Hi! I am procrastinating a fic for my latest fandom and found this gem! I think I wrote this back in 2017! x) Anyway, it is a sequel to my other story "Haymitch"!
Enjoy!
Haymitch grumpily opened the door at the fourth knock.
Baby Jonathan - just six months - posed in a sitting position in his father's arms was the first thing he saw. He groaned and walked away from his guests, grumbling under his breath.
"Good afternoon to you too, Haymitch," Peeta chuckled, letting himself in.
Little four-year-old Ava bounded through the door and jumped to- "Uncle Haymitch!"
He chuckled unenthusiastically, "Hey kid." He sat down at the dining table, very annoyed suddenly.
Katniss stepped in after Peeta - who was getting closer and closer to Haymitch with that smiling baby.
Haymitch rubbed his eyes. "Why- why- why are you here?" he asked, trying very hard not to be rude though to anyone else, he sounded rude. "Got tired of sitting in your house that looks exactly like mine?"
She sent him a glare. "Enjoy the company, Haymitch. Besides, Ava wanted you to see her baby brother."
"Already saw him," he griped, shuddering at the memory of how he (and some whiskey) yet again delivered the kid. "And saw him again just now."
Katniss' eyes slid to Peeta with a look that said, He's trying to get out of it again, just like last time.
Peeta, now an inch into Haymitch's personal space, held Jonathan out a little further from his chest. "Haymitch," he began in that sing-song-y voice that the man loathed. "Uncle Haymitch…"
Just as the older man he did with Ava when she was a baby, he tried to glare at the kid, tried to be immune to his baby pudginess, the dimples he had when he smiled, the cute laugh-
He grunted in defeat. "Fine."
Five minutes. Five whole minutes! That's how long Haymitch managed with Jonathan. Then he handed him back to the nearest parent. "Okay, okay, here," he said gruffly - trying to cover that his heart was melting at the sight of the kid. "He's gettin' too attached. Keeps looking cute."
He tried not to look at Baby Jonathan as Peeta took him again. He managed not to grumble under his breath and/or remark at how adorable the kid looked trying to eat his hand. He reached for a bottle of whiskey after Katniss and Peeta went into the other room-
Then he frowned at the knock on the door. "What in the world…" he started to mutter when he yanked open the door, ready to give whoever decided that visiting District 12 – let alone his house – hell. Then the retort died on his tongue when he saw her.
Holding two bottles of either sparkling cider or champagne… and he hoped it was the second choice. "Hey you!"
"Effie," he breathed.
And that was pretty much all he could get out.
She beamed and pushed past him when he didn't move out of the way. "Katniss and Peeta already here? They told me you'd been getting awfully lonesome and not to mention, cranky, so I thought I'd drop by-"
She set the bottles down on the table and disappeared into the next room.
He closed the door after recovering and started at her high-pitched squeal. He chuckled, remembering what a treasure this woman was…
His woman.
He picked up one of the bottles and read the label: sparkling cider. He harrumphed and went into the kitchen, the cupboards, and finally the far corner shelf before pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
He knew he shouldn't begin drinking, especially with Effie around. She disliked it when he drank - said it reminded her too much of his past self… but hey, his neighbors dropped by unannounced with their- their- cute kids – dammit – so forgive him if he needed a little escape.
He turned his head at the sound of her voice and smiled faintly as she continued her introductions to one particular giggly baby.
"-and they have the cutest little boy I've ever seen!" She squealed just as much as the baby did when he saw a brightly colored woman whose hair looked very fun to play with. She picked him up from Katniss. "Oh, aren't you the sweetest little thing!" She turned to Haymitch who was in the midst of taking a long sip of whiskey. "Isn't he the cutest, Haymitch?"
He nodded and hoped she wasn't going to pass the kid to him. He'd had enough of anything to do with blasted kids-
She held him at arm's length, cooed at him, then brought him close again. "Oh, I want one of these."
Peeta coughed to cover his laugh when Haymitch conveniently sputtered on his drink.
She playfully looked at Haymitch, teasing concern in her eye. "You alright?"
He gave another nod and turned away to the kitchen again, hoping to hide somewhere deep in the cupboards. But it wasn't long before he heard the familiar clicking of her heels. He felt her hand rest on his back.
She eyed the glass then him and tsked. "Already at it, are you?" She sighed dramatically but her voice was level if not near a whisper, "I haven't been here five minutes."
He swallowed nervously but soon caught sight of mirth in her eyes. But the longer his eyes lingered, the more sadness he saw. He caught the belt loops on her coat, tugging her close. He smiled faintly at her charming one, and his voice went soft, "You're not willing to give up your Capitol for me."
The second she had teased him about it she could see it start to weigh on him, but she hadn't thought he'd openly mention it – not to mention discuss it – especially with Katniss and Peeta in the next room. Her smile turned loving but vaguely regretful. "Well, neither are you ready to go back to the Capitol for me," she argued just as softly. "I'm not wishing for anything. I just wanted you to know that it's crossed my mind."
