"Ye know he or they won't own up to it!" Bofur protested as he pulled a comb through his hair, "I don't see the point in all o' this!"
Bilbo, buttoning his waist coat, sighed before looking desperately at his partner.
"I know they won't, initially, own up to it," He explained, "But there is more to this than just some silly little boy who decided to cast a stone and break a window! Trust me, I know them."
As he started on his first braid, Bofur sat upon the bed, deep in thought. "Ye realize that…we might be feedin' the gossip if we do go through with this? That instead of one child…we might next 'ave to deal with adults?"
Bilbo hurried over and took over the braiding of the dwarf's hair; saying nothing at first as he completed the first plait.
"Irregardless, you didn't deserve to have your store vandalized. It can't be tolerated" Bilbo pointed out as he began the second plait.
"Agreed," Bofur said quickly, "But still…we might be bringing trouble our way if…I mean, from what ye told me about them they love any and every opportunity they get to make ye miserable!"
"And this will no doubt be one of those times," Bilbo revealed, "But what happened shouldn't happen again. I know the boy did it, I saw him earlier that day lingering around and I've no doubt his parents begrudging attitudes played a part in just why he did it. Now let me finish your hair, will you?"
Bofur sighed and turned so that Bilbo could start on the final braid. "I'm worried," He confessed as Bilbo easily completed the final braid, "What if it gets worse? I mean…it was only a window this time but Bilbo, I hate wonderin', if someone might do ye harm!"
Bilbo's hands came from behind and held Bofur tightly for a moment; his head resting on the troubled dwarf's back, he replied: "I worry the same about you. That's why we've got to try and work…whatever it is we can work out with them. You deserve to be able to maintain your business without fear of further disturbance."
Before Bofur could make reply the door bell jingled and the two broke apart slowly; before going to answer the persistent ringing, Bilbo turned and quickly kissed Bofur's cheek and whispered: "Try not to loose your temper."
Bofur chuckled and followed after Bilbo; "Shall I hide the spoons?" He asked with a teasing smile.
Before he opened the door, Bilbo looked over at Bofur whom leaned casually against a door way and urged him to open the door.
Mustering his best false smile, Bilbo pulled the door open.
Instantly, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, offered him only a soured look.
"Bilbo," she offered, "I hope we didn't stop you from answering the door any later than you did."
Swallowing his annoyance quickly, Bilbo smiled still as He shook his head. "Of course not!" He chuckled, "We've been more than ready to receive you."
"Oh, so we've not interrupted anything?" Otho Sackville-Baggins, standing behind Lobelia, inquired. "That's a relief!" and he winced when his wife jabbed him roughly with her boney elbow.
As husband and wife entered, so did a small male hobbit that glared at Bilbo suspiciously as he passed his host without a word and stood, waiting beside his parents.
Bilbo cleared his throat and urged Bofur to come closer; "I don't believe I've ever introduced you," He explained, "This is Bofur, a very good friend of mine and the owner of the shop that…uh, I'm sorry to say, your son decided to target with a stone a few days ago."
"That you say he targeted," Lobelia corrected, waving her umbrella about as if to make a point, "Well, shall we go to the den?"
Bilbo, getting a reassuring nod from Bofur, nodded his own head and urged his guests onward.
"I hid the spoons!" Bofur whispered into Bilbo's ear, and he chuckled when the hobbit hushed him.
"What was that?" Lobelia asked over her shoulder as they entered the warm and welcoming den.
"Oh n-nothing Lobelia, Bofur was just suggesting we put the kettle on," Bilbo lied, and cast the amused dwarf a weary look.
"So," Lobelia began as she observed, much to Bilbo's frustrations, all the décor that hung around them with hungry eyes, "Has your…guest, help you procure any of these new items?"
"No," Bilbo explained softly, "I bought what I felt I needed with the treasure I earned in Erebor."
Lobelia scoffed and Otho snorted.
"Mum and Dad said you're a fool for running off the way you did!" Lotho explained as he picked at his face, "I can't even see why you'd go running off with a bunch of stinky, rude dwarves any ways!"
Bofur's face went slack and his eyes darkened for a moment before, to both Bilbo's and his amazement, Otho smacked the back of his son's head so harshly, they both grimaced.
"Lotho! Don't-be-rude!" His father scolded; ignoring the tears that sprang to his sons eyes.
Bofur felt his heart quicken, filling with both pity for the child, and anger for the father who stood smirking as his own child fought back the painful tears.
"Yes," He said softly, speaking to the guests for the first time, "Let's not be rude." Otho looked rather puzzled when Bofur cast him an accusatory look.
"Please," Bilbo offered, squeezing Bofur's tensed arm with his hand, "Let not start off this way. Let's take our seats and I'll go and fetch us some tea and biscuits."
As Bilbo hurried away, Bofur and their guests took their seats; Bofur all the while feeling the heavy stare of Lotho whom regarded with a sneer as he picked at his face.
"You've got big ears!" Lotho said curiously, "Bigger than my dads even!"
"Lotho," Otho scolded, "He can't help it. He's a dwarf."
Bofur chuckled, struggling to maintain his composure, and said: "We all 'ave big ears. Just like ye hobbits have pointed ones. They come in handy, as I'm sure ye know."
"You're dressed funny too!" Lotho persisted, and Lobelia hid her laughter behind her hand while Otho smirked.
"Fashion differs from person to person, lad, as I'm sure ye can see," Bofur explained, hoping desperately Bilbo would soon join them.
"What's with the stupid hat?" Lotho asked, but before Bofur could answer, Bilbo entered with a loaded down tray.
"Everything alright?" Bilbo asked, wringing his hands after setting the tray down, "have I missed anything?"
"Ach! No! Lotho and I were just havin' a nice chat," Bofur explained, and he cast the boy the nicest smile he could gather at the moment. "He's rather curious about me."
Lotho, picking his nose once more, observed Bofur with deep interest and asked: "Why do you talk so funny? We don't talk funny!"