Author's Note: Second to the last chapter! Don't worry – there is a sequel in the works. I just have to finish ironing out how to deal with a human Smaug!

The Reunion – Part 2

Seven men gathered in the media room, sharing drinks and stories and laughter. Thorne could not speak for the others, but in many ways he felt home – home as he could not recall it in this lifetime. These men filled part of a hole that seemed to be a permanent part of his soul. A hole he did not remember noticing before, as if it took their presence to make him acknowledge it. Part of it remained, waiting for those who would fill it…and Thorne hoped they would come, that they too would seek to renew the bonds that once existed.

Then the doorbell rang and everyone fell silent, hopeful and wondering eyes turning towards the entrance.

Thorne moved towards the door, hearing a discussion break out behind him. He shook his head and repressed a laugh as he heard Balfour making wagers on who would be at the door this time. No matter how much had changed, so much still remained the same. The smile lingered on his face as he opened the door, though his jaw dropped a bit in surprise to find the familiar face of their Hobbit staring back at him.

A quick grin graced that face. "May I say how glad I am the get-together is happening in your house instead of mine this time?"

Booming laughter erupted from yet another newcomer. "Billy Freeman!" the red-headed man shook a finger at the former Hobbit. "You're not allowed anywhere near my boy until he gets past his rebellious stage. I don't need him picking up any more sarcasm, thank you." Then he turned towards Thorne. "Damn, cousin, it's good to see you!"

Thorne managed to find his tongue. "Billy?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's the name now," came the agreement. "And Glóin is now Glynn."

The former king chuckled. "We need nametags." He opened his mouth to say something, but shook his head and stepped forward, pulling first Glynn and then Billy into a firm embrace. "I'm glad you're here."

Both men returned the hug with strong, fierce affection.

"As if I'd let you lot go off after a dragon without me," Glynn scoffed. "Never know what kind of reward we might find."

"Don't let him fool you," Billy cautioned. "He's anxious to see his brother and everyone else – not one word of reward passed his lips all the way from New York." Glynn shrugged, unapologetic in his manner. The shorter man rolled his eyes. "And someone has to come along to keep an eye on all of you. Who knows what kind of trouble you'll get into if I'm not there to get you out?"

Glynn began to grumble, but Thorne laughed. "So, our burglar still lives in there, hmm?"

"Will you all quit calling me that?" Billy demanded, though his lips twitched as he tried to glare. "People are going to hear you and start thinking I'm a burglar. I'm not a burglar! I was never a burglar!"

"Burgled the Elf-king rightly enough, didn't you though, lad?"

Thorne glanced over as Balfour came up beside him and raised a brow. The irrepressible man shrugged. "Curiosity's still a bit of a vice of mine."

"Bofur!"

The twin exclamations drew out the cheeky grin. "Hello, boys! Welcome to the party." Balfour exchanged hugs and names with the two newcomers before gesturing over his shoulder with a thumb. "We've got food, brew, and some comfy chairs back there. Place is so comfortable you'd think it was a Hobbit-hole." Thorne gave him a half-hearted shove which did nothing to douse his spirits. Twinkling hazel-green eyes shifted to Glynn. "Your brother's back there with some of the others. Man's a healer in this life too, so he's giving us some frowns over the junk food, but it's good to see him anyway."

"Óin?" Glynn all but vibrated in place.

"It's Olin, now," Thorne told him, but stepped back out of his way. "Down that hall."

The red-head took off without another word. It took a couple of moments, but then came an uproar proving he had found the right room. The three men at the door laughed, and Thorne began to wave them inside when he spotted another vehicle coming up the road. His eyes narrowed, trying to see through the windshield, but the glare from the sun prevented any recognition. A brown, full-size executive car pulled up next to a silver compact SUV. The shadow of the driver paused, seeming to stare at the porch – or the three men waiting there. Billy moved down a step into the full light of the sun and the car door opened.

Sunlight caught on red hair as the husky figure stepped out. A loud, cheerful, and wordless exclamation erupted from Balfour and the fellow bounded down the steps, not noticing when he jostled Billy as he sped past. Thorne put a steadying hand on the smaller man's shoulder even as he chuckled. "Looks like he's happy to see his brother again."

"I'm glad to see Bombur myself," Billy acknowledged. "We always had the best conversations."

"On food?"

"At least it was something important."

Thorne shook his head and let the subject drop. "That's ten of us now."

"Ten?" Billy turned to look at him, his eyebrows going up. "You, me, Glóin, Bofur, Bombur, Óin…that's six. Who are the others?" Then his eyes moved to a spot behind Thorne, going wide as they did so. A smile broke out over his face. "Dori!"

"Doran," the man gave a gentle correction as he stepped onto the porch. He glanced back. "And Nye." The two men, once brothers in blood, still brothers in heart, smiled at Billy.

Billy moved forward to offer both a hug, ignoring Nye's automatic withdrawal. "Don't even think about it," he told the lawyer. "I'm in too good of a mood to let you put me off today. You'll just have to live with being hugged."

"Fine," Nye signed, looking put out – thought a shimmer of gratitude in his smile ruined the effect.

