Chapter 23

(Chelsea)

"I love the snow!" Chelsea squealed as she rolled in the snow. Vaughn sighed, "It's just frozen water…" Chelsea rolled her eyes and stood up, dusting the snow off of her clothes. They were on Animal Island, it had been snowing all day, and it had done next to nothing for Vaughn's sour attitude.

"You ok? You've been kind of distant today." Chelsea said as she crouched down and began to roll up a snowball.

Vaughn shrugged, "It's nothing…" Before he could react, Chelsea had leaped up and threw a snowball right into his face, knocking him backward. "What the…."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue, "Let it snow, let it snow." She sang gleefully. Vaughn smirked, "Oh...you think that's funny?" He whipped two snowballs out of nowhere and flung it at Chelsea. It hit her full on in her face.

"Ouch." She said as she fell backward. She fell flat on her back. Even though the snow was covering some of her face, she remained still. Hardly moving.

"Chelsea?...Chelsea!" She heard Vaughn shout as his boots crunched on the snow.

As soon as he bent down, she sprang up and pinned him to the snowy earth, knocking his cowboy hat off. His purple eyes were wide with astonishment. Chelsea snickered, "Got ya, didn't I?" Vaughn rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright…let me up…"

Chelsea laughed and helped him up, he gave her a sour look. "Sheesh Chels, you're such an idiot…"

Chelsea gave him a hurt look, "Are you sure, you're ok? You're kind of…mean today." Vaughn snorted, "No one is a perfect Prince Charming you know…"

"Tell me about it."

"I just did…"

"It's metaphorical."

"Does it matter…?"

"Yes it matters!"

"And…?"

"Ok, why are you being so irritating?"

"…Payback…"

Chelsea sighed, her breath fogged in the air. "Alright, now what do we do? We pretty much killed the snow ball fight. All of the animals are hibernating. And it's too cold to go swimming!"

Vaughn dusted off his hat, he shrugged, and his eyes were distant again, like he was off in his own world.

She snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. He turned to her irritably, "What?"

Chelsea glared slightly, "Are you even paying attention? God, it's almost as if you don't even want to be with me! I mean seriously-"

She never got to finish since Vaughn tackled her to the ground... Anger and maybe even a bit of hurt mixed in his eyes. "Don't…you…EVER…say that again!" He sneered in her face.

Chelsea was shocked, Vaughn softened his gaze, "Sorry…"

He got off of her and helped her in a sitting position. Vaughn buried his face in his hands, he sighed. "Something happened last week…I don't want to talk about it, ok…?"

Chelsea scooted next to him. Vaughn removed his hands from his face and looked at her, his silvery hair was moving slightly in time with the falling snow.

"Vaughn…it's ok, I'm here for you. If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I'm just concerned with the way you're acting."

He swallowed, "You…don't need to worry…" He hesitantly caressed Chelsea's cheek, his gloved hand was warm and calming. He removed his hand, blushing furiously. "Uh…"

"Vaughn?"

"Yeah…?"

"You're almost as shy as Elliot." Chelsea snickered. Vaughn glowered, "Would shy Elliot…do this?" He grabbed Chelsea by her shoulders and kissed her. Her eyes widened, then fluttered closed as they wrapped their arms around each other. Their lips parted and the kiss went deeper, more intense. Chelsea tangled her fingers in Vaughn's hair as he pulled her closer. They fell sideways, and rolled until Vaughn was on top of her. Chelsea removed her hands from his hair and placed it on his back, feeling his muscles underneath his shirt and jacket.

Vaughn traced Chelsea's bottom lip with his tongue, asking for entrance which he was soon granted. His warm tongue slid along her own, drawing a small moan from her as she gripped onto the front of his jacket and shirt. The cowboy's hands trailed her sides as he tilted his head to get a better angle at the kiss and deepen it more. Eventually however, the lack of air caused them to break the kiss; a thin trail of saliva connected their lips before it broke.

Chelsea panted softly; her face flushed a light pink at what had just occurred. Vaughn's eyes were clouded with lust and obvious desire that gleamed in his normally blank, expressionless eyes, his face color took on a deep red color as he realized the type of compromising position they both were in.

Vaughn cleared his throat, "I'll…help you up." He stood up and helped Chelsea on her feet. They were covered in snow, but they felt warmer than before.

-Twenty minutes later-

They arrived on the main island, and practically landed in the middle of a feud between Natalie and Pierre.

"Dammit! You only care about your stupid recipes!"

"I'm a food critic! What do you expect?"

"We hardly even kiss anymore!"

"We do so kiss!"

"Oh please, Vaughn and Chelsea kiss more than us! And that's just sad."

"WHAT? Oh come on! I bet Vaughn kisses like a dead fish in heat! I kiss better than that!"

"Yeah, but not by much."

