Disclaimer: I dont own HM

Chapter 9

"Can I get you anything? Water? Cookies perhaps?" I asked, rummaging in my fridge for something that I don't even have. Stupid stupid me!! Why ask him when I don't even have cookies?

"No, I'm perfectly fine. Thank-"

"See babe? He's fine, now where were we?" Kai asked, pulling me closer to him. I immediately pushed him away and turned to give my house guest a small embarrassed laugh.

His face was scarlet red with embarrassment after watching Kai's little sexy joke stunt. He took off his red top hat and fanned himself, taking out a handkerchief out to rub his face. He coughed into his white handkerchief, blowing his chocolate milk-colored moustache at every cough.

"Uh-um…I see you two were bu-busy. I just came over to ask who you were going to ask to be your date to the Goddess Festival…"

"That's me!" Kai shouted exaggeratedly, raising his hand and smiling a goofy boyish grin. I sighed and nodded my head towards him. The Mayor just quickly nodded and strode out as fast as his little turkey legs could carry him. As soon as he was gone, I punched Kai in the ribs hard. He cried out loud and kneeled on the ground, holding his ribs. Serves him right.

"Great, thanks Kai. Now I bet the whole town will know about us by tomorrow." I stormed outside to the barn. Kai followed, still holding his ribs. I pulled out the milker and strode over to my cow, 'Beef Steak'.

"I don't know why you're so pissed off." He started.

"…" I ignored him and continued milking.

"I mean, I was just joking around, he should know that." He continued.

"…"I took out my brush and petted 'Beef Steak'.

"Hey…"

"…" Lalalala~ I'm not hearing anything.

"Can you stop petting 'Beef Steak' and listen to me??"

I turned to him, hands on my hips and putting my mean face on……which didn't work out so well since he started laughing.

"I-I'm sorry, Claire….you mind stop making your funny face? Seriously, you always *laugh* do that when we fight. *laugh, cry*" Kai chortled, constantly moaning in pain while laughing on the ground. Well, at least the joke's on him, the floor was littered with cow dung…

--

At the Library

Gray's POV

"Thanks again Mary for letting me stay here last night, I really didn't have any where else to go." I turned back to wave at Mary and I walked out of the library to go to work. After getting kicked out by Claire, I was wandering in the streets for a place to sleep. Of course Doug and gramps would kick me out, and it wasn't like I had many friends here in the first place. I was about to walk back to the farm to beg Claire when Mary walked outside from her house to walk.

xxx

It was a chilly Spring night, Winter has already took it's leave but left a frosty gift behind as a memento of it's departure. Snow has melted away along with the icy weather, but the icicles were still in the progress of melting. The brick road was unsafe at night, not like in the big cities, but because the ice has been embedded in the cracks of the bricks and were producing water every second. Everyone in the small village was snuck in their warm beds, dreaming of the arrival of the Spring's warmth. Everyone, except for the black murky shadow that has been wandering on the streets. Gray was dragging his tired legs in town, he was exhausted from work and he didn't even have time to rest.

'Why couldn't I just sleep on the floor? Shouldn't have had made a big deal out of where I sleep…it's her house, not mine….' The lonesome blacksmith continued to whisper to the streets, his hands stuffed in his pockets for a fragment of heat. Just when he was about to decide whether he should go back to his wife to apologize, when a certain librarian walked out of her house. She was speechless at first, unable to say anything when she finds a black mysterious figure standing in front of the library, but when light shone on his face and it was certain that it was Gray, she gave out a relieved sigh and walked over to him, smiling.

'Gray, it's great to see you, although it's under the weird circumstances, I haven't seen you for some time.' Mary's soft voice came out as a puff of white wisp of fog at every single word. Mary's face was half hidden in the darkness of the streets while the other half was shone brightly from the lights in her house. Her hair was let down, something that Gray has never seen before. Her glasses were nowhere to be seen on her pale face, her brown chocolate eyes were the only color on her face now without her black glasses. Gray couldn't help but smile softly and blush at Mary's pure beauty, his heart was pounding hard in his chest as if it was going to explode in a second.

'Ye-yeah…I was busy…s-so Mary, what are you doing here?' Gray nervously asked, his face half hidden by his cap. Mary's response was a giggle, 'I live here Gray, I should be asking you instead, what are you doing here?'

Gray hesitated for a moment before answering shortly, 'I have nowhere to sleep…I was kicked out of the inn…'

Mary was quiet, she looked left and right, seeing if there was anyone near the two of them. After making sure that it was just the two of them, she took signaled Gray to follow her as she opened the library and walked inside.

'You can sleep here first if you want Gray, I know it's rather sudden, but this is all I can do.' Gray was still flabbergasted that Mary would help him this much, he was speechless. A second or two passed before color started glowing on both their cheeks.

