A/N: I'd like to thank pallysdeeks for the kind review on my last chapter!

When Tauriel got her remaining test results, she was happy.

Of course, they were all negative. She hadn't expected anything else.

As soon as she received them, she contacted Fíli and Kíli who really sounded relieved.

"Now we can all sign Balin's contract and getting started with our baby," Kíli exclaimed on speaker.

Tauriel tensed. Of course, he was right, that had been the whole point of it all, to make a baby together, but until now the whole concept had been rather abstract to her.

Fíli laughed shyly. "Well, we won't start immediately, Kee, that's for sure, there are some things we have to figure out first, like how we want to do it... Tauriel, we leave it up to you to choose between insemination or the natural way."

Tauriel took a deep breath. Of course, she had done some research.

If she chose insemination, it would mean that the donors would ejaculate their sperm into a container, the sperm then being either injected into her vagina, close to her cervix, or it would be put onto a so-called insemination cap (something looking like a diaphragm) which then would also be placed inside of her and ensured that the sperm had more time to find its way into her womb, without gravity taking its toll.

If she chose the natural way, on the other hand, it would mean that she would have to have sex with the donors, as simple as that. Until now, she hadn't made up her mind about it.

"Thank you, I'll let you know about my decision as soon as I make it," she responded, firmly pressing the receiver against her ear.

They all fell silent for a moment. Then, one of the brothers (through the phone she couldn't make out which one) cleared his throat.

"So shall we meet before Christmas then? To finally sign the contract? I know that Mama wants to be present and since Balin is our certifying notary, he needs to be too. That means we have to find a date that suits us all."

It was Fíli who made this proposition, but his brother seemed to have a better idea.

"Or we could do it at Christmas? Mama and Bilbo are always cooking this impressive Christmas dinner together, on Christmas Eve, inviting the whole family and close friends. We will be there and Balin will be there and you could come, too, Tauriel!"

She hesitated. Fíli noticed. "Maybe she already has other plans, Kee."

Of course she had. She had always spent Christmas Eve with her father and Legolas (of course, before her mother had left, they had spent Christmas together as a family), this year would be no exception.

"Do you? Have other plans, I mean?" Kíli inquired.

Tauriel sighed. "Well, actually yes. But maybe I can postpone my plans if you like?"

Of course, she could. She could meet her father and brother on Christmas Day.

"No, please don't do that. We can ask Mama to cook dinner for family and friends on Christmas Day. This way, you could come as well without cancelling your original plans."

Tauriel was contemplating Kíli's proposal. "Well, thank you, but I don't want to be a bother. I think I can manage with Christmas Eve."

A part of her felt bad for leaving her father and brother alone together. Since their mother moved away, her father liked his wine a little bit too much. And now, after his ultimate break-up with Haldir, Legolas was also in a very fragile state, meaning he would turn to a wine bottle for comfort they were grown-up men, perfectly able to take responsibility for their actions. She couldn't always be there to keep an eye on them.

And so, they agreed to meet on Christmas Eve at Fíli's and Kíli's family home to sign the contract.

Of course, Legolas was disappointed that she wouldn't spend the evening with him and their father, but understood. Thranduil, on the other hand, didn't take it that well and sounded rather offended. "Go out, have fun, family isn't that important nowadays, is it?"

Of course, she hadn't told him that she would spend Christmas Eve with the potential fathers of her unborn (or rather unconceived) child and their family. She just told him that she was invited by some new friends. Nevertheless, Thranduil would get over it.

So, on Christmas Eve she stood in front of the Goldberg's door. Since Fíli and Kíli hinted at her being able to spend the night again at their place (of course, only in the guestroom, they didn't imply anything else), she packed a knapsack with all the things she would need for the night and the next morning as well as her negative test results and two bottles of wine (a dry red wine and a medium-dry white wine).

Then, taking a deep breath, she rang the bell. It didn't take long until a rather short young man with curly red hair and a beard of the same colour opened the door. "Who are you?" he asked quite gruffly, looking confused.

But when she opened her mouth to introduce herself, Kíli appeared behind him, wrapping one arm around his neck. "Gimli, be nice, that's Tauriel, the mother of my children!"

