Prompt: Effie and Katniss have some girltalk because Katniss is afraid it's going to be her last night with Peeta. Katniss mentions Haymitch and Effie blushes. During 75th quarter quell.

With regrets come remorse

The penthouse was cold, in more ways than one. With the quarter quell looming over the team like a cloud, everyone was feeling down; especially Peeta and Katniss- for obvious reasons.

Waking up in the middle of the night unexpectedly had always been something Effie loved. It gave her more time and it was eerily beautiful. The moonlight often shone through her bedroom window in the tributes apartment, making the scene before her so very picturesque. She yawned gracefully, stretching out her arms. Before she could enjoy her solitude, she remembered what the day ahead would bring, and suddenly became glad for her spare time. Effie needed to think, but not here, her thoughts would overflow and her anxiety would the better of her. No, she needed to go somewhere else.

Placing on her dressing down and slippers, she quietly opened her creaking door. Tip-toeing into the kitchen, she started to make herself a cup of tea. 'As the British say' Effie thought, 'every problem is fixed with tea!' She almost chuckled to herself darkly.

Setting her cup down, she heard the door open again. Spinning around quickly from fright, she saw Katniss enter, solemn faced.

"Katniss?" Effie whispered, accent undetectable.

Katniss jumped to face her direction, hunters instinct she supposed.

"Who's there?!" Her voice demanded an answer. Effie didn't take it personally, after all, she too would have probably taken caution every moment after the hunger games.

"It's me, Effie," she replied.

Katniss' eyes scanned the dimly lit room. The only light sources being two lamps, one near Effie and one on the mantlepiece where she stood. Katniss walked over to the mystery woman claiming to be her escort.

Carefully sitting down next to her, Katniss glanced at the woman, taking in all of her features. Gorgeous Blonde hair hitting her chest, framing an equally gorgeous face: blue eyes, pink lips, slanted nose, eyebrows just slightly darker than her hair. A few freckle splashed across her nose. Katniss couldn't help but stare in awe at this beautiful being.

The woman coughed, "ahem, Katniss? It's rude to stare," she scolded. Oh, it was Effie.

She continued to look at her anyway. "Sorry, I can't really help it, it's like you're, and don't take this freakily, hypnotising..."

Effie blushed furiously, a compliment in her current state, never mind from Katniss, was almost unheard of.

"Thank-you," she looked down. With Katniss continuing to stare at her, it grew awkward quickly.

"So, why are you up at this time?" Effie asked.

That stopped her staring. Katniss pulled her gaze away from Effie's face and onto the floor.

"I'm just... Oh, it's nothing,"

"Tell me, I won't bite," Effie flashed her perfect teeth. The irony wasn't lost. It earned a small, brief smile from the female victor.

"I think... This might be my last night with Peeta," Katniss admitted.

Oh. Of course. How could she comfort her about that? Of course it was her last, true night with Peeta! No-body can predict what will happen in tomorrow's games...

"You really care about him, don't you?" Effie said quietly.

Katniss nodded. "Of course!"

"In the way that everyone in the Capitol think? Or the districts are made to believe? And tell me the truth, Katniss, because believe it or not, I'm NOT stupid," Effie was so tired of people thinking she was.

Katniss nodded again, as if she knew. "Honestly, I don't know. I care for him deeply, of course, but I'm just... Cautious I suppose,"

Effie nodded, not cruelly mimicking her actions. "I understand. And I think you're so very brave. Not for just winning the games, but for everything you've been through. Volunteering for your sister, getting Peeta the medicine. Everything. You're the strongest person I've ever known. And I mean that, Katniss, truly,"

Katniss just sat and stared again. Her mouth metaphorically dropping. Effie had opened up to her tonight in more ways than one and she was grateful for that.

Katniss smiled, a real smile not a fake one. "Thank-you,"

Effie smiled back.

"The others," Katniss blurted out suddenly.

"I'm sorry?"

"The other tributes from district 12. What were they like?"

Effie's face grew sad. "Oh, they didn't deserve to die. I don't really want to talk about them," Katniss saw her eyes brim with unfallen tears.

"You know your nickname in district 12 is the angel of death,"

Effie looked at Katniss, a lone tear streaming down her cheek as she nodded.

"And I used to call you that too. But I was wrong, and they're wrong. You're an angel, but not of death. I prefer 'hope'," Katniss admitted. "I'm really sorry, Effie,"

Effie was crying silently now; from relief or sadness was uncertain for Katniss. The escort merely offered a small smile.

A moment of silence passed while Effie blew on her tea and sipped.

"What about Haymitch?" Katniss enquired.

Effie almost choked on her tea. God, she was nosy. "What about him?" She spluttered.

"What do you think of him? I mean it's pretty obvious what you think of Peeta, you smother him with love," Katniss sniggered, and Effie laughed softly.

"Why do you want to know what I think of Haymitch?..."

She shrugged. "Just interested,"

"Alright. I think that he is an arrogant drunk, who thinks he's too clever for anyone else. I think he is horrible to me and what I represent, I mean, why wouldn't he? But I also think he deeply cares for you and Peeta and I think that's lovely," Effie finished.

Katniss smiled. "Anything else?"

Effie thought for a moment, "no. Why? Should there be?"

Katniss's smile grew knowing. "A little birdy told me you felt more,"

Effie froze, a blush rising in her cheeks. "Who told you that?!"

"Cinna. He told me you had a poster of him on your wall when you were little," she smirked.

Effie fidgeted again then sighed. "That is true but-"

"Knew it"

"I was a little girl then. Now our relationship is purely platonic,"

"Of course is it," Katniss said sarcastically, although the sarcasm was not picked up by Effie's ears. "I'm going to bed now. I'll see you-" she refrained from saying the dreaded 'tomorrow' "-later, Effie,"

Effie smiled. "Good night dear,"

After Katniss had gone, and her tea had cooled enough to drink; Effie couldn't help but smile at their previous conversation. She liked midnight a lot more now.