Thorin peered over Kili's cradle ever so slightly and watched as the baby shook his wooden toy while gurgling and blowing bubbles. The child was butt naked and was wriggling so much Thorin couldn't get a proper grip on him. Meanwhile, Fili was butt naked too, running around the room with his toy dragon trailing behind him.

"Dragon! It's a Dragon! Run for your lives! No! Stay and fight the beast like a Dwarf and slay him!" he shouted in his most fiercest little voice as he jumped on the bed then jumped off. Thorin finally lifted Kili out of the cradle and was about to tell Fili to follow when he felt something wet and warm run down his front. Kili giggled as Thorin looked down to see the front of his tunic was soaking wet with pee.

"Urgh!" he said and held Kili out further from him.

"Uncle Thorin do you need a bath too?" Fili asked innocently, standing naked with his toy dragon hanging beside him. Thorin breathed calmly to himself then smiled down at Fili.

"Not as much as you two, I can smell you leagues away" Thorin said playfully and grabbed Fili's hand to take him and his brother to the dreaded bath. It wasn't a dreaded experience for the boys, however it never ended well for Thorin. Last time he ended up slipping on the water on the floor and fell backwards into the pee filled bubbly water that was cold and unwelcoming.

This time will be different he said determinedly to himself. This time in and out and-

But just as he was thinking of the possibility of doing this quick, Fili had took a leap and splashed into the water covering Thorin and Kili from head to toe. Thorin stood there for a second with an over excited baby in his arms, covered in pee and bubbles, again.

He placed Kili carefully into the water after making sure the water was just right. He had learned many things now that he had taken the role of father for his nephews, like checking the temperature of the water with your elbow before putting the children in and making sure everything you need is in the bathroom so the children wouldn't be left alone if something was forgotten. He looked down at the towels, making sure he had two when Kili splashed more water over him.

Kili thought this was hilarious and somehow Thorin laughed with him. His little laugh was infectious. Kili splashed again; screaming and laughing so hard he almost toppled over. Thorin supported him with his large hand on his little back and began to play. Fili started singing a Dwarfling rhyme as he placed bubbles on his head and his chin.

"Look uncle Thorin! I have a beard like you!"

"And a fine one it is Fili"

"I may be short but I am brave, I'm not scared of trolls in caves. I am a Dwarfling of Erebor, fight with me and I will RAWR!"

Thorin smiled at the familiar rhyme that all Dwarves of Erebor are taught when they are young. He remembered learning it himself. "Now where is the sponge" he said

"Here it is!" Fili said and soaked it in the water.

Thorin bathed the boys in good timing as both boys yawned simultaneously on the bed wrapped up in their towels. Kili was the first to be dressed then Fili handed Thorin his night clothes.

"Un- uncle Thorin?" Fili yawned

"Yes?"

"Will you hum that song again?"

Thorin knew the song his nephew was talking about. It was The Misty Mountains Cold; such a chilling, deep and personal song that sometimes brought a little peace. He lifted Kili who was rubbing his eyes with his little fists and sat on a high backed chair in the corner. The room was dim with two flickering candles nearby to light the faces of all three. Fili climbed on to Thorin's lap but with some difficulty. His uncle was so big that sometimes he looked like a mountain, so Thorin pulled Fili up and began to hum.

Thorin closed his eyes and got lost in the song. What brought him back was the feeling of a blonde haired little head rubbing into his chest to get comfortable and a little fist grabbing on to his tunic. He looked at his two nephews who were sound asleep and smiled.

He closed his eyes again and continued to hum. Balin was right, fatherhood was wonderful; challenging, but for this moment and all moments to come, he wouldn't change it for the world.