A/N- This is a modern setting/reincarnation Hobbit AU with some Bagginshield and some Fiori.

Ever since he could remember, Thorin knew who he was. This was nothing existential or particularly empowering. It was basic. Thorin knew who he had been before the years had erased him from memory and before he became who and what he was today. It was frightening to remember at first. He hated the memories and wished, more than once, to simply shove them aside and forget. But the older he grew, the more he realized something. No matter how heartbreaking and no matter how painful, all those memories were important. They were important to the man he used to be and important to the man he was now. And what was he now?

The police considered him a crime leader. A crook. A swindler and a murderer. A terrorist. But no. He was Thorin Oakenshield and even now, after many years and many bodies, his spirit was still the same. Despite the lies and the hardships, he had stayed as noble as he could.

Of course, ever since he had come to the realization of who and what he was, Thorin had started to see the people around him utterly different. Familiar faces of the present together with the familiar souls of the past. He didn't know what the chances were of this happening but he never complained. His nephews were still his nephews and felt like the very spirits he had cared so much about in his former life. And after a while, Thorin had realized that they began to remember too. It started slow of course, and at first, he didn't push it. But as more and more of his "family" began to remember who they used to be, Thorin began to get more demanding. He wanted them to remember. There was a blissful sort of closure in knowing yourself and knowing yourself far better than you thought you did.

Kili was the first to remember. They had found a ratty old cottage to kip in and while his brother fiddled with his tablet, Kili stared absently out the window, chewing on his bottom lip and leaning his chin on one hand. "...Is that really how we died?" He muttered gently so only Thorin could hear him and the older man stiffened at the words, staring at Kili as if he had never seen him before. Gaze slowly averting from the window, the young man peered at his uncle and swallowed. "Is it?" He asked slowly and Thorin felt an ancient pang of guilt stir up inside him.

"I...I don't know, Kili..." He said truthfully after a long moment and the young man fidgeted, toying with the hem of his ratty old t-shirt. "It's a crap way to die, uncle." He managed at last with his little cheeky grin, even if the normal brightness of it was considerably dimmed. Thorin, in his turn, didn't feel like smiling at all and pulled the youngster into his arms with a wordless apology. He wouldn't admit that his death wasn't any better. And it hurt to remember. Kili sunk into his uncle's arms without protest and grumbled something which Thorin didn't hear at the moment before breaking away, Fili shooting them both a quizzical look. Kili stuck out his tongue at him, to which the older brother responded by tossing a pillow at Kili's face, smacking him square in the nose. It all descended into a ridiculous wrestling match which Thorin pulled apart after a few minutes, smacking them both upside the head in his turn.

They were still young, just like before. Kili had just turned 16 a few days ago and Fili was a few months away from 19, dark brown and golden hair always managing to end up in bird's nests upon their heads, especially Kili's. When they were much younger, Fili had threatened to shave his brother completely, which resulted in a black eye and a lot of tears. The hair jokes stopped there.

After they settled and Fili finally dozed off with a light snore, Kili lay awake next to his brother, staring at the ceiling. "Uncle...this is weird..." He muttered to the dark room and Thorin grunted his agreement from his seat in the chair close to the bed. Kili took the answer and considered. "So...is this like...that past life stuff?" He asked slowly, still staring at the ceiling while he heard a rustle, Thorin stirring in his seat. "It is." Came the low rumble of the older man's voice before he paused. "Or...I think it is... there's no other way to explain it." He finished a bit lamely. Kili grew silent and Thorin thought his younger nephew had fallen asleep.

"And the others?" Came the question, Thorin fidgeting a bit more. "It's all them. I...don't think they remember. You seem to be the first." Kili's lips tugged into a self satisfied grin which Thorin could just FEEL through the darkness. But it slowly slipped away. "If the others are the others then...aren't we...missing someone?" He asked slowly. Thorin blinked at the question. Missing someone...who could they be...Oh. And suddenly, the whole puzzle clicked into place. Missing someone. The thought stung worse than anything. Of course they were missing someone. How foolish of him not to realize. Not to remember. Thorin swallowed the lump in his throat.

"...I suppose we are." He said a bit croakily. Kili considered.

"Wonder where he is now." He thought a loud with a stifled yawn. Thorin smiled weakly, reaching over and lovingly ruffled a hand through his nephew's hair. "Sleep, Kili. We have to leave as soon as possible tomorrow." Nodding sleepily and muttering his good night, Kili drifted off, arms wrapping around his brother.

Thorin sat in the dark and in the silence, the only noise in the room coming from his slumbering nephews. He couldn't believe he had forgotten. And after everything he had said and done...only to forget. If cursing at yourself did one good, Thorin would have cursed up a tornado. Of course they had been missing someone. Someone important... How is it that Kili could recall that so easily and he had completely let it slip? How did he not notice the hole in his memory, suddenly filled with curly hair and sarcastic remarks?

