Here we are with the final chapter for How To Ruin A Date :)

Chapter 4 : How To Get Her

It was never a date.

At least, they had never admitted it as such between themselves, even if to others, whenever they met – and it was a handful – it seemed like a date by definition.

The first time Haymitch and Effie met each other again was a few weeks after Finn's birthday party. She had called him claiming there was an emergency at the workplace.

"What? Someone spilled coffee on your shipment of silk cloth?" Haymitch snickered.

"This is not a time to joke, Haymitch. I need your help – are you free at the moment?"

"No. Too busy. Hang up the phone, sweetheart."

"Too busy? What are you doing?"

"I have a store to run, woman. No time to chit-chat."

Effie had asked and demanded, and to his amusement tried to seduce him into agreeing.

"Don't work well over the phone – that seducing act you tried to pull. Listen, I got a customer – Mornin' Sae, anythin' I can help you with today? - You heard that?"

"You are not fooling me. You are not that friendly - what you are, is a grumpy man. Haymitch, please. I need your help."

It was not her promise to cover his gas and other expenses that made him relent in the end. It was Effie sounding so desperate that made him call in Katniss to mind the store for a few hours.

Haymitch drove to her office building.

"Chief," he mocked, walking into her corner office with the clear view of the sprawling city centre. "So this is what the director's office of a fabric supply company looks like, huh? Fancy."

"Not only supply, we're branching out into design too. I just came out from an interview to hire a team of stylist," she prattled without a care. "Have you heard of Cinna?"

"Can't say I have. Quit wastin' any more of my time, sweetheart."

"Very well. Now, if you will follow me..."

For four hours, he became her client's chauffeur with frequent texts from her to check on them.

Is everything okay?

Fine.

To which destination are you sending my client to now?

Nowhere. Hes taking a piss. I'm in the car doing crossword 2 pass time. Clue: sliced cheese, 4 letters across – go.

Feta - feta cheese. You shouldn't be doing crosswords while working. Honestly, where is your work etiquette?

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something? Who put a pole up ur ass? Or was it there since birth?

Are you on schedule?

U keep texting me to check on us, I'm gonna hv 2 drive ur client into a tree. That'll shut u up.

Her text messages promptly stopped flooding his phone. At the end of the day, Effie thanked him by taking him out to dinner at a restaurant that was still too upper class for his taste.

That was not a date.

That was Effie expressing her gratitude.

Another month passed before Haymitch contacted her again. Having won a pair of tickets to a play for the crossword puzzle competition, Haymitch had no real need for it.

"I've got two tickets to a fuckin' play. They could have paid my tab at the bar instead of sending me this or something useful," he grumbled. "None of the kids want to go. Finn's sick so Finnick and Annie aren't willin' to get a sitter for the boy. Jo isn't interested in things like this. I thought of you. You can have the tickets."

"Oh, how very sweet of you," she trilled over the phone, "even if you thought of me last."

"Right," he muttered. He had never been described as 'sweet' but Effie always acted as if someone had knocked her over the head with a club and she had lost all of her senses so Haymitch didn't bother correcting her. "Heard you're going on a date or somethin' next week, yeah? You can use the tickets – take that unfortunate guy to the play."

"Where did you know that from?"

"Called Finnick before you, didn't I? He told me. Give me your address so I can get Peeta to swing by the post office and mail 'em out to you tomorrow. Should get it in two days."

"Don't be silly, Haymitch. Those are your tickets."

"Technically, you have a 12% claim on it – feta cheese, remember?"

"Did you just pluck that number out of thin air?"

"Doesn't matter. I ain't going so I'm giving them away. Do you want it or not? Thought a play might be right up your alley."

"You and I could go," Effie pointed out and he scoffed. "Well, it is only fair. 88% of the claim, yes? I won't have it any other way. Is it an open ticket? I am free this Friday evening if you are."

