Ike felt alright as he walked into the galley, ready to eat some cereal and start his day. He'd be home in a couple days and he was starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, he was in a spot to get back into dating. His mom had been dropping enough hints about a pretty girl at her work, a green haired beauty named Elincia... Maybe he'd check into that. He strolled into the kitchen area, grinning like a little kid at the unopened box of cereal, a knockoff brand of fruit loops aptly named Fruity O's. Whistling to himself, he opened the box, and poured until the cereal was almost overflowing. Nodding at a groggy looking Snake, he picked up the milk, pouring just enough to get the cereal damp. "Fruity cereal?" Snake asked and Ike beamed with all his teeth showing. "You're in a good mood."

"Yeah you know," Ike picked up a spoon, "just decided that life isn't too bad." Snake laughed as Ike popped the spoon into his mouth, both of them walking towards the table Roy was sitting at, eyes locked on the tv bolted to the wall.

"What's so interesting?" Snake asked and Ike glanced at the tv screen. A red banner on the bottom of the screen read 'Princess of Hyrule Pregnant' and he froze. A very familiar face filled the screen and Ike's mouth dropped open.

"Zelda!?" he gasped as the spoon clattered forgotten to the floor. He stared at the screen as the announcer continued.

"...about two months along according to our source."

"Oh fucking shit no," Ike leaned against the table, Snake grabbing his bowl of cereal before he dropped it.

"What's going on?" Snake asked and Roy looked to the very pale Ike.

"Ike that adds up way too well," he said and Ike just stared at the screen showing Zelda, THAT Zelda, the one he...

"This isn't happening," he shook his head.

"What's going on?" Snake asked again.

"Ike fucked her two months ago," Roy piped up and Snake laughed.

"Wait... You're serious?" Snake looked to Ike who numbly pulled the folded photo strip from his pocket. "Holy shit balls," he said and Ike collapsed on a chair.

"Okay look," Roy said as he snapped his fingers in front of Ike's face, "she hooked up with you, but you were smart right? You uh, wore something right? Pulled out?" Ike slowly shook his head and Roy slapped the side of his head. "How fucking stupid are you?!" he almost yelled and Ike looked at him.

"She was quite persuasive," he said weakly and Snake cleared his throat.

"May I interject here? She fucked you, maybe she fucked someone else too."

"Yeah!" Roy piped up. "Maybe she's a slut?"

"Look at her!" Ike snapped. "That..." He trailed off watching a red eyed Zelda dodging cameras. "I have to talk to her."

"Dude you don't even know if the kid is yours!" Roy said and Ike stared up at the screen, eyes on her still flat stomach. "Why would you wanna talk to her?"

"I've gotta know," he looked down at his bowl of cereal, the o's now bulging, soggy, and sad, their color tarnishing the little amount of milk in the bottom of the bowl. He pushed the bowl away and looked to Snake.

"Don't sweat it kid, you don't need to ask me," Snake said and Ike gave him a smile with no emotion. "Just find out and if it's not yours... run."

"Maybe do the same if it is," Roy chimed in.

XxX

Standing up to the biggest guys in his school to keep them from kicking his friend's ass when they found out he was gay? No problem. Leaping head first into boiling hot flames on the rig when there was an explosion to save a few crewmen? No big deal. Seducing a princess? Apparently also not a problem. Trying to get in to see said princess that might be carrying your child? Ridiculously impossible.

Ike stood at the threshold of the ancient Hyrule castle, still home to the royal family, and also holding tours in the historic spots. He stood out like a sore thumb with his dark blue hair, and he was starting to get annoyed with the stares. He stepped into the castle, not quite having a plan, just needing to talk to the princess. The space around him was decorated in ancient art and if he was less proud of his own heritage, he might've admitted the yellowed scrolls were covered in beautiful artistry and lettering. He found a sign directing all guests one way, and he smirked as he saw a very angry looking red eyed blonde woman in a tight fitting suit. Her posture was rigid and her hair braided to keep it out of her face. Ike had a hunch she was a bodyguard, and when she moved to a door marked restricted, he decided to stroll on in like he belonged there.

He followed her into the restricted area, her whirling with a hand out to slap him. Ike caught the hand and shoved her farther into the room, a relatively unimpressive room with doors he assumed were locked on the opposite side. "I need to speak to Zelda," he said and the woman launched at him, Ike blocking her hits relatively well even though they stung like hell. "Dammit stop!" He lashed out with the heel of his hand, smashing it into the red eyed woman's right arm. She faltered slightly under his strength and he used his opening to grab her wrists, forcing her to look at him.

