To the Guest reviewer who asked; since the referendum took a year to get through to the Council and it's been more than 4 years since the law was passed, the twins would be about 3 years old, nearing four now (they're about a year younger than the law).

On a separate note, the chapter has been split into two so you get two chapters this week (yay?). There were too many things going on in a chapter and I didn't want it to be overwhelming (it will be a very long chapter if i do it all in one!)

Chapter Seventy

Haymitch approached her lazily, advancing on her until her back hit the kitchen counter. He plucked the coffee mug out of her fingers and placed it on the sink behind, trapping her in between. She laughed when he dipped his head, kissing her lips and then her neck.

"Stop," Effie giggled, nodding towards the kitchen window that overlooked their backyard. "Annie will see us! You know how she likes to take Ari out to the back for the geese."

Without breaking the kiss, Haymitch reached behind her, fumbling with the curtains on the window and pulled it shut.

"You were saying?"

Instead of being annoyed, Effie found herself amused by his behaviour and the good mood that he was in that morning. Still, she pushed lightly on his chest.

"The boys will wake soon. I have to start breakfast for them, for you!"

"I'm gonna have mine right now," he said and without another word, Haymitch lifted her off the floor up, spinning them around towards the chair. He gathered her dress up so that it bunched around her waist before dropping in front of her. "Legs – up here," he patted his shoulders. "Come on."

"You have absolutely lost your mind!" she protested but there was no resistance on her part when he lifted her legs. "In the kitchen?"

"Right here," he nodded, kissing her inner thigh and marking her. "Made sure I woke up earlier than the boys for this. And, I even got this," he waved a packet of condoms in her direction.

Effie threw her head back and laughed only to cover her mouth, stifling her laughter so as not to wake the boys up. "Who did you have to bribe to get that from?"

Haymitch's only answer was a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

"No, no, get up, Haymitch," she said, sliding her legs off. Effie tugged on his elbow persistently until he had no choice but to stand.

He groaned in frustration and stuffed the packet back into his pocket but when he turned around, he saw her propped on the kitchen counter, smiling at him invitingly. Effie parted her legs, slowly as he stared entranced.

Haymitch moved forward, his mouth dry.

"Well?"

"You're a tease," he grinned, pushing himself in between her legs.

She reached down, pulling on his pants impatiently. He helped her out of her dress, throwing it over the chair behind him and kicking his pants off when it fell around his ankles.

Effie looped her hands around his neck, sighing when she felt him moving inside her. His fingers would leave marks on her hips as he pushed himself deeper, relishing the feel of her nails grazing against his scalp. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, heels digging into his back, bringing them closer together.

Up in the twins' room, they could already hear movements, little footsteps walking across the floorboard. He could hear Ethan's voice calling out for his brother.

"Hurry," she urged, lifting up her hips to meet his. "Before they come down."

Things began to feel more urgent. He grunted into her ears with each thrust, picking up the pace and intending to finish what he started. His head dropped to her shoulder, his breathing ragged but he didn't stop. Her nails dug into the skin of his shoulder. The sweat glistened on her skin and her hair was matted to her face. Her eyes were screwed shut and he knew she was close. Just a little bit more.

"Effie," he moaned. "Look at me."

Gentle fingers dusted over his jaw and then his cheekbones before she opened her eyes. He wanted this morning alone with her after all that had happened and when he looked down into those clear blue eyes, the same blue that reflected the sky outside, he saw the world in her eyes, stretched out and laid down before him. He could get lost in there. Haymitch never took his eyes off her as he watched her squirmed in his arms as he palmed her breast. She was beautiful.

"You're …" the words caught in his throat. He forced it out. She deserved this. She should know just how lovely she was. "Very attractive," he blurted out.

That was not what he meant to say. He wanted to tell her that she was beautiful.

"After all these years of being insulted for the way I look," she said breathlessly, never breaking their tandem as they moved together, "I must remember this day. Thank you."

She smiled; her lips parted slightly as he gave one final thrust. There was a loud gasp and then, "Hay – "

He clamped his hand over her mouth before she could scream his name. Effie could get very loud. He would know.

"Shh," Haymitch said, "shhh! We don't need the boys to hear their mother screamin' in here. They'll come running."

She chuckled in amusement, coiling an arm around his neck for support as he let her down. Slowly, Haymitch took his hand away and Effie started laughing out loud only to end up burying her head on his chest.

"There shall not be a repeat of this," she shook her head. "Not in the kitchen at least!"

