Bilbo sighed as he rubbed his hand across his face and closed his eyes, as the brothers continued their loud protests over his attendance. He sat on the chair, listening to the growing voices until he started getting angry. Ever since the night a few weeks back, both dwarves began to hover over him as if he was made of fragile porcelain. They followed him around, never let him out of their sight, and always. At every point of time at least one of them had him in their vicinity. And frankly he was beginning to get real tired of it.

Slamming his hands on the table halted the one sided conversation rather quickly.

"I have had enough." Said Bilbo without raising his eyes. " I have told you many times that while young, I am the master of this house. I take care of myself, and now of you. We have settled very well together, and for that I am grateful and happy." He looked at Fili.

"You hover. You are always near. I know that you worry, I do. I know you had to be the one to look after Kili a lot. I understand that as well. And I know that you see me as someone who needs protection, and coddling, and you look at me as though I am a child. But Fili, I'm not." At the last sentence he raised his voice and Fili avoided his gaze.

"Kili" Startled, the younger dwarf hastily looked at their hobbit. "You never let me go to the market by myself, and you scare my guests the first time they come in. You are extremely suspicious of strangers. Kili, last week you chased away my grocer for "looking at me for too long". At that the boy could only flush, stubbornly refusing to admit he did something wrong.

Rubbing his hand over the side of his face Bilbo looked at the two across from him, now seated once more.

"Yes, I've had some bad things happen to me. I lost my parents and a lot of me went with them. But I have been getting better; you're helping me get better, both you and your uncle. And I love you to bits for it, I do, really. I can't imagine my life without the two of you in it anymore, its just not possible for me, but at the same time… You don't own me."

Bilbo rose from his chair and walked to the two morose dwarves who had hanged their heads and were staring at their laps. He placed a hand on each of their knees and crouched down. Squeezing slightly he drew their attention to his face.

"But we're not trying to own you Auntie." Pleaded Kili as his hand grabbed the hobbit's. "We just want you to be safe and alright."

"We don't want to lose you." Continued Fili, doing the same as his brother.

"You're not going to lose me! I am a grown hobbit. I know you think I'm young, but remember that we age differently, and by our standards I am fully mature. I can make my own decisions, and meet whatever people I want, and I most certainly can go wherever I want." Said the hobbit gently, trying to convey his point as strongly as he could.

"But what if something happens to you?" Cried Fili, distressed." We'd never forgive ourselves! "

"Or what if someone snatches you up, and you marry, and then there won't be a place for us here anymore!" Spoke Kili as his grip on Bilbo's hand tightened.

Bilbo could only stare at them.

"Is this what you're afraid of? That if I go, and meet someone, they'll take me away from you? That I won't love you anymore?" He asked with disbelief.

They could only nod hesitantly.

Thoughts filter through Kili's head, as he imagined Bilbo going off to this party, meeting someone amazing and bringing them back to their home. And then they'd be in love, and Bilbo wouldn't spend so much time with them. He'd probably be uncomfortable with cooking for them then, because he'd have to cook for his chosen. And he wouldn't go promenading with them anymore, even if he was the reason they even knew that word. And then his chosen would want to move in, and they wouldn't have a place in Bag End, because Bilbo would want his own kids, his own kin there. And then where would they go? How would they go about telling their uncle that they couldn't even stay in one place and be good for him? That they weren't good enough for Bilbo…

The darkness of Kili's mind was lifted when the mentioned hobbit freed his hand from his grip and placed it on the young dwarf's cheek. Tilting his head a bit up in order to be able to look in his eyes Bilbo made him look back and smiled.

"Don't you ever think there would be no place for you in this house." He stated firmly. "I told your uncle and I'm telling both you this. You will always have a home here with me. Even when you get tired of me, or we fight, or I meet someone. You're mine now. My dwarves. All three of you. And nothing you do can change that."

Smiling at them he rose up and leaned against the table, winter sun shining its last slivers through the corners of the drapes, basking him in a red and gold glow.

"On that note, I really do have to attend that gathering, least we want to become frowned at by the whole Shire, of course."

"What do you mean by that? Isn't it just a party?" Asked Fili as he subtly sniffed up some stray moisture in his nose. Must've been all the spices flying around the kitchen, making his smeller itch.

"Oh no!" Protested Bilbo. "This is a Took gathering. Absolutely everyone invited must come, or face grievous consequences! Most of the time even those who aren't invited show up anyways. The Winter Gathering is a tradition from a very long time after all. It's a chance for the whole family to see every new mature hobbit, and for those mentioned to show them off, make sure that they are seen in the most favorable light, presenting an image of maturity and readiness for self-sufficient living. Now in most cases the parents are still in the picture in order to chaperone, but for those whose' folks aren't available, or just can't make it in time, another relative is usually present anyways. It's all very proper really from what I heard." Finished Bilbo with a contemplative look to the side.

The brothers could only grin as they recognized their chance and, trading glances, seized it as soon as possible.

"So what you're saying" started Fili

"Is that there has to be chaperones with you in order for this party to be all proper and such?" Finished Kili

"Well I suppose so, yes. But since my parents are not here a Took cousin will be taking their place, the closest one I suppose… Hmm I think it might be Ferumbras Jr…" Though Bilbo of the plump dark haired hobbit. "Not that he likes me much, though I never figured why? ..."

Sharing a mischievous glance between them, Fili and Kili sprung up and wound their arms around the hobbit's shoulders, leaning against him so their cheeks were pressed into his.

"Oh but Auntie dear" said Fili

"Why have some Took cousin?" continued Kili

"When you have us!" Finished both dwarves sweeping their free arms to the sides, leaving a bewildered hobbit stumbling over their little speech.

Thinking it over he agreed that that was a way for them to attend the party, and for him not to be settled with someone he did not particularly like. Plus old Grammy Took really liked the dwarves and she still had quite a bit of influence in the Took Hill. If she saw that he was indeed alright by himself, no young lad or lass would be pushed towards him with too much persistence. And having these two there might just be beneficial

"Alright nephews." Smiled Bilbo "You can come with me to the Winter Gathering. But!" At that he extracted himself from the clingy dwarves and stood in front of them. "You be on your best behavior. There will be no plate throwing, no cutlery battles, no fiddling on old hobbit's moustaches, no stealing food, and most certainly no scaring every single one of the guests in there away from me. I mean that last one! I have to show I can I can interact well with others. Can't do that with you two growling at everyone from behind my shoulder. Oh, and Fili?"

"Yes?"

"No. Biting."

"But what if they deser…"

"No biting!"

"Oh, alright…"

"Alright." Repeated Bilbo as he relaxed a bit and let his hands slide from his hips. "Then sit down and finish your food, the pie won't eat itself."

Needing no further prompting the duo sat down and went about decimating the hobbit's supply of food, while he joined them at a slightly eased pace, smiling into his tankard as he watched the two argue about what to wear to the Gathering, and who to definitely keep as far away as possible from him.

No matter what he said, both Fili and Kili still knew he needed their protection from some of the more amorous hobbits at the party. Especially those that have been eyeing their Auntie for the past few weeks when he started going to the market more again. Especially that red haired grocer lad with a smirk that kept his gaze firmly on Bilbo's behind the few times he came over. After all. They already had an uncle and had no desire for their Auntie to get another.