Chapter Text
Malon sighed softly, her fingers finding the letter in her pocket as she paused after putting up the brush she’d been using to care for the horses. She’d been worried about her fairy boy since she noticed the wet spots on the letters. It wasn’t like him to cry, and after reading about what all had happened she’d understood what had driven him to that point. Still it had been a few weeks since she’d gotten anything from them and was worried about how her husband and their boys were doing.
“Hey! Put me down!”
The cry startled her out of her thoughts and she grabbed her pitchfork as she hurried over to the entrance of the Ranch. She slowed down a little when she recognized the next voice and smiled a little. That explained why she hadn’t heard from her boys in a few weeks. She could see them in person.
“Nope, you were about to be mean.” That sounded like Twilight, and she wondered what had been about to be said.
“We all agreed that no one is allowed to be mean for a month.” If she was guessing right, that was Warriors.
“Time help!”
A splash was followed by laughter and a familiar exasperated sigh followed some of the giggles but it turned into soft laughter as well. She smiled widely relieved that Time was feeling better, well enough to laugh at least.
“Come on, let's get you out of the water and to the ranch.”
“But Time-”
She moved to where she could watch her husband fish one of the boys out of the duck pond that had formed a few years ago. Grinning, she watched as the boy snuggled closer to him and Time shook his head, blond head tucked close to his neck for the extra little warmth.
“What am I, an extra heater?” The fond warmth in his voice seemed to reassure the boys that he wasn’t upset.
“Yep!”
One of the other boys jumped on his back and clung to him too.
“Definitely, you’re really warm.”
“No fair, you two are hogging him!”
Malon felt even more relieved as the boys started clamoring for attention. She had been worried about how things were going with them all. Time's last letter had been reassuring but actually seeing them all like this and at peace in some way was reassuring in its own way. Seeing him turn and the way he was smiling warmed her even more because she knew that smile. It was completely expected by her when her husband pushed two of the others, no doubt the two that had tossed the boy in his arms into the pond, into the water as well. The flailing of one of them dragged another of their boys down too leaving three of them in the pond. The others were laughing at them but were equally quick to help them out of the water.
“Time!”
“Betrayed, and by my own brother!”
“How could you?”
Time was laughing as he began to run towards the house, still carrying two of their boys. The one on his back was laughing brightly while the one in his arms snuggled a little closer and seemed completely content. When he spotted her, Time changed his path a little and stopped in front of her.
“Welcome home.”
“Thank you, I think we might want to get out some extra towels.”
Malon laughed and nodded. “I see that. Go on, before they get any clever ideas and you land in the pond or the trough.”
Time nodded, giving her a quick kiss, then he sprinted to the house. The one on his back, Wind if she was right, was giggling happily, while the one in his arms, she was pretty sure that it was Four though he wasn’t wearing his usual tunic so she might be wrong, waved at her. Malon turned to see the others and Twilight came up to her giving her such a pathetic look Malon couldn’t help but to giggle at him. It reminded her of the time when Time fell into a pond that Zelda assured him was safe to be on. Zelda still hadn’t lived that down.
“Well hon, it looks like you’ll be needing a towel.”
“Yes, Miss Malon, that would be wonderful.” Warriors said, wringing out his scarf looking annoyed.
Malon gave him a thoughtful look too.
“Do you boys have clean, dry clothes?”
“I don’t.” Legend said sourly. He was clinging to Sky and shivering a little. Sky looked a little apologetic.
“Not to worry. I’m sure some of Link’s old clothes will fit you just fine.”
They followed her like ducklings as she led them to the house. Time clearly thought ahead and set a stack of towels near the door as well as a couple of robes for the wet boys to wear. Malon took a towel and handed it to Legend first.
“Here you go, now you all dry off while I go look for those old things. Aside from Legend, do any of you need anything?”
“I could use a clean shirt.” Warriors admitted, visibly annoyed with himself for it.
“All right, I’ll also bring something for you Twilight. I’m sure you three all need something.” She headed up to her room and found her husband digging through an old chest. “So, mind telling me what happened?”
“Which time?” He asked, a small grin on his face as he pulled out something that she knew would fit Legend. She almost laughed again when she recognized it as the official outfit Impa forced Link into. It would fit Legend perfectly even if the boy would complain about the green not being his color.
“Your letters seemed…”
“Some things were said when they shouldn’t have been. Wind was upset and from what I understand Legend spoke after having had a lot of nightmares.”
“Fairy boy.” Malon said, her voice gentle as she moved closer to Time. He looked at her sadly, both eyes open for now, and she cupped his cheek, leaning up to kiss him before pulling him closer. Even though he wrote it she still wanted to make sure. “Everyone made up?”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad.” She smiled warmly at him and Time relaxed into her arms with a soft sigh. “I should take those clothes to the boys. They might be a little mad at you if I don’t.”
“All right.” Time held onto her for an extra moment then let her go. As she picked up the clothes for Twilight, Warriors, and Legend he seemed to decide on something. “Hey Malon?”
“Yes?”
“Am I.. the boys they…” She waited patiently for him to find the right words to express his concern to her. “Am I that distant from them? The boys all said that I seem like nothing bothers me.”
“I think that you make sure that they are all safe and well before you let things bother you and that they miss seeing it because they are all content with it.”
“I see…. Thank you.”
“I’ll be back.” She promised as she took the clothes down to the trio that were waiting.
“Thank you.” Warriors said happily as he pulled on the warm shirt.
