I do not own stardew valley.

Chapter 5 Enchanted.

Thirteen days... that was how many days it had been since she had last seen him. That was the festival... he hadn't come over to help with the farm like she had been hoping for. He just... vanished. Just like he did the first time they had started trying to be friends. Had she done something wrong? She didn't understand what she could have done wrong... the chill of the fall air started nipping at her. She pulled her hoodie around her tighter as she followed the path out of her farm. She admittedly missed his presence dearly.

A smile crossed her lips as the ever-familiar silo came into view. She wanted to see him. She rounded the side of the house with a smile plastered to her lips. She made her way to the door, but once she tried to open it... it wouldn't budge. "Around the side, dear." Marnie's voice rang out and Rosalyn blinked in confusion. Something didn't seem right. When she rounded the corner, she was greeted with sad eyes. "Marnie?" she called softly and the woman offered a sad smile. "Are you alright?" she asked and Marnie rubbed her eyes softly. "Rosalyn... I have a favor to ask..." Marnie began and offered her a seat on the new bench she had recently set up near her animals.

"What can I do to help?" she asked, feeling that it was almost a necessity to help the older woman with whatever troubled her. "Shane has been having a very rough past two weeks. He has tried his best to avoid the alcohol and talk about his troubles, but I feel as if today is going to be the day he breaks down and gives in." she whispered as she fluffed Charlie's feathers ever so slightly. The chicken voiced her worry in little clucks from Marnie's lap. "Rosalyn... I know it is a lot to ask of you considering the fact that you've already done it so many times before... would you seek him out and try and console him? He won't let anyone else in..." Marnie whispered and Rosalyn eyed her sadly.

"Why would he let me in so easily?" Rosalyn asked softly and Marnie reached to grab her hand gently. "You are his sun... you may not know this, but you are the best friend he has ever had. He needs you, but he doesn't want to believe it. He doesn't want to admit that he needs anyone." Marnie sighed and Rosalyn squeezed her hand softly. "Why does everyone call me the sun?" she asked and Marnie offered her a smile. "Because, Rosalyn... you are this bright, beautiful force of nature... you give off this brilliant light, and everyone can feel it. You brighten everyone's day so easily... it's miraculous honestly." Marnie said with a soft smile and Rosalyn furrowed her brows.

"Marnie... I have two more things to ask of..." Rosalyn inquired and Marnie watched her intently. "Who would you classify as the moon? And where does Shane usually go to hide other than the cliffside?" she asked and Marnie thought it over for a second, the genuine curiosity swimming in her eyes made Rosalyn wonder what about her question had made her curious. "There would be a few people I could classify as the moon, and each has their own aspect of being so. Sebastian would be a first guess, considering that he was dark and broody... but I suppose Jas and Shane could also be classified as the moon for all different reasons." Marnie replied and Rosalyn sighed softly.

"Why do you ask?" "Elliot wrote me a poem and it was about the moon being in love with the sun... I just... thought maybe there was a chance that it might've been about me, but I know Shane doesn't see me like that. He is just trying to make up for all the time he was mean and rude, even though I still helped him and wanted to be his friend..." Rosalyn sighed and a small smile tugged at Marnie's lips. She was going to keep her mouth shut on that topic a little longer. Seemed Shane really was trying to make his move, just one step at a time.

"Rosalyn... the places he goes... it's always different, so you may have to search a bit. Usually, it is down by the cliffside, but he could also be down by the docks. It just depends on how he is feeling..." Marnie sighed and Rosalyn nodded slowly. "So, you think I could find him at any of these places?" she asked and it was Marnie's turn to nod. "Alright... then I am going to go make sure he is ok." Rosalyn said and Marnie smiled at her. "Thank you, Rosalyn." Marnie said and Rosalyn nodded with a small smile.

Rosalyn rubbed her finger over the small envelope she had been carrying around. She desperately wanted to tell him the news. She made her way through the woods, stopping to see if she could see him down by the docks. He wasn't there, this made her frown. She thumbed the opening of the envelope once more wondering where he could be. She made her way to Emily's house, if anyone she would know where he was. When she got there Emily was already outside.

