Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, don't own.

A/N: Thanks tooooooo......

Vampire Feuer: yeah, guess she did, lol. Ah well.

AmberEmeraldBunnyMoth12020: hahaha, like I care.

Black Cherrie: yay, I'm glad you like it!

Arwennicole: yes, yes, I read it! Loved it, too! Ooooooh I can't wait for next update! I'm so glad it's going to be longer!

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Kallasilya: wow, I'm glad you think it's well written! That means a lot; I've worked really hard on this story.

Gemini969: thx! Will do.

Jennifer Bloom: hehe. Wow, where do you live. That's weird. June to March...hmm... I'm glad I can be of some help!

Magicgirl810: that is called 'A New Day Has Come' and it is by Celine Dion. Yup.

Lady Anck-su-namun: cool, you like that song? Me too, but it was suggested to me by another reviewer.

Countess Katook: lol, yeah, I know. I've barely had time to type up the story.

CrazyCruzet212: yeah, no sequel. But I think I'm going to make it just a little longer (as in a couple chapters) than I had originally planned. So no worries!

Myri78: lol, I'm glad that u like.

Insane Elven Rock Baby: lol, yeah.

Saera: yes, I updated. And she told him. Yeah. Lol.

lexi22: lol, dat's ok. Seriously, tho, lol.

Lunawolf: hehe, yeah.

Aliana Archer: hehe, that's what I would have done. (btw, your name just might appear in a chapter to come [Aliana] hope you don't mind.)

loveroflegolas: hehe, you'll c! thx, that means a lot!

Okay, and now for Chapter 26: A Shocking Realization!

Exactly eighteen years had passed since Gwyn had given birth to Estel. She was now four months pregnant with her second child, and her first child was preparing to travel around Middle-Earth with his childhood friends.

Estel had grown into a handsome young man of eighteen. He was tall and muscular, and his wavy brown hair and shining blue eyes had captured the attention of all the young elf maidens in Eryn Lasgalen...and all the young ladies in Gondor (which he visited often to see his grandfather and his uncle, the seventeen-year-old Eldarion, Gwyn's brother, and heir to the throne of Gondor. 'Be careful, darling,' Gwyn whispered as she hugged her son tightly.

'I will, Mother,' Estel promised. 'You be careful, too.' He drew away from her.

Gwyn smiled, placing a hand on her stomach. 'I will,' she said. 'And by the time you return you will have a little brother of sister.'

Estel grinned. 'I can hardly wait. Goodbye, Mother.'

'Goodbye, darling.'

Estel turned to his father and placed a hand on his shoulder. Legolas returned the gesture. 'Namarië, ior-nin (Farewell, my son),' he said.

'Namarië, Ada (Farewell, Father),' Estel said. He smiled and turned to his friends (who had all finished their farewells) and then they set off into the world.

Gwyn gave a sad sigh, and Legolas put his arm comfortingly around her waist, drawing her close. 'I can't believe my little baby is all grown up,' she murmured, putting her head on his shoulder.

'I know,' Legolas said. 'But you must remember how you felt when—'

'I know, I know.... Now I know how my father felt.'

'Exactly.'

That night...

'Legolas?' Gwyn said softly, standing by the window. A gentle breeze soundlessly rippled the verdant grass. Rays of moonlight peeked through the treetops, creating an eerie light over everything.

Legolas came up behind his wife. Though she had only last year entered her forty's, she looked just as she did when she was twenty. 'What is it, darling?' he asked gently, wrapping his arms around her.

'Do you still trust me?'

'Gwyn, I have trusted you steadily now for seventeen years.'

Gwyn eyes looked slightly frightened as she looked up. 'Will you promise me something, Legolas?'

He nodded.

'Will you promise me that when I come close to giving birth, you will not let me do something incredibly stupid like I did last time?'

Legolas laughed, and Gwyn looked hurt. 'I'm sorry, darling,' he said, still chuckling. 'It's just that no matter what I tell you, you never listen to me.'

