When Kili went home Bilbo had a strong feeling he was missing some important information about Kili. He was trying to add the facts together, but he was having problems focusing on the boy because of a mix up in his own feelings. His heated sessions with Thorin were making him feel deeply attracted to the man. He was so handsome, so strong and caring. He saw first symptoms in Thorin suggesting he was more interested in him than just as in a lover. When they would meet, they would talk on end. Thorin would always be kind and loving, touching him in the most intimate and loving way. He was tender, but as the same time he clearly showed Bilbo how much he wanted him. The deep longing to be with Thorin surprised Bilbo. He was used to being alone, he liked his independence, and he valued his privacy. He had few friends, and even fewer lovers. He was used to being rejected due to his sexual orientation, so he hid it as much as he could. He never even dreamt of finding his other half, but now he had a deep feeling inside that losing Thorin would break his heart. He was entirely sure what the solemn man's feelings were, but there was a deep and strong connection and Bilbo hoped he would be able to enjoy their relationship at least for some time.
Then it suddenly hit him. He immediately saw the allegory and then it dawned on him. Him and Thorin. Fili and Kili. The connection the boys shared was just like what he shared with Thorin. The longing, always being together. The deep warmth, always spending time together preferable alone. The looks, the deep gazes. Frodo told him that Fili was mad at him for talking with Kili, and that Kili was mad at him when he admired Fili on the training mat. They were jealous. They were drawn to each other. Solving the puzzle made his heart ache; separating them now would have devastating results for Kili. He clung to Fili as if for his dear life, and Fili became his saviour and salvation. Fili's role in Kili's gaining mental stability was invaluable. Then Bilbo realized it was Fili who in fact stabilized Kili and gave him a chance for normal life. Bilbo finally went to sleep with a huge headache and a moral dilemma.
As soon as Thorin woke up he saw a text message from Bilbo saying they needed to talk about Kili. He wrote back saying he'll visit him after lunch. They boys left in the morning in a hurry, but again in surprising good moods. Thorin briefly wondered about how Fili seems truly happy. He was always a cheerful child but as a teenager he was a bit too serious and reserved, but now he was joyful and honestly happy. Kili was calming with everyday, to Thorin's surprise, he wondered if it was Bilbo's influence or Fili's. The whole day he was thinking about the meeting with his lover. His sentiments towards the smaller man were reaching a peak. He longed to be with him, he slept badly without him. He wanted to hold his hand, to share every day. To eat dinners together, to go out to lunch. He wanted to take Bilbo with him to official events, not as a friend but as a boyfriend. Next to him he felt at peace, his was his stability and his passion at the same time. The kindness, the good emanating from Bilbo, his intelligence and wittiness, everything about him was fascinating. He wanted Bilbo in his life forever, and then it hit him he fell in love with the smaller man, and the only thing which could satisfy his needs was having a life together. He was worried next week he had to leave for nearly five days to go to China, but after that he knew what he really wanted to do with the rest of life.
"You look like you didn't sleep at all." Thorin immediately noticed.
"I had a huge headache." Bilbo replied swiftly.
"You missed me so much?" Thorin smirked at him gently kissing him.
"Don't think too much of yourself." Bilbo said in a joking tone. "You're not the reason; I think I solved Kili the puzzle."
"What do you mean?" Thorin asked curious as he sat down next to his beloved lover.
"Well, from the start I was thinking about the rapid improvement the boy was doing here, at first I thought it was finding his family and stability. But then I realized that he already had a taste of that in Alaska. Beorn did a really good job taking care of the boy, he taught him many interesting things, and probably unintentionally practised the skills the boy needed like focus and orientation." Bilbo started explaining "But the rapid improvement in self-confidence and the general stability happened here after coming to London and not in Alaska before or after your arrival. The difference was Fili."
Bilbo suddenly stopped explaining and instead he asked a question. "Have you noticed anything strange between Kili and Fili?" He asked in timid voice.
"I have been wondering about some things from the first day we arrived in London." Thorin spoke with hesitation. "They spend all day together, and I'm serious when I say all day. I'm pretty sure they've slept together in one bed from the first night. I talked to Fili about it and he said it's only because Kili kept crying at night."
"Are you sure it's just because of it?" Bilbo asked quietly.
