By now, Claire was getting used to life in Mineral Town. Relatively speaking, of course. Sometimes, things were as normal as they would be anywhere else like the gossiping and the drama. The stories she would hear about Manna and her gossip gang – if she needed any information on anyone, she knew who to call. There were also certain events and revelations which Claire could not, as much as she tried, solve. And as the farmer stared out onto her fields like she often would, another recent revelation haunted her.

Nobody told her about this.

She adjusted her heavy scarf, tucking it more into her jacket, then crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed at her empty fields as if to demand answers even though she knew she would not receive them from her actual fields. The sensation brought enormous satisfaction.

She soon heard a light crunch behind her in what she assumed was an unexpected visitor. "And what possible reason do you have in staring at your empty fields covered with snow?"

Claire continued to fixate her stare at her fields for a moment later before peeling her eyes away and to the man in question. "That's a very strange way in saying hello, Gray."

"Forgive me," the man in the UMA hat sarcastically responded then continued with his inquiry. "Just what are you doing?" He slung his hammer on his shoulder waiting for a response to his question. Even though snow had arrived in Mineral Town, somehow his look was exactly the same as previous seasons. Claire began to wonder whether beige was indeed his favourite colour.

When Claire did not answer right away, Gray motioned his head towards her in an attempt to indicate that he was still waiting for her response. "Wondering why I ever decided to move out here." she began, "I mean, nobody really tells me things that I probably should know here in this town." Not as if the city was any better, she thought to herself.

"Alright, I'll bite," Gray commented as he shifted his hammer from his shoulder to resting it on the ground. He then leaned on the hammer. "What is it now?"

The blonde squatted and grabbed some snow with her gloved hands. "This!" she declared as she shot up, dropping the snow back onto the ground.

"And you've never seen snow...?" he squinted.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I have," Claire swept some of her bangs to the side, not liking how they were obstructing her view. Some of the bangs she swept into the front of her winter hat. "But what I'm not understanding is how the hell does this snow immediately appear on the first day of winter? And – and how come I don't see anything in my fields? Yesterday, no snow and crops in the fields. I figured 'okay Claire, we going to do some cleaning tomorrow.' Tomorrow happens and this," she motioned around her, "is what I find. How does that even make sense!?"

Gray tried stifling his laugh, "That is what is bugging you?" A more definite laugh now crept out of the man.

"Oh you think this is funny?" the blonde narrowed her eyes.

"Kinda," Gray settled his laugh.

"It is a legitimate question," Claire crossed her arms, not finding any humour. "The least someone could have done was to give me a heads up."

"Making the assumption that this isn't a normal thing in Mineral Town," he pointed out. Gray picked up his hammer and placed it on his shoulder again, "I wouldn't think too much about it. Look on the bright side: you don't have to clear your fields. Of course," he twirled his hammer on his shoulder for no apparent reason, "I fully understand who I am talking to." He paused thinking to add to his statement then quickly continued, "Which makes it all that more entertaining." He released a small laugh.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Well, whatever," the blonde scoffed as she uncrossed her arms. "Besides laughing at me, what brings you to my farm this early?"

"It's the quickest way to the mines," he took a few steps then quickly added, "Come along and bring your hammer too."

Claire scrunched her face in thought as she watched the man continue walking.

He walked a few feet towards the other exit of her farm. "You coming?" he then questioned as he looked back at her.

The blonde opened her mouth with the full intention on responding but quickly closed it. It wasn't as if she had anything else to do considering her animals were already well fed and taken care of for the day. She knew this. I guess I could spare some time.

It definitely won't hurt none. And he is certainly pretty confident that you will.

It was settled. If her conscious was going to pipe up, she was going to do just that, whatever the particular that was going to be for the day. She lightly jogged to catch up with Gray.

"Hammer?"

"Rucksack," she pointed to her back. "Or I should say-"

"Bigger-on-the-inside rucksack," Gray said as she said exactly that. Though his tone of the much admired phrase of the farmer's was more matter-of-fact than her nerdy one.

"Hey now," she said as she nudged him.

He rolled his eyes shaking his head but at the same time could not help but smile.

As the two of the approached the crossroads, Claire attempted to veer off towards the path where the hot springs and waterfall dwelt but immediately realized Gray had no plans to head that way. In fact, he was heading down the path which contained the lake. The blonde paused momentarily not understanding why they weren't going down the other path.

