Chapter 6

Janet had soon arrived to the house. Sky explained more details to her and they made a plan to search for Link. Julia went with Janet in her car while the twins went with Sky.

"So, Julia, uh, what's it like having Link live with you guys?" Janet started. Julia was sitting in the passenger seat looking out the window. The car had been in silence for the past 20 minutes until Janet spoke up.

"It's been ok I guess. He hasn't really lived with us long, so I don't have a full opinion yet."

"I see. He seems like such a sweet boy."

"I guess he is. My youngest sister Erin seems to have taken a liking to him."

"That's good." The rain started to pick up more as Janet drove on the dimly lit highway, her headlights being her primary source of light. Luckily, not many cars were out and about this late at night. Julia saw something moving in the distance.

"Slow down a bit. I see something." Janet nodded and began to slow down a bit. The closer they got to the moving figure, the more they could see different features. "I think that's Link!" Janet pulled over and stopped. Julia wasted no time opening her door and running to him. "Hey!" The figure stopped and turned around. There was no doubt in Julia's mind, it was Link. Julia ran up to him. "Link, thank god we found you!"

"Y-You shouldn't be here…" Link's words were shaky and quiet.

"No, you shouldn't be here. What were you thinking?"

"I have to protect you guys. You're all in danger…"

"You idiot! We've been through a lot, we can handle more. You shouldn't face whatever's after you alone."

"But-"

"No buts! Now get yours in the car before I knock you out and drag you over there." Link looked down. "Please Link, don't doubt our strength. We're here for you." Julia reached a hand out to him and Link looked at it. "Besides, aren't I supposed to teach you the English alphabet?" Link looked up at her then back at her hand. He slowly reaches his hand toward hers and latches onto it. Julia smiled and held onto Link's hand tightly. "Come on, you feel chilled to the bone." Julia started to walk but felt Link not really moving. She felt a jerk and she turned around, seeing Link collapsed on his knees. "Link!" She knelt down beside him. He started to fall forward, but she caught him. She put a hand on his forehead. "Janet, help me with him!" Janet quickly ran over toward them. "He's got a pretty bad fever and I doubt I can get him to the car on my own."

"I'll get him up while you get the car doors." Julia nodded and allowed Janet to kneel beside him before she went to open the doors. She found a blanket on the back seat covered in what looked like animal fur.

"It's better than nothing." Julia grabbed it and shook it off a little, making some of the hairs scatter about on the seat, which she wiped off the best she could. Janet walked over while supporting Link. Julia wrapped Link up in the blanket once he was close enough and got him gently in the car.

"You probably should sit next to him so he stays warm." Julia nodded at Janet's suggestion and ran quickly to the other side to get in so Link wouldn't have to move. Janet got in as well and got the car started. Julia put an arm around Link and pulled him closer to warm him up. His bangs were sticking to his forehead and Julia brushed them to the sides so they'd stay out of his eyes. His face was very flushed and he seemed to have a hard time staying awake.

"You're alright to sleep if you want to. I don't mind at all." Link slightly shook his head, causing him to have to close his eyes. "He must be feeling dizzy. The idiot, why did he feel he had to protect us. He's probably very sick… I noticed he was seeming a little more pale around dinner, but I disregarded it as just a trick of my mind… I guess it kind of works out with me being suspended. I can take care of him and when he's sleeping, I can do the homework that I was assigned." Link's eyes started to close as he was falling asleep. Julia helped him fall asleep by petting his head gently and humming, he fell completely asleep in no time at all. "He actually looks like Erin in some ways, like when she sleeps and such. He has that innocent adorable face of a child." Janet glanced back in her rearview mirror at the two and smiled, seeing Julia smile fondly while petting Link's head as he slept.

It took some time to get back to the house and once they did, Julia gently woke Link and helped him out of the car and inside. Once inside, Julia turned to Janet.

"Can you call Sky? His cell number should be on the house phone. It's on the desk in the kitchen."

"Sure. What are you planning on doing?"

