The Chance of Love

Chapter 1

Bilbo knew he was late. He promised to pick up his son at two, but he had to stay longer at work and now it was almost three. Thorin offered, actually offered to watch him for a few hours while he was at work and Bilbo, knowing how little time his son got to spend with his other father, agreed. He knew there was a big chance that Thorin just left him with Fíli and Kíli or their maid, but he was hoping that won't be the case. He knew how much his son missed Thorin and how much he wanted to spend time with him, but Thorin has moved on. He was going to college now and during the week he lived on campus and the weekend he spent with his girlfriend. No, this wasn't a mistake. His ex-boyfriend and the father of his child now had a girlfriend.

Bilbo didn't know the details since he and Thorin rarely spoke to each other, but he knew from Fíli and Kíli that things were serious between them. No matter how difficult it was for him to admit it, Thorin looked happy and in love. He even smiled and laughed with her. Something he hasn't done with him since Theo was born. He didn't imagine things will get better between them anymore. As Thorin told him: things were over between them and they were over for good. At the beginning was hard and he has done some stupid things to get Thorin's attention. But that was all before he realized that someone needed him and will need him for quite some time, and Bilbo couldn't afford to be selfish.

When he finally arrived at the house he was completely out of breath. He ran from the grocery store where he worked all the way to Thorin's house. Noticing how many cars were parked in front of the house Bilbo didn't need to ask why Thorin was so willing to watch Theo for a few hours, it all made perfect sense. He didn't want to interrupt their guests so Bilbo decided to enter the house through the back door. It was easier this way. He would ask for his son and then leave, and not have to deal with nosy relatives and their judging looks. He didn't even had time to change so he was still wearing his work clothes and the thought of meeting Thorin's relatives dressed like that wasn't so appealing.

But as luck would have it he ran into Thráin.

"Sir," he greeted.

"Bilbo," smiled Thráin, knowing it would make him uncomfortable. "What an honor to greet us with your presence. You look tired. Don't tell me you had to work all day?"

Bilbo decided to ignore Thráin's provocative question. "I just came for my son, so if you could ask someone to bring him I'll be on my way."

Thráin thought about it for a second. "You know, my grandson is having so much fun right now, it would pain me to allow you to take him. Why don't you join us?"

Again with that smile, thought Bilbo, and before he knew it he was led by Thráin to the living room where the whole family was gathered. As Thráin sat down, Bilbo was left standing there with all eyes on him. The first thing he noticed was his son, who was not wearing the same clothes in which he left him this morning. Kíli was sitting on the floor next to him, keeping him occupied while other's talked.

"Why don't you sit down," offered Thráin and showed him the empty space across from Thorin and his girlfriend Dana who were cuddling on the couch.

"I just came for my son, I wasn't planning on staying."

"Clearly," muttered Thráin but still waited until Bilbo sat down.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence until, what Bilbo assumed was Fundin's wife, decided to break it. "You have a beautiful son. I can see a lot of you and him. And Thorin, of course," she added and smiled at her nephew.

"You were working?" asked her husband, but before Bilbo could open his mouth Thráin answered for him.

"He works at the local grocery store."

If Thráin was expecting a shock of surprise from his guests, that didn't happen.

Fundin looked positively surprised. "I think that's a very good thing to do. I can imagine that you have a lot of things to do for school and if I understood correctly you are also taking care of your son, and on top of that you are working to help pay the bills. You are doing an admirable job young man."

"Thank you."

"It's nice that you've found a summer job," commented Fundin's wife, even though summer was still few months away.

"It's not a summer job," corrected Thráin. "He works there full time."

"What about school and college?" Fundin asked.

"He sent eight applications and all of them were rejected." Thráin smiled at Bilbo. "Go on, tell them."

Bilbo didn't even want to know how Thráin knew all that, but it still hurt when it was pointed out to him. Everything he said was true. He sent eight college applications and all of them were rejected. He picked the colleges close to home so that his son wouldn't be affected, but since he didn't get in he knew he will be affected one way or another.

