For the disclaimers look in chapter one.

Yay, over 1,000 people read this story, or some one just reread the chapters many, many times. Any way I would like to thank every one for there support: Bytemite, Supper Goat Girl, The Mad Joker, Evile Riggs, Staty the wolf barbarian, Haha guy, ZeBubba, and Mazoku85. I try to keep the errors to the minimum but they happen. Just know that this story is far from over and there is lots of more fuff and tears on the way.

"Why do you want to teach school, Link?" Zelda asked.

"Yeah, Tag." Romani said. "I can't wait to be done with school, and you want to be there ever day, all day!"

Link smiled at her incredulous tone but admitted, "It's just a dream I have." His voice turned wistful. "I love kids, and I love the thought of seeing them discover new things. I think to teach a child is to touch her life and help him to go out into the world more prepared."

Zelda stopped and stared. Romani halted on the hot, dusty street as well. The three of them were a block off the main street of town. June had already turned to July, and Link, whose shirt was damp with perspiration, had to squint into the sun as he looked at both of them.

"What did I say?" he finally asked.

Zelda shrugged. "I've just never heard anyone talk about their wok like that. For the first time I see how much this means to you."

"Then you haven't been very observant, Miss Fontaine," he teased her, "because I've been going on about this for months."

Zelda playfully put her chin in the air and walked on. Link tugged on her hair as she passed, Romani only smiled. They both heard Zelda sigh.

"We'd better get back, Romani. Father will think we've left town."

"What will you do now, Tag?" Romani asked him.

"Oh, I might get a haircut or just go to the livery and wait for the black smith to finish the repairs on the wagon."

"I think you should come back to the store so we can put you to work," Zelda told him.

"Now who's a pest?" Link asked and watched her laugh.

When they'd arrived back at the main street, Link said, "I'll see you tow later." He turned and waved. The girls did the same and moved on toward the store. When they arrived at the store, just a few doors down, Zelda hesitated before going inside. She stood at the hardware door and watched Link go up the street, the sun turning his hair a shiny gold color. He moved past the barber shop and into the livery. Romani observed her sister's actions, tilting her head to one side much like Malon used to do.

"Are you going to marry Link, Zelda?"

Zelda immediately dropped her eyes but did not grow angry. "He doesn't like me in that way, Romani," was all she would say.

The younger girl didn't push the point. Zelda was relieved, but in her heart she was talking to Malon as if she were present.

I did it, Malon. I made friends with Link Taggart. And just like you said, he's wonderful to the people he cares for. Thanks, Malon.

Romani had moved into the store, and Zelda now followed more slowly, still thinking it was wonderful to have Link as a friend. And somehow, at that very moment, Zelda knew they would be friends forever. The fact that he was getting ready to leave in just a little over a month was not to be considered; Zelda had become very proficient at pushing it from her mind. She did so now as she went for the broom and began to work on the front walk.

(&)

The calendar read July 9, 1874, almost a year to the day that the Fountains had arrived in town. Blossom gave strict instructions to the girls about the day's activities before leaving for the store. Bipin had been suffering with a raging summer cold, and although he was feeling better, Blossom convinced him to sleep in. Sari would accompany her mother to the store, while the other girls were to work quietly and not bicker or disturb him.

Blossom and Sari let themselves in the back door and found that all was quiet. Blossom wasn't certain but thought this might have been unusual. It seemed to her that Error was always up and around in the morning but tended to go to his apartment long before the store closed. Blossom shrugged and got busy. Bipin enjoyed staying late and also coming in early. Error had surely begun to bank on that, and it gave him the freedom to lie-in once in a while.

However, as the first hour of wok progressed, Blossom became uncomfortable. She didn't wish to disturb the older man, but something was not quiet right. When there were no customers in the store, she moved to the stairs.

"Sari," Blossom called to her, "I'm going to run up to your uncle's for a moment. Be certain to stay out front."

"All right, Mother," came the obedient reply as Sari came from the rear and worked on a tall display of canned goods.

Bipin came in the back door just seconds after Blossom left, and Sari calmly told him where her mother had gone. Bipin nodded, still feeling a little out of sorts. He had come, telling himself that he must not overly burden Blossom and the store couldn't run itself.

(&)

"Error?" Blossom called softly as she knocked for the second time. There was still no answer. She bit her lip in indecision. She had never invaded his privacy before and only hoped as she turned the handle that he would understand her concern.

"Error?" she tried again, stepping into the hallway of his apartment. Thing were dark and rather dreary for a summer day with all of the window coverings still drawn, but Blossom knew where Error's bedroom was and moved quietly past the sitting room to the doorway. The door stood wide open. She peered into the rather shadowy interior and tried one more time.

"Error, are you all right?"
A low sound came from the direction of the bed, and Blossom swiftly moved to the window. She drew back the heavy curtains on one window and then on the other before rushing to the bed.

