Sorry it's a day late. Couldn't update during the usual weekend because I was away on a trip.
Chapter Forty-Four
"Your wine," Felix grinned at him, pressing the most expensive bottle of red wine he could find at the Capitol into Haymitch's hand. "For the bet I lost. Now, point me to my nephews."
Haymitch inspected the bottle in his hand and shrugged, he wasn't one for wine but Effie would love it, he was sure. He was absolutely certain that he had only been gone for a few minutes to keep the wine in the cellar but when he came back into the main hall of his house, it was already filled with people.
His eyes scanned for Effie and the twins, locating them at various different corners in the house. Annie together with her son had arrived with Beetee, still wheelchair bound with Ethan held snugly in his arms. Finn stood on tip toe trying to get a good look at the little bundle that had everyone's attention. The boy was frowning at the sleeping baby. Haymitch watched him poked Ethan, trying to wake the baby up. He had to tell himself that Finn meant no harm and that neither Beetee nor Annie would let anything happen to Ethan. He managed to stay where he was although there was a strong desire to walk over and take Ethan away.
"Congratulations, Haymitch," someone offered, shaking his head enthusiastically.
Haymitch nodded dazedly, not really seeing who it was. The party was in full swing and Haymitch felt inherently lost.
And this is my house, the vicious bitter thought fleeted through his mind. Haymitch had never much liked having people over his house. It felt like an invasion of his personal space. It was in his house that he could do whatever he wanted with no prying eyes whatsoever and having all of these people made him distinctly uncomfortable.
"Haymitch, this is your children's baby shower so do try to smile and stop looking so miserable," Effie whispered urgently before rushing off to greet a new guest.
Effie was in her element, fleeting from one person to the other exchanging pleasantries with a huge smile on her face and proudly showing off her children to the guests in attendance. The gifts, he noted, were piled sky high on a table.
If there was one thing he was grateful for was that Effie had kept to her promise. She had kept the party small, not inviting her extended relatives, just a few cousins she was close with but then again, her definition of a small party and his were worlds apart.
He stood to the side, arms crossed in front of his chest as he leaned against the wall watching the party from his own little corner. His solitude was broken when Johanna sidled up to him and pressed a shot of whiskey into his hand. He didn't even realize she had arrived at all.
"You look like you need a drink," she chuckled. "One glass wouldn't hurt. It'll probably wipe that sour look off your face but hey, I don't believe in miracles so just drink it, will you?"
There was a hard edge to her tone that made Haymitch spared a glance to see her glaring darkly at Gale. Her husband was leaning against the wall across from them, talking to Katniss and Haymitch knew Katniss enough to notice the glances she was sneaking to Peeta in the kitchen hoping that he could extract her from that situation. The occasional glances she gave Beetee was enough to let Haymitch know the topic Gale and Katniss were talking about. As far as he knew, apart from the polite necessary hellos, Katniss avoided Beetee the way she did with Gale after she found out that it could have been their bombs that killed her sister that fateful day at the City Circle.
"Jealous?" he asked snidely.
"Don't be ridiculous," Johanna rolled her eyes. "Our mockingjay isn't interested in Gale. Honestly, Haymitch, she is married to Peeta."
"That she is," he answered and tipped the glass back. "But what about Hawthorne?"
"He's gotten over it," she replied. "He's trying to make peace with Katniss."
Haymitch raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? So why the long face, Mason?"
"We had an argument on the way here. Nothing to do with Katniss," she scowled. "He wasn't happy with Effie's cousin - seemed to think that there was more to me and him than anything else. Of all the ridiculous things he could accuse me of and this was because Felix kept calling to ask if I had bought your boys any gifts."
Haymitch chuckled. "Felix, really? Isn't it obvious that he isn't interested in women?"
"Not obvious enough to Gale, apparently," she muttered, her eyes fixed on Felix at the other end of the room shadowing Effie and Tristan. "And what's it to him anyway? He doesn't want to be in this marriage any more than I do. I'm not blind to his affairs, either."
"Have there been many?" he inquired curiously. His thoughts drifted back to Adria Stone and her failed attempt at trying to bed him.
Johanna shrugged. "One woman, perhaps."
Felix came to join them just as Haymitch excused himself to the kitchen to have a word with Peeta. He left them both alone. He saw Gale Hawthorne throwing the pair a dirty look.
"So, I figured you aren't going to Katniss' rescue?" he looked at Peeta, jerking his head towards where Katniss and Gale were attempting a conversation.
"Katniss doesn't need rescuing," Peeta said, focusing his attention on the cake. His hands were steady as he carefully decorated the cake with icing. Baking was one of the sureties in Peeta's life. It gave him a sense of peace and ground him. His hands never shook when he's concentrating nor would he lapse into an episode with only him and the ingredients laid out of the table. "What Katniss need is to forgive and let go."
"That isn't as easy as you make it sound to be, kid," he told him slowly, needing Peeta to understand not to expect too much from Katniss.
"I know. But it's a step towards healing. Gale wasn't sure if coming here would be the right thing to do. He called me, you know? I think it was difficult for him to do it but he asked for my opinion, wanted to know if it was better if he stayed away. She grew up with Gale, Haymitch. As much as there was bad blood between them, Gale's her family still."
