Guest: Thank you!

Auraelia: I hope you like it!

Vincent Aguila: I wonder what you think happened...? I hope this was soon enough!

KiliandFiliGirl: Thank you so much! I was going for the smirk, I'm glad that's how you pictured it!

Nimrodel626: I love that reference :) Thank you, it means so much! Hopefully this was soon enough

OMG: OMG thank you! :D (insert cheese) I am so glad that you like it!

So, I went back and fixed some things in the last chapter. Like that one grammar problem, so sorry about that. AND I didn't include the whole song! How could I do that?! Anyways, that has been updated. I know I said this chapter was going to be longer, but I wanted to get something up before too long, and this is what came out. Sorry :/

But I hope you enjoy!


Feelings of the Heart

Uncle?

Bilbo's mind raced; his heart was thumping against his ribs, threatening to burst out. That was not what he was expecting Fili to say. His sons were the nephews of a royal king in exile...and they were being brought up in a hobbit hole a world away.

Bilbo wanted to cry.

"Fili? Kili? Is it really you?" Thorin whispered, pulling back his hand quickly when he realized it was reaching out for Fili, to touch the face that had long been burned in his memory as lost forever. He had given in long ago, unwillingly accepting that he would never see his precious nephews ever again; they were lost to the world. To him.

Yet here they stood, the spitting images of their younger selves. Kili's curly brown hair still looked wild, untamable. He was even beginning to grow a beard! And Fili; Fili. Thorin had no words to describe how he felt seeing his eldest sister-son. He looked as fierce as he did the day he went missing; his golden hair pinned back, his beard in full swing. There were even braids hanging from the corners of his tight smile. But Fili was different; there was a coldness in his eyes, a bitterness that Thorin had not expected. He took a step back, hearing the others whisper behind him in wonder.

"Bless my beard, look at 'em. They haven't changed a bit!"

"Mahalu me-turg, is this really happening?"

The hobbit, he noticed, looked ready to faint; he was keeled over with his hands on his knees. His daughter was at his side, rubbing his back and softly providing comforting words. Kili was holding Fili's hand, looking so much like the little boy he was while whispering in his ear with a frown.

"Fee, what's going on? Why did you call him uncle?"

Fili squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head.

Why now? Why did this have to happen now? Everything was perfect...

"Kee, I can't tell you. You just have to trust me. Can you do that?"

Kili's frown deepened, but he nodded.

"Help Papa to a chair; I'll...handle this."

Kili paused, conflicted between helping Bilbo and staying with Fili. But Fili gave him a small smile, one only Kili could discern, and gently shoved him towards their hobbit. Together, Bilbo's children helped him into the other room and into his armchair, Kili giving his brother one last look before disappearing from sight. Fili sighed, then turned back to his uncle.

His uncle.

Mahal.

"Dwalin, perhaps you could go and make sure that everything is packed and ready for tomorrow," Thorin suggested. But it wasn't a suggestion.

"Course; c'mon lads, I'm not packing yer stuff for yeh." The huge dwarf hustled everyone out of the room until only Fili and Thorin remained. An awkward silence fell between them, until Fili finally sighed once more and sat down, gesturing for Thorin to do the same.

"Fili, I-"

The young dwarf held up a hand, shaking his head.

"No. I am talking. Thorin, I know what you're going to say, but I cannot tell you what you seek to know-"

It was Thorin's turn to interrupt.

"You have no idea."

Fili stopped short, his brows furrowing as he gave his uncle a perplexed look.

"About what?"

"What I am going to say. Fili, you have no idea how I feel. The-the immense relief, and happiness; the anger and regret. I thought you were gone forever; and to find you here, alive and safe, in the Shire of all places, living with a hobbit and your brother...there are no words."

Fili was shocked, to say the least. Even though he had only been around his uncle for a few years of his life, he had never seen or heard of him expressing his feelings like this. It was not what Thorin Oakenshield did.

Yet here, now, he was doing just that.

Mahal save him.

"I don't know what to say, Thorin." Fili said quietly, staring at the table. There was a small noise in Thorin's throat, one he did not intend to make. He took a deep breath, picturing the day that Dis had told him the boys were missing.

"You can start at the beginning. Who took you?"


"I'm alright, Lee, really. I just need to sit for a moment." Bilbo assured his youngest, patting her hand which was resting on his shoulder.

"Are you sure? I could get you some tea if it will make you feel better."

"No, that's alright. Just stay right here, that's help enough." He smiled, patting his leg and motioning for her to sit. Lenorah sat and huddled up against Bilbo, who put a comforting arm around her.

"Papa, what are they doing here? Why...why did Fee call the tall one uncle?"

Bilbo hesitated.

"Lee...you do know that Fili and Kili are adopted, yes?"

Lenorah rolled her eyes.

"Of course I do, Papa, I'm not a Bracegirdle. It's obvious they aren't hobbits; but I thought that Fee and Kee did not have a family, and that's why you took them in?"

'You ran away to protect them. But why did you bring Kili?"

