There was a soft knock at the door as Claire stared anxiously at her ceiling. She pulled herself up from the lumpy mattress, blinking tiredly from the lack of sleep. She knew who was at the door before she even opened it, as she had seen a familiar list of shipped items slipped under her door right after she woke up. It felt like such a long time ago that he had stopped by and her heart had been pounding in her chest all morning in anticipation of his visit.

"'Morning…" Cliff's eyes were downcast as he nervously rubbed his arm.

She motioned for him to come inside as she headed to the table to give him the money for the meager selection of mushrooms he had shipped the day before. As she looked up, she noticed that he had made no motion to step beyond the door frame. Was this the way things were going to be around them now? Her throat tightened as she double counted the coins with trembling fingers. She turned back toward him with wide eyes and gestured once more for him to approach her. If he wanted the money, he was going to have to interact with her. She frowned at the small amount of pay he was receiving.

"This is pocket change," she whispered. Her eyes widened in embarrassment; she hadn't meant for the words to actually pass her lips.

Cliff averted his eyes. "Ah… I'm actually drying a lot of the ones I find… the mushrooms, I mean…"

A cry threatened to rise in her throat. "So you can eat them when you're gone," she finished miserably. She was too upset to be grateful for the fact that he was actually saving some of the food for himself.

He said nothing in reply to this, and he almost retreated the few steps he had managed to make towards her. His long bangs hung in his eyes, masking his expression. He hadn't meant to bring up all of these uncomfortable emotions for his friend… if she still considered him one, anyway… And to think that there was a short period of time when he thought that maybe they could be more than that… He swallowed the lump in his throat. Could things really be better this way?

He gulped once more as he walked towards her. "Claire, I… I never meant to hurt you…" He held his hands out to her, trembling. "I-I just feel so… lost." He stared down at the floor. "A-and… so alone…" he whispered.

She set the coins on the table noisily and grasped his hands while he was still offering them, terrified he'd pull away. She squeezed them so hard that he flinched with pain. She forced her eyes shut, blinded by silent tears. "I'm here. You're not alone." Her bleary gaze flicked to the money on the table. The moment he received payment, was he going to leave her again? She couldn't give up without a fight.

Her breath hitched as his hands slid out of hers and he wrapped her in a tight embrace. She could feel him gulping and struggling to regulate his breathing. "I-I'm so sorry…"

She felt his warmth again and her emotions threatened to overflow. "Cliff…" There was no coldness in his body language; his heart was exposed and raw. She put her arms around him, hoping that her love would reach him. His grip loosened a bit, his clinging less desperate as he mellowed out. She said nothing more, but closed her eyes, soaking in the feeling of being close to her friend once more.

He relaxed into her, focusing on the healing comfort. Maybe he really wasn't alone. Her hand soothingly rubbed his back and he let out a small sigh. He recalled the laughter in her eyes while she was at the bar with Marlin the night before. That rosiness in her cheeks, the light in her smile… He wanted to see that again. He could only pray that he could be the cause of that one more time. He had put her through so much… Did he really deserve to demand anything more of her?

"Claire…?" Cliff found himself asking her, regardless.

"Y-yeah?" Her voice was muffled in his chest.

He shifted his stance, not letting go of the hug. Her closeness gave him strength. "I've… been trying so hard not to in-inconvenience anyone… but… c-can I just be selfish today?" She backed up a bit to get a better look at him and he felt very self-conscious, his hands quickly dropping to his sides before he began to wring them with anxiety. His eyes moved back to the floor and his cheeks flushed. "Can I just stay here for a while with you? I-I'm sorry if I'm coming off as clingy… I-I just n-need…"

You.

Cliff's heartbeat dominated his eardrums in the moment of silence that followed.

"Let me be selfish then, too," Claire replied, struggling to swallow the lump in her throat. "I want you to make yourself at home. I was just about to have breakfast." She knew she should remain cautiously optimistic, but she was inwardly dancing and leaping with joy as she saw life and color come back to his face at her suggestion. She gave him a friendly squeeze and danced to the refrigerator and opened it. "I was just going to have a yogurt cup. Want one?" She peeked around the edge of the open door with playful eyes.

