So, as I was writing this chapter one day, I was drinking some "Honest Tea." I was towards the end of the chapter, and at the end of my drink, when I saw the inside of the bottle wrapper (where honest tea likes to hide quotes) and found a quote that was not only perfect for this chapter, but perfect for the day outside. I swear that I had already written Marlin's 'rain' line (and the first 6,000 words of the chapter) before I came across this quote. However, I hadn't had a title yet, and it convinced me that I had to base the title of the chapter off of it. I thought it was a pretty cool story and quote to share. I just love it when little things work that way.

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harvest Moon related.

…

Chapter 5: Rain

Fall 8th, Year 2

Continued…

Vesta's face was twisted into hard lines as she looked upon Jill with abrupt confusion and concern.

"Good morning, Jill…" Vesta began hesitantly. "Hey… are you okay?"

"Y-yes. Why?" Jill questioned, apparent nervousness strung in her voice for fear of how the red head would reply.

"Well, it's just… yer stark white… Did you not sleep well?"

Jill's face was pale from both her fright and her lack of sleep; the dark circles under her eyes only added contrasting shadows which only caused her condition to appear worse. She blinked at Vesta for a moment, trying to gather her barring. She didn't know what to expect from the visit, but Vesta's hadn't started off yelling, so there was still a small sign of hope.

"Yeah, I… I just couldn't sleep well last night," Jill admitted; she at least hadn't begun with a lie.

"Well… I'm sorry to hear about that," Vesta replied with earnest concern, as she awkwardly touched a hand behind her head with mannerism that matched her brothers. She obviously knew something more than what she divulged, but it didn't seem to relate to the same event which fueled Jill's anxiety.

"Jill…" Vesta commanded her attention once more with a freshly serious tone.

Jill stiffened. "…Yes?"

"If ya need help with anything… just let me know, alright? It's hard running a place like this on yer own. Ya need a break every once in while too," she spoke with a motherly tone, similar to the one which Jill had often heard her chide Celia and Marlin. It was nearly demanding, but her intention was kind.

"…Okay… Thanks, Vesta…" Jill noted Vesta's generosity and concern, but her feelings of gratitude were dulled by her confusion and worry. She couldn't help but question why Vesta was acting so normal with her if she had actually come to discuss the events of the night prior. Wasn't she angry? She hated the Phantom Thief! Hadn't Marlin told her yet? Why else had she made a visit so early? And then, contradictory to Jill's own disposition, Vesta's expression brightened significantly.

"So make sure ya rest up and feel well again by tomorrow, Jill! I would hate for ya to miss out on the festival I've been working so hard on! I've been waiting to see whatchya bring so I can scope out my competition!" Vesta winked playfully, both knowing she wasn't really one to be competitive when it came to Jill.

"Festival?" Jill's distracted mind was causing her to draw blanks. "Tomorrow?"

"Ya haven't forgotten already, have ya?" Vesta asked vindictively by placing her hands on her hips.

"No! No, of course not," Jill laughed with a bit of nervousness. "I think I'm just tired. I wasn't even sure what today was!" she tried to laugh back genuinely despite the tumbling sensation of dread in the pit of her stomach.

"Okay, well, good," Vesta huffed in relief. "I was only stopping by to give ya a formal invitation. I'm sorry if I woke ya up!" Vesta bellowed her large laugh.

"No, it's okay!" Jill assured her. "I needed to start the day anyway. I mean, it must already be-" Jill turned her head and looked over at her alarm clock. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "It's already ten o'clock!?"

"Yeah, I started the invitations late since it was raining this morning. And It looks like it's about to start up again," Vesta added, directing her vision to the sky. "I guess I ought to be getting on home. I'll see you tomorrow Jill!" Vesta hurried away just as a light drizzle began to faintly tap the tiny tin roof of Jill's porch. Jill waved a good bye to Vesta before deliberately stepping back inside and closing the door. She rested her back against the door frame and let out a long awaited, heaving breath. It was obvious to Jill that Vesta knew nothing of her secret: which only meant that Marlin had yet to tell anyone.

Maybe she still had time to confront him. Maybe she could convince him that Skye had changed, and that he had no reason to seek the authorities. Despite how afraid she was, with this new information, she now knew that she had to go see Marlin.

…

Vesta's pant legs were nearly soaked as she walked quickly over the bridge. Luckily, she had been wise enough to bring her yellow rain coat, but, aside from what was covered by her boots, she wasn't much protected below the hips. She sloshed through the muddy, but still firm, path up to her house with only one thing largely prominent in her mind; the very same thing that was quite regularly prominent in her mind: her younger brother.

All morning Marlin had hardly spoke, but it was a different type of silence than the kind he had held for the past few months. He wasn't distracted or contemplating; He was aggravated. Marlin had a late morning and didn't get out of bed until Vesta went in to tell him that she was leaving to invite the villagers to the Harvest Festival… and to, of course, poke fun about his "not a date"(as he had repeated many times yesterday afternoon when he had finally mentioned where he was going on his half day off). Vesta had taken her brother's late night as a good sign, but as soon as she had pulled open the blinds, letting dim light into their room, and asked about his "not a date", his bad attitude was all too apparent.

