Howdy, hope y'all had a good Easter. Thanks again reviewers:

Chicken Yuki: Why thank you, and this chapter'll clear up exactly who Lumina ends up with. The scene between Rock and Lumina awkward? My writing awkward or their interaction awkward, in any case I apologise. Well the "sociopathic kleptomaniac" as you so amusingly put it is quite a few chapters away, but you may just be able to work it out before hand :)

YukiShinoya444: Yes Rock and Lumina are somewhat awkward aren't they? I suppose I'd have to say that some couples at young ages seem to be a little like that, at least a lot of the couples I know, which is vaguely depressing ;) But they are pretty much opposites, sometimes opposites attract... sometimes they don't. But thank you, and yeah Lumina's one of my favourite HM girls too, cute and smart.

Awesome Rapidash: Well this chapter should answer all of your questions... :)

Momo-chan12: Why thankye, lol, yeah all that money would make muku-muku one rich murderous yeti and might explain why Daryl is usually so obsessed ;)

like red on a rose: Thank you, so you don't think the LuminaXRock pairing is awkward? So many different views... well I'm glad you like em, but so far they're just friends.

And now mes amis, time for the update...

10. Starlight

Muffy strolled down the street towards the farm, carrying a small wicker basket that was covered with a red and white checked cloth. She swung her arms forwards and back, swinging the basket merrily. She arrived at her destination and looked around for the farmer, she'd been wanting to tell him how she felt for a long time. She had visited him often, bringing him gifts of cookies and brandy snaps and he had returned the favour with gifts of pretty ores. She had an entire collection covering her bedroom shelf, they shone in the light like fallen stars.

Her emerald eyes surveyed the farm and she spotted him patting his dog, Pepper, stupid mutt. It had attacked her on every occasion, for some reason it seemed to dislike her.

"Hey, Jack!" She called, walking over and swinging her hips. His eyes fell on her and then descended lower to the wicker basket.

He grinned surveying the basket. "Oh, you didn't have to bring me stuff again! You're too kind Muffy." He told her, taking the basket from her and removing the cloth. Brandy snaps and cookies, it had to be a special occasion. He looked at her expectantly and she grinned, her cheeks flushing rose red.

"I guess you've realised I've got something to tell you..." she admitted, her cheeks begin to glow even more.

He nodded, "it would explain the feast."

"Yeah, see I think you're totally cute! I have done for a while. So I was wondering if you wanted to like... date or something. I know the guy usually asks the girl, but I figured times are changing. So you want to?" She asked, blushing furiously, her green eyes widening hopefully.

Jack scratched the back of his head nervously, he had expected this to come, but perhaps not so soon. "Oh jeez Muffy, I like you a lot but..."

She smiled and shrugged. "Don't worry about it, I just thought I'd check. But... if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Thanks Muffy." He said, grateful that she hadn't started to cry or anything. He watched as she walked off, feeling slightly guilty that the jump in her step had disappeared. He sighed and continued with his farm work.

That evening Rock sat at the bar stirring his drink thoughtfully with a cocktail umbrella. Those things were so colourful and cheery, it was almost depressing. He could feel Muffy's jade eyes upon him, he knew her intuition would kick in, she was the most intuitive person he knew.

"What's up?" She asked eventually and he looked up at her with inquiring brown eyes.

"Now what would make you think that something was wrong?" He asked casually.

"Because," Muffy said with a knowledgeable smile. "You're sitting there stirring your drink that you haven't touched with a colourful cocktail umbrella."

"Why is that the most depressing thing I could be doing?"

"Because you could have drunk that and ordered another or spoke to me. Were you heartbroken you would have already drunk three stone oils, instead you're on your first blue punch." She pointed out. He took a sip of his drink and raised his eyebrows. "So I think you're both depressed and confused."

"You know, you're too intuitive for your own good Muff, but it's nothing... nothing I want to talk about anyway." He assured her. "But how about you, you seem a little off today, what happened?"

She smiled and took a seat at the bar next to him, fetching herself a Cherry Pink. She looked at the deep pink liquid and took a big gulp. "And they say men aren't intuitive. You really wanna know what's wrong?"

Rock nodded. "I told Jack I liked him today," she admitted. "He said he didn't feel the same way. That's two guys in the last month. I'm starting to feel like I'm facing a dead end."

"Ah, well if it's any consolation, you turned me down." He shrugged, it wasn't like he cared anymore, he wanted Lumina.

