Sorry this has taken so long to update, I haven't had internet at my house for a while so I can only update at school.

Last chapter was cute. Finally they're starting to accept that they actually like each other. Hopefully things continue to go well.

PART TEN:

As winter started to come to an end, Tarou was getting nervous. "We need to get some more help around here. Miss Chelsea won't be able to help us get the fields ready, plant, water or harvest any crops. And I doubt she'll be much help with the animals, either. We'll have to find her a replacement."

Natalie frowned. "Grandpa! How can you say that?"

"Ah, I'm not saying shut her out completely, but we need to get this farm up and going again this spring. We'll just put out an ad over the radio for a temporary replacement until she gets better."

Erik nodded. "I understand. I'm sure Chelsea won't mind, either, she's pretty reasonable."

"Especially since she's gotten closer to Pierre-san." Natalie giggled. All that time cooped up in the little house together had done wonders for their relationship. Chelsea wasn't as moody as she had been and it seemed as if Cefiena had finally realized that she'd have no chance with the young gourmet and had left them alone, only visiting once in a while to sit and chat with them both, instead of every other day to try and coerce Pierre away from the farmer girl.

Since she'd gotten to know her, Chelsea felt only a tiny bit bad for being mean to the girl in the past, but she had seen Pierre first, and quite frankly he was hers. She smirked at him as she regarded her cards. "Pierre, do you have any twos?" He grumbled and handed him the three in his hand which she happily added to her growing pile of winning cards. "I'm the Go Fish champion!" She sang.

"I didn't know there was such a thing, but I guess you are. That's the fourth time you've beaten me today, Chelsea."

"Aww, I'm sorry. Maybe we should play a different game?"

Pierre shook his head. "Nah. Anyway, my stories are on." He grabbed the remote and flicked on the television. Chelsea found it cute that he liked watching soap operas.

The doctor had come back to check on her that morning and told her that both her limbs were healing nicely. Her elbow should be fine by the end of spring and her leg by fall. Chelsea didn't like the fact that she wouldn't be able to help with the farm work, but the family reminded her that healing was the first priority. So she continued to spend her days like this with Pierre.

Chelsea looked over at the boy who was sitting on the little chair by her bed, intently watching the television and trying to figure out if Maria was carrying Josh's baby or Brian's. Her eyes then traveled over to the tiny couch that he'd been occupying in the living room for the past few weeks and at the strewn pillows and blankets. It couldn't be comfortable. She thought for a moment. She did have a lot of lumber saved up from when she'd done the first renovation on her home. Maybe it was time she asked Goran to add on another room.

"Hey, Pierre?"

"Hmm?" He was still watching the screen.

"I'm going to go talk to Ferera."

"You sure?" He turned to look at her.

"Yes, I'm sure. I can walk just fine now that the doctor gave me this new leg brace and my crutches."

He still seemed skeptical. "I'll go with you."

"No! It's girl things."

Pierre blinked. "Well, at least let me walk you over."

She sighed. "I'm going barely fifteen feet, Pierre, I'll be fine." She slipped her unbroken foot into her snow boot and pulled on her coat and hat. Pierre watched as she took her crutch and used it to stabilize herself, hobbling over to the door. Pierre opened it for her and watched as she walked across the small yard to the main house. He smiled as he saw Ferena open the door and help her inside. She was so stubborn.

Ferena smiled and helped Chelsea inside. "Feeling alright today?"

"Yes, thank you!" Chelsea smiled as they went into the kitchen and sat at the table. Ferena poured some tea for the young girl and sat next to her.

"I'm glad you're getting out and about more. That leg brace seems to work wonders."

She looked down to her leg. "Yeah, I'm glad the doctor gave it to me." She sipped her tea and looked over to Ferena. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Of course! What is it?"

"I want Goran to add on to my house again. The snow is starting to melt and it'll be spring in a few days. That other farmer you hired will be coming shortly and I want him to have his own room." She blushed. "I was thinking Goran could add on an extra room to my house. Then Pierre can move all his things in there, and the new guy can take his old room here in the main house."

Ferena smiled. "I think that's a decent idea. I'm sure Pierre-san will like it as well. But have you thought about what everyone else will say if you continue living together? It's plausible now because you need help." She giggled at the girl's face. "You two really do make a good couple, I don't know why you keep denying it."

She blushed even more. "I-I don't know if Pierre thinks about things like that." Sure he'd kissed her, even if it was only on the cheek, but after the Starry Night Festival, he hadn't tried to again. Chelsea wouldn't have minded if he had, but she didn't want to ask him about and make him feel pushed into doing something like that if he didn't want to.

"You'd be surprised what goes on in boys' heads." Ferena got up and took down a piece of paper and a pen. She sketched out a blueprint of the farm and asked Chelsea how she wanted the room added on so she could tell Goran. The farmer told her where she wanted the room and that it should be about the same size as her own. Ferena nodded and made the notes, telling her she'd take the idea to Goran for her.

