Stardew Valley: Outsiders (HarveyFemale Player)

by StarHayzyWriter

When a young city girl moves to the countryside, she not only has to face the change of culture but the kind of people living there as well.

Chapter 1 – Spring

The high pitch guttural groan of a rooster miles away from the farm pulled Noelle out of a deep slumber. She opened her eyes and blinked away the sleep that lingered. At least in the city, she had stability, now she had nothing.

"What the hell have I done?"

Country living, her new life, time to grin and bear it. Her space was less than three hundred square feet: a twin-size bed with no bathroom or shower. All she owned was a fireplace and a carpet, donations from citizens of Pelican Town before her arrival. Spring, a month of rebirth, is the perfect time to start a new life. Robin and Lewis really outdid themselves, making the stranger feel welcome. Everything smelled of fresh lumber. The air tasted sweet as she stepped outside, spring flowers in full bloom.

Bluebells, a flower that adorned the farm, courtesy of her grandmother. Weeds and tall blades of grass took over the soil, but nothing her tools couldn't fix. Her grandfather wore them to the bone, had them repaired and tuned by the local blacksmith. She planned to do the same, the only heirloom in her care. Opening that letter changed her life forever.

Her time at Joja wasn't pleasant, and Noelle wasn't completely innocent either. She was disorganized, incompetent at following directions and often got into squabbles with other co-workers.

That Monday...

"Noelle!" said the Mayor with a bright expression, "You've changed since I've last seen you. What brings you to the Valley?"

"Life," Noelle answered with a casual shrug.

"My condolences," said the Mayor with a gentle nod, "I hope city life wasn't too painful."

"Nothing I can't handle," Noelle lied, forcing a smile, "I think I just want to follow in my grandfather's footsteps."

"That's a good motivation to have," said Lewis, "I know you'll do the farm justice. Noelle, let me introduce you to our local carpenter. Robin. She helped me get your grandfather's home together for your arrival."

"Nice to meet you, Robin," Noelle said with a smile, reaching her hand out for a handshake. "If you don't mind me prying a bit, you look like a new face in the valley."

"Semi-correct," Robin replied, returning the handshake, "However, I'll spare you the details. I'm sure you're eager to get your new life started. How was the road trip? Were you comfortable?"

"As comfortable as I could be on a five-hour bus ride," Noelle said, stretching her legs, "The air's nice here. I could barely breathe."

"You're going to love living here, and you're moving during spring. That's poetic," joked Robin, "I'm sure you remember your grandfather's ranch. Follow us. We spent the last couple of weeks preparing it for you."

"Which part of the city did you say you were from, Noelle?" Mayor Lewis asked with a curious arched brow. "I don't mean to pry, but I couldn't help but notice that you have a slight accent."

"Yoba, is it that thick?" said Noelle, petrified that her old city life began to show, "I'm from the inner parts."

"I see," Mayor Lewis replied with a nod, "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll fit in fine. There are many residents here that aren't natives. There's no need to be ashamed of where we come from."

"Uh-huh," Noelle said with a nod, not in the mood to vent out her life's story to two strangers. All Noelle cared about was seeing the farm after ten long years.

Sweet Yoba, the farm.

Noelle couldn't believe how overgrown it had gotten over the years. The land was stuffed with overgrown weeds, and tall grass blades make it look like a grassland.

"What the actual fuck?!" Noelle screamed in terror, "How the hell- why the hell? When in the fresh fucking hell did this farm go to hell?"

"Hey, there's still good soil under all that rubble," said Robin patting Noelle on the back. With enough time, you'll be turning a profit before the end of the year.

"I've faced much worse in the city," said Noelle, calming herself down from the fear that gripped her, "This shit? Child's play. Although fully grown trees are intimidating. And that stomp. Also, those rocks, where the hell-"

"Must be devastating," said Mayor Lewis, his face crestfallen, "Your grandpa had always been particular where he kept things. He'd explode seeing it this way."

"The Greenhouse!" Noelle said, putting a pair of hands on her hair, "What the hell happened?"

"Oh, about the greenhouse," said Robin with an upbeat tone, "I tried to commission Mayor Lewis to get it done, but the gold to repair it is ridiculous."

"Yoba," Noelle said, her heart sunk. The greenhouse would be of interest come winter. Maybe the upgrade could go towards that rather than the house. It was just her,and Looking into expansions that nature couldn't provide seemed fruitless with limited assets to her name.

"As I said, Noelle, the deal isn't off the table. With your wit and determination, you'll have that upgraded by the end of the season if you play your cards right. Repairing the greenhouse will cost roughly twenty thousand gold?" said Robin, as she sounded like a salesperson. Noelle hoped her disinterest didn't appear on her face, but judging how quick Robin frowned, well, safe to say she wore her emotions on her shoulders.

"I'll be lucky enough to squeeze three thousand gold outta this dump. What did you guys do? The farm was in tip-top shape when I left. It's only been twenty years. We already got full-grown trees?" said Noelle, "Profit? What profit? Is this even profitable?"

"Very," Mayor Lewis, "The Sinclair's are known to make things work. You'll pull through."

"I think you'll feel a little better once we show you the inside," Robin chirped, "Come, follow me."

The farmhouse, exactly how she remembered it, twin size bed, a dining table, her grandfather's fireplace. Chief's kiss compared to her apartment.

"Your grandfather loved this place," said Mayor Lewis with a sigh, "It is a nice house. I'd live here If I owned land."

"Nice is a strong way of putting it," said Robin with an exaggerated, "Crusty is more like it."

Noelle smiled at that joke as if something tickled her about it. The place was nostalgic, for sure, but not perfect.

"Rude!" Mayor Lewis snapped as if Noelle would take that the wrong way. She didn't. Instead, she smiled and agreed with Robin.

"Nope, it's a crack den," Noelle replied with a shrug, getting another laugh out of Robin, "She's right. With enough gold, I plan to turn this around."

An arm draped around her shoulder as Robin tried to catch her breath. "Farmer, you and I are going to get along great! Come by the mountains if you need anyone to talk to. People are dying to meet you."

"Really?" Noelle said, keeping her smirk, "That's good to hear, are Evelyn and George still alive?"

"Still kicking," said Mayor Lewis, wrapping his thumbs on his suspenders, "Make a point to visit everyone in the Valley. It might not be the same as you remember it."

"What happened?" Noelle asked curiously.

"Nah, I won't spoil it for you," said Mayor Lewis with a warmth in his tone, "See for yourself, but the layout might be different. A deadly tornado ripped through the Valley five summers prior. Sure, you've heard about it on the news. It was tragic."

"Five dead," Noelle sympathized, "Yeah, I heard it."

"Either way, I know you won't have an issue on the social front," The Mayor beamed, "Your grandfather loved to mingle with the others. Stop by the clinic when you get the chance, Noelle. The doc did a good job on him before he passed."

"We got a doc?" Noelle asked as she placed her hands in her pockets, "Last time I checked, we had to go downtown for a doc."

"Moved in right after you left," Mayor Lewis answered brightly, "Anyhoo, I won't spoil much. Again, I encourage you to mingle."

"That's on my to-do list once I get the farm underway, no distractions," Noelle said, her tone determined, severe, and flat.

"Get to it, then!" Robin encouraged, "Noelle, if you need anything at all; house renovations, plumbing, electricity, come to me for one of my house upgrades.

"Thank you, Robin," said Noelle, ended it all with a handshake and a polite smile.

"Anyhoo, I have to go home and make dinner for my family. Feel free to stop anytime, Noelle!"

"See you later!" Noelle said with a wave, watching Robin disappear into the great winding road.

"Last thing before I go as well," said Mayor Lewis, "I've left a box inside to get you started. Your grandfather's tools should be leaning against the wall. As well as some parsnip seeds on behalf of pelican town."

"Thank you, Mayor," said Noelle with a bright smile, "I promise, I'll do this farm justice."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," said the Mayor with a light chuckle, "This is a big job; we wouldn't want to lose our farmer on the first day, would we?"

"You're right," said Noelle laughing with him, "But it's weird, it's only been twenty minutes, and I feel attached already. Even if the farmhouse hasn't been updated in twenty years or so, it still feels like home. Way more than my life did in the city."

"I'm glad it does," said the Mayor with a nod, "Anywho, it's time for me to follow Robin's lead. If you need anyone to socialize with Noelle, there is always the Saloon."

"The Stardrop," Noelle said, bouncing on her feet, "I remember Gus and his cooking. Fast food can't compare. He's still around?"

"I won't spoil too much for you," said the Mayor gleefully, "It'll give you an incentive to meet everyone in town if you don't know them already. Stop by whenever you get bored working on the farm."

"Will do," said Noelle, waving goodbye to the Mayor as he headed for the road, "See you later, Lewis!"

"After a while, Noelle! Don't break yourself!" said the Mayor as he faded into nothing, heading for the road that separated her from Pelican Town.

Noelle grabbed her backpack, stuffed with what little she had to take with her, and walked into the farmhouse with Robin and Mayor Lewis leaving her on her own.

Time to start a new life.

Chapter 2 – Dr. Stranger

"Fuck!"

Blood oozed down her arm as Noelle yanked it away from her tree chopping. A deep laceration spliced the base of her index finger to the bottom of her palm, deepening as it snaked its way down. There went one of the three shirts she owned as the redness stained the fabric, sticking to her skin as Noelle processed the wound with a blank face and a confused gaze. The damage was far too deep to keep working, and the wood on her tools would only cause an infection. She knew better than that. Of course, her grandad was the type to spit dirt in it. Medical bills were far too expensive for the folks that lived in the inner city.

She was half tempted to let the blood run and use the free hand to continue her farm work. This wasn't the worst she'd been through. A gunshot nearly took life once upon a time, not to mention the two stab wounds that left behind ugly stomach scars. Hospital visits put her family into debt. Selling the farm came up in conversation just to cover them all. Noelle did not want to see the man or woman that could end her second chance at having a life. Not that the farm was a get-rich-quick scheme by any means, but she did not want to live in Pelican Town with an I.O.U over her head.

It was a painful walk into town as Noelle made her way down the road, clutching her hand with a damp cloth. She made a mental note to invest in a means of transportation later. The road was a thirty-minute walk before signs of life appeared. Noelle paused, almost a coincidence that the first building she saw was the clinic, parked right at the entrance to Bluebell Farm. Did this backwater town even have a clinic?

Noelle sucked in air, threw down her tools, and began the long track into town. The walk would have been relaxing and pretty to look at. The road leading into the plaza was an endless sea of trees and nature. Noelle heard the beeping and rushing cars of the highway from miles away. Still, as far as the world was concerned, Bluebell was in complete isolation compared to the hustle and bustle of the city. It was almost eerie that the first thing her eyes saw was the resemblance of a small hospital. A white pastel building with a bold red cross, large glass windows at the front attached to the general store for connivance's sake. She knocked on the door, an immediate response, swung open, and a bell jingled, revealing a mixed young woman on the other side.

"Yoba, come in!"

The young woman pulled Noelle aside. Pretty fancy for a mid-nowhere service, clean as well upon the first impression. It was a nice, comfy space, blue plastic chairs for the waiting room, a shelf of magazines, self-care books, combined with a small reading area for guests, and a front desk with a coffee cup and a cash register to tie it all together. The smell of coffee lingered from the back room, mixed with medication made her a bit nauseous. It was quiet and still aside from the nurse as she moved with urgency throughout the clinic.

"Hold still," she instructed kindly, "I'm Maru. You must be the new farmer?"

Noelle gritted her teeth as she worked, not the best time for small talk, but Noelle understood what the nurse was doing.

"Yes," Noelle replied half-heartedly before grunting. Can't talk right now, Miss I'm bleeding to death, Noelle winced as the nurse removed the cloth, studying the wound. The nurse didn't waste a beat, scrambling around the clinic for emergency supplies, came back with a plastic bucket and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and dumped the contents inside.

"This may sting a little." She warned before taking Noelle's hand and dumped it in. The farmer hissed. "Sorry, gotta, make sure this doesn't get infected before the Doc can see you. What happened?"

"You tell me," Noelle said as she grimaced.

"This looks bad, but don't worry, the Doc will patch you up." Maru explained warmly, "Oh my, you did a number on your hand. What happened?"

"Axe accident," Noelle gritted her teeth and hissed as she spoke, "One moment, chopping wood, the next, chopping flesh... please fix it."

"You're in good hands," Maru smiled, "The way he does stitches, you won't even have a scar. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"I guess I have no choice but to see for myself," Noelle played along, gritting her teeth as her stomach churned at the smell, "I'm... Noelle, you?"

"Maru," the nurse replied cheerfully, "You can find me here on Tuesdays and Thursdays when the doc gets busy."

"Part-time or full time?" Small talk to distract from the pain worked like a charm.

"Part-time," Maru replied, "Keep that hand there. I'll go see what's keeping him."

"Noted," Noelle replied, cringing at the irony.

Noelle watched as Maru made her way down the hallway, crashing through two large flappy doors that lead back to the clinic. Friendly muffled conversation at first, then it screeched to a halt once revealed the need was urgent. The footsteps picked up, traveled down the hallway, Maru returning with the doctor in toe. Their eyes locked for a split second before they divert away towards the mess at hand.

"Sweet Yoba," he mumbled, perplexed, then faced his nurse, "Thanks, Maru. I'll take it from here."

"You better," Maru replied with a grin, "I'm going out to lunch, be back in ten."

"Twenty," The Doc added on with a shy smile, "Ten of those minutes are travel time, another five before the meal is cooked. Go on. You've earned it today."

"Thanks, doc," Maru replied, putting away her nurse's uniform for now, "See you later, Noelle. Sorry about your hand!"

With that, she left. A ginger movement lifted her hand out of the liquid and into a soft, fresh towel wrapped around it tightly. "Keep that there to clot the bleeding if you could follow me in the back."

Instinctively, Noelle obeyed, following behind him in silence. Something about him seemed a little intimidating, as Noelle could only tense in his presence. Three times her size. She felt inferior, and dare she admit it, vulnerable. In the back of a "hospital" with a man she barely knew. He could have his way, silence her, and get away with it if he wanted. But... he didn't seem the type. Tall, broad shoulders, yes, skinny, not a single muscle insight. Dirty blond neglected to comb it through. Were his eyes green or brown? She couldn't tell from that far away. Her guard was up. Get in and get out. She knew the drill.

"Let's take a look," an instruction, his tone authoritative but friendly, baritone. He removed the cloth and got to work. Noelle hissed as he prodded around, observed the deep gash like an ordinary Tuesday, but for her, this was hell. He took a pair of tweezers and picked out specks of debris that Noelle hadn't noticed before. The moment the wound started bleeding again, he stopped, applying a wet cloth-like material to keep it clean and from spilling over.

"Stitches," he said, a low voice, dare she say, shy. Noelle squirmed in her seat, "Don't worry, once I apply the topical, you won't feel a thing."

"Topical?" Noelle repeated.

"Numbing ointment," he said once again, locking eyes with her again. Intense, her face burned. "Scale of one to ten, how bad are needles for you?"

"Infinity," Noelle replied, looking down at her lap purposely.

"If you must, please focus on the poster," he suggested, motioning towards the wall, "I'll have you in and out in no time. Just allow me to prepare my materials."

"Thank you, Sir," said Noelle, not knowing his name yet.

"You're welcome, Miss," he said as he prepared the needle and thread on a separate tray. Soft, his skin was smooth. She was right, white-collar. Not an ounce of hard labor in his life. Her own cradling in his palm as he applied the ointment.

"Do you feel anything?" he asked after several minutes. Noelle shook her head. "Great, if you could sit still for me. One mess up, and we'd have to start over."

"Aye-aye, captain," Noelle said, cringing at her joke. Dr. Stranger didn't seem to mind, letting out a nervous chuckle.

Noelle tried not to flinch as the cold needle pierced through her skin. Green eyes started with immense focus as he worked. He took his time feeding the needle through her brown skin, making neat tiny stitches as he patched up the injury. Noelle watched as the taller man reached for one of his cabinets, pulling out a fresh bandage and what looked to be antibiotics. He cleaned the area once more before applying on the ointment, wrapping around the dressing as tight as he could so that the blood would finally clot.

"Nice," he commented, proofreading his work, once again, made eye contact with a smile to complement. "There you have it, good as new. Keep that area dry, and it should heal within seven to ten days. You'll know you've done right when the stitches dissolve on their own. You're courageous, Miss-"

"Noelle," Noelle said with a smile, using her left hand for a proper handshake. He replied with his right, creating an awkward shuffle at first but figuring it out in no time. He had an excellent grip.

"Miss Noelle," he repeated, then addressed himself, "Doctor Becker, but you may address me as Harvey. Things are pretty casual in the Valley."

"Are you sure?" Noelle stuttered, blinking as she once again felt a little culture shock. They would not be allowed in the city.

"Positive," He said, leaning on the counter and crossing his arms, "I'm not that strict about the title."

"Where are you from, Harvey?" Noelle asked, making a conscious effort to drop the title, and green eyes sparkled in response. Not asked that much?

"I'm from the suburbs," his voice cracked, a sheen of sweat on his face. Alright, time to put him out of his own misery. Not much of a conversationalist.

"Will that be all, Doc?"

"Yes," he cleared his throat, opening the door for her, and Noelle took it, "Follow me to the front if you could."

She did, but not like she had much of a choice. This time Noelle traveled behind him, watched as he took an old washcloth and wiped his face. Once they made it back to the waiting room, he took a deep breath and found his way back towards his desk as Noelle caught him trembling.

"You alright?" She asked with an arched brow, yet another flinch.

"Possibly one too many cups of coffee," He winked, her cheeks flared,

"How do you feel?"

"Better," Noelle replied, "Can't even feel it, thanks, Harvey."

"Still got it," He replied with a light chuckle.

"You hadn't before?"

He frowned, "Professionals are always over critical of their own work, imposter syndrome, as they call it. I'd tell you more, but you've just moved in. That's a story for another time."

"I'm intrigued," Noelle smiled, "When can I catch you?"

"Pop in whenever it's open," a shrugged, "Guests make my day. The best way to get to know me is one on one. Otherwise, I'm useless."

"Can't relate, extrovert," Noelle teased, "I'll make sure once I get the farm underway."

"That's right, you're the new farmer, aren't you?" Harvey asked with a curious tone, "I've... seen you around town, wanted to say hello, but you've seemed busy. Those crates of supplies look heavy. My advice; lift with your knees and not your back. It worries me when it's the latter."

"I'll keep that in mind," Noelle replied, huh. Perhaps, that's why her back was so sore, "Alright, doc, what are the damages?"

"I'll send you a bill within seven to ten business days, and you can pay it off when able," Harvey replied, "It won't be much."

"Oh, sweet," Noelle replied, lending out her left hand for a shake, "I'll see you around Harvey. You're neat."

He retook it, clasped it firmly. The touch is seared, and they both noticed, breaking away before their skin burned.

"Take it easy, Miss Noelle," he said gently, plopping back into his seat and returning to his work. Noelle took the cue, turned her heels, and left with a bright red face, almost unable to breathe.

"Noelle, are you okay?" asked a familiar voice, "You look like you're gonna pass out."

She looked up, none other than Maru, sitting alone on a bench not too far from the clinic.

"Maru, was it?" Noelle asked with a quiver in her voice. Maru nodded.

"Yup, that's my name," she smirked, "How was he in there?"

"Literally eighty-five percent anxiety. Poor bastard, what's eating him? Married life?"

"Nope," Maru laughed, "Just a lonely bachelor wishing for married life."

"I'm shooketh," Noelle replied, narrowing her eyes with genuine curiosity, "Thoughts?"

"He's not my type," said Maru with a smirk, but then frowned once more, "But... not sure if he's up for it. He's been bitter as of late."

"I see," said Noelle, a bit confused, but got the gist of it.

"Why'd you ask?" Maru said, tilting her head, "Got a crush?"

"Maru, I just moved in," said Noelle, "Right now, I'm just trying to figure out this whole farming thing and learn what plants do. Men? I can worry about them later."

"Oh, I get you," said Maru, "Nice guy, available, a charmer, but not my type. Everyone here likes Harvey. Fairly sure Alex has a man-crush... and you didn't hear that from me."

"Yoba, Alex," said Noelle, wincing at the memory.

"You know him?" Maru asked, intrigued.

"I grew up with him," said Noelle, "Kinda, long story, it's complicated. He's still here, right?"

"Yup," Maru winced with her, "I heard rumors he had to drop outta college. Do I sense bad blood?"

"Where do I even begin?" Noelle said, rolling her eyes and rubbing her temples. "That's a story for another time. Just... quick question, how do I get to the man one on one?"

"And... as the best friend, I'll have to stop you there," Maru said, getting a little protective with her stance, and Noelle blinked, "Harvey. Heart of gold that's been through hell and back. Big softy- so if you do wind up pursuing him, tread lightly. Sorry, Noelle, I didn't mean to frighten you, but he's vital not only to me but to the town. I haven't had a physician as talented as he in a long time. We don't want to see him falling apart because some random woman stomped on whatever confidence he had left. Don't fall for him because he's good-looking and talented in the clinic. Fall for him because it's genuine because if anyone here deserves a happy ending, it's Harvey."

"I understand," Noelle said with a nod, knowing full well how tight knit the community is. She would be responsible for tearing the fabric if anything happened to Harvey. Noelle knew she didn't come here to destroy the tight-knit small town that often fell off the maps and most certainly didn't come here to start thirsting for a man she just met. If she was honest with herself, she couldn't imagine running the farm or and a love life, her brain needed to focus on one thing at a time. She had to get the farm and her new life underway first. The boyfriend could come later.

"Sorry," Maru apologized, "I don't mean to scare you away, just trying to soften the blow. Be a friend first if you could. The Doc needs that now more than ever."

"A friend," Noelle repeated as if the word sounded strange and foreign. She could use more of those, but maintaining friendships wasn't something she was skilled at. People couldn't figure out where to place Noelle. Her vibe was often like a plate of scrambled eggs, friendly one moment and hostile the next. But Maru was correct. Building friendships and finding a clique were critical for small-town living. The romance, absolutely, could come later.

"Think about that," Maru winked, "Well, gotta go back. The boss is wondering where I am. Toddles!"

"Toddles!" Noelle repeated as Maru made her way back to the clinic and Noelle back to Bluebell Farm, fulfilling the purpose of the letter that sent her here. As much as Noelle wanted to be, she simply wasn't ready. The first chapters of her life had yet to be fulfilled. Adulting first, love life later, that's all one could ask of the other, come to think of it.

Chapter 3 – The Local Carpenter

A heavy downpour took over the valley at night. Thunder clapping forced Noelle awake as she stared at the ceiling. Under normal circumstances, Noelle welcomed the soft pitter-patter of rainfall on her roof. She laid on her back, curled underneath a red cotton quilt, thinking about life, her next move, where to go from here.

She still questioned whether or not she made the right move, choosing this new lifestyle with little to no knowledge of farming or nature. Noelle knew that she couldn't be on the streets, not during a cold frost. Perhaps if it was the summer, that would've given her more time to prepare, take up classes, maybe even purchase a few books about farming, but now she was on her lonesome. But at least, for her sake, being on her was par for the course. She could function, and she was going to prove it. However, the lack of sleep and the pit in her stomach weren't helping things either.

She had a crush, and damn it, she knew she had it bad.

At around 6am her alarm went off, and Noelle climbed out of bed with a groan and a pounding headache. Sleep remained in her eyes, and she felt woozy. Her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Harvey, curious as to what a romance would look like with him. He did seem like a gentleman, referring to her as Miss Noelle, offering her aid on the bench, opening the door for her at every opportunity. Whether or not it's genuine is still up to debate. From her mind, that could've been a front to remain professional. She had no idea what Harvey was like outside the clinic. He could be nice one day and a jackass the next.

Noelle cursed at herself for allowing her heart to race as fast as it did. She had been staring in the mirror for the last twenty minutes in her nightgown, confused and trembling as her mind began to spiral. It was a mixture of puzzlement and excitement; that someone was able to toggle her heartstrings. Achievement unlocked for Harvey in that case. Their conversation was less than ten minutes. Damn. Really Noelle. Ten minutes and you're a goner?

"Yoba, I'm a mess," Noelle cursed to herself, sighing in defeat. Despite all of this, she knew she had a severe crush. She didn't expect it to happen so soon, but damn, it did, and it was pitiful. Having no experience wasn't helpful either. Noelle couldn't tell if this was infatuation or something legit. Did she just jump at the first guy who gave her attention? What the hell wound her up so bad? Where are her standards that low? Did she have standards? Was she that desperate or simply tired of being alone?

Noelle let her head fall to her desk, and she let out a groan in annoyance. Not only was she distracted from her primary purpose of moving her, not only was she confused and stressed at the same time, but she also had a crush and hated everything about what it was doing to her. She wanted to break something, scream to the high heavens, take off her bandage and undo the stitches and let the wound get infected because that's what started this whole thing. Had she not met Harvey, she would've been fine. Crisis. This was the start of a third-quarter crisis. Leaving her old career and starting a new one, picking a lifestyle she knew nothing about, should she cut her hair while she's at it?

Robin, she had to call Robin. She did just that, pulling out an old, fourth-generation touch screen cellular device and dialed her number. This was a personal emergency, and Noelle was losing her mind. Twenty-eight, little young for a crisis, right?

"Hey, Noelle, what's up?" Robin said rather casually, despite still talking to somewhat of a stranger.

"Do you have blueprints for a scarecrow?" Noelle said rather quickly, blueprint the first thing that came out of her mind. She wasn't ready to open up to Robin about the crisis she was having.

"Sure, come on by, crows eating your shit?" Robin said with a chuckle.

"Well, kinda," Noelle said, revealing a nervous quiver in her voice. She could see Robin growing confused and concerned on the other side.

"It's alright, Noelle, I'm teasing you," Robin clarified, "If you need anyone to talk to, I'm all ears. I'd like to get to know my neighbor better. Now is this a business emergency- or a personal one?"

"I-" said Noelle, once again receiving a little culture shock.

"Okay, this sounds serious," Robin said as if she could sense Noelle's nervousness through the phone, "Alright, I'm the only one here in the cabin now, so if you want to stop by and vent to me, feel free."

"Vent?!" Noelle said, sounding horrified, "Yoba, Robin, I just moved in. You don't need to hear about my baggage."

"Noelle, the minute you stepped off that bus, your business became our business. We can have a lunch date, girl talk. The meal is on me, plus I'd like to get to know my new neighbor better."

Robin had said this with a strong passion that almost frightened Noelle, but she did have a point. In a town with no less than twenty residents, she could only imagine that communication and gossip are what kept them together. She was thankful to have Robin's support. Noelle knew she would've been eaten alive by her own feelings anyway. With that, Noelle took a deep sigh, rolling her fingers on her dresser.

"Alright," said Noelle, "Just promise me you won't laugh."

"That's natural," said Robin, at which Noelle could hear her nodding, "Okay, come on over whenever you're ready. We can talk about those "blueprints." Stay safe in the rain, honey."

"Thanks, Robin," Noelle said, and after a quick exchange of goodbyes, the phone call was over. Noelle took a deep breath, finished plaiting her hair, and got dressed into a hoodie, jeans, and a blue raincoat. With her umbrella in hand, Noelle began a long ascent into the mountains, hoping she wouldn't bump into Harvey along the way.

After a twenty- or thirty-minute walk, Noelle making a mental note that this was great cardio, she came across a beautiful cabin home resting against a mountainous backdrop, with a mountain lake resting not too far away. This was a serene area, whistling of leaves, birds chirping, and a small pathway towards the back. Nervously she knocked on Robin's door with a light tap, and it wasn't long before she received an answer. Robin had practically pulled Noelle inside, wasting no time greeting her with a giant bear hug.

"Noelle, you're looking good!" said Robin as if she hadn't seen Noelle in a long time. Perhaps that was the case in Pelican Town. She took her wet raincoat and jacket and then winced at the bandage around her wrist. "Rough first day?"

"Yeah, I nearly chopped my thumb off trying to figure out how to use an ax," said Noelle wincing at the memory, "It feels better now. Doc patched me up."

"Glad to see you're doing better," said Robin, "Accidents on the job happen all the time. As a carpenter, I've gotten splinters, stabs, cuts, a nail in the foot. The doc fixed them all without a blink. He's talented at what he does."

"So, I've heard," said Noelle, "So, blueprints."

"Nah, let's talk about what's alienating you," said Robin, "I can tell you're stressed out about something; your body language isn't helping your case."

"Who is stressed? Never heard of her," said Noelle with a sarcastic smirk, but then she frowned, "Although I think stressed is an understatement."

"Come, sit. Lunch is on the stove," Robin said, leading Noelle to her kitchen in the far back of the house. A huge stew pot stood boiling over. "Your hair looks good. Did you do it yourself?"

"Yup," Noelle nodded as she took a seat at the dinner table, "You learn that early. Otherwise, it's five hundred gold a week at the salon. As you can see, I'm not made of money."

"Nice skill to have," Robin adds on, holding two bowls of soup, "It's not much, but it's food. Hope you like it."

"Please, many nights I've gone to bed starving. I'm not picky," said Noelle as she took her spoon and placed it inside while Robin took a seat right in front of her.

"Can't imagine going to bed without an empty stomach," Robin said, giving Noelle a sympathetic look. "No... I can... I'm from in the city."

Noelle blinked, "Where are you from?"

"Oh, suburbia," said Robin, "Moved here because the lifestyle I wanted wasn't needed in the city."

Noelle said with a shrug, "What brought you to the valley?"

"Carpentry," Robin answered proudly, "My family and I would take a vacation to the valley once a year to see the fair. I'm sure you're familiar with it?"

"My Grandad won several awards from the fair," Noelle nodded, wondering if she could once again live up to his legacy. "He's even in the history books. But enough about me, back to you. What about the fair that inspired you?"

"Every year, the valley showcases its talent. I fell in love with woodwork. I took some studies and learned the trade through a couple of mentors after school. When I told my parents that I wanted to do for a living, they disapproved, so I left. Much like you, Noelle, I came here to start a new life. The first thing I did was build this house from the ground up. This mountainside used to be just trees. Now it's home. It's been twenty years living in the valley, and I have yet to regret my decision. I love it here."

"Damn," Noelle said, taken aback, "You built this place from the ground up? Out of nothing?"

"Yup," said Robin, "We all built Pelican Town from the ground up. This area was underdeveloped just fifty to sixty years ago. It started when your grandfather purchased a new swath of land for him and his family and brought a crew along with him. People started trickling in, building their own businesses, and Pelican Town came to be, it's remarkable."

"My mom did mention that," said Noelle, putting a hand on her chin.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was life in the city for you, Noelle?"

"Hell," said Noelle, not sure where to begin, "I'll give you the jest, fired, orphaned, homeless. Now I'm here. Nothing noteworthy."

"Shit," said Robin with a blink, "That's just a lot of shit on top of shit, Noelle. You're a trooper."

Noelle simply shrugged, "Where I come from, that's tutorial mode. You don't wanna know what happened after high school."

"Lemme guess, more shit?" Robin said with a smirk to lighten the mood. Noelle smiled.

"Bingo," said Noelle, "It's like Yoba keeps piling more on my shoulders just for the laughs, and he won't stop."

"I think it makes you stronger," said Robin, "Had you been pampered like one of our valley children, the farm would've eaten you alive. Your grandad chose right!"

"He did!" said Noelle as her face lit up, "I miss him,wouldn'tthough. He and mom were the only family I knew."

"Well, now you have a new family right in front of you," said Robin with a smile, "Heck, I'm old enough to be your mother."

"Should I start calling you mom then?" Noelle said with a laugh that was shared between the two.

"Nah, that would be strange, would it?" Robin said with a smirk. "Especially if you decide to chase after one of my children one day."

"How many you got, Robin?" Noelle asked as she took a swig of soda.

"Two, half-siblings," said Robin proudly, "Heed my warning Nelly, wait on the right partner. It'll have future repercussions."

"Not even sure if I want one," said Noelle, feeling her stomach churn.

"Oh, trust me, you do," said Robin with a nod, "There's nothing wrong with being single, but I don't get that vibe from you. You want to be held."

"It's that obvious?" Noelle said with her cheeks flaring.

"Well, aside from the red in the face," Robin said with a laugh, "Someone like you deserves to settle down. You've been through hell and back."

"And combine my hell with someone else's?" said Noelle horrified, "No thanks, better to burn alone."

"Honestly, I agree," said Robin with a nod, "However, I think it's time we discuss the elephant in the room."

"Yoba, no," said Noelle hiding under her hoodie.

"Oh, Yoba, yes," said Robin, wiggling her eyebrows, "A little bird told me you have eyes for someone in the valley."

"Damn," said Noelle looking at her plate of food, "Remind me to strangle Maru later."

"Watch it, dear, that's my daughter," Robin said playfully, "She means well, but it's actually exciting news. Jodi and her husband Kent were the last to get married in the valley. Do you know how long ago that was Nelly? Almost twenty-five to thirty years ago. This could shake things up a bit. Now I must ask, who's the lucky fellow?"

"I think you mean unlucky," Noelle quickly denied with a nervous half-smile. "Yoba, whoever gets with me, they are gonna have to go comb several layers of junk. I am a mess."

"First off, no one is perfect," said Robin taking a swig of her drink. "Second off, I hate to break it to you, Noelle, but you're attractive. If you're alone for The Flower Dance, I will gladly eat a hat."

"Yoba, Robin," Noelle said, "I do not have the headspace to think about The Flower Dance right now. I'm alright sitting on the sidelines for my first year. I highly doubt I'll find a partner before then."

"You shouldn't have a problem," Robin replied, "How the hell are you single, Nelly? Give yourself some credit? You're gorgeous!"

"Either I'm a freak, or I'm just broken," said Noelle knowingly.

"Not broken," Robin smiled, "Your interest is just elsewhere. Now perhaps it's time for a change, not a bad thing. Now, tell me!"

"Only because you gave me lunch," said Noelle pointing a lighthearted finger at Robin, who only laughed at her new friend. Noelle gave Robin a coy look, "I'll give you a hint; he dresses nice."

"Alright, that boils down to either Harvey or Elliott," Robin said with a smirk, "Gotta give a little more, Nelly."

"Yoba, not Frodo," Noelle cringed, needing a bit more than a large vocabulary at this point of her life. She needed someone that made her feel... safe, that provided a sense of security. She didn't get that vibe from Elliott. Had this been a few years ago, where she was an artistic nut case, maybe? "However, credit's where credit's due, putting them side by side makes Harvey look like a hot mess... don't tell him I said that, though."

Robin lost it, "Yoba, Noelle. You're roasting the poor man, and you've only met him once. Harvey's not bad-looking either. His hair just needs help."

"Didn't even notice his hair, though," Noelle said, looking a little whimsical now, "His eyes, Robin. That's what captivated me the most, soft, handsome, longing for something. Yoba, I want him- wait."

Noelle felt her cheeks flair hearing her admit that while Robin let out a burst of howling laughter as her fist shook the table. She looked away, playing with her fingers in her lap.

"Daaamn Nelly!" Robin said with the reddest face she had ever seen, "You got it, baaaad!"

"I-" said Noelle, squirming in her seat. Robin finally gave in and broke down in howling, yet well-meaning, laughter. She chanted immaturely; "Harvey and Nelly sitting in a tree-"

"Robin! No! What are we, twelve?" Noelle said, wanting to implode in her seat.

"Oh, this is fun!" Robin cheered, "Seriously though, that's ambitious. Harvey's... Harvey's been through hell. Poor Mona."

"Mona?" Noelle asked, tilting her head. Robin flinched.

"Sorry, Nelly, not my place to tell. I've said too much. Just note... that's not a heart you play around with." said Robin, "Let's talk positively, though. Nelly, you're crush, it's adorable. Don't be ashamed of it either."

"Oh..." Noelle said, with a wince and a pit in her stomach.

"What's up, Nelly?" Robin asked, "First time?"

Noelle cleared her throat, replying with a slight nod.

"Whatcha gonna do about it?"

"Focus on the farm," said Noelle firmly, "I still have a ton of shit to work through myself, and I'd hate to ruin his life. I dunno, I need time to think."

"Good girl," Robin cheered. "Boys are trouble anyway. Better to get one when you've got your shit together. No need to rush, mkay?"

"Aye-Aye, captain," Noelle said with a playful salute, feeling a weight lifted off her chest, knowing she now had Robbin's support. "The stew was great; can I have a recipe?"

"Don't worry about the dishes, Nelly, I got it," said Robin with a wide smile. "Sure, I can send you the recipe in the mail, hmm? Maybe it'll encourage you for a house upgrade in the future. It's fairly cheap, only ten thousand gold or so."

"I'll think about that later," said Noelle, cringing at the idea of having to make the first move. She didn't want to come off as needy or desperate. "Thanks, Robin."

"No problem, come bother me anytime," said Robin with a smirk. Noelle playfully punched her friend in the shoulder. They laughed.

"Damn, Noelle, do you lift?" Robin with an amused chuckle.

"Well, I used to, in the warehouse," said Noelle with a pensive expression.

"You do look strong," said Robin, "Harvey's gonna feel lucky."

"Stahp, that's enough," said Noelle, hiding under her jacket, "I'm gonna run away while I have the chance."

"Like I said, don't be afraid of what you want," said Robin, "Alright, you go figure out your love life while I go get the kitchen."

"It's nice talking to you, Robin," Noelle said, opening the door and stepping back into the pouring rain. "Thanks for the help!"

"Any time, Noelle!" Robin chirped, "I'll send you those blueprints in the mail. Consider it as a welcome gift!"

"Alright, thanks, goodbye!" Noelle said, closing the door behind her, only to be startled by Maru and a dark-skinned man she hadn't met yet.

"Oh, sorry, Noelle, we were just heading inside!" Maru said with a wide smile, "I could smell lunch from the other side of Pelican town. Did you have it with mom?"

"Yeah, I was having a crisis, so she invited me over. She's nice," Noelle said with a nod and a smile. "Oh, where are my manners? You must be Demetrius?"

"Correct," he said with a cheerful nod, having almost the same demeanor as Harvey. "Welcome to the town, Farmer-"

"Noelle," said Noelle, handing out her hand. He took it and replied with a pleasant handshake. "Sorry I missed you!"

"It's alright. Maru and I were out exploring in the desert to get away from the rain," Demetrius explained. "It's nice to meet you, Noelle! I'm the local scientist, so if you have any questions about your farm, come to me."

"Thanks, Demetrius. Well, time to get out of the rain. I can't afford to let this bandage get wet."

"Do that," Demetrius said with a polite nod, "See you around, Farmer!" Noelle replied, waiving. She left Robin's cabin, feeling better, knowing two things now; Harvey wasn't a wrong choice but ambitious.

A heart not to be messed with.

Chapter 4 – Up and Coming

Farming turned out to be the most challenging thing on the planet.

Noelle knew she wouldn't be a farming goddess starting out. Still, she underestimated the amount of hard labor she'd have to put in to turn a profit. Of course, the care package sent by Mayor Lewis was a nice sentiment. Because of that, she had a small patch of parsnips underway. She established a routine early on, arising at the crack of dawn and hitting the dirt until sundown. She wanted to make sure she was worn out by the end of the day; breaks weren't an option, and being bored was impossible.

Noelle found the more she worked, thoughts of the local doctor faded into the background. If it wasn't planting, it was weeding. If it wasn't weeding, it was cleaning up the loose debris around the farm. If it wasn't clearing a plot of land for future crop growth, it was exploring the town to find foods and veggies to eat for a quick supper.

Stardew Valley was lush in comparison to the city. Noelle couldn't remember the last time she saw wildlife other than rats and squirrels roaming about casually. For the first time in a long time, she met a couple deer in person, relaxing by the stream until she approached them. Rare birds chirped about as she explored the mountainside.

The air here seemed more breathable, clear pollution from city factories that plagued and haunted the skies, freeing the sea of blue from a murky blue. After taking a hike up the mountains in sweating in the deep, Noelle took a moment to relax near the rushing river, hearing the waterfall trickle not too far from the chosen position.

"Stranger?"

The voice that spoke wasn't one she could recognize just yet, so much so that her heart rate nearly doubled as it came out of nowhere. She turned to see a strange man dressed in yellow leaves and a large white puffy beard. He looked homeless, somewhere in his upper seventies, living life behind Robin's cabin. Noelle wasn't a foreigner to the homeless, having experienced it after her mother's death as a teen, so it was easy to reply with a cautious hello.

"Sorry," Noelle mumbled as she got up from the edge of the river. Quickly she brushed the dirt off her clothes and shuffled awkwardly away, "Is this your spot?"

"Normally," The old man replied flatly, "Sorry, I don't take kindly to strangers."

"Can't blame you," Noelle agreed, "Well, I'll be going. I didn't mean to stay long; I'm just looking for dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Can't afford it," Noelle shrugged as she placed her hands in her pockets, "As much as I like Gus and the Star Drop, I don't have the gold for a warm meal. Gotta forage like my grandad taught me."

"The valley of stars is known to feed," uttered the old man, "Look after nature. It'll look after you. Most people don't know that."

"Are you from here?" Noelle asked curiously, not to be rude or prodding, just to get the know the locals.

"I'm from everywhere," He answered, "The valley's been my home for as long as I can remember. It takes care of me; I don't need much else."

Ah, a nomad, "Got any advice? I'm not having much luck."

"The meals you'll find are seasonal, just like the crops you grow," the man advised, "Assuming you're the new farmer, that is."

"Just moved in three weeks ago," Noelle answered, "The word spreads fast here, doesn't it?"

"Gossip is how we thrive," the man answered, "You're not how Imagined, but maybe you're just what we need to spice things up. You have Sinclair blood in you, don't you?"

"You know my grandad?"

"Know of him," He corrected, "He hardly spoke, busy body. Not sure if he had much of a circle, but from here, I could tell he took care of that plot of land you now own. Bluebell Farm, it's special. I've never seen land yield a profit so fast before."

"Really?"

"You should watch your crops, see how fast they grow," the old man advised, "There's magic in that soil, I'm telling you. Parsnips? It shouldn't just take four days to grow. Melons? Pumpkins? Cauliflower? Sometimes, they grow large enough to feed the entire town. I won't spoil too much, but you're lucky. I'll hope you'll do that land well."

"Thanks," Noelle said as she tilted her head at the strange man. Of course, she heard rumors of Yoba's magic thriving in the valley, mainly targeting farmers. "Well, gotta go. Good luck out there."

"Good luck," said the old man, "My name's Linus, by the way."

"Noelle," She introduced, "I'll see you later."

Perhaps not after the grunt, but at least she knew who to turn to if food just grew impossible. The more her stomach grumbled, the more she thought about talking to Gus for a freebie, but she felt terrible for cutting into his profits. Everyone here was trying to make a living, and the last thing Noelle wanted to be known for was a leach in the valley. Even Linus, a man of little means, knew how to survive on his own upon first impressions.

Noelle made her way towards the entry of Pelican Town. What intrigued her most is the abandoned building in the middle of it all. A building she knew too well from childhood, a building her grandfather purchased for the town, and a building brutally destroyed by the fabled storm that nearly wiped the city off the map.

"A sight for sore eyes, hm?" said a voice, this time familiar enough for Noelle not to be startled. Mayor Lewis.

"Afternoon," Noelle said, a little irritated by the appearance, but it cooled. She needed that strength for the farm, not fear, "This is what you'll do when my grandad is six feet under?"

"I… was wondering how'll you react, Miss Sinclair," said Mayor Lewis sheepishly, "Since the war broke out, profits have been hard, and the building fell apart with time. Besides, people would rather sit in front of the television than socialize with others. What's the point?"

"How about taking care of what's given to you?" Noelle retorted, "Sorry, Lewis, I come from not much, so this is just horrendous. People still convene, you know. Like Birthdays, baby showers, weddings…."

"Hardly a thing now," Lewis shrugged, "Birthdays are spent with family. The last baby born was Vincent. The last marriage was Kent and Jodi nearly twenty years ago. Life moves slowly in a small town. For social gatherings, well, that's what festivals are for. Thinking about attending them?"

"Oh, for me, that's a must," Noelle answered, "But that's beside the point. You were given a gift and tossed it out like it was nothing. That's a large amount of space to fit the whole town if need be."

"Well, perhaps that's a project for you," Mayor Lewis said almost in an annoyed tone, "Can't do much without the gold. That's what the farm is for. In fact, it's the only reason Pelican Town has enough tax revenue to stand on its own. I appreciate that you're here, Noelle have you seen the camera crew yet?"

"Camera crew?" Noelle blinked; a camera crew for what? She wasn't famous. Why a camera crew?

"Stardew Valley's Up and Coming!" Mayor Lewis said with a reassuring smile, "A woman of your caliber owning that much land, large and in charge? You'll be a great image for Pelican Town!"

"What do you mean a woman of my caliber?" Noelle questioned, then Mayor Lewis frowned and shifted uncomfortably in place. He wasn't wrong. A woman of her skin color owning anything would be glamorized and advertised in this day and age. Noelle didn't quite want that with her new life. She just, if anything, wanted peace and quiet. She did not want to fall into the same trap her mother did, chasing fame and fortune only to wind up killed in a car accident years later.

"I…" Mayor Lewis stumbled, "Well, it's not often we get people off your… type moving into Pelican Town. Having you and Demetrius on the pamphlets will show how diverse—"

"I'm not about to sell my soul, Lewis," Noelle frowned bluntly, "If you wanna show how diverse Pelican Town is, you can start by including Demetrius more often than not in the pamphlets. Oh, but that makes you uncomfortable, doesn't it?"

"Well…" Mayor Lewis said as he stumbled in place. Noelle understood what she was getting into. Unless it was historical, a small town wasn't going to have a large pool to pick from. It made sense that Demetrius was the only resident she had something in common with. "Have a good day, Miss Noelle. Sorry for your troubles, but if you do have any ideas on improving the community center, stop by my office. We can catch up over coffee."

"Sure," Noelle said, uncertain if she wanted to trust Mayor Lewis or not. However, she wasn't offended by his behavior. Most of this was plain ignorance. It possibly wouldn't be a bad idea to get to know Demetrius better, either. After all, he was a scientist whose skills could help improve the farm and its soil. If she could commission anyone for a permanent solution to killing weeds, it would be the only scientist in town.

After dismissing the Mayor, Noelle made her way back to the plaza. By the time she was through exploring the town, the sun was low in the sky. It was this time of day she noticed the city was buzzing with activity. Penny was taking Jas and Vincent home for the day. Marine, Caroline, and Jodi gathered in their typical gossip circle. The air smelled of Gus's culinary skills signifying the dinner rush.

She caught wind of Harvey sitting near the park bench, possibly reclining after a day in the clinic. Looks were exchanged for a moment, leaving Noelle to wonder whether or not it was appropriate to strike a conversation with the local physician. She could see their relationship being just as awkward as a student trying to befriend their professor.

"Miss Noelle, good evening," Harvey spoke, which caught Noelle off guard. She perceived him as the type not to lead a conversation. Still, his tone was so uptight. This could, ,easily be Dr. Becker speaking and most certainly not Harvey after a long day. "How's your hand?"

Ahh, that's why. Doctor mode. "Wasn't thinking about it until you said something."

"Good," was his quick reply, "If it starts to bleed, come by, wouldn't want it infected. You nearly sliced off your thumb. How. This did it happen?"

"Not sure," Noelle shrugged. She really wasn't sure, "I guess I didn't aim correctly."

"Be careful on the farm," Harvey warned, "Your grandfather was a regular patient of mine… not surprising for a small town. Pelican Town could use your strength. I would hate to see you unable."

Noelle smiled. That's almost what she wanted to hear, not the trash Mayor Lewis spoke about moments earlier. "I needed that, thanks."

"Something happened?" Harvey asked.

"Your Mayor's a jerk," Noelle answered bluntly, "Wanted to use my skin color as a sales pitch. I did not come here for that."

"Ah," Harvey remarked, a slight hint of annoyance in his tone, "He's worried to death about keeping an image but won't do much to maintain the one he already has. We don't claim him… my apologies. That was aggressive. I don't mean to gossip."

"Bad blood?" Noelle question as she curiously tilted her head.

"More or less," Harvey answered, "I won't get into it since you're new. I know this is late but welcome. You'll fit right in. It's a shame we had to meet under such circumstances."

"Thanks," Noelle replied, "Hey… you look familiar to me. Have we met before?"

"Possibly," Harvey answered plainly, "I've worked with hundreds of patients, so the chances of us crossing paths are quite high."

"Ah," Noelle replied, "How long have you been a doctor, Harvey?"

He blinked as emerald, green eyes calculated the answered, "Hmm… twenty years soon. The youngest I began taking internships was about eighteen. At that point, tours and shadows to see if it was a correct fit. My first real patient wasn't until I graduated from med school and took the oath. Otherwise, it's illegal to work without a license."

"Oh," Noelle said, and an assessment, she was correct. The power dynamic between them was just… too risky.

"But that shouldn't frighten you, of course," Harvey cleared his throat, "Hey… since you're new… do you want to go to the… to the—"

"Pardon?" Noelle arched her brow and watched as the prim and proper man of Pelican Town blue screened in front of her. She could commend him for trying but watching him fall apart in front was amusing.

"… never mind," Harvey once again cleared his throat and straightened his tie, "I'm sure you're busy on the farm, don't let me keep you."

"Oh, it's cool," Noelle reassured, "I don't have much either and wouldn't want you paying for me. We're all struggling here, hm?"

"That's the expectation," said Harvey, "But I see what you mean. Have a good day Miss Noelle. Stay safe on the farm."

"Don't overwork yourself either," Noelle said with a polite wave as she made her way towards Bluebell Farm. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to take his offer, but Noelle didn't want to be seen as the leach of the town. She could pay for her own meals in due time, but she must forage for dinner for now. If two purple mushrooms for the fourth day in the row, it shall be two purple mushrooms…..

Beggars could not be choosers.

Chapter 5 – Hell and Back

It didn't take long for Noelle to learn that spring was a rainy month.

Upon waking up the following day, she found herself once again in the middle of a storm that began to flood her farmland. Whatever potatoes and green beans she planted drowned themselves in a puddle ankle deep. At least her parsnips were mature enough for harvest concluding in the gold she earned the following day as promised. Despite the misfortune, this was the most gold she ever made at once. One thousand gold from just growing a patch of roots

Since being on her own at the age of sixteen, no one was around to sit down and teach her the ways of budgeting and finance. She knew most of the matter was taking the "for sale" sign at face value without comparing. Things were made worse, considering she had no idea how to cook. Much of her allowance was spent on fast food and snack from the local general stores. She knew much of that would cease living in mid-nowhere unless she was willing to take the hour-long trip by foot into Grampleton for a quick bite.

That lifestyle, of course, came with its own consequences, chubbier than usual kinds of implications that only didn't grow out of control because of the daily jogs she'd take around the city. Her weight maintained itself for the most part, and she expected to tone down how she worked on the farm in a few months.

Noelle wasn't sure what to do to save her crops. Instead, she took a moment to check her mailbox—primarily out of habit from living in the city. There was no way people would be messaging her this early. Opening the letter, it was indeed from a man she hadn't met yet but caught wind of through conversation in town. The Local Fishermen of Pelican Town left for a business trip deep within the Gem Sea. Robin told Noelle personally that the fisherman, named Willy, would be messaging her for a free lesson. Noelle didn't mind. Having a hobby outside of farming and wandering a town would do wonders for her mental health. In addition, she could see herself catching her own catfish, cutting it up, and having a meal over the fire.

Once finishing her morning chores and cleaning what little she could on a flooded farm, Noelle decided to make a trip over to the beach. At least this activity could take her mind off the dreaded situation fate put her in. It wasn't long until she made it to the beach, barefoot and all—the cobblestone pathways of Pelican Town weren't enough to bother her. In fact, being barefoot was something she was just used to. She arrived on the beach in the rain.

"Hey, it's the fabled Sinclair!" The fishermen, Willy chimed as he flashed a toothy grin. "Glad you stopped by. You must have received my letter."

"I did," Noelle clarified, "My farm flooded, so, not much else to do today. How was your trip?"

"Caught a big one this year," Willy said excitedly, "Dorado, I hope to display it for the fair. But you're here to learn how to fish, not to hear me brag. Do you have any experience?"

"My Grandad taught me a long time ago, but it never stuck," Noelle shrugged, knowing her lack of attention was the cause, "Wouldn't mind a refresher. Most of my dinners as of late have been nothing but shrooms and berries. I could use a protein."

"Ahh, catfish over the fire... my kind of meal, granted the spirits are looking down on you with good favor."

"Spirits?"

"Eh, don't worry about them," Willy answered unamused, "You're in control as far as I'm concerned."

Noelle blinked. What is it with old tales of magic in the valley spawning from old men? What was consistent across both ZuZu and Stardew was Yoba, the spirit that created everything. As far as suspicions go, that's the one she could get behind, but actual ghosts and skeletons lurking in the darkness? Sounded unbelievable. But the rest of their morning continued safely. The rain cleared. Noelle caught a decent batch feed on for dinner. They were small but edible. At least this could give her something else to do other than farming.

After a successful trip, Noelle took her to produce home and stored it as instructed. Due to the lack of a fridge or a real kitchen, Noelle had to learn how to preserve things the old-fashioned way. She placed the two fish containers on the table and then wondered what was left to do with her day. Making a trip to the library seemed the most reasonable. Reading up on natural disasters and learning how her land worked wouldn't be a bad thing. Country girl by birth but city girl at heart, she had no idea how to make the farm work for her… not an excuse to give up, however.

Noelle decided to take a trip into Pelican Town. Barefoot This and all. She probably looked like a filthy himbo wandering around town, but cleanliness wasn't a genuine concern. Who'd care about the farmer covered in dirt? If anything, it was a true sign she worked more than nothing at all. She caught a trio of three staring at her from a distance. Among the Marine group, Noelle shook it off. Frustrated, tired, and starving, Noelle made her way through the plaza, over the river, and towards the peaceful library. At that something, Pelican Town was lucky to have. The first thing she saw was a man dressed in a blue suit, standing at his desk.

"Oh, hello there—holy moly, what happened to you?" He spoke as his tone faded from upbeat professional to shock in a matter of moments. "Oh, you… must be the new Farmer, had a rough day?"

"I don't wanna think about it," Noelle said in a bitter tone, "Got any books on natural disasters? Weeds? Farming for Dummies?"

"In the back," said the librarian, "Sorry you had a rough one, Miss. The first weeks are always the hardest. Your grandfather wasn't the king of agriculture either when he moved in."

"I hope not," Noelle groaned as she meandered to the back of the library, caught a flicker of green as she moved about but paid it no mind. It didn't take long to find her destination; any book would help. It wasn't like her grandfather left her a list of instructions on how to run a farm, nor was this key to a new life dressed as something simple. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, and if she kept that mantra, things could get easier, right? It wasn't long before Noelle caught wind of a familiar stranger. He gets around, doesn't he? It was indeed a Saturday, perhaps his day off. They made eye contact and froze, not prepared to speak to the other. Now they had to say something for the sake of politeness.

"Hi," Noelle said blandly. Oh wow, what a great conversation starter. Not that it mattered, impressions were probably being made with the barefoot dirty, stinky farmer standing in front of a prim and proper man.

"Miss Noelle," Harvey said as he closed his book and cleared his throat, then anxiously covering behind his back. Ah, right, confident in the clinic but a mess everywhere else. "I didn't take you as a reader… well… not saying you can't read… I'm—"

"Well, you're not wrong," Noelle shrugged, "Had a good week?"

Interestingly she cared or wanted to talk about anything anyway. Harvey once again froze in front of her, as if she were speaking a foreign language in front of him. Noelle gazed with curiosity.

"Perhaps good is relative," Harvey answered plainly, "I'm alive. That's what matters. You… on the other hand, appear to have been to hell and back this morning."

"Oh, this is normal," Was her rebuttal, "The damn things flooded, and I can't work until it's cleared up."

"It has been a rainy season, hasn't it?"

"Wouldn't know," said Noelle, and then awkward silence fell between the two, neither of them in the mindset to have a real conversation. It appeared that having something interesting to say wasn't on the agenda. But she could tell that there was a piece of him that wanted to be here. He was trying his best, even though the doc was clearly out of his comfort zone.

"Read any good books lately?" Harvey asked, alright now a broken, anxious record. He was stuck in a loop.

"One about a creepy doctor once," Noelle answered, seeing if she could spice things up, "He'd operate on his patients without any anesthetics, wild hm?"

"Absolutely horrendous," Harvey said, horrified, and his brain appeared to turn on after that. "Forget about malpractice at this point. He could lose his medical license... I take it you have a thing for horror?"

"Thrillers," Noelle answered, then eyed the spine of the book at his side, "Huh, I see the doc has a soft spot for fairytales."

"Hm?" Harvey blinked, then looked down, then frantically stored the book away, "Oh… um… I get sentimental when it rains. I'm more of the historical nonfiction type, not a fan of the fantastical."

"What's up with the fairytale?" Noelle said, not a little surprised that a man of science would be intrigued by fantasy. His skin flushed.

"Just teasing you, doc," Noelle said, "Nothing wrong with that. You just didn't seem the type."

"It's…. fine," Harvey replied, "I'm not used to talking to others as just… Harvey. I hope this meeting doesn't change your perception of me."

"It doesn't," Noelle said. Admittedly she had some unjustified opinions towards the friendly doc, more so because of his profession. Doctor Becker, the smug confident man in the clinic, was the one she couldn't stand. Harvey, however, remained an impossible enigma to solve. "I don't have an opinion of you, really. We've had what, conversation and it was medical related, kind of early to make a judgment on the man from the other side."

"Oh, I—" Harvey cleared his throat, "Thought you hated me."

"Well, I'm not fond of doctors, so you aren't wrong," Noelle replied honestly. She wasn't one to sugarcoat her feelings. The doctors she met were either arrogant or neglectful. Harvey… well, at least Dr. Becker, seemed to be the former. Noelle now couldn't tell if that initial crush was something real or just a heat of the moment, or \just a fluke. Her brain hadn't met a half-decent man in a long time. It made sense to jump at the first notions of staged kindness, confidence, and courtesy.

"Reasonable," Harvey stuttered, "Not everyone likes going to the doctor. I hope the experience was at last comfortable for you."

"That's a stretch," Noelle replied flatly and unamused, "Sorry, I'm sour today, and I wasn't prepared to be friendly."

"Ahh," Harvey said and looked as though he had not much else to say after that, "I… should be going then."

"Toddles," Noelle said, noting how she should probably be friendlier to the man, but she couldn't. She wasn't in the mindset to be close with anyone, really, just a flooded farm to think about, that damn plot of land that was going to be her source of income for the rest of her life. Noelle scanned the bookshelf, looking for anything that could help her sort this out. Thanks to Harvey, she picked three, talked to the Librarian at the front desk, and then left with more questions than answers.

Stepping outside, Noelle caught wind of a young woman leaning against the wall with a book in her hands. She bumped into her before, recalling the accompaniment of two children. They made eye contact at first, then blinked as she realized the face she was staring at was a complete stranger.

"Oh, you must be the new farmer," she said in a low voice, "I'm… Penny, I look after the children during the week. You must be…?"

"Noelle," Noelle replied flatly, which made Penny squirm a bit, "Sorry, gotta bounce. I'm not in the mood."

"If… if you need help on the farm, I'd ask Demetrius," she said softly, "He's the local scientist."

"Thanks," Noelle said, "Sorry, it's been rough. I wasn't in the headspace to enter town today."

"It's alright. We have good and bad days," said Penny. "I hope things get better for you… and, I hope you don't take this the wrong way…. I just- heard rumors that the farm only has an outhouse. If you need to hit the showers, you can use the clinic. Doctor Harvey keeps them open for that very reason. He's a kind fellow."

"Really?" Noelle said, what fool would leave his business open to anyone who would walk in and steal something. A hot, relaxing shower was a bit of a foreign concept since she left the city. Her home was a cabin without a proper setup, and if she needed to do her business in the middle of the night, she'd have to go outside. Of course, it was still an inconvenience to shower and bathe at the clinic every day. Still, the dirt underneath her nails was getting a bit too much.

"I sneak in when I can," said Penny, "The trailer I live in with my mother doesn't have a proper setup either. He keeps them clean, as well, and provides extra clothing if need be. Not sure where we'd be without the clinic."

Sweet Yoba, a saint, and not in a good way either. This goodness from the local Doc sounded a bit too good to be true. Was he doing this for profit and free advertising or something that his heart actually told him to put forth? Nevertheless, Noelle really needed one today, but a deserving one after their encounter wasn't likely either.

"Thank you, Penny," Noelle said, "Have a nice day."

"Good luck, Farmer," said the young woman before her nose sank back into the book. At which, Noelle parted ways and headed towards the clinic with her books in hand. Perhaps a shower was indeed needed for refreshment. As Noelle once again stumbled across the cobblestone pathway, she made her way towards the clinic. She knocked, only to fail to realize that it indeed was already open. Sitting in front of his desk was the legend himself. Still, despite the negative encounter initially, Harvey greeted her warmly as emerald green eyes came alive at the mere sight of a guest in his clinic.

"Miss Noelle, Good afternoon!" He chirped, then immediately frowned upon seeing her current state, "You look far worse than our encounter in the library. Is everything alright?"

"Heard a rumor there were showers," Noelle said, not wanting to give into pity, "It's… been terrible today. I'm starving, and I have a headache, so if you could humor me for a bit…."

"Non-taken," Harvey answered, getting up from his seat, "Showers are in the back, and I'll have spare clothes waiting for you. I'm not surprised you're malnourished, hard labor can burn more calories than you can imagine, and if you're art eating enough to replace it, you won't last on the farm. How's your diet?"

"Foragables, mostly," Noelle answered as her stomach growled and churned violently. "I promise I won't keep you. If the farm worked for my grandfather, it should work for me."

"The Sinclair's are indeed resilient," Harvey encouraged warmly, "Your grandfather refused to rest even when he was ill. Still, he'd be proud to see you come this far. How's the spring harvest?"

"Flooded," Noelle admitted, "I'll be in and out. I don't deserve your kindness at the moment."

"I'm under oath to treat anyone who steps through that door with the utmost respect," Harvey said as a matter of factly tone of voice, "Part of the job is learning how to work with difficult people. You aren't the first."

"Some respite in that, hm?" Noelle said with a sarcastic tone, then it faded once she opened her mouth again. Polite, correct- "Er… showers?"

"In the back," Harvey answered, "Let me know if you need help, hm?"

Noelle blinked, not sure how she should interpret that. Then again, he was her doctor, and at any point, she needed help getting undressed or turning the shower knob. That was a part of his job description. How awkward would it be to start a romance with someone who knew more than Noelle knew about herself?

Once Noelle went to the far back of the clinic and saw the showers, she wasted no time. Of course, it was akin to a locker room, and the shower stream wasn't that much, and the tap water couldn't get warm. It was far better than bathing in a lake. She could hear the soft ruffling of the doctor's footsteps throughout the clinic as Noelle scrubbed herself from head to toe. Already she began to feel better, unlike her cranky self from before. Once cleaned, Noelle heard a knock on the door, which made her flinch. Quickly, she covered herself with the plush, white bath towel borrowed from an earlier exchange and answered with the door as a barrier, taking the clothes before acknowledging the man on the other side. She'd thank him later.