"It's true," he confirmed. "I didn't get in." When the first letter came he wasn't even sad or surprised. At the forth one he knew it wasn't looking good. And when the last finally came he didn't even ask, his mother's look told him everything. "I'm not able to afford it without a scholarship and every school didn't find me as the right person to receive one." No one said it, but they all knew that the little boy playing happily in the middle of the living room was the cause. And Bilbo wasn't able to be angry at him. Theo meant everything to him and to tell the truth he expected something like this.

"As for school: I'm not going because I work during the day and when I get home I have to take care of my son. It's not enough to pay for college but it's enough to pay for Theo's daycare and everything he needs. I'm doing my best to finish high-school with exams."

Once again the room fell into and uncomfortable silence and Bilbo didn't know who was more embarrassed. Him or the guests.

"You can always try applying next year," tried to encourage him Fundin's wife.

"I don't think the result would be much different," answered Bilbo truthfully and stood up. Thráin got exactly what he wanted from him and now it was time to leave. "It was nice meeting you all," he said before he picked Theo up and took the last Lego brick from his hand. Theo made a noise of protest when Bilbo gave the brick to Kíli and asked for his bag.

Surprisingly his son didn't start crying when he was taken away from the toys, but Bilbo knew he was far from happy about it and that his son will be difficult for the rest of the day because of that.

"Did you have fun with daddy?" he asked as he made his way upstairs. Of course they had to leave his bag in Thorin's room, so he had no other choice but get it himself.

"No," answered Theo in his neck.

"No? Were you having fun with Kíli?" Bilbo asked and felt Theo nod at his question. "We'll get you changed and then go home and we can play with your toys there."

"Not the same," protested Theo.

Bilbo knew that at home he didn't have nearly as much toys as he had here, but there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't have enough money to buy him so many toys. While, every time he came to Thorin his son had more toys to play with.

"I'm sure we'll find something to play with," assured him Bilbo and opened Thorin's bedroom door.

In general the room still looked the same, but at the same time very different. Two years ago his stuff were mixed with Thorin's, now all the extra stuff belonged to his girlfriend. It took some time before Thorin admitted his feelings for her but Bilbo should have known better. Dana was in his class, and she was the one that gave Thorin her books so that Bilbo could study. And slowly they fell in love. Well she did, and with Thorin being angry at Bilbo she didn't have to do much to woo him.

Bilbo shook his head. He needed to stop thinking about what happened in the past. He closed the doors and made his way to the bed where Theo's bag was waiting. He put his son on the bed and emptied his pockets in the bag and pulled out Theo's clothes, the ones that he brought him here this morning.

As expected Theo wasn't in his most cooperative mood and he had a lot of trouble changing his clothes because his son loved rolling on Thorin's bed. Everyone apparently loved Thorin's bed, and Bilbo was no exception. When he and Thorin were together he spent many nights in this bed sleeping and doing some other things as well. But being in Thorin's bed wasn't as distant memory as one would have thought…

.:.:.:.:.:.

It was Theo's birthday and Bilbo agreed to spend the afternoon at Thorin's house so that his son could see both of his parents. There was cake and a lot of presents and Theo was bursting with energy. But the day was long and excited and when he fell asleep it was time to say goodbye and Bilbo took him home. It was only when they got back that Bilbo realized they had forgotten his favorite toy, and as on cue Theo woke up and refused to go to bed without it, so Bilbo had no other choice but to head back for the toy. His mother promised to watch Theo while he was gone, and he promise to return soon.

It didn't take long for him to arrive at the house. He planned to find the toy and then leave, what he didn't expect was to find Thorin in the living room, nursing his glass of scotch.

Bilbo sighed and sat down next to Thorin. "Bad day?" he asked.

"Bad week," admitted Thorin before taking a sip. "She's even more annoying than you were."

Bilbo rolled his eyes and accepted the offered glass. He never liked scotch but he still took a sip. "Thanks," he muttered.

"I really don't know what her problem is," continued Thorin. "I told her I have things to do and that I can't come to that stupid party of hers and now she's ignoring me."

"Was her party today?" asked Bilbo when Thorin empted the glass and then reached for the bottle to refill it.

"Yup."

"You should have told her it was Theo's birthday. I'm sure she would understand."

