Finally this is chapter five. It's been a long time in the works, but hopefully it keeps the pace. Enjoy and comment if you'd like.

Home is Where the Cows Are

Having nothing else to do, Link heads back to Clock Town himself. If he cannot figure out this problem by tonight, he is going to need some place he can stay. He has enough money in his wallet, and he also has a hefty sum saved up in the town bank. About the only good thing about going back in time was the fact he could collect as many rupees each time and his balance was never affected. Now that the festival is over, people are probably leaving town, which means vacancy in the Stock Pot Inn. Kafei and Anju are no doubt off on their honeymoon, leaving her mother in charge of the place. Since he was the one who reunited the young couple, maybe she will even give him a discount on his room.

As he comes through the westentrance, he notes how empty everything in this side of town seems. It was always that way save for the bomber kid who always hangs out on the stairs walking back and forth. He heads straightaway to the bank, which is on the right. It amazes him every time that the man who owns the place can remember his customers so well. He could, however do without the remarks he receives whenever he withdraws a large sum of rupees. Even though Link just thought to himself that he has enough in his wallet, he takes out an extra fifty for food. All of this running around can make a person hungry, especially an adolescent boy who is still growing.

Once he has finished with his transaction, he heads down the stairs toward the South portion of Clock Town. This way he can cut across to the east side a little more quickly than backtracking up, which goes out of the way. This way, too, he avoids that annoying yappy type dog who tormented him as a Deku scrub and who hangs around the tower. The Inn is right there on his left as soon as he walks through this entrance, and he wastes no time opening the door and going inside. As he predicted, Anju's mother is at the desk in her daughter's place. Currently she has no customers needing her assistance, so he walks right on up intent on asking if there are any vacancies.

"Hello. May I help you?" she greets him in an unusually friendly manner. She's probably just happy her only daughter married the man she loved, which is unknowingly all of his doing.

"I was just wondering if you have any rooms available. I need a place to stay for tonight."

"I'm not sure a young man like yourself would be able to afford a room here."

"Actually, I've saved a lot of money on my travels. I just can't get home tonight, and since I've only heard good things about this inn, I thought I would spend some of my three thousand rupees here." Her face drops at that while he adds to himself that this is the only place around here that is an inn anyways. "Besides, I know Anju pretty well. I did help reunite her and Kafei after all." That completely changes her expression.

"You're the one who found that bum who left my daughter days before their wedding without so much as a word or an explanation?"

"Yep, that was me," he announces proudly, not catching her tone.

"Get out!!"

"What?" He backs up a bit from the counter and looks at her very confused, having no idea why she would react that way.

"My daughter married that no-good purple haired spoiled brat. He took off right before their wedding without thinking of how it would affect Anju. He's just like his mother- spoiled and selfish."

"But she's happy. She wanted to marry him." The real explanation for Kafei running off Link chooses not to reveal because he feels it is the young couple's business alone. Besides, like the woman would believe him.

"She thinks she is happy now, but soon enough she'll realize what he is truly like." She calms herself down a bit so as not to pass along the image that she is hot-tempered and judgmental though Link can easily see how different Anju is from her mother. "Now why don't you move along? We don't have any vacancies."

"But the carnival is over."

"We do have guests year round, you know." Having not really considered that before, he accepts her answer and thanks her anyway. She doesn't really respond to this, and she barely says goodbye when he tells her the same and walks out the door. Her glare continues, however, but she decides to simply forget about it. Her daughter will be home in a few days, and she will continue her meddling once again.

With his only plan completely defeated, Link sighs and stands in front of the inn. He may have spent many three-day cycles in this land, but he has no idea where else he can go. He can't go home until he figures out what is going on with the Happy Mask Salesman, and he doesn't really have any friends besides Kafei and Anju. The only reason he spent so much time with them was because their side quest was probably the most involved. He is glad he was able to help the couple, but now he is stuck in a foreign land with not a clue of what to do next.

