Harvest Moon

Stories of Mineral Village

By: Belldandy'sKeiichi

Author's Time: Again, thank you for taking time to read and review my story. I appreciate the feedback I get from you guys and it motivates me to keep writing and thinking of more ways to embarrass/improve the relationships that each character has for one another.

As requested in the reviews, the stories of Lumina coming to Mineral Village and the masquerade ball incident will be told…but not in this chapter! This chapter is going to be the continuation of Jack and Elli story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: You know the drill, I own Harvest Moon...

"So you told her you loved her? Haha…thanks Jack. Now I know how to repel the girls that I don't like." Cliff said as he turned to Ann and smiled. "I love you Ann-"

"Oh go to hell Cliff!" She yelled as she pushed him off his chair. Everyone started to laugh as Cliff pulled himself off the floor and sat back down in his seat. Jack was refilling his glass while looking at the group.

"Ok, so that wasn't the smoothes runs I had in while." He admitted, sipping his drink.

"I would say…especially since it didn't end there…" Cliff added as it grabbed everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"There's more?"

"Oh yeah…the Goddess incident continues and-" Cliff started but then was cut off by Elli's voice.

"Can we not continue the story?" Elli pleaded with them but she was cut off by complaints and moans if disappointment from her friends. "Fine…fine! You can continue the story but I will not be here when you talk about it." She said, getting up and walking towards the counter to drink alone.

"Ah! Perfect! Now we can get into the needy gritty without Ms. Righteous always interrupting me. Say Ann?" Cliff said to her as Ann shot him a glare. "I need help with this story…because I know you know this story as well as I do…"

Ann sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

"…fine."

"Perfect! Now, this isn't a continuation of the Goddess incident. It's in a whole league of its own. Now listen up as I tell you the story of…

Harvest 002- The Return

It all started inside the Inn…

Jack was over at the counter drinking by himself like he always does. Ann and I were watching at a distance on the second floor while talking to each other.

"So what do you think is wrong with him? He's been coming here a lot lately." Ann said to me with a look of worry on her face. I shook my head and looked at his expression. A combination of depression and doubt.

"He's just going through a hard time…things didn't go well at the Goddess Festival…"

"What do you mean?"

Now I wouldn't gossip about people, but I knew that Ann wouldn't be the type that would put salt in a wound. Nodded my head, I told her what went on three days ago.

"Remember when Elli came here alone on the Goddess Festival? Well Jack was kinda the cause of that. You see…" I started but then I started to snicker. I found myself about to fall off the balcony of the second floor.

"What did he do!?" Ann yelled at me, like she always does, but then I tried to remind her to lower her voice.

"Shh shh! Ann! Keep it down…" I said as we looked back at Jack who didn't seem to notice the ruckus we were creating. "Jack and Elli were up Mother Hill and I guess they were having a moment. Jack screwed it up and said that he loved her."

And of course, typical girl response…

"Aww…!" Ann squealed as she clapped her hands to her cheeks.

I mean, honestly… do one romantic act and the girls go all 'lovely dovely' on you. You know what I'm saying?

"Cliff!" Ann stared at him. "Continue with the story…"

Ahem…where was I? Oh, the Inn…

"So that's why Jack has been coming here and drinking so much?" Ann asked me as I shrugged.

"Maybe. I mean, I haven't been able to lure him away from the farm ever since that incident. Maybe if the awkward air was lifted between Jack and Elli, he would go back to normal." I hypothesized.

"Well…do something!" Ann said as she hit my shoulder. "Can't see a man so down in the dumps. Besides, if anyone can help him I'm sure his friend can…"

I nodded my head in agreement. I would think of a way to get him and Elli to talk to one another…

And so…the next morning…

Jack was already up and working on the field. He was watering his turnips that he promised Mayor Thomas he would grow from him for the upcoming festival. Seeing him from a distance, I ran towards him and started to shake him.

"Jack! Jack! Come quick!" I yelled at him. Jack, who was surprised to see me, stared at me confused.

"W-What? What? What's wrong?"

"Jack! Thank goddess you're here! I need your help man!" I said, tugging his arm to get him out of his field. He pulled back his arm in retaliation.

"What do you need Cliff?" He asked as I tried to calm myself down.

