A Pain Worth Bearing: Chapter Two
Hey everybody! This is SapphireDemon, and (obviously) this is my first fic on Fanfiction.net. It's not my first story that I've written, but it'll be the one I post up first. This is a Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life fic that stars Jack. The main couple is Rock and Lumina, but it'll have a little bit of JackMuffy. I don't know why, but I really think that Rock and Lumina make a really really CUTE couple! She's so pretty and he's really cute, so I just think it'd be great if they hook up. Oh and on a side-note... I don't know how old Lumina or Rock are because I borrowed the game from my friend and not the booklet where it has all the info on people, but I still think that they make a really adorable couple.About this story: Its rated R, just to be safe. This will have bad language from time to time and WILL (I REPEAT) WILL have sexual situations in later chapters. Don't worry, this chapter is safe and it doesn't have anything inappropriate, but I do keep in mind that I'm not much of a writer for little kids, I like adding adult themes because that's the type of stories I write. I am seventeen and mature, not a pervert or a sicko and I DON'T write about sex for fun or to get off on it. This isn't a pointless lemon, IT DOES have a story and the lemon is an extra, so I have warned you. If you don't like these types of stories let me help you out... DON'T read it. Simple, huh? I don't accept flames, so if you didn't like my story please don't review or flame me. Just go on with your life. I'm open to suggestions and corrections, so I don't mind that. This story is fiction and 90% of it isn't true and doesn't follow the game. Keep in mind that this is A STORY and I don't want you all to say "No that's not true" or "That doesn't happen". I played the game, I know, so keep that in mind.
Disclaimer: I don't own harvest moon, but I do own this story. Harvest moon belongs to Natsume and other companies... not me.
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"How did it go yesterday?""Fine."
"That's great, I'm so glad for you." Muffy smiled. "Darling are you going to help Romana out today as well?"
"Yeah until Sebastian comes back... it'll take up a whole month but I promise I'll make it up to you." Jack gave Muffy a light hug and gave her a peck on the lips. "Okay?"
"Tee-hee don't worry about me." Muffy waved her hand and reclined on Jack's shoulder. "Just do what you have to do. Don't cancel anything on my behalf; I'll be just fine. Nina is going to show me some books on maternity, so I'll keep busy."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked, looking down into Muffy's olive green eyes. He hated to do this, especially now because he was going to be a father soon so he didn't want to leave Muffy alone. What if she needed him? What if something happened and he wasn't there to help her? Becoming a father would take great work and sacrifice.
"Jack, I'm serious. I'll be fine just go help Romana out okay?"
"Okay but if you need any-
"I'll be just fine." She interrupted. "Now gimme a kiss!"
"Bye." He gave her another peck on the lips and waved bye as he headed down the little hill. As he walked to the Mansion, he spotted Ruby sweeping outside the hotel.
"Hi Ms. Ruby." He politely greeted. "Good morning."
"Good morning Jack." She smiled. "I'm so glad that you were able to get Rock a job, he really needed one. All he does is walk around, wasting his time and listening to the radio. He needs a distraction right now and I'm glad that he has a job now."
"You're welcome." Jack remembered why he never turned down offers and favors whenever people asked him. It was the end-result that came from them. People thanked him, he felt great in the end, and it felt really good to help a person in need. "I'm just glad he took the job."
"Me too." She giggled. "Oh look at the time! I must be keeping you from your tasks huh?"
"No not at all!"
"I'll see you later okay Jack? I've got some lunch to make and rooms to clean."
"Bye!" Jack headed up for the mansion and tapped on the door lightly again. Waiting patiently for somebody to respond, he peeked through the window and spotted Romana and Lumina. They didn't look too happy... and they were arguing. "I wonder what's going on...?"
Jack took another peek and saw Romana raise her hand and slapped Lumina hard across the face, which threw her back on the floor. Jack gasped and stood shocked at the scene that he had just finished witnessing. He tapped on the door again and Romana swung it open.
"Uh... umm..." Jack stood speechless and hesitated with his speech. After seeing something like that... what would you say? His words were stuck in his throat.
