Alright, let's get this show on the road!! I think this'll be quite a long
story, at least I hope. The beginning goes kind of quick, but I don't think
it's too bad.
Summary: It's been about a year since Link and Gem wed. Link is now twenty, and Gem is nineteen. They bought Lon-Lon Ranch and fixed it up. Arinell moved in with them, and left Diamesa her house in Kakariko Village. Surprises await the young couple as they start their new life together.
'A Cry Will Tell You'
"Jeeze, you're fat," Link teased as he slid his arms around Gemessa's waist. Gem laughed and continued to peel potatoes. "That's what happens when you become pregnant by a barbarian," she answered slyly. Link patted her stomach and kissed her cheek.
"Now, are you entirely sure you want the baby to be a surprise?" he asked his wife. "Dia could tell us." Gem nodded.
"Yes, I would rather be surprised." She threw the potatoes into a large pot of water and hung it over the fire. She smiled at Link, her eyes sparkling. "I hope it's a girl," she said softly.
"They're the most trouble," Arinell warned as she came through the door. "At least, you were," she added, winking at Link. Gem rolled her eyes.
"How's Lightning?" Link asked. Arinell smiled. "The little thing is feisty! But, he'll make a good riding and combat horse. We should keep his for the little one." Gem nodded in agreement. Link, however, shook his head.
"Flash and Epona will have quite a few good foals," he replied. "But, we better keep him, just in case. I've been thinking about buying one of Zelda's newborns. Excellent purebreds." Gem's eyes widened.
"Do you have any idea how much that will cost?" she exclaimed. Link smiled and hugged her reassuringly. "I've got enough saved up," he replied. He hurried over and stirred the potatoes a little bit. "You should be resting," he added, changing the sublect. His serious blue eyes looked her over, from her now-short auburn hair and green eyes to her burgeoning belly.
Gem dropped into a chair with a sigh, and Arinell started messing with her hair. Gem giggled as she felt a tiny foot kick anxiously. Link grinned. "Must be like me," he said proudly, placing his hand over her stomach. Gem closed her eyes and tilted her head back. A second later, she felt a cool hand brush her warm cheek.
"You're about to enter the best years of your lives," her mother said quietly. Gem grasped her hand. "I'm a little scared," she whispered. Arinell squeezed the girl's hand gently.
"It's not that bad," she answered. Link smiled. The three sat in silence for several minutes. Then Link piped up.
"Let's eat," he said, taking the hot pot off the fire with his calloused hands. Arinell put out plates, cups and silverware as Link got the beef out of the skillet. Soon the table was filled with steaming delicious food. Gem helped herself to potatoes and milk.
"Gem, don't you want some beef?" Arinell asked, concerned. Gem shook her head.
"No, I'm fine," she replied. Link raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. They ate their meal in silence. When they were done, Arinell said she would clear the table, so Link and Gem went outside. They walked towards the corral, passing the small fenced garden Gem and Arinell had started. The summer breeze was warm, and carried the sweet smell of hay. Link took Gem's hand in his, and she put her head on his shoulder.
"We have to pick out names, you know," she said softly. Link looked down at her. "How far along are you?" he asked. Gem scrunched up her face in thought. "Eight months, three weeks," she said in surprise. "I'm due in about a week." Link stared at her. "Well, we better get thinking!" he replied. She laughed.
"I've already settled for Linessa Marie for a girl's name," Gem said. "But I can't think of a boy's name." Link smiled.
"How about.. Naturo?" he asked. Gem looked at him in alarm. "Are you serious?" He nodded. "Oh. Well, I guess it's kind of cute," she said carefully. Link frowned.
"Well, Naturo was a friend I had when I lived in Kokiri Forest. We were best friends for the longest time. I thought it would never change. But then, one day he left the forest." Link paused. "I found his body in the Lost Woods where a fairy left him." Gem looked up at her husband sadly. "I'm sorry, honey. We can use that name. I actually like it, if you were wondering." Link took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. "Is James okay for his middle name?" she asked softly. He nodded and kissed her again.
