DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of it's characters.

Third-Times the Charm
Chapter 3

The wonderful mood that started at the beach seemed like it was here to stay. And I was not about to start complaining. It seems I was coming back to terms with both Cliff and Jack… well that is until Mary came over to the Inn for breakfast this morning…

"Thanks Ann," she smiled taking the hot chocolate she ordered from my hands. I looked around room the Inn was calm today no one sat down to eat except for Gotz. I took advantage of this and scooted in across from my anxious looking friend.

"So what's on you mind?" I asked.

Mary seemed to second-guess her coming for a few seconds before deciding on her words, "Well Gray…" she started and I leaned back in my chair, this should be simple enough.

"What about him," I asked reaching over to the napkin dispenser trying to tidy the carelessly pulled out leaflets.

"Well, what were you guys and Kai doing yesterday in the Shack?" she asked.

That took me off guard, I was expecting a 'he doesn't like me' or a 'my life is coming to an end' sort of thing.

"Oh," I replied looking up from the dispenser. "Well as I said I was helping Kai cook, then I threw some flour at him he threw some back. Gray came in saying he needed to use the bathroom, but I threw some flour at him-"I stopped looking at Mary's horrified look. "Honestly Mary?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"Then what?" she prompted like this was world history in the making.

"Then we ran out of flour, and had to clean up before everyone ate." I finished but Mary didn't look satisfied. "What?" I asked looking at her curiously, "what did he tell you he was doing?"

"Going to the bathroom, but still…" he voice trailed off. I left her to her in thought while I fiddled noisily with the with napkin dispenser. I only stopped when I heard an audible little gasp from Mary. I looked up, "did he actually go to the bathroom?" she asked.

"I think so," I replied. But as I thought about it I wasn't sure. "But Mary I mean really, we starting throwing flour at him!"

"What if he never had go in the first place," Mary was whispering to herself now and I realized I would never understand her and her mind's workings. So what if he didn't have to pee, the more I talk to Mary the more I feel the world revolves around Gray. Something thats a rather scary feeling if you ask me…

"So…" I said in an attempt to start a new conversation. Particularly a different one.

She looked up like she just remembered who I was. But she seemed picked up on the need for change in conversation. Or maybe she just had more things on her mind she wanted to say I'm not sure. "Oh, you'll never guess what my Mom said at the table last night!" she said.

"She found a new recipe for something disgusting?" I suggested and was silenced my Mary's glare. I never saw eye to eye with Anna, and I doubted I ever would. I couldn't think of a single time that woman wasn't listening to Manna's lies about me, or hinting to her daughter I was a bad influence.

"No," Mary answered shortly. "Jack proposed!"

"What!" I gasped now abandoning the dispenser completely looking at her wide-eyed. "To who?"

"Elli, who else?" Mary replied.

"When?"

"I'm not sure, after the beach festival I suppose."

Yea this was what I was doing good until… Marriage? Wonderful, my heart burned a little at the thought. I don't know what gave me hope that he'd come back to me… but I guess it was always sort of there. Call me stupid, I have many other rude words flying around in my brain right now it won't matter. But marriage, well that pretty much crushed any false hope I had! Meanwhile Mary didn't seem to be fazed by my utter disbelieve.

"Can you believe it?" she asked awed. "The first Mineral Town wedding in a little over twenty years; and Elli she must be so happy!" Her face was filled with excitement until her eyes met mine. "Oh Ann don't go telling me you still have it for Jack!"

"I do not! It's just well I am sort of his ex-girlfrie-"

"Ann you never dated him!" Mary exclaimed. "It never happened! Being bitter about something that never-was is pathetic Ann! Not to mention childish!"

"Yeah but I-"I broke off. "Hey your one to talk; coming over her interrogating me about the guy you like, pinning it right down to the fact of whether or not he really had to pee!"

"Ann this is a restaurant!" my father's voice boomed from counter. I realized I'd rather yelled the last word of my sentence.

