I'm ashamed! I always take so long and you guys always have to wait because of me! At least I update, right? Never lose hope, guys, because at some point in the future there will be an update, I promise! And as you can see again I stand by my word, if you know what I mean.

However, this chapter would have never been written if it weren't for you guys reading, reviewing and favouriting and loving this fic as much as I do! On top of that I fixed the ' in all the previous chapters. I am really not on got terms with my keyboard so I used the ยด instaed of a '. That's fixed now!

Thank you again! But no need to get sentimental, go and read on I will be waiting for your reviews!

Chapter 18

What happened so far:

Ilia found out about Sephiria and was devastated that Link was already taken. She ran off and Link went after her to comfort her. They came to terms and Ilia is now ready to meet her niece.

The laughter of Ilia and Link accompanied their way back to Rusl's house. The two of them could finally talk to one another again without guilt, false hopes and distance. They were back to their teasing selves considering Ilia had stolen one of Link's many pouches and was running towards the pumpkin field to get some distance between Link and herself to see what was inside.

Link, surprised by her blunt move, was just standing on his spot until he realized Ilia was about to open his pouch full with his most favourite treat, pumpking-sweet-cookies made by Uli herself.

"llia! Give it back!" Link shouted in dismay as he saw Ilia had already opened the knot.

Her eyes lit up like stars seeing the little treasure Link had hidden from her. "Are those... pumpkin-sweet-cookies? Yummy, these are my favourites!"

And just like that Link was about to lose his secret stash of cookies. Naturally, Link tackled Ilia when she was about to take her first bite of the pastries blessed by the three goddesses themselves. The oh so surprising consequence of that was -who would have thought- a free of charge flight for the whole bag of cookies into the pond.

Shocked, Link retrieved his beloved cookies and stared at the soggy cookie mess. "Oh no! Poor cookies! What has she done to you?"

Ilia, a vengeful glint in her eye, held up the remaining cookie and declared. "At least this one was spared from the apocalypse. It is my honor to give this last survivor a fitting trip to his friend and family. Farewell." And with these words she bit into the cookie.

"You are so heartless, Ilia!" Link wailed. "At least give me a crumb!"

Into this scene walked a snorting Ezio. "What a baby. Ilia, dear, won't you brighten my day with your illuminating presence? I reckon you would rather spend your invaluable time with me rather than this sobbing Chu."

"I... Ehh." Ilia began uncomfortably.

"Who are you calling a sobbing Chu? He? You are always no hat and no cattle!" Link shouted, jumping to his feet. "Ilia and I were having a great time until you showed up, snotty little upstart!"

"To me it looked as if the fair maiden was bothered by your lowly presence, shepherd!"

"Oh! I'll show you what this shepherd is capable of! Bring it on!"

Link fell into a defensive stance, motioning for Ezio to begin the fight. None to dismiss a challenge Ezio sprung into action, only to be stopped by Ilia who grabbed the ears of the boys to interrupt the fighting.

"Stop it you hotheads!" Ilia shouted pulling the two cockorels own by their ears.

"Ouch! Stop it, Ilia. Please?"

"My sensitive ear, my golden maiden. Would you be gracious enough to let go of my greatest hunting tool?"

Ilia, however, would have none of that and pulled Link and Ezio to the shore of the pond behind the pumpkin field. "It's time for the two of you to cool your tempers." She had stated before she threw them into the cold water.

Sputtering they surfaced. Ezio's teeth were shaking and Link had a mischievous glint in his eyes. Quickly, he got hold of Ilia's ankle and pulled the squealing girl into the water. Chuckling at Ilia, who looked like a drenched dog, he did not notice Ezio approaching him from behind. Said hunterboy was fuming since Link had just pulled a helpless lady into the water so he dunked Link under water as revenge. "How dare you do that to a beautiful lady!"

As Link resurfaced Ilia splashed him in the face. "Take that!"

Link tried to evade the splash but the ground was slippery and he found himself immersed in water again. While the other two were laughing at his misfortune, Link jumped at the opportunity: he dived towards them and pulled them under water by snatching their ankles thus pulling them under water, too.

