Zelda woke up to the sound of purring and the feeling of small paws crawling on her back. The blond gave a small groan as she slowly stirred from beneath her covers. Opening her eyes she was greeted by her cat's face, staring at her with intrigue.

"Morning." Zelda said stroking her feline companion. "What time is it?" She asked out loud checking her bedside table clock.

It was 11:00 in the morning, normally that would mean Zelda was late but it was a special time of year. Winter had finally come around bringing the blonde her least busy season. Winter meant that Zelda had to wait a few months before she could grow any kind of crop. The only responsibilities she had now were taking care of her chickens, although they were easy to handle. Zelda had set them up with a heater to keep them warm and all she had to do was put out fresh food for them at some point in the day. She was lucky to have them as their eggs would be her only source of income till spring rolled around.

"I guess you want some breakfast Hun?" The blonde said as she rolled out of bed.

Dex responded with a small meow before jumping off the bed and running over to the kitchen to wait. Zelda shivered as she left the warmth of her bed. She dressed quickly and donned her red sweater for comfort. After feeding Dex, Zelda quickly lit her fire place. Taking a seat on the couch she sighed, she new it was going to be a boring day. With no chores to keep her busy and Abigail committing to band practice, Zelda wasn't sure how she could entertain herself. Zelda began watching tv but it did little to distract the blonde from her overwhelming boredom. A few hours passed before she was rescued by a knock at the door. Zelda was surprised as she wasn't expecting any company but she didn't care, company was company.

"Hello?" Zelda said as she opened the door, the cold air seeping in from outside. To Zelda's delight it was Leah, dressed in a large green coat and thick snow boots.

"Hey" Leah said a little nervously. "I needed a break from work and I thought you could use some company."

"Of course, come inside and warm up." Zelda said smiling.

Leah stepped inside and took off her coat and boots, rubbing her hands in an attempt to warm herself. Zelda ran over to the kitchen and began to make to large cups of hot chocolate.

"So how is everything going?" Zelda asked from the kitchen as Leah took a seat on the couch.

"Good, I've been working faster than I thought I would which means I can take a few breaks here and there." Leah said stroking Dex, who had jumped up on her lap. "How about you?"

"Things are pretty slow around here. Now I only have my chickens to take care of so there's not much to do." Zelda explained. "I have to be pretty careful cause right now they're my only source of income. It's a good thing I have my savings to fall back on."

"Yea must be tough for you this time of year."

"I'll manage and in the spring I'll be back to work."

Zelda walked back into the living room carrying two large mugs of hot chocolate with two large marshmallows in each.

"Thanks, you read my mind." Leah said taking a large sip from her warm drink.

"So what are you working on at the moment?" Zelda asked.

"I've got a few projects going right now, none are close to being done though." Leah explained "I've been sculpting mostly, I've finished a few paintings but I hit a block recently and I just don't l know what to paint."

"I'm sure you'll figure something out." Zelda said. "I see you're carrying around your sketchbook." The blonde said pointing to the artist's coat where a large red notebook was sticking out one of the pockets.

"Yea I bring it around almost everywhere now, just incase I see something I want to draw." Leah said. "Actually… now that I think about it. I think I see something right now." The artist moved Dex off her lap and quickly ran to collect her sketchbook only to come back and sit on the couch.

"What's that?" Zelda asked curiously.

Leah opened her sketch book and flipped quickly to a blank page, taking out a sharp pencil from her pocket she looked up at the blonde with a smile.

"You." The artist smirked.

"What?" Zelda said surprised as she began to blush.

"Can I draw you? I think you'ed make a great subject."

"Really?" Zelda said trying not to turn even more red. " … what should I do?"

"Just sit there and keep looking pretty." Leah said as she started.

Zelda felt her heart skip a beat. "P.P..Pretty?" She stuttered.

'Oh crap.' Leah thought as she realised what she just said. "Just relax and act normal." She said trying to push down the feeling of embarrassment that she felt.

