Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ Chapter 6 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ Two days later ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Bilbo stood at the gates of Erebor with a group of Dwarves. Dwalin was standing close behind him and on guard. Bilbo had put up a fight when they were planning on leaving the room but ended up losing to Thorin, Dwalin, Balin and Kili. They were now gathered at the front gates with Fili, Kili, a small group of dwarves and Gandalf out the front.

Fili and Kili were both dressed in similar clothing to what they had been wearing through the first part of their journey to the mountain. Kili was armed with his bow and arrows with a sword on his belt. Fili was armed with his two swords and hidden amongst his clothing, various knives and daggers. The dwarves joining them had a variety of other weapons of their own.

Many dwarves had turned out to see the heirs to the throne off. The announcement the day before had many flock to see the brothers off. Bilbo hated the announcement because he was also put on display.

Bilbo looked out into the halls where the dwarves of the mountain had gathered hearing of an announcement to be made.

"Thorin do I really have to be up here standing with you?"

"Yes you do Bilbo. I'm announcing what Fili and Kili are going to do and also I'm going to announce your pregnancy."

"Thorin must we really?"

"Yes. I should have done it days ago but you were still weak. I'll be right beside you. You don't have to speak."

Bilbo groaned and looked back around the corner before hiding back behind the wall. Thorin chuckled and wrapped his arm around Bilbo's back and pulled him close.

"You'll be fine." Causing Bilbo to grumble his disapproval.

"Thorin?" Balin said coming to stand by them with Dwalin coming up beside them and Dís on Balin's other side. "Everyone has gathered."

"Thank you Balin. Fili and Kili here yet?"

"They are just coming up the steps now."

Thorin looked down the hall to see Fili and Kili coming towards them dressed in royal robes. Kili stopped beside Bilbo and smiled down at him seeing him still grumbling under his breathe. Fili stopped next to Thorin and looked at Bilbo before shaking his head with a small smile.

"You two ready?"

"Yes Uncle."

"Good."

Thorin turned slightly and pulled Bilbo along with him and walked out from behind the wall and stood before the dwarves that were gathered. All the talking suddenly stopped and Bilbo discreetly moved closer to Thorin's side, even though the arm was still wrapped around his back. Kili stood beside Bilbo and Fili was on Thorin's free side and Dís stood beside Fili.

"I have gathered you all here today to make two announcements. The first is that my nephews will be going on a special mission for me. Both have been entrusted with this important task and there is no one better for this mission." Thorin stopped for a second. "They will be taking the Arkenstone and destroying it." There was lots of whispers and cries of anger from the crowd. "The stone is nothing more than a curse to the King of this mountain. I will not have others fall to the same curse that took me. Anyone who would like to challenge me for my position as King is welcome to do so."

Bilbo tensed at this and his grip on clothes tightened. Kili saw Bilbo go tense and his grip on his clothes go tight and white. Kili discreetly took a hold of the hand closest to him and squeeze his hand in comfort. Bilbo shakily squeezed his hand back. Bilbo looked around the crowd wondering if any would try and challenge Thorin. He knew on any given day Thorin would be ok to fight and he wouldn't have worried as much but he was still injured and he didn't have full use of his arm yet. The crowd quietened down after that and Bilbo let out a breath he didn't know he had held.

"The second is that Bilbo Baggins is expecting with my heir." The crowd erupted into cheers causing Bilbo to blush slightly. "Though as of this moment my nephew Fili is still the heir to the throne until such a time comes as the child is old enough to decide if they wish to take over." There were unsure murmurs go around at that. "This is something the three of us have agreed on."

Bilbo tensed again waiting for the dwarves response to this. He knew it wasn't normal for the one born of the King to not name his first born his heir. But he hoped that they would understand that because Fili grew up knowing he would be the next King they didn't want to take that from him. The dwarves cheered making Bilbo relax again.

Thorin looked to Fili who stood beside him with an emotionless mask like he worn himself. Fili looked to Thorin and nodded happy that there were no problems with the decisions that Thorin had made. Thorin looked to Bilbo who was trying to disappear into his side now that it was over. Bilbo winced slightly at a kick and grabbed Thorin's hand around his side and pulled it a little closer to his stomach as he pressed in close.

"Time to go." Thorin said softly before waving a hand to the dwarves and turned to lead Bilbo away.

Bilbo relaxed against Thorin when they got out of sight of the gathered dwarves. Thorin looked to Fili and Kili who were whispering to each other with smirks on their faces. Thorin stopped walking and stared at them making Bilbo look at Thorin to figure out why he stopped. Following his gaze he saw Fili and Kili looking at them, smirking and whispering. Bilbo felt uneasy at their smirks and that's because he had learned what the two were like.

Bilbo snapped out of his thoughts when Dwalin put a hand on his back jolting him out of his thoughts. Bilbo looked to Dwalin before looking around and saw they were moving out of the gate. Bilbo quickly caught up with Thorin who had his forehead against Kili's and speaking in Khuzdûl to him. Fili was standing off to the side. Kili smiled and nodded to whatever it was that Thorin was saying and replied that same way. Bilbo looked around and saw coming over the top of Dale in the distance, shapes in the sky.

"The Eagles." Bilbo whispered.

Gandalf who was standing with the dwarves that were going on this mission looked to Bilbo hearing his whisper and followed his eye line. Gandalf nodded to himself before stepping forward towards Thorin.

"It is almost time."

Thorin looked at Gandalf before pulling away from Kili, who went to say goodbye to Dís and Thorin turned to Fili who stepped up to his uncle. Thorin reached into his robes and pulled out the parcel and held it out to him. Fili took the parcel that contained the Arkenstone and Bilbo's ring and placed them safely in his clothes. Fili bowed to Thorin before going to step away but Thorin grabbed him by the neck and put their foreheads together and whispered something to Fili in Khuzdûl. Bilbo really wished he could understand what they were saying but he couldn't. Kili walked over to Bilbo and smiled at him.

"You take it easy Auntie." Kili said to try and lighten Bilbo's mood.

"You both be careful please." Bilbo said shaking his head at Kili's new name for him.

"We will."

Kili hugged him gently, he wasn't going to but he could see Bilbo wanted to so he moved in closer to hug him. Bilbo wrapped his arms around Kili and hugged him back. He felt a small kick to his stomach that was pressed into Kili's stomach. Kili laughed and pressed his hand to his stomach.

"Seems the little one doesn't want you both to go either."

"Well we will be back Bilbo and we will see you both shortly." Fili said as he walked over.

Bilbo smiled and Fili pulled him into a hug as well. Bilbo felt another soft kick to his stomach that he knew Fili felt.

"Be careful." Bilbo said in his ear.

"We will."

Fili pulled back and they all turned to find Gandalf. He was already standing by the eagles that had landed. Fili and Kili with the group of dwarves they picked walked over to Gandalf. Bilbo moved closer to Thorin with Dwalin behind him. They group climbed onto the eagles and Fili and Kili on an eagle together.

"We will return in four days." Gandalf said to Thorin from at top of the eagle.

"We look forward to everyone's safe return."

Gandalf nodded and the eagles spread their wings and took off. Thorin wrapped his arm around Bilbo's back to keep him stable against the wind that the eagles created. Everyone watched till the eagles were out of sight. Thorin looked down at Bilbo before he leaned down to him.

"Let's head back inside. They will be fine."

"Those are your nephews Thorin. You know what they are like."

"True. They are both trouble makers." Dwalin said.

"Yes they are but not when the time is important. Then they are responsible and serious. They will be fine. Let's go back inside."

Bilbo gave one last look to the horizon where the boys had disappeared on the eagles before letting Thorin lead him back inside. When they got back up to the room Bilbo was staying in, Thorin was talking quietly to Balin off the side as to not disturb Bilbo. Dwalin was standing beside the bed unsure what was happening.

"Dwalin you don't have to stay here." Bilbo said.

"I will wait in case Thorin needs to go somewhere."

"Dwalin I'm sure you have better things to do." Bilbo said.

"Not really. I am technically Thorin's bodyguard Bilbo, so no I don't have anything better to do as you put it."

"Dwalin I know for a fact that you would not have followed Thorin around the whole time since the battle."

