A/N: This chapter just seemed to keep growing and growing. I almost decided to make it two chapters but decided I liked it just the way it is! I hope you enjoy it! Review please!

Disclaimer: These characters belong to JRR Tolkien and I make nothing for my efforts.

Chapter 2

Balin and Kili travelled across Middle Earth, from Erebor to Hobbiton in the Shire making very good time. It is funny how fast one can travel when they stick to the main trails and byways and had no need to hide their trail. They stayed in inns, bartered for food and equipment in towns and villages, and were only forced to camp on rare occasions or when they decided it would be easier.

There seemed to be a lull in orc and goblin activities, their numbers having dwindled after the Battle at the Lonely Mountain. Only on two occasions did the dwarfs have confrontations with the nasty monsters. Even Mirkwood passed without incident, as King Thranduil deigned to have an elvish guard for them through the wood. This time, with no wizard escort, they managed to avoid a trip into Rivendell. All in all it was a rather enjoyable trip.

"Why must we stay here?" Kili asked, as they sat in the Green Dragon common room and awaited their dinner. The young dwarf took a sip of ale from his pint.

"Tis late lad. We will walk up to Bilbo's tomorrow."

The pair had arrived in Hobbiton a short time before, though it was dark, the sun having set an hour before. Balin decided they would stay the night at the inn and head out to Bilbo's smial in the morn. They were given two comfortable rooms upstairs, the beds a little small for the dwarves but not uncomfortably so. After stowing their gear, they met back in the common room, taking a table in a corner near a large fireplace, which allowed them to see the whole room. They watched as hobbits wandered in after a long day in the fields. The arriving inhabitants shouted happy greetings to each other, traded gossip and ordered ale to slack their thirst.

The younger dwarf was having none of it. "It was later the last time Fili and I arrived."

"Aye," agreed with Balin, before sipping his beer. "And looked how that turned out."

"It turned out well enough," the young dwarf argued.

"He fainted," Balin retorted, "And did not agree to join us until the last moment."

Giving his comrade an exasperated looked, Kili said, "That was Bofur's fault and you know it!"

The hat bedecked dwarf had told Bilbo "he'll melt the flesh off your bones in a blink of an eye," and to think of Smaug as a "furnace with wings!" He ended his description with, "flash of light, searing pain and then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash!" That was more than enough to cause the kindly and sheltered hobbit to faint.

"Aye," the councilor conceded, "But it still could have gone better."

There was nothing the younger dwarf could say to that because it could have gone better. They had invaded their host's home, later finding out he had not known they were coming, ate his food, tossed his dishes around, after he asked them to stop, and caused him to faint. They had not put their best foot forward, and it was a truly miracle Master Baggins had later agreed to travel with them.

"I just want to see him again Balin!"

"And if he is not there?"

"He is there."

"Kili," Balin started just as a dark haired hobbit lass returned with their plates of food. He waited for her to put the dishes down in front of them. "Thank you lassie."

"Most welcome," she replied. As she turned to head to another table she added, "Need anything else just give a shout for Poppy and I'll hurry back."

Balin didn't miss the look of interest the young hobbit cast at Kili as she walked away. Fortunately, the young dwarf was so intent on their discussion he missed it. "Tis more than possible he's not," the councilor said, "And we must be prepared for it." Pulling a hunk of meat off the bone, he continued, "I will not knock, unannounced, on a hobbit door this late again." He popped the juicy chunk in his mouth and started to chew.

"He's here," Kili argued, as he stabbed a piece of meat on his plate. "He has to be."

With a sigh, Balin asked, "And if he's not?"

Meeting the older dwarf's eyes, Kili gazed at him intently before saying, "He is Balin. He has to be."

Balin put his fork down on the table and looked across the table at his young companion. "Though we have come all this way I won't have you unprepared." Taking a deep breath, he continued, "It's likely he never made it home, that he died that horrible day."

"No."

"Aye lad," said Balin, "We may not like it but that is the ugly truth. Our dear hobbit could be forever gone from this world."

Turning away, Kili gazed at the fire in the hearth, eyes swimming with tears. "If he's gone, we will yet lose another." After long moments of silence between the pair he added, "Uncle still holds to the hope that his One yet lives, if that is taken from him," frowning as he shook his head sadly, "…we will lose him."

"Aye," the old dwarf agreed, though he knew there was more holding Thorin to Arda than Bilbo but it was not his secret to share with the young Durin.

