To Meet Again
Chapter Six: A Chance Meeting
Up until she'd seen him again, Malon had been having an enjoyable time at Meredith's school; it seemed she was quite the model student.
Malon was a tad bit bothered that she'd just realized now how much her daughter wanted to have a father figure in her life. 'I get how she feels . . . I grew up for most of my life without Dad, but . . . it's different because he died. It's different because Meredith still has a father, and she's never even met him . . . '
Through the course of the tour Meredith gave Malon, she'd encountered one of the secretaries, Zelda, who of course through her a dirty look.
But what she saw next, made the other events seem like nothing. 'Twice in less than a week? The Goddesses must truly hate me!'
"Yeah, I'm Mr. Hero." He said, almost miserably.
'Well, he should be miserable.' What was she supposed to say? Malon leaned down to Meredith and handed her a couple of rupees. "Go take this and buy something from the machine nearby, okay Meredith?"
The little girl beamed, completely oblivious to the situation and took the money, leaving abruptly.
Link pulled his collar nervously. "So, uh, cool weather we've been having lately, huh?"
"Shut up, Link!" Malon exclaimed. "Or should I say Hero?!"
"Malon, listen–" He began.
"No, Link, you listen," Malon cut in. "What the Hell is your problem? What do you want?! You left me for so many years, than when I've finally picked up the pieces of my life, you butt right back in?!" She took a deep breath. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Link looked even guiltier at her words. "Would you believe me if I said this was just a coincidence?"
"No." She said bluntly.
"I don't want anything from you– except perhaps to make an amends? Please Malon, I never wanted to hurt you or leave you–"
"But you did, you slimy son of a bitch!" She said in a strangled whisper. 'You know what would be useful right about now? A rubber chicken to slap him with! ARGH!' "And make amends?! You can just forget about that!"
"But . . . why?" Link asked dumbly. He'd never seen Malon so angry before. 'She's always been such a sweet person . . . what the Hell was I on all those years ago?! I don't even understand why I did what I did!'
Malon almost laughed. "You're kidding me right? You're so funny, Link. Remember that hilarious thing you said to me that day? 'It's me or the baby,' Ha, you make my sides hurt."
Link stood up now, getting a little frustrated. "All right, I guess I shouldn't expect you to forgive me . . . now–"
"– Ever." Malon cut in.
"Er . . . okay, but you can't expect me to not do anything about Meredith, since I am her father."
Malon snorted. "Some father you turned out to be."
Ignoring her, he continued. "You don't know this, but I did try to find you . . . you were gone, I wanted to apologize, believe me, Mal, I did. I was young, going through stupid things, doing even stupider things,"
He took a step closer to the woman, who in return stepped back. "I was a big– huge, enormous jerk, okay? I admit that, so . . . please? Please, Malon . . . let me spend time with Meredith– she doesn't need to know I'm her dad, I just . . . just . . . For these past couple of years, all I really wanted was to find whatever was left of my blood . . . my . . . our child . . . so I . . ." He lowered his head.
Malon was surprised. She didn't know Link could be so . . . emotional. Sighing, she said. "I have no right to keep a father from his child– as much of an ass as he is. Just don't tell her . . . too much. And don't think you're forgiven or anything, I still hate you."
Link bit his lip. That hurt more than anything. "Well, thanks, Mal– for everything."
"Don't thank me, thank the law." She said bitterly.
"Oh, right, bye I guess." Link said.
"Whatever." She muttered, exiting the classroom.
"Er, but wait a sec." He said, stopping her. She turned around looking helpless and tired.
"What now, Link?"
Link really felt bad for kind of forcing her to agree, but what was he to do? "I just want you to know that . . . I still do . . . and never stopped loving you."
"I'm sure." Was all Malon said before leaving.
Link raised an eyebrow. 'Gee, what's up her bu– oh, yeah . . . I really messed up.' He grew a determined look on his face."But, I will win her yet." He murmured.
XxXxX
Malon angrily stormed out of the classroom, grabbed Meredith's hand wordlessly, and left the building, heading home. But there was a certain lightness to her mood.
". . . Never stopped loving you."
Meredith, sensing her mother's bad mood, kept quiet, but her curiosity was getting the best of her. "Mommy . . . what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong! Why would you ask?!" She snapped at her.
"No reason!" Meredith squeaked.
Malon sighed. "Sorry about that . . . but, hey, I've got something to ask you . . . Do you really like Mr. Hero a lot?" Malon prayed the answer would be no, because if Meredith didn't like him that much, who's to say she must be with him?
