Harvest Moon: Blueberry Pie

[Butterscotch]

Aw, poor Dia. I'm glad they got to go to the festival together ^^

[Juxapose]

God, now that I think about how this story is gonna end, I already hate myself.

[Butterscotch]

That sounds ominous! D=

[Juxapose]

O.o Just realized that you probably didn't read the original draft published in this forum back in '08. I shall remain quiet now, and let you enjoy the rest.

[Juxapose]

Chapter 6

Since the Moonlight festival, Pete and Dia became closer. That is to be expected, their feelings were made pretty obvious to one another.Pete knows that Dia enjoys his company at the Sanitarium; so much so that it can bring her to tears. He also knows about Dia's illness which prevents her from moving around no further than the sanitarium, bu the is still willing to spend time with her.

Fall continues. The leaves turn color, the air is filled with the fresh scent of cakes and pies, and the air is progressively becoming cooler by the day. The cold air doesn't rally bother the young couple at all. Dia is clothed from the neck all the way down. Pete is used to the cold since he works outside all year long. But anyone can agree that with the variant colors of fall, Flowerbud Village is absolutely stunning around this time of year.

Like many days, Dia looks out her window, wondering when the next time Pete will visit. Before she came to the village, she was used to being alone. Nobody to talk to other than doctors and nurses for years. Her parents would come to see here every now and then, but they are busy people, and must keep working to make sure Dia has the best treatment available to her.

Pete knows that Dia has a condition that prevents her from moving around too much. But the harsh reality still looms over her mind, like a dark cloud only she can see. There is still so much that Pete still doesn't know. Things that make Dia feel uncertain about his feelings for her. How much of the truth can he handle until he can't take it anymore.

Ignoring these thoughts are impossible for her. Every time she takes a bath or does anything that requires her to undress reminds her. The painful scars printed all over her body, the scars Pete cannot see because she hides them so well. Even with her clothes, her painful nightmares of her past still haunt her from time to time. The loud crash, the shattering glass, the blazing fire, the painful surgeries. The single mistake a young woman can make to change her life forever.

When Pete visits, those thoughts and memories fade for a brief moment.Pete's warm heart and blueberry eyes brings her warmth and comfort to her cold solitary world. What kind of person would she be without his calming aura, goofy jokes, and tales of harvests and winning animal contests. Before she knew it, Pete has become precious to her.

Pete also cares deeply for Dia. Behind that cold hard shell, he knows that Dia is a young girl who starves for attention. her illness makes her incapable of making a lot of friends, and her cold front is proof that she has a lot of painful memories. Trust is hard to find,especially with strangers. Once she shows her true self, she is warm, curious, compassionate, and loves the company of others. Since she is confined to the sanitarium,any sort of conversation is interesting to her.

Naturally, there are some concerns Pete has. Pete likes Dia, but he knows that he cannot treat her like a normal girl. When he went out to seek his significant other, he imagined that girl coming over to his farm, and bringing him warm home-cooked meals. He would walk around the village with her, and talk about anything with her. And the other norms like picnics, festivals, trips to the beach, and doing all sorts of things together with her.He cannot do those things with Dia, all he can do is visit her when he has some time off his farm.

He knows that there are hard limits, but he still wants to be closer to Dia. Some way to spend time outside the Sanitarium. Then one Fall day while he is brushing his horse, he gets an idea. But the idea cannot become reality without the cooperation of Doctor Alex.

As soon as he gets a free moment,he goes over to Doctor Alex's office to have a serious conversation with him."You want to take Dia out on a date," asks the Doctor.

Pete nods, "I know that she can't move very much, but I think I have an idea to make it work."

"Go on, I'm listening," says the Doctor. Pete then describes his plan to help Dia move around the village.The doctor nods and answers, "I see, that could work I suppose."

"I know that I am asking a lot, but I do want to spend time with her. But for that to work, I need to know more about Dia's condition."

Doctor Alex sighs and answers, "Dia's medical history and records are strictly confidential. Only she is allowed to talk about her disorder. But there are a few things I can tell you. First, she cannot walk for more than a few minutes before she'll need to rest.For every five minutes of walking, she'll need to rest for about an hour. She cannot lift more than twenty pounds, and she cannot carry ten pounds longer than twenty feet. Exceeding these limits could be dangerous. Do you understand?"

Pete nods. "So I do have your permission to take her out on a date?"

"I am not Dia's father, and this is not a prison. Dia is allowed to make her own decisions, and may choose to do as she pleases. But even so,this is Dia's home, and I have a few rules. First, I want Dia home before the sun sets. If Dia is not feeling well at any time, I want her brought to the Sanitarium immediately. Am I clear?"

Pete nods.

"One last thing." said Doctor Alex in a serious tone."I am required by Dia's parents to send them daily reports.Everything and anything that happens to Dia is in these reports.Everything that I know, they know."

"They even know about me," Pete asks curiously.

