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In Sheep's Clothing	By : ParisWriter Category: +G through L > Harvest Moon Views: 2169 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter Thirty

Avery fidgeted as she stood inside the large white tent which had been erected at the corner of Echo Village's festival grounds for the bridal party to prepare in. It wasn't even her own wedding, and she was worried something would happen and things wouldn't go off without a hitch. She supposed her unnecessary bout of nerves was being caused by everything Addie had told her the previous night when they had stayed up late talking abut their significant others. After all, she now knew how very lucky her cousin was to be marrying the man she loved and the risk they were taking just by going through with the wedding. She wished nothing but the best for Addie and Amir, but a part of her was extremely grateful that she wouldn't have to go through the same sort of ordeal with Klaus. Though, if his parents were still alive she might have found herself in a somewhat similar situation.

"You look more nervous than my daughter."

Avery turned around and smiled at the man standing behind her. He was almost as tall as Klaus, with dark brown hair sporting a couple of grey patches at the sides and bright blue eyes the same shade as Addie's.

"I'm just worried something will go wrong today," she told him, doing her best to smile in spite of her anxiousness.

"If you're concerned my wife might say something, relax. I told her that she needs to behave herself today, because it's our daughter's wedding and she doesn't need to be causing tension on what's supposed to be a joyous occasion."

Avery sighed. "When has that ever stopped Aunt Sophie from running her mouth? Especially if she's been drinking."

"Well, she hasn't had any yet, so we're all safe until at least the reception," he told her with a small smile. "And I promise to do my best to keep her from making any comments to you then, as well."

"Thanks, Uncle Robert," Avery said with a small smile just as Marian began clapping his hands together and telling everyone to take their places.

Her uncle kissed her on the cheek before going over to where Addie was waiting further inside the tent, and Avery leaned a bit farther outside the tent's opening to look for for Sanjay, who was Amir's best man and should have been there already to escort her. She saw Amir take his place at the head of the crowd with Dunhill, who would be officiating, and music began playing to get the attention of the guests and signal that they should settle down for the ceremony to start.

"Miss Avery, I am so sorry!" Sanjay whispered loudly as he came toward her, walking briskly. "There was a slight problem with Master Amir's attire that I needed to fix before the marriage ceremony took place."

"It's okay, Sanjay," she told him as she stepped out of the tent and took his arm when he offered it to her. She leaned back inside and called to her cousin to wish her luck, then allowed him to escort her to the aisle between where the chairs had been set up for the ceremony.

All eyes turned to look at the two of them, and Avery suddenly became very self-conscious of the way she looked. The dress Addie had selected to be tailored for her was strapless and so long and extravagant that it might as well have been a wedding dress itself. It was made from white satin with a dark blue panel in the back leading down to a short train, and the entire thing had silver thread accents. The choice of colors made sense, seeing the attire Amir was wearing, but she still thought it made her look more like the bride than the maid of honor. She supposed it was okay, though, since Sanjay had traded in his own usual attire for a more formal outfit in the same shade of blue as Amir's wedding clothes and the accent on her dress.

She could feel Klaus looking at her and glanced in his direction. Their eyes met and he gave her the most loving smile she'd ever seen, which she returned shyly before turning her attention ahead once more. Amir was staring past her and Sanjay as they approached, his hands clasped together behind his back in a way which allowed Avery to see his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm which was more rapid than a normal person's breathing – giving away his own nervous state. He looked very handsome in his traditional wedding clothes, the dark blue of the suit and hat matching the color of his eyes, but even as calm as he appeared to be there was still a sense of unease in his expression.

That very same unease disappeared a moment after Avery and Sanjay had taken their places with him at the altar and Addie began walking down the aisle of her father. All of the guests stood to show their respect for the bride, making it hard for Avery to see, but when she finally spotted her cousin through the crowd she could see her smiling and struggling to hold back tears. A look to Amir found him in a similar state, a proud grin on his face as he watched the woman he loved take the final steps of their journey to become husband and wife.

