Chapter Twenty-Eight: You are the Reason

Finally, finally, they meet again!

After a long day preparing her garden, Bella was hoping for nothing more than a quiet evening. Feeling particularly vulnerable, she had slipped on her father's robe and braided her hair. However, she was just sitting down to a plate of scones and tea when there was a loud pounding on her door. Sighing, she just knew that the tea would be cold by the time she sorted out whatever emergency Lobelia was having now. Standing, she made her way towards the door. She muttered under her breath as the frantic pounding continued, "Hold your horses, I'm coming, I'm coming."

Wrenching open the door, words died on her tongue at the sight of a frantic Fili standing on her doorstep. Before she could gather her wits, he swept her into a crushing hug. He was trembling so hard that it transferred over to her and he buried his face in her hair, murmuring, "You're alive" over and over again.

Looking over his shoulder, she couldn't see anyone else. Concern growing rapidly in her, she managed to nudge the door shut enough that they couldn't be seen by any passers by. Running a gentle hand over his shoulders, she asked, "Fili, what?"

Pulling back just enough that he could frame her face with his hands, he leaned forward and captured her lips in a desperate kiss. She melted into his kiss, half convinced that she had passed out under the hot midday sun and was just hallucinating what she so desperately wanted. She didn't know how long they kissed before she forced herself to pull away. Burying her face in his chest so that he couldn't recapture her lips, she fought to catch her breath. He rained kisses down on her bent head, running his hands up and down her back as if he couldn't physically stop touching her.

Catching her breath, she pushed on his chest until he released her. She took a step away and he made a wounded sound. Firmly weaving her hands together so that she wouldn't reach for him like she so desperately wanted to, she forced herself to met his gaze. "Fili, what are you doing here? Is everyone ok? Kili? Thorin? Your mother? The company?"

His eyes were hungry as he greedily drank her in. Feeling self conscious, she adjusted the robe and tightened the belt. When he still didn't speak, she said, "Fili, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

She tucked a loose curl nervously behind her ear. His eyes tracked the movement of her hand and then he swallowed hard. He stepped closer and she tensed in case he grabbed her again, but he simply reached out and brushed a finger over her bead. He said hoarsely, "You kept them."

She caught his hand in both of hers. "Fili, is there anyone else with you?"

"They're down at the Green Dragon."

Nodding, she led him unresisting into the kitchen and gently pushed him down into a chair. He sat and she released his hand. She stepped away and when he started to rise to follow her, she shook her head. Unwillingly, he sank back into the chair. She smiled at him and then continued over to where she kept the scotch. She didn't know about him, but she could use a strong drink.

She brought it over to the table along with two glasses and sat across from him. She poured both of them a generous amount and slid a glass over to him. He knocked it back and she did the same, savoring the burn. Setting aside the glass, she met Fili's gaze and fought not to blush. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, "All right, let's start at the beginning. What are you doing here? Is everyone ok?"

He clenched his fists. "I had to know if you were dead or alive. Why, Bella?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you leave, Bella? Why did you leave after the battle?"

It was her turn to clench her fists and she closed her eyes against the insistent press of tears. Swallowing hard, she fought to breathe. But she had done hard things before and she could do it again. Steeling her resolve, she opened her eyes and met his. "You shouldn't be here. I think you should go. Go and join the others and forget that you ever saw me."

He shook his head. "No, you don't get to do that. You don't just get to dismiss me and us. You kept my braid, Bella. I know that you still care for me. So tell me what's going on, why you're hiding here in the Shire and not in Erebor, with us, where you belong."

Every time he said her name, a tiny thrill ran through her. Trying desperately to shore up her crumbling defenses, his life depended on her silence, she said, "Maybe I was just tired of being in danger. I mean, how many times did I almost die on the quest?"

Her words were aimed to wound and get him out of her house as quickly as possible. However, her plan seemed to back fire as his eyes softened. He smiled tenderly at her, "Ah, there you are. The Bella who protects those she loves no matter what the cost. So what are you protecting us from? And what was the cost?"

She scoffed, "I'm not protecting you from anything, there was no cost. I saw my chance to leave on the battlefield and I took it. And I was right, wasn't I? So unimportant that I don't even know how any of you managed to remember an insignificant hobbit."

He turned her words over for several minutes, watching her closely. She wanted to fidget, but she had had months of acting normal before the other hobbits, so it was an easy thing to squish down.

Finally, he shook his head, his mustache braids swaying with the movement. "Try again, I don't buy that. If you were so eager to get rid of us, you wouldn't have kept your braid."

Panicking, she said, "Maybe I just wanted to sell the bead. I'm sure that it's valuable and would be worth quite a lot to the right buyer."

He nodded, "That's true. I might even believe it, were it not for the fact that you still have my braid in your hair. Hair that you haven't bothered to trim back to a proper hobbit length. And if you truly hated me, you wouldn't have let me into your smial, let alone have kissed you. Now, love, tell me the truth."

And with that, she broke. She screamed at him, "You want the truth? You died! You and Thorin and Kili. All of you were just gone and I couldn't save you."

Breathing hard, she stared at him, wondering when she had gotten to her feet. Then she realized what she had said. Clamping her hands over her mouth, she thought weakly, "Oh Mahal and Yavanna, what have I done?"

His expression oddly triumphant, he stood and pulled her into his arms, "Now we're getting somewhere."

She couldn't stop trembling and he just held her closer, the rhythm of his heart and breathing soothing her. Unable to tear herself away, she whispered, "You shouldn't be here, you need to leave. Just take everyone and go. Please."

He tucked her fractionally closer. "I'm never leaving you again. Since the day I woke up from the battle, I have yearned to hold you again, my heart incomplete and aching with every breath. Even when I didn't know who you were or where you were, I knew that my heart was somewhere else and that I was only living a half life. Now that I have you back in my arms again, not even the Valar could separate us again."

As soon as he finished speaking, a bright light filled the kitchen. Her heart kicked up until is was beating like a rabbit's and she clutched desperately at Fili. No! She had just found him. Please don't take him away again. This could still be fixed.

A light hearted giggle drew her face out of Fili's chest and she turned her head to find Mahal and Yavanna watching them. However, instead of sad or upset, Yavanna's face was positively alight with joy and Mahal was nodding approvingly at Fili. Yavanna winked at her and she heard a quiet whisper in her mind, 'Everything's going to be all right, daughter.'

Mahal rumbled, "It is good to see that my child knows how to properly value a treasure."

Fili bowed his head respectfully but didn't let her go. "I have been blessed beyond measure. I would be a poor dwarf indeed if I could not see the beauty and value of my One."

Mahal grinned widely at him. "Very well said, son, well said." Turning to Bella, his expression softened. "And we already know the strength of your heart, daughter."

She whispered, "Please, don't take him away."

Yavanna smiled gently at her. Crossing over to her, she gently stroked Bella's hair. "Let me tell you a story. When my husband created his children, he knew how harsh the world could be. With that in mind, he made his children so that they would endure. However, he knew that a life of just enduring would wear down his children more than anything in the world could, so all of his plans would be for naught."

She smiled at her husband. "However, he knew that if there was someone to share the load, to stand beside them, they would have a home no matter what the world put them through. So for each dwarf, he made one other that would fit their heart just right and complete them, that they could make a home in their hearts that would endure no matter what the world threw at them. His children appreciated his gift and treasured their Ones and they were content. But then Mahal's children started to travel, looking for new materials and things to craft. Thus it became much harder for a dwarf to find their One. Several of his children petitioned him for help in finding their One, as they had searched and searched, but could not find them and they were loosing hope."

Settling under Yavanna's gentle touch, Bella asked, "So what did he do?"

"He thought on this long and hard, for he had found his One and he wanted his children to know that joy as well. Then it came to him. In dreams, one could travel anywhere, unencumbered by their physical body. So he created soul dreams. Once a dwarf hits maturity, either physical or emotional, then they start receiving dreams that will lead them to their other half. Sometimes they start after the dwarf has met his other half, others they have never met outside of dreams. Sometimes these dreams are crystal clear and other times, they are fleeting. But they are unbreakable, tying a dwarf to their other half. Nothing mortal can touch those bonds and even the Valar are forbidden to touch them. For that will be disturbing fate."

