So, with a grain of pain as usual.

No beta, feel free to apply.

Bilbo woke up rested. He didn't remember when he slept so well. He was alone, everyone else was up already. He joined them at the door examining shin changer as he chopped logs with mighty tump. Gandalf invited him to greet skin changer. Bilbo hesitated, Beorn looked big and scary, but Thorin signalled him to go and he complied. There is probably logic in wizard's plan, he'll try to believe that. Still when they were in front of Beorn Bilbo hid behind Gandalf's robes. He never felt so small. When he was revealed he smiled at startled Beorn hoping he won't get stomped on.

Dwarves rolled out causing commotion but all seemed to go well enough to be offered breakfast. Bilbo appreciated the food and the chairs although all was too big. Skin changer was big and scary but he did all good host would do and Bilbo relaxed enough to pry some.

"Are there others like you?" he inquired.

"Once there were many" said Beorn with his harsh voice. "Now there is only one."

Such tragedy summed in two sentences. There was nothing more to ask really. After some talk and a moment that looked he'll throw them out for disliking dwarves, but then he agreed to give them supplies and Bilbo turned to the meal while they gathered supplies. Bilbo did missed his second breakfast so he used the opportunity to just sit and eat for a while. When he was full he noticed he was alone at the table. That suited him just fine. To be indoors in a quiet moment was something he didn't have in a long time. He closed his eyes but soon was startled by a goat that poked him asking for a treat. He gave her a piece of bread and wandered around. Everything was big here, animals, plants and dishes. He opted against washing dishes and went outside. Everyone was at work shouting, catching horses, gathering supplies while Beorn towered them looking grim as ever.

They didn't look like they need help and horses looked like they could stomp on him. So he ventured around the house looking at Beorn's garden. He couldn't but admire his gardening skill. One day Bilbo's garden could be as rich as this. For a huge guy like he was Beorn was gentle towards beasts and plants.

As Bilbo circled around the house his gaze kept returning to the oak that was overshadowing the garden. It was huge, beautiful and strong, he couldn't get a proper view of it so he went to the back of the garden. There it stood, the trunk was so wide Bilbo had to circle around it to count foots, he got to twentieth foot when a bird echoed around with enchanting sound. Bilbo lifted his gaze just to be caught into beauty of the tree top. The sun light was coming through the leaves lighting it into bright green, everything danced on the breeze and Bilbo smiled from the pure wonder and beauty.

Suddenly the shadow fell upon him and Thorin stood between Bilbo and the light. He couldn't make out Thorin's face at first but he wasn't startled, the moment was too beautiful to miss it, more so he wanted to share it with him.

"The oak" said Bilbo returning his gaze towards the leaves "it's so breathtakingly beautiful, I've seen nothing like it."

"Nothing" said Thorin with his harsh tone and Bilbo closed his eyes to hear that bird better.

Suddenly Thorin's hand was heavy on Bilbo's shoulder.

"Don't do that" said Thorin with a hoarse voice and Bilbo opened his eyes just to see Thorin piercing blue eyes staring at him.

"What?" Bilbo was confused for a moment. "What did I do? I only admired the view" he said and Thorin moved in closer without a word putting his other hand on Bilbo's shoulder and suddenly Bilbo was surrounded by Thorin's hair, scent and heat. It was all too much to stand still and pretend nothing is happening so he lifted his hand to Thorin's cheek and finally stroked his beard. It was rough but soft at the same time. Thorin leaned into his touch and Bilbo smiled at him. This was his chance to satisfy his curiosity so his other hand dived into his hair.

"This can never be" said Thorin heavily and Bilbo felt somehow lightheaded.

"Of course it can't" answered Bilbo lightly. "I'm sure it's not happening at all, I'm just dreaming again, I'm probably sleeping on the ground from some herb and you'll find me soon sleeping."

"Why would you dream of me? Why would you dream of this?" Thorin hands on Bilbo's shoulders shuddered.

"Isn't it a beautiful dream?" Bilbo moved an inch closer. "You and me like this, like there is a freedom to just like someone, to just find them breathtakingly beautiful, to desire them" Bilbo's breath deepened and he thought this was the moment to wake up because he could feel the pain beneath the desire, it will break out at any second.