"Of course they do. So I advise you to to be very careful with her. But on the positive side, if I trust you, then they trust you too."

Pete nods. After their conversation, Pete returns to the farm. Tomorrow,he will surprise Dia with their first date.

The next day, Pete wakes up at 6:00 am like he does every day. The day is cool, yet crisp. Not a single cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a date. It's still early, so he goes on to do some work while the village wakes up and rubs the sand off it's eyes. Pete feels like it's going to be a great day.

At 10:00 am, Pete starts baking some Pie. Of course, he bakes Dia's favorite; blueberry pie. After the pie is done, he looks at the time,it is now 12:00 pm. Time to go pick up his date. He gets on his trusted steed, and trots over to the Sanitarium. He walks in, says hello to Nurse Gina, and walk on up to the second floor to see Dia up there reading her book like always.

Dia looks up at Pete and smiles. "Hello there. It's nice to see you again."

Pete walks up to her, and says, "It's great to see you too. Actually, I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"I want to go out on a date with you. Right now. Outside this place."

Dia's eyes widen at the shock. But she looked down sadly saying, "But.. . We talked about this before. My condition. . ."

Pete smiles, "Do you trust me?" Dia looks up, and looks into his blue eyes. He repeats, "do you trust me?"

Dia didn't say a word. Pete reaches his hand out, and Dia places her hand on his. Pete pulls her out of her chair, and leads her down the stairs and out the sanitarium. She is nervous, but allows him to lead her out the sanitarium. Just outside, she finds his horse waiting for them.

"We're going to ride on that?" Dia asks nervously while bracing on to his arm tightly.

"Of course. His name is Koni, and he'll take you anywhere you want to go.We can see the whole village on his back."

Dia pulls closer to Pete and says, "I'm scared, what if I fall off him?"

Pete wraps his arm around Dia, which makes her feel much more comfortable."Don't worry, Koni is gentle, and he won't let you fall off.Besides, I'll be right here with you the whole time."

Dia doesn't like the idea of being on a horse, but she still allows Pete to lead her to it. As soon as they get close, Pete picks her up, and lets her get comfortable on Koni. As soon as she is seated, Pete pulls on Koni's reins, and they walk off into the distance.

As they leave the Sanitarium, Doctor Alex watches them go from his office window. Gina stands by him, and rests her head on his shoulder. Alex places his arm around Gina, and pulls her close.

"Are you worried about them?" Gina asks curiously.

"Dia is a young woman, and Pete is a young man. This was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Why didn't you stop them?"

"I wanted to, believe me. But I have no right to interfere with Dia's life. It's her's to live, not mine."

"Do you think this will last?"

"I don't know. But for their sake, I hope so."

To be continued.

[Juxapose]

God, I hate those spacing errors, what gives?

Well, I got rid of most of them.

[Butterscotch]

The spacing errors could be caused by copy-pasting from whatever you write this on to the forum; the formatting might be different?

Anyway, great chapter.

[Juxapose]

Chapter 7

Dia is riding on Koniwhile Pete is leading it by pulling on it's reins on foot. During theride, Dia takes in the fantastic new sights she could not see throughthe Sanitarium window. Flowerbud Village is a small settling with oldfashioned yet rustic buildings and old fashioned way of living. Butwithout the huge number of tall buildings of a city, the villagelooks much bigger than it is. Due to the season, the trees arecovered with leaves turning color of gold, browns, reds, and oranges.The villagers live in the town peacefully, unlike the hectic ruckusof her hometown.

It doesn't take too longuntil Pete reaches their destination. He opens the gates of his farm,and leads the horse in carrying Dia. Pete then leads the horse to thePasture and stops. He then helps Dia off the horse, and gives her achance to look around.

The area stuns Dia in it'snatural beauty. There are cow grazing in the grass, and hens peckingfor worms. Loads of fall crops are growing on the nearby crop fields.Just beyond the fences, she could see the roaring ocean towards thesouth, and the rest of the village to the north.

“Where are we?” sheasks.

“This is my farm. Thisis where I work, I rest, I play, and live,” answered Pete.

“Wow, this place is sobig! And you work here all by yourself?”

Pete nods. “Yep! I spentquite a few years here. Had nothing but a tiny house and some spaceto grow a few things. But now this place is my own kingdom of animalsand crops.” He then walks towards his cows and says, “I stillneed to do a few chores. Just wait here for me, okay?”

Dia frowns and comments,“Not much of a date if you're working, isn't it?”

“It won't take long, Ipromise,” Pete responds with a smile.

With nothing else betterto do, Dia sits on a nearby fence and watch Pete work. Even thoughPete takes longer than he promises, Dia doesn't quite mind too much.Watching him feed and milk the cattle is interesting to her.Something new to look at instead of the Sanitarium walls. Pete alsotakes some time to care for the hens. It is time to put them back inthe coop, but catching them is harder than it looks. Dia just gigglesas he watches Pete chase the hens around the pasture. Almost likewatching a small comedy show. The sheep are the last thing on thelist of things to do. Pete already took care of the crops earlierthat morning. As Pete brushes the clean white wool of the sheep, sheclearly sees the bond Pete has with them.