"Not only once, but twice!" Ezio shouted after he had resurfaced. "I challenge you to a fair fight!"

Ilia's eyes widened. "Don't you two fight again!"

Ezio, however, held his hand in a pacifying matter. "My dear Ilia, this is a fight of honor between two men. I will gladly fight for your honor, too."

"Yeah, Ilia. Just wait I'll teach this kid some respect. Tomorrow, sunrise on Ordon Ranch." Link smiled confidently.

Ilia shook her head and sighed. "Boys will be boys. Just don't come crying to me when one of you is hurt."

"No sweat. I won't hurt him that bad." Link chuckled.

Uli's house

Sephiria was cooing innocently as Ilia was staring down at the baby in her arms. She was amazed by the resemblance little Sephirira had when compared to her dad. However she also had some features Ilia couldn't place. Her eyebrows had a rather elegant touch to them and so did her cheekbones. The baby's skin was soft compared to the rough hands her father had gotten due to his work and his quest. The eyes, however were the just same as Link's eyes- a deep sparkling blue.

"And aren't you the cutest thing I've ever laid my eyes on?" Ilia asked giggling. "I'm your auntie Ilia and I'm so going to spoil you. I'll teach you all the girly stuff there is to need to know since your daddy is incompartible with female matters because he is such a boy. Just now he got into a fight with Ezio who by the way is quite charming. Your daddy is as annoying as ever."

"Hey! How come only the spoiled hunting kid gets the praise?" Link voiced after stepping next to Ilia. Sephiria kicked exited recognizing Link's voice. "Hello, Sephiria. When daddy is going to show Ezio what Hyrule's hero is made of, daddy can't look after you. Do you think you'll be okay with your aunt Ilia?"

The only response Link got was a slobbering mess. Laughing Ilia wiped Sephiria's mouth clean. "You know they still don't know you are the hero."

"That's not my fault. They never asked!" Link laughed.

Ilia smiled. "Do you remember they came here because they thought it was safer with you around?"

"Yeah! While building a house and getting a baby boy they probably forget about it. Still, it's quite funny they came because of me and stayed because they liked it here." Link rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Then he got a great idea and chuckled mischievously. "Imagine the look on Ezio's face when he realizes I am the hero."

"You are mean!" Ilia tried to hide her grin.

"Link are you really going to tell them you are the hero?" Colin asked exited. He had been sitting on the floor with Ruth.

"Well, someday they have to know so why not today?" Link thought out loud.

"You show-off! You only want to embarrass Ezio!" Ilia stated. "Although I've got to admit it would be easier if Ezio and his family knew about you."

"Can I watch, too, Link?" Colin asked standing up from his spot next to Ruth.

"Of course!" Link smiled noticing Sephiria yawn cutely and took Sephiria from Ilia. "But now it's napping time! Are you ready?"

Sephiria just snuggled closer to Link's chest earning a deep chuckle from her dad. Rocking his daughter gently he said his good-byes quietly and went home. The ladders weren't as much of an obstacle as before but Link decided that he would need a solution to get Sephiria up comfortably soon. Fortunately, Sephiria didn't awake from her slumber so Link could tuck her in quickly.

"Sleep well, little sunshine." Link whispered planting a soft kiss on Sephiria's forehead. Watching his daughter sleeping in his -compared to her little frame- huge bed, he decided he would need to build a cradle, too.

"perhaps I should make a list." Link chuckled making his way downstairs to the kitchen. "Let's see. Modifications to the house, a cradle... Hmm some toys, I guess." He continued his list as he made his way towards his cupboards to fix himself something to eat. Opening the cupboard he concluded his list. "Oh and some milk."

Next to a bottle of milk found a piece of cheese, a jar of pumpkin-mush which he decided was expired after smelling the foul smell, an apple, some berries and half a loaf of bread. "I'll need to go fishing if I want anything special soon."

Sighing he tossed the pumpking-mush away and put the empty jar on top of the ever-growing mountain of dirty dishes. "Also, I have to do the dishes."

