Daisy sank down to the floor and threw her arms around Kili. "Yes! Of course I want to marry you!" Then she bit her lip and looked to Thorin nervously. "If we are allowed to do that."
"Of course we are! I've talