Requested by TomHr: Four times Haymitch and Effie run into former escort Amara: (1) Right after newbie escort Effie has lost her first two tributes, (2) Right after Katniss and Peeta win the 74th HG, (3) After the end of the Second Rebellion and (4) After the news media announces Haymitch's and Effie's engagement (or marriage).

I enjoyed writing this prompt! But just to let you guys know in advance, I didn't write the fourth bit because I didn't think it would happen. If they ever got engage/married, they would keep it to themselves and wouldn't tell the media, and by the time the media picks it up, it's probably old news. It's just something I feel personally.

Effie's first year as an escort is in Chapter 8 - Keeping Effie Trinket.

Crossing Paths

1 - Right after Effie lost her first two tributes
61st Games (27 years old)

The Sponsor Lounge was buzzing with activity. Mentors mingled with sponsors; some standing by the bar talking and building rapport, others sitting around a table extoling the tributes' strength in the hopes of getting into the sponsor's wallet while some, like Haymitch, tried to find someone who was even interested in their tributes.

They were interested in talking to him, of course. They were always interested in talking to a victor but that was the extent of it. Once the topic shifted to Twelve's tributes, they lost their enthusiasm. Haymitch found this whole thing exhausting but Effie had insisted and he did it to shut her up.

"Did your flirting get you anywhere?" he sneered.

"No," she sighed dejectedly. "I will try harder. What about you? I saw you talking to Madam Vita."

"She's old and lonely. She just wants someone to talk with about her damn cats," Haymitch growled.

"Well... Certainly you can charm that lonely, old woman into giving us some money. Tell her you'll visit her and her cats in return."

"I hate cats."

"You're not taking this seriously, Haymitch. With that attitude, cats won't like you either. They're a good judge of character, you know," Effie told him seriously.

"Oh, yeah? What are you trying to say about my character, sweetheart? Answer carefully or I'll have you fired. Won't look good on your resume to be fired after only a year of - "

"They will simply just reinstate me as your escort. Twelve didn't have a long list of applicants - just thought you should know."

He didn't.

"So you didn't take this job as a challenge. You had no - oh fuck," Haymitch cursed loudly.

Effie visibly startled at the language.

"Please mind your - Amara!" her eyes widened when she saw Twelve's former escort walking towards them.

"Why the fuck would you do that for?" Haymitch hissed through his teeth. "Now she's seen us."

"Hello, hello!" Amara trilled, waving her feathered fan at them. Once she was closer enough, she kissed Effie on each cheek in greeting, complete with a hug. When she pulled way, she glanced over at Haymitch, looking at him from head to toe as she took in his scruffy appearance. "I see you're still hopeless as ever. Effie, darling, you should never let yourself be seen with him when he's dressed like that. Be firm with him!"

"Run along, then," Haymitch shooed her away, crossing his arms in front of him. "Wouldn't wanna be seen with me now that you've finally retired. How's your old, rich husband doing? Waiting for him to die so you can get all your hands on his money, yeah?"

Effie gasped, taken aback by their acidic exchange. Amara had not been pleasant with him and Haymitch was calloused with her.

"You shouldn't be talking about money when all you know is to waste yours on alcohol," Amara told him off.

Amara then ignored him completely to talk to Effie which made her uncomfortable because to ignore someone and exclude them from a conversation went against her manners.

"I watched last year's Games - your first Games as an escort!" Amara flashed Effie a smile.

Forced, Haymitch noted and took a stab at her. "You're still as fake as ever. Not only your smile but …" his gaze fell on her chest and then he snickered. "For the old man?"

"What I do is none of your business," Amara huffed at the same time that Effie subtly stomped on his foot with her heel. She clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "I see that even with a new escort, Twelve still failed to bring home a Victor."

"Don't concern yourself with what's happening with Twelve," Haymitch shot her down.

"Let's just say it's an occupational hazard," Amara's lips split into a malicious sneer. "How are you doing, Effie? You've been following all that I've thought you, yes? Don't worry, darling, give it a few more years and you will have it all under control... including your unruly victor," she patted Effie's cheek condescendingly.

"I – "

"Although to be fair, you'll soon learn there's nothing much to control. It's the same process year after year. It only changes when you have a victor and we all know that Twelve's a hopeless district, don't we? I've told you before and I'll tell you again, Effie darling, Twelve gives you nothing to work with. There are no sponsors, the tributes have no potential and you've seen for yourself just how Haymitch is - terribly uncooperative."

"We're working on changing the image," Effie said and Haymitch wondered why she bothered trying to explain herself to Amara unless she was trying to impress the old goat. "Haymitch and I are talking to sponsors and we're -"

"Frankly," Amara went on as if Effie had not spoken a word, "I wasn't at all surprise your two tributes died so early in the Games, not all. They all do. It is almost expected of Twelve, really. Nothing out of the ordinary."

