Happy Sunday everyone!

I am so sorry I've been so bad about responding to reviews on last chapter last week. Life unfortunately took over all my time and left me with no more brain power to use in the little free time I had. I hate giving halfhearted responses to reviews because all of your awesome thoughts deserve just as thoughtful a response in return. I'll be going out of town for the day this afternoon, but I will definitely be responding to each and every one of you this evening or tomorrow the absolute latest!

Thank you for your continued support on this story. At the time I'm writing this, we are seven views away from 4000! I'm sure by the time you read this, it will have reached this awesome new milestone! Thank you guys so much! You're the absolute best!

I hope you enjoy the new chapter! I think it will finally restore some light to this story *winks*. Have a blessed week and I'll be in touch soon with responses!

Elrond was correct in thinking that Elrohir's waking would be slow for it was midday before the first faint groan was heard from the still body in Elladan's arms.

"Elrohir, ELROHIR", Elladan exclaimed, grabbing his brother's hand in his.

"Hush, Elladan", Elrond reproved gently. "He will be very groggy and you will frighten him with such yelling."

Elladan immediately clamped his mouth shut. Normally Elrohir would send a wave of calm into his fëa in situations as this that would curb such outbursts before they happened. It was so habitual by now that neither even realized it happened, but Elladan certainly noticed its absence. Just another example of why he needed Elrohir so much.

Another groan pulled Elladan's thoughts back to his waking brother and he tightened his grip on Elrohir's hand though he made sure to bite his tongue this time and not make a sound. Finally, Elrohir's eyes opened and he looked up into the faces of his brother and father overhead.

"Elrohir, brother, can you hear me", Elladan asked, much softer this time. His hand moved rom gripping Elrohir's to rest against his little brother's cheek.

Elrohir blinked up his family for a moment before he made an attempt to speak. "A…A…da", he croaked. "'L'dan."

"Yes, ion, we are here", Elrond soothed. "We are right here with you."

"H…hurts", Elrohir moaned, weakly bringing a hand up to grip his chest and the other to press against his forehead. He shivered, curling up on himself tighter to seek warmth. "Co…Cold."

"Elladan, go stoke the fire, saes", Elrond said. "And bring your brother another blanket or two."

Elladan nodded and gently laid Elrohir down on the pillows, hurrying over to the fire to build it up higher.

"A…Ada, what h…happened to me", Elrohir murmured weakly, breaking off with a harsh cough as his dry throat protested. "Were we in another battle? Did I get shot in the chest again? It feels like the same ache."

Elrond grimaced at the memory Elrohir had brought up while he helped his son take down some cool water. He hated thinking of that day for he had been nearly certain that Elrohir would not survive his grievous wounds. Never had he liked the orc hunts his boys went on, but after that day he had grown to hate them. The hardest thing he'd ever had to do was allowing them to ride off on another hunt after Elrohir recovered. Though he'd done it, he hadn't slept for a week afterward until Glorfindel had finally drugged his food and forced him to. Never had his sons come home so wounded since that day, a blessing to his father's heart. Elrond took a deep breath as those memories replayed in his mind and reminded himself that his son had rallied and pulled through then. Elrond believed he'd do it again now.

"No, my son, there was no battle", Elrond said soothingly. "Try to think back. Can you remember what happened?"

Elrohir blinked slowly for several minutes as he tried to think back to recent events. He remembered finding Arathorn's village burned, bringing Gilraen and Aragorn back, his heavy grief that finally allowed him to see his hate of killing, Gilraen's eventual death that laid yet another knife wound upon his soul, his depression afterward, and finally the fateful day playing in the creek with Aragorn. He remembered the sharp agony of his fëa finally breaking inside of him and was glad that, while his heart still hurt, it was not nearly as painful as it had been that awful afternoon. He blinked again as more soft blankets were tucked around him and his eyes found the faces of his brother and father staring back at him expectantly waiting for an answer.

"Aye", he whispered. "I remember."

"I want you to tell me how this happened, my son", Elrond said. "What hurt you so very badly?"

Elrohir shook his head as tears formed in his eyes. "It does not matter, Ada. There is nothing that can be done about it."

"Elrohir, this is important, ion nin", Elrond pressed gently, cupping his son's cheek with his palm and turning his face toward his own. "Your brother and I already think we know what happened, but I wish to hear it directly from you. Do not close yourself off, Elrohir. That is a very dangerous choice to make in the condition you are in."

Elrohir sighed but nodded softly. Perhaps his brother and father could at least make this easier to bear if he shared his burden with them.

"I…I realized that afternoon that Aragorn would soon be leaving", Elrohir murmured, studying the sheets beneath him. "I was already growing so very attached to him. I…I love him so dearly, Ada. Always he has been like a little brother to me, but even more so now that he has no one left besides us. I feared it might be years before I see him again if you send him as far as Gondor. I feared he would forget us as the years went by and it broke my heart to know I will miss so much of his young life. I am going to miss this connection I have with him so desperately as it is and I knew I had to stop my attachment to him before it grew out of control. I know he has to move on eventually and would never wish to hold him back merely because it will be hard for me to say goodbye. So, I…I tried to separate myself from the love and attachment I have for him and forget the joy he brings me. I tore it out of my fëa and buried deep inside. It was too much for my heart to lose though I suppose. I think… I think it broke my fëa."

