THE LIE

I Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Ok the assignment is to make base character do something unforgivably dark. So It had to be pretty bad beings Haymitch is beautiful dark in the first place. In catching fire, if Haymitch and Katniss went to the arena, what would he do to make sure that she won? Assume no rebellion has been started to save them all from the arena – only the rumors and the trouble has landed them in this mess and following that logic - of course Haymitch would join her, wanting to give his kids a chance while ending his own pain once and for all.

This is my version. (oh and miss MarbleSharp - this is rated for your zone of safety! Lemon flowers, but no bees) There will be blood, after all it is what the public wants in this world of murderous Panem.

Chapter 1 (reap and sew)

"When god is gone and the devil takes hold, who'll have mercy on your soul….oooohhhoooo death" Jen Titus- found in Panem's antique song museum.

Effie Trinket stands on the stage, looking sick to her stomach. She has just called the only female name, Katniss Everdeen. She reaches into the male jar, the one with two slips. A tear leaks down her cheek and she doesn't bother to brush it away.

"Peeta Mellark." She announces, voice just above a whisper.

Peeta groans, not because he will go to the games, but because he knows he won't. He has lost. Haymitch smirks and bottle in hand, he shouts, "I volunteer!"

Effie closes her eyes shaking in sorrow she must control for the camera. She forces her face into a smile and welcome's her dear friend to his death. He bends her over planting a kiss on her lips and unlike last year, she doesn't protest. This year is different. This is the last year she will ever see his drunken annoyingly inappropriate behavior and it has just dawned on her, he will never try to kiss her again.

Katniss smiles at Haymitch and they stand beside each other holding each other, her hands resting on his waist, his draped protectively on her shoulder. In the capital, an announcer voices over this footage, giving back story for the district twelve tributes for the quarter Quell. Peeta Mellark fumes as he looks up at them. The peacekeepers shove them toward the train with no goodbyes allowed.

Peeta and Katniss do not comfort each other, at odds over this twist. Peeta wanted to go to the games with her, to protect her. He fears that Haymitch will somehow let her down. He is appalled by their cheerful tasteless banter.

He is angered at how Haymitch and Katniss look dark and forbidding on the chariot as Haymitch's hand rests casually at her hip, instead of his own. He doesn't like the implications the media keeps expressing about a May-December romance, while Katniss and Haymitch just smirk and hang on each other more. He doesn't like the way Finnick Odair keeps showing up, watching Katniss like a dog in heat. When she begins to return his flirtatious behavior, Peeta hopes the man with the green eyes dies bloody. He never realized Odair and Abernathy have shared such history. It makes him sick to watch them all pretend as if the world is at their beck and call.

They both score a 12, which makes his tributes the first target. They will kill Haymitch first, then who knows what they will do to Katniss. Fate is always a cruel master. If they died, he would never see district twelve again. No, if she died. If Haymitch came home fine, but Peeta would never mentor again. If she died, he would meet her there. He knew this insane jealousy he was developing was just a manifestation of his fear of her loss. But, it felt awfully real.

The interviews were a disaster; Haymitch was brutally sarcastic, winning no hearts and little sympathy for Katniss. She had created a stir in that dress Cinna had altered for her but the repercussions terrified him. He had never run computers before and all the keys and programs frustrated him, but he knew the lives of Katniss and Haymitch depended on his ability to learn how to do this.

When he finally joined them for dinner before the recap, he found them mildly drunk and making horrible jokes about death and carcass collection. They had no shame and no willingness to exercise any restraint. The way they acted made him feel like an outsider. Peeta took one look at Effe Trinket's horrified face and he lost it.

"Stop drinking you idiots. This is no time for you two to be stupid." Peeta shouts as Effie looks on, tears sliding down her face at how unfair this situation has become.

"Well Sweetheart, we don't have to stand for this. Come, let's adjourn to my room for a private strategy session." Haymitch winks at her. He grabs two bottles of expensive champagne and the ice bucket, before heading to his room.

