A/N: The story is almost over! Tear… only three more chapters left after this one. (I've already gotten started on the next one. Another little Estel story because Estel is the cutest kid in the universe! Hope you like Big hug and Thank you to all that reviewed and all the floaters who may have read this, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading.

Ithil-Valon- Thank you. I tried to give them both a depth. But your stories have that too! You're right though it is very tempting to just say the twins this and the twins that! I figured it would be nearly impossible to get a child with a split jaw, and well a child in general to swallow some concoction given to him by someone he doesn't know. So I kind of invented a method, I know it probably wouldn't work in real life but that's what's so great in fanfic world! Yah, not my idea to finish a story first, must say I stole the idea from cassia and sio. However it does make life a lot easier that way! And your reviews are deserved. I love the story.

Liz- Well thank you I am glad to know you haven't got anything bad to say, besides your so nice you would never flame me, and I think you'll be happy to know the rest is all happy sweet family emotional fluff. Lots of bunnies and butterflies to come.

Anastasia Who- Thank you. I am glad to hear you like my work. I love your work, your last one nearly made me cry! Thanks for your encouragement it means a lot to me! Poor Gilrean, doesn't fit into anyone's plot it seems.

Slayer- Poor Estel won't be able to eat those cookies at the moment, as he is asleep. Oddly enough, that is what he seems to do best in this story! Lol.

FlamesofthemoOn- Lol, I never catch them in my own work until ah about the 7th time proofreading them! The twins aren't there yet, but they are eon the mend. Amazing what a cute kid can do for one's emotional health and can put things into prospective. Thank you so much for your encouragement it means the world to me.


Chapter 7 Meetings

Elrond sat in his study flicking through a large leather bound book. He no sooner flicked through the first ten pages, than he cast it aside and picked up a different one. Repeating the similar process a few more times he stood up and resumed his pacing back and fourth along the study. The dawn had not yet come to the peaceful valley, but the elf lord had been awake for hours. Why he was so troubled he could not say, but for some reason his mind would simply not turn off. Constantly he mulled over issues he should not even been remembering at the time.

A loud knock resounded on his door startling the elf lord. Curiously he welcomed in whoever wanted to talk to him. Why they wanted to talk to him a few hours before the sun had properly risen was beyond him.

The door swung open noiselessly as Erestor stood framed in the doorframe.

"Sorry to disturb you so early milord, however I think you should know that two riders have been spotted on the path into the city. They do look like your sons."

Elrond was surprised at this news. His sons were usually gone for months or more at a time, not a mere 3 days.

Erestor, seeing the look on Elrond's face quickly soothed his obvious fears.

"They both appear to be completely healthy and sound, although they do look tired from an obviously long ride."

Elrond was glad to hear that his sons were well. The nagging doubt at the back of his mind refused to go away. Why were they home now, what could have possibly befallen them in such a short span of time. He shook his head slowly as though trying to physically remove the thoughts from his mind. He shouldn't think that, with his twins there was no telling what trouble they could get into.

The nagging shards of doubt were slowly being ebbed away by the excited glimmer in his heart. Although his mind told him that the reason they were home so soon most likely meant that something was wrong, his heart was still overjoyed that his sons had been returned to him once again. Every time they left he felt as though it may just be the last time that he ever saw his beloved boys. No matter how badly wounded they were when they came home, he was never angry, he was always just glad they were home.

He stood up and wrapped his long navy blue robe around his sleeping things and slipped deer hide moccasins over his feet. Striding across the room he walked out the hallway to meet his twins in the courtyard as always.

Erestor saw the look in the elf lord's eyes that nearly tore his heart in two. It was always the same with him, the twins would return, Elrond would walk on a cloud of borrowed time. Every time the boys would return, Elrond always put it into his head that they were staying, and every time they would leave again when the memories chased them out of their own home.

The twins didn't know how much it tore their father apart, never sticking around long enough to see how he lived day to day. They never had to be around him to pick up the pieces after they left.

He didn't want to go out to the courtyard and see the worried and expectant face on his friend who he had known for millennia. Besides, that was family time.

Elrond entered the courtyard and looked over his shoulder for the first time realizing that Erestor hadn't followed him outside. Elrond paced the courtyard expectantly, looking at the bend in the path he knew his sons would be approaching soon.

The pre-dawn darkness gave everything a slightly blue aura as the mist rose from the churning of the loud water. The mist held an almost ethereal quality to it, suspending in the air a feeling of mystery. The valley tingled with an ancient knowledge of the earth born with centuries of careful observation befit to very few. Imladris was stunningly beautiful. The sights of the craggy walls of the valley covered with the spark of life, tall moss covered trees that clung to the sides of the steep valley walls and birds began to call as the day was about to dawn.

He stood up from the stone bench he was sitting on when he heard a welcome sound, the rhythmic sound of horse's hooves on cobblestones. Two identical gray stallions came into view, their usually proud swinging stride was short and labored. Their beautiful chiseled faces with large expressive eyes were held low and eyes glassy. Their coats were shining with sweat. The rider's faces looked just as weary. As Elrond looked into those familiar gray eyes he saw sheer exhaustion, but he saw something more buried beneath the layer of fresh grief there was a spark of an emotion he could not place. Puzzled he made his way over to his sons.

A young elfling strode into the courtyard with coolers for the stallions. Steam was rising off their tired backs. Elrohir dismounted and walked over to where Elladan was sitting holding the sleeping child. Elladan carefully passed the child off to his brother so he could also relinquish his tired mount to the ministrations of the stable boy.

The elfling wasted no time in buckling the wool coolers around the horses' steaming backs.

The twins looked at the hopeful face of their father.

"Ada, we're home." Elladan stated simply.

Elrond looked at them expectantly as though waiting for a reason why they had come home so early.

The twins did not say anything as they waited under Elrond's gaze.

Elrond could tell the twins were burdened by a long journey and an even more exhausting feeling of grief, as he suspected, the reason for their return was not a very pleasant one after all. Elladan reached into the worn and bloodied pocket of his overcoat. Elrond saw the glimmer of something metal in his son's hand. Elladan walked over to his father with his hand outstretched, and almost apologetic look on his face.

Elrond held his hand out to take whatever his son was offering him to see. He was surprised when a ring was dropped into it. He looked closely at the ring. Instantly his mind flew back thousands of years to a time when two tiny half-elflings ran around like crazy in the village where they lived. They were identical to all but those who knew them very well. The one chased the other right into the sea while the other shrieked with laughter.

"Elros! Come on now nana is going to be so mad at you!"

"Come on Elrond! Where is your sense of fun? The boy named Elros asked his twin brother Elrond.

A tall Elleth came striding out of a house set on the beach.

"Boys! Come inside at once it is much to cold for you out here!" She called to them a slightly not amused look on her face at the state of the children's clothing.

"No fair! Elrond, why do none of the other elflings get sick like we do?"

Elrond looked at his brother, "Well, of course we would get a little sick because of our human half, don't you think? But don't worry, I will someday be the best healer of them all."

Elros looked at his brother, "I want to be the noblest king the race of men has ever seen!"

"The ring of Barahir." Elrond breathed in disbelief.

"Let us go inside and discuss the events of our return, I think the child already has a fever."

At the mention of a child, Elrond's head snapped up. Looking over to the bundle in Elrohir's arms he noticed for the first time the gentle rise and fall of the blankets and the raven colored hair that poked out of the top revealing a tiny head.


A/N: Hope you all liked it. More to come, please review they make me so happy, little purple button is your friend! And to my repeat reviewers I luv ya all! see you next week with chapter 8