To my surprise, I wake to find I have been sleeping since yesterday evening. My short nap turned into a twelve hour slumber. According to my alarm clock it is 7:13 AM. I rub my eyes knowing I won't be able to sleep anymore and climb out of bed. I grab a sweatshirt and make my way to the bathroom. I know Thorin is getting ready for work, so I walk to the kitchen to join him for breakfast.

I stop as my eyes land on the person sitting, or rather, sleeping at the table. Kili's head rests on his arms, a glass of water setting beside him.

I softly walk over to start a pot of coffee and make some toast. When the two finish, I make a bowl of cereal and carry it to the table. I go back, grabbing my toast and coffee, and sit down as quietly as possible.

Kili stirs as my chair makes a squeaking noise.

"Morning," he says, rubbing his eyes and stretching.

"How long have you been down here?" I ask taking a bite of my toast.

Kili yawns. "Woke up sick around five. Gave up on sleeping and came down here."

I nod my head and continue eating.

Kili gets up and fills his glass with fresh water. As he is sticking some bread into the toaster, Thorin walks in.

"What are you two doing up this early?" The question is meant for both of us, but his eyes remain focused on my brother.

"Couldn't sleep," Kili answers.

"Slept too much," I answer.

Thorin nods his head and makes his way to the coffee pot. He pours himself a cup and makes a quick bowl of cereal, and joins Kili and me at the table.

"What time do you plan on leaving?" Thorin asks.

"10:45," I answer taking a bite of Cheerios.

Kili is silent as he picks at his toast. Thorin and I both watch him closely. Kili doesn't seem to notice, or more likely, ignores us. After a few minutes, Thorin clears his throat and tells us goodbye.

I take our dishes to the dishwasher and tell Kili I am going to shower. Kili says he will shower in Thorin's bathroom.

After my shower, I check Kili's room. When I see he is sleeping soundly on his bed, hair wet, I go back to my own room and grab my phone. I text Eowyn quickly about yesterday and then set my alarm for 10:15, deciding Kili and I can actually use a couple more hours of sleep.

"Fee, wake up! It's 10:45!"

Something is shaking my left arm frantically. Nothing really registers, and then—

"We're going to be late!" I jump out of bed, running into Kili in the process. The impact sends him stumbling into my desk. His back hits the wood and he releases a painful yelp.

I turn immediately to my brother. "Kili! I'm sorry! Are you ok?"

Kili rights himself and rubs his back. "Yeah, just watch where you're going."

I grab my phone and shoes and we leave.

We reach the hospital right at 11:30 and move as quickly as possible to the radiation room. Bilbo is waiting for us in the waiting area.

"Sorry, Sleeping Beauty here overslept." Kili says indicating me with a twitch of his head.

Bilbo laughs at this. "It's quite all right. You can walk on back. The radiologist is waiting for you."

Kili nods his head and disappears from the room. Bilbo points to a section of chairs along the wall and we sit down.

"Tell me about yesterday, after you left," he requests, setting his clipboard in his lap and clasping his hands together.

I sit up straighter and relate the events of yesterday; the car ride home, the sporadic sleeping and vomiting, my nap that turned into a twelve hour thing, and then the events of this morning. I did, however, leave out the accident with the desk, mainly out of pure embarrassment.

Bilbo nods his head and assures me everything is normal, and that things will remain relatively this way for the rest of the week. He reluctantly adds on that Kili will begin losing his hair by the end of next week. I ask him if Kili is aware of this and he tells me that Kili had asked about it yesterday. I release a heavy sigh and lean the back of my head against the wall. Bilbo pats my knee and offers a few encouraging words then walks back to check on Kili.

A few minutes later, Kili walks into the room, trembling and pale. He walks on by me; pace quickening, prompting me to follow.

"Kili?" I ask catching up to him in the hallway.

He continues until he reaches the restroom, where he shoves open the door and grabs the nearest trashcan. I stand by patiently waiting for him to finish. The sound of a closing door catches my attention and I look up to see a young boy staring at us. He walks over to the sink and quickly washes his hands, then runs around Kili and out the door. Whether or not Kili notices, I cannot tell.

When Kili finishes, he coughs a few times before walking to the sink and washing his hands. He grabs some paper towels from the wall dispenser and walks toward me, drying his hands. He stops a few feet away from the trashcan and tosses the towels in like a basketball.

"At least that hasn't left yet," he mumbles, walking out the door.

I stop at the nearest drive-thru once again getting Kili a drink, and continue the drive home.

"Mirkwood won, by the way, 44-21." I say breaking the silence.

Kili turns his head to look at me. "You actually watched the game?" He asks incredulously.

"Yes."

Still not believing me, he asks, "You didn't just google the final score? You actually watched all four quarters?"

"Actually it was only three. I came in during the second quarter. You almost missed a good fight."

"Impressive." Kili says with a grin. I return the grin as I turn my eyes back to the road ahead.

"I bet Thranduil is proud," Kili says of the coach. There is a hint of resignation in the tone as he thinks about his long lost best friend.

I know it's a touchy subject, but I ask anyway. "Have you heard from Legolas recently?"

"Last I heard, he was out of the country and engaged. That was six months ago, right after graduation."

"Have you tried to contact him?"

"What's the use? I can't do anything about it anyway." He wraps his arms around himself and leans his head against the window.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, before long, I won't be able to do anything but sit inside all day, except for the exciting hour I spend out of the house, where a quarter of that time is spent in a radiation room. Goodbye social life, hellooooo misery." Kili says with fake enthusiasm.

I reach over and punch him on the arm.

"Ow!" Kili exclaims rubbing his arm. "Just keep the bruises coming. Gah."

I almost apologize because I honestly have forgotten the episode this morning. But, I'm not sorry. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe, but it's the truth." Kili says seriously.

I don't even bother to reply, for fear I will explode. I begrudgingly mentally agree with him though. He is stating the facts, but it still hurts to hear them spoken so bluntly.

I slam my door a little too harshly when we arrive home. Kili gets out of the car and begins shaking the second he is holding his full weight in a vertical position. I watch him warily, but keep my distance. I watch as he takes a deep breath and continues walking to the door.

"I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up for dinner." Kili informs me as we enter the house.

"Do you want me to get you anything?"

He shakes his head no and slowly begins to climb the stairs. I stand at the bottom and watch, not wanting to bother him, but also wanting to make sure he doesn't fall or anything. He makes it to the top though. I wait a moment before creeping up the stairs myself, still not trusting him to get to his room. I peek my head around the corner when I reach the top and sure enough, I can hear Kili getting sick in the bathroom. I sneak down the hall to my room and close the door behind me, the same time I head Kili open the bathroom door.

I listen as Kili's footsteps get closer and then suddenly stop. I assume he has reached his door, but then a knock on mine makes me jump.

"You're about as subtle as an oliphaunt."

I roll my eyes and open the door, to find a slightly amused, shaking Kili.

I lightly cuff him on the back of his head. "Go to sleep."

"With pleasure," Kili says yawning.

"You'll ruin your dinner."

Fili's hands stop midway to his mouth and his head turns to look at me. I laugh at the expression on his face.

"Just thought I'd finish this sandwich without sleeping this time," Fili says, before taking another bite.

"Kili?" I ask, wondering about his whereabouts.

"Sleeping."

"Alone? Upstairs?" I ask, trying to keep the panic from my voice.

"I just checked on him not five minutes ago. He's fine."

A lot can happen in five minutes, I think to myself. "Right, well, I guess you won't be eating with us."

"Don't count me out yet," Fili says taking yet another bite. Sometimes the boy's appetite amazes me.

I step into my home office to place my briefcase on my desk, but stop when I see papers in my fax machine. I read over the information and pull out a drawer in my file cabinet. After safely storing the faxes, I turn the light off and close the door behind me.