Zelda tried to ignore what Leah had said but her words kept bouncing around in her head and she couldn't help but smile softly with a small blush. 'She thinks I'm pretty' The blonde thought to herself as she tried to stay as still a possible. For the next few minutes the room held a silence that was only broken by the sound of the crackling fire place. Zelda couldn't tell how long had passed but she didn't care, she was too busy thinking about what Leah had said. The blonde was lost in her own little world and was only pulled out when she noticed Leah putting down the sketchbook in front of her. Zelda was eager to see her friends drawing and quickly picked up the sketchbook to check her work. To Zelda's surprise there were a few sketches of herself on the page. In the center was a large drawing of Zelda's face and shoulders, she was smiling softly and she looked a bit shy. Around the page were a few other sketches that the blonde assumed Leah had improvised based on her likeness. Images of Zelda laughing and running were scattered around, there was even a small one of Zelda cuddling Dex.

"So what do you think?" Leah asked nervously. "I got a bit carried away didn't I?"

"No, These are great!" Zelda said laughing. "I'm impressed that you were able to create these other images on the spot like this."

"Its easier when I have a reference in front of me." Leah said. "You were fun to draw though, you should consider becoming a model."

"Art suits you Leah! You really have a gift."

"T..Thanks" Leah said blushing once again. "You really helped me come out of my shell though. Before you came along I was too scared to show most people my work."

"I get that, I'm really shy about my singing."

"You Sing?" Leah said excitedly

"Uh..Yea." Zelda said

"Let me hear you sing something!"

"What, right now?"

"Yea, come on."

"I… I don't know…" Zelda said shyly.

"Please. I promise I won't laugh."

"Alright." Zelda sighed before getting up from the couch and walking over to her bedroom. Leah waited patiently until the blonde returned with a small harp.

"You play the harp? Your full of surprises." Leah giggled.

"Hey you said you wouldn't laugh." Zelda said through her own chuckles.

Giving the strings a few quick strums she closed her eyes and began to play.

Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess, unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land.

Oh youth, show the two whirling sails the way to the Light Tower...and before you a path shall open, and a heavenly song you shall hear.

Leah was entranced by the blonde's voice. It was soft and sweet, like a dream. Her heart began to race as she listened to her friend sing, watching her fingers dance up and down the strings. As Zelda looked up she noticed Leah's amazed expression and blushed.

"You have an incredible voice." Leah said smiling brightly.

Zelda only smiled shyly in thanks.

"I had know idea you were musical." Leah said.

"I'm not really… I can only play the harp cause my mom taught me when I was little."

"Well your really good, you shouldn't doubt yourself. You have the sweetest voice I've ever heard." Leah said blushing slightly at the thought.

Zelda turned even redder than she already was and there was a moment of sweet silence between the two. Leah stared at the blonde girl across from her, curled up on the couch. She was playing with her red sweater, strands of her hair falling in front of her face. She was smiling shyly with a clear blush visible on her face. Leah's heart raced, all she wanted to do was kiss her. To brush the hair out of her face and press her lips against the blonde's. But she was too scared, too afraid. A voice inside her head kept shouting at her to say something but she never did. The silence stayed unbroken, somehow not being as awkward as it should be. The two weren't sure how long they sat there, it didn't feel like a long time but something told them it was.

"You want me to put on a movie or something?" Zelda finally said.

"Sure, sounds like fun."

Zelda quickly got up and put in a DVD, turning on the tv. However when she came back to the couch she sat a little closer to Leah, something she hoped Leah wouldn't notice. Leah did take note and thought of it as nothing but a happy accident. The two spent the rest of the evening laughing and talking about the movie they were watching. When it finally ended the two girls were having too much fun to notice.

"It's getting pretty late." Leah sighed. "I should probably head home."

"If you have too." Zelda chuckled.

"Thanks for having me." Leah said as she grabbed her coat.

"Anytime." Zelda said running up to her friend. "I..I like having you around."

