Thursday evening at the Durinson brother's residence had become classic routine. Thursday was the day they both worked late and came home to watch their favorite show. While Fili usually ordered take out, Kili would call Tauriel for their nightly chat before shamelessly submitting himself to an hour of the action-packed-science-fiction-drama. Some nights, Tauriel would receive another call from Kili detailing the depths of his emotions towards the episode, in which she would openly mock him before telling him that it was only a story and that he should calm down.

Tonight, however - and just after Fili had ordered their food - Kili emerged from their room with his jacket on.

"Don't be angry with me, Fee." The younger brother said, only a tiny bit wary of the possibility that Fili would actually be angry. He hastily walked all over in search of his set of keys.

Fili turned around to watch Kili over the back of the couch. "What is it? You're going out?"

"Yeah. I'm going to Tauriel's." Kili said, a bit cautiously. "I want to talk to her."

"...Do you suddenly have a phobia of phones?" Fili teased.

Kili rolled his eyes. "I just want to see her. Since archery practice has been cancelled the last two weeks and work has been heavy for both of us, I haven't seen her in a while. And remember I told you about how the suspension on the machine I don't know that name of snapped and nearly cut my life short earlier today?"

"How could I forget, gave me tons of paperwork to do." Fili said slightly in disgust. He'd have to deal with that tomorrow.

"I hardly thought anything of it until I called Tauriel just now. She said she was shot at today."

Fili took a moment before replying, "That's a rather grim coincidence."

"That's what I said! That's why I want to see her." Kili nodded. "She was very adamant about not breaking up our Thursday night, but I told her it was no big deal, I live with you."

Fili half nodded. "You have work tomorrow." He reminded Kili as the younger finally found his keys and began rummaging through the refrigerator for a snack.

"Yeah, I'll leave at four in the morning or something." He replied, stuffing food into his jacket pocket.

"Set your alarm."

"I will, I will."

"I'll text you just in case." Fili said, typing an alarm on his own phone.

"Don't watch without me. Flat law, remember?" Kili warned as he got to the door.

"Oh, come on. I won't spoil it for you." Fili said, turning the television anyway. "Send sister my love. Tell her she should just move in with us already!" He added that last part as Kili was just about to step outside.

The younger poked his head back in. "What did you just say?"

"Tell her you have my blessing. I know you hate being this far apart anyway, it would save everyone time and money." Fili said rather nonchalantly. Although he genuinely thought this was a good idea, he was now purposefully trying to fluster Kili, enjoying the flabbergasted look on his face.

Kili stammered for a moment before actually speaking. "If you were for this all this time, then learning to drive was all for nothing!"

"Not for nothing, it's a good skill." Fili laughed. "Thats really all you have to say about Tauriel potentially moving in? That it was a waste for you to learn how to drive?" They both laughed at that until Fili continued. "Tell you what, instead of watching the show, I'll look for bigger apartment in the area. Or farther, whatever, maybe we'll meet in the middle. We'll need different bedrooms for sure-"

"Are you really considering this?" Kili asked, all joking aside.

Fili sighed. "Of course. Ki, you and Tauriel are extremely serious, and even if it's only been a year, I think it's what you both want, to be closer to one another. And I like Tauriel, I wouldn't mind being her real brother-in-law."

"Oh you'd love that." Kili answered under his breath. He almost feared what Tauriel and Fili would be like under one roof, let alone related through marriage. They were that pair of friends who fondly argued over pointless things, it was their little game. They also liked to fuss over Kili, he being the youngest of the trio. More and more the idea sounded like it would work out more for Fili then it would for him.

"Don't have the nerve to pop the question just yet, brother." Kili added.

"Want me to ask for you? Better yet, Tauriel will probably be the one to go down on one knee, she wears the trousers in this relationship, doesn't she?"

"I'm leaving!" Kili said, turning to do just that.

"Maybe you share, like, one pant leg-" Fili said, getting up and walking to the doorway as Kili exited and left the door open.

