Warnings: HEAVY Innuendos

Zelda sprawled herself across Link's body, not caring at all about the blood or soiling her clothes as she sobbed into his chest. "Oh goddesses, Link! Link!" she cried over and over again. Her mind could process no other thought.

Her hands travelled uselessly across his arms and chest, his flesh already growing cold and pale. "I love you. I love you so much, I love you," she whispered, her voice catching with her cries as tears washed over her cheeks.

She sat up suddenly, her hands still pressed to Link's chest to support her. "I wish I could tell you how much I love you; I wish I could bring you back! Curse you for using that ridiculous fairy on me, Link!" Zelda yelled, feeling her misery shift to resentment, her voice hoarse and tense, "It was supposed to be for you! Curse you, you idiotic, thoughtless man!"

"It is very difficult. Healing is different from all else I have taught you; it involves an emotional connection as well. For most, this comes naturally, but it must be a strong bond if the process is to be successful."

"Goddesses, Link!" she wept, falling to his chest again, "Curse you for breaking your promise! You promised me this wouldn't happen—curse you! I—I can't do this without you! I told you that, you foolish man! I l-love you! I need you, oh Link, please! What will I do? I can't bear this; how could you hurt me so badly!"

"I only wish I could explain it to you more clearly. You must truly longfor the object to heal—you must desire it with all of your being."

Zelda's eyes shut, her tears still slipping out beneath her lids. She resumed her whispering with hiccupped breaths, "I love you. I need you. Please, please come back to me. Oh goddesses. I love you. I love you."

The sound terrified Zelda, her heart stopping in her chest. It was a faint thump, like that of a heartbeat. Zelda couldn't explain it, but the strangest feeling abruptly swept over her. She gasped with pain—it was as if the very last of her energy was being drained from her body. She shuddered, her hands against Link's skin feeling an odd, tingling sensation. With widened, fascinated eyes, Zelda watched as Link's gash seemed to seal itself back again, his skin closing once more and his blood seeping back inside. His skin radiated color once more, and his bruises and scars disappeared from his face. With a loud gasp, his eyes flew open and he jolted into an upright, sitting position.

Zelda fell to the floor beside him, staring at him fearfully. She was sure she was hallucinating due to her hysteria—for Link to return from the dead was impossible! Link's chest heaved with his panicked breathing, his eyes searching the room wildly. "Where's-" his eyes fell upon Zelda, and his features instantly softened, his fright leaving him.

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence. "Zelda," Link breathed, a small smile of relief quirked his lips.

Zelda shook her head stubbornly, smearing away her tears, "No, no, you can't be real! I watched you die—I'm imagining things!"

"Zelda," Link said again, tenderly reaching for her hand.

Zelda jerked her hand away, reaching for his face instead. She tentatively traced her fingers down his cheek, drawing them over the outline of his lips. Link watched her silently, still offering a small smile. The comprehension shook Zelda to her core. "It's you," she cried, her eyes moist with joy as her heart swelled with emotion.

Link leaned forward, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her. Zelda whimpered into the kiss, clenching her arms around Link's neck, refusing to allow him to move as their lips closed over each other. "It's me," Link replied softly, pulling back as much as Zelda would allow.

"Don't go," Zelda pleaded, ashamed of how pathetic she sounded, "Pl-please, Link, hold me."

Link drew Zelda into his lap, kissing her again, Zelda gasping into his mouth. "'M not going anywhere," he promised against her lips, "I'm not going to let you go."

Zelda could barely breathe after a few minutes of Link's kisses—long, passionate moments of their lips locked together intensely and short, brief feathers of touch that left her whining for more. She broke away reluctantly, her breaths labored. "Link, I feel so weak," she whispered, snuggling her head under his chin, "I feel-faint, almost."

"As would I, after defeating a sorceress with unimaginable power," Link grinned gently, pressing a kiss to Zelda's temple, "I say it's time we go home."

"I don't think I can walk," Zelda mournfully confessed, wishing she wasn't such a burden.

Link scooped her up into his arms as he stood. "Then I'll carry you like before," he responded, "All the way to Castle Town, if I have to."

Zelda was too weary to object, settling her head against Link's bare chest instead. The steady thrum of his heart soothed her in ways she couldn't voice—knowing he was truly alive brought her magnitudes of peace.

Link was unsteady on his feet at first, but he was soon able to walk and carry Zelda just as easily as before. "Zelda," he prompted just as Zelda felt her consciousness fading.

"Mm?" was the best reply she could manage.

"I love you," Link squeezed her closer to himself to emphasize his point.