"It's my plant, my moondrop flower! I think it's dying or something!" I said to him as I continued to pull at his arm.

"What?"

"I was watering it in my room like I always have but I notice that it was weak and the petals were falling off and I wasn't sure who to turn to…but then I remember you! You gotta help!" I yelled as he finally gave in and started to come towards me.

"Oh…ok! Alright! Lead the way!" He said as I nodded and ran towards the inn.

"Come on! I know you can save it!"

Cliff started to laugh as they all looked at him. Jack shook his head as he sighed.

"So your flower is dying huh…"

"Yeah…"

"I must admit…" Jack started as they sat in the clinic, filling out paperwork for a checkup. "I didn't see it coming. That was pretty good…" He admitted wagging his pen as me.

"Haha…yeah. Pretty genius don't you think? Get you to think I have a plant just so that I can drag you to the clinic instead…" I said to him but he didn't say anything back to me. "Oh come on Jack. It's been four days since you talk to Elli. Don't you think you owe it to her just to say 'hi' once in awhile?" I said, being the voice of reason. Jack finished the form and placed it on his lap. He sat there in silence before turning to me, nodding.

"You know, you're right. I mean, just because I screwed up that one time, doesn't mean we can't be friends right?" He said as I nodded.

"That's the spirit! And…you're in the clinic. The perfect place to be…" I started as I nudged him. "…safe and clean…" I said with a smirked. Jack stared at me as I nodded my head. "Yeah…that's what I mean…"

Jack sighed as a voice echoed around the small clinic.

"Alright, hope you two are done with those forms…"

Jack and I sat in attention as Elli came from the back room and walked towards the lobby. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Jack and me.

"What are you two doing here?" She asked us as I took both of our forms and lifted them up.

"We're getting checkups!" I said proudly. "Hehe, we are legally seating you while you're at work."

"Don't worry Elli…" A different, deeper voice said as the Doctor walked from his desk to Elli's side. "I gave them the forms. My records show that these two haven't had a checkup for over a year. Might wanna make sure they're not incubating anything." He said to her as Elli sighed.

"Ok…I'll take Jack…Doctor, you can take Cliff."

And so we went our separate ways. When we were done with our checkups, we headed to the Inn for a drink.

"So Jack! How did it go with Elli?" I asked him as Ann gave us our drinks. She also took a seat so that she can listen in on the story.

"Well…" He trailed as Ann and I looked at each other with concern.

"Alright Jack…please say 'ahh'." Elli said to me as I complied. I opened my mouth and said 'ahh' while she looked at my throat with a popsicle stick. Even though this was a routine thing for her, there was this weird awkward air between us. I knew if I didn't do anything, nothing would change. I took a deep breath and let it out.

"Say Elli…?"

"Jack, take in another deep breath please…" Elli said as she used her stethoscope to listen to my lungs. I closed my eyes and took in another deep breath and let it out. She walked over to the counter and checked something off on the form I filled out before walking back to me with a flashlight. He shined it in my eyes and looked at me with some concern.

"Elli…we have to talk. I mean…I can't help but feel that…"

"You mean four nights ago…?" She said, as she moved the flashlight from my left eye to my right eye. "That's ok. I mean, I guess I overreacted." Elli turned off the flashlight and walked over to the counter to write something down.

"I'm…I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the mood…is all…" I said to her as I hung my head. I looked up and noticed that Elli stopped writing on the piece of paper. Though her back was turned to me, I knew that she wasn't doing anything but standing there.

"Yeah…well…" She said as she turned around and looked at me dead in the eyes. "I never had anyone say to me that they love me before."

Ann and I were on the edge of our seats and Jack stopped suddenly to take a moment to drink his drink.

"Well?" I asked him as Ann slammed her fist on the table.

"Go on dammit! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She apologized to everyone that heard her swear and make a ruckus. "Go on…" She said calmly.

"Well Jack, it would seem that you're in perfect health." Elli said to me as she walked over with the form she was writing on and handed it to me. I took it and looked it over, even though I had no idea what those scribbles mean. "If anything, I would say just keep working hard, take a break once in awhile, eat well, and don't over drink…" She said to me as I took a deep breath and let it out.

