Bea needed all her willpower not to shiver as Thorin directed her how to pose for the picture. As he positioned the streaks of her hair she closed her eyes for a moment, relishing his gentle hands in her hair. As he moved away she suddenly felt cold. Cold and alone.

She put all her longing into the pose, arching her back, angled her leg and positioned her left hand beside her face. Taking a deep breath she looked into the camera and through it into Thorins eyes. She saw him stiffen behind the lense and smiled lightly.

After a light lunch Gandalf asked the models for soloshots. Arwen posed as Eve with a red apple, Tauriel as Poison Ivy and Bea as Helen of Troy. Bea wore a white dress in greek style with a long cut over her back. Gandalf chose a long silver necklace with a crystal pendant to hang over her bare back and it sparked delicately over her skin. Bea had bound her hair up into a lose knot and single curls flowed down her shoulders. She was posing leaning against an antic pillar made of white stone. Her hands lay on the cold stone of the pillar and Bea imagined that she was touching Thorins chest and stomach, as she had done as she had stumbled a few hours ago. She slightly arched her back, so that the dress flowed softly over the curve of her hips and her behind and peaked over her shoulder into the camera.

'Bea, dear, may I remind you that Helen was the most beautiful woman in the antic world?' Gandalf smirked at the young woman. 'She was seductive and confident. No man could resist her. Put all of this into your look.'

Bea nodded and took a deep breath. She didn't like to pose as seductive and offensive sexy vixen. So she didn't. She leaned closer into the pillar and leaned her forehead against the white stone. In this moment Thorin pushed the release.

'Well, that was a fun shoot.' Tauriel smirked as the three of them were back in the changing room. 'This new guy is really good. Maybe a little grumpy, but he is good. What do you say, Bea?'

Arwen and Tauriel exchanged an amused look as Bea didn't answer but continued dressing up in her own clothes.

'Earth to Bea, is anyone home?' Arwen gently touched Beas shoulder and made her jump.

'Huh?' Bea snapped out of her daydream.

'Someone is smitten with our new photographer.' Tauriel teased and laughed at Beas frown. 'Oh come on Bea, I know that look. Just not on you, I've seen it on Arwen as she has met this policeman, whats his name? Aragon?'

'Aragorn.' Arwen corrected her friend. 'And Bea you should really go for it, he seems to like you, too.'

'You think so?' Bea looked at her friend with big eyes.

'I am not blind. He nearly let go of his camera as your dress slid down of your legs on the couch.' Arwen chuckled.

'I am sure that he is used to models making a pass at him.' Bea mused.

'Maybe. But if you won't ask you'll never know.' Tauriel grinned and headed out, leaving her confused friend behind.

'She looked fantastic, didn't she?' Ori grinned from one ear to the other and gave Thorin a hand with the equipment.

'Who?' Thorin was asking, still in his thoughts.

'Dee, the sarcastic sister of whats happening.' Ori stated dryly. 'Thorin are you not listening to me?'

'Of course I listen to you. Bea looked gorgeous today, didn't she?' Thorin asked and frowned as Ori smacked his palm against his forehead. 'What?'

They had no chance to continue the one sided conversation, since Arwen and Tauriel came rushing into the atelier. Gandalf thanked them with the usual light kisses on the cheeks.

'You have been wonderful, ladies.' he beamed and cocked an eyebrow at Thorin. 'Just wonderful.'

'Its been a pleasure, ladies.' Thorin stated politely and turned away to his equipment.

'Bea will show you pleasure, you grumpy old...' Tauriel murmured and earned a nudge from Arwen, who gestured her to leave. 'Well, bye then, we'll wait by the car. Please tell Bea that when she comes out.'

Gandalf followed the two models out and Ori brought some of the equipment to their car. Thorin already took a look at some of the picture on his laptop. The pictures really looked fantastic. Thorin enlarged the picture with the three models and focused on Beas face. This beautiful face with the huge brown eyes, looking at the camera longingly.

'Where is everyone?' Bea had sneaked up on him and looked at him questioningly. 'Did you get any good pictures?'

'No, they are all awful. Must be the models.' Thorin teased and caused Bea to grin.

'Let me see.' but before Bea could look Thorin closed the laptop.

'Don't be so nosy, you'll see them soon enough.' he smirked and chuckled at her pout. Then he dared to ask her what he wanted to ask all day. 'Are you free this evening?'