That night, Thorin barely slept and made Fili drive as they fled the little cottage early that morning. And as was the case with everything, Fili remembered soon after his brother. In fact, it happened as he was driving and he screeched loudly, twisting the wheel in his hands and almost swerving off the road, violently jolting Thorin awake from where he had tried to nap in the passenger seat. It took a moment for him to right the car and he pulled over on the side of the road, staring at the steering wheel. Slowly, his bewildered gaze fell on a very crabby looking Thorin and a very startled Kili, who leaned in from the backseat to give his brother a slightly awkward hug. Finally letting himself relax into the hug, Fili's eyes went to Thorin again.

"I'm...sorry..." He muttered before chuckling sheepishly. "Dunno what came over me..." Thorin eyed his older nephew wearily before reaching over, hand gently tangling in his hair. "...It's alright. It's a shock." He said simply, Fili swallowing as his brother let him go and rubbed his face. "No, the fact that Stephanie Meyer is still writing is a shock. This...this is like..." He trailed off, looking for the right words. "Like getting shot." He finished before his eyes dropped back to the steering wheel.

"...Was this what you and Kili were talking about last night?" He asked slowly and Kili made a chocked noise from the backseat. Fili ignored him for the moment and Thorin nodded. Hissing through his teeth and rubbing at his stubble covered chin, the older brother considered. "Well, CHRIST!" He snapped, smacking his hands on the steering wheel and looking over at Thorin again. "If I had known that it would suck this bad, I woulda just..." Thorin cut him off.

"It's not something you can block off, Fili. It's memory. Even if it's not of this body, it's still YOUR memory." Fili frowned.

"...What do we do then?" He asked slowly and Thorin peered between his two nephews.

"We learn from it." He said sternly, clapping a hand on Fili's shoulder. "We have to remember for a reason...so...let's not...repeat any mistakes." He added, Fili nodding slowly. "No shinny rocks for you, eh uncle?" He teased, getting one of their uncle's most famous of glares for his troubles. Chuckling despite himself and slowly managing to recover, Fili nodded and revved the car back onto the road.

Thorin studied his older nephew before looking at Kili in the backseat, as the younger brother leaned against Fili's seat lazily one hand idly resting on his brother's shoulder. It would take them a while to fully come to terms with it...all of it. Thorin was STILL coping with it, and he had known far longer. And the very memory that he had forgotten stung deeply. What was he to do? If fate had really conspired to bring them all together, even Gandalf, then why were they missing his dear... Thorin stopped himself, rubbing a hand over his face. This wouldn't do him any good, pinning like that. He was no longer a child. And maybe...just maybe, they could still find the man.

Being wanted men certainly didn't help matters. Whatever they had been was no longer a possibility. And what were they wanted for? Thorin had never been fully sure. The charges had evolved so rapidly without their input that by the time he knew it, they might as well have been charged for murder of the prime minister.

Not that they were blameless, but it all came after. Call a human being an animal long enough, treat them like one and they will become the animal. But even being backed into a corner and treated like an animal never gave grounds to lose their sense of right. And Thorin made sure of it. Of course they stole, they cheated, but they never hurt anyone unless it was self-defense. Never killed an innocent. Thorin grumbled at himself. The fact that there had to be that qualifier didn't make their case easier. And he had already corrupted two children in his quest to regain their honor.

The irony of it.

Looking over at his nephews, Thorin's thoughts grew glummer still. They were still children...with their whole lives ahead of them. But instead, they helped him. Fili had become an excellent hacker, taking to computers like a duck to water. Kili was their messenger. No one would suspect sweet faced Kili of having ties with a crime family. So it worked...and Thorin hated himself for it. Ever since his sister passed 10 years ago, he was tasked with raising her children. This was not what he had initially had in mind for them. And he was sure that if she could, Dis would come back from the grave and strangle him.

Trying to distract himself from his thoughts, Thorin checked his phone. It had just turned 6 in the morning as they sped down the highway, Fili barely obeying traffic laws. He has ten missed calls. Thorin's fingers hesitantly ghosted over the number keys. Probably the others, checking that they were okay. He shot out a mass text instead, not feeling up to speaking to anyone and hid the phone away.

They'd be alright...

It was about a week after his nephews remembered that the rest of the "family" began to recall things as well. Balin was the first of Thorin's non-blood relations to recall events and the old man all but dropped his cup of tea, shocked gaze landing on Thorin. Thorin shot him a quizzical look in reply. Fili peered up from monitoring his computer.