Bella said cautiously, "So even if memories are taken?"

Mahal smiled at her, pleased, "The heart will remember, if it looks."

She turned back to Fili and he smiled tenderly, oh so tenderly, down at her. "I have been looking for you since the moment I woke. I am just sorry that it took me so long."

She reached up and cupped his face, smoothing her thumb over his cheekbone. Turning back to Mahal and Yavanna who had moved back over to him and taken his hand, she asked, "So they'll live?"

He nodded. "And as my lady wife said graciously so long ago, your life will now match his."

Feeling overwhelmed, she murmured thank you before turning and burying her face in Fili's chest.

Fili asked, "I'm sorry, but what are you talking about?" He tucked her even closer, wrapping his arms protectively around her.

Mahal smiled at the bold young prince. "Like she said, the line of Durin fell during the battle. Azog was defeated, but the line of Durin died doing so. She wept, for all of you. We heard her tears and came to her. She agreed to a trade. I would bring you back from the Halls, but first she had to pay the price. In exchange for your lives, she would be removed from yours. All memory of her would be wiped from the company's memories. If she or anyone tried to remind you of her existence, our bargain would be null and things would return to the way they were."

Fili said calmly, "We would be dead."

Mahal nodded, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders and tucking her into her side. "However, because of her bravery and selflessness, we offered her a boon. If you should remember her without anyone telling you about her, then things would remain the way they are and her life would be extended to match your own, so that you would not lose her so soon after finding her again."

Now he was the one overwhelmed. "Thank you."

Mahal nodded, "She has a spine of mithril and and a heart stronger and brighter than any diamond. Treasure her, son. Also, don't do anything stupid for a while. I would hate to see you again anytime soon."

Yavanna whispered in Bella's thoughts, "I will not say, 'Do not weep', for not all tears are an evil."

And with another burst of bright light, they were gone.

Neither of them moved for several seconds after the Valar disappeared, then Fili let out an exuberant whoop and spun her around the kitchen. She looked up at him giddily, her eyes shining brightly from unshed tears. Then she reached up and thrust her fingers into his golden mane, dragging him down for an earth shattering, breath stealing, heart stopping kiss. He didn't hesitate but kissed her back, pulling her so close that air couldn't even get between them.

Of course, with his usual good timing, that was the moment that Kili decided to enter the kitchen. He was already talking as he entered the room, "Fee, Bella, are you... Whoa, I did not need to see that." They broke apart just in time to see him clap his hands over his eyes and whirl so his back was facing towards them.

Giggling, she buried her face in Fili's chest and murmured, "What is he, two?"

Kili said hesitantly, "So I guess you guys got it all worked out?"

Pulling back and lifting her chin so he could drop a quick kiss on her lips, he called drily to Kili, "You can look, nadad. It's safe now."

He turned slowly and peeked between his fingers and Bella had to smother some more giggles. Once he was satisfied that the coast was indeed clear, he dropped his hands and grinned. Striding over, he pulled Bella from Fili's arms and twirled her around. "Bella. I'm so glad that you're ok!"

She grinned back at the young archer. "I'm glad that you're ok too." She asked cheekily, "So, what brings you to the Shire?"

He made a face at her. "If the way you and my brother were just devouring each other wasn't clear enough, I'm not gonna bother to answer that."

She blushed and smacked his shoulders. "Like you and Tauriel don't kiss."

His jaw dropped, "How did you know?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "C'mon, you two were so obvious a blind man could see it. So?"

He grinned dopily, "Yeah, we're together." He pulled himself together, "But we're not talking about me and Tauriel right now. We're talking about you and Fili. Why did you run away?"

Fili decided that he had enough of his brother hogging his One and took her back from Kili. Bella sighed, "It's a long story and I don't want to have to retell it thirteen more times. I'll tell everyone when we're all back together."

"Does this mean that you're coming back to Erebor with us?" His eyes were so hopeful that they reminded her of nothing so much as a puppy.

Turning to Fili, she arched a brow at him, "Am I?"

He got a roguish gleam in his eyes. Linking his hands in the small of her back, he said, "I'm sure that I can probably persuade you." His gaze dipped to her lips before meeting her eyes and she swayed closer to him.

Kili groaned, "C'mon, not again."

Not taking his eyes from hers, he said, "If you don't like it, close your eyes. Or better yet, go away entirely."

Kili said dramatically, "I can't, amad would kill me if I left you two unchaperoned with the way you are behaving."

Fili pleaded, "Just five minutes. C'mon, you owe me."

Kili grumbled but said, "Fine, but I'll be back in five minutes sharp."

As he left, Bella asked curiously, "What do you have on him?"

Fili grinned at her, "I can't even begin to count the number of times I caught him and Tauriel sneaking kisses. But it that really how you want to spend our five minutes?"

Snagging his mustache braids, she pulled him down and silenced him with her lips, not that he protested at all.

Kili was back in five minutes as he had said he would be. He peeked cautiously around the door frame, but needn't have worried. Fili was sitting in one of the chairs with Bella perched on his lap. He was combing out her hair, murmuring quietly to her.

She smiled when she saw Kili and motioned for him to join them. When he sat, she asked, "So who else came all this way to fetch me?"

"Most of the company had to stay behind to run Erebor. It's just me and Fee, Bofur, Bifur, Dwalin, and Ori. They couldn't spare anyone else."

She grinned at him mischievously, "What about your ladylove?"

Kili flushed slightly but his eyes softened. "She came too, but understands if you're not quite willing to see her yet, after the dungeons and everything."

Bella shrugged. "Out of all the elves, she was the kindest. Besides, we're going to be sisters, so we should probably get to know each other."

Both of the princes stared at her, dumbfounded. She rolled her eyes and giggled, "C'mon. You guys don't really think things through, do you? Where did you think that all of this was going?"

Fili gently started sectioning off hair for her braid. "It's not that. It's just, sisters is such a rare word in dwarven culture. Dams are so rare. I mean, look at the company. In our family, there is just amad. Dwalin and Balin are the last of their line, the rest of their family is gone, same with the Ri's. Of the Ur family, only Bombur is married. He is blessed indeed, for he has three pebbles, two lads and a lass. Of Oin and Gloin, only Gloin is married and they only have Gimli, upon which you have heard Gloin talk about endlessly. That both Kili and I have found our Ones, it's incredible."

She smiled at Kili, careful not to move her head. "Ah, that makes sense. Will there be issues that neither of your ones are dwarves?"

Kili shook his head. "We are taught that our Ones were made for us by Mahal. Yes, it's a little unusual, but we have been blessed indeed. It took some time for Tauriel to be accepted where she's an elf, but you're a hero of Erebor and a member of the company. You even have a beard, it's just on your feet." He smirked at her.

She said drily, "I hope that Tauriel has a better sense of humor than you do because yours it terrible."

He cried, "Oy."

Fili just laughed, gently securing the clasp to hold her betrothal braid in place. She ran her fingers gently over it and admitted quietly, "I've missed this. I did my best to do it, but I had to be careful. If anyone had seen it and word got back to you..."

Fili soothed her and Kili grumbled, "Let me guess, another thing that you're going to tell me later."

She said cheekily, "If you're very good, I might tell you on the journey back to Erebor. Anyways, I have plenty of room here. Why don't you go get everyone from the inn and bring them here instead."

Kili shook his head, "No way am I leaving you two here alone."

She hopped up. "Go ahead with him. I can do your braid when you get back. I'll whip up a quick meal while you fetch everyone, I'm sure that you're all starving."

Fili wanted to protest, but her eyes looked so hopeful that he sighed and caved. "Are you sure?"

She seemed to understand what he wasn't saying. "I won't disappear on you, I promise. Just go get our family and bring them back. They sooner you go, the sooner you can come back." Standing on her tiptoes, she brushed a kiss on his lips, then darted away when he tried to pull her back. "Now scat."

Kili took his arm and gently pulled him from the kitchen. She heard a low murmur of voices and then the front door slammed. She panicked and almost darted after them, begging for him not to go. She reigned herself in hard. He would be coming back. This wouldn't be just another dream. She reached up and touched the braid, seeking reassurance. It was much neater than she had ever managed and she let out a small sigh. Forcing herself to breathe normally, she headed for the pantry. She had guests coming and if she knew anything about dwarves, they would bring hearty appetites. Suddenly she grinned, her family was coming.

Fili's heart fell with every step he took away from Bag End. It took every ounce of self control not to turn around and run back to Bella. Clenching his fists, he tried to listen to Kili's chatter but just couldn't seem to focus. It was just over the hill and down the lane. He would be back in just a few minutes. He repeated that to himself with every step. Just a few minutes, just a few minutes. He didn't realize that he was whispering it aloud until Kili asked what he was saying.

He turned to Kili, focusing on his brother's worried face. "I don't think I can do this."

Kili coaxed, "C'mon. It'll be just a couple of minutes. The inn is right there. Bella would not be pleased if we returned without everyone else."

"Rationally I know that, but..."

Kili nodded, "You feel like if you can't see her, it was only some sort of dream. Like you'll wake and she'll be gone again. Wait here, don't move."

He jogged over to where Tauriel had emerged from the inn and talked to her hurriedly. She nodded and headed back inside while he made his way back over to Fili. "Tauriel's gone to fetch our things and everyone else. Why don't we start walking, slowly, back there?"

Fili turned back towards Bag End, his heart lightening fractionally. "Thank you. I know I sound crazy."

Kili teased, "No more than usual." His expression became serious. "After everything, it's no surprise that you're all wound up. It'll take some time and being around her for a bit, but this feeling will fade away. Someday, you might even be able to laugh about it. And really, she's probably having as rough a time as you are. Remember, she's known that you were alive but couldn't go to you since the battle, at least that's what I'm assuming. Why I don't know because you guys wouldn't tell me, but you know what I mean. It's going to take some time for both of you to get back to normal. But seriously, no more kissing like I walked in on earlier. Save that for after the wedding or amad and uncle will skin me."

He punched Kili on the arm, but it lacked heat. "You're one to talk. How many times have I caught you two kissing in corners?"

Kili grinned cheekily at him, "But you're older and heir, you're supposed to be setting a good example for me."

Tauriel chose that moment to join them and smacked Kili lightly on the back of his head. "Quit tormenting your brother." He whined and she ignored him, turning to Fili, "She is ok, your One?"

Fili smiled at her, having grown fond of the elleth. "She's all right. We didn't have much time to speak before Kili interrupted, but she's alive and well."

Tauriel rolled her eyes. "I tried to stop him, but he was convinced that something had happened to you. Patience never was his strong suit." Kili muttered but they both ignored him and laughed at his disgruntled expression. Turning shy suddenly, she asked, "I should've asked first, is she willing to see me? I can go back to the inn if she's not."

Kili wrapped an arm around her waist reassuringly, "She's going to love you and you'll like her too. She's fun."

Tauriel looked unconvinced so Fili added, "She said that she wants to get to know her future sister and welcomes you to her home."

The word sister appeared to floor the elf as well and Kili shot Fili a look as if to say, see, it's not so strange.

They topped the hill and Bag End appeared. Tauriel examined it carefully before exclaiming, "What a charming home."

Fili said proudly, "Her father built it for her mother."

Making their way up the walk, Fili pushed open the door and walked inside. Feeling his chest ease slightly, he called, "Bella, love?"

She appeared in the kitchen doorway, her cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. While he had been gone, she had changed into a crimson skirt and white blouse with a emerald green corset. Fairly dancing over to them, she brushed a kiss on Fili's cheek before turning and looping her arm through Tauriel's. "C'mon, I need another pair of hands and it will be fun to get to know you. The rest of you, leave all your large weapons in the chest, you may keep your daggers and any weapon small enough to fit in a pocket. The meal will be ready in just a few."

Tauriel looked startled and looked at Kili pleadingly, but he just grinned at her encouragingly. Turning, he laughed when he found Fili standing frozen, staring after Bella. He teased, "Breathe, nadad. You look like you were just hit by a cave troll. The sooner you get rid of your swords, the quicker you can go join them."

Fili started to remove his swords then froze, indecision warring on his features. Kili gently coaxed the swords from him. "She's perfectly safe here. And if something decides to attack a house full of dwarves, you still have all of your knives. I mean, how many do you even have, do you know?"

He said shortly, "Enough. Maybe. I could probably fit a few more."

Kili sighed, "You have enough to fight off a berserker army. C'mon, she'll be wondering what's taking so long or if you've run for the hills."

He scowled at his brother and Kili held up his hands in surrender. "Stupid thing to say, sorry."

Right then, Bella popped her head back into the hallway. "Could you guys move the table back where it was the first time? There's not enough space otherwise. Then I'll need some help moving dishes to the table, so be quick about it."

Relieved to have a task to keep himself busy, Fili grabbed Kili and towed him over to the table. It only took a minute to move it, especially with Dwalin and Bifur helping. Once they had it set up to their satisfaction, they trooped into kitchen, gawking at the sheer amount of food that Bella had made in such a short amount of time. She laughed at them, "Tauriel knows what ones to take, listen to her."

She danced past them, brushing a hand lightly over Fili's arm as she passed. Entering the hall, she saw the other dwarves waiting quietly in the hall, their faces unsure. Feeling herself tear up, she flew over to them, pulling them into hugs, "Ori! Look at you! Bofur, your hat is still as jaunty as ever! Bifur, you lost your ax! Can you speak common again? Dwalin! How in the world did you convince them to let you come? I'm sure that you're invaluable to Erebor!" She hugged them all again, just for good measure, squeaking out a laugh when they hugged her hard in return.

She gently smacked Dwalin's shoulder, laughing at the fact that her feet were dangling off the floor, "Let me down. Everyone, go sit, I'm sure that you're starving. Dwalin, help me grab some ale, we need to celebrate!"

If there were tears in the gruff dwarf's eyes, she kindly ignored them, bustling over to the pantry and showing him what cask she wanted brought out. Returning to where the table was, she allowed Fili to pull her down into his lap. She frowned at the quiet dwarves, "Oh no, this won't do at all. This is cause to rejoice. Tell me everything that's been going on while I've been gone, I'm dying to know how everyone is."

Surprisingly, or maybe not because he was exceedingly deep feeling, it was Bofur that spoke up, "Why did you leave, lass? Without even a word."

Her heart dropped and she felt Fili's arms tighten around her waist. She said softly, "I'll tell you all later, I promise, but I don't want to talk of such sad things right now. Tonight, we're together again, I just want to enjoy that fact, please." Fili dropped a kiss onto her hair and she smiled up at him at him before returning her attention back to the others. "I am so glad to see all of you. So tell me everything, how is restoring Erebor coming? Have Gloin and Bombur's family made it to the mountain yet? Did Bard take over leadership of Dale? How long did it take Kili to finally work up the nerve to ask Tauriel to court?"

Tauriel giggled at that, their time together in the kitchen having done much to put the elf maid at ease. "Long enough, I thought I was going to have to ask him instead. But he managed to scrape up his courage and asked me shortly after midwinter. He was so adorable that I couldn't help but say yes."

Bella grinned at them, noticing that they had laced their hands together, "Kili is a good dwarf, even if he does remind me of an overgrown puppy sometimes. An excellent archer as well. I think that you two fit each other well."

The rest of the table started teasing the couple and Bella relaxed as the tension eased. Absently feeding Fili a bite of food, she asked Ori, "What about you and your brothers? I can see you as a royal scribe, Nori of course has to be spymaster, but I'm having trouble deciding on Dori. He could be a guild master, royal tailor, or tea shop owner."

Ori grinned at her, "He decided to open his own tea shop, although he can't remember where he learned his favorite blend. Your recipe, perhaps?"

She smirked at him, "Perhaps. We'll have to talk more, I want to know all about the great library of Erebor."

Fili nudged her to get her to take a bit of game pie and she took it, distractedly nodding her thanks while she chewed. Movement caught her eye and she looked over to see Bofur juggling some rolls. She laughed, even as tears pricked at her eyes, "Oh Bofur, I've missed you and your good cheer. A steadier friend I've never had. I suppose that Bombur's the royal chef while you two oversee the reopening of the mines, with plans to open a toy shop when things get steadier?"

