Malon's Journal
1st Day of Din's Third Month


Obligatory Disclaimer: All characters are properties of Nintendo, despite the fact that I've been hopelessly (read: pathetically) devoted to Link since 1987 when I was but a young lass… *ahem* Yeah.
Author's Notes: Sixth installment is just one entry, but it seemed lengthy enough to be in one chapter on its own. Please enjoy! ;)

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I've been meaning to tell you
I've got this feeling that won't subside
I look at you and I fantasize
Hungry Eyes; Eric Carmen

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1st Day of Din's Third Month; 11:12 am.
Un-for-get-table, part two.

So, as I was telling you last night, dear journal…

A few minutes, a few *long* minutes, passed before I regained the ability to move without immobilizing fear. I figured the sooner I can get things over with, the sooner I can leave and bury my face into my pillow and regret kissing Link as he slept.

I took a deep breath and nudged Link's shoulder. I had to do this thrice before he began stirring. As he groaned softly like a child and opened his light blue eyes to the world, my heart started to race. The weariness gone from his system, he looked at me with a knit-brow, blank face; but that look quickly transformed into a small smile when a memory seeped in through that often-thick skull of his.

"Oh hey there, Malon."

He could have had a better greeting than that. Well, at least he didn't feel that peck from before…

"Sorry about that; must've dozed off," he said, straightening himself.

"Oh don't be sorry. *I'm* sorry for keeping you waiting…" Sweet Nayru, I know I dragged him all the way out to Lake Hylia to apologize but I didn't intend to swap apologies with him like a game of hot potato the entire time!

Link then gazed directly at me, making me feel nervous. Instantly. He also fell quiet so I took that has his way of saying, "Okay, so you brought me out here because…?"

I came to a conclusion. When it all boils down to it, things are easier said than done. Period.

I had to keep myself from getting up and running away. Then I thought, if *I* did that, I'd only feel as miserable as I did the day this all started. I'd rather leap off Death Mountain's peak than to feel that anguish again. So I had to do this. I wanted to.

I inhaled again. "I'm not going to beat around the bush. Link." My gaze shifted directly to his. Farore was with me. "Reason why you're here is for my apology---I wanted you to understand this is as heartfelt as it's gonna get: face to face. Not a crummy message…"

"Malon, I---"

"No, please. Please let me finish…"

He looked bewildered. And impressed.

I rock.

"That day, back at Lon Lon Ranch," I continued, trying to keep my voice even, "You had every right to react the way you did. I was so caught up in my thoughts and feelings, that in the process of trying to neglect them, I ended up neglecting you. Out of fear."

Out of fear of letting you know I love you…

Link's golden eyebrows knitted together cutely, like they always do whenever he's thinking really hard. A thought seemed to disturb him and he glanced toward the beautiful surface of Lake Hylia's water.

"Please, Link, listen to me…" I wasn't going to cry, damn it, I wasn't.

Something in the water must have *really* captured his interest because he didn't look at me.

"Link, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. You're my best friend and I don't want our friendship to end because I was being stupid…"

I wasn't going to cry! No, that wasn't a tear! Mist from the Lake splashed onto my face. Somehow.

He still didn't look at me.

Okay, I was beyond helpless at the point. As a child, I made a promise to never cry in front of the man I loved because I'd end up like the Snow Princess---what? You never heard the story of the Snow Princess? Sad story really… Froze herself with her tears when she read the letter of her love dying in battle. Fairy tale or not, I was not about to be like her. I wanted to be strong.

"Link? Are you listening to me?" I frowned. "I know you're only trying to give me a taste of my own medicine, but at least hear me out *then* ignore me."

Epona's snorting was the only thing I heard after that.

That was it.

I raised my hands, thinking a few dual punches to his shoulders (his sore spots if you ever wanted to know, journal) would rouse him from his reverie.

He caught my wrists right when I was going to jab him, startling *me* instead. He didn't seem angry. Actually, he looked…relaxed, with a touch of amused in there somewhere. "Relax," he uttered and I found myself doing just that, "I heard you the first time. I forgive you, Mal'."

He called me Mal'! The nickname he gave me! [picture of a smiley face] In spite of myself and the tears I successfully fought off, I smiled. Link was once again the same ol' Link I grew to love. I couldn't have been happier.

"I wasn't ignoring you, by the way."

"You weren't?"

He shook his head. "Then what? You saw Princess Ruto in the water or something?" I asked.

Sniggering ensued. "No, dummy," I swatted him for that and he laughed a bit, "I was just a bit surprised that you went through all of this just to say you were sorry…"

"Well, why not?"

Link shrugged. "That and I was thinking about something else."

"What?"

"Oh, it's nothing…" he waved his hand dismissively.

Had this taken place, oh say…three weeks ago, before the whole realization-that-I-love-Link surfaced, I would have egged him on, probably pulled at his baby hairs (another of his sore spots, journal), until he gave in and told me what it was he was thinking. But that's like the pot calling the kettle black, as Dad says; I didn't tell him of my most intimate thoughts so fair was fair.

Not to say his thoughts didn't pique my interest, but that's life, you know. *Life* isn't fair.

Many crickets around us began to chirp. It was then I realized nightfall was steadily approaching and, if I were to lollygag around Lake Hylia any longer, Dad would have a heart attack the minute Epona and I trot through the gates back home.

I announced my desires to return home casually. As I started to rise to my feet, Link's gentleman side kicked in and he helped me. However, even as I stood fully, his hands were still clasped about my wrists.

Confused, I glanced up at him, into his eyes. Even in the growing dark, Link's eyes were exceptionally bright and alluring, and I felt powerless beneath his probing gaze. I tried my best not to stare.

But this is Link we're talking about…

My friend. Right. I cleared my throat and, while smiling wryly, tried to slide my wrists free from their capture in his hands. To no avail. He still held me.

Before I could question his motives, before I could prepare myself, Link lowered his face toward mine until his barely parted lips came over my own. The kiss was very brief, shorter than the one I snuck earlier---only five seconds. Yes, I kept track of time. You would too!

He broke the kiss as quickly as he had taken it, released my wrists, and glanced to me with, what else, a satisfied and triumphant smirk. He topped everything off with a deliciously naughty wink. "I'm not as much of a sound sleeper as you made me out to be, Malon."

So he *did* know, and he reveled in admitting it to me…

Journal, isn't it funny how the best experience of my life thus far is also my most mortifying…?

' Malon



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A/N: Hee hee! I'm thinking of ending it here. What do you think? Continue or just stop? Oh, a random thing: I've come up with my own name for Link/Malon pairing fics instead of "Malink", because I'm such a dork. I call them *drum rolls* Mink's! XDD See? Dorkdom at its finest.

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