Vaughn's p.o.v.

My back to work schedule had been rough, they had me going all over since I got back, and I hadn't been able to make a trip to Castinet. In fact it looked like I wouldn't get to see Chelsea until the wedding. I wanted to meet her at the docks when she switched boats but I was set to work then.I was sitting in my apartment feeling a little grumbly, but I decided to give Chelsea a ring.

"Hey cowboy.", came the voice I waited all day to hear. "I was just about to call you."

"Well I thought I'd check on you and make sure you don't do anything else crazy, you getting yourself sick mountain climbing while I'm not there to take care of you was bad enough." I said scolding her a little.

"Awe you weren't worried were you.", she said with a giggle. "Your gonna have a hard time keeping me in line over the phone cowboy."

"I just don't want my girlfriend getting herself hurt cause she does something crazy.", I say, "Anyways why were you gonna call me?

" Well I wanted to let you know I'd be leaving for the wedding with you uncle's family so I'll be back on the island a few days before you while your making your Mineral town delivery so I can meet you at the dock when you arrive with the animal shipment for the island of happiness.", she says happily.

Well at least with my Uncle Cain there she'll stay out of trouble for a little while. "So how long you gonna stay on the island?", I asked curiously.

"Maybe a week don't know yet, I do wanna catch the fireworks festival.", she said as she began to yawn.

 "Sweety how many work hours did you put in this week?" I ask.

"The usual.", she said which meant she was still working 7 days at 4 different jobs.

"Honey your working to much you need to cut back on your hours.", I said.

 "I know, but don't worry I'll be ok baby." she said.

"What time do you start at the bar tonight?", I ask as she yawns again.

"7", she replies.

"Well honey you got plenty of time, I'm gonna let you go and I want you to at least take a nap before your shift starts.", I tell her.

"Ok sweety then I'll talk to you later." she says before letting her go.I wish I could be with her more, somebody had to keep her out of trouble, take care of her when she got hurt or sick, wake her up when the nightmares hit. I thought for a moment and realized I was going to need Chen to special order something for me cause I think I know a way to keep her out of trouble.

Chelsea's P.O.V.

It had been a long boat ride but I got back to the Island of Happiness, oh how I'd missed it. After I settled in the in to the Inn I went around and visited everyone, I even had a long talk with Sabrina, at the diner about Vaughn were she apologized to me, and then I went to the jungle to visit Shea and Wada and thanked them again for the knife, while Shea I gave me a crushing hug.I made sure I took time with each of my friends who I hadn't seen in awhile so I was all caught up. Lanna and Denny were now married, and Pierre and Nat were engaged, and Charlie was still chasing Eliza.

Although there was one place I still had yet to go, my old ranch. I wondered how the new farmer was doing with it. It was a couple days before the wedding and Vaughn was gonna bring a load of livestock when his boat arrived for the farmer.I was sitting with Taro chatting about animals he always knew so much.

 "You know Chelsea this farmer is producing but its not the same high quality you had. He even got some animals and there not as high quality producing as yours were. Maybe before your boyfriend gets here you can head up to the ranch and see what he's doing wrong maybe even give him a few pointers." said the islands patriarch.

"Sure I'll go check it out right now and see what's happening it shouldn't be to hard to see what he's doing wrong.", I say. I take off into a run for my old ranch and get up there pretty quick. It was still pretty early so I expected to see a rancher working but no one was out side. I walked around the fields towards the house and take a long look before I knock, I kneel down and grab a handful of the dirt and let it run through my hands, its very dry, and if he has animals why isn't he growing any grass.

"Hey you what are you doing on my property?", came a shout as a guy came running up to me. He had brown hair and eyes and they were scowling, and he was a bit taller than me.

"Name's Chelsea, Taro asked me to come check on your farm and animals and see if I could give you some ideas on how to raise your product quality. I said standing as I offer him my hand to shake. He takes it looking me over. I'm wearing a red coca cola shirt today with denim vest and shorts and he takes a little bit looking me over.

 "Are you done ogling me or you ready to let me look over your animals and see if I can help you improve, or not cause Taro says you need help." I say irritated.

"Fine! And its Kevin" he says and leads me over to the barn where livestock are. He opens it up and the stench hits me first."When was the last time you cleaned up in here.", I ask as I walk up to the animals and start looking over them.

"Your animals are all sick because of the filth, and there's no fodder in her either.", I say in disgust as I exit and walk in the chicken coop which was just as bad."Well I know why your animal products suck now.", I say looking at the farmer with an angry look," your products stink cause your animals are sick and miserable.", I say to him.

