/ / / Naming \ \ \

Bilbo wrapped his arms around his daughter and felt drowned by the love and fear that was flooded his body.

"She is perfect," Bilbo said running his knuckle around her tiny cheek. She was bigger than a newborn hobbit but it was obvious just by looking at her tiny pointed ears that she was his daughter as much as her soft, hairless feet looked more like those of a dwarf. She was utterly perfect and Bilbo never wanted to let her go.

"You must name her," Thorin said with a tired smile.

"What?" Bilbo felt that it was only the shock of Thorin's words than even let him pull his eyes from his daughter.

"Dwarfish tradition," Thorin said and reached out to brush his fingertips along the tip of the newborn's ear. "A dwarfling takes their name from the parent who shares their gender when a female is involved but in our situation the name comes from the parent who does not birth the dwarfling."

"So she should take her name from me?" Bilbo said. "That does not seem fair as I can never birth a dwobbit."

Thorin smiled. "My family has been dogged by tragedy and I have accepted that the change may just be the best thing for us all."

"Do dwarves give middle names?"

"Middle names?" Thorin asked yawning again.

"A second name to link her back to her ancestors, between that you were given for every day and the one that identifies your family."

"We have no such tradition; she will be daughter of Thorin Oakenshield to prove her heritage to all dwarves." Thorin trailed off at the end and by the time Bilbo looked up the King was sleeping.

He looked back at his daughter. He would name her for his great great, Tookish, grandmother a female hobbit known for her wisdom and strength – Liliana. Middle names, even for hobbits, were not a common practice but he would give her one for Thorin.

"Hello, Liliana Thrís," Bilbo whispered into Liliana's ear as was the hobbit custom. "You are a very unique little dwobbit – the first ever and you are more loved than you could ever know."

Bilbo made himself more comfortable on the bed and contented himself with Thorin's warmth at his side and the weight of Liliana in his arms.

/ / /