"True. I was actually training new dwarves and am Captain of the Guards."

"So why don't you go do that."

"I have my job that Kili asked of me."

Bilbo groaned at his response and mumbled something under his breath, making Dwalin laugh. Thorin and Balin had looked over hearing Dwalin laugh since it didn't happen very often.

"Balin can you take Thorin out for a while so he actually can do something. He really shouldn't be couped up with me all the time."

"You trying to get rid of me now?" Thorin said with a laugh as he sat on the bed.

"Yes well you do have work to do Thorin. You are a king. You should be doing what you are meant to."

"Balin and Dís are looking after all of that."

"They aren't the King. You are, you should be doing it yourself. Go get some work done."

"It wouldn't be worth it Bilbo, by the time I get to my study I would have half hour before needing to come back here to you since the child will be restless and will start hurting you."

"Thorin I think I'll be fine."

"Actually I had a thought about that Thorin." Balin spoke up, coming up beside his brother. "I was thinking that maybe we could move your desk from the study into your chambers. You're spending your nights in here anyway. This way you can go to your chambers to work on things needed and Bilbo can also go there and get out of here."

"There is only one problem with that Balin, technically only royalty are allowed in the royal wing. The only ones other than royalty are the company, high council members and trusted guards that are the exception to this rule. What of others that would normally enter my study, they aren't allowed in the royal wing?"

"Well we have guards at the entrance, so they can take what is brought and they can bring it to your chambers." Dwalin said.

"That could work." Balin said. "That way we still have no unwanted dwarves in the royal wing."

"Seriously? You're going to move Thorin's desk into his chambers so he can work there?"

"Yes. It makes sense actually. You are still in close proximity and Thorin can get his work done."

"Looks like you'll get rid of me yet Bilbo. Just think if Thorin was to walk down to his study you would my charming self to watch over you."

"Yeah charming." Bilbo grumbled, making the dwarves laugh at him.

"I will have some dwarves go and move your desk into your chambers Thorin. Dwalin will keep an eye on them while they are in the royal wing."

Thorin nodded and the two brothers left the chamber. Bilbo looked at Thorin who leaned back against the headboard and relaxed. Bilbo moved around and sat up beside him.

"I don't understand how I can still be so tired." Thorin said.

It was already midday and they two had been up since dawn preparing to see the two brothers off on their mission.

"You are still healing Thorin. It was a serious injury."

"Never had an issue before when I received similar injuries." Thorin told him making Bilbo smiled mischievously.

"Maybe you are just getting old. You know you aren't as young as you once were." Bilbo said trying to not laugh.

Thorin looked at him horrified but then saw the laughter in his eyes and quickly moved so Bilbo was laying under him and he pinned his arms to his side. Thorin then proceeded to tickle Bilbo gently. Bilbo let out a shriek of laughter and squirmed around trying to get free.

"You have insulted your King, you must be punished." Thorin said with a smile.

"Ah! Hahahahaha… Thorin ahh!"

"Apologise and I will end your punishment." Thorin laughed.

"I… I…" Bilbo said trying to say something but couldn't stop laughing or breath. "Breathe…"

Thorin hear this and stopped his assault on Bilbo's ribs but still kept him pinned. Bilbo took in a deep breath and moved his arms to wrap around Thorin's neck.

"I apologise for calling you old my King."

Thorin chuckled and leaned down to kiss Bilbo on the lips but stopped short. Bilbo frowned as he watched Thorin before leaning up and kissing him. Thorin groaned and pushed Bilbo back into the bed gently. Bilbo tightened his grip on Thorin to keep him from leaving. Thorin pulled back slightly to allow them both to breath before leaning his forehead against Bilbo's.

"Let's take a nap." Bilbo suggested.

"That sounds wonderful."

Thorin kissed him gently again before pulling away and Bilbo whimpered at the loss. Bilbo groaned before standing from the bed and shed himself of his clothes. It was a little warm today and to lay under the thin sheet on the bed with clothes on was not going to be good. Thorin watched from his side of the bed, already out of his own clothes, with rapped attention as Bilbo lay back on the bed with nothing on but the sheet he pulled up over his body. Thorin moved back onto the bed and pulled the sheet down from over Bilbo's stomach and looked at the bulge there. His gaze for a couple of seconds went to his side where the injury to his side was, it was now just a scab wound that was well on its way to healing. Bilbo watched as Thorin stared at his stomach in fascination before laying his hand over the bare skin and felt a small kick to the hand. Bilbo took the time seeing Thorin so fascinated in his stomach to look over the dwarf king.

