A/N: Gah this is uploaded on my phone with the 'copy and paste' function so apologies for any weird formatting issues :/ This chapter takes a little break from the plot... it's basically just fluff. In fact is is just fluff, with a few feels tthrown in too. ;) Enjoy... :D

Chapter 6

For the rest of the week, Dís and the girls were busy with preparations for the party. Bilbo was highly amused at how excited the dwarves became as the party got closer - not that he was immune to the charms of a good party. He had attended - and thrown - many a party in his youth and even he grew a little pink with excitement at the thought of the coming celebration.

If everyone else was excited, Thorin only grew more withdrawn. He would smile at dinner, perhaps laugh; but to Bilbo it was strained and it never quite reached his eyes. Dark circles began to appear under those eyes, and Bilbo grew worried.

He cornered Thorin one morning after breakfast, grabbing hold of Thorin's sleeve to stop him walking away. Thorin looked tired.

'Thorin, are you alright? You look... You look awful,' Bilbo admitted. Indeed he did - his skin was wan and the normally bright eyes were dulled. But he smiled at Bilbo's words, and for a moment looked like himself again.

'I'm fine, Bilbo. Really.'

Bilbo shook his head.

'No, Thorin. You're not. What's wrong?'

How Thorin wanted to tell him that nothing was wrong; how could anything be wrong when he was there, hand on his arm and those eyes like emeralds looking at him so earnestly. For a moment, Thorin was sorely tempted; he opened his mouth but no sound came and he shook his head.

'I'm just... A little tired,' was what he settled for. Bilbo's gaze softened and a small smile played on his lips - lips Thorin wanted to kiss -

No.

'We need to get you out of this Mountain,' Bilbo was saying when Thorin managed to push away any potentially dangerous thoughts. 'It's the stress. You need some time away from here.' Thorin made once more to shake his head but Bilbo interrupted him.'Honestly Thorin, just for the morning! We could walk to the market for a bit. Please, Thorin, do this for me?'

And who was Thorin to deny his hobbit anything?

He sighed and pretended to look crosser than he felt, but felt an answering smile slide onto his face at the grin that appeared on Bilbo's.

'Let me fetch my jacket and some food -' Bilbo ignored Thorin's chuckle '- and we can go!' Thorin watched him run off and quickly headed to his own chamber to fetch his coat. He knew he was smiling something silly, and this was confirmed when he bumped into Dís, who did a double take.

'What's happened to you?' she asked disbelievingly.

'I'm going for a walk. With Bilbo.'

Dís gave a sly grin. 'Are you now.'

Thorin ignored her and continued on to his chamber, retrieved his coat and hurried back to meet Bilbo, who was now wearing his jacket and hefting a large basket. Thorin couldn't help but smile at the ridiculously large amount of food Bilbo thought they'd need on this walk - and they were going to the market, they could buy food - but he took the basket anyway, lifting it with ease where Bilbo had had to resort to near dragging it.

They left the Mountain through the main gates and started on their way down the road which led to the market. The land around Erebor was mostly rocky and quite sparse of much vegetation, but as they drew closer to Dale and Long Lake the land grew softer, hillier, with grass and trees and shrubs. Bilbo had stared out over this land many a time while enjoying a smoke, thinking of his hole back in the Shire.

As they climbed a soft hillock Thorin saw the small, serene smile Bilbo wore as he breathed in the grass and the trees. There were crickets chirping and Bilbo was so delighted at the sound. Thorin felt guilt begin to seep and settle in his stomach, crawling under his skin.

It was his fault Bilbo was reduced to this - drinking in the sounds and smells of green grass like a child. His fault, because Bilbo stayed only because Thorin wanted him to. Thorin had hoped, for a while, that maybe Bilbo would want to stay of his own accord, but seeing him like this Thorin realised that perhaps Bilbo and the Shire was like him and the Mountain - like an itch that won't go away, the desire to be reunited with his homeland was ever present and always burning deep in his heart. Now he had his home back, but he'd taken Bilbo from his. Thorin faltered, falling behind.

Bilbo noticed the dwarf's absence and looked back, flashing him a smile that caused Thorin's heart to stutter painfully. Mahal, he needed to stop this. Thorin shook his head.

