Okay, people, I'm back. Not dead.

I've been planning on publishing another story forever but I never sat down to actually write it. So I'm putting some pressure on myself by posting the first chapter of this unfinished story. Hopefully this will get me motivated. I still have so many ideas for this AU.

I have to admit that this is a big jump in the timeline of the AU since this story takes place about two and a half years after my last. I wanted to write an engagement story and also a story to introduce Kili since he was born somewhere in those two and a half years that have passed but I just couldn't come up with anything good. Maybe some day...

Despite all that, I hope you enjoy this one!

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine!

Chapter 1

12 June 2010

This is it.

The day of all days.

Today he will marry the man of his dreams. The love of his life. Exactly three years after they met they will be bound together forever. Or until the love of his love decides he is not worth it anymore and files for divorce.

Thorin is about to throw up. He is currently standing in his sister's bathroom, dressed in a crisp white shirt, a beige waistcoat, matching tie and dark grey suit trousers. Bilbo is back at their own house, the one they bought a couple of months ago, with his parents and Bofur (his best man) and Ori (the ring bearer because Bofur cannot be trusted with important things such as wedding rings). Thorin's own best man Dwalin is supposed to be helping him get ready but he has been put on babysitter duty for now.

Not that Thorin really needs help. He is almost done. Except his hair. He is supposed to be getting his long hair into some sort of acceptable arrangement. His dark mane is neatly brushed, more neatly than it usually is. Dis insists on a ponytail, claiming that his hair will just get in the way of everything. She is probably worried about the photos. Thorin knows that Bilbo likes to run his fingers through his hair and use it to pull him down for a kiss. No ponytail then. Dis will probably throw a tantrum but this is not her wedding.

This is Thorin's and Bilbo's wedding. They met three years ago to the day. Leave it to Bilbo to arrange their wedding to happen on their anniversary of meeting. He is romantic like that.

Thorin stares at himself in the mirror above the sink as he thinks of his lover. His fiancé. His future husband. The most amazing creature to ever walk this planet. What this wonderful being sees in Thorin is beyond him. The tall man takes a deep breath. He had tried for so long to gather up the courage to propose. He hadn't even managed to find the right ring. And in the end it had been Bilbo who asked the big question, making Thorin Durin the happiest person in history. Now they are about to be married. Thorin and Bilbo. Bilbo and Thorin.

The nausea increases.

What if he messes it all up? What if he forgets his vows? What if he trips over his own feet at some point? With everyone watching? And it's not just today. Will he be able to provide for Bilbo? Technically the other man is totally able to support himself. He's got a well-paying job and everything. But money is not everything in life. Bilbo Baggins would be the first person to tell you that. He is happier with a good book or blooming flowers in his garden than with a large sum of money in his bank account or an expensive car parked in the driveway. Will Thorin be able to keep him happy? They have talked about children a couple of times. They would both like a family of their own. Is Thorin ready for such responsibility? A husband? Children?

A squeal from the hallway brings Thorin out of his thoughts. He is just able to brace himself against the sink when his legs are assaulted by a chubby toddler. Kili, seventeen months old now, wriggles to hide behind his uncle, giggling and squealing in delight when he hears his mother call his name from down the hall. The boy is only wearing a nappy, giving Thorin a good hint at what his youngest nephew is hiding from. "Kili! Come back here, you little rascal!" Dis yells, her head appearing in the doorway a second later, a tiny white button-down in her left hand. Her attention is immediately diverted to the man standing in her bathroom. She ignores the laughing toddler for now and scowls at her brother. "Thorin, get your hair done. Fili needs help getting dressed. Dwalin is a shit babysitter."

"Shit!" Kili squeals and pulls on his uncle's trouser legs. "Shit, shit, shit." Dis rolls her eyes and makes to grab her son but the boy dodges her hands and presses himself between Thorin's legs. The tall man bends down and scoops him into his arms, causing Kili's giggles to increase in volume. "My hair is fine the way it is," he tells his sister and steps around her to leave the bathroom.

Dis is not at all happy with this statement and admonishes him for his poor taste of hair styles all the way back to Kili's room. "Bilbo likes it like this," is all he says before setting Kili down on the floor, making sure to keep a tight grip on the child to prevent him from running away again. Dis releases a long suffering sigh and wrangles Kili into his shirt, knowing that Thorin will get his way no matter what she says. And in the end it is Bilbo who will have the last word, fussy little person that he is.

Kili tries to wriggle out of his uncle's grip and the man has to tighten his grip on the boy's waist. "NO!" the toddler yells and attempts to bat Thorin's hands away. "NO! NO!" Dis grabs his little foot and quickly wrangles it into a trouser leg. "You need to get in your suit, love," she explains calmly and catches the other foot. Kili does not cease his struggles, tears appearing in the corners of his eyes. As a last resort, Thorin says, "You won't be able to see Uncle Bilbo if you don't get dressed."

The magic words have been spoken.

The toddler goes completely still and turns his head to face his uncle. "Bo?" he asks with a small frown. Dis uses the distraction to pull up his trousers and fasten the suspenders to keep them in place. "Yes, we'll go see Uncle Bilbo. But you have to get dressed." Thorin is proud of himself as he watches his nephew spread his arms willingly and let Dis manoeuvre him into a tiny waistcoat and a little bowtie.

Just like his older brother, Kili is completely obsessed with Bilbo and will comply with anything if it means he gets to see the man. Thorin has long since accepted his fate of forever being only the second-favourite uncle. Instead he uses his lover's name to keep their nephews' behaviour in check. It always works.

Suddenly Dwalin appears in the doorway with a dishevelled looking Fili behind him. The four-year-old's blonde hair is rumpled and his waistcoat seems to be upside-down. "Might need some help here," Dwalin grumbles, clearly miffed about being outsmarted by a piece of clothing.

As Kili is transferred into his lap, Thorin can only wonder how his fiancé is doing.