I've already started today out horribly, Mary thought to herself as she stumbled to her desk.

She had perfectly mimicked happy chirps regarding her parents' questions during breakfast that morning, not really registering the conversation much at all. It had felt robotic and routine at the same time. She hated it.

Breakfast was oatmeal. It tasted of nothing. She vaguely remembered her father passing along the honey she usually took with it, but she ate the unseasoned contents of her bowl in silence. She could scarcely remember her excuse when given surprised looks from her parents. The three of them were truly creatures of habit, after all.

Mary remembered saying something about trying to cut back on sweets and Anna gave her an approving nod. It was a good distraction for her to only take a few more bites from her bowl before excusing herself. Thankfully, she hadn't aroused any further suspicions.

Basil had commented that she always "ate like a bird" but she only did that in front of her parents because Anna had instilled in her that "a graceful lady shows gratitude for what is on her plate, but never overindulges".

Mary could still remember a time she was given a few sharp looks in social outings – most recently when she had eaten every last bite of her stew at the Harvest Festival and was considering partaking in dessert.

Most mornings, she would still be hungry at this point, but she wasn't today. She was eager to head to the library to be in silence with herself.

Right... I suppose I ought to open the library at some point...

Mary hefted herself out of her chair and stood blankly, looking at the open sign of the library.

I could just forget to flip it and it could stay closed all day...

It would be a believable mistake, right?

Mary gulped.

Would Mother or Father pass by and notice?

Further questions would be given for her error. The last thing she wanted was prying.

She frowned, her heart pounding in her ears. She gripped the door frame, looking over at the back of the sign, OPEN glaring back at her.

If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the heat radiating off of their bodies as she smiled up at Gray, panting, her eyes wide in the sheer awe of how wonderful it was to share herself with someone...

His eyes were full of emotional tears. He leaned forward, interlocking their fingers as they shared a soft kiss.

She had heard the rumors when he first moved into town. She had come along with her mother to go grocery shopping and Anna dragged her to the square "for just a quick chat" with her friends.

The shopping bags had made her arms go numb as she stood in silence beside her mother. They were eagerly talking about the new tenant at the inn that was working under his grandfather at the forge.

"An angry boy, that one. I heard old man Saibara hired him here to keep him out of trouble."

"Can't get much more than a grunt out of him."

"Good thing he has something productive to channel that temper of his into..."

She could still remember slipping a comment of her own in one of the brief silences. "He's probably been through a lot."

"Haven't we all, Dear?" Sasha replied with a smirk.

"If he's anything like his grandfather, then we have another force to be reckoned with. Do you think that Saibara's going to be able to manage him all on his own? He doesn't even have the boy living under the same roof as him. It only makes sense – families should be living together in the same house!" Manna's voice was strained as she continued. "It only raises further questions – why the distance? Is he dangerous? I mean, people in the city tend to be a bit..." Manna's voice dropped off, but everyone knew what she was getting at.

The conversation had continued on as normal, and Mary felt herself shrinking, her shoulders aching from the weight of the ingredients for that night's dinner.

But Mary had learned that he was more than just an angry boy. Sure, he had a sharpness that she lacked, envied even, but there was far much more to him than that. Gray's eyes were wide and expressive the other night.

"I just told you I love you! How much clearer can I be?"

Mary's heart ached as she clutched a fist to her chest. "I love you, too," she quietly murmured aloud.

Here eyes moved toward the back of the sign, the large capital letters glaring back at her.

"... But I'm anything but open," she admitted with a soft sigh as she left the sign untouched, walking back to her desk.

Karen's eyes moved toward the door dividing her living quarters from the storefront and storage room. She could hear Manna's muffled voice carrying on about some new recipe she was trying out. A word or two was muttered from her father.

Karen held her breath as she listened for her mother's voice.

Silence.

Grabbing the heavy tome off of the bookshelf, she shoved it into her backpack. Throwing on a coat and beret, she threw her bag on her shoulder, she wiped the seriousness from her expressions, heading out into the shop.

"I'll be out for a bit!" Karen called out, taking a chocolate bar and some snacks from the shelves, waving them at her father. "Visiting a friend!"

"Sure."

It wasn't a long walk, and Karen's swift pace shortened the trek. She swung the door open to Doug's, greeting the proprietor with a swift wave. She didn't hesitate, slapping the money down on the counter.

