Ilia sighed. She looked different from the nine-year-old girl she that bade Link farewell. She wasn't flat-chested, anymore, for starters. She cut her hair short; it had been bothering her. No more braids. She closed her eyes and tried to find sleep. She didn't find it. Ilia was thirteen, almost fourteen, and terribly lonely. She had been since Link moved back with his father. He'll be fifteen, soon, she thought. I wonder what his stepmum's like. And baby Ava. She sighed again. He sure sounds happy. I doubt he even remembers his promise, she thought bitterly. Oh, what am I thinking? I should be happy for him. After all, he has his dad back.

If only it were that easy.

She still heard from him, occasionally. He wrote to her about, well, anything, really. From what she knew, he had grown fond of his stepmother, Maeri. Ilia was slightly jealous of him, because he had never known his mother and hadn't had time to bond with her. Now he had a new one. With Ilia it wouldn't be so easy. She sighed and tried to find sleep once again. This time it came.

"Link, could you help me with this?"

Rowan's voice echoed slightly as he called to his son, about a hundred feet away.

"Sure. What is it?"

Rowan pointed to the stack of hay that needed to be sheltered before nightfall. He had done some himself, but then decided that he wouldn't be able to finish before then. The air was heavy, signifying rain.

Link nodded and grabbed a pitchfork. It was early autumn, and the air was growing colder. They had a good harvest that year. Rowan too picked up his pitchfork and helped his son. After they had finished, he sat down on the cool grass, watching him. He smiled as Link played with the cat that followed him around everywhere. Animals tended to do that when Link was around. After a while, the cat grew bored and left him to hunt some mice. Rowan called Link over, and he came and sat next to his father. The sky was pink. Link and his father just sat there, watching the sunset. When the sun had nearly descended below the horizon, Link spoke.

"Dad..."

"Yes?"

"What-" He paused. "What was mom like?"

Rowan looked at him, surprised. His face softened after he realized what the boy was asking. He turned his face towards the sky. "Well…"

"She was a very kind woman. She loved children and had a way with them. In fact, when your mother and I were first married, she begged me for a child, despite the fact that she was weak. Physically weak. She had muscular dystrophies, as the physician called it. She was very weak and had trouble eating. But she kept on asking, so she became pregnant with you."

"But what was she like?As in, what was her personality?"

"Forgive me. I got sidetracked. Well, she loved animals. And children. She was smart and quiet. She rarely got angry, or, at least I don't think so. It was hard to tell. She was born with a quiet voice, so she was never loud. Which was probably the reason animals liked her the way they like you." He grew quiet. "It broke my heart when she died."

Link looked at his father, surprised. He rarely ever showed his feelings, other than a quick smile here and there, let alone say them aloud. Link was about to ask another question, but before he could, Maeri called them in. Before she could finish her sentence, Ava ran out of the house and tumbled down the slope to her father and brother. Link caught her and Rowan chuckled quietly. Ava was now bouncing in her brother's arms

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" she said happily. That was the only word she knew, other that 'moo' and 'meow'. Link laughed. "C'mon, Ava. Let's go eat."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no..." she chimed as her brother took her inside, father following closely behind. Rowan smiled. What a blessing he had, to have two children. Link and Ava certainly cheered his heart. Maeri, Ava, and Link all helped ease the pain he still felt over Saira.

What a blessing. What a blessing indeed.

"Link? Link..."

Maeri waved her hand in front of his face. Link looked up at her.

"Did you hear me?" she said

"Hear...what?"

Maeri sighed. "Link. Your father and I were talking about you birthday. In two weeks.

"Two…weeks?"

"No, no, no, no, no!" Ava shouted happily. Maeri placed her hand on the child and she quietly started to play with her food again, occasionally stuffing some into her mouth. "What do you want to do? After all, you are turning 15. or did you forget that, too?"

"Umm...yes?"

Maeri sighed and turned to her husband. "Why is he so forgetful? I've never met someone who forgets their own birthday. And yet he manages to remember everyone else's." Rowan shrugged and turned to Link.

"Maeri and I were wondering what you wanted to do for your birthday. Is there something you want to do, or do you want to go somewhere, or..."His voice trailed off, waiting for Link's answer.

"You don't have to tell me now." Link nodded. He already knew what he wanted, but he wasn't sure that he would let him. He pushed his chair back and stood. "Alright. Thanks for dinner." He took his plate away and went up to his room. After Ava was born, Rowan let him take over the attic. Ava got his old room, which wasn't that big. It was connected with Rowan and Maeri's room. He lay on his bed, thinking. Will they say yes? He sighed mentally.

Ilia...I miss you.

Ilia stood next to her father's bed, mending one of his shirts. It was dark outside, and her father was asleep. She couldn't sleep again. That was why she was up mending his shirt. Bo stirred and woke. He woke to his daughter, sitting in her mother's chair, looking like her mother and mending his shirt like Arietta used to do. He smiled softly. "Ilia, why aren't you in bed?" He already knew her reason. "I can't sleep, Father. And besides," she added, "your shirt needed to be fixed."

"C'mon, Ilia. Tell the truth." She put the quickly put the shirt down. "Stop it, Father. You know I am."

"How do you know that?" he teased."

"Because I just told you. I didn't lie."

"Then tell the full truth."

"Father-"

"Are you sure it isn't about a certain boy?"

"What boy? I'm the only person in this whole village that's my age. Really, Father. You're gonna have to try harder than that."

"Do I?"

"Yes." She picked up the shirt and started to sew once again.

"Oh, I thought it had to do with a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy." He watched his daughter carefully. "A boy who probably looks rather handsome, now that he is nearly fifteen years old." Now Ilia understood.

Link.

"Father, I'm not in love with him." she said, embarrassed that she didn't realize earlier.

"Alright." He turned onto his other side and fell asleep. Or she thought he was.

"Oh, and Ilia?"

She jumped. "D-Don't do that, Father! You scared me."

He smiled. "You should get some sleep. You'll get sick if you don't." Ilia sighed and put down the shirt. She stood and dusted off her dress, then leaned over and pecked him on his cheek. "Alright, Father. I will."