With an exhausted sigh, Helena stretched out her aching muscles. 'Training for the Hunger games didn't hurt this bad.' She laughed to herself. Once she was all stretched, the young girl showed before changing into some everyday clothes. A white halterneck dress sat on her body, secured round the waist with a leather belt. She strapped a pair of leather sandles to her feet and grabbed her canvas tote bag and purse from the dresser.

Helena had agreed to meet up with Haymitch for grocery shopping. It was market day in the district. After plaiting her hair, she made her way outside to see that her mentor was already waiting for her. "Haymitch!" She called out. "Hey, kiddo. How was ballet?" The elder Victor asked. They began to walk next to one another, idle chit-chat flowing between them. "I never realised dance would've hurt that bad, but Madame Dacre says that the aches are natural and that they'd lessen the more that I practised." The girl explained.

When they reached Town Square, the two began rotating through the different stalls. They had decided to divide and conquer, so Helena made her way to the butcher stall with her own and Haymitch's list. Each of them grabbed a crate for the larger items.

"Good afternoon, Mr Farhorn." The girl beamed. "Ah, Miss Baird, how can I help you today?" The gentleman responded. Helena glanced at the list in hand. "Have ya got any lamb in?" She asked. "Fraid not. Though it is due in next week." Farhorn explained, regretfully. The lamb had been due in since the week before the Games, but due to the celebrations, the Capitol had priorities over the deliveries.  "That's alright. May I get a few of them 8-link sausages, a pack of ground beef, some pork chops, and two of them whole chickens there?" Helena listed.

The man began packaging the meat and stacked it inside the crate. "15 coins, please." Mr Farhorn requested as payment. Helena opened up the pouch that she tied to her belt and received a handful of coins from inside. Counting them quickly, she placed 20 coins down. "Keep the change." She said with a as she grabbed her crate. "Bless your heart, Miss Baird, but I can't accept this." Mr Farhorn stated, trying to return the 5 extra coins. "Please, I insist." The victor stated with a smile before walking away.

Her next stop on the list was the baked goods stall, where she could see a few boys running around playing. "Helena, how can I help you today?" A voice spoke to you. "Good afternoon, Mr Mellark. I've got quite a list." Helena and the man laughed. "May I get a seeded bloomer loaf, two loaves of sandwich bread, some bagels, half a dozen assorted muffins, and some pasties, please?" The girl requested. He began to pack the order when Mrs Mellark came out with the restock. She looked angrily at her sons playing.

"Boys!" She shouted, and the children stopped playing to stare at their mother. "I had been shouting for one of you to carry the baked goods to your father, and no one came!" The woman continued. "Sorry, Mother." The eldest responded, all three of them looking down at their feet. "You better be! Pay attention next time! We have customers wanting their bread!" Mrs Mellark berated.

"Sorry about that." Mr Mellark apologised as he packed the backed goods into her crate. "How much do I owe you?" Helena questioned, reaching into her purse. "Just 10 coins." The man responded. Helena grabbed the 13 coins from her purse and handed 10 to Mr Mellark. She looked at the three boys sympathetically. "Here." She said, placing a coin in each of their hands. "Thank Helena!" They chorused before rushing inside to store it somewhere.

The young victor smiled as she travelled to her last stall. "Vegetables! Get ya vegetables! Fresh from Eleven!" The seller called out. Helena approached and began to look over the produce, checking over the list.  "Helena, I was wondering when I'd see your face around the District." The girl looked up at the voice, coming face to face with Mrs Fallow, her auburn hair shining in the sun. "Mrs Fallow, how are you?" Helena asked. "I've been good. It's a little bit lonely, but overall, I'm okay." The woman answered, looking at the vegetables. "What about you? I hope you haven't been locking yourself away in that house of yours." She chided playfully. "No ma'am, I've just been busy, that's all." Helena replied with a laugh.

After paying for her own vegetables and Mrs Fallows, the two walked to the fountain. "You didn't have to do that, y'know?" Mrs Fallow quirked a brow. "I know, but it's the least I can do." Helena said, looking down. The older woman smiled warmly. "Wanna know something? When I was sending off my Cole, he told me he wasn't coming home. Y'wanna know why?" Mrs Fallow asked. The young victor nodded. "He said he was gonna get you out of that arena, no matter what. And my boy is a man of his word." The woman explained.

"How can you not hate me?" Helena asked meekly. "How could anyone hate you, sweet?" Mrs Fallow rebuked rhetorically. "You did what you thought was best for my son. You didn't know what that wood would do. So no, darlin', I don't hate you at all." She exclaimed. "Thank you." The twelve-year-old stated. "Anytime. Now, I think Haymitch is ready to leave." She said, pointing to the man. "Bye, Mrs Fallow." Helena spoke as she grabbed her crate. "Goodbye, dear." The older woman replied.

As the two victors walked side by side, Haymitch looked to the girl. "So, what did you two speak about?" He asked. "Not much, but I know now that she doesn't hate me." Helena responded. "I told you." The man said, sing-songingly. Helena elbowed him in the ribs, and he looked at her incredulously. "Don't push it, missy!" He sassed. Then the two of them broke out laughing.

"Same time next week?" Helena asked as they swapped goods. "Yeah, why not?" Haymitch responded.