All right KeeLee fans! (What do you think of my nickname for you?) Thank you to all of you who gave me your thoughts on my last question, it really means alot! MarinaOakenshield, you didn't push anything on me, I like your idea! I'll do that next, when I finish this one :D So majority vote wins, this will remain a Kili/OC story, which I have to say I am happy about. Sorry in advance, I know the ending is cheesy. Enjoy!

"Well? How close is the pack?" Thorin asks Bilbo, who is wheezing from his run. Bilbo shakes his head.

"Too...close...couple of leagues, if that. But that is not the worst of it." He replies, regaining his breath.

"Have the Orcs picked up our scent?" Dwalin asks, growling as he glances around us. Again, Bilbo shakes his head.

"No, not yet, but they soon will. We have another problem. Th-"

Gandalf interrupts him.

"Did they see you? They saw you, didn't they?"

Bilbo groans in frustration, giving me a look that makes me giggle.

"Will you just listen? I am trying to tell you that there is something else out there!"

I feel myself go pale at his words. Another foe? It seems as though we can never catch a break.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asks, and Bilbo looks at him curiously.

"Ye-yes, but bigger, much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asks, and the dwarves begin to chatter amongst themselves.

"I say we double back."

"We'll be run down by Orcs."

"There is a house, not far from here, where we may be able to take refuge." Gandalf interjects, turning to face the North. I look worriedly at Bilbo, who returns my expression.

"Who resides there? Are they friend or foe?" I ask.

"Neither. He will either help us, or he will kill us."

"How reassuring," I mutter under my breath. Kili, who is standing next to me, chuckles softly.

"It's alright Lenorah, I wont let anyone hurt you, not even a scratch." He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. A sudden howl pierces the air, and I groan.

"Quickly, this way!" Gandalf yells, and we take off, running through the trees. Kili's had clamps around my bicep, and soon Fili's grasps my other. I will my short legs to go faster, not wanting to slow down anyone.

'Curse my short heritage!' I growl to myself. A series of cracks then fills the air, and I turn to see a large beast burst through the treeline, only a few leagues away from us. I gasp and turn back around, adrenaline pushing me faster.

'Mahal, she can run fast for such a short little thing.' I hear a voice say. But I do not have a chance to stop and ponder, for the black beast is gaining on us, and we will soon be outrun.

"Up here, run! Open the door!" Gandalf yells as the first of the dwarves reach the giant door. We all run into them, slamming into each other as the bear comes nearer.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" I scream, hearing the thunder of the beasts footfall coming closer. Fili and Kili shield me, and I close my eyes. A sudden shove sends us falling into the large house, right as the snout of the monster finds the door before it can be closed. I jump up, pushing against it. I hear a click, and the others relax, every one's breathing heavy.

"That was close! I think it's leaving." Ori says, leaning his head against the door to hear outside. Dori quickly pulls him away, chiding about the unnaturalness of it all.

"What was that thing?" Thorin growls, turning to Gandalf, who glares at him in turn.

"That, was our host. His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer. Sometimes he is a big black bear, sometimes he is a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. Come, get some sleep, you are safe here for the night." With that he turns, walking over to a corner and sitting down, pulling out his pipe.

"Kili, can I talk to you for a moment?" I ask, and he nods, dragging me to another corner where the others cannot hear us.

"Is something the matter?" He asks, searching my face inquisitively. I smile reassuringly.

"No, I was just wondering what you thought about my running." I smile slyly at his confusion.

"You're running? What do you mean?"

"If I was fast for such a short thing..." Amazement registers in his face, and I laugh. He picks me up and spins us.

"You heard that? But, how?"

I shrug.

"I don't know. Maybe I am really starting to pick up on your bond, so much that I can hear your thoughts, like Fili. Can-can you hear mine?" I ask, biting my lip.

'I love you.' I think, staring at him with fixed eyes. He laughs.

"Hm..I love you too. But that's not the best part; I can feel a little of your emotions, too! Like just now, I had a sudden sense of concentration come over me, like I was focusing hard on something. That was you, pushing your feelings on me." He grins, cupping my face in his hands.

"Kili, I need to talk to you, now." Thorin calls, and Kili groans; his uncle's caring demeanor from this morning has gone.

"I'll be right back, love." He says, kissing my nose before hurrying over to where Thorin sits, waiting. I sigh happily, caught up in the moment, when an arm slides around my shoulders.

"You must really love him, dont you?" Bilbo asks me, giving me a small smile. I flush, looking at the hay-strewn ground. My hair cascades around me as I nod.

"Father, I think I do. I have never felt this way about anyone. It is something that stirs the deepest feelings within me, like your spoon in your Thursday eve stew. I can't explain it. But it can't work. And I should have told you. I'm sorry for keeping this from you, you deserved to know as soon as I did."

I feel a finger push on my chin, and I lift my head to look at Bilbo.

"No, Lenorah, do not be sorry. I have known for quite a while; a father knows when his daughter is acting out of sorts, especially when it comes to love." He smiles, and I sigh with relief.

"Tell me, why could it never work between the two of you? I know that Kili shares the same feelings with you, he displays it in his every move. So why can't you see a happy ending for the both of you?"

I gape at him, surprised and sad.

"Bilbo, you speak as if you want me to be with him. Are you that eager to be rid of me? Besides, I am a hobbit mutant, and I belong with you, in the Shire. He is a dwarf, a prince of Erebor. We would never see each other, or get Thorin's blessing. And he, he..."

"Ages much slower than you." Bilbo finishes for me. I nod, tears springing to my eyes. He pulls me into a hug, and I sink into his warm tattered coat.

"Lenorah, I do not wish to be rid of you; you are my life, my everything. I would do anything to help and protect you. I just want to see you happy, and Kili does that to you. I am sure Thorin can see it as well; while he is not the...happiest, of dwarves, I am sure he would never protest the love of his nephew. As for the aging part; all I can say is that not often does true love find its way into our lives, but when it does, we must learn to make the best of it, even its setbacks and problems. You must make the most of the time that you do, and will, have with Kili, rather than dwell on the time you wont. Love will always find a way, but you must help lead it to the right path."

Tears continue to fall down my cheeks as I hug him tightly, laying my head on his shoulder.

"Thank you. For everything. I love you, Bilbo."

I can feel Bilbo's watery smile, and I look over to where Kili and Thorin stand, deep in conversation. Kili suddenly looks up, his eyes locking with mine, and I feel a swell of hope; hope for the unknown, and for the future.