This is my very first Filbo story, I am hoping to add something to be proud of to this lovely pair. They do not get enough love like they deserve, this is why I am writing this story. It brings me great joy to write this, so I hope it brings you just as much joy to read it.

If you are also reading our story What Does Your Garden Grow, we will be back writing it soon.

Written with co-author: InsanitysxCreation

It started with a rush of emotion at the opening of a green door and the sight of honey-gold curls. Fili had never felt anything like this before, but the emotions were easily swept aside for the sake of the party and company. When they left the comfy hobbit hole, the pang in his chest was explained as disappointment they wouldn't have a burglar. The joy of seeing Bilbo run after them with the contract flapping was normal, but the electric jolt that zapped through his body at the slightest brush of skin when hoisting the hobbit onto a pony, that was not normal. Nor was the way Fili couldn't help but notice every endearing and wonderful feature of Master Baggins. Like that gorgeous smile that rivaled the sun in brightness. Fili found himself acting twice as foolish as usual, almost to the level of his little brother, just to draw that smile out again. There were all these feelings churning away inside him, and only one person he trusted with what he felt was the truth.

Which brought about his current situation...

"And his smile! His smile is like sudden sunshine on a rainy day! At first it's too bright, but then you feel this warmth all around you and all the colors look brighter and it is just the nicest thing ever..." He fell back against the tree with a deep sigh.

Kili snorted and looked at him. "You sound like you're in looove," he teased.

Fili sank to the forest floor and put his head in his hands before looking up at his brother. "Honestly, I think I am," he confessed in a small voice. Kili immediately sat beside him, the ponies forgotten in the face of this revelation.

"Is he your One?" Kili asked seriously, no trace of a tease in his voice.

Fili shook his head, then nodded, then shrugged helplessly. "I don't... I'm not sure."

Kili looks ahead, a silent lasting for a short while. "Well... if he is... I would tell him," he stated, looking back at his brother. "If you love him, he should know."

Fili sighed and shook his head. "No... no... You know our law as well as I do... What if hobbits are the same? It would ruin any friendship I have found with him. He would hate me..." He rested his chin on his knees, almost like a lost child. "I would rather love him in secret than lose him altogether."

Kili smiled. "But what if he loves you back? Would you rather live your life knowing the truth or in fear of what he might not think?" He placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "If he is your One, you should tell him. I think throwing away your One is a much worse crime than being with a different race."

Fili thought hard about that and groaned into his knees. "Why is this so difficult? It's like I'm being split in two."

"It's not an easy decision," Kili said after a moment. "And, in a way, it shouldn't be. The important stuff shouldn't be easy, that's how you know it's important."

Fili tipped his head to the side to stare at his brother with one eye. Kili was just starting to fidget under the scrutiny when Fili said, "When did you become the wise one?"

Kili blinked, staring at his brother for a moment before laughing. "I've always been! You just don't listen to me!" He pushed his shoulder playfully, "We all know you'd be lost without me!"

Fili laughed with his brother, hooking his arm around his shoulders. "Yes, yes I would. Need my baby brother to talk some sense into me."

Kili cackled, "You'd probably just keep skipping after Bilbo like a love-sick puppy if I don't step in!"

"Fili? Kili?" Bilbo's voice echoed through the trees from the direction of the camp. The brothers scrambled to their feet, Fili paling a little. Kili looked around and practically went white, gripping Fili's sleeve.

"Fili!" he hissed, turning to him with panic in his eyes. "Some of the ponies are missing!"

"What?! Maybe they just wandered off?" They quickly looked around but couldn't find their missing ponies. They met back up, fretting. "Thorin's gonna kill us!" Kili moaned.

"Why?" Bilbo asked, startling them; they hadn't heard him approach. "What's wrong?"

Kili bit his lip. "Well... We were suppose to be looking after the ponies," he started.

Fili quickly glanced between his brother and the hobbit, gulping. "But we have encountered a slight problem."