Bofur grinned and tapped his nose, "Right on the money, lass. Psychic, you are."

She chuckled, "We traveled together for months, of course I remember talking to all of you about what you dreamed of doing."

Bofur nodded at her, "You always were a good listener, plenty of good ideas as well."

The table fell silent as his words sunk in. She said hesitantly, "You, remember?"

He frowned before his eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said, "Aye, I remember everything! Coming here, the quest, Smaug." Horror filled his eyes as he mumbled, "All of it."

She looked from dwarf to dwarf and each nodded. She threw her arms around Fili's neck and hugged him hard, "It's a miracle! Praise the Valar, I never thought that you'd actually remember me. I have my family again!"

Fili hugged her to him, running his hand gently up and down her back, "Aye, love. A gift indeed."

Bella beamed at them, "This is indeed a celebration! If you remember me, you'll remember how much hobbits adore kin, food, and parties. We have all three right here! I'll explain everything, I promise, but tonight is only happiness!"

Fili kissed her lightly, "As my lady decrees."

This caused Kili to mock gag, which broke the strain of the group. The rest of the meal was filled with unbridled merriment of companions long lost and happily reunited. After the meal they cleaned up the way they had the first night they were there, much to Tauriel's dismay and Bella's delight. They then retired to the parlor, where the dwarves pulled out their pipes and made themselves comfortable, singing and laughing. It was a much merrier gathering than that first night had been, as well as one of love and bonding. In other words, it was perfect.

It was past midnight when everyone finally started winding down and heading off. Tauriel had decided to bunk with Bella, so that they both could be properly chaperoned. Fili had lingered, hoping to steal one last kiss from his lass before he turned in. However, when Kili shuffled off to bed with dire threats if he didn't join him soon, Fili couldn't make himself move.

With a sigh of relief, Bella motioned for him to come over and sit in front of her chair on the rug in front of the fire. He did as she asked, but was rather puzzled as to what she was up to. Then she said shyly, "Do you still have your comb? I never got to put your braid in today."

Unable to speak past the lump in his throat, he wordlessly passed her the comb. She sighed as she looked at his messy locks. "Oh Fili, you haven't been taking care of yourself."

She gently started unraveling his braids and he swallowed hard at the feeling of her dainty fingers in his hair. Desperate to distract himself, he said roughly, "They were nice and tidy this morning, but I kept running my hands through them. I was out of my mind with worry about you. I couldn't figure out why the company would've forgotten you, why I would've forgotten you. I was half convinced that you had died on the battlefield and that we had all gone half mad with grief."

He chuckled, relaxing slightly under the gentle strokes of the comb. "You can ask Dwalin when we get back to Erebor. When I dreamed of you falling in the goblin tunnels, I went and trashed the training room. Was that where I had lost you? Was that why you weren't by my side? Or where you some sort of specter that I had made up in my poor scrambled brain from my fall from Azog? Had I slipped over the edge into madness?"

She soothed him. "I understand. At least I knew that you were alive. Sometimes I thought that I would go mad with the grief and loneliness of missing you. You were alive, but I could never see you again. Still, I would do it all over again."

He reached up and captured her hand, bringing it down and pressing a gentle kiss into her palm before letting it go. "I would've never stopped looking for you. Never. You are my heart and I was only half alive without you. I can't wait to introduce you to my mother. She's going to adore you as much as I do."

She sighed and handed him back the comb, carding her fingers through his hair and carefully sectioning it off. "Is it too late to change my mind? I've heard some stories about your amad. She sounds, fearsome."

He tilted his head back and grinned at her. "Yes, it was too late the day I met you. If need be, I'll camp out in your front garden in full view of Hobbiton until you agree to come with me and be mine. And you'll love amad, she doesn't let uncle get away with anything."

With a gentle frown, she tilted his head back down. "Hold still or this is going to be all crooked. I'm out of practice, I haven't done this for months."

He obediently settled down and just basked in her presence. After a few minutes, she said quietly, "I missed this."

He said drowsily. "Missed what, mizimith?"

"You're going to think me silly."

"No I won't."

She admitted shyly, "I've missed being able to braid your hair. To tell the world at a glance that you belong to me and I belong to you. I miss these quiet moments between us, when the world just seems right."

