Chapter 9

Gray's POV

Spinning. If it wasn't impossible I would swear that my head was spinning. I let my body fall limp onto my bed. I can't believe today. I can't believe it. Is it all just a dream?

Nope. It's the real deal dude.

I think my head is going to explode.

Lets recap today so I get it all straight:

1) Claire, your best friend and the girl you are madly in love with, has returned home after almost three years.

2) She returned with a child which is her double in many aspects.

3) Claire is denying that she gave birth to this child.

4) Therefore she is lying to you about who Rose's father is.

5) You want to pound the bastard who douche bag-ed-ly got her pregnant and left her to raise a child all alone.

Did I forget anything?

I'm not madly in love with Claire.

Dude you've already lost this argument. You love Claire. Give it up already.

Fine. I'll admit it. I love Claire. I do. I…

What?

Obviously if she…you know with someone then she must love that person. Especially if she had a child with them. So what is the point of me admitting to myself that I love her. Damn it, I love that woman! All I'm doing is setting myself up for heartbreak.

I don't think so.

How? I'm only her best friend and everyone knows that.

She slept with you once.

We were both friggen drunk! She probably regrets the whole ordeal…

I think she likes you and so does everyone in this town!

Whatever. None of this matters anymore. I love her. And I don't think I can survive her leaving me again. The best I can do is help her with Rose and be the best, best friend I can be. No matter what I can't spend the rest of my life without her.

Claire's P.O.V.

(Next day)

Farming. It was the one thing about Mineral Town that I did not miss. But, I got to make a living somehow and I can't keep calling myself a farmer if I don't farm. Slowly I cleared a small area of my field and planted some crops.

In such a short amount of time I was dead sore and ready to sleep. Yesterday was too dramatic for me. I'm just happy to be home. I stood straight up and gasped from a sudden stabbing pain in my back.

"!" screamed my lovely daughter.

Why? Its only seven thirty in the morning. Why are you awake? You kept me awake most of the night. I need to get these watered and more of my field cleared.

"MMMOOOMMMMYYY!"

I dropped my bag.

"Claire?"

My eyes snapped towards the road to town. Approaching my property was Gray. Thank you Goddess!

"Gray!" I called. "Thank goodness you're here!"

His eyes widened. "Is something wrong? Where's Rose?"

I smiled as I continued to slowly walk towards him. My muscles were screaming.

"Claire are you ok?"

"Yup. Just sore."

"MOMMY!"

"Is Rose ok?" asked Gray looking towards the house.

"She just woke up. I got my hands full. Could you help me?"

He studied me with those sapphire blue eyes of his.

"Fields or Rose. Take your pick," I said grinning.

"Fields. You get Rose today," he said quickly and running to grab my bag.

I laughed as I walked towards my house. I opened the door but turned around to see him watering the crops. "You may have had her yesterday but I've had her everyday of her life up to yesterday," I yelled with a grin still.

"It's not my fault you decided to leave," he yelled as he watered.

I closed the door. My grin faded. To be honest I felt absolutely sick.

"Mama?"

I turned my head to see Rose sitting up in the middle of my bed, her head tilted to the side.

I gave her a small smile. "Good morning, my love."

"Hungry!" she said standing.

I picked her up and got her ready for the day, but my mind remained detached as I fell into the normal routine of the morning.

Why did I feel the need to leave? Everyone seems so supportive how could I leave my home? How could I leave Gray? Because of me he lost so much time with Rose, seeing her grow, seeing her change and take on a personality all of her own. How could I do that to him?

Easy. You were scared. Your whole world was spinning before your very eyes.

True. But how could I do that to him!

That is not the important thing now. The important thing is telling him now before its too late.

Too late?

He gets married. Moves on. Finds love else where. You know, that kind of stuff.

He thinks of me as only a friend. For all I know he's dating Mary! That mousy haired librarian has always had a thing for him.

"Momma your crushing my toast."

"Ow!" I yelled as I dropped the hot toast from my curled fist. Damn…I have to make more.

I ran cold water over my hand for a moment. Then I went back to my routine.

Am I crazy for remaining in love with my best friend for all these years and never saying one word?

Nope. You're just scared. You fear losing that friendship.

But what do I do!

You tell him you can't spend another day without him in your life.

Isn't that a bit much to throw at a guy?

No. No. I think Gray can handle it.

Right.

He might.

That's more like it.

"Claire?"

I turned to see Gray standing in the doorway.

"All crops are watered and I cleared some weeds and rocks but I'm hungry so…"

I rolled my eyes. I looked about the area where I was standing, I had yet to make anything successfully. "You wanna just go to the Inn?" I said turning to look at him.

