In the movie adaptation of "Mockingjay", as Haymitch and Effie say their last goodbye, it is shown that they might have become a couple during their time spent in District 13. Haymitch kisses Effie on her cheek and tells her to "not be a stranger".
At 16, Haymitch was reaped in the Second Quarter Quell, which was the special name for the 50th Hunger Games. The fellow District 12 tribute was a girl named Maysilee Donner, with whom he formed an alliance for a brief time in the arena, fighting off the Hunger Games' deadly Mutts and career tributes.
Whilst she and Haymitch shared some flirtatious interactions earlier in the books, there's no actual hint of romance between the pair in Mockingjay's book. Haymitch and Effie are not romantically involved. Haymitch and Effie share a kiss as they say goodbye.
In order to punish Haymitch for what was perceived as an act of rebellion, President Snow (who is the protagonist of the prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) ordered Haymitch's family and girlfriend to be killed.
He never married and doesn't have any children, and Katniss wonders how hard it must be for Haymitch to watch District 12's tributes die year after year. She grows fond of Haymitch throughout the novel, and he grows fond of her as well, doing his best to train her, coach her, and watch over her when she returns.
The Entire Life of Haymitch Abernathy Explained (From the Books)
Did Haymitch ever fall in love?
Haymitch Abernathy
He is not known to have ever married, or even been romantic with another woman after her. However, in the films he occasionally engaged in light flirtation with Effie Trinket, and the two kissed in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.
Maysilee most likely didn't know Haymitch before the games, considering they lived in different parts of District 12. But she made an alliance with him and when she was fatally wounded he ran to her and held her hand as she died, indicating they must have cared for each other to some degree.
At the age of 16, Haymitch was reaped as one of District 12's two male tributes for the 50th Hunger Games alongside Maysilee Donner and another female tribute.
Chaff, of course, comes right out and kisses Katniss, though his reason is more to have fun with Katniss's image than to turn it to his advantage. Finnick's and Johanna's tactics, however, are clearly deliberate attempts to manipulate Katniss, and Katniss immediately distrusts both as a result.
While in the woods, Haymitch runs into three career tributes. He's outmanned but not outgunned as he quickly kills two of them with his knife. The final tribute manages to disarm him, and as they go in for the kill, fellow District 12 tribute, Maysilee Donner, kills the career tribute with a dart.
Katniss briefly mentioned that a previous stroke could have caused Mags's garbled speech. However, post-traumatic stress disorder could have also caused her speech incapacity. Both Annie and Katniss suffered from PTSD, as many other Hunger Games victors did.
Katniss makes a mental note to put her on the list of people to be granted immunity since she doesn't want Effie to be killed by President Coin. Effie escorts Katniss to a meeting about a potential 76th Hunger Games. Afterward, she watches as Katniss kills Coin instead of Snow during the execution.
But the way she talks about how Johanna acts around Finnick, I think it is possible that she has romantic feelings for him. They definitely love each other, as in Mockingjay its stated that they consider each other family, but it's hard to tell if it's romantic.
After his victory, President Snow has Haymitch's family murdered in retaliation for his manipulating the force field. Haymitch becomes an alcoholic, spending the next few decades drinking himself to numb the pain. He hates the Hunger Games, the Capitol, and everything they stand for.
This interaction was so surprising to fans because it's not in the books at all. While there's some chemistry between the two throughout the series, nothing ever comes of the tension in Suzanne Collins's novels. Beyond the kiss, nothing happened between the two in the movies either.
He knows what it takes to accomplish his goals, and he'll do whatever is necessary, even if it means lying or misleading people who trust him. Toward the end of the novel, Katniss realizes that Haymitch has been keeping information from her and using her to help the rebellion, causing her to feel extremely betrayed.
Often, he would stare at her in school. Sometimes Katniss would make eye contact with him, only for his eyes to quickly flit away. During an interview with Caesar Flickerman preceding the Games, Peeta admits on national television to having a long-standing crush on Katniss.
Chia Mags kisses Finnick on the mouth to briefly let him know that this is the last time she will see him. It's her way of saying "Goodbye" but in a more affectionate way.
After Katniss is shot by a District 2 refugee and taken to the medical ward herself, Johanna steals and taps into some of her morphling supply. The two chat on Katniss' bed, with Johanna admitting that she somewhat hates Katniss for her role as the mockingjay.
Haymitch was Katniss and Peeta's mentor during their first Hunger Games and the Quarter Quell. At the start of Mockingjay, Katniss doesn't see Haymitch for a long period of time while he's recovering from alcohol withdrawal in dry District 13.
As District 12's only surviving winner of the Hunger Games, Haymitch acts as Katniss's and Peeta's coach throughout the Games. Though he is drunk most, in fact nearly all, of the time, he proves a cunning advisor to the young tributes.
Haymitch hits him after Peeta smacks his class drink out of his hand because he's annoyed by Haymitch's smart advice to “stay alive.” 11. What skill does Katniss reveal to Haymitch? Katniss stabs the table with the knife in between Haymitch's fingers showing that she can use a knife.
Katniss and Lucy Gray are not related beyond their shared District 12 and loving hearts. Fan speculation that the two are related is tantalizing, especially following Lucy Gray's love affair with young Snow. "I've heard that fan theory often. But it's not true," says director Francis Lawrence.
Effie does not really like Haymitch in the first movie/book, due to his drinking. But when time goes by, Effie learns to live with Haymitch and they become close friends. After the rebellion, when Effie says goodbye to Haymitch, he kisses her on the cheek and seconds later on her lips.
Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson): Ralph Abernathy was a leader in the Civil Rights movement, and is a fitting namesake for the revolutionary Haymitch.