Haymitch smirked. "Gotta try at least once," he shrugged.

He helped her fixed her dress. As he pulled up his pants in a hurry, he heard the door of the twins' room finally creaking open. It was a miracle that it took the boys that long to leave their room. Tristan had probably gotten distracted by the colouring book Haymitch had strategically placed in the room, carefully making sure that the book would be the first thing Tristan would see upon waking up, and knowing Ethan, he would do whatever his brother was doing.

"I love you," Effie surprised him, standing on tiptoes to kiss him again as she helped him with the buttons of his shirt before the boys could walk in on them. "I never had the chance to congratulate you on the referendum but I'm very proud of you, Haymitch, and I love you."

Haymitch felt his throat constrict, felt a very strong desire to push her away so he could get outside for some air. Instead, he stood his ground, swallowing. His mouth tried to form the words to give her some comfort, to not let her down and disappoint her.

"I – ", he frowned. "Effie, I –"

He stepped out of her arms.

"It's okay," she whispered. "I just… just wanted you to know that."

He nodded, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

XxX

Tristan would not stop crying no matter what Effie said. He kept pointing at Ari and then back behind him towards the house.

"Haymitch, please," Effie pleaded, approaching him with Tristan clinging to her. "Talk to him."

Haymitch exhaled loudly, grumbling under his breath that this was the exact reason why he didn't want the boys to get attached to the girl in the first place.

"Come on, peanut, don't cry," he patted the boy's back comfortingly. Tristan wrapped his arms around Haymitch, sobbing helplessly with his face buried on his father's shoulder.

"Bad people, dada. Many, many bad people," he pointed at the social workers. "Make Ari stay!"

"Listen, Tristan," Haymitch started. At the rare use of his name, the boy looked up, his face red and blotchy. "She gotta go. She's going home, you understand?"

He didn't because when Haymitch said home, he looked at the house Annie had stayed in for the past months and then to their house.

Haymitch shifted Tristan in his arm, coaxing the boy until they were looking at each other. "Those people… they'll take real good care of her. They're good people."

"I play with Ari," he cried.

He set Tristan down so that he was kneeling in front of his son. "I know she's your friend. You like to play with Ari, yeah? But she wants to go home to her mama, peanut," he tried. "When you were at Uncle Peeta's house playin' with Prim, you wanna go home to your mama when it's dark, right?"

Tristan hesitated, biting on his thumb and then he nodded slowly.

"It's the same for Ari. She's gonna go home. Her mama misses her like your ma will miss you if you're away for long. You get it now?" he held his son's gaze, willing him to understand. Tristan stared back, silvery grey eyes bright and shining with tears. It fell hot and fast down his cheeks. Haymitch wiped them away.

"No, Dada! I want to play with Ari," he insisted, breaking out into fresh tears. "I and Finn."

Haymitch pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting nowhere but he had to be the one to talk to the boy. When Tristan was in one of his moods, especially those that Effie couldn't get through, it was always him that managed to comfort the boy. That was still a strange concept to him and he never understood why anyone would go to him for comfort.

"Come here," he beckoned, "come here."

Tristan stepped into his arms once more and clung to his neck. The loud crying had tapered down to pitiful sobs and Haymitch took that opportunity to check on Ethan. The younger boy was holding on to Effie's hand, tiptoeing to get a better look on Ari in her baby stroller. He watched his son dropped a kiss on the toddler's cheek and then he did something that surprised Haymitch.

Ethan placed his tiger soft toy, worn out from the years he had it since he was a baby next to Ari with such gentle care. He smiled up to his mother, proud and pleased. Effie nudged him towards Haymitch then and he came barrelling to where his father was.

"Da! Da! I lend Ari my tiger!" he said excitedly, bouncing on his feet.

"Why'd you do that?" he asked, lifting the boy off the floor and into his arms. He was used to carrying both boys at the same time but as they grow bigger and heavier, he found himself struggling.

"Ummm," Ethan swept his hair out of his eyes, biting his lower lip. "Mama said… Make Ari feel…" he grappled for the right words, trying to recall what Effie had told him, "… feel better."

"Yeah?"

Ethan nodded enthusiastically.

"Make her sleep better. Like me. I always sleep with Tiger. But I – I don't want Tiger. I'm a big boy!" he said proudly.

Haymitch nodded his head already distracted by the sight of Effie wiping away her own tears as she said goodbye to Arianne.

The eight months old toddler stared at him over Effie's shoulder, her warm green eyes reflected the innocence she held. Haymitch averted his gaze.