"...Bless my soul..." Balin breathed gently, shakily setting the cup down and walking over, cupping Thorin's face in shaking fingers. "...You died... Thorin Oakenshield..." He muttered, almost to himself, Thorin smiling weakly and patting his old friend's hand. "...From my own foolishness." He said gently, the old man letting him go and chuckling, if weakly. "Bless my soul, ladie." He breathed again before yanking Thorin forward into a crushing hug, making him laugh faintly.

"I'm fine, Balin, really." He promised but Balin pushed him back again, brown eyes already a bit red. "We mourned you...long after Dain took the throne, even then... after they buried you...and the lads..." He shot Fili a look, the younger man now completely distracted from monitoring his computer. Balin rubbed a hand over his face.

"I...can't believe this is...real..." The old man breathed slowly and Thorin smiled weakly. "It took me years to come to terms with it." He admitted to his oldest friend, his smile warming a little. "Give it time."

It was the same process with all of them. Thorin was never sure what triggered the memories and why they came up at the times that they did but it always seemed to happen when he was around. Dwalin had nearly punched him. Bofur had gaped so hard, Thorin was sure his jaw would fall off. And Ori, poor sweet Ori was hit with it when Fili was talking about installing better tracking devices into their phones. He let out a frantic wail and launched himself on the older boy, almost knocking Fili out of his chair. It took almost an hour to calm him down and practically as long to get him to let go of Fili again. Fili didn't seem to mind all that much, and gave the younger boy a light squeeze of reassurance before letting him go.

But slowly, they were all on board. When Thorin asked Gandalf on the matter, the old man smiled that knowing smile of his and shrugged, puffing on a pipe of what he claimed was medicinal marijuana. Thorin never questioned it, even if he felt a bit annoyed. Gandalf had known all along, he was sure of it. And he never mentioned it. But every time they met, Thorin persisted and their last meeting at a local pub, he finally won, the old man heaving a sigh.

"I couldn't just TELL you about it. It's something you have to experience for yourself before anything can truly begin." Thorin eyed the old man warily.

"Truly begin?" He asked slowly and received yet another one of Gandalf's annoying all knowing smiles and no clear answer. It was useless of course. Gandalf was never known for being especially explicit with things like this. He decided not to press the matter even as he glared daggers at the older man, who smiled charmingly in response. Another thing Gandalf was never known for was being intimidated by Thorin Oakenshield. Not now...and not then.

Instead, he tried something else. Swallowing a thick lump in his throat and puffing onhis cigarette, Thorin looked over at Gandalf once more. "...If we are all...somehow here...what of the halfling?" He asked, his voice dropping in register. Gandalf lowered his pipe from his mouth and honestly considered the question.

"You have not found him yet?" The non-wizard asked, almost incredulously and Thorin growled.

"I didn't know I had to FIND him. I didn't even piece that part together until a few months ago." He snapped in reply, Gandalf lounging back against the bar and tapping a finger against his knee. "You're as impatient as ever, Master Durin." He said easily, using Thorin's public name so the authorities weren't notified from overheard conversation. "He won't just drop into your path that easily. You will have put some effort into it, and look." Thorin frowned and resisted chewing on the end of his cigarette.

"Where do I even begin?" He asked slowly and Gandalf studied him thoughtfully.

"London would be a good place to start." He said at last, shocking Thorin with a genuine answer.

"Why London?" Gandalf drew out another sigh and took a drag of his pipe, blowing out rings of smoke.

"You asked me where to begin. There is my answer. It's a populated city, and you are far more likely to run into him there then out here, in the middle of some trees and grass." He replied at last, pushing back off the bar and regarding Thorin seriously. "I fear things may not go as you hope, Master Durin. But perhaps you'll get some closure from it." The old man slipped off his stool and before Thorin could question that answer, he was bid a good night, Gandalf disappearing through the doors with a jingle.

Thorin sat there for a long time, his cigarette long burnt out and the shot of whiskey standing untouched next to him. London... that was the last place he wanted to go. It was a populated city and more people would be likely to recognize him and his family. But the ache in his chest was too strong. If it was truly London...then they'd have to see for themselves.

His announcement on the subject didn't go as badly as he thought. Both Fili and Kili lit up at the prospect of finding their long lost burglar and even Dwalin wasn't horrifically adverse to the idea. Oin grumbled quite loudly about how awful an idea that seemed but didn't put up much resistance when Thorin quirked an eyebrow at him. It was decided.

They wouldn't travel together, of course. They'd draw too much attention and on the chance that they were caught, they needed people on the outs to get them out of jail. Fili and Kili refused to be separated from their uncle. And where Fili went, Ori would follow, almost like a lost puppy. Thorin wouldn't admit it aloud, but he smelt the puppy love a kilometer away and smiled to himself. At first, Thorin had objected to it. But both boys had given him the largest puppy eyes he had ever seen and objecting to THAT was practically impossible. So Ori was always allowed, but only if one of his brothers came as well.

