A/N: Ah, the end has come. I want to thank everyone who has read, favourited and especially reviewed this story. It's been a lot of fun to write and I'm working on something slightly similar that I'm hoping you all might like. I couldn't resist tagging an epilogue onto the end of this. I know people are divided on epilogues, but I know I always like a bit of follow up.

Please review and tell me what you think. Your thoughts are very important to me and I cherish every review.

Silverpistola

Chapter 10 – Baby, I Love You

Link had always been strangely agile. He often wondered if he'd inherited this from his Father. His brains had come from his Mother, he knew. Skill with the bow was a trait passed down throughout the Hero line. As were blue eyes, blonde hair and a strange fondness for the colour green. Link shook himself from his musings on his ancestors and turned to face the task at hand.

There was only a single guard of the Goron Militia; asleep on the front doorstep.

"President Harkinian ought to beef up his security," Link murmured to himself, grinning wickedly.

He was fairly certain he'd found the right window, as his fingertips reached the outside sill and he pulled himself up. Maybe he'd been a cat burglar in a previous life. Always a career option to consider.

Steadying himself, he looked through the glass. The moonlight illuminated a dressing table and a mirror covered in photographs and post-it notes. And there, his eyes identified the outline of a bed, a flurry of golden curls upon the pillow. For a moment, Link just stared, leaning against the window hungrily and gazing at her angelic, sleeping figure. Then, as he leaned back, the window came with him and he clung on for dear life.

Zelda jerked awake. She'd been dreaming again, her unconscious sending her along a hormonal rollercoaster until a loud creak had awoken her. And as she turned to inspect her window, she was almost certain she was still dreaming.

Because Link Hero was climbing through it.

"No!" Zelda had got out of bed and was pointing at Link, who stared back at her. "No, don't!"

"Zelda, please, just hear me out," Link hissed, pulling himself over the window threshold.

Zelda was backing away from him, clutching her nightdress.

"This really is enough. I'm tired of these dreams, and I don't want any more!" She cried, deliriously.

"Zelda-"

"No, don't try and charm me. I know you think I enjoy this, but I really don't," she cursed her unconscious, still pointing at Link and bordering on hysteria. "Trapping me in your kitchen, visiting me at my locker and now climbing through my window. I won't deny, I might have casually daydreamt about it, but that doesn't mean I should be subjected to this every night."

Zelda's voice was breaking as she spoke. Link strode across the room and grabbed her hands. The shock of his touch made her look up at his face.

"I just don't want to think about you any more," she half sobbed; pleading with what she thought was a figment of her own imagination.

Link smiled, gently. He led her over to her bed and sat her down beside him.

A tear trickled down her cheek and she blinked quickly to stem the rest. Link frowned. He was going to make this right. He had been selfish, so selfish, hurting her without any real explanation. Maybe Saria had told her what she knew, or maybe even Lulu, but only Link, and Sheik, knew what had really happened.

It had taken a long time for Link to gain the courage to trust Sheik with the story, his story. Telling Zelda wouldn't be easy, but he was certain now that she had earned the truth.

Tentatively, he placed his arms around her. She leaned her head against his shoulder, silently.

"When I was six years old, my Parents decided to move. We'd lived in Woodside since I was born. My best friend Saria lived there. Of course, I was furious with them. I know that everyone thinks that I disappeared after they died, but that's not true. We moved to the Zora Ports first."

Zelda looked up at him. "During the civil war?"

Link nodded. "Yeah. My family line have always been close with the Zoras, particularly the royal family. We moved to live amongst them, rather than fight against them. That's how I know Lulu and the guys."

Zelda remembered what Lulu had said about what her Father would think if he knew she was with the President's daughter.

"Lulu's mother died in the war, same as my parents. So did Sheik's family, except his aunt. I guess that's why I get along with them so well."

Zelda frowned. "Sheik's parents?"

"Sheik isn't hylian. He's only half, his Father was a Sheikah and his Mother Hylian. She was offered Hylian protection, but that didn't stretch to his Father or even Sheik himself," Link explained, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

"And Lulu?"

Link's brow furrowed. Zelda was so familiar with this expression that it hurt to see it again, so real. Maybe she wasn't dreaming.

"Don't you see the resemblance? Lulu is the daughter of the rebel Princess, Ruto."

Zelda pulled away from him. "That's impossible."

