Events of the Heart—Rick's Yellow Heart Event

by taitofan

Rated PG-13 for yaoi

Disclaimer: If I owned Harvest Moon, the next game would be titled, "Harvest Moon: For Gay." But since that's very unlikely, it's safe to say that I don't own the games or characters.

Author's Note: What do you know, the last heart event! Not much left after this, other than events I've been hinted at for quite some time… Just two more chapters and an epilogue, then this'll be over. I can't believe the end is in sight… Well, we'll just have to make due with what we have, no? This chapter was rather modified from the original event, mostly because it wouldn't have made much sense otherwise. Oh well. The last chapters will be much longer too, since I won't have events to stick to. All that said, enjoy our final Heart Event!

Flames do nothing but make me laugh, although I'll listen to any CC you have. Please read, review, and enjoy! Finished 03-10-07

It was the last week of Fall, and Rick was at the bar after a long day of work. He'd spent the day at the Futago Farm helping the twins with their sick chickens. Claire had been busy getting the last of the crops ready before Winter came and the snow fell, and Cliff had been working at the Winery, so it had just been him and Jack. It hadn't been hard work or anything, but he'd been on his feet all day and hadn't even gotten to see his boyfriend…

He'd been too tired to make it all the way to the beach. Besides, he needed a drink… Popuri had been bugging him lately about marriage. She demanded that he not marry Won before she got to marry Kai. The thought of her marrying that jerk was bad enough, but when coupled with his relationship with Won… Like it was any of her business in the first place!

'Not that she has to worry,' he thought glumly. 'It's not likes he's proposed or anything…'

"Hi Won! Welcome!" Ann's voice—and especially her words—made the blond perk up. Did she just say what he thought she said…?

"Welcome!" Doug greeted after his daughter. "You looking for Rick? He's over there. Just got off work I think… I'm sure he'll wanna see you." Rick didn't believe what he was hearing. Won? Here? Why?

"Thank you. I'll go talk to him right now." But that voice! There was no mistaken the merchant's voice. Rick twisted around in his chair, and sure enough…

"Won!" Said man smiled and walked over, pulling out the seat next to the younger man and sitting down.

"Good evening Rick. I was hoping I'd find you here." Despite his sore back and aching feet, Rick couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"How did you know where to find me? I've never seen you here before."

"That's because this is my first time here," he answered, amused by his lover's excitement at such a little thing. "I asked Jack where to find it after he mentioned he sees you at night a lot." Rick nodded, not surprised by that at all.

"Well, Jack is in here a lot when he isn't working, so that's no surprise. Between all the time he spends here and at the Winery, it's a surprise he gets any work done at all…" Won raised an eyebrow as Rick snickered at something that he obviously didn't understand…

"Oh my, is Jack that much of a lush?" And then he snickered some more at his poor recluse of a lover.

"Only for his boyfriend. You really need to get out more, love. Cliff lives in the apartments upstairs and works at the Winery. Jack visits Cliff about as much as I visit you if that gives you any idea." Oh, well that explained why Cliff had been joining Jack when he came to the shop lately…

"Yes, that explains a lot… But what I do want to know is why you've never told me that you come here almost every night." The snickering suddenly stopped, leaving the blond looking contemplative.

"Well… I didn't think you drank, and I didn't want to make you feel like you had to come…" He looked sincere at least, and Won mentality sighed in relief that his lover wasn't a lush like his best friend.

"I don't drink, no, but you should have realized that I wouldn't turn down an excuse to spend time with you…" Rick blushed and slapped the hand wandering down his thigh.

"Won, not in public!" The merchant sighed and retracted his hand. They'd known each other for three seasons and had been dating for two of them, and yet, the farthest they'd gone was kissing... Lillia's unspoken threat continued to linger in the back of his mind, but he didn't plan to do those things to Rick yet anyways. However, they had functioning hands and mouths good for more than just kissing, and Lillia hadn't forbid everything…

"If you insist…" The look on Rick's face said that yes, yes he did insist. "Why don't we just talk instead?" Rick nodded his approval at the idea. Talking was safe…

"All right, what should we talk about?" Won almost made a perverted suggestion—almost. But as much as he loved seeing the younger man's face flush, he didn't think that causing a scene with an audience was the wisest of ideas…

"Why don't you tell me about your day?" He smiled as Rick immediately launched into a detailed explanation of his and Jack's chickens' health—he still found it amusing that they were named. Though he really didn't care how the entire flocks' feathers were looking that day, he did like seeing his lover happy. And if talking about chickens made him happy, then listen about chickens he would.

