Author's Note: Whoa. This took a while to get up. SORRY! The internet in my house was all messed up and I couldn't surf the internet for sooo long :(( But I made it extra long to make up for it! Aaaaand in this chapter you find out why it's named "Favorite Word"! But it's also the last. :(( Unless I get more reviews! :D (or find out where this story is going. :D)

I was surprised to see her. Here. On the top of the mountain. At 2 in the morning.

Looks like Claire was surprised to see me too. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"But I asked you first." She said triumphantly. "And I always go to the mountain."

"At 2 in the morning?" I gave her a skeptical look. "I don't think even the greatest farmers wake up at 2am."

"FINE! I just couldn't sleep." She gave a cu—meek smile "I woke up to the beautiful sound firework explosions." Then she looked at me and tilted her head "Now?"

I gave her a blank look. "Now what?"

"Now that I answered you," she said pointing at me, her voice once again triumphant "You have to answer me now."

I had to stifle my laugh; her way of thinking was so childish. But that's what made her Claire. "Actually, I came up here for the same reason you did. I couldn't sleep."

It was her turn to look at me skeptically "You're just copying my answer now." She laughed then "Well, whatever we're here and it's a nice night tonight. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

She walked to the middle of the peak of Mother's Hill, and sat there. Then she patted the ground next to her and gestured for me to sit next to her. I did, and I wanted to stand right back up. It was FREEZING. And it was barely even fall! But I forgot all that when I looked up. So that's what she meant when she said to enjoy it while it lasts. Then I forgot it again when I looked to my right and saw wide blue discs.

"Why are you staring at me?" I asked her suspiciously, and suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"I just realized, "she started while her lips pulled up into a huge smile "you're not wearing your hat!"

Both our mouths were open. But mine in horror, and hers in glee. Then she was reaching towards my head like a child reaching for a new toy. Then before I knew it she was sitting on my chest playing with my hair. How did she do that! I thought.

She was laughing- no make that giggling her head off while I just sat there wondering how she did it. I was too stunned to do anything else I guess.

"I've never ever seen you're hair Gray!" she said in between squeals. "It's sooo soft! I didn't know a guy's hair could be this soft!" and she just kept making comments like that until I snapped out of being stunned (what's the term? Oh, whatever) and fought back.

I reached up to start playing with her hair too. Claire really didn't notice, I guess she was too busy playing with my hair...her hair was really thick. She had a lot of it, and it was really, really soft.

"Hey! Stop it! You're messing up my hair!" she said, digging her nails into my scalp, but still giggling. Ow. "C'mon! Stop it! Now~!" she was actually whining now.

"You stop first! I'm not the one who has to worry about combing her long hair!" I told her.

It worked apparently. She stopped but didn't get off me. She wasn't that heavy actually, she's really tiny for someone her age... wait she's saying something.

"...have a point." She finished grinning down at me " but since you still messed up my hair I'm not getting off you." She told me.

"You're hair isn't the only thing that's soft. You're like a pillow!"

"Well you're like a..." I stopped and thought of a word to describe her "Feather."

"Feather?" she asked looking at me funny "how so?" she said thoughtfully.

"You're really light and you've got soft hair..." I started. She smiled when I said she had soft hair. "Pretty...too..." I finished. Or whispered.

"What?" she heard me...

"What?" I repeated. Just drop the subject. Drop it!

"You know what I mean. You mumbled something just now."

"No I didn't." I looked away so that she couldn't see my eyes. Stupid hat.

Claire eyed me. Then she got up. Just like that.

And sat right back down on me. Not too gently too.

"Ooof!"

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" I yelled. She just smiled, looks like she got the reaction she wanted.

"Now. Tell me. What you said." She wasn't ready to drop it yet. Typical Claire, as stubborn as ever.

I have to change the subject somehow... I thought frantically, then I came up with a great idea that would distract her long enough for her to forget about this. I mean this is Claire we're talking about. Silly, impulsive, forgetful, amazing Claire.

"Is that your favorite word?"

She paused. "Huh?" It worked!

"'Now' you always use it. I was just wondering if it was your favorite word..."

She looked up. Like she could see the answer in the sky. "Define 'favorite'" she finally said.

I gave her a blank look. Then I realised she was waiting for an answer. "Um... something that is special to you I guess..." I trailed off not really knowing what she was expecting me to say. Or what I was going to say next actually.

"Hmm... if that's what it means then 'now' isn't my favorite." She said smiling at me.

I was confused. She always used that word. I was sure it was her favorite. Wasn't it?

Claire must have seen the look on my face because she said "Just because I 'now' all the time doesn't mean it's my favorite word. It just means I know what I want and when I want it." She was smirking at me the whole time she said that sentence. She must feel happy that she made me confused.

"Then what is?" I asked her.

"GUESS!"

"Give me some clues at least!"

"Fine~" she said with a pout. Then she gave me a smirk. Uh-oh."But if you don't guess right you'll get a punishment..." she was practically purring.

I just stared at her. What kind of punishment does she have in mind in that twisted little head of hers?

"Here's your first hint: it's a name." She was smiling this smile that made me want to run for it.

"That's too general! Make it more specific!" I protested.

"Fine." The voice was disapproving, but the eyes were playful. "Umm... it's a guy's name."

Yeah, that narrows it down a lot! I thought. I looked at her with my best puppy dog eyes. I found out that that was one of her weaknesses.

She tried to keep a straight face, but it only lasted around 30 seconds before she broke. "FINE! One more okay? Your really not playing fair here. Here: It's a color." she pouted and gave me a look that said it's so obvious already, it's not fun!

I decided to ruin her fun a little more. It's only fair since she's still sitting on me anyway.

"Hmmm. Blue?" I said, my mouth forming that oh-so-familiar smirk.

Claire was giving me an uncomfortable (?) look. It was oh-so-adorable. She doesn't want to admit that her favorite word is my name.

It was then that I remembered how much of a sadist I could be. Especially when it came to Claire. How I found out is something I would rather not talk about right now, or ever for that matter.

THUNK.

Ow. That hurt. I was about to tell her this when she said,

"Last. Chance."

Then I suddenly remembered how scary that woman could be.

"But don't worry I'll give you one. Last. Hint." Then she smiled. Not that sweet Claire smile, oh no, it was a smile that said I will win. I don't know how I know this. And I don't know how I'm going to get out of it.

"And that hint is...?" I was afraid she was gonna hit me. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm scared of her hits. That blondie has got the arm of a gorilla. Must be all the farm work.

One minute I was looking up at her with the sky as a backdrop, the next I'm looking into her eyes with her face as the backdrop.

She said her hint reeaaalllly quietly. I had to strain just to hear them and she was right in my face.

"It's the name of the man I love."

When she told me the "hint" I think I stopped breathing for a second because she pulled back and gave me mouth to mouth resuscitation. When she was sure I was breathing she told me,

"I think you're too dense to figure it out so I'll tell you." With her trademark smile she whispered

"Gray."

I was pretty sure I was beet red by then. There was no use in hiding it. I think she was too.

I sure do miss that hat of mine.