Author's note: Guys… I'm starting to feel separation anxiety...I don't wanna let go of my Kili and Tauriel yet. :( I hope this all wasn't rushed, but I feel like I wanted to show that sometimes big bad villains (like Agandaur) are not as hard to beat as you would think...any way… I'm going to put up a poll on my page asking about a sequel. Make sure you go and answer it!

Kili felt a weight lift from his chest as he gazed upon the Lonely Mountain. Now that Smaug had been slain, Bard had returned to Dale in attempts to restore it. It was coming along slowly, but during the time that Kili had been away they had started to restore it, and it was beginning to look like it's older self.

"Ah, it's good to look upon my home once more!" Kili exclaimed, pulling Tauriel down so that he could kiss her in his excitement. It got a laugh from her, and it only made his mood improve with the sound.

"Is this where you want to stay?" With Tauriel's words Kili's mood sobered, and he looked up into her eyes, searching for her reaction and feelings. Laurien's words had weighed heavy on his mind for the time they had been traveling back to Erebor, and he hadn't quite come up with the words yet to talk with her about his thoughts. It was a rarity for humans to travel with the elves into the West, but a dwarf? Unheard of.

"I have to talk to you about that, but later," Kili told her, pressing his lips to her knuckles as he pressed towards the mountain. It was a chilly day, and the wind ripped across the land, nearly carrying Kili's cloak with it. He pulled it more tightly around himself, trying to ignore the chills that rolled down his spine, and made sure to keep one hand on the strap of his back and encircled around Tauriel's.

"Send word to the King! His brother has arrived!" The guards of the front gate passed the word as Kili and Tauriel, and a dwarf scurried inside. The looks of disgust were all but present, but Kili ignored them as he pushed past them inside. Breathing in the rich air of the halls filled him with joy, and he looked upon the halls for the first time in his life.

They were so much more extravagant than his imagination could have possible drawn for him. He got a little teary-eyed gazing at the architecture. There were several dwarves bustling about, dressed in much finer clothing than they had been when they had been living in the Blue Mountains.

"Kili, my lad!" Balin clapped Kili on both shoulders, eyes twinkling merrily. "Your brother is living up to his expectation and more. Come, my boy, he is waiting for you." Tauriel didn't follow when they started to walk, and before Kili could turn around and assure her that she could follow them, Balin stuck his hand up and waved at her. "You, too, Lassie!"

Kili felt the relief seep through his entire being when Balin showed kindness towards Tauriel. While she stayed professional, and Kili longed to feel her fingers intertwined with his own, he knew that could just cause problems.

Several voices filled the air, their excitement for the youngest dwarvish prince returning to Erebor was clear. They didn't even hardly notice that there was an elf amongst their ranks, and many came up just to pat Kili on the shoulder or give him a hug. It was quite some time before they arrived at the throne room.

As they crossed the bridge, approaching the throne that Fili currently sat upon, Kili could do nothing but stare. His brother's fair head was encircled with the crown his grandfather and great uncle had worn, and it sat there comfortably. Above his head was an empty hole. If Kili were to guess, that's where the Arkenstone had sat before it had been buried with Thorin's body.

Balin halted in front of the stairs that led up to the throne, where Fili sat. Their mother, Dis, sat to the right, and she eyed them with relief and curiosity. Before anyone could speak, Balin bowed, excusing himself, before leaving the four of them alone, minus the guards.

"If I may, I wish to speak with Tauriel." Dis eyed Kili significantly, and Kili nodded, making sure not to betray any emotion. He knew his mother wished to know the fate of his father, and he had not yet forgave her for keeping him in the dark. She disappeared back through the door they had come through with Tauriel, who was already speaking to Dis in a hushed voice. As soon as the door closed behind them, Fili stood.

Kili had always been the stubborn one. He would not instigate this forgiveness, so he stayed where he stood, waiting for his brother to approach him. It was some time before any movement was seen, and then Fili was walking up to his brother and pulling him into his arms for embrace. A wide smile cracked across both brothers lips, and they hugged each other for a long time after.

"I'm sorry, brother. I was being foolish," Fili murmured after pulling away to stare at Kili. "I was blinded by a grudge that should have been cut long ago. We saw first hand that not all elves are bad when we first stopped in Rivendell. Just because Tauriel hails under Thranduil doesn't mean she should be treated poorly."

