Claire didn't wake up the morning of her birthday feeling particularly excited, but when she checked her mailbox and found a pastel pink envelope addressed from her parents, she opened it on the spot, her hands trembling and her heart pounding.

The contents included a greeting card with a stock photo of an elaborate cake on the front. She eagerly opened it to find a message from her parents.

Dear Claire,

Hope the future year brings you success and happiness. Have a wonderful birthday.

Love,

Mum and Dad

She let out the breath she had been holding with a silent exhale. It was a simple message. She read it a few times and closed the card, deciding not to attempt to read between the lines today.

"Have a wonderful birthday."

I will.

Chores that day included clearing out some withered plants from her fields and tending to her chickens. On such a nice day, it was hard to believe that winter was right around the corner. Her eyes traveled to the crystal blue skies above her and she couldn't fight the grin spreading across her lips.

Clear sky… A good night for watching the stars…

To say she was looking forward to her evening alone with Cliff was an understatement. Ever since they had agreed to a more committed relationship she had been eager to spend more time with him. Thoughts of his soft voice, his deep blue eyes, and his kind touch often sprang up while she went about her day.

That night would include their own personal Moon Viewing Festival. She had purchased some ingredients for a picnic at the grocery store. While she was eager to try the new dumpling recipe she found, she was more excited about feeling his warm arm around her as they gazed up at the night sky…

She felt the urge to mentally reprimand herself for her lack of focus. Claire looked down at the dried out plant matter in her hand and tossed it onto the compost heap. Was it really that bad to daydream a bit? She had a lover now; did she really expect herself not to think of him from time to time?

He's a big part of my life now…

She thought of the shy man sitting in the front pew of the church. Quietly reciting prayers with him, trying to coax that hint of a smile… Summer afternoons sitting outside with lunch together. Fish cooked over campfires and the scent of rosemary mixed with tanned leather. Warm eyes and a pair of calloused hands that held hers tightly…

Maybe he's been a big part of my life for longer than I realized.

"Claire!" Karen was waving to her from the entrance of Mystic Acres. "How's the birthday girl doing today?"

Claire grinned, her heart swelling at the sight of her best friend. "I'm doing… wonderful."

It wasn't hard for Karen to talk Claire into joining her at the inn for some lunch. Claire was pleasantly surprised when Karen opened Doug's door with a smirk, revealing a tea party waiting for them accompanied by Ann, Popuri, and Mary.

"Happy birthday!" they cheered as the friends entered the room.

Claire felt a warm glow in both her cheeks and her heart. "You didn't have to-"

Ann dismissed this with a wave of a hand. "It's tea and sandwiches, Claire. Nothing fancy."

Despite Ann's claim, Claire couldn't help but feel pampered as she took a seat at the table, Mary gently sliding the selection of tea bags her way. A plate of finger sandwiches sat in the middle of the table, and each place setting had a mug for tea.

Claire stole a glance at Popuri from across the table. The young woman's posture was erect and she had placed her napkin in her lap. It was a far cry from the giggling, tipsy Popuri at Ann's birthday party. Claire recalled her conversation with Popuri and knew it was likely she was trying to act more mature. She looked to her side. Ann's elbows were resting on the table as she munched on her ham sandwich; it was also possible to be too casual. Claire's eyes traveled to Mary for direction. The librarian looked comfortable in her seat, idly stirring her mug with a spoon. Lastly, her eyes moved toward Karen, who was giving her a warm smile.

"We all wanted to just let you know we were thinking of you."

Claire's cheeks blazed at all of the attention, but she could feel her heart swell. "Thank you."

Lunch was simple yet delicious, and Claire was both surprised and delighted to see Doug bring out a tray of cupcakes he had made that morning adorned with pink frosting. As if the sweets weren't enough, her friends provided her with thoughtful and useful gifts including a fancy tin of herbal tea from Mary and an assortment of snacks from Ann.

Taking her by the hand and toting some leftovers in a takeout box, Karen was more than happy to walk her friend home.

