Wow this chapter is really long. But you'll like it. I did it all for you, my darling readers! thank you so much for all the reviews! I've decided that I'll only post a chapter after I get at least five new reviews, when I have a chapter ready. So if we can all aim for 36 reviews, I'd love you all!

Side note: If you don't know what happens when a guy is turned on, 1) don't ask your parents, 2)you are older than 13 right? and 3)If you don't know, just wait. You'll figure it out eventually. ;)

Side note 2: Pay special attention to Vaughn's dream. It is important! Oh, and also pay attention to the part where Vaughn is talking to unconscious Chelsea. She can't hear him...right? *evil grin* ;)

Side note 3: I just want to thank everyone who is reviewing. I appreciate it SO much! And for all of you who just read and then don't post a comment...STOP BEING COWARDS! I DO NOT BITE!

Forgiveness

After a few minutes of waiting impatiently in the chair, I stand up and begin to pace. My feet trace the same path in the small hallway over and over again. People pass by me and give me funny looks, but I pay them no attention.

My pace becomes automatic after a while. Without a purpose or anything to do, my mind goes completely blank in worry. Was Chelsea okay? It shouldn't be taking this long. What would I do if she wasn't okay?

Someone taps me on the shoulder. It's one of the nurses. She pulls down a surgical mask and begins to speak in a kind voice. "Are you a relative?"

"Brother." I gruffly tell her. It was a lie, but I knew from experience that anyone other than family wasn't allowed in until a couple days after an accident.

The nurse looks skeptical, but she must have seen the worry on my face so she doesn't say anything. "She'll be fine. The cuts aren't deep and the bruises will heal. There is no internal bleeding and all of her organs are fine. She's under sedative right now, but she'll be waking up within the hour."

I sigh in relief and my shoulders drop like a weight had been lifted off. The nurse smiles and turns to go away but I grab her wrist.

"Wait." I reach into my pocket and pull out the piece of paper with Chelsea's parents address. "Please contact the police and tell them to arrest the husband and wife on charges of child abuse."

The nurse's eyes widen as she glances back into Chelsea's room in understanding. She asks for a description of the two people and I give it to them. Then she rushes off.

I take a deep breath. Chelsea was going to be fine and her parents would pay for what they did. My world seems a bit brighter.

As I watch Chelsea's room, the doctors slowly leave. The last one that comes out tells me I can go inside if I want.

I nod at him in appreciate. Then I slowly push the door open and walk inside.

The lights are dimmed down and the blinds are shut tightly. The room is plain and white. Kind of reminds me of my own apartment. Then I catch sight of Chelsea on the bed.

I swallow and walk over to her. As I do, I take off my hat and place it on the bedside table. She looked a lot better than before. Although she was mostly covered up by the blankets, I could tell that she'd had all her cuts stitched. Everything else just needed time.

Gently I smile at her. Then I pull up a chair and sit next to her. Chelsea looked so peaceful, like she didn't have a care in the world. It was a much better look on her than the complete fear I had seen on her face at her home.

I glance at her hand. The knuckles were scraped but were otherwise fine. Impulsively, I take her hand in my own and stroke it with my own fingers. Then I begin to talk to her.

"You shouldn't scare me like that." I whisper. "But I'm glad that you're going to be alright."

Was it just me, or did it look like she was smiling? I smile a bit myself and continue talking to her. It was nice to actually talk to her again, without the anger. Even if she was unconscious.

"I hate hospitals." I tell her. "They remind me of death. I've been to the emergency room twice before, and both times the person I was with died. I was scared I would lose you too."

I swallow. That had been my mom and Mirabelle's husband. He had died shortly after a car crash, just after they wheeled him into the emergency room. I'd been in the car too, but I only came out with a broken arm. My mom's disease had caused her a heart attack, and she only survived long enough to give me the ring, and then she died.

I run my thumb along her knuckles. "I'm so sorry about your parents. It was horrible what they did to you. When your mother answered the door, she tried to convince me she didn't know you." I chuckles softly. "I knew though. She has your eyes."

I don't say that Chelsea has her mother's eyes. It didn't seem right. "You won't have to deal with them ever again. I promise you. I'll never let them hurt you again." I whisper this, more to myself that to her.

But she seems happy. I don't think she can hear me, but maybe her subconscious understands the meaning behind the words. Either way, I was happy.

It was almost blissful, sitting there, just stroking her hand over and over. I could pretend that we had never fought. I could forget about my ex-girlfriend, and about her current boyfriend. In this little white room, it was just me and her. Together.

"I actually miss talking to you." I whisper to her. "Natalie is an okay friend, but she doesn't seem like she can really understand me."