"A bottle of merlot. Put it on my tab. And can I borrow an opener?"

Doug handed the requested items over. "As a father, I feel obligated to remind you to pace yourself."

She feigned a playful wink. "Gotcha, Pops!" she returned with a salute, bouncing up the stairs, trying to slow down the awful pounding in her chest.

She absentmindedly reached down to scratch The Tabster's head as she made her way to the room at the end of the hall. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she knocked. She heard the shuffling of feet and Cliff answered the door, clothed comfortably in an oversized sweatshirt sporting an emblem of an unfamiliar trade school.

"Didn't know you owned any city threads." Karen dug her hands in her pockets and gave him a snarky grin.

Cliff looked down at his shirt with a wry smile. "Gray threw it at my face this morning on his way out. He threatened me that if I wasn't wearing proper winter clothing by the time he got home, I'd regret it."

She smirked at his accent; even if he was dressed like a student in the city, the moment he spoke, that guise would be completely shattered.

He let her in the doorway and she kicked off her boots, shrugged off her coat and bag, tossing them onto the middle bed. Throwing her beret on top of the coat, she turned toward him and paused as their eyes locked.

A lump formed in her throat and he could see her eyes swimming with tears. "It's like they said... lopped so much of it off."

He couldn't help but feel his own eyes becoming misty as his hand absentmindedly moved to his hair. "Doesn't look that bad, does it?"

They threw their arms around each other with congested laughs. Karen ran her fingers through the cropped locks, placing a kiss on his cheek. "You look great. How are you feeling? Getting enough to eat?"

He relaxed in her arms; her embrace felt nice. "I'm feeling much better. I've been getting food shoved at me ever since I got back," he confessed. "Not that I'm not grateful, it's just..."

Karen let out a hearty laugh, emptying her bag onto Kai's bed, revealing the snacks she brought from the shop. "That's how we take care of our own out here. We feed 'em!" She produced the bottle of wine. "And in my case, I've got drinks, too!" She uncorked it with ease, offering him the first sip. "Oh, wait. Did Trent give you anything that's gonna interact with this?"

Cliff shook his head. "He told me he picked medicines knowing I work at a winery. He told be to go easy on it, though." He accepted the bottle, starting with a small sip. Flavors of dark cherry and plum danced on his tongue. He could remember it from the day Duke had him sample a bit of each wine. "Ah, this is a good batch..." He handed it back to Karen, his smile fading. "I hope... I hope I can help them keep making stuff as good as this..."

Karen frowned at him, taking a deep drink. "I bumped into Duke the other day and he said he couldn't wait for you to come back. They're definitely not mad at you for not being at work."

While he had felt guilt up until very recently about that, he realized he had made peace with it. "It's not that," he replied, taking a seat at the table with a soft sigh. "I got some batches started right after the harvest. They're not done fermenting, and I'm just anxious I screwed them up somehow..."

"Won't know until you taste them," Karen replied honestly. "But the grapes looked especially beautiful this year." She looked over at him, her eyes softening. "I know how hard you worked at Claire's farm. If that's any indication of how you work with Duke and Manna now, I'm sure the wine will be great!"

"Thanks." He gave her a small smile.

Karen moved her stool beside his and sat back down, a small frown slowly growing on her face. "I'm really glad you're doing better. Ann said..." She paused, frowning. "Well, she said that the whole ordeal's been rough... that you weren't yourself."

Cliff frowned. "It seems worrying folk is my specialty. I promise I didn't mean to make y'all upset. I was – and am, I reckon – still dealing with a lot of personal stuff right now. But people have been really nice... I'm not used to that," he confessed, his voice lowering to a whisper.

"Well, I hope everyone's been helping you believe we care about you very much."

He gave an earnest smile, but she could still see the slight guilt in his eyes. "It's... just a lot to take in. I told myself for so long I wouldn't be able to feel this way again."

She looked at him curiously, settling in her seat. "How so?"

"Being part of something bigger, I guess..." His eyes flicked toward his nightstand, thinking of the letter that lay inside of the drawer. "Karen... I..." He hesitated, biting his lip as his eyes unwilling filled with tears. "I found out that I have family looking for me and wanting to meet with me again."

