When he'd arrived Bilbo gave the order for the birthday song to be sung with a wave of his hand. When that was done and he had headed the toast, Bilbo took an uncommonly long time sipping his wine; emptying the glass with a flourish before saying:

"I regret to announce that my dear, dear friend, Master Bofur, will have to wait one moment more before he starts opening what I imagine are many splendid gifts."

Amid the disappointed moans and sighs, Bilbo looked at Bofur whom seemed highly annoyed and more than ready to retire from the festivities.

"Yes, I know," Bilbo admitted, setting his glass aside and coming to stand behind Bofur whom sat tugging at the ends of his moustache.

"But…it is only because for the past few months, I've been keeping something from him. Something that I do hope will show Bofur how much I cherish our endearing friendship."

"What are ye goin on about?" Bofur asked in tight whisper, looking over his shoulder at the hobbit.

Bilbo smiled leaned close and whispered back: "Oh…I'm going on about him!"

Following the point of his finger, Bofur looked into the crowd, and his voice caught in his throat just as the crowd began to part.

"Oh…" Bofur gasped, and rose to his feet.

"Happy Birthday!" Bilbo declared as the dwarf broke into a quick run.

"BOMBUR!" Bofur shouted joyfully, leaping into the large dwarf's arms, "I can't believe it! Oh I've missed ye so much!"

Bombur held his elder brother tightly, lifting Bofur a few inches off the ground, while the crowd of hobbits cheered and clapped at the two reunited brother's.

"How have you been?" Bombur asked, setting Bofur back on his feet, "It's been some time, how's the shop?"

Bilbo, followed by the three other astounded dwarves, approached quietly and took Bombur's extended hand in a firm shake; "You planned this all rather well!" Bombur laughed at the hobbit, "Not even Nori figured it out!"

Bofur looked from Bombur to Bilbo and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.

"Ye…you pulled all o' this off…fer me?"

Bilbo smirked; "Of course. You've been rather unbearable as of late and I thought this was exactly what you needed. I've missed your smiles."

Bofur felt his cheeks burn and before Bilbo could protest, the dwarf pulled him into a tight hug as well.

Looking over Bofur's muscled shoulder, Bilbo caught sight of Wil who observed the two of them with heavy, thinking eyes before he bowed his head and disappeared from sight.

Ignoring the pang he felt at seeing the hobbit vanish into the crowd, Bilbo released Bofur, and offered up a warm smile.

"Shall we end this ruckus?" He asked, "I'm sure the two of you would love to catch up!"

Bofur nodded, poking his brother's wide belly, "O'course! I'd love to catch up…make sure I still have a dozen nieces and nephews…looks like ye might have eaten one of 'em!"

All five dwarves burst out laughing and without further urging from Bilbo, they made their way into Bag End; Leaving the hobbit to deal with the guests.

"This has all been wonderful!" Bofur chuckled as he waved goodbye to the final group of guests and came to stand behind Bilbo.

When they were alone Bofur turned Bilbo around and bent down; kissing the hobbit gently and, again, he hugged him close for few moments before they broke apart.

"To think even after I've been nothin' but a dolt," Bofur observed softly, his fingers caressing up and down Bilbo's arm, "Ye went and did somethin' I don't think I can ever repay!"

Bilbo sniffed and shrugged; "No worries," He said, and allowed Bofur to pull him close once again.

In the darkness, listening with softly smiles to the clamber and chatter inside, Bofur and Bilbo stood swaying each other in the cool evening breeze.

'Ahem…?'

Bilbo and Bofur jumped apart and looked over at the intruder.

"What the hell are ye doin' here?" Bofur demanded, "The party is well o'er Mr. Whitfoot!"

"Bofur!" Bilbo started to protest, but it was Wil who spoke next.

"I've only come to ask Master Baggins for a moment of his time. There is no need to throw a tantrum…though I am starting to believe that is your way."

Bofur's eyes narrowed, "Whaddya mean by tha'?" He demanded, "Why're ye here? Can't it wait till mornin'?"

Wil, surprising both Bofur and Bilbo, snorted coldly. "You know…Bilbo is in no danger from me…and he has been a dear friend for years…you don't own him!"

To Bilbo's growing fear, a low and guttural growl rose from Bofur's throat and the dwarf began inching his way toward the hobbit that didn't flinch nor show any signs of fear.

"Please!" Bilbo protested, stepping between the two, his hand upon Bofur's puffed up chest.

"Bofur go and see your brother! I'll be inside in a moment!"

Bofur, the distrust and anger still evident in his eyes, nodded briskly and hurried inside Bag End, slamming the door as he did.

Wil sighed and crossed his arms; looking over Bilbo intently. "He treats you like you're a pony!" He argued, "You don't deserve that Bilbo."