Just then, Epona's foal, Lightning, trotted up and nuzzled Gem's pocket on her skirt. They laughed, and Gem fished out a sugar cube and fed it to him. Then she gave one to Link, and he gave it to the young horse. Lightning cantered away triumphantly.
"I'm wondering if we should have given those to him," Link said. Gem watched Lightning kick up his back legs. "I think he can handle it," she replied. They started walking back to the house as darkness fell.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Link woke up with a gasp. His nightclothes were damp with sweat. Gem immediately woke up beside him.
"Another nightmare?" she asked tiredly. He nodded. "I'm getting dressed and going outside," he told her. "Get back to sleep." He kissed her and slid out of bed. He looked out the window at the moon. It was about one in the morning, he guessed. He quietly dressed and went out. As he paused by Arinell's room, he thought he heard voices. He dismissed it as his imagination and went outside.
The night air cooled Link's flush face. He walked to the corral and checked on the horses. Epona trotted up to him, while the other two slept. Link stroked her chestnut hide slowly.
"Well, girl, it looks like we'll have another addition to the family." Epona whinnied softly. Link sat down, eyes closed. He heard Epona walk away, then silence, except for the crickets and the trees rustling in the wind. He thought back to his dream.
-+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Link sat in a tent filled with blue, red and green smoke. An old witch sat across from him, her keen silver eyes watching him intently. She smiled toothily at him and opened her mouth.
"Tick, tock, goes the clock.
And the time grows near
When the one you hold dear
Shall bring forth she
Who will disobey thee."
Then the tent and the witch disappeared, and Link was in a forest clearing. He looked up and saw a girl clad in purple staring at him. Suddenly, she turned and ran. Link started to follow her, but the flash of a blade stopped him.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Link opened his eyes. The wind had died, and the crickets had stopped chirping. Link leapt to his feet and had started towards the house when he heard a scream. He started running and reached the door just as Arinell opened it.
"Get the midwife," she ordered. Link's eyes widened as he turned and started running back to the corral. Epona was at the gate and let him mount her bare-backed. He grabbed her mane and dug his heels into her flanks.
"Yah!" he shouted. Epona shot out of the corral and past the house. Even over Epona's hoof beats, Link could hear Gem cry out again. He urged Epona to go faster.
They flew across the short span of grass and stopped at the bridge. Link realized with horror that it was drawn up.
"HEY!!" he shouted. "Open the way! My wife is having her baby! HEY!!"
"Hold on!" a voice yelled. The bridge slowly came down, and a soldier crossed. "Where is she?" he asked.
"She's at home," Link answered hoarsely, pointing at the distant lights. "I need the midwife!" With that, Link ran past the soldier and into town. He spotted the midwife's door and ran to it, knocking loudly as he reached it. When no one answered, he knocked again. A young woman answered, looking tired.
"My wife is having her baby!" he exclaimed. The woman smiled. "My sister was called to the castle the other night. Zelda had her baby early yesterday." Link stared at her.
"You mean I have to run to the castle?" he asked. She nodded, a little too cheerfully. "UGH!!" he growled, running off. He heard the girl call good luck to him, but he ignored her.
Link dashed onto the trail. The lights from the castle glimmered brightly in the dark, but he paid no attention. He was more intent on finding the midwife.
"Lye! I'm glad you're on duty! Gem's gone into labor, I need the midwife. Is she here?" Link asked breathlessly. Lye grinned.
"You're in luck! She's inside. Delivered Prince Codin yesterday." He opened the gate for Link. "Names?" Lye asked as the young man hurried through.
"Linessa Marie and Naturo James!" Link called back as he cut across the grass. He didn't hear what Lye said in return. He had just reached the bridge when it lowered and a middle-aged woman crossed. "Hello," she greeted him pleasantly as she passed. Link groaned and followed her. "Are you the midwife?" he asked, stifling a yawn. She turned her head to look at him as they walked.
