Hello all. This story is going to be one of my back burner stories. It's been sitting in my computer forever and i've been working on it for a long time. It's going to be long updates in between, because the chapters are pretty long and it's only a back burner story. but never-the-less I think you'll enjoy it.
For those of you who read my other stories. I'm terribly sorry for making you wait this long, but I've been extremely busy and lacking writing time. I've just graduated from high school and have had some drama going on as well as trying to find a job and stuff. But i will try to update as soon as I can.
Disclaimer- I most certainly do own LoZ! *Smack!* ok.... maybe I dont. T.T
Now without further ado, enjoy Silver Linings!
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I stood right in front of her grave, staring blankly at the gravestone. It read:
Malon Lillian West, beloved mother, sister and daughter. She will be missed.
My sister, my beloved older sister Malon was dead. She'd called me that day, only a few hours before she died. I'd just graduated from collage a few days before, and my best friend Zelda was coming over to help me move all my stuff out of my dorm room and back into the family manor.
A few hours later I got the call from my other sister Saria, A call that Malon was dead.
Flashback
"So Link, what are you doing now that you're out of collage?" I glanced up at my best friend, who was folding some of my disarrayed clothes and packing them neatly in a box.
"Aw Zel, you know I've wanted to be a writer ever since I was a kid." Zelda giggled, nodding her head. "I know; I was your first interview." I laughed, but was interrupted by my cell phone ringing. I picked it up and glanced at it, it read 'Saria' so I flipped it open.
"Hello?" Silence.
"Hello?" I said again. "Anyone there?"
"Link?" A voice said, I recognized my sister's voice. "Saria? What's wrong?"
I could tell Saria had been crying. She kept sniffling, and I could hear weird sounds in the background.
"Saria? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Did something happen?" Saria sniffed again and took a deep breath.
"Link… there's been an accident." I felt my breath hitch in my throat. "What?" Saria took a deep breath.
"Malon… Malon was in an accident, and…" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "And?"
"Link… she's dead." I almost dropped the phone. "What?!" Saria started crying.
"S-she was one her w-way to pick up W-William, Stephan and Emma after work. Someone broadsided her car. She t-tried to get out, but the car caught on fire…" I swallowed hard, running my fingers through my hair.
"They tried to get her to the hospital where I work, but she didn't make it before they got here…" I took a deep breath.
"How are the kids taking it?" I asked. I heard Saria swallow hard.
"They don't know yet. They are still at the sitter's house. I called the babysitter and explained the situation." Saria explained.
"I'm on my way. I'll pick up the kids on the way, where should we meet you?" I said.
"At St. Ruto's hospital where I work. I'll be in the lobby waiting…" I nodded.
"Alright, we'll be there soon. Love you Saria."
"Love you too Link. Bye."
"Bye." Click!
As soon as I hung up I collapsed on the couch, running my hands through my hair. Zelda had sensed something was wrong and quickly sat next to me.
"Link? What's going on? What happened?" I took a deep breath, moving my head into my hands.
"Malon's dead."
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Zelda was shocked, and insisted on coming with me. She was a good family friend, and I was glad she was with me.
We quickly jumped into my green SUV and took off towards the baby sitter's house. As soon as we arrived I jumped out of the car and quickly banged my fist on the door. The baby sitter Impaz, answered.
"I'm Malon's brother, Link." I said; she nodded. "Saria called and said to expect you. The kids are all ready to go. Their car seats are in here." She led me into the room, where Malon's 7 year old son William sat on the couch in his jacket and shoes, her 5 year old son Stephan sat next to his booster seat, and her 2 year old daughter Emma was strapped into her car seat. I quickly picked up Emma and her car seat and headed towards the door. Zelda came in as I was leaving, picked up Stephan's car seat, took him by the hand and led him towards the door. William stood up and followed us out. I strapped in Emma quickly, and Zelda quickly lifted Stephan's booster seat into the car and helped him up before buckling him in. I quickly helped William climb into the seat between Emma and Stephan and buckled him in. I quickly turned to Zelda.
"Let's go." Zelda nodded and hopped into the passenger seat. I quickly ran around the car to the driver's side.
"Thanks Impaz." I said before hopping into the seat, turning the car on, buckling my seatbelt, and taking off towards the hospital.
William, Stephan and Emma were all quiet as we sped towards the hospital. I could feel Zelda staring at me, and I felt her lay a comforting hand on my shoulder. I glanced at her, and her expression was filled with pain. I quickly turned my eyes to the road.
