Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I have been sooooooo busy o.o I hope this chapter makes up for it!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harvest Moon. If I did... well... you would know it x.x

Chapter Ten: Broken

Tuck felt positively terrible over the next few days. Tyler was a grim stone around him who apparently hadn't forgiven his father for braking the promise. Tuck hated himself for it, too. He had offered a night ago to go down and watch it with his son, but Tyler snorted and walked away. Celia was rather disappointed in both of them, but tried encouragingly to bring them back together. Her attempts just kept failing and it only made Tuck feel worse to see his wife suffer from Tyler and his argument.

It was raining. Van would be here in a few minutes, for Tuck could see him heading across the bridge now. He was leaning up on a wall of the Blue Bar, still scolding himself as his mind pondered the hurt look on his son's face when they looked at each other. Haku even seemed to be mad at him, the horse making it rough to ride him and leaving Tuck no choice but to walk around today. Marcy, Marco, Daisy, Layla, and Spice didn't seem to understand what had happened, along with the chickens, so at least some animals still appreciated him. Salem seemed to avoid him in general most of the time, the cat was picky about who he wanted to see and when. Arnold... was, well, Arnold.

"You looking glum today," Van suddenly spoke, scaring the bajeebuz out of Tuck, who hadn't noticed him finally walk up.

"It's raining," Tuck tried to use as an excuse.

It was raining, though. The crystal drops of water were splattering Tuck and Van and leaving muddy puddles around their feet. It was a bitter day outside, fall coming on pretty quickly. The gray sky added to the gloom of the town as it appeared almost empty if not for Tuck, Van, and the small glow of lights coming from the buildings nearby. It was quiet and somber, which didn't help Tuck's already somber mood.

"Hmm," was Van's response as he started setting up his shop.

"What are you selling?" Tuck asked simply when he was done.

"The usual. Oh, and this," Van replied, reaching down into a trunk.

He pulled the thing out and Tuck blinked it surprise. It was a teddy bear. A cute fuzzy brown coat and creamy chocolate eyes. It looked a little stitched up in places, but still good. It wore a green bow tie, and green was Tyler's favorite color. Van handed it over to Tuck, who took it in his hands and examined it thoughtfully. It was rather adorable. Tuck had also heard that teddy bears could help cheer up those who were sad. Just holding it brightened Tuck up a bit and he wondered what Tyler would think of it. He would get it.

"How much?"

"2000 G," Van announced and Tuck felt his mouth drop. "That is a very special teddy bear, Tuck."

Tuck glanced back down at it. It looked like a, well, a normal teddy bear. Nothing looked special about it. He frowned, trying to determine whether the price would actually be worth it. Then it hit him. This was his son. He should be willing to do anything for the boy. His expression rather grim, he pulled out to money and placed it into Van's awaiting hands.

"Good choice," Van smiled, tucking the money away.

Tuck just nodded and turned away, starting off towards home. He was looking down at the teddy bear curiously and trying to decide why, when he got rid of the money, it felt like a heavy burden had been lifted. Maybe it just made him feel good about doing something for his son. Spending that much money to make up for what he had done. Then his heart sank again. What if Tyler went all 'you can't buy love' on him? Tuck frowned. He wasn't trying to buy Tyler's love, just trying to make up for a broken promise. Trying to make up for his stupid father skills.

He had reached the house without even realizing it and walked inside. Tyler had his own room apart from his and Celia now for he had built it for Tyler's birthday. It hadn't been ready on the birthday day, but he had finished it recently. The warm air inside felt comforting and he lightened up a bit, trying to think positively rather than negatively. he turned and opened the door to Tyler's room, spotting Tyler sitting on the floor by his bed and looking over something.

"Tyler," Tuck coughed, taking only one step into his son's room.

"Dad," Tyler acknowledged, turning around and gazing at the figure in his doorway.

Tuck wanted to frown in pain, but managed to hide the sorrow. Tyler's eyes were somber looking and held a kind of broken, angered look to them. His mouth was plastered in the grim line on his face, except for when he was with Reasha, Kate, and Mikey. His movements were stiff as he tried to push whatever he had been looking at back under his bed.

