The next morning roused an awkwardness that no one was quite prepared for. Bilbo awoke with a very naked Dwarf curled around him, peppered black hair strewn about everywhere and a snoring in his ears loud enough to wake the dead. The Hobbit didn't quite know what to do. On one hand, he was happier than he had been in a very long time, and his heart was bursting at the seams with love. But on the other…Bilbo was still yet unsure about his decision, and he'd done things with a King he'd never speak of again if you tortured him.
"Thorin…" He whispered, trying his hardest to wiggle free of the death grip his counterpart had him in. Bilbo was weak, however, and his tiny arms fought fruitlessly to lift the led-filled limbs of Thorin Oakenshield. Finally he tired of this and snuggled deep into the Dwarf's embrace, warmth enveloping him and a strong scent of oakmoss overwhelming his senses. Bilbo's heart fluttered at the very smell, it was a smell unique to the Lonely Mountain, and so many memories were attached to it. He trailed a small hand down Thorin's chiseled abs and down to the king's nether regions, grasping a certain something with a hard tug. Thorin's eyes shot open and a sweet, almost mischievous laugh exploded from the Halfling.
"Thought that might do it." Thorin sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes, finally releasing Bilbo and pushing his long locks from his face.
"Huh?" He muttered, looking around sleepily for his lover, though the search was in vain. Bilbo had taken his opportunity and ran, fleeing to the safety of his kitchen to begin breakfast. Thorin looked to the left of him and grabbed Bilbo's pocket watch, squinting to look at the time.
"Silly burglar…" He grumbled, noticing that it was only six in the morn and flopping back down on the bed.
Kíli and Fíli were still sleeping as well, but Gandalf was awake and already puffing his pipe when Bilbo sauntered in and headed toward his pantry for ingredients. Hobbits liked large meals, and Bilbo knew that Dwarves liked large meals times three, so he was going to have to make quite a bit to satisfy three dwarves and a hobbit all at once. He shuddered at the memory of being eaten out of house and home by twelve Dwarves, coming home after such a long journey to a house completely empty of all things a Hobbit loved most.
"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates, indeed." He mumbled almost fondly to himself, after fetching three pounds of bacon to fry and two dozen eggs. He made his way to his stove rather cheerily, whistling a tune he'd made up himself and turning the burner on. Gandalf raised a grey eyebrow at Bilbo, memories from last night plaguing his mind. Bilbo caught him staring out of his peripheral vision, turning with furrowed brows to stare back at the wizard.
"What?" Gandalf shrugged, a ghost of a smirk tugging at the corners of his aged lips.
"Nothing, merely observing." There was a certain twinkle in Gandalf's eyes that made Bilbo uncomfortable, blushing deeply as the fear came upon him suddenly that his friend had borne witness to his love making the previous evening.
There's no way….we couldn't have been that loud…could we? Bilbo shook his head as if to clear the unwelcomed thought from his mind, beginning to sing his tune aloud to calm his quickly frazzling nerves.
"Home is behind…the world ahead. And there are many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night. Until the stars are all alight, then world behind and home ahead, we'll wander back to home and bed…" Gandalf watched him nonetheless, as he fried the meat and scrambled the eggs, looking for any sign at all that his magic might have worked. When he found none he supposed he'd have to give it a little longer, after all, it was only the morning after. When the food was done Bilbo turned on his hill, food in hand, and opened his mouth to demand an answer to why Gandalf was still watching him, but it was then that Fíli and Kíli bounded into the kitchen.
"Didn't expect to see you boys up until noon." Bilbo said instead, putting on a cheerful expression and serving them breakfast. They grinned up at the Hobbit and exchanged glances that made Bilbo blush darker than he had when he'd been met with Gandalf's expression earlier.
"Thanks…auntie." Kíli snickered, earning a stern look from his older brother that wavered as even he fought the harsh laughter building in his chest. Bilbo had about had it, attempting to count to ten as to not blow his lid in front of such dear friends.
"You two have no room to talk you incestuous party animals….had to sleep on the floor I did." Gandalf uttered to himself, mostly, though everyone heard it. Fíli and Kíli immediately looked down in shame and Bilbo through his hands up in the air.
"I don't even want to know! Don't tell me!" Bilbo felt large hands snake around his hips and a soft beard nuzzle into his neck, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
"Don't even want to know what, hmm? Are my nephews being troublesome?" Thorin asked gently, nipping playfully at one of Bilbo's pointed ears. Bilbo wanted to both moan and push Thorin away, a mixture of emotions rising in him at once. Bilbo squeaked and pulled out of Thorin's embrace quickly, opting out of breakfast and grabbing his pipe. He plopped down on his front porch and took a long drag, looking up at the sky and attempting to calm down.
What do you even want, Bilbo, you old fool? He thought to himself, although, of course, he already had his answer. He wanted Thorin, and to live in the lonely mountain. He wanted to not be alone anymore, to not feel like there was a piece of his heart missing. He missed the simpler days, when he welcomed being alone. However, after meeting Thorin and seeing his homeland, and fighting by his side…nothing could ever again compare. Bilbo flinched a little when he heard his front door open, but he didn't look to see who it was. He knew.
