"So... That's not going to kill the princess right?" Sheik asked and Ike shot a glare over his shoulder to the bodyguard sitting on the countertop. "It doesn't look so-"

"Try a bite," Ike whirled, spoon held out with a bite of the rice he was seasoning. "Isn't that what bodyguards do?"

"Uh," she shook her head and he walked up to her, the spoon held out. "Oh for fuck's sake," she took the bite and her eyes widened. "Holy crap that's good."

"Mmhmm," he said with a nod as he tossed the spoon in the sink. He cast a look around the massive kitchen and looked back at the blonde who was now eyeing the rice with hungry eyes. "I need a fork."

"Find it," she motioned around the metallic kitchen and Ike sighed dramatically, opening drawers and closing them with annoyance. "So you really think that tying Link up is going to help?"

"He's strong, he can do it," Ike said and she let out a little laugh. "Did you just laugh?"

"I did," she nodded. "You don't know the prince. He's not strong enough, he's failed at the finest rehab centers money can buy. How do you know that this will even help?"

"I had a friend who started using," he said, opening up a drawer and smiling triumphantly as he found the right fork to fluff the rice. "His family couldn't afford rehab so I looked into what they do and I just copied that with what I had."

"He's tied to his bed," Sheik said and Ike shrugged.

"He's not getting out, not the way I tie them."

"Used to tying people up?" she asked and he chuckled as he stirred a simmering pot on the stove.

"I had a girlfriend that liked it, I got good at it," he confided and Sheik made a face. "What?"

"I could never be tied up."

"I don't like it either, but she did and it led to some good times..." He grabbed the dish to hold his creation, using tongs to pull the chicken breasts from the pot. He eased the dish down, and moved the pot off the burner, pouring in some chicken stock.

"Where'd you learn to cook like that?" Sheik asked as she watched him, red eyes following his movements.

"My mom fell into a deep depression when my father died, she wouldn't cook, wouldn't clean, wouldn't eat, wouldn't talk, hell you were lucky if she got out of bed... So I started cooking and cleaning." He nodded in approval at the pot and poured the steaming contents over the chicken.

"Is she better now?"

"My mom? Oh yeah, she's a strong woman," he scooped the rice into a different dish, slapping lids on the dishes with a smile. "She told me when I was able to make her favorite dish that I was officially a great catch."

"Well, the princess of Hyrule agrees." He smirked at her.

"I don't know about that. God Sheik I've never had any trouble figuring out what to do in situations before and now..."

"Is it because she's a princess?"

"It's not that it's..." he trailed off and shook his head, "I don't know. I really don't."

"Well," Sheik shrugged, "you two will figure it out. Just try for the sake of your child."

XxX

Sheik smiled a genuine smile at Zelda as she led her to a secluded area hidden in the depths of the gardens. Once a maze that rumor held people died in its depths, it was now a field of wild flowers that the gardeners had orders to not touch until the season was over and they faded away. Right now they stood in full bloom, the colors swaying in a gentle breeze. "He really made dinner?" Zelda asked and Sheik nodded.

"I can tell you the rice is delicious," she said and Zelda smiled, "can't say for the rest of it." She paused and pointed, "have fun Princess." Zelda gave her a last curious look before following her indicated direction. She rounded a corner in the wild flowers to see Ike nervously pacing, his back to her. She smiled and cleared her throat. He whirled, eyes wide with shock before he recovered with a grin.

"Hi," he said, hesitation in his voice.

"Hi," she said just as nervously and Ike laughed as he stepped towards her. He wrapped her up in his arms and she felt tension she didn't realize was building fade away. She hugged him back, smiling up at him and loving when he leaned in and pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss. He pulled back and she pouted. "That's all I get?"

"For now," he nodded and pulled her to the table. "Sit m'lady," he said as he poured her a glass of water.

"So formal," she said and he shrugged.

"I try to impress," he said and began putting food on her plate. The smell of the chicken hit her nose, herbs and a hint of something she couldn't name made her mouth water immediately. "Sheik approved the rice," he said said and she smiled at him curiously.

"You're nervous for me to eat your cooking huh?"

"Very," he confided as he sat across from her. "Now," he cleared his throat and motioned to her, "ask any questions you have, voice any concerns... Let's talk."

