A Love Like Stardust [Goblin]

[Juno]

"Oh- Uh, sorry." Jack chuckled nervously, moving the hay closer again for the mare so she could finish it. He startled slightly as Dewey climbed up onto him again, surprised by his affection and tensing for the small weight of his body atop his head but relaxing once he realized his intentions were harmless.

"She's Janie. The goats just have weird names. Something about them or something they like," he explained, chuckling with embarrassment as he leaned closer to their pen again to point to each as he called them out, "Spot-Eye has a weird shape in his right eye. He's the old man. Blackhorn's the bigger guy. Then there's Rose, Pumpkin, Strawberry. The two kids haven't been named yet, they're just a couple weeks old. They're Rose's, though."

[GoblinFae]

"I like their names," she commented happily. "It suits them all quite well." Kendall reached out to pet Janie's cheeks and scratch behind her ears. A smile rested easily upon her face as she relaxed fully into him, going so far as to interlock their hands together again.

Dewey on the other hand was not content. He leaped off Jack's head onto his outstretched arm and raced all the way to the man's hand. There he stood on the palm and stared the horse directly in the mouth, using his tiny paws to try and get some of the interesting looking food.

[Juno]

"You do?" That was unexpected, but Jack found himself breathing a small sigh of relief to know that she didn't find them weird or something to make fun of. They were mostly names his younger sisters had chosen after observing their habits and they just stuck.

She surprised him with the additional contact, though, but Jack welcomed it. Grasping her hand lightly left him a little caught-out once Dewey moved to his hand. Not understanding what the small creature was up to he pulled his hand back slightly, away from Janie's snorting. The old mare had her ears turned forward, head lowering as she munched on her hay to study the curious little thing in Jack's hand. Unbeknownst to her a single piece of hay got free to Dewey's paws.

"I don't think he's ever seen a horse before," Jack commented with a chuckle, turning his head to make sure the chickens weren't wandering too far from the barn.

"Maybe tomorrow we can go pick apples for them together," he offered, knowing it was probably necessary at that point in the season and also a little desperate for some private time to bond with his wife.

[GoblinFae]

She hummed affirmatively, nodding her head against his shoulder where she laid it to rest. Kendall watched Dewey with his antics, finding it all amusing. He happily stuffed the piece of hay in his mouth even as he strained forward to try and grab more from Janie's mouth. His tail wrapped around Jack's wrist as he used his back feet to clutch the hand beneath him and his front paws waved wildly just out of reach.

"I think he's more interested in the food than the horse," she chuckled quietly, doing nothing to stop Dewey. He would learn soon enough to behave himself or suffer the consequences. "Would you rather pick apples now? Mm, or maybe we should return to the party. Ma West is already mad at me for stealing you away."

[Juno]

Jack's eyes widened once he realized the squirrel was bracing against him for support and kept reaching for the horse's hay. Greedy thing. The one piece was already so much, nearly twice his body length. He tsked softly under his breath, taking a small step back and pulling his arm away to let the mare eat in peace.

"Maybe that would be better. I don't want her taking a bite out of him," he chuckled, though he realized he was still half-serious about it. Her teeth were blunt but he'd gotten many a bruise in his lifetime from a well-placed nip.

He wasn't sure he believed that his mother was mad at Kendall, though. How could she be mad when she played a part in putting them together in the first place?

"I don't want to go back," Jack admitted quietly, moving to steer her towards the doors so they could go back outside. "It's too much fuss. Let's get apples, then we can turn them out for a bit and I'll show you the other house. Ah- Do you want your squirrel back?"

[GoblinFae]

Dewey squeaked in outrage once he realized that he was being denied the very thing that he was seeking. Angrily, he turned around on Jack's hand to start "yelling" at him complete with little moving paws of displeasure.

"Be nice, Dewey," Kendal reprimanded him, tapping him on the head to make him settle. "He can stay where he wants if he's not troubling you. We can pick apples now though if that's what you really want. It's a pity the clouds aren't behaving today. I would have liked to play with them with you," she commented sadly with a forlorn sigh.

