Breakfast wasn't as hectic as Bofur had been expecting it to be. Both boys ate in a calm manner and didn't really bother Bofur much if he didn't count the small questions they made here and there.

"And where are you from?"

"Dublin, Ireland."

Kili gasped at the answer, eyes wide suddenly, "You mean you're really Irish? Do they drink as much as the people here say they do?"

Bofur gave him an unimpressed stare while Fili rolled his eyes, "I must apologize for my brother's stupidity. He is somewhat close minded and has only had the internet to quench his curiosity. Most of what he knows of other cultures is correct when applied to small numbers but he completely misses when it comes to assuming things out of the whole population."

Fili, Bofur decided, was too eloquent to be real. The younger male always spoke with much respect- even when insulting his brother- and seemed to always use the biggest yet most easily understood words he could try.

All in all Bofur didn't really mind the brothers presence. He just didn't like the idea of getting close to them now because he knew he was going to be back on the streets in less than a day.

This thought made the hatted man frown and this caught both brothers attention.

"Did I say something wrong, Bofur?" Kili asked, really worried it was his fault. "If I did, I'm sorry. You heard Fili, I'm a simpleton."

Fili rolled his eyes at the younger's words but still turned to Bofur. "What has you troubled?"

The man sighed and scratched at his neck, "Oh, it's nothing lads. Just me an' me thoughts."

Both brothers shared a look at his answer, then Fili sighed and stood up. "Bofur, are you good with cleaning?"

The man was caught off by the question- he really would have expected something like that coming from Kili but certainly not Fili- but still nodded. "Can't say I'm bad, lad."

Kili seemed to growl at the nickname and Bofur quickly turned to apologize while Fili spoke up. "Well, you see Bofur, Kili and I are not the cleanest of men out there. You may not see it because we just recently got this apartment, but this will turn into a pigsty in less than a month."

Bofur quirked an eyebrow in confusion, not sure where Fili was going by telling him all this while Kili only smiled broadly at him suddenly. "And, you see, we seem to already find you a close friend." Kili continued. "And we don't like thinking of our friends suffering."

"So we were wondering if you would mind becoming our housekeeper- basically- for pay?" Fili was now beside his brother and all Bofur could do was blink at both brothers.

Just... What was this?

Bofur blinked at them in shock for a few more seconds then shook his head and stood up, angry. "Now that's just swell, lads. Sure, make fun of the homeless man. He's got nothing left to lose so you can prank him like this!"

He was so angered that he didn't see the brothers own surprised faces as he turned around and stormed to the door. "And I really thought you lads wanted to help!"

With that Bofur slammed the door behind him and headed out of the apartment building, face burning in anger at what those kids had done. To think he had actually considered them friends for a second! He should have known better! Nobody in this world would stick their necks out for strangers. No one!

"Blast it all... I left most of my stuff back in those kids apartment." Bofur muttered angrily, rubbing his hands rapidly.

The snow had not let up since the night before and now he was missing most of his warm clothing. His gloves, scarf, and overcoat were all still in the boys' apartment and he really didn't feel like going back. It would make him look weak and pitiful. He would just have to stay cold until he was able to find replacements.

"And those were made by Bombur's wife..." He breathed, shaking his head softly.

He really regretted having left in such a rage- maybe the kids really weren't trying to prank him- but after those years of living on the streets and getting by on scraps he didn't want to be yanked around like they would most probably do.

Bofur didn't really know where he was going. He didn't even know if he was going to stay in the city or leave it. But he did know that his indecision was not new. These were just the perks of being homeless in such a cold city.

Walking down yet another sidewalk filled with people finishing up their Christmas shopping the hatted man frowned softly.

Maybe he had been too harsh with the lads. Maybe they really wanted to help him.

But nothing ever went well for him, he thought with chagrin. Ever since he had left Ireland to find fortune in America nothing had gone well for him. His toys sold, sure, but they weren't sought after. Once he had met a kind stranger that had told him while they were whimsical and beautiful, the toys just didn't seem to be made for playing.

Then Bifur's injuries came into the picture and Bofur felt like Lady Luck had completely abandoned him.

