3 years later...
"...then I punched him!' Claire finished, walking out of the inn with Gray.
"So, because this 13 year old guy was bugging you when you were 8, you decided it would be best to knock him out."
"Hey." Claire held up her hands in mock self-defense. "Next time he'll think twice about poking me with his stupid pen." Gray laughed, her joining in too. They had just finished their dinner at the inn, which was actually pretty reserved for once. No Ann to talk their ear off, no Cliff to try to get a sentence in, no Karen to make fun of Rick. Only Kai and Popuri were there, staring at each other like they were in some sappy, romantic movie.
The sky was a deep purple, nearly cutting into black. Claire stared up at the faded moon, hiding behind the dark clouds. Gray took her hand with his, looking at her shoot him an knowing glance. He touched a wisp of her blonde hair, leaning in to kiss her, when a small voice cried out, tugging at his shirt.
"Gray, Gray!" It was May, huge eyes gaping at him.
He arched an eyebrow. "What is it May?"
"I-uh, my kite's stuck... in that tree." The girl pointed to a leafy green tree, the tail of her kite poking out.
"How the heck did you get your kite there?" Clare asked, frowning. May shrugged.
"A... gust of wind took it." May sighed dramatically, shutting her eyes tightly, then opening one slightly to see if they were buying it. Okay, when did Popuri decide to give the kid acting lessons? "Can you get it for me?"
"Can't this wait till tomorrow May?" Claire asked politely. May shook her head.
"Please please please please please get it?" May put on a huge puppy dog face towards Gray. He glowered at her, then sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to say no.
"Fine, I'll get your stupid kite," he muttered. Gray turned, raising his hand to reach a branch. He caught it, then jumped, swinging his legs over it, climbing farther into the tree.
"Don't worry May," Claire whispered. "Gray's a natural born monkey." May giggled.
"I can hear you ya know!"
"Trust me, I know," Claire yelled back, scanning the large tree for her boyfriend. Now he was nowhere to be seen. Part ninja too. Just then, Gray let out a scream, leaves on the tree rustling, falling to the ground, as did the kite. Gray? Well, he just hung upside down from a branch, shirt gone.
"Great, thanks Gray!" May picked up the colourful kite, scurrying off.
"Hey! Where the hell're you going? You're just gonna leave me here?" Gray fired at her, growling. Of course, she didn't respond. Claire grinned, making her way to him.
"This is pretty funny. It's one of those moments when you wish you have a camera with you." Claire flashed him another smile, trying to hide the redness as she stared at his bare, muscular chest.
"Haha, very funny. You know that's one of my favourite shirts, right?" The branches had snatched it off of him. He glared at Claire, who was face to face with him. He saw where her gaze was, and smirked.
"Hey, a chance to show off your six-pack," Claire joked, stepping closer to him. He crossed his arms, glare stronger.
"Aren't you the comedian?"
'Nah, I think I might belong in 'Spider-Man.'" She cupped her hands over his upside down face, kissing him. He had to grin, kissing her back, harder. Then, the branch finally gave out, unable to support a 22 year old with it's weak structure. Gray cried out, rubbing his head. Claire, out a hand over her mouth, unsuccessfully stifling a snicker.
"Again; one of those moments I wish I had a camera." She fell to the ground beside him, laughing harder. Gray clenched his jaw, smacking his face with his hand.
"Well I guess things can't get worse," Gray muttered, inching closer to Claire. A drop of rain plopped on his nose, then more came, wetting them. Spoke too soon. This just made Claire giggle more, laughing harder at him. Gray shook his head, staring coldly at her, then scooped her up in his arms. She squeaked, grinning at him.
"Hmm, mind letting me go please?" She pursed her lips out, trying to look innocent. The rain began to come down twice the amount before, drenching them.
Gray smirked. "Nope, sorry Claire."
"Oh come on, what'll it take?" He arched an eyebrow, and she rolled her eyes, pressing her lips to his. He smiled, doing the same. Now the drops were slapping them, as if it were trying to knock some sense into them, snapping at them not to kiss in the cold summer storm.