Her eyes grew large. "Family? Relatives? You mean, other than me, Mom, and Dad?" She felt a slight twinge of pain that her parents hadn't been exactly thrilled at Cliff being introduced as a member of the Rigby family.

"Yeah... my aunt passed a letter on to Claire to give to me."

Karen's brows furrowed in concentration. "She already knows your family from out of town?"

"I guess she spotted us together at a couple of festivals, recognized me, and gave a letter to Claire, telling her to give it to me when I mentioned wanting to see my family again."

Claire's words to her a few days ago started making a lot more sense – she must have been uncomfortably holding onto that letter.

"I wonder… if we'd even be enough, though… you and me…"

Karen could still remember her frustration as she listened to Claire's vague reports about her visit with Cliff in the hospital, demanding further details.

"I-I… I need to talk to Cliff first."

"Anything you tell him, you can tell me. We can help him together."

Claire hadn't even been able to look her in the eye.

"I-I… I can't."

Karen still felt a sting of guilt when she recalled how she had replied, her voice harsh.

"I see... After all… I should be used to it by now. I never was anyone's first choice, was I?"

A pair of pained eyes gleaming behind a pair of glasses flashed in her head and she promptly shook it away with a pang of guilt. She turned her focus back on what Cliff had just said. "So, you are wanting to meet your family again, then, right?"

A shaky smile formed on his lips and his eyes were misty. "Karen... I'm going to be able to see my sister again."

Karen was aware she didn't have the full story, but the expression on her cousin's face said plenty. "This... this is a big deal."

He nodded, letting out an awkward chuckle, wiping the corners of his eyes swiftly. "We... didn't end things well, and now I know she's been looking for me."

She saw the life in his eyes as he spoke. She could only assume that he had opened up to Claire on the subject – she was familiar with the look of relief on his face. Karen had seen a similar expression in the mirror after speaking with Claire about heavier topics.

Her eyes moved toward the bag she left on Kai's bed. The corner of the photo album was sticking out of the opening of the bag. She realized with a wave of shame that she needed to be more gentle, and that despite her morbid curiosity, she would need to move at his pace.

"Are you comfortable telling me more about her? About Ivy?"

Cliff didn't think to ask how she knew her name. He gave her a slight smile. "People would mistake us for twins. I think you two'd get along well."

Karen's face lightened. "Oh? What's she like?"

Cliff's eyes drifted to the ceiling as he recalled the familiar set of blue eyes and the wide range of her emotions. "She's pretty strong-willed..."

A laugh escaped both of their mouths as she grabbed him, ruffling his hair.

"Strong-willed, eh? That's the first thing you can think of?"

Her teasing was not unlike Ivy's, Cliff realized with a grin. They both laughed so hard tears were falling from their eyes. Karen held him close, placing a kiss on top of his head.

"As your strong-willed cousin, I want to know more about her."

He didn't miss a beat, and he felt his heart lift. "She was my best friend. Playful, snarky, brilliant. She was so smart... People just gravitated to her."

Karen gave him a playful hug, grinning at the sparkle in his eyes. "I can see why you two are seen as twins. You just described yourself, minus the snark."

Cliff shook his head with a laugh. "She's the extrovert. I'm the introvert."

"So she's you after you've had a couple glasses of wine?" She pulled the bottle on the table closer to them.

His eyes followed her as she took a sip of alcohol. "Is that why you brought over the bottle?" He paused. "Oh, wow... I wonder if she likes wine. What would be her favorite?"

"Well, you'd know better than anyone, right?" Karen gave him a wink.

His smile faded a bit. "All I can do is guess at this point. I haven't seen her since we were teenagers."

The question slipped out involuntarily as she finished another swig of wine. "Why?"

There was a notable coldness in the air. Cliff looked up at her with a sad smile. "I made a lot of stupid choices as a teenager, and it caused me to lose her..."

She sat quietly, unsure of what to say.

"It made me lose everyone I knew... I lost my home that day," Cliff confessed. He paused, reaching for the wine and taking a thoughtful sip of his own. "I'm... really grateful that there are people who still treasure me despite knowing the stupid things I've done."

Karen's lips curled upwards. "Claire."

Cliff instinctively looked around the room before revealing his secret. He gave a shy nod, his cheeks blooming with color. "Karen, she's..." He shook his head with a slight chuckle, his face only turning redder.

"She's wonderful, isn't she?"

