Title: Lovely Discovery

Pairing: Owen x Angela

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the Harvest Moon franchise. Please only credit me for the fanfic itself.

Rating: T

Author's Note: I'm back! Woohoo! I'm excited to get started on these bonus chapters. Depending on reviews, this can go on for as long as you guys want. I'll still upload other stories for HM, but if you guys have ideas, I love hearing them. So, are we ready for the next fun chapter? I am! :D

Please, enjoy!

-START-

The next day, Owen and Angela raced to the clinic via mine cart. The trip only lasted a few minutes before the wooden device approached a ring of light at the end of the tunnel. A few seconds later, the bright blue ocean was before them and the cart had slowed to a complete stop. Owen hopped out and used his strong arms to grab Angela's waist and hoist her over the edge. She landed against his chest.

Both blushed for a brief moment and looked up at each other. They laughed softly before remembering their mission. Hand in hand, the pair sprinted down the cobblestone street and eventually came to the cerulean building that Jin and Irene worked in. After a few powerful knocks on the door, said man appeared in the entryway. "She's in the back," Jin said before either one of them could speak. There was a smile on his face. "You can see her right now." Owen ran inside without hesitation to see his cousin. The doctor dodged him like a graceful bullfighter and turned to smile at Angela who'd stayed back in order to give Owen privacy with Chloe.

"Hello, Dr. Jin!" she remarked breathlessly. The sprint had robbed almost all the air from her lungs.

"You seem better," Jin remarked with a grin. Pushing on his glasses, the young man showed her through the door and to the back room. There was a curtain partition blocking her view from the entryway. Angela pushed it aside slowly to see the little redheaded girl smiling up at Owen. She was giggling at his concern, the little rascal! She probably had no idea how worried both of them had been. Chloe sat up to talk to both adults. Jin clucked his tongue in disapproval and ordered her to lie back down. "Don't get up, Chloe. I need you to rest your back. You said it ached a little while ago. If your spine is injured, we can't make it worse."

The little girl pouted and crossed her arms indignantly.

"But you said everything was fine when you did the X-ray thingy!" Chloe's voice was very soft.

"It's a precautionary measure," Jin said in a sharp tone that indicated finality on the matter. With a soft huff, Chloe reclined back and sighed deeply. Laying still must have been killing the energetic girl. Angela decided to do something to help her. After all, she knew fully well that being sick when you were little was no fun. Angela plopped down on her knees and reached over to cup Chloe's small cheek.

"Hey Chloe," Angela piped up, stealing her tiny hand into her gloved one. "Would you like some toys from your house to play with? I can run and get them if you'd like!"

The farmer's concern for his little cousin made Owen grin broadly at Angela. He would have kissed her had Jin not been a few inches away. Meanwhile, Chloe's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, yes! Thank you Angela! Could you bring me some of my dollies? They're in my toy chest in my room. It's red with a star on top of it, so you can't miss it!"

"Of course!" Angela said merrily, standing to run out the door and head back to the smithy. Owen had intended to stay with the little girl until Jin told him he had more tests to run. The doctor said they could come see her again in around half an hour. This caused many sad faces in the room, especially Chloe. Angela waved goodbye from the doorway and walked outside.

Owen told his little cousin he had to leave. The redhead understood and nodded meekly to the larger man. "Owen, could you bring me ice-cream?"

"Sure, kiddo. What flavor?"

"Coffee, please."

"Coffee. Got it!"

Chloe sat up and kissed Owen's cheek before he left. He met his girlfriend on the porch of the clinic. Heaving a tremendous sigh, the miner put his hands in his pockets and started to walk down the steps. Angela caught his arm and followed. One look at his face told her he seemed to be frustrated. That act made her arch a brow. There was no need for him to be anxious. Chloe seemed to be in almost perfect condition. There were minor concerns about her back, but from what she understood, it was just an ache. Angela's back would have hurt if she'd been pinned under a rock for hours. "What's wrong?" she finally asked. Owen shook his head. As usual, he was going to simply smile and hide his emotions as to not trouble anyone. Angela ran before him and put her small hands on his shoulders. "That's not going to fly, mister! I'm your girlfriend now, so you have to tell me what's wrong! Please?"

The way she spoke was flirty and sweet with just a dash of mock anger. She gave him huge, wet eyes to try and persuade him. That seemed to loosen Owen up a bit.

"Well…it's just that…"

"Just what, baby?"

He turned red at the pet name and laughed. The farmer cocked her head and suddenly realized what she'd just said. Two hands shot towards her lips in utter humiliation. "S-Sorry…is that too weird?"

