Author's note: This chapter was so fun to write it practically wrote itself! 😂 If you love Katniss's cracky prep team, you've come to the right place.

As always: THANK YOU for your lovely support! The reason why this chapter was published today and not this weekend and so (relatively) fast overall is all thanks to you. You guys totally rock!

Chapter 50, Glimpses of us

"Mama? Mama?"

The voice fluttered into Effie's dreams.

Head against the sofa cushion, she felt the curious and insistent little hand move across her face.

Five tiny nails softly scratched and she smiled. Kissed the tips of those fingers, eyes still closed.

"Mama?" he repeated his word and as reality tugged at her, came also the other sounds of the room.

The clinking of teaspoons against china. Flavius and Venia's quiet chatter.

"Mama, no sleep", firmer now, "up, up!"

"Mm ..." Eyelids heavy, Effie peered at her young son, standing there in front of her.

At one and a half, Ian was getting better and better at walking. A little wobbly sometimes but hardly ever in need of a helping hand anymore.

A reality that hurt a little. Swiftly fly the years and … all that.

It never ceased to amaze her how much he looked like his father. Both of them did.

Big Seam eyes, Haymitch's gray eyes, looking into her own. A ray of sunlight played in the wispy waves of his strawberry blonde hair.

Hair that had her color and softness, sure, but the disheveled mannerism of those locks definitely came from Haymitch. His side of the family.

The ghost of him was in everything they did. When they laughed or frowned or yawned, he was there even when he wasn't.

It filled her heart to the brim but as they grew, Amy and Ian, she more and more understood why it triggered Haymitch so much sometimes.

Triggered that old fear he still carried within, despite years and years of peace.

Because the bond between him and his two children was so unquestionable.

So without a doubt.

Had he gotten her pregnant with them during the Games, there would have been no hiding their true heritage. Not from Snow nor anyone else. They'd be goners. Both of them. Just like his first family.

And sometimes she caught Haymitch staring at them, eyes filled with such a mixture of love and bottomless sadness, she couldn't help but wonder.

Did he see the shadow of his family pass over their features? His mother? His father? His brother?

Ian blinked with long lashes, nudging her cheek again.

"'ama?"

"Yes my darling? What do you need?"

"Ian, d'ink?"

"You want something to drink?"

"I'm already on it." Octavia appeared through the kitchen doorway. Smiling, she waved a primrose yellow sippy cup.

"Oh, you slept hard, dear", Venia said, no longer on the couch but cross-legged on the floor with Amy.

Comfy on her auntie's lap, with crayons all over the small-sized red table, the girl had a ball drawing wild lines all over the sheets of paper.

Stifling a yawn behind her hand, Effie pulled herself to sitting.

"I didn't realize you were all still here."

"Of course we are, sweetie", Flavius said, laid back against the couch opposite her. Feet crossed by the ankles, he balanced a bowl on his stomach. A generous serving of the fruit salad they brought in earlier. "Couldn't well leave the twins alone, with you snoozing and snoring away", he said with a cheeky smile.

"Oona!" Ian again. He held his hands out to Octavia. Octavia and the sippy cup. "Oona, me!"

Octavia giggled.

"There you go, baby." With a caress of his head, she handed him the sippy cup. "Some yummy-yum milk, straight from District 10."

The boy instantly put it to his mouth, holding it with both hands. Effie rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes and lifted him up. Settled him against her lap.

"I'm sorry. We had something of an ultra-early start today."

"Oh, you poor soul", said Octavia. "Here. You need a special treat."

She reached for her bag and before Effie knew it, the beautician was running a brush through her hair.

Soft of hand, as only Octavia could be. When she wasn't uprooting leg hair, that was.

The gentle graze of those strokes and Octavia's long decorated nails were enough for Effie's eyelids to droop a second time.

Like she was a little girl again.

Then again, when had her mother ever been this mild and tender when it came to getting her hair in order? Probably never.

Effie leaned her cheek against the top of Ian's head. Arms around her child, she almost nodded off again, when Flavius's voice brought her back.

"Milk and cookies, milk and cookies." He sang the words to Ian, with a little wave of his hand that made the beads on his bracelets clink together. "Effie!" he said, excitedly. "Sing them something!"

