TROUBLESOME

Description:
Its a bunch of oneshots where the heroine of Harvest Moon- Molly, is in difficult situations and in need of help, so one of the ten bachelors saves her. MollyxlukexJinxToby

Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon, or any of its characters. It belongs to Natsume and all those other stuff. I do enjoy playing the games though.

Chapter One/ The River

A/N:
I'm not that good at coming up with plots and such... (bad story teller.) If you find this out of place, I'm sorry- get over it. I'm writing solely for fun. It doesnt matter if it makes sense at all to me. I just write it and thats it. Though, I'd be thrilled if you enjoyed it as well. Thankyou.

BUT, I do know this is not really that great.. so If you wanna tell me how to improve, I dont mind. Thatd actually make me happy..
-Mel

Description: Molly has been feeling competitive lately, and decides to try out fishing just so she could show that Toby she was much more better than him. But things go haywire, and she falls into the river. And she doesnt know how to swim. Toby x Molly (T)

She had quite a few good catches.
But she still wasnt as good as Toby. She wanted to at least reach his level in skill- which is why she was always out here practising her arm at fishing.

She had heard from Ozzie at the Fishery that this had been a good spot at the River for beginners.

She stood on the bridge near the farm lands and Ranch.
But She still was only catching Rainbow Trout.
It was begining to get annoying at how repetitive it was.

If only she could cast her bait out farther- she could catch more rare fish! It was a simple thought. its the way she thought the river had worked, but that was probably wrong.

With a sigh she pulled in another fish.

Rainbow Trout.

It was really annoying her now, more than it did before. Being as how Molly was so full of energy- not a patient person. She wanted to get better at this! But why did it need soooo much practise? She just wanted it to be like other things. Like farming. She didnt need any particular skill, all she needed was to take care of her crops and animals, and everything would be fine.

But with fishing it was different. Everything relied on luck- and skill. None of which she knew how to make work. Sure- she could go upgrade her rod at Ramseys, but he wouldnt do it unless she had shown him how skilled she was becoming at it. So all she had was an iron Rod, and it still didnt do much for her.

But then an idea came. A conclusion to her problems. The best idea she has ever had!
If she had been much more closer to the waters edge- she could cast her line further! The only problem was is that she couldnt do it off the bridge or the fish wouldnt be as rare. Plus itd be hard to cast the line towards the ocean area as she had been doing now.

So without throwing her line into the rivers continuous flowing pattern, she stepped up onto the ledge of the bridge and sat so that her feet hung below her.

It might of been just a few inches closer, but she figured this would help her with her aim- even if only a little. Plus it would still be closer, and the same area Ozzie had been suggesting to her. Maybe this was actually a stupid idea- but if it helped persuade her enough that the fish would be a little more different, then who cared?

"Yes!" She called out in excitement as she threw the line with confidence into the water.

It HAD landed farther this time. Whether it be her getting closer, or the repetitive practise she had put in to this.
She was going to catch a rare fish- and show it off to that Toby!

After all, she had become obsessed with this idea now- ever since he had given her a rare Huchen, she was pumped to go get better. That show off! She was going to show him. That she was much, much better!

And then the line tugged. She had a bite already! Not only was that quick, but it made her confidence in this bite sky rocket, and she wasnt going to let it get away!

Pulling on it as much as she could, she realised her strength was perhaps not enough, and she should stand and lean her weight into it. This fish had to be big, as it was enough to tug her in one direction. But either way she looked at it- she was heavier than any fish in this river, so it wouldnt win in a weight contest.

So she stood at the bridges cliffs edge and felt it tug even more.

It HAD to be a rare fish! She had thought. What kind of fish would tug so roughly?

She leaned more into it, but then her foot had slipped.

Her expression had went from Excited, to dreadful in a matter of seconds, as she had fallen from the bridge down into the water with a splash.

Wherever that fish was now, it certainly wasnt anywhere nearby anymore. There was no showing off to be done.

Water had filled her nose and mouth and had nearly suffocated her, until she had flailed around to gasp for breath above water. It was so difficult to just keep her head up. It made her curse innerly that she should had learned how to swim when she was little and living in the city. She SHOULD have listened to her mother and went to swimming class!

