Disclaimer: Harvest Moon and all the characters I used here belong to Natsume. I only have the plot.

World: HM More Friends of Mineral Town.

Warning: Slow paced, Cracked pairing, Grammar error(s)

"Story of the two"

~1~

..

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Snow drops had falling from Mineral Town's sky for couples days. This town almost covered in white completely. Yes, everything: roads, roof tops, trees, earth, her farm, even the rivers.

Claire was sitting on a bench which placed at one Rose Square's side. She put her hands in her jacket's side pockets. Her eyes were exploring all the white view which spreads in front of her.

There, in her right jacket pocket, she hide a wedding invitation. She had it in her palm for long that she almost ripped it. Yeah, it was her crush, Cliff, and Ann's wedding invitation.
Their wedding gave a big blow to Claire's heart, and it was still hard for her to accept this reality. She had always, always loving him for these four year... and see what happened? She still couldn't snatch his feeling for Ann. Not that she hate Ann... she liked her. Ann was a good, cheerful, and beautiful girl. Really, even though she was a tomboy... as a girl Claire knew how beautiful and captivative this girl. Ann also has nice body, not like her flat body.

"Ah... it's over... for real," Claire whispered to herself. She felt so weak right now. She couldn't do anything. Tomorrow was the date when she would lost all her chance.

As her thought became heavier, she started to cry. Her tears keep flowing until a low tone voice called her name. "Claire?"

Claire not raised her head immediately. She knew that voice. It was Harris, the only police in this town. She got panicked when Harris started walking closer to her. She tried to sweep her tears with her sleeves, but she failed. The tears keep dripping, drop by drop.

"Wa-wait! Don't come any closer!" she shouted while covered her face using her left hand. Her other hand was raising, giving sign to harris not to move closer to her.

"Uhm... sorry," said Harris. The young police knew that Claire was crying for sure. Yet seeing her reaction, he thought Claire didn't want Harris to disturb her.

"Need an ear? Or should I leave you alone?" asked Harris carefully. Though it sounded like a lame question for Claire. Well, that was Harris for you. He was rather stiff... or maybe... innocent?

That question success to make Claire let out a chuckled.

"Hahaha, what's that? Why did you asked something like that?" asked Claire. Her voice sounded strange because it was mixed between laughs and cries.

"Eh? Ah... I just want to make sure. You know, I don't want to make you feel worse..." Harris answered honesty. It curved a smile on her face.

"I think you already knew the reason, right?" guessed Claire.

"... Well, things aren't always go as the way you want. Guess my love for Aja is one of them..." said Harris as he sat beside Claire. Claire smiled. He told her his unrequited love to Aja means he already knew that she had heartbroken from Cliff and Ann's marriage.

"Don't sit beside me. We seems like those rejected fruits at supermarket..." Claire looked Harris with her eyebrows frown. Her usual jokes that brought out big laughs of them.
When they laugh finally stopped, Harris looked at Claire with his serious black eyes but smile on his lips.

"Hey, Claire. What if... we get married?" asked Harris with his funny eyes. Claire didn't anticipate this, so she literally stunned by the surprising question.

"Get... married?"

"Yeah. I mean... look. I'm twenty nine now, and you're twenty four. Not a big age gap, rigt? And also... it looks like everybody in this town already settled down," explained Harris. "We're always been a close friend. So why don't we try it? We can start from going out."

A blunt explanation from Harris made Claire frowned even more.

It was true that they had been a very good friendship. They often told each other about their romance problems, which wasn't going well. Shortly, a comrade in broken heart.

"Are you okay with me?" Claire asked. She still frowned, never thought that Harris would suggest that option.

"You're a sweet and hard-working girl. I always like you. Rather, I should asked if you're fine with someone like me?"

Claire shook her head.

"You're a good and gentle guy. You're always listening to my complaint. And we often hang out together at Gotz's place and the Inn. I have... no problem with you. Actually, I always like you too," this time Claire explained as she noticed that it might be a very good idea.

