FRIDAY: END OF WEEK ONE
"Well, Kili, you have just completed your first week of radiation. How do you plan to celebrate?"
In the past week, Kili has lost ten pounds, and the ability to stand on his own two feet is an ever-growing struggle. His small, athletic frame, is half of what it was. His head is swollen from the treatments. But, after his short argument with Thorin Tuesday evening, he had changed his attitude. He actually tried to not be negative now. And, honestly, he is doing a better job at it than the rest of us are. Aside from Doctor Baggins that is. I truly believe that man never runs out of hope.
Kili attempts to smile through the swollenness of his face. "Well, Bilbo, I think a two-day long nap and a big ice cream sundae sound like a good way to celebrate. Fili offered to buy and everything!"
"Excuse me?" I ask incredulously. Everybody knows I am only joking. Right now, I would do anything to make my brother happy. And if buying him an ice cream sundae will make him happy, then that is what I'll get him.
"Well, if Fili is buying, you can count me in, too!" Bilbo laughs. My brother and I join in.
"You are more than welcome to come with us," I say sincerely. This man has done more for us in the past month than many have done in a lifetime. He isn't just a man who gives Kili some medication and keeps track of his health. He has become a friend.
"As appealing as that sounds, I must decline. Duty calls." Bilbo says with a smile.
"Maybe some other time then," Kili adds.
"Yes, maybe some other time. Well, off with you two then. I'm sure you want to get out of here as soon as possible." Bilbo pats Kili on the arm. "Have a good weekend. See you Monday!"
"So, about that ice cream sundae…" I begin once Kili and I get in the car.
Kili's eyes widen. "What about it?" The eagerness in his voice is like music to my ears. He hasn't sounded this genuinely exited in weeks.
"I was thinking a special trip to Bombur's would be nice." I say, looking him in the eye.
Kili's eyes brighten and then almost instantly dim. "Is that safe? You know, random people and germs and all that stuff."
"I asked Bilbo about it. He says as long as you keep your nose and mouth covered, and don't really touch anything that could have been handled by other people without proper sanitization, you should be ok."
In truth, I had talked to him yesterday morning during Kili's treatment. The doctor had encouraged me to go through with my plan, and his final word was all I had needed to do so. Kili didn't know what was coming.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go!" Kili excitedly hits the dashboard.
My brother's happiness makes me smile. After he and Thorin discussed everything after their argument, something had changed. Kili suddenly had a willingness to fight and wasn't so negative anymore. Yes, he still has his moments. In fact, last night he had gotten angry because he had fallen in the hallway upstairs. But, after a few hours, he got over it. The old Kili is seeping through. None of us know how long it will last, but we are all embracing it with open arms while it's still here.
"Uh, Fee?" I turn to look at my brother. He doesn't look like he's going to be sick, so I wonder why he sounds so hesitant.
"What?"
"Why are we using the back entrance? They can't seat us from back here."
Crap. I hadn't thought of that. "Bombur won't mind. Just pick a table, and I'll make sure he knows we're here." I am not cut-out for spur of the moment plans.
"Whatever you say…" Kili brings his scarf back up to cover his mouth and nose and follows me inside.
I lead the way around the corner towards one of the back rooms. "Here, let's try this one. It's hidden from the rest of the restaurant, should be safer."
"Are you sure abou—" Kili stops talking as soon as I open the door to the room.
"SURPRISE!"
Three decorated tables sit around the room. At these three tables, stand eleven of our closest friends and family members. Thorin stands behind the table in the middle, decorated with three place-settings. In front of the middle chair of that table, sets a cake with a large number 1 candle and in blue cursive handwriting are the words, Congratulations, Kili! Balloons are scattered about the room and streamers hang from the tables.
I turn to look at my brother. The look on his face is something I will always remember. His deep brown eyes are open wide and full of light. The overflowing tears only enhance that light. Because, for the first time in a long time, Kili's tears are happy tears. His mouth hangs open, nearly falling to the floor. I watch as his eyes move around the room, drinking it all in: the friendship, the joy, the love. Finally, he turns to me. His mouth keeps opening and shutting, words failing to come from his mouth.
