"Moomintroll, I didn't invite you out here for any old reason you know." There she stood, her back facing Moomin as the wind swept through the flower field they stood in, Her hair had been adorned with azaleas by Little My after they had breakfast in Moomin House. She should have been happy, but she obviously was not.

"I don't think this is working. Us. I don't think it ever really was." Moomin stopped cold in his tracks, a frown quickly crossing his face. She never sounded so stone-cold before, it was so inconceivably like her. He couldn't even rationalize it as some sort of rude prank. But by the stars, he wished it was in that moment.

"You don't mean that.. Why- what would make you say that? Snorkmaiden I-" He stopped himself from saying anything more, at least before he could understand fully. He clenched his fist in frustration and stomped on the ground, finding himself unable to abide by his own promise to silence.

"Can you at least look at me when you say it?!" He started to choke up on his own words to his dismay, a crack in his pitch betraying his wanton to appear impartial. At his demand, she slowly turned, and he immediately regretted yelling. She had been crying, likely since she had taken the lead on the path to the flower fields. She had been clutching a handful of butterfly weed, almost to the point that they had begun to fall apart.

"I'm… I'm sorry Moomin. I've just been thinking, you and I-" She stifled a hiccup, bringing an arm to her face to wipe her eyes in her yellowy fur. She shook her head and sat down in the grass, inviting her friend-to-be to do the same. He followed in suit, idly grabbing at the grass in an attempt to distract himself from the tears starting to well up in his eyes.

"It's just that -not that we are bad, but I- we probably aren't… for each other." She did not elaborate as much as Moomin wished she would. But oddly enough, he felt himself start to agree. They sat quietly together, watching as the wind lazily blew the clouds above past them, like conversation passing in the breeze. But no words were to be had between the two of them, as the wind was only high in the sky, leaving the clouds to come and go without them. The flowers in the field stood still, only the bird calls and the babbling brook were keeping the two lonely creatures company. He was the first to break the silence, now fed up with pulling grass in lieu of talking about what had just happened between them.

"...What do we do now? No, what brought you here? What brought us here, Snorkmaiden..?" He sniffled, not understanding still, despite feeling like he did. The days prior, her coat still shone a soft pink when they were together, though My tagged along each time… Oh dear.

"Snorkmaiden, Is it because of-"

"You and Snufkin." She still did not look him in the eyes, but this time he was glad she turned herself away. A flustered blush crossed his face, one of both embarrassment and a bit of frustration as well.

"No, I was gonna say it was because of My!" He was caught off guard by her quickly swiveling back around, her face reddened and her fur washed of a soft bubblegum hue once again.

"You like Little My too?" She blurted out in shock before she could think, a literal minute of silence passing the two as the cogs turned in both of their sorrow filled heads. She was first to crack, snorting as she tried to hold back laughter as she realized that he had reached the same conclusion as her. They both fell back into the grass, giggling as if they had just been told the funniest joke ever conceived. And now -as tears subside- they found it all so amusing.

There was a moment of silence between the two after their laughter had faded and they had both caught their breaths, and though hesitant, Moomin was the first to break it. "How long have you been thinking about all of this? Is there .. Did I do anything wrong?" he looked over at Snorkmaiden, relief sweeping over him as she shook her head in response.

"Oh, no, you shouldn't worry about that," Snorkmaiden picked at the grass beside her, pausing to think before continuing her train of thought, "I guess it's been since last summer, maybe a month more than that-"

"Since last summer?! It's been nearly a year since then, why are you only telling me now?" Moomin shot up, his back straight as he swiveled around to face Snorkmaiden, who was now blushing seemingly in embarrassment.

"I just wasn't sure, Moomin, these things take time! We've been together for so long and I .." she trailed off, relaxing back into the grass.

"I thought it was kind've like a phase at first, like you with that silly wooden lady." she began again in a softer tone.

"What was?" Moomin did his best to match her tone, though part of him wanted to assure her that the inanimate woman in question was not silly at all.

"Little My. I thought it would only last a week, maybe a week and a half, but .. It didn't, and ignoring it didn't help, and avoiding her helped even less. Oh, I think I was just scared of it all, all the changes that would come with it, and I didn't even think to consider that I had already changed." Moomin averted his eyes, moving to lay back beside her as she spoke.

