Bilbo makes a choice and things don't seem to get any better...

I know technically Thorin doesn't accept Bilbo until after the orc attack, but, well for this story, they've already put their differences behind them in Rivendell. I hope it's not too much of a problem! ^^

Climbing over rocks and tree roots that were littered across the forest grounds, Thorin ran, they needed to get as far away as they could if they wanted to be remotely safe. With Gandalf making a count behind him, he thought he could give the wizard the responsibility of making sure all of the members of his company were accounted for, at least this time.

Having been sprinting through the trees, and not seeing any goblins in sight, he decided that they were relatively safe, and decided to halt for a minute, so everybody could catch their breath. He was doing good himself, until he heard Gandalf.

"Where's Bilbo?"

He looked up, panicking, and searched their surroundings, desperate to see a mop of curly brown hair, desperately hoping that somehow, Bilbo had managed to get out of the caves along with them, even if he hadn't been at their side in Goblin Town.

"Where is our hobbit?" Gandalf asked more urgently, pressing the others to search for their unfortunate companion. The dwarf looked around franticly, wanting to see a small red coat, or little hairy feet. Thorin eyed the trees, over and over, just begging to see their burglar, just once more. He hadn't thanked him properly yet for what he'd done, and he needed to give Bilbo an honest apology for the way he'd been treating him since he'd joined them, having not really made him feel very welcomed at all.

With everybody searching everywhere, and Gandalf becoming increasingly irritable, Thorin tried every tree, every rock, anything he could deem probable to hide a Halfling, but he never found Bilbo. His breath quickened: what if they'd left him behind at the mercy of the goblins? What if they'd forgotten him in the deep underground caves they'd just escaped? Oh no…

He'd always taken the responsibility of seeing to the hobbit's safety. He might have told Gandalf in Bilbo's home that he wouldn't, nevertheless, he couldn't find it in him to just leave the hobbit to his own devices, he knew Bilbo wouldn't make it on his own, and he'd become attached to the hobbit. Yet, here they all stood, unscathed for the most part, and the member of the company they should have all looked out for was missing.

"I thought he was with Dori!" Dwalin cursed. He wasn't technically out to get the eldest Ri, he just couldn't bear the feeling they'd failed to protect the member of the company who most needed it.

"Don't blame me!" Dori shot back. It wasn't his fault if Bilbo wasn't among them, he couldn't look out for his two younger brothers, Nori and Ori, and the small hobbit!

"I thought I saw him manage to get away when those goblins first discovered us." the thief stated, a bit timidly. He wasn't sure if he should say it, not being the most outspoken among the dwarves, and fearing the reaction the others would have. While those less enthusiastic about Bilbo's addition would only see it as a form of betrayal, those who did care for him, like he himself, would probably be thinking he got left behind in the tunnels. Nori didn't want to cause an argument, if he could help it.

Unknown to them, Bilbo had indeed escaped, after a close encounter with one of the strangest creatures he'd ever met and one startling discovery. Hiding behind some tree at their back, with the ring he'd taken from Gollum around his finger and thus invisible to the company, he listened in as they rambled on about him.

Some words were hurtful, where some of the dwarves saw his escape as a betrayal, and others were worried about him, some even ready to go back into the tunnels to search for him. The poor hobbit didn't know what to think.

"Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it! We will not be seeing our hobbit again!" Dori cursed.

Thorin didn't want to believe the eldest Ri, he'd come to like the hobbit, even if he was a bit peculiar. Bilbo was loyal, surely he wouldn't have run off on them, right? He'd never gotten a chance to thank him for what he'd done either, or not enough in his eyes anyway. He had a debt towards the little Halfling, a debt that could not be paid if he never saw him again, but one look at Gandalf told him they were not going back into those caves. What was he going to do now? He wrapped an arm securely around Fili next to him, as he felt him shiver slightly, knowing his nephew was also concerned for their hobbit friend, wanting him to just magically jump out from behind one of the trees.