She smiled. "Yeah, but I just... I feel like I'm never gonna get married. None of my relationships work out." She sighed. "I'm gonna die an old maid."

"That's not true Muff, trust me you're really sweet and beautiful. You just haven't found the right guy yet..." He told her.

"I'm gonna die before I marry." She told him sadly. He shook his head and placed a hand comfortingly on her back.

"No you're not Muff, it'll all be okay." He promised her. She looked at him, as though for the first time, he really had changed. He used to be so immature and not give a donkey's arse about anyone but himself, but suddenly he seemed caring. She smiled, over Jack already, now she had Rock.

"I think you're right, I'm over Jack already. Thanks Rock." She said softly, batting her thick eyelashes. Rock remained oblivious and finished his blue punch.

"No problem, I'm gonna head on home." He told her, leaving the bar door. Muffy pouted, she wished he wouldn't leave so soon.

Rock breathed in the air, it was feeling warmer already as it approached midnight, the next day would be summer. He longed for summer, a time when he could relax in the warm grass. Maybe Lumina would finally see him as a potential boyfriend, rather than just her best friend. Still the summer looked better and brighter already.

Lumina gazed out of the window, it was so dark outside and so mysterious. The stars seemed to twinkle in anticipation of the summer; she wanted to wait till midnight so that she knew it was the summer. She didn't know why, it seemed a ridiculous ritual, but somehow it felt right. It wasn't as though she could sleep anyway, nightmares of Romana had plagued her sleep recently. A chill ran down her spine, she couldn't sleep again, not until she knew those dreams would stop. But she couldn't know, maybe the dreams would plague her forever.

The door creaked open and she turned to see Rock enter the room cautiously.

"Oh, you're awake..." He said in surprise. She nodded, swallowing down the sad tears that were trying to make their way out of her eyes.

"I couldn't sleep." She told him, her voice soft. He nodded, he knew she hadn't slept well lately, he could see how much the Romana issues bothered her. But he had sworn to do anything in his power to solve the mysteries behind her death. Yet he said nothing, he hadn't told her that he knew about her constant nightmares, he could see how much she hated being pitied. She hated having to cry to him all the time, so he kept his mouth shut for once in his life.

"I guess I'll try to turn in..." She said softly, expecting him to snuggle into his own bed. Instead he slipped out of his shirt and continued to stare at her.

"Or I could stay in the same bed... not in that way of course... but I mean, I haven't been sleeping well," he lied. "It might help prevent my nightmares."

She watched him suspiciously but nodded, she was pretty sure he knew about her insomnia and nightmares but he refused to mention it, which was okay with her. He smiled and snuggled down with her, wrapping his arms gently around her. She closed her eyes and melted into sleep, induced by his warmth.

The next day they continued to question the people of Forget-Me-Not valley, it was a warm summers day, but not yet too hot, so they decided it would be wise to question people before they got hot and bothered. They started with the twin pyrotechnicians Patrick and Kassey. They headed to the big building the two lived in that looked rather like a big firework itself, it was made of dark wood and stood tall above some of the houses. Lumina and Rock climbed the small rope that led to the top, it looked like a fuse leading up to a firework.

"What do you want youngin's?" Kassey asked gruffly, he was sitting on the floor playing a game with his younger brother Patrick. They both looked a little like angry gnomes with their tiny height and frowning features. They were both balding, with one small strand firing from the top of their head and the rest of the grey hair forming around like a circle of clouds. They both had crooked noses and piercing brown eyes as well as thick grey eyebrows and a long moustache that trailed off like a fountain.

The only difference between them was their clothes, underneath they both wore a white short-sleeved shirt and shorts, but their overalls were different. Kassey wore royal blue overalls with a small yellow smiley face imprinted in the middle, however Patrick wore lighter clothes, a light turquoise colour with a pink flower imprinted where Kassey's smiley face was. They both wore questionable brown sandals a strange, evil mastermind looking gloves.

"Morning," Patrick greeted with a small wave of his gloved hand. Kassey turned to Rock and burst out laughing.

Rock frowned and placed his hands on his hips. "What's so funny?"

"Heard you struck out with Muffy!" He laughed, seeming a little too overjoyed.

"So, I don't see you married!" Rock pointed out angrily.

"Shh, don't insult him, we need him to answer us." Lumina pointed out with a hiss in Rock's ear.