The air had burned in her throat- but she desperately needed it. Gasping as much as she could, she ignored the pain and tried to keep herself towards land, if she could just kick or paddle herself there- everything would be fine. She had missed land.

she could no longer keep herself above water though, and slowly began to sink.

All hope was leaving her thoughts now. That land, had faded as the water crashed over her face- the world became a blue color. But she wouldnt give up!

pushing as much water as she could under her hands, she pushed her head up once more over the water- but instead of gasping for breath she let out what breath she had left to scream out her lungs- "Help!" But it was rasp and muffled by the water that had covered her mouth once again as she began to sink into the depths of the water.

Everything was fading even more. She had no air, no oxygen- and was choking on the water now. who knew this river was so deep? it seemed like she was sinking forever. She could no longer even see the world above. it was all gone. She wouldnt see her animals, she wouldnt see the villagers, the Harvest Goddess, or even Finn, who had usually followed her around.
She was almost at the point of reflecting but then she was enveloped by a warmness- two large arms had cradled her closely. Her eyes stung, looking through to see a man, swimming her above water and towards the surface.

"Are you okay?!" She heard a voice, but her vision was blurry, She felt she was already gone. Like maybe this savior who had obviously been sent by the goddess herself, maybe even the grumpy king had been too late. She could barely even feel life on her fingertips anymore. It was all black now.

She woke in the clinic. Was she saved? She had thought, as she pulled away from her covers and held her head in her hands.
She was almost positive everything had been lost to her- that she was obviously dieing from the lack of oxygen. But she could feel it all around her now. And although it hurt to take in raspy breaths, she craved the air she inhailed.

Everything in her mind was fuzzy. And her throat was killing her. She had an IV in her wrist, which had bugged her from the start of waking up. and was wearing a gown that she had obviously been changed into by Irene.

"Geez." She fingered the hem of the gown and frowned. Jin was probably going to be mad that she did such a reckless thing. She was in no way prepared for a long lecture of health. Being as how she barely escaped with her life today. She hoped this wasnt just some weird dream. Everything had felt real. So it must be.

"Your awake!" She heard from the corner of the room. The voice had sounded surprised, and relieved at the same time.

Toby had pushed her back to lay down. "Please dont get up if you dont feel well." He tried to presuade her to no avail. The expression he had though, stabbed at her heart, and made her lean back only for a moment.

She blushed slightly but shook her head and rose. "No no.. I'm fine." She said with her cracked voice. "Its just a little water is all." With a stubborn look in her eyes she tried to stand. Ofcourse the IV had restricted her to just go and move around, but she wanted to do her best to convince him that she was fine. But she just made him look angry. Which she definitely didnt expect from Toby.

"You nearly drowned." He added with concern thick in his voice. Toby wasnt the kind of person to worry- but he certainly felt worried now. He was pushing her to sit back down, she might have thought so simply of her falling into the river. But he sure didnt.

With a pout she shoved his shoulder. "Ahh, shut up. Your starting to sound like Jin- you know." It was the speech- she dreaded. Why did he have to tell her?

A door closing had been heard, and Jin pushed his glasses up. "Is that so..?" He added walking over to her bed making a motion to tell her to sit back down. "Do you not care about your health- at ALL?" His anger had always seemed light to her, but she knew he was very angry- this having been the second time he saw her this week, except this time it wasnt her falling in a Pitfall in the Garmon Mines. It was a more difficult matter.

"ughh.." Molly gave up and sat back down, her hand proped under her chin as she looked out the window next to her bed to look at the sunlight gather dust in the air. She didnt want to hear it. She just wanted to hurry home and check on her animals that had probably needed her attention now.

"You should be more careful. If it wasnt for Toby, You would have drowned to death. And worried everyone." He tried his best to sound convincing. But he knew it was hard to get anything into her reckless mind. She was always getting into trouble. In fact, he thought he would already be used to this- it had become so repetitive in his life for him to take care of her.

