Hi everyone! I am so so so SO sorry about the really long hiatus/break thing! I've been so busy with university, and then Christmas and all that! It's been hectic! Also, I'm not really feeling right with this story anymore. I feel like my writing isn't up to scratch, I feel ashamed of what I write. But you guys want it, so I'll post this chapter. It's not my best, but still! I'll keep posting, and hopefully I'll become better! I hope you enjoy this chapter, at least a little bit!

Haymitch

The Victory Tour passes in a drunken haze of cheering, food, and parties. I watch from the sidelines as the kids are paraded around in front of the crowds, who appear adoring, but are really resentful about my kids being alive, and not their own. A few incidents cripple our progress, like Katniss' speech about Rue and Thresh in Eleven, and the man being shot.

That had been a scary moment, hearing the gun shot. I had been standing against a wall with Effie, Cinna and Portia, and the gun shot had forced me into alertness. In instinct, I had moved, to place myself between Effie and the sound of the shot, but I managed to cover it as a nervous jump. Fear for the kids shot through me, as well as the fear I felt for Effie. That fear ebbed away as Peacekeepers led Katniss and Peeta to where we were standing. I had led everyone deep into the building as fast as I could, not wanting to stay where the kids, or Effie, could get hurt.

I recall the fear that I had felt then as I sat in the corner of President Snow's mansion, drink in hand. It had been all encompassing; greater than any fear I had experienced since my own Games, and the aftermath. The fear had only left me once we were on the train to the Capitol, but now that we were here, fear struck me more each minute. Katniss had to pull this off, or we're all dead. Right now, she seemed to be doing a good job, dancing with Peeta in a ring of people on the dance floor. Of course, I could see the contempt in their eyes, but luckily, the Capitol idiots couldn't see what I saw.

Suddenly, someone stepped in front of me, and my eyes ended up landing on a pair of slim, toned legs. I worked my way upwards, barely noticing the vulgar orange dress, and my eyes met Effie's blue ones.

"Come on, Haymitch. Let's dance!" She slurred, grabbing my hands, and pulling. I reluctantly stood up, wrapping my arms around her to support her. I wondered what could have caused this change of heart; even whilst drunk I expected Effie to still have some hatred for me.

She led me onto the dance floor, put her hands in the right places, and we began to slow dance along to some tedious Capitol droning. She stumbled a few times, giggling manically, and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?" She snapped, giggling again.

"You're drunk." I stated, a small grin forming on my face.

"Not!" She emphasised it, leaning forward slightly and then giggling some more.

"I know drunk, and you are drunk. Why the sudden need to dance with me, Princess?" I needed to ask; otherwise I might not get the chance again.

"You promised, remember? All that time ago, you promised that you'd dance with me!" She raised her voice, laughing again as she swayed. Suddenly, she tripped and fell into my chest. I caught her reflexively, stopping her from falling.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's sit you down." I tried to pull her from the dance floor, but she resisted, righting herself and screaming against my idea.

"No, Haymitch! You promised! I won't fall over again, I promise." She breathed in, determined, and we took up our positions again.

The song changed to another slow song; an even worse one than before; and we began to dance. My eyes wandered from our feet to the room around us. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Katniss and Peeta dancing. As long as they looked in love, and could pull it off convincingly, then we'd all be all right.

"Yoohoo, earth to Haymitch! Look at me!" Effie called, a smile bright on her face. I turned back to her, realising that I was being rude.

"Sorry, Eff." I shrugged, and continued to look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry too. For what happened. I love you, I really do!" She began to shout, a rapturous smile on her face, and I immediately became alert. She had shouted; in a room full of Capitol people; people who think that we're enemies!

"Effie, shh. People will hear you." I tried to calm her down, pulling on her arm gently to take her away from the dance floor, but she stayed put.

"I don't care! I want to tell the world!" She tried to wrap her arms around me, but I moved away. This couldn't be happening. I suddenly didn't care if she wanted to leave or not; all that mattered was getting her drunk behind out of here, away from prying eyes. That need spurred me into moving behind her back, and forcefully pushing her off the dance floor and out into the hall of the mansion.

We moved away from the ballroom, away from all of the people, as quickly as possible. I found Effie a chair, and forced her to sit down. She started rubbing her arms and complaining loudly about how her arms hurt.

"What are you playing at, Effie?" I snarled at her. Her face became scared, startled, even hurt. I pulled back, not letting all of my anger show, but I couldn't quite rein all of it in. "You know that we need to keep our relationship secret. We don't go blurting it out! And to be honest, I don't even know why you were. We're taking a break, remember?"

"I know, I'm sorry. But I love you! I need to tell the world!" She sprung up from her seat, coming over to put her hands on my arms, clasping around them.

"It's the drink talking, Eff. Trust me. It'll make you say all sorts of things." I tried to detach myself from her, but the momentum that I exerted made her fall onto me again. She giggled, drunkenly, and tried to stand upright again.

"We should get you into bed now." I said, and Effie burst into laughter.

"What?" I asked, and Effie looked up and me in glee.

"As long as you get in with me!" She said, and then dissolved into delirious laughter again.

"Not funny, Effie. Come on." I took her arm and dragged her up to her room. She stumbled along after me, giggling at times. Once we got to her room, she begged me not to leave.

"Please, Haymitch, stay with me! I need you with me!" Her eyes, as glassy as they were, were pleading, grovelling even; they were so passionate that I knew I had to stay.

I helped her get out of her garments, so she could be comfortable as she slept. As I undid her corset, she let out a passionate sigh of relief that brought back memories of our time together before the reaping last year. I pushed those thoughts out of my mind as I moved to take the corset off.

Suddenly, Effie jerked in my arms. She pulled the corset out of my hands and scrabbled away from me, covering herself.

"Effie, what's wrong?" I asked, seeing the fear in her eyes.

"Get out! Get out, Haymitch, now!" She shouted, covering herself up with the corset, as if protecting herself from me. I was suddenly so conflicted; I wanted to stay, and ask her what was wrong, but I saw the fear in her eyes. Obviously she wanted me to leave, and I should do as she asked, right?

"Please, Haymitch. I'm sorry, but this can't happen. You're right, it was the alcohol talking. You need to leave." She still didn't let the corset fall away from her body, keeping it tight around her. The ruffles bunched up around her, concealing whatever she had to hide. I was puzzled; I had seen her naked before; what was the trouble?

But I decided to respect her wishes. I stood up, bade her a good night, and left the room. As I shut the door, I heard a whispered swear, and then her talking to herself.

"Note to self: Never drink again." She said, and then I heard her get up.

As I walked down the hallway to my own room, I was baffled. Why had she so suddenly rejected me? She must have sobered up fast.

I got into my room, and threw myself down on the bed. Effie had told me that she loved me. But that didn't matter. She was drunk; alcohol makes people say all sorts of things. I needed to stay away from her; she needed to be protected. She deserved better than me anyway.

And so, yet again, I spent the evening drinking, and telling myself that I should stay away from Effie, because it was for her own good. Even if I wanted her in my life, I couldn't have her. It was as simple as that.

I fell asleep telling myself that; but in my dreams, I remembered us dancing, her telling me that she loved me, telling me that she wanted to tell the whole world. If only that could happen. If only.

Short, and certainly not sweet. I'm sorry!
It'd mean loads if you guys could review this chapter. I've been at a low point with the writing, and your reviews make me so happy! Maybe I might just gain some confidence if your reviews are lovely! So please review!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed!