AN: I don't own any of the hobbit characters I am just taking them out of Tolkien's toy box and playing with them. Listening to head banging good tunage, hope you have all had a wonderful day.

FanFiction Queen: Yes booping and yes you can, I still retain all monetary rights though :D. Definitely a Lucian, leather glad, half naked yummy lycan-ness *drool*. Bow thank you, your joint appreciation of such yumminess raises my love levels for you also. Glad Assassin is appeased, could she please visit Balin and ask him to stop getting in the way of hotness I want to write for Thilbo in Hobbit? Thank you. Confused Nori, poor Nori the last couple of chapters of both Unexpected haven't really painted our poor thief in the best light have they. Ah yes Ori the pragmatist and accepting dwarf :D He is fun. Ah my pairings have changed up a bit, have you not been paying attention? :p, I am very much decided on them but poor Oin and Thorin don't get any fun time in this one.

Mer: I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to review.

Chapter Thirty Seven – Back in the Game.

Gandalf returned to the company of dwarves and one hobbit he had left alone for several days since their arrival at Rivendell just in time to see a shirtless Dwalin stumble up the steps muttering unflattering things about the elves' choice of path coverings. He stopped and leaned heavily on his staff, staring for several moments in complete disbelief as the warrior dwarf sat heavily beside Ori and Kili on a low bench and kept on muttering despite the fact he was now around others. His disbelief grew as Ori merely kicked the larger dwarf in the hip slightly to make himself some room for his feet again and Kili glanced up from where he was reading over Ori's shoulder to level an unimpressed glare at his uncle. Shaking his head Gandalf turned to look for the rest of the company and resisted the urge to stare like a gormless idiot, with supreme effort he forced his jaw closed and bit down on his lip so as not to burst into laughter. Dori was once again sitting besides Balin chatting amicably with the white haired dwarf as he knitted at a fantastic pace, never once looking at his hands. Gandalf bit back a snort, Dori mightn't be looking at his own hands but Balin kept glancing down an expression of disbelief on his face as he kept checking just how rapidly the prim and proper dwarf could knit. The white haired diplomat was puffing merrily on his pipe and the scent of it reminded Gandalf very much of the leaf Belladonna Took had plied him with one raucous party. He wondered if Bilbo had introduced the dwarves to the hobbit way of partying or if Balin had merely snaffled some of the smaller male's leaf without him knowing.

Shaking his head Gandalf raised a startled eyebrow as he took in Bofur trying to teach Fili how to carve a simple block of wood into something interesting. The blonde dwarf was getting more and more agitated as he simply couldn't get the blade to work the way he wanted it to. Gandalf choked on his own tongue as an apparently unconcerned Bofur took the young princes hands in his own and shifting behind him slightly guided him through the cut he was trying to make. The wizard had a suspicion that the move helped Fili very little, especially if the red blush spreading over tanned cheeks was anything to go by. Turning his eyes away to give the blonde some privacy his old eyes landed on a wildly gesturing Bifur. That the toy maker was sitting with Nori no longer came as a surprise to the wizard that he was arguing his point and stubbornly refusing to back down did. Gandalf's other eyebrow rose as he realised Nori was refusing to back down an inch and the normally quiet and reserved dwarf was gesturing just as wildly as Bifur, his normally pale face flushed as he worked himself up. Closing his eyes Gandalf prayed for some normalcy, he found it in the snoozing forms of Gloin and Oin. Sighing in relief that some of the company were acting the same as normal he searched the wide room for Bombur and found him pouring over an old, slightly faded book a cup of what was probably originally a hot drink balanced on one knee. Thorin was sitting not far from the rotund dwarf, his form slightly hidden by Bombur's mass and he seemed to be making the most of a quiet moment. For once not sharpening his blades or pouring over the map, but curled up a book of elvish poetry a small smile softening his features. Gandalf groaned quietly, there went his normalcy.

Realising they were missing a member his eyes searched the room for the middle aged hobbit he'd dragged on this quest. He felt slightly guilty for what the poor lad had gone through with the trolls and wanted to make it up to him by introducing him to Rivendell's library. He realised as he glanced around the room that several of the dwarves had obviously already found the massive collection of books, but Erestore hadn't mentioned any of the company visiting him. Shrugging slightly Gandalf returned to looking for Bilbo. Deciding he wasn't actually with the company he walked quietly over to the room the hobbit had been given, stumbling over a pair of dwarven boots lying by the doorway. Cursing he righted himself and peered into the brightly lit interior. No hobbit. He sighed eyes skimming over the neat piles of clothing, the even neater piles of other travelling belongings before landing on the rumpled bed. He shrugged he'd obviously have to look elsewhere for Bilbo. Grumbling under his breath Gandalf left the guest wing and headed into the gardens in his search for the hobbit.

%

Bilbo stood in front of the floor to ceiling mirror that was present in the bathing room he'd ducked into to try and cool off. The cold bath had helped somewhat but the large mirror was giving him ideas, he shook his head dispelling the thoughts for the time being, he doubted that it was a good idea to let Dwalin know just how warped his mind could actually get. He dropped his towel and smirked at his reflection, flexing his lean muscles and ruffling his curls. Somehow in the space of a single moon he'd gotten his confidence back and he liked it. His slightly longer curls bounced back from his hand, falling around his pointed ears and stopping just above his eyebrows. His green-hazel eyes sparkled with life and the weird combination of humour and lust he'd seen in the mirror many a time in his youth. He found it strange he barely looked a day older than the days when his reputation in the Shire wasn't one of slightly odd but respectable Baggins. His smirk grew as he remembered just how he'd gotten the reputation he'd well-earned in his teens. He'd forgotten just how much he'd missed those days, but damn looking at himself now he might just be back in the game.

%

Dwalin had just accepted a cup of steaming tea off Dori, the cool of the night making itself known in the open fronted communal space, when Bilbo sauntered out of one of the bathing rooms wearing Dwalin's oversized shirt. Dwalin choked on the scalding liquid as he inhaled involuntarily, there was a spark in his hobbit's green-hazel eyes that both drew him in and made him want to run for the hills. The swing of the smaller male's hips had him leaning forward and following Bilbo with his eyes. He didn't realise he was staring at the now closed bedroom door until Ori snorted beside him and leant over to shut his open mouth with two fingers. "Stop drooling Dwalin," he huffed and Dwalin snapped his eyes to the slender dwarf who was once again engrossed in his book.

"Huh?" he realised he was being less than articulate, and chose to blame the fact he had used up his word quota for the day with Bilbo (it was what his nephews always jokingly said was his problem anyway and for once it worked in his favour so he was using it).

"You were staring and drooling Dwalin. I mean we all know you like him, he is wearing your bead and your shirt, but the drooling is a little too much for us to handle. Young, impressionable minds here." Ori hadn't looked up from his book throughout his speech, making Dwalin wonder how he had been the only one to notice he'd gotten completely lost in his head.

"Ah," he huffed intelligently, "In that case I will remove my offensive self from your presence." He stood quickly only to fall back quickly as to take the weight off his feet, "Holy, bugger fuck!" he yelped drawing the attention of his nephews, brother and prince onto him.

"Really Dwalin," groaned Thorin, "I swear your language is more suited to the back street brothels in human towns than someone related, closely I might add, to the royal family of Durin." He glanced around Bombur at Dwalin who was holding one of his feet and groaning, "Oh suck it up you complete wuss, you've had worse than scratches."

"Shut it Thorin!" Dwalin groused, "Feels like I have paper cuts all over my feet, it still hurts, allow me to be a wuss."

"Aww poor baby," Thorin's voice was mocking as he returned to his poetry book, "Don't know what possessed you to run around in bare feet anyway."

