Let us come and play with the stars~

The melody was playing in Claire's head as she slowly awakened, the late summer breeze pouring into her room. Claire hugged her pillow with a sleepy sigh, her dreams of fireworks, joyful music, and carnival food still fresh in her mind. At her squeezing of the cushion, the mellow scent of rosemary wafted out and a smile spread across her face. There was one particular theme of both the dream and last evening: the sweet-hearted, handsome young man that had been by her side nearly all night. Playing games together, dancing with him, their intimate conversation under the fireworks - she craved his company again already.

Rolling out of bed, she felt a little groggier than usual and sighed as she spotted a few flower petals stuck to her arm. She looked at herself in the mirror and almost laughed aloud when she realized she had left her hair up and hadn't even bothered to dress for bed. She looked rather absurd standing there in nothing but her underwear, her body covered in crushed flowers. Glancing back at her unmade bed, she realized she would need to shake the petals out of her sheets.

She was distracted, however, when her eyes moved toward the clock. It was eight o'clock – not too late considering her bedtime. She yawned loudly, stretching her arms high above her head. If she hurried, she might be able to make it to the inn for breakfast and catch Cliff as he was headed out for his morning catch. There was no way he'd already be working right now. Maybe she could order a stack of pancakes and talk him into staying a while and splitting it with her…

Money's tight, but… we deserve a treat.

Claire's cheeks burned as she spilled some kibble into Koro's bowl. The puppy sleepily looked up at her to watch her quickly clean up and put on fresh undergarments before practically jumping into a new pair of jeans and a yellow tank top that she had deemed as cutesy. She pulled all of the pins out of her hair and the bun unraveled, leaving her hair in loose curls. Claire let out a squeak of delight at the result, combing it out a bit. She hurriedly fed her other animals and jogged into town, her heart pounding in her chest. She'd get to see those deep blue eyes, that kind smile...

"Good morning," Claire chirped as she took a seat at the bar. Her eyes drifted to the stairs. Maybe Cliff was still asleep? Or had someone mentioned he was staying in Doug's room with his roommates? She bit her lip as she tried to remember.

"'Morning."Doug grinned and offered her a drink. She rarely visited the inn for breakfast. "Party a little too hard and need a pick-me-up?"

"Ah, no… I mean yes!" she stammered, shaking her head at her own flustered behavior. "I'm sorry… may I have a double stack of pancakes, double sausages, and a glass of milk?"

The barkeeper looked at her curiously, doubtful she was going to be able to eat all of that food. "Sure."

As he went to the kitchen to prepare her meal, Ann bounded out of the kitchen. "'Morning! This is a surprise! Dad already take your order?"

Claire nodded and looked around the restaurant. A lot of guests were eating breakfast, including a rowdy table that was full of the operators from the bar stalls the night before. It was likely Kamil had already headed over to Mary's house, and she spotted another table with an assortment of festival goers. Her eyes were curiously drawn to a woman at the end of the bar in a modest drably-colored dress, dipping her tea bag into her mug with an air of refinement, sitting beside and speaking to Mayor Thomas, just like she was last night. Claire took a moment to get a better look at her, as it had been hard to do during the festival. A blue suitcase embroidered with the large initials MBY sat at her feet. The small diamond on her left hand caught the morning light streaming through the window. She couldn't be older than her early to mid-thirties. Her long, navy blue locks were very familiar from the night before, and while she looked focused on her drink and conversation with Thomas, the blonde felt the urge to talk to her. Why had that woman been watching Claire and her friends so curiously last night? Had she just been reading into it too much?

Ann trotted out to the tables, her sneakers noisily squeaking on the wooden floor as she proceeded to take orders. Claire was grateful to see that her friend didn't appear to be ill – as a matter of fact, she had a happy bounce to her step. Perhaps the lack of alcohol had been the difference. She stared at the countertop in front of her in embarrassment. Alcohol. She was startled at how drunkenly she had acted with just one glass of wine, her overly friendly behavior around Cliff catching her by surprise. The wine had been stronger than what she was used to, but as she and Mary had finished off their crepes and each had partaken in a glass, she hadn't given it a second thought. It wasn't as if she had felt out of control last night, but something definitely had her feeling looser than usual.

