The Harvest Moon Tales Collection
FAERIES
Sasha squeezed her husband's hand as they made their way down the quiet, snowy streets of Mineral Town that Christmas Eve. Karen had fallen asleep - as had most of the town - and, with no presents left to wrap, the two shop owners had seen fit to slip outside and take in the sights.
Some of the houses were bedecked with holly, wreaths, and glittering garland. Little dots of colored Christmas lights blinked and fluttered in the soft breeze, like Yuletide faeries. At the inn, smoke curled from the chimney, and a warm amber glow lit the windows.
It never failed to take their breath away, no matter how long they'd lived there.
"The moon is beautiful tonight," Jeff said quietly, his face reddening as he looked at his wife. "Don't you want to just lay back and watch it move across the sky?"
Sasha nodded, laughing a bit when she saw him blush. "You're so nervous, Jeff! Why? I think that by now, you'd know I'll watch the moon with you if you want."
Jeff chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head, fiddling with his scarf. "It just... brings back memories, dear, that's all."
Sasha felt her own face grow warm. They'd had their first kiss by Mother's Lake, years and years ago, during the Moon Viewing Festival. Her spine still tingled with delight when she recalled the feeling, no matter how many times she kissed her husband. She felt Jeff's eyes on her, and she grabbed his hand silently and led him off to the west.
"Honey, why are we heading to Jack's place? He's probably asleep by now... is something wrong?"
"No, not there," Sasha whispered back as they crunched silently through the snow. As they started to pass through the farm, they found that Jack, in fact, was wide awake... with his wife.
"Oh! Umm... hi!" Jack and Mary pulled apart, their cheeks pink, Mary giving a little squeak of embarrassment and burying her face in Jack's chest. "Ha... err... so... what's up?"
"Sasha stifled a giggle and clapped her hands over her mouth, while Jeff simply looked mortified. "Jack, we're so, so sorry! We really didn't mean to - I mean - we were just going to Mother's Hill, and - I'm so sorry, Mary!"
"I... it's okay," Mary responded, her voice muffled beneath Jack's windbreaker. "Happy Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Clark."
"Oh! Right! Merry Christmas to both of you!" Sasha called as she hurried Jeff along. "Terribly sorry, you guys just go on, we won't bother you again-"
"No biggie!" Jack called, waving after them. "Merry Christmas! C'mon, Mary, let's head back inside, I don't want you to catch a cold," they heard him murmur, as they made it to the river at the far side of the farm.
Once they were safely past the hot springs and out of earshot, Sasha and Jeff looked at each other in silence for a moment, then collapsed into silent laughter.
"I... feel so bad... for that!" Sasha wheezed, trying to keep quiet. "I didn't think they'd-"
"Be like us?" Jeff chuckled. "You know, we could've just gone the long way... I like walking through the forest..." His expression turned curious. "So where were we going?" They were at the bank of Mother's Lake, and memories began to flood them both, filling their bellies with butterflies that had never really left.
She'd brought him up here to gaze at the moon and the stars, but seeing Jack and Mary kissing had ignited a bit of a fire in Sasha, and she placed a finger to Jeff's lips. "Here will be just fine. Since it's Christmas now, I think it'll be fine if you get one of your presents right here."
Jeff's heart beat faster. He was no fool - it was highly likely his present would be very similar to the scene they'd just interrupted. "You know, I was thinking of giving you the same present I think you're thinking of giving me..."
"I think you're thinking right," Sasha responded cheekily, grinning. "C'mere, you little goon." The two wrapped each other in a tight embrace, their lips meeting for a hungry, deep kiss. Their hands, though clad in thick gloves, began to wander over parts of their bodies that they'd be exploring further in a little while. When they pulled apart, their breathing was labored, and they were both grinning broadly - at the moment, and the fleeting memories rushing through them.
"You know, they say you can't recapture a magic moment," Sasha said, panting, as she finally got her breathing under control. "But I think we did alright, don't you?"
Jeff's face reddened again, but he nodded all the same. "I felt it."
"Along with my boobs." As her husband looked down and rubbed the back of his head, smiling in embarrassment, Sasha laughed and pulled him in for another quick kiss. "So... Jeff... do you wanna just lay back and watch the sky tonight? Or..." She grinned devilishly. "Would you like to go home and finish opening your present?"
Jeff pulled her closer and ran a gloved hand down to the small of her back, the other caressing her face gently. A soft fire burned in his gaze. "Can't we do both right here?" he asked, a bit shyly, as he smelled her peppermint breath washing over his face.
Sasha breathed in the clean scent of the cold night air, and pressed her body against her husband's. "I like the way you think."
Author's Notes: There! Nobody died or was otherwise miserable! Also, I can't seem to break away from the urge to write Mineral Town lately. Huh. Maybe I just need to get to know the other games' characters better. Anyway, feel free to leave a review, or submit more word ideas, if you'd like! Hope you enjoyed this one! Next entries will be "blue", "remember", "music", and "night".
