A/N: So here is chapter 7! I'm so sorry that the slow burn is being so... well, slow, but it is developing! This chapter is the start of it all, I promise ;) After this things will start to happen! :D (I hope. Quite often I get side-tracked by fluff - which I just cannot resist - or it just doesn't feel right. I'm starting to get a bit angsty though about Bilbo's obliviousness so... well.) I just hope the ending will be worth it! :D

Enjoy the chapter!

Thorin refused to talk to anyone about why Bilbo was wearing his coat and Dís and her sons quickly learned not to mention it, unless they wanted to see Thorin's brows knit together and a mood blacker than the dark of Mirkwood descend upon him. (Luckily for Thorin, they were the only ones to have seen the hobbit in Thorin's cloak and the rest of the company remained oblivious. As, unfortunately, did Bilbo... Thorin's heart continued to ache whenever Bilbo smiled, laughed, or even was just there.

But Thorin did not allow himself to act on whatever desires he harboured, keeping them close to his heart and locked behind the grim line of his lips.

The days slid past quickly, drawing ever closer to the celebration for Ori and Dwalin. Dís' plan of involving Dori in the planning of the event seemed to have paid off and he no longer sent Dwalin death glares every time the two were in the same room; instead he tried to be civil and Dwalin gratefully accepted Dori's unspoken offer of a truce, trying his utmost to fulfil Dori's expectations in a partner for Ori.

There had, admittedly, not been much headway on the Bofur and Nori front. The two were as inseparable as ever but still neither seemed to have addressed the matter that had made itself clear - well, clear to Bilbo - during the letter game. Bilbo vowed to do something about it, and soon.

The day of the celebration had started off much as any other, but there were more comings and goings as Dís, Golma and Bím finished decorating the main hall and Bombur ensconced himself in the kitchens with a team of cooks as he prepared the food for the feast in the evening. Bilbo wasn't needed, as such, but he hated sitting idle when he could be helping. He headed to the large hall where the party was to take place and which was decked out with colourful tapestries and drapes and bunting which spelt out "Dwalin & Ori". Dís was in her element, ordering a couple of maids who were fixing a velvet drape to the wall.

Dís smiled at him when he entered, grinning wider than usual.

'Morning, Bilbo!' she said cheerily, and Bilbo grinned back.

'Good morning, Dís. It looks excellent in here,' he said, staring around him. Dís preened a little, but then moved and put an arm to his shoulder, drawing him away to one side for a moment.

'Did you have a nice time with Thorin, the other day?' she asked.

'Yes, actually. We had a picnic! I think Thorin wanted to make me feel more at home here,' Bilbo said, examining the table cloth spread and ready to be covered with Bombur's cooking.

'Did he...' Dís said thoughtfully.

'Where is he?' Bilbo asked suddenly. 'I haven't seen him much since we went out.'

'I should think he'll still be in his room,' Dís said, and then her face brightened. 'You couldn't possibly go and fetch him for me, could you? I need to speak to him but I'm so busy here...'

Bilbo snorted a little at the thought of anyone 'fetching' Thorin Oakenshield, but complied, heading back out of the hall and walking to Thorin's chamber. He knocked on the heavy oak door and waited until a voice said, 'Who's there?' Bilbo chuckled at the grumpiness.

'It's me, Bilbo,' he said, and there was silence for a few moments before the door was yanked open and Thorin stood in front of him.

'Bilbo.' Thorin's eyes were fixed on him and Bilbo felt himself begin to squirm under his gaze but made himself stop.

'Dís sent me,' he explained, 'she wants to speak to you about something but she's busy...'

Thorin was silent for a minute but then drew back inside, inviting Bilbo in. 'I just have to finish getting ready.'

'Oh!' Bilbo felt himself blushing. 'I'll wait outside-'

'No need,' Thorin said, a smile ghosting over his lips. 'It's just my hair.'

'Oh.' This time Bilbo sighed in relief, his cheeks returning to their normal colour.

There was silence for a while as Thorin sat back in front of his mirror and returned to re-braiding his hair. Bilbo watched, fascinated at the way Thorin' s deft fingers wove the tiny plaits into his thick dark hair. He didn't realise he was staring until he noticed Thorin looking at him in the mirror, one eyebrow raised and amusement in his blue eyes.

'Interested, hobbit?' he asked, lightly teasing.

Bilbo felt himself flushing again and cursed the blood that rushed so easily to his face. Honestly, he was like a tweenage lass.

'I'm sorry, but it's so... It's beautiful,' Bilbo admitted. 'You make it look so easy.'