He did not care for a pair of tickets. They could go to waste for all it was worth and he wouldn't bat an eyelash. He was not going to go to a play he had no interest in with Effie Trinket. Absolutely not.

Except, of course he did.

Effie had called Peeta on Thursday to ask if he had something appropriate to wear and that had sent the kids into a storm.

"I didn't know the both of you were in contact. Especially after that disastrous date and I don't recall giving you her contact details," Peeta said, crossing his arms as he propped his hip against the counter.

"So you asked her out to watch the play?" Katniss jumped in with another question before he could answer Peeta's.

"I didn't ask her out. All I did was offer her the fuckin' tickets. She's the one who thinks I should go with her. Will the two of you just back off? Remind me not to do something nice again – should have thrown the damn tickets."

"But you're going right?" Peeta asked. "Because Effie told me that she tailored a dress just for the occasion – something blue. You like blue, Haymitch?"

Katniss snickered. "You should totally wear something blue - to match, like a couple. Just putting the idea out there."

He hated those kids. He hated them for putting images of Effie in a blue dress in his mind because now, that was all he could think about; Effie Trinket in a tailored blue dress. He tried to imagine how she would look. He tried to picture the cut of the dress and the curves that it would flaunt.

When Friday afternoon rolled around, he decided he didn't want to imagine it. He wanted to see it for himself, so he went, purely out of curiosity and nothing else.

"Nice dress - "

"Don't," she warned him, remembering the first night that they met.

"I was really going to say yours, sweetheart," he flashed Effie a grin. "I'm just here to accompany you. Don't want you gettin' bored to death. We all know just how magnetic and intriguing I am as a person - a play 'bout a Dracula can't be that interesting."

"If that makes you sleep peacefully at night, continue believing so. After all, confidence is key."

He glanced in her direction, half amused.

When little Finn turned three, there was another party. Haymitch and Effie met again at the beach house. This time, it was Effie who grabbed his wrist and tugged him towards the door where they slipped unnoticed as the party dwindled to an end.

They ended at the Seafood Shack again.

"I'm gonna save us some time and go ahead to order that shrimp cocktail you seem to have a thing for, " Haymitch said without giving her the chance to look through the menu.

"Why, Haymitch, it's as if you don't want to spend more time with me," she teased. "I'm a delight to be around, you know."

"Not to me," he retorted.

"Finn adores you," she remarked out of the blue while they waited for their order to arrive. "You are great with him. Do you have any experience with children?"

He lifted an eyebrow at the question. There were plenty of topics she could have chosen and yet, she chose that to fill the silence.

"Only my brother when he was a kid. What's your point?"

"I like the camaraderie you have with Finn. It is so ... pure and genuine. You are a different person with him around. I'm curious, have you ever wanted children of your own?" Effie asked.

He stared at her before tearing his gaze away, and rubbed the back of his neck. That was the only brief indication that the question made him uncomfortable because in a second, his eyes were on hers again, bright with mischief.

"Children seem like a good idea. Yeah, brilliant. Katniss and Peeta will stop thinkin' I'm lonely and crap like that, yeah? If no one else is willin' to father your child, you offering to carry mine?" He smirked. "When should we start makin' some babies? Come on, sweetheart, it's gonna be fun."

Effie sighed.

"Must you be so difficult? You are never serious."

"Don't take life so seriously, sweetheart, we all end up dead anyway."

"Do not be so morbid!" Effie chided.

"Don't ask me that question again. Deal?"

"Very well," she acquiesced to his demand. "I love Finn. There are times when I think of him as the son I could never have," she admitted with a wistful smile.

"What?"

"Given the chance... Given the chance, I would love to have children of my own," she glanced at him with a forced smile that made him frown.

"So why don't you? Waitin' for the right man?"

"I was young and selfish," she said quietly, "I only cared about myself and my career. I was convinced I did not want children so I took care of it. Now... Well, it is too late."

"If you can't... I'm sure there's someone out there willing to accept that fact."