Link cut the bread, put some cheese on the pieces and added red berries to the mix to make the plain cheese sandwich somewhat special. The apple he decided would be his emergency food, in case he forgot to go fishing in the evening.

As Link enjoyed his meal he began to think how he should rebuild his house.

The basement, he decided, seemed like the sensible choice as a nursery since it was on ground-level. He would need to add a door and some windows but he could manage to do that easily, provided someone else helped him. All his stuff would have to go. The only question was where.

"It would be clever to swap my bed with the chest. That way I'm near Sephiria in case she wakes up." Link said to himself. "When she gets older we will just have to improvise. Perhaps I should expand the house. We will need the extra room, especially when Midna..."

Link stopped his enthusiastic rant and corrected himself in his mind. 'If Midna comes back. If Zelda finds some way to link Twilight and Hyrule again. Even then it will be complicated. The reason she isn't here is that she is the princess. A princess who has duties to her country and people. How do Sephiria and I fit in that picture? I don't have a fortune or land. I'm just the hero, a hyrulian hero, one of those people who casted them aside and let them rot in the shadows. How can our family ever be accepted? We will for ever be seperated.'

Trying to cast his dark thoughts away he listened Sephiria's soft breathing. "At least Sephiria is here with me." That moment a terrifying thought hit Link.

'Midna is all alone.'

A lone tear travelled over Link's cheek as he imagined the lonliness without family, friends and the sunshine in the dark, huge and empty castle surrounded by lecherous councillors greedy for fortune, fame and power. There had to be a way to free Midna from that cold lonliness! Determined he added another point to his list -get Midna out of there!

Ordon village

Beth was running into her mother's shop only coming to a stop when she nearly collided with the counter.

"Mom, you wouldn't believe what Colin just told me! I'm so exited!" She was breathing hard and staring at her mother with anticipation.

Sera just smiled. "Dear, calm down and then you can tell me what is so important."

While Beth tried to get her breathing under control, Sera petted her purring cat.

Taking one deep breath Beth began telling her mother the news. "Link is going to have a match with Ezio tomorrow morning on the Ranch, he wants to reveal he is the hero to Ezio. I want to see his face at the news. Can I go?"

"Of course, sweetie. If that's all go outside to play again."

"No, that's not all!" Beth shook her head. "Link's got a daughter!"

"There isn't a female cat in the village Link here likes to play with." Sera told her daughter petting her cat she had named Link. "Right, sweetie?"

Beth shook her head. "No not cat-Link, human-Link!"

This made Sera stop her motions. Wide-eyed she regarded her own daughter. "Now, sweetie. What did I tell you about making stuff up?"

"But it's the truth! Colin told me! If you don't believe it, you can come, too." Beth suggested.

Sera thought about that. "Well, I just might do that."

"Good! I need to go back to Colin and the others now!" Beth stated and took off running again. Link, the cat, also took off running since he was hoping to catch a fish by himself.

Still lost in thought Sera only shouted. "Be back for dinner!"

Link's treehouse

Link had just finished doing the dishes when someone pounded loudly on his door.

"Link? Open up!" The voice identified the man as Mayor Bo.

Link threw the wet cloth over a chair and opened the door. "Mayor Bo." He smiled. "How was your trip?"

"Good." He answered trying to look behind Link. "It seems we have a new girl in town named Rian, she is Ezio's sister and got lost on the way here. If you ask me that girl has a terrible sense of direction, told me she was at Zora spring before finding her way to us."

Again, Mayor Bo tried to look inside the treehouse. "But that's not why I'm here, Link. I heard there is another new addition to the village from Ilia." He sheepishly scratched his nose. "Err, well Ilia, she... She said you had a daughter. It's so sudden and you know girls..."

Link smiled and opened the door wider, wide enough for Mayor Bo to enter. "You wouldn't believe it but sometimes they don't exaggerate."

Bo froze. "Really? You are a dad?"

"Yes." Link laughed at Mayor Bo's disbelieving face.

"And you are not pulling my leg?"

