Holy crap its finally done. As much as I'm willing to work on it. It's the moment of truth, Gray and Claire's first date. This is 20 pages of 'what the crap' just happened, and I've been working on it for Goddess only knows how long. I will more thank likely post the separate one shot My Confession, before I update this again. That is for you pervs that voted yay in the contest. The decent readers I got out here that don't want to know what happens after the end of this ( as little since and funny as it probably will be) can skip it. Nothing major will happen that takes away from plot , please let me know if I did okay on this. The concept of what happens in this chapter has changed over the course of the story, but I always knew the day it would happen. Thanks to everyone that has been reading, those that review, and all those who enjoy. I'm not sure how much more of this is left, but I'm safe to say we've managed to pass the half way point. -_-_-_- means time skip, FYI.

Read, Review, enjoy.

Ann's POV

"Are you feeling ill?" the man muttered, his large hand coming up to my head as he frowned. "Are you hallucinating. You do realize who I am?"

"Oh bite me," I sneered, knocking his hand off my forehead and shaking my head exasperatedly. "Don't make me repeat myself, Doctor," I muttered, my eyes shutting tightly as I fought down a blush. This must be how my idiot brother felt a majority of the time around Claire.

"You do realize you're asking me to my own hanging, don't you Ann?" he said quietly, sitting quietly in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest, head pointed up to the ceiling

I took the moment to look over the man. He still hadn't managed to get completely back to the standard he had held himself to before.

His raven hair was slightly mused, but his face was clean shaven and smooth. His clothes weren't neatly pressed and ironed like they once wore, and his tie hung loosely on his neck. I felt my fingers twitch as the urge to fix it. The man might not need to look as uptight and unapproachable as he once had, but he could still at least wear his attire properly.

"You're brother will kill me," he finally sighed, his head coming back to face me, a lazy smile on his face.

"I don't much care what my brother thinks about this. It's my concern," I said quietly, though I knew that Gray would for sure flip his lid. "I want to go with you."

"Why?"

The question caused me to break eye contact, and I pulled at my braid in irritation. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Ann," he began quietly, shaking his head and leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "You've helped me out, more than I can ever repay you for. And I understand your feelings, but you need to get a grip on the situation."

"What is there to get a grip on?" I interrupted, glaring at his amused expressions.

"Your family will never allow anything between us. Your brother is only going to see this as me getting him back in some sick twisted way. Or trying to get to Claire, and I honestly can't blame him for that giving my past."

I closed the distance in between us, my old tennis shoes squeaking a little on the waxed tile floor. I leaned in close to the man, smirking at his widened eyes and quickly flushing face. I gripped his green tie firmly, tightening it around his neck. "But I don't think that. And if anything, I've been the one pursuing you, haven't I?" I murmured lowly, seeing his eyes dart away as his large hands pulled mine from his tie.

"It matters little who has done what. It amazes me that no one has figured out exactly what has been going on with us. Every day I sit here, wondering when Gray is going to come in here and break my jaw again." He mumbled, shaking his head. "This can't work. It needs to stop."

"Gray doesn't control me, or you. And I'm sure if you would just apologize to Claire, if she could forgive you, Gray could get over it. He won't ever like you, and you two won't be best friends, but damn it he can learn to tolerate you."

"Ann," he began and I let out a growl.

"Damn it, how long are you going to fight this?" I muttered, shaking my head as I popped him lightly in the back of the head.

"How long are you going to keep assaulting me for being sane and reasonable regarding the facts?" He retorted, his eyes narrowed.

This man drove me insane at times, and it was not too long ago I realized why. This feeling I had for this man, on how he could irritate the snot out of me and then make me giggle like an idiot- it had to be the same feeling Gray got with Claire.

And yet this man wouldn't hear my explanation. Even after admitting his attraction.

"Then lets just go as friends," I suggested, hoping a compromise could be reached. I couldn't help but to let out a relieved sigh at his hesitant nod, my eyes shutting contently.

I just needed to get him to understand that he didn't need to worry about my family.

They weren't the ones that would kill him for being an idiot. I was.

-_-_-_-_-

Kai's POV

I couldn't help but to grin at the large envelope the inn keeper gave me, nearly sprinting up the stairs to my room to read it.

I loved getting these things from Mary. It didn't matter if it was an excerpt of her novel or a length letter. Just reading her correspondence was enough to make me visualize that she was here. But when I opened the envelope and dumped the contents on my bed, I was surprised to find another envelope in there, with some neat hand writing- for a guy.

It was from Gray.

I frowned some, hesitant to open the envelope, but I shrugged, tearing into it and surprised at the lengthy letter I found inside. I scanned over the contents, my grin growing all the more with each sentence.

It was about damn time.

But as I read on through his words about realizing his feelings for Claire, and about the break up with Tim- though Mary had let me know the former when it happened, she hadn't known the details. Only that it had ended up with the doctor leaving for medical care in the city. But when he got to the part where he asked her on a date as 'friends' I almost swooned.

Gray was an idiot. But why he would say that to Claire I had no clue. I was vaguely aware of his account of how he 'found' my letter and it hadn't offered him the advice he would need.

"Tell her 'Claire I'm in love with you', how hard is it to say that?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I tossed his letter aside, shaking my head at the thought of the man. But when I picked up Mary's letter I had to sit on the bed at the way it started off.

