Claire's eyes fluttered open as she became aware of the soft beeping of the monitor beside her. Cliff's breathing was slow and deep; his exhaustion had finally caught up to him. Her eyes traveled across his features. Relief came over her as she realized how the worry lines had finally left his forehead, even if the creases were still there from the prolonged strain. His heavy brows were set in a neutral position, and she could have sworn that a slight smile was playing at Cliff's mouth. She made note to cherish the moment.

What if we woke up next to each other every morning?

The very thought caused her heart to pound, and remnants from her first romantic dreams the previous summer entered her mind. The stranger in her dreams had been mysterious at first, but she had eventually started understanding why he had seemed so familiar to her. Such a notion was enthralling and terrifying at the same time—her eyes lingered on his lips and she found she was aching to press her own against his. She had missed this feeling of closeness. It had seemed like she hadn't seen him in an eternity, and now that he had exposed his heart to her, she was grateful that she knew him on a deeper level.

She gently brushed a loose lock of hair out of his face. It always felt nice to the touch, but she noticed it felt especially healthy since it was freshly cut. Claire ran her fingers through it, smiling at his serene face. Her eyes traced the soft curve of his cheek. While he was still much slimmer than he was back in spring, he had put on a little bit of healthy weight since fall, when he had begun looking borderline malnourished.

Cliff was warm. The last time she had held him against her body he was cold as death and had lost touch with reality. A lump formed in her throat at the memory and she pulled him closer. The young man snuggled against her, his mumbled words slurred and incoherent, but she was sure she heard her name.

Claire's heart gave a giddy thump. She gave his hair another stroke. "I'm right here, Honey," she whispered.

Her breath hitched; that term of endearment had slipped out once before when he was unconscious.

She watched Cliff's eyes open and he blinked in surprise for a brief moment as he realized where he was. His gaze landed upon her and his cheeks bloomed with color as his eyes lit up with delight. She noted the brisker pace of the beeping monitor at their side.

"We f-fell asleep…"

Did he hear what I called him?

Her face felt hot as she gave a nod and a nervous chuckle in reply – she was too focused on trivial matters. "How are you feeling?"

His eyes locked onto hers and she felt her heart pound. "I'm feeling… a lot of things."

I told Claire about Akiyama – about Ivy and Ma and Elder Zinnia – and she doesn't hate me… this must be a dream… right?

"It's nice to see you smile again," she murmured with a happy sigh.

Her warm breath grazed his lips and he felt goose bumps. He was suddenly hyper-aware of the slight buzzing from the fluorescent light above them and the humming of the monitor beside him.

This is definitely real.

His smile grew in response. "I feel like I've woken up from a deep sleep…"

Riddled with nightmares…

He let out a flustered chuckle as he heard his own groggy voice. "Well, I mean more than just literally…"

She gave him a nod in reply. "I can't imagine how much this has all taken out of you. It's okay to be tired, exhausted even. I was told you hadn't been sleeping well."

"I don't sleep soundly very often, but I guess that much is obvious." His eyes lingered on her blonde locks draped across their shared pillow before settling on her sapphire eyes. "But… I want to believe that it's going to be less of a problem from now on."

"I'm… really happy for you," she murmured, leaning forward to brush her cheek against his. It felt natural, comfortable – it caused a warm glow in her chest.

He wrapped his arm around her, burying his face into her hair. "Thank you." He gave her a gentle nuzzle. "You said you wanted to share something with me?"

Her body stiffened and her heart dropped. Her body language didn't go unnoticed; Cliff looked at her, his smile fading.

"Right…"

She struggled for the right words as she gave his shoulder a pat, sitting up in the bed. Claire felt a bit lightheaded. Whether it was from sitting up so quickly or remembering the contents of her bag, she allowed herself a brief moment to regain her bearings. Her heart pounded as she fussed with her rucksack with clumsy fingers. The envelope in her hands was a bit worn from being handled so much, and she wondered if he would notice. She wondered if it would help to preface things with an explanation or just hand it over. At his concerned eyes, she panicked, thrusting it into his face and quickly averting her eyes.

He sensed her nervousness and found that he didn't want to open the envelope. "I, uh…"

"I was told to pass it along to you."

She heard the monitor begin to beep faster and felt her own pulse skyrocket. "It's nothing bad…"

I hope.

She moved to the chair beside the bed and sat down, wringing her hands with worry. Claire held her breath for what felt like an eternity as Cliff opened the envelope and silently read its contents.

Dear Cliff,

Perhaps I should start by introducing myself. My name is Maria. You don't know this, but I am your Aunt. Ray was traveling through Flowerbud Village, my hometown, and decided to stay and start a life together with me here.

Ray is well. He continues his fisherman's work and provides a lot of food for the village. He speaks of the old days with a warm nostalgia. He talks a lot about you and your sister. As I understand, throughout the years, your family has been scattered across the land. Ray's dream has been to see his loved ones once more. I know that it would make him really happy again, and I think it would bring you joy as well.