He couldn't help but think of the slim box tucked safely in his belongings – that gorgeous blue feather that matched her eyes. "I love her, Karen," he admitted, his voice sober. "She's... so much to me."

Karen playfully bumped her shoulder against his. "Have you used the 'L' word with her yet?"

He shook his head, reddening more if it was possible. "I... don't feel worthy to yet."

A slight sigh was given in response. "Cliff..."

"I want it to be special." Cliff twiddled his fingers anxiously. "And... I want it to feel natural, if that makes any sense."

"Dad was so nervous telling Mom he loved her the first time that he kind of screamed it in her ear," Karen confessed with a laugh.

"Well, I don't think Claire would appreciate that from me," Cliff chuckled, taking a sip of wine. His expression turned pensive. "It... was at one of the feasts that Papa saw Ma dancing. He always told me that she wore a yukata covered in cranes. It was the same color as the feather he offered her..."

Karen's eyes widened in surprise. "Feather? Cliff, did you...?"

His eyes easily became twice the size as hers as he nearly dropped the bottle. "I, uh, w-well...!" His vocal chords refused to act as he placed it back on the table. While he was craving to share with someone else his secret purchase, he remembered Carter's words of warning – he still had a lot of growing up to do.

Upon seeing his reaction, her expression softened as she bit back her shock. "Y-You can tell me when you're ready."

"Jeff promised he wouldn't tell-!" Cliff's words died in his throat as he realized he had revealed himself.

"He said nothing of it," Karen reassured gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. She saw the panic on his face and gently rubbed his back with her hand. "And I won't breathe a word of it to anyone, either."

Their eyes locked silently for a moment before he swallowed the lump in his throat. "I've only let Carter see it. C-Can I show it to you, too?"

Karen's heart was hammering in her chest as she gave an eager nod and she practically skipped behind him as he went through his belongings.

Cliff had located the box, but he hesitated. He gulped, turning toward her. "Karen... I don't want to put Claire in an uncomfortable position. I'm going to wait a while, but... do you think there's a possibility that she'll accept it?" He carefully unwrapped the contents and held them out to her.

Tears immediately began tumbling down Karen's cheeks as she carefully held the feather in one hand. "Cliff... this is..." she sniffed, wiping her eyes with her forearm. "This is gorgeous..." She admired the plume, carefully studying the vivid hue. "You know how she feels about you better than anyone," Karen assured him, giving him a warm smile as she gently handed it back to him. "I think you already know the answer to your question. You wouldn't have bought it otherwise, right?"

He couldn't help but chuckle as he carefully packed it away and his heart swelled at her response. "You sound a lot like Carter."

Karen stuck out her tongue. "Carter probably wouldn't have internally squealed at the thought of you two wearing matching denim and flannel on that farm together..." Her eyes were swimming with tears. She quickly wiped them away with a congested chuckle. "Why do you both have to be so damn cute?"

He felt his face flush with heat as he rubbed the crook of his neck. The thought of him and Claire living on Mystic Acres was truly a dream come true. Working side by side in the fields and barns as the farm grew, sharing meals at the table... feeling her soft skin against his as the moonlight streamed through the window, bundled up under heavy blankets as they cuddled together for warmth...

"There's just one thing." Karen 's firm voice pulled him from his daydream. "Last fall...? You... you can't hurt us like that again. I won't allow it, even if you are my cousin. You cannot tear Claire's heart apart like that again. " She looked up at him, her eyes misty. "Not hers, not mine, not Ann's or Doug's or Gray's..."

A lump formed in his throat as he pulled her into a hug. "I won't. I promised her that, and I can promise that to you, too. This past week or so has only solidified that. Mineral Town is where I want to be."

"And now you have a job that'll make that easier for you." She let go of him with a grin.

A smirk played at his mouth as his emotions leveled out. "Are you just eager for us to make more wine?"

"Manna told me you were inspiring some creative recipes!" she replied as she walked over to Kai's bed, sitting cross-legged atop it. "You'll be back at it soon, too!"

"Yeah, I'm going back to work tomorrow," Cliff replied with a nod.

She beamed as he took a seat beside her. "I'm so much glad you're doing better. You had a lot of us worried, y'know!"

His smile faded a bit as he gave a slight nod.

Karen leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek, breaking it off with a playful pat. "That's because you're special to us."

