DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of it's characters.

Alright so, I got distracted and as per most happenings when my mind wonders I got an idea for a fanfiction/story.

This of course resulted in Third Times the Charm! It's a little fanfiction I'm kind of embarrassed about in current time however was very proud of when I first wrote it. It's seven chapters long (eight including the epilogue) and stars Ann and two unlikely bachelors for her. There is many things I would do differently now but it was a huge learning block in my writing career and I won't shy away from sharing something that taught me so much with any of you. I hope you are able to enjoy it.

Third Times the Charm
Chapter 1

I've never been one to cry, one to dwell on all the bad in life... I've never truly been one to let one little thing affect me so badly… Maybe this was because of my mother's departure in my early years. Because I knew things could always become worse, maybe not… However for whatever the reason one fact remained true: I, Ann Baker was not the first person you'd guess to see shedding tears on Mother's Hill. But had you been present in my life the past year and half you might be able to understand, even just a little. And I think you might agree my recent life pretty much totally sucks. And like any other clichéd sad girl's story, mine starts with a guy.

His name was Jack Peterson. He was -at the time- the new farmer of Skywind farm. Before him an older man had ran the farm, and although his actual relationship to Jack is fuzzy it's been a common guess that he was Jack's distant grandfather. Perhaps on his mothers side. And before Jack came the boys in humble old Mineral Town had just always been the same for me. They were the little boys I grew up with since I was little. Bossy Rick, shy but tough Gray and the awkward Trent... True in the months before Jack two other boys had moved in, one just for the summer named Kai the other a quiet traveler who seemed to take a liking to the town. But Jack was different and I knew it. Ever since the first day he walked into the Inn, his hair ruffled by the wind cheeks tinged pink.

He carried himself differently than those around here, straighter more confident. He was a true city-boy, and he was sophisticated and determined. I couldn't explain it at the time but I was deeply, deeply fascinated with the farmer from first sight. Although I was nineteen and clearly no child my thoughts -however much I hate to admit it- were childish...

I imagined getting to know him, getting married to him, starting a family... I was so caught up in my fantasies I'd forgotten to include the real Jack in them. And the day I realized my imaginary feelings weren't returned I was devastated.

It had been a bright sunny summer day perfect in every way. It was just as I pictured it in everyone of my very dreams. I took off work early having told Jack I wished to meet him at the beach; I planned to tell him I loved him and in return he would say the same to me... Perfect just as I said... Too bad that wasn't exactly how it played out…

"Hi Jack!" I waved from the pier watching as his blue hat bobbed at the entrance of the beach. I could feel my heart fluttering at the sight of him. I was nervous, but not for the reasons you would think. Sure the fact that I was about to utter the words 'I love you' may have added some contributing factors, but I had no doubt in my mind that Jack felt the same way. The butterflies were more of an annoyance, to get the facts straight and done with already. So that we could start our wonderful life together...

"Hey," Jack smiled and he giving a little wave back once he was closer. "You said you wanted to see me?"

I nodded stepping forward towards him, he looked a little taken back at my movement but got over it quickly. "I actually I had something I wanted to ask you," I said. "I really like you Jack, love you even. And I wanted to-" I stopped Jack had taken a step back his eyes were widening.

"L-love?" he looked horrified and I couldn't understand why. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

"Well yeah I-"

"Ann I barley know you, seriously-"

"Of course you know me! We talk almost every night in the Inn," I said my temper now raising as panic set in. How could my beloved Jack not have felt the same sparks I felt?

"No I don't know you Ann, and I-I thought you knew I-"

"Thought I knew what?" I demanded.

"Th-that Elli and I we-we're k-kinda seeing each other."

