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Disclaimer: I honestly do not own Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess.

I know it's been long and this time I honestly don't have an excuse, so without futher ado let's begin!

Chapter 14

One moment, Lake Hylia was the way it usually was- refreshing air and water, a perfect picture drawn by Farore's and Naryu's hands. It was a dream of green and blue. Link was whiling away time by fishing, an activity he had become quite fond of, since it provided him somewhat with food and an occupation.

However, suddenly the entire lake was illuminated by a foreboding golden light. Golden light and a strange humming filled the air. In an instant the fishing pole lay forgotten in the shallow water, he couldn't believe it was finally time.

Fyer was looking around nervously, for a similar phenomena had taken place when Twilight had invaded Hyrule. The Zoras got out of the water uneasily, not forgetting the last time they were trapped in ice when they saw such golden light.

While the occupants of Lake Hylia were scared of the light, Link was overwhelmed with emotions. Finally, she had come for him! He wouldn't have to wait anymore. Nothing else mattered anymore, he only needed to go to her, see her, touch her and kiss her.

Enthusiastically, he jumped to his feet looking around for the location where the light was concentrated. His gaze wandered from Fyer's cannon house, to the Light Spirit's spring, the Sky Cannon he and Midna found in the Sancturary in Kakariko. His gaze stilled when he saw the tower where one had a great view of the whole lake and could even see the Gerudo Desert.

Nearly stumbling because of his long fishing session, (he had gotten pins and needles in his feet,) he ran up the hill. Once, he nearly fell into the water, but because of his rather superior reflexes he was able to grab the ledge in the last moment. Grumbling, he pulled himself up. Dusting his pants off, he ran again towards the golden light. Squinting, he could make out a figure already manifesting, although it seemed like a small figure. An imp? But her curse had been lifted!

Cold panic grabbed Link's heart. Had there been trouble in the Twilight Realm? Another Zant, who had cursed his Midna? He hoped nothing bad happened to her and she wasn't hurt. He loved Midna. and, being a man, he couldn't help feeling slightly scared, for he liked the princess Midna a little bit more than imp Midna. Perhaps it was because her real form was better looking or he had good memories of that form, but he wished Midna was in her real form. He liked her better that way and she liked herself better that way. And if she still was in her princess form there wouldn't have been trouble. He hoped.

Skidding, he stopped only a few feet from the glowing orb. The light was so intense that he was forced to shield his eyes. His eyes had begun to water, he didn't know when it had started. Quickly, he wiped them away with his sleeve, because he didn't want to be made fun of.

Then he heard a dull thud, as if something small had fallen down. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes hesitantly. The light was gone and whatever he had been expecting, it had been not this. Dumbstruck he stood there not knowing what to do else.

Imagine his surprise when instead of his beautiful princess or at least his imp, lay a bundle of cloth. It was unmistakeably from the Twilight Realm, since he had never been such a mixture of shimmering and black cloth in Hyrule before (save the time when he saw Midna in her princess form).

"Midna?" Link whispered, fearing the worst.

No response. Now Link was really panicking. The bundle wasn't moving. Had something happened so that Midna hadn't crossed over to Hyule? And only her clothes managed to get here? Was she trapped between the worlds or dead? Unbelieving, Link shook his head. No, no, no.

"This isn't funny. Nobody's laughing. Stop pulling my leg. Hey! Answer me, damn it!"

No response. He gulped when an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach, biting his lip to prevent tears from pouring out his eyes. He stepped cautiously towards the bundle.

Then he could see the bundle moving. She was alive! Link couldn't stop the tears anymore. Blinking the tears away, he could make out some read hair spouting from the bundle and quickened his pace.

"Midna. You shouldn't scare me like that. I thought you..." Link stopped his relieved splutter, because of brawl. A brawl of a baby, something he had to put up with countless times when Uli was out and he was dumped to look after Ruth. Not that he minded, he loved the small bundle of joy, but he could do without the wailing.

Alarmed he crouched near the bundle, she wouldn't have been shrunken, right? That would be a disaster, although he was glad she was okay, but seriously shrunken? Biting his lip nervously he pushed the black shimmering cloth back gently.

At least it smells like Midna. His mind registered, while he removed the cloth carefully.

Under the cloth was a mini-Midna with eyes shut and brawling like a baby. His Midna was back! Grinning he felt warmth spread through his whole being. Only to have reality to knock on the door of his brain. She was a baby. The crying hurt his ears and head. On top of that she was a baby! No memories of him, no words of comfort for him.

"No way, Midna. Say something. Don't do this to me" Link groaned. He could already see the headache coming.

The brawling didn't stop. Link sighed and reprimanded himself. Stop being an egoist, she need you now.

