Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way it's gotta be according to the lawyers.

Dedicated to my sister's school friends who told her about this pairing, thus leading her to put the idea for this fanfic in my head.

A Planned Journey

Hands in his pockets Frodo walked causally over to his honorary uncle, who was sitting on a bench enjoying a late evening smoke. It was still a bit of a jolt to see the man looking so young again, but that was the way it worked here. You saw people at the age your heart wished to, and thus Bilbo looked much as the other had when he had first adopted him and brought him to Bag End. He apparently looked just as he had when he'd boarded the ship to come here, but then the ring had insured he didn't age as he should have over the years.

Taking a seat when Bilbo smiled and patted the spot beside him, Frodo smiled back before making his big announcement. "I think you and I need to go on another adventure."

"Is that so?" Raising an eyebrow Bilbo was surprised by the statement, but continued to smile indulgently. "And where is it you'd like to go?"

"To find your friends and Thorin Oakenshield." When Bilbo just stared at him Frodo pressed the matter. "You haven't said so, but you must long to see them all again. They were to you what the Fellowship was to me. And after all the stories you've told me about them, well how could I not want to meet them as well? Especially Bofur, the letters from him were always terribly funny and interesting. And don't say that the odds of us being able to find them are horrible, I've already talked to Gandalf and Lord Elrond about it and they both said the same thing. This place is connected to the places that men and dwarves and such pass on to after death. Gandalf said that it is possible to journey into them, and that so long as we let your bonds to them lead us, eventually we should find them."

Mouth opening and closing Bilbo didn't know what to say. Naturally he'd wondered, hoped, that it would be possible to somehow meet up with them, with Thorin in this plane of existence, but he'd kept pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind because…because like always the idea of seeing the dwarf king again, thinking about all the history and words unspoken that lay between them, scared him worse than any Orc or troll ever had.

Understanding in his eyes Frodo reached out and laid a hand over his uncle's. "You never married, Bilbo, and I know there were those who were interested and tried to draw your notice. I asked Gandalf once why you spurned all advances, and he told me that you were the sort to love with all your heart and that you'd given yours to someone long ago. I didn't want to pry, to hurt you with my questions…and then I could tell when you would talk aloud while writing your book. You could hide your feelings in your writing, but not in your voice when you thought no one was around to hear."

Looking away Bilbo sighed, knowing there was no point in lying to the man who knew him far too well. "Reclaiming the mountain was all that mattered to him, that and his people. I was just this…pretend burglar Gandalf saddled him with. I knew it, accepted it…and aside from burdening you with that accursed ring of mine…I have never regretted anything so much…as the fact that I loved him in silence and never told him." It wouldn't have made any good difference in their relationship with each other, but it might have made the knotheaded definition of stubbornness understand why he'd done the things he'd done. Eventually.

Seeing the shadow of memories in Bilbo's eyes Frodo pushed a little harder. "Considering how much time has passed then…isn't it about time you told him?"

"Frodo…"

"I'll be with you, every step of the way." Frodo linked their fingers for emphasis. "And if he can't appreciate the gift you'll be giving him, well then this new world we're in is bigger than either of us can imagine. We'll leave him and go find ourselves some handsome hobbit men to pursue us after, alright?"

Laughing in spite of himself, Bilbo squeezed the hand holding his, loving the younger man with every breath in his body. It was Frodo's company that had made his long years in Middle Earth worth while. Had probably kept him from falling too deeply under the ring's power.

Though if he'd had a clue that that damn thing was the reason his aging had slowed down he probably would have tossed it when he was younger and less enthralled with it, Bilbo silently acknowledged, unaware his expression had darkened. Living as long as possible had not been desirable after losing his heart and so many friends. If it wouldn't have dishonored those who'd had their lives taken from them on the mountain, he might have ended his own after losing them. Losing Thorin.

"-and you'll have the whole trip to figure out what to say, you can even write it out like it's a speech and I'll help." Frodo's words finally broke through Bilbo's subconscious, forcing the older hobbit to pay attention with a wry smile.

"Not even that would help, I'm afraid. When it comes to him, to Thorin, my words…it seems like I am doomed never to have the right ones." Letting go of Frodo's hand Bilbo got to his feet, puffing away at his pipe in agitation as he mentally reviewed all the embarrassing and awkward conversations he'd had with the dwarf before the other man's death. He hadn't even been able to tell Thorin he loved him when the man lay dying in front of him, he ranted outloud, taking his pipe out of his mouth so that he could gesture with it. He might have been braver than most hobbits when it came to adventure, but when it came to emotions…by a dwarf's beard he'd never been able to tell his own nephew how much he loved him and he knew Frodo loved him in return!

