Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and all the situations said characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.

In The Past

After lunch Beorn headed out, intending to go drop his overnight bag at Gandalf's and get settled in there. He'd been working nonstop recently, and he hated traveling, so a nap had been in order, especially if he was going to be on guard duty. Not that Gandalf and Charles didn't have amazing security, they did, but Beorn was quick to point out that Bilbo's had been nothing to sneeze at either and Stoor had still gotten in. So off he went after they'd returned Frodo to daycare and Bilbo and Thorin headed back up to the top floor to work.

It was a little after three when Bilbo got a phone call from Strider, the inspector informing him that he had news for him regarding the case. And knowing what Thorin would say if he were left in the dark Bilbo asked him to hold for a minute while he went to Thorin's office so that they could both hear what he had to say together.

Thankfully Thorin wasn't busy when he arrived, not that Thorin didn't jump at any excuse to avoid paperwork, and so Bilbo quickly explained who was on the phone and then put it on speakerphone so that they could both hear what the man had to say.

Once they'd established that they already knew about what Gandalf had found out about the other gamers' rings Strider skipped over that to what they'd just recently learned. Namely the fact that while the majority of Stoor's online aliases had led them nowhere they had found one with a little bit of traction behind it so to speak, though that was through sheer dumb luck. Apparently one of the tech's Strider had put on the bastard's trailer recognized the user name as being one used by a hacker he'd help identify several years back. The man they'd known as Stoor hadn't been as skilled back in the day.

"Oh thank the Lord. Do you have his real name?"

"We have his real name." Strider's grin could be heard through the phone. "And with that info we're going to hunt him down like ravenous wolves. Sméagol Gollum is going to wish he was never born when I get ahold of him."

Unless he got him first was Thorin's opinion on the matter.

Shaking his head Bilbo didn't argue with that statement, he'd given up there. Instead he asked if Strider had learned anything about the killer's past that would explain why he was doing these horrible things.

"No, he had a total normal childhood and life according to the constable I reached out to. He wasn't a blip on anyone's radar until his cousin's murder."

"He killed his own cousin?" Bilbo was horrified. "The one whose ring he wears?"

"Possibly. Gollum was never charged with the murder because by the time the body was retrieved from the river the remains were too compromised to give them much to go on. He was the last person seen with the victim though, and according to the man's family after his cousin went missing Gollum slowly went off the deep end and only seemed to care about his computers and a ring that he never took off and called 'His Precious' which meshes with your previous statement. His family hasn't had contact with him in close to ten years, and he dropped off the map so to speak about the same time. We're working to figure out what name he's living under now and where he might be hiding. Now that we know where he started we can use that to lead us to him."

"If there's any way I or my people can help, you have only to ask."

"We're aware of that Mr. Durin, believe me. The fact that you're now involved peripherally has opened a number of doors and resources to me. My superiors don't want someone of your power and influence coming down on them."

"Good."

Having conveyed the main reason for the phone call the rest of their discussion was just a reiteration of what Bilbo and Thorin needed to do and be aware of to make sure that nothing happened to either of them. It was only a matter of time before they caught this guy, and damn if they'd lose someone else to this bastard before that happened.

Both promising to be on their guard at all times, Thorin adding a few creative mutters about what he wanted to do with the bastard if he did try something, the conversation ended with Strider reminding Thorin yet again that it wasn't a good idea to talk like that in the hearing range of a law enforcer.

"He has a good point." Bilbo pointed out after they'd said their goodbyes and he'd turned off his cellphone. "I don't want you going to jail for this. All your money will only protect you so much, you know."

"If Stoor-Gollum can get away with murder I sure as hell can. Especially since I have the training for it." Thorin's eyes were cool as they latched onto Bilbo's. "Does that scare you?"

"No." Wrapping his arms around Thorin's waist Bilbo leaned against the man's solid form, smiling when Thorin's arms came up to hold him back. And wanting Thorin to smile too Bilbo added that he was just glad that Thorin was on his side.

"Always."

)

Though originally it had been a great source of terror for him, I mean who wouldn't be scared shiteless at the idea of giving a baby a bath, Thorin could now say that supervising his son's bath time was one of his favorite things to do. Frodo loved the water, and the fact that Thorin's tub was admittedly huge delighted the boy who saw it as a small pool for him to swim around in. Add in the bubbles and bath toys for him to play with, and Frodo was the happiest preschooler in the world at bath time. And so long as Frodo was happy all was right with Thorin's world.

"Papa, look at my hair!"

Glancing up from the magazine article about his company he was reading Thorin smirked at the sight of his son's interesting hairdo. Ordinarily Frodo's curls were too stubborn to be remotely styled, but with the shampoo it was currently sticking out in all directions like he was a very asymmetrical hedgehog.

"Well don't you look quite handsome. You ready to rinse that out yet?"