Dwalin slumped against the back of the seat and folded his arms, tucking his feet under his body as he did. If Bombur hadn't been in the way he'd have thrown his tin mug at Thorin for that comment, but the red haired dwarf was and he supposed Thorin hadn't been up when he raced off after Bilbo. Soft hands on his bare shoulders made him gasp and stiffen for a second until he realised Bilbo was standing behind him. "You are hurt?" the voice was quiet, the words blown against his right shoulder. Dwalin shivered slightly, leaning back into the fingers pressing into the muscles of his shoulders.

"Nothing to worry about Bilbo, Oh Mahal that feels good." He barely flinched at the surround sound of choking that occurred at his announcement, "You really have fantastic fingers."

"Why thank you Dwalin," there was humour in Bilbo's voice and Dwalin chuckled rolling his head to one side as Bilbo attacked the muscles in his right shoulder.

"Where did you learn to do that? Sweet mercy," he gasped. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Fili with his fingers in his ears and Kili trying to get further away from him without tipping Ori from his lap. He smirked wickedly at Bilbo's dirty chuckle, his nephews would try to interfere in his life, and they would have to suffer the consequences.

"This Dwalin?" The innocence in Bilbo's voice fooled nobody, especially Dwalin but he was willing to play along and so he nodded silently. "Oh it is a well-known skill in the Shire Dwalin," Bilbo muttered, working on a stubborn knot in the muscle, Dwalin merely hummed not trusting his voice, he might want to get some revenge on nosey nephews but he didn't want to give them teasing material. Bilbo shifting so Dwalin's head was resting against his stomach gave him some indication that what Bilbo was going to say next would be slightly shocking to the rest of the company. He wasn't to be disappointed, as with a delightfully innocent voice Bilbo went on, "Of course in the Shire I would be straddling you so I could get at all of your back. Master Balin are you okay? You have gone a particular red colour."

Dwalin couldn't help it and burst into laughter, he twisted so he was kneeling on the seat and facing Bilbo, he brushed their lips chastely together. "You could straddle me anytime Bilbo," he growled quietly, his words meant for the hobbit's ears only. The green-hazel eyes sparkled with delight and Bilbo threaded his fingers into the now loosely braided hair, sending shivers down Dwalin's back as blunt nails scrapped softly over his scalp. He tilted his head up so there was little space between their lips, and paused before he kissed the smaller male.

Bilbo smiled at him, "I might have to take you up on that offer Dwalin," he growled, and Dwalin gasped as his mouth was taken in a bruising kiss. A small part of his mind was making a mental note not to tease Bilbo unless he was comfortable with receiving such physical affections in front of others, most of it was merely doing a happy dance.

"Damn," he groaned, when Bilbo finally drew back, "What was that for?"

"Oh," the smirk on Bilbo's face said it all and Dwalin was laughing before the hobbit had even formed a sentence, "I felt like it." That the hobbit followed the simple statement by hopping over the back of the seat and curling into Dwalin's bare side merely reinforced the warrior's view that he wouldn't have found someone to fit him so well anywhere else.

Ori finally looked up from his book, "Master Baggins you are sitting on my foot," he grumbled, flashing him a wink.

Bilbo chuckled at Ori's disgusted tone and smiled innocently, "oh my apologies Ori," he

crooned sliding over so he was sprawled in Dwalin's lap instead, "is that better?"

"Yes much," muttered Ori returning to his book and leaning further into Kili's chest.

%

It was dark by the time Bombur looked up from his cookery book and he chuckled at the sight of the dwarf pile on the settle across the room from him, he shook his head and amended that thought-dwarf and hobbit pile. Realising that they hadn't really eaten anything substantial all day he pushed to his feet and slipped quietly to the kitchen area they had been provided with. Not in the mood to make anything tricky he started a simple but tasty Onion soup and heated up some of the cheese bread Bilbo had made the day before. The smells wafting from the kitchen soon brought most of the company to eat, Bombur had to raise an eyebrow as Bilbo appeared with two bowls. "Kili doesn't want to get up as Ori has fallen asleep on him," he whispered in an aside and Bombur nodded with a soft smile.

