Bilbo could have killed Gandalf, the Dwarves were talking about how hard it was for Dwarf women to become pregnant. Bilbo listen quietly as they explained they were lucky to have one child in their life time. Then the grey wizard open his big mouth "Hobbit don't have the problem even the men are able to carry children." All eyes fell to Bilbo, the hobbit had a spoon half away to his mouth when he froze to the spot.
"Is this true Bilbo?" Ori asked as he looked at Bilbo with wide eyes, putting his spoon back in the bowl Bilbo looked up at every one, not one Dwarf looked away from him all of them looked at him up and down liked he was prized filly.
"Yes it is." He said as he looked up angry at the smug looking wizard who lit his long pip "T…The lady hobbits at better at it then the men, they have one or two at a time and they recover quickly." He was quiet for a moment as he lost his appetite and put his bowl down by his feet before "The lads on the other hand we have litter anywhere from 3 to 5 at a time. Tho there was one lad who had a litter of 8 poor boy he was so tried after 24 hours birth. But it take us a long time to heal normally 2 years between each litter." He said feeling a deep burning blush on his face
"Why do the hobbit male have litters?" Kili asked, the curly blonde scratched the back of his head and went back to fiddling with his fingers as he caught thought watching him
"I'm not really sure they are just called litters, I think it's because the male Hobbits follow the rules like alpha and omegas even tho every male Hobble are able to bare young. I think it just depends who wants to be the one to bare them." warping his arms around himself now worried what the wizard has gotten him stuck in "You have to understand even tho we can bare it hard for us, there is a big risk of us losing the littler."
The talk changed after that when they realised at Bilbo didn't want to talk about it, but it didn't stop them from wondering if they should find out how true these claims are. Thorin who had his eyes on the Halfling since they started their journey was going to court Bilbo, not just because he could have children but because he really wants Bilbo. He decide he will court Bilbo and he will tell him he is doing so, he watched Bilbo for the rest of the night who was avoiding every one's eyes and snarled at the wizard when he spoke to him, he guessed it was a well guard secret about male Hobbits.
The next day Thorin walked up to Bilbo as the Hobbit was washing his face in a river, Bilbo looked up as heard a twig snap he pulled his shirt up to his naked chest and looked at the dwarf watching him "T…Thorin wh…at are you doing here?" Bilbo said as he stood up pulling his shirt on quickly
"You were gone when I woke I wished to spoke with you before the others woke." He said as he held something in his hand. He spotted the braid that Kili had done for him but there was no bead attached to it, Thorin walked over to him and reached out to the blonde hobbit and curled his fingers around the braid
"W…What do you want to talk about?" Bright blue eyes looked up at him batting though thick eye lashes
"I wish to court you." He said his voice was steady as he brought the bead up to Bilbo and slide it onto the end of the braid and looked back at the oval face of the Halfling.
Bilbo was blushing a gentle pink on his cheek and was nibbling his bottom lip as he looked at the bead "This is your one?" Bilbo said softly as he looked back at the smiling Dwarf king
"I mean it Bilbo I want to court you." He said as he stood back to give the smaller being some room
"Not just because I bare a little of children?" He asked, Thorin smiled softly at him and shook his head and took Bilbo's hand and kissed his knuckle
"That is a hidden surprise and a welcome one, I will court because I want to be with you not for your ability." He told him. Bilbo was quiet for a moment and looked at the braid before pulled a button off his waist coat
"I know I am not a Dwarf and you're courting me by Dwarfen ways so I will return your favour with a simple button." Bilbo said as he found the braid with a bead and put the button on. Thorin took Bilbo's hands and kissed the back of his hands and looked into the sea jewelled eyes and smiled
"I like your favour." Bilbo smiled and looked down at their feet "We better head back to the camp site and head off before they come looking for us." Thorin said as he walked off leaving the Halfling to lean against the tree.
The bead and the button was notice by all and there was question, mainly about male Hobbits and the shire. Bilbo was riding quietly between Fili and Kili listing the sounds of the pony hooves and the trickling river nearby. This is when the brothers move up next to Bilbo, he didn't mind them talking to him he enjoyed their cheeky tongue it made the normal gruff behaviour of group a bit more light. "Ummm Bilbo I know you are uncomfortable talking about hobbit men being pregnant but is that because it's a privet matter or is it frowned upon in Hobbit culture?" Fili asked, Bilbo turned to the blonde Dwarf and saw his apprehensive look, he gave him a weak smiled as he looked at the dark haired brother, he knew the other Dwarves could hear so he thought he might as well get it out in the open …blood wizard… he thought
"A bit of both, if male Hobbit become pregnant then you are expected to go into hiding and you're not to show yourself outside the home until the litter is born, if your family are behind you they will support you but if you're not supported or live on your own then you leave a note on the gate and someone will pick up any food items you need. After the birth of the litter no one will talk about who the other father no one wants to know. If the father however shows interests and wishes to stay with you then you have no choice or if he is already married they can take the children away or simply give you a month payment for each child." He said looking down at the bobbing head of the pony
"That sounds awful." Bofur said turning his head to look at Bilbo who shrugged
"We all have our secrets." Bilbo whispers "And male pregnant hobbit is a secret."
"Have you ever had a littler?" Kili asked, seeing Bilbo looking sad and nodded, Thorin caught sight of Bilbo nodding and felt jealousy fill his cut.
He let out a deep sigh as he lifted his head feeling tears burn his eyes as he about to pour his heart out about his one and only child "My sister was unable to have children and her and her husband came to me and ask if I could carry for them, I did and I hid and there was problems and only one lived I lost the other 3." Bilbo said as he wiped the tears off his face "I handed him over after the birth and I'm known as Uncle Bilbo." He chuckled sadly
"I'm sorry." Fili said, Bilbo jerked his head and put on a fake smile
"Don't be it will be okay." He said as he took the hanky from Thorin trotted to him and smiled softly
"If we were offered a wonderful gift as in a male Hobbit who could have 3 or 5 children at a time they would be treated like princes." Kili said as he held Bilbo's hand making the hobbit smile
"Thank you Kili your sweet." Bilbo said
"No he is right Bilbo the dwarfen women are so rarely pregnant that when they are we make sure they have everything they need or want." Thorin said with gentle smile "If these male Hobbits were with us they would be treated the same." He told him "With love and care."
"Thank you."
"And you will see your son again. That I promise." The Dwarf king said as he trotted out front leaving Bilbo holding the dark hanky realising he was gifted with another gift.