'Why don't we just stay here?' he said. 'Have a picnic? That's what hobbits do, isn't it?'

Bilbo had an incredulous look on his face. 'Are you telling me that you've never been on a picnic?' he asked. At Thorin's shake of his head, Bilbo couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped him. 'You haven't lived! We need to rectify that.'

Bilbo rejoined him and together they found a spot, under a tree and close to a little brook which gurgled merrily. Bilbo sat with his back against the tree trunk, head lolling back against the bark. Thorin sat uncertainly down next to him, keeping his back straight and not touching the tree.

Bilbo opened one eye and raised his eyebrows. 'Honestly, Thorin. You're not going to turn into an elf just by touching a tree.'

He grinned impishly and Thorin couldn't stop the smile that crept onto his face. He leant back against the trunk and was surprised by how comfortable it was - admittedly it scratched a little and he'd probably end up with bark in his hair for weeks to come, but it was peaceful.

And when Bilbo leant his head back against the bark, his curls tickling Thorin's ear... Well, no one saw the smile that he allowed to play over his features.

Bilbo revelled in the feel of the sun on his face and the wind in his hair, the soft grass tickling his legs. Soon though his stomach began to grumble slightly, so he sat up and crawled over to the picnic basket and began rooting through it.

'Already?' Thorin asked, amusement in his voice.

'Second breakfast is long overdue,' Bilbo said seriously, ignoring Thorin's chuckle. 'Maybe if you ate more you wouldn't be so grumpy,' he said, hiding a grin.

'I'm not grumpy,' Thorin muttered and Bilbo turned and laughed at the disgruntled expression on Thorin's face. Seeing Bilbo laughing, Thorin's face softened and he relaxed into a smile when he realised Bilbo wasn't serious.

Bilbo continued rootling through the basket and began setting things up, pulling out a loaf of bread and a block of cheese, cold ham and slices of chicken and a few crunchy apples.

'We should have a picnic blanket,' Bilbo said, 'but I forgot to pick something up-' He was cut off by Thorin pulling off his cloak and laying it on the ground.

'Will this do?'

But Bilbo looked aghast.

'We can't use your cloak! It'll get food crumbs all in the lining and-' Thorin simply stared at Bilbo, amusement clear in his blue eyes until Bilbo stopped talking, sighing instead. 'Alright, if you insist...'

He set the food down on Thorin's coat and handed him some cutlery; Thorin began slicing the ham and bread while Bilbo pulled out a jug and two cups.

'Normally we'd have lemonade, or elderflower cordial, or fresh orange juice, but the kitchens were a bit low on that,' he wrinkled his nose, 'so we'll just have to make do with ale.'

Thorin gave a snort as he took one of the filled cups from Bilbo, who scooted back to sit next to him on the cloak. They began to eat, a companionable silence falling as they enjoyed the food.

'Tell me about the Shire,' Thorin said after a while.

Bilbo stopped. 'I've told you about it before. And you've seen it.'

'You've seen Erebor, but do you now know everything there is to know about life here?'

'But the Shire is hardly as complicated as here!' Bilbo laughed. 'Everyone just enjoys a quiet laugh with plenty of food and merriment and peace and quiet. And books,' he added. 'Lots of books. Although that might just be me.'

'Do you miss it?' Thorin braced himself for the answer, for the resounding yes that would mean his hobbit intended to leave.

'What, do I miss Lobelia sticking her nose in everywhere? Do I miss the silly disputes over whose hedge is sticking over whose fence? Do I miss the honestly quite boring routine, the same day after day?' He looked Thorin in the eye, his own a darker green than the grass around them but no less bright. He gave a small sigh.

'Sometimes I do. Sometimes I just want my cosy smial and my armchair and my bookcase. I would give anything to be able to just get up and fry myself a nice fish and read while I do so - I still haven't got used to this being waited upon thing, you know - and I miss my garden and all the flowers in it. It should be beautiful this time of year. But then I really think about it and I remember all the things I find so dull and irritating and no, I don't really miss it at all.'

He smiled at Thorin. 'After all, home is where the heart is. And my heart is here with you all.'

Thorin tried not to let the hobbit see how deeply his words affected him. He looked down at his plate, food forgotten for the minute in his relief. But he couldn't resist asking further, knowing the answer might hurt. 'But surely you have some family you miss?'

