Chapter Seventeen
Haymitch out ran Effie. She was struggling behind him, trying to keep pace and when she couldn't, she called out for him to slow down. That seemed to jolt him out of his single minded focus on Katniss and he doubled back for her.
"Sorry," he said, taking her by the elbow and guided her up the dirt pathway towards Katniss' house.
He could hear Katniss grunting and found her sitting on a chair with a hand on her rounded belly. She was breathing deeply through her nose. Her eyes flickered up when she heard them but no salutations passed from her lips. Effie disappeared into their kitchen and came out moments later with a wet towel which she pressed on the younger woman's forehead, wiping the perspiration off her face.
"Where's Peeta?" Effie asked, sitting down next to her.
"Up – upstairs," she answered through gritted teeth.
Haymitch hovered at the hallway, his eyes fixed on the two women conversing quietly to each other. He was unsure of himself or if there was anything he could do to help. Haymitch stumbled forward slightly as Peeta barreled down the stairs past Haymitch, muttering a quick apology to the startled man.
"Okay, Katniss. I think I've got everything. You've packed all you needed in this bag, right?" he asked, lifting the bag up in his hand to show it to her.
Katniss nodded and reached out for Peeta. The muscles in his arms bulged as he supported the heavily pregnant woman up from the chair and out towards his truck sitting idly by outside the house.
"Do we follow?" Haymitch asked in all the confusion.
XxX
The hospital in District Twelve had gone through some expansion though it was still one of the smallest hospitals in Panem since its population was still considered relatively small despite the recent influx of immigrants.
Peeta wheeled her into the ward before a nurse took his place, disappearing into the double white doors. The sturdy built young man paused in his track. He turned towards Effie and Haymitch and regarded them quietly with his soft eyes. Between him the time he was reaped and now, Effie and Haymitch had been a parental figure to him and their role, whether they realized it or not, became more evident since Peeta lost his family in the bombing. This wasn't just true for him; it was the same for Katniss too, although she treated Effie more like a friend than a mother figure. But he knew how much Katniss looked up to Haymitch. He was glad that they were there.
"I – Will you stay?"
"We'll be here, Peeta. You should go, Katniss needs you."
With Effie's reassurance, he turned towards Haymitch who nodded imperceptibly. Peeta gave them a grateful smile and hurried after Katniss, leaving the pair alone in the waiting room.
Effie was aware that things between them were still wrought with tension since the fight they had and she found it unsettling to be in the same room as Haymitch given the circumstances.
"We should probably have a bag with all the necessities," Haymitch broke the silence. "Like Peeta."
Effie did not answer him. She left his side to one of the many armchairs lining the walls. He sighed quietly, the fight they had the night before weighed heavily on his mind.
"Effie, I'll be there when it's your turn. You have my word," he tried to guarantee her again as he settled down on the seat next to her.
"We'll see," her tone was strained and cold.
She picked up a random magazine and flipped it open, telling him clearly that there was nothing further to discuss. He gave a frustrated growl before moving from his place next to her to find a seat as far away from her at the opposite end of the room.
XxX
There was nothing else to do except to people-watch. Haymitch was on the brim of tearing his hair out of boredom. From his estimation, they had been waiting for the past five hours.
He lounged by the sofa, staring moodily at the nurses and visitors moving in an out of the waiting room, watched the various patients with different ailments walking around dragging the metal pole with their IV hooked on it curiously. He raised a hand in greeting when an elderly old man who had sold him the crackers he bought for Effie passed by the place where Haymitch was slumped ungracefully. Occasionally, his gaze would cut to where Effie was. She had exhausted nearly all of the outdated magazine subscriptions in the room.
Bored of sitting idly around with nothing to do, he wandered around the hospital mindlessly and stepped out to the town centre to get Effie something to eat. When he returned, Katniss still had not delivered and Haymitch grew restless.
"How long is this wait going to be?"
Effie shrugged as clueless as he was. She passed the half-eaten sandwich to him, asking him to finish the leftover over her since he hated wasting food.
He raised an eyebrow but shoved the sandwich in his mouth nonetheless..
"You should eat more," he swallowed the food and commented.
Silence descended upon them again. Outside, the sun began to set and he thought it would be wise for Effie to head home to get some rest before the night falls. He stood up to talk to her the same time the doors swung open to reveal a tired, but very, very joyful looking Peeta.
"I'm a father," he announced proudly, embracing Effie in his arms.
XxX
Except for his younger brother and even then, Haymitch was too young to remember, he had never seen a newborn before. He searched his memories but came up blank. It wasn't surprising considering the reclusive life he led. He took no notice of who was pregnant or who had given birth in District Twelve. It held no significance to him since the child would probably end up dead in a couple of years.
Now, as he peered over Effie's shoulder at the newborn cradled in her arms, Haymitch regarded it with a look of mild interest.
"It's so tiny," he commented.
"She is a baby so of course, she's tiny," answered Effie, running the back of her fingers on the baby's cheek.