"Getting Link warmed up." Julia led Link over to the couch and had him lay down. He was starting to fall asleep already. Luckily his clothes were mostly dry. Julia stood up and grabbed some blankets out of a cupboard that was next to the couch. She covered Link up and then went into the kitchen to soak a cloth in cold water to put on Link's head temporarily until she could get him something cooler.

"-ll off the search…" Janet just got Sky to pick up his cell just as Julia grabbed a washcloth out of the drawer, she then began running the tap water until it became really cold. "… Yes, he's sick though so…" Julia began to soak the cloth in the cold water. "Ok. We'll see you soon." Julia wrung out the rag a bit. "Goodbye." Janet set the phone down on the receiver. She turned to Julia who started walking toward the living room. Julia walked over to Link and brushed the bangs off his face to put the cloth on his forehead. "You'd make a pretty good nurse it seems." Julia turned around and saw Janet in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen.

"I'm used to taking care of sick people. Erin and Sky get sick all the time, though Sky tries to hide it until he collapses." Janet walked over toward them.

"Sounds like he can be a bit of a handful." Janet then sat down on the other couch that was perpendicular to the couch Link slept on.

"He can be sometimes, but I'm grateful for the sacrifices he's made for us. He took us in when he was just barely out on his own and he's given up so much for us."

"Just goes to show how much he cares." Julia nodded and covered Link up more. "What exactly happened to your parents?" Julia looked down and the ground.

"A drunk driver ran a red light and hit mom's car… Mom died instantly due to a snapped neck. Afterward, my dad became depressed and stayed in his room. He was found a week and a half later dead by my little sister Erin… Turns out he starved himself to death…"

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" Julia pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them to her, resting her head on her knees.

"It's alright. I've gotten over it for the most part… All four of us have… Sky bears so much resentment for our dad though, even dropped the hyphen, we did as well. We were the Michael-Parkers, now we're just the Parkers. Sky works two jobs just to make ends meet, he gave up going to college, he gave up the chance to get married and have kids, start a family of his own. He always says to me every time I bring it up though, 'You three are all the family I need.' He's so much more a father to me than my real father…"

"That sounds so sweet." Julia nodded.

"I wish there was more I could do for him though…"

"I can understand. My uncle took me and my brother in after my parents died in a fire when I was 4 years old. My uncle raised us, took us with him on his explorations."

"Oh, I'm really sorry…"

"It's all ok, I got to see a lot of things normal children my age couldn't see." Julia smiled sadly. "My belief is, there is always something good to take out of a bad situation, no matter how terrible it is. You just have to figure it out. It'll probably be difficult at first depending on the situation at hand, but with time you'll figure it out. Like this for example, Link is terribly sick, but you'll be able to build a greater bond with him by taking care of him."

"That is true." Julia slightly nodded. "Ok, I'll try looking at it that way." The front door opened and the youngest of the family rushed in and rushed over. Link woke up to the sudden noise and sat up. Erin ran up to him and slapped him on the cheek. Everyone's eyes widened in shock. Link's especially. Erin then started to cry and she hugged him tightly. Link was taken aback and then slowly hugged her back, hugging her as tightly as possible despite how weak he felt.

"Well, that was out of nowhere." Sky said, breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry, if I worried you Erin." Erin sat back and looked him over. Link looked down tiredly. "I'm sorry… to everyone… I had no idea… All of you… you… you care so much for me…" Julia sat next to him and hugged him. Erin hugged him again. Sky walked over and hugged all three of them.

"It's alright, Link. Everything's ok now, you're home safe and sound where you belong." Sky said calmly and then stood up.

"Well, I should probably get going." Janet said. She stood up. Sky turned around quickly.

"Wait, what?" Julia let go of Link and stood up. Erin sat next to Link.

"Well, Link's home safely now, so I probably should get going."

"Can't you stay the night? I mean, it's really late, not to mention storming."

"No, no. I don't want to impose."

"You wouldn't be imposing, honest. You can take my bed and I'll sleep on the love seat down here."

"Sky…"

"Sounds like someone's got a crush." Roxie teased and smiled impishly.