Tauriel blushed while Gimli frowned at her. Clearly, Kíli was already drunk. Thankfully, Fíli showed up right on time. "Tauriel, it's great that you are here. Mama and Bilbo will be over the moon!"

He gestured for her to come inside, taking her bag with the bottles and test results from her, instructing his brother to put her anorak on the coat rack while Gimli was still frowning at her. Finally, he said. "She's got red hair!"

Tauriel didn't understand what he meant by that, but Kíli giggled and Fíli rolled his eyes. "Of course she's got red hair. Why wouldn't she? You also have red hair."

Gimli turned towards Fíli. "Your mother has got red hair, as had almost all of your previous lovers."

Tauriel felt uncomfortable. Fíli cleared his throat. "So, Tauriel, this is our little cousin, Gimli. He recently turned twenty-three and just has had a drop too much, please excuse his behaviour."

Tauriel smiled. "It's okay. It's Christmas." What she wanted to convey with that, she didn't know.

Fíli took her arm and led her into the living room, closely followed by Kíli and Gimli. "Hey, everybody," he exclaimed, "this is our dear friend, Tauriel." The other people in the room stopped their conversations, looking into their direction, smiling or raising their glasses at them.

Then, they resumed their conversations.

"So, Tauriel, what would you like to drink?" he asked her.

She would spend the night here, which meant she didn't have to drive tonight, so she could choose something alcoholic. "Erm, a semi-dry rosé wine, please?"

Fíli smiled smugly. "Of course, Bofur brought a couple of bottles as soon as he found out that you would be here for Christmas!" And winking at her, he disappeared into the crowd.

Tauriel felt lost for a moment, noticing some of the others staring at her curiously. But when she looked into their direction, they pretended to look at something else. It was rather exhausting.

"Hey, I'm so glad you are here!" Kíli finally admitted, embracing her.

Since Tauriel didn't know what kind of behaviour was appropriate concerning their situation, she reciprocated the embrace. "And I'm glad that I'm here!"

Gimli snorted. She had completely forgotten about his presence until now.

"Oh, baby cousin, come on! Only because you can't find love, it doesn't mean no one else can!"

And whispering into Tauriel's ear, he added, "His girlfriend of three years dumped him in August since then he is insufferable."

Suddenly, she felt sorry for the young man, completely ignoring Kíli's comment about finding love.

"That's a shame, the thing with your girlfriend, I mean. My brother and his boyfriend of over ten years split up a couple of weeks ago. So, I understand if you are unhappy."

Gimli looked curiously at her. "Your brother is gay, then?"

The question surprised her. "Yes, " she answered.

Gimli glared at Kíli. "Did you set her up to this?"

Kíli giggled. "No, Gimli, I swear, I had no idea! Although, remembering their childhood pictures, he is rather cute."

Winking at his cousin, Kíli whispered again into her ear. "Cousin Gimli is bisexual, you know."

Fortunately, Fíli arrived with her drink, handing her the glass. "Mama asks for you!" he quietly said. Tauriel sighed. She wasn't used to that much family.

When she walked into the kitchen, she was greeted by an over-enthusiastic Dís. "My sweet girl, there you are, finally. See, Lobelia? This is her, my daughter-in-law-to-be!"

Tauriel froze while Dís embraced her, whispering, "Please, play along!" And Tauriel did just that (although she didn't know which brother she was supposed to be betrothed to).

This Lobelia woman, looking somehow similar to Bilbo, scrutinized her. "So, you are going to marry him?"

Although Tauriel didn't know who 'him' was, she said, "Yes, of course!"

Lobelia narrowed her eyes. "No plans to live in sin, like my dear cousin, then?" she asked.

Tauriel could hear Bilbo squeak in the background and Dís growl next to her.

Tauriel tried to look as innocently as possible. "No, of course not."

Lobelia looked at her for a couple of moments, then she nodded. "Good, good, at least there are some decent people left in this world!" Saying that, she stormed out of the kitchen.

