Author's note: This chapter bloated up like a pregnant Effie Trinket and since she's expecting twins, why not make it a duo? Enjoy! And remember: diamonds are nice but reviews are forever!

Chapter 24 (part one)
A gift worthy of love

One of the babies stirred within Effie. They had grown so big now, a firm elbow in the side was all it took. She drew a soft sigh and rubbed her stomach.

"Yes, little ones, I'm on it." More asleep than awake she pulled herself higher up on the pillows to try and find a more comfortable position on the bed. A mission doomed to fail. She hadn't felt comfortable in months.

Eyes heavy from the slumber it took her a moment to focus. To see him there, by her bedside.

"Haymitch?" she mumbled, voice slurred.

"Hey, sweetheart."

His hair hung in lifeless, brittle tangles over his eyes. You could hardly even spot the whites anymore, for all the blood vessels. They looked inflamed. Everything about him screamed ill. She had not seen him in such a bad shape since his disaster of a detox over at her place.

The playsuits, the blue and pink one she bought earlier, lay on his lap. He held on to them, like someone might come and take them at any given moment.

Oh, Haymitch. Will you ever smile again?

"I would have told you," she said softly.

Haymitch drew a sigh.

"Why didn't you just call me, Eff? Right after you found out?"

"I did."

The words knitted his eyebrows together.

"No," he said. "When?"

"About a month after we broke up."

"I don't…" He paused, racked his brain for any recollections. Any at all.

"I should have just taken the train," Effie said. Her voice brimmed with regret. "You deserved to hear it from me. I'm so sorry for doing this to you."

Haymitch brushed the strands away from his face but of course they immediately fell back over his eyes.

"Shouldn't that be my line?"

"What do you mean?"

His face was tight with pain.

"Annabel," he said. "She told me everything. I wrecked your life. As if the war wasn't enough."

"Haymitch…"

"I wrecked their lives too. Made them outcasts before they're even born."

"You can't think like that, Haymitch. You did nothing wrong."

"You lost everything because of me."

"Not everything. Not even close. Don't you know it by now? I made my choice a long time ago. Or do you think I wore that gold wig because it brought out the color of my eyes?" She scooted a little higher up on the pillows, all her sleepiness gone. "Listen to me now. I don't know who told you I was pregnant but I am not some innocent, delicate flower that you picked and defiled. I know what I'm doing, Haymitch. I know what I want."

"Be a Twelve whore?"

"That's just what Gloria calls it. Because she doesn't know any better. And if you are going to take her blame I will strangle you with my bare hands."

She rested her palm ever so softly over his knuckles.

"I'd much rather have you by my side."

Something about her gentle touch made his fist relax a little, open. It became a hand again and it encirled Effie's until their fingers laced together.

"I don't know how to be a father. I can't even boil cabbage."

Effie smiled.

"We'll figure it out. Do you think any parent knows what they're doing all the time? No, of course not. They learn as they go and we will too."

While she spoke her hand returned to her belly, rubbing it in soothing circles. A shadow crossed over Haymitch's face.

"Just kicking," Effie reassured him before he could ask. "Perfectly normal. They're always up and about when I want to sleep. Gets it from their father, I suppose."

Haymitch's gaze fluttered from her face to her body. His heart was already in his throat and before his courage crumbled completely he reached out and rested his hand against her belly.

He'd never felt a baby kick. Not even when ma was pregnant with his brother. And at first there was nothing. The seconds passed and he only registered how oddly tight her stomach felt. He remained very still, hardly breathed, afraid to disturb what was inside.

Just when he drew the conclusion they'd gone back to sleep, he felt it. A tiny little nudge, against his palm.

An earthquake couldn't have shaken Haymitch more. It was little more than a poke, like when he and Chaff shared a quiet fist pump but it sent shock waves throughout his whole being.

And there it was again. His heart beat a hundred miles an hour. His mouth was so dry he could hardly swallow but he forced himself to remain still and keep his hand where it was.

Get a grip. He made himself breathe slowly, in through his nose and out his mouth. They won't die. He repeated it like a mantra. They won't die. They're right here. We're not gonna loose them.

Effie, always one to sense his agony, rested her hand over his. He met her gaze, held on to it like a lifebuoy.

"They're OK," she said. "Healthy and growing. My doctor says they're developing just as they're supposed to."

Haymitch nodded. He couldn't speak.

"They're strong. Like someone else I know."

As if to second that, the next time one of the babies kicked, it wouldn't pull back. It just stayed there, like a weird little mountain. Haymitch held it between his thumb and forefinger (What was it? An elbow? A hand? A foot?) until it eventually sunk back in.