There is a bond of trustand love with all of Pete's animals that live in the farm. Dia readsabout the bonds with animals and humans all the time. A cat thatpurrs around it's owner's leg, a hawk that comes to it's master atthe sound of a whistle, and even animals in the circus. But this isthe first time she sees this bond live. As she watches, she findsPete's dog looking up at her. At first, she is startled, but she seesthe friendly look in it's eyes. She reaches out to touch it, and thedog licks her hand. Quite a friendly gesture that puts a smile on herface.

After the work is done,Pete goes on to get the stuff he prepared for his date. He gets ablanket, and lays it on a clearing for them to sit. He also gets thepie he baked, along with some other berry themed treats to have apicnic. Dia is thrilled, she has been in picnics before with herfamily when she was younger. When you are confined to a Sanitarium,small pleasures like this are difficult if not impossible for Dia toenjoy again.

During the picnic, Diaasks a lot of questions, especially about Farm-life. Typicalquestions like “Is working on a farm difficult?” “How much timedoes it takes to work?” How is the farm in the other seasons?”Most of these questions answer one main question that she did notask, why does Pete only visit about once a week? Seeing that the jobhe has is time consuming and straining, she now sees why. And at thesame time, she appreciates the time he spends at the Sanitarium more.And also, this explains why did he had to get her before finishinghis work.

The time is getting late,and it is almost time to take Dia home. But before she decides to getback on Koni, she has one last request. She wants to see the insideof Pete's home. Like most women, she wants to know is Pete is a cleanperson, does he have good taste in furniture, and what kind of lifedoes he live at home.

Inside the house isnothing special. Typical guy image. Walls painted a plain whitecolor. The furniture technically matches, but it's all the samecolor. No curtains, artwork, or decorations. Nothing raunchy, likepin-ups or dirty magazines. Not a bad way to live, but it could use awoman's touch.

“Not a bad house, butcould use a splash of blue, and maybe a few decorations,”criticized Dia.

Pete laughs sheepishly andresponds, “Well, I am not at home a lot. But I do try.”

Dia looks back at Pete.She is not smiling, but she is blushing. Almost if she is nervous ofadmitting something pretty embarrassing. She fidgets with her handsbehind her back as she asks,“you know, not once have you askedabout my. . . Condition.”

Pete nods and answers,“It's not something I want to think about. I rather just get toknow you like a normal girl.”

Dia sighs and continues,“I can tell that you like me. And to be honest, I really like youtoo. But I think it's unfair that we feel this way, and yet, youdon't know what's wrong with me. I am always afraid that when youfind out, you won't like me anymore.”

“That's not true!”Pete yells.

Dia then turns aroundfacing away from Pete. Her heart is beating hard, almost like if it'sabout to burst. But she decided to do this, and she wants to gothrough with it. If this will scare him away, may as well let it benow, than later when their feelings get stronger. “Then I thinkit's time we put your words to the test.”

Dia begins to unbutton theback of her dress. Pete freaks out, and tries to cover his eyes. Buteven as he does, he is a healthy male who can't help but to take apeek. But as soon as Dia exposes her back, A gasping shock overcomesPete. Never in his life could he imagine this perfect princess couldbe hiding so many scars behind her dress. “That's not all,” shesays. She pulls back the sleeves of her shirt to show that the scarscover more than her back. Her arms, legs, just about everywhere thatis covered in clothing has burn and stitch marks.

“What. . . Happened?”Pete dares himself to ask.

Dia covers her scars, andbegins her story. “I was young, just turned 17 back in my hometown.I was still in high school at a private academy for girls. During theweekend, we were allowed to travel a bit and have a bit of fun. Weall liked to spend time with friends, meet at the movies, concerts,whatever that was open in town. Then one summer day, me and myfriends met this really cute guy. He is a few years older, but he wasreally cool and had a nice car. Of all the girls that he met, hereally liked me. I was the envy of town, we were going out for a fewmonths. I would sneak out of the academy to see him at nights. He wasa rebel, and I fell for his charm.

“But one night, he wasdriving that car a bit too wild. There was an accident. . . all Icould remember after that was fire and the sounds of the ambulances.We both survived, but I was not as lucky as him. He only had a brokenrib and leg. I was hurt and burned much worse. I spend a good portionof a year at the hospital with surgeries and recovery. Just abouteverything except my face and hands have some kind of scar on it. Imay have survived, but I was never the same. Many of my organs didnot fully recover, and I cannot move very much because of it.