The corners of Cliff's lips twitched ever so slightly. "A-actually… I am really hungry…"

"Ah, they look sooo much better," Claire cooed, lightly wiping down the wounds on Cliff's arms as they redressed them together. "And your hives are gone…"

She wished she could say he looked healthier, but he seemed so frail to her that she was concerned. Claire was too distracted by the decreased swelling to remember that his wounds would have closed much sooner if he took a break from his bow. Still she was delighted to see that he didn't shrink back at all from her touch, and that he had actually asked for her help. Claire kept her contact gentle and she couldn't help but notice the way his eyes were lingering on her, almost as if he was making sure she was indeed real.

"It's because everyone was so nice to me…" A small but very grateful smile played at his lips. Her heart jumped into her throat at the sight.

She refrained from hugging him to her chest and sobbing, but she purposely brushed her hand past his as she reached for the roll of bandages. She couldn't help but wonder if he his hand had met hers halfway.

"We all care about you," she said softly. Maybe he had forgotten that at one point, she mused.

Through the long, sleepless night before, Cliff realized he couldn't maintain the wall he had built around himself. Perhaps he had grown weaker with time, but he didn't care in that moment. His smile began to quiver and he looked away, blinking rapidly. "Th-thank you… I… r-really needed to hear that today."

She was going to ask if there was a particular reason for that, but his self-inflicted lack of emotions was likely the culprit.

You can hear that every day, you know…

She held her tongue. Claire had learned the hard way that the harder she pushed on the subject, the more likely he was going to pull away.

"Then I'll say it again. I care about you."

Cliff's eyes met hers and Marlin's words from the night before rang in his mind.

"Don't let her go. If she's worth anything to you, hang onto her tight…"

She was delighted to watch the color creep across his face.

"I-I… I think I'm going to take a break from hunting today."

"This is delicious. I wish I actually had some catches to share with you…"

"It's alright. Eat as much as you like. Enjoy."

Claire smiled; the speed and volume at which Cliff ate had told her that several times over. She was glad she had cooked extra, because he had eaten like he hadn't touched food in days. She fought back a frown; how close to the truth had that comparison actually been? Either way, knowing that he had eaten a hearty meal set her mind at ease, and cooking together reminded her how lovely it was to spend time with him by her side.

"It is a nice kitchen," Cliff admitted, looking at the shiny new countertops in admiration as he finished wiping them down.

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to whipping up all kinds of meals for me and Koro here. I feel like he might like something a little different once in a while. I'm gonna look up some dog-friendly recipes." She was about to include that Cliff could come over any time as well, but she didn't want to scare off his increasingly friendly dialogue.

"We gave raw meat to the dogs back at home. Most people here would probably open a can of dog food."

Claire shook her head and stuck out her tongue with a laugh. "That gross canned garbage is no good for a growing dog!"

Cliff raised his thick eyebrows, a grin playing at his lips. It felt like ages since she had seen him lighten his expression, and he looked so much younger in that moment. "I just want to know how you're so sure he doesn't think it's gross." He gave her a mischievous look. "Did you… try it yourself or something?"

The young woman fell silent as she averted her eyes, biting back a silly smile. Finally, her mask broke and she leaned against the kitchen counter melodramatically, collapsing in giggles. "It tasted so foul…" she cried.

His eyes were smiling as his jaw dropped open in quiet shock.

"I had to taste it to make sure it was good enough for Koro! All I did was touch my tongue to it!" She gagged. "And now I can't forget the awful taste!"

Cliff's soft chuckle turned into a full-blown belly laugh.

Her heart swelled at seeing him so happy. "What?" Claire put her hands on her hips in mock frustration, hoping to elicit more laughter. "I had to make sure it was tasty!"

He couldn't stand it anymore; Cliff laughed so hard tears sprang from his eyes and he threw his arms around Claire, trembling and laughing. She found herself quickly turning into a laughing, choking, sobbing mess as she leaned into him.

"I-I… missed you so much," she sobbed, burying her face into his shoulder. She was pleased to feel that he did not shy away at her affection and he held her tightly, quietly sniffing.

"Me, too."

Claire closed her eyes. She wanted the night to last forever. As if on cue, the clock struck nine o'clock and she blinked her tired eyes.

