Should Be
By the Almighty Spork Goddess
Karen grinned down at her little baby boy as she picked him up off the ground. They were spending a day at the mountains while her husband and the baby's father, Erik, worked on the farm. They weren't the only ones who had had that idea; Popurri was there with her daughter, Mint (A/N: I know it never says the gender, but I think that any baby that wears a pink bunny costume and has that name is probably a girl).
"Hi Karen!" She said in that chipper little voice that made Karen want to yank that pretty pink hair out of her head.
"Hello, Popurri." She tried to sound civil as she sat down on the ground so that baby James could inspect a caterpillar on the ground. How a cold, pessimistic man like Gray could ever stand such an optimistic and sugary girl like Popurri was beyond Karen; but to each his own.
"How's Erik?" She asked, smiling as Mint examined a flower.
A twinge of guilt overcame Karen, and her voice clouded as she choked out a "Fine." She knew that she had been less than sweet to her husband lately, and she felt guilty...but staying up all night with a baby did not help one's social skills. She was always so busy with the baby, and he was always so busy with the farm... They just hadn't been on the greatest terms lately. Oh, she still loved him, in fact she loved him with all of her heart. That's why it was so painful to her to have their relationship struggle like this.
She glanced over Popurri. The woman was looking at her with a worried expression on her face.
"Oh, look at the time..." Karen said. "3:00. The shipper's already here, and I haven't even made dinner yet!" She picked up James and ran to Aria Farm. (A/N: Really, don't ask how I got that name) As soon as she entered the house, she was surprised to see her husband already there.
She was about to greet him when he lifted his head, and she noticed that there was pain in his eyes.
"...Is something wrong, Erik?" She asked, worried.
Silence.
"...Erik?"
More silence.
"Erik! Speak to me!" Now she really was worried. James sensed her fear and began to cry.
He just looked down at the ground again.
"Erik...I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong..."
Still, he said nothing.
"...Erik..." By now she was almost in tears. "...tell me what's wrong!"
"...Nothing's wrong." He said at last.
Karen didn't believe him. "You're too quiet for something not to be wrong."
He looked at her again, and suddenly became angry.
"Leave!"
Karen blinked, dumbfounded. "What?"
"I said, leave!" He spat out the words as if they tasted vile.
The words suddenly dawned on Karen, and tears stung her eyes. "You can't be serious..."
"I am. GO!"
"...But...I'm your wife!"
His voice broke as he spoke his next statement: "...Not...not anymore..."
The tears began to stream down her face. "...but...but...I don't have anywhere to go..."
"...Go fulfill your dream...go to the city and become a dancer... you don't belong here..." Karen stared at him blankly. Was this really happening?
"...D...don't make me repeat myself! Just...leave!"
This time, Karen obeyed him. She picked up her son and left. Both were crying equally hard.
Author's Note: WOW! Did I just write that drama-fest? Holy cow, that was soap opera-esque! I should win a Daytime Emmy for this! Anyone who knows my writing knows that I am the queen of angst, but this is a little much-o for even me! So I guess it'll have another chapter or two. Hopefully chapter three will be lighter *glares menacingly at her muse, who cowers into the corner* R/R, please! But be nice!
Disclaimer: Natsume (SERIOUS FUN!) owns Harvest Moon 64, Karen, Popurri, Mint, and the default little guy who is Erik in my story and game. I do, however, own the personality of Erik and the baby's name, James. (I named him that in my game, too). Thanks to Silver Yume for giving me the title of this story! Love ya, everyone!