Ok. I'm just trying something. I read the story of littleblackdog, Take from me my lace, and the idea of this story just popped up. I usually suck at Modern AU stories, but i wanted to try them out here as well. Hope you like it!

FBI , New York

'Gentlemen, please sit down.' Commissioner Balin Fundin was keen about the following mission. 'First of all, congratulations on the divesture of the biggest drug and prostitution ring in New York. Thanks to the FBI and the N.Y.P.D. this city will be a much safer place in the future.'

He waited for the applause and cheering to fade until he continued.

'Nevertheless, our business in this matter has not ended.' Balin sternly looked into the faces of the FBI agents facing him. 'We have recently learned from one of our informants in San Fransisco, that this prostitution business goes high up, higher than we ever expected. Gandalf Istari, one of the owners of Valars Inc., the modeling agency in San Fransisco, has informed us that his corporation may be involved in affairs of prostitution and even human trafficking. His brother, Saruman Istari, has dealings with some people well-known to the FBI as slave traders. Gandalf only has a suspicion, but he needs our support. We will send some of our agents there, undercover. Sir.'

Balin stepped back and Benedict Smaug, the director of the FBI undercover section stepped forward.

'Gentlemen, we have a delicate situation here. I am sure that all of you know Valars Inc., a corporation which has promoted various topmodels in the past, topmodels from all over the world. And exactly there is the problem. Some of those girls and women haven´t come here voluntarily. Or else, they have been lured here under false promises. Many of the models are even appointed as escorts and have to serve the will of various business partners. That has to stop. The commissioner and I have decided to start an undercover mission, involving most of you, gentlemen.' Smaug looked at his men and had to fight a smirk as he saw the expectant looks of many of his agents eyes. His gaze fixed on Thorin Thrainson, one of his most experienced agents. Thorins expression was cold and demure, but Smaug knew that Thorin deeply despised him. Many years ago Smaug had send Thorin and his partner Frerin into an undercover mission and it had ended badly. Frerin had died in a fire as their cover had been blown due to a leak in Smaugs office and their undercover home was burned down by the radical group they had been undercutting. Thorin had never forgiven Smaug for the failure of that mission.

But this man was Smaugs only hope for this mission to go well.

'Thorin Thrainson, Fili Thrainson, Ori Clerk and Bofur Toymaker. You four gentlemen will run the undercover mission in San Fransisco, more information will follow tomorrow. And be warned, we will have no support from the San Fransisco Police Department on this one. Valars Inc is very powerful and a very important business corporation for the city. So no contact to the SFPD as long as we are investigating. Dismissed, gentlemen.'

'The famous photographer Thorin Oakenshield. Oakenshield, what a powerful name!' Fili smirked at his uncles and collegues dark expression. 'Smile uncle, you will take pictures of the most beautiful women in the world! The whole FBI envies you for this job!'

Thorin frowned even more at his nephews optimism. Thorin was a skilled hobby photographer and Smaug had gotten him a "job" at Valars Inc., of course with a little help from Gandalf Istari. He was the new photografer for the campaigns being produced in San Fransisco. Not that he didn´t like women, Thorin had been a man who had lived for his job in the past decades and during this part of his life women had been a secondary priority. Being confronted with so many women now was distressful. Especially models. Thorin was a good looking man and he had had his share of beautiful women so far, but models were mostly shallow and arrogant and he strongly disliked this kind of women. But anyhow, he had to concentrate on his work anyway, there was no time for women. So he thought.

'Dwalin has opened this wonderful bar at Fisherman's Wharf, Thorin.' Fili remembered him. Dwalin was an ex-collegue and had returned to his hometown San Fransisco to open a bar after his retirement. Thorin would inform him about their mission and would rely on him for insider information. Smaug would never allow an ex FBI to get involved in this, but Thorin had not planned to ask.

'We will visit him as soon as everything is settled.' Thorin decided and soon the four FBI agents were on their way. San Fransisco was actually Thorins and Filis home town and they were planning to take a long leave when this mission was over. Two days later they went for Fisherman's Wharf and visited Dwalin in his bar, Blue Erebor. The meeting with Gandalf would be several days later, so they had enough time to accomodate to their new environment.

'It was about time!' the huge bald man behind the bar came rushing towards them and nearly crushed them all in a powerful embrace. 'Welcome to my place!'

'Wow, Dwalin, its great!' Fili exclaimed and looked up the huge shelf unit made of glass at the head of the bar holding dozens if not a hundred of bottles of wine and champagne.

'Sit down, lads!' Dwalin pointed at a table near the big window with a wonderful view on the bay. 'What do ya want to drink?'

While Thorin and Fili settled on beer, Bofur and Ori tried the wine.

'I´m hungry. Do you have any chips?' Ori asked Dwalin hopefully.