"I think we'd better get inside," Claire murmured in his ear between a kiss. He still didn't let her go, this time running with her in front of him, holding onto him for dear life.
"I thought I was the crazy one!" Claire exclaimed, laughing.
"You are, I think it's rubbing off on me." Gray ran with her to her house, kicking open the door, welcomed by complete darkness. Neither bothered to turn on the light. He pushed her against the wall, Claire wrapping his legs around him, mouth finding his. He kissed her urgently, like she was the oxygen he needed. She ran a hand through his hair, his shirtless chest pressed up against hers.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, pulling her face closer.
Claire smiled. "You tell me that every day." A burst of thunder erupted from the clouds, lightning trailing behind slowly after.
"Don't want you to forget it.'
"How can I?" she asked, lips crushing his once more. "I love you." He repeated the same, when the lights were suddenly flicked on, most of the population of Mineral Town popping out from their hiding spots. Claire and Gray yelped, breaking apart.
Ann sauntered over to them, slyly smiling. "Surprise!" She tilted her head, knitting her eyebrows. "Gray where's your shirt?" Her voice was teasing, as if to suggest they'd done something wrong.
Gray groaned, trying to avoid the subject, and Ann's imagination.. "What happened Ann, did Claire pick her 50th turnip?"
Ann stared at him coldly, smacking his head. "No, i's your anniversary you idiot!"
Claire rolled her eyes. "Ann, we know that-that's why we went for dinner at the inn. Besides, it's just a day." Ann scowled at her, flicking her on her head where her engagement ring fit snugly.
"Okay okay, fine fine fine. We'll celebrate the party." Ann clapped her hands and squealed, skipping off to her fiancé Cliff. May and Stu strolled over to them, smugly smiling, May clutching her kite.
"Wait a minute-that was just a distraction, wasn't it?" Gray accused at the girl.
"Duh, yeah. We had to get ready for this party." May said, her finger going in small circles on the left side of her head, signifying "cuckoo." Stu snickered.
"Elli's getting married soon," Stu piped up, smile vanishing. He missed his older sister. Claire sighed, and couldn't blame him. After the wedding, Trent had bolted off the town, demanding Elli come with him. He didn;t even meet Claire's eyes as he grabbed Elli's arm, guiding her onto the boat. Claire heard from Sasha Trent had proposed a month ago, and the two were to wed soon.
"Hey," Claire lifted Stu's chin up, giving him an assuring smile. "You know Elli, she's way too responsible-she'll be back soon."
Stu smiled back, nodding. "You're right Claire, thanks." He darted off with May, telling her a knock-knock joke. Claire frowned, Gray being her only comfort when he swung his arm around her shoulder. She smiled weakly at him, deciding they should go talk to everyone.
They caught a glimpse of a heated argument between Karen and Rick.
"Oh please Rick. They're alone on a stormy night-they ain't playing spin the bottle." Karen put a hand on her huge stomach, bloated from the baby that rested there.
"My sister has better standards then him." Rick shot back. It came to an end with Karen furiously kissing him, telling him to, "shut the hell up."
Sons played, people danced, karaoke started-even though Popuri was not there to push people onto the stage. And, the couple had to admit it, it was one of the best parties Mineral Town ever had-minus everyone leaving before they had a chance to clean up. Claire grumbled to herself, throwing some cups in the trash. Gray watched as she worked, heart beating quickly. She caught his stare, smiling.
As she scrubbed on the dishes hardly with the steel wool, Gray came up behind her.
"Hey Claire, can I ask you a question?"
"Does it involve you helping out?" she countered teasingly. He shook his head.
"Nope, sorry."
"Okay, fine." Claire dried her hands on a piece of cloth, fumbling around for her silverware. "Shoot."
"I was wondering." He took something out of his pocket. It made Claire's smile turn into mouth slightly opened, shocked. Blue, silky, light.
"Will you marry me?"