Thorin shook his head. "She wouldn't. She hates you and Theodore. The only reason she stands you it's because then she can bully me into going to one of her stupid parties and show me off to her friends. I'm not a dog, Bilbo!"

"I'm glad we established that," said Bilbo and took the glass from Thorin. "Cheers," he said before he drank the golden liquid.

Thorin rested his head on Bilbo's shoulder as he drank from the bottle. "I mean who hates Theodore? He's such a beautiful child. You, on the other hand. I can understand how she can hate you. You are easy to hate, but not Theodore."

"I'll take that as a compliment," muttered Bilbo.

"Don't. No one should hate you, you are perfect." Thorin hiccupped before drinking some more. "But you broke my heart… No one is allowed to break my heart. But Gods know I still love you. I will always love you."

Bilbo didn't know what to say. Thorin was drunk, that much was clear. But he told him he loved him, and Bilbo wanted to say it back, but he knew that would only hurt him. He will start hoping again that Thorin would notice him, but he knew that won't happen. He had a feeling where this was going. It wouldn't be their first slip since they broke up, and Bilbo was sure that certainly wasn't the last.

"Thorin," he said just above whisper when Thorin leaned in to kiss him. He breath smelled of alcohol, but Bilbo didn't mind. "I don't want to be your one night stand."

"You never were, never will be. My heart is yours forever."

It was Bilbo who sealed the gap between them, their lips meeting for a kiss that they've been denied for too long. Bilbo wanted all Thorin had to offer and Thorin was willing to give. He knew it wasn't his but he would take it. He stole Thorin's heart, and he was too selfish to ever give it back.

When he woke up it was already dawn. He was in bed with Thorin, tangled in the sheets. He didn't even remember how they got here but it didn't matter. He had Thorin for a few hours and now it was time to let him go. He carefully untangled himself from the sheets, got dressed, took the toy and headed home.

This was as close to a walk of shame he would ever experience. It was embarrassing to walk back home in yesterday's clothes, with bird's nest for hair, and the lovely feeling of Thorin on him. He completely forgot about the promise he made to his son to come back soon, and he only hoped he fell asleep without his toy.

You went for the toy, but what you got was Thorin, he thought as he tried to sneak into the house without waking anyone up. Unfortunately his mother was already awake and he gave him a pointed glare when he closed the doors behind him.

"I hope you had a great time," she told him. There was no point of denying it, they both knew what he was doing, or better said who was doing him, last night.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to stay that long."

"You don't have to apologize to me," told him Belladonna and Bilbo could hear disappointment in her tone. "I think there is someone else you need to apologize. Someone who waited for you to come back, while you were having…fun."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't-"

She raised her hand to silence him. "I don't even want to hear it, Bilbo. We've been over this four times already and I thought you have learned something by now, but clearly that isn't the case."

"He told me he loved me."

"Good for you."

"I believed him."

Belladonna let out a sigh. "Sweetheart-"

"I know what you are going to say, mum, but I believed him. He'll never act on those feelings, I've learned that, but I know that he loves me. And I love him, too."

.:.:.:.:.:.

"Papa?" called Theo and Bilbo finally came back to reality.

"I'm okay, sweetheart," assured him Bilbo and pressed a kiss to his head. "Stay here. I'm just going to use the bathroom and then we can go."

Theo nodded and watched his father go. A few seconds later it was Thorin who came in, looking for both.

"Daddy!"

"Hey buddy," smiled Thorin and pressed a kiss to Theo's head as he sat down on the bed next to him. "Where's Bilbo?"

Theo pointed at the bathroom door before crawling to the bag. Thorin watched him with a smile playing on this lips until he pulled out a pacifier and offered it to him. Thorin was never fond of licking things that would go in his son's mouth, while Bilbo had no problem with that.

"I'm sorry I used your bathroom without asking first," said Bilbo before accepting the offered pacifier, licking it and giving it back to his son.

"You don't have to ask," told him Thorin and watched him fold Theo's clothes.

Theo continued to suck the pacifier while his parents talked.

"Here," Bilbo offered the folded clothes to Thorin. "You know where this goes."

"You can keep them. They were bought for Theodore anyway."

