(A/n) Here's the next chapter!

And a very big chocolate chip cookie for Black-Dove15 for just being cool! Thanks for reviewing my story, it helps with the creativity. XD Spring will be arriving after the next chapter and the start of farming begins! Yay! ;)

A Sight to See…

The sound of laughter spilled out into the cold night as the doors to the church opened. I followed Dr. Trent outside as Carter stood in the doorway with a hand raised in farewell. "Thank you both so much for coming, it was a great night." His eyes fell on me as his smile grew and he gave a nod. "Annie, it was wonderful getting to know you better. You should stop by for the service on Sunday if you have the time."

I smiled as I nodded in reply, not saying a word to him. I wonder if he knew that the Goddess was real. Hmm… that was something to ponder about later on. Dr. Trent was standing beside me as we wished Carter goodnight and walked up the pathway that led back to the road. We were silent as we made our way onto the road, but it was a comfortable silence that was made so much better from the glasses of wine and dinner. The stars were twinkling even brighter than earlier and I smiled as I gazed up at the heavens. It had been such a wonderful evening…

"Let me walk you back to the inn, it's pretty late." His deep voice broke through the relaxed silence and I turned my smile his way as I nodded. He stared down at me, his dark eyes studying me before he returned the smile and looked ahead, his hands slipping into the pockets of his coat. His dark hair spilled down over his brow and I had the sudden urge to reach up and brush it away. I didn't though; I kept my hands firmly in my pockets as we turned onto the road that cut between the park and the inn. The streetlamps guided our way and the lights from Doug's Inn shone in the distance. I threw my hand over my mouth as a yawn emerged and he laughed as he glanced down at me.

"It seems the wine had a bit of an effect, we're almost there."

"Mm…" was all I could say, the sleepy feeling growing with each step. I was going to sleep very well tonight.

"By the way Annie, I noticed earlier in the evening that you were squinting a lot." He said as I looked up at him and blinked in response. He smiled and shrugged his broad shoulders. "Do you think you might need glasses?"

"Oh…" I laughed and shook my head. "I actually do wear glasses. I had lost the only pair I had when I fell into the river." I looked ahead as I sighed softly. "I'm nearsighted so reading books and such doesn't bother me. It's trying to see things off in the distance that gets to me… I've gotten used to not having my glasses but I would love to see again."

"Ah…" He chuckled as he nodded, his dark eyes searching my face. "If you'd like, why don't you stop by my office tomorrow? I'll check your eyes for you; I have the equipment for it. We'll see how your vision is and I'll send out a prescription for new glasses."

"That would be wonderful!" I laughed as I stopped to gaze up at him. "Thank you so much Doctor."

He stopped with me and his smile was warm. "You can call me Trent you know..." A heartbeat passed as we studied each other and then his smile grew. "I mean, I did have my hand up your shirt before so I think that qualifies that we're passed the formalities." The teasing glint in his dark eyes had me blushing so deeply. I can't believe he had turned that comment around me…

I laughed and shook my head as I started walking once more. "I can't believe you said that. I always thought you were more reserved than that Doctor…"

"I thought so too… what can I say? You've been a bad influence on me." I caught the sight of the faint blush on his cheeks as we walked under a streetlamp but his smile was teasing. I laughed again as I reached out to push him, a few curls falling loose from the ponytail I wore. "Oh no you don't. Do not put the blame on me."

He chuckled as he swayed away from me, hopping a bit on one foot until he found his balance. He moved back in step with me and his arm brushed against mine. The sudden closeness had warmth spreading through me like wildfire and I was blushing deeper than ever as we turned onto the road with the inn. I wondered if he noticed but he didn't say anything as we walked, he remained right beside me with his arm touching mine. I saw no reason to say anything either and I welcomed the closeness all too happily.

We stopped outside of the doors to the inn and he glanced down at me. "Here we are, safe and sound."

"Thank you for walking me home Trent…" I smiled as I studied his handsome face. "Be careful on the way back to the clinic."

"I'll be fine…" He chuckled, a faint breeze rising up to stir his dark hair so that it played across his forehead. "I will see you tomorrow then?"