He puffed out a chuckle, "Well, I ain't getting any younger."
"Then you better make up your mind quick," she winked before stealing a kiss and leaving the room.
"Now I brought along dinner for us all tonight," she beamed.
Haymitch picked up a gravy-drowned chicken leg and clicked his tongue, "I forgot how fattening Capitol food is, thank you Effie."
She smiled, "It's my pleasure." She reached for her glass of sparkling cider. "Now, I wanted to make a toast tonight about all of us together once again."
Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch raised their glasses.
"I'm grateful we have all found our peace, and that these adorable babies were born to such deserving people. May they never live through what we did." She raised her glass higher. "Here's to us, and Ava and Jonathan and all the cute children still to come."
Katniss and Peeta collectively slid their gaze to Haymitch at the last declaration. Effie bit her lip when she noticed he seemed a bit… troubled at the mention. She had expected him to be annoyed or playfully irritated, but she hadn't expected what his eyes truly held.
Later that night, she fiddled with the sheets as she waited for him to join her. He shucked off his shirt and lied down beside her. He felt the awkward silence between them and only prayed she wouldn't brush him aside- brush all of this aside as a fluke just because of Baby Jonathan.
"Eff," he began carefully. He turned over, barely making out her outline in the dark.
"Hm?" she hummed, curling her hand into his hair.
"About this-" he tried.
But her hand tightened in his hair and she made a noise of disagreement. "Not now, Haymitch. In the morning, we'll talk. I don't want to argue just yet. Let's- let's just enjoy our time together."
Though he wanted to- or at least talk about it, he couldn't argue with that. He very much preferred their special time.
"We don't see each other often," she reminded him.
"Hm," he nodded, his lips finding her neck and his nose finding the sweet spot where she sprayed her perfume. He grunted as her fingers scraped against his scalp. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
She let out a content moan and splayed her fingers behind his neck, guiding his head to her breasts.
He let his mind wander to what it would be like if she were carrying his child. His eyes flitted to her breasts then her flat stomach, and he imagined the changes she would endure to bring life into this world. He knew they would be beautiful changes, but he wondered if she would see them as beautiful too.
She had been right at dinner – children were a blessing considering what trauma they had gone through in years past.
He wondered if they would have a boy or a girl… if the child had her eyes or his smile… if they had her personality or his… He hoped they would have hers – everything of hers. He wasn't something worth replicating.
He stirred from his thoughts when a cool hand pressed against his cheek. He met her curious gaze.
"Where are you?" she asked softly.
He turned his face in her palm. "Right here."
Her dimpled smile gently lit the fire within him. He sat up, meeting her. He kissed her – hesitant and careful… Just as they had when he left the Capitol – unsure if he'd ever see her again but wishing to seal what they had. Her return kisses were just as careful.
He grunted in content the way her hands slowly roamed his back.
She straightened and draped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him closer to her. Through her kisses, she smiled as his hands settled on her hips. They took it slow, exploring the avenues they hadn't seen in a long while…
Haymitch stirred, coming out of his sleep, and reached over for the woman lying beside him hoping to catch one last snuggle before she took the train back to the Capitol-
Only he met the pillow she had been using.
He sat up. He looked around and called out. Nothing. He was dressed and out the door in a dead sprint before he knew it.
Soon, he was at the station and catching his breath. The train was stationary and he practically leaped into the car. He found her there. "You leaving without saying goodbye?"
She turned around and smiled sadly, ignoring the faint embarrassed blush staining her cheeks at being caught. "I thought it would be best for you if I left quietly."
He stepped forward and reached for the wiry fashion thing that looked like a purple tree branch she had in her hair. "If you want a kid, Effie, I-"
She shook her head and patted his chest. "I know how you are, and I won't make you."
"But just say-"
"Come on now, I have to go," she shooed.
He noticed she was blinking rapidly to probably keep her tears at bay, and his heart clenched. "Effie-" he tried in vain as he was pushed from the train.
Her face was soon adorned with that fake smile she had given him when she first met him - a smile that said she didn't like what was going on but what could she do about it for the time being. She stood at the exit of the car. "I'll see you later this year, Haymitch, I promise."
He hesitated in stepping onto the platform. He reached and his fingers caught her wrist. He ignored the way she stiffened at his touch. "Effie, honey, if you'd give me the chance to say it. I'm- I'm alright with it."
She blinked and whispered, "What?"
He smiled softly. "I mean, we'd have to discuss it more but…" He gave a heartfelt sigh, "For you, always and anything for you."
The train started moving and the door between them shut. Her breath caught in her throat. She tried to put a window down even though she knew nothing could be opened when the train was in motion.
He waved goodbye. His heart was sore in his chest. But above all else, he couldn't believe he was considering moving to the Capitol.
A/N: Sometimes, my writing makes my heart hurt :') Anyway, I have nothing further planned for this ship :/