"Oh come in Jack." She smiled. She didn't look happy, mad, or anything. It almost seemed like nothing happened.
"Ms. Romana... I..."
"Don't worry Jack I have all the tools you'll need for house cleaning." She chuckled.
"Umm..." Jack hesitated but built up the courage to ask anyways. " Where's Lumina at?"
"Huh? Lumina?" she repeated. "She's in her room... she's cleaning."
"Oh..."
"I suggest you don't bother her right now. Mood swings you know?" she said, dragging her cane on the kitchen tile. "Do what you did yesterday and that'll be fine."
"Yes ma'am."
"I'm going out for a walk, please make sure that Lumina doesn't leave the house at all." Romana said, hinting that she was quite serious. " I've got some business to take care of at the hotel and after that I'm taking my walk."
"Uh, hotel?"
"Yes it's that stupid Ruby and her husband. They really tick me off..." she angrily said. "They're the reason why my daughter, Lumina's mom, left this town."
"Why is it their fault?"
"Since they don't believe in strict rules for raising their children, somehow they convinced MY daughter to follow her 'dreams' and do 'what she wants'. Well that's not how I think, so thanks to them my daughter left town years ago to become an actress... that's when she got that illness and died. She left Lumina with me and now I have to raise her on my own because her father refuses to take care of her."
"Poor Lumina..." Jack sighed. Just a kid and already she had to deal with these dumb problems.
"Poor Lumina!?" Romana shouted. "Poor ME!! I'm the one taking care of her, feeding her, and caring for every little drama act she pulls. I'm old I don't need this crap. And I DON'T want Lumina to be hanging around those people."
"Does she?"
"No." Romana looked down at her pocket-watch and gasped. "Oh my, I'm late. I'll leave the rest up to you Jack okay? Do a good job now..."
"Yes ma'am."
The minute Romana left the mansion, Jack took this opportunity to go into Lumina's room and find out what had happened. He had never seen something like that happen, especially in Forget-Me-Not Valley where everything was nice and peaceful.
"Lumina?" he whispered as he lightly knocked on her door. "Are you in there?"
"Jack...?"
"Yeah it's me, are you okay?"
"No..."
She sounded like she was sobbing. Jack felt bad so he twisted the doorknob open and saw her face buried in her bed. She was definitely crying.
"What happened?"
"N-Nothing..." she cried. "Even if I told you... you wouldn't ever believe me... nobody would..."
"Hey c'mon I'd believe you." He lifted her chin up and made her look up at him. "We're friends remember? Don't you trust me?"
"Y-Yes..." She sniffed, wiping some tears from her face. "Grandma... she hit... me..."
"I know I saw it happen."
"You did?"
"Yeah through the window, but WHY did she hit you?"
"She always does... just because I didn't want to play the piano..." she sobbed, resting her head on his chest. "I don't want to play the piano..."
"What do you want to do then?"
"I... I... I want... to become an artist..." she blushed. She had never told anybody her true feelings or what she wanted to be, but this was Jack and she trusted him with her life and secrets. "I love painting, I love drawing."
"Why don't you talk to your grandmother then?"
"I did! But... she didn't listen... she never listens..."
"Let's go get some ice-cream after I'm done okay?"
"A-Alright..."
"You sure you'll be okay?" he asked, giving her a smile. He hoped that it would cheer her up, even if it were just for a little bit.
"I'll be fine." She forced herself to smile. Lumina didn't want to worry him anymore or make him think that she was a helpless little drama- queen. There were problems, yes, but she didn't want to make Jack worry over her... not now... not while he had a lot on his mind and a child coming along the way. It just wouldn't be nice for her to dump her issues on him and expect him to solve them while she kicked back, no... she HAD to deal with this on her own.... After Work ..."Ice cream huh?"
"Yeah same as usual."
"Here you go!" Van bent down and gave a cone to both Lumina and Jack. "Working hard today huh Jack?"
"Yup."
"Are you done working?" Van asked, pulling out his handkerchief and wiping sweat off of his forehead.
