Hello! This is my first fanfiction story. I'm just a college student and within the past year have discovered the amazing thing called "fanfiction." So, while on summer break, I decided that I was going to write one of my own. Some day, I would love to write a book. However, it probably wouldn't be anything like this one haha. So, just bear with me. And feel free to read and review and give me all the hate and love you want- I'll definitely take it into consideration. :)

This story is somewhat personal to me- no, I am not a doctor or have any want to become one. But, I have had a very sick parent and experienced his long journey with him. He is my hero and my best friend- love ya, daddy! His story wasn't exactly the same as this one, but close. So, I used what I've learned from personal experience and most importantly, the amazingness called "Google."

So, enough rambling from me. Please read and I hope you enjoy my ramblings. :)

Thanks for everything! You're awesome.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story. All rights are given to J.R.R. Tolkien for being a fantastic genius and for Peter Jackson's amazing imagination when he makes these into movies.

"Kili?"

No response.

"Kili? Hello?"

I stretch my arms above my head as I lay on the couch and yawn. My stiff muscles protesting at the all too sudden movement. After helping some of our friends move for the past two days, I had decided to grab a blanket and watch a much needed marathon of Doctor Who. Netflix really does save lives. And, of course, after three straight episodes, my tired eyes got the better of me and I took myself a short nap. Well, three hours of sleep still counts as a nap… right?

After we had finished our good deeds for the day, Kili and I had come back home to Thorin's. Our parents died when we were still kids. Kili was four at the time. I was seven, and thirteen years later, I still remember the horror and the emptiness that I had felt when Uncle Thorin had told me about the fire. After a thorough investigation by the police and other authorities, results had shown that an electrical appliance- more specifically, the stove- had been left on during the night, and by no good reason, had decided to burst into flames. My parents' bedroom was located on the second floor, directly above the kitchen. They died within minutes. Kili and I had been at our uncles'. Thorin decided our parents deserved a break from two rambunctious little boys, and had taken us to his place for the weekend. I think for a while, Thorin blamed himself for their deaths. To this day, I cannot understand why, but he did. Maybe it was the pain of losing his only sister? Maybe it was the pain of losing his best friend and brother-in-law? Maybe it was both?

But, thirteen years later, here we were. One big happy family. For the most part, anyway. Thorin tried, he really did, but he honestly didn't know how to completely balance being a surrogate father, friend, uncle, and business man; twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. He did his best though. He never married. He always chose me and Kili first. For some reason, the women in his life just couldn't handle the competition for affection between the two of us and her. And, because of that, Thorin had never had a steady girlfriend for a period lasting longer than two and a half months. So, after all these years, it was still just the three of us. But, that's how we liked it.

Pausing my episode of Doctor Who, I decide to get up and walk to the kitchen for a glass of water. My legs protest for a few moments, letting the circulation flow through and reawaken my numb limbs. I shake myself, and proceed to walk into the kitchen. I grab a glass from the cabinet above the sink, and fill it with cold water. I take a glance at the clock above the stove and see that it's 7:23 P.M. Wow. No more three hour naps for me.

I place my now empty glass into the sink and decide it is too quiet in the house.

"Kili, you here?" I call once again and am greeted by silence.

I walk out of the kitchen, and turn left down the hall, toward the back door, stopping to grab my shoes along the way.

Opening the door to the backyard, I hear a solid thud as a ball bounces on the pavement. Kili had joined the high school basketball team his freshman year of high school. After an injury to his knee his junior year, he was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. Of course, Kili had decided he could still play ball after only two months of physical therapy. The results were disastrous, and resulted in a re-torn meniscus. Now he was out for life. Still, we couldn't even consider taking away the basketball hoop that stood on the pavement in the backyard. It was Kili's first love.

"Durin goes for the shot- wait, no! He fakes left, and runs it in for a lay-up. And- swish! Sinks it for the two points and the game!" I wave my hands in the air and show my excitement as if I were the proud big brother sitting in the stands.

"Thank you, thank you!" Kili bows dramatically, tossing me the ball.

"Where's Thorin?" I ask as I shoot a free throw. The ball goes wide right, not even hitting the backboard. I'll stick to swimming.

"'Said he was going out with some of the guys tonight. Watching the game at a sports bar or something." Kili informs me.

Thorin wasn't a drunk. In fact, he highly disapproved of alcohol, but some of his friends liked to have a few every now and then, and often Thorin went along as the designated driver. Like tonight.

"Guess he won't be back 'til late then." I say.

"Yeah. I guess so." Kili shoots the ball again. Swish.

"Show off."

"What was that?" Kili asks, a curious smirk plastered on his face.

Note to self: When making sarcastic remarks against brother, think. Don't speak. "I asked, how long have you been out here?"

Kili chuckled, "Sure ya did." Kili paused to sit on the pavement, and continued, "Not too long actually, maybe thirty minutes. When you decided to take over the living room, I went back to my room, got out my laptop and worked on some of those financial aid applications. College is rather expensive, my dear friend."

As Kili's older brother and best friend, I heard the slight sadness in the undertone. We all had expected for Kili to get a full ride to any number of colleges on a basketball scholarship. "Any luck?"

"Not really. I haven't really decided where I want to spend the next four years."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out soon." I offer my support, as I proceed to sit down beside my brother.

"Ha, you sound so sure of it. You've always had your life planned out, and it's always gone as you had imagined."

He's telling the truth though. I'd always known that I had wanted to join the family business: Oakenshield- Attorney at Law. What should have been a seven year degree, was only going to take me five, after taking many extra hours and surpassing all my fellow students with my ever-increasing GPA. Two years down, three to go. "Maybe," I finally answer. "But, I know everything will work out for you in time."

"Yeah, I guess so." Kili still looks disheartened.

I look up at the sky, now realizing the sun was gone for the day. I look over at my little brother. It's not like him to be this sullen and calm. Something else is bothering him.

"Anything else on your mind?" I ask.

"Wha- no. No, nothing. Wow, it got dark quick." Kili stammers.

I laugh. "Yeah, that happens when the sun sets for the day."

"Shut up," Kili laughs and hits my arm.

"C'mon," I say standing up. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Sounds good," Kili says as he reaches for my hand, allowing me to pull him up.

I walk to the door, and hold it open. As I turn, I notice Kili toss the ball, backwards, to the net. Swish.

"It's all in the wrist." Kili says smugly as he walks through the door. I swat the back of his head, and he continues to laugh as we make our way to the kitchen.