"The Line of Durin has lost enough," Kili stated adamantly, "My family…" he stopped for a moment, before continuing, "My Uncle has lost enough…his home, our people, our family! Great Grandfather, Grandfather, my Father, Uncle Frenin…all gone!" he stopped again.

"We have taken back Erebor."

"We have," agreed Kili, glaring at the older dwarf and looking uncannily like his Thorin. "But at what cost? Has Mahal not asked enough? To take Uncle's One would be beyond cruel."

Balin silently agreed. With a sigh he turned back his attention back to his food and started to eat before it grew cold. Taking that cue, Kili picked up his spoon, scooped up a mouthful of potatoes and began to eat, saying nothing more.

Both watched as the small inn continued to fill with hobbits. Though most chose to ignore the pair of dwarves in the corner or possibly did not see them, they all seemed happy and energetic, laughing and crashing mugs together. A few even broke out in jigs, when a hobbit lad broke out a fiddle and started to play a lively tune.

Leaning back in their chairs, Kili and Balin enjoyed the warmth and happiness in the room, while sipping their ale. They could not help but grin themselves at the antics of the younger hobbits, as a pair jumped on a table and started to sing at the top of their lungs. The fun was broken up when the grey haired matron of the inn came out and grabbed the lads by their pointed ears and pulled them off the table, to the laughter and jeers of the watching crowd.

"What have I told you about dancing on me tables?" she asked them as she pushed them into a pair of chairs at the table next to the dwarves.

"Not too," they chorused, as they rubbed their offended appendages.

"Then sit there and behave yourselves," she chided them.

"Yes ma'am," the younger of the pair agreed, sheepishly.

Smiling, Balin could not help the small gaff of laughter at the youngsters' antics. They reminded him so much of another pair of troublemakers, with their actions and hair color, one a deep brown and the other golden blonde curls.

Starting at the sound the matron turned her attention to their table, "I hope they did not disturb you Master dwarf?"

"Nay! Not at all!" said Balin, as he glanced at his younger companion, who had just tipped back his mug. "They happily remind me of another pair of troublemakers I once knew."

Sputtering on his ale, Kili tried to think of a retort. Failing he raised a mug to the pair, toasted them and took a gulp of ale. Putting the tankard on the table, he grinned wickedly at Balin, before turning to the mischief makers sitting next to him. "How bout I teach ya a dwarven drinking song?"

"Yes!" the young pair of hobbits quickly agreed.

"Poppy!" Kili shouted, as he picked up his now empty mug. When she turned at the sound of her name, the dwarf waved the tankard, silently asking for another. She nodded and after taking another order, swiftly headed for the back of the inn.

"Now lads," said the young dwarf as he moved over to the hobbits table, "it goes like this."

Shaking his head fondly, Balin said, "Kili."

"Aye?" the prince replied, glancing over a shoulder at his companion.

"Nothing too racy," Balin instructed.

"Aye," Kili answered on a sigh, "taking away all the fun." He grinned and turned back to his new conspirators in crime.

Balin could not help but smile. It was good seeing the young prince smile again. Though they had retaken Erebor, the cost had been high and it had been to many long months of sadness for the young dwarf. Sorrow and hardship had dogged their heels since their stay in the Mirkwood dungeon and there had been little to laugh or joke about. Injury, madness, battle and death had surrounded the usually happy go lucky dwarf for much too long. Though critically injured, the pair of princes had escaped the Battle of the Five Armies alive. Later they were distraught to hear that their beloved Uncle was injured and expected to pass beyond Mahal's Gates and join their ancestors in his Halls. Bilbo's probable death was almost more than they could take. Even with the restoration of their home, there had been little to smile or laugh about in the last few months.

Kili and his co-conspirators sat at the table, their heads bent together, when Poppy returned with the dwarf's ale and sat it on the table. As she started to walk away, he called out, "Thank you Poppy!"

The hobbit lass smiled as she walked away, a sway in her step, to help other customers.

Leaning back in his seat, Balin pulled out a pipe and packed it full of leaf. As he lite it, he heard laughter come from the young ones table and smiled. Sitting he soaked in the atmosphere of homely comfort and companionship of the inn and waited to hear the song Kili taught the hobbits.

"Ready?" Kili asked the hobbit pair, a short time later.

"Yes," answered the blonde hobbit as he jumped to his feet, pulling his dark haired friend to his feet. "Come on!"

They scampered to stand in front of the fire together. Again the blonde took the lead, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. After the noise died down they started to sing.

There's an inn

Inn, there's an inn, a merry old inn

Beneath an old grey hill.