"…I really don't want to talk about," he had grunted through clenched teeth and nearly hissed at the dull sunlight in the room. He had dark circles as well, similar to Jill's, and it was now clear that he hadn't been 'sleeping in' at all.

"Why? What happened?" Vesta demanded, shocked to think that something less than pleasant had occurred between the two; especially when Marlin had seemed so cheerful about the awaited encounter all throughout the prior day.

"I mean it, Vesta," He barked lowly and flung the covers off himself, sitting up on the side of the bed.

She decided to let him alone after that, knowing that when Marlin asked for solitude, it was because he really did need his space. She went back to the kitchen, and he shortly after came out for the breakfast which had been growing cold on his designation at the table. As Marlin ate in silence, Vesta prepared to leave and asked for him and Celia to begin their work while she was away. She reminded them of the dangers of the rain before she grabbed her yellow raincoat and headed out the door.

…

Now, especially after seeing Jill, it was obvious to Vesta that something unsettling had happened. As much as she truly desired to know what was disturbing Marlin so much, she knew that he would come to her in his own time, as he always eventually did. Until then, the subject needed to be treated with delicacy. She hoped Celia had caught the hint, and wasn't prying either. On the other hand, she knew Celia most likely understood immediately, too, that something was amiss, and the young woman always did fairly well at treating Marlin without presumption during his moods. As Vesta arrived on her farmland, she noticed that the 'open' sign was facing out on the shop, and she pushed the door to find Marlin alone inside. He didn't look up from the boxes he was inventorying as she approached, so she continued to the other side of the room to absently glance around at the stock. After a few moments, she attempted to strike a conversation.

"Where's Celia?" she questioned, staying clear away from the subject of Jill.

"I don't know. Inside the house, I think," Marlin answered flatly as he continued in tossing more bags of seeds from one crate to the other, not skipping beat in his silent counting. Vesta noted that he seemed calmer, and so she decided to stay and talk a little longer to, gauging temperament.

"I sure hope that the rain lets up by tomorrow," she sighed, thinking about the second most prominent thing on her mind as of late: the Harvest Festival.

Marlin abruptly stopped counting and sighed too. Vesta paused; she thought in that moment that Marlin was annoyed, but, instead, he set down the bag in his hand calmly and looked her straight in the eyes.

"It will be fine, Vesta." He said with finality, but also a strong hint of sincerity, before going back to relocating the bags as he continued. "You've been stressing out about this thing all month, but you've already put a lot of hard work and planning into it. You've done your best… so there's nothing left to do anymore. ...If it rains," he shrugged, "It rains."

Vesta chuckled and shook her head. He still seemed a bit irritated, but, even so, he had still succeeded in comforting her in his own bluff, but genuine way.

"Ah well… Thanks, Marlin… ...I suppose," she chuckled ironically. He spoke like not worrying was so simple, even though they both knew that, for her, it was not. She didn't care to show her anxieties to many people, but Marlin knew her well enough; after all, she gave him earfuls of her concern more than anyone.

"Well then. I'm going to go find Celia and check on the crops," she decided as she jabbed a thumb towards the exit. "And... speaking of rain, Marlin…" she added as she opened the door and exposed herself to the cool, wet air outside.

"Hm?" Marlin questioned, pausing and glancing over to his older sister.

"Please stay out of it today... I know ya like your walks, but it's been sprinkling on and off, and I'd hate for ya to be caught in the real down pour."

Marlin looked as if he might roll his eyes. Instead, he looked back down at his task. "I get it, Vesta."

"So, you mean you won't, right?" she pushed a little further, hoping for a promise.

"I won't, alright?" Marlin's voiced harshened slightly, and Vesta realized he wasn't very happy with her redundancy.

"Good," The red head answered and decided to drop it there by leaving the shop and closing the door behind her.

…

After briefly checking on the crops, Vesta went back into the house to find Celia lightly cleaning in the kitchen. The brunette greeted Vesta with a warm smile, but worry was evident in her features.

"How'd it go?" Celia inquired as she inattentively swept at the floors. "The invitations, I mean."

"It went well," Vesta answered positively but then sighed as she sat down at the freshly cleared breakfast table.

"That's good." Celia paused as though there was something more she wanted to say. "…Marlin... seems pretty upset…" She mentioned, not looking very chipper herself. It appeared that the same distraught issue was on her mind as well.

"Yeah… I guess something's got him bothered."

"…I thought he looked kind of sad…" Celia offered her opinion.

"I don't know… Maybe that too," Vesta sighed. "But no reason for us to be getting into his business about it," she decided, and Celia faintly nodded in agreement.

"You're right," the young woman affirmed. "I just hope he feels better about it soon." Vesta nodded as she stood from the chair to assist her niece.

"...Me too."

…

As Jill jogged to her barn once again, she thought about her life in that moment, as she often did in times where she needed to stay calm and think rationally. However, regardless of how many ways shd looked at it, she could only describe her current emotional circumstance as restless: or... perhaps chaotic.