Bilbo was still hiding behind a tall trunk, debating whether he should join the company or not. He had hoped he'd been fully accepted, by all of them, but he could see now that some still doubted his loyalty. It hurt, really it did, but he put their short temperedness of the fact that they hadn't got all of their senses back yet, that they were still catching their much needed breath after the close encounter they'd had with the goblins, he really hoped they still wanted him.

Although, thinking about it, he had a choice. He could either keep is ring on, make it safely to Bag End, where his comfy house and everything that used to be part of his everyday life was awaiting him, where he could go back to normal. Or he could stay, try and prove that he could have a place here, that he was loyal to Thorin and the others, and that despite what some may think, he still wanted to go along with them. He still wanted to be friends with them though, maybe they weren't overly fond of him, but some of the company, he'd really gotten attached to, like Balin, Thorin, Kili, Fili and even Bofur. Leaving them all behind now, after having travelled so far with them… It felt like betrayal, and Bilbo knew friends didn't betray each other.

The choice was pretty easy, really.

The dwarves all started, when they heard a rustling behind them and… Bilbo! So he'd made it! How, they didn't know, but the main point was that the hobbit had managed to join them again, and he looked free of bruises too, mostly a good sign indeed. Thorin sighed, actually relieved that the little burglar had managed to find a way to catch up with them.

"No, he isn't." The hobbit looked around nervously, yet glad to see some members of the company express their reassurance and smile up at him, inviting him back into their midst.

Fili had panicked when he didn't spot Bilbo with them, but knew better than going back into the caves alone, he would be stopped anyway. Despite how wrong it felt, leaving one of them behind, he knew his Uncle couldn't afford another encounter with the creatures they'd just barely managed to escape.

But he owed it to Bilbo, he owed the hobbit so much, not even sparing a glance back felt like betraying him. If it wasn't for Bilbo, he would never have been able to unburden himself to his Uncle, he'd never have faced up to his own problems. He probably would have been on death's doorstep actually. It was awful, having to leave their little burglar behind, when he'd managed to save him from his own terrors, when Bilbo had managed to get someone to save him, and when Bilbo had been so… nice about the whole thing. He'd been in the hobbit's debt, and now that he couldn't repay him, he was at a total loss.

So when Bilbo, seemingly appearing out of thin air, joined them from behind one of the trees, he'd let out a sigh of relief he hadn't known he'd been keeping. Bilbo was safe! Just seeing the hobbit, with only a few scratches and bruises, but mostly unharmed and actually giving them a nervous smile, it was enough to calm his wracking nerves, and when he caught sight of his Uncle, he could see the affect Bilbo had on him too. He was glad the hobbit had come back.

"Bilbo Baggins! I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!" Gandalf almost cried out, making his way over to their little burglar. The fact that their newest member had managed to rejoin them, and that they were once more a complete company definitely eased the weight that had been on his heart only moments ago. They were all here, and accounted for.

Bilbo couldn't let the grin that had automatically appeared on his face fade. Seeing the dwarves smile up at him, feeling the relief they felt at seeing him here, with them, he could finally feel some part of him integrating the company. Of course, his eyes first traveled to Thorin, who looked for the most parts unharmed, safe for a few bruises and scratches here and there, probably after some painful encounter with the walls of the caves he'd just escaped.

Next to him, Fili had a disheveled appearance, and Bilbo guessed something had happened while they'd been separated, but couldn't see any trace of noticeable injury. Whatever it was, he hoped it hadn't been too grave, knowing he hadn't been there to help.

"How on earth did you manage to get passed the goblins?" Kili asked almost instantly. It was bound to be an exciting story! At least for Kili… The hobbit hesitated suddenly, should he tell them everything? He knew he could trust the dwarves, all of them, they'd come to appreciate him (well, mostly) and vice-versa, but fingering the ring in his pocket, something told him to keep quiet, and Bilbo wasn't too sure what to say. Should he tell them he'd found this ring? While it was probably the right thing to do, he felt loath to do it, and besides, there was no need for them to know. The hobbit was here now, and the fact that he'd managed to catch up with the group, it was all that really mattered.