"Not yet, I still need the yard and Ms. Romana's room."
"Ah I see." Van nodded. "Do you mind leaving Miss Lumina with me while you finish working?"
"Uh... why?"
"Huh?" Lumina stood behind Jack and peeked through his waist, wondering what Van meant.
"I just wanted her to get to know my son." Van chuckled. "I brought him over with me today. I think he's out by the beach."
"I don't know..." Jack said. "I just can't leave Lumina anywhere, she's my responsibility. Romana is expecting me to take care of her."
"It'll only be for a little bit. You can come pick her up at five, okay?" He looked over at Lumina, who was peeking through Jack, wondering what her respond to all this was. "What do you say Princess?"
"I... I want to stay with Jack." She wrapped her arms around his and rested her head on the side of his arm.
"But you and Chester will have lots of fun." Van smiled. "Chester will love you."
"Who is Chester?" She asked.
"My cute little boy, who is indeed... a year older than you. Lucky you, eh?" he winked.
"Oh..." she said this with the least bit interest in her voice. She wasn't in the mood to meet anybody at the moment, especially since she felt like crap. All Lumina wanted was to be with Jack... just being near him and enjoy their moments together, because soon he would have to focus all his attention to his future child.
"What do you think Lumina?"
"I don't want to..."
"Just for five minutes okay?"
"But..."
"I'll be back in five minutes, I promise. You can either stay or come back with me."
"A... Alright then..." she nodded, releasing her arm from his and letting them dangle in the air. "Promise you'll be back?"
"Promise."
"Good, good." Van grabbed Lumina by the elbow and dragged her body away from Jack's. He was leading her towards the beach, but not once did she keep her eyes off of Jack. She felt her heart hurt again... being torn from him like this and shoved into another's arms. She didn't want anybody else... just him... but reality hit her hard when she spotted Muffy chatting with Nina. He belonged to Muffy now... plus, she was WAY too young for him anyways... it would never happen.
"Papa you're back!" Chester happily said.
"Chester this is Lumina. Lumina, my son... Chester." Van proudly presented. "Isn't he adorable?"
Chester had the EXACT same face and body type as Van. He had big thick glasses, very chubby, and his hair was bright orange. He was seven inches taller than Lumina and his gaze was very... creepy...
"Hello." Chester greeted, wiping away a bit of liquid that dripped from his nose. "My name is Chester."
"Umm..." Lumina hid behind Van, intimidated by the round boy in front of them. Her arm was snatched and her body dragged in front of Chester.
"Go on say something." Van happily chuckled. "I hope you two become something one day."
"I'm... my name... my name is Lumina..." She softly said, trailing the tip of her foot on the sand. She avoided his stare; already she knew she wouldn't like him. Something about him was... strange and off.
"I'm so happy to meet you Lumina." He grabbed her hand and started giving her a million wet kisses on it.
"T-Thanks..." She tried pulling her hand away from his tight grip, but it was really hard because he had a tight grip on it. "You can let go now."
"It's so pretty... you hand it's soft..." he said, staring down at her hand.
"I'll leave you two alone." Van winked. "I need to get to my shop. Hehe don't be afraid to put the moves on this one my boy."
"I will Dad."
"I... I want to go home..." Lumina thought. "You said five minutes Jack... you lied..."
"What do you want to do Lumina?" Chester asked, staring at her small figure. She looked more adorable and cute than she did hot. She had that child-like innocence to her, and her quiet and nervous nature seemed to make Chester more and more curious about her. He found it strange that her innocent appearance didn't match her personality at all.
"Nothing." She shrugged and sat on the sand, watching the waves of the azure ocean.
"H-H-Have you had a boyfriend before?" he asked, breathing heavily into her ear.
"N-No..." She pushed him away and scooted over to the side. "Leave me alone."
"I love you." He blurted and began chuckling a bit.
"H-Huh?" She looked over at him and scooted a bit more away from him. "What?"
"I love you Lumina, you're cute." He blushed. "Let's be together okay?"
"No."