"Whew…that's a load off my mind." I said to her, laughing. Looks like the uncomfortable air was finally gone. I got off the examination table and dusted myself off. "Well, thanks Elli! I'm going back to the farm to work."

"Take care Jack." She said to me with a smile. "Oh! Don't forget this." Elli said as she picked up my hat and gave it to me. Smiling, I took it and placed it back on my head.

"Thanks Elli. I love you."

"Again?!" Ann and I yelled at him.

"AGAIN!?" Everyone else said as they laughed at Jack. Cliff tried to quiet them down but Ann patted his shoulder.

"I'll take it from here Cliff."

"Jack…whoa. You gotta stop doing that! At this rate you'll never get a girlfriend. And if you can't get a girlfriend you can't get married!" Cliff yelled at him as I got two more orders of beer and walked back to the table that they were sitting at.

"I know! It just sorta slipped out. Like something you say at the end of a good-bye."

"No…" Cliff said as he stared at him. "You say 'I'll see you later' or 'you take care too'. You DON'T say 'I love you'! I mean, what if everyone said I love you at the end of their sentences?" Cliff asked him as I placed the two bottles of beer on their table. Cliff turned around and stared at me. "Thanks Ann. I love you." Blinking, I smacked the back of his head before walking over to my seat and sitting down between the two.

"Ahh! See what I mean?" Cliff said to him as Jack said nothing. "Nothing good ever happens when you said those three little words. All they do is create trouble. It happened in the clinic, it happened to Troy, it happened in…"

"I think he gets your point Cliff…" I said to him as he drank his beer. I turned to Jack and rested my head on my hand. "Do you really love her?"

"Well…I don't know…maybe…"

Just then Cliff slapped Jack and I watched him recoil and cover his face.

"OW! What was that for!?" He yelled at Cliff as he stared at him.

"Listen to yourself man! You're talking crazy! You just met the girl and you think you're in love with her?" Cliff asked as I nodded my head.

"Cliff does have a point. I mean…it's not even the end of the first season. Do you really think you're in love?" I asked but the expression on his face said it all. He wasn't sure, but he was willing to do anything to find out. Sighing, I got up and looked down at the two.

"Leave it to me. After my shift is done, we're going to the library."

And so, after a few hours later, my shift was done and we head towards the library. In my hand was a bag of treats for Mary…she doesn't like to give out information without some kind of payment. We entered the library and waved at Mary, who didn't seem happy to see us.

"Hey Mary!" We all said at the same time as Mary lowered her book and stared at us.

"What do you want this time?" She asked as Cliff walked up to the desk and leaned on her desk.

"Mary Mary Mary…us? Wanting something from you? Never…" He said, trying to act as smooth as possible. Glaring at him, Mary slammed her book on Cliff's fingers.

"Ok, Mary?" I started as I placed the bag of treats on her desk. "We need your help." Mary looked at the bag and opened it. Inside was cookies and milk.

"I'm listening…"

"We just need you to tell Elli to go to the Inn around…" I said as I looked at Jack. He blinked as he looked at his watch. Moments later, her held up seven fingers. "…seven."

Mary looked at Jack and me and sighed. "I don't know what you guys are planning, but you got to know Elli is still shaking from the 'I love you' incident." She said as I saw Jack walk over to Cliff.

"You told her?!"

"What? No!"

"Don't worry boys…Elli told me." Mary said to them as she took a cookie and bit into it. "Afterall…I am her best friend."

We took our leave and started to head back to the Inn. I had a lot to do if my plan was going to work. In mid-thought, Cliff nudged me with is elbow.

"So Ann! What's your big plan huh?" Cliff asked as I looked back at Jack.

"We're going to make this relationship work. Jack!" I yelled as Jack quickly came to my side.

"Yes?"

"The Inn at seven. I swear to the Goddess you better be there."

"I-I will!"

"And wear something nice. I mean, that outfit is getting old and fast." I said to him as he poked at his blue shirt.

"You know what you should wear? The tunic…" Cliff said, nodded his head to us.

(7:30 pm)

"Where is everyone?!" I yelled as I looked around the empty Inn. "I don't believe this. I ask my dad to close the Inn early so that I can help these two get together and we can give them a first date they'll never forget…and they don't even show up? Cliff!"