Thorin turned, looking him in the eye properly, and smiled. 'Come,' he said, motioning Bilbo over, and Bilbo joined him at the mirror. 'I shall teach you.'

Bilbo did a double take and tried to protest, but Thorin took hold of his hands and pressed a lock of his own hair to Bilbo's fingers.

'You know how to do a simple plait, don't you?' Thorin asked. Bilbo nodded, swallowing with difficulty as he ran his fingers through the lock of Thorin's hair. It was so soft; so much softer than he'd imagined. He began to plait the hair, gently weaving it into a long braid and marvelling at how nice - how right - it felt.

Thorin was leaning his head back, his eyes closed. The feel of Bilbo's soft hands so gently pulling at his hair as he plaited it was almost more than he could bear; it was so right, so perfect, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling Bilbo into his arms right there and then.

A small cough sounded and Thorin started, opening his eyes and seeing Bilbo staring down at him. Confusion was written on his face and Thorin felt himself colour, heat flooding his face. He passed Bilbo a bead, opening it for him and handing it to him. Bilbo snapped it shut around the end of the plait, stepping back and admiring his work.

'There,' he said. 'How's that?'

If Thorin was completely honest, it was a little wonky and a bit looser than the one on the other side of his head, but to Thorin it was perfection. It could have been hideous and awful but to Thorin it would still have been the most perfect thing.

'It's wonderful,' Thorin said, smiling at Bilbo's pleased expression. His face had lit up like the sun, and Thorin determined he would do as much as he could to ensure that smile never left his hobbit's face. 'Now, you wanted me for something?' he asked, basking in the warmth of Bilbo's smile.

Bilbo's face instantly looked stricken for a moment, before it turned to confusion. 'Um... Oh, yes! Dís wanted you!' he smiled again. Bilbo had quite forgotten what it was he'd originally come for; braiding Thorin's hair had driven out all other thoughts and his hands still remembered the silken strands slipping through his fingers, the tips tingling where they had touched it... He ignored it though, just as he did the lump in his throat, even if he did commit the event to memory - it was the first time Thorin had let him do something Bilbo knew was reserved for family.

'Does she now?' Thorin looked inexplicably glum for a moment, but before Bilbo could ask the matter Thorin had put a large hand on his shoulder and was guiding him out of the door, heading back to where Dís was.

They arrived at the hall and found most of the Company had gathered there, watching the decorations go up and offering assistance when required. Bofur, it seemed, was on dwarfling duty as he was having quite the job of trying to keep them from getting in the way. Bilbo and Thorin entered, making their way across the hall to where Dís was sorting the table settings. Bilbo was intercepted by Bofur and roped into helping him keep the children in check.

Dís looked up as Thorin approached and with her usual hawk-like ability her eyes found the braid in Thorin's hair, wonky and loose, and she grinned; her eyes sparkled with a glee that made Thorin instantly wary.

'You wanted to speak to me?' he said carefully.

'Well, I was hoping that by now you'd be wanting to say something... To all of us? An announcement, maybe?' Her blue eyes found the braid in Thorin's hair again and she looked at him pointedly; when he ducked his head she gave a small groan.

'Thorin,' she said, her voice strained, 'please tell me you've explained to Bilbo the significance of braiding another dwarf's hair.'

Thorin was immediately on the defensive. 'He knows that it's only done by family! He just doesn't know about... the proproposal stuff...'

Thorin trailed off and ran a hand through his hair, causing some strands to fall out of Bilbo's less-than-perfect plait.

'At least let me re-do it, then,' Dís said, reaching for the braid. 'It's all falling out-'

'No!' Thorin took a step backward. 'It'll hurt Bilbo's feelings if he sees.'

Dís gave a sigh of frustration. 'Then we'll make sure he doesn't see-' She stopped when Thorin gave her a warning look, his eyes hard and glittering.

'No, Dís.'

She threw her hands in the air. 'Fine, Thorin. But you two may as well be married now - he's braided your hair, you've given him your clothes - honestly, Thorin! Why can't you just tell him-'

'I've told you before,' he said darkly. 'I will not risk my friendship with Bilbo.'

'But what if I told you the risk was really not so very great at all?'

For a moment, hope gleamed in Thorin's eyes and his stomach seemed to drop out, swooping underneath him, before he regained control and pushed the thoughts away.

'Then I would tell you that you were wrong. It is not your place to presume to know his feelings.' With that Thorin turned and left the room, heading back for his chamber where he leant against the door and toyed with the braid Bilbo had done, holding it as carefully as if it were his own dear hobbit and wishing desperately that it were.

