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As soon as Garrick was taken from Elnara, he broke out into a fresh wail, his face turning a bright shade of red as he let his displeasure be known.

Elnara watched him anxiously until her father picked her up, and at his comment she giggled weakly and though she normally would have slapped his arm playfully, now she didn't have the strength.

"I know," she told him with a wan smile. "But they need to eat first ... and then ... if I have the strength ... I will wash."

Serenity giggled at Lore. "Let them cry. It strengthens their lungs, and after nearly a year in a place where they didn't need to breathe ... they need it. Just let them cry. They'll stop on their own."

Beren chuckled at Lore. "Well, if you're really desperate, I could carry you after I've carried Elnara," he teased his son in law, "but otherwise you're just going to be stuck there until you can walk again."

And he chuckled again and left the room with Elnara, taking her down the hall to the room where Alyse was staying.

Lore should have seen that one coming, but couldn't help but shake his head with a grin. He waited a while tapping his foot on the floor to get more feeling back into it quicker. When he was sure his legs weren't going to give out from under him he stood up so he could follow the two.

"That's good to know," he murmured to Serenity, "Come on, I saw a worried look in Elnara's eye."

Elnara nodded, though she still felt anxious. She could hear the babies' cries growing louder, however, and she could tell that they were indeed coming closer ...

Serenity entered the room behind Lore, and she made her way straight to Elnara and returned Garrick to her carefully.

"Here you are, sweetheart," she smiled. "Would you like some help starting him off? Though I did see him sucking your finger earlier, you shouldn't have any trouble, I think ..."

"I'll go get a bath ready," Beren murmured, leaving the room. His words were lost in the cries of the babies, but that didn't matter. It was his excuse for leaving the room and giving Elnara and her family their privacy.

Lore nodded, "Yes."

He took a seat beside her holding Hana, he thought she might need help since there were two of them and not just one. Besides the hesitate nature in her voice suggested she would like it if he stayed.

"Don't worry, I'll be right here."

Elnara smiled at her mother as she left, then looked back at Lore, her eyes shining gratefully.

"Thank you," she murmured softly. She began unbuttoning her shirt (what were the odds she had chosen today of all days to wear a button-up shirt?) and cradled Garrick in the crook of one arm, positioning him to suckle from her. It took the wailing infant only a few seconds to figure out what was going on and what to do, and within moments he was quiet and feeding contentedly.

In the sudden (relative) quiet, Elnara noted that Hana's cry was much quieter than Garrick's.

"It's so amazing," she murmured, leaning back comfortably and relaxing, looking at Lore. "They're so new ... so ... perfect ... and yet ... so different ..."

Already it was clear that their differences were more than physical.