'Thank you.' Was all he could say at the moment before he gently kissed Mary on her forehead. A small simple kiss of appreciation.

xxx

"It was no problem at all Gray, you're welcome to come stay any time when you need a place to sleep. It's a good thing that my parents aren't the one to open the place up." Mary smiled, "Guess I'll see you later Gray, come by later if you can, I have some new books for you." And with that, she started to walk back into the library but was stopped…by me when I reached out to grab her wrist.

"Wait, urr….Mary…I have something for you." I said, digging into my pockets to pull out a bracelet I made for her from the orichalc I got from Claire. It was a small simple aquamarine blue bracelet with a small black book as an ornament.

"Oh! Thank you Gray, it's gorgeous." She dangled the small piece of jewelry in her hands, I just smiled and turned back to go to work, waving to her as I walked.

--

Claire's POV

"I told you already that I didn't want you to be telling people about us!!" I shouted at Kai as I stormed towards the house. Kai followed right at the back, hot on my heels, then progressed to my right side. "How many more times do I have to say it Kai? Damn it!" I pushed him away before marching into the house and locking it. There was a quiet knock at the door as I leaned against it.

"Claire?" His soft masculine voice seeped through the wooden door, I stayed quiet. "I'm sorry, I just…I just couldn't help myself. Dammit Claire, I haven't seen you for 2 seasons…I missed you, and I'll have to go tomorrow at dawn already, I'll be back on the 8th and then leave again…I don't want things to end like this before I go. I won't do it again, well not in front of others of course, wouldn't want them to become blind from our love now would we?" He chuckled softly, I couldn't help but giggle. "Claire, could you let me in? I'll do anything just for you to forgive me….please?" I pondered for awhile…

…before smiling with glee. I opened the door and asked sweetly, "Anything?"

--

"You know Claire…I wouldn't mind doing this with you anytime-"

"Good."

"-minus the bikini I'm wearing right now and the thickly smeared pink sun lotion on my chest that looks like a smiley face of course. Does this sort of thing turn you on?"

"Yes Kai, having my boyfriend look like a transvestite turns me on greatly. No, of course not!! I just have the pleasure of embarrassing you and harming your manhood." I answered, satisfied. I was lying almost naked on the beach with an almost naked Kai next to me as well.

Ding~ (Alarm)

"C'mon girlfriend, it's time to flip." And I flipped to lie on my belly, letting the glorious sunlight radiate on my pale back. If I don't get a perfect tan like Kai today, I'm going to be so pissed. Kai moaned as he flipped unwillingly.

"Claire, I'm already tan. If I get anymore sunlight I'm going to be overcooked for sure. I'll go sit in there." He pointed towards his sea lodge. The morning lonely sea lodge next to the thing Zack calls a house. "Can't you hear my baby calling for me?" He looked at the lodge with longing eyes since he gets to see it only for 30 days every 3 seasons.

"No! You said you'll do anything for me to forgive you, and tanning as my friend is one of them!!" I scolded him, dragging him to lie down next to me. "And plus…I'm your baby." I pouted, turning to face the other way to show him that I'm jealous. He laughed and turned me to face him and said, "Of course you are."

For the rest of the day we slept next to each other, talking like how girlfriends always do…with an exception of a little kissing. -giggle- The weird thing is, he didn't even turn the slightest shade darker…freak.

--

At the same time

Creak

The old wooden door gave out a small whisper as it opened, the shy blacksmith walked inside, pleased when he entered the cold room. He has been working next to furnaces for hours, it was nice to change the scenery and temperature after awhile. Mary who was sitting behind her desk looked up from the thick literature she was reading and smiled.

"Hello. I didn't think you would come, but I'm glad you did…not many come here." The librarian continued to smile as she got up and walked over to him. He grinned back, blushing in pink as he shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Huh…that's kind of hard to believe…" He muttered quietly, intending to let only himself hear it.

"How so?" Gray looked up, shocked that she heard him. Well, now that he thinks about it, it wouldn't be strange if she didn't hear him since she was so darn close to him. He moved back a couple of steps, not too much to make her feel bad, but enough to stay away from her personal space.

"W-well, there are so many good and interesting books here. It's strange how people don't come in here to read…" Gray walked over to a bookshelf and pulled out a random book, "Twilight by Stephenie Meyer…who wouldn't want to read this?" He pushed it back into the shelves and bended down, "Or… 'How to tend your gardens', this could be useful material."

"Would you want to read 'Twilight' and 'How to tend your gardens' Gray?" Mary retorted, sauntering over to where Gray was standing. Gray thought it over for a few seconds before answering, "No. But I know who would maybe enjoy reading these."

"Who?"

