Hello!

Here's another Rune Factory one-shot! :) I wrote a little summary for it a few weeks ago... but then recently I got an idea for it and wrote it in one of my inspiration notebooks, then I wrote the story. So, here y'are! :D

HUGE shout-out to my semi-beta-reader, he is absolutely the BEST, and helped me through this one, even when I got stuck. :) He's the best. Wait, I said that... oh well! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Rune Factory. If I did, you would be able to play as a female in Frontier. ;)

Enjoy!

I pulled back the curtains, blinking out at the bright sun glinting off the snow. The beam of light streaming through the window lit up the photograph on the mantel above my fireplace, and I bit my lip. A young couple, adorned in extravagant wedding garments, smiled at the photographer, her head on his shoulder. Both had dark, chestnut hair and hers fell nearly to her waist.

I reached up and twisted a section of my hair around my index finger, the dark brown locks tangling slightly. That day seemed so long ago… our wedding, Spring second, three years ago.

It feels longer. My loving, wonderful husband, Raguna, hasn't been home for two years. I remember the day so well, as if it were yesterday… and yet, it feels like it's been a hundred years.

He woke early. I didn't realize he'd gotten up until he clumsily dropped his broadsword on the hardwood floor, startling me. He told me that he hadn't wanted me to wake up, that he was just going exploring for the day, and was going to slip out and let me sleep.

Laughing, I'd told him that if he'd done so, I would have panicked and gone searching for him. He'd smiled sheepishly, a common expression for him, that I'd fallen in love with. He agreed that perhaps it was better that I knew.

And of course, now that I was awake, I had to fuss over him and fix him a lunch. "It gets cold and tiring, exploring dungeons you know, Raguna." I'd informed him.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Felicity." He'd smiled lovingly. "All your fussing is probably what keeps me alive these days."

I'd just giggled and handed him his meal, making sure he had all the armor, medicines and tools he'd need.

After about ten minutes of my dashing around, Raguna gently grabbed my hand, chuckling. "Whoa, calm down for a minute, Felicity. I go out into the dungeons often."

"I know…" I had sighed, "I just worry about you."

"Hey." He had grasped my shoulders, turning me to face him. "I'll be fine. I'll come back, I promise."

Nodding, I'd smiled a little. "Okay. I'll be waiting."

Smiling, he'd kissed me goodbye and left, reminding me that he loved my chocolate cookies, and I should make some for him when he came home.

My light blue eyes clouded over with tears at the bittersweet memory. The last time I'd touched him, felt him, heard his deep, smooth voice. I miss him. Sometimes, I miss him so much that it hurts. My heart starts aching, and my stomach twists in knots. Every night, I cry myself to sleep, because he isn't here. And every morning I wake, a smile pulling at my lips with hope. It's a new day, and maybe, just maybe, it will be the day he comes back. Back here, where he belongs. Home, with me. He promised me that he would return, and I promised him I would wait. So that's what I do now. I wait.

Rolling up my sleeves, I pulled out the ingredients for chocolate cookies, absentmindedly mixing up a batch. I made them every day. I didn't know when he'd be back, but he wanted them, and I wanted to be prepared for him the moment he returned.

Everyone else says he's dead. People offer condolences, assistance, and tell me that if I need anything, they're there. Dad comes by often, to make sure I'm not 'wasting away to nothing'. But I'm fine. I know he'll be back. I can't sit around pining, wallowing in misery while he's gone. I have to stay prepared, ready for when he returns. I keep busy. After all, I don't want my husband to come home to a dilapidated, rundown house and a sunken-eyed, broken wife. I want him to come home to a bright, cheery atmosphere, a smiling wife, and chocolate cookies. Yes, I'll stay strong. Because he'll be back, and then we can just start where we left off.

Sliding the tray of unbaked cookies into the oven, I washed my hands and wandered over to the fireplace, the flames dancing happily across the hearth making me smile. Raguna always loved fire.

"Aw, please let me light the fire, Felicity?" He'd ask me in the middle of the smoldering summer. "I like to watch it dance. Fire always looks happy. It lifts my mood, and reminds me that even the most dangerous things can be small and innocent."

Of course I'd let him. How could I refuse such a small thing that would bring a smile to his face? Life's too short to be petty and deny people small pleasures. The fire made him so happy, and his happiness made me joyful and content.

I silently wondered if, wherever he was, he was warm. If there was a fire. If he had sufficient food, and shelter. I desperately hoped so, and sent a silent prayer that he be kept safe.