The party was not truly important to her. Kendall much preferred being outdoors anyway. As long as Jack was not preoccupied with it then she could allow herself to relax and be herself. In time he would decide whether or not he liked her or not. If he did not like her then she would brush it off much the same as she had everyone else in town not liking her. Kendall had been able to grow up a rather solitary woman and it did not bother her now knowing that despite being married it was very possible she still would be on her own. Such was life.

[Juno]

Jack eyed the squeaking furball warily, uncertain what he was angry about but understanding that he was by the tone of it. He wasn't so sure that Dewey wanted to be on him but if he wasn't moving...

"Play with clouds?" he asked curiously, wanting to clarify and uncertain if he'd heard her correctly. "How do you play with clouds?" Jack tilted his head up to eye the overcast sky as he walked them out towards the river. It was a giant blob of grey today instead of the normal puffs of white, but he didn't see how it made them any less as far as clouds were concerned.

[GoblinFae]

"You know," she began as if what she meant was completely and immediately obvious, "cloud-watching and such. The clouds can tell stories as they shift and change. But today there are just too many of them to really decipher what they're up to." Kendall sighed in disappointment again as they trudged towards the muddy riverbank.

"Did they really not tell you we were getting married?" she asked, quickly changing topics as her mind bounced from thought to thought.

[Juno]

He furrowed his brow skeptically, not quite understanding her meaning of clouds telling stories. Perhaps she only meant the shapes looking like objects sometimes, but he was certain he'd never heard of them actually telling a story. Her question threw him off a bit, though, causing Jack to stammer a bit and chuckle nervously.

"Well, no. I mean they did. Just, they told me last night. I had no idea they'd been planning anything. Um, when did you find out?" he asked curiously, hoping she wouldn't be offended by his honest answer.

[GoblinFae]

She was unfazed by his stammering and took it in stride. "Several years now. Since almost the beginning. I suppose they waited since they didn't think you'd take it well, being married to me and all. I'm not exactly anyone's first pick," Kendall stated pragmatically. "The boys have always preferred the pretty girls who like to come out and play. I'm always sick though so stay at home." She shrugged dismissively. "Such is life."

[Juno]

Jack frowned thoughtfully for her explanation, still peeved such information had been kept from him for so long. There had been subtle signs he'd never been aware of, but never anything open and in his face. Still, it was done. They were together and he was determined to make the most of it for both of their benefit.

"This arrangement made our choice for us but I want to give you a comfortable life if I can, Kendall. I just hope you can be happy here. Someday." He slowed as they reached the first trees in the small orchard, looking up to scrutinize the fruit hanging above them.

"They look ripe enough but... I probably should have brought the ladder, huh?" Jack sighed at the realization, silently cursing himself for not changing out of his best clothes at his earlier opportunity. He figured he'd just climb and be extra careful not to fall and land himself in the mud on the bank.

[GoblinFae]

"I will be happy," she assured him. "I'm always happy no matter where I am." She observed him quietly as he took in the trees and lamented the lack of a ladder. "Can you not climb trees then? Here I'll show you," Kendall declared, nudging Jack aside gently. With the confidence of a woman who had climbed trees her entire life, she reached up for the lowest hanging branches and swung herself up to rest within the fruit-laden boughs. "See! Easy!" Kendall plucked and tossed down an apple to Jack just to prove her point.

[Juno]

He wasn't really sure how she could always be happy but he didn't have much time to reflect on it as she was quickly swinging up into the tree and causing his chest to clench tightly. "Kendall please be careful!" he called to her, reaching up helplessly to set a hand to her leg in a meager attempt at helping her balance.

The apple was caught in his other hand but he still stared at her dumbstruck, the fact that she was comfortable climbing slowly sinking in for him. He could only hope she wouldn't be reckless with it. "I... I can climb, Kendall, thank you. I just didn't want dirty our clothes or risk a fall. Would you mind getting down? I can go get the ladder, it's not that far to go back."

