The kiss started out as a soft brush, one that had Bilbo surging forward as he closed his eyes and felt the world falling away. All he felt was Thorin, all he knew in that moment was Thorin. His hands on Bilbo's arms but slowly moving to his back. Thorin moved down, deepening the kiss, while Bilbo moved up, onto his toes. Thorin's arms encased him, pulling him closer. Everywhere they touched, Thorin's arms around him, Bilbo's hand gently settled between them on Thorin's chest. He could feel Thorin's heart beating, his own in time with it. He knew, clear and always, that this was what was right.

He wouldn't have called it a whine, the small noise he made when Thorin broke the kiss and his eyes fluttered open, but Thorin's arching brow told him that the dwarf obviously qualified it as one. The smile Thorin also wore was enough to tell Bilbo that he didn't mind. Thorin shifted first, not moving away but reaching up and caressing Bilbo's cheek. He couldn't help but lean into the touch. Thorin's hand was rough and calloused, but it was him. It held his past and told his story. Bilbo closed his eyes yet again and put his own hand over Thorin's.

"Bilbo." Thorin's voice comfortably rumbled through him, and he opened his eyes once again, meeting Thorin's. Thorin's pupils were wide. He looked fierce, like an animal that would attack. Bilbo decided that he wouldn't really mind if this animal did.

"What?"

Thorin stayed silent for a moment, keeping his eyes fixed on Bilbo's, as if trying to read him, before stepping back, a force that seemed to cause all the warmth and comfort in Bilbo's body to rush away with him, and retreating back to the door, opening it.

"Nothing..." He'd cast his eyes away, looking to the floor as if he were ashamed and exited, closing the door behind him.

Bilbo stood for a moment, looking in confusion to where Thorin once stood. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Where his heart soared during their kiss, it now sank. He couldn't help but wonder, what were they now? They'd barely been friends. Bilbo used to be so sure that Thorin hated him.

Next thing he'd hear was that Frodo wasn't really his cousin.

It wasn't the greatest decision, Thorin concurred, to leave so quickly after their kiss, but the dwarf was sure that anything could happen now. He'd accepted it, what he was feeling since first looking at the halfling. That feeling that Dwalin, of all the Company members, had picked up on.

And now Thorin needed advice. As he hurried down to the -gratefully open- bar and pulled the warrior aside, gesturing for a drink for the both of them. Dwalin raised a brow, watching him curiously, as Thorin distanced him from the Company, after they'd both gotten their tankards of ale, of course.

"I don't know what to do." Thorin admitted, which made Dwalin's raised brow seem to raise more.

"What'd ya do?"

Thorin glared at him for a moment. "I'm not my nephews, Dwalin." He said. "And I'm sure I don't have to threaten anything of you to not say anything." Dwalin smirked and leaned against the wall.

"Y'know. Last time you did this, Thorin, we were in our sixties, and you thought you'd found your Sanzueh. If this is anything like-"

"And if I'm sure about it? Dwalin. I'm sure of it. I found him. I've kissed him. I... Damn it, I was confused, and I'm sure he's confused and-"

Dwalin held up a hand. "Who do you think it is now?" He asked and Thorin took a breath.

"... Bilbo." He muttered, and the warrior threw back his head and laughed, clapping Thorin on his shoulder.

"What did I tell you? Back in Rivendell. What did I tell you?" Dwalin said between laughs. "Called it. Even back then when you acted like you hated the little guy!" Thorin glared at him. "He's a lucky hobbit, he is. What did you do?"

Thorin sighed. "I left him in my room." He said, and Dwalin rolled his eyes and turned away.

"I'll go see if he's still there because you two need to actually talk." He then walked away and continued up the stairs.

Thorin took a long swig of his drink. He agreed. He'd been stupid, and if Bilbo did ever forgive him, he wouldn't deserve it.

Frodo had a mission. Frodo, actually, had a lot of missions, most of which would have to wait for some time to complete, but this one current mission was necessary. He had to make sure Bard the Bowman would be ready for Smaug. While he didn't want all the innocent people to die, they had no way of defeating Smaug otherwise.

He passed again through the streets of Laketown, looking down each path and alleyway with purpose. It didn't take very long before he paused to ask a woman who was outside where Bard lived. She looked at him skeptically for a moment before pointing him the right way. It only took a few more minutes to reach Bard's house, and he knocked.

"Hey!" He heard from behind him, and he glanced back. Upon seeing who it was, Frodo grinned and waved Bilbo over. "What are you doing?"

"I need to speak with the man who lives here." He answered, giving a brief smile before turning back to the door. It was then that it was opened by a young girl. Frodo smiled and folded his arms behind him.

"Hello." He began. "Is... um... Is your father here?" The girl looked between them.

"Are you Bain's friends?" She asked. Frodo and Bilbo exchanged glances.

"No. I just need to talk to your father." Frodo said, and the girl looked behind her.

"He's asleep," she said then, rather quickly, "sorry."

He nodded. "Alright then. Thank you. When he wakes up, could you tell him that someone's looking for him?" He asked, and the girl nodded. "Thank you again..." Frodo began to turn before he stopped himself. "What day is it?"

"September 22nd."

He smiled and nodded again. "Thank you yet again." He turned then and went down the stairs, with Bilbo following, and headed back to the large house in the center. Part way through their walk, Frodo glanced over to his uncle.

"I know no one else is going to say this, so... Happy birthday, Bilbo."

Bilbo beamed and looked at Frodo. "Fifty one. I'm sure the Sackville-Bagginses are particularly seething at the lack of presents from me." Frodo laughed.

"It must be horrible," he said, "actually being related to them." Bilbo shrugged.

"Otho isn't that bad when Lobelia isn't around. Good fun to fish with. Lobelia, though. I'm sure you've met Lobelia." He said, and Frodo nodded.

"Yes. I've met her. My uncle can't seem to shake her." He laughed, and Bilbo joined in.

"Your uncle and I have found ourselves in similar situations." He said. Frodo nodded.

More than you know. "From what I've heard, you've got it worse. What, with her wanting your smial and all that."

Bilbo sighed and shook his head. "Yes, well. I don't blame her for that. It is a beautiful smial."