'We have even better than that!' Dwalin expressed proudly. 'I have hired a young woman a few weeks ago, she can make delicious little treats and helps out as a waitress. She is such a sweetheart. Hey Bea! Would you come here for a moment?' he yelled over to a young woman standing behind the bar.

Thorin eyed the young woman suspiciously. Never before had he heard Dwalin talk that nicely about a woman, especially not with that fatherly tone in his voice. The woman was very petite and honeyblond curls fell down her shoulders, framing a oval face with big brown eyes, a small nose and full lips. Slowly she walked closer to their table with a sheepish smile on her face.

'Beatrix!' it was Fili who recognised the young woman.

'Fili? What on earth are you doing back in San Fransisco?' the young woman locked at Thorins nephew irritately.

'You two know each other?' Dwalin asked with an astonished look on his face.

'We...we used to date...years ago.' Fili answered and stared at the young woman.

Thorin could guess by the looks the two were exchanging that the dating had ended badly and decided to break the awkward silence.

'Thorin Oakenshield, these are my friends Bofur Toymaker and Ori Clerk. Nice to meet you, Miss...' Thorin cocked an eyebrow at Beatrix.

'Beatrix Baggins, but please call me Bea.' Bea said quietly and smiled at Bofur and Ori who looked at her with big smiles on their faces.

'Bunny, my friends are hungry, could you make us one of your delicious treats?' Dwalin asked her with a wide grin.

'I will, if you stop calling me bunny.' Bea frowned at Dwalin and earned a friendly nudge.

Thorin smiled at her response and thought that this woman seemed to be more fierce than her outter appearance revealed. The fact that she had dated his nephew who was no easy fellow supported his impression. Bea left for the kitchen and Bofur sniggered at Fili.

'Wow, lad. Your taste in women is remarkable, what a nice little lass.' Ori nodded in agreement. 'And she can cook.'

Fili was reluctant to warm up the topic of his past relationships, but he was interrupted by an arrogant man who walked straight over to Dwalin and handed him a dish.

'Dwalin, I said I wanted a steak roasted english. Maybe you should show the little cook of yours how its done.' with an arrogant snarl the blonde man turned back to his table where an equaly arrogant blonde woman waited for him.

Dwalin took a deep breath and stood up to leave for the kitchen as Thorin stopped him.

'The Dwalin I know would have thrown that bastard out of the bar with the tip of his little finger.' he grumbled.

'The Dwalin you know was the younger Dwalin. I am old and I have grown tired of getting my way with the help of my fists.' Dwalin muttered. 'That man is Thranduil Greenwood. He owns many restaurants in San Fransisco. If he wants his steak roasted english then so be it. Excuse me, I´ll be back with your food in a minute.'

And he was. Dwalin returned with Thranduils new steak and another beer for Thorin and Fili. Ori nearly fainted as he saw a huge bowl of chips in Beas hands and made her grin as he followed the bowl with his gaze till it stood on the table in front of him. There was plenty of everything. Bea had brought roasted chicken, meat in marinade, many different sorts of cheese, mozzarella sticks, chips, bread and vegetables and many more amazing things and the men suddenly noticed how hungry they were.

'Enjoy.' Bea smiled and was about to turn around as Thranduil approached her.

'This steak is still not english. I suggest you get me a real cook and a real steak, Miss.' he hissed and pushed the plate into Beas hands.

Bea took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. Thranduil smirked satisfied for he thought that he had made her hate herself because she was unable to roast an english steak.

'This steak is roasted english, Sir. But if you insist I will make you another one.' Bea gave him a polite smile and hurried into the kitchen.

Thorin was about to give the arrogant bastard a piece of his mind as Fili interrupted him.

'Oh dear, that guy is in huge trouble.' he stated.

'What do you mean?' Thorin asked his nephew.

'I have seen this gleam in Beas eyes before, she´ll do something to him.' Fili stated dryly and watched Bea storm out of the kitchen again.

Bea had impaled a raw steak onto a kitchen knife and stormed over to Thranduils table. As she arrived she slammed it smack into the table in front of Thranduils nose. With a furious gleam in her eyes and with her hands on her hips she stared down at the shocked man.

'Is that english enough for you, you son of a B...'

'Bea!' Dwalin interrupted her just in the right moment. 'Thranduil, maybe you should leave my bar. I am sorry.'

Thranduil and his attendance left the bar, cursing and ranting, while Dwalin turned to Bea with a thunderous expression on his face. 'We need to talk. Kitchen. Now.'

Fili winced at Dwalins tone, which he remembered too clearly. Dwalin had trained him at the FBI academy and he remembered how Dwalin had given him hard times when he had been insubordinate. But Bea looked straight back at him, no fear showed in her eyes. They went back to the kitchen and the four men started eating the food which Dwalin and Bea had brought them.

'Oh my goodness, this is heaven!' Ori exclaimed with his mouth full. 'I don´t care wether this woman is your ex or the devil herself, she makes the best food ever!'

'I like her.' Thorin smirked and laughed at his nephews glare.