Hey! Welcome to the last chapter of Déjà Vu!

Wow... It's been nine months since the beginning of this adventure...

I just want to thank all the readers, all of those who reviewed, kept me motivated, favorited and alerted. *tears up* Hugs to you all! I love you all!

El: We still don't own harvest Moon.

Me: Read and Review... thank you!

Summer 26

Dear diary,

Dear diary... How awkward it feels to write these words inside a simple notebook, inside you. Awkward, slightly embarrassing and completely childish. And yet. I have barely started writing that I now feel relieved. I even feel comfortable writing this as if it were a conversation with you, that you diary, were a real person and that you are actually listening to me. My pen glides smoothly on the crisp white pages and I admire your plum colored leather-bound covers. A diary. Who would have thought that today of all days would be the day I started writing in you? Tonight, the very night before my own wedding? After all, don't people turn to diaries when they feel left alone? I know that this is definitely not my case. But, I don't want to think right now.

So yes, tomorrow is indeed my wedding day. A bit of a surprise isn't it? That I, Claire, would get married at age 22... But maybe I should start a bit my story a bit more in the past.

After I came back from my two season leave, I have to admit things were tough. Once again, the word that would fit the most would have to be 'awkward'. Everyone forgave me yes, but I had changed. They had changed. I had abandoned them. And even the best of friends can't get away with that. The second week was definitely the worst to go through. The surprise and happiness of my return had slowly worn off and the hurt feelings came back up to the surface.

A few of them would avoid me, watching me from the corners of their eyes as if they were expecting me to disappear again. A few others would respond if I talked to them but it was mostly uncomfortable silence. Kai was a bit more pleasant, but he stayed constantly by Popuri's side.

Karen was the worst. She flat out refused to acknowledge my presence, avoiding eye contact and pretending she didn't hear me when I whispered 'Hi'. We had never been really close but I guess it was her way of coping, I just didn't know.

But we made it through. Gray especially, to my surprise, was there for me through it all. He was the one person I relied on. The one that dried my tears after Popuri had a breakdown and banned me from seeing her. He was the one that reassured me that it was only her hormone-induced mood swings and her surprise from having me back. And he was the one who held me together, stopped me from bursting into millions of broken tiny pieces.

I didn't believe how a person could be so sweet and caring. It just made no sense how Gray didn't show any kind of hurt feelings towards me. He just told me that he understood that a person needed space. That he had experienced the same thing as a teenager and that he thought that my adolescent crisis had just kicked in a bit later.

I didn't really appreciate that.

Popuri and I patched things up pretty quickly. As Gray had predicted, it had just been too much for her. But the storm has passed and Kai and Popuri now have a beautiful little daughter; Elizabeth, or Lizzie, as we like to call her. She's almost a season old, and is just a little angel. Our newly wedded couple have never seemed happier. They got married barely a week after Lizzie's birth. Popuri was radiant that day. Her hair up in a tight bun, the long white veil covering her face, and her dress... Her dress! All incredibly soft white fabric, pearls, lace and ribbons...

No one seemed to notice how the dark rings under her eyes from the exhausting task of taking care of the baby. Popuri's smile was so wide, so much happiness in her eyes that she could have had grown a second head and no one would have cared.

It was simply perfect. And the cherry on top of the cake? The bouquet landed on Cliff's head. We all laughed at that. But funny or not, Ann and Cliff are now married as well. And as I predicted, a baby is on the way. They keep bickering about names and curtain colors. Cliff actually stands up to his wife now, it's pretty funny. I think hanging around her 24/7 has given him a backbone.

Ann was radiant as well, on her wedding day, although in a completely different way. Her rounded stomach visible through the the white dress. Her hair, let out for once, brought out by the crystal tiara Gray and Saibara made especially for her.

And now I guess it's my turn. My dress sits in my wardrobe. A simple white silk dress, delicate and beautiful. I don't know how Ellen managed to make it fit me so perfectly; tight in all the right places and flowing gracefully from my waist. I love the way it flows through the air when I spin. She's a wonder that woman. And I've seen her this morning, working actively on yet another wedding gown. Yes Dear Diary, Elli is engaged to Trent.

It is kind of funny how many weddings have been following each other. Let's not even talk about Rick and Karen. They got married barely two days after I came back. And I'm pretty sure Lizzie is soon going to have a cousin.

I haven't seen Gray today at all, being too busy with the wedding, all the last minutes preparations. It made me feel slightly insecure. Jack was there for me though, giving me his advice and support. Telling me to just look at my engagement ring every time I felt the nerves getting to me. And he was right, every time I glanced at the amethyst on my finger, my heart beat slower and I felt calmer. I had no need to be stressed, this was supposed to be the greatest week of my life. Every time I looked at the purple stone, I thought back to that wonderful day.

