To Effie was still a bit confusing the friendship between someone as bold as Johanna and someone so kind and calm like Annie but then again maybe little Finn was indeed the reason why the Victor from Seven had decided to move in to Four and help Annie, she knew Finnick well and she knew that Finnick would want someone with Annie, someone to help her raising his child, someone to be there for her since Mags was gone. “In the end I think that Finnick would want that. Not leaving Annie to herself, having someone there with her to help her. Perhaps is not that bad.”

                Effie had this huge urge to smack Haymitch but decided against it instead she took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. “As if I would even bother in going after Johanna, I would have given her a piece of my mind right there. Honestly, Haymitch as a mentor that you were at the time it was your job to stop such a nonsense to happen even more in front of the children. I do not care if she did that to annoy Katniss that was rude and she had no business in stripping in the elevator.”

           “Well I tried to calm her down but she didn’t recognize me that well I think.” Haymitch said softly. He just wished it wouldn’t happen again since he didn’t know how to handle it. He wasn’t even able to deal with himself in the past, let alone dealing with a kid getting so emotional without her parents around.

           “Maybe they made some kind of deal? I know Finnick didn’t want Annie to be alone at all. With or without a child. He didn’t like the idea of going on a trip without her. Mags looked after her but he didn’t want her to do so for much longer since Mags was getting old. Johanna is a person who can protect others. She’ll do the best she can”

           “I wished you’d be there” Haymitch smirked and listened to her little lesson she gav ehim. “Oh, but she was a mentor too. We do prank tributes once in a while, besides that Katniss and Peeta were used to things. This was just to clear the air. To have a little laugh.”

{Open}

             Hearing those words from Haymitch made Effie look down for a moment and nod. “I know, but you knew me. I have always cared for every single tribute that we had, I always worked hard to bring them alive to give them a chance. I was born and raised thinking the games were for fun but then Katniss came along and so did Peeta and I just couldn’t see it as something innocent anymore, I just couldn’t see it as entertainment. Those were my tributes, my victors, my children in that arena.”

           “How it should be, right but it won’t be like that. I’m sure that somehow she will make something up that will make her the president of Panem, but we will see how things will go. Maybe something will happen to make the rebellion go faster, or maybe take a while longer.” Haymitch thought about people from Twelve stepping up against Coin, from now on they didn’t had a reason to complain. Haymitch rolled his eyes at her comment about the liquor, yes he missed it. Yes he hated to go around constantly being reminded of everything.

           “You’d understand if you had shaky hands all the time, if you had a stomach working against you, chestpain once in a while and a headache for most of the time.” Haymitch mumbled softly. He didn’t want to upset her or sound mad but she had to understand that the liquor was a reason he could go on like a normal person. “I’m glad you saw that. Most escorts just keep that straight face and do what’s best for themselves instead of the tributes”

{Open}

fictusxsmile:

          “Haymitch you know that no one will go against Thirteen or Coin, their other option is what? Snow and the Capitol? They have been there, they had went through that already even with crappy mattress they won’t just get up and leave even more with the way that all the Districts are been attacked. We need to be a bit more realistic when it comes to this.” If she could she would stand and leave but of course there was no middle option both Coin and Thirteen or Snow and the Capitol. “I will not jump on the mattress to test it, I think we can both agree that this one is very comfortable, and there is no need for such childish attitudes.

          Haymitch’s words brought a small smile to Effie’s lips; she was glad that Katniss could finally see her as a friend, as someone that she could trust. “I’m glad I gained her trust because you know I have always worried about these kids, about Katniss and Peeta even if Katniss had that hard attitude, that cranky attitude that is so much like yours.” She looked at him. “You are up to no good.”

         “I know.. But they will when this is over and she will take the lead. That’s atleast what I think but for now we have to see how this rebellion works out.  I’m tryint to be realistic but they aren’t realistic either. I mean no liquor? What do they use to forget all of the crap down here?” Haymitch rolled his eyes at Effie her comment on the mattress. They needed a little fun but apparently she wasn’t in the mood for some fun.

         “Katniss hates the Capitol, no wonder she didn’t trust you from the start. Who can she trust in the Capitol? They all wanted her to die so they could win money. When she found out you only wanted to help her she started to trust you and when you are here now she actually knows that you are only good.”