Deciding to wander around and try to figure something else out, he goes to turn and walk away from the inn. He has to figure something out that he can do for the time being, and hopefully this will stimulate that thought process. Just as he does so, one of the Bombers is suddenly right there and blocking his path. Because this startles him, he takes a step back and runs into the post supporting the awning over the inn's entrance. The little boy points and laughs as the one in green brushes himself off, choosing not to waste a glare on someone like him. Right now he has more important things to worry about.

"I hope those weren't the skills you used to find the mask man," he says sounding just as obnoxious as the comment itself. Link goes to walk past him. "Seriously, did you find him?" At that, he stops and looks back.

"He was by the beach. Why are you so interested?"

"I was just wondering if you found out why he was talking to himself. It was creepy. I thought maybe he would go all postal on you and do something really gory and gross."

"How old are you?" he asks, finding those thoughts strange coming from a child.

"I'm seven. Why do you wanna know?" Not having a good explanation, Link stays silent, but he gets it despite being so young. "Just 'cause I'm a kid doesn't mean I haven't heard of stuff like that. You don't have to be mean about it. I don't know why Jim even let you be one of us anyway." Reversing what was to be the original situation, the little Bomber takes off up the stairs toward the mayor's office. He's probably heading to the secret tunnel, but that is the last thing Link wants to care about.

Instead, he sighs and leans back against the pole. He very much does not want to walk around the town and figure things out. He just wants to go home and to continue on his search for Navi. When he finally finds her, he can then return to Hyrule and to his tree house and friends and even Malon. After all, he did promise to bring Epona back safely, even if he is denying to himself there is more meaning behind that. He would rather fight Majora or Ganon right now.

"You haven't gone into the business of scaring young children now, have you?" a voice asks him from nowhere. Startled, he looks up to see fiery red hair and a small smile from her own comment. First he thinks of Epona's owner before remembering where he is. The older ranch sister waits for him to answer.

"No, I just offended him. He'll get over it."

"And what about you? Why are you looking so sullen?"

"I just found out that I have to take care of some things before I leave, but I have nowhere to go in the meantime. I tried the inn, but Anju's mom said it was full. Plus she wasn't too happy with me when she found out I was the one to reunite her with Kafei." Cremia laughs out loud at that.

"That does sound like her. I wouldn't take it too personally. She was having issues with Anju getting married before you came here, and everyone knows how happy they both are now." Because the rest of the world sees him as being young still, he does not say anything too grown up about the situation.

"Lately I pretty much seem to be helping everyone else. I'm glad they're happy, but now I don't know what to do about myself."

"Well, why don't you come stay at the ranch until you figure it out?"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Of course I am. You saved my little sister, and you helped me on that milk run. It's the least I could do."

"That would be great as long as Romani doesn't mind, either."

"Don't worry about her. She hardly gets visitors. Besides, I think she has a little crush on you." At that, Link feels heat rise in his cheeks. Cremia can't help but laugh at this also. "If it'll make you feel better, you can help around the ranch since you seem to be in that business lately. Your first assignment can be helping me and Romani unload our milk delivery at the bar next door." Since he has nothing too pressing at the moment, he decides to take her up on the offer. At least it will keep him busy and take his mind off the mask salesman while the guy hopefully goes back to normal. In the meantime, he may as well use this as a break instead of worrying too much about what he can't change. Together the boy in the green and the oldest ranch sister head towards the Milk Bar.

Inside the dimly lit establishment, there are piles of crates in need of proper sorting. The owner of the bar and also a man who looks strikingly familiar to Talon from back home is ordering his men where to put things. Link also recognizes Grog, the Cuccoo shack guy, as being one of the helping hands. The smallest of the bunch is the girl with fiery red hair who apparently has a crush on him, at least according to her sister who may have just been teasing to get a reaction from Link. Further inspection of the boxes reveals that they tell the handler to be careful. Being smug with himself since he has saved the world twice now and surely can handle a box of milk, he picks it up. Quickly he realizes the limitations of his childhood strength with no supernatural aid and struggles to keep the box from falling.

"Hey, be careful with that!" the youngest sister warns as she runs over to help him. Together they set it back down on the wooden floor.

"Why? What's in there?" he asks as he wipes his hands off.

"This is the expensive stuff."

"And that would be…?" he probes further since he knows practically nothing of their business.

