Elrohir fondly drew the brush from the cherry wood dresser, turning around to stroke his brother's hair with the soft bristles. Elladan closed his eyes, sitting patiently while the younger brushed his hair, now clean and silky from the previous bath. The twins remained in silence, savouring it for the first time that day. There has not been a moment's peace since Elrond bounded into Elrohir's room earlier; taking care of toddlers was surely a chore for only the most fittest of Elves.

Finishing his task, Elrohir placed the brush back into its drawer, proceeding to braid the ebony hair. His intents were disrupted when Elladan whirled around to pin him down on the soft blankets, straddling his waist. The younger blinked up at him, hair sprawled out across the silk, giving him a halo of chocolate brown hair. Elladan smiled, bending down to press soft kisses to his brother's cheek and forehead, then finally to his lips. Elrohir smirked. "Already?"

Elladan mirrored his brother's expression. "No. Not yet." He grinned. "We have just finished lunch, we have the rest of the day to work this out. And to watch Glorfindel pull out his hair."

Elrohir clicked his tongue. "Now now, melme, I think we're being too mean to Glorfindel."

"Really?" Elladan let the lean wrists free, lying down on his brother to snuggle against his chest. "I beg to differ."

Elrohir sighed, playing with strands of Elladan's hair. "I dunno, 'Adan." He tilted his head to the side to see his brother's eyes staring up at him. "I think we should be more helpful."

The older twin furrowed his eyebrows. "Helpful?"

"I recognize that that particular word isn't in your vocabulary, but…"

"But why?" Elladan captured the slim fingers in his own, pulling himself up to touch noses. He narrowed his eyes playfully, entwining his free hand into Elrohir's hair. "Elrohir…?"

"B...because…" Blinking innocently, Elrohir searched for a good answer. But the look his brother was giving him unnerved the poor Elf, and he was unable to think. Elladan quickly bit at his ear, making him shudder. "Because Glory…"

"Worried, eh?"

"YES! Yes, I'm worried!" Elrohir blew in his face; Elladan jerked back momentarily. "You know how Glorfindel works! Remember that last time? The bread incident?"

Elladan rolled his eyes. "How could I forget?"

"You couldn't! Glorfindel is as old as Ada, and twice as cunning! He's always got something up his sleeve! Maybe this wasn't a good idea…"

"Elrohir, you talk too much." Elladan tipped his finger to his brother's nose. "Don't worry. The stuff I slipped into Ada's drink would only last a day. Besides, the amount I used should wear off in a few hours."

Elrohir threw him a skeptical glance. "You're sure?"

Pause.

"Yes?"

Elladan grasped his twin's arm before he could leave, pulling him back and hugging him to his body. "Love, believe me. If I tell a lie, you can punish me if you want. Until then…"

"Punish you?" A timid, sneaky smile flashed across Elrohir's lips. "You promise?"

Widening his eyes, Elladan stared down at his mirror image, snorting. "No!"

"C'mon, you never let me punish you!"

"I'm not gonna start now!"

"You don't love me?"

"I never said that!"

"You don't love mee…! I'm hurt! Betrayed!"

"Elrohir!"

"I've been bad, Elladan – punish me."

Silence.

"Heh heh… rawr…"

"*GRIN*"

~***~

Elrond flung his arms around Glorfindel's neck, singing happily in the most unangelic voice possible, and even more so, directly into his delicate, sensitive pointed ear. The blonde Elf recoiled in horror, grabbing Elrond's arms and wrenching them off his neck, gasping and patting his fingers to his ears desperately, checking for blood. Relieved, he sent a quick glare to the oblivious, singing child; Elrond paused for a moment before bursting into a very bawdy beer tavern song – one that even made Glorfindel turn a bright red.

"ELROND! You should not sing that!"

Puppy eyes stared back up at him. "Why?"

Glorfindel tried to resist the eyes, chewing at his lip. "Because… it's not… it's not a nice song!"

He blinked. "It isn't?"

"No!"

"Oh. Okay."

Sighing heavily, Glorfindel began to turn back around to finish whatever he was doing only to cringe and whirl back to face the child when he began right where he left off with his beer song. Massaging his temples calmly, he picked up the toddler, carrying him over to the big overstuffed chair and dumped him into the cushions. Elrond squeaked and giggled, undaunted and still singing. "…gave a ghastly gurgle...[UUURGH]...and fell dead upon the ground…"

"Ai! Elrond! Stop that this instant!"

Elrond, to his thankful surprise, haulted his, ahem, melodious chants. Glorfindel straightened, fixing his hair slightly and plopped himself into an opposing chair. Regaining the calming tone to his voice, he repeated, "Sing something else."

"Oh I'm the man, the very fat man, That waters the workers beer…"

"That *isn't* a beer tavern song."

Huge brown eyes looked at him filled to the brink with confusion. "But I dunno anything else."

"Of course you do!" Searching for a famous, easy tune, he continued, "What about Gil-Galad?"

Blink. Blink.

Sweat began to bead on his forehead. "Don't give me that look! You know who Gil-Galad is?"

His eyes brightened. "Yeah!" Glorfindel visibly relaxed, settling back into the cushions.

"Good."

"I have a dog his name is Rover. OH MY GOODNESS! I have a dog his name is Rover. EEE BY GUM! I have a dog his name is Rover, And when he shits he shits all over. SHIT ALL ROUND THE ROO…"

"ELROND!!!"

~***~

Elladan ran manically around the halls, scaring some of Imladris' inhabitants and petrifying the others. The heir slid against the slippery marble floors, waving his arms frantically to grab a hold to a pillar, hanging onto it for dear life. Elrond was only a mere few yards away, prancing happily about, carrying a very, *very* delicate and *very* priceless piece of china, one he wouldn't be messing around with if he were the 6, 000 + Elf he used to be.

Elrohir and Glorfindel had placed themselves on other sides of the room, making it almost impossible for the little Lord to leave without passing them first. Elrond threw the china up into the air, catching it deftly just as it plummet down, causing the three other Elves to heave a huge sigh, but Glorfindel shrieked when the child decided it would be fun to test the china horse (which measured to be nearly half his size, but rather lightweight) for a flying lesson.

Climbing the banister and standing on the rail, Elrond viewed the marvelous gardens from his perch briefly. Elrohir, silently thanking the Valar that his father agreed to teach him how to ice skate when he was younger, swept across the icy-touch of the floors to Elrond, grasping him firmly by the waist a second too late.

The horse went down.

Glorfindel screamed, launching at the nearest rail and leaping over it, trying to catch a hold of the horse before it broke against the ground below. Elladan merely stood back behind his pillar to watch it all, positive that if he had a tail it would be between his legs at his very moment. Elrond was confused beyond all else, not understanding the worth of that play toy, but equally as ashamed as Elladan. Elrohir was trying to nicely rebuke him, but when Glorfindel reared his angry head, all hope vanished.

All of them were going to die.

Sensing the older Elf's state, Elrond blurted out the first thing to come to mind in hopes to soothe him.

"Booze! Booze!" the firemen cried As they came a-knocking at the door, Oh don't let them in till it's all mopped up, Somebody shouted "MacKintyre" MACKINTYRE!!!!!"

"ELROND!!"