          Of course Effie had known that Johanna and Finnick had been friends for a long time, she had seen the two talking plenty of times, their interaction with one another and of course that would mean that she would know Annie but Annie was quiet and kind, she was so different from Johanna who didn’t watched what she said, she simply said what was on her mind not caring about anything. “Still they are so different even if she adores the boy I still find hard to believe that they are living together, that she went to live with Annie and perhaps even help her with little Finn.”

          “Oh typical Johanna huh? Is that so? Honestly she had no respect towards anyone, do you know how upset Katniss was? Besides I know that you looked too and you seemed to be enjoying yourself.” Lightly Effie smacked his arm. “She was simply lucky that I wasn’t in that elevator, I would have stopped that nonsense, and stop smiling is like you enjoyed that striptease.”

         “She is a good girl but she got so confused that one time I brought her to be dhere. I don’t know if she thought she was at our place of if I was Peeta or something but she paniced so hard.” Haymitch said softly and nodded at Effie her words. “Yes, you could ask her anything and she wouldn’t even hear it.”

         “Johanna is a little bit like Finnick, she feels the need to take care of Finn because he is the only part left of Finnick. Annie is really easy with other people so I think they will go along pretty well. I know there are days that they don’t see eachother just to get some fresh air”

         Haymitch smirked but tried not to smirk too widely. “No respect? Deep respect for her, just undressing herself infront of us.” Haymitch teased Effie a little knowing she didn’t like the action. “I think I’d enjoy myself with you going after Johanna. I really wanted to see that.”

          As Haymitch took a seat next to her, Effie looked at him and raised an eyebrow as he mentioned Johanna. “I’m still surprised how the two of them can actually live together. I know that Johanna changed after what happened to her. I know that but still she still has that way about her, she speaks without thinking, she still has that attitude.” The friendship between Johanna and Effie was still a bit weird, they were not enemies, but they were not exactly best friends.

          “She reminds me a lot of you, always stubborn, wanting to have her way, always with something to say, not watching her words. It annoyed me so much in the past that she had no respect, then she did that strip tease in the elevator and while I wasn’t there I did heard Katniss and Peeta talking about, more like Katniss scolding Peeta for it.”

         Haymitch smiled and took a sip of his drink. “Well you never know what Willow will do.” Haymitch said softly and shook his head. “I don’t think the braiding tired her out. I think it was the focus. It’s hard for a little kid to focus on something for quiet a while but she managed.”

         “They know eachother for a while. Finnick and Johanna were good friends, so she knew Annie through him. She’ll forever be a weird duck but she behaves better now. She is really in love with the little boy.” Haymitch said remembering a video Johanna once send to him.

         Haymitch smirked at Effie reminding him of the elevator. “Oh that’s typical Johanna, just wanting people to feel uncomfortable and laugh about it later on. I’m sure she laughed all night about Peeta his face.”

{Open}

          “I don’t think that is punishment, after all until we have to come over and hide in here they didn’t had any reason’s to have in all the rooms such a mattress not with the fact that they cannot have children after what has happened.” She could only imagine how one would feel after finding out they could no longer have children’s, it must have been horrible for the younger women that had survived. “You seem like a kid, you are what? Testing the mattress? See how soft it is?”

          Effie sighed, she was thrilled at the fact that she no longer had kitchen duty but on the other hand she was part of the Mockingjay team like those involved with helping Katniss were called. However, been part of the team meant been fully on the rebellion and attend meetings, know about what was going on. When they were thinking in attacking the Capitol and take Snow down. “I will do that, is good to not have to worry about the kitchen duty, I rather help Katniss even more now.”

         “I know. I was just kidding. I think we were just unlucky to have the quick made matresses, but some people of Twelve are old and deserve to have a better matress if they want us to stay here and work with them instead of against them” Haymitch said softly as he smiled at Effie her mention of him being a kid. “Of course I’m testing this, it needs proper testing before we can sleep, we need to jump.”

         “I’m sure Katniss likes to have you around. You are something she can lean on, she knows you and she trusts you. She doesn’t know Coin and Boggs all too well and she doesn’t trust Coin, just like we.” Haymitch looked at Effie and wanted to play a little with her scarf since it looked funny on her head today.

