Chapter Twenty One

Brand New Life

Duh...is anybody out there? Hello? I don't blame you if you got angry with me for not updating...I was gonna update over break, but then I kinda...didn't, because some family decided to surprise us with a visit, and my writing schedule kinda...vanished. Plus, I had writers block, and then I didn't know if I should have ended the story. But then I realized, I still have a lot more to this story!

Chelsea's POV

I kiss Vaughn, as I stand in the doorway half awake. Its four in the morning, but its a Wednesday, and I have to say goodbye to him before he leaves. He goes to the city every week to bring back animals for the island. I won't see him again until around noon tomorrow. I smile at him, placing his hat on top of his head.

"I love you." I say. Yes, I know how cheesy this is, but I'm still in the honeymoon stage. We both are. It feels like a movie. No, it feels like we're living the happily ever after they always talk about in the fairy tales.

"I love you too." He says in a deep voice. He pulls on his coat, and heads out the door. I watch him walk down the path, and when he leaves my sight, I walk back to bed. Its been a full season since we've been married. A wonderful season at that. Besides Wednesdays, I don't ever feel lonely. I hate being alone. When I wake up in the morning, he's there beside me. We would eat breakfast together, which is a new thing for me in general. Before, I would never really eat breakfast. Now Vaughn got me into the habit. Apparently, its really bad health wise to skip breakfast. I roll around under the sheets. I'm not tired. I open the curtains above the bed to the window, and see that its snowing. Snow is amazing. People have been asking me all my life why I love snow so much. Its because nothing that bad happened in the winter. It might sound crazy, but its true. My mom and I would have shouting matches, but they would usually take place in the summer, spring, and fall. Everything just felt good in the winter.

"Chelsea!" Natalie screams. I leap out of bed, freezing cold. I don't normally mind cold, but right now, I just want my warm blanket.

"What?" I yell to her. Yes, she still has a key to my house. She refused to give it back.

"Vaughn left the island, and we're, you, me, and Julia, are gonna spend the day together, wether you like it or not. I haven't seen you guys in forever!" She says, throwing clothes at me. I get changed, while Natalie yells stuff from outside the bathroom. She keeps talking about taking a walk, and grabbing lunch. Nothing too exciting. I walk out, and my stomach does a flip at Natalie's new perfume. I have a sudden urge to puke. Natalie quickly pushes me out the door before I can get a word in otherwise.

Times like this, I wish Vaughn never had to leave.

"Chelsea? You okay? You're looking a little green..." Natalie comments, as we walk off the ranch toward Julia's house.

"Just a little sick lately. I'll be fine." WIth my words, Natalie's eyes grow wide, and I can tell what she is thinking. I put my hand to my stomach and gulp, as I feel my cheeks turn pink. Natalie pulls my hand towards her house where she says her mom, an old hand at this sort of thing, can give us the truth or not.

Vaughn's POV

I walk onto the snow covered ship, barely seeing my way through the dark. I don't want to leave the island, but I have to transport animals. I can't let Chelsea bring home all the bacon. That was another thing my father taught me during his short time on earth. The man is supposed to breadwinner. I could never say this to Chelsea, proud as she is.

It's freezing outside, as I make my way inside of the ship. I tighten my grip around my black rucksack, as I sit on a bench. Its more crowded then usual. A little odd. I can't help but overhear a conversation that takes place on the other side of the tiny hallway, as I pretend to stare at painting of a man fishing on a lake. The ship's horn rings as it pulls away from the dock, taking me away from the island, and farther away from Chelsea.

"This ranch is supposed to be really something. I just hope the man in charge let's me do the interview next week." The one man said. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice he has a very...distinctive mustache. He looks like he's someone important in his red suit and blue tie. Let's not forget the hat. You can a tell a lot about a person by the way they wear a hat. And this guy, thinks he's something special. Not my favorite type of person. The man he's talking with looks like some type of doctor.

"I think I heard Claire say that the person in charge isn't a man, but a girl no more then twenty. I would expect Claire to know all about the latest in farming gossip." The doctor man said, sighing to himself.

"Now, now, Trent. Lighten up. There's still time for you and Claire. Let's get back to the matter at hand. What else do you know about this farm girl?"

"Other then what I overheard from the 'Claire and Elli gossip festival' I know nothing. The girl is in her late teens, and has a beautiful ranch."

The rest of their conversation bores me, so I lean my head back and I try to catch up on my sleep.

Chelsea's POV

I stare at Felicia, with my mouth hung open. Vaughn and I never even really discussed having kids. Now, its gonna happen wether we like it or not. Felicia chuckles at my surprise, while Natalie can only dance and sing 'I'm gonna be a godmother!'.

"Chelsea, close your mouth, or you'll catch flies." Taro comments. He turns the page in his newspaper. "I don't understand why you kids are so shocked. This was gonna happen sooner or later the way that cowboy looks at you!" The old man says. I gulp again, not really paying attention to anything around me.

"Father!" Felicia says to her outspoken father. He chuckles to himself, while he starts to loose himself in an article in the paper. Natalie goes into the other room where the family bookshelf is hidden, to write in her diary, I bet. She has this thing about marking down important stuff. Something Taro has been stuffing down my throat for the past two years.

I feel myself slump back into the chair. My mind can't help but wonder how Vaughn will take the news. I have a whole twenty four hours until I see him again.

"Thanks you guys." I say to Taro's family, standing up out of my chair. "I better get going." I add on, thinking about my hungry animals. I throw on my jacket which was sitting on the back of the chair.

"Bye sweetie! Call if you need anything!" Felicia calls after me. I shut the door behind me, and start walking towards my farm. Thoughts race across my mind. My mom was nothing like Felicia. Kind, caring, nurturing. More like, stubborn, cruel, selfish.

I swear to the Goddess herself I'll be better then my mom was to me and Cliff. I swear I'll never make my kid hate me. I swear...I swear...

I swear I'll try my best.

Wow. Short chapter, but I felt like it was better then nothing, after waiting all those months. I'm really trying to get back into the swing of FanFiction. Yaaay. Well, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. And I hope to update sooner!