Frodo paused to consider, the boy studying his fingers for a moment before declaring that he wasn't pruney enough yet.

Laughing in acknowledgement Thorin inclined his head. "Five more minutes then. It's going to be past your bedtime soon. You don't want Daddy mad at me, do you?"

"No." Frodo shook his head solemnly. "Papa?"

"Yes?"

"Can Papa and I stay here with you forever? Like a real family? Please."

Heart breaking, as it always did when Frodo asked him for something he couldn't give, Thorin had to swallow hard as he reached over to smooth back Frodo's soapy hair. "I wish that that were possible, Frodo, I really do. But unfortunately life doesn't often, doesn't usually go the way we expect it to. And your Daddy and I…"

"Maybe if you gave him a ring, you gots lots of rings."

Grimacing a little, rings were not his favorite subject at the moment, Thorin shook his head. "Your Daddy doesn't want a ring from me." He was pretty sure Bilbo was as anti ring at the moment as he was.

"But…" Frodo's brows scrunched together to try and find the words. "I love you and Daddy, and you love Daddy and me, and Daddy loves you and me…so why can't we be a family together?"

"Your Daddy doesn't-" No, he couldn't put it all on Bilbo's shoulders, that was not only unfair but would come back to bite him in the arse in ways he couldn't begin to imagine. "We are a family, Frodo. You make your Daddy and I family. You know that your Daddy and I love you more than anything, right?"

"Of course."

Able to smile a little now, Thorin quickly grinned full out at the pompousness of that statement. Yeah, his son knew how important he was to them. And really, he should have seen Frodo's question coming. Frodo had never before spent so much time in their joint company, they tended to never spend more than a few hours together and that was pretty much always with people around to act as buffers. Just the three of them living here together, what child wouldn't get confused.

"Don't be sad, Papa."

"I'm not sad. How could I be when I've got you? Now let's get that shampoo out of your hair before it gets into your eyes, okay?"

Nodding, Frodo let Thorin wash his hair for him and then held out his arms to let his papa lift him out of the tub since it was too deep for him to climb out on his own. Taking the towel his papa gave him Frodo dried off his body while his papa dealt with drying his hair since he never did that good enough and he didn't like hair dryers unless he was playing with it.

When Frodo was dry enough Thorin retrieved the boy's pyjamas and handed them over, smiling over the glow in the dark stars all over the pyjamas which had been their major selling point in Frodo's eyes.

Picking Frodo up when the boy was dressed Thorin cuddled his son against his chest, needing the contact as he breathed in the various scents that he associated with his son. Comforted by them Thorin left the mess in the bathroom to clean up later and carried Frodo out of the room to his son's bedroom, the covers already turned down by Bilbo and ready for Frodo to get settled in.

"Story?"

"Of course." While Frodo got settled under his bedding Thorin went over to the shelf that held his son's books, retrieving the one Frodo requested before heading back to take a seat on the side of the bed. Then it was story time, distracting them both with Frodo thankfully unconscious by the time Thorin was three fourths through.

Once he was sure that Frodo was out for the count Thorin got up, put the book aside, and then placing a kiss on his son's forehead headed out, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar in case Frodo needed them in the night.

Heading back to the bathroom Thorin started cleaning up the mess Frodo had made, his thoughts going back to the earlier conversation and the look in his son's eyes when Frodo had asked him if they couldn't be a real family. Talk about excruciating. And what was even worse was the fact that as much as his son wanted them to be a real family…he wanted it just as badly. There were very few things in the world he wanted more. And he was not a man who could admit defeat ever, much less easily which he had to accept when it came to-

"Do you need some help?"

Shifting out of his crouched position Thorin shook his head, eyes taking in the fact that while Bilbo was wearing his own pyjama bottoms, but the too big shirt was his. It was another reminder of before, because back in the day Bilbo had constantly stolen his shirts to wear to bed until he removed them to get the man naked.

Moving in closer Bilbo's eyes were inquiring, the hand he set on Thorin's shoulder careful. "Are you alright?"

"Just a lot on my mind."

Nodding in understanding Bilbo gave Thorin's arm a squeeze before letting go. "Well if you don't want help I'm going to head to bed."

Before he could stop himself Thorin reached out and stroked a hand over Bilbo's curls as he stated that he'd join him shortly, making it clear that he wanted Bilbo in his bed even if it was just to sleep together. And he could see that realization and knowledge come into Bilbo's eyes, Thorin watching as they widened slightly while focusing on him, trying to figure him out. What he was showing on his face, Thorin had no idea. All he knew was that he'd just pushed for something more than just the benefits of really good sex and the ball was now in Bilbo's court.

The wait seemed endless to Thorin, but then Bilbo was nodding his head and saying that he'd be waiting.

