Hey, Everyone! I think this'll be the final chapter, but if you so vote I might do an extra for pure squee and fluff purposes. But I must receive a review with your 'yay' or 'nay'. Is that clear? Okay, then! Enjoy!

PS. Cupcakes for those who find the Majora's Mask reference. Send me a private message.

Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda. If I did, there would be a lot more squee in the game...

Zelda woke with a start. She'd just had a very frightening dream. Link had been hurt badly and screaming in pain... because of her? She only had vague feelings in the dream, but she knew it was her fault. She sat up in bed, trying to forget the terrifying images that still lingered in her head.

All of a sudden, the princess heard a distant cucoo cry. She realized there was faint light coming from outside into her tent.

Dawn of the Third Day

This was the day... Link was coming back.

Zelda leapt out of her bed. She had her dress on in record time, and was soon fixing her hair. Finished, she looked herself up and down.

Perfect. Now all she had to do was wait.

In a short while, Zelda's pointed ears twitched. She sat up, her unopened book falling off her mattress, and listened harder.

There it was. Distant hoof-beats.

Zelda scrambled to her feet. Hurriedly she fixed her dress and hair do there were no wrinkles or stray locks of hair. Satisfied with her appearance, she peeked outside.

Link sat atop his horse, head bent and back slumped. The princess grinned. Just like in her daydream. He had something black tied around his right arm, but as the sun was almost fully behind him, she couldn't make it out clearly.

Her heart swelled. Suddenly she was overjoyed to see him back. Zelda had thought she'd be happy (hence all the preparation), but the raw and powerful emotion on joy flooded her body.

"Link!" Zelda cried and dashed out of the tent. Link looked up. Epona halted and her rider dismounted in front of the bubbly Zelda. Actually, he more rolled off, but the princess paid no head. He was home.

"Oh, Link, I am so so SO happy to you!" Zelda positively beamed. Link offered a weak smile, but she dismissed it as 'cute'.

Link was leaning right-side on Epona. He was weak and exhausted, and panting for breath. But Zelda did not notice, so much was she happy to see him. (A/N: Right now I'm saying to the screen: "YOU FOOL! How can you not notice he's exhausted, woman? Foolish, foolish, neurotic girl!)

"I missed you so! Did you find the necklace?" When Link produced it, slowly and painfully, from his pocket, she squealed and clapped her hands together. (A/N: ...okay, that's just scary, Zel. Now you're squealing?)

"Oh, Link, it's more beautiful than I ever imagined!" Zelda gasped. Link dropped it into her outstretched hand. On impulse, she flung her arms around his neck.

But Link did not wrap his around her. Puzzled, she drew away from him. "Link? What's wrong?" Zelda frowned.

Link's blue eyes looked at her, but they did not see. They didn't twinkle or sparkle or shine as they usually did. They just stared blankly.

Then suddenly, they closed. Link collapsed on the ground in front of her. Zelda gasped, her scream caught in her throat. She finally got a look at his right arm.

Blood stained his sleeve all the way down to his wrist. She gasped again and covered her hands with her mouth. The black cloth had come undone. Zelda was horror-struck to see the gaping wound she saw hidden behind it.

Music.

A harp.

A voice.

Link struggled to alert his mind.

The voice was sweet but sad. Heart-wrenchingly sad.

Zelda.

Link opened his eyes. It was dark, and he could tell he was outside. His head rested on something soft. A million stars were suspended over his head. It was breathtaking. The moon, hung high amidst its heavenly family, shone brightly as the only light in Link's presence.

The voice.

Link looked to his right. There was Zelda. She was reclining against a rock, her body parallel to his, her face gazing up at the sky. Against the background of black trees and twinkling stars, she looked beautiful.

He lay there for what seemed an eternity, watching, listening to Zelda as she played her harp and sang in the moonlight.

Then suddenly her voice cracked and she stopped singing. Her delicate hands were still moving swiftly across the harp. A single tear rolled down her cheek, illuminated in the moon's light. Soon the princess's face was shining with tears, and she strummed the last few notes on her harp. She then just sat there, staring at the stars and silently weeping her heart out.

Link couldn't stand it. His heart ached to see her so sad. The mere sight of her made it feel as if all the hope in the world had disappeared. He wanted, no, needed her to stop, now. He lifted his still-aching right arm and gently touched her neck. She turned quickly to face him.

"Link," Zelda smiled sadly, "You're awake."

"Zelda..." Link stared at her. "What happened?"

"Poison," She said simply. She got up and knelt at his side. Her hair was twisted into a messy bun, but a few strands fell out and were framing her face. "When you collapsed, I dragged you over here and cleaned the wound."

Just then, Link realized he was wearing only the white drawstring pants he wore under his tunic. His long hair was still in its short untidy ponytail, usually hidden under his hat. The hat, along with his other clothes, folded neatly beside him. He vaguely wondered where his sword and shield were.

