Unbelievable

The ranch house door opened and in walked Malon and Vincent. After a long hard day's work and a long day of teaching Vincent the ways of bring a ranch hand, Malon was ready for a bath and bed. But of course, the rumbling in her stomach wasn't allowing that. Then there was the tired Vincent drug his feet as he walked, dead tired from the work of the day. His red eyes began to look around the ranch house. There were stairs leading up and a door at the bas of them. Underneath the stairs was another door. The wooden floor made his footsteps heavier then they were. He noticed the kitchen off at the far end and the table near by. He took a seat and collapsed on it. It was then both of them noticed Ingo sitting at that other end. Arms crossed and waiting.

"Who's he?" he asked.

"My new ranch hand," Malon answered. She placed a gentle hand on Vincent's shoulder. "I did say that I needed someone willing to work. Luckily I found one right away. Meet Vincent and I have to say, he's a fast learner."

Vincent grunted. Tired was an understatement for the way he felt. Every muscle in his body was aching and all he wanted to do was soak in hot water or just to lie in a bed. Unlike Malon, hunger wasn't even near his mind. All day in the hot sun, Vincent followed Malon's instructions on what to do with the horses, cows, cuccos and everything else until his soft hands were rough and stinging. He raised his head and looked over to Ingo, "Nice to meet you."

"Whatever. So is dinner happening anytime soon?" Ingo asked.

"I'm going to start soon," Malon answered. "I was busy today. You could've whipped up something but, seeing as you're so damn lazy, you'd rather starve. Fine by me. If you're going to wait, I don't need an attitude."

Ingo muttered something and stood up from his chair. He didn't like how the young woman had kept talking down to him. He stared hard at her before leaving the house entirely. The door slammed as he walked out.

"Seems cheery enough," Vincent said as Ingo left. He put his head down on the table and laughed. "Remember when those cuccos wouldn't stop bugging me? If there is anything I'm afraid of is an enraged flock of poultry."

Malon giggled as she lit the stove and started to prepare dinner. "If your tired Vincent, your room is right under the stairs. Make yourself at home. However long it will be, this is home for now."

"Cozy," Vincent said. He grunted as he stood up and made his way to his room. He picked up his saddlebag and swords from the door and walked into it. He cracked his neck as he walked inside his room. Adorned in a simple layout with a bed and armoire. He couldn't ask for more except a bathroom. He placed his swords on his bed and just dropped his saddlebag. "She's great."

Malon hummed to herself as she diced a carrot. A smile spread on her face as she remembered all the unfortunate things that happened to Vincent. She couldn't help but love how unfamiliar he was with other livestock. He wasn't totally incompetent, especially with the horses, but it was funny to her his reaction when she told him to grab a cow's udders. Especially how his red eyes widened. Red… a color she never did see commonplace in Hyrule. In fact, she only ever aw it in the mirror.

"Need help?" came Vincent's voice from behind her.

"Vincent?" Malon asked as she turned around. There he was, sitting in the same seat he was. "I thought you were resting."

Vincent waved it off, "Like I always say, there is plenty of time to sleep – rest - when you're dead. Besides, I rather be active, no matter how sore I feel. I'd hate myself if I let somebody do everything for me."

"Oh," Malon said. "Well, you could peel those potatoes for me. You do know how to peel a potato, right?"

Vincent nodded and stood. He walked over to the kitchen counter and took a potato from the sack they were in. He searched for a knife, and after finding one, began to peel the potato. Malon noticed that, unlike his proficiency with ranch work, his abilities with a knife were far superior. She noticed how calmly and effortlessly his hands worked on the spud. He sliced away the skin with little compromise of the vegetable itself. She cursed herself. It was only a lousy peeling. It was nothing to get worked over for. Except, he was fast and went through the sack in little time. So after Vincent went through the entire month's supply, she decided to put his knife skills to use.

Vincent chopped carrots and then onions. "Malon, mind telling me what your making?" he asked. "So many green things cannot possible mean a hearty meal."

"Let me guess, you want meat and plenty of it," Malon said. Malon went over to the pot simmering over the open fire, "Don't worry, you'll get plenty of it along with healthy vegetables. Perfect for a growing, young boy." Malon giggled.