"Yes. Why?" she inquired happily. Link smiled wearily. "Sorry to bother you, but my wife.." He couldn't help it; he yawned. "Excuse me, is in labor. Will you come help?" The lady took him by the arm and bustled along the path. "I will always come when I am needed," she informed him. "Where do you live?"
"Lon Lon Ranch," Link answered.
"Oh! So how has Malon been?" the woman asked. "I didn't know you moved here." Link stared at her. "N-n-no," he stammered. "Malon left and lives somewhere else. I'm.."
"She left you?" she interrupted, awed. "But then, how can she be giving birth?" Lye grinned as they passed. "Good luck, Hero of Time!" he called. The woman stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were Link? You married Gemessa, from Hiadra. You don't know me, I'm Cassandra," she told him. Link looked at her blearily. "Hi," he mumbled. They walked into town. Cassandra turned and walked towards her house. "Stay here," she said. She went in while Link waited for her. A minute later, she emerged carrying a small bag and a steaming cup. "Drink this," she ordered. Link downed it in three gulps, scalding his mouth and throat. He felt the energy flow back into his tired limbs. "Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," Cassandra answered as they hurried out of town. Neither said a word until they reached Hyrule Field. Then she looked up towards the ranch. "That's quite a ways," she muttered.
Link went to Epona. "Which is why we're taking her," he replied. She walked over a little fearfully. "Is it safe?" Cassandra asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, she's gentle," Link assured her. He mounted and held out his hand. She took it, and, with a little difficulty, pulled herself onto the horse. Link then forced Epona forward. In no time, they had reached the ranch. Cassandra hopped off with a smiled. "That didn't take long," she commented before dashing into the house. Link dismounted, smacked Epona's rump, and went inside.
He could hear Gem's harsh breathing, and Arinell soothing her. He ascended the stairs, only to be met with Cassandra's voice.
"Keep out!" she yelled forcefully. Arinell laughed, and Gem did too, weakly. Link grinned and sat on the stairs. Through the next half hour, he listened to Gem's groans and gasps of pain. Then he got up and made a cup of coffee. Before he finished drinking it, he was asleep, head on the table.
When he woke up, sunlight was filtering through the windows. Link yawned and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly ten. Labored breathing still could be heard from upstairs. Link got up and headed outside to do the chores.
The air was still, and a haze danced along the horizon. Link opened the stable doors to let the light in and air it out. Then he closed the gate separating the yard from the house.
He moved to the oat bin and scooped out two pailfuls. Then he dumped them in the trough by the open doors for the horses. Then he pitched some hay into the hay rack for the cows. He speared another bale with his pitchfork, and hoisted it over his shoulder. As he walked around to the corral towards the building on the other side of the ranch, he began thinking about a few things. They ran through his head like ants toward a picnic.
"How did I get to be a farmer?" he muttered. "The Hero of Time, yup, how did this come about? I guess it's something you give up when you get married." Link opened the door and tossed the hay bale in and started walking back, this time thinking along a completely different track.
'What if it's a girl? Gem will probably get her to be a little angel, doing what she's told. A boy, then I'll teach him farming, as well as fighting.' He was about to say something out loud, but he didn't get to. At that precise moment, a baby's cry pierced the air. Link hurried through the stable, simply dropping the pitchfork on the floor. Arinell met him halfway.
"That was Linessa," she said, beaming. The little cries could still be heard. Link smiled. "A girl, then," he said weakly. Arinell grinned.
"Naturo came earlier. You were zonked!" Link stared at her. "Twins?" Arinell nodded.
"They're beautiful, just wait." Link collapsed on the ground, incredulously. Then he laughed.
"We both got our wish!" he exclaimed. Arinell smiled and hugged her son-in-law.
"Congratulations, Dad," she whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~
About an hour later, Cassandra came out of the room. "You can see her now," she said softly. Link jumped up, while Arinell stayed to talk to Cassandra. He quietly went up the stairs and entered the bedroom.
