Chapter 22 is here and Chelsea is still in the hospital. Thanks for reading and thanks for the reviews :D Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day and don't forget to enjoy :) Disclaimer – I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters x
Chapter 22 – Chelsea's P.O.V
I felt the sunlight stream onto my face as it burnt my skin. Slowly opening my eyes I found myself staring at an unfamiliar white ceiling. Confused I tried to talk but my voice was hoarse and quiet. I turned my head to the right and saw Vaughn stretched out on a couch wrapped in a light blue blanket. I tried to call out to him, to ask what's going on. I tried to get up but wires covered my body and I couldn't escape. Bugger. Then I saw a jug on the side of the table next to me, perfect way to get attention. My arm felt very heavy as I tried to reach for the plastic jug but I managed to prod it with my middle finger and I watched it fall to the ground. The little water left inside spilt over the floor and made Vaughn jump up off the sofa. He looked around tiredly but then his eyes locked onto mine. I smiled weakly as he came running over to me. His facial hair had taken a turn for the worse. Growing into major stubble on the brink of a beard, and of course it was all silver. He knelt down, took hold of my hand and squeezed it tightly. I smiled weakly again and tried to sit up but Vaughn placed his free hand on my forehead and pushed me down and stroked the outline of my hair.
"Chelsea … I. How are. You had me worried sick." He stumbled unsure what the best words to say were. I frowned, not 100% sure what was going on. I opened my mouth to speak but again the words were stuck.
"V…Vaughn?" I squeaked. His eyes brightened and he leant in and kissed my forehead.
"Chelsea do you know where you are?" He asked looking into my eyes seriously. I shook my head and looked around. At that point a guy in a white vest walked in and stared wide eyed at me. He then stuck his head out of the door again and two nurses ran inside, giving me the same expression. The doctor walked to my other side checked the monitor's, Vaughn never let go of my hand.
"Chelsea you are very lucky to be alive" He said taking a seat next to me. I turned to look at Vaughn who nodded in confirmation.
"You have been unconscious for the past 6 days. You had Carbon Monoxide poisoning and your system was rejecting our medication to steady your oxygen levels. But it's a miracle that you're awake so early on. And Mr Thomas never left your side throughout." He motioned towards Vaughn. I turned my head again to Vaughn who no had a thin blush spread across his cheeks. My heart rose in my throat as I squeezed his hand weakly.
"Miss Edwards can you sit up?" The doctor asked, his name tag read Stewart. I let go of Vaughn's warm hand and tried to push myself up using my elbows. Slowly but surely I managed to push myself up so that I could lean on the backboard. Vaughn's eyes followed me carefully as I weakly smiled at the doctor and nodded.
"Good, good. Now Miss Edwards we will need to keep you in for a while to monitor you progress" Steward smiled taking hold of the clipboards and thrusting it towards the two nurses. My heart sank, Jill and Skye's wedding. If I had been out cold for 6 days then the wedding was in two days!
"But. Will … I be able to … get out for Sunday?" I managed to squeak out. Vaughn's eyebrows pulled together and Stewart looked at me confused.
"It depends how your health goes in the next 24 hours" He said. I nodded and looked at the bed sheet. Slowly I reached out and took hold of Vaughn's warm hand.
"Okay Miss Edwards, we'll need to run a few more tests later on because you've woken up so early" The doctor noted. I nodded and watched them walk out of the room before I turned to Vaughn. Smiling I traced the outline of his stubble and laughed weakly.
"Growing a beard?" I asked resting my head back on the backboard. It felt like the gravity had been turned up. He smiled and kissed my hand.
"I've not had the time to get ready." He chuckled standing up and sitting on the end of my bed. Then my mind flicked to the wedding in two days, there was no way possible I was missing it. Even if I had to jump out of the window and run away.
"What so important in two days time?" He asked raising an eyebrow. I smiled at him and slowly sunk back onto the pillow.
"My aunt Jill is getting married." I said facing him fully. His purple eyes glistened in the sunlight and reflected a sickly looking girl slouched in bed. He nodded and smiled.
"Was that the little mousy hair girl who was here?" He asked. I giggled quietly and nodded then my eyes shot open.
"She was here?" I asked. Then my mind flicked to Denny, we were supposed to be on holiday.
"Denny?!" I exclaimed looking around the room and falling short. I turned to Vaughn who's gaze had fallen hard.
"He had to go back to the islands." He said softly, soothing my forehead. My eyebrows furrowed together and Vaughn slowly moved his hand to trace my eyebrows. He then sighed.
"Do you want me to call him?" He asked looking down at me. I looked up into his eyes, not really wanting to but I guess it was the best thing to do. I nodded. Vaughn sighed, whipped out his phone and began typing in numbers. He held it to his ear and his gaze fell hard.
"Denny, there's someone here who wants to talk to you …" He mumbled handing me the phone. I took it in my hand and weakly held it to my ear.
"Hey" I said. There was a long pause then a huge sob.
"Chelsea? I thought you were going to die! I couldn't think, I've not been eating. It's only when Taro called asking me to come back that I had to leave you." His voice was wobbly. I cringed at the thought of him balling his eyes out over me.
"Do you remember anything before you passed out?" He asked sniffing. I scraped my head for answers but came up empty. The last thing I really remember was meeting Jill and Skye at the hotel then the rest was a blur.
"No" I whispered. He sighed and sniffed again.
"It's alright. Chelsea I want to come as see you but the boats don't run again till Monday because of the summer waters and my boat won't make it all the way to the mainland," He said. My stomach did flips before I smiled.
"Denny don't worry about it. I think they will let me go in a few days. Does that mean you won't make Jill's wedding?" I asked looking down at the bed sheet. Of course that's what it meant.