"Was everything alright back there?" Harvey asked calmly, eyes calculating and focused.

"It's alright," Noelle said, "Thanks, I know I can be rough at times, but I'm not a prick."

"Apologies accepted," Harvey said, "Trust isn't something that's built overnight. I can rest easy knowing I did my best. I can only do so much. However, it's up to you to take charge…. for example…."

Noelle watched as the tall, had to be at least six feet or more, friendly giant arose from his seat and meandered to a small pantry in the back of this clinic. He took out canned goods, extra clothing and placed them on the table near the library books purchased earlier that day.

"Those are… for me?" Noelle questioned as if receiving gifts and aid were a foreign concept to her.

"Yes," Harvey said, "Being a farmer is hard work, so I went out of my way and gathered a bit of care package for you. It's not much, but many want to see you stay in Pelican Town for a long time. It's not often we get a new face in the valley."

"I can't accept this," Noelle quickly denied, not wanting to appear as a leach on the town, despite how appetizing those canned goods looked. It was a kind gesture of the town, but the image of her struggles broadcasted didn't sit well with her. Nevertheless, Harvey insisted.

"We take care of each other here," Harvey said, "Your struggles, I can relate to. Ten years ago, that was me biting off way more than I could chew. We've all come here with nothing, Pelican Town is relatively new, and building from the ground up is ordinary. So if you need anything at all, don't be afraid to ask for help."

That was the issue. Asking for help was a sign of weakness Noelle didn't want to deal with. Nevertheless, Harvey seemed persistent with this offer, and Noelle felt she had no choice but to accept it. It was still too early to tell whether or not this was honest. With hesitation, Noelle took the care package. She stumbled a bit, unsure what to say or do regarding such kindness and courtesy.

"Um… thanks," Noelle mumbled, "I'll... get going."

"Take care," Harvey chimed as Noelle left the clinic, only to return home to a broken farm.

Chapter 6 – Finding Limbo

As a few days flew by and the grounds cleared up, Noelle couldn't remember the last time her head felt clear and accessible. It was as if the move from the city and the shift of a minor, quaint country lifestyle caused an emotional stir her mind couldn't fathom. A care package from the local doctor, consisting of several donation gifts from the villagers, was unheard of in the city.

Not that she ever expected people to lend a helping hand. Mindlessly lending out acts of kindness was an easy way to get taken advantage of. The homeless could pretend, the fallen could blame, many were scammed by selling cheap goods… it was a sad state to be in, but a reality. Family and the concept of such didn't exist in Zuzu City. The care package came with canned soup that could last her the rest of the month.

Noelle was silently thankful for the collection of clothes donated from the town. Otherwise. This and the notes left behind. Knowing she had access to the showers in the clinic made Noelle want to press harder on the farm. She appreciated the sentiment of the villager's activity wanting to stay was a welcomed one.

However, Noelle couldn't shake off the worry that she felt out of place. She found it difficult to find a vibe with the villagers of Pelican Town. If it wasn't for her grandfather, she wondered how different the attitudes would be towards the new person in town. She couldn't tell if this was genuine or because of the legacy she carried on her shoulders.

Robin seemed kind and affectionate, constantly encouraging her about farming and always being available to talk or vent things out. Maru and Demetrius seemed pleasant enough and perhaps the closest thing to home. George and Evelyn, she hadn't bumped into yet, more or less because of their grandson. Harvey… possibly wasn't the best to think about.

It was amusing how fast her heart went from infatuation to confusion in a matter of days. Perhaps it was all the farm work Noelle had to get done in a day that made it easier to forget about him. Of course, those acts of kindness were statements about his character, but Noelle wasn't one to cave so quickly. Folks could be kind one day and cruel the next. For all she knew, that could've been staged, a way to preserve his business. Harvey was a professional, after all. Knowing how to market to his customers and keep his business alive came with it. The gift was appreciated but she wasn't ready to succumb to his charm. Her mind had to be on the land that was given.

Speaking of Bluebell Farm, today's agenda was grander. It took a couple weeks, but after clearing out a huge plot of land, Noelle now had enough room to plant at least fifteen rows of Cauliflower. Those were the ambitious crops of the season but she heard they paid well. Noelle promised herself that she wouldn't be freezing to death in a shack come winter. The walls were too thin to keep warm and the fireplace only did so much. Her housing situation was only bearable because the spring and summer months were warm. If she could get a house upgrade and air conditioning from Robin, then that would mean fewer visits to the clinic. Anything to avoid looking like the lost little lamb she already appeared to be.

Love wasn't the reason why she came to the valley anyway. Noelle knew she fell from grace, did a terrible job of maintaining the gift of a new job, and couldn't keep the little property she did have in the city. Now Pelican Town more or less was limbo, a gentler purgatory. It was a time capsule of the past, filled to the brim with old technology and handmade goods, coupled with being in the middle of nowhere. At some points, Noelle wondered if her soul was taken elsewhere, not a state of death, but a chance to rebuild herself before receiving sanctuary. Even that sounded silly, if anything, this was rags to riches, and since the fortune could only sprout from the earth, relishing in the fruits of her labor wouldn't arrive for decades to come.

Interestingly, most of her gold would come in the underlying theme that was Pelican Town, old-fashioned and handmade. As grueling as the labor could be, hoeing the ground and sowing her third row of parsnips seeds, it fascinated her. Strangely, she was cultivating life. It was immensely satisfying to see the plants sprout after a couple days. Not to mention, her paycheck could be daily if she played her cards right. No more of this biweekly or monthly bullcrap as long as Mayor Lewis kept his head on his shoulders. Not to mentions, taxes were a thing of the past, something about Pelican Town supporting farmers… they didn't make enough to take from anyway, according to Firngil.

However, making enough was also a relative term. While she worked thirteen-hour shifts at Joja Corp, her pay was five gold an hour which ended in roughly five hundred gold a week. Not enough pay when the rent was three times that much, not to mention the bills for food, groceries, clothing, and other essentials for survival racked up. By the end of the month, Noelle barely had enough gold to rub together. Here, receiving five hundred gold for potatoes and parsnips the next day was such a boost of serotonin that Noelle wondered why she hadn't opened her grandfather's letter earlier.

"Shit," Noelle spat. Her pickaxe hit a stone wrong and the tool shattered into pieces. It was lumpier than most and the force wasn't enough to get rid of it. She had been beating stone for the majority of her morning and her clothes were drenched in sweat, made worse, the bandage that covered her stitches unravel and lightly scraped against the tool. The wound wasn't bleeding, but the fear of it getting an infection was enough to seek medical attention. Although the vibe wasn't there with Dr. Becker quite yet, she wasn't an idiot.

At that moment, Noelle genuinely wondered if Yoba was trying to make a fool of herself, creating these scenarios that constantly put her in the clinic whether she wanted to or not. Noelle wasn't particularly clumsy, having only gone to the hospital once after a dog decided to treat her leg like a chew toy, but it seemed frequent. First, she chopped her hand and now it held a splinter. Perhaps it wasn't a way to see just Harvey, but to meet the rest of the townsfolk, with broken tools she couldn't continue working on the farm. It was important for those to get fixed, and reluctantly her hand apparently.

Noelle gritted her teeth and gathered the shattered objects that kept her from moving on. She winced as the hard metal bits of the pix poked and prodded her. The blacksmith first, Dr. Becker later. Then she'd head home before the rumor mill got started. With a town of less than thirty residents, gossip had to thrive here. She could taint his reputation by merely being in the same room, and Noelle, bitter on the surface but held some amount of decency on the inside, If she was going to burn, it was best to do it alone. She wouldn't take someone as established as Harvey with her.

After about an hour of walking into town, Noelle made her way towards the small cobble stone black building over the bridge near the outskirts. She'd only met Clint once, comissiong the tools to be repaired by at least to a usable degree, but didn't have any noteworthy conversation with the man. If Harvey was shy, Clint was disinterested and it showed. He hated his job and his life and it showed.

"I have a feeling you'll be my only customer," Clint mumbled once the shattered pic was handed over.

"The business gotta come from somewhere, hm?" Noelle shrugged, trying her best to learn how to make at least light conversation. She had to admit, she'd been bitter with most in recent days and was trying her best to correct herself.

"I suppose," Clint replied, "That'll be five hundred, Miss-"

"Noelle," Noelle answered, Clint's face flushed.

"Sorry, I'm terrible with names, but your face I recognize at the very least."

"Hard to miss," Noelle said, even in a small town she felt like a raisin floating in a sea of milk. "Sorry I don't mean to bring that kind of angst here. We cool?"

"What?" Clint blinked,

"City slang be slippin," Noelle said, testing the waters to see how much that bothered people here. However seeing Clints confused face amused her as she dropped the five hundred gold on the desk. Noelle then took her leave before the heat of the furnace burned her alive in the spring heat. Just outside the shop, she caught wind of the familiar yard that brought her back ten years or so. Pam's old trailer still stood, George himself still seemed to still be alive and Evelyn was tending the gardens of the town. Once she crossed paths with Evelyn, Noelle had to smile and wave at the woman who took over when her grandfather could not.

"Noelle, you've grown!" Evelyn smiled cheerfully as her eyes went wide, "So have I, it seems."

"Glad to see some things haven't changed around here," Noelle mused, "Hi, granny I missed you."

"I wished you would've stayed," Evelyn said somberly, "But laws are laws, your mother wanted you back and George and I just weren't able. It's a shame that blood comes before those who truly care for you."

"Don't remind me," Noelle said as her stomach churned at the mere thought of her mother. She had a rather presumptuous reputation in Pelican Town and everyone knew about it. It was still a rumor that her father wasn't actually her father, but it often went ignored. She could've stayed with the Mullner's if she wanted, but she had to return to school in the city. "How's George?"

"Still grumpy," Evelyn answered, "You've taken over the farm now, right? Your grandfather, Richard, would be proud. You're such a strong woman now, Noelle."

"I manage," Noelle shrugged, "How's Alex?"

"With Haley," Evelyn answered, "I'm not a fan but I bet it'll help him grow up a bit. You know the drill."

"All too well," said Noelle, "Though most of that was self-inflicted. We terrorized each other just for the heck of it. I can't call him a friend but I can't say I hate the dude either."

"Become best friends you can put him on the farm, otherwise his strength is going to waste. I don't know what the boy is doing with his life. He's been through alot, but you know, so has Doctor Becker. It shouldn't be an excuse."

"You're close?" Noelle questioned, wondering how many circles she'd bump into. Again, small town shenanigans often lead to hilarious results.

"He makes house calls for Geroge on the regular, such a kind man," Evelyn smiled, "I make my rounds twice a week to make sure the fella is still kicking. Poor thing, he never recovered."

"What happened?"

"Not my place to tell you," Evelyn said firmly, "That's a secret you must earn, dear. Harvey's quiet territorial when it comes to newcomers."

"I'd imagine," Noelle said as she replayed her first meeting with the doc, stiff and unwelcoming, as if he was actively trying to push people away. Friendly when it came to business mattresses, but a mess everywhere else.

"Shouldn't be a problem for you, Noelle," Evelyn said as a warm, almost cheeky smile appeared on the old lady's face, "He seems to have taken a liking to you, have you received that care package?"

"Yoba, that's common knowledge?" Noelle said as her cheeks flaired with an unbearable heat, "I thought everyone got that treatment."

"No, as a matter of fact," Evelyn denied, "The doc, unless it's a medical emergency, doesn't go out of his way for others. It's not that Harvey's coldhearted or maen, he's just grotesquely shy. Try to get to know him, if you could. It'll be nice seeing him dance with someone other than Maru at the Flower Festival."

Noelle flinched at that, "Oh no, I forgot about that damn holiday…"

"It's optional," Evelyn warned, "Mayor Lewis likes to keep the old timey traditions of the town, more or less for publicity, but I can't be mad at him for it. Festivals bring the town together. Nevertheless, Nelly, you've grown up beautiful. I'd hate to see you alone."

"Not even sure if I want a partner yet," Noelle said with an arched brow, Evelyn chuckled brightly, "What's so funny?"

"I have a soft spot for young love, dear," Evelyn admitted, "You all are so naive and flustered, the doc included. If his heart has chosen you, I'll be rooting. I'm glad to hear he's finally moving on."

So that really was Harvey being genuine and not selling his business or attempting to be the nice guy. Just a shy guy, possibly recovering from a broken heart, looking to move on with his life. Noelle admittedly was intrigued by Harvey but couldn't shake off the responsives she could get from the rest of the town.

"Anywhoo," Evelyn sighed whimsically, "I don't mean to pressure you. The doc can decide for himself whether or not he wants someone. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it's him. But again, perhaps that's my bais. My happy ending is settling down, he could be finding a limbo. It's up to you, I'm just leaning into gossip."

"It's alright," Noelle said, "It was nice seeing you, Evelyn I have to get back to the farm."

"Let me know if I should toss Alex your way," Evelyn said warmly as Noelle was beginning to take her leave, her voice beginning to fade in the distance. Maybe once the farm started working for her, rather than against, she could think about settling down later. Harvey indeed wasn't a bad choice, kind and respectful, hardworking even, credit where credit was due. However it was that damn profession of his keeping her from pursuing anything more than coincidental neighbors. She couldn't imagine dating a doctor, whether he wanted her or not. A man with a complex was not the vibe, specially when she barely had a highschool diploma and accomplished very little. Harvey was out of her league, and for now. Noelle was alright with that.

Noelle could secretly admire him from afar, it was safer that way.

Chapter 7 – Our Beloved Mona

It was time to catch up with Gus.

In all honesty, Noelle felt terrible for putting it off. She knew that catching wind of the mouth watering dishes would make her want to beg for free food. Not wanting to be the leach of the town and putting all her energy towards getting the farm to its former glory Noelle made a conscious effort to stay on the farm and push herself. For a couple weeks living in Bluebell she had a decent amount of land cleared. There was still a backlog of trees, overgrown grassy fields and weeds continuously eating her crops. If there were a handful that were ready to be sold, there was a handful she lost. Much of the time Noelle was lucky enough to break even. She assumed the super crazy profits wouldn't happen until years to come, and not without help, but for now, it was still the most money she ever earned working for Joja.

"Well, this Sinclair is moving on up in the world, hm?" Robin said proudly as she playfully punched Noelle in the shoulder, who winced after the soreness that was left behind from working the fields all morning. "Perk up, you've come a long way for a month, cleared out land, new friends, possible crush underway…."

"Crush?" Noelle questioned tilting her head. Crush on who? The oblivious look that Noelle felt creeped on her face was enough to make Robin smirk.

"Damn, you forgot that fast?" She said, astonished, "I thought you were head over heels for him, Nelly."

"Gotta narrow it down, Rob I have no idea who you're talking about," Noelle admitted bluntly. With the amount of work she did do on the farm, Noelle had a hard time keeping up with all the residents of Pelican Town. She hardly left the fields, only to speak to Robin about construction plans and that was about it. Of course there was chit-chat conversation with a few of the residents, but Noelle couldn't be bothered to put faces with names after a couple hours of hard labor a day.

"Harvey?" Robin emphasized in confusion, "Meh, don't worry about it, fleeting love is a thing."

"Not even sure if that was "love" or just a thing going on in my head," Noelle answered, she didn't even know what love was in the grand scheme of things. From her point of view, it was just an excuse for two people to start lip smacking each other. "Anyway, what about the coop? I'm eager to get some chickens started."

"Don't let life flash you buy, Nelly," Robin warned, "If anything this is a sign you need to get out more, you can't work yourself to the bone all the time."

"I can and I will," Noelle insisted, "My only purpose in this town is farming, nothing more."

"You don't know that," Robin encouraged softly, "Fate has a way of bringing people together. Of course, Richard might have given you the deed, but ever thought it was also the key to Pelican Town? Wouldn't he be proud to see you settle down with a family someday?"

"Ew," Noelle shook her head, Noelle knew within herself she was not the domestic type. Her brain was elsewhere, and that was survival. Right now bringing a kid into this world seemed so selfish and unnecessary. "I think I'd rather work myself to death."

"No pressure," Robin shrugged, "No rush either, it only takes once."

"Explain once," Noelle arched her brow.

"To fuck with the rest of your life," Robin said in a serious, flat tone, "Not that I have regrets, but getting with the wrong partner can and will change the course of your life. My eldest is angered at me for not having his real father around. I was young then, maybe even younger than you were, unaware that my choices had consequences. Do keep that in mind."

"Sebastian's father?" Noelle asked curiously, "Did he hurt you?"

"Yoba forbid," Robin answered as her eyes widened a bit, "Sometimes you like someone and then you just don't work out. Nice man, just a friendship is all it could really be, you know?"

"I get it," Noelle said, maybe a friendship with Harvey was all that was needed. As a date, he seemed out of her league and with his life put so well together, all Noelle could see herself doing was harming his reputation or worse.

"Think about it," Robin said, "You don't know where people will take you. Demetrius and I didn't know until we started talking. Have you tried just talking?"

"Not really," Noelle shrugged, a couple encounters with Harvey but all of them were negative thus far, "I'm not even sure if a doctor is my type."

"What do you have against doctors, Nelly?" Robin asked curiously.

"Entitled assholes, they are," Noelle answered bluntly, "I don't wanna ask "Hun, what do you want for dinner?" and then Harvey will go on a ten page rant about how carbs and other nutrients are terrible for you. Not fun, hm?"

"Wouldn't be out of character," Robin admitted, "Last year during Winter Star that's all he talked about, but it was amusing. Harvey knows his stuff."

"Eh," Noelle said as she felt her cheeks flair a bit at the thought. Noelle hadn't yet to figure out her type yet, but intelligence secretly was one of the requirements to consider any man eligible. Credit where credit was due, Harvey did fit the bill. Whether or not she wanted to spend the rest of her life knowing it all, wasn't something she was ready to admit. But then, to Noelle's horror, Robin started giggling.

"Yoba, you're blushing," she teased, "So, you do still have a crush, hm?"

"What? No, not on him," Noelle denied as her cheeks flushed harder, "Just… how about that chicken coop, hm?"

"Four thousand gold," said Robin, "That much in a month?"

"Potatoes do well during the spring," Noelle answered, "I wanna start raising chickens for fresh eggs and mayo. Grandad taught me how to make some a while back, it's interesting."

"Careful with that one," Robin warned, "One wrong peck can send you to the clinic, though that might be good for you."

"Shut up," Noelle laughed a bit, but she knew deep down, Yoba already had her covered on that one. She knew one way or another she'd wind up in the clinic through yet another quirk of fate. But for now, it was farming and farming only.

"What's stopping you?" Robin asked with a warm sympathetic tone, "Harvey's not a bad choice, Nelly. He's got a job and his life together, the only thing the doc is missing is a companion."

"He's out of my league, Robin," Noelle said, "What would a prim and proper man want with a dirty, stinky father that used to bathe in a lake."

"Everything," Robin said with another friendly jab in the shoulder, "When you love someone you love all of it. If he does start to pick and choose then he's not the one. Capiche? I don't want to see our farmer broken-hearted."

"Thanks, Robin," Noelle smiled, handing her the goal and materials before going to town. It was time for a little bit of an evening off. She deserved it.

She checked in on Robin for one final time before walking into town later in the afternoon. With a pocket full of gold to burn she was eager to spend it on a hot piping meal. After surviving off of fish she cooked over the fire and field snacks, Noelle began to miss the taste of real food. However, as she entered a town, she caught Harvey standing alone in a patch of grass surrounded by five small tombstones. He seemed completely zoned out, as if he was thinking deeply about something.

Noelle debated on wanting to start a conversation with him, perhaps not today. She hardly knew the man, much less knew how to comfort someone. Affection within itself was just a forign concept to her. Her grandpa wasn't the affectionate type and neither was her mother. A lot of the times when she was harmed or in distress, she was told to grow a thicker skin or to rub a little dirt on it. Emotions did not compute well in the Sinclair bloodline, so perhaps it was best to let him be.

At the same time, Noelle didn't want to lead the poor man on, possibly ending the chances of even a friendship. Noelle knew she couldn't bother Robin about this. She was working. Gus, however, was twenty steps away. Noelle turned her heels and walked towards the saloon, thankful that it was empty. There she could see Gus working at the bar as if nothing had changed, polishing a glass-like he always did. When the doorbell rang, Gus looked up and greeted her with a warm, familiar smile. Noelle smiled in return.

"Yoba, I must be dreaming," he said with his booming yet friendly tone of voice. "Is that, Noelle Sinclair?"

"In the flesh," said Noelle with a smile. "I know I should've said hi a lot sooner, but it's been busy."

"Tell me about it," said Gus, "No, I mean literally, take a seat, and let's catch up. First drink's on me!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't drink," said Noelle, taking a seat in front of Gus proudly. "But I'll take a pizza from you. I'm starving."

"Coming right up," Gus said as the saloon chimed once more, and the suddenness of it all made Noelle flinch. "Dr. Harvey!"

"Evening Gus," The doctor replied in a hushed tone, as if the sudden shout threw him off guard as well, Noelle kept her head hung low as soft footsteps traveled across the tavern. He took the seat farthest away from her, but not before the introduction of an anxious "Good evening" as well.

"Hi," Noelle said as the apathetic tone came out clear as day. Harvey, who shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, took the hint and turned away.

"Ah, you two met already," Gus chimed, "Heard about what happened, how's the hand Noelle?"

"Functional," Noelle replied, it was merely a tender scar now, and Harvey remained silent.

"Good to hear," Gus beamed, "You two play nice, the usual Harv?"

"That be nice, thank you," Harvey replied as his tone sounded exhausted. "I won't be long, I should be winding down soon.'

"Busy day tomorrow?" Gus inquired as he pulled down a cup and poured a glass of wine, the purple swirl hinting at blackberry.

"Thursday's tend to be the longest," Harvey answered simply, "An emergency today in particular, but all is well."

"Ooof, who was it?"

"Can't tell, under oath," Harvey answered quickly, "But Clint will be out of commission for a week, so your tools might be delayed if it applies."

"Damn," Noelle mumbled, noting how one of her tools did indeed break today and it was a rather important one she couldn't move on without; the watering can. Her crops couldn't go a week without water. Just after four days they looked starved and brittle, this would definitely damage her quality for sure.

"Oh, I'll check in on him later," Gus smiled, "Play nice you two, I'll get your meals ready faster than you can say Doctor's orders."

"Thank you, Gus," Harvey said as Gus disappeared into the far back of the tavern, leaving Noelle to simmer in frustration.

Awkward silence continued at the bar table with nothing but music separating the two. Harvey appeared lost in another world while Noelle fiddled with her fingers. This in her mind confirmed that Yoba was trying to force something she didn't want, nore was she ready for. First meeting wasn't planned, neither was their encounter in the library and that one time in the clinic was just where she needed a warm shower. If Noelle didn't know any better, there was a hint of a magnetic pull, and she was determined to ignore it. Don't make eye contact, don't make polite conversation, as far as she was concerned, her only purpose was the local farmer.

"Rough day?"

Shit, Noelle thought. He's friendly, of course he'd try to make for a little conversation at the table. Alright, she knew she could make one of three decisions, ignore, be polite, or respond out of spite, the last of the three being the easier choice at the moment. Why was he trying so damn hard to befriend her anyway? Still, despite her frustrations, Noelle knew she wasn't a complete heathen. Harvey, if the care package had anything to say about it, was a kind fella. He deserved a little bit of politeness, she could throw him a bone, who knows where this could take her?

"Couldn't even find a silver lining," Noelle replied, an exhausted tone coming out more so than before. If she couldn't be bitter, then it was better to be at least witty.

"Still alive, hm?" Harvey said, his voice now sounded numb, "There's a silver lining."

"Afraid so," Noelle replied. Ah, nailed it.

Silence ruled between the two and before long their meals arrived. Noelle had nothing else to really say to the man. What could the farmer say to a doctor? The more she compared, the more out of her league Harvey felt. Soon the silence fell apart as Gus arrived with the plates of food in hand. Harvey was down a cup of wine before the food was delivered. Intrigued, Noelle decided to toss another bone Harvey's way, something about him today seemed a little off.

"How about you?" Noelle questioned as she turned her head. At least Harvey wasn't a bad looking man to look at. She could tell he took a lot of care in personal hygiene despite his unruly hair, dressed nice even during his office hours and those hands in the dim light seemed alluring, soft and gentle she imagined them to be.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Me?" Harvey said as if he wasn't expecting anymore conversation tonight, "Still alive."

"You look like a dead man walking," Noelle commented, surprised that a little cheekiness managed to escape her tonight. He chuckled, but something about it seemed a tad sardonic.

"Care to know?" Harvey replied, "I don't want to keep you."

"Eh, throwing you a bone this evening," Noelle replied, "I've been bitter as of late, part of me says you don't deserve it. Part of me also knows that I'm not a heathen, I wanna thank you for the help earlier."

"I did not get that impression from you," Harvey said as his stance seemed to loosen up a bit, eyes attentive and focused on her, "We're human, we act out when things don't go our way. Not a heathen, you've just, apologies if I'm overstepping my bounds, bit off more than you could chew?"

Ah, a gentleman, "Took the words out of my mouth."

He chuckled softly, perhaps the wine giving him a bit of a kick tonight. Gus was making his round and now he was on a cup and a half. Harvey shook his head, "I should stop myself tonight, never know when someone may need my help."

"Always on the clock?" Noelle questioned as she covered her face, not wanting to give off the wrong impression as the sauce dripped down her lips, "Sorry, give me a moment."

"Not safe to talk and chew at the same time, you'll choke," Harvey warned, "But… yes, I'm the only doctor for miles unless you want to take a three hour walk to Grampleton and back."

"Yikes," Noelle said as she swallowed, "Wouldn't want to work on a patient tipsy, would you?"

"Preferably," Harvey nodded, "I'd not only run the risk of getting sued for malpractice, I'd also lose my medical license."

"Sounds like a hassle," Noelle said, "All this for helping others?"

"It's worth it," Harvey replied, "The adrenaline rush, knowing what to do, seeing them alive and well the next day, all of it. I'd give anything to make that happen… and I have."

"Do tell."

"Story for another time," Harvey said, "But… abbreviated, it's how I lost my job."

Noelle blinked, "Wait, what?"

"Did I say lost? I mean resigned…. I quit," Harvey answered, "Sorry, my brain is mush, it's been a long day. I resigned, I wasn't fired…Yoba forbid."

Whatever happened today, Harvey wasn't handling it well. Whatever confidence the wine gave him melted away in an instant. He shut down, wearing the same forlorn look he held in the graveyard. It was a look that Noelle knew all too well, infact. If her heart skipped before it now ached for a man she barely knew, as if she could understand him orfm a distance.

"Did you lose someone?"

He stiffened, a look in his eyes so dull that the green began to fade into a soft hazel.

"I've lost a lot of people," He answered gravely, "I was naive to think that would stop here."

Something about that sentence sent a chill down her spine, and a realization hit her all that once. Getting with Harvey would not only shake up the town dynamic, but traumatize him further. Noelle couldn't imagine what it was like being a doctor, much less a doctor of a small town surrounded by people he knew. Again, Noelle wanted to provide comfort, but she didn't know how.

"You and I relate on that front," Noelle replied, once again grabbing Harvey's attention.

"Your grandfather," Harvey said, "My condolences, I knew him well, good man."

"You did?" Noelle blinked, shouldn't be much of a shocker. Of course in a small town of thirty Harvey did oversee the death of her grandfather.

"Fantastic patient," Harvey complimented, "I did what I could… my apologies, you have every reason to hate me for that alone. I don't expect you to be friendly towards me, at all. I couldn't help your grandfather."

"He was old, Harvey," Noelle insisted, noting that was the first time he called him by name and not Dr. Harvey. "Sorry… was that alright?"

"It's alright," Harvey replied with a nod, "It's just a title."

"Well…" Noelle lightly cleared her throat, "He was in his late nineties, time for him to go. The writing was on the wall. When I came by to visit he was not looking well."

"I… know," His voice struggled in a way as if saying it out loud was forcing him to accept, "I don't like death."

"What is there to like?" Noelle said, "You've lost someone and then the living is wondering where the other went wrong, in death no one wins. Except… well maybe the deceased, they don't have to deal with bullshit anymore. But we? The living? More suffering for just… existing."

"Hm," He said, something slightly sour about his tone now, the second cup of wine finished, he couldn't rist. "I… have lost someone. Extremely important to me… five years now on this day."

"Now it's my turn to say I'm sorry," Noelle replied, trying to lighten the mood a bit, she wasn't one for water works. Not that they were shameful, she just didn't know how to handle a complete stranger's mental breakdown, and Harvey looked to be on the verge of one. "Who was it?"

"Mona," Harvey answered, "A dear friend of mine, and I miss her… greatly."

Huh, an honest drunk, after two cups? Gus looked over with a concerned look in his eye.

"Alright, Harv, that's enough tonight," Gus said as he pulled away the glass Harvey blinked, "I was lenient, but one more and you'll be down and out. We need you to be alert, right?"

"Right," Harvey answered as he blinked, "Coffee if you could."

"Excellent," Gus smiled and wink, "Just looking out for ya, doc."

"Much appreciated."

Noelle turned and blinked, "Coffee this late?"

"It helps, but not much," Harvey answered, "Sorry you had to see me in such a state, Miss Noelle. You caught me at a bad time."

"It's alright, we're human," Noelle said, deciding to extend the same courtesy from earlier, "We act out when we don't get our way, hmn?"

Harvey smiled, some of the green in his eyes returning before his head turned towards Gus, "Me. Gus, bill please if you could. I'll have that coffee to go."

"The Farmer giving you a hard time, doc?" Gus said playfully, "I'm teasing you, Noelle."

"None taken," Noelle answered as she finished her last bits of cheese pizza. She watched in the corner of her eye as bills were exchanged and the coffee was taken in a thermos. Harvey gave out one more farewell before leaving the Saloon. Once Harvey was out of sight and out of mind Gus lef out a long drawn out impressive whistle.

"He's into you," Gus said wide eyed and impressed, "Noelle, what did you do?!"

"What?" Noelle said confused, "How can you tell? We've only known each other for a month."

"It's a look in his eyes," Gus answered firmly, "I've known the doc long enough to tell when he's enjoying himself. I haven't seen him that open since… well since Mona."

"What happened there?" Noelle asked, tilting her head, "Better question, whose Mona?"

"Oh, she was a sweetheart, plain and simple," Gus answered, "Moved to Pelican town looking to teach and open up a small school. She wound up helping Penny out with Jas and Vincent. Kind heart, would've been perfect for the doc. Then well fate had other planes, I suppose."

"Ah," Noelle answered, "She and Harvey?"

"Not my place to tell you," Gus answered bluntly, "But… good friends, two peas in a pod, and that's all the gossip you're gonna get from me."

"Respect," Noelle said as she chugged down her last cup of soda for the evening. "Well, time for me to get going and figure out what the hell I'm gonna do without a watering can tomorrow."

"Sprinklers," Gus answered with a warm smile, "I know your grandad had old ones installed on the farm. Look for the nozzle and you should be good to go."

"Oh, thanks!" Noelle beamed as she paid for the meal and got up from her seat. "Thanks, Gus."

"Anytime Noelle," said Gus, "...and oh, if the doc starts giving you trouble, you come to me, alright? That's not gonna fly in these parts."

"He doesn't seem the type," Noelle said with an arched brow, Gus shook his head.

"I'm partly teasing him, partly being serious," Gus said almost flatly this time, "This would be your first, right?"

"Oh sweet Yoba, Gus," Noelle said as she felt her own face flush with heat. "Not this again, Robin gave me the birds and the bees talk earlier."