Gem sat propped up on the bed. Her hair was dark and damp against her forehead, and she was slightly pale. But her eyes were as bright as emeralds. She smiled and held out her hand. Link took it and knelt by the bed.
"Hey, Hero," she whispered. He smiled. "How was it?" he asked, kissing her hand. She groaned.
"Painful. Mom was right, though. It wasn't as bad as I expected, even with twins." They laughed quietly.
"So, how does it feel to be a mother?" Link asked. Gem grinned, the same grin that melted Link's heart not even two years before.
"Good, and sore," she answered. "And how does it feel to be a father?" Link thought for a minute. "It feels great," he decided. Gem brushed a strand of blonde hair out of Link's face. "Lucky," she whispered. He picked himself up and kissed her lips fully. She kissed him back. It was a full minute before they broke apart.
"How far apart are they?" Link asked, nuzzling his nose against hers.
"Five hours exactly," Gem said softly. "Go take a look at your children." Link stood up and slowly walked over to the two nearby cradles. He peered into the first one.
"That's Naturo," Gem murmured from the bed. The baby boy was asleep. His hair was light blonde. He was still a little red, but his face was peaceful, tiny fists curled. Link smiled and moved to the next one.
"Linessa," he whispered. The baby girl stared up at her father with bright green eyes. Her hair was dark, and her face was still colored from birth.
"They're beautiful," he whispered, picking up Linessa's hand very gently. "She has green eyes," he added. Gem smiled. "Mom said she'll have those eyes forever. Naturo has blue eyes, but I'll bet those'll stay, too," she said happily. Link stared at Linessa, and Linessa stared at Link.
And giggled gleefully.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I hope you guys liked the first chapter! I'm planning on making this pretty long, so be prepared. By the way, I should be updating next weekend, but if I don't, I will sometime during the week. Don't give up hope!! Please Review!!
~Thanks to Katharine for all her help!
*Disclaimer:* I only own *deep breath* Gem, Arinell, Flash, Lightning, Lye, Linessa, Naturo, Codin, Diamesa, and Cassandra. Oh, and Cassandra's sister! (Okay, I think I got them all!)
Summary: It's been about a year since Link and Gem wed. Link is now twenty, and Gem is nineteen. They bought Lon-Lon Ranch and fixed it up. Arinell moved in with them, and left Diamesa her house in Kakariko Village. Surprises await the young couple as they start their new life together.
'A Cry Will Tell You'
"Jeeze, you're fat," Link teased as he slid his arms around Gemessa's waist. Gem laughed and continued to peel potatoes. "That's what happens when you become pregnant by a barbarian," she answered slyly. Link patted her stomach and kissed her cheek.
"Now, are you entirely sure you want the baby to be a surprise?" he asked his wife. "Dia could tell us." Gem nodded.
"Yes, I would rather be surprised." She threw the potatoes into a large pot of water and hung it over the fire. She smiled at Link, her eyes sparkling. "I hope it's a girl," she said softly.
"They're the most trouble," Arinell warned as she came through the door. "At least, you were," she added, winking at Link. Gem rolled her eyes.
"How's Lightning?" Link asked. Arinell smiled. "The little thing is feisty! But, he'll make a good riding and combat horse. We should keep his for the little one." Gem nodded in agreement. Link, however, shook his head.
"Flash and Epona will have quite a few good foals," he replied. "But, we better keep him, just in case. I've been thinking about buying one of Zelda's newborns. Excellent purebreds." Gem's eyes widened.
"Do you have any idea how much that will cost?" she exclaimed. Link smiled and hugged her reassuringly. "I've got enough saved up," he replied. He hurried over and stirred the potatoes a little bit. "You should be resting," he added, changing the sublect. His serious blue eyes looked her over, from her now-short auburn hair and green eyes to her burgeoning belly.
Gem dropped into a chair with a sigh, and Arinell started messing with her hair. Gem giggled as she felt a tiny foot kick anxiously. Link grinned. "Must be like me," he said proudly, placing his hand over her stomach. Gem closed her eyes and tilted her head back. A second later, she felt a cool hand brush her warm cheek.