Paolo was dragging his half-asleep cousin Toby down the inn stairs, chanting "Pan-CAKES!" over and over again in an excited manner, startling Claire from her brooding. A small smile spread across her face as she saw them settle at a table together, a perky Kasey following downstairs shortly after. After taking their order, Ann bounded back through the kitchen doors. Claire could hear her muffled voice through the walls and it was likely she was knocking loudly on Doug's bedroom door.

"Get up, ya bums! Your friends are waiting for you!"

Sure enough, a groggy Gray and Kai emerged from behind the kitchen doors a minute or two later.

Ann placed a heaping plate of pancakes and sausages in front of Claire, along with a small pitcher of maple syrup. "Dig in, you lucky girl!" She eyed up the food enviously.

Claire jumped back to attention. "Oh! Ann! D-did you happen to see Cliff yet this morning?"

Ann was clever enough to put Claire's question and the extra food together. She gave her friend an apologetic smile. "He left about an hour ago. He looked pretty excited and was saying something about getting ready for hunting season."

Claire realized at once she forgot to check her shipping bin for any food Cliff had left for her breakfast – it would have at least given her an indicator if he was still at the inn.

"Ah… thanks." Despite the fact that she was happy he was so motivated, she was unable to hide the disappointment in her voice. "Hey, do you know who that lady is over there with the dark hair over by Mayor Thomas?"

Ann's eyes traveled toward the end of the bar. "Oh, that's Maria... Linden." Her eyes lit up as she recalled the name. "Well, she got married a couple years back and I don't know what her new last name is. Anyway, she stayed with Thomas and Harris last night. She runs a library and she's studying different cultural events and festivals. Harris said her dad is the mayor and she's interested in taking over for him when he retires."

"Wow, you know a lot about everyone." Claire wasn't expecting that much information.

Ann gave her a smug smile. "Well, it kinda comes with the job. You meet a lot of people and you hear a lot of things." Her eyes moved toward Claire's steaming meal. "If you're looking for a breakfast buddy, I think you might be in luck." She cocked her head towards the door as Carter walked in. "I'm sure you know I'd be more than happy to chow down with you, but we're pretty busy this morning."

"Ah, I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to add to the chaos you're dealing with…"

She gave a sharp laugh and slapped Claire on the shoulder. "We're not about to complain about paying customers, silly! Besides, you know I'm always happy to see you!"

"Thanks. I feel the same way."

There were only a few seats left open and a grateful smile spread across the priest's face as Claire waved him over. Ann was already pouring a mug of hot water and putting the selection of teabags on the bar counter.

"Ah, it's unusual to see you here for breakfast, Claire. That must mean you're either in a celebratory mood from the festival, or you're like me and just lazy this morning." He let out a soft laugh as he pulled himself up on the stool beside her.

"A little bit of both, I suppose," she replied. "I ordered extra pancakes. I was hoping to bump into Cliff and spend some of our day off together, but he's busy this morning." Color crept into her face as she realized she wasn't in the confessional – she didn't need to explain herself in detail. "W-would you care for some pancakes and sausage? I got way too much," she added lamely.

His eyes lit up at her words. The two newcomers had been getting along better and more easily than he ever could have hoped for. He had spotted them several times throughout the night laughing, dancing, and enjoying each other's company. Their relationship had caused them to open up considerably to the other people in town. The high point of the night for Carter had been seeing Cliff confidently lead the bon. He was aware of Cliff's conflicting feelings about his past and his role at home, and last night seemed to be a major step toward reaching peace and accepting the different parts of himself.

"Th-that is, unless there was something else you already had planned on ordering." Claire turned her gaze toward the steaming mug Ann had placed in front of Carter.