I take the stairs two at a time and briskly walk down to my room, eager to get out of my work clothes.

"Stupid knot," I mutter as I struggle to untie the noose around my neck. Finally I succeed and throw the cursed thing on my bed. I change into old sweats and a long sleeved t-shirt, and rub my hands over my face.

"You're aging too quickly," I say, staring at my dark eyes in the mirror. I barely recognize myself behind the dark rings around my eyes. The healing bruises and lip from mine and Kili's little game add a touch of ruggedness to my already haggard appearance. Not to mention the many strained muscles that still have a slight pinch if I move incorrectly.

I haven't- can't- no, I refuse- to tell the boys about the amount of stress I have been under, but I know my appearance makes it obvious. Between my career, Kili's declining health, Fili's college and chauffeur careers, home, and everything in between, life refuses to slow down. But, if this is what it takes to come home and take care of the two most important beings in my life, I will soldier on. I smack myself lightly on the cheek, reprimanding myself for being selfish.

I knock on Kili's closed door, listening for a sound. I hear none and quietly open the door. My eyes immediately land on the empty bed.

"Kili? Kili, where are you?" I ask, starting to panic. I spin around, searching the room.

"Here."

It's weak, but my trained ears hear it, nonetheless. I follow the sound of coughing to Kili's walk-in closet.

I make the distance in three long strides and sit down beside my nephew. I immediately take one arm and wrap it around his shoulders. My other hand I use to push back the hair from his forehead and test his temperature at the same time.

"I'm fine," Kili says batting away my hand. "Just got tired. All I wanted was another quilt. Decided I needed a rest on the way over." Kili finishes, still trying to fully catch his breath. The coughing isn't helping.

"Why didn't you have Fili get you one when he was up here?"

"I was already up. Apparently the trip down the hall before coming in here was too much."

I take note of his little "trip" down the hall. "Is your bucket not in your room?"

Kili shakes his head, wincing. "Left it in Fee's car."

I mentally note to have Fili bring the object into the house.

I pat my nephew on the shoulder and stand up. I walk to the back where the extra bedding is packed away. I dig out a heavy quilt and bring it back to Kili. He leans forward and allows me to wrap him up in it, offering his thanks. I reach down and pull him up. "C'mon, go back to bed for a while."

"No," Kili says adamantly. "I promised Fee I would eat dinner. I'm going downstairs."

Kili never breaks his promises, and I know that he willingly isn't going to start now. I nod my head and wrap one arm around his shaking shoulders, guiding him down the hall and then the stairs.

I turn my head as I feel a presence in the room. A bundled up Kili is being guided to the couch by our uncle. I sit up from my stretched out position and make room for my brother.

"Mind if I join?" Kili grins, as he carefully sits down beside me.

"If you don't snore too loud," I say smiling.

"I don't snore." Kili says, offended. This causes Thorin and me to snort. Kili just rolls his eyes.

"Kee says he left his bucket in your car."

"Oh. Sorry. I'll be right back." I leave the room, grab my keys from beside the door and walk out to the garage. After the door raises, I unlock the back seat of my car and grab the bucket from inside.

I give Kili the bucket, sitting back down beside him. He bends over and places the bowl on the floor beside his feet. I can see his eyes drooping and the cold tremors rattling his body. I wrap an arm around his shoulders and bring him closer. His head rests on my shoulder and I rub his arm through the quilt, trying to warm him.

"I'll still wake you for dinner."

Kili yawns. "Good."

And that's exactly what he does: sleeps.

"Should've known that was a bad idea." Kili says, voice hoarse. Then he lurches back over the commode, retching and getting rid of what little dinner he had eaten.

I hold my nephew's hair back with one hand and rub his back with the other. Dinner was normal; small talk and food. But then Kili had suddenly stood up and ran to the bathroom. I told Fili I would go, and so here I stand, listening to the gut-wrenching heaves and feeling Kili's trembling body beneath my hands. Kili tenses under my hand on his back.

