Hi guys! Wow, it's been too long! I'm so sorry for my absence, it wasn't planned, I've just been so busy!
I am now a university student! Yay! But I've been swamped with assignments already, so updates might be few and far between! I'll try to do an update every month at least though! I'm sorry if that doesn't happen!
Enjoy this chapter! :)

Haymitch

Time passed too quickly for my liking. I spent most of my days drinking and occasionally playing host to my new neighbours. Having two Victors living next to me was sometimes a blessing; like when I would stumble into one of their houses after downing any bottles of liquor down at the Hob, and having them take me home and put me to bed. Or the time when the Hob ran out of liquor and I had such bad withdrawals that it took both of the kids to get me calm again. After that incident, Katniss has started buying liquor herself so we never run out. However, the stony animosity between Katniss and Peeta was evident. They had barely spoken two words together to each other in months.

I was lying in bed on the morning of the start of the Victory Tour, wondering where all the time had gone. Six months had flown by so quickly that I hadn't registered their passing. My life had been a constant swirl of blissful intoxication and then painful, but short-lived, sobriety; I had no time to think about the upcoming festivities.

I had received a few formal letters from Effie, setting out the details for the Victory Tour, but I had simply given them to the kids to read, not bothering about reading them myself. I knew the drill; they would be coming at noon to collect us, with tons of cameras to fill the momentous occasion.

The thought of cameras swarming around us makes my head ache, and I know that I need to be as drunk as possible for when they get here. I make my way downstairs and find myself at my table, downing a bottle of liquor. Within fifteen minutes, I've dozed off, dreaming about the same blonde haired woman I've been dreaming of for months.

It's the same dream every time I shut my eyes. I'm chasing after her, but as I run, she gets further and further away until I can just make out her outline in the distance.

Suddenly, a torrent of water crashes down upon me, jolting me out of my dream and making me jump up, knife in hand.

When my eyes clear, I see Katniss sitting on my windowsill, tensed and ready to make a quite getaway if needed.

"What are you doing?" I splutter.

"You told me to wake you an hour before the cameras come," she says, still tense on the windowsill; glancing at the knife as if I was about to come at her with it.

"What?" I ask again, not remembering telling her this.

"Your idea." She presses, and then I remember out conversation yesterday.

Suddenly, I become aware of my state. "Why am I all wet?"

"I couldn't shake you awake. Look, if you wanted to be babied, you should have asked Peeta!"

I was about to respond with some retort, when the familiar voice drifted through my house. "Asked me what?"

I see the wince cross Katniss' face as Peeta walks into the room, carrying a loaf of bread. He places it on the table and holds out his hand for my knife.

"Asked you to wake me up without giving me pneumonia." I hand Peeta the knife, and then work on trying to get myself dry. I pull off my outer shirt and then wipe myself with my undershirt. Hmm, how long have I been wearing these?

Peeta douses the knife in alcohol; which is a waste of good liquor if you ask me; and then cuts the bread up. He hands me the end of the loaf, my favourite bit, and then turns to Katniss. "Would you like a piece?"

I watch them intently, judging their emotions and reactions to each other. They're both as cold as ice. I sigh as Katniss speaks.

"No, I ate at the Hob. But thank you."

"You're welcome." Peeta says, coldly.

I throw my shirt away to attract their attentions to me. "Brr. You two have got a lot of warming up to do before showtime."

The look on their faces confirms that they understand what I'm talking about. They have to seem in love and all that for the people of Panem. Snow must be satisfied, or who knows what might happen?

"Take a bath, Haymitch." Katniss says quickly, and then jumps out of the window, leaving Peeta and I alone.

He doesn't speak to me as he cuts me another slice and takes one for himself.

"You okay, kid?" I ask, moving over to the table.

"Fine." He mutters, taking a bite of the slice.

"Worried about the cameras?"

"No. I'm fine, Haymitch." He stands up, throwing the rest of his slice into the bin. "Take a bath. We wouldn't want Effie shouting at you on the first day." With that, he walks out, leaving me to mull over what he said. Particularly, the name he just mentioned.

Effie.

It had been too long since I had thought of her, which was a good thing really. I had made a promise to myself not to get involved with her again, for her own safety and wellbeing. However, it occurred to me that I had made that promise many times before, and they had all fallen through. Well, this time would be different! She would not sway me again.

I did as the kids told and took a quick bath, allowing myself no time to think about Effie. I threw on some dirty clothes, flung some equally dirty clothes in a suitcase, and then lugged myself downstairs.

Circling the living room, I waited for the time to come. The time when she would walk in, and I would be forced to confront what had happened between us over the past year. I had tried to block out her face, her voice, her body, from my mind over the past six months, but now that she was so close to being in front of me, I couldn't help but let all of the memories of her come flooding back. Her eyes, her smile, her perfect rosy cheeks, her beautiful blonde curls; all of these features became prominent in front of my eyes.

No. Stop it, Abernathy.

I shouldn't be thinking of her. She had probably moved on; found another man by now; and now only thinks of me as a pain in her backside. I should do the same. Life was far more fun when we were snapping at each other.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I sucked in a breath. I decided to take my time; leave her waiting. Maybe I'd get her agitated before she even saw me again.