{Open}

          “What do you have scheduled?” She asked glancing at him because she knew without a doubt that his schedule had something either for soon or later during the day, he was after all part of the Mockingjay team and he was always needed. “Maybe we can talk a little more or I don’t know perhaps we can rest a bit?”

         “It looks like they even have better matresses for a two person bed. As if you are punished for being alone or something like that” Haymitch said and pushed the matress in with his hand. It was soft and so much better than the plank they slept on before

         “I don’t have anything scheduled for today. I have a night off it seems” Haymitch said softly when he looked at his arm. He actually didn’t really check it often. Sometimes it changed and he was too lazy to get it redone. “You should sleep some more, now that you are free from kitchen duty”

          “I can call her; I have no problem in calling Annie and asking her.” She smiled knowing why he was suggesting her to call Annie instead. “I can talk with her, make sure that she can book us a good hotel and of course check on she is doing and how is little Finn.” Effie was no full, she knew that not everyone had accepted her; she knew that many still disliked her and only those who had went through the games and the rebellion and had survived were alright with her and understood why Haymitch had picked Effie to be with.

          “Come on take a seat Haymitch, I don’t think that Katniss will be home anytime soon.” Often Katniss would only return at the end of the day when she was away hunting, Effie often got the feeling that was Katniss’ way to escape, to be on her own little world and leave all the worries behind, it was what was and had always been familiar to her. The woods and hunting even if she didn’t needed it to survive, she still did it and either kept what she got or would sell it.

         “I didn’t say I want to leave, just poured ourselves a glass of water” Haymitch said as if it was something chique and expensive. He carried the glasses over and handed Effie hers. “Did she sleep on?” He asked wanting to know if she was confused.

         The last time Haymitch brought her home on his own he had put her down and she’d woken. She was confused and scared and wanted her mother, but Haymitch wasn’t able to go into the forest without taking Willow with him. Since then he liked if Effie went with him.

         “I’m sure Annie’d like to have a talk with you. Just two woman together, someone who isn’t like Johanna” Haymitch smirked and sat down next to her. Haymitch looked at his watch knowing Katniss was probably looking at the traps since the sun was getting under.

          “Then we wait inside.” Stepping inside the house it was spotless, of course, there were a few toys in the living room, draws in the fridge in the kitchen but apart from that it looked and felt like a cozy home, a home that was lived by a happy family. “I’m going to take Willow up to her room and lay her down; the couch is not the best place.” Knowing that Katniss would not mind Effie slowly started to climb the stairs for the second floor and walked down the hallway to Willow’s room.

          Of course her room was the one a bit more messy but the sight simply brought a smile to Effie’s lips, very gently and with one hand cradling Willow’s head as if she was a baby Effie gently lay Willow down on her bed, made sure the girl was still sleeping as she moved around a bit to get comfortable before pulling the blanket over her small frame. With a smile, she left the room leaving the door ajar and heading downstairs.

         “Want me to call her or do you like to call her. You know more about kids and woman and their problems and what they want to talk about” Haymitch knew Effie’d like to have someone to talk too. Someone else but Katniss and Peeta. There weren’t much people they had contact with in Twelve. No real friends.

         To him it felt like only the surviving victors were real friends. They understood. They went through the same as him. They understood his choice for Effie. They accepted Effie and loved her. He wasn’t so sure about the people who now lived in Twelve

         Haymitch saw Effie walking upstairs knowing she liked to put Willow to bed. Effie was going to be a perfect mother who will take good care of the baby. He couldn’t wait for Effie to be pregnant, he wanted to see the real happiness in her eyes again. He hadn’t spoken about his own insecurities.

{Open}

          Love was indeed strange, if Effie was married with someone that so much did something wrong to her children, that treated them the way that Peeta’s mother had treated him? Well she would leave that person, she would take her children’s away and make sure that they were safe not stay with someone that abused her children. “He always had a god heart, I’m not surprised that even after all that he might indeed love her.”

         “I’m sorry. My head is a little bit of a talkative thing lately.”  Haymitch said softly and looked at her. “I don’t want to scare you or something.” He knew it was wrong to say all he had in mind but Effie was the only one he could talk to and he wanted to talk to. “But Effie how does this bed feel?” He asked her to change the subject.