"Toby saved me?" She questioned. Now remembering the man that had cradled her limp body to shore. Who had pressed her so intimately close to his chest. Her gaze looked over to Toby's face- who was blushing. And she couldnt quite make eye contact with him because when she did he had turned away, and something fluttered within her- it was embarassing. Someone she had felt so competitive against, had come to her rescue when all she was trying to do was shove how better she was in his face. She immediately felt worse, as the fluttery feeling became heavy and bothersome.

"Yes, you should be grateful." Jin continued, sitting on his chair to get ready for long discussion. "You need to be more attentive of your health! Do you have any idea how RECKLESS you are? I dont ever want to see you here again, Molly." He made sure to say that last part, as to get her attention because she seemed to have had dazed off when she had turned away.

Molly shifted her gaze to look at Jin again, and frowned, nodding her head. "Forgive me for being so reckless. And thankyou for caring for me." She said softly, many things clouding her mind right now- most of it Toby related. She wanted to do all she could to not look him in the eyes. for some reason it did something to her stomach. and she had not been fond of the second feeling it gave. She felt terrible, to have put everyone through her rash actitivities. Before, when she had hurt herself in the mines, she would just limp out and go to the clinic by herself, but this time she had to have someone save her. She was indeed a burden. To both Jin and Toby.

Jin nodded back understanding she finally had let the lecture sink in. He reached over to grab her folded now clean clothes that Irene had went and washed for her. "Here. Get plenty of rest today." He had added like he usually did at the end of his lecture- which had been shorter than usual. He then reached over with a cotton ball from his jar and pulled out her IV carefully replacing it with the cotton ball and taping it down.

The two men had then left the room, So she could change. She had so much on her mind now, that she hadnt realised how troublesome she was to others.

Toby made a weird face.

Why was she being so considerate recently? She kept giving him egg dishes. (his personal favorite stuff he never really told her about.) And some particular fish, and some fish dishes more recently. everyday, he was bonboarded with egg and fish gifts. But she wouldnt look him in the face. It had really bugged him. Sometimes he liked seeing her cheerful face. it would make his day alot better somehow, but now she was just shy, and everchanging. Everytime shed gift him shed run away without saying a word. He noted this, that she may have had felt in debt.

But was this really her way of saying Thankyou? If so, he knew he couldnt let her take this gratitude any further. Toby was happy that she was well, and that was all that mattered. He didnt need pricey dishes made for him every single day. Sure, it was a nice lunch- to have something you actually liked every day. instead of just cooking up whatever catch he got over a fire and eating it right away.

Everything was so perfectly placed though. It almost looked too good to eat.

He looked down at his sushi, and plucked it up with his chop sticks, and took a bite. her cooking certainly wasnt bad- it was near perfection. So it wasnt like he didnt appreciate it all. He loved good food- he was all about it. But maybe he should visit her, he had thought- so he could tell her that the kindness she had been showing him for this past week was appreciated but she neednt continue with it cause he had already recieved the message long ago on the first day of the week.

Deciding on this, he wrapped up the rest of the sushi and put it away, saving it for later. Probably dinner since he really didnt want octopus tonight- as Ozzie had planned as there get together family dinner. Walking out of the fishery, He hurried to the Farm Lands so he could visit her at her Farm.

She wasnt there. She was actually somewhere else. To be exact- the same place she had drowned at by the river! and Fishing at that! It didnt make any sense to him, neither was he going to try to make any sense out of it, but Why did she continue to do such reckless things?

She was still sitting at that edge of the bridge, holding out her rod, and casting it into the water. she didnt stand behind the ledge, or sit behind it, no.. she had to sit right on it like last time! It wasnt like it made a difference! So why had she done it?

He had remembered fishing at the river near the watermill, and looking over at her. He wasnt spying or anything. Its just he was there, and saw her arrive early in the morning. She was fishing, and it intrigued him some how in some weird way. But it was good that he was there then, because he saw her fall, and swam as fast as he could to drag her out of the water.

So it made him absolutely furious! He didnt know why about that either. Her life- her choices. But had she NOT listened to Jin about her health? She didnt have to say she understood, when obviously she had not! Because she was back there doing the same stupid stuff she had done in the first place without a care in the world. Without worrying about worrying others! she could easily slip and fall into the river again- and DROWN. And if he wasnt there to save her, there certainly wasnt any kind of second chance. That would be it!

