Another re-working of an old one-shot as part of my Shut Up, Sweetheart series. Originally a tumblr prompt from Shikabane-Mai. I think the prompt was "Haymitch and Effie grow old together" or something like that.
Anywho, enjoy.
Title: Grow Old With Me
Summary: A glimpse into Haymitch and Effie's life post-Mockingjay. Utter fluffery.
Rating: T for language
Pairings: Hayffie. Everlark.
Disclaimer: I do not own Haymitch, Effie, or anything else related to the Hunger Games.
Effie hiked up her skirt and chased after the skittering blonde imp in her front yard. "Kenna Mellark, you come back here this minute!"
Kenna whipped her head around, her wispy curls blowing in the wind. She whined in protest, big grey eyes pleading with Effie's exhausted navy ones. "But I want to play with the geese, Ms. Effie!"
Effie knelt in front of the child. She straightened Kenna's dress, wrinkled and dirty from her playing. "No, Kenna."
Kenna pouted. "But Grandpa Haymitch lets me play with the geese!"
Effie raised her eyebrow. "Well, I'm not Grandpa Haymitch, now am I?"
"Oh, come on, sweetheart."
Speak of the devil. Effie bit back a sigh and turned her head in Haymitch's direction. He was watching the two girls with an amused yet exasperated expression, leaning against his porch railing and holding a bottle in his right hand.
"Just let the little mite play with the stupid birds," he said.
Effie frowned as she gave a final primp to Kenna's dress. She stood up and crossed her arms. "I will not, Haymitch. Those geese are crawling with disease. Who knows what she could catch?"
Haymitch snorted. "Eff, those birds have been coming and going from this place for fifteen years. If we haven't caught a disease yet, I don't think we will any time soon."
Effie's lips thinned. "Yes, well, I'm sure all of the alcohol you consume would kill any bacteria that enter your system."
Haymitch laughed.
"Regardless, those birds are disgusting anyway."
"No, they're not!" Kenna hollered from across the yard.
Haymitch took a drink. He gestured towards the small blonde with his bottle. "You should listen to Sunshine over there."
Effie put her hands on her hips. "No, she should listen to me. I'm actually looking out for her health, unlike her supposed adopted 'grandfather.' What kind of grandfather lets his grandchild play with wild avian?"
Haymitch shook his head. "Woman, you don't live in the Capitol anymore. Learn to talk like a normal person and call those birds birds." He stepped down from the porch and walked towards her. "What's wrong with letting Kenna have some fun with a few geese?"
Effie ignored her fluttering heart. How was it that after spending all these years with this insufferable man, he was still able to make her heart skip a beat merely from his proximity? "Those birds are mean and dirty!"
Haymitch shrugged. "Yeah, but so am I. But you still love me anyway."
She glared at a spot off his shoulder. "Yes, well, keep this up and I may seriously reconsider it."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and grinned wickedly. "Oh, yeah, princess?"
Haymitch tilted his head down and kissed her thoroughly, catching Effie off guard. She allowed herself to melt into the kiss.
I was reconsidering this? Effie Trinket, you are a silly woman indeed.
She only broke away when a loud, "Ewwwww!" pierced the air. Oh, right, they were with child.
That is, a child was present.
Effie stepped back with a blush on her cheeks and turned to Kenna, trying to ignore Haymitch's laughing lips. "Ew is right, Kenna," she said with a solemn nod. "Haymitch smells like a wet dog."
He didn't, but she did love to tease him.
Haymitch groaned. "Woman, why do you always have to nag me—"
"I am not 'nagging,' I am simply concerned—"
"Concerned, my ass!"
Effie gasped. "Do not use such foul language in the presence of—"
"Is this what mommy and daddy mean when they say that you fight like an old married couple?"
The two adults looked at the curious little girl.
Effie furrowed her brows. "I'm sorry, what?" she asked.
