A/N: Whilst I'm at it, I would like to thank everyone who's read my story and given me such nice rewievs and to all of you who's put my story on your story alert/favorite!! Here's the continuing story!

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, I don't own anything, Nintendo do - but Kayla's mine, copyright on her! XD

Everything went within the minutes of a heart beat. The shock came with a fear deep inside the pit of her stomach as he looked right at her.

The sound of the market didn't reach Malon ears any longer. Her eyes locked with his blue, and everything else departed.

His lips were separated and his breath was heavy, but his eyes gave her a still, fleeting look.

Malon's hands felt damp, as her fingernails burrowed deep into the palm of her hands making her knuckles turn into a ghostly white.

In stages Malon tried to comprehend what was happening. She would opened her mouth trying to say something but her words got swallowed down by a huge wave of uncontainable feelings and Malon was left biting on her bottom lip.

A few years ago, Malon would have known precisely what to do. She would've lectured him for not stopping by to see her and probably throw something hard at his head, as she usually did but it would always miss, passing him by a couple inches at most.

He on the other hand would smile sadly and say 'I probably deserved that.'

And after that, everything would be okay. They would patch their friendship back together again, realizing in the end how much they meant to each other. Neither Malon nor Link could ever hold a grudge against one and other at least for any longer period of time.

But now, everything wasn't going to be okay. There was no relationship to save. Nothing left for them to patch up.

"Mom?"

A whispering voice entered Malon's head forcing her back from her thoughts. She kneeled down facing what seemed to be an almost sobbing Kayla who was trying to hold her confusion and worry back.

"Yes?" She said gently. Malon wanted to sound confident, but her voice sounded just like Kayla's faint and helpless whisper had.

"Are you sad?"

Malon gave Kayla a puzzled look, she could feel a bitter-cold moisture against her hand as she let it stroke over her cheek.

Had she been crying?

Without giving it a second thought Malon brushed away what was left of her tears with the back of her hand. "No sweetie," she said, "I just …," her voice dropped as she looked up at the reason to why she felt vulnerable. "I just remembered something."

Kayla forked an eyebrow. "What?" She simply said. "What did you remember?"

Malon glanced down at Kayla's pondering stare, noticing the strays of hair lying tumbled across her face. Malon carefully stroke Kayla's hair away from her face, she had a scratch right by her hairline, on her forehead. Malon couldn't help but to realize just then how fragile her sweetie was and just how strong Malon needed to be for her. "Nothing," she mumbled as she restfully shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore."

'What doesn't matter?' Kayla wanted to ask, but muted herself. Her mother, in some inexplicable way, gave out a hallow impression, an impression of being alone even though Kayla perceived so many people in their surroundings.

"Kayla?"

Kayla looked up at her mother and felt how she gently pulled some strands of her red hair. "Don't you think it's time for us to get home?" Thinking of her grandfather's hard labor on the ranch made Kayla long to come back home and so she nodded her head eagerly. She knew he needed her help.

"Let's go mom," Kayla said as a smile spread on her lips. "Grandpa needs me."

Malon made an effort to smile back as she stood up, groaning slightly as her legs finally met full length. "Then let's go."

Kayla nodded yet again, and took off in the direction of the cart.

"Do you really think it's wise to let her run off like that?"

Malon had just lost sight of her daughter as she ran `round the corner when she heard his voice behind her, in an annoying manner she pursed her lips and spun around to him. "Excuse me?" She said, "I don't think I need your advice on how to raise my kid."

Out of surprise for Malon's strong reaction, Link let out a small pant. "I know, I was just saying …,"

"I know what you were saying." Malon interrupted, "and I think I can survive without your advice or godforsaken help. I mean just how many failed relationships haven't you had for instance?"

"Hey – only one!"

Malon crossed her arms over her chest. "I mean over the years Link not only this year."

"Fine!" Link snapped. "If you don't want my advices, I won't give you any."

"Fine!"

Link rolled his eyes. The remembrance of Malon in situations like this haunted his memory still: she always had to have the last word. But instead of trying to deal with the situation, he leisurely started to walk passed her. But he stopped in mid-move as he recalled something. "Oh, and by the way, Miss high and mighty?" His voice could barely be heard, but Malon could hear his annoyed tone even though he hid it well. "Kayla stole an apple."

"What?" Malon's head quickly turned to face his, ignoring how close they once were, she busted out in anger as she tried to protect Kayla "She did not steal anything!"

"I wasn't going to say anything." His eyes traveled down her face and back up to meet her eyes again. "But apparently you don't need my help."

Malon mentally envisioned slapping his face. "Fine," she whispered back. "I'll pay you back whatever the apple cost."

Link's lips slowly turned into a crooked grin and Malon found it hard trying to keep her eyes focused on his. "No need," he mumbled.

"But I don't want to owe you anything."

"Mal, we're talking about 4 or 5 rupees."

"I can see you like to think that, perhaps money isn't an issue for you. I mean when you live on expense of the queen and all." Malon now gave him a grin of her own whilst not failing to recognize that he too was struggling to keep eye-contact with her. "And by the way, don't call me that."

"Hey, I've always called you Mal and I got my own money!"

In a vibe of sarcasm she replied; "Well I don't want you calling me that any more besides your money or not this is a stupid argument and I've got to go, after all I have a kid who's waiting for me." She started to walk, proceeding passed him but stopped suddenly and looked over her shoulder. "Anyway good talking to you Link," she said, feeling astonished by the sincerity of her last words.

At first she couldn't hear anything. But as she picked up the pace she could hear someone call after her, "Well I'll be seeing you!" Malon gave out a small sigh, "how frustrating he could be."