At this point the hobbit pair starts to dance, clasping hands and swinging each other in circles. Balin laughed and clapped at the tune Kili taught them.

And there they brew a beer so brown

That the man in the moon himself came down

One night to drink his fill!

Joining in himself, Balin sang out the last verse, took a big swallow of his ale and toasted the young dwarf at the nearby table.

Oh!

The ostler has a tipsy cat

That plays a five stringed fiddle;

And up and down he saws his bow

Kili mimicked the movement of playing a fiddle as the hobbits sang loudly and danced about the room. The audience began to stomp their feet and clapping, keeping time to the music.

Now squeaking high;

Now purring low.

The tune slowed as the young pair ducked low.

Now sawing in the middle.

They stood and the tune picked up yet again, as they continued their dance, swinging around Poppy, who managed not to drop her tray of mugs full of ale. She shook her head at the antics but laughed with the rest.

So the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle

A jig that will wake the dead:

He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune

The duet made their way back to stand in front of the large stone hearth as they finished the last few lines of the song. All the hobbits in the inn were laughing and still stomping along, the song seemingly a huge hit.

While the landlord shook the man in the moon

It's after three he said!

Finished, they bowed to all the cheers and shouts of approval from their audience. Shouts of "More!" could be heard from the hobbits.

"Master Kili!" the dark haired hobbit called out. "Come join us! Teach us some more of your marvelous songs!"

Smiling, the young dwarf tried to kindly decline, "Thank you but…"

He never got the opportunity to finish as his blonde protégé ran back and grabbed the dwarf's arm and started to pull him from the table. "Please! Join us Master Kili!"

Glancing at Balin, who gestured for him to join the hobbits with a grin and salute with his mug of ale, Kili finally gave in and allowed the young hobbit to pull him from his chair to stand in front of the fireplace.

Cries of "teach us another!" and "Sing for us Master Dwarf!" were heard from the approving crowd.

"The next one starts like this," said Kili, as he begun to teach his pupils the next tune.

Leaning back in his chair, Balin smoked his pipe, drank his ale and watched the young heir of Erebor smile, laugh and sing for the first time in a long time. It brought light and hope back into his heart. He dearly missed seeing Kili joyful.

0~0~0

"Now Balin?" questioned the young dwarf prince, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Kili," the older dwarf started.

"No, nothing else is possible," said the prince, refusing to even consider another option. He was not having this discussion again. Somehow Bilbo was alive and well in the Shire. Somehow….

With a soft sigh, Balin agreed, "Aye, let's go laddie," as he stood from the table and headed for the door.

As he stepped out, Balin was stopped to take in the view. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day. The sun was shining in a crystal clear cobalt sky that seemed to come down and kiss the emerald hills on the horizon. The path seemed to wander into the distance, disappearing between two hobbit holes, one on each side of the road. Residents could be seen going about their business, pushing carts, tending children or leading animals. Some nodded "good day" to the pair in passing, though all looked at the pair of dwarves standing in front of the Green Dragon. Remembering Bilbo's griping about his neighbors' tendency to gossip, Balin knew they needed to head out soon or news or their arrival would reach Bilbo before they did. Mahal willing.

They left their ponies at the stable and started down the footpath, hoping to attract less attention, not that it seemed to be helping. Every home they passed, if the residents were outside, they stopped what they were doing to stare at the dwarves. Those that met the dwarves at the tavern the previous evening waved and called out greetings, while others just stopped and stared. After the third time it happened Balin could not help but wonder exactly what it was about. Though strangers were rare in the Shire he knew peddlers made their way to the lush green land on occasion, as he spied a farmer using a dwarven made plow to break up the earth for planting.

"Why are they staring?" Killi asked, voicing his own puzzlement.

"I have no idea," Balin answered, as he met the gaze of hobbit lass heading the other direction. She quickly looked away and sped up her pace.

As they continued up the lane, Kili saw a dark curly haired hobbit lady, wearing a horrid hat and split pea colored dress, headed down directly towards them. From Bilbo's descriptions of her during their journey, the young prince was sure this was the detested Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. What was she doing coming from the direction of their burglar's home? When she approached them, she huffed in annoyance, turned her nose up into the air and muttered something about, "Dwarves!" and "Mad hobbits!"

Unwilling to allow the comments go uncontested Kili stopped directly in her way. At first he said nothing looking at her from the top of her ugly orange hat down to the tips of her toes, just barely sticking out from under the fringe of her dress. "At least we do not insult strangers as they pass," he commented, striking a blow to her hobbit vanity. After traveling with their burglar, all the Company was well aware of the pride all hobbits took in caring for guests.

