Ahh the summer is nearly over, such a shame :( but I've finally found the time between holiday and social life to submit this, so that's good...

Thanks reviewers, you guys are better than warm underwear on a cold day :)

Kairi Tsubasa: Why no problem at all for replying, I try to do it every chapter :) I'm glad that you like what's happening, made me happy too... and I write the stuff ;) Well I'm glad it's worth the wait, I'm gonna try and get faster, I promise :)

Chicken Yuki: I know what you mean about Marlin, he always seems a little too mean, but his hair's a little like the Fonz's so I couldn't be too mean ;) Jack's words do sound a little insincere don't they? Your suspicions are possibly true ;) Aww well thank you, I'm glad to be one of your favourite writers, and you're most definitely one of my best reviewers :)

frozenmoogle: Well hopefully Jack's sudden love for Muffy will be cleared up in the next few chapters, and so will the identity of the murderer... not too long now I promise. :)

YukiShinoya444: A very sensible reaction, reaching straight for the pudding ;)

klutz586: I'm gonna try to update sooner, honestly, it's finding time that's the trouble... Hope you'll stay tuned though :)

Awesome Rapidash: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and the identity of the murderer is looming ever closer...

like red on a rose: Yeah I think Rock and Lumina are rather cute together. But all feelings will be revealed in good time :)

gothangel12345: Yeah I've always wondered about Gustafa, he seems a little too out there, I'll always believe in the GustafaxWeed relationship.

Lumina sat at her favourite position near the old tree between the inn and Blue bar, from here she could see all that went on in the street before her. Her focus was currently caught by the new house that had been built next to Wally's and Chris' house. It was pink, tall and looked as though it was built for a relatively well of family, but not as rich as she used to be. She closed her eyes, reclining against the old tree and feeling the rough bark against her skin, she took a breath.

"Morning," she was greeted by Jack, who was surprisingly smiling at her. She stood quickly, having been driven out of her comfort zone. She bowed her head and clasped her hands together, a sign of her discomfort with the situation. "You don't need to worry, I'm not mad." Jack assured her and she raised her eyes to meet his.

"Yeah... sorry, it's my first break up. I have no idea how to act..." She told him shyly, tucking a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. He was suddenly struck by how young she was, how purely innocent her conduct was towards him.

"Well it depends on the break up, but I think ours is civil enough for us to still be friends." He assured her, which earned him a pleased smile.

"Good, because I couldn't imagine us not being friends." She said softly, a meaningful look in her eyes as she caught his. He chuckled and patted her on the shoulder tentatively, unsure of what else to do.

"Well... I'll catch ya later," he told her before walking into Blue bar. She realised, with a slight twinge of pain, that he was going to visit Muffy and probably ask her to be his girlfriend. She stood, unsure of where to go next, her comforting spot by the tree seemed ruined now. She was about to find a quieter and more secluded space when she saw a small man with dark hair and glasses approach the pink house. He was a perfect stranger, dressed in a white shirt and tie he looked very business-like.

"Hello," Lumina greeted, her curiosity had gotten the better of her. He eyed her nervously, appearing to her like a rabbit eying an unknown object.

"Hello..."

"I'm Lumina, I've never seen you here before." She said persistently, this guy didn't seem eager to chat. In any case he held out a sweaty hand and she shook it.

"Grant Ford," he stated shortly, not bothering to explain his presence in the peaceful valley.

"Right, so... what are you doing here?"

"I'm buying this house," he informed her, and he scurried off to avoid further questioning. She watched him leave with a slight frown on her face, "What a strange man," she thought. After watching him hurry off she turned, facing the inn with a determined frown on her face. She had something she had to face up to, but she wasn't sure she was ready yet. So instead she made her way to Vesta's farm, where she decided it was time to greet the happy newly weds.

When she entered she found them both up and dressed already, happily doing the farm work as they had always done.

"You're working?" Lumina asked incredulously, knowing she would never work the day after her wedding, or even a week after.

Celia beamed at her, wiping her grubby hands on her green farm dress. "Oh yes, I have to finish planting these crops. But tomorrow we're off for our honeymoon – Vesta insists." The way Celia told her that Vesta had insisted implied that she would really rather stay at home and farm.

"Where are you going?" Lumina asked, cocking her head to the side in intrigue. She had always dreamed of travelling and, although she had returned home, she had enjoyed her adventure away from the valley.