Avery quietly watched the ceremony unfold before her, occasionally looking back over her shoulder to look at Klaus. Instead of watching the happy couple, he appeared to be gazing at her with a thoughtful expression on his face. She vaguely wondered what was on his mind, and made a note to ask him about it later as she returned her attention to her cousin, handing over the ring Addie had picked for Amir when Dunhill requested the couple exchange symbols of their devotion to one another. The two of them said their vows as they placed their rings upon one another's hands, their voices equally choked with emotion, and by the time Dunhill pronounced them husband and wife Avery was crying, as well.

The crowd cheered when they shared their first kiss as a married couple, and as the two of them walked together hand-in-hand toward the exit of the festival grounds Avery was surprised to find Sanjay watching them with tears running down his cheeks.

"Are you okay?" she asked him, and he nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"I have never seen Master Amir so happy," he said quietly. "I hope that perhaps, someday, I am able to find such happiness for myself."

"I'm sure you will," Avery assured him, reaching out to give his arm a gentle squeeze. "I might not know you very well, but I can tell you're a sweet and caring man. Plus, you're quite handsome."

Sanjay let out a small laugh, his cheeks turning a dark red, and thanked her for her kind words just as Avery felt a pair of familiar arms slip around her waist.

"You're not thinking of stealing away my girl, are you?" Klaus asked him in a teasing voice, and Sanjay immediately threw up his hands in front of him and gave Klaus a deep bow, his eyes wide in shock.

"No, of course not!" he said, bowing again. "I would never dream of intruding upon another man's relationship."

"I was joking, Sanjay," Klaus told him. "I know you're an honorable man."

"What are you going to do now that Amir's married?" Avery asked as the three of them began to follow the rest of the crowd, who were all headed to the inn for Addie and Amir's reception.

"Master Amir has requested that I remain in the village for as long as I wish," Sanjay told them, smiling. "I am grateful for that. He truly is my friend, as well as my prince."

"Will you remain living at the mansion?" Klaus wondered. "He said yesterday that he plans to live on the farm with Addie once they return from their honeymoon."

"Yes, I will be living at the mansion, for the time being."

"That's an awful large house for just one person," Avery remarked, and Sanjay stopped walking to look at the two of them.

"Did neither of them tell you?" he asked, looking from her to Klaus and back again.

"Tell us what?" Avery asked, shaking her head.

"Master Amir and Miss Adelia wished for the two of you to stay at the mansion tonight, as a means of thanking you both for being here for the wedding," he informed them.

"Really?" Klaus asked, looking as surprised as Avery felt.

"Yes, I readied the master bedroom for the two of you before attending to Master Amir's wedding preparations."

"I figured they would be spending the night there," Avery said, looking to Klaus briefly before turning back to Sanjay.

"Master Amir wanted to spend the night with Miss Adelia in their marital bed before they leave for the homeland tomorrow," Sanjay explained, blushing. "I am

"Well, we certainly won't turn down the hospitality," Klaus said, "but there's no reason for you to need to worry about waiting on us tonight, Sanjay. Amir is your best friend, so take the time to celebrate with the rest of the town. Avery and I can fend for ourselves just fine."

"He's right," Avery agreed, cutting off any protest Sanjay might have. "Today is a day for celebration, not work. Enjoy yourself with everyone."

"Very well," Sanjay agreed. "However, at least allow me to escort the two of you there once you are ready to leave the reception."

"We will," Klaus told him, and he extended a hand to him. Sanjay looked at it curiously for a moment, then took his hand and shook it. "Thank you."

"Come on," Avery urged, looping an arm through one of each of theirs. "Let's get to the reception."

Avery tried so hard to remain happy during the reception, but it was hard for her to do considering the situation. Yes, her cousin had just gotten married and they were sitting in garden area next to the inn – which had been gorgeously decorated by Marian and Allen the night before – and the food being served was some of the best she had ever eaten... but the seating arrangement at their table was less than ideal. She knew Addie had done her best, but all of the family had to be placed together at one table and that meant she was stuck sitting almost directly across from her Aunt Sophie.

"So how is your mother?" she asked, raising her latest glass of champagne and drinking nearly half of it at once. "Still married to that old codger?"

"You mean my father?" Avery shot back, tensing. This was the one thing she'd been dreading about attending Addie's wedding.

"Of course," Sophie said, waving her hand about as she took another drink. "Unless, of course, she's taken up with another cradle-robbing good-for-nothing."

