Disclaimer: I do not own harvest moon or any of it's characters.

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About time I update huh?

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Chapter 31

Family affairs

It was a typical day. Turned twenty four yesterday. I supported myself on my hoe, and watched the sun rise. Vaughn was with the chickens, and Annie was milking the cows. I glanced over to the barn where Annie was milking a cow. I still can't believe that the red haired young lady milking my cow was going to turn nine in a season yesterday. Vaughn is also growing like a weed. I really need to stop blinking.

…

Annie was with Hugh, Vaughn was with Ceila and Marlin's son, Jackson, who was the same age as Vaughn, and Flora and Carter's daughter, Jewel. The group of kids were either at the beach or at the spring. Skye and I were at the entryway to the valley, hanging out, and watching people enter and exit the valley. Then we heard something interesting.

"Skyelar James!"

The moment Skye heard that name, he tensed up.

"Skye? What's going on?" I asked.

"My parents are here." he said with a hint of disgust. Although we both came from different backgrounds, Skye never mentioned his family. The only family we ever talk about anymore is the kids.

"Skyelar James, you come with us this instant!"

"Jeez, she makes it sound like you were Vaughn's age or something."

"Uh – huh."

Then the woman screaming Skye's name came into view. She had platinum hair, the bluest of eyes. A man appeared behind him, he had black hair and green eyes. I see where the looks of my husband came from. But from Skye's face, this is bad news.

"Hey Jill, could you round up the kids, and I'll meet you at the house."

"Okay?" I responded. From the tone of his voice I knew I had to listen, but I was more curious than before.

…

"Anne! Vaughn!" I called.

"See ya Hugh!" Anne said.

"Bye bye!" Vaughn said.

I picked Vaughn up, and took Annie's hand, and we walked off to the house.

"Heads up." I said. The kids looked at me. "We might have some company tonight. Okay?"

"Okay!" Annie said. Vaughn nodded, his shyness kicking in right away.

…

I was finishing up the business half of farming, Annie was reading Vaughn a book about sheep, and Skye was still nowhere to be seen. When the door opened, and Skye yelled for us. I was the last one down the stairs. Vaughn and Annie were there already.

"Mom, Dad, here is my family. This is my wife, Jill." He said, holding a arm for me. When I was in his reach, the arm went around my waist. "And this is my step-daughter Annie."

"Hello." Annie said.

"...and our son, Vaughn." Skye finished. Vaughn then ran behind Skye and me, but peeked.

"Hello." Skye's Mom said. Skye's Dad grunted, like he was drugged here.

"Do you want to sit down?" I asked.

"Not really. I just want my son back." Skye's mom responded. Now that I have a closer view of his parents, now I know why Skye thieved. It was to rebel from his socialite mother and not caring father.

"Mom, I can't. I made a commitment to Jill and Annie the day Jill and I married. I'm not leaving this valley."

"Wait...to both your wife, and your stepdaughter?" Skye's mom asked. I left Skye's embrace, and went to Annie's level.

"Take V upstairs. We are going to have a grown up talk. It might end up like when you met my mom. So take care of V." I whispered.

"Gotcha." Annie whispered in my ear. She picked Vaughn up, and took him upstairs.

"But I was wanting to talk to them." Skye's mom said.

"Sorry but when you question commitment in front of my children, I have to deal with it." I responded.

"But Annie is what 2, 3?" Skye's mom asked.

"Scarlett, you better than this." Skye's Dad mumbled.

"Scarlett, Annie is eight and Vaughn is three. Skye and I have been married for four years." I said.

"And how old are you Mrs. Jill?" Scarlett said. Going on the defensive. I looked at Skye.

"None of your business mother." Skye responded. "Jill has had a not so pleasant childhood. And if you are here to judge, then get out." He paused then looked at his father. "You too, if you are just going to stand there and mumble and grumble."

"Well then, tomorrow might change your mind. Good day, Skye." The glanced at me in a disgusted way, then she left the house, and left, with her husband behind her. After the door slammed, the only noise came from the muffled sound of Annie reading to Vaughn.

"If there was one thing I learned from today." I said, getting Vaughn's attention. "The reason why you thieved."

Skye turned around, and embraced me. I embraced him back. "Why did I thieve?" He asked.

"Because you wanted to rebel from your mother." Skye sighed, and place his head on my left shoulder.