Kenna moved her head from Effie, to Haymitch, then back again. "I think mommy and daddy are confused, because Grandpa Haymitch said that you weren't married. Did he tell a fib, Ms. Effie?"
Haymitch and Effie exchanged awkward glances. "Well, no, honey, Grandpa Haymitch and I aren't married."
Kenna bit her lip. "So you fight because you're old then?"
Haymitch burst out laughing. He doubled over, the limited contents of his drink threatening to spill out. Effie's eye twitched.
Old?
She plastered on a smile and bent towards Kenna. "Honey, why don't you just go and play with the geese?"
Kenna's face lit up, proud as punch that she was getting her way. "Thank you, Ms. Effie!" She ran off towards the flock of irritable birds.
Effie sighed and sat down on the porch steps. Was she really getting old? She hadn't really been paying attention. It was shocking to her. In the past she would have had a plethora of surgeries, medications, and powders at her fingertips to conceal any signs of aging. Now that she wasn't in the Capitol anymore, she didn't have the luxury.
It never bothered her before. But now that it came to her attention, she was overcome with anxiety that she was beginning to look like an old hag. For the first time in a while, she missed her old home and the silly antidotes they offered.
Oh, dear heaven, was she really mulling over a "back in my day" train of thought?
Effie groaned and put her head in her hands.
Haymitch came into her peripheral vision. He leaned his hip against the post. He took a drink, still chuckling heartily, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Kids say the damnedest things, eh, sweetheart?"
"I'm actually getting old," she replied, her voice muffled from her hands.
"Yes, congratulations." He nudged her calf with his bare foot. "You're human like the rest of us."
She didn't want to be human, she wanted to be young. How could she have not noticed? Effie removed her hands from her face and studied them. Were they getting leathery? Did she have wrinkles on her face? Were there patches of white in her metallic, silver hair, permanently dyed so many years ago? Was she going to go through menopause any minute? Was Haymitch aging with her?
Effie shifted her eyes to the former mentor. He was still as handsome as he was when she first saw him at the age of sixteen, but the signs of aging were evident. Speckles of grey flecked his dark stubble and around the curls on his temples. He had the faintest hint of frown lines. He was showing signs of a gut. He didn't look old, per se, but it was clear he was getting older.
What about her? What did she look like? Would he still find her beautiful? Would he not want her anymore? Would he send her packing to the Capitol because she was aging? It was so common in the Capitol for men to send their lovers and spouses away at the first signs of again and move on to younger ones. Would Haymitch want a younger woman?
Haymitch frowned at her. She could feel herself hyperventilating and tears spring in her eyes. Was he going to send her away right now?
"What's the matter with you, Eff?"
Effie suddenly felt very ashamed. She buried her face in her arms so that he wouldn't have to look at her possibly wrinkled face. Maybe if he couldn't see he wouldn't banish her?
Haymitch saw the change in her attitude. "Effie? Seriously, what's up with you?"
"Please don't send me away," she mumbled. She couldn't bear it if he did. He was all she had left in her life. She didn't have anywhere else to go. There was no one left in the Capitol for her. He protected her from the nightmares. She didn't want to be alone. She didn't want to be without him.
What if he didn't want her? What would she do then?
Haymitch's scrunched his nose. "Why on earth would I send you away?"
"Because I look like this. Because I look old." She buried her face further into her arms. "I'm sorry. Please don't send me away because I'm aging."
Haymitch gaped at her. Is this really what she thought? "You think I'm going to make you leave because you're succumbing to something completely natural? Because you're getting older?"
Effie let out a whimper and stiffened her shoulders. She wished he would just make it quick.
Haymitch swore under his breath. "Effie, look at me."
She shook her head. "I can't let you see me like this."
He bit back a groan. "Eff, come on."
She moaned pathetically in response.
Haymitch sighed. He guzzled what was left of his drink and threw the bottle into the grass. He walked around and knelt in front of Effie. He put his hands on her elbows, gently trying to pull them away from her head.