Of course, her hopes were crushed when Meredith's reply was "Yeah, Mommy! I like him lots and lots! Almost as much as you!"
'Well, at least it's only "almost"' Malon gave the child a small smile. "So, would you say you're friends?"
"Oh, yes, mommy! Mr. H is very nice to me, he's my favourite teacher."
Malon quirked an eyebrow. 'He's her only teacher . . .' "You know, friends like to spend time and play together– outside of school." She was trying very hard to put what she was saying in terms that the little girl would understand. "So, er . . . I was wondering if perhaps, you'd want to uh . . . play with Li– er, Mr. Hero? Maybe when I'm busy or something . . ."
Meredith beamed and her eyes shone. "Really, mommy?!"
"Yes . . ."
"Yes, yes, yes!" She squealed. "Thank you so much, mommy!"
'Don't thank me . . .'
"You're the bestest mommy in the unicorn!"
Malon couldn't help but laugh at the 'unicorn' bit. "I think you mean 'universe'"
XxXxX
'Holy crap. Holy freakin' crap.' That's basically all that ran through Link's mind throughout the whole evening.
After everyone was gone, Link went through his files and found the 'L' section of students. He searched it and found: Lon, Meredith.
He shook his head out of stupidity. 'I probably should've figured it out by her last name . . .' He read it and jotted down some of the information, including her phone number and address. His eyes boring a hole at, where it said, Parent/Guardian: Malon Lon.
'I'm a real idiot.'
Sighing, he put the file away. He looked at the scrap of paper in his hand. 'Never know when I'll need this info . . . heh, I feel a bit like a stalker . . .' He quickly shook his head. 'But I'm not! This is completely normal. Yes.'
Link packed up his things and began the drive home. On the way, he saw The Coffee House nearing. 'Well, I probably wont sleep tonight anyway, so might as well get some coffee.' Truths be told, Link had a bit of an addiction to the stuff. 'What can I say? It's a teacher's curse.'
He parked his car and headed into the shop. 'I wonder if this is a good idea . . . going into this exact . . . coffee . . . place . . . huh.' He saw Sheik wave at him. 'What? Does this guy live here or something? I can't just leave now . . .'
"Er, Hey there . . . Sheik." Link stammered.
"Heya, Hero, old pal. Back again so soon?" Sheik said.
"Heh, yeah . . . it's an addiction." He joked lightly.
Sheik chuckled. "There we go, now you're starting to loosen up, I mean, you're so uptight sometimes, man. Live a little, hm?"
Link's eye twitched. 'Gee, I wonder where "living a little" has gotten me today.' "Ha . . . maybe you're right."
Sheik smirked. "Well then, hold up a sec while I grind some beans, yeah?"
"Ah . . . okay."
"Gee whiz, stop acting so uncomfortable!" He exclaimed and began to make some coffee.
Link sighed and rubbed his temples. 'That guy seriously pisses me off. What the Hell does she see in him?!'
Suddenly, he heard a feminine gasp from behind him. "Well, well, well . . . who do we have here?"
'That voice . . . it couldn't be . . . please tell me it's not . . . ' He turned around. His eyes widened at whom he saw. 'Ah, gee whiz.'
XxXxX
"C-A-T spells . . . ?"
"That's way to easy, Grams, its 'cat'" Meredith said giggling.
"Ah, that's my smart little girl!" Marin said proudly. She leaned into the young girl's ear. "And don't tell your mother . . . but, I've got some chocolates in my purse, just for you!"
"Yeah, Gram! You're the best!" Meredith exclaimed.
"I heard that." Malon said, glancing at the two from her book. "Meredith, no candy before bed, or you'll never sleep."
"Aw, mom!" Meredith and Marin simultaneously whined.
"Speaking of bed," She continued, ignoring their whining. "It's about time for you to skedaddle, kid."
"But, mommy–"
"No buts, just go!" Malon nearly yelled, causing the child to quickly scamper out of the living room.
Marin looked at her daughter worriedly. Why was she so angry today? She'd observed that Malon had seemed a bit upset since coming from the school.
"Is . . . something the matter, dear?" She asked.
"Mom– I didn't mean to yell at her– it's just that– ugh . . ." Malon propped her head in her hands.
Marin took a seat next to the frazzled woman.
"What's bothering you, child? Tell me, I am your mother . . . perhaps I can help?" She said, trying to comfort her.
"Mom . . . what if I told you . . . what if I said . . . that . . . that . . ." Malon looked up at her mother, close to tears.