It was so strange. He knew someone didn't just pump Effie up like a balloon and yet he couldn't get it into his head that what he felt tumbling about in her belly were his own children, their children. Who would be here in just a couple of months.

"We're having one of each?"

Effie nodded and couldn't keep from smiling.

"When?"

"August 28. But it might be a couple of weeks earlier, with twins."

"Not too early," he warned. "I need those months."

He brushed his thumb softly up and down her tummy, right where he felt the last kick. When there was nothing he rested his palm on a different spot, to try and detect some more of those flutters and movements. But it seemed like business was closed for the time being.

"Katniss and Peeta," Effie said when he let go of her belly. "Do they…"

"No," he said. "I reckoned we should call them together. Tell them they're having a brother and sister."

Effie nodded and he saw her eyes turn dangerously shiny.

"Don't cry, princess."

"I won't," she said. "It's just… I really, really miss them."

"They miss you. Well, Peeta does. With the girl you never know. She's probably relieved to have us both out of the way."

Something in between a sob and a laugh escaped Effie's lips and Haymitch gathered her in his arms.

They held each other close, like they were really one body. It was the first time in five nightmarish months he felt something that even resembled good. Like everything would turn out OK, after all. It wouldn't last but for now he buried his face in Effie's hair and drank in the feeling.

"I'm so proud that they're yours," Effie mumbled. "Never doubt it for a minute, OK?"

Haymitch nodded.

"OK."

xXx

None of them wanted to let go. Perhaps they never would have if something behind Effie didn't catch his attention. Just above the window sill, a pair of brown eyes peeked inside. She dove out of sight but it was already too late.

"What is it?" Effie asked when Haymitch swung his legs over to the other side of the bed. He pushed the curtains aside and opened the window.

"What did I tell you?" he said, looking between the four girls, standing in Annabel's flower bed. The same girls as before. "Go home."

"But… but… but…"

"Gracie?" said Effie, also on her feet.

"Ms. Effie!" the girl called. "Come and help!"

Effie joined Haymitch at the window. She chuckled at the sight.

"What are you doing here?"

"You know them?" Haymitch frowned.

"Why, of course. These are my students."

The girls beamed as they flocked around the window and the one with brown eyes, Gracie, threw her arms around Effie and gave her a big smack of a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you," Effie smiled. "Well, I guess some introductions are in order. Haymitch, this is Rosamunde, Lisey, Kayla and Grace."

They all curtsied.

"How do you do?" said Gracie.

"Er…"

"We missed you ms. Effie so we came to see you," said the tall one, Rosamunde. "Gracie told us what Ms. Gloria did."

"And we wanted you to know we will never do something like that," said Gracie.

"Not ever."

"Nu-uh."

These four were no quiet little ladies, that's for sure. Not now, at any rate. The way they talked all at once, you'd think they were twice as many.

Only Kayla leaned against the windowsill, quietly seesawing on her feet and watching Haymitch and each time he looked back she smiled. Close upfront he noticed the scars on her face, hidden under cakes of powder.

The bombings, he thought. It must be.

"You fell off," she informed him suddenly. "At the square. Hurt your head. My mommy says you're having babies with ms. Effie."

That of course, brought the attention of the rest of the brood.

"Yeah, are you the father, Mr. Haymitch?"

"Will you live here now? With ms. Effie?"

"Do you love ms. Effie, Mr. Haymitch?"

Haymitch looked at Effie for help and she smiled at them all through the window.

"How is everything in school?" she asked. "How are you and Ms. Talisha getting along?"

Over their burst of eager chatter Effie caught Haymitch's eye.

"Sorry," she mouthed.

"We wanted to come before, you see," said Lisey. "But our parents told us not to."

"Don't worry, Ms. E," Gracie beamed and hung on to Effie's hand with both of hers. "We'll visit again real soon. We can keep a secret."

"Oh, sweetlings," said Effie. "You know I would have loved it if you came here every day. But I really don't think you should keep secrets from your parents like that."

"Why not?" said Haymitch bluntly. "They're full of shit for saying they can't come here."

The girls looked at one another.

"He said 'shit'," Kayla whispered.

"I don't want you to get into trouble," said Effie to try and smooth over Haymitch's language. "Promise me?"

In answer a low gong sounded and Rosamunde made a face.

"That's my mommy. I have to go home and eat dinner."

It was time for all of them to head back. Only Gracie found it almost impossible to leave the window. Finally she flung her arms around Effie, one last time.

"You're the bestest bestest," she whispered and then hurried down the road to catch up with her friends.

Well, what do you know? Haymitch thought. Maybe there is hope, after all.

xXx

Haymitch's clothes came in the mail two days later. By then he was installed in June's and Annabel's second guest room and the Capitol buzzed with rumors of drunken orgies over at the Flickerman house.