"Are you having an affair?"

"Of course not! You're more likely to be having an affair with your god damned recipes!"

"Well don't compare us to Vaughn and Chelsea, ok? That is an insult!"

"You do realize…we're standing right behind you…right?" Vaughn said lazily, cutting into the fight. Natalie and Pierre slowly turned towards them and attempted to paste fake smiles on their faces.

Chelsea rolled her eyes as Vaughn face palmed, "We're sad?...Look in a mirror you two!" They said at the same time. They glanced at each other than blushed, trying not to make eye contact. That memory on Animal Island was practically engraved on the surface of Chelsea's mind.

Pierre huffed indignantly, "Sheesh, their right…I'm sorry Natalie, I do like you." Natalie snickered, "Yeah, I know, you old butterball."

They punched each other in the arm then left, probably to go and make up. Vaughn sighed, "Well, that was interesting. Chelsea shrugged, "It happens every day, whenever you're not here. It's pretty common now."

They looked at each other, eyes connecting, you could practically see the sparks. Vaughn broke the connection with a shake of his head, "Uh….lets go to the animal shop."

Chelsea smirked, "First Animal Island, now Animal shop?"

Vaughn tipped his hat low over his blushing face, "Idiot…"

-Ten minutes later-

"Hi guys! Are you ready for the winter festival tomorrow night?" Julia asked cheerfully.

Chelsea clapped her hands, "It's going to be awesome! Contests and romantic mistletoe kisses!"

Julia giggled, "Are you going to get Vaughn under the mistletoe, Chels?"

"No, she is not…" Vaughn muttered from across the room. His eyes glinted in the dim lighting in the store.

Chelsea pouted, "But Vaughn…We already made out on-" Vaughn blushed furiously and ran forward, slapping a hand over her mouth so she wouldn't say anymore. Chelsea mumbled against his gloved hand indignantly.

Julia raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"

Vaughn rolled his eyes, "It was nothing…" Chelsea glared and bit his thumb. Vaughn cursed and let go, "Ouch! What the HELL?"

Chelsea sneered, "It was…NOTHING? That's not what you said on that island, Mr. French kisser!" Julia was snickering, Vaughn was beet red. "I-Idiot…not like it meant anything important" He brought his hat down low over his face. Chelsea was feeling a dangerous feeling again…Rage.

She thought it was all out of her system, but the Witch warned her that a tiny sliver was still inside. It would grow dangerous if she got enraged all over again. She could feel the dark aura, weak, but effective, to start to spread over her. Julia began to notice and stopped snickering, "Uh…oh…Vaughn!" Vaughn lifted his hat up over his eyes, "What?...Oh…"

Chelsea was gritting her teeth now, her hair starting to float around her head. Vaughn stepped forward and hugged her close. "I'm sorry…"

Chelsea hissed, but then calmed down in his arms. The dark aura struggled one last time, then faded. Vaughn let go and stared into her eyes, "You, ok…?"

Chelsea swallowed, "Yeah…I'm fine now…sorry 'bout that."

Julia wiped her brow in relief, "Phew! THAT was close, you almost went full on enraged."

Chelsea shrugged and smiled in Vaughn's direction, "I should go home now. Hachi is waiting for me." Vaughn shrugged, "I'll walk you home…"

Chelsea blushed softly and nodded. They left the animal shop together.

-Five minutes later-

They walked in silence, their feet crunched the fallen snow, the only sound between them so far. The icy wind blew over them softly. Vaughn stared straight ahead, not once looking at Chelsea.

Vaughn broke the silence, "So…want to go to the winter festival together?"

Chelsea raised an eyebrow, "What do you think, cowboy?"

"Stop calling me that…"

"It's your nickname."

"…Cowboy? Real original…"

"Well at least I had the decency to pick one out for you."

"I have a nickname for you…"

"Really? What?"

"Annoying farm girl that never shuts up…" Vaughn chuckled. Chelsea stuck out her tongue and pushed him with her hand.

They arrived at Chelsea's door. Hachi, who was dozing woke up when they approached. He leapt into Chelsea's arms, barking his little head off. "Hi, boy!"

Vaughn smiled slightly, "Cute dog…" He ruffled Hatchie's ears, which earned him a happy bark and a lick.

Chelsea beamed, "I didn't know you liked dogs." Vaughn chuckled, "There's a lot…you don't know about me. They walked up to the door, Hachi leaped out of Chelsea's arms and trotted inside the house. Beth mooed silently and shuffled inside the barn with Terry.

Vaughn placed a hand on Chelsea's shoulder. As soon as she turned around, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. It lasted for only a moment, but it still left her feeling breathless.

Vaughn nervously cleared his throat, he was blushing again, "See you tomorrow?"

Chelsea smiled, "You can count on it…cowboy."