"Ah, my apologies! I was lost in thought. I would love to share some pancakes with you." He quickly chose a tea bag and dunked it into his mug, the lovely smell of bergamot filling their nostrils. "Ann, could I have some sugar and some lemon? Oh, and some milk for the tea?"

She gave a cheery nod, producing a spare plate and fork for Carter's use, along with the requested items. The two split the pancakes and sausages in half and as Claire picked up the syrup, she was curious when she saw Carter squirt the lemons on top of his food.

"Ah, I thought that was for your tea." She watched with interest. "Isn't that going to be sour?"

He shot her a serene smile as he sprinkled the sugar on top. "These pancakes aren't exactly the same style as my mum used to make, but we can pretend, right?" He added a dollop of milk to his tea. The plate was nudged toward her. "Please, give it a try if you like."

She took a bite and the tanginess tickled her tongue. "Ooh, tastes like summer!" Her eyes lit up as he pushed the bowl of lemon wedges between them to share.

"It's always good to try new things," Carter replied with a nod. "New experiences, new interests, new relationships – they all help you become a wiser person." Pausing, he squeezed another lemon onto his pancakes and sucked the juice off of his fingers, shaking them in discomfort. "Ah, I'm afraid I gave myself quite a few paper cuts with those fortunes." He dipped a paper napkin in the glass of ice water Ann had given him and cleaned the cuts with a sigh.

Giving him a sympathetic look, she took a bite of pancake, remembering the silliness involving the fortunes and his "scary" stories. Taking a swig of milk, she mulled over the words of the pastor. "Did you always want to be a priest?"

Naturally, she asked the moment he had stuffed his mouth with pancake. Carter gave a small chuckle as he hid his full mouth behind a napkin, chewing quickly and swallowing. "You know, there's only one other person in town who has actually asked me that question, and he moved here just a couple of months before you." His brown eyes smiled at her as he took his mug of tea and stirred it idly. "And I guess the answer is, well… no. I grew up in a small cottage just outside the suburbs. White picket fence, stone paths, a large garden in the back yard… My mum and dad were very fond of each other. I grew up assuming I would go to University and get my degree, settle down and have a couple of children as many of us are raised to expect out of life. I wanted that stone cottage of my own, my own little nest to call home."

Claire wasn't sure if she should try to console him. She took another bite of pancake as she continued to listen.

"My family was always religious, but it wasn't until I was nearly completed my degree that I decided to pursue it. I had finished going through a dark and rebellious stage of my life, and it left me in quite a state. I knew I needed to turn my life around if I wanted to get anywhere…" He took a sip of his tea, smiling when he realized it wasn't too hot to drink. "Sometimes we realize the gods have been trying to contact us all along when we are at our lowest points and we run out of options trying to fix the problem ourselves. We are only human, after all."

She had completely forgotten they were in a public place; Carter's personable demeanor made it easy to feel comfortable. "If you don't mind my asking, what were you involved with-?"

His eyes turned kindly at her as he calmly unbuttoned the cuff on his sleeve. He slowly rolled the fabric back to reveal a deep scar on the inside of his forearm. It was much different than the jagged one on Cliff's arm; this one looked like it had been especially deep puncture wound. It was no longer pink and had long since healed. "Hatred is one of the most lethal poisons I know of. Hatred towards oneself can be unbearable. It's an awful time trying to get along when your greatest enemy is yourself. Some people get depressed and sad when they are battling themselves – I lashed out instead. I spent a period of my younger years looking for trouble out of pure spite, and I bit off more than I could chew. I was taunting a couple of hoodlums and challenged one to a fight. I didn't realize knives were going to be involved. I ended up in the hospital – he had hit a major artery and I was bleeding out fast. When I woke up and saw that doctor hovering over me and could hear my parents crying, I knew I had to change my life."

