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Another Chance

Chapter 5

The sun was slowly setting in the distance, as everyone was heading in for the night at Lon Lon Ranch. Horses were put in their stables, and the cuckoo's were put in their pens. By dusk, the corral was empty, only occupied by the young farm teen, who sung peacefully to herself.

Movements on the ranch were minimal, that is until a lone rider and a horse entered the scene. The blonde Hylian dismounted his brown mare, and made his way deeper into the ranch, to the redheaded teen. A smile suddenly appeared on his face as he walked up behind her, startling her by wrapping his arms around her waist. She giggled, laughing as he pulled her close to him.

" Link!" She exclaimed, as he softly kissed her cheek.

" Hey Mal, did you miss me?" The blonde Hylian questioned softly.

Malon nodded enjoying the feeling of her within his arms. " Of course. I was wondering when you were going to stop by."

" I've been busy." Link answered. " But you have me for the entire night."

Malon warmly smiled and pushed herself out of Link's grasps. She turned facing him, embracing him with a hug. Link gladly returned the embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, while she positioned her arms around his neck. She glanced up at him leaning forward until their lips touched.

Link felt his heart pick up pace, as he steadily deepened the kiss. He placed his hand on her cheek, enjoying the sensation of their tongues massaging. Everything around them seemed to fade, as the two continued their moment out in the middle of the corral. Their lips continued to stay locked, that is until their moment was interrupted by the front door opening.

Upon hearing this, Malon immediately pulled away, biting her lip nervously as she glanced passed Link, turning her attention to her father walking outside. Luckily, he failed to notice the two and walked headed inside the stables, disappearing within the building.

Malon sighed in relief, and smiled looking back up at Link, staring into his memorizing blue eyes. " You want to head inside?"

Link who finally lowered his hands from her waist nodded, this time grabbing her hand. " Of course."

The two Hylian's immediately found themselves in Malon's bedroom, once again in each other's embrace. Their lips were pressed together as they stood against the door, not having to worry about disruptions or people seeing them.

As their kiss deepened once more, Link found a way to remove his brown gloves, and dangerously move his hand underneath the back of her shirt. He rubbed his smooth hand against the softness of her skin, causing her to shiver in delight.

Malon pushed herself off of Link, and pulled him over to the bed, where they continued their previous activity. Malon laid on the bed, with Link crawling on top of her, as their lips found each other once more.

Malon removed Link's hat, rubbing her fingers through his blonde hair as he began to playfully kiss her neck, causing her to softly laugh. Link suddenly sat up in the bed getting off of her, as he began getting undressed, while she did the same.

The two Hylian's soon found themselves naked. Link blew out the candle on the nightstand next to her bed, getting rid of the only supporting light in the room. Malon laid back allowing herself to fall on the bed, Link on top of her. Their bodies were pressed tightly against each other, as their lips found each other. Malon rubbed his bare back with her hands, while Link brushed her hair out of the way. Their lips parted as Link began kissing her neck, and moving dangerously down her body.

Malon closed her eyes, keeping one arm around Link, while the other grabbed the covers pulling it over their bodies…

Link's eyes immediately shot open, as he held his head, sitting up in the bed. The room was dark and silent, as he pushed the covers off him and swung his bare feet to the cold cement floor. The Hylian took a deep breath, running his fingers through his hair. The only thing on his mind was his dream. His dream about the past.

It was the night that was soon going to change their lives greatly. The night where Link had made a great mistake. It was two weeks before he had to leave for his next journey, two weeks before they had broken up. They were both teenagers then, and were in love. Link never wanted that night to lead to where it had gone, and now he had wished it never happened. They had given themselves to each other, which lead to Malon becoming pregnant with Hayden.

Link sighed deeply, and stood to his feet walking across the room to the window. He held his arms, shivering from the cold breeze that entered the room. Link pulled up his black pants, the only clothing he wore to bed, and sat down on the windowsill, looking out at the peaceful quiet Hyrule.

His mind finally ventured away from the dream, but this time focused on Malon and Hayden. He wondered how they were doing at the ranch, and wondered about Seth's appearance. He wanted to meet him, especially since he would become Malon's husband and…Hayden's step-father.

Link remembered what Malon had said about Seth, that he hated kids. The man wanted nothing to do with Hayden, and wouldn't even speak to him. Link made a fist just thinking about Seth's irresponsible and rude personality. If that man ever laid a hand on his son, Link would surely give him a piece of his mind. He would make sure of that.

Link opened his mouth and let out a long yawn, causing his eyes to water. He stood and jumped down from the windowsill, walking back to his bed. He couldn't wait for tomorrow, where he would head back to the ranch and tell Hayden the truth. He could just imagine the expression his son would have, when he finds out his father had returned.

