Chapter Thirteen (Part 2)
Morning greeted the pair of them far too soon for Haymitch's liking. He wriggled his fingers and tried to extricate his arm which had gone numb from being used as a pillow by Effie all throughout the night. Her long hair was tickling his nose and her elbow was digging painfully into his ribcage.
He extracted himself slowly and pushed himself into a sitting position. Haymitch stared at her sleeping form and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. With an almost gentle care he never knew himself capable of, Haymitch pulled the cover up around her.
If Effie had not been next to him when he woke up that morning, he would have passed off the night before as a dream, something his feeble mind craved for – a companion. It felt like a scene from one of those Capitol movies, not something that he ever thought would occur in his last time. Last night had been enjoyable. The sex was great, he was not even going to lie about that and afterwards, as he lay in bed listening to Effie talk about their baby whilst she snuggled up to him was oddly soothing. It calmed him, the same sort of calm he had been looking for when he picked up alcohol all those years ago.
"She's about 4cm long and she's developing rapidly," Effie had informed him.
Haymitch never said a word except to remind her that it could be a boy. He listened quietly and let her do the all the talking as he ran his fingers through her hair. It wasn't long before Effie fell asleep.
The memory of the previous night caused him to frown. If they kept that up, it would only spell trouble for either of them when the time came for them to go their separate ways. He wasn't a stranger to feelings of desolation and emptiness when it came to losing people he cared about and it would be extremely foolish of him to get close to Effie now of all time. The law would be dissolved and Effie would leave.
No, he thought fiercely. The Capitol had hurt him too much and he refused to feel the same way again. Once was enough to last a lifetime.
He had vowed to be responsible for the child - not so much for the mother – and wasn't that enough? Effie would be safe while they're married. He had saved her from a terrible fate by marrying her instead of letting her choose one of those men who had petition for her hand. He would make sure that she would get through the pregnancy without any complications but when they're separated his responsibility was to the child.
Haymitch was jolted out of his dark thoughts by a knock on the door. It was barely eleven in the morning.
Effie blinked up at him blearily. "Is someone knocking?"
"Probably just some sales person," he told her, reaching over to the back of a chair for a shirt, "go back to sleep."
He slipped into the leather slippers he left District Twelve in and moved towards the front door. Haymitch yanked it open with a frown on his face hoping to impress upon whoever it was that he was not happy being interrupted that early in the morning.
Haymitch came face to face with a tall young man in a messy out of bed gelled black hair and powdered pale face. His lips had been defined by red lip gloss and he looked at Haymitch through his long dark eyelashes.
"Morning," said the young man in a lazy, arrogant drawl. "You're Effie's husband. I recognize you from the various times you appeared drunk on national television. How very charming"
Haymitch narrowed his eyes dangerously at the stranger. He had met this man for less than five minutes and there was nothing likeable about him at all. Effie had never mentioned that a friend, much less a well-dressed, handsome young man would be visiting. His ego flared inside of him and Haymitch stepped closer to the stranger – a gesture he hoped would intimidate the intruder. Haymitch looked like a lion ready to defend his turf and he had no idea why he was acting so predatory in nature.
"May I come in?" the man asked, tracing his bottom lip with a lone finger as he gave Haymitch a once over appreciatively. "I'm sure Effie would love to see me."
"I'm sure she would. But I'm not in the habit of allowing strangers, much less a man inside my house," Haymitch answered.
The man chuckled and something seemed to snap inside of Haymitch. His nostrils flared in annoyance. "Who the hell are you?" Haymitch demanded.
"Felix, gay cousin," he replied languidly, "and it's sweet that you're worried about Effie. But really, Haymitch, you should worry about yourself."
Once again, he looked at Haymitch from head to toe before shrugging off the overcoat. Haymitch gave himself a slight shake of the head and blinked only to see that Felix was still there. He felt slightly foolish to be so presumptive.
Felix waited patiently for Haymitch's offer to take the coat and when he didn't, Felix slung them over Haymitch's arm.
He stepped into the room, speaking loudly to announce his presence. "Where is she – my favourite girl in the world?"
Effie poked her head out of the room and when she saw who it was, she screamed, running straight for Felix still dressed in her nightgown. "Felix! Oh, Felix, I've missed you!"
She enveloped her cousin in a tight hug which Felix returned with the same enthusiasm, so much so that he lifted the pregnant woman off the floor. Haymitch stared at the pair of them, never before having seen Effie behave that way. She was usually more reserve when greeting someone – a polite handshake and smile on her face.
