See? Watching Nickelodeon late at night really can be good for something… I guess. Anyway, I just totally felt like writing this because I'm such a romantic loser. Just remember when you're done reading this that I didn't force you to.

Zelda paced back and forth in her lobby, biting her thumb nail distractedly. If she didn't say it some time, she might never spit it out… but it didn't seem possible to her that she could be housing an emotion this powerful, especially for somebody like her neighbor. That ruggedly beautiful dream of a neighbor of hers.

NO! Zelda scolded herself. How on Earth could she be thinking this about Link? Goddesses, even the sound of his name made a strange tingle go down her spine. Ugh, this isn't natural. We grew up together, neighbors, ever since I can remember… why did he have to turn out like an Adonis?

She gazed out at the window to see two people running to each other and meeting in a rather scandalously passionate kiss. I hate Valentine's Day! Zelda thought bitterly as the two peeps exchanged red cards. It's such a juvenile holiday.

You only feel that way because you're spiteful, said another voice in her head.

What are you talking about?

If you were with Link, you'd love Valentine's Day just as much as those suckers outside your window. Don't try denying it.

This is so pathetic! screamed the voice Zelda wanted to believe was the sane one. Shut up, other voice! She paused, then walked into her dining room. Then again, what's even more pathetic… is that I seem to be waiting for a reply.

"Zelda?"

"Ah!" Startled by the suddenness of her name, Zelda gave a little gasp and turned around. Link was giving her a puzzled look from where he stood in the garage's door frame. "Oh… oh, you scared me! I d-didn't know you were here…"

"Sorry, I should've knocked," he said, looking sheepish.

"Oh no, it's fine, really," Zelda said, attempting to laugh it off. "What's up?"

"Well…my mom insists on keeping the A/C off at our place and I'm dying over there—I was just wondering if I could borrow a little sofa space to finish my book."

"Sure! Yeah, no problem," Zelda said. She hated how even in February, it still managed to be hot in California.

"Thank you so much," Link sighed, looking quite relieved. "Ahh, this is such a nice refreshment from my house; I'm so hot."

Truer words were never spoken, Zelda thought to herself, hoping any faint blush on her cheeks wouldn't give away what she thought of his double entendre. "So what is it you're reading?" she asked, to be polite.

"It's uh, 'Bit Players' by Henry Morrison," Link replied, taking the tattered book out from his back pocket. "That guy's a genius, I tell ya."

"Oh yeah, he really is," Zelda agreed, biting her lip. She decided to take a stab at furthering the conversation. "Er…what part are you up to?"

Smiling, Link sat down on one of the stools by the counter. "Chapter ten. Emily finally told Wilson she'd been in love with him for like, ever. I didn't really understand her character. I mean, what was so hard about just coming out and saying it?"

"Um, I have no idea," Zelda replied, though feeling like she could totally relate. "That's one of my favorite parts, actually. So you got the bit about Megan—"

"Giving up her dreams for Ben? Yeah, that was cool."

"Yes, yes…" Zelda cleared her throat. "I'm, er, actually kind of glad that you came over, Link."

He looked surprised. "Why?"

"Um, because I…" She suddenly found herself wondering why she'd said that last sentence. "I have these Valentine's cookies and nobody to share them with."

"Nobody to share them with? No boyfriend for whom they were specially made?"

"Well, not exactly," Zelda said delicately, moving to the granite-colored counter. "My mother dropped them off, you see, and she said today I would find that somebody special." She snorted a mirthless laugh. "Of course I really had no idea who I'd give them to, so I was going to offer some to you and your family…"

"Wow, that's real nice of you," Link said, taking the plate Zelda handed him.

She shrugged, looking shyly away from his gorgeous blue eyes. He sensed her hesitation. "Is there something else?"

"Um…" Zelda gulped and looked up at him. She shook her head and moved to sit down on the living room couch.

Link concernedly put down the plate of cookies and sat down next to her. "Zellie? What's up?"

Zelda nearly scowled at him. She hated being called 'Zellie,' and yet it sounded so sweet coming from him… almost like a pet name. Ooh, a pet name. Dare I crave it? "There's just that, um… there's this guy, you see…"

"Oh…kay?"

Being so head-over-heels herself, Zelda didn't notice the slight disappointment in his voice. "But the thing is it would be really awkward, if… if I—"

"You know, maybe this is something you should talk to Malon about," Link said, patting her on the hand. "…Zelda?"

But she wasn't looking at him. She was staring at something over his shoulder, causing Link to turn around as well. "Holy Din!"

The two elves stood up and crossed briskly over to the window. Very dark clouds were looming over them, swirling dangerously. "What is that?" Link whispered. "I've never seen clouds like that."

Slowly Zelda opened the patio door, and she was almost blown back indoors from the strength of the wind. "Oh my Goddessess!" she groaned as she and Link made a joint effort of shutting the door again. "That wind is incredible!"

"It's no ordinary storm, that's for sure," Link said in something of a drastic understatement—for at that moment, two lawn chairs were ripped from their places in the yard and thrown out of sight by the wind.

"Radio?" Link asked.

"Den."

He ran down the hall, and Zelda eventually turned and followed him. A loud whistling noise was coming from outside, and Zelda screeched to a halt when the lights suddenly went out. Blood pumped in Zelda's ears as she tried to find her way in the complete darkness.

"Link?"

"Zel—just heard on the radio, it's a tornado."

"Tornado? But we've never gotten one down here before!"

"I know, and the guy on the radio said the winds are going over 150 miles an hour." He reached out blindly for her and felt her arm. Zelda closed her eyes and held onto him tightly. "I—I don't think we should be worried though, Zelda. At least, not …. Not yet."

"What kind of reassurance is that?"

