A/N: I made a few minor adjustments like chapter title, line breaks, and few odds and ends for the last chapter. Now, for this chapter, it was originally the first chapter and a one-shot idea that gave the idea for the whole story. Enjoy ^^

Chapter Two

or "The Start, Family Ties"

"I'm hungry," Kili complained from the middle of the line.

"Why don't you ask if you can stop to hunt?" Fili pulled up next to his brother, a small smirk formed on his lips.

"No way, Uncle is set on not stopping until we get farther along. I tried to reason two times already." The young dwarf crossed his arms with a pout, almost falling off his pony. He caught his balance a second later and glared at Fili who momentarily brought his hand up in case a fall would happen. "Besides," Kili continued and grabbed back on the reigns. "I cannot use all my arrows for hunting without being able to retrieve them. That's only a way to run out before we're half way through the journey."

Bilbo watched the brothers from his place behind them. He, too, was quite hungry, but he was not about to speak up. The hobbit was used to several meals a day, after all. Up to now, Bilbo hardly had any trouble with the fewer amounts of meals and food in general. He could not speak out about the food, or lack thereof. He was a proud, not as proud as some stubborn dwarves he could name, yet the pride was still there. Bilbo was well aware that the majority of the Company did not think much of him. The statement that he was hungry will only confirm the suspicions. Especially since, he made the decision to come at the last second.

He thought back to the morning, two days ago, when he woke up and made the decision to come along.

As he got up, Bilbo looked tentatively around. There were no sign of the dwarves plus a wizard, none. There was no sign at all. The hobbit quietly checked every nook and cranny of his hobbit hole. With nobody there, Bag-End was his again and no sign was left of the unexpected, and rather crazy, party the night before.

That was until he saw the contract left on the table. Bilbo could not read the words, which he knew spelled out either his fortune or demise, but the end, where he was supposed to sign, seemed to scream from the paper. One would think several thoughts and emotions surged through him that led to the ultimate decision; however, Bilbo could not recall exactly what led him to sign the contract. For one single moment, his head and heart cleared of everything and made the decision clear.

The next step was to find his writing supplies and actually sign the thing. He seemed to fumble around now that the choice was made and weighed on his mind. Maybe he should not go? If he was second guessing himself seconds within the adventure? As quickly as he started to think that, Bilbo had signed it and the fate was done.

Bilbo then had to catch up with the dwarves and Gandalf. Would he be forsaken after he found them for not taking the offer right away? The hobbit sure hoped not- he was still making the effort to leave, better late than never. Bilbo hastily packed everything he thought he would need- his handkerchief apparently not one of them- and sprinted out the door. In his rush, the thought of locking up completely left him. Unsurprised then was what Bilbo Baggins should experience when he came back again to find the humble home taken over.

Oh, and the Company put bets on whether or not he will show up, most who had little faith in his appearance. At any rate, contemplated Bilbo, the group accepted him.

How true that statement was in reality had yet to be decided.

Bilbo let out a small puff of air from his cheeks. He wondered about if he should take out his pipe, but then again, he still was getting the hang of riding the pony. Bilbo was confident on his balance but not enough to be free of the reigns for an extended period of time. There was a reason why he said he could walk fine. His hobbit feet were durable and capable of a trek, though the majority of the dwarves were still dubious on how he can manage without boots. 'Because,' Bilbo explained the first night, 'they're uncomfortable.'

In the days ahead will he be grateful for riding, sure, just not now. He took his mind off pipes and ponies for a moment and instead looked around at the company of dwarves, plus one wizard. The group was either talking to each other or gave a determined stare to the road ahead. For the umpteenth time since the adventure began, Bilbo felt a little lonely. So far, he had made attempts to talk to each of the dwarves to gauge how they felt about him. A couple of them, mainly Bofur, Fili and Kili, warmed up easy enough with conversation. Then quite Ori, who he talked to on his array of books, also was approachable.

Most of the dwarves, however, were polite yet clear that any of them had any faith or interest in him. Bilbo would find something to prove himself- eventually- now he needed to ease up and attempt not to feel incredibly out of place with the Company.

