Elli was already annoyed with Claire, and she'd been in town hardly a week. Every day, she saw the blonde farmer rush into the clinic, give a small wave to the nurse, and skip over to the Doctor's office. While she couldn't make out distinct words at their volume, she could hear the two chatting and laughing and it lit her ire like nothing before. Elli had never considered herself a jealous woman, but Claire was changing this about her. With the clinic empty, Elli fought the urge to press her ear closer to the wall, and quickly lost.

She could hear the Doctor asking Claire to test his new stamina formula, and her jaw dropped. She'd helped him with making that! And he couldn't trust her enough to use it? Claire's voice sounded hesitant in reply, but the Doctor was joyous enough in his for Elli to realize Claire accepted to be the tonic tester. Elli returned to her seat, fuming. After all her years helping the Doctor, even before she left to get a nursing degree just to help him, he still didn't trust her enough to ask for her help? She was hurt and furious.

After more chatter, Claire left the Doctor's office and gave a small wave to Elli again before putting her hand over her mouth and rushing out, a bit more green than before. A petty side of Elli grew happy at the sight, but she sighed and shook her head. It was no use getting so worked up about something that didn't mean anything. Claire worked on a farm, she reasoned to herself. Of course he would ask one of the hardest workers in town to test his stamina tonic. Though, why he didn't ask Gray was a question left to answer. The blacksmith's apprentice and grandson worked nearly daily, making tools and jewelry to sell in town. Elli had seen him swimming the past summer- those muscles didn't equate to a life of easy work. Under different circumstances, she might have even developed a crush on the quiet and shy blacksmith. But she preferred a more talkative type, she imagined, who was well versed in his field. Gray would have liked to never say a word again.

Elli took out her knitting needles and yarn, sighing again as she revisited a habit her Grannie had bestowed to her. It was only end of spring, but it was good to get a head start on making winter wear. Turning her thoughts away from the oblivious Doctor and quiet blacksmith, she instead focused on a quiet florist instead. Recalling his purple hat, she wondered if he would like the dark purple scarf she was working on. Christmas was a ways away, but maybe for fall she could give him the scarf, after all, she didn't know when his birthday way. Gloves, too, would be a good idea for someone who worked with their hands. But then, she would need to accurately guess how big they were...

Thinking to herself and knitting small, yet fairly loose loops, Elli hardly noticed when she started humming a song to herself. The Doctor came out of his office, looking at the cozy image of Elli and smiled. She was a good girl, fairly cute if not a little plain, and would make some man a good wife someday, he thought. She certainly fit the image of the perfect housewife. He could see himself completing the family, as he already seemed to do. And yet, that wasn't a thought that totally pleased him, especially with the thoughts of blonde hair finding their way into his mind. Before Elli could notice the Doctor watching her, he went back to his office to start improving his stamina tonic. He was sure more blue herbs was the key.

A few more hours passed before Elli could head home for lunch, her mind still swirling with potential prospects. She opened the door to her Grannie's home and Stu greeted her with a laugh, waving a paper in front of her.

"Your boyfriend wrote you another love letter!" he teased with a grin, making Elli blush and stutter. "H-he isn't my boyfriend! He's just a friend!" she refuted, but Stu kept laughing and teasing her anyway. Snatching the letter from his hand with a quick movement, Elli ushered him inside and closed the door, mortified that someone might have heard Stu and get the wrong idea. "He's as much my boyfriend as May is your girlfriend!" she told Stu, and he froze in place, making a disgusted face and settling down. Meanwhile, Ellen just chuckled at the two siblings as they fought.

"Will your friend be coming to visit?" she asked as Elli bustled around the kitchen, her unopened letter in her apron. Elli sighed, knowing she wouldn't get to read this one alone. She carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, smiling as the scent of flowers tickled her nose.

"Elli, I'm glad you replied. I am also happy your grandmother liked the other bouquet. It's always nice to hear that someone likes the flowers I put together. It's also good to hear she moved back home. I know you were worried..." Elli read allowed, her smile faltering. She had expected a short response, like last time, but this was more personal and it stirred something in her heart that she didn't expect. His friendship was becoming more clear, something nice to look forward to.

"As far as the visit, I think maybe the first week of summer will work. But, I was wondering, perhaps you would like to return with me to see Bluebell?" Elli continued reading, and her eyes widened. She hadn't left Mineral Town since she'd gone to school. It had been a couple of years. Besides, would Grannie even be okay? Or Stu? What about the Doctor, didn't he need her? Elli stood staring at the letter, her thoughts running a hundred miles a minute.

"You should go, dear. I'll be fine, and you should have some fun," Ellen said, smiling at her granddaughter kindly. Elli shrugged. "I'd like to, but what if the Doctor needs me? And Stu? I don't know..." she said, biting her nails in a nervous habit she hadn't done for years. Ellen stood carefully, setting down her needlework.

"Elli dear, just go on. It'll be just fine, you know, if you take a break," she said, grasping Elli's hands and patting her cheek. Elli smiled reluctantly, letting her shoulders raise up from sagging. She nodded, though still worrying.

"Alright, I'll go visit. Only if you're sure," she said, once again tucking the letter into her pocket and going back to cooking lunch, anxious but excited at the prospect of visiting her friend.