XD EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! *deep gasps for air* THIS STORY HAS REACHED 20,000 VIEWS! WOOHOOOOOOOO! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! YOU'RE ALL AMAZING! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... *recovers from heart attack*

Okay, so anyway, please enjoy this chapter. It's just a little moment between Thorin and Emi that had to happen.

The celebration was astonishing. The gifts were plentiful. But Thorin could not enjoy it. The mountain was so close… so close, yet they had one day to make it there. Just one day. It was a good thing Emilie had arrived when she did, they would not have been able to wait any longer. Emilie… Thorin stood from his seat when he did not find the hobbit amongst the rest of the company at the celebration. She was not anywhere to be found in the large hall. Not again. Thorin stressed. I have not lost her again… He ran outside in his frantic search. No one. Wait… there, on the breeze, a voice. It was singing.

"They offered me adventure.

And what you sign for's what you get.

Adventure.

Means hungry, cold, and dripping wet…" Thorin's eyes searched desperately until, at last, he spotted the source. Emi sat, shivering on an overturned basket at the edge of a pier. He started forward, but stopped as her voice came out again, the tune different… sadder.

"Why did I come so far away?

There's just one place I want to stay.

I've tried 'adventure' now I say,

I want to go home." Thorin's heart dropped at the words.

"They said 'there's so much world to see.'

It's very nice, but not for me.

So thanks a lot, but truthfully,

I want to go home.

How far we've come,

To find still one more track.

And I'll go on,

Although my heart looks back." She was not happy with the company. It was as he said after the goblin tunnels. She just wanted be home again.

"I gave my word and I'll be true.

For friends, you do what you must do.

But soon as this adventure's through,

I want to go home."

Thorin turned away as the song drifted off into the night, the sounds of celebration and laughter taking its place from the building behind him. Of course she wanted to go home. She was a hobbit. What did he think would happen? That she might… just possibly, decide to stay. After they restored Erebor, she might actually stay… with him?

"Thorin?" The dwarf turned in surprise to find Emi standing now a few steps away from where she had sat moments ago. Emi's eyes were wide with shock. He had just heard that? All of it? What a fool she'd been! Singing like that… not to mention looking and sounding ridiculous… she hadn't meant for him to hear that. Any of it! Oh no… no, no, no, no nononononono. "I… I-"

"You should get some food and rest." The dwarf cut her off, turning away again. "We leave at first light for Erebor." And he walked back to the celebration.

"Wait!" Surprisingly, Thorin stopped. But he did not turn around; instead he listened as bare feet padded over the planks to stop a few feet away from him. Then silence.

"You have something you wish to say to me?" Thorin asked in a level tone. Emi gulped. He was angry. Very much so.

"I didn't mean it." She burst out. "The song, it was just… well, I don't know what it was! But you can hardly blame me…" Emi trailed off as the dwarf slowly turned to look at her through cold scathing eyes. She cleared her throat slightly and continued. "…I've almost died more times than I care to count in the past few days alone! And sometimes, I miss the safety of my home. I'm not a warrior, Thorin. I never will be… I can't live like this and… and if all goes as planned… we'll be confronting a dragon tomorrow. A real, actual, dragon. I think, just maybe, I'm entitled to some regret every now and then. Just a little bit. And that's all that song was. Just some of my regrets, that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it, any of this. I promised to be the fourteenth member of this company, and I will be the fourteenth member of this company until Erebor is reclaimed. And then… who knows what will happen? Maybe I'll go travelling… spend a bit more time in Rivendell perhaps… Return home to my hearth… maybe… just maybe, I…" Emi blushed at the thought and took a step back. Maybe I can stay with you… in Erebor.

"I'm so sorry! I'm babbling again aren't I? Why do I keep doing that? I really need to learn when to-" Her words were cut short as Thorin closed the distance between them in a few quick strides and captured her lips in his.

Warmth rushed through Emi's cold shivering body, as her heart seemed to still and beat out of control at the same time. A strong arm snaked around her waist as she proceeded to melt in the dwarf's embrace.

It was peaceful and calm and wild and thrilling all at the same time.

At last, they broke from one another, though Thorin still held her close, not letting her run off in embarrassment. "-shut up…" Emi finished her sentence, slightly breathless. "…You really, need to stop doing that." She breathed, leaning her forehead wearily against Thorin's as he inclined it towards her.

"Do I now?" The dwarf lord smirked.

"Yes." Emi replied, still not looking at him. Though the only way to do that was to close her eyes. "Because you said you had no feelings for me, then you keep doing things like this-"

"Like what?" Thorin raised an eyebrow.

"L-like… like THIS!" Her eyes flew open, motioning to the current embrace he held her in.

"Well, perhaps," Thorin said calmly. "I was mistaken about my feelings." Emi looked up into shining blue eyes.

"Really?" she squeaked after a moment. Thorin let out a slightly disbelieving laugh before pulling Emi into a tight, unmoving embrace.

"I thought I had lost you." He murmured into her shoulder as Emi stood awkwardly, hands held up in surprise. "I was so sure…" Swallowing, Emi moved stiffly to return the hug. Her arms eventually wound themselves around his broad back, and her head slowly came to rest on his shoulder. Thorin still didn't let go. So Emi took a deep breath, and willed herself to try and relax. For a moment, it seemed impossible, then slowly, she let her breath out. And she let her body sink into Thorin's.

It felt warm. And safe. And right.

It was all Emi could do not to fall asleep right then and there. Actually, that was something she could not do. Sleep soon claimed her.

Awwwwwwwwww... Man I totally ship those two... like... so much. Which is good. Because that means I probably won't let either of them die!... probably...

Anyway, please review! It really means so very much to me and it helps me know what I'm doing wrong or right... So please drop me a note!