"Roxie." Julia said in a tone like 'don't say things like that, you crazy girl.'

"Come on, Miss Lauren. We'd love to have you and I don't mean to boast, but I make some pretty good pancakes." Link lied back down with his eyes closed tight. Erin turned to him in concern and felt his forehead. Her eyes widened and she got up, finding she was sitting on a damp rag. She picked the rag up and walked out of the room.

"I guess I'll stay, but I don't want to take your bed. I can just sleep down here."

"There's also the guest room. It has Link's new clothes and such, but it could serve as a good temporary place for you to stay. Plus, I wouldn't want to stay in Sky's room. You can't even see the floor through all the papers and clothes. It's a mess." Janet giggled at Julia's comment. Sky blushed like crazy and scratched the back of his neck, looking down.

"Alright. I'll stay in Link's room then since he'll be sleeping down here for the time being."

"That sounds like a plan. If you need anything, my room is right next door. Don't be afraid to bug me about anything you need." Janet nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Julia. I'll head up to bed now then. I'm exhausted." Sky's blush calmed down and he looked up as Janet started walking to the stairs.

"It'll be the first room on the right." Julia called.

"Thank you." Janet called back. Sky ran over to the railing.

"H-Hey, Miss Lauren." Janet turned around.

"Yes?"

"Uh, sleep well."

"I'm sure I will. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." A few seconds of silence and there was the sound of a door shutting. Sky sighed and looked back at the children in the living room. Erin walked out from the kitchen and walked over to Link. She put the freshly cold rag on his forehead.

"Thanks, Erin." Erin smiled and nodded at Julia. "Sky, why don't you head on up to bed, I'll watch over Link tonight."

"Are you sure?" Erin sat down on the coffee table as Sky asked his question.

"Yes. I'm sure. I'm not even tired. Go on to bed. You should t- Roxie? She must have gone to bed too."

"Hehe, don't have to tell her twice." Sky smiled brightly. "Well, I'm off to bed then. Goodnight you guys."

"Goodnight." Julia said as Sky started heading up. There was a shutting of a door again and then silence for several minutes until it was broken. "You should probably go to bed too, Erin. You look tired." Erin shook her head.

"I'm ok, sister, I promise." Julia tried not to seem surprised at hearing her youngest sister talk.

"As long as you're ok, kiddo." Erin nodded then pulled her legs into a crisscross position on the coffee table. Julia checked the rag on Link's forehead and found it was still cold, so she sat next to Erin. "I was wondering something, where did you find that book you were reading?" Erin's ears perked back and she looked down. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm only curious."

"Remember that house we go to in the summer?" Julia nodded. "Mommy used to read to us when we couldn't sleep. She read those stories to us. Do you remember?" Julia's eyebrows scrunched.

"Not really. I don't remember much before Mom died."

"You didn't like the Hero of Time's story. You said it gave you nightmares. So mommy read you the story about the Goddess's Chosen Hero. You liked hearing about him a lot because he reminded you of big brother." Julia smiled.

"It's amazing you remember all that. You were so small when mom died."

"Yea, but I made sure not to forget. The next we went there, I grabbed the books and brought them back home. I didn't want to forget, but I couldn't read them. I taught myself though. There's so many books."

"How many are there?" Erin started counting on her fingers.

"Nine."

"Wow, that's so many. You read all of them?"

"Mmhmm. Once I learned, The Hero of Light's Hylian was easiest to read, the Hero of Time's story was in both his Hylian and Link's Hylian, so I learned his Hylian too."

"That's amazing, Erin. You're so smart." Erin smiled brightly.

"You're the only other person who knows now."

"Why's that?"

"I kept the books hidden for one, I also didn't want to tell anyone else."

"Why not?"

"Because I felt no one would listen. That's why I don't talk."

"Why now though? Why talk to me of all people?"

"Because I feel like you will listen now. That's why only sister will hear me. Big Brother and sissy will just have to wait." Julia hugged Erin tightly.

"I'll always be here to listen if you want to talk to me, any time, about anything, I promise." Erin smiled and hugged her back.