"Almost… and… there! Perfect," Robin triumphantly proclaimed, the last bit of unwanted wood finally chipped away. Her newest project was now completed, taking up a frankly unreasonable amount of space in the shop but she couldn't care about that now. She was proud of it. Everything she'd been making recently, especially with the new farmer in town, had been purely functional. Sheds, silos, chicken coops, barns. If she was really adventurous, she would paint the exterior a different colour, but even that was pushing it.

This new project was completely self indulgent. A new bed that was as aesthetically pleasing as it was functional. Made from dark harwood complemented by red sheets, the bedposts were elegantly carved, tall and smooth, like something made for royalty.

"Wow, Mom, that looks great!" Sebastian said. He'd always loved watching his mother work, ever since he was old enough to be let into her workshop.

"Thank you, dear."

"Can I have one for my room?" Maru eagerly piped up from behind the counter.

Robin laughed. "I don't know if it would leave much room for your robotic experiments, but if you can find a way to make it work, then of course."

"Hello, Robin." The little bell at the top of the shop door rang, signalling the farmer's arrival.

"Ah, Farmer, perfect timing! The redhead practically jumped for joy, quickly ushering her inside. "What do you think?" Robin asked, proudly displaying her latest project. "I made it with the hardwood you helped me gather."

Her eyes widened with wonder. "Oh, wow. Robin, I knew you were a carpenter, but this is…" She slowly ran a hand up the smooth curve of one of the posts, taking her time to feel it beneath her fingertips. Robin felt herself shudder as she watched, eyes following the farmer's fingers like a magpie followed a shiny object. She willed herself to keep her thoughts clean. It went about as well as she expected, which is to say not well at all.

She pictured the farmer running a hand up the smooth curve of her shin, brushing over the inside of her knee. She would widen her stance slightly when the younger woman approached her thigh, fingers drifting higher and higher…

"…with carving like this, you could give Leah a run for her money."

Robin snapped herself back into focus. "Oh, don't tell her that. I don't want to come off as competition. Next thing you know, I'll wake up to her standing over me with her sharpest carving tool."

Robin's kids chipped in, all affirming what the farmer was saying. They had always admired her mother's work to the point where it almost seemed like a courtesy, but today it seemed different. It was easier to believe their kind words, and the farmer piling on definitely helped with this. The older woman found herself gushing under their praise, swelling up with confidence.

Hearing the commotion, Demetrius joined them all in the front room, his attention drawn to the bed. "Is that the project you've been working on?" he asked.

"Yes!" she replied. "It's great, isn't it?"

Demetrius inspected the deluxe red double bed with a critical eye, his head tilted ever so slightly, and she felt herself tense up. "Um… Robin? What's the point of the four posts? It seems like an inefficient use of materials to me."

Her eyes narrowed. "It's called 'beauty', bud. You know, the thing most people find enjoyable?"

"I see your point, but we can't let beauty outweigh the utility and efficiency of the sleep receptacle."

Robin seethed, skin burning with anger and embarrassment. Her kids held their breath. "You know, sometimes it feels like you're being deliberately obtuse just to irritate me–"

"Well, I think it looks amazing," the farmer interrupted, taking great care to make sure she didn't shoot Robin's husband a death glare, as much as she wanted to. "Like nothing you would find in Zuzu City."

"Just my opinion," he said, raising his hands defensively. "Forgive me for using my right to free speech. Well if anyone needs me, I'll be in the doghouse…" were his parting words before slinking back into his lab again.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the group before Maru cleared her throat. "Don't listen to him, Mom. It's a great design."

"Thank you honey." Robin smiled, though it was obviously more shaky than before. "And thank you, Farmer!" she added. "I really couldn't have done it without you."

"I guess we work well together."

"Yes, I suppose we do," she agreed, a tinge of red on her cheeks. "Hey, you know these might look great in your place, Farmer. What do you say? Can we pencil you in for… a half dozen?"

"Mom!" Maru cried while Sebastian sniggered, coughing to try and cover it up.

"Uh… maybe just one. I don't have enough room for more," the farmer replied bashfully. "Actually, are you busy? Maybe you could swing by the farmhouse and help me take some measurements to make sure it fits?" Robin didn't miss the way her eyes flickered to the closed lab door, and she took a moment to be grateful that she was being offered this relief from her husband on a silver platter. The farmer always knew just what she needed. She took stock of the tension in her shoulders, the pit in her stomach, the way her jaw was clenched tight. All because of her husband. Yes, a break was very needed.

"I'll come by and get those done right now. Sebby, Maru, could you two watch the shop while I'm gone? I won't be long."

