Sorry I haven't been updating; I had things to do. But anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon

A New Life

Chapter 7

Claire's POV

Yesterday was a really enjoyable day. We all went to the beach and had a great time. It's good to know that Cristina can still do things like any other kid. It was Sunday so Cristina didn't have to go to the church today. Since she was here I asked her to help me with the work. She got along with the animals well.

"Claire! What are we going to do with these eggs?"

"Put half of them in the shipping bin and keep the other half."

"Okay!"

Cristina's still so cheerful. Considering her condition and what happened to our parents.

Flashback

"We're off to work!" Mom and Dad said.

"See you tonight!"

It was a weekend so we didn't have to go to school. We both stayed at home with Victoria, our housekeeper. Mom and Dad told us that when they get home they would have something for us.

Later that night

"Where are Mom and Dad?"

I was getting worried. They told us they had something for us, yet they didn't come home. Victoria came up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, they probably just had to stay overnight for something; what other reason could there be?"

"I guess you're right Victoria."

We all went to sleep after waiting for a long time. Mom and Dad will come home tomorrow; I'm sure of it.

The next day I woke up I walked into the kitchen expecting Mom and Dad to be there, but Victoria was there making breakfast. They were probably tired from a long night at work and went to sleep in their room.

"Victoria, did Mom and Dad come back yet?" I asked with hope in my voice.

"Not yet dear." Victoria said with an apologetic expression.

I was really getting worried so I went to watch TV. I sat on the couch and turned it on.

"Yesterday on the corner of Maple and Clemmings, two people died."

"Oh no, there are so many deaths these days."

"We found a picture of them in the car."

There was a picture of Mom and Dad on the screen with me and Cristina.

"O-oh no."

"They were shot and had a fatal car crash right after. The witnesses said that there were two people in the car when it happened, but we only found a man when we got there."

"So they found Dad in the car."

I couldn't believe it! Mom and Dad died! It would never be the same again! We would never truly be happy without Mom and Dad. Why did this happen?

"NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

"Claire! What's wrong!" Victoria ran to me.

I felt tears running down my face. "V-victoria, M-om and D-dad…"

Victoria looked at the TV and saw the news report. "O-oh dear."

"It's okay Claire, cry all you want it's okay." Victoria hugged me and I cried into her shoulder for a while. When Cristina woke up I didn't cry in front of her, but she had to know what happened so Victoria and I told her gently. She took it even worse than I did.

When we went to Dad's funeral everyone there cried, except for me and Cristina. We cried all we could; we had to stay strong. We couldn't cry anymore.

They told us that Mom had to have died, because if she was in the car with Dad she must've had serious injuries and if she got out of the car she wouldn't be able to go that far. It was also nighttime so she couldn't see, but they still didn't find her body.

This was a very heartbreaking incident for both Cristina and I.

End Flashback

We had a tough life, especially Cristina. Her parents died when she was young and she fell out of a three story window at such a young age.

"Okay Claire, I'm done! What do I do now?"

"Nothing. We're done for today."

"Really? Well can I go visit May?"

"Sure, I'll pick you up later."

I walked Cristina to May's house, and planned to pick her up in a few hours. So in the meantime, I went to the library.

"Hey Mary! Hey Gray!"

"Hello Claire." Mary said in a polite tone.

"Hey." Gray said.

"Claire, I want to thank you."

"Why is that Mary?"

"Because of you, a few more people visit the library."

"You're welcome then. Glad to help!"

Suddenly, I hear the door burst open from behind me.

"Hey Mary, Claire, Gray!"

I turn around to see Ann at the door with a big grin on her face.

"Ann! What did I tell you about entering the library like that!" Mary scolded Ann.

"Uh, s-sorry." Ann scratched the back of her head with a nervous look on her face.

"Well, you know Claire entered like that, and you didn't say anything to her." Gray said.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Claire! What have I told you about that!" Oh great, now Mary was scolding me. I turned and glared at Gray.

"Thanks a lot Gray." I said, still glaring at him.

"Yeah! Thanks Gray!" Ann said from behind me.

"No problem, when I see or hear something wrong I correct it." He said with a smile.

"You know, that sounds exactly like something Mary or Elli would say." I said.

"What about me Claire?"

I looked towards Mary and saw she had an angry look on her face.

"W-well, uh--,"

"And I still haven't finished talking to you or Ann!"

"Oh man." Ann and I both said in unison.

So for at least five minutes, (it felt like five hours to me) Mary lectured us on etiquette, manners, gentleness, being quiet in the library, talking about people when they're right next to you, and she mumbled something about kids these days.

"And one more thing!—,"

"Mary, I think we get it."

"Well, as long you act like civilized people, I won't have any problems."

If Elli and Mary talked to each other more they'd be great friends, but then again that shouldn't happen. They would just annoy us with their combined perfectness! (if that's even a word) If anyone can get Mary to loosen up, it's me and Ann.

I stayed at the library for a few hours until I decided to go somewhere else.

"See ya later guys!"

"Bye!" They said.

I went around town and visited a few places that I don't usually visit. I visited and talked to people until it was 6:00.

"I better go get Cristina now." I said to myself.

When I got to May's house, Cristina looked at me and then hugged May and waved to Barley. After that she ran up to me.

"Claire! I had so much fun with May today! Stu should come next time!"

"Yeah, we should take him next time."

"What did you do today Claire?"

"Well I--,"

Cristina just stood there with a blank look on her face, then she started to fall.

"Cristina!"

I ran over to her and caught her just in time. 'Don't worry, she'll get back to normal in no time as usual, right?' What if she doesn't get back to normal? What if she stops breathing? What if she dies, and I'll be by myself. 'Don't think like that! Think positive!'

I carried Cristina to the doctor's office. As soon as we got there, the doctor put Cristina on the bed and told me to go out into the waiting room. Elli came in and went to help doctor after giving me an apologetic look.

"Cristina please be alright."

--

So that was chapter seven. I think we only have a few more chapters to this story because I can't think of a lot more things for this story. So please review!