"Sorry Dad!" I called looking back to Mary. "You don't even have the guts to tell him you like him! At least I've had a real boyfriend who-"

"Who left you?" Mary asked and though her voice was quiet it was hissing at me, a silent rage only Mary could pull off.

"Ahh relationships," Kai's smooth voice glided into the conversation and both of us turned so sharply to glare at him. I was surprised he didn't burn from the intensity. But he stayed calm pulling up a chair to the booth to sit down at the table. "Never fun when they end, no?"

"Or never start," I spat and Mary how glared back.

"I could say the same thing to you," she replied coolly.

"Whoa, cat fight much?" Kai interrupted. "Well for the record neither of you are one to judge the other," he started and we both gaped at him. "As both of your relationship statuses are pretty pathetic."

"And you Kai where's your girl?" I asked glaring at him.

"Yeah well we're a little confused now too," he replied.

"Oh so you did tell her?" I asked.

"Well no, but I have confidence she'll come around once I drop the bomb." He smiled.

"I hope she doesn't blow up," I retorted.

"I thought you had a thing with Karen," Mary chirped in.

"What?" Kai asked his eyes bulging.

"Have you been listening to Manna again?" I asked.

"No my mother," Mary said and to me it all meant the same thing. "She said after you broke up with Popuri-"

"There's nothing going on between me and Karen," Kai stopped her. "And you can put the record straight with your mother if you'd like."

Mary looked taken back but nodded, still staring at Kai I was about to voice my opinion but no sooner had the words come to mind my father called from the counter.

"Ann are you going to keep Barley and May waiting here?" My father asked pointedly.

"No, sorry" I said hurrying out of the booth to their table, "what would you like today?"

.~*~*~*~*~*~*~.

I spent the rest of the afternoon busily running out orders, until it was about five and I was allowed to take my break. Heading out the door and into the hot summers air I took a deep breath, finally I was free. Turning down the path I was planning to go, where else but the Goddess Pond. Humming a little as I started down the path I was surprised to meet Gray on my way.

"Hi," I said as I walked up though I realized he was holding his right arm in his left. "What happened?" I asked.

"N-nothing," he replied trying to push past me.

"Oh no you don't," I pushed him back grabbing his left arm and pulling it away to reveal the huge gash down his forearm I jumped back in surprise. "What did you do to it?"

"Nothing."

"Oh has someone forgotten their end of the deal?" I asked my eyebrows rising.

"N-no but-"

"But nothing! What happened?"

"Just a little accident at the shop," he replied again trying to pass me.

"Little? Gray please tell me you're going to the clinic."

"No."

"No your not?"

"Yeah, no… I ugh! No I'm not going to the clinic!"

"You're insane!" I exclaimed. "Come here."

"W-what?"

"If you're not going to the clinic yourself then I'm taking you," I said.

"W-what b-but Ann, really I'm fine I-"

"Come on, you dead weight!" I said tugging on his good arm. He seemed to give up as he followed right up to the Clinic's doors. Which from lack of better judgment and just pure luck was closed. I banged my fists on the door, "why do they close this place!" I shouted. "What happens if I decide to keel over next to dead in the middle of the night, in deep need of medical care?"

"A-Ann really it's okay, lets just go back-"

"No."

"Then let's go to Ellen's and get Elli," Gray suggested.

Even more no, I felt like replying but I held my tongue. I was hoping for Trent not annoying boy-stealing nurses! But as you know me what I hope for is never what happens…

"Ann?" a new calm voice came, I turned around to see none other than but my favorite person herself. Jack behind her had his hand in hers. From the looks of it they were on a premarital night stroll. And also from the look on Elli's face it was a rather enjoyable walk for her. Her hair ruffled slightly her faint lip-stick smeared Jack's cap wasn't sitting properly on his head. Suddenly I thought Gray wasn't the only one who was going to need to use the clinic, I felt as if I was going to throw up. "What are you-"Elli had started to ask.

