A/N: This took forever, I know! I must have written about 3 versions of it and I was never happy with how it turned out; in the end, this is the shortest version but I felt like sometimes less is more — and thus is the case here. It's the ending, but in a way it's just the beginning — you'll see what I mean. Hope everyone likes it! Let me know your thoughts!

Chapter 8

It's cloudy when she arrives.

Really, it's ridiculous how the weather resembles that day, over two years ago. This time she isn't walking around leisurely holding an umbrella because she can't afford to smudge her heavy makeup over some sweat. This time, she's carrying a suitcase, and she wishes she had applied some sunscreen before leaving the train.

Some people look her way — not because they recognize her, but because she must be a strange sight, in her yellow dress and the pink suitcase trailing behind her, its wheels making quite a bit of noise on the pavement. There are a lot of constructions happening around what used to be the main square. Effie likes it. It means it'll probably look nothing like what it used to.

It takes her some time to reach the village. She would have caught a taxi if she had seen any, but the few cars around seem to belong to the workers or the companies that are rebuilding. She doesn't see anyone she recognizes.

By the time she reaches the village's gateway, her heart is beating strong against her chest and she's sweating a little — either because it's hot or because she's nervous, Effie can't tell.

She keeps walking.

The houses seem empty. She sees some smoke from a chimney — from Peeta's house, she knows for a fact — and the flowers in the front yard actually look beautiful and the garden is well kept. Katniss' house, across the street, looks almost abandoned, except for the open window and the cat meowing in front of the door. Effie walks past it all.

Her eyes settle on Haymitch's house.

That one does look abandoned, and something moves inside her heart. A feeling — concern. It makes her stop walking.

Effie takes a deep breath. She smooths down her dress, runs a hand through her hair. It's longer now. She likes it this way. She almost reaches for the mirror inside her bag, but holds that thought aside.

A door opens loudly, and Effie jumps a little. It's not Haymitch's — it's Katniss'. There's a curse from the girl and a hiss from the cat.

"Stupid cat," Katniss mumbles, and Effie watches as her eyes follow the cat and then finally spot her. She braces herself for whatever question will come from the girl, but she's surprised at the way her face hardens. "Can I help you?"

Effie is taken by the harsh tone of her voice, and she takes a moment to gather her thoughts — a hand runs through her hair again, a little too nervous.

"The village is closed to journalists," Katniss says when Effie doesn't reply right away.

Oh.

She doesn't recognize her.

"Yes, Katniss, I know," Effie says instead. If she was self-conscious before, she's even more so now.

Katniss frowns. "Effie?" Effie nods. Katniss is clearly surprised. "Oh, sorry. Didn't recognize you without the, um, makeup."

"It's alright," Effie says, a little awkwardly. She pats her hair once more. Katniss stares.

"You look different," Katniss says, also awkwardly. The poor girl never had the best of manners before; that clearly hasn't changed. "It's good."

It makes Effie smile, though — because she knows Katniss is genuine. She was never very good at pretending, or lying, and in the past it annoyed Effie to no end, but today it's almost reassuring.

"Thank you."

"Are you here to visit us? Peeta didn't say anything," Katniss continues, walking down the steps to the sidewalk.

Peeta does call frequently, the darling boy. Effie's only connection to Twelve in the past five months.

"It was a bit of a hasty decision, actually," she tells the girl. "I didn't have time to call anyone."

"That's okay. Not much happens here nowadays," Katniss smiles; it looks like an honest one. "I'm sure we can find you a room to stay—with me or Peeta."

"Oh, I don't want to impose on any of you," Effie says mechanically. It's hard to leave old habits behind, especially the ones regarding her educations. Manners maketh man — and woman, her aunt would say.

Five months may seem like a short time but it feels like forever to her. Therapy has kept her somewhat busy, but finding work has been hard and — the truth of the matter is that Effie's life has been so unexpected that she didn't truly look for a job. Not when she might have to leave it soon.

But social life in the Capitol isn't what it used to be; some people still cling to the old ways, many have lost their money and properties, more than a few of her acquaintances didn't survive the war, or were left with little means to continue the life they had. Things changed, and still are changing, and maybe in the middle of this all Effie has realized that to get back on her steady feet she can't be in the Capitol.

More importantly, she has changed. She doesn't care much for gossip or status anymore. Fashion is changing too, and she's struggling to keep up with it because she doesn't have enough interest or money. She hopes at least the interest will change and she'll get there.

Coming to Twelve once Dr. Aurelius told her she could be treated remotely should she want to was a whim of a decision that Effie is regretting by the minute, though.

"Come on, Peeta is making dinner," Katniss says after a moment. "Haymitch's probably there already."

The name freezes Effie for a moment.

"Oh, I couldn't, Katniss. To show up unannounced like this," she starts, but Katniss interrupts her.

"It's not a big deal. Peeta always makes more food than we can eat," she rolls her eyes, and starts crossing the street.

Effie follows her.