As I slowly tiptoed my way over to the door, I heard a distinctly male voice call out.

"He's not answering. It's okay, I'll get him."

Cinna. They were here.

I moved to the door and opened it. "It's okay, I'm not dead."

Cinna turned and smiled. "I didn't think you were. How are you?"

"Bearing up. How are things with you?"

"Everything's good. Are you ready for this?" He gave me a concerned look.

"For what: prancing around the districts and gloating because my kids were better than theirs? Ready as I'll ever be. What have you got planned for Katniss?"

He shows me the outfit he has designed for her to wear today, and then goes about showing me the designs of the dresses that Katniss herself has supposed to have designed.

"These are good, Cinna. You think they'll believe it?" I ask suspiciously. They look too good to be the work of a sixteen year old girl with no experience in the industry, but I suppose she was under Cinna's guidance.

I only realise that we left the door open when we hear a light knock on the door and turn to see Portia walk in, a suit bag over her outstretched arms.

"Hello Haymitch." She smiles and sets the bag down on my sofa.

"Portia. A pleasure, as always." I nod at her and she reaches her arms out for a hug.

I glance at her, and then decide that there's no problem in hugging her. She's a decent human being, I guess. I gave her a quick hug, and then pull back.

"Where are Cinna and Portia? They need to go to the kids! We have to stick to schedule!" I hear an all-too familiar voice call from outside.

"We should go. Don't want Effie's schedule to be ruined. See you later, Haymitch." Portia gave me a small smirk at the idea of ruining Effie's schedule, and then her and Cinna left to dress the kids.

It didn't take long for her to find me. I heard her heels clacking on my steps before I even saw her. She didn't even bother to knock like Portia had; she simply let herself in.

I turned away from her just as I registered that there was a pumpkin coloured wig on her head. I didn't want to see her whole face; not right now.

"Haymitch, where is your suitcase? I'll get someone to take it to the train for you." I heard her say; her voice stiff and thick.

"Over there." I pointed to where it lay.

I heard her call for somebody, and then she decided to come closer to me.

"How have you been, Haymitch?" Her voice wasn't hard now, but it most certainly wasn't soft like it had been last year.

"I've been fine. You?" I tried to keep my voice as hard as possible.

"I'm glad to hear it. I've been okay. I haven't been able to get through to you, is there something wrong with your telephone?" Her voice picked up quickly as she remarked about the telephone.

"If you count it being on the floor in pieces as 'something wrong', then yes." I said offhandedly, and heard her gasp of shock.

"You didn't!" She ran over to where the phone should be and gasped again. "Haymitch Abernathy, you tore it off the wall? How could you? This is destruction of property!" She walked over to me, but I turned so I couldn't see her.

"It's my property, so I can do what I like to it." I mumbled.

"Do you know how much it will cost to get it fixed?" She didn't try to face me again; she seemed content to scream at my back.

"I'm sure the Capitol will be more than happy to pay for it. Seeing as most people have enough money coming in in an hour than most people in Twelve will see in their entire lives." I snapped.

Before I could even think, Effie's face was in front of mine, her blue eyes glaring deep into mine. They were ringed by a halo of garish orange eye shadow, and her cheeks were adorned with orange blush that contrasted with her doll-white skin.

"Don't say stuff like that to me, Haymitch! Money is money! It'll cost an extortionate amount to fix this! I can't believe that you of all people would not think of that." She shrieked in my face. I could feel the niggling sensation of an oncoming headache. Great, she had only been here for 5 minutes and already she was giving me a headache.

"Can you get out of my face? You're giving me a headache." I snapped, and she recoiled.

"Fine. Just be outside in 10 minutes to see the filming. We're leaving after that, so be ready." She pulled away, gave me one last look up and down, and then left. I sighed as the clacking of her heels faded.

It was for the best. It obviously looked like she'd moved on; I should too. For now I'd have to be content with the knowledge that she was safe from me, that I couldn't hurt her if we weren't close.

A Capitol attendant walked in, without knocking, and took my bag without a word. I watched him leave, and then went to the window. Effie had just disappeared inside Katniss' house; obviously to tell them that they were still on schedule. Peeta and Portia had appeared outside Peeta's house, with cameras on his tail, filming him. They were obviously interested in his Victor's talent; and now were filming his reactions as he waited for Katniss to appear. He'd better get this right; he had to look like he was still overwhelmingly in love with Katniss, or it all went down the drain. Although, Peeta was a great actor, so I had confidence in him. It was Katniss whom I worried about.

I found my coat and made my way outside, trying not to slip over on the ice. I found myself by one of the cameramen as Effie called out the directions that she wanted and pushes Katniss out of the door. I hear her saying, "Katniss, big smile, you're very excited, right?" That could have been an offhanded comment that suggested the obviousness of that fact, but to me it was a suggestion to Katniss that she needed to get more excited. I hope that registered with her.

The reunion of the kids seemed like a scene from one of those soppy love movies that Effie loved so much; where the couple meet, kiss, spins around, and falls over in the snow lovingly. It made me want to puke, but that was a good thing! If I could believe it, then maybe Snow would too. But if I looked closer in their eyes, I could still see cold steel in them. They needed some more warming up.

