The Miracle of Love

Chapter 3

Finding a good doctor has proven more difficult than Bilbo would have imagined.

"I will ask one of my coworkers if she knows a good one," stated Belladonna. "I think one of her relatives got pregnant. Both he and the baby survived without any complications."

Bilbo swallowed thick at the word complications.

"It's going to be expensive. I'll ask if I can work double time so that we could get some extra money."

"Wonderful idea dear," said Belladonna. "I'll ask for additional hours too. I'm sure that the boys can survive at home without me."

"I'll get the money from the bank tomorrow."

"I think that is for the best. The doctor is going to be expensive and we will need all that money if we want to pay for it."

Bilbo felt excluded from the conversation. His parents were talking about doctor, money and work. He was lost. Weren't they supposed to be discussing his problem?

"That found will only last for few visits, and then we will have to find the money somewhere else," explained Belladonna.

"Wait," interrupted Bilbo. "What money are you talking about?"

"The money from yours and Frodo's found," answered Belladonna.

"That's for university," exclaimed Bilbo.

"You're not going to university," pointed out Bungo. Bilbo looked at him like he was about to start crying again, but Bungo didn't meant to be mean, he just pointed out the truth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like this. I want you to go to university, I wish we would be able to afford it, but we can't. We were hoping that you would get a scholarship so that you could go, because without one you wouldn't be able to go." Bungo sighed. "Things have changed now. You are pregnant and the chances of you getting a scholarship are close to none."

"Then use only half of the money. Leave the other half for Frodo," offered Bilbo.

"We can't sweetheart. I don't think you realize how expensive this doctor is. We will need all the money we can get."

"I destroyed Frodo's future," panicked Bilbo.

"Calm down," soothed Belladonna and pulled her son into an embrace until he calmed down. "You didn't destroy his future. I think he would agree for you to use the money. He loves you very much and he would never want to see you get hurt. We need to pay for that doctor otherwise the chances that this baby survives is less than thirty percent."

Bilbo's world suddenly collapsed. He didn't know how much trouble his pregnancy would cause. "C-c-can you ask if I can work with you at the grocery store?" Belladonna gave him a questioning look. "I want to help. I can work after school and help you with the money."

"You have school to go to," said Bungo. "Your education is still very important to us."

"I'll work twice as hard, I promise. I'll get the same grades, please just let me help."

"I think we can give him a try," said Belladonna. "He can come to work when he has the time. We'll need all the money we can get."

Bungo thought about it for a minute before he agreed. This is going to be hard for his family but they will manage somehow. "You can try, but your health and education is more important and if I see that you are not doing great in school I'll put an immediate stop to it."

"I'll not disappoint you, I promise."

"I know son," said Bungo and pulled Bilbo into a hug. "I'm not angry at you, you know that?"

"Yes I know."

"We are going the help you the best we can, I promise."

"Would you like something to eat," asked Belladonna.

"I don't feel like eating. My stomach doesn't agree with me," answered Bilbo.

"Alright, why don't you go to sleep? Try to calm down and we'll see what we can do about it in the morning."

"I'll try. Thank you for being so understanding. I'm grateful that you are my parents."

"And we could never be happier to have you as a son. We love you," told him Belladonna.

:::

Bilbo felt relief when he went to sleep that night. He felt better that he told his parents. All in all they took it rather well. He knew his life was going to change and is not going to be easy. His life in school will become even harder. Nobody likes a pregnant teenager and once he will start to show the teasing won't stop. But he will do this. He will be strong for his baby. He never imagined that he would come to love it so quickly but he also never imagined to be pregnant at seventeen. Life is full of surprises.

When he woke up the next morning he felt better than he felt in than the last few days. He still felt nauseated but he didn't feel the need to throw up. He got dressed and went to the kitchen where his mother served him some toast and a bowl of fruit.

"Eat it slowly. It's less likely that it will make you sick. If you want I can open the window to let some fresh air in," offered Belladonna.

"No I'm fine, thank you." Bilbo ate his breakfast slowly like his mother told him and for the first time in a week he was full. He was a little dizzy but it wasn't that bad. He could live with it.

After breakfast the doorbell rang. It was Bofur. He came to check on him and was happy to find out that Bilbo already told his parents. They decided to take a walk to school and Frodo decided to join them.

Bilbo almost forgot about his pregnancy and he enjoyed the conversation with Bofur. They escorted Frodo in before going to their classes. Everything seemed fine until Bilbo saw Thorin in a hallway. He thought he would be able to get away from him but Bofur called him.

"Thorin!" Bofur called before he realized that he made a mistake. Bilbo was standing right next to him and clearly he didn't want to have anything to do with Thorin.

