Link smiled as he approached Sheik. "Hi!" He called as he got closer. "Need a hand?"

Sheik looked up and smiled, nearly spilling the water all over the ground. "Yeah, that'd be great! Thanks!"

Link grabbed hold of the bucket on one side while Sheik held it on the other. "Thanks, man. This thing is heavy."

"Why do you need so much water?" Link asked.

"Mr. Tulla is taking a bath…" He replied with a sneer.

"But does he need this much water? You must have been hauling it for at least…" Link thought. "thirty minutes!"

Sheik nodded. "I know. Sometimes I wish those other kids would do some more work. I pretty much do it all." He paused and looked around. "But don't tell anyone I said that." He added in a whisper.

Link nodded. They set the bucket down in front of the door and wiped their brows. "Wow, that's heavy." Sheik sighed and walked to them door. "Hey, you wanna come in?"

Link smiled and nodded, following Sheik inside the small house. "I'm back with the last bucket!" Sheik called.

"Well it's about time!" The large woman that Link remembered from before came bustling through them and picked up the large bucket and walked back inside.

Sheik smirked and motioned for Link to come closer to him. Link leaned in to the smaller blond to listen.

"She's a little cranky. My aunt came by a minute ago and told her that she couldn't have my inheritance just because she was taking care of me."

Link blinked. "She wanted your inheritance?"

Sheik nodded. "Yeah. Of course, she doesn't realize what my inheritance really is. She thought it was money or something." He chuckled. "See, my aunt is the guardian of the Princess."

Link nodded. "Yeah, Impa." He said and then slapped his hand over his mouth, realizing what he said.

Sheik blinked. "You know my aunt?"

Oh well, too late now…Link thought. He nodded. "Yeah, I met her when I met Zelda."

Sheik's eyes widened for a moment. "You're friends with Zelda? Me too!" He smiled. "How long have you known her?"

Years…Link thought then he shrugged. "A few days. But we're friends."

Sheik smiled and nodded. "That's awesome! Hey, I'm probably gonna see her tomorrow, you wanna come?"

Link smiled. "Sure! It's a lot better than sneaking in."

Sheik laughed. "Yeah, I've done that too." He glanced around. "Hey, you wanna see my room?"

"Yeah sure!" Link said and followed Sheik into the house.

The place looked different than when Link bad been there. First off their were no giant skulltula's – that was nice – and then their were actual walls and the house seemed bigger than he remembered. The living room was in the center and all along the inner walls, in a large circle, was other doors. Sheik led him to the one directly in the back.

"Mrs. Tulla! This is my friend we're gonna play!" He said and before he could receive an answer he slammed the bedroom door.

Link chuckled. He could already tell he was going to like this boy. He had a mind of his own. Sheik turned to him and placed his hands on his hips. "I just realized that I don't even know your name!" He laughed. "Silly how you omit certain things isn't it?"

Link smiled and nodded. "I'm Link."

"Link…" Sheik smiled and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sheik."

They shook hands an Link, for the first time in his life, enjoyed being in the company of a fellow male. The boys spent the whole afternoon together. Link showed Sheik some of his sword techniques and Sheik returned the favor by teaching Link how to leap and flip. Just as the sun was going down, the two boys collapsed on the floor.

"That sure…was…fun…" Sheik panted as he lay on his back on the floor.

Link sighed and rolled to his side to face his new friend. "Yeah it was."

"Where'd you learn some of that stuff? That was great!" Sheik smiled and glanced at him. "How old are you anyway?"

"Ten." Link replied and glanced back at him. "What about you?"

"Twelve." He smiled and sighed. "I love play-fighting like that."

Link smiled. "Yeah, I haven't played like that in…well actually I've never played."

Sheik turned over and raised a brow. "You've never played? What about your other friends?"

Link shrugged. "I don't have many. I…never really had time for friends." He said as he thought. Saving the world didn't leave much time for play-fighting, after all.

Sheik looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry. That must have been horrible."

Link thought back on all the nightmares he had growing up and nodded. "Yeah…"

Sheik stood up. "Well that settles it! I can't let you go on without friends!"

Link looked dup curiously.

"I'm gonna be your friend from now on." He offered his hand to Link. "Deal?"

Link felt like laughing for joy. He took his new friends hand and stood up. "Deal."

"Sheik!" The boys turned to the door as Mrs. Tulla walked in. "Dinner time." She noticed Link and smiled. "Oh, would you like to stay for dinner too dear?"

Link blinked. She seemed nicer now. He glanced at Sheik who nodded furiously and then Link nodded too. "Yes, thank you, Ma'am."

They walked through the living room and into another door which lead to a small kitchen. Link and Sheik sat down where the other children were already eating. None of them seemed to pay much attention to them and so Link and Sheik were free to talk.

"What's wrong with her?" Link whispered pointing to Mrs. Tulla. "She seems nice now."

Sheik rolled his eyes. "She goes through these weird mood swings a lot. You learn real quick how to catch her on a good day."

Link chuckled as the food was placed in front of him. He didn't realize how hungry he was until now; it had been a long time since he'd had anybody's home cooking before. He dove in and nearly inhaled his food. Sheik made fun of him and asked what the hurry was. Link apologized and began to eat normally.

Dinner didn't last very long and then Link stood up and stretched his arms over his head. "I probably should go."

Sheik looked sad then suddenly his face brightened. He ran over to Mrs. Tulla and whispered something in her ear. She gasped and looked at Link with sad eyes. She nodded to Sheik and smiled.Link, who was thoroughly confused now, placed his hands on his hips, but before he could protest about being left out of the conversation, Sheik ran back over to him.

"Hey, why don't you live here? You said so yourself that you don't have parents. You could live here and then we could be like brothers. Whad'ya said?"

Link's eyes widened. Live here? He couldn't! Or could he? He can't say in the forest forever. He wasn't one of them. And Zelda, he could see Zelda a lot more if he lived here. And Sheik…he would have Sheik. But what about Saria? He would miss her.

But the forest is pretty close…I can just go and visit a lot. He thought.

"I…don't know." Link hesitated.

Sheik looked at him with puppy dog eyes and he smiled.

"Okay, I will!"

Sheik cheered and the Tulla's smiled.

"Oh," Link thought, "but I have to go back to my house to get a few things first." He looked to Mrs. Tulla. "Is that okay?"

She nodded. "Of course, dear." She smiled.

Link nodded and moved to the door. Once in the living room Sheik stopped him. "Can I go?"

Link thought about it. He wanted to say goodbye to Saria too, and he would rather do that alone. He smiled at his new friend.

"Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to go alone."

Sheik looked sad but nodded. "Okay, come back soon."

Link nodded and ran from the house. He had to find Epona and get back to Kokiri Forest so he could find Saria and tell her that he finally has a home.

I finally have a home…Link smiled as he ran.