Hello Everyone! I'm so so sorry that I have made you all wait for so long! I struggled so much with the chapter, I actually started to write three other versions before I came up with this one. I'm still not convinced that I'm satisfied with it. If you could please review with your honest opinion, I would gladly accept some constructive criticism. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine. That honor goes to our dear old Professor.

Chapter 9- Family Matters

Francesco's P.O.V

Twenty days…Venti maledetti giorni (Twenty cursed days) of awkward silences and misery.Almost a full month of walking on…how did the English say... eggshells around Cora and Legolas. Even my moglie (wife) who was normally the bubbliest person in the house was acting as if the sun had been taken out of the sky. The only tolerable person around these days was Alistair! A two year old bambino (baby) whose conversational skills were greatly lacking. As I pulled up to the house after another long day in the office, the last thing I wanted was to deal with the moping members of our mismatched family. I turned off the motor of my car and just sat there for a minute, preparing myself for yet another strained evening.

The day Cora and Legolas returned from Puglia, I was shocked to hear Alistair call Legolas by the name of "babbo" yet by the looks on my friend and wife's faces this was no novità (news) to them. I watched as Cora's face changed from sadness to anger and knew that the boy should not be present for whatever was about to happen. Although I had taken him into the garden and had him pleasantly distracted, I could still hear the raised voices from inside the house trickle into cries and slamming doors. Over the past two and a half weeks I had tried to find out what had happened between the three of them but the two "lovers" weren't talking. Even my wife had zipped her lips on the details, and I felt completely helpless to all of them. Taking a deep sigh I got out of the car and walked up the path to the house. I opened the door to the wafting perfume of dinner. Melanzane alla parmigiana, IF my nose was correct.

"Mmm… che profumo! Elisa! Dove sei?" I called out as I toed off my tight leather shoes in favor of the comfortable slippers. (Smells good! Elisa! Where are you?)

Padding softly down the corridor I was surprised to see a familiar blonde sitting at my kitchen table with Cora's little chatterbox perched on his bouncing knee. Elisa was in front of the sink washing up the last large wooden spoon. She looked up at my entrance and smiled although I could see that it did not reach her eyes, "Buonasera, amore!" (Good evening, love!)

Wrapping a hand around her growing waist, I placed a kiss of her lips before caressingher piccola pancione (baby bump), "Ciao Tesoro. How are you and our little mimmo today?"

"Stiamo bene, amore," she answered me with a kiss of her own. (We're fine, love)

"Yucky, Zio!"

I turned towards the little boy whose face was scrunched up in disgust. The blonde man who held him chuckled softly before giving a gentle reprimand, "Alistair, that was uncalled for. Good evening, Francesco."

"Hello, amico mio. What are you doing here so late? You aren't trying to steal my wife away, are you?" I joked sensing the man needed a laugh.

His smile was amused but not entirely sincere as he replied, "Not hardly, mellon. I was just taking advantage of the offer of an evening meal for this troublesome little fellow and myself."

"Ah!" I sighed in understanding, "I see. Has Cora locked herself in her study again?"

The look shared between my friend and my wife told me everything I needed to know. Legolas, obviously not wanting to dwell on it, gave his attention over to the child on his lap. He hunched over so Al could play and pull on the man's braids and I turned to Elisa for further explanation. She sighed quietly and responded in our native Sicilian dialect, not wanting the boy to pick up on our conversation. For being only two he was such an astute child.

"Legolas, tried to talk to her about what happened when they returned. She ignored him again and closed herself off in that damn room again. She has only come down to feed Alistair and she won't speak to either of us anymore. I'm not sure what else to do, France."

I could see the tears starting to well up in her eyes and wrapped my arms around her shoulders while dropping a kiss onto her forehead as I murmured softly to her, "Andrà tutto bene, amore mio. Vedrai." (Everything will be fine, my love. You'll see.)

She snuggled into my embrace and for a moment we were lost in each other before…

"AE! Nan Belain, Alistair! Not my ears, please!" (Ow! By the Valar!)

