The next days were hazy for all of them. Balin and Gloin organised the funeral and took care of the formal issues. After some time Thorin and Bilbo were able to listen to the truth Gloin told them about how Dis was found and what probably had happened to her. And they agreed never to tell the boys, about how she lived in a meth lab with some junkies and what exactly happened to her.
Fili and Kili took it all badly. More so now that their mother was gone, more so now that they realised how fragile life was and what it would mean falling out with each other. They weren't like they used to be, no more happy conversations, no more chatting and having fun. But they held on to each other, and Thorin didn't even dare comment about how they would hold hands all the time, and stay close as if each needed the other to breathe. Bilbo knew they went back to sleeping together, and he knew the rift between them was gone, but the morose serious air between the boys was a novelty for him. The boys weren't really talking, but they became inseparable. As if they were holding onto each other for dear life.
One day Thorin finally realised the boys were sharing a room.
"They shouldn't be sleeping together." He told Bilbo as they were finally alone in their bedroom. "I know it's grief, but we shouldn't encourage that."
"They have always shared a room." Bilbo gently spoke making him realise the truth. "All their lives. The only time they didn't was the two-three weeks of not talking after Christmas. So I would consider this as normal."
Thorin looked at him deeply. He knew he had no right to accuse Bilbo of keeping things from him, especially with his own secrets hidden deep inside.
"It's not normal." He finally said, having a déjà vu feeling. It was the same way he and Frerin began what they began... It all started with sleeping together after their parents' death.
"What is normal?" Bilbo suddenly asked him in a deep voice. "Who defines what is normality? And what is wrong? You might say society, you might say rules and laws. I say anything that gives them comfort and peace is normal. They need each other and without Kili, Fili would fall, and the other way around." Bilbo noticed tears in Thorin's eyes. He didn't understand why his husband suddenly became emotional but he didn't question it, he just pulled him into his warm arms.
"I love you Bilbo!" Thorin whispered kissing him deeply.
The next day Gloin came to them telling he was preparing adoption papers for the boys. Bilbo had completely forgotten they needed to settle the legal aspects of keeping the boys with them, but he was grateful Gloin remembered about it.
"There is only one thing I would like to change." Thorin told the lawyer. "I want the boys to carry the family name." Bilbo glanced at him with a shy smile.
"You should ask them first." Bilbo made him realise.
Fili just looked at their uncle deeply hearing the suggestion at dinner.
"It's not like Oakenshield means much anyway..." He finally mumbled.
"Not true." Thorin told him. "I know it's the last name you carried all your lives, but Oakenshield is not in fact a true last name."
"What is it then?" Kili asked.
"It's more like a nickname." Thorin told them hesitantly.
"Whose nickname?" Fili insisted.
"It's a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" Thorin's voice was slightly trebling, and Bilbo and the boys caught it immediately.
"The last King Under the Mountain in Scotland was called Thorin, just like me. He lived in the sixteen century, during the civil war between Queen Mary and the supporter of her son James VI. Our family was very influential at that time and Thorin chose to side with the supporters of the young prince, who in fact later became King of Scots and King of England as well. Few people know this, but it's a well known legend in our family. In the battle of Langside in 1568 Thorin took part as one of the leaders because James Stewart, Earl of Moray the illegitimate half brother of Mary defending her infant son, was a friend of our ancestor. When his friend almost fell in battle, Thorin not having a proper weapon or shield took a branch of an oak and stood strong in front of his friend ready to defend him with his own life. Since then he was called Oakenshield. So as you see it's a very symbolic name in our family, and by giving it to both of you I believe your mother wanted to protect you, just as Thorin Oakenshield protected his friend in battle." Thorin told them the story in a sullen serious voice.
"What happened to him later?" Kili asked curiously just like his old self.
"He died in battle much later, defending his lands. His friend Earl of Moray was assassinated while being regent for his nephew just two years after the battle. Since then Thorin Oakenshield was one of the advisors of the young prince and later king." Thorin added.