When Zelda caught him looking at his clothes, she glanced at his bare chest, blushed, and looked away.

"I had to clean the wound and they were in my way," she said matter-o-factly to the tent. Link smiled slightly. She was so cute when she blushed. Just then, he winced in pain and drew in a deep breath. Stabbing pains haunted his right side. Fortunately, Zelda didn't see, and so he just laid back down. He felt slightly feverish.

"What about the poison? Shouldn't I be dead right down?" Link voiced his dominating thought. Zelda sighed and looked back at him.

"I cleaned out the wound with a magical cream that Impa gave me for poisoned wounds. I gave you some blue potion, but you... rejected it."

"Rejected? Rejected how?"

"You... came down with the flu."

Great. He had thrown up on her. There were some major man points.

"You couldn't keep anything down," Zelda continued, "And then you got a major fever. Your- flu started to get better when I gave you some of my fairy tears. That was yesterday morning, but you still have a slight fever."

"Wait. How long have I been out?"

"About four days." Zelda tears up again, but forced them back down.

"Four days?" Link tried to sit up, but Zelda put her hand on his chest and pushed him back down.

"No. Even if it is a tiny one, you still have a fever, and I don't want you straining your arm. Sit," She declared firmly.

Link huffed like a little boy confined to his bed, wrinkled his brow, and crossed his arms. "But Mommy, I don't wanna. I wanna go out and play." Link pouted playfully.

Zelda laughed. "We can play tomorrow, son." She ruffled his hair. Link reached up and took her hand. Holding it in his, he slid it across his cheek. Zelda blushed.

"So where is the necklace?" Link asked, cradling her hand to his cheek.

All of a sudden, tears sprouted again from Zelda's eyes. She took her hand away to wipe her cheeks.

"Zelda? Zelda, what's wrong?" Link asked worriedly. He took her hand again.

"Oh, Link," she said, trying to control her tears. "It's all my fault. I sent you to get that stupid necklace. It's my fault you got hurt, my fault you were poisoned." She angrily wiped her face with her free hand.

"Shh-hh-hh. Don't cry." Link whispered soothingly. "Zelda, listen to me." Link grabbed her other hand, and she looked at him, pain etched on her face. "Zelda, it doesn't matter that I got hurt. What's important is that we're together again, right?"

She nodded. "Okay, then. You don't have to cry. Please don't cry." He dried her cheeks with his hand, then laid them to rest on his stomach.

"Okay," Zelda said. She picked up a cool wet cloth from a bowl of water, dabbed his forehead a bit, then left it there. "But if there's anything you want, anything I can do to make it up to you, just say it." Link thought for a minute.

"I know something," he said quietly.

"I'm all ears," Zelda smiled. Link brushed the cloth off his forehead, to Zelda's dismay. He looked cute with it on there.

"Come closer." Zelda leaned down. "Closer." She braced her arms on either side of him. "Closer." They were inches apart. Suddenly Zelda realized-

Swiftly as a golden arrow, Link leaned up and their lips met.

Link couldn't tell you what day it was. He couldn't tell you what the round thing in the sky was. He couldn't even tell you his own name. He was totally lost in Zelda's warm embrace. Her lips were so... inviting.

If you could put warmth... joy... sunshine... and every other good feeling in the world into a kiss, that is what Link would taste like. It was as if the Goddesses themselves lived in Link's lips and mouth. No... better than that. Zelda felt Link's essence being channeled through his lips to hers, and it was amazing.

They were kissing, and it was- it was-

Indescribable.

Link and Zelda slowly drew apart. Zelda looked down into his eyes, and he stared up into hers.Slowly, Link wrapped his arm around her waist, then pulled her down next to him. They stared at each other again.

"I love you," Link whispered into her ear.

"I know." Zelda smiled.

Link pulled away slightly and looked at her. "What? Aren't you supposed to say, 'I love you too, Link'? " She giggled.

"Maybe," She snuggled her head into his neck

"Hmmm..." Link's throat vibrated on her head. "How am I supposed to get you to say it?" His hand found her bun, undid it, and smoothed out her long blond hair.

"Persuade me," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.

Link took her face in his large hands and kissed her again. Zelda melted into his touch. This was bliss. Pure bliss. If this was punishment for her crimes, perhaps she could consider becoming a criminal. Breaking the kiss, she rolled around, and fit her back into his chest.

"Hmmm," she said, hearing his heart pound in his chest. "I might just have to say it."

"Well, then. Please do." Link buried his mouth in her hair. He was so content just to have her lie in his arms for the rest of the night.

"Link."

"Yes?"

"I love you, too."

"I know."

Fin.

So? Was it good? Was it good? Did I do a good job? Huh? Tell me! Tell me!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to vote for the fluff chapter! And the Majora's Mask reference! Later!