Chapter Eight

Kili's stomach woke him up before the sun was up the next morning. He frowned as his stomach rumbled painfully, suddenly remembering that he didn't really eat anything the day before. Fili was still sound asleep, lying half on-top of him. Bilbo and Thorin, though, must have already woken up.

Hearing low voices coming from the kitchen, he carefully extracted himself from Fili and padded towards the door. He paused, however, as he heard his name.

"I really thought we had gotten past Kili's distrust of us," Bilbo said with a soft sigh. "I don't know what else I can do."

Guilt greater than he had ever felt before welled within Kili. His dad was blaming himself for Kili's stupidity. He had never wanted that to happen.

"This isn't about us," Thorin murmured. Kili peaked around the corner of the doorway to see the detective wrap his arms around Bilbo from behind. "Kili's been hurt so much in his short life. I don't think anyone ever showed him any affection until he met Fili."

"Then how do we help him? How do we get him to understand that we love him no matter what?"

"We'll just have to show him. Every day."

"I don't know how to do that other than what I've been doing," Bilbo replied, looking so heartbroken that Kili couldn't help but rushing into the kitchen and wrap his arms around him.

"I know you love me, Dad," he said in a small voice, hiding his face in Bilbo's shirt. "You loved me so much, though, that I didn't think I deserved it."

"Oh, Kili," his dad whispered, kneeling down and pulling him tightly to him. "You deserve all the love in the world. No matter what those kids at school say."

"What about my English test?" he asked, hating to bring it up in case Bilbo didn't know about his F.

"Is that what set this all off?" Bilbo asked, pulling back slightly and smiling down at him. "Kili, I don't care what grades you make in school, as long as you try your best. That's all I can ask you to do."

"And you're not replacing me with Frodo because he's younger and not as messed up as me?"

"You are not messed up," he stated firmly. "And you can never be replaced. I think there's room in this family for one more kid. And wouldn't you like to be a big brother?"

Kili thought the question over. He could be a big brother to Frodo just like Fili was to him. He could make sure that Frodo was happy and that he didn't get picked on by other kids and teach him all sorts of things. The more he considered it, the more he liked the idea.

A smile crept over his face and he nodded. "When is he coming?"

His dad opened his mouth to answer but Kili's growling stomach interrupted his reply. Bilbo frowned down at his son's stomach. "Goodness, Kili!" he cried in realization. "You probably haven't eaten since lunch yesterday! Come on, let's get some food in you."

Kili didn't bother correcting his dad and telling him he didn't eat lunch. It didn't really seem that important, especially after Bilbo had set a stack of pancakes in front of him. The smell of breakfast quickly woke Fili up as well, and soon they were all seated at the table together.

They ate in comfortable silence until Bilbo broke it. "I guess now is as good a time as ever to talk about what will happen when Frodo gets here."

"Why is he coming to live with us?" Kili asked. Now that he didn't feel threatened by him, he was curious about the small boy joining their family.

"His parents died, and I'm the only relative he has," Bilbo explained simply. "Now we've been talking about it, and Thorin and I have decided that, since we both consider both of you sons and since we're getting a new son in Frodo, maybe it was time for us all to become a proper family and move in together."

Fili and Kili grinned at each other. If Frodo was the cause of them finally moving in together, Kili decided the other boy couldn't be that bad.

"Are we moving in here or are they moving into our apartment?" Kili questioned, bouncing in his seat in excitement.

Bilbo chuckled. "Well, neither apartments are really big enough for a family of five. We'll have to look for another place…"

Thorin cleared his throat. "Actually, I may have found a place for us." Bilbo looked at him in askance. "My realtor found a four bedroom house in Bayside that she thinks will be perfect for us. Great schools in the area, quiet neighborhood, about a 20 minute drive from the bakery."

"Wait, you hired a realtor?" his dad asked in confusion. "And is a house in Bayside in our budget?"

"Don't worry about the money," Thorin said dismissively. "We're fine on that front."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bilbo asked, voice still confused but on the edge of testy.

"Pop is rich," Fili piped in helpfully, taking a large bite of pancake and giving their dad a syrupy grin.

Bilbo sputtered, unable to articulate whatever it was going through his head. Kili, though, didn't have that problem.

"Since when?" he asked innocently.

"Since always," Fili explained while Thorin looked up at the ceiling with a long-suffering expression on his face. "My great grandfather left him a very big trust fund before my grandfather disowned him."

"Then why do you work?" Kili directed his question at Thorin. He had always thought that people worked because they needed money.

Thorin scowled. "I work because I want to make my own way in this world and not just laze about living off my grandfather's money. Besides," he said with a small smile at Fili and Kili. "I enjoy keeping my city safe for my family."

"Were you going to tell me about this?" Bilbo asked suddenly.

Kili froze, his eyes darting anxiously between the two adults. He had never heard his dad use that strange, strained tone before, but he definitely didn't like it. Fili surreptitiously took his hand under the table and squeezed it.

"Does it change anything?" Thorin challenged. Kili tightened his grip on Fili's hand. This was starting to sound more and more like a fight, and he really didn't like it.

Bilbo glared at Thorin for a moment or two before letting the tension drain out of him. "Of course not," he sighed. "I just don't like feeling like your hiding things from me."

His pop reached across the table and grabbed his dad's hand, smiling softly. "I wasn't trying to hide it," he reassured. "I just don't like talking about my family. I should have told you before though. I'm sorry."

Something loosened inside of Kili's stomach as Bilbo smiled back at Thorin. "It's alright. I guess it just surprised me."

"So when are we moving?" Fili asked, giving Kili a comforting glance.

"Well, I was thinking we could go see the house together today, and if we like it, I'd make an offer," Thorin suggested, looking at Bilbo hopefully.