"Kili speechless! My beard! There's a first time for everything!" Bofur says rather loudly, getting a roar of laughter from the room.
Kili doesn't seem to hear him though. He remains looking into my eyes, tongue completely useless.
I reach out and bring him into a bear hug. "Congrats, Little Bro." My voice catches at the end of that small sentence and the tears escape my eyes.
"I love you, brother." Kili says, tightening his grip on me. I can feel his tears soaking through my sweater.
"I love you, too." I say into the mop of curls on his head. I relinquish my hold on him and he does the same.
We walk to the table where our uncle stands. Before Thorin knows what's happening, Kili throws his arms around him and seems to knock the breath out of him for a few seconds. Thorin laughs and wraps his strong arms around Kili, holding him close.
"Congrats, Kee." I hear him say. Kili says something else, but it's muffled considering his face is buried in Thorin's shoulder.
But then I figure it out, because Thorin whispers the three words Kili needs the most:
"I love you too, Kili."
A single tear make its way down my uncle's face. He places a kiss on the top of Kili's head and pushes him away.
"How about some cake?" he asks.
Kili nods his head. Thorin lights the candle, which I explain represents Kili's first completed week of radiation. The group bursts into the worst, most off-key version of "Happy Birthday" that I have ever heard and at the end, Kili closes his eyes making a wish and blows out the candle.
"All right. Who wants cake?" Kili asks, getting a greeting of various agreements. He grabs the knife and begins cutting pieces. Thorin and I serve out the plates of cake and the group settles into their own conversations. Once everybody is served, the three of us sit down and enjoy our cake together. Kili happily sits between Thorin and me, chattering away with the people around us. He may not be able to be within physical distance, but his ever loud voice is making its way back tonight. Almost as if it were never gone. I smile though. The normal Kili is making an appearance tonight and it is wonderful.
A while later, Kili abruptly stands and raises a hand in the air. "Drinks all around! Fili's buying!"
"I don't think so!" I yell just as loudly, reaching up and pulling Kili back down into his seat.
This causes a chorus of cheers and then "Aww c'mon Fili!" I try to frown, but Kili's incessant laughter makes it impossible.
"Fili, lad! Come here!"
Bombur is walking through the door, hands and face disguised with gloves and a mask. In his hands lays a large ice cream sundae. I walk over to Bombur and grab the sundae from his hands.
Kili's eyes are huge as I sit the sundae in front of him. "How am I supposed to eat all of this? I said 'big' not huge."
"I believe I can help with that," I say, dipping my finger into the whipped cream sculpted on top.
"Or not," Kili says, batting my hand away when I try to scoop some more. I watch in amazement as Kili eats nearly half of the masterpiece before him before stopping and regretfully offering me the rest. I decline.
The party continues until Kili just can't take it anymore. His eyes are drooping shut and his head keeps falling onto his chest. He refuses to acknowledge this though, so the group slowly says their goodbyes, knowing that Kili needs to get home. When only Bombur and his brother, Bifur, remain, the three of us say our goodbyes and leave. Kili thanks Bombur for the food and room for probably the fiftieth time and we leave. As soon as Kili fastens his seatbelt, he closes his eyes and sleeps.
"Hey, Kee. Wake up. We're home." I reach over and hit Kili's leg from where he sits in the passenger seat.
Kili jerks awake and looks around getting his bearings. Thorin pulls into the garage beside us.
"What time is it?" Kili asks, stretching as he stands up.
"3:15." I answer, closing my door and locking the car.
Thorin walks ahead and unlocks the house. I follow Kili upstairs. We part ways when he says he's going to take a nap.
I fall onto my bed, lying flat on my back. I close my eyes and smile thinking on the events of today. I had never expected for things to run so smoothly, but I was forever grateful that they did. Kili needed this little celebration more than he thought. We all did. I also felt a burst of pride for sincerely surprising my brother. Who's subtle as an oliphaunt now?
I take a deep breath and call Éowyn. Her cheerful voice greets me and I immediately tell her about how well the party had gone. I had called her last night and told her about everything. She wished more than anything that she could have been there with us, but of course at such a short notice, there was no way that she could have made it.