Realizing his companion was not with him, Gray stopped and looked behind him. "There's another mine, Claire," he declared.

Claire blinked in confusion but soon hustled to catch up to Gray again.

The two of them continued to venture down the chosen path and shortly arrived at the location of the lake. The blonde was starting to piece everything together. Her eyes fixated on the lake – once in the liquid state now in the solid. Because of course the lake would be immediately frozen the first day of winter... she mused to herself.

As quickly as she noted the lake, she also noted the center of the lake. It was as if she was seeing it for the first time. There was a hole much like the entrance to the mines near the waterfall. She wondered why she never noticed this significant detail before. And apparently that was the destination. "Just be careful. This here," he motioned to the ground with a slight smirk on his face, "is known as ice."

"Don't patronize me, Gray. Just don't," Claire glared at the man in front of her, "I know what ice is." Just as soon as she uttered the last word which coincided with her first step onto the frozen lake, she slipped and fell right on her ass.

Gray tried his hardest to keep his laughter an inner one but failed miserably.

The farmer shot daggers at him with her eyes.

"You okay?" he managed to inquire in between his laughs. He outstretched his hand towards her.

She took his hand, and he helped her onto her feet again with her almost slipping again back onto the ground. When she was more on the solid surface of the mine entrance, she muttered something incoherent. "I'll be fine," she finally said clearly.

Gray nodded and quickly changed his tone. "Watch your step," the blacksmith warned as they entered. There were only a few steps before hitting solid ground.

"How are we suppose to-" Before the farmer could finish her sentence, Gray quickly grabbed what appeared to be a lamp, resting his hammer against a rock, and lit the lamp with a match. "-see," she released the last word.

He lifted the lamp closer to their faces, getting a better look at the farmer. He gave a small smile as he shook his head and took the lamp back at arm level. "What?" the blonde exclaimed somewhat confused.

"Nothing," Gray said as retrieved his hammer. He then started to head more into the mine. Claire followed closely behind.

"No, really, what?"

"It's nothing," the blacksmith chuckled.

"Well, whatever," she paused debating what exactly to say next. All that was heard was their footsteps echoing throughout the mine. This mine was similar to the one she knew well except it seemed much colder. But that currently was hardly relevant to the blonde. "What are we doing here, anyways? And why go here instead of the one near the waterfall?"

Gray gingerly placed the lamp onto the ground then readied his hammer. He smashed a nearby rock with it. Claire, crossing her arms, slowly grew impatient at the prospect of her questions not being answered. Before she was able to speak, however, the blacksmith picked up a sparkling object which came from the rock. He nonchalantly passed it to her much to the blonde's puzzlement and proceeded onto the next nearby set of rocks.

Claire muttered to herself still somewhat annoyed. She adjusted her winter hat on her head then squatted next to the lamp. Holding the object close to said lamp, she quickly understood why Gray had opted to show her rather than answer. "An emerald!?" the farmer exclaimed.

"Don't know why you're acting surprised. I thought I told you this couple of seasons ago. Scratch that: I know I did. Kind of hard not to forget when you were in a mood that day not to mention later-"

"Oh, don't remind me what happened later," Claire interrupted him without thinking, knowing what he was referencing. Though now through different eyes and the fact that so much had happened between the two, the little misunderstanding on that day seemed trivial. The blonde recognized this and even suspected had something like that happen now she probably would handle it differently perhaps even welcome it, strange though it seemed. Perhaps then she would have gained and even be determined to gain insight on the blacksmith. She then rolled her eyes, coming to the realization of what else he had said. Her mental gymnastics would have to wait, "I was not in a mood that day."

The blacksmith took a deep breath, "Gonna have to disagree."

The farmer stuck out her tongue out to the man through the dim light even though he action the blacksmith most likely would have not seen. She resumed her admiration of the emerald in her hand. "I sort of forgot you mentioned emeralds, diamonds, and rubies – there are diamonds and rubies here, right?"

"Yeah, somewhere, though they are not the easiest to find. I lucked out with that emerald there."

Claire paused thinking about her next words. She held the emerald in her hand, feeling the weight and texture. "I'd imagine McGowan knows about the properties of both mines," the blonde switched gears in the conversation.