"No, not at all!" he told her with a smile, bending down to kiss her lips. His mind flashed back to the evening on the beach where she'd used the same name. Perhaps she hadn't been completely crazy. Then again, Owen thought she had to be a little insane to like him back. He didn't mind that at all.

"So, what were you going to say?" Angela asked again, her curiosity conquering her embarrassment.

"Honestly, I'm still a little shaken," he admitted, kicking a small pebble down the road. Angela blinked and didn't understand. She took him down to the pier. Angela told him to tell her everything while they sat and relaxed. There was no need to rush. "Chloe's fine and you're okay, but I feel like I couldn't protect you both. You were the one who helped my cousin, not me. I failed you and Chloe. It didn't really sink in until I saw her in that hospital bed. We could have actually died. It's my fault. I'm sorry that I was so weak."

He spoke with such conviction that Angela was in shock. How could he possibly think that? The woman quickly shifted against the man and embraced him tightly, almost knocking the both of them off the dock and into the water. He caught her and wrapped one thick arm around her waist.

"Angela?"

"Of course it's not your fault!" she said, pulling away ad looking at him sincerely. "If you hadn't been there, we couldn't have busted the boulder to get to Chloe. When you went up there to save her, you cleared the staircase for me when I went up. I just woke you up and helped you break the rock. The rest was you."

Owen laughed at the compliment. "Maybe you're right…but it would have been impossible without you."

"Maybe. Thank goodness I was in love with you!"

"You would have come even if you didn't love me, you little liar!" His voice was playful as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"How do you know?"

Owen smirked and pulled the woman into his lap. Squeaking with surprise, Angela stared back at him as he leaned over her. He decorated her soft lips with a loving kiss. While it was chaste, it still made her flush bright red. "I know because you are the sweetest…" he murmured as he kissed her, "Kindest, strongest and most loving person I've ever known." He nuzzled her neck and felt her body's temperature shoot up as he held her. In order to prevent her from dying of embarrassment, he moved the woman off his lap and resolved to simply hold her hand. Angela was not one to reject against modest PDA, but other passerby might be less lenient. After a couple minutes of simply watching the ocean together, they resolved to finally get Chloe's things. About fifteen minutes had passed. If they hurried back there was a good chance they could see the poor girl right after her examination. Angela was grateful she just had to get the dolls.

She had no idea how Owen was going to manage to smuggle that ice cream.

XOXOXOXOXO

Angela would have to thank Bo for fixing that mine cart. It had come in so handy traveling back and forth that she was ready to bow down to it. She had never realized how useful it was until she had to be in a hurry. They got back to the clinic in such a speedy time that Chloe's ice cream hardly melted along the way despite the intense glare of the sun.

Owen knocked on the door of the clinic. This time, Jin had a more sour expression on his face as he stood in the doorway. He quickly masked it with a smile to try and make sure Owen didn't notice. Angela picked up on the frown and was worried. Jin sent Owen to Chloe's side and pulled Angela over to another room. There was a matter he had to discuss with her privately about Chloe's condition. After taking a quick look to make sure Owen was distracted, Jin grabbed her hand and pulled her around the corner.

"D-Dr. Jin?" Angela asked with wide eyes. The man had been fine when they'd left the clinic before. "What's wrong?"

"Well…" he began, pushing on his glasses. "I'm afraid I ran the tests and found out something interesting about Chloe."

"Something interesting?" Angela asked obliviously. The farmer had no idea what he was talking about and inquired further. Jin made sure Owen was busy fussing over Chloe before pulling her closer so that they could whisper. Now Angela was starting to get worried. If something had happened to Chloe, why didn't he want Owen to hear? "Dr. Jin, I'm confused. Is something wrong with Chloe? You should be discussing it with Owen!"

"There is something wrong with Chloe," he muttered after clamping a hand over her mouth to prevent her from yelling. "But I can't tell him. You have to know first. It…kind of applies to you."

Panic surged through her. "S-Something to do with me? Did I…hurt her in the mines?"

"No, you didn't hurt her."

"What's wrong with Chloe? Dr. Jin, please tell me!"

Jin tried to silence her again. However, it was too late. Owen overheard Angela's question and lifted his head slowly to see them talking near the door. He told Chloe he'd be back soon and strode towards the pair, eyes filled with concern and bewilderment. "What's wrong?" he asked, lifting a brow as he looked between Angela's alarmed face and Jin's stressed face. "Dr. Jin, are you not telling us something?"

The doctor rubbed his temples and seethed in annoyance.

