As time came and went Hyrule Castle Town increased, from the time when Kakariko Village and Castel Town decided to become one town nearly six years ago. It made delivering from Lon Lon Ranch much easier now that the ranch wasn't so far of from civilization anymore.

It took practically fifteen minutes to travel from Lon Lon to Castle Town, and it became very easy for Malon to make every delivery there, hence she didn't need to pack everything the day before and worry about forgetting something at home once she lastly left, and so with a good conscience she could leave Kayla behind with Malon's father and not fret about how long she's been gone and think about if Kayla missed her all too much.

But even though much of her stress related to all of that, she missed the length between Castle Town and Lon Lon Ranch, because Malon loved to just get out of the household sometimes. Hence blaming her late arrival on the lenght between the two places was something Malon did often.

She loved to feel how the wind caressed her cheek and toyed with her hair. Now everything just felt like more of an obligation then a relaxing trip.

"Mom, snap out of it!"

Malon blinked for a mere minute before turning her head over to the seat next to her in the cart dragged by Ortiz, her favorite horse next to "Epona"

Malon felt a pang in her heart as she thought about her favorite horse. It had gone six years since she last saw that wonderful horse, and after all that time she'd become a taboo, like someone else Malon used to know.

"Snap out of what sweetie?" Malon asked and tightened the grip around Ortiz's reins scared that Kayla might ask what she was thinking of.

But Malon only received by Kayla shrugging shoulders. "I dunno," she confessed, but before she could continue saying anything else her eyes saw something Malon could not and the silence grew for a while, before Kayla lost what had entranced her and she said: "What ever it is that have been occupying you for two days." She showed Malon two of her fingers which strengthened her saying.

Malon laughed for a second. "Which six year olds says words like 'occupying'?"

Kayla snorted and placed her hands in a cross over her chest. "Every since you started to."

"Touché," Malon said while smiling and pulled Kayla into a one arms hug.

"So did you listen to what I told you?" Kayla asked once her mother had taken her arm away and placed it back in her lap. "I mean I did ask you some serious things mom."

Malon forked an eyebrow as she thought about what Kayla said. "But you told me about your grandfather and how many pancakes you ate."

"No, no, no." Kayla shook her head so hard that Malon thought it was a miracle that all her fire red hair still was intact. "It was ages ago I told you about that."

"But Kayla," Malon said as her head darted between her daughter and the road. "That must have been five minutes ago. Because I remember that you talked about it as you help me load the wagon with the surplice."

"That was what I said, ages ago."

Malon forced back laughter and merely nodded at her daughters saying. "Okay, it was ages ago. Can you please re-tell me what you said before then, sweetie?"

Kayla sighed as to show her disliking the idea of re-telling everything, but finally caved in. "Okay, I asked you if it really was necessary for me to go to school. I mean you didn't and you turned out okay, right?"

Malon gave Kayla an assuring smile. "Yes Kayla, I like to think that I 'turned out' okay. But I thought this was what you wanted? I mean this morning you sounded very positive about going to school. It was even required of me to go up two hours earlier then what was said."

"I know." Kayla gave Malon an unsure smile. "It's just that it felt like an eternity before we where getting into the wagon. But now that we're here…"

"You're getting cold feet?"

Kayla shrugged her shoulders. "I'm having second thoughts anyhow."

"But Kayla." Malon laid an arm around her daughter. "Queen Zelda invented school a year ago, helping children like you to read, write and count, something I had to learn from your grandfather. Not many children were so lucky and I'm very grateful that he taught me that. And now Queen Zelda is giving more people that chance. People like you. And I promise you that our queen would never do something that would turn out to be bad now would she?"

"I guess not."

"Of course not. Kayla you have nothing to worry about. Everything is going to be okay. You'll see. And besides, I'm going to be in town working, meaning that I will be close to you all day."

"Your right mom." Kayla tossed herself at her mother and planted a kiss on her cheek. "You're the best mother ever."

XxXxXx

After Malon had dropped Kayla off at the very well built and beautiful school, she started her delivery by first checking the list her dad made for her the day before. Her eyes skimmed over every familiar name. Well she didn't know them personally but she knew all the names. Especially since most of them were 'regulars' if she dared to call them that. She got a hold of an ink pen in the front pocket of her purple working skirt and started to gently tap the pen on the disk the paper laid on as her eyes met a very familiar name, Anju.