Kili nodded, satisfied with his brother's apology. "She has saved my life more times than I can count, Fili. You would like her if you just got the time to know her. I also should not have left without making sure things were good between us. It was a hard time, being away while we were angry with each other." Kili's face was solemn when he spoke. His words rang true. He had never been away from his brother for an extended period of time, much less when they were angry with each other.

But Fili shook his head, wrapping his brother up in a head lock. "No worries, little brother. It is over and done with. You and Tauriel are welcome to live here if that is your desire."

Kili's heart sank. "Actually…" He felt Fili's grip lessen, and then he was staring at his brother again, only this time Fili's expression showed curiosity and slight fear.

"Brother?"

Kili sighed, his eyes darting as he tried to think of what to say. "I want to stay here. I want to live in the home of which stories we grew up with. But Fili, I love Tauriel. I want to be with her as long as I live. I do not think the dwarves will accept her, as the elves won't accept me. That leaves us with no home to call our own. It is my wish to sail west."

The room was silent, save for their breathing.

"Is that really what you wish?" It was Tauriel's voice that spoke, not Fili's, and Kili turned around to stare at Tauriel, who still had her hand pressed against the door that led out of the throne room. Dis stood just inside, her eyes mournful and tear stricken as she must have learned of Ris's death.

Kili swallowed a lump in his throat, but he nodded his head, lifting his chin in determination. "It is."

"But you've only just returned. I don't understand." Fili's voice held a hint of panic, and Kili closed his eyes. He did not wish to cause his brother pain, nor did he expect him to understand.

"You won't understand until you've found a filly of your own. Even then, she will be a dwarf, one that will be greatly loved by your people. You may never understand, brother. But I will always love you. You're going to be a great king." He pressed his lips to his brother's brow in an act of sibling love, and then he turned to his mother, who pulled him into a hug.

"I wish for you to destroy that ring," she whispered into his ears, her wet cheeks brushing against his own. "But I am done telling you how to live your life. You have grown much since you embarked on the journey to reclaim this land. Whatever you decide, I will love you no less." He kissed his mother twice on the cheek, a couple of tears escaping his lips. He didn't really want to leave his friends and family, but he felt like he wouldn't be truly happy here. Not until Middle Earth was free of its hatred for each other.

"Come. Let us go eat and be merry for a little while." Fili broke the gloom haze that surrounded them, and Tauriel stared at Kili, her expression unreadable. Kili lowered his gaze and followed his mother and brother towards the dining halls.

Kili stumbled slightly, his head buzzing with the ale he had consumed. He was still level head enough to have a decent conversation, but walking? Not so much. There was a time or two when he threatened to tip over the side of one of the bridges, but Tauriel was always there to keep him upright.

They finally got to the room that was being provided to them, the room that would be his should be decide to stay there. All the wood was hand carved, including the bed and desk that sat next to a giant iron fireplace. Tauriel made sure that he could get in bed before starting the fire.

The room slowly lit up in a soft glow as it warmed up from the fire, and Kili beckoned for Tauriel to join him. His lips instantly sought hers, and he folded her against him, a content sigh escaping his lips.

"Do you truly wish to leave Middle Earth?" Tauriel whispered suddenly. The way she voiced her words suggested the thought had been weighing on her mind quite a bit over the course of the night, and emerald eyes met brown as they stared at each other. Kili instantly felt slightly sober, and he toyed with her hair to keep his hands busy.

"Aye. It would be the best for both of us. I do not believe we will be truly happy unless we can settle somewhere where we will be accepted. Where our children will be accepted." His voice wavered slightly at the mention of children, but it hadn't appeared to have bothered Tauriel. Quite the contrary, actually. Her eyes started to sparkle, and she pressed herself more tightly to him, her lips seeking his hungrily.

She paused only to gaze at him seriously. "If it is what you wish, then we will join my people in Valinor." Only after Kili had accepted her words, eyes wide, did she pursue her advances.

They spent that night in blissful peace.

Author's note: I was gonna wait to post this because I hadn't got any reviews for the last chapter, but I thought "Eh. Screw it!" I'm writing it for you guys, not to get reviews. We're nearing the end here guys. One more chapter and an epilogue. Make sure to check out my other one shots if you haven't already! And if you all have a Tumblr, you should definitely advertise this story on it. Get it readers. That would be great, you guys are great, and I'm out! xox