Katniss stands up and glares at Peeta as she follows Haymitch down the hallway, two fluted glasses in her hand. Peeta hears the door lock and he looses his control. With a growl he lifts the entire dining table and tosses it on its side. Effie runs down the hall to her room and the avox Darius, silently picks up the mess. Peeta stands at the window; ashamed, furious and so very afraid he will watch them both die. The giggles, songs and happy sounds coming from Haymitch's room do nothing for the blond man's foul mood.

As the recap of the interviews begin, Effie joins him on the couch. He apologizes softly and she reaches out her hand and takes Peeta's without saying a word. They watch it in silence.

Katniss snuggles to Haymitch. They lay in peaceful silly sorrow together, both secretly intending to send the other home from the games. The laughter and off color jokes have given way to the soft velvet love of a father for the daughter he never had and a girl who has found someone who she can love without fear.

Her head rests on his chest and as she listens to his heartbeat, nothing matters; he has kept Peeta safe for her. She can't stand the thought of what they will have to do, that in just days or hours, this steady drum that anchors her in a way no boy can, could stop beating forever. He will try to make it happen. He will try to break his heart for her, and because of this, she must cling to him. It is her last chance to explain how she feels for him. She can't explain in words, they don't do that sort of thing. But this, comfort of holding on to each other, speaks to each what they need to hear.

They will love each other; enjoying the sweetness they have always felt for each other with open hearts now, both knowing this is goodbye. He pets her hair and and kisses her on the top of her head. She takes his hand and kisses the back of it, holding it to her face in reverence. She is drifting toward sleep when he stirs slightly.

She pops her head up, looking adorable with the imprint of his shirt button high on her cheek. "It is getting late sweetheart, you should go." He says with regret.

She nods, but doesn't leave. "I love you, you know?" she says kissing his cheek, the champagne giving her courage to say what she has needed to say.

"I will love you forever Katniss. No matter what happens, what you see, know it is out of love. Promise me sweetheart?" His words are sweet, but his eyes are hard.

She bows her head to his chest again breathing in his smell. He looked so handsome for the interviews tonight, the best she'd ever seen him look. Cinna had dressed him in formal tails, the father of the bride, ready to give her away. She had been stuck in that horrible wedding dress, that burned into a mockingjay like a magic shroud for her grief.

"Can I stay?" she whispers.

He sighs, unsure how to respond. "I don't think that is a good idea sweetheart, our mentor would jump to the wrong conclusion, and frankly, I think he is upset enough with us. What will the media say, thinking you seduced me with your feminine wiles"

She glares at him and slaps his chest. "I am not worried about that you big jerk. I don't think I even have any of those." She wiggles her finger in that spot on his ribs that she has discovered he's ticklish and he jerks helplessly before capturing her hand in his own to stop the torture. " I just want to be here, with you. I want to sleep and I won't have bad dreams if I know you're here."

"You promise not to take advantage of me?" He smirks.

She scowls and doesn't respond. "I don't know how to…You are a man Haymitch. It seems like something you might want on your last night. I would for you, if it…." She blushes shamefully.

"Katniss, that…" he doesn't know what to say, knowing he can't dare make fun of her. "That ….why would you say that sweetheart?"

"Because, You don't have anybody. I could. I mean I don't want to let you die and not have ever thought about what you might have wanted. I will die to protect you. Giving you something, like a present, can't be as hard as that Haymitch." She doesn't meet his eyes except at the part about protecting him.

"Wait, are you saying, you and Peeta have never?" Haymitch had suspected they had not, but he'd hoped for both of their sake.

She shakes her head. "We don't."

He touches her face and lifts her chin so she has to look at him. "Then the gift you offer is too great a treasure to be mine. Katniss, I will send you home to him. No matter what I have to do, you must keep that gift for the one who will be your husband." His eyes dance with kindness.

"But if I die, then I will never have one." She whispers.

"Then if this is something you feel strongly about, you should be in his room right now, not mine." Haymitch pulls her to him and kisses her forehead. His lips don't leave her skin as he speaks.. "Thank you for the thought sweetheart. If you were ten years older, I would be inclined to give you no rest this night. Katniss, when I fanaticize about you, you are my own daughter, not something I want to take as a lover. Thank you, but no." He tries to say this all in a way that will not upset her.