For her delivery it was more convenient if she got to Anju's house first. But privately it wasn't so convenient. Her dad had always told her never to mix business with pleasure. But that was exactly what she'd done – without really knowing it.

Anju was one of Malon's best friends. Link – her other best friend at the time – knew of a man named Kafei, by some unknown reasons to Malon, but Link'd told Malon that Kafei had a crush on a girl that Link knew Malon would like, and since she was in need of friends, she eagerly accepted.

Anju was a very nice person. She was allergic to cucco's, and Malon was more then happy to help her out since she loved animals. It was just Link who never liked cucco's.

She would always go to Anju and help her out for a small fee. Even though Malon never accepted any kind of money Anju would give her, Anju wouldn't hear of it and nearly tossed the money on her. Anju's cucco pen soon became there regular meeting spot, and Malonhad without realizing it mixed business with pleasure, yet again.

Malon sighed out loud. That had been roughly six years ago. Now Anju would either, ask her how she's done over the years, or kick her sorry behind. Probably the latter – that's what she'd done.

She just had to swallow her pride for this one.

Fist knock … nobody opened … second knock … heard some movements … a shaky third knock and the door opened, revealing a beautiful woman in her late twenties with a washed-out man's shirt. Not even that could hide her huge abdomen. Malon guessed Anju was in her 7th or 8th month.

Both women looked at each other with mouths big enough to fit an oversized melon. But it was Anju who found the words first.

"Malon?" The voice held no anger, only pure shock. "I though I would never see you again!"

Malon sighed inwardly, thankful about the fact that her friend hadn't turned on her. She gave Anju a bright smile. "I didn't think I was going to see you either."

"You have to come in," Anju said and took a steady hold of Malon's shoulder. "I have to know what you've done!" She sounded so overly thrilled that Malon didn't have the heart to turn her down.

XxXxXx

"So," Anju placed a cup filled to the brim with herbtea in front of Malon and sat down on a chair herself. "Tell me, what have you done with yourself?"

"I was just going to ask the same question," Malon said as she took her cup, trying to lead Anju of the main subject of herself. "Is this your first one?" She did a gesture making Anju place a hand on her stomach.

"Oh no," she said. "Kafei are crazy about kids. This is my third."

Malon sat, the worm tea she'd just taken a sip from, in her throat and started to cough violently. She tried to cover it with her hand forcing it to die down but to no avail. "Sorry," Malon finally mumbled as the coughing had gone away. "I just got so shocked. I mean when I first met you, you didn't even have any plans on marrying. Cucco's were your passion, your life.

"No worries," Anju said as she waved her hand. "Cucco's are my passion, but so are Kafei and he wanted kids. He loves kids and I can't say I'm not fond of them myself." She got a hold of the blue cup she'd taken out for herself and forked an eyebrow. "How about you, honey? Last time I saw you, you were ranting on about wanting kids and finally marring Link. How did all that turn out for you?"

Malon sucked slightly on her lower lip and watched as Anju poured some tea into her own teacup and brought it to her lip. She blew on it carefully before taking a small sip.

"I don't know," she at long last admitted.

Anju blinked at her. "What do you mean, 'you don't know'? Last time I saw you, was about six years ago and you looked as happy as ever. And when you left shortly after telling me about your day, you didn't return." She placed down her cup and took Malon's pale hand. "Malon," she said, "walk me through it. Tell me what happened."

Malon pulled way her hand from Anju's wonderful warmth and shook her head. "I don't have the time." She mumbled and stood up. "I have a lot of delivering that needs to be done. But thank you for the tea, it meant a lot."

Anju too stood up and grabbed Malon's arm. "Listen Malon, sweetie, whatever happened you can tell me, I'm on your side, remember?"

Malon nodded and walked over to the door. "Yeah I know," she said. "And I'm glad you're saying it, because one of these days I'm going to use just that card. But for now, it was wonderful to see you again Anju. I hope everything works out for you. I really do."