Note: Part Two of the "Falling for the Farmer" series
The title is based on a direct game quote from Delaila to the player character.
I was pleasantly surprised with just how sweet our farm boy could be - especially at Romance Levels 3 and 4. Therefore, I just had to write a little fic to go along with it - especially since he was always asking the player if they needed any help with their chores.
Sweeter Than A Honey Nut Bundt Cake
I hope these come in handy.
After all, they are guaranteed to spice up your life.
I steak my reputation on it!
-With love from your (hopefully) favorite human! :)
...
"I declare! That girl of yours is sweeter than a honey nut bundt cake!" Delaila exclaimed when she read the note that was left...along with a large bundle...on the table.
Just as the gift giver had intended, it had caught her eye as soon as she came into the kitchen to cook breakfast for the family. That just happened to be at the same exact moment Nai'o came in from his early morning chores in the barn, as well.
"What a dearie! She's always helpin' us out! How did she know we were out of spice sprouts, though?" she asked him. "And are these chapaa steaks? How lovely!"
"Um, I reckon I mentioned the sprouts...and how plain our food tasted without them...to her yesterday when she came out to visit me at the stables," Nai'o admitted sheepishly. "And she knows I always love steak!"
He gestured urgently, however, at the table that was currently half-covered with orange plants and wrapped meat since the bundle had already been untied and inspected by his mother. "I didn't expect her to do all this, though! It must've taken her all night to forage and hunt such a haul," He declared in a concerned tone that made it clear he felt a bit guilty about the whole situation.
Delaila looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hmm...that means she's probably half-asleep right now while she's tryin' to do her own chores – especially since she told me when we had that lovely dinner over there that she always likes to get her gardenin' and home stuff done first thing in the mornin' so she could spend the rest of her day visitin' the village, adventurin' in Bahari, or levelin' up her other skills. Or...she went straight to bed and hasn't done her chores at all, yet. Either way, she's all by herself out there, so why don't you run along to her place right now and lend her a hand? Stop and grab a jar of that fresh jam and a loaf of bread out of the pantry...and a few eggs, too...in order to make her some breakfast when you get there. After all, a woman always appreciates a good man who is willin' to cook for her!"
At the suggestion, the young farmer's eyes lit up...just like the fairgrounds during the Maji Market...with anticipation. Nevertheless, Nai'o did not move immediately because he was still torn between pleasure and duty.
On one hand, he was eager to spend time with the young human woman who had come to mean so much to him...something he had finally figured out with the help of a bowl of Sernuk Noodle Stew first...and then confirmed when he presented her with a box of chocolates a short time later. Plus, she was prettier than the shiniest tomato and always made his heart beat faster than watching roundball. Not only that, but they now wore each other's pins to show their commitment, so he was the happiest he had ever been.
That was especially true since she was the one who helped him to keep up a better work/life balance so that he would not overwhelm himself again with nothing but work, work, work - as he was sure to do if left to his own devices.
In fact, even Kenyatta...with whom they had both stayed good friends after the breakup...especially since he and the mayor's daughter had never been all that serious to begin with and had mainly come together out of boredom in the first place...had cheerfully commented on the fact, more than once, that the human was really a much better partner for him than she could have ever been. After all, since that she had finally found her Path, Kenyatta discovered that she felt way more fulfilled as an apprentice healer than she ever had before - even as a girlfriend.
It was not meant as a slam against him. It was simply the truth about herself.
Nai'o understood. In fact, he felt it, too - especially the part about the human woman. After all, an equal partner...for life...was exactly what she had become to him in both his heart and his mind. She had her own strengths and could do so many amazing things that he couldn't...yet, she never hesitated to use those skills to help him...or his family.
In fact, she had even had his entire family over for dinner at her place just because he had asked her to, so that his parents could see how serious they were about their relationship.
Consequently, he found that he always wanted to help her in any way that he could, too.
On the other hand, though, he knew that he had his own daily farm chores to handle...and he did not want to leave his family in a bind by not doing his part.
