#so I struck a balance between caring dad but maybe lazy or depressed

[skyloftian-nutcase]

My vote’s for Talon!

Malon was growing little by little every day.

Talon felt like he missed it sometimes. Felt like he just blinked and suddenly she'd gained an inch. His life was a blur and stagnant all at once ever since her mother had died, and he felt a little bad for it when he would look outside and see his little girl practically running the ranch.

He had every right to feel bad. He'd practically neglected her some days. He still couldn't believe he'd fallen asleep at the castle while doing a delivery, leaving his daughter alone in Castle Town.

It wasn't like she couldn't handle herself, of course. Talon trusted her. Some days he wondered if he trusted her too much. Malon always seemed to have the right words, her pouts and hands on her hips always spurred him into action, and she had a gift for running things. As the days passed, she took over more and more of the ranch.

Most of the time it was fine. Most of the time Talon's lackadaisical nature only showed itself in the minor details, and Ingo would pick up the slack just fine. Malon and Ingo often coordinated together to handle things when Talon decided a good nap was the better way to spend an afternoon.

But sometimes, Talon would look out the window, and instead of seeing a little girl playing with the horses, he'd see a young woman running a ranch. And when he did, he would suddenly be filled with guilt. His daughter shouldn't have to be making up for his lack of motivation.

But the thought only bothered him some days. And it wasn't like he didn't do anything. Malon was just a natural leader, filling whatever void she would find. Besides, on days when her friend Link visited, she got to be a child and play.

Talon loved when Link would visit. He loved watching Malon's face brighten. He always worked extra hard that day so she could have fun. He always had dinner ready for her and for her friend, which was a rare treat. The first few times Link was too shy to come in for dinner, but he had slowly grown accustomed to being part of the family when he stopped by. Talon often wondered what had happened to him, why a child was wandering Hyrule by his lonesome as he was.

He had tried to ask the boy a few times, but he'd never heard Link speak. Malon swore that the boy could talk, but Talon was half convinced she was making it up from their playtime.

Well. Either way, he would always welcome the boy, and he would always enjoy seeing them play together. He would let Malon hold onto her childhood for as long as she could. It was the least he could do.