Title: Lovely Discovery

Pairing: Angela x Owen

Rating: T (sexual situations)

Disclaimer: Harvest Moon's characters / plot belong to Natsume.

Author's Note: I'm trying to upload every other day during the summer, so if you have ideas for this story on what you'd like to see Owen and Angela do, submit them! If you have an idea, I'd love to work it in (especially ideas for this story)!

-START-

Finally. Angela had finally done it. She'd reached the top of Garmon Mine, and she hadn't needed anyone's help.

She was only one level away from tasting the fruits of her endeavor. Well, she wasn't after a literal award, but rather the praise a certain man would give her. Once Angela's crush found out that she'd reached the top all by herself, he would have no option but to be impressed with her. Owen was always so nice to her, but Angela always felt like he saw her as a delicate farmer and nothing more.

While she was certainly more delicate than she was, she felt like she'd taken another step to proving her strength and, more importantly, her determination.

"Wow, Angela!" Finn cried as she mounted the stairs to level forty-three of the upper mine. "We did it! I can't say I can relate to your motives, but it's still a grand accomplishment!"

"Yep!" Angela said gleefully, clenching her fists around her hammer. "I'm going to make so many expensive accessories! We have a lot of wedding presents coming up, and I wanted to give the girls gifts. And also…"

"And also?"

"Owen will be so amazed!" Angela tweeted anxiously. Finn sank to the ground.

"Do you really care about him that much? He already likes you, you know. You guys went on that date together to the Firefly Festival and he really enjoyed himself! Why do you think this will make him like you more?"

Angela stared ahead with sheer determination, not looking at Finn as she looked for the stone stairs that would take her higher into the sky. "Well…because he's works so hard as a miner all the time and he has so much strength. I want him to feel like he can depend on me."

Finn didn't say anything, but he did let a small smile bloom on his lips. Young love can be so sweet, he thought secretly as he followed Angela through the darkness of the mine.

"Alright…stairs…stairs…" Angela hummed, searching the area for the structure. "Geez, where could the stairs be? I've never had this much trouble. Normally they're in plain sight!"

"Why don't you mine a little bit before you go up?" Finn suggested as he gesticulated to a large boulder. "You can make your way around the room mining. You're sure to find the stairs eventually, and you might find some valuable ores!"

Angela thought that sounded like a good idea and began to break open the rocks one by one. Occasionally she would find a gold ore or a rare ore, but she mostly found poisonous fumes that either injured her or temporarily disoriented her. Finally, after having been hit multiple times (and dodging just as many) there was one more rock sitting right next to the stairs. Angela almost bolted up the steps with excitement when Finn called her back.

"Hey, aren't you going to mine this one? It's only one more!"

"But Finn…" she moaned in protest. "There's probably nothing in it. I've been hit my poison five times! I don't want to risk it."

"But it could be another expensive ore," he shot back. "Come on. You've already mined everything else. If it does have fumes in it, it'll be really easy to escape."

"I guess you're right…" she said slowly then, with her usual determination supporting her, she smiled optimistic ally and leaped down the stairs. "Alright! Let's do it!"

Angela gripped her hammer firmly and held it over her head. After charging her strongest move, the heavy tool felt upon the rock and sent it crumbling. Just as she'd suspected, fumes shot out almost instantly. Before she could even think, she began to run. "Uh-oh!"

Angela began to run while Finn darted off after her. However, unlike most fumes that went in a designated pattern, the cloudy gas seemed to fill up the entire area. There was a steady curtain of the substance fanning out in every direction. Because she'd already mined every rock, there was nothing to hide behind, and the fumes showed no sign of dispersing. They would have run up the stairs, but the structure had already vanished behind the smoky swirls. She wouldn't have been able to run through without suffering the effects of the fumes. Finn also noticed that they were a different color. It wasn't pink like confusion gas or red like poisonous gas, but it was almost a magenta color. How could they have never run into it before now? It must have been incredibly rare because, as much as Owen and Ramsey had talked with her about mining, they'd never mentioned anything concerning fuchsia fumes.

"Run, Angela!" the sprite squeaked in fear.

"I'm trying!" she screamed in panic, looking over her shoulder. When she saw how close they were, the farmer lost focus.

Angela tripped and felt the fumes roll over her body. For a few seconds, it was impossible to breathe. She tried to cover her face and stay low to the ground, but even that didn't work. Finn shot into the ceiling and covered his mouth with his hat. Fortunately, he was immune to the effects because he was similar to a Harvest Sprite and was somewhat divine in nature. After the fumes finally faded, he looked down and soared to Angela's side, trying to shake life back into her limp body. "Angela, Angela! Wake up! Angela!"

He smacked her cheeks over and over with his tiny arms until she gasped sharply. Managing to inhale shakily, the woman stood and cleared her throat. Her entire body was covered with dust, but otherwise, she seemed unharmed.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry! This is my fault! I shouldn't have convinced you to break open that rock!"

Angela giggled and shook her head. Between coughs, she found time to console him.

"It's alright…it wasn't your fault," Angela cooed sweetly. "See? I'm okay and I didn't get hurt. Don't worry. We're just lucky that nothing bad happened."