Before he could reply, they heard a quiet, "Awwwww", from the direction of the doorway.

Bella looked over to see Kili and Tauriel standing in the doorway watching them, Kili had his arm around Tauriel's waist and Tauriel was leaning her head on Kili's. Both wore soft smiles.

Fili said dismissively, "Ignore them. They are helplessly nosy and Kili is a hopeless romantic as well."

Bella returned to her task, but said tartly, "I'm starting to rethink my stance on siblings."

There was the sound of muted giggles and then a single set of retreating footsteps. However, when she looked back over, they were both gone. She murmured, "They're gone."

He said softly, "Good, nuisances. I didn't intrude on his courtship with her, he should respect my courtship with you."

She said hesitantly, "Is that what we're doing?"

He waited until she had clasped off the final braid before looking up at her and frowning, "What do you mean? Is there a problem?"

She hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of her blouse and not meeting his eyes. He turned and moved until he was kneeling in front of her. Nudging her chin up so that she met his eyes, he asked quietly, "What's wrong, ghivashel? You can tell me, anything, anything at all."

"I know that last time, circumstances were less than ideal and that you had to skip several steps."

"But?"

"I don't want to court." His face froze and she hurried on. "I know that we'll have to wait until we reach Erebor and probably a bit of time after that to get married, but I still want to be betrothed to you. I don't want people to think that you are available to be courted by anyone else. I know that betrothals can still be broken, but it shows that we have made a commitment to each other. I know that that's selfish of me, but I can't help it. When I dreamed of you in Erebor, there were always dwarf maids around you. I know that it's silly, but it hurt so much to see that. I had given you up, so that you could live and be happy. I knew, in my head, that that meant that someday you would marry and have children, but oh how my heart ached every time I thought of it."

He leaned forward and kissed her. This one was different from the others that they had shared. This one was gentle and tender, full of love and devotion, letting her know how much he loved her and adored her. He lingered, placing small kisses on the corner of her lips before returning to kiss her fully. It was so achingly sweet and she couldn't help melting into him.

Finally he pulled back and smiled crookedly at her. "There's nothing wrong with feeling that way. Dwarves are very possessive of those we call ours and the thought of you with someone else makes me see red. I am delighted that you still want to be betrothed. I won't promise that I won't still court you on the journey back, but I'm delighted that you still want to be betrothed. As for waiting until we reach Erebor for a wedding, I'm more than willing to marry you right here, even right now if you want."

She reached out and cupped his cheek gently before leaning in and claiming his lips in a tender kiss. She pulled back, "How did I get so lucky? But no, we will marry in Erebor. You deserve to have your family there, as do I, to have them celebrate with us. Erebor deserves to celebrate a royal wedding again. It will drive away the last shadow of Smaug."

Smiling, she rose to her feet. "Now, I'm going to turn in before my resolve crumbles and I beg you to marry me right this minute. Sleep well, my love."

He rose as well, his voice soft and tender as he said, "Until morning, love."

He watched until she disappeared into the room, slowly exhaling as the door shut. He couldn't help the giddy grin that crept over his face. She loved him, she still wanted to marry him, and she was willing to return to Erebor. He was blessed beyond measure.

Notes:

Ok, this note is going to be long, apologies in advance -

1. This is not the end of the fic. I'm going to make sure that the entire company is reunited and that Bella/Fili are wed before it's over. My muse demands it.

2. Oddly enough, this is the first scene that I ever wrote for this story, the one that sort of gave me the idea for the entire story. It just sorta snowballed from there.

3. In case you're wondering if the entire company has their memories back, the answer is no, it's a proximity to Bella thing, more will be explained about this later.

4. I was watching bits of The Hobbit and LOTR on youtube and part where they're leaving for the Grey Havens at the end of The Return of the King and Gandalf tells them that he's not going to tell them not to cry? Yeah, I totally had Yavanna say that because it fit so well with the entire story that I couldn't resist. Tolkien rocks!

5. So yeah, I think that's it. Thanks all you amazing readers, you have kept this story from dying much too young or taking too long to complete because of your lovely comments and views. I love all of you!