Gus chuckled, "It has everything to do with looking after the granddaughter of The Farmer. Beloved, the man was, and keeping an eye out for you was his wish. Adored you, deeply. But I am serious, not that Harvey is the type, but if he does overstep his bounds come to me and I'll set things straight. Capiche?"

"Got it, Uncle Gus," Noelle said in almost a parody sing-song tone of voice, but she appreciated it regardless. In the long run she had no idea on how to court a man and what the warning signs were. Harvey indeed would be her first at twenty eight years old, and again in all honesty it was about damn time someone started paying attention.

"Wish you luck, Farmer," Gus once again beamed with delight, "Richard would be proud."

"Thanks," Noelle said as she began to leave the tavern, "Have a good evening."

Chapter 8 – The Crushing Burden of Country Living

"All done, Nelly, look at this beauty!" Robin called as Noelle walked onto her front porch. It had been a rather slow morning on Bluebell Farm. Noelle knew she was supposed to wake up two hours earlier, but this morning in particular was groggy and feverish. Perhaps it was a tad bit informal for her to walk out half dressed, but her mind didn't want to bother with it.

"Looks great, Rob," Noelle mumbled as she leaned on the walls of her farm house. She didn't want to appear weak and fragile this morning, but her brain wouldn't let it. Her skin flushed in the spring heat as a pit in her stomach settled, the world around her swirled in such a way that made farming seem impossible.

Noelle knew she was coming down with something, perhaps a seasonal cold. She hoped that it was nothing that would require medical attention and something she could push through. After all, the Sinclairs were known to be resilient folk. One time her grandad fell out of a tree and got up like it was nothing. Noelle wanted to keep that impression, she didn't want to water down her legacy and drag it into the mud.

"Oh, Yoba you look terrible," Robin blinked as she gazed towards the state of her friend, "Did you sleep well?"

"Tried to," Noelle answered, "I… didn't get home until late last night. Caught up with Gus caught wind of a drunk doc, eventful evening."

"Probably just exhaustion, then," Robin concluded, "First off, good on you for catching up with Gus lately, he's been asking. You're like the daughter he's never had. He and your grandfather were close, I heard."

"They were," Noelle nodded, "Grandad would drop off fresh ingredients for him to use and they'd been friends ever since. He was a bit of a drinker too, but I don't remember much of that part."

"Oh, those nights were wild," Robin reminisced, "Your grandad? Goofy drunk, loved a good pun. Many times George had to walk him home for his own safety."

"Ah, George," Noelle said, knowing good and well her grandfather got around Pelican Town. It wasn't hard to get to know everyone. Not only did he have ties to Gus, but also the Mullner's. Noelle was thankful that Evelyn even agreed to take Noelle under her wing after his passing. It only lasted a year or two, and because she was a minor, at sixteen she had to go live with her mother but was still able to come back and visit.

"Caught up with Alex yet?" Robin asked curiously, "He could use a friend lately."

Noelle cringed, "Not in the mindset to deal with a himbo, at the moment."

"Probably wise," Robin said, "Heard a rumor about you two, ex's or…?"

"Frienemeies the last I checked in," Noelle answered bluntly, "Ex's? Hell no, wouldn't date the man if he was the last on earth. I dunno, definitely not my type."

"His strength could be useful on the farm," Robin suggested, "But don't let me pick for you, heart wants what the heart wants- okay Nelly, you really don't look good. Are you sure you don't need to rest today?"

"Positive," Noelle replied without realizing her eyes appeared completely gazed over and she was more nauseous than ever, "Just… need to place an order from Marnie and figure out this sprinkler set up. By the way, Gus told me about that?"

"Oh, right," Robin said, "Richard wanted a fully automatic farm one day, but never got around to it. The sprinklers will need updating, which will require more gold than the coop. Wouldn't recommend turning them on now, the water needs to be cleaned and filtered. Mayor Lewis has done a terrible job maintaining the sewage system. Have you been drinking from the tap lately?"

"Yeah," Noelle said, wondering if that's where the illness, if it was an illness, came from. Robin blinked worriedly.

"Don't do that," Robin encouraged, "I have filtered water in the mountains, so if you need a drink be sure to stop by. Have you bathed without boiling the water by any chance?"

"Yeah…?" Noelle said, well she was screwed.

"Also don't do that," Robin said, "Always, always boil the water before consumption, you have to learn that the hard way… also I'm going to take you to the clinic whether you like it or not, you look awful."

"I…" Before she could protest, Noelle felt a harsh clench in her stomach which made her bend over and vomit in the grass. The weakness she'd been feeling all morning reached its peak. Noelle felt Robin place a hand on her back. The business was done, everything she ate this morning and the night before didn't stand a chance.

"Hey, Dr. Harvey?" Robin spoke, Noelle didn't have to look up to know she dialed the number, "Yeah… we need a house call… symptoms? Vomiting… She looks pale. Am I here…? Yeah, I got her… right away doc, thanks."

Too weak to essentially process what was happening, Noelle complied as her best friend led her into the back of the farm house. Normally she'd take a shower and rest, but since this wasn't a normal situation, all Robin could do was hand her a bucket and wait. But even through the haziness, it wasn't enough to block out the humiliation, she could hear her bloodline laughing. Country girl by birth, but a city girl at heart. Noelle was used to having convenience at her fingertips. Although small and built for convenience matters rather than a lavish lifestyle, she still had a kitchen and a bath.

It truly was just a bit of a stomach bug however, the gasping and the gaging was a few minutes in between, but she also battled a chill and a sweat. Just a fever, she thought, she'd be able to return to work in a few days time. Her farm could not be left unattended, crops and weed pulling was a daily ritual, and the longer she put off clearing the land the less of a profit she'd make in the summer.

The gold she received from just a few rows of potatoes and parsnips were fuling her ambitions for the next season. She wanted in on that summer profit, and the end goal was to have enough for a functional home come winter. This shack served like camping for the warmer seasons, but freezing to death come October wasn't ideal.

About an hour after the phone call, since that's what it took to travel from the farm to Pelican Town anyway, the door knocked and Robin replied. Dr. Harvey, covered in head to toe in sweat, appeared in the living room with a large brown bag in hand. Even through the haze that clouded her mind, Noelle was captivated by how poised and ready those eyes were, completely different from the man she bumped into at the saloon from the night before. His stance was more authoritative than casual, a stance that confused her brain to the point it came off as slightly intimidating. It was surreal, almost if his personality temporally splitted in two. Robin however smirked.

"Loosen up doc," Robin jeered playfully, "She's Sinclair, she'll pull through."

"Until I know for sure, all options are on the table," Harvey said as he kneeled down to get a better look. Noelle at this point was too much to feel flustered or excited by Harvey's presence, which made it easier to follow instructions without her heart doubling in time, "Has Mayor Lewis warned her about the tap?"

Robin frowned and shook her head, "That was failure on our end, Dr. Harvey," was her response as Harvey shone a light in her eye. As Noelle felt another wave of nausea incoming, he backed away as she reached for the bucket, vomiting more so than before. Her stomach now clinched painfully and the migrain continued to grow.

"Wouldn't be surprised if this was salmonella if that was the case," Harvey concluded but he sounded unsure on the matter. All options, after all, remained on the table, "Nothing that hydration antibiotics and four to seven days of rest can't fix. Shouldn't be an issue, most healthy adults are able to battle this on their own. From now on Miss noelle, avoid drinking from the tap, always use filtered. Pelican Town is far behind compared to other other villages and quite frankly it's ridiculous. Which means, overnight, I'll have to hook you to an IV for the best possible recovery."

"Fine," Noelle muttered as she failed to hide the disappointment behind her tone, "Who's gonna…"

"I got it Nelly," Robin winked, "This farm is less your grandad's and more so the crown jewel of Pelican Town, there's no way this can be handled on your own. You go and recover and I'll call the Marine for back up while the coop is under construction."

"Thanks," Noelle said as Harvey appeared pleased by the conclusion.

"You're in good hands, Miss Noelle," Harvey said, "Follow me to the wheelchair, if able. This won't be a comfortable ride to the clinic."

Of course, Noelle was able to get up and walk on her own, but even that was difficult to do. Realistically there'd be no way she'd be able to walk from point A to point B on her own, interesting what contaminated water could do to the body. Noelle for the longest time had been surviving off the tap straight from the farm house that was used for a gardening hose. If the tap was risque, that could only be made worse. Still this illustrated how naive she was to think that moving to the countryside was the answer to all her problems. Outside of basic survival skills she received from her grandfather when young, Noelle had no clue what she was doing.

Humiliation settled in as Noelle felt herself being wheeled across Pelican Town, and of course that was enough to raise concern from the villagers passing by. Noelle felt a little better knowing it was out of soft concern and not deeply rooted in gossip or bullying the ill. Noelle caught wind of a blue haired woman chasing behind them, wanting to provide help in any way possible.

"Not now," Noelle caught wind of Harvey mumbling in response, "New clothes? Yes… that would be useful… thank you Emily."

It wasn't long before Noelle found herself in the clinic, Harvey then rushed her towards the back where the beds for his patients rested. She was then asked to strip down, with Harvey obviously providing privacy, thank Yoba, and to climb in. It wasn't long before Harvey came back with an IV drip and the needles to prepare the slow procedure of receiving antibiotics.

Ah shit, Noelle squirmed between the cotton of the sheets. She was not a fan of needles, in fact hated them. As a child she cried whenever they pricked her skin. As an adult, the thought of having a mental breakdown in front of the man she could see pursuing a potential romance with spooked her. However, Dr. Harvey Becker proved to be gentle and understanding in this regard, encouraging her to close her eyes and look away before the process could be delivered.

"You're very brave, Miss Noelle," He complemented, pulled away once the IV was salfty placed in her wrist. "Don't try and mess with it, it'll be removed once you begin to try improvements."

She chuckled at that. Right, brave. A title she did not deserve. If she were brave she would've stayed in the city and suffered on the streets, searching for a job that could sustain her life. Not drop everything she knew and fall face first into a world she didn't know. Pelican Town as a sign of giving up, not a second chance nor a revolution. Hell this was possibly the first sign she should've stayed in the city.

"How do you feel?" he asked earnestly as he walked over to take a better look. When Noelle didn't respond right away, he placed a hand on her head, and winced. "Never mind, you're still sweltering."

"Yoba," Noelle said, disgusted with herself. She should be working on the farm, not recovering in the clinic. Harvey didn't appear too concerned about that as he continued with the medical information boiling in his head.

"Good sign you haven't excreted since you arrived, so that tells me this was a mild case of what could've been," Harvey said, "How's your stomach?"

"Hungry," Noelle said, not sure when was the last time she'd eaten anything.

"I'll start you off with chicken soup and we'll go from there," Harvey instructed, "After today, you should be able to return home. But if symptoms start to flair, do come back. Are you up to date on your vaccinations?"

"Shots?" Noelle blinked, Harvey nodded. "Why shots?"

"Well, not saying this is possible but probable, you can contact diseases such as cholera from contaminated drinking water, at which you should have the vaccine for. Not saying that's what you're diagnosed with, you would've dropped by now if that was the case, but it's good to know for the future."

"Uh…" Noelle blinked, "No… no I have not."

His eyes went wide, "You're telling me you haven't had a single shot, at all?"

"I wouldn't know that either," Noelle answered. Her mother did a terrible job taking her to the doctor. Her family was poor and simply couldn't afford regular checkups and much of the time of her childhood was spent locked in a closet, ignorant to the rest of the world. His face wore nothing more than astonishment as a pit sank in her stomach.

"Well, that will be taken care of under my watch," Harvey said with a serious tone, "However, it's still your decision. That's possibly why I could get a hold of your records… they don't exist."

"You've been looking me up?" Noelle blinked as his ears turned a bright red.

"Well…" Harvey cleared his throat, "It's a part of the process, with new patients. If you have been seeing a doctor on the regular you should already be in the system. This explains a lot, and it worries me deeply. We can make an appointment once you're better, but again the choice is still yours."

"Oh uh…" Noelle wasn't sure what to reply. It perhaps wasn't a good thing she hasn't properly seen a doctor since she was two years old. Who knows what else could be wrong? "Sure."

"Excellent," Harvey smiled, "Sorry if that sounded intrusive. Now, are you hungry or should I let you rest?"

"Sure," Noelle replied groggily, "Sorry If I fall asleep before you get back."

"Rest," Harvey insisted, "Sleep battles a fever, even then I'll have to wake you for lunch. Sounds good?"

"Sounds great," Noelle said as she began to feel groggy once Harvey left the room. But it wasn't long until the doorbell to the clinic rang loud and proud that caused a surge of alertness from Noelle. Harvey frowned at this as she slid off the chair and walked towards the waiting room where muffled voices could be heard from a distance.

"We'll be in and out!" the familiar voice of Robin chimed from the clinic, "Aw, sweets are banned? Is it that bad?"

"She's battling a fever and needs to rest," Harvey instructed, almost sternly, "No guests at this time, only family members are allowed-"

"I've adopted her, does that count?" Robin insisted, "Lemme in doc, we're all friends here. No need to be stiff."

"Fine," Harvey caved, "I'm sure the gesture will be appreciated."

"Atta boy," Robin beamed, and in due time she pulled back the curtains with gifts in hand. Robin then delivered balloons and muffins she bought from Pierre's shop as an incentive to get better. Noelle, too weak to do much else, smiled as she sat up a bit, careful not to bump the IV in hand.

"Hey, Robin," Noelle said as she tried to sit up, "Thanks."

"Don't move an inch, Nelly," Robin warned as she placed the gifts on the counter, "Just wanted to remind you there's someone out there that cares. I just dropped off the water so you wouldn't have to drink from the tap anymore. Mayor Lewis should've warned you about that."

"I'm not mad," Noelle said, "I've battled worse."

"Sinclair's are resilient," Robin said proudly, "You're a month in and you've got spring crops, a new coop… possibly a new boyfriend by the end of it?" She winked at the end of her sentence as Noelle's cheeks flushed with heat.

"You're gonna do that while he's two feet away?" Noelle chuckled anxiously.

"Sorry it's adorable," Robin laughed, "I'm dying to know the details, but grumpstash will appear if I don't hightail it out of there, so I hope you do get better. I should have your chicken coop when you return, how does that sound?"

"Excellent," Noelle said, eager to start raising some baby chicks. She imagined a whole cow farm because those were her favorite, but starting small appeared to be the best route. Besides, cows this early were expensive.

"By the way," Robin said, stopping herself before leaving the room, "The Egg Festival is coming up. Wanna come by and help Marine paint some eggs?"

Noelle wasn't quite sure how to reply to that at first. Spring proved itself to be a busy season, and she hated being stripped from farm work. But in the same breath not taking a break is what led her here. It wouldn't hurt to start being social and to start bonding with the residents that were so quick to accept her despite being a little different. That kind of love was rare in the world. Noelle figured she could at least learn the feeling on a platonic level before her mind became frazzled and boy crazy. She didn't have many friends in the city, and affection over all was a forign object. If anything she was Cinderella working for her evil stepmother waiting for some good to come her way. Pelican Town was that good and at the very least she could start treating it with some respect.

"Yeah," Noelle shrugged, not her favorite but it was a start.

"Again it's not committal, but we need to get you off that farm every once and a while," Robin said, "I can see you working from the mountains. Even your grandfather didn't work from sunrise to sunset. We worry for you, you know?"

"I-" again, Noelle wasn't sure how to reply. If anything it pulled her heart strings a bit, "Thank you."

"No problem," Robin smiled, "Welp, gotta go now. Get well soon, Nelly."

As promised, Robin left and chit chat continued in the waiting room. The door closed and Harvey came back with the warmed chicken soup as promised, Noelle's stomach grumbled surprisingly as the smell of broth hit her nostrils. Soon Harvey left her in her lonesome, and Noellle fell asleep before she could finish her bowl.

Who said country living was easy?

Chapter 9 – Dark Roast

Noelle didn't awaken to an alarm, but the sound of rustling dishes and the smell of something pungent and bitter. She waited a few moments before rising on the hospital bed, awaiting nausea, migraine, or any sign of her current physical health. Nothing happened. In fact, this was the first time she felt normal since her arrival. There was no sign of fever or any loss of appetite. In fact, her stomach was roaring. Her muscles felt tender, as if they fought a long battle, but outside of that, Noelle didn't need a doctor to tell her she recovered. A little fear began to sink in as she sat up, realizing she had been in the clinic for at least three days under Harvey's watchful eye. She groaned, knowing the bill wouldn't come cheap.

Noelle cleaned up her bed, refusing to be that patient that made his life difficult and left the room feeling refreshed and genuinely happy for once. It was as if those twenty-four hours of sleep were something she desperately needed. With a heavy sigh, Noelle opened the door to her room, peering on the other side before entering the waiting room. Because of the rows of shelves, she was able to hide a bit, watching Harvey type away at the computer with a solid-colored sea-green mug near his forearm. It had to be filled with a cup of coffee that would carry him for the rest of his day. As her feet shuffled, their eyes met, Noelle instantly wanting to hide, but she greeted him with a forced smile instead. He mirrored her look. However, his smile appeared warm and genuine.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling great, thanks," Noelle answered, "Sorry about... everything."

"No need," He said, disappointment in his tone. "Mayor Lewis's fault on this one. He should know better. But hopefully, this shouldn't happen again. I advise not drinking from the tap. I learned that the hard way myself first moving in."

"That indeed would've been nice to know," Noelle said, "Don't worry. Once the coops done, I'll work on a house upgrade next. Filtered water included. I'm trying to get out of the shack before winter."

"That would be best," Harvey advised calmly, "It's a nice rustic feel. I'm... almost jellous."

"Finna say, I don't even own a proper toilet," Noelle chuckled. "Though um, it must suck to live where you work, huh?"

"It has its perks," Harvey replied, "Again, before I cut the act, I have to ask, how are you feeling? I checked your temperature last night, and you have indeed broken your fever, but I just want to make sure."

"Refreshed, actually," Noelle smiled, "Much better... you know how to make the chicken soup taste heavenly."

Harvey smiled, "All in a day's work."

"How long have you been living here, Doc?" Noelle blinked curiously, "Ten years, was it?"

He looked impressed, "I'm surprised you remember."

"Why wouldn't I?" Noelle said.

"Most people forget," Harvey shrugged, "It's alright."

"Don't tell me people forget about you," Noelle said with wide eyes, "After all you've done?"

"We aren't as tight-knit as advertised," Harvey said with a shrug, "However, a lot of it is self-inflicted. I don't make much of an effort to mingle with others. It's easier for me to be a doctor than a neighbor."

Noelle let out a half-suppressed laugh of shock and agreement, "Yeah, bet. Reasons to never become a small-town doctor. Like... Imagine operating on your girlfriend, couldn't be me."

Harvey shuffled uncomfortably in place, gripping his cuff. Noelle immediately regretted her words as she noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor. She only meant it to be a joke, but this only testified how much she really knew about him. Of course, in a small town of twenty-five residents, there was a small chance Harvey had to operate on someone that meant the world to him. She couldn't imagine the stress or the trauma he had gone through in the emergency room.

"Yoba, I'm sorry!" Noelle said, holding her hand over her mouth in pure embarrassment. She was shaking at how fast his smile faded into anguish. Noelle felt dumb for making such an insensitive observation.

"It's alright," Harvey said, seemingly snapping himself out of a negative reverie. A cold, awkward silence told her she had absolutely hit a large bruise with his face falling flat and emotionless. Perhaps this is what fueled the sadness that lingered in the clinic.

"Really, I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Part of the job," Harvey said with a shrug, some of his personality returning to his face. It pained her to see him shrug it off as not a big deal. She could tell it was eating him alive.

"Doesn't make it excusable," Noelle said, as they locked, "I don't know how you find the will to keep going, by yourself, much less."

"I could say the same about you," Harvey commented, raising a brow, "I'm sure you didn't wake up one day and asked to be a farmer."

"Not exactly," Noelle said, shaking her head, "Let's just say it's been a wild twenty years."

"I'm..." He cleared his throat and straightened his tie, possibly a nervous tic, "I'm... intrigued to learn more about you, Miss Noelle."

"Really?" Noelle blinked. In what possible way would this prim and proper doctor want to know a dirty, stinky farmer?

"We had a rough start," Harvey went on to explain, "You... you have your right."

"No, I don't," Noelle admitted, "I outright profiled you as an ass before even getting to know you. I hate it when that's done to me, and you know what, I'm the one that's gonna have to apologize for that."

Harvey chuckled, as if unphased, "It's normal not to like your doctor. I mean... who enjoys being told what to do with their lives? Not necessarily attractive."

"I disagree," Noelle complemented, earning a bright red, flustered look from Harvey, "I mean... your right, people turn off when being told what to do... but... uh... I'm sorry, let's start over. Hi, my name is Noelle, and I'm sorry for being an ass."

"Hello, my name is Dr. Becker, and I apologize you had to see me tipsy," Harvey said as he cleared his throat, but it was obvious he was fighting back a cheeky smile, "So... I feel like I owe you one in that regard. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Noelle looked up at him with amused, "Are you coming on to me?"

Harvey casually shook his head, "All in the sake of making up for it. That wasn't professional of me. I need to apologize not only to you but to everyone in Pelican Town. had someone called, I would not have been able to tend to them."

"Hey, we're allowed to have our good and bad days, right?" Noelle smiled warmly, "You were mourning the loss of a friend. I'd push my limits as well if that were the case."

There was a faint glint in his eye. The dull haze turned to a warm green at the mere hint of reassurance, "Thank you for understanding... but my offer still stands, of course, only if you're comfortable."

"No problem," said Noelle, "I guess I would like to try a cup."

"You never had coffee before?"

Noelle shook her head, "Haven't had a reason too, couldn't afford it, no one sat me down and taught me how to make it. Not like we had the means of a coffee maker anyway."

"My sincerest condolences," He laughed a bit, exaggerated his stance that made Noelle fight back a giggle. "You're missing out. However, it is an acquired taste."

"So I've heard," Noelle replied, ss her following sentence became cheeky and jovial. "...but I hope I'm not breaking the law by raking this offer. Is it okay to have a coffee break with your patient?"

"You don't have to," Harvey said plainly, "I know you have plenty of farm work to attend to and that being in the clinic makes you anxious. If you need to leave, I understand. I'm not going anywhere."

"No, I-" Noelle paused, words failing her, not even sure if she wanted to start a romance with Harvey, knowing what she knew. But perhaps this could be the start of a friendship, and Noelle was alright with that. "I'd like that... yes... yes I would like that. You seem like an interesting person to get to know."

Harvey's face lit up like a child receiving a gift, which made her heart flutter at sight. Despite hitting a bruise, despite the stubbornness she displayed in the clinic, he was willing to take a chance with her. At that moment, Noelle realized there was a chance he felt the same way, a small chance, but a chance nonetheless.

"Excellent," He stammered, obviously trying to hide any form of excitement but failing.

Harvey continued to roll his fingers on the surface of his coffee cup, gripping the handle for dear life as his hand began to tremble. Whatever confidence he presented in the clinic clearly shattered before her eyes. He was a mess. Noelle found that charming, to say the least. He was given a chance and afraid of screwing it over. Noelle smirked to lighten the mood, which caught his attention.

"Judging by the deer in headlights look, I'm assuming you haven't done this before, have you?" Noelle said, trying to fight back laughter.

"It's been a while," He admitted, looking a little ashamed, "Not often I open my home to others."

"Well, I feel honored," said Noelle flattered and saddened.

"If... you could," Harvey began as Noelle caught sight of the sweat from his temple, "My apartment is on the first floor."

"You live where you work?" Noelle said, cringing at the idea. Harvey simply shrugged.

"It's alright, it's cozy, to say the least," Harvey hesitated.

"I'm curious to see what Harvey's like during his off-hours," Noelle said playfully, "If that's alright with you?"

"I..." His voice trailed as if his brain ceased mid-sentence, he sucked in air, "I trust... you won't share what you'll see today?"

This gave Noelle pause, wondering what a good doctor like Harvey was trying to hide of all things. But, he was a shy man, and the impression she gathered from Harvey was that he was extremely territorial and private in his personal life. He had a lot on his shoulders. One wrong word of mouth could harm his business.

"Of course," Noelle said, "I ow you after that care package you sent me."

"Oh, you don't have to," Harvey said politely, "That was more of a "Welcome to Pelican Town" gesture. This is... hey... want to be friends?"

"I..." It suddenly felt like Noelle met the shy kid on the playground searching for a playmate during recess. After all, they were both single adults in relatively the same age group, outsiders compared to the rest of the villagers, and Harvey knew her grandfather. Noelle couldn't imagine the stories and history her grandfather shared on their deathbed that made Harvey want to extend such a gesture. There was also a good chance he didn't have a huge friendship circle outside of Maru and Evelyn, so why not?

"Sure."

"Alright then," Harvey said with a hint of cheeriness in his voice. Noelle felt the same rush of excitement as Harvey traveled towards the clinic's back, opening the door for her. "After you!"

"Thank you, kindly," Noelle said, mirroring his tone of voice. She wanted to toss a couple of flirts his way, but Noelle thought against it. Having not made up her mind yet, she didn't want to lead the poor man on. However, this didn't change the fact of how adorable Harvey was currently being. With her heart racing wildly inside her chest, Noelle hoped that this was the start of something special. She watched as Harvey placed down his cup of coffee on the floor and fumbled with his keys, leaning on the staircase railing so that she wouldn't fall. Within the next few moments, the door opened, and Noelle was introduced to a place that Harvey kept to himself. Noelle's mouth went dry as she explored what made Harvey tick.

It was a small apartment, nothing spectacular in the grand scheme of things, but it revealed all she needed to see; a personality outside of his profession. The first thing she saw was a collection of books resting on a large shelf that nearly touched the ceiling. To her right was a large table, resting on top of what looked like a half-done airplane model. Noelle even knew the name. Two red sofas crowded an ancient-looking television set, which made sense if it was just himself: and a common theme amongst Pelican Town villagers. Technology stumbled a bit behind in a town pioneered less than eighty years ago in the middle of the Firngil Republic. Part of city culture was flex culture, having the latest and best everything just to make a statement. Harvey led a simple lifestyle, further amplified by the old radio set tucked underneath his window. Quiet jazz music played from one of the speakers at which he turned off, perhaps for Noelle's sake. She didn't mind, in fact, she found it pleasant, but her mind was too distracted by the overwhelming detail in the room.

"You are a dork!" Noelle said with a goofy, wide smile, emphasizing every word. He was so focused on preparing the coffee that her sudden exclamation caught him off guard, almost dropping his glass. Noelle immediately regretted her statement. Perhaps he took it as an insult?

"Pardon?" Harvey spoke with a crack in his voice, too shy to turn around and look at her. Noelle flinched, knowing she needed to turn this around.

"Dorks are neat," Noelle said as she stumbled over her words.

Harvey stayed silent, rolling his fingers on the countertop.

"Oh," Harvey said, keeping his voice low and quiet as if he were trying to process what just happened. Even from the doorway, Noelle could tell how nervous he was as his hands violently trembled while pouring two coffees. He took his cup, still not looking at her, as he turned around and leaned on the kitchen counter. Noelle just stood there, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps he was too nervous or frazzled to give the cup of coffee an introduction. It appeared as if his brain had stopped working. After a moment or two of hesitance, Noelle quickly grabbed her cup, resting on the other side of the kitchen to give the man some space.

"I'm sorry, did I offend you?" Noelle asked, tilting her head out of concern. Harvey's face remained too flat to read. "I really mean it in a positive light. This room is just oozing with personality, and it's nice to see." Harvey blinked a couple of times as if his senses were coming to, and then his face lit up with a smile. He shook his head.

"You didn't offend me." He admitted, taking a sip, "You'll have to forgive me. I'm not that much of a conversationalist."

"Isn't that your whole job?" Noelle questioned, not in a mean, vindictive way either. She couldn't understand how someone must interact with people whilst being afraid of them.

"I'm a different person in the clinic," Harvey said with an extremely shy quiver in his voice, "After maybe two or three cups of coffee- sometimes five, I'm able to turn off my brain and get to work."

"Five cups?!" Noelle said out of shock

"Sometimes more on Tuesdays and Thursdays," Harvey said with a nervous chuckle. "It's a terrible habit I picked up while in medical school, but it gets the job done."

"It seems like we have a thing in common," said Noelle with a small smirk, "Overworking ourselves to the bone."

"Given our professions, that's to be expected," He added, seemingly getting more comfortable as time went on. "However, with the amount of physical work you endure, your workload is obviously more extraneous. Most of the time, I'm at my desk waiting on appointments. Not exactly comparable."

"You still carry the well-being of the entire town," said Noelle, "Looking after someone, in general, can weigh on you, especially if they aren't receptive. What even gets you going?"

"Hmph?" Harvey questioned, arching a brow. He probably wasn't used to being the center of attention.

"What motivates you to get out of bed every day, knowing what's in store?" Noelle asked, leaning on the wall, temporarily forgetting about her cup of coffee.

"Well-" He hesitated, probably not used to talking about himself either, "I've always been fascinated with the sciences, human biology in particular. With the combination of wanting to help others, it was a natural choice. I came to Pelican Town with nothing more than the hope to do some good. As much as I complain about the stress, I do enjoy what I do. In addition, it's nice knowing everyone's faces."

Noelle narrowed her eyes. Watching Harvey's tense body language, she could tell he was holding back. She had a sneaky suspicion he was extremely modest with his answer. Something as tragic as losing a loved one on the operating table, an implication from what Noelle could piece together, would've made her throw in the towel and retire early. Something more had to be driving him. The answer he gave felt safe, and perhaps that was the most he was comfortable with sharing.

"I feel like it runs deeper," Noelle said innocently, "Don't get me wrong, I admire your passion, but- knowing what you've lost- I'd quit. How are you still standing?"

Harvey shifted uncomfortably in his spot, letting out a weary sigh as he looked Noelle in the eye. His gaze seemed tense at first, then softened as if he were assessing her. After a couple of moments, Harvey gestured towards the table, loosening up a bit as he extended his next offer.

"Would you like to take a seat?" Harvey said, sounding a bit more confident now, "Of course, I gave you the abbreviated version of why I became a healthcare professional. Since you want to know more, we're going to be here for a while."

"Was it hard?" Noelle asked as her voice softened, but before Harvey could answer, he was already clear across the kitchen, pulling out a chair, waiting for Noelle to take a seat.

"For you, my lady," He said in a sweet tone that made Noelle swoon. She had to admit, his acts of kindness were throwing her off guard; one doesn't get this type of love in the city.

"Thank you," Noelle said, taking her seat. He even pushed in his chair for her. She carefully placed her coffee cup on the table as Harvey sat across her, looking at her cup.

"You haven't taken a sip yet," Harvey said, motioning towards her glass to try and lighten the mood. Obviously, what was about to be discussed was something long and personal.

"Well, you are distracting me," Noelle said with a small grin, looking him in the eye, his ears turning pink as he looked away.

"Go ahead, take a sip," Harvey said, leaning back in his chair and slouching a bit, "I started you off with decaf so the caffeine wouldn't disrupt your sleep- since it is later in the day, but it relatively tastes the same."

"You're so thoughtful," Noelle thought as she looked at her drink, readying herself to take a sip.

"It comes with the job," Harvey shrugged, eyes peeled for Noelle's reaction.

Upon her first sip of coffee, a pleasant rush zipped through her veins. There was nothing sweet about it, far from it, but the bitterness and the warmth made it all the more enjoyable. Harvey seemed to enjoy her reaction, letting out a small laugh as she took large shameless gulps of her drink.

"Where has this been all my life?!" Noelle asked once she made it halfway through her cup.

"I'm assuming that went well?" Harvey asked, keeping his smile.

