Chapter One: Regrets Collect Like Old Friends

"Alright class! I am your surprise guest instructor! Today you will be learning the art of fighting outside!" Eagus smiled as the students of the Skyloft Knight Academy groaned. They were having their lesson at the Light Tower and the sun shone hot on their faces.

"No offense Mr. Eag, but I don't think it's any freakin' different than fighting inside", Groose commented cynically as most of his peers laughed or snickered.

"Well! I'll show you! Link! Come spar with me for a demonstration." The instructor called to the boy with the dirty blond hair daydreaming in the back.

Link just hadn't been the same since he returned from below. Just a few weeks after telling Zelda he would stay with her in Hyrule, he realized that his heart was in Skyloft and asked her if he could return home. She acted as if it didn't bother her, but Link knew she would be lonely. Even so, he couldn't stand another minute below the clouds and he returned to the floating islands he knew and loved. Regret had eaten nagged at him every moment of every day thereafter.

"We don't have all day!" Eagus waited for his student with slight impatience.

"Coming, sir", Link moved through the crowd and drew his sword as he neared his superior.

As they wielded their weapons with expert precision, Link began to see something out of the corner of his eye. It looked almost like… like a bright blue Loftwing with purple tipped wings. Only one student at the Academy flew on a Loftwing of that shade. Only…

"Zelda!" Groose's deep voice cracked with excitement as he ran toward the bird that had just landed feet away from the class.

"Hey Groose!" The yellow haired girl offered her biggest fan a friendly smile as he squeezed her tightly.

"What are you doing back up here?" The whole class had been brought to a halt and all eyes were on the pair.

"I just decided to finish out my schooling, then go live in Hyrule. I missed you guys…"

"Aww!" Karane moved toward her best friend and engulfed her in a hug. "We missed you too!"

The group descended upon their old friend showering her with embraces and questions. Eagus, having lost control of the class, rushed back to the Academy to inform Zelda's father of the happenings.

All of Skyloft came out as the word spread like wildfire that the island's favorite daughter was back. Every inhabitant had something to say to her except one… The one she wanted to hear from the most.

"Where's Link?" She asked the crowd. They almost immediately parted to uncover the boy standing in the back.

His hands were shoved into his pockets and his gaze was fixed tightly on the ground. He looked up for a quick second and saw his childhood best friend and the whole population of his hometown staring at him. Nervously, he began to shuffle toward her. Upon reaching her, he slowly brought his regard up to his friend's deep, yet clear blue eyes. The awkward, silent moment seemed to last forever, but the girl finally broke it by thrusting her arms around the petrified boy's neck. He responded by gently wrapping one of his muscular arms around her waist. He used the other to guide her head to his chest. Burying his face in her sunshine yellow hair, he quietly sobbed.

"Zelda… I never should have left. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry", he cried softly enough for only her to hear. The remorse and pain he had held inside since the day he went through that hole in the clouds poured out of his eyes.

"It's okay, Link", Zelda was choked up as she nuzzled deeper into his chest. "You were right all along. This is our home. We belong here, at least for now… Please don't cry."

"I know I shouldn't, but I still can't believe that I did that to you. I left my best friend alone in somewhere unfamiliar to her. Zel, I'm a douchebag!" He ran his fingers through the bright blonde silk on his friend's head.

"Please don't say that. You're amazing, Link! You saved me from Ghirahim. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you!"

"I know, but I still left you. Just tell me. Is there anything AT ALL that I could do to make you forgive me?" Link was so desperate to make Zelda feel his guilt.

"I've already forgiven you, but there is one thing that I've wanted from you since we were ten."

Link let the girl out of his embrace and stood, hands by his side ready to do whatever she asked. Zelda expression changed as she looked longingly into his bloodshot eyes.

"Kiss me, Link."

This is my first fanfic, so review and PM me with anything you have to say :)
Btw, the story title comes from the movie Sleepless in Seattle and this chapter title came from the song Shake it Out by Florence + the Machine.