December 30, Winter, year 20

It's the year end festival today. A well-earned break from trying to figure out what we're going to use in Muffy's wedding. Lauren's working on her dress, and Muffy decided that I can just reused the one I wore for Pony's wedding. I talked to Lauren, and she said she could re-dye the fabric if I wanted her to.

So in a couple of days the dress should go from purple to a nice spring-green.

Skye hasn't been around for a while, but then the pass is snowed in again, so I can't blame him. I just hope he's okay.

Claire hadn't gotten around to talking to Muffy about Skye, but Lauren had been a perfect listening ear, and had teased the farmer over her delight. She'd also been a restraining force on Damien, who went out of his way to avoid the older woman. Neither of them were entirely sure as to why, but Claire relished it, not having to put up with his presence.

Lauren also teased her over the cat-themed winter gear, that Claire still hadn't lost—to her own amazement.—which had started a couple of pillow fights and laughing arguments.

She was currently walking with Claire in the snow, both women heading to the beach to join in the Year end festivities.

"Noodles, noodles, noodles!" Claire sang cheerfully. "Yummy, yummy noodles!"

"One would think you like noodles," Lauren laughed. "But you always eschewed anything in the city."

The farmer huffed, smiling.

"That's because city noodles have nothing on the ones we make out here," she said loftily. "If you'll notice, I always avoided being in the city during the last night of the festival."

"I thought that was because the ferry didn't run on New Years Day," the other woman teased.

"Yeah, that too," the blonde admitted, blue eyes twinkling.

Laughing, they stepped onto the beach. The smell of buckwheat noodles filled the chilly night air, and Claire let out a happy sigh.

"Only one thing would make this night better," she murmured softly into her scarf.

"Your boyfriend?" Lauren's voice was innocent.

Claire blushed, and laughed.

"But the pass is pretty well frozen, so it'll be a bit before it happens."

To say she didn't mind would have been a bit of a lie, but she could put up with the separation and distance. After all, winter was a bad time to wish for him to cross the mountain, there were more dangers than in any other season.

Moon Person or not, Claire didn't want him getting hurt just to come and see her.

"Well, you'll just have to put up with all of us," Lauren's smile was gentle. "Come on, let's go get some of those delicious smelling noodles!"

"Race you!" the farmer challenged.

They both took off, scattering snow and frozen sand as they raced down the beach. Muffy, who was already at the table, yelped when the both skidded to a stop, spraying the would-be-bride with chilled snow.

"Claire!" she shrieked.

"Wu-oh.." and the farmer took off in the opposite direction, laughing.

Muffy instantly gave chase, with every intention of pushing her cousin into the snow. Lauren dutifully stepped to the side, clearing the path, and grabbed herself a bowl of noodles.

Claire glanced over her shoulder to ascertain where Muffy was, and ran smack into Damien. Both of them staggered backwards, Claire landing in the snow at her cousin's feet, Damien grabbing an umbrella pole to keep himself upright.

Muffy capitalized on her advantage, pouncing on Claire and promptly white-washing her. The blonde laughed, and flailed, flinging more snow down Muffy's jacket in repayment.

The dark haired man blinked for a long moment. He couldn't do anything in such a crowded environment, and with Lauren nearby… well, that woman always had an uncanny sense for when he was up to things, and usually did something to ruin it all.

Like the time he'd wanted to get Claire so drunk she couldn't say no, Lauren had grabbed her to use as a dressmaker's dummy. Annoying hadn't been the word for it. He had to get Lauren out of the way before he could get to Claire.

But not while she was working… that would cause too many questions. And judging by the number of couples in this… pitifully worthless little village, Lauren would be around for a while.

Well, that would give him more chances to plan. And then, with Lauren out of the way, he could just take Claire.

Neither blonde noticed the dark look he cast at both Claire and Lauren before stalking away, back to the inn. Plans had to be made carefully…

Griffin finally intervened, pulling the cousins apart.

"You're going to miss the countdown," he said tactfully, "might want to hurry and get your noodles."

Claire and Muffy exchanged grins, the former brushing snow off her hat. The green eyed woman shook her jacket to remove most of the snow, and Claire skidded away before she could get pinned again.

The noodles were wonderful after that 'fight' in the snow, and Lauren, laughing, was on her second bowl.

"Your little town is so adorable Claire," she chuckled, wiping away tears of laughter. "Everyone's so close to one another!"

"Yup," Claire grinned. "I love it here, you know? It's so much more friendly than anywhere else I can go, excluding, naturally, Mineral Town."

"Which reminds me," Lauren slurped her noodles in unison with the farmer, making her laugh, "without a church, where are you holding the wedding?"

"Mmm… usually they're held either on the beach or at the Goddess Pond, whichever location the couple prefers. In Muffy's case… probably the pond," the blonde smiled. "She's always been a fan of the Pond even though she's never really seen the Harvest Goddess."

"Oh?"

"Yup. If you want to know a secret, hardly anyone in town actually sees her," Blue eyes glittered with mirth. "Usually only the farming families see her, to ask her blessing on our lands and crops."

"You do have an innate magical ability," Lauren admitted. "Stronger now than it was yesterday. So it makes sense that you can see someone as magically powerful as the Harvest Goddess."

"And the Sprites! Don't forget them."

The silver-streaked woman chuckled, and Claire finished off her noodles.

"You're going to need a hot bath when we go back, you know," Lauren teased. "Unless you want to catch a cold…"

Claire's comment was interrupted by Takakura's voice starting the countdown of the last ten seconds before midnight. Eagerly everyone joined their voices in, and as midnight hit, lit off several of Patrick and Kassey's fireworks.

Claire put her hands together, closing her eyes briefly, and made a wish for the new year.

"Let it be as good as, if not better than, the old one," she whispered. "And grant me the courage to ask…"

Fifteen minutes passed midnight, the gathering broke up. Claire nearly staggered under the weight of the leftover buckwheat flour sacks, but took them all gladly. Buckwheat noodles were always a treat in such cold weather.

Perfect evening. No sign of Damien, got to roll around in the snow with my cousin, and share noodles with the most awesome of friends. Life can't get much better than this.