"No" answered Thorin heavily and there it was, pain beneath his words "it's terrible, it makes you forget where you're off to and why you must persist, it lures you like a fairy into the woods to be sacrificed to ancient gods."

"But what a sacrifice it would be" Bilbo sighed and decided to end this dream, it began to ache him, his heart throbbed too severely, so he closed his hands around Thorin's neck and pulled him into a kiss. Thorin didn't resist him. Bilbo didn't wake up as their lips met. As Thorin's lips responded to his, as his beard scratched Bilbo's face and Thorin's hands squeezed him tightly making it hard to breathe, it was evident that he wasn't dreaming. The pain was there, because it will end all too soon, but Bilbo won't be the one to pull out, so he kissed Thorin fiercely taking all he could get.

And what he got was more than he dreamed for. Thorin's taste, his scent, his strong hands digging into Bilbo, his chest pounding and his desire, but moment was passing. Nothing was enough, the hunger has awaken in Bilbo and he wanted more, he wanted skin and touch but as soon as he put his hand inside of Thorin's shirt finding his chest he was pushed away.

"No!" Thorin warned him off harshly. "This can never be! I'm not…" he trailed off panting looking wildly at Bilbo.

"I know" Bilbo nodded sadly. "Not mine to hold or touch" he felt tears climbing up but he pushed them back down lifting a painful smile. "I'm sorry I thought this was a dream, I usually wake up if I try anything real."

"Don't dream of me!" Thorin pushed him against the tree trunk angrily. "I'm not…" he trailed off once again as he leaned into Bilbo's face, his breath ghosting Bilbo's lips. Bilbo wasn't sure will Thorin kiss him or punch him but he didn't care. Any would suffice to sober him up. Thorin did neither. He removed his hands from Bilbo's arms and backed away slowly. Every inch ached Bilbo, the air between them was cold.

Looking at the ice inside Thorin's eyes was too much to bare so Bilbo closed his eyes.

"You shouldn't do that" said Thorin hoarsely "to lower your guard like that, anyone could aim at you."

"You're here" said Bilbo seriously refusing to open his eyes and meet the reality of rejection. "You're on the guard, I'm useless in a fight anyway."

"You're not useless in any sense" said Thorin angrily. "And maybe you should be afraid of me."

"No" Bilbo shook his head now determinant not to look at him, tears have reached his eyes and he wasn't going to let Thorin see them. "Not you, not ever, I'll never fear you."

"I'm not…" Thorin tried again. "I'm not the one to admire to, I'm not worthy to be admired."

That made Bilbo open his eyes but Thorin has already diverted his gaze striding away. Bilbo wanted to say something but there was nothing to say. In a moment Thorin's swift shadow was out of sight and Bilbo let his legs slumber down. He sat beneath the oak tree, the cloud covered the sun and everything looked dark and hollow. Bilbo could still feel Thorin's beard on his cheeks.

Bilbo was worried. His mother always warned him that his curiosity will break something sooner or later. He worried that he broke something in Thorin just to satisfy his curiosity, his need to touch the forbidden. His gaze fell upon an acorn just within his reach. It fell there recently, it was still shiny and new, untouched by decay or animals. Bilbo picked it up and smiled.

"You'll grow big and strong in my garden" he said to the acorn. "Creating a magical shade, reminding me of this moment where I did what I shouldn't have, took what wasn't mine. Maybe I am a burglar after all, the one who steals things that are protected. Now, after facing Thorin I think defying a dragon should be a small feat to accomplish."

He smiled rubbing an acorn between his fingers, the sun was back, warm and shiny. Bilbo whipped his tears and got up.

"I'll sit on my bench enjoying the shadows you'll throw around me" he said satisfied but then reality hit him. Soon they'll reach the mountain, he'll do his task and then he'll be back home, alone on his bench, far away from all of this… from Thorin. He felt hollow inside from that image and for the first time the thought of coming back home didn't brought him comfort. He put an acorn in his pocket anyway, just next to his stolen ring. Burglar, which he is, he thought determinably and went back to others keeping in mind his task.

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