A/N: I wanted to update this for you guys, but I had a shortage of ideas. I don't wanna do something that I wanna use in my E&H series later on, so I had to just have a little think. In the end I came up with this. We all know how much Effie loves her chocolate covered strawberries, but what if Haymitch likes them too? I sense a strawberry war coming on! Let the battle commence. (I'd be cliche and say let the games begin, but I thought I'd live a little and be adventurous.)

I must say, I was kinda disappointed with the response to the last chapter. No reviews or anything. :( Bit of a buzz kill. I didn't think it was that bad? Cheer me up guys?

Also, I have posted my new story: Effie & Haymitch: The Early Years. It's partially a rewrite of Things That Happened In The Past, but I'm done with rewrite chapters now so it's smooth sailing from here on in, and on with the story. Take a gander and let me know what you think. I'll be updating in a short while.

Finally, I would like to let you all know that I am going to be accepting prompts/requests from all of you lovely people! It'd be helpful and also a chance for me to see what you guys wanna see. If you either review or PM me a prompt, I can promise you that I WILL get around to writing it eventually, depending on how many I receive, obviously, but all will get done. :)

On with the story.

-Ellie.

It's 2am in the Capitol. Haymitch slouches on the sofa in the lounge of the penthouse, a glass of whiskey in one hand and one of Effie's beloved chocolate covered strawberries in the other. Plagued by nightmares of his past, he had decided at around midnight to give up trying to sleep and leave his room for a little liquid therapy. He was searching in the fridge for a midnight snack, when he found a large tub of juicy looking chocolate covered strawberries. He'd never tried them before, but he figured if Effie was always ranting and raving about them, they've gotta be worth a try. Once settled on the sofa, he tucked in to his midnight snack and was pleasantly surprised. They were damn good. Soon after, he realized another positive to his new found liking - he could wind Effie up if he ate them all. He started working on clearing the tub, one by one, smiling to himself.

Haymitch reaches the last dozen strawberries in the tub, but pauses in his movement as he hears a door quietly open down the hall. He freezes, silently watching through the dark, to see Effie doing her best attempt at stealth as she sneaks over to the kitchen. He watches as she opens the fridge and begins to search. The light from the fridge reveals her properly to him. She's stripped of all things Capitol, except the thigh-length, purple silk nightgown and matching robe that she wears. Her blonde hair falls in loose curls, just past her shoulders, and he thinks she looks more youthful without the 10 million inches of makeup she wears. The alcohol even makes him brave enough to go as far as to say she's beautiful, but he doubts he'd think that sober. He couldn't be attracted to someone like her, could he? No. Of course he couldn't. No way in hell! He smirks as she grows more frustrated, and hears her quietly curse to herself.

"Looking for something, sweetheart?" She jumps, gasping and quickly turning to search the dark for the source of the voice. He stands up, so that the moonlight lights up his face enough for her to see.

"Haymitch! Heavens, you scared me!" He grins at her.

"After a little midnight snack, are we?" She stutters guiltily.

"N-No... I-I was..." She takes a deep breath, and Haymitch grins. "Firstly, it's 2am, not midnight. And secondly, I couldn't sleep."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I won't tell anyone. So... what were you looking for?"

"Oh, just the-" He doesn't let her finish, picking up the nearly empty tub of strawberries from the table.

"Were you looking for these?" He grins at her and she gasps.

"Oh, Haymitch! You've eaten nearly all of them!" She gains some confidence and marches over to him, standing with one hand on her hip and the other outstretched. "Give them to me." He laughs at her attempt to look intimidating. With her heels, she's only a few inches shorter than him, but without, she barely reaches his chin. He looks down at her grinning, holding the tub above his head.

"Manners, Princess." She sighs, clearly frustrated, and he loves that he can wind her up so easily.

"Fine. Haymitch, give them to me, please." Still grinning, he glances down at her pursed lips.

Somewhere through the drunken haze of his mind, he vaguely wonders if Effie tastes like strawberries and chocolate. Part of him wants to know. He takes another strawberry and holds it out to her, snatching it away at the last second. She huffs, muttering something that sounds like "immature", but he doesn't care.