'Well, there is Drogo... He's my favourite cousin. A good lad he is, you know. When I saw him last - only a few weeks before you lot arrived on my doorstep! - he was quite taken with another cousin of mine - Primula. She's a Brandybuck, more adventurous than his Baggins stock but she's a sweet lass. Neither of them are quite of age yet, although I do believe Drogo turns thirty-three next month - and even then they'll have to follow the five years of courting rule before they can marry -'

Thorin made a strangled noise beside him and Bilbo looked around, concerned he was choking.

'Five years?' Thorin gasped. 'You have to court for five years before you can marry?'

'Of course,' Bilbo said, sounding affronted. 'Don't you? It proves the couple's dedication to one another. That they're prepared to see this through.'

Thorin merely nodded, gulping down some of his ale. 'Courting isn't usually quite so long... It's just until a dwarf has a steady income and a job so he can provide for his family. Once that's achieved a couple can marry whenever they like - provided they are of age. Some like to wait but most don't see the point in delaying.'

Bilbo digested that thoughtfully, chewing on his apple. 'I suppose that makes sense. And prevents the scandal when a couple get married early!'

'Has that happened much?'

'Oh yes. It's much more common that old bags like Lobelia would care to mention. My own grandparents did - on my mother's side of course. You wouldn't catch a Baggins breaking propriety - until me, of course, but I'm half Took. But my grandfather Gerontius ran away with my grandmother Adamanta to the North Farthing where no one really knew them and... They got married. My grandfather got into awful trouble seeing as he was the next Thain, but they couldn't do anything now they were officially hobbit and wife. I've always thought it perfectly romantic - quite the stuff of story books.'

Bilbo caught sight of Thorin's teasing smile and playfully hit him on the arm.

'Yes, yes, I know it's not going to happen to me. My days of dreaming are long gone, I assure you, and my head's set perfectly straight, thank you very much.'

Bilbo stood up then, brushing the crumbs from his clothes onto the grass, being careful not to get any more on Thorin's coat which he then promptly brushed off as well.

'I'm going to paddle,' he said, as he walked over to the little brook. 'Will you join me?'

'I thought hobbits didn't like water?'

'I'd hardly call this stream anything to be afraid of,' Bilbo said drily as he stepped in. He inhaled sharply as the initial cold of the water hit him but gradually he relaxed. It felt nice, once he got used to it.

Thorin stood by the stream, not going in but simply watching Bilbo. The hobbit was grinning as the water swirled around his feet, chattering and babbling as it tumbled over the small stones and pebbles.

x'Come in, Thorin! It's lovely, I promise.'

'It had better be,' Thorin grumbled, but his heart wasn't in it. 'It's a right pain to take these boots off, you know.' Bilbo just rolled his eyes, and Thorin removed his boots and socks.

He dipped a tentative toe in and immediately pulled it back out again. 'It's so cold!'

'Oh come on,' Bilbo said, laughing, 'the Mountain is colder than this sometimes.'

Reluctantly Thorin put his foot back in the water and then the other, finding his balance among the little pebbles that rolled around under his feet as he walked. Bilbo approached and Thorin wobbled on the unsure ground, catching at Bilbo's jacket to stop himself falling. Bilbo held his arms to keep him steady - but of course, as soon as Thorin let go Bilbo was toppling over and landed sitting in the water.

Thorin froze, and Bilbo sat shocked for a moment, until he began laughing. He pulled himself up, his trousers and the bottom half of his jacket and shirt sodden, and just stood there laughing; as much at the look on Thorin's face as anything else.

'Bilbo, I'm so sorry!' Bilbo waved away his apology, still grinning broadly, but Thorin was up out of the water and fetching his cloak - brushing it free from crumbs. 'You can't walk around like that. Let's get back home so you can change and won't catch a cold!'

Bilbo made a face at Thorin's insistence but he dutifully left the stream and wrapped himself in Thorin's coat. Once it was on he was grateful for its furred warmth; in the cool air his teeth were beginning to chatter but the great fur cloak kept most of the cold out.

