I know that not all of you read my three one-shots, so not all of you know the explanation for why this took longer than usual. The short version is that I really didn't want to explore the territory involved in this chapter, so I asked Atchika to do it for me. This is a guest chapter, written by my faithful reviewer Atchika, who turned down my offer to put in her own author's note. Thank you, I wouldn't have known what to do without you.
Father of Time
Chapter 8
Around Day Two Hundred, One Month Later: 6:00 AM
Lon Lon Ranch
"Link if you don't stop pacing, you'll wear a hole in the floor," Malon said as she started clearing the breakfast dishes.
"My wife is having a baby remember?"
"Really? Well there something I didn't know."
He stopped. "You're being funny right?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "We need to settle on a name," she said absently rubbing her belly, "and don't even think about Link Jr. That is so boring," she said and started walking out of the dining room.
"You shouldn't be carrying that," he said taking the tray, "and it's not that bad."
"Yes it is, and besides," she said as she relinquished the tray "I want a girl."
"Why? Girls are so unexciting."
"Thanks a lot."
"Not you," he said back, pedaling. "You're not a girl..."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're my wife... and I love you?"
"Would you like a shovel or would you like to continue digging that hole with your mouth?"
"I think the shovel would take too long."
"You are so lucky you're cute when you're confused. Besides," she looked at him and said flatly, "aren't there enough of you roaming around greater Hyrule already?"
"I suppose."
"Oh!" She wavered a little.
"What?!"
"Nothing, I think. The baby is bigger and when it moves well, anyway it just felt like it did a summersault."
"Are you sure?"
"No, I'm afraid this is my first baby too." She went back over to the table and picked up the pitcher of milk.
"Right."
"Come on Fairy Boy let's get those dishes done. Maybe you can come up with a better girl name than you've managed for a boy."
9:00 AM
"Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"Yes, you're hovering and it's making me nutty. I'm not going to break you know. Stuff still has to get done baby on the way or not."
"I know, it's just the closer it gets the more jittery I become." He collapsed into a nearby chair. "How can you not be?"
"Not be what?" she said while looking out the window at the Cuccos.
"Nervous."
"Link you really should finish fixing that fence," she added absently, "and the cows still need to be milked."
"You're avoiding the question."
"Damn straight," she said without turning.
"Alright I know when I'm beat." He paused at the door noticing the faraway look she had. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her. "Thinking about your Dad?"
"I really miss him," she said, wiping away a tear. "I just wish he could be here."
"Me too." He hugged her tighter. "Don't worry Mal, it'll be all right." He loosened his grip and walked back to the door. "I'll be out milking the cows. Tatl and Navi are here, they'll come get me if anything interesting happens."
She smiled and moved away from the window. Link left for the barn and she went into the kitchen to make some bread.
2:30 PM
As she finished putting away the last of the baby's things, Malon looking around noted that everything was neat and tidy. "Good. Everything's ready." As if waiting for those words to pass her lips, her body decided it really was time. She held the doorframe for a bit and counted out how long it lasted. Trying to remember the instructions Impa had given her. "Oh my. That really hurts." She went to her room and sat on the bed. The pain subsided and she breathed a little easier. She watched the clock on the wall. 5 minutes, 10, 15, 20, 25. She was just about to get up again when the next contraction started. "Navi?" she said through gritted teeth.
"Please go get Link." She watched as the fairy flew through the door lock and out of the room. She relaxed as the pain dwindled. 'That one lasted just a little longer,' she thought. She decided to change out of her work clothes and put on a nightgown. As she lay down on the bed, she could hear Link as he came bounding up the stairs.
The door burst open and he rushed over to her. "Is it time? Are you alright?"
"If it's not then the goddesses are really messing with me this time." She smiled. "You need to get Impa here."
"I know, but I don't want to leave you here by yourself."
"You won't," said a voice from the door. "Go get Impa, Link. I'll stay with Malon."
"Zelda how did you get...?" asked Link, confused
"Get here? Did you forget about the warp point in my room?"
He shook his head. "But how did you..."
