It had been a week since Ghirahim's death.

A week since Impa had went back into his mansion and found Link's bloodied and broken body. She had pulled the sword from his body and gently carried him back to Skyloft, so his people could have him. The look on Zelda's face as she returned with him was enough to break any humans heart. Of course, half the town circled around him as she lay him in the grass to asses him. She had healed some nasty wounds before but this…this was not something she thought he had survived. Zelda had run over to her precious friend's body and hugged it close to her as she sobbed. Impa had never felt so stunned and helpless. She should have been there helping him. If only she would have made it back just a minute sooner…just maybe…

No, she couldn't let these thoughts plague her mind. It would drive her insane and she knew it. In her state of shock, she heard Zelda speak quietly.

"He has a pulse…"

"What?" Impa said moving in closer.

"A pulse! He has a pulse! Feel Impa! I can feel him breathing!"

All the towns people who had just been in a serious state of shock and sadness suddenly seemed to spring to life.

"I'll go get a blanket!"

"I'll get some potions!"

"You put some pressure on that wound, I have just the thing that may help!"

One after another, people ran off to fetch things. Impa watched with admiration as people began running back towards the scene, kneeling down, helping in any way they could. It was then that she realized why Zelda was the way she was. Everyone here looked after each other. It wasn't every man for himself like how she had grownup. This…this was something special. Everyone contributed, and she watched in amazement as they quickly had a blanket under him with people on every side ready to lift him and take him into the academy and lay him in his bed. She followed them in and at this point a lot of them left to give the ones working space as it was a small room. Zelda of course didn't leave his side and was smoothing down his hair as one stern looking lady with a baby in a carrier on her back was wringing out a soaking rag over the open wound. Impa didn't know if that would help or not but she did know she had to do something in her power to help Link.

She slowly walked up to his bedside and the townspeople made way for her, watching her silently. She could feel all their eyes on her. She knew they were wishing beyond reason that she could do something, anything, to save him. She laid her hands on the deep stab wound and pressed down closing her eyes. The damage was extensive, and he would surely bleed out in a matter of minutes if something was not done. She began her incantation of healing, feeling weaker than usual, unsure of whether it would even work. She felt someone's hands lay on top of hers and glanced down. It was Zelda. She had placed her hands on top of Impa's and was staring hard at Link as though willing him to be ok with her mind. Suddenly Impa felt another hand on her shoulder, then one on her back, one on her arm, and suddenly she was standing there with everyone in the rooms hands on her, as though they were lending her their own energy to do this. She squeezed her eyes closed and her voice grew as she drew strength from these great people. They all prayed as she continued with her healing. A soft blue light came from her hands and sunk down into Link's flesh. Everyone watched in amazement as it glowed. It was there for a moment, and then it faded. Impa looked at the wound closely. Though her magic couldn't heal it completely, it was enough to stop the bleeding and save his life. He would still be in pain and it would take several weeks for him to feel normal again, at least he was alive. She felt for his pulse again. It was beginning to get much stronger and his breathing became deeper and more like he was asleep rather than dying. Zelda immediately kneeled down and hugged him laying her head on his chest, crying in relief.

All the people in the room shook her hand and gave her teary eyed 'thank you's'. She simply quietly slipped out of the room as they took over with his care again, taking his bloodied and ripped cloths off and grabbing warm water to wash him off with.

She smiled as she closed the door behind her and knew her work was done. They could take care of him from here. And Zelda…well she had Link to protect her once again. And as quickly as she had appeared in their lives, she was gone, making her way back to her own homeland.

Link tried hard to open his eyes. He was sore all over. He laid there for a minute with them closed trying to figure out what was going on. He swore he heard a girl's voice talking but he wasn't sure who's it was. It was an enormous effort, but he finally got them open. He blinked a few times trying to clear his blurry vision and turned his head towards the voice. He knew that blonde hair and bright face anywhere. Zelda was talking to Groose who was standing by the doorway of his room telling her something.

"Am…" Link tried. His voice was weak.

"Am…I…" Groose left the room and Zelda finally noticed he was awake and stood up quickly, knocking over the stool she had been sitting on.

"Oh, goddess Link can you hear me? Are you ok?" She said loudly placing her hands on one of his.

"Am…I…dead?" He groaned out looking at her.

"No, silly! You're just waking up! You were hurt badly but Impa saved you…"

"I need…to see her," He said quietly and made to sit up. When he moved a sharp pain in his abdomen made him groan in pain and he looked down. He was shirtless and his abdomen was wrapped tightly with bulky bandage under it on the lower left side.

"What's this?" He said touching it.

"No, no leave it, Link…It has to stay on while you heal. You were stabbed. Everyone thought you were dead but you're fine now. You just need to heal up."