"Take your time, love" Marin was deeply concerned now. "Tell me Malon, what is the cause of this distress?"
"Mom . . . he's back!" She said angrily.
"Oh, my . . ."
"And he's going to ruin my life . . . again. . ." She moaned.
"Well, now . . . I wouldn't say that having Meredith around is so horrible, is it?" Marin retorted.
Malon widened her eyes. "Well, no, but–"
"And last time I checked, 'It takes two to tango' so really, is it all his fault?" She continued.
"Moth-er! Whose side are you on?!" She said, exasperatedly.
"I'm just saying! Did you ever stop and try to hear him out? Explain his actions?"
Malon's eyes were downcast. "Well, no, but . . . but he should have known better than to just– just leave me by myself when I needed him the most!"
"Well, he did try to come back . . ."
"No! But that's not the point! He shouldn't have just left saying 'Me or the kid' or whatever, in the first place!"
"I'm not trying to justify his actions, but–"
"Then don't! Please mom, just don't." Malon sighed. "He . . . Link . . . is Meredith's teacher . . . and he made me agree to let him talk to her– outside of class. Do you think I made the right decision?"
"Well, of course he should be allowed to talk to his own child! And Meredith deserves to know her father. Perhaps be wary of him though, so he doesn't try anything . . . although, I have to say . . . I've never truly believed that he's a bad person."
"I . . ." Malon started, quietly. "I guess a part of me always wanted him to come back and make everything better, but now that he's actually back . . . I feel this– this rage toward him . . . like I haven't truly forgiven him yet. I want to . . . but I just don't know how."
"I understand, dear." Marin said, patting her back "in time you'll figure out what you must do."
Malon rested her head on Marin's shoulder. "I hope so . . ."
XxXxX
"Uh . . ." Link was at a loss for words. 'They must really hate me up there.'
She leaned in closer to him. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Link Hero,"
'Of all the people I could meet up with from my . . . past, it had to be her?! The biggest-mouthed slut in Hyrule?!'
She giggled and kept walking toward him. "I haven't seen you in, what, six years? Heh . . . when you got up and left poor old Mally after getting her pregnant? Tsk tsk, shame on you . . . though you'd be the last person I'd expect to do such a thing . . . the goody-two shoed Link."
He gave her a hard look. "What do you want from me?"
"Oh, nothing, I just–"
"Oi, Hero, your coffee's done!" Sheik cut in. He noticed the woman standing with Link and made a face. "Oh . . . it's you . . . that really creepy girl . . . what's-her-face."
She glared at him and turned her attention back to Link, who was getting more nervous by the minute. "So anyway . . ." She started, but trailed off, as if trying to remember his name.
'Please don't say Link. Please don't say Link . . .' He silently prayed.
"Oi, lady! Quit pestering my buddy, Hero, eh?" Sheik said. It seemed to Link that Sheik didn't quite enjoy this woman's company.
'Well, who would, anyway?'
She laughed. "'Hero'? That's a good one. I'm quite sure you know that the last thing he is, is a hero!"
Sheik turned to Link. "Hey, Hero, do you know her?"
He paled. "Well, I . . . I–" He looked at his watch. "Oh! Look at the time, I have to go . . . uh teacher stuff."
"Hey, wait! You–" But before Sheik could finish, Link had made his escape through the door. ". . . Forgot your coffee . . ." He looked at the now smirking woman. "Why are you smiling, Ruto? You just scared off my customer."
"Well, I'm a little confused. I mean . . . why would you be hanging out with him anyway?" She inquired.
"What are you talking about? Hero seems like a great guy, a little uptight but, you know,"
Ruto laughed again. 'I wonder if– Oh!' "Hm, I see . . . Well, Li– ah, Hero, is definitely not uptight."
Sheik's brows knit together. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Really? You don't know that–" She cut herself short. 'This could be interesting . . . and fun . . .'
"Know what?" He was starting to get interested.
With one last laugh, she turned to leave. "Oh don't worry, dear, all in due time . . ."
'Um . . . is there something I don't know here?' He looked around.
"Shucks! I've lost two customers!"
XxXxX
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Whew! Sorrrrrrry about the delay, but school is a-bringing me down! (Here's looking at-chu, Math!) Teehee, Poor Sheik is so darn clueless! Oo0o0oh . . . I wonder what Ruto shall do to this already mangled story! (Nothing good, I can tell you that!) Anyway, enjoy the chapter ^_^
Lotsa Love 3,
~Smashie
Xoxoxoxo