"Is Kili there with you?"
"No. He's sleeping right now."
"Ok then. Do you think he would care if I called him later? I want to tell him how proud I am."
I smile. It amazed me how someone you've met only once can become one of the most important people in your life. "Of course not. I think he would like that very much. It'll give him something else to tease me about."
Éowyn's laughter is beautiful. "I bet you'll enjoy that very much."
We continue to talk a while. I ask her about school and how her family is doing. She tells me about her classes and that her family is doing well. She also mentions that she will be coming to Erebor in a few weeks for Thanksgiving break.
"I can't wait to see you." I breathe, closing my eyes. The moment she walked away in the park, a part of my heart had left with her. I hadn't realized just how big that part was until now. After every phone call or text, I can feel it grow, ever so slowly.
"I'm counting the days. Nineteen to be exact."
"I'll be counting, too." If Kili could hear me now, he would be laughing hysterically. I almost laugh at myself. We say our goodbyes and hang up.
"Nineteen days," I say to myself. "Nineteen long days."
Kili skipped dinner tonight. But, with all he ate at the party, none of us were too surprised. My brother and I now sit in the living room together, watching a movie. Kili's arm is wrapped around his stomach, which is definitely rolling. His appetite had really amazed me today, but now I know he is feeling the after effects and I can't help but feel a little guilty for his discomfort.
Kili sits in misery for another five minutes and then abruptly stands and moves quickly down the hall. I try to keep it in, but a small chuckle leaves my throat. He returns a few minutes later, and sinks into the recliner once again.
"You ok?" I ask, chuckling at Kili's face.
"Well, it was definitely better the first time," he complains.
I can't seem to stop giggling, and Kili is getting frustrated.
"Bug off!" Kili yells.
A pillow whacks me in the side of the head from where I sit on the couch. I am momentarily stunned, but once I snap out of my daze, I throw the pillow across the room. My aim works perfectly and hits Kili right on the side of his head. The look of surprise on his face is priceless. But then a familiar mischievous gleam enters his eyes.
"Kee? Whatever it is you're thinking, don't."
My threat goes unnoticed as the air is suddenly knocked out of me as 130 pounds of Kili lands on my chest. And then I receive a beating from the throw pillow in his hands. I struggle to move my hands to cover my face and finally succeed.
"Give it a break, Kee! I can't breathe!"
The beating stops instantly and Kili apologizes.
Then I quickly reach behind me and grab a pillow bringing it around and hitting Kili square in the chest.
"Now that we're even, it's war."
Kili stands up and I instantly begin to hit his weakened body with the pillow. He puts up a fight though, getting a few hits. One particular hit goes directly to my right eye and I am temporarily blinded. But, Kili's body is tiring quickly and his movements are getting sluggish. I toss my pillow aside and easily overcome him. I drag him down to the floor and onto his stomach. I grab his arms behind his back, but I don't pull hard, for fear of hurting him.
"All right. Say it!"
"Never," Kili grounds out.
I tug his arms the slightest, but it's enough.
"All right! You win!"
With a smug smile, I let Kili's arms go and sit on the carpet beside him. He pushes himself over onto his back, trying to catch his breath.
"What's going on in here?" Thorin demands from the doorway.
Kili immediately sits up, a little too quickly according to the grimace on his face. We both turn our heads to where our uncle is standing.
"Oh, nothing…" I push out.
"Yeah," my brother says from beside me. "Nothing."
Thorin looks at us both with his penetrating gaze. Not quite buying it, but going along with it anyway.
"Thought I heard something, but I guess it was nothing."
"Another sign of aging…" Kili mumbles under his breath. I fight back a snicker at his comment.
Thorin looks as if he is going to say something else, but just rolls his eyes and walks away.
I turn back to my brother. Kili seems to have gotten his breath back.
"He's going to kill us both one day," I say.
Kili, for whatever reason, finds this hilarious and bursts into a fit of laughter. I don't know why, but I join in a moment later. Kili's laughter will always be a contagious disease.