"Goodbye!" Kili said as he raised his hand, still turned away and walking towards their car on the sidewalk.

"Just tell her it's an option!"

Kili turned and was now walking backwards. "Marriage or moving in?"

"Both, I suppose, if you can conjure up the nerve in two hours!"

"You're insufferable!"

"You're the one who's in love, I just live with you!"

Kili waved him off and got into their car. Seconds after he'd driven off, Fili received a text. He plucked his phone off the coffee table and saw that it was from Tauriel.

"Sorry, bro." It read.

He started tapping away at the keypad. "I don't want him calling in sick this time."

"I can't guarantee anything." She replied.

"Just make sure he has dinner, I saw him leave with just a block of cheese and a juice box."

"I love that you have juice boxes."

"It's easier then getting a whole thing of juice. Kili always leaves it in the cupboard instead of the fringe. Remember that for later."

"Lol, I'll make another note."

...

"Honey, I'm home." Kili said cheekily, getting into her apartment with his spare key.

Although she lived alone at the moment - Legolas having moved out recently because of his training up north - her apartment was bigger then the one he shared with Fili, no doubt in part by her legal guardian. Two bedrooms, two bath, a real kitchen and balcony, spacious and decorated just like his mother's house.

"Is that the voice of my dwarven archer?" Tauriel's came from her room.

Kili grunted at the nickname lovingly given to him by the other archers in their group. He was average height more or less, but still the shortest of them all. It would render as offensive if the others didn't call themselves "elven warriors," making the whole thing "middle earth" themed, if anything. Legolas had been dubbed their "Elf Prince" while Tauriel was simply "Captain," having earned the title after some time on the team.

He made it to her doorway and bowed. "At your service."

His smile was infectious as she laid eyes on him. She got up from from her desk and hugged him tightly, her arms around his shoulders as his moved quite naturally around her middle.

"I missed you." Kili said sweetly, his lips lingering at the line of her jaw. He kissed the hollow of her ear before reaching around for her lips. His hands were pressing lightly into her back, bringing her as close he could.

"So did I." She happily reciprocated between kisses. She usually wasn't one for prolonged greetings like this, but with how long they hadn't seen each other, she felt there was an exception to be made.

When they separated, she took his hand and walked to the kitchen. "I heard you didn't have much of dinner."

"I swear, if you're not at work or with me, you're talking with Fili." Kili said as he took his coat off and hung it on the back of his chair at the table.

"He is arguably one of my closet friends." Tauriel said as she got a container of her leftovers from the fringe.

"No way, me too!" Kili joked, although it was true. "But enough about my brother. I'm sorry I haven't been around, I promise I won't wait until another mutual near death experience to come and see you."

"You know I don't mind. Much." Tauriel said. Setting food on the table, she saw his jacket and wondered. Checking his pockets, she found a mostly eaten block of cheese and an empty juice box.

"Thought I'd find this." Tauriel said pointedly.

Kili shrugging as he started eating what she'd set in front of him. Once she'd thrown his trash away, she visibly refrained herself from jabbing him in the side. He flinched.

"Not while I'm eating, elf!" Kili nearly shouted, both of them laughing as she retreated and took up the seat next to him.

They sat together for some time just talking about their day.

"I've been shot at before, you know." Tauriel said while reviewing her work day. "Both bullet and arrow."

"Not while you've been dating me. The idea is just...jarring, I guess." Kili replied in truth. "Not that I'm terribly worried about you. I suppose I should be, but you're so skilled that I wonder if anything can harm you at all. Actually, the fact that you were shot at today shatters that facade."

"The facade that I'm invincible?" Tauriel asked, looking amused by her smile.

"Precisely."

"Well, it's quite the opposite for me. I know how fragile you are."

"Fragile?" Kili feigned being hurt. "I think the word you're looking for is 'rugged.'"

"As 'rugged' as you think you are, you're quite prone to injury, especially since I've met you."

Kili laughed, then shrugged. "I can't deny that. I still have the mark from that snake bite on my leg."