"If you want 'em, Princess..." he pops the strawberry into his mouth. "You'll have to come get 'em." She scowls at him. How dare he steal her strawberries and taunt her with them by eating them right in front of her!? No. This will not do.

"Give them to me!" She pounces, throwing herself at him with as much force as she can muster in her tiny body and reaching up for the strawberries. Haymitch, semi-drunk and unprepared, stumbles backwards with the unexpected force. Grabbing her hip with one hand in a feeble attempt at regaining balance, he falls backwards onto the sofa, pulling a very shocked Effie with him. She squeals, landing with a huff on top of him. At some point during the fall, his hand somehow managed to snake its way further around her waist. She gasps when she looks up to realize just how close they are, her body flat against his. One hand rests pathetically on his shoulder, while the other is raised above his head, gripping the wrist of the hand that holds the strawberries. His lips are so close to hers that she can feel his warm breath tickle the skin of her lips every time he exhales. She absently licks her lips at the slight taste of alcohol and chocolate covered strawberries. Somehow, it's a good mix. She finds herself wanting more.

His hand rests on the small of her back, and his thumb begins to move slightly, softly caressing her skin through the silk nightgown. He glances down at her lips and catches her wetting them with her tongue. He finds himself mirroring her actions, still wondering if she tastes as good as the strawberries. He wants to know. He's aching to know, and deep down he knows it's not just because of the alcohol. He glances back up to find her icy blue eyes locked with his, alight with an emotion he can't quite name, but understands well.

"Haymitch?" her voice comes out a whisper, a breath that lightly tickles his lips and tastes as sweet on his tongue as his name sounds rolling off hers. He can finally name the emotion in her eyes. Desire.

He lets go of the tub of strawberries, bringing his hand down to cup her cheek and pull her lips to his in a deep, passionate kiss. She melts into his touch instantly, sighing as the exquisite taste envelopes her mouth completely. She moves both her hands to cling to his shirt, anchoring herself to him. He allows his hand to roam into her soft hair, pulling her face even closer while his other hand tightens around her waist. She tastes sweeter than anything he's ever tasted before, and he finds that he can't get enough.

They explore each other, each intoxicated by the taste and feeling, until the need for air overcomes them. They break apart, gasping for air and trying to slow their frantic heartbeats. He leans his head back on the sofa and she buries her face into the crook of his neck. After a few seconds of gasping, they both burst into laughter. Hearing her laugh makes his stomach flutter. It's a real laugh, not the false, airy, Capitol laugh. He doesn't think he's ever heard her real laugh, and it's sweet music to his ears. He wants to hear more of it, but more than that, he wants to be the cause of it, just like he is tonight. His carefree laughter makes her heart soar. She's only ever heard his sarcastic, hateful laughter, his mischievous chuckle, and his drunken guffaw. To hear what seems to be a genuine, happy laugh, and to be the cause of it, causes a wave of unexpected joy to wash over her. She wants to hear him laugh again. She wants him to laugh with her.

"You really wanted those strawberries, huh, sweetheart?" He gently combs his hand through her soft, now-messy hair, enjoying the feeling of her in her natural state. She nods, giggling and lifting her head slightly to look at him.

"I like them." He smiles at her softly for a moment, before it turns into a mischievous smirk. He glances up at the tub, then back to her.

"Well... I've still got plenty left." She smirks, raising her eyebrow at him in question. "And since neither of us can sleep... Well, we might as well share 'em, don't ya think?." Her smirk turns into a grin, and she kisses him softly on the lips.

"My strawberries, your whiskey?" He grins back at her.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart."

She stands up, pulling him with her, and moves to retrieve the tub of chocolate covered strawberries, some of which have rolled out of the now-upside-down tub during the passionate exchange. She begins to walk quietly to her room, and Haymitch follows her after grabbing a bottle of whiskey and 2 glasses, closing the door softly behind him.

A/N: I'd appreciate feedback, for both this chapter and the last. It's been disappointing. If this doesn't get any either, I'll probably just not bother continuing.

Also, please remember to take a look at my other story, Effie & Haymitch: The Early Years.

And remember guys, send me your prompts! :D