Link still remembered the moment he realized he had a crush on Zelda.

It was a few months before the Wing Ceremony. Pipit's mother, Mallara, came in to teach their class about dancing with each other, a tradition to increase cooperation and teamwork. She had compared the qualities to ones necessary to fly a Loftwing and said that their coordination in that respect could only improve. Groose's annoyed scoff was audible.

However, she singled Link out to demonstrate, not because he was in any way a dancer, but because he was so famously good with his Loftwing. Link hesitated, but stood up nonetheless, feeling the eyes of the other boys on him and hearing the snickers already.

Mallara scanned the group of girls, and Link was beyond relieved when she called upon his friend Zelda. When later thinking upon the memory, Link would think himself completely dense for not seeing the blush on her cheeks. But at the time, he didn't notice at all, even when she stood right in front of him. He had noticed the whistles from the other students mocking their pairing, which he tried to tune them out.

It wasn't when he was told to hold her hand or touch her waist. It wasn't when he felt her hand in his or on his shoulder. It wasn't even when they started to move together.

It was when Mallara said they were doing good, and that they could return to their seats.

He knew he was head over heels for Zelda when he didn't want to let go of her.

From that point on, his love only grew, but his dancing skills stayed the same, apparent in how they danced at the Lumpy Pumpkin at Groose's engagement party, unceremonious and unstructured. Neither of them cared that they forgot what they had once learned.

He pulled her chest to his and kissed her as the song ended, hearing a whistle from Groose where his wheel chair was pulled up to the table.

Link and Zelda smiled in his direction before walking towards him, hands held.

"How long until you can dance with us, Groose?"

"Orielle says it's possible that I'll be dancing at my wedding," Groose answered as Link and Zelda sat down at the table.

"That's great!" Zelda said. "That's…soon, actually."

"I'm excited," Groose added.

"Where is your blushing bride-to-be anyway?" Link asked, looking around.

"She's still at work," Groose explained, which refocused Link's gaze on him. "But she'll be getting off any moment now. I'm excited for that too."

"Well, congratulations nonetheless, Groose," Zelda said. "You have a big heart and I always hoped someone would swoon for it."

They suddenly heard excited murmurs at the door, looking to it to find that the excitement had come from Orielle's entrance. Groose smiled.

Orielle had entered with Greba, their conversation contrasting the excitement of the Lumpy Pumpkin and looking like something rather serious. She seemed to shake it off once she spotted Groose, rushing to him.

"Hi," she said, leaning down and kissing him.

"Hi," he replied, his yellow eyes deep in hers. "How was work?"

"I'll tell you about it later," she said.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, his concern apparent.

She nodded.

"But I want tonight to be about us," she said. "It…it's what—"

"Welcome everyone!" They heard Link interrupt. He was standing on the stage and pulled the focus of the engaged couple. "It's truly a honor to stand before you as Groose's best man. However, I'm sure it isn't because of my illustrious way with words. I think they'll be relieved to…"

Link's words stalled when he saw Greba approach Zelda and whisper something in her ear.

"To hear that my words will be brief, " he tried to continue as he watched his wife react quickly. The guests listening saw the concern in his expression and slight murmurs ensued. "I…I think it's a testament...to how good a friend Groose is to say how easy he made being my best man look."

Link tracked Zelda with his eyes as she stood up and left the Lumpy Pumpkin entirely.

He cleared his throat in an attempt to calm his concern.

"Through every nervous thought I had he assured me I had nothing to worry about, that Zelda and I deserved each other because we deserve our happiness, time and time again. So, as your newly-appointed best man let me say to you that you, Groose, have nothing to worry about and your happiness is well-deserved. That is why we celebrate you tonight, both of you."

"Thank you," he said with a nod. Rushing towards the exit, he stopped only at Groose's table.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly, his hand on the table cloth. "I really am."

Groose looked to Orielle as Link burst through the doors to follow Zelda.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"He said he wanted this to be our night," Orielle explained. "To not let what was about to happen detract from it. He told me to tell his daughter that he loves her and…"

She couldn't seem to finish, bowing her head.

"L?" Groose asked, placing a soft hand on her shoulder.

"And then he died," Orielle said as she looked back up to Groose.

Groose searched her, wanting her to somehow deny what she was inferring.

"Gaepora?" Groose asked with an encroaching wetness in his eyes.

Orielle nodded, approaching tears glistening in her brown eyes as Groose dove his mouth into his hand.

Now it was Orielle's hand on Groose's shoulder, rubbing and stroking it.

"He wanted this night to still be ours," Orielle said. "But we can cancel if you feel it isn't appropriate."

Groose shifted his hand to brace his forehead.

"That man has done so much for me," Groose said. "If the last thing he expected of me was to enjoy this night than you better bet I'll try."

Groose's shoulders shook as the tears finally came. Orielle's hand moved to run her fingers through Groose's red hair as his breaths hiccuped. There was no doubt he was crying, but Orielle noticed there was a small laugh that escaped his lungs. She tipped her head.

"Leave it to him to think of others in his own final moments," Groose said, Orielle nodding in agreement.