Darling,

It is my regret to inform you that Claire has admitted to being in love with Gray. However, she seems terrified by the idea, and is determined to fight and suppress her feelings…

Did the whole town fall apart when I left in the fall every year? One would think that at this rate.

Here I was with whom I considered my best friend to damn scared to confess his love to a woman who loved him and was trying to not love him. No other couple in the world could be as confusing as those two.

I angrily snatched out a piece of paper and a pen, but after about ten minutes I wadded up the paper, deciding that starting out 'Gray, strap on your balls and just tell the woman you love her,' wouldn't be received well by the man.

This type of unnecessary conflict hurt my brain. Why couldn't those two not be so blind to each other?

I scratched my head with the eraser end of the pencil as I started at the blank sheet of paper for what seemed like hours. This shouldn't be so hard. But I didn't want Gray to screw up, and I knew if I didn't word it right, he would. So that made this the hardest letter I ever had to write.

So one of two things will happen. You will confess-

In of course the most romantic, memorable way you can. You need to go all out, and make sure there are flowers or something.

But she'll either accept your confession, or she will try to reject it. But keep in mind that no matter what she says, Claire does care for you. I'll go so far as to say I'm ninety-nine percent sure that she loves you too. Call it a gut feeling.

You need to swallow your pride, and maybe do a little groveling if need be. Claire has been hurt bad by Tim, from what you told me. She might not be willing to accept you at first. But I feel that the woman truly does love you. But you need to be tactful about it. Very tactful.

It's important you don't lose your temper if she rejects you at first. You need to be understanding. She's going to be scared of the idea of a new relationship when her last one ended so badly.

If it takes the negative route, you need to try to calm her the best you can. Women are delicate things, easily startled by revelations. But a woman's heart knows better than her mind. So listen to her body, to her actions. Because while she might be saying one thing, her body language can contradict that.

So honestly there isn't much I can tell you, because I know you. When it comes down to it, you wont remember one thing I've told you, not even to control your temper. But please for the love of the Harvest Goddess don't do any irreparable damage with that temper of yours.

I stopped there, sighing. There wasn't much else I could say. It would be a waste of my time. Because I knew my friend well enough to know what would happen if Claire didn't accept him whole heartedly. He would be crushed, and instead of showing that, he would bristle and huff, and then he would snap.

Such was the way with old fashioned men like that. But that was how he had been raised.

Real men don't cry. They don't show any emotion.

I scoffed at that. It had worked so well for his grandfather. Widowed at a young age and never remarried. Doug…I think he loved his wife too much to consider it. But with Saibara- he could have married Ellen after she was widowed. The old man had more of a hand in raising Gray than Doug did.

It's why Gray held so many of the fool's traits.

Foul temper, stubborn pride, and a few other negative ones. But he also held some of the good ones- undying faithfulness, unwavering persistence.

Ah Gray. He and I had a bromance if there ever was one.

And whether the man admitted or not, he did value my opinion. Else he wouldn't have written me for advice. Because as stubborn as the man was, Gray knew that when it came to dealing with women and delicate emotions that I was more suited for such things.

I only hope he could remember one thing whenever he got the nerve to tell Claire how he felt.

He needed to control his temper.

Else all hell would break loose and the two might end up right back to stage one. It really depended on the level of explosion it would cause, and how Claire reacted.

But for everyone's sake, I hoped it would all work out.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Tim's POV

I sighed as I pulled out the iron, glaring at the contraption and shaking my head. I just didn't feel like doing it. What was the point in caring?

I decided to leave the clinic and make my way to supermarket, content to browse the meager stock the place carried. Ann would be expecting me in about an hour up at the Goddess pond, and perhaps I should bring something to eat.

The woman had been very generous in her attempts to help me get past my acquired addiction, and of course she had also began to court me in a weird way. And it was endearing. But what bothered me about it was that I didn't mind.

I shouldn't be passive about it, I should be telling the woman to come to her senses and pursue someone else.

"Doctor, did you forget to put something on your list?" I blanched some at the cheerful voice, blinking awkwardly down into large worried brown eyes. I gave her a small smile and shook my head.

"No Elli. I came here just to come. I needed to get out of the office," I offered, eyes catching the curious glances Sasha was giving me. I sighed, averting my gaze. It had been like that since Claire and I had split apart. Everyone knew it had been my fault, but no one really knew the why of it all.

Fortunately no one had dared approached me about it, and now it had been so long it wasn't up for discussion. I heard the chiming of the bells, signaling someone entering the establishment and glanced up, stiffening at the sight of the blond.

She looked smaller than the last time I saw her, still slightly malnourished. May and Stu were talking to her, earning themselves those bright smiles of hers. I tried to examine the items in front of me as the woman sifted through the seed bags and I briefly wondered if she even knew I was here. Not that it mattered.

The bells chimed again and I heard May ask where Stu was going. Claire simply shrugged, her face pale and her gaze somewhat distant. I found myself unable to stop staring at her, and I suppose she knew that. She lifted her head, eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she offered me a curt nod. I blinked at her as she turned around and asked May to go get a loaf of bread.

I sighed as the little girl trotted happily over next to me, picking the item up and bringing it back to Claire. I frowned as I let my head fall, eyes not really focusing on the items in front of me as I tried to determine the best course of action.

And I'm sure if you would just apologize to Claire, if she could forgive you

I smiled some at Ann's words, wondering just how true they could be. But I wasn't sure this was the best place to attempt such a thing.