"Look at me, Effie."
"No."
"Sweetheart, look at me."
She flinched at his stern tone. Nonetheless, she slowly raised her head from her cocoon. Her dark blue eyes were red and puffy, and there were tears stains on her cheeks. They tugged at his heart. Did she really think he was going to make her leave?
He gently brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. He tried to make his voice gentle. He never was very good at being compassionate. "Effie, why on earth would you think I'd make you leave just because you were getting older?"
Effie furrowed her brows in confusion. "In the Capitol, when a woman shows signs of aging, the man has every right to toss her away. There's nothing to stop him from going after a younger woman. Now that I'm aging, what's to stop you if you want another woman younger than I?"
Haymitch's eyes hardened. Effie shamefully turned her face away. Haymitch grabbed her chin and jerked her face towards his, forcing her to look into his fierce, silver eyes.
His voice was harsh, but not angry. "First, you're not in the Capitol anymore, sweetheart. Second, you're hardly showing any physical signs of aging—except maybe these mood swings. Third…" His eyes softened. He moved the hand holding her chin to cradle the side of her face. "Third, I don't want a younger woman. The only woman I want is you."
Ironically, Effie suddenly felt very much like a child Kenna's age. "Really?" she whispered.
He nodded.
"But what about when I do start showing signs physically? Are you still going to want me then?" Her eyes turned downcast. "Will you still think I'm beautiful?"
Haymitch sighed and stroked his thumb against her cheek. "Sweetheart, after all that we've been through, you should consider it a blessing to be getting older. We're still alive. We have the chance to grow old. There are many people who haven't. And, yes, I'll still think you're beautiful. In fact, you'll be even more beautiful to me, because that means we've made it."
He leaned his forehead against hers. "Do you hear me, princess? You will always be beautiful to me, no matter what you look like."
Effie leaned her face upwards and kissed him. He returned it eagerly. Heaven above, she loved this man so much. She hummed happily when he pulled away, a small grin on his own mouth. He twisted around so that he was sitting on the grass in front of her knees, his elbows supporting him on either side of her feet. She began running her fingernails through his curls, the way she knew he loved. She smiled when he sighed in contentment.
They sat in silence, enjoying each other's company and watching Kenna chase after the geese. They honked angrily at her, flapping their wings to escape her giggles and lunges. Effie sincerely hoped one of them wouldn't try to bite her. Nevertheless, it made Effie's heart feel light and free to watch Kenna's carefree euphoria. She still didn't think it was wise to let the little girl play with such filthy birds, but it made her happy. As long as she didn't get hurt, Effie would try to squash her worry. It was worth it to see those pearly baby teeth and deep dimples. Although Effie could do without the dirty dress.
"Sunshine has a point, you know," Haymitch spoke up, his low voice causing his back to rumble against Effie's knees.
Effie tilted her head and stopped playing with his hair. "About what?"
Haymitch leaned his head back so he could meet her eyes upside down. It was quite amusing. "Why don't we get married?"
Effie's heart stopped. She blinked rapidly. "What?" she asked breathlessly.
Haymitch's shrugged. "Think about it, Eff. We've been together for nearly ten years. You don't want anyone else. I don't want anyone else." He turned so he was facing her, his arm resting across her lap. "So what are we waiting for? Why don't we tie the knot?"
She could only gawk at him. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She's dreamt of being Mrs. Effie Abernathy ever since she was fourteen and she'd watch his Games. She just didn't think it would ever happen, even when they began their relationship.
Effie cleared her throat. "I didn't think you wanted to get married."
He gave her a funny look. "What made you think that, princess?"
"I…well. You just—you never asked."
Haymitch scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I guess I never thought about it. But I'm asking you now." He propped up one knee so that he was in the customary kneeling position. He smirked and leaned all of his weight against her lap, his face inches from hers. "So how 'bout it, sweetheart? Wanna get hitched?"