Zelda didn't realise how close she had actually come until she was standing an inch away from her friend. Both girls blushed at the realisation and Zelda took a small step back, laughing nervously.

Leah smiled and waved goodbye as the small voice in her head screamed at her to say something. Zelda smiled and waved back as she watched her friend walk out the door. As soon as the door closed Zelda let out a large sigh.

"Smooth Zelda." She said to herself. "Real smooth."

The blonde turned to see Dex sitting on the floor watching her.

"You don't think I was pushing anything right?" Zelda asked her cat. "I mean she didn't seem to mind…" Zelda blushed hard as she remembered how close she had accidentally gotten.

Dex just tilted his head in response as if he was confused. Walking over to the coffee table he jumped up and sat down again and stared at a large book, letting out a small Moew.

"Her sketchbook!" Zelda said as her attention was drawn. "She must have forgotten it."

Zelda picked up the book and quickly put on her snow boots.

"Thanks Dex." She called as she ran out the door.

The blonde new she had to be quick other wise she might miss her friend. The sun was setting and the last thing she wanted was to be caught outside in the dark. Running through the snow she saw the red haired girl up ahead.

"Leah!" She called out as she approached her friend. "You forgot your-"

The blonde was unable to finish as she tripped on a root that had been hidden in the snow, stumbling forwards she collided with her friend just as she was turning around. Zelda was surprised as she found herself on top of Leah who she had been unfortunately knocked over. As she opened her eyes she was mortified to find that she was pressing her lips against the artist's. Two voices inside Zelda's head were screaming at once, both for different reasons. Zelda pulled herself away to see Leah's stunned face.

"I'm sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry." The blonde said frantically, still on top of her friend. "I w..was…I m..mean y..you left your sketchbook and I was-"

"Will you go out with me?" Leah said suddenly.

"W..what?" Zelda asked thinking she had misheard her.

"Will you go out with me?" Leah asked again looking up at the blonde worriedly.

"R..really?" Zelda said. "You mean like on a date?"

"Yeah."

"T..that sounds nice." Zelda said with a shy smile. Actually Zelda thought it was a lot more than nice, but her vocabulary seemed to be limited at the moment.

Leah returned the smile until her mind was able to clear slightly and she realised where the two were.

"Wait Zelda you're not wearing a coat you must be freezing." Leah said worriedly as they helped each other up and out of the snow.

"I'll be fine." Zelda said unconvincingly as she shivered slightly.

"Come on let me walk you back." Leah offered as she took off her coat and warped it around the girl.

"You don't have t-"

"Yes I do. You came all they way here to give me my sketchbook it's the least I can do is keep you from getting a cold." Leah said quickly taking the blonde by the hand.

The two walked back together holding hands. They only broke when they arrived back at Zelda's porch. Zelda smiled shyly at Leah as handed back her coat.

"So… Dinner at my place?" Leah said hesitantly, worried she had somehow misheard Zelda's previous answer. "Friday?"

"That sounds amazing." Zelda said smiling brightly with a large blush visible on her face.

"G..Great, is seven an ok time?"

"Of course! No problem."

"O..Ok… well… see you then, I guess."

"Yea… see you then."

Zelda watched the artist leave for as long as she could before she had to go inside to escape the cold night air. Closing the door behind her she walked over to her bed and sat down slowly, taking in everything that had just happened.

"L..Leah just asked me out." She whispered quietly to herself.

A few seconds passed before the blonde's face lit up with a huge smile. Throwing herself backwards on to the bed laughing with giddiness.

"Leah just asked me out!" She shouted grabbing a pillow and hugging it tightly. She couldn't stop laughing, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so happy.

-Notes From Author-

To anyone who didn't notice the song Zelda sings is a reference to "Skyward Sword." Zelda being able to play the harp is a bit of a double reference to the Legend of Zelda franchise and the cut scene in Stardew Valley were the player's farmer pulls out a small harp and plays with Abigail. It's nice when things work out :D