"Now don't you be worryin' about the ormuus," Delaila reassured him with a knowing smile when she saw the conflicted look on his open and honest face. "They've been fed and you already did the milkin'...so the only thing left is the muckin'...and that can wait one more day. I'll get your Pa to help me with the pekis after breakfast, too. It'll be a nice little change for him...and we can show ol' Feathers and Petunia how it's done." She paused to laugh at the comparison of the relationships for a moment before she continued in all seriousness. "So go help her out with whatever she needs done...and have fun for a few hours...until it's time for you to be at the stables, at least."
"Are you sure, Ma?" Nai'o asked earnestly, even though he was already convinced and...in his excitement...had subconsciously made it halfway to the pantry before she could even answer.
"Absolutely!" his mother replied with a proud maternal smile when she saw her son's eagerness to go and be with the love of his life. It simply warmed her heart to finally be able to see him so happy about something other than farming. Therefore, she told him the truth. "After all, you need to keep her interested so she'll want to become part of our family for real one day – especially since the poor girl doesn't have one of her own and just appeared out of the void all on her lonesome. I've always wanted to have a daughter, too, so it all works out perfectly. You'll need to do it quick, though...before someone else snatches her up first. I've seen the way some of those other fellas in the village look at her, you know. After all, she's quite the catch."
"Aww, shucks, Ma!" Nai'o replied, and his complexion was suddenly a much darker shade than normal at her obvious meaning. "Don't scare me like that! I don't even wanna think about her with another guy...or a girl...or anybody else but me! I definitely don't want to lose her...because she's everything I could ever want...and more...but I don't want to rush her, either! We talked about it, though, and I already told her I wanted to make it last forever. I'm pretty sure she wants the same thing, but exactly when that will happen has to be her choice. So, as soon as she decides she's ready, we'll make a home together. I promise!"
The mother beamed proudly at her son again – especially since he...so full of love, respect, and pretty words...reminded her very much of a young Badruu at the moment.
"Do it your way, then. Just make sure you don't take too long...or Auni might grow up and take her away from you, anyway. You know how much he always wants to go on adventures with her. After all, he's still talking about that camping trip ya'll took to the Flooded Fortress. Plus, there's no greater adventure than love, is there?" She laughed again at the look on her oldest son's face at the idea of his little brother trying to steal his girl. "At any rate, you better get goin'!"
She proceeded to shoo the young man to the door after loading him down with farm produce and foodstuffs that it was not likely the girl would have made on her own or have in stock in her own pantry.
"Make sure you invite my future daughter back over here for dinner tonight, too," she added right before he left. "We can always make room at the table for one more – especially when that one is her! In fact, I'll fix up those chapaa steaks she brought us in the fancy way that Eshe likes with all the mushroom gravy and potatoes. That'll be a real treat."
As the door shut behind him, Delaila turned back to the table in order to gather up the supplies there. However, first she picked up the note again and read it one more time. She shook her head and sighed at what she saw there, though.
"By the Dragon, I do love that girl, but I'm afraid your father's becomin' a bad influence on her!" she murmured to herself before she smiled anyway and set the piece of paper to the side. That way, her husband could read it when he came in out of the vegetable patch to eat his morning meal.
...
For his part, Badruu just laughed when he read the little note.
After all, he had always liked the human girl who had made friends with him and every other member of the Daiya family...and had helped them all in one way or the other many times...even before she had thought about romancing his oldest son. That really impressed the man and it was the main reason why he also eagerly encouraged their increasingly close relationship now. In fact, he harbored the same high hopes for their future that Delaila did and he looked forward to the day that she would become his daughter.
After all, she was so capable and such a good influence on both of his boys. Plus, in his wife's own words, the girl really was sweeter than a honey nut bundt cake.
He would never admit aloud, though, that part of his affection for the young woman might have something to do with her encouragement of his two favorite hobbies.
In fact, it was really just a coincidence that he had such a good thyme reading the puns in her note...or that the words sounded just like music to his long pointy ears! ;)