The Miracle of Love

Chapter 10

"E il tuo sorriso spegne i tormenti…"

("And your smile puts away the agony…")

The next morning was awkward for Fíli and Kíli. Bilbo and Thorin had a fight the previous night and the next morning they felt like they have to choose a side. Do they go to school with Thorin or with Bilbo? They decided to go with neither, that way they were on no one side.

In the school Thorin and Bilbo ignored each other like they always did. Up until the lunch break Bilbo was alone because Bofur stayed with Thorin, but during the break Bofur finally left Thorin and joined his friend. Fíli and Kíli came to and the brought Ori with them. Bilbo was enjoying having so much company for lunch. It was the first time he actually had fun during the break and he wanted this to happen every day.

But not all had such an awesome day.

"Thorin," called Dwalin and approached his best friend who was sitting on a bench looking in the distance.

"Hey," said Thorin, but he did look at Dwalin.

"Have you seen Ori?"

Thorin was quiet for a minute before answering. "He's over there." Thorin pointed at the group that consisted of his brothers, Bilbo, Bofur and Dwalin's boyfriend.

"What is he doing there? We were supposed to meet here."

Thorin shook his head. "That," he pointed at Bilbo, "is Bilbo Baggins. He is living with us now. Fíli and Kíli couldn't be more excited to be around him."

Dwalin took a better look at Bilbo. "He is the one that collapsed in the hallway."

"Yup."

"So you carrying him to the school nurse was some sort of a charity project or something. I mean, now he is living with you guys."

Thorin looked at his friend. "What was I supposed to do? Leave him lying there while Bofur nearly had a panic attack. I'm not a monster."

"I never said you were," defended Dwalin, "but you usually don't pay so much attention to someone you don't like. And now I find out that he is living with you. Tell me what happened." Thorin remained silent. "Come on," encouraged Dwalin, "I'm your best friend."

Thorin sighed before he looked around to make sure no one was listening. "He is living with us because he is pregnant," Thorin whispered.

"I don't understand," said Dwalin.

Thorin rolled his eyes. "He is living with us because I got him pregnant."

"What?!" Dwalin wasn't sure if he heard right.

"You heard me," hissed Thorin, not wanting to repeat himself.

Dwalin thought about it for a second before smacking Thorin on the back of the head. "Are you crazy? Why did you sleep with him? He is underage!"

"Oh, you are the right person to judge! Ori is a few months older than Fíli and Kíli and I never said anything about you sleeping with him."

Dwalin blushed slightly. "Firstly, none of your business. Secondly, we have been dating for a year before we slept together. And thirdly, we use protection even if Ori can't get pregnant. You know his kind can get pregnant and you still slept with him!"

"I made a mistake, alright. It's done; there is nothing I can do."

Dwalin sighed. "Did he do it on purpose? Is he forcing you to accept the child and provide for it?"

"What? No!" exclaimed Thorin. "If it wasn't for my father he would never say a thing. He would have kept the child and never tell anyone who's the father. For some strange reason he wants to keep it."

"Now he will be able to do so and with your father intervening he will have everything that he wants."

Thorin shook his head. "He won't keep the baby. My parents will adopt it and we will pretend that it's our sibling."

"Is he crazy? Why did he agree on something like this?"

"He didn't really have much of a choice," explained Thorin before adding, "Neither did I." He stood up and left without saying another word.

Dwalin understood that Thorin needed some time alone so he didn't follow him. Instead he decided to go talk to his boyfriend. He approached Ori from behind and cleared his throat.

Ori jumped with surprise, but was still very happy to see him. Before Dwalin could say something, Ori pulled him to sit next to him and then sat in his lap. "Hello." Ori gave him a kiss and Dwalin's anger melted away.

"I thought we were meeting for lunch."

"I'm sorry," smiled Ori and gave him another kiss.

Bilbo immediately recognized Ori's boyfriend. He has seen him several times with Thorin; actually he was always next to Thorin.

"This is Bilbo," introduced Ori and Dwalin offered him his hand, which Bilbo immediately accepted. He realized that only Thorin was an ass, everyone else was normal and most importantly, polite.

"Nice to meet you," said Bilbo.

"The same."

"So Dwalin," started Kíli. He obviously wanted something but he didn't want to ask directly.

"No need to sugarcoat it," cut Dwalin. "Just tell me what you want."

"Great! I want you to buy the alcohol for the party we will have next week."

"Not happening."

"Come one love," encouraged Ori. "They need your help."

"What did Thorin say?"

Kíli avoided making eye contact before he muttered something.

"What?" asked Dwalin when Kíli didn't give him the answer.

"He said he won't help," repeated Kíli, more loudly this time.

"Then I'm not helping either," said Dwalin leaving no room for argument

The boys protested but Dwalin didn't change his mind.