"Angela, I really didn't want to talk to you in front of Owen…"

"Why not?" they asked the doctor in union. Owen's eyes became darker out of anger and fear. He didn't like when things were hidden from him. If something was wrong with his cousin, he needed to know. Angela kept one hand on Owen's shoulder and looked at Jin.

Angela cocked her head to the side and asked again, "What's wrong with Chloe? You…said it involved me. How?"

"I didn't want to embarrass you, Angela," Jin replied, still trying to find a way to tell them what was wrong. He was grimacing crazily and was blushing ever-so-slightly. Now Owen was even more intrigued. The matter involved his girlfriend and cousin, and Jin had apparently tried to hide it from him. The miner had no intention of leaving until Jin answered his questions. The doctor saw no alternative and closed his eyes in resignation. "Well…I suppose the both of you are aware of the massive amount of gasses in mines. It would appear that Chloe is suffering from the effects of one very special gas."

Owen lifted a brow. Angela blanched in sudden realization. So that's why Jin had said she was involved. The farmer knew where this was going. "What do you mean? Which one?" the miner asked, much to Angela's horrid dismay.

Jin opened his mouth to explain. Angela tried to stop him by giving her best distressed face. Jin shook his head at her. It was too late. She'd been too dense and now Jin had no choice but to explain the effects of the fumes or suffer Owen's very realistic wrath. "Well, Angela knows the effects very well. I'm afraid…that Chloe probably did some mining before the storm and came across fumes that your friend quite familiar with."

The woman struggled to find words as Owen offered her a clueless look. "Are you serious?" she muttered, searching his face for any trace of deceit. When none manifested, Angela felt woozy. "Oh, no…"

Owen looked between them desperately.

"Now, don't panic," Jin told her frantically as he saw the color rush from her cheeks. "Remember, you went through the same symptoms. Something will only happen to her if a special condition is met."

"Special condition?" Owen asked, knifing his fingers through his hair. "Uh…someone please tell me what's going on!"

Hazel eyes met gray eyes. Angela laughed and tried to think of the best way to explain matters to Owen. She had foolishly been hoping that embarrassing situation she'd been in would never come up again. Still, Owen deserved to know what was wrong with his cousin. Jin may have been a doctor, but she knew better than anyone what the experience was like. "Well…it's…how do I explain?"

Jin tapped her shoulder. "Angela, does Chloe…have anyone she…"

"Does she…?" Angela wondered.

"Does she what?" Owen wanted to know. "What's going on?"

Angela didn't have time to answer his question. The door of the clinic burst open at that exact moment and a young boy rushed inside. Owen pulled Angela back from the doorway and into his arms to prevent her from being trampled. The young boy had blond hair and bright eyes. "Taylor…?" Jin asked, recognizing the child as Anissa's little brother. "What are you doing here?"

Taylor didn't seem to turn the doctor's question. Instead, he headed towards Chloe's bed where the exhausted child had fallen asleep. "Chloe! Chloe!"

"Hey, you can't go back there!" Jin yelled, racing toward the back. Angela and Owen followed hastily. The doctor pointed a finger the young girl's bed and snapped in his most angry sounding voice, "She's trying to rest! Taylor, come back here!"

Again, he didn't seem to hear his sister's friend. The golden haired child bent over Chloe's face and saw that she was okay. It was only then that he showed any other emotion besides manic hysteria. Angela thought that Taylor was about the hug the sleeping girl out of relief. Taylor stayed close to her and reached down to take her hand. The redhead stirred as if she was about to awaken. "Chloe…thank goodness you're okay!" he shouted with relief, exhaling a held breath. "I just found out about what happened last night. I didn't know you were involved! I should have been there to save you."

Angela smiled and Owen blinked at the strange sight. Angela was in the middle of a sweet giggle when a thought stopped her dead. "Wait…" she realized, reaching over to frantically tap Owen's shoulder. "Hey, Owen, how close are Taylor and Chloe?"

Not understanding the context of the question, he shrugged and tried to come up with an answer. "Well…she told me a little while ago that she had a bit of a crush on him. I laughed because she's just a kid. That's all I can think of."

The little girl's eyes opened and her head slowly turned towards Taylor's. Her sleepy eyes filled with a sudden light as she sat up and beamed at the little boy. In less than a second, she threw her arms around his neck, pushing him to the ground. Her cheeks were as red as two blushing cherries. "Taylor! You came to see me! Oh, thank you so much! I love you!"

Jin made an alarmed grunt and Angela felt weak in the knees. She could only imagine the look on Owen's face behind her. Other than the fact that she was witnessing how stupidly she had acted mere days ago, the fact that it was Chloe was equally surprising.