"Sure. Ann is probably dying to see you."

"CLAIIIIRRREEEE!"

I had only opened the door and there it was: the screech of the Inn Keeper's daughter. All three of us: Gray, Rose, and myself took a few steps in and waited to see where Ann was going to appear from. How she knew it was me, I will never know.

At the sound of the screech and sudden footsteps Rose hid behind my leg; her little fingers clawed into my skin, through my jeans!

"CLAIRE!"

I looked up to the top of the Inn stairs and there she was coming full force down the stairs. Within seconds she was diving at me, embracing me in a hug of pure death.

"Claire! I can't believe you're home!"

"Ann," I mumbled. "Can't breathe."

For once she listened and released me. But surprisingly she hit my arm, hard. "HOW COULD YOU LEAVE LIKE THAT? HOW COULD YOU NOT CALL!" At this point she was just shaking me like a rag doll.

"Ann. ANN! STOP IT!" yelled Gray.

Rose released her grip on my leg and clung to Gray's leg, but at this moment I was barely conscious of it. Then my wonderful daughter screamed louder than Ann and Gray combined. "STOP IT!"

It did the trick because Ann stopped shaking me and let go. I felt like I was going to be sick. The room continued to spin. "Damn it Ann," I managed to mumble as I brought my hands to my head. "I think you killed half of my brain cells."

"Good, maybe it will give you enough sense to not runaway again," she said crossing her arms and turning away from me. Ann then looked down at Rose; her eyes widened.

Rose met her eyes and then buried her face in Gray's leg.

"Who is this?" Ann said suddenly, her voice lost all the ire of the moments before.

"This is Rose," said Gray.

"Awwww she is so cute!" she said squatting down onto the floor. "Hi, I'm Ann," she said in a sugar candy sweet voice.

Rose turned to peak one eye at the red head.

"Hey Ann has someone at the same IQ level to talk to," Gray said laughing.

Ann curled her hand into a fist and punched Gray's knee. He fell flat onto the floor.

Rose was left the only one standing. She smiled and laughed.

"No! That is NOT funny!" Gray said sitting up.

Rose laughed more.

"Ann stop hurting the customers," said Doug peaking out of the kitchen. He froze as he recognized me. "Welcome back Claire."

"Hi Doug. Thanks," I said finally not dizzy anymore.

"Hi Doug," said Gray.

"Boy why can't I see you?"

"I'm on the floor."

"Why?"

"Ann punched my knee cap."

"Ann?"

"Yea dad?"

"Stop punching Gray in the knee."

"Ok dad. I'll aim higher then."

"Good girl Ann. If you guys need me I'll be in the kitchen," he said chuckling and closing the door behind him.

Gray's jaw dropped.

Ann smirked.

I honestly couldn't hold it in anymore, I burst into laughter.

Rose then ran to me and said, "Up."

Of course I picked her up. She was all smiley.

"Oh, Rose looks…."

Oh no. Don't let her screech this from the rooftops! I don't want Gray finding out this way!

"Wow…she looks just like you, Claire!"

Thank you Goddess! Thank you!

"Besides the hair and eyes she could be your twin!"

Ann this is far from your finest moment. Rose is Gray's twin! How can you be so naïve? I looked at my daughter. Well I do see some of myself….but not much.

"Claire," Ann said standing up. "Don't tell me you got married! Eeep! How could you not tell me? Or invite me to the wedding! I'm suppose to be your maid of honor!"

"I don't get a choice about my maid of honor?"

Ann glared at me.

"Ann, Claire is not married," Gray said flatly.

"Then…Claire! Really?" Ann said giving me a look.

"Stop it!" I said hugging my daughter closer. "My choice. I love my daughter. She's all mine."

Gray's POV

I struggled to stand. Damn Ann, I need my knee to stand! Luckily everything feels just bruised.

"Rose is all mine," Claire said a little softer than what she previously said.

"So you can handle the farm and Rose all on your own," I said smirking. There is no way she can handle both without any help.

"Well…." she looked up to meet my eyes. "I'm going to try. Rose is of course a full time job but so is the farm."

"Well that's why you got friends!" said Ann. "We can help you."

"We will," I said.

Claire smiled. "Thanks," she said fixing Rose's hair. "I'm gonna need the help. One reason I loved city life was that I could focus my time on Rose."

Her words twisted my stomach. Don't you dare think about city life, I wanted to yell at her. I know she is not saying it, but I know that she was never fond of farm life. She liked growing crops, but her time was mostly spent socializing. She can't be reminded of the easiness of city life. She can't leave again.

"Gray?"

I blinked. Who spoke?

"Gray are you ok? You look pale," said Claire looking at me sincerely concerned.