He held her more desperately at the sound of the clock, his mood sinking as reality struck. "Ah, it's getting late…" His voice cracked as his heart broke.

There seemed to be an unspoken fear between the two that as soon as the day was over, the awkwardness between them would return. Cliff would be in the mindset of leaving again, and Claire would be unable to convince him otherwise. "Stay," she murmured. "Stay the night." Her words grew in strength.

His heart jumped into his throat. "B-But… people w-will think…"

"People will think you're out hunting," her voice breathed into his ear. She wasn't ready for their beautiful dream together today to end. Would the next time she see him be like this, or would he shut her out again? She didn't even want to think about it. "Stay here… I need you tonight," she pleaded, burying her face into his shoulder.

The young man's eyes popped open in surprise as his heart pounded in his throat. What exactly did she mean by that? Was she simply referring to his company, or…? Oh, Goddess, I have no idea what I'm doing… Still, he found himself unable to refuse her. "Ah… o-okay…" He shoved down his worries. He didn't want to think about tomorrow or the next day, and there was something incredibly freeing about that.

"Thank you," she whispered, lifting her head to wipe her misty eyes. I just… I can't imagine you not… being here anymore. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I-I just don't want tonight to end…"

Cliff said nothing in reply, but felt a wave of guilt. He focused on what she had said and his face fell. He had been so cold toward her lately, but did he really have a choice? Getting closer would only hurt more in the end, right? That was the way he had always lived his life…

"If you want to run back to the inn to get some things and freshen up, I'll just put on something more comfortable so we can get settled in," she nodded, glad that he was agreeing to spend more time with her.

His heart was pounding in his throat so violently that he was having a difficult time breathing. When women said that, didn't they usually imply they were dressing into something alluring…? "Uh, yeah. I-I'll get a change of clothes and stuff. B-be right back." He let out a nervous chuckle.

Claire threw her arms around him and buried her face into his shoulder. "Thank you so much. I didn't realize how badly I needed this. Come back soon!"

His heart leapt once more and he wondered how he was still conscious; he felt more than just a little faint. She looked up with gleeful eyes and he felt a strong wave of joy surge through him. Whether or not staying close to her was more painful, he couldn't stand not giving in. "Alright. See you real soon."

"Okay!" She waved goodbye to him as he hurried out the door.

Cliff stumbled back to the inn, his heart and mind in turmoil. He knew what he wanted, but he was terrified. Maybe he really could be happy here… The cave by the spring would be a little chilly throughout winter, but he had done it before - hunting and foraging in the Valley… Maybe he wouldn't be a paying tenant of the inn, but he could still be a resident around Mineral Town…

His heart was aching for Claire painfully at the memory of how pleasant the entire day had been, and he missed her more than ever, despite the fact that he had just left her house.

Would it be wise to go back?

It was likely she would try to convince him to stay in town. While this was what he obviously truly wanted, there were many things keeping him from doing so. Money was the biggest one. He couldn't just ask for money from his friends or ask for a discount from Doug. He wanted to be a responsible adult that could handle his own affairs. He had tried to demonstrate that to his mother so long ago and even though she was gone, he couldn't help but stop himself from feeling like he needed to prove himself to her. He had shamed Akiyama Village enough; he had to make up for it, and the only solution he could see was to be able to support himself so he would no longer burden anyone again.

But maybe it is feasible… It's not like I haven't lived outdoors before…

His heart began to race as he flew up the stairs again. It was amazing what a tiny glimmer of hope could do; he felt like bursting into song.

"Oh, hey, man. I was wondering where you were." Gray looked up from his book as Cliff nearly stumbled into the room, shocked at his roommate's sudden deep voice.

Cliff bit back his grin and attempted to calm his jittery nerves. He gathered a clean set of clothes and pajamas and stuffed them into his bag, quickly moving to roll up his sleeping fur and collect a few personal items. He ran his hand along his jaw and hurried to the bathroom, deciding to shave with a blush. "J-just a busy day," Cliff replied evasively, filling the sink with hot water and splashing it on his face. He grabbed his shaving brush and lathered up the soap.

Gray curiously leaned on the door frame as he watched his friend remove his shirt and proceed to lather his face. Cliff's tone was suspiciously happy and he felt his heart lift. "What are you in such a hurry for? It's pretty late; you're not headed back out, are you?" His voice came out as a half-whine – he wanted to be with his friend while he was in such a good mood.

