Chapter Text
Kili smiled fondly as he made his was up Bagshot row towards Bag End. It had been dark last time he’d arrived and he hadn’t had much chance to look in the dim morning light when then left the following morning. But it was a a lovely place the Shire. Little brightly colored round doors in hills here and there, neat tended gardens. His smile slipped a bit as he reached the gate at Bag End. After rows of neat gardens the plants surrounding Bag End were growing wild and seemingly untended. Bilbo had always seemed so proud of his garden. But he smiled again at the sight of the round green door still emblazoned with the neat runes Gandalf had marked the door with so many months ago.
He let himself in the gate and rang the bell at the door. The clang of the bell was met with a curse and a babe’s wail floating out the open window nearest the door. The door was flung open by a dishevelled and irate looking Bilbo Baggins; who looked ready to tell the person at the door off. But he froze when he caught sight of the dwarf on his door step. “Kili.” He began but the babe’s cry came again interrupting whatever Bilbo would have said he looked down the corridor then back to Killi and stepped aside. “Um do come in.” He said then turned and headed down the corridor.
Kili took the invitation and stepped through the portal and shutting the door behind him against the cooling spring evening. He stared in shock around him. Gone was the pristine tidy hobbit hole from his memory. Laundry, dishes, and papers covered every avalible surface.
Down the corridor the wailing subsided. And a few moments later Bilbo appeared with a still whimpering babe on this hip. “I’m sorry Kili. The place isn’t really fit for company but you’re welcome to join us in the kitchen. I should be able to find something for a late tea.”
The kitchen wasn’t in much better state then the rest of the house. But a row of sparkling clean glass bottles and teats stood on the drying board. Bilbo set the babe down in a basket by the hearth and the little one immediately began to wail. “I’m sorry.” The hobbit apologized again. “if he had his way I’d hold him all the time. But some tasks I just can’t managed one handed.”
“Would he… “ Kili started. “I could try and to hold him. Though I have little experience with young ones.”
Bilbo paused in his work to look at the dwarf. “Would you? It would certainly quiet things down if you would.” Kili looked at the wailing creature again and nodded slowly. Bilbo took in his slightly lost look. “Oh here have a seat.” He offered clearing a chair then bent to retrieve Frodo form his basket. Once Kili had settled himself he deposited the babe in his lap.
Kili held his breath but the wailing stopped immediately as the little one regarded him with surprised deep blue eyes. “Just hold him steady and you’ll both be fine.” Bilbo said in a reassuring voice then with his hands free and quiet settling over the kitchen he quickly set about preparing food for them all.
The young dwarf found he couldn’t take his eyes off the little one. He’d almost never seen a child so young much less been allowed to hold one. He found himself marveling over the tiny fingers and hands. All perfect but so very tiny. It seemed only a moment later Bilbo was beside him again holding a bottle of milk. “ Would you like to try to try feeding him.” The hobbit asked. “There’ really nothing to it. Frodo knows what to do.”
“Alright.” Kili said a bit apprehensively. “I’ll give it a try.”
“Lovely maybe I can get a few dishes done while you have him distracted.” Bilbo said as he handed the bottle to Kili and guided his hand in to position. As promised the babe knew what to do and was quickly suckling at the teat happily. After a moment of watching them Bilbo turned back to his tasks.
“Don’t you have any help?” Kili ventured to ask when he finally dragged his eyes away from the baby. “I thought you Hobbits were very… well communal.”
“Well some of my less conventional Took relatives do visit of course, but they mostly live across the water so it’s not often.” Bilbo paused. “Usually yes, Hobbits are generally very much in one another business for better or worse. But Hobbits value their respectability very highly. And I’m not generally considered respectable these days so most folk won’t associate with me.
“What? Why not?” Kili exclaimed. “I think you’re the more respectable person I know.”
“Well…” Bilbo said slowly focusing hard on the pot he was scrubbing. “Going on adventures isn’t well thought of here. Year-long adventures with Dwarves even less so I’m afraid. And returning home pregnant and unwed… well that was over the top for even my closest relations.”
“You are being shunned because you came with us on the Quest?” Kili demanded in disbelief he was taking a breath to continue when the rest of Bilbo’s words sank in. “Wait. What do you mean pregnant?”
I would think that was fairly self-explanatory Kili. You are holding my son.”
“But… but… Bilbo… you’re… well male.”
“So.”
“Men don’t get pregnant.”
“Well hobbits do. We can all carry children, male or female. How do you think we get such large and complicated family trees?”
“Only Dwarrowdam carry children among our kind.”
“Yes so I was told before I was sent away from Erebor.”
“You told…”
“I tried repeatedly but all those advisers told me it would be best if I were gone with Thorin woke. That he would need a wife and heirs and I would be a… distraction. I believe was the word they used.” Bilbo spat that last bit as though it tasted foul. “But no one would listen. So I had little choice but to go when they put me on that pony next to Gandalf. Of course I didn’t realize then…” He trailed off looking at the babe still in Kili’s arms.
Following Bilbo’s gaze Kili looked down and the babe now drowsing in his arms. Taking in the sleepy blue eyes and dark curls. “Bilbo… is this?”
“Thorin’s son.” The hobbit confirmed.