Chelsea smiled as she headed back to her own house, walking in to see Pierre was right where she'd left him, staring at the television. She smiled and sat down next to him.

The next day, Goran came over to talk to her. He went over the plans and gave her an estimate which was well below what the first renovation cost. She had a feeling that the man was deliberately slashing the price for her, but she couldn't get him to raise it any higher. She sighed and decided she'd just give him an extra bonus for the job.

Pierre was confused and wondered what was going on as the large man started moving things and making marks on the wall. "I'm having Goran build an extra room. You can't sleep on the couch forever."

Pierre stared at her. "You're building a room? For me?"

"Well, Goran is doing the actual building. I'm just paying him."

Pierre looked at her and smiled widely suddenly coming over and hugging her tight. "Thank you! That makes me happy."

"I'm glad." She smiled back.

The renovations went on during the first week of spring, once the last of the snow had melted away. The new room was coming along nicely and though sometimes the banging and hammering was a disturbance, the end result was well worth it. Pierre got his things moved out of his room in the main house and turned it over to Mark, the farmer that had been hired to take Chelsea's place while she was still healing.

Mark was a nice guy, very hardworking and knowledgeable when it came to farming. With his help, the start of the spring planting season got off to a great start. Chelsea liked the new farmer, too and marveled at how much he knew. The two even came up with new ideas to help the farm profit better.

Pierre was jealous at first, not liking how much Chelsea talked with the other man. He also wasn't sure exactly what his own relationship with her was. They were essentially living together and he had kissed her that night of the Festival, but did Chelsea want an actual relationship relationship? He didn't know and the rocky ground he was teetering on made it even harder for him to accept someone new like Mark.

However it seemed he wasn't the one with the competition. Instead it was Valts, the quiet rancher who found himself competing for Natalie's attention. The redhead would often shoo Pierre out of the room while she talked with Chelsea about her boy troubles. Natalie confided that she liked them both, but some things about Valts were kind of annoying, like how he cared about his money more than her.

Chelsea smiled and asked her if she knew how annoying Pierre had been when he'd first arrived on the Island. She patted her friend's shoulder and tried to reassure her that things would work out however they were meant to. Natalie nodded and got up to go back to work. Chelsea hoped her friend would be able to find someone special, just like she had.

By the time spring was over, Chelsea's arm was as good as new. The doctor came by to take off the cast and the farmer was delighted that she could move it freely once again. He gave her more exercises to do to rebuild the muscle strength, but everything was going well. She could now use her crutches the normal way to get around more effectively. She now helped out on the farm by collecting eggs and feeding the animals.

She also rejoined everyone for nightly meals. The walk into town had been too long for her to take when she could only use her one arm to try and stable herself on the crutches. She loved being around everyone again, even though they had visited often. Charlie and Elza were especially happy to see that her arm was better at least. Elza gave her a bouquet of flowers that grew along the houses in the spring and she smiled, saying they were very pretty and she'd put them in water as soon as she got home. The little girl giggled at this and hugged her.

Pierre smiled at this and, not for the first time, was sure Chelsea would make a wonderful mother. He let his thoughts wander through out the meal about what a life with her would be like. "Hey!" Suddenly a slap to his arm shook him out of his daydream. "Uh, yeah?"

Chelsea was frowning at him. "I asked you about a million times to please pass the potatoes." She stated.

He blushed. "Sorry, Chelsea." He handed her the bowl.

"Are you alright?" She asked quietly.

Pierre smiled and nodded. "Just thinking."

"Oh? About what?"

He shrugged. "Nothing much."

"Sure." Chelsea knew that wasn't the case, but didn't press him on it and instead went back to her supper. Pierre smiled. It would definitely be amazing.

That evening, the couple walked back home together. "So, what were you really thinking about during supper tonight?" Chelsea asked.

"Ah, it was nothing really."

She glared at him. "It was not, you were thinking about something really hard, what was it?"

He was blushing and Chelsea stopped hopping a moment to poke him. "What was it?! Come on, tell me! Please?!"

Pierre stopped, his head hung down. "You. . ."

"Me what?"

He sighed, exasperated. "Well I don't even know what you really think of me?! I mean, I know we. . . but what does that mean?!"

Chelsea was blushing furiously. "It. . . it means I like you. I've liked you since before you left, as. . . more than a friend, I think." She confessed.

"You. . . you have?"

She nodded. "But then Cefiena came and I thought you liked her so I didn't say anything because I wanted you be happy, even if you weren't with me." She hung her head and Pierre stepped closer to her, brining her face up to look at him.

"I'm happiest when I'm with you, Chelsea. I've really liked you a lot since I came here. You're so talented and so caring. Sure you need some help with cooking and moodiness," She slapped his arm lightly. "But it's nothing we can't fix." He smiled and she smiled back. "Really?"

"Really." She leant up and lightly pressed her lips to his. Pierre closed his eyes and wrapped his arms gently around her waist, kissing her back. They were both grinning as they pulled apart and blushing. "Do you think we're a couple now?"

Pierre nodded in agreement. "You bet."

To be continued. . .