*Without spoiling too much this chapter contains mature material*

Effie left the crowning ceremony late and far more drunk than she would ever admit. The tension with Seneca made things far worse. The dispute over the tributes death left their budding relationship hanging somewhere in the middle. Seneca had been quick to abandon her to talk with other socialites and officials. Effie Trinket was many things, but a girl pushed to the side by a man was not one of them. She was itching for another drink when she found Haymitch barefoot and shirt open in the small kitchen area of their floor. He was tending to a glass of wine and turned to see Effie with her heels clicking down the hallway.

"Fancy you coming home after I do." He offered the glass of crimson wine to her, which she gladly took.

She shrugged and dropped her clutch on a stool. "I was waiting for my friend, but she was off with someone else, so I decided another drink was in order."

Haymitch chuckled and looked her over. Flushed underneath all that make up. The tight dress left much of her arms and back exposed. "Are you drunk, Effie?"

"Maybe." She sipped her drink again. "It's a celebration. I'm allowed to indulge."

"Yes you are." He drank to that and leaned against the marble island. "Tought you would have felt differently about alcohol after last week."

Effie rolled her eyes, "Look at you. Half dressed.. Am I interrupting something?" Effie whispered with a sly smile as she stood next to him. Trying to peek at his bedroom from the kitchen.

"No. Just interrupting me before bed." He glanced at his room then to Effie. He thought back to last year to the woman he could barely recall a name for. "Why did you lie and say you didn't come back that night?"

Perhaps in her state she'd tell him the truth. "I came back thinking of the fight we had. I was going to apologize."

A missed opportunity to apologize sure seemed like a stupid thing to keep fighting over. "That's it?" He pressured.

Effie drank more of her wine and stared down at the dark liquid. "It was all a mess last year. I thought.." She trailed off and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Haymitch was going to get this out of her, he had to. "No, Effie." He started, "Tell me."

Effie clammed up and turned toward him, "I can't. You'll do what you always do. Laugh. Think I'm some stupid Capitol barbie." She said quickly.

Hearing her call herself a Capitol barbie was something he'd have to keep memory of. It was just too good not to use against her. "I won't laugh, and I promise to not call you a Capitol barbie within the next 10 minutes." Haymitch said earnestly as he drank more of his wine.

Effie looked nervous, and certainly felt it as she looked at him. Gauging his expression to see if he was playing with her or being honest. "I thought that maybe… there was something between us last year." She sipped her drink and carried on. "The talks and how you changed little by little. The kisses… Maybe I made it all up. Sure that could work for everything else. But the kisses.. Can you deny that? I saw you with that woman and I felt foolish and stupid. I thought, how could that ever have worked. What would be so special about me to think you'd ever entertain the thought of me that way. You might not see it in yourself, but you are something special. You're a Victor. Proof that you can overcome just about anything and live. You annoy the life out of me, and we fight like…" Effie was interrupted swiftly by Haymitch cradling her cheek and kissing her softly.

His free hand circled around her waist and pulled her closer. Effie found her hands resting on his bare chest, kissing him back. Relief washed over Haymitch as he heard her explanation. How could he tease her about that. When he too was guilty of harboring feelings for her and feeling unable to voice them. She was a queen in his opinion, managing him and doing everything she did on top of the requirements of her job. She was smart, and beautiful and an emotional hell storm. But he liked that about her too. Crane was no good for her. That man took this goddess for granted.

Effie broke from the kiss and gasped for air as his lips trailed down her neck. Feeling weak kneed Effie gripped the counter top as her eyes fluttered shut. She felt his hand trailing up her leg. She groaned and nudged him, "Not here." She breathed against his shoulder.

Catching her drift Haymitch scooped her up and entered his room. He laid her down on the bed and crawled over her. His fingers freely ran through the long blonde tresses that he much preferred. He kissed her again as her shoes clattered to the floor. Effie's hands found their way to his hair and deepened the kiss.

Effie's nimble fingers tugged his shirt off and trailed over the muscles on his back and arms. Haymitch shivered as her hands explored his back, earning a smile she pressed against his lips. His fingers made short work of the zipper on her dress. The little dress was tossed to the floor but his work was not done. He skimmed his hands over the soft silk of her slip, feeling the warmth of her skin under it. Effie squirmed under him as he inches the slip off and found more skin to pepper with kisses.

Effie panted as Haymitch kissed his way down her neck and across the swell of her breast. Lingering his kisses as he managed to unclasp her bra and caress her freed skin. Her fingers cinched in his hair as he kissed his way back to her lips. Without pause Effie pushed his pants off and hitched her legs around him. She eagerly kissed the edge of his jaw as he ground against her. Heated and frenzied his hands hooked into the edges of her panties. Pulling back to remove them and in process toss his boxers away.

He crawled over her again and pulled her close as she kissed him again. His hand roamed her body settling between her legs and slowly teased a finger into her. Effie moaned softly and nipped his lip as he thrust his finger slowly in and out. Before long Effie was whimpering for more.

In a swift movement he entered her and groaned into the pillow next to her. Her legs clung around his hips as she panted, "Mmm." She urged him and rolled her hips. Needing no further signal he thrust into her and found a rhythm.

Effie pawed at his back the harder he thrust, squealing in pleasure. Their bodies sticky and flushed with each touch. Haymitch gripped the blankets harder for stability as he thrust into her harder with each cry for it. Moments later Effie cried out his name and a midst her throes he moaned her name into her neck. Trembling in a sweaty mess for a few moments before he rolled off her and sighed.

Effie scooted close and shut her eyes, Haymitch doing the same.

*So there you have it, a chapter I've been waiting to post for way too long! It was long over due for Hayffie I think but I loved the slow build up to it. Stay tuned for the repercussions in the next chapter! If you have the time let me know how I did with this chapter!*