Title: Candy Shock

Part 2 - Angela's Concern

-START-

Thank goodness Owen hadn't come home yet. He would have had a million questions had he walked in the door at his usual time.

Angela had been sobbing for hours after his departure. Her face was red and her eyes were glassy. Her raspberry lips, with were normally beaming happily, were twisted into a sorrowful pout. Most would have assumed it was because of her hormones or because of the baby's kicking. But no, neither of those answers was correct. Angela had brought the sorrow upon herself.

She'd been taking a shower earlier that morning and had made the mistake of looking in the mirror, something she'd consciously avoided doing since she'd started showing. It wasn't like she was ashamed of her baby. No, far from it.

Angela always talked with the townspeople about her baby, more so with the women than the men. Then again, most of the other bachelors in town were getting married, so talking to Angela and getting tips about the pregnancy was helpful for many of them.

No, what had filled her with sorrow was her own reflection. She'd just avoided looking at her belly because she knew it might make her self-conscious. But, upon glancing at herself, she realized it was more than that. It wasn't just her mid-section that looked different. Her body had completely changed.

Her breasts drooped and had darkened to a cherry hue. Silver stretch marks adorned her stomach and under her eyes were plum-colored circles. She was still thin, but the tautness she garnered from working on her farm was beginning to fade. Thanks to morning sickness, her skin had paled slightly and her cheeks were slightly sunken in.

It was like looking at a different person, and it frightened her.

This is what led her to cry into a pillow for the majority of the day. Thankfully she'd managed to get dressed and feed the animals before the dams on her eyes finally broke.

Hobbes sensed her frustration and stayed by her side the whole time. He did some of his cutest tricks to try and bring a smile to her face, but to no avail. He was just about to give up when Owen walked in from work, his muscular body drained of energy and hammer dragging behind him.

He shut the door and removed his tight, black shirt from his dust-covered body. It was in the middle of summer, and it was easy for Angela to see that he'd been working deep within the mines. "Ugh…it's so hot out there! Did you come inside because of that as well, Angela?"

"O-Of course," the farmer said carefully, trying to hide her sobs by maintaining an even voice. Seconds in, Owen's silence indicated suspicion, and she knew she was failing. He tossed his shirt into the laundry and approached her, careful not to set her off. "H-How was your day?" Angela blubbered, trying to distract him.

"Angela, what's wrong?"

"N-Nothing. Are you thirsty?" she asked with a giggled, furiously wiping her eyes. "I'll get you some water."

"Are you crying?" he asked frankly, placing both of his hands upon her quivering shoulders. He looked over her shoulders to study her face. Tears were running down her cheeks.

She started away from him before he could even ask.

"It's nothing!" she said, jerking away and trying to hide her face. Some girls looked pretty when they cried, like Luna or Anissa. Angela was not fortunate enough to be one of those girls. Her pretty visage became puffy and scorching, and her lips pursed together until her lips looked like a line across her jaw. Angela was an ugly crier, but Owen was also one of those men who didn't care.

He took another step forward. Angela heard this and copied him. She dashed towards the kitchen, shoulders rattling violently.

"It has nothing to do with the baby…trust me, I'm fine!" she said again, plastering a smile on her face.

"Then what is it?" he asked tenderly. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"Y-Yes."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I-It has nothing to do with you, Owen. I'm not mad at you. It's something…else."

"Maybe I can make you feel better," he rationalized, lifting a brow. "C'mon, tell me what's got you so down, Angela. Life's been great for months…what could possibly get you so worked up?"

Owen led Angela to the cream-colored sofa and sat her down carefully, gathering her in his arms. Angela placed her head atop his strong shoulder. Angela thought Owen was going to talk with her and convince her to simply tell him what was wrong, but he didn't. The woman was surprised to see that the man simply held her close and stroked her hair in consolation. He wanted her to talk when she was ready. He didn't want to force anything out of her. He would stay with her until her tears stopped and she was ready to speak. Angela appreciated the action so much that she was unable to bottle up her emotions.

Without warning, her worries seemed to pour forth like a stream.