The rest of the day was a blur. The kids said goodbye to their families and we boarded the train that would take us to the other districts. The blur of it all reminded me of the blur of the first day of my own Victory Tour. I tried to push it out of my mind, but as we all sat eating dinner, I couldn't help but recall how it was on my Victory Tour.

My mentor, Balthazar Fiennes, sat at the head of the table, drinking like a fish and barely eating anything. My escort, Nilly, I think her name was, was babbling in ecstasy about how fun this was going to be, and how excited I should have been. My stylist, Annybelle, sat next to me, drawing different styles of tuxedo and showing them to me. I just sat there, commenting briefly on the designs and ignoring Nilly completely.

This year, it was similar. Effie was chatting non-stop about how wonderful it would be to have two Victors on the same Victory Tour, and how the districts would love it. I wanted to slap her, but I knew that wouldn't do well for our relations at the moment. Cinna and Portia would chat to the kids sometimes, and Peeta would respond nicely, but Katniss would simply mumble, or say nothing at all. Reminded me of me. And then there was me, sitting at the head of the table, and drinking like a fish. Hmm, how the tables have turned.

After finishing, we all disappeared to our rooms to get some sleep for the days ahead. I, of course, didn't sleep. I just crouched on my bed, drinking and reading a book.

At around midnight, a small knock sounded. I waited, to see if it was urgent, and when the person knocked several times, I went to the door.

Katniss was standing there, looking mad.

"What do you want?" I ask, and see her scrunch up her nose at the smell of me.

"I have to talk to you." She whispers.

"Now?" She nods. "This better be good. Well?"

She hesitates, and I realise that she probably knows we're being recorded. Well, this must be something very important.

I feel the train slowing down, and realise that we must be stopping for fuel. Katniss realises it too, and makes an offhanded comment about the train being stuffy.

I catch on immediately, and take her to the doors of the train. When it finally stops, I wrestle the door open and actually fall out into the snow. I groan as the cold blast hits me, and can just about make out someone running to help me.

I get up, saying about wanting fresh air, and then walk down the side of the train, hoping that she'll follow me.

She does, and when we get far enough down the side of the train, I turn to face her. "What?"

She tells me everything about what has happened in the past few days; Snow's visit, his expectations, his threats of killing people she loves. I don't think it's hit her yet, the implications of all of this, so it's my duty to tell her.

"Then you can't fail." I say, seriously.

"If you could just help me get through this trip—" She begins.

"No, Katniss, it's not just this trip." I say, willing her to understand.

"What do you mean?" She asks, still not getting it.

"Even if you do pull it off, they'll be back in another few months to take us all to the Games. You and Peeta, you'll be mentors now, every year from here on out. And every year they'll revisit the romance and broadcast the details of your private life, and you'll never, ever be able to do anything but live happily ever after with that boy."

As I speak, I can see that it's all sinking in now. She understands now. She'll never have a future with her hunter friend, or anyone else for that matter. She is bound to Peeta for life now, and soon she'll have to marry him, and maybe have children with him. And what a stir that will cause, the child of two Victors being born. That child will most definitely be placed in the Games before too long, just to spite the kids. I remember Talia's brother, and how he was put in the Games to spite her.

"Do you understand what I mean?" I ask, and she nods slowly. I pity her; all of her choices in life have been taken away now. She has one future, and one future only; to marry Peeta and to mentor District Twelve's tributes from today until either she mentors a Victor, or she dies.

I lead her back to the train, and as she's about to go into my room, I place my hand on her shoulder and say "You could do a lot worse, you know." Then I leave her to think.

She could do a lot worse than Peeta, but I know that's no consolation to her. As I crawl back into bed, my hands clutching my knife, I think about Effie. She could do a lot better than me. She had probably already found someone a lot better than me, and now is repulsed by the idea of being with me.

Sleep takes me easily now, and I dream of Effie in a white dress, dancing with me. But I'm not happy, and neither is she. I'm not the one in the tux now, I'm in raggedy clothes. So why are we dancing?

Dream-Effie leans in and says, "Let go of me. My husband's waiting."

I turn to look at this husband, and see that Seneca Crane is standing in a tux, watching us. I immediately let go of Effie and walk away. It's for the best anyway.

I remember that Crane is dead, but she could find a man in the Capitol that is worthy of her. It didn't have to be Crane. Just someone who wouldn't abuse her.

I don't deserve her. I know that now. She's a princess, and I'm a pauper. In those stupid romantic stories, sometimes it works. But in real life, nothing like that ever happens. So I'll just have to deal with it.

Just get through the Tour, and then I can stay away from her for a bit. And maybe I could get away from the next Games if I teach the kids how to mentor beforehand. I could stay at home while the Games are on, stay away from Effie. I was looking forward to that.

Let's hope I could get through the Tour though.

Shorter than usual, but oh well! As long as there's an update!
I'm sorry for the lack of Hayffieness in this one! Don't worry, there will be some more in the coming chapters!
Please review, it makes me happy! :)
Have a great day! :)