Once her kids agreed, Robin grabbed her tool belt with her measuring tape and headed off with the farmer, immediately feeling lighter the second she stepped out into the open air.

"By the way, I forgot to ask. Why did you come by the shop anyway? Did you need to buy something?"

"Oh. No," the farmer said a little bashfully. "I actually came by to give you this." She rustled around in her backpack for a moment before pulling out a peach. Robin's eyes widened. It looked perfectly ripe and juicy, pink and slightly fuzzy to the touch when she took it from the farmer's hands. It had been ages since she'd seen one this fresh. Fruit trees didn't grow wild in Pelican town so all the peaches at Joja's and Pierre's were imported, and they were always bruised and spotted by the time they arrived during their short availability in the summer. It felt like years since Robin had a good peach, but this one was perfect.

"The tree in my greenhouse is finally in bloom."

Robin could smell the sweetness of the peach without even needing to bring it to her nose. "These are my favourite."

"I know. Sebastian mentioned it once."

"And you remembered?"

The farmer grinned. "I have a good memory for these things."

"Thank you. Really." Robin smiled. "You know you don't always need to buy something or bring a gift just to visit me," she added. "You're always welcome to come by. It gets lonely up here in the mountains." Even with her husband taking up all the space in the house. It might have been better if she lived with no one at all.

"I know. But I like doing this. It's nice to know that I'm brightening up your day."

Robin's heart warmed. Yoba, I do not deserve this woman. "Well, you certainly did that today."

The farmer then paused, chewing on her lip as if deliberating on whether to speak. "Demetrius…"

"He means well," Robin said reflexively, as if the farmer was another one of her kids and she needed to reassure her that her marriage was fine, thank you very much.

The younger woman took a deep breath in, bracing herself for whatever reaction this statement would get her. "He's… he's not kind to you, Robin. He doesn't support you. Doesn't that bother you?"

Robin tensed. "It does..." she tried to reply evenly, even though her voice was strained. "Like I said, he means well. Just because it doesn't always come out in the best way doesn't mean he doesn't care."

The farmer firmly disagreed. "I know that, I'm just… I worry about you, Robin." She resisted the urge to hold her hand the rest of the walk, instead opting to clench it at her side. "I know you can't afford to start over. You've uprooted once and you don't want to do it again. But you are genuinely the nicest person I've ever met. You're so kind and caring and you take care of everyone you care about, not just your family. You deserve someone who treats you the same."

Robin never knew her heart could ache this much. She just… hurt. It was one thing to realise she had a stupid crush on someone she couldn't have, but then to grow so intimately close to her and have such heartfelt conversations like this. It made Robin even angrier that she couldn't have her. That she was stuck in a miserable marriage with a husband who only saw her as someone to bring down so that he could feel better about himself.

"Robin…?" They had arrived at the farm. The fall crops were flourishing, the birds were chirping, and all Robin could feel was the burning behind her eyes.

"Can I use your bathroom?" she asked quickly, her voice soft. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground.

"Of course," the farmer replied without missing a beat. Robin heard a small click as the front door was unlocked. At least she didn't have to pick it this time.

In the farmer's bathroom, Robin blinked rapidly. She felt her eyes brim with the frustrated tears she had been struggling to keep contained. They seared as they rolled down her cheeks. Taking a shuddering breath, she shook her head and quickly swept them away.

She was used to Demetrius talking her down, especially in recent years. She had even grown accustomed to him doing it in front of the kids. But now the new farmer? Regardless of whatever feelings she was harbouring towards the young woman, it was embarrassing. She was her friend above all else, and Demetrius humiliated Robin right in front of her. How long before he starts doing it in front of other people? Jodi? Caroline? Marnie?

He was always trying to make himself look better than her, always trying to prove himself right, and now it could barely be contained within their household. Soon, the whole town would know that she couldn't even hold her own against her husband.

The thought alone was mortifying.

Robin drew in another deep breath and turned on the tap, splashing some water onto her face. She couldn't dwell on this now. She could stew all she wanted tonight, glaring at the ceiling while her smug husband slept soundly next to her. He wanted her to look weak but she would not give him that satisfaction. Especially not in front of the farmer.

"Let's get those measurements," she proclaimed, stepping out of the bathroom and thanking Yoba that the farmer was polite enough to ignore the splotchy state of her face.

A/N - Hello dear reader! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. This cutscene always made my blood boil and I knew I had to do something with it in my own story. As always, let me know what you think and until next time, stay safe.

This story is also available on AO3. I also have a Twitter kayasmuttytoast where I post behind the scenes content, polls, writing updates and more. I also have a Tumblr and Bluesky kayassmuttytoast. The links are in my profile!