"I think it's them," Rock whispered, his eyes narrowing. Lumina sighed.

"What's it to you?" Kassey asked, paying no attention to the mini-conversation Rock and Lumina had held.

"Nothing... just, you must have struck out yourself... why are you so happy that Muffy turned me down anyway?" He asked with a suspicious frown.

"I... uh," Kassey said turning a deep red in colour, he was blushing.

Lumina gasped in realization, "You have a thing for Muffy."

"Shh, don't go spreading it around." He hissed, his eyes widening.

Lumina smiled sweetly. "Oh we won't, as long as you answer some of our questions."

"Alright, the second best pyrotechnician and I will be happy to answer." He promised.

"Good. Well we were wondering if you knew anything about the missing money or the key that my grandmother was supposed to give me, do you?"

Kassey frowned and scratched his chin while Patrick shrugged. "Nah, all we got was our one thousand gold, why do you ask?" Patrick asked.

"I was wondering if someone in the village got the key, but no one we've asked so far even knows who has it." She frowned.

"Sorry can't help you, we're as oblivious as you," Patrick told her.

"Yeah, so scat." Kassey ordered, frowning.

"Okay, we'll go, but um... what did you spend your money on?" Lumina asked curiously.

"Well we were gonna split it 50 50, but Kassey decided to buy the "ultimate" firework, he's launching it off sometime this summer." Patrick said, a hint of resentment in his voice.

"Cool. See ya." Rock said quickly, he was in a hurry to leave, he really didn't like the twins.

"Yeah, bye," Lumina waved with a smile, they then slid down the rope and walked away from the "house".

"Those guys give me the creeps," Rock told her with a shudder and Lumina nodded in agreement.

The day drew on and soon it was the first, glorious evening of summer. The stars were twinkling beautifully in the pitch black sky and the moon was big and round like a shining piece of gold. Lumina lay down on the green grass, feeling the leftover warmth of the ground on the dampness of the grass. She closed her eyes and breathed in the warm summer air.

"Evening," a voice said and she opened her eyes wide.

"Jack..." she whispered with an awe-filled voice, snapping out of her daze she sat up and smiled at him. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk on this beautiful night." He asked with a grin. Lumina grinned and nodded, he held out his hand and she used it to pull herself up.

"Where do you wanna walk?" She asked, blushing when she realised he hadn't yet let go of her hand.

"Everywhere," he replied, pulling her by the hand towards the forest.

Nami was walking with her hands in her pockets, frowning at the display from Jack and Lumina, they had no right to act that couple-like. She and Gustafa had been friends... perhaps more than friends... for months and still they didn't act that much like a couple. "Holding hands, pfft." Her mind scoffed.

"Makes me want to be sick," she said aloud, she felt a presence behind her and spun round to see Gustafa. She blushed looking towards the ground.

"What does?" He asked softly, taking steps closer towards her. Nami was silent for a minute.

"Couple stuff," she admitted grudgingly. She wanted to tell him that it didn't really, but her mouth wouldn't let her.

"Really?" Gustafa asked softly, his voice was now barely even a whisper. "Even this?" He then leant down and placed a soft kiss against her lips. Nami's eyes widened as she blushed furiously.

"No... t-that doesn't make me sick, it uh... it's... um..." She stammered, blushing harder. Gustafa kissed her again gently, placing his hands on her waist and Nami returned the kiss gently. They parted and Nami breathed in deeply. "Nice..."

"What happened about your arranged marriage?" Marlin asked, walking hand in hand with Celia down the beach.

"I... I told him I loved someone else..." she whispered, sending a meaningful look at Marlin.

"Uh..." Marlin said, pretty sure she was talking about him, but not entirely.

"I am talking about you, Marlin." Celia assured him, squeezing his hand gently. Marlin grinned at her.

"Celia... I uh..." Marlin began, swallowing hard. "I love you,"

Celia giggled and then threw her arms around Marlin's neck. "I love you too!" They beamed at each other for a moment before Marlin kissed the woman he loved. "I want to marry this woman," his mind told him and he agreed whole-heartedly. There was nothing better than love.

"Love sucks!" Rock said, scowling at his Moon Trip. Muffy leant over the bar, making sure to give him a good eye of her cleavage.

"What's up?" She asked, batting her eyelashes at him. He took a sip of his drink and slammed his glass down, making Muffy jump from her position.