'Chaotic was a better description,' she reasoned while her mind ran even faster than her legs as attempted to fulfill her most important chores for the day in the shortest amount of time possible. She couldn't stop her negative thoughts from taking over as she fretted over her plans to confront Marlin. She couldn't even fathom how he was taking the information he learned of last night… or if he had actually told anyone yet. She eventually accepted the fact that she had no idea what to expect that morning when she finally finished tending to her livelihood, determinedly pulled up the hood on her red raincoat, and began towards Vesta's farm just as a second drizzle began.

…

Marlin couldn't help but sigh. It was most likely the fifth huff he had made as he moved a box of previous counted seeds from one stack of crates to another. He picked up one more before realizing he had yet to count the quantity inside, and he halted in place between the two designations. How many boxes had he moved without counting? Marlin set down the seeds and rubbed his temple in frustration. All day, he could hardly concentrate, and he couldn't really think about anything else except Jill… and that thief. His mind was filled with ideas and fabricated stories, ranging from sensible to downright paranoid. The logical part of his brain figured that Jill was just being gullible, and, like all the other girls of the valley, she had been captivated by the thief's looks and charms. The most frightened part him suggested that, perhaps, Jill had actually begun dating the criminal and was now working with him, or worse, that she had been with him all along, and her arriving to the valley was a ploy to play a heist on all the villagers. However, he knew the latter idea seemed ridiculous. Marlin had known Jill's father before his death and, and, more than that, Jill just seemed too genuine. She was too inherently kind to everyone, and, he believed, simply too sincere in her words and mannerisms to be so deceiving. She was too honest, open-minded, good-humored, sometimes too bold and blunt (especially after a few drinks), and so overly forgiving … Marlin couldn't imagine that her companionship with the criminal was anything more than the thief using all of her best qualities against her. And, in all honesty… he couldn't bring himself to be directly mad at Jill. Of course, he was still angry, but he didn't understand why. He was fighting with himself, and finally he had asked himself the imperative question that was ringing loudly through his emotions all day.

Maybe… was he just jealous?

Of course, that wasn't all of it. Of course, he was angered by Jill's deceit and her own apparent distrust of him by not telling him the truth. But the thought of her meeting that silvered haired man secretly- of them together alone in the cover of the night- of her befriending him behind everyone's back- especially his…

Marlin picked up a bag of seeds and threw it hard against the wall. It, surprising, stayed intact as it slid down onto the wooden floor. He knew he should tell the Mayor: but he couldn't- not with the possibility of Jill being arrested for withholding information. Marlin walked over and picked up the bag he threw. He tossed it up in his hand, before noticing that the opening of the sack was only held shut by a near thread of the string. He dropped it back into its respective crate before it completely burst open.

He felt like an idiot. He had come on to her. He had asked her on a date. He had nearly kissed her a few weeks ago! But all along, she was seeing that thief. He sighed for the sixth time and counting that morning. He would just have to accept it. He could get over it. And he could live with Jill's secret if need be. But for now, he didn't want to deal with the thought of it anymore. It was too embarrassing and painstaking to keep over-thinking everything that had occurred. He needed time to cool down and forget it. And the last thing he wanted to do in that moment was see Jill.

The tinkling of the shop's bell sounded as the door opened and Marlin looked up from the seeds. He couldn't help his immediate scowl. It was perfectly fitting of his luck that Jill would arrive in that very moment. She pulled herself inside meekly and hesitantly removed her red hood, as though she was still deciding whether to come in or not. As soon as she shut the door behind her, Marlin couldn't stop the harsh tone from slipping out his lips after.

"I'd still rather not listen to any explanations," he spat, arms folded and closed off, before even giving her a chance to speak.

Jill looked somehow even more discouraged, yet she continued slowly inside, closer to her friend. There was a very long paused as she looked around, at the ground, and finally managed to meet Marlin's steel eyes.

"You haven't told anyone…" she didn't know it for a complete fact, but she stated it that way. Marlin slowly unraveled. He seemed to open up loosely, in a manner that suggested her had not anticipated her responding to him at all.

"You're right. I haven't," he answered offhandedly.

"Why not?" With that question, her voice slightly wavered; the emotion which built up behind her eyes could be seen, along with the relief that her secret was still safe.

"It doesn't matter," he answered, without care about what it meant for her understand his decisions. He didn't even understand his decision, so why should she?

Jill felt that she was digging her own grave by inquiring more, but she needed to know…

"Will you?"

Marlin sighed. His voice came out gruff and annoyed. "Listen, Jill. I don't-"

The bell to the shop sounded again, and Galen stopped in his tracks as the two also froze and looked in his direction. A narrowly surprised expression found his eyes once he discovered that he had interrupted what had appeared to be an argument. He removed his rain soaked hat and held it in his hands.

"Sorry, about the intrusion. Should I come back?"

Marlin, suddenly aware of his frigid, defensive stance, loosened, and shook his head.

"No," Marlin answered definitively, "I was just on my way out," He moved past Jill, towards Galen and the door. He touched Galen's shoulder lightly as he left. "Stay as long as you need…"

"Oh, I won't be long!" Galen smiled wearily to Marlin as he left, and then watched as Jill silently moved past him and out the door in pursuit. Galen chuckled to himself as he moved towards the bins of crops to survey the product selection.