The mental image of Claire lying leisurely across her bed in her pajamas with a coy smile caused Cliff to gulp. He wondered if it was the hot water or his face that was steaming up the mirror. "Uh… I'm going back out tonight… I won't be back until tomorrow." He carefully ran the razor blade along his face, satisfied with his vague answer. "I'm just freshening up a-and grabbing some clean clothes." He wiped his face clean and turned on the faucet to the shower in the hopes that his roommate would get flustered and leave him alone. "B-but we can hang out tomorrow, okay?" he chirped.

Gray snorted and averted his eyes; he had grown used to Cliff's lack of modesty when there were only men in the room. "Sounds good." He wondered if it would be counterproductive to mention Cliff's happiness to him. Gray caught a whiff of fragrant soap as Cliff grabbed the bottle; it was very unlikely he had shaved and was freshening up for the sake of the deer and raccoons out in the woods. He never wore scented things while hunting. "Are you going on a date or what?"

"Ummm…" Cliff frowned, unsure of how to answer the question. He tied his hair up in a topknot and hopped into the shower, pulling the curtain closed behind him. "No. It's not a date," he decided as he covered his body in suds and paused, deep in thought as he watched the bubbles roll down his body and down the drain. What would tonight be considered? He supposed it depended on how things ended up… In his mind, Claire was mouthing his name and winking; Cliff's eyes widened as he rinsed off, grateful he was concealed by the shower curtain.

"Huh…" Gray was not satisfied with the answers being given to him. His eyes traced to the bundle of clothing and bedding on Cliff's comforter and he felt a slight shock. "Goddess… you're staying the night with her, aren't you?"

Cliff was grateful that Gray had wandered into the other room and got dressed as quickly as he could. He turned pink as he fumbled with his clothes, and Gray was a little bit shocked when Cliff didn't deny his claim. "We spent the day together and… w-well… she asked if I could stay the night… I-I mean… we're just going to talk. I-it's not a big deal at all," he insisted with a nod, more to himself than to Gray. "Just a couple of friends hanging out…"

Gray tugged on the bill of his cap and sat on the edge of Cliff's bed, his eyebrows rising in concern. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

A pair of surprised eyes looked back at him. He turned away as he let down his hair and began to brush it out. "Of course I'm going. She's waiting for me and she's expecting me. I'd be a pretty lousy friend if I didn't show up."

"In that case…" Gray picked up the stone pendant that was attached to a leather cord and dangled it in front of Cliff's nose. "What about this?" His voice softened, as did his eyes.

His friend remained silent as a small frown began to form on his face.

"It's actually pretty nice," Gray commented, running his thumb along the stone. "I'm not too bad of a teacher, huh? Why don't you finally give it to her already? You finished it over a month ago."

Cliff's gaze followed the swinging carved stone and he felt a lump form in his throat as he shook his head. "I-I… I can't. I don't want to make a promise to her that I'm not sure if I can keep…"

Gray frowned, closing his fingers over the pendant and setting it back on the table. "If that's how you really feel, do you think it's the smartest thing to go back to her place tonight?"

Cliff sighed. "I already told you that I promised… A-and I want to."

Gray raised his eyebrows. "You do realize she's lonely and emotional, right?" When Cliff said nothing, he shook his head. "And you are, too. There's a chance she's going to try to lure you into bed. What are you going to do if that happens?" He had a feeling he knew the answer after Cliff's swift freshening up.

Cliff's face burned as he turned around to face him. "I-it's not like that!" He struggled to push the images of Claire's wide eyes and cute pink lips out of his mind. "I… just want to go to her house and make her happy!" His voice faded into a whisper as he went from red to burgundy. All he wanted was to be able to satisfy her, to bring a smile to her face. If he could see her happy one last time, he was sure he would be able to carry on.

"Then what's your plan?"

He said nothing as he crossed his arms. He wandered back into the bathroom and began to brush his teeth so he wouldn't have to answer him right away.

There's not really much of a plan…

"Well?"