It only took a few minutes to get to the hospital, but it felt like forever. As soon as we arrived Zelda and I helped the kids out of the car and all but ran into the hospital. Saria was waiting for us, and as soon as she saw me she threw her arms around my neck and started sobbing. I held my sister tightly, letting her cry and feeling a few tears of my own slide down my cheeks. After a few minutes, Saria's sobs turned to sniffles, and she pulled back to look up at me.
"I just got off the phone with Mido. He said the police found Malon's will, and they want us all to come to our house for the reading." Mido was Saria's husband.
I nodded and turned to face Zelda and the kids. Emma had fallen asleep on Zelda's shoulder, sucking her thumb.
"Do you want me to drop you off at your house?" I asked her. Zelda looked at me sternly.
"I'm coming with you." She said. I nodded, glad that she was coming.
I picked up Stephan up while Saria took William by the hand and we headed to my car. As we headed out, I heard William say to Saria. "Aunt Saria? What's going on?" Saria wrapped an arm around his shoulder and smiled sadly at him.
"We'll explain everything at my house ok?" William nodded, and Saria gave him a quick hug.
As soon as we got to my SUV, Saria helped us get Stephan, William and Emma all bucked before heading over to her gold car.
Zelda and I hopped in my car and followed Saria back to her house.
-0-
Emma was still sleeping when we got there, and Stephan looked ready to fall asleep any minute. Zelda carried in a sleeping Emma while I carried in Stephan. He was soon out like a light on my shoulder.
Mido and a few police officers were waiting for us when we stepped inside Saria's house. Saria ran over to hug him as soon as she entered. They broke apart after a minute, and Saria sat with Mido and William for a minute while Zelda and I carried Emma and Stephan into the guest room to let them sleep on the bed. Zelda spread a blanket over them before we returned to the living room to read the will.
The policeman was holding a piece of paper when Zelda and I entered. Mido, Saria and William were sitting on one of the couches, so Zelda and I sat on the other one. The policemen cleared his throat.
"This is the will and testimony of Malon Lillian West." He peered down at the paper.
"It says here, her sister Mrs. Saria Kokiri will receive all her house hold items, furniture, clothes, etc. and her brother Mr. Link Shade will receive all her husband's possessions. The house is to be sold and the profit split evenly between you two." He nodded and Saria and I. "and custody of her three children, along with all their personal possessions, goes to her brother, Mr. Link Shade." I froze as he said that. Me? Custody of William, Stephan and Emma?
"Excuse me." I said, "are you sure that's right? Shouldn't Saria be the one to have them?" The policeman glanced down at the paper.
"That's what it says here." He handed me the paper, and I skimmed over it until I found the right part.
'-And custody of my three children, William Zachary West, Stephan Maxwell West, and Emily Lillian West, goes to my younger brother, Link Shade.'
I glanced over at my sister, and she looked equally as surprised. I handed the paper back to the policeman.
"Also," the man continued, "she left a letter for each of you." His coworker handed him two envelopes, which he handed to Saria and me.
I stared down at my name written in the familiar elegant script of my sister. Malon always did have the neatest handwriting of the three of us. Swallowing hard, I slid my finger under the flap and opened the envelope.
As I read Malon's last words to me, I felt tears come to my eyes, and I wiped them away with the back of my hand, folding up Malon's letter and sliding it back into the envelope, clutching it tightly in my hands. I could only hope she knew what she was doing.
End Flashback.
As I stared at the words written on Malon's grave, I felt a gently hand rest on my shoulder, and I turned to see Saria standing behind me, William and Stephan standing behind her and Zelda holding little Emma in her arms next to them.
Without a word Saria hugged me, and I hugged her back, closing my eyes tightly and taking a deep breath.
I stepped back a minute later and turned to Zelda and my niece and nephews. I bent down on my knees, ignoring the fact I was probably staining my suit, and the two boys walking over to me, both hugging me.
"It's gonna ok." I said to them. The nodded and I stood up, ruffling their blonde hair before turning to face Zelda. She smiled sadly at me, then reached up and pulled me into a one armed hug.
I wrapped my arms around her and Emma, who latched her little arms around my neck.
"Come here Emma." I said, taking the little girl from Zelda and hugging her. She hugged me back then pulled back to look up at me.
"Uncle Wink? When mommy come home?" I tensed at the question, look sadly down at my niece.
"Mommy's not coming home princess. You and Willie and Steph are gonna come live with Uncle Link now." She looked sad at the mention of her mother, but perked up when I said she'd be coming home with me.
"I wanna go home wif uncle Wink!" she began bouncing in my arms, and I couldn't help but smile.
"We'll go home soon Em, tomorrow we've got some stuff to do." I felt Zelda place a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to face her.