His gaze fell to the front of the line, where Gandalf currently was riding. There was always the possibility to talk to the wizard. Then again, Thorin was beside Gandalf. One thing Bilbo did not want was to have that criticizing, penetrating look directed at him again. He already dealt with it when they made camp every night. Whatever way he was going to prove himself to this Company, he knew Thorin was the hardest to prove to, Bilbo had a gut feeling on it.

The next few hours passed rather uneventfully. A grateful noise passed through Bilbo's lips at the feel of grass and dirt beneath his feet. Thorin ensured everybody this was only going to be a quick rest before they set off again. After Bombur prepared a quick meal for lunch the departure would soon follow. Without knowledge what to do, Bilbo still wanted to feel helpful so went to offer his assistance.

"That makes me most grateful," the ginger haired dwarf replied with a smile once Bilbo had spoken. "I was impressed with the food in your pantry despite some of the foods being unfamiliar." Bombur's voice picked intensity while on the topic of food.

"Right…" Bilbo decided not to explain how annoyed he was by the pantry raid he went through. Nonetheless, Bilbo divulged that at least his food would not go bad over his journey- there was none left.

"No meat to have for this meal, hopefully some will come tonight." While the dwarf spoke, Bilbo noticed Kili's triumphant smile toward Thorin on the other side of their makeshift rest spot. Apparently, the young dark-haired dwarf convinced Thorin that he had enough time to go hunting. Kili grabbed Fili's arm before dragging his brother toward the trees.

The rotund dwarf started humming while preparing some of the herbs. Bilbo grabbed and started on a share of different plants. "Oin says a few of these have medical properties, so a little will be good to keep energy up for the rest of the day." Bombur continued while giving a quizzical look down at his hands. He was clearly okay with cooking with them, but the absence of meat had dampened any energy to the leafy plants.

Ten minutes later, everyone had some of the herbs and dried fruit. The consensus was it was not the best meal, but no one would say straight out no to food in some form. Bilbo headed back to the ponies, not wanting to be told off, for the third time, for being so slow on preparing to leave. His straightway to the steads was interrupted when he bumped into one of the dwarves.

"Hmpf," Gloin growled when he noticed who had run into him. Bilbo noticed he was putting what appeared to be a locket back in his pocket.

"May I ask what that is?" Bilbo asked quickly, but immediately took the words back. His split-second plan was to distract the outspoken dwarf from ranting out at him. All the same, now that he thought about it, the words came out brass and in the realm of being none of his business.

His first instinct seemed to be right, for a smile grew on Gloin's face and he pulled back out the chain and locket. As Bilbo looked at it, the dwarf did not let go of the chain. He stared at it and saw a female dwarf and a dwarfling with already a good amount of beard. The hobbit guessed it was his family.

That was confirmed a second later by the positively beaming dwarf. "That's my wife and son. Not the easiest decision to leave home. Gimli was deeply upset on not being able to come. He is a little older than what this shows him as, like to see his young face again. They grow up and soon he would be leaving on some adventure."

"Right, Gloin." Bilbo almost jumped out of his skin when he heard Thorin behind him. The hard blue stare was focused on his nephews, who came back from their hunting expedition with only a few small game animals for tonight. The two brothers laughed as they mounted their ponies. Thorin shook his head, "I would ready for departure, Halfling." The regal prince left without another word. Bilbo indignantly stared at his retreating back on how he was addressed while Gloin gave a brief nod and walked off.

Bilbo stood there for a second longer, after a few more moments he hurried to the ponies.

"Well, dear Bilbo, I daresay you are getting along well?" Gandalf asked in the next following days, three days to be exact. The hobbit in question sighed and offered a smile.

"It could be better," he admitted. This was true. The last few days nothing deterred the Company's path besides a little rain. Bilbo had still not broken the ice with several of the dwarves but the tension around them, concerning him, seemingly alleviated; if only slightly. It could be better, simultaneously, it could be worse. He was glad the only problem that confronted the group so far was the weather. He wanted it to stay that way, naïve as that was.