“I learned that myboyfriend made a full recovery. But even so, he abandoned me. Henever came to visit me, not even once. I didn't even get a letter ofapology from him. My old friends from school would visit me, and Ilearned he skipped town. But even so, my friends graduated school,and they had to live their lives. I was left alone. My only friendwas Gina. She has always been there for me since day one. Even if Itransferred to another hospital, she always came with me out of herown choice. She even came to live with me in this village.

“Even though I didsurvive, I am hardly alive at all. I can't run, I can't play, and Ican't do what normal girls can. I'm weak.”

Dia is trembling. She justadmitted her secret to Pete. She can't look at him, will he leave herlike so many people did in the past. Can he accept her the way she iswith her terrible memories and broken body? And most importantly, howwill this affect how he feels about her?

All of her worries melt assoon as she feels his warm embrace from behind. He pulls her close,and whispers in her ear, “I'm sorry about what happened to you. ButI won't leave you. You may say that you're weak, but I think you'rethe strongest person I know. It takes a lot of strength to live aftergoing through that. Now I must ask you something, can I stay by yourside?”

Tears fall from Dia'scheeks. She is happy that Pete has decided to stay with her. Evenmore that he asks her if he can stay with her. She is overcome withemotion, she turns around, and cries tears of joy on his chest. Petestrokes her hair doing anything he can to comfort her. She may not benormal, but she is more than he ever asked for. Strong spirited,confident, beautiful, educated; and above all, honest.

After Dia has her moment,it is time to take her home. Pete places her back on the back of hishorse, and she rides it back to the Sanitarium. They find Doctor Alexand Gina waiting there for them to come back. But before Pete cangive her date back to the Sanitarium, he decides to do one lastthing. They look at one another in the eyes, and shared their firstkiss together. Gina and Alex look at one another, and smile. Theywon't hear about it, but they have a good idea of what happened ontheir date.

And with that, Dia is leftin the care of the Sanitarium and Pete goes home. They both sleep indifferent places, but they both have the same dreams, of each other.

To be continued.

[Butterscotch]

Aw, poor Dia.

Her backstory is interesting. I figured she had a heart condition or was recovering from TB or something. Her scars also intrigue me, since I plan on using a very similar idea for Dream About Me. I guess great mind think alike

[Juxapose]

Sorry that there was no chapter this week. With my friend's funeral, and other business kept me busy. Gotta make up this coming week.

[Juxapose]

Chapter 8

Sooner than later, winter comes out to chill the air and cover Flowerbud Village with a blanket of snow. The villagers are now in their homes more often to keep warm and spend time with their families. Lots of family related festivals take place around this time of year; Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Fire Festival, and Starry Night Festival. Not to mention the many birthdays that take place in this season.

In Pete's Farm, much of the crops have already died, and the trees do not give him any produce. All he has are the animals to take care of. Naturally, this means that he has much more time to himself than any other season. This would normally be his least favorite season, considering that he would be bored most days. But now that he met Dia, he now has somewhere to be.

In the Sanitarium, Dia looks out the window. The beauty of winter is unmatched to the city where she once lived. The nights are longer, and get filled with sparkling stars she could never see in her hometown. At night the snow on the ground glisten from the moonlight. She so wishes she can play in the pure white snow, if her condition only let her. She can only watch the young children play in the snow instead.

She does feel a little envious, but there is always one person who can make her feel better. On the ninth day of Winter, Pete pays Dia a special visit. He walks up the same stairs, and finds her sitting by the window like she does most days. He walks up to her with a proud smile on his face.

“Is this seat taken?” he asks jokingly pointing on an empty spot next to Dia.

Dia smiles warmly and answers, “That seat is reserved for you my good sir.”

Pete nods then sits down. They both look outside to watch the children play and take a moment to see how much has changed. It was just Spring when they first met. The snow outside reminds them that when it all melts, it would have been nearly a whole year since she came to live in the village. And almost a year that they've known one another. They sit next to one another proudly. The villagers who walk by smile and wave at them. By now, everyone knows that they are happily together in a dating relationship.

“By the way, I heard that today is your birthday. Happy Birthday!” said Pete.

Dia blushes and says, “Thank you. I usually am alone on my birthday. But I feel happy that you came over. Will you be staying for some cake? Gina is buying some from the shop.”

“Sure, but before that, I want to give you a present,” answers Pete.

“You got me a present?” asks Dia. Pete nods, and goes down the steps to the first floor. Moments later, he brings up a large white box with a green ribbon tied on it. 

He rests it on the ground in front of Dia, and says, “Go ahead, open it.”

Dia hesitates for a moment, then she undoes the emerald colored ribbon and opens the box. After looking inside the box for a moment, she pulls out a stuffed bear.

“Wow, it's so cute!” said Dia cheerfully. “I wonder if it has a name.”

“Why not give it one?” asked Pete.

Dia takes a good long look at the bear. She then smiles and hugs the bear happily saying, “I think I'll call it. . . Daachan.”

