Bifur hurried through the already open door to the busy room belonging to his Aunt. Family members from near around had gathered at the news that a new dwarf, a new Broadbeam had been brought into the world.
"Sorry for my lateness," Bifur huffed out, gently closing the door. "But I had a problem with my toys and- besides that's not important right now. I came as soon as I heard, is it true there is another Broadbeam in our family?"
The dwarves parted to reveal a tired looking she-dwarf, propped up in bed with a small bundle in her arms. Her older son, Bombur, was beside her, craning his neck to try and catch a glimpse at his new baby brother.
Bifur stepped forward and fumbled in his pockets. The first item he brought out was a small, carved, wooden horse, mid-canter, its legs strong and its mane and tail billowing in the wind. "I did not want to come by and present my new cousin or my aunt with nothing, but many is sparse right now and-"
"Bifur," His Aunt cut in a smile on her face. "Any gift is worth all the gold in Erebor if it is coming from my Firebeard."
He grinned sheepishly at her words and continued. "But here is a strong horse for an equally soon-to-be dwarrow." He moved around and sat on the end of the bed and handed the horse over to Bombur who was waiting with expected arms. Before Bifur could utter another word, Bombur shifted along the bed and settled himself in Bifur's lap, his round, red face smiling up at him.
The other dwarves in the room politely made their excuses to leave and left the four family dwarves on their own. Watching the last dwarf elder leave, Bifur fished into his pocket for his final gift.
"And this is a carving knife, a toy making knife. While he may be mighty too young to use it now, when he is older, I shall teach him my trade," Bifur leaned forward, carefully holding Bombur with one hand so he would not fall, and looked at the sleeping dwarrow's face. "Besides, he looks like the kind to make toys."
His Aunt smiled and softly stroked a finger over the babe's cheek. "I look like the kind to cook," Bombur chirped before he bit onto a bread roll that was occupying his other hand.
Bifur laughed along with Bombur's mother and hugged the young dwarf on his lap tight against his chest. "What be the dwarrow's name?" Bifur asked, putting the knife back away, safely in his pocket.
"Bofur," replied the she-dwarf. "Would you like to hold him?"
"Can I be trusted?" Bifur joked.
"But of course," She replied, sitting herself up more.
Bombur shuffled himself off his cousin's lap as Bofur was carefully handed over. Bifur held him carefully in his arms, a dirty gloved hand supporting the young dwarrow's head.
He had always wanted children himself but he had never found the right she-dwarf to settle down with. A few had caught his eye but his trade that he loved doing the most did not suit them and Bifur always had to choose between woman and profession, and his profession always won.
He looked down at the sleeping dwarrow in his arms as it shuffled in its sleep. It slowly woke and blinked its large, green eyes up at its older cousin. Bifur couldn't help but gasp a smile as Bofur seemed to smile up at him.
"Doesn't he look just like his Father," Bifur grinned to his Aunt who reciprocated.
Bombur stood on the bed next to Bifur, coming up to his shoulder and looked at his now awake sibling. Bombur happily blinked his bright blue eyes as Bofur did so with his green ones. "He looks different," The young dwarrow said, naively.
"Of course he looks different," Bifur chirped. "You look like your Ma whilst your brother here looks like your Da."
"How long is he going to stay around?" The dwarrow asked again.
"Well," Bombur's Mother began.
"As long as he wants to stay around." Bifur finished.
"Can I help take care of him?"
"We all can," Bifur choked out the last of his words as a small, soft hand gripped his thumb tightly. "I wish you all the luck in the world, young Bofur, I really do."