The pure white of the shirt seemed odd on him but he seemed happy with it. Twilight gladly took the set she’d brought him and changed into it with a soft sigh of contentment. When she saw him bury his nose in the sleeve and take a deep breath she almost laughed but the happy look on his face stopped her from doing so. It warmed her to know that he thought of this as home. As she figured the clothes Time pulled out fit Legend perfectly though he did indeed look a little upset at the shade of green.
“Wow Vet, I never expected you to fit any of Time’s old clothes.”
“I didn’t expect it either.” Legend admitted, looking down at the clothes a little thoughtfully.
“I think those are from when he was sixteen or so.”
“Fifteen, it was right after I got back from the War that Impa had me fitted for the official wardrobe. I hated it, because it meant I would have to stand around looking pretty.”
“Ah, that explains it.” Warriors said lightly, though his eyes seemed sad.
Malon shook her head and made a small annoyed sound. “The lot of you need something to do. One of you should gather and go wash the laundry. Twilight, I think the horses missed you since you were last here.” She turned to see Wild standing in the kitchen and trying to figure out something to make for dinner. “Wild, why don’t you make something simple but filling. I don’t want to see you cooking for longer than you must.”
Wild looked at her startled then smiled shyly and nodded.
“Sky, would you be a dear and check on the cuccos?” Sky gave her a smile and nod before heading out to do as asked. Hyrule was already getting the sugar water to fill the dishes for the fairies and Legend was outside before she could give him a task. Time watched her with that loving fond smile on his face as she gave their boys directions. “I’m guessing that Four headed to the forge as soon as he was dry enough?”
“You guess correctly.”
“Then come on, we are going to check the fence while dinner is cooking.” Malon grabbed Time’s arm and dragged him outside.
Once they were away from the boys some of the tension in Time’s shoulders seemed to leave again. Malon frowned at him. “I thought you said that things were worked out.”
“They are… I just didn’t want to have it brought up around them yet. Things are still a little… fragile.”
“Hon, tell me honestly, how are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Link.”
Time sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a slightly mocking smile on his face as he did so. “There are still some things that make me wary when I see them, and those will probably stay for a while still but on the whole I am better.”
“Does this have to do with your question earlier?”
“It does.”
“Well I think that they think that because they see each other clearly and want to see you like that too. You are trying to hide still, and while that is how you want it to be maybe that isn’t how they want it to be.”
“I never thought of that.”
“Well my dear why don’t you just let yourself be tonight and see how that feels. If it feels good then try it again tomorrow.”
“I am a lucky man, you know that?” Malon hummed at him, a little confused by his words. Time pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. “I am lucky to have such a brilliant wife. You found a solution to something I have been struggling with for weeks.”
“You would have figured it out yourself, fairy boy.”
“Maybe, but I am glad someone helped me figure it out.” He grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle tug. “You know I think that tonight the boys will rest better if we are all together.”
“Well if that’s the case I suppose I can tolerate sleeping by myself.”
“You can join us? I figure that Wind and Four will gather most of the cushions and blankets and make a nest with them in the guest room.”
Malon laughed imagining all of the boys cuddled into a pile together. She gave Time a small nod.
“I will join, but after the rest of you are settled.”
“Okay.”
“Where did you leave your picture box?”
“Wind’s might be easier to use.”
“I want to use yours though.”
“All right, all right. It’s in the bottom of the chest I was digging through earlier.”
“Thank you.”
The two of them finished their walk, and when they rejoined the boys Time didn’t tense up like he had earlier. Malon was relieved to see it, and as she watched she saw how the boys all relaxed more too. During dinner they shared stories of their travels and the nonsense that they had all gotten up to. Her husband looked somewhere between amused and exasperated at some of the stories and offered playful corrections to others.
When dinner was over and everyone was done cleaning up Time settled in the living room with his ocarina in hand. Cautiously he played a couple of notes, Malon recognized the song instantly as one he used to help calm things down after a rough day. The Serenade of Water was a lovely song and when Sky joined in on his harp she found it seemed even more soothing. Time seemed to smile and played through several songs, some of which Malon hadn’t heard before. Once all of the boys had calmed down and were dozing a little, Time put his ocarina up and began gathering the boys. One by one he carried them up to the guest room, she followed him and grinned when she saw that he guessed right, almost every blanket and pillow in the house was tucked into a nest in the room.
Twilight appeared behind her carrying Wind while Time settled Hyrule among the blankets. Wind quickly curled into Hyrule’s warmth while Hyrule curled into a little ball. Warriors stumbled in next, supporting Legend who sprawled out on his stomach next to Hyrule but quickly curled into him and Four sleepily walked in and laid next to Wind. When Time returned carrying Sky he latched onto Four who seemed content enough to let it happen. They all looked up at Time pleadingly when he stepped back away from the nest and Malon quickly snapped a picture of it, their boys clearly wanting Time to join them and Time watching them all with such love that she was relieved to know things had all worked out.
Time chuckled a little but sat down near the edge. He was quickly pulled into the middle of the group by Twilight and Warriors, Wind shifted to cling to his side and as the rest of the boys settled Malon took another picture before walking over to the pile.
“You boys mind one more?” She asked. They all seemed to brighten and room for her to sleep next to her husband was quickly made. They all settled comfortably and when a green and gold blanket was settled over her and Time Malon didn’t ask, she could tell that there was a story behind it that she could hear tomorrow. For now she was happy all of her boys were safe and well.