For the first year, I'd gone searching for him. I looked in every dungeon I could find, hoping to find any trace of him. I should have asked him where he'd gone. I should have known. If only I'd asked, maybe I could have found him. He was probably lost somewhere, hurt. But, slowly, I stopped blaming myself. I just hoped and prayed that someone had found him, that someone had taken him in and helped him. Because I knew he was still out there. He would come back. He'd find me.

My father constantly worried over me. Afraid that my illness would return, with Raguna's disappearance. I reminded him that the sickness was a cursed stone, and that Raguna had gotten rid of it. It wasn't coming back. But he wasn't convinced, and it was all I could do to keep him from treating me like a crystalline vase, ready to shatter at a moment's notice.

I was stronger than that. I wouldn't break. The solitude built me up, made me stronger. I was ready, oh, so ready for him to be back. But for now, I was alright. I would make it through.

Bianca always tried to tell me I should reconcile myself with that fact that he would never come back. That I could wish he's still alive if I wanted to, but he most likely wasn't, and I needed to know the odds were he would never return. It was realistic.

But I didn't think so. What was the point of hoping for him to return, and wishing for his safety, if inside, I already left him for dead? No. No, he could be dead in their hearts, but not mine. Never, would he ever, ever be dead to me. Sometimes, I think he's here. Images of him sitting in his favorite chair by the fire, cooking at the stove, stomping the snow off his boots as he walks in. It's almost as if he's haunting me, teasing me with visions and memories. But I know, one day, they'll be real again. He'll sit in his chair, and he'll cook with me, effectively burning himself so that I have to take care of him. Whining outside as I lock the door, refusing to let him in unless he removes his mud-covered boots.

The smell of my cookies roused me from my reverie, and I turned, staring at the oven for a moment. Shaking my head slightly to clear it, I picked up the two mitts I quilted to protect my hands, and pulled the cookies out, setting them on a rack to cool. Laying down the mitts, I heard a footstep on the porch.

I sighed. Dad didn't need to check on me again, he'd come yesterday. I walked over to the door, determined to let him know I was fine. None too gently twisting the knob, I pulled open the door and froze, the wintery air swirling around my feet.

The snow-covered figure on the doorstep was tall, with shaggy hair and a bushy beard. But his chocolate colored eyes were alight, and the broadsword sheathed at his hip was familiar.

It couldn't be… but… it had to be… I'd waited so long, certain I'd be ready for him, and yet… I couldn't believe my eyes. Surely this was another hallucination. But I didn't have a memory like this… Raguna had always been clean-shaven.

When he spoke, all doubt was completely erased from my mind. "Sorry I took so long, Felicity."

Tears stung my eyes and choked me as I threw myself at him, arms around his neck. "I missed you…" I whispered.

I felt his rough hands smooth my hair, and he said, "Not as much as I missed you."

I couldn't speak anymore, and just sobbed into his shirt. He was back. He'd come back…

"Hey now, you are going to get sick." His voice sounded tight, but he spoke with a light tone, and I shrugged, still unable to talk. I didn't care. He was home.

But he obviously cared, because next thing I knew, he'd swept me up and carried me into the house. Kicking the door shut behind himself, I peered over his shoulder and frowned.

"R-Raguna," I managed, "You're tracking snow in."

He let out a hearty laugh, and I felt a smile on my face, wider than any smile since he'd left. I'd missed that sound so much…

"I should have known I still couldn't get away with that," He set me on the sofa delicately and grinned down at me silently.

I just gazed up at him, taking him in through the misty veil of tears that obscured my vision. He was here…

"You have no idea how I've missed you," He said gently, sitting beside me.

"Oh, I think I might." My throat hurt so badly, the lump still not gone. It must have shown in my voice, because Raguna put a hand on my head.

"No talking for you, little missus. I am going to get you tea." Smiling, he waved off my protests and trotted over to the kitchen. "And I promise not to burn myself!" He teased loudly.

I giggled, cupping my chin in my hand as I watched him. His movements in the kitchen were slightly clumsy, but he managed to find the kettle without hurting himself. As he filled it with water, he looked around a bit, as if refamiliarizing himself with the space, and he froze.

I frowned. The kettle sat under the faucet, overflowing with water. "Raguna…" I stood and walked to him, shutting off the water and asking, "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." His dark eyes misted over and smiled down at me. "It's just…" He trailed off, inhaling deeply. "You baked me cookies."

"You wanted them." I pointed out.

And that's when he lost it. I embraced him silently, and he just cried.

"It was so long… I thought I'd never get home… and yet… why?" He asked between deep sobs.

"Simple," I answered, rubbing his back and nestling my head in his shoulder, "I said I'd wait."

There you are! :) I hope you liked it, and if so, please leave a review! Even if you didn't, please review - I'd like to know why. :) Have a lovely day, and God bless!

~Swaggy-chan