Bilbo and Thorin have been married for two and divorced for six years. They met at a conference where Bilbo was promoting his new book and Thorin his new hotel. The connection was instant and when Thorin asked Bilbo on a date, Bilbo didn't think twice before he accepted. They stayed in touch and after a few months Thorin asked Bilbo to move in with him. He was living alone for so many years that a small apartment was enough for him even if he had enough money to buy all the houses in Erebor. Bilbo wasn't, let's say enthusiastic about moving from the Shire, where he had his small house and where all his friends lived, but for Thorin he was willing to sacrifice everything.

At the beginning it was a little awkward living with each other, but they quickly got used to it and their relationship got even better. It took Thorin another few months to gather enough courage to ask the younger man to marry him because he was constantly worried that Bilbo will turn him down because things were moving too fast. No such a thing happened and Bilbo practically pulled the ring from Thorin's hand when he got on one knee to pop the question. Neither of them had the patience to wait to get married so Thorin invited all his friends and relatives in town and two weeks after the engagement, Bilbo and Thorin were married. After the wedding Thorin allowed Bilbo to choose a house and with unlimited sources Bilbo decided to buy the Lonely Mountain, a big mansion that was built from the finest stone and had a huge garden. Nine months later Frodo was born and their life couldn't be more perfect.

Up to the moment when Thorin filed for divorce. A few months after Frodo's first birthday Bilbo packed their belongings and moved back to the Shire. The divorce papers came a week later and in anger Bilbo didn't think twice before he signed them. They, well, their lawyers, agreed on a shared custody over Frodo. That meant that Frodo would live with Bilbo and that Thorin would come to visit him as often as he could. When Frodo got older he would still stay with Bilbo, but every other weekend Thorin would come and they would spend the weekend together. Things did work that way for the first two years, but Thorin's love of money had gone to fierce and Frodo was lucky if he remembered to call him on his birthday. It's been almost six months since he last saw his dad and now that it was his seventh birthday he was looking forward when his dad will finally come visit him and they will spend some time together.

It wasn't Bilbo's idea to invite Thorin over for dinner. Oh, no. Bilbo would never do that. He and Thorin separated on a very bad terms and they didn't even try to repair their relationship. They avoided each other as much as possible, but sometimes it was really hard because they were forced to be in the same room, like for example on holidays, birthdays, anniversaries of their friends and their encounters usually ended with a shouting match. Bilbo could only hope that they could remain civilized until Frodo goes to bed, he really didn't want to ruin his son's birthday.

"When is he coming?" Asked Frodo as he stared out of the window, looking for Thorin to appear.

"Very soon, my sweetling," Bilbo promised, even though he knew there is a possibility that Thorin will call in the last minute and cancel. Bilbo could only hope this wouldn't happen, because when Thorin didn't come for Christmas like he promised, Frodo refused to leave his room for a week.

"Do you think he will bring me a big present?"

"Of course he will. You know how much he loves you. You are the most important thing in his life," lied Bilbo. It wasn't fair that he had to lie to his son about these things but he couldn't tell him the truth and tell him that his dad didn't come because he was too busy making even more money.

"He is here!" Exclaimed Frodo and before Bilbo could turn around Frodo was already out and in Thorin's embrace. "Daddy!"

"Hello," smiled Thorin and scooped him up. "You have grown so much since I last saw you. What has been Bilbo feeding you?" Thorin never referred to Bilbo as papa, it pained him too much.

Frodo beamed with excitement and didn't answer Thorin's question. "Did you bring me a present?" He asked when Thorin put him down.

"I did," smiled Thorin and pulled an envelope out of his jacket. "Here, happy birthday, son."

Frodo eyed the envelope before he accepted it. Inside was a check for two thousand dollars. "Thank you," said Frodo, disappointment could be heard in his voice, but papa thought him to always say thank you when you receive something. "Why don't you come inside," invited Frodo and headed inside without even looking at Thorin. He headed straight for the kitchen.

"What have you got there?" Asked Bilbo. His smile disappeared in the moment he saw the envelope in Frodo's hand which a few seconds later ended in the trash. Bilbo had a feeling something like this will happen and he hated to see Frodo sit in the kitchen so disappointed. "Sweetheart, daddy didn't forget about you present, he just couldn't bring it today so he dropped it off a few days ago." Frodo looked at his papa. "Why don't you go see what he got you," Bilbo encouraged, "It's in my bedroom closet." Before Bilbo could finish Frodo was out of the kitchen. Thorin moved at the last second or they would crash. A Few seconds later screams of excitement could be heard from Bilbo's bedroom. Bilbo sighed with relief, at least he could save this part of Frodo's birthday.