"Just Mineral town, I couldn't bear to be too far away. There's a log cabin up in the mountains that used to belong to a farmer, but he couldn't afford it, so they rent it as a holiday home." She explained, busy pulling up veggies as she spoke.

"Well that'll be nice and private, so you guys can... erm... be peaceful." Lumina said a slight blush on her cheeks. Celia turned bright red and placed a finger on her lips. Lumina nodded, after all it was after the wedding night and innocent Celia was just getting used to the idea. "When was I that innocent?" Lumina wondered, feeling rather ashamed.

"Yes, it will be beautiful up there though, we head off in two days, so I must finish my planting by then." She said, although she would never say it, Celia was hinting that Lumina should leave.

"Right well I'd best be off," the relief in Celia's face was a little too obvious. "Catch you later."

"Thanks for stopping by," Celia smiled and Lumina left.

Lumina knew that she should go to the inn again and speak to Rock, but still her feet wouldn't carry her there, so she found them leading her to Gustafa's yurt where she saw him playing to Nami outside. It was the picture of contentment, Nami sat with her intense eyes closed, ruby red hair blowing gently in the summer winds, simply listening to the sweet sound of Gustafa's guitar. He was equally content in playing and improvising in his singing, as he said, the words didn't matter, just the melody. Lumina watched with a slight smile on her lips, unable to interrupt the serenity of the scene before her. However her presence must have been felt as just moments later the music stopped and Nami said, with her eyes still closed: "Can we help you?"

Lumina's eyes widened, realising she had been caught. "No... sorry, I was just listening."

"Take a seat then," Nami offered, her eyes going to the spot next to her. Lumina sat there immediately, it was not often Nami would offer someone to sit down, let alone right next to her.

"Thank you, I was just wondering... when is the wedding?" She asked, breaking the silence she assumed would have followed, Nami and Gustafa didn't speak. In fact, the guitar seemed to be the medium of conversation most of the time, the only thing preventing silence and illustrating Gustafa's complex feelings.

"Fall sometime..." Nami said with a completely indifferent shrug, it was a façade that said as far as she was concerned, the wedding could be in ten years.

"Late this Fall," Gustafa added, and Nami turned, her glassy eyes surveying him. It was obvious that they had not discussed the dates and this was Gustafa's way of communicating his decision to her. A slight smile appeared on her face and she nodded her agreement.

Lumina grinned, wondering how a marriage without communication would work. "You guys really need to talk more, there's a lot to plan."

Gustafa nodded and Nami looked unsure, communications were fine with Gustafa but speaking really wasn't her strong suit. But he knew it would work out fine, Nami was so stubborn that she would be sure to voice disagreements.

"You'll be fine," Lumina assured them, standing up with a smile. Even though they didn't talk a lot Nami and Gustafa were fine, she really wished that not talking to Rock would still be fine.

She had finally managed to position herself outside the inn, ready to speak to Rock and sort everything out, although she was still relatively confused about her own feelings. She then spotted Jack heading towards Blue bar, jealousy filled her insides, tingeing them green. She saw Muffy step out of the door, greeting Jack with a long passionate kiss. Lumina turned to face the door, fuming from the sight of her ex and her supposed friend.

"Hey Lu..." Rock said stepping out of the door and Lumina's eyes widened. He turned to see what she looked so angry about. "I guess he moved on pretty quickly."

Lumina shook her head, "He had already been moving during our relationship, he dumped me for her." She said bitterly.

"Oh..." Rock said, feeling pity for her, the gladness that she was now single slowly disappearing.

"But... I guess that means you and me..." She hinted, fidgeting with her hands behind her back nervously.

"No," He said quickly and she looked up at him in shock. He then turned and walked away, giving her no explanation. She sighed, not even bothering to follow him, that was just the way her day was going.

"So he just walked away?" Celia asked later as she made vegetable soup. Lumina nodded, cradling her head in her hands, a deep frown on her face. "And you didn't follow him?"

"No, I had to just let him walk." She admitted.

"Oh," Celia said sympathetically, stirring the soup pensively looking a little like a medicine lady – a gypsy fortune teller of some kind. "You need to find him."

"I know that, but what do I say? What if he doesn't love me anymore?" She asked, biting her lip.

"I don't think that's the issue here," Celia told her, before taking a little of the thick, grey soup and tasting it on a spoon. "Needs salt."

"What do you mean? What the hell is the issue then?" Lumina asked and Celia cringed as she burnt her lip on the hot liquid.