"Another year down," she said with a chuckle as they walked the cobblestone path back to Mystic Acres.

"Yeah," Claire replied automatically. Her mind began to drift as they continued along. Her previous birthday had been celebrated in the city with her friends. She realized with a strange detached feeling that she had made no effort to contact any of them since she moved, and at the same time, she was certain that their lives hadn't changed a bit.

Karen's voice brought Claire back to reality.

"Do you ever find yourself saying, 'Next year at this time I'll have it all figured out' and you always end up disappointing yourself?" Karen let out a half-hearted laugh as she averted her eyes.

"I don't know if we'll ever have it all figured out, to be honest," Claire confessed. She looked out at her fields full of ripe sweet potatoes she had been holding back on picking.

Her friend mulled over this thought, letting out a small sigh. "Y'know… I used to think my parents knew everything when I was a girl. The older I get, the more I realize they suck at keeping it together. They're both just so clueless… To have that as an example to strive for…" Karen's voice died down as she looked at the muted grass swaying in the fall breeze.

"Who says you have to follow that?" Claire's voice was soft and she didn't feel the uncomfortable pang she usually did when she spoke frankly.

Karen blinked. "No one, I suppose… But… it's all I really know. The idea of doing something different feels even scarier." She was silent for a few minutes before she looked back over at Claire. "I guess that didn't stop you, though, did it?"

She was given a soft chuckle in reply. "When you say it like that, it makes me sound like I was pretty brave."

Claire was surprised at her friend's swift response. "You don't think you are?"

She considered this for a moment. She thought of the veil of gloom and stress that used to drape over her on a daily basis. Her stomach no longer had that sourness that she had associated with her life before Mineral Town, and she didn't feel her heart throb loudly in her ears as she tried to sleep through her anxiety. Claire could still remember the rush of hope she had felt when she had seen the colorful ad for the Mineral Town property – it was such a different feeling than she had been saturated with. It was almost hard to believe she had gone through all of these emotions within a year.

"It was necessary. I did what I had to." Claire's throat tightened a bit as she dwelled on her past self. "I was so… unhappy." Her shoulders sloped a bit as she recalled those old feelings, a little upset she had allowed herself to live that way for so long.

"Breaking that cycle, though… I think that takes bravery, too." Karen turned toward her friend and gave her a slight frown. "You're always selling yourself short, Claire."

She was given a crooked smile in reply. "I don't like setting myself up for disappointment," she replied honestly.

Karen ruffled her hair, to Claire's surprise. "You sure are more cynical than I would have imagined when we first met. You're the bravest person I know." They stopped walking and Karen pulled her close. "And I'm glad you're brave, because we wouldn't have ever met otherwise."

Claire relaxed in the embrace, her heart bursting with emotion. "I'm glad we're friends."

"Me, too."

That evening couldn't come soon enough. Claire was singing as she began loading up her picnic basket.

Picnic blanket, lantern, edamame, dumplings, sweet potatoes for offering…

Her heart began to pound as the sun dropped in the sky. The thought of their evening under the stars sounded magical despite the simple provisions she was bringing. A giddiness rose within her that reminded her vaguely of the long trek up the stairs at the inn. She had been so eager to spend the Moon Viewing Festival with Cliff…

She blinked. It really felt like a lifetime ago that she had been debating over the words to use to ask him.

We're different people now… or are we?

Her hand rested over her breast.

Cliff's exhausted, pained eyes were still clear in her memory. The way he had pulled away from her touch and broken down in front of her, wracking with silent sobs as he claimed he didn't deserve a place to call home…

She felt a lump form in her throat.

Things are different now, she reassured herself.

And it's definitely for the better.

She looked down at the things she was packing once more when she heard a knock at the door. Butterflies fluttering about in her stomach, she wiped the sweat off of her hands and approached the door with a grin.

Indeed, his eyes were a far cry from their previous lifeless state; they were sparkling as he gave her a smile. He had fewer stray hairs escaping from his ponytail than usual, and he was donned in a long-sleeved tunic lined in fur that she hadn't seen before. She vaguely wondered if she should have opted to wear makeup for their outing.