Taking the bundle into his arms he began to cradle mini-Midna. Humming Zelda's lullaby (because he didn't know any other lullabies) he studied her face more intently. It was not as pale as he remembered and the mouth was slightly different, too. This alarmed him again, however he let it slide thinking it was probably a side-effect of being shrunken.

Mini-Midna was calming down by now, sniffling a bit and opening her eyes to regard her new surroundings with big blue eyes.

Link stopped dead in his tracks. Those weren't Midna's eyes, her eyes were a beautiful red-orange. He stared into such blue orbs every morning, when he washed his face. Those weren't Midna's eyes, because they were his! Shocked of this revelation Link nearly let go of the bundle, however fortunately he composed himself in the last moment before his mind went into overdrive.

This is not Midna.

Midna hasn't shrunken and isn't here.

Instead of Midna being here, I got a baby in my arms that looks like her, but on top of that like me.

Since her departure about nine month have passed.

Zelda's question about his and Midna's love life.

This wasn´t happening. This was not really happening. It couldn't be that this wasn't just any baby, but his and Midna's.

This beats all the odds. No way.

We only did it once.

What a thought: He. A father.

No way. This wouldn't be happening. I must have fallen asleep while fishing.

Link pinched himself in the arm with his free hand. No, he was quite awake. The baby looked at him with his eyes and reached out for his face. It was so adorable, but it couldn't be his child, right. He knew nothing about taking care of a child. He wasn't ready to be a father, yet a single father with the mother in another world with no link to get there. This had to be a coincidence. And if it wasn't a coincidence, he was in a pretty prickle.

Then he saw paper sticking out of one of the folds. He froze. She wouldn't have... written a letter to him. With a trembling hand he reached for the letter which may contain the answer to all his questions. His name was written on the envelope. Link.

His mind was blank, he had to sit down, because he had begun to sway dangerously and he didn't want to drop the child in his arms. Even less if this was really his child.

After he had settled and had stared into space for quite a while. He opening the letter carefully not wanting to damage the precious piece of paper.

The letter was filled with scratched out words and in some places the ink was blurred because of what he presume were teardrops.

Dear Link,

I cannot write you how sorry I am. I bitterly regret destroying the mirror. I made many mistakes in my life which surely have cost many lives, but this has been the biggest mistake in my life. I love you so much and it hurts me so much that you must feel even worse. I betrayed you, it had never been my intention, but when I realized it was too late. I love you and that will never change, you will be the only one for ever.

You would not believe my surprise when I found out I was pregnant with your daughter (In case you haven´t put one and one together, yet. Yes, this is your daughter Sephiria.). It was the first time I had been happy since I have come back. Somehow I still had you with me. However this joy was short-lived. A child partly from the light world would not be accepted here. I feared the worst and conceived the plan to send her over to you. However, for this to happen I am going to have to remain here.

To imagine not be there with you two breaks my heart, but it´s a little price to pay for our daughter´s safety. Keep her safe. I will always love you.

Yours forever

Midna

Shocked Link regarded the child in his arms. Yes, this is your daughter Sephiria, echoed in his head. This was his child? He was father? And Midna was the mother?

Disbelieving he read the letter a second time and a third time and a fourth time and he still couldn´t wrap his mind around the revelations he read in this letter. He was father and this was his child.

At least she still loves me.

However Link couldn't repress the bitter disappointment that gnawed on his heart.

She won´t come here. She stayed because of you. He thought, looking at his daughter, an emotion he was not familiar with went through him. Hate. It´s your fault. It´s your fault I´m still alone in this world. She loved you...

Shaking his head quickly to get rid of his dark thoughts he drew a deep breath. He felt awful thinking such thoughts. This was not him, it was his loneliness and bitterness getting the better of him.

"You are just an innocent baby, why would you be at fault? She loved you. You are her daughter. And even if I can´t comprehend it you are mine, too. Who am I too hate you?" he whispered. Getting up shakily Link held his daughter tightly, but at the same time gently. "I´ll protect you. It´s want Midna wants." He looked into her eyes which were so much like his and her hair which was so much like hers. "And I think it´s what I want, too. You are my daughter, Sephiria."

Gurgling Sephiria cocked her head adorably and squealed when Link grinned at her. "Perhaps I won't be as lonely as I thought I would be. Let´s go home."

With these words he stalked off to Fyer´s cannon, only to stop dead in his tracks. As he tucked the letter safely away his eyes had caught a little note on the backside.

PS: If you are at Lake Hylia, which I presume you are, don´t get the stupid idea to shoot my baby and yourself up the mountains with Fyer´s cannon ! If you do, I swear, I´ll co... your deku nuts will make acquaintance with the Iron Boots!

"Damn, Midna! And how should I get home then?"