A picnic by the waterfall at sunset, candles in the great tree by the pond the moment night fell, fireflies, flowers, Gray looking so handsome in a light blue button up shirt and black jeans, Gray getting down on one knee, that one question that made my knees go week, that beautiful ring... All so perfectly cliché, perfectly romantic, perfectly planned, and just perfectly perfect. I don't remember my reaction to the proposal but I do remember tears and kisses under that candlelit tree.

But today, the perfectness and romance seemed quite far away. I don't think I would have gotten through the day if it hadn't been for Jack.

He arrived three weeks after me. On that day. The day that started what we now like to call 'the Gray Incident'. That little completely frightening week. It scared the crap out of all of us. But that's a story for another time.

Like I was saying, after the Gray incident, Jack fit in pretty quickly. He became close friends with Kai and Rick. Which was pretty contradictory, but he somehow managed it. Jack also took some interested in our fellow raven-haired librarian. Poor Mary didn't see it coming! Bouquets of flowers appeared mysteriously on her desk for about two weeks before Jack even got the nerve to ask her out.

My, my, I'm writing and writing and writing... and yet, I feel like I still have too many things to say, too many things I don't know how to write... Too many memories, feelings, everything.

My heart is thumping away, like it wants to jump out of my chest when I think about tomorrow. I must change the subject or I fear I'll collapse into a fit of giggles. Or tears. I can't tell.

...Did I tell you about my promise yet? I don't think so. I made it after talking to Jack for the last time at the hospital. I promised myself to live my life no matter what, live it the way I want to and not the way 'Harvest Moon MFoMT Claire' or any other Claire in this world would have.

Which is why I chose you, Diary, with your purple leather cover, and not the sea blue paperback one.

I miss Origami Diary. Miss him more than anything. His grave is in the cemetery, covered in forget-me-nots. I bring some fresh ones every week. I miss those smart little black eyes, that soft golden fur, and just about everything. Goddess what I wouldn't do to have him back. But, deep down, I know that if it hadn't been for his death, things wouldn't have turned out this way. All I can do is hope and pray that there really is an afterlife and that he's currently chasing after butterflies in the clouds...

Jack is yelling at me to get some sleep. I've just realized it's close to midnight. So here goes, my last night as a bachelorette. As Miss Claire Collins. By this time tomorrow, I'll be Ms. Claire Walters.

God, I think I just fell in love with the way that sounds. Ms. Claire Walters. But now I must really get some sleep, my bridesmaid just decided to order me to go to bed as well. ...Jack and Ann together is really not a good idea.

Yours truly,

Claire

Claire fidgeted with the hem of her veil, licking her dry lips, shifting her weight from foot to foot. It was her wedding day. Her wedding day. Why was she so nervous?

With a sigh, the blonde turned around to face the tarnished mirror on the wall next to her. She inspected it slowly, looking at all the little cracks, smudges, the flickering light she could see reflected, anything but her. Claire gulped audibly and her hands tightened around the bouquet of white roses.

Deep breaths Claire, she told herself, just take deep breaths.

Inhaling softly through her nose, Claire felt her heartbeat slow down ever so slightly. This wasn't so bad was it? She was supposed to be overjoyed! And she probably was, underneath the many layers of stress.

"Claire!" Ann suddenly burst into the little room, making Claire jump out of her skin with fright.

"Argh... Ann..." Claire panted, her hand on her chest, feeling her heart thundering away, "Don't scare me like that... I'm already stressed enough as it is! I don't need you to give me a heart attack!"

Ann smiled wickedly, her eyes glowing like a cat's, "That's payback for my wedding day. Remember how you told me I was supposed to 'chill out'? Not so easy is it?"

Claire sighed and rolled her eyes, "Look, I already apologized..."

Ann just shrugged and started humming as she twirled around her best friend, making last minute inspections. As a bridesmaid, Ann was wearing a simple knee long white dress along with a big white bow to keep her hair up in a tight bun.

"You're perfect," the redhead finally concluded, "Of course, everyone knows I was much more beautiful. But you're not far behind"

Claire let out a shaky laugh and started to reply when she suddenly felt a pair of arms around her neck.

"I'm happy for you," An mumbled, holding Claire in a tight hug, "Don't you guys dare mess up this wedding. Or even your relationship."

"I know, I'll try not to," Claire replied, trying to sound light and cheerful. But she knew that the hot needles prickling the back of her eyes were anything but light and cheerful. Sniffling and trying to hold back the tears, she wrapped her arms around Ann, hugging her back, the two of them staying in that position for a minute or two.

"Oh!" Ann suddenly jumped back, "I forgot! I came here to tell you the ceremony was going to start!"

"That's okay, y-WHAT?" Claire desperately grasped at what was left of her self control. This was not good.

"I'm sorry!" Ann squeaked, "I just... Go! Now!" And without another word, Claire was pushed unceremoniously out of the little room.

Claire's eyes widened as she found herself in the church, white roses decorating the benches around her. Everyone was now staring at her. Claire felt frozen, feeling all the gazes on her. Oh how she wished she could disappear into a hole in the ground right about now!