"Chateau Romani. It takes forever to just to produce one batch of this stuff."

"How cool is that? You're named after milk." Because it is in her nature, she cannot help but laughing at his little joke even if he did just almost drop a whole box of the good milk. Now that things are lighter, he decides to continue a conversation. "So where'd you really get your name?"

"Romani was actually named after the ranch by my mom and dad."

"That's pretty cool, even though I guess it should be kind of obvious. I always wished I knew where my name came from. I don't even really know where my family came from."

"What happened to your parents?"

"They died, and I was raised by a tree and a group of kids who never got older. We lived in a forest and wore green."

"That's why Romani calls you Grasshopper," she teases.

"Yeah," he blushes a little. "One of my friends from home gave me a nickname, too. At least I know where those come from."

"How did they die?" she continues curiously.

"I don't know about my dad, but my mom was injured escaping a great war that was raging in our country. She went into the forest and died, leaving me with the Great Deku Tree. He let me stay."

"How can a tree be a boy?" She makes a face, He thinks about it.

"Good point." They both laugh a little, never minding the work that is still going on around them and the glares from the Talon looking guy. "You know, I've never met yours and Cremia's parents."

"They died a long time ago. Romani doesn't remember them very well, just Cremia and the ranch."

"I'm sorry. I guess we have something in common at least. Maybe staying on the ranch won't be so weird after all."

"Staying on the ranch?" she asks in a near panicked confusion.

"Your sister invited me to stay until I can go home."

"When can you go home?" He looks down at that.

"I don't know. Hopefully soon." She smiles at him again as well as the thought of getting to spend time with strange young man in green.

"Romani hopes that Grasshoper stays for a while." Again he feels heat rushing to his cheeks and keeps his head down so she cannot see his embarrassment. She only giggles.

"Hey, you two, finish up," the owner, who Link suddenly remembers is named Mr. Barten, reminds them. Both exclaim a sorry and get right back to putting everything away in its assigned place. Cremia stops for a second to smile at the ten year olds before getting back to her own task.

Eventually the trio plus Grog finishes and heads back to Romani Ranch after a job well done. It took about an hour once Link started to help to finish everything, but the whole time the kids stayed away from each other. Cremia just found it amusing, and the others paid no real attention. After all, they are only children. Making sure to take Epona with him, he rides his trusty steed side by side with the wagon from the ranch, reminiscent to him of when he helped protect Cremia and the milk delivery from the Gorman Brothers. As he thinks of that, it occurs to him a little strange that she needed to bring them more supply. Then again, the festival just took place, and after escaping the horrible fate of the moon, a lot of people probably unwound with a drink of the good stuff.

Once there, Cremia puts the horses away and parks the wagon where they store it on downtime. She also has her little sister help out a bit, and after some pouting, she is forced to agree. Since the young hero in green does not have any unpacking to do, he decides to have some fun with his masks and the yappy-type dog that hangs around the ranch. From previous experience he remembers that Goron Link scared the runt the most so he tosses that mask on and transforms. All that can be heard across the open range is the frightened yelps of the poor creature. Feeling a little bad, he switches forms and turns into a Zora. The dog stops, confused for only a second before he runs at the fishman. To further mess with him, he transforms into a Deku. This time he ends up as the butt of the joke when he is tackled. Angry now, he puts the Goron mask on a second time and chases the dog. It runs off into the direction of the house.

At that exact moment, the door opens, and Romani walks out to greet her pet. When she sees the large rock creature rolling around, though, she gets mad, not realizing it is only her new friend having some fun.

"Hey, Mr. Foreigner, cut it out!" He stops and turns around to see her, hoping she is as dense as she seems and won't recognize the green cap on his head. "Puppy, come here boy." Feeling safe, he barks to let her know and scamps over to his "cute-faced" owner. She picks him up and hugs him. "Aw, is Mr. Foreigner being mean to you?" He growls. Link takes the mask off and puts it away quickly. She turns around to face the Goron, only to find Link looking innocently at her. "Where'd he go?"

"Where did who go?" He looks around feigning confusion.

"Mr. Foreigner."