Mimicking their first exchange, Zelda focused her mind as she could not bring her mouth to articulate words, "I love you too, Link."

The Gerudo had apparently evacuated the temple at the sound of Takoume's scream. Some of the tiles of the floor were askew, and roots from the ground above dangled through new cracks in the ceiling. "Perhaps Takoume's death has had some kind of magical impact upon the structure," Link thought to himself as he wandered the vacant corridors.

Zelda was sound asleep in Link's arms as he left the temple, but she awoke at a sound she hadn't heard in days: the whinnying of horses.

"Prince Link!" an unfamiliar voice sounded through the fog of Zelda's exhausted mind, "Thank the goddesses I've found you!"

Zelda blinked sleepily, wondering if she was dreaming as she glanced about her. A large, covered wagon sat before her, pulled by two horses. The driver—a man Zelda did not know—sat at the reigns of the vehicle, waving wildly at Link. Link rushed over to the contraption, "What's this—who are you?"

"Her ladyship, Impa, sent this wagon for you and her highness nearly a week ago," the man explained, "She intended to ease your travels with the supplies inside. And thank the goddesses I've finally found you both! I was beginning to lose hope."

Link was still smiling joyously, "I don't know what to say! But how did you find us? Why did you come to the Sealed Grounds?"

"Mistress Impa sensed that you would be near here at the time of my arrival," the man clarified.

Link was nearly speechless, "I don't know how I could ever thank her."

"Well, she'd appreciate it if you made use of her carriage!" the man laughed, "Call me Lorimer, by the way."

"Thank you, Lorimer," Link circled the wagon, gently laying Zelda inside it before climbing in himself.

"To the castle then, sire?" Lorimer called back.

"Yes," Link stroked Zelda's face fondly as she began to drift back into sleep, "To the castle."

Zelda awoke briefly, her breaths labored from her nightmare. "Link! Link!" she shouted in a daze, clawing at the air.

"Shh, shh, Zelda I'm here," Link wrapped his arms around the distraught princess, causing her to sag into his embrace helplessly.

"It was awful," she choked out, "I dreamed that you had—"

"Shh, I know, darling," Link interrupted gently, "But it was just a dream. I'm right here with you."

"I don't know if I'll be able to fall asleep again," Zelda muttered, slight annoyance tainting her tone, "It was so vivid, Link!"

"Do you want to talk about it?" Link asked gently.

"I suppose that might help," Zelda sighed. "And it's nice to just hear your voice again," she thought to herself with a slight smile.

"Thank you," came Link's silent reply, making Zelda blush at being discovered. Link smirked at her, "I do wish I had been more coherent when you defeated Takoume. What exactly happened? How did you do it?"

"I barely understand myself," Zelda admitted, resting her head on Link's chest, "Impa's always spoke of how our magic is strongest when we incorporate our emotions. She always told me that if I was able to control my emotions and focus them into my magic, I'd be at my best."

"Is that what you did then?"

"N-no," Zelda smiled bashfully, "It was more of an emotional outburst if anything. I didn't feel that I had much control at all. But Takoume was distracted, and I suppose the utter despair that overwhelmed me must have drastically enhanced my magic." Zelda grinned up at Link, "It seems to have worked, at least."

"My brave princess," Link smiled in return, kissing her nose, "And that is how you brought me back then? With your magic?"

"Yes. I had never been able to master the art of healing before, but I wanted you to come back so, so badly. Impa did say a strong emotional connection would be necessary, thus I can assume it was enough to do the trick," Zelda shrugged.

"You won't lose me again," Link stroked his finger across Zelda's cheek, "Promise."

Zelda let her eyes fall shut, beginning to forget her nightmare within the warmth of Link's arms. "Will you tell me a story?" she asked shyly, "To help me go to sleep?"

Link blushed, "Isn't that Impa's job?"

"Yes, but she isn't here," Zelda blinked up at him, a lazy grin on her face, "Don't be embarrassed; tell me of one of your adventures. I'd like to fall asleep to the sound of your voice."

Link grinned timidly, "Alright, I'll try."

Zelda was sound asleep before the conflict had even been introduced.

Zelda awoke hours later, moaning with pain as her hand flew to her stomach. "What's wrong, dearest?" Link questioned, parting Zelda's hair out of her face as his eyes looked on with concern.

"My stomach—oh, it hurts!" Zelda whimpered, "Even worse than before—oh!"

"You should eat something," Link hurriedly suggested, fumbling through a nearby sack, "Impa sent us plenty of food—you've barely eaten in almost a day!"

"It's not that kind of pain-ah!" Zelda cried out, her eyes squeezing shut.

