Disclaimer: Harvest Moon is NOT mine. It's Natsume's. This is only for fun, and I'm not winning any money with it.

Chapter 8

Gretel woke up crying. She felt really bad, and tired. She didn't want to wake up, but she had to go to the Plaza to hear the results of the Bazaar. Not that she wanted to, though. She stood up and took a shower, so she could wash her tears away. She used lots of perfumes, so her mood would brighten. Afterwards she felt better, and stopped crying.

She put on her favourite dress. It was a short spring dress, white and with some peach-coloured flowers. She put a flower in her hair. Then she went out, looked at her mailbox, finding a letter inside of it. She took it out and read it while she walked down to the town.

The letter said something about money and forgiveness. While walking she saw Lloyd. He noticed her as well.

"Good day, Gretel. Are you going to hear the results of the Bazaar as well?" He asked.

Gretel nodded.

"Oh, what are you reading? A love letter?" He teased.

"No, it's yours. You said you were the one writing those letters to me." Gretel said.

"Yes? Did I really say that? But I don't remember writing any letters to you. I'm sorry if I told you it was me. Probably I meant something else." Lloyd excused himself.

"Oh, don't worry. Let's go, we don't want to be late." Gretel said, walking faster.

When they arrived at the plaza they heard the results. Gretel achieved the highest of them. Everyone clapped for her. That made her day. She was happy, because what she had achieved meant that the Bazaar was improving.

Afterwards she reunited with Sherry, and Lloyd came along as well.

"Excuse me, Gretel, but may I read the letter you had in your hands before?" Lloyd asked.

Gretel nodded and took it out of her bag, giving it to Lloyd, who read it.

"I see. I'm glad to tell you that those letters are from Ivan. I know his handwriting very well." He said.

Gretel looked at Sherry, very astonished. Sherry giggled.

"I…I have to go. You can stay here if you want, but I don't think I'll be returning." Gretel informed, suddenly.

Sherry nodded, blushing at the opportunity to stay with Lloyd.

"Good luck!" She mouthed, knowing what her friend was going to do. Then she tried to talk with Lloyd.

Gretel ran to her favourite spot in the town, hoping to find Ivan there, but he wasn't at that place. She looked around, but he wasn't in any spot of the town.

She sighed, then she went to the Bazaar area, and went out of the town, hoping to find him there. She ran across the way, as fast as her legs would permit. She hoped to find him in town, since she wanted to talk to him very badly.

She didn't look where she was going, and her shoes weren't the best ones for running. That was the reason why her left shoe broke. She fell down on her knees. She saw someone coming towards her. It was Ivan. He ran, to be at her side.

"Gretel, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes, yes…I just fell down. You don't have to worry." She said.

He looked down at her, staring at her eyes. She blushed. He blushed as well. They staid like that for some minutes. Then, he extended his arm, helping Gretel to stand up.

She cleaned her dress a bit.

"Gretel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the bad things I said to you yesterday. I didn't mean them. I didn't want to hurt your feelings, just because I didn't want to accept one fact that actually doesn't bother me anymore. It was hard, but now I understand that my feelings for Freya aren't the same as before. I don't love her anymore. That feeling was extinguished for long, but I didn't want to accept it. For me, she was my everything, but actually…it's not the same. It was not your fault, but I blamed everything on you. I made you cry. And it's not nice to make someone cry. I don't want you to hate me, but I want to tell you that I'm deeply sorry." He said.

"Do-don't worry, Ivan. It was my fault, after all, but you don't have to worry. I-I'm okay." Gretel said, blushing and hating herself for doing that.

"Come on, let's return to the town. It's not nice staying here." Ivan said.

Gretel just followed him, without looking at him, her heart beating fast. She didn't want Ivan to notice that she loved him.

Once they arrived at the town, they parted ways. Ivan went to his house, because he wanted to talk to his brother.

Dirk was in his room, drawing something. He turned around when he noticed that his brother had arrived.

"What has happened? Do you feel better now?" He inmediatly asked his brother.

"Dirk, I want to talk to you. I met Gretel on my way home. I apologized to her, and she accepted it. What I have noticed is that, since I met her, I haven't liked Freya. I think I'm in love with Gretel. I love her with all my soul. Without knowing me, she has tried her best to help me, even if she had thousands of other problems." Ivan said.

"That's great, Ivan! Now, you have to go to her house, and confess to her. It's easy!" Dirk explained.

"Okay, I'll try my best." Ivan said. "Thanks, Dirk."

