Bilbo didn't want to admit it but it was a blessing Ori and Dwalin showed up. In the weeks they had been at his house, his mood had increased. With Dwalin having to get up before sunrise so he could get to work in Bree , it gave Bilbo a reason to get up again; though Ori wanted to cook for his love he wasn't really versed in cooking so Bilbo was helping out. Ori was a quick study; still the shy dwarf liked having Bilbo help. Also having the dwarves there Bilbo was bathing and cleaning on a regular basis. He was starting to feel like a real hobbit again.

Another thing Bilbo was thankful for was that the two didn't bring up the adventure or Thorin unless Bilbo inquired. The hobbit couldn't and wouldn't express how much the kindness meant to him. He still wondered in the pain in his chest would ever leave? He remembered when he almost broke down when he noticed the braids on Ori's head and on Dwalin's beard. He didn't want the two to think they had to hide their affections from him if they ever felt the need to be public about it. Granted, Bilbo had to stifle a laugh when the two did show public affections. It was always small and simply without better words, too cute.

Today Bilbo was feeling spry enough to go into the market with Ori. The young dwarf's knitting was quickly becoming popular with the hobbits, something Bilbo knew would happen. As they walked women were coming up and asking Ori if they could stop by Bag End later to make an order. Bilbo was glad to see Ori was fitting in, even if he was still getting stares. Though, now Bilbo wondered if it was because Ori wasn't what hobbits thought dwarves were like. However, today Bilbo was sure the stares were meant for him, this was the first time in months he had left his home and on top he had two dwarves living with him? He was sure the gossip was flying of the lips of harpies of Hobbiton.

The hobbit noticed Ori was watching some kids play while their parents shopped, "Is everything alright Ori?"

"They are cute, hobbit children. I didn't think anything was smaller than a dwarven child." Ori said blushing a bit.

Bilbo chuckled, "All children look cute until they turn into little terrors. Then you rather be fighting a dragon."

"I don't know about the dragon part." Ori laughed.

The two friends erupted into laughter. As they continued with their shopping Bilbo noticed Ori's eyes would wander to children nearby. He wondered if the dwarf wanted little ones of his own and was a little hurt that his heart chose another man and not a woman. Still they could adopt. An image of Ori and Dwalin raising little hobbits made Bilbo almost break out into laughter. Not to mention to image of Ori in a pink apron was almost too much.

When the two returned from the market Bilbo decided that today he would work on his garden instead on having Ori do the work. Ori watched Bilbo work from the window in the main sitting room after he finished putting things away. He was glad his friend was starting to become more active, he was worried Bilbo might have been too far down the path of depression. Ori let his mind drift to what Dwalin would be doing at that moment. The thought of Dwalin slaving over an anvil topless made the dwarf blush and decide maybe he shouldn't let his mind wander too much.

Just as the sun had set behind the hills Dwalin arrived from Bree to the smell of dinner cooking. When he entered the hobbit hole he was greeted by Bilbo, which on this night was just the person he wanted to see. The former warrior pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to the hobbit.

"Open it." Dwalin said.

Bilbo chuckled at Dwalin's ever magical way with words. The hobbit opened the box and gasped; there in the box were matching bronze buttons with a lovely dwaven knot carved into them.

"Dwalin, they are wonderful, but I don't understand…" Bilbo started.

"Payment for letting me and Ori stay here." He said in the gruff voice of his.

"I don't need payment, you two are friends." Bilbo replied.

Dwalin only grunted and moved past Bilbo to seek out his lover. Bilbo crept his way to the kitchen to see the two stealing a moment where they were showing affection because they thought no one was looking. It was only Dwalin's arm around Ori, but that was a lot for those two. Bilbo smiled. Such an unlikely pair, but yet they worked.

The knot in Bilbo's chest tightened as his mind cruelly thought back to him and Thorin and the first time Thoirin did a small physical gesture of his affections. The hobbit choked down a small cry and put on his brave face before he entered the kitchen. Much to his surprise Dwalin didn't remove his arm from around Ori, and not to his surprise Ori could tell Bilbo had been crying, even if briefly.

"Is everything okay?" Ori asked.

"Yes, everything is fine." Bilbo lied.

Ori knew what a 'yes' with wet cheeks meant so he dropped it. In truth the dwarf wanted to punch Thorin in the face for what he did to Bilbo. He heard that the night before he and Dwalin left his lover did, which is why Thorin's jaw was swollen.

That night Bilbo had the unfortunate predicament of Dwalin getting a bit too loud with his and Ori's love making. Bilbo wanted to cry because he thought that should be him and Thorin and also because he still wasn't sure how old Ori was and if his and Dwalin's pairing was taboo by dwarven standards or not. The morning brought on another surprise. There was a knock on the door not long after Dwalin left. When Bilbo opened it he sighed.

"I was wondering when I would see you two." He said to the two dwarves before him.

"Is Ori alright? He and Dwalin made it here right?" Dori asked.

"Sorry to come un announced. Dori wouldn't stop fretting, even though our brother is with a capable man." Nori said giving Bilbo a sympathetic look.

"They are both here, though Dwalin just left for work, please come in." Bilbo said moving so they could enter.