[GoblinFae]

She rolled her eyes and clucked her tongue at him. "You worry far too much about clothing. Now help me collect these apples or we'll be here all day arguing." Kendall was completely no-nonsense about the entire affair. She had climbed a tree in her wedding dress only that morning. There was nothing for Jack to be worrying his little head over.

Dewey on the other hand was on the move. The moment Jack caught the apple, he was rushing over to try and pry it out of the man's hand. He clung with both forepaws and even dug his teeth into its juicy flesh in his attempts to claim it as his.

[Juno]

Jack frowned thoughtfully, uncertain how to convince her without seemingly continuing to "argue." A bit of dirt wasn't really that big of a deal and the last thing he wanted was an argument on their wedding day so he let it go. He flinched at the small tug on the apple, though, turning his head to glare at Dewey for trying to take it off him.

"Could have just gotten your own. Or asked nicely," he grumbled, releasing the apple for the squirrel to take so he could get more from the branches above.

"Is he always this greedy?" Jack wondered aloud, carefully placing his hands along a sturdy branch to pull himself up into the tree as well, plucking a few apples to tuck away in his pockets for the animals.

[GoblinFae]

Dewey immediately hopped off Jack's hand with the apple, sending both rolling once they hit the ground. The apple which was just about the same size as him had been heavier and completely thrown his momentum off. It did not stop the squirrel though from righting himself and quickly trying to dig a hole to roll the apple into. He cast furtive glances about as if sure that Jack or Kendall would attempt to steal his treasure from him.

"He did try to ask. You just didn't listen," she replied, defending her little pet. "It's not as if he can speak human after all." Kendal tucked her legs under herself and began to fill her skirt with still more apples. Once she felt she had enough she looked down at Jack to see how he was faring. "Won't you come up and join me? I'm sure the Janie won't mind if we eat one or two of her apples first."

[Juno]

"Oh, did he?" Jack flushed some, feeling a little silly that somehow she had a connection with the animal and could understand him somehow when Jack couldn't whether it was squeaks and chattering or just body language. Not even noticing the way the squirrel was hiding his stolen apple Jack moved up to join her easily at her invitation, though he did hesitate a bit before settling all of his weight on the branch.

"Old thing's sturdy," he chuckled, rapping his knuckles against it and pulling an apple from his pocket to offer to her. "She'll smell it on us anyway. Good thing she's not the jealous type."

[GoblinFae]

Kendall nodded her head but was distracted by Jack joining her and helped make room for him by scooting back further against the trunk. "Old trees grow strong roots," she agreed before leaning in to delicately take a bite of the apple Jack offered in his hand. Kendall did not even bother to take it from him first as her teeth crunched into the crisp, red flesh.

"Delicious," she mumbled through the mouthful, licking her lips of the juice dribbling down her chin. She chewed softly before picking through the apples in her skirt and finding a perfectly ripe one. "Would you like some?" Kendall held her apple out to his face, hoping to share the moment together.

[Juno]

Jack watched her take a bite, a little startled she was even willing to eat from his hand. It was a gesture that seemed intimate beyond their current familiarity and his cheeks were burning nervously as he watched her tongue dart out to catch the dripping juice.

"Oh, uh- Sure, thanks." He leaned forward to take a small bite so he wouldn't struggle with it and make a fool of himself. A soft hum of contentment rumbled in his throat as he chewed and he took another small bite before sitting up straight again. "Yeah they're good. I think she'll love some for a treat."

Yet even as he said it he found himself just leaning back against the trunk, getting comfortable and just enjoying the warm breeze swirling around the orchard to rustle the leaves of the trees and stir up small waves along the river beyond.

[GoblinFae]

She smiled as he followed her example and also took a bite. Kendall shifted her weight carefully, sliding back along the branch until she was tucked in against his chest, effectively trapping him between her and the tree trunk. "May I have another bite, please?" She peeked up at him, mouth parted for an expected bite. Her eyes fluttered closed, trusting him completely and genuinely believing that he would not refuse her.