Chapter Text
Eventually, Bilbo got out of bed and dressed himself as Thorin managed to straighten out the clothes he had worn the night before. It was hard to motivate himself to move, for Bilbo quite enjoyed the show Thorin had inadvertently given him as he collected his clothes, but once he threw on his trousers, he finally left the warmth of his bed. Well, hopefully it was their bed, now.
Such hopes seemed assured, for before they left their room, Bilbo was pulled into an embrace, and he fell into it willingly. He smiled up at Thorin as his strong, furred arms enclosed around him and he nosed gently, briefly, at his temple.
“We just have to deal with a few potshots.” Thorin assured, breaking Bilbo’s romantic reverie. “And hope that Dís doesn’t speak too lewdly in front of her own children.”
Bilbo snorted, for while he knew Dís was very much a lady, she was quite crass, and definitely seemed like the type of woman to freely speak of such things, even in front of her children. He knew plenty of other women who did just that, even fellow hobbits.
“We’ll handle it when it comes. Together.” Bilbo told him, straightening Thorin’s collar. “Just remember that I meant all that I said, and that I have no regrets.”
Something in Thorin eased, and Bilbo felt his grin stretch even wider when he felt surprisingly soft lips press onto his forehead. “Nor do I, azayung.”
He hummed happily, pulling Thorin’s face down by his braids to kiss him on his lips and on one of his fuzzy cheeks before pulling back and patting him on the arm.
“Come on, then.” Bilbo stated, urging Thorin out of hi-their room first. “Let’s face the music.”
He giggled when Thorin groaned in dismay in front of him, steering him towards the kitchen. They heard the typical commotion that started whenever it seemed that Fíli and Kíli had decided not to try and sleep in late. Of course, the smell that met their noses were almost-burnt bacon and something akin to porridge, so they knew that they’d have to make up for it at second breakfast.
As Bilbo mentally planned on teaching those boys to cook, the kitchen finally came into view. Dís was setting the table as Kíli sat, making sure that silverware was lined up as best he could. Fíli, it seemed, took charge of making breakfast, and the moment that Bilbo and Thorin walked in, he looked at them only briefly before turning back to the stove, but not before they could miss how his cheeks flushed red.
“Ah, good! You’re here!” Dís proclaimed when she looked up. “For a moment, I thought I’d have to pry you two apart!”
Bilbo choked a little as Thorin let out a deep growl before dropping into a seat at the table.
“We are not tweens, sister.”
Dís just scoffed at her brother. “You might as well be,” She retorted. “With the way you’ve been talking. Both of you.”
Bilbo blinked, even as he saw Thorin stiffen. “Pardon?”
“You thought you were the only one to tell me how you felt?” Dís replied, though her tone was no longer teasing. “What did you think it was that my brother shouted in your kitchen for all of Hobbiton to hear?”
Bilbo felt his chest squeeze painfully, recalling the loud cries in a language he couldn’t understand in a hurt, broken tone. Thorin was talking about him? About the ridiculous idea that Bilbo couldn’t love him back?
He looked at him now, and saw that his face had flushed and his hands were balled up on the table’s surface. Immediately, he placed a gentle hand on Thorin’s shoulder, causing him to whip his head around to look at him. Bilbo just smiled down at him, rubbing his thumb along the cloth-covered muscle as he slowly felt Thorin relax.
“Well,” Bilbo finally replied. “We no longer have to worry about that, now do we?”
“So long as you’re both serious.” Dís replied, gaze hardening as she began to pour tea for everyone. “I mean it! I want you both to court properly, now!”
He felt Thorin tense again, Bilbo resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and instead gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It has been my intention from the start that I would do so.” He assured. “In fact, I would like to court Thorin in the dwarvish custom, if that’s alright…?”
He felt a large, rough hand cover his own, and Bilbo saw Thorin smiling.
“And I intend to court you in the hobbit custom.” He replied, and Bilbo felt elated. “Are you quite satisfied, now, Dís?”
“Oh, very!” Dís replied, passing out tea to everyone. “Now stop making moon eyes to each other. You’re making my boys sick!”
Bilbo belatedly noticed that both Fíli and Kíli were oddly quiet, and they both saw how they were clearly avoiding any glances towards them. Memories of earlier flooded into his mind, and Bilbo fell into his seat besides Thorin as his face went aflame.
“Oh, boys, I apologize!” He replied quickly. “We didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“So…” Kíli spoke after a moment, barely lifting his eyes. “Does that mean we do get to call you auntie now?”
“No!” Bilbo stated firmly. “I am no one’s auntie. Uncle, however, is entirely acceptable.”
Kíli finally looked up at Bilbo and grinned. Taking only a moment to think about it, Bilbo finally got up and walked around the table to pull the sitting young dwarf into a hug, which was returned with great fevor.
“But we’ve already got an uncle.” Fíli replied, still not looking. He probably wouldn’t for a while, either. Poor boy. “It would make better sense if we-.”
“Bilbo is not a lady, boys.” Thorin cut in. “There is nothing wrong with two uncles.”
“Well, that’s no fun…” Kíli mumbled, and Bilbo scoffed before pinching his ribs, causing him to squeak and pull away.
“By the way, Lady Dís-.” Bilbo began as he moved to take his seat again.
“Just Dís, Bilbo.” She cut in quickly. “We’re practically family now.”
“Ah, yes. Right.” He replied, twiddling his thumbs before taking ahold of his tea. “But, I’m curious. Aren’t you supposed to be travelling back to the mountains, now? Not that we’re not happy to see you, or anything-.”
“Peace, Bilbo.” Dís cut in once again. “It’s rather simple, really. There’s been some delays, and we won’t be leaving until early in the morrow.”
Bilbo hummed then, but Thorin wasn’t totally convinced.
“What kind of delays?” He asked flatly.
Dís just smirked. “The kind only your dear sister could cause.” She replied, causing Thorin to scoff. “With good reason, I assure you.”
“Was it not just to see us, mother?” Fíli asked as he approached the table, dishing out porridge and causing Kíli to grimace.
Dís barked a laugh before standing, patting her son’s arm and relieving him of his serving duties. “Not just that, I’m afraid.” She said. “You see, we’ve gotten news from Erebor.”
The table went quiet rather quickly at the mere mention of the kingdom that they once risked their lives to reclaim. Bilbo was secretly both worried and elated, for he did miss the rest of the company. He just wondered what the news contained, and if it involved anything similar to what Dís first thought when she arrived at Bag End a little over a week ago.
“What kind of news?” He asked, feeling Thorin tense next to him.
Dís merely nodded towards the hall. “It’s in my cloak, hanging just outside the entryway here.”
Bilbo immediately rose to get it, urging Thorin to stay in place as he moved to do the same. He ran quicky to the coatrack, finding her cloak and rifling through it until he found an envelope with a broken seal. He swallowed hard, rifling through it before revealing the letter inside. He read it carefully, once, twice, and froze when it all sank in.
“Oh…” He breathed. “This could be trouble…”
“What’s wrong?”
Bilbo immediately turned to see Thorin standing not far from him, and he pressed his lips firmly together.
“It’s about Balin.” He replied. “It says that he’s taking a small envoy and is coming here. To the Shire.”
He watched Thorin stiffen, and yes, it was troubling news indeed.