"Why!? Why!? Why not!?" he asked, shaking her by the shoulder.
"I don't know you." She slapped his hand away and stood up.
"But we can get to know each other!!" he grabbed her by the hand and violently pushed her back down into the sand.
"Stop it!!" she shouted. "I want to go home!!"
"No! No you can't go home! Not now!! You're going to stay here with me!!" he shouted, pushing her deeper into the sand.
"What?" she gasped.
"Daddy said that you're a present for me!! He said that you would love me!!"
"You're crazy!" Lumina started getting a little scared. Why was he acting this way? What gave him the right to claim her in that way? She was still a child, not a play-toy for anybody.
"Hey!!"
"Noooo!!" Chester moaned. "Let go!"
"Leave Lumina alone!" Jack shouted, dragging Chester across the beach. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"Leave me!! Leave me!!!" Chester whined kicking and screaming.
"Are you okay!?" Jack asked, picking up and carrying Lumina in his arms. "Did he hurt you?"
"N-No..."
"Thank God..." he sighed. "I was afraid that he was going to hurt you."
"You said that you'd be back for me in five minutes... why didn't you come back for me?"
"I'm so sorry I got busy and sidetracked."
"I'm glad you came." She sighed, binding her arms around his neck and resting her head on his chest. "I want to go home..."
"Okay let's get you home then."
Jack carried Lumina back home, but before he reached the mansion he decided to do a quick stop ad the bar and check up on Rock.
"This isn't the way home..." Lumina whispered.
"I just need to check something, is that okay?"
"Alright..."
He pushed the door open and was greeted by Griffin who was playing the guitar. Rock was behind the counter sliding drinks down to people.
"Hey Jack how's it going!?" Griffin greeted. "Is Muffy doing okay?"
"She's doing great."
"Welcome Jack, how are... you... ummm...." Rock blushed when he noticed Lumina's arms dangling around Jack's neck and her body close to his chest. "How are you?"
"Great, I just came by to see how YOU were doing."
"I'm fine."
"Did Griffin give you a hard time?"
"Nope." Rock chuckled. "Well thanks a lot for everything Jack, I'm glad you helped me out with this."
"What time is it?"
"Hmmm... it's eleven p.m."
"Oh no I haven't finished up the yard..." Jack sighed. He looked down at Lumina who was fast asleep in his arms. "Well I have to go because I need to get Lumina back safely. I'll see you later?"
"Y-Yeah..." Rock watched in disappointment as Jack carried Lumina out of the bar. He wanted to talk to her... he wished that Jack had asked him to watch Lumina while he finished up the yard... but it was all a hopeless wish."Jack! Jack!"
"Hm?"
"I'm SO sorry!" Van bowed. "Please forgive my son Chester for acting that way. You see, he has a mental problem and becomes obsessed."
"What?"
"Whenever Chester sees something that he wants and desires, he becomes VERY obsessed and possessive and doesn't give up until he gets what he wants. Unfortunately... Lumina has become his favorite thing."
"Well you better keep him away from Lumina! He almost hurt her today, and I DON'T want him near her anymore."
"S-Sorry... you're my best customer and I wouldn't want to upset you Jack."
"Alright then." Jack turned around and headed up for the mansion, leaving Van in the dark streets.
"Daddy, you promised you'd get me a girlfriend..." Chester said, walking out of the shadows that the houses cast.
"Take your pic my little one." Van smiled, poking Chester's nose. " Who do you want and I'll get her for you."
"I want Lumina."
"Anybody else?"
"NO!! Daddy you said you'd get me a girlfriend and I want her!!!!" He shouted, tugging Van's shirt. "I want her!!!!!!"
"Okay, okay, okay calm down." Van wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and sighed. "If you want Lumina, then she will be yours."
"Good!!" Chester grunted."Goodbye Jack, thank you."
"You're welcome Miss Romana, anytime you need me just call me up."
"Bye Jack..." Lumina whispered, holding her kitty Luna. "I'll miss you..."
"Goodnight Lumina." He smiled, patting her on the head. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?"
"Alright..."