"What's that?" Tuck questioned.

"Something that me, Reasha, Kate, and Mikey are using. We use it to store things," Tyler lied smoothly, and Tuck didn't catch it.

"I got you something," his father choked.

"What?"

Tyler looked startled and taken aback, the angered glint to his eyes fading for a moment before returning. The eight year old stood up and motioned that his dad could come him. He sat down on his bed as Tuck made his way up, the teddy bear behind his back. Tuck felt his hands go numb, he was holding the thing so tight.

"Here," he finally managed, holding out the stuffed creature.

Tyler looked rather dumbfounded, trying to figure out if this was real or a joke. He crossed his arms, blinked a couple times, then finally uncrossed them and reached out to take the bear. He looked at it, trying to figure out what to do when he glanced back at his father, who was smiling hopefully. Tyler wanted to snort, realizing his dad wanted his forgiveness. He didn't, though, and instead said a simple thank you before placing the teddy bear upon his pillow. Tuck looked slightly torn, but seemed to think that Tyler accepting the gift meant they had gained some ground with each other.

"Alright, then," Tuck nodded. "I've got some work tonight. Reasha, Mikey, Rock, Lumina, Sam, and Kate are coming for dinner. Grant has gotten busy with work again, poor guy. Any requests on food?"

Tyler shook his head. Tuck nodded and made his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Tyler really didn't know why he was was this mad. It unnerved him, but he felt just so disappointed. The bond between him and his dad had always been so cool. They both loved animals and farming. They both loved watching the sunset and being with Celia. One broken promise seemed to have just damaged all that. His father had been so amazing, so awesome, and now it all just seemed to have fallen apart. It made Tyler feel sick and disoriented. As soon as his father left, he wept softly, not wanting anyone to hear him. What bugged him the most was his father kept expecting forgiveness, kept trying to earn back his love, but Tyler didn't want to give it that easily. The damage had been done and Tyler wasn't sure it was possible to fix. He was only eight, he didn't understand very much of what in the world was going on.

He stopped weeping and wiped away the stray tears and snot. He leaned back on the wall his bed was up against and glanced at the teddy bear. Tyler wanted to grab it and hold it, but he wanted to burn it at the same time. Instead, he tossed it upon the floor and watched it stare at him with creamy brown eyes. This unnerved Tyler more and he pulled off a blanket nearby and threw over the teddy bear. He sighed and began to stare around the room, finding his mind wandering. He didn't know how long he sat there, but, suddenly, Reasha was standing before him and giving him a puzzled look, Mikey behind her and Kate beside her.

"Hello? Come back to Earth, Tyler, we've got things to do," Reasha called, wavign her hands in front of his face wildly.

"Reasha, stop," Tyler groaned, knocking the girl's hands away.

Reasha mused for a moment before shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know?"

"Impollible," Mikey tried, getting an eye-roll from Reasha.

"Get off your lazy butt. It stopped raining a bit ago. We can go play in the puddles with Haku and all," Kate grinned, trying to brighten the mood. She snatched Tyler's hands and yanked him off of his bed.

"Teddy!"

"What?" Tyler questioned, standing up from where he had fallen on the ground.

"Teddy," Mikey repeated, pointing at the teddy bear on the floor, the blanket that had covered it gripped in his hands.

"Don't drool on it Mikey, it's adorable," Reasha muttered, batting her brother away.

"No, let him drool on it, I don't care," Tyler muttered, not sure if he meant it.

"Come on guys," Kate moaned, wanting to get outside. She grabbed Reasha and Tyler's arms before pulling them out, Mikey following along, leaving the teddy bear on the floor.

Outside it was rather nippy. Arnold was lying in his dog house, but barked a friendly greeting from inside. Salem looked up from where he was eating in the food bowl. The cat yawned lazily at them, yellow eyes glittering before he continued to eat. Mikey waddled over and stroked him a bit before he had to toddle after the others, who were heading into the barn.