"Rosalyn? How are you today?" she asked and Rosalyn smiles back. "I'm doing alright. I'm looking for Shane actually, have you seen him?" she asked and Emily frowned. "You may find him in the cemetery tonight if you hadn't seen him yet this afternoon. It is the anniversary of Jas' parents death." Emily said sadly. Rosalyn frowned and looked down at the envelope in her hands. That could wait. She needed to make sure he was ok. She made her way to Jojamart, where Morris seemed to locate her as soon as she entered. "Rosalyn!" he greeted cheerfully and she smiled at him softly. "How are you?" he asked and she blinked at him.

"I am well, thank you. Shane has helped me through so much lately." She said and Morris nodded with a small smile. "Good. Do you need help finding anything?" he asked and she shook her head softly. "I appreciate the offer though, thank you." She said and he nodded as she made her way to the coolers in the back. Her eyes landed on that dark bottle of wine Shane had grabbed before and she nodded. She placed it in the basket on her arm, as well as the watermelon one from before. The dark bottle seemed to be an Ancient Fruit wine. This was one of two bottles they had and they were extremely expensive. She looked around at the liquor shelves and grabbed a few things. She knew how it felt to lose a loved one. She knew it was hard. That's why the bond between her and her sister was such an immaculate thing. She grabbed some breads and sweet but mellow snacks. She was going to drink with him, because no one should drink or mourn alone.

She made her way up to the register and paid for her things. Morris didn't say a word, because he knew this was none of his concern. "Let me know how good that wine is." Was all he said and she nodded. That much she could do. She made her way back to her house and began preparing a basket with meats and cheeses. She grabbed some crackers and whatnot as well. She loaded it all up into a basket and stepped outside. The sound of a hammer against nails rang out and she smiles brightly as she looked over to where the small wooden house was being built. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Jodi working on the insulation and wiring. "You need any help?" She asked and Jodi shook her head. "You look like you already have plans. Don't worry about me." She said and Rosalyn smiled softly. She looked up at the setting sun and nodded to herself. She was not going to let Shane sit and be alone tonight.

Her heart fluttered at the thought of him. She liked Shane, she couldn't understand it honestly. He was usually so off putting to everyone, but to her he was so kind and friendly. She wanted nothing more than to help him the way he had helped her. She remembered every time he had come to help her. Even as far back as the night he had come down into the mines and found her. He had seemed so scared when he had seen her down there. She couldn't wrap her head around it, though. She couldn't understand why he had been so terrified. She had only been taking a break, she knew she was injured, she knew she wouldn't have been able to make it up to the surface. Ok so maybe she had been stubborn and ignorant, but she wasn't truly ready to admit she had been a fool to go down there alone. Her smile vanished from her lips as the hazy memory of him running over to her played over in her mind. The fear in his eyes, the importance of which he moved. She could barely remember that night, but what she could remember was his fear. It was overwhelming to her. She owed him so much, just for that simple act. She has been so much more careful since. Wary of whatever caused the massive gash on her leg.

Her fingers brushed over the raised skin and she smiled softly. The scar was now a prominent reminder that someone had been taking care of her without her knowing. It just happened to be Shane that had her back. She looked over the small fence and saw flowers all over two graves, but no Shane. She had probably just missed him. She made her way to the docks, and he sat at the end. She smiled softly as he looked up at the sky. She saw the beer in his hand and decided to make her way over. He hadn't even popped the top on it yet. He looked the can over once more, then launched it into the lake.