"Good evening, Claire. Happy birthday."

Her arms found their way around him and she leaned into him. "Thanks. It's good to see you."

"You, too."

The color rose in Claire's face as his lips grazed her skin, placing a shy kiss on her cheek. He took her hands in his and their eyes met. Emboldened by their romantic greeting, he reached into his pack, producing a small package wrapped in old newspaper.

"This is for you." He gulped, thrusting it out to her eagerly.

Claire saw that he was still standing outside. "Why don't you come into the house?" She took a step out of the doorway.

"Oh, right." Flustered, he let out a chuckle, following her inside. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shove that into your face." He anxiously turned the present in his hands a few times as he observed Claire's picnic packing. Clearing his throat, he held it out once more. "H-here you go. I know it's not much…"

It hardly weighed anything at all. Claire carefully ripped open the paper to reveal some beautiful barred gray and white feathers and leather cording with a hair pin. She ran her fingers down one of the plumes. They looked so familiar. "The feathers…"

"They're Cain's. I've been gathering them over the years when he molts." His eyes widened. "Don't worry – I sanitized them."

The thought that he was sharing something with her that was once a part of his dear friend caused her heart to swell. "How is he doing?" Her voice was soft.

"That attack took a lot out of him," Cliff admitted, his smile dropping a bit. "At first, I was kind of afraid he'd never get his energy back… He still greets me with his chirps, but lately he's been telling me he's eager to get back out there. I can tell he's itching to hunt." The way he had been stretching this wings and looking at the entrance of the mines was encouraging, to say the least.

"That's a good sign."

Cliff nodded. "I'm honestly surprised he's so eager to hunt again, but I've been flying him a bit every day for him to get his strength back. I'm amazed at Doctor Hardy's work. I… really thought I was going to lose him." He lowered his eyes.

The sadness in his voice was still present, but she was encouraged at the fact he was openly talking about it. "Are you nervous at the thought of him being out there again?" Claire reached for his hand.

He let out a small sigh and shrugged his shoulders. "A little, I guess. We've been through a lot, but never anything like that before. But… I guess if Cain's ready, I need to accept that. It's not like that particular eagle is still out there…"

"It's not?"

Cliff responded with a solemn shake of the head.

Giving his hand a squeeze, she realized it was best not to pressure him into telling her what happened. It was likely he didn't want to end the bird's life. "Thank you for sharing a part of Cain with me. I know he is very special to you." She clipped the feathers into her hair and gave him a warm smile.

His eyes traced the accessory in her golden locks and moved toward her upturned lips. "You're so beautiful, Claire," he stated earnestly.

His last declaration of this had been in the dark and he could see her clearly now. Claire felt her cheeks blaze as she shyly averted her gaze.

"Th-thank you…" She looked back up at him. "You're very kind."

Not kind, just honest.

Cliff grinned and looked back over at the things Claire had been packing for their outing. An evening at her side beneath the stars… He could hardly wait.

0o0o0o0

Claire didn't go to the mountains beyond the hot spring much at night; she was grateful that Cliff was by her side. Things looked different in the dark, and shadows were cast in very different places, making her feel a little uneasy. She took the offered arm and the two walked along, admiring the scenery. The mostly skeletal trees reached up for the sky, the stars shining between their bare branches.

"This looks like a completely different place once the sun goes down..." She looked around them.

"I really think it looks gorgeous out here at night." Cliff gazed up at the sky thoughtfully.

It wasn't long until they had reached the peak of Mother's Hill. Claire reached into her pack and lined up a row of particularly fat sweet potatoes on a flat rock at the summit as an offering. Cliff watched in silence at the way her eyes moved up to the moon.

"It was a good harvest," she whispered. She closed her eyes, her eyelashes dark against her pale cheeks lit by the stars. "I… have much to be thankful for." She folded her hands in prayer.

It was about more than just the crops populating her fields. Her farm had allowed her to live her life in a different way. She smiled, she laughed. She found herself looking forward to things again. It was thanks to the gods for giving her a bountiful harvest that she would be able to continue this lifestyle.