"I'll be there after work." I replied and he gave a satisfied nod before he wished me a goodnight. I watched him as he walked away and when he was about to turn onto the road that we had come from, he glanced back my way. I blinked, having not expected him to look back, and I stood there like an idiot just staring at him. He smiled and waved to me and I waved in turn, my own smile growing, before I turned and went into the inn. Oh I was going to be sleeping very well tonight…

--

"Where were you last night?"

I looked over my shoulder from where I had been milking one of the cows to find Claire studying me with a curious smile. I blinked in reply before I turned back to the cow to finish milking. "I went out…" I frowned and glanced back at her again. "How did you know that I wasn't at the inn?"

Claire gave a look that said "Are you kidding me?" as her smile grew. "So it's true then?"

"Yes but how-."

She rolled her eyes, her golden hair was left loose as usual but a few curls remained. "Well, I heard from Manna, who had heard from Sasha, who had heard from Karen, who had spoken with Ann." She laughed at the frown that played on my face and she gave a nod. "Apparently Ann had went up to your room to share some dinner for the festival but you were no where to be found. Where did you go last night?"

I blushed deeply and looked away as I finished milking and gave the cow a pat while I grabbed the bucket. "I went for a walk…" I didn't look at her as I brought the milk over to the machine that would pasteurize it. She followed behind me, an expectant look in her light blue eyes. I poured the milk into the machine as a sigh slipped passed my lips. "I went for a walk through the town and I ran into Trent on the way to Carter's. We had a chat and he invited me to spend the festival with them."

"Really?" Claire's smile was growing as she moved to get a better look at my face. "It's Trent now huh? Wow, talk about lucky… I mean what were the chances that you'd run into Dr. Heartthrob on Starry Night?" She started to laugh as my frown deepened. "AND he invited you to spend the evening with him?"

I set the bucket aside as I turned to her and shook my head. "It wasn't just with him so don't put too much into it." I stared at her as she started chewing on her lower lip to fight back the laugh that was dying to come through. "What about you? How did your night go with Gray?"

Her eyes sparkled as a blush grew into her cheeks. "You were right! When Gray saw me, his jaw actually fell to the floor!" She squealed as she hid her face behind her hands. "I wish you could have been there to see it." Her moment of giddiness passed and she let out a breath. "Anyway, it was surprisingly nice and even Saibara was very civilized throughout the entire dinner." I jumped when she suddenly reached out to grab my hand. "Gray invited me to the New Year's celebration in the square, just the two of us!"

I laughed as I placed my hand over hers and gave it a squeeze. "I told you all he needed was a little push…" I glanced at my wristwatch and panicked when I saw the time. "Gah!! It's so late!" I let go of Claire's hand as I went to grab my rucksack from the floor.

"Late?" Claire blinked as she followed me out of the barn. "Late for what?"

"I have an appointment with the doctor!" I said as I slipped my rucksack on.

"Oooh! Is it a physical?" She giggled as I turned to her and held up a forefinger. "It's for an eye exam if you must know and no dirty thoughts!" I said as she was about to open her mouth and then quickly shut it, the laughter shining in her eyes. I rolled my eyes and waved goodbye before I ran out of the farm. I rushed down the road and through the town, nearly tripping over Mayor Thomas as he was walking out of his house. "Sorry sir!" I called without stopping as I turned onto the bricked pathway to the clinic. I nearly slammed into the door as I tried to catch my breath and I stood there with a hand over my heart. Finally my heart relaxed in its pounding and I entered the clinic and walked up to the counter where Elli sat looking through some papers. She glanced up at me with a welcome smile and I smiled at her.

"Hi Elli, I'm sorry to come barging in like that but I had an appointment with the doctor today. I'm running a bit late."

"Oh yes, he told me to keep an eye out for you." Elli laughed at the sight of my flushed cheeks and she pointed her pen over to the door to his office. "Go right in, he's been waiting for you."

"Thanks Elli." I smiled at her before I moved over to the door and knocked. I heard his deep voice call to enter and I opened the door. He was sitting behind his desk and looking over some files, his reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose. He glanced up when he heard me and his smile was instant. "Annie, I'm glad you made it." He closed the file he was working on and pulled off his glasses as he beckoned for me to enter. "C'mon in, we can get started on your eye exam right away."