"No, I'm not." Link said giving the mayor a glass of water. Bo was staring at Link trying comprehend what Link had just told him. Link was calmly nipping his own glass of water waiting for Bo to regain his composure.

"I don't believe you. This has to be a joke Ilia and you thought of. Is this the revenge for the prank I played on you when you were kids? I swear I'm sorry for eating the pumpkin-cookies!"

Link blinked. "So that was you! Ilia and I didn't talk to each other for one week!"

"You didn't know?" Bo asked.

"No, I'm telling the truth! Sephiria is sleeping upstairs." Link stated. "Do you want to see her?"

Bo nodded.

"Good. But we need to be quiet." Link said standing up from his chair. As silent as a young hero and an over-sized mayor could be they sneaked towards Link's bed. Sephiria was still sleeping like a baby.

Mayor Bo couldn't believe his eyes. "But how?" He whispered.

Link gave him a look. "You don't expect me to explain that question to you."

Bo's face reddened. "No. I meant how hadn't anyone noticed it? It is quite obvious when a woman is pregnant."

"Well, she wasn't exactly here." Link replied vaguely.

"Then who is the kid's mom?" Bo asked. "Don't tell me... You and princess Zelda? Oh goddesses! Of course, for what other reason would you ride off in such a hurry after getting a letter from her highness?"

Link blushed. "Why does everyone think Zelda and I are a pair?"

"Well, both of you have a piece of the Triforce and you kinda saved her and Hyrule from Ganondorf. I guess there should be feelings between the two of you. At least half of the village thought you were depressed because Zelda couldn't marry you because of her status." Bo saw Link's disbelieving look. "So you are not in love?"

"No. We are just good friends. Midna was my companion on my quest." Link replied looking at Sephiria fondly with a smile. "She was always there."

"Midna. So that's her name. Okay. So where is she?"

Link didn't have to answer since Sephiria chose that moment to open her blue eyes. A look of discomfort was in her eyes, she wiggled around and cried.

Quickly, Link was kneeling beside the bed. "Shhh, Sephiria. Shhh, daddy is here." Link comforted the crying baby, Sephiria calmed down a little hearing the familiar voice.

"Now what's the problem." He asked taking Sephiria. He noticed she was a little wet. "So you don't like the wet diaper? Let's change that."

Bo who had been standing uncomfortably behind them, cleared his throat. "Well, I'd better be going now. Ilia is waiting with lunch at home. Erm, see you!" He bolted down the ladder and closed the door behind him.

Link rose an eyebrow at his behavior. "You would think he never witnessed a diaper-change, right Sephiria?"

Sephiria's sniffles had diminished after seeing the strange man do funny things. Her mood grew even better when she felt the sticky diaper disappear.

Her dad had fetched a fishing-pole from a corner and told her. "Now, we are going to catch daddy some delicious fishies and go get some milk for you, Sephiria."

Ordon village

As Link and Sephiria made their way through the village to Link's favourite fishing spot, another Link sneaked stealthily after them on his four paws. His slitted eyes had spotted the magic-stick that could pull fish out of the water with ease. As far as our furry friend Link was considered every day his human namesake took the magic stick with him was a good day. The human with the shaggy blond hair was a great fisher and cat-Link was a great thief.

To cat-Link it seemed as if the blond fisher-but-sometimes-wolf-human was talking to himself. That was really strange considering the blond human had never talked much. Now, he couldn't stop. He told himself about fish and milk, he also explained where the other humans lived and how the humans called each other.

"And this is the pond!" He said. "You can do many things here. Here we can go swimming in the water when it's very hot or push Ezio in. He is a jerk! Never believe anything he says! Another great thing to do here is fishing. It's very relaxing and you get free food isn't that great? Oh, well, right now you can't eat fish, but milk is also delicious, right?"

Cat-Link also agreed with that statement. Fish and milk were also his favourites. He had hidden between two pumpkins and observed the actions of the human Link.

Link had arrived at his fishing spot and laid Sephiria next to him on the ground. He would need a cradle like Uli had, he decided so that Sephiria wouldn't need to lie on the ground when he was fishing or watching the goats.

