Author's Note: So...terribly sorry about the long delay Chaps! I've had rehearsal for a show I'm in, plus work, plus I got sick. I'm back though. Slowly but surely I will update. I have a few chapters in the works already that just need to be finished. (I'm always open to ideas and suggestions for illnesses and injuries too)

About the layout of the Blue Mountains: Here's my idea...the Dwarves live inside the mountain. It'd be fairly small (for a mountain) but that's where they live, eat, and socialize with each other. The outside of the mountain is where the forge, market, Humans, etc. reside. The Dwarves live (because we've never seen where their living quarters are) in almost stone apartments. Just thought I'd give you that little insight.

Pertaining to this story...I've been writing this since The Hobbit first came out...so a long time. I couldn't figure out how to end it and suddenly it hit me and here we are. Figure Kili to be about 14ish which would make Fili about 16ish. Basically way to young to do what they did. Enjoy!

To all my reviewers: Thank you, as usual. Your reviews make my day!

Purestrongpoem: I wouldn't say Thorin becoming Oakenshield is less violent but I did mention it was toned down for small ears. Think of it this way: Hamlet versus Disney's The Lion King. Same story, one meant for kids, the other isn't

nourss: Why thank you? And pffffft! Who needs class! (I don't actually mean that. Go to class. Education is important. Stay in school.)

To the mass reviews that say Kili is adorable (I won't list you all, we'll be here for days and I'm sure none of you are even reading this part) I agree and thank you. We should all thank Aidan for being a puppy cupcake mixture.

Thorin, son of Thrain, grandson of Thror marched through the halls of the Blue Mountain nodding occasionally at the Dwarves he past. He had returned from a two week scouting mission to hear that his nephews, his heirs, the closest things he would ever have to sons of his own, had snuck away to join an orc hunt shortly after he left. The older Fili had escaped with a just few nasty cuts and bruises and his brother had broken his leg. It wasn't serious and was expected to heal fully but that didn't change the fact that they had scared their mother half to death. Arriving at the home he shared with his sister and her sons he walked in without knocking intent on giving his nephews a stern talking to. As he entered he came upon Kili, limping badly, as he headed from the couch to the table, intent on grabbing one of the apples sitting in bowl in the centre of it. As he grasped his prize Thorin spoke, "Are you supposed to be walking around yet?"

Kili went to spin around before he pitched forward from his lack of balance. Thorin lurched forward and caught him before he fell, gently steering him into a chair. Kili looked at his uncle in surprise, "Uncle Thorin? When did you get here?"

Thorin raised an eyebrow, "I returned today...and I heard about you and your brother's little orc hunt. Are you supposed to be walking around yet?"

Kili had the decency to look slightly abashed, "Ummm"

Thorin crossed his arms, "Ummm is not an answer."

Kili sighed, "The healer said I could start putting some weight on it...soon."

Thorin raised his eyebrow, "That doesn't mean walking." He slung his nephew's arm around his shoulders and deposited him back on the couch before seating himself next to him, "Where's your brother?"

Kili settled himself and adjusted his bad leg onto the stool placed in front of the couch for that reason, "He went to the market with Mother. She's making stew tonight and Fili knows what I like...and what I can keep down."

"You're ill?"

"The pain medicine and I don't get along. I tried solid food yesterday and it didn't go well. Mother thinks stew might be safe and she took Fili with since I can't walk."

Thorin looked his nephew over. He seemed to be healing well, "You two are possibly the most foolish creatures in middle earth."

Kili groaned internally. He knew this was coming. Everyone he and his brother had come in contact with had given them this lecture since they returned home, "We know. We've already gotten thoroughly yelled at by Mother. And the healers. And every other Dwarf we've come in contact with...and I can't really argue with them."

That was a surprise. Usually his youngest nephew was headstrong and stubborn, rarely-if ever-admitting he was wrong.

Kili continued, "In our defense everyone said we fought well...until the Warg fell on me."

"What in Durin's name possessed you both to do something this foolish?"

Kili sighed and dropped his head back against the sofa, "We want to be useful. We're nearly done with our weapon training and we figured some experience would be good for us."

Thorin felt like shaking him, "You could have both died."

"We didn't though. You're always telling me I'm a good shot and Fili's the best I've seen with a sword...besides you, Uncle. We aren't children anymore."

"Yes you are!" Thorin snapped. He looked at Kili who was staring at him with what everyone now called the 'kicked puppy eyes'. Thorin took a deep steadying breath before speaking again in a calmer tone, "You both are still too young to be going on hunts. I don't care how good either one of you are during training. You're still too young...Kili, I was your age when I first took up my first sword. If you really wanted to prove your worth running off to get yourselves killed was not wise. When you have healed and you and your brother have spent some time cleaning out the forges as punishment we can discuss you both joining me on patrol. Neither of you are ready for hunts yet but patrol is a good starting point that even your mother will agree to."