         Effie was totally right about it all. “Everything is complex and love is the most complex thing on earth.” Haymitch stared at Effie. He was a complex person. Maybe that was why love wasn’t made for him. He didn’t know. “I think we should get rid of this clothes and maybe get some sleep or talk some more?” Haymitch said to distract himself from his thoughts.

{Open}

fictusxsmile:

          Even through Haymitch was mumbling Effie could still hear him and her eyes went wide. “You think he can bomb us again? I think that Coin will want to attack the Capitol as soon as possible, even more now that they do not have anyone to hold against any of the victors, we were all rescued. They have nothing and Thirteen is finally free to attack, to take their army to the Capitol. Besides you and I know Katniss well enough, she is tired of this Haymitch and if Coin still wants the flame, if she still wants her Mockingjay then she needs to act quickly.”

          She listened to Haymitch, a small smile on her lips. “At least Peeta had a good father, that is important, that is good. He had someone that loved him, that cared for him and as for his mother well as much as this sounds horrible I’m glad that she is gone, I’m glad that she is death after all she did not deserved the wonderful son that she had.”

         “He can. If he want then he can. I’m not sure what his tactic is but I know we have to move quickly before he manages to get us locked up in here forever, or to put the flame down he was afraid would come.” Haymitch said and thought about an idea but he knew Coin was better at this. She was the follow up. The one who had heard all about the past war and how Thirteen managed to survive. If they were above Haymitch would have ran away.

         Haymitch looked at Effie and nodded. “He was a good father indeed” Was all he had to say. Haymitch didn’t understand why he stayed with that horror woman. He must have loved her, just like Finnick loves Annie. “I’m sure Peeta loved his mother, no matter what. He must miss her, but somehow feels a relief.”

{Open}

          “I know Haymitch, I was just an escort but I remember his mother, vile woman if you ask me, didn’t bother in even saying goodbye to her son, not to mention I remember the conversation we had in the penthouse when Peeta told us that his mother had said that for the first time in years Twelve had a chance and that she wasn’t talking about him. His father seemed a bit kinder but his mother? I wished I had the chance to give her a good piece of my mind, she had no idea what a wonderful son she had.”

         “I hope it is strong enough to keep the doors open. I’m not feeling well down here. I feel even worst when I know Snow can bomb us until we are locked up in here forever. Which means that we only have to live for a couple of hours until we start to die because of the oxygen levels” Haymitch mumbled. He didn’t want to think about it but it was spinning in his mind since the bombing. “who knows how many bombs Snow has and wants to use against us.”

         Haymitch thought about Peeta his father. He knew him. They had been to the same school. He had been jealous when that man could learn to be a baker and he was locked up in the mines, if he didn’t get picked. “He was a good man. He helped Katniss. The mother is a horror woman who didn’t even deserve to live.” Haymitch was harsh but to him it was the truth. After he had seen what losing a kid did to parents he knew who deserved a kid and who didn’t. “We will see whatever is left of his house.. and mine.”

          “Yes we have nine months before any kid comes to this world but I don’t think that you will want to travel with a pregnant woman even more when that woman is me. I am already annoying in your eyes on normal days now imagine with mood swings.” Effie almost laughed at how Haymitch wanted so badly to hide his new hairstyle. “Oh don’t do that Haymitch, after all Willow had so much work.”

          However, of course he would not allow Katniss to have a laugh at his expense, with his beanie on, Effie shook her head, and started to head out of the bedroom and heading downstairs. “Come on then, let’s take her to Katniss so she can have her nap before she comes for a second round.” Of course the moment that Willow was up and fully awake again she would be rushing back to their place to spend time with Effie and Haymitch, also meant feeding the annoying and noisy geese’s.

         Haymitch thought about Four. There was nothing wrong with going there. He knew Effie would like to see Annie again and they haven’t even met Finn inreal yet. “I will see when we are welcome. They have a pretty busy schedule with a little boy like Finn.”

         Haymitch didn’t let Effie get a chance to steal his beanie. He made sure nobody was able to pull it off his head. “I will enjoy this coupe when we are back home here again. I will take it out, the braids, when it needs to be washed” Haymitch promised.