"Why on earth would you order more animals when the ones you have aren't cared for.""Look missy you stays out of my 's my farm and I'll do what I want with my animals.", he says.

"Fine it's your farm I'll go let the animal trader not to give you any more critters." I say as I get ready to leave but he grabs me and shoves me against the side of the barn.

 "No your not your not gonna say one word I don't need that cowboy coming around, cept to drop my animals off. So if you know what's good for you you'll shut it!" he says as strikes me in the face. I give him an evil grin before I kick him and he falls to the ground holding his groin.I start to run but fall cause he grabs my ankle only to have my free foot connect with his face forcing him to let go. I jump up and run towards town with a sprint as this creep runs behind me. I've got the advantage of endurance but his legs being longer makes him a little quicker.

 So I run through areas with obstacles all the way to town.I try not to take to much pleasure in all the derogatory names Kevin shouts at me as I run towards the docks. I near the animal shop and just past there the dock. There I spot my cowboy but her hasn't spotted me yet. I had planned a better meet up then this and I focus on the edge of the dock, this creep needs a time out. I feel a grip on my arm and I drop down in and aikido roll knocking him on the ground and I come up as he grabs my foot, yes again with the foot making me tumble and have to again kick him in the face as he wrestles with me.

"Listen Ho you are not talking to the cowboy about my animals he'll beat the crap out of me so shut up!", he yells as he straddles me and his fist connects with my face.

"Well what do you think I'll do to you if you lay another hand on my girlfriend?", came the voice I'd been waiting all day to here as Vaughn yanks Kevin off the top of me by his shirt and tosses him on the ground, before helping me up.Shear terror enters Kevin's face as Vaughn pulls me possessively to his side holding on tight while he glares murderously at the poor excuse for a farmer.

"Look Vaughn I had no idea the slut was yours.", he said which made Vaughn's nostril's flare like a bull that wants to charge. Vaughn's face is very red with anger now as he stares Kevin down."Just remember Vaughn whatever she says I did she made up.", he says as Vaughn growls.

"Kevin even if you scramble all the way back to your ranch and miraculously managed to clean the animals and their buildings there's no way you can hide that there sick and you can't care for them worth a crap!" I shout at him.

"So let me get this straight I get off the boat with a load of animals to find you assaulting my girl and you want me to take your word over hers.", says the silver haired cowboy as he stalks over to Kevin, "And then in front of me you continue to speak to her disrespectfully , what are the odds if you keep up your leaving this island in one piece.", as he lifts Kevin by his shirt collar and like the little coward he is Kevin faints.Vaughn drops the failing farmer on the street before he looks me over studying my face.

"Lets drop these animals off at my aunts and get some ice for that black eye.", he says stroking my bruised face gently before kissing my now a little swollen lips gently. After a little while I'm sitting on a stool at Mirabella's and Vaughn's cleaning up my face and putting ice on my black eye. "Here hold this there.", he says firmly and I keep it there.

Vaughn's P.O.V

It had been a long morning, and the shock of someone trying to hurt Chelsea in front of me didn't help. And then I learn Kevin neglects his animals. Before Chelsea would even let me tend her face, she insisted on speaking to Taro and dragging him up to the ranch.When I we got there if Taro wasn't disgusted enough by the state of the fields, me and him were more horrified when Chelsea dragged us to and made us look in the barn and chicken coop.

Taro insisted he was gonna have a long talk with Kevin, when he wakes. Now I was sitting here in my aunts kitchen with Chelsea sitting on the counter holding an ice pack to her bruised and swollen eye. That Kevin better stay away from me because if the animals wasn't bad enough reason to beat him, Then what he'd done to Chelsea's face would.

Chelsea however was more irritated by the animals, she didn't seem worried about her face. I went to the wall and dialed my boss and began to discuss the situation with Kevin the islands current farmer and he agreed with me. Kevin would no longer be allowed to buy animals from us.I was just getting off the phone when my blond cousin Julia entered the rooms and screamed at the sight of Chelsea's face.

"Oh my goodness Chels what on earth happened to your face.", she yelled as Chelsea winced .

"It doesn't look that bad does it.", she says looking down.

"Julia, Chels got in a fight with the farmer down the road.", I say as I go stand next to Chelsea, and kiss her forehead. "And no it's not that bad." I say.

"Ok so what happened.", she asks, and I was kinda wondering what Chelsea had been doin there my self.