Almost stomping towards her from behind her back, he grabbed her shoulders roughly and pulled her backwards until she had fallen onto the cold ground in front of him. She seemed to had bumped her head as he had pulled her back, but maybe that was the kind of reminder that she needed- to let her know she was really a dumb girl- repeating mistakes.

"Wahh!"
Falling over molly looked up to see a very angry Toby. His arms were crossed, and he was pouting. It was such a rare sight to see him so angry- in fact he was almost never angry. He always seemed like a peaceful kind of guy who was always relaxing and enjoying life.

"What are you doing!?" He wailed, ready to throw a huge fit over her life choices. Cause this is what this revolved around. Her STUPID choices. It only could make him more mad thinking this way- but right now he really couldnt help it.

turning over onto her knees, she rose up to her feet yelling back. "I should Ask YOU that!" she pouted. "Jerk." She wasnt going to let him boss her around. What did he think she was here for anyways?!

grabbing her shoulders again- he shook her once. "You could fall again, sitting like that on the bridge! I saw you last time, do you really want to fall over?!" She looked angry as well to him, but he wasnt going to give in. She was the one in trouble here!

she pushed her hands onto his chest to try and push him away, but he stood firmly in front of her, at such a close distance. "But I'm just trying to catch some fish!"

"THATS WHY?!" It was very unlike Toby to become so mad, but he couldnt quite control his temper now. He LOVED fishing, but he definitely wouldnt put his own life on the line just so he could catch particular fish! He was simply happy by just catching fish in itself!

"Cause I want to make you extra good lunch- Y-you jerk!" She made sure to add. But then her face flushed red and she turned her head quickly to avoid looking into his grey-blue eyes. "You wouldnt understand how I feel about this. Sure- I can make you egg dishes fine, but only the fish ones I make taste the best. Because the fish I catch arent that good anywhere else.." she trailed off.

"Your health is more important." He frowned obviously hurt by her actions. "I can show you much better places to fish. you dont need to recklessly hang over like that. It worries me." He felt a throb in his heart, and reacted to that feeling. He pulled her shoulders over to him, and had pushed her against his chest.

She felt that feeling again, the one she had recognized in this week of pampering him with gifts. It was addictive. Her eyes closed and she sighed- relaxed, being so close to him. She could almost make out his heartbeat.

Toby just held her even tighter, his arms closing completely around her tiny frame as he rested his face into the corner of her neck and let his thoughts fade into nothing. It was as if thinking wasnt an option, because all the things he thought right now were so incoherent that his mind couldnt quite register.

Without another arguement she gasped. "Toby.." She called out softly. Which had made his heart pound again, against his chest. Why did he like hearing that alot recently? Was it her voice? It did sound cute.. When she wasnt angry. He liked it though, it did something to him that he had never felt. he was almost sure what it was. She was the only one making him feel this way afterall.

"I like you." He found himself saying back. Maybe it was his lack of actual thought processing right now, but he knew it was true whether his mind was blurry with his affection for her or not. He only gripped her tighter to him, closing any space that had been between the two by embracing her tightly. "I mean it." he made sure to add.

Molly's breath caught in her throat and she instinctively clung to him as he squeezed her tighter. What was this? She was mad a moment ago, but the feelings, and everything else had blended together so well, that everything else that was happening before hadnt mattered anymore. Not her skills in fishing, being better than everyone else, or anything. all that mattered right now, is that he just kept holding her close because it didnt feel any more natural than anything else had felt.

Then he pulled back for a moment to look at her eyes. He had been wanting to see them for so long. The optimistic expression that she always had every day, he didnt know until now, that it actually had fueled him. "Thats why.." He was trailing off, trying to think of what he had to say. "..You need to be more careful.."

She didnt nod or anything. She felt she answered with her expression, as her eyes had fluttered closed and his face drew near. She could feel his warm breath on her lips. It made everything else even more blank than it was before.