"—and then Popuri screamed and ran into the house like her feet were on fire! Mom didn't think it was nice to laugh at her, but oh, it was just too funny!" Won chuckled at the blond's story. That girl had the worst luck with her family's chickens… However, his good spirits were less a result of the young woman's misfortune and more a result of Rick's talent of retelling stories. He was nothing short of funny. "And later… Oh, wait, what time is it?" The merchant glanced at his watch, his eyes widening a fraction when he saw the time. It seemed that time really did fly when you're having fun.

"It's getting quite late actually; it's a quarter to eleven. I'm assuming that the Inn closes soon?" Rick laughed nervously, his cheeks stained light red.

"Actually, it closes at nine…" He looked around, noticing that Ann was dozing at the counter. "…I'll be right back." Won watched as the blond got up, walked over to the redhead, and lightly shook her awake. A few words were exchanged, Rick looking grateful and Ann looking amused. Soon Rick was walking towards the door, motioning for Won to follow. He did as requested, and they stayed silent until they were standing in the midst of the dark, quiet street. Then—

"So, what was that all about?" Rick turned to his lover, the lamplight overhead accentuating his amused expression.

"Ann convinced her dad to let us stay late since we were so absorbed in our conversation. I guess we kinda got carried away…" Won chuckled and grabbed Rick's hand, threading their fingers together. Rick kept quiet as they walked, enjoying the sounds of the crickets playing their music for the last time that year. Soon it would be Winter, and everything would be covered with snow… It was odd how it always seemed to snow on the very first day of Winter, not a day before or after, but he supposed that was just how it worked…

"Penny for your thoughts?" Won's voice brought him out of his musings, and he turned to find his lover's face lit up by the pale lamplight, not realizing that it had the same effect on himself.

"Just thinking about how it'll be Winter soon… Your first Winter here…" He paused, then chuckled at his sudden thought. "Penny for your thoughts you say. That's funny; I didn't realize you cared about me so much to give me an entire penny." Won was less amused by Rick's "my boyfriend is greedy" jokes than the blond was.

"I'll have you know that you're worth more than any amount of money. I love you Rick…" Rick's laughter disappeared at the words, and he suddenly stopped, causing the older man to stop right along with him. "Rick, what's wro—"

"You said you love me," Rick said, awe evident in his tone. "You've never said that before…" No, Won supposed he hadn't. He hadn't even thought about the words, he'd just said what was in his heart… And Rick was in his heart.

"Then I'll just have to make sure I say it more often, won't I?" Rick withdrew his hand, but before Won could protest, his arms were looped around the older man's neck, and his lips were pressed to his in a deep kiss. Won's arms automatically went around Rick's thin waist, pulling him closer. With complete disregard to the slumbering town, they kissed with all of the passion they could muster until they had to break away just to keep from passing out.

"Won," Rick managed to say as his breath slowly came back to him, "I love you too."

Won said nothing—there was nothing to say—and instead gently pushed his lover away just enough to re-lace their fingers and get them back on track to their original destination. The resulting silence was beautiful.

"Thanks for walking me home." The couple stood together just outside the Poultry Farms gates. It must have been eleven by now… Won knew Rick wasn't a child—far from it—but he still hoped he wouldn't be in trouble.

"It was no problem. I only hope your mother isn't upset at you getting home so late…" Rick shrugged, not appearing too concerned at the thought.

"I'm only an hour later than usual… She and Popuri won't be asleep yet anyway. I'll just tell her I lost track of time and it won't be a problem." Won nodded and then pressed his lips to his lover's in one last kiss. Now that he knew that Rick did indeed love him, he wanted to do so much more… But now was hardly the time or place.

"All right then. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams." Rick grinned, a combination of the kiss and knowledge that his dreams would indeed be sweet.

"Okay. Goodnight to you too." Before he suggested something he knew wasn't right to suggest yet, Won turned and headed towards the beach. Rick stood in his spot and watched him go, only turning around and heading inside once he was out of sight.

"He said he loves you? Well duh, of course he does! Who would kiss you so much if they didn't?" Lillia smiled to herself as Rick tried to explain to his sister that it was the fact that they'd said it out loud that made it special. She agreed that even if you knew you loved someone, it was just all the more real when it was out in the open. She was happy for her son, and yet…

'It won't be long now,' she mused, bittersweet thoughts filling her mind. 'Now that they've reached this point in their relationship, there isn't much left… All Won has to do is buy a blue feather and Rick will say yes; I know he will. I'll lose him soon…'

And yet, though the thoughts of losing her oldest child made her heart ache, she knew it was for the best. They loved each other, and they deserved their happiness… Besides, she knew Rick would never abandon his family or his chickens. No matter what happened, she knew she wouldn't lose him for good.

Her son was all grown up, and she couldn't have felt prouder.