Thorin no longer had bandages around his chest and stomach. Those were now just angry looking scabs. The only injuries that were wrapped in bandages were the one on his shoulder and two on his legs. Bilbo reached up and put his hand on Thorin's upper arm that had the bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Thorin looked up at him from his attention on his stomach.

"This should probably breathe Thorin. May I?"

Thorin nodded and Bilbo sat up and reached out and unwrapped his shoulder before tossing the bandages to the floor beside the bed. He would pick them up later since they would need new bandages to wrap it back up with when Thorin was to get dressed. Bilbo winced looking at the stab wound, the whole thing looked red and angry.

"Thorin have you been taking it easy when I'm not around? This still looks bad."

"I'm fine."

"Seriously though you can't just continue to bounce back from injuries this bad."

"Are you calling me old, again?"

"Well you are 195 years old, yes you are old."

"I am still well in my prime thank you very much."

"Thorin compared to me you are old. Hobbits only live for about 100years, if we are lucky."

"Well we still have plenty of time."

"That's not the point I was trying to make."

"I know. Bilbo I haven't been stressing my injury."

"You should stop using your arm so much."

"I will try but it's not so easy. But I will try to."

Thorin laid down on his back and opened his arms for Bilbo. Bilbo smiled and laid down on his side and rested his head on Thorin's uninjured shoulder. Thorin's arms wrapped tightly around him, one resting around his back and on his stomach, the other wrapped below his stomach and around his lower back.

"Hope you don't have any ideas Thorin." Bilbo stated.

"I can wish but no I don't."

"I may have forgiven you but not that much."

"I wouldn't want you to. I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"Thorin…."

"No Bilbo, I don't. I banished you. I almost killed you. I don't deserve your forgiveness. Mahal, I almost killed our child." Thorin said as he choked.

Bilbo felt Thorin shake and his face buried into his hair. Sighing Bilbo pressed in even closer and wrapped his arm around and under Thorin's arm and hugged him close. Thorin's body shook more and he held onto Bilbo tightly as Bilbo felt wetness seep through his hair. He didn't need that to know that Thorin was crying. He had been so strong the last week and Bilbo knew it was only a matter of time before he broke down. He knew Thorin more than likely broke down after the battle and while he waited for Bilbo to wake but this was the first time Bilbo had seen it. Bilbo just lay there hugging him trying to comfort him just show that this wasn't a dream and was real life and he was still there with him.

Bilbo pulled his head away and looked up at Thorin's face, his eyes were closed and tears were streaming out. Bilbo felt tears of his own start to leak out. Reaching up Bilbo kissed Thorin gently. Thorin opened his eyes slightly and Bilbo could see they were now red before Thorin closed them again and kissed him back. Thorin pushed back and rolled them both till Bilbo was laying beneath him and Thorin was above. Thorin pressed lightly against him before he pulled away and looked at Bilbo. Bilbo panted softly and looked at Thorin who was still crying slightly. Bilbo smiled sadly and reached up and laid his hand on Thorin's check making him press into it slightly.

"I love you Thorin, that won't ever change. You didn't kill us or banish us. We are both here."

Thorin felt the tears come back full force and he moved slightly so his body was on the bed before laying down with his head on top of Bilbo's chest and his arms wrapped around him firmly. His tears dripping onto Bilbo's chest. Bilbo smiled sadly and wrapped his arms back around Thorin after he pulled the blanket up over them in case anyone walked in on them. Though he knew the only ones that would walk in on them would be the company but he knew they probably wouldn't and the two that defiantly would were not even in Erebor.

Feeling drained Bilbo looked back down at Thorin and found him asleep. Smiling Bilbo shuffled slightly without waking him so he was laying down a little further and wrapped his arms back around Thorin before he slowly felt himself drift off to sleep.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 6 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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