Oh my gosh it's been so long since I updated! I am truly sorry (totally not an Effie reference)! This is my most followed story that I've ever written (29 of you lovelies!) and I feel so bad on every one of you for letting you all down and taking so long to update!

It's basically been a crazy couple of months with assignments for university, personal stuff and a really bad case of writer's block which literally left me with no inspiration for weeks. I actually started this chapter on February 6th so you can see how long it's taken me!

Anyway, sorry for being late and sorry for my stupid intro! And I'm only about 60% happy with this chapter but I wanted to post something for you guys...so here's chapter 8!

Chapter 8

"So Haymitch," Caesar began. "It's been 3 years since the end of the Rebellion. Tell me, what's changed in your life?"

"Um," Haymitch cleared his throat. "Nothing much, I guess. There's a few hundred of us back in 12 now."

"Yes, yes," Caesar flashed his famous smile to the cameras before continuing. "Our very own Plutarch Heavensbee made a report about the rebuilding of District 12 a few weeks ago. So. Next question. And I'm sure this is a question everyone wants to know the answer to. Are you still drinking?"

"Never stopped," Haymitch answered. "Only stopped when they forced me to in District 13."

"How was that for you?"

"Pretty tough. I did it though."

"But it didn't work out in the end though, did it?"

"Clearly," Haymitch felt a scowl threatening to appear on his face at Caesar's persistence about his drinking.

Caesar appeared to sense Haymitch's irritation and changed the subject.

"I understand you've been staying with one Effie Trinket since you returned to the Capitol two days ago," Caesar continued. "How has that been going? I understand you two were never the best of friends…"

Haymitch glanced towards Effie, who's attention was focused on whatever she was scrawling in her journal.

Yes, Caesar, I hadn't seen her for 3 years and I already slept with her, he thought to himself.

"Well," Haymitch began. "I'm still alive. Good sign, right?"

"Absolutely," Caesar smiled once more, turning directly to the camera and holding a hand out to Haymitch. "Haymitch Abernathy, everyone!"

Haymitch forced a smile and shook Caesar's hand before standing up and taking his seat back beside Effie.

Next up was Katniss, still using the surname Everdeen despite having married Peeta. Plutarch said he'd requested her to keep the name 'for publicity purposes'. Haymitch had scoffed at this, telling Plutarch to let the kid have some control over her own life.

Effie was still enthralled by her journal when Haymitch sat beside her. He attempted to sneak a glance over her shoulder, but she slammed the journal shut before he could read her scrawl.

"What're you doing?" He asked, only to be met with Effie narrowing her eyes at him.

"Manners, Haymitch," Effie said, pushing the journal back into her handbag. "It is none of your business."

"Writing about last night, are you?" He smirked, trailing a hand up her leg. Yes, he was going to tease her about it for the rest of her life.

"Haymitch!" She yelped, smacking his hand away. Her eyes darted about the room in horror, realising her cry had drawn not only Caesar's attention, but the attention of everyone else in the room.

"Sorry," she mumbled, before hurrying out of the room.

Haymitch settled back into his seat, trying to conceal the laughter threatening to overtake him.

xXx

The remaining interviews passed by with no real event aside from Katniss and Peeta announcing the pregnancy to all of Panem. Despite the fact that Snow's reign had collapsed some 3 years ago, Panem was still ever adoring of the Star Crossed Lovers. Effie was, as usual, overly animated in her interview. She only returned to the room when her name was called. With her surname beginning with 'T', she had went last, so after her interview, the shoot was over. Effie quickly gathered her things and trotted out of the room. Haymitch, fearful the woman was going to leave him alone in the middle of the Capitol, caught up to her in a few strides. He opened his mouth to speak, but Effie held up a hand to stop him.

"Not another word until we get home," her tone was stern.

Oh great, Haymitch rolled his eyed. She's mad.

The car journey home was spent in silence. Each time Haymitch glanced over to Effie, he noticed the glare she had fixed on the road and the death grip she held on the steering wheel were both becoming increasingly intense.

Effie didn't speak a word until they had stepped into her apartment and had closed the door behind them.