As he walked down the street he failed to see a young lad running straight towards him and before Bofur could see him, both were sent tumbling backwards and onto the pavement.

"Oh..." Bofur groaned, grabbing at the sidewalk to find the hat that had flown from his head, "I've got to start looking where I'm walking."

"I am so sorry!"

Bofur gasped as hands were suddenly patting at his coat, as if trying to brush the dust off of it.

"I was in a hurry and I wasn't looking where I was heading and I was running too, as if the ignorance wasn't bad enough!"

Whomever Bofur had run into seemed to be rather kind- at least kind when compared to the teen that had tried to assault him because of a situation much like this one- and jumpy if his pattern of speech was anything to go by.

"Oh, don't worry about it lad." Bofur muttered, eyes softening as he found a young man already up and grasping for Bofur's hat.

"I really am sorry. My brothers are always telling me I have my head up in the clouds but..." The younger drifted off as Bofur stood up, then offered the hat with a nervous smile.

Bofur smiled as broadly as he could as he took his hat. "I know a thing or two of daydreaming, don't you worry! I guess it's both our faults, really. If I had been paying attention I might have gotten out of the way before we slammed into one another."

Both were quiet as they looked down at the floor, then the young man stuck his hand out, "My name's Ori."

Bofur shook his hand with a warm smile, but Ori's eyes widened and a sharp gasp left him, promptly cutting off Bofur's own introduction. "I have to go!"

With that he sidestepped Bofur and took off running, but not before waving and apologizing once more. "I truly am sorry, Mister! If we meet again I will apologize properly!"

Bofur waved back as the man ran away, then shook his head softly, beginning to walk once more. "I have had to oddest luck these days." He muttered to himself.

But as he walked he couldn't seem to wipe the smile from his face. It seems that the meeting with Ori was enough to lighten his mood and make him happy once more.

And he thought that meeting Ori would be the last interesting thing of his day. But once lunchtime rolled around and Bofur sat down in a bench in a park he couldn't have been more surprised.

Fili and Kili were both there, and from the binoculars and walkie-talkies in their hands, Bofur could only assume they were looking for something. He didn't know what, but he didn't want to find out. He stood up to leave the park, but that seemed to have been the wrong move.

"I found him brother!"

Bofur grunted in surprise as strong arms suddenly wrapped around his chest, hoisting him up and twirling him so he was face to face with a worried Fili.

"Oh, thank God we found you, Mr. Bofur! We were so worried!" Fili gasped and Bofur couldn't help but gape at him in shock.

If the boys really were this worried about him, then that meant their job offer wasn't a hoax. And he had just caused them distress without any real explanation.

"Don't you ever dare leave us like that, Mr. Bofur!" Kili scolded from behind him, hugging him tightly. "Why, we were about to call the police!"

Fili scoffed softly at his brothers words as he shook his head. "We weren't going to call them, you idiot. They would have laughed in our faces for losing a grown man." Then his eyes softened as he looked at Bofur. "But we did call in a friend of ours to help us in our search."

Bofur felt Kili nod behind him but instead of letting the boys continue talking, he cleared his throat. "I am not sure what you lads like about me, but I admit you are rather nice kids. And while I am sure Kili is a touchy kind of person, this hug is becoming too long for my liking."

"Good." Kili muttered darkly. "You had us worried, Bofur. We offer you work, hoping not only for you to become a friend of ours but also to help you get back on your feet, yet you storm away from us!"

"We understand why you understood insult, Bofur." Fili told him, grabbing Bofur's attention once more. "But we really just wanted to help."

"Besides, mother says Fili and I have a very bad habit."

The brothers stayed quiet after this and Bofur was heavily inclined to ask what their habit was, but a new voice answered the unasked question.

"Well, you two do seem to keep proving her right every single time you pick up a stray."

Fili smiled as the newcomer stepped up behind Kili bot Bofur still wasn't able to see who it was.

"We have big hearts." Fili shrugged and Kili nodded rapidly.

"And Bofur has a big heart too! I assure you, we are not being stupid by helping this man in his time of need!"

With these strong words Kili lifted Bofur back up and twirled him back around to face the friend. And whom he saw made both Bofur's and the friend's eyes widen.

"You?"

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