"How optimistic of you," Effie declared.

"You just gotta be honest with him," Haymitch shrugged. "Some men wants a family, some is content with just... you as you are."

"Which category do you fall under?" Effie asked.

"Pushing it," he tilted his glass of whiskey in her direction. "What time are you leaving?"

Effie checked the time on her phone.

"Soon. I do not really want to leave," she glanced out of the window towards the beach and sighed. "It is so peaceful here."

"But you must," Haymitch said as he called for the bill.

"I must," she laughed. "Oh, no, Haymitch. Let me settle it this time," she stopped him with a hand on his wrist. "If you are to pay for me again, then it might just be a date. You don't want that, do you?"

Her smile was teasing. Her blue eyes twinkled as it found his gaze. Haymitch was not smiling. He was staring at her quite intently.

What he wanted, despite his claim earlier, was to spend a little bit more time with her. He didn't want a date. He wanted her company and right now, once she leaves, he didn't know when he would see her again. At some point during this one and a half year that they knew each other, Haymitch had considered her a friend and he didn't have many of those. Sure, she was difficult and there were things in her life, little quirks and habits, that made no sense to him but it was what made her Effie. In a way, their different lifestyles kept her interesting to him.

"I assume you have no objections to a lady paying the bills?"

"Wha – Nah. You want to pay for my drink, you go ahead, sweetheart. I ain't gonna say no to something free," he winked.

"My car is at Finnick's house. I will have to walk back. Well, I shall make my way back by the beach," she announced just outside of Seafood Shack. "One last chance at fresh air and the view of the sea before I return to all the bricks and mortar tomorrow."

"A'right. See you around then," he stood there watching her.

He should head back to the motel except -

"Would you like to take a walk with me?"

Yes, he wanted to say.

"Is there anything more cliché than walking by the beach after a dinner?" he snorted.

"No, as matter of fact, I do not think it is corny because this is not a date. Regardless, suit yourself," she jutted her chin stubbornly. "I will see you next year at the party, assuming nothing comes up in between."

Next year was too long. Next year was 365 days away. Even so, next year was not a surety. She could be held up in a meeting like she was during Finn's first birthday and wouldn't be able to make it or he could forget himself and drink too much to make it to Finn's party.

Haymitch caught up with her and the surprise on her face made it worth while.

"Here," he dragged her closer to the water. "If you want corny – toes in the sand, eyes closed and hands spread out as if you're flying. There - now you're like Rose – corniest shit I've ever seen on TV."

He meant to mock her. He meant for it to amuse him at her expense. He was not prepared to be rooted to the spot by the sight her laughing at him as she indulged him with her hands outstretched on her sides, hair flying behind her and her dress whipping in the wind.

"A Rose needs her Jack, no?" Effie taunted.

Haymitch cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Jack died. What's the point?"

"Oh, Haymitch, he loved her till his last - "

She broke off suddenly and he was startled by her scream when a tiny crab scuttled past her feet.

"Too much excitement. Time to leave," he teased.

It was not a date just as the three other separate occasions that they spent together were not. Nothing happened that night.

In the weeks that followed, the text messages they exchanged was sparse. Effie grew increasingly busy with work and did not turn up when Finnick, Annie and Johanna dropped by Peeta's and Katniss' house for dinner.

Haymitch did not ask after her but he picked up information from their conversation. He knew she had been invited. He knew Finnick had really wanted her there. He knew Peeta had promised to show her his garden and paintings, and had wanted this opportunity to do so.

"You ever talk to her other than at Finn's party?" Johanna asked.

"Uh – yeah, once," Haymitch answered. "Took her to the play none of you wanted the tickets to."

He pretended not to notice the surprise that passed between Finnick and Johanna. Katniss and Peeta had not told them then, he concluded.

It was winter when they met next.

With his black woollen jacket buttoned to the neck and his hands buried deep in his pocket, Haymitch walked silently, weaving his ways amongst the tombstones in the graveyard. He made it to the bar. One shot became two, and that eventually became one too many.