Of course the woman had no obligation, but it was more of a conscience thing. And I knew Ann would be pleased I had tried.

Or angry…

But it had been her advice.

I took a deep breath and sucked up my nerves, turning to stare at the back of the woman I had thought I once loved.

Of course it hadn't been true love- not that stuff that makes you all giddy in side. I had cared for her, but I wasn't in love with her. I had thought I was.

But recently I had come to the realization that it had been my idea of her. I had never really gotten to know Claire the way I should have to pursue her. I really didn't know anything about her.

And yet I had placed her on a high pedestal, making her into my vision of my perfect woman.

But she wasn't mine. She never was.

What I had created had been an illusion, all smoke and mirrors to fool her, and myself. I had created the setting in hopes of entrapping us in that spell for eternity.

And in the aftermath, I could say I was somewhat glad it had failed. I regretted it, even those times I got to hold her against me, because it hadn't been me she truly wanted.

I was vaguely aware of the bells chiming again as I began to take meek steps towards the woman, only to have my vision of her abruptly blocked by a rather pissed of looking blacksmith.

"Going somewhere?" he asked lowly, his voice barely audible through the low growl emitting from his throat. I refused to show my slight apprehension, though I knew my eyes were wide. I glanced over the shorter man to the woman who was oblivious to what was transpiring, and shook my head. I didn't say anything, but instead headed for the exit, my eyes just catching sight of a rather smug looking child, with his arms crossed in a familiar stance as he stood in front of Claire protectively.

If it hadn't been for the two males watching me, I might have cracked a smile. After all, even though he was the one who went and got Gray, I doubted the man realized exactly why he had been retrieved, and I foresaw the child putting a wrench in the works for him fairly soon.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Claire's POV

"What do you mean you won't participate?" Gray muttered, scowling down at me. I shrugged my shoulders, dumping the half filled basket into the shipping bin.

"I don't have a dress to wear. So I can still go to the Goddess Festival, I just won't dance," I explained quietly, though I felt somewhat guilty at his disappointed expression.

"The point of the Goddess Festival is for the young women of the village to participate in the dance for a good harvest, or something," he tried to explain, and I just shook my head.

"I can't materialize a dress for the event, Gray," I snapped, spinning on my heels and heading towards the chickens pecking away in their make shift pin. I crawled over the fencing and began to gather eggs carefully, doing my best to ignore the glare I could feel coming from the man whose booted feet I could see not too far away.

"I'll get you Ann's dress. It's not like she has anyone to go with anyways," he finally stated, and I looked up at him, my eyes wide as I shook my head.

"You can't do that. It isn't fair. Besides…it's your mom's dress and it means a lot to your dad if Ann wears it," I said quietly, and judging by the expression on Gray's face he had forgotten that tidbit of knowledge. I handed him the eggs when he offered to take them off my hands, and then squatted down to pick up a newly hatched chick I had named Jama-p. "Besides, its not like I would feel comfortable wearing a sleeveless dress into public anyways." There was a long silence between us before Cassie's barking brought both our attentions towards the far entrance of my property.

"What does he want?" Gray said out loud, though I mentally echoed him. I hadn't ordered any upgrades, and Gotz wasn't a regular dinner invitation at my house.

The older man seemed thoughtful as he tugged on his beard, his eyes somewhat distance as he looked down at the large box in his hands. I took Gray's hand as he helped me back over the fencing of the pen, and he excused himself to go place the eggs in the shipping bin.

"Afternoon miss," he mumbled, and I cocked my head to the side at his flushing face. "I heard you were going to the Goddess festival, and Saibara mentioned that you probably didn't have a dress," he began, offering me the box in his arms. I took it, blinking down and carefully opening the purple box. Inside was a beautifully detailed dress, a very light pink skirt with light green trim, and beautiful hand made cloth flowers.

"It's beautiful," I murmured, looking back up at the man whose gaze remained locked on the contents of the box.

"It was my wife's," he said quietly, his voice hoarse and unsteady. I took in a sharp breath, looking back down at the box and then back to the man. "We were going to give it to our daughter when she grew up, but…" he trailed off then, his gaze turning to the mountain in the distance.

"Gotz, I can't accept this," I said quietly, fingers brushing over the silken material of the beautiful dress in the box. "It has too much sentimental value. It's not right for me to take it," I said carefully, though the older man's growing grin and shaking head told me he wouldn't take it back.

"It's okay, Claire. I want you to have it," he insisted, his large hand coming up to rest on top of my head. "You remind me a lot of my daughter you know. So…just take care of it." I heard Gray come back, standing right next to me. I handed the box off to him, biting my lip at the feelings surging through me at the whole situation. Without thinking, I stepped closer to the large man, my arms coming up to hug him as I murmured several thank you's to him.

The man's large hands patted my back somewhat roughly, and I laughed some, shaking my head. Gotz pushed me back some, grinning down at me again. It was rare to see that look on this burly man's face. "You can come visit a little more, you know? It doesn't have to just be business."

"I promise," I murmured, taking the box back from Gray and hugging it tightly to my body. "I'll bring you some food too," I added and Gotz nodded, tilting his head to Gray and turning around.

"Well I need to get back. I'll see you around missy," he called, and I waved at him as he disappeared over the small bridge.

"That was terribly nice of him, and thoughtful," I murmured, looking up at Gray who was staring down at me with a small smile on his face.