This is by no means a demand for you to travel to and settle down in Flower Bud Village, but the invitation is open if you haven't found a permanent home yet. My wish is for you two to be in contact once more. My first reason for this is because I know it would ease my husband's heart to know that you are safe and well.

As for the second reason…

Well, Ivy has been looking for you.

She's been traveling for the past year or so, really. Searching, traveling, searching, traveling – she sends us regular correspondence when she moves around. Her letters bring us ease of mind.

We promise we won't inform Ivy of your location unless you are comfortable with sharing that, but if I recall correctly, you were traveling to find her as well. With your permission, I'd love to do everything in my power to bring my husband's family – no, my family – back together again.

Enclosed is our address and phone number. We miss you.

Love,

Maria

Claire wondered if Trent or Elli were aware of the elevated beeping of the meter and if it was as concerning to them as it was to her. She watched his eyes move across the paper, and when he looked up from it, her breath hitched.

"So you met my aunt…" The expression on Cliff's face was unreadable. "Did she seem nice?"

Claire wasn't sure what she was expecting as a reaction, and the question caught her off guard. She gave a nod in response. "She was very polite and kind. I think she was a little nervous to talk to me, but I was nervous, too." She let out a halfhearted laugh, hoping to break up the tension in the room.

His focus had already gone back toward the paper in his hand. "When did you get this?"

She couldn't fight the sinking feeling in her stomach as she replied. "She gave it to me after the sheep festival."

It has been a while…

He didn't say anything for a long time as his words scanned the paper once more. His lips moved into a small frown while worry lines formed on his forehead.

"Ivy…" He breathed her name under his breath.

He looked up at her once more, his eyes wide and beseeching. There was a deep pain in them that caused a jab at her breast.

"Wh-why… did you wait so long to give it to me?" His words indicated that he was truly hurt.

She would much rather face him being angry. Claire's shoulders slumped. "She… she asked for me to wait… She wanted you to express an interest in seeing them again. She was afraid…" The young woman licked her lips, her mouth feeling suddenly very dry. "… She was afraid that you might-"

"Run away again?" His words had an unexpected bite to them that caused Claire to flinch.

They sat in an uncomfortable silence as Claire struggled for something to say. His voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Even Karen said it to me last fall, remember? I'm good at running away."

She could still see a misty-eyed Karen slapping him across the face.

"Cliff, I…"

Claire's brain failed to form words. Her heart sank.

"You're afraid of that, too, aren't you?" His voice was low.

Claire's voice caught in her throat. "W-Well I…." She felt the color drain from her face.

I'm afraid you'll choose them over me…

Maybe I deserve that.

A soft sigh escaped him. "I guess they're both right, Maria and Karen… I'm trying to change," he murmured, his voice laced with pain.

The young woman bit her lip as she struggled to choose her words. "I want you to do what makes you happy… But I don't want to lose what we have, either." She felt a lump form in her throat. "I know that probably makes me really selfish, but-"

He gave her hand a squeeze, and it was tighter than she expected. "Claire…" Her eyes met his and he gulped. "The only reason I would leave town is if you did, and that would be to follow you."

Her heart leapt into her throat and a small gasp escaped her.

"I spent so long living a life where I had a planned escape route in case something went wrong." He threw a longing glance in her direction. "But I have reasons why I don't want to live that way anymore."

Claire gave him a warm smile; she could only hope…

"I told you before – I promise I'm not going anywhere. I want to be by your side."

Claire's heart fluttered. She could still remember the overwhelming relief that took over when he threw his arms around her in his room at the inn after a busy day of harvesting grapes together. She had been thrilled at the notion that he was able to afford a roof over his head with his new job. Additionally, the idea that she was one of the main reasons he wanted to stay made her heart overflow. She knew things weren't that simple, however.

I know promised he wouldn't leave, but…

Her smile drooped a bit. "It's just… things have changed…"

A pair of wide eyes blinked back at her. "What do you mean?" His heart sank. Had her feelings on him changed after he told her about the mistakes he had made in Akiyama?

It's true… I have revealed a lot of unflattering things about myself today…

"You have the chance to be with your sister again. Your uncle and aunt, too…"

He shook his head. "Why would I leave you behind when I care about you so much?"

Her eyes locked onto his. "Cl-Cliff…"

"I want to be with you, Claire. I'm committed to you. And… I like it here."

"Mineral Town is more special with you in it." A smile twitched across her mouth as her throat tightened.

He gazed at her affectionately, placing a dry kiss along her knuckles. "You make it that way for me, too. You're the reason I want to stay."

She resisted the urge to crawl back into bed beside him and cover him in happy kisses. They quietly shared a fond look, basking in the warm feelings they shared. Cliff gave her hand a squeeze as he looked back down at the letter. They exchanged a sad smile as they came back to reality.

"I know that nothing's ever been simple, and I can't expect it to start now." The paper wavered in his hands. "I've wanted to see Ivy again for years. I spent so long trying to find her…" he mumbled with a gulp. "If I'm completely honest with myself, I'm terrified."

"Are you worried she… won't accept you?"