"Very," Noelle answered, emphasizing the word. "It tastes amazing. Where was this in my life?"

"I'm surprised you enjoy the taste, not really what it's sought after. Hence the creamers and the two or three spoonfuls of sugar people add to make it decent. I just typically take mine straight. I'm not that picky."

"I gleaned that from you," Noelle said, going to the rest of her drink, "Despite your profession, you seem to have a simple lifestyle. Where I come from, it's a nice change of pace."

"I think what has more to do with the culture of Pelican Town," said Harvey with a casual tone, "When I first moved here, I experienced a bit of culture shock, vastly different from the city. It's quiet, small-scale festivals, handmade goods, fresh produce, not a lot of commercialism or flashing lights- it's simple. Oh, my personal favorite, town gossip. Living in a small community is a double-edged sword. Everyone has to know your business."

"Sounds like you know that personally," said Noelle. Harvey frowned and rubbed his face.

"All too well," Harvey confirmed, "I don't like spreading rumors or engaging in town gossip. I'd rather go to the source. For example, the things I've heard about you are- not nice."

"Uh-oh," Noelle said with a wince, "I mean, I can only imagine how much my presence will change the town dynamic. The valley, from a city-goers perspective, is pretty remote. Pockets of civilization with twenty-five to thirty residents? We think you'll be barbaric. So- I can't get mad at gossip."

"I envy you," said Harvey, with a dry chuckle, "Ten years of living in Pelican Town, and I can't get used to it. The rumors around Maru and I make me ill."

"Now I'm assuming people have nothing better to do with their lives than speculate," Noelle said, cringing with him. "I appreciate you coming to me personally. Though, forgive me because I too thought you and Maru had a thing going on as well."

"Since you're new, I'll let that slide," Harvey said, "Clearing the room right now, Maru and I are co-workers. We only have a close friendship, nothing more. Her father made it clear that would never be possible- also, as her boss, I'd be committing a crime. Not to mention the villagers would lose their minds if the rumors turn out to be true. As a young person fresh out of college, I can't put that on her shoulders."

"That's really responsible of you," Noelle commented, "I can see why you two are close. I'm glad you have her."

"She's helped me through thick and thin," Harvey said, putting a hand on his chin,

"Maru is essential to me, as a friend, of course. But not someone I'd considered eligible. I'd have to be really stupid to ignore Demetrius and put a friend in harm's way. But- enough about that. You wanted to know why I became a physician, correct?"

Noelle nodded, giving him his full attention, "I guess I'll repeat my question from earlier. Was it difficult?"

Harvey tapped his fingers on the dining table in response, looking down at his lap.

"You're about to hear a story I've really only told one other person, and they are sadly no longer with us. I trust that you won't spread this around either. I really can't stand talking about myself and don't appreciate it when my business is being put on blast. What you're about to hear, it's between you and me. Can you do this for me?"

"Yes, of course," Noelle replied, sounding as serious and genuine as possible. He sighed, a tense silence settling in between them.

"So," Harvey said, "Where to begin?"

"Take your time," Noelle encouraged, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you," Harvey said gently, tapping on the table, "I'm not sure if there's any gentle way to deliver this, but... I guess I'll start from the beginning. No family... fostercare... since I was ten."

"Oh shit," Noelle said as she wasn't expecting that introduction from Harvey. This entire time Noelle was under the assumption Harvey came from a relatively normal family, but not that same sense. There wasn't a single family photo in his office or the clinic, so there had to be a falling out or simply nonexistent. Her heart ached as she realized Harvey was truly on his own.

"It's alright, worked out for the better," Harvey explained as he cleared his throat. The black liquid swirled in his mug, "My mother was young, and my father... wasn't the best human being."

Well, at least that was one thing they could connect over, "Shitty parents, that seems familiar."

"Parent in this case," Harvey corrected, almost flatly.

"You knew your mother?"

"Autumn Becker," Harvey answered, "I... don't remember much about her. Kind... blue eyes... the green comes from pop, unfortunately."

"That is unfortunate," Noelle replied as she took another sip of coffee to look like the one the enemy. That must have haunted Harvey. Despite the lore, something about his eyes seemed soft and alluring every time they crossed paths with her own. Harvey clearly, was not his father.

"I'd... tell you more, but it has everything to do with her," Harvey said as he shuffled uncomfortably in place, "Her death is what led me here."

"Yoba, Harvey," Noelle blinked in disbelief, to be exposed to death that young. "What-"

"For now, I'll leave it at that," Harvey cleared his throat, "Long story short, I've always wanted to help others. If someone collapses to the ground and bleeds out all over the pavement, I want to be able to help. I hate being useless in dire situations, hence why I am here."

"Sweet Yoba," Noelle said, not wanting to imagine what a young Harvey saw that led him to not only foster care but the career path of doctorhood. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Harvey said as he took another sip, "How about you? Sorry, I don't mean to hog the spotlight."

"No, you're fine," Noelle said, "My mother wasn't the best human being either."

He chuckled dryly, "Seems like something to connect over, hm?"

"Only if you want to," Noelle concluded, "She was just... neglectful, hence why I've never seen a doctor before you. She had dreams of becoming famous and wanted to do anything to achieve it. She sold herself out. It all ended in a drunken car accident... that I was in."

"Yoba…" Harvey blinked, impressed, "I heard the Sinclair's were resilient but not sure just… how resilient. Miss Noelle, my condolences, that's a terrible fate."

"You can call me Noelle, Harvey," Noelle reassured gently with a warm smile, "You wanted to be friends, right? Let's start there."

"R-right," Harvey stuttered, "Noelle…. It has a… nice… ring to it."

Noelle felt the heat rise in her cheeks, "I'm also going to guess you don't make new friends often do you?"

"I… keep everyone at arm's length," Harvey said, "In grim respect, it makes my job easier."

"Can't imagine," Noelle said, sensing this was a nice transition to the rest of his life story, "Why did you become a doctor, Harvey?"

"Abbreviated?" Harvey answered as his face grew a little pale, "I fell in love with human biology and just… wanted to know how I could help people with the study."

"It's gotta run deeper than that," Noelle said, "I… mean that. Every day you look like a dead man walking. I just want to know what gets you on auto piolet, at least."

Harvey paused as he calculated his next move, "On a scale of one to ten, how sensitive are you towards the topic of death?"

"Oh Hun, I lived it," Noelle said, "First my grandmother, then my mother, then my grandfather. I'm all alone in this world just like you, to my knowledge."

"One thing we have in common, hm?" Harvey said darkly, "Alright… I'll spill. It was my first encounter with death that made me want to work in a hospital full time. The credit goes to my mother."

"You've done great so far, Mrs. Becker would be proud," Noelle complemented, and yet Harvey found.

"Miss, with an M-I," Harvey answered as his face paled, so did Noelle's, "It's... complicated... but I can't ignore it... all of it led me to become Dr. Becker."

"You don't have to," Noelle said calmly as she caught wind of his knuckles turning pale, looking to now change the subject. "How long did it take you? I heard that's a lot of education and memorizing, and just- shit on top of shit."

"Accurate," Harvey said with a dry chuckle, "Memorization has always come easy to me, but yes, I did have to spend a long time in school to get my degree. It wasn't long before I figured I wanted to open my own business in the valley. This building was old. By the time I arrived. I had to build it from the ground up. It wasn't until year three or four I was able to get back on my feet."

Noelle blinked, "Wait, you opened your own business?!"

Harvey nodded. "Not profitable, but it works."

"How the fuck do you stay in business?!" Noelle said, knowing that everything he owned had to be expensive. Not to mention the bills to keep this place running and alive.

"Flu season," He answered with a dark chuckle, "I… really do love what I have here. Simple life."

"You've earned it," Noelle smiled as she realized by the time the conversation ended, she'd finished her first cup of coffee. "Oh, it looks like I'm out."

"I'd…I'd offer more if you're willing?" Harvey inquired, "You're… nice to talk to, Noelle."

"I'd like that," Noelle said with a warm, genuine smile, "You and me, let's talk. That be nice."

Their morning went on as such, talking about anything and everything as time went on. Noelle learned more about Harvey, and the more she did, the more she felt terrible for disliking the man at first. Maru was correct. This man had been through hell and back. He had seen so much pain and still chose to move on. Harvey may deny this notion, but he indeed was a trooper.

"Shrine in the back," Noelle casually mentioned, specifically remembering that shard of Yoba's shrine that hung in the back of Harvey's clinic. "That yours or has always been there?"

He chuckled, "Bad first date protocol, hm?"

Noelle blinked, "This a date?"

Harvey took a minute to come back into reality, "Oh… it's… not that."

"Sounds like you're afraid of dates," Noelle chuckled, but it faded once Harvey frowned a bit.

"You're not wrong," Harvey said solemnly, "Might have been once and never again."

"You and Mona?" Noelle questioned as she arched a brow. By now, she was leaning in her seat. The air tensed.

"We were close," Harvey answered simply, now on his third cup of coffee with a plate of scones sitting on the table, she could tell there was more due to the deepened blush alone.

"You can tell me," Noelle said, "Friends now, right?"

"Of course," Harvey said, "In the same breath, you are my patient. I'm not sure how much I can tell you without committing a HIPPA violation."

"You're technically off duty now," Noelle insisted, but in a more curious, gentle way. How to crack that damn shell, she wondered. Harvey shook his head.

"I'm the only doctor for miles, always on duty," He emphasized, "But we… were close. For now, I'll leave it at that. You were asking about the shrine in my clinic, hm?"

"Yeah," Noelle said, taking the hint he was ready to switch the subject.

"I put that there," Harvey answered and tensed, "Mostly for the comfort of my patients and sometimes myself."

"Time gets hard in the clinic?" Noelle questioned; Harvey nodded as the hazel in his eyes darkened to a cold, hard brown.

"Imagine having a patient's life completely in your hands and failing to keep them alive. That's something that will haunt you forever," He continued in a tone that chilled her spine, "So… yes, times do get hard here. It's there for comfort, nothing more. Yoba and I have an... interesting relationship."

"Yeah, bet," Noelle said. How else was she supposed to follow that up? Noelle could picture the doctor almost arguing with the supposed creator but turning to him when things were dire. Still... Harvey was complex, which only intrigued her more.

"You?" Harvey asked, his tone softening a bit from bitterness to curiosity. "Again, I don't mean to hog the spotlight."

"It's alright," Noelle answered, not expecting to have such a deep conversation with the man, to begin with. How did they get here? "He just… exists for me. I'm not about to argue with those who go the other way, you know."

"I wouldn't either," Harvey said, "Sorry… I didn't mean for this to take a dark turn. Hopefully, that didn't scare you?"

"No, not at all," Noelle said, then checked Harvey's wall clock near the window, "I better go. It's late. Gotta go pick up some chicken eggs from Marine if that's alright?"

"Sure thing," Harvey said as he got up from his seat and began cleaning up their mess, "It was nice having you."

"You're a neat fella," Noelle complimented as she stood up from his seat. Harvey was intriguing. She had more questions than answers about Harvey now. Clearly, he lived a difficult life. Nothing with him was going to be easy. But if his eyes dulled earlier, some of the green returned at that compliment. Ah, so they change, not quite a warm brown but not quite a striking green either. Hazel, definitely hazel.

"Thanks," Harvey replied, "Sorry, but I'll have t put on the grump stash for a few minutes, but a bill will be coming your way in seven to ten business days. My time does not come cheap."

Noelle smirked, "Oh, was this a scam?"

Harvey chuckled, "No, our time here won't be counted. This morning was just Harvey. Dr. Becker would not have been able to tell you any of this, so I hope you keep this behind closed doors hm? I just… I don't want my business out there."

"Consider it done," Noelle said, "I wouldn't want a friend telling my secrets either."

The green once again grew, and Yoba they were alluring.

Soon, they made it to the clinic's waiting room, and the air shifted from tense to friendly. It was as if such a deep, personal conversation ignited something in Harvey. Noelle caught a faint glow about him, much different from the man she met a few weeks ago. There was a little chitter-chatter as Noelle gathered her things, but it faded once the door was opened, and Noelle found herself lingering in the doorway longer than usual.

"You a hugger?" Noelle asked curiously as her eyes darted to and away from Harvey. There was a light fluttery feeling in her chest that she had to express, and normally it poured into a warm, inviting embrace. Harvey, however, stiffened at the notion, face froze, as if he didn't know how to reply.

"Keep it at handshakes for now," He quivered, "Only for those I trust."

"Got it," Noelle said, ready to respect those boundaries Harvey put in place. It was clear she hadn't earned that yet. Keeping their conversation in private was a way to start. This was just to test the waters, nothing more.

"Good luck, Noelle," Harvey smiled, "Stay safe."

"For you as well," Noelle replied as the clinic doors closed for the day.

What a neat fella.

Chapter 10 – Pickled Conflict

Dawn of April, marking month one of a true member of Pelican Town and what a world wind it has been. From day one Noelle found herself waking at the crack of dawn to hit the ground running. With spring winding down, Noelle checked on her cauliflower that she planted near the beginning of spring, and already they blossomed better than expected. Part of her thought the farm flood caused some damage to her crops, but on the other end it might have fed the soil nutrients. Either way, Noelle was eager to see her return, cauliflower was the most expensive crop to grow in Pelican Town and she went all in. A drought or any other natural disaster would put the summer harvest at risk, since it was around the corner.

For now, the big focus was the coop and houseupgrads Noelle needed to work on before the weather grew cooler. There were stories of her grandfather catching pneumonia because the shack wasn't prepared for the winter, and getting sick through Pelican Town's longest season wasn't what she had in mind. It was that last wave of illness that took him out, eventually fluid filled his lungs so terribly that he simply couldn't breathe anymore. Noelle received the phone call that her grandfather passed in his sleep, and thus it was the end of that.

Once potatoes and parsnips were set aside for selling, Noelle decided to take a walk towards Marnie's ranch to pick up her first batch of baby chickens. Noelle was mostly fond of ducks and cows, but she knew that would take more time and skill before Marnie would allow anymore. Turns out she indeed was an animal lover, drilling Noelle to death on how to properly raise chickens and came by to check on the coop once the completed construction came to fruition. Something about the sight of four baby chickens, nestled together in a bed of hay pulled the heartstrings of the young farmer.

"You've made fantastic progress Noelle," Marine said gently as she held one of the chickens in hand, "Remember, you're raising not only a life but hopefully a companion. I'm sure you'll give your chickens a safe and happy home to live in, hm?"

"Oh absolutely," Noelle smiled, "I know what that's like not to have that."

"Poor thing," Marnie said as the basket was handed over, "Well now you found a family here…. I also hear that the doctor's been treating you well?"

"We're just friends," Noelle shrugged, "I'll leave it at that."

Marnie giggled, "Come on, not everyone gets invited into the Doc's apartment. What's it like up there?"

"You heard about that?" Noelle tilted her head curiously, but in the same breath she shouldn't be astonished. She knew gossip traveled like wildfire, and any hint of The Farmer and The Doctor getting along would be enough to spark said flames. Marnie then playfully wiggled her eyebrows and Noelle replied with a sly grin.

"Nope, not spilling a thing," Noelle protested, "He's… territorial, if you catch my drift."

"Oh, we know that, hence the curiosity," Marnie answered, "That man has lived here for ten years or so and I don't know a damn thing about him. What does he do all day besides being a doctor?"

"That's a question you ask him," Noelle answered with a shrug. She just didn't get that mentality. Instead of gossiping, why not ask the source?

"His grumpstash is hard to work with," Marine admitted, "Oh well, the chickens are more important. What are you going to name them?"

"I have a few in mind," Noelle answered, "For now… I'll juist nickname them The Chosen Four. Four chickens living in a coop together, seems fitting."

"Excellent," Marine chimed, "Gonna catch up with the Mullner's any time?"

"Not sure," Noelle replied, "Yoba, I can't stand Alex, but I know I'm gonna have to interact with him eventually."

"Get it over with is what I say," Marine advised, "Anywho, take care of your new chicken family, Noelle. We're rooting for you."

"Thank you, Marnie," Noelle replied as she took the basket of chicken friends and headed back towards Bluebell Farm.

It was true, Noelle did love her chickens. They were so sweet, innocent, and fluffy. Wouldn't be old enough to wander around on their own for a while, but watching them scurry around in the safety of the coop made her heart melt. If her mother failed to watch over her, stored her away in a tower like a Repunzel or Cinderella, Noelle refused to copy that mentality. Much of the day was spent bonding with the chicks, watching them bumble around and learn the new environment they were in. Eventually, Noelle caved and had to check her mail for today, learning there was a letter left behind from… well speak of the devil. The Mullner's.

Noelle felt terrible for skipping out on meeting the Mullner's for the first half of spring. George and Evelyn were her grandparents as far as Noelle was concerned. After her grandfather's death, Noelle wasn't quite ready to return to the city. She wanted to stay on the farm and keep any piece that reminded her of the only family member that showered her in love and attention. That lasted a few months, and the Mullner's kept an eye on her, as well as Gus.

During that time she developed an interesting relationship with their grandson Alex, who was approximately seven years younger than she. Alex was the textbook definition of the annoying little brother she'd be stuck with for the rest of her life, and Noelle wasn't looking forward to bumping into that relic of the past. The only way to fix that was to take a break and wander ingo town, saying hello to the people that helped raise her wasn't such a bad idea.

Noelle's heart nearly stopped as she approached the Mullner household, she had forgotten how close she was to perhaps the busiest parts of Pelican Town. It was blocked a little by the trailer, which was new, along with the fencing that sat in the middle of the open field; Alex had talked about wanting a dog in the future. It wasn't because she was nervous, not even close, but she was instantly reminded of the day that made her want to return to the city.

It was true that she and Alex had a close friendship while they were teenagers, but Noelle wasn't even sure how that came to be. It almost happened by accident; her grandfather would often visit for dinner and she and Alex would just hang out. Now that Noelle thought about it, it was less of a friendship, and more like a "friendenemies" situation. Actually Noelle wasn't sure what to call their relationship, Alex was just someone she put in the friend zone and things went downhill from there. If anything she was probably more excited to reunite with George and Evelyn, apologizing for acting out. She knew she would have to face the music eventually, ignoring the woman sitting alone in her gardening chair, and tilting her head around the corner, she could see a grown up Alex playing with that same football they used to toss out of boredom. It wasn't long until the attention was pulled away from the ball and towards the new farmer.

"Hey, you're the new farm girl, right?" said Alex, obviously not realizing who he was talking to.

"Glad to see some things don't change," said Noelle, "Like your intelligence."

Alex blinked, as if the sound of her voice jogged a few memories. He frowned and tossed the foot ball directly at her without warning, which slammed right at her chest. Noelle winced as Alex laughed, but she gripped her pickaxe in response.

"Damn it, it's you!" He said it was almost playful. "It took you ten years to realize your mistake?"

"Careful, I'm armed," said Noelle, letting the pickaxe drape over her shoulder, Alex only smirked. "And no, I meant what I said. But I kinda came back to apologize for being an ass. Your grandparents didn't deserve that."

"It's cool, you were grieving," said Alex. "Grandma helped me realize that after the fact, and I legit felt bad for a hot minute."

"You didn't notice, I honestly don't blame you for reacting the way that you did. That football attack, well deserved."

"I should've," said Alex, "You're not the only one who has lost someone, farmer."

"What has happened since I left?" Noelle asked, tilting her head.

"Alot," said Alex, "So much so that I'm not sure how much I should tell. But I'll give you the jist; The newest members of the town Shane, Jas and Vincent, the community center got destroyed during a storm and now it's overgrown, Joja mart has established a new shop… the doctor opened up his own business in the valley and since then we had lost a town member."

"Know about the doctor," Noelle said knowingly, "Yoba, he's been through hell."

"I'm sure you know all about it," Alex said, "Heard rumors, what's his apartment like?"

"Dman, does this town ever shut up," Noelle said, wishing she was only half joking as Alex chuckled.

"Nope, nothing more to do," Alex shrugged, "Which is why I wanna get the hell out of here. Can't chase a dream of football and sports in dead beat nowhere."

"Meh," Noelle said, "I hate sports, you're on your own on that one."

"Gee thanks," Alex said, "Glad to know you're still an asshole."

"I'm the one that grew up, got a job and has been one my own since sixteen, you're the one living with your grandparents," Alex frowned as Noelle replied with a smile of victory.

Alex only smirked. "Well I'm heading to the beach, wanna come? In a swimsuit?"

"That is exactly why friend zoned you," said Noelle. "Maybe if you stopped being a manwhore I would've reconsidered."

"Whatever farmer," said Alex.

"Besides, don't you have eyes for Haley?" Noelle teased, Alex nearly choked. "You are not pulling me into your harem."

"Later," Alex said, deflecting the question shuffling towards the beach. Noelle rolled her eyes as she entered the room, greeting George and Evelyn for the first time in ten years.

If Noelle was paid for the amount of times nostalgia hit her like a bulldozer, she would probably be able to live comfortably in Pelican Town without the farm for the rest of her life. Evelyn's home hasn't changed a bit, aside from Alex now having the bigger room and the sofa missing completely. There she only found George sitting in the middle of the room, staring at the television like he usually did. At first Noelle didn't want to startle him, so she turned to leave, but the creaky wooden floor board caught his attention.

"Whadda want?" he said with a grumpy tone of voice, also failing to recognize who it was.

"Hello Mr. Mullner," said Noelle with a shy wave.

"Noelle!" He said as if he had seen a ghost. "The mayor did say someone was moving into the valley, didn't he?"

"Sorry, I should've said hello sooner," said Noelle. "I've been here for a couple weeks now, I don't think new counts for me anymore."

"It is until you show your face," said George, "Have you met everyone yet? Seems busy."

"Not yet," said Noelle, "In fact the only reason why I'm here is because my tools broke, so I decided to knock this off my list."

"Nice to see you," George admitted. "Have you spoken to Alex yet, all he does is toss around that old football all day."

"Glad to see some things haven't changed," said Noelle knowingly.

"The town sure has been through alot since you've left, lots of ups and downs," said George.

"So I've heard," Noelle sighed. "Spare me the details, Alex already caught me up."

"Care to stay for dinner? I hear you don't have a kitchen," said George, as he began rolling himself towards the kitchen table.

"Nah, I plan on heading to the saloon today," Noelle declined politely "No offense, But thanks for the offer."

"Don't worry about it, the saloon will be good for you, and it's a Friday. Kill two birds with one stone and meet everyone there."

"That's the plan," said Noelle with a bright smile.

"Excellent," said George. "Run along kiddo, you do you."

Noelle gleefully laughed at the word kiddo, now being nearly thirty. The last time Goerge caught wind of noelle was when she was a teenager. Noelle followed her muscle memory toward the kitchen of the Mullner household, at least this was a scene that hasn't changed. There she saw Evelyn slaving away at the kitchen cooking a meal for her family. Once her head turned, Noelle smiled at the woman she bumped into a couple days prior.

"Nice to see you again, Noelle," Evelyn said warmly, "Would you like to stay for dinner? With the amount of stew I've boiled, we'll have enough for two weeks."

"That be lovely," Noelle's stomach grumbled at the mere mention of food and proper drink. "Do you need help?"

"Oh, never mind that, just enjoy yourself," Evelyn said cheerfully, "Never have a guest do the housework, how I was raised. How's Bluebell?"

"Just commissioned a chicken coop from Robin, and my cauliflower should be ready for harvest by the end of the month. After that I have my heart set on upgrading the house. I'm trying to not have a shack come winter, Spring was brutal."

"I bet, but your grandfather still loved the cottage, I hope you take care of it," Evelyn smiled, "Now, I hate to do this to you, but you know it's coming. How's the farmer and her doctor?"

Noelle chuckled warmly, "He has a friend, that's all it is now."

"Keep that, girl," Evelyn said proudly, "Please focus on being his friend. Maru and I keep in touch but it's nice to have a third pair of eyes looking out for him. I know I've encouraged a romance before, but I'm not sure if his heart can't take another hit."

"I don't even know if it's fully recovered," Noelle said, voicing her concern for not her sake but for Harvey's. "Evelyn, how can someone so friendly go through so much hell? It's not fair."

"Why do bad things happen to good people?" Evelyn said knowingly, and her tone was rhetorical, "Yoba is putting that man through the ringer. It's impressive Harvey's still walking, when Mona died, a piece of him died with her."

"Yoba," Noelle sighed. She had the vibe that Harvey may not believe this himself, but his own strength showed itself in different ways. But as much as she hated small town gossip, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of love that was like. "What were they like?"

"Power Couple," Evelyn answered proudly, "He's a gentleman as well, treating Mona like royalty. He was crazy about her."

"Yeah, bet," Noelle frowned as she found her hands in her pockets.

"Don't be discouraged, Miss Sinclair," Evelyn smiled, "You and Mona are two different people. My wize old advize, ask yourself, what does Noelle bring to the table?"

"Not sure," Noelle answered plainly. A true, long winded romance wasn't in her headspace at the moment, but since it managed to manifest, it wasn't a bad thing to ask herself. What does Noelle bring to the table? What made Noelle the Farmer of the Valley? Harvey had himself figured out, which made him all the more alluring. He handled himself well, handled his own grief well. He didn't allow life to pass him by even with a death in his world standing in his way. Harvey had a duty and he fulfilled it, now if anything, it was time for Noelle to find hers.

"My dear," Evelyn said as a bright idea popped into her head, "I should tell you this. If you want to get to know Harvey, pickles are the answer. Pickles and conversation, he'll love you forever."

"Pickles?" Noelle repeated, Evelyn nodded.

"Let me show you how to make them," Evelyn said jovially, "Here's the recipe."

Chapter 11 – Restless Nights

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck..."

It was a difficult night on the farm. With the cauliflower ready to be pulled, Noelle had to work overtime. Since it was springtime in the valley, the rain refused to give up. The amount of work she had to put her body through this week to prepare for the changing seasons put her on edge. She put off pulling the cauliflower long enough, not knowing how to. Now it was the last minute, some of them held the appearance of a corpse which had to be tossed, and others hid wasps that stung her hand several times.

Now she pressed through with a pulled hamstring, which was a bit of a roadblock with this month's harvest. Had she not spent the entire morning playing with the baby chickens, she would've had time to spare in the afternoon. Noelle once again bit off more than she could chew, but she also knew profit would not come easy on the farm.

But she knew she hit her limit, the stress, the anxiety of putting things off, the worry she disappointed her grandfather as a whole ate her alive today. However, like a true Sinclair she pushed through, plucked every cauliflower, parsnip, greenbean, and potato and threw it in the shipping box by the next day. It took shutting off her thoughts and pressing through the terrors of the night before she could collapse on the front porch of her humble little cannon. By the end of it all, her hands were cut and sliced, skin bruised and her muscles ached.

Mud caked her nails and clothes and her feet were beyond sore. Of course, something like this would call for a visit to the clinic, but Noelle felt terrible for bothering the local doc so much. In the same breath that was his job, and farming was a physically demanding one as well. No one would bat an eye at the farmer needing to visit the clinic so often. Most importantly, a shoulder to cry on would be amazing.

Adjusting to Pelican Town proved to be a rough one. Noelle found herself in the middle of nowhere with no help or guidance, a small shack to call home that lacked a kitchen or a bathroom, her diet was a mess, nearly chopped her hand of fat at the start of spring and now had animals to look after. With the goal of wanting to upgrade as much as she could before fall, and the ambition of wanting to double her profits before the end of the season, she was paying for the amount of trauma her body was being put through.

Noelle, under the impression she might've strained something, the reasonable reaction would be to go to the clinic. But she did not want to go back to the clinic, this would be her fourth time being seen as a patient in the eyes of Harvey. Besides, it was nothing major; just a couple of scrapes, bruises, maybe even a sprained ankle. She should be able to sleep this off, she shouldn't need anyone to baby her in such a situation. Was this a sign she wasn't cut out for the job?

Robin. She had to call Robin.

It worked before it had to work again. Talking to Robin thus far had always put her in a better limelight. Crush on Harvey? No problem. Needed to vent out her frustrations as a farmer? Also no problem. Needed that motherly support? Only from Robin. There was something about Robin that Noelle could always rely on, even though it was tough love. Thankfully, since it was only seven, Noelle didn't have to worry about disrupting anyone's sleep. She just needed someone to talk to.

"Nelly?" Robin's voice chimed on the other side of the phone, her voice laced with a deep layer of concern, "It's late, hun. Are you okay?"

"I…" Noelle trembled, not ready to admit to Robin that she had been indeed struggling all day on the farm.

"That is not the strong, independent farmer I was talking to yesterday, Noelle," Robin said as her voice flattened to one of seriousness, "What's going on? You can tell me. I promise I won't laugh, for real this time."

"Fuck," Noelle swore, exausted and helpless as she trembled on her porch. "Just… fuck everything Robin."

"Noelle," Robin said as her tone softed, "Go to Harvey."

"What?" Noelle blinked, go to Harvey… like this?

"If anyone knows how to soothe a stressed soul, it's Harvey," Robin said gently, "Don't get me wrong, I'm always in your corner. But what you're dealing with is bigger than me. I can support you emotionally… but not mentally. Go to Harvey before this escalates."

Noelle scoffed at the notion, "Okay."

"Good," Robin said, "If you need me on the phone until you get there, that's fine. But trust me, no one's going to bat an eye at the farmer needing a little extra help. We're proud of you, we really are, and Pelican Town is happy to have a farmer again. But please for the love of Yoba, don't break yourself. Do you have the gold for a house upgrade?"

That last bit wasn't a sales pitch, but one of concern, "Almost."

"Come to me immediately once you hit that goal. Fuck, I'll even give you a discount," Robin said, "Your living conditions aren't the best and it's eating you alive, I'm dead serious. So once you're able, come to the mountains and we'll talk about it. It's almost criminal you don't even have your basic needs met. Capiche?"

"Yes Robin," Noelle said as she froze for a few minutes in the rain, not sure how to move forward.

"Do I need to make a house call?" Robin said, and the mere notion of that made her flinch.

"No... No... I can walk by myself," Noelle said as her voice still quivered and shook to death, "I'm...I'll make it there just... stay on the phone… please... "

"Careful in the rain, Nelly," Robin warned as Noele made her way off the farm and into town. It was a long grueling walk in the cold, downpour as lightning tore through the sky. The only good thing about it all was Robin's mother;y support in her pocket and some of the rain rensing the mud off her skin. It was almost spooky. The clinic was just… right there... right off the path of Bluebell Farm. It was almost as if that was purposeful. She didn't have to travel far in the event an accident happened.

"You there Noelle?" Robin's muffled voice rang through her pocket as Noelle knocked on the door.

"Yeah… got it…" Noelle said breathless as her feet were ready to give out.

"Good," Robin said, "Say hey, to grumpstash for me. Gotta hit the showers, big carpentry project tomorrow. Text me back once you're settled, okay?"

"Got it…" Noelle said, the kindness she received from everyone was just too much. As promised, it wasn't long before Harvey answered the door and Noelle turned off her cell. With it being during his off hours he was dressed down for the night, which was a state Noelle had yet to see him in. To her surprise, he was genuinely concerned, not shocked or judgmental.

"Noelle, come in!" He hurried, stepped aside and Noelle stepped past, tracking mud all over the clinic floor as Harvey closed the door behind her. "What happened, are you hurt?"

"I…" Her brain was so frayed Noelle didn't know how to reply, but she did feel her eyes sell a bit. Harvey's eyes, while still concerned, turned determined as if one look told him what to do.

"Showers," Harvey instructed as he slipped into doctor mode, "Showers, tea, fresh clothes, hot meal. Doctor's orders."

Noelle found it best to comply. She had in fact used the showers in Harvey's clinic several times before, this wouldn't be any different. Boy did this shower feel better than the last, rensing away whatever filth the farm gave her…. wait was that blood?

"Shit," Noelle cursed, forgetting that she indeed was a woman. It was just… that time of the month, and that possibly stirred the mood swings that made up today.

"Noelle?" Harvey called from the hallway, probably hearing the swear from afar, "Are you okay?"

"Uh…" Noelle said not sure how to phrase the following sentence, "Code red?"

"Give me one moment," Harvey said as his feet shuffled for several minutes before returning, "What you need is on the clothes outside in the hallway, I'll step away for your privacy."

"Thank you," Noelle said, giving herself a few more minutes in the shower before turning it off and get dressed. More clothes possibly donated from Emily, sweats and a baggy t-shirt, undergarments, and that… special need for this month. Like always, the shower, the clothes, and following Harvey's instructions was leading down the path of feeling better. When she stepped outside she could hear Harvey in the waiting room of the clinic, two cups of fresh tea sitting on his desk.

"Rough day?" Harvey said as he gently tapped a cup, "Here take a seat, this should relax you."

"Thanks," Noelle said as she took the cup of tea and relaxed in the seat, "Yoba, I'm hopeless."

"Don't feel that way," Harvey encouraged, "You have one of the most physically demanding jobs in Pelican Town. It's a miracle that I don't see you here more often."

Noelle chuckled through her anguish, "So, I'm not a bother here? You looked cozy before I came along."

"Not at all," Harvey said, "It is worrying when I get late night visits, but trust me I'm prepared for the worst. Finish the tea and you can sleep here for tonight, if you want. It looks as if the rain isn't slowing down either."

"Fuck the rain," Noelle said with bitterness in her town, "It slowed me down today. I did not want to pull a hundred cauliflower, parsnips and potatoes in the rain so I procrastinated with my chickens and paid the price for it."

"It has been a terrible spring in that regard," Harvey explained, "I haven't seen this much rain in a long time. On the bright side, it has to be great for your crops, hmn?"

"Oh they are doing fantastic," said Noelle, she began to shiver but disregarded it, "Potatoes came out great, I had to toss out a few cauliflower but I'm expecting a huge return tomorrow."

"Get that house upgrade," Harvey encouraged gently, "Your living conditions…. as a doctor, they worry me. It's one of the reasons your grandfather fell ill. He didn't make it through the winter…. I don't want the same thing happening to you."

"Robin's already on it," Noelle said, "Got off the phone with her on the way here. Once Mayor Lewis cashes things out it's fair game."

"Good," Harvey said, "Ready to eat?"

Noelle chuckled, "Chicken soup?"

"It's either that or a frozen meal, I save the soup for patients battling a fever," Harvey explained as his cheeks grew with an embarrassed red flush, "Apologies, I lack a stove."

"You don't have a stove?" Noelle blinked, "How do you cook and warm meals?"

"The microwave," Harvey shrugged, "Not the healthiest, but beggars can't be choosers. One day I dream of owning a full kitchen, but that wouldn't happen in Pelican Town."

"Tell me something we don't have in common," Noelle said as she chuckled at the turn of events. Shitty parents, rough pasts, barely acceptable living conditions. She was curious as to why they hadn't become friends sooner… oh, right. Doctor, and Noelle had a problem with that. But now, after several encounters and their mornings spent catching up over coffee, Harvey was just a guy one could sit down and have a drink with. "Do you like to cook?"

"I do, yes," Harvey answered, "Part of my residency was spent learning how to cook in the cafeteria. Not something I thought I'd be doing on rotation, but it was a nice place to breathe considering where they stationed me next."

"What was that?"

Harvey frowned, "I'll spare the angst this time. Wouldn't want to trigger anything before you fall asleep, hm?"

"I can take it," said Noelle, "You don't have to censor anything around me, Harvey. Whatever you're talking about I'm pretty sure I've lived it."

"Ouch," Harvey winced, "Try a few months in the trauma ward and a shuffle in the emergency room. Not a happy transition in my life."

"I bet," Noelle siad, familiar with both, "How about... Emergency room after a dog attacked my leg, and trauma from the car accident that killed my mom."

Harvey went silent, eyes dulled as a prominent sadness returned, "My condolences."

"Don't be, it was fifteen years ago… I'm…" Noelle said, conscious of the scars around her sides and leg, and the weight of today crashed all at once. She was indeed not alright as the trembling in her hands around the tea increased. She hadn't realized it, but for the first time since moving in, tears began to flow as she stared deeply into the yellow swirl of the glass, warm mug. Soon what held her hands was a means of support from the local doctor. Large gentle, pale hands wrapped around her own brown ones; a stark contrast that struck her deep in the gut.

"You aren't alone anymore, alright?" Harvey reassured, "Just… take a few deep breaths, get some sleep. If anything, you'll feel better in the morning, hm?"

"I…" Noelle stumbled, unable to compute this level of affection. It wasn't romantic, didn't have to be, but this was just rare to find in the city. A doctor actually caring about the wellbeing of his patients? How does he do it without being condescending? This simple act gave Noelle a taste of comfort. Robin was right, Harvey did know what to do.

Noelle chuckled sardonically, biting through her tears, "I barely know you."

"Empathy," Harvey explained as he stood up to give Noelle some space to breathe, "It's part of the oath."

"Rare breed, Doc," Noelle commented as her heart felt full, much different from a crush or deep infatuation. A feeling Noele couldn't really describe. "I… think I'll turn in for the night… I'm done."

"Same for me, it's late," Harvey said, "Same applies, if you need anything let me know."

"A hug would be nice," Noelle admitted as her cheeks flared, "Sorry…. I know you don't like them but…"

"I don't mind," Harvey replied as his ears reddened, "I'm not a stranger to hugging patients. As a matter of fact, human touch is more important than you think. Ever heard of touch starvation?"

"That's a thing?" said Noelle as she arched her brow, sounding like a myth.

"Can lead to nerve damage in extreme cases," Harvey explained, "It's a must, even has an impact on your immune and digestive system… had I known how much the farm impacted your mental health, I probably would not have turned you down. You need support, now more than ever."

After such a long winded explanation, Noelle couldn't resist. With a blanket Harvey wrapped around her shoulders earlier, arms found themselves entangled in a deep embrace. With Harvey being as tall and broad as he was, Noelle couldn't imagine how small she looked against his frame. It was an action that spoke louder than words, and showed a different side of Harvey that not many had the privilege of seeing.

Upon first impressions, Harvey was intimidating at first; a serious, no-nonsense man in the clinic that put his job above all else. This was a taste of a more affectionate Harvey, the doc that just so happened to be a human space heater. Everything about it was warm and secure as Noelle unapologetically rested her head on his chest.

This close she could sense a hint of anxiety, clothes lightly damped with sweat as his heart raced a mile a minute. Noelle thought not much of it, he was a shyman after all. Eventually they did break away to respect the boundaries put in place, but Noelle already felt relaxed and refreshed once they did.

"Better?"

"Oh, I needed that," Noelle said, "Sorry… It's been a while."

"Don't apologize, all is well," Harvey said, also immediately looking a little better. Seriously, when was the last time someone hugged this man? "I'll let you rest, see you in the morning?"

"Same to you," Noelle smiled as she headed towards the collection of beds in the back of the clinic, "I'll see you around, Harvey. Thank you… for hearing me out."

"My pleasure," Harvey smiled, "Sleep well."

That night was the best sleep she had since moving here, what a difference a friend could make in a field of uncertainty.

Chapter 12 – The Egg Festival

Dawn of The Egg Festival.

It was the kind of festival beloved by the villagers of Pelican Town, and as the days came closer Noelle couldn't hear the end of it. Still, she wasn't one to turn her nose up towards them either. Many of her days leading up to the beginning of April were spent painting eggs with Marine and Robin to help with the affair, which eventually led to her purchasing chickens from Marnie herself. Noelle wasn't sure if she'd participate in today's activity since many of the reports described the affair as childish, but she would take the opportunity to get to know her neighbors more. How to present herself this morning was the question however.

By now everyone was used to the idea of the farmer appearing in her dirty work clothes, which typically was a plaid shirt and faded ripped jeans… not because they were the style either. A lot of her clothes had a long history, since she couldn't afford to buy new ones on the regular. They were either homemade, a skill she learned from her grandmother, or bought from the thrift store to save cold. Noelle wasn't stranger to odd stains, rips, tears or weird smells she simply couldn't get rid of, but she knew that having something was better than having nothing at all.

The only nice piece of clothing she had was something she bought from the city, a pale blue cotton dress she reserved for nice events. After combing through long curls and deciding to tie it back this morning, it was then she decided to try on the dress for the first time in a long time. It felt a little snug, hugged her curves and showed off the parts she was the most self conscious about. It irritated her mind so much that the thought of drawing the wrong eyes warmed her cheeks to an embarrassed state.

Noelle wasn't petite, by any means, but she wasn't over weight either. She was just… well muscular, thick, big bone, with the thighs and hips to match. Much of it was a roll of genetics, her family just had a history of being bigger and stronger people. If she was a small cookie standing at five feet even, she had the muscles to make up for it. A deep part of her mind wondered how Harvey would react wearing something a tad bit revealing and vulnerable.

Noelle left her farm house and began walking down the dirt road that led to Pelican Town, by the time she arrived it was 9pm. The town square was more lively than ever, egg decorations color, pretty little dining tables for the eatery, colorful banners cut off areas of the valley so the focus was the town square and soft playful music set the atmosphere. For a small town, it seems that everyone took their festivals seriously. Noelle felt a little out of her element, having really only spoken to Robin and her family, Alex and his family upon her arrival. She scanned the crowd out of curiosity, memorizing everyone's faces, counting everyone mentally as she went along.

She and Alex had locked eyes for a sec, Alex looking away in disinterest before returning to talk to the blonde in front of him. However Noelle was more than happy to wave hello to his grandparents, George and Evelyn. Whether Alex liked it or not, they played an important role in her life and Noelle had nothing but respect for them. Nevertheless, because eye contact was made, they had to end in unwanted conversation to avoid things being awkward.

"Nice dress, nerd," Alex smirked as Noelle passed by. Noelle turned and shot back a glare as she tried to hide the irritated flush behind her cheeks.

"I had a rough week, Alex, not in the mood for sass," Noelle retorted shortly, then her heart kicked wondering if the rumor mill picked up what happened in the office last night.

"Heard you and the Doc are getting close, didn't know you had a type," commented Alex, "Not sure if he'll Simp back, though Mona put him through the ringer."

"Simp?" Noelle blinked, not knowing the meaning of the word.

"Crush back," Alex answered as he arched a brow, "What, been living under a rock or something?"

"Not like I have a computer," Noelle shrugged, "...and no, we're just friends. I just moved in, a little early to start thinking about that, hm?"

"You've been his number one patient throughout the month of March, what else am I supposed to think?" Alex shrugged. "Has he invited you to his apartment yet? What's it like up there? Harvo's a mystery outside of just a doctor."

"Honestly, he likes to keep it that way," Noelle denied, knowing good and well whatever secret conversations she had with Harvey must remain that way. "I know just as much as you do."

"Lies," Alex snarled playfully, "He invited you into his apartment. You know how many folks get that treatment? Not many."

"Ask him if it's a big deal," Noelle replied, Harvey kept his personal life private for a reason, after all and Noelle wasn't about to betray his trust; romantic interest or not.

"For a girl, you're terrible at gossip," Alex said as he rolled his eyes, "Later, you're boring to talk to."

"Sorry for not having a dick," Noelle said sarcastically as Alex wandered over to the other side of Pelican Town, leaving Noelle by her lonesome.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you are having a good time thus far. Dr. Becker, we see you over there!" Mayor Lewis said, pointing over towards the Saloon near a bush where Harvey was caught red handed. His green sports coat blended so well with the background he was easy to miss. Harvey replied with a shy wave while the other villagers gently laughed with him. Noelle and Robin, knowing what they knew, let out a sigh of relief.

"Today marks the 80th annual Egg Festival! Let's give Pelican Town a warm Happy anniversary of its founding," The mayor began, and the crowd erupted into applause. "Without the grandfather of our local farmer, we wouldn't be here today. Let's also give a warm welcome to Noelle Sinclair for helping put Pelican Town back on the map."

Another round of applause was given as Noelle was put on blast, she looked away bashful, meeting eyes with Harvey a clear across the field. He didn't clap, but he had a wide smile that couldn't go unnoticed. She looked away and focused on the crowd.

"With that out the way, let's begin!" Mayor Lewis said, firing off the horn that got the ball rolling. Vincent, Jas, Abigail and Maru were off, hunting for the eggs scattered around town.

Just as Jas scrambled off the slippery tart used for the festival, she fell and hit her knee, right on the cobble stone floor, dropping her basket entirely. Noelle didn't get to see what had happened, but a small "ow" had left her lips. People winced at what happened, but Harvey didn't need an introduction- he just went for it. Right out of his hiding spot and straight into action, rescuing Jas that slipped and busted her knee. Noelle watched as this tall, friendly giant interacted with a small, seven year old girl who was possibly intimidated by him.

Since she was so far away, she couldn't make out what they were saying, but it was clear that Harvey had a calming effect on her; which warmed her heart to see. He was gentle with her, assessing the injury before quickly wrapping it up to help stop the bleeding, and helping her off the ground. Jas's hand hadn't left his as they made their way towards the clinic. He held her tiny hand as she limped across the courtyard, walking past Noelle before using his keys to unlock the clinic.

"Pardon me," Harvey said, since their chair was blocking the way.

Jas and Harvey simply smiled before disappearing into the clinic. Meanwhile, Noelle held the most obvious blush on her face because of what was witnessed. Moments past and the rest of the festival went on without a hitch. It was fun watching everyone collect eggs, mingle with friends and family and listening to the fun country music that set the mood for the festival. Noelle watched as Alex went back for his fourth plate of food, despite it being thin pickings this year.

"You better eat all that, asshole!" Noelle called out playfully, earning a laugh from Robin as Alex responded by giving the young farmer the bird from the distance. The blond chick, at which Noelle assumed was his new girlfriend, stuck her tongue out at her.

"You know, if it wasn't for those horrendous clothes, you actually might be cute," the blond retorted using a tone that came straight out of a high school drama flick. Noelle simply shrugged. What she hadn't expected was for Alex to shoot a glare at her, which caused the platinum blond to furro and arch a brow.

"Stop, that idiot is a friend," Alex said with a flat tone, "We go way back."

"Oh," the blond chick said, turning her head towards the young farmer, "Sorry, but- if you wanna check out any of my fashion magazines, come on over. Hint; for your skin color you'll want warmer colors. By the way, my name is Haley."

"Uh- thanks?" Noelle said, arching a brow, they seemed like a perfect match. "...a friend?"

"Don't take that personally," Alex warned, "I'm the only one who gets to pick on you, capiche?"

"Oh, fantastic, the brother I never wanted," Noelle said in an exaggerated tone, "No, seriously, thought you hated me. I thought we hated each other."

"Still correct jerkwad," Alex admitted, "But… still the only person I'd consider a friend in this hell hole. No one else is interesting to talk to."

"Have you tried?" Noelle said arched a brow while Alex only shrugged.

"Not gonna," Alex said, "I'm trying to leave this place, not thrive. I can't tell you how bad I want out, Farmer. I'm trying to become a coach and you can't have that in a town where the Mayor refuses to put in a football field. It's tragic."

"What does the mayor do all day in that big house of his?" Noelle questioned, "He tried to sell me out the other day, talking about diversity and some shit."

"Oh, the mayor is an ass," Alex growled, "Only cares about the festivals, everything else, bleh."

"I don't blame you for leaving," said Noelle, "How long does this festival last, I don't think I wanna hang out anymore."

"It's over now," Alex shrugged, "Go home if you want. You got a hella lot of land to manage so I'm sure the villagers won't say anything. If they do, I'll punch 'em."

"You're serious about that aren't you?" Noelle arched her brow.

"Like I said, I'm the only one that gets to pick on you," Alex admitted, "Frienmies, right?"

"I guess," Noelle shrugged, friendship with Harvey and an unexplained rivalry with Alex seemed legitimate.

"Later nerd," said Alex as he finally left, giving hNoelle a pat on the shoulder before leaving to devour the eggs at the table. Once he left, she made eye contact with Harvey who was holding a cup of wine near the table of food. After a while, he waved and Noelle had to wave back.

"Hello," Harvey said nervously.

"Hi," Noelle replied, "You can take a seat, I don't mind. You must be tired after what happened."

"It's alright," Harvey said with a reassuring smile, "Not so much of a fun fact, sitting is actually the worst thing you can do for your body. It can lead to other chronic illnesses such as heart disease- My apologies you aren't here for a medical lecture."

"Nah, not a problem. If I'm gonna be your friend, that's just something I'm gonna have to get used to," Noelle explained with a shrug. "I can't change who you are as a person. Hell, you probably get tired of hearing me ramble on about the farm, so we're even."

"Sorry, it's just- when you spend eleven years studying a subject, that's the only topic your brain has the headspace for," Harvey said looking a little disappointed with himself. "I think I'm only noteworthy because I'm the only doctor in town, otherwise I'm not really that interesting."

"That's the first thing I've noticed about you, actually," said Noelle, "The type of fellow that's married to his job. Nothing wrong with that, it's refreshing to see."

"It's also come to haunt me later," said Harvey, "I've lost a lot of friendships because I didn't have the time to maintain them. I wasn't much of a party go-er, and usually kept to myself. Because of this I've earned several interesting nicknames growing up from "He must be a serial killer," to "Who?"

"Guilty," Noelle admitte, "Before the hand incident, I thought you were a creep and avoided you. Not everyday I see a doctor working on his own. He's usually accompanied by a team of people in an office somewhere."

"I don't blame you," Harvey said with a shrug, "I blame the movies, the creepy or perverted doctor trope doesn't sit well with me. I am under oath to treat everyone who walks in my clinic seeking treatment with respect; no matter what."

"What's your beef with Pam?" Noelle asked curiously, tilting her head, "I heard an argument from the other room while recovering. I hope everythings alright."

"That falls under doctor-patient confidentiality laws, so I can't tell you." Harvey said with a serious tone of voice, "But, I have accepted the fact that not everyone's going to get along with you, despite how patient and kind you are. At the end of the day, if I know I've done my best and haven't brought harm to anyone, then I can rest easy."

"You were really respectful towards her," said Noelle, "Pam called you some really nasty things and you remained cordial. Could never be me, I'm a bit of a hot head.

Harvey grinned, with a small chuckle at that, "You know that much is true."

Noelle smirked back, "You know, I'm not sure to take offense to that. But that aside I was being a jerk with you and you don't deserve any of that. I'm gonna have to apologize for my recent behavior."

"I'm actually really proud of you for turning around," Harvey said looking rather pleased, "Knowing that I have your trust, makes my job easier."

"What happens in the clinic stays in the clinic," Noelle said with a smile, "Your secrets are safe with me. However, I do know one thing. You say that Maru's really important to you, but she doesn't even know about your upbringing?"

"She doesn't know the details," said Harvey with a shrug, "But about my past, she figured it out herself."

"How did that come forth?" Noelle questions, sounding intrigued.

"Well, what tipped her off was the lack of family pictures I have in the clinic," Harvey began with a pensive expression, "She's right, had I had a history, I would've kept a picture or two somewhere, assuming the relationship is positive. Then one day she asked what my middle name was out of innocent curiosity. I explained to her that I didn't have one, and the rest was history."

"I know they aren't required," said Noelle, "But at the same time I haven't come across many people who lacked one either. That would've tipped me off as well, but you told it to me personally. I feel honored that you find me trustworthy enough to open up to."

"Something about you just- clicks with me," Harvey said, who started fiddling with his fingers, "Yesterday I realized- wow, I just invited a complete stranger into my home and told them my life's story. I open my living space to just anyone."

"Maru hasn't even been up there?" Noelle asked, both amused and a little shocked.

"Nope," Harvey answered plainly, "Makes you think, hm?

"Yeah," Noelle answered, almost a little coy which earned a blush from Harvey.

Silence.

"Take a seat, you look tired," Noelle said as she realized that Harvey's face had turned pale.

"You know I'm feeling a little light headed, that might we wize," Harvey said, taking a seat in front of her, "Everything in moderation."

Silence again, nothing more than the atmosphere of the festival settling between them. AFter several moments, Harvey appeared to relax in his seat as their eyes locked, taking in the sight of the other. Noelle blushed and looked away as she realized he was once again staring at her.

"You look great today," Harvey said quietly, which caught Noelle off guard, causing her to squirm in her seat.

"Thanks," Noelle said quietly, fighting back a giggle. To provide somewhat of a barrier, Noelle looked around the town, noticing people glancing over their shoulders to take a look at Noelle and Harvey. Harvey by now was rolling his fingers on the desk, a nervous tick of his. "Same to you, I like how you dress."

Harvey flinched, looking away from her, focusing his gaze on the green clothed table.

"Anywhoo," said Harvey obviously deflecting from the flirt, "I'm going to steal some wine before it's gone. Care to come with?"

"Never tried wine before either," said Noelle, "And honestly I'm a little weary of the effects. For now, I don't drink."

"Understandable," Harvey said with a nod, "I allowed myself to get completely wasted during my freshman year of college after being peer pressured into doing it. That was once and never again."

Noelle smirked, "Now I kinda wanna know what tipsy Harvey looks like."

Harvey shook his head out of shame, "Being the only doctor for miles, that would be incredibly irresponsible of me. I limit myself to one glass of wine and call it a day, and that's only during festivals where it's offered. I'm not a fan of the effects either. I constantly have to remind myself that I'm never truly off duty. Just like what happened with Jas, I have to be ready to act whenever possible, even when it's past midnight. I have to be ready. "

"I can't imagine the pressure," Noelle sympathized, "Do you have any ways to unwind? Now I'm just worried you'll stroke out one day."

"I listen to jazz, do puzzles and work on model airplanes in the evenings to shift my brain into neutral before bed," Harvey explained, "On Saturdays, I spend time in the library to change up the scenery and wind down in front of the fountain most sundays. I do enjoy the sound of rushing water, it's calming to me. Anyway, all this to say that I'm pretty good at managing my stress levels whenever possible. The only thing I haven't figured out is my social life, but it'll get there, someday."

"That's good to hear," Noelle said with a smile, "Maybe I should find a new hobby so my life isn't just farming. Anywho don't let me keep you. I was told that the spread is limited this year. It was nice talking with you, Harvey."

"Glad to see you're doing well, Noelle," Harvey said with a bright expression, waving goodbye to his friend from across the table.

She could learn a thing or two for him.

Chapter 13 – Bats or Mushrooms

Festival days turned out to be exhausting, Noelle learned getting up the next morning. Noelle didn't realize she wouldn't be returning home until ten pm due to socializing and enjoying the festivities, now she had a full field of farm work that needed tending to as always. It was a particular warm day in the valley, and Noelle assumed things would grow warmer as summer time rolled around.

She worried about the state of her farm, how crops would fare, thought of ways she could handle the weeds that choked out her crops on occasion, but she would deal with that later. For now, Noelle tended to a field of parsnips and potatoes that needed pulling before May. With the profits she gathered, fifteen thousand gold to be percist, Noelle thought it was time to finally upgrade the house before the end of the season.

Noelle caught wind of Demetrius, who she learned was the husband of her neighbor Robin, was crazy about nature and the life that blossomed on the farm. He knew a great deal about the biology of plant life and even aided her grandfather out of some sticky situations whenever the soil came in contact. There was a small little indent of a cave that lingered on her farm, and Noelle often wondered what to do with it.

Sure, it was covered with bugs and spiders, but that did not bother her. If anything, she could lease the property to Demtrius whenever he wanted to experiment with something dangerous. Today was a little spice, heading up the mountains to talk to Robin about a house upgrade, which would be lovely. After a long day of socializing with all the members in town, some one on one talk with a few select members would be alright.

"Morning, Nelly!" Robin called as Noelle entered the cabin, "Ready for that upgrade?"

"Yeah, I need to move out. It's summer and I want a nice, queen size bed to sleep in at the end of the day," Noelle said with a wide smile as Robin patted her back.

"I knew you could do it," Robin chimed, "We were all getting worried about ya. You don't have a kitchen, a bathroom, not even a bedroom to rest your head. I can reassure you this next upgrade comes with all of that."

"Tryin' to be a sales pitch?" Noelle chuckled, "It's alright, honestly, I'll take everything. I'm done living in a crack den."

"Excellent, ten thousand gold. I promise you'll have a master and two baths before the end of the season, don't worry about anything else, except for a place to stay," Robin said, "By the way, my husband wanted to talk to you about something. Bats and Mushrooms? I didn't understand half of it."

"Demetrius?" Noelle said, "Yeah, I've been meaning to talk to him but haven't had the time. I'll check in."

"He's in the kitchen," Robin smiled, "Ohh, I must ask. How. are you and Harvey?"

"Friends," Noelle asked simply, "I'm alright with that, I don't have the headspace for anything more. It's too much."

"That's a fantastic mindset to have, Nelly. It'll save you some grief," Robin encouraged warmly, "Harvey himself has been through the ringer, so that might be best for both of you."

"I'm not worried about it," Noelle shrugged, "Harvey's his own person, he'll come around. If not, that's equally as valid. Sometimes a friendship is all it needs to be."

"He could use a few," Robin nodded knowingly, "Right now he just has my daughter, but that's more of a father-daughter bond going on. Harvey… hasn't been okay since he lost Mona. It would be smart to keep everyone at arm's length."

"Was it that bad?" Noelle questioned, "He won't tell me."

"Legally he can't," Robin sighed, "But I do know this, his heart is just...fragile. Nothing wrong with that, but he does not take death lightly. Rumor has it; the first time he lost a patient in a hospital, the man broke down in tears. The doc, intimidating at first glance but soft on the inside. Personally I wonder if he bit off more than what he could chew."

"He keeps pressing on," Noelle said, impressed, "I would've quit after that. What keeps him going? Even that answer was vague."

"Money?" Robin arched a brow, "Doctor's are paid quite well for the amount of work they do. Wouldn't be surprised if Harvey was well off before coming here… he was able to pay off his business out of pocket."

"Oooh, secretly rich, spicy," Noelle joked, knowing it was probably wrong to gossip behind his back, but in the same breath, she knew Robin had connections through Maru, so how much of this was true was always a possibility. Not that Noelle had a preference either way, as long as they were decent. Robin laughed at that.

"Wouldn't that be a plot twist?" Robin chimed, "Again, my husband is outside. Do you have a place to stay?"

"I'll check out if Evelyn has that old couch," Noelle offered, "Otherwise I'm not sure. I'm tired of sleeping in the clinic as a matter of fact, the rumor mill has already gotten started."

"That's Harvey for ya," Robin admitted, "The man could breathe incorrectly and that'll get the ball rolling. Married to the job, doesn't have a life outside of it."

"Poor fella," Noele said, "Well, I'll get going. Don't break yourself, Robin!"

"Same to you!" Robin said as Noelle dropped off the gold and went to go find Demetrius.

It wasn't a long walk towards the River stream where Robin said Demetrius usually hung out. Noelle did take the time to appreciate the local wildlife and the nature surrounding their little home; trees rustling in the background, the rushing rivers and waterfalls, the smell of Sebastian smoking yet another cigarette that was going to give Harvey a heart attack later, and Maru fixing her telescope outside. Soon she came upon Demetrus studying the local wildlife. Noelle smiled and waved at him, having not talked to Demetrus for quite a while, he seemed like a nice person to know.

"Noelle, hey, good to see you!" said Demetrius, pointing at her with his pen.

Noelle replied with a polite wave, "Good to see you, Demetrius, how is it?"

"It's going well, I've been meaning to ask permission to start a project on your land, if you don't mind," Demetrius asked with a smile, "I want to study how fruit and mushrooms fare in a controlled environment. The cave on your farm is perfect for it. I used to have the permission with your grandfather, but since Bluebell has a new owner now, I'd like to extend the same courtesy."

"Oh, of course," Noelle answered, "Fresh fruit and mushrooms for me to eat and cook with later sounds like a fair deal. What a way to bring in the new kitchen."

"You're getting an upgrade? Congrats!" Demetrius cheered, "Your grandfather loved that house, he'd be proud to see the end result. You've made great progress for a month!"

"Not without effort," Noelle said, remembering the blood, sweat and tears that went into the farm, "It's… not the "fix all your problems" solution your life has that I thought it would, if anything it's worse. I haven't slept well since I moved here, I don't eat like I used to, and I have hurt myself so many times had I gone to the clinic, Harvey would be rich… sorry, I don't mean to dump that on you."

"Farming is difficult," Demetrius sympathized, "You went from a cozy corporate job to a farm, it's not meant to be a smooth transition. In a few months your body should get used to it."

"My stamina is improving," Noelle answered, "Either that I've just gone insane and said fuck my mental health."

"A new life change will do that to you," Demetrius said, "How are you faring, in Pelican Town overall?"

"Decent," Noelle shrugged, "I'm able to talk to you, Harvey and Robin fairly well, so no harm no foul."

"That's good," Demetrius nodded knowingly, "Helps that your grandfather was the one that pioneered the place. Otherwise, I'm sure we'd be seeing a different story."

"How did Mayor Lewis happen?" Noelle arched a brow, Demetrius shrugged.

"I don't think too hard about it," Demetrus answered plainly. "He's been the mayor for decades and no one will run against him. It's weird… but.. It's also war time so that might have something to do with it."

"Gotoro Empire, hm?" Noelle said, "Yeah that's… kicking our ass. We're losing people by the numbers, hm?"

"Pelican Town's not safe from it either," Demetrius added on, "I don't mean to bog you down with politics. I'm sure you have a busy day ahead. Don't mind me-"

"It's alright," Noelle smiled, "Later Demetrius, it was nice talking to you."

"Later," Demetruis smiled as Noelle walked away, trying to figure out what to do next.

She was learning that life in Pelican Town was slow and mundane. Had this been the city, three months would flow by and no one would know. It was as if Pelican Town had a different pulse to the outside world. It was nice, simple, sometimes not alot went on in a small village, and perhaps that was the lesson her grandfather was trying to teach. The simple domestic life.

Noelle never saw herself as the domestic type, more or less because her brain was on survival mode. She didn't have the headspace to think about a date or settling down with someone, finding a career to put food on the table was the most important. What wound up happening was working her way up from Joja Mart and landing a small corporate job as a Mail Clerk. She wasn't fired, she was let go because the economy was in the gutter. She was able to pay her rent only a few times before finally making the move, now she was here in a different culture on the other side of the Gem Sea.

Considering this, Noelle wasn't sure what started the small burst of infatuation upon meeting the Doc. It was such a strange encounter, only medical attention brought her there. Was it how he carried himself? How he dressed? His looks? Was he her type? Noelle wasn't sure. Seeing how they couldn't get past small talk and Harvey had yet to make any advances, it was possible there was nothing there and a friendship it must be. Again, Noelle was alright with that. She had the farm, he had his job, and Noelle wasn't about to ruin either of those. If Harvey wanted to keep people at arms length, then so be it.

It was better this way.

Chapter 14 – The Adventures Guild

Noelle woke up bright and early the next day to the television set blaring in the background and Robin hammering the wood together for the next house upgrade. In the span of a couple days, she already had the outline of a kitchen, a hallway, and a cut out for where the first bathroom was going to go. It was impressive to see how many skills this woman had to pull it off; plumbing, electric, carpentry, no wonder Maru turned out the way that she did.

"Where did you learn this Robin?" Noelle asked curiously as she looked at the work in an indigo nightgown. She had just woken up and barely got dressed, so one eye squinted while the other wobbled and the world around her blurred and mushed together. Noelle knew she was practically unpresentable but the other side of her didn't care. "Two day's and you already have what looks like a house built."