If I can manage to sell my sweet potatoes, that is…

They finished praying in silence, each lost in their own thoughts for several minutes.

"You're an amazing farmer." Cliff's voice was soft and when she opened her eyes, she saw that he was looking up at the moon as well. "But… I don't think it hurts that the gods have blessed you the way they have."

'Amazing' is a bit much… He is far too kind, but I'm not about to deny the fact that I had a little help.

She turned toward her partner. "And the harvest at Aja Winery was large this year, too."

Cliff gave an enthusiastic nod. "They're already talking about expanding now that they have another set of hands." He turned away, his eyebrows furrowing. "It's scary but exciting – being part of something new, I mean." He paused, shifting his stance a bit. "In order for them to be able to keep up the work with a larger harvest, I'm going to need to stay around." He bit back a frown. "I've just… never had that before."

Her hand was already seeking his and she held it tightly.

"Something… steady," she murmured.

Their eyes locked.

"Yeah…" He felt his cheeks burn as he clumsily interwove his fingers with hers. "It's something new to get used to, but… I'm looking forward to it."

"I'm glad that you are," she replied. Her gaze moved to the offering she had made. "Thank you for coming with me to celebrate my harvest and ask for a good one next year… I had never heard of this festival before this year, but I think it's good to be grateful…"

And I should be grateful despite how things are going right now…

He saw the falter in her smile. A wave of guilt hit him as he looked down at their hands. "I'm… really sorry we didn't celebrate on a proper full moon…"

Claire shook her head, her blonde hair getting into her face. "It's not that."

"It's not?" he breathed in surprise.

A frown spread across her lips. "I'm just mad at myself," she confessed.

When he gave her an imploring look, she swallowed the lump in her throat. This was her best friend, her lover. If she couldn't open up with him, who could she open up to?

"I'm finding it a little hard to feel grateful right now," Claire admitted. "Don't get me wrong; I love my life on the farm." She let out a little sigh. "I'm just… really scared right now." Her voice cracked as she felt a pang in her heart, releasing the emotions she had kept bottled up.

I need to tell him. No secrets.

The bravery she had been struggling to show for the past couple of weeks crumbled. She realized her situation with her crops wasn't unlike Cliff's lack of options when Cain was injured.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to pay my mortgage." Her tongue felt heavy and the words sounded strange coming out of her mouth. "If that happens, I might lose the farm." She felt the need to lighten the atmosphere. Letting go of his hand, she walked to the clearing behind them and removed an old blanket from her rucksack. She clumsily shook it out, her eyes welling with tears. She looked up when she felt Cliff take the opposite ends of the fabric, helping her smooth it out. She plopped down on the blanket with her bags at her side.

"I thought the farm was doing well," Cliff ventured, taking a seat across from her as he set down his own bags.

"It's not that things aren't growing." Claire absentmindedly reached in her sack and haphazardly set out containers of food she had brought for their picnic. She saw that her hands were shaking. "It's Pete." She hated the bitter way his name came out of her mouth. She felt a pang of frustration, and for a brief moment she hated him for being so successful and perfect. "He flooded the market with sweet potatoes and now I can't sell mine to Zack and turn enough of a profit to be worth it."

"Oh…" Cliff's face fell as he wracked his brain. "Well… Zack's the only one who is paying you less, right? What if you sold directly to Jeff and Sasha?" He thought of his purchase the other day at that very shop and his heart gave a strong pang.

"I already am. Zack suggested that I try to sell around town. It's not enough, though. I've sold to Karen's parents, Doug, and even Barley. I need to sell to someone who can go through a lot of sweet potatoes…"

Cliff was silent for a few moments as he recalled the tattered recipe book at his place of employment and his face lit up. Alcohol could be made with all sorts of produce… "How about selling to Duke and Manna?"

She considered this. "Sweet potato… wine?" The young woman raised a curious eyebrow.