"I'm going to kill you," she said in a ridiculously eerie voice and Ike felt a genuine chill run down his spine, as if a shadow had spoken to him.

"Kill me after you tell Zelda that Ike Greil is here to talk to her about a night two months ago in Delphino Plaza. It started at 'The Leaky Canteen', then the beach, then the photo booth," Ike pulled his copy of the pictures from his pocket, putting them in her hands, "and ended in my motel room. Tell her I'm here dammit." The red eyes searched his before she looked at the photos in her hand. Ike saw her eyes widen almost imperceptibly. "There was another set of those... It and Zelda were gone when I woke up. I just... I gotta know, please." He released her wrists and the blonde nodded once.

"Stay right here, do not try to follow me again or I will kill you."

"You got it boss," Ike said and the blonde nodded before moving to a door and opening it with a keycard and a complicated code. She stepped through the door and it shut behind her, leaving Ike standing there with his heart pounding like thunder.

XxX

"Princess?" Zelda looked up from the paperwork littering her desk, her bodyguard Sheik standing in the doorway.

"Sheik, how many times must I insist you call me Zelda?" she asked with a smile and was happy to see a ghost of a smile flicker across the Sheikah's stoic face. "What's up?" she asked, happy to have a small break from paperwork and people demanding to know things far too personal.

"There's a man here to see you... Now normally I wouldn't bother you with such matters but he..." Sheik stepped forward swiftly, holding out the photo strip and Zelda's eyes widened. "He says his name is Ike Greil and he gave me a detailed list of the night you... met." Zelda suddenly felt very sick. 'Ike?! Here!?' A conflicting tsunami of emotions engulfed her, wrapping around her like the thickest blanket doused in uncomfortably hot water. "Princess? What do I do with this man?"

"S..." Zelda shook her head. "Bring him here."

"Are you sure about this?" Sheik asked and Zelda smiled at her weakly.

"No, but send him up anyway," she said and Sheik nodded before vanishing out the door.

XxX

Ike watched as the red eyed woman came back into his small cell of a waiting area. "Follow me," she commanded and Ike nodded, "stay with me at all times, if you wander-"

"You'll kill me," Ike finished her threat and noticed an almost smile cross her lips. Then she motioned for him to follow her and he did, stunned beyond words as they stepped into a white hallway, Ike feeling like he was in the middle of sci fi movie. They passed an elevator and moved instead to a stairwell so white it hurt his eyes.

"This way," she said unnecessarily and they went up, her opening another windowless door with a keypad, much like the first one. The door swung open and Ike couldn't help the impressed low whistle that escaped his lips. It was like stepping into a time machine, the walls were the ancient stone, covered in tapestries and fine paintings, antique tables holding priceless works of art and rare flowers. Then he saw someone running by with a tablet, and he smirked to himself, noticing the telltale signs of modern life hidden almost seamlessly with the original stonework. The door slid shut, blending in with the wall behind it as if it was never there. It was impressive, and he tried to keep up with his guide and not stop in awe at the sight. She led him through a deceptively tricky hallway, him knowing it would be hard to find his way out on his own, no doubt the original designer's intention centuries ago.

They made it to a shut door and Ike felt his heart being torn between stopping and beating itself to death against his rib cage. The woman looked to him, amusement in her red eyes. "Are you going to pass out?" she asked and he chuckled.

"I might."

"Just... Don't upset her or I'll kill you," she said and Ike let out a squeak of a laugh.

"No pressure right?" She smiled at him, and his heart decided to speed up and bruise his rib cage, possibly even crack a few in the process as she knocked and opened the door. Ike stepped in behind her, breath catching at the sight. Behind an old desk made of no doubt some fancy wood, was the one woman he had been trying to forget for two months. She stared at him, pale and almost frightened looking.

"Thank you Sheik," her voice was soft, but in her office Ike realized how foolish he had been to miss the power it held that night, "you may leave."

"M'lady-"

"Out," she commanded and with that Sheik left, leaving Ike and Zelda alone.

XXX

thanks for reading and following! And (is it getting old to be thanked all the time?) thank you concisponci for leaving reviews that either make me think or make me say "stop reading my mind!" Until next time! Much love, Leigh