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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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"Moving Forward Spiraling Downward Epilogue- Moving Forward"

WOW I have never been so emotional over uploading something in my life. This fic has been with me since August of last year, and I've met so many great people through writing it. Finishing this is very bittersweet, but I'm happy to have completed such a big project. Thank you all for sticking with me, and thank you for reading.

Summary: Years after the Flower Dance, we get a glimpse into a day of Shane's life, seeing just how much he's grown, and how much has changed with time. Nothing is the same anymore, but that can be a good thing, can it?

AO3 Version Here

Tumblr Version below the cut

As time passed on and seasons changed, so did the lives of everyone in that little town hidden away in the valley. Through the years, it had changed into something much better than it had ever been. Love bloomed, the town grew, the community grew closer, and all seemed well. There were hard days, days where one would just want to cry and hide away from it all. But they were vastly outnumbered by the good days, the ones that gave you such a desire for life. This particular day was one of those good ones, one of the very best in fact.

In the middle of a particularly harsh and cold winter, the valley was blanketed in ice and snow that would chill you to the bone. The conditions were harsh, just enough to deter any soul from thinking of stepping out. But just outside the expanse of Cindersap was that little red-roofed ranch, filled with warmth and laughter despite the dreary conditions outdoors. The holidays had rolled around once more, and once again, and nearly every surface in the home was decorated to its absolute limit. It was a wonder that Marnie still had decorations to spare after all was said and done.

A pleasant smell was wafting through the kitchen, one that was sickeningly sweet. A comfortable warmth from the oven accompanied it, as well as the adorable scene of Marnie and Jas working on Christmas cookies side by side. The counters were full of cooling racks and festive cardboard boxes full of tissue paper and cooled cookies. Jas, now tall enough to no longer need the little step-stool she’d relied on in the years before, cut out little shapes in dough while Marnie filled the cooling trays. The treats looked absolutely perfect, like something straight out of a magazine! Marnie knew they were going to be just perfect for the yearly swap she did with the ladies in town… if there were even any left to give them after today.

Shane stood right by the counter, observing the pair as they worked on. When he was confident they weren’t watching, he not-so-secretly snagged a cookie from the cooling tray and took a quick bite from it. Jas snapped her head to the side, immediately noticing what he’d done, giving him a cross look, “Papa, stop!”

“Stop what?” Shane asked, feigning innocence. Jas motioned dramatically to the half eaten cookie in his hand, “You keep stealin’ em, we’re not gonna have any left!”

Shane stared at her for just a moment before speaking, continuing to feign ignorance. He made an expression of mock offense, exaggerating it greatly, “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” he took another bite and finished off the treat, speaking with his mouth full, “Honestly I’m kind of offended you would even accuse me of stealin’, Jassy,”

Jas rolled her eyes in annoyance, earning a chuckle from Shane, “I’m messing with you, kiddo,”

“You’re not gonna take anymore, then?” Jas asked, skeptical as ever.

“Nope. Swear on it,” Shane assured her, crossing a finger over his chest.

He then immediately went to reach towards the tray again, getting a swift swat on the hand from Marnie, who looked particularly tired of his antics, “Hands off, these aren’t for you,”

“Who are they for, then? The animals?” Shane joked.

“They’re for the cookie swap, if you must know,” Marnie explained. She tied off a ribbon on one of the boxes and set it to the side, “And I don’t need you taking anymore now, I’ve already got my hands full with a certain someone trying to sneak them,” she turned her attention to the woman sitting in the living room, giving her a cross, knowing look.

“Look, it ain’t fair for Yoba t’ give me a wife who knows how t’ bake just for her to not let me have anythin’!” Pam complained from her spot on the armchair in the living room. She handed Penny a little garland from the bin she held in her lap, pointing to one last little spot on the wall where it could possibly fit.

“You know I’m making some for all of us soon,” Marnie reminded her, a light, playful scold in her voice, “Like I told you, these ones are for the ladies group,”

Pam leaned her elbows on the bin, propping her chin on her hands and batting her eyelashes dramatically, Well I’m a lady, ain’t I?”

“Yoba have mercy,” Marnie muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she turned back to her work. Shane fought to stifle back a laugh, turning his attention back to Marnie, “I’ll get out of your hair, Ma, don’t worry,”

“Thank you,” Marnie mused, a smile on her face.

“Don’t mention it,” Shane beamed, promptly snatching another cookie from the tray, earning another cross look from Marnie.

“Shane Aaron Yoder, don’t make me kick you out of my kitchen,”

“Yoder-Lillis,” he retorted.

“Don’t correct me while I’m correcting you, young man,” she scoffed, the smile on her face betraying the scold of her tone. She just couldn’t help but feel so proud and happy for him everytime she remembered the hyphenated addition to his name, after all.

A little giggle rang out from behind Shane, almost in response to the situation unfolding in the kitchen. He turned to see none other than his beloved spouse standing in the doorway, a little baby sitting in their arms. She was absolutely adorable, dressed in a frilly, vintage little hand-me-down outfit, her curly purple hair pulled into teeny pigtails. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her fathers face, an excitement rising within her as she reached out a little hand in his direction, grasping Möhle’s hair in the other.

“If you’re done with menacing everyone in the kitchen, can you help me here?” Möhle laughed teasingly. They winced as the baby in their arms yanked at their long curls yet again, holding the red strands tight in her chubby little fist as she giggled away. Shane gently took her from her other parents arms, doing his best to get her to let go of their hair, though she wouldn’t give up without a fuss.