Cliff rinsed his mouth and spat, watching the water drain down the sink with a frown. The way Gray would constantly push reminded him of Ivy at times. Cliff sighed; his fantasies had evolved to Claire calling out his name affectionately, sprawled out on her bed in a beautiful, flowing blush-colored dress. He realized his was breathing faster as he decided he would do whatever she asked – he was hers tonight. He knew that he would never feel this way about another woman in his life and he wanted her to know how loved she was even if their time together was limited. "I just want her to be happy," he repeated, putting his toothbrush away and returning to the bedroom.

He jumped when a loud fist was slammed down on the side table. The pendant jumped a bit as the furniture rattled. "Don't be an idiot," Gray grumbled. "Do you really think it's fair for you to get physically involved with each other and then you just leave? You might as well rip out her heart and stomp on it. She's lonely, man. Don't take advantage of that. You cross that line tonight and you'll never stop regretting it."

His words felt like a slap to the face as Cliff snapped back to reality. "I-I don't know what you want from me! I was the one that said nothing was going to happen! Wh-why are you turning it into this?" He shook his head in frustration, closing his mouth.

Gray eased up; he saw Cliff retreating back into his shell because he had pushed him too hard again. "I just want to make sure you don't do something you're going to regret."

"I'm not!" Cliff clenched his jaw. "Why do I need your approval anyway? I'm just going to Claire's to hang out and when we get tired, we'll just fall asleep. I don't see what the problem is. You're worrying over something that's not going to happen."

Why did you shave, then? Why did you use the herbal soap Claire complimented you on before?

Maybe she has the power to convince him to stay… Goddess know I've tried…

Gray bit his tongue. "Fine. Just take care and don't be stupid, okay?"

Their eyes both moved to the stone pendant on the side table for a moment before Cliff slung his bag over his shoulder, tearing his eyes from the necklace. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

His roommate gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder as he left, looking back at the piece of jewelry. He held it in a calloused hand, turning the pendant over in his fingers. It was an amateur's work for sure, but memories flooded his mind of the day after they had skipped rocks on the beach. A shy Cliff returned from the library with a book on engraving, timidly asking for pointers and techniques. As the summer nights passed, he saw Cliff come back to the inn, exhausted and sweaty after a day in the fields, retrieving the stone with a tired smile and jumping into work on his project. A few days into fall, he had proudly shown it to his friend, his hands trembling with excitement.

Gray knew that as a budding blacksmith, he had the skills and tools to make something much more elaborate and intricate, but something about that rustic stone pendant Cliff had made caused a mild flare of jealousy every time he looked at it. Perhaps it was because Gray didn't have the courage to make something for his own girlfriend just yet. Maybe it was because Cliff had been so sure of his feelings for Claire so soon after befriending her.

He can't leave…

Gray set down the necklace and slapped his back pocket, double-checking for his wallet as he hurried downstairs.

"Doug, I need to talk to you…"

Claire answered the door in a pair of baggy plaid pajama pants and a snug white undershirt. She gave him a friendly hug as he entered the house and he let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Claire, you look amazing," he gushed, strangely grateful she hadn't shown up to greet him draped in a gown.

She curiously looked down at her pink and yellow flannel pants with a giggle. "Uh, thanks. I guess I like the colors on these… Well, come on in."

He set his bag on the floor by the doorway, grinning as Claire spun on the ball of her foot, bouncing excitedly.

"Welcome back!"

Claire quickly learned that waking up at six every morning, along with the emotional toll the recent days had on both of them, left them both pretty tired. After a hearty round of snacks, Claire's eyelids felt heavy as she turned off the television and Cliff unrolled his fur to sleep on. Drawn to the softness, Claire took a seat beside him on it, stroking the fur as they talked into the wee hours of the morning, both being sure to stick with safe, lighthearted subjects. Cliff tried to fight his heartbreak as she stretched out her legs and yawned, deciding she had better climb into bed in case she dozed off.

She turned off the lights and walked back to the bed in the dark. Cliff's eyes quickly adjusted to the change in light and he watched her lie down on her side.

"Cliff…?" He never thought he would hear her voice calling his name in the night like this. Granted, he was lying on her floor and she was in her own bed…

"What is it, Claire?" He wished that they could be closer, but he knew that he was already getting so much more than he had anticipated tonight.