"Probably," Gray said matter-of-factly. Without realizing it, he increased the strength of his hammering.

For a moment, there was silence between the two and throughout the cave. Claire kept fidgeting with the emerald in her hand the reason being unknown even to her while Gray took a short break from his hammer. "I mean, like I've mentioned, some things are out of our hands." The blacksmith then continued with what he was doing.

"Directly, maybe. But there is always something one can do," the blonde somewhat mumbled but well within Gray's ability to hear.

"I don't necessarily agree with that," he said as he broke another rock.

"That's kinda a pessimistic view of life, wouldn't you say?"

"Perhaps. But you're never truly disappointed."

The farmer furrowed her lips to one side contemplating her words. "You know, you remind me of someone but opposite of that. He was a bit of an optimist. Well, I didn't exactly know him know him. Maybe an acquaintance? But a far away acquaintance."

"Meaning you never really knew him, if at all."

"Knew what everybody around him did. But whatever. It was fairly close to the time my brother left and obviously before I moved to the city – around the time my brother and I travelled and competed."

"Ah, yeah, I actually forgot the two of you – what was it again," he paused momentarily from his hammering still gripping his hammer with both hands. "Yes, danced competitively," he continued as he proceeded to whacking at the rocks again.

"Yeah. Most tend to forget which honestly is fine with me. Don't get me wrong, that time in my life – short but memorable – helped coped with our situation at home and, at least for me, at school. It was also when I was really able to read up on anything that I wanted to learn. And I did that in spades. But I don't get bent out of shape when it slips from people's minds."

"Right..."

"But, I'm rambling a bit much."

"I mean, I wasn't going to say anything," Gray grunted as he stooped to place another gem in the sack nearby. He continued with his hammering.

"Anyways," Claire narrowed her eyes, "we were in the small town of, I think, Rodkirk-"

"What?" Gray interrupted simultaneously as his grip on his hammer slipped in front of him. The hammer thumped onto the ground. The force of the slip was enough for the weathered wooden handle to pierce the skin of one of his hands. He cursed underneath his breath.

Claire shot up from her sitting position, releasing her grip on the emerald and allowing it to land near the lamp. "What happened?"

"Nothing serious." He muttered something incoherent which the blonde could not hear.

Despite the dimly lit cave, Claire knew the blacksmith was not happy with what had happened as he massaged his hand. "Let me take a look at your hand."

"Claire, it's fine."

"Don't argue with me. Let me look at it." Claire scooted over the lamp closer to where Gray was. She then proceeded to examine the problematic hand. "Luckily, no splinters," she mumbled to herself. Rummaging through her coat pockets, she retrieved some gauze. She had kept some gauze with her at all times ever since she found her dog injured one summer night.

The blacksmith's facial expression was a scowling one but at the same time splashed with curiosity. He picked up the conversation where it left off, "So Rodkirk. Did you meet him there or..."

"Not exactly," she began as she wrapped his hand, "And Rodkirk isn't the only town we crossed paths. He was known by people; my brother and I were known by people; that was the extent. But he did have a pretty positive view on life."

"I doubt he was like that all the time. No one is just optimistic or just pessimistic. Optimism and pessimism are like two sides of the same coin," Gray peered through his hat studying Claire carefully.

"What about realists?"

"They reject the coin."

Claire slightly nodded. "I'm only saying what was known to everyone about him," the blonde finished wrapping his hand. "You will definitely need to wash that really well after leaving here. But that will do for now."

The blacksmith drew his hand back to himself. He adjusted his hat, "Appreciate it." He turned back and retrieved his hammer, going back to his task.

"Yeah, no problem," Claire blinked. She had no idea what she expected. With that and getting tired of lounging around, she slipped her rucksack off and retrieved her hammer to join in the smashing of rocks for the pursuit of gems.

For awhile, the two of them smacking rocks with their respective hammers was the only noise echoing throughout the cave. The steady rhythm of hammering strangely allowed the farmer to wonder in her thoughts. The subject? The recent conversation. Excluding her rambling, it was a bit bizarre to her. It was as if the blacksmith refused to comment further on the whole McGowan situation in any capacity. She suspected that deep down he had more to say, but getting it out of him was going to be a task, that is, if she truly wanted to know his true thoughts.