I sigh gently. "Will doesn't really seem like your type. I'm sorry you thought I wanted you to be with him. When I said those things, I was just trying to get away to spare you from my sickness. I'd never told anyone about it, and I guess that was my downfall."

I rub her knuckles, and then bring them to my lips. Gently I kiss her scraped knuckles then bring her hand back to the bed, still in my hand. "I've still never told anyone the full extent of my disease. When we were in the barn two seasons ago in summer, when it hit me all I could think of was escape. My head was pounding so hard, and I couldn't think at all. At the time, I didn't even hear what I was saying. All I knew was that it would get me out of there. And as soon as I left I couldn't remember anything after talking to you and Will."

I take one of my hands and run it through my hair. Even though I was telling her this while she couldn't hear me, it made me feel better. "I'm sorry I never told you about my disease. If I ever get the chance to talk to you again after this fight, I'll tell you everything about it."

Then I sigh again. "And I'm sorry I couldn't say we were together. I really don't know if I'm ready for anything official. Sabrina really hurt me, and I'm just starting to get over it. But maybe. Maybe someday."

"Someday soon." I whisper, again more to myself that her. Impulsively I stand a bit to lean over and kiss her forehead.

"You're beautiful you know." I whisper in her ear lovingly.

Then I sit back down, still stroking her hand with my thumb. Time ticks by and I begin dreading the moment she was going to wake up. Would she be grateful? Or would she still hate me? Surely she couldn't still hate me after that…could she?

Suddenly she moves her head and groans. I let go of her hand, not wanting her to find me doing that. My face goes neutral after I struggle with it for a second. Then her eyes flicker open.

"Where…where am I?" She mutters as she sits up and rubs her eyes. The movement makes her suck in a breath sharply.

I stand and help her lie back down. "You're in the hospital Chelsea. You're going to ache for a while but you'll be okay."

She blinks her eyes like she doesn't understand. Then her eyes go wide and her hands flies to her mouth. Tears begin to leak out of her gorgeous blue eyes. "M-my p-parents! T-they t-tricked m-me."

Chelsea then commences to burst into sobs. I sit down on her bed and hold her close in my arms. She sobs loudly into my shoulder as she chokes out words to explain.

Overall, I catch the gist of it. Apparently, a day or two after she ate dinner with Will she got a telegram saying her mother was sick, and that they wanted her at home. Chelsea had been ecstatic; her parents were finally going to accept her! So she quickly packed her bags, and left after asking Julia to watch her farm.

Apparently, when she got there her father opened the door and led her to her old bedroom. Then he wacked the back of her head and she fell unconscious. She woke up hours later, tied up in a chair and gagged with the duck tape. Every single day, her parents would come yell at her, beat her and cut her. Then they would take the tape off her mouth, push food in, put the tape back on, and then leave for supper. And it began all over again the next day.

The story makes me even angrier. I hope they have to rot in jail for the rest of their lives! But I would never let Chelsea see them again. The doctors had taken pictures of her state; that should be enough for a court to convict them. If need, they would have my testimony and that of the cab drivers, but I wouldn't ever let Chelsea near them again. So help me god.

Chelsea sniffles after she's done crying. Then she leans back and I help her lie down again. Afterwards, I get up and retrieve a cloth from the bathroom. I wet the cloth, and go back to the bed. Gently I press the cloth against her face to wipe away the tears.

I get up again and put the cloth back in the bathroom sink to sit in some water. Then I walk back and sit back down in the chair, not wanting to crowd her by sitting on the bed.

She turns her head to look at me. "You saved me. After everything mean I said to you."

I give her a small smile. "We can't stay mad forever. And I could never let anyone hurt you."

Her cheeks blush a slight rosy colour, and I'm glad that she wasn't still mad at me. "We're actually going to have to leave here soon, since you're awake and no longer need dire medical attention."

Her eyebrows crease. "I have nowhere to stay. I had no money on my person. And my suitcase is still at the house."

I shake my head and point to her suitcase on the ground. "I brought it. But you're going to stay at my apartment."

The words are out before I even think about saying them. Her eyes widen a bit and her face deepens in complexion. I suppose mine does the same too, because I can feel my face flushed with heat.

"We'll go back to the island tomorrow." I grunt at her.

"Thank you Vaughn." She smiles at me, the smile that I loved. The one that seemed to melt my heart.

At that exact moment, the same nurse enters the room and beckons to me. I rise and walk over to her. She gives me a slight smile. "The parents were still at the house and are now in custody."

I sigh in relief and give her a smile. "Thank you." And I meant it.