"No, I'm not sure. I sense a deep connection between them, completely illogical considering the time they have known each other. I noticed Fili has changed a lot as well, before he was a good kid, but now for the first time I can honestly say he seems extremely happy. Bringing Kili here I was worried how it would influence Fili, that the burden of taking care of Kili on a daily basis would fall on me."
"But it's Fili taking care of Kili full-time?" Bilbo gently urged the discussion.
"He took over Kili's care, it's like Kili is not a burden with his problems, but a reason..." Thorin stopped not knowing how to call it.
"A reason for happiness?" Bilbo suggested.
"It's like they belong together." Thorin summed up.
"And I think I know the answer." Bilbo gently suggested. "But you're not going to like it."
"I think I have an idea, a feeling of uneasiness." Thorin noticed.
"It's not uncommon for siblings in abusive families to turn to one another with strength unprecedented in other situations. In normal functioning families siblings raised together form a defence forbidding them to become too attached to each other. But Fili and Kili were raised separately. Fili never suffered any abuse but he was lonely and he longed for companionship. Kili on the other hand had a dreadful childhood, and being raised in a foster family he never truly belonged to a place or to a family. He probably dreamt of someone coming and finding him, and his dreams came true when you arrived, and Fili as the perfect brother filled in the longing. The moment they met they probably felt that they belonged to each other and from what I've been observing and from what you're saying it has become a strong bond." Bilbo tried to explain.
"The question is how far did this bond go?" Thorin noticed with a grim face.
"I think very far." Bilbo added. "If they are actually sleeping together, it's very far indeed."
"Do you think they are actually in love?" Thorin spoke those words with hesitation.
"This kind of bond varies from different cases. From my experience this is one of the strongest types of bonds, sometimes unbreakable, sometimes lasting hardship, separation and suffering. I think they will fight if anyone tries to separate them." Bilbo explained.
"So what would you suggest?" Thorin asked in a weak voice. "Let them start a relationship? Kili's not even fifteen."
"His age doesn't matter in these circumstances for their bond. What matters is what would happen if you try to stop them." Bilbo told him firmly. "Kili is very fragile, under Fili's support he became stable and strong, if you take Fili away, Kili will crumble. The range of the damage might be proportionate to the bond they developed, and it might even lead to suicide."
"You think it might lead to that?" Thorin was pale and solemn.
"FAS has a high suicide rate, he's stable now but any event destroying that stability might lead him to severe addictions or to suicide." Bilbo told him. "It's a huge dilemma."
"So what do you advise?" Thorin asked sadly.
"I can't make the decision for you; after all I'm not a family member." Bilbo's voice broke a bit at the end of the sentence. "But you have three options, you can try to separate them which may have dreadful consequences, you may choose not to interfere and let it develop in its natural pace, and thirdly you can openly accept and encourage. What's best for Kili? Honestly the last option and the first is the worst. What's according to your own conscience and best for your family? I'm not sure."
"What if you were a family member? What would you advise then?" Thorin suddenly asked.
"Well..." Bilbo hesitated under the burning glaze he saw in Thorin's eyes. "If I were a family member I would say try to accept but not encourage. Talk with them seriously, tell them you know and just wait and see. There is a small chance that with time the bond might turn to what is natural between siblings and that this is just a bonding phase they both need."
"A small chance?" Thorin wanted to make sure.
"I doubt it, but there might be circumstances breaking the bond, falling in love with other people. Basically we don't even know if they are truly homosexual. It might be a test phase in their life, and their preferences might chance in the future." Bilbo told him slowly.
"I need to think about this." Thorin told him. "But I need to ask you for a favour."
"What kind of favour?" Bilbo asked slowly.
"Next week I need to go to China for five days." Thorin told him.
"And you would like me to keep an eye on the boys?" Bilbo asked.
"I'm asking for a bit more, take them into your house and take care of them." Thorin asked.
"Fine, I'll keep an eye on them and during that time I'm going to observe both of them." Bilbo told him slowly not knowing how to read the eyes full of warmth he saw.
"I'll leave then with you with a lighter mind." Thorin finally told him. Bilbo looked at him with some kind of happiness on his face.
"Have you eaten lunch?" He hesitantly proposed.
"I'm famished." Thorin smiled at him and pressed his lips into the soft lips of his beloved lover.