January 5, Winter, year 20

Man… time flies. Wedding day! If I delay any more, I think Muff will want to kill me. Better hurry up.

Muffy huffed at Claire as she stepped out of the bathroom, propping her hands on her hips. The farmer just shrugged.

"Cuz, even if I ever get married, my farm chores have to come first," she replied to Muffy's clear annoyance. "It's not like it takes me four hours you know… there's plenty of time before we have to be at the Goddess Pond."

Muffy just huffed again, pouting a little. Claire relented, reached out and poked her cousin lightly in the forehead.

"Relax! Everything will be fine," she smiled. "We did everything we could, now we just need to finish it all up with a pretty bow."

"Well… alright, you're right," the green eyed woman sighed. "I just want it to be perfect, you know?"

Claire chuckled.

"Like Pony. And Eve. Chill, will ya? It might not be perfect, but it'll be wonderful."

She was getting far too used to reassuring nervous brides, and couldn't help but wonder when the day would come that she would get to be the one fretting over it. Maybe… maybe Jill was right, and it was okay for the girl to do the asking sometimes.

Muffy whacked Claire—lightly—with the hairbrush, bringing the other woman back to the present.

"Help?"

The question was so forlorn that Claire smiled, and took the brush.

It had been decided that Muffy's curls would be held up and back, utilizing a pearl headdress that Lauren had generously donated from her shop. In fact, Muffy's whole theme was pearls, and Claire had raided her mother's jewelry box to find the perfect things to go with.

Pink pearl earrings, a double-wrapped pearl bracelet, and a mother-of pearl pendant to go onto a pearl necklace.

Because it was still the middle of winter, Lauren had gone with warm but stylish. The shoes were white flats, the dress was lined with insulating materials, and trimmed in fuzzy rabbit fur. The hem went down to the bride's ankles, and fur-trimmed gloves covered her arms up to the shoulders.

Muffy spent a couple of hours under Claire's careful hands, getting her hair pinned into place, before trading places with the farmer and returning the favor. Claire's hair was twisted back into an adorable bun, looped with a simple strand of pearls, to match the theme of the wedding.

Lauren twitch a fold here, straightened a hem there, and in the end did everyone's make-up.

"Man, and here I didn't think anyone could top Muffy's skills with this stuff," Claire chuckled.

"Well, I am a professional," Lauren said loftily. "We all ready now?"

Gray and Jill had left already, to help with the set up of pearl-wrapped trellis's at the pond, so after a few more moments of fussing—Lauren giving Claire's dress a pained look, Muffy putting on her jewelry, Claire adjusting her necklace and her own set of earrings—they trooped out into the mid-January sunshine.

The crystal flowers that doubled as lights along the path to the Spring were giving off a faint glow, and Claire smiled. Talking with the Goddess about the lighting and maintaining a certain temperature for the day had paid off. It wasn't quite the warmth of spring—the Goddess could only do so much after all—but it was warmer than the rest of the Valley, which made enough of a difference.

Everyone was gathered to one side or the other, with bright smiles. Muffy practically glowed as she coasted down towards where Griffin and Takakura—who was enough of a mayor to marry people and play priest—were standing. And, unseen by all but Claire, Pony, Marlin, Vesta, Lauren and Skye—who was mingling in the crowd—the Harvest Goddess was hovering over her pond, a brilliant smile on her face.

The Goddess always had loved a good wedding…

Claire spotted Skye and felt her own heart leap in delight. She had to force herself to focus on the ceremony, smiling fondly, a touch wistfully, as Griffin and Muffy seemed to tune out the whole world until the kiss and the cheering began. The Goddess herself threw a handful of glitter over them, wishing them a long and happy life together, though the only thing anyone not a farmer noticed was the glinting of light off of magic.

Then it was off to the Blue Bar for drinks and food. Claire joined the crowd in singing an old wedding song, eve as she slipped through it to reach Skye. He smiled at her approach, reaching out to her. She couldn't keep herself from lighting up in pleasure and took his hand happily.

He raised an eyebrow then wiggled a finger at her in mock-scolding. Seeing as how she had no winter gear at all—including coat and boots—she supposed it was only fair, but couldn't help the giggle that interrupted the song. He draped an arm around her, pulling her close and chuckled himself.

The bar became officially packed as the whole of the village—and then some—turned up for the after-party. It took some doing for everyone to clear enough room for the dance, but with people crowding behind and sitting on the bar, they managed it.

"Oof," Skye huffed as he and Claire were pressed back into a corner. "Tight squeeze."

Claire giggled.

"They wanted it to be here," she grinned. "Even though it would be cozy. This is their life after all, so it makes sense."

The waltz was gracefully done, and Muffy's smile couldn't have been brighter. Claire felt her heart pounding in the euphoric feelings of the wedding, and rested her head lightly against Skye's shoulder.

Phew, it was crowded! They're going to go on a short cruise to celebrate, so the Bar won't be open for a couple of weeks. There was teasing grumbles about it, but nothing too serious. I can't wait to see them again!