“Come on, Hannah, you know that hurts renny,” he murmured, finally managing to pull the hair away from her. Möhle sighed in relief, wasting no time to grab a hair tie from their pocket and put their hair up and away where Hannah couldn’t reach, “I cannot wait until she’s out of this grabby phase…” they sighed, “Anything she can see she just takes,”

“Must get it from her father,” Marnie joked, earning an eye roll from Shane. He looked back down at his youngest daughter, watching as she grabbed at the mermaid's pendant around his neck, yanking on the charm and admiring the iridescent colors sparkling in the light. Shane pulled it away and tucked it beneath the collar of his sweater for safe-keeping, turning back to his spouse. Möhle gave him an exhausted smile, an almost dazed look in their eye.

“You alright?” he asked, genuine concern in his tone. Möhle waved him off, fighting back a yawn, “Just tired… Haven’t been able to get her to nap still n’ she kept me up all night… again,”

“I can take over some night shifts for you,” Shane offered, “You can always ask for help, Mo,”

“Funny… usually I’m the one telling you that,” they mused, a hint of a laugh in their tone.

Shane pulled them in closer, holding them tight to his side with a goofy grin on his face, “Just lookin’ out for my wonderful, handsome spouse, that’s all,” he gave them a kiss on the cheek, and a quiet laugh erupted from Möhle. They pushed his face away lightly and put a hand to their cheek. Shane raised a brow, giving them a curious and amused expression, “What was that for?”

“Your stubble is prickly, it feels funny,” Möhle laughed.

“Ohhh,” Shane mused, giving them a short nod, “Well that’s too bad,”

He leaned in for another kiss on their cheek, nuzzling his face against theirs. Möhle let out a laugh, smushing their hand against his face as they giggled, “You’re such an ass,” they teased.

“And yet you still married me,”

“I did, didn’t I?” they responded, a smile curling on their mouth. They gave him a little kiss on the nose, “Love you, Rooster,” they whispered.

“Love you too…” Shane murmured back. The two basked in this little moment together, though they’d find it wouldn’t last too long. Möhle felt a little tap on their arm, looking down to see a particularly excited Jas.

“Do you think you could help me with my present now?” she asked in a coy tone, a grin upon her face.

“The jewelry kit?”

“Yeah!” Jas affirmed, her voice growing more excited, “I wanna make something for you!”

“Looks like I’m needed elsewhere, then,” Möhle mused, giving Shane one last tiny kiss on the cheek, turning their attention back to Hannah for just a moment, “Be good for your papa, meisli,”

As the two of them went on their way, Shane and Hannah were left standing in the doorway on their lonesome, Marnie soon leaving the kitchen to stand by them. They looked out at the scene in the living room, just basking in it. It was an adorable scene to be sure. Jas and Möhle were getting along while Pam and Penny worked on the final touches of decorations, all the while sweet and soft holiday music played out. Shane found it heartwarming, almost entirely entranced by the scene until he heard a soft sniffle from his side, one that came from Marnie.

“Ma, are you okay?”

“Ah, I just-” Marnie sniffled, wiping away her tears with her thumb, “I just never thought this would be our family…”, She looked at each individual member of the family, feeling her heart swell with pride, “I can’t believe we have this… “

“... Yeah. Me neither,” Shane mused quietly.

“It’s strange to think that we used to be the only members left in this family,” Marnie began to reminisce to a sadder, darker time, “But look at this…. All of this. This family, it’s thriving, it’s growing… It’s everything I ever wanted,”

She paused for a moment, looking at the framed photos on the wall, at the portraits of people who she wished were sitting with the family more than anything in this world, “Well… almost everything,” she corrected herself.

She turned to look at Shane, smiling softly as she looked at his eyes. Mere years ago they were dull and sad, beholding a wealth of sadness coming from his soul. But they didn’t look like that anymore. They were lively, shining a bright and jovial green. She hadn’t seen that in so long, and almost gave up on ever witnessing it again, never believing it would come to be. She was glad to be wrong for once.

“You know… I see that light again,” she beamed, “The one in your eyes. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve last seen it,”

Shane smiled bashfully, looking out to the people in front of him with adoration, “Well… I guess I just finally have a reason for it. I spent so much time barely surviving… but I’m living now. I’m happy.”

He looked over to the couch, looking at Möhle sitting there with Jas at their side. They were helping her open one the brand new jewelry making set that she’d been begging for for months now, the one Möhle had gifted her just hours ago. They looked so happy, like that perfect little family he’d always imagined whenever they were all together. But he wasn’t flustered or shy at the thought of it anymore; he was proud. This was his little family, one he could proudly call his own. He never thought he’d have this. A far younger, much more immature Shane would’ve laughed at the idea of even getting married, let alone being a father. But he found that life was funny like that. Even though it was never in the plan, here he was with two wonderful daughters and a loving spouse, a farm that was succeeding, and a town that loved them all. And it wasn’t fate or some supernatural force that had brought it all together. It was him. He found this little family of his on his own, and put in the work to keep it and watch it thrive.

Just five years ago, Shane saw himself as a curse, a blight, on his family. He felt like a misfortune, a mess, something thrust upon good people who deserved much better. But right now, right in this moment, things were different. Shane loved himself, he loved his life, he loved the work he put into growth and change. It had all been worth it, giving him something greater than his imagination could muster. What more could he ask for?