"Well what does it look like?"

"I'll show you," I giggled, heading off into the house as the man trailed behind me. Once inside, I pulled the dress out, holding it up to my body and frowning at the fact that it too was sleeveless. But Gray gave an approving nod, his eyes examining the material intently.

"What?"

"Would white go with that?" he asked quietly, and I looked at the dress, nodding.

"Yes. I suppose…I should go pick some flowers and stuff for the morning," I murmured, and the man nodded, heading to the door. "Where are you going?"

"To town for a bit. I'll be back, I promise."

I nodded absentmindedly, my eyes lingering on where his form had been even long after he had left. It was strange for him to act like that, but I shrugged it off. I didn't need to know where he was at all the time.

Even if him leaving caused the dull ache in my chest.

I gathered a few bunches of flowers up at the Goddess pond, bringing them home and placing them in a vase. I would have to braid some of them into my hair tomorrow.

I began making dinner, deciding on a nice rice omelet. Gray still wasn't back, and I let out a small sigh as I stirred up the rice. He must have gotten side tracked and forgot.

Maybe it was for the best. I needed more time away from him anyway. At least that is what I kept telling myself. Ever since I had my realization a few weeks ago I had tried to distance myself emotionally from Gray. Which worked great in theory. And until I actually laid eyes on him.

The fact of the matter was I couldn't change the way we were now, even if I wanted to. Gray and I had evolved, and it seemed to be more than friends. We were almost like a family in my eyes. We still quarreled over silly things from time to time, we worried over each other, and even enjoyed doing many things together.

But I found myself yearning for more. And I knew I didn't need that. It would just result in all the other things I had already disappearing.

"What are you thinking about?"

I squeaked at the low voice, dropping the spoon I had been stirring the rice with onto the floor, and placing my hand over my wildly beating heart. I blinked up at the man, taking in his slightly amused and yet concerned expression I scowled at him, bending down to pick up the spoon.

"Don't do that," I hissed, dumping the spoon into the sink and shaking my head. "I'm getting old you know. You might send me into cardiac arrest."

"You're not that old yet," he chuckled, sticking his hands into his pockets and pulling out a small clear bag. "Here, I got these for you to wear tomorrow."

I glanced curiously at the bag, wiping my hands on my pants legs and taking it from him. I opened it on the counter, dumping out the contents and examining them curiously. The bag had contained ribbons, white and pink ribbons. I picked them up carefully, eyebrows furrowed together as I tried to understand why he had given them to me.

Gray took my wrist, holding my arm up and giving me an small grin. "I figure you can wrap them around your arms, and maybe put some flowers in them so it looks like a wrist corsage," he explained carefully, releasing me and walking into the kitchen. "You don't have to, but I figured since there aren't any sleeves on that dress either, you might like the idea."

"Where on earth did you get ribbons from?" I finally managed to ask as I placed them carefully back in the bag while Gray went about fixing our plates.

"I went to Ellen's," he stated with a shrug, placing plates on the table.

"Gray…" I began, but shook my head, a smile playing on my lips. "Thank you for being so considerate," I finally said, and the man simply shrugged, driving his fork into his food.

"Don't mention it. I just want you to be comfortable," he muttered, shoving a forkful of the food into his mouth. I simply shook my head, joining him at the table.

Gray was just something else a lot of times.

-_-_-_-_-_-

I fiddled with my dress, frowning as it simply refused to stay up on my shoulders. I felt uncomfortable in it, and wondered why for it being an older dress why it showed off so much. I had never much cared for low cut things, and though the dress itself didn't reveal but maybe a hint of cleavage, the dress revealed way to much of my body than I wanted it to.

The straps lay off my shoulders, and I presume that was what it was supposed to do, despite trying to make it fit up on them. The neck line was non existent, a straight line coming from the straps on my arms and across my chest, much like a strapless gown. I finally gave up on trying to make the dress rest any higher on my body, and instead began fiddling with the ribbons I had tried to tie onto my wrists.

They were too loose at the moment, and I was becoming easily frustrated with the whole situation. I was seriously one more wrong thing away from having the biggest major headache in my life. I let out a relived sigh as I managed to fix them the best I could, at least so they weren't sliding down my wrists and the flowers were staying in place.

A knock at the door brought my attention to the clock, and I let out a small curse, turning to look at myself in the mirror for one last glance over. I had braided two long strands of hair and tied them behind my head to make a 'crown' to thread flowers through. I had managed to gather enough Goddess flowers and moon droops to make it look almost like a real crown of flowers.

The rest of my hair was straightened and down, and I had even gone through the trouble of putting on some clear lip gloss. My feet were bare, as that was how I was told the participants dressed, but Popuri had come last night to help me make anklets out of some flowers.

It made me feel bad I hadn't seen her in awhile, but she didn't seem to mind as she had been spending a lot of time with Cliff.

A more urgent knock brought me out of my thoughts and I hurried to the door, opening it and smiling up brightly at the man on the other side.

"Sorry, just making sure I had everything on," I murmured, and felt my face heating under Gray's stare. His eyes were wide and his ears began to heat up, and at that I immediately began pulling on the dress again, making sure nothing inappropriate had spilled out.

"You're gorgeous," he finally managed out, though his voice was lower than it usually was. I bit my bottom lip and slid my toes through the cool sand in front of me, shaking my head at his compliment.

