First chap = disclaimers

Thanks for your reviews. Believe it or not, this fic will be nearing its conclusion in about four or so chapters!

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Elrond watched bemused as Glorfindel absently fenced with Elladan in the field below the balcony on which he stood. So, many years had passed since he had last held his sons in his arms. They were still young, but they had reached their majority and were straining to make their own mark upon the world. Although, it appeared the only mark that Elladan would be making any time soon would be of his rump in the grass.

Elrond sighed in apprehension. While Glorfindel fencing with Elladan was concern enough for Elrond, what bothered him more was the fact that Elrohir was nowhere to be seen. It was a rare occurrence when the twins were separate, especially when mischief was to be made with Glorfindel.

The thought of what Elrohir might be currently doing sent shivers down Elrond's spine. He swore that his second son had inherited more than his share of human blood. Always scheming was how Erestor had described the young elf. It was as if he was always trying to prove that though he was second born, he could have been first.

In truth, it frightened Elrond that his sons seemed to be so close in temperament to Elros and himself. Elros had always been about proving his worth even though Elrond never sought to outshine his brother. There were times late at night that Elrond would wake in fear that Elrohir would break his brother by choosing to side with man. The wander-lust that Elrohir sometimes had was not an Elvish attribute and had led many men to their deaths.

The problem was that Elladan and Elrohir did not have much else to separate them. Those who did not know them very, very well could not tell them apart. Not only did they look identical, but their mannerisms were the same. Only the bright spark of life that lit one twin's eyes at the mention of a fine horse told you he was Elrohir. Only the quiet step of tenderness when another wept spoke that it was Elladan that neared.

Such closeness even Elrond had not shared with Elros. It made a worse problem. For if Elrohir did indeed choose the path of men, he would likely take his brother with him.

"Why, Ada, you look like Glorfindel painted your desk blue again."

Startled, Elrond spun around to see Elrohir smiling at him.

"Where have you been?"

"Out." Elrohir's mouth tugged at the corners.

"Might I ask where?"

"Does it matter? I am not a child, Ada."

"No you are not, but I also know your brother was not with you."

"So?"

Elrond sighed in exasperation. "Elrohir, I am not so old that I have lost all my faculties. I know you. I also know that your brother is sometimes the sole carrier of your combined good sense."

"You think I have been in mischief." Elrohir stuck out his lip in a fair impression of a five-year-old's pout.

"With that look on your face, I do not think. I know."

Elrohir stared at his father's 'I'm the Lord of Imladris. Fear me' look and decided on a strategic retreat.

"It was all mother's idea."

Elrond's eyebrows rose. "Your mother?"

"Yes, but that is all I can tell you. Mother would hurt me if I told you more."

"She would hurt you more than I could?"

"Ada, this is Mother we are talking about. When I was twenty, you kneeled outside your bedroom begging for forgiveness."

Elrond's face blanched at the mention of that embarrassing moment. "I told Glorfindel to tell no-one of that incident."

"Ada, really. Who do you think told Glorfindel about it?"

"My own son betrayed me?"

Elrohir shrugged his shoulders. "Have gave me a dagger and bribed Elladan with sweets. It was a good trade at the time."

Elrond did his best not to roll his eyes and dismissed his son before he actually began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

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Elrond shivered lightly as he peeked into his chambers. Though several hours had passed since his mid-morning talk with his son, the conversation still lingered in his mind. Elrohir could have been lying about Celebrian instigating some plot, but one could never be too careful.

Silently and deftly, Elrond crept around his bedroom. On Celebrian's dressing table sat a note. Suspicious and intrigued at the same time, Elrond opened the note. Inside was a small note that said to meet her in her private garden.

Debating his options, Elrond threw caution to the wind and sought out his wife.

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Elrond smiled as he entered the small garden plot. Multiple candles lit up the pathway. Nestled between two hedges, Celebrian sat on a bed of flower petals waiting for him.

"You know there is something almost perverse about having your son help you to seduce your husband." Elrond said in a jesting tone.

"Oh? First of all, what makes you think I am seducing you? Secondly, you don't truly think I actually told Elrohir what I was planning to do, do you?"