The dark brunette girl sighed, her grey-brown eyes turning like a thunder cloud on the golden-chestnut haired girl. "Look! Do you love the boy or not?"

"Yes!" Lumina shouted with frustration as a simple reflex. Her eyes then widened as she realised what she had said. "I do love him... thanks Celia."

Celia placed her hands on her hips, proud that her work was done. "You're welcome."

"You know," Lumina began as she stood up. "You may just be better at advice than Muffy."

"And I'm free, Muffy costs the price of a cheap alcoholic drink." Celia said with a wink. Lumina turned to leave, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Uh... to find Rock." Lumina said with a frown.

"No you're not, you're trying my soup. It may not cost money to talk to me, but it costs time..."

"... and perhaps your taste buds." Marlin added as he walked in the door.

"Watch it, or I'll add something special in the soup for you." Celia informed him, and he paled slightly.

"I've got... to... go..." Lumina said nervously as she edged out of the door, leaving the married couple to fight, using the artillery of Celia's soup, which was perhaps explosive.

Rock sat on a big rock (ironic no?), facing the lights of the inn. He watched as shadows passed across the window, wondering what the people inside were doing. He really wasn't the kind of person who could sit in silence and muse about his problems, in fact usually when he was silent his brain shut off all together.

"And why would Lumina love me? She so clever and I'm... well when they were giving out brains I wasn't there." He said out loud, laughing a little at his own joke.

"Haven't you heard opposites attract?" The voice of an angel came to him as he turned to face his goddess.

"Lumina... we're so different, I know why you can't love me..."

"Then how come I do?" She asked, not even asking before she took a seat next to him. One of the things she loved about him was how she could give up her ladylike ways around him and just let loose.

"I don't know... wait was that question... re... rewound... no... replied... no re... re... rhe..." He mumbled to himself and Lumina frowned.

"Rhetorical?" She asked and he nodded with a smile. "Yeah it was."

"But can you answer that for me... please?" He begged, his big, puppy-dog brown eyes pleading her.

"Fine... it's because you're funny... even though you laugh at your own jokes... which is kinda weird by the way..." She smiled at him and he beamed back. "You really care about me and you're weird... but in a good way... and cute... now why do you like me?"

"I don't anymore." He said with a shrug and her eyes widened in horror. "Kidding, kidding. I guess I love you because you're completely the opposite..."

"Are you saying I'm not cute or funny?" She demanded and he shook his head quickly.

"No... You're beautiful and you're funny in a completely different... less funny... way." He laughed at himself and she folded her arms over her chest but found herself smiling regardless.

"I was all ready to come here and tell you I loved you, but now I'm not so sure." She said in mock confusion.

"Ah well, there's plenty more fish in the sea..." he said with a shrug and she slapped his arm. "But you're a whale." He said with a caring smile, believing that what he had said was a compliment.

Her eyes widened in anger, "A whale? A WHALE?"

Rock frowned, then shook his head vehemently when he realised his mistake. "No I meant... a mermaid, because you're better than a fish."

"You have quite the way with words." She told him sardonically, he smiled sheepishly.

"You're the one who's good with words, I'm the muscle." He said smugly.

"The pen is mightier than the sword..."

"Yeah but..." He began.

"Are you going to kiss me or not?" She interrupted and he laughed.

"Nah," he said with a shrug and she frowned. "Well if you insist." He leant over and placed a gentle kiss on her pink lips. Lumina smiled, somehow being with Rock like this felt right, more right than she'd felt with Jack, she couldn't believe she'd been so stupid.

"Rock," she whispered once he had pulled away.

"Yeah?" He asked, cocking his head to the side in question.

"You'll never leave me, right?" She asked, sounding so fragile and innocent. He looked into her light brown eyes and placed his hand to her soft cheek.

"I'll be dead before I do, and even then, I'll be there." He said and she smiled, he wasn't poetic, but she knew he wasn't lying. The words were sweet, despite the image of Rock's corpse following her around appearing in her mind's eye.

"I know..."

Happiness always seems to be short lived, even in a place like Forget-me-not valley. Although it is far away from the hustle and bustle of city life and the people there are said to be genuine, life is still not without its heartaches. But happiness is not happiness without sadness, if you have never experienced sadness how do you distinguish happiness as a good feeling? If there is no alternative then happiness ceases to be happy and becomes normal. So naturally one must take the ups with the downs and when an up comes your way, enjoy it.

