Chapter Ten

All throughout his train ride to the Capitol, Effie's "my child" echoed in his mind. He tried to shake it off, convince himself that she didn't mean anything by it and repeatedly told himself that he shouldn't have just walked away from Effie that way but the unsettling feeling nagged at him. It bothered him greatly that he had been excluded.

His preoccupation of what transpired between him and Effie made the journey to the Capitol seem much shorter than usual. Haymitch arrived at the Capitol on Monday morning, his eyes searching the crowd for his beefy friend.

"Mr Abernathy?" the small woman in black square rimmed glasses called out as she approached him.

"Yeah, who's asking?"

"Adria Stone," she extended her hand, "from Plutarch Heavenbee's office."

"You're his….?

"Secretary."

Haymitch slung his duffel bag over his shoulders and looked at the woman who was blinking her eyes up at him. She was dressed in dark green cotton shirt tucked neatly into a black tight pencil skirt. Her long auburn hair was tied in a ponytail. She was a pretty sight and Haymitch wondered if Fulvia ever felt threatened by the woman's presence in Plutarch's office.

"Couldn't come and get him myself now, could he?"

"Mr. Heavensbee is occupied at the moment. He had just returned from District Three with Mrs. Heavensbee late last night," she explained. "He will be joining you shortly. In the meantime, he has instructed me to keep you company."

"Keep me – No, I think I'm fine," Haymitch replied, gently pushing away her hand that was resting on his arm.

"Are you sure?" he brows crinkled, looking at Haymitch intently. "My instructions were clear and if you turned up drunk it will be on me."

Haymitch pinned her with a glare. "I'm sure, yeah. Why don't you go back to your office and –"

"Where do you plan on going in the meantime? It's best if I stick around."

"I don't think so," Haymitch said brusquely, stepping away from her.

"Haymitch," she called as she stood in front of him. "I was told to make sure that you remain sober for your meeting with the President since Ms. Trinket isn't here to keep an eye out on you. How about we wait for Mr. Heavensbee at the coffee shop? Or if you would rather be doing something else, I'm sure we could work -"

Her persistence annoyed him. He would have believed that she was genuinely concerned about doing her job if she had not casually touched his arm or stood so close to him like she was now. The smell of her perfume wafted up and Haymitch wrinkled his nose. It was bold and much too strong for his liking. Haymitch was beginning to get headache just from the scent. He much rather preferred the rich smell of Effie's vanilla and berries – it was pleasant and subtle.

His eyes flickered to the wedding ring on her fourth finger as she brought her hand up to twist a lock of her hair. He felt his own ring sitting heavily on his finger, a reminder of who he had just left behind in District Twelve.

"No," Haymitch shook his head, stepping back from her once again, "I'm going to Effie's apartment. Call me when Plutarch is ready to meet me."

He was about to turn away when he added, "Effie's my wife in case you missed out that fact and I noticed that you're married."

Her laughter made him pause in his track and when he turned to look at her, he saw her eyes glittering in amusement as she shook her head in disbelief.

"I thought since this was your idea," she cocked her head to the side, "you would have been like one of those men."

"What was that?"

"Trying to get the law repealed," she said pointedly. "I personally thought that since you're so eager to end your marriage, it must have been shaky to begin with. I was wrong then. I never took you for the devoted, loyal husband."

Haymitch raised an eyebrow

"Unless you're doing this for her?" Adria Stone queried before shaking her head regretfully, her voice dropping a notch. "I'm sorry it's not my place to ask. It's just that I don't think there are many people like you nowadays. Those who were forced to get married - in most cases - they're unhappy," she explained, "and they turn to others for some sort of comfort or…just some sort of thrill to forget their marriage for a little while."

"People like you?" Haymitch asked, ignoring her earlier question. "You thought it would be fun to see if you could make me sleep with you."

She shrugged again and fell in step next to him. "Like I said, I thought you would welcome a distraction. No man who truly loves his wife will try to get the law repeal, would they? I must say, if word gets out, you will be a hero to many of the men and women who has been tied down unwillingly."

