Fall 1

I sat on the bench of de Sainte-Coquille Park. The adventure contest was today, as I shook slightly from worry. I was worried that Jack was going to participate in the dangerous festival and leave me to raise our child to where I would have to say yes to Oswald's proposal. And I did not want to do that to our little cutie.

"Rosalind?" My head snapped up to Jack's voice. "Wh-what's wrong?" His voice holding concern.

"I'm just worried." I sighed, tears began to pour from my eyes.

"Rosalind…i-is there something wrong with our little cutie?" he asked nervously as I shook my head, wiping my tears.

"I'm worried about you!" I admitted, "I'm worried that you're going to participate in the festival and…be killed…and..." I began to shake as he wrapped his arms around me.

"If it worries you that much, then I won't participate in the contest." he whispered, I blushed, feeling at ease as he broke the embrace.

"You and our little cutie mean so much to me. So, no more tears." I nodded, giving him a smile, he wiped a stray tear from my cheek with his thumb.

"Ah, J-Jack…" I said in a slightly warning tone, noticing he was leaning closer.

"Oh, right...we-we're in public. When can we officially go public?" He asked as I giggled.

"I do have a plan." I admitted.

"You do?" He asked as I nodded.

"There's a family coming into town, who does trade with my father's company. They came here a few years back but it was when I was a teenager...anyway the son is supposed to propose to me on the last day they're here…"

"W-wait...propose?!" Jack asked angrily as I scolded him.

"Let me finish."

"Sorry…" He sighed.

"Anyway, he's supposed to propose to me the day they leave…I'm going to decline his proposal and then tell my father about us as soon as they leave! And when I say us, I mean the three of us." I said.

"Uh, and what about Max? I'm pretty sure he's going to be in the room with you and your father when you announce us."

"Oh, Max already knows about us." I admitted as Jack's eyes widened.

"Wait, he does?" Jack began before placing a finger on his chin in a thinking manner, "Actually, now that you said that...it might explain why he's so friendly with me. But shouldn't he be furious with me? I mean you are his younger sister."

"My brother and I are close to where I don't even have to say anything...he knows." I blushed slightly, "And with that 'rumor' going around he put the pieces together."

"Oh, yeah, I overheard people talking about our little cutie. Do you think Julia or Dorothy told someone and it spread like fire?" Jack asked as I shook my head.

"No...but I have a feeling I know who started it...and it wasn't Julia nor Dorothy."

"Who do you think it was?" Jack asked as I sighed.

"I don't want to say...not until I know for sure." I said as I notice Jack nodding his head once in understanding. It was silent for a moment, the autumn wind began to blow.

"I see our little cutie is growing." He said, pointing to my abdomen that was showing from the fabric of my lose dress clinging to my skin from the wind. I giggled.

"I hope I'll be able to feel it move soon." I said, "I'm kind of scared, though."

"About what? Our little cutie moving? I don't think you should be scared...a little weird out, maybe...but not scared." Jack said as I sighed.

"No, I'm scared that it won't move…" I began to shake, as Jack embraced me again.

"It'll be fine. I'm sure it'll move soon." I returned his embrace, the world seemed to stop, and it was just the three of us in existence at that moment.

"Rosalind?" I looked over towards the sound of the voice, breaking my embrace with Jack.

"Oh, hello, Ray! Do you need something?" I asked as he gave a concerned look.

"Ah, I was just worried! I noticed you were crying." He said as I gave a small smile.

"Oh, don't worry! I'm fine!"

"Well...if you need to talk, I'm here! Though my profession will be more physical than mental, I'll still be happy to lend an ear." He said sincerely as I gave a nervous smile.

"I-I appreciate it." I said.

"A-and if it's about that horrible rumor…" Ray began as I interrupted him.

"I said I was fine!" I snapped, before sighing, "Sorry, Ray...but you really shouldn't pressure people to talk if they don't want to talk."

"B-but you were talking to Jack." Ray said in a defensive tone.

"Because he didn't pressure me!" I snapped, noticing Jack's facial expression was awkward, I sighed.

"Sorry, Jack. You shouldn't have had to see that." I said.