It was the anniversary of his family's and his girl's death, and by the end of the night, he was well on his way to being hammered. He was a danger on the road and couldn't drive himself home. It was cold and he would freeze on the street.

It was Effie he called.

"Sweetheart, how you doing?" He slurred. "Long time no talk."

"It's one in the morning, Haymitch."

She did not sound please at all.

"Come pick me up. I'm at... I'm at – uh – I ain't sure," he mumbled to himself. "Listen, I'm gonna ask someone inside for an address. Call you back."

He hung up abruptly and stumbled to the barkeeper for help. Haymitch called her again within minutes.

"Haymitch, this is not funny," she hissed into the receiver. "Hang up and go to sleep. I do not appreciate you disrupting my night."

"No, no, hold on," he said in a rush, trying hard to focus. "You gotta... You got to come out here. You got to pick me up. Don't tell the kids. I can't drive. You get it? I can't drive – I'm gonna get someone killed."

"Are you drunk?"

"You're the only one I got, sweetheart."

Effie sighed. "What is the address?"

For the first time, Effie brought him to her house. Haymitch found himself waking up late in the morning on an unfamiliar bed and in fresh clothes. There was a glass of water and aspirin on the bedside table.

His memories were quite hazy but he thought he might have thrown up on her carpet.

His stomach was grumbling and motivated by his hunger, he rummaged through her kitchen, fixing himself a sandwich.

Haymitch waited for her that night. It didn't feel right to just leave.

Effie returned home to the sight of him on her sofa, legs outstretched on the coffee table and crossed at the ankles.

"Oh," she stopped when she saw him. "You're still here."

He rose to his feet and glanced at her sheepishly.

"Yeah, I – um – wanted to ... I got hungry and made a sandwich. I hope you don't mind."

She pursed her lips, her gaze darting from the empty plate on the coffee table to him standing in front of her. He knew when his presence was no longer warranted.

"About last night... Sorry 'bout your carpet. The kids, do they – "

"They are unaware," Effie assured him. "I didn't tell them."

"Alright, okay. Good," he nodded. "Thanks, sweetheart. I owe you."

"Shall I collect the debt now, then?"

"Collect..." He trailed off. "It's your right. Just don't let it be somethin' horrible."

"I need a date," Effie stated calmly.

His first reaction was defensive. He frowned fiercely.

"I already told you that I don't do - "

"I know, I am quite aware," Effie interrupted. "I've been put in quite a spot. My ex is getting married. He invited me, naturally. But ... I cannot possibly attend on my own. I cannot attend alone. People will start talking. You just have to pretend to be my date for a few hours. That's all – I promise."

"Come on, Effie," he grumbled loudly.

"Please," Effie grabbed his wrists. "You owe me, remember? I drove out all the way in the cold winter night to some shady bar in a questionable neighbourhood to pick you up. I made sure you were safe, comfortable and clean. I - "

"Okay, alright," he raised both hands in surrender. "Fine. I'll go and then we're even."

To say he was caught off guard would be an understatement. He was completely blindsided and terribly unprepared when Effie introduced him and let everyone formed the impression that he was her 'significant other' – a label that made him cringe – and to prove the point, she kissed him full on his mouth.

Effie spent the night close to him – her hand in his, her arm around his waist, her fingers deftly fixing his tie and his collars with the smell of her hair and perfume overwhelming him. Haymitch however, spent all of his night waiting for the kiss to happen again. He knew now what it was like to have a taste of her and the feel of her lips moving against his own, and he wanted more.

What was it that she had told him once? That there was no point waiting around and that she believed firmly in taking actions?

He could learn a thing or two from her life philosophy.

So when nothing else happened for the rest of the night, Haymitch took control. He wanted her. There was nothing else he was sure about than that. He wanted her.

