T YOU DARE, MAXIMILLIAN RADLEY!" she warned him. She furrowed her eyebrows and glared at him. She has never looked at him in such a way before. Despite this he remained unfazed and he even found her expression slightly amusing.

"OOH I sense some hostility." he smirked.

"Fine! You got my attention so what do you want from me?"

"You got it all wrong, I'm here to help you and not the other way around. You still haven't recovered from last night. You seem slightly disturbed still." he stated. It was obvious that he was concerned.

"Well, 'slightly disturbed' is an understatement." She was harsh in her tone. It is quite obvious that she'd rather not talk about last night's affairs.

"You know what your problem is?"

"What?" she asked.

"You have this kitten-like trust in humanity." He said in reply.

"Excuse me, but what does that have to do with last night?" She was mildly offended by his comment. Kitten-like trust? That's not her at all- or so she thought.

"You don't understand. You quickly agree with them. You get attached to them so easily and you view them as your ideal parents but their only human and they have faults too. They make mistakes then you become gravely disappointed because your standards were not met. You can't accept the fact that their flawed."

"Oh, is that so? Then what do you suggest I do?"

"Well, you should think about it. Disregard the fact that children are suppose to love their parents, ask yourself: Do you really love them?" It was then that he stood up and walked out of the door; leaving Amaryllis to ponder with her own thoughts.

It's true that she went to training earlier than usual; she'll do almost anything to avoid her parents for a little while. Maximillian on the other hand decided to stay behind. He knew that he shouldn't really interfere with their family affairs but he couldn't help himself. Amaryllis now has the very thing she hasn't had for 12 years and he couldn't just let her throw it all away into the dust.

He's not entirely sure if she truly loved them that's why he told her to think about it. He just doesn't want her to have any regrets afterwards. They will be sent into the arena in a few days. He can't predict what will happened in there but he tried to be optimistic about it.

He found himself lying at his bed while he made out patterns from the wood grains of the ceiling. What else can he do? Thinking about Amaryllis' situation will only remind him of the thing that she has that he longed for. He tried to distract himself; he tried to clear his mind but to no avail. Their family somehow managed to return to his mind after any attempts of distracting himself. He got up, heaved a big disappointed sigh and walked out of his room.

He looked around the penthouse; it was empty except for and Effie, who was sitting on the couch looking sad as ever.

He sat next to her. She felt his presence. "You haven't gone to training yet." She said it as a statement and not as a question. He noticed the sadness in her tone. It is evident that she was also affected by the "thing"

"Nope but don't worry it's still early. Where's Haymitch?" he asked.

"He's going to be out for a while; said something about doing a little research." she said in reply.

They remained silent for a while. Maximillian wanted to talk to her about Amaryllis but he just doesn't know how to start the topic. It would be awkward to do so, this much he knows. Lucky for him Effie was the one to speak up first.

"Is my daughter alright?" she asked.

"I don't really know..." he replied.

"It's our fault isn't it? We should've been more quiet or we shouldn't have done it in the first place... I've lost her once again..." she stated.

He remained quiet. In a way, it was there fault but he knows that Amaryllis is to be blamed as well. They should've all taken it slowly. If they did, their situation wouldn't be as severe as this.

"She just doesn't know how lucky she is yet..." he said in reply.

"I still don't understand it. Why are you doing this; giving up your life for hers? Not that I'm not thankful or anything like that but why?" she asked.

"It's simple really; I have nothing to live for. My parents are both dead and so is my sister... I don't even have friends..."

"Amaryllis looks up to you like a big brother." She replied; hoping that her statement will make the young boy much happier.

"Oh, she does? I never knew that." he smiled ever so slightly. It's funny how he would care about her; like a little sister. Maybe it's because she reminded him so much of his deceased sibling.

"Your sister was a tribute correct?"

"She was..."

"I remembered her. She's quite a charming girl and really friendly too." Effie gave him a sad smile.

"Yup, that's my sister." he confirmed.

"I'm really sorry... I bet you blame me. First your sister and now you..."

"Don't be, she's with my parents now. Dad who died in a mining accident and mom, whom dad said died during childbirth..."

"Whom dad said? You're not sure?" she asked.

Maximillian thinks that Effie's intruding too much on his personal life but he hasn't talked about his mother in detail to anyone, not even to his sister and father. Maybe Effie will understand, he's not entirely sure that she will but she might.

"It's really weird. It's kind of vague but I remember this nightmare. It was days after my sister was born, my father brought my sister and I to the basement and told us to be really quiet. From upstairs I could hear my mother scream and in the morning I found my father sprawled onto the floor; bloody and injured. It felt so real." He buried his head into his hands in frustration. He would sometimes think that all of that really did happened and that would confuse him.

"That must have been horrible."

"It was... I wonder what it feels like... to have a mother..." there was a hint of sadness in his voice. Effie sensed it but she didn't say anything.

They sat together in silence for what seemed like forever then Effie spoke up. "Get up now! You're already late for training."

"But I don't feel like going yet..." he groaned.

"Up up up! Tardiness is an awful trait to develop...son..."

"Oh, alright... I'll go..." He walked towards the door and before he left, he looked back at Effie and smiled "Maryl and I will see you later then...mom..." she smiled in reply.

After that Effie was left alone. With nothing to do, she turned on the television; reruns of the old games were playing. She tried to watch them for a while but seeing the tributes die reminded her of all the children of 12 that were slaughtered and it made her imagine of her daughter's possible death. She turned the television off and everything was silent once more. She let herself drift off to sleep.

"Princess, wake up!" A voice called.

She woke up to see Haymitch shaking her shoulders. She could tell that he was worried but what on earth could ever make him worry like that?

"Wha-what's the matter?" she asked groggily.

"I sneaked into the filing room.

"You did wha-"

"Before you scream like a banshee, know that I wasn't caught on the hidden camera."

"Well, I certainly hope not!"

"Going back to the topic, I noticed something in the list of tributes. Most of them are orphans or kids with single parents." he said.

"You don't suppose they-"

Haymitch could only nod in reply.

Ugh, okay... now the story is progressing too slowly... Well, the next chapter will be on their ratings so I guess that would speed things up. The Max and Effie mother/son-ish fluff was suggested by nzlouise. Feel free to suggest. I always read the reviews. Tell me what you guys think okay? Is my grammar improving?