Gandalf had taken out his pipe and currently blew a few intricate, magically enhanced, smoke rings. Bilbo envied him; he only had a time shortly before turning in each night to take out his pipe.

The fact was clear that the little things of comfort, or lack thereof, troubled him. Bilbo was aware that the time of those comforts, of handkerchiefs, pipes and small pleasures, would fly from his mind. There was a dangerous road- with a dragon at the end of it! If they hardly had any trouble reaching the Mountain, unlikely, the end with Smaug would elevate the chance of risk factor by a 1000 alone. His Baggins side wanted to cling to all those enjoyments through all future trouble. Bilbo needed them to keep his sanity.

He turned to look at Gandalf once more. A look he could not name was traced upon him, and Bilbo decided he did not know what it was. The most he could decipher from the wizard, on the best of days, was there was knowledge in those eyes beyond his knowing. Annoyed, he looked away. He was still growing into his adventurous Tookish side, however he did enjoy being knowledgeable.

He quickened the pace to meet up the closest dwarf, Balin in this case. "Are you alright there laddie?"

Bilbo gave a tired smile at being asked essentially the same question Gandalf probed a few minutes before. "Yes, a little sore. I am afraid I am not used to riding a pony for this long of a period."

"It will be hard to take them through the mountains." The old dwarf contemplated. "I've trekked through lands with and without their aid and for now be grateful for the ride."

Bilbo nodded. "Agreeable," he murmured. Silence passed the over the conversation as the voices from everybody else flooded in. Dwalin called his brother over, and Bilbo smiled in goodbye. Then he was content just to be in line. The contentment of nothing crazy, thoughts of comfort and the lack of the suffocation of lessening mistrust from the dwarves soothed his nerves.

Kili cursed under his breath while glaring up the tree. He could feel Fili's level, exasperated stare on his back and refused to turn around to face his brother.

"You can leave it, you know." A scowl crossed his face and he glared at the blonde dwarf.

"I told you! I can't leave my arrows if I can help it. I'll run out." The younger of the two stomped up to the trunk and judged the height with his eyes. Kili had tried to shoot a bird down from the tree, in the end missed, and now the arrow was lodged into an upper tree branch. He jumped fruitlessly at the lowest one, a continued glare turned to at his brother. "I'm too short! Care to help?"

Fili laughed and walked over to help. His hands providing a step, he pushed Kili, who was now tall or taller than him, up closer to the branch. Finally able to grab the branch, Kili adjusted his hold with an excited yell. "Yes!" The flailing of his legs almost gave Fili a broken nose if he had not already expected something similar to go down. Brown eyes gazed down sheepishly once the energetic dwarf pulled himself fully up. The laugh ruined the guilt etched on Kili's face and decided to focus back on arrow retrieval.

The twigs brushed him irritability in the face; Kili growled and pushed them to the side. Once he got up on the lowest branch the task became easier. It only took a second for his sharp eyes to spot the stray arrow again. He jumped up and managed to grab the branch with only a moment of perilous swinging.

"Please be careful…" Fili spoke up from below him.

Kili laughed once more as he reached up to grab the arrow. "Please don't be concerned. I'm fine." Yes, he could be more careful, which would certainly help. But then again, he never learned any other way. When he jumped down to a lower branch the young dwarf lost his balance and plummeted to the ground.

The sensation of falling always was an exhilarating feeling- then there was the landing. Pain cursed through his upper back and neck, but it could be worse. He still felt all his limbs, sore as they were. Kili heard Fili call out before he hit the ground and turned to his brother. "I'm fine," he repeated, his hand moved up to massage his neck. "Ouch." He allowed some assistance to get up but glared before the golden-haired dwarf could speak up again.

"Say I told you so and I. Will. Kill. You."

Fili gave a weak chuckle, arm around his younger brother's shoulders to offer support. Kili worried him with the boundless energy and recklessness. At the same time, Fili could not see him any other way and did not want this journey to change that.