The little bundle in Effie's arm squirmed and yawned. Effie covered her mouth with a finger and Primrose opened her eyes. They were glazy and unfocused and with a jolt, he realized it was like looking into Peeta's eyes.
"Oh, Peeta, she has your eyes!" squealed Effie, echoing his thoughts.
"I know," the young man nodded.
Effie bounced on her feet lightly, rocking and patting the child until she closed her eyes and fell back to sleep. That seemed natural, he noted.
He was not prepared when Effie turned around to face him and held the little girl out to him with a question on her lips, "do you want to carry her?"
Haymitch backpedalled, putting some distance between them. "No. I don't."
Even in her condition, Katniss found the situation comical. From her place on the hospital bed, Katniss snickered at the horrified look on his face.
"You better start learning, Haymitch. When Effie gives birth, she can't be carrying two babies in her arms. You've got to be there to handle one kid," Katniss pointed out and Peeta nodded in agreement.
His eyes darted from the Katniss to the two days old baby. He looked uncertainly at Effie.
"It'll be okay," Effie said quietly so only he could hear. Haymitch was always so self-assured and he could come off as arrogant at times, if his Quarter Quell interview was anything to go by and Effie had found his weakness. He had none of that smug attitude when it came to children.
"I'm impressed you know the ways to handle a baby without dropping her. Where'd you learn this? I don't imagine Games School teaching you any of it; not with all the killing of - " he stopped abruptly and Effie pretended not to hear the last bit. She transferred Primrose carefully to his arms and swallowed thickly. Her heart ache and she found it difficult to accept that Haymitch would bring the past up at such an unexpected moment.
"At the Capitol, I had a couple of friends with children. I learnt from them when they let me carry their child," she refused to look at him knowing that he was trying to catch her eyes to convey to her that he didn't mean to bring the past up. "But I – I don't know how to be look after one."
"She won't break, will she? I read in Effie's books that babies are fragile little buggers," he asked the other occupants of the room. He gazed down at the baby's face all the while not moving a muscle. Haymitch stood still and stiff.
She looks… odd. Aren't babies supposed to be adorable or is that some kind of myth? I could squish her face, he thought suddenly. He frowned and wondered why he even had such thoughts in the first place, why he would even want to squish a baby's face. Haymitch trailed a finger on Primrose's cheek feeling the soft, smooth skin.
"Not unless you plan to throw her around," Effie replied snidely.
He held the baby awkwardly and she must have sensed it because Primrose opened her eyes and started crying. His eyes widened and he looked at Effie for help.
"Take her back," he moved towards Effie. "She's crying. Take her back."
Peeta walked around the bed and effortlessly took the crying child from him. "Don't worry, angel, your Uncle Haymitch isn't used to carrying such pretty little girl like yourself," he cooed and turning towards Haymitch, he said, "you have to relax, that's all. But with practice, I'm sure you'll be ready just in time for when it's your turn."
XxX
There was little doubt that Effie adored Primrose. In fact, she was so smitten she could often be found at the Mellark's house, leaving Haymitch pretty much alone. It had been a week since their disagreement and thinking that she might have cooled down, Haymitch tried asking her again about the nursery. He was wrong; it appeared that she had not forgiven him and held fast to her decision to leave the room as it is.
What was disconcerting to him was the fact that Effie hardly ever spoke to him unless it was necessary – gone was the enthusiastic woman who would tell him stories of how her day went by. Haymitch believed that Primrose was a convenient excuse for her to get away from him, a welcome distraction from their problems.
"You should give the kids time to be with their child. Let them be a family," he said one night watching Effie brushing her hair at the vanity from his place at the bed.
"As if you would know the first thing about being a family," she shot back.
That stung and he was done trying to appease her. Shooting her an annoyed glare, Haymitch stalked out of the room with a pillow and a piece of thin blanket under his arm. He made his way to the spare room, the one she meant to turn into a nursery, and spread the blanket on the floor. Crossing his arms across him, Haymitch turned sideways and went to sleep feeling angry.
XxX
"Haymitch."
He felt small hands shaking his shoulder and he grunted. Haymitch swatted the hand away. "Haymitch, wake up."
It was Effie and she was kneeling on the floor next to him.
"I went looking for you downstairs, I thought you were sleeping at the sofa again."
He rolled over on his back and looked up at her blurry figure. He blinked to clear his eyes. "Too lazy to walk all the way down," he mumbled tiredly. "Why'd you wake me up for?"
"Come back to bed," said Effie quietly. "I'm sorry; I was out of line."
"No. Now go away, Effie, I don't want to deal with you tonight," he said dismissively.
She slipped her hand into his large palm and tugged on it when he stubbornly remained lying on the floor.
"It's not good for your back if you sleep on the floor all night. Please, Haymitch."
He wasn't as young and healthy as he once was, and his back was already beginning to hurt. Pushing himself up, he cracked his neck. Effie picked his pillow off the floor and with an apologetic quirk of her lips she led him back to bed.
