Zelink Family - The Good Husband

One would have expected the moodier member of the household to be Zelda, who was well into her third trimester of pregnancy and was already eagerly awaiting the day when she didn't have to carry her "precious cargo" around inside of her.  Yet, in truth, the only moody one was Link, who was curled up on the couch and clutching tightly to a pillow.  His eyes had dark bags beneath them, and his hair was even messier than usual - indeed, right now the pregnancy was hitting him harder than Zelda herself!

He sighed and buried his face in the pillow.  The previous night left him with barely a wink of sleep - his poor wife spent most of it either dry heaving or actually vomiting, and he felt like he had to stay awake and help her, despite Zelda's insistence that he get some rest.  He couldn't help it, however; looking after Zelda was something that had long been engrained into Link's being, and protecting her was as good as instinctual for him.  And watching her suffer like this for nine long months, knowing that not only could he do next to nothing about it but that he had helped cause it, was quite a heavy burden for poor Link to carry.

"If you're not going to be able to sleep," said Zelda, hoarse from her rough night, "then how about some coffee?"

Link looked up to see her offering him a mug of steaming, aromatic coffee.  Sitting up, he debated whether or not he should take it, before sighing again and accepting it.

"You need rest more than I do," he said before taking a sip.  "How come you're up?"

She giggled weakly.  "Because I already napped," she said, "while you were in here moping."

"I'm not moping!" he exclaimed, moping.  "…I'm just worried about you."

"Like you always are."

"Well, this is kind of my fault," he retorted, "but you're the one who has to go through all of this.  It's completely unfair."

"It's nature," said Zelda reassuringly, "you don't have to feel bad about it.  All expecting couples have to go through this; it's nothing to feel guilty over."

"But, still, I wish I could — "

She placed her fingers on her husband's lips and silenced him.  "Hush, you," she said with a chuckle, "you already saved my life once; carrying your baby is nothing compared to that."

Link flushed.  "Th-That's completely different…"

"And it's not like you're not doing your best!  Link, you're taking good care of me, I promise."  She brushed one of his sideburns away from his face.  "I would have been much more miserable without you by my side."

At that, the flustered hero's face only grew redder.  "Th…Thanks, Zelda.  You're right - I shouldn't be moping around like this."

"Good.  Now," she stood from her seat, grunting laboriously as she did, "be a good husband and drink your coffee, okay?"

"'Good husband'?  …What am I, a pet remlit?"

"You're about as adorable as one!" laughed Zelda.

Link sulked and took another drink.  He had set himself up for that one, hadn't he?