A/N: Hello all! So, this is like an epilogue to the previous chapter, but it can also be a standalone chapter in its own right. It's up to you how you see it, I guess. I just thought it would be nice.

I want to thank everyone for all the feedback on these short stories so far. A huge thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter. I enjoyed the use of "squiggle". It genuinely made me laugh a lot. Such a good word, I think. You can't help but smile when you say it. It's a happy word. The best kind. Anyway... moving on... I really do appreciate people taking the time to review and favourite and what not. I'm amazed that people actually read what I write, never mind anything else, so thank you all so much! :)

I'll just clear up a time-leap thing in this. It takes place roughly 7 years after the previous chapter. The boy is 6 and the girl is 4. I know they're rather good at talking already, but I imagine with a mother like Effie Trinket, you'd learn to talk pretty damn quick. :P Also, my niece and nephew talk very well, and they're only 6 and 4, so I based the kids' dialogue on their talking abilities.

Sorry for any mistakes in this. I had it mostly written earlier and my laptop decided it'd be funny to just turn itself off. Needless to say, I was far from amused, but fear not! I've had words and we've come to an understanding. (Yes, I talk to inanimate objects often.) So I've had to re-write this over the past few hours, and it's now 5:26am here in England. Strangely, I've passed the "tired phase" and I'm feeling pretty wide awake. Notify me of any mistakes and I shall correct them.

Enough from me! Enjoy. :)

-Ellie.

Effie stands at the kitchen sink, watching through the window as her children play in the garden. She's lost in her own little world as she watches them; love and adoration clear in her blue eyes. She smiles as she watches them laugh and play, feeling an infinite, unconditional love for her small family.

After everything that happened during the rebellion, the doctors had told her that, due to extensive damage, it would be unlikely, if not impossible, for her to ever have children. Naturally, she and Haymitch had no reason to exercise caution, as there was no risk of pregnancy. Of course, it's easy to imagine the shock they received when the District 12 doctor delivered the results of the tests. Effie had gone to the doctor after the third morning of vomiting, suffering from what she suspected was just a little food poisoning. They were speechless when the man revealed that Effie was in fact 5 weeks pregnant. She hadn't even taken notice of any of the other symptoms – the lack of menstruation, the slightly increased breast size, the cravings, the slight cramps, headaches and fatigue. After all, pregnancy was impossible, wasn't it? So she had ignored the symptoms. Her being Effie Trinket, the mood swings had gone by virtually unnoticed, though Haymitch wondered if she had finally lost the plot. She certainly snapped easier and a hell of a lot more often.

They held each other as they held their baby boy for the first time, crying tears of joy. It overwhelmed her when she looked down into her son's face and saw her own eyes reflected back at her. He had inherited her bright, icy blue eyes, but his father's messy, dark brown hair. They named him Zachary Cornelius Abernathy, after Haymitch's little brother and Effie's father. Despite the odds being heavily stacked against them, there they were holding their little miracle.

A year and a half later, the first night they shared as Mr and Mrs Abernathy, another miracle occurred and the nine months passed by with no complications. Effie had always wanted a daughter, and as she looked into the Seam gray eyes of her new born baby girl, she felt her heart soar. She was finally getting everything she ever wanted. Her life was on the way to finally being complete. They told her it would never happen, and now here she is, standing in the kitchen, watching her small children run around the garden, carefree and happy.

She hasn't noticed Haymitch silently enter the room, until he snakes his arms around her waist, kissing her neck and shoulder delicately.

"Mmm, hello." She leans back into his embrace, tilting her head to claim a soft kiss and taking his hands in hers.

"Hello yourself. What has my beautiful wife been up to today?" He kisses her neck softly, causing her to sigh happily.

"I've been watching the children playing, mostly." She turns her head to look out of the window again, and Haymitch rests his head on her shoulder, following her gaze. They smile as they watch their little boy's face light up with a cheeky and mischievous grin as he chases a goose around the small enclosure. "He's just like you. A cheeky little devil." The boy walks over to his curious sister, taking her hand and leading her towards one of the smaller geese. She reaches out tentatively to pet it, before giggling at the feel of its feathers. "But he's so caring. He has such a big heart, just like his daddy." They watch as the dark haired boy picks up a large, shining white feather and hands it to his little sister, who examines it, eyes wide in amazement and a huge beam on her face. "He's a wonderful big brother."

"And she's just like you. Got a love for pretty things, just like her mommy. She smiles as wide as you, too. And she's beautiful, just like you." He kisses his wife gently on her neck. "She's like a little mini Effie Trinket. I dread the day that girl becomes a teenager." They both chuckle at the thought of a mini Effie Trinket stomping around and terrorizing District 12.

