Title: Candy Shock

Pairing: Owen x Angela

Rating: T

Disclaimer: The plot, characters and setting for Harvest Moon all go to their respective owners…or, in this case… 'Owen'ers…hahahaha.

Author's Notes: I used to like Angela more with Gill, but now I think Molly x Gill is cute and Owen x Angela is adorable. Actually…I don't even care. Owen and Gill are amazing, so they can go with either one! Oh, babble babble….

ENJOY GUYS!

Part 1 – Owen's Concern

-START-

"Ow...ouch!" a voice cried from a small farm on the edge of Harmonica town. All the animals looked up from their grazing to peer at the owner's house. The scream had emerged from deep within its walls, traveling around the property swiftly. Hobbes, the owner's baby boar, snorted with surprise and nudged the door to the house open. Before the animal could check on its owner, another scream erupted from the woman's throat. "O-Oh…oh, Goddess! Ouch!"

The boar grunted and ran under the bed. Trembling, the little boar's cloven hooves flew to its face in fear.

Owen looked over from the stove to see his pregnant wife sitting at the kitchen table. Her hands were wrapped tightly around her enlarged belly and her cheeks were pale from sickness. Her skin glistened from sweat. He quickly shut off the oven and ran towards her, kneeling before her and taking her hands.

"Angela, are you alright?" he asked in alarm, looking at her with worry. "Do you need me to get the doctor now?"

She shook weakly and clenched his hands tightly. From her smile, it was easy for the red-haired man to see that she was fine, despite her obvious pain.

"Y-Yeah…the baby just kicked is all. I wasn't ready for it. Don't worry…" she laughed cheerfully.

"Do you need water?"

"Y-Yes please," she added with a nod.

The brown haired woman turned and used the table to support herself as her husband fetched her a glass from the sink. He filled it with cold water and made her drink in small amounts to avoid her choking. Finishing the water, color slowly flooded back to her cheeks. Owen heaved a sigh of relief.

"Man, that was a little scary, Angela," he said with a nervous laugh. "I'm glad I was home with you. If I'd been working at the Garmon mines, I wouldn't have known."

"I know," Angela said with a happy smile. "But don't worry! I can take it! And you were here, Owen. That's all that matters."

Even though carrying a baby was obviously stressful and frightening for her, she always kept a smile on her face. Angela was never angered by anything and tried to not let anything frighten her, which is why her farm was one of the most successful places in Harmonica town. Her crops and products had even boosted the economy and allowed Marimba Farm and Horn Ranch to expand just down the road. Her optimist attitude made her extremely well-liked as well…so he couldn't help but feel a little guilty as he watched her grow weaker and weaker because his baby was growing within her.

However, both of them had wanted a child. After trying for a few seasons, it finally happened. The Harvest Goddess had blessed them with their wish. It had been the happiest day of their lives when Irene had told them Angela was expecting.

Now, he wondered if his wife harbored any malice towards him. He knew that she loved the baby, but her pain must have been tremendous. She had a child growing inside her, for goodness' sakes.

"Angela…Are you glad we decided to do this?" Owen asked her as he went back to the stove to finish preparing dinner.

For a long time, Angela just stared at him with wide eyes. After a few minutes, she looked away uncomfortably.

"Have you…changed your mind about having the baby?" she asked sadly, stifling a small sob.

"Of course not!" he retorted, looking to her in shock. That wasn't what he'd met at all. "Oh Goddess, Angela…no I haven't. I just wanted to know if you regret our decision…"

"Decision?"

"To…try to have a baby," Owen spluttered with a little embarrassment. "I mean, this is a lot for a woman to go through. It's a pain that I'll never feel…and I'm your husband. Your pain should be my pain."

"It's not your fault," Angela said gently, spirits lifting. So he still wanted the baby and he still loved her. That fact alone filled her entire body with immeasurable joy. Her arms longed to be thrown around his neck, but her large belly made that difficult. Instead, she opted to caress his cheek with her hand, bringing his eyes to meets hers. "This pain I feel does not hurt me. I may feel uncomfortable, but there is no sorrow associated with it…" Angela explained. Owen didn't appear to understand her.

"But…"

"Don't feel guilty for our child," Angela said in a firm but loving tone. "This baby is not a pain we have to share. It is joy. Can you share that joy with me instead?" she asked sweetly as she lifted his square hand to her belly.

Owen obliged and let Angela lead his hand to the hardened bump. He could feel a small kick beneath his fingers and, at first, reeled with shock. Angela giggled and told him to touch again. The longer he felt his baby move within her, the more comfortable he became. After a while, his face became absolutely angelic. "T-This is our baby…" he muttered serenely.

"Yes," Angela said with a teary smile. Owen went to her and kissed her tenderly, careful to not crush her stomach as he leaned in to pull the most beautiful woman in the world into his strong, muscular arms.

"Maybe I'll stop working at the mines so I can be close to you."

"Oh Owen, don't do that," she beckoned, looking up at him. "Please, keep working and doing what you love, alright?"

"What about you?"

"I'll keep working the farm..." she was about to finish when Owen cut her off.

"The hell you will! Angela you have fields of crops to water and five animals to take care of, plus Hobbes," he said, gesticulating to the trembling boar beneath the couple's bed. Downtrodden and knowing Owen spoke the truth, her heart filled with sadness. She averted her fudge eyes to the floor.

"But Owen…you already work so hard…"

"I can handle some extra work," he negotiated. "Here, I'll take off two hours early until the baby's born so I can come home and help you. My old man won't mind!"

"Owen…"

"I don't know much about animals, but I can water crops! And I'll make sure to work really hard to ship more ores at work! I'll have all the stones refined by Mira, that way we might be able to ship some gemstones for extra profit."

Angela eyes watered again. The amount of effort he was willing to put in never ceased to amaze her.

Owen was a frank man. He didn't appreciate flowery words or honey-sweet romance because it felt unnecessary to him. Owen didn't sweep her away on indulgent vacations or buy her truckloads presents to show her how he felt. Every day and every night, he told Angela that he loved her.

When they first dated, he told her of his love.

When they were married in the town's church, he told her of his love.

After their first time together, he told her of his love.

And after that moment, she knew he would never stop.

"Owen…I love you. I'm so glad that I came to this town and fell in love with you."

The redhead looked to her with a smirk on his face. After another kiss, he lifted her against his chest and took her to their bed. As he set her down, the little boar's fright turned to embarrassment as it bolted out the door. Looming over her for a moment, he brought their lips together again in another searing kiss. "I know. And I love you to, Angela. I'll never think otherwise."

She knew she could believe him.

-END-

OWEEEEEEN…I have so many feelings about him. Lots of people don't like him, but out of all the bachelors I married and tried out, he was the sweetest by far.

R&R please, or you're welcome to flame me if you want about anything besides the pairing. Thanks again!