A light touch on her arm made her jump slightly before looking up in Jack's smiling face.

"You sure took long enough," he muttered, his chocolate eyes shining.

Claire laughed, feeling much better by the second, now that Jack was here, "Ask Ann. It's not my fault."

Before Jack could reply though, an all too popular tune rang out in the church, Claire's eyes widening again. This was it. Without really understanding it, Claire felt a great bubble of excitement well up inside her, just pure glee and happiness. The muscles around her mouth felt a bit tight and Claire realized that she was smiling, smiling so widely she was sure she was blinding everyone.

With Jack's hand holding her arm securely Claire walked forward, towards the front of her church, and towards her future. Her head was empty, as if a vacuum was turned on in her head the moment the music rang and had whisked all her thoughts away. And there. Waiting for her in a black suit, with a grin so uncharacteristically wide on his face, was Gray. Her soon to be husband.

Unconsciously, Claire knew that she sped up her pace the moment she met Gray's blue eyes. And in a matter of seconds, she was now standing next to Gray, their hands intertwined. She stared into those eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that she loved so much. The smile on her face was now much smaller, but with much more feeling in it, much more intimate. This one was special, it was for Gray and for him alone. Gray's eyes twinkled and his lips curled up into a similar smile.

Carter was talking in the background, about this and that, vows and all. But Claire didn't really hear it, still staring into those blue eyes.

"-till death do you part?"

Claire reacted slightly at the end of the question, as if coming brusquely back down to earth. Blinking, the blonde quickly regained her bearings. That question was for her. Looking into Carter's caring eyes, Claire felt her wide smile bloom onto her lips and her heart fluttering before looking back at Gray, her cheeks hurting from her smile.

"I do," she whispered.

Gray's smile widened as well and the look of happiness on his face just made Claire tug at her smile a bit more. She knows she can't possibly smile any wider. But Goddess knows if she could, she would.

Carter nodded at them, smiling softly, "And do you, Gray Walters, take Claire Collins, to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, will you love her and honor her all the days of your life? Take her to be your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Gray looked at Carter solemnly before beaming back at Claire, "I do."

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The church exploded in cries of happiness and Claire felt strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her flush against Gray. Her husband. Gray leaned in, their foreheads touching and his eyes heavily lidded.

"I love you." And they were kissing. It was light, chaste, full of passion, perfect.

Claire was almost sure that there were tears streaking down her cheeks at the moment, but she couldn't have cared less. She felt happy, relieved and complete. Without thought, Claire threw the bouquet behind her back, not hearing the cries of the crowd, and wrapped her arms tightly against Gray's neck, pulling him closer.

As the music started once again, the crowd kept on applauding and cheering the newly wedded couple, Gray and Claire finally pulled apart, the latter sobbing and laughing at the same time.

"I love you too Gray Walters," Claire said, trying to wipe tears away. Gray beamed and pulled her in a tight hug.

Claire looked around her, only to find a grinning Jack holding her bouquet. Laughing, she watched her brother turn to Mary and offer the bouquet. The little librarian blushed bright red but accepted the bouquet with a small smile.

Ann and Cliff were standing right next to them, lazily leaning into each others embrace with small smiles. Like two cats.

Popuri and Kai were there, a bit farther off, with a baby carriage both of them smiling at them. Standing next to them, Elli and Rick were animatedly waving at Gray and Claire while Trent and Karen just smiled.

And, just about everyone else was crowded around them, congratulating them, sharing jokes, presents, advice.

Claire smiled and relaxed into Gray's grip, happiness still bubbling inside her. She was happy, she was complete, whole.

Outside, floating behind a window, the Harvest Goddess smiled. All was fixed. Everything would be fine now. A small bark in her arms made her chuckle and she looked at the small beagle she was holding.

"What is it Ori?"

Another bark.

"Yes, of course they'll be happy."

A smug bark.

"Of course you did well Orig. Now stop bragging."

Another smug bark.

The Harvest Goddess chuckled, "That's nice Ori. Now come on, it's time for us to leave. We are not needed anymore."

And without another sound, the Harvest Goddess floated up a bit more, Origami tightly in her arms. In a flash and a shower of sparkles,they were both gone. Two ghosts gone back to the world to which they belonged.

Inside the church, Claire remained oblivious, now dancing in the arms of her husband. Gliding across the dance floor and laughing, head thrown back, cheeks pleasantly flushed.

Another page had just turned. It was the end of a story.

And now the beginning of another one was being written as the couple kept dancing. One that would get very interesting in less than a season.

Fall 17

Dear Diary,

I'm pregnant.

Yours truly,

Claire

The End

Once again, thank you to all those who reviewed!

There will be an epilogue! Just... I don't know how long it will take to squeeze out ^^

Oh, and as soon as I can, I will start writing a new story 'The Gray Incident' So keep on the lookout for that!

One more time, thank you for sticking with me till the end! Hope you enjoyed!

El: Hugs to you all!