Haymitch kissed her when he dropped her off at her house. The kiss was insistent and demanding. His hands roamed her back, moving lower and lower. He kept waiting for the push and the inevitable rejection that she did not want it. He slowed down his kisses to give her the chance to say no because he would back away but it never came.

Effie kissed him harder as she threaded her fingers into his hair with her nails lightly scraping against his scalp.

That was all he needed.

He kicked the front door close and they stumbled into her bedroom.

Haymitch found comfort and contentment in being with her, in touching her and hearing her moan, in watching her lose control. Waking up to the sight of her was something he wanted more of so it happened again and again, and again.

"You are truly the best I've ever had," Effie admitted one night, slightly out of breath.

Haymitch rolled off her. "Cliché," he muttered. "I thought we weren't gonna do cliché."

"No, we're going do to the truth, and that's the truth."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yes. One other truth?" she propped her chin on his chest to watch him. "Against my better judgment, I completely adore you."

"Go to sleep."

When Katniss and Peeta finally tied the knot sometime after Haymitch and Effie started sleeping together, the seating arrangement included having Haymitch seated right next to Hazelle Hawthorne, a neighbour and Effie, next to Plutarch Heavensbee.

Haymitch seethed. Likewise, Effie was not pleased.

From across the room, Effie shot him a glare as if it was his fault that they were seated separately.

"You do realise that was highly unnecessary," Effie hissed when he pulled her into an empty hallway. "You do see it for what it is, don't you? The children are still meddling. They are still pushing us towards other people hoping for something!"

"I know," Haymitch placated. With his hands on either side of her cheeks, he tilted her head up so he could kiss her. "I don't wanna fight. You're fuckin' hot in this dress. If you want to argue 'bout the seating arrangement then make sure it leads to some hot make up sex otherwise, I don't want to fight with you."

"Kiss me already, you stupid man. I've been waiting for it since I saw you in that suit. You clean up well. You look ravishing," she whispered.

He didn't need to be told twice. "We can get outta here."

"We should tell them," Effie suggested tentatively, hours after the wedding when they were both naked under the covers. "We should tell them about us."

Haymitch let out a breath.

"Not yet – it ain't time. I don't want them to think that they've won."

"It's not a competition, Haymitch," she frowned.

"I don't want to give them that satisfaction."

She huffed loudly and threw the covers back. Leaving the warmth of the bed, she grabbed her pack and lighter, and made her way to the balcony.

He joined her out at the balcony just as she lighted up the second stick.

"It's fuckin' cold out here."

Effie ignored him. "Am I just a good fuck to you? Are you waiting to get bored of me so you will never have to tell them about us?"

"You're overthinking."

"Don't trivialise my feelings," she retorted. "There's nothing wrong with admitting that they were the reason we met. They wouldn't throw it in your face. Those children love us, Haymitch. They want the best for us and they will be happy for us."

"Come back to bed, Effie," he stepped behind her. His hands were on her waist and he kissed the side of her neck. "You're gonna be busy with that new shipment and I ain't gonna see you for days. You really want to spend tonight arguing?"

"I'm just – "

He didn't let her finish that sentence. He kissed and touched until she melted against him and then he carried her to bed.

Finn turned four soon enough. Again, there was a get together. Effie and Haymitch arrived separately – Effie on her own while Haymitch came with Katniss and Peeta.

"I feel old," Effie commented when Haymitch wandered over to stand next to her by the bay window. "Time seems to fly. Don't you get that feeling? Finn's already four."

"Feelin' melancholy, sweetheart?"

"We've known each other for a little over two years now, Haymitch."

"I'll drink to that," he raised his glass to her. "Shrimp cocktail again later?"

"Are you asking me out?" Effie teased. "That will be a first in – "

"Effie," Annie called out. "Effie, please, would you mind helping me with the cake?"

With a last parting glance and a smile, she left his side. Haymitch dropped on the nearest sofa. Seeing that, Finn joined him to sit on his lap.