Claire closed her open jaw. The gentle priest was the last person he would have expected to be so rebellious and angry about life. What was someone supposed to say in reply after hearing a story like that? "W-wow…"

He shook his head with that serene smile, buttoning back up his cuff and cutting another bite of pancake. "I know… Father Carter McKenzie, the lighthearted priest of Mineral Town, picking fights with gangs as a young adult… It all sounds a little silly, even to me. Things have changed so much since then."

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that…" She was still a little dumbfounded.

Unperturbed, he took a quick sip of tea and stirred in a bit more milk. "The gods answered my call for help. Please don't feel bad. I'm thirty-seven now and this all happened when I was around your age – it's well in the past. The scar reminds me that no matter how bad things seem, there is always hope. I think that having once been in the darkest of places, I can relate to people who feel the same way. I am not ashamed of my story. If it can help someone, I am happy to share it."

His calmness and obvious resolution of his past helped Claire relax.

"You never truly know what someone has been through or is currently going through, so it's always best to treat others with kindness… I want to thank you for always being so nice to those around you." He gave her a grin as he bit into another pancake. "I don't know if you realize how much you've changed the lives of the people of this town."

"Well, I think you've changed a lot of people's lives, too. There's May and Stu…"

Carter laughed and wiped his mouth. "I never did get that white picket fence and family, but I truly feel like I have one here. It's far better than my idyllic dream of what I thought I wanted. My family is larger now, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

She remembered Cliff's words from the night before. "There's Cliff, too. I know you mean a lot to him… He told me that he was thinking of leaving town before he met you." She felt a sudden lump in her throat. "Carter… I can't thank you enough for convincing him to stay."

He caught the rosiness in the young woman's cheeks and a knowing smirk played at his lips. He could tell from the moment he met Cliff that he had to make him stay, and once the young man's became aware of Claire's existence, his entire demeanor changed. Cliff's once lifeless eyes were vivacious and curious as he described the woman that came to visit his roommate every night. "Well, I can't say that I was the only one who helped. You deserve credit where it is due, Claire." Carter couldn't help but notice a subtle change within Claire within the past month or so. She seemed much happier and comfortable with herself and he was certain he knew the reason why.

Claire shyly laughed off his praise as she poured some syrup on her plate and dipped a bite of sausage into it. While Stu enjoyed grape jelly on his scrambled eggs and claimed that it was indeed delicious, this looked much more palatable. Carter looked at the combination, his interest piqued.

"Now, that kind of concoction do you have there? Bangers and maple syrup?"

She finished chewing and nodded. It had been years since she heard that colloquialism for sausage links and it made her smile. "Well, sure!" She nudged the syrup towards him. "If you like sweet and savory, it's a real treat!"

He poured a bit on his own plate and gave a small laugh. "It seems we're teaching each other a few culinary tricks today! Cliff's been raving about your cooking when he stops by the church after working hard fishing all day, so I'm happy to try one of your suggestions." He bit into the sausage and gave a satisfied hum and nod in approval. "Claire... he's so happy to be spending more time with you. I can just see the joy on his face very day; it's like a weight is lifting from him."

His words sounded so genuine and he had the tone of one who could no longer hold back gushing praise. She gave an embarrassed giggle, finishing off her milk as she refused to meet his gaze. "Well, I'm not sure about all of that; we've both been working very hard. I know he's trying to save up, so we're sharing food. I'm going to bring you by some extra produce – I'm pretty sure all of Mineral Town knows I have more than enough for myself. I'm really glad that Cliff doesn't tire of tomatoes easily."

"Ah, this is true…" He cut another piece of sausage and rolled it around in the puddle of syrup on his plate. "But when you're with someone you really care about, it doesn't matter what you're sharing together. The same simple foods, some modest fish – they all become more delicious when you share it with someone dear."

Claire had to agree with that. Their mealtimes had become something she looked forward to every day, and they felt like moments of sweet serenity compared to the chaos of her overgrown tomato vines. Even with the implementation of the Tomato Tube, she knew that she was still going to have her hands more than full – these moments together with Cliff were vital for helping maintain her stress. Sharing details about their days, laughing at jokes, playing with Koro and Tucker for a few extra minutes… At the very thought of the Cliff, her cheeks quickly turned the color of the fruits she had been harvesting.