"I...I couldn't leave him. He woke up when I was leaving, and wouldn't stop crying unless I brought him with me. We've been by each other's sides since the day he was born; we've never been away from each other longer than a few hours. I couldn't leave him. But he can't ever know about this. He thinks we're on an adventure. Please don't tell him!" Fili pleaded, staring at his brother. Bilbo nodded in understanding.

"I won't breathe a word; it's not my place. Although, I will tell you that I think you should tell him. He deserves to know the truth."

"No. He can't. We can't ever go back home. As long as we're away, Uncle and Amad will be safe. I'll protect Kee myself. No one is going to get hurt. But I'm going to miss them. I'm going to miss them alot." More tears began to spill, and Fili suddenly looked much more like a child than he had so far.

"Fili, I-you can stay here!" Bilbo blurted, a swell of unexpected hope rising in his stomach. He suddenly yearned for the little dwarflings to stay there with him, in his little hobbit hole, where they could be together. Not lonely. But like a family. Bilbo suddenly wished beyond hope that Fili would say yes.'

"Lee, I think that they should be the one's to tell you. As for why the other dwarves are here...they wanted me to go with them on a fool's errand across the world. Don't tell them I said that."

Lenorah chuckled as Bilbo rested his chin on her head. That's when he noticed a certain someone was missing.

"Where's Kili?"

"I think he went outside; he left right after you sat down."

For what seemed like the hundreth time that night, Bilbo's heart sped up. Motioning for Lenorah to stand up, he promised to be right back. He hurried out the door, ignoring the few dwarves lingering outside enjoying their pipes. He walked up and down the paths, calling out his son's name. But he was answered by silence. At least, he wished it was at that moment.

"Bilbo! What on earth are you hollering about?"

"Never you mind, Lobelia! Have you seen Kili?"

Lobelia Sackville-Baggins snorted in disgust, her large hat threatening to topple off of her head. It made her look like a scarecrow, if Bilbo were to compare her.

"That filthy dwarf you call your son? No, I am pleased to say that I have not seen him. Hopefully he's off somewhere taking a bath-"

Bilbo was in her face in a moment.

"Stop. Right. There." He growled through gritted teeth. "You've done nothing but ridicule my sons since the day I took them in, and I will have no more of it. Don't you ever, ever say another foul word about or to my sons again, or so help me, you will be sorry. Am I understood?"

Lobelia floundered for a moment before shaking her head, too shocked to come up with a smart reply.

Bilbo turned without another word to her, heading towards the meadow.

"Kili! Kili, where are you?"

"Here, Papa." A small voice said quietly. Bilbo whirled around, trying to find the origin of the sound in the growing dark. He finally spotted him beneath a tree; in fact the very tree they had been sitting under just that morning. Bilbo sat down next to Kili and wrapped his arm over his shoulders, giving him a tight squeeze.

"Kee, are you alright?"

There was a dark chuckle, and Kili suddenly stood up, throwing his father's arm aside. Bilbo tried to ignore the sting of pain in his heart.

"What do you think?"

"I think that you should not use that tone with me." Bilbo scolded, his parental instinct shining through even at this bleak moment of time.

"I'm sorry. I...I'm just confused. One moment we're sitting here, on a sunny day with our friends celebrating our little sister's birthday, and the next, there are eleven dwarves and a wizard raiding our home and declaring themselves uncle. I don't understand!"

He turned and kicked the tree as hard as he could. Tears streamed down his face and he blinked furiously.

"And now I'm crying over those stupid dwarves for ruining everything. I never cry!"

Bilbo grabbed his shoulders, spun him around, and pulled him into a tight hug. Kili melted into his embrace. He was shaking.

"Kili, it's alright to cry. Everyone has to cry at some point. It shows that you have a heart, and feelings. Listen to me; you are Kili Baggins. Fili Baggins is your brother, and Lenorah Baggins is your sister. Hello, allow me to introduce myself; my name is Bilbo Baggins, and I am your father."

Kili pulled back, trying to hide his smile.

"I know that; what are you trying to prove?"

"I was just reminding you that you have a family who loves you and is here for you no matter what. Even when...uncles, come visiting out of the blue. Can you remember that for me?"

Kili finally laughed, shaking his head at his father's antics.

"Yes, Papa, I'll remember."

"Good. Now, why don't we go back; we did leave your brother and sister there all by themselves, and I can't even begin to think what our guests will do in our absence. Probably use the doilies as dishcloths or throw around mother's dishes again."

Bilbo shuddered in mock horror, making Kili laugh again.

"Like you care about those things anyway. Honestly."

"No, I don't. But I do care about you. All three of you. With all of my heart. Please don't ever forget that."

Bilbo muttered softly, more to himself.

There was a tap on his chest, right above his heart. He looked up in surprise to see Kili staring at him seriously. It was a strange thing for Kili to be serious.

"Never."


I'm sorry. It was too short. And I left you hanging with Thorin and Fili. So sorry. We will get to them next chapter, promise! Hopefully I will have something up soon! Please feel free to write a little something in the box below :) Untill next time!