But even she was uncertain on the matter and situation, despite the fact she had a bit of a plan. With that uncertainty came another uncertainty: her move to Mineral Town. She once thought she was secure in that choice. But now?

As on cue or something, Gray picked that moment to start up the conversation, "Penny for you thoughts?" He momentarily paused.

She hesitated in answering. It was something she recently was wrestling with off and on even before this escapade in the mines. She never understood why, but then again she never exactly talked about it with anyone, even with her two best friends in the city. It was like a dark invisible cloud looming over her which just so happened to make its appearance at that moment.

"Well, if you must know," she started not sure why she was entertaining the idea of the current conversation. She continued to use her hammer against the rocks. "I was wondering whether coming here to Mineral Town was even my decision to begin with."

When she lifted her hammer again to hit the current rock in front of her, she was stopped abruptly by a hand on her arm. It startled her. "You're holding the hammer wrong again. It's like you don't listen." Before she could retort to the abrasiveness of her companion noting faintly that his hammer was on the ground where he was, he quickly continued, "And what makes you think it wasn't your decision?"

Claire was unsure what to respond to first as she rested her hammer on the ground while holding its handle. "The newspaper...?" She was still somewhat startled, and his look did not help matters. He looked at her as if she had said the stupidest thing ever. It was foreign to see and gave her a foreign feeling.

"So you wouldn't have made decision to answer the ad if it were on a billboard or on the TV or on the side of a bus?" he crossed his arms.

"Well, I probably would have still called about the farm..."

"Then it was your decision. That asshole up north does not control your life. So stop." He uncrossed his arms and shuffled back to his hammer. "He doesn't deserve to live rent-free in your head." With that said, he took his hammer and smashed a rock near him. The impact from the hammer boomed throughout the cave with the rock shattering on the first hit.

Claire jumped from the sudden noise, knowing not whether to be afraid or to be extremely impressed by the blacksmith's strength. It was a confusing feeling but in a strange way a clarifying one. Perhaps he was right. And perhaps she had been giving 'that asshole up north' way too much room in her head. She thought about proposing a 'what-if' scenario – like if she had not responded to the ad in the newspaper maybe things would be different in a good way – but quickly dismissed the idea. She sat on a nearby rock knowing Gray had sort of a point. She fiddled with her hammer's handle.

Gray paused when he realized Claire refrained from speaking. "I am sorry if I was... pushy," he managed to say not knowing if 'pushy' was the right word. He hoped it was. "I didn't want you to, somehow, get in your head that things would be better had you not decided to move here."

Well paint me green and call me a cucumber! He read our mind!

The blonde ignored her conscious and continued to listen to the blacksmith. "The north still would have been the north, but I would not be where I am in my training. If, you know, you hadn't. I don't want you to think that moving here was a terrible action." He continued with his task as if the conversation never happened.

Just as soon as Gray lifted his hammer for the second time, Claire suddenly embraced him from behind wrapping her arms around his chest. "Thank you," she said as she slumped further into the embrace.

He relaxed his stance. "Any time," he responded as he lightly patted one of hands. A small smile crept upon his face.

The blonde soon released her grip then scurried back to where she had left her hammer. She began smacking the rocks, continuing with the procurement of gems. Gray glanced at her with an obvious grin then he too went back to smashing rocks.

It was quiet for the next few hours minus the obvious echoes sounding from their tasks. Once the sack was full which to the both of them was much quicker than either anticipated, the two of them headed for the exit of the cave. Gray held the sack and his hammer on one side of his shoulder with the same arm anchoring the two objects while holding the lamp with opposite hand. Claire thought about offering some assistance but suspected she would receive a rather stubborn attitude. Still, it was an impressive feat.

At the arrival of the exit, the blacksmith extinguished the lamp returning it to its rightful spot near the stairs. He switched his hammer from the shoulder with the sack to the other one, adjusting his grip on the sack as well as his posture, while the farmer carefully ascended said short stairs.

This time around when they crossed the ice for the second time, Claire watched where she placed each foot of hers, earning a shake of the head and smirk from the blacksmith. She ignored him and rolled her eyes when he was not looking. Nobody was going to make her feel as if being careful on the ice she definitely slipped on before was somehow a bad idea.