"Hm. Must be a lovers' quarrel."

…

The rain was pouring down on Jill as soon as the door swung shut behind her. She had to call out loudly to not be drowned out by the sound of the water splashing all around her.

"Marlin-!" Jill called to the farmer as he sloshed towards Vesta's house. "Marlin! Please wait!"

To Jill's surprise, Marlin did stop. When she caught up to him, he turned around to face her square on; However, he didn't look too happy to be out in the cold and wet weather.

"What?" he huffed out.

"Can't we just talk really quick?" she was becoming exasperated by his allusiveness when there were so many much needed answers to her questions.

"Talk about what? Talk about if you're off the hook? If that's all you want, then I not going to tell anyone, Jill, alright?," his voice was beginning to grow louder, but Jill wasn't sure if it was due to the growing sound of the rain or his growing anger: or, more than likely, both.

"That's not all I-" Jill could barely make out even her own words over the loud sounds, and Marlin was just getting more frustrated. He felt his arms and torso growing cold, and the thought of getting sick over the useless argument bothered him.

"Then what?" He was being short; he just wanted the conversation to be over with so he could go inside.

Jill didn't respond right away. She didn't know exactly what to say. There were a lot of things, but, most importantly, she just wanted to know if they would still be friends: but she thought that was too much of a childish thing to ask outright.

"I don't have time for this," Marlin stated abruptly and shook his head as he took back towards his warm home.

Jill wanted to speak, but she still couldn't think how to make her thoughts known. So, she let him walk away and didn't say a word as he disappeared into the light of the brightened house.

…

Marlin closed the door behind him, effectively shutting out the roar of the heavy shower outside. He let out the deep breath he had been holding in and glanced down at the puddle he was making at the entrance way- until he heard a loud gasp which forced his attention up once more.

"Marlin!" Vesta seemed initially surprised at his appearance, but almost immediately, her expression changed into scorn.

"I told ya to stay inside the shop if it was raining!" she seemed ultimately fed up by his actions, as though he was a child who had disobeyed one too many times. Then Celia glanced over to him with what Marlin swore was a mix of both anxiety and disapproval.

Marlin didn't respond at all. He was still numb- still in a state of shock and disbelief over how all the events of the day had worked out perfectly in his disfavor.

Vesta sighed at his silence and glanced between the two younger adults as she spoke with fatigue in her voice.

"Both of you. Please stay indoors as much as possible today. Being out in the rain is bad for your health. I can't have you two catching colds."

There it was again; he knew what she was doing. She was purposefully turning it around onto Celia too. She was trying to mask her frustration, which was solely with him, by bringing Celia into it.

"Alright, Auntie Vesta," Celia welcomed her advice and agreed instantaneously.

And, of course, Celia was in on it. She agreed, even though they all knew she knew better than to go outside in the rain in the first place. She agreed, purely for the sake of getting him to agree, too, without a fight. He knew their ways. He knew they talked about his sickness when they thought he wasn't listening… and how they made secret agreements to attempt to get him to comply with their suggestions.

Vesta turned back to Marlin, who still hadn't answered, and had still barely taken a few steps out of the door way.

"Marlin… you too," she sounded exasperated that he had yet to leave any hint of guilt towards his nonconformity. " I guess it's too late now but, at least just… be sure to get warm and dry..."

That was it. Something inside Marlin snapped on like a bursting flame, and suddenly he had no filter. Everything he had been screaming in his head came out on its own, and he knew, then, that he couldn't back out of it.

"That's it-! That does it!" He threw his hands up as he bellowed and turned for the door. "I'm FUCKING TIRED-! I'm tired of being coddled like—like a child! I can't stand you two! I'm getting the HELL out of here!" He threw the door open with a bang, expecting a quick escape, but instead ended up eye to eye with a very startled Jill in the door way.

"Out of my way…" He spoke lowly to her in an angered tone, and she stepped aside without question. It wasn't so much that Jill feared him; it was that she could see, in his stormy blue eyes, just how far she had pushed him, and her guilt gave way to his demand.

Jill watched Marlin's back as he sulked away into the darkened, harsh weather, his hands deep in his pockets, and his shoulders shrugged to protect his neck from the chilled rain. Jill turned back towards the warmly lit house to see Vesta and Celia share a confused, surprised, and anxious glance. Upon returning their attention to the door, Vesta noticed Jill.

"Oh, Jill… I didn't see you there…"

"W-what happened?" Jill stuttered: her anxieties with Vesta from earlier in the day were still fairly high.

Vesta sighed and beckoned Jill inside fully. Jill complied, shutting the door carefully behind her. Vesta took a seat at the table, but Celia stood while clutching her apron and looking as though she might begin to cry.

"I asked him to stay indoors quite a few times today," the red head began. "For his health, you know? But he didn't listen. And… I got to naggin' him again. I think he took it the wrong way."

"...He was so angry…. He just stormed out…" Celia piped in softly.