Thorin could never get over of how ridiculous it all wound up being. The public viewed them as group of murderers and terrorists, but really, they were just regular men. Trying to regain their lives and live as best as they could. Unfortunately at this point, as best as they could meant stealing and cheating. But even now, Thorin had hope that it would end. They would put an end to this vicious cycle and the man who ruined them.

His name was Vincent Smaug. A wretched snake of a man who, in a few months time, had managed to frame Thorin Oakenshiled as a money launderer and cheater. He claimed Thorin had stolen his employees paychecks and spent the money on prostitutes and illegal gun deals with terrorist groups. So many charges had been thrown at Thorin Oakenshield that the man was surprised he had managed to escape at all.

Yet he had done none of those things. But all who testified for his integrity were now part of his little gang of outlaws. Despite his innocence, there were paper trails that he never remembered making and purchases that he definitely never authorized. But the longer they remained free, the worse the charges got. More things were blamed on their group. Train bombings. Church bombings. Anthrax. Any act of terrorism in the UK got somehow pinned on them. And there was always information and always a trail of evidence to back it up. At first it was impossible to know how all this information was even created and how Smaug was able to so easily fabricate evidence, let alone feed it into the police force. It was later that they found out who he was. Secretary of State for Defense of the UK Cabinet. And now the sole owner of the company Thorin's grandfather helped start from the ground up.

Of course! Every time Thorin thought about it, he felt ill. He had been the CEO of Oakenshield Industries since his father's passing on Thorin's 30th birthday. Six years later, it was all yanked out from under him... and a year later his sister died. It was a horrid spiral and the only thing that made even remotely bearable was the presence of his nephews and his "family." Now Thorin was pushing 47 and trying desperately to keep himself and his family out of jail and breathing free air.

It got harder and harder as the years passed but they got by. Bofur had gotten especially good at making prosthetic facial appliances so that Thorin and the others could go into public without being immediately recognized. Fili, Ori and Gloin had collaborated on making them various fake IDs, credit cards, the works. Fili had become an expert at moving money without getting caught. It was all part of their daily lives.

As they piled into their respective cars, Thorin gave strict instructions to dump the vehicles in any hint of pursuit. They all had separate destinations and separate goals but the last thing he needed was to have anyone end up in jail. Bofur taking the wheel and Fili and Kili piling in the backseat, Thorin settled into an uncomfortable state of anxiety, fiddling with his phone as their car pulled away from the others.

"Ah, they'll be fine, lad." Bofur said easily, peering over at their leader and giving a toothy grin. "No use giving yourself an aneurism about it." Thorin sighed faintly, knowing full well the other man was right and, turning the phone to full volume, stashing it away in the pocket of his pants.

They drove in tense silence for a while before Kili broke it, leaning between the seats and resting his chin on his arms. "You think we'll find him, uncle?" he asked gently, Fili stretched out on the seat next to him, tablet never leaving his hands. Exchanging glances with Bofur, Thorin shrugged.

"I...don't think anything...But Gandalf had suggested London. And he hasn't been wrong yet. So it's a good a place to start as any." He said last, Kili looking thoughtful.

"Wonder if he'll be as short as before." He snickered, Fili giving him a hearty kick while chortling gently. Thorin shot his nephews a look.

"You're not as foolish as before." He retorted, making Bofur snort with laughter while Kili reddened. Thorin smiled and ruffled the youngster's hair. "I don't want to guess at it, it's something we'll have to discover."

"I bet you'd like to discover him thoroughly, eh uncle?" Came the smartass comment from Fili, Kili hooting in laughter beside him. Bofur had to stifle his laughter as Thorin shot him a glare before looking in the backseat where Fili grinned innocently in reply.

"The only thing I'd like to DISCOVER is if he is alive and well." Thorin said evenly but Fili rolled his eyes with a grin.

"Come on, uncle. You don't have to lie. I know you miss him. I mean... we all miss him but..." Fili trailed off and that cheeky grin faded to a bit of a sad smile. "Maybe this time will be better." He finished gently, Thorin eyes averting to his hands.

"I hope so." He said at last, feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable and rubbing his eyes tiredly. No. This time WILL be better. He wasn't so much of a selfish oaf as before. He would make sure it will be better.

"No...it WILL be better. For all of us." He said at last, hands balling into fists. Damn him to the deepest pits of Moria but Thorin Oakenshield would see to it that their burglar got everything he deserved. Including the largest apology and an even larger hug that the former King now disgraced CEO could muster up.