         Haymitch stroke Willow her cheek. The little girl looked tired, he knew she wasn’t even able to stay awake until they arrived at Katniss her house. Haymitch put his jacket on and opened the door for Effie before locking it behind him

          But in the end it was true, they needed to enjoy their freedom before they have children’s, they were trying for it, they were wanting to get married and have children’s, they had spent a whole day and night trying. Laughing she shook her head. “Haymitch she would never ever agree in getting her hair like that.” Standing up she walked over to Haymitch and Willow and picked the little girl up resting her over her hip and placing a kiss on Willow’s cheek. “You think your mama would get her hair like that?”

          Willow giggled but shook her head no. “Nope, mama will laugh.” She grinned and rested her head on Effie’s shoulder making the blonde rub her back gently and placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Well someone seems to be tired, should we take her home Haymitch? Take her home and of course show your new hairstyle to Katniss, she has to see it, there is no way that Willow’s work will go to waste.”

         “We can plan a holiday. We can go to any district you like. Just tell me which ones you want to visit then I will see what I can do. There are people everywhere I know.” Haymitch remembered Beetee going to Five. He knew Plutarch was in One. He knew Johanna was in Four and he knew some people in Seven.

         When Effie started about kids Haymitch smirked. “Then we have 9 months to go, haven’t we?” He grinned and went up to take a good look at the damage Willow did to her hair. “Well, if Katniss doesn’t want to wear this why I do I have to wear it? and show it to her?” 

         Haymitch frowned and tried to find his beanie. “Not going to bring the little duck back looking liket his. It’s private hair” Haymitch said sternly and poked Willow her nose while putting the beanie on his head. “Nap time for the hairdresser” 

{Open}

            She glanced at him and watched Haymitch for a moment as he stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know about yours, I know Peeta’s is gone but I’m sure that he will find it sad, probably the only thing he had had of his family was in that house and now is all gone.” If Haymitch’s place was gone, too she knew that the memories that he had about his family were now just piles of ashes. “I hope that after Twelve is rebuild more people will move in and finally Twelve can’t stop been avoided and be thought of a bad district.”

         Haymitch nodded. “I think he doesn’t even know we live so far underground. The only thing he can do is bomb the surface and hope we will get locked up down here and die slowly because of the lack of oxigen” Haymitch said softly. He didn’t want to scare Effie but it was out before he even knew. Since he stopped drinking things had changed. His mind was working differently. He hated it.

         “His family didn’t even live with him Effie. They lived in their old home, sometimes visiting him. Mostly they were busy with their bakery. You must know that Peeta was an unwanted child. They used him because it was easy, but his mother.. She was a tiran, she was rude to the boy. He couldn’t do anything good.” Haymitch was curious if Effie knew. He wasn’t sure but she had to know. The house meant nothing to the boy. The house did meant something to him. The pictures. His blanket from when he was a baby. It was all there

          Effie couldn’t stop laughing as she watched Haymitch striking a few poses and even making a little pout, she was set into a fit of laughter when he started to pose with Willow making the former escort shake her head and place her hands on her sides that were starting to hurt from laughing so much. “You two stop it, this is too much.”

          Of course the whole point of Effie suggesting showing Haymitch new hair style was because she knew that Katniss would never let him live this down, she would laugh in his face and tease him until the end of his days, Peeta was always a bit more polite he would try harder not to laugh. “Oh come on, as if Katniss would want to take credit for that, she much rather take credit for a good hunting than a hair style.”

          “Maybe. Don’t you” Haymitch asked Effie. He never told her but he loved Twelve but he was ready to explore the world. To see what the other districts are like now. To see if they were done rebuilding. He was curious about their new traditions and the way they live.

          “We can go to Four indeed. I will call Annie and see if she knows a place to stay” Haymitch said seriously. Why wouldn’t they go on a holiday? No kids, no busy jobs. Just able to go anywhere they want. Money wasn’t a problem. He didn’t know why they didn’t went before.

          Haymitch stopped posing with Willow after a while knowing Effie would pee her pants if he went on. “I hoped Katniss was willing to take this new hair style and show it of with me to everybody else.” Haymitch said a bit sad.