“You two get on in here!” Pam called out, motioning for the two of them to enter the living room, “We’re gettin’ a movie on, come sit down already,”

“Is it Miracle on Coldstar Ranch?” Marnie asked, a glimmer of excitement in her eye. Pam gave her a smirk and nodded curtly, “Damn right it is, now c’mon,”

Marnie was excited as if it were her first time going to see it, regardless of the fact that she’d watched it possibly more than anyone else in the world. She immediately began to make her way over to the couch, Shane trailing close behind. He sat in the last empty spot beside Möhle, passing Hannah back to them before leaning back in his seat, waiting patiently for the old-timey opening credits to end.

He looked up to the wall, scanning over the old photos from past Winter Stars. They ranged through decades, from when Marnie and his mother were girls, all the way up to this very day. Unlike the past, this year's portrait was full, having more people than he ever thought he’d see. His eyes lingered on one particular picture though, the one from the year everything fell apart, the worst year of his life. Even as he smiled in the photo, he looked so terrified and fragile, like he could just shatter at any given moment. There was nothing more that Shane wished for than to go back in time, to look at that scared young man and tell him “It’s all gonna be okay.”. In that moment it was hard not to be afraid, to not just want to give up.

Shane used to hate himself for falling apart like that, often screaming at his past self for not getting up and making things work like he should have. Now, he just wanted to sit with him, hold him tight and tell him about everything that would come to be. He’d have someone who loved him unconditionally, he’d be on a two year sobriety streak, his family would thrive, and he’d have new friends too, good ones. And while they would never and could never replace Jason and Amelia, he loved them just the same, and couldn’t wait to see what new adventures awaited them all.

Things would never be the same. That was something he had grown to accept over the years. It was a fact that was simultaneously so heartbreaking, but also so exciting. It was true that he would never regain what he’d lost, but he’d gain other things in life that would bring him such joy. He’d already gained so much. All that he had in this moment, all that he’d worked towards, all of it was right in front of him in this little room. It was something he never thought he’d want… and something he didn’t think he’d even live to see. But now, he couldn’t imagine his life without it, and he’d never give it up, not for anything in this world.

“Are you alright?” a soft whisper called out. Shane turned his head to the direction of the voice, finding Möhle to be its source. He gave them a smile, one that was genuine and sweet all the same.

“Of course I am,” he affirmed, “I’m just–… I’m happy,”

“Yeah?” Möhle asked, returning the same smile.

Shane nodded in response, “Yeah… Why wouldn’t I be?”

He took their hand in his and held it gently, interlocking his fingers with theirs. The pair turned their attention back to the tv, watching as the opening scene of that classic holiday movie finally began to play, showing a family not much unlike theirs trying to get through their own struggles. Shane had watched it enough times to know that they too would also get through their hardships, just like he had done. It was funny. Once he had thought this movie was depressing, not finding much joy in watching it, nor understanding why his aunt loved it so much. But after all of this time and growth, he finally got it. He could finally see the bigger picture, and what a beautiful picture that was.

As he sat there, basking in the joy of this little celebration, there was only one thing on his mind; a sense of pride. For once in a long while, he was proud of himself and the life he’d made. He wouldn’t change or trade it for anything in the world. It took all that he had to keep going on, and he knew the road ahead was still long and daunting. But all of this here; his spouse, his daughters, his home, his family…. It made it worth it. As hard as all of this was to trudge through, he couldn’t deny that the future was looking bright.

And for the first time in years, he was finally moving forward.

#boostin this🎉

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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"Moving Forward Spiraling Downward Epilogue- Moving Forward"

AO3 Version Here

Tumblr Version below the cut

“Stop what?” Shane asked, feigning innocence. Jas motioned dramatically to the half eaten cookie in his hand, “You keep stealin’ em, we’re not gonna have any left!”

Jas rolled her eyes in annoyance, earning a chuckle from Shane, “I’m messing with you, kiddo,”

“You’re not gonna take anymore, then?” Jas asked, skeptical as ever.

“Nope. Swear on it,” Shane assured her, crossing a finger over his chest.

He then immediately went to reach towards the tray again, getting a swift swat on the hand from Marnie, who looked particularly tired of his antics, “Hands off, these aren’t for you,”

“Who are they for, then? The animals?” Shane joked.

“You know I’m making some for all of us soon,” Marnie reminded her, a light, playful scold in her voice, “Like I told you, these ones are for the ladies group,”

Pam leaned her elbows on the bin, propping her chin on her hands and batting her eyelashes dramatically, Well I’m a lady, ain’t I?”

“Thank you,” Marnie mused, a smile on her face.

“Don’t mention it,” Shane beamed, promptly snatching another cookie from the tray, earning another cross look from Marnie.

“Shane Aaron Yoder, don’t make me kick you out of my kitchen,”

“Yoder-Lillis,” he retorted.

“I can take over some night shifts for you,” Shane offered, “You can always ask for help, Mo,”

“Funny… usually I’m the one telling you that,” they mused, a hint of a laugh in their tone.

“Your stubble is prickly, it feels funny,” Möhle laughed.

“Ohhh,” Shane mused, giving them a short nod, “Well that’s too bad,”

He leaned in for another kiss on their cheek, nuzzling his face against theirs. Möhle let out a laugh, smushing their hand against his face as they giggled, “You’re such an ass,” they teased.

“And yet you still married me,”

“I did, didn’t I?” they responded, a smile curling on their mouth. They gave him a little kiss on the nose, “Love you, Rooster,” they whispered.

