Happy New Year!

I'm back with my New Year's resolution to update more often! Feel honered! Well I know I haven't updated since Octobre but I hope I'm forgiven!

Thanks for the reviews I enjoyed reading every single one of them and they are the reason why you can already read the next chapter because I'm such a lazy person but your review (as always motivated me enough!). THANK YOU!

And because it has been so long I even added a recap! Enjoy!

What has happened so far:

Well, Link comes home with his daughter Sephiria and faces the first challenges of being a father. Thank Farore that Uli is there to help, so that there is at least someone to teach Link how to raise a child. However dark clouds are looming on the horizon as an enraged Ilia steps on Ordonian ground again only to find Epona who is not properly taken care of...

Chapter 16 (I think, I'm not good with numbers...)

Uli's house with Link

Sitting with Rusl and Uli in the kitchen and hearing delighted giggles coming from the living-room, Link let himself relax and answer Rusl's questions as best as he could. It had become a lot easier to talk about Midna and not to go back into his state of depression. He felt lighter now, that he had opened up and wondered why he hadn't done so earlier. Link didn't feel secluded and misunderstood anymore, but felt truly loved.

Laughing about Rusl's jokes wasn't an act anymore and smiling at Uli's caring nature felt genuine again. Link was happy to be home again... until his enhanced hearing picked up an angry whisper that the winds had carried to Rusl's house. It sounded a little like a very angry Ilia shouting something about horse abuse.

Link looked around uneasily. "Did you hear that?"

Uli and Rusl shook their heads. "Must have been my imagination." Link trailed off, observing the door with a troubled glance. Ilia was bound to come back soon and he still had to think about how to break the news to her.

Link was no fool as he was aware that he and Ilia had been more than good friends at some point before his journey. However these feeling had never been expressed and during his journey he fell in love with Midna, so that he saw Ilia as his best friend. But she hadn't fallen in love with someone else and he feared she still liked him. She hadn't pushed him, probably thinking he was still coping with the pain he experienced on his journey and had decided that he would need a friend more than a lover. She had been so considerate and hoped that he would show his feelings for her when he was ready. It must have been painful seeing him all the time, while he didn't see her the way she would have liked. But she had kept silent and lived with false hope, that they would someday begin a relationship.

He hated to crush that fantasy and had been too selfish to risk Ilia's undying support when he had needed it the most. Now he regretted not being honest with her. He had been such a fool.

Rusl pulled him out of his thoughts. "Link, are you alright? You've spaced out there for five minutes. Something on your mind?" He asked concerned, Uli had placed a cup of pumpkin-juice in front of him, which he took in his hands with a grateful nod.

Link shrugged. "Just thinking about what to tell Ilia, when she comes back. I don't want to hurt her."

Rusl nodded, completely understanding Link's predicament. He had also noticed the subtile glances Ilia shot Link now and then when she thought he wasn't looking. "I don't want to be in your skin when that happens."

Link sighed and drank some pumpkin-juice. A loud pounding on the door made him freeze up.

"Link if you are in there, you better have a good explanation!" Ilia shouted while knocking on the door quite forcefully. Link spit his drink out with wide eyes. Why was she this angry? Had anyone told her about Sephiria? Link shook his head. No there wouldn't be a single person to face Ilia's wrath voluntarily. So it had to be something else... The whisper he heard minutes ago came to his mind... Horse abuse. Link facepalmed. He had forgotten to wash Epona after the ride from Castle Town!

"Uli, Rusl, please open the door!"

Link stood up abruptly. "Tell her I'm not here." Then he looked around for a hiding-spot. "Don't let her in!" He whispered forcefully to Rusl.

"The door is open, Ilia dear!" Replied Uli, who was with Colin in the living-room and had not heard Link's statement.

Now, Link had battled countless monsters without batting an eyelid. For the sake of Farore! He had the triforce of courage! Who would have thought that the clicking of a door would make him sweat bullets?

"Is Link here?" Ilia asked sweetly.

Cursing under his breath he now looked for an escape, but the windows were closed and he didn't have time to open one.

"Oh yes. He is in the kitchen with Rusl." Uli responded cheerfully.

"Thank you."