"Know?" she said, finishing his sentence again. "I was a young farm girl for a week, remember? Seems I can still pick up strong vibes from Lon Lon Ranch. I've had a stomachache for over an hour now. At first I thought the cook was trying to kill me, he can be so temperamental. Right about then Navi shot out of my closet and she was alone. I didn't need a book to figure out what was going on." He was staring at her blankly, "Why are you still here? Go, go, go!"
Link turned back to his wife and searched her face for an answer. She smiled and watched in dismay as her husband stood up, played the Nocturne of Shadow on his ocarina and disappeared in a flash of blue light. Zelda poured some water into the basin and wet the towel that was there. After placing it on her head she pulled up a chair.
"Are you thirsty?" she asked while pouring some into a glass.
"A little."
"Don't worry Malon," she said handing it to her. "Link will be back shortly."
"I know, but I just had a terrible thought. It's the whole immortality thing," she said while dealing with the next contraction. "What if I end up outliving my child?"
Zelda brushed an errant hair out of her face and looked at her for a moment, "I think what you really need to focus on is getting that baby here in the first place. Time will take care of everything else."
"But how can I be sure?"
"You can't, so just let it be for now. You'll have plenty of time to worry about that later."
4:45 PM
"Where are they?" Malon whispered, looking out her window. She was wandering aimlessly around her small bedroom now, bored with being in her bed. Her contractions were only ten minutes apart, and she was feeling very restless. 'How long is this gonna take?' she wondered to herself. "He should be back by now."
"Should be any time now, " Zelda said as she glanced out the window, "I saw Epona jump the wall probably a half an hour ago....,"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"What was to tell?"
"I guess," she stretched out her back when another thought hit her. "Oh, goddesses!"
"What?!"
"I'm going to be someone's mother."
"That's usually the end result of something like this."
"I know, but I didn't really realize it till now, you know?"
Zelda smiled, "No."
"Don't you want any children?"
"Yes, but that can wait for a bit. Being a princess can eat up a lot of your spare time, but you know that already."
She was pacing now, checking out the window every few minutes. She looked over at Zelda; even her everyday clothes seemed elegant. "Do you ever wonder what things would be like if we hadn't switched?"
"Not anymore, I got what I asked for. More, actually. With Tael I have even more than I could have dreamed possible."
She looked over at her friend. Yes, she thought Zelda was her friend. Princess or not she would always be there for her. She felt another contraction coming on and drew a sharp breath.
"Malon, I think it's time you laid back down."
She held up a hand and waited for the worst of it to pass. "Yes that would be a good idea," she said when she could talk again.
5:30 PM
"I'll kill him." Only five minutes now.
"That sounds just a teensy bit drastic," Zelda said as she looked out the window again. "Speak of the devil..."
"Let's not." She let out a sigh when she heard Epona neighing outside. "About time."
They heard the clatter of boots on the stairs and the door opened and Link and Impa entered the room. She was happy to see him, but the urge to throttle him was very strong. "What took you so long?" she growled.
Link looked at Zelda, she just shook her head in a way that indicated answering that question could be hazardous to his general well being. "Ummm..."
Impa stepped into the silence and began to ask her a series of questions. Turning back to Link she said, "Go boil some water."
"Why?"
"You smell like a horse."
Looking down at himself, he seemed to realize he hadn't changed, washed or anything before leaving to get Impa. "Right." relieved he abruptly turned and walked out of the room. There was enough noise coming from downstairs that she was worried he might hurt himself. She saw Zelda discreetly covering her mouth. Was she laughing? "I'll go make sure he doesn't burn the place down." She heard distinctly unprincesslike laughter after Zelda left the room.
Impa just snorted. "Men..." Returning her attention to Malon, she smiled, softening her fierce look. "You're doing fine Malon, you've gotten through the first part without losing your head. That's good."
"First part?" She sighed. "You mean there's more?"
"Oh yes, but while it may seem the worst, It will also lead you to the best."
9:30 PM
Link quietly sat holding her hand. Pain was a constant now, with the contractions only minutes apart and each was lasting for what felt like an eternity. He listened to her rants about her current condition and didn't flinch at all when threatened with bodily injury if he ever dared lay a hand on her again. Zelda stayed and helped Impa, following her directions with her usual princessy gracefulness. Malon caught sight of herself in the mirror, and was horrified. She was drenched in sweat and could feel her hair sticking to her neck. She pulled the blanket over her head.
