Aragorn watched as the children pranced in the snow, relishing the feeling of the soft snowflakes hitting their dark heads.

"They seem happy."

Aragorn didn't need to turn his head to look, he knew the voice too well.

"It has been too long since they were able to have fun in the snow."

"Ay," Legolas agreed, his hand reaching out to touch Aragorn's shoulder. "The snow had not been packed well enough."

"Estel's bottom got so wet when he fell in that one time, do you recall?"

"Of course I do," Legolas said, the corners of his mouth turning downwards as he saw his lover sigh and look away from their children. "What ails you?"

"They are growing so fast."

"Yes, they are growing," Legolas said. "But would you rather have them forever suckling at your breast?"

"No," Aragorn replied wearily. "But I still have dreams of them going their own way, getting married, having their own children and forgetting about us."

Legolas half-scolded, "Aragorn, our eldest child is only twenty. It will be a long while before he decides he is ready for a wife and child. Do not worry. No," his voice rose so his playing children could hear. "Yule has almost arrived and we must decorate the Yule tree!"

The children cried with delight and ran to the house, ideas of colorful, bright ornaments hanging on a crisp, green tree lacing their minds.

"Look how excited they are," Legolas whispered in Aragorn's ear, his arms wrapped around his lover's waist as they walked back to the cozy inside of the castle. "Yule is for children."

"Mm," Aragorn hummed in agreement, resting his head against the elf's shoulder. "For children indeed."