"Come on," Fili let Kili set the pace as they walked back to camp. "Hardly a week since picking up all burglar do you think Thorin will be more upset at us not coming back with anything or you getting hurt?"

The young dwarf deflated at his brother's words, noticeably so. "Don't worry about it. At least you got your arrow back."

Thorin was distressed, although the two brothers were amused when he tried to use all his anger to hide the obvious concern. That had not changed since their childhood; only the heightened concealment increased with the rest of the Company around.

Bilbo leaned against a fallen log, the newest of Bombur's stews in his hand. His hunger meter remained high, on the bright side, or maybe not, the hobbit started to adjust to his new 'adventure diet,' as it were. His eyes examined the camp and all his companions. On the far side of camp, by another log, were Ori and Dori, who seemed to be arguing over something. Bilbo strained his ears, in curiosity, and tried to listen.

"What are you trying to sketch? Random nature is not exactly relevant to what you are doing." Dori started out the argument.

"Can you please move to the side a little? It is not important but everybody keeps moving around I cannot get sketches of everyone done in the constant movement." Ori said patiently, trying to see past his eldest brother's legs. The journal sat on his lap, all supplies ready to record and sketch for the night. If only Dori would move.

"You can ask someone to stay still, or wait until they are asleep? Only curious but-" the older dwarf was cut off as Nori came over and shoved his brother three steps to the left. He gave a conspiring wink to Ori before he strolled across camp. Dori huffed once and looked at the young artist. "Just remember to put your mittens on after you're done, OK?" Ori nodded in compliance and started sketching whatever plant caught his interest.

Bilbo's attention altered to a pair of loud carefree laughs to his right. Fili and Kili propped against the same tree. He had no idea what they were laughing about, yet he felt like Fili was tried to distract his brother from his injuries. Bilbo's ears still rung from Thorin ranting at the two young dwarves, mostly Kili, when they came back. Yet, no signs of either being affected visibly showed.

A couple paces away from the two brothers were another older pair. Oin currently worked on a salve for Kili's wounds while Gloin sat behind him. Bilbo saw that Gloin took out his locket again; the gold glinted in the firelight. He made no attempt to talk to his brother, instead kept him company. Oin did not bother with his ear trumpet when he worked, so it would be hard to. He motioned Kili over, who stood up and winced. Fili said something Bilbo could not catch, but it caused Kili to give a quick scowl before walking over to the healer.

Bilbo adjusted his seating position and continued to observe the camp. By the fire, Thorin, Balin and Dwalin talked in quiet voices. Instead of the serious faces and expressions he saw them use while talking about the quest, the three seemed at ease as they talked of merrier topics. Whatever that was, Bilbo had no idea, but the sight made him ease up. If none of them were worried, there was no reason for the hobbit to be.

Someone came to sit down next to him, and Bilbo turned to see Bofur sitting there. A warm smile on his face, the dwarf patted him on the back affectionately. Despite the first impression the dwarf gave, one of being overly blunt, Bilbo quickly bonded with him. There was no patronizing gaze turned toward the hobbit, or anything else that he found uncomfortable with the company of dwarves. Bofur made a point to sit by him every time he felt lonely, which should not have surprised him at the moment.

"How're you holding up?" he started with ease. "Bombur brought up earlier that he would like to have your help cooking in the future, after you helped him a couple days ago. Says he's interested in seeing how Hobbits cook differently." Bofur took out his pipe, still smiling. "You know, he isn't one to ask on his own." He said with a frustrated glance at his brother. Bombur was walking around camp and checked to see how everyone was enjoying their food, and if there were any leftovers.

Bilbo smiled. He knew Bofur cared for his brother; it was clear watching camp that everyone was close to their family, and each other. He wondered if he would ever fit in as easily.

"I will tell him l would love to share cooking tips, then." He said with a small pause. Bofur must have noticed something in his eyes because he went on talking again.

"You remember we all showed up separately at your home? I know most of us nearly crushed you when we fell in, but we met only right down the road. I knew all the lads at least once before, but not for long extended periods of time to be enough to know how everyone works together, see? We're all still figuring it out." Bilbo relaxed at the words; however, he still felt out of the loops.