Seeing Dia smile like that holding her present makes him happy as well. Just like the seasons change, so do they. Pete was once a lonely farm boy who would work only for himself dreaming of being with someone. Dia was once a cold lonely girl who lacked the trust and faith in others. Together, they are happy and smiling as they spend their days with one another.

Pete visits the Sanitarium almost on a daily basis during the winter days. Most of the time, Pete sits with her by the window, and talk with her about what is going on outside that ice cold glass. Other days, Pete takes her out on his horse and allows her to take a look around the village. Pete and his horse has become her communication to the outside world, seeing things she would never be able on her own. She has visited many places, meet many people she couldn't before, and seen many breathtaking views she only imagined before.

Just as predicted, the snow melts and the crops begin to grow once again. Pete now has to return to work and spend less time at the Sanitarium. Mainly because he has to prepare the soil that had rested all winter long. Tilling dirt, planting seeds, watering large fields takes up much of his time. It isn't until mid Spring that he is able to visit Dia once again.

The young couple are not very happy at this time. They both have gotten used to the idea that they could see one another every day all winter long. They spend hours talking to each other, and went to every festival together. Now Pete's job has put some distance between them. And with distance comes longing to see one another. Dia naturally feels alone and abandoned. Some nights she would cry because she didn't get to see Pete that day. She has Daachan now, but it's not the same. She would sometimes wait for hours holding Daachan for Pete's visit. She knows that Pete has to work, but it doesn't relieve the empty hole in hear chest.

Pete also feels the pressure brought from the distance. The beginning of spring means long work days. By the time he finishes, Dia is long asleep. When he finally gets to see her, Dia becomes a bit sour. She knows it's not his fault, but she misses him that much. She can't help but to feel that maybe Pete enjoys his job more than she. The thought that Pete has met a more normal girl does cross her mind every now and then.

Summer rolls in, and Pete was able to mend his relationship with Dia. They got back into the weekly visits like they did before. But they both feel that it's not enough. Pete has to work, but he wants his relationship to Dia work too. It's much more difficult when you've developed feelings for someone who cannot visit you. Dia is rooted at the Sanitarium, and Pete is mostly rooted to the farm as well. The farm and the Sanitarium are on the opposite sides of the village, so they can't even hear each other's voices if they call out.

By fall, enough is enough. Pete wants Dia to be a part of his life, even if it means making the ultimate commitment. All fall long, Pete plans and works as hard as he can to do what any man in love does. By winter, he will ask the girl he loves to marry him. That way, they can live together and never be apart for the rest of their lives.

On Christmas Eve, Pete takes Dia out of the sanitarium against Doctor Alex's orders. It is a cold night, and Pete takes her up to Starry hill where a full moon shines brightly. At that moment, Pete presents her the symbol of marriage in Flowerbud Village; a blue feather.

Dia is familiar with this tradition, but she didn't know that they still practice it. Although old fashioned, her heart still rushes as the man she loves is asking for her hand in marriage. She doesn't know what to say, let along answer. Should she take it? Will she be a good enough wife for him? Can she even be a wife with her illness? How will her family react?

Dia looks hard at the feather not knowing if she should take it or not. She cares deeply for Pete, but she is not sure if she'll make a good wife for him. So she looks at Pete in his blueberry eyes, and asks, “Are you sure you want to marry me? Even though I am not healthy? Are you sure I won't be a burden to you?”

“I know all about your health, but that doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you so much, and I don't want to be with anyone else but you. I'll take care of you, and make you the happiest woman in the world. So, will you marry me?”

Dia feels scared, but she feels the same way he does. So she decides to accept his feather, and become his wife. They then share a kiss as a newly engaged couple.

Back at the sanitarium, Alex and Gina are both unhappy that Pete took Dia out at night, but their moods changed after they announced their engagement. Alex and Gina both look at one another concerned about their engagement, but they know that Dia has every right to get married just like anyone else. So they congratulate them, and start the preparations for their wedding.

That spring, the very same date that Dia arrived, the whole village gathered to celebrate the wedding of Pete and Dia. Even Dia's family came to the wedding as well. Pete is nervous to meet the family that day, but they accept him with open arms.

The wedding takes place at Starry Hill, the same place Pete proposed. Both Dia and Pete arrive at the ceremony riding on the same horse that usually carries Dia around the village. Pete dismounts first, and helps his bride off her steed. Pete wears a typical white wedding suit, but Dia is wearing a special custom dress she designed herself. Most of the dress is white, except some green patterns in the shape of vines. Blue dots around the vines are small blueberry patterns. The dress is a symbol of Pete and Dia's love. The vines are Dia's green eyes, and the blueberries are Pete's eyes. Together, they are one life, bound by love.

After the mayor recite the vows, Pete places the ring he spent nearly a month to buy for Dia. He then kisses his bride, and they are now pronounced man and wife. The whole village cheers as they mount the horse once again with a sign “Just Married” hanging of it's tail. A funny gesture, but memorable.

