I decided to skip ahead a while in time because this story is wrapping up to an end (I've felt this way for a long time) and I don't feel like covering everything that happened. Besides, I think it's a little tiring both writing and reading something that has already been done before. So, I give you a little conclusion of how Faramir and Denethor's relationship had its ups and downs and how they "reconcile". Sorry this took so long, I was deciding what to do…and I had other projects to do. Special thanks for inspiration from a review done by AA-Mama Bird Cat with a little seasoning from Chamelaucium. Thanks guys! (Hope you all like it) PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 23

Almost thirty years old, Faramir fell asleep under the moonlight creeping into his bedroom. The steady breathing of his wife Éowyn lulled him to sleep. With one last look across the room, the crib which held his son, he fell asleep.

I'm dreaming, Faramir thought. And he was.

He stood on the balcony overlooking the White City. The moon made the city glow a magnificent light. Oh, how sweet it was.

Faramir had been consumed with thoughts of his son lately. Little Elboron was a joy to him. His wife, Éowyn, was the light he had been waiting for. He loved them both. He would never allow anything to happen to either of them. Especially his son.

He would not allow his son to be kidnapped. None of his children would bear the same terror…ever, the horrid separation, excruciating fear, and the horror of never seeing your family again.

He smiled, wanted to look at the crib, to see his son.

When he did, he could not believe what he saw. He knew he was dreaming, but the sight still angered him.

"Get away!" Faramir shouted. "Get away from him! You're not welcome here!" He made his son start crying with his scream.

Denethor backpedalled away from his grandson. He had died by suicide years before his birth. And with what he was doing when he died, Faramir had a right to be angry. Very angry. Even after many years, Faramir still hated him.

Faramir instinctively and protectively put an arm over the crib, shielding his son. With his other hand, he caressed the crying baby's cheek. "Hush, little one. Hush now, Papa's here."

Denethor dared speak, "He's beautiful."

Faramir snapped, "Don't talk to me."

Denethor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I know you have a right to be angry. I-I didn't treat you very well…"

"Well?! That's the word you chose! You didn't treat me well?" Faramir breathed hard, trying to control himself. "My son will never hear those words come out of my mouth! He will never hear that he isn't worth anything, that I'd rather have another human being for him! He will not!"

Denethor bit his lip, looked to his grandson before Faramir could block his face with his arm, but he continued looking. "I know, I know. You're going to be a perfect parent." He sounded sarcastic. "He looks like you did. You were such a weak baby."

"My son is not weak!" Elboron was still crying.

Denethor cringed and calmly said, "That's not what I meant." His face had masked emotions.

"Well, you've told it enough to me! How many times did you tell me I was weak?"

Denethor huffed, "I know! That's why I'm here! F-Faramir, I don't expect that you'll listen to me, but I'm…sorry!"

Faramir shook his head. "No, no you don't get to be. The last moment with you was telling me that I wasn't good enough for you, that I had to earn your love!" Faramir left his position by the crib and angrily paced around. "Do you know how much that hurt me? Oh, but you didn't stop there! You burned me on the pyre!"

Denethor rubbed his forehead. "I thought you were dead."

Faramir snapped, "I bet you were happy."

The masked emotions threw off the disguise. Denethor shrieked, "Don't say that! It tore me to pieces, Faramir! Don't say I was happy! I thought that I killed you! I thought that you died because I sent you there! I thought I killed you!"

Faramir froze. The new information plagued him, but in the good way.

Denethor hid tears as he continued, "You don't know what it's like to lose your child, all of your children, your two sons, your wife! You don't know that hopelessness." Denethor looked to his son's son. "And I pray that you never will!"

Faramir, dumbfounded, stammered, "You…you…"

Denethor didn't hear him. Confessions flowed like rain. "I always thought that I'd lose you. When you were born, you were so weak! I thought you would die! So, I thought that if I didn't get too attached to you, then it would be easier when you died. As you got older, your mother died, the visions of the Palantir became darker, and when your brother died…that was it for me and I just took everything out on you! Son, I'm so sorry!"

Faramir never saw his father so broken down. Never. He barely noticed that Elboron stopped crying.

"And then they brought you back from Osgiliath. I thought you were dead. I…I had lost all of my family, the pain that you're feeling now; losing your mother and brother. I thought to repay murdering you by dying with you, at least giving you that peace."

"Father, wait. Don't…take this out all on you."

"It's my fault! Everything in your life has been my fault! I should've spent time with you like I did with Boromir. Oh Faramir, I can't explain that, other than I've been a fool, a heartless…" Denethor was crying.

Faramir's heart leapt out to his father. And where his heart went, Faramir followed. He grabbed his father's shoulders, half-hugged him. "Father, don't do this to yourself. Please. You did spend time with me." Faramir didn't want this memory to return, but it had to. "Do you remember when I was kidnapped?"

Denethor growled, "Yet another thing that was my fault!"

"And you apologized! Remember? Don't you? You helped me read that night. The poems and songs that mother loved. Father, that meant so much to me!" Faramir started crying. "It helped me get back on my feet! You helped me heal after that, don't you remember?"

Denethor nodded.

Faramir repeated, "When all is lost, I cannot hide. The greatest hope is at my side. The King has come. He's won our wars. The King will reign forevermore." He then added, "The king has returned, you see. They changed the lyrics to fit."

Denethor smiled just a bit. "I-I know. Son, I-I don't expect it, but..."

"You're forgiven, Father. Father…" Faramir couldn't go on.

Denethor bit his lip.

Father and son embraced tightly, welcoming a moment that was long, long overdue.

"I love you so much, Faramir," Denethor whispered.

"I love you too, Father!" Faramir was thrilled to finally hear those words.

Faramir released his father and arose to look in the crib. "He is beautiful."

Denethor smiled. "Yes, he is, just like you were. Promise me that you'll take care of my grandson."

"I will. Uh, we named him Elboron. Éowyn, my wife, is from Rohan."

Denethor smiled. "They're both beautiful. I'm proud of you, about everything, Steward. Son, I…have to go."

Faramir licked his lips. "I know."

Denethor brought his son into a hug. "I love you. Never forget that, even though I've never said it before…to you anyway. I'll send Boromir and your mother your greetings. We look forward to the day you join us."

Faramir hugged his father back…and his heart sank when he slowly disappeared.

A baby's cry pounded in his parent's ears, waking them up.

Eowyn groaned. "Why do you have to get up so early, Elboron?" The dawn was peeking in from the East, whether the sun was welcome or not.

Faramir draped his arm over his wife. "Eowyn, just…just lie here. I'll go get him."

"What if he's hungry?"

"Well, then you'll have to get up."

Eowyn giggled and drowsily watched as her husband left bed and lumbered to the crib.

Faramir gently took his son in his arms. "Hush, hush little boy. Papa's here. Papa's holding you."

As Faramir rocked him, Elboron silenced. He burbled and gargled at his father.

Take care of my grandson for me, Faramir.

Faramir smiled and shed unexplained tears.

"I love you, Elboron." He kissed his son's forehead. "Just like your grandfather loved me."

And Elboron smiled, gargling in response.

THE END