A/N: Well this is a nice way to end the week! Now that this story is finished I have to start thinking of a new one. I was thinking about writing something to go along with this story, maybe more of a conclusion to the bullying. Its an idea at least! Thanks for the reviews and alerts, I'm glad my stories are even being read!

Disclaimer: See chapter one

The next few days passed uneventfully. Estel refused to go outside, saying his stomach or his head hurt. As the days passed, Sellion's words of the twins never coming back started seeming like a reality. In the morning each day, Estel would ask his father or Glorfindel if they had heard from them, and each day he was disappointed to learned they had heard nothing.

It was the seventh day since the twins had left, and Estel was sitting in his room staring out his window at the stables, hoping to hear Elladan or Elrohir's joyous laughter as they returned.

When Elrond called the boy down to lunch, he was surprised that Aearion was sitting at the table. Upon seeing his friend, Estel's face split into a grin, becoming mirrored on Aearion's face.

Estel bounded over to the table and took a place beside his friend. Aearion smiled and the two began chatting at a rapid pace while they ate.

Elrond exchanged glances with Glorfindel, who had suggested they invite the boy over to improve Estel's mood. Taking the warrior's advice seemed to pay off, since Estel was back to laughing and full of energy.

Once finished eating, Estel asked to be excused, relaying to the adults that they were going to explore in the gardens. Elrond nodded, allowing the boys to head out into the sunshine.

As soon as they had left, Glorfindel looked smugly to Elrond. "I said it would work, did I not?" He smirked at the elf lord.

"Yes," Elrond admitted. "Let us hope he is back to normal from now on. I do wish the twins would return soon to cheer him up as well." He said as he relaxed back into his chair.

"Aye, I hate to say it but it has been far too quiet since their departure." Glorfindel confessed, looking out towards the gardens.

"I am glad you did not tell Glorfindel what happened." Estel told Aearion softly as they walked through the garden.

"I did not think it was my place." Aearion confessed to his friend. "Nothing Sellion said was true, Estel. Your family loves you, you know that right?" He asked.

Estel nodded slightly, avoiding a straight answer. "I am glad you came to visit today." He told his friend, smiling.

"As am I, for I enjoy playing with you Estel. When Rilien gets back from Lothlórien, we shall have more grand adventures!" He promised.

As they turned the corner an elf approached them, smiling at the two. "Ah, there you are Aearion. Naneth needs you at home now, tithen gwador." The elf explained, nodding and walking a few steps away, allowing Aearion to say his goodbye.

"I must go now Estel, my gwador is here to take me home." He said lightly.

Estel nodded, feeling his heart ache at the thought of his own brothers. As he waved to his friend, Estel's despair grew. How long would it be before his brothers returned, if they returned? Do they even see him as a brother?

Heading back inside, Estel went to the balcony to sit, falling into a light sleep. When he awoke, dusk had set. He wandered into his ada's study, thanking him for having Aearion come to visit. Elrond noticed Estel's mood, vastly different from how the boy was acting around Aearion, but could not complain when the boy headed to the dining hall with him for supper. Though Estel picked at his food, Glorfindel was able to get a few words out of him before he asked to be excused.

As Estel made his way to bed, he stopped at Elladan's room. Pushing the door open, he entered and crawled up onto the bed. Snuggling into the blankets, Estel allowed himself to cry. Before long, the boy was fast asleep in Elrohir's bed.

Elrond was on his way to his study when he passed Elrohir's room, noticing the door was open. He peered inside and saw a small lump on the bed, whose breathing was even. Elrond sighed, walking over and replacing the blankets over his youngest son since he did not have the heart to move him.

When he got to his study, he was not sitting down peacefully for five minutes before a knock came at his door. It opened, revealing an excited looking Glorfindel. Elrond raised his eyebrows.

"The party has returned." He stated excitedly.

Elrond stood, relief flashing in his eyes. "Injuries?" He questioned the golden warrior.

"Minimal, a few scratches at most." Glorfindel reported. "They will arrive within the hour."

"Good. Would you alert the kitchens and have them prepare a meal?" Elrond asked.

"Of course. Will you wake Estel?" Glorfindel wondered aloud.

"I believe the twins will wake him soon enough." Elrond chuckled knowingly.

"It is so good to be home!" Elladan smiled at his twin, dismounting from his horse as the stable hands came out to greet them.

"Yes, and if I know Ada, he will have a meal and medical supplies ready for our arrival." Elrohir predicted with a knowing smile on his face. After the horses were handed off, the twins started up the stairs, ready to eat, bathe, and sleep.

"Welcome home." Their father greeted as they walked through the door. The twins smiled at him as he silently checked them over for injuries. Finding none, he nodded, leading them into the dining hall where they ate and told of their trip.

"We managed to eliminate them, securing the border once more." Elladan relayed to his adar, leaning back into his chair.

"Yes, and I wish for nothing more than to bathe and get some decent rest" Elrohir stated, his twin nodding in silent agreement.

"How has Estel been?" Elrohir asked softly, gazing out into the hall as if waiting for the boy to rush in.

Elrond sighed, looking at the twins. "He has been quiet lately, spending his time in his room or on the balcony awaiting your return."

Elladan exchanged a look with his twin. They had feared their trip would dampen the boy's mood, but did not expect him to stay holed up inside.