Effie quenched another yawn. Blinked hard to try and rouse herself for real. "I would", she said, "but Amy and Ian don't like it."

Venia frowned. "That can't be right."

"Yes, they love music", Octavia said. "I've seen it."

"We all have", Flavius nodded. "And every child enjoys it when their mother sings to them."

"Not these two", said Effie. "Believe me, I've tried everything."

"Surely, it can't be that bad?" said Octavia.

"Yes, you're probably just exaggerating, dear", Venia said.

"Come on," smiled Flavius. "Try it! Sing us something!"

"OK", Effie sighed. She cleared her throat and with her arms around her little boy, she sang, "When you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."

"No!" piped Amy from Venia's lap. She frowned, crayon in hand. The Abernathy frown. The Trinket's pursed lips.

"Do you know the cheese bun man, the cheese bun man, the …"

"Noo!" Ian clamped a hand over his mother's mouth. Gray eyes dead serious. "Nuh-uh!"

"See?" Effie said, voice muffled. "Happens every time."

The prep team just stared at her, and Octavia wasn't the only one looking a little green.

"Good God." Flavius set the bowl of fruit back on the coffee table. Like he just lost his appetite.

"Never do that again, please", Venia said, just as shaken.

"I'm bleeding from the ears", Octavia winced. "That was absolutely, positively … hang on!" she gasped, so distraught she accidentally pulled Effie's hair. Voice quivering, she said, "But … but if you're hopelessly tone deaf then who will sing for the twins, when it's time to go to bed?"

Effie smiled.

"Why, Haymitch of course. He has a beautiful voice."

"Really?" Flavius sat up against the cushions. He grinned. "No way! Are you just pulling our legs here?"

"No, not at all. He sings over webcam. We've got two widescreens installed in the nurseries. One here and one over at his place. They talk for a couple of hours every week."

"I didn't know Haymitch could carry a tune", said Octavia eagerly. "We thought he had no talents at all! Is he as gifted as dear Katniss?"

"Well", Effie said, "I don't know if the mockingjays go silent whenhesings but they definitely do when he plays the piano. The piano was always his forte."

"Outstanding!" Flavius chuckled and his two co-workers joined in.

With a belly full of milk, Ian squirmed and wriggled on his mother's lap, to let her know he wanted to be put down.

Effie obliged and as soon as his toes touched the rug, the child toddled across the floor and flopped down, waving his sippy cup like a baby's rattle.

What little liquid left inside, sloshed about.

Two toddlers and only one sippy cup usually meant trouble. Life at the house with the wishing pond was rarely a quiet affair.

But Ian got his hands on a train engine belonging to their wooden railroad set and Amy was consumed by her drawing.

An odd sense of calm, a peacefulness, settled over the room. Even with the prep team present.

Or maybe because of them.

Outside, was a winter wonderland. Snow had fallen well into February.

All of the Capitol – the houses, the Barrage, Cupid's Garden, the Fountains of Youth – everything was covered in white.

Thick blankets that glimmered and shone. Especially on days like this.

Effie poured herself some more tea, while Octavia worked magic on her hair. With skilled hands she parted sections of it, braided it, attaching pins. Butterfly clips.

Fresh logs crackled on the hearth. Flames dancing. Such a soothing sound.

Reminded her of home.

She was almost as deft with her fires as Haymitch now. Almost. If Katniss and Peeta timed them, he'd still win. When he was sober.

"The sweet dears." You could tell just by Octavia's voice that she was looking at the twins. "Effie", she said dreamily, "do you think you and Haymitch will have any more children?"

Taken aback by the sudden, straight-forward question, Effie didn't sputter the tea all over the table. But she did struggle a bit to swallow what was already in her mouth.

"M-more children?"

"Yes, just think about it!" Octavia said in an eager voice. "A little brother or sister to Amy and Ian. It would be so cute! And you already have the world's greatest babysitters, right here in this room!"

"I second that!" smiled Venia.

Goodness. Effie settled her cup back on its plate. It rattled, despite her great efforts.

Another baby. Another child coming into the picture.

Out of the question, of course – of course! – but she had no sooner thought it before an image flashed into her head. There and gone again. Like lightning.

And it hit her with such a violent pang of longing, it made her head swim.

