A/N: *crawls out of dark hole* uhh...tacos?

Yeah, I'm a dick for not getting this out sooner. I know. I wish it was something amazing to make up for the wait, but it's...meh. But it is the end - I decided to just stop it here, because I'm too lazy to prolong it in any way. So I'm right sorry about this, guys.

Chapter Three

The days that followed were tense. Link could barely stay conscious enough to eat, with all the medicine that Uli was giving him and his body's own exhaustion. Ilia barely left his side.

One day, three days after he'd been injured, he'd sleepily mumbled to her, "Thanks for always being here when I wake up." In response, she'd simply smiled and played with his hair, watching as his eyes closed once more.

The days passed and, slowly but surely, Link healed and returned to normal. A week after he'd been injured, he was already up and moving around. Everyone was thrilled by this, especially Ilia. It had hurt her heart to see him so fragile.

One day, a week and a half after the attack, Ilia was lounging in Ordon Spring when strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Squeaking in fright, she wiggled around, only to find a grinning Link behind her.

"You scared me," she grumbled, smacking his arm lightly.

He laughed. Sorry, I just couldn't resist." He started to let her go, but she quickly stopped him.

"No, you don't need to let go." And then she blushed furiously, cursing herself for sounding so needy.

Surprisingly, he simply smiled and hugged her tighter, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her heart fluttered in response to this as she tentatively leaned further into his embrace.

She felt his warm breath on her neck, making her want to shiver. "I never did get to finish what I was trying to say that day," he murmured. She could hear by the way his voice shook slightly that he was nervous, but she could also tell that he was determined to say whatever it was that he needed to say.

"No," she agreed, "you didn't. But I'm all ears."

She felt him swallow hard before he slowly turned her so that she was facing him. His azure eyes shone with a deep emotion as, quietly but fiercely, he said, "Truth is, Ilia . . . I'm in love with you. I have been ever since I first laid eyes on you, that day up at the ranch when you were sitting with Ella. You . . . you've always been there for me. You were the one to put me back together after Dad was killed. You're all I ever think about, Ilia. And, well . . . I just really need to know if you feel the same about me, because I can't go my whole life wondering what might've been." Upon finishing, he dropped his gaze and his arms, suddenly finding the ground very interesting.

After a moment of shocked silence, Ilia reached out a gentle hand to tilt his face back up so that he was looking her in the eyes. A delightful warmth was spreading through her, like being wrapped in a warm blanket. She smiled softly and replied, "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear that. Silly boy, you should've already known how I felt about you. You should be ashamed of yourself for waiting so long!" She giggled then as a relieved look came over Link's face, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

It was then that he kissed her.

Ilia's eyes slid closed, her hands going up to rest on his chest. She could feel his heart beating strongly, almost in time with her own. She felt incredibly safe and loved, and his lips were soft and warm. Feather-like, almost as if he was afraid to break her. Her hands roamed over his chest, while his were still at his sides.

Her lips left his momentarily to smile and say, "Don't be afraid to touch me, too." She could see in his eyes that he felt as if he needed her permission.

Slowly, as if he were afraid of spooking her, he reached up to touch her cheek. His hand was warm, with calluses. Her eyes closed of their own accord, and she leaned into that touch. Taking that as a sign to continue, he rested his other hand on her hip and pulled her in, pressing his lips to hers once more.

And just like that, it was like she could feel his nerves melt away. She could feel the confidence growing as he reached up to tangle his fingers in her hair, gently lowering her so that her back was against the soft ground, with him leaning over her. Her fingers knotted in his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer.

"Eww!" came a childish squeal. Link and Ilia instantly separated, their eyes finding a horrified Colin and a grinning Rusl standing at the entrance to the spring. Colin had his hands over his eyes.

Ilia's cheeks flooded with heat, while Link chuckled and buried his face in her hair.

"We'll just be going," Rusl said, smiling devilishly at the teens. Ilia blushed harder while Link called a light-hearted, "See you later."

As they walked away, Link and Ilia could hear Colin's disgusted remarks of "Dad, they were kissing!" and "Dad, it's gross!" Both laughed at the little boy, huddled together.

They sat there for a while before Link stood, reaching down to help Ilia do the same. When she shot his a questioning glance, he simply said, "Fado probably wants some help with the goats. You're free to come, if you'd like."

"I'd love to," she replied, smiling softly. Holding hands, the two made their way to the ranch, both grinning the whole way.

If anyone had asked Ilia if she'd thought that this would ever happen, she would have laughed in their faces. It had always seemed like something far out of her reach, a distant dream…

…but now, it was her reality.

Stupid ending is stupid.

So...yeah. That's all, folks! Again, sorry it was short and stupid, but it's all I've got. I figured I should probably finish this, haha. So this is it, amigos and amigas! Hope you all enjoyed the story (even this piece of shit gay ending), and please leave one last review? Pretty please? :)

Oh, and if anyone likes Kingdom Hearts, you should check out my friend! Her penname is A-Far-Off-Memory...she's just getting started, she only has a oneshot up, but she's writing a lot of other stuff (which I've read already) and she's got a lot planned! So please check her out if you enjoy the Kingdom Hearts fandom, her oneshot that she has up now is awesome but it barely has any reviews :(

Well, goodbye peeps, it was a fun time writing this (well other than the end, but whatevs).

~ Ozzie ~