At the cry of torment, we turned to find a most comical sight of a mischievous little boy tugging harshly on the shell of the grown man's pointed ear. Elisa covered up her giggles with her hand and I smiled to see her laugh again. The occasions had been too few in my opinion. Legolas looked to us with a mock scowl before growling through the pain, "Some assistance would be most welcome. AE!"

I let go of my wife, allowing her to turn the now chiming oven, and came to Legolas' aid by tickling the delicate sides of Al's tummy. His squeals and peals of laughter filled the house and it was beautiful to hear. It took us three gentlemen a while to calm down after Elisa announced that dinner was ready to be served. We all helped out with preparing the table before sitting down to enjoy one of my favorite dishes. While we ate we kept the conversation light and I told some jokes, relishing in the happiness that surrounded our table. Alistair babbled all on his own and Elisa and I watched on as Legolas hung on his every word. I wasn't surprised that the child was confused. If ever there was a man to take up the role as Alistair's step-father, Legolas would make a perfect fit.

After dinner, Legolas helped clear the table, at his own insistence, while I observed my wife lull the toddler on her lap to sleep. The sight warmed my heart and I found myself anxious for December when our own cucciolo (little cub) was due to be born. At the sudden sound of the front door opening we all turned to find Cora standing in the door way. She looked terrible as if she hadn't slept for the past two weeks. It was disheartening to see her falling back into how she was when Marco died. The silence in the room was deafening. Her sad eyes roamed the room, trying not the meet anyone's direct gaze. After a few moments of awkwardness she cleared her throat, before speaking as if for the first time in days, "It's late. Alistair should be in bed."

Nearly jumping out of her chair, Elisa carried the worn out little boy to his mother who robotically reached out for him. I allowed myself a glance at Legolas whose eyes were locked on Cora with mixed feelings of pain and irritation. I could see how he longed to both hold her and shake some sense into her at the same time. Yet proudly he stood stock still, his feet rooted to his place before the sink. He spoke with a voice that was quiet but determined, "I would have brought him to bed in but a moment. We were only-"

"There's no need," came her emotionless reply, "I'm his mother. I will put him to bed."

Worriedly I watched as the blonde man bristled slightly at her cold response, his back straightened and I expected that a confrontation would break out. Luckily my wife had the good sense to interrupt, "Cora, are you hungry? I could put together a dish for you, if you'd like?"

The despondent woman only shrugged indifferently before turning away with the now sleeping child in her arms. She left as quickly as she had come. In the stillness, we stayed motionless for a few moments before hearing a crash of broken glass on the tile floor. I turned in my seat to see pieces of glass around Legolas' feet his hands bawled into fists in growing frustration. I had seen him like this only once before, the day Elisa and I had caught them kissing. Concerned for my wife, I stood quietly and moved her behind me before stepping towards him. With my hands raised in peace, I tried to calm him, "Hey, amico. Relax, okay?"

As if shaken out of a daze, he reopened his azure eyes in several fast blinks. He took in his surroundings and heard the crunch of glass under his feet. Embarrassed he started to apologize, "Elisa, I'm terribly sor-"

Coming out from her hiding place, she came to his side. A soothing hand on his arm as she spoke, "It's fine. Just a broken cup. I have more. Come on, have a seat and talk to France. I'll clean this up."

Taking the cue from my wife as her gaze met mine; I knew that the job of cheering him up had fallen on me. I smiled reassuringly at her and him as I took his other arm and led him into the living room. He sat down on the couch; his elbows perched on his knees in defeat. Seeing him, hunched over like that, nothing like the proud man I was used to, I decided we both needed a stiff drink. I walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses of brandy before turning back and handing one to him. Taking the glass from me, he muttered a tired thanks as I sat down on the other end of the sofa. I raised my glass and exhaled heavily, "To women and their unfailing ability to make us crazy."

He raised his in turn, the right corner of his lip twitched upwards and a quick grin, "Aye."

We drank and I observed as his eyes bore holes into his glass as he swirled the liquid amber absentmindedly, "Tell me what's on your mind, Legolas."

