Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon.

Secret Obsession

Chapter 4

He was dying. Not literally but emotionally he was dying. He hadn't seen his love since that fateful night. He knew she was probably feeling guilty about allowing that idiot to touch her but she had to know he still loved her. He still needed her. But then perhaps that idiot told her about his impending fatherhood. Goddess help him, if that was so he could only picture how heartbroken she was. But she had to know that this wasn't what he wanted. He never meant for this to happen.

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the window pane. Days he had spent looking out this window, watching for any sign of the chocolate eyed beauty. He refused to go into the mines, stating he didn't want to leave Phoebe alone. After all, he was suppose to be the caring father-to-be. But truly he wanted a chance to apologize to his soul mate. Apologize for being unfaithful.

He knew he couldn't continue with this charade for much longer. It was killing him, this hiding their feelings from the judgmental towns people. Also it was straining their relationship. This pretending was driving them apart. His jealousy was eating at him, keeping him up at night. He had to stop himself from going and attacking that arrogant idiot every time he seen him, which was almost everyday.

His eyes snapped open as he caught wisps of a soft laughter that had his heart skipping a beat. He looked out the window, glancing about for a sign of his beautiful soul mate. He gripped the window pane tightly, his knuckles turning white as he started to shake with anger at the sight that greeted him. Had she forsaken him? Did she not love him anymore? Or was she testing him? Seeing how far she could push him until he breaks?

He watched as the blacksmith's grandson swung her in his arms and his beauty laughing, a look of pure happiness gracing that gorgeous face as she clutched a blue feather in her hand. He could hear the blacksmith's grandson shouting words that had his heart breaking. What was going on? Why did she give him a blue feather? Was this some cruel nightmare? Was the Goddess playing a cruel joke on him?

This had to be a nightmare, or someone's version of a cruel joke. He bite his lip trying to keep the tears he felt forming in his eyes. There had to be an explanation. A bigger reason that he was not seeing. Perhaps she was doing this to show him how bad his own marriage to Phoebe made her feel. Perhaps this was her way at getting back at him for Phoebe's pregnancy. Yes, that had to be it. She was hurt and she wanted to share the pain.

Oh, his poor love. How she must hurt. His heart ached. All he wanted to do was go gather her into his arms and tell her that she didn't have to do this to make her point clear. How he wanted to go to her and tell her how sorry he was. Tell her that this wasn't what he wanted. He never wanted a child with Phoebe, he wanted her to bear his child, not the woman who shared his last name. He wanted her to be the one that would bear his last name. He wanted to tell her all that and more. He wanted to bear his soul to her but he knew that he still had to bid his time.

He still had to find a solution to his current problem before he could do that. He had to find a way to be rid of his wife. He had to find a way to be able to do that and still be able to live on the island. Divorce was not a option. This was a small community and the people that lived here looked down on divorce. They basically made those who did divorce outcasts, even going as far as refusing services to those who were. He knew he could divorce Phoebe and Molly and him could live happily somewhere else. But he knew she would never leave her brother and his family. She was to close to them.

That left him in this dilemma. What to do, what to do. He looked back out the window and grimaced. He had to find a solution and fast or else she would be in the same situation he was in. Stuck in a loveless marriage, having to endure that fools touch. No he couldn't let that happen to her. He would not allow her to go through the pain. No he suffered enough for the both of them.

He watched her closely, absorbing the carefree smile that played on her lips. A smile that to him didn't quite reach her eyes. Maybe she knew that this was a bad idea. Maybe she was having second thoughts already. She looked his way and his heart skipped a beat. Her eyes where shining….was that tears of sadness that shone in her eyes? It had to be.

Oh my love, please do not cry he silently begged. He couldn't bear her tears. As it was, it was taking all his strength not to run out there and rip her from that idiot's arms. He wanted to comfort her. Whisper to her that she did not need to do this. Tell her that he would find a way for them to be together. All she needed to do was give him time. That was all. He turned from the window, no longer able to bear the sight of his soul mate in another man's arms.

He heard the twinkling of the bells above the store ring, signaling his wife's return. She came in all smiles and told him what was going on outside with laughter in her voice. Rage filled him, he felt as if she was laughing at him. Her laughter said more then words, in her laughter he heard you'll never be with her now. We'll be together forever. She'll belong to someone else while you'll belong to me…you'll always belong to me.

All he could see was a red haze as anger pumped through his veins. He wanted to lash out on her. Scream at her that he would never belong to her, that he would always be Molly's but he kept silent and nodded. He wouldn't let her get to him. Soon enough she would learn the truth. Soon his secret obsession and him would be together forever. He just had to plan it out. Yes, that was exactly what he would do.