"There's no one here except you and me."

"But he was just there…"

"Why don't we forget about him and go get something to eat?" he suggests. "It's dinner now, and I know I'm hungry after all that work." Reluctantly agreeing, she puts the dog down and follows him over to the ranch house. Still, though, she cannot get over where that Goron guy went to and why he would be visiting here in the first place.

The sound of the door startles the one standing at the stove, and the oldest sister looks over at the pair of kids. Apparently she already got a jump on what he started thinking about half way through the ride back here. Romani tells her sister she is going upstairs to change for dinner, and this is acknowledged. Next she tells Link she'll be right back before taking off up the stairs. With his stomach steering the helm, he sniffs the air to see what is on the menu.

"That smells really good," he compliments when his senses approve.

"Thank you," Cremia responds as she pulls the large wooden spoon out and sets it on a towel. "I got the recipe from a friend a few days ago."

"Would that friend happen to be Anju?"

"Yes, it would." He pales a bit at that, but she only laughs when she realizes why this is his reaction. "Don't worry. I learned how to cook from my mom."

"Oh…"

"She was a chef in her spare time. Actually, she was part owner of the restaurant that used to be where the Milk Bar is now."

"Oh!" He perks up. "You must have learned young then."

"Why do you say that?" she asks curiously as she comes closer.

"Romani told me your parents died when she was little." Cremia frowns at that, and Link becomes confused.

"That's' what she likes to tell people, but it's not exactly true." His expression begs her to continue, so she does. "Our dad went on a trip to barter for a new breed of cow, but he was ambushed and killed on the way back. Our mother raised us in between taking care of the ranch and running her restaurant. She eventually had to give that up when she got sick. I started to take on more responsibility around here, which is when I learned to cook. Almost two years ago she couldn't fight being sick anymore, and she died." Not expecting to hear that, he wants to apologize but cannot find his words. He lost his mother as an infant and never knew anything of his father, but at least he didn't have to watch her suffer. "Romani took it very hard, and that's what she tells people. I guess it's easier to pretend she can't remember our mom for now."

"I'm really sorry about that." She only smiles.

"Don't be. Life has its sorrows, but it can also be full of happiness, too. I wouldn't change anything. Besides, life around here is sure to perk up with you staying with us." He smiles lightly at her, glad for the compliment and temporarily forgetting that he needs to find a way back home.

Interrupting the conversation turned silence, the younger one comes flying down the stairs in a new dress that doesn't look much different to Link. She looks just as nice as before, but it must be a girl thing.

"Sister, did you see any visitors here today?" Link laughs nervously.

"What do you mean visitors?" she asks her baby sister.

"A Goron was chasing little Richard around outside."

"Why would a Goron be all the way down here?"

"Romani doesn't know, but he was trying to run over Richard."

"I'm sure he wasn't trying to run anyone over," Link interjects, not wanting his secret motives to be made violent. Romani looks at him suspiciously.

"You said you didn't see anyone here." He sweat drops and rubs his neck.

"Let's just forget about it. Richard's okay, and I'm hungry. So what's for dinner?"

"You'll see when it's done," Cremia chastises his impatience. "In the meantime, can you two take the leftovers from lunch over to Grog and Lady Mamamu?"

"You make food for them, too?"

"Lady Mamamu and I trade off sometimes, and I like to help Grog out. He's all skin and bones. Haven't you seen him?" Nodding his head, Link concedes her point. He is pretty sickly looking. "Anyway, do you mind?"

"Not at all," he answers semi-enthusiastically. "You are letting me stay here."

"Thank you," she says as she hands them each a basket. "When you two get back, I'll have our dinner ready."

"Sounds good to me. Come on, Romani." He heads toward the door and waits for her to come along, which she does almost right away. Being the nice guy he is generally known for, he holds the door open before following the redhead and closing it behind them both. From the stove, Cremia chuckles to herself as she goes about adding the next ingredient to her mother's favorite stew recipe. It is a treat that is only made for special occasions, and taking in a new resident counts in her book. Something about the young boy in green seems different to her, and that something she has a feeling her little sister sees. That alone makes her smile.