Haymitch kept silent at the insinuation that he did not love Effie. It was true, he supposed. He had told Peeta he couldn't love her.

"And I'm not the only one, you know? There are others like that in Panem."

That snapped his attention back to the woman next to him. "Really?" he asked, intrigued.

He had never considered this particular social impact before - the ramifications the marriage law had on spousal infidelity – and hurriedly jotted the point down in a notebook Effie had gotten for him.

"I apologise, Haymitch. It makes it all very embarrassing now. I just thought … You know, that we could have a bit of fun but…," she laughed awkwardly, "well, Plutarch will be at the Council House to meet the President at noon. Please don't be late."

XxX

Effie's apartment was small and neat. It has one bedroom, a guest bedroom, and a living room with an adjoining kitchen. It was warm, cozy and beautifully decorated. One could sense the effort Effie had put into decorating the house the moment they step foot in it.

Effie and her sister, Eirene Trinket had planned to live together and when her sister had first joined the Games years ago, she had taken Effie to look at several houses. They both fell in love with this apartment but Eirene Trinket took her own life before they could purchase it. Nevertheless, a few years after Eirene's death, when she had enough finances, Effie bought the apartment. She moved in and never once had the intention to sell it off even when she married Haymitch and moved out to District Twelve.

Haymitch was glad that she chose to keep it since he did not have to stay over at Plutarch's place or rent a room at one of the hotels now that he was here.

Dropping his bag on the floor by the plush sofa in the living room, Haymitch shuffled to the adjoining kitchen in search for alcohol. He had been over her place on several occasions when they had worked closely together during the Rebellion prior to her capture and was familiar with where Effie kept her things. The spare bedroom where he usually slept in when the night had gotten too late was just as he remembered it. The single size bed was pushed against the wall although the bed sheets had been stripped off the mattress. The curtain was closed and Haymitch parted it in the middle to look out of the window down at the busy streets below.

He pressed his forehead against the cool glass pane as Adria Stone's words replayed itself in his mind - "Unless you're doing this for her?"

He was certain that when he started out in trying to end the law, he was doing it for himself. He had not wanted to be married, having long gave up on that dream, and he certainly did not want to be married to Effie. But he remembered telling Plutarch that Effie should have her life, too. After all that she had been through with her sister's death, rendering her assistance to the Rebellion and having to pay for it, Effie didn't deserve to be stuck in a lifetime with a bitter man like him. She could have so much more if she was free.

When she told him she was pregnant and he had accused her of condemning him, he had not really meant it. Haymitch had been caught off guard and did not know how to react to the news or what he should be feeling about his impending fatherhood. He had reflexively lashed out because at that point of time, the only thing that was apparent and clear to him was Effie messing with his plans. His plans - that was what Effie had hissed at him after she had slapped him. It was his plan; a plan he had thought off without consulting Effie, a plan he thought would suit them both. But the game had changed and that plan was no longer viable.

He had several weeks to internalize the news and he was beginning to doubt himself. Would it be right to let her go?

He had debated the questions with himself ad nauseam during the weeks that he and Effie weren't talking, and as Plutarch had said, it wasn't about Effie and him anymore. There are other people out there who are suffering from the law – the group of people who did not marry a person of their choice. They had no prospects so their names had been chosen at random from a pool and paired off with someone from the opposite sex with the sole purpose of procreating. The only difference Haymitch saw this law had from the Games was that the law sought to create life, the Games ended it. But human choices were absent in both.

Haymitch knew what he should do but it did nothing to lessen the doubt he himself had planted in his mind. He would go through with trying to get the law repealed and when the time came for either of them to go their separate ways - he would leave the choice to Effie. Despite everything that he had said to her while he was angry, that child is a part of him and therefore part of his responsibility.

XxX

"Haymitch, Plutarch," Paylor extended her hand, "nice to see you both again. Please have a seat."

