"Hi Sean," Viggo said in surprise, as Sean got out of his car.

Sean looked just as surprised to see Viggo. The Brit pocketed his keys and joined his American colleague in the Canterbury cottage's neat yard.

"Didn't know you were in the country, mate," Sean said.

"I wasn't. Orlando called."

"I figured as much when I saw you," Sean said with the slightest edge to his voice.

Viggo heard the vestiges of a jealousy that had been laid to rest on the memorable night of Ian McKellen's party for the "Return of the King" premiere. Knowing that the Fellowship really was dissolving at last, everyone had gotten blind drunk and Sean, Orlando and Viggo had ended up in the same bed. The three men had parted more than amicably the next morning and kept in touch by phone and e-mail over the past few months, but conflicting schedules had not allowed them to be together.

"I don't know anything more about why we're here than you do," Viggo said, holding up his expressive hands in a show of peace.

"Sorry, bad habits die hard," Sean said sheepishly. "I know we're not rivals." Sean threw his arms around Viggo and hugged him tightly. Viggo returned the embrace, enjoying the feel of hard muscles under his hands. Pulling back just a bit, he found Sean's mouth with his. Sean reacted enthusiastically, tilting his head and taking control of the kiss. Viggo surrendered his mouth as Sean's tongue curled out to lick the scar on his upper lip. Both men felt a familiar sweet pang in their groins as the caress deepened.

"Are you going to shag on my front lawn for all the neighbors to see?"

Sean and Viggo broke their kiss to stare at Orlando. Framed by an arch of vining primroses, the young actor stood in the doorway of the Kinkadesque, picture book cottage with his hands on his hips. Orlando wore a red satin robe of Chinese design and a disapproving look.

"You don't have any neighbors," Sean pointed out the rolling fields all around them.

Orlando ignored Sean's comment. "Will you please come inside?" he said as he turned away.

Sean and Viggo exchanged a curious glance and followed Orlando. When they entered the dim living room, Orlando was seated on a comfortable chair with a cup of tea.

"Help yourself," the young man said, raising the cup. "The kettle's on the stove. I only have green tea and it's decaf, I'm afraid." Neither man made a move toward the kitchen area. "Well sit down then and stop looming over me," Orlando said.

Sean and Viggo sat on opposite ends of a shabby-elegant couch. Viggo cleared his throat and Orlando shook his head. "Not yet," Orlando said. "First, I talk."

Viggo and Sean exchanged another glance, before returning their attention to Orlando. The young man set his cup carefully on a pretty saucer before he spoke. "I flatter myself that you remember the last time the three of us were together," he said. "I certainly do." Identical smiles curved the lips of the two men seated across from Orlando. "I see that you do," Orlando said. "It was fun, wasn't it? I just wish we hadn't been drunk."

"Me, too," Viggo said.

"Not sure I would've had the nerve if I hadn't been legless," Sean said. "But if you're about to suggest that we do it again sober, I'm your man."

"Me, too," Viggo repeated.

Orlando smiled for the first time since they'd come inside. "My cavemen," he said fondly. "God, this is even harder than I thought it would be."

"What is it, Orli?" Viggo half rose, but Orlando waved him back.

"What?" Sean echoed.

"I've had four months to figure out how to say this, but nothing I could say would really be adequate. Stay in your seats," Orlando said as he stood. The two on the couch watched with matching frowns of concern as Orlando unbelted the robe and let it fall open. Black dragons on blood red satin drew back to reveal the young man's shadowed torso.

"You got fat," Sean blurted out.

Viggo was sitting with his mouth agape staring at Orlando's distended belly. "He's not fat," Viggo said when he found his voice. "He's looks pregnant."

"Hold on, mate," Sean protested. "How can Orlando be pregnant?"

"If you'll both listen for a few minutes, I'll explain as best I can," Orlando said.

"Only if you'll come and sit where I can hold your hand," Viggo said.

Orlando shook his head. "If you touch me… I don't feel like weeping just now."

"Then talk fast," Viggo said.

"When Sam and I were growing up, our Mum gave us so many stern lectures about waiting until marriage for sex that I was a virgin the night we all got together. I know you two could tell and it was sweet of you not to make a thing of it."

"It certainly was something though," Sean said softly. "I'll never forget it."

"Me either," Orlando said. "When I noticed a few changes in myself, I ignored them. When they became impossible to ignore, I did the sensible thing."

"Called a doctor?" Viggo guessed.