"You're about to enter the best years of your lives," her mother said quietly. Gem grasped her hand. "I'm a little scared," she whispered. Arinell squeezed the girl's hand gently.
"It's not that bad," she answered. Link smiled. The three sat in silence for several minutes. Then Link piped up.
"Let's eat," he said, taking the hot pot off the fire with his calloused hands. Arinell put out plates, cups and silverware as Link got the beef out of the skillet. Soon the table was filled with steaming delicious food. Gem helped herself to potatoes and milk.
"Gem, don't you want some beef?" Arinell asked, concerned. Gem shook her head.
"No, I'm fine," she replied. Link raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. They ate their meal in silence. When they were done, Arinell said she would clear the table, so Link and Gem went outside. They walked towards the corral, passing the small fenced garden Gem and Arinell had started. The summer breeze was warm, and carried the sweet smell of hay. Link took Gem's hand in his, and she put her head on his shoulder.
"We have to pick out names, you know," she said softly. Link looked down at her. "How far along are you?" he asked. Gem scrunched up her face in thought. "Eight months, three weeks," she said in surprise. "I'm due in about a week." Link stared at her. "Well, we better get thinking!" he replied. She laughed.
"I've already settled for Linessa Marie for a girl's name," Gem said. "But I can't think of a boy's name." Link smiled.
"How about.. Naturo?" he asked. Gem looked at him in alarm. "Are you serious?" He nodded. "Oh. Well, I guess it's kind of cute," she said carefully. Link frowned.
"Well, Naturo was a friend I had when I lived in Kokiri Forest. We were best friends for the longest time. I thought it would never change. But then, one day he left the forest." Link paused. "I found his body in the Lost Woods where a fairy left him." Gem looked up at her husband sadly. "I'm sorry, honey. We can use that name. I actually like it, if you were wondering." Link took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. "Is James okay for his middle name?" she asked softly. He nodded and kissed her again.
Just then, Epona's foal, Lightning, trotted up and nuzzled Gem's pocket on her skirt. They laughed, and Gem fished out a sugar cube and fed it to him. Then she gave one to Link, and he gave it to the young horse. Lightning cantered away triumphantly.
"I'm wondering if we should have given those to him," Link said. Gem watched Lightning kick up his back legs. "I think he can handle it," she replied. They started walking back to the house as darkness fell.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Link woke up with a gasp. His nightclothes were damp with sweat. Gem immediately woke up beside him.
"Another nightmare?" she asked tiredly. He nodded. "I'm getting dressed and going outside," he told her. "Get back to sleep." He kissed her and slid out of bed. He looked out the window at the moon. It was about one in the morning, he guessed. He quietly dressed and went out. As he paused by Arinell's room, he thought he heard voices. He dismissed it as his imagination and went outside.
The night air cooled Link's flush face. He walked to the corral and checked on the horses. Epona trotted up to him, while the other two slept. Link stroked her chestnut hide slowly.
"Well, girl, it looks like we'll have another addition to the family." Epona whinnied softly. Link sat down, eyes closed. He heard Epona walk away, then silence, except for the crickets and the trees rustling in the wind. He thought back to his dream.
-+-+-+-+-+-+--+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Link sat in a tent filled with blue, red and green smoke. An old witch sat across from him, her keen silver eyes watching him intently. She smiled toothily at him and opened her mouth.
"Tick, tock, goes the clock.
And the time grows near
When the one you hold dear
Shall bring forth she
Who will disobey thee."
Then the tent and the witch disappeared, and Link was in a forest clearing. He looked up and saw a girl clad in purple staring at him. Suddenly, she turned and ran. Link started to follow her, but the flash of a blade stopped him.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Link opened his eyes. The wind had died, and the crickets had stopped chirping. Link leapt to his feet and had started towards the house when he heard a scream. He started running and reached the door just as Arinell opened it.
"Get the midwife," she ordered. Link's eyes widened as he turned and started running back to the corral. Epona was at the gate and let him mount her bare-backed. He grabbed her mane and dug his heels into her flanks.