'I will this time; I promise,' Gwyn protested earnestly. 'Please?'

'Of course I will,' Legolas sighed. 'But if you do not listen to me...'

'Then it's not your fault,' Gwyn finished for him. 'Fine.' She looked out the window. 'Do you this Estel is alright?' she asked quietly.

'I know he his,' Legolas answered. 'I taught him, remember?'

Gwyn sighed. 'I know,' she said. 'I cannot help being worried, though.'

'Then perhaps you need something to take you mind off of him,' Legolas grinned. When Gwyn looked up in confusion, he leaned down and captured her lips in a graceful kiss.

Four months later...September...

Legolas and Gwyn walked through the woods quietly, hand-in-hand. Gwyn frowned suddenly, her other hand on her stomach.

'Gwyn?' Legolas said. 'Is something wrong?' He looked concernedly at her.

'Not really,' she answered. 'But don't you think that my stomach is a little bigger than last time?'

Legolas surveyed her. 'I didn't notice before,' he said, 'but now that you mention it...yes, it does look bigger. A great deal bigger, actually.' He stopped walking and frowned.

Gwyn looked down at her stomach, both hands running ceaselessly over it. 'I don't understand; what do you think—' she broke off, suddenly, and her hands stopped. 'Valar,' she breathed.

'What, Gwyn, what is it?' Legolas asked anxiously.

Gwyn looked up at him, her eyes wide. 'Legolas...I think I'm going to have twins.'

'Gwyn, it's going to be fine,' Legolas said soothingly, sitting on the edge of their bed.

'No! No it's not!' Gwyn cried, her voice strangely high-pitched as she paced in their bedroom, wringing her hands nervously.

'You don't even know for certain that you're going to have twins.'

'What else could it be, Legolas? I'm twice as big; twins is the only thing that makes sense!' Gwyn threw up her hands in anxiety. 'This has never happened before; I don't know what to do!'

Legolas sighed, and stood. He walked over to her and took hold of her wrists, gently holding them by her sides. 'Gwyn,' he said, gently but firmly, 'you need to calm down.'

'I can't Legolas! I'm too nervous!'

'Come,' Legolas said, gently tugging her towards the bed. 'Lie down and breath. You'll feel better; I promise.'

Gwyn rolled her eyes, but gave in to the tugging. 'Fine,' she muttered. She lay down on the soft bed and breathed deeply. After about five minutes, she rolled her head over to look at her husband, who was sitting beside her, on of his hands caressing her long hair. 'I don't feel any better,' she said impatiently.

Legolas smiled. 'Give it some time, darling. And this time close your eyes.'

Gwyn rolled her eyes again, then closed them as she was instructed. Soft lips gently pressed against hers. 'Go to sleep,' Legolas murmured. 'And do not worry about having twins, alright?'

Easy for you to say, Gwyn thought, but now too tired to argue verbally, she nodded. 'I love you, Legolas,' she mumbled.

Legolas smiled, and kissed her gently again. 'I love you, too, Gwyn.'

One month later...October 15th...

It was just barely into the early hours of the morning when Gwyn awoke with a start. Her body was damp with sweat and her clothes were clinging to her skin. She held back a cry as an intense wave of pain passed over her stomach. Oh, Valar, she thought, groaning inwardly. Why now? Why not in the morning? Gwyn looked over at her husband, who was sleeping peacefully. He looked so sweet that Gwyn almost did not wake him. But she knew that that would be doing something 'incredibly stupid', and reluctantly shook him awake.

'What is it, Gwyn?' he groaned, his eyes still closed.

'Kiss me,' she moaned. 'Kiss me and make the pain go away.'

Legolas' eyes snapped open. He looked over at her, his eyes raking her sweaty figure. 'You're not...' he began.

Gwyn nodded.

Legolas threw the covers off of himself. 'I'm going to get a Healer,' he said.

'No!' Gwyn cried. 'That will take to long; they're not going to wait.' Her eyes were scared. 'Please?'