"Well," Zelda sighed and picked up her glass of water, "what are we even doing Ike?"

"Trying," he answered and she nodded. "Look I know you're stressed out about this and it's partly my fault so dammit I want to help however I can." She smiled at him and he gave her a small grin. "Am I?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"There's an unspoken 'but' there Zelda."

"Ike..." she ran a hand through her hair and let out a frustrated noise. "I don't know what to do anymore." She was fighting back tears at this point, the needle pricks poking at her eyes and demanding to be released. "I've always known, always and-"

"Me too," he said softly as he crouched beside her, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "You are officially the first person that I have no idea what to do with." She smiled at him and he kissed her forehead gently. "You know what though?"

"What?" she sniffed.

"I'm going to enjoy figuring it out." Her heart pounded at his words. "Now come on, let's get the crazy questions out of the way. Ask anything you want, I won't hold back." He moved from her side and sat across from her, eyes glittering with mischief.

"I don't know where to start."

"Anything you want to ask," he held out his arms, "I'm an open book."

"Were you flirting with Peach earlier?" the question flew from her mouth before she could think twice about asking it and Ike's eyes flashed with something akin to annoyance.

"No, I was trying to be nice without giving away what I was... I know you had a bad experience in the past but Zelda, I'm not him. I've never been a cheater, and I'm sure as hell not going to start now." She nodded and picked up her fork and knife, slicing into the chicken carefully. "I think she figured it out though." Ike said and she sighed.

"Peach has always been smarter than people give her credit for," Zelda took a careful bite of the chicken and her eyes widened. It was amazing. "Oh my goddesses this is incredible!" She quickly cut another bite and Ike chuckled.

"I'm glad you like it," he said with a genuinely happy smile. He watched her take a few more bites, his own food forgotten as he watched her.

"Whut?" she asked around the bite of food in her mouth. Ike smirked and shook his head. "Din's sake what?"

"You're beautiful," she smiled at his compliment as she poked at her chicken.

"So," she smiled, "I was thinking that maybe we could do this fancy dinner tomorrow night. It's soon I know, but we're supposed to be trying right? It's a small dinner get together-"

"I would love to," he said and she smiled at him. "What do I need to wear?"

"A tuxedo...?"

"A tux? It's a small get together and I need to wear a tux?" Ike laughed. "We have very different opinions on what's appropriate for 'small get togethers'."

"If you don't want to-"

"No I do," he cut her off quickly and she smiled. "I want to do things with you. I just don't have a tuxedo."

"We'll get you one," she said quickly as she took another bite. "We'll see the fitter in the morning first thing and... Ike?"

"Hmm?" he asked with an eyebrow quirked up.

"Can you sleep in my bed tonight? Please?" He smiled at her hopeful expression and nodded.

XxX

Ike smiled at Zelda as she stepped into the bathroom for a minute. He eased himself onto her bed, feeling waves of nerves he hoped he was hiding. He kicked off his boots and checked his phone right quick. He had a couple missed calls from Snake and one from Roy. The bathroom door opened and he looked up, feeling his jaw falling to the floor as she stepped out in a beautiful dark blue nightie. "Hi," he said with a grin and she paused.

"Is this okay?" She asked nervously and he nodded. "I look stupid right? I'm pregnant and trying to be sexy-"

"Zelda," he said with a wicked little smirk as he stood up, "you do not need to try to be sexy, but you look amazing in that. So amazing I almost feel bad for wanting to rip it off of you." She blushed as he carefully pulled her into his arms. "I'm not going to though."

"Why not?"

"Because I want to savor wanting and not having," he said with a pout as he gripped her hips, eyes looking tortured. She smiled at him and they moved to her bed, him kicking off everything but his boxers. He slid under the ridiculously soft covers, loving that she laid down next to him and curled up with him. They fit together like puzzle pieces and as her breathing grew heavy Ike couldn't help but smile. As sleep moved in to take him as well, he realized that this was something he could really get used to.

XXX

thanks for reading! Sorry this update took some time, I had a slight problem with my chapter getting deleted. With that, I'm sorry thank you for your patience and a THANK YOU to concisponci for reviewing! Until next time much love, Leigh