He gave an emphatic nod, his features brightening even more as he listened to her say the words aloud. "Yeah! They've been saying how they want to try something new. Maybe they'd be open to venturing outside of the world of grapes a little more. I know it would take an awful lot of sweet potatoes to make."

Claire thought of the pineapple tepache Karen bought from the wine cellar. "Yeah…" She blinked away her tears, her heart swelling with hope. "M-maybe…"

"I can try talking to them, too, if you want!" Cliff's eyes were determined. "I know I haven't even worked there for two months yet, but I'll convince them!"

There was something infectious in seeing his tenacity. She wasn't alone. They'd find a solution. His expressions had that same spark that she had seen when he talked about harvesting their tomatoes and when he spoke about his hopes for the hunting season at the end of summer.

"We can do it." Her voice was soft, but grew in strength. "Everything is going to work out. We have each other."

The last line had slipped out of her mouth, but she was grateful when he threw his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. "We do. It's going to be okay."

Her heart swelled not only at the thought that she wouldn't have to face this problem alone. This Cliff was a far cry from the hopeless one she had encountered back in the middle of fall. She was grateful for this change; she felt like she could do anything with him at her side. Her worries crumbled away as she felt his warm hug.

"It's going to be okay," she repeated in a whisper.

Cliff was impressed by the variety of things Claire brought for their picnic. Eager to make his own contribution, he added some roasted chestnuts to the food selection. Cliff lit the lanterns he brought along and lit up their picnic. As she got some plates out of her pack, Cliff produced a thermos of hot sake he had brought from the winery. He poured her a glass and held out his own for her to fill, as was the customary style.

They looked around at their spread. It was simple, but it was theirs, and that was enough.

"To Mystic Acres." He raised his drink.

"And Aja Winery!" Claire returned.

They clanked the tiny glasses together amid chuckles and grins.

"Kampai!"

Claire touched the beverage to her lips and found that she rather enjoyed it. It was sweet and the warm temperature made it go down smooth. They drank in silence for a while, simply enjoying one another's company.

"How about we try some of those dumplings I made?" She handed her friend a skewer of the crescent-shaped dumplings and popped one into her mouth. She grinned as she chewed; they turned out better than she could have hoped for. She looked up at her companion proudly. "Well?"

Cliff finished chewing and swallowed. "Delicious."

"Thanks!" Claire's smile was so large, she couldn't fully open her eyes. Something about being under the peaceful night sky with her favorite person… Her worries from earlier had melted away and her heart was so full of joy she felt it could burst.

"I like our new tradition," Cliff said shyly. "Let's do it again next year."

Traditions with my new partner… He already wants to be with me next year, too…

She gave a hearty nod.

"More sake?" he offered.

"Sure." Claire studied the curve of his cheek and the stray wisps of hair that hung down by his ears. He seemed the type to have perpetually wild hair and she found it endearing, catching a glimpse of that outgoing, rowdy boy he used to be.

He set down the thermos and she saw his own cup was empty. Taking the vessel in her hands, she returned the favor. The drinks accompanied the selection of food well, and it wasn't long until they had eaten most of it. The dumplings were a favorite, vanishing quickly.

Claire looked down at the lone dumpling in the container she brought. "Only one left… You want it, Cliff?"

"No, no, that's okay. Go for it," he replied politely.

He had eaten them more quickly than she had. She gave him a smirk. "I dunno when I'm going to make these again… You take it." She nudged the container in his direction

He shook his head.

"Ah, how about we split it?" She knew he'd be too stubborn to take the whole thing, and she felt bad taking the last one.

"Alright. But I need the recipe, and I can make them for you next time." He gave her a fond look. "Or… maybe I could come over some time and you can teach me."

She smiled. Now that she had a kitchen, she was eager to give it as much use as possible. She enjoyed having Karen as a pupil for her cooking lessons, but she wouldn't mind another student. "Okay, sounds fun!" Claire took a big bite out of the remaining dumpling.

Cliff's eyes widened as he watched the vanishing dumpling. "H-hey!"

Claire laughed as she chewed.

"I thought we were sharing!" Cliff reminded her.