Everyone knew the story of the rebel Princess. The last of the Royal Zora line who had fought, valiantly, in the civil war to defend the rights of her kind. She had been struck down by a traitor, one of the many she had fought to protect. Her unexpected death ended the war and forged a still unstable treaty between all people living in Hyrule.

"Ruto was the last of the line," Zelda argued.

"No. Lulu is the last of the line. Ruto knew the war would most likely claim her life. Lulu was hidden from your people. When she turns eighteen, she'll take her Mother's place."

Zelda's head was spinning. "Why would she be so kind to me?" She asked, in a whisper.

Link smiled. "Lulu doesn't hold a grudge against you. And… neither do I."

Link stood up and moved to look at the mirror. There were faces crowded all around the edges; Cremia with her arm around what looked like her little sister, Saria and Mido sat in the grass outside Saria's house, Aryll and her Mother, her Father stood on a podium, Tetra holding up a gold medal and grinning widely. And then, in the corner-

"Anju gave it to me," Zelda confessed, coming to stand beside him.

It was Link and Zelda, sitting at Link's kitchen table. Link was smirking at something and Zelda was pouting, Marx beside her. Link remembered Anju appearing in the doorway and snapping a picture, but he'd forgotten about it until now.

"Zelda, try to understand how I felt. I can't forgive what happened to my parents. And you," He ran a hand through his hair, "you seemed to have everything. And I wanted to hate you for it. I wanted to hate you for what your Father had done."

He started pacing up and down her room. Zelda watched him patiently.

"Sheik told me to give you a chance, but I didn't want to. I wanted you to be what I thought you were. So I did my best to treat you like crap, hoping all the time that I could bring out the worst in you. But you were too nice, too good. That second day, when you told me about your sister, it got me thinking. Listening to you talk about your life in your own words, it made me wonder just how perfect it was.

You fascinated me. I wanted to know more about your sister and your friends and you. And at the same time, I started to see you differently."

He stopped pacing to look at her. His eyes were so warm, it made her heart skip.

"That day we got wet running to my house. You stood in my doorway, dripping wet," he sighed, "And I've never seen anything as beautiful. You took my breath away. Just like you did at the club, when I was dancing with you and last night when you caught me by surprise. I knew what was happening and I knew it was a bad idea. But I couldn't stop myself. The more time I spent with you, the more I wanted you. You had proven me completely wrong and I have never been so glad to be contradicted."

She laughed, softly.

"And then," Link sank down onto the bed again, "I kissed you. And you kissed back. You don't know how happy I was, Zel', really. But then you told me what Saria had said and it brought back everything. I felt so… confused."

"I wanted you, but it felt like a betrayal. I had all this anger and I wasn't sure where to channel it. And somehow I hurt you. And that," he took a deep, agonised breath, "that hurt more than anything. Because you were right. You hadn't done anything. You had accepted me despite how awful I'd been to you. You gave me the chance that I begrudged you."

Zelda touched her finger to his lips and he looked up at her.

"It's okay, Link."

"No, it's not! I've been an idiot! Can't you be angry at me? Throw something? Slap me?" Link insisted, running a a hand through his hair.

Zelda laughed again. "I don't want to."

He hung his head. "I knew you'd say that."

She sat down beside him and they were silent. Link looked defeated, but Zelda was feeling more hopeful than ever.

"Is there a reason you told me all that?" She asked, finally.

"To explain. And," he lifted his head and their eyes met, "to apologise."

Zelda smiled, tears shining in her baby blues. "You're one confusing boy, Link Hero."

"I'm definitely damaged," he agreed. "Plus I don't think you'll ever be able to invite me to a family dinner."

"I'll deal with it," she told him. "Link?"

He looked down at her, waiting.

"I'm sorry. I mean about what happened to you and your parents. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Link blinked, keeping the threatening tears at bay. Nine days ago he would have thrown her apology back in her face. Now, he took it for what it was, sincere and true. Maybe one day he would want to tell her everything that had happened. But there would be time for that. For now they sat together, silently, for the longest time.

Suddenly a fleeting smile passed over his lips. "Can I tell you now?"

Zelda frowned. "Tell me what?"

Link lifted his hand to her hair, holding the back of her head as he kissed her, slowly, reverently. As he pulled back, his lips found her ear, his breath was warm, but sent shivers racing down her arms, as he whispered.