"W-When I got out of the shower, I looked at myself in the mirror…" she stuttered, hand flying to her mouth. Owen cocked his head, obviously not understanding. Still, he smiled and continued to caress her gently.

"Then what?"

"I…saw what I l looked like," she squealed, sobs being ripped from her now. "I-I saw how big my belly was…and what my face has become…and it scares me that I can't be the same person you married."

Angela was by no means haughty, but she believed she was attractive (except when she cried, of course.) The woman liked to take care of herself. She always washed her hair, brushed her teeth and was careful to keep her weight in check, which wasn't hard considering the amount of work she did every day. She was born with naturally pretty features that, while there were not beautifully glamorous, were simplistic enough to attract men.

She knew Owen loved her for more than her looks. Hell, their personalities clicked upon their first meeting, and they'd been inseparable since. Still, Owen couldn't have wanted a wife who was ugly, right? It wasn't logical. Men wanted wives that were pretty, even if they were the only ones that thought so. She knew it was true, because she knew women wanted husbands that were handsome. It wasn't bad, that's just how attractions worked. While other women didn't see it, she thought Owen was to most perfect man in the world. Where others saw a mortal, she saw a god.

She longed to be the same way for him.

Even if other men saw her as plain, she wanted to be beautiful…even if it was only for him.

"I…I'm sorry I look like this."

It was impossible to describe the emotion that flashed in Owen's eyes. It was a cross between anger and shock. Whatever it was, that sentence caught his attention. He pinned her aggressively to the couch and held her still. "O-Owen…?"

"Don't ever say that you aren't beautiful, Angela."

"W-What…?"

He leaned in and kissed her chastely, then deeply to show his passion. Her breath hitched when she felt his hardened lips upon hers, but she softened into him and wrapped her arms around him, never wanting him to leave her. When both were breathless, he pulled away from her and kept her close. There was such a look of sadness on his face as they embraced tightly.

"I love you so much," he admitted quietly. "More than you could ever know. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and while you may look different with this baby inside of you, you're still beautiful."

"O-Owen...I-I don't…" she mumbled, perplexed by what he was saying. "I look different. I'm not as pretty as I used to be. I-I'll try to…go back to the way I was before I was pregnant, but I may not. What if my body stays different…?" she asked with hesitation.

"You are the woman that is carrying my baby," he repeated.

For some reason, that sentence struck her. "The woman…with your baby?"

"Yes," he said adamantly, still holding her shoulders. "Even if you look a little different afterwards, you'll still be beautiful."

Angela wanted to believe him so badly.

"You're just saying that because I'm your wife, right?" she asked with a nervous laugh.

"You're my friend, my lover and my wife. I'd never lie to all three of you."

Angela looked to him to see a smirk across his diamond-cut face. He wasn't lying at all. A blush rose to her cheeks, but it was accompanied by a smile. Most men wouldn't have known what to say. Owen not only knew what to say, but he hadn't told her one lie. Everything he'd spoken had been the truth. She was so happy that her heart almost soared from her chest.

The miner looked to her and chuckled at her happiness, kissing her forehead. "Feel better?"

"Of course," she tweeted like a songbird. Her merriness had returned, and it was welcomed by both of them. "I don't even remember when I stopped crying."

He laughed and commenced to put away his mining tools, still without his shirt. Angela was finally chipper enough to notice and couldn't help but come up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. Stacking his bag and hammer in the cabinet, he turned to her and hugged her back, careful to avoid hurting the active baby.

"So, you don't mind if I gain a little weight?" she asked coyly.

"With all that work you do in the fields, you'll work it off in no time," he said with a sly grin. The redhead's hand reached around Angela's waist and cupped her firm rear flirtatiously. "If the farm work doesn't do it, I'm sure I could help you immensely in that department, love."

-END-

If I were a Harvest Moon character, my most favorite gift would be pita chips. Oh my god, I've eaten them while writing these two chapters, and they are so delicious. Guys, organic pita chips. Eat them. Peer pressure.

Oh, but I hoped you enjoyed! I may write more depending on reviews, but there isn't much more to tell. Thanks for reading!