Dia immediately moves into the farm with her husband Pete. She freshens up the house to be very cozy. Her very own home, she never imagined the day she could live outside a hospital setting. The sanitarium was the closest thing, but not the same as what she has now. She used to feel like she was in a cage. Now she has more freedom. She can walk out the house, and see the whole village instead of looking through a window. She cannot leave the farm on her own, but she is very happy that she can be with the man she loves. Doctor Alex and Gina must make frequent visits every now and then, but she can tolerate it.

She still knows that she cannot live a normal girl's life. She cannot do what most girls can do, like cook, clean, and move around too much. But Pete and Dia are happy together. But no matter how happy she is, she wonders how long this happiness can last.

To be continued.

[Butterscotch]

No, what an ominous ending! D=

You changed tenses briefly in the middle, the part where Dia gets the bear. Sorry. I can't help noticing that kind of thing ^^;

[Juxapose]

The reason why the tense maybe a bit off during that time is because I copied and pasted from the original fic this was based off. That fic I wrote back in 2008, so I still was pretty bad at tenses. Should have checked it tho.

[Juxapose]

Chapter 9

Pete and Dia spends many happy times with one another. Living together brought them very close. Dia looks outside through the bedroom window and watches her husband work on the farm. She misses him when he has to leave the farm by himself. She then feels happy when he arrives back home. After work is over, they spend time watching TV together, they read books to one another, and talk about the farm. Soon enough, the seasons change and Fall comes around once again.

During mid-fall, Pete takes Dia to the clinic. She has been feeling slightly ill for the last couple of days. Illness is not something to take lightly, especially in Dia's case. After explaining Dia's symptoms, Doctor Alex gives her a small medical exam. He then asks them to return to the clinic the very next day.

The next day arrives, and the young married couple await for the results of the exam. Pete has no idea what's going on, but Dia has a good idea what news might be coming her way soon. Doctor Alex opens up the folder prepared by Gina, and reads it silently. Tension builds as the couple waits patiently for the results. He takes his sweet time verifying that the results are accurate before making his announcement.

“Well, it's official. Dia is pregnant.”

Dia and Pete both gasp with excitement. Pete jumps up and yells, “Yes! I'm gonna be a daddy! I'm gonna be a daddy! Wo-hoo!”

Since Dia can't stand and celebrate with her husband, she just claps happily. But as Pete dances and celebrates, Doctor Alex sighs with concern. “Umm, Pete? You think you can give me and Dia here a minute? We need to talk for a bit.”

“Sure! I'll pick her up later! I have to go and make plans already. Where are we gonna keep the nursery? I gotta get some baby furniture.”

“That's great sweetie. Just be back in an hour. Okay?” asked Dia.

“Okay!” yelled Pete full of excitement. He then rushes out the clinic, and goes on to the local shops to see what he can get in the village as far as baby supplies.

Back at the Clinic, Dia already knows why the doctor asked her to stay behind. He doesn't say anything at first, he just rubs his temple as he tries to compose himself. She is bracing herself for the lecture she will get from the doctor. Both of them knew that this day will come, but the doctor didn't expect it so soon.

“Dia, what have you done?” asked Doctor Alex.

Dia fidgets with her fingers and answers, “umm. . . I'm having a baby. Aren't you happy?”

A fist suddenly slams on the doctor's desk. His facial expression is filled with grief and fear. “Dammit Dia! This is not funny! I thought we talked about this already! We agreed that if you wanted children, you would have to go through me first!”

There is a moment of silence afterwards. The only thing anyone can hear for several minutes is the heavy breathing of the doctor. Dia has no idea what to tell him, she is not going to apologize for what she did, but she did go against doctor's orders.

“I'm going to lose my job over this!” said Doctor Alex breaking the silence. After calming down a bit, the doctor continues, “Listen to me, if you wanted to have a child, we had to run some tests to make sure if you're body could handle carrying a child. Then we would get a special doctor to come to the village to monitor and care for you until you conceive. But you have gone and got pregnant putting your life in danger.”

Dia sighs and answers, “I know, we talked about this. But I didn't want to do this like if I was some lab rat. I wanted to have a more 'natural' pregnancy. Unplanned like normal married people. I want to have a normal marriage, like any other girl would have. I know what I did was risky, but I have faith in you and Gina. I know that I can have this baby with your help, and nobody else's.”

Doctor Alex thinks for a moment. He then picks up a pen and says, “you leave me no choice. I'm transferring you to a city hospital!”

Dia stands up and yells, “What!? You can't do that!”

“Sit down!” Doctor Alex demands. Dia takes a seat angry about the doctor's decision. He continues, “I know you don't want to go back to a hospital, but this is for your own good. This is a high risk pregnancy, and I don't have the equipment to deliver this baby. You cannot push this baby out of your body naturally, so the baby must be taken out when you are ready to give birth. If you try to have the baby by yourself, you could risk both the lives of yourself and your child. Is that what you want?”