"Thank you," before he could say anything else, Bombur reached them and stared evenly at his brother and the hobbit. The large dwarf did not say anything; his stare honed in on the other dwarf, and Bilbo was suddenly witnessing a dwarf-staring contest. The tension grew, air cackling with energy as the two stared down. There was nothing malicious or bad with the feeling, which did not stop Bilbo from shifting where he was sitting. He guessed the silent conversation was over Bofur's remaining food. There was hardly any food left for Bilbo and wanted to break off the contest before he failed to take it anymore.

"You can have the rest of mine. My hunger has diminished enough." Actually, he was still hungry, though the peace tactic seemed to work. Both dwarves broke eye contact and Bombur beamed at him.

"Thank you, much appreciated." Bilbo handed over the reminder of the food.

"I would enjoy helping out with meals, if you want the assistance." The cook accepted the help gratefully with a large grin. Bilbo relaxed once more, focus turned toward camp life to distract himself from the now lack of food.

Bifur came over soon afterward and started to speak to his cousins. Bilbo could not catch any of the quick words or gestures, but Bofur nodded in consent. "First watch then. Usually it is easier to fall asleep late than to try to go back to sleep in the middle of the night." He started to hum an old dwarf song and the tune set comfort over the edge of camp.

Bilbo looked across camp to where Thorin stood. He wondered if he should ask about what time he should take for watch. Thus far, only the shortest times seemed to be given to him, if at all. There was the sinking notion that no one felt he could handle it. Currently, he overheard Kili arguing over with his uncle, but the dwarf prince held strong. Bilbo decided to worry about his concerns later.

He stretched his legs prior to fully turning in for the night. While he walked around camp, Bilbo passed by Ori, still working on his sketch. Curious, he looked over his shoulder to see a shrub with intricate branch designs being reflected by the firelight. Before Bilbo could say anything on it Dori walked back over to his youngest brother.

"Time to sleep, Ori, we need to leave again at first light and you have third watch." Ori nodded and stored his sketchbook away. The young dwarf gave a slight start when he noticed Bilbo there. In return, Bilbo offered an apology and small smile.

"I am impressed with your work. Maybe I could see what else you are working on?"

"When I'm done with separate sections I will share them." Ori turned pink at the compliment. Ah well, the response was the same as the last time Bilbo asked. He wouldn't push it.

Thorin came over to speak to Dori, and Bilbo stepped away from the pair of dwarves. "I want to see that book you mentioned earlier," he asked. He had not thought of packing any of his beloved books, and another chance to chat and examine books with the quilt-wearing dwarf would be pleasant.

Kili walked over, a glare set hard on Thorin's back. His posture relaxed as his injuries healed. "I'm going out for a late night hunt. I would keep close with no more than fifty strides away from the edge of camp, and will come back before the first watch is done." The dark-haired recited it like he said it a thousand times before, which he probably had. Bilbo also noticed how he stopped the briefest moments behind Thorin before heading to the trees. He did not think of anything of it until Thorin stepped back and, promptly, tripped on the utensils left there.

"KILI!" The whole camp burst out laughing as their leader roared after the younger dwarf. Thorin turned to glare at his older nephew but Fili had already slipped through the trees after his brother.

Bilbo chuckled against his better judgment. Maybe this would not be as bad after all. He still had to get used to this adventuring business, but at least, there were a few dwarves he could talk to.

A/N: In my head, Kili is highly accident prone. I know several people with the same combination of energy/eagerness/athleticism that lead to the same conclusion.

There should be some action in the next chapter. I read some passages of The Hobbit this week for inspiration (but ended up getting sidetracked for a few hours), plus I am planning to see the movie again when it comes out to the cheaper theater in town. The next chapter should come out after that.

Reviews make me happy, and I am distressed no awesome readers have left any. Please do so. Free cookies! Or not, but I will make sure to respond to any feedback in the next chapter.