Storm Clouds and Grey Skies

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long wait everyone. I had less time than expected and my final year of university takes priority. I was also struggling where to go with this chapter in all honesty, but I'm happy with where this chapter has gone than what I had planned originally. I want to thank everyone for all the comments and for adding this to your favourites. I would really appreciate any feedback on the quality of the writing as well as the story itself, and I'm interested to know how you all hope this fanfic will end. Thank you everyone, and happy holidays!

Summary

Leia's been there for Claire ever since she took over the farm at Mineral Town one year ago and the two thought they'd remain friends forever. But Leia's wondering if there's more to life than just the sea and in the distance, storm clouds are brewing.

Based on MFoMT/BTN/HM DS Cute

Rated teen for more mature themes in later chapters!

Disclaimer

I do not own Harvest Moon, nor any the characters.

This is purely a work of fiction; if you take this seriously then please go to a psychiatrist and have your head checked.

If there is anything that offends you, please hit the back button.

Chapter Ten: Truth

The darkness seemed to stretch on for miles. It felt as if all the air had been knocked from my lungs and I felt scared. I couldn't see anything, hear anything, or even breathe for that moment. I could feel Leia's body, although I couldn't see her, so I held her tighter, terrified the darkness would snatch her away from me.

Without warning, light came rushing back to me, and there I was, sat in the ocean clutching Leia's fragile body, her legs now joined to form a mermaid's tale. I could hear Daryll and the other's gasp and mutter amongst them, as if they couldn't believe that Leia truly was a mermaid. My eyes re-adjusted to the light, and I instantly keeled over, still holding onto Leia's sleeping form. I felt dizzy and weak, and I remained hunched over until someone placed their hand on my shoulder. Slowly, I sat back up; turning to look at them, realizing it was Daryll.

"Here, let me take Leia," he said softly, his eyes scanning over Leia's body. They were wide and full of question, but I knew that Daryll had no intention to turn the girl that he viewed almost as his daughter into a science experiment. I barely managed a nod, and he took her, the salty water sliding and dripping off her tail.

"She needs to rest," I heard the Witch tell Daryll, followed by a soft gasp, "Claire! Look!"

I managed to turn my body around, my hands firmly planting themselves against the soft sand, soaking whatever dry area there was on my sleeves. Lifting my head, my eyes widened as the Leia's tail began to sparkle in the sunlight that had broken through the clouds above. Leia's tail began to part once more, forming into a pair of long, slender legs as they had been before.

"What's going on?" I cried out weakly, "Didn't it work? Is she still ill?"

The Witch simply smiled in my direction and shook her head, "She's cured, but this is unexpected. It seems...you have a certain woman's blessing..."

Her smile turned slightly bitter, but it was apparent she was happy with the result, "Take good care of her, Claire. And take care yourself."

With that, the Witch turned and walked away, probably intent on returning home, her job now done. As soon as she's disappeared around the corner of the rocks, Tim and Elli were in the water, helping me to my feet. Daryll was already off, carrying Leia back to his house, Hardy close by.

"Are you alright, Claire?" Elli asked me, her voice and expression filled with worry. I smiled weakly and nodded, feeling hot tears run down my cheeks. And then, I started to laugh. Elli exchanged a worried glance to Tim, but he simply shook his head and smiled at me.

"She's going to be alright," I said, between sobs "Things worked out better, just like the Harvest Goddess promised me..."

"Alright Claire, let's get you back to the Inn."

A shower and a meal later, I was beginning to feel much better. I sat alone on my bed, in my room at the Inn, staring out of the window. Already I could feel my heart aching for Leia, the food in my stomach struggling to settle. A little of my strength had returned since being on the beach, but I was in no state to move freely. I was confined to my bed until Tim gave the okay on my health.

As the sun began to set over the horizon, there was a small knock on the door. I turned, expecting to see Tim or Elli, but instead was greeted with a far more appealing sight.

"How are you feeling, Claire?"

Leia stood in the doorway, smiling as if nothing had ever happened. She was still slightly pale, but most of her colour had returned to her features. I tried to speak, but instead I felt my lower lip tremble, and I started to cry again, prompting Leia to move to my side and hug me tightly, pulling my head towards her and resting it against her chest. It was strange, but my heart began to quicken and I felt my cheeks grow hotter – not just because I was crying, but because I was just so happy that she was alright.

And as my sobs quietened, she stroked my hair and gently leaned her chin against the top of my head.

"Claire?" she whispered.

"Yes, Leia?" I replied, sniffling.

"Let's go home."

That sounded like the best plan ever.

Alright, we didn't head home right away. By the morning I was feeling much stronger, and much more able. Tim and Elli had already returned home the previous night. Ruby, Daryll and Hardy saw Leia and myself off, insisting we needed some form of escort, but we were determined we didn't. Besides, I wasn't sure how things were going to go when I saw Gray again, and I preferred to keep it with as little audience as possible.

We reached Mineral Town by the afternoon, having had to take a few breaks on the road back. Leia was still slightly exhausted, and my stamina hadn't fully returned from the previous day, but we had to get back. I couldn't expect Zack and Gray to run my farm any longer.

Approaching the farm, I heard the faint bark of my dog, Meg and it wasn't long before she came bounding up the track and jumping up at me, her tail wagging wildly.

"Hello Meg, I missed you too," I replied, rubbing her head as she licked my hands. Her attention quickly turned to Leia, as she bounced over to the mermaid and began pawing at her legs, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. Leia giggled and continued the fuss I had started.

"Claire, good to see your back!"