"I…thank you," I whispered, knowing the man well enough that he would argue with me if I denied his perception. I finally forced myself to look up at him and was somewhat disappointed he was in his regular attire.

"It's totally unfair that you guys don't have to dress up too," I muttered, finally shutting the door firmly behind me and stepping next to Gray, looking up at him bitterly. "Makes me feel like you guys don't think its worth it you know?" I teased, though it was hard not to smile at his crest fallen look.

"It's not like…I have anything dressy anyways. I could have worse jeans and a tee-shirt," he mumbled, pulling his hat down over his face. I chuckled at his reaction, walking past him and towards the exit of the farm.

"Come on, Gray, lets get this over with," I called, and I could hear him coming up behind me.

"You know, that offends me. It's like saying you don't want to go with me," he muttered lowly, and I paused, looking up at him worriedly.

"That isn't how I meant it," I protested, my eyes shutting as I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart. "I'm really just referring to being around the rest of the town. It had nothing to do with you." Gray gave a firm nod, and I felt his large hand encasing my smaller one. I looked away from him, trying to stop the flushing of my face, but to no avail.

He's been doing this a lot more since I came out of my depression, and I presumed he had gotten into the habit when I was withdrawn. I'm sure that the meaning of it all, of him holding my hand so firmly in his own, didn't have the meaning to him that it did to me.

But today was going to be a good day. It had to be, and I would take the hint of affection he gave me, however misread on my end.

"I'm going to make sure you have a good time," he assured me, walking carefully beside me. "You sure you're ok to walk?"

"I'm fine," I laughed as the man kicked a pebbled out of the way. "I'm sure I'll let you know if I hurt my feet, its fine."

"I don't understand why you guys can't wear sandals. But the mayor is just OCD about it all I guess," he muttered, more to himself than to me. I let out a happy hum in agreement, hearing the people in the square gathered up in the distance. I felt apprehension fill me, but shook it out.

Everything would be fine.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Or so I had thought.

I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists as Gray continued to ignore me, the brunt of his attention and anger focusing on his sister and her 'date'. Her date that has stupidly approached me for whatever reason and had resulted in Gray making himself look like an ass, the doctor look like an idiot, and Ann look like just about as much of an ass as her brother.

"What do you mean you invited him?"

"I don't think its any of your damn business!"

"And you? Where the hell do you get off even being in the same place as her after that shit you pulled?"

I gritted my teeth as Gray continued on, Ann's angry protest and Tim's more quiet ones poking at my growing agitation.

I was growing very weary of this. I can understand how my companion had fallen into the habit of coming to my rescue, but honestly…

I could feel several sets of eyes on me and the source of the growing commotion, and I found the last threads of my sanity snapping.

"Shut up, all of you," I finally snapped, angrily standing in the middle of the group, glaring at my former boyfriend and his date, shaking my head. My eyes landed on Tim as I glared at him, a surge of outrage filling me for a brief moment. "Do not ever approach me again. I don't care what you have to say, I do not want to hear it," I hissed lowly, eyes cutting over to Ann and giving her a dirty look.

Not because she was with Tim, or defending him, but because she had elevated the level of the spat between the two men, and had knowingly infuriated her brother more.

"You heard her," Gray growled, and I found myself turning slowly to him, a large part of my anger focused on him.

"Shut up," I muttered, one shaking finger pointing up at him. "This is your fault. If you wouldn't over react to ever damn little thing the whole damn town wouldn't know our business, and we damn sure wouldn't have given them this show today," I said the latter part a little loudly, almost smirking when everyone's eyes found seemingly more interesting things besides our little group of enemies.

"Claire," he began, his voice holding a tone of confusion at my reaction to him.

"Gray, just shut up," I repeated shaking my head. "I know you're trying to help, but I don't need you jumping to my rescue every time this idiot," I jerked my thumb towards Tim, "approaches me. All you've done is made things worse. You've managed to make yourself look like a jack ass, me look like the cause of the biggest feud in Mineral Town, not to mention like some type of a home wrecker since you've been exchanging all out verbal blows with your sister."

The man's face flushed a deep shade of red, and I shook my head letting out an agitated sigh.

"I can handle the likes of him myself, and if worse comes to worse, I am fully aware that I only need to call you if he can't take my own words as proof enough that his presence is unwanted," I added, trying to soften the blow of the meaning of my words. I didn't want to have a huge fight with Gray because he thought he was helping, and I certainly didn't want to lose him over Tim being a moron. I frowned at the thoughts, and shook my head.

"You told me you would make sure I had a good time here," I pointed out, seeing his face pale some as his eyes averted away from mine. "And up until this scene, I was, but…"

"I got it," he muttered, and I couldn't help but to give him a small smile. He'd taken that better than I had expected.

"Claire," Ann's voice called quietly behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder, narrowed eyes meeting hers. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I murmured, looking back towards Gray and taking his hand in my own, fully aware of how it shook from his own frustrations. I looked back at Ann and Tim and offered the former a grin. "I'm not. Have a nice day," I said cheerfully, turning back to Gray and squeezing his hand.

"What?"

"I think you had best take me home, or at the least away from here," I murmured, letting my thumb brush over his hand.

"I'm not sure if I want to go with you," he muttered, his free hand pulling his hat over his eyes. I sighed and released his hand, stepping away from him and heading to the exit.