"Aye the laddie needs some looking after," he agreed," not that Dori and Nori fail to do that but I think Kili might be something special." His smile deepened as Bilbo chuckled, "now shoo and feed Kili."

He was clearing up when Bilbo re-joined him later, several empty bowls piled in his arms. A short argument later saw the pair standing washing up amicably. Bombur looked at the smallest member of the company, and was amazed all over again that such a delicate looking being could have survived what Balin had described. Shaking himself he sighed and decided if no one else was going to say something he had to thank the hobbit. "I want to thank you Master Baggins," he stated simply getting a confused look in response. "You have no idea what I'm talking about do you?" He sighed at the head shake he got in response, "Fine I want to thank you for several things. Firstly I want to thank you for opening your home to us, you didn't have to." He held up a hand to stop the objections he could see were coming. "No let me finish! Secondly I want to thank you for how welcome you made us feel, yes it has taken a while to trust you full but you did make us feel welcome and we are not used to anyone treating us as special guests rather than burdens." Bombur put the mug and cloth he was holding down and placed both his hands on Bilbo's shoulders, "Finally and most importantly I want to thank you for the response you gave to Dori's admitions. It touched the hearts of us all as there were only five of our company of age when Erebore fell."

"What?" Bilbo's voice was a whisper and he was staring at Bombur with wide eyes. "Five of you?"

"Aye Master Baggins," said Bombur clearly confused. "Oin, Gloin, Balin, Dori and my Bifur. The rest of us came of age after the dragon came. I thought you knew that."

"Five of you?" Bilbo's disbelief was clear and his eyes clouded with worry. "Master Bombur, how old was everyone that wasn't of age?"

Bombur looked at the hobbit for one long moment before nodding decisively. "Right well Kili was barely two, Fili was seven. Ori was at least in long trousers he was twenty, Nori was…hmm…Nori was about forty five. Bofur is closer to Ori's age even though he is such good friends with Nori, he was twenty nine. I was seventy five. Thorin was seventy, he is the youngest out of his siblings after all. Who's left? Dwalin? Ah! Our warrior was sixty three when the dragon came, can you believe he fought at Azanulbizar at the age of sixty nine? Bilbo?"

"Excuse me Master Bombur." Bilbo's voice was oddly flat and Bombur watched him leave the kitchen a sense of dread pooling in his belly as he remember the passionate statement of no one having the right to hurt a child.

%

Bilbo stood in the shadows of an alcove, he was shaking slightly as it sunk in. For some reason he had believed that it had been only five of the company that had been kits or tweens when the dragon came. Now he had found out he was wrong and it was only five who had been of age. Anger was flooding his veins and he clenched his fists and closed his eyes, fighting against the urge to rage against the unfairness of it all. It wouldn't help the dwarves and it wouldn't help his own feelings. He took a deep breath and growled low in his throat, the vow he'd made on the back door step of Bag End flooding his mind. He nodded his head decisively, tomorrow he would get Dwalin to start his weapons training.

%

Bombur left the dried dishes in a pile on the table in the centre of the kitchen and walked quickly up to Dwalin's side. "Dwalin!" he hissed, causing the warrior to spin around and face him. "I though he knew, I'm so sorry."

"Bombur what are you going on about? Who knew what? What have you to be sorry about?" There was worry and confusion in his voice.

"Bilbo," stated Bombur simply, "I thought he knew that most of us were under age when Erebore fell."

"Oh Mahal," groaned Dwalin, "he didn't take it well did he."

"He took it far too calmly," Bombur shook his head, "We are going to have to let him in to the particulars at some point and I can't see calm being his prevalent emotion then."

Dwalin just shook his head, "I need to talk to him first, I should have been the one to tell him, there are other things I need to talk to him about as well, so please just hold off for now Bombur."

AN: Leave me a review and let me know what you think.