"No wonder I keep fishing soda cans out of the water." She said softly, trying not to startle him. "Rose?" He didn't seem to understand why she was there. She offered him a sad smile and sat the basket down beside him. "No one wants to drink alone." She said softly and pulled the wine from the basket. His brow rose when he saw the other drinks she had in there. "That's hard stuff..." He said and she nodded. "Yeah... I didn't know if you were feeling like hitting the soft stuff or the hard stuff, but I figured I would bring it along anyways. Besides, I don't want to drink here." She said and offered him a hand. He took her hand and followed her. "I didn't think you wanted to be alone tonight. I know what it is like, missing family." She sighed and he looked back up towards the sky in silence. She pulled the envelope from her pocket and she offered it to him. "Looks like I'm not going to be alone anymore..." She sighed and a sudden sadness overcame his features.

She watched as his features shuffled through a variety of emotion. Sadness, confusion, realization, and relief. "What's the relief for?" She asked in amusement. "Well, if you must know, I thought I was getting replaced." He mused and she smiled at him. 'I could never replace you.' It almost escaped her lips and she looked away with a slight blush. What the hell was that? She could not let him think she were flirting, that could go wrong on so many levels. "She's my sister. I couldn't replace you with her." She managed and he chuckled. "Well, it'll be nice to meet the ever-elusive Nikki." He said and she smiled. "She is not me, so do not be surprised when she gets here and she isn't what you expected." She said and he shook his head at her.

"Rosalyn, you are not who I thought you were either. I mean, who would have thought that the sweetest woman in Pelican Town would have as many piercings as you?" He asked and she stared at him wide eyed. "How did you know about my piercings?" She asked, she never wore them so how did he know? He shook his head at her and sighed. "You have a picture in your wallet. I happened to see it the night we were at the Stardrop Saloon." He said and her eyes went wide. That was the first and last time they had drank together, well until tonight. A slight blush crossed her cheeks. She remembered that night very vividly. It had taken forever to get him to go to the saloon with her in the first place. She had drank too much and ended up needing Shane to walk her home. She had tried to hold his hand the entire way to her house, after she had practically sat in his lap in the middle of the bar. Yeah... Sebastian had brushed that one off and had thought it was funny when she had told him about it, but Shane had avoided her after that night.

Her eyes went wide, she was the reason the rumor about him had been started.

She felt bad now.

"Shane..." She called out and he looked over at her in confusion as she sat beside the lake near her house. "I'm sorry that the rumor got started about you..." She whispered and he shook his head and removed his shoes to dunk his feet in the water, just as she had done. "Don't sweat it. I was worried that you had actually believed it." he sighed as he watched a fish come up and nibble at his toes. He looked over to her to watch her as she pulled things from the basket. "So, what would you like?" She asked and his heart thumped within his chest. "Uh..." He couldn't find the words. She pulled a glass from the basket and mixed two of the things together. "Green apple?" She asked and he nodded as he took it from her. "You don't have to be alone, Shane." She said and he jerked to look over at her. "Feel free to come over anytime you want. My door is always open to you, so never be scared to come see me. We all have our dark times and sometimes we just need someone to be there by our side." She said softly as she downed her half glass.

"Ok, I'll hold you to that." He said and she offered him a smile and patted the ground for him to come sit closer to her. He was still sipping on his first glass of what seemed to be vodka and green apple mixer, while she was setting up a second. She looked deep within her cup and struggled to find the courage to tell him. She needed to tell him. She liked him, but she didn't know how to say it without chasing him off. He was attractive, for someone who treated himself like garbage on the daily. Her cheeks flushed pink when the thought of 'She may have picked him over Sebastian' fluttered through her mind. Where the hell was this all coming from? Why did she want these feelings to come out now? She hated that these thoughts were coming out now. Maybe it was because he had been there for her when she was in her dark places. She glanced over at him as he downed his entire glass.