Herself in Haymitch's bed. His bare chest against her back. The warmth of him so close. His whispers in her hair and his hand: caressing her big, round belly. His son or daughter.

Their son or daughter.

"Well?" smiled Flavius, bringing Effie back to herself in a blink. "Don't you want any more children?"

Effie swallowed, turning a little pink.

"I …" She gave her head a slight shake, as if to clear it. "I think I'm getting too old for all that."

"Oh, stuff and nonsense!" Venia waved her hand at her. "You've got several years left, sweetie. I mean, you still get your period every month, don't you?"

"I say, do it!" Octavia beamed. "Maybe next time he visits?"

"When will Haymitch show his unconventional face here again?" Flavius asked. "It's been a minute."

"Oh, he was just here actually." Effie jumped on the opportunity to change the subject. "Went back to District 12 the day before yesterday."

Octavia sucked a breath.

"And you didn't invite us?!"

"Effie, how could you?" Venia clicked her tongue in disapproval.

"We're some of your closest, most precious friends", Flavius whined and pouted his bottom lip. Just like the twins, when they felt wronged.

Effie gave a quiet smile.

"Some other time." She pointed out the window, unable to nod – what with Octavia working wonders on her hair. "The snowmen out front were his idea. And the snow lantern and the snow cave."

"Oh, yeah." Flavius craned his neck. "I was wondering what that was."

Haymitch's energy that day was outstanding. The mere memory of it made her smile.

Sometime during that first night over, he tiptoed into her room and confiscated not only the baby monitor but her alarm clock as well.

So, when Effie finally came to, she'd slept a whooping 12 hours. For the first time ever in her life.

Dressed in robes and pink slippers she then went on a search for her misplaced family.

The kitchen was in chaos. Table holding the remnants of breakfast. She just poured herself a cup of coffee when their voices fluttered from outside.

"Ah, there she is", Haymitch said when she appeared in the doorway moments later. "About time, princess."

Amy and Ian were both dressed in their snowsuits, with mittens and pixie caps on. The girl stood by the apple tree, poking a white branch with a carrot. She giggled when a cloud of crystals billowed up.

The boy – apple-cheeked and with the pacifier propped in his mouth – stood not far from his father. Ankle-deep in a drift of snow, he scooped some up.

"Dada?" he said and held it out to him.

"Thanks, sweetheart." Haymitch formed the fistful into a little ball, crouched down and started rolling it forward along the ground.

He'd already made one snowman, over by the pond. While the second waited patiently for a head.

Haymitch eyed the garden critically, then their neighbor's. "Hm. I might have to steal some", he said. "It can't be helped."

Effie smiled.

"It snowed all through the night, didn't it? I think it's safe to say we have enough."

"Don't count on it, princess. We need one for each of us."

"You're building four snowmen?"

"Six. Katniss and Peeta are part of this family too, aren't they? So you better go put some clothes on, Effs. Help us out."

"Oh, I'll just supervise as usual", she said, unconcerned. "When you need a break, I'll make you some cocoa and sandwiches, how about that?"

"Nice try, sweetheart", Haymitch said. "No lazybones on my watch. Gotta be good role models here. Now put a jacket on or something before you freeze your sweet tush off. We're a team, aren't we?"

Well, she couldn't argue with that.

When it was almost time for lunch, Haymitch excused himself for a bathroom break.

A pretend bathroom break probably. For when he returned, he carried with him something curly and pink and very familiar.

Effie laughed when she saw it.

"Where did you find that?"

Haymitch shrugged.

"People need to know which one of 'em are you." He crouched by the children, presented the wig to their curious eyes and hands. "See this one here?" he said in his soft dad voice. "This is what your mama used to wear … in her crazy old days. Yeah, she was wild back then."

"Oh, that's cute", said Effie, but her eyes creased with laughter.

She then of course wanted Haymitch's beanie for the other snowman, but Haymitch held on to it.

"Nah, I need it, sweetheart. Only got one, remember? If I go 'round bareheaded, I might catch pneumonia."

"Oh no, we can't have that", smiled Effie and pulled the beanie further down his ears.

Amy and Ian liked the snow – they hadn't seen a lot of it during their young lives, after all – but they enjoyed their cocoa and sandwiches even better.

That was another trait they got from their father.