“Do you think you could help me with my present now?” she asked in a coy tone, a grin upon her face.

“The jewelry kit?”

“Yeah!” Jas affirmed, her voice growing more excited, “I wanna make something for you!”

“Ma, are you okay?”

“... Yeah. Me neither,” Shane mused quietly.

“You know… I see that light again,” she beamed, “The one in your eyes. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve last seen it,”

“You two get on in here!” Pam called out, motioning for the two of them to enter the living room, “We’re gettin’ a movie on, come sit down already,”

“Is it Miracle on Coldstar Ranch?” Marnie asked, a glimmer of excitement in her eye. Pam gave her a smirk and nodded curtly, “Damn right it is, now c’mon,”

“Of course I am,” he affirmed, “I’m just–… I’m happy,”

“Yeah?” Möhle asked, returning the same smile.

Shane nodded in response, “Yeah… Why wouldn’t I be?”

And for the first time in years, he was finally moving forward.

#stardew valley #sdv #stardew valley shane #sdv shane #sdv marnie #sdv jas #sdv farmer #mfsd #sdv fanfic #fanfiction #sdv fanfiction

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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flirting on the ⏰

#ADORABLEEEE #i love them awww #stardew valley #sdv fanart #stardew farmer #stardew emily #stardew shane

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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Stardew Valley Fan Zine Interest Check

Do you love Stardew Valley and enjoy seeing any fan-made content related to it?

Do you draw? Write? Do graphic design? Any fine art-related stuff?

Do you want to be a part of a big project where people get to see your showcased work?

Did I grab your attention? If yes, I’m planning on kickstarting a Stardew Valley Fan Zine highlighting the community’s love for the game in forms of drawings, writing, crafts, cosplays, and more! We’re looking to release this by February 26, 2026, just in time for the game’s 10-year anniversary.

If you are interested in making this zine a reality, please fill out the interest check form! This form will help examine the amount of people interested in this zine (as a viewer or contributor).

This form will close on May 3rd, 2025. Fill it out asap and spread the word to others in the community!!

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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happy trans day of visibility my loves, from both star and i <3 (there’s still 30 mins left shhh)

close up & alt version showing his top surgery scars beneath the cut!

#STAR!!!#this is so cool /gen #we luv star!!#TDOV

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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🏳️‍⚧️ Happy TDoV! 🏳️‍⚧️

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spacesapphi · 1 month ago

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"Moving Forward Spiraling Downward Chapter 18- To Be Whole"

So I know what you're going to say. "Moon you're on chapter 24 now, why are you posting chapter 18 again?" and it's because I reworked quite a bit of the first half of the chapter. Lookin back on it, I was *not* happy with how it turned out. In an attempt to balance the two difficult situations going on in this point of the story, I feel like I went too heavy handed on one side to the point some characters were being too insensitive and I really regret that. People can say awful things in moments of stress, but I didn't intend on it being that strong. Some of the dialogue felt like too much, honestly. I added a few lines and changed a few parts that I felt needed it, and I wanted to repost it on Tumblr with the changes too.

Summary: After the harrowing events at the cliffs, Shane finds himself truly working towards a better life. After starting the road to healing and beginning to confront his problems head on, Shane decides to put what he's learning into practice by finally making something right at home.

CWs include- brief mentions of injury, mental health issues, and allusions to the 6 heart event

AO3 link

Tumblr version beneath the cut

“You can do this … You need to talk to them,”

Shane had been standing outside the old farmhouse for Yoba knows how long now. All he had to do was walk up those stairs and knock, but he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bring himself to face his friend. He was honestly terrified of what Möhle might say, how they may look at him. They helped him at the cliffs, sure, but did they want anything to do with him outside of that? Would they accept an apology? The only way to find out was by knocking that damn door , no matter how scary the idea of that was.

He barely made it up the first step when the door swung open, the wrong person stepping out to meet him. To his surprise Elliott was there, and oh how angry he looked. If looks could kill, Shane would've surely evaporated on sight. His face was almost as red as his hair, those green eyes bore into Shane’s soul, and contempt was etched into every inch of his face.

“You,” he muttered. The sound of it was enough to make Shane’s blood run cold.

“Elliott? I didn’t-... What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing here?” Elliott grumbled, stepping down to meet Shane, a fire in his eyes, “You have some nerve to visit after everything that’s happened, you know,”

“I just-” Shane cleared his throat, trying not to show just how nervous he was, “I just wanted to talk to Mo… Are they okay? Do they want to see me?”

“No. They don’t and can’t,” Elliott scoffed bitterly, “But I’m sure you know aaaall about that last part, don’t you?”

“I just need to get to the door, if you’d just-”

“Elliott "

The poet turned to see his cousin standing at the door, looking rather exhausted and disheveled. They were bundled in some warm, comfy clothes, hair messily pulled back from their face. They looked pale, tired, dark circles beneath their eye sockets. They looked awful. Möhle turned to glance at Shane, and he could swear he saw a sort of sparkle forming in their eye at the sight of him. It only lasted half a second, but gave Shane a sort of confidence. Maybe they did want to see him, despite their cousin's insistence to the opposite. They quickly turned back to Elliott, “Can you give the two of us some time? Alone?”