"When is the party," asked Bilbo. This was the first time he joined the conversation.

"Next week," explained Fíli. "Our parents are going on a business trip for two days. We have the house for ourselves."

"Then why are you making so much fuss about buying alcohol?"

"Hello?" called Kíli. "Earth to Bilbo. We are underage. We need an adult to buy it."

"You have Dwalin here, use him."

"We just asked him but he refused," said Kíli. "Were you even listening?"

Bilbo sighed. "Yes of course I was." He turned to Ori. "I'm sorry but I have to ask, aren't you Dori's brother?"

"He is," whined Kíli. "Why is this so important? We need to get the alcohol or the party has to be cancelled."

Bilbo smiled at Ori who understood his innuendo. Ori turned to his boyfriend. "Dwalin, when are we going to tell Dori that we are dating?"

Dwalin's eyes grew wide and he immediately understood that he was trapped. He sighed before looking at the twins. "Fine, what do you want me to buy?"

Kíli jumped with excitement before giving Dwalin the list of things they will need for a party. Dwalin rolled his eyes before he accepted the list and he and Ori left.

:::

Later in the day Kíli and Bilbo were in the living room. Bilbo was lying on the couch playing with his phone. He finished his homework and studying long before Kíli even started and now poor Kíli was struggling to complete his homework for history.

"You were amazing today," praised Kíli. "How did you know about Ori?"

Bilbo put the phone down. "I knew Dori was his brother and I just acted on my instincts. I am also overprotective of my little brother."

Kíli smiled. "Thank you."

"No problem."

Kíli returned back to his history homework, but it didn't take long before he gave up. "This is pointless. I will not pass history this year."

Bilbo looked at Kíli. "I can help you if you want."

"Really? Would you really help me?"

"Yes," smiled Bilbo. "I have nothing better to do. But know this," warned Bilbo, "I'll help you with your homework but I won't be doing it instead of you."

Kíli pouted a little before he accepted the deal. It was still better to get a little help than to do everything by himself.

"You know, Mr. Gandalf said that I must help you and your brother pass history this year," said Bilbo after a while.

Kíli gave him a questioning look. "Yeah? Why's that?"

"Because I lied to him about being late."

Kíli smiled. "Sorry about that. But you have to admit, you did have fun driving with us."

"I did," confirmed Bilbo.

They returned to work on Kíli's homework when the doorbell rang. A few minutes later Fíli came into the room carrying a large cardboard box. "This came for Bilbo," he explained. "Special delivery."

Bilbo looked skeptically at the box when Fíli placed it down in the living room.

"What is it?" asked Kíli.

"I have no idea, I just signed for it," answered Fíli.

"Can I open it?" asked Kíli and Bilbo nodded from where he was sitting. Kíli quickly opened the box and pulled out a strangely shaped pillow. "What in the world is this?"

Bilbo rolled his eyes. "It's a pregnancy pillow," he explained.

"What do you do with it?"

"You sleep with it," explained Bilbo plainly.

"Right…" said Kíli and Bilbo saw that he didn't understand.

"It supports the belly," he explained.

"Oh, right. You were at the doctor yesterday. Did you get a new picture?"

Bilbo was reluctant to answer. "Yes."

"Can we see it," asked Fíli.

"No!" quickly answered Bilbo and Kíli pouted.

"Why not?"

"Because the last one I gave you ended up in trash because Thorin didn't want to look at it."

"I'm sorry about that. But I just want you to show it to me. I won't give it to Thorin, I promise."

Bilbo thought about it for a moment before he decided that Kíli was right. It wasn't his fault that Thorin threw away the first one and nothing bad could happen if he would show the twins the new one. At the end Bilbo accepted. He took the pillow to his room and returned a few minutes later back to the living room where Fíli and Kíli were waiting for him.

"Here," said Bilbo and gave Kíli the picture before sitting down across from him.

Kíli's excitement quickly disappeared. "I don't see anything."

Bilbo just rolled his eyes. "I really don't know why I'm showing it to you. You are hopeless."

Fíli laughed at Bilbo's comment.

"Why are you laughing," asked Kíli. He gave the picture to his brother. "Tell me what you see in this picture."

"Absolutely nothing," answered Fíli and both he and Bilbo started laughing when Kíli frowned.

He snatched the picture out of his brother's hands. "Why are you laughing? You can't actually see anything here."

"Yes you can," laughed Bilbo.

Kíli threw the picture on the table and crossed his arms over his chest, while Fíli and Bilbo laughed.

In that moment Thorin walked in. "Why are you two laughing?" he asked. Before Bilbo or Fíli could answer he saw the picture on the table. "Not this again," he sighed and picked up the picture.