"What a fascinating story..." Bilbo's eyes were shining. "Do you mind if I use it in one of my new books?" He suddenly asked.
"Not at all." Thorin gently laughed for the first time after the funeral. "So you see boys, Oakenshield is as good as Durin for me, because it's a very important name in our family history."
"But you would like us to carry the name Durin?" Fili asked in a serious voice.
"You both have the right to it, it's in your blood." Thorin told them. "And since we're not planning to have more children, it would honour me greatly if the last name lived on in both of you."
Kili glanced at Fili, who was lost in his thoughts and finally made the decision for both of them. "I would like to be called Killam Durin."
Fili glanced to his brother and nodded. "Fine. Fillon Durin." He murmured.
"Actually I was thinking of the same thing, Bilbo Durin sounds great as well." Bilbo suddenly told them. Thorin was really surprised Bilbo made such a decision, right after their marriage they agreed Bilbo would keep the last name Baggins.
"Really?" Thorin could barely believe it.
"That way Bilbo Baggins will become like a pen name just like William Underhill." Bilbo noticed smartly. "So I'll run away from the public yet again!" He gently chuckled.
"So we're all going to be called Durin?"Kili yelped. "Like a real family?"
"Like a real family." Bilbo nodded.
"A great idea my love!" Thorin kissed Bilbo gently.
Kili held Fili's hand tightly under the table, and for the first time in weeks he glanced at his brother with a smile. Fili noticed the bright light come back to his brother's eyes and nothing could make him more happy.
It didn't take long for Gloin to handle matters in court, filing for adoption considering the current family situation was more of a formality than anything else.
In the next weeks Bilbo finally told his loved ones about his plan what to do with the Nobel money, which was slightly over a million dollars. He explained to the boys he was thinking about a support fund for poor kids in the neighbourhood they used to live in. The charity would help kids get scholarships and would fund scholarships for those more gifted and pay for extra lessons for those who had problems at school. When the topic came up Thorin made a suggestion to clear out the storage room next to the library, and set up a library and social centre as a part of the charity.
"You mean like fund a special centre?" Bilbo was surprised with the development of the idea.
"Yes, a place where kids could spend time, read books, eat dinner for free, and have extra lessons and sport clubs and anything like that." Thorin slowly explained his idea.
"That would take more money, but it's not like we don't have money." Bilbo suddenly noticed.
"I'm not sure if many kids care about learning or reading that much, but a free dinner and a sport club would make them come in regularly for sure." Fili noticed. "Maybe you should consider a therapy centre for those who have problems like with alcoholic parents and a programme helping people to come out of addictions for their family members."
"That's a fantastic idea!" Bilbo gasped. "I could really use your help on this. And I'm planning to go and visit the school next month if you'd like to come with me."
"We'd love to Bilbo." Kili gently told him.
The next weeks they drew up a solid plan with Gloin and Elrond, and soon they made the trip back to see their old school and find the perfect location for the centre.
Thorin glanced at the old brick building Bilbo chose because of the location and size. "So what are you going to name it?" He suddenly asked curiously.
"You haven't realised yet?" Bilbo smiled at him. "The Oakenshield Centre." He told them with a huge smile.
"Perfect name!" Thorin laughed pulling both boys to him.
The visit at the school was very emotional, Bilbo had to talk with all the teachers most of whom were still in shock he was a well known writer. Kili's former class almost suffocated him, everyone wanted to know what happened to Kili, and where he was all that time. They took in the changes and despite some envious glances they all wished him well, especially after hearing about the new social centre being set up in their neighbourhood. Fili had the same when going back to his team, they all heard about the charity and adoption. The most emotional meeting was with Lamar, who kept joking that it was thanks to him Fili got arrested and found by his rich uncle. Lamar later told Fill all about the changes Gloin made in their neighbourhood, about getting rid of Azog and the other gangs, and about the deal he made with the lawyer. Lamar was clean from drugs and other dangerous deals, but instead he set up an information web for Gloin to use in his other cases and dealings. It was far less dangerous and gave him a better secure life.