Claire swallowed. "Well, open up, then." Claire flashed him a flirty smile.

She loved watching the color creep across his cheeks as she said this; it gave her a little thrill. "Ah, o-okay…" His face was on fire.

A giggle escaped her lips as she popped the rest into his mouth. Cliff was always so easily flustered, but she was starting to realize she sometimes instigated the behavior; he was pretty cute when he blushed. "You thought I was going to steal the whole thing, huh?" she teased.

Cliff finished chewing. "Well… yeah!" He gave her a small pout and the two laughed.

Claire looked up at his face. He was staring up at the moon again. Cliff was always gazing at the heavens, whether it was a bright and clear day, a warm sunset, or dreary rainclouds. She moved a little closer to the young man and found that her gaze kept focusing on his lips. A contentment settled in her heart as she rested her hand over his.

He looked down at her. "What is it, Claire?"

This feeling, it was so strong and genuine. It put an ease in her heart and brought her a deep sense of joy that she had never experienced before. Claire could tell her face must be very red despite the poor lighting; she could feel her heart pounding in her ears. What she had thought was love back in spring with Gray had only been infatuation. Her eyes locked with Cliff's.

This is love.

How long she had been feeling this way, she wasn't quite sure. It was something that had gradually crept up on her for so long she couldn't ever really remember not feeling some sort of affection for him. Of course, she refused to call it that at the time… Was it when she had first noticed what a gentle, thoughtful person he was? Or was it when she decided his eyes were a beautiful color? Maybe it was when she realized she cherished the way that warm, folksy voice said her name. She didn't know, but she supposed that pinpointing a date didn't matter in the grand scheme of it all. It was such a relief to be honest with her feelings and love him openly.

"Ah… I'm… I'm happy you came to hang out with me tonight," Claire stammered, giving his hand a pat and moving her eyes to the ground. Her feelings were overflowing.

Watching the stars was making her neck sore. She lied back on the blanket with a sigh.

He joined her. "Me, too. This is how a Moon Viewing Festival should be."

Claire felt a warm touch on her hand and turned onto her side, facing to meet him. The light from the lanterns was reflected in Cliff's eyes and a smile played at his mouth. They laid in silence, enjoying each other's company, their fingers trailing up and down one another's arms. It was too chilly out for exposed skin, but her mind brought back memories of their quiet night together at her house. Her heart held a warm glow as her eyes locked with his.

"This is all I've ever wanted," he confessed quietly, letting out a breathy chuckle. "Just you and me…"

Her breath hitched at his words as she leaned in, looking at him with wide eyes. "Doing what?" she whispered, a hint of a smirk playing at her lips.

Even in the dim light, she could see him blush. His mind was racing. "Cl-Claire…"

There were those strong signals she could feel him releasing again. Her heart pounded in her ears at her bold words. Their attraction to each other had become impossible to ignore, after all. Before she had time to overanalyze the words that had so easily slipped from her mouth, she could feel his hot breath on her lips. A wave of goose bumps traveled over her skin. Electricity shot through her and she wondered if he could feel her body humming.

She caught a peek at the longing look in his eyes and her heart swelled. He wanted her and she wanted him. They were a couple now and their hearts belonged to one another.

"Kiss me, Cliff," she murmured, her words slurring as a drunken haziness settled over her.

He was more than happy to comply, his arms wrapping around her as if he never wanted to let go. Their lips joined and she her heart did a happy flip as she relaxed in his embrace. She had no idea when she had met him that he would become someone so important in her life. Time flew by as they enjoyed the closeness of each other, chaste kissing becoming a bit more untamed amid tiny gasps and hitched breaths. By the time her senses returned to her, Cliff's lips had traveled to her cheek and he placed a single shy kiss on her neck. She could feel her heart in her throat and wished she had the courage to ask him to unfasten the top button of her flannel shirt so he could continue. Before she could decide what she wanted to do, he bashfully pulled away. Her cheeks burned as she averted her gaze back up at the sky, a curious new warmth spreading through her body.