"Well Taro asked me to go look at the ranch and see if I could give Kevin some advice on how to improve product quality, because his products aren't that good.", she said, " So I ran up there and after knocking I looked at his field, when I ran into him.He didn't seem to want me there but I told him why Taro sent me and insisted he show me his animals.", she took a deep breath.

 "Then I told him after I saw the animals what a bad job he did and I was going to talk to Taro and the animal trader about the shape of his animals, and he freaked at the idea of Vaughn finding out." she ran a spare hand through her hair. "So he tried to threaten me then we fought, and I wasn't in the mood to beat the creep so I got out of there and he chased me, until he tried to tackle me and eventually he was on top of me again and Vaughn yanked him off angrily and he passed out the end." she said with a quick smile.

And I couldn't help it I had to kiss that smile, "Your crazy and I love you for it you know it." I say as I pull away and she gives me a coy smirk."but I need to find a way to keep you out of trouble."

"Mmmm, that's not gonna be easy cowboy.", she says still smiling as she takes the ice pack off and gets off the counter. "Well I've already been a bother long enough, I know Mirabella has work for you so I'm gonna take my leave." she says with a flip of her hair. "Hey Chelsea, we're still on for the sleepover party later right.", yells my cousin as Chelsea gives me a peck on the cheek before getting to the door.

"Yup see ya later.", she says waving as she leaves.

"So Vaughn, what's your brilliant plan to keep your girlfriend out of trouble?", says my blond cousin with a smirk.

"Well for your information I'm gonna go to get a blue feather and I'm gonna marry her.", I said with a grin.

 "Oh wow!", I can't wait, I wonder where the wedding will be or who'll stand up." says my cousin excitedly. "So when are you gonna pop the question?"

 "When the moments right.", I say.

Chelsea's P.O.V.

I had a few hours before the sleepover so I went to talk to Taro again. "Hey Taro how's it going?", I said as I came up to him sitting outside with Chen.

 "Ah Chelsea I had a request to make of you.", he said. "Oh ya and what's that?", I ask. "Well I've decided that Kevin needs to pack up and go, so I want you to take over the farm again.", he says. "No Charge considering all the clean up and repair you'll need to do." Wow, first I get to see Vaughn and now I'm offered my ranch back which would mean I could come back and I'd get to see Vaughn more.

"Wow, Taro I don't know what to say, but ya I'll take it just let me see what's got to be done and then I can make arrangements with my former employers.", I say .As I leave I'm feeling quite a bit excited especially since I can take possession of it right away, since Kevin gets put on the next boat out of here. Oh wow I have a lot of work to plan for. I realized I'd need to get some tools and get the animals bathed, there homes cleaned and get them, fed and given some medicine. Fences needed mending and who knows what the house is like. I run up to the farm and peek into the house, and realize its like a bad episode of hoarders.Well forget that, I run back to town and find Gannon's and find him. I run into his shop and he greets me.

"Hey Gannon is there anyway you can tear down Kevin's house and build a newer one the larger size." I ask.

 "Yeah sure I can, why what's wrong with it?", he says.

" Well it looks like an episode of Hoarders and I'm afraid to go in without all my shots." I say and he laughs. We haggle over the price and while I'm at it I order some new tools, since I have none and toss them in my rucksack.My next stop is Chen's were I go through the catalogs to order furniture and utensils for my new house settling on a double bed since if my plans works out I won't be sleeping alone much longer. While I'm at it I order fertilizer for the fields and a lot of grass seed and then I head back to the animal shop. I need to order fodder, chicken feed, a brush, milker, and some animal medicine. First I stop by the inn and change into some clothes I can work in, and tell Cain, then I run off to the animal shop.

On my way I call Gill and hand in my resignation over the phone, followed by calling Kathy to tell her I'm gonna be moving soon and Angela so she knows I won't be working for her anymore.After words I run into the animal shop were Julia is sitting boredly at the counter.

 "Wow Chelsea your early for the sleepover.", she says.

 "Actually, Taro gave me the ranch back and I needed to by some tools and get some feed and medicine to take over to the ranch with me so I can clean up the buildings before later.", I say as she squeals.

 "Shh I haven't told Vaughn yet," I say as she rings me up and calls for her cousin from the back before handing me the tools and medicine.Vaughn comes from the back slightly annoyed,

"Yah Julia what is it this time.", he says grumpily.