Heading towards Claire's farm, they retraced their steps on the same path from earlier. Occasionally, Claire glanced initially at Gray to admire how he carried himself with what he was carrying but then wondered how heavy the sack really was. Given the width and height and depth of the sack as well as the average dimensions of the gems, she was certain she would be able to calculate the exact weight.

Gray soon noticed the blonde's deep-in-thought face. "Something's on your mind. As well as your face," he motioned to his own cheek to indicate to her that something was on her own.

She took one of her gloves off and started wiping her cheek with her hand. When she was satisfied she had wiped whatever was on her face off, she responded, "Nothing important." She returned the one glove back on her hand.

"No, what is it? I'm curious."

"I was just wondering just exactly how heavy the sack is."

You were thinking more than just that.

Don't start.

The blacksmith stopped in his tracks causing the farmer to do the same. Claire tilted her head in curiosity as she watched him leaned his hammer against a nearby tree. He then set the sack down carefully yet effortlessly between them. "Well. See for yourself." He crossed his arms, amused at his idea.

Yeah, girl, we ain't picking that up at all.

Not wanting to back down from a challenge and ignoring the quips of her conscious, she pooled all her strength. She bent her knees, straightened her back, and started the task of lifting the sack. It left the ground somewhat but quickly slumped back onto the ground.

You should have told him the other thought.

Gray chuckled. "So?"

The blonde cleared her throat, adjusting her winter hat, "Quite. It's as if I'm lifting my own body weight." Her eyes somewhat wandered in thought.

As if she had said there was free food, Gray's eyes lit up. He then grabbed his hammer from the nearby tree and passed it to Claire. She opened her mouth wanting to say something but then saw him pick up the sack back onto his shoulder. Before she was able to voice her curiosity, she then was lifted off the ground by the blacksmith as if she were just another sack. "Gray!" she screamed. She slightly blushed at the sudden action.

"Oh you're quite light, even with holding the hammer. The sack doesn't even compare."

"Whoop dee doo. Experiment completed. Now put me down, you, you show off!" She cursed underneath her breath for not being able to come up with any other phrase, preferably insulting.

"I haven't shown off yet." Not quite done with his little escapade, he then strutted down their current path.

Claire was unsure whether to be impressed by his sheer strength and unwavering balance or to be utterly annoyed. All she could do was glare off in the distance behind them, the slight blush still plastered on her face.

Gray waited until they were across the bridge and onto her farm to gently set the emotionally confused farmer back down to the ground. Claire continued her glare as best as she could but struggled to maintain her look as she saw a stupid smirk on the blacksmith's face. "What is actually wrong with you – really, I want to know," the blonde managed to say.

He adjusted his grip on the sack. "Admit it, Claire, you enjoyed it," he responded as he confidently walked by her towards the northern exit of her farm.

Girl, he saw right through you. This man!

Claire briefly fiddled with the hammer she still was holding then ran to catch up to Gray. She then approached him rather closely to his side and half-whispered, "Maybe I did." She immediately skipped ahead of him with his hammer now on her shoulder. The blacksmith merely smirked as he shook his head.

Winter was a freeing time, much to the blonde's amazement. Feed the cows, feed the sheep, and basically look after all the animals on her farm – that was the only farm work she had to accomplish. Claire took full advantage of this early on in the season.

She determined to herself to spend as much time as should could on building her semi-planned contraption and decrypting that stubborn file. Whenever she felt annoyed and frustrated at the little progress she seemed to be making on the file, she would switch gears to further her design of the device she was building. And vice versa. This was her plan for the whole of winter, and by her calculations, she would have a solid plan for dealing with the situation up north at the end it. It kept her busy which she very much welcomed.

Though it was not the only thing on her mind.

Not to give the further impression of being a hermit, Claire continued her visits at the blacksmith's. Both of the men enjoyed her company and even more so when she decided to visit longer during the winter. Saibara even set an area near the entrance corner for the farmer to sit with her laptop. It might have been just a bunch of barrels arranged accordingly, but it was good enough for her to still work on decrypting. And in the presence of actual people.

One particularly cold sunny day, Claire swung by like normal, greeted and occasionally chatted with the men like normal, but instead of slaving away at decryption, chatted with her best friend Kat on her laptop via a program she had written. The blonde chatted in such a way where while waiting for a response from her friend, she could easily switch to her decryption project.