"Still…what was that stuff? Do you feel funny, Angela?"

"A little. My skin feels kinda tingly, but I'm okay. Do you know what that stuff was, Finn?"

"It was definitely a kind of gas, but I've never seen it before!" Finn said fretfully, not believing Angela's claim that she was alright. Fumes always did something to humans. It was either harmful or, in some cases, helpful. "Are…you sure you're okay?"

"I feel like something should be wrong with me, but I'm serious…I feel fine," Angela said with a yawn. "But…I do feel a little tired all of a sudden. It's also pretty late. Do you want to head home?"

They'd already come so far, but heading back to the farm was the safest thing for them to do. They descended the stairs together and made their way down to the surface. After Angela dumped her spoils into the shipping bin near the mine's entrance, the woman began to show more warning signs that she wasn't okay. Her cheeks were red and her posture was slightly hunched over, likes he was walking with a cramp in her stomach.

"F-Finn…" she said, shaking like a leaf. "I think…I may faint…"

The fairy blinked dumbly and buzzed around in panicked circled. He even tried to grip her arm and hold her but, but to no avail. Angela fell to the ground and began to rattle ferociously. Worst of all, it had gotten dark outside, and nobody was walking around. Everyone was probably in bed.

Finn was just about to fly over to the Harvest Goddess and ask her what to do when a masculine voice pierced the night air.

"Huh? Is someone there?" it asked, emerging from a nearby building. The voice belonged to none other than Angela's crush Owen who had thankfully been out later than usual. He was probably coming back from having a quick drink at the Brass Bar when he spotted them. Finn was never more elated that Owen enjoyed an occasional drink. His muscled form got closer to them and, when he realized that it was Angela who was passed out, the look of concern on his visage was amplified. "A-Angela? Angela! What happened? Can you hear me?"

She nodded her head, but no words came out.

"Gramps, Chloe!" Owen called over his shoulder. "Get some water and a bed ready! Angela just collapsed!"

The miner wasted no time. He scooped Angela into his arms and carried her bridal style to his room. He kicked open the door and rushed her to his bed. He put a hand to her forehead and compared it to his own temperature. She didn't have a fever, but her entire body was flushed. He especially noticed it in her cheeks. They were as red as roses. Chloe and Ramsey brought food and water and also said they'd called Doctor Jin and told him there was an emergency. He was on his way.

Owen kept a firm grasp on Angela's hand and didn't let go until Jin and Irene arrived to assist her. He was sent out of the room and they carried Angela to the clinic. Finn followed silently, looking back at Owen's face. It was a combination of dread and worry that made his heart sink.

Please be okay, Finn pleaded internally as he looked over her frail body.

XOXOXOXOXO

Angela woke up early the next morning and sat up in the hospital bed, not remembering anything. She looked towards the door and heard people talking on the other side. One voice belonged to Jin and the other was a voice that sent shivers up her spine. It was Owen's voice, and he sounded worried about her. Just was she was about to squeal over his concern, Finn materialized before her and pushed himself against Angela's bosom. He was weeping with relief.

"ANGEEEELA! You're alive? Thank goodness!"

"Of course I am…" she chimed, stroking the fairy's head. "Why am I in the clinic? Did I collapse?"

"You don't remember? You were hit by the amorous gas!"

Angela almost accepted Finn's statement when the words actually clicked in her mind.

Wait. Wait…what? What?

Amorous gas? That's what had gotten her? Was Finn serious?

"You made that up," she said blatantly, laughing like it was a joke. "I've never even heard of that before…and why would those fumes have such a silly name if all they did was knock me out?"

"Dr. Jin was explaining it to Irene! Apparently, it's a very uncommon gaseous substance found in mines! If exposed to it, a person will experience hallucinations, delusions and fall into an almost intoxicated state at the sight of a loved one!"

"But I love you," Angela said with a smile as she looked at Finn innocently. "And I'm not acting strange!"

He grinded his teeth together and tugged at his hair in response to Angela's comment, trying to find an easy way to explain it to her. He'd felt guilty at first, but Angela's nativity was testing his nerves.

"You have to love them in a…'more than friends' way…" he said with a faint blush. "Like a lover."

That was when Dr. Jin walked in. Knowing that he couldn't see Finn, she leaned forward in bed and waited anxiously for Dr. Jin to answer her remaining questions. It would have been embarrassing had she not been so concerned about a certain someone.

"Uh…is Owen okay?"

"He's fine, although I didn't tell him about your condition. I sent him home."

Jin explained again what Finn had just told her. Hearing the words from a doctor's mouth only made her condition more unbelievable. So it was true. She really had been hit by a rare gas and had passed out the night before. She sighed in disappointment. That was not how she intended to spend her first moments in Owen's bed.

"Anyway," Jin continued sadly, pushing on his glasses. "This gas isn't like others. Contact with a loved one right now will only result in a flushed face and increased heart rate but, by the end of the week, contact with that person could result in your having extreme fits and even hallucinations. Angela…do you have feelings for Owen?"

She nodded hesitantly and looked at him with fright. "Wait…it lasts a whole week?"