"What's wrong?" asked Link, worriedly.
"I look horrible." He tugged the blanket down.
"No, you look fine."
"You're just saying that."
"No, Mal, you're simply the most beautiful woman I will ever see."
She would have smiled if she had had the chance, but Impa pulled back the covers; her water had finally given way. "Okay Malon, time to push." Zelda sat on one side and Link on the other. "Now," Impa said, "you both remember your parts as I described them?" They both nodded. "Good. Malon I want you take a deep breath and when you lean forward I want you to push for as long as you can. We will repeat this until the baby is out. Now, on my mark." She had one had on Malon's belly, feeling contractions, knowing when they hit their peak. "Now."
She took a deep breath, and tried to lean, but was struggling. Link and Zelda supported her back and helped her maintain it longer than she thought she could. After repeating this five or six times she was shaking from the effort.
"Again," Impa said. She groaned but complied. "You're almost there, child. One more really big push ought to do it." She nodded. "Now."
Malon took the deepest breath she could and pushed harder than she thought possible. Groaning loudly with effort, she felt a sudden release and shortly after that heard a baby's cries. Her baby's cry. Impa cleared the goop out of its face and announced, "It's a girl!"
9:50 PM
After a quick clean up Zelda wrapped her up in a warm blanket and brought to her mother. Awake but no longer crying, small blue eyes looked out at her parents as they looked at her with fascinated grins. One stood up came around the bed and then disappeared from view. "Link, are you alright?" her mother asked.
"He's unconscious."
One snorted and said "Men."
Her mother looked back at her and smiled. "Well I guess we can name you when your daddy finishes his nap."
'Yes,' she thought, 'naps are good.'
What did you think of that? I almost feel bad, going back to writing this. Now I have to try to live up to this chapter... Well, I would like to say thanks again to Atchika. Oh, and for all who are wondering, her name isn't Marin. I've come up with something that I think is better. And there is a reason that I requested that Link pass out, but not even Atchika knows what it is... I might get the next chapter up tonight so you'll all find out. Maybe. Probably. We'll see.
Father of Time
Chapter 8
Around Day Two Hundred, One Month Later: 6:00 AM
Lon Lon Ranch
"Link if you don't stop pacing, you'll wear a hole in the floor," Malon said as she started clearing the breakfast dishes.
"My wife is having a baby remember?"
"Really? Well there something I didn't know."
He stopped. "You're being funny right?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "We need to settle on a name," she said absently rubbing her belly, "and don't even think about Link Jr. That is so boring," she said and started walking out of the dining room.
"You shouldn't be carrying that," he said taking the tray, "and it's not that bad."
"Yes it is, and besides," she said as she relinquished the tray "I want a girl."
"Why? Girls are so unexciting."
"Thanks a lot."
"Not you," he said back, pedaling. "You're not a girl..."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're my wife... and I love you?"
"Would you like a shovel or would you like to continue digging that hole with your mouth?"
"I think the shovel would take too long."
"You are so lucky you're cute when you're confused. Besides," she looked at him and said flatly, "aren't there enough of you roaming around greater Hyrule already?"
"I suppose."
"Oh!" She wavered a little.
"What?!"
"Nothing, I think. The baby is bigger and when it moves well, anyway it just felt like it did a summersault."
"Are you sure?"
"No, I'm afraid this is my first baby too." She went back over to the table and picked up the pitcher of milk.
"Right."
"Come on Fairy Boy let's get those dishes done. Maybe you can come up with a better girl name than you've managed for a boy."
9:00 AM
"Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"Yes, you're hovering and it's making me nutty. I'm not going to break you know. Stuff still has to get done baby on the way or not."
"I know, it's just the closer it gets the more jittery I become." He collapsed into a nearby chair. "How can you not be?"
"Not be what?" she said while looking out the window at the Cuccos.
"Nervous."
"Link you really should finish fixing that fence," she added absently, "and the cows still need to be milked."
"You're avoiding the question."