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

…

I closed the bedroom door behind me. The kids had so many questions regarding today. Skye and I answered to the best of our abilities. After Vaughn went to bed, Annie asked the last question.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Hmm?" Skye and I answered at the same time.

"Is dad's parents still here?"

"They are staying at the inn." Skye responded.

"I don't want it ending up like the last time I met one of my grandparents." Annie said.

"Anne." Skye said, getting to her level, and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I will do my best, in my power, to make sure it won't be like last time." Then Annie hugged Skye.

"Jill?" Skye asked, to get me out of my trance.

"Huh?" I asked. Skye gave me a smile, and then it was gone. I flopped on the bed, and rolled over to him. "What is in that beautiful head of yours?"

Skye tossed to face me. "You told me all about your past, but I kept mine hidden. I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier."

"Skye, it's fine."

"No it's not. It is not Jill." He place his right hand on my right cheek. "My mom would've made us divorce and make me marry another. I don't want that. I don't want to leave you here, with Annie and Vaughn."

"I don't want you to leave either. You left once, and that was the biggest mistake on my part-"

"Jill, I was the one who left."

"But it felt like I drove you away."

"You didn't. I was sorting my emotions."

"By any chance, do you have siblings?"

"I am the middle child. I have six older sisters, and six younger sisters. That is the reason why Mom is like that about me, I am her only boy."

"Vaughn is my only boy, and I don't pressure him to like anyone."

Skye pecked me on the lips. "But you don't care about appearances. You and Annie are the 'take me as I am, or watch me as I go' kind of people. Mom cares of what people think of her. Dad doesn't have a personalty anymore, but follows mom's shadows."

"Don't do that." I said.

"Do what?" He asked.

"Loose yourself, and follow me in my shadows because of it." I got kissed on the forehead.

"I promise, I will never do that."

"Do you know what your mom thinks of me, by any chance?"

Skye smiled. "When I said I lived on a ranch, she wrinkled her nose. And when I told her I married the rancher of the valley, she flipped. Then when I said I was a stepfather and a father, I could see the smoke come out of her ears."

"Because it wasn't part of her plan."

"Correct."

"Oh shoot, I'm screwed."

"Not on my watch." Then Skye embraced me protectively, and I fell asleep in his arms.

…

Skye's parents came the next morning. They didn't even come in. the four of us stood in the doorway, hearing the sounds of animals and children squealing in the house.

"Skye, come home." Scarlett tried again.

"I am at home."

"But Alina wants you."

"Mom I'm married. And I never liked Alina anyways." I didn't know who this Alina was, but I don't like her.

"But Alina is someone from the same class as us."

"The 'overly rich and too snotty to care about their child's happiness' class? Or was it the 'I care about what everyone thinks of me, therefore I control everything second of my husband's and children's lives' class?" I said, letting the smart mouth run. Skye squeezed my hand and winked at me. That told me that I said the words he wanted to say.

"and Alina doesn't have that mouth!" Scarlett continued.

I looked at Skye. "I don't like Alina."

"Why is that, Jill?" Skye asked, but already knowing the answer.

"Because she is one of the women who is trying to steal my husband from me, and his children."

"And who is the other one?" Skye asked.

"Your mother."

"Hey, I am not that bad." Scarlett said.

"I honestly prefer my alcoholic crack-head mother to you. My mother know enough about commitment to not stop smoking and drinking. Your version of commitment is that of a control freak."

"Your mother is a crack-head?" Scarlett asked.

"Scarlett, your mother was a crack-head too." Skye's Dad whispered under his breath.

"Shut up, Scott. I'm trying to bring home our baby boy."

"Scarlett. He has a family here. He is happy here. Let Skyelar go." I knew I liked him!

Scarlett sighed in defeat. And turned around to leave. But turned back in a second. "I wash my hands off of you Skyelar James. I don't want anything to do with you ever again."

Skye and I looked at each other and smiled. Then we said at the same time, "AND GOOD RIDDANCE." Scarlett's face was of that of shock, the ultimate thing she thought was the most horrible thing, turned out for the best. But that's what works in Skye's and my life. We watch them become dots, then disappear altogether.

"Now the question is, how do I explain to the kids, that they have no grandparents?" Skye asked.

"I'll leave that explanation to you." Then I ran out of the house before Skye's reaction. Knowing full well I have to pay it back to him somehow later.