It smelled like a musty barn, that was for sure. Mixed with the fresh scent of fodder, cow, horse, goat, sheep, and droppings. Reasha and Kate crinkled their noses, trying to get used to it while Tyler stepped over to Haku. He padded the horse gently and motioned for him to come along outside with them. Reasha and Kate rushed back outside, gulping the cold fresh air happily, then laughing at themselves. Mikey trotted out with Tyler, who was leading Haku. They quickly shut the barn doors and stood for a moment in the pasture. Then Reasha squealed as Kate splashed some water up at her.

"Not nice," Reasha grunted, crossing her arms. Kate merely laughed.

They played around for quite a bit. Tyler was stiff during the games, but he could never be somber around his friends for very long. They were all soaked tot he bone and Reasha shivered, whether from cold or delight no one could tell. Kate wrapped her arms around herself and laughed as Mikey tripped into a puddle. The little boy looked up, rather displeased and surprised at the fall when Haku trotted up. The horse bit the back of Mikey's clothes, lifting him up before putting him back down on his feet. Mikey giggled with pleasure. Haku snorted as if to tell Mikey not to do that again.

"Supper," Rock called, padding on out and motioning them inside. "And dry yourselves off!"

"Coming," Reasha called, squeezing some water from her violet dress before darting over the fence and over to her father. Mikey followed suite, but he crawled under the fence instead of over.

"Come along, Tyler, I heard your mom made that famous soup she's so good at," Kate grinned, before following the other two.

Tyler was on her heels, but at the doorway, Rock placed a hand on Tyler's shoulder and motioned for the boy to come with him. "Let's take a short walk around the pasture."

Tyler blinked, but didn't argue as Rock began to lead him around. They walked in silence and Tyler knew Rock must be trying to gather his thoughts to bring up what he had to say. Tyler knew what it would be. It would be the situation between him and his dad. He frowned, but didn't turn and bolt like he wanted to. Instead, he kept in step with Rock, who was walking slow so Tyler could keep up. He stared at the ground, wondering what Rock would do to try and fix the broken problem.

"Tyler, it's difficult to explain," Rock started.

"You don't need to explain. It's his fault," Tyler muttered quickly.

Rock frown, saddened by the answer. "No, it's not, Tyler. It was confusing for him. There are situations where that happens and you forget what's most important."

"You should never forget what's most important," Tyler growled, crossing his arms and looking up at Rock defiantly.

"Well then scold yourself because you have," Rock responded gently.

Tyler stopped and stared at Rock like the older man had just admitted he was cheating on Lumina or something. "I have never forgotten!"

"Yes, you have. You forgot the importance of the love between you and your father," Rock retorted, stopping as well to give Tyler a cold stare. The young boy winced.

"So. He started it."

"You should end it. Your father knows he did something wrong but only you can forgive him," Rock pressed, still staring down at Tyler, anger glinting in his blue eyes.

"Well, he shouldn't have messed up. He knows better. He's better than that, He's-" Tyler started, but Rock cut him off, shaking his head and waving away what Tyler was saying.

"You know, Tyler, Reasha gets mad at me a lot. I'm a father too. It's hard work to keep up with children and the work that needs to get done to take care of you. The problem with your father's job is he doesn't get days off and he probably never will. It's hard to please everyone and everything, and you have o understand that you'll face that problem to when you're a father someday," Rock edged, voice pressing at Tyler to try and understand.

"What?"

"What I'm trying to say, Tyler, is that we're all human. All father's will make mistakes, even yours. He did a lot when you were little, you just don't remember. You can go on hating your father for one mistake when he will probably do many more, or you can learn to forgive and understand that no one is going to be perfect and you're not going to always have him here to love you, so you better take it while you have it."

Was that a good chapter? I hope it was... It was to try and start getting Tyler to understand things before I fastforward to the good, bad, and ugly teenage years... xD I'll try to update soon, but I can't promise anything, so hold out for me, m'kay? Oh, and review if you would like D

Love ya all!

-Deyoxis