Bilbo seemed strained, just for a moment, and Thorin grew weary, had anything happened to his…. Friend? Could he call Bilbo a friend? He would like to. He was only starting to realize how much the hobbit had grown on him, how much he'd under-estimated the little Halfling. Bilbo had proven himself much more resourceful than any of them many times already, and the dwarf really hoped he'd conveyed the idea to him, that when he'd apologized for the way he'd behaved towards him, he'd also understood that he could talk around the dwarves, that he didn't have to feel the need to just listen and comply.

Gandalf grew suspicious too, especially when the hobbit fingered his pocket. He cared for Bilbo especially, had he gotten hurt during their time apart, and refused to let anyone in on his possible injuries? While he hoped not, he knew they could not linger here. Besides, the dwarves had had enough to worry about for one day, he'd see to Bilbo himself later, once they would all be rested.

"Well, what does it matter? He's back!" They should be getting on their way, he didn't like lingering here, out in the open, where they could be too easily spotted.

"Matters?" Thorin almost snapped back. How could Gandalf just push them on any further, when they all needed just a while longer, to rest? How could he just put Bilbo aside when he'd almost been lost to all of them? "I want to know, why did you come back?" Yes, Thorin reflected that he hadn't been the kindest to Bilbo, despite his apology in Rivendell. He'd pushed the hobbit, probably too much, and he would have expected him to have bolted long before now. He'd thought he'd done it, when he noticed he hadn't been among those captured by the goblins, but obviously he'd been wrong, because here was Mister Baggins, still standing, and still with them. He might have only been a simple hobbit, but his loyalty was one of a dwarf's, he'd just proven that. Thorin was surprised at how attached to the odd burglar he'd become.

Bilbo sighed, he knew he could have run off, back home, where he would be among people he knew and was familiar with, he could have done so if he wished. Yet something kept keeping him here, with these thirteen dwarves he still knew next to nothing about. They probably only saw in him some form of nuisance, but he didn't care much for that. He'd grown fond of them while on their journey, he cared for them, each and every one of them, including grouchy Thorin, and he found himself wanting to go on with them, hoping that someday, he might be able to bring them something, that someday he may be able to call them all friends.

"I know you doubt me… I know you always have. And you're right, I often think of Bag End. I miss my books… And my armchair… And my garden. See? That's where I belong. That's home… And that's why I came back, because… You don't have one, a home. It was taken from you. But I will help you, all of you, take it back if I can."

Thorin was at a loss for words. The hobbit didn't really leave anything to be contested. If he'd had his doubts about Bilbo, he could clearly see they were totally unfounded now. It was startling, to realize how Bilbo, someone they didn't even know only a few weeks ago, seemed to suddenly care so much about them, being ready to risk his own security to help them reclaim a home, reclaim something he wasn't even remotely involved in.

He really had underestimated Mister Baggins, and he regretted it. Thorin promised himself he'd take him aside later, and have a good talk with the hobbit, so he could fully apologize for the way he'd went on around him, and thank him more personally for what he'd done for Fili.

The whole company had actually fallen silent at Bilbo's little speech. Some feeling guilty for the way they'd spoken of the loyal hobbit, others just amazed at how such a small person could have such courage. They all saw in Mister Baggins a friend, right then, they all wanted Bilbo to stay with them, if he would.

However, their peaceful moment was soon interrupted as they heard howling in the distance, among the trees, much too close for comfort.

"Out of the frying pan…" Thorin muttered, realizing they needed to move out now.

"…And into the fire." Gandalf finished gravely for him. "Run, run!" he ordered them.

And much too soon to their liking, thirteen dwarves, an old wizard and a hobbit found themselves running for their lives once more, trying to get away from the wargs that would soon be close on their tail.