Moving in Frodo threw his arms around his uncle, holding him tight as he assured the other man that he'd always known and loved him just as much.

And then he made it clear that if Bilbo refused to go on this journey with him they'd just wait around for Merry and Pippin to pass over, and then he'd ask them for help in either getting him to come or going with him to visit the dwarves without him.

Bilbo agreed to go as soon as travel arrangements could be made.

)

Riding over the hill Thorin Oakenshield did his best to ignore the chatter of the two dwarves riding behind him and Balin. He preferred his early morning rides to be quiet and reflective, something his two nephews never seemed to understand. They did try to be silent, he knew, but their baser natures always won out sooner than later. And while normally he had more patience with them, today he was giving serious consideration to drowning them in the nearby stream for some peace and quiet. As they were already dead it probably wasn't possible to drown them, but damn if he wasn't willing to try.

What he needed was rest, the dwarf king silently acknowledged, it had been quite some time since he'd been able to sleep through the night without interruption. Sometimes he awoke because he could not stop remembering his last moments with Bilbo in Middle Earth, or imagining the life they might have had if he'd lived and had a chance to court the hobbit he had not realized he loved until it was too late. Other times his conscious tortured him with visions of what might have befallen the stubborn Mr. Baggins after he had perished, and therefore was no longer there to protect the wilful creature himself. The man was far too good at finding trouble after all, and who would protect the stubborn hobbit from himself? Or had Bilbo found a protector, someone strong and able enough to keep the other man in line? Or had the hobbit taken a wife, who kept him home and safe with her? That he hated the idea of anyone holding that place in the hobbit's heart showed him for the selfish creature that he was, and he hated that about himself even as he hated anyone who might have already stolen Bilbo's heart from him.

He did not even know how much time had passed since they'd parted, Thorin mentally cursed, time working far differently in this place. Would he ever see the hobbit again, would Bilbo want to see him? There hadn't been time to say all he'd wanted in the end…and he had lacked the courage to say the words of love he'd tried so hard to ignore until it was too late.

"Hey look, who are they?"

Still ignoring his nephews Thorin didn't react until he heard the name Bilbo, his head snapping in the direction Kili was still pointing in excitedly.

Spurring his horse to follow the others Thorin felt all the air leave his lungs at the sight that greeted them as they approached the stream where, under a large weeping willow, slept two hobbits, one he would recognize anywhere. Bilbo lay on his side with his arm wrapped around the waist of the other, much younger looking male, the two looking very loving and cosy.

"Why it tis Bilbo." Kili announced gleefully, the happiness on his face quickly fading to interest as he observed that the hobbit with his old friend was quite the most beautiful hobbit he'd ever seen.

Catching on before his brother Fili turned and gave his uncle a pitying look before elbowing Kili in the side and hissing that he shouldn't be staring that way, especially as this must be paining their uncle greatly.

Rolling his eyes as the two brothers quarreled over who was going to wake Bilbo and how, Balin stayed by Thorin's side quietly, knowing there were no words that would soothe the king's now broken heart. There had always been a chance, after all, that the love he'd sensed the hobbit had felt for Thorin had stayed true and would drive the halfling to seek them out after his time on Middle Earth had ended. But no, it seemed his old friend had found another to love, one of his own kind. Not something he could blame his old friend for either, especially when Thorin had never even told the lad his feelings.

"He must have come looking for us, there are no hobbits around here." Thorin had looked, naturally, unable to truly search as he had people he could not leave. There were no evil creatures here to hunt his subjects, but there was always work for a king.

"Well you two haven't changed a bit, have you?"

The sound of Bilbo's voice washing over him like a sweet and warm summer rain, Thorin watched as both his nephews nearly tackled the poor hobbit to the ground while the other hobbit, who'd also been woken by the two's squabbling, smiled and got to his feet, helping Bilbo to his when his idiot nephews finally remembered themselves and let the other man up.

To give Thorin more time Balin came over to give his old friend a long, affectionate hug before asking for an introduction to his companion since the boys had apparently forgotten what little manners ever stayed in their heads.

But Bilbo was too busy staring at Thorin now, the old dwarf noted, and wasn't surprised when the hobbit didn't answer him but instead walked over to greet their leader.

"Master Oakenshield." Belatedly realizing that he probably should have used a more royal address, Bilbo winced and started to apologize for not using a more formal, respectful greeting when he was drawn into a tight hug, his stuttered words lost against the fur of Thorin's coat. And it was the feel of him, the scent that was so uniquely his, that had Bilbo forgetting himself enough to bury his face in the side of the dwarf's neck and hold the other man with all the strength he possessed.