However, since the two of them mainly spoke of Gray – with Kat trying desperately to convince Claire to just flat out demand whether he liked her or not – that was all Claire could think about in between responses. She tried her best to work on the decryption, but watching the young blacksmith hard at work prevented that task from happening.

As she was watching Gray for the umpteenth time, she then noticed Saibara getting ready to head out. Saibara quickly mentioned he had an errand to run, told his grandson not to burn down the shop, then left. The two remaining adults looked at each other and continued with what they were doing. Claire, however, made sure not to mention this new development to her friend. Her mind was already going on overdrive as it was.

She continued on occasion in admiring the young blacksmith whenever she thought he was too busy to notice. She glanced now and then at her laptop, checking to see if Kat had responded but eventually ended up half ignoring any response. Instead, her focus gradually stayed more on her subject with her hand and arm propping her head upright.

There was just one problem: she was oblivious to the obvious slipping in her position.

Leaning more and more into her hand, she eventually fell to the ground earning a rather confused look from the blacksmith.

"I'm fine. I'm fine," she repeated as she quickly rose to her feet. She plopped back onto the barrels. A small blush began to appear.

"How did you manage that?"

"Ah, well," she started off awkwardly along with an equally awkwardly laugh, "by not paying attention."

Gray grunted in response. He then paused, thinking carefully of his next words, then added to the brief exchange, "I'm surprised you haven't figured out that taking a picture lasts a hell of lot longer." He locked eyes with her for a couple seconds, flashing a quick smile, then continued more with his current task.

Inside of the blacksmith's shop was hot as it was. Claire was never fond of the heat but during the winter had welcomed the boiling room anytime she came. But at that moment of Gray's statement was as if someone had turned the thermostat up to the max in the blacksmith. Or quite possibly a miniature star was in the room; it would certainly explain the excess amount of heat her body was now feeling, especially in her neck. She was sure that her cheeks were extraordinarily red as well, much redder than any time previously. Whether Gray noticed that particular detail, she had no idea, but she knew he had caught her staring.

She cleared her throat and tried to focus more on her laptop. I can't believe that actually happened.

I can. Which means you can too. I mean, what is so confusing?

Everything... including this me-versation...

Claire rubbed her temples. Even though she understood that conversing with herself, as insane that always sounded, was something she knew would help sort through some of her feelings currently, she thought it best not to do so right at that moment. She glanced at the blacksmith again and smiled to herself before checking for real now what responses or rather how many responses Kat had left since. Best not to say anything of this to her...

Before she knew it, it was evening. Yet again she got nowhere in her decryption, but given how she knew it would be a nightmare to decrypt to begin with that was expected. She closed her laptop and gingerly placed it into her rucksack. "It's evening already?" Gray spoke up, noticing her movement.

"Yeah," she affirmed as she walked over to the nearby coat rack. She plopped her winter hat on as well as her scarf then grabbed her coat. She watched Gray put away some of his tools as she slipped on first her coat then her rucksack. "You're heading out too? With your grandfather still not back?"

"Why not? It's my time to go anyways," Gray replied somewhat confused. "Gramps has been out this long before. As long as I lock up, my hide is safe."

"Oh, okay." The blonde opened the door and immediately felt the cold winter evening on her face. She slipped on her gloves and proceeded to enter the cold wonderland.

"Hey, wait up!" the blacksmith's voice called out from behind. He caught up to her at the door of the shop and quickly locked up behind him.

Claire looked at him strangely, not knowing what to think. "I'm just going go home like I always do."

"About that. I was wondering," he paused momentarily, "whether you would want to, you know, join me for some food at the Inn." Gray pulled his cap down a bit.

"Sure, I guess," Claire blinked.

What do you mean 'I guess'?

The blonde ignored her mental outburst.

"Awesome. Let's go." Gray stuck his hands in his pockets for warmth as the two headed towards the Inn.

I'm just going to put this out there: this feels like a date.

What!? No.

Yes.

No.

Yes.

No!

Yes!

I would know!

You do know! Cause-

Don't start this up again... Just... please don't make me do something stupid...

No promises!