"Yah!" he shouted. Epona shot out of the corral and past the house. Even over Epona's hoof beats, Link could hear Gem cry out again. He urged Epona to go faster.
They flew across the short span of grass and stopped at the bridge. Link realized with horror that it was drawn up.
"HEY!!" he shouted. "Open the way! My wife is having her baby! HEY!!"
"Hold on!" a voice yelled. The bridge slowly came down, and a soldier crossed. "Where is she?" he asked.
"She's at home," Link answered hoarsely, pointing at the distant lights. "I need the midwife!" With that, Link ran past the soldier and into town. He spotted the midwife's door and ran to it, knocking loudly as he reached it. When no one answered, he knocked again. A young woman answered, looking tired.
"My wife is having her baby!" he exclaimed. The woman smiled. "My sister was called to the castle the other night. Zelda had her baby early yesterday." Link stared at her.
"You mean I have to run to the castle?" he asked. She nodded, a little too cheerfully. "UGH!!" he growled, running off. He heard the girl call good luck to him, but he ignored her.
Link dashed onto the trail. The lights from the castle glimmered brightly in the dark, but he paid no attention. He was more intent on finding the midwife.
"Lye! I'm glad you're on duty! Gem's gone into labor, I need the midwife. Is she here?" Link asked breathlessly. Lye grinned.
"You're in luck! She's inside. Delivered Prince Codin yesterday." He opened the gate for Link. "Names?" Lye asked as the young man hurried through.
"Linessa Marie and Naturo James!" Link called back as he cut across the grass. He didn't hear what Lye said in return. He had just reached the bridge when it lowered and a middle-aged woman crossed. "Hello," she greeted him pleasantly as she passed. Link groaned and followed her. "Are you the midwife?" he asked, stifling a yawn. She turned her head to look at him as they walked.
"Yes. Why?" she inquired happily. Link smiled wearily. "Sorry to bother you, but my wife.." He couldn't help it; he yawned. "Excuse me, is in labor. Will you come help?" The lady took him by the arm and bustled along the path. "I will always come when I am needed," she informed him. "Where do you live?"
"Lon Lon Ranch," Link answered.
"Oh! So how has Malon been?" the woman asked. "I didn't know you moved here." Link stared at her. "N-n-no," he stammered. "Malon left and lives somewhere else. I'm.."
"She left you?" she interrupted, awed. "But then, how can she be giving birth?" Lye grinned as they passed. "Good luck, Hero of Time!" he called. The woman stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were Link? You married Gemessa, from Hiadra. You don't know me, I'm Cassandra," she told him. Link looked at her blearily. "Hi," he mumbled. They walked into town. Cassandra turned and walked towards her house. "Stay here," she said. She went in while Link waited for her. A minute later, she emerged carrying a small bag and a steaming cup. "Drink this," she ordered. Link downed it in three gulps, scalding his mouth and throat. He felt the energy flow back into his tired limbs. "Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," Cassandra answered as they hurried out of town. Neither said a word until they reached Hyrule Field. Then she looked up towards the ranch. "That's quite a ways," she muttered.
Link went to Epona. "Which is why we're taking her," he replied. She walked over a little fearfully. "Is it safe?" Cassandra asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, she's gentle," Link assured her. He mounted and held out his hand. She took it, and, with a little difficulty, pulled herself onto the horse. Link then forced Epona forward. In no time, they had reached the ranch. Cassandra hopped off with a smiled. "That didn't take long," she commented before dashing into the house. Link dismounted, smacked Epona's rump, and went inside.
He could hear Gem's harsh breathing, and Arinell soothing her. He ascended the stairs, only to be met with Cassandra's voice.
"Keep out!" she yelled forcefully. Arinell laughed, and Gem did too, weakly. Link grinned and sat on the stairs. Through the next half hour, he listened to Gem's groans and gasps of pain. Then he got up and made a cup of coffee. Before he finished drinking it, he was asleep, head on the table.