Her lips were soft, as his brushed over hers gently, he pressed more firmly against them, as if to confirm the kiss. It was chaste, but he pulled away suddenly remembering reality and that they had been in the middle of public. At first he had not cared, but thinking about it now, he was probably embarassing her.

Its not as if anyone had saw, but everything seemed important now. anything to do with her. He grabbed her hand and had started walking towards the Fugue Woods, to take her to his favorite spot. He didnt know why, but he wanted to be alone with her. It wasnt as if his intentions were bad, he just needed to talk to her in a more concealed place.

"..Were are we going?" She said shortly after, her steps dragged as she tried to keep up with his quick pace.

"You'll see." He replied back a little embarassed, since he had not shown anyone this place since it was his haven.

It was beautiful. She would not have guessed that there was such a exotic place in the Fugue Forest- nor did she know that anyone else knew the woods as good as herself. She was fairly impressed. The trees had loomed over there heads, the sunlight reaching its way through the branches and leaves coloring the ground in a mosaic kind of way. and a the river was there too, adding a peaceful sound as it flowed by.

Toby sat on a stump near the river, and looked out at the peaceful scenery as the sun, was not setting, but it was getting there. He had always wanted to show someone this place. Like, a bestfriend or something. So he would have company. But he couldnt just show anyone. He was always napping here. So in a way- this was his place, and his place alone. But the sudden urge to show her- he had to. He wanted to be alone with her, so that there was nobody. So he could be with her. In a way, it had felt like a date.

"This is really nice." She said, sitting beside him since the stump was large- obviously having belonged to an older tree. "I go all over these woods, but ive never really come to the river side of them- and on top of that its fairly impressive anyone else knows these woods besides the Witch and Luke."

"The Witch?" He pondered, not knowing who this other person was. He knew who Luke was- which actually was someone he rather not be near considering he had such endless energy.

"Ah.. Shes a lady that lives in Fugue forest. Her home is really deep into the woods. I dont think alot of people have been there." Fumbling her thumbs she looked down at them. "I kind of feel bad for her, since she seems so lonely. So I tend to visit every now and then. On my way I try to pick up Fugue mushrooms. Its one of her favorite things. Plus since I see them on the way anyways, its not a problem."

"Is that so.." He trailed, reaching for her hand to hold it- he squeezed. "Molly, your a wonderful person." He smiled. "I just wish you werent so reckless, coming into these woods that could get you lost. or the mines, and falling over from exhaustion. I mean, you really do need to value your health more, as the doctor says. Its very important."

Molly scowled, having let him take her hand she looked away embarassed. "I'm still alive, so stop worrying about me." She really didnt want to talk about her health, because nothing had happened in a whole week- she didnt need to hear it. "And I know these woods like it was the back of my hand."

"You say that, but you didnt know about this place."

"Because I tend not to visit the river side of the woods." She argued not wanting him to prove her wrong because of her pride- it was all she had.

"hm.." He smiled. "Were about to argue again. I dont like arguing with you."

She blushed even more and took her hand from him, turning away from him to hide her embarassed look. "I-I dont either.." she paused. "But weve only been arguing because of me. All of this, wouldnt have happened if I wasnt so defensive." She tried to open up to him, to let him know she wasnt really that great of a person as he had thought. "I only was fishing in the begining because.. I wanted to prove I was better than you!"

"Oh?" he said softly. "To know youd do such a thing- is admirable."

"Eh?" She turned to see him even closer to her. He was leaning into her space, and had reached up to caress her cheek.

"We should fish together more often, you know.." He added examining her face, her long lashes, rosy cheeks and soft lips. "I always enjoy your company." He had drew more near- and she gasped.

"I like you too." She said without thinking. "I want to fish with you as well."

It made him feel so complete. To know she wanted to spend time with him, and had even returned his feelings made him smile. He didnt know how this girl could get to him so much. "Good.." His words trailed off, as if there was no more to be said. It was like they were speaking with actions again.

From now on, they were going to fish all the time. He was looking forward to it.

Again her honey eyes had fluttered closed, and he drew near.

Such a wonderful offer, he decided to close the deal with a kiss.

FIN

Thanks for reading. 3