He looked away when the social workers took Ari out of Effie's arms. He refused to look when Annie kissed the girl goodbye. He kept his eyes on the boys when the social workers left the premises with Ari and he pretended not to hear the little girl crying. Haymitch stubbornly ignored Effie's quiet sniffles as she took the boys back into the house.

It was only after they were inside that Haymitch moved towards the gate. He stayed until Ari had disappeared around the corner towards the train station. Haymitch clenched his jaws forcing himself to get rid of that ache that had made a home in his heart for the past two days. While everyone had been busy preparing for Ari's departure, he had taken a passive role, avoiding Ari as best as he could.

Now, he wished that he had at least seen the girl off but it was too late for that. He knew why he didn't. He would never admit it to anyone but Tristan and Ethan could make him do anything once they stared up at him with those huge ridiculous eyes, and he didn't want to find out if Arianne held the same power.

XxX

A heavy, unbearable mood began to cloak the Village once Ari left. Annie wandered around, seemingly at a loss on what to do. Even Finn with his constant cheerful spirit that never failed to bring joy to everyone was quiet. He played by himself or sat silently without speaking next to the twins and Prim.

Haymitch didn't like how Arianne was affecting them all, even him. She had only been with them for less than three months and they could already feel the gaping hole left behind by her absence. Felix and Johanna arrived for Annie and Finn, and even their arrival did little to lift the mood although for a brief second, Finn did lighted up at the sight of Johanna.

"We're ready," Felix shouted, waving Johanna over. He fussed over Annie's luggage and settled Finn into the train.

Haymitch pulled Johanna aside to talk to her. Effie gave them a curious glance. "You keep an eye out for Annie and her boy."

"You don't have to tell me that," Johanna crossed her arms. Felix walked briskly towards them, wanting to know what the holdup was. "We're staying with her for a while until everything's settled down."

"Do you think Annie will be okay?" Felix asked.

"Yeah," Haymitch nodded. "You just make sure she focuses her attention on Finn. It'll take her mind off the girl."

"I meant Ari. Do you think she'll be okay?"

"Social Services wouldn't take her back to her mother if they don't think she'll be okay," Haymitch said though it sounded too much as if he was trying to convince himself.

"Yes, but they only found her mother a few days after Annie moved to Twelve. That's not enough time to teach the girl everything she needs to know about motherhood," Felix argued.

"Does anyone actually know everything there is to know?" Johanna chuckled.

"I don't think she's fit to look after Ari, that's all," Felix said haughtily. "She ran away, you know."

"She was scared. With all that media attention, she has all the reasons to be scared. She's been given counselling. They wouldn't take the child back to her mother if they don't think – "

"It's still stupid," Johanna shrugged, agreeing with Felix. "Too soon. Who knows if the girl won't run away again? But since Ari's staying in Four, about ten minutes' walk away from Annie's, then maybe we can keep an eye out when we're there. Spying," Johanna winked, "for her safety."

Felix nodded, still not entirely convinced. But he left them alone, going off to talk to Effie.

"Your husband knows you're staying in Four?"

"Yeah," Johanna nodded. "Don't worry about him. He won't realised I'm not there."

"He's a good kid, Jo."

"Sure," she said, squinting against the glare of the mid-days' sun. "Effie's a good person, that don't mean you love her right?"

"I … care about what happened to her," Haymitch said, choosing his words carefully. He was not sure where this was going.

Johanna met his eyes, her face was grim. "Once this Referendum is over and if the law is repealed, we're getting a divorce – Gale and I," she told him. "I think it's best that way."

"You've talked about it?" Haymitch asked, slowly.

"Haven't you? You haven't discussed with your wife yet?" she asked, surprised. Then she started laughing, a mocking and derisive laugh. "You talk a good game about dissolving the law but you've never talked to her about what you both gonna do when it's all over?"

"Before the twins were born, sure, we talked about it," Haymitch told her.

His eyes strayed towards Effie. From the get-go, she had always known what he wanted. He was vocal about wanting to go their separate ways. There were brief mentions of separation and divorce, and Effie even promised him joint custody of the twins should anything happened but there had been no other talks about it.

Johanna pursed her lips, a displeased frown settling on her face.

"You need to talk to her, Mitch. Both of you need to work things out," Johanna hissed.

"Ain't that easy for you to say?" he sneered, bristling at the tone of her voice. "You don't have kids complicating the matter. How 'boutyou worry about Annie and I'll worry 'bout my family," he dismissed her concerns away.

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