I'm so sorry I lost track of this story. Thanks for reminding me of it washow and katquest2000. I lost my plot for awhile but I'll see if I can get anywhere with it now. I'm currently in college though so my updates will likely be sporadic.

Legolas eyed his friends with suspicion as he followed them out of the dining hall and up to their suite. Aragorn and Arwen were exchanging far too many 'looks' that meant secrets kept. Combined with the warning glance the queen had given him earlier and the way the king had changed the subject after asking when his brothers were coming, the elf was holding out for good news rather than the reverse. He was glad that their majesties seemed to have settled in well. Gaining a throne in the middle of a war was not normally conducive to good peacetime conditions, but it appeared that subjects were accepting him with a great deal of ease now.

"So, you seem to be enjoying life, Estel. Did you have any problems?"

Aragorn turned with a smile. "Not so's you'd notice…" Arwen gave an unladylike snort, which her husband ignored. "There were small snags here and there, but for the most part, people have come to accept my unorthodox ways. Some initially complained because of the differences between my reign and Denethor, those being the rich idiot toadies, mostly, but I just reminded them that I am the king, not the steward and they eventually came to accept that my ways were not going to change any time soon and gave up on publicizing their disgruntlement. The kids have helped me lighten up as well. Life was so hard out in the wilderness as a Ranger, but since they didn't mostly know the first thing about having fun, I naturally had to teach them…" There was another cough from Arwen's direction and Aragorn bent solicitously toward her. "Are you well, dear? Do you need to see the healers?"

Arwen smacked her husband and finally laughed out loud. "Oh you! Seriously, though, after terrorizing the staff for a few weeks, Estel finally got through to them that he was not going to be waited on hand and foot, groveled at, or smothered in guards. Life is never tame, fortunately."

"Aragorn, tame? Perish the thought!" Legolas exclaimed. "So how is it going with these children you have living here?"

Aragorn refused to be baited. "Oh, they are quite fun, now that they've learned to be children, of course. I've started the older ones in a bit of weapons training, if you would like to assist with that in your spare time between playing in the trees."

Realizing that they would evade the issue forever, Legolas dropped his line of questioning and changed the subject to the things he had seen in his travels between Gondor and Lasgalen and the ravages of war that had scarred Middle Earth.

The next week was spent getting settled in and reviewing the area that had changed so much in the year since the war had ended. The dwarves eagerly began their work of repairs on salvageable buildings while the elves scouted the countryside for native plants that could be transplanted into Minas Tirith.

As Legolas had predicted, the twins arrived on the seventh day. Elladan and Elrohir were no longer the somber figures they had been on their last trip to Gondor. Though there were still roving enemies to be defeated, with the fall of Sauron, there were fewer orcs with the inclination to lead attacks, though there had been some, most of which had died at the hands of the elves remaining at Rivendell. This had given the warriors time for less lethal pursuits, however, much to their father's dismay. Elrond had eagerly kicked them out with the arrival of springtime, and they had laughingly headed south.

Aragorn was once again in the city when his visitors arrived. This time he was busy at one of the new Houses of Healing he had set up, and was in point of fact arguing with one of the healers about an herb that the healer insisted was highly necessary, while the king was equally vehement that the side effects were not worth the results when one of the plants he had recommended was so much more useful in the same circumstance.

"He's right, you know," Elrohir chirped in as his foster brother nee brother-in-law paused to take a breath.

Both men looked up at his voice and Aragorn smiled in delight. "Such timing you have. Here, you deal with him and I'll grab my cloak from inside." He darted away before the elves could respond, and they shook their heads in tandem, grinning.

The healer looked up at the twins in confusion. "Would, would you answer me a question? I had only newly arrived here in the city when I was suddenly posted out here. I have no problem taking care of the poor, but who is he and who are you and where did you get your seeming authority on medicines?" He sounded more baffled than upset so Elrohir did not take offense as he answered.

"The three of us were trained by our father, Elrond, who is a great healer up north. We have age on our side as well as experience, so don't be offended by our display of expertise, especially Aragorn, he's known to be—hyper."

Aragorn came out in time to catch this last comment and chuckled as he smacked the elf on the leg. "Well who do you think I learned my pranking from? For that matter, why are you here if not because Ada got overwhelmed by your own hyperactive practical joking?"

The twins flushed in tandem as they laughed along with him. "Truce. Can we go see our sister now?" All three bowed with a flourish to the flustered healer and headed up to the citadel.

"Aragorn?" The healer whispered. "I've been arguing with the king and he's joking around like a commoner with a commoner. How—different."

Meanwhile the brothers began catching up on the news of the last six or so months. As with Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir immediately detected that he was concealing something. However, they decided that ganging up on the king would be a much better policy if done in private so they willing spoke only of subjects Aragorn was willing to expound upon.

The secret was immediately obvious to them the moment the brothers saw their sister. "You're pregnant!" They yelled immediately, without giving any thought to those around them. Aragorn winced as the sound assaulted his ears and as several others glared at him for concealing the news.

The elves dashed to hug their sister and then punch their brother before hugging him as well. Legolas approached Aragorn at the point with a raised eyebrow. "Congratulations." He commented dryly.

Aragorn winced again. "You know I would have told you sooner but Arwen was insistent that her brothers hear the news first. I know you guessed it already though."

Legolas laughed then. "Yes, I could tell that there was something different about her and had the idea of what it could be but also knew that neither of you would be particularly happy with me if I broadcast it."

"Very true. Well, now that you know for sure, what do you think? Do you think I'll be a good father?" He was rather worried since it had been a long time since he was a child and he did not spend as much time with baby Ceara as he did with the older children.

"You will be a great father. After all, you had Lord Elrond to teach you and I know you have a good memory. Just do your best."

Aragorn nodded with a sigh and vowed to start learning more about newborns. He had the excuse of Ceara not being his own child while he was busy taking care of the rest of the kingdom, but his own flesh and blood, his heir, he would have to raise all the way. "Well, I'll also have you to help, won't I?"

"Of course! Uncle Legolas teaching him or her the best ways to torture you."

Aragorn laughed and smacked his friend's arm. He was sure he could do this. After all, he had faced down Sauron himself. How bad could taking care of an infant be?