A troupe of musicians arrived after lunch, not long before the party was due to begin, and they began setting up in the hall while Dís and the others got changed. They were dwarves, and while none could rival Thorin at the harp they were cheerful and skilled enough, from what Bilbo heard as they set up, that they would do very nicely.

Bilbo had to hurry to change before the party began and when he got there the table was groaning under the weight of all the dishes Bombur had cooked, the band was playing a jig and the dwarflings were running around shrieking and laughing. Fíli, Kíli and Gimli were sitting at the end of the dining table, each clasping a mug and Gimli was talking animatedly - judging from the way he was waving his hands in the air it was about weaponry of some sort.

He saw Thorin sitting at the head of the table, watching his family and friends around him. Dís and Balin were nearby, but the couple for which this party was being thrown in the first place were surrounded by various members of the company - Bilbo could see Nori teasing his brother and Glóin laughing at Dwalin's embarrassment as he shuffled his boots. Bilbo made his way over to them and gave them both a hug - he didn't reach Dwalin's shoulder but the burly dwarf allowed himself to be pulled into Bilbo's embrace.

'I'm so happy for you both,' Bilbo congratulated them, grinning as they held hands.

'Aye, and I s'pose we'd best thank ye for it,' Dwalin said, 'although I'll ask ye not to go knocking me One out again!'

Bilbo flushed and Ori elbowed Dwalin, chastising him; but Dwalin was smiling at Bilbo and wasn't too serious. Bilbo still felt bad that it had taken Ori getting injured to bring the two together but seeing how happy they were together made him feel infinitely better about the whole thing.

After he'd spoken to Dwalin and Ori, Bilbo headed over to join Thorin, who was looking rather glum. On the way Bilbo stopped to pick up two mugs of ale and carried them to Thorin, who gave him a small smile as he accepted the mug.

'Enjoying the party?' Bilbo teased, grinning.

Thorin hummed in agreement, smiling slightly. They sat watching the others and Bilbo smiled at the dwarflings who began dancing. Bombur had got Bím to take his hand and the two were dancing with the children. Golma and Glóin were failing miserably at trying to get Gimli to dance - he was blushing as bright as his hair and staring into his cup while Fíli and Kíli teased him.

When the musicians started up a particularly lively piece of music, Bofur got up and began dancing energetically, laughing as his nephews and nieces joined him. Bilbo chuckled at the sight, and smiled when he saw Nori. The dwarf had sat at the table, next to Dori, with a mug of ale. His eyes followed Bofur as the other dwarf swept around the dance floor, a child clutching each arm, a smile playing on his lips. He fiddled with his mug when he wasn't taking a draught of ale but his eyes never left Bofur.

Bilbo got up and went to join Nori, slipping into the seat next to him. Nori glanced at him, offered a smile, and returned to watching Bofur. Bilbo couldn't stop a small grin spreading across his face as an idea wormed its way into his brain.

He continued to sit next to Nori, occasionally drinking some of his ale, and watched the others dancing. Bofur paused for a moment, just long enough to catch sight of them and shot a smile in their direction; Bilbo felt Nori stiffen beside him.

'I do love Bofur,' Bilbo said, sighing and taking a sip of ale.

Nori sat up straighter. 'You do?' He glanced at Bilbo, a strange look in his eyes, for a second before looking back to Bofur. Bilbo grinned into his mug.

'Yep. He's one of my best friends, Nori.' Bilbo felt Nori relax infinitesimally at his words. 'He deserves the best.'

'Aye. He does,' Nori sighed.

'He needs someone who can make him smile. Someone who can make him laugh.' Nori turned to look at him then and Bilbo looked him in the eye, raising his eyebrow a fraction. 'Don't you think he's waited long enough?' he grinned.

And at that Nori was up on his feet and striding across the floor to where Bofur was surrounded by little dwarves, taking him by the arms. He said something that caused a huge grin to break out across Bofur's face, and then the smiling dwarf took Nori in his arms and was hugging him, pressing kisses to his face and grinning as if all his Yules had come at once.

Everyone stopped for a moment, stunned and taken aback by this new development; but at little Bani's high-pitched giggle and exclamation that 'Uncle's got a boyfriend', the room was suddenly filled with clapping and cheers. Dwalin and Ori were probably cheering the loudest - except for maybe Bifur, whose roars of congratulations were almost more suited to a battle-field than a party. Dori was sitting in shock, but when Nori turned to him he smiled and pressed his forehead to Nori's, a tear escaping from his eye. Bilbo ordered a cup of chamomile to be brought up and he took it to the older dwarf to calm him, and afterwards Dori grew a lot more cheerful.

