Disclaimer: I still don't own harvest moon, but I do still own Raven.

Author's note: I hope you enjoy the following chapter. Just don't expect a routine of these quick updates.

Last time:

A few minutes later Raven was staring out at the snowy fields of his grandfather's farm. The emptiness as far as the eye could see was too much for him, moving him off into a tangent of memories.

But lucky or unlucky, however you want to look at it. Raven was brought out of his musings, when a small podgy man, Raven remembered as the mayor ran up to him yelling about being on private property.

Turning around Raven smiled and waved. Stopping the mayor dead in his tracks.

"Raven, is that you?"

"I came as soon as I got Karen's letter. I'm sorry if my being here causes anyone trouble."

Walking up the rest of the way, Raven realised that the man who was once bigger than him, was no longer so. Of course Raven was only 6 the last time he saw him. Raven had grown into a fine young man of five foot nine inches. And the mayor, had if anything seemingly shrunk by a few.

"Not any trouble at all. I'm just so sorry for your loss. He was truly a great man and will be deeply missed."

"Thank you, a lot of people agree with you, I was hoping I could see him before the funeral? Is that ok?"

"Well, it's not the way things usually work. But you are family. On the other hand it's not really up to me, you'd need to talk to pastor Cartor. But I'm afraid he's actually gone on holiday, he's not expected back until the 28th. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"Honestly I must admit didn't think everything through very well. I got Karen's letter, grabbed some money and made my way here."

"Well I suppose under the circumstances, it's understandable. But now the issue is where you'll stay until pastor Cartor gets back. You mentioned you got some money, how much have you got?"

"About 80 gold. Most of what I had was for the ferry. I'm sorry; I really should have kept a more level head. Now I've gone and caused hassle for you."

"Now stop that moping right now young man, your grandfather wouldn't have wanted you to be sad."

"I know, hey how about I rent a room at the inn, I know I wont be able to afford more than one night, but maybe I'll be able to work off my keep."

Instantly the small rotund man that had gotten a serious and in deep thought look upon his face, brightened up at the sound of my plan. Obviously pleased. "That's a good idea Raven, Doug's a reasonable man, I'm sure he'd be able to work something out with you."

"I'll do just that."

Picking up his backpack full of what little he brought, Raven smiled while slinging it over his shoulder.

"Well, I'll see you around then Raven, if you ever need anything just ask someone, we're all friendly here." With a wave and a smile the podgy man disappeared at a surprising speed for someone with such stubby legs.

A few minutes later Raven had made it to the inn, just in time to see cliff shaking a redheaded mans hand and walking up some stairs following a redheaded girl. Now Raven wasn't a pervert, not even a little, but one could not control where ones eyes land if your looking up the stairs and it happens to land on the girls behind. If he'd have known he'd end up staring at the redheads butt he'd not have looked.

Though it's not to say he didn't feel attracted to the opposite sex, more along the lines of he felt that he shouldn't look without permission. A rather old style view on things, but he couldn't help how he felt.

"Nice butt though.."

"Hello there Raven! Haven't seen you in, what was it, 12 years? Come over here and tell me what I can do for you" the man that cliff had been talking to, shouted while waving Raven over. Raven knew him surprisingly well from his visit 6 years ago, the owner of the inn, Doug had been an old family friend with his grandfather.

Smiling and waving back Raven walked over to the counter and leaned on the top. "Hey Doug. Long time no see all right. 12 years would be about right."

"You've certainly grown since then."

"Well I would do, I was only 6 at the time" Raven retorted with a smile and a laugh. How he missed the town. Everyone was so friendly; you just never wanted to leave.

"That you were. I'm terribly sorry about your grandfather, he will be sorely missed, not just as a friend, but he brought a lot of money into the village as well. His farm sold more than every other business in the town together, twice."

"He's why I'm here really. I got Karens letter and made my way here straight away."

"And I'm guessing you didn't think things through and need a room?"

"You know me so well despite how much time's past. I'll pay for what I can, and if it's ok with you I'll work off what I haven't got in money. I'll pay you back as soon as I can, you know I'd never try and bail on you."

"Well, I usually don't take that sort of deal. But consider it me paying a debt to your old man. I wont let you slouch on the deal either mind you, there's a lot of repairs to be done around here. Ann's never been all that good with tools, and I can only do so much."

"That's perfectly fine, I don't have no experience to be honest, but I'll keep trying til it's perfect. By the way the brown haired guy you just did business with," Raven said while pointing towards the stairs, where the redheaded girl came back down cheerily. "I met him on the ferry. He's a carefree spirit all right, but I trust him. The sort you feel like you've been friends with for years. If you know what I mean"

"Sure do, he's doing a similar deal. Except he's got his money. He just wants to stretch it out a little more. Ann seemed a little too happy for my liking about him showing up though, friend of yours or not, I'm going to keep an eye on him."