"Your girlfriend here just ordered some feed to take to the animals on Kevin's ranch.", says my blond friend pointing to me with a giggle. He nods to me and tips his hat before going into the back and returns with enough feed for the animals and I hold the door open for him before heading to the ranch.I open the barn and the stench hits me again.

"I've got my work cut out for me.", I say as look over the neglected animals and Vaughn grunts. "You can leave the feed here and I'll give it to them as soon as I get there feeders and other things cleaned.", I say with a sigh as I take the new bandana I had around my wrist and tie it up in my hair. I set my rucksack down and crouch.

Vaughn's P.O.V.

I looked around the building and Chelsea was right about one thing she had a lot of work ahead of her, and it looked like to much for one woman, or man.

"Chelsea wait I'll give you a hand.", I said receiving a grateful look from the farmer as she pulls tools out of her sack.

 I notice Gannon and his guys grunt at me as they begin to tear down the neglected farm house. I enter the barn with Chelsea who now has a lasso slung over her as she leads the livestock out and places them in the remains of the enclosure she built when this was her ranch.I listen as Chelsea hums while she gently coaxes each animal.

 I begin to start cleaning out the barn and Chelsea comes to join me, still humming. One of the things I loved about Chelsea was she worked hard and threw her whole heart behind her effort, even when we were teenager.

"So what made you decide to come out here and clean Kevin's mess up?", I finally ask as her eyes twinkle.

"I talked to Taro, Kevin's crops are dying, and if left up to him his animals won't make it so Taro gave me back the ranch.", she says with a sigh."I've got to see what I can do with these guys and have Gannon fix the stable so I can have my horse brought here.", she says scrubbing the feeders.

 It takes awhile but the barn is eventually cleaned out good and the feeders are full, before we tackle the livestock. One at a time I help Chelsea give each one a desperately needed bath. Then we take each into the now clean barn and give them some animal medicine to help them recover.We then move to the chicken coop and it's sunset before we're all done. We're sitting by the river against a tree leaning back and were both exhausted. Chelsea looks like she's ready to fall asleep.

 "Hey sweety maybe we better get you back to the Inn so you can shower and sleep.", I say and she jumps alert.

"The sleepover, I'm late." she says looking at herself and how filthy she is.

 "Here I'll walk you to the Inn so you can get ready and then after I'm cleaned up I'll run over and pick you up so I make sure you get to my aunt's place safely." I say as I get up and help her stand. We walk towards the hotel and I take her hand which she doesn't refuse.

"You've got a lot of work ahead with those animals being unwell.", I say looking over at her .

"Yep, but I'll find some way to make it work.", she says smiling at me as we get to her room in the Inn. She digs through her bag and pulls out her room key.

"I guess I'll see you in a little while." she says opening the door and leaning against the door as she looks in my eyes a little dreamily before I lean down and kiss her, I don't think I could get enough of her kisses. We finally part and I run back to the animal shop and get showered and changed.

"Vaughn have you seen Chelsea?", calls my cousin Renee as I get ready to leave.

 "She'd had a long day so she's showering at the Inn and then she supposed to wait for me to pick her up and walk her back here.", I say as she and Julia grins.I jog back to the Inn where Chelsea is and knock on her door.

 "Just a second.", comes her sweet voice before it opens and she's in her pj's for the sleepover party, and her little tattoo with my name on it peeks out her shorts leg as she grins at me.She stands up on her tiptoes brushing her lips against mine quickly before grabbing her bag, and locking the door behind her. She then takes my hand as I lead her to my cousin's sleepover party, but it's hard not to look at Chelsea in her pj's.

When we arrive the other guests have arrived and I run up to my room as Chelsea is greeted by the other girls and I can hear giggling from downstairs. I hear them talking when Renee suggests they play truth or dare. I listen as they play and I hear the sweetness of Chelsea's laugh.

"Ok Chelsea truth or dare.", says my cousin Renee.

"Truth.", she says.

 "Ok why were you mountain climbing a few weeks ago, you hate enclosed places." says my cousin.

"Then can I take dare, I don't want Vaughn to find out why.", she says making my ears perk up. "

Why was she there in the first place."

, "Come on Chels you got yourself sick over it.", says Renee.

"No I'm pleading the fifth on that.", she says with a giggle. "Come on Chelsea we won't tell.", says Lanna.

 "Ya Chelsea, come on.", came Sabrina's voice.

Chelsea's P.O.V.

I know Vaughn can hear me from upstairs and I don't want anyone to know about the blue feather in my rucksack. I'm just waiting for the right time to give it to him.