The foreign man huffed before answering, "I do not wish to burden you with my troubles, my friend."

"No no, caro. That's what guy friends are for. Come on."

He took another draw from his glass before confessing, "I love her, Francesco. It keeps me in agony to see her like this. I understand her pain, her sadness, but why must she push me away when all I want is to be there for her?"

I covered up my surprise with the rim of my glass. I wasn't expecting it to be this easy. The fact that he was in love with her was obvious. Putting my hand on the other man's shoulder, I started to explain, "To you her behavior is new, Legolas, but we have seen this before. The first six months after her husband had died, Elisa and I were worried that she would never leave the house again. Thank goodness, she was pregnant and had to go to her appointments or the poor girl would never have seen the sun. Understand this, she was 21 years old, newlywed and with a baby on the way and studying. She felt as if she was very much alone. It was only shortly before you arrived that she started acting like herself again. Elisa thought it a miracle."

He listened with an open ear, wanting to comprehend everything, "What occurred that made her act normal again? Elisa said that one day she started living again. What did she mean?"

"She probably meant the day Alistair was born. That was the first time we saw her smile in months. Elisa was so happy, thinking that the child would bring her friend back but I knew as soon as I saw that little boy, it would be a long road before Cora was normal again. Al is a spitting image of his father if you take away those red curls. I know, I grew up with him. Marco was my best friend."

At this revelation, Legolas' gaze shot to me, his mouth open in agape, "Francesco, forgive me. This must be difficult for you, to speak of him."

I waved him off, "I was very sad, for a time before I remembered, he wouldn't want me to be sad or angry all the time. Marco was a soldier; he knew exactly what he was getting into when he was assigned to that mission. We spoke before he left. I still remember his last words to me."

At this the blonde next to me said nothing but waited for me to continue, "He was sitting, right where you are now and he looked me in the eyes and told me what he wanted if he died. I laughed it off, told him he was being ridiculous but he was serious. He knew he wasn't coming back. He said to me, 'France, I do not want you all to be sad for me. I want you to live. Live the life that I won't be able to. Live for me.'"

I glanced at the man to my right to find him staring hard into his glass, still listening to my story, "So I did. When that baby opened his eyes and they were blue as most babies' eyes are. I saw Cora turn away and start to cry. I sat down beside her and I forced her to look at the child. Marco's child and I told her what he told me. I told her that Marco would want her to live the life he couldn't, to give their son the life he wouldn't have. In that moment, she understood and she resolved to be better. To not be sad every time she looked at her baby and saw him."

"I understand that she was upset at Alistair's confusion but I did not believe it would affect her so deeply. It has been more than two weeks. While we were gone, we had…been together and I told her of my feelings, I confessed my love for her, that I would stay by her side through anything."

Now it was my turn to listen, my brows raised slightly at the development that they had "been together" as he put it but I couldn't be all that surprised. You could have cut the sexual tension between them with a chainsaw. I sat back and watched as he ran a hand over his eyes before draining the glass of its remaining drink. He sighed at its emptiness, "My people… we are patient, but I feel trapped by her isolation and I do not understand how to help her if she will not let me. To see her deplete a little more everyday is painful for me and even the boy. He is beginning to notice that she doesn't return his smiles; she doesn't play with him as enthusiastically. If she does not wish me to act as a father to him why would she ignore him so?"

I pointed in his direction with my glass in hand, "She is conflicted. She just needs some more time to remember her promise. Trust me. I will try to speak to her tomorrow."

"While I am disheartened that I cannot be the one to come to her aid, I appreciate your help, Francesco. Thank you, my friend," he said with a small smile.

I clapped him on the back, "No problem, amico. By the way, good on you for catching her. Marco used to say that she was hot in the-"

He chuckled and raised a hand in pleading all the while with a smug smile on his face, "Please Francesco, I thank you but I would prefer not to discuss such things about my lady."

"Alright then, you devil, you! Go on, get some sleep and let me "take care of" my wife," I joked with wagging brows.