When he woke up, sunlight was filtering through the windows. Link yawned and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly ten. Labored breathing still could be heard from upstairs. Link got up and headed outside to do the chores.
The air was still, and a haze danced along the horizon. Link opened the stable doors to let the light in and air it out. Then he closed the gate separating the yard from the house.
He moved to the oat bin and scooped out two pailfuls. Then he dumped them in the trough by the open doors for the horses. Then he pitched some hay into the hay rack for the cows. He speared another bale with his pitchfork, and hoisted it over his shoulder. As he walked around to the corral towards the building on the other side of the ranch, he began thinking about a few things. They ran through his head like ants toward a picnic.
"How did I get to be a farmer?" he muttered. "The Hero of Time, yup, how did this come about? I guess it's something you give up when you get married." Link opened the door and tossed the hay bale in and started walking back, this time thinking along a completely different track.
'What if it's a girl? Gem will probably get her to be a little angel, doing what she's told. A boy, then I'll teach him farming, as well as fighting.' He was about to say something out loud, but he didn't get to. At that precise moment, a baby's cry pierced the air. Link hurried through the stable, simply dropping the pitchfork on the floor. Arinell met him halfway.
"That was Linessa," she said, beaming. The little cries could still be heard. Link smiled. "A girl, then," he said weakly. Arinell grinned.
"Naturo came earlier. You were zonked!" Link stared at her. "Twins?" Arinell nodded.
"They're beautiful, just wait." Link collapsed on the ground, incredulously. Then he laughed.
"We both got our wish!" he exclaimed. Arinell smiled and hugged her son-in-law.
"Congratulations, Dad," she whispered.
~*~*~*~*~*~
About an hour later, Cassandra came out of the room. "You can see her now," she said softly. Link jumped up, while Arinell stayed to talk to Cassandra. He quietly went up the stairs and entered the bedroom.
Gem sat propped up on the bed. Her hair was dark and damp against her forehead, and she was slightly pale. But her eyes were as bright as emeralds. She smiled and held out her hand. Link took it and knelt by the bed.
"Hey, Hero," she whispered. He smiled. "How was it?" he asked, kissing her hand. She groaned.
"Painful. Mom was right, though. It wasn't as bad as I expected, even with twins." They laughed quietly.
"So, how does it feel to be a mother?" Link asked. Gem grinned, the same grin that melted Link's heart not even two years before.
"Good, and sore," she answered. "And how does it feel to be a father?" Link thought for a minute. "It feels great," he decided. Gem brushed a strand of blonde hair out of Link's face. "Lucky," she whispered. He picked himself up and kissed her lips fully. She kissed him back. It was a full minute before they broke apart.
"How far apart are they?" Link asked, nuzzling his nose against hers.
"Five hours exactly," Gem said softly. "Go take a look at your children." Link stood up and slowly walked over to the two nearby cradles. He peered into the first one.
"That's Naturo," Gem murmured from the bed. The baby boy was asleep. His hair was light blonde. He was still a little red, but his face was peaceful, tiny fists curled. Link smiled and moved to the next one.
"Linessa," he whispered. The baby girl stared up at her father with bright green eyes. Her hair was dark, and her face was still colored from birth.
"They're beautiful," he whispered, picking up Linessa's hand very gently. "She has green eyes," he added. Gem smiled. "Mom said she'll have those eyes forever. Naturo has blue eyes, but I'll bet those'll stay, too," she said happily. Link stared at Linessa, and Linessa stared at Link.
And giggled gleefully.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I hope you guys liked the first chapter! I'm planning on making this pretty long, so be prepared. By the way, I should be updating next weekend, but if I don't, I will sometime during the week. Don't give up hope!! Please Review!!
~Thanks to Katharine for all her help!
*Disclaimer:* I only own *deep breath* Gem, Arinell, Flash, Lightning, Lye, Linessa, Naturo, Codin, Diamesa, and Cassandra. Oh, and Cassandra's sister! (Okay, I think I got them all!)