The Honor of Your Love | Stardew Valley

By the Candlelight

A sudden knock took me out of writings.

"Come in!" I called out, while trying to recall the sentence I was correcting.

"Elliott! You have to come with me! There's an emergency on the farm." Farmer cried.

"Emergency? What's the matter?!" I exclaimed, however Farmer gave me no response as she grabbed my hand and began to run.

"Farmer please tell me what's wrong-" I begged while we ran, but I received no answer.

We ran through the town square and onto her farmland. I scanned the area to see if there was anything to be concerned about, but the crops were blooming, her chickens were roaming, and her cat snuggled against my legs as she opened the door.

"It's in here." She said, worry filling her eyes.

She quickly ran inside, and I followed suit. It was pitch black until she snapped on the lights and-

"SURPRISE!" A group of my friends and neighbors popped up from behind her furniture, decorated in birthday hats and matching green attire.

I turned to look at Farmer in utter disbelief, only to see her wearing a birthday hat as well.

"I-what-I." I stuttered.

"So how was my acting skills?" She said with a roaring laugh.

"Leah told me your birthday was on the fifth of Fall, and she also said you never have a big celebration for it," Farmer said, stepping closer to me and grabbing my hand, "I figured a guy like you deserves a grand party."

My cheeks flushed heavily, I'd never had a big party before.. my family always thought it was too self-righteous. But this made my eyes water with sentiments.

I walked around the room too see everything that had been set up for my surprise party, it was quite elaborate. On the living room table was a variety of my favorite foods, a ginormous steamed lobster was the centerpiece, surrounded by a large bowl of pomegranate seeds, a plate stacked high with crab cakes and a crockpot bubbling with Tom Kha soup.

On a chair to the corner were a variety of presents all wrapped in green. My favorite color.

"I hope you like my gift!" Sam said interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh I'm sure it's lovely Sam." I remarked, still in awe of the party's grandeur.

"By the way.. I think Vincent may have gotten you a snail... so I would avoid his gift."

"Oh- that is.. interesting." Me and Sam began to laugh together before Abigail whisked him away.

I took the opportunity to fill my plate to the brim. While ravishing in food on the couch, Willy walked over to me.

"You are real lucky lass." Willy said, sitting next to me.

And blushed and looked down on my plate. It was all perfect, just for me.

"I am." I replied bashfully.

Harvey walked over and joined us, "You are now the big 29, huh? I remember when I was still in my twenties." He said while patting my shoulder.

I chuckled, "Twenties is a stretch, my body feels thirty with all these aches."

"Ha! Tell me about it, the other day I tried to pick up a paper that fell on the floor and my knees locked. Maru had to help me back up again!" Harvey said.

"You lads are still babies in my eyes, just wait until you hit fifty!" Willy exclaimed.

Me and Harvey sucked air through our teeth. If my back pained me now, I couldn't image the writer's back I'd have at Willy's age.

I looked up and met eyes with Farmer, she motioned for me to come to her.

"Would you pardon me real quick?" I told them, walking in the direction of Farmer.

"Hey." Farmer said softly.

"Hey." I replied, my heart melting at the sound of her voice.

"Happy Birthday." She said, holding out a small green gift. I took it in my hands and gently tore the emerald paper from it. Having done so, I saw that it was a leather-binded book. On its cover it said 'Elliott's Poems and Short Stories'.

"Leah helped me make it, we collected all the poems and short stories you have given others or tried to throw away... and we combined them into one collection. I thought that you could put it in the library if Gunther approves!" My eyes watered with tears, flipping through the book I saw how each page was hand written with meticulous care, Leah even added little drawings to pair with my writings.

"I.. I love it Farmer. It's perfect." She clapped her hands together in joy.

We both walked over to the living room for drink, having poured a good glass of wine I tinked my glass and held it up for everyone to see.

"A toast," I said to the party-goers, "To growing old; May wrinkles form on my face, but only because I have laughed with my friends. May my back hurt because I spend my life writing. And may my last memories be surrounded by people I love just like today."

The room applauded and drank their beverages.

"Now hurry up and let us sing happy birthday 'cuz I need some cake!" Shane cried out and everyone roared with laughter.

Leah led me to the dining room-table where a tall pink cake was placed. It had twenty-nine green candles, and in a swirly font the frosting wrote out 'Happy 29th Birthday Elliott!!'.

Sebastian quickly leaned over and lit the candles with his lighter, "Happy Birthday.." he mumbled. I nodded in appreciation.

Everyone began to gather around the table. Willy dimmed the lights so that the room was illuminated only by candlelight. Through the darkness I could make out Haley focusing her camera, Sam holding up Vincent so that he could see, and Farmer standing next to me.

Her face became golden from the candlelight and my heart stopped, she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen.

"Happy Birthday to youuuu-" Everyone sang together. It was amusing to hear Willy's gruff voice paired with Jas and Vincent's more childish voices.

"Make a wish." Farmer whispered as I blew out the candles.

And I had, deep in my heart.

The lights flashed back on and the party continued.

I had opened all the gifts, Marnie and Jodi took their sleeping children off the couches to go home, many drinking games had been played, and the party died out. Farmer, Leah and me stayed behind to clean, drunkenly making jokes to pass the time. Eventually we all found ourselves fatigued and Farmer decided to make the party into a sleepover since it was past midnight.

Leah pulled me aside and sharply whispered into my ear, "Are you sure you're ok with spending the night as Farmer's? I don't know if I can handle an Elliott-panic with the hangover I'm gonna have tomorrow."

"I am utterly calm Leah." I slurred while lying down on the couch.

"Fine by me then, I'm going to Farmer's room to change."

Farmer popped out of her room as Leah entered, and she brought along a thick yarn blanket for me.

"In case you get cold." She said warmly.

It was likely the alcohol that led me to be so bold, but a reached out my hand and pulled Farmer down onto the couch. I sat up and embraced her.

"You are the epitome of sunshine, I could never get cold under your light."

At first Farmer was tense when I hugged her, but became relaxed and wrapped her arms around me as well.

"Happy birthday." She whispered into my ear, then she stood and went into her room.

The memory of that embrace would then fade due to alcohol and sleep...

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Author's notes:

Things are starting to get spicyyyy

You know what else is spicy? My 101 degree fever rn 😭 the fanfic writers curse got to me yall!!