His expression softened. "Thank you..."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick album, setting it on their laps. "I have a surprise for you, Cousin!"

"Oh?" He looked at her curiously.

Karen gave an emphatic nod as she flipped through the pages. She stopped at a portrait of a blonde woman with sharp eyes.

"Grandma Eve," they murmured in unison.

Karen's face lit up. "Mom says she used to sing and play the piano at the bar back in her hometown."

"Ma said she was kinda famous in the area," Cliff added with a nod. "The bar called her gigs Evenings with Eve and had the whole room dancing. Ma idolized her so much..."

"She had this smoky, sultry voice that drove people wild! She had such control over her voice... Mom had some old recordings..." Karen beamed at the portrait with pride. "I wonder if we sound anything like her?"

Cliff was already adding a record to the player. "Ever have vocal training?"

Karen shook her head with a scoff. "Nothing formal – just practicing for the music festival."

"You did sound really good. I just assumed your mother trained you since Grandma Eve trained all of her kids."

A single brow perked up with curiosity as Karen looked over at her cousin. "So you...?"

He listened to the slow beat on the record player. "Ma trained me, and Ivy by default – she was insistent on learning all my solos for the festivals."

Karen recalled his strong voice at the fireworks festival as he led the group in song and dance. She felt a flash of embarrassment and hoped he didn't remember how dismissive she was when he first mentioned his experience during the midsummer dance. "Mom said she was jealous of her sister's voice..."

And Ivy was jealous of mine...

Cliff paused.

Does she still feel that way?

He could still see the words written on the paper – she pressed especially hard on the paper with her pen, her frustration apparent.

You had the best voice, even better than Ma's...

Cliff's stomach twisted.

What if she wants to meet me so she can yell in my face?

I suppose I deserve it.

"And that would be your mom!" Karen let out a nervous chuckle, realizing she was pulling him from his thoughts. She saw his clueless look. "That my mom was jealous of."

He gave a strained smile and nodded.

Cliff's emotions were still raw from the whole hospitalization ordeal and his false smile wasn't difficult to spot.

Karen listened to the music on the record player and hummed along, swaying to the music and softly bumping Cliff's shoulder against his own. "You know this one?" She crooned along with the vocals.

And when I see you again/

I'll be waiting by the tide/

Absolutely nothing, Darling/

Could pull you from my side...~

Karen could hear the smile in her own voice as Cliff harmonized with her, their voices meshing together.

Because our bonds are stronger/

Than distance or time/

Whatever happens to us/

I'll be yours and you'll be mine...~

Claire felt as if her eyes were adjusting more easily to the dimly lit cavern as they spent more time in it. She wiped the sweat from her brow, watching Gray continue his steady rhythm as he swung his pickaxe.

Not much had been said between them since the day before, but she couldn't say she was surprised about that. He clearly had a lot of things on his mind, and he was typically not the type to share what he was thinking about.

The silence was fairly comfortable, all things considered. They communicated to get their work done, but not much more than that. Anything in addition simply felt unnecessary, as each of them was focused on their own thoughts.

Other than the vein of moonstone Gray had found the day before, they hadn't had the best luck. A couple of rough gemstones sat among their keep pile.

"Should be able to make a bit with those," Gray had commented, holding them up to the beam of his flashlight with a nod. "Quality isn't the best, but at least it's something."

Claire could tell from the look in his eyes that he wasn't impressed with today's haul. "So... this Lloyd... our competitor..."

A smile cracked beneath his mouth covering, but the stifled snort of laughter wasn't hidden. "Our?"

Claire's eyes sharpened. "Yes, our competitor. I'm employed by Saibara, too. That makes us coworkers."

The amused expression didn't leave his face. "Just so long as you're aware you're at the bottom rung of the ladder, Private."

She immediately remembered the stacks of war novels on his bedside and grinned. "Oh? If I'm Private, what does that make you?"

There was no hesitation in his voice. "Sergeant."

"And Saibara?"

"Sergeant Major."

She could feel herself smirking. "You've thought this out before, haven't you?"

Gray's cheeks flushed scarlet as he brought the conversation back on track. "So what did you want to know about Lloyd?"

Claire bit back her grin even though her mouth was concealed. "Saibara said he had to go through him for supplies when he threw out his back. Are there mining sites around Zephyr Town?"

