The days grow longer and the faint scent of lilies fill the warm air as Effie flings the curtains apart and throws the living room windows open. Haymitch grimaces at the sudden intrusion of light but smiles at the sight of her by the window, bathed in the late morning light. The scars on her arms glow differently from the rest of her skin. They always have, even in the moonlight. But he doesn't need light to know their locations on her body; he's explored and mapped every inch of her hundreds of times, and she him. She's padding around the house in nothing but one of his shirts and he snorts at her squeal of surprise when there's a knock on the front door.

As Effie scrambles up the stairs to get dressed he ambles over to let whoever's knocking, probably Katniss or Peeta or both of them, into the house. Peeta greets him with a warm smile and a cheery 'Good morning!'. Haymitch just nods and looks at the boy expectantly.

"Katniss and I are having some brunch in our garden," he beams, "We were wondering if you and Effie would like to join us,"

"Brunch huh?" he ponders, his stomach growling in approval.

Before he can answer, they hear Effie calling from the top of the stairs.

"We'll be there, Peeta. Just," she grunts, "Need to get dressed,"

Peeta has a knowing smirk on his face and Haymitch's glare sends him scurrying across the green back to his house.

Effie practically glides down the stairs in the sunflower yellow sundress he loves, with her blond hair tumbling over her shoulders in gentle waves. He presses a small kiss to her temple when she cuts a few stalks of lilies, gathering them up in a bunch, before they make their way across.

"For the house," Effie smiles as she offers the flowers to Katniss.

"Let's put them in a pitcher for now," she murmurs, "Peeta smashed one of the few vases we had left,"

He looks at them, a combination of sheepish and guilty, "I had an episode,"

Katniss just squeezes his hand reassuringly before Haymitch cuts in, complaining about how hungry he is and they make their way towards the back garden.

They walk around barefoot on the grass and lie on blankets in the shade of the trees. Primroses bloom around them. Leaves rustle in the breeze. The smell of freshly baked bread lingers in the air. Effie braids Katniss' hair as she eats cheese buns, Peeta sketches while Haymitch examines his prosthetic leg with curiosity. They don't speak much, if at all. But Katniss is humming softly and Haymitch has a ghost of smile on his lips.

Before they leave, Peeta hands them a canvas.

"We thought it was the right time to give this to you," he beams shyly, blue eyes bright in the sun.

Effie gasps at the painting, Haymitch's eyes soften.

It's of them. Laughing amidst the trees and wildflowers on a chequered blanket. Haymitch has an arm around his stomach, his mouth open in a deep belly laugh. Effie's lips are parted in a chuckle, her arms bent to resemble a chicken. Haymitch glances at the painting, then at Peeta and Katniss holding hands, then at Effie staring at the picture in awe next to him and he thinks that maybe this is it. Maybe there isn't a way to escape the nightmares. Maybe there isn't a way to erase the memories. But maybe there's a way to live instead of just existing with them. Maybe there's a way to heal. To move on.

Fin.