Haymitch gave a brief nod and settled down on the uncomfortable sofa across from the President. Since he did not hold an office in the new government, Haymitch was a special case to be granted an audience with the President. His role in the Rebellion and the fact that Paylor knew him personally lend a hand in being allowed in to the President's office.

"I assume you know why we're here," Haymitch said, foregoing all small talks. Plutarch frowned slightly.

Paylor steepled her fingers together and looked at each of them in turn. "Yes. I received your report yesterday afternoon."

"You understand where we're coming from, then, Mdm President?" Plutarch asked.

"I do. And I thank you for your concern and the efforts that had gone into this," she looked down at the papers in front of her and smiled. "Seems like a lot of research had been done."

"You have to put an end to this," Haymitch implored. "There are too many problems. Not to mention the indication of complete social breakdown. If this isn't stop now, it will only get worse."

"I understand, Haymitch," she said, looking at Haymitch in earnest.

Haymitch doubted she understood at all from the way she was sitting on her chair looking at them calmly. It was not the reaction Haymitch had in mind. He expected her to at least be affronted by what they had discovered and at the injustice her government had thrown the people in.

"I'm sensing a 'but' here, Paylor," Haymitch replied impatiently. Under the table, Plutarch kicked his leg as a warning.

"The truth remains that our populations are dwindling."

Haymitch exhaled. "Did you read that brief thoroughly? You are losing citizens because of this law! Suicides and exiled – I don't see how that's helping."

"That is true, but our statistics shows that if each married couple has at least two children or more, our population will be sustainable over time and when we've reached that stage, Haymitch, the law will be obsolete and it will be dissolved."

"When will that be by your estimation?" Plutarch asked as he glanced at Haymitch.

"The law has only been in effect for eight months, Plutarch. There hasn't been a single birth yet out of this law," Paylor pointed out. She turned then towards Haymitch with a kind smile on her face. "I heard your wife's pregnant. With a child on the way, Haymitch, surely it will be fool-hardy to have this law repealed and lose your family? Our data showed that like yourself and Ms. Trinket, there are many expecting couples in Panem. The law seemed to be doing its job."

He sucked in a breath. "Don't turn this on me."

"All I'm saying is that there will be complications if this law ceased to exist. Families will be broken apart; couples separating while the wife is pregnant. You understand?"

"And all I'm saying," Haymitch hissed as he leaned forward, "is that there are far worse complications if this debacle were to continue. I suggest you read that brief again and if that is not enough to convince you, I can get more information for you."

Paylor shifted her gaze down and leaned back in her seat. "It's not up to me. I will bring this before the Council at the next meeting and I will get back to you. You have to allow the law time to come into fruition. Let the first batch of babies be born and the birth rates speak for itself. You'll see then, that I am not wrong."

Haymitch's lips thinned in suppressed anger and his nostrils flare. "What will it take to make you see reasons here, Paylor? There are thousands out there who - "

"Thank you, Mdm President. I shall wait for your call," Plutarch interrupted Haymitch's rant before dragging him out of office.

Haymitch pulled his hand away from Plutarch in frustration and stomped off the corridor.

"Haymitch," Plutarch ran after him breathlessly. He squeezed his large frame into the lift before Haymitch could shut the door on him. "You need to maintain your composure. You can't just blow up like that! If this doesn't get through, we'll try again. We'll wear them down."

"Fine," Haymitch said tersely.

"And you're going to be a father?" Plutarch grinned. "That is good news, indeed! Haymitch, my friend, congratulations! I'm sure even if this law gets repealed, you and Effie will work things out where your child is concern."

Will we?

Haymitch didn't bother to answer. His mood was darkening and all he wanted was to return to the comfort of his home and have a drink. And if he was honest, he wanted to see Effie and tell her what happened. He didn't know why but he just wanted to let his frustration out. Effie's reaction would be predictable and familiar to him and it was something he needed.

XxX

At Effie's apartment, Haymitch lounged on the sofa thinking about the meeting with Paylor that afternoon. Plutarch had assured him that if this fails, they could appeal before the Council again. Never one to run out of optimism, Plutarch was quick to point out that their options were not limited – there are other ways to go about dealing with the law.