Effie had been something of a picky eater when she was their age, but the twins' appetite for food was almost as great as Haymitch's.

They sat together at the mouth of the snow cave, having a picnic of sorts. Effie pouring the chocolate and Haymitch, with one child on each knee.

Whenever he visited, it was like their mother didn't exist.

Bath time, play time, bedtime. It was daddy all the way.

Like right now.

Nestled in his strong, safe embrace, the two of them munched away on uncle Peeta's breads with cheese and tomato, peanut butter and banana and all was right with the world.

It annoyed Mrs Pluckrose to no end.

Throughout the day Effie kept spotting her just at the corner of her eye. Those hard stares, all but burning holes through the snow rimmed windows.

She couldn't recall ever seeing Virginia and Carl doing something together, just for the fun of it – with or without their son – and they were married.

Maybe that's what rubbed her the wrong way. Like: "How dare you get along with your ex and flaunting your two little mistakes like that?!"

And Mrs Pluckrose wasn't the only member of the family who was interested in their affairs.

Timmy.

Ever since he got home, the young boy came up with one excuse after another that allowed him to leave the house, no matter how short a moment.

He took out the garbage. Swept the snow off the front step. Dusted what looked like an old bathmat or the kind of rug you put under a Christmas tree.

And every time, his eyes fluttered their way when he thought they weren't looking.

It must be the cocoa, Effie thought. She doubted his mother ever let him have anything sweet like that.

And true enough. When Timmy finally came up short on excuses, he cleared his throat and asked in a bashful, yet hopeful voice,

"Can I have some chocolate?"

But before Effie or Haymitch had a chance to reply, the door slammed open. Mrs Pluckrose. Face flushed with anger.

"Go to your room!" Clouds of white smoke billowed from her mouth. "Now, Timmy!"

"Wow", murmured Haymitch, when it was just the four of them again. His voice wasn't even angry. Or annoyed. "It's like hearing Gertrude with Peeta when he was little. Boy, could that woman's voice carry."

"All done!" Octavia piped, waking Effie from her daydream. "Look, Flavius! Venia! What do you think?"

"Nice!" Venia nodded in approval.

"You look like a million bucks, love." Flavius gave Effie a playful wink. "Too bad Haymitch isn't here this evening. He wouldn't be able to resist!"

"Well." Octavia joined her on the couch. She patted Effie's hand with a warm smile. "Whether you do have more children or keep things as they are, you simply must let us do your hair for the wedding!"

"Your nails and makeup too", reminded Venia. "We'll make it something extra special!"

"And don't you worry, dear", Flavius said. "Haymitch will be clean-shaven that day. I'll wrestle him to the ground if I have to!"

"It's all just soo romantic!" Octavia clasped Effie's hands to her own heart. "Very Beauty and the Beast. You'll have a summer wedding, obviously, and Amy and Ian can be flower children."

"Will you take Haymitch's last name once you're man and wife?" asked Venia.

"I always thought 'Haymitch Trinket' had a certain endearing ring to it", Flavius said, admiring himself in a teaspoon.

"Or a double surname, like your children!" Octavia beamed.

"Yes!" Venia said with enthusiasm. "Double surnames are so sophisticated, don't you agree?"

"Especially yours, Venia", Octavia said with glittering eyes.

"You think so?" The woman's face lit up like a birthday candle. "I think so too."

All three faces turned Effie's way, eagerly awaiting her answer.

"Oh." Effie rubbed her forehead, a little overwhelmed by this sudden exchange. "I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but Haymitch and I … we're not getting married."

"EVER?!" the prep team burst, all at once.

"Oh honey …" Venia shook her head in disappointment, softly caressing Amy's hair. "I know we're living in modern times, but … is your plan seriously to live in sin until you're both about ready to scatter each other's ashes?"

"But we're not", Effie said. "Living in sin, I mean."

The prep team looked at each other.

"I'm confused", said Octavia.

"So, what you're saying is you're like …", Flavius grappled for the words, "engaged and you … decided to wait or …?"

"No, we're just not having intimate relations. Not of any kind. Period. We're simply not a couple anymore." Effie's eyes flitted around the room. Octavia's bag, the hand mirror jutting out from it. "Oh, can I borrow that?" she asked, in a desperate attempt to try and change the subject.

But the prep team wasn't letting her go that easily.