"Well, that you are seducing me is fairly obvious, unless you were planning on reading to me with the help of multiple candles. Secondly, what exactly did you tell Elrohir? I think he would have been mortified had he known your true intent."

"I told him it was a joke I was playing on you because you vetoed my idea of spraying the rose bushes with the new treatment that my father suggested. I was going to complain that all the flowers lost their petals because of your shortsightedness."

"Ah. Now that that mystery has been answered, what is the occasion that brings us together?"

"Nothing, it is just a bit of nostalgia. I was missing our old flower bed that Glorfindel made. Seems how you had it turned into a bunk bed for the twins when they were younger, this was the closest I could get."

Elrond let his gaze wash over his wife. "I must say I like this arrangement much better."

Slowly, Elrond walked over and knelt next to Celebrian. His lips brushed against hers for the briefest of moments before he retreated to gaze at her eyes.

"Elrond, you can be a hopeless romantic sometimes."

"Really?" He asked before his lips began tracing the outline of her ear.

"Yes, really." Celebrian gasped slightly as he nipped lightly at the hollow of her throat.

"What does that make you then?"

"Me? I'm just in it for the sex."

Elrond stopped in mid lick of her throat and laughed. "You have gotten brazen living with your half-elven husband and his insane golden-haired friend."

"Don't I know it. My pure Elven body has been defiled by a lusty Elf with man's blood in his veins. Whatever shall I do?" Celebrian grinned as she lay back on the petals giving Elrond a glance at her curves as her dress settled against them.

"Well, I can think of a few things." Elrond said as he joined her.

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Glorfindel looked at Elrond. Smirking, he half opened his mouth.

"Not. One. Word. Glorfindel."

"But…"

"That sounded like a word."

"Elrond…"

"Another one."

"You're an Elf. How can you have an 'Ooops' so far along in your marriage? It is not like you don't know what makes babies. Unless, of course, you completely forgot about the fact that you have two sons."

"It is complicated."

"You mean, Celebrian wanted to have another child and decided that asking you would be a bad idea."

Elrond shot him a withering glare.

"Don't give me that look. If Celebrian had asked you first, you would have freaked."

"Freaked?"

Glorfindel blushed. "It is a bit of slang Elladan brought back after visiting the latest encampment of men."

Elrond rubbed his temples. "I am thrilled, but it is so unheard of. The twins are already grown and the darkness grows. These are no conditions for a new child."

"You would rather wait for the darkness to grow larger?"

Elrond sighed and sank into his chair. "I wish there was no darkness at all. I wish that Isildur had thrown that blasted ring into the pit."

"But, he did not, and he paid heavily for that crime. Now, tell me are you truly put off by the news?"

"Put off? Hardly, I'm ecstatic, my brain just won't agree with my heart on this matter."

"Not to mention your pride."

"Yes, well I really should have known Celebrian was up to something other than romance. Why else would she have constructed such a beautiful fantasy among the hedges?"

"Eiww, you did that in the garden?"

"Don't even pretend to be a prude."

"Hey, I used to be the Lord of the Golden Flower. I have a right to  be indignant about such things. So, did Celebria hit you when you were less than thrilled?"

"No, she doesn't know about my struggles. I reacted out of joy and kissed her senseless. Then I went into shock when she went to write her parents the news. I think she is still writing."

"Well, at least the two of you knew the signs this time."

"Yes, but the hard part is that I have to tell the twins."

"You cut a deal with Celebrian? She told her parents; you tell your children?"

"Glorfindel,"

"Yes?"

"Be gone."

"You wound me. But, as this is a happy occasion, I shall go fetch your boys for you. The sooner that better and all that."

Elrond growled in response.

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Elrohir looked at his brother as they left Elrond's study.

"You realize that this has got to be one of the greatest moments in our lives."

Elladan looked at his brother. "I am excited about the news, but you seem a touch more exuberant than I am."

Elrohir shook his head. "Ahh, but with a little one on the way, Father will spend his worry time focused on the baby. We will get to spoil it without having responsibilities. And I finally get a younger sibling of my own to boss around."