Chapter Text
Dori had come to expect his sister's visits. They weren't overly frequent and she never gave him any warning but he was so used to that that when he saw her in the house he wasn't the least bit surprised. Nor was he usually surprised by the state she was in or the surprises she brought with her. But, and he would admit this, sometimes she still managed to catch him off guard.
He realized pretty quickly when he came home from dropping Ori off with friends and she was practically curled into a ball in his armchair that today was going to be one of those times.
He had her a cup of tea and a blanket quicker than lightning. And he knew something was really wrong when she let him wrap the blanket around her, essentially tucking her into the chair. "Nori, dear, what's happened?" He asked, kneeling in front of her. His hands were around hers, keeping her from dropping her tea. When she didn't answer he moved a little closer, closed his hands little tighter around hers. "Nori. Tell me what's the matter." He told her, using the tone their mother had taught him.
Nori's eyes moved to lock with his. "I'm pregnant." Dori's heart jumped in his throat.
Pregnant. His…His sister. His sister, his little sister, was pregnant. His baby sister was having a baby. Dori shook his head. No, couldn't think like that. Now was not the time for him to baby his sister. Now he needed to offer her support. "How far along?" He asked, eyeing where the blanket hid her stomach.
"Three months." Nori answered and moved so that she was sitting up, cross-legged with the blanket around her shoulders and her tea in her lap. Dori moved to the couch and she could practically see him comparing the image of her stomach now to what it had been three months ago. Definitely thinner. Nori didn't want to think about the weight she'd put on. She didn't want to think at all about this, actually. "Didn't even realize till I went to the store and realized I hadn't bought tampons in a while. You always did say I was forgetful." She tried at humor. It didn't work.
"Does anyone else know?" Dwalin asked and God why was his voice so soft? Why wasn't he yelling at her? Why wasn't he getting furious at her for ruining her life? For running a baby's life? For ruining her boyfriend's life?
Nori shook her head. "Just you. Dwalin doesn't know yet. I…I don't want to tell him." She admitted and for the first time in years she looked at her brother and let him see just how lost and scared she was.
Not surprisingly, Nori ended up on the couch with Dori, curled up in his lap with him petting her hair, tea forgotten on the coffee table. She felt small. Like a little kid again. Except it was Dori and not their Ma holding her. "It's alright, little sister. We'll figure this out." Dori promised her, rocking her slightly. He hadn't had to do this in years but it came back to him as if he'd never missed a day. "I helped Ma through her pregnancy with Ori, I think I can help you too." He added and she laughed until she was crying into his shoulder.