Seemed like she wasn't the only one dealing with internal issues. "So, Shane... What do you like to do?" She asked and he looked over at her. He seemed to think it over for a minute, only to offer a small smile. "I like working on your farm." He said and she smiled brightly at him. "Other than that, although it is very much appreciated." She said with a small laugh. "I don't have very many hobbies... Other than sports." He said and she nodded. She knew he liked sports, judging from how he had reacted when she and Emily had gone to the game with him. He had been so happy he had scooped her up into a hug when his team had won. "Well, since you love my farm so much, how would you like a job here?" She asked and he started to say something, but the realization of what she was saying spread over him and he was just frozen there. Her heart was thumping rapidly in her chest and she focused her gaze down on the alcohol in her grasp. She peeked over at him and saw he had just polished off the glass and was mixing another one, a stronger one. He downed that one and closed his eyes for a moment. He seemed to be collecting himself.

"I would love that."

Her heart stuttered and she looked over at him in surprise, she couldn't have heard him right? He was grinning at her and she couldn't breathe. She touched the water with her hand and smiled. She then dove in, catching him off guard. Thor ran up and began mewling at her in confusion. Shane laughed lightly and jumped in as well once he removed his jacket and shirt. "It's nice, isn't it?" She asked and he nodded. She had never been swimming in her lake before, but it just felt so right to jump in with him. He swam over to her and where her feet didn't touch the bottom, his did. He offered a hand to her and she took it. He pulled her closer to him when she did. She watched him for anything that would give away what was going on in his mind, but those deep blue eyes gave nothing away. They weren't cold though; those eyes were seeping warmth. She often wondered what went on in his mind, what made him do the things he did. She was just happy to be a distraction for him.

She released his hand and made her way over to the edge of the lake to get more to drink and he followed. She offered him another glass and he took it. "So, are we just going to be out here all night swimming and drinking? Cause I can roll with that." He said and she grinned at him. "As long as we are happy and drinking everything is ok." She said and he nodded. It was about an hour later when they started to feel the effects of the alcohol and the temperature had started to drop some. "Wanna head inside?" She asked and he nodded. She couldn't help the giggles that escaped her at her stumbling footsteps. He chuckled lowly and reached to catch her every time she stumbled. "Can't hold your alcohol?" He asked and she stuck her tongue out at him. "I can, I'm just clumsy." She laughed and he couldn't help but smile. She watched him carefully, he seemed to be holding himself well, but then again, he could just be good at hiding it. He tucked her into his side as they made their way into her house.

-_-_-

He couldn't think straight. Combination of proximity to her and the booze, his mind was fried. They made their way into her home, where she removed herself from his arm and began pulling off clothing. Drunk or not, he knew to look away. He spun and faced the doorway to the living room he did not want to get on her bad side by looking. Panic filled his being when he realized he didn't have any spare clothes. He stood there facing away from her room in sopping wet clothes, riddled with internal panic. "Don't you know how to close a door?" He grumbled and turned to face her slightly, the amused look in her silver eyes was sinister. Amused and sinister. "Nice septum ring." He commented and she smiled brightly once more. "Here." She said, rounding the corner wrapped in a robe. She offered him a very familiar set of shorts.

"Marnie knew you wanted to go swimming tonight?" He asked and she nodded with a small smile. She popped the top on the Ancient fruit wine and took a swig from the bottle. It wasn't bitter, but it wasn't overly sweet either, he was particularly fond of it. "Something tells me I'm gonna need to down this to deal with you. Last time you got drunk you hopped in my lap." He managed in between gulps of the wine. He handed her back the bottle and made his way to the bathroom to change. He appreciated everything she did for him tonight. On a night where he usually drank himself into darkness, she made him laugh and smile. Of course they were both drinking the entire time, but she was right. It was so much better than drinking alone.

He changed into the black shirt and soft dark blue shorts and made his way back out to her, where she was throwing her soggy clothes into the washer, only to reach for his as well. Once that was started she made her way to the couch and pulled the bed out in front of the tv. "I had no idea that was a pull out couch." he said and she nodded with a smile. "In case I have company." She managed, the slur in her voice was prominent now. He was starting to feel the effects as well, but his tolerance was still high, so it didn't affect him as much as it did her. She launched a pillow his way and set one right beside it. As well as a full size blanket. A blush covered his cheeks as she scooted closer to him, underneath the covers and everything. "Rosalyn?" He called and she looked up at him, her darkened cheeks and glossy eyes told him she was way more under the influence than he was.