Bea smiled in relief. She had already feared that she would be the one who had to ask. 'I am free, tonight. No plans, no work.'

Thorin took a deep breath and looked at Bea, suddenly worried that she might decline his invitation. 'Would you like to accompany me for a drink? We could go to the Blue Erebor or somewhere else if you like?'

Bea looked up into his hopeful face and smiled warmly. 'I'd love to. You chose the place. Just give me time to change.'

'I´ll pick you up, if you would kindly give me your adress.' Thorin smirked.

'Its on the memo you got today. My adress is right there, under my name, along with Arwens and Tauriels.' Bea grinned at him.

'You three are living together?' Thorin was surprised. Thats why the women were such a good team, they were more than collegues, they were friends.

'Yeah...we have a tiny little apartment. But the view is nice. If you don´t want to run into Arwen and Tauriel I´ll come by myself, no problem.' Bea assured him.

Thorin snorted. 'Do I look like a brute? I will pick you up at your home, say at seven?'

Bea could not help but smile at Thorin. 'Alright. See you then, Thorin.'

That smile of hers kept Thorin excited for the rest of the day.

'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...' Bea was a nervous wreck as she stormed into her apartment.

'Calm down, will you? Its not your first date for heaven´s sake! Or is it?' Tauriel looked at Arwen who shook her head in amusement. Bea had been so nervous that she had almost killed them three times in traffic on their way home.

'Have you seen that man? I mean, have you looked at him? Sweet Jesus, he is HOT!' Bea exclaimed before she went through her clothes. 'Too boring, too warm, too slutty...wait - this dress is yours.' she stated dryly and threw the dress back into Tauriels arms with a huge grin.

'Don´t push it, Baggins.' Tauriel warned her, but could not fight a smile. 'Whats the big deal, its just a date!'

'Its not just a date...I mean, yeah sure its a date, but I do not date alot. I am not used to it like you are. My last date was - oh my goodness this is so depressing - I can´t even remember when I had my last date!' Bea moved her hands over her face and looked at Tauriel with big eyes.

'You are nuts, Baggins. Come here, we´ll find something for you. Just in case I have a slutty dress right here.'

'We are going for a drink at Dwalins, are you coming?' Fili asked Thorin and cocked his eyebrows at his uncle as he shook his head.

'Thorin has a date.' Ori grinned and quickly closed the bathroom door as he saw Thorins thunderous expression.

'A date?' Bofur grinned widely at Thorin. 'Working with dozens of beautiful models really pays off sometimes. Who is she?'

'She is...nice.' Thorin did not want to spill the news just yet and he hoped that Ori could keep his mouth shut. Especially since Bea was his nephews ex girlfriend.

'Nice? You date nice?' Fili teased Thorin to tell him who the woman was. 'Come on, who is she? How does she look like?'

Thorin closed the buttons of his dark blue shirt and brought Bea to his mind. Her beautiful face, her petite body, her gentle character...

'Oi, it seems that lass has made quite an impression.' Bofur snickered and slapped Thorin on the shoulder. 'Come on, boys, We´ll meet her soon enough. Have fun, boss.'

Thorin saw them off and returned to his room. He wore his dark blue favorite shirt, dark jeans and a black belt with a silver belt buckle. Taking a deep breath he grabbed his black leather jacket and took a look at the time. Another hour to go.

Arwen and Tauriel sat on the comfortable couch in their living room as the bell rang and Bea stormed from the bathroom into her room muttering not yet not yet not yet not yet.

Sighing amused Arwen stood up and opened the door. She had to admit that Thorin looked extremly handsome and gestured him in with a smile. 'Bea will need another minute, please sit down. May I offer you a beverage?'

Thorin was nervous and the presence of Beas room mates did not help. 'No, thank you.'

'So? Where are you taking her tonight? And don´t you dare hurting her, we know where you work.' Tauriel shot him a warning glare.

'Tauriel!' Bea exclaimed and glared at Tauriel with a scolding look. She had just emerged from her room and closed the coat over her waist. Thorin tried to get a look at her, but all he could see were her head and her lower legs and feet. The rest was covered with the coat, much to his disappointment. 'Hi.' Bea said quietly and smiled shyly.

'Hi.' Thorin did not know where to put his hands and pointed to the door. 'Shall we?'

'Sure. See you guys later!' she bid goodbye to her friends.