"That's good now bye-bye!" Romana pushed Lumina into the house and slammed the door. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"Huh?" Lumina looked up at her grandmother and gasped when she slapped her across the face.
"Why weren't you playing the piano!? Don't you know it's your life!? You want to die poor or what!?" She shouted, slapping her again. "You stupid little brat!!"
"Stop it!! Stop it!!" Lumina cried, crawling away from Romana.
"You want to become a whore just like your mother!?" She shouted, slapping Lumina with her cane. She shoved the cane and pinned Lumina on the wall with it, pressing it against her stomach. "If you don't impress Sebastian's son, who is a famous pianist himself, then you'll get THE WORST punishment EVER. If he is impressed you could become a famous pianist and earn millions of dollars so we can move out of this filthy town!! Do you want to live in this forsaken place forever!!??"
"..."
"Answer me!!!"
"N-No..."
"So then get the hell out of my sight!!!" Romana pushed Lumina out of her way and walked into her room. She slammed the door and left Lumina out in the hallway crying and in pain.
"I... I want to leave..." Lumina closed her eyes and dripped a couple of tears. She pushed herself off the floor and ran out of the mansion. She ran down the hill and headed for the pond that was near the sprite's tree.
"Huh?" Rock headed back home from the bar and noticed Lumina running up the hill past Jack's farm. He wondered where she was running to in the middle of the night, there wasn't anywhere to go.
"If I do become a pianist... then maybe... I... I can leave grandma... she'll never hit me again and I can live anywhere I want... but... I... I don't want to be one..." Lumina's mind filled with thoughts, doubts, and questions. It would take forever for her to become an artist, and if her grandma found out... she'd be dead meat. She sat on the bottom of a tree and buried her face in her hands... she didn't know what to do, and she certainly didn't want to drag Jack into this.
"Hey..."
"Huh!?" Lumina gasped, looking around for the voice.
"What's wrong?" Rock asked, walking up to her.
"N-Nothing..."
"Something's wrong, you're crying." He took a seat next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "Tell me."
"My... my..." She hesitated because she didn't really know Rock all that well. She had seen him around but she never stopped to talk to him or wonder about him. She was surprised that he even found her at this time of night. "Nothing...."
"Lumina..."
"My grandma!" She cried, burying her face into his chest. "She hit me because I don't want to be a stupid pianist... I want to be an artist but she'd KILL me if she ever found out. I don't know what to do... I don't know where to run because I'll only go back anyways... I'm trapped..."
"She hit you!?" He gaped, pushing her back a little to get a good look at her innocent face. She had very innocent features and she was really adorable. He wiped a tear away from her eyes with his thumb and stroked her hair gently. "How long has this been going on?"
"Since forever..."
"It's going to be okay." He embraced her and smiled a bit at her answer. 'Since forever'... such a childlike response coming from such a naïve girl... it was really cute. "You know, Lumina... if something like this happens again, you can always run to my house."
"Huh?"
"You'll be safe there, I promise."
"How?"
"I'll protect you, I won't let anybody hurt you." He hugged her tighter and rested his chin on her head. Gosh, she smelled SO good.
"Do you really promise?"
"Promise."
"Okay then." She smiled, wrapping her pinky with his. "Pinky promise, you can't break it okay?"
"Haha, alright." He got up from the ground and brushed off the grass that stuck to his clothes. "Let's get you home okay?"
"N-No!" She shouted, tearing up again. "I don't want to go back there..."
"But what about your grandma?"
"I... I don't know..."
"Well, then... ummm..." he scratched his head and looked around nervously. "You can come home with me?"
"Really!?" her face lighted up again and her smiled just killed him. She was really pretty.
"Sure." He held his hand out and received hers in exchange. "Let's go."
They headed back to the Inn hand in hand, and Rock blushed a bit. He really liked her and hoped that she felt the same way too, but... she still had her adolescent thoughts... was she capable of returning the same kind of feelings that he had for her?
"Lumina? How old are you?"
"Twelve..." she said in her usual low voice. "You, Rock?"
