Chapter 10, Lost and Found

AN This is the first real chapter to come out of the reboot, so brace yourselves, this one is a bit lengthier.

Naomi slipped into the velvet midnight with practiced ease. It was not, after all, the first time she had drugged her "gentleman callers" and escaped. This was the time, however, that she would get out and stay out, the memory of her baby son, and the internal pressure of her bond with Kili, spurred her feet across the wilted grass, and gave her arms the strength to push her father's beat-up truck to the edge of the drive, until she was out of shotgun range. The key slammed into the ignition, and a quick turn brought the engine roaring to life, gas pedal met the floorboard and gravel sprayed behind her. Naomi was finally free. Next initiative would be finding the clan Durin.

Kili was in the grocery store going to refill his fridge. Today was the day that he would go to Thorin and Viv's for some moral support and dinner. Lauren, Fili and their kids were supposed to show up too but for the last few years they'd come up with some excuse or another not to. They all hadn't done a lot of things for the last few years. Kili physically shuddered as he grabbed for a gallon of milk, no. He couldn't think about that.

Not today.

From his left came a calling of his name. Kili lifted his head, looking for the source of the noise. Suddenly a pair of arms were wrapped around him solidly, a dark strawberry blonde head pressed closely to his chest.

Kili was absolutely flabbergasted. "Um, Who are you?" He queried gently as he made to unwind her arms from his waist.

The young woman looked up at him with shining, familiar, sky blue eyes.

"Naomi." He murmured breathlessly.

Naomi smiled the most radiant smile at him as he repeated her name in happy realization. Kili lifted her by the waist and spun her in a circle, both of them laughing with abandon.

Kili set her on her feet and held her at arm's length, studying the waviness of her much-darker hair, the sharpened contours of her face, and especially the change in her body structure. The change that he noticed most was the pronounced curve of her waist and hips, on which is hands were currently resting.

"My, you got big." He said in wonderment.

She chuckled lightly. "Yeah. That's what ten years'll do to you."

Kili's eyes lit up, too happy having her in his arms again to flinch with the mentioning of her "time away". "I'm going to Thorin and Vivian's for the weekend. Do you want to come with me? I want to surprise them."

"Yes! What about Mom, will she be there? And Fili? Did they finally get together? Any more kids? Do I have nieces? Nephews? Brothers? Sisters?"

Kili laughed. "I'll tell you everything. Are you-?"

Naomi nodded, suddenly somber. "I ran away. I don't know how long it'll take for him to find me, especially since I have the truck. I don't want to think about that now." She threw her arms around his waist again and pulled him close, wrapping herself in the distinct scent that she had all but forgotten.

When they finally separated Kili took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. Naomi looked up him with tears in her eyes. "I've missed you."

Kili leaned over and kissed her forehead. "And I you."

The pair finished shopping and they got into Kili's black Jeep, once inside Naomi had elected to deal with dismantling her father's truck at a later date. The pair's hands only separated when loading and unloading groceries. Kili pulled himself into the driver's seat and flicked off the radio as it flared to life. Once on the road Kili placed his hand palm up and Naomi laid hers on top, fingertips brushing between his knuckles.

"What's happened since I was gone?" Her tone would have suggested that she had been to a college or something of the sort.

"You have a twin brother and sister now. Charles and Lilli. They're six and the spitting image of Fili." Kili loosed a breathy chuckle. "They get into more trouble than Fili and I could ever have though. Think kitten on Red Bull and the Energizer Bunny, combined and throw in about seven cups of mischief."

Naomi smiled wider and wider at Kili's stories about her brother and sister. " No more "Thee" "Thine" "Thou" or "My lady"'s now, huh? It sounds odd not hearing that... Anyway, what about Thorin and Auntie? Did they have kids? Get married and all of that?"

Kili nodded, still smiling. " I never said "Thee" or "Thine", ya little toad. But, yes they were a very…active couple once those walls came down." Kili scrunched his face and looked up at the ceiling of the car as they stopped at a red light. "There are…four? Yes! Four."

Naomi's eyes went wide. "Names? Ages?" She pressed.

"Ami, is the oldest. She's nine, and looks just like Vivian, just slightly darker hair and blue eyes. My God did she ever get the Durin eyes. Then there's the triplets. Mark and Alex look are built and have Thorin's face."