Stunned Thorin could only stand there as he watched Bilbo's lips curve into a hesitant smile and then he was turning around and heading back out, Thorin remaining silent as his own lips curved into a wide smile of his own.

Actually…to hell with cleaning up and sleeping. This called for some celebrating.

)

Sprawled out and working hard to try and get some control over his breathing, which was rather beyond him at the moment given the workout his body had just been given, Bilbo had to smile regardless of the state he was in. If he were being egotistical he'd let himself think that Thorin had been so insistent about them sleeping together because having Beorn around had made him overly possessive and jealous, but even though that was probably pure rubbish Bilbo was just pleased he'd been plundered like sex was about to be outlawed in England . Aka he was quite happy to be in Thorin's bed to say the least.

Amusing himself by imagining what his countrymen' reactions would be if some idiot prime minister tried to outlaw shagging, Bilbo chuckled and then turned his head to grin at Thorin when the other man asked him what was so funny.

"Just silly thoughts."

"Obviously." Thorin's tone was indulgent, the way his eyes glided over Bilbo's naked flesh making it abundantly clear that he was hoping for another go before they turned in for the night.

Liking that idea quite a bit Bilbo deliberately stretched a little under Thorin's gaze, though it was only halfhearted since he still hadn't recovered yet from the first tumbling. But if Thorin wanted to do all the work then who was he to argue?

"You and Beorn still seem pretty close. Why did you break up in the first place?"

Surprised at the question, one didn't normally talk about ex boyfriends in a positive light right after shagging with someone else, or at least not if they had any plans to continue shagging said person which he did. That being the case Bilbo made the logical leap and figured that Thorin had been wanting to ask for a while but hadn't wanted to come off as jealous or possessive when they weren't even technically in a relationship at the moment. And since Thorin was not a patient man by any stretch of the word Bilbo supposed he shouldn't be surprised that the idiot had just blurted it out now, unable to wait any longer.

"We were friends before we were lovers, and in the end we figured out that we were better friends. He is a lovely bloke, but not my type, romantically, in the long run."

"Makes sense. He didn't strike me as your type."

"Thorin…to my knowledge he's the only boyfriend of mine you've ever met. And given that you're both sexy, well built, intelligent men with dark hair and strong personalities…of course you and I didn't make it either…"

Choosing to focus on the first part rather than the last part, especially since it obviously made Bilbo just as unhappy to think about, Thorin stroked a hand up and then down Bilbo's sweaty side. "Sexy, hmm?"

"Very sexy." Agreeing with that one hundred percent Bilbo moved in close for a slow, drawn out kiss that turned into several minutes of simple snogging, both enjoying the familiarity and pleasure of each other's warmth and touch before Bilbo broke off the kissing to snuggle up against Thorin's chest, listening to the other man's heart beat as Thorin's fingers played with his curls.

Thinking that that might not have been the only question Thorin was holding in Bilbo asked if he wanted to know anything else, genuinely curious, as always, as to what went on in the other man's head.

Silence, and then…

"Why did you take that disc from your bedroom? I saw you pick it up and put it in your jacket before, when the police let you into the room." Feeling Bilbo tense up against him, Thorin mentally cursed his delivery. He hadn't meant to blurt it out like that, dammit. "You don't have to say if you don't want to. I was just curious as to why it was so special."

Slowly Bilbo relaxed a little, though the hint of worry in his voice as he asked if Thorin had gotten ahold of it and listened to it made his trepidation clear.

"Not without your permission, no."

"Thank you. And it's nothing important, really. Just a recording of something…personal."

It was the way Bilbo said the last word that had the light going on in Thorin's head. Because he remembered, very well now, that on a couple of occasions Bilbo's habit of recording their joint brainstorming sessions had resulted in there being more than just business notes being recorded. In one case they'd been interrupted, the other time they'd remembered to turn the recorder off after they'd decided they were due for a break, but since they'd still been together according to the date on the disc….

"Bilbo…is that disc an audio recording of us shagging?"

A very long, very telling silence.

Chest shaking as he laughed in sexy delight, Thorin knew in his gut that he'd hit the nail on the head and was absolutely thrilled by that fact. And more, Thorin realized as delight faded into a glowing warmth in his chest, to know that even after all these years, after all they'd said and done to the other Bilbo had kept the recording, and on top of that the fact that even if they'd still been together it was a very un-Bilbo like thing to do…

It must matter to him a lot, for Bilbo to have kept it all this time.

"You'll have to let me listen sometime."

"Or just relive it." Bilbo pointed out, lightly pushing Thorin onto his back and then climbing on top of him with the blatant intention to distract him using sex.

Making a sound of agreement Thorin was still grinning as Bilbo leaned down to seal their lips together again, more than happy to use the knowledge he'd gain in their past together to give Bilbo pleasure here and now in their present.

And this present, Thorin thought with a well pleased groan, was one hell of a gift.