He heard the bed creak as she turned to face him. "Is there… a place you're planning on going that you're taking the ferry?" she asked weakly. "I-is there somewhere… you'd rather be?" Her voice quavered as she controlled her breath.

"It's not like that…"

"Or are you going back home to Akiyama?" she supplied, her voice gentle.

There was a long silence as Cliff swallowed the lump in his throat. "I can't go back home… if I can even call it that anymore…"

Claire's face hovered over the edge of the bed. "Why?"

He hesitated before answering; he had been asked the same question by his own uncle. "I… I burnt a lot of bridges when I left. No one really wants me to come back…"

He could hear her soft sigh in the dark and he watched her silhouette sit up and stretch her arms. It was a simple, everyday motion, but it still looked beautiful to him. "You don't think anyone misses you?"

He sat up to see her better – she was alternating arms over her head in her stretches, and he loved the way she moved. He quickly remembered her question and shook his head, frustrated that the thought still made his heart ache. "I don't think – I know."

"Cliff… come sit by me." She patted the mattress beside her.

He exhaled silently, slouching his shoulders. He had a feeling she was going to try to talk him out of how he was feeling, but the invitation was too enticing. He sat beside her, cross-legged, a thrill coming over him for being this close to her in the dark.

He wasn't the only one feeling that way. Claire scooted beside him, moving so closely to him that their legs touched, and he stretched his legs in front of him so he could be closer to her still. She wrapped her fingers around his and sighed into his shoulder. She knew his heart was hurting and that he was feeling defensive. Demanding him to feel differently wasn't going to help things. She cradled his hand in hers and used her free one to trace her fingers across his open palm and fingertips. His hands were warm and felt nice against hers. He shivered with pleasure and closed his eyes, soaking in the relaxing feeling. He realized she wasn't going to start talking right away and his thoughts swiftly turned into mush. Her contact was friendly and loving, and he didn't realize how much he was craving it. He had missed her so much in so many ways just in this short amount of time. When she finished, he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze in gratitude and began returning the favor. He began implementing a soft massage on the pressure points between her index finger and thumb that left her mind muddled.

They lost track of time as they spent the silence together, enjoying each other's therapeutic touch. They were both here now – solid presences to one another and they had no intention of taking that for granted. He crossed his legs once more and sat across from her so that he could run his fingers up and down her bare arms. A tingle ran down her spine and he relished in the goose bumps he had caused. She closed her eyes, her head rolling forward as the tension left her body. Upon seeing her relax, he smiled. The moonlight streaming in through the window played at her pale locks and she was easily the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He took her limp hands in his and placed a lingering kiss across her knuckles.

Claire's heart throbbed so loudly she nearly deafened herself. "Cl-Cliff, I…"

Was it selfish for her to want to nurture this love she felt for him, even if she knew his time here was limited? Don't you dare say it out loud! Do not put him in that position, Claire!

She couldn't help herself; she had to at least say something... The young woman swallowed the lump in her throat. "I… I wanna live in the here and now tonight…"

"O-okay…" Cliff's breathing immediately quickened as he ran her words over and over in his mind for the meaning.

There was a beat of silence as they both silently looked at their clasped hands and acknowledged that their touches had been far too intimate for simple friends. In the dim light, their eyes moved to each other and they silently agreed on that being alright with a small nod.

"Let's just enjoy this time together." She carefully took one of his hands back and began massaging the pressure point as he had done on her, earning a soft moan as a reward when he relaxed. Her cheeks bloomed with color in the dark as she pressed harder in the point, hoping to elicit another one.

Claire silently wondered if she should slow down, but her hands had already traveled up his arms, carefully avoiding his bandages. She could feel the rhythm of his breathing change as he leaned forward, touching her arms as well, traveling upward until they rested on her shoulders for a brief moment. Her breath hitched as his fingers grazed her neck and he let out a soft exhale as his hands cupped her cheeks.

"You're so beautiful, Claire," he murmured, his thumb stroking her cheek.

She let out a nervous laugh, her face blazing, but her voice was still mellow due to the haze they were both in. "Y-you can hardly see me in the dark, you know…"

"I don't have to see you to know something so obvious," he replied. "Besides, it's not just the way you look."

