He had the feeling it was in the middle of the night when there were many loud knocks on his door.

"Who's there?" he groaned drowsily, but too soft for the people on the other side to hear. He turned the light on, got out of bed and opened the door between his privet chambers and the hotel lobby.

Fili and Kili stood before his door.

"Boys, it's barely six o'clock, what's going on?" he asked while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"We need to talk to you," Kili said.

Before he could stop them, they wrung themselves past him into the small hall.

"Listen, I know you know we tried to couple you," Fili began.

"Our uncle was furious," Kili added.

"Boys, I'm sorry, but this is not the moment-"

"The problem is just that he'll never admit how much he cares about you," Kili went on, completely ignoring Bilbo's protests. "Just because he cares so much about you. He thinks he's not good enough for you, because he, well, can be difficult to deal with. But that's rubbish, and you need to make that clear."

"Please, please don't just let him walk out of your life," Fili begged. "Maybe our move wasn't the smartest, and we're sorry, but please don't waste this moment!"

"Don't be such an idiot," Bilbo said, more impolite than he'd ever been, and dumbstruck by the boys to disturb him with such a ridiculous message and at such an hour.

But his gruffness didn't impress them; for that, they were too much used to gruffness, thanks to their uncle.

"It's not idiotic," Kili held on. "You must have seen it yourself. Since Thorin got to know you, he's changed. He's become friendlier, and happier, and more relaxed. He needs you."

"And I bet you need him as well," Fili said.

Bilbo shook his head. "This is madness. He's been very clear yesterday, and I'm not going to force myself on him. That's not who I am."

"But-"

"Back to bed. Now," Bilbo said sternly. He ignored their further protests and held the door open as wide as possible for them. "I'm tired and I want to sleep. Leave me alone." And just like that, he slammed the door shut.

"Bilbo!"

"Bofur!"

Bofur threw his bag on the ground and caught Bilbo in his reckless embrace.

"Good to see you!"

"Finally!"

On an arm's length, they looked at each other, beaming.

"You really haven't changed one bit," Bofur grinned.

Bilbo took in the twinkling blue eyes, dark hair, perfectly modelled moustache and merry dimples in his best friend's cheeks.

"You gained some wrinkles, though," he teased.

"Oh, shut up. You did keep a room for me, didn't you?"

"Who do you think I am?" Bilbo said, laughing. "You can sleep on the couch, that's all you're going to get."

Laughing, Bofur followed him to his room.

"So, how are things with ehm...?" Bilbo got a significant look from his best friend as soon as he'd closed the door.

He heaved a deep sigh and shook his head. "Please don't make me talk about it," he mumbled, but of course, a detailed description of all that had happened the last few days followed, to which Bofur listened, patiently and without interrupting.

"Bilbo, you're not going to mess this up," he said deadly serious when he had finished. "I'll force you if need be. But one way or another, you will go to Thorin and tell him the truth."

"And that is...?" Bilbo asked hesitantly.

"That you love him and you don't care one bit that he is the way he is, and that you don't want to wait for another vague person from the future who might be better than him, because you're not waiting for anyone other than him. That's what you tell him, you idiot."

"But Bofur..."

"No, no excuses, I mean it. Fili and Kili may have been idiotic, but they understand love better than the two of you," Bofur said, sternly. "Two people who love each other should be together, simple as that. And you're not going to waste this opportunity on happiness. Understood?"

Bilbo smiled nervously. "I've never heard you this stern," he said.

"That's not an answer."

He shrugged. "Well, you know, maybe I had better..." he was terrified to start the conversation with Thorin again, but he'd never in his life admit that.

Then he straightened his back. Bofur was right, he decided. It was ridiculous to let yourself and someone else suffer, just because that someone had decided he wasn't good enough for you. Fili and Kili had made that clear in a not very subtle way, but Bofur had been logical and reasonable and Bilbo couldn't possibly object to it.

"Where is he now?" Bofur asked, who had seen the change in Bilbo's mind and thus didn't need an answer anymore.

"I don't know. In his room, I guess. It's quite late."

"Well, then what are you waiting for?"

Bilbo laughed, disbelieving. "As if he'll ever open the door for me!"

"You have a key, haven't you?"

"That's burglary."

"In that case, you burgle at least ten people every day. Don't be such a coward, just break the door down if he doesn't open up for you. If you don't, I will do it for you."

"Okay, okay," Bilbo sighed, desperate.

"My god, what would become of you without me?" Bofur exclaimed, sounding even more desperate.

"Oh, shut up," Bilbo mumbled. Resolute, he turned his back to Bofur and walked out to the corridor. Before Thorin's door, he lingered. Nervously, he straightened his tie and ran a hand through his hair. He breathed in and out deeply, then knocked on the door gently.