"Fine, I'm going home," I said under my breath, letting out a small squeak when I found a large arm wrapped firmly around my waist, and my body crushed against the man's. He loosened his grip, his large hand resting in the small of my back. I glanced up at him, only to see his gaze remained firm on the man he seemed to despise the most in the world.

And the look on his face was a mixture of irritation and triumph.

Something I never would understand it seems. What was there to feel accomplished over in this moment?

Gray's POV

I felt my face flush as I watched Claire's fingers clumsily try to pull the random flora from her hair. I kept trying to focus on the matter at hand, one being that she had been rather angry at me not to long ago. I couldn't help myself when it came to that jack ass though. I wanted to protect her from him.

And yet all she had done was damage my pride by informing me she didn't want me to do that.

"Stop staring at me," she snapped, startling me out of my thoughts. I quickly averted my eyes, but not before catching site of the pink staining her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. I smirked some at her embarrassment, my eyes shutting a moment before I reached out and began to help her untangle the flower stem from her silky blond hair.

"You're pretty brave, barking orders at me after the crap you just pulled at the festival," I muttered somewhat darkly, reminding myself how she had just laid into Tim and me in front of most of the town.

"Well I'm tired of the two of you going at it all the time," she huffed, her fingers pulling at the scoop top of her Goddess dress. I tried not to let my eyes follow the movement of her hands, knowing full and well that if I looked down at her body I probably wouldn't be able to stop.

It was hard enough for me with her in her overalls.

"No reason to go all bitchy on us," I mumbled, not acknowledging the glare I received. "I was just trying to look out for you," I added quietly, and she let out a small sigh.

"I know that Gray. It seems to be what you're always doing these days. But Tim…"

"Doesn't deserve the time of day from you after the shit he pulled," I growled out, interrupting what she was about to say. She blinked up at me, somewhat startled for a second before slowly nodding her head.

"You know, I don't understand why you let him get you so worked up. Just ignore him," she mumbled, her fingers prodding through her thick hair for any debris left from the flowers. I narrowed my eyes at her words, my hands coming up to grip her by the shoulders rather firmly.

"Because I just can't let go of what he did to you. Not just…literally what he did, but…the aftermath. He didn't see you like I did," I explained in a harsh whisper, my fingers gripping her tighter as I thought back to the events of this winter.

"Gray," she began, but stopped. I could feel her eyes on me, and she seemed to be thinking very deeply on what I was saying. "I'm sorry. I've never…I've never asked you how it affected you," she murmured, one of her hands coming up to rest on one of mine that still held her firmly in my grasp.

"I don't…want to talk about it." I said firmly, my voice faltering half way so the statement ended in a whisper.

"I think you should. It might help you with these anger issues with Tim…" I stiffened as she said his name, my eyes shutting tightly. I couldn't believe that I was becoming jealous over that prick again.

"Why do you try to let him off the hook?" I snapped, shaking her some and glaring down at her.

"I'm not," she protested, her fingers gripping my wrist tightly. Her bangs fell in her face as she looked down to the ground. "I can't let go of what he did. I'm not forgiving him on any level. But I can't hold that anger and hurt inside me. It's poison to me to do it…"

I let my grip on her shoulders lax when I felt her body slump. I understood what she meant on some level. Claire didn't have it in her to hold grudges, not like that. If she had to cling to what that bastard did, to the hurt he caused it could very well send her right back into that downward spiral she had been climbing out of for the last season.

"Then just…let me hold it for you. Let me keep him away from you," I pleaded, forcing her to look up at me. "I don't have to forgive him for that," I assured her, biting the inside of my cheek at the hurt expression on her face.

"But you do Gray. Look at what it's doing to you," she finally replied, her hand coming to remove mine from her face, her fingers gliding over the top of my hand gently. "I know that I need help a lot, that I need support. But…I'm not helpless. You don't have to hold a grudge for me. And Goddess help me, the last thing I need is for you to snap on him and end up the first inmate in Harris' basement jail house."

"So you don't need me then. I just should let him come up and strike up a conversation like nothing is wrong?" I muttered in irritation, releasing her other shoulder and snatching my hand away from hers and storming away from her.

She didn't need me, and she didn't want me. And knowing that fucking hurt. And just looking at her knowing that made it hurt even worse.

"That isn't it at all!" Claire's voice called behind me. I could hear her running after me, and even though I wanted her to stop me, I was just too damn angry to let her. I was angry at Tim, and her, and most of all myself.

For being so stupid to think that there was any hope.

"Gray, please," she pleaded, and I felt her small hands gripping the sleeve of my jacket. I jerked away from her grip and kept on walking, gritting my teeth when the sound of her footsteps stopped. "You idiot…its… it's because I need you that I don't want that to happen."

I stopped, looking over my shoulder at the woman. I'm sure I looked as surprised as I felt, and when she realized what she had just said, she gasped, her hands coming to cover her mouth. She spun away from me, her dress fluttering wildly around her.

I stood there for a moment, watching her as she slouched and hugged herself, stomping her foot as she berated herself for saying something stupid. The setting sun was turning the sky a deep golden hue, and I was vaguely aware that Claire's neighbors at the poultry farm were leaning on the fence, watching us with amusement.

My jaw clenched as I silently made my way over to Claire, my hand gripping her bare shoulder, this time marveling at the silkiness of her skin under the feeling of my callused hand. I didn't turn her, but opted to walk in front of her seeing her face was red and her eyes shut tightly.