Both paused in reflection before Vesta continued on.

"Maybe I should just start minding my own beeswax… but I'm worried about 'em, Jill." Vesta had looked up to the young woman at that moment with pure concern and passion in her eyes. All Jill could think to do in that moment was nod in understanding- she was worried too.

"I mean… It's not just because of the weather. You know, he probably would hate that I mention it, but… he had a pretty bad spell some months before you got here. Something real bad happened... and he had to go to the specialty care hospital in town.

Jill was dumbfounded at the new information, but her curiosity pushed her into inquiry once again. "What had happened?"

Vesta's eyes found the old wooden floor as she hesitated. It seemed as though she was calculating just how much information she could retell before Marlin would no longer forgive her. She appeared to have found her answer shortly before finding Jill's eyes.

"...He had just disappeared one afternoon, out of the blue. Turns out, he had passed out in the corn field; it took us hours to find him..." Vesta paused again and glanced away for more than a few moments, so Celia continued the story in her stead.

"When Vesta finally found his body and called me over… At that time, we… we both thought he was already dead..." Tears had begun to well up in Celia's eyes, and Jill felt a sharp sting begin in her own as the women retold the traumatizing memory.

"They had to keep 'em in that hospital overnight for almost a week..." Vesta continued." That time, Jill… I- we both thought- we were going to lose him for sure..."

It was shocking news to Jill; she had no idea that Marlin's illness was really that serious. He had always played it off like it wasn't as big a deal as everyone else was making it out to be, but this… This made it clear to her that he was more than just "a little sick."

"It's been a bit over two years now since something that serious has happened… But... it's still pretty terrifying," Vesta admitted.

Jill fought the urge to blink heavily or wipe her eye with her red sleeve. She had no idea, this whole time of knowing Marlin, the true measure of the illness he faced. But even so… She could still see some of the justifications in his frustration. Perhaps Vesta was only showing her concerns, but it was necessary for Marlin to have the room and capability to make his own decisions: Anything else would only cause resentment, or, eventually, his leave.

"I can see why you're afraid, Vesta. But, I think- I think Marlin would only want to be treated the same as before it all happened… you know?" Vesta thought for a moment about Jill's words.

"I guess… I mean… I do get on to him sometimes… but… well—I've been looking out for that boy since he was a baby… I don't think I could just suddenly stop worrying now..." Jill nodded.

"That's understandable… Being worried. And I'm sure he knows how much you care. But I also think that the person who best just how much he can handle is him…" Celia and Vesta both grew quiet. After a moment, Vesta chuckled, a solemn ring in her laugh, as she began to reminisce on the past.

"Aw, you're right, Jill… Maybe, I sound too much like our Ma," she shook her head in disapproval. "She'd always get onto him just like this when he first got sick. He has always been a stubborn kid," she remembered fondly. "But he wasn't always so grumpy. He was still quiet and kinda reserved, but he used to laugh and joke lot more. He always did have a good sense of humor… even if he doesn't show it to everyone anymore. He probably got his good taste in jokes from me," Vesta laughed a little fuller, cheering herself a small amount. Then, she thought more deeply into their childhood. "I guess, it was when his sickness starting getting worse, though: that's when he started getting real frustrated. Ma and I always summed it up to him not feeling well… but… I'm starting to realize… it probably had to do with a lot more than just that…" Jill could see as Vesta stared down at the floor of the kitchen that she had found a new understanding in the words hovering between her lips and the cracks in the wood beneath her feet. Then, Vesta finally heaved herself from the wooden chair and patted down her white cloth apron.

"Well… I guess it's about time we start looking for him. I know he wants to be left well alone, but he should at least know he's still welcome to come on home. Jill… I hate to ask you, since this isn't any of your doing, but could you go out and look for him with me?"

Jill nodded immediately. Vesta's ignorance of the truly large part she played in testing Marlin's temper struck her dead in the chest, but she was able to combat her guilt long enough to speak with a respectable amount fortitude when answering. "Of course, Vesta."

Vesta brightened noticeably. "Really? You sure you don't mind?"

Jill nodded again with an assuring smile.

"You're a sweetheart!" the older woman beamed brightly to her, and then turned to Celia.

"You stay here, Celia. Marlin just might come back on his own."

"Right. I'll wait here for him," Celia agreed readily, despite her feeling of slight disappointment.

"Let's see now," Vesta pondered aloud as she headed towards the door,"… I know of a few places he might go. I guess I'll go check the beach first, then maybe the bar."

"I think I have a good idea where to find him…" Jill mentioned as she followed Vesta out the door, both simultaneously placing their rain coat hoods atop their heads once out in the rain. "I'll come right back if he's not there!" Jill called back to her as she began a careful jog towards the Goddess Pond.

…

Marlin was standing near the edge of the water, watching as the rain drops danced on the surface and caused the whole body to remain rippled and disturbed. By now, his white shirt was clinging to his skin, and he had to fold his arms tightly over one another to keep from visibly shivering. After staring deeply into the water for a few more moments, he closed his eyes and shook his head. He was being ridiculous. He usually didn't allow himself to lose his temper so quickly, and he hated the nauseatingly sick and guilty feeling which had stuck after the deathly silence that followed his outburst.