Harris smiled and offer his right hand for hand shake. "Let see if this 'like' might change into love? And let's move on together?"

Claire took his hand and smiled clumsily. She didn't know if it was alright to build a love relationship like this. But she didn't want to dwell forever in her broken heart.

Rather than fall in love... I choose to build a love.

One nice sunday morning. Claire was ready in her simple blue one-piece when her door knocked. She opened the door, and found unusual Harris. He wore black suit with red bow, a classic pair.

"Ready?" he asked as his eyes screening Claire's attire.

Claire smiled and nodded. "I'm set. Let's go!"

It was the day of Cliff and Ann's marriage. Both Claire and Harris has set to meet up and go to the chruch together, as a couple. Actually, it was difficult for claire to attend this event, but she had to sail her heart to move on. By attending his marriage, she would took off her anchor on Cliff's heart.

When they reached the crunch's gate, Harris stopped and took Claire's hand.

"Is it alright to hold hands?" Harris asked for permission.

Claire chuckled, smiled while her face was blushing a little. "It's okay. We're couple now!"

As expected, lot of her friends surprised by her and Harris being together. Especially Popuri, who knew her feeling for Cliff for these past years.

"I thought you won't come," Popuri whisper to her ear. Both of them sat beside each other on chruch bench. It had been a while they hadn't meet each other since Popuri had to go to the town with his husband except summer. Today she came especially for Ann and Cliff's marriage.

"I have to come. I need to say my congratulation properly," she answered with a smile, which was confused Popuri.

"Since when you're together with Harris? You never tell me 'bout this," Karen, another girl who got married last Summer, joined for digging information.

Claire noticed Harris looked at her from his seat. He sat beside others guys from village, and smiled at her the moment their eyes meet. "Yesterday?"

"Eeh?! Yest...!" Karen and Popuri's voiced were stopped by Doug's scary eyes and hissed.

Popuri lowered her voice and whispered to Claire's left ear, "Sorry. I don't know what had happened, but... I wish you a happy romance, Claire!"

"Me too. He's a good guy. I personally think he's better than my husband in many aspects... like, calmness and matureness?" Karen's started her blabbing, induced her two friend's chuckles.

"Ah, it's started," Popuri asked them to quiet and look at the procession.

It was a wonderful wedding. Even Claire knew how happy her beloved man right then. It showed in his flustered facial expression.

Both the groom and the bride seemed so happy...

"Congratulation, Cliff, Ann," Claire whispered as she held her hand in front of her chest, making a wish to Harvest Goddess so that they would be happy for the rest of their life. And also... a wish for her own happy love.

~000~

Mineral Town was a little town with a little birth rate. So when a baby born in this town, like a habit, every villager would came to take a look and give them bless. That day, after ten years without any newborn child, Mary would give birth for the first time. Doctor and Elli, his wife and also his trusted assistant, has prepared everything for the day. The baby was a boy, born with 8.5 pounds and 14 inchs. A healthy and chubby boy.

"Aw~ he's so cute, Mary... he has your face..." said Claire when she visited Mary in hospital with Harris.

"Lucky he doesn't has his father's scarry face! Haha!" Harris added his comment.

"What do you mean by that, Harris?" a voice came from the door. It was Gray with his natural cold expression.

"That's what I mean, Gray," he put his index finger on both his eyebrows and lift it a bit, made his expression turn to angry expression. This made a laugh came from Claire and Mary.

"Really, you should smile more, Honey," Mary gave him advice, which she has been gave to him for many many times. But he always answered like usual: "My face already like this. Just look at my Granpa if you want to make sure!"

The atmosphere felt so warm around Gray-Mary couple, that made Claire want to smile more.

"It must be nice to have your own family," stated Claire suddenly, made a small silence in the room.

Mary took this chance to tease Harris, "Well, just ask Harris when he'll propose you and make your little lovey dovey family. Don't take too long like the man over there!"

