Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harvest Moon characters used in this chapter.

Chapter 25 Observations

"I've heard of the beach being such a lovely place, don't you think it is quite pretty?"

Trent who was walking beside her noted the beach was something pretty. He remembered that he didn't come by boat that was perhaps the reason why he didn't remember that. Nice sandy beach and lovely waves rushing towards the sand, Trent enjoyed watching Elli look so happy instead of beach itself.

"I believe it is."

Trent said while looking at Elli but then slowly turned to look out at the beach, there was a niggling thought in his mind that there was something he was missing here… Elli then looked around and said

"It's reminds me of our hometown, remember? We lived near a beach and we were always playing by the sand here…"

Trent smiled at that memory it was almost like a defining point in his life.

"I remember you nearly drowned here…"

Elli smiled at the memory and responded softly

"Yes… you dove into the water to save me… I've never woken up to seeing you so distressed before."

Trent nodded in agreement, he was never that distressed in his life. He thought she was dying in his arms without him saying a word about his feelings, he worried that she was about to slip away from existence like his own mother, that fear overwhelming sense of hopelessness not sure where to begin to save her.

"…That was one of the reasons why I decided that I will become a doctor."

"I thought that was for my grandmother?"

Elli didn't know this, she smiled fondly at Trent's confession to him being a doctor and Trent looked back at her smile found himself answering

"Not at all… at that time… you two and my sister was my world. It is probably still the same now… I would never want to have to lose any of you…"

A gentle pat on his head, Elli gave him words of comfort as she wound her hand around Trent's saying

"Silly Trent, you won't lose any of us… sometimes I swear I think you spoil us. I won't leave you alone…"

Trent smiled at the thought and his hand curled around hers, loving the fact that their hands were touching like the olden days, Elli then turned to see that there was an outline of two figures and she exclaimed softly

"Oh my… I think we best leave the beach… give those two lovebirds some privacy…."

Trent turned to see that there were shadows of two people in that position and thus he too seemed highly embarrassed in walking into such a situation he guided Elli out of the beach and they both swiftly made an exit leaving those two lovebirds some time alone.

Jack's ears were ringing, those two never really knew what they were doing in the first place… they were with wrong partners and yet they seemed perfectly fine. They don't even know that it was inappropriate to behave in that manner whereas with Claire they were admirable friends and they did care about one another… maybe he shouldn't critique others for what he does…

"…Jack…?"

Claire found that he moved away from her and looked around as though hoping to see that they won't come back again. She was puzzled as to why he hid her? There was no doubt in her mind that Jack only showed that face for Elli maybe hiding her away would make sure Elli wouldn't talk to Trent about it? That motive she understood when Jack responded almost as though he was angry again

"…Let's get back Claire, I don't think your husband will come here now."

Claire didn't want to argue but she suppose she'd better listen to him and trailed after him, Jack chose not to say a word as they walked no matter how Claire wanted to engage Jack in talking but knowing the way he behaved he wished not to talk about it and Claire respected that to some degree but she wanted to go back to the beach and wait for Trent but she recognized that it was getting rather late, so she didn't complain and follow after Jack into the hotel.

Claire looked around to see that Trent was nowhere in sight as they walked together into the hotel they failed to notice Rick who just came out of the conference but Rick recognized Jack in an instant. Rick was quite surprised to see Jack accompanying such a pretty woman into the hotel… wasn't he with Elli so where did this petite beautiful blond come from? She looked worried and Jack looked angry, Rick wondered if there was some form of undercurrents between the two and that she held a secret that could ultimately destroy Elli and Jack?

"…Sorry Claire, but I don't think I want to talk about it right now…"

"…I hope you feel better… I will text you to let you know about tomorrow…"

Claire then stepped into the elevator and Jack simply took off his cap and ruffled his hair a little looking angry and frustrated but he stood there in the hallway of the elevator for a moment to sort out his feelings. Elli certainly didn't understand her own actions, perhaps it was the same with his? The need to look after Claire didn't stem from true love but mere fondness, but does that really happen? He knew Trent's affections very well but Elli's were a complete mystery. Having to run around her wondering if she loved him was getting a little over the edge of something that he can take right now, especially knowing that Claire might unintentionally get hurt because of that.

Jack walked out of the hallway and sat down in the lounge room, he was so tired of the whole doubts that runs in his mind and he had spent a lot of time with Claire to know enough that Trent held her heart well and truly which was a shame because her heart in the hands of that man would mean utter destruction whether he could protect her as far as he could was a far stretch because he couldn't even protect himself.

"? Jack."

Elli called out, she turned to look at Jack who seemed exhausted and she plopped herself down next to him and measured his temperature and heartbeat for a moment, Jack on the other hand looked perplexed at her behaviour. Elli let out a relieved breath and said

"Sorry, for a moment there I thought you looked like you're in pain."

Jack wondered how much could he take before he ultimately died in her care? He wondered how many times can he forgive her for putting her after Trent… how many times he can try to bind her to him only to have her run to the other man the moment she needs help? He knew the moment she felt worried for him, it reassured him a little that she loved him… he ran his hand through her sandy brown hair and answered tiredly

"Sorry, just been working in the fields all day today."

Elli pouted then said

"Well why are you here then? Just rest in the farm, I will be there shortly…"

Jack laughed a little and pulled Elli into his arms, smelling that lovely smell of fresh strawberries that he loved and answered

"I just wanted to escort my love back to the farm."

Elli blushed the loveliest pink and buried her head into his neck muttering as though she was throwing a small tantrum

"You didn't have to do that…"

Embarrassed was Jack's favourite expression on her face, their world was just theirs until Trent spoke up

"I didn't know you lived here."

Jack looked up and managed an admirable smile

"That's ok, this is my home town. So I had no problems keeping myself occupied, seems I kept myself a tad too occupied today that I couldn't join the both of you for dinner… say shouldn't you be with your wife on your lovely honeymoon?"

Trent's eyes widen, it was like he was gobsmacked in the face. That was exactly what he had forgotten. He had intended to call her and was about to worry his mind off as he curtly excused himself and headed over to the elevator. Jack merely savoured his win and he took his Elli back into his world once more and guided her out of the hotel. All this was seen by Rick who knew who Jack was and to his surprise that man easily lied about escorting a beautiful blond girl back to her hotel and used that intention to walk his own girlfriend back to their home. Something struck odd with Rick because it seems that no matter what that was earlier, the man seemed to be happier with Elli…

To be Continued