"Damn straight," she said without turning.
"Alright I know when I'm beat." He paused at the door noticing the faraway look she had. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her. "Thinking about your Dad?"
"I really miss him," she said, wiping away a tear. "I just wish he could be here."
"Me too." He hugged her tighter. "Don't worry Mal, it'll be all right." He loosened his grip and walked back to the door. "I'll be out milking the cows. Tatl and Navi are here, they'll come get me if anything interesting happens."
She smiled and moved away from the window. Link left for the barn and she went into the kitchen to make some bread.
2:30 PM
As she finished putting away the last of the baby's things, Malon looking around noted that everything was neat and tidy. "Good. Everything's ready." As if waiting for those words to pass her lips, her body decided it really was time. She held the doorframe for a bit and counted out how long it lasted. Trying to remember the instructions Impa had given her. "Oh my. That really hurts." She went to her room and sat on the bed. The pain subsided and she breathed a little easier. She watched the clock on the wall. 5 minutes, 10, 15, 20, 25. She was just about to get up again when the next contraction started. "Navi?" she said through gritted teeth.
"Please go get Link." She watched as the fairy flew through the door lock and out of the room. She relaxed as the pain dwindled. 'That one lasted just a little longer,' she thought. She decided to change out of her work clothes and put on a nightgown. As she lay down on the bed, she could hear Link as he came bounding up the stairs.
The door burst open and he rushed over to her. "Is it time? Are you alright?"
"If it's not then the goddesses are really messing with me this time." She smiled. "You need to get Impa here."
"I know, but I don't want to leave you here by yourself."
"You won't," said a voice from the door. "Go get Impa, Link. I'll stay with Malon."
"Zelda how did you get...?" asked Link, confused
"Get here? Did you forget about the warp point in my room?"
He shook his head. "But how did you..."
"Know?" she said, finishing his sentence again. "I was a young farm girl for a week, remember? Seems I can still pick up strong vibes from Lon Lon Ranch. I've had a stomachache for over an hour now. At first I thought the cook was trying to kill me, he can be so temperamental. Right about then Navi shot out of my closet and she was alone. I didn't need a book to figure out what was going on." He was staring at her blankly, "Why are you still here? Go, go, go!"
Link turned back to his wife and searched her face for an answer. She smiled and watched in dismay as her husband stood up, played the Nocturne of Shadow on his ocarina and disappeared in a flash of blue light. Zelda poured some water into the basin and wet the towel that was there. After placing it on her head she pulled up a chair.
"Are you thirsty?" she asked while pouring some into a glass.
"A little."
"Don't worry Malon," she said handing it to her. "Link will be back shortly."
"I know, but I just had a terrible thought. It's the whole immortality thing," she said while dealing with the next contraction. "What if I end up outliving my child?"
Zelda brushed an errant hair out of her face and looked at her for a moment, "I think what you really need to focus on is getting that baby here in the first place. Time will take care of everything else."
"But how can I be sure?"
"You can't, so just let it be for now. You'll have plenty of time to worry about that later."
4:45 PM
"Where are they?" Malon whispered, looking out her window. She was wandering aimlessly around her small bedroom now, bored with being in her bed. Her contractions were only ten minutes apart, and she was feeling very restless. 'How long is this gonna take?' she wondered to herself. "He should be back by now."
"Should be any time now, " Zelda said as she glanced out the window, "I saw Epona jump the wall probably a half an hour ago....,"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"What was to tell?"
"I guess," she stretched out her back when another thought hit her. "Oh, goddesses!"
"What?!"
"I'm going to be someone's mother."
"That's usually the end result of something like this."
"I know, but I didn't really realize it till now, you know?"
Zelda smiled, "No."
"Don't you want any children?"
"Yes, but that can wait for a bit. Being a princess can eat up a lot of your spare time, but you know that already."
She was pacing now, checking out the window every few minutes. She looked over at Zelda; even her everyday clothes seemed elegant. "Do you ever wonder what things would be like if we hadn't switched?"
"Not anymore, I got what I asked for. More, actually. With Tael I have even more than I could have dreamed possible."