"Zelda," Link paused, asking seriously, "Is it time?"

Zelda instantly shook her head in denial, recognizing exactly what Link was implying, "No, no, it can't be! It's too early for that—I'm due in a month!"

"But you've been under such stress lately," Link suggested, "Perhaps that triggered the-"

"No!" Zelda shouted adamantly, "It's impossible! I've still got a month! I can't be a mother yet-ah-haah!-I can't-"

"Zelda," Link lifted the princess' chin, staring into her damp and terrified eyes with the serenity he always bore, "You can do this. I know you can; we'll do this together. You're going to be a wonderful mother."

Zelda choked out a sob, both from pain and from Link's words, "B-but I need midwives! I need Impa! I can't do this by myself!"

"You won't," Link smiled a bit nervously, "I'm right here."

"You can't deliver the baby!" Zelda exclaimed in shock, "In…in the back of a wagon! O-ooh!"

"We don't have many choices, dearest," Link said gently, "It's either me or the driver."

"Stop calling me dearest!" Zelda snapped, her emotions overpowering her, "You promised you wouldn't!"

"Is everything alright back there?" the driver yelled over the thunder of the horses' hooves.

"We're fine!" Link shouted back before returning his gaze to Zelda.

"Oh, goddesses, I can't do this!" Zelda cried, "Do you know anything about delivering a baby?"

"N-not exactly," Link confessed, shifting his weight anxiously, "But I'm sure you do, with your endless wisdom. You can talk me through it."

Zelda was about to protest as to why that was a horrendous idea, but another contraction came over her, reducing her once more to a fully dependent state, "Oh goddesses! Link, help me! Help me do this! Please!"

And Link did. He held her hand through the entire process, even though her unyielding grip left his numb. He spoke to her soothingly through her wails and cries, the driver looking back at them once only to hastily return his attention to the road and attempt to drown out Zelda's shrieks. And finally, finally, it was over.

Zelda's chest heaved, her head spinning from exhaustion and emotion. "How is she?" Zelda asked, shrill cries filling the wagon. She could hardly believe it—she was a mother!

Having just cut the umbilical cord as Zelda had instructed, Link was wrapping the squealing baby in a spare cloth Impa had sent, drying it off and shushing it gently. His own eyes looked both captivated and surprised as he turned to Zelda, "It's…it's a boy."

"What?" Zelda could barely believe her ears, and she would have sat up had she not felt so weak, "That-that can't be! The firstborn in the royal family is always a girl! It's tradition!"

"I suppose we aren't a traditional royal family then," Link smiled tiredly, watching with awe as tiny hands curled around his finger.

"I…I hadn't even thought of names for a boy," Zelda breathed, stunned by the news, "Whatever are we going to call him?"

"…I've always liked the name Galen," Link murmured quietly as he shifted closer to Zelda. He helped to ease Zelda up against the walls of the wagon, placing the tiny bundle in her arms.

"Galen," Zelda repeated, her heart clenching with emotion at the sight of her child, his cheek pressed to the exposed skin of her neck and chest, "It suits him. I like it."

Zelda continued to observe her son. Galen's large pupils were circled by rings of pale blue irises akin to those of his parents. For being delivered so early, he seemed neither lightweight nor sickly, only slightly smaller than what Zelda had expected. His skin was a healthy pink, and his little head had a few wisps of blonde hair adorning it.

Galen continued to cry, his tiny eyes shut as he squirmed in Zelda's arms. "I think he's hungry," Link commented quietly.

Zelda blushed at the thought, but she knew that Link was probably correct. She awkwardly shrugged down her dress a little, one sleeve hanging at her elbow, and allowed her son to start nursing. It was still uncomfortable at first with Link's obvious presence at her side, but Zelda's feelings for him had changed so drastically. Allowing him to look on and be a part of the process soon became as natural for her as feeding her baby. Link stroked her hair comfortingly, and Zelda felt fresh tears welling in her eyes, "Link, he's perfect."

"I know," Link replied, his own voice trembling, "He's beautiful. We're parents, Zelda."

Zelda glimpsed at Link, tears of happiness running down his face. Zelda smiled genuinely at him, leaning back to kiss him slowly as Galen fed. "I love you so much," she whispered, "I wouldn't want anyone else as his father."

Link nodded his understanding, too overcome with emotion to reply audibly. Galen's cries resumed once he had had his meal, and Zelda began rocking him gently, singing a hushed lullaby. Eventually, Galen's cries softened, lulled to sleep by his mother's voice.