"Why? They're jealous?" Haymitch asked when he first heard of it.

He wished he could just stay inside from dawn til dusk and shut the Capitol out completely but there was no tying Effie to a chair. Besides, she had plenty of doctor's appointments over at the hospital and where Effie went Haymitch went too.

He would never forget the look on the receptionist's face the first time he walked in. It was worth getting Effie knocked up just for that.

And the receptionist wasn't the only one who had a problem. All around the waiting room people stared at them and when Haymitch stared right back, each and every time, it was a miracle they didn't implode from all the things they wanted to say but didn't dare.

Hella sweet, that's what it was. All those men and women, always so rude to Effie when she came here alone.

The doctor was OK. If not, Haymitch would have just tossed Effie over his shoulder and carried her to the train if need be.

He knew that's what Katniss and Peeta wanted. For all four of them to move back to Twelve. They didn't trust the Capitol any more than Haymitch did. He hadn't breached the subject with Effie, though. Not yet. She had all her pre-natal care at the Capitol hospital and she was too pregnant to travel anyway.

Who said she even wanted to? He knew she was looking for a new apartment here and not live off June's and Annabel's hospitality forever. But if all she really wanted was to move in with him, why hadn't she brought it up already? Hell, she was so stubborn she might as well refuse to leave just to snub the Capitol.

Effie would give birth here and his children would be Capitolians on all the papers. How was that for ironic?

For the time being, Haymitch and Effie couldn't have found a better haven than June's and Annabel's house. For a pair of gals born and raised in this shithole, they weren't bad. Not at all.

With Haymitch there, Effie felt at peace for the first time since she got pregnant. She was laughing again. Often in the evenings you'd find her and Annabel huddled together, chuckling over their Academy mischiefs back when they were girls.

As for Haymitch, after their first false start he and June found each other over their joined dislike of gaudy Capitol fashion. And yet June was a fashion designer or at least used to be. Clothes for adults and children over three. As it turned out she designed most of the outfits Haymitch wore as mentor during the Games.

Annabel owned a jewelry business but just like June, she was more or less retired now. They still did some commissions but it was the exception rather than rule these days. At least here in the Capitol.

"If I could just play the trumpet and make apple compote for the rest of my life, I'll die a happy girl," said Annabel and June agreed. They owned a summer house in District 11. That's where they were when they first heard of Effie's predicament.

"Cleo hates to travel," Annabel said and meant the bearded dragon. "We've loved reptiles ever since we were kids, both of us," she added as she carried the animal out of her enclosure. "We actually met at the pet store. Had our eyes set on the same veiled chameleon. But this is the first dragon we've own together. Course, everyone thinks it's hilarious we have a beardie."

"I don't get it," said Haymitch but Effie and Annabel exchanged a smile.

"Papa was all about birds," said Annabel, more to herself than anyone else. "Talking birds. Just like grandfather." She looked at Haymitch. "Do you want to hold her?"

More or less willingly, Haymitch accepted the animal. Sitting on his palm, the brute stared at him with a blank expression, like asking how long he'd stay. Then, without warning, she lifted her tail and sprayed him.

Effie burst out laughing and Haymitch handed the thing back to Annabel.

"S'pose I need to get used to this happening," he said with a grimace and pulled his shirt over his head.

xXx

In the weeks that followed, the days just grew hotter and hotter. Haymitch never realized how spoiled he'd been with the Capitol's weather control up until now because, just as Effie predicted, it got defunded. No more gusts of soothing, artificial air. No more misty drizzles.

"Why don't they just defund the idiots who live here instead?" Haymitch asked as he wiped away the never-ending sweat streams from his face.

A positive thing the heat brought though, was that it made scores of Capitolians migrate to the River Theseus, outside the city, leaving less of them to fuck with Effie.

One of those baking hot days, Haymitch sat cooped up in the bay window. His head was slumped on his chest and the bedroom rumbled with snores. He stirred and mumbled something in his sleep while the hipflask slowly slipped between his fingers.

A gunshot would not have been more effective. When the flask hit the floor Haymitch plummeted right over the edge and screaming bloody murder he flung the hipflask right into the wall.

Panting he slumped down on his ass as he slowly got his bearings. He pressed his eyes shut and rubbed his hand over his bloated face before he crawled into the corner to retrieve the knife.

His head pounded and he had to steady himself against the bed post to get up and even then the room tilted. And the door now sported a brand new dent. The first but probably not last. At least he didn't ruin the carpet since the hipflask was already empty.

Back in the bathroom he splashed some water on his face. It felt twice as big after cooking in the sun.

