Storm Clouds and Grey Skies

Author's Notes:

Oh my...Silly Claire, letting your mind get clouded.

Here's the next chapter everyone, I really hope you enjoy it! It gets a little heated towards the end, but hopefully nothing too graphic. I'd like to keep this fic a teen rating!

Also, I prefer to call the Doctor Trent than Tim. I think it fits so much more nicely.

Also, apolagies for the long wait for an update; I've just moved into my new uni digs and it's taking us a bit longer to get the internet sorted than we'd hoped.

02/10/2010 Edit: Hello everyone! Sorry to have to reupload the chapter, but thanks to the fantastic eye of HarvestStar pointing out a small contradiction in my fanfic! Thank you so much for pointing this out to me and I apolagize for any confusion! TAT

Summary

Leia's been there for Claire ever since she took over the farm at Mineral Town one year ago and the two thought they'd remain friends forever. But Leia's wondering if there's more to life than just the sea and in the distance, storm clouds are brewing.

Based on MFoMT/BTN/HM DS Cute

Rated teen for more mature themes in later chapters!

Disclaimer

I do not own Harvest Moon, nor any the characters.

This is purely a work of fiction; if you take this seriously then please go to a psychiatrist and have your head checked.

If there is anything that offends you, please hit the back button.

Chapter Four: Storm, followed by Comfort

"Leia!" I shrieked into the storm, "LEIA!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, as hard as I could, my eyes red and puffy as tears streaked my cheeks. The wind knocked all of the air out of my lungs as it whipped around me, the sea battering away at the wooden pier. I could feel the pain in my leg growing, blood trickling down my calf and into my boot, but I didn't care.

"Leia! Leia, where are you?" I tried to scream, struggling with the lack of air. Zack seized my arms and attempting to restrain me, but I just tried to fight him off. My mind wasn't working straight; all's I could think about was the image of Leia as she was slammed into the side of the boat and bounced into the pier and sunk under the waves without a trace. Occasionally I swore I saw a glimmer of green hair amongst the wild, foamy surface of the sea, but it didn't matter how much I screamed; she wasn't going to answer.

"Leia! Leia! LEIA!"

"For the love of god Claire, you'll kill yourself!" I heard Zack snarl behind me as he forcefully dragged me back into the safety of his house. He threw me against the wooden floor roughly as he proceeded to force the door closed and seal it to protect us from the storm. And all I could do was lie on the floor; sobbing and whimpering, like a child.

For the end of summer, the weather was hot as hell, the heat beating down against my back as I harvested the last few remaining crops for the summer. I was looking forward to going to the music festival for the first time, although I really wished Leia could come with me too.

A lot of the crops had matured and ripened today, and I just wanted to get it all out of the way then I wouldn't have to worry about it tomorrow. I knew the clock was ticking away and Leia would probably arrive at the pier before me. I wasn't too worried nowadays though; occasionally Karen would be down on the beach, but Leia knew had to hide well and Zack was usually at home by now as well. I'm sure she'd understand why I was late.

Throwing the last of the corn into my basket, I dragged it to the front of my house then dashed inside, throwing my clothes off and diving into the bath. I scrubbed away at the sweat, mud and dirt plastered all over me and washed my hair. I wasn't going to arrive at the pier in a smelly, dirty state. I dragged my body reluctantly from the tub, my feet stinging from being on them all day, pulling a long woolly, striped dress shirt over my head followed by a pair of leggings and sandals. I grabbed my rucksack and threw it around my shoulders then picked up the basket and set off.

The wind had picked up by now, and the trees rustled overhead as I walked down the path towards the town square.

"Hi Claire!"

I turned towards the voice and smiled at May, who was hanging off the fence with a big smile on her face, waving to me. I smiled back, "Evening May!"

I passed by the ranch and continued down the steps onto the beach. At the end of the pier I spotted Leia sat waiting for me. Quietly, I crept behind her and slipped into Zack's house, leaving the basket at the side of the door for him. I then turned my attention to the green haired mermaid, tip toeing behind her, trying to keep a straight face and stopping myself from giggling. She was humming to herself, her tail flicking in the salty water.

I was convinced she hadn't noticed me, as I got to my knees and prepared myself to seize her; before she turned around and smiled warmly at me.

"Hello, Claire."

I spluttered with giggles, hugging her tightly from behind. She giggled as I rubbed my cheek against hers.

"Spoilsport," I mumbled to her, sliding onto my spot beside her. I pouted slightly, but couldn't help grinning, "I was trying to surprise you."

Leia smiled warmly at me and I beamed back. Things had gotten better since the fireworks display. Even mentioning Gray didn't seem to bother her like it previously did.

I sighed and looked to the darkening sky, "Sorry I'm so late, I just needed to harvest the rest of those crops; I'll be planting sweet potatoes and bell peppers soon."

"It's alright, I didn't mind waiting," Leia replied, her expression bright, "I know your busy Claire,"

I nodded, "I know, I know, but I don't like making you wait,"

That's when she said something surprising, "Claire, for you I'd wait forever,"

I looked to her, a little confused by that statement, "Hm?"