"Look who's here!" Balfour announced as he led the newcomer up to the steps. "Goes by Brynmor now he says."

"Bryn," came the soft voiced correction. "Most folks call me Bryn."

"Bryn," Balfour shrugged. "Bryn, Brynmor, Bombur…whatever you'd like."

"Good to know some things have not changed," Bryn noted, giving the others a smile.

"I get the feeling some things will never change," Thorne replied, stepping forward. "Welcome back."

"I'm glad to be back." Bryn glanced around, nodding as the men shared their new names. "The others?"

"We're only missing the young ones and Dwalin," Doran told him, exchanging an anxious look with both Nye and Thorne. "The rest are inside."

"They'll be here," Billy assured them. "I don't care what names they go by now, you'd never keep Fíli, Kíli, or Ori away from family."

"I hope you're right," Thorne answered, as he waved them all inside. The haunted looks that flickered over Blayne and Olin's faces when Moria was mentioned worried him, especially as neither of them knew Ori's fate. What had their youngest faced alone in that dark place? Objectively, Thorne knew Ori had not been alone – he'd had the rest of the colony around him, but… No brothers, no member of the Company at his side – he'd been all but alone.

And that haunted Thorne in its own way – even though he knew, in this life or the past one, he could not have changed their fates.

Another hour or so passed and the sun began dipping deep into the west, sending the shadows into longer stretches. Thorne knew there was no reason to expect all of them to arrive on the same day, but with so many already here, he had begun to hope. The rest of his Company spilled throughout the house, some exploring while others argued in the kitchen over what to make for dinner. Thorne avoided the kitchen, happy to let someone else handle it, but from the few glances he'd gotten as he passed the door Bryn seemed to be ignoring the others altogether. He moved through the room with an unexpected grace and all but tossed a meal together under the noses of the arguing men.

Billy waved at Thorne from the other end of the bar separating the kitchen from the dining room apparently watching the show as he picked at some cut up fruit and vegetables from a platter on the countertop. Thorne considered joining him, but the doorbell drew him away.

He opened the door to find himself facing a young man – one who seemed to be just out of his teens if that. The age struck Thorne, but not as much as the familiar face with its reddish-brown hair and hazel-brown eyes. More to the point – the physical age meant nothing in comparison to the experienced soul staring out of those young-old eyes. "Ori."

"Thorin." The young man breathed a sigh of relief. "You're here," he noted. "You're really here." He paused and then moved forward to give Thorne a brief hug.

Thorne could feel the tremor in the arms and wrapped his own around the younger man's shoulders. "I'm here," he murmured in reassurance. He considered for a moment, thinking on everything he knew or had learned over the day about the fates of his Company. "I'm here," he repeated. "You're not alone anymore."

A choked off sob answered him and he waited, not lessening the hold until he felt the other pull back. "It's...ah…its Orrin now," the younger one noted, brushing a hand over his eyes. "My name, that is."

Thorne gave him a supportive smile. "Orrin, it is then," he nodded. A sharp intake of breath behind him caused the smile to deepen. "And I hope you're ready to be poked and prodded and all around smothered."

"Nori? Dori?" Orrin's eyes grew bright, an eager joy filling them.

Thorne glanced over his shoulder and spotted both men moving towards them. He stepped to the side, giving Orrin a light push. "I think your brothers want a moment."

As the younger man stumbled towards his brothers, Thorne walked outside and closed the door to give them some privacy. He leaned against the railing and stared at the vehicles cluttering up the space in front of his house. The pounding of his heart threatened to overwhelm him with emotions. One by one they kept coming. It was everything he'd hoped for and so much more than he'd feared.

Only three left.

Three more faces to fill up the Company.

Thorne closed his eyes, bowing his head as he wondered about the remaining three. Would they make it before night settled over the mountains? Would it be a repeat of that night so long ago in the Shire when thirteen Dwarves and one Hobbit met and gathered and shared a home for the first time? It hadn't been the last time, of course, but something about that first night stuck with him. That night marked the first time this Company – a Company that would become legend even while they yet lived – gathered to face a seemingly insurmountable problem. Now…now they were coming together to do it again.

He wanted a repeat.

Against all odds, this ragtag bunch of hooligans and oddballs had managed to succeed in their task. Yes, he could admit they'd needed the Bowman to do it, but still...they pulled it off. Thorin ruled Erebor as King under the Mountain for many years before leaving it in Fíli's capable hands when he fell defending his family in the Battle of Dale. He remembered passing into death – calm and at peace. The kingdom would proper under Fíli and the peace treaties with Dale and Mirkwood would stand strong. Thorin left behind a legacy of which he could be proud.

And his pride remained strong – it grew with each return. To know the Company meant so much to each man…it humbled him.

The sound of an engine drew his gaze up the long driveway. He watched as a Jeep bounced along, going a bit too fast as it spun into park next to a small white subcompact. Two figures got out of the vehicle, too busy arguing to look towards the shadowed porch. Thorne's breath caught as the sun's rays filtered through the trees to glint on gold locks or to disappear on brown. He moved towards the steps, his movements hesitant – fearful unless this be a dream that would fade if startled.