"Claire. She probably needs the garden book, have you seen her farm? Brr…last year it looked like a junk yard. And this 'Twilight' book should probably be a chic fic, so she'll probably read it……" His voice softened bit by bit as he noticed that he was still talking about Claire. After the way she treated him, he should be angry with her.

"I see…well why don't you invite her over here next time? I haven't really talked to her, the last time should probably be……let me think……the Music Festival on the first year she arrived, when she asked me to teach her how to blow the Orcana. She was marvelous after a little practice." Mary clapped her hands once, smiling at the memory, who would have thought a 20 minute practice would be enough? She had a pleasant time chatting with the blond clueless farmer, although it was maybe the last time they had a real conversation.

"And she passed?? Unbelievable…you must be a very good teacher, Mary." Gray praised the librarian, who just blushed slightly at the comment.

"Thank you Gray." She smiled, Gray sighed happily as his eyes lingered on Mary's face. Her big round eyes twinkled brightly as the light shone on them, her black silky hair could be compared as seaweed that swayed in rhythm in the bottom of the cerulean sea, her white smooth skin had a touch of pink on her cheeks, and her smile…was just…genuine. Although she smiles very often to him, there was something that makes her different from everyone else. 'So was Claire's smile…it was beautiful…' Gray thought to himself, generating a shock since he still was thinking about the farmer when Mary was right in front of him, he shook his head continuously to discard the thought.

"Hey, you need me to help you organize anything?" Gray changed the topic immediately, Mary nodded and led him upstairs.

And so, the blacksmith and the librarian spent the rest of the day together in the library, where they lived happily ever and after……not really, but Gray did stay there for the night again.

--

As night time arrives, the sinister darkness devoured the whole town, hiding the brightness of the sun behind the black clouds. The farm was covered in night, screaming the message to one farmer that she should go to sleep. She didn't. The blonde petite farmer lay silently awake in bed with her beau next to her already sound asleep. She was cuddling in her wool blankets for warmth as the cold early Spring wind blew through her windows. Her thoughts lingered on the idea of telling her boyfriend about her marriage to Gray, she loathed the thought about lying to Kai, but results could be ugly if he finds out. She did love him for his jealousy. Choosing to tell the truth, she rolled next to Kai to face him.

"Kai…" Claire whispered softly to the man who was asleep beside of her in the dark. There was a quiet response, "Hmmm?"

"Do you love me?" She crawled closer to his warm tan body, heat radiated from his bare chest, Claire snuggled closer. He moaned, "…You're asking me this now?? It's midnight, go to sleep Claire…" He turned to face the wall, his back facing Claire. She pouted and wriggled closer to him, shaking him.

"No…answer me Kai. Please?" She begged, shaking him harder and harder to wake him up from his beloved slumber. He groaned noisily, turning back to face Claire with irritation written all over his face. He sighed, "You're not going to stop bugging me till you get an answer will you…" Claire shook her head, smiling innocently. Kai chuckled and reached out to hug her. "I love you-" He kissed her forehead, "I will always love you-" He kissed her cheek, "-and you can't stop me from loving you. Okay?" He kissed her lips, lingering for awhile. Claire responded by kissing back, her cheeks flustered in pink and her smile was unable to be erased from her face. He smiled back and stroked her hair, feeling very content. If he were to be able to parade Claire around in the city, men would most likely be jealous of him. Claire's a very beautiful girl, she's gorgeous, humorous, and she's got a fine body. Any man alive would have wanted her.

"Hey…what would you do if I were to be married? To someone else? Not you…" Claire meekly asked, hiding her head beneath the blankets, she could feel Kai's body go rigid and his face turning red with anger.

"Who is he?? Are you married? No!! You can't be!! You're going to marry me, and…and…and we're going to have beautiful babies and a big house in the Caribbeans with a white picket fence, or…or…we'll live here and you can continue with your farm work while I help look after the kids!! Our first kid will be a girl with a name starting with C and a middle name starting with K. And…and-" Kai was hyperventilating, babbling on and on about the plans he had for them both in the future, his eyes were wide with panic as the thought of losing Claire ran through his head. Claire shushed him, placing her finger on his lips. She smiled, hiding the pain behind her happy mask.

"I'm not going anywhere, I love you…you know that. I'll never leave you…" She whispered, hugging Kai and hiding her face beneath the blankets to cover her teary eyes. She just couldn't tell him…not yet, she was too scared to let him go. As the night drones on, Claire silently cried to sleep as Kai lovingly strokes her hair all till dawn.

A/N: Review please!! Just a reminder, this is still going to be Claire x Gray. I'll try to make the Gray scenes more cuter than this. :D If you have any ideas you want as a Gray x Claire scene, feel free to share, if it's good, i'll try to put it in the story. :)

Next Time: Claire gets jealous.