"I-I'm sorry. That was an idiotic thing to say. I d-didn't mean it that way…" she was stammering, and that seemed to make her face turn an even brighter hue of red. I closed my eyes, fingers gripping her chin firmly as I tilted her head up to look at me.

"Claire," I began quietly, my tongue feeling thick and useless in my mouth as I tried to force the words out of my mouth. "…I want you to need me." I paused there, watching as a type of relief washed over her face as she looked up at me. I opened my mouth and shut it again, shaking my head at my own cowardice. It was just three stupid little words that I couldn't say. That was until I saw her give that little smile of encouragement to me. That smile I never saw her give anyone else. "I want you to need me- because I love you." I chewed on the inside of my cheek as she stared up at me, her eyes widening as the words sunk in. This was the moment of truth.

She would either reject me or accept me…

"That isn't funny," she muttered out angrily, jerking away from me. I blinked at the woman somewhat surprised.

What the hell?

"No you don't." She whispered, turning away and spitting out over her shoulder "You don't!"

Or just not make any freaking sense what so ever.

"What the hell do you mean I don't?" I called after her angrily, immediately trailing after her as she walked away more quickly. "If I said I do then I sure as hell do!"

"No you don't!" She yelled back, walking even faster. I could see her fingers clenching and unclenching, and her shoulders tensed up, so she pretty much looked like a human version of a pissed off bull charging forward. "You're lying, and it's not funny. There is no way you can feel that way about me."

"I love you stubborn woman," I said loudly, almost wanting to smile as the word left my lips. Claire spun towards me and glared angrily up at me.

"Stop saying that. You do not!" after screeching that at damn near the top of her lungs she spun back around and walked even faster away from me.

"Damn it woman stop walking away from me," I hissed angrily, snatching off my hat and tossing it angrily onto the ground by the barn. Claire continued to storm around her field, and I followed, glaring at the snickering poultry farm siblings as we walked past them. "Claire I swear to the Goddess if you don't at least slow down I'm going to tackle you to the goddamn ground. You don't need to be stressing your body like this," I called irritably after her, slowing my pace as she did hers.

I would stay back for the time being. But honestly her telling me I didn't love her was starting to piss me off. Claire finally came to a near stop, and I realized we had made a full lap around the field as I was standing back by my hat. I bent down and picked it up, shoving it in my pocket and watching her warily.

"I love you Claire. I love everything about you, even your annoying damn faults." I drawled out as I continued to trail behind her, not getting closer in case she either tried to run or start hitting me.

"Stop saying that, it isn't true!"

"The hell it isn't," I snapped, fed up with her denying it. "If I say I love you, that is how I feel. And you denying it and calling me a goddamn liar doesn't make my feelings any less real. I love you, and damn it if you tell me I don't one more time…"

"You can't," she whispered out, looking up at me with a pained expression. "I don't want you to, Gray. Because…" I felt my heart ache at those words, and at the hurt look on her face.

"Why?" I finally whispered.

"Because I have no idea what…this is for you," she muttered out angrily, pushing her hair from her face and wiping furiously at her glossy eyes. "I don't want this to be…me clinging to you after all of this with Tim. I do not want to hurt you like that."

I stood there, looking down at her with a dumbfounded expression. Claire's face was red, her eyes trying to blink back tears. She crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her lips in a tight line.

"I don't believe you," I finally stated, staring stubbornly into her eyes when she looked up at me. "I believe you love me, and you have for a long time. You just don't want to admit that because you're scared."

"I'm not scared," she protested, though I figured that I had been more or less right when her eyes shifted away from mine and she began to sway back and forth nervously.

"I think you are. Because this," I said quietly, gesturing between the two of us. "This has been a long time coming. And I think you know that. It's the reason I got so angry about Tim, it's the reason I kissed you back in the fall, and it's the reason I was able to snap you out if what was wrong with you." When she snapped her eyes back on me, I gave a grim nod and pointed not too far away from us where a rock stood up in the field.

She wanted me to talk about it, how it affected me. Then I would damn sure tell her.

"You were sitting on that rock in the snow, without so much as a damn jacket on Claire. You were sitting there, staring that way with your back to me. You got up," I muttered, my eyes shutting tightly and my teeth gritting as I shared the experience with her. I hadn't told anyone about what had happened that day. "You took a few steps, and you fell down."

I could feel her leaning more against me now as I told her what had transpired.

"I came over here, to help you up. But you had already gotten up…and you kept on going. You stumbled and I held you up." I murmured out, walking behind her and holding her shoulders like I had done not too long ago. "And then I just held you," I whispered, wrapping my arms around her tightly and burying my head in the crook of her shoulder.

"You were so broken, and I didn't know how to fix you," I muttered, my voice low and somewhat sad. I shook my head, gripping her tighter. "I told you how selfish and cowardly you were, running away from your problems, and what a liar you were for telling me you would be here till I was ok." I said bitterly, loosening my grip on the woman as she tried to turn towards me, her face turned up and looking worriedly up at me. I narrowed my eyes on hers, hands coming up to cup her face firmly in my palms.

"I told you, that if you were going to stay like this, then I was going to break down too." The gasp that left her parted lips caused her body to start trembling, and I let out a sigh as the tears started to spill from her eyes. I brushed them away from her cheeks with my thumbs, leaning down and pressing my forehead against hers.