Kili's puppy dog eyes turned into a brilliant smile at his uncle's offer, "I think we could deal with patrol."

They settled into a companionable silence until Thorin noticed Kili tossing the apple from the table back and forth from hand to hand. Remembering his nephew's mention of his stomach upset he looked at him questioningly, "If the pain medicine is bothering your stomach why are you eating apples?"

Kili smiled sheepishly, "I'm not. Fili and I have been using them to play catch."

"I can guarantee that playing catch with apples isn't the reason your mother bought them at the market."

Kili's head dropped against the back of the couch with a sigh, "I'm bored. All I do is sit here."

"Make arrows for yourself."

"Mother got sick of the feathers on the floor. That and I've made enough for the next few months."

"Read a book."

Kili gave his uncle a look, "I don't read. That's more Fili's area. Reading gives me a headache."

Thorin couldn't hold back a small snort, "Well, you give us all headaches so I think it might be fitting punishment."

Kili's pout returned and Thorin couldn't help but reach over and ruffle his nephew's hair fondly. Kili batted him off and leaned back against the couch with a sigh. With a small glance at his uncle Kili leaned his head back and placed the apple on the bridge of his nose, trying to balance it. Thorin watched him for a minute before shaking his head, "You look like an eager dog trying to do a trick."

Kili dropped his head with a half-hearted glare, the apple rolling onto his lap, "Why does everyone compare me to a dog?"

"What do you mean?"

Kili sighed, "I keep getting called a puppy. Or being told I look like an eager puppy...or that I have puppy eyes. I'm not a dog."

Thorin fought a smile, "Your Uncle Frerin used to tell me I had puppy eyes when we were younger."

That seemed to brighten Kili a bit, he always loved any chance to be like his uncle, "Really?"

Thorin nodded and Kili stared at him, clearly not seeing it. Thorin nearly laughed at the expression on his nephew's face, "You'll grow out of the puppy phase."

"Not soon enough," Kili grumbled. Thorin didn't bother holding back his smile this time around and they lapsed back into silence again. Kili was just placing the apple on his nose to try balancing it again when the stone door slid open and Fili and Dis entered. Kili brightened instantly upon seeing his brother. Fili tossed the basket full of food onto the kitchen table before throwing himself onto Thorin's chair near the fire. Dis cleared her throat loudly.

"Hello Uncle Thorin," She said pointedly.

Fili instantly sat up straighter and looked at Thorin, "Hello Uncle."

Kili just smirked at his brother, "I already got my lecture."

Fili groaned but Thorin cut them off, "Incredibly foolish. Both of you. But I've gathered you already know that."

Fili nodded and wisely kept his mouth shut, waiting for Thorin to continue, which he did, "I already discussed a few things with your brother. Both of you will be cleaning out the forge for a few weeks once Kili is back on his feet."

Fili couldn't stifle his groan and Thorin waited for him to finished with a smirk, "If, and only if, I feel you've learned your lesson and don't need some time mucking out all the stables, you and Kili will join me on patrol. We'll start here, around the mountain and see how you handle taking and following orders. You're not ready for orc hunts. This little excursion proved that."

Fili and Kili exchanged a glance before looking back at their uncle. Fili gave Thorin a look that he hoped showed his regret for his actions and not his excitement in going on future patrols, "Yes sir. We're sorry."

Thorin looked at both of them sternly before rising, "I'm going to help your mother with dinner. Don't run off."

Both boys grinned at him and Thorin just shook his head fondly before walking to where his sister was cutting up carrots near the stove. Dis looked him over and handed him a knife and a turnip, "Start cutting."

Thorin did as he was told and waited for his baby sister to speak again, "You went easy on them. I think you're going soft."

Thorin gave her a glare and realized she was smirking at him, "I resent that, Sister."

Dis put her chopped carrots in a large pot before grabbing a potato, "Patrols?"

Thorin shrugged, "I was their age once. I remember how badly Frerin and I wanted to go out and hunt. They are skilled and patrols are a safe way to appease them for now."

Dis just shook her head and grabbed his knife and turnip, "You're taking too long. Go set the table."

She watched as Thorin began slowly setting the table shooting a fond glance at his nephews as he did so. Fili and Kili were throwing an apple at each other, chatting happily. Dis added more vegetables to the pot on the stove and watched as Fili whipped the apple toward Thorin who caught it with ease and threw it back to Kili, mindful of the fact he couldn't move much. A game of three way catch began and Thorin abandoned his job to join his nephews. Dis took over setting the table with a fondly annoyed sigh, "Men."