"Ok then Chelsea, your dare is you have to steal Vaughn's hat.", says Natalie in a whisper.

"Ok how long do I gotta keep it?", I say.

"Twenty minutes." she says.So I creep up the staircase and wait to the side as Julia calls Vaughn claiming he has a phone call. He comes out only in his sleep shorts and goes downstairs, and once I get my breath back I sneak in his room I open a window after placing the hat on my head. Then I grab a tree branch near the exit and slip out shutting the window from the outside.Apparently my ability of sneaking out of upper story windows hadn't diminished with time.

 I shimmy down the tree and keep the hat on my head as I hide in the shadows. I hear Vaughn let out a little roar from his room at his prize possession missing. I run for the woods and keep a good pace, wishing I'd kept my shoes on. After a few I hear him calling me in the distance so I put the hat in my mouth and climb up the tree. When I'm out of site I place it on my head, I go up a little higher.

I get above were I can easily be spotted and watch below me as my hatless cowboy runs under my tree. It reminds me of when we were kids and played hide and seek in the dark.I used to climb the wall and hide on top the barn or chicken coop a lot back then, and he never understood how I did it without a ladder.I'm hope the twenty minutes is up soon or the cowboy finds me. I'm really tired from earlier, I'm just glad I'm smart enough to figure other options out. . I look down and hold perfectly still as the cowboy passes under me. It's almost like I'm holding my breath.

"Come on Chelsea you got to be out here some where.", he shouts as I watch him. I hear a cracking noise as the branch I'm on begins to crack. I begin to look for something to grab onto and grab onto the nearest branch above me as the one I'm on falls with a thump, and I'm wishing I had a better grip on this one but there isn't a close enough sturdy branch.

 I start bracing myself for how much this landing is gonna hurt as my hands start to slip.I try to focus on above me so I can stay calm and find another branch, gosh I hope that cowboys not far.

"Help!", I shout trying to focus so I can stay calm. I keep telling myself it's gonna be ok, just like that time I lived in that crack house and my dad threw me out the window but less painful, no glass.

"Chelsea, hold on!", I hear an alarmed cowboy shout.

"I'm loosing my hold Vaughn.", I say nervously as my grip slips and I drop and I close my eyes and let out a scream as I brace for impact. But the impact never comes when I open my eyes the meet with a pair of concerned looking purple ones. I wrapped my arms around the cowboy in a hug and inhale his scent deeply.

"you know one of these days I'm gonna find a way to keep you out of trouble.", he says with a chuckle before setting me down. We walk through the woods back to the animal shop and it's almost like he forgot his hat was on me in all the excitement.When we walked back in the shop all eyes were on us.

"Wow Chelsea I didn't think you'd get it and then keep it this long.", said Natalie as she tossed her hair and gave a smirk. As the cowboy grabbed his hat and kissed my forehead before returning to his room.

"Yup and I don't gotta tell now.", I said with a grin.

"I bet we can tickle the info out of you." says Julia.

"Nope, cause Vaughn's the only one who knows where I'm ticklish and after the hat thing I don't think he's gonna cooperate." I say with a giggle thinking about the blue object in my bag.

"So Julia when you an Elliott marry how many kids you gonna have?", says Lanna changing the subject. "I don't know yet, I guess will figure it out when they start coming.", she says with a giggle.

"How about you and your husband Toby Renee."My brunette friend blushes, "Well we'll decide that after I'm done having this one.", she replies.

"Wow we're pregnancy buddies!", says Lanna patting her belly and we all share a giggle.And I wonder with all the damage to my body over the years if that's even possible for me.

"Well me and Pierre are trying for our first bun ourselves.", says Natalie followed by more giggling.

"So Chelsea what about you, how many you want.", says Julia looking at me inquisitively.

"Um I don't know if I can even have any, so I guess at least one or If I adopt I'll start with one and go from there." I say looking down.

"Don't you think that Vaughn might want one of his own? Maybe you should let him go to find someone that can give him kids if he wants them.", says Sabrina with a raised eyebrow I lean onto my rucksack while chucking my pillow at Sabrina.

"Or I can assume I know Vaughn better than that roll the dice and see if it's possible first and then if it doesn't work I can still adopt." I say with an eye roll as I hear

"I vote for that one." comes from Vaughn whose now in the kitchen."And I'll make you tell me tomorrow at the fireworks, why you were mountain climbing all a sudden.", he says with a wink.