"Seven days straight with no reprieve," he said, crossing his arms and looking at her squarely. "Listen, I didn't tell Owen because I didn't want to embarrass you, but seeing him while under the effects of the fumes could be dangerous! Do you understand?"

This wasn't fair. She and Owen were best friends, and not seeing him for a whole week would be torturous. She could easily tell him the truth, but that would be worse. He'd know about her feelings, and she was fully aware that he might not return them, especially if he knew about the stupid plague she was currently suffering from. He'd probably laugh at her.

Well, no, Owen wasn't mean enough to laugh at her. He'd probably just freak out a little. That was just as bad. Even if she couldn't be his girlfriend, she wanted to maintain a friendship with him.

"Alright Dr. Jin…thank you."

Fifteen minutes later, she was sent home with an otherwise clean bill of health. Thankfully, nobody else in town seemed to be aware of her little debacle. Owen, Chloe and Ramsey were the only people outside of the doctor's office that knew, and she'd have to keep the secret hidden from all three, especially Owen and Chloe (considering she was a huge blabbermouth!)

Angela would do her best to avoid Owen, but even so, they were best friends. There was always the chance he'd stop by.

"You have to tell him something!" Finn told her as she unlocked the door to her farmhouse. "You don't want to lose his friendship by doing something stupid and awkward!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Angela said sadly, flicking on her lights and throwing her pajamas on. "But what am I supposed to tell him?"

"How about telling him you have a cold?"

"He'd probably bring medicine…"

"How about telling him you broke your arm?"

"He'd offer to do my farm work…you know how persistent he is."

"How about telling him that your crops are infested with a deadly spore that could kill him if he came close to the farm?"

"…Finn, he's not an idiot."

"…I don't know," Finn said in surrender, flailing about in irritation. "Gah! Why do you have to be in love with such a gentlemanly guy? Why aren't you in love with Chase, Julius or Toby? They're infinitely less relentless!"

Angela laughed and was about to step into bed when she remembered she hadn't put her animals back in the barn. There was also supposed to be a typhoon tomorrow, so if would be incredibly bad if she left them out overnight. Too exhausted to put her clothes back on, Angela decided that he would just go out in her baggy tee shirt and plaid pajama shorts that revealed more of her legs that what she would have liked to show in such an unflattering outfit. The shorts could have been a swimsuit bottom if not for the extra centimeter of fabric that flared out. She went to the door and cheerfully decided she'd just run out to the bell and ring it to send the animals inside. Nobody would see her.

She hadn't planned on opening the door and seeing Owen standing right before her.

"H-hey," he said shakily, rubbing the back of his neck. "How are you?"

She felt a reaction almost instantly. Her face became bright red and she actually felt slightly woozy. "O-Owen…?"

"Do you need help getting the animals in? Here, stay right there—I'll do it! I just gotta ring that bell, right?" he asked, smiling at her as he trotted into her fields. She managed a nod and watched him complete the task with ease. As all the animals moved into the barn, she nodded her thanks. Owen walked back over to her and she actually had to lean against the doorframe to support her weight. She looked up at him dreamily and muttered her thanks under her breath.

"Don't mention it…are you alright? From earlier, I mean. You were completely unconscious."

"Yeah…" she breathed out, suddenly realizing how fast her heart was pounding. Her hand moved to her cheast and she stated to massage the area, which caught Owen's attention.

"Does your chest hurt?" he asked curiously.

"Y-Yeah…" she said, looking up at him with a smile. She grabbed his hand and, with a small giggle, muttered the words, "Here…why don't you feel and see if there's…anything wrong…"

Owen's face lit up like a firework as she guided his hand to her supple chest. Upon contact, she shivered with pure bliss and held his hand tightly. The miner was red as a strawberry and had averted his eyes. "N-Nothing feels wrong…" he forced out.

"Really? Maybe you should feel more…" she urged.

"Are you sure nothing's wrong, Angela?" he asked through an intense blush.

She smirked and was about to continue when Finn finally decided enough was enough. He sped toward Angela and yanked on her hair sharply, sending a jolt of pain through her. The shock awoke her from her trance and she returned to her senses. She looked down in horror and saw what she'd been doing. Releasing his arm in a second, she backed away in a frenzy of spluttering and trembling.

"T-Thank you Owen, but there's supposed to be a t-typhoon tomorrow, so…y-yeah, you better get home! I-I'm so sorry I troubled you! I…I really…!"

She shut the door after a quick wave of her hand. Seconds later, she slid onto the floor in a state of complete humiliation. Finn was horrified and, after recovering from the traumatic sights he'd witnessed, finally found his voice again.

"A-Angela…Dr. Jin said the effects would get worse over time…and this was only the first day."

Angela wasn't listening. She merely stood and got under the covers of her bed, wanting to vanish forever. She slipped into a fit of sleep which, not surprisingly, was haunted by dreams of Owen. The romantic dreams of her in his arms and kissing his lips made it difficult to go to bed and even harder to wake up and face the day.

-END-

Seven days…seven chapters. Sound cool? Again, any hilarious ideas are great, even if they're a little cracky. XD
R&R please! You can flame my writing, but not the characters or video game (because I didn't make those…so yeah.)