He looked Thorin in the eyes and shook his head. "What?" Questioned Thorin, annoyed by the look Bilbo was giving him.

"A check? A check, Thorin? Are you crazy? He is seven, he doesn't know what to do with all this money," said Bilbo and pulled the envelope out of the trash before giving it back to Thorin.

Thorin was visibly offended that Frodo didn't like his gift. "What else was I suppose to give him? I don't know what he likes."

"That's because you never spend time with him."

"I don't understand why you are making so much fuss about this," started Thorin, "I gave the same gift to Fíli few months back and he was perfectly happy with it."

"That's what you think," reasoned Bilbo. "I do believe that your nephew would appreciate it more if you would actually show up on his 18th birthday instead of wishing him happy birthday over Skype. And let me tell you this, he didn't like it."

"Why am I always the bad guy?" Asked Thorin but before Bilbo could answer Frodo ran back into the room.

"Thank you so much! Did you know that papa got me the first part of the set and now I got the second one. Life is perfect." Frodo exclaimed and ran back to the living room where he had all his toys.

Thorin sent a questioning look to his ex-husband.

"He likes trains right now. He has this obsession and he wants to have every train he sees. I bought him the first set and you bought him the second one," explained Bilbo.

"I'll pay you back."

"I don't need your money," snapped Bilbo.

"Yet you still accept the check I send you every month," Thorin pointed out.

"It was the judge's decision, not my. And I never touched the money you gave me. I'm perfectly able to provide for my son."

"He is my son, too."

"Really?" Questioned Bilbo with venom in his voice. "Then you are lucky he still recognizes you." They were silent for a few minutes. Thorin took a seat while Bilbo continued cooking. "I'm seeing someone," he said casually.

"I don't care," answered Thorin. "We are not married, you can do whatever you want."

Bilbo turned around to face Thorin. "I'm telling you this because I want him to meet Frodo. We've been going out for some time and I trust him enough to move things on the next level. If Frodo accepts him I will ask him to move in with me."

Thorin was hurt, but he managed to hide it well. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want for Frodo to have another parent. I think he is old enough to spend the weekend with you," said Bilbo.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"What I'm trying to tell you is that if my boyfriend," Thorin couldn't help but flinch at Bilbo's words, "Accepts my offer you won't be welcome here anymore. You are not part of my life anymore. If you want to see Frodo you can come and take him for the weekend, otherwise I would ask you to stay away."

Thorin stared at Bilbo before he nodded. He turned his head away to hide his hurt. "I'll go check what he is doing," he said and walked into the living room without looking at Bilbo again.

:::

Thorin stayed over for dinner as Frodo requested. He kept the conversation going with his son, trying to get to know him as much as he could. He missed him. He missed both of them, but his pride got the better of him and he would never say it out loud.

After dinner he played with Frodo and his new train set until Bilbo announced it was time for bed.

"I'm happy that you came, dad," said Frodo when Thorin tucked him in. He didn't remember if he ever did something like that, but when his son asked him to, he couldn't say no. "You and Papa got me the best presents ever!"

Thorin forced a smile before giving Frodo his teddybear. "I wanted to ask you something," said Thorin quietly. The thing he feared most was his son's rejection. "How would you feel if you would get to spend every other weekend with me. Just the two of us. I would come and get you on Friday and then on Sunday I would bring you back."

"Do you mean we could all spend some time together? Even Papa?" Asked Frodo.

"No, just you and me," explained Thorin.

"But then you would stay here with us and you and I would get to spend the weekend alone and then come back to Papa?"

Thorin's heart broke into million pieces. "No. You can see me every other weekend, but that's it. That's all we got."

"Why?"

"Because your Papa and I don't live together anymore and the judge decided you will live here," explained Thorin. "I get to see you every other weekend."

"That's not fair," protested Frodo. "Don't you love Papa?"

You have no idea how much, little one. "We had our differences that's why we decided to go our separate ways."

Frodo was quiet for a minute and for Thorin that was the longest minute of his life. "I like living here with Papa," said Frodo and all Thorin would manage was a short nod.

"Okay then," said Thorin holding back his tears. What he feared most has come true. His own son rejected him, now he was really alone. He pressed a kiss on Frodo's forehead. "Happy birthday son. Sleep well," he said before he turned off the lights and left the room.

He wanted to get out of Bag End as soon as possible. He knew Bilbo probably heard the whole thing so he didn't want to talk with him. He grabbed his coat and headed to the door.

"I'm sorry," said Bilbo as he stood by the door. "I didn't expect that."

Thorin looked him in the eyes for a second before he stormed out of the house into the cold, dark night.


Author's notes:

All mistakes are mine.

This story will have only a few chapters.