"Uh...no, it's fine…" Jack said nervously, "Uh, Rosalind…can I…ask you something? N-not related to the crying issue…"

"Of course, Jack." I said as he blushed.

"Ah, I meant alone." He said as I looked over at Ray, who was still standing there.

"Ray, if you'll excuse us." I bid in a farewell, pulling Jack's arm towards the farmhouse.

Jack and I entered the farmhouse, as I shut the door behind me. I looked over at him and noticed he seemed sad.

"Jack?" I asked in concern.

"Were…you and Ray a thing?" Jack asked as I gave a sincere smile.

"He has a crush on me, but we were never a thing. Though we have a lot in common, I couldn't return the feeling." I said as it became silent for a moment, I noticed Jack looked slightly upset.

"Are you jealous, sweetie?" I asked as he sighed.

"No...I'm not jealous, so much as feeling guilty. I can see how much he likes you, so, I guess I kind of feel bad for taking you away." He said in shame as I smiled, walking towards him while embracing him.

"You shouldn't feel guilty, Jack…I love you. If I had gone with Ray, I knew I wouldn't be as happy as I am with you! Plus…" I broke our embrace, putting my hands on top of my abdomen.

"Our little cutie wouldn't be coming, if you hadn't arrived to this town." I looked up and noticed him smiling.

"That little cutie really does mean the world to me." He said, cupping my face, giving me a kiss.

"It means the world to both of us." I said with a giggle.

Jack and I walked across Cherry Blossom Square from the farmhouse later that evening. Certainly the contest was over already.

I was on my way to visit Dorothy while he was going to visit Barrett. It was convenient, since they lived next door.

"So...that man who is supposed to propose to you is coming here tomorrow?" Jack asked as I nodded.

"Yes, that's correct. I'm positive they'll be staying at the inn like they did a few years prior, so you have nothing to worry about." I said.

"Well…you seemed uncomfortable when talking about the plan, mainly at the part where you said they were coming into town." Jack said worriedly.

"There's something about Oswald that makes me uncomfortable, and I don't know why." I sighed. "Ah, he's the one who is supposed to propose to me" I explained as Jack nodded.

"I figured as much." It was silent as Jack and I stopped in front of the church.

"Here's my stop." I said as Jack and I looked into each other's eyes, he cupped my face and leaned in, kissing my lips, I felt my bones melting. The moment was so magical that I had forgotten we were in the middle of town.

"What the…?" Jack and I broke our kiss to Barrett looking at us in confusion and shock.

"Uh...Barrett!" Jack exclaimed in enthusiasm, walking towards him with his arms outstretched.

"Ah! No, no, no, no, no, no! Don't you even think about it, Jack!" Barrett exclaimed, slightly freaking out. I sighed before stepping into the church. That was not a sharp delivery.

I knocked on Dorothy's bedroom door as I saw Julia's face peeking.

"It's just Rosalind, Dorothy!" She exclaimed as she opened the door all the way, allowing my entrance.

"He-hello, Rosalind." Dorothy greeted, "H-how is t-the baby?" I smiled slightly.

"I believe it's doing well." I sighed, "I mean I really hope it's doing well."

"Do you think something's wrong?" Julia asked in worry as I looked down.

"I'm just worried, since I haven't been able to feel it move yet."

"It's probably going to take a while until you'll be able to feel it move, Rosalind!" Julia reassured me as I sighed.

"I...I guess I'm also just terrified that...my situation will be similar to Mana and Matthew." My head looked down as I began to tear up. Dorothy and Julia looked down in sadness as well.

"Uh, Matthew?" We looked up to Jack standing at the doorway, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Who was that? Was he...Mana's ex-boyfriend or something?"

"He was...something." I sighed, however before any of us could explain, Gordon made his way to the doorway with a slightly tense look on his face.

"D-dad?" Dorothy asked, "W-what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing! But now I gotta keep an eye on Jack to make sure he doesn't go off kissing you girls like he did to Rosalind earlier and like he almost did to Barrett, too!" Gordon exclaimed, causing Jack to grumble under his breath as I noticed Julia and Dorothy holding shocked expressions.

"Uh...I'm sorry, what?" Julia asked as I leaned in.

"I'll explain later." I quietly whispered to them so Gordon couldn't hear me.