A ZeLink Family

Cold, yet warm

"Oop!" Zelda exclaimed as she slipped on the ice. She fell, but Link was there, holding her hand and slowly pulling her back to her feet. "Be careful." He said, releasing her hand.

They were enjoying a cold winter day walking on the frozen Lake Hylia that was close to their house. Zelda looked up at Link, a grin on his face. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her. She reached her head up up kiss him and...

"Mommy! Look at me!" A little girl cried, ruining the moment. They both looked at little Cupcake, running then stopping, but still sliding across the ice.

"Wow!" Zelda exclaimed, releasing Link and clapping lightly. She glanced back up at Link, he was watching the little girl but noticed Zelda's gaze, and turned to return it. She made a face of disappointment, making Link grin.

"Welcome to having kids." He chuckled, looking back to Cupcake and grinning when she slid, and slipped, falling on her bottom. Zelda giggled at the sight and watched as Cupcake slowly stood, regaining her balance. Past her were Hunter and Andy, messing around with each other as they slipped and slid across the ice. Zelda felt Link wrap a warm arm around her waist and she stepped closer to him, into his warmth. Zelda loved her kids, though they constantly got in the way of romantic moments between her and Link, she loved them immensely. Zelda leaned her head against his arm, since she wasn't tall enough to reach his shoulder, watching their three kids play together.

"Link, I couldn't have asked for a better family." She said softly.

"I could do with a slightly taller wife." He responded, earning a glare from Zelda. "But if that meant I wouldn't get you, then I don't want it." Link pulled her in front of him, so they both faced the kids, and rested his chin on her head. "But I still love all of you." Zelda looked over at Andy and Hunter when the boys froze.

"Hunter!" Link called, noticing the boys. "You okay?"

"Um...". Hunter began, looking down at his feet. "The ice cracked." His voice was barely audible, but Zelda still heard it and gasped. Link released her and began slowly making his way towards the kids.

"Cupcake, come here." She reached towards the little girl and held her breath, not releasing it until the small child was in her arms. They both looked over at Link, who had reached the boys. He reached a hand for Hunter, who took it and held tight. Link lifted the boy and moved him off the cracked ice, pointing towards Zelda. Hunter began slowly walking towards Zelda and Cupcake. He stopped a couple feet from her, his feet spread apart. Zelda reached to him, but Hunter didn't move.

"Hunter?" She beckoned for him but he still stood still.

"Dad told me to keep my distance, to not put too much weight on one piece of ice.

"Okay." Zelda dropped her hand, still holding Cupcake. She watched past Hunter where Link edged around the cracked ice, the cracks visible even to her. He reached over to Andy, who slowly edged his way to Link's hand that was just out of reach.

Crack!

Zelda gasped as the loud crack rang through the air. She saw Andy's eyes go wide... just before he fell through the ice into the water.

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"Andy!" Link heard Zelda's scream but didn't let it phase him. Link spread his feet and inched toward the edge of the broken ice. He watched Andy resurface and panic, flailing his arms around.

"Andy!" Link shouted, trying to get the boy's attention. "ANDY!" The boy stilled slightly, his head bobbing above the surface of the freezing water. "Stop flailing, don't move." He got down on his knees and spaced them apart, placing his hand on the cold ice and reached over to the boy. "Andy, I'm going to pull you out slowly, you have to move your legs, okay?" Andy nodded, his teeth chattering. "Once I get you out, lay flat on our stomach and spread your arms and legs out wide, crawl slowly towards me." Andy swam to his hand and grabbed it, slowly drifting to the edge of the ice. Link began crawling backwards, lifting the boy out of the water and onto the ice. Link quickly shuffled back, off the cracks and onto the solid ice where he stood up. Andy was laying flat on the ice, inching towards Link. "There you go, slowly, slowly." He beckoned towards Andy.

Finally, Andy got all the way off the broken ice where Link scooped him up onto his arms and hurried to the edge of the ice, headed towards their house. He glanced back long enough to see Zelda, Cupcake and Hunter following them.

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Link threw open the door to their home and rushed up the stairs, headed for his room. He passed through and entered the bathroom. Link turned on the bath, letting the tub fill with room temperature water. Link helped Andy remove his soaked and freezing clothes, wrapping the child in a towel. Link took another and put it in the water, soaking it thoroughly. Link took the towel and rubbed Andy all over with it. After the rub down, Link lightly lifted the boy, lowering him into the water. Andy's teeth had stopped chattering and his eyes were unfocused.

"Andy, can you hear me?" Link said softly. The boy looked at him, then around the room.

"Daddy, where are we?" He asked, he was still curled up, though color was returning to his face.

"We're at home." Link shuffled his hand through the boy's hair. "Andy, stay here, I'm going to see how everyone else it doing." Link stood and left the bathroom and his bedroom, heading down the stairs. He stepped into the living room, and entered the kitchen where Hunter and Cupcake sat at the table, two steaming mugs of Hot Chocolate before them. Zelda was leaning against the counter, sipping from a mug herself.

"Andy?" She asked when she saw Link enter.

"He should be fine, just needs to warm up. He's in a bath right now." Link hugged her, stroking her back. He heard Zelda start crying against his chest.

"I thought he was going to die." Zelda choked on her words. Link looked over at the two kids, catching their gazes.

"Why don't you two go watch a movie, take your drinks."

"Okay!" Cupcake jumped up and grabbed her mug, rushing into the other room. Hunter was more reluctant, slowly getting up and leaving the kitchen.

Link held Zelda as she cried against his chest. Zelda leaned back and looked up at Link, tears still staining her cheeks.

"You sure he will be okay?" She asked.

"Yes, he will be fine. Drink your Chocolate, I'll go check on him." Zelda nodded and took her mug, leaving the kitchen and sitting with the two kids. Link walked past, headed for the stairs.

"Mommy?" Cupcake said, and Link stopped. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Zelda responded, sipping from her mug. "Your brother just scared me." Link sighed and headed up the stairs to Andy.

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Zelda sat on the couch, trying to focus on the movie that was on, but her mind kept drifting back to the memory of Andy disappearing under the ice. She heard a thump above her, her room. The ceiling groaned, like footsteps. Then she heard footsteps on the stairs and she looked over to them. There, she saw Link, Andy in his arms.

"Andy!" Zelda stood and ran over to him. "How are you feeling?" She placed a hand on his forehead.

"I'm cold." The boy whimpered.

"Well, I made some Hot Chocolate."

"What!?" Andy exclaimed, light erupting in his eyes. Zelda giggled as she walked over to the kitchen, poured two mugs of Hot Chocolate and returned to the living room. Link sat on the couch, Andy cuddled beside him. She sat beside Link, handing him and Andy their drinks. Zelda cuddled close to him, finally able to calm down and enjoy being together with her family.