Thorin turned around and looked in the direction of Bilbo and Bofur. Dwalin, Fíli and Kíli were standing next to him. Bilbo started to breathe heavily when Thorin took few steps toward him. This was too much for him to handle. He didn't see Thorin for two months after their encounter and he wasn't prepared to face him now. Before he realized his world turned black.

He woke up on a soft bed and blinked a few times before he was able to where he was. He was at the school nurse and Bofur was sitting right next to him.

"What happened," Bilbo asked.

"Oh, you're awake! How do you feel," panicked Bofur.

"Dizzy and everything is spinning in my head. What happened?"

"You fainted when you saw Thorin –"

"Oh my God," groaned Bilbo.

"-I caught you in the last moment and brought you here."

"Thank you."

"I'll call the nurse and tell her that you are awake." Bofur returned a minute later with the school nurse.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Everything is spinning in my head."

"That's expected. Your blood pressure is low. Have you eaten anything this morning?"

"Yes, I had breakfast."

"If you are feeling better you can go. I would advise you to eat something and call your parents and go home."

"I'm fine. I'll find something to eat I am sure I'll feel better afterward."

"Alright then. You should thank your friend here. You were lucky he caught you otherwise you would have a nice bump on your head right now."

"I will. Can I go now?"

"Yes you can go. If you don't feel good please contact your parents."

Bilbo quickly gathered his things and left. Bofur was waiting for him.

"You scared me!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't plan this."

"It's alright," soothed Bofur. "Let's go find you some chocolate; it will make you feel better."

Bofur spent the entire day taking care of Bilbo. He was right next to him making sure he was feeling okay and that he didn't faint again. They avoided Thorin and his group and Bilbo was relieved that he didn't have to talk to him. Bofur told him that Thorin didn't ask what was wrong with him when he fainted and that he passed them almost without noticing.

It was time that Bilbo pulls himself together. He won't be able to avoid Thorin forever and there was no need that he was afraid of him. Thorin didn't know about the baby and he made Bofur promise him that he won't say a word to anybody.

All in all the day was a success because he didn't throw up. If he hated something was this and the fact that he was able to survive the day without it was amazing. He knew that morning sickness wasn't over yet but it was nice to pass a day with a full stomach.

After school Bofur walked him home. He was able to tell him how his parents reacted to his pregnancy now that Frodo wasn't with them.

:::

His parents arrived later than they normally would. His father looked exhausted and his mother was not looking any better. They worked additional hours just for him and to thank the he offered to prepare dinner.

"I talked to my boss today," announce Belladonna. "He said he would take you. He was very happy with you when you worked for him those two weeks during summer."

"You didn't tell him about my…" Bilbo trailed off.

"No I didn't. You can come to work tomorrow, but after school and only if you have time and you feel well enough. I agree with your father your education and health is important to us. How are you feeling today?"

"I'm fine. I didn't throw up today."

"Don't be so excited about it. This doesn't mean this is over."

"I know, but I'm happy because I was able to eat something today."

"Did you call a doctor," Bungo asked his wife.

"I did. He sounds really nice. He said we can come on Thursday. I'll come home earlier and wait for you to come from school," she told Bilbo.

"You are going with me?" asked Bilbo.

"You are a minor and you need a parent there with you. Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen. It's a standard checkup, just to make sure you are really pregnant and he will ask you a few questions."

Bilbo swallowed thickly. He didn't like doctors and the thought of someone poking him with different things didn't sound appealing and the fact that his mother is going with him didn't help.

:::

For the next few days Bilbo's days were pretty much the same. He got up. His mother would prepare him breakfast. Then he would go to school. After school he would work for a few hours at the grocery store. Then he would go home, do his homework and study for the next day. He was feeling better and his morning sickness almost stopped. He threw up a few more times and that was because the food in the cafeteria smelled really bad.

Thursday came quickly and Bilbo was a little nervous because he knew what was waiting for him in the afternoon. As expected, Belladonna was waiting for him at home after school. They took an hour bus to the doctor and with every minute that passed Bilbo was becoming more and more nervous. He wished that Bofur would be here with him, he would know how to calm him down.

He almost lost his consciousness when they stepped into the waiting room that was full with women who were heavily pregnant. He never felt so embarrassed in his life and he couldn't imagine how his mother must have been feeling, bringing her pregnant, underage son to a doctor.

He could feel all the eyes in the room on him, judging him, and his mother and at that moment he wished he could disappear. Luckily for him he was given the possibility to escape the waiting room at least for a couple of minutes when a nurse called his name.

"Bilbo Baggins," she called and when he stood up she smiled at him. "Come with me dear."

Author's notes:

If you think that I just destroyed Bilbo's life, you have no idea what I have in store for him.

Thank you all for your reviews, they really keep me going. Keep posting them :)