Young girls egos are fragile, hers perhaps more than any, though she won't admit it. This was not the time for him to laugh at her, she had offered for his sake. Even if she wanted it for herself, the thought of her in that way could not settle with him as desire. If Effie had made the offer, he would have taken her up on it. He liked women of ambiguous age, not young ladies who were not even alive during his own first Quell.

She can't quite hide the relief on her face and she blushes and feels foolish for her suggestion. "You can't be my Daddy Hay, but you're sort of a big ole Papa Bear. Will that do?"

"A more treasured gift than the first, my little babydoll." He whispers, tears welling in his bright gray eyes.

A firm knock sounds at the door. Katniss hops up and opens the door to find a glaring Peeta standing rigidly. He seems surprised when he realizes they are both still dressed. "I don't mean to disturb you, but I came to say goodbye." His voice is stiff and formal, as if he is a stranger to them.

Haymitch snickers. "My daughter has decided to spend the night here, would my son like to join us? Last night to be a family?"

Peeta's eyes darken and he looks at Katniss. "Oh I am taking off the feathers, but stay here, because I will be back." Katniss turns and waits for Peeta to undo the tiny buttons that lock her in this strange and beautiful garment. She digs through Haymich's drawers and grabs some ugly man pajamas and heads to the bathroom.

Peeta looks at Haymitch with a quizzical expression. His mouth opens.

"So are you staying with us or are you leaving me with the seductive little wildcat to have her way with me?" Haymitch asks with a smile.

Peeta turns beet red, unsure how to take this statement. "I didn't know I was invited."

"Well, I am inviting you. What did you think I was going to do, paw at her and face you? That what you expect of me? No wonder you have been such a grouch. I will get her back to you Peeta."

Peeta hangs his head and sighs. "I do believe that Haymitch. I do."

"You better."

The wild cat steps out of the bathroom with what looks like baggy clown cloths tied into knots to hold them up and legs and sleeves rolled up. Her hair stands up in strange loops and angles, stiff with spray, but no longer contained with pins. She looks like a ravished ragamuffin. Peeta rolls his eyes and laughs.

Haymitch joins him in laughing and Katniss asking what's so funny simply makes them laugh harder. By the time they all stop giggling at her appearance, the three of them are snuggled down. Katniss and Peeta lay on either side of Haymitch, holding hands across his chest and wishing this night would not end.

"Night Papa." Katniss says, words slurred with alcohol and exhaustion.

Peeta's eyes open for a second and he says nothing at the satisfied smirk that appears on Haymitch's face. The man looks downright peaceful and content for once. He looks at Katniss, and cant help but grin at how her face, framed in left over dreadlocks of her ruined quaff of hair, looks like a wild angel resting inches from him.

He forces himself to hope she will survive and he dreams of a future, but the dreams can't come true. The bell to the bakery jingles and they turn to greet the customer. An older, sober Haymitch grins as he leads two small children into the new Mellark Bakery.

"Gran-Papa took us to the candy store Mamma and we brought Daddy peppermints." The oldest child says still clinging to Haymitch's finger.

"Now you have gotten me in trouble." Haymitch grumbles in mock betrayal.

Katniss bends to the child and kisses her head, eyes twinkling at Haymitch, she searches his pockets and tickles him. "What did Papa bring me?"

"Well Mrs. Mellark, what makes you think I would bring you any goodies when you always insist on spoiling our fun." Haymitch chews his lip as Katniss crosses her arms pretending anger. Finally he gives in and reaches in his greatcoat pocket. "Chocolate raisins, as always, but I am giving them to your husband this time. Maybe he can actually get them baked into the cookies before you sneak them all, for once."

Katniss rolls her eyes as Peeta interjects, "Haymitch, you have turned into an optimist?"

Katniss giggles, "Just old and delusional."

Haymitch's face grows serious. "Anything is possible sweetheart. Anything."

I have four chapters mapped out for this, but beings I pantser, that could change - thank you for your reviews - any guesses on what the big ole dark thing Hay must do will be -hehehehe. Keep reading -it might be _Review Please