A/N: I promised you guys an update didn't I? So here it is! Thank you to everyone for their kind words. I won't lie I don't have the thickest skin and the third degree burns from the sun didn't help. It's like people missed the note saying I am doing this for alling friend. I just couldn't believe how badly people were taking it. Also if you read my 'All that glitters...' story it does have an update coming I just want it to be perfect.
Billa woke as memories of last night danced in her head. She felt such shame for the way she acted in front of Thorin, displaying her problems like that. She would have to make it up to him somehow. As she climbed out of bed her mind called her back to it, to just hide under the covers and let life pass her by. But, she couldn't now; she had guests to tend too, and she wanted to make breakfast for Frodo for a change.
As she got dressed Billa realized she had changed outfits three times. Each time she changed it was because she had a passing worry Thorin wouldn't like it. She huffed at herself, how silly it seemed to be head over heels for a dwarf she didn't know. She decided it was the hormones, and that even though she found Thorin attractive, nothing would happen. She was sure hobbit women were nothing like dwarven women and besides, she was pregnant. She finally settled one a simple pastel blue sundress it was still loose enough it didn't cling to her swelling middle.
After Billa grabbed everything she needed from the pantry and storeroom she made her way into the kitchen and start setting everything down when she noticed there was a kettle for tea sitting over the fire place.
"Ms. Baggins?" Thorin said softly from behind her, so not to spook her.
It didn't work Billa jumped up and yelped. When she turned and saw Thorin she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Oh, Thorin it's you."
"I am sorry Ms. Baggins scaring you was not my intent." Thorin said offering his arms for her to use to steady herself.
The hobbit took his offer and held on of his arms until she didn't feel so weak in the knees.
"It's alright; I just thought I was the first one up for once." Billa admitted as she turned to continue getting breakfast ready.
"You have been having issues sleeping?" Thorin asked as he moved over to the kettle to get some tea for Billa, "I am not keen on tea so I picked the one I thought smelt the best."
Billa chuckled as she got the oven going, she looked out the small kitchen window to see the sun hadn't started to peak over the hills yet, "I wonder which one you picked." She chose to ignore his question about her sleeping. She hoped he wouldn't press it further.
Silence passed through the kitchen though it wasn't completely awkward. It also allowed Billa to focus on cooking and not be distracted by Thorin's kindness, or his seemingly good looks. It had been a while since someone not Hamfast or Gandalf was kind to her, it made her nervous. She wasn't sure how much time passed as her mind shifted to auto pilot while she cooked, but Thorin pulled her from her numbing thoughts to offer her a cup of tea.
"Oh, thank you." Billa said as she took a quick sip.
The hobbit's eyes widened for a moment as she almost choked on the sip she took. Never had se tasted tea so strong, "Oh my."
Thorin frowned, "I am sorry, it tastes bad?"
"Oh no just stronger than I am used to, I see you made the chamomile tea." Billa said carefully taking another sip of her tea. She didn't want seem ungrateful for Thorin doing something so thoughtful. Mostly she didn't want Thorin to feel bad.
The dwarf relaxed a bit, "Oh, good. Do you need help with the cooking? I am a little savvier with cooking…though not much."
"Oh no, you are a guest. You have done enough already. You just go relax, I can handle this." Billa said playfully shooing Thorin out of her kitchen.
Thorin was able barely able to pour himself a cup of tea before Billa chased him out of the kitchen. As he took a sip on his way to take a seat, he wrinkled his nose and turned his face away from the teacup The dwarf felt horrible for subjecting Billa to the tea. He sat the cup down on an end table and made his way down the hallway; he decided he would smoke a little before everyone else woke up. He grabbed his pipe and tobacco from his room and made his way to the front door. He wasn't sure if smoking was allowed in the home, but he was afraid to step back in the kitchen to ask.
Making his way back through the living area the scent of food cooking filled his nose. He wouldn't tell this to his sister's face, but this was the first time he had smelt food that made his mouth water; save for Bombur. His ears picked up the faint sound of humming; Thorin was glad Billa seemed in better spirits. She seemed like too nice of a person to be in any real pain.
Once outside Thorin took a seat on the wooden bench that was out by the home's mailbox and packed his pipe and lit it. The sun was just starting to come up over the hill. He could see its light starting to sweep over the sleep Shire. Even with little light Thorin could make out the beauty the Shire held. As a dwarf he knew the beauties that mountains held and how people often passed them by, but this place this Shire, he didn't think anyone could miss the beauty of it.
Thorin could understand why Gandalf thought this place might be good for him; it was relaxing and not an ounce of greed or materialistic things that might set him off; just flowers and small gardens. His mind drifted to what kept him up most the night and the reason he was here. With grandfather dead and his father aging and taken by the dragon's sickness eyes were starting to look at him and his brother. His own brother throwing out slurs that he was prone to the sickness. Though his brother was just trying to win the vote to be the new king, he was right. It slowly crept into him until he was almost blinded. The things he was willing to and did stoop to, to make sure the gold of Erebor would be his. It gave him shivers. He struck his own brother, no assaulted him. Though, Thorin would swear sickness or no he would have still pummeled the idiot.
Thorin wasn't aware of how long he was out there until he went to take another hit off his pipe and found the tobacco all spent. It was then he also realized the sun had actually broken over the hill he was facing. Billa's cooking could was now filling the air around the house. She must have opened a window at some point.
A loud crash that was followed by a shout that was clearly Billa broke the serine morning. Thorin jumped up and ran back into the house. He could already hear his nephews groveling. He turned into the kitchen to see Kili and Fili picking up dishes off the floor.
"What in Durin's beard did you two do now?" Thorin demanded.
"We didn't mean to scare her…just a joke…" Kili said finding the courage to speak up.
The glare Thorin gave his nephews made the two of them scurry like mice out of the kitchen. After Kili and Fili were out of the kitchen and more than likely already cowering in their room Thorin walked over to help Billa finish picking up the dishes.
"I am sorry about for my nephews. If the pull something like that again just hit them upside the head. We dwarves have thick skulls so it won't hurt. That is unless it is rude to do in hobbit culture, if it is than come get me I will do it." Thorin said.
Billa chuckled, "There is no need; Frodo sometimes tries to do the same thing. It is just harmless fun."
"The fright could be bad for the babe…" Thorin started but stopped when he saw the odd look Billa was giving him.
"Thorin, I hope this isn't too personal, but I know little of dwarves…are dwarven pregnancies…difficult?" Billa asked.
"I'm sorry; I don't mean to fuss over your unborn child. Yes, pregnancies among my kind are a risky and often end poorly. My mother was considered blessed to have birthed three children. It is hard for me not to fret when around women who are expecting." Thorin explained feeling sheepish.
"Oh don't look so down, it's nice to know someone else might care about me and the baby." Billa said softly. She would be lying if she said she didn't like the attention.
Thorin quickly snatched up on of her hands and held it tightly, "As long as I and my nephews are welcomed in this house you will be cared for. We will help in any way needed. It is the least we can do. Besides, no woman with child should feel uncared for."
Billa felt her cheeks heat up, it was so warming to hear those words come from someone. Thorin seemed so passionate even if his exterior looked so cold. The smell of food entered the hobbit's nose and snapped her back to reality.
"Oh my goodness breakfast!" She yelped as she jumped up and ran over to the oven.
Thorin chuckled and grabbed all the dishes and started to set them on the table. He smiled to himself; Billa Baggins was not like any woman he had ever met. Then again hobbits as a whole seemed gentler than the dwarves.