A/N: Hey everyone! Check me out, updating within a week! Thanks for the reviews, I always appreciate when people take a chance on a new story. I'm planning this one to move a little more slowly than my other stories since I've been accused (justifiably) of rushing into romance.

I hope you guys like this chapter! Please review because it makes me more happy than would be considered normal!

Muchos luv, Silverpistola

P.S. Yes, my spelling is stubbornly English, thanks for noting that Sage of Downtown Hyrule. I do apologise if it annoys any American readers, but I must continue to defy my American spell checker (which, no matter how many times I try to change the settings, stays on American English, grr!). I'm glad you mentioned it before I get accused of making mistakes :)

Chapter 2

Aryll was yet again sulking. I looked across the car, feeling slightly uneasy. Of course, the flood of flowers had been amusing, but it hadn't occurred to me then that my sister might actually be engaged soon. Still, in the past six months she had matured more than I'd expected and I had to admit she did look very pretty in her white summer dress. Add that to the millions she would inherit and… sheesh.

"You know Aryll, it's a little chilly. Are you sure you don't want to nip back to the house for a sweater?" I suggested.

Aryll looked at me, strangely.

"No, I think I'll be okay."

"Suit yourself."

"I wouldn't worry Master Hero, much of the garden party will be under cover," Franklin assured me, pulling up at the gates of the Harrington's manor.

"Thanks Franklin," I muttered

"How's Sheik's place?" Aryll asked.

"Uh…"

My thoughts returned to this morning, leaving Sheik's apartment to see Zelda stretching like a cat and glancing at her mail in her open doorway, dressed in cute pajamas, the iridescent daisy chain adorning her ankle.

"It's good."

Aryll sighed as we pulled up at the door. Already I could hear the buzz of chatter around the other side of the house.

"Welcome to the rest of my summer," Aryll muttered.

"Hem hem. Our summer."

Aryll nodded. "I'm sorry."

"No time to get sentimental. We're both stuck here; let's make the most of it. Now put on your social smile," I commanded.

Aryll barred her teeth.

"Not perfect, but it'll do."

I was watching from a suitable distance as Aryll made small talk with a guy around a foot taller than her with sandy hair. So far I had seen far too many people I hadn't missed during my absence from society and answered the same three questions what felt like a million times. Where was it you moved? Married yet? Well, why ever not?

"I was right, blue is your colour."

I turned to see Sheik stood beside me dressed, yet again, in black. Black shirt, black pants and shiny black shoes, sunglasses dangling from his loose collar.

"And I'm guessing yours is black?"

Sheik ran a hand through his blonde highlights. "Aren't you missing a sister?"

"Oh, she's over there, somewhere," I answered, waving my hand in the general direction. The heat was making me feel too tired to be specific.

Sheik quirked a brow, his red eyes widening.

"That's your sister? Aryll?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, noting the direction of his gaze. "Course," I added, only just taking notice of his tone.

"I haven't seen her for quite a while," Sheik reasoned, not taking his eyes off her as she accepted a glass of sparkling water from another potential. "She's changed."

"You're not the only one that's noticed," I told him, glancing about and seeing around four other guys looking in her direction.

"How's the flat? Figured out the shower?" Sheik asked, only just managing to tear his eyes away.

"Yeah, yeah, it's fine. Listen, what do you know about that neighbour?" I stopped, reading the over-interest in my voice. "What's-her-name?"

"Oh, Zelda? Not much really. She's some sort of journalist, I think. Listens to a lot of Nick Drake. Why d'you ask?"

"Uh, no reason. Just wondering, you know, in case I get caught in a lift with her again."

Luckily, Sheik was distracted enough not to question me further.

"Uh-oh. Incoming."

"Huh?"

"I'll catch you later," Sheik told me, hastily, escaping as I was descended upon.

"Link Hero!"

Oh hell. No wonder he'd scarpered.

Malon Rivers looked no different than the last time I'd seen her. The same long strawberry blonde hair, same fierce blue eyes and grinding voice. She was dressed in an overlarge sunhat, a glass of champagne clutched in her hand, the other reaching to adjust her dress.

"Hello Malon. Long time no see," I said, feebly.

"Indeed it is!"

She yanked me into a hug, enveloping me in a wave of Chanel.

"What brings you back to London?" She asked, releasing me.

"Oh, well, it's Aryll's first season-"

"Of course! I noticed! She's quite the social butterfly, isn't she? Not like yourself."

I smiled, weakly.

"Where was it you moved? New York?"

I nodded.

"No wedding ring," she said, glancing at my hand.

"Not yet."

I glanced at her hand. No ring. No wonder.

"Malon, darling!"

Malon turned her head to see her mother calling her over.

"Duty calls. Oh Link, we must get together while your back in town, you know," she winked, causing me to cringe, inwardly, "for old times sake."

"Er, if I have time-" But she was already walking away, not giving me the chance to turn down her offer.

I looked over at Aryll who had obviously heard the whole conversation. Malon had never been soft-spoken.

Aryll grinned, cruelly.

"I take it back," I told myself, "the sooner she's married, the better."

I was collapsed on the couch in Sheik's flat, recovering from the hellish garden party that evening when the doorbell rang.

I looked up sharply. Sheik had told me no one stopped by this place since he used it to get his work done in solitude. I got up, praying it wasn't some floozy of his.

"I got a delivery for you," a student aged boy announced as soon as I opened the door. He glanced down at a sheet in his hand. "One deep pan, spicy chicken pizza, a pint of Phish food and a large diet coke?"

He looked up to confirm this and I shook my head.

"I didn't order anything."

"You sure?"

I was about to tell him that I was perfectly sure I hadn't ordered pizza when the door on the other end of the hallway opened and Zelda came rushing towards us.

"I ordered it," she told the guy, taking the bag from him and handing him a note from her purse.

"Sorry," he said to me, "musta got the wrong door."

"Must of," I agreed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

"I'm sorry," she told me, looking nervous as the delivery boy moved into the lift and out of sight.

As she looked up at me, her big blue eyes looking so apologetic, I felt my snippy mood melt away.

"That's okay. It wasn't your fault."

Unfortunately, she wasn't in pajamas this time, but wearing jogging pants and a sweatshirt that was around five sizes too big. Strangely enough, she still managed to be more attractive than all the women I'd seen at the garden party, dressed from head to toe in Laura Ashley.

She smiled, retreating to her door.

"Still, sorry for disturbing you."

I closed the door, leaning against it once it was shut. God, what was it about her?