He laughed even more at my strange expression before rising from the sofa, "Very well. I bid you good night."

As soon as I heard the door close, Elisa popped her head around the corner, "Allora? Tutto risolto?"

Laying with my head back on the couch, I closed my eyes and answered her, "Yes, amore, one down and one more to go…mmm, that feels good"

I felt her straddle me and my hands came up to caress her sides in instinct. She praised me in between light kisses on my neck, "Grazie, marito mio."

"Hmm, if this is what I get for fixing things, then I should be doing it more often."

She squealed as I picked her up and carried her into our bedroom to claim my prize for being the do-gooder.

The next sunrise brought a beautiful July morning. I woke up to the sound of cicada's chirping the summer heat and turned to see the clock read ten past seven. Beside me, Elisa slept peacefully and I brushed her cheek with my lips before rising to enjoy the quiet dawn. In the kitchen I prepared a glass of juice before retreating to the outdoor patio. I sat there for about half an hour before I heard the sliding door open and close and the soft slap of bare feet on tile. I looked over the small divider to find Cora settling into the lounge chair with her usual cup of coffee. Not wanting to startle her, I muttered a soft, "Buongiorno, cara."

She glanced in my direction before replying tiredly, "Oh, Hi France."

I knew this was my chance to talk to her before anyone else got up for the day but I had learned long ago not to bother her before she had consumed at least half of her mug of "life blood" as she called it. We sat there silently enjoying the tranquility for a bit before I rose from my chair and crossed over to her side of the patio. She watched warily as I came to sit in front of her on the opposite chair. Sighing, I decided on an ice breaker before getting down with the heavy stuff, "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day."

She took a sip from her mug before answering with a quiet, "mmh-hmm."

"It's nice to see you out in the sun for a change, my friend," I said jokingly, flashing her a mocking grin.

She huffed and rolled her eyes but I saw the twinge of a smile on her face, maybe I would be lucky today. I chuckled softly before I looked straight at her with a slightly more serious expression, "You know, we've all been worried about you."

She turned her gaze away and studied the tiles with interest. She wasn't getting away from me that easily, "Especially a certain blonde we know."

"There's nothing to worry about. I'm fine."

It was my turn the huff indignantly, "You can call it what you like but we both know that's a lie. Remember, cara, we've been here before."

She fixed me with narrowed eyes, "Really France, I'm fine."

"So, you're no longer bothered that your son thinks Legolas is his father? You have yet to correct him, my friend."

"I'm not angry at them anymore, if that's what you want to know," she stopped for a moment, taking a breath, "of course it bothers me. But what am I supposed to do now? Confuse him even further? This is my fault, France. I was too afraid the show him who his father was because I was still suffering. And now my child thinks some stranger is his dad and I don't have the balls to tell him otherwise. And what's even worse is that I let myself fall for this guy who just walked into my life. I broke my wedding vows by hopping into bed with the first man to pay any attention to me. I'm a horrible wife and mother. I've failed them both. "

I listened as she rambled on becoming more distraught as we went on. If she was ready to open up I wasn't going to stop her. She needed to get this out. When she was finished, her eyes were watering with unshed tears as she fought not the cry with energy she no longer had. As a single drop began to roll down her flushed cheek, I reached over and wiped it away before gently grasping her shoulder in comfort. I spoke softly and with confidence, the same way I had on the day my best friend's son was born, "Ehi, guardami Cora." (Hey, look at me.)

She took a deep breath before meeting my gaze. Her green eyes swimming with all the emotions she had been holding back for years, "You are a wonderful mother to Alistair. You were a wonderful wife to my friend. And you are an amazing woman who has been through so much in her short years of life. Becoming a widow at twenty-two is not something everyone goes through. Having to support yourself, your studies and your child all alone is not easy. You have been braver than anyone, I have ever met. And as for your feelings for Legolas, you should not feel guilty for them at all. Marco is gone, god bless his soul, but he wouldn't want you to be alone forever. You remember what I told you?"

I stared down at her, imploring her to remember. She looked back at me and nodded, "I remember."