Both Dís and Bilbo released a breath. "Thank you so much, Tauriel. This woman has been bothering us with her moral standards for years!" Dís explained and Bilbo sighed, "She refuses to understand my relationship with Dís and Thorin. So, unfortunately, we had to bring you and your made-up engagement to one of Dís's sons into the picture."

Tauriel nodded, then asked, "But this engagement, who is it to?"

Dís and Bilbo looked at each other, then laughed. "She never asked! Technically it could be to both. Wouldn't that be shocking to Mrs Ramrod-Straight?" Dís mentioned.

Bilbo doubled over with laughter. "I think this idea would kill her, Dís!"

Tauriel tried to relax, to find this situation as humorous as the other two. But for some reason, she couldn't.

"Anyway, to be on the safe side, don't use any names, just say he or him and we," Dís instructed her. Tauriel nodded. She could manage that.

Later, when they all sat down for dinner (carefully looking at the place cards), Tauriel found herself sitting between Fíli and Kíli. Sending a questioning gaze towards Dís wasn't helpful at all. The older woman just winked at her, then she applied herself to the task of cutting the turkey.

Tauriel remembered the last time she had had a roasted turkey for Christmas. She had been seventeen, then, their last Christmas as a family. Her mother had always been a great cook (even proved to be that today, when Tauriel came to visit). Since then, it had only been her, her father and her brother and they usually ordered Chinese take-out, sharing two or three bottles of wine.

Tauriel came back to the present when she was nudged by Fíli. "Another glass?" he asked, holding the rosé wine bottle in front of her. She nodded. Why not? If she were with Thranduil and Legolas right now, she would also drink wine.

Anyway, the dinner seemed to last for hours, first course (consisting of bouillon), main course (the turkey, of course, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots), dessert (homemade apple pie with vanilla sauce, brown sugar and cinnamon).

Afterwards, some of the guests already said their goodbyes. Fortunately, this Lobelia woman was among them. Tauriel, on the other hand, found herself in a quiet corner of the living room, together with Fíli, Kíli and Dís and another, rather old looking man with white hair and a white beard.

"So, finally, let's talk business then. I'm Balin, Balin Founder, at your service," he introduced himself.

Tauriel smiled politely. "I'm Tauriel Greenwood," she answered.

"I know, lass, I know. The lads already told me about you." His knowing smile unsettled her for some reason.

"Tauriel, my sons told me that you got the remaining test results – which were all negative. Do you have them with you?"

Tauriel nodded, handing the envelope over. Dís didn't even open it. "I will put it into your folder," she promised and her trust touched Tauriel.

"So, Miss Greenwood, you got a copy of the contract, concerning the rights and obligations of Fíli and Kíli Goldberg as fathers and you as the mother of your potential child. Did you read it carefully?"

Tauriel nodded. "Yes, of course."

Balin smiled at her. "Good, good. And do you agree with the conditions of the contract?"

Tauriel nodded again. Kíli rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Balin, let's just sign the damn thing!" Tauriel had to suppress a laugh while Fíli hissed, "Kíli!"

Balin looked at her scrutinizing. "Lass?"

Tauriel cleared her throat. "Yes, of course I agree with them. That's why I'm here, to sign the contract."

Balin nodded to himself. "Perfect, perfect, ladies first, I would say!"

He handed the original contract over to her. Tauriel briefly perused it, just to be sure. The conditions were the same as in the one she had received. Then she put her signature on it, before handing it back to Balin. The old man smiled happily at her, then he gave the contract to the brothers. Fíli was the next one to sign it, then Kíli.

Afterwards, Balin took back the document. "Alright, that's settled then. You three are about to become parents, sooner or later."

Tauriel, Fíli and Kíli shyly looked at each other, then smiled. "Finally!" Kíli whispered.

Suddenly, Tauriel remembered her manners. "Oh, Dís, I totally forgot! I brought two bottles of wine as a hospitality gift!" Saying that, she took out the bottles of her knapsack, handing them over to Fíli's and Kíli's mother.

Dís smiled genuinely at her. "Thank you so much, Tauriel. You are a good girl. That's why I'm glad my sons chose you!"

Tauriel was at a loss for words.