His hand clumsily searched for the liquor he had placed on the floor and was about to bring it up to his lips when the phone rang loudly in the empty house. Grumbling loudly, Haymitch pushed himself up and snatched the phone of its hook.

"Plutarch," he yawned tiredly into the phone, "I'm busy and I don't want to talk about the meeting."

"Haymitch? It's Effie!"

"Oh, you," his voiced perked up slightly. "I didn't know the phone was working. Why did you not cut off the phone line when you moved out?"

"Why should I? The electricity is still running, I didn't cut that off, be thankful for that."

He rolled his eyes and flopped back down on the sofa. "Why'd you call, Eff?"

"I just wanted to check in," she replied. "Make sure everything's okay."

"I'm at your apartment. Everything looks okay. Nobody broke in to rob you," he reported although he knew that wasn't the purpose of her call.

"Well that's lovely," she said airily. "Have you had dinner?"

"No."

It was odd having someone asking after him and looking after his well-being. Back when they were merely colleagues, Effie cared for him enough to make sure he was where he was supposed to be and that he wasn't too drunk to shame District Twelve but this was new to him.

"You should eat something, Haymitch. There's an eatery down at the corner."

"Maybe later," Haymitch said knowing it will put her at ease. He had no intention whatsoever to leave the house. He was tired and too frustrated with the meeting to even bother about dinner.

"How was the meeting?"

"Don't want to talk about it now," he mumbled. "Later, when I get home."

"Haymitch, I want to go to District Four to visit Annie. I'm bored here in Twelve," Effie announced suddenly.

"You're bored? Don't you have to go to work or something?" Haymitch sat up, surprised. "You're always busy. What do you mean you're bored?"

"Well, I've been given a few days off under the doctor's recommendation - I feel tired lately," she informed him.

"Is that normal? To feel tired? And when did you see the doctor?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure if it's supposed to be this early in the pregnancy," she answered. "Katniss took me to the clinic this morning when I felt dizzy."

"Effie…" he breathed out. "That doesn't sound good."

"Oh, it's nothing, Haymitch. The doctor say to just rest and it'll be fine. So can I go and visit, Annie?"

"You're not really asking for my permission, are you?" he asked incredulously. He knew Effie well. She was her own person and if she wanted to do something, she would do it.

"No, I'm just trying to be polite," she huffed, "and take your opinion into consideration. That's what married people do."

Haymitch chuckled as he adjusted the phone he was cradling on his shoulder. "I don't think it's wise for you to go to District Four. I don't always follow the doctor's advice when they told me to stop drinking but even I know that when you're given a few days off, you're supposed to rest - not hop on the train for a half day journey to District Four."

"But – "

"Effie, you can do whatever you want if the circumstances were different but last I checked, you were pregnant and shouldn't you be thinking about our child?"

There was a long stretched of silence on the phone before Effie spoke up, "say that again."

"Say what?"

"That thing – what you just said to me."

"That thing what?" he frowned. "Listen, Eff, I'll be home tomorrow night. I'll see you, then, alright? I'm exhausted and before you nag at me for falling asleep on you on the phone, I'm going to hang up now."

"Okay, goodnight," Effie replied automatically.

Back in District Twelve, she sat staring at the phone in a daze after Haymitch ended their conversation. She forgot all about going to District Four or her current state of boredom from being home alone.

"Our child," she breathed out, repeating Haymitch's word earlier. Effie stopped to consider if Haymitch even realized what he had said but from the way the conversation went, she assumed that he had said it unconsciously. "He said you're his child, sweetheart."

Effie had a smile on her face as she rubbed her stomach absentmindedly. But just as soon as the happiness sets in, it was gone when she remembered exactly the reason why Haymitch was at the Capitol in the first place.

Well, well, it seems that Haymitch did some thinking for himself and.. is he warming up to her pregnancy?

This is the longest chapter I've written for Consortium and it would be great to know your feedback! So, please please review on your way out! Thank you :)