A smile appeared on Link's face, as he laid back down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, putting everything behind him. He only thought about his son and Malon, knowing that thinking about them, would help him peacefully fall back asleep.

(A Little Earlier That Night)

Malon silently hummed Epona's Song, as she walked downstairs, cleaning out a Lon Lon Milk bottle. She warmly smiled at Hayden, who was sitting at the table eating his dinner. Hayden returned the smile to his mother, and frowned looking back down at his food.

Malon sighed, noticing the sudden sad expression held upon her son's face. She walked passed him over to the cabinet filled with bottles, and continued to clean. The room sat in silence, as Malon continued to clean the countless numbers of bottles, listening to Hayden chew loudly on his food. Work would go by quickly, if Ingo was helping, but Malon had given him the rest of the night off. Of course, Seth should have been home by now, helping out as well.

After her twelve bottle, Malon lifted her head and frowned. She stood still, sensing the presence of Hayden's bright caring blue eyes watching her. She sighed lightly, and chuckled, as she continued to clean.

" Yes, Hayden?"

She heard Hayden shift in his chair. " When are you going to teach me how to ride a horse?"

" Later, Hayden."

" But you promised a long time ago." She listened to Hayden whine.

Malon smiled. " Hayden, you were four years old when you first asked me."

" I'm older now…please mother! I'll be your best friend."

Malon laughed and put the bottle she finished cleaning with the others. She tossed the rag in the bucket filled with dirty water, and walked over to the table. Hayden sat on his knees, clutching tightly to the back of his chair. He watched Malon, grab the empty plate of food and bring it back to the cabinet.

" Unfortunately sweetie, you have no choice but to be my best friend."

" C'mon mother…" Hayden stuck his lower lip out, pouting.

Malon smiled once more, but her smile immediately vanished once she heard a horse neigh outside the door. Hayden's eyes abruptly widened as he turned to the front door that opened. Malon looked over her shoulder, at the giant figure that entered the house.

The man stepped into the room, and closed the door behind him. He had short rough looking brown hair, and honey colored eyes. He was tall and seemed like a giant, but most of it was muscle. He wore a green shirt, with the sleeves cut off, and brown pants that were tucked into his brown boots. An quiver was hooked to his back, and a long blade was strapped around his waist.

As he stepped deeper into the room, he removed his gloves and stuffed them into his pockets walking over to the table. He took a seat across from Hayden, and began to eat from his plate that already set and ready for him.

" It's probably cold, Seth." Malon explained. " I thought you would be home earlier."

Seth continued to chew looking passed Hayden, over to Malon who was busy cleaning Hayden's plate. He swallowed. " It's fine. I've been busy at Lake Hylia. I was held back."

Malon nodded, keeping quiet. Hayden silently watched Seth, shifting back into a comfortable position on the chair. He licked his lips leaning back, watching as Seth continued to stuff his face.

Seth immediately stopped chewing, and steadily lifted his head to the young boy sitting across from him. He sighed irritated and gripping tighter to his fork.

" What do you want?"

" I-I just wanted to tell you that…" Hayden smiled. " I met one of mother's friends today."

Malon felt her heart pick up pace, as she listened to Hayden. She kept her back to them, and steadily continued to clean, knowing that her son was talking about Link. An awkward feeling came over her, as she felt Seth's gaze fall on her.

" Who was it?"

" His name was…" Hayden paused reminiscing back to earlier that day. "…Link?"

Seth dropped his fork and leaned back in his chair. " Link?"

Malon licked her lips ignoring the rapid beating of her heart. She listened as Seth stood from his chair, and walked over to the stairs. " Malon, can I speak with you upstairs?"

" Why?" Malon questioned.

" I need to talk with you."

Malon listened to Seth's heavy footsteps as he headed upstairs. Malon carefully placed the plate on the cabinet and once more dropped the rag into the bucket. She wiped her hands with her apron, and walked passed Hayden who now held an anxious look upon his face. Malon gave an okay smile to Hayden and headed upstairs to her room.

As Malon entered her room, she found Seth removing his weapons and belongings tossing them to his side of the room. Malon closed the door behind her, and stepped deeper into the room. She waited patiently, watching as Seth removed his shirt, revealing the scars on his back.

Malon's eyes widened, as she gazed upon the deep scars that covered his back. She lightly placed her hand over her mouth, wondering what had happened to him. The scars were never on his back yesterday, which meant he must have gotten them today. By the looks of them, they seemed like they have came from some sword or weapon.

Reluctantly, Malon walked over to Seth, who stood near the bed, and lightly touched his back with the tips of her fingers. Her touched caused him to jump lightly and pull away. All Malon knew, was that he worked at Lake Hylia. She never knew exactly what he does there.

" Seth, what happened?"

" Nothing." Seth replied flatly.