Stabbed? When had he been stabbed? He needed to get up and get moving again, he couldn't let Ghirahim find him in this vulnerable state.

"I have to go," He said trying to find the energy to swing his legs out of bed.

"No, Link, you need to stay here. You're not healed yet and you're going to reopen the wound if you move around too much!"

"I have to…Ghirahim-"

"Ghirahim's dead, Link."

He looked into her eyes.

"Dead?"

"Yes," She answered him staring right back, "You killed him. Apparently, he got a shot in at you, but you did it, Link! You killed him, and everyone is safe now!"

Link had to sit there a minute and try to remember his last few conscious moments. Then it all flooded back. He remembered everything, and he laid his head back onto his pillow.

"I remember now…" He said. Zelda stroked his hair and it calmed him. He looked over at her again.

"How long have I been out?"

"A week," She said still smoothing his hair and looking at him lovingly. No wonder he felt so weak.

"How do I look?" He asked a smile creeping up on his face. Zelda smiled, it never ceased to amaze her how he could keep his sense of humor through everything.

"You look like you crash landed your loftwing," She laughed.

"That bad?" He faked concern. She nodded.

"Unfortunately!"

He lay there in silence for a moment contemplating everything he had been through to get to this point. He thought he was dead. He thought he was never going to see anyone ever again and yet here he was, given a second chance at life because of Impa. He owed her an apology. He was sure she could tell he was feeling bitter towards her on their last meeting even if he hadn't said anything.

"Where's Impa?" He asked.

"She's gone. I haven't seen her since the day she brought you back. I don't think she's coming back," Zelda looked sadly away.

"Well…I'd better go let everyone know you're awake and doing good. Everyone's been so worried about you." She stood and let go on his hand. He watched her step out of the room and as soon as she left he slowly sat up. It hurt terribly but he desperately wanted to get out of bed. He put his feet on the floor and attempted to stand. He fell back at first, getting light headed. But the next time he was able to stand without falling over. He slowly made his way to the door holding his stomach the whole time. Someone had kept him very clean and he had a nice loose-fitting pair of pants on with no socks or shirt or anything else on. He peeked out of the door to make sure Zelda was out of sight. The coast was clear and he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He attempted to brush his hair which still looked a bit messy, he washed his face and hands, brushed his teeth, and looked himself over in the mirror. His face had bruising to an eye and cheekbone, but it seemed to be fading. There were various cuts and bruises on him and he tried to turn and see his back. As far as he could tell there were deep scars and cuts in various stages of healing. Those hardly hurt though. It was more his abdomen that was hurting now which he had expected. A little bit of pain was nothing. He could deal with it.

He was alive.

And he had important business to finish.

He slowly made his way outside into the cool crisp air. The sun was showing signs that It was about to go down as pink and orange tinted the sky around him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Skyloft. His home. He was home. He walked slowly towards town where he could see a few people walking around going about their lives. He saw Peatrice lean in and give Groose a peck on the cheek as they said goodbye for the night. He chuckled at the unlikely pair. Groose turned after she went inside and saw Link watching him. He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. Link laughed. He simply stood and watched the townspeople go about their day. He was only there a minute when he saw Zelda coming back from the bazaar with a few potions in her hand. She began walking back towards the academy and looked surprised when she saw Link standing there, silly grin on his face, hair gently blowing in the wind.

"What are you doing out here? I told you not to move around too much," She said. He simply smiled and grabbed her free hand and began pulling her.

"Where are we going?" She asked as he led her along. They were soon in front of the statue of the goddess just as Link remembered her that day their destinies were thrust upon them. He turned towards her and she watched him, grinning.

"What is this? Why have you brought me here?" She looked around. He placed a hand on her face. Her skin was so soft and warm. She leaned into his hand and closed her eyes.

"I should have told you a long time ago, Zelda. I should have told you everyday since I met you. I wanted to tell you the day everything happened, and I think you wanted to tell me too," She placed her hand on his that was still on her face, her eyes becoming big and teary.

"I love you."

"Oh, Link," She dropped the bottles and threw her arms over his shoulders in a tight embrace, being careful not to put too much weight on him to hurt him.

Link pulled his head back and bringing both of his hands up to her jaw, he leaned in and desperately kissed her. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and fiercely kissed him back. He had been dying to do this for years now and never had the courage. But right now, in this moment, he didn't care. You never know when someone can be snatched away from you and he didn't intend to waste another day being shy about his feelings. The sun began to set as they stayed wrapped in each other's embrace for a long while. Neither one wanting to let go of each other ever again. Link finally broke them apart panting.

"I'll take that as an 'I love you too' then…" Zelda smiled at him.

"Of course I do…and I always will.."