"But you do need to leave now." She says. "You have somewhere to go?" I nod and she nods back. Then she takes her leave.

I walk back to Chelsea. She doesn't ask what the nurse said, but I help her get up. Her clothes were in tatters, and I make a note to myself to get her into some other ones.

Her arm is around my neck and my hand is on her waist to help her walk. Then I remember her hair. Without a second thought, I take my hat off of the table and put it on her head.

She grimaces. "My hair's that bad?"

I don't answer. She would see for herself soon enough. Then I pick up her suitcase and we walk out of the room.

It's slow work, walking with her like this. But I don't mind. Actually, it sickens me to admit that I loved it. I loved being able to touch her, and have her touching me. More than once I have to push away fantasies of me making a move on her.

Finally we get to the sidewalk and I hail a taxi. We get in slowly, but the driver doesn't seem to mind. I'm surprised to note it's the same guy that took us to the hospital.

"Feeling better young lady?" The guy asks Chelsea.

She smiles and laughs once she's in the car. "Well I wouldn't say no to some painkiller, but I'm better than before."

He nods. "Well that's good." Then he turns to me. "It's a right good thing you did."

My face turns red and for a second I wish I had my hat so I could cover my face. But the driver turns around quickly and begins to drive after I give him the address of my apartment.

Chelsea sighs and leans back in the seat in exhaustion. I could quite well imagine that she was tired. Over a week of that and anyone would be tired. Actually, I was feeling a little tired too. Mmhmm…weird.

After a while we reach the area of my apartment. I pay the driver and he gives me a smile as we get out.

It's dark now, being around eight in the evening by now. What an eventful three hours. I hear a noise in the distance and I check my boot to make sure my knife was still there. It was.

Chelsea wraps her arm around my neck and moves closer than she was before. I notice her eyes dart around and she was slightly sweating.

"Bad neighborhood?" She asks.

I grunt as an answer. I don't know if I could manage on actual answer. Her touch made me feel slightly weak at the knees.

I grip her around the waist as we head done the dank alley to reach my apartment. I had finally paid the lady renting it to me, so she was off my case for a while.

We both jump at every little sound. I'm jumping because she's jumping. Thankfully, I don't jump very much; just little flinches, so she doesn't notice.

Finally we reach my apartment, and I realize with a start that I had forgotten to lock the door in my haste to go find Chelsea. I hope nothing was broken or stolen.

I guide her inside and take a quick look around. Thankfully, it was still fine. It hadn't been broken into. After letting out a sigh of relief, I lock the door behind me.

I let go of Chelsea as she stands there looking at my apartment. I place her suitcase on the table and then turn around to look at her.

"You're going to have to change out of that." I tell her gruffly.

She looks down at herself and then looks at me in dismay. "They're ruined." She whines. "This was my favourite outfit!"

I can't help but chuckle. When she gives me a questioning look, I explain. "Aren't all your clothes the same?"

She smiles and laughs. "Shut up."

I couldn't help but stare at her. Her skin was still bruised and cut, but with a smile on her face, and my hat on her head she looked…well…like an angel or something.

Quickly I turn around to avoid her gaze. My hat looked really good on her actually. A whole lot better than it looked on me actually.

She comes over to me and opens the suitcase. Then she takes out some clothes that vaguely look like pajamas. It's obvious that every movement is causing her pain.

"You want some help?" I offer before I realize what exactly I was offering to help with.

She gives me a look and then my face turns a deep red that would rival a tomato. I hadn't meant it like that; it's just that I wanted her to feel as little pain as possible.

"No, I can get changed by myself." She tells me and I notice she's blushing too.

I keep my eyes on anything but her. Then I point at the bedroom. "You can sleep in the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You don't want the bed?" She asks.

"Naw, the couch actually opens into a bed, so I'll be okay. Besides, I don't go in the bedroom anymore." I sigh and then whisper to myself. "I haven't for six years."

She pats my arm, and even if she doesn't know exactly, it's extremely comforting. Then she takes her clothes and goes into the room, closing the door behind her.

I smile slightly as I get ready for bed as well. First I call Mirabelle and Julia. They don't pick up, so I leave a message saying that Chelsea was alright and that we would be at the island tomorrow.

After that, I undress and throw everything but my boxers into the laundry. Those I was wearing to bed, like I did every night. Finally I drink a warm glass of milk and then fall asleep on the couch.

I blink my eyes in the harsh sunlight. Icy cold water laps onto my bare feet. Sand warm from the sun's rays oozes between my toes and I realize I'm on the beach.

Then someone jumps on my back, and I turn my head slightly to see brown hair flowing over my shoulder and happy blue eyes looking up into mine. Chelsea laughs and hugs me around my neck.