I love you.

Claire's heart thumped and her tongue felt thick.

We only just became a couple; give it some time.

Still, she felt the need to say something…

"Thank you," she whispered, allowing his fingers to wrap around hers.

"No thanks needed," he murmured, reveling in their company. Grateful that she hadn't been uncomfortable by his amateurish and shy experiments with physical intimacy, he turned his gaze up at the stars as well, enjoying the feeling of her hand in his. "I just want to enjoy this evening with you."

An unabashed grin crept across her lips as their eyes met. Her heart felt so free and the feeling was addicting. "I'm enjoying it a lot." She rested a hand over his heart and buried her face in the crook of his neck, a giddy joy washing over her.

Cliff almost forgot that they were lying on the rocky ground with nothing but an old blanket to cushion them. He imagined them in the farmhouse, leisurely relaxing on a comfortable bed built for two with the lights turned low. They'd radiate warmth as they lay against one another, the soft fabric of her nightgown tickling against his bare torso. Perhaps it would start as a sweet yet simple kiss goodnight as spouses, then it would escalate to something more as their limbs wrapped around each other, her legs latching around his hips…

Spouses…

He gulped as the profoundness of the word hit him, his thoughts turning to the contents in the slim box he had purchased recently. He wasn't sure whether he was enthralled or terrified. It was a dream to work toward, he reminded himself.

Claire's soft voice pulled him from his reverie. "There sure are a lot more stars out here. Back in the city, you couldn't see very many because of all the lights."

Looking at the glittering canopy above them, Cliff's eyes scanned the constellations. With the crescent moon, the stars shone brighter than ever, dotting the inky black sky. "We really do have a great view from here. See Cygnus up there?" He pointed above them at a grouping of stars.

The young woman laughed and he peeked to catch a delighted look on her face. "I actually know that one! I don't know many constellations, though. We learned about them in school, but they were hard to see." She rolled her head on his shoulder, looking up at him with a playful smile. "Any others?"

"Well, there's Pisces."

He grinned at the way her eyes widened, gazing at the heavens for an obvious shape. "Where?" There were so many stars it was a little overwhelming.

He leaned his head into hers a bit, loving her way her hair felt against his cheek. He pointed his finger above them. "That cluster, over there to the side." He traced the shape with his hand, a strong wave of nostalgia flowing through him. He could almost hear his father's laugh as they stared at the constellations peeking through the tops of the pine trees. "There's one fish head… and the other…"

Claire laughed. "That's a tadpole, not fish!"

Her response to the vague shapes wasn't unlike his own reactions as a child. "You've got to use your imagination a little. See? They're tied together with a cord."

Claire squinted, turning her head at different angles before finally shaking her head with a giggle. "A lot of imagination with that one. At least you can see the wings on Cygnus."

Tickled that she was entertained by the stars, he looked for more formations he recognized. "Let's see what else… That curve way over there is Corona Borealis… See that little smile in the sky? And look, Scorpio is over there on the horizon… See that row of stars there?" He excitedly gestured toward them.

Claire wasn't watching the sky anymore. She grinned at the enthrallment in his eyes as he gazed above them. "Well, aren't you just the expert?" she teased, reaching over and giving his hand a squeeze. "You do realize you could be making all of this up and I would have no idea that you were lying," she giggled.

He turned his head toward hers and let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, that's actually pretty much all I know for the fall sky. The big dipper is pretty low in the sky this time of year."

His deep blue eyes were wide and content, but there was an air of experience to them that made him look older than he really was, and Claire couldn't help but focus on it. Cliff looked comfortable and at home under the night sky. Her eyes traveled to the hide tunic he was wearing. It was well-worn despite it being one of his nicer shirts, and upon closer inspection she could see some tiny stitches that repaired a small tear in the arm. He had been through a lot over the years.

She gave his hand a warm squeeze. "Did you use the stars to travel by?" she asked delicately, knowing that she had rarely brought up his past on her own volition.

He didn't appear to be bothered by her question. Cliff blinked, his eyes tracing the twinkling lights above them. "Well, there's the north star."