"No, actually. He trades a lot of goods and any ore he gets through that is sold at his stall for an inflated price. He knows there's a demand for it in the area."

"So the people around there are so desperate for the product that they don't have different choices or availability for different price ranges."

"Bingo." Gray began to swing his pickaxe once more and Claire joined him.

"And there are merchants from all around that come to the bazaar, huh?"

"Yep." The young man didn't look up from his work.

Claire's mind began wander as she struck with the rhythm.

Are other jewelers going to be there? If Lloyd's bold enough to make his own jewelry, that might not be the case. Maybe there are other farms selling products... dried or canned goods? There has to be something I'm not utilizing.

Her pace picked up as her eyes blazed.

Something that Pete hasn't thought of, either...

"Do you think I could come along to sell the jewelry?"

They both stopped swinging and Gray looked at Claire. He could tell by the spark in her eye that he would be unable to deny her. "It's not as exciting as you think. You just sit there and customers come by and you sell 'em what they want. Sometimes I bring a book."

Claire frowned. "You'll sell more product if you engage with your customers!"

Gray shrugged. "Gramps is keen on letting his work speak for itself. Besides..." Gray's voice trailed off as he let out a heavy sigh. "I'm not all that excited... I mean, who wants to...?" He waved his hand in frustration, tugging his hat over his face.

"I can interact with them for you." Claire's voice was compassionate.

Gray pulled his hat off of his head, looking her in the eye. "What are you going on about? You think I don't know how to take money for a sale?"

Claire hesitated. "Th-the couples... The people looking for gifts for their partners..." Her words came out as a gulp. "They might gush about how in love they are or how perfect their relationship is, or they might ask for suggestions. If... if that's too much for you right now, I don't mind helping."

Gray had thrown his hat down on the ground. "Now, where do you get off thinking you could possibly know what I'm going through?!"

Claire's eyes sharpened. "In case you've forgotten, I've had my heart broken before, too, Gray."

She immediately regretted her words at his sharp reply. "Well, since you're such an expert on love and you're going out with the most amazing man in the whole damn town and you have the perfect relationship, I'm sure Gramps would be humbled to have you in our presence."

"Don't take this out on me." Claire didn't raise her voice. "I never said love was easy."

He let out a heavy sigh. "Ain't that the truth..."

Her words seemed to have calmed him down. "It takes a lot of dedication. Sacrifice. Staying by someone's side, even when things aren't easy – hoping for a better tomorrow together."

"I tried to do that with Mary..." Gray's voice was hardly audible as he retrieved his hat.

"Things can still end up working out for you two..."

Gray rolled his eyes. "You don't know anything about us."

"Well, maybe I would if you were more open with me."

He was tired. "Pah, I don't need you judging me like everyone else does. I can hardly compare to your 'noble rescue' of Cliff. It's all anyone talks about anymore."

Claire looked at him, confused. His air quotes had stung. "Not everyone."

The gossip crew won't shut up about it.

"You're either deaf or stupid, then."

Claire bit her lip. "Are you seriously mad at me because I stayed at Cliff's side when he passed out and was hospitalized? What do you want from me?" Her strained voice began to crack.

"Mr. Iwata... I'm so sorry... it's inoperable at this point..."

Gray's eyes flashed dangerously. "Get out."

Claire blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. "Just because I stuck beside him and wanted to see him get well-?"

Her weak voice was wispy as she weakly ran her trembling fingers through his hair. "You're a good boy, Gray... Don't let him – don't let this world – turn you sour..."

"Don't make me ask again!" Gray's voice echoed in the cavern.

Claire grabbed her things and swung her bag over her shoulder. She refused to let the tears fall until she was out of sight.

Maybe it's good they're taking a break...

The whiskey made his eyes water. Gray sniffed, wiping his eyes with his sleeve and threw back the remainder of liquid in his glass.

"'Nother double, Doug. Put 'er my tab." He was grateful that Ann had already served and cleaned up the first two he had drank, and she was busy waiting tables.

"Rough day at the mines?" Doug slid him a glass.

Gray didn't reply with much more than a nod. He took a large swig and ran his hands along the edge of the bar counter.

"Huh... I don't remember this pattern engraved 'ere..."

A fond smile crossed the bartender's face. "Gotz's late wife, Hilda, did the detailing. The two of them were quite the pair," Doug reminisced. "She had a fine eye for intricate details. This counter's one of a kind, and I try to take good care of it."