I looked up to find Zack just leaving my house, a broad smile stretching across his features. He looked to Leia and smiled, "And you're back with her. It's good to see you again,"

"Hello, Zack," Leia replied politely, before returning to fuss Meg.

"Is Gray here?" I asked. Zack shook his head.

"Nah, he's probably still at his Grandfather's," Zack replied, "Why?"

"Well...I..." I turned my head away, rubbing my arm nervously, "I think we'd better sit down and explain what's happened this past week."

I turned to Leia, who by now was looking up and around at the farm she'd been waiting to see for so long.

"Leia, the tour will have to wait. Is that alright?" I asked, smiling. A small bit of disappointment flickered on her face, but she quickly smiled back and nodded. I sighed with relief, extending my hand to hers, which she eagerly took.

"Alright, this way," I told her, leading her towards my house, "This is where you'll be living from now on..."

So after showing Leia around the house and explaining the entire story to Zack, I found my head against the table.

"So you see, I have to break up with Gray," I finalised, bluntly.

"Well, damn,"

"That's all you can say?" I raised my head to look Zack in the eye. He laughed slightly.

"It sounds like you've had a crazy week. You sure you weren't just dreaming?"

"A part of me wishes I was..." I responded, Leia catching the corner of my eye. She was sat, watching the television, her eyes wide with wonder. Of course, Daryll had no television back at his. I looked back to Zack with a small smile, "Actually, ignore that last statement. I'm happy, regardless of what happens."

He smiled back, "I'm proud of you Claire."

I blinked in surprised, "You're proud of me?"

"Well, a while ago you were just a big mope. You didn't want to know about how Leia felt about you, and you didn't want to admit you were well...gay," Zack replied, "...you've really matured in that one week, you know...?"

I felt myself blushing, "T-Thanks...I think..."

Zack laughed, "I didn't mean anything bad by that."

"I know, I know...I'm just worried..."

"About Gray?"

"Yes. I'm scared...I don't want to hurt him. I don't want him to hate me."

Zack took a deep breath, "You're just going to have to take that risk, Claire. Nothing is going to make this situation any easier. You just have to keep your head held high and take a deep breath and explain everything to him."

"And if he does hate me?"

"Let him. He'll be missing out on a great friendship, I'm sure. But the news will hurt him and it's his right to be upset with you, Claire. Besides, Gray's an alright guy...I'm sure he'll come around one day."

One day...

I swallowed, "Yeah, you're right Zack. Say, do you mind just stopping here a little longer with Leia?"

He nodded and gave me a reassuring smile, "No problem, Claire. And just remember, you can do this."

I nodded back, getting to my feet, "I know Zack. And thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me...and Leia."

With that, I set off towards the door, not stopping to explain to Leia what I was about to do. I couldn't. If I stopped, I felt I'd lose all courage to tell Gray what had happened and explain how I truly felt.

We sat in his room at the Inn. The air around us was tense, almost as if he knew what I'd come to say.

"Gray, these past few months together have been great..." I started and instantly he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I bit my lip, unsure of how to break the news to him, "...but I haven't been entirely honest with you...and I'm sorry..."

Gray said nothing, but he looked up at me. His eyes kind of glazed over, and he placed his cap on the bedside table.

"In what way?" he answered, quietly.

I took another deep breath, gripping the fabric of my jeans. I didn't want to look him in the eye as I explained every little detail to him, "It's about my friend...the one I went to see. Leia."

I went quiet again, searching for the right words, listening to his breathing.

"Well...?" he urged on, as if he wanted this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"Leia was my best friend, Gray..." I explained, "She disappeared during a storm, and I thought she was gone...and then, when I ended up in Forget-Me-Not Valley, she was alive and well, with only one major difference..."

I swallowed, Gray said nothing and continued to keep his eyes focused on mine, "Whether you choose to believe me or not, Leia was originally a mermaid, and when I found her in the valley, she was fully human..."

"A mermaid?" was the only response. I nodded.

"But, her transformation was the result of a spell off a witch who resides in the valley. And it was making her weaker and weaker..."

Gray averted his eyes, sighing heavily again. I was losing his interest, and fast.

"Gray, I'm not making this up. I swear. If you need proof, ask the Doctor or Elli. They were there."

He returned his gaze back to mine.

"Please, just trust me on this...The only way to make her better was to promise to remain by her side, forever..."

"So that's it is it? You're just going to scrap our relationship because of some fairytale sounding story?"

"That's not why!" I snapped at him, getting to my feet. My cheeks were growing hot with anger; I knew he'd be like this, "Things happened in that valley Gray! I'm not...I'm not..."

I looked to the carpet, a tear running down my cheek, "I'm not straight Gray. I'm in love with a woman, and that woman is Leia."

"I see..."

I looked up, Gray had his arms crossed, and he was looking out of the window, away from me.

"I'm sorry Gray...I never...meant to lead you on..." I croaked, trying my hardest not to burst into tears. Even if I didn't truly love Gray, I still cared about him and I never wanted to intentionally hurt him, "I'm sorry...that's all I can say..."

We remained silent for a while, and eventually when I realized there was nothing more to be said, I turned to leave. But I found myself stopping at the door, not wanting to leave it at just that.

"Gray...I know I'm hurting you so much right now, and that I don't deserve it, but I hope one day you'll forgive me. I wouldn't want to lose you as a friend,"

And with that off my chest, I closed the door behind me and made my way for home.

And that's it for another chapter. Again everyone, sorry it's taken so long! I already have Chapter 11 in the works, so hopefully it won't be too long until I get that one published. Again, please take the time to review my fanfic and let me know how I'm doing.

Thanks!