Haymitch clenched his jaws. He had sat through that same insulting speech about him and about his district for nearly nine years until the year before when Effie replaced her. It no longer fazed him. He had learnt to ignore it but from the way Effie was holding herself, he couldn't say the same about her. Amara had a very flippant way of talking about the tributes' deaths the same way she would waved off an Avox's presence.

"Last year was unfortunate, yes, but as I was saying," Effie stressed, "we are working towards a goal as a team."

Haymitch raised an eyebrow in disbelief. This was all new to him. He had not been made aware that they had a goal, much less a team.

"Oh, darling, darling," Amara clutched Effie's arm. "It's a fool's task. Your tributes will die this year just as they had last year. From what I saw during the parade they don't have the make of a Victor. As for working as a team," she turned her beady eyes towards Haymitch, "I wish you the best of luck with that."

With a wave, she was gone, tottering on her heels.

"I don't understand... She was absolutely charming when we met and when she was handing over everything to me at the end of the 59th Games. She seemed different. Has she always been like this to you?"

"She's Capitol, sweetheart. Don't be so fucking naïve. She was only nice to you because she was desperate to find a replacement. You Capitol people are all good at pretending, don't you?"

"I am Capitol, Haymitch. But I'm – "

"Not like them?" he scoffed. His trailed his eyes slowly over her, taking in her extravagant dress with the sequins, the glittering jewellery around her neck, her high heels and the blue wig. "You are like them."

2: Right after Katniss and Peeta won
74th Games (41 years old)

The scent of strong perfume wafted over him and he frowned. It wasn't Effie. He would recognise Effie's perfume. He turned to see who it was and almost wished he didn't.

"Who would have thought you had it in you two bring back a victor much less two," Amara came to a stop in front of him and swirled her glass of champagne.

A look of exasperation and annoyance settled on Haymitch's face. Promptly, he turned his back to her as his eyes swept through the dance floor, making a mental note of where Katniss and Peeta were, and where Effie was. He saw Effie by the dessert table with a plate of chocolate covered strawberries in her hand.

"How did you do it?"

"I work better without you around," he threw the jibe at her.

"Oh, certainly," Amara laughed airily. "It only takes you and Effie working together for about 14 years to bring victory back to Twelve."

"Didn't know you were keeping count. It makes you sound bitter - you miss your old job, huh?"

"Not at all," Amara was quick denied but there was something in her voice that made Haymitch thought that there was more to it.

"What are you doing here, Amara?" Haymitch asked. The irritation was plain to hear in his voice.

"I was invited to the Crowning party, Haymitch. I was a former Games member and considering how I have been a sponsor for several years now, an invitation was personally extended to me"

"Ah, is it? It's got nothing to do with your rich husband?" he snorted.

Amara ignored that which meant he was right. "Now, Haymitch," she said in a sickly sweet tone. "You've been giving a lot of interviews lately."

"My kids won, in case you haven't notice. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to the mentor."

She smiled and stood closer to him "Well, I couldn't help but notice that there was no mention of me at all."

"Why would I talk 'bout you?" he frowned.

"Haymitch, really," she laughed again "I had thought you would at the very least invite me back for an interview or two! You haven't forgotten all about dear old me, have you?"

"Might have," he mumbled.

"Haymitch, Haymitch," she squeezed his hand. "I was an escort for Twelve and I groomed you, didn't I? Look at you!"

"Nah, can't say you have. I don't remember it that way. What I do remember was you being a downright bitch to me."

The effect was immediate. The smile slid off her face and she glowered.

"If anything," he added, "I must say Effie's been doing a pretty darn good job - "

"Effie isn't any better. Don't pretend you and her are friends, Haymitch. Don't insult me. I remember all too well how much you dislike people like us. I've seen you both on television and you can't seem to get along with her."

"Oh, I got along with her better than I ever did with you. Besides," he lowered his voice and leaned it close to whisper in her ear to deliver the nail in the coffin, "she being closer to my age helps a lot."

The loud gasp sounded like victory in his ears. Haymitch winked and straightened up just as Effie came to join him.

He plucked a strawberry from her plate and popped it in his mouth. Effie didn't even bat an eyelash at him stealing her food. All of this was not lost on Amara who narrowed her eyes at them.

"Amara! What a pleasure to see you," Effie extended her hand.

Haymitch had worked with her long enough to know that was not entirely true. Effie had asked Amara for a sponsorship to send a bottle of water to their tribute one year during the Games. She thought that since they knew each other, it would be better coming from her than from Haymitch. But Amara had laughed at her and insisted that even with a sponsor their tribute would not get far. The girl died from thirst and Effie had never truly forgiven Amara for that.

Their interaction had always been brief from then on.

"Hmm," Amara shook Effie's hand. "Enjoy your moment, darling. This could very well be the only time you'll get to. I don't foresee Twelve having a repeat of this fame and by extension, you. You're nearly at the end of your line."

Effie's smile never faltered even as they watched her leave.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "What did she want?"

"Snivelling for the a little bit of fame in that old age of hers."

"Ah," Effie nodded. "She must resent me for it."