"Thanks…" I smiled as I entered the office and closed the door behind me. I pulled off my rucksack and opened it as I moved over to his desk. "Here, I snuck something for you." I said as I dug around inside it and finally pulled out a bottle of milk and set it on his desk.

It was amazing what that smile could do to my heart when his dark eyes settled on the milk. "Really? I can have it?" He looked up at me as I smiled and gave a nod. "This is great, thanks so much Annie!" He got up from his desk as he took the bottle and stared at it. "I really like this milk, Claire's cows must be very happy and healthy." He looked at me and his smile grew warm as he set the bottle back down. "They must really be happy now that you're helping to take care of them huh?"

"I… guess…" I blushed as I laughed and looked away, feeling very shy and awkward all of a sudden. He chuckled and he moved over to a corner of his office where a lone chair sat beneath a funny looking machine that was facing an eye chart. "All right Annie, come on over and have a seat here." I set my rucksack down on the floor and pulled off my coat and set it down on top of the bag. I walked over to the chair and sat down without a word, I had left my hair loose today because it was fairly cold and it was a mass of thick curls that fell above my shoulders.

"Ok." He pulled out a little penlight as he grabbed an extra chair to sit down in front of me. "I'm just going to see how well your eyes react to light." He shined the light in both of my eyes and I tried my best not to blink. He pulled out another instrument and set it over his own eye as he leaned in close to my face. I always hated this part of the exam, especially when it was a creepy middle aged doctor that always seemed to try and get their face as close as they could to yours. This time though, I was trying my best not to swoon as he leaned in so close, his dark hair was touching my forehead. I was aware of his lips just inches from mine and I fought down the urge to lean forward and kiss him right there and then. My heart was pounding as he moved to my other eye and I caught the scent of his cologne, oh why did he have to wear that today…

He finally pulled away as he pocketed his instruments and got up to move the chair aside. He moved beside me to bring the funny, bulky machine down in front of me. "Just place your chin on the rest there and keep your head forward." I did as he requested and he moved to shut off the lights. He turned on the light to the eye chart and moved back next to me to adjust the different lenses down over my line of vision. "Let me know if it's better or worse." He said as he set the first to lenses down.

"Worse."

He clicked to the next set of lenses and my vision went a little clearer. "Better." He set the next lenses and it continued that way for five minutes before he asked me to read the lines on the chart. I was aware of him standing very close beside me and found my body moving a little closer toward him as if it were being drawn like a magnet. I kept myself firmly still until the exam was finally over and he pulled the machine up out of the way. He turned the lights on as I got up to rub my eyes and blink. He smiled as me as he went to his desk and rummaged around in a drawer. "Well, it is as you said, you just have normal case of nearsightedness." He pulled out a pad and started to scribble something on it. "I'll put in the order for your glasses today and they should be here in a few days." He looked up at me and his dark eyes studied my face. "What kind of glasses did you have before?"

"Before?" I blinked as I went to grab my coat and rucksack from the floor. "Oh the frames were small and oval, I don't like large glasses very well so I try to stick with the smallest possible frames for the type of lenses I need."

He had a thoughtful look on his face as he studied me and turned back to his pad. "All right…" He continued to scribble something and I stood there, unsure of what to do or say. The seconds ticked by before he smiled at me, setting the pad down on his desk. "What's your favorite color by the way?"

"Huh?" The question was unexpected but I was so captivated by his smile that I wasn't paying much attention. "Oh, blue. Why?" I blinked as I focused on his dark eyes instead; no better, I was still captivated by the male specimen in front of me.

Trent's smile deepened and he chuckled as he shook his head. "I was just wondering Annie…" He sighed and slapped his hands down on his thighs "Well, you're free to go. You can see Elli about the bill. I'll send a message to you when your glasses are here."

"Great, thanks a lot Doctor." I smiled and said goodbye before going out to speak with Elli. The bill wasn't too bad, with the price of the exam plus the frames and lenses that were to be ordered. I paid the bill while I chatted with Elli about her Starry Night Festival. Well, at least I'd be having a new pair of glasses and I'll be able to see off into the distance again… Joy!