Zelda stroked her finger down the baby's cheek, drinking in the sight of her son. "He's a bit small, Link," she murmured, "I hope he's healthy."

"He was very premature," Link reminded her, "But the birth went smoothly, and he has been fine so far. I'm sure he'll be alright."

After a moment of silence, Link offered, "Do you want me to take him? So you can rest?"

The idea sounded very appealing to Zelda. She carefully extended her arms, "Just promise that you'll stay close with him. I want to wake up to the sight of the two most important men in my life."

Link looked as if he might cry, joy sweeping over him. "I promise," he replied, smiling tearfully.

After several hours had passed, Zelda gradually awoke, refreshed and eager to hold Galen once more. Her heart pounded within her as large, black eyes met hers, and one of her fingers was sucked into a greedy mouth. "Hello, darling," she cooed over him, withdrawing her finger so that she could kiss his chubby cheeks and button nose, "Mother loves you so much, did you know that?"

"Father does too," Link echoed beside her, grinning widely as he watched his wife and child interact.

"And Mother loves Father," Zelda smiled, pecking Link's lips quickly.

"I can barely believe everything," Link mumbled as Zelda pulled away, "I love you. I have a son. I'll soon be a king. It's so much to take in."

"I can believe it," Zelda grinned, lifting Galen and kissing him once more, "You're going to be the best husband, father, and king. I, with my endless wisdom-as you so boldly claim, know it will be so."

"Thank you, dearest," came his bashful, inaudible response.

Zelda smiled teasingly, "Now what did I tell you about that name?"

"I can't help it!" Link laughed, before elaborating more sincerely, "You're the dearest thing in the world to me."

Zelda blushed, grateful she had Galen to distract her. "Thank you," she replied silently, grinning as she felt Link lean against her, his thumb stroking across Galen's chubby cheek, "Now get some rest. I'm sure you're exhausted."

Link grinned sleepily, "It is a bit exhausting to be a father."

Zelda motioned to her lap, Link smiling and lying down, his head propped happily on Zelda's knees. Moving Galen to one arm, Zelda caressed Link's cheek with the other. "I'll wake you if we enter Castle Town," she promised.

The next few days passed in a blur. Galen seemed to always be hungry, and both Link and Zelda quickly grew tired of the wagon and longed for fresh air and the comforts of the castle. They occasionally stopped Lorimer for a brief walk through the field, but Link grew impatient and insisted they travel as consistently as they could manage so that they would reach Castle Town sooner.

It was nighttime (Zelda had lost track of the days), and Link and Zelda lay huddled together on the floor of the wagon, Galen secured between them. All three were exhausted from travelling and sound asleep. It was the jolt of the wagon woke Zelda.

Galen began crying, and Zelda scooped him up, trying to quiet him. "Shh, shh, baby," she soothed, dazed from just being awoken, "Everything's alright."

Link slowly sat up, his lids sitting heavy over his eyes as he questioned tiredly, "What happened?"

"The wagon shook and woke him," Zelda explained, her own voice laden with sleep as she rocked Galen gently.

Link blinked a few times, moving past Zelda and peering out of the wagon. "Zelda! Look!" he whispered with amazement.

Zelda clumsily crawled after him, but her lack of sleep was instantly forgotten and her eyes opened wide at the sight before her. "Link!" she whispered excitedly, the largest of smiles on her face.

The sky was beautifully speckled with stars, their soft light outlining the shops and homes of Castle Town as the wagon rumbled by. Some windows still glowed with candlelight; others were black as tar. The moon bathed everything in an ethereal beauty that took Zelda's breath away. "We're home!" she felt as if she could cry as Link's arm draped around her waist.

"We're finally home," he agreed, smiling genuinely.

After thanking Lorimer profusely and promising to pay him before the week's end, Link escorted Zelda up the grand steps leading to the castle, Galen surprisingly asleep once more as the bundle in her arms. Zelda found she had goosebumps, "Do you think anyone will be awake? It must be well after midnight!"

"We'll have to wait and see," Link shrugged, unable to mask his own happiness at being home once more, "Perhaps the guards at the gate sent word."

As they entered the castle, the royal corridor stretching before them with rich, oriental carpets and lit chandeliers decorating the ceiling, Zelda was overcome with a sense of reminiscence. Everything was just as it was when she had left. "Link," she whispered, unable to express what she was feeling.

"Your highness!" came a reply, though not from Link.

Zelda turned, crying out at the sight of Impa, the older woman's eyes wide with incredulity and relief. Impa rushed to the princess, embracing her tightly. Zelda tearfully clung to her nursemaid, Galen pressed snugly in her free arm. "Oh, your highness, thank the goddesses you're alright!" Impa cried, pulling back finally.

