Rain pounded against the roof, lightning streaked through, and thunder echoed through the valley. A knock came at door and Evelyn answered.

"Rowan! Do come in from the rain, dear girl!"

Rowan smiled and stepped inside, careful not to get water everywhere. "Hey, Granny. I brought the hot peppers for George."

"Oh, you sweet girl! You came all the way here through that dreadful rain just to bring George his peppers?"

Rowan nodded. "Alex mentioned that his knees were acting up and hot peppers were the only thing that seemed to help. And George sent me a letter yesterday asking for some." She handed her the basket of hot peppers. "I hope this will be enough. It's my entire first harvest, so I hope it'll last awhile."

"Oh, dear, this is more than enough to last my husband a good few months." Evelyn reached up and touched her cheek. "You're such a sweetheart!"

Rowan smiled. "Anything to help out."

"Have you eaten anything yet? I was just about to make breakfast." Evelyn asked.

Rowan shook her head. "No, I haven't had breakfast yet." She looked out the window as the wind picked up. "I had to get in what harvest I could before the storm got any worse and cover the rest of the crops."

"Well, come on then. You can set your jacket and boots by the door."

Rowan did as instructed, then went to the kitchen. "Can I help with anything?"

"Sure, dear."

"Tell me what to do."

Alex woke to the smell of fresh pancakes and got of bed, rubbing his eyes as a knock came from the door.

"Alex, dear?"

Alex opened his door. "Morning, Grandma."

Evelyn smiled. "Good morning, dear. Breakfast will be done soon."

Alex nodded. "I'll get wash up, then come join you guys."

Evelyn nodded and went back to the kitchen as Alex headed to the bathroom.

Showering quickly, he pulled on a clean pair of underwear and sweatpants before heading down the hall to the kitchen as he dried his hair with a towel.

"Good, breakfast is ready." Evelyn said as he came into the kitchen.

Alex sat down in his seat and smiled at the food on the table. "Pancakes, hashbrowns, fried eggs, and fresh milk? Now that's a complete breakfast!"

"Well eat up, dear. There's plenty." Evelyn said, smiling.

"Granny, let me take this so you can sit down?"

Alex nearly choked on his milk and he looked over to see Rowan standing there with his grandmother. "What're you doing here?"

"Rowan is joining us for breakfast. It was the least I could do for her since she brought your grandfather's hot peppers all the way over in this dreadful weather." Evelyn said, taking a seat.

George grunted as Rowan brought the rest of the food over to the table before taking a seat across from Alex. "You better not catch a cold on my account."

Rowan smiled. "I'll be fine, George. Besides, it'd be worth it if it meant less pain for you."

George nodded approval and took a bite. "Well, thanks again."

Rowan smiled. "Of course!" She looked at Evelyn. "Thanks letting me join you for breakfast."

"You work so hard, dear. I won't stand by when you forget to eat." Evelyn playfully pointed a crooked finger at her.

Rowan chuckled at that. "I didn't mean to forget, Granny. The storm was getting pretty bad already when I got up this morning. I had to take care of the crops otherwise I'd have lost my whole harvest."

Alex watched and ate in silence as his grandmother and Rowan talked, noticing how comfortable everyone was. The conversation flowed naturally, even when his grandfather pitched in here and there. He had to smile at that. Rowan had really come into her own since she first arrived at the beginning of spring.

"Alex, do you want any more pancakes?"

He looked up to see Rowan offering him the plate. "Sure, thanks."

"You should stay until the storm lets up, dear."

Rowan shook her head as she pulled on her boots and her jacket. "I'll be fine. I've got to stop by Pierre's first, but I'll head straight home afterwards. I promise." She hugged the old woman. "Thanks for breakfast, Granny."

"You're welcome any time dear." Evelyn smiled. "Be safe going home?"

Rowan nodded. "I will."

Evelyn smiled. "Well, you should hurry then."

Rowan opened the door and pulled her hood over her head before stepping out into the rain and shutting the door behind her. She hurried off to Pierre's and was glad to be inside again.

"Rowan? What're you doing out in this weather?"

"I needed some supplies, Pierre." She said, smiling. "And I wanted to drop off this for you and your family."

Pierre opened the small box and smiled. "You didn't have to, Rowan."

She smiled. "I know Abigail's favourite cake is chocolate, so I made extra for everyone."

Pierre smiled. "Well, we certainly appreciate it. Now, what can I get for you today?"

"I just need ten of each seed please. Once the storm lets up I'm going to expand the crop fields again. I heard summer is a good time of year to get a great yield of crops."

"It most definitely can be." Pierre gathered the seeds for her, then took her payment. "Be careful going home? The storm doesn't look like it'll let up any time soon."