She giggled, "It's nothing, don't worry about it. But we're friends and I understand how busy farm work must be for you."

I smiled and nodded, "But soon we'll have the horse cart, and we won't be stuck here all the time. Not that I mind the ocean."

Leia sighed softly, "But doesn't it get boring looking at the same thing every day?"

She looked out to the ocean, looking a little disgruntled by my comment.

"I like the ocean though, Leia,"

Leia nodded, "I suppose. You must get bored looking at your farm all the time,"

I smiled, "Exactly! I don't always get bored but some mornings I just don't see the point in getting out of bed."

Leia gasped and looked at me with surprise, "But your farm sounds so interesting!"

I shook my head, "It's the same regime every day; get up, do my chores, eat, tend to the fields then come down here."

Leia looked a little shocked at that comment, and a little hurt. I didn't mean it to sound like she was boring.

"I didn't mean it like that Leia; you're the thing I look forward to at the end of the day," I reassured her. She smiled at me weakly, "Really?"

"Of course!" I replied sternly, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have had the will to go on. I wouldn't be able to do my farming or even talk to the villagers. You gave me the confidence, Leia."

She started blushing, smiling, "That makes me happy to know that,"

She lifted her hand to her hair, twisting a few stands around her finger. You could tell by the mixed expression she was fighting with herself over something.

I turned to look to the sky as a blast of cool wind blew the both of us.

"Nice evening, shame about the wind," I replied. Was it me or was the wind getting stronger?

"It is..." Leia replied, her voice soft and sad. I turned my head towards her again.

"Leia, is something wrong?" I asked, cocking my head curiously. She looked me square in the eye, and something glimmered deep within them.

"Say, Claire..." she started, sounding a little nervous, "Have you ever thought about...our-"

She didn't have chance to finish the sentence as the a strong blast of wind knocked us back, a large wave crashing against the pier and spraying us both. I couldn't quite get over how sudden the weather had changed either, as the wind began whipping around us stronger and faster with each passing second.

I could hear the roofs rattling over the sound of the wind's whistling and roar of the ocean as the waves grew larger and more violent.

If only I'd been quicker...

I was too busy trying to grab onto Leia that I never noticed the growing wave approaching us.

If only I was stronger...

In a matter of seconds the ocean swallowed us both up, throwing me into a state of shock and confusion. I could feel a sharp, stinging pain in my lower leg as it caught what possibly could have been a nail sticking out from the pier. The wave's kept throwing me above then back under the surface; I was beginning to feel like I was on some watery seesaw of death. Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone grabbed the back of my collar and pulled me back onto the pier. I was so disorientated for a moment I failed to see Leia being tossed and bounced along the water's surface until the sea literally threw her into the side of the boat. It was the high pitched shriek of pain that brought me back to my senses.

If only I...

"Leia!" I screamed, my eyes fuzzy, but I could make out the blurred tail and green hair as it sank into the ocean, "LEIA!"

If only...

Needless to say, I was angry. All I could see was red. But all I could do was huddle into a ball in the corner; my eyes raw and stingy from the amount of tears that had escape my eyes and rolled down my cheeks, soaking into the sheet tightly wrapped around my body. It wasn't Zack's fault, but the rage I felt in the pit of my stomach wanted to believe otherwise. He kept his back to me, never saying a word; simply going about cooking some form of food. Not that I had any appetite...

I forced the food into my mouth when he set the plate in front of me, my eyes threatening to spill more tears. We both sat in silence, listening to the typhoon outside rage on. My heart was thudding, my stomach was fluttering, my throat felt dry...

All I could think of was Leia's dead body lying at the bottom of the ocean...or floating on the surface, whatever mermaids did. I forced down another mouthful of food, washing it down with the glass of water.

I was bothered by how the storm had begun, it wasn't normal for it to have started just so suddenly. And what was Leia going to say? Had I ever thought about our what?

Our friendship?

Our relationship?

What?

All these questions were driving me crazy; I didn't notice Zack had started comforting me.

"Claire, are you listening?"

I grunted in response, eyes focusing on my good as I replayed the questions over and over again in the back of my mind.

"I'm sure Leia's alright," he said softly, although I could tell he was grinding his teeth for telling me such an obvious lie.

Leia was not alright.

And regardless what state she was in, as soon as this blasted storm was over I was going to look for her. Maybe there was a slim glimmer of chance that she was alright and she survived. Maybe she safely floated off somewhere. But then again, I was kidding myself; filling myself with false hope.

Leia was gone.

My best friend, gone, just like that; snatched away in a matter of seconds and I felt so stupid for being so powerless to help her.

I was miles away from Zack's softening voice as he tried to say comforting things, as my head beginning to spin the world around. And just like that, I passed out.