The man over there was Gray, of course. It took four years for Gray until he could brave himself to propose Mary and they could move on from 'going out' to 'married'.

"It's true," this time Gray didn't deny. "When are you going to propose her?"

The question made Harris and Claire could only smile in silent, until Harris broke that long silent, "Uhm... we're just going out some weeks ago, so..."

"Yeah, of course. Take your time, Harris, Claire. I just want to tell you... that you might just know the real love after you married. Only after you married, you came to know the real traits of your partner, hehe."

~000~

"Is she a physic?" asked Harris when he walked Claire home from hospital. He talked about Mary's advice for them. It was as if she knew that they were not in love... yet.

"No way. She's just talking. She's novelist, remember?" Claire tend to act indifference about some things.

"May be," replied Harris. As they walking, they saw May running from afar. She seemed in hurry.

"Uncle Hariiiisss!" She shouted so loud when she noticed Harris's face.

Harris crouched down to make his eyes and may's in the same level, and asked calmly, "What's wrong, May? Calm down please?"

May tried to control her breathing, but she didn't want to waste time, so she said to them while panting, "Ha-Hannah! Hannah tried to climb up the tree, but she can't go down! Then Stu tried to help her, but he stuck on the tree!"

"Where's the tree?" asked Claire.

"Near the carpenter's house!"

"That so? Let's go!"

They rushed to the wood and they saw the ten years old boy stuck on the tree, while a brown dog barked on him from bellow. From the view you get, it seemed like a boy who couldn't get down because he afraid of dog.

"Hannah! You managed to climb down!" cried May as she hugged her doggie.

Harris looked up and saw the boy above him. Stu climbed so far... and he sure the tree wouldn't be able to stand if he also climbed the tree. "Stu, are you alright?!"

"I'm alright! Damn you, Hannah! If I know you can go down, I won't climb this stupid tree!" shouted Stu. Harris frowned when he heard the way Stu talked. Since when this cute boy turn into a brat?

"Can you go down by yourself?!" asked him again.

"I-I can! Don't underestimate me!"

Harris sighed.

"He's bluffing," he said to Claire. It was not like Claire didn't understand. It was clear that Stu trying to act cool in front of May by helping Hannah. But turned out he climbed too high that he couldn't go down by himself.

"It's okay. Just came down slowly. If you fall, I'll catch you," Harris stand right beneath Stu, ready to catch that brat.

"Ceh, told ya I'm alright!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just here to hug the tree, okay?"

Stu put his pissed face because of Harris' reason. He such a proud brat. "Aaah, whatever. I'm coming down!"

Up there, he tried to move his leg carefully, searching for a stepping. Harris became worried and instruct him which step he had to take.

"Move your left leg first... yeah. Left again... right. Now your..."

He stopped as Stu slipped and falling. May and Claire automatically came to help, but Harris caught him first. In Princess catch.

"Are you okay?" Harris asked, worried.

"I'm okay. Thank you, please let me down," thanked him with blushing cheek.

The look of Harris caught Stu in princess style , and him blushing after that, made Claire chuckled. It was kinda sweet. After that accident solved, the children back to their home, so with Claire and Harris.

"You're cool just now," complimented Claire with a big smile after they reach her house's door.

Harris smiled, "Really? So, have you fallen for me?"

"Ahahaha! I don't know! Maybe?" she laughed it off.

The moment she laugh, Harris curved a gentle smile on his lips. Somehow, the atmosphere between them became so warm. Maybe because of the spring dusk light. Maybe because they just met a happy warm family and the newborn baby. Maybe because they have known each other better as the day they've spend together. They didn't know exactly. But...
Harris moved his right hand slowly to touch Claire's cheek. Both of them looked into each other eyes intensely. And Harris' body moved itself closer to Claire's. For the first time after five weeks they were going out, he kissed her. A gentle, clumsy, and short kiss.

"Uhm... Well, I'm going... for usual patrol," said Harris. His cheeks were blushing, just like Claire's cheeks. They laughed when they noticed each other's clumsiness.