Rowan smiled, tucking the seeds into her pack. "I will. Thanks, Pierre." She hurried to the door, pulling her hood up as she went outside.

"Hey."

Rowan looked up, surprised to see Alex all dressed up for the storm. "Hey, what're you doing out here?"

"I told Grandma I'd make sure you got home safe."

Rowan smiled at that. "You don't have to, Alex."

"The storm's pretty bad. It wouldn't be right if I let you go out alone like this."

"Well, then let's hurry before it really picks up."

"Hey, boy."

Luka jumped up in joy as Rowan and Alex walked through the door. He barked, dancing circles around them as they pulled off their jackets and shoes.

"I'll go make some tea." Rowan said, heading for the kitchen.

Alex stood by the door, only slightly regretting being soaked to the bone.

"Do you want to get out of those wet clothes?" Rowan asked, looking at him.

"I don't have a change of clothes."

Rowan set the tea kettle on the stove and lit the burner. "Let me grab you a blanket to wrap yourself in so we can get your clothes dried."

Alex watched as she hurried into her bedroom and came back with a large fleece blanket.

"Here's a towel too, so you can dry off quicker. Bathroom's down the hall on the left."

Alex thanked her and went to the bathroom, grateful to get out of his wet clothes. He kept his underwear on, thankful that they didn't get too wet, but gathered everything else together. Wrapping the blanket around himself, he brought his clothes out to Rowan.

"Where do you want me to put these?"

"Here, I'll set them by the fireplace. Why don't you follow me?"

Alex followed her down the hall and into her bedroom, watching as she set his clothes in front of the fireplace.

"Here, sit."

Alex took a seat on the love seat as the tea kettle whistled.

"I'll be right back, the tea's ready."

Alex watched as she hurried to the kitchen. He looked around, blushing a bit. He had never been in a girl's room before.

Rowan's room was simple enough with a bed and dresser. She had some family photos on the mantle of the fireplace, a few potted plants, some paintings on the walls. It was simplistic but clear that she added her own personal touch.

"Here. Be careful."

He looked up as Rowan handed him a mug of tea. "Thanks." He saw she hadn't really changed yet. "You should change too before you catch a cold."

Rowan nodded. "Ya, you're probably right." She set her mug down on the dresser and pulled out some fresh clothes. "I'll just be a minute."

"Take your time. We'll be here awhile it sounds like."

Rowan hurried to the bathroom and closed the door. As she changed out of her wet clothes, she noticed her heart was racing. 'What's going on?' She quickly pulled on a fresh pair of underwear and a nightgown, letting her hair down from its bun. She looked at herself in the mirror and noticed she was blushing. 'It couldn't be because there's a guy in my bedroom, could it?' Shaking her head, she gathered up her wet clothes and left the bathroom.

When she returned to her bedroom, Alex was standing by the window, looking out.

"How's it look out there?"

"Doesn't look like it'll let up any time soon." He took a sip of the tea. "Might have to stay here a bit longer."

Rowan ignored her blushing and set her clothes near his. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need."

Alex watched her grab her mug and sit down. "Thanks, Rowan."

She looked at him and smiled. "Sure."

"Hey, do you have a phone? I should call my grandparents and let them know we're fine."

"Ya, sure. It's by the front door."

"Thanks, I'll be right back."

Rowan sat in silence, watching the fire dance and listening to the thunder outside. She had always loved the rain, the sense of peace she felt, the smell, the feel of it on her skin. And it was better out in Stardew Valley, more pure, than it was in the city.

Looking up as Alex rejoined her, she asked, "Everything alright?"

He nodded and took a seat next to her. "Ya. Grandma was worried, but she calmed down when I called."

"That's good." Rowan looked outside. "It looks like it's the brunt of the storm now. Shouldn't be more than an hour or so before it lets up."

"So, farm girl, tell me more about yourself."

"You should hurry back before it starts up again." Rowan said, standing on her porch as Alex stepped down.

"I will. Thanks for the tea."

Rowan smiled. "Thanks for walking me home."

Alex returned her smile and waved, pulling up his hood and hurrying down the road.

As Rowan went back inside, leaning against the door with a hand to her chest, and Alex jogged down the road back into town, both were thinking about their time together. They both enjoyed it, both had plenty to talk about, joke about, and tease about. They really got along well with each other.

'Do I have a crush on him?' Rowan wondered, thinking about how much she liked his smile and his personality- even the cocky bits.

'Do I have a crush on her?' Alex wondered, thinking about how cute he thought she was, how much he liked her smile and her laugh, her personality.

Rowan made her way to her love seat and sat down, opening her book as Luka came up and joined her, and back in town, Alex was closing the door to his house and taking off his shoes. Both smiled as they realized what their answer was.