"I'm just so annoyed, look around! Look at all the happy couples, I'm not happy, why should they be happy?" He asked, getting angry. Muffy's eyes widened, counting in her head how many moon trips he had had. She couldn't recall after the fifth one, and it was not recommended that anyone go over three. Then again she had been trying to get him slightly tipsy, then maybe she could make her move in the quiet bar.

"Why don't you become a couple...?" She suggested, batting her eyelashes again.

"With who, everyone seems to have a... stupid couple," He complained. Muffy sighed and helped herself to a cherry pink, Rock was so drunk he couldn't read her hints. No wonder he was getting overly angry.

"What does he have that I don't?" He complained, taking another swig of his creamy moon trip.

"Who?" Muffy asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

"Jack," Rock said, as though this should be obvious.

"Ooooh," Muffy realised with a small smile. He was obviously still upset that she'd had a thing for Jack when he had liked her. Well then he obviously hadn't gotten over her.

"I'm gonna go home," He said resignedly. "See you tomorrow."

Muffy was going to beg him not to leave, but she decided that in this state he was better off left alone. "Sweet dreams."

"I love you Nina, we've been together for so long!" Galen told his wife, staring into her squinting eyes. She smiled sweetly at him, holding his wrinkled hand.

"There is nothing more beautiful than love," she mused. She took a deep breath, lately even speaking left her breathless.

"Yes there is," Nina looked at Galen questioningly. "You,"

"Oh Galen, I love you so much."

Galen raised the glass of water he was holding. "Here's to our love, for many more years to come."

"Forever," Nina corrected him.

"Of course, forever." He smiled at her and she beamed back. He knew that they would be together till the day he died. He hoped he would go first, he couldn't bear to live without his wife and he hoped he wouldn't have to.

Jack ran off into the woods and Lumina followed giggling, she then surveyed the dark forest to find him.

"Jack, where are you?" She asked, smiling. She suddenly felt hands grab her from behind and she let out a scream.

"Shhh, it's okay." Jack said, wrapping his arms tighter around her. She breathed a sigh of relief.

She then hit him hard on the arm. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry," he replied sheepishly. She smiled and leant against him. She looked up at the starlit sky once again. It was amazing how those stars seemed to have such an effect on people, looking up at them brought so many feelings. For some it brought romance, for others deep though but for most it brought awe. Those tiny little pinpricks in the sky were small suns, little life providers, the batteries of the universe.

"Do you think Romana's up there?" She asked softly, not remembering that Jack had never met her.

"Of course, if she's related to you she's gotta be." He told her with a grin. She laughed softly. "But then again it's probably like hell to her."

Lumina's eyes widened, the thought of her grandmother being anywhere like hell frightened her. Jack felt her tense against him and quickly explained.

"See being with you is the most heaven-like experience, so compared to that heaven is nothing." He elucidated and Lumina giggled.

"Oh... that's cheesy." She smiled and Jack chuckled softly.

"I've got plenty more cheesy lines where that came from. I come from the city, I've heard them all!" He said proudly. Lumina turned around to look at him with a smile.

"Let's hear them then,"

"Okay well there's, heaven must be missing an angel. Where's the nearest art gallery, your beauty could make millions, erm... what's a girl like you doing in a place like this... uh..."

"Stop," Lumina laughed. "That's too cheesy, you're telling me people use those?"

"Yup," he confirmed. Lumina wrinkled her nose in disbelief.

"I of course never used any of them..." He assured her.

"Really?" Lumina asked sceptically, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, I had much cheesier lines than that!" He told her and she hit him again gently. "I'm joking, I'm joking."

He held her hands and turned to look at her, watching how her brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Even all the chat-up lines and beautiful words on earth couldn't describe her beauty in the moonlight. The way the light shone off her skin making her glow, or the way her hair gleamed in the dancing beams.

"But you really are so, so beautiful." He told her and she blushed rose pink. He leant down and gently captured her lips in his. Lumina closed her eyes, enjoying the entirely new sensation of Jack's soft lips upon hers, her first kiss. She pursed her lips against his, tasting his lips, an entirely new flavour. She felt his hand trail down her back and felt the tingle run down her spine. They parted and she took in a deep breath.

"You really are beautiful," Jack told her.

"You're amazing," she replied before he captured her lips once more.

Now ladies and gents, that answer your questions? ;) Don't worry, future chapters won't be as sickly sweet.