Things change (Haymitch and Effie)

Chapter 13

Author's notes: Hello there! I'M BACK!
So, going almost 2 months without writing fanfictions was killing me, so....here I am!

Fun fact, I'm planning to write some Saw and The last of us fanfictions so for any fans out there keep you eyes pealed for updates. (I am actually using some saw ideas for this - Don't worry there's going to be no gruesome traps.)

I know I say it all the time, but I really do love all you readers, you make this worth it. Thank you all so much!

Things change (Haymitch and Effie)
Chapter 13

Weeks flew away from us in a whirlwind of anticipation. The sealed envelope that held our betting money regarding the gender of our child lay lifelessly on the bedside table. Lifeless yet full of wonder and excitement. Effie's stomach had now grown to a larger size, the size of a woman who is three months pregnant to be exact. Neither of us really had any experience with children, I remember little about when my younger brother was a baby and Effie had never had any siblings, yet she seemed so motherly, I guess it just came naturally to some people, and I can't say I'm surprised to discover that someone as caring as Effie has such strong maternal instinct and knowledge. However, nothing was ever perfect. Effie was still getting occasional side effects from the tracker jacker stings she had suffered all those months ago, so we took regular trips to the Capitol hospitals, just to make sure everything was remaining okay. So far nothing was wrong.

To lighten the mood during Effie's third month of pregnancy Katniss finally gave birth to her own child, a beautiful girl that she and Peeta had decided to name Primrose. A tribute to her fallen sister.

"Since Katniss and Peeta have had a girl it's obvious that we're having a boy!" I claimed stupidly.
"What logic did you use to work that out?!" Effie laughed.
"It's true!"
"Really?" She sarked.

"Yep! We might as well say that I've won this bet!"
"Oh, so you can run off with my money?"
"Uh-huh!" I laughed.
"I don't think so, Haymitch Abernathy!" She prodded my chest with her finger.

"Bit of a sore loser aren't we?" I joked.
"Neither of us have won anything yet, so if I were you I'd keep that mouth of yours shut!"

"But then how will I kiss you?" I joked.
"You wont!" She retorted playfully.
"Sowwy." I apologised in a childish voice. Effie laughed. We closed the gap between us and our lips hugged each other gently. We visited Katniss that week, and it became the kind of stereotypical scene you'd expect to see, Effie and Katniss fussing over the baby and talking about pregnancy, whilst Peeta and myself chatted alone, which I almost found surprising, maybe Katniss had banished him to me so I wouldn't be such a third-wheeler in this little social gathering. But, regardless of the pairs we ended up in conversations turned to little baby Willow, which I didn't mind at all, it actually enhanced my own excitement and anticipation for the arrival of my own child. Seeing how happy Katniss and Peeta were after becoming parents was magical. I didn't think that Effie and I could get any happier together, but witnessing this truly made me believe that we could. The concept was sensational. I almost felt a sense of disappointment that we still had to wait four or five months, but I knew for a certainty that the result of this pregnancy would be such a phenomenal experience that every second of the wait would certainly be worth it.

The fourth month was when decoration of the baby's room began to take place, and due to us insisting that our child's gender should remain a surprise, we had to stick with neutral beige colours, toys and cute cartoon-style animal patterns, and of course, both of us were still battling in our gender bet.
"Effs, you know I'm going to win this bet!" I claimed.

"You can say that as much as you want, Haymitch, it's not going to improve your chances!" She laughed. I kneeled down in front of Effie and planted a light kiss on her still growing stomach whilst stroking it's diameter. Once again, our love for something still unborn was growing, growing just like the baby.