"The idea of sleeping next to me doesn't bother you?" He asked and he saw the confusion flit through her eyes. "I'm sorry, would it be uncomfortable for me to sleep next to you?" She asked, the innocence in her voice floored him. "I don't mean to be a bother, I just hate sleeping alone." She whispered and he frowned, he knew how that was. The ever growing loneliness. He lifted his arm and she tucked herself right into his side, like the missing puzzle piece he always knew she was for him. She didn't go to sleep though, she just kept watching him with those innocent eyes. "Do you like me, Shane?" She asked and he watched her for a moment. "I don't understand..." He really didn't and he didn't want to say the wrong thing and make her leave him alone on the couch. "Like... I like you... But do you like me?" She managed through words that didn't seem to want to form.

"Rosalyn I don't know if you know what you are asking." He said and she bit her lip as she shakily propped herself up to look at him. She seemed to be trying to explain, but her alcohol influenced mind didn't seem to want to let her. Then he felt her fingers. Dainty little digits exploring the underside of his arm, tracing down his veins towards his fingers. When her fingers locked with his, he knew what she meant. He knew what she wanted, and as much as he wanted to hold her and do everything she wanted of him... He couldn't. Because what if it was just the alcohol talking and she regretted it after it happened. What if she regretted him? "Rosalyn." He called and she blinked owlishly up at him. "I will stay here tonight, but while you are drunk... I am not going to sleep with you. Do you understand?" He asked and she blinked at him once more. He reached up and placed his hand on her cheek, his thumb brushing over her soft skin ever so gently. "I am not going to have sex with you." He whispered and she nodded silently. "Do you understand why?" He asked and her gaze avoided his. "I am not going to do something you will regret." He whispered and she blinked up at him.

"How do you know I will regret it?" She whispered softly.

He sat up on his knees, just as she was and he placed both hands on her cheeks ever so gently. "Because I know you will. You may think you love me, or you may think you like me... but it is only because I have been here for you. Because I will always be here for you. I need you to understand that you mean so much more to me and I'm not willing to risk losing you..." He said and she smiled up at him as he reached to pull her into a hug. "Thank you, Shane." She mumbled from his embrace. "And thank you, Rosalyn." He said and laid on his side, lifting his arm to allow her to curl back up into his side. He buried his nose into her hair and sighed as he slipped his eyes shut. He could still feel her gaze on him, long after he had stopped talking. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep though, he felt her moving. She didn't move much, but when he cracked his eyes to look at her, he felt her breath against his lips, only for her softer ones to press gently against his. His mind was in overdrive and his stomach was fluttering. He didn't understand this feeling, but it made him happy all the same.

He wanted so much more, but he knew he had to keep control. The taste of her lips was addicting though, just as addicting as the sheer want in her eyes. He knew she was drunk, he knew it. "Rosalyn..." He bit out sharply and she pulled away from him. "I understand... you want affection. This isn't how you go about it. Now if you even remember this in the morning, I will be amazed. Do you understand why I'm saying no?" He asked and she nodded. He made a move to lay back down, but he could tell she wanted to say something. He rolled to face her once more as she laid down next to him. "I'm sorry Shane... I just..." "You do not have to explain anything to me, Rose... You don't have to explain anything at all." He whispered and her lip trembled. He could see the tears pooling up in her eyes as he rubbed his fingers over the cheek that was not on the pillow.

"I just want to be loved."