Effie threw her head back and laughed as happy tears built up in her eyes. Leave it to Haymitch to propose to her in the most unorthodox way possible.
Haymitch frowned, but the twinkle was still in his eye letting her know he wasn't truly offended. "You could have just said no."
Effie quieted her laughter. Her smile stayed in place. She felt like she might burst from joy. She folded her arms on top of his and leaned forward, her nose bumping against his. "Of course I want to marry you, you silly, silly, drunk."
He chuckled. Before he could bring his lips to hers in yet another kiss, Kenna's voice piped up.
"Ew, are you going to kiss again?"
Effie giggled, and Haymitch grumbled a, "Damn kid." He turned around to look at Kenna. She was standing in front of them with her lips and nose scrunched in childlike disgust.
"Well, I was trying to, Sunshine, until you interrupted me." He playfully poked her in the belly, making her squeal and giggle in delight. "Why don't you go back to the geese so that I can finish what I started?"
Effie blushed at his candor.
Kenna put her hands on her hips. She looked remarkably similar to Effie when she was scolding Haymitch. It made Effie burst with pride. "Should you be kissing so much if you aren't married, Grandpa Haymitch?"
He smirked. "Now who said we weren't married, Sunshine?"
Kenna narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows, her mouth forming a very baffled o. "You said that," she accused.
Effie stood up and brushed her hands on her skirt. "What he means, honey," she gave Haymitch a look—the last thing she needed was for Kenna to tell Katniss and Peeta that Haymitch was telling lies to their only daughter, "is that we will be getting married."
Kenna gasped, her grey eyes going wide. "So mommy and daddy were right?"
Peeta and Katniss took that opportunity to walk into the yard. Peeta was carrying a brown bag of something—presumably bread from the bakery—and Katniss was carrying their newborn boy.
Katniss frowned in curiosity. "What were we right about, Kenna?" she asked.
"Grandpa Haymitch and Ms. Effie are getting married!"
Katniss's eyebrows shot up as she looked at the two adults. Peeta laughed and switched his bag of goodies to one arm so that he could scoop up the little tyke in his other arm.
"You don't say?" he said, grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations. It's about time."
Effie blushed while Haymitch sent Peeta thumbs up and head nod in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Peeta," she mumbled.
"What made you finally make the decision?"
Haymitch pointed to Kenna. "Sunshine over there told Eff she was getting old."
Effie glared at Haymitch. Did Katniss and Peeta really need to know about her meltdown?
He met her glare with a crooked smile. "So the princess over here decided that if she was getting old, she might as well grow old with me."
Katniss playfully rolled her eyes. "That was so corny, Haymitch."
He merely shrugged. "It happens."
Peeta nodded. "About time it did, too. Effie's been waiting for a proposal for what, ten years?" He looked at her for confirmation.
Effie nodded.
Kenna gasped, "It's not polite to make people wait for so long, Grandpa Haymitch."
Effie bit back a grin. She was training her well. She'll end up having better manners than both her parents and Haymitch ever had.
She nodded to the girl. "Indeed, Kenna." She turned to Haymitch. "So what do you have to say for yourself, Grandpa Haymitch?"
"Only one thing." He smirked and matched Effie's gaze.
"Hey, Grandma."
Thank you to the original reviewers of this story: A.C. Akasuna, Randomcat100, K8 G.H. Ducey, Hunger Games Hungry, xTheCrazyDancingPersonx, Wren-and-Jay, The Hunger Games-My Life, Nekokin, musicalfreak86, Lessthanthree13, MarciaOverstrand, ohsosexyfoxhat, ToLoveIsToDestroy, DCdreamer55, American Fantasy, Shikabane-Mai, , Lollipop Child, PresidentTheAwesome, ArielHermione, Savysnape7, Anon195, Doc95, YvelissaBlossoM, LadyNobleSong