Sheik had been trained her whole life to remain stoic and silent, but as she watched Ike glare daggers at the tailor who was currently pinning sleeves to his tuxedo jacket, a grin split her lips. The grin threatened to grow into a full fledged smile as Ike said a few choice words in his native language, the tailor tsking in disgust. She was leaning against the tailor's desk, eyes going from Ike to Zelda who was having trouble as well keeping in her giggles. Finally Zelda giggled loud enough for Ike's rounded ears to pick up and he shot her a dirty look, one Sheik could see he didn't mean. "I'm not used to dressing up my princess," he said stiffly and Zelda shrugged.

"If you are to escort me to the gathering this evening, you must wear the appropriate attire," she said in her best princess tone. Ike glanced at Sheik who was smirking and he pointed at her.

"Not a word," he warned with a grin and she gave him an innocent look.

"I would never say a word to the penguin before me," she said and Zelda giggled, eliciting a little growl from Ike.

"This 'penguin' is about to tell both of you where to shove it," he grumbled and the tailor gasped at him. "What?"

"You should never say such things to the princess!" the old man snapped and Ike snorted.

"Will you fire me, m'lady?" he turned to Zelda with a grin and Sheik watched the blush crawl up her cheeks.

"Not yet," she said and Ike gave the tailor a look.

"Crimean dog one, Hylian tailor zero." He said with a wink at Zelda who blushed violently. "What's next on your agenda?"

"Finishing the fitting on my gown for tonight," she said and a look crossed his face, one of lustful intentions. Zelda smiled into her hand and Sheik rolled her eyes.

"Alright," the tailor nodded and stood up, "all done, I'll finish it and you'll be golden. Now get out so I can take care of the princess."

"Aye aye cap'n," he said with a little salute as he gently eased the tuxedo off. He leapt from the small pedestal and landed with a confident grin as he strolled to his clothes and pulled them on, glancing to see Zelda watching him intently. Sheik stepped up to him and pulled him out of the room roughly, not looking back at her princess. "What the hell?" He asked as they stood alone in the hallway.

"You have to be careful," she growled at him.

"Why? She's my girlfriend carrying my child, why can't I just be happy with her?"

"Because until she officially announces anything, you're my unofficial underling," she said and Ike scowled.

"This shit gets old," he said and Sheik put a sympathetic hand on his arm. "You're alright you know that?" he said and she smiled as she pulled him along.

"We have to check on our little princeling."

XxX

"Great," Ike said as he mopped up the sweat from Link's feverish brow, "he's out like a light. We need an IV drip with vitamins and fluids, he's going to be helpless for a few days... Maybe a week."

"I'll get it," Sheik said as she delicately brushed aside some soaked hair from the prince's face. Ike watched her, a grin coming to his lips. She looked up at him and noticed the grin. "What?"

"You're kinda sweet on him huh?" he asked and she glared at him.

"No," she said and Ike gave her a look. "No!" she insisted and he shook his head.

"You are," he said and Link's eyes fluttered open.

"Ike?" his voice was hoarse and weak.

"How're you feeling?" Ike asked and Link groaned.

"Like shit," he said and shuddered.

"Good. Come on," he leaned over and untied him, "let's get you in the shower you smell like you feel. Little help Sheik?" he asked and together they managed to haul the limp prince to his bathroom. Sheik turned on the shower as Ike pulled the sweat soaked shirt from Link's body. Link leaned heavily on Ike as Ike tried to awkwardly slide off his pants.

"'M I doing okay?" Link asked with a slur and Ike nodded. "Wha's Zel up to?"

"We're going to a dinner tonight apparently," Ike said and Link laughed.

"Have fun, those suck," Link mumbled into Ike's chest. Ike hefted the naked prince into his shower, leaning him against the tile wall as he angled the shower head towards him. Link whimpered as the warm water hit his skin and Ike looked to Sheik.

"Go for it," he said and Sheik gave him a look like he sprouted another head. "Wash him off, that's too much for me."

"Seriously? This was your idea," Sheik said and Ike gave her an innocent look.

"I'm not helpless," Link mumbled and tried to reach a shaking hand towards his shampoo. The bottle clattered to the floor and Sheik sighed.

"I'm not paid enough for this," she said and scooped up the bottle, popping the cap.

XxX

Zelda moved down the hall, Rosalina falling into step beside her. "Fitting done," Rosalina tapped away on her tablet with a blue stylus, "now we have to call the Altean Prime Minister and set up the-"

"Where's Ike?" Zelda asked and Rosalina paused.

"Last I saw him, he was with Sheik," she said and shrugged. "We have to set up a dinner with him and his new wife, she's younger than you, so she's nervous in her new role, it would be a good gesture to show that she doesn't need to be scared." Zelda smiled at Rosalina, the woman was a saint and both of them knew she was trying to find her another friend to go shopping with than Peach.

"Set it up," Zelda said and froze as she saw Ike and Sheik strolling along, Sheik smiling at him. Ike saw her and grinned as he made his way over to them.

"Have fun?" he asked and she nodded, trying to not focus on the fact that Sheik never smiled and never joked.