In the darkness that enveloped their room, he heard Effie fluffing her pillow and turning uncomfortably on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position. He felt her moved closer to him, felt the weight of her hand across his mid-section followed closely by her head resting on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Haymitch," she whispered.
"Hmm," he mumbled, pulling the covers over them both. "I guess I owe you one too."
Effie nodded and waited for the apology but his breathing had evened out.
"Aren't you going to say it?" she asked, jolting him awake.
"Say what?"
"That you're sorry?
Haymitch squeezed her lightly. Effie couldn't see the sleepy, amused smile playing on his lips but she heard him telling her, "tomorrow."
"What do you –"
"Shh, be quiet."
XxX
When morning broke over the horizon, Haymitch was jostled awake by a knock on the door. He knew who was knocking but he couldn't help grumbling to himself about how it was too early for visitors.
"I thought you said she'll be here," Felix said when he realized that Effie was nowhere in the house. He made himself at home as he bustled about in the kitchen pulling off a bottle of Haymitch's whiskey. He poured a generous amount over two glasses and slid one over to Haymitch
"I thought she'd be here," replied Haymitch. "How was I supposed to know that she decided to wander off to town so early in the morning? And if she was here, she wouldn't let you drink in the house."
"You could have –"
"Felix?" Effie called out uncertainly from the hallway.
She popped her head into the kitchen a second later and Haymitch quickly moved the glass of whiskey behind him, out of her line of sight. If she smelt the alcohol, she could simply just pin it on her cousin.
"Darling!" Felix exclaimed the moment he laid eyes on Effie. "Oh, it's been too long!"
Haymitch couldn't help but roll his eyes. Felix flamboyant, over the top behavior was too much for him to take in so early in the morning.
"I've missed you. And don't get me wrong, I'm delighted to see you but what are you doing here? You should have called, I could have -"
He waved her off. "No need for all the elaborate planning and schedule, cousin. I prefer the excitement of spontaneity and I have come to take you away!" he announced. "We're going off to have a good time – you and I – so, hurry along and pack your bags. Bring a weeks' worth of clothes or … maybe more, one can't have too many clothes after all!"
"But – "
"No, buts. Now, go," Felix's hand was at the small of her back as he pushed her out of the kitchen.
Haymitch could see the confusion written on Effie's face. She looked at him for explanation, her eyes silently seeking his approval. He jerked his head towards their bedroom and offered her a shrug.
Go, he mouthed.
"You sure a week is all you need?" Felix asked, turning towards Haymitch.
"Yeah, I can get it done in less than a week," he said and then pierced Felix with a serious glare. "You look after her. If there's anything make sure –"
"I know, I know," Felix waved his hand. He downed his drink and set the empty glass on the sink. "Get Annie Cresta, call you, call her doctor - in that order."
Haymitch nodded; satisfied that Felix knew what to do. "Good boy," Haymitch said, unable to pass up the opportunity to mess up with Felix.
He scowled but Haymitch had already walked out of the room in search of Effie. She was standing in front of her wardrobe with her hands on her hips. Her clothes were strewn all over the bed and she was clearly in distressed.
"I can't do this. How can he expect me to do last minute packing! What if I forget something?"
"Calm down, woman. If there's anything you forget, you can always buy them," he pointed out logically. Haymitch threw some random clothing into her luggage which was already half-filled.
"I don't even know where we're going, Haymitch. What if I packed the wrong things or brought the wrong choice of clothing?"
Haymitch gave her a cynical look and in between her barrage of questions, he managed to help her pack everything. He carried the luggage down the stairs. Felix was not in the house and when he looked out of the window, Haymitch saw him at the geese pen. Felix was squatting in front of the pen and seemed to be having some kind of one sided conversation with a goose.
"What is that idiot doing?" he muttered to himself.
"He's probably just fascinated by your choice of pets," Effie said.
At the door, Effie stopped and turned to face Haymitch. "Was this what you meant yesterday night? Is this is your idea of apologizing to me?" she asked cheekily.
"No, this isn't me apologizing," he said. "My idea of an apology is very different from yours and this is not it."
"How different?" she asked but did not pursue that line of questioning. "Did you call Felix?"
"I did," he admitted.
Effie nodded. "Thank you."
"Whatever it is your cousin had planned for you, have a good time, I supposed. Don't do anything stupid."
Effie laughed quietly and shook her head at his attempt for well-wishes. She had never kissed him good bye before but elated with the thought of spending her time with her cousin and grateful that Haymitch was the one who had called Felix, Effie stood on tip toes to press a chaste kiss on his lips. She pulled back quickly before Haymitch could say anything.
"I'll see you in a week. Don't turn the house into a dumpster while I'm gone."
I imagined Haymitch being a little awkward with a baby since not everyone is a baby-person, hence his standoff-ish interaction with Primrose. Aside from that, I, personally think that Haymitch is the kind that does thing for a reason. So there is actually a reason why he called her cousin and remember that favour in the previous chapter? It will be explained in the next chapter! See you and do review, it would make me happy :)