Elliott opened his mouth to interject before Möhle repeated themself, “ Please, Elliott,”

He nodded and turned back to Shane, giving him one last glare before he walked off, finally leaving Shane and Möhle on their lonesome. The two stared at each other for a long moment, the wind turning still around them. Shane forced a smile, “It’s nice to see-”

Möhle held up a hand for just a moment, stopping him mid-sentence. They then stepped aside, silently motioning an arm to the doorway to show him he was welcome inside. He didn’t expect that for sure, but it made him feel just a bit better, if he was honest. Slowly he made his way up the staircase, feeling his heart beat harder with each step. He barely had a moment to step through the doorway before he was pulled into a tight hug, entirely unexpected, though not unwelcome.

“I’m so glad you’re still here…” Möhle whispered, their tone just melting Shane’s heart. It was genuine, full of so much relief. He returned the embrace, feeling his anxiety wash away in just a moment, “Was it that bad…? I honestly can’t remember too much of it,”

That much was true. That night was a blur to him. He could only remember bits and pieces, very few clear scenes remained in mind. All he knew for certain was that it was incredibly serious, serious enough for him to finally have made up his mind on something very important.

“I just wanted to come and tell you I decided to go to therapy… Harvey got me in touch with a good counselor and I started today… Just got off the bus, actually…”

"That's good..." Möhle mused, "I'm happy you're finally getting help, honestly,"

"Yeah." Shane responded. He fell into silence, staring down at the floor as he just let his friend hold him in the embrace.

“... Is that all?” Möhle asked.

He looked up to face them, seeing that gauze patch still sitting over their eye, the sour feeling of guilt tightening in his core, “No… I also wanted to apologize for… you know,”

Möhle suddenly pulled away, greatly increasing his anxiety. Mere minutes into the conversation and he’d already upset them. He was certain they’d ask him to leave now. But to his surprise, Möhle was just moving to sit at the table, imploring him to follow. He sat across from them, staring down at the wood grain on the table, entirely too embarrassed to look them in the eye. Every time he saw that patch it just made him feel worse and worse .

“You know… it’s not as bad as it could have been,” they mused sadly, “Harvey was able to save the eye, he’s a damn miracle-worker,”

“So it’ll be fine?” Shane perked up at the thought, feeling a glimmer of hope about the situation. Möhle shrugged, giving him a slight grimace, “Maybe? He doesn’t think I’ll be able to see much out of it once it’s healed. It won’t be the same anymore,” they gingerly placed a hand to the patch, “It’s… been hard to adjust to. I’ve had a hell of a migraine since the fair,”

“I can’t even tell you how sorry I am, I didn’t know it was you, I would’ve never done that if I-”

“I know that,” Möhle interrupted, suddenly seeming much more bitter, “I don’t want or need excuses. I know you didn’t do it on purpose... But it still happened, Shane. You still hurt me,”

Shane tried to respond, but Möhle wasn’t letting that happen. They held up a finger and stood their ground. In the past they would have been a pushover, would’ve let themself get talked over, act like this was all okay. But not anymore. Now, they would let themself take up space. They’d be strong, “I’m not done. It has been so hard, Shane. I’ve been dealing with this, my farm, helping with Jas and your aunt's ranch so she had time to sit with you, doing things for the community too. All the while I have Harvey and Elliott lecturing me every ten minutes for not taking it easy and resting, and I've been worried sick about you!"

“Möhle , I-"

“And do you know what all of this means for me? I can’t do anything the same anymore. Foraging, journaling, drawing, everything that makes me happy isn’t the same! I have to readjust and change how I do things, and it’s because of what you did ” they sounded on the verge of crying, getting more upset with each word, "A-and I feel like an asshole for being upset with you because of what happened!"

Shane hung his head in embarrassment, soaking in every word. He would give anything to go back in time, to change the outcome of that night, but he knew he couldn’t. His actions were irreversible, unmendable, and he’d have to learn to live with that.

“But you wanna know what...? I was so, so happy to see you walk up to the house,”

Shane furrowed his brow, finally having the courage to lift his head and look at his friend. Möhle ’s eye was glossy, a grimace on their lips. They shook their head and laughed bitterly, “As upset as I am, I… I’m just really happy that you’re alive. I'm so mad, but I'm so happy you're here, with me,"

“Möhle , I -”

“You fucked up , Shane. But I’ve known you as long as I can remember. I’ve got plenty more good memories that outweigh the bad.” Möhle mused, looking off into nowhere as they ruminated, “I’ll stop being angry at you one day. Not today, but… one day. And I’d never hate you ,”

“Not ever?”

“Not ever,” Möhle confirmed. They exhaled dramatically, looking down towards the table. Their hand was so close to his, a mere inch away from touching. Shane took a bold approach, placing his hand atop their own. Möhle just stared down blankly, their expression cold and vacant. Shane sighed and finally looked them dead in the eye, “Thank you. For being so understanding,”

“... Of course,” Möhle droned, their voice quiet and unconvincing. The front door opened once more, Elliott stepping through the frame. He looked to his cousin, a softness in his eyes, “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah…” they huffed, “He was just telling me somethin’ important,”

“Was he now?” Elliott turned back to Shane, his soft expression melting away back into the stone cold, chiseled face he was used to. Shane quickly turned back to his friend, “I should go.”

Möhle pursed their lips for a moment, “You don’t have to-”

“Goodbye,” Elliott interrupted.

Möhle shot him a glare for just a moment, turning back to Shane with a more sympathetic look. They went to continue their so rudely interrupted sentence, but Shane just stood up, giving them a short nod, “Can I see you again soon?”