Bilbo, his anger fading, sighed and threw his arms up; "You should have seen him when we first started living together," He explained and He cracked a dry smile, "however, thank you for your concern but~"

Wil leaned over the front gate quite suddenly and had Bilbo not stepped back…

"Wil…" Bilbo gasped, his fingers tracing over his lips, "N-no…you can't…you're married!"

Wil looked utterly devastated and slowly stepped back; "Oh…well, then I look forward to seeing you tomorrow to~"

"I can't. Not anymore," Bilbo interrupted, "I meant to talk to you about later but…I can't help you anymore."

Whitfoot started to speak, but ended up gnawing on his lower lip and watching as Bilbo dashed inside Bag End.

"Bofur stay with me tonight! There's no need for you to sleep in another room!"

The dwarf, dressed only in his long night shirt, shrugged his back at the hobbit as he sat at the edge of their large bed.

"Ye really…ye really got me confused. Ye completely humiliated me tonight," Bofur explained, "They all heard ye! Dwalin 'n Nori and the rest. Choosing to stay outside with that hobbit fellow…the one that insulted me…on me own turf no less! Mahal! The night was going so well before all tha'!"

Bilbo, crawling across the bed, wrapped Bofur tightly into his trembling arms.

Bofur's hands came to grip the smaller ones about his shoulders and, shifting so he could look at Bilbo, asked: "Is there anything you need to tell me?"

Bilbo flinched and his cheeks burned; "No," He breathed, searching Bofur's hazel eyes,

"Only that I hope you're not thinking that I'm…that I would…Oh, Bofur, that was a long time ago!"

He longed to confess what had happened earlier; how Wil Whitfoot had tried to kiss him and how he'd refused him. But, Bilbo realized, He didn't want to.

Bofur sniffled suddenly and wriggled free of Bilbo's hold and stood; Pulling back the covers the dwarf asked: "I'm not gettin'…too old fer ye?"

Bilbo burst out in a fit of much needed laughter, much to Bofur's annoyance, and he moved so that the dwarf could slide into the bed.

Laying his head on his chest, Bilbo scratched at Bofur's belly, trying to contain the giggles that welled up inside of him.

"What is this?" He asked looking up, "I never thought dwarves worried about aging! Not with how long you tend to live! Why, I imagine you still feel rather young yourself!"

Bofur snorted; "I'm not as youthful lookin' as Mr. Whitfoot," He pointed out, "I guess I'm just noticin' more wrinkles and a few white hairs. Not to mention, it's obvious he still fancies ye and is without signs of old age!"

"They're smile lines," Bilbo corrected as his fingers caressed Bofur's cheek, " and so what if Wil fancies me! He's married…and in a way, so am I. I do wish these quarrels between us, about him, would stop. You've nothing at all to worry about!"

"Bilbo," Bofur sighed as he hugged the hobbit close, "I just…You were so miserly at first…but then ye seemed so happy when he came and asked fer yer help. I don't know…I just wondered if maybe…you still fancied him. Ye did tell me it hurt when he went off and married a lass."

"It was sudden," Bilbo explained, "I was young."

"So was he," Bofur said, "Maybe…maybe now he realizes what he gave up and wants another go at it."

"Well," Bilbo said, "He can try all he wants." Then, much to Bofur's pleasure, Bilbo removed his own night shirt and came to straddle the dwarf.

"I have someone else in mind that I really do wish would have a go at me," Bilbo whispered seductively, kissing the dwarf passionately. "Right now. It's been far too long…and our arguments haven't helped."

Bofur sighed and nodded in agreement as he rubbed the hobbits bare back. "Tell me about it," He chuckled softly, "I think tha's why I've been so…testy lately."

"I've...I told Wil I was done helping him with the book," Bilbo announced, and Bofur's caressing fingers stayed for a moment at the small of the hobbits back.

"Are ye…I mean, I hope it wasn't something ye didn't want to do," Bofur answered, and he kissed Bilbo delicately, "Are ye sure ye want to stop workin' with 'im?"

Bilbo nodded and received a deeper kiss from the dwarf whom rolled and placed the hobbit beneath him.

"Happy birthday," Bilbo whispered into Bofur's ear, "I hope I've made you happy."

Receiving only a satisfied grunt as an answer, Bilbo relished in the sensuous touches and kisses that the dwarf continued to plant upon him.

Though, as the kisses and touches grew in heated desperation, in the secret darkness of his thoughts, Bilbo perceived a warm smile and twinkling eyes that didn't belong to his partner.

A great shudder erupted through him and he clung desperately, for reasons other than arousal, to Bofur's firm shoulders as someone else's face caused the hobbit to moan satisfactorily into his lover's ear.