"It sounds lame, but... that's my first kiss," revealed Claire. Harris smiled wider as he told her the same thing. "Haha, we're such a slow adult," she said.

"No. I don't think so. I mean... we're too focus on someone all this time. That we became so loyal and couldn't see anyone beside our bias. Thinking like a fan girl?" Harris closed his talk with a joke, as usual. He expected Claire to laugh, but she wasn't.

She just had a little small and answered shortly, "Yeah."

~000~

Summer. Popuri came back to the town with his husband Kai to open their beach store. Within this rare opportunity, she and Karen decided to sleep over in Claire's house.

"It's been a while since we have our moments together! I missed those time without husband!" Popuri sighed as she lay on the bed.

Karen followed her and sat at bed's side. "Eh? Isn't it nice to be able to see Kai everyday? You always missed him whenever he leave the town."

Hearing this, Popuri smile and blushing. Such typical of her.

"So, what's wrong with you lately?" asked Karen to Claire unpredictably.
"Hm? Me?"

Karen smiled. "You look kinda down. Even Harris don't understand why you avoided him."

"That's why whe have sleep over today. To listen a maiden's heart rambling!" stated Popuri.

Aware of her friends' attention to her, she felt very warm inside her. She hugged her two best friend and started to cry and tell her 'rambling'.
It was true that she felt down lately. And the cause was Harris' statement back then: he couldn't see other girl than Aja.

"He's different than me. I've completely give up on Cliff. But Harris hasn't get answer from Aja. What if... someday she came back while Harris' still with me? He'll lost his chance to get together with Aja. Wouldn't it unfair for Harris?"

"Hey, Claire. Do you love Harris?" asked Popuri. Hearing this answer, she paused for a minute. She never really thought about it to the point she could say clearly that she love him. But the time someone asked about her feeling... her heart skipped. She remembered all the moments she had with Harris. He was so gentle and honest. Being with him, she felt safe, warm, and comfortable. She didn't know since when she get the feeling. She wanted to touch him more. She wanted to stay with him more. She wanted to act spoiled and laugh together with him more and more. She wanted him to smile only to her. The feeling was different than her jumping and exploding feeling for Cliff back then. It was more gentle, flowing so naturally that she almost didn't notice it...

"Yeah. I love him."

~000~

Harris was doing his usual patrol route. In the morning, he went to Barley's Yodel Farm to chat and checked the old man health. After that, he would go to Gotz hood to view the forest condition. Lately he got report about people from other town that thrown rubbish in Mineral Town forest. In order to capture the culprit, he had patrol more around forest from day to night, so he hadn't meet his girlfriend lately. In addition, she seemed avoided him since the day they kissed.

"I wonder if she hated it," said Harris to Gotz. Harris was sitting on the log, while Gotz was polished a book selves he made for Zack's relation.

"Hated what?" Gotz asked while his hand didn't stop working.

"The kissed."

Gotz shrugged his shoulder, "Heh, what are you? High school children?"

"Come on, I'm serious, Gotz," Harris was not in the mood to joke. But Gotz seemed not care about his complaint.

"Did she closed her eyes and smiled when you kissed her?"

"Uhm... yeah,"

"Then she didn't hate it. Why're you so worry?"

"She didn't hate it. But... did she love it?" asked Harris.

This time Gotz stopped his work and look Harris with his scary face. "Dude, how could I know. Just asked her, will ya?"

"No way, it's awkward..."

"Where's your ball? The same goes for you. Have you ever tell her that you love her? No, actually, do you love her?"

"..."

"Well?"

"... I don't know."

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(To be continue...)

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A/N :

Aaah, yokatta, I could finish the first chapter! Is the pace too slow? Actually, I want to make it as one shot, but things became longer as I write it... *such troublesome author*

Thank you for reading this fanfic, and see you!

edited: thank you for the review, I edited some grammar error, though I'm not sure I've fixed everything x|