"Good. He wanted you to move on. To live life to the fullest. He would not be angry with you for having feelings for another man," I said to her a comforting smile upon my lips.

She sighed hard and it seemed as if a large part of the weight on her shoulders lifted, "I've made a big mess of things, haven't I?"

"Well, just a little," I mocked grinning wryly. She responded with a playful smack on my arm and I pretended to be hurt if only to garner another smirk from her. I was pleased to see that I had succeeded as she tried to hide the smile with the rim of her coffee mug. Turning another serious look on her, I asked, "You know what you have to do now, right?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I'll talk to them. Just let me finish my coffee first. Don't think I don't know what you did there, Mister? Catching me with my guard down."

I feigned a look around the garden, "Who? Me?!"

We shared another smile before I left her in peace to share the news with my wife. As I closed the glass door behind me, I sighed in relief. Yes, everything would soon be back to normal.

Cora's P.O.V

I let out my own sigh of relief as I felt some of the burden I had been carrying lift off my shoulders. For two weeks, I had been moody, despondent, and a shell of my normal self and the people around me suffered for it. I felt sorry for what I had put them through and decided that I would soon put everything to rights. Laying back in the lounge, I closed my eyes as I soaked in the Saturday morning sun and didn't realize that I was drifting off. I really hadn't slept well at all recently.

Strangely I heard the shouts of fishermen calling to each other and the soft rolling of waves of the sand. The smell of the sea was strong here. A brush of fingers on my cheek tried to rouse me from my sleepy state. It wasn't until I heard a familiar timber whisper in my ear that I shot awake. That voice…I knew that voice but the last time I heard it had been years ago. My eyes flew open and met a pair of baby blues that I had seen only in photographs. His smile was lazy as he muttered a quiet, "Buongiorno, amore mio."

I raised my own hands to his face, needing to touch him not truly believing he was there until I felt the prickly stubble on his strong chin. In disbelief I whispered, "This isn't real. This must be a dream."

His smile told me that I was right and I wrapped my arms around his neck and let out the tears that had built up there. His strong arms embraced me and he let out a low chuckle, "Allora! I come to see you and you cry all over me? Not exactly the welcome I was expecting."

I pulled away and kissed him with fever, afraid that if I didn't do it now, I would wake up and never be able to again, "Marco…oh, Marco. I've missed you so much."

"Anch'io amore mio," he said as he held me to him and I felt warmth that I hadn't felt for a long time, "I've been watching over you, Cora, and that son of mine."

I gazed up at him and smiled reverently through the lingering tears, "We have a son, my love. He looks just like you, acts just like you. He has your smile and your laugh. Everything he does reminds me of you."

As I told him about our baby, I grew quieter and he noticed. Taking hold of my chin in his fingers he forced me to look at him, "Che c'è, Cora?" (What is it, Cora?)

I took a deep breath before the dam of my emotions broke, "It was so hard…losing you and then finding out that I was having our baby. A child that would never know his father but would be a constant reminder of him. It was hard, Marco, I fought everyday not to break down. I really did. Why? Why did you have to go, my love?"

"Shhh, amore, ascoltami. I know. I saw how hard it was for you, I watch you struggle every day. I wasn't my choice to leave you, cara, it was just my time. I have accepted that now. And it's time you did too."

I shook my head not wanting to hear the words I knew he was going to say, "No…no no."

"Baby, listen to me. I can't stay much longer. Soon you are going to wake up and I need you to listen to me, okay?" he pleaded with me, his hands grasping my shoulder tightly.

I let out a shaky breath and nodded; forcing myself to hear the words I dreaded hearing. Once I was calmed down, he continued, "I have seen all that has happened. I have seen Legolas' arrival and I have watched you struggle with your feelings for him-"

I made to interrupt him but he put a finger to my lips, "I know you're falling in love with him. It's okay, amore. I see how happy he makes you and I want you to be happy. I also see how he loves you and how he loves our son. Cora, you have to accept that I will never be able to be there for him but he's going to need a father. "

I silently shook my head in sadness at his words but I did not try to stop him, "If I can't be there for him, I would like a male like Legolas to act in my place. He will be good for our son. He'll teach him to be strong and respectful and all the things I would have wanted for him. Please give him a chance, amore mio."