"I do not know where his thoughts have wandered, for I fear he has been affected more than he has let on." Elrond explained.

The twins nodded, ready to make up for the time they had lost with their little brother. They could not imagine an Imladris without Estel's childish laughter and did not want to experience it. They stood, wishing their ada goodnight as they headed to the bathing chambers.

Once refreshed and rid of the dirt and grime of travel, the twins decided to go right to bed and surprise Estel in the morning with a wake up call. Getting ready to head into his room, Elrohir paused, causing Elladan to look back at his twin.

"What is it?" Elladan whispered, coming to look through the open door that had stopped Elrohir. As he peered inside his gaze softened as it landed on the child-sized lump in his brother's bed. Walking into the room, the twins smiled down at the boy.

"He's been crying," Elrohir stated softly, brushing the boy's hair back. His twin nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Tithen gwador," Elladan cooed, running his hand through the boy's hair. The boy stirred, eyes fluttering open as they struggled to focus in the dark.

"Dan?" Estel questioned in a sleepy voice, showing his ability to tell which twin he was looking at, even in the dark and half asleep.

"Hello, tithen pen, did you miss us?" Elladan asked the boy as he helped him sit up. Estel's eyes widened as he realized both his brothers were in the room with him. They had come home!

"Dan! Ro!" Estel sobbed, throwing himself between his brothers. The twins shared a look over their bother's head. Something was not right with Estel's greeting.

As he continued to cry, Elladan picked him up, rocking him softly as he whispered in soft elvish to the boy. Elrohir lit a candle, coming to rub circles on Estel's back. Once his sobs quieted, Estel relaxed in his brother's hold. Elladan walked to the bed and set the boy down on it, tucking the blankets around his legs. As Estel settled, the twins sat on the edge of the bed, watching the boy and waiting for him to speak.

"I thought...I thought you would not return." Estel confessed quietly, hands bunching in the blankets. He refused to look at his brothers, not wanting to see their anger at him for causing their return.

"Not return? Estel what are you talking about?" Elrohir asked the boy, wondering where the boy had come up with the idea. "Do you doubt our love for you, tithen pen?"

"They said that you have tired of me...that you would not return until I was dead! Time passes by more quickly for you and I would be gone before you know it!" The boy wailed, tears springing back into his eyes. As he tried to bury his face in the blankets, Elrohir scooped the boy up and settled him in his lap, caressing the boy's soft curls.

"Who told you this, Estel?" Elladan asked him seriously. Mistaking his seriousness for anger, Estel buried his face into Elrohir's chest, sobs racking his frame.

Elladan sat back and watched the boy. Who could have told him this? He wondered, meeting his twin's gaze, which mirrored the questions in his own. Making a note to ask their father about this, Elladan turned to the boy once again.

"Whoever told you this speaks nonsense, tithen gwador." Elladan reassured, causing Estel to look up at him. "There is no way we would abandon you, not even for a moment." As he smiled, he saw the doubt edging its way out of the boy's watery silver eyes.

"Elladan and I left to take care of something Estel, something that might cause harm." Elrohir told the boy softly. "We would not have left if your safety was not at risk."

Estel looked up at the younger twin, seeing only love and truth in his eyes. Elladan came and joined in the embrace, squishing the boy between himself and his twin. Estel giggled, trying to wiggle out of the embrace.

"Dan, I cannot move!" Estel informed, his giggling increasing.

"That is the point Estel, you belong between Elrohir and I and there is nothing that could ever change that." Elladan promised as he took the boy into his arms. "We are a family, Estel. In this family you will never be left behind by anyone, I can promise you that."

"Aye, Estel. Anyone who thinks otherwise or has objections will have to answer to us." Elrohir smiled, ruffling the boy's hair. "And I'm sure Ada will be there to reassure them as well."

Estel hugged his brother tightly. "I love you, Dan." He said gently into the elf's ear. Elladan smiled, kissing the boy's head. Estel then reached for Elrohir and Elladan passed him off.

"I love you too, Ro." Estel murmured softly, his arms looping around the twin's neck.

"And we love you and always will." The twins chorused, pulling into one more group hug. As they pulled back, Estel yawned.

"I think it is time for us all to go to bed." Elrohir stated, noting that he too was more tired than he thought. The other two nodded, Estel laying his head onto Elrohir's shoulder as his eyes got heavier.

"Shall we sleep in my bed then?" Elrohir pondered, glancing at the child on his shoulder who was almost asleep. His twin nodded, climbing into bed and helping his brother as they laid Estel between them. Cuddling close to the twins, Estel's breathing evened out, signaling to the twins he was asleep.

"We have a lot to catch up on." Elladan told his brother softly, not wanting the wake the boy. Elrohir nodded as he pulled the blanket more tightly around Estel, his own breathing evening out as he slipped into sleep.

On his way to check on Estel, Elrond noticed that Elrohir's door stood ajar. Looking inside, he smiled, seeing all three of his sons asleep in Elrohir's bed. He chuckled to himself, all thoughts of a silent Imladris fleeing his mind at the image of his sons. Closing the door softly he made his way down the hall towards his room, intent on getting as much rest as he could, seeing as there was no telling what his sons would be up to tomorrow.

The End!