He chuckled. "Those poor boys got the odd Durin auburn hair, though. And Viv's eyes. The only girl in the Infamous Three is the almost perfect blend. Also the only one that Thorin named. Dis has Thorin's jet black hair, and hazel-blue eyes."

Naomi was so wrapped up imagining all of the children that she almost didn't notice that the car had stopped and the engine was no longer running. Kili squeezed her hand comfortingly.

Naomi took a deep breath. "I'm home."

When Kili and Naomi rang the doorbell of the Tudor-style home of Vivian and Thorin, Vivian ran to give Kili a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Vivian looked at Naomi with puzzlement. "Who's this Kili?"

Naomi smiled softly and moved forward to hug her aunt for the first time in ten years. "Hi Auntie."

Vivian scrambled away from Naomi's outstretched arms as though she had just announced that she was going to kill them all.

"Kili what are you trying to pull?" Vivian sounded angry and hurt, "You know what today means to all of us!"

Kili was aghast. "Do you really think that I would hurt you like that?"

"That doesn't matter! I'm sorry honey. Whatever he paid you to do this, it wasn't enough. You don't realize what happened. This was just a cruel joke." Vivian barely restrained tears, and she moved to close the door and leave the pair on the doorstep, when Naomi grabbed her shoulder and turned Vivian to look her in the face.

Naomi was furious. "You think he's lying? That he would have done this to you? Trust me I know exactly what this family has gone through! I went through it right along with you!"

"No! No one knows or understands! Her mother has never stopped grieving! The police have completely given up all hope of ever finding the bastard that took her, much less finding Naomi alive! YOU ARE BOTH LIARS AND FAKES! GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Vivian was raging, she threw Naomi's hand from her shoulder, striking a pose of defiance that had made Thorin Oakensheild himself quiver in his boots. Naomi was nonplussed, responding with her own Stand-Your-Ground stance, meeting Vivians eyes without fear.

Thorin had been shooting loaded looks in Kili's direction from behind the doorframe, Knowing well that his nephew could speak more truths with his eyes than he ever could have with words.

Thorin strode to Vivian, placing his hands on her shoulders placatingly. "Why don't we offer this young lady a chance to prove whether or not she is our dear Naomi."

Vivian lifted her chin defiantly to the still-roiling teenager standing, hands clenched, feet apart in the middle of her doorstep.

"Fine. What was her favorite Anthony Hopkins movie?"

"Silence of The Lambs. It was also the first Hopkins that I ever watched." Naomi muttered through her teeth.

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "Very good. What was the name that she gave my car, the black one?"

Naomi thought for a second. "T Bad Bad Birdy."

Vivian's lips pursed. "Impressive. What was the name of the first teddy bear that she was ever given and who gave it to her?"

"Sir Barnabus Lecter. Given to me by you at my third birthday party." Naomi's tone was even, if irritated.

Vivian nodded. "Now, and this is the last question, What was the color of the tattoo behind er mother's left ear, who has the match and what was it of?"

Naomi's eyes met her Aunt's. "It was a half-closed, sky blue rose, tinged with scarlet red. The person with the match, and incidentally her soulmate, is Fili. "

"Show me where Naomi had her tattoo. Now." It wasn't a request, and Naomi had the sense not to treat it as such.

Naomi lifted the hem of her faded T-shirt to reveal a dark pink rosebush with two blossoms, one inky black and the other the same dark pink as the outline of the bush.

Vivian's eyes went wide and the tips of her fingers dug into her bottom lip. "Naomi."

The next anyone knew Vivian was on the floor in a dead faint. Thorin scooped her into is arms and deposited her gently onto the futon in the living room, followed closely by Kili and Naomi.

Naomi looked up at Thorin timidly.

Thorin pulled her by the wrists into a bear hug. "I've missed you, Little One."

"Cant…Breathe!" Naomi spluttered.

Thorin let her back on her feet, chuckling.

"Better?" he rumbled.

Naomi laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his shirt. "You have no idea."

She sighed happily as Thorin began running his hand over the back of her head.

Naomi raised her head and looked up at Thorin. "Can I call my mom?"

Thorin nodded and dictated her mother's new number to her as she dialed.

Kili sat beside her as she held the phone to her ear, listening patiently to the dial tone. Finally there came a weary "Hello?"

Naomi took a deep breath. "Hello Mom."

There was a gasp from the other end. "Naomi? Is that you?"

Naomi had tears streaking down her cheeks. "Hi Mommy."