After calling in some favors (he asked Plumm, the myna-like bird, if Iza could sent her assistant down with a boat , so that he and Sephiria could travel up Zora River in the boat, but the Zora had protested that he was to heavy so that only Sephiria had the luxury of riding the boat, whereas he had to swim against the current (a feat he never thought he would accomplish, as he drowned nearly six times)) Link was finally sitting on Epona´s back again and slowly they trotted towards Castle Town to not wake Sephiria who he was holding safely. The sun was setting and he did not want to ride at nighttime with a child and he was really exhausted because of his swim up Zora River, besides he thought it would be best to tell Zelda about this turn of events, for the simple reason she was curious and probably thought of something like this. And it would be unfair to leave her in the dark.

Furthermore he would like to sleep in the castle right now, because it was warm, comfortable and the food was splendid. And perhaps he would like to get some advice from Zelda.

When they arrived Link could feel the exhaustion pulling at his eyes lids. The last days had been too much for him and by now he could feel how utterly tired he was. If he had to put up with the guards again he would probably crash at Telma´s bar, since he had no nerve to deal with these guards again.

Scuffling he passed the fountain and dragged himself up the stairs. Rubbing his eyes he yawned. "Hey, I need to talk to Zelda."

"And you are?" a guard asked suspicious of him.

Link sighed about to answer, but was stopped by the second guard. "Shush, he is the Hero of Twilight."

Surprised Link regarded the second guard, recognizing him. "Ah, you are the guard from the other day. Please could we not argue this time, I´m not in the mood and tired."

"Of course. I´m sorry for my behavior when we met last time."

Link waved his hand dismissively. "It´s all okay and forgotten, if you bring me to Zelda now."

"Of course." The guard bowed and opened the door.

"Are you sure?" The other whispered, thinking Link couldn´t hear him. "He looks like a farm-boy."

Link just rolled his eyes, while the other whispered back. "Of course, I´m sure and if Princess Zelda hears you saying that it will be two weeks guard duty for you, too."

Then he faced Link and led the way. "Hero, this way, please."

Link stumbled after him. His vision swam a little as they made their way through some hallways. After what felt like eternity they stopped in front of a wooden door. The guard knocked hesitantly. "My Princess the hero is here to see you."

Link could hear her slapping a book shut. "Oh, yes. Please, let him in."

The guard opened the door and let Link inside. Link stumbled inside and let himself fall into the next chair, careful to not disturb the dark bundle with Sephiria inside in his arms. Then he heard the door shut and felt Zelda´s expectant eyes on him. "Good evening, Link. You look exhausted. Forgive me the forwardness, but where is she?" Zelda sounded confused and anxious.

"Not here..." He groaned, his eye lids were as heavy as King Bublin.

"But where..."

"Still there. Now, now, let me explain." Slowly he pried his eyes open again. "I got a letter. She couldn´t come here, only send Sephiria over."

"Sephiria? Is she your..." Zelda asked uneasily regarding the bundle in his arms.

Link nodded and mumbled, swaying slightly in his chair, nearly loosing grip on his daughter. "Our daughter. Could you...?" He asked holding the bundle with his daughter out for her to hold.

Reluctantly, she took the child into her arms, while he rested his head on the table.

"She´s adorable." Zelda smiled as she studied Sephiria. "She has Midna´s nose and hair and your eyes, you know."

Link just grumbled something under his breath and nearly fell asleep on the table. He couldn´t recall the last time he was this exhausted, was it after the fight with Ganondorf? Or after the mirror chamber? Grunting he rolled his forehead on the top of the cool table, fighting a loosing battle with his fatigue.

Zelda giggled at the sight. "Do you want something to drink, you look exhausted."

Link shook his head. "No. Had to swallow enough water today."

"What did you do exactly, normally you are not this exhausted."

"Swam up Zora River. Didn´t want the Iron Boots." He couldn't stay awake anymore and felt darkness pull at his conscience.

"You swam UP Zora River?" Zelda nearly shouted then looked alarmed at Sephiria, however she wasn´t the least disturbed by Zelda´s shout. Then Zelda continued in a hushed voice. "But that´s only possible for Zoras."

"Remind me to never to it again." His voice was slurred. "Can we talk tomorrow? I think I..." Link stopped mid-sentence and began snoring.

Zelda smiled fondly at him and shook her head. Then she got a blanket and put it over Link´s shoulders, took a seat in the comfortable arm chair and smiled down at the cute baby-girl in her arms.

"Take care of Link, you hear me, little one."

Yeah, finished! Again! Yes! Hope you liked it! Don´t forget to review! And much thanks to Zahvay the Fallen for her time to beta-read part of this chapter! I am too impatient to wait for a time when both of us have the time for FF (damn the time difference).