Once Kili was done eating, Tauriel got her jacket from the living room. "Let's go up on the roof, we'll review the constellations and see if you remember anything."

"Not likely." Kili said, doubting himself. He could never remember everything she told him, though he did pick up enough. He grabbed his coat and followed he out of her apartment and down the hall to the stairs.

...

After Kili had guessed a few constellations, and gotten one or two of them right, the couple lay together in peace staring up into the sky. Kili had and arm wrapped around Tauriel's shoulders while she had an arm around his middle, their legs comfortably tangled together.

"Remember the first time we talked about stars?" Kili asked, his voice a gruff whisper in the still air.

"And 'fire' moons?" Tauriel teased.

"'Fire moon' sounds better then 'blood moon.' Anyway, you remember. You arrested Fili and I for trespassing on private hunting grounds."

"I recall you said you were on an 'epic quest.'"

"Illegally roasting marshmallows in the thick of the woods - without getting caught - is quite the epic challenge."

"Sounds like a dare, that you obviously failed."

Kili laughed. "It was a dare, at least it started out that's way. Remember Gandalf? From family night?"

"The older gentleman who won the poker game and brought fireworks?"

"That's him. He likes wagering, and he comes up with the most interesting bets. Seeing how it brought me closer to you, I hardly care that we lost."

"We would have seen each other at practice again."

"Yes, but we shared something after that, something a little more personal. And it wasn't until then that I got the courage to ask you out for coffee, never mind if Fili was there."

Tauriel hummed in agreement and tiredly turned her head into his chest, closing her eyes.

It was moments like these that Kili found his thoughts settle. There was nothing that he needed to think about, he only needed to admire what was immediately in front of him.

Quite suddenly, however, a thought did come to his mind. He sighed softly, wanting to ask, but not knowing exactly how.

Tauriel hummed in question, knowing he had something more to say.

"So..." Kili mumbled close to her ear. "Fili has given us his blessing."

"For what, exactly?" Tauriel mumbled into his chest.

He took a deep breath before answering. "For moving in together. Fili's looking for a place as we speak." Kili turned slightly so that he could see her face. "I would like it very much if you would consider living with us."

"Sounds like Fili would like it too." Tauriel said, a bit more awake now. There was a smile on her lips, always a good sign.

"Not as much as me. But yes, he's the one who brought it up."

"Is it because you had to miss your Thursday together?"

"More because of the money I'm wasting driving up here all the time."

That made Tauriel laugh. After a quiet moment, she sat up fully and set her gaze on him. He was beautiful, especially in the light of the moon. Her eyes lingered on him before she said anything. "That would be quite a change."

"One I'm willing to make with you." He said, warmly taking her hand in both of his. "Don't you think it would work?"

"Oh. It would work, and well." She said, looking at their hands together. She brought one of his hands to her lips and kissed the back of it. She smiled. "This should be fun."

Kili was silent for a beat, unwilling to assume anything. He propped himself up with his free arm. "Is that a yes?"

She turned that same hand she held and kissed his palm. "What do you think?"

Kili let out a breath he'd apparently been holding. "I think you've gone mad, saying 'yes' to moving in with a reckless kid like me."

"Have you not noticed how reckless I can be at times? Especially when it comes to you?"

"Especially." Kili whispered, smiling uncontrollably as he ended their banter there, leaning up to kiss her. She leaned down and pressed him back down against the quilt underneath them, Kili's hands wove around to her back as soon as they hit the surface.

After some blissful time of exploration of lips on skin and hands pretty much everywhere, Kili pulled away for breath. "Fili's not going to let me call in sick tomorrow." He said, voicing his desires without specifically mentioning he'd like to stay the night.

"I told him I couldn't guarantee your timely return." She said, which really meant "I don't care."

Kili breathed heavily, his fingers idly playing with her hair as he thought. He shook his head slightly, thinking of how mad Fili is going to be when the car isn't in the driveway tomorrow morning. "I'm sure he'll understand."