"I called my Mum," Orlando answered. "She didn't freak out. She very calmly told me to come home. She sat me down and explained that our family is… special."

"Amen," Viggo said under his breath.

"Family tradition holds that a curse was placed on one of our ancestors that all children of his line would be born in between."

"You're a hermaphrodite?" Sean exclaimed.

"No, he's not a hermaphrodite," Viggo said. "If you'd think a minute, you'd realize you already knew that."

"No, not exactly a hermaphrodite," Orlando said. "I don't understand it, but Mum took me to the doctor we've gone to all our lives and the doctor explained that my insides are different. She also gave me a full check-up. I'm four months pregnant."

Sean's mouth was still hanging open when Viggo spoke. "So one of us is the father," he said.

Orlando nodded.

"Whatever you want," Viggo said immediately. "Just name it."

"I don't know what I want," Orlando said. "I swear, I don't know. No, don't," he said quickly as Viggo rose. "Don't come over here." Viggo ignored him. Kneeling beside the chair, Viggo wrapped his arms around the no longer willowy waist. Orlando immediately broke into tears. "Bloody hell, there go the waterworks again."

Sean came to sit on the arm of Orlando's chair and kissed the top his head. "Shush, lad. Or cry if you need to. Be as emotional as you like."

That got a damp chuckle out of Orlando. "I've no control over my emotions lately. I'm giddy one minute and weeping the next. I can't think clearly half the time. How can plan for my baby's future, if deciding whether to have toast or muffin for breakfast reduces me to tears every morning?"

"Well, you sure don't have to do it alone," Viggo said. "Unless you want to."

Orlando looked up at Sean and Sean nodded his agreement. "I'm really… touched," Orlando said. "Are you sure, though? Maybe we should talk some more so you both know just what you're getting into."

"Viggo and I have both raised children," Sean said gently.

"Oh, I don't doubt that you'll be wonderful fathers, but this isn't exactly a normal pregnancy, is it?"

"He's talking about what would happen if word got out," Viggo guessed.

"Too right," Orlando confirmed. "Can you imagine? It hurts me, but I don't even think we can tell people like Lij."

"That's hard," Sean answered. "Nor our families?"

Orlando shook his head, his dark eyes solemn. "I think that the fewer who know the better."

"Like Sean said, it's gonna be hard, but I'll do whatever I have to to protect you and the baby."

"Babies."

"What?" Sean and Viggo said at the same time.

"I'm definitely having twins."

"Could you have triplets so we each have one to hold?" Sean asked, half joking, half serious. Orlando punched him. "Ow!" Sean rubbed his arm. "Being in a family way hasn't taken the piss out of you."

"I'll say it as many times as I have to," Viggo said, rising to his feet. "This isn't a small thing. I'm willing to put my acting career on hold and move to a private island, if that's what we have to do to keep this secret safe."

"You'd really do it, wouldn't you?" Orlando said in wonder. "You'd give it all up… for love." The look in Viggo's eyes answered for him, and Orlando turned to Sean again. Sean glanced away, and then back at Orlando. "Sean?" Orlando said softly.

"I don't know if I can make the same promise," Sean said with painful honesty. "I'll do my best to keep the secret and be a good father, but I can't exile myself."

"It wouldn't be exile," Viggo began, but Orlando interrupted.

"Yes, it would," the young man said. "Do you want to change your mind?"

Viggo thought it over again. Could he really leave everything behind, home, family, career for an undetermined amount of time? Yes, he could. "No, I'm not changing my mind," he said. "If sacrifices have to be made, I'll make them."

"Well," Orlando stood and faced the two men. "I hope you aren't going to hate me. I know you're going to be mad, but this was the only way I could be sure."

"And you're sure now?" Viggo asked.

"Yes. If I'm to take a lover, a partner for my life, I have to know certain things about him, or her, before I commit. Viggo, if you can forgive me for this test, and if you want me, I'd like to try and make a go of being a couple."

"What's going on?" Sean asked.

Orlando opened a curtain and his robe, and this time his guests could see that his swollen belly was a very clever prosthesis. "I'm sorry," he said. "Go ahead and shout at me."

"You're not pregnant," Sean said.

"You really had us going, kid," Viggo chuckled. "I feel incredibly stupid right now."

"At least you're laughing," Orlando said hopefully.

"I think it's the only appropriate reaction," Viggo said. "Come on, Sean. Stop glaring. Orlando didn't do it to make a fool of you."