Bilbo stopped laughing and his eyes went on Thorin. "This is mine, thank you very much," he said and stepped in front of Thorin. "Please give it back."

Thorin eyed Bilbo outstretched hand. "I told you I don't want to see these things lying around the house."

"Yes, you made that very clear when you destroyed the first picture. Now please give it back," demanded Bilbo.

Thorin waved the picture in front of Bilbo's face. "I warned you." Bilbo reached for the picture but Thorin put it out of his reach. "This is going where the previous one is and you know where it ended."

If looks could kill Thorin would drop dead on the spot by the look that Bilbo sent him. "You are a bully!" Bilbo yelled and pushed Thorin back as hard as he could, but Thorin was strong and Bilbo didn't manage to move him. "You are a bully," repeated Bilbo before he ran out of the living room, leaving Fíli, Kíli and Thorin alone.

"Was this really necessary?" asked Fíli. He was really angry at Thorin.

"I warned him about leaving his stuff around this house," answered Thorin plainly.

"And what is he supposed to do? Pretend that everything is normal?"

"I don't care what he does! Nobody asked me a thing, so I don't want to have anything with this!" Thorin glared at his brothers for a second before storming out of the room.

:::

In the next few days things didn't get better between Bilbo and Thorin. Bilbo was still upset because Thorin took the picture from him for the second time and Thorin was too stubborn to say anything to Bilbo. He and Dwalin observed the new group for days until Ori dragged Dwain with them leaving Thorin alone. He still had his company, but they didn't spend as much time with him as they used to and Thorin spent a lot of time alone. At the beginning he didn't mind some peace and quiet, but after a few days he started missing them. The worst part was that he blamed Bilbo for everything and he didn't make his life any easier. It was hard for Bilbo to swallow all the remarks Thorin threw at him so he did his best to avoid him, but this was rather hard because they were living in the same house.

Soon the day came when Bilbo found himself in the car with Thráin, driving to his parents to sign the contract. There was a knot inside his stomach. In the next few minutes his future and the future of his baby would be sealed. He wasn't enjoying this, but he didn't have much of a choice. He agreed to this and no matter how much he regretted agreeing there was nothing that would get him out of it.

The car stopped in front of his house. His parents were already waiting for him. It's been a few days since they last saw him. They missed him and they were worried about him. They were worried how he was treated and about his health. Bilbo still hasn't informed them of his last visit to the doctor and they were eager for some information.

"Hello sweetheart," greeted his mother and pulled him into a hug.

Bilbo allowed his mother to hug him tight. He missed her. "Hi mum."

Belladonna cupped his cheeks. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," answered Bilbo.

"Can we do this quickly? I don't have much time," said Thráin impatiently.

Bungo nodded and motioned him to come inside.

Once everyone was seated in the small kitchen Thráin pulled out some papers. "Here it is. Everything you and I agreed on," he said looking Bilbo in the eyes. "Your brother has a college fund. There is more than enough money to get him in every university he chooses." He pulled out a check and placed it in front of Bilbo. "Here is the money for everything else that your parents spent."

Bilbo eyed the check and the contract, but was too afraid to reach for it and read it. Why does it matter what it says, he knew how this is going to end.

"I think that concludes our deal," said Thráin and pushed the contract in front of Bilbo's parents when Bilbo didn't say a word for a couple of minutes. Thráin pulled out a pen and put it on the table.

Bungo and Belladonna looked at their son. Bilbo knew they were waiting his next move so he swallowed hard and nodded.

His mother let out a breath before reaching for the pen. She looked her son in the eyes one more time before signing and the passing the document to her husband. Bungo took the pen and sign the contract before pushing it back to Thráin.

"Excellent," smiled Thráin. "It was a pleasure doing business with you. I must go now; I have some things to do. Coming?" he asked Bilbo and stood up.

"If it's not a problem I want my son to stay with us for dinner. We haven't seen him in a few days and it would be nice to spend some time with him," said Bungo.

"He can stay," said Thráin. "Enjoy your evening," he added before he left.

The moment Bilbo heard the front door close he could hold back his tears and he started crying. Luckily his mother was there to calm him down. She rubbed his back until he calmed down.

"It's going to be okay, you'll see," she soothed. "We'll get through this and everything will go back to normal."

Bilbo couldn't answer so he only nodded.

"How are you feeling," his mother asked when his father returned to the kitchen.

"I'm fine. It's not ideal, but I will survive."

"Did you go to the doctor?"

Bilbo nodded. "I was there a few days ago. She's lovely. We talked about a few things, she said that everything is alright and that's it."

"Did that boy got tested?" asked Belladonna.

"Thorin?" Bilbo questioned. "He did. We are waiting for the results. The doctor will call me when she gets them."