“... Sure. Sounds good, Shane,”

He nodded quickly in response, turning to walk out of that farmhouse with an overwhelming awkward feeling in his chest. Before he could make it down the stairs, he heard the door slam closed and a hand falling on his shoulder. Jumping, he turned to see Elliott standing there, holding him in place.

“I’m goin’, I promise -”

“Stop. For one moment just stop ,” Elliott instructed. He exhaled deeply, shaking his head, “I don’t understand what they see in you, why they let you in.”

“They said they were glad to see me, they-”

“They were trying to be kind!” Elliott snapped, whispering as to not garner his cousin's attention, “Do you know how bad they feel being angry at you after what just happened? Do you understand the guilt they’re feeling?”

“I just-”

“But I don’t feel guilty, not at all.” he stated resolutely, “I am livid with you, and I think I’m the only person not afraid to say it. I'm so sorry about what happened to you... But I don’t want to see you, and neither did they. Möhle has a hard time turning others away… especially you , for some reason.”

“.... I’m sorry,” Shane apologized, trying his best to sound genuine, “I really never meant to hurt them,”

“Whether you meant to or not doesn’t matter when they are hurt.” Elliott huffed. He removed his hand from Shane’s shoulder, “You should leave. Now.”

“I-”

“Go.” Elliott repeated.

Shane had never taken Elliott as the threatening type. He was tall, muscular and toned, but Shane never found it scary. From what he had seen the man had been a melodramatic soul, maybe even a bit foppish and vain. But now? The man terrified him. His looming presence and those angry green eyes weren’t something he could forget easily. Nodding, he finally took his leave, feeling Elliott’s gaze burn at the back of his head as he made his way to the ranch.

Stepping back into his home, Shane found his aunt cleaning the foyer, entirely not realizing he’d come home yet. A broom in her hand, she was off in her own little world, eyes trained on the floor in front of her. She hadn’t realized he was there until she swept up onto his foot, quickly looking up at him and grinning, “There you are! How was the appointment?”

“It was… fine,” Shane shrugged unconvincingly. Marnie raised a brow, “Just ‘fine’?”

“I don’t know, it was weird.” he grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. Marnie just gave him a smile in response, “It’s always weird at first… but what’s important is that you went. I’m proud of you,”

Shane perked up just a bit at hearing that, that someone was proud of him. He let himself smile just a bit, loosening the tension in his muscles. When he thought about it, yeah, he did do something to be proud of. He started likely the scariest journey of his life, and for once didn’t run away from his problems. He was open and honest, vulnerable with a professional, and he confronted Möhle after all that had happened. Yeah. He was proud of himself too, honestly.

"I, uh... Also stopped to see Möhle," he added, "It went... Honestly I don't even know,"

"What do you mean?"

"They're... So mad at me," Shane sighed, "They're happy to see me, but pissed, and they don't want to talk but also let me in. I don't know how to feel, or how they feel,"

"... I think you're both struggling, and it's hard to know what you want during that," Marnie noted. She tried to give him the most empathetic look possible, "They'll come around one day, I know it. This past month has been difficult... I think they just don't know how to process it yet,"

"Yeah... Me neither," Shane mumbled.

He turned towards the living room, frowning when he saw Jas’ door still shut. She had barely left her room since he’d gotten home just a few days ago, barely spoke a word either. Seeing her holed away in there instead of being out and about or heading to tutoring was upsetting to say the least. It wasn’t like her, and he knew this needed to change. Maybe he could convince her to do something, to get out into the world for a bit. He took a step towards the door, surprised when Marnie suddenly outstretched an arm in front of him. She gave him a wince, a knowingness in her eyes, “She’s still trying to come to terms with all of this… Maybe you should give her some time,”

“It’s been days, though, I-” Shane huffed, “I don’t want her hiding away like that. I’ve done enough of it myself to know it makes everythin’ worse,”

“I know, Shane… But she needs time. She’ll be her happy self soon enough,” Marnie explained. She gave him an encouraging smile before getting right back to cleaning. Shane was still not convinced everything would be alright, though.

He looked at the clock on the wall beside him, frowning at the realization it was well past 12. It was Tuesday, Marnie should've been off to Pierre's to meet her ladies group hours ago. So, what was she still doing here at the ranch?

"No ladies group today?" He asked. Marnie looked up and halted sweeping, giving him a shrug, "I… didn't think it was appropriate to go today,"

"What? Why not?"

"After all that's happened, it feels... wrong to do something fun," she admitted, an embarrassed look on her face, "I didn't want you to think I wasn't taking any of this seriously,"

Shane's heart panged just a bit. Marnie loved the Tuesday aerobics sessions at Caroline’s, she loved her friends. And because of him, she was staying home from something that brought her such joy. He wasn’t going to allow that. She’d given up enough for him already. He shook his head and reached for the little bag that hung by the door, the same she brought to every session, "I think you should go,"

"Oh Shane, it's-"

" Please don't do this because of me. Go have fun, aendi."

Marnie stared at the bag, hesitating for only a moment before finally taking it from her nephew's hands, a small smile forming on her face, "Call if you need anything, okay schatz?"

Shane gave her a quick nod, stepping aside to allow her to walk out of the ranch. Marnie gave him a happy wave before running off, trying desperately to make it to the old general store before the group disbanded for the day. Shane once again found himself on his lonesome from here. He didn’t mind it now, however. Something about the silence after such a morning was peaceful. Between forcing himself to be vulnerable and open with a therapist, confronting Möhle , and dealing with Elliott, he was exhausted from the social interaction required of today, even if he was proud of himself for it. He desperately needed to unwind already.

