Epilogue

Haymitch

He stands at the station in 5, waiting for his train to come. In seven hours he'll be in 12, with Katniss, and though he's already managed to bear three weeks without her somehow this last part of the waiting feels the worst. Like so many times since he said goodbye to her in the Capitol, he finds himself remembering the night they'd spent together after the reception, how it had felt to hold her, to kiss her.

In the morning, as they'd lain together in her bed she'd put her face close to his. 'Come to 12 with me.' There was nothing he wanted more than to say yes – but there were too many people relying on him in 5, and he knew he had to tie up his responsibilities there before he could finally come to her.

'Three weeks, sweetheart. Three weeks, and I'll be there.'

'I'll hold you to that,' she'd said seriously, and he'd grinned before her kisses had made him forget to hold his smile.

As always when he thinks of her he feels an ache of longing, a physical pain. More times than he can count he'd thought of quitting it all there and then, ordering the hovercraft Plutarch's put at his disposal and flying to 12. Now at last the job is finished and he's here at the station, watching the train approach, remembering watching Katniss walk towards him on this very platform, only three weeks ago. And yet now those three weeks feel like a lifetime.

A familiar voice stirs him from his thoughts.

'So, you're off after all. I can see I have no chance of persuading you to stay on.'

'Bye, Plutarch.' Haymitch sticks out a hand and Plutarch shakes it genially. 'Working with you again wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.'

Plutarch smiles. 'Be that as it may, I truly am grateful for your assistance. Your timely appearance prevented a nationwide blackout.'

'Appearance. You're making it sound like I was the one to come after you.'

'Well, as you've complained on many occasions, I'm too persistent for my own good.' Plutarch pauses, leaning back with a contemplative smile on his lips. 'To tell the truth, I was surprised when you accepted my offer after turning it down so many times. Part of me thought you'd stay in 12 and drink your life away.'

Haymitch presses his lips together. 'You really pour the honey on. Then you lick it off.'

Plutarch lets out a loud laugh, clapping Haymitch on the back. 'Well, I wish you all the best. Give Katniss my regards.' There's a glint in his eye and Haymitch quickly shakes his hand again and gets on the train. Looking out the window as the train starts to move, Haymitch sees Plutarch's still smiling to himself.

Since they haven't had a chance to see each other in three weeks, and having parted discreetly in the Capitol, so far he and Katniss have managed to keep themselves out of the talk shows. Neither of them has told anyone apart from Peeta and Delly about their new relationship, and he hopes Plutarch will keep his suspicions to himself. One day the press is bound to get hold of the story, but until then he and Katniss intend to enjoy their privacy for as long as possible. And when the day does come, he reminds himself, it'll blow over quickly enough. 12 is too far from the Capitol for interest to run very long.

…

It's dark when the train pulls into 12. As he steps onto the snow-covered platform a figure comes forward: Katniss. Without a word they step into each other's arms. The platform is empty and he kisses her slowly. Her arms lock around his neck as she opens her mouth to his. He can sense her pain at being away from him so long, her joy that he's returned to her – emotions he shares with equal force, and knows he needs to be alone with her right now, somewhere private.

He pulls back. 'Your place or mine?'

Her teeth glint in the darkness. 'My place has a fire going.'

They walk quickly up the path leading to Victors' Village. There's hardly anyone about.

'Peeta sends his regards,' Katniss tells him. 'He says he'll come and say hi tomorrow.' She pauses. 'I think he wanted to let us be alone till then.'

Haymitch suppresses a smile: the boy's tact knows no limits.

As they start to climb the hill they see a figure heading away from Victors' Village but it's too dark to see who it is.

All the houses but Katniss's are dark – Peeta's moved in with Delly and her brother in a house close to the hospital. They go inside, stamping off the snow, leaving his bags by the door, and head for the kitchen. Buttercup is curled up on the rocking chair and a fire burns in the grate. A pot of stew simmers on the stove and the table is set for two.

He notices Katniss's look of surprise. 'Did you tell Sae I was coming?'

She shakes her head, looking thoughtful and embarrassed at the same time. 'She must have guessed.'

He smiles, winding his arm around her waist and drawing her to him. 'I missed you, too,' he murmurs against her lips.

She wraps her arms around his neck. She's so close he can feel the steady beat of her heart against his chest.

'Luckily stew can keep,' he murmurs in her ear and she laughs.

The End

A/N: And so the story comes to an end. Please leave a review; I'd love to hear from you.

Credit goes to Mad Men for the 'You really pour the honey on' line – it made me think of Haymitch when I heard it and it was too good not to borrow.