"Error! Blossom's voice was low and urgent. "What is it, Error?"

The old man rasped. "It was bad last night, Blossom...so bad."

"I'll get help, Error. Just hold on." Blossom turned and fled the room. She dashed down the stairs, nearly falling in her haste and shouting to Sari.

"Go for the doctor, Sari! Hurry!" She turned to dash back up to Error when she spotted a thunderstruck Bipin.

"Oh, Bipin, please come with me. Error is in bad way."

She turned and ran once again to her brother-in-law's side. He hadn't moved in the bed at all. Blossom grabbed a chair and positioned it close to his side. She bumped the edge of the mattress, and the old man's eyes suddenly opened.

"I'm sorry, Error." Blossom was barely holding her tears. "I didn't mean to disturb you." Bipin had arrived as well and stood in the doorway, unnoticed by the two people within.

"It's all right, Blossom. I need to rouse myself and talk to you."

"No, Error," she protested. "Just rest."

His head moved on the pillow. "I have things to say. The medicine is no longer helping. It won't be long now."

Blossom spotted the small vial on the room's lone nightstand and realized that this was no passing illness. She recalled how poorly he looked just before and after the wedding, but he had seemed fine later. She was going to tell him to see the doctor, but suddenly there hadn't seemed to be a need.

"Blossom?"

"I'm listening, Error." Blossom could say nothing else.

"Make sure he knows."

"Bipin?"

"Yes. There's more to this life than wok and money. I took too long to find out, but it's true. Make sure he sees where his real treasure must be stored."

"I will." Tears poured down Blossom's face. She reached to take Error's hand. His grip was surprisingly strong, and Blossom wanted to sob.

"Tell the girls I love them," he managed. Before Blossom could assure him, old Doc Borville came through the door.

He moved silently to the bed and picked up Error's wrist. The dying man struggled to open his eyes and look at him.

"You've been a horrible patient," the doctor scolded him gently. "You were supposed to come back and see me."

"Didn't need to. I still had medicine."

The doctor only grunted in reply.

Suddenly Error grabbed his hand. "Make sure Blossom knows that I love her, Borville, and the grills too."

Doc Borville squeezed his patient's hand. "They know, Error. You've shown them a thousand times."

Error seemed to remember suddenly that Blossom was there and turned to her. "It's meant so much to have you here, Blossom. I can't say--."

Blossom was sobbing now, feeling like her heart was going to burst, but still managed to reply, "I 'm not ready for you to go, Error."

The doctor, moving his head to look at the man still framed in the doorway, brought Blossom's head around as well.

"Oh, Bipin," she said softly. "You're here. He's here, Error," Blossom said, turning back to him. "You can tell him."

Feeling like a man in a nightmare, Bipin came forward awkwardly. He knew his brother hadn't been tired lately, but death had never occurred to him. It just couldn't be. The doctor moved aside for him, and he forced himself to sit on the edge of the bed. Error immediately reached for his hand, and Bipin grasped his firmly.

"I couldn't ruin the wedding," Error got out. "God brought you here so I could tell you the way, but you haven't listened. Blossom understands, Bipin. Don't let your pride send you to hell. Ask her. Ask her today."

His breath left him with those words, and Blossom heard a soft disturbance at the door. Her four daughters stood looking in, their eyes wide with fear and tears. Blossom motioned them to the foot of the bed.

"The girls are here, Error," Blossom told him gently.

"Good," he gasped. "Tell them, Blossom. Tell them how much their Uncle Error loves them. Malon and Ralph too."

His eyes fluttered, and Blossom's panicked gaze flew to Doc Borville, but he was taking Error's pulse.

"He's still with us," the physician spoke gently, "but it won't be long."

A shudder ran over Blossom's frame. She wanted to cry, but she also wanted to be aware of everything. If she let herself go, she might miss someone needing her. She asked God for wisdom right then. This was so clearly His timing, and Blossom, even in her grief, desperately wanted to be used to see to His work. A moment passed before she could find her voice, but a few seconds latter she began to recite.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh mo to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul." all four girls joined her, their voices soft in the hushed room. "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares at table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

"Amen," Doc Borville spoke solemnly, and the girls moved around the bed to be near their mother. They would have gone to their father, but he looked carved from stone.

They all watched as Uncle Error moved slightly on the bed. He didn't thrash. His arm raised in seeming agitation, his breath came in a gasp, but his eyes remained closed. His hand then went to his chest, clutching at his nightshirt. Tears filled Blossom's eyes once again as she thought he might be in pain. A second late he lay completely still.

Doc Borville moved to the bed one more time. He held Error's wrist for a long time and then gently laid the limp hand on the old man's chest. Then he stepped back and stood against one wall.

Blossom openly sobbing now, and so were the girls. Only the old doctor heard Bipin's hoarse voice when he said, "Goodbye, Error."

A really sad chapter, but I like it.