I nodded in acquiescence but that obviously wasn't enough, "Cora, dimmelo. Dimmi che lo farai." (Say it. Tell me you will do it.)

I bravely looked into his eyes and said the words, exactly as he would have wanted. I wouldn't disappoint him. If I could only give him one last thing, then I would do this. I would live for him, "I promise, Marco."

His hands caressed my face lovingly and I returned to favor as we rested our foreheads against each other. Knowing this moment couldn't last forever. All too soon I felt the twinge of waking but I refused to cry. I would not spend the last moments with him in tears.

"Ti amo, Cora. Ti ho sempre amato e ti amerò per sempre," he said firmly knowing this was the last time we would ever share these words.

"Anch'io, Marco. Ti amo," I replied with a strength that I knew would make him proud.

As I felt my body waking, we shared one last kiss, filled with all the love we felt. This most precious dream I had ever had.

Before opening my eyes to the now glaring sun, I committed the whole thing to memory. I would never forget the gift that Marco had given me even from the great beyond. I opened my eyes to a new world. I no longer felt the weight of pain that I had been carrying around since his passing. I was ready to move on…to fulfill his last wish. I smiled and whispered a quiet thank you to the heavens, knowing that he would hear me.

I was standing at the counter, pouring myself another cup of coffee when he walked in. I turned to see him, fully dressed and composed as he always was, somehow making a pair of jeans and a t-shirt look regal. The expression he wore was wary as he looked back at me, unsure of what my mood was this morning. I gave him a half smile, "Good morning."

If he was surprised by my chipper attitude he didn't show it as he replied with his own greeting. I turned back to the machine asking him if he wanted a cup and prepared it too his liking when he accepted. We sat down at the table, across from each other. Silently taking sips from the brew. I could feel his glances and after the fifth, I decided it was time to speak up. In a soft but confident voice I started with an apology, "Legolas, I want to say I'm sorry. I have treated you unfairly for no reason but my insecurities and I'm really sorry about that. It wasn't right."

I met his gaze over the table. He was frozen, his mug lifted halfway before he quietly set it down. He fixed me with his azure blue eyes, so different from the ones I had just seen in my dream, as he replied, "I have been quite distraught over you, Cora. We all have been."

"I know," I countered, "I was angry at first but then I realized this whole thing wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been afraid to face my husband's death and the guilt overwhelmed me. I felt guilty for never showing Alistair his real father. I felt guilty for having feelings for you and for having slept with you."

He listened quietly as I continued, "It wasn't until this very morning that I had finally come to terms with it all."

"Francesco has a way of saying just what one needs to hear," he murmured wryly.

My lips turned up in a grin, "Yeah, you're right."

I stopped for a moment before continuing, "Legolas, I'm sorry if I made you doubt my feelings for you or if I made you feel rejected in anyway. I never wanted that. Can you forgive me?"

He got up from the table to sit beside me pulling my chair closer to his. His hands pulled mine away from my coffee mug to hold them firmly in his. His warmth spreading through me was comforting and reassuring even as he said the words, "There is nothing to forgive, meleth nin. If anything it should I that begs forgiveness of you. I should never have kept secrets from you. Can you forgive me?"

I took one of my hands from his to caress the place where his heart resided, as I whispered, "I already have."

At this he pulled me up out of my chair and into his arms. We stood there in each other's embrace and I took in the scent of autumn leaves that seemed to always cling to him, allowing it to fill me with content. We stayed that way for a while until we heard the quiet babbling of my son from his bedroom. We met each other's gaze and he moved to go but I pulled him back. His eyes questioned me. Holding his hand in mine I said, "There's one more thing I want to discuss with you."