Carter stifled a chuckle at the sight, and out of courtesy he turned back to his food and dug into his sausages, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. They were no longer two lonely strangers. He turned his gaze toward the ceiling, as if to hint the gods of their progress, and he couldn't help but feel rather proud of himself for figuring out the clues the gods had given him.

She slowly walked home, considering her behavior as she re-entered Mystic Acres. She collected a parcel of grilled fish and cooked meat from her shipping bin with a note attached.

Got a good catch early this morning. I'm hoping to do some tracking in the deep woods. I'll see you tomorrow morning.

Eat up! I took a few ears of corn and a couple tomatoes, so it's only fair that you remember to eat, too.

Yours,
Cliff

Claire's cheeks burned as she reread the note.

He signed it that way again...

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she headed inside and she decided it was time for her to attend to her own chores. She gathered her dirty clothes and some soap, heading back outside to do some laundry. There was food in her refrigerator; there had been no real reason for her to go running to the inn that morning to order all of those pancakes, even if she did get to spend some time with Carter. She knew the real reason was in hopes that she could hang out with Cliff. Claire shook her blonde head. Tomorrow morning would come soon enough, and they'd be eating breakfast together before she knew it.

Clouds were gathering in the sky as she worked and she smelled rain; her outdoor laundry line wasn't going to be very helpful today. She shook the loose flower petals out of her sheets and watched them glide across the surface of the river, floating out of sight. A little part of her felt sad for some reason; it was as if the loss of those flowers was the official end of the Fireworks Festival.

It had truly been a magical night. The decorations had been beautiful and it was nice to spend time with everyone as a group. The food was delicious, and it was fun visiting the various booths that had been set up. The fireworks had been more than amazing.

Then, of course, there was also Cliff.

The young woman's heart throbbed loudly in her ears at the very thought of him and she let out a silly chuckle as she squeezed out a pair of socks and missed the basket she was tossing them into. She allowed Cliff to reenter her thoughts, a warm, dreamy wave of happiness washing over her. The joy written on his face the night before had been nothing short of beautiful. She had snuck more gazes at him than she cared to admit; he looked very comfortable and handsome in his festival clothes and she was already feeling a little down that she wouldn't get to see him dressed that way until next year. It wasn't just about the way he looked. His kind touch had a way of making her feel very special and cared for, and she found that she was already craving more. Claire wanted to give him the same warm reassurance. She yearned for him to see how special he was, too, and how much she cared for him… How would she show this to him? Her pulse quickened at the very idea. A warm hug? Maybe something more? They had hugged and touched a lot last night – was this going to become a regular thing?

She shivered as she realized she was hugging a damp pair of overalls to her chest and she moaned at her lack of focus. There was laundry to be done. At a soft rumble of thunder and a light sprinkle, Claire speedily finished her work.

It's my day off and I'm allowed to relax a bit, she reminded herself as she carried the basket of wet laundry inside. And… thinking about Cliff makes me happy.

Really happy.

Why wouldn't he? Ever since they had met, they treated each other as equals, never judging one another about any of their faults or shortcomings. He always had an ear to listen, a shoulder to offer, a laugh to share. He had been so kind and gentle with her on the beach at Kai's party, caring and willing to listen to her problems without complaint. She couldn't think of someone she would have rather spent the Fireworks Festival with; his company had been wonderful. On top of all of this, she had been able to let go of her worries and have a lot of fun. Claire felt rejuvenated after the festival – it was the first time she had truly allowed herself to relax for an entire evening in a long time.

Claire had placed a plastic tarp on the floor beneath her indoor clothesline and hummed as she finished hanging her laundry.