Thorin packed up the food while Bilbo stood wrapped in his cloak, bemoaning the fact they never got to eat the biscuits until Thorin promised they could eat the biscuits on the way back. Thorin carrying the basket and Bilbo wrapped in a dwarven cloak too large for him, the two set off back for the Mountain; Thorin's heart lighter and Bilbo's cheeks a little too warm.

'What do you make of this, boys?'

Fíli and Kíli looked up at where their mother stood on the balcony, looking out over the land beyond the main gates. They joined her and peered out, trying to see what had so captured her attention. The gates were opening and two figures were entering.

Dís' gaze was levelled at the two figures, so Fíli and Kíli looked closer.

'Bilbo's wearing Uncle's coat,' Fíli said in disbelief.

'What?' Kíli sounded shocked. 'Bilbo? Wearing Uncle's coat?' He leaned dangerously far over the balcony trying to see better until Fíli pulled him back slightly.

'Mama...' Fíli said. 'Does this mean...?'

Dís just gave a small, sly grin, and continued to stare thoughtfully at the shapes of her brother and a hobbit as they entered the Mountain.

Thorin walked Bilbo to his room, insisting he keep the coat on until he was dried and comfortable. He was cornered on the way back to his own room by Dís, who fell into step with him.

'Well, brother?'

'Well what?' Thorin replied churlishly, taking a childish delight in being as irritating as possible.

'You seem to be missing a coat.'

'Oh, that. Well, Bilbo fell in the stream so I gave him my coat to keep him warm-'

'Thorin!' Dís grabbed his arms, stopping him in his tracks. 'I'm being serious. You know what it means; you also know that the hobbit doesn't know. And you know that Dain is coming and it will inevitably stir up trouble. So tell me, Thorin, my dear brother: when are you going to tell Bilbo how you feel?'

Thorin had started scowling again at the mention of Dain. His sister really knew the perfect way to sour the moment.

'Well of course I'm going to ignore Dain's efforts, well-intentioned as they may be. Your sons are my heirs and Dain has no right poking his nose in our business.'

'That still begs the question: when will you tell the hobbit?'

'Tell him what?'

'Oh for the love of Mahal, Thorin! Stop this. You know how you feel for him and by giving him your coat you've all but proclaimed it for everyone to see! The others will just be waiting for a happy announcement while poor Bilbo still has no idea. You can't just do that to him!'

Pink spots had appeared on Dís' cheeks and she was breathing heavily, anger clear in her bright eyes. Thorin felt an answering anger rise up in him.

'Well what was I supposed to do, Dís? Let him catch a cold because I was afraid of what everyone else was going to think? My feelings don't come into this. Bilbo is and will be my friend until he decides otherwise and I will not ruin what I have with him!'

Thorin pulled his arm out of Dís' grip and continued onto his chamber, storming down the corridor. He ignored Dís calling his name after him, not looking back or indicating he heard her at all.

When he reached the safety of his chamber he locked the door and sank against it, closing his eyes and heaving a sigh. He felt so happy with Bilbo, even when he had been talking about his home in the Shire. His kind, wonderful hobbit who understood him so completely - in all aspects that mattered apart from one.

Could Bilbo not see how he never failed to bring a smile to Thorin's face? How Thorin's pulse always quickened when he was near and it was a constant battle not to just give in and kiss those soft lips; run his hands through his head of curls? Oh, how Thorin wanted to be able to braid Bilbo's curls; he wanted to plait Bilbo's hair with the braid of Durin's line, a braid proclaiming him his...

But Dís was right, and Bilbo either couldn't see it or didn't want to. And Thorin wouldn't - couldn't - ruin their friendship with an ill-timed confession.

No; Thorin would gladly spend a lifetime with inner battles and an ache in his heart and Bilbo beside him than one of heartbreak with his hobbit on the other side of Middle-earth.

A/N:Eeep! Thorin's still pining, Bilbo continues to be oblivious... and Dís is getting angry! :P I hope you enjoyed the fluff - next chapter we should be back to actual plot development. (Probably. Maybe. I hope.) Thank you so very very much for all your lovely reviews - they honestly keep me writing. Thanks for reading, and see you next chapter... :D

NB: I obviously made up all that stuff about courting in the Shire, and Gerontius and Adamanta's marriage. But maybe it'll be important - maybe it won't. Who knows? ;)