'Have fun!' Arwen and Tauriel called after them in a unit and made Bea smile.

'Your friends are very protective.' Thorin smirked at Bea and pressed the button for the elevator.

'Yeah, they are. They are my best friends and we look after each other.' Bea smiled warmly at Thorin. 'So? Where are we going?'

'I know a nice little bar down at the harbor.' Thorin told her. 'I had thought about going to Dwalins, but to be perfectly honest...'

'You didn´t want my boss to chaperone?' Bea chuckled and grinned as Thorin nodded.

As the elevator doors opened Thorin let Bea walk out first. 'Its just us two.'

'I really look forward to it.' Bea said quietly and had no idea what her words did to Thorin.

Thorin had chosen a table at the window, with a gorgeous view over the harbor. Bea was captured by the view and totally missed that Thorin was standing behind her, ready to take her coat. He chuckled quietly and leaned down till his lips reached her ear.

'Open your coat, Bea, so I can give it to the patient man waiting behind us.' he whispered and smirked as he saw her jump. As she turned her head and looked at him Thorin had a flashback, remembering her pose as Helen of Troy.

'Sorry.' she smiled and peeled herself out of her coat. Thorin nearly missed the falling coat as a bare shoulder was revealed in front of him. Bea was wearing a strapless black dress, classy and simple. Around her neck lay the silver chain with the crystal pendant she had been wearing at the photoshoot.

'I see, you are a little burglar.' Thorin smirked as he helped Bea into the chair. At her cocked eyebrow he pointed to the necklace.

'Oh this. The models of Valars Inc. sometimes get to keep some of the outfits and assessoires. Its a good promotion for the designers.' Bea leaned forward and watched Thorin thoughtfully. 'You think that I am a burglar? A thief?'

You are stealing my sanity. Thorin swallowed down the words he wanted to utter. 'You could pass unseen by most if you wanted to. You are so...'

'Unremarkable?' Bea asked with the plan to tease Thorin a bit.

'I was going for small, but if you say so.' Thorin grinned. He was too much the experienced agent to fall for that one. And unremarkable was no word to describe Bea.

'Well thank you very much.' Bea smirked at him and subconsciously started to play with her necklace.

The evening passed quickly. Thorin and Bea talked and laughed alot. Bea had some Mai Tais and Thorin some beers. Thorin managed to keep the talk very general, so that he did not have to think about stories to protect his cover. It was the perfect first date. The cheerful and mellow atmosphere of the bar suited their purpose, but the peaceful evening was shortly disturbed by an unexpected visitor. Thorin saw Saruman Istari enter the bar and cursed mentally. It didn't take more than a few moments before his gaze locked on Thorin and Bea. As he walked towards them Thorin stiffened and Bea followed his gaze and winced.

'Miss Baggins, mister Oakenshield. What a pleasant surprise!' Saruman smiled coldly. 'I see you decided to expand your professional relationship.'

Thorin stood up to meet his new boss on eye level. 'Mister Istari.'

But Saruman suddenly smiled openly. 'Please, Ido not want to disturb you night. Have a pleasant evening, mister Oakenshield, miss Baggins.' With a swift turn he walked away and sat down at a table with men in expensive suits.

'Entry Count Dracula.' Bea stated dryly and made Thorin laugh. But the evening was ruined. His instincts kicked in and all he wanted to do now was to observe Saruman and his business partners. Bea gave him some time. 'Would you excuse me for a minute?' she smiled at Thorin and walked to the bathroom.

Thorin took a sip of his beer and watched Saruman and the other men as they ordered a round of champagne. Soon, the men got company. Some of the women present were familiar to Thorin.

'Well, it seems mister Istari expands his professional relationship, too.' Beas dry statement made Thorin jump slightly. Instead of sitting back down across of him Bea sat down beside Thorin and gazed over to Saruman, too.

'Count Dracula ruined our night anyway, so we can spend the rest of it making fun of him and the stupid goons surrounding him...wait, is that Mindy?' Bea frowned as she looked at one of the blonds sitting on the lap of one of Sarumans business partners.

'Mindy? Mindy Sparks?' Thorin remembered her, he had photographed her earlier this week. 'Yes, you are right. Is it usual for models of Valars Inc. to spend auch evenings with their boss?'

'Not more unusual than a model spending the evening with her photographer.' Bea muttered and enjoyed the grin Thorin send her way.