Six months. That was how long in advance Effie took to plan their baby girl's first birthday. She slaved away at every fine detail, constantly on the phone with her Capitol friends, constantly getting Haymitch's opinion on decorations (which she never listened to, anyways). The woman could go on and on about it.
She's one, Effie. All she cares about is whether you're gonna give her soft food or the tit, he grumbled after listening to her talk about table runners for an hour straight.
She gasped, Haymitch! Don't say that around her! And it is a big, big, big day for our girl! She will never have a first birthday ever again! We must commemorate it, yes?
They both knew he didn't have a damn choice whether or not he wanted to commemorate it.
Effie's two insane friends rode out from the Capitol the day of Ophelia's birthday, which made Haymitch nervous about who else might be on the guest list. Knowing his woman, she likely invited everyone in Panem in a fit of overexcitement.
The pair came barreling into their house, almost as loud as Effie was on any given day, while Haymitch was in the kitchen trying to get Ophelia to eat. Their baby must have been accustomed to her mother's Capitol racket the way she acted so unfazed by the raucousness of the two.
"Effie!" They yelled in unison, both dressed in gaudy pink for the occasion.
Effie gasped, slowly descending the stairs in those clomping high heels dramatically, "Octavia, Flavius! Oh, you two look absolutely fabulous! Just gorgeous, really!"
He heard them jabber on boisterously and looked at their baby girl, "You have a whole lifetime of this, youngin'."
"Mama!" She squealed, trying her best to defend Effie from Haymitch's teasing.
"Mamama!" She exclaimed again, her little hands hitting the high chair. That seemed to be the girl's favorite word, right in front of 'dada' and 'no'.
"Effie, your baby wants you." Called Haymitch, brushing some of the weird soft food they had to feed her off of her mouth. Ophelia hated it and very clearly missed milk, but it was the only way to wean her off. Having to feed her that stuff seemed to hurt Haymitch way more than it did Ophelia, though. He begged Effie to keep only breastfeeding her a little longer because he hated seeing Ophelia upset, but she didn't oblige.
"Oh, come, come, come!" Called Effie excitedly, her face brightening at the mere thought of their baby.
"Hello, Haymitch!" Her friends chimed dismissively, obviously there for the main attraction.
"Hello—" He looked from the woman to the short man, still at a loss for their names.
Effie frowned, her face pinched. He was certain he wouldn't hear the end of it later. She pointed to the woman, "Octavia."
To the little flamboyant man, "Flavius. I have only been friends with them since the moment I met you, for Panem's sake. They used to work with us, Haymitch."
"Right, right. Good to see you two again. My memory isn't exactly what it once was. Make yourselves at home. I'm gonna—"
Before he could even finish his empty pleasantries, the two started gushing over the baby like bees to honey.
"Oh my god, Effie! Oh my god! Are you sure she isn't a doll?!"
"An absolute doll! Oh, look at those giant eyes! Those are your eyes, Effie, they are! And that little button nose, how cute! Hello there, little sweet."
"Oh, I could just eat her up!"
"She is too adorable! She could model like you Effie, she really could! The baby boutiques would pay to have her model! Oh, she is just darling, just darling!"
"Cutest baby in all of Panem I think!"
Effie scooped the baby in her arms proudly as Ophelia watched the pair curiously.
Maybe we were given l such a calm baby knowing the characters she'd be dealing with all of her life, thought Haymitch.
"Oh, hello, little Ophelia! I am your Aunt Octavia! Yes I am!"
The baby blinked at her, clutching the necklace around her mother's throat.
"And I am your Uncle Flavius! How sweet you are, my goodness you do not look real, little cupcake!"
Haymitch watched Ophelia's big eyes clearly give the man a once over, unsure. Her little face eventually morphed into pure amusement as she smiled softly.
"Oh, she is just precious! Worth every minute coming here! Look at those dimples, such a sweet little girl! Hello, precious angel!" Squealed Octavia, taking her tiny hand.
Effie had her neck craned to gauge the girl's reactions. It seemed even she knew that her friends could be a bit much, especially for a baby, but Ophelia's smile only deepened. Her little hand grasped Effie's necklace tighter and Effie removed it promptly, kissed her palm.
"She just adores doing that, she practically chokes me, she does. My sweet baby girl. Isn't she just wonderful?"
Haymitch stifled a laugh. Only Effie would be so tickled at having their girl nearly choke her.
"She is, she really is!"
"Come along, I will show you where the party will be. You two will adore Peeta's garden, it looks like the ones near the Capitolium, only so much better. Do you remember during college when we would go there? Especially during orientation week?"
They all laughed at some memory from their past.
"Haymitch, can you take her?" Asked Effie, giving him a small smile of appreciation.
"You sure? She can give you all a tour. She's amazing at it, can name every flower out there." He joked. Effie's friends laughed and laughed, Haymitch always knew how to talk to people from the Capitol.
"Watch! She can walk!" Beamed Effie proudly as she knelt down to let go of Ophelia. Ophelia wobbled a little and looked up at her mother.