In a shot Link found himself behind a potted tree, hoping Ilia wouldn't see him. Why had he changed his outfit again? His green tunic would have concealed him better behind his new green best friend.

The door opened in slow-motion and Ilia came into the room with a mad smile on her face. Her gaze went through the kitchen and set upon the shaking plant in the corner of the room. Aggressively, she stomped towards it. Behind her Rusl sneaked out of the kitchen to join his wife, closing the door behind him and condemning Link to his fate.

"What are you doing behind this plant, LINK?" Ilia asked with her eye twitching uncontrollably.

Link stood up and scratched the back of his head uneasily. "Ah. Hehe. Well. You see. Ehhh... You know I-I was looking for this thing I lost and... and well I thought it might have been here?"

Ilia frowned. "What's this thing you were looking for?"

Link looked around the room helplessly. "The thing I was looking for... Well. Of course it was..." He looked at the sink thinking of a good excuse when he saw the bar of soap Uli used before preparing a meal. "Soap! I lost mine so I couldn't go to wash myself with Epona. I thought Uli would have some, but I couldn't find it. So I looked here."

Link was mentally congratulating himself for his rather clever excuse. Ilia seemed to calm down a little bit after hearing this.

"At least you know what is wrong. Link, I had a very annoying week so you better tell me why you haven't seen to Epona's horse-shoe, yet! "

"Well. We only returned yesterday and... I... had something more... important on my mind." Link finished meekly, knowing Ilia wouldn't like hearing this.

"And what was so much more important than the well-being of your most trusted companion on your journey?"

Link was about to tell her that Epona may have earned her title as trusted companion, but it was Midna who held the title of most trusted companion but he knew that this would only enrage her even further.

So he kept silent.

Shifting uneasily from one foot to another he said "Perhaps we should sit down."

"No. I am quite sure that I can handle whatever you want to tell me." She told him impatiently.

Link bit his lip nervously. "I might have learned that I have become a father and I wasn't sure how to take care of my daughter. So, well I totally forgot about Epona."

"You what?" Ilia exclaimed confused.

"I didn't know how to deal with it and well I'm still new to this and well... this, it's just so much to take in and I was going to take proper care of Epona. I swear! It just hasn't come to my mind, yet." Link stated uneasily observing Ilia carefully.

"You are a father?" She asked incredulously not believing her ears.

Link paused and after an uncomfortable silence he answered with a very sorrowful voice. "Yes. Ilia, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you about her, but..."

"Since when?" Ilia interrupted while biting her lips so that she wouldn't cry.

"What?" Link asked not understanding what she wanted to know. "I only learned about my daughter on my trip to Castle Town. It's also new to me. You have to understand..."

"Not that!" Ilia shouted tears threatening to fall at any moment now. "Since when have you had this other woman?"

Again Link was silent. He knew he had messed things up. He should have told her from the beginning. "I met her just after you were kidnapped."

Tears were now flowing down her cheeks freely, he could see she felt betrayed and knew how she felt, for he also felt betrayed when Midna shattered the mirror.

He reached out for Ilia, but she turned around and bolted for the door.

"Ilia, wait! Just let me explain!" He called desperately running after her.

"Leave me alone, you monster!" Ilia cried and ran outside slamming the door shut.

You monster! It echoed in Link's mind. That hurt. The world began spinning around him. He had been called a monster by many people guards, the people of Castle Town and even the people of his own home village but that was when he was in his wolf form. However, actually being called a monster by his best friend while being in human form left him standing frozen and wide-eyed. She really hates me now... I guess I really deserve this. I really am a monster.

Exhausted Link fell down on his knees. He felt that he was about to cry, but blinked the tears away. He lost the love of his life and now he lost his best friend, too. And it was his fault, too. From the corner of his eye he could see Sephiria looking around confused and scared. Slowly he got up and swayed over to his daughter.

"At least I still have you. But who would want a monster for a father? You will probably leave me too, because I'm such a bad father. Every woman I hold dear seems to leave me at some point." A monster would always feel isolated and alone. When he was a wolf he was on his own and now this status seemed to manifest when he was human. He was becoming a lonely wolf in human skin. "I am alone."

"Link! What is wrong with you?" Colin shouted.