He gave a slight nod, the anxiety clear on his face. "They say she's looking for me. That's… so hard for me to believe. Is it really possible?"

Claire's eyebrows shot up; she hadn't considered the idea that anything in the letter hadn't been true. "You don't trust Maria?"

"I… don't know her," he replied honestly. He paused. "But I can't imagine Ray choosing a partner who would be dishonest."

Claire watched his concerned expression.

"Growing up, Ivy was always so sure of who she was. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she wasn't afraid to let others know it." His shoulders slumped. "I know that she was really disappointed in me…" His lips pressed into a thin line. "I know she hates me. She said she was a-ashamed to call me her brother." Cliff averted his eyes as his voice cracked.

Claire leaned in closer toward the bed. "Feelings can change," she murmured soothingly. "She was mad and she was hurt, but that doesn't mean she felt that way forever."

He didn't say anything, but she could tell that he was listening intently, silently waiting for some shred of hope to hold onto.

She gave him a fond look. "Maybe she thought about what you had been through and she was able to understand why you needed out. I… I can see how much she means to you, and I find it hard to believe that the feelings aren't at least somewhat mutual, even after everything that's happened."

Cliff was looking back down at the letter, but his eyes were focused on a corner of the paper that was folded down. He smoothed out the crease thoughtfully. "I don't know if I ever told you this, but the whole family used to sleep together. I always slept between her and Ma." A slight smile played at his lips. "She was a terrible snorer," he admitted with a soft chuckle. "She tossed and turned a lot; it was a wonder how she had the amount of energy she did." Cliff paused and his deep blue eyes softened. He could still see the young girl tangled in the blankets beside him, her brown hair a disheveled bird nest. "She never admitted it aloud, but she was afraid of thunder. She'd squeeze her eyes shut and I could feel her shaking beside me. If I gave her a hug and whispered to her everything would be alright, she'd believe me."

He could still remember the hot summer nights feeling her bury her face in his back, trembling as the heat thunder shook the house. He let out a soft chuckle.

"It was way too hot to be that close to her, but… I didn't really mind. I liked feeling like I could protect her, even if it was from something that couldn't hurt her." The corners of his mouth tilted upward as he looked at the photograph sitting on the table beside him. "She was always really nice to me the next day. There was this unspoken rule she wouldn't try to prank me or trick me into doing her chores."

She felt a sudden pang in her heart for her younger brothers. They'd cry and fuss some nights in their shared bedroom with her, and they always wanted to play far too early in the morning on weekends. Still, when she assisted them from their beds and cribs, she couldn't help but smile as she watched their perky eyes light up at the sunlight streaming through the apartment window.

"She's looking for you because she loves you." Claire rested her hand on the rail of the hospital bed. "After everything that's happened, she still remembers a kind and loving brother that looked out for her."

His face had a hesitant look, and she could see he was debating whether or not to disagree with her.

"You were really close," she continued. "You shared most of your life together. She's had time to think it over and she wants you back in her life, flaws and all." Claire wasn't sure if she was talking or assuming too much, but she couldn't stop herself. "And why shouldn't she? You're kind and gentle, funny, dependable… and amazing."

She looked up to see that his cheeks were deeply flushed, and she wondered if her own face looked the same.

"I'm grateful that I've been guided to someone I feel the same way about." He looked up at her with wide, sincere eyes. "But I… I think you're too kind."

Claire gave him a sad smile. "Someday, I hope you can see yourself the way I do."

There was that lovely stirring in his heart Cliff had told himself for years he would never feel. All of that time he had spent wishing he was someone else or handled his past differently – and now there was someone right in front of him that knew everything and still cared about him deeply. It was more than he deserved – than he could have ever dreamed of. "Claire… I…"

He found that he couldn't find the right way to put his feelings into words.

She looked at him curiously and he gave her an apologetic smile. "… Thank you."

His eyes landed on her lips and she could hear the monitor pick up its pace again. She stood up and leaned over the bed, lacing her fingers with one of his hands, using her other arm to hug him. His breath hitched, and she caught the lovely, vivacious color on his face as she moved forward and closed the space between them.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I'm sorry about the delay in the chapters – I'm trying to adjust getting back into the office, and finding a new normal for my routine. I hope y'all are staying safe and healthy. As we slowly go back to "normal", I've been doing a lot of reflection on what parts of "normal" I really want to go back to. I hope y'all take some time for things that make you happy and keep you stable.

I had a lot of conflicting ideas of how I wanted Cliff to react to the letter. While I couldn't really imagine Cliff and Claire having a shouting match, I didn't think he'd be thrilled that the news of Ray and Ivy had been kept from him for so long. I hope I was able to portray it in a realistic way. I was also very eager to let our couple have some very-needed cuddle time – I might have laid it on a little thick, haha.

This chapter is a little shorter, but I'm hoping to be updating a little more often. I have some ideas in the works and I hope you enjoy them! I still need to finish writing that fluff piece that's been on my mind. I also started a tumblr page for my musings on writing and Harvest Moon. I plan on posting some headcanons and flash fictions on there, too. My handle is durotoswrites if you're interested. :)