"I- Gray I-m so s-sorry." I closed my eyes, my thumb sliding down to press over her lips in a gesture to stop.

"Then you said my name." I finished, my eyes opening to stare into hers. "It was the first thing you had said in over a week, and you looked at me…you really looked at me. Claire you have no idea how relieved I was to see you like that, fully aware of what was happening. And…and you were worried about me."

"You looked like you had been through hell," she whispered, her eyes falling from mine again. I nodded, pulling her against me in a hug.

"I had been Claire. I had gone through hell trying to figure out how to get to you." I threaded my fingers through her hair, wrapping some of the long stands around my fingers and squeezing it. "You don't want to hurt me," I said quietly, chin resting on top of her head. "But the truth is the only thing more you can do to hurt me more than what happened over the winter is to ignore how you feel about me."

"B-But I don't know how I feel about you," she choked out. I could feel her small hands gripping my jacket sleeves tightly.

"If you didn't care about me then it wouldn't matter if you hurt me or not," I prodded, pulling back some to look down at her when her body began to tremble.

"But loving someone, and caring about them are completely different." I stiffened at the words that had left her lips in a whisper, my fingers coming up to tilt her chin upward. I stared into her glassy eyes, a frown on my face as I examined her.

"Claire, look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me." I demanded gently, and I felt my chest ache when her lips opened, but the moment her eyes shifted away from me I felt relief flow through me.

"I…don't…I can't." she murmured, trying to turn head away from me. I cupped the side of her face, forcing her to look up at me. When I felt the tears slip from her eyes I brushed them away with my thumbs and bent down to rest my forehead against hers.

"I love you, Claire. And I have for a long time now. I don't expect you to feel the same way right now, but," I trailed off there, eyes furrowing as she stepped back.

"I can't do that to you," she whispered, pushing away from me completely and turning around. She pulled at her hair some as she started walking away. "I'm sorry, I just, can't. I won't put you through that."

I stood there for all of about three seconds before quickly catching her by the wrist, snatching her back.

"Through what?" I snapped, glowering down at the tiny woman and wondering just what the hell was running through her mind.

"Gray just stop it."

"No! I want to know what your problem is- why you wont talk to me about this like a sane person.."

"I already told you!" she shouted, snatching her wrists in my hands in futility. "I don't want to hurt you," she said more gently, her eyes falling to the ground. "And I don't want you to hurt me."

I felt my jaw slacken at the last whispered statement, looking down at her incredulously. Seriously? Why would she even think I was capable of hurting her?

"I wont," I said firmly, eyes staring down at her broken form, feeling my heart beat faster at the sight of her slumped against my body, her head turned down.

"Liar. You have no idea…" She began, slowly looking up to hold my eyes. "You have no damn idea how much power you hold over me." She seemed angered by the words she spoke, and I could feel her body began to shake.

"I'm not Tim, Claire. I'm not going to hurt you like that," I whispered, pausing only when she let out a loud shaking breath.

"It isn't that. Gray," she choked out, her head falling towards the ground. "I mean, that isn't such a big deal. But…you don't understand." I let out a bitter laugh at the sentence, releasing her wrists and gripping her delicate shoulders.

Control your temper.

I took a deep breath at the voice in my head, doing my best to keep the threads of control I had left taunt and strong. I didn't need to take any steps backwards right now.

"I'm trying to Claire. I'm trying to understand, but damn it if you aren't the most confusing woman I've ever met. If you just tell me…"

"What's the point? So you can sit there and tell me it wasn't my fault, and yet another person lies to me about the facts.

"No. So I can understand what you're so damn afraid of, and try to explain to your stubborn self why it's ridiculous," I muttered lowly.

"I would never get over losing you," she choked out. I stiffened at the words, not quite sure what to do when the woman pressed herself against me, her face buried in my jacket. I slowly brought a hand up, fingers combing through her hair as I heard her soft muffled sobs and whimpers.

"Claire…"

"You are such an idiot. Don't you understand. This, this is a huge mistake. Things are fine the way they are. If it doesn't work out, what we have now is gone. "

"Maybe," I began under my breath, tilting her face up and narrowing my eyes on hers. "I don't like what we have now anymore. It's not enough."

"But I don't…" I dipped down, pressing my lips firmly against her own that had been parted in mid protest. I could feel her stiffen in my arms before her body relaxed some, and I stole a glance to see her eyes fluttering shut. I pulled back, fingers gripping her shoulders tightly.

"You want this too," I murmured, watching her shake her head as if to shake the cloudiness from her mind. As soon as her eyes opened wide and she began to wiggle I let out a sigh.

"N-no. It's just not…" I pressed my lips against hers again, smirking at the fact that after all this time I finally found a way to shut the woman up that I could enjoy.

Whistles and cheers from somewhere behind me brought my attention to the small audience we had gathered at Poultry Farm, and I sighed, breaking the kiss and jerking my head in their direction.

"Claire, let's go in the house and talk about it. Then you can try to explain this to me, and I can sift through your reasoning…" and most likely tell her she was being stupid. But in a more tactful way- if I could help it.

"Oh, but," she began to protest, and I scooped her up bridal style, fully willing to silence her again in a rather pleasantly efficient way. I broke the kiss as I began to walk forward, unable to fight back the smirk at her dazed expression and flushed cheeks. "A-alright. We can talk," she mumbled, her fingertips brushing over her lips.