Confused he blinked at his presence. He had forgotten that he wasn't the only one in this room and blushed because Colin, Rusl and Uli had heard his monologue. "This isn't you, Link! I don't want to see you isolate yourself again." Colin cried. "Please don't do this to us again!"

"Yeah and don't worry I'm sure you will be a great father." Rusl encouraged Link. "I also wasn't ready when Colin was born. It's normal that you don't feel ready."

Uli smiled the smile only a mother could smile and told him. "Ilia will calm down. Just talk to her and I'm sure everything will be okay. You should go look for her and then confront her with your feelings I'm sure she will forgive you."

Link nodded, wiped the tears he hadn't even felt falling, away and stepped towards the door but stopped abruptly.

"What is it?" Rusl asked.

"Could you look after Sephiria while I'm gone and... thank you."

Uli just nodded and took Sephiria from his arms. "Now go after her."

Link nodded confidently and ran off.

Link didn't have to look long. After checking at Mayor Bo's and other places she could be, he concluded that Ilia wasn't in the village itself anymore. When he didn't see Epona standing in front of his house he knew where she would be and a strange sense of deja-vu overcame him for this was how his quest to save Hyrule had begun. He had an argument with Ilia, she went off to the Spirit's Spring with Epona and he followed her there to apologize.

Sighing he made his way to the spring only to find the entrance locked. Hopefully there won't be any kidnapping today. Link thought and searched for the narrow tunnel that lead to the spring thinking the usual entrance was probably locked.

Crawling through the narrow space was something he did not enjoy, considering he had grown a little since he last crawled through here. Fortunately, he hadn't washed his clothes yet so it didn't matter that he got dirty and dusty. Due to some raised dust he had to sneeze lightly and this slight tremor let to some sand falling down thus making the tunnel even narrower and even harder to move forward. He cursed himself for letting Ilia run away which resulted in his current predicament. To his relieve the exit wasn't far and to reach it quickly he doubled his efforts. Finally, he was free of the narrow space and had a perfect view of the spring.

The water was as pure as ever and rippled merrily. Fairies danced in the air and when was listening closely he could make out the chiming gentle giggles. However, the tranquil atmosphere was disturbed by Ilia and Link could have sworn there were dark clouds looming in the ever clear sky above the serene spring.

Epona neighed cheerfully when she caught sight of Link whereby Link's presence was announced to Ilia who turned around surprised.

"Ilia... I'm sorry." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he even thought about them.

Instantly, her depressed demeanour turned into rage and only moments later she kneeled in the water with tears in her eyes, again.

Water splashed around Link's feet and then he was next to her in the water hugging her comfortingly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ilia. I'm so sorry." He whispered again and again while tears ran over face, too.

Ilia clenched his shirt and wailed. "But I loved you! I still love you, Link! Why don't you love me back! I was always there for you. I was always at your side. There isn't another man for me. I think only of you! So why, Link, why?"

"I'm sorry, Ilia." Link sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

"Is that all you have to say?" Ilia asked biting her lip. "Please, go away. I need to be alone now."

Link clenched his hands and looked straight into her eyes.

"No." He sighed. "I'm here to explain. It's just so hard to put it into words."

"Right. You were never good with words." llia grumbled and looked away to stroke Epona's leg. "Out with it or leave!"

Sighing he stood and pulled Ilia with him to the shore. "We will catch a cold if stay in the water."

"Idiot. This water has healing properties." Ilia grumbled but followed Link nonetheless.

"Still, it is cold." Link countered with a smile, glad to have found a lighter topic to talk about.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Ilia wiping away her tears and a smile tugging on her lips. "Don't even dare to think I have forgiven you. I'm still mad as hell." She grumbled and sat down on the sandy shore. "Now, spill the beans!"

"Okay. Now, where to begin?" Link asked himself uneasily.

Ilia rolled her eyes. "Well, Mr. Hero, how about the beginning?"

Link nodded. "Okay. When you and the kids were kidnapped, I..."

"That soon? You fell in love with another girl just after I was away?" Ilia asked enraged hitting his shoulder.

"No! I just met her then!" Link held up his hands in defense.