"Let's go outside and watch them. Enjoy the sun. How's that sound?"

"It sounds wonderful." She turns around to give him a light kiss and takes his hand, walking with him to sit on the chair swing on the back porch.

"Daddy's home!" They hear the sound of fast approaching, excited footsteps. Haymitch stands to pull both children into a big hug before kneeling down to their level.

"Hey kids! Have you had a good day so far?" The boy nods. "What did you do today?" Effie watches her family from the chair swing, smiling as the boy excitedly answers. She loves that he's a spitting image of his father, except he has her blue eyes.

"This morning I went into the woods with Auntie Katniss! It was great! She said I can go again if I'm good! And she showed me how to use a slingshot! I shot a squirrel! It was SO COOL!" Effie purses her lips at this while Haymitch laughs. "And then Uncle Peeta and mommy helped us make cookies! We saved you some! Mommy wouldn't let us eat them all." He frowns briefly, but his face quickly lights up again as he continues. "And then we played in the garden! I played with the geese! They're funny! I like them! And then I helped Amy pet one of them!" The little blonde haired girl, Amelia Rose Abernathy, named after Effie's sister and Haymitch's mother, giggles at the mention of her name.

"I petted the birdies, Daddy!" She giggles and turns to her mother, waddling over to the chair swing. Effie picks her up and cuddles her, sitting the small girl on her lap. "Look, Mommy! Zacky gave me a pretty feather!" Effie smiles down at her daughter.

"Let me see?" Amy reaches out to proudly hand the feather to her mother, who pretends to examine it in detail. "Hmm..." The little girl giggles and Effie smiles at her. "Wow. This is a beautiful feather, isn't it!?" The girl nods, beaming. "You've got to keep it forever, keep it safe. Can you do that? It's a big, big, BIG job!" She grins when her daughter's Seam gray eyes widen in excitement and she lets out a little gasp.

"Yeah, mommy! I can do it!" She nods excitedly at her mother, who watches the girl with an adoring smile. Effie tickles her nose with the feather, causing her to giggle loudly.

"That's my girl!" She hands the feather back to her daughter, who kisses her on the cheek and hops down from the swing.

"I'm gonna put it safe!" With that, the small girl runs into the house. Her parents stare after her with loving smiles, while her brother grins proudly. After all, HE gave her that feather. The girl returns quickly. "It's safe, mommy!" Effie nods at her, smiling, and the little girl beams back.

"Come on, Amy! Let's go play with the birdies again!" Amy giggles with glee and skips down the garden path after her brother, her blonde curls bouncing lightly as she goes. Both children laugh as they play in the small enclosure at the end of the garden. Haymitch joins his wife on the swing again, pulling her closer to his side. She lifts her legs to tuck them underneath her on the swing and cuddles up to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"She's so much like you, it's unreal." Haymitch watches, smiling lovingly, as their daughter scolds her big brother for picking up some dirt. Effie's eyes follow his gaze and she sees her small daughter put her hands on her hips and glare at the boy in question. Effie laughs, and it sounds like the sweetest music to Haymitch's ears. He places a light kiss on his wife's forehead. "I wonder where she got that habit from, huh sweetheart?" Effie giggles again and looks up at Haymitch.

"Well if you would just behave yourself, I wouldn't have to scold you and she would not have picked it up." She smiles sweetly up at her husband and he just shakes his head, grinning back. They both return their gaze to the children, just in time to see their son scramble up one of the trees at the end of the garden.

"I knew you'd let him go to the woods eventually." Haymitch smiles down at his wife. Effie chuckles.

"It's not like I really had a choice in the matter. Zach is as stubborn as you AND Katniss."

"That's very true."

"Besides, how could I have said no? You saw how excited he was just telling you about it. I couldn't resist. I couldn't deny him. His little face… he begged me to let him go. I had to."

"Yeah. I know what you mean. At least we know he's safe with Katniss though. She wouldn't ever let anything bad happen."

"Yes. I trust her completely. I know Katniss would look after him. Of course she would. I may have to talk to her about this slingshot business, though."

"Ah, leave it, Effs. It's fine. He's a boy. Boys love shootin' things."

"Haymitch, he's only 6! I cannot let our 6-year-old child play with weapons! It could be dang-"

"Effie. Relax. It. Will. Be. Fine. It's hardly a bow and arrows, is it? It's just a slingshot. I had one when I was a kid. Trust me. Like I said, boys love shootin' stuff." Effie sighs and nods, cuddling closer to her husband.

