This was absolutely the most amazing and tortourous time for Zelda. Seriously, Ike moving on top of her, the headboard banging against the wall, and he looked like he really wanted more. She was pretty sure if she gave him the go-ahead he'd be naked in a flash. If she wasn't completely stunned beyond the point of making noises beyond whimpers at that momet, she would have. Goddesses how she wanted to. He grinned at her at one point, gripping the headboard and she opened her mouth to warn him that the ornate wooden monstrosity, carved elegantly by hand over a hundred years ago, was probably very breakable. She tried, but before any words could even form on her lips the wood snapped under his hands. A loud crack, and he started laughing.

"Fuck!" he laughed as he sat back, sweat trickling down his face. She sat up, slapping his stomach.

"You broke the headboard!" she giggled despite the circumstance, him leaning his forehead against hers. "Oh goddesses Ike how am I going to explain this?!" He shook his head, a smile a mile wide splitting his lips as he laughed.

"I didn't think it'd break," he leaned his head on her shoulder, his breath on her neck making goosebumps rise along her skin. "Ah... shit, I'll get it fixed don't worry." He looked up at her and she couldn't help but lean her lips to his. He returned the kiss, a hand coming up to keep her face there as he eased her back down on the bed. A frantic knocking on the door made him growl and pull back.

"Zellie!" Peach frantically screeched through the door and Ike looked to her and nodded to the door.

"Go on, I'm gonna need a minute," he said as he laid down on the bed. Zelda couldn't help but glance at his slacks as she smoothed her dress, noticing the obvious tenting going on. A few crude jokes popped into her brain, but she bit her lip to hold them in as she went to the door.

"Hey," she said casually as she opened the door, watching Peach's eyes widen in surprise.

"What the hell?" Peach demanded.

"What?" Zelda asked innocently, Ike chuckling behind her.

"You can't just fuck your boyfriend when there's a gathering downstairs!" she hissed, shoving her way into the room. "You!" she snarled at Ike who just gave her a lazy wave.

"Hi there," he said as he shifted on the bed, laying on his side. Zelda watched her sister take in the scene, obviously a little envious.

"You.. broke the headboard?" she asked in disbelief and Ike shrugged.

"Why do you think Zelda doesn't have one at her place?" he countered and Peach whirled to her, a shocked look on her face. Zelda just shrugged.

"He's kinda strong," she said and Ike stood up with a proud grin.

"Wh-wha-" Peach stumbled over her tongue and Ike moved to Zelda.

"Let's go and mingle my babe," he said, holding out a hand and she took it with a beaming smile.

XxX

"Babe," Ike's voice in her ear made her blush violently as they rejoined the party going on downstairs, "I think your father is going to kill me." Zelda looked around to her approaching father, squeezing Ike's hand tighter. He looked pissed. More so than the time Peach totalled her second car for the second time in one year. He stalked up to them, murder in his eyes.

"I would have a word," he snarled around his teeth and Zelda glanced to Ike. He shrugged like it didn't sound as if he was about to face a firing squad and kissed Zelda's cheek.

"Go mingle," he said with a wink and Zelda watched in shock as Ike moved off to face her father alone.

"Zelda Zelda Zelda!" Rosalina came running up to her, eyes dancing with mischief. "You're so crazy ohmygod! I can't believe you did that!" she laughed and looped an arm through hers. "I would never be so bold!"

"It was your idea," Zelda hissed and Rosalina laughed, her head thrown back, gold star shaped earrings catching the light.

"Because he's hot as hell and you two so needed to I didn't think you would though," she shook her head and they moved subtly towards her father's study. "I hope you had your fun because I think you're about to be a single woman again."

"...DARE YOU!" her father's voice boomed from behind the shut doors. There was a muted response, obviously from Ike and the eavesdropping sister's pressed their ears to the thick wooden doors to hear better. "You WHAT?!" Zelda backed up a step at her father's booming snarl of words, worried about Ike's saftey. She glanced at Rosalina, noting her face was a contorted mix of emotions.

"Should I go in there?" Zelda asked and Rosalina's eyes widened.

"Do you wanna get killed too?" she whispered and Zelda gripped the doorhandle, turning it with a heavy breath.

"I-" Ike cut off his words, eyes falling on Zelda in shock. Her father whirled, angry eyes turned to her. "It's fine Zelda, go back out there," Ike's voice was tense, almost as though he was worried what would happen if she stayed.

"Look Father," she said in a calm voice, trying not to flinch under his intense gaze, "it takes two, so if you're going to yell at Ike, you'll have to yell at me as well."

"Oh I intend to," he said and Ike stepped between them. Zelda had to admit, for a man only pretending, he was doing a damn good job of acting like a perfect boyfriend.

"This is all on me," he said in a low voice. "You don't need to yell at her okay?"

"I'll do as I wish," her father snarled and Ike took a step forward.

"I'm not going to let you, what you wish be damned," Ike's voice was dangerous, Zelda saw her father actually hesistate. Something akin to fear flashed in his eyes as Ike stood his ground.

"I want you out of my house," Ganondorf snarled and Ike shrugged.

"Fine by me, I'm tired of this stupid shit anyway," he turned, his eyes landing on Zelda and smirk tugged up the corner of his lips. "You coming Zelda?" She knew what was happening, knew it in her gut that twisted like a bad cramp. Unwittingly she had become the bone two starving dogs in the alley were fighting over. Stay and upset Ike, or leave with him and enrage her father. The murderous glare in her father's eyes scared her. He was the man that paid her bills, paid her tuition, he even took care of the insurance on the car he had bought for her...

