CHAPTER STATS
Word Count (Excluding A/N): 1414
Date Updated: 3/27/18
Current Review Count: 948
The air smelled like damp earth as the sun crawled its way into the sky. The island was always so peaceful in those moments just before dawn. Later, when the villagers came out, their conversation and laughter would set a warm, humming blanket over the island. The sun would come up and shine brightly, adding its own warmth to the mix. The name Sunny Island was almost too appropriate.
Vaughn watched the gray sky turn into a muted pink as light broke through from behind the nearby mountain. He used to hate this place. As he took another deep breath of that cool, damp morning air, he turned his gaze onto the fields of freshly-tilled soil around him. He couldn't believe how free he felt here, now, in the same place that a year ago felt suffocating. That warm blanket that used to smother him now felt like a comfortable embrace. It was damn nice.
Vaughn's reverie broke as the door to the farmhouse creaked open behind him. He didn't turn around, knowing that she preferred to "surprise" him with a hug from behind. Sure enough, he soon felt two thin arms snake around his torso, pulling him back into her. He felt her bury her face into his back, not even bothering to stifle the yawn at her lips.
He turned around to face her, careful not to break circle her arms had made. He pulled off one of his gloved and set his bare hand on the top of her head gently. He loved when she wasn't wearing her bandana. This was when he could feel her hair under his calloused fingers—how soft and fine the copper strands were.
She loved when he played with her hair. When she was little, her mom would brush her hair for her at night before bed. Those moments, often filled with laughter and conversation, sometimes blissfully silent, were memories that she cherished. When Vaughn ran his fingers through her hair, tickling her scalp, she felt so soothed and so comforted—like she was a little girl, home again at last. Only now, with Vaughn, it felt a little bit different. It felt like it was only the beginning, like there was more of something to come. It was both calming and exhilarating all at once.
Looking up at him, she met his gaze. His eyes were such a deep purple—a stark contrast with the pastel hues of the morning. His expression softened slightly and his mouth twitched up in a half-smile. Her heart fluttered.
She would never get tired of seeing that smile.
Ooo
"Damn it, Kai! Still nothing?"
Kai raised his hands out in front of him, shrugging sheepishly as he shrunk back behind the counter in his snack shack. Gray hadn't had the most patience these last several days in waiting to hear back from Dan in Flower Bud.
"Hey, man, I'm sorry," Kai said, putting his hands back down. "Dan has always been a bit of a free spirit."
"You mean a Goddess damned flake," Gray scowled, turning his steely gaze at the sandy floors.
"Easy," Kai laughed loudly, hitting his hand on the countertop. "Sheesh, Gray. I haven't seen you this grumpy in years! It's just like old times. Remember sharing a room at the Inn?"
Gray rolled his eyes and pulled his hat down to cover his irritation. Kai was looking wistfully at him with that stupid grin. He heaved a sigh and muttered, "Shut up."
"Those were the days," Kai continued, ignoring Gray's deepening scowl. "Back before Popuri and I were serious. Back before Claire even moved here. It feels like an eternity ago, doesn't it?"
"You're just trying to distract me," Gray hissed, although his anger had cooled substantially. "Look—I'm sorry for snapping. It's just—"
"I understand," Kai said with a wink. "Dan has always been a flake."
Ooo
Claire stood at the window in their living room, looking out at her farm. The sky was finally bright after a cloudy early morning. Her animals were grazing happily in the field and her seeds, planted in neat rows, were all watered and ready for the new season. She sighed as her gaze landed on the apple tree. If she closed her eyes, she could see Chelsea, eight years old, climbing up one branch too high. Gray would burst out of the barn, shouting at her to come down because it was too dangerous. She'd retreat back down and hop off the lowest branch into his arms.
A stray tear fell to the floor beneath her.
"Claire," Gray's gruff voice cut in from behind her, "ready to head out?"
Claire nodded, straightening up. She put her shoulders back and wiped at her eyes. Today, they headed to Forget-Me-Not—together. They were going to find Vaughn and they were going to get some answers.
She was going to see her baby again.
Ooo
"Chelsea, hey!"
Chelsea put down her bag of seeds and looked up towards the source of the familiar voice. She smiled and waved her dirty hand enthusiastically. "Julia—hi!"
The blonde hurried over to where Chelsea was kneeling, offering a hand to help her up. Chelsea waved her off, nodding to the dirt all over her hands and arms. Julia wished she'd accepted—it was hard watching Chelsea struggle to stand up, her legs barely holding her up. Even though the week or so had been great—Chelsea had been so happy, and she had plenty of help on the farm—she still hadn't regained a lot of her strength. Julia gave Chelsea's shoulder a gentle punch. "So how's my favorite farmer holding up? Got your eyes glued to your new field hand?"
Chelsea flushed as the two ladies turned their gazes to Vaughn, who was on the far side of the field, using an old ax to clear out a stubborn tree stump. He had discarded his button-down, bandana, and belt long ago due to the remnants of summertime heat. This left him in his undershirt, which was showing some signs of sweat. Both of them couldn't help but notice how this made the fabric cling to his back, giving a relatively detailed outline of his strong shoulder blades with every swing of the ax.
Vaughn stopped suddenly and turned to look in their direction, sending the two of them embarrassedly averting their eyes.
"I can't say I blame you," Julia said, snickering at Chelsea's red face—and trying to ignore the blush on her own cheeks.
Chelsea swatted playfully at Julia. "Please! He's being really sweet helping me out so much."
"Yeah, Ma's been complaining about how she has to feed the chickens herself these days," Julia said with a laugh. "He really only shows up to sleep. First thing in the morning he's barely said two words before he's coming up here, and it seems like he doesn't come back in until after sunset. Is he here all that time?"
Chelsea shrugged, smiling slightly. "Mostly, I guess. There's been so much to do with the change of seasons—and I finally had a good harvest, you know, so he really helped me get all my crops shipped. And now with Fall starting, I'm thinking we can get an even bigger crop, but I can't do it all myself, so—"
A cough cut her off, rising unexpectedly from her chest. Julia cringed at the deep, rattling kind of sound coming from her friend.
This wasn't new. Chelsea had had a cough since she was caught out in that storm. It seemed like she just couldn't shake it. She was right when she said she couldn't do it all herself. Without Vaughn—or anyone else—Chelsea would be out of commission for the Fall, barely able to tend to enough crops to break even for the season, let alone prepare for the Winter. Julia pursed her lips in concern.
"Do you know when he's headed back?"
Chelsea wiped at her chin with the back of her hand, shrugging slightly. "He hasn't said. Probably soon, I'd imagine. He's been here for, what? An entire week now? Longer?"
Julia shrugged back. "Are you okay with him leaving?"
Chelsea smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "What do you mean? He always leaves."
"I guess you're right," Julia said, nodding. "But after this last time—"
"He always leaves," Chelsea repeated. Her eyes brightened as she continued, "and he always comes back."
s
y'all i'm a full-fledged adult now... i got married in february and have adult responsibilities like paying bills and doing taxes and using a crock pot
and here i am, writing som fanfiction. oh, vaughn. if only you were my real husband ;-;
welp see you next year for my annual update lol