He had always known Peeta was capable of great kindness but the space for forgiveness in the boy's heart has always surprised him. Haymitch clapped his shoulder and left the boy to finish up the twin's cake.
XxX
Effie was deep in conversation with Plutarch, together with several other people from the Capitol – Effie's cousins, if he recalled - and he had no desire to be a part of that conversation so he went back to join Johanna and Felix when they beckoned him to come over.
"Okay, question," Johanna asked, turning towards Felix with a contemplative look on her face. "You're gay."
"And you have no tact," Felix shot back. "Why, Mason? Know any handsome boys?"
"This law mandated everyone to get married. You're what? 25? 26? You fall within the ambit of this law, do you not? I don't see you with a wife. I don't think they particularly care about your sexual orientation, to be honest. Why aren't you married?"
"Yes, Felix," Haymitch chimed in, wanting to know for himself how he escaped the law. "Why's that?"
Felix's lips spread into an amused smiled and he laughed. "The law mandated that everyone capable of bearing a child to be married."
"You can't?" Johanna inquired.
"I made sure I can't," he answered simply.
Haymitch frowned, trying to make sense of Felix just said. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "My secrets don't come cheap," he teased, tapping his fingers against his thigh.
Johanna poured a glass full of whiskey and pushed it towards him. "Now talk."
"When I first heard rumours of this marriage law, I went to the nearest hospital and got myself a vasectomy before birth control becomes illegal. I must say, my foresight was impeccable."
Haymitch sputtered, spraying his drink when Felix admitted what he had done. Even Johanna seemed taken aback and nothing much fazed her nowadays. "That's extreme," she muttered.
Felix shrugged. "We do what we have to do. It doesn't matter to me anyway."
"You like kids," Johanna pointed out. Haymitch's eyes darted back and forth between them. For someone who had only just met a few months ago, they seemed to know each other quite well.
"Yes," he nodded. "But I've got Tristan and Ethan to shower my love to, now. I'm okay with that. I don't want a bunch of people telling me I should get married or I'm supposed to have a particular number of children. No, thank you."
"That was smart, though. I'd have to give you that," Johanna tipped the glass in her hand towards Felix. "Wish I'd thought of that."
Haymitch's head swiveled towards her, regarding her carefully.
"You really wouldn't, Johanna," Felix said seriously. "It is, as you said, extreme. You'd want a family of your own I'm sure, not now perhaps, and not necessarily with your current husband but the law will be repealed and you'll be able to have your own life. Had you done what I did, you might regret it."
Haymitch shifted on his feet. It felt like he was intruding. Felix and Johanna could never get along as far as he knew but this – it was something else. This was the closest he had heard them have to a civil conversation and Felix's concern must have made Johanna feel uncomfortable too because she abruptly changed the subject.
"Yeah, well," Johanna said uncomfortably. "Anyway, I promised Finn I would show him your geese, Haymitch. They're out at the back?"
Haymitch nodded and watched Johanna disappeared into the crowd, holding on to Finn's hand as she led him out of the house. The loud gasp next to him caught his attention and when Haymitch turned around, he saw that Felix had gone pale, staring at the two men who had just entered the house.
"No, he didn't," Felix whispered. "You stupid git."
While he knew Felix and Elias did not exactly have the best relationship, Haymitch didn't quite understand what had caused Felix to be in such distressed, not until Elias approached them with his friend next to him.
"Haymitch," Elias nodded towards him, ignoring his own brother standing next to Haymitch "Congratulations are in order, I believe. Boys, I heard?"
"Yes," Haymitch gave a curt nod. He forced himself to shake the man's hand while squandering the urge to throttle Elias for reporting him to the Council.
"And you, Felix," Elias said, "fancy meeting you here."
"Effie invited me just as you were. Although I can't say the same for you, Mr. Adler," Felix smiled, his eyes glittering dangerously as he addressed Elias' companion.
"I had a business meeting with your brother when he told me that he had to be here and invited me along. I'm very sorry if my being here was – "
"No need to apologise, Klaus. Effie would be delighted to meet you," Elias said, side eyeing Haymitch. The confidence in his voice - the behavior of someone often overstepping his privileges, someone who deemed himself important and was used getting things his way - grated on Haymitch's nerves. "Of course, where are my manners? Haymitch, this is my business partner, Klaus Adler. I've told you about him before, haven't I? And Klaus, this is the man our dear Effie married, Haymitch Abernathy."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Abernathy," Adler gave him what Haymitch thought was the smile that would have won the ladies' heart in a blink, the kind of smile that showed all of his perfect teeth, warm and inviting though Haymitch bought none of that. He clenched his jaw and stared at the man. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," he replied tersely.
Very little Hayffie interaction in this chapter because I wanted to focus on other characters but don't worry, there will be plenty of them in the upcoming chapters. I had a review a few months back wanting to know why Felix was never married and I've always known why he escaped the law but couldn't fit it into the story until now. And for the reviewer saying you miss Felix, hopefully that's enough of him to last. Hayffie drama coming up soon! (i just took medicine & i'm very drowsy so I may not have proofread it as extensively as I should. Any mistakes, I shall rectify it soon)
Please review!