"Go to your daddy, my girl." She whispered in that soft, motherly voice that made Haymitch feel all mushy inside.
Effie watched on cautiously as the tiny girl tottered over to her daddy. Haymitch grinned, thought she was just cute as can be trying her best to walk. Katniss once told him she walked like him when he used to get too drunk.
Effie's friends clapped loudly as the baby fell in her daddy's arms, all frills from the dress Effie put her in. She turned and smiled at them bashfully. Haymitch kissed her head and stood.
"Very fast learner!"
"Very fast, indeed! How wonderful, bright little one! Oh, Effie, she is just darling. We are so very sorry we weren't in the Capitol for her birth. District 11 is so very far and we just had to stock up on those delicious fruits for Paylor's birthday banquet!"
"It really is! We were so disheartened, the little princess came a bit early!"
"And she is just darling. We have the pictures you gave us hanging up! They go so well! People always ask whose she is and when she will start to model! I kid you not!"
"And we are just pleased as a plum to say she is our niece!"
It's like the two were one mind, and they were both working tirelessly to give Haymitch a damn migraine.
"Oh, that is quite alright! You are here now, which is just enough. Come along." Effie guided them outside and Haymitch took a breath, looked down at his little girl.
"How are you so calm? Gonna need to comfort me soon." He said with a smile.
She giggled, silly daddy.
Haymitch walked over to Katniss and Peeta's with Ophelia to get away from the group of squawking chickens that took over the garden.
"Kat!" Squealed the tiny girl, not bothering to learn Peeta's name yet and giving her best shot at Katniss's. Haymitch noticed the special bond between the two, he knew it partially had something to do with her likeness to Prim, but no one dared say a thing.
Peeta beamed, tickling Ophelia's cheek, "And Peeta! Come on, birdy!"
"Kat!" She squealed again as Katniss took her from Haymitch.
"Hello there." Said Katniss.
The two started lightheartedly referring to Ophelia as 'birdy' when she began talking. Unable to yet decipher her animals and insects, each and everything that flew was a bird to her.
"One year old, birdy! I have been working on her cake all week." Peeta said, unboxing a big three-tiered cake with tiny little iced blossoms all over it.
Haymitch grinned proudly.
"Son, that is a good looking cake. I know Effie will be crying over it." He mumbled, shaking his head at the thought and leaning against the counter.
"How's she fairing about birdy's birthday?" Asked Katniss, smiling down at the little girl who was staring at her with those big, watchful eyes.
"Oh hell, absolute nightmare to be around the past week. Caught her crying in her closet last night and tried to comfort her, damn woman threw a shoe at me to get out."
They laughed, sounded like Effie.
"Glad you two think it's amusing. 'Bout lost an eye."
"Are Octavia and Flavius here?"
"Y'all haven't seen 'em out there? Or heard, for that matter."
They craned their necks just in time to catch Octavia and Flavius gushing over something loudly, both of them speaking with their hands.
"How is she not crying? They're so loud and so pink." Asked Peeta, taking Ophelia from Katniss and planting a kiss on her head.
"She was inside of Effie for nine months and lives with her, what do you think?"
Katniss wrinkled her nose.
"You're not scared, birdy? I am... just a little." Said Peeta, a big, unsure smile on his face. Ophelia giggled.
"She's immune." Said Katniss, gathering up the gifts they got her.
Katniss looked nice in a simple floral dress Effie had sewn for her, the boy in a tucked-in shirt and slacks. Effie was getting to be pretty renowned around twelve for her sewing, women around town would come and request a design from her and she did them for little to nothing. Seemed like the woman had good taste when it came to everyone but herself.
Peeta carried the baby out to the garden, handed her over to Effie.
"Hello, my sweet baby girl! We were wondering where you went off to." Said Effie, gathering the girl up and looking pointedly at Haymitch. He averted his eyes.
"Kat!" Shrieked Ophelia.
Effie looked up, giving the kids a once over and smiling when she realized they were wearing her own designs, "Hello, children!"
She hugged both and gave them big kisses on their cheeks.
Damn near half of twelve dressed up to attend. Haymitch didn't want a big party, but many folks had grown so fond of Effie and little Ophelia Abernathy that they just had to come. Haymitch was irritated by it, but he knew Effie thrived on it. And, to be fair, the woman did bear his child so he figured he could stick these things out.
"Can't imagine what her next birthday will look like." Mumbled Haymitch to the kids as they watched the crowd.
"Haymitch! Come give me a hug!" Yelled Sae, already his daughter was snuggled up in her arms. He hugged her, cautious of Ophelia.
"Dadada!" Babbled the baby, bouncing with excitement.
"Oh, Haymitch! She is just a peach. Told me all about the birdies just now." She said with a wink.
"Yeah, she, uh, she's going through a phase." Said Haymitch gruffly, taking one of Ophelia's tiny hands. He'd never get used to the size of those little palms in his own.
"Looks a lot like your Effie, I'll admit. But she's definitely got your mischievous spirit. Reminds me so much of you at that age, boy. Watchful, and those cute little dimples of hers couldn't have come from just anyone." Doted Sae, tickling Ophelia's cheek and making her giggle.