"So I'm guessing you're pissed," Haymitch spoke first.

"Oh absolutely!" Effie leant against the back of the couch. "Your behaviour today was embarrassing and incredibly uncalled for!"

"Didn't hear you complaining last night."

"That's exactly your problem!" Effie raised her hands but quickly threw them down in frustration. "You have very little respect! What happened between us was a very private matter and I do not wish for you to bring it up in public!"

"You're talking about last night as if it was important! Shit like that happens all the time!"

"Firstly, do not swear in my house. Secondly, yes, it was important. Maybe not to you because goodness knows how many women you've taken to your bed at the drop of a hat. But it's not that easy for me…not since…" Effie stopped and bit her lip, staring at the floor.

"Since what?"

"You were clearly too preoccupied to notice," she began, meeting his eyes once more. "I'm not…my appearance is not what it used to be…"

"What do you mean?"

"The scars…it's not just that one on my shoulder…they're everywhere."

"Show me."

"No!"

"Effie," he took a step closer to her.

"You didn't see them last night, so you wont see them ever. I…I don't want to offend you. They're vile and unladylike. A lady shouldn't look the way I do."

Haymitch ignored her and began unbuttoning his own shirt.

"What are you doing?" Effie asked.

"Showing you something," Haymitch muttered, letting his shirt fall open.

Effie stared at his torso. He too was covered in a pattern of scars.

"You…"

"Mhmm," he said, quickly fastening his shirt again. "Guess you were too 'preoccupied' too, as you put it."

"Why are there so many?"

"Mostly from my Games. Getting hit in the stomach with an axe isn't gonna leave me completely mark-free. And then there's been a ton of drunken accidents…falling through windows, on broken bottles. Stuff like that."

Effie studied him carefully.

"So. I showed you mine. Now show me yours."

"I-" Effie began, but then hesitantly began to unbutton her own blouse and turned around so Haymitch could see her back.

"That's the worst of them," she said, as Haymitch's eyes traced the scars criss-crossing her back. "The guards in the Capitol prison were rather fond of flogging. You can probably tell."

Haymitch didn't say a word. His mind flashed back to the time he'd thrown himself in front of that Peacekeeper's gun when Katniss' friend Gale was being flogged in District 12.

Effie turned round to face him and his eyes fell to several scars across her chest and stomach.

"What're those ones?" He gestured to the scars down her front.

"They also liked to take a knife to you if you didn't tell them the stuff they wanted to hear."

"Why didn't you just tell them what they wanted to hear?" There is was. The sense of extreme guilt rising in Haymitch's stomach.

"Because I couldn't," Effie fastened her blouse up. "I wasn't told a single thing."

"We…I couldn't tell you anything. It was too risky."

"How?" Effie felt herself getting angry. The conversation was dragging up all the memories that only came to her in her nightmares. "I felt disposable to you all, Haymitch!"

"You weren't disposable. You were just…" Haymitch exhaled loudly. "You were too close to the Capitol. If the information had gotten out-"

"I would have messed up your whole plan, is that it? I can keep a secret, Haymitch. Believe me, I've kept a few in my time."

"This wasn't just one of your stupid gossip secrets! The entire damn nation depended on this war!"

"Well, I'm pleased to hear you couldn't trust me," Effie straightened her blouse and made to leave the room.

As she passed him, Haymitch grabbed her upper arm and spun her so she was pressed against the door.

Effie made to protest but Haymitch cut her off with an angry kiss. With all the force she could muster, Effie planted her palms flat on his chest and shoved him off her.

"Out," she said quietly.

"I'm sorry," Haymitch said, running a hand through his hair.

"Get out of my house. Right now."

"Effie-"

"OUT!"

Haymitch stared at her for a few seconds before making his way to the door, Effie slamming the door behind him.

And just like that, Haymitch had messed up his one chance to reconcile with the woman he'd left behind in the Capitol.

Conclusion: Haymitch is an ass. Do you agree? Let me know in a review if you fancy! I love reading you guys' reviews and they really help with the inspiration side of things :) Love, Erin x