"I'm driving back," the blond young man insisted as he pointed at the dark-haired teenager. "You're a menace."

"What?" the younger one demanded. "What did I do?"

"Fíli…Kíli…" Thorne found his voice before the blond could offer a reply.

Two gazes swung around, centered on Thorne, and locked. One breath passed and then another. And then…

"Thorin!"

The two rushed leapt forward and he caught them, all but squeezing the air out of them as he held on with all his strength. He could only repeat their names as he lost the battle with his tears this time. A sheen of them coated his eyes and some trickled down his cheeks as he held his nephews to him for the first time in an Age. "Fíli…Kíli…"

"It's Finnian actually," the blond managed, his own smile misty as they pulled back, reluctance clear in their hesitation.

"Or Finn as I'm calling him," chimed in the younger. "And mine's Killian," he continued, "but most folks call me Kil."

"I don't care," Thorne replied, one hand on a shoulder of each nephew. "Whatever you want to be called is fine…you're here."

Another long, heartfelt embrace later and he finally felt capable of leading them back to a boisterous crowd and their enthusiastic welcome.

Somewhat later, as twilight began to gather outside, Thorne left the bathroom, intent on making his way back towards the others when a knock on the front door brought a quick smile to his face and he hurried to answer it Only one of his Company remained missing – only one left to welcome. The person on the porch could only be…

"Dwalin."

The name hung between the two of them for a second before the bald man on the steps gave a short bow. "Dylan McTavish, at your service."

Thorne yanked the other man into a fierce hug. "You're here," he grinned, stepping back and putting his hand on Dylan's shoulder. "You came."

"I almost didn't," Dylan admitted, keeping his voice low and his eyes averted. "I tried to tell the Wizard no."

"Why?" Thorne shook his head, tightening his hand on his old friend's shoulder. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that to sound so…accusatory. I would not have blamed anyone for refusing. No one should have to face a dragon once, let alone twice."

"It wasn't the dragon." Dylan interrupted him, blue eyes flashing. "If it were just me, I'd have been out the door before Gandalf finished talking." He paused, taking a deep breath. "But it wasn't just me. I had my daughter to consider."

"A daughter?" Thorne blinked, startled bewilderment breaking over him. He had never considered that a potential issue. If he thought for a moment, he realized that any consideration of spouses or families had never crossed his mind. Glynn's family comments seemed to fit his past, but for the rest…it never occurred to him. "You have a daughter?"

"Yes, I have a daughter," Dylan huffed. "Is that such a shock?"

"It just…" Thorne shook his head. "I didn't think of it." He paused and tilted his head. "What changed your mind?"

"She did," the old soldier admitted. "Stubborn girl's got her own mind, but…she's grown. I didn't have the right to make her choices for her – not anymore." He paused and a flicker of a smile lightened his face. "Especially not given some of the particulars."

"Particulars?"

"Leave the man alone, Da," came a sigh from behind the man.

Dylan's eyes grew bright with amused affection and he stood back. Thorne could now see inside the black full-size pickup drawn up almost to the bottom step, including the figure sitting sideways in the front seat, her legs dangling out of the door. Dark brown hair framed a delicate face highlighted by bright silver eyes. She lifted a hand and waved at him, her soft smile growing as he stared.

"Merilin!" Thorne's voice echoed into the darkening twilight as he strode forward. He plucked her out of the truck, his arms like bands of steel as they surrounded her. Her giggle as she returned the embrace caused his own laughter to bubble up. After several long moments he pulled back and reached out to frame her face between his hands. "This is a happy surprise," he announced before leaning in to plant a kiss on her forehead. "A very, very happy surprise."

"It's Mairwen now," she told him as he released her. "And don't let Da worry you – he wants to be here as much as any of the rest." She bit her lip. "And…speaking of the rest…?"

Teasing affection glittered in the grin Thorne tossed to Dylan. "You two are the last," he announced. "Everyone else is waiting inside." The teasing gentled as he met Mairwen's gaze. "He's here," Thorne told her. "He arrived just before you."

A soft red color dusted her cheeks and she stared at the house. "Did he now?" she murmured before glancing back at her father.

"Oh, fine," Dylan sighed. "Let's go find the lad."

"Da!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he snorted. "You're looking forward to seeing all of them." He shook his head. "Just a little more anxious about him than the rest though, aren't you?"

"I'm not talking to you," she announced, turning with a huff and striding up the steps towards the door.

Thorne raised an eyebrow and Dylan shrugged. "She'll break that word before the hour's out," he assured his friend as they watched her disappear into the house. "She's never managed to ignore me for longer than that before, so I don't expect it to start now."

"Damn it's good to see you," Thorne laughed, clasping one hand on Dylan's shoulder. "I'd have been lost without you."

"With your sense of direction?" Dylan chuckled. "You're damn right you would have been."

The two men stepped into the house, teasing and jostling each other as they moved into the warmth and light of home, closing the door and shutting out the night with all its shadows and secrets and dangers.