"Fifteen..."
"You're Jack's friend too?"
"Yeah."
She leaned in closer and wrapped her arm around his. "If you're Jack's friend... then I like you too."
"T-Thanks, I... I... ummm I like you too Lumina."
"Great, we can be friends!" she smiled.
He shook his head and mentally scolded himself. Why did he get so nervous about that!? She wasn't confessing any type of love feelings; she just liked him as a person. Why did he have trouble saying that back?
"Still just a child..." he sighed.
They reached the Inn and quietly crept up to his room. He closed the door and locked it, making sure that nobody would barge in.
"Your room is nice." She said, sitting on his bad. "Yaawwnn... I'm so sleepy..."
"You can sleep on my bed, I'll sleep on the floor."
"Why?"
"Because..."
"You can sleep on your bed and I can sleep with you." She smiled. " It's big enough for two."
"Umm... it... won't seem right." He blushed, looking down.
"Please? I forgot my teddy bear and I... have nightmares..."
"Uh, alright then." He shrugged and thought, "What's the big deal? We're JUST going to sleep, nothing more. Just sleeping... that's it..."
He grabbed one of his shirts and a pair of black sweats and gave them to her. "This is for you to sleep in, you can't sleep in that."
"Thank you." She took the clothes and placed them on her lap. " Where am I supposed to change?"
"Uhh... I'll turn around." He swirled around and covered his eyes. He got a little more nervous when he heard her jeans being zipped off and thrown to the ground.
"Done." She announced.
He turned around and noticed how his clothes were too big for her. The sweats were practically falling from her slim waste and the shirt almost buried her alive.
"Aren't you going to change too?" she asked, crawling onto his bed.
"Yeah." Rock dug into his drawer and pulled out some gray sweats and a white shirt. He walked to his drawer and changed behind it. When he finished he joined Lumina on the bed and sat up, wondering what to do.
"You're not sleepy Rock?" She asked, looking up at him. "Here, sleep here." She patted the pillow next to hers and made some room for him.
"A-Alright..." Rock lied next to her and when he turned around, she was already asleep. She looked like a lost innocent angel, so peaceful and so adorable. She slept quietly, her face looked like she had no worries in the world. Closing his own eyes, he slowly started falling asleep as well. Something he had secretly wished for... had finally come true.
"Goodnight Rock..." she whispered, wrapping her arms around his chest.
"Goodnight." He responded by taking her into his embrace and holding her close to him, protecting her small body.
Every problem seemed to have disappeared now that she was with him like this. He was warm, nice, and really cute. But... Lumina was afraid to fall for him because she didn't want to get her heart broken again. Not after what happened with Jack... he was older too and she had lost him to Muffy. Maybe the same thing would happen if she were to fall for Rock. He was cute, older, and single. Yes... he would definitely just see her as a little girl...
"No... I better not..." she thought, looking up at his peaceful face. " I'm not going to let myself hurt anymore... I don't have a chance in hell with him..."
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SapphireDemon: So... what did ya think? I'm still not getting to the juicy parts JUST YET. Hold on, I have a damn story to tell people! Be patient and WAIT for the lemon to come (which won't be for a while). When will I have the third chapter? Oh in a couple of days, but in the meanwhile... review, review, and review! Oh and on a sidenote: I do NOT accept flames okay? Just keep your wicked little thoughts and evil comments to yourself. You didn't like it then don't ever read it again.Yes I know that Van doesn't have a son and stuff. He's made up, there IS NO CHARACTER NAMED CHESTER; he's just a dude I made up that will play a role in my story.
To everybody that has reviewed: Thank you SO MUCH, I appreciate it. Oh and I love you guys!
Next Chapter: Lumina has spent the night at Rock's house and THEY'RE SLEEPING ON THE SAME BED!!! (GASP!) But what will they do when Ruby finds out and barges in on them? Will Lumina let her guard down and allow herself to fall for Rock? What does Lumina do when Rock tries to give her her very first kiss!? Oh and will Jack find out about their forbidden affair? Well only the third chapter will tell!