"And which one is that?" Claire scooted in a little closer.

He pointed with his finger toward a rather average-sized star. "Right there – just off of Ursa Minor."

She found herself squinting again. "Ah, I thought it would be bigger and brighter."

The young man chuckled. "Nope."

The thought of him out in the middle of the wilderness was sobering. One man in the vast forest, mountains, meadows, ponds… The idea of someone so precious easily lost caused a bit of distress.

Of all the places in the world, he chose here.

And so did I.

It would've been so easy for us to miss each other…

"Cliff…?"

"Yeah?" He turned his head toward her and she was frowning.

"Did you ever… get lost when you were traveling?" She kept her eyes focused on the stars and squeezed his hand tighter. Her brows were furrowed in concern.

Cliff's mind drifted to all the nameless towns, the unknown rivers and rocky trails with Cain as his only companion. He could still recall countless frigid evenings spent in dingy bars sipping at a hot drink to bring the feeling back into his hands and feet as he shrank down, avoiding the gaze of the locals. He lost track of how many town gates he walked through, how many tiny burgs, fishing towns, mining villages, trading posts he had encountered. It all was a blur to him if he was perfectly honest with himself. Still, there were moments that stood out, and unfortunately, a handful of people as well that he'd rather forget.

He considered Claire's question. "It's… kind of hard to get lost when you don't really have a destination in the first place," he confessed.

Claire turned her head toward him. "Oh…" Her heart sunk a bit.

He shook his head. "Don't be sad... I actually lived out on my own for a few years before I came back home and… I-I… I actively started looking for another place to settle down."

Maria's words echoed in Claire's ears.

"Ray… was really devastated when Cliff ran away…"

She opened her mouth and slowly closed it. There was no way she could express what she knew without bringing up Maria's visit. Now wasn't the right time…

"I was training… I wanted to be able to make it out on my own." His thick eyebrows furrowed as he blinked up at the stars. "To be able to support myself without relying on others… I spent so many years with that as a goal." He moved his head towards hers once more, his hair becoming disheveled. "But the truth is… I… I don't know if that's what I really want anymore. The idea of living in a town where everyone supports each other…"

"It's nice, isn't it?"

He leaned in, his eyes sparkling. "And I have you, too."

Claire grinned, moving in to meet him. "Yes, you do."

Author's Note: I'm sorry for the long wait on this chapter. I was hit with a hard bit of writer's block. It was frustrating, staring at this story day after day, only being able to add a sentence at a time, if that. I really feel like I lose a piece of who I am when I can't express myself with writing. Posting this is a bit of a relief, and I truly hope that I can feel more creative soon. Thank you for your patience.

I wanted to make Claire's birthday a little more low-key; the characters have all matured so much throughout the summer, and I didn't feel that another long written out birthday scene was really necessary. I feel like Claire wouldn't like being the center of attention for a long span of time, but doing more casual things with her friends would be a more comfortable atmosphere to write.

I wanted this chapter to be a bit fluffier, but I hope it didn't turn out to be a complete sapfest, haha. I always feel so self-conscious when I write romantic scenes. Fun fact: This scene in the original draft was supposed to be the moment where Claire first realizes she's in love with Cliff. I was able to save a bit of the language from then and morphed it more into her dwelling on her feelings as opposed to the final realization of them. The more I write, the more grateful I am that I pushed their relationship a little sooner than I originally planned.

The stargazing scene was inspired by the evenings when my husband and I would visit my in-laws' house and sneak through the fence to the farm next door and lie in their field watching the stars for a little bit of privacy. We looked at star charts and were able to identify the ones Cliff references in this chapter. It was a lot of fun, and I have a lot of fond memories of it.

Cultural Note: The Moon Viewing Festival in Harvest Moon is based on the Japanese festival known as Tsukimi. People gather under the full moon in the middle of autumn and pray in gratitude and in hopes for a good harvest and recite poetry. Traditional foods include dango, dumplings, roasted chestnuts, and sake. Think round things, like the full moon!