"Anju's having a baby."

Epilogue

The chairs were an ugly shade of orange and hard as sin. Link wadded up his sweatshirt underneath him and sat down. He had been pacing for nearly three hours and his legs were aching. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. No social studies project could prepare him for this.

A hand rested upon his chest and he opened his eyes to see Zelda sat beside him. She dropped a blueberry muffin into his lap.

"Eat," she murmured, firmly.

He shook his head.

"C'mon Link. Honestly, the last thing we need is you fainting," Cremia warned him, from where she was sat on the other side of the corridor. Sheik was asleep, stretched out across three of the ugly chairs with his head in Cremia's lap.

He didn't snore.

She'd thrown her jacket over him when she'd noticed him shivering.

"I can't," Link moaned. "Goddesses, what the hell is taking so long? This can't be good, right?"

Cremia rolled her eyes. "Men are so impatient."

Zelda smiled, reassuringly. "It can take up to twenty four hours. Sometimes longer."

Link groaned and Sheik twitched in his sleep. Zelda grabbed the muffin and started to unwrap it.

"Is a long time good?" Link asked Cremia.

"Link," Sheik grumbled, opening his eyes, blearily, "stop stressing, for Goddesses' sakes." He looked up at Cremia. "It's times like this when I could kill for a cigarette."

She narrowed her eyes, dangerously. "Tough."

Sheik grinned at Zelda. "She's my rock, you know."

A nurse in green scrubs ran past and through the double doors and Link stared after her with wide eyes.

"Oh no," he whispered.

"Link, you're very pessimistic," Zelda told him, lacing her fingers through his.

"I've never been so terrified in my entire life," he told her in a murmur.

The look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. His face was ghostly pale and his hands were shaking.

"I don't like it when you get scared," she admitted.

Link leaned in to kiss her, but froze as an ear-piercing shriek came from down the corridor.

"Cripes," Sheik hissed, sitting up, abruptly.

Zelda turned and laughed as she saw the Indigo Go Gos climbing out of the lift, Evan and Tijo heading up the group as Japas trailed behind Mikau and Lulu, who were currently bickering about something. Each one of them was dressed in aquamarine spandex and sparkling ocean blue boots.

"Well, it was your idea to get these stupid costumes! We look like something you drink to cure indigestion!" Lulu shrieked.

"Babe, you look gorgeous!" Mikau reasoned, holding up his hands, defensively.

"You've made us look like idiots!" She argued, shaking her fist and tossing her long, navy hair.

Link rolled his eyes, letting his head fall against Zelda's shoulder. She patted his hair.

Lulu spotted Link and the others at the far end of the corridor and her angered expression dissolved. She pushed past her band and ran down the corridor to where they were sat.

"Any news?" She asked, breathlessly.

Link shook his head.

"Ah well, it can take up to twenty four hours, you know," Lulu informed them, leaning in to kiss both Zelda's cheeks as Link groaned again.

The band settled in. The other four, it seemed, were still angry with Mikau over the spandex costumes, and spoke to him as little as possible. Mikau tried to ignore this fact by taking out his guitar and strumming, concentratedly, as Lulu tried to coax Japas into giving her a foot massage. Sheik was fully awake and thoroughly enjoying himself as he lay with his head still in Cremia's lap whilst she played with his hair. Link was tense as a coiled spring and was interacting with no one but Zelda, who was murmuring soothing words in his ear.

Finally, after a couple more hours, Kafei emerged from the double doors. His face was flushed and sweaty, but, as Link got to his feet, a reassuring grin spread across his lips.

"It's a healthy baby girl," he told them, breathless with happiness.

Link stood, frozen, for a few moments, while around him the others hugged and whooped. Zelda reached up and touched his cheek.

"It's okay, Link," she told him, softly. "See how happy Kafei is? Everything's okay."

Kafei placed his hands on Link's shoulders. For once, his expression was serious.

"You're a big brother now Link," he told him, solemnly.

Finally, Link's face broke into a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

After being allowed in for ten minutes to see Anju and the new baby, the nine of them were quickly ushered out of the room to allow the new mother time to rest. The band quickly made their excuses and split, only Lulu and Mikau staying behind.

"Good job you've had plenty of practise, right, Link?" Sheik asked.