"Grrr. So it is true! The one second I take my eyes off you, you are snatched away by another girl. Who is she by the way?" Ilia asked while stabbing the ground with her finger with clenched teeth. Her eyes had become two blazing fire-balls.

Nervously rubbing his hands together Link answered softly. "Midna." He whispered biting his lip. "Her name is Midna."

Ilia continued stabbing the ground waiting so that Link could continue. However, when she noticed his faraway look and stabbed his shoulder.

"Ouch" Link cried out rubbing his shoulder. "What was that for?"

"You'd better be glad I didn't stab you in your eyes." Ilia grumbled. "Midna... To be honest... I never heard of her."

"That's because she hid in my shadow the whole time and the only other person who met her is Princess Zelda." Link explained.

Ilia scrutinized Link. "And you are sure you are not making this up?"

"No! I would never lie to you!"

Ilia just raised an eyebrow.

"It's the truth! I never lied! I just have not told you about everything."

"Why? Why didn't you tell me about it?" Ilia whispered hurt and looked away hugging her knees.

Link sighed and explained with a broken voice. "I couldn't tell you. I was so afraid I would lose you, too." Ilia watched him as he teared some grass blades out of the ground. "I know it was selfish and there is no excuse but I was so lonely. I felt I didn't belong here anymore. Everyone was able to live normally after the invasion but I couldn't go back to what it used to be. I'm not the same person I was before. However, you were always there and I just couldn't risk to lose you. I didn't want you to hate me. I would have gone insane."

Ilia was silent. "You never let us try to understand you." She whispered.

"And how could any of you possibly understand. You weren't there."

Ilia sighed. "Yeah. I know. I just want to help you."

"You've already done so much for me Ilia." Link took Ilia's hand. "Ilia, you are so important to be but I don't like you in a romantic way. You are family, my sister."

Then Ilia bit her lip and there was a long pause.

"You know." Ilia said blinking her tears away. "I always thought we would get married one day. Everyone was of that opinion and who else would I marry if not you? You were the only other kid in the village, we were always together. But..." Ilia trailed off and in the end she smiled at Link's surprised face. "...now I think you are right. You are more like a brother to me."

After her little speech she laughed out loud. "Face it Link, you are not lover material. You never take care of Epona!"

"That's not true! Contrary to you, I have a lover!"

Ilia just nodded. "Yeah, yeah. And where is your Midna? Still hiding in your shadow?" Ilia joked smiling brightly.

However, Link grew depressed since he still missed his little imp or rather his breathtaking princess. "I wish she still would be hiding in there."

Ilia became concerned about Link when she heard Link's quivering voice. "Link what happened?"

Link began rubbing his temples. "She... she is the Princess of the Twilight Realm." Ilia gasped at this revelation but Link continued telling her about Midna. "Zant, a servant of Ganondorf, overthrew Midna and cursed her. Then he invaded Hyrule."

Link squinted his eyes as he recalled his memories. "To cut a long story short, Midna and I fought to save Twilight and Hyrule. At some point we fell in love, but I only realized it after I had thought she died while trying to bring Ganondorf down. You wouldn't believe how happy I was when I saw she had survived."

Link smiled at that memory wiping the tear away which was threatening to fall. Ilia was smiling, too. "So she was always with you. That's nice."

Link nodded smiling. "I would be five feet under if she hadn't been there with me. Unfortunately, my luck wouldn't last. She had to go back to her world and sacrificed our happiness to prevent another invasion by destroying the only known connection between our worlds." Link sighed. "We didn't even know she was pregnant at that time."

"That's so sad." Ilia whispered and hugged Link. After a while she stood and helped Link up. "Now, I would like to meet my niece." She said smiling.

Link just smiled and nodded.

Argh! I fail at all this drama stuff! I hope you didn't mind much.

Question Corner!

Well, there weren't any questions but I have one for Guest. I didn't really understand your theory, could you explain it again, please? I'm really curious how you think Link and Midna could reunite.

On top of that I am quite curious what all of you think! Will Link and Midna reunite? How could that possibly happen? And... why isn't it Game Over for Link after facing Ilia?

To be honest I don't really understand how he survived! It's a mystery!

OH! And don't forget to review!