Legolas found her hand and gripped it tightly. 'What do I do?'

Barely an hour later...

With Legolas' help, Gwyn had given birth to two little darlings. Both were blonde-haired and blue-eyed; the boy with the straight hair, the girl with the curly. 'What shall we call them?' Gwyn said, grinning broadly as she sat propped up against the headboard, holding a baby in each arm.

Legolas smiled, and held out his arms. Gwyn gently transferred this baby girl into his arms. 'I'm not sure,' he said. 'What would you name them?'

Gwyn shook her head. 'I named Estel; I want you to name her.'

Legolas thought a moment was he looked down at the little angel. 'Laurelle,' he said softly. He looked up. 'What do you think?'

'It's beautiful,' Gwyn breathed. 'Beautiful and perfect.'

Legolas smiled, obviously thrilled.

'And as for you,' Gwyn said, tapping her little son's nose lightly with her forefinger, 'you shall be called Aniador.'

'Aniador?' Legolas repeated, looking mildly confused. 'Isn't it Eriador?'

'Well...yes,' Gwyn admitted. 'But if we call him Aniador, we can call him Ani for short.'

Legolas raised his eyebrows. 'Clever,' he said, amused.

'Thank you.'

Six months later...March...

While Legolas gave his wife a break from watching the twins, Gwyn walked slowly through the forest, breathing in the refreshing spring air. 'Fancy meeting you here,' said a familiar voice from behind her.

Gwyn spun around. 'Estel!' she cried.

'Hello, Mother,' Estel smiled, and embraced his mother.

'Welcome home, darling,' Gwyn said, and pulled away. 'I've missed you so much.'

Estel raised his eyebrows. 'Have you had time to do so?' He eyed her stomach. .'I imagine you've been quite busy with the new baby.'

'Of course I've had time,' Gwyn said. 'But speaking of the baby...'

Estel's eyes lit up. 'Is it a boy or a girl?' he asked excitedly.

Gwyn opened her mouth, then closed it. She put her arms around her son. 'Why don't we walk a little?' she proposed finally.

Though eager to find out if he had a little brother of a little sister, Estel indulged his mother.

After a few moments, Gwyn spoke. 'Do you remember when you left...and I told you that when you returned, you would have a new brother or sister?'

Estel nodded. 'And which one do I have?'

Gwyn let out a breath. 'Both.'

'Both?'

'Both.'

'How?'

'Twins.'

'Twins?'

'Yes.'

'Valar,' Estel breathed. 'That's wonderful! What are their names?'

'Aniador and Laurelle.'

'When do I get to see them?' Estel asked.

'Now, if you like,' Gwyn answered.

'I would like.'

'Valar,' they're sweet,' Estel said as he held Laurelle and Aniador respectively. 'At what age do you plan to begin his training, Father?' he asked Legolas, rocking Aniador in his arms gently.

'Five,' answered Legolas, while Gwyn simultaneously replied, 'Seven.'

'Five and a half.'

'Six and a half.'

'Six.'

'Six and a half.'

'Six.'

'Fine.'

'And the same with Laurelle.'

'WHAT?!'

'You heard me.'

'That's far too young for her, Legolas!'

'Would you have had it any different for yourself, Gwyn?'

'No—I mean, yes—I mean—oh fine!'

'Caught you.'

'Did not!'

'Did too.'

'Did not.'

'Did too.'

'Didn't.'

Estel's gaze traveled between both of his parents. He set the baby down in its crib and burst into laughter at their childish argument. 'I think Mother won,' he said amusedly.

'Did not!' Legolas cried.

'Did too,' Gwyn cut in.

'Did not!'

'Did too.'

'Did too.'

'Did no—' Gwyn broke off, her eyes wide. 'That's cheating!' she accused.

'Is not!'

'Is too.'

'Isn't.'

Lol, yeah, I know I'm weird. Sorry it's such a short chapter. Coming soon...Chapter 27: Responsibilities! Review, please!

Lilz