a/n I'm back! Ok so nobody knows who I am because this story only got like 10 reads the first time I put it up- but whatever, I'm excited to be back writing fanfiction. I first published the first couple of chapters of this fic 2 years ago or so, then forgot the password to my account /facepalm/ so if you've already seen this fic before that's why. I started writing this a couple of years ago and gave up and it, and came back to it later, that's why there are some differences (e.g the way I change from quotation marks to speech marks half way though, whoops!) Anyway, hope you enjoy the story! :)

While it may be true that Vaughn was not the best at communicating his feelings, he had a lot of feelings. People who didn't know him thought of him as intimidating and emotionless, his two days a week boss, Mirabelle, thought of him as misunderstood. But of course, all that really matters is what he thought of himself.

To himself: he was an animal lover, a hopeless romantic, and even a world famous rock star when it was 5am and he was taking his morning shower.

Vaughn never really cared much about what other people thought of him. Sure, he cared about what his mother must have thought of him when he was suspended from school for fighting. He cared about what his brother must have thought of him when he told him he hated him for moving to the countryside. But in the grand scheme of things, did it honestly matter? How was he supposed to live a happy, fulfilled life if his every decision was made so other people would judge him as what they perceived to be a 'good' man? Vaughn knew that he had qualities that were both good and bad, but despite all his bad qualities, he judged that he was a good man.

Fair enough, he was Judgemental, impatient and oblivious to other people's emotions. He was also passionate, determined and sometimes, selfless: only sometimes though.

For being somebody who hated judgement- he sure was judgemental.Hypocritical he thought, he could add that one to the list.

Vaughn wasn't too upset about the fact his good qualities were often outshone by his bad ones. In fact, he was pleased. He just didn't particularly like people, if people tried to socialize with him, his instant reaction was rudeness; and he wasn't a boy anymore so rudeness was not excusable.

He tapped his heel against the wooden deck of the boat waiting for the journey to the island his job required him to visit two days a week to finish. As the clean country breeze filled his lungs, he smiled in content, happy to be free of the factories and smog that plagued the world he was used to. Coming to the island every week was bittersweet. Bitter because the island was so darn small, he couldn't possibly get a second alone and sweet because no matter how alone he was, he longed for the fresh air and the feeling of joy only animals could bring him.

On the horizon, he saw his destination. He picked up his bag and mentally prepared himself for the hug that Mirabelle was sure to smother him with when he arrived. Mirabelle was the only person who was consistently nice to Vaughn; he had sworn to himself that he would never let her past his cold glare but she had persisted and eventually he had relented and told her all about his many struggles and troubles over several cups of tea on a late night.

She had listened, that was the thing that had really surprised Vaughn. Unlike his own mother, Mirabelle had listened to him and she had given him advice and she had laughed at his painfully un-funny jokes to make him feel good. She, in return to his admissions, had told him all about her struggles and troubles too.

When he saw her smiling face beaming at him from the beach, he just couldn't help but smile back at her.

As soon as his tired feet finally hit the sand, Mirabelle swept him up in a hug.

'Oh, I swear you've gotten taller since I last saw you. Have you gotten taller since then?' Mirabelle asked in a rush

'It was only last week; you act as if I've been gone for months' Vaughn replied, teasingly

Vaughn heard a quiet giggle come from behind Mirabelle and froze. The only person it could have been was Mirabelle's daughter, Julia; but Julia should have been working in Mirabelle's pet store today.

He looked behind Mirabelle, and found a girl he'd never seen before looking at him. He froze embarrassed at the fact this stranger had just witnessed his open affection for his boss.

No, let her think what she wants. She can only judge me if I let her He thought to himself, straightening himself up

He fixed his usual glare on his face and started straight back at the girl. Red coloured her previously pale face and she stared intently at the ground, intimidated.

Her appearance seemed straight out of a teen fiction novel. Almost pure-white skin, almost blonde hair and eyes you could almost get lost in; if they were the only eyes around. Everything about her was just 'almost'. If her life really was a teen fiction novel, this would be the part of the story where they gazed into each other's eyes and sailed off into the sunset.

Sadly, this was not her teen fiction. This was Vaughn's life.

Vaughn wasn't interested in 'almost' Vaughn was interested in 'perfect', but then again, he thought bitterly to himself, who was he to judge?

'Vaughn' Mirabelle hissed quietly

His full attention turned back to Mirabelle and he realized he was being rude again. He begrudgingly dropped the glare.

'This is Chelsea' Mirabelle said, raising her voice slightly so the girl- Chelsea could hear 'She's the island's new rancher'

Chelsea, nodded to Vaughn nervously

'Hello' she said

'Vaughn' He said to her, sticking his hand out so she could shake it

'Chelsea' she replied, nervously accepting Vaughn's handshake

Vaughn had to resist reminding her that he already knew her name as Mirabelle had just introduced her; so he just nodded in response.

'Talkative bunch you two are' Mirabelle chuckled

Chelsea chuckled out of politeness, it was clear to Vaughn that she was uncomfortable meeting new people, or it may have just been the fact that he had glared her after no more than 5 seconds of learning of her existence when she hadn't really done anything to offend him.

Vaughn begrudgingly gave her a tight lipped smile that indicated he didn't really care for her company so far. To be fair though, he rarely cared for anybody's company.

Mirabelle turned to Vaughn

'Let's get home' she said warmly

Vaughn almost smiled at the way Mirabelle refused to refer to her home as 'My house' when speaking to Vaughn. It was only ever 'home' like it was his home as well. Mirabelle and Julia were the first people to ever make Vaughn feel like he had belonged somewhere. Never once had he felt remotely 'at home' growing up under his mother's roof. His city apartment didn't even feel like a home to him; just somewhere he ate and slept sometimes.

Mirabelle now turned to Chelsea

'You're welcome to join us too, Chelsea' Mirabelle said warmly to the rancher

Chelsea's eyes widened. She looked at Vaughn, then back to Mirabelle as if to say 'are you sure he'll be okay with that?'

Vaughn, having had enough of feeling like the newest antagonist in Chelsea's teen fiction life, picked up his bag and began walking back to Mirabelle's pet store.

Home.