The memory crushed me, and now that I looked back at it I know my many mistakes. But the pain is still no different. I based what I thought our connection was through memories of dreams he never shared... I thought since I thought I loved him, he would feel the way. That everything would fall into place perfectly and we would ride away into the sunset happily-ever-after. Just like all of those princess movies Popuri had me watch when we we're little... I was young, I was stupid and worst of all I was a fool…

But that wasn't what pushed me over the edge today. This, I thought this what we had was real! I thought the connection we shared was more than just my imagination... but apparently I was wrong again. More wrong than I ever knew before…

Cliff had come along as I said before; a quiet traveler. He didn't talk much to the other town's folk and I only knew of him because he stayed at the Inn. After Jack ripped my heart out and danced on its pieces I thought that I'd never be able to love again, but when the shy traveler started to slowly come into my life I felt my spirits lift again. I thought I that was what love felt like, I thought he loved me back…

"Hi honey… are you okay? You don't look so good…" Cliff was sitting at his usual Inn table -the one in the corner- for breakfast. Only what was not usual about today was that he sat with a pale stony face that stared firmly at the wall ahead of him. "What's going on?" I asked again.

"Ann… I'm.. I'm-"

"Spit it out!" I said impatiently.

"I'm leaving."

My face turned from concerned to annoyed to, confused and angry all in a second. "What?" I asked.

"Don't make me say it again…" Cliff said.

"Don't joke around like that!" I scolded. "You know I-"

"I'm serious," he said his face turning to look directly into my eyes. I could now see the horrible bags under his eyes that indicating the little sleep he'd gotten last night. "I'm leaving Mineral Town, my money has run low there nothing of importance here for me any-"

"IMPORTANCE! WHAT AM I CHOP-LIVER? YOUR LITTLE PLAY TOY YOU CAN JUST THROW AWAY AT YOUR OWN-"

"No- no of course not! But Ann did you really think it would work out between-"

"WORK OUT? I thought- I thought you-" I stopped not daring to finish my sentence. The unspoken words 'you loved me'.

"I never said that-"

"Yeah, well what else didn't you say?" I demanded now attracting even more looks from the customers around us.

"Not now I-"

"Oh yes now! Don't you have any shame, Cliff! Do I mean anything to you, o-or am I just the thing that you used to keep your mind off of-"

"Ann!" he pleaded.

"Get out."

"Wh-what?" he asked his eyes widening.

"You. Heard. Me. Get your things, and GET OUT!" I was pretty much screaming at him now.

"But I-I wasn't going to leave just-"

"YOU SAID YOU WERE LEAVING SO LEAVE! GET OUT BEFORE I KICK YOUR SORRY A-"

"Ann! That's no way to-"I was beyond hearing my father my eyes fixed on the monster in front of me. But Cliff knew when he was defeated and slowly stood up only quickening at my glare, and after only a few minutes he'd packed his things and left. Forever.

That was two hours ago, the last Monday of spring, the last hour of Cliff's stay at Mineral Town. And the pain- oh the pain… it still stung. This was most definitely a huge contender in the competition to be the worst day of my life…

.~*~*~*~*~*~*~.

"I said no lemon in my water Ann! I hope you didn't mess up my order as well-"Manna as usual was criticizing my work.

"Right let me help you with that," I muttered snatching up her drink and bringing it back to the kitchen. I pulled the lemon off the edge of the cup and chucked it into the side garbage bin. Fighting to resist the urge to take the lemon back and squeeze it's juices into the drink. No I'll be a good girl... I returned the drink to her, ignoring her demands to repeat her order to ensure I'd gotten it right. I'd almost made it out of earshot in time but I was too late, I could still hear her as her loud voice bellowed along the Inn walls.

"I know her and Cliff had a nasty break-up two days ago, but Doug needs to teach that girl some manners. If my daughter had ever-"

I hurried along more desperate to put distance between her and myself before I did something my father wouldn't approve of. I know it wasn't like me; I'm normally so organized, so together. In fact I couldn't even remember one time I'd ever messed up an order even as simple as a lemon in water… But I arg forget it, its an off day!

I was just moving up to Siabara who seemed to be glaring agreement of Manna's words into me; when I was interrupted by my father's loud outburst. It was followed by grey smoke coming out of the kitchen door.

"ANGELA SUSANA BAKER!" He yelled, and I cringed at the use of my full name. Many of the breakfasters now turning to look at the kitchen doors where my father was now emerging fumes billowing out the door. A reek smell hitting my nose. "Kitchen. Now."