As was the norm in the Capitol, the two cousins exchanged kisses on the cheeks.
"Oh, you pulled off that turtleneck, cousin. It's not in fashion is it?" Effie asked, taking in the way he was dressed.
"I'm bringing it back," Felix answered haughtily, inspecting his perfectly manicured nails.
The young man was dressed in a black slim fit pants and deep red turtleneck shirt. His eyes were outlined with dark eyeliners and he turned to glare at Haymitch when he saw Haymitch throwing his overcoat at the back of the sofa.
"I'll have you know, mister, that that is an expensive coat."
"Oh, let me," Effie interrupted, gathering the coat and hanging it appropriately. "Haymitch, this is my cousin, Felix, and Felix, this is my husband, Haymitch."
"Nice to finally meet you when you're sober," Felix smiled, showing off a row of white polished teeth. "I don't think we've been introduced properly. You were drunk at your wedding, as I recalled when I stopped by to offer my congratulations."
Effie ushered her cousin to the living room. Her hand found his as she tugged him along, smiling up at him apologetically. "He's a bundle of energy," she whispered, "just prepare yourself."
Taking Effie's warning into account, Haymitch maintained a safe distance away from the high-spirited young man when Effie excused herself to the kitchen to get refreshments.
"To be quite honest, I am slightly affronted that I wasn't told you were both coming to the Capitol," he exclaimed. "I had to find out from the papers this morning."
"We're in the papers?" Haymitch raised an eyebrow in question, and snatched the morning paper that had been delivered to Effie's apartment. His eyes skimmed the front page where a picture had been printed showing them exiting the supermarket the day before.
Has he given up on repealing the law? Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket were spotted together in public for the first time….
"This is insane," he muttered. "I've been out with Effie at District Twelve!"
"That may be so but the media are more … shall we, say aggressive in the Capitol?" Felix added helpfully. "This is the city of this country, after all. Anyway, here on vacation? I would have thought District Four would be a more suitable holiday destination. My brother owns a resort there, so if you would like a - "
"No," Haymitch interrupted quickly, "this trip was unplanned. Your favourite cousin had to satisfy her cravings for strawberries. They ran out of it at District Twelve."
"Hmm," Felix tapped his chin, "I heard her mother craved the same when she was pregnant with Effie. So, she came all the way here?"
"We came here on the 5 am train."
Felix whistled. "That's a little bit crazy – poor you."
Haymitch's hand fluttered to the back of his neck and rubbed it uncomfortably. Felix was unnerving and Haymitch was not sure how to react to him. Given the awkward situation he found himself in, Haymitch flipped through the pages of the newspaper hoping to block out Felix's presence.
"You look far handsome in person," Felix said suddenly, "and taller, too."
Haymitch fidgeted in his seat. He wished Effie would hurry with whatever she was doing in the kitchen and rescue him from her mad cousin.
"Right."
"I supposed your child will be lucky with your combined looks," Felix lamented further. "Effie thinks it's a girl, yeah?"
Haymitch gave a curt nod. "You talk to her often?"
"Every week or so on the phone."
Thankfully for him, Effie came out of the kitchen then. Despite how unsettled he was by Felix's presence at Effie's apartment, he was rather impressed by Effie's eccentric cousin when he gave a long sigh at the sight of red wine that Effie had brought out. He dramatically pushed the long fringe of his hair and got up to swap the red wine with whiskey in the kitchen.
"Put the both of you in a bar together and you'll run that place dry," Effie muttered.
"Say… Effie, how about we start shopping for some maternity clothes?" Felix suggested as he walked back into the living room, taking a sip from his drink.
"It's still too early. I'm not even in my second trimester, yet."
"Nonsense, nothing's too early! Let's just go. We haven't spent time together since you moved to Twelve. You come along too, Haymitch - time for me to get to know my cousin in law. Maybe we could even stop by for manicure, Effie!"
XxX
The chipper and joyful conversation the pair of cousins were having was occasionally punctuated by Haymitch complaining, grumbling and him muttering rudely under his breath as Felix led them to "BabyTown", a shop located at the busy part of downtown Capitol.
"Shush! Stop complaining. It is not classy at all," Felix snapped at him, "be classy. Let people envy you."
"He is such a prima donna," Haymitch muttered to Effie out of the corner of his mouth.
Felix peered at him from the top edges of his shades and when he saw that Haymitch had left Effie's apartment in his leather flip flops, he gasped.
"You're going shopping in that? That's inappropriate! But, hmmm, I suppose, it suits you. You've pulled off the slightly on edge look - the devil may care attitude, you know?"