It was the deep love she had for her friend that had made her feel so mellow, she reminded herself with a nod and a smile. Before moving to Mineral Town, she didn't realize it was possible to care about people so much that were outside of her family. Still, she found it impossible to ignore the way her thoughts had been drifting lately. Those deep blue eyes were a gorgeous color and always watched her with such kindness. He made her think more carefully about the way she processed her thoughts and he valued her opinion. She thought of his lighthearted chuckle; he was very good at making her smile, and seeing him happy made her filled with a deep joy… He truly was very precious. Claire averted her eyes from her very flushed reflection she caught in the mirror, her heart beginning to pound with dread.

No, Claire, you know better. Don't be so willful and desperate, especially over someone so genuinely kind and dear… He doesn't need that from you, and he never will. Don't kid yourself. Cliff doesn't need or deserve a stalker; he's far too sweet…

Her heart cried in protest as she stomped her bare foot on the wooden floor, dropping her bucket of wooden clothespins on the ground with a loud clank, a couple bouncing out onto the hardwood planks. Her cheery mood immediately turned to frustration as she finally openly acknowledged that she had a conflict in her heart. After she was made aware last night how much she was openly flirting with him and trying to catch his attention, she had felt a strange combination of giddiness and guilt.

"But I want him!" she cried aloud miserably as her throat tightened. She longed to see those eyes looking lovingly at her, to hear his voice say her name, for his gentle touch and warm hugs. She wanted that sensitive young man with the kind heart to belong to her. Was that so wrong?

Maybe it was. Terrified, Claire stamped on the floor once again, her bare foot making a soft pat on the wood.

No, no, no! You will not! You cannot! He's your friend and it's foolish and selfish to want more than that. It's wrong and you know it! He knows about your annoying habits, your whiny rants… Do you honestly think you have anything to offer him? Think of how annoying you were to Gray. Do you want to lose your best friend over something as stupid as this?

Claire's self-esteem deflated as she sank down, hugging her knees to her chest as she leaned against the wall. What was she thinking? Why was she acting this way? Wasn't she still supposed to be in love with Gray, anyway? It had been nearly a month and a half since he refused her. She rolled her eyes; what she felt for Gray had been so weak by comparison when she really thought about it. What did she even know about Gray, anyway? What did they have in common? Her mind turned back toward Cliff. Her heart began to pound when she thought of him fairly regularly now and she first noticed these more intense feelings around a week ago at Kai's birthday party. When had these emotions all begun?

Cliff is so much more than Gray ever was…

Claire's breath hitched as she stared back in the mirror in shock and she stumbled back onto her unmade bed. Why had those thoughts come to her so easily, especially after how heartbroken she had been after Gray's rejection? She was acting as if she were lovesick – what if these feelings were real? What would help her feel better? She imagined his arms around her and his sweet whispers in her ear and her body shivered with pleasure at the very idea, her heart throbbing in her chest.

Easy, Claire – calm down. You are in love with the idea of being in love. Your heart must still be broken, and you're looking for someone to latch onto. Don't look at Cliff that way. He's far too sweet for you to risk creeping him out. He's much too kind and funny and witty and amazing…

Her eyelids felt heavy as she rested her head on her pillow, taking in the soft scent of rosemary.

And gentle and loving… and… thoughtful…

Hugging the cushion to her face, a faint smile played at her lips as she fell asleep to the smell of the herb that reminded her of him.

Author's Note: I can't resist this idea of Carter being a former hell raiser, haha. I've also got this headcanon that he is from the UK or an equivalent. I think that stemmed from me seeing a picture online where someone thought Martin Freeman would make a good live action Pastor Carter and I immediately agreed wholeheartedly.

So, Claire's finally being more honest with herself. I tried to make her realization stem from her collection of everything that's been building up. A great friendship slowly transitioning into something more… I'm sure I'm not the only one who is relieved to finally write this out.

I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter and the Fireworks Festival! I am so grateful for your reviews and comments, as I have a tendency to get insecure of my writings. They're so near and dear to my heart that I feel like I'm exposing a lot of myself in them, so I guess it's a little natural to be nervous what others think of it. Thank you all for your continued support! :)