I laugh along with her. She climbs off my back and I see that she's adorned with a stunning blue bikini that really brought out the colour of her eyes. A glance down at myself shows that I'm in black swim trunks.

I look back at Chelsea and she's teasing me with my hat. With a grin on my face, I chase after her as we run around the beach. Sand flies into my eyes from her steps, but I don't care.

Finally I catch her by wrapping my arms around her stomach. She laughs and breaths hard from the sprint. Then she turns in my arms, which catches me off guard and we fall to the sandy beach.

I land on top of her, but neither of us minds. My head tilts down and kisses her quickly on the lips, and then I jump up with my hat in my hand.

She cries foul play and runs after me. I'm laughing as she tries unsuccessfully to catch me. Finally she gives up and sits down on the sand, with a pout on her face.

I smile and walk over to her, my hat now on my head. Gently I wrap my hands around her. She felt smooth and so alive. It made me tingle all over.

Out of nowhere she reaches up, grabs my hat and then sprints away, crying victory. I chase her to the bridge, prepared to knock her into the water and kiss her there.

She gives me a sly smile. Abruptly, the sky darkens.

Oh no. Not now! Please not again! I feel my conscious self scream at my dream self. My dream self can't hear though.

Rain begins pouring down like there's no tomorrow. Winds pick up faster than a twister and the ocean thrashes around with a mind of its own.

Chelsea gives me one look of absolute horror before a sudden swell comes up and claims her. She was gone; like she'd never even been there.

A strange animal like sound comes from the back of my throat. Without any regard for my own safety, I dive into the ocean and plunge into its depths to retrieve my stolen treasure.

I can't see anything in the dark water. Everything is darker than the night sky as I dive deep and deeper. My lungs burn as I attempt to hold in as much air as possible.

Then I catch sight of her. Chelsea. She was unconscious and falling deeper. Desperately, I swim as fast as I can for her.

But no matter how fast I swim I can't catch her. A cry burns my throat and small whimpers come out of my mouth. My hands clench and unclench, even though I know it does no good. I try swimming one way, and then another, but to no avail.

My lungs are burning as I cry out over and over. I could feel myself sweating even though I was underwater. Suddenly the scene begins to faze between this one and another.

In one scene I'm still swimming as fast as I can for Chelsea. In the other, I'm lying on my couch in my apartment. In the second scene, my face is contorted in pain. I'm drenched in a cold sweat, and my eyes are closed tightly. My fists clutch at the blanket and my legs are all twisted around in it. A quiet whimper is continuously coming from my mouth, and every so often a louder cry would burst out.

A small part of the back of my mind wonders at this. So that was how I looked when I was having a nightmare. It's a good thing Denny only caught the end of one of the better ones; it was scary to watch.

Abruptly, that scene vanishes. I'm plunged back into the ocean, but now Chelsea is closer than before. I reach out a hand and grasp hers.

With barely any air left, I kick my way to the surface; dragging Chelsea along for the ride. After what seems like an eternity, we break the surface.

She begins gasping for air, like I am, the minute the cold air hits her. The storm is now gone, and in its place is a calm serenity. I grab her and swim back to the dock.

We clamber up on the dock while we both choke up water. As soon as we can both breathe, we just sit there and look at each other.

Then she moves a little closer to me, and reaches out a hand to stroke my face. "Thank you. Again."

Again? What did she mean again? Dream Chelsea should only know about this scene! My conscious mind yells at me. It's silenced a moment later.

Chelsea leans over and kisses me tenderly on the lips. It was sweet, so like her. A shiver goes through my body. She was making me want to do more than just kiss her.

But my conscious keeps bugging me. Why does that feel different? When you kissed her in the dream earlier, it wasn't like this at all!

I push the thought away. I was enjoying this too much. Then she breaks off and wraps her arms around me. I wrap mine around her contently, and sigh into her waterfall scented hair.

The scene fades around me, so that I fall into a blissful, dream-free sleep.

When I wake up, I smile lightly to myself. That had been an amazing dream; after the scary part where I almost lost Chelsea anyway. I sigh in happiness and wrap my arm tighter around the person beside me.

What? Person beside me? What the hell…?

I keep my breathing normal, and pretend that I'm still asleep. Cautiously I open one of my eyes, just a slit, and I nearly jolt off the couch in surprise. Fortunately, I don't move a muscle.

In my arms, with her wrapped tightly around me, was Chelsea. Her head rested against my chest, and my chin rested on the top of her head. She was adorned in a flimsy pajama outfit that seemed to be made of silk, like my boxers. But the outfit was slightly lacey, and looked like something you would find at Victoria Secret.