His parents nodded in understanding. "How it is living with them?" asked his father.

"Nothing special, really. I have my own room and bathroom, it's quite big. They don't really care how much money they spend. The doctor said I should get a pregnancy pillow and the next day I got it."

"They should treat you like royalty," said Belladonna and Bilbo could sense anger in her tone.

Before Bilbo could say anything else there was a loud call from the living room. "Bilbo?!"

It was Frodo who called him and the boy had, in the matter of seconds, his arms wrapped around Bilbo's neck. "I missed you so much."

"How are you?" asked Bilbo.

"I'm fine. You?"

"I could be better."

"Did you bring me back the picture?" Bilbo didn't answer his question. "Why happened," demanded Frodo.

Bilbo took a breath. "There have been some complications so I can't give it back to you."

Bilbo could see the disappointment in Frodo's eyes. "It's okay, I understand. Why are you here? Are you staying for dinner?"

"He is," answered his mother and smiled. "You two can spend some time together while I finish cooking."

Frodo's eyes sparkled with excitement and before Bilbo could say something he found himself dragged up to his room.

"How is it living with the Thorin?" Frodo asked.

"Horrible," answered Bilbo and sat down on the bed. "He threw your picture away and also took the new one away from me."

"He is an ass."

"Language," warned Bilbo. "If dad would hear you he would get very angry."

"What do you want me to say? It's the truth." Frodo was quiet for a second, thinking. "You said you got another picture. Were you at the doctor?"

"Yes," smiled Bilbo.

"And?"

Bilbo stood up and lifted his shirt. "Take a look."

Frodo's eyes widened. "You are so big!" he exclaimed.

Before Bilbo could say something Frodo had his hands on his small belly. "I'm not that big," said Bilbo with a lot of fondness.

"I cannot believe you are really pregnant. Can you feel it move?"

"No, not yet, but the doctor said I should feel it soon."

"Did you show it to Thorin?"

"Why do you keep asking about him?" asked Bilbo a little annoyed.

"He is the baby's fa-"

"No!" interrupted Bilbo. "He doesn't want to do anything with this baby. The only thing he does is make my life miserable. He is… He is…" Bilbo didn't know how to describe him. "You were right. He's an ass."

"How big is their house?" Frodo asked once he stopped laughing.

"It's really big. They have everything you could possibly imagine."

"You live with the kings now," said Frodo.

"And yet I'm a prisoner in a golden cage," sighed Bilbo. "I would much rather live here. But not everything is that bad. Kíli and Fíli are very nice to me. Have mum and dad said anything about… you know, Thorin?"

Frodo eyed his brother. "They didn't, at least not while I was there. But I can tell that dad doesn't like it. He is angry that you are pregnant, but I dare to say that he is more angry about the fact that he has to deal with the Durin family. You know how he dislikes them."

Bilbo sighed. His dad was convinced that Durins were corrupted and now this deal they made only proved him right. Before he could say something else their mother called them to dinner.

Bilbo loved her cooking, and even the food at Durin's wasn't bad it couldn't compare to a meal prepared by his mother.

They finished dinner and then they spent some time together as a family. The time flew by and before he knew it the night fell and it was time for him to return. At the top of everything it started raining. His father once again offered to escort him back, but Bilbo refused. He had other plans how to get back to the mansion.

I need a ride. –BB

He waited a couple of minutes before the reply came.

Then find one. –T

I did. I'm at my parents. –BB

No reply came and Bilbo knew he was playing with fire. He had no idea if Thorin will come to pick him up or not. He really didn't feel like walking all the way back so he was hoping for the best.

After twenty minutes of waiting he gave up. Thorin obviously wasn't going to show up, so walking back in the rain was the only option. He made a few steps when Thorin's car stopped next to him. Bilbo smiled. Thorin actually came for him.

"I'm not your taxi driver," said Thorin the moment Bilbo got in the car.

Bilbo smiled. "I knew you will come for me."

Thorin rolled his eyes. "Please, you were ready to walk."

"No," corrected Bilbo, "I just wanted to come closer so that you wouldn't have to drive all the way." Thorin laughed. It was the first time that Bilbo heard Thorin laugh. "Wow," said Bilbo.

"What?"

"This is the first time I heard you laugh."

"I do laugh. Maybe you just weren't paying enough attention."

"I've been paying attention and let me tell you that you don't laugh often. Actually you don't laugh at all. Or smile," he added.

Thorin shook his head and smiled, but didn't say a word the rest of the ride back. Maybe Bilbo was right and he should smile more, but it was hard will everything that was on his mind. And yet, Bilbo managed to make him smile and for a moment Thorin could forget about the big bad world around him.

Author's notes:

I want some Thorin/Bilbo interaction... They need to start working on their relationship ASAP!