Ike's confident grin faltered, almost like he knew what she was going to say before she did. When she decided she opened her mouth, speaking over his sigh. "Ike-"

"Yeah, I'm gone," he said softly, something she couldn't name twisting his expression. He brushed past her, looking ready to punch someone, and stormed out.

"Well now," her father smoothed his fitted black suit unnecessarily, "that's better. Now that you're rid of the trash I have some people I'd like you to meet my dear." Zelda nodded numbly, feeling as if her world was collapsing around her.

XxX

An hour later and Zelda had met more eligible bachelors than she cared to remember. Doctors, lawyers, esteemed colleagues... they were all a blur of too-white teeth and expensive cologne. She smiled politely at all of them, Rosalina at her side doing the same. She barely heard what was said around her, all she could think of was Ike. It was all fake, every last kiss, every last smile... so why did it feel like she had just broken up with him? They weren't real. They were a fake couple, a lie so her parents would get off her back. Why did it feel like he had walked off hurt and mad? Surely he was relieved to be done with the joke of a fake relationship right? Surely he wanted nothing to do with her anymore...

Sighing heavily, she excused herself from the company of some doctor that she could give two shits about and walked out into the brisk night air. She pulled her phone from her tiny clutch purse, heart thundering at the text from Ike sent thirty minutes ago. She pulled it up, mind reeling as to what it could say.

'Zelda I'm sorry. I thought I did what was right, apparently I was wrong. I'm too much of a coward to ever say this to you but here goes: This stupid thing has to end. You never liked me from the start and it's killing me to keep it up because for fucks sake I have liked you from the time you walked into my room by mistake. I thought this would be a great way to show you that I'm not the stupid man whore that you think I am, that I want more than a fuck and to never call again. I wanted this with you to be real... I'm sorry if it puts you in a weird spot but I can't do this anymore. Sorry you'll have to deal with your parents trying to set you up, but maybe one of them deserves you. I know I don't. Ike'

Tears of disbelief pricked at her eyes as she reread the message at least a dozen times. He liked her? Ike, the perfect, amazing guy, liked her?! "Holy shit," was all she could manage around her stunned tongue.

"Zellie?" Peach's voice was cautious and quiet. "You okay? I saw Ike leave..."

"I need to talk to him," she said and looked to Peach, desperation in her eyes. "Can you drive me back home?"

"It's the middle of the party," Peach said and Rosalina joined them outside on the raised deck, heels clicking over to them.

"What happened?" she asked and Zelda looked to her.

"Can you drive me home?" she asked and Rosalina let out a sigh of relief.

"Hell yes I can, if I have to listen to one more doctor tell me about a surgery and how glorious he is I'm going to stab someone. Let's go."

XxX

Zelda told Rosalina on the drive what they had been up to, how everything was fake, but apparently Ike had harbored feelings for her that she was ignorant of. Rosalina laughed at the fake sex, a fact that now Zelda had to laugh at too. "My god we so have to keep this from Peach," Rosalina said conspiratorally. "I loved watching her have a little panic attack over her sister having more fun than her. HA!" she threw her head back and laughed again, Zelda not quite able to join in the humorous moment. "But he really likes you?" Rosalina asked when she finished laughing and Zelda nodded, reading the text to her again.

"I can't believe I missed it."

"You guys seriously had me fooled," Rosalina admitted and Zelda looked at her curiously. "I thought with the way he was standing up to Dad and all that you two were like... serious, maybe for even longer than you told us."

"Really?"

"Duh girl! Have you seen how many guys run for the hills when Dad turns his 'you're not good enough for my girl' routine on them? Ike stood his ground, defended you and himself, and actually came back! He's a keeper in my book. And come on, poker with your brother in law? No dude that's not head over heels for you would sit through that after the horrific dinnershow Dad did."

"Do you think you could make a detour?" Zelda asked and Rosalina shot her a smile as dazzling as a thousand stars.

"Where's your Romeo live?"

XxX

Zelda banged on Ike's door, hoping he would answer. The door opened and she sighed to see a sleepy looking Link blinking at her under his blonde bangs. "Zel? What's up?"

"Is Ike here?" she asked and he shook his head.

"No, he stormed in here, all weird and shit, changed his clothes and left. I asked what was wrong and the look he shot me could've wilted a deku tree." He ran a hand through his hair. "You might try calling him, I don't know where he went." Zelda groaned and nodded.

"Thanks Link," she forced a smile and he opened the door farther.

"You wanna come in?"

"No... I better not," she said and hugged him quickly. "Thanks again."

"Uh huh," he said with a sleepy nod and she chuckled.

"Go back to bed sleepyhead."

"Yeah," he mumbled, already shutting the door. The second the lock clicked she pulled out her phone and dialed Ike, cursing as it went straight to voicemail.

"This is Ike, leave a message." She sighed and hung up, not sure what to say. Feeling like lead lined her bones, she moved back to Rosalina's waiting car and got in, a sigh escaping her lips.

"You okay?" her sister asked tentatively.

"No," she answered, looking to her with a sad smile. "Just take me home."

XXX

Thanks for reading, and as always, thanks to my review from concisponci last chapter! You are amazing! Let me know what you think, much love, Leigh