Haymitch's lips turned up at the sight.
Sae barely gave anyone else a chance to hold Ophelia until Effie had to wrangle her in to her high chair so that everyone could sing to her. A couple of little merchant girls from town sat around her, trying to make her giggle. One of them worked all week weaving her a little flower crown that fit perfectly. It was a warming sight.
Effie returned to Haymitch and sat on his lap as the crowd sang to their baby girl.
"Finally." He mumbled in her ear, clutching her to him.
"Well, someone had to say hello!"
He kissed her cheek a couple of times, "And that's why I chose you as the mother of my child."
"Oh, shush. She's just precious and that cake… my goodness. Those children do far too much for us. Just beautiful."
"Well, only a fair trade. Those were some nice outfits you made for 'em."
"It was the least I could do. And no trading. I'd do anything for them."
He kissed her again, "I know you would."
They looked at Ophelia, who was watching one of the little merchant girls as she tried to make her laugh. She looked unamused and Haymitch couldn't help but chuckle.
"Like a little princess on her throne." He commented gruffly.
The baby's eyes shifted from the merchant girl to Peeta, who was placing a small slice of cake in front of her. Ophelia immediately smashed into it, brought it to her mouth, and everyone was all giant smiles and laughter. Peeta snapped a photo that would likely be displayed in his bakery in no time.
Effie planted a big kiss on Haymitch's cheek as if to say:
Look at what we made, isn't she just wonderful? Isn't she just everything?
Haymitch realized this was a moment he never thought he'd have, not in a million years, not even as a boy before he was so marred. But here he was, and here his beautiful woman was, and there his sweet baby was.
"Marry me." He whispered in Effie's ear.
"What?" She asked, turning to him like he was insane.
"I'm not getting down on one knee right now because it's our youngin's birthday, and I don't want to take that from her, but marry me. You've given me all of this and you've been my woman for a while, the damn least I could do is get you a ring and make you my wife."
She watched him, then nodded, her eyes misty, "Of course I'll marry you, Haymitch. I would've married you a long, long time ago had you asked."
"Mama!" The baby squealed, interrupting the moment, and he kissed Effie before she hopped off of his lap and made her way to Ophelia.
He heard Effie dote on her, pick her up, "My baby is one! Unbelievable! I could just cry... Actually, I am crying!"
Haymitch rolled his eyes, a smile spreading on his face.
The baby put her head on her mother and eventually fell asleep, safe and sound. Effie excused herself from the crowd, who were now all gushing over the cake as Peeta handed everyone a slice. Haymitch slipped away and followed Effie inside, sighed at the peace and quiet.
He found her in Ophelia's room, gently setting her down for a nap.
"All tuckered out, huh?" Asked Haymitch.
"Hey there, daddy." Said Effie with a smile. God, she was beautiful. The kind of woman he'd fantasize about when he was younger. Her simple pastel dress, the little blossoms pinned in her hair, her golden skin.
It was stupid, but he couldn't wait to make love to her later, if only to get closer to her.
"One year old." He said, looking down at the sleeping baby.
"Don't remind me, I'll start crying all over again."
He kissed her temple, "I meant what I said."
"I know."
"You're gonna be my wife, woman. How does that feel?"
She looked up at him, "I've been your wife for quite some time. Let's go back outside to say goodbye. Bring the monitor."
He nodded. The monitor. He'd never heard of such a thing until Effie introduced him to it, a tiny camera to watch their baby. In his day, people in twelve normally sashed their babies to them and, when they couldn't, prayed the baby made it while they ran to town. When she showed him all of these little things that helped ensure their baby would remain safe, he was grateful. He thought the Capitol was ridiculous, but damn did they have good inventions for parents rearing a little one.
They said goodbye to everyone, and he still couldn't remember Effie's friends' names, but tried his best to conceal it. They started to clean up the garden and Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta finished the task because the baby started crying for Effie. Once they were finished, Haymitch went back inside and started a fire, sat on the couch.
Effie came out with their baby on her hip. Ophelia giggled, pointed to her daddy with glee in her eyes.
"This little girl was a bit grumpy. Reminded me of you."
"Long day, huh, youngin? Mama put us through the wringer." He said, taking her out of Effie's arms.
"Oh, shush! She had an absolute blast, she told me herself." Said Effie.
"That sleep deprivation caught up to mama, huh, baby?" Teased Haymitch, kissing the girl's tiny hand.
"Oh please!" Effie sat beside them both with a picture book. Drawings of little animals snuggled up in a warm, golden burrow took over the cover.
"Our favorite." Commented Haymitch, looking to Ophelia.
"Yes, yes. I think I've memorized it as much as I've read it to you two."
By the time she was four pages in, the baby was wide awake, fully enraptured by the book. Effie looked over and hit Haymitch, who was now fast asleep, his arms still wrapped around Ophelia.
"I'm awake." He mumbled, holding Ophelia tighter.
"Give her to me and go to bed." Said Effie.
"I'm fine." He said, she looked at him cautiously. He broke out into a smile.