Sorry! A whole week's wait for this one, and I'm on summer vacation! How weird, eh? Well, this one is a turning-point in the story. I do hope you enjoy it. Oh, and, by the way, my keyboard sometimes doesn't pick up when I type a letter (especially "w"), so if there's a ord that makes no sense or isn't spelled correctly, it's my lack-of-editing and my keyboard's fault! :3

I don't own Harvest Moon~

Enjoy, and thanks so much for your wonderful reviews! :D

The bright autumn moon was climbing its way higher and higher into the dark sky. Vaughn glanced up at it as he inspected the new bridge over in West Town, the moon illuminating everything with a pale glow. He looked across the bridge, seeing nothing but thick trees. The moon couldn't light the path through the leaves, so he decided to head back to Mirabelle's and check the jungle out some other time. It wasn't that important, he thought, turning to leave.

That was when a chilling scream met his ears, sending a shiver down his spine. He felt a faint recognition—he knew that voice. He glanced back over his shoulder in the direction the sound had come. Shaking his head, he took off over the bridge, cursing his damn conscience all the way.

He jumped over a few boulders and weaved through some trees, hoping he'd remember his way back. He saw a clearing up ahead, where the moon could shine all the way to the jungle floor. He could make out a shadow…

He slowed down to a walk as he entered the small, tree-less area, scanning all around him. His eyes fell on none other than Chelsea… out cold. With a knife held to her throat. In the arms of some freaky-looking native.

"Hey," Vaughn growled at the man, "What the hell do you think you're doin'?"

The man looked at him and frowned innocently. "Shea hungry, so I get food."

Vaughn narrowed his eyes skeptically. "You're gonna eat her?"

Shea nodded, confused. "Yes… Is it no good for eating?"

"No," Vaughn sighed in frustration, bringing a gloved hand up to rub his forehead, "You don't eat girls, kid."

"Girl?" Shea repeated, frowning at the foreign word. "What's that?"

"Girls are," Vaughn paused, thinking, "Y'know… Like us, but more… insane."

"Girls good?"

"Yes. Girls're good. Just not for eating."

Chelsea stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. Vaughn watched in mild amusement as confusion washed over her face, then recognition, then horror. She wiggled under Shea's grip, trying to get free. He let her go immediately and she dropped to her knees. Without wasting a moment, she scrambled up and ran behind Vaughn, clutching his vest tightly in her shaking hands. Vaughn glanced at her over his shoulder, surprised. She had her eyes shut tightly, trusting that he would protect her. With a sigh, Vaughn rolled his eyes and turned around, pulling Chelsea's hands off his back. He set his hands on her shoulders and silently guided her out of the clearing and into the darkness. Her trembling didn't stop until they were almost at her farmhouse.

Vaughn brought her up to her doorway and took his hands off her shoulders. He turned to leave, but Chelsea turned around and caught his wrist. He looked back at her nervously, not knowing what she could possibly want to say. She met his gaze, her eyes spilling tears down her dirty face. She took a shaky breath and flung herself at Vaughn, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He stumbled back, shocked. She buried her head in his chest.

"Thank you," she mumbled, "You saved me… again."

Vaughn could feel his face heat up. His heart was going a mile a minute. He really wanted to leave… but, at the same time, he didn't. That just made him very confused. He glanced around, looking anywhere but down at the annoyingly adorable girl clinging to him. Hold on—adorable? Goddess help him, he was losing his mind! Now he wasn't just nervous, uncomfortable, and confused—he was panicked. He slowly reached around his back and peeled Chelsea's small hands away from him. Once he was freed, he took a step back, for safety reasons. Chelsea studied the ground for a moment, and Vaughn was afraid he'd made her cry or something—which was weird, because he never gave a crap about anybody, ever—but then she looked up at him. She was smiling at him—he was almost getting dizzy from all the blood rushing up to his face.

He finally got a hold of himself and tipped his hat to her before getting the hell off that crazy farm.

Ooo

Vaughn's Thursday was spent doing as much work as Mirabelle would let him and then avoiding that damn, insanity-inducing farmer. He really did not want to deal with her. He never did, really, but he especially didn't after what had happened the previous night. He wanted to go back to being able to live weeks at a time before anything of importance came into his head. He wanted to go back to not feeling anything. He wanted… Goddess, he didn't know what he wanted—nothing seemed very appealing at the moment.

"Vaughn, dear, why don't you take the rest of the day off?" Mirabelle asked from behind the counter, "You've already done more than necessary, and you must have some things you want to do on the island before your ship comes in."

Julia laughed from the kitchen. "Ma, he's avoiding someone. Can't you tell?"

Vaughn scowled at the blonde, who smirked back at him. Mirabelle looked quizzically at the cowboy. "Vaughn? Did something happen?"

Sighing in frustration, Vaughn brought his fingers up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "No ma'am."

Frowning, Mirabelle walked over to him. "You know you can talk to me, right, dear?"

Vaughn could have laughed humorlessly at the woman. Really, he could have. What did she know? He couldn't tell her anything. That was a fact. She didn't want to hear it—no one ever did. He'd accepted that a long time ago. He didn't ask for anything more. He'd been able to have it all bottled up inside him for all these years, and he wasn't planning on pouring it out any time soon.

"…Yeah," Vaughn replied, his face stoic. Mirabelle smiled, but she was still worried about him; he could tell. A cool, late-autumn breeze blew in through the window, and Vaughn saw that the sun was already setting. He briefly nodded his goodbyes and grabbed is small pack, headed for the beach to wait for his boat.

Ooo

Chelsea stood on the beach, her boots in her hand, the water coming up and tickling her toes. She looked up and felt the cool ocean air wash her face. She looked out at the reddening sky over the dark blue sea, smiling slightly. She missed home more than anything, but being here on the beach… it was just like back in Mineral town. The wind blew by again and she laughed as the tide came in some, covering her feet. Her bare legs were sticky from the salty air, and her hair as tangled from the breeze. She saw a ship approaching on the horizon, and then, as if on cue, a pair of footsteps in the sand could be heard behind her. She smirked as their owner hesitated, but reluctantly came up to a stop nearby. Chelsea looked over at him, only slightly embarrassed at her actions from the night before. She figured that what was done was done, and whatever happened, happened.

"Hey," she nodded, still watching the ship grow in the distance.

Vaughn made no answer. He simply stood, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Chelsea kept her soft smile.

"I like to feel the sand beneath my feet," Chelsea said, wiggling her toes, "It reminds me of home."

Vaughn still didn't say anything. Chelsea continued, laughing slightly.

"I don't really know what I'm doing here. I'm not fooling anyone."

Vaughn turned to look at her full-on at this statement. Her eyes were distant, her smile melancholy. She didn't turn her head to look at him. He didn't have anything to say. After several minutes, Vaughn's ship was at the dock. He picked up his bag and slowly started down the dock. Chelsea stared after him.

"Sorry about last night," she said, making him stop, "and I hope you have a safe trip."

Vaughn turned his head and tipped his hat over his shoulder, and then boarded the ship. She stayed on the beach for a long while after that, watching his boat disappear and seeing the stars appear. She didn't leave until her feet were numb and the moon had been hung up in the sky, lighting the pathway home.

Tsk, tsk. Looks like Chelsea's feeling a bit nostalgic. And emo. Ahahaha, I hope she feels better soon :P

Review with your comments on Vaughn's mental health, please! :D