See I told you she likes you.

Shut up!

Awwww dude your face is getting red.

That's when I could feel my face burning. Damn it! Stop it face! Stop it.

"Gray?"

"Uh….er…." I shut my mouth. Damn it! I didn't tell you to stop working.

Ann started laughing. "Hey did you forget how to speak?"

My eyes narrowed. "No."

"Then why don't you answer Claire?"

I blinked. "I am fine. You know what, I'll see both later," I said walking away towards the Inn doors.

"Bye," they both called.

"Bye," I said as the door shut behind me.

Damn it, why did I make such a fool out my self?

Simple: you LOVE Claire.

…..I do.

So what are you going to do about it?

Nothing. Obviously if she has a child with someone then she doesn't care for me that way…

Damn it dude! Stop saying that. Are you blind? Are you? She is so totally into you. Claire LOVES you! How can you not see this?

How can you see it? You're me.

Therefore, deep down you know I'm right.

Ugh. Whatever.

I rubbed my eyes and when they cleared I realized I had been aimlessly wandering town. I've never had this much time to myself. Where do I go?

Library?

Overrated.

Store?

What do I do there?

Buy things?

I guess.

Since I had not been to the Mineral Town store in well over five years I decided to pay it a visit. I took two steps inside and realized that nothing had changed since the last time I was there.

"Gray? I haven't seen you in here in ages!"

I looked over at the counter to see Jeff standing there.

"Hey," I said walking down one of the isles of food goods.

"Can I get anything for you?"

"Nah. I don't really know what I'm gonna get. Just looking."

"Ok," he said a little disappointed. He then ducked under the counter.

I could hear a few bangs, but I looked away. Yeah there is so nothing odd about him ducking under the counter.

Bang!

I turned to see a large box on the counter.

"Hey do you got a box cutter?"

The owner of the only store in this tiny boondocks of a town doesn't have a box cutter?

"Your grandpa is sharpening the blade on mine."

"Oh." I put my hand in my pocket. "Yup," I said taking mine out and putting it on the table.

He picked it up and began slicing the thick tape.

"What's in the box anyways?" I asked waiting to see.

"It should be various things," he said handing the cutter back to me. Jeff opened the box and instantly he pulled something out.

It was so quick I almost missed it.

"We haven't gotten any of these in years!" he said showing me.

"Is that?"

"It's a blue feather."

Dude it's a sign! Buy it! Give it to Claire!

"Here, you want to see it," he said handing it to me.

I examined it carefully. It had been years since I had seen one. "How much are you selling it for," I asked without realizing it.

"I had a feeling you would be wanting one," he mumbled almost too low for me to hear.

What does he mean by that?

If I could I would face palm. Everyone who has eyes can see that you and Claire LOVE each other.

Quiet.

"I think 3,000G would be fair. These are hard to come buy."

"3,000G is good," I said taking out my wallet. Never buying anything definitely makes my savings skyrocket.

Antisocial…

Shut up!

Jeff looked at me like I was crazy for a moment and then he took the money.

"Thanks!" I called as I left the store.

Before the door shut completely behind me I could hear Sasha's voice saying, "Someone actually paid full price?"

I got about half way to Rose Square when it really hit me. I bought a blue feather. I bought a freaken BLUE FEATHER! Am I out of my mind?

I don't think so.

Says the voice in my head.

Schizophrenia.

Do NOT go there!

I was just kidding. Twenty bucks says that half the people you know have little voices that they fight with.

Whatever.

So when are you giving the feather to Claire?

….I don't know. Should I give it to her?

Do you love her?

Yes.

Then you give it to her when you feel the time is right.

I guess you're right. Making sure no one was around I shoved the feather in my jacket pocket.

Hey! Did you all enjoy this chapter? I had so much fun writing it. I missed this story so much. It feels good working on it again. I'm going to try to get the next chapter written and posted as soon as possible!

So what did you all think of this chapter? Funny? Entertaining? Amazing! Well probably not amazing considering I misspelled the word probably on my first try. YAY SPELLCHECK! So did you all like this ending? Blue feather, eeeeeep! Now what could happen next? Can Claire ever tell Gray? Can Gray propose to Claire? Can Rose call Claire one name? (Come on raise of hands. Who noticed that Rose calls Claire a different name for mom almost every time? It was something I used to do when I was little so I thought I would incorporate it into the story. LOL.) Stay tuned! This epic saga will continue soon!

On a different note. I can deeply sympathize with Gray now. This year in high school I've taken up metal working. It is hard! But fun. Ok, see you all in chapter 10!

Please please please! Please review!

By the way I do NOT own Harvest Moon! Just saying.