Lumina was surprised to find that during the beginning of her relationship with Rock she hadn't had a single sad moment. Although they didn't spend all day together they were always happy in the time that they did spend. She wasn't even jealous when she saw Jack and Muffy together. Yet she took the perfect happiness with an uneasy feeling deep in the pit of her stomach, if she was so content now then disaster couldn't be far away.

Ruby caught her frowning one day and questioned her. Lumina had explained her reasoning; her caution of too much happiness had taken the smile from her face.

"If life hands you lemons, make lemonade." Ruby had told her with a shrug.

"What if the lemons are too sour?" She had checked, although she loved lemons and had been known to eat them sans sugar before, she knew well that all lemonade needed sweetening.

"You'll never know unless you take a bite and try to enjoy it."

Lumina had known immediately that Ruby was right, but somehow she couldn't shake the feeling, but she did not voice her concerns to Rock, which was a lot harder than she had expected as they began to spend so much of their time together. They would greet each other in the morning with a shy kiss and then they would hold hands loosely as they walked to the beach. There they would watch the sea in silence, a hundred different thoughts would run through Lumina's mind and she would always watch Rock through the corner of her eye, wondering if the same thoughts penetrated his mind. She knew that he wasn't much for thinking, well at least he hadn't been, but ever since he had been spending time with her he had grown more silent. They say that "empty vessels make most noise" and Rock used to be the loudest of them all, but perhaps his vessel had been filled by Lumina's wise presence.

As summer hit its decline and the silky viridian leaves of the trees let go of their old lives to join with Gaia, mother of the earth, Autumn came creeping along, painting the landscape golden with the stroke of its Midas touch. Lumina lay on her back with her head resting upon Rock's chest, facing the pale sky. The clouds reflected in her eyes, coating them with frost as her mind was numb with the frostbite of relaxed contentment. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest, heaving her closer to the heavens and then snatching her back down to earth again, each satisfied sigh was like the undulating of ocean waves which calmed her greatly.

"Are you warm enough?" His voice came through the thick silence, breaking the freezing spell and warming her so that she could truthfully answer yes. She yawned, before rolling over so that the side of her head rested on his chest but she was facing him.

"Yes, let's stay longer." She whispered, a small smile turning her petal pink lips at the corners. His eyes drifted leisurely across her face, taking in the pale semblance of her face and the slight blush upon her cheeks, rouged from the rough kiss of the fall wind.

"Tell me when you want to head back then."

She shook her head, somehow she felt she needed to stay and she knew her answer would be never. She would like to stay outside, basking in the tender arms of Mother Nature, in love and being loved; they would stay there in the soft grass even when winter came and the snow covered them like a white blanket. Even when the winds were harsh and a storm roared at them to shelter, protesting that Nature should belong to it alone they would stay, unfazed by Storm's roughness.

"I will," came her answer, unlike she had wanted it to be. She knew that to stay was madness, that lying there was an invitation to Death who willed it that they rest there forever; that Nature's wrath would be too strong to endure; the intelligence that she had been blessed with told her this. Yet the folly of love sang a different tune, it was the snake that offered the apple to Eve, it would grant the world to the martyrs of love.

"It's getting cold," he informed her, wrapping a protective arm around her to shield her from the cold; she had been unaware as she had floated through her thoughts that it was getting late.

"But I want to stay here," she told him; she was so satisfied with their current state and somehow she felt going inside would break their contentment like a sheet of glass.

Rock smiled at her and she felt his chest rumble as he laughed at her innocence. "If we go inside I'll make you hot chocolate and we can lie by the fire instead." As enticing as his words were and as bitter as the cold was she still dreaded the inside; yet she nodded her agreement. He pulled her up by the hand, wrapping his arm around her slim waist and leading her back to the inn.

Up the stairs she walked with a china mug of hot chocolate clasped against her icy hands. Rock had remained downstairs, setting up the fire in his parents bedroom as she changed into her flannel pyjamas. It was dark in the hallway, as Ruby and Tim were at Blue bar and so every light was off and Lumina knew the hallway so well she didn't need light. Ruby and Tim went to the bar not to drink but to socialise, due to their heritage alcohol had a strange effect on them, strangely this gene had not been inherited by Rock, who could drink alcohol as if it were water. Lumina flicked the light switch and gazed ahead in her room, her shaking hand dropped the hot chocolate and the pupils of her eyes shrunk in the light. There in front of her was a face she had believed that she would never see again.

Just to ruin the dramatic effect: DUN DUN DUN