Vesta and Celia… They were just concerned for his health. He shouldn't have attacked them. He knew all of that, but he was still just so pissed off. He was tired of the way they treated him: like he didn't know what was for his own good. And how they went behind his back and divided up all the work they thought he couldn't handle, instead of just confronting him directly and including him in their decisions...

For a while, he had ignored it, and he pretended it wasn't happening. He simply went along with what Vesta and Celia wanted him to do, and he reacted how he knew they wanted him to react. It worked for a while, but he would have been lying to himself if he had said it didn't start to bug him. In fact, screw that: It had always bugged the crap out of him.

Marlin began to shiver slightly, and he squeezed his folded arms tighter together to stop himself from shaking. He sighed. Maybe all of it was mostly his fault. He should have been honest with them, and honest with himself, from the beginning. Then, maybe, he wouldn't have blown up in their faces. It hadn't helped that he was already frustrated, and downright exhausted, from his memories of yesterday which persisted on as a tight, wadded feeling inside of his chest; the feeling, of which, he believed couldn't be helped.

…

Jill finally stumbled up to the Goddess Pond and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Marlin standing in the rain. Jill slowed her jog to walk as she noticed him look up from scrutinizing the water; he seemed to have heard her footsteps approaching. As he turned to her direction, Jill stopped short a few feet short of him. She remained silent and gave him a brief, meek smile as she waited for him to speak first… or not speak at all: which ever he decided. Nevertheless, almost immediately, Marlin actually took the initiative.

"...Jill…What do you want?" He sounded tired. It seemed to Jill that whatever flame had sparked in him and blazed profoundly for those few minutes was already dying way- put out by the frigid air and rainy weather.

Jill kicked some of the muddy water under her feet as she contemplated how to get Marlin to actually listen to her for more than a few seconds for once.

"Vesta sent me to find you. They're pretty worried," she decided to be blunt. He always reacted best to that.

"That's not really new…" It seemed he had attempted to sound firm, but there was a dejectedness in his tone which hinted to Jill that he was experiencing some feelings of guilt.

"And… well…" Jill added in honesty with a shrug in her shoulders, "I'm worried about you…" Jill didn't think twice about her belief in Marlin's 'strength'. He was always so collected and put together. But, after witnessing him grow so upset and hearing Vesta and Celia's testimony, she had actually began to seriously worry for his wellbeing. Not just for his health, but, more so, for his emotional state. He did so well at masking it, but she had to remind herself that he was just like anyone else: he, too, like everyone else, was more vulnerable than he appeared.

Marlin paused and then chuckled with incredulity as he shook his head. "Really? You were worried about me? You too, huh?" He spoke with a false state of disbelief laced with contempt, but, inwardly, he felt glad she had admitted it. He couldn't help his welcoming feelings towards her, no matter all that had happened.

Jill didn't verbally respond to his sarcastic comment. She nodded weakly and gave him a look of sincerity to contest it instead.

Marlin knew he was being rude due to his anger, and now, he felt bad for it. The flame of animosity had completely burnt out, and he was ready (as he would ever be) to have the discussion for which she was pleading.

Marlin beckoned Jill over as he made his way under the large oak tree to find some small amount of shelter from the downpour which was slowly letting up into a shower. Jill followed him willingly and waited patiently as he slowly turned to face her again. "Listen, Jill. It's you… so I'll be honest…" Marlin hadn't even though much of what he would say to Jill once the time came when they would eventually have to talk about the criminal. And, so, after his disclosure statement, he winged it, and let himself say everything that has been eating away at his mind.

"I don't care if your friends with that thief. I mean- I do- only because it's dangerous, but I don't really care. What made me really angry was when I realized that you had been deliberately lying and hiding it from me this whole time. I understand it's really not any of my business anyway… so I shouldn't have even gotten mad... but I am. And I can't help it."

Marlin looked around and away as he spoke with a faster pace than usual for him. It seemed like he just wanted to get everything out in the open, so he could go back to not speaking about it anymore. Jill bit her lip as she listened intently. She hung on his every word, but was still bracing herself for the moment he would drop a bomb on her.

"But, I've come to realize… that's not your fault. That's my own issue. I feel like people close to me go behind my back… instead of just telling me the truth to my face and trusting I'll make a good judgements... I guess it's just become a pet peeve of mine, and so I let this issue get to me too. But in this case, it's not my business. I'm not saying it's a good idea to be with that guy- at all- but it's not my place to make that decision for you."

He paused then, but looked like he was still thinking about what to say next. Jill remained silent, but the tight feeling in her chest aroused as she thought about how all her life decisions would all be formed solely around what Marlin would do with the single, unraveled thread of information which he held in his hands. Yet, that twinge was nothing compared to the pain which came with the new knowledge that she had hurt Marlin a lot deeper than even she had originally realized. She knew he would have been mad about being lied to, but it seemed to have affected him even more as it came from her: his one friend whom he always praised for her honesty.

"But, like I said," he stated lastly," I'm still not going to say anything. To anyone."