"That sounds like a great idea," he answered.

Kili's excitement was back in full swing now. He grinned as he dived back into his pancakes. It felt too good to be true. Yesterday, he had thought he had lost everything, and now, his family was going to see a house they were going to move into together.

"Dad, my backpack is at our apartment," he informed after he finished off his pancakes and chocolate milk.

"I think after the day we had yesterday, starting your Spring Break a little early by missing today might be warranted," his dad answered. "Why don't we all get dressed and see if Thorin can get a hold of the realtor so we can see this house today? You've got clothes in Fili's room, right?"

Kili nodded before following Fili to his room.

"You okay?" Fili asked as soon as they were alone.

"Yeah," he said, gnawing on the inside of his lip. "You're not still mad about yesterday, are you?"

He sighed before wrapping his arms around him. "Kili," he murmured into his hair. "I was never mad. Not really. You just scared me."

"I didn't think you were afraid of anything," Kili admitted. "You always seem so brave."

Fili scoffed and pulled away, turning to rummage through his dresser for clothes for both of them. "I'm scared of plenty stuff. Now get dressed. I want to see this house we might live in."

Kili frowned, not sure he liked the idea of Fili being scared of anything. He'd have to make sure that he didn't scare the other boy anymore. That would be much easier when they lived together, he realized with a grin. He was sure that if he had seen Fili beforehand, he wouldn't have run.

The problem came when he was left alone with his thoughts.

Putting it out of his mind, he tugged on the clothes that Fili threw at him. Once he was dressed, he turned towards the door. Fili's voice, though, stopped him before he could open it.

"You should never think you don't deserve my love."

Kili's breath caught in his throat. He knew it shouldn't surprise him, but Fili had never told him that he loved him before. Happiness swelled within him, and he felt nearly invincible. Then he focused on everything else Fili said, and he bit his lip. How could he deserve Fili's love?

"Kili?"

"You were listening earlier?" he asked, not really knowing what else to say.

Fili rolled his eyes. "You woke me up when you got up. And you can't talk because you were listening in on Pop and Dad's conversation. But I need you to know that don't question my love. Please, Kili."

He sighed and leaned against the door, looking down at his shoes to avoid Fili's eyes. It wasn't fair, Fili saying "please." How was he supposed to deny him anything?

"I've never questioned you," he tried explaining. "You're perfect so—"

"I'm nowhere near perfect!" Fili argued, interrupting him. Kili's head snapped up at the blond's vehemence. "I'm selfish and greedy. I hate sharing. I'm messy. I never clean my room unless Pop makes me."

Kili shook his head. "You're the most giving person I know!" he protested. "And everyone can be messy sometimes."

"And sometimes people can fail tests. Even people as smart as you," Fili pointed out with a smirk. "Would you still love me if I were to fail a test?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed, scandalized at the question. "Nothing you could do would make me stop… oh. Is it the same for me?"

The blond grinned. "Finally getting it, huh? Next time you think you're not loved because of something you did or something you didn't do, ask yourself if you'd stop loving me if I did the same thing."

"But that answer's always gonna be no," Kili said in confusion. "I'll always love you, Fee."

"And I'll always love you," he replied confidently. "So will Dad and Pop. That's what family means."

Kili frowned as he thought that over. The only experience he had of family before he met Fili was his mom and his first dad (he refused to think of him as his real dad because that felt like a slight to Bilbo). He knew, though, that his first family wasn't a normal family so maybe he should stop making assumptions about his new family based on his old.

Why did everything seem so simple when Fili explained it?

"Come on," Fili said with a soft smile, taking Kili by the hand and pulling open the door. "Let's go convince Pop to buy us a house."

The realtor had been all too happy to show the house to them that morning. Thorin had muttered something about her wanting the commission, but Kili didn't know what that meant. What he did know, though, was that this house was amazing.

It looked just like the houses he saw sometimes on television, in shows or movies where families were always loving and understanding and everything always worked out in the end.

He and Fili pounded up the stairs, leaving their parents to talk to the realtor lady as they explored the bedrooms.

"These two are connected by a bathroom!" Fili cried after poking around the rooms to the left of the landing. Kili lit up at that. He and Fili could have connecting rooms!

They opened the remaining three doors, finding another bathroom and two other bedrooms, one much bigger with yet another bathroom. That would probably be Dad and Pop's rooms. The other would be Frodo's, Kili decided. Frodo was little so it was probably better he was closer to their parents. Besides, he had to have a room by Fili.

"Let's go look outside!" he suggested, dragging Fili down the stairs once more.

"—and there is another half-bath in the basement," the realtor lady was telling their parents as Kili made for the door.

"Boys," Thorin called before they could make it outside. "Come over here."

Kili pouted but aborted his attempt to explore the outside of the house, letting Fili instead lead them over to the adults.

"How do you like the house?" their pop asked.

"When can we move in?" Kili crowed in excitement, causing the adults to chuckle.

"I think we can assume they approve," Bilbo commented lightly.

"And do you?" Thorin said, looking at him hopefully.

The baker smiled at him. "It looks perfect to me."

"Excellent!" the realtor said with a grin. "Would you like to make an offer?"

Thorin smiled at his family before turning to her. "I think we would."

"Perfect," she said cheerfully. "If we play our cards right, I can get this closed and get you moved in by the beginning of summer."

Kili grabbed Fili's hand, vibrating in excitement. This was really happening. They were going to be a family.

He grinned at Fili before glancing at their parents. Then again, he thought happily, they already were.

Tbc…

This chapter is disappointing, I know. Sorry it's mostly filler. But Frodo next chapter! And maybe another familiar face or two.