The six of them were in the car park of the hospital, Zelda and Cremia sat in Sheik's car, while Sheik and Link sat on the bonnet watching Lulu and Mikau reorganising the equipment that had been haphazardly 'lobbed' into the band's van earlier that night.

"Yeah, although the baby is a lot heavier than the flour bag," Link admitted.

"And louder," Sheik added.

"Not to mention she pukes and poops for real too."

Sheik frowned. "I'm starting to think that Project didn't really teach us anything."

Link quirked a brow and nodded at the girls sat in the car behind them. Sheik smiled, sheepishly.

"Well okay, maybe it taught us something."

As Link glanced behind him again, Zelda caught his eye and they shared a secret smile. They'd spent the last nine months almost inseparable from one another. Link and Sheik's two, had extended to a six with the addition of the Zelda, Cremia, Saria and Mido. And then, at times, a nine when Mikau, Lulu and Tetra were around.

Lulu and Zelda had become firm friends. Zelda had been tentative at first because of the bad history between hers and Lulu's family, but Lulu hadn't let it bother her. She was far too good-natured to hold grudges and had secretly been on Zelda's side since they'd met.

Link and Saria were also re-forging their friendship. It was a difficult process since both of them were prone to rehashing unintentionally painful memories, but they were willing to take the risk. In fact, Link was constantly being reminded of all the things he'd missed about his childhood friend. Despite what she might think, Saria really hadn't changed that much.

It was more difficult for Link to put aside his grudges against Zelda's father, but she knew the effort he was putting into being civil with him. On the other hand, Zelda's Mother had soon come to adore Link and appreciate the evenings he and Zelda babysat Aryll. Though Link wasn't a regular fixture at the dinner table in the white house, he and Zelda spent more time than she could have predicted at her Mother's house in Woodside eating tinned spaghetti and baking peanut butter cookies with Aryll.

Link's home had changed rapidly over the past couple of months. He'd worked together with Kafei (and at times with the added help of Sheik and Mikau) to convert the attic so that his room could be used as the new nursery for his little sister. Zelda had helped paint the walls of Link's old room a warm, butter yellow and had gone along with him on the frequent trips to bumblebeebaby. The kitchen was now child-proofed and Sheik had spent nearly a half hour trying to open the fridge one afternoon.

Despite the many other changes, Link and Zelda hadn't changed much. If Zelda had been hoping she might be a good influence upon Link, she was sorely mistaken.

"Have you ever gotten caught yet?"

"That's hardly the point!"

"No trouble, no guilt."

Zelda scowled. "Link, there's only a month of school left."

Link grinned, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. "My point exactly. Are exams are finished and we are footloose and fancy free. We only have one month of ditching left and must therefore make the most of it."

Zelda jumped as Sheik leaned on the horn. Beside him Cremia was laughing; it seemed like she was laughing all the time these days.

"He won't wait forever," Link warned her, moving to stand behind her and resting his chin upon her shoulder. His breath tickled her earlobe.

"You're a bad influence," Zelda muttered.

His lips had found the elegant curve of her neck. "You never take much persuading." He laughed, softly. "I think you like it when I'm bad."

She blushed, swatting him away, angrily, but he didn't budge, instead clamping his arms around her waist.

"Are you guys coming or what?" Cremia yelled out the car window.

Zelda sighed. Link sensed weakness and moved in for the kill.

"We could go back to my house..." he offered, his mouth finding her favourite spot right on her collarbone, "...and see the baby." Involuntarily, she sighed again, this time blissfully.

"Okay," she murmured, finally. She could have held out for more kisses but she could see Cremia and Sheik were growing impatient.

Link released her, smirking triumphantly as he took her hand.

"I feel so weak," Zelda confessed as they made their way to where the car was waiting for them.

"Nah, I'm just irresistible," Link corrected her. "Gimme ten days and you'd fall in love with me again."

Zelda baulked. "Who said I'm in love?"

Link stopped. "Aren't you?"

His eyes, light with laughter and mischief only a second ago, were suddenly dark and serious. She loved how his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

"I am," she answered.

His lips twitched. "Good to know we're on the same page."

It was only a summer until University loomed for the four of them, threatening to end their time together. But it had all started with a ten day project and, for now, there was only today and tomorrow and afternoons filled with early summer sunshine and sarcasm and nights of soup-sitting and babysitting. Oh and poetry readin- er, concerts.