Okay, before I start, I am fully aware that in the game that Sheik is Zelda. But I prefer the idea that Zelda and Sheik are two different people. I like this idea better because I don't like Zelda very much, she always annoyed me, and the idea of pairing her with Link is a little too common. No offense Link/Zelda fans, it's not my favorite pairing. Lead guy meets lead girl; they fall in love, blah blah blah. Not my thing. I can see why she is one of the few girls you could hook the poor boy up with, but still. But if you are a Link/Sheik fan, here you are!

Bold = Flashback

//Italic// = Thoughts

Link rolled out of bed, landing face first on the floor, just like he did every morning. "Ow. If only all of Hyrule could see me now. I mean, it's stupid. I can face down Ganondorf and win, but I fall out of bed every morning. That tells you how much of a brain heroes need."

"Well, love, may I ask why you are on the floor again today?"

Link was on the verge of telling Zelda to shut up, but he didn't really want a fight this early in the morning. "Oh, I was just dreaming I was in the Shadow Temple again and I missed my jump to the Boss Door." Link was certainly not going to tell her what he really had been dreaming about. "So, after breakfast, do you think we could play a little duet together, just for old times' sake?"

Zelda shook her head. "Not today, Link, not today. I'm not in the mood."

Link frowned. "You're never in the mood. I almost wish Sheik were back. He liked music."

Zelda jumped out of bed. "Don't say that. He's not real. Really, Link, if I'd known that he'd be such a powerful disguise, I wouldn't have used him." Link didn't answer, and the rest of the early morning was spent in silence.

"Hey, there, girl." Link hopped onto Epona's back. "Ready for a ride?" The rust-colored horse neighed her reply and ran out onto Hyrule Field. Link gave Epona her head, and for some reason the horse headed for Lake Hylia. Link had never thought she'd want to go there. Jumping the short fence, the pair pulled to a stop by the lake's edge. "Remember the Water Temple, girl?" Unaware that he was talking more to himself than the horse, he continued. "And the Zoras? Ruto and King Zora and Jabu-Jabu? How Zora's Domain froze over? How Ruto was convinced I was going to marry her, even after she was rescued? And Sheik?" Link remembered…how could he not? Sheik was…not real. He had to remember that. As much as the young man was in his thoughts, he was just a figment of Zelda's imagination. No matter how much Link wanted to pretend, Sheik had never existed. But he had seemed so real…

"Sheik, wait!" Link took a step forward. "Can I ask you something?"

The other blonde turned. "You just did. But all right."

"Why do you help me?"

Sheik didn't look at him for a moment. Then he said, "Because I-because I have to. It's my destiny."

Link frowned and pulled on his Iron Boots. "Oh. Well, I guess you can pull out your little bag of flash power and vanish like you always do. I don't care. I got my answer." Sheik did so, but just before he disappeared, Link saw an emotion in the other man's eyes that he'd never seen there before. Hurt.

"I'm sorry, Sheik. I guess I never told you that. Argh! Damn it, he's not real!" Epona, startled by the tone in her master's voice, reared and Link, surprised, fell off her back and onto the ground. The mare galloped off, leaving Link behind. "Stupid horse." Pulling off his boots, Link dipped his feet in the cool water. //Here was the only place you met me without telling me to continue on with my quest. Did you come here because you wanted to? // On an impulse, he pulled out his ocarina and started to play the Serenade of Water. The soothing sound seemed to float through the air around him, and reach someone else, for the gentle tones of a harp replied to his song. Link almost dropped his ocarina in surprise. He hadn't heard that harp in a year, and he'd never expected to hear it again. //Zelda never plays…Sheik? Stop imagining things, Link. // He put the ocarina to his lips again, and played Epona's Song. The rust-colored mare trotted up to him, and with a quick glance at the island, Link climbed on, and rode away from the lake.

Zelda began to sew a new row of gold leaves around the edge of what would be a pillowcase, humming as she worked. "Excuse me, Princess." The blonde woman jumped and dropped her work. "What-what do you want?" The young man leaning in the corner chuckled. "Nothing, really, Princess. Just a chance to see your husband again. Talk to him. Tell him the truth."

Zelda jumped out of her seat in a rage. "Certainly not! Link believes that you never existed, and that's the way it's going to stay! You almost took him from me once, I'm not giving you another chance!" The young man growled softly, but he did not raise his voice or move to attack. "He's not a toy that you can play with, Princess. He makes his own choices."

"He chose me!"

Sheik shook his head. "No, he let you keep him. You were the closest he could get-to me." With that, the young Sheikah vanished. Zelda, without more than a moment's thought, left by way of the door. //He'd better stay away from Link…he's happy now. //

When Link got back in, an extremely annoyed princess unhappily greeted him. "Where were you? You've been gone all day! Is there someone you're meeting?" Link tugged off his hat and dropped it on the floor. "No, Zelda. Why would I want to betray you? You only boss me around, complain, don't do anything I ask of you, and suspect me of cheating on you! Who exactly did you have in mind? Let's see…Saria's gone, Darunia's gone, Ruto's gone, Nabooru's gone, most of the common people I met don't even recognize me, Impa's gone, and Malon has been happily married for the last three years!" The Princess of Destiny fell silent as her husband started to leave. "Where-where do you think you're going?"

"Back out."

Zelda called out after him, "But Father wanted to-."

"He can find me later!"

Link sat on the steps next to the Master Sword. //I met Sheik here…before I knew…I loved him, didn't I? //

"Link?"

Thinking it was Zelda, Link didn't turn. "Go away. I want to be alone, Princess."

"It's not Zelda." The voice sounded slightly nervous. "It's someone who's been wanting to see you for years." Link slowly turned around, and his eyes widened. The young Sheikah who his heart had been longing after for so long stood not three feet away from him. "Sheik? But you-Zelda-."

Sheik knelt by him and placed a finger on his lips. "Zelda lied to you. I'm no figment of her imagination."

Link jerked back a little. "Then why'd you just vanish? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you wanted her. It was only until this morning when I realized you didn't hate me." Sheik brushed a lock of hair from his face. "Unless I misunderstood what I heard you say at the lake. Did I?"

"So you really were there." Link reached for Sheik's hand and held it. "You didn't misunderstand. I am sorry for that day, I'm sorry I never told you before now." Sheik shrugged, but the difference the apology made was clear in his eyes. "It's all right, Link. I've missed you, you know. I wanted to tell you how I felt, but Zelda ruined that."

"Could you tell me the whole story, the true one?" Sheik smiled under the scarf he wore. "If you want to know. Meet me after dark in Kakariko Village. I have a place there." He let go of Link's hand, and vanished, leaving his love behind with a feeling of quiet contentment.

Done with that chapter! Review, tell me what you thought, this is my first Zelda fic, so it's a new way of writing, working with these people.