Her tongue felt heavy and useless as a smile made its way onto her mouth. She adjusted her sitting position and shyly leaned forward, snaking her arms around his neck and carefully working at the loosely knotted strip of leather holding his hair back. She heard a breathy sigh from him as his hair fell loose and he took her hands in his, clumsily lacing his fingers with hers. She assisted him a bit, her own hands shaking, and their palms comfortably rested against one another's. He leaned forward, resting his chin on her shoulder, his soft breath tickling her ear.

Neither spoke for fear of breaking the beautiful web they had created. They sat in silence for a long while, forcing themselves to keep focused on the moment and not panic about the future. When Cliff finally pulled away due to a stiff back, Claire stifled an upset cry at his warmth leaving her. She had been soothed with his rhythmic breathing and his sweet company.

"I think we should get some sleep," he finally said, his voice groggy. He wrapped his arms around her and laid a gentle kiss on her brow. She went limp in his arms and let out a small moan of discontentment that he was implying he was going to leave her.

He still had electricity running through his body at their tender contact, and her clinging to him sent his hormones in overdrive. He knew if he stayed with her much longer, he wouldn't be content with their simple touching. He would begin to crave the taste of her mouth, her skin, her body. He'd want to tangle his limbs with hers and allow them to explore each other, just as they had so many times in his dreams. He quickly realized it was too late; his body already wanted hers. Cliff never felt this way about anyone before meeting Claire. His heart throbbed in more places than just his chest, and for the first time, he didn't feel ashamed about it. Gray's warning buzzed at his ears like an annoying fly and he brushed it away.

Say you want me and I'm yours. You can have whatever you want. Anything.

Claire couldn't see the look on his face, but she was definitely picking up the signals he was releasing. They were a bit overwhelming, and while she found her own breath quickening in excitement, she knew they'd both be happier in the long run if they calmed down now.

He is intent on leaving, after all… But… maybe if I showed him how much I love him…

No. If he rejects you, it will hurt so much worse…

"Maybe sleep would be best," she whispered somewhat sadly. "B-But…"

"Yeah?" He hung onto her every word.

"Pl-please don't leave tonight…" Her voice broke and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Don't go back to the inn. Please…"

Cliff gave Claire a gentle squeeze. "I'll be right by your side," he reassured her quietly, gesturing to his little nest on the floor beside the bed.

"Uh-huh…" She leaned over and brushed her cheek against his, thrilled at this new level of intimacy they shared, but at the same time heartbroken that it was likely things were just going to end at this.

He hugged her again, lingering, and she realized there was a chance he didn't want to sleep on the floor like he was claiming. She waited for him to ask to stay at her side.

"Good night, Claire." He stood up and gave her hand one last squeeze before curling up on the sleeping mat he had brought.

She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Still, with the desire she felt bubbling up inside, it was probably for the best that they slept separately. Disguising her motions as a stretch, she softly ran her hands across her collarbone and down her arms, pretending the touch was his. "Good night."

A soft tugging at his blanket awoke Cliff. He opened his tired eyes, blinking at the dim sky outside. The sun had yet to rise and the room was painted in various shades of gray. He rolled over to see Claire bundled up beneath his covers, wrapping herself up like a cocoon. He could tell right away she was not used to sharing, as she began to roll a bit more, stealing more blanket.

It was a brisk morning, but he didn't want to wake her. He groggily sat up, spying the cover on her bed and making plans to borrow it. Claire stirred in her sleep and blinked her tired eyes, her lips drawn into a drunken smile.

"Hey." Her voice was a low whisper.

"Hi." He was overwhelmed by the warmth that spread through his heart at seeing her bed head and hearing her groggy voice. There was something so precious in getting to see her in this intimate setting. He didn't remember much about their morning at the Inner Inn together as his allergic reaction to the medicine left him ill. This was nice, he decided.

She looked down at her body and realized she had wrapped herself in all of his covers. "I'm sorry. Blanket hog." She let out a muffled groan as she untangled herself and gave him some to share. "It's chilly."

Claire didn't object when he snuggled to her. "I'll keep you warm," he whispered, closing his eyes.

She nuzzled against him, letting out a content sigh, forgetting that she was supposed to think the floor was uncomfortable. She was grateful she had decided to sleep by his side a couple hours after they had said goodnight. Was this how lovers rested together? Perhaps she could pretend that they were, if only for a moment. "Let's sleep in," she whispered.