"What's wrong?" A new sense of concern creeps into my veins.

Kili begins to tilt sideways. I grab him, straightening him and leaning him back against the wall.

"Just a little sore. Nothing major." Kili says, with a rough voice.

I give him my best give me the truth glare. He catches on quickly.

"Hit the side of Fee's desk this morning. I'm fine." He looks me in the eye. I still don't believe him.

"Uncle," Kili practically growls. "I am fine."

Well, maybe he is.

"Well, what do you want to do? Can you stand?" I ask, changing the subject. The trembling has stopped considerably, but he still looks drained from the effort of vomiting. Then again, he almost always looks drained these days.

I stand and grab Kili's hand when he reaches for my assistance. I pull him up and he walks over to the sink. He turns the water on and washes his face, then rinses his mouth out. When he finishes, he grabs the hand towel hanging on the wall-hook and dries his hands.

But, when I think he is going to leave, he grips either side of the small counter and looks into the mirror. I watch his expression being reflected into the mirror. At first there's nothing- just a blank, hollow face. But, then he begins to shake his head and releases a completely humorless laugh.

"Kee?"

"Pathetic." Kili spits out.

"Kili, stop."

But he doesn't. "This is only day two. And guess what!" he exclaims with fake enthusiasm. "It's also my last week with a full head of hair. How about that!" He smacks the counter, all humor gone, replaced with a sudden surge of anger.

"Kili, stop it! Calm down." I say firmly. I take a step forward and grip his forearm.

He tries to shake off my grip, but when I only tighten it, he releases his own grip on the sink. When I see he isn't going to fight me anymore, I turn him around.

"Kili, look at me." He refuses. I grip both of his arms now and shake him slightly. "Kili. Look at me."

After a moment's hesitation, he raises his head. The frustrated tears are making an appearance in his eyes.

"Kili, never say something that ignorant ever again. I mean it. And forget about the hair. Hair grows back."

"So do tumors."

Anger courses through my veins and to my brain. Out of instinct, I raise my hand to strike him. But stop instantly when I see Kili's eyes- huge and full of fear. I take a deep breath and lower my hand.

"Go to your room." I ground out between clenched teeth.

Kili stutters. "Un- uncle, I- I'm sorry. I-I didn'—"

"Go to your room." I demand, interrupting him. In my anger, I find myself putting emphasis on each of the four words. I turn my head, refusing to meet his gaze as Kili walks out of the small bathroom.

When I hear his footsteps climbing the stairs, I turn the light off and close the door behind me, stepping into the hall. I walk to my office and pull out the fax papers from earlier, and begin to finish some paperwork.

"What was that about?"

"This doesn't concern you, Fili. Leave it be." I answer, not looking up from my desk.

"Well, I do know that Kili just walked up the stairs with tears falling down his face. So, obviously he is hurting, and that does concern me. What did you say to him?" Fili's anger is growing.

"I didn't say anything. He did." I drop my pen and look up to meet Fili's gaze. He is standing in the doorway, arms crossed across his face, a no-nonsense expression plastered on his face. Fili was slow to anger, but once he was fueled up, those in his path would do well to quickly get out of the way of his wrath. Especially when it involved Kili. When Fili was younger, I could stand my ground for a much longer time. But he is an adult now, and arguments can get heated more quickly. And I, for one, do not wish to be at the end of his fist.

"Sometimes Kili says things out of anger, you know that." Fili says, not dropping his gaze.

"All right. I told him to stop worrying about his hair; that it would grow back. And you know what he said? He said, 'So do tumors.' And that, Fili, is what angered me and is the reason why I sent him to his room."

"Oh," Fili says softly. His arms drop uselessly to his side and I can see his bottom lip tremble. "I would have hit him."

I swallow the frog that has suddenly leapt into my throat. "I almost did."