Thank you for the three reviews, guys!
Very encouraging. So, I kind of hurried to get this chapter.
It drifted from the first chapter's style, but hopefully you still like it.
Enjoy!
- ikaism

"It's raining."

Muffy carefully shut the door behind her and regarded Griffin with a tilt of her head. "Is it? I could have sworn it was supposed to be sunny."

"I guess the news can be wrong sometimes…" Griffin shrugged and continued tinkering with some of the brands of alcohol on one of the shop's higher shelves. "Could you clean off those few glasses right there? Marlin walked in here earlier, practically begging for some Morning Mist in that weird, grumpy way of his. Kind of early in the day for him."

Muffy giggled and nodded, immediately getting on task. "That's a tad unusual. Even for Marlin. Do you think it's because of the weather?"

"That's where my guess was at." Griffin chuckled shortly, mumbled a curse when one of his bottles almost fell, and continued at his work rigorously. "Marlin is one of those people who makes it painfully obvious how they feel about even the simplest of things, weather included."

"He really is! It's not as though he doesn't like it because of his health either… Since Celia also has a bit of health problems, but is very taken to the rain!"

"You used to be one of his kind." Griffin paused and jumped down from the ladder, jerking his head at Muffy. She blinked. "You hated the rain when you first arrived."

"…Did I?"

"Sure did. Yup." Griffin shook his head, laughing. "It had to do with how your hair reacted. I'm pretty sure that's what you were nagging about those first few couple of storms."

"That's so odd!" Muffy smiled at him brightly and shook her head, staring down at the glasses. "I don't hate it now…" In fact, she thought vaguely, I kind of feel as though I'm waiting for something because it's raining… Hm…

"I wonder what changed. It's all for the best, though. Maybe you came to like it because it draws in the customers and that equals more bank for your pocket." He winked at her playfully and kind of waved before opening his room's door and walking in. "I'm going to take a break. Keep an eye on the shop for me!"

"Will do, Griffin!" Knowing the bar tender's habits, Muffy figured he was going to kill a bit of time by playing guitar. Rainy days were busy, but they always had a slow start. "I guess it does bring the customers in," Muffy mumbled cheerily, replacing the glasses in their rightful positions in the cupboards. "But that doesn't feel quite right."

"What doesn't?"

Muffy started and straightened up immediately, blinking at the dark figure obscuring the entrance's open door's frame. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the light and identified the figure as a partially drenched version of QQ Ranch's very own Jack. She bit her lip and tried to block out any of the speculations she had making just the night before.

"Jack! I didn't even hear the door open!"

"It must be because of the thunder that's rolling around." Jack offered her a small smile and sighed, shutting the door carefully. "This storm came out of nowhere. It's nice that it waters my crops for me and all, but there was other things I had planned for today that I can't quite get done now…"

"Take a seat," Muffy smiled and gestured to the bar stools, noticing his uncomfortable stance by the doorway. Jack nodded and silently obliged. He shook his head in a fashion similar to a dog's as he sat and Muffy giggled at the boyish action. He grinned back in return. Dork. "What did you have planned?"

"Thanks. And. A few extra chores here and there." He put on a sheepish expression. "My energy doesn't quite hold out like it should when it's rainy out."

"Hm?" Muffy's eyebrow arched upwards. She leaned forward on the bar's counter and cocked her head to the side. "You're not sick, are you?"

"Oh, it's nothing like that." Jack laughed quietly. "Natural fatigue, I think?"

"That makes sense, I suppose."

"Hm." Jack nodded mildly, and looked down at his hands. "It gets in the way at times, but I guess I don't really mind it."

Muffy blinked, recalling the conversation she and Griffin had just a little while earlier. "Why is that?" He looked at her and she nervously restated the question. "I mean, if it's such a bother when it comes to what you can get done…"

"Oh!" Jack smiled in that slow, overly adorable way of his. "Well… That is because…" His eyes shied away and he stared down at his hands again, nervously mashing his fingers in different grips. "Do you like the rain, Muffy?"