Octavia handed her the mirror and, with worry etched into every word, she asked,

"Then who's keeping you warm? You're sleeping with someone, right? Sometimes?"

"No." Cheeks flushed, Effie peered at herself in the mirror. "Oh, that's beautiful, Octavia. One of your best works yet."

When there was no response, Effie could not not look up.

Three pairs of eyes were all trained on her. Stunned into silence. Mouths open in horror.

"Oh, don't you worry about me." She tried a smile. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Not a big deal?" Flavius rasped. "When was the last time you did it?"

"Um …"

"Good God." His eyes flitted to the twins and back again, face growing pale. "Are you telling us", he whispered, "you haven't had sex in over two years? Y-you haven't done the deed since you conceived?"

"Effie, that can't be true!" Venia said. "Tell us it isn't true!"

"No, no, it's not …"

"Oh!" Flavius's hand flew to his chest. "Thank God!" he panted, eyes closed. "Effie, you scared me!"

"… we did it a couple of months into my pregnancy as well", Effie finished her sentence. "One time. But given our history and the fact that the twins were about to join our lives, we decided it was better to just stay friends."

"Oh my goood!" Octavia buried her face in her hands.

"Effie, that's terrible!" Flavius exclaimed, on the verge of crying too. "Even Venia's got more action than that!"

"It's true", Venia nodded.

"I've already had sex four times this week! What's even the point in having a baby daddy if you can't make love to him? I mean, sure, Haymitch isn't the hottest bulb on the Christmas tree, but he's got a certain … rustic charm. If you're into that. I mean, hell, if the archangel appeared and told me the world would end unless I slept with Haymitch Abernathy, I'd do it. For sure. For sure."

"It's … it's a little more complicated than that", Effie said.

"But why?" asked Octavia. "I don't under… oh!" She clasped a hand over her mouth, when an even more fearsome thought struck. "Is he bad in bed?" she whispered.

"No, no, he's not bad in bed."

"Then what's the problem?" Venia asked. "You get along just fine. There's a spark. You're not seeing anyone else. You have two beautiful children together. What on Earth's stopping you? He's the only man you ever really wanted, right?"

"You should take him out on a date!" Octavia beamed. "A real proper one. Dinner someplace nice, candlelight and then home for some extended afternoon delight to make up for all the time you've wasted. We can watch the children over at my place."

"On a scale of one to Capitol", Flavius again, "how would you rate Haymitch's lovemaking skills? It's always the quiet ones, right?"

And the three of them giggled like crazy.

But it wasn't a mean laugh. Not even a little.

"Let's … let's just talk about something else. OK?" Effie cleared her throat. "Octavia, how are your pet mice? Have you taught them any new tricks lately?"

"Aaw!" Octavia chuckled. "Look at her cheeks! So red, haha! That is the face of someone who used to get some pretty big Os!"

Flavius grinned and brushed away an amused tear before it tilted down his cheekbone.

He added some sugar to his already candy-sweet tea and said,

"Crying shame. The dating market is vicious and here you are, with a man who already adores and cherishes you and basically eats out the palm of your hand and then you don't want him? What a waste."

"Well, if Effie's not interested", Venia said, "maybe we can fix him up with someone who is?"

"Yes!" Octavia clapped her hands together at the suggestion. "What an intriguing idea!"

"Hm, let's think." Flavius tapped a pondering fingertip against his powdered cheek. "Who do we know who's desperate enough to go out with a man like Haymitch Abernathy?"

"Oh, oh! I know!" Octavia said. "How about that nice girl from …"

"No!"

The word all but exploded from Effie's lips. So sudden and unexpected, they all looked up. Amy and Ian included.

"I … I mean …" Effie blushed crimson, looking between the three. She swallowed. "Don't bother yourselves with all that. Haymitch he … he … his sex drive plummets during the winter months. Yes! It's the same every year. He won't be interested in any of that before the snow melts. Probably not come spring either", she added after a moment's pause. "You'd only be wasting your precious time."

"Ah, Haymitch, Haymitch." Flavius shook his head. "Always was a freak of nature."

Author's note: Poor Effie. 😂 They do love her though.

And, in case you wondered if Gertrude Mellark was named after the queen mother in "Hamlet": Yep, she totally was! 😉