Back at the castle Ike seemed more than ready to run interference between Zelda and her father, a fact she greatly appreciated as she laid in her bed. Ike had tucked her in like a little child, eyes filled with affection as he turned to leave. "Do you have to go?" she whined and he chuckled as he leaned over, lips gracing hers gently.

"I have to speak to my favorite person in the world," he said and touched her face softly, Zelda leaning into the touch with a sigh. "I'll come back in awhile and check on you okay?" he asked and Zelda nodded, settling down into her pillows with a sigh. The last thing she remembered as sleep crept in was Ike standing up with a loving smile on his lips.

XxX

Ike wondered if it made him evil to enjoy the sight of the king so pissed off. He slouched in the chair across from the king at his desk, a grin on his lips as the man droned on and on. He had tuned him out awhile ago, instead spending his time thinking of a nice and eloquent way to tell him to fuck off. Finally he sighed and tuned back in. "...not telling me before you take my daughter around the world-"

"It was her idea," he spoke up with a shrug, "I just agreed to go. She met my mom and sister, and we took the first step to fixing a horribly fucked up situation... How exactly was any of this trip bad?"

"Aside from the world learning about you?" the King asked with a sneer and Ike's eye twitched in annoyance. "I didn't know where my daughter went."

"If you were so worried," Ike rolled his shoulders as he settled back into the chair, "you could show her more concern. Spare her your anger and bullshit." The king's jaw worked for a moment and Ike was reminded of an old cartoon, imagining smoke coming from his ears. "I know you don't like me, and to be frank I'm not fond of you, but we need to put that aside for Zelda and the baby's sake. So, new rule," Ike sat forward, "we act sociable in front of her. You wanna scream your lungs out at me? Do it when she's resting and we're not around her."

"You really care, don't you?" The king's voice held something Ike wanted to call amazement, maybe even a touch of respect. "If we do this, neither one can antagonize the other. Agreed?"

"Absolutely," Ike nodded, feeling relieved that the king agreed. "No jabs from me I swear." He stuck out his hand, the king eyeing it like a viper before he leaned forward in his seat to take the offered hand.

XxX

"Link?" Ike stepped into the prince's bedroom, eyes falling on the bed with a grin. Link sat there, looking a little less frail, Sheik at his side as she held a tablet he was reading intently. After a second Link looked up at him, a smile coming to his lips.

"What's up man?" he asked and tried to stand, Sheik catching him when he faltered. The fact that her hands lingered on his sides didn't slip past Ike's observation.

"Just checking on you," Ike stepped farther into the room, clapping a gentle hand on Link's shoulder as he stood before him. "You alright?"

"It's getting easier to do," Link said with a nod, eyes flicking to Sheik. "She's been helping a lot though, I couldn't do this without her." A slight blush crawled up Sheik's face and Ike chuckled. "How's Zel?"

"She's resting, but doing fine," Ike said, looking between them for a moment. "Has he been good Sheik?"

"He's been alright," she said, a hint of affection in her voice. She looked to Ike and her red eyes narrowed. Ike just beamed as he nodded to the door.

"I've got a pregnant lady to get back to, I'll be in her room if you need me." With that he left, a knowing smirk on his lips as he shut the door behind him.

"Ike!" Rosalina's voice pulled him from his thoughts of princes and bodyguards and he turned to see her walking towards him.

"Hey Rosalina, told you you wouldn't get fired," he said and she laughed as she held up a tablet.

"I have Zelda's itinerary for the week. Today I'm letting her take it easy, but she does have some calls to make and-"

"Is there anything I can do?" Ike cut her off and she paused, a soft aw leaving her lips as she tapped on the screen with a blue fingernail.

"You could actually make a few of these calls if you want. Some of them she needs to do but-"

"Lead the way," he motioned and she turned around.

"Follow me," she called over her shoulder and Ike fell into step beside her, hoping Zelda was asleep and not waiting on him.

XxX

He sat with a sigh behind Zelda's desk, the phone already to his ear and ringing. "Hello?" the voice of Ranulf made him smirk, a pang of homesickness hitting him.

"Hey man it's Ike," he responded, forcing himself to not think of his homeland and his mother.

"Hey how's the princess?"

"Good and resting. I'm making the phone calls for her today, thought I'd start with you."

"Ah a business call then," Ranulf chuckled and Ike smirked as he picked up a fancy pen off the desk and twirled it between his fingers.

"Indeed Mr. President. So as for that dinner, count me, Zelda, her brother, and one more in if you have the open spots."

"Of course," he said quickly, "I'll get you all right next to me so I won't be bored to death with some ass kissing politician who wants a promotion or something." Ike grinned as he tapped the pen against a pad of paper.

"But sir," he said, voice oozing feigned concern, "if they can't kiss your ass however do you expect them to be noticed by you?"

"Hmm," Ranulf pretended to think, "perhaps the dozens of emails they send daily?"

"Only dozens? Is that enough?" Ike asked and Ranulf chuckled. "Alright man we'll see you soon, call if you need anything."

"You got it," with that Ranulf hung up and Ike set the phone down for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Who's next?" he called out to Rosalina and she appeared after a moment, a piece of paper in her hand.

"Start calling," she said and he chuckled as he snatched the paper from his fingers.

"This'll be fun," he said as he cradled the phone between his face and shoulder, fingers tapping the buttons on the base.

XXX

Chapters! Chapters! It's raining chapters! Ha I'm hyper. Thank you for reading and you, yes you, CowTits the Udderly Glorious, thank you for reviewing (and of course you my TinTin guest, but we both know who you are). Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh