A RUMOR OF PEACE

          "So..." came his soft voice, "who was he?" he asked as they lay in bed sometime later, his big hand moving slowly, soothingly over Roark's back and shoulders.

          "Hum..?" came sleepily as he snuggled closer to the hard body.  "Who was whom?" he asked when the question had finally registered on his sleep-muzzled mind.

          "That morning in your office?  The tall, sandy brown-haired man who had his arm around you and your brother?  The one who pressed a kiss to your temple?"

          "Umm..." his eyes slipped closed,  Damn sedatives, he thought muzzily.  "That would have been Robin."

          "Robin," came his deep, dangerous growl, a touch of coldness there as well.

          "Umm hum...and don't you DARE, Rodolphus Lestrange," he warned, forcing his eyes to open and tilting his head back to look up at him.  "Doctor-Major Robert Stranton-Durin.  Robin.  He's Sebastien's husband of nearly nine yahren {year}."  He grinned.  "Jealous much?"

          "Jealous more than I ever thought I would be," he replied, sounding surprised that he had been jealous at all, "but as long as he's a Durin husband, I won't have to kill him for daring to lay his hands on you."

          "RODOLPHUS!" his hand smacked hard against his chest.

          Rodolphus chuckled, capturing the hand, pressing a soft kiss into its palm, then returning it to his chest.  "Stop fighting the sedative, Rory," he murmured to him, tucking his head back to his chest as well, turning himself just enough so that Roark was snuggled against him,  "Go to sleep, baby.  I'll guard against any dreams you may have."

          "Um...are you empathic too?"

          "Somewhat.  Hush now.  Just let go.  Know that for tonight, you're safe."

          "I'm safe any night--" a huge yawn sounded, "I'm with you."

          "Yes, darling, you are," he murmured.  "Shh...relax...sleep," he kissed his brow.  "Sleep, baby."

           And sleep he did.

                                                                            cccVccc

           "Who was he?" came the near whisper in his ear.

          "Hum...?" he murmured, not moving from his relaxed place snuggled against him.

          "That sandy-haired chap who had his arm around you that morning in your office?"

          "Oh...Robin," he forced his eyes to open when he heard to dangerous growl that came from the man holding him.  "Don't you DARE, Rabastan.  Robin is Sebastien's husband."

          "Is he?  Okay, fine," he grumbled.  "I won't kill him for daring to touch what is mine."

          "RABASTAN!" Harry lifted himself to glare down at him with sleepy eyes.

          Rabastan had to chuckle, drawing him back down where he belonged. "Go to sleep now."

         "Um...okay."  A moment, then, "What would you say if I were to tell you I was in love with you?"

          "Are you?"

          "Yes," his head tilted back, emerald green eyes meeting the warm sherry gaze that looked to hold surprise.  "I am in love with you, Rabastan Lestrange."

          Rabastan searched those sleepy eyes, saw the truth of his words in them, and grinned widely.  "Glad to hear it, babe, because I'm pretty sure I've been in love with you almost from the moment I first laid eyes on you."

          Bending his head, he pressed his lips to Harry's, kissed him deeply.  "Now," came huskily after he broke the kiss, "go to sleep."

          "'Kay."

                                                                        cccVccc

          He woke to bright sunlight flooding his room from the terrace doors, and an insistent beeping from his com-link laying on his nightstand.  Realizing instantly that he was alone in bed, he reached out for it blindly, wanting to silence that annoying beep.

          "WHAT?!" he snarled out.

          "Oh...hh. grouch...y," came the ever-cheerful voice of one of his best friends...FORMER best friend if he didn't watch himself as he had started chuckling.  "Harry snarled at me too when he finally picked up, then threatened to do untold damage to my person if I didn't stop sounding so fucking cheerful."

          "He has the right of it," came the answering growl, but then he chuckled softly.  "Sorry, Logan, I was asleep," he sat up, a huge yawn escaping.  "Time?"

          "Just before ten hundred.  We'll be at your place in half a centar {hour}.  Hope you're both hungry.  We're bringing a huge breakfast."

          "Um...that DOES sound good," he pushed aside the sheet and light blanket.  "We?" he asked, pulling a robe on over his naked body.  "Just who is we, Logan?"

          "Fili, Kili, Lex, Des, Ethan, Jord--"

          "Alright, alright, I get it," he interrupted, tying the robe closed.  "I'm about to be inundated by the Durin boys," he heard their answering laughter over the link as he left his bedroom for the bath.  "I'll just get a quick shower, get dressed, then get water going for tea, and start the coffee brewing."

          "Roark?"

          "Yes, Ki?" he asked, turning on the water.

          "Is he there?"

          "Is who there?" came the instant question from the few Durin's that did not know he had a lover.

          "No one," came the answer.  "See you all shortly," he ended any further possible questions by shutting his link down.