"Eff?" Still dripping he stalked into the living room. That's where she used to spend her mid-mornings, with a glass of pomegranate juice and her nose in a baby book.

Instead, he found the usual note on the coffee table.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," he said and crumbled it in his fist. He turned on his heel to get his shoes. "That bloody woman!"

xXx

The paper bag rustled as Effie helped herself with another wafer. The chocolate spread across her taste buds and she fought hard not to moan. She had craved these treats from the minute she got pregnant.

She brushed the crumbs from her fingers and rested her hand against her belly, watching the children play. A group of boys tried to make a kite fly. A family of five had spread out a picnic close by the pond. Both parents struggled to straighten the parasol while the kids fought and shrieked over a bag of candy until it tore in half and gummy bears flew all over Cupid's Garden.

For once, no one paid attention to the fallen Trinket woman, alone on a bench. resting in the shade.

A motion just at the corner of her eye caught her attention. Still with her mouth full, Effie smiled and gave a wave to show where she was. Haymitch stopped short at the sight of her. His face flooded with relief only to immediately tighten in anger.

"Hello, Haymitch," she said when he reached her. She held out the bag. "Want some? They're delicious."

Haymitch ignored it. His face was a deep red and dripping with perspiration.

"Hey, Eff," he said. "Which part of 'never go out alone' don't you understand?"

"What? I just went to the bakery. It's not that far. Didn't you get my note?"

"I've told you a hundred times, already. If you need something, I'll get it."

"You were asleep."

"So?"

"So I didn't want to disturb you. And I wanted these before they sold out. You know they're my favourite."

"I know and I'll buy the whole bloody bakery for you if you stop sneaking out every chance you get!"

"I don't want to stay inside all the time! It drives me insane."

"Go wherever the hell you want, just take me with you. That's all I'm asking! What are you even doing out here?"

"I got tired! Seriously, Haymitch, I am not changing my ways for them! I will stay in this garden until the moss begins to grow on me if that's what I want! If those stuck-ups have such a problem seeing me out and about they can stay home! Period, exclamation point!"

Haymitch threw his hands in the air, like "I give up". He slumped down next to her.

"Give me that," he said and took the bag. He stuffed a wafer in his mouth. "Never a break. Not ever."

He took another and a gasp came from Effie.

"Haymitch, your hands!" In a moment they were caught in her grasp. He tried to pull away but she turned them over and saw the heels on his palms, scrubbed bloody. "You fell?"

"Well, what did you expect? When I have to run around town like a madman looking for you, that's what happens."

"You didn't have to do that," Effie said. She let go of his hand and opened her purse. From its depth she got out a small bottle of clear liquid. She poured a few drops into a clean hankie.

"What are you doing? Ow!" Haymitch yelped when she dabbed it against his palm. "The hell is that? White liquor?"

"Language," said Effie. "It's rubbing alcohol and no, you can't have a sip. I'm going to clean the wounds and put on some band-aid so stop squirming."

Very carefully she wiped the blood and dirt from his palm. Haymitch winced but he let her.

"I don't want you to get hurt," he said through gritted teeth. "That's all. I don't want some doctor to call and tell me you miscarried cause Gloria pushed you down the stairs or something. If anything happened… to either of you…"

"Nothing's going to happen," said Effie, softer this time. "And if you don't want to die from a bleeding ulcer you can't keep worrying like you do. The Capitol's not going to eat me up like a sandwich."

"How do you know?" he mumbled.

"Oh, honey," she said and he was stunned to see a smile on her face.

"What?"

"You never saw yourself the way you looked after Gloria insulted our children. But we sure did. How do you think I got these wafers? For the past months, every time I tried to buy something from that bakery it was always 'Oh, I'm sorry. It's pre-ordered by another customer. How unfortunate.' But since the square, everyone is so afraid you will steal into their homes and eat them alive, no one dares to do a thing. Now, I know you're soft as a teddy bear but they don't need to know that, do they?"

"Effie."

What?" she smiled.

He shook his head.

She was done with one hand now and moved to the other.

"You know, I found another name today," she said. "Just this morning. One I really like."

Haymitch grimaced. So far, all the baby names Effie "really liked" bordered on child abuse.

"Let me guess, 18 letters long and ends with 'anus'?"

"No, no," Effie said. "Not at all. And it's a girl's name."

"Uh-oh. What is it then?"

"Amandalyn."

"What?"

"Amandalyn. It means 'worthy of love'."

"You don't think it's a bit of a handful?"

"Well, any child of ours is bound to be a handful. Can't do anything about that, can we?" She smiled. "I think it's beautiful. Amandalyn Trinket Abernathy. Amy for short."

"We'll see."