"It's a trade," Robin beamed with pride, "Learned it from my grandparents. My grandfather was a plummer, my grandmother was an electrician and my uncle was a carpenter. The only folks that didn't approve were my parents, they wanted something more femanine out of me."

"Gross," Noelle chuckled and snaralled, expecting to get an agreement out of Robin but she shook her head.

"Don't look down on femanine qualities, Nelly, they have their place," Robin warned, "Some girls want to grow up and get married while others want to run a business, both equally valid… just like you. You want to run your own farm, and I bet a boyfriend is probably the last thing on your mind right now, correct?"

"I want a whole damn empire before settling down," Noelle instructed firmly, "Cows, chickens, artisan goods, gold medals from the fair, all of it."

"You got the drive, it's possible," Robin beamed once more, "Hey, nothing wrong with being strong and having a yin to your yang, that's why Demetrius and I work out."

"How did y'all meet?" Noelle asked curiously.

"Now that's a long story," Robin laughed, "Way back in the city, bumped into him getting ready to leave for Pelican Town. We didn't meet again until months later and well the rest was history. Crazy how that happens right? Turns out he and Harvey knew each other."

"Small world," Noelle said, "What, same college?"

"Same middle school," Robin winked, "The branched off after that, and boy did the Doc change. Demetri was only able to recognize Harvey because of his love for…"

"Love for what?" Noelle said as Robin trailed off, as if she said too much. Robin shook her head.

"Harvey will tell you when he's comfortable," Robin said, "Sorry, the man is territorial and private of his personal life can't tell you much… let's just say Doctor wasn't his first choice and I'll leave it at that… anyway, got any recommendations for your new home?"

"Blue everything," Noelle answered with an excited smile, "First house I ever owned, that I don't have to pay bills for because it's kinda off the grid so I'm gonna make it mine."

"It is off the grid," Robin confirmed, "You won't have power, but you will have access to a wide array of floor lights and candles at your disposal. You're going to have a cozy place, Nelly."

"Really old fashioned here, hmn?" Noelle said as she scratched her hair.

"Oh, we're stuck in the seventies," Robin shrugged as she climbed off the latter for a bit, "Pelican Town is behind because it's brand new and built from the ground up. Mayor won't bother to modernize, but will have a manner of his own. It's insane."

"Fuck the mayor," said, "Anywho, I'm going to The Adventure's Guild, something about initiation?"

"Oh, your grandfather would be proud," Robin said with an excited smile, "Seeing how you fared in the wilderness, you would do excellent in the minds and venturing with Marlon. He could use someone as tough as you!"

"Thanks Robin," Noelle said, "Gotta go, thanks for your help."

"See you later, Nelly!"

After a long day of working on the farm and tending to her animals, Noelle thought it was time to head up to the mountains for a break. Since he's been living on the farm for three months now, Noelle received a letter in the mail from someone working in the Adventurer's Guild.

Once moving to Pelican Town and getting to know the residents, Noelle thought long and hard what her list of hobbies were going to be. She figured that joining the adventures guild would be enough to spice up a mundane country life. Soon she passed the mountain range and through the waterfall, greeting Marlon who lived alone in a cabin near Robin and Demtrius's household. She was greeted with a sarm smile and eager for adventure.

"Miss Noelle, welcome," He said calmly, opening the door with his left arm, the other tucked away underneath his cape. There was something so ancient and medieval about this place that The Adventurer's Guild felt perfect for a fantasy setting. "I see you've received my letter. Ready for the inauguration?"

"If It means I don't have to sacrifice any animal blood, or something," Noelle joked, then quickly grew embarrassed as if it might've been poor form for a first impression. No, this wasn't a cult… was it? "Charming place, I can see why my grandad was into it. Really nice."

"It's in your blood, that's why you feel the pull," the man went on, "My name's Marlon by the way. Since we lack proper policemen, I take it upon myself to protect the valley from creatures in the mines to hooligans in the forest. Live here, everyone's gotta learn how to protect their own. In addition it keeps a sense of tradition. Welcome to the Valley Farmer."

Noelle smiled, thanking Marlon as she entered the tiny cabin on the mountain side. Stepping inside she could see the guild decked out with weapons of all sorts, swords, daggers, even small pistols and bows and arrows. In the front of her she could see a table decked out with swords of all sizes, so sharp Noelle could feel their impact looking at them. Feeling a little out of her comfort zone, Noelle stood still, watching Marlon travel behind his desk. In the corner of her mind, she could see another man fast asleep in a rocking chair, unbothered and uncaring to the world around him.

"Farmer Noelle," Marlon said by clearing his throat, "By taking this pledge you'll be following in your grandfather's footsteps and protecting the valley from harm. Will you swear to never give up, even in the faces of evil?"

"Uh-" Noelle stammered, taken off guard by how serious everything appeared. Nevertheless she decided to go along with it. "Sure!"

Marlon leaned in, peering at her with a stern look. Noelle watched anxiously as he pulled down a wooden practice sword from the wall and began walking from out behind the counter. In one swift movement, as if to scare Noelle, the sword was pointed at her neck, making her flinch as she saw her life flash before her eyes. He laughed, straightening up, pointing the sword at his feet.

"This isn't a game Noelle," He said with a solemn tone, "Many have lost their lives in battle protecting the valley from what creeps in the darkness. On the surface, things are peaceful. The monsters you will face are left over from harsh, long, wars of magic and wizardry, yearning for revenge after a fall from grace. They will try and take your life if you aren't prepared. It'll take weeks of training and dedication before I allow you into the mines, you're either in or you're out. So, are you up to the challenge?"

"Yes," Noelle said, now understanding why this was taken so seriously, "I want to make my grandad proud, even in death."

Marlon once again smiled, "Follow me to the caves, we'll get started by teaching you the basics," he began walking from behind the counter and handed Noelle the wooden sword. She was thrown off guard by how heavy it presented itself. Marlon walked over and patted her on the shoulder, she flinched, he sniggered.

"You'll toughen up," Marlon said, "A couple sessions with me you'll forget whatever ails you."

"How about I just don't like being touched on the shoulders?" Noelle said with a hint of sass in her voice.

"That tells me you lived a hard life," Marlon observed, "Who hurt you?"

Noelle recoiled from Marlon, outright disgusted at such a personal question outright. Harvey didn't even know the answer to that one. Of course appearing in The Adventurer's Guild with a black eye didn't help, but Noelle did walk around like she carried the world on her shoulder. It was in her posture, head down, shoulders hunched, feet heavy, a stark contrast to the man she hoped to start a romance with someday. But the world didn't need to know her business, especially not a stranger who lived alone on the side of the mountain.

"Rhetorical," He said, taking a hint with her silence, "Miss Noelle, follow me. Tale the sword with you, it'll help you build up your strength."

"Alright," Noelle said, dragging the weapon behind her, already having second thoughts about joining the adventure guild. Farming was one thing, but slaying monsters? Exploring the depths of the mines? Getting more hurt? Was that for her? Entering the mines everything looked ancient. A broken down elevator shaft faced Noelle. Adjacent to her was a wiggly old ladder burrowing deep into the ground. Even from the surface she could hear the moans and groans of monsters from the mines below. Noelle ducked as a swarm of bats flew over the both of them, using her arm as a shield to block their attacks. They haven't even begun the session yet and Noelle was beginning to regret it.

"Let's get started," Marlon said, pulling a sword out with one hand, also wooden. "We will start with the basics and then graduate as you get stronger. After a month or so I'll let you explore the mines- with a partner of course. Then you can start looking for ore on your own. This is something we'll have to take slow, for the doctor's sake. First and foremost the ground rules- never go into the mines without proper food, drink and medical supplies. Food will give you energy, mining will burn more calories than a jog will ever do so it's best to have something you can get on the go. Drinking plenty of water will keep you hydrated, the lower you go the hotter it gets. Medical supplies are self explanatory. In the event you are sliced, poisoned or in a situation where me or Dr. Harvey can't get to you, you'll need to know how to dress your own wounds if able. Any questions?"

"Why does this sound like the Hunger Games?" Noelle commented, only half joking. Something about living in The Firngil Republic did feel like a dystopian future; joja mart taking over everything, Mayor Lewis being the Mayor for as long as he has been, Harvey being the only doctor available for miles until Castle Village or Grampleton, her country being at war with another, monsters lurking in the darkness, the valley being the last bastion of nature outside of the city, and she felt like the list went on. All that was left was people being divided into some weird factions and botta bing botta boom, a weird dystopian novel with the romance being the subplot. Someone called Elliotte- he could make millions of this one.

"There's some truth to everything, is there?" Marlon laughed a bit, "Jokes aside, let's refocus. First things first you are not holding that sword correctly. Are you right or left handed?"

"Ambidextrous," Noelle answered, "However, predominantly left handed."

"That's pretty neat, left handed swordsmen, or swordswomen in your case are quite rare," Marlon said with a nod as he put a hand on his chin, "Therefore I'll have to teach you everything I know but in reverse. Now, apply your dominant hand on the handle with your non-dominant underneath- that's good! Properly handling a weapon is important for preventing further injuries. Now- let me teach you how to strike."

The rest of Noelle's morning went as such, Marlon teaching her the basic's in the heat of the mines, repeating the same movements over and over again until satisfactory. It wasn't until a couple hours into the session Noelle grew used to holding the weapon, but not without sacrifice. Her thumbs and fingers were callused over and blistered, and the springtime heat forced her to sweat through three pairs of clothing. But before 3pm Noelle learned how to successfully strike and perry. It wasn't until Noelle was completely out of breath that Marlon was satisfied enough to end the session.

"Very good," Marlon said with a nod, "Take a break at the Saloon, you've earned it. I hope to see you three times a week. Practice makes perfect."

"Sounds good," Noelle said breathlessly, already feeling a little better due to the work out that was given. Marlon was right, she had a lot of pent up anger she developed over the years, from her mother to how she was tired of everything going wrong in her life. Perhaps allowing herself to get a little sweaty and disheveled would distract her from everything else. Most importantly, now she had a new hobby, and learning the old traditions of the valley would help her fit right in.

The first floor of the mines intrigued Noelle the most, more or less because there wasn't a ladder immediately hooking the next floor. With Marlon teaching her how to navigate the mines and properly swing her pick, they eventually found the old ladder that continued the way down.

"What happened here?" Noelle asked in the darkness, wondering why this entrance was shut off.

"Pelican Town used to be an old mining town, but had to be shut down by the Firngil Republic for safety reasons," Marlon explained, "Nevertheless, because this mine in particular is historical, it was left untouched. Which is good, you can find rich ore and sometimes precious stones to cash in to Clint. You can make your own jewelry or get the extra gold. The Blacksmith doesn't give himself enough credit, he's talented with what he does."

"Oh, we're breaking the law," Noelle said as she felt an adrenaline rush through her spine, Marlon chuckled.

"You have a thirst for danger, don't you?" Marlon said, "I tried to convince Harvey to join, his medical knowledge would be useful on the field, but that man is a saint. He won't hurt anyone."

"Pacifist?" Noelle questioned, would be fitting because well, doctors.

"Textbook Pacifist," said Marlon, "However, I may have spooked him during our first training session back when he first moved in, so there's something. Won't even hurt those who hurt him."

"Well, make sense because they'll be his patient soon after," Noelle added on, "Let's move on, I wanna know what's down here."

"Mostly slimes and bats," Marlon said, "Careful with the Slimes, the gel they ooze is quite poisonous. Your skin will itch for weeks. It's best to battle them from a distance."

"Best course of action?"

"Concealed weaponry?" Marlon suggested casually but it made Noelle flinch.

"Oh no."

"It's a thought, the range is near Grampleton Fields if you get bored," Marlon said, "There's no police on this side of the Gem Sea, so it's good to know how to protect your own."

"I'm not fond of violence either," Noelle said, knowing she'd be anxious around a concealed weapon, so it would be better not to handle one.

"Suit yourself." Marlon plainly shrugged, "Now... on to floor five…"

The rest of the day continued on in the same pattern, Marlon guiding Noelle through the mines until later in the day. It was a nice change of pace from everyday farming, and something she could do on the side for extra cash. Nothing wrong with exploring the unknown, and she hoped these lessons may come in handy later. Stardew Valley proved to be a home of secrets and Noelle couldn't wait to discover all of them.

Chapter 15 – A Quibble at the Dinner Table

It was about mid-day when Noelle finished her chores on the farm, sweaty and covered in dirt with her hair wild and free. She thought about showering before entering town but decided against it; the warm weather simply would've forced her to take another later, and she was running low on laundry. Even though she didn't have much in the city, there were plenty of things she learned not to take for granted after moving to the valley.

The valley was rich with resources; Noelle could find mushrooms and cave carrots all over the place in the spring. Thanks to a man named Willy, who invited her on a fishing trip, her diet consisted of whatever fish she caught from the lake that day with foragables. She found herself eating far less than what she consumed in the city, her three meals a day reduced to one or two. She'd have a quick field snack in the morning to get her started, spend the day hunting, and eat dinner at five.

Paying attention to her grandfather growing up made all the difference in adjusting to the valley at least until she could afford a proper kitchen and bathroom upgrade. Though today was a little different. Noelle was invited to eat dinner with the Muller's and Noelle couldn't turn it down. She missed Evelyn's cooking and baking skills even though Noelle wasn't her own, she made sure she was fed. She could take a break playing hunter-gatherer and catch up with the family that helped raise her. After all, it would be nice to catch up over some lost childhood memories, that is if Alex decided to behave himself for once.

Shaking off as much dirt as possible and tied her hair back into a puffy, frizzy ponytail, Noelle made her way into town. It was nice to unwind a bit after being interrogated about her love life thoughts of Harvey fleeting right after Marnie left- that's how she knew they weren't real. She hardly felt a thing walking past the clinic, not even butterflies. Zoning out entirely, Noelle focused on her walk, taking a deep breath when she approved of the Mullner household- Alex in his typical spot holding a football. He looked up at her in disgust.

"You look like shit," Alex began giving her crap like normal. Noelle brushed it off, hardly phased; at the end of the day this was the equivalent of average friendly banter.

"You put so much gel in your hair it's screaming," Noelle shot back feeling a little victorious her jabs were getting more and more creative the older she got.

"Bet you want to touch it," Alex smirked, Noelle's face contorted in disgust.

"Ew… no," Noelle said, shaking her head. She wasn't sure what's worse; crushing on a doctor or touching Alex's greasy hair that probably had lice in it.

"Whatever, freak," he replied nonchalantly, "Grandad's with a house call, dinner should be ready soon once they're finished."

House call? That could only mean…. "Well, fuck me."

"Invitation?" Alex jabbed; Noelle glared. If he wasn't three times her own strength, she'd slap him for even suggesting. Hard.

"Not even if you were the last guy on earth," Noelle retorted, Alex only laughed.

"Easy their farmer, just messing with you," Alex said, "Bet you're here for dinner, it's going to be a full table with you and the doc over."

"Oh, he's here?" Noelle asked as she tilted her head, Alex replied with a nod.

"Yup, grandad can't move so the doc meets him halfway, grandmas in the kitchen if you're curious."

"Neat," Noelle said, "So what do I just hang out here or waltz in?"

"I wouldn't," Alex advised, "Barge into an appointment, you get grump stash…. Unless you're into that thing."

"Not in the mood to be yelled at by my doctor," Noelle joked, "Maybe I'll just sneak in the back. I don't want to disrupt anything."

"Good luck, I'm heading to the beach," Alex said as he tossed his football in the air and left the area. Noelle turned her heels and headed towards the back door that led to the Kitchen as Evelyn beamed a wide and warm smile.

"Noelle, my dear!" Evelyn chimed with a wide smile, greeting the young farmer with a large bear hug, "I'm just getting dinner started, vegetarian spread of course. Would you care to join?"

"Sure, need help?" Noelle smiled back.

"Could you wash the dishes while we're at it?" Evelyn smiled, "Poor Harvey, he's been in a debate with George for the last hour. He's not the best patient."

"Oof," Noelle winced, "Is George alright?"

"I worry for him," Evelyn admitted, "He hasn't been the best recently, Harvey's been giving him tips and George will ignore him. Must be a pain."

"Yeah bet," Noelle for the most part, had no sympathy for doctors. They signed up for this job, thus they knew what they were getting into. "I'm not fond of them either."

"Oh?" Evelyn blinked, "Why's that?"

"Dog attacked a few years back, got a nasty scar because of it," Noelle answered bluntly, "they did me dirty; the work was so sloppy that the wound even got infected and I had to go back. Thankfully the last doctor I saw corrected the issue, but that part of my leg never healed correctly. They are entitled assholes with a thirst for control, not my type."

"I'm sorry to hear that sweetheart," Evelyn sympathized, "Not everyone likes going to the doctor, but I'm sure if Harvey was yours, he'd take his time. The man is quite passionate about his work, nevertheless it's hard to get good help these days… but enough about Harvey. Would you like to tell me about your day? You seem exhausted."

"It's been a long day," Noelle said as she washed the final load of pots and pans in the kitchen sink, "Took care of some chickens and had to pull the last spring harvest."

"Oh, you have barn animals now?" Evelyn smiled with pride, "That's fantastic, for two months you've made great progress! See, that's what I've adored about the Sinclair's. You all are strong, chasing what you want despite the odds put up against you. I see so much of your grandfather in you Noelle, it's like he never left. Bless him."

Evelyn beamed, putting a plate of food in front of a Noelle, at which her stomach grumbled. Everyone pretty much had the same thing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a bread roll. All matched except one plate, only lacking the fried chicken.

"I miss him," Noelle said, feeling her heart slow down a bit as she frowned a bit, "He didn't have to suffer like that."

"You must," Evelyn sympathized, "He lived a long fulfilling life. Without him, Pelican Town wouldn't have had such a strong start. Pneumonia, such a nasty thing. Harvey did his best, but at his ripe old age, you can only do so much."

"Harvey treated my grandfather?" Noelle asked, not quite sure why she sounded so surprised. In a small town, Harvey bumping into a small glimpse of her past seemed distinctly probable.

"Yes dear, the doc outdid himself," Evelyn said with a nod, "There were days I visited the farm and you couldn't even tell that Richard was ill. At the end of the day, maybe it was his kindness that did the best. Giving people company and striking up a conversation or two can go a long way."

"Small world," Noelle commented as Alex came back into the kitchen with a large bottle of Gatorade, plopping it down on the kitchen table.

"You worry me when all you do is drink that stuff, honey," Evelyn said, eyeing the drink down as if it was a snake ready to bite, "I was told that it's not the most effective, can even cause kidney stones if you're not careful."

"Meh," Alex said with a shrug, "I'm active enough, I've earned it. Besides, water is gross."

"The water got me sick," Noelle winced, "I hate to admit, but don't blame him he's right."

"Did we just agree on something?" Alex chuckled with a sardonic tone as Noelle glared at him.

"Don't let that go to your head," Noelle said as she rolled her neck.

"Any who, his appointment will be ending soon, and Dr. Harvey should be joining us this evening. Behave, children. We have a guest," Evelyn warned as she took her own seat.

"Fantastic," Noelle thought out loud, her tone coming out cold and sarcastic earning yet another smirk from Alex. Evelyn tilted her head.

"What's wrong, dear? I thought you and Dr. Harvey were friends, based on what I've seen," Evelyn asked out of concern, taking a seat across from her grandson.

"Oh," Noelle said, realizing she might have given the wrong impression, "We're getting there, it's just- complicated."

Evelyn looked amused, "Well, I hope you two work it out. It'll be nice to see the doctor dancing with someone new this year."

Noelle blushed furiously, "I mean- not that kinda complicated. He's just- shy."

"That much is true," Evelyn agreed with a gentle nod, "What you see in the other room is a front. His social anxiety gets in the way of him mingling- the only reason he and Mona met was because of Maru's introduction. Nevertheless, that's a kind soul you'll want in your life- such a good man."

"Ah, that's what that is," Noelle said as a light bulb went off in her head. Harvey really only seems comfortable opening up to her in closed corners or one-off conversations. Not an asshole like Marnie suggested. Just someone deeply terrified of mingling with his neighbors. Perhaps, in his mind, keeping a doctor-patient relationship with everyone made his job easier. Which- sounded like a lonely life to live in such a small town.

"Some people you have to be persistent with," Evelyn said with a hopeful smile, "Since you're such a sweetheart yourself Noelle, you two will have no problem getting along. He could use a new friend."

"Or a girlfriend," Alex teased, earning a glare from his grandmother as Noelle hung her head low, not wanting to be signaled out like that.

"Not every relationship needs to end in a romance dear," Evelyn said with a deep frown, "A young man and woman can have a lasting friendship built on mutual respect alone. Just look at him and Maru- that's a bond that can't be broken. I don't think the poor doc can take another heartbreak. A good friendship circle to keep him in check is all he needs."

"Thank you, Evelyn, for being the only voice of reason in this entire town," Noelle said with a sigh of relief. A romance sounded all well and good, but the reality of it seemed too risky. Noelle knew if she cared about him, she'd stay away, admiring him from afar. Maybe at the end of the day, that's all it was, just admiration and nothing more. With a growing farm a shack she called a home, she knew she wasn't ready.

"Whatever, let's eat, I'm starving." Alex said, getting bored of the conversation.

"Not until your grandfather and Dr. Harvey are finished," Evelyn instructed, "Which should be… oh, right now!"

Just as the conversation died down in the kitchen, so did the chatter from the living room. It was less of a doctor giving instructions and more so general conversation. Through her own foggy mind, Noelle hadn't noticed how friendly the banter in the other room got between George and Harvey. Because they were closed off and relatively far away, Noelle missed what they were talking about, but perhaps that was a good thing. Maybe because it was just the two of them, he could loosen up a bit. Soon George rolled into the kitchen, finding his typical spot next to Evelyn while Harvey took his time making sure that George was situated before making his move towards the kitchen table. Yoba, he was tall, even when sitting he appeared to tower over everyone. He sat on the far end, facing Noelle, adjacent to Evelyn and Alex. Noelle felt her brain freeze as her eyes seemed to stare at him, their gaze once again meeting for a second before subtly looking away. Perhaps focusing on the meal at hand would be the best strategy here.

"This is a nice spread Mrs. Mullner," Harvey commented trying to start a polite conversation, "Normally I'm not a fan of fried foods but tonight I'm tempted. The smell is comforting."

"Thank you, Harvey," Evelyn said with a warm smile, "No need for pleasantries, dear. You can call me granny. Same goes for you Noelle, you two are a part of the family."

"Apologies, old habits die hard," Harvey replied as he began tapping on the table, his nervous tick. "You- You two have a history?"

"I lived with them for a little while after the passing of my grandfather," Noelle explained, still refusing to make direct eye contact with Harvey, playing with her fingers. "Actually, hm. Small world, might've bumped into you."

"That was- six years ago?" Harvey said doing quick math in his head, "Hadn't realized it's been that long, his passing feels like yesterday."

"Grief feels like that, hun," Evelyn said, shaking her head sympathetically, "Groundhog's day over and over again. Unfortunately, we all can relate to such a tragedy." Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat as George fell eerily silent.

"It's- a part of life," Harvey said as his eye twitched a bit, "All I can do is prolong the inevitable."

"You're good at what you do, Harvey." Evelyn soothed, "Nevertheless, to avoid such a grim topic, you seem to be doing better. I haven't seen you that talkative since George's first house call eight years ago."

"I figure I could do myself a favor," Harvey replied honestly, "I should know better, it's never good to isolate yourself. Despite whatever's going on I must keep my head on my shoulders. Would you see me the same way if everyone sensed that I couldn't take care of myself?"

"I mean, at the end of the day you're still human," Noelle said, chiming in, "We're gonna have good and bad days. You seem to have the respect of everyone in town. I mean hell- I've only been here for a month and a half and you got me to turn around. Everyone should understand that Harvey's allowed to have a bad day or two, profession or not."

"Pretty sure that wouldn't be the case if you saw me moping in the corner," Harvey said with a shrug of earnest. "Whether I like it or not, I have a reputation to keep. The wrong word of mouth can bring an end to my career. After all- I'm paid by the patient, not the hour."

"That's not fair," Noelle said, giving him proper eye contact, at which his ears turned a bright pink. "I don't know about you, but I kept my emotions in I'd just implode. Unfortunately, this family knows that all too well."

"That I remember vividly," Evelyn mumbled, putting a hand on her chin. "You had an emotional crisis at least…once a week. Love you to death Noelle, but even I once said enough is enough."

"Yeah, I have to apologize for that," Noelle winced, cringing, "A lot was happening at the time; my grandpa died, followed my mother, couldn't find a cheap enough flat in the city to move away. Felt like my life was exploding- but in all honesty maybe I needed to get it out of my system because that was just the beginning of it. Yoba, it feels good to be home."

"You're from here?" Harvey asked with a curious look in his eye, "I was under the impression you were born in the city."

"Yup," Noelle answered, "Not sure why it's been rough, guess I'm a city girl at heart."

"No one in the valley is thriving that's for sure," George piping up, "The Mayor can barely afford housing for all his citizens. Pam lives in a trailer, Linus camps out in a tent. This damn war we're in aint helping either."

"I think Linus chooses to live that way," Harvey said, putting a hand on his chin, "I give him a checkup every once in a while, for free, and he's doing just fine. However, my concern comes around the winter season. Hence why I always leave the clinic open, free to whoever needs a place to stay. "

"Not afraid that people will rob you blind?" Noelle asked, tilting her head.

"Of course, it's happened," Harvey shrugged, "But it's not enough for me to keep a lock on. Those who steal typically aren't from Pelican Town as far as I'm concerned. I know someone's stayed the night when I find an unmade bed or a box of bandages or painkillers or two go missing. Nevertheless, the doors are open to those looking to escape harsh weather conditions. Ironically, that's how we met Shane and Jas."

"No way," Noelle said, sounding amused, it seemed the valley had a habit of bringing people together. Also, small world part two.

"Oh that's a story for the ages," Evelyn chimed with a proud smile, "Common knowledge in the town now. They traveled far by foot, stumbled across Pelican Town by accident. Harvey opened his doors and treated them unconditionally. Now they live safely on Marnie's farm because of his efforts."

"Damn, you don't get that treatment from the city," Noelle said, sounding impressed, "It chews you up, spits you out, picking and choosing who gets to survive. No sense of togetherness, at all. It's maddening."

"I've never been," Evelyn began, "But that's exactly what it does to people. City life is cruel from what I've seen."

"There are a few nice spots though," Noelle shrugged, "Only if you're rich, of course. But the city lights do get pretty at night. When I'm tired of being inside I like to take walks around Central Park, not to mention the zoo close by. I think my favorite were the food vendors you'd find. Hit or miss, but I do miss a good gyro every now or then."

"It's always good to find the positive," said Evelyn who then playfully narrowed her eyes at Harvey, "Something this one could know a thing or two about."

"Sadly, I tend to be a realist in most cases," Harvey said with a casual shrug, "As a scientist it's difficult to not over analyze every little thing I see. Nevertheless, I'm trying to move away from it. Emily likes to remind me every now and then to stop thinking so hard… she might be right."

"Hard to turn it off?" Noelle questioned, sounding intrigued

"Definitely," Harvey said with a nod, "Unfortunately, you saw that firsthand. You invited me to take a seat and the next thing you know I'm rambling about negative side effects unprompted. I'm… getting better but it sneaks up every now and then."

"Actually, I found that charming," Noelle replied without thinking, picking at her nails with her free hand while the fork froze in place. His ears once again turned a bright pink as it was too late to take back the accidental flirt. If anything, it was a sign of intelligence, and truth be told she liked intelligent people, something Noelle knew about herself. However, she didn't mean to lead him on but it was too late. The tense, awkward silence taking over wasn't helping either. "I mean-"

"How long have you been a doctor, Harvey?" Evelyn asked, saving the bell, "Can't believe it's been ten years and I've failed to ask you that question."

"Right after I graduated, I hit the ground running," Harvey answered confidently, not failing to maintain his composure either. "After that… you're pretty much on your own. You spend eight years in rotation after that you can choose what you want to specialize in. So…with eight years working in the hospital, three years being residency, ten years of living in Pelican Town, making twenty-one years total."

"That… that's a lot of life…focusing on one subject, could never be me. I couldn't even make it through high school," Noelle admitted, feeling once again that Harvey was way out of her league.

"Now you know why I'm the only one that gets to pick on you, we're on the same wavelength," Alex chuckled as Evelyn shot a glare.

"That's not nice, Alex," Evelyn said, shaking her head, "I'm sorry Dr. Becker, how are things so far?"

Thes rest of the evening went on as friendly chatter, mostly between George, Evelyn while Harvey sat alone in silence. As Noelle glanced over, she noticed how spaced out his face looked. There was only so far he could go in a four way conversation. He did not eat much off his plate either, avoidance or silent admittance that the dinner wasn't to his standards? It was interesting how he wouldn't voice his opinion either way. Once the meal came to an end, it was dark, and Noelle was the first to gather her things and head home. Harvey was close behind, taking a moment to open the door for Noelle before she was able to get there, much to her surprise.

"Oh, thank you," Noelle said as she slipped past Harvey, who silently nodded in response and closed the door behind them, "Were… you okay back there?"

"Hm?" Harvey blinked as if he had to come back to reality for a second, "Oh, I've never done well at the dinner table. I prefer one on one, and fater today my brain was ready to quit."

"Heard the argument," Noelle winced, "Bad blood?"

"Not every patient is going to trust you, regardless what kind of care you provide," Harvey answered knowingly, "It's a part of the job."

"Shitty job," said Noelle, laughing which surprisingly earned a hint of a smile from Harvey.

"The pay is well," Harvey shrugged, "Well…. even that is relative."

"Haha, knew it," Noelle said as she pumped a fist in the air much to Harvey's confusion.

"Knew what?"

"Robin said you were wealthy before coming here, is that true?" Noelle asked which only earned wide eyes and an honest belly laugh from Harvey.

"I had an apartment, couldn't afford a house," Harvey answered honestly, "Big difference between here and the city, well now I'm struggling to make ends meet. Pros and cons of opening your own business."

"At least you aren't dirt poor," Noelle said, "Yeah… I've been there, packaged food and sleeping on park benches. Can't imagine you in that position."

"I was there," Harvey admitted, much to Noelle's shock, "I aged out of the foster care system and had to just figure it out. I've had my fair share of sleeping on the streets."

"Was the pulse different when you first moved here?" Noelle asked, curious now. No wonder of humility. "I can't get used to it."

"I've welcomed it," said Harvey shamelessly, "I went from thirteen hour shifts from a large hospital to what I have now. I can't go back."

"Was it tough?" Noelle asked, and Harvey froze in response, possibly not ready to answer that question.

"Story for another time, I'm in a good mood today," Harvey answered, almost bluntly, "...may I walk you home? It's getting late, I wouldn't want to see you in danger."

"The Farm is an hour out, I wouldn't want you in that mess walking back," Noelle said, "I can handle it, and if anything happens, I have you on speed dial right?"

"Right," Harvey said, "Have a good evening, noelle. It was nice talking to you."

"Same to you," Noelle said as she made her way back towards Bluebell Farm with the first real dinner she had since moving here.

What a nice town.

Chapter 16 – Climbing the Country Ladder

Noelle was thankful that Emily and Haley allowed her to spend the night in their home for a couple of days, giving Robin enough time to work on her house upgrade. By the time she returned, the house was unrecognizable. Having enough profits, Noelle went all out on the furniture selection. To celebrate, she bought a couch, a full television set, and a small dining table for the kitchen. She even bought a fireplace for the bedroom just in case the winters grew terrible to deal with. Noelle felt proud, proud that she was able to come so far in the span of three months.