"The gown looks good," she said and Ike raised an eyebrow. "You'll see it later. Where's Link?" she asked, not only to change the subject but also because it was weird for him to not be underfoot.

"Not feeling good," Ike answered and she frowned. "He's alright, just stay away from him until he feels better."

"He's my brother I'll check on him when I want," she said stubbornly and moved to go around him. Ike caught her with a gentle hand on her stomach.

"Not with my child," he whispered and she looked up at him, eyes searching his. "He's sick and I don't want to chance you catching it."

"Yes he's so caring," Sheik said sarcastically and Zelda noticed her soaked clothes.

"What did you do Ike? Push her into the fountain?" Zelda put her hand on her hip and Ike chuckled as he shook his head. "Then why is she wet? Sheik go change, Ike... Can you walk with me?"

XxX

Ike walked silently with Zelda back to her room, him wondering what was on her mind. Finally, in the safety of her room, she turned to him. "Is Link okay?"

"He's just got a bug, he's fine," he said and stepped towards her, arms snaking around her waist.

"Ike I'm really busy today I've got a hundred things to do before-" he kissed her, loving that she didn't protest and instead kissed him back as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You don't want something to help you focus?" he asked and pulled her towards the bed. She didn't fight him and he grinned as he unbuttoned her pants.

"Ike," she said and he chuckled at her half-hearted attempt.

"Just lay down, and I'll be nice," he grinned at her and she blushed. "This is all about you right now."

XxX

"Zelda," Ike was fidgeting with the bow tie nervously, and as Zelda looked at him she could tell he was uncomfortable.

"You look fine," she said reassuringly, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. He looked down her body, and Zelda blushed under the gaze. Her dress hugged her curves beautifully, the silky deep purple flattering against her pale skin. As they moved to the doors of the royal dining hall he stopped them.

"No Zelda you look fine," he said and she could hear his nerves in his voice, "I look out of place and I feel like a joke." He pulled her close and she smiled as she kissed his nose.

"It's just a small thing, no biggie."

"I'm in a tux," he said she hummed in approval. He brought his lips to hers and kissed them chastely.

"I like the view," she said and he shook his head. "Come on, let's do this and then I'll make it up to you..." His raised an eyebrow and she smirked at him. "It was all about me earlier... Maybe I can return the favor." Zelda turned him to the door and he took a deep breath.

"I can do this," he said and squeezed her hand before he let her hand go and opened the door for her.

XxX

"Fuck me..." Ike felt like falling asleep into his fancy appetizer. This was the stupidest thing he had ever agreed to do in his life. The duke of such and such was droning on and on, trying to impress the king, every pointed eared person at the table kept giving him weird looks for sitting by the princess, and he was starting to get annoyed. His hair wasn't that out of this place, it was just blue for crying out loud. He almost jumped when Zelda's hand landed on his leg under the table. He gave her a nervous look and she leaned on him briefly, hand squeezing his leg.

"This is boring huh?" she asked and he nodded. "You're doing great."

"Aside from the dirty looks?" he smiled at her and she rolled her eyes.

"So," a wife of the duke of some other fancy pants turned her eyes to Ike, "who exactly do we have here?" Ike smiled at her, her chubby face seemed warm enough, and her ears poked out almost comically from the side of her head.

"I'm Ike Greil, very nice to meet you."

"Ike Greil," she nodded and looked between them suspiciously.

"Ike is my new bodyguard," Zelda said quickly. "He's trying to learn my life and how it all works." The lady nodded but didn't look convinced.

"You're..." she started, obviously trying to ask around the elephant in the room.

"Crimean," he said and she nodded, "yes I am."

"Ah, and-"

"And we will be having the president of Crimea for dinner very soon," Zelda said firmly. "This is the time for a new era in Hyrule." Ike felt her hand squeeze his leg and he put his hand on top of hers, lacing their fingers. He looked into her eyes and smiled, not caring if their interaction was technically inappropriate for a 'bodyguard'.

XxX

"You were amazing," Zelda said as they made it back to her room, her wincing as she sat on the edge of her bed and eased her feet out of the unforgiving heels. She looked up at Ike, watching him fiddle with his bow tie and a smile split her lips. He gave her an adorable frustrated face, and she motioned for him to come over to her. With deft hands she untied it and pulled it from his neck. "You did great, really I mean it."

"Yeah?" he asked as she stood up and pulled his jacket off, hands moving to the tiny buttons running down his torso.

"Yeah..." she said as she got the top three unbuttoned. He gripped her hips and pulled her closer, eliciting a nervous giggle from her as she tried to focus on the buttons. He pushed his hips against her and she gave up, ripping the shirt open much to his surprise.

"Zelda," he said her name with a growl as she pulled him to the bed.

"Yeah?" she asked innocently and he shook his head as he eased her down onto the bed.

"There's no chance of this being all about me, you should know that right now," he said as he lowered his lips to hers.

XXX

And... We'll give them their privacy. Much love to my reviewers Senpai (guest), Purple Mercenary, and as always concisponci! And thank you for reading, following and (dare I say?) reviewing! Much love, Leigh