"I'll help too, ok?" she said; I nodded. I was so grateful to have a friend like Zelda. I smiled at her, and it was then I noticed how beautiful she looked, even though we were at a funeral and all wearing black.
"You look beautiful." I said to her. She looked surprised, and I noticed her cheeks turn a bit pink. "Thank you," She said. At that moment, Saria walked up to us.
"Are you sure you want to go to Mal's house tomorrow? It's not too soon for you?" I shook my head. "It'll always been too soon for me Sar, I need to go now, face everything now. It's how I move on." She nodded, and I knew she understood. She turned to face the boys, holding out her hands towards Stephan, who took it.
"Come on boys, let's go to the car." Stephan took her hand, and she led the boys towards the car parked on the side of the road next to the cemetery. Zelda and I glanced at each other before heading towards my SUV. As I was strapping Emma in, I glanced over towards my sister to see if she needed help with the boys, only to see both Stephan and William watching me. William turned to Saria.
"I want to ride with Uncle Link." Then, much to my surprise, he left Saria's side and ran over to Zelda and I. Stephan let go of my sister's hand and followed his brother, saying, "I want to ride with Uncle Link too!" I noticed Zelda smiling out of the corner of my eye as I helped the two boys into the car.
-0-
Saria insisted we stay at her house while we worked on Malon's house. She even let Zelda stay, and I knew she was glad I had a friend to help me.
Saria and her husband Mido lived in a large 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment while they focused on their careers. Saria and Mido had their room, I shared a room with the boys, and Zelda shared a room with little Emma.
We all woke up late the next day, and I could tell the funeral was on everyone's mind.
Saria tried to cheer everyone up by making pancakes. It worked for the kids-they were thrilled. But I knew by Zelda and Saria's crestfallen faces that pancakes were the last think on their minds.
I was only able to shovel down one pancake before I headed to the bathroom to take a shower and clean up. I noticed Zelda and my sister throwing me worried looks. My appetite was somewhat of a legend in our family.
After I'd showered and changed into a clean t-shirt and a pair of jeans, I headed into the living room to find only Saria there cleaning up breakfast. I immediately began to help her.
"Where is everyone?" I asked. Saria glanced at me. "Zelda went to help Emma get dressed, and the boys are helping each other." She explained. I nodded and helped my sister finish clearing the table.
Zelda and Emma emerged from their room just as we were finishing up. Emma was wearing a little pink skirt with a white shirt and Zelda was wearing a white skirt with a light green shirt.
"What time do you want to go over?" Zelda asked as she walked over to stand next to me. I glanced at the clock; it was already 11:30.
"How about as soon as the boys are ready?" I said, Zelda nodded.
A few minutes later, the boys emerged, and I laughed when I noticed the shirt Stephan was wearing was backwards. Zelda noticed it too, for she immediately knelt down and helped him straighten it out.
While Zelda was helping Stephan, I headed back to the room I shared with the boys to get my jacket, wallet and keys. When I headed back into the living room, Zelda and Saria were helping the three kids get their coats on. I slid my jacket on over my t-shirt before sliding on my shoes. I helped William, Stephan and Emma tie their shoes while Zelda and Saria grabbed their coats and jackets.
Stephan and Emma rode with Saria in her car, but William had been very firm in wanting to ride with me.
Five minutes later we were on the way to Malon's house. According to Malon's will, she'd left everything to Saria except for the things that belonged to her husband. We'd have our work cut out for us.
As we pulled into the driveway, I leaned back against the seat. It was hard being here, knowing my sister had lived here and would never live her again. Zelda placed her hand on the back of my neck and ran her fingers through the hair on the back of my neck. She smiled softly at me.
"Hey, you ok?" I sighed.
"I will be, it'll just take some time." She nodded, removing her hand from my neck and unbuckling her seat belt to help Saria (who was behind us) get the children out of the car.
I sighed again and unbuckled my seat belt, noticing via my rear view mirror that William was still in the car.
"Hey," I said, and he glanced at me, "you ready?" he nodded slowly, and I got out of my car.
"Unclw Wink!" as soon as Emma was placed on the ground, she came running towards me, her hands outstretched. I smiled at her and picked her up, holding her with one arm.
"Ready to go in?" I asked Saria softly as she moved to stand next to me with Stephan at her side. She took a deep breath.
"I will be. It's now or never, right?" I nodded. "Let's go in."
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And that was chapter 1. I originallu got the idea for this story from the movie 'raising helen' so if you've seen it you'll probably see the similarities between my story and the movie. but I promise it certainly won't be the same, prolly not at all.
anyway hope ya'll enjoy the chapter. review please! they're so uplifting :)
Anime Wildfire~