"And you're enjoying it far too much," Haymitch said.

"After what she did to us, you can't blame me for it. Do you dance?" she asked, looking longingly at the dance floor. "I enjoy dancing, too."

3: At the end of the 2nd Rebellion
Post – War (43 years old)

Haymitch found her outside of her apartment sitting on a bench riddled with bullet holes. She was watching the people passing by.

Without saying a word, he lowered himself next to her. The bench creaked and for a second, he feared it might not hold both of their weight.

"When are you leaving?" she asked him quietly.

"Tomorrow."

Effie nodded.

"What are you doing out here, sweetheart?"

"I can't be inside... It's not the same," she murmured. Haymitch had to strain his ears to catch her words. "My neighbours are different people. My house has been looted. I – I'll need to clean and organise everything. It gives me something to do at least," she gave him a brave smile. "I will get to it soon but I just needed... I just wanted the fresh air."

Capitol citizens shuffled past them in a long row. Most of them had been displaced from their homes and carried with them what remained of their belongings, clutching their bags and luggage close to them in fear of it being snatched away. Rebel soldiers were giving out instructions and directing them to the nearest shelter.

Most paid them no heed, intent of getting to a shelter that could take them in before night fall. But some recognised Haymitch and Effie, and threw them dirty looks. Effie didn't meet their eyes, unable to bear watching people looking at her with such disdain. Haymitch's gaze never wavered. After spending nearly two decades of his life on the receiving end of such looks in his district and in the Capitol with people talking behind his back, he was immune to it all.

"You did this – are you happy now?" spat a man in a navy blue suit which was covered with ash. He wore a matching blue wig which must have been a pretty thing once except it was now limp and dirty. He hurried away when Haymitch leaned forward, pretending that he was about to stand up.

"They're so ungrateful," Effie complained. "They have no idea the things you or Katniss or Peeta had to do, the choices you had to make –"

"Don't go there," he warned. He didn't want to think about the choices that defined them or the losses they suffered, not right now. "They can't see it yet. They don't understand what we were trying to end… What we've ended."

"I understand why you hated us, Haymitch. I look at them and I can see now how you saw us."

Haymitch heaved a breath, his grey eyes darkened.

"For a while, yeah, I did. I hated everything about the Capitol. I was young and I lost … people that mattered to me. I realised later on, so much later that people here are just so fucking ignorant – you came along and confirmed that for me – but by then it was too late. I spent so long hating the Capitol, I don't know how not to hate it."

"But you fought to keep me alive," Effie pointed out.

Haymitch said nothing.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly.

"For what?"

"I - "

"I don't hate you, sweetheart. You're alright; you turned out alright. You helped the kids. I didn't ask that of you but you did. You helped me."

Her blue eyes watered but she didn't let the tears fall. The corner of his lips curled into a smile when Effie reached out to lace her fingers with his.

"I will miss you."

"You sure?" he chuckled. "Because you wouldn't say that if – shit."

Haymitch let out a breath. Effie followed his gaze.

There amongst the crowd of people was Amara Varvari. They had not been spotted yet and it didn't look like she would see them. She was walking barefoot and shivering in the cold but her voice was loud and distinctive. They could hear her arguing with a man as they came closer.

"Still bitchy," Haymitch commented but he had already stood up. "Come on."

"You want to talk to her?" Effie brows wrinkled.

"Amara," he called out, catching her attention.

The woman paused as did the man next to her. It didn't take long for the recognition to flicker in her eyes. The glare she sent his way could have turned lesser men into dust but he was Haymitch, and he stood tall, striding towards her.

"Is this the moment when you rub it in my face, Haymitch, and tell me how the mighty have fallen?" she spat.

"Is that what you want me to say?" Haymitch chuckled. "For the record, I don't think you are that mighty, so you falling don't interest me much."

She huffed. "If that was what you wanted to say than say it so I can be on my way! The shelters are being occupied at a horrifying rate and I've already been turned down twice!"

They seized each other up and then Haymitch said something that surprised both Effie and Amara.

"You ain't my favourite person, Amara. You think I was beneath you and most of the time, you're a fucking terrible person to me and to others. But you ain't Snow, and you ain't as bad as he is and that's sayin' something, yeah? But I'm glad to see you're alive."

Amara was at a loss for words. She blinked, staring at him in disbelief. The man next to Amara who he assumed was the rich man she had married offered Haymitch a tentative smile.

"Why this war?" she asked, finally. "Why wage this war against us?"

"Not you," Haymitch told her. "It was against Snow, against the Games. The Games had to end, you should know that. They were children. I was a teenager. Aster was a child. You can see that at least? They killed my family. You know that. You were my escort when it happened. You knew what happened but you pretended not to. It's not entertainment when children are dying, when families are wiped out."

"He told us it was for the good of Panem."

"He told us a lot of things," Effie said. "He blinded us to so many things."

Amara exchanged a look with her husband. There was nothing else to say so Haymitch gave them a nod and walked off, leaving Effie with his former escort.

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