He closed his eyes and hugged her to him tightly. "Oh, Rose..." He whispered into her hair as she tried her best not to cry. "You are loved..." He whispered as he placed a kiss on her forehead. She balled her hands in his shirt and sniffled softly. "But by who?" She managed and he couldn't help but smile at her. "Ask me that when you're sober, if you remember that is." He chuckled and she frowned at him. She was not amused whatsoever by this. "Then... If I won't remember in the morning, can I have one more kiss?" She asked and he quirked a brow at her. "Something tells me you just want me to kiss you... Are you sure you aren't in love with me?" He asked, his voice was amused but his heart was hopeful. "I have no idea, maybe this will help me figure it out." She muttered and he chuckled lightly. "Fine one kiss." He managed and she pressed her lips to his roughly. He wasn't expecting the ferocity of it this time, so it was odd. He couldn't help but tangle his fingers in her soft hair and deepen the kiss. Her lips parted and began moving with his, making that bothersome flutter return to his chest. When they parted, she laid her head upon his chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly, her leg slipping between his to entwine herself with him fully.

"You never said what kind of kiss." She muttered as she yawned. "No... No I didn't."

Something deep down told him he had already screwed up...

-_-_-_-_

She woke up with a massive headache and the sun peeking through her living room window made her grimace. She rubbed her eyes and looked around her. Her heart stopped as soon as she noticed how he was sleeping. Deep red rushed over her cheeks as she very gently removed his larger hand from beneath her shirt. She could still feel the warmth of his palm on her ribs. She bit her lip in embarrassment as the events from last night began piecing itself together in her mind. She slipped out of the bed and held her hands to her chest as she tried to calm her racing heart. What kind of person was she? Inviting a mourning man over getting him drunk and throwing herself at him. She was disgusted with herself. She peered around the corner at him, still deep in sleep. This was highly embarrassing. She remembered everything. Her heart fluttered at the memory of her kissing him, not once, but twice.

'I'm not going to sleep with you, Rose.'

'I'm not going to do something you'll regret.'

The tone of his voice when he said those things. He wasn't angry... He wasn't being mean. He was understanding. She felt a pang of guilt in her chest and she looked over at him once more. She made her way over to him and reached to tap him on the shoulder, but the moment her hand touched him, he grabbed it gently. Her eyes widened as he tugged her roughly into his embrace. "U-um... Shane..." She managed and wiggled in his grasp. His eyes fluttered open and it took a moment for his gaze to focus on her. His lips twitched up in a slight smirk, but he released her. "Not as flirty this morning are we?" He mused and her blush darkened as she stood and straightened herself out. "Of course not..." She mumbled and he shook his head as he stood and ruffled her hair gently. "That's ok, do you remember last night?" he asked in amusement. She looked over at him. "Somewhat..." She mumbled and he nodded. "I can honestly say I'm surprised you do." He sighed and she fiddled with her fingers silently.

"Anyways, might as well go check on the state of the world outside." He sighed and she rushed to grab his wrist in both of her smaller hands. He looked at her, surprised that she had grabbed him so swiftly. "Shane... I-" "Hey, no need to try and explain anything. I'm honored you wanted to sleep with me in the first place." He chuckled softly, but unlike the usual unexpressive look in his eyes something resembling hurt flashed through. "Shane." She bit out and he placed his other hand atop hers. "Rosalyn, don't say or do anything you'll regret. Because eventually I know you will regret it. You will regret anything and everything that has to do with me, everyone does eventually. Now I will be here helping you, enjoying your company, but I can't be with you. Let me be your best friend. That is all I ask of you." He said and gently pried her hands from his wrist. Her heart dropped in her chest and she couldn't help but hurt.

"So, you don't like me." She whispered and he shook his head. "Oh no... I find you absolutely enchanting. But, I know for a fact what you feel for me... It isn't romantic. It's spur of the moment and only because I am here and supportive of you. The love you feel for me is not romantic." He said and she frowned deeply. "But, how do you know?" She asked and he smiled at her. "Because I know what it looks like when you are in love. And you are not in love with me." He said and her eyes dropped to the floor. He hugged her softly and patted her on the head. "Give it some time, you'll fall in love with someone again. And if you want me to stay away I will." He said and she fisted her hands in his shirt. "I don't want you to stay away." She whispered and he nodded. "Then let me be your friend and nothing more. You don't need to be in love with someone like myself."