Bilbo turned to put the clothes in the bag but froze when he was what his son was holding. He didn't even notice him going through the bag and now he pulled out what he hoped would remain hidden, at least from Thorin. On top of everything, Theo decided to shake the box, and that caught Thorin's attention.

"What-"

Bilbo snatched the box from his son and put it in the bag. "It's nothing."

"That's not nothing!" Thorin couldn't believe this was happening again.

Bilbo put the bag over his shoulder and scooped Theo up. "We should be going-"

"You're not going anywhere until you explain why you have a pregnancy test in your bag! Why in the world- Damn it, Bilbo! Not this again! I can't believe it!" Thorin took a deep breath to calm down. "Why do you have it?"

"I think you know what pregnancy tests are for," told him Bilbo dryly.

"But I mean- Are you? Are you sure?"

"It's not for me."

"Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying to you. Now please let me through. They are waiting for me at home."

"You are not going anywhere until you take that test," bellowed Thorin.

Theo hid his face in Bilbo's neck, not knowing what was going on. "I told you: it's not mine."

"Don't lie to me-"

Before he was able to continue there was a knock on the door and Dana came in. "What's going on?" she smiled. "I could hear you shouting."

"It's nothing," answered Bilbo quickly as she wrapped an arm around Thorin. "I should be going anyway. It was nice seeing you." He excused himself and left the room as quickly as he could, knowing that Thorin won't be able to do anything while his girlfriend was around him. He wasn't planning on telling her that they slept together.

:::

Bilbo knew nothing good will happen when he noticed Thorin's car parked in front of his house. How he managed to come here so quickly he will never understand, but he knew that his arrival only meant the continuation of their previous conversation.

He opened the doors and put Theo down. "Go find grandma," he whispered to him and Theo ran in, looking for his grandmother. "What are you doing here, Thorin?" sighed Bilbo and set the bag down.

"I came here to talk."

"There is nothing to talk about," quickly told him Bilbo. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm tired and hungry and really not in the mood to deal with you right now."

"I want to know," told him Thorin calmly.

"There is nothing to know!" Bilbo raised his voice.

"Don't be a child. I know what I saw and I want to know why you have it."

"It's none of your business. And I've told you before that it's not mine."

"Well I'm sorry if I don't believe you!"

"Just go!"

"I'm not going until I know for sure!"

"What's going on here," asked Belladonna when she joined them in the living room with her grandson in her arms.

"It's nothing," quickly answered Bilbo. "Thorin is being difficult as always and refuses to leave."

Thorin rolled his eyes. "I can't believe it. You're acting like a child again!"

"I'm not a child. And I told you that it's not mine!"

"Calm down, calm down. Will someone please explain to me what's going on?"

She looked at her son but when Bilbo didn't speak, Thorin decided to explain everything.

"We slept together. I don't remember using protection because I was drunk. And today Bilbo showed up at my house with a pregnancy test in his bag, which he insist isn't for him. If we are playing this game again I would like to know about it from the beginning."

When Belladonna looked at her son Bungo and Frodo joined them in the living room. "If it's not yours, then whose is it?"

Bilbo looked away only for a moment and Thorin almost missed it. But luckily he didn't. Before he could say something Bilbo was already going through his bag.

"Fine! You want proof? I'll give you proof," he said Before he stormed upstairs to the bathroom taking the pregnancy test with him.

He came down in the same fury five minutes later and pressed the test in Thorin's chest.

On line. Not pregnant.

Thorin let out a sigh.

"Are you happy now?"

"I'm sorry, I thought it was you-"

"Well I'm not. But thanks for telling everyone."

"I know you are both adults," interrupted Bungo, "But you are acting like children. I swear that Theodore behaves better than you two. How many times did I tell you not to have sex without protection, and it still happens that you come home thinking you are pregnant with him," he said, pointing at Thorin. "You should be both ashamed of yourself. And you have a girlfriend," he said to Thorin with shaking head. "I just can't believe this it still happening. I thought that having a child would teach you two something, but I guess you'll never learn. I'll say it again, and this time it will be the last time you hear it from me. If you two don't want more children start using condoms or stop sleeping together!"

Bilbo took Theo from his mother and headed upstairs. Thorin knew it was time to leave.