"Have you ever felt a punch before?" Haymitch asked.
"Leave him alone, Felix. And don't threaten my cousin, please. Let's just go, okay?" Effie pleaded.
Inside the store, Felix and Effie promptly disappeared in search of maternity clothes leaving Haymitch to his own devices. He stood awkwardly in the middle of the store and when he saw a sales woman looking at him curiously, Haymitch moved away before she could approach him.
He walked between the aisles; his eyes scanning the items lined neatly on the shelf. Some of the things he came across looked downright foreign to him. There was an odd looking contraption which Haymitch picked up with interest and turned over in his hand as he carefully inspected it. He had no idea what it was or what it was meant to be used for.
His eyes flickered to the sign hanging on the shelf where the price was displayed. It took his brain a few moments to understand what he just read and Haymitch threw the offending item back where he took it when he realised what it was - breast pump.
Dear God, he thought, slightly horrified, I thought only cows …. Where's Effie?
"Effie, Eff," he rushed over to where she was.
"Does this look good on me, Haymitch?" she asked, holding up a dress she was browsing for him to see.
"Yes," he answered hastily, "do you know they're selling breast pumps here? Why would anyone need that? It sounds barbaric! I thought the baby just … you know, suck on your …"
He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Felix who was choosing several dresses for Effie happened to saunter over to where they were and heard what Haymitch said. He laughed hysterically. "Well, well, aren't you ready for fatherhood?"
"Oh shut up," Haymitch gritted his teeth in annoyance, "as if you would know anything about it."
"Sure, I do. See, lactating mothers sometimes need sleep and it's therefore your turn to feed your baby and where do you get milk?" he asked smugly. "That's right. Mums can use breast pump to store milk for caregivers to use," he grinned cockily.
Turning to Effie, Haymitch said, "I think you're in expert hands. I'll wait for you by the cafe two doors down."
Haymitch glared at the young man and turned to walk away.
"Felix," Effie sighed, "you've driven him away."
XxX
Haymitch spent about an hour sitting sullenly by the café, waiting for Effie and her bothersome cousin. He had never met any of her family members saved for the aunt who had expressed her disgust at the thought of Effie marrying him during their wedding. He wondered what sort of bizarre family she had and his thoughts ultimately drifted to his child.
There was a very strong possibility that his child would grew up just like them if Effie were to raise the child at the Capitol, away from him. He found the idea frightening. Haymitch tried to imagine a small little girl in a dress too extravagant for a child with jewelleries adorning her or a little boy pampered by his Uncle Felix. Neither of those scenarios appealed to him.
Perhaps Effie would not be opposed to him visiting their child once in a while - just to make sure that everything was right and proper. He would need to discuss the issue with Effie.
When Effie finally sought him out, she had on with her two bags worth of new items that Felix helped her carry. He bade them farewell saying that he needed to be elsewhere and promised to visit District Twelve, if he could.
"I should hope not," Haymitch muttered loud enough for Felix to hear.
"Well, aren't you a little ray of sunshine?" Felix replied and attempted to kiss his cheeks as was customary. Effie pulled her cousin back and shook her head.
"Are all your family members like that?" Haymitch asked, carrying her shopping bags without being told to.
That act did not go unnoticed and Effie smiled to herself.
"No. He is amongst the few that I could tolerate and we grew up together. His brother, the one in District Four, isn't so bad, either."
"Ah. The rest are terrible then, I take it."
"What about you, Haymitch? Do you have any cousins or relatives?"
"No one," he answered. "Eff? Who would help you look after the baby when you return to the Capitol?"
Effie gave him a sharp look and stared down at her shoes. She thought they were making progress; that he was beginning to care about them but Effie had always been foolish. It seemed to her that he still wanted them away from his life when the law was repealed.
"I'm – I haven't thought about it. Perhaps an aunt," she answered brusquely and hurried away from him to the ticketing booth at the train station.
Effie was oddly quiet during the entire ride home to District Twelve. When he tried talking to her or asked if she wanted anything for lunch, she had given him simple one word answers which frustrated him.
"You know what, Eff? If you're gonna be a bitch to me, then I'm going to the bar car," he growled. "I'll see you when we alight."
Alright, I managed to find time & edit the second part of Chapter 13! Felix was an inspiration from a favourite character in Orphan Black. i'm borrowing him for this chapter.
In Chapter 14, Haymitch & Effie received a surprising news where the baby is concerned. Drum Roll.
Leave a review! Thanks for reading :)