I followed him in feeling the eyes of customers on my back as I did so. My eyes however focused on the problem I was about to get yelled at for. The oven door was hung open smoke pouring from it and on the table in front of it sat a burned platter. I could barley recognizable it but I knew i must be whats left of Siabara's lasagna. Something I'd put in over an hour ago…

"What is this?" Dad demanded pacing behind the table glaring daggers into the platter.

"What's left of Siabara's lasagna," I suggested and at once regretted it at his furious look at me.

"Listen Ann, I dealt with the sulking after Jack. I dealt with the complaints I've been getting since Monday of you, but I will NOT deal with this! You've burnt a customer's food! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Sorry…"

"No your not," I didn't argue I knew I should be, but it was the truth I wasn't. "Go upstairs, Kai's arrived earlier than expected I would think they'll need more towels up there anyway. Then come back down and get to cleaning!"

"But I-"

"GO!"

"Dad-"

"NOW!" I didn't argue this time heading directly for the kitchen door; I didn't expect the soft voice to come from my father next. "Ann boys will come and go, just know it's not you. It's them-"

I pretended I didn't hear him continuing on my way to the stairs, and up to the boy's room at the Inn. As my father had promised there was a familiar purple bandana'd figure on one of the previously empty beds. He sat next to his other roommate Gray, who immediately fell silent at the sight of me. Something told me they were talking about Cliff, his empty bed still untidy in his rushed exit. I didn't clean it, nor did I think I would anytime soon.

Though I didn't know why I just didn't hurry up and do it already, get rid of the evidence and the memory. It was the last memory of the someone I'd loved, and that made me hesitant.

"Hi Ann," Kai smiled. It was that smile that only he could do, as if saying everything wasn't awkward when it was so truly and inescapably was.

"You're early," I commented and he shrugged. "My father said you guys might be needed extra towels or something?" I said rather blandly now realizing the fact they most likely didn't my father was just trying to get me out of the kitchen.

But the boys didn't seem to notice the oddness of the request. Either they picked up on Doug's message fast or really did need extra supplies... I didn't know. But they nodded and Gray informed me they were running low on towels in the bathroom, and Kai insisted he'd help me go to the cupboard and get them. Once there I gazed at the supplies realizing I was lacking on the laundry for the past few days and we were getting low. The visitors from the valley that arrived yesterday must have been taking up more than we accounted for.

"This should do it," Kai said from the side. I hadn't realized he was already at work grabbing towels and washrags off the shelves.

"That's way too much!" I exclaimed reaching up to stop his hand from grabbing yet another towel.

"They're not just for me, but for Gray as well."

"You guys aren't the only ones who stay here you know!" He seemed to think for a moment then slowly put a few of the cloths back in their spot, "here let me take some of those," I said.

"No I got it."

"It's my job," I muttered forcing the top half of the bundle away from him and into my arms. "Let's go."

We got back into the room to find Gray reading at the edge of his bed. It reminded me slightly of my good friend Mary the silent librarian next door. Putting each towel into place on the racks outside the bathroom I went and gathered the rest of the laundry I would have to do. I groaned as I looked around at the extra cleaning I'd be having to do in here. Kai hadn't even spent two hours here and already his clothes and other belongings had been sprawled out all across the floor. It was only a matter of time before they were all over the room.

Kai must have seen my disgusted look because he smiled, "I won't leave it there."

"That's what you say every year," I muttered making my way to the door.

"What's with the sour attitude?" He asked.

I glared at him and continued on my way out of the room, everything was annoying me today. And nothing was going right; I'd burnt my first piece of food at the Inn, the customers were out to get me, the laundry was behind and worst of all I was probably going to die alone and unloved!

I could see it now, happy Mary and Gray with little bespectacled happy children. Karen and Rick, Popuri and Kai, and worst of all Elli and Jack… All with happy little families while I stayed at the Inn with my father waiting tables and caring for guests, bitter and lonely… The thoughts scared me and even more so the guiltily almost pleasant idea of sabotaging the others girls was becoming an active thought. I spent the rest of my day as I would probably spend the rest of my life, at the Inn cleaning…