"Gray's hurt," I muttered pointing to him who. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Wh-what Gray what's wrong?" she asked concerned looking him over.

"N-nothing I-"

"How many times have I told you that cut on your arm is most definitely not nothing!" I interrupted.

"Oh!" Elli's eyes grazed Gray's forearm. "Oh come in right away that could be serious!" She hurried past me to the door jingling with her key in the lock and let us enter. "Come back here, Gray" Elli said pulling him behind the curtains where I knew they kept all of their supplies.

Left with only Jack I was the happiest girl on the whole island… NOT! Someone please save me now!

"So…" he said in an awkward attempt at conversation.

"So," I repeated not looking at him.

"What were you doing with Gray?" he asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, honestly I'm happy you found someone else. I was beginning to think that Cliff thing had put you down for good." He said and this time I spun full circle to face him.

"What?"

He looked taken back, "well weren't you just out with Gray?"

"Yes but were not a together it's not like that!"

"So… you're not going out with Gray?" he asked.

"GOING OUT WITH GRAY? I MOST APSOLUTLY AM NOT!" I exploded totally forgetting he was a screen away and more than likely hearing our whole conversation with out me screaming it through the building. Jack now realizing his mistake was backing a notable distance away from me. Which was probably because he wasn't used to loud outbursts like mine. Especially with Elli around; who on the other had had just emerged with Gray at her side both being rather quiet.

"Oh good I'm glad to see you're okay," Jack said rather rushed nodding to Gray's now bandaged hand. "I should be going, feed the animals you know. Bye Elli, Gray erm Ann." He rushed out the door. Funny I never expected Jack to be that chicken to duck out at one outburst. Maybe there was a reason we never got together after all…

Looking over at Gray and Elli though, I wished I was the one who stormed out instead of nervous Jack. There was no way I was leaving the building until I knew Jack was well away from the area, but standing in front of Gray and Elli wasn't much better…

"I'm sorry, h-he's a little… umm well your all good now Gray you can go." Elli was saying in an attempted to make things right again. When Gray turned to leave I went to follow him and hoped to explain there wasn't anything personal in the outburst. But instead fate or well Elli in this matter had other plans.

"Actually Ann can you stay back for a second, it wont be long I just have something I've been wanting to run by you… and well since I have you here…" she fit all in one breath and I could tell she was hurrying to make she I didn't rush out.

I stopped waiting until the door clicked behind Gray to face Elli until she spoke.

"Um well, I'm sure you've heard Jack and I are getting married…" she starting looking at me. I nodded wondering where exactly she was going with this. "And well I want every one in Mineral Town to be apart of the special day… I was hoping you would be a bridesmaid in my wedding..."

"A bridesmaid?"

"Oh yes, well you see I was hoping everyone would kind off be a part. You know, you, Mary, Popuri and Karen. And I think that Jack's getting Kai, Rick, Trent and Gray." She smiled like it was the perfect plan, and I knew I couldn't back out. I'd be the only one to say no, and besides that I had a feeling it would hurt Elli… and that didn't seem like such a good idea.

I nodded, "okay. I'll be your bridesmaid Elli."

"Really," her eyes grew big. "Oh thank you Ann!" she looked like she could hug me but I was glad she resisted.

"Right… I'll be going now…" I said inching towards the door. I barley made it to the handle when she opened her mouth again.

"Oh and Ann!" she said and I turned around to face her. She looked a little embarrassed. "You might want to think about Gray… I think it's pretty oblivious he has had a crush on you for quiet some time now and well… I should be heading to bed. Bye Ann and thank you." And before I could reacted she was shooing me out the door and heading to bed, just adding over her shoulder before locking the door, "you would look very cute together!"

It took all of five minutes before I was able to register what she had said, and be able to react. Although I knew she wouldn't be able to hear, "WE WOULD NOT LOOK CUTE TOGETHER!" I screamed.