She looked over at her friend. Yes, she thought Zelda was her friend. Princess or not she would always be there for her. She felt another contraction coming on and drew a sharp breath.
"Malon, I think it's time you laid back down."
She held up a hand and waited for the worst of it to pass. "Yes that would be a good idea," she said when she could talk again.
5:30 PM
"I'll kill him." Only five minutes now.
"That sounds just a teensy bit drastic," Zelda said as she looked out the window again. "Speak of the devil..."
"Let's not." She let out a sigh when she heard Epona neighing outside. "About time."
They heard the clatter of boots on the stairs and the door opened and Link and Impa entered the room. She was happy to see him, but the urge to throttle him was very strong. "What took you so long?" she growled.
Link looked at Zelda, she just shook her head in a way that indicated answering that question could be hazardous to his general well being. "Ummm..."
Impa stepped into the silence and began to ask her a series of questions. Turning back to Link she said, "Go boil some water."
"Why?"
"You smell like a horse."
Looking down at himself, he seemed to realize he hadn't changed, washed or anything before leaving to get Impa. "Right." relieved he abruptly turned and walked out of the room. There was enough noise coming from downstairs that she was worried he might hurt himself. She saw Zelda discreetly covering her mouth. Was she laughing? "I'll go make sure he doesn't burn the place down." She heard distinctly unprincesslike laughter after Zelda left the room.
Impa just snorted. "Men..." Returning her attention to Malon, she smiled, softening her fierce look. "You're doing fine Malon, you've gotten through the first part without losing your head. That's good."
"First part?" She sighed. "You mean there's more?"
"Oh yes, but while it may seem the worst, It will also lead you to the best."
9:30 PM
Link quietly sat holding her hand. Pain was a constant now, with the contractions only minutes apart and each was lasting for what felt like an eternity. He listened to her rants about her current condition and didn't flinch at all when threatened with bodily injury if he ever dared lay a hand on her again. Zelda stayed and helped Impa, following her directions with her usual princessy gracefulness. Malon caught sight of herself in the mirror, and was horrified. She was drenched in sweat and could feel her hair sticking to her neck. She pulled the blanket over her head.
"What's wrong?" asked Link, worriedly.
"I look horrible." He tugged the blanket down.
"No, you look fine."
"You're just saying that."
"No, Mal, you're simply the most beautiful woman I will ever see."
She would have smiled if she had had the chance, but Impa pulled back the covers; her water had finally given way. "Okay Malon, time to push." Zelda sat on one side and Link on the other. "Now," Impa said, "you both remember your parts as I described them?" They both nodded. "Good. Malon I want you take a deep breath and when you lean forward I want you to push for as long as you can. We will repeat this until the baby is out. Now, on my mark." She had one had on Malon's belly, feeling contractions, knowing when they hit their peak. "Now."
She took a deep breath, and tried to lean, but was struggling. Link and Zelda supported her back and helped her maintain it longer than she thought she could. After repeating this five or six times she was shaking from the effort.
"Again," Impa said. She groaned but complied. "You're almost there, child. One more really big push ought to do it." She nodded. "Now."
Malon took the deepest breath she could and pushed harder than she thought possible. Groaning loudly with effort, she felt a sudden release and shortly after that heard a baby's cries. Her baby's cry. Impa cleared the goop out of its face and announced, "It's a girl!"
9:50 PM
After a quick clean up Zelda wrapped her up in a warm blanket and brought to her mother. Awake but no longer crying, small blue eyes looked out at her parents as they looked at her with fascinated grins. One stood up came around the bed and then disappeared from view. "Link, are you alright?" her mother asked.
"He's unconscious."
One snorted and said "Men."
Her mother looked back at her and smiled. "Well I guess we can name you when your daddy finishes his nap."
'Yes,' she thought, 'naps are good.'
What did you think of that? I almost feel bad, going back to writing this. Now I have to try to live up to this chapter... Well, I would like to say thanks again to Atchika. Oh, and for all who are wondering, her name isn't Marin. I've come up with something that I think is better. And there is a reason that I requested that Link pass out, but not even Atchika knows what it is... I might get the next chapter up tonight so you'll all find out. Maybe. Probably. We'll see.