"Me?" Muffy blinked, noticing the aversion of her question. "It's kind of funny you'd ask that. Earlier, Griffin was saying that I absolutely detested it because it would mess up my hair, back in the day." Jack looked up from his hands in time to see Muffy toss a bit of her hair. "It sounded so accurate that it was funny."

"Haha." Jack grinned, absorbing every detail with interest. "Back in the day? I wonder what it'd be like to have met the old Muffy."

"Um, I'm pretty sure you'll live a slightly better life without having her grace you with her presence."

"You can't have changed all that much, right?" Jack looked at her curiously, his confidence recomposed. Muffy began to shake her head.

"No way, I-…"

"And you're…"

They both stopped, startled as they tried to speak at the same time.

"Heh, go on, Muffy."

"No, it's okay. I want to hear what you have to say." Muffy placed her chin over her hands and smiled at Jack. "Go on."

"Um… Okay…" Jack mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "I was going to say, you're pleasant enough as it is now… I'm sure taking it back a couple of years wouldn't mess with much of your charm…"

The corners of Muffy's mouth twitched upward. "I wouldn't say it messed with my charm either… But you could say that I was a bit more materialistic, selfish, and geared towards a few things that are better off forgotten."

"…How mysterious." Jack's eyes flicked up at hers and back down at the counter, his demeanor completely serious. "But I think that maybe you're being hard on yourself." He paused, clearing his throat. "That sounded a bit conceited… But what I mean is, people tend to do that kind of thing, you know? And I know you… for the most part… Or, I mean, I like to think that I know you just a little… And you're a lovely person, Muffy, and even if you did have your quirks back then, I'm absolutely positive that life for me here in the Forget-Me-Not Valley wouldn't be nearly as fun or amazing if you weren't a part of it for me at all…"

Jack stopped suddenly and clenched his fists, his cheeks reddening considerably. "Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get so serious…!" His eyebrows lifted in a worried slant and he glanced back at her when she didn't respond right away. "Muffy?"

Muffy coughed, turning away from him and standing straight up. "Ah, no, it's okay." She took a drifty step towards the bar's stock shelves and idly traced a finger on one of the knobs. "What was I to prepare for you again?"

"…" Jack looked at her back and shoulders with worry and silently uttered, "Anything you recommend."

"I'll try something then." She pulled down a couple of bottles and immediately set to preparing his drink. "You're such a kind person, you know that, Jack?" She looked over her shoulder and flashed a smile at him. Jack relaxed and released a relieved sigh.

"If you say so…"

"You are!" Muffy returned her focus to her work, her face a little less pink than when she had initially turned away. "Everyone in town loves you and everything!"

"Everyone?"

Muffy turned to him with his finished drink and cheerily set it in front of him with something of a proud flare. "Yup! Everyone." She winked.

Jack blushed and quickly took a swig of his drink. "… Oh, wow! You're getting better every time!" She beamed at his compliment and he greedily took another drink. "This is great! I feel pretty energized just from those couple of sips." He shook the glass lightly and jerked his head at her. "What is this?"

"Something special to make you feel just that." Muffy smiled and tapped her nails against the counters. "You really like it? I thought I'd put in a bit of ingredients to help you recover whatever strength the rain had made you lose."

"It's perfect." He finished it off with a particularly long drink and grinned at her. "Thank you so much! How much?"

"Don't be silly." She waved him off and made a subtle glance towards the back door to make sure there was no danger of Griffin stepping out and scolding her for pulling that once again. "It was a bit of an experiment…" She winked at him again, "so, let's make it on the house, yeah?"

"Don't get in trouble on my account," Jack chuckled.

"I'm getting better at avoiding that," she laughed, twirling a strand of hair with one finger. There was a momentary silence and the rain pellets could be heard drumming against the roof of the bar.

"Come to think of it…" Jack looked around the empty shop and blinked at the far left corner on Muffy's side. "Where is Griffin?"

"He's playing guitar in the back." Muffy said easily. She made a strumming gesture with both hands and smiled. "I really admire that he can do that. I have no musical talent whatsoever."