Gray got the gist of what was being discussed; he was already halfway through his next drink.

"Gotz hasn't quite been the same since she passed... I can't really blame him. You really lose a piece of yourself when you lose a spouse."

Gray said nothing, but began chugging, hoping the burning in his throat would drown out the thoughts bubbling to the surface.

The sunlight streaming into the window played with the vase of dying flowers beside her bed. She was not much more than a sunken face sticking out of a pile of blankets. Her voice was a ghostly whisper. "Gray, where's your father... where's Airu?" Her tired eyes had a particular pain in them.

Gray's throat had constricted.

Mom, please don't make me answer...

Gray drank faster. "I'll do a couple shots. I want something strong."

"Let's dance under the moon~"

Gray could hear the sounds of the record player echoing down the hallway. Kai used their record player more than anyone else, and he was a little surprised to hear the music. He opened the door to his room, jumping out of the way as his roommate spun Karen and she gracefully extended her hand. Cliff pulled her back in and they laughed in unison, continuing their dance.

"How was work?" Cliff asked over Karen's shoulder.

Gray kicked off his boots, and set down his bag with a heavy sigh. "Alright as could be expected, I suppose." He looked up, surprised that they hadn't paused their dancing for his entrance, which he was grateful for. His eyes traced to the open photo album sitting on Cliff's bed. "Family bonding time?"

Their stocking feet weren't very loud, but Gray could hear the complicated rhythms being passed back and forth as they danced. He watched with amusement as the two moved, their faces lit up with nostalgic delight.

"Come on, Gray! Join us!" Karen held out a hand to him.

He rolled his eyes, their movements alone making him dizzy. "I'm not a v-very good dancer." He found himself standing up anyway, taking a large swig from the wine bottle on the table before joining them. "I'm gonna mesh up your whole routine..."

Karen laughed with delight as she spun him. His hat flew off and he didn't feel compelled to pick it back up. An unexpected gasp escaped his mouth when he was passed off to Cliff, who in turn gave him an identical spin. Gray attempted to catch his bearings as each of them took one of his hands and twirled themselves in a flourish, clapping to the rhythm. He tried to join in, too, laughing as he realized he was half a beat off. His embarrassment faded – their laughter and glowing eyes were infectious. The alcohol didn't hurt, either.

He forgot what he was frustrated about as Karen curtseyed and passed him back on to Cliff, who gave him a spin. The music died down and Gray wrapped his arms around his best friend, a lump forming in his throat.

He buried his face in Cliff's shoulder. "Karen, between you and Claire... you're gonna send this kid right back to the hoshpital."

Cliff let out an airy laugh. "I'm actually feeling a lot better than I have in a long time lately."

Gray pulled him closer, ignoring the upbeat music in the background. "I-I'm glad."

Cliff's senses were heightened as he smelled wine mixed with heavy whiskey on his friend's breath. He quickly noticed that Gray wasn't letting go any time soon, and a pang of worry hit him. This was heavy drinking, even for Gray.

Gray's slurred speech wasn't lost on Karen. She turned the volume on the record player low. "This was fun, Cliff." Her eyes met his over Gray's shoulder and he gave a slight nod, letting her know that he could handle things from here. "I'm going to head out, but let's do this again soon. I'd love to share more stories."

"Sounds good."

Karen threw her arms around both of them for a quick hug and gathered her things, noting that Cliff cocked his head toward the half -empty wine bottle, silently asking her to take it with her.

Gray clung to him even after Karen pulled the door closed behind her, and his grip tightened at the click of the latch.

Cliff waited silently; Gray was always one to keep his thoughts to himself when it was something deeply close to his heart. His friend had remained silent at his previous queries the past couple of days, and at that point, Cliff knew that Gray would come to him when the time was right.

Cliff could hear the hitched, uneven breathing in his shoulder – it looked like that time had arrived.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading along, and thank you for your support!
This chapter was particularly tricky to write. I have such a soft spot for Mary x Gray, and Gray in particular broke my heart this chapter. I knew that I wanted there to be a conflict in the mines, and Gray's jealousy ended up making it a little too easy. Poor guy. Thank y'all for reading – I appreciate your feedback as always. Take some time for yourself and do something that makes you happy! :)