When I came to, it was morning. The distant sound of birds could be heard somewhere outside, as well as the consistent ticking of a clock. When I opened my eyes I was greeted with white. And I felt something thin yet heavy resting on top of my legs; it wasn't until I sat up that I realised it was Gray's arm, as he'd fallen asleep. The back of my throat felt dry, and I felt the urge to vomit from the heavy amount of sleeping I must have done.

It felt like I'd been asleep for an eternity. Gray's eyes fluttered open, instantly sitting up followed by a stretch and a yawn as he turned to look at me with a rare sleepy smile.

"Claire," he breathed softly, in the softest, most gentle voice I'd ever heard him speak with. My mind was fuzzy, but it was comforting when the strawberry blond wrapped his arms around me, burying his face into my hair, "I'm so happy you're alright..."

"Gray, that tickles," I replied, my voice croaky and weak as I felt his hot breath against my scalp. And then I felt something hot and wet. My reactions were slow, and it took me a moment to realise his entire body was shaking as he gripped me tighter, a small sob escaping his lips.

And then I started. Images of Leia came rushing back to me, hitting me like a ton of bricks. Tears ran down my cheeks as I buried my face into Gray's overalls and began sobbing.

I spent the next few days resting in my farm house, looking longingly out of the window. My leg was bandaged up from the deep cut I'd received since the storm. Doctor Trent promised me it was nothing serious, save for some light scaring.

I watched as Zack tended to the cow and sheep out on the pasture, Meg running circles around his legs. I knew somewhere on the farm Gray would probably be taking care of the chickens.

They'd insisted I take a few days to recuperate. As far as Gray knew, I'd been caught out in the storm and been slightly traumatized by the incident of falling into the ocean. But Zack knew. Zack knew and understood everything. And in all honesty...I couldn't find the motivation to work. Gray would come in to cook after he'd finished helping Zack with the farm work, and then he'd tuck me into bed.

Some nights he waited until I fell asleep before he left.

A part of me felt guilty for letting them work so hard in my place but...at the same time, a part of me was so torn up from losing Leia.

Zack had been out for hours each evening, borrowing a small fishing boat and searching around the area. But he never came home with any news of her.

And with each passing day; my leg healed, the headaches went away...But the heartache and the despair remained.

Leia, where are you?

I'd think that constantly throughout each waking minute, wishing I had something to tell me she was alright, that she was okay and that we'd see each other soon.

Carter came and went to invite me to play at the Music Festival and Barley asked if I wanted to send Woolly to the Sheep Festival. Of course they all went home with the same reply...

"Sorry, I can't."

No reason explained, and I knew how blunt my answers were. I felt guilty for a little while, but it would eventually fade to nothing. A few of the villagers visited to see if I was alright; Saibara came with Gray some days after work, and Barley brought May one evening with some flowers she'd picked on off the mountain.

I dreamt of a boat; sitting on calm, blue ocean stretching on for miles endlessly. There wasn't land anywhere in site, the sky was clouded over head, but faded away into the horizon to allow the colours of sunset...or maybe sunrise, to be visible.

And Leia was here, with me, sat on the boat opposite me; smiling and laughing away as we talked about everything.

And then I had to spoil it.

With a friendly smile tugging on my lips, I asked her, "How did you make it out of the storm?"

And Leia's eyes turned pained, her smile fading as she clutched at her throat, making strange gurgling sounds and coughing.

"Leia?" I asked, my voice shaking, as I reached out to grab a hold of her. But she seemed to move further and further away...our surroundings fading into darkness, until her blood curdling scream caused me to shoot up, screaming as I came back to reality, in the dead of the night, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Claire?" The next thing I knew, Gray was clinging onto my shivering body after I'd so violently wretched on the floor. I looked up to his usually cold blue eyes, filled with concern and worry.

"I'm so sorry..." I whimpered, as he lay me back down and went about cleaning the mess, cleaning me up then helping me rinse my mouth out and brush my teeth.

We never said anything as he put me back to bed, but he remained by the bedside. I saw him reach out and tenderly stroke my cheek.

"It's alright, Claire..." he whispered, comfort as he leaned down and kissed the top of my forehead.

And my mind so clouded as it was, I pleadingly blurted the next few lines out...

"Take the pain away Gray, please"

He pulled away and sat up, a little surprised at my outburst. But I didn't care; I just wanted something to take my mind of everything.

"I'm begging you, please. Just take the pain away..."

The words escaped my lips automatically, at the time I wasn't even thinking about what I was saying. But it didn't take long for his lips to seal mine as he kissed me softly, slowly deepening to kiss into something more passionate and lusty.

And before I knew it, he was onto of me, kissing, biting and licking my neck; his clothes discarded somewhere on the floor. My legs were tangled with his as I raked my nails down his back, moaning continuously.

"Are you sure?" I heard him ask. I responded with a nod, before our lips met once more as he grabbed my hands and pinned them either side my head, lacing his fingers with mine.

And for the next few hours of my life, the only thing I could focus on was the rhythm between our bodies.

Woo! Another cliff hanger!

How will things turn out?

What happened to Leia?

And what about our starnge occuring typhoon?

I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review!

Take care until next time!