I do not own Once Upon a Time
I got this typed out a little quicker than normal, and only did one reread and did only light editing. I apologize for any typos, let me know if you see one, and I can get it fixed.

Chapter 10 Cold hands, Warm Hearts

Belle's figure stood out dark and tiny against the setting sun. It was almost cozy to see her waiting there for him, as if it was their shanty on their farm, and not him being some crippled hired hand.

'Had to get some air, I couldn't stand waiting in that house any longer.' She smiled up at him as he got close. Curls coming loose out of her bonnet and blowing in the wind. Yes, he could almost imagine a beautiful domestic scene.

'Papa's coughing sometimes just hurts too much, and I hate feeling like that when I know it is hurting him far worse.' Her sad, beautiful face brought him back into reality.

'I'm sorry, Belle' Was all he could say.

'You know how I get, Ralph, I just worry sometimes. I'm sorry for complaining. So, how did it go?'

'Not as good as we hoped.' Ralph handed the receipt to Belle. She scanned the contents, her eyes getting large as she did the mental math. Her eyes got sadder. 'But I thought…'

'So did I. Jones, the store manager, said the government is importing goods since the production of corn is down this year. It's not just us apparently.'

'Was it enough for supplies?'

'Just.'

Belle breathed and relaxed. 'Well, nothing we can do about it now, and it's still better than if we had not planted the late corn crop, thanks to you. Alright, let's get these supplies into the barn.' And she started helping him unload. It took longer to unload that time, without Mr. French's help. By the end, despite the nip in the air, both Belle and Ralph were sweaty and tired. Ralph's leg was screaming at him, and he struggled to make it into the house.

'Come, let me help.' Belle coaxed, weaving her arm around his as an extra bit of stability.

'Oh Belle, I couldn't ask you…'

'You didn't ask me, come on.' She beamed up at him. He couldn't help but smile back at her as they slowly made their way back to the shanty together.

'Ralph's back, Papa!' She said smilingly, combating the sound of the persistent wheezing. Mr. French had dark circles and the marks of age seemed even more pronounced these days.

'Good to hear, Issy. Well, Ralphy, how did we do?'

'We did alright sir. I'm afraid the price has gone down a little on corn, but we'll make it alright.' Ralph stole a glance at Belle, who gave him a small smile back.

'Good to hear. Good to hear.'

Mr. French slowly breathed in his chair.

Belle said quietly. 'Papa was hungry and wanted to eat earlier, but I saved you and I some supper.' Ralph smiled softly and nodded. Mr. French had been a bit irritable the last couple of weeks. His labored breathing had cut back his smoking, and he mourned the loss though knowing why he couldn't partake in the relaxing habit. That had caused him to be a bit short with the both of them, but knowing the reason, Belle and Ralph took it in stride. Like in most things, they made a good team.

Ralph didn't know what he would have done without Belle's help that fall. With her father's health failing, she had done her best to take up the slack. Sometimes not finishing chores she would have done during the day until late at night. Preparing for the winter was a daunting process when it was three of them, but with a late corn harvest and her father, it had felt impossible. But here they were now, winds on the prairie changing to usher in the first winter frost, but they were ready to face it, or as ready as they could possibly be.

…

Winter did nothing to aleve Papa's symptoms. In fact, the colder it got, the more labored his breathing became. The forcing of the three of them indoors tore at Belle. Each breath felt like it was stealing oxygen from her too.

'We need to talk.' Papa wheezed as he ate his dinner. Both Belle and Ralph looked at him expectantly, seeing the determination on his face. 'I'm neither blind nor stupid.'

Belle wondered at his statement, and noticed Ralph was just as puzzled.

'What do you mean, Papa?'

'I mean, that this.' He breathed in, the melodic wheeze growing louder with the breath, and going out again as he breathed out. 'Isn't getting better. I don't expect to live forever, you know, and I suppose I ought to be thinking about the future for you.'

Belle was still confused.

'I'd like to see that you've at least a home and someone to support you, when my time is up.'

'Oh Papa…'

'I'm not done, Issy. Ralph, do you think you could manage the farm on your own? I think you could, you've certainly proved yourself this past year.' She could see the surge of pride on Ralph's face as well as concern over the subject Papa was broaching.

'Mr. French, I don't think I quite understand, you want me to have the farm? What about Belle, it's just as much…'

'I'm saying, I think you should marry Belle.'

Belle's heart went completely to her throat, and she knew her eyes betrayed her. She could feel the heat in her cheeks burning and she both wanted to look at Ralph and see his reaction, and stare at her food and not steal even a glance. She was mortified.

'Mr. French!' His voice was tiny in the shanty.

'As I said before, I'm neither blind nor stupid. I've seen the way you've looked at Issy, and the way Issy looks at you. You may have grown a backbone, but I think I might be dead and buried 5 years before you would gain a voice to ask her what needs to be asked.

At this Belle did look up. Ralph's eyes were big, but they looked at her for a moment. They looked like they were pleading with her for something. She didn't know if he was pleading with her to agree or to put a stop to the nonsense.

'Mr. French, I.' Ralph licked his lips, and swallowed hard. 'I see this as such an honor, sir. That you would think I would be someone worthy to take over this farm, or to be suitable for Miss French.' She could see that he was fighting for words. She just wished she knew what words he was truly fighting for.