Bilbo could only marvel at how his plan had worked - and so suddenly! Bilbo allowed himself to feel proud as he fetched another mug of ale, only to be dragged into Fíli and Kíli's argument with Gimli about facial hair - Kíli claiming that since hobbits had none he must surely be most attractive to halflings; Gimli and Fíli pointing out that they were still hairy, just on their feet.

Thorin watched his hobbit caught in the discussion, blushing a bright crimson at the direction it was taking.

'Thorin. You know what I'm going to say, don't you?' Dís said from beside him. 'Won't you just ask him to dance? It can't hurt.'

'If you can get Balin to dance with you, sister, then perhaps I will,' Thorin replied wearily, not intending to do anything of the sort. Besides, from here he could best appreciate his hobbit's figure…

'I don't believe you, but I think I'll ask Balin to dance anyway,' Dís grinned, and so saying she approached Balin and asked him something. Immediately Balin stood a little straighter and more confidently, and soon enough he was leading Dís onto the dance floor for a dance.

Bilbo had managed to escape the younger dwarves' heated debate and made it back to Thorin, his cheeks still a pretty pink that Thorin couldn't resist and he quickly looked away, draining his mug as Bilbo sat down beside him instead.

'Is that Dís and Balin?' Bilbo asked. Thorin murmured a confirmation, and Bilbo let out a small noise. 'I shouldn't really be surprised,' he laughed, 'the number of secret romances going on at the moment-' oh, if only he knew! Thorin thought drily'- but I think they're good for each other.'

'Well, they haven't said anything yet,' Thorin warned, 'but Dís has never been one for hiding behind pretences.' Unlike me, he thought bitterly. But he knew why he had to keep Bilbo at a distance - at least until Bilbo was ready. The thought reminded him of Dain's impending visit and his mood once more grew sour. He wasn't going to marry some stuck-up, poncy dwarrowdam of dubious heritage just to keep Dain happy...

'Oh!' Bilbo exclaimed next to him, breaking Thorin out of his reverie. The dwarf consciously made an effort to smoothe his brow out and stop glowering. 'I know this song!' Bilbo nodded his head in time to the opening beats.

'We know this tune in the Shire,' Bilbo explained. 'We dance to it at our Lithe festival... I'll show you!' He stood up and looked at Thorin, excitement in his green eyes. 'Let me show you our Summer dance, just as you showed me the braids this morning,' Bilbo said softly.

Thorin' s throat went dry and he could say nothing; he made a wordless noise of assent as he unconsciously stood up. All he was aware of at that moment in time was the happiness in Bilbo's face as he walked to the dance floor. Thorin could only follow, like a sheep following its flock.

And then suddenly they were on the dance floor and Thorin was feeling like a fool and he could feel the eyes of the others on him but he could no more stop than he could grow pointy ears. And then - Mahal, Bilbo was taking his hand and closing it in his small warm ones, and guiding him in a dance full of little spins and claps and all Thorin wanted to do was hold Bilbo's hand and never let him go; he wanted to hold him in that spin forever and forget everything else. But all too soon the music had stopped and Bilbo was laughing, standing in front of him all flushed and breathing heavily and Thorin was once more tongue-tied.

'Did you like that?' Bilbo asked, his voice slightly husky still from the exertion. 'Hobbit dances are complicated, aren't they?' He was still smiling, but there was a look in his eye – just for a moment – before he shook the curls out of his eyes and they were once more back to normal.

Thorin had to swallow a few times before his voice would work, but he managed to get out a yes eventually. The two walked back to the dining table and Bilbo began to pile a plate full of food while Thorin sat, trying to calm his pulse - which wasn't racing only because of the dancing - and quash the dangerous thoughts threatening to spill over into his actions. He felt Dís' eyes on him, sparkling mischievously and knowingly, but she was soon distracted by Dwalin and Ori sharing their first proper kiss in public, accompanied by much good-natured ribbing from Nori and Bofur.

The thought of his company finding their loves made Thorin's gut twist in jealousy and sadness; when Bilbo began humming beside him Thorin was once again reminded of how precious his hobbit was, and how much he needed him there at his side – and how he could not and would not do anything to jeopardise that.

A/N: Mahal's sake, Thorin, just... aagh. He's so stubborn and I think he likes inflicting this angst upon himself! But hey. I hope you enjoyed! ^.^