Chapter 36

The man broke out into a smile, "Well, you couldn't be anyone but Raven's boy. Link, am I correct?" The boy could only nod, "You're a lot bigger than the last time I saw you. You probably wouldn't remember me, well … I was a lot taller back then." Link realized he was still staring at him and began to apologize. But the man held up a hand and chuckled. "It's quite alright to gawk, I'm well aware of my condition and I have accepted it." He ran a massive hand over his head, "I'm bald and proud of it." He winked at Link, who couldn't help but smile. The man's good nature was infectious.

"Sorry Nick didn't know you were around." McCloud said. Nick chuckled and gave McCloud a knowing look.

"It's understandable, James, not like I was in the same spot you left." Nick gave a good hearty laugh and turned his attention back to Link.

"My, I can't get over the likeness…" Link felt the tip of his ears burn at the intensity of the gaze, "You're father wasn't much older then you when he found our order and ask to join. He was a skilled man, with a strong moral compass. Is … Is he?" Link didn't have to respond, the look on his face was enough. Nick's smile left him and the bags around his eyes became more apparent.

"Oh my dear boy, I'm so sorry." Nick sighed as if he expected this. James walked past the two and towards the bar. He grabbed a glass and kept his back towards the others.

"His dead." He said in a hard voice as he filled the glass with brown content from a barrel, "Dead as a doornail, just as we assumed before," He turned to face them as he drank, some of it slopped down his chin, "Nothing's changed." He said slamming the glass on the counter.

"Things have changed," Nick said wheeling around to look at James, "Link's alive! Maybe others are too."

"One brat survived," The ginger said in a hard voice, "That changes nothing." Link looked back and forth between the two before stepping forward.

"Please, what happened to the other? What happened to you?" he added the last part quieter. McCloud leaned over the counter.

"The question is, what happened to you?" Once again the accusation in his voice was clear. Link's hand moved towards the burn on his left arm, Nick caught this.

"I see …" He said in a solemn voice, his brown eyes gave Link a long look over. He seemed to for the first time realize just what state the boy was in.

"Are you hungry, boy?" he asked earnestly, "I was just in the middle of adding the final touches to my stew. You're more than welcome to welcome to join us!" His smile was warm and caring, one Link couldn't help but return. Before he could speak his stomach growled very loudly, earning a chuckle from Nick.

"James, grab a couple bowls would you." The bald man call over the counter, sounding more like a command than a request. He gestured for Link to follow him as he wheeled to the back of the room. He grabbed a spoon of the table he previously occupied and lifted the lid off the pot. The warm smell was the best thing the tired, hungry boy had smelled in a long time. Nick stuck the spoon in, he gave it a quick stir before tasting it.

"Hmm," he mused as he stirred it once more, "It'll do, it'll do. Say, you think you can lift that boy." He gestured to the pot and wheeled out of the way so Link could get past him. He stepped forward and put his hand on the handle. With a grunt he pulled it up and onto the table, it was iron Link couldn't help but notice. It was heavy but with some effort nothing, Link couldn't handle.

"Thank you, thank you." Nick said as he wheeled closer. James came back with the bowls, begrudgingly doing as he was told. Nick nodded in his direction and began to pour large spoonfuls into each bowl. He pushed one in front of Link, who hesitantly sat in the chair next to Nick. He picked it up feeling its warm on his fingers and took a sip. The warmth instantly traveled down his throat filling his stomach. It was the best thing he had ever tasted, though he couldn't remember exactly what it did taste like later on. All too soon it was gone. He looked regretfully at the now empty bowl.

"Go on," Nick said pouring more soup for the boy, "Help yourself." James had turned a chair around on the other end of the table and sat in it backwards. His arms leaded over the headrest and he lazily drank his beer as he watched the boy eat with something close to pity.

After Link's fifth or sixth helping and eyeing scars and burns, James wondered out loud, "What have you been doing?" It was a whisper but loud enough for the others to hear. Link frozen mid-sip and glanced up at the ginger across from him then back down to his hand now in his lap. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry anymore as he contemplated how and where to begin.

"Link, up at the top of the stairs, there's a door to the left," Nick said promptly, "In that room to the right there's firewood, would you mind grabbing a log for the fire down here. It's a little low." The blonde nodded and left the room understanding that they wished to talk alone. He hurried up the stairs as he reached the top he could hear the hushed voices from below but couldn't make out any words. There was a long dark hallway with doors on each side, at the end it looked like another stairway.

He found the room with ease and entered. The room was pitch black with the exception of a dying candle on a table. Link grabbed it and made his way to the right wall. Sure enough there was a pile of logs; he grabbed a decent one from what he could tell in the dim lighting. Link set the candle on the table and was about to walk out. He turned back to the candle, he watched the short stub burn. It was in a room full of wood that it couldn't reach without a little help. It had no way of calling for help and without it the candle would run out of fuel and die. Yet the candle still shone bright trying to light up this one room. Link stepped out of the room and closed the door, wondering if it's worth it.

He made his way down the stairs, Nick and James had moved to the other end of the room by the windows. They were having a hushed argument that Link could only just make out as he move towards the fire.

"…id more than anything," Nick said impatiently, "we owe it to him to aid the lad however we can." Link placed the log into the glowing embers, they didn't notice his presences. He sat on the floor close to taking in its warmth. James seemed to be leaning against the glass, lost in thought. All three listened to the steady falling of rain outside, Link closed his eyes listening to its rhythmic beat. After a few moments James sighed.

"Yeah," He said quietly, "your right." He turned around to face Nick, a hard look in his eyes, "But that still doesn't change anything."He walked pass him back towards the fire and stopped suddenly once he nearer the table they previously used.

"What is it-oh." Nick asked as he wheeled near him and stopped next to him, his eyes watching the steady rise and fall of the sleeping child before them. In the golden light of the flames he looked like young carefree boy. His body curled close to the fire now growing brightly, lighting the entire room. Like the glowing coals, on his left hand a triangle shone faintly.

I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, sorry!

I feel so awful for making you guys wait! So much has happened (My iPod decided to be Mario for the day, Thunder snow [Google that shit, its real], 34 inches of snow, the town going crazy, lack of confidence, ect). I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Thank you all for still staying with me and reviewing and just being better than I could ever ask for! This chapter is dedicated to my new friend, Attackboss6. Thank you so much for all the laughs and smiles and support you have given me!

I wrote a 'real' one-shot (It's nowhere near as good as LeliaEditer's. If you want a good one-shot, go check out her stuff). If you guys want you should check it out and give me feedback.

Sooooo, I know this is crazy and I just meet you but ... Will you be my Valentine? 'Cauae Yoda only one for me and you complete my heart peice. I'll take your Hobbits to Isengard any day. I'm only Pika without 'chu. I'm a loser making random references without you to get them. ;)

Hahaha, you guys already know I can't spell.

I don't own anything. It's a FANfic (duh).

Till next time! (I'm not even going to promise you guys I'll get it out next week because even I don't know when I'll get it out)