Katniss doesn't knock, simply opens the door and walks in while Effie is still struggling to get her suitcase up the steps to the door; it doesn't give her much time to think about her current situation. She will face Haymitch with her head held high — she has no regrets over her requested time off but she admits she's a little hurt at his phone being out of reach and him never calling. It's this fact the main reason why she's so worried about coming — perhaps he regrets their involvement, or perhaps he feels guilty still and doesn't want her to know it. She's a big girl — she can handle a breakup. She doesn't want to, but she can handle it.

And she won't blame him, because part of her thinks their whole relationship was a mistake to begin with.

But the past is in the past, and she believes in moving on. She believes that things will get better. She lives her life by this rule and — slowly, it has been getting better.

She has to try with Haymitch, at least. She has to try, and if he doesn't want her, or if it doesn't last, then — she'll just move on, like she's always done. Like she's doing. Effie Trinket is nothing if not resilient.

Still, she is surprised to find him staring at her the moment she crosses the doorway, a little sweaty from the heat and the nerves and of carrying the top heavy suitcase up the stairs.

But Peeta acts first and Effie is engulfed in a hug before she can even try to decipher what Haymitch's eyes may tell her.

"Effie! What a surprise!" The boy says, and Effie hugs him back and realizes she has missed him more than she thought she had.

She meets the gray eyes again and they tell her nothing.

Typical. She could never read Haymitch like he reads her, truly.

"I'm very sorry for showing up unannounced," Effie says once Peeta has let her go. "Really, such bad manners don't become me."

"It's fine. I can take your suitcase upstairs, if you'd like," Peeta offers, his manners impeccable, as always. "Is that all you've brought?"

He seems surprised, though Effie doesn't get why — she's never packed lightly, but Peeta wouldn't have seen the dozens of bags she brought to the Victory Tour last year.

"With me, yes. The rest stayed in the station, I'm afraid. I couldn't find a car and could not bring them myself," Effie tells him, hoping Haymitch catches the meaning behind her words.

"How long are you staying?"

Haymitch's words aren't as harsh as she thought they would be. They're guarded — quiet even. She stares at him. He looks sober — tired, but good. She wonders if she looks the same.

"Hello to you too, Haymitch," Effie says, a little annoyed, a little out of breath, a little nervous too. She tucks a strand of her behind her ear. "I'm not sure how long I'm staying. It'll depend."

She can feel his annoyance from the distance between them — even if he hasn't let it be shown yet. He's too guarded, and this makes her guarded as well; they have always had the sense of trying to keep their emotions matching — usually for a fight. One of them will have to give, as always — and for the first time Effie isn't afraid that she'll be the one to do it. Nervous, yes. But not afraid.

She's been through too much to worry about such things now.

"Depend on what?" Haymitch asks quietly. Peeta and Katniss are watching them, one intrigued, the other bored.

Effie would rather not have an audience, but very well. He asked for it.

"On whether or not you'll want me to stay," she says truthfully, her words quicker than her usual speed, betraying just how nervous she feels.

Their eyes lock. She holds her breath.

"Peeta, put Effie's suitcase in my house, would you?" Haymitch says, eyes never leaving Effie.

She lets out a shaky breath, looks around to see Peeta nodding in understanding, and Katniss frown in confusion. The boy stops by the door, next to Effie.

"Katniss, can you help me out here?"

The girl still frowns. "It's only one suitcase."

"Please?" Peeta asks patiently, and it's enough for Katniss to leave.

The door clicks shut behind them, and there's silence. Haymitch has yet to move from his spot by the doorway.

"You're really staying?"

Effie nods. "If you'll have me," she breathes. "The Capitol isn't the same anymore, there's nothing for me there, and Dr. Aurelius says I'm doing well, and I— I missed you, and you didn't call."

The words are fast — too fast — and betray her completely, but she doesn't care. The past can't be erased, she understands it now; she can look forward, and if she has to take risks to get there, then so be it.

"My phone broke," he tells her, almost softly. "Not as simple to get it fixed nowadays. Not a priority."

"You could have used Peeta's."

He purses his lips. "Wanted to give you some space," he shakes his head. "Didn't want you to think you had any… obligation towards me."

"The distance is enough space," Effie argues. "I don't think of you as an obligation. I came here because," she stops talking suddenly, and the many things she's wanted to say to him draw a blank in her mind. "I want a future. I finally want a future, and I… I want you in it. With me. If you want to."

He uncrosses his arms, stands taller. She sees the beginning of a smirk on his lips and a laugh escapes hers; he tries to fight it, though, but he does smile and — he hasn't looked this young in so many years, this carefree in so long, and it makes her a little proud that she has anything to do with it.

"Come here, Sweetheart," he asks.

But Effie shakes her head.

"Can you meet me halfway?"

She's smiling.

His eyes are twinkling.

There will be issues, she knows — they're both difficult people, and they've both been through a lot, and they both have issues of their own to handle. She hopes to make a garden out of his front yard, and she hopes his house doesn't look as bad inside as it used to be in the past. She'll wake him up with her nightmares and she'll beg him to try to sleep with her during the night, instead of daytime.

The flowers will grow there, hopefully, and maybe their love and their family will too.

They meet halfway with a kiss.