Dia remains quiet for a moment. She knows the doctor is right. When she came to Flowerbud Village, she planned to remain in the sanitarium for the rest of her life. She never planned to meet someone, fall in love, get married, and have a baby. But here she is, taking life in her own hands. She wants to do things her way, but things could get out of her hands if she doesn't start listening to her doctor.

“What about my husband?” asked Dia.

“Your husband works as a farmer. I'm sure he is allowed to visit you, but I don't think the farm will let him. Unless he can hire someone to care for the farm in his place, he will need to stay here until the baby is born.”

“But. . . I don't want to be away from him that long. I want him to be by my side during my pregnancy. I want him to take care of me, not some doctor I don't know. I want him to see the child grow inside me, he earned the right to have those memories. We cannot take that part of our family away from him.”

Doctor Alex sighs again. Having a normal life is something that Dia wants more than anything. He has a duty as a doctor, but he also has a duty as Dia's friend. He is in a tight spot. He never controlled Dia's life up to this point, he doesn't want to start doing so now.

“All right. I'll allow you to stay in the village.” Doctor Alex said in a depressed tone. Dia begins to get excited, but the doctor points at her saying, “but I have a few conditions. First, even though I am allowing you to stay here, you will go to the hospital about a week before the delivery date. This will give you plenty of time to spend with your husband. On that topic, I want you to tell your husband everything we talked about now. He has the right to know what's going on, and I need his co-operation with this. And one last thing, if you feel anything unusual, you must tell me. Am I clear? Do you promise on both of your lives?”

“I promise,” says Dia.

After the lecture. Dia waits patiently for her husband and his valiant steed to take them home. She doesn't wait long until Pete arrives to get her. During the ride home, he tells his wife that he found some good deals on children's furniture at the nearby shops. He also arranged supplies to be delivered once the baby is born; milk, diapers, and other supplies that they will need. While Pete is excited, Dia remains quiet. She should be excited with her husband, but now she is genuinely worried.

The next day, Pete runs around making preparations. He needs to have an extra room built for the nursery, make changes to his budget, and plan for how will he be a good father. It isn't until the middle of the day until he notices something odd about Dia. Since she got home, she has not said a single word. She should be excited, but Pete can see a worried look on her face.

As soon as he gets a break from planning, he walks up to his wife and holds her hand. She looks at him in his blueberry eyes, then look away. “Honey, what's wrong?” he asks.

“I'm. . . scared,” answers Dia.

“Scared? About what?”

Dia then proceeds to tell him everything. About the risks, and the fact that she will need to travel to the city far from home to deliver the baby. All of the sudden, Pete's excitement fades, and he becomes worried himself. When he asks her why didn't she say anything before, she answers, “because I want to be with you.” Those words make him smile, but it won't make the fear go away.

But what is done is done. The seed of life has been planted, and everyone must play their roles to assure that Dia and her baby are safe. Once a week, Dia is taken to the clinic to have regular health exams. Week after week, Dia and the baby are fine and healthy. Pete does his best to keep Dia away from any type of stress or strain. She is also put on a special diet, where she cannot eat any sweets but fruits and veggies instead. Dia misses her husband's blueberry pies. At least she is hand fed fresh blueberries which makes her happy.

The seasons change, and the baby begins to grow. Her inability to carry the baby makes her even more dependent on her husband. She is often rooted on a chair or bed, and she cannot stand up. Her husband must carry her everywhere, baby and all. It's a strain on himself, but he is happy to do his best for her. Since she cannot leave the farm, the doctor must come to her with Gina and any equipment they need to monitor her progress. So far, the baby and it's mother are healthy.

Spring passes, and Summer arrives. The baby's due date is close, and Dia must prepare to leave the farm. She is now sitting on her bed knitting a small shirt for the little bundle of joy. Her hair is much longer than it was when she first arrived in the village. Because of her massive hair growth, she feels that her baby might be a boy, but she is not sure.

Pete then enters the room, and sits on the bed next to Dia. He holds her hand and asks, “How are you feeling?”

Dia places her other hand on the growing baby, and answers, “Our child will be born in a week or so. I feel scared, but I just hope that he or she will be born healthy.”

A tear sheds from Pete's eyes. He then kisses his wife on the forehead, and says, “You don't have to worry about a thing. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.”

She takes his hand, places it on her face. Feeling her husband's hand caressing her face brings her joy in her time of need. This may be the last time she'll feel it until she comes home with her child. So far, everything is fine. She is confident that everything will be fine at the hospital as well.

“I'm going to check if your ride is here,” said Pete.

Just before he is able to leave the room, Doctor Alex and Gina burst into the room. “We have a problem! Turn on the TV!” he yells.

Pete turns on the TV, and the doctor turns to the weather channel. They find out that a hurricane is on their way tomorrow, and the news advises everyone to stay in their homes. Pete looks at the doctor and says, “What's the problem? It's a hurricane, they happen every now and then. No big deal.”