My face was surely the colour of a tomato by now. Then she takes a deep breath in, and I'm notified that her chest was pressed tight against mine. Now all the tomatoes were jealous of my colour.

It takes all my concentration, which is not much at this point, just to stop hyperventilating. It wasn't that I hated it, completely the opposite. She felt so good next to me. I was completely caught in her scent and the way she felt against me. It was like having a slice of heaven here in my arms; only better.

She moves slightly, and I'm horrified to notice that I'm turned on. I hadn't been turned on by a girl in years! Okay, now I was officially freaking out. Hopefully I could get her off of me, without her noticing.

Chelsea moves slightly again, and I realize that she's been awake for a while now. I grunt at her. "Do you always crawl into other people's beds?"

She shakes her head against my chest. "No, it's just that-" Chelsea stops in the middle of her sentence and stares at me with wide eyes. I grimace as she shoots off the couch like a rocket launcher into a chair on the other side of the room. I guess she noticed I was turned on.

"Just what?" I growl at her, trying to pretend that I hadn't been so turned on by her.

She swallows and averts her eyes from me. "I couldn't sleep. I got up to get a glass of warm milk to make me a little sleepier. But when I went in the kitchen I heard a noise."

My face goes deadly pale. Please tell me she didn't see me while I was having a nightmare. "What noise?" I growl, but my voice had fear in it.

"It was coming from in here." She motions to the living room we're in. "From the couch. You were making this whimpering noise and every so often you would cry out in pain. You were sweating like crazy and were thrashing around, clutching at the blankets."

My face would have rivaled a ghost. I look away from her as I get up off the couch and head to the kitchen. Chelsea follows me after a minute.

She sits down on a stool as I do anything to busy my hands. Prepare coffee, make breakfast, wash my hands; anything that will hide my shaking.

"You were having a nightmare, weren't you?" She whispers. I nod curtly as I pop my normal pills, and adding a couple Advil with it.

She whispers again, this time her voice softer. "You did calm down when I came over though."

I think back to my dream. When the scene of myself on the bed had faded, I had rescued Chelsea from the water. Had my conscious mind been trying to tell me Chelsea was beside me?

Chelsea's speaking again. "I was scared you might start freaking again if I left."

I sigh and whisper. "I probably would have."

She gives a look that appeared to be full of longing. "Do you dream often?"

"Every night." Unfortunately. And you're the star every time, because I can't get you off my damn mind! How's that for creeper status?

"Why?" She asks.

I take a deep breath, as I our two cups of coffee. "It's part of my disease. The part that isn't curable with the pills. I've had nightmares every single night of my life ever since my mom died." Which is also when I started to hate life.

'I'm sorry Vaughn." Chelsea says to me, her voice kind.

I grunt. I was so confused. Why was she so happy around me? She WAS still dating Will, as much as I hate to admit it. "Next time, leave me alone okay? You don't have to deal with that."

"I don't think I could." Her words are barely above a whisper. "You looked awful…like you were about to lose the most important thing in your life. And you looked scared. I couldn't leave you like that."

I nod and hand her one of the cups of coffee. When I turn to look at her though, my eyes can't leave her. A couple of her bruises are beginning to disappear, and the cuts would take a little longer to heal. But that outfit she was wearing…it was just so different from her normal clothing, I would never have expected Chelsea would go to sleep in something so girly. The short silk shorts hugged her waist, and the silk top clung to her body delicately and slightly showed her-

What was I doing? I was most certainly NOT just checking her out, no siree. But I glance back at her to find her checking me out too. Suddenly I feel way too exposed in just my boxers; funny, I hadn't felt this way when just about the entire town saw. Just when Chelsea was checking me out in them.

I meet her eyes and we both turn at the same time. She begins stammering. "I-I b-b-better go get d-dressed n-now." Quickly she flees the kitchen and my bedroom door slams shut.

I grimace and hit my head against the wall. It hurts for a second and makes a loud noise, but Chelsea doesn't come out. I plop myself down on the other stool.

I put my head in my hands and just sit there for a couple minutes. Then I look up and glance at my reflection in the kitchen mirror.

"What am I getting myself into?"

Just as a note, I got the ending idea from a story called Love and Hate by Compgirl21. I apoligize to Compgirl21 for taking a little of this scene and I apoligize if the words are slightly the same. I declare to all that you are the brain behind the dear exchange between Chelsea and Vaughn at the end. Please contact me if you have issues. I will bake you cookies if you require. :)

Btw, is anyone noticing how much Advil Vaughn is taking? Is something else wrong with him? Review to find out!