The female pulled back from Kili, wrapping her arms around herself and gasped in disgust. "At least we do not accost innocent women in the roadway!" she sniffed. She moved to step around the young Durin and he did not stop her.

"If I had, you would know it," Kili whispered as she passed. The horrid hobbit said nothing, but picked up her pace, practically running down the path.

Moving up to join Kili, Balin heard him start, "Well, she's a right…"

"Kili lad!" the elder interrupted him, before he could finish the insult.

"I wonder what she was doing at Bilbo's home," Kili wondered, as he looked up at the green door. It was now unmarked by the Dwarvish rune but he would know it anywhere.

"I don't know," Balin said, as he started up the path again, "but I'm sure we will soon find out."

"Aye," agreed Kili, as he followed older dwarf.

Soon they were standing at their destination and the little door seemed to loom over them. Taking a deep breath, Kili stared at the door and tried to control his rampaging breathing. Soon they would know the fate of their burglar. They would know whether he lived and somehow returned to the Shire or if he died that fateful day, taking with him, their hope. Kili did not relish the idea of returning with bad news. He was not sure his Uncle would survive if they did.

'No!' Kili thought, 'he's alive! He has to be!'

"Ready lad," Balin asked, preparing to knock.

A firm nod was Kili's answer. With a steadying breath, the grey haired dwarf reached out and knocked on the green door.

A moment later it opened and a hobbit lass stood in the door, a heavily pregnant hobbit lass.

"I have had enough Lobelia!" she started yelling, before catching sight of the two dwarves in front of her.

Both dwarves stood stunned in the doorway. The hobbit before them was beautiful. She had chocolate brown curls, pulled back and secured in a low pony tail at the back of her head. She had aqua blue eyes, a pert nose, luscious lips, a full bosom and if he were not expecting she would have gorgeous curves and hips. She wore a blue dress, dotted with small white flowers. The dress complimented the blue in her eyes. All in all, she was striking but the only thing the dwarves noticed was a pregnant female standing in their hobbits door. Pregnant?!

Kili felt heart plummet into his stomach. No, no, no! It was not supposed to happen this way! Now he realized that there was something worse than telling this Uncle that Bilbo was dead. It would be far harder to return to Erebor and tell his Uncle that his One had found another and moved on. It made the young dwarf just sick thinking about it.

"Master dwarves?" the female questioned.

Clearing his throat, "Oh, ummm…Pardon me," Balin finally managed, bowing slightly at the waist. "Is Master Baggins home?"

"I am Ms. Baggins, can I help?"

Kili's head started spinning and he heard a buzzing sound start. This could not be happening.

"Who is at the door?" they heard an all too familiar voice from somewhere inside.

'NO, NO, NO!' Kili thought, tears starting to form in his eyes. 'Please Mahal, no!'

Finally the owner of the voice limped into view, leaning on a cane. It was their burglar, their hobbit alive and well and living in Bag End. Standing beside the female, he laid a gentle hand on the female's shoulder, without looking up at their guests, asked, "Who's here?"

"They have not given me their names yet," she explained, "Master dwarves?"

Bilbo looked up sharply at the word dwarves and his eyes filled with tears. He could not believe who was standing in his door. It was impossible. He had to be seeing things. "Sweet Yavanna," he whispered reverently, "Kili?"

Struggling for breath, Kili looked at the pair in the door. Bilbo had moved on. He had returned to the Shire, found himself a beautiful lass, settled down and was expecting a hobbitling. Did he feel nothing for Uncle? Feelings of betrayal on Thorin's behalf nearly overwhelmed the young dwarf and he shook with indignation.

"Kili," Bilbo said softly again, this time reaching out for the young dwarf.

"No, it was not supposed to be this way," tears filled Kili's eyes and slid down his cheeks. No longer able take the sight of their burglar and his pregnant lass, the dwarf instead, turned and ran down the hill.

"Kili!" Bilbo shouted and moved to follow.

"Let him go lad," Balin said.

For the first time, Bilbo noticed the second dwarf on his doorstep. "Balin!" he said, as he moved to pull the elderly dwarf into a big hug. After a moment the hobbit pulled back and asked, "What is going on?"

"I have no idea," Balin replied, as he looked at the pregnant hobbit. "Maybe we should sit down and you can explain it to me."

Note: The song Kili taught the pair of young hobbits in the Green Dragon was Bofur's Song from the extended edition of the first Hobbit movie. Bofur sang it in Rivendell.