"Understood. Speaking of Ann, where is she, I haven't seen her in years."

Smiling to himself he pointed over at the very same read headed girl that Raven had checked out moments earlier. A slight blush crept up over his face. Unfortunately for Ravens sake, it was not unnoticed by Doug, her father.

"Well, what do you think of her?"

Usually when posed that question one would say what suited the instance. Considering the one asking was her father, it would be something like, 'She looks cheerful'. But when taken by surprise and in the years of total embarrassment, things never usually went the way anyone wanted.

"She's…cute."

The moment Raven realised he'd actually told the truth; he turned around expecting an angry face or a cold stare. But instead he was greeted by a warm smile.

"I'm glad you were honest, most people just say she looks cheerful. Her mother, my wife. Died only a few years after she was born. Before you arrived. But she was too young back then to understand. And so it didn't affect her right away. But I was starting to worry without a womanly role model in her life. She'd continue down her tomboyish ways and never get interested in good boys. Or the other way round."

"I.. well.. um. Ok." Needless to say, Raven wasn't sure what to say. He'd been afraid of some underlying threat hidden behind a warm façade, but instead it was replied with a bit of history behind Ann's ways.

Noticing someone new, Ann walked over and smiled, "Hello there, welcome. If there's anything you want let us know."

Obviously like Raven, she didn't recognise him right away, it took a smirk from her father to figure out something wasn't right. Looking from her dad to the almost albino looking man in front of her, it clicked pretty soon after she made a mental checklist if he was someone she knew.

"Raven, is that you? It's got to have been 12 years!" throwing all formalities aside, the redhead instantly jumped into a hug. Making Raven blush a little, and Doug smile all the more.

"Hey Ann, long time no see." Raven replied, lightly hugging the girl back.

Instantly making the connection of Ravens grandfather passing away and his sudden appearance, she quickly let go and apologised about his passing away.

But Raven was quick to wave it off, he knew people felt bad but he didn't. Like Rick had said, "he's with his wife now. Happy up in heaven no doubt enjoying a retirement that he definitely deserved"

No longer feeling awkward, Raven took the opportunity to look Ann over quickly, in a friendly 'haven't seen you in a long time' way. Nothing perverted. Nope. Over the 12 years since he last saw her, she'd grown a good few feet taller, just past his shoulder. An average and nice height for a girl her age. Her hair, which had grown proportionately larger with everything else about her, was pulled back in a single braid. She was wearing a pair of denim overalls and despite his views on looking at girls; he took note of her female oriented 'growth' as well.

At the sight of Raven being so mature, she took her own moment to check him over. Seemed his hair had grown long, almost as long as hers. Its original dull grey was more bright white, but that might have been from the lighting of the bar or a bit of snow he mightn't have noticed. His eyes were still mysterious. She'd seen a blind traveller at the inn before, and the eyes were very similar. Except Raven had no problem seeing. She always wondered about those eyes.

Noticing Ann's staring at his eyes, Raven smiled and turned around towards Doug. "My eyes always have this reaction with people."

"They are rather special. How about you go settle Raven upstairs Ann, he'll be staying with us for a while."

Nodding in silence, still looking into Ravens eyes she barely even listened to her father's words.

Wasn't until he coughed and repeated himself that she shook herself out of it and started leading the boy off upstairs.

Moments later, upstairs Ann dropped Raven off at a door and told him that the middle bed or the bed on the far left was open, but he'd be rooming with someone else. Just as she was turning around and heading back downstairs she turned back around and smiled, "Oh and dinners at 6. First one and last ones, free of charge considering you're an old friend."

Smiling and nodding as a reply, Raven opened the door and went inside, leaving Ann to return to her post welcoming guests.

Inside the room, cliff hadn't unpacked a single thing; instead he was fast asleep on the bed on the far right, spread out as far as his body could on the surprisingly large mattresses.

Placing his bag on the end of the bed on the far left; he pulled out a baseball cap Jack had leant him, put it on after adjusting the size and turned it backwards. A little quiff of hair poking out the hole at the back of the cap leaving an ashen coloured lock of hair dangling over his forehead.

Pulling out what little money he had he thought up his options. He quickly decided on paying Doug for the bed, then making his way to see Karen and Rick. By Ravens watch, it was 8:50 and from the letters he got, Karen and Rick spoke almost every day at 9am till 10am outside the supermarket. They'd be in for a big surprise.