"Really?" Jack shook his head. "You seem like you would have an excellent singing voice, though. Isn't that considered musical talent?"

Muffy gave him an amused giggle and mouthed, "No."

"I don't know what could have possibly made you think that." She verbalized.

"Your voice…" Jack blinked and lifted his finger to make a thoughtful pose. "I thought that because listening to you talk is so nice… that your singing voice was probably magnificent."

Muffy shyly looked at the counter and slowly placed her hand over Jack's. "Another silly notion. I don't think it works like that."

"Oh… it doesn't…?" Jack tensed under her touch and mentally stumbled on his word choices. "But it seemed logical… In my head, at least…"

Sensing his discomfort, Muffy squeezed his hand once and released it, smiling sadly. "You're silly."

"…" Jack caught her expression and frowned, standing and pushing his stool in. Muffy's eyes widened slightly at his sudden movements.

"Leaving so soon?"

"I don't want to let that drink of yours go to waste," Jack replied, smiling. He picked up his glass and kind of tossed it from hand to hand. "Could I see the main drink you put in it? I'll keep your secret. It just tasted so good, so…"

"Sure, just come right on back here." Muffy said, her eyes glittering with amusement. Jack joined her side and she gestured towards the stock shelves behind them. "If you look there," she pointed, "it's the third one from the left…"

Jack squinted and leaned closer towards the glass panels. "What year was it made?"

"Oh, um…" Muffy squinted a little herself and also leaned in. "I can't really see the last two numbers, but…"

"Muffy."

She turned to her right, her heart speeding up a few beats from the simple way he said her name. "Ye-…"

Jack quickly placed his glass on the ledge in front of them, leaned in towards her, and caught her full on the mouth with a well-aimed kiss, all in one smooth motion. "Thank you for the drink."

Before Muffy could reply or react, he dashed to the entrance and gave her a blushing smile and a hearty wave before jogging back out into the rain.

Muffy stood in a momentary paralysis, her arm somewhat extended in a reactive reach towards the farmer that was no longer there. Her face slowly heat up and her heartbeat lost its previous stability.

"…" She quietly picked up his glass and rolled the cool glass from hand to hand as he had. She smiled. "I didn't think… he'd try anything like that…"

"Thirsty?" Griffin exited the back rooms and cocked his head at her quizzically, his eyes trained on the glass. Muffy jumped and hastily straightened up.

"Um…! Um..! A bit…!"

"Say, did anyone come in just now? I thought I heard the welcoming sound of a customer running in." Griffin had already disregarded the used glass and was stepping towards the front door, scratching the back of his head.

"Ah… I think it was the thunder, Griffin!"

"Oh. That's a bit disappointing." He sighed and looked back at her. "You're looking a bit red-faced there, Muffy. You're not starting up old habits again, are you?"

"Of course not, Griffin!" Muffy pouted, pressing the glass against her flaming cheeks. "I was only a bit thirsty, so I got a small drink. A virgin drink…!"

"Relax, I was only teasing!" Griffin chuckled with amusement and looked back at the door. "Shame that it wasn't a customer though. I thought it'd be entertaining to have a third person to chat with. Guess we'll have to wait a little longer before your rainy day expectations are met, eh, Muffy?"

Muffy tilted her gaze downwards, realizing that her previously expectant emotions towards the weather had vanished. "Hm…" She smiled slowly, understanding what they had really been. "I suppose… Griffin, is it wrong to be happy that the rain makes people a little weaker than usual sometimes?"

Griffin frowned and rubbed his chin. "It certainly doesn't sound right…"

"I think there are special cases, though." Muffy placed the rim of the glass against her lips, smiling. "Is that right?"

"You could say that about anything, though."

"That's true. In battle, life," Muffy closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering against temporarily rosy skin, "and… love."

Somewhat cheesy and plotless ending, I know.
This story is lacking a plot -_- But I'll make an excellent MuffyxJack one that isn't so spineless (er, without plot) soon.
What do you guys think? ;D Let me know in a review!
- ikaism