Kili shuffled his feet, nerves making him restless. "We had sixteen... but now..."

"There are fourteen."

Bilbo's eyes were wide and bewildered. "How can you lose ponies?! What were you even doing!" He shook his head. "No, no, don't tell me! I really don't want to know." He sighed, fingers white where he gripped the steaming soup bowls. Fili blushed slightly, looking down. Bilbo must see him as a child, one you couldn't leave alone for a second. This felt worse than anything Thorin would say to them; he was used to his scolding by now.

Kili walked ahead to look around the perimeter. "Daisy and Bungo are missing," he stated after another counting.

Bilbo soon followed after him. "Well this isn't good at all!" He gave a nervous chuckle as he spotted a very large tree uprooted and laying haphazardly on the forest floor. "And that isn't good either. Shouldn't we tell Thorin?"

Fili steps up beside him, "No...best not worry him.." he wouldn't get his uncle, not like a child. Especially not in front of Bilbo.

Bilbo nibbled on his bottom lip, worrying it between his teeth, Fili couldn't tear his eyes away from the reddening flesh and flashes of glossy white. Kili noticed and rolled his eyes- then paused. "Hey, there's a light over there!" Kili ran hunched over to crouch behind a large tree. Fili and Bilbo followed, Bilbo still carrying bowls of food. A loud thumping made them all jump and Fili instinctively stepped closer to Bilbo, ready to protect him. None of them were expecting a huge troll to go by, carrying a pony under each arm.

"He's got Murtle and Minty!" Bilbo quickly exclaimed in dismay. Kili turned to him with a gleam in his eyes, taking the bowls from him. "This is an excellent opportunity for you to prove your burlgaring skills!"

"What, no, I-!" Bilbo stuttered as he was pushed out from behind the tree.

"Don't worry, we'll be right behind you," Fili assured him, "but you're much quieter than we are!"

"If you get into any trouble, just hoot once like a barn owl and twice like a brown owl!" Kili whisper-shouted at his back before scurrying further away. Fili followed and accepted the bowl that was shoved in his hands. He ate the soup quickly and without tasting it.

"We need backup," Kili said between bites of food. "You go get the others, I'll look out for Bilbo."

"You?! Why should you get to do it?" Fili protested.

Kili fixed him with a look. "Because I won't intervene at the tiniest sign of trouble, only if the situation is really bad. And because you run faster than I do."

Fili's mouth opened as he tried to form the words. He soon shuts it and nodded, "Fine..." he gave a quick glance down the path Bilbo just left down, turning back to Kili "Don't let anything happen to him.." he warned, quickly bolting up through the bushes, making his way to were their camp was.

"Thorin! Thorin!" Fili calls out, out of breath by the time he reached their camp.

Thorin stood up from the log he was seated on, "Fili, what is it? Why aren't you with the ponies?"

"Where is Bilbo?" Bofur asks, looking worriedly around.

Fili surpassed a jealous growl, looking back at his uncle "Trolls, they took four of our ponies." He explained, "we sent Bil...Master Baggins in after them, since he is so small and quiet we thought.."

Thorin stops him, "You sent him in without asking me first? Are you a fool?! He will be killed before you could bat an eye! You think I have time to lose our burglar! Or do you not wish to get into Erebor?"

"Of course I do!" He snapped back. "And I don't want anything to happen to Bilbo either! Kili is watching out for him right now but we need to go help him! I'm sorry we didn't tell you before we sent him in, but we figured he could at least try!" Fili kept moving as he spoke, gathering his weapons. "If you won't help me, I'll rescue him myself-!"

Thorin placed his hands on Fili's shoulders. "Fili. Calm down. Show us where the trolls are." Fili took a shaky deep breath and showed the heavily armed dwarves where the troll's camp was.

They got there just as Kili's voice rang out. "DROP HIM!" Fili's chest seized and he shoved through the bushes.