"Sophie," her uncle said in a warning tone, taking the glass away from his wife. "Remember what you promised me this morning."

"I behaved during the wedding, didn't I?" she asked, snatching the glass back from him and refilling it from the bottle of champagne which was sitting conveniently next to her on the table. "I didn't say one damn word about our daughter's decision to marry that... man."

"What do you have against Master Amir?" Sanjay asked, his eyes going wide at the venomous tone coming from the woman seated next to him.

"Don't," her husband warned her, but Sophie waved him off as she drank some more of her champagne before addressing her new son-in-law's faithful servant.

"Your master is a worthless curry-muncher," she slurred. "I don't care if he is a prince. All you people are the same."

"Aunt Sophie!" Avery angrily addressed her, slamming an open palm down on the table. "Stop it! Amir is a wonderful man and Addie loves him."

Sophie scoffed. "I suppose that merits something. At least he's her age, too."

"Sophie, do not do this," her husband warned her.

"Oh, shut up, Robert," Sophie snapped at him. "Someone has to say something about it."

"About what?" Klaus asked, and Avery reached over to place a hand upon his knee. She knew exactly where this conversation was about to go, and she didn't need him letting his temper get the better of him. It was bad enough her aunt was antagonizing half the people at the table. She didn't need him making any more of a scene and totally ruining the day for Addie and Amir.

"That your girlfriend is doing exactly what my sister did," Sophie said, pointing at Avery.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Klaus wondered, his eyes narrowing at the woman.

"My darling little sister decided to throw her life away on a horny old pervert, which she wouldn't have had to do it she'd never gotten herself knocked up," she clarified, looking at Avery like she was scum.

"I don't think she threw her life away," Klaus said, shaking his head. "They seemed very much in love when I met them, and they also both adore Avery."

"I could have overlooked it if she was just fooling around with him," Sophie remarked, refilling her glass once more. "After all, a girl that young would probably want to experience the things an older man can offer – especially in bed. But then she got pregnant, and it tore out family apart."

She cast another pointed look at Avery, and Avery let out a sigh and looked down at her plate. She knew about how her grandparents had disowned her mother after she revealed her elopement and pregnancy to them, but her aunt and uncle had always seemed fine with thing. Then, when Addie decided to leave behind the city and the life her mother had wanted for her in favor of the simpler life she'd heard about from Avery and her parents, Sophie's true colors had come out. She blamed Avery's mother for tearing their family apart and cited Avery for having been a bad influence on Addie since the two girls were as close as sisters.

"Actually, Grandpa tore the family apart," Avery said defiantly, looking at her aunt. "He was so angry at my father that he took it out on Mom."

"Your father was one of his best friends," Sophie replied. "What was he supposed to do? Just... let him be with a girl he was old enough to have fathered, himself?"

"Age has no bearing on love," Klaus said, reaching over to wrap his arm around Avery's shoulders.

"Spoken like a true pedophile," Sophie said with a laugh. "I bet you and her father get along quite well, don't you?"

"Sophie, that is enough!" her husband said, standing up and grabbing her by her arm. "I will not have you ruining this day for anyone. First you make a racist remark about our new son-in-law, and now you're insulting our niece and her boyfriend."

"I'm only speaking the truth, Robert, and you know it," Sophie replied, standing up and wobbling on her feet.

"No, Sophie," he disagreed with her. "You're letting jealousy and booze speak for you. And I'm done with this. Let's get you back to the room so you can sleep this off, okay?"

"You want me to miss the rest of our daughter's wedding reception?"

"I'm fine with that."

Avery turned around in her chair to find Addie standing behind her with Amir at her side, arms crossed over her chest.

"Adelia, sweetie, you don't mean that," Sophie said, stumbling her way over to her daughter. She attempted to hug her, but Addie took a step back and she nearly lost her balance.

"I never wanted you here in the first place," Addie admitted. "I invited you because I had to."

"You didn't want to invite your own parents to your wedding?" Sophie asked, sounding hurt.

"I wanted Daddy here, but I knew in my heart you would end up causing trouble. Why can't you just be happy for me? And for Avery, for that matter? Daddy's right, isn't he? You're jealous of us – and of Aunt Lila – because the two of you haven't been as happy as we are in a very long time."