"You're such a… typical man." She smiles and he laughs.

"And you're such a typical woman."

"You're right, Haymitch. Only a woman could look after 3 children and herself, all the while keeping everything on track and organized AND making sure the house is spotless and everything's in order." She grins up at her husband, who looks confused, but smiles down at her anyway.

"Who's the third child?

She smirks. "Like I said, you're a typical man. You never grow up." Haymitch feigns shock and hurt, gasping.

"Me? A child?" She slaps him playfully on the chest, laughing, and looks up at him.

"Yes. You." She reaches up and kisses him on the cheek. He turns his head to claim her lips with his. "But I love you… no matter what age you are mentally." She grins at him and he kisses her on the forehead.

"I love you too, sweetheart. You're everything to me. You and our beautiful kids." Effie pouts a little, creasing her eyebrows in thought, and turns her head towards the children. She sighs as she watches them laugh and play. Haymitch notices the glimmer of adoration and longing in her eyes. They sit in silence for a few minutes.

"What are you thinking about?" She looks back at him with the same thoughtful expression on her face, biting her lip.

"Haymitch, I…" She looks back to the children and sighs, before turning to face her husband again. "Haymitch, I want another baby." He raises his eyebrows in shock.

"You… Really? Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I'm fast approaching 40, not getting any younger. I want to have another child while I still can. Maybe more than one. They're growing up so fast."

"It's just… it's a big decision."

"I know it is. Of course it is. I've thought about it. I want another baby before it's too late. After everything that happened in the war, when they told me I couldn't… I cried so much. You know I did. You held me, even cried with me sometimes. It broke my heart, Haymitch. I had always wanted children of my own. Always. It felt like someone tore a hole right through my soul when they told me I couldn't have the only thing I've ever truly wanted – a family of my own. Deep down, I think, I would have always been miserable without them, even if I had you. I can't imagine a life without them." She looks down the garden at the happy children. "So now, I'm sitting here with MY husband, watching MY children laugh and play, without a care in the world, and it amazes me. It's the best feeling on Earth." She turns back to her husband. "Even when I was pregnant, I couldn't believe it was real, but then, when we held our little boy for the first time… Oh, Haymitch, it was the most incredible, overwhelming feeling I've ever known. They told me I would never know that feeling, never watch my children play, never look down at their faces for the first time… but a miracle happened for us. And then when we held our daughter, I was overcome with love and joy yet again - our second little miracle. And just watching them play… I've never felt as happy as I do now, sitting here with you and watching OUR children. Our family…" She sighs and looks down at the ground. "I've had 5 truly happy moments in my life: when you first told me you loved me, when the kids won the Games, when I finally became your wife, and the births of each of our children. I just… I want some more happy moments, while I still can. Don't get me wrong; I am so happy with you and our family… so incredibly happy… But they help me heal. You help me heal. This family… I just want more children. I want to feel even more complete than I already do. They told me I couldn't be a mother, and now that I am one I just can't get enough. I don't want to stop yet. I love them so much."

Haymitch, having listening intently to her words, takes in a deep breath and slowly exhales, running a hand through his messy, dark hair.

"Look, I get it, but what if we can't, sweetheart? What if it just doesn't happen again? It was supposed to be impossible. A miracle happened twice for us. We don't know if it will again, and we probably shouldn't push our luck. "

"Haymitch, please. It happened twice, it WILL happen again. I just know it. I know this is right. I can feel it." Haymitch sighs. Effie lays a hand on his chest, urging him to agree. "I need this, Haymitch. Please." He looks into her pleading blue eyes and his resolve melts away instantly. He closes his eyes and nods.

"Okay. Fine. We'll have another baby." She smiles widely, overcome with happiness.

"Really? You'll do that for me?"

"Sweetheart, I'd do anything for you. But it's not just for you. I want another baby too. I just hope we have another boy. The world will have its hands full with two Effie Trinkets, never mind three." Haymitch laughs. Effie smiles and rolls her eyes at him.

"Abernathy." Haymitch looks down at her, confused.

"What?" She looks up at him and smiles softly.

"It's Effie Abernathy." A wide smile finds its way onto Haymitch's face as he leans down to capture his wife's lips in a long, passionate kiss. All too soon, a loud "Ewwwwww" from the other side of the garden interrupts them. They look up, laughing, to see their son looking at them in horror and disgust.

"I hope you can handle 3 kids, sweetheart."

"I already do, Haymitch." She gives him a cheeky grin and he chuckles, kissing her once more, softly.