How long the two would have stayed like that, completely in their own little world, would remain unknown, because short minutes later Frodo's hysterical laughing broke through the emotional barrier the had enveloped the two. Quickly they turned each other loose with much embarrassment and then turned their attention to the hobbit who was currently sitting on the ground with his arms wrapped around his waist, looking much like he might explode with laughter otherwise.

"What on earth?" Though he was delighted to see his nephew so happy, it had been too long since he'd heard the boy laugh so merrily, Bilbo was a little worried Frodo would make himself sick if he didn't calm down.

"I don't know, laddie." Balin informed him, not wanting Thorin to kill Bilbo's hobbit. He was pretty sure that the hobbit was laughing over the fact that the princes had felt the need to reassure the boy that their uncle would never steal someone else's man. Apparently this Frodo Baggins was quite sure of his place in his husband's heart.

So they had to wait for Frodo to catch his breath, the hobbit just able to gasp out the fact that the dwarves thought they were a couple before descending into another fit of delighted laughter.

"A couple?" Bilbo repeated, confusion written all over his face. "What do you mean…?" Understanding dawning slowly, Bilbo turned his attention to gawking at his dwarf friends. "Why on earth would you lot think we were a couple? His parents were both cousins to me to varying degrees! He's like a son to me!"

Why that news made the dwarves so happy was beyond Bilbo, especially when the brothers actually cheered the news, but in short order he'd properly introduced Frodo to everyone and agreed with Thorin's suggestion that they help the hobbits pack up so that they could be properly escorted back to the keep.

)

Late That Night

Gathering up his courage, as well as reminding himself that Frodo wasn't likely to stop shooting him looks every few minutes until he complied with the younger hobbit's silent prodding, Bilbo took a slow, calming breath and then made his way over to where Thorin was sitting slightly apart from everyone else, watching them all but especially him. Or so Frodo had informed him ten minutes ago, though the boy could just be seeing what he wanted to see. But maybe it was true…and maybe he should quite stalling and get this over with so that he could humiliate himself and then move on.

Not that he'd ever been able to move on where Thorin Oakenshield was concerned.

"Your kin and mine seem to be getting along quite well."

"Yes, it seems so." Forcing himself not to fidget Bilbo cleared his throat and made himself ask the other man if he would mind terribly if they went somewhere where they could talk without being overheard.

Thorin was surprised by the request but nodded, rising to his feet as well. Gesturing with his hand as to where to go, the two headed out together, the dwarf king doing his best to ignore the other occupants of the room who were doing their best to hide their interest and failing miserably. They wouldn't give them privacy for long, Thorin knew, especially from his sister's sons. Hopefully Bilbo's own nephew would be enough of a distraction, at least where Kili was concerned.

When they arrived in a rarely used hallway Thorin inquired as to its suitability, not sure what to make of how nervous Bilbo appeared to be. Did he scare the hobbit so much?

"Yes, yes, this is as good a place as any." Shoving his hands in his pockets, his fingers naturally brushing against the folded pieces of parchment that contained his speech, Bilbo wished rather desperately that he could just read from it. "I know they won't leave us alone for long and there are some things…things I didn't have a chance to say to you…before."

Thorin nodded. "And I to you." A smile, wry smile crossed his lips briefly. "I even wrote it all down so I wouldn't forget anything."

Paling a little at the idea of a list full of all the things Thorin might wish to yell at him about, Bilbo's voice squeaked a little when he asked the dwarf king if he was serious.

Reaching into his own pocket Thorin pulled the pieces of parchment out, the amount of sheets indicating it was going to be an even longer list than Bilbo had first imagined. And misinterpreting the look he was getting the dwarf's eyes narrowed a little threateningly, asking if he was being mocked for making the list in the first place.

"No, no, of course not!" Nerves had Bilbo blurting out the fact that he'd written things down too, showing the parchment to Thorin to prove it.

Eyes going back and forth between their pieces of paper Thorin's expression was contemplative before he held out his list to the hobbit. "I'll read yours if you'll read mine." He was terrible when it came to apologizing, it went against his nature and he was self-aware enough to know that he'd start justifying his bad behavior if given the chance.

The suggestion startling him, Bilbo knew that he'd be taking the coward's way out if he let Thorin read his confession of love instead of saying it himself in his own words. His wasn't a list of complaints, which was probably what the other man was expecting.

And okay, he was a complete and total coward where Thorin was concerned.

"That would probably be best."