He turned his full attention to me and I asked what I already knew but I needed to hear his say the words. I needed to be sure, "Legolas, I know you love me and I know how my son feels about you. Obviously, he sees something in you that has been missing from his life. He's going to need a father figure in his life. Before we take this any further, I need you to understand that Alistair and I are a package deal. If you want me then you're going to get both of us. Are you ready for this?"

I was worried he might feel offended by my words but as usual he surprised me. His smile was radiating confidence as he reached out and caressed my face before pressing a light kiss to my lips. Pulling away slightly, he spoke, "I have known this ever since the day I realized I loved you. I love you, Cora, and I love your son as if he were my own. Cora, I will never seek to take his father's place but I will be glad to act in his stead. My only hope is that I can live up to his and your expectations."

Unable to hold back my happiness at his words, I firmly pressed my lips to his. He stumbled slightly at the force before recovering and wrapping me up in his arms, returning my kiss with equal fever. It seemed that the past two weeks apart had only increased our desire and we began to lose ourselves in each other. As I was about to run my hands under the t-shirt separating us, we both heard an indignant yell from upstairs. Reluctantly we let go of each other and rested our foreheads together, laughing softly at the aggravated toddler.

Legolas groaned, "I think someone wants his mother."

"I don't know," I joked, "I heard a 'daddy' in there too."

His chest puffed out in pride at my acceptance before he let go of my hips and gently pushed me towards the stairs, "Go get your son. He is most likely ready to break his fast."

"You mean 'our' son," I called over my shoulder back at him. I didn't need to turn around to see how pleased he was.

Once upstairs, I came face to face with a red faced little boy, glaring out over the rails of his crib. I laughed at his expression which only irritated him more as he growled at me, "Mean mamma."

"Good morning to you too, Alistair," I said cheerfully as I plucked him out of the bed, "Did mommy make you wait too long?"

"Yes," he huffed, "I hungry."

Caressing his wild curls as I left the room, I chuckled softly, "I'm sorry, baby. How about some pancakes to make it up to you? Hmm?"

He squealed in delight and we went down to the kitchen, where I passed him off to Legolas while I prepared breakfast. After we all ate and the dishes were cleaned, I took Alistair in my arms and nodded at Legolas to follow me into the living room. I wanted him to be there for what I was about to do. Though I was no longer afraid, having his strong presence near would be comforting. Picking up a photo album from the bookshelf, I sat down on the sofa with my son on my lap. He waited quietly, somehow knowing that I was about to tell his something important. Legolas sat beside us, his arm rested on the back of the couch behind us.

"Al, I want to show you something," I said quietly as I opened the book to the first page. On the page was a picture of a younger me in my wedding dress wrapped up in Marco's arms. I let Al touch the picture as he pointed at me, "Pretty mamma."

"Quite right," Legolas agreed softly.

I flipped to the next page, where there was a picture of just Marco in his uniform. I had taken it right before he went to boot camp. I watched as Alistair studied the picture, his little brow furrowed in confusion before he looked up at me and asked, "Who dat?"

I brushed my fingers through his curls before replying, "That's your babbo, Alistair."

He looked down at the picture before turning to look at Legolas, who gave him a soft smile, and then looked up at me, "Babbo?"

"Yes, baby, that's your real babbo."

His expression only became more puzzled before he asked, "Where is'e?"

"In heaven, with nonna (grandmother)," I answered, reminding him of the discussion we had when his grandmother died.

He was obviously confused but it would take time for him to get used to this. He took another glance around before looking at Legolas, pleading, "Babbo?"

Legolas looked at me momentarily before taking Alistair from my arms into his, sitting him on his lap and fixing him with a serious yet warm expression. He indicated to the picture again and said, "That is your babbo, Alistair. I am your Adar."

I bit my lip to stop the happy tears that started to fill my eyes as I watched the elf I was coming to love interact with my son so lovingly. Alistair concentrated on the new word before attempting it, "A..A-da… Ada?"

I watched as Legolas practically beamed with pride as he praised Alistair, "Yes, ionnin. Very good."

We let out a laugh as our son began a chorus of his new word. The home was filled with joy once again and we sat there for a long while, content to back in our newly established family.