"Aunt Effie got me this," Finn told him, showing off a complete set of colouring book and coloured pencils.

"Nice," Haymitch nodded distractedly.

He was watching her every move. He couldn't help it. When she glanced up in his direction, he smirked.

"Johanna's got a friend, Effie," Finnick said, taking the plates of cake from Effie to hand it to everyone in the room. "His name's Blight and – "

"Give it a rest," Haymitch cut Finnick off. "It's been two fuckin' years and you're still trying to set her up on a date. Maybe she's found someone. Ever thought of that?"

"Haymitch! Mind your language," Effie scolded. "You have Finn on your lap."

"She hasn't," Finnick stated. "If she has, she would have told me. You haven't, have you, Effie?"

"I'm telling you, she has," Haymitch insisted.

"How would you know that?" Johanna crossed her arms and stared him down. "You haven't."

"I ain't her, obviously."

The knife forgotten on the table, Effie was watching this unfold with a tinge of curiousity. She licked her lips nervously wondering where any of this was going.

"Blight's not bad," Johanna spoke to Effie. "I don't care one way or the other if you meet him but Finnick's been asking if I know anyone. Blight's lost his wife three years ago. It's time he meets someone new."

"Who is this Blight?" Haymitch narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you so interested in him?" Johanna demanded. "He's my neighbour."

"Gotta make sure you ain't throwing her to the sharks. Is he an asshole?"

"Oh, you mean, like how you were to her?" Johanna retorted.

"Touché."

"Finnick," Effie stepped in before things could get out of hand. "I know you have the best intention in mind but I am … I am doing quite well at the moment. I'm not quite keen on meeting anyone new right now."

On the sofa, Haymitch was positively smug. "You heard that?"

"I will definitely let you know if I want to – "

"If you want to what, sweetheart?" Haymitch broke into the conversation.

"I think something interesting's about to happen," Peeta whispered to Katniss. "Haymitch is acting a little off – a bit wound up, if you ask me."

"That is quite enough, Haymitch. This jealousy coming from you is unwarranted," Effie snapped, clearly not in the mood for his antics. "You wouldn't have to worry about anyone in this room trying to set me up on any further dates if you only come clean."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"What's going on?" Finnick asked. "Did I touch a nerve? Haymitch?"

Without a word, Haymitch pushed himself up and marched towards where Effie was standing and glaring at him. He grabbed her arms and pulled her forward. The kiss left her gasping in surprise but it managed to wipe the frown away.

Johanna started laughing. "Damn, so that's why."

Katniss was gaping at them, half confused and half in disbelief.

Peeta and Finnick stared but it was Peeta who recovered first.

"I think it will be safer not bring up Blight's name anymore," Peeta advised Finnick.

Despite all the conversation going on around him, Haymitch did not stop kissing her. His hand which was on the small of her back ghosted upwards along her spine to grip gently the back of her neck. He dipped her back slightly to deepen the kiss because it amused him to see everyone including Effie in a state.

"Daddy?" Finn tugged on Finnick's trousers. "What's Uncle Haymitch doing?"

"He's being funny again. You know your Uncle Haymitch," Finnick tousled his son's hair. "Stop it, you two. You're giving my son nightmares and just a gentle reminder, it's his birthday. Don't steal the show."

Haymitch drew back with a grin. He never took his eyes off her, watching the blush spread from her cheeks down to her neck.

"What was that about?" she asked, a little out of breath. "A show of possessiveness?"

"Stating my claim," Haymitch answered as he rubbed his thumb on the corner of her lips. "You've got smudged lipstick there."

"Oh? So now when there's a possibility of someone else, that's when you want to state your claim?"

"There's no one else. There won't be anyone else," he tightened his hold on her and she wound an arm around his waist to lean against him. "Gave them a good show, didn't I?"

"You are an abomination," she said with just the right hint of fondness that it made him smile.

"And yet... You chose me."

