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Effie finished zipping up her blue cotton dress, one of her favorites. Her hair fell in waves just below her shoulders, an attempt to let it grow now that she wasn't wearing as many wigs as before. She looked at herself in the mirror, thinking about everything that had happened in the last few months. Her skin had improved considerably now that she wasn't wearing as much makeup as before. Her expression lines were starting to show, but surprisingly, that didn't scare her.
She thought about Haymitch and how he was improving in cutting down on alcohol lately. He seemed more… alive.
She sprayed some perfume and sighed before leaving the room. It was already night outside and a little past dinnertime.
Dealing with irregular schedules had been one of her biggest challenges lately. Effie was used to being in control of everything, and now that she didn't need to be anymore, she sometimes felt useless. It was a feeling she knew she would need to work on getting used to the new routine, but most of the time it felt like it would never go away.
Change wasn't really her strong suit either. Her life became quieter, and although that might have been a dream for some, Effie spent a lot of time believing something was still missing, as if she were incomplete.
The feeling of not belonging drove her crazy at first.
Paylor's first year in office brought drastic changes. Her job no longer existed, and Effie felt out of place until she reconnected with an old passion: fashion. But even being a great lover of art, times had changed, and she needed to keep up with all the changes that followed.
Effie took a deep breath and tried to push away all those thoughts. They always came and went, but that night she didn't want to think about them. She just wanted to enjoy the comfort of a quiet life.
She walked to the dining room, immediately smiling when she saw Haymitch finishing setting the table. He was placing two plates, side by side, when he saw her. His gaze was calm, completely the opposite of how it had been a few years ago. She loved noticing that about him.
Haymitch pulled out one of the chairs and extended his hand, beckoning her. Effie went toward it and sat down, watching him do the same. The table looked beautiful that night. The cake in the center of the table had a magnificent aroma that made Effie close her eyes as she smelled it.
"Peeta?" she asked. Haymitch nodded, smiling.
"But I made dinner," he added.
A platter beside them held spaghetti and ground beef with a seasoning that made her mouth water.
After the war, some critical measures were the first to be taken, such as the government's neglect of the districts' sustenance, especially District Twelve. It took time for everything to recover. It took a good amount of time before it was habitable for everyone.
Life in District Twelve wasn't perfect, but it was better.
They dined in silence, calmly savoring what Haymitch had prepared before moving on to dessert. Effie even got some sauce on the corner of her mouth, and Haymitch wiped it away with his finger, making her laugh.
The only sounds they heard in that house were their own: the clinking of silverware, the juice poured into each glass, the occasional groan of satisfaction at the taste of the food. The atmosphere had never been as calm as it was now.
Haymitch held her hand on the table when they finished. His thumb traced the folds of her fingers, back and forth.
"Effie," he called to her. His gaze moved from her fingers to her eyes. "Will you marry me?"
The question came out quickly, without preamble. His thumb continued tracing a path along her fingers. Effie pressed her lips together and stifled a laugh that struggled to escape. She intertwined her fingers with his. A smile widened on her lips.
"We're already married."
Haymitch smiled back, exhaling through his nose as if holding back laughter as well.
"I know," he said after his laughter subsided. His fingers now wandered along her arm. "It's just that I think it's a little unfair to ask that question only once."
A serene smile appeared on Effie's lips, and she brought a hand to his face. His beard was growing back, and she liked the way it looked.
"I'll answer yes every time you ask, then."
Effie moistened her lips as he leaned toward her, brushing his lips against hers in a slow, passionate kiss. They sighed between kisses, feeling every inch of their bodies warm.
This was her life now. This was her home.
And she couldn't imagine herself anywhere else.