"Master Baggins? Have we offended you in any way? Last night…I thought…I thought that would make you happy." Thorin sat down beside him and threaded his fingers between Bilbo's, who let out a bittersweet laugh.
"Since when do you call me anything besides Bilbo or Halfling?" His smile faded a bit and he squeezed Thorin's hand.
"Last night did make me happy. I'm happy right now, I just…so much has happened since I met you and I'm terrified. I'm terrified that if I let myself be happy with you then it's just going to be a matter of time before you're taken from me again and I don't think I can handle that. As a matter of fact, I know I can't. It'll be the death of me." Thorin didn't reply, pulling Bilbo into a gentle kiss and nibbling lightly on the Hobbit's bottom lip.
"You have it all wrong. Bilbo Baggins I've seen the way you look at me, our eyes are the same. We look on each other with love, with longing. If you let me walk out on you I may never be able to return, I have responsibilities in Erebor. You will live to regret it as much as I will, and then we'll both be miserable to the end of our days. I understand, though, if that is what you choose, because I know that if it is you who dies first my grief will be endless. But to me, it is better to lose a loved one knowing you loved and spent every moment with them that you could spare, than to lose a loved one who died to you a stranger." Bilbo couldn't respond, tears threatening to spill as Thorin pressed their bodies together and ran his fingers through the smaller man's curls.
"What say you, burglar of the Shire? We're all dying…but we don't have to die alone." Bilbo kissed Thorin hard, crying as he pulled away, flinging his arms around the Dwarf's neck and nuzzling into his hair.
"I'll go with you. I won't ever leave your side again." Thorin held Bilbo tight against him, grinning like a loon as a triumphant chuckle rang from his lungs.
"Thank you."
Inside, Gandalf was working diligently on something that Fíli and Kíli were becoming increasingly interested in. Any time one or both of them would so much as peak at the scroll Gandalf was writing on he would shout abuse at them.
"Come now, Master Wizard, we can't read Elvish, there is no need to be like that." Fíli reasoned as his brother gave an adamant shake of his head.
"Yeah! What are you writing in Elvish for anyway? Tell me we aren't stopping to mingle with any elves…Uncle Thorin will be angry." Gandalf snorted.
"Thorin has no say in the matter." Fíli scoffed.
"Who even invited you along? We came here to find our missing kin not slay a dragon." Gandalf glared long and hard at both brothers.
"Your missing kin? So you knew all along this was some perverse quest of your Uncle's to win Bilbo's affections?" Kíli raised his eyebrows.
"Who are you calling perverse, laddy, you listened to them all night." Gandalf decided to ignore that bit and said a few spells over the scroll, rolling it up and slipping it inside of his robes.
"No matter. I have invited myself to come along on your homeward journey because I have business in the House of Elrond. Whether you like it or not you must pass through Rivendell in order to get back home, must you not?" Both Fíli and Kíli shook their heads.
"No, that might be the most direct route, but Thorin took us through Dunland and the Fangorn forest. From there we traveled across the great river and entered Mirkwood that way." Gandalf looked both shocked and concerned.
"That was incredibly foolish. I would not take the road through Entwood unless I had no other choice, a dangerous road to take simply to avoid a peaceful bunch of Elves." Fíli almost looked offended.
"We have kin in Dunland, thank you, and nothing in the forest is going to keep us from seeing them when we so please. Going that route wasn't just an excuse to skip eating rabbit-food with Elven folk." Gandalf opened his mouth to retort when Bilbo and Thorin walked back into the house. Bilbo's face was puffy from crying, but he was smiling, though Thorin's own smile faltered as he heard mention of Elves.
"What about Elves?" Kíli and Fíli both looked to Gandalf, unwilling to bring it up themselves.
"I was suggesting to your nephews that when we head to Erebor we take the original path through Rivendell." Thorin tilted his head to the side in a condescending manner.
"I'm sorry, we?" Gandalf nodded.
"Do you regret my company? I need to deliver something to Lord Elrond and I thought we could all journey there together since it's on your way." In all honesty Gandalf just wanted to keep his eye on Bilbo, but his guilt trip seemed to be working and Thorin's eyes softened a bit.
"Of course not, old friend. We can go through Rivendell, for old time's sake. Best bring food along though, I don't take too kindly to a supper filled with vegetables." Gandalf smiled brightly at Thorin.
"Wonderful! When shall we be off?" Thorin looked lovingly down at Bilbo and gently nudged him in the direction of his untouched breakfast.
"As soon as Bilbo's had something to eat and a chance to pack." Fíli and Kíli were rather baffled but decided to go take a nap before they had to hit the road and Gandalf watched in the background as Thorin sat down to eat with his counterpart. Bilbo took a savory bite of bacon and shot a glance at Thorin.
"Promise the Sackville-Bagginses will keep their grubby paws off of my house?" Thorin burst into laughter and kissed the top of the Hobbit's head.
"I'll take care of it." Bilbo was glad, take one last forlorn look at the house his father had built by hand. He was going to miss it, but he knew he had so much more in store for him beyond the borders of the Misty Mountains, and he couldn't wait to be back again.