Note: None of these characters are mine! This is the final chapter to this fic! Enjoy! Lemon warning! Aragorn/Legolas! Elvish speech is in ''. This song is not mine! Takes place months after Arwen left- just, she went West.

Return To Love

Legolas watched silently as Aragorn picked at his food.

The human had been despondent since Arwen had left those months ago. He rarely looked at the Elf during the day, but clung to him as a child at night. Aragorn felt guilty for loving another when he had married Arwen- and she had forsaken her immortality. The two had not even touched intimately since she had gone, unless a comforting embrace counted.

Legolas' heart was breaking; not just because his grief was hurting him, but because Aragorn hardly spoke to him any more. He wasn't the only suffering, Legolas thought angrily, tired of being ignored. They both were in pain.

Yet it was strange, Legolas thought. Neither cared if their feelings were known any longer, but Aragorn had pulled away from him. Arwen had left so that they could explore their feelings, but it seemed to be in vain.

Legolas did feel that Aragorn was toying with him, though. He begged him not to leave, yet gave him no reason to stay.

**********************************

Watching every motion
In my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say

Take my breath away
Take my breath away

***********************************

Aragorn studied the beautiful creature who sat near him. Legolas ate without enthusiasm, which concerned the human. He hadn't noticed that his own eating habits were decreasing daily.

Aragorn yearned to touch, feel, and taste the Elf. But it still felt like a betrayal to him, which was why he had pulled back. The human was uncertain of what to do. Torn between a love who had left, and a love who remained, Aragorn struggled to get by daily.

'Aragorn?' Legolas murmured, seeing the human look at him. That was surprising, considering everything.

Aragorn blinked. 'Yes, Legolas?'

Legolas licked his lips, as he placed his napkin back on the table. 'I received a message today. I have to return home, at least until things are settled in Mirkwood.'

You can't leave me, Aragorn silently shouted. Aloud, he said, 'Must you go? I will miss you.'

'Will you?' Legolas challenged suddenly. Could the one he loved say nothing more than 'I will miss you'?

'Of course,' Aragorn cried.

Legolas shot him a look that went directly into the human's soul. 'Aragorn, you aren't the only one who misses her. Stop thinking that you are the only one who does. Arwen left because of us, because she wanted to give us a chance. And I can't take this anymore. You won't even look at me.' The Elf shoved his chair back, and stalked away.

***********************************

Watching I keep waiting
Still anticipating love
Never hesitating
To become the fated ones
Turning and returning
To some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say

Take my breath away
Take my breath away

***********************************

Aragorn ran after the Elf in shock and horror. 'Legolas… I… I do love you.'

'It's too late for that,' Legolas whispered. 'I must go.'

The human was stricken at those words.

'I'll wait for you, Aragorn… But I won't wait forever,' were Legolas' parting words, as he left Aragorn standing there alone.

And it scared the human. He hadn't ever considered losing Legolas as he had lost Arwen.

Legolas returned to Mirkwood, and Aragorn withdrew even more. It wasn't until Gandalf came to see him a month later that the human finally understood.

"Aragorn, stop thinking only of yourself!" Gandalf said, tired of how the King did nothing but think of how much he had hurt. "He waits for you. Time is nothing to him, but everything to you. Did you ever consider what you did to make him leave?"

"I didn't do anything," Aragorn snapped. "He chose to leave."

Gandalf sighed. "Aragorn, do you think Legolas waited all this time for you to reveal his feelings, only to walk away without a reason? When you find the answer, go to him and ask his forgiveness."

"I won't!" Aragorn shouted. He hurt so bad that he took the pain out on whoever or whatever he could.

"Then you will lose him, son of Arathorn. Legolas will not wait forever," Gandalf finally told him, before he left.

And Aragorn was left alone again, to think about what he might have done to make Legolas leave. Then he remembered that Legolas had accused him of ignoring his very presence, and realized that Gandalf was right. He had withdrawn so much into his own grief that he forgot those who were around him.

Aragorn packed his belongings and took a long trip to Mirkwood, reflecting on his feelings.

The Elven kingdom was as splendid as ever, and the trees were even taller by the time the King of Gondor arrived. The Elves watched, hiding smiles on their faces. They knew why he'd come and pointed him towards the archery field.

Aragorn saw Legolas before he heard him. He gazed in wonder at the beauty before him.

Because it was such a humid day, Legolas had sweat on his brow, as he notched an arrow and let it fly. His blond hair was styled as it had always been, but a sadness was on the Elf's face and in his eyes. He wore brown leggings, a tan tunic, and a green shirt. A quiver lay on the ground next to him, as the archer notched another arrow.

***********************************

Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraid

Take my breath away
Take my breath away

***********************************

Legolas turned when he felt someone watching him. He dropped the bow when he saw that it was Aragorn. 'Aragorn,' he murmured. It took a lot of effort for him to not jump into the human's arms.

'Legolas, I'm sorry. I should not have turned away from you,' Aragorn said. He longed to reach out and hold the Elf.

Legolas shook his head, his eyes imploring. The motion sent his braids swinging slightly as he spoke. 'No, Aragorn. I should have been more understanding of your feelings.'

Aragorn argued, 'I was in the wrong. I ignored your pain and only thought of my own.'

'And I did the same to you,' Legolas countered.

The two sighed and looked at each other.

'I missed you,' Legolas finally said, sincerity in his voice. 'I… I hoped that you would come.'

'Of course I came,' Aragorn whispered, as he dropped everything he held and took Legolas in his arms. 'I love you.'

Hope brimmed in the beautiful emerald eyes. 'I love you, too,' Legolas whispered.

***********************************

Watching every motion
In this foolish lover's game
Haunted by the notion
Somewhere there's a love in flames
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn my way and say

Take my breath away
Take my breath away

***********************************

Aragorn made the first move. He kissed the gentle, firm lips of the one he loved, and was pleased when Legolas responded, returning the kiss sweetly with all of the love in his heart.

Both were glad that no-one else was around, as they kissed again, frantically, for each kiss left them wanting more. Hands removed garments, as the two chased each other's tongues, sucking gently.

Aragorn thought Legolas looked even more beautiful now than he had ever seen. His skin was pale and beautiful. The human gaped openly.

'What are you staring at?' Legolas questioned, as he nibbled at Aragorn's throat gently.

'You are so beautiful, Legolas. I am unworthy,' Aragorn murmured honestly.

A puzzled look entered Legolas' eyes. 'Why do you consider yourself unworthy?' he whispered seductively, as he ran his hands down Aragorn's chest. 'I chose you.'

Aragorn groaned, and forced the willing Elf to the ground. He hungrily kissed the slender blond figure, who looked faintly amused.

'Do you not wish to do other things?' Legolas inquired, cocking his head to one side.

Those words were too much for Aragorn and he quickly went to work on the smirking Elf, who moaned and whimpered beneath his skillful touch.

The two made love, letting their emotions control the pace and gentleness.

As their cries shattered the silence, the Elves who were close enough to hear them shook their heads, amused. They were pleased that the two had finally come to an agreement.

Estel had returned to Legolas; hope had entered their Prince's heart once more.

The End