The following morning, it was as if the kiss and storm had never happened. There were signs, of course. Debris littered the island, the heat and humidity were atrocious in the way that it always was after a storm, and Kali was more aware of Vaughn than ever before. She wanted to know everything there was to know about him, but she wasn't sure why. Was it a crush or an attraction? There had never been any man who had caught her attention the way that Vaughn had.

As soon as the weather had cleared and the sun was up, Kali headed into the settlement to check on everyone, but she had to acknowledge that it was also to put a little distance between her and Vaughn.

It was slow going because a lot of debris needed to be cleared from the road as she drove, but when she arrived, she was relieved to discover that, other than being tired, everyone was in good spirits.

She spent a few hours talking with everyone and helping put things back to right before realizing she had to head back to the cottage and let the others rest.

In a strange sense of deja vu, she discovered Fredrick on the porch talking with Vaughn when she arrived. Vaughn held something in his hand and had a serious look on his face. Once again, Kali drew to an abrupt stop inches away from the porch where Fredrick was standing.

Fredrick shot her an annoyed look. "Why don't you learn how to drive?"

"I think I drive fairly well. If I didn't, you wouldn't be standing there right now." Kali said as she jumped out of the jeep and walked onto the porch with the men.

"What's that?" Kali asked, looking at the document clutched in Vaughn's hand.

"It's a copy of your father's will," Vaughn answered honestly as he kept his eyes glued to Fredrick.

Kali wanted to ask if Vaughn had obtained the will earlier, but something held her back. She didn't want Fredrick to see an argument between them because she knew he would find a way to manipulate the situation to his benefit.

"I need some help putting the house back to rights," Fredrick told Vaughn.

"Sounds like a personal problem," Vaughn said in a disinterested voice.

Fredrick looked between him and Kali once more. "You two living here together isn't right," he insisted. "But I always knew that Kali was willing to do whatever it takes to keep the island." 

"I wasn't willing to do you," Kali said crassly, and took satisfaction in watching Fredrick turn beet red, either in embarrassment or anger. She wasn't sure which. 

 Then both she and Vaughn watched as he turned, muttering something under his breath and stormed off in the direction of the main house.

"How long have you had that?" Kali's voice was soft, almost afraid to ask the question.

"For all of ten minutes. Fredrick has had it the entire time."

"He said he didn't have a copy!" Kali shouted.

"Don't yell at me!" Vaughn shouted back. "He told me the same thing."

Kali looked at the will clutched in his hand. "What made him decide to own up to having it and give it to you?"

"I think he and his mother had a rough time of it last night, and they want out. I told him that I wouldn't make a deal until I saw the paperwork. He wasn't in a rush before, but now he is." Vaughn turned to face Kali and looked at her closed expression before holding out the will for her to take.

"I think you should have first crack at it," he insisted.

It wasn't what she had expected, and Kali looked at it, then at him. Now that the moment had come she was frightened about what was in it and didn't want to face it alone. 

"Let's go inside and read it together." She suggested. "That way, neither one of us has to wait, and we can reach a conclusion."

"A conclusion?" Vaughn asked.

"I think once we read it, we will know who is most likely to get the island. Don't you?" Kali waited breathlessly for him to respond. The more she got to know Vaughn and trust him, the less she wanted to fight for the island. Perhaps she had never really wanted the responsibility of it, she had only felt like she should, and her father knew that. 

"Yes, but does that mean that you're willing to part with it without a fight?"

Kali shrugged as she looked at the debris-covered yard. "Not necessarily, but I would rather you have it than Fredrick."

"Thank you for that," Vaughn said softly after a few moments of silence.

Kali nodded, then started to open the shutters on the cottage. Vaughn stuffed the will into his back pocket and started helping.

"How is everyone at the settlement?" he asked.

"Fine, but tired." Kali smiled. "There is a lot of debris on the road, and we need to work on getting it moved, but that's a problem for another day."

"Kali, about last night..."

"What about it?" She paused, hoping he wasn't about to say it shouldn't have happened.

"It was nice, and I would like to do it again."

Kali turned her back toward him and gave a little smile.

"I'd like that too." She admitted. Then she felt him close behind her, and she turned, leaning her head back to look at him.

"How about now?" he asked.

"Alright," she agreed. Then waited in anticipation as he placed his hand on the back of her neck and slowly lowered his lips to hers.

The world stood still, and she lost herself in his smell and taste.

"I want to go on record now, before anything changes, and say I want more," Vaughn said in a husky voice.

Kali nodded. It was something she wanted as well, and she knew that if they delayed it, they might always wonder whether the contents of the will had influenced either of them.

"Let's make a pact, here and now, that no matter what's in that will, what we feel now is genuine. I'm still working out some things in here," she pointed to her head, "so I'm not ready for more."

Vaughn nodded and stepped back, giving her space. "Should we eat first?"

"Sure," she agreed. She knew they were both putting off the inevitable, afraid that once they read what was in the will, everything would change between them, and it probably would.

They went into the house and made breakfast together creating another domesticated moment between then, as they discussed what needed to be done over the next few days to return the island to normal.

Then, when the dishes were done, and everything was cleaned up around and in the cottage, they sat at the table to read the will together.