“I got a call from Dia's family. The ride to the hospital is canceled until the hurricane passes,” said Doctor Alex.

“Is everything going to be okay? Will I make it to the hospital on time?” asked Dia.

The doctor remains quiet, but Pete reassures, “So we will get to the hospital a bit late. Dia's due date is in another week, she has plenty of time before the baby is born.”

“I know, but even so,” said the doctor.

“What is it? Tell us!” yells Dia.

“It's most likely nothing, but I can't help but to fear the worst. There are so many things that could happen during a hurricane, but it could be my imagination,” answered the Doctor.

“I'll keep that in mind,” said Pete. Even so, he feels that the doctor is hiding something, but he'll trust his judgment.

After Doctor Alex and Gina leaves the house, the doctor turns around and says, “Gina, I want you to stay here with them.”

“I understand, but is there any reason why?” asked Gina.

Doctor Alex turns around and begins to walk away, but not before saying, “I had a dream, a very scary dream.” He then returns to the Clinic alone.

Gina spent the night with Pete and Dia. Things are calm and peaceful, but the winds start to pick up at midnight. By the morning time, rain and thunder start to kick in, and the hurricane is in full force. Pete looks out and sees the trees bowing for the force of the wind, and debris rolling around the muddy roads. For a moment he worries for the welfare of the farm. On the other hand, Dia is acting incredibly strange. Since the sound of thunder started, she has been hiding herself underneath her blanket. She tries to cover her ears, but the sound of thunder is too loud to ignore.

Pete becomes worried and asks, “Dia, what's wrong?”

“It's the thunder, I'm afraid of thunder!” she answers.

“You are!? Since when!?”

“Always!”

Pete begins to panic. He never knew that Dia had any fears, and the loud thunderbolts of the hurricane is freaking her out. He tries to hold her tight to bring her some type of comfort. He tells her not to worry, and he is there for her, but the sound of thunderbolts cause her to be tense. Then, it happens.

“Oh no!” yells Dia.

“What's wrong?”

“The baby! It's coming! I feel that he wants to be born!”

Pete turns white out of fear, “what?! Not here! Not Now!”

He then cries for Gina to the room. She rushes in and checks on Dia. Her contractions are powerful, and Dia is in excruciating pain. She feels like her body is gonna tear itself apart, and she is not even pushing yet.

“What do we do?” asked Pete.

“This baby won't wait, she'll have to give birth, right now!” says Gina panicking. She then holds Dia's hand and says, “It's okay, I'll help you deliver the baby. I am a trained midwife, remember?” Dia nods, Gina then looks at Pete and yells, “Don't just stand there! Get us a towel, and some warm water!”

Pete then snapps out of his trance and runs off to get the supplies he needs. His mind is numb from the hurricane and his wife going through labor. A window shatters causing him to fall down. Even though the odds are stacked against him, he won't give up that easily He will do his best for his wife and his child.

After getting the towel and water, he tries to walk in. Strangely, he finds himself too afraid to go in. Remembering what the doctor said causes him to lose his nerve. From outside the room, he hears Gina instruct Dia to push. As hard as she tries, Dia's crying voice tells Gina that she can't. Gina will not give up on her friend, so she demands that Dia tries harder.

Dia's vision is getting blurry. The pain of bringing life to the world is too much for her to bear. Her breathing is heavy, and the baby is still in her womb. She doesn't have the strength to push any more. She turns her head to the side, and finds her stuffed bear Daachan. The bear is sitting in a corner watching her. She remembers the promise she made to her husband that she cannot give up on her family. So she summons her strength for one last forceful push.

The last push is so painful, that Dia screams out loud. The sound is so terrifying that it belongs in a horror movie. Pete panics, and drops the towel and water. He runs in to see what is going on. He runs in, fearing the worst. When he comes in, he sees Gina holding a crying baby in her arms. Dia is lying on the bed, resting from the ultimate push.

Pete's eyes glow as he sees his child healthy in Gina's arms. Gina holds the baby to him and announces, “it's a boy!”

Pete holds his baby wrapped in a blanket. He is happy to hear the baby crying out. The baby is born, and it's alive and well. The baby has jet black hair, just like his mother. His heart skips as he looks into the blue eyes of his baby boy.

“I can't believe it, our son is born. Dia, you did it! You delivered the baby all by yourself. Right in our house. I am so proud of you!”

Dia does not answer. She lays there on the bed, not moving, eyes closed, hardly breathing. Pete then rushes over to Dia and says, “Come on Dia, open your eyes! Look at our son. We're a family now! You, me, and our son. You can't fall asleep on us now. Come on! Hold our son! Please, open your eyes. . . . . . Dia?”

To be continued.

[Butterscotch]

Nooo, Dia! ;_;

But why didn't they do an emergency c-section?