Before the young girl choked Taylor in her passionate embrace, Jin pulled them apart. Chloe was scooped up by Owen and a confused Taylor was told to go home. The excuse for her behavior was that she was still on an ample amount of pain medication. Angela thought the boy seemed a little disappointed, but he also understood. He headed home moments later. An atmosphere of normality was restored to the clinic. The little girl was sleepy after her attack on Taylor and fell limp in Owen's arms. He tucked his cousin back into bed. Angela was starting to think that she'd escaped having to explain the act, but that was wrong. "Angela…" he asked, clearly finished with waiting for others to answer his questions. "What's going on?"

Both adults stared at each for a long time. Angela looked to Jin for help, but the doctor simply shook his head and went to the little girl's side. Irene was waiting for him and they pulled the curtain around the bed to give the couple some sense of privacy. Knowing she was on her own, Angela rubbed her hands together nervously and tried to paste together an explanation that made some sense. It wasn't like she'd suffered something traumatic…but it was incredibly humiliating to explain, especially to her boyfriend! "O-Okay…you're not going to believe me…"

He smiled dully.

Owen's grin brought a sense of ease to her. Swallowing, she took a deep breath. Words poured forth like a stream.

She told him everything.

She told him about what had been happening to her over the last seven days. About why she'd gone to the top of the mines, about how she'd been affected by the fumes, about why she'd been acting weird and how she had no ability to control her actions. He appeared shocked and, at some points, just as embarrassed as her during her explanation. Angela pressed on until she thought she had answered every question he might have had. When does it go away? How did Chloe come across it? Why couldn't I see you? Is that why you were acting weird? She addressed each one in great detail. By the end, Angela felt as if it were impossible to breathe. She looked to him and tried to read his visage. It was a look that was impossible to describe. Angela found herself laughing and slumped into a nearby chair, happy to have the weight off her chest.

It was just as bad as she had imagined it would be, but at least she'd told him.

"Are you…okay?" she asked with a weak smile.

He blinked free from a daze and chuckled. He lifted a massive hand to his forehead and nodded, finding a seat next to her and plopping down. "Y-Yeah…" he stammered, looking to her with clear eyes. "I had no idea. It sounds…like something so stupid and made up. I've never even heard of fumes like that before!"

"Amorous gas is kind of a stupid name, huh?" she agreed, crossing her legs anxiously. "I thought it was a joke too. But…"

"You were wrong?"

"You have no idea…"

They both laughed at that statement. Angela didn't expect Owen to cut off her giggle by taking her hand into his own and placing his lips upon hers. For a few minutes, his kissed silenced her completely. When they pulled away, he chuckled as she whimpered in protest and tried to pull him back. To tease her, he let his lips linger over hers before pulling away once more. "We'll finish after we leave, okay?" he whispered, kissing her cheek tenderly. Angela managed a nod through a thick blush and stood. Pretending to be angry, she made him swear to keep said promise. He offered her his best heartthrob smile and sensually whispered back, "I'll keep my promise. You deserve a massive reward for telling me the truth."

Every hair on the back of her next stood up. Owen gave her a lecherous smile and tightened his grip on her hand. He only averted his gaze from Angela when the sound of Chloe yawning loudly filled the room. He was by her side in an instant to make sure she was okay.

"O-Owen…?"

"Hey there," he said with a grin, tousling the girl's hair playfully. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

The little girl was about to give a modest reply when she noticed the dolls and ice cream nearby. Glowing, she gave an enthusiastic nod and began to play as if she had forgotten she was in a hospital bed. She reached for the ice cream container and politely asked for a spoon. While Irene retrieved a plastic one from the back room, Angela stood beside Owen as leaned her head against his shoulder. Just as Finn had said before, everything had turned out okay. They'd been through a lot, and somehow, everyone was happy. It felt so unreal. Owen squeezed her lovingly and held her close.

"I love you," he told her firmly. "You know that, right?

"Of course!" Angela said with almost as much enthusiasm as Chloe. "But you could never love me more than I love you!"

She jumped up and embraced him roughly, almost sending him toppling on the ground.

Irene came back with a spoon and handed it to the girl. She accepted it thankfully and pried open the lid to the container. She peered inside and made a groaning noise.

"Owen, you meanie! This ice cream is all melted!"

-END-

Well, more bonus chapter to come! I hope you enjoyed my romantic crack story! It was so much fun! You'll see more in the near future!

Please have an awesome day and I'll see you all soon! Bye!