Malon frowned, by his response. She knew he was lying, but forcing the answer out of him wasn't going to work. She sat down on the edge of the bed, watching as Seth walked to the other side of the room.

" Who is Link?" He questioned, as he rummaged through his belongings.

" A friend of mine…"

" How come you never told me about him?"

" He had been gone for six years…I thought…"

" Wait!" Seth immediately stood and faced Malon. " He's Hayden's father…isn't he?"

Malon stayed silent as she stared into Seth's determined yet exhausting brown eyes. She nodded, looking down at her hands. " Yes, he is."

Seth crossed his arms, as he continued to stare down at his fiancé. He bit his lip irritated, and stepped closer to Malon. " Why not have him go live with Link?"

" Who Hayden?" Malon's head shot up, as she turning looking at Seth.

" Who else?" Seth questioned, feeling his voice rise.

" Why?" Seth stayed silent. " You want me to get rid of my son and have him go live with his father?"

" It would be best."

" Best for what?" Malon shouted standing to her feet. " I love my son and I will not give him away! I don't care what you think, Seth Donavon!"

Seth's eyebrows arched in fury as he pointed at Malon. " Don't you dare yell at me like that!"

Malon slapped his hand away about to reply, but a soft knock came to the door, causing both of them to freeze. Malon panicked, knowing that it was Hayden. He had heard them shouting, arguing at each other. How much has he heard?

" Yes, Hayden?" Malon called. Seth crossed his arms.

" Mother…I…uh…"

Seth sighed getting impatient and annoyed. " Hayden, can you see we're busy talking right now!"

Malon's eyes widened as she turned back to the door. She listened to Hayden sniff, and run away from the room into his own. After hearing his door slam, Malon frowned turning back to Seth. She held her hand out and violently swung it in, slapping him right across the face.

" Don't you ever yell at my son like that again!"

She turned and stomped her way over toward the door, but then stopped. Her arms dropped to her side, as her eyes built up with tears. She felt the rapid beating of her heart, and tried to ignore the painful sting of her hand. She should have done that, and now she wished she could have taking it back.

Malon briefly looked over her shoulder, at Seth who had put on a white shirt, and turned his attention to the window. He stood in front of it, refusing to look back at her. Malon bit her lip, as tears rolled down her cheeks. A bit of guilt and sorrow mixed inside of her. She didn't know what to do. She was torn between apologizing for what she had done, or just walking out without a single word…

She hesitated. " I'm sorry…" She apologized softly. " I'm…sorry…"

She watched as Seth just shook his head. Malon opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind her. She walked across the hallway to Hayden's room, and lifted her hand about to knock, when she heard him crying. Instead she grabbed the doorknob, and steadily made her way inside his room.

Hayden was sitting in the middle of his bed, his back to her. His knees were pulled to his chest, as he sat curled up. His head was lowered looking down at the covers, his uncontrollable sobbing heard clearly.

Malon frowned walking over to his bed and took a seat next to him. She looked out at the moon, just outside his window, shining into his dark room. Malon licked her lips and lovingly began to stroke his hair. Hayden sniffed and looked over at his mother out the corner of his eyes. Millions of tears rolled down his reddened cheeks.

" It's okay…" Malon whispered.

This caused Hayden to immediately throw himself to Malon, crying within her dress. Malon wrapped her arms around Hayden's thin waist, and kissed the top of his head. She held him close, and tight never wanting to let him go. She hated seeing him like this, in a miserable state. She felt that when he was miserable, she wasn't doing her part right.

" It's okay sweetie…" Malon repeated.

Hayden lifted his face and looked up at Malon. " Seth, doesn't like me…does he?"

Malon frowned, shaking her head. " That's not true. He's just…" She paused. "…it will take him a while to get use to having a kid around."

" I just want him to like me…" Hayden explained. Malon warmly smiled wiping his tears with her thumb. " I want…a father…"

Malon was surprised by this statement. She warmly smiled, as Hayden rested his head against her. She stroked his head, kissing him once more. " Aw, sweetie. You have a father who loves you dearly."

" I do?" Hayden questioned.

Malon nodded, looking out the window at the moon in the distance. She thought about Link. " Of course you do…" She whispered softly.

All his life, Hayden only wanted a father…a perfect family. Malon could never give him that, but now she can.

And tomorrow, Hayden will finally be able to meet his father.

A/N:

What a way to start a chapter!

Okay, I was having second thoughts about the first part of the chapter. I had to change the rating to T because of that. It's not too serious or anything. It was just a small portion of their night together before the whole break up issue happened. As you can tell, it was a dream of the past that Link was having.

For the second part of the chapter, I decided to write about Malon and Lon Lon Ranch. You get to see a night of Malon and Hayden and Seth is finally introduced. A little more of Seth will be uncovered bit by bit as the story progresses.

Until Next Time!