She glanced past the princess, bowing dutifully to Link, who blushed at the attention, "And a warm welcome home to you as well, my prince."

Link smiled nervously, glimpsing away and noticing Rauron standing in the distance. Rauron smiled warmly with approval, also bowing low to the future king. Impa's voice snapped Link back to attention. "I trust that you both are in good health?" Impa inquired.

"Yes," Zelda cast a knowing glance back at Link, "We're both fine now."

"And I see that your family's grown while you were away," Impa noted, observing the collection of fabric in Zelda's arms that was beginning to squirm at the new sounds, "You must tell me everything that happened to you. But I'm sure that you're both exhausted; would you like me to take the child?"

Zelda instinctively clutched Galen tighter, but she knew that she and Link would probably sleep better were he to be placed in the royal nursery. Besides, Impa might be able to ensure that he was healthy, having raised Zelda herself once upon a time. Zelda reluctantly handed Galen to Impa, who bowed once more before walking off in the direction of the nursery.

Link's breath warmed Zelda's ear as his hands came to rest on her hips from behind her, "Are you tired?"

Zelda leaned back into him contentedly, "I could never sleep now-I'm too happy!"

Link grinned but said nothing. Zelda sensed that something was on his mind. She turned her head, meeting his eyes, "What's the matter?"

Link's cheeks reddened, his expression uneasy, "Nothing."

"You can tell me anything," Zelda coaxed inaudibly.

Link ducked his head away for a moment, summoning his courage, before finally looking back at Zelda again. "I was wondering," he murmured, his voice low as he pressed a kiss to Zelda's neck, sending shivers up the princess' spine, "if you'd like to get…reacquainted tonight?"

Zelda's eyes widened at the connotation, glancing around the room as a sudden anxiety overtook her. Thankfully, the hall seemed to be deserted; most of the servants were probably asleep at this hour. Zelda sucked in a breath, turning around and sliding her arms around Link's neck, his hands never leaving her hips. She could see the nervousness on his face, his eyes dark with hope but also fear. "I'd like that," she whispered finally, leaning up to give an extra kiss for reassurance.

Link readily returned the kiss, and they seemed to barely break apart as he took Zelda into his arms, carrying her up the staircase. As he set her down once more, their lips met again, tangling together as they hurried down the hall, Link's hands clasping Zelda's firmly and leading her down a path they both had memorized. Finally, Link fumbled with the door behind him, getting it open. He stepped into their bed chambers after giving Zelda one last peck, pushing the door open wider so that she could follow. Zelda's heart raced in her chest, her body strung tight and her senses engulfed by excitement and apprehension. Was she really about to do this?

"Zelda?" Link whispered, and Zelda's heart broke at the sadness looming in his eyes. He thought she'd changed her mind.

Zelda surged forward, kissing Link heatedly to answer his unstated question. Link's eyes shut and his arms rose to sift through her hair as Zelda shoved the door shut behind her, the lock clicking into place soundly.

Well, did you see all that coming? I honestly do like sad stories, but I feel that Link's death is just not a necessary aspect for this one. Besides, poor Zelda's dealt with enough, wouldn't you say? So I hereby apologize for insinuating the worst. I hope you all will forgive me.

On another note, triple yays for punctuality! I couldn't wait to write this chapter, which shows because I actually completed it ahead of time (as I should have been doing since the start...). And I've got to wonder if anyone thought that Zelda's baby was going to be a boy all along—I mean, didn't she just seem a little too convinced that it was going to be a girl? And now I'm talking about the story like I didn't write it and didn't know this was going to happen…

ANYWAYS, Link's resurrection of sorts and the gender of Zelda's baby were two of the things I'd planned for this story since the beginning (hence the scene in which Impa attempts to teach Zelda the art of healing and the scene in which Link reveals his favorite boy's name to Patia), so maybe you guys will like those parts as much as I do. I also want to apologize for the heavy sexual undertones of this chapter. There will not be any kind of sex scene in this story (or if you insist on using preposterous fruit terminology, there will be no lemon), but the next chapter will have undertones as well. And the epilogue might have some light ones too…but I digress. The only reason for this is simply that I feel the consummation of their relationship is what truly confirms how deeply Link and Zelda now love each other. Considering how cold and lonely their lives with each other were before, I feel like these moments of fervor between them are what really signifies their changes as characters. And they're already married, might I add. But I do apologize if anyone finds the implications offensive.

To conclude this excessively long author's note, I will see you all next week with the final chapter, which will be followed by a short epilogue! Happy reading!