As the two approached the Inn, Claire glanced over at Gray. She tried getting a read off of him, but like always, his hat obscured the view. Gray opened the Inn's doors, allowing Claire to enter first, then he followed. The blonde gave a small smile in acknowledgement.

Hold door open? Check!

Shut it...

The two of them, once Claire had hanged her winter gear on the nearby coat rack, took one of the farthest tables from the door. And just like Gray was a gentleman for holding the door open for Claire, he pushed in her chair as well as she sat down. "T-Thanks..." she managed to say with her voice somewhat going up at the last sound. A slight unnoticeable blush crept on her.

Ahem.

Maybe this is one...

Check!

Of course, all this did not escape the ever watchful eye of a certain ginger waitress. She bounced her way to the table where Claire and Gray sat, her single high braid swaying as she did. Her eyes locked with the blonde's. Ann smirked and slightly motioned her head towards the blacksmith. Claire narrowed her eyes as she shook her head slightly, trying to indicate to her friend not to stir the pot.

However, this was Ann. She never was able to 'just stir the pot.' On the contrary, she was the type of person who would take an electric whisk to the pot. On high speed.

Ann opened her mouth, ready to declare her take on the situation. Claire prepared herself but to her relief Cliff decided to join the table by sitting on the chair beside the blacksmith. "Hey, guys," he said.

Oh thank Rassilon... Claire thought to herself.

The trio greeted Cliff in response which signalled to Ann that perhaps now was not the time. After all, it certainly was much more enjoyable to the ginger to tease Claire either on her own or with just Gray. She excused herself and bounced away to grab some breadsticks for the table.

Cliff was the one person in town whom Claire saw change significantly, especially after he was hired at Aja Winery. From a incredibly shy guy with a stutter to now someone with much more confidence than before, both in his movements and conversations – he was like this brand new person that just blew into town with stories of his life and experiences. He had especially opened up to the blonde farmer, and she suspected it was his way of thanking her for helping him acquire a job. He was pretty charming in his own Cliff-kind-of way. Still not her type but she grew to appreciate him as a friend. Now if only he can transfer that energy in his pursuance of Popuri. Claire continued to reminisce. She soon snapped back to reality.

"How's working with your grandfather been lately?" Cliff directed his question to Gray who had been very quiet up until that point.

"It's been interesting sometimes," the young blacksmith glanced at the farmer, "but overall, alright, I guess."

"And how's farm work been?" the brown-haired man turned now to the blonde.

"Quiet and slow which has allowed me to work on some projects." She paused briefly then continued with their conversation, "What about you, Cliff? How's working at Aja Winery been treating you?"

"Pretty well, though it too has been pretty slow. It's a job, at least. What kind of projects? Your brother mentioned you were working on something but even he was confused on what exactly."

Claire raised her eyebrows.

"Your brother does talk a lot sometimes," Gray chimed in as he noticed Claire's facial expression.

Of course he does.

"You're known to do your fair share yourself," Cliff turned his attention back to Gray.

"Says the guy who talks about Popuri non-stop," clapped back Gray. He peered through his hat at the man beside him.

It was at that moment when Ann strode back to the trio with a basket of breadsticks in her hands. "What's ya'll talking about?" She placed the basket onto the table. Claire was the first to take a breadstick. The blonde gingerly took a bite.

Cliff was still growing red from Gray's comment. He rubbed his hands on his pants then spoke up with the full intent on steering the conversation away from where it was heading, "C-Claire was saying she has been working on some projects this season."

"Yeah, just what the hell have you been working on? Nobody in town seems to know. And trust me, I've asked many people amongst other things," Ann focused her attention on Claire.

The farmer finished her breadstick. "I wouldn't know where to begin to be honest..." she trailed off.

"But it is important, right?" Gray added observing the farmer's unwillingness to meet anyone's eyes. He gave her a slight smile.

Claire looked at him, her eyes meeting his. She gave him a slight nod and smiled somewhat.

This did not go unnoticed by the ginger waitress. Ann held up her index finger, but then her eyes darted to the exit of the Inn. A familiar man had just entered. She quickly ditched her plan of saying something but made a mental note of what she wanted to say. She released a small squeal and sprinted towards the man. The man did not even get past the first set of tables before Ann leapt on him, wrapping her legs around him. She rested her arms on his shoulders and proceeded to kiss him ferociously.