"Sorry to interrupt," Peeta stepped forward, "but how long has this been going on?"

"It happened right under your fucking noses," Johanna chortled. "You stay next to him and you're so fucking blind to it."

"In their defense," Effie answered, "I hardly visited Haymitch's place. It is not their fault that they are unaware. We chose to keep it to ourselves."

"I am very offended by that," Finnick announced dramatically, a hand over his chest. "Terribly offended."

"Okay, so how long?" Johanna pressed.

Haymitch and Effie exchanged a look.

"About a year," Effie confessed.

"Holy shit," Johanna whistled. "Sorry, Finn, not a good word to pick up. Say, shucks, okay? I got to ask something," she lowered her voice so Finn wouldn't pick up on it. "You're not fucking with us to make Finnick stop, right? This is not some sick show you and Trinket put up 'cause if it is, I got to give it to you for the length you are willing to go to make Finnick stop."

"Nah, the only one I'm fucking is her."

"Haymitch!" Effie exclaimed.

"A'right, no more questions. You," he turned towards Finnick, "stop tryin' to play matchmaker. She's not going on any more dates and you two," he addressed Katniss and Peeta, "I ain't interested in Hazelle – you should have known that the first time – and I sure as hell ain't interest in any other women. So quit meddling."

"But it's our meddling that resulted in this," Katniss gestured at them. "Give us a little credit."

Peeta raised both hands in a gesture of peace. "I got your message, Haymitch. We only wanted you to make the best of your life and be happy."

"Haymitch appreciates it very much. He is just not quite good at articulating it. Now," Effie's face lighted up in a smile. "As tradition will have it, Haymitch is taking me to the Seafood Shack. Don't wait up for us."

"You've been taking her out on dates to the Seafood Shack?"

"No," Haymitch retorted just as Effie gave a resounding, "Yes."

"Tradition?" Haymitch scoffed as they walked towards the restaurant. "Those times were never a date."

"Not to you, maybe," she said without looking at him, "but they were to me – the play was one and those times at Seafood Shack... Seafood Shack is ours."

Ours, he liked the sound of that but -

"Those weren't dates," he argued. "You paid the bill the second time we were here."

"Haymitch, these are modern times. Women can pay the bills on subsequent dates."

"It wasn't a date," Haymitch insisted. "Besides, it's not... A gentleman wouldn't have let that happen."

"As fate would have it, you are not a gentleman so let the issue rest. Do not ruin tonight by being stubborn."

"You're one to say."

"Haymitch," she touched his wrist and he stopped to look at her. "I do not like people interfering with my life but I'm glad they children did. I'm glad I met you."

"Even though, your first impression of me wasn't the best?" He smirked and nudged her closer to him with a hand on her waist.

"Well, first impressions are rarely true," she pecked his lips. "You weren't interested in dating me. Instead, you became a friend and you learn things about me - things that drive me; that scare me; my hopes and my dreams, and likewise."

"I supposed…." he cleared his throat. "You're one hell of a woman, sweetheart. Didn't dismiss me outright even after the way I acted the first time we met. Gotta admit – I was surprised you even talked to me afterwards when we met again. Must be my charm," he winked.

"Oh, please," she laughed with her head thrown back.

Haymitch couldn't help it. He placed a kiss on the column on her throat.

"Take me out, Haymitch," she hand fluttered to his cheek, "and make it a good one."

This was a very long chapter which I enjoyed writing so much. I was not expecting to love Haymitch and Effie in this au setting but I do! And I wish I had the time to write more chapters but sadly, I do not. In any case, I think I've wrapped the plot to complete the premise of the story.

I hope you still remember the first few scenes in the chapter and that the length did not have a recency effect on you. ;) Review, review! I want to know what your thoughts are every single 'get together' that they have from Haymitch as a chauffeur, to the play, to seafood shack, Haymitch pretending to be her date and so on! Indulge me and let me know.

Thanks so much for reading this story!