Vincent sighed, "Growing, young boy… Here I am at 20 years old and I'm still called a boy. Inconceivable. I'm just glad I don't have one of my own."

"Wait, why not?" Malon asked, turning to Vincent.

"Because, I don't like children," Vincent said.

"I see," Malon said. She looked up, "Well, if I were to be married, I'd want a bunch of kids. I love children and I want to have a big family." Malon smiled and then looked away from Vincent, "You never thought about it, Vincent? If you did have children?"

"Thinking about having one is different," Vincent replied. "I may not want them but I guess its still inevitable. I mean, once I find the right girl and all. If I did have a son, I know I would try to mold him like myself. But, if I had a daughter…" Vincent laughed, "I'm to soft, I would spoil her like there was no tomorrow. I would never want to hurt her, so with me, she'll never hear no."

Malon turned back to him, "So you aren't married?"

Vincent shook his head, "No yet anyways. There was this girl I was courting but… It didn't work out. How about you? Any special person in your life?"

Malon looked down at the carrot in her hands. The green top reminded her a lot of him. She shook her head from her thoughts and looked into Vincent's passionate red eyes, "There was this guy but, like you said, it didn't work out."

"Such a shame," Vincent said. He finished mincing the garlic Malon handed him in their conversation and walked to the table. He took a seat and then stared at Malon. He didn't want to admit it to himself but she was growing on him. Not that he had anything against her but; it was becoming too personal with he and her. "Malon, just keep looking. I'm sure that you'll find your special person soon enough."

"You really think so?" Malon asked, leaning against the counter to look at him. "I would hate growing old alone."

Vincent smirked. The smirk that had always glorified his face and made him near irresistible. Vincent never means it or cares for it. It's his smile that he puts on whenever something more is going on. "Don't worry, I'm sure that will never come true for you. You have plenty of things going for you. Assertive, independent, beautiful, I don't see why you can't find someone. Just give it time."

Malon smiled back and took the vegetables Vincent had cut and tossed them into her stew. Looking inside the bubbling dinner, she inhaled the rich aromas of her creation and then set a lid on it. She toweled off her hands and took a seat across from Vincent at the table. "I would think that you would be tired."

"I'm burnt out. I hope that you cook as great as you look," Vincent said with a smile.

Malon looked away to hide her red face. "I'm good but not a culinary expert. Thank you Vincent."

Vincent waved it off, "Don't think much of it. You're just really stunning. I mean, redheads are such lookers aren't they?"

"Oops," Malon quickly got up and went to the pot. After checking to make sure nothing ill came to it, she checked to see if it was ready. Deciding that it was, she took two bowls from the cupboard and filled them with her stew. She took two spoon with her and set down a bowl in front of Vincent and then set hers down. "Careful now, its hot."

But it was too late; Vincent had eagerly already swallowed a spoonful of the boiling hot stew. And like one would expect, his tongue was dancing as he quickly tried to find a glass of water. Malon, struggling to keep herself from collapsing in laughter rushed over to the kitchen poured Vincent a glass of the clear liquid. She handed it to him and he quickly downed it all in a gulp. He set it down on the table and let himself calm down. Malon stared at him carefully and noticed how his fair skin was red.

"Hot…" he simply said. He took another spoonful and blew on it before he sipped. After swallowing, he looked up at the concern Malon. He smiled, "Delicious."

Malon smiled but then Vincent got up from his chair and took her hands in his.

"You are a Goddess! I have not eaten anything that great in a long time. It was… just… so perfect!" Vincent said as he twirled around with Malon.

Malon laughed along. "Well, you get excited easily."

As Vincent slowed, he softly pecked Malon on the cheek and then sat in his chair. Malon didn't know how to take that show of gratitude and stood stunned. She noticed that Vincent went back to his dinner, almost completely unaware of what he did.

"Vincent?" Malon asked.

"Yes?" Vincent said. "Is something wrong?"

Malon sighed and smiled, "No, nothing is. Thanks anyways."

A/N: Shocking First Bullet!