"Yeah?"

"Get down here."

Cliff walked down from the second floor to the first, wearing a nice black suit. "Why am I the waiter?"

"Because I'm the host." I said to him. "Urg! And I even wore a dress…where are those two…?"

In fact, several hours past and they still didn't show up…

"That's because…" Elli started as she rejoined the group halfway through the story. "…Jack and I went somewhere else."

They all stared at Elli, who took her seat and looked over at Jack.

6:57 pm

I was heading towards the Inn because my friend Mary told me to. She said something about free dinner or drinks or something. She was kinda stuttering a lot as if she was hiding something from me. I sighed as I saw the Inn coming up. But before I got to the door, I saw Jack wearing a nice black suit. Grumbling, I put the pieces together.

"Let me guess, those two idiots are trying to pair us up…" I said to Jack as I walked closer to him.

"What? I don't know what you're talking about it's…" Jack said to me as I continued to stare at him. "Well…it's the thought that…" But I just continued to stare at him. "…yeah. They are…"

"Yesh…when will they stop?" I said as he turned around and started to walk back.

"Wait!"

I stopped and turned my head. Jack had his arm outstretched with his hand open.

"Please…we need to talk…like adults."

I nodded my head as I turned around.

"Alright…the pier. Let's go." I said to him as I led the way.

"Wait? What about the others?" Jack asked me but I continued to walk.

"Let them wait. We have all night for that."

So we headed to the pier and sat at the edge. Our legs dangled off the pier as we sat in silence for a minute. Jack finally started the conversation.

"So…here we are…" He said a bit nervously.

"Yeah…"

"Listen…" He said as he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for saying that I love you again. I guess it's just the pressure that I need to get married in three years you know? With hard work I can restore the farm no problem…but talking to girls and making them like me is the biggest obstacle in my life." I said nothing, allowing whatever is on his chest out.

"It's just that with you…the sweet smile, the pleasant smell of apples and cinnamon, the short brown hair…I guess I find it easier to talk to you because, well, I'm attracted to you."

My eyes widen as he said that. He's attracted to me? I guess I shouldn't sound to surprised…he did say he loved me. I though to myself as I looked at him, not realizing that I was blushing. I guess Jack saw it and smiled, blushing too.

"Heh, that's how I feel. And I would never do anything to jeopardize my chances with you." He said to me as I looked down from his farm to the ocean water below.

"So why don't we start over?" He offered as he got up. "My name is Jack. I'm the new farmer. And you are?"

"Elli. I'm a nurse and the local clinic. It's very nice to meet you." I said to him as I shook his hand. We let go and just stood there in silence. We don't know why, but we just started to laugh out loud.

"Haha…man. What a season huh?" Jack said to me as I continued to laugh.

"You're telling me. From confessions to festivals and now this? This is surely a season to remember." I said as I saw Jack walk towards the Inn.

"Come on, we better not let them wait any longer." He said as I nodded and followed him.

"Yeah…it'll be mean if we did that. And we don't want Ann stuck with Cliff. She'll beat him to death if we're not there…" I said as Jack started to laugh.

"Haha! I know what you mean. Man…no wonder I love you so much…"

My eyes widen as I felt my heart skip a beat…again. Jack turned around and he stared at me.

"Oh crap…"

"Not again...!" They all groaned.

"Jack! What is wrong with you!?" Rick asked as they all started to hit Jack for being so dense.

"So that's why you came to the Inn alone…Elli got mad and stormed away. Heh, and that's why you drank so much you were blind drunk." Cliff laughed as he patted his friend's shoulder.

"Feh…don't remind me. I barely remember what happen that night." Jack said as he sighed.

"Jack! And that's why you have friends and people that want to listen! Now huddle up everyone!" Cliff said as Jack looked at him.

"Cliff! No!"

"Now let me tell you the story of the spring hangover!" Cliff said, laughing a bit sadistically.

"It all started with a beer…"

Classes are starting soon so updates will be slow. BUT I will update this story ASAP mkay? Please review! My story brought smiles to your face, least you can do is make me smile on how much you like it or hate it. Also suggestions are appreciate it. Give me a scenario and I'll see if I can work with it. Until next time!