He didn't reply. His breathing was already deep and slow once more.

Breakfast the next morning was fairly quiet, each friend quietly basking in the experiences they had shared the night before, but both too timid to look the other in the eye. Claire skimmed the top layer off of her cream of wheat with her spoon, curiously watching the young man sitting across from her. His hair was still down and was a bit rumpled from sleep. It was endearing, she decided as the color rose in her cheeks.

Without warning, he set his spoon on the table. Claire watched him curiously, wondering if he hadn't cared for the meal she had cooked. He had been happy enough to help her prepare it, chopping some apples to add to the mix.

Cliff looked up from his bowl, and noticing that Claire had her attention focused on him, he shyly ducked his head and bit his lip. "I uh… Thank you for letting me spend the day with you…"

"You don't have to thank me. I'm really happy we got to be together," Claire replied, her throat tightening at the bittersweet quality of the situation.

"I-I've been thinking a lot since last night…" Cliff nervously rubbed the crook of his neck and when their eyes met, he was stunned speechless for a few moments. Yes… This is the right choice – the only choice, really… "I… I can move my base back to the mine by the hot springs. I might have to go on longer hunting trips and travel further to find anything out there. I don't want to wear out my welcome, but… I need to stay here… i-in Mineral Town, I mean… I'm not sure how it's all going to work, but… I-I'm going to give it my best try." He gulped, wringing his hands. "The money I have for the ferry… I'm gonna to save it for whatever I can. I don't know what's going to happen, and I don't even know if I will be able to stay forever…" Cliff swallowed the lump in his throat. "And, to be honest, I'm really scared. I've never really done this before – getting so emotionally attached to a place…"

Claire hardly realized she was already at his side and that tears of relief were streaming down her face. "We'll make it work; I promise."

Fun fact, I never had a dog, but my grandfather did when I was growing up. One time when we went to visit, I saw a can of opened dog food in the refrigerator with a spoon inside. I was hungry, and it smelled like Chef Boyardee…

It did not taste like Chef Boyardee.

Author's Note: The section of this chapter where Cliff is preparing to return to Claire's house in the evening was particularly difficult to write. I wanted the mood to be uncomfortable and not have there be a real right or wrong answer on what he should decide to do. Cliff is very conflicted and is unable to give Gray a straight answer.

I struggled with finding the fine line of pushiness from Gray in this chapter. I wanted to have a situation a bit reminiscent of their talk in the cave way back in summer, but this time have them both a lot more open with their emotions. I wanted to show how far Gray has come in trying to understand his roommate and best friend that is so different yet similar to him and how he really does care, deep down.

I was very nervous posting this chapter, as there is some obvious sexual tension here and admittedly, that's probably why I had such a difficult time with it. I've reread it several times and pray that it is tasteful. I wanted to show that sexuality is part of life and isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it needs to be taken seriously and treated with respect, hence Gray's real talk with Cliff. The roommates' scene was originally drafted to be much more lighthearted, but I think I made the right choice in keeping it a bit more serious.

The second reason for my nerves is the sensuality between Claire and Cliff in this chapter as they spend the evening together. I hope I was able to portray more the feelings of unconditional love and nourishment for the soul through pleasant experiences through the senses (a kind touch and soft sounds) and the bonding that happens through those magical moments. Yes, there is sexual attraction there as well, but again, I don't feel that that needs to really be a shameful thing. I wanted to do something romantic that felt a little different and had a deep level of bonding. Sometimes the most romantic moments with my husband require no words, but wordless communication with a kind (not necessarily sexual) touch, as if to say, "You and I are here in this moment together – let's enjoy each other". I wanted to challenge myself to do this kind of a scene and not rely on dialogue for it. So in a lot of ways, I feel like I'm putting my heart on display here for all of you to see, so I guess it's natural that I'm a little scared. :o

I am completely overwhelmed by the support I've received as I've written this story. The time and thought you all put in your words to me and your feelings for this story make me teary-eyed, no joke! This story is something that I've put so much of myself into, and I'm humbled by everyone's support and respectful and honest thoughts. Thank you so much for reading, as always!