Claire turned around to see what the commotion was. Her eyes lit up as she saw her brother and Ann approaching the table. She pushed herself away from the table and jumped off her seat to meet her brother in the biggest hug she could muster. "Jack!" She wrapped her arms around his chest with such emotion that he had to retract his arm from off Ann's shoulder. He let out an 'oof.'

He then returned her hug. "I should leave for a little bit more often," he lightly joked.

Claire merely hugged him tighter.

"Hold on. Jack?" Ann scrunched her nose in confusion.

The siblings broke their hug, much to Claire's reluctance. She never realized how much she missed his presence, even if it had been a short period. More than that though, she was grateful he made it back from their parents alright.

"It is my middle name, Ann, or have you forgotten." Andrew tilted his head at the ginger. "Claire calls me Jack anytime her feelings are extremely intense. Like coming back from visiting our parents. That alone right there. If you knew our parents..." he trailed off then continued, "It is one way I can tell the extent of what could be running through her head. Not always though, but it can range from 'be serious' to 'I need assistance.; Came in handy when we were kids." He side-hugged his sister, lightly squeezing her shoulders together.

"Maybe I should start calling you that," Ann said.

"Ah, well, Ann, darling... no. And I mean that in the most respectful and loving way ever. Only my sister can. The rarity of it ensures the authenticity of it, if that makes sense. But, there are plenty of other things you may call me, Ann." He pulled the ginger-haired woman close to him and leaned in to kiss her. He cared not that people were watching.

"Anyways," Claire cleared her throat in an attempt to snap the two back to reality. She proved successful. "Speaking of sisters... this one should probably head home now."

"We haven't eaten yet," Gray decided to speak.

"I had a breadstick," the blonde awkwardly joked, "All joking aside, I really should. Probably should have earlier. but, you know..." she trailed off not knowing where she was going with that point. "I do have lots I would like to try to accomplish which means late night for me which also means I'll be eating later. Rain check, for sure, and I say for sure cause last time I said something like that, it never happened."

Girl, come on, with good reason here.

Don't. So many conflicting views on that as it is.

Also, what's with the ramble?

Gray was about to respond to the blonde but was interrupted. "Let me walk you home, sis. I can start to unpack some of what happened."

Claire nodded in agreement as she caught a glimpse of the young blacksmith. She was not entirely sure what was running through his head, but her thoughts on the matter abruptly stopped when Ann whispered to her that the two of them were overdue in a girl's talk. That sent shivers down Claire's spine. If that was not bad enough, the blonde saw Ann smirk as she and her brother headed for the exit of the Inn.

It is only a matter of time before Ann finds out.

What, that you probably, most likely, one hundred percent, absolutely have a possible thing for that blacksmith in training?

Claire took a deep breath as she grabbed her coat. Her eyes skipped around the Inn at the regulars as she stuck her arms in the arms of her coat. Once her coat hung on her tiny frame, she locked eyes with the man that was recently on her mind. She gave him a small smile, and in return, he flashed one himself. A noticeable blush appeared on her face as she slowly looked away.

Pretty sure Ann saw that exchange.

The blonde's cheeks grew redder.

"Did something happen between the two of you while I was gone? Have I missed that?" Andrew remarked noticing the change in his sister.

"What!? No," Claire denied, regaining her sense of presence. Her blushing refused to subside.

"Ah, then it must be unfolding as we speak."

"Andrew..." the blonde exasperated as she continued to dress in her winter garb again.

"Sis, you should see your face. You're saying one thing, but it is screaming another," he teased as he gestured at the blonde's face. "I'm gonna say that he is the one you like," he concluded then booped her on the nose.

"Jack!" Claire crossed her arms, her face confused how to respond. By now, she was dressed to face the bitter cold night.

"Alright, I get it. But I can have a theory, right? And it is a pretty damn good one. You would be rather proud of my logic on this."

Claire sighed, "If you say so. Just don't go and interrogate him..."

"Sis, come on now."

"You've done it before." She stared directly into her brother's eyes as if she were drilling a hole into the very essence of his soul.

The man paused. "I'll give you that one." He ruffled her head causing the dishevelment of the blonde's hat. She glared at him as she fixed her hat on her head, earning a chuckle from him. "Come on, let's take you home."