'Well, there we go.' Papa sighed, seeming content with the answer.

Belle couldn't move. 'Papa…'

Ralph had gotten up and gathered up their dishes. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers and followed suit. She couldn't speak to him. What must he think of her? What must he think of her father? He was now thrown into a situation, not of his own making. She would not be a wife to an unwilling husband, just as she wanted to choose her own fate and marry the love of her life-which is Ralph! Her inner voice screamed. Couldn't she love him enough for the both of them? No. She wouldn't make him go through with this. She had to speak to him.

That night she could tell by the shallow breaths that Ralph couldn't sleep either. Their eyes met that morning as they headed to the barn together to tend to the animals. Both of them looking sheepishly at the other. Her stomach churned at the thought of broaching the subject. It had to be done. To her surprise, Ralph started.

'Belle, I. Don't feel that I am forcing you into something. I know you could never…would never want.' Ralph ran his fingers through his hair, the lantern hitting the edges of his face, and it was so soft and scared, she wanted to comfort him.

'I could never, what, Ralph?' That's what she wanted to know. But no, that's not what needed to be said. ' I'm sorry about my father. It was not his place to say such things.'

'He meant well. Just wants to see his daughter taken care of, I can't fault a man for that. Though I don't know why he thinks I'm the one to do it. I'm sorry Belle, I know the thought of being married to me can't be pleasant.'

'Why would you think that, Ralph?' She said softly. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. He was either letting her down gently, or…

'You could never love me Belle, though, since your father brought up such a delicate subject, I don't think it could make the situation any more unpleasant surely. I must tell you- I love you Belle.'

Belle gasped and threw her hands to her mouth. It couldn't be!

'I love you too, Ralph.' She breathed.

'Belle…' His eyes were round with unbelief.

'I can't believe you love me, Ralph! I was so worried that Papa would make you hate me for the things he said.'

'Oh Belle, I could never hate you. I thought for sure you would never want to be tied down to a poor cripple.'

'Seems we were both wrong to assume. And to me, you are nothing short of perfect.' She smiled up at him.

'Marry me, my darling Belle?'

She beamed. She knew she could never be happier than she was at this one moment.

'It would be a pleasure, my love.'

'May I kiss you?'

Belle smiled and nodded. She didn't think she could smile any bigger. Her heart felt ready to explode.

There in the barn, among the cows and the chickens, Belle's and Ralph's rapid breaths freezing in the air, Ralph leaned down to meet Belle, and their lips met.

…

Ralph had walked into the barn fearing that he would meet with Belle's disgust. She would not want a cripple with hardly anything to his name. She would not want to be tied down to someone who had always been a disappointment to his own family and merely someone to mock, to others. Her eyes looked so terrified that he had planned to assure her that what her father had said need not be true.

That's not what happened. Praise God.

She loved him. Truly loved him.

Their lips broke and his hands lingered near her face, just a moment, before he pulled back. The large smile was still plastered on his face.

'I've loved you almost from the moment I saw you-at least since you told me to call you Belle, though I think I didn't fully realize it until you told me your father thought of me like a son, and therefore I assumed you thought of me only as a brother. Can't say that thought brought me much pleasure.'

Belle giggled, how beautiful the sound was!

'I assure you that wasn't the case. You were my friend. You so quickly became my dearest friend, Ralph. I didn't realize I loved you until you saved me from Greg.'

Ralph couldn't help but smile down at her, and she smiled back. They completely ignored the cold. The barn wasn't quite as bad as the whistling icy prairie wind outside.

'But.' Belle continued. 'I think I loved you before, just slow in realizing it. I never liked any of the men who called on me. I just finally realized that they weren't you.'

Ralph's heart swelled at the words. He squeezed her hand and realized just how cold it had gotten. 'I suppose we better go back to the shanty.'

Belle nodded and slipped her hands around his arm and though they theoretically could feel the snow hard below their feet, and even hear the crunch with each step, for Ralph's part, he was walking on air.

Mr. French was sitting at the kitchen table, his breathing considerably improved from the night before, which was a comfort. Mr. French looked up at them and smirked.

'Thought I was going to have to go out and fetch you both-worried you had gotten lost in the snow.'

Belle giggled and looked at Ralph with so much love that it took all his self control not to hug her right in front of Mr. French.

'Good to see you aren't looking like scared rabbits anymore. Did you get things squared away?'

'Yes sir.' Ralph smiled shyly, having a strong urge to study the floor.

'Good, good. It took me long enough to notice the two of you, I will admit. The day you stood up to that big stupid fellow for my little Issy got me to noticing all the looks and longings you both exchanged. I waited, but you two kept dancing around each other so much, I didn't know what I was going to do. Turns out my breathing was good for something.'

'Oh Papa!' Belle threw her arms around her father, and in return he patted her on the back. Mr. French wasn't the most paternal, or affectionate, Ralph knew, but in that moment the love and pride flowing in that shanty was enough to warm the coldest soul.

Author's Note:Not exactly conventional, but I thought Mr. French being the one that got things going was too adorably awkward to pass up!

Also, never fear. The Nolands will make an appearance really soon.
I only have a couple more chapters left of this little story. Thanks to all who have commented. I appreciate any and all feedback!