"I'm sorry," He sighed down the phone, and then it cut off. I looked at the screen and it displayed the 'no signal' sign. I handed it back to Vaughn who put it back into his pant pocket.
"Everything alright?" He asked taking hold of my hand again. I nodded and smiled as I looked into his eyes. Everything was just perfect.
I wobbled but managed to keep my balance as Vaughn held onto my arm. My legs were weak but I could still move them one in front of the other. The Doctors had given me a crutch to help me keep my balance for the wedding tomorrow. The blood tests had come back and everything was stable. I'd slept through the night while Vaughn took the night cap on the sofa again. Jill had come to visit me and hugged me to death. She was going to postpone the wedding but I made sure she wouldn't. I was going to get to that wedding. Tomorrow at 1, I would be there. The hospital would release me today to prepare for the wedding if I could walk with the aid of a crutch so Vaughn was helping me practice.
"Come on cowboy, let's get going," I winked and letting go of his arm. I wobbled but managed to get through the doors and halfway down the corridor before Vaughn took hold of my hand.
"You're not getting away that easily," He laughed and led me to the main reception. On arrival I was greeted by the receptionist who smiled warmly at us.
"We would like to discharge Miss Edwards please, Mr Dawson should have forwarded an email." Vaughn said with no real emotion in his voice. He wasn't really a people person. She nodded and started tying away on the keyboard.
"Ahh yes. Well you take care now Miss Edwards, and you should be back in for a check-up in the next week," She smiled at me. I returned the smile, nodded and turned to walk outside with Vaughn. The double doors slid open and a warm gust of air hit my face, fresh air. I loved it. Vaughn led me to a black BMW which was parked on the nearest slot to the doors. He opened the passenger door and helped me get inside before he himself walked around and got in the driver's side. I turned to face him and smiled.
"You're amazing you know" I smiled as he started up the engine. He turned to face me and smiled before pointing to his chin.
"I think its best we go back so I can get rid of this," He winked as we pulled out into the road. I giggled but then reality hit me.
"Vaughn I don't have anywhere to stay." I said sitting up straight in the chair. He kept facing the road but rolled his eyes.
"Well I'll just have to throw you out on the street then" He said. I playfully punched his arm and turned to face the road.
"You can stay at mine for a bit," He said, turning onto another road. I didn't know Vaughn had a place in the city. I just presumed he travelled round until he visited us again. This was the first time I'd seen Vaughn out in public without his cowboy getup on. He looked extremely good looking when he wore just his black shirt, something about it just suited him.
It took just 20 minutes till the car stopped and Vaughn turned to me. He pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes and tucked it behind my ear. His eyes found mine and I drank in his perfect features. He got out of the car and walked round to my door and opening it. I struggled out and grabbed my crutch just before I could fall flat on my face. Vaughn chuckled and took my suitcase out of the foot well. It was the same suitcase I'd taken away to the hotel with me. It was filled with steamy clothing that Julia had packed. Vaughn took my hand in his free one and slowly led me into the lobby where he punched the button to the lift. The lift arrived and we walked inside where he pressed floor 6 and we watched the doors shut in front of us.
"Vaughn?" I asked turning to face him. He looked down and found my eyes with his amethyst ones.
"Yeah?" He asked raising an eyebrow and squeezing my hand slowly. I blushed slightly and closed the gap between us.
"Would you come to the wedding with me?" I asked turning my gaze to the floor. He chuckled softly and kissed the top of my head.
"I'm not letting you go alone," He said. I smiled and rested my head on his arm. The lift stopped and led to a corridor with red carpet and golden walls. Vaughn motioned for me to follow him. We soon stopped in front of room 616 and he opened it with his set of keys. He nodded for me to go in and rubbed the back of his neck as I wobbled and made my way into his front room. The carpet was black like the curtains and sofa. There was a flat screen T.V sat on top of a glass case which stared directly at the couch. I turned to Vaughn and smiled.
"Nice place" I giggled hobbling into the middle of the room. Vaughn shut the door and wheeled in my suitcase.
"You can stay in my room. I'll kip on the couch," He said pulling my case through another door at the north-east side of the room. Opening it, it lead to another corridor with two doors leading off.
"That there is the bathroom and this here …" He paused as he opened the door. "Is my room." He said walking in. I followed him and looked around. Of course everything was black, apart from the ceiling and carpet which strangely were cream. The bed was king sized and had four pillows scattered around it. I turned and smiled at him.
"It's lovely" I smiled hugging him. He chuckled and hugged me back before letting go and running his hand across his chin.
"Well I guess I'd better get rid of this" He said looking down at me. I looked at him and smiled. It did give him a sexy twinge.
"Well you could leave it on for a while," I smiled slyly and wrapping my arms around his waist.
"And why is that?" He asked raising an eyebrow. I reached up and placed my lips on his, his stubble tickled my face. The fireworks erupted in the background again as my heart flew into my throat. He kissed back but soon drew away.
"Chelsea you've just come out of the Hospital …" He said looking down into my eyes.
"Yeah, and I also have perfect health" I replied and leant up to kiss him again. This time he didn't pull away, he placed his hands on the tops of my legs and lifted me up so that my legs were wrapped around his waist. I dropped my crutch and wrapped my arms around his neck. Slowly he made his way over to the bed and placed me down on my back gently. It was as if he didn't want to break me because I was fragile. Placing both of his hands at either side of my head he leant down and kissed me again. I ran my hands through his hair as he ran his hand up my leg. Giggling I peeled off his top as his hand wandered up mine. Tomorrow was Jill's day, tonight was mine.
Okay so it's the second time the roley poley has happened now, looks like it's a full on affair :P Thanks again for reading, couldn't do it without you guys. Please tell me your thoughts and stay tuned for the wedding :) see ya x