Jill felt her eyes begin to sting and become watered, and she was grateful, in the moment, for the rain still residing on her face.

"So… ...what now?" she asked, not sure how to conduct herself after his verdict. "Do we just pretend it all never happened?" It seemed unlikely to her that things could remain exactly the way they were before.

"I guess so," he shrugged with a small chuckle in rather exhausted fashion.

Jill let his words sink in. Then, she chuckled too and wiped a stray tear from the brim of her eyelid. She couldn't believe it had been that easy with him all along. She had been so frightened that Marlin would give her up, or at least tell Vesta and Celia. She should have known, from the very beginning, that he would have never done anything to intentionally harm her without great reason.

"So, what about Vesta and Celia?" She asked, thinking of the other reason she had come to find Marlin.

"What about them?"

"With everything that happened… back there?"

Marlin hadn't forgotten about what he had said to his sister and Celia, but he hadn't known that Jill had also heard. He pushed back his sopping, dark curls as he thought about how he had cursed them.

"Yeah. ...I owe them an apology," he ascertained.

"About that, I owe you one, too," Jill confessed. "I'm sorry that I pushed you..."

Marlin shook his head, stopping her short.

"That wasn't your fault. That... was a long time coming," he admitted it to both her and himself.

"...What do you mean?" She urged on. Marlin never spoke about his illness in depth, and she wanted to hear, from him, how he was coping with it all.

Marlin rubbed the back of his hair, as he slowly decided that he might as well be fully honest. After all: he had already begun.

"It's just that I've… I've been sick for a long time, Jill," he began simply with what he knew would be a tedious explanation. "That's not new. But, I had a pretty bad episode a few summer's back, and I didn't tell anyone I was feeling worse. I'm sure Vesta and Celia saw it, but they only occasionally got on to me about my health, since I can usually handle things on my own. But, well... one day, I was working out in the fields alone, and I guess I pushed myself too far. I couldn't breathe, so I knelt down on the ground, and I woke up hours later in the hospital. Since then, Vesta and Celia have been badgering me non-stop. It was only vaguely annoying before, but now… I can't even stand being in that house sometimes. I thought I was getting better when I first moved here, but that summer set me back by a lot. I've been waiting for my body to recover from that last attack, but I just don't seem to be able to get my full strength back," he paused for a moment as he thought. "And, you know… whenever I see you and Celia and Vesta working so hard… …. I feel terrible. I used to be able to work like that. But now… I just don't think I'll ever be as strong as I use to be." Marlin ended his story at Jill's eyes, but stole another long contemplative look at the restless water as a silence fell between them. The rain had let up even more, but the two were still being doused by the heavy sprinkles falling between the limbs and sparse leaves of the large tree above. It was the only sound being made for a long moment until Jill's ringing voice broke the silence.

"I think you will."

Marlin looked back up to meet her deep, violet eyes for affirmation. Something in her voice sounded so earnest and certain, as though she wasn't simply declaring the words to spare his emotions. She watched him with honesty glistening inside a hope-filled expression.

"I think you're the only one who believes that," Marlin chuckled rhetorically. Jill smiled up to him.

"Well... I think you have to believe it too…or else you won't be able to get any better."

Marlin thought about her statement and how it mirrored the advice she had offered him over a year ago. Every time she told him, he got the sensation that he had been dropped back down to reality. He got caught up so easily in his clouded bouts of self-pity that sometimes he forgot what the ground felt like, until she pulled him back onto it again. She was right. All he needed to do was move on with his life, with his sickness; stay positive and day-by-day hope for the best. There was never any use to worry so much about the aspects of his life he couldn't control. He had just finished telling Vesta the same thing earlier and he hadn't even taken his own advice.

Marlin laughed a little at himself before finding Jill's eyes once more. She gently smiled up to him and watched him with such profundity in that moment that he couldn't understand how he had ever denied her kindness and affinity towards him just hours before. Especially, when it always turned out that it was her words which he needed to hear the most.

"You're right, Jill… Thanks."

...

Marlin and Jill walked side by side back to the farm. They spoke quietly as the trudged through the freshly muddy path to the house. Celia was watching through the window with worry when she saw the two approaching as Vesta paced through the living room with the hope that Jill had better luck than herself. Celia opened her mouth to call over Vesta with cheer, but stopped short as she watched the couple outside exchange words. She couldn't tell what was being said, but whatever words had just exited Jill's lips left Marlin looking abashed and flustered.

"V-Vesta!" Celia finally decided to call, and Vesta came towards the view. A grin spread across her face and she dashed to the door, leaving the crestfallen Celia alone at the windowsill.

Vesta opened the door with gusto, startling the pair outside who were deep in conversation.

"Hey Vesta… I- I found him," Jill jabbed her thumb back as she climbed in through the doorway and past the red head; the once lost companion in tow. Vesta smiled to Jill before casting the expression over her brother.

"Welcome home, Marlin. I was hoping you'd come back here." She sounded polite and pleased. She didn't want to give him any indication that there were any hard feelings. Judging by his sunken stance, he seemed to now be regretting all which had transpired. Celia stepped forward with her own unspoken forgiveness.