Opening the fridge, he pulled out a Joja Cola. wincing at the metallic taste of the drink the moment it hit his lips. How the hell did anyone enjoy this shit? Sam always raved about how good it was, often having a can in his locker at work. But this is what he enjoyed? He supposed it was better than alcohol, and soda was a good alternative his therapist had suggested just this morning, but it was still such awful schleck. He closed the door, hearing the thud of the jars in the door as the latch closed. Shane turned to walk away, but immediately stopped in his tracks when something caught his eye. Nearly hidden behind all of Jas’ drawings, bills, and family photos was a small, faded calendar. It was October 3rd now, but that wasn’t what was important, nor what caught his eye. But just six days prior was a very special day: Marnie’s birthday.

His heart immediately sank at the realization. He’d been in the hospital that entire week, unconscious for most of it. The thought that Marnie had spent her birthday at his bedside to ensure he was alright made him feel sick. She would always brush it off, but Shane knew well that it was so important to Marnie, she loved to feel special and cared for, loved to be celebrated. And this year, she hadn’t gotten that chance, all for his sake.

There had to be something he could do, something to be done while Marnie was away, a surprise perhaps. But what? He sat at the table, ruminating over the possibilities. He could bake something, but everyone knew the best thing he could make was soggy microwaved pizza. There was no time to hand make anything either, and while Marnie always said he did a good job, he knew his crafting skills were borderline abysmal . And any good store with something she’d like was too far from here to make a trip in time. He was completely stumped, but he needed to do something. He wanted to do something.

He was startled by a sound at the window, a little bird landing on the sill just in the left corner. A brilliant red cardinal tapped its beak on the glass, staring at him almost knowingly before looking to the side. He blinked slowly, looking to the hutch just next to where the bird was staring. Up on the highest shelf was a small cardboard box, its contents he was well aware of. Gingerly, he picked it up from its spot, hearing the clinking of porcelain inside. The old music box that had shattered months ago now sat inside, merely shards of painted glass now. He knew how much it meant to Marnie, to have such an important keepsake to cherish. Remembering how his negligence resulted in its destruction panged at his heart. But he was going to make it right. Fixing this might’ve been just what he needed. He placed the box down on the table and looked back to the windowsill, seeing the little bird had disappeared into the expanse of Cindersap by now. Part of him couldn’t help but feel disappointed at that. Something about it was comforting, gave him some sort of peace. Oh well, he had much more important things to focus on. First of all, fixing the old curio cabinet he’d been asked to work on months ago. It sat in the foyer, empty and broken still, a reminder of how he had disappointed her. Hopefully he could turn it into something much more positive. All he had to do was get to work, and be fast.

---------------

For the first time in a long while, Marnie felt content on the walk back home. There was a bit more pep in her step, she stood taller, more confident too. Maybe going to see the ladies group was just what she had needed today. Containers and pans were stacked high in her arms, all gifts from her friends at the group. They were all yet another batch of meals and casseroles, a gesture that Marnie greatly appreciated. In tough times the women in town often came together to prepare meals for those going through it, and this time was no exception. Despite how difficult things were, Marnie felt loved by her town, and that was all she could ever ask for.

Fumbling for the door handle, Marnie stumbled her way inside. The lights were on, illuminating the foyer in a soft golden glow. It felt peaceful. It felt like home. Placing down the stack in her arms, Marnie could finally see what was waiting for her. Shane stood still in front of the old cabinet, a hint of a smile on his face, anticipating her reaction to what he had done. Marnie tilted her head just a bit in curiosity, “What’s going on?”

Shane stepped to the side, unveiling the completely refurbished curio cabinet. It was beautiful, polished to perfection and re-stained. As much as Shane put down his own craftsmanship, he had made it look even better than new. Marnie put a hand over her mouth in surprise, slowly making her way to it, placing a hand on the broken shelf, finding it to be sturdy now. She turned to her nephew, finding him smiling just a bit wider.

“Did you do this?”

Shane nodded in response, stepping next to her to admire his work as well, “Finished it while you were out. A little overdue but it should work now, right?”

Marnie didn’t respond, simply taking in the gift. Most shelves were already filled with heirlooms and trinkets, all except one. Shane was saving the best for last, after all. He lifted the little cardboard box from the shop counter, moving it to where Marnie could see, “And I was thinkin’... maybe we could fix this?”

Marnie cautiously took the box from his hands, inspecting the tiny pieces of glass sitting inside, “Then why don’t we get started?”

And so they sat, mending what was broken in more ways than one. They were mostly silent, the only noises coming from the clanking of porcelain as they piece the figure together. Though no words were spoken, their minds were full of what they wanted to say. The two of them hadn’t had a proper conversation about it all since he’d come back home. The time just didn’t feel right. Everything felt too tense, it was just too soon . But now, perhaps, the time had come.

“Did you mean it, when you said you struggled too?” Shane finally asked, cautiously looking at Marnie. She put down a piece she’d been working with, giving him a confused look, “What do you mean?”

“You know. When you said we struggled with the same… problem?” Shane couldn’t bring himself to state specifics, feeling far too awkward to talk about it more than he already had to today. Marnie seemed to get the gist, thankfully. She cleared her throat and nodded, suddenly looking solemn, “Yes. I did,”

“Why did you never tell me?” Shane asked.

