Chapter Text
You’re close to giving up when the weather channel predicts the twentieth sunny day in a row.
With you and Emily now reaching a whole year together as a couple, you were more than ready to propose to her, yet it wasn’t until you did some actual research on how to do that in the Valley that the sun suddenly started shining for days and weeks on end. It had been a customary act for you to have your watering can on the ready, crops still requiring their daily nourishment in spite of you feeling droopy and droopier with each day that went on with you being unable to find the dreaded Mermaid's Pendant.
Tired of waiting, you decide to walk over to the bar and invite Emily for a late-night walk around the beach, verifying the time to make sure you went in just twenty minutes before her shift came to an end. You pass by the usual road — the bus stop, Harvey’s clinic, and Pierre’s — until you reach the saloon, the muffled sound of music reaching your ears.
Gus greets you right as you step in while Emily turns her gaze to you, red lips curving into a smile as she stops her work to go approach you at the counter. In accordance to the troubled look on your face, however, it turns into a frown, red eyes softening as she reaches out for your hand, squeezing it softly.
“You doing okay, (Y/N)?” the blue-haired woman asks, lips parting as she goes to speak up again. “I can feel those vibes creeping from a mile away, and they’re not exactly cheerful. Is there something you want to tell me? You know I’m here to listen.”
“I’m fine,” you reply, breaking into a smile when her pale hand reaches out to cup your cheek, (s/t) complexion warming up under her touch. “I know you’ll probably disagree with me, but I really want it to rain for at least just one day.”
She giggles at your comment while you do the same, her concerned expression shifting into one of amusement as she lets go of your face, a tiny blush showing on her cheeks.
“It really must be tough for you, huh? The drought isn't helping the Valley’s soil, so I’m actually wishing for that, too — Even if I just end up heading over to the desert until the rain wears off.”
Emily turns her back on you after that statement, finishing off her last batch of silverware left to clean as she stares up at the clock marking only five minutes until she went out with you. You feel bummed at the thought you can’t offer her to move in just yet, though you push down those emotions and focus on asking her out, the violet sky perfect for watching the stars and strolling along the beach.
“Emily?” you call out, waiting until she places the last piece of cutlery in a drawer.
“What’s up? she asks, turning back to your side.
You notice she still has that blush tinting her face when she looks at you, a sight that makes you hold back the urge to raise an eyebrow, grin, and tease her as to why she was doing that.
“Wanna go for a walk after this? We can go to the beach, or. . . just hang out at my place.”
Pink changing to red, you feel you’ve made the wrong move when her cheeks are just the same colour as her lips. The woman only nods as she moves her hair away from her face and ties it up into a ponytail too short for it not to fall apart in an instant. You offer her your help, to which she accepts by turning around again and handing you the scrunchie. She waits as you comb your hands through her hair and bring it all together, tying it a bit stronger for it not loosen up.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” she states, redness fading away from her face as her mouth turns to a straight line, a stern gaze crossing her eyes. “But I need to go look for something at my house first.”
“Want me to wait for you?”
“You can’t — It has to be a surprise.”
You don’t know what to make of her serious tone and stare, though that falters quickly when a smile returns to her face.
“I promise it’s nothing grim or anything like that, so don’t go making that face when I come back! Those bad energies are back again, and I don’t want them anywhere near you.”
The horizon is a mix of dark blues and purples by the time Emily’s back, her voice sending relief right to your shoulders as you loosen up and see her approaching the shore, short hair still tied up with the exception of a few loose strands resting on each side of her face. She has her red dress changed for a more comfortable set of clothing, plus a beige messenger bag resting on her hip and a pair of black, open-toe sandals on her feet, though it still feels far fancier compared to the worn overalls you were wearing.
“You’re making that face again!” she huffs, placing her hands on her hips as her teasing tone chastises the worried frown on your face. “I warned you!”
Unsure as to what she meant with that last statement, you don’t have much time to react when you feel her hands push against your chest, sending you off balance as your rear meets with the sand humid with salty water. She lays on top of you, grinning as she watches the shore crash against you, sending an all-too cold splash of water over your body, her own salvaging itself thanks to the position she stood in. Caught entirely off guard, you can only manage laughing when it dawns that this was meant to be her form of punishing you.
You didn't like exhausting your overalls more than they already were, and she was aware of it.
While these were in fact worn and discoloured, there was a reason for them to look the way they did now. It had been a gift from the same woman currently standing on top of you, one she had given to you not long after you handed her the bouquet meant for declaring your affection towards her.
A whole year had passed since then, yet you were far from wanting to discard the overalls away. You smile at that thought, thankful for those memories despite the lingering concern that you would have to wait another year until proposing.
“That’s more like it!” she exclaims, shaking you out of your thoughts.
You look back up at her to see her still grinning, brighter than you’ve ever seen as her blushing returns.
“Now lets get you out of those clothes, (Y/N) — I brought a spare change ‘cuz I figured you would worry even though I warned you not to.”
Emily gets off of you and helps you up by reaching out for your hand, pulling you back to your feet. She takes out a small stack of clothes a little too neatly-folded for them to be a mere spare, though you don’t question it. Rather, you accept them with a smile and thank her, excusing yourself for her to turn around while you went to change your clothes.
“Tell me when you’re ready!” she mentions, joy present in her tone. “I’ve got something I want to show you.”