"I don't like test," Sean said. "Especially when I fail."

"No one failed," Orlando said, moving closer to Sean. "I love you both, and I was going bloody bonkers trying to choose between you. As appealing as it may sound to go on as a threesome, I don't think I could do it. Unless… if that's what both of you want…"

Sean took Orlando by the shoulders and kissed his forehead. "If I were going to marry a bloke, you'd be the one," he said. "But that's not in the cards for this Northern man." Sean glanced over at Viggo, and gave Orlando a little push toward the other man. "Go on then. You know you're dying to."

Orlando gave Viggo an inquiring look that melted Viggo's heart. "Come here," Viggo said, opening his arms. "I don't like tests either," he said, holding Orlando close. "But I think I understand a little about why you felt you had to concoct such a wild scheme instead of just sitting down with us and asking. And maybe when we know each other a lot better, you won't need to test me. That was quite a performance, by the way."

"I wish we'd been lovers for the entire production of Rings," Orlando bit his lower lip. "All that time I wasted being coy, running hot and cold on both of you. What a prat, eh?"

"It sure made my life interesting," Viggo said, looking over Orlando's shoulder at Sean.

Sean's eyes narrowed into half moons as his lupine grin spread across his face. "Strewth! There were times when I wanted to strangle each of you. Of course, there were also times I wanted to kiss every inch of both of you. I've always been a gambler, and I just couldn't resist throwing those particular dice, but I'm almost relieved the game is over."

"I thought it was over the night we all slept together," Orlando raised his head from Viggo's shoulder. "Wasn't that what we said?"

"Well… I remember you saying it, poppet," Sean purred drolly. "But men like Viggo and I are always in competition, aren't we, mate?"

Orlando's gaze flew to Viggo's and caught the indulgent smile on his man's face. "Oh, I see. So it's revenge, is it? Well done. My heart stopped for just a second."

"Sorry, lad," Sean said. "I'm a wicked, spiteful man and you're not the only good actor here."

"I couldn't bear it if you two couldn't be friends," Orlando said, and paused before continuing in a sharper tone. "Men like Viggo and I?" he repeated. "What the bloody hell did you mean that? Am I not a man like you and Viggo?"

Sean raised one eyebrow. "Easy there. No need to go Shakespeare on me."

Viggo laughed abruptly. "Babe, if you expected us to believe you could be pregnant, that does sort of put you in a whole 'nother category."

"Oh do shut up," Orlando said, mock-crossly. "I won't live this down, will I?"

Sean shook his head. "Not on your life, but we'll keep it between the three of us. Just one more confidence between friends, eh? Like you two being a couple."

"Um, well, we'll have to talk about that," Orlando said.

"Really?" Viggo asked. "You want to come out?"

"I wouldn't want to make any announcements," Orlando said. "But the next time a journalist had the hide to ask me if I'm gay, I'd like to be able to tell him that I'll have to ask my boyfriend."

"I'd like to talk to Henry first. He already knows I'm bisexual, and he just takes it in stride as part of the whole artist thing, as he puts it. Apparently, I'm expected to be weird."

"You're doing a marvelous job," Sean chimed in. "By the way, is there any reason I should hang about?"

"You're welcome to stay, of course," Orlando said. "But it's not a large cottage, and I'm afraid we'll drive you mental with our racket."

"There's going to be racket?" Viggo said with interest.

"Pandemonium," Orlando promised. "I've been boning up."

Sean groaned. "I can't take anymore. I love you both, but you're unbearable when you start that kind of stuff."

"You don't like me when I'm being punny?" Viggo asked innocently.

"Argh," Sean hugged his friends, making cave troll noises against their necks. "I'm going back to London. Any chance the two of you will surface there?"

"In due course," Orlando said. "I've some lost time to make up for."

Sean patted Viggo's shoulder. "Mate," he said with exaggerated sympathy. "Good luck to you. Remember, you can tread water until you get your wind back, and then stroke for all you're worth."

"Careful on the road, Sean," Orlando said.

Viggo and Orlando stood with their arms around one another and watched their friend drive away from the cottage. "Orli," Viggo said. "Did you really expect us to believe you were pregnant?"

"Not for long, but if you could have seen the looks on your faces…" Orlando's words trailed off into laughter.

"It was really silly."

"Good. It will do nicely as the cliché cute, comic and charming story of how we fell in love."

"But it isn't true, babe."

Orlando leaned closer, his lips a breath from Viggo's. "Then let's make up another one," he whispered.