"Don't worry, bro. You've helped me all these years, now it's my turn, don't you think?" Dirk said. "Well, I'm going to Sherry's house. I want to talk to her." Dirk said, leaving the house.

Ivan took a shower, preparing himself, and making him look normal. Then, he gathered his courage and went to Gretel's house. He knocked at her door. Gretel opened.

"Oh, Ivan. Come in if you want." She said.

He nodded and went. He examined her house. It was nice, big and clean. It had a wooden floor and white walls. There was a shelf, with some books inside. There was a door, leading to the kitchen. There was also a restroom and a bathroom.

"Nice house." He commented.

"Glad you like it." She said. "Anyway, what do you want?"

"Um…"Ivan said. He wasn't prepared for that. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't confess to her so suddenly.

"Um…do you remember when I met you at night and you followed me, wanting to know what I was doing?" Ivan asked.

"Yes." Gretel said.

"Well, I want to tell you what I was looking for, but you will have to help me, okay?" He said.

Gretel nodded, her heart beating fast. Ivan leaded her to the place he was looking for. They passed Lloyd's house. Then they went to the left, and walked till they saw a big stone blocking the way.

"It's behind the stone. I want to look something that is on the other side." He explained, and then he climbed the stone up.

He took Gretel's hand, causing her to blush hard. Then Gretel climbed on the stone as well. They jumped down to the other side.

"Wow, it's a horse race stadium!" Gretel exclaimed.

"Yes, it's inside here, somewhere. You can stay here, I'm looking for it." Ivan said.

Gretel nodded and sat on the floor, thinking about what Ivan was looking for. She didn't have a clue, but she smiled looking at Ivan.

They spent some hours there, Gretel sitting on the ground and Ivan investigating. Soon, the sun went almost down, indicating that it was evening.

Gretel stood up and walked to Ivan.

"Do you need help looking for that object?" She asked.

"No, I already know where that is, now I only need luck so I can find it. Let's hope it's on its place. Do you want to help me?" Ivan asked.

Gretel nodded.

"It's a very special stone. It's white and golden. It's said to bring happiness to whoever finds it. Come with me, I think it's in this area here, somewhere." Ivan explained.

They kneed down, and started to dig. It became night, and still they hadn't done much digging.

"I'm tired, Ivan." Gretel said.

"Come here, to my side, and let me look for it, then." Ivan said.

Gretel nodded and watched how Ivan dug. She saw something that glowed in the dark. She took it out. It was a white and golden stone.

"Is this what you're looking for?" She asked.

He took it and hugged Gretel, causing her to blush even more.

"Yes, Gretel. And now, let me tell you something." He said.

He cleaned what he had done in the ground, leaving everything perfectly.

"This stone is said to bring happiness, and you found it. I looked for it everyday, but I didn't find it. Now, with you by my side, I'm able to see it with my own eyes. This only means something. You are my happiness." He said.

Gretel was astonished, she couldn't speak. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"I thought I loved Freya, but it was not true. Since the day I met you I've felt something for you. You accept me just by who I am. And not anyone else. Gretel…I'm in love with you. Is this feeling I feel corresponded? Do you love me as well?" He confessed.

Gretel blushed.

"Yes, Ivan. I'm in love with you. I would spend my whole life with you. You're my happiness." She said.

Ivan hugged her carefully and then softly kissed her lips. Gretel blushed, but let herself go. She enjoyed it. He blushed as well. Both closed their eyes.

"Let's go." He whispered in her ear.

Gretel took Ivan's hand and climbed the stone. They kissed again, and then Ivan accompanied Gretel to her own house.

"I'll come by tomorrow." He said, and then went away.

Gretel's heart was racing. She couldn't believe what had happened, but managed to stay calm, and went to sleep.

Hehe! Now they're together! Yaaay! Well…I decided to end it here, but the story isn't finished yet! You've got some more chapters, so don't worry! ;) Hope you enjoyed the story and liked it.

Also, I want to dedicate this chapter to everyone in Japan, who have lost many important things. I wish you the best, truly!

And since I forgot it last time, I'll do it now.

DragonFire Princess- Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like the story. :3

Skitsophraniac- Thanks for your review! I love Sherry and Dirk, too. I think that they are really nice characters. ^^

Nocturnal-Panda- Wow! I'm glad you say that this is good writing. I'm really happy about that. And don't worry about that you cried. I'm happy my writing brings emotions. ^^

So, stay updated, I'll update ASAP! ;)