"I suppose I understand, we're nearly adults now."

"Oh, we are, aren't we?" Snorkmaiden giggled along with her response. Another silence passed between the two, the chirping from nearby crickets lessening it. This time, though, Snorkmaiden was the one to break it.

"You and Snufkin .. When did-"

"I don't know, Snorkmaiden." Moomin interrupted quickly, his words sharp though his tone was shaky.

"He's my best friend, and I never really .. I never thought that, you see, that we could … Or if I even-" he shook his head, lifting his arms to fold over his face in a last resort to hide his embarrassment.

"I just don't know."

"Oh, Moomintroll…" He let his arms fall to his side with a sigh. The crickets quieted.

"You'll figure it all out soon, I just know you will." Snorkmaiden encouraged. Moomin nodded absently. This was a belief he wished he could share.

They had not much else to say, the two of them laying back in the grass and watching the sky once again. Their paws instinctively reached for each other -and even brushed against each other momentarily- but they both recoiled at the other's touch. They looked at each other one last time as partners, both of their eyes looking into the other's with a great hesitation. It was an eternity for the Moomintroll and the Snork maiden alike, the wind joining their silent conversation that only the emotionally betrothed could have but only once more. Finally, they closed their eyes and turned to the sky once again, now as friends watching the sky turn to a quiet twilight.

The Snorkmaiden was the first to stand up, brushing herself off as she looked towards the moon and the stars on the horizon.

"I really do wish you the best with Snufkin. You know that, right?" She dropped the butterfly weed at her feet, her tail swinging with trepidation at this new -yet familiar- friendship with Moomin. He followed in suit, standing up in his place. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the face just yet, so he instead watched the falling sun set into the sea.

"I know. I wish the best for you and My too…" He did mean it when he spoke, but a nagging attachment to her still left him feeling forlorn about it. He did like her, as much as any smitten fool should have. She was very pretty, and so very nice too. Oh… was this the right choice after all? Maybe he would feel better the morning after, when he spoke to his best friend. But for now, he could still only think about her.

"She would be very lucky to have you, you know that?"

"And he would be lucky to have you too, Moomintroll." They stood quietly as the sky changed around them, but this time it was not a conversation. It was stalling for their first goodbye as friends. And so they stood for a bit, just to linger longer.

"Moomin! Snorkmaiden! What are you two doing standing out here like that? You're both being very creepy..!" The two of them had been so wrapped up in their own thoughts that they failed to notice Sniff and Moominmama approach the two of them by lamp light.

"You two gave us quite the scare when you did not return home for supper. What ever were you two doing out here so late?" Moomin first spoke, whispering in his mother's ear about what had just happened between the two of them.

"Oh... Dear, I'm sorry to hear you two… Here, why don't I walk Snorkmaiden home, you may go home with Sniff, Moomin dear. Leave a light out for me, won't you?" She gave her son a gentle hug that only a mother could give, holding him for the longest of moments before kissing him on the forehead. She then made her way to the Snorkmaiden's side and started to usher her home where her brother was surely waiting. Moomin watched as their lamplight faded into the distance before taking off with Sniff back to Moomin House. Still he watched as they vanished behind him, like the sun into the sea.

"But Moomin," Sniff queried, "Didn't you still like her? You told me about Snufkin, but you also said-" The troll put up a hand to silence the little creature, surprising him.

"It was her choice, not mine. She has someone that she fancies too. So i guess we are both gonna be able to at least try and see if it was worth it." He spoke in a solemn tone, his eyes still watery and gloomy.

"...Will we all still be friends? I don't want to say goodbye to her too, she was fun and made really great treats for us…!" Despite his childish reasoning Sniff was genuine in his worry, actually getting a small laugh from Moomin.

"Of course she will be. I bet she'll be happier too, and her treats will be twice as sweet then." They finally arrived at Moomin House, taking the time to light the lamp outside for Mama. The moomintroll waited for his mother's return before he decided to sleep for the night. Exchanging one last embrace to his mother, he left to his room and got into bed.

He tried his best, but could do no more than sit in the darkness of his room and stare at the starry night.. He could only think of that very morning, and the smell of the flower fields where he said goodbye.