Now the only thing left on her mind was adjusting to the new house upgrade, which wasn't going well. She didn't doubt Robin's ability, her kitchen looked fantastic, and her bathroom was quite cozy. But change was something that didn't compute with Noelle, something that practically fried her brain. Noelle moving into her brand-new home played out like her first few weeks on the farm; anxious, scattered, brained, and overwhelmed. Trying something new would spawn weird images in her mind, all improbable but they were enough to paralyze her.

For a while she was afraid of turning on the stove, fearing that it might catch fire and burn down the entire house. She was afraid of using the shower. The shower head looked strange, she worried what the water pressure would feel like on her skin, the sound of hot steam hitting the acrylic bottom, all of which her brain was blowing out of proportion. She had gone three days without showering because of this fear, only to use the bathroom for the sink and the toilet, paying attention to under her arms and sensitive areas but now the smell of sweat and outdoors became troublesome.

"Courageous my ass," Noelle groaned, staring at her bathroom in the morning before The Flower Dance. There she stood, staring at the shower as if it were a beast ready to attack. Though she knew she couldn't walk around town smelling like someone who spent three days asleep in a dumpster, this wasn't the city anymore, this was the valley. She was tired of bathing in the lake, and it really was a nice set up, she would hate to put Robin's work to waste. Noelle took a deep breath and turned on the shower, violently flinching as the rushing water made a loud squealing sound as it hit the bathtub floor.

"Alright, you've survived worse," Noelle said, closing her eyes and stepping inside, "Somehow you managed to charm a man who's got his shit together and this is what stops you? Either grow up or get lost, this is your new life now. Accept it."

At the beginning her nerves were a little fried as the water droplets pelted her skin all at once. Admittedly Noelle felt fresh as she stepped out to dry and get dressed. The water reached a decent warmth, a warmth that had calmed her down.

Noelle tied her curly hair back in a small puff, not really in the mood to braid it. She walked outside ready to start her day, instinctively reaching for the scythe that leaned on the wall of her farmhouse. With her tools in hand, she had always felt powerful, the scythe she had a strange affinity for. She just felt a sense of satisfaction clearing the field and preparing for more crops. Noelle was hesitant to plant any more crops for the rest of the season.

Just then Noelle looked across her field and caught Emily appearing at the entrance. The minute they made eye contact, Emily had rushed over to her in an excited manor, almost tripping over a sprinkler. Noelle was curious as to why she had a visitor so early, but nevertheless welcomed the change. Emily had the largest grin as she pulled Noelle into a large bear hug, which of course had thrown Noelle off. Though Noelle could tell that it was friendly, she pulled away gently.

"Noelle, good to see you!" Emily said brightly, "Wow the farm is looking gorgeous, you did all of this by yourself?"

"Not entirely," Noelle answered, "Robin built the chicken coop and I'm… trying my best."

"That's all we ask of you," said Emily, "I'm on a quest today to ask if you're interested in The Flower Dance. Since it's a new year I have to make a dress for every eligible bachelorette in town. It's a festival we have to celebrate the end of the season. You don't have to participate, but if you have a partner in mind, it could be good fun!"

"I have to wear a dress?" Noelle winced as she immediately became disgusted by the idea. Noelle wasn't a stranger to wearing casual dresses into town, but only because they were cheap and easy to make. Wearing a fancy dress to supposedly what is a fancy event made her stomach churn. She was a tomboy through and through, and her fiminane side was rightfully chucked out the window after her mother stomped it out.

"I wish I could spice things up, but the Mayor is a stickler when it comes to traditions," Emily admitted, "Do you even have a partner?"

"Nope," Noelle answered, "I'm not sweating about it either, I only have the headspace for a farm at the moment and nothing else."

"Not bad, it's a huge job," said Emily, "Though if you change your mind, I'm right around the corner."

"It is, but the pay off is great," Noelle answered, "Just took my first shower in two months. Wanna house tour?"

"Oh, that would be lovely!" Emily said warmly, "I have the time and hey we haven't had the chance to talk much. I'm like hey, that's my neighbor, and I know nothing other than… well what you do for a living."

"Well come on in, I'll show you," Noelle chuckled, thrilled at the idea of being able to have guests over. Her apartment space in the city was too small and her shack was too embarrassing to show off. Noelle was more than thrilled to show off her brand new living room, the proud owner of two bathrooms- one full and one half, a spacious master bedroom for more than enough privacy unlike before, and a kitchen with counters lining the wall and a circular wooden table in the center with black and white tilas.

Noelle lacked clutter to fill the space, but that would come in due time. The fireplace tied everything together, which Noelle was determined to use in the cold months of winter. The fear of freezing to death and catching a cold would be no more, and for the first time in a long time Noelle was content.

"You must feel like royalty now," Emily complimented as she took view of the house, "Sinclair's are known to be true work-a-holic's, goodness. How does it feel to have a house now?"

"Excellent," Noelle said, "Planning to use it more, holiday events? Social gatherings? I'm all for it."

"Extrovert, so am I," Emily beamed, "I know I've said you don't have to, but why don't you have a partner for The Flower Dance, Noelle? You're an interesting person to know!"

"Well…" Noelle said as her voice trailed off, "I don't have an interest in anyone, really… not in a romantic way either."

"Holding out for the right man?" Emily giggled, "Or woman, this is a free world we live in."

"How about neither gender," Noelle openly admitted at which Emily nodded.

"Ahh, got it," Emily replied, "Strange, I heard a rumor you and Harvey were getting along. I'm just worried about you being alone."

"I've been alone all my life, I can take it," Noelle once again shrugged, but wasn't sure why Emily smiled at that. "What's up?"

"Oh, I know another lonely soul and you two would make such a cute power couple," Emily said, "Again, I'm not pressuring you, but you should give it some thought. Every yin has a yang, even if it's platonic, you know?"

"I don't think this friend can be anything more, in this case," Noelle replied, "Harvey's kinda… broken, and I don't want to shatter that further."

"He'll come around," Emily encouraged, "I don't blame him either, but I miss the old Harvey. He was so bright and happy when he moved in and now he's just falling apart. Existing, not even living life. I don't want to see the same thing happening to you, you know?"

"Hey better to burn alone than to bring someone into my hell with me," Noelle countered, "I've got some… things I need to work out, one of them being the obvious elephant in the room. The farm can't sustain itself yet. It's irritatingly slow… but I'm sure once the chickens start laying eggs and I get some blueberries rolling in next season I'll sing a different story. But until then… I'm not allowed to date."

"Is it fear?" Emily questioned as she leaned against the wall, "I can read people openly and just… get that aura from you, Noelle. It's a new life, new people, I can't imagine how afraid you are."

"Well the new house upgrade is gonna fix that," Noelle said, determined, she really couldn't think about hooking up with anyone at the moment. She needed to focus on the farm and nothing else. "You know what I do have? A date with the guild tomorrow. Wanna come watch?"

"Oh I'm up to my head in dress orders for the flower dance, so I can't," Emily said, "But it was nice talking to you. I'll head out, congrats on the new house upgrade Noelle! Richard would be proud."

He would be wouldn't he?

Once Emily left and Noelle finished the last of her farming for today, Noelle decided to head into town for a small walk. Since it was a Friday, and it had been a long time since she last spoke with Gus, Noelle thought to take a break in the Saloon in order to mingle with her neighbors. Having at least two thousand gold in her pocket now, Noelle thought it best to spoil herself tonight. Buying out once or twice a week from Gus would not only keep him in business but would provide a break from grilling, hunting and gathering from the outside.

"Miss Noelle Sinclare!" greeted a familiar warm, booming voice from clear across the bar, "You look well, how's the farm?"

"Hey, Gus," Noelle said with a friendly wave, "Farms doing alright, here to treat myself. How are things with you?"

"Same old, same old," Gus answered as Noelle took a seat in front of the bar, "You came at the right time. Business is booming tonight, I'm very pleased."

"Glad to hear it," Noelle said, adjusting herself comfortably and leaning on the counter. Observing her surroundings she could see Robin and Demetrius, Pierre and Caroline all at the bar. Surrounding her was Leah and Eliotte, Willy and Clint, Mayor Lewis and Marnie all having a good time. In the arcade were faces she didn't recognize, kids that had to be at least college age playing around the pool and other games the saloon provided. It was busy tonight, Gus deserved it.

"You seem to carry the world on your shoulders. What's bogged you down, besides the obvious? Lay it on me!"

"Had an extraneous work out today at Marlon's, meaning to expand my hobbies lately. Outside of jogging around town, not much is going on in my life," Noelle explained resting her head on her hand, "I wanna keep city life and country life separate. The old Noelle died the minute she stepped off that bus."

"Sounds like a plan," Gus said with an approving nod, " Anyone in the valley giving you trouble, you let me know."

"Thanks Gus, but I don't need you going around committing arson in my honor," Noelle said, letting out an exhausted, "I can handle it. This black eye? One hundred percent my fault. We don't need to get into it."

"That all depends on who gave it to you," Gus said with a voice deepening into concern, "I heard rumors."

"Forgot that this town doesn't shut up," Noelle said, wincing at how bad a game of telephone can get in a small town like this, "Alright what's the worst offense?"

"Some say Alex, which is what I believe," Gus began listing off the gossip mill, "Knowing what I know about his father, he's fully capable of hitting another woman. Some say Harvey did it, which I know is bullshit, that man's a pacifist. Some say you did it on your own as an excuse to go into the clinic. Pretty tame as far as rumors go."

"Alright, let's start at the top," Noelle said groaning and playfully rolling her eyes at Gus, both knowing this town had nothing better to do than worry about what the farmer was doing, "Number one, although you are correct, I was the one that egged him on by shoving a fork in his face. One thing led to another and the next thing I know, I'm on the floor. Note to self, never pick a fight with someone three times your strength."

"There's truth to that," Gus said with a nod, "However Alex should know better. Never hit a woman, he could've very easily killed you- doesn't matter if it was your fault or not."

"But it does," Noelle said, feeling once again terrible about what happened, "Had I stayed civil it would not have gone as far as he did. I've been meaning to apologise but-"

"You don't need to apologize, Noelle," Gus said, cutting in, "He needs to apologize to you, otherwise you don't need someone like that in your life."

"Tell her, Gus!" Robin cheered holding up a beer making Demetruis laugh, "Good friends don't bring each other down. If Alex hasn't apologized to you yet, he's a weed you need to pluck out of your garden. Just because you grew up together doesn't mean you have to be friends for life!"

Noelle laughed with them, "I guess you're right. Anyhoo, what's on the menu Gus?"

"The usual, including a seasonal special, herby spring chicken pot pie. That last one is an experiment for me. So what'll be Farmer? The old or the new?"

"I'm feeling adventurous, how about the new?" Noelle beamed with a smile, making Gus proud.

"Excellent!" Gus said excitedly, "Since you're of age now, wanna try your first drink?"

"What do you recommend for first timers?" Noelle said really curious about the world of winery. After all, out with the old and in with the new, right?

"Apple cider," said Gus, "I'll start you off with what you know, then we can go from there. How is it?"

"Sounds good!" Noelle said smiling, "I'll be waiting for it."

"Coming right up," Gus said, putting away his cleaning utensils and disappearing into the kitchen. "Good to see you again, Noelle. Hope the farm is doing well!"

"Thanks, stay safe back there!" Noelle encouraged, watching Gus fade away as Noelle sat back in her seat with a content sigh. She was soon greeted with a cheeky, drunken smirk from Robin.

"Moving on up in the world are we?" Robin said with a crooked smile, "Harvey's been given you a little courage or-"

"Alright Stahp," Noelle said with a giggle, "I came here to get my thoughts off guys not the other way around."

"Come on, Nelly you and I both know there is not much going on in such a shit town," Robin said with a hiccup, "What's going on between you and Harvey? I GOTTA know!"

"Not much that I haven't already told you," Noelle said with a shrug, "He invited me into his apartment, talk on occasion, now we're friends. Nothing else."

"Keep telling yourself that farmer," Robin slurred, "You two are gonna be a thing before you know it. Just….just so you know you have my full support with whatever happens. Go Noelle, fuck that man! Fuck him hard!"

"Alright dear, you've had plenty to drink tonight," Demetrus said, fighting back a laugh, "Don't let Robin bully you here, Noelle. If you ask me guys nothing but trouble, it's best to keep away."

"Pfft, she's… she's not your daughter Demetrius," Robin said, lightly draping an arm around his shoulder and missing. "Noelle can chose to sleep with- who... who ever the fuck she wants. Harvey's a good man, he deserves someone nice, young and fucking goergous. Look, they belong together!"

"You're drunk, Robin go home," Noelle teased, just finding this whole evening amusing, perhaps she should drop by the bar more often. "Have a good rest of your night Demetrius, hope everything turns out okay."

"It'll be a long walk up the mountains, that's for sure," Demetrius laughed, taking his wife by the shoulders, "Have a good evening Noelle, it was nice talking to you. Now, come on Robin, let's get you to safety."

"Remeber kid," Robin slurred as Demetrius guided her out of the bar, "Heart wants what the heart wants and you can't fucking fight it! Whoo, free love!"

After a round of laughter from the scene, the bar finally died down once Demetrus and Robin left for home. Soon, Gus Returned with a plate filled with food that could only be her's, her stomach grumbling at the sight. The moment her dinner was placed in front of her Noelle wasted no time diving in.

With her belly stuffed and her single shot taken for tonight, Neolle's curious eyes began to wander over to the arcade area. The party had died down a bit, and Noelle felt a pull towards one game in particular. After paying for her meal and thanking Gus for the hospitality, Noelle began to meander over. Of course everyone stared at the stranger entering the arcade, but she shrugged it off hovering over a game she used to play when she was younger; Journey of the Pierrie King

"That game is hard, man don't do it!" said an eager voice catching her attention. He looked young, like no older than nineteen. The others had to be in their early twenties. Turning she could see a blonde dude with spiky hair straight out of an anime, purple haired girl and an emo kid who looked like he didn't want to be there.

Noelle smirked, leaning on the machine, "I'm well aware, I used to play it when I was ten."

"No kidding!" The blonde said, getting up from his seat and rushing over, slamming some gold down in front of her. "First one's on me, I wanna see how far you can get. My name's Sam by the way. You must be the new farmer?"

"Yup," Noelle smiled, "Just moved in three months ago. My name is Noelle." She let a hand out for it to be shaken, Sam took it.

"You're hot, are you single?" Sam asked eagerly, Noelle constantly feeling her privacy be invaded as Sam scanned her up and down.

"Not interested," Noelle said plainly, shaking her head.

"Oof," the purple haired girl winced, "Need some ice bud?"

"Shut it, Abigale I have game!" Sam said, turning away from Noelle to shout playfully at Abigale. He turned back to Noelle with an embarrassed, "Still, keep the gold. That game will bleed you dry if you aren't careful. Don't worry about paying back either, I got a few jobs."

"Where do you work?" Noelle said entertaining the dude, he smiled.

"Part time at the museum and part time at Joja Mart," Sam said proudly, "The pay's not much but it's honest work. Heard a rumor you used to work for the big dudes?"

"Yeah, that also sucked," Noelle saidh with a groan, "But that's behind me. Now, I'm a farmer."

"Probably shouldn't be saying this because they just gave me a job, but I really hope you out them out of business someday," said Sam, "Joja came and they are destroying the town bit by bit. If they get one more membership we all will be driven out of a home. Joja wants to turn the valley into a strip mine and extract for oil. I only work for them to hopefully save enough for college, I wanna do something with music for a living. When I come back, Pelican Town must exist. I love this place, the town's all I know. We need to get back on the map or else."

"Pelican Town's shit man, what do you mean?" said the emo kid in the back, "Out of all the places to live, why choose here?"

"You're not wrong, Sebastian," Abigale said, her face becoming more pensive as she spoke, "But where else can I play a flute in the rain? Pretty sure if I moved to the city I wouldn't last a day. The crime over there it's insane. How did you make it out alive, farmer?"

"I didn't," Noelle said, shaking her head, "I'm here because I couldn't make my rent on time. City life is cold and unforgiving. So unless you're bat shit rich, avoid at all costs."

"See?" said Sam gesturing towards the young farmer, "You'll be eaten alive Seb. Thanks to her account I think I'll stay with online classes."

Sebatian huffed, went right back to his game unprompted, "Yeah, whatever."

"Anywho," Sam said with a sigh, "I'll leave you to it. Don't mind us, we're just a bunch of idiots."

"Will do," said Noelle with a smile, "Thanks, Sam for the gold."

"No problem, Farmer!" Sam said returning to his game of pool with Sebastain and Abigail. After the chatter and friendly banter died down, Noelle put the gold in without hesitating and went to work.

After spending about two hundred of her hard earned gold on the little cheaty arcade game, Noelle decided to call it quits. After all, it was eleven thirty at night and the muscle soreness was about to begin. Wanting to come to the clinic more so as a friend and not as a patient anymore, Noelle waved goodbye to Gus and began her way home.

When she opened the door to the Saloon, Noelle was greeter by pitch black darkness, nothing but crickets and owls filling the air. Noelle came to a stop when heard the soft rustle of footsteps, then the ruffle of garbage. She turned to catch a strange old man dressed in golden leaves, bare feet and crystal white hair. Quickly he looked ashamed, pausing with what he was doing as he and Noelle had a stare down between the Saloon and the Mullner household.

"I- hope you don't mind," the man said sheepishly, backing away from the garbage, "You can find a lot of good food here. It's disgusting how much people throw away. I know it's not mine but-"

"I've done my fair share of dumpster diving, Linus," Noelle said without thinking, "Gotta do what you need to do to survive, right?"

"Mines more of a choice," Linus corrected, purposely keeping his voice low, "I'm the local wild man and I prefer to keep it that way. If anything I'm doing this town a favor by recycling. The valley feeds just alright if you know where to look."

"I'm a forager myself, that's how I survived my first month," Noelle explained with a smile, "It would be wrong of me to call you out like that. Having a hard time tonight?"

"Everything's fine!" Linus said with a forced smile, "Come by the mountains sometime, you'll see what I mean."

"Sounds like a plan," Noelle said with a grin, "Have a good evening Linus, stay safe out there."

"You to Farmer," Linus said before immediately digging in the garbage yet again.

With that, Noelle turned her heels heading towards Bluebell Farm.

Chapter 17 – Things to Worry About

"You friendzoned him?" Robin called as Noelle dialed from the other end, sitting at her dining table with a plate of Gus's spaghetti she ordered later that day. The Farmer flinched as she wondered if she made the wrong move… no this was the move that was best for her.

"Robin, it's complicated right now," Noelle answered, not sure how much information she could tell Robin without it breaking into a rumor. "Harvey is someone I can't have, it's best to be left unrequited."

"By whose standards?" Robin said, baffled on the other end, "You were head over hills Nelly, then he asks you out, and you're the one to reject him? Look, I'm not blaming anyone here, I'm just astonished. Dating 101, never good to lead someone on like that. Eventually he'll grow tired and move on if you don't make your move."

"I'm not even sure if I want to make a move with him," Noelle replied, "I need to focus on the farm for now, I don't have the headspace for a boyfriend right now."

A pause, "Did Alex say something?"

Noelle's stomach churned at the thought, "Yoba, not even if he was the last man on earth."

"Are you into women?" Robin asked curiously, "If it's not Harvey then my daughter might be interested."

"Sorry, Robin but it's not that either," Noelle replied with a polite laugh from the other end, "It's… well I've been through a lot and I don't want to project that on to him."

"So has he," Robin replied, "Noelle, what's stopping you?"

"I don't know," Noelle admitted as she flinched in her seat, "I don't know…"

There was a long, yet tender pause between the two as Noelle could see Robin trying to calculate her next move. The next time she spoke her tone was flat and serious. "Do not let fear control your decisions, Nelly. That can only create more problems."

"I'm facing the unknown," Noelle admitted, "I have reasons to be avoidant."

"Wanna talk about it?" Robin asked, "I've got not much going on today, so let's talk if you're willing."

Noelle took a deep breath.

"He's white, Robin," Noelle admitted, she couldn't ignore it. This time she knew for sure it wasn't because of a prejudice, like her disdain for doctors, but rather a fear that Harvey may turn on her as they get closer. Again, it was a terrible assumption to make, she barely knew the man and his demeanors, but this was a fear that Noelle had to confess to well, someone.

"So am I, Noelle," Robin replied with a hint of curiosity behind her voice. "What's the difference?"

"White man, Robin," Noelle reiterated, of course all dangers applied, but this one was different. Noellel wasn't sure if Harvey was the type to take on the baggage that came with her background. She couldn't ignore the privilege that came with her own either.

"Ah that's… tricky…" Robin agreed, "Just one more thing to worry about, hm?"

Noelle nodded on the other end, but she didn't reply, wondering if she opened a can of worms that couldn't be closed.

"Do you like him?" Robin said as her tone became more serious now on the other end. Noelle froze as she felt her chest tighten in response.

"I… think… I think I still do," Noelle blinkined, knowing that wasn't a lie. She adored the man for numerous reasons; his success, his drive, his kindness, how he dressed and handled others. He lived a humble lifestyle, had a love for coffee and pickles, and has seen pain throughout his life. It wasn't just as a doctor, but Harvey as well.

"Focus on that, Nelly," Robin said, "What you're facing, Demetrius and I faced something similar. Eventually you'll have to learn how to ignore the world and focus on eachother. Frankly, it's no one else's business who you choose to fall in love with. If Harvey wrongs you in any way, you can bet your ass Gus and I will sort him out. Your grandfather made a request to keep you safe, and in a small town of less than thirty members, we take that seriously. But in the same breath, I've never seen Harvey act ignorant and disrespectful. He likes trying to figure things out rather than making assumptions. Besides, I know it's none of my business but I do have something to tell you about Mona to help you… feel a little better if you catch my drift."

"What?" Noelle blinked, curious to know.

"She was black," Robin said, "Harvey shouldn't have a problem with you."

Noelle's mouth fell slightly agape, "Whoa… wait-"

"Hahaha, plot twist, hm?" Robin chuckled, "Interacial couples happen all the time, Nelly. It really isn't a big deal… well at least now it isn't."

"Don't remind me," Noelle replied with a dark, dry chuckle. Yoba the turn of events… her heart thumped. Harvey was comfortable, holy shit. "Wait, is that just….?"

"Population is higher in the city than the countryside, that's how Demetrius and I first met," Robin replied. Noelle could see the woman with an excited smile on the other end. "We're happy and I hope the same for you and Harvey, if you decide."

"That… makes me feel a little better," Noelle said in contemplation, "Thanks, Robin it was nice talking to you."

"Happy to help."

As Robin's voice faded away on the phone, Noelle continued to contemplate a rather… fuzzy decision clouded with gray and uncertainty.

Much of her world was dark and unwelcoming, rarely did she have something to smile about. Noelle always felt lost, felt like she never belonged. People would more often than to take one look at her and make assumptions that aren't even true. Simply put, she was different, a raisin floating in a sea of tainted milk. She wasn't expecting an ounce of kindness when she stepped off that bus, but rather judgment, prejudice, and malencolny.

She had her grandfather to thank for that, paving the way for a safe haven that is known to be Stardew Valley. Once she found a routine on the farm, Noelle started to enjoy the peaceful, slow paced lifestyle. She always struggled to find a way to balance out with others, not charismatic enough to build a friendship circle, and too honest and blunt to conform with others anyway. The villagers here appeared to accept her at face value. Of course, there was a behind the scenes worry that these new friends could turn on her at any moment.

Harvey himself was an interesting fellow, seemingly old fashioned, yet he handled her with grace and kindness. Could be his oath, after all doctors were trained- supposedly, to treat each patient with a blank slate regardless of their background or origin stories. Noelle wished she hadn't met under such drastic circumstances, and formed those assumptions after that one interaction. She wasn't entirely innocent, prejudice spawned from all corners of the world. Noelle wasn't shy to admit her own hypocrisy on that front, to admit all doctors are assholes is terrible in it's own regard.

She never understood the phrase, her thoughts becoming her actions until now. As much as she despised Dr. Becker, it was love at first sight with Harvey. Upon first meeting she noticed how different they were. Dr. Becker was a hardass that only wanted to focus on his career, Harvey was caring, gentle, and sweet. It was Dr. Becker, a person of authority, that she found intimidating. It was Harvey she could see herself cuddling on the couch with.

Yoba… intimacy.

Noelle really couldn't remember the last time someone showed her true affection. That warm, tight, dare to say even protective embrace from Harvey was the first hug in a long time. Never considered herself to be a sappy romantic, but it did feel like their souls connected that moment. Whether it was romantic or not was still up to debate, but it felt… right. Even if he didn't turn out to be the boyfriend she never knew she wanted, Noelle could easily have a lasting friendship with the man. Hell, even in the event of a falling out, Noelle saw herself helping out the man with a love life of his own. It was insane to think that even a close friendship was just as valid and important as a romantic one. Perhaps, why so many preached that a friendship had to be the foundation of well, anything more.

Today was a special errand. There would be a chance she wouldn't dance at The Flower Dance with Harvey, if he chose to reject her out right. Attending the event would more so be for herself, if anything, getting to know her neighbors better and bonding with the other villagers was always welcomed. It wouldn't be the end of the world if Harvey turned her down and she went alone. Although Noelle was now giddy and excited about the whole affair, Noelle knew in the same breath there were still ongoing issues they needed to work out. Harvey carried a lot of pain, and so did she.

But isn't that the whole point?

Noelle found herself lost in her own thoughts as she approached Pelican Town. What was the purpose of love to begin with? Was it all to start a family and live a domestic fairytale ending? What was love to begin with, why did it exist, why with the small town doctor of all people? Was it an attraction? Well, his eyes definitely were. An alluring deep green in some cases, then a soft hazel depending on the time of day. A tall and broad fella, seemed a little stiff with the amount of layers he wore, but Noelle imagined someone soft and squishy underneath. Not that it was a particular point of interest, just another touch of yin and yang. Noelle wanted a pillow to hold after a long day on the farm, not a brick….

"Noelle?" Emily called from the other side of her doorway out of confusion. Noelle blinked, seemingly lost in a daydream about a man the world mustn't know yet. "Earth to Noelle!"

"What?" Noelle said as she blinked herself back into reality, "Oh.. right forgot why I was here."

"Poor thing, the farm must be eating you alive, huh?" Emily chuckled, "Care to get a dress ready for the dance? I'm all ready for it!"

"Oh, that's… yes… yes absolutely," Noelle replied as her words came out as graceful as a child just learning how to walk. "Sorry… um…"

"It's alright, with the farm you must be exhausted and words aren't coming the way you want them to, hm?" Emily sympathized with a giggle, "Come on in, my sisters in the back but she'll be out of the way. I'll get your measurements and this will be quick and painless."

"Yoba, you sound like my doctor," Noelle rolled her eyes as they both laughed at the irony of it all. Noelle wasn't ready to face these numbers if the numbers on the scale had anything to say about it. She didn't want to face the horrible reality of wanting to wear a plus sized dress. She was a thick lady in nature, nothing like most of the petite women she met in Pelican Town. She was big boned, had a bunch of chest and thighs to boot. Not overweight, just someone with a lot of bone and muscle mass that highlighted her figure.

What would Harvey think?

"Here, let's head to my bedroom," Emily said as she grabbed a wobbly plastic tape measure, took Noelle by the wrist with a purpose and traveled in the back for a little privacy. Thank Yoba, she wouldn't have to deal with Haley's petty insults.

"Sorry if this sounds intrusive, but if you could remove the shirt and pants so no mistakes can be made, I'm quite a perfectionist," Emily chuckled which made Noelle flinch, "Do you need privacy?"

"Please," Noelle said as her pits began to break out in a nervous sweat, "I…"

"Hun, no need to be ashamed of the way you are," Emily smiled warmly, "I make dresses for young women all the time, and everything is handled with a delicate nature. Your measurements stay with me, and if you need to come by with a new dress as things change, big or small, I'm here for you."

"You mean that huh?" Noelle blinked, not expecting that reaction or reassurance from Emily who nodded proudly.

"Everyone's different," Emily understood with a nod of reassurance, "Nothing makes a lady feel better than being dressed up for a fancy event. Now I must ask, who's the lucky fella, or gal? We're all equal here."

"No one yet," Noelle admitted, "After this, I plan to sort things out with Dr. Becker… do not tell anyone I said this, it's all up in the air."

"I'm anti gossip, your secrets are safe with me," Emily once again smiled, "Now. Easy question, theme preferred accessories?"

"Bluebells," Noelle answered proudly, "I want to represent my work."

"Oh, I can make those as hair accessories and jewelry if you're so inclined!" Emily smiled, "You're going to look like Cindrella going to the ball once we're through. Now, let's get started shall we?"

Once it was stated, Noelle felt appreciated that Emily was handling this with love and care. She noticed how friendly the demeanor of Pelican Town was, treating her well… like a human, like a member of the family. So far Harvey, Robin, Demetrius and now Emily, were extending that same gratitude.

"Hmm," Emily concluded with her tongue sticking out, "Size fourteen."

"Oh, sweet Yoba," Noelle said, horrified at the results. Noelle herself was expecting at least a size twelve, but a size fourteen on her would look like a tent. Noelle was not ready for a size fourteen, she wanted something smaller.

"Hey, what did I say about loving yourself honey?" Emily said, "You're beautiful, no question about it. Now I want you to look into the mirror and tell yourself that."

Noelle blinked, "What?"

"You heard me young lady!" Emily coached almost playfully, "Shout it, loud and proud, you are beautiful."

"I'm not... gonna…" said Noelle, ready to break down, she wasn't ready to face this, she wasn't ready to face this at all. Noelle wasn't the type to give into her emotions so quickly, especially in front of a complete stranger, but this hit too close to home. She felt a little petty looking down at a plus size dress, they were just numbers, they did not define her, they… were a pain to look at.

"Noelle," Emily said as her voice softened, "I'm… so sorry I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Sorry," Noelle apologized as she wiped her face, "It's been a lot."

"Come, get dressed," Emily said camly, "We'll talk over tea, it's… wow Noelle, I didn't know."

"No… no it's alright…" Noelle said as she took a deep breath, still violently shaking in front of Emily. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Take your time," Emily said as she left the room, leaving Noelle alone in her lonesome. Noelle took a few deep breaths and got dressed. Followed Emily into the kitchen as promised.

"The farm must be eating you alive, hm?" Emily sympathized once again as she invited Noelle over to the kitchen table. "Or...something else?"

"I just feel alone, you know?" Noelle said, figured it was best to start from the beginning.

"Everyone I've ever interacted with has passed away, I am barely my father, now I'm a minority in a small town, it's just.. a lot to think about. I moved to Bluebell to start over, didn't know it had to lead to me questioning my identity as well."

"I wish I could relate to you," Emily said sadly, "Doesn't change the fact that I'm always open for conversation. Will make sure you fit in, Noelle. If anything you bring in fresh blood this town so desperately needs. You know the last person to move in was Shane and Jas?"

"I hope to be that and not a homewrecker," Noelle admitted as she sipped her tea, "Everyday it feels like I'm walking on eggshells. I know I haven't done anything wrong, it's just like, people are breathing down your neck just because you're different. I don't expect anyone to be able to relate, unless you had moments you wanted to bleach your skin. So it's not really the dress, I just feel alone and… well alienated."

"I'll make you feel welcomed, you bet it," Emily encouraged, of course Noelle didn't expect Emily to have much to say on the matter. "That's all I can do, really. Support you from afar, and I'll make sure to put extra effort into your dress to make you feel beautiful."

"Thanks Emily," Noelle said as she cracked a smile and Emily looked at her with a proud look.

"So are you gonna ask him out or what?" She asked excitedly. Ah… right… the difficult part.

Time to face the music.

Chapter 18 – Time to Face the Music