“I already told you wh-”

“It would have helped,” Shane huffed, “If you told me from the beginning, things would be different. Every time we argued about it, it just felt like you were lookin’ down on me. I felt judged and I think… that’s why I didn’t listen to you,”

“... I didn’t think about it that way, I guess,” Marnie mused sadly. She turned her attention back to the broken pieces in front of her, gently joining them back together again, “I think both of us could have handled this better. Especially me. I’m sorry,”

Shane thought for a moment, trying to find his words, trying to not lash out. Finally, with a sigh, he spoke, “If I could have known that… I think I would’ve been able to accept help. I’ve felt so alone, but knowing that now, I feel better about it all. All of this feels doable, because-,” he looked Marnie in the eye, resolute and serious, “-it means we’re a lot more alike than I thought… and if I could end up being even be half the person you are, I’d be someone to be proud of,”

“You already are,” Marnie assured.

“You don’t need to lie,”

“I’m not. ” Marnie stated resolutely, “I am proud of you, Shane, and you should be too. I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown over the years, how you’ve been able to survive this,”

“Just barely ,”

“But you still have. You’re strong , stronger than you give yourself credit for,” she smiled sweetly, “You are someone to be proud of. You are a treasure and a gift, and everytime someone says your name it should remind you of that,”

“Yeah, yeah, ‘Gift from Yoba’, I know,” Shane scoffed. What a joke it was. He still didn’t exactly believe in his namesake. Marnie chose to ignore his sarcasm, “Whether you believe it or not, it’s true. I hope you see that one day,”

Marnie tookthe last broken piece from the bin, cautiously attaching it back onto the music box, finally making it whole again. For the first time in months it stood tall, the figure of the dancer atop it finally in one solid piece. Leaning back to admire their work, Marnie couldn’t help but feel just a bit emotional. Shane looked at her out of the corner of his eye, seeing her eyes grow glossy as she stared on.

“Are you okay?”

Marnie nodded shortly, keeping her gaze on the heirloom in front of her, “It’s just… nice to see everything put together like this. Thank you for doing this, Shane,”

“Yeah… you’re welcome,” he mused softly. Shane felt his smile drop just a bit though, finding something very specific drawing in most of his attention. The cracks along the surface, tiny beads of glue sticking out between the misaligned edges, it made it look so… imperfect. He huffed in frustration, “I wish I had listened to you before. It wouldn’t be broken like this if I did. It wouldn’t look like-...”

“Like what?”

“It just…” Shane limply motioned towards the figurine, “It looks like a mess . Don’t have all the pieces, not everything fits together. It’s not perfect anymore,”

“No, it’s not…” Marnie mused. She gingerly lifted it from its spot, holding the fragile porcelain in her fingers, “It’s a bit messy, even looks a bit funny now, but-” she smiled once more, a softness growing in her heart, “What matters is that it’s whole. A lot has happened that led to it breaking, but it’s in one piece again. It’s put back together… just like this family, if you think about it,”

“I guess it is,” Shane muttered, watching with hitched breath as Marnie placed the figure back down in its place, only allowing himself to breathe when the figure proved to remain in one piece. The name painted onto the base glimmered in the foyer's lights, as did the glass of the photo frame hanging on the wall above them. That old photo inside had always been cherished by Marnie, the one of her and her sister as young women, smiling and having the time of their lives as they posed for the photo. They looked so happy, entirely ignorant to all that would come to be. But that wasn’t all that Shane noticed, not at all. He noticed how… different Mona looked. At least, how different she was than he remembered. He had always envisioned her looking just like Marnie, just with his eyes. But in reality, she looked much, much different. She had green eyes, yes, but her hair was a deep, dark auburn, her face longer and thinner. She was perhaps just a bit taller than Marnie as well. It was confusing, to say the least. Even when he had seen her again, she looked nearly exactly like his aunt. But perhaps what he saw wasn’t real, wasn’t the truth. Perhaps, in reality, it was because he saw Marnie as his mother. Mona was very dear to him, but most of his life had been under Marnie’s care. She was the one to raise him, to teach him right from wrong, comfort him when he needed it most. Over the years his mind just blended the two of them together, unable to suppress the image of Marnie when thinking of his mother. All he could think of now was that night he had seen Mona again, and the important message she had asked him to send along.

“You did a good job, y’know, with raisin’ me,” he started, “I’m really glad you were there for me. So is momma,”

“I … Thank you,” Marnie whispered. She felt herself tense up just a bit, growing emotional at the sentiment, “I don’t always feel the same about myself, but… that’s nice to hear,”

Shane suddenly looked nervous, huffing softly before continuing on, “Do you remember the conversation we had back when I got fired from my cleaning job? When Jas was a baby?”

“Oh, no , it’s been so long…” Marnie mused regretfully, “Why?”

“I remember I asked you if… if you would’ve let me call you mom when I was little,” he felt his chest tighten with each word, the nervousness overtaking him, “You never gave me an answer, and I just wanted to know-... Is it-... Can I..?” he sighed, unable to find his words. They were stuck in his mind, but he simply couldn't articulate them. Marnie could tell what he wanted to say even still, pulling him in for a tight, comforting hug.

“Of course, Shane,”

Shane slowly melted into the embrace, smiling contentedly for the first time in who knew how long. He felt lighter than he had in a long time, a weight slowly lifting from his shoulders the longer he sat in that embrace.

“Thanks, ma,”

#sdv fanfic #stardew valley #sdv #stardew valley shane #sdv shane #sdv marnie #sdv jas #mfsd #sdv farmer

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