--

True to his word, Trent had sent a message to me the day my glasses had arrived a few days later. I was surprised at how quick that they had come but I didn't question as I made my way to the clinic after work. Elli waved to me as I walked over to the office and I smiled at her in hello. I knocked on the door, waited for him to call, and then entered his office with a bright smile. "Hello!" I smiled as I moved over to his desk, all ready digging through my rucksack for the bottle of milk I pilfered. "I have a special delivery for Dr. Trent."

Trent smiled when he looked up from his paperwork and caught sight of the bottle of milk in my hand. "You're spoiling me you know…" He chuckled as I set the bottle down on his desk.

"You're welcome." I smiled as I closed my bag and slipped it back over my shoulders. "So, where are my new glasses? I've been dying to see again."

"They're right here." He laughed as he pulled out an eyeglass case and opened it. "Go have a seat and we'll try them on." He pointed to the chair that was in front of his desk and I moved to sit down. He got up as he pulled the glasses from the case and moved to kneel down in front of me. "All right, let me know if this is too tight." He adjusted the frames and then slipped them gently on my face.

The glasses pinched and I voiced my protest as I scrunched up my nose. "Too tight."

"All right." He laughed as he took them off, adjusted them again and then slipped them on. "Better?"

"Much…" I smiled as I touched the glasses and looked around his office, everything was so clear now! It would take some time for my eyes to get used to them but it was so nice to see again. I glanced at Trent, who was still kneeled in front of me, and the sight of his handsome face so clear and so close threw me off guard. I blushed at once as we stared at one another and I instantly pulled the glasses off and stared down at them. "Thanks a lot…" I mumbled as I studied the frames, they were small and oval, just like my old ones, and the color of the frames were a deep shade of blue. I looked at him in surprise and he noticed the puzzled look on my face.

"I figured it would be nice to have a pair of glasses that you liked." His smile was warm as he studied my face. He gently took them from my hands and slipped them on, his fingers brushing along my cheeks. "They look really nice on you… they compliment your face well."

I was blushing even worse now as he studied me for a moment longer before he sighed and got back to his feet. "Well, enjoy your new glasses Annie. Try not to break them while you're working."

"I won't…" I breathed and I reached up to touch my cheeks, my skin still tingling from the feel of his fingers. "Thanks…"

The silence fell between us and I took it as a sign for me to go. I got up from the chair and was about to move to the door when he called me.

"Oh Annie, here."

I glanced back to find him standing beside his desk with the case for the glasses in hand. I stared at the case and laughed a little as I moved over to him to take it. "Sorry, of course I'm going to need that."

"Yeah…" His dark eyes searched my face as I took the case and he slipped his hands into the pockets of his black slacks. He cleared his throat and looked away, a faint blush rising into his cheeks. "Actually Annie, there was something I wanted to ask you."

"Oh?" I glanced up at him as my heart began to skip in its beat. "What is it?"

He looked at me and he started fiddling with the keys in his pocket, they jingled in the awkward silence. "Well, the New Year celebration is coming up. Some of the townspeople are going up on Mother's Hill to watch the sun rise and I was wondering if you wanted to come." His hands had stilled at that moment and the jingling stopped while the silence fell heavy and tense.

"Oh…" I swear my breathing must have stopped at that moment as I stared up at him, my lips parted slightly. A heartbeat passed and a small smile appeared as I gave a nod. "That would be lovely, I've never watched a New Year's sunrise before."

He stared at me and then his smile was one of relief as he pulled his hands from his pockets. "W-well… that's great. I'll swing by a little after ten to pick you up. We can go to the celebration at Rose Square before we head up the mountain. Does that sound all right?"

"It sounds great." I smiled at him, feeling as if my heart was about to burst from the joy that filled it. "I can't wait."

His smile grew warm as his dark eyes flicked between mine. "Great…" He sighed in reply and then he blinked, a touch of red appearing in his cheeks. "Well, enjoy the rest of your day and don't overwork yourself."

"Sure… Thanks Trent." I waved to him before I turned and left the office without another word. There was a spring in my step as I said goodbye to Elli and left the clinic. While I walked over to the library to return the books that I hadn't touched, I found that my lips absolutely refused to stop turning up in a smile. Oh well… I certainly had plenty to smile about. I was going to be spending New Year's with Dr. Heartthrob…