Gray's POV
(Many days later)
Another day I leave work and go right to the Inn. What am I doing?
PANICKING?
Why?
We. You. Bought. A. Blue. Feather!
You told me to do it!
I know!
It's been days and I can't seem to go anywhere without it.
So is that why we haven't seen Claire?
Yes…
Dude! That is so not fair. You know she needs help with that farm!
I know!
If you don't help her she just might go back to the city for an easier life!
No! Do NOT GO THERE!
I JUST DID! AND IT WILL ALL BE YOUR FAULT!
No. No. No. No!
Before I knew it I was out the door and running to Claire's farm. Please be there. Please!
I skidded to a stop by her mailbox. "Claire!" I called, my hands were in my jacket pockets. My fingers fiddled with the blue feather. It felt calming yet completely unnerving at the same time. "Claire?" I called a little more stressed.
Silence.
I looked out at her fields. Everything looked freshly harvested, but the blonde haired farmer was no where to be seen. I took one hand an banged on the door. "Claire!"
Silence.
No Claire. No Rose.
"I'm gonna need the help. One reason I loved city life was that I could focus my time on Rose." Her words echoed in my head.
No! Could she have taken the money from the harvest and ran?
Again I found myself running to the beach in full panic. My head felt like it was going to explode. Claire don't do this to me again!
Claire's P.O.V.
(That morning)
My feelings are mixed on days such as these. I love the cash I rake in on harvest day, but I HATE harvesting. Too much work, I think. Worth it in the end? Yeah of course. Tiring? Yes to the tenth power. A day long job? Yes to the infinite power.
"MOMMA!"
The piercing cry hit my eardrums even though I was working deep in my field. Why can't you sleep longer? I got another two hours worth of work here.
"MOMMY!"
Sighing, I dropped my bag, tools, and basket and got myself to my home sweet home. I need help, desperately. Help from someone with a whole heck of a lot more stamina than me.
I opened the door only to be dived at by my growing daughter. Her motion caused me an immense amount of pain.
"Mama!"
Dang it muscles! Stop hurting. I felt like crying.
"I'm hungry! Can I get some of Ann's pancakes?"
Now how do I tell this ticking time bomb of anger no.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Please be Gray! Please, please! My heart began pounding as I reached for the door.
"Hello, my Claire!"
Standing there was Kai, my silly yet lovable friend. A grin was spread large across his face.
"Hi Kai."
Rose ran to my side and clung to my leg.
"Hi Rose," he said sweetly.
"Hi," she squeaked.
"So anyways since I have not seen you two in days I was wondering if I could take Rose off your hands today, if you want-"
"Go ahead!" I bent down, picked Rose up, hugged her, and handed her to Kai. "Mommy loves you, Rose."
She smiled.
"Have fun," I said as they walked away.
Poor Kai.
Why?
Can he handle Rose all on his own?
Sure why not?
You know he is not the brightest…
If he has made it to the age of 24years then he can handle my Gray clone of a daughter.
Maybe.
Sigh. Back to more harvesting.
At least Kai came to check in on you.
Yeah that was nice.
But.
But what?
You wish it was Gray.
Of course!
So we're openly admitting that we love him now?
Yup.
How did I miss this memo?
How should I know?
Anyways…Gray. You love him?
Yes.
So WHY DON'T YOU TELL HIM?
Because I doubt he likes me.
Ok I am not letting this argument happen again. Harvest. Go. Now!
Gray's POV
For a moment I almost completely missed her lounging in the sand. I froze where I stood. It was an odd sight. Claire laid fully dressed out in the middle of the beach in the sand; her eyes were closed. "Claire?" I called feeling confused.
Her eyes opened and she sat up. She turned to look at me. "Gray! Hey come join me," she called.
I swear her eyes looked like they were sparkling.
Gay.
Excuse me?
Merry: full of light-heartedness and merriment
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Bam! Dictionary definition.
…
Go to her dummy!
I sat down next to her.
"I haven't seen you in quite a while," she said burying her feet in the sand.
"You know how busy work keeps me."
"True," she said.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Why are you laying in the sand?"
"It's close enough to summer. The sand is warm. It makes the soreness go away."
"Farm life kicking your butt?"
She nodded.
I smiled, but it faded just as quickly as my hand brushed against the blue feather.
Claire's P.O.V.
"Claire," said Gray, his voice suddenly full of gravity.
My stomach felt sick all of a sudden.
"We need to talk."
When has anything good ever come from those four words?
What can he say? It's not like he can break up with you. He isn't dating you.
True….
I nodded.
His face became extremely red, and he moved his head in his special way causing the brim of his hat to hide his sapphire blue eyes.
What is he-
He dropped a blue feather in my lap.
I stared at it in shock. Is this for me? Panicked, I looked at him.
His sapphire blue eyes met mine and he said, "For you."
It's now or never. You HAVE to tell him about Rose before you answer. He NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH!
I could feel my lip quiver. My stomach twisted in knots at the thought, will he take it back if I tell him?
His expression fell.
It's now or never. You MUST tell him. At this point I could feel my body start to involuntarily shake.
His expression looked tormented and embarrassed.
"I can't give you an answer until I tell you something important," I managed to mutter.
He nodded.
"It's about Rose," I started.
"She looks so much like you," he said. "She is your natural born daughter, correct?"
I swallowed my spit. "Yes."
"Who is the father?" he asked flatly.
I could see flashes of pain in his eyes. I felt like I had beat him with a door and pushed him down a staircase. He is so hurt.
It also means that he has yet to figure the obvious out.
True, but still. How could I cause him this much pain? How!
"Do you love him?"
I took a deep breath; my heart pounded. "I do. I really do," I whispered.
His eyes closed.
I could see every bit of pain he felt on his face. I felt like dying.
"Who is the father?" he whispered.
Now or never. There is no going back. I reached over to his face and forced him to look at me. My pale blue eyes met and stared into his sapphire for a brief moment. "You."
His eyes widened.
"You," I said again but louder. "Gray, you are my daughter's father. You."
He just stared at me for a moment and then he fell flat on his back. Unconscious.
Woooooooo! Did you all love that? Finally! Claire told Gray and he proposed! But he passed out…. What do you all think is going to happen next?
I hope you all have been enjoying this story! Please review. I don't bite. I love to read what you all have to say.
Happy reading.
I do not own Harvest moon by the way in case you were wondering…
By the way…who ever sees the reference to my other long story How the Little Things Can Change Your Life gets virtual cake! : )