:::

"I'm coming," called Bilbo as he lifted Theo from his high chair. His parents left the house a few minutes ago, while he was feeding his son in the kitchen, so he knew it wasn't them.

When he opened the doors he found Thorin standing there.

"I'm sorry for what I did before."

Bilbo let Thorin in and followed him to the living room.

"I waited for your parents to leave. Are they coming back soon?"

"Not for another hour."

"Good," said Thorin and gave the pharmacy bag to Bilbo.

"Thank you. Can you hold him?" he asked as he passed Theo to Thorin. "He was in the middle of his dinner so if you want you can help him finish. Just don't allow him to throw food around." Thorin nodded and headed into the kitchen while Bilbo went upstairs.

He knocked on the door and waited until he was called in. Frodo was sitting behind his desk reading something.

"Here," said Bilbo and pulled the box out of the bag.

"W-Where did you get this?" asked Frodo as he snatched the box from his brother's hand.

"Thorin brought it."

"You told Thorin?!"

"Of course not, he figured it out. Now please take it. I'll be downstairs."

He left his brother in his room and headed downstairs. As expected he found Thorin with Theo in the kitchen trying to encourage him to eat another spoon.

Thorin offered Bilbo a smile when he saw him enter. "He's got quite the appetite."

"If he likes it," told him Bilbo and placed a kiss on his son's head before taking a seat next to Thorin. "If he doesn't like he won't eat no matter what you do. He needs to eat so that he'll grow. Come on, one for daddy," cooed Bilbo and Theo opened his mouth.

"I'm really sorry about what happened today."

"It's fine. At least we know for sure that I'm not pregnant," told him Bilbo.

"You weren't sure?"

Bilbo shook his head in response. "Not one hundred percent."

"We didn't use a condom, didn't we?"

"Nope."

When Thorin remained quiet Bilbo decided to speak.

"You look disappointed. Were you hoping for another child?"

"I'm not disappointed, or hoping for another child, but it's nice to know that option is still open."

Bilbo snorted at that. "You are in a relationship with someone else and you want me to give you another child? Is something wrong with her?"

"Nothing's wrong with her, it's just that the thought of having children with her makes me… I don't know how to describe it. Let's just say I'm happy she's on the pill. And I don't want another child, especially not right now. But I can't imagine having a child with anyone who isn't you."

"I'm not an incubator, Thorin."

"I know."

"And I don't even want to think about having another child right now, especially since my brother could be pregnant."

"About that… How did that even happen?" asked Thorin. "Isn't he too young to have-"

"He's way too young," interrupted Bilbo. "But what's done it's done. All I know is that they both wanted to do it."

"But he's too young," insisted Thorin. "And with what happened between us, one would have thought he learned something."

"Apparently not," said Bilbo and wiped Theo's mouth. "Let's just hope it's negative and that something like this doesn't happen again."

A minute later Frodo walked in.

"Moment of truth," said Thorin and looked expectantly at Bilbo's younger brother.

"One line," announced Frodo and Bilbo let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Not pregnant, thank god." He pulled Frodo into an embrace.

"Thank you for not telling mum and dad."

"You're welcome. Just don't let anything like that happen again."

Frodo nodded at Bilbo's words. "And thank you for bringing this," he said to Thorin.

"Don't mention it. Put it in a bag, I'll throw it away so that no one finds it."

"Okay."

"And Frodo," called Thorin when Frodo was about to leave. He pulled a box of condoms out of his pocket and gave them to Frodo. "If you want to have fun at least make sure it's safe."

Frodo turned completely red before he said 'thank you' and ran upstairs.

"What?" questioned Thorin when he saw Bilbo smiling at him.

"Nothing," smiled Bilbo. "I just think you will be an excellent father. Will you do the same for our son?"

"No. I'll kill him if he does something so stupid."

Bilbo couldn't help but to laugh. "Come on, you can help me change him and put him to bed. You haven't done that in a while."

"I was busy."

"You are always busy," argued Bilbo as he passed Theo over to Thorin, before they headed upstairs.

Author's notes:

A big 'thank you' to Chamelaucium, who helped with this chapter.