Right now the blankets would have to do. Link cast the fishing-pole and sat down next to his daughter while he waited for a fish to find the bait.

After a while he cleared his throat. "You know your mommy and I used to do this very often." Link chuckled. "She was always splashing water around with her feet and scared the fish away, because she hated sitting still."

Link smiled sadly. Sephiria gurgled happy at the attention. Then Link felt a pull, a fish had been caught. With practised ease he pulled the fishing-pole so that soon a fish was floating in front of him. He caught a Greengill aand it was 12 inches long.

"That was a piece of goatcheese!" Link exclaimed, put the fish down next to himself and tried his luck again.

Cat-Link knew this was his chance. Stealthily, he crept up to the delicious treat. Now there was nothing between him and a fishlicious meal. However, this time there was a pair of eyes watching the fish. When they saw the strange new moving thing, Sephiria noised her curiosity. "Dwah!"

Link averted his attention and saw Sera's cat trying to steal his fish again. "Oh no. Not this time."

Quickly he took his dinner and held the fish out of reach. "Catch your own fish, Link."

Cat-Link meowed disappointed.

"Tough luck, pal." Link laughed.

In the end Link had two fish for dinner and was about to get some milk for Sephiria. They had just passed Mayor Bo's house when Ilia came after them.

"Hey, Link! Wait!"

Link stopped and turned around. "Hey. What is it?"

"My dad, it's really strange, he came home for lunch and declared he wasn't hungry. That has never happened before." Ilia seemed disturbed, then she whispered. "I think he is sick."

Link remembered the last time he had seen the mayor and laughed. "Well, I don't think he is ill. I think it's partly Sephiria's fault he didn't feel hungry. When he visited, I had to change Sephiria's diaper and you wouldn't believe how fast your old man can run."

Now Ilia laughed, too. "So the brave sumo-wrestler of Ordon has found his match, a full diaper." She held a basket towards Link. "Anyway, I packed the rests of our lunch for you. I even added some milk knowing your empty cupboards all too well."

"Hey! I wasn't prepared to serve a grand dinner that evening. I lost a bet and I never thought you wanted me to serve you dinner because of something like a lost bet!" He took the basket. "Thanks."

Ilia nodded. "Yes. Now, I know what to wish for if you lose another bet. I'll make you surrender Epona for a whole day, just to see you trying to herd the goats all by yourself. Why can't you be more like Ezio? He would have prepared a splendid dinner for me."

"Well that's because he is a girl at heart. Tomorrow, I'll show him who is the boss." Link retorted.

"I don't think so." Ilia shook her head. "You may be the hero but Ezio has a better reason to fight in your stupid competition."

"Want to bet that even although he wants to protect your pride he will lose?" Link asked challengingly holding a hand out.

Ilia took the offered hand. "Of course. If I win, you will give me Epona for a whole day, so that we can have a girl's day: shopping, talking, beauty, relaxing and riding."

Link smiled. "And if I win you will do the cooking for a week."

Ilia considered this. "That's fair! Prepare to lose, Link!"

"Never! Now I have the best reason to fight there is. Delicious home-cooking from my best friend for a whole week!" Link laughed and took off. Sephiria squealed at the quick pace and Link's laugh intensified. "You like that, Sephiria? Just wait and see how fast I can be!

Ilia was left standing with a disbelieving smile on her lips. "It's good to have you back, Link."

That was it!

Question Corner!

This chapter

What is a chu? Well it's that slimy blob which comes out of the ground to attack you.

What do you think is going to happen in the competition? I'm still open for suggestions although I already got some ideas!

Your reviews!

And will link ever tell his friends about his wolf form? (leomonta)

Well, it is his secret and I think when Link is trying to hide his secret it adds some suspense... However, everyone knows that even the best kept secret will come out someday. For now I still want to have some fun with it!

Well, you guys don't ask that many questions, so I don't have much to do here right!

Review as much as you want! I love reading all of you guy's support! It makes my day and I get really happy for every little word!