"Aye, that it did", Elrond murmured sadly, brushing some hair out of his son's face. "You are beginning to recover but your love for and attachment to Aragorn are still missing. They make up a large piece of who you are, my son, and they must return in order for you to be who were again."

"I should have talked with you and Elladan before I tried to separate myself completely from loving him", Elrohir said sadly. Goheno nin, Ada. I panicked; I think. I…I do not know just how to bring back that joy to my fëa…perhaps if I saw Aragorn? Where is he?" Suddenly Elrohir swallowed thickly and his gaze turned fearful. "Did he leave while I was unconscious? D…Did I miss being able to tell him goodbye and hug him one last time?"

"Nay, my son, nay", Elrond assured him, squeezing his shoulder tightly. "He is still here. I think he and Glorfindel were taking a walk in the gardens today."

"I am so glad", Elrohir sighed, giving a small relieved smile though it remained heavy with sadness. "I know it will hurt, but I realize now that I do want to be able to say goodbye with all my love and be the person Aragorn knows when the time comes for him to leave. I do not want our goodbye to be cold and distant. I want him to always remember how much I love him. Maybe, if he feels enough how much I love him, he shall not forget me…at least not too quickly. Have…Have you found a home for him yet, Ada?"

Elrond's heart broke at the resigned and mournful tone in his son's voice and he knew then in his fëa what the right choice was. "Yes, my son, I believe I have."

"Oh", Elrohir murmured, a single tear making its way down his pale cheek. "When is he to leave? Will he go far?"

"No, not far at all", Elrond said, a gentle smile on his face and glimmer in eyes. "In fact, he will not even be leaving the valley."

"Wh…What, an elven family is going to take him", Elrohir asked in shock, struggling to push himself up on an elbow. "Who, Ada? Who is taking him? Will I be allowed to see him sometimes and play with him still?"

"I should certainly hope you will do so, ion nin", Elrond said, helping steady his son in a slightly more upright position. "It is the job of a big brother to keep his younger sibling entertained after all!"

Elrohir stared blankly at Elrond for a moment as his mind absorbed what was being told to him. As the realization of what Elrond was saying dawned on him, his eyes filled with tears and a tremble ran through his body.

"But that is impossible", Elrohir breathed. "Y…You promised Gilraen you would find him a good human family to go live with. You cannot break your promise and hold him back merely because it will hurt me, Ada!"

"I made no such promise to Gilraen", Elrond said. "I only promised I would find him a home where he would be safe, loved, and, above all, happy. I know of no safer place than our valley. None could love him more than you, me, Elladan, Glorfindel, Lindir, and Erestor. And what could make a boy happier than to live in a familiar place with people he has known and loved all his young life and to have two wonderful big brothers to dote on him?"

Elrohir's voice caught in a soft sob and he gripped his father's supporting arms tightly, feeling lightheaded with growing elation

"Ada, do not tell me such things if you do not truly mean them or if they may not come to be in the end", Elrohir croaked huskily. "Do you tell me the truth, Ada? Aragorn is permanently staying with us? He will be part of our family?"

"My son, I would never tell you such a thing in jest or if I was still unsure about it", Elrond said tenderly. "Yes, dear Elrohir. Aragorn will be staying permanently with us. He will be ours to love, to teach, to guide, and to watch grow into the great man he is destined to be."

Elrohir burst fully into sobs of pure joy as his mind wrapped itself fully around the realization that Aragorn was truly staying. He collapsed into Elrond's strong arms as he felt Elladan wrap his arms around him too, his brother's joy adding even more to his own.

"I take it you are pleased with the arrangements then, ion nin", Elrond asked, gently rubbing the back of Elrohir's head that rested on his shoulder.

"Oh, Ada, I could not be happier", Elrohir sobbed. "I love him. I love him so much and I want to watch him grow and feel his light and life. I…I need him, Ada." Suddenly desperation filled his eyes and he struggled to force his weak body out of bed. "I…I want to see him. I have to see him. I have to hold him."

"Easy, easy, my son, you are still too weak to be getting out of bed", Elrond cautioned, pushing him back against the pillows. "Your body went through a huge shock. I am sure Elladan will be more than happy to fetch him up to you, will you not Elladan?"

"Absolutely", Elladan said immediately. "You lay still and rest, little brother. I shall be right back."

With that, Elladan raced out the door to go find the boy that would complete the healing their family needed even as they loved and nurtured him. He ran to find their newest little brother.

Dream Plane: I remembered to respond this week! So sorry I was late last week but I did go back and revise the chapter with a response to you on like Monday or Tuesday.

I hope Elrohir's waking was satisfactory! Now all that's left is for little Aragorn to work his warm magic and bring the light and joy back to 'Ro's life!

Thank you as always for reading and reviewing!

Elvish Terms:

Ada – Father (familiar)

Ion Nin – My Son

Fëa – An elf's spirit

Please Review!