"Adelia-"

"Stop," Addie said sternly. "Just stop. Today is my wedding day, and I'm going to enjoy it. Without you."

"Come on, Sophie," Addie's father said, going to his wife's side and grasping her arm.

"Daddy, you stay here," Addie requested. "We haven't had our dance, after all. Plus there's cake."

"But your mother..."

"I'll have Hossan escort her back to your room," Addie said, holing out her hand to him. "Now, come on... I believe you have the next dance with the bride."

Her father smiled and took her hand in his, then kissed the back of it and followed her. They made their way toward one of the other tables and Addie said something to the innkeeper, causing him to nod and stand from his chair, then they continued on to the center of the garden for their dance. Hossan soon came over to collect Addie's mother and led her back to the inn, and Avery sighed as she slumped in her seat between Klaus and Sanjay.

"Excuse me, Avery?"

She looked up at Amir, who was still standing at their table, and he smiled and bowed to her.

"I had intended to ask Addie's mother to dance with me, since my own mother was unable to attend the ceremony, but as she is no longer here and you are her closest female relative I was wondering if I might ask you to dance, instead. If that is permissible, of course," he added, turning to Klaus.

"As long as you don't try anything, be my guest," Klaus told him with a wink, and Amir laughed and bowed to him, then held a hand out to Avery.

Klaus watched the two of them join Addie and her father out in the center of the garden, a smile lighting up his face. With her aunt gone, the rest of them were free to enjoy the remainder of the reception. The smile fell from his face when he turned back to Sanjay, however. The prince's best man had a sad look in his eyes as he watched the small group dancing and laughing amongst themselves, and Klaus moved over into Avery's vacant chair.

"What's on your mind?"

Sanjay blinked and shifted his focus to him, shaking his head.

"It is nothing, Master Klaus. I was merely thinking."

"About what?" Klaus prompted.

"I... have never had a family. Not a real one. I grew up in an orphanage until Master Amir's parents took me in."

"Well, as you just saw, family isn't always the great thing people expect it to be," Klaus said, reaching across the table to grab the bottle of champagne Sophie had been keeping to herself. There wasn't much left, but he poured himself a glass anyway.

"I know families have their differences," Sanajy said with a nod. "But I am sure that even then, most of them are still quite loving. Master Amir and Miss Adelia, for instance, are sure to have a very warm family some day – as I am sure you and Miss Avery will, as well."

"I'm sure of that, too," Klaus said with a smile after taking a sip of his champagne. "And so will you, someday. But keep in mind, Sanjay, that family is much more than just blood. There's a man who helped me out when I was younger and he's practically a father to me. In the same vein, I'm sure you and Amir are as close as brothers."

"We are close friends, yes," Sanjay agreed with a small smile, nodding.

"There you go, then," Klaus told him, patting his shoulder. "Now, um... if you'll excuse me for a moment, there's something I need to do."

"Of course," Sanjay replied, nodding again. "Please, do not feel you need to remain at the table on my account."

"I'll be back in a few minutes, in case they return before I do," Klaus said, then stood and looked toward the dance floor. Avery and Addie had switched partners, and now Avery was dancing with her uncle while Addie and Amir were slowly swaying together to the music.

Smiling to himself, he sought out the tables the town's residents were sitting at and went to the one where the owner of the general store and her husband were seated.

"Excuse my interruption," he said, kneeling next to the chair the elderly woman was sitting in. "I had heard you're the lovely young lady who owns the store in town and I was hoping you might be able to help me with something."

The woman giggled and slapped at him playfully. "Oh, dear! Such a flaterer. I must warn you, though, I'm already spoken for."

"That's my terrible loss, then," Klaus replied, winking at her and making her laugh again.

"So what is it you need, dearie?" she asked him, and Klaus looked over to Avery once more, a warm smile forming on his face as he watched her.

"I was hoping you might open up your shop for me, just for a minute," he said, turning back to the elderly woman before him.

"Whatever for?" she questioned, though with the way she was smiling he knew she wasn't going to refuse him.

"I need to make a special purchase."
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In Sheep's Clothing