"Welcome back!" she squeaked, then lowed her voice. "We were worried about you. Where did you go? I mean," she thought better, "Is everything okay?" she asked, turning her hands over and over in her apron. Marlin smiled to her, but with some remorse still set in his features.

"Yeah. I'm fine now. Jill kind of talked me through it. I'm real sorry I worried you two. I know I need to watch my temper… and stay out of the rain for now."

"No, no." Vesta shook her head. "Really, it's fine. It's our fault too. We should let you well alone about it. I'm sure yer tired of us nagging you all the time…" she paused and smiled back to him again. "Besides, I don't care if you go yelling: I'm just glad to see a little fire back in your eyes," she chuckled heartily, and Marlin laughed a little too. He had been so despondent and dispassionate for so many months- Vesta had figured it was about time he let some real emotions show.

"Me too," Celia chuckled.

"Thanks?" Marlin joked back, "I guess I should just go around yelling some more then."

Jill smiled as they laughed, but altogether, she felt out of place- like she was watching in on peoples' lives uninvited. Despite her role in recovering Marlin, she really wasn't a vital focal point this exchange; She was just a witness, and she knew it was probably time for her to leave.

"Well, I should be going," Jill mentioned, not thinking of any way to be subtle.

"Okay! Well, thanks fer everything, Jill!" Vesta boomed and Celia just nodded with a smile.

Marlin mentioned that he'd walked her to the door, and opened it for her as he stepped out to see her off.

"Jill," Marlin spoke lowly to her before she turned to leave. "Thanks, for uh, coming to get me, I guess."

Jill shook her head.

"No… Thank you. I owe you so much, Marlin. Really," she said sincerely. "I'll see you around," she added before heading to her ranch.

…

Marlin and Vesta had talked a little more that day about his anger- and their situation. He summed it up to the fact that it was possible that he needed to go back to living on his own. He loved Forget-Me-Not Valley, but he didn't want to burden Vesta anymore. It wasn't the first time they had the conversation, but Vesta only told him the same thing as she had said before: she asked him to continue thinking about it for a while, and to take the chance to save up more money while he could. He agreed, but it was still a main option that he considered: he didn't think he was getting any better anymore anyway. But he liked the people in the Valley; he liked the area and his job too. It was a tough decision to make.

There was another thing he considered as a reason for staying, but he knew it was a farfetched and petty reason to base such a huge life decision on. Yet, he couldn't help thinking about it over and over again that day. As he showered and brushed his teeth, getting ready for a much desired full night of sleep, he thought again of those words which gave him such a strange, masochistic sense of hope.

Earlier, when they were walking back to Vesta's, right before they entered the house, Jill had made something clear to him.

…

"Um… Just so you don't get the wrong idea, I'm not with him," Jill had stated vaguely as she twiddled her thumbs behind her back.

"You're not what?" Marlin hadn't registered to whom she was referring before he even asked.

"I'm not dating Skye. We're not a couple. He's really just a friend. I had a feeling he gave you the wrong idea last night. And I just wanted to let you know what's really going on."

Marlin could help the slight blush of embarrassment plain on his face after realizing his wrong, so he turned it away from Jill.

"Well, I guess—" Marlin began, but it was then that he was interrupted by the abrupt opening of the door and Vesta's beaming face.

…

For some reason, her explanation came as a relief to him. He knew it shouldn't have mattered, and he knew it definitely shouldn't have given him hope about his place in Forget-Me-Not-Valley, but the revelation lifted away some of the dread which he felt since the night before. He looked at himself in the mirror, and silently reminded himself to stay grounded, and to not get caught up admiration he had for her. If the time came when he knew it was best for him to leave, then he would: that simple.

Marlin exited the bathing room dressed in his long sleeve sleep wear, still drying his damp hair with his towel. Celia was in the living room watching the weather channel, when she stood and turned into the kitchen to see Marlin standing in the hall entrance way.

"Oh hey Marlin!" She smiled to him. Her cheery disposition for him had returned to a relatively normal state. "Guess what?"

"Yeah?" he asked, ceasing in drying his hair for a moment.

"They said it's not going to rain for the rest of the week," she chuckled and continued into the kitchen.

Marlin watched her and then sat down on the couch where the weatherman was confirming the news which Celia had just relayed. Celia came back shortly with a cup of tea and took the seat next to Marlin.

"Sorry, did you want one?" she asked, regarding her cup. Marlin shook his head and they continued to watch silently, both only vaguely listening to the people on the television.

Marlin felt his body growing heavy where he sat. As a new weather-lady came upon the screen and began giving the predicted forecast for the next week, Marlin's eye grew heavy as well. The last thing he heard before the warm and dark sensation pressed upon him was the woman's voice reporting that the weather throughout the upcoming few weeks was most likely going to be overall sunny.

…

This chapter took me a bit longer than I intended, but at least it didn't take as long as some of my previous chapters haha. I love seeing everyone's comments and commentary, and thank you all who have been supporting me with their comments and PM's as I go. Please continue to see me through! And as always,

Thanks for reading!