"Okay, okay, sorry."

They jumped when something loud and hard hit the front door. It became consistent knocking, and that's when they figured it out.

"WHO is knocking on your door during a tornado?" Link yelled.

"It better not be that insurance salesman again!" Zelda shouted. "I've said no to him three times in the past week—"

The door suddenly burst open, and a figure was blown into the hallway. "Zelda, where are you?"

"Who's there?"

"It's Malon!"

"Malon? We're over here; feel your way along the wall…"

"Who's 'we'?" Malon asked, walking slowly down the hall.

"Oh, Link is here."

"Hi, Link."

"Hi, Malon."

"You guys wouldn't believe it out there," Malon gasped when she'd finally located them. "That thing just came out of no where! I was driving home from the grocery store and I nearly lost control of the car! Totally insane—I think I crashed into your neighbor's mailbox."

"I'm just so glad you're all right!"

"Yeah…"

"Oh! I've just remembered," Zelda said. "I've got a lamp in the living room that has batteries."

"Splendid," Link said. "Lead the way." He gripped Zelda's hand tightly, and she tried not to feel excited by this.

The odd trio eventually made it into the living room, and Zelda managed to turn on said light.

"Look at it," Malon whispered, staring out the window. "Isn't nature amazing?"

"Yeah, it'd be even more amazing if I wasn't worried about it killing us," Zelda muttered. "Malon, don't get too close to that window!"

"Why not? I'm only looking."

"Malon, have you never seen The Wizard of Oz?" Zelda moaned. "Besides, you're the one who was just out there; you know how awful it is!"

This statement was emphasized dramatically when a table from the backyard flew in through the window and nearly hit our beloved red-head.

"Away from the windows…right," Malon said, sinking onto the couch.

Zelda shivered, not conscious of the fact that she was squeezing Link's hand so tightly she was nearly cutting off blood circulation. She'd never seen such a ferocious storm, and she was really starting to worry that this might be the end of her. And if that was the case… Link had to know… what if she never had another chance?

"Link…" He hadn't heard her. "Link?"

"What is it?"

"There's… I've gotta tell you something. It's really important."

"What? You sound almost sad about something."

"I'm not sad," she stammered. "I just really hoped that I wouldn't have to say this for a while… you've no idea how h-hard it is for me to say."

He was holding both her hands now; his voice laced with sweet concern. "Zelda? Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? Good question… it's something I always thought should be divine, but the way my luck's played out, it's just natural I should be left feeling wrong. I… really need you to know, that—that if we don't make it through this, I… love… I love you."

"What?" he asked, so softly Zelda barely heard him.

"I LOVE YOU, LINK!" she shouted over the noise of the tornado.

"Zelda…"

"I just had to tell you, in case we don't make it out of this alive; you had to know, you just had to know! I love you Link, I do, and I'm so glad you're here right now!" Emitting a small sob, Zelda threw her arms around Link and cried into his shoulder.

"Do you… really mean that?" he asked, astounded.

"Of course I do!"

"Zel…" He pushed her slightly away so that she was facing him in the dim light. Link delicately placed a finger under her chin and kissed her softly on the lips. Zelda blinked dimly and stared at him, her mouth slightly open in surprise.

"You're a very beautiful person, Zelda," he said into her ear. "Inside and out… I think I've been in love with you for a very long time…"

"R…really, L—"

He cut her off by kissing her again; slower, deeper. Zelda wasn't sure if her heart was pounding because of the noise going on outside, or because of the way Link was kissing her… Zelda had never been kissed before, but that didn't stop her from being able to tell Link was very good at it.

"OH! MY! GODDESSES!"

Link and Zelda abruptly broke apart—neither of them had remembered that Malon was sitting across the room from them.

"There is a tornado going on and you people are making out!" Malon shouted. "You need to get a grip on what the low-down is here!"

"Oh, relax, Malon," Zelda sighed. She suddenly felt a strange burst of optimism flooding through her. "We're going to be okay…"

And indeed, they were. Half an hour later, the tornado had either subsided or moved away, because there was quietness outside.

"Well, let's go see what the damage is," Zelda sighed. Link followed her onto the patio, and let out a loud whistle.

"Wow. This is crazy," Link muttered.

Zelda bent down and lifted a trash can off a muddy sheet of red paper. She turned it over, and it said "Happy Valentine's Day" in bad handwriting, surrounded by small badly drawn hearts. Zelda smiled and handed it to Link. "Here."

He looked it over and grinned as well. "Happy Valentine's day, Zelda."

Beaming impishly, Zelda threw herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She kissed him in an almost savage fashion; nearly toppling him over. "Mmm, I love you," she whispered against his lips. "Happy Valentine's Day…"

"I can't believe it took a tornado for you two to realize you were meant to be together," Malon sighed from the living room, shaking her head.

"Link you are so dead!" cried a voice from a bit of a ways away.

The elves looked up and saw Link's mother yelling at them from her living room window. "Hi, mom," he called to her.

"Don't you 'hi mom' me, you inconsiderate child!" she cried. "You might've TOLD me where you going before running out minutes preceding a tornado! But no, you just dash off! I was sitting through that whole dreadful ordeal thinking you could be anywhere! Dead! Gone!"

"Sorry, mom!"

"Sorry doesn't cut it this time, buster! You're grounded! Until menopause!"

Zelda laughed and Link retorted, "Well, that's not too far off for ya, is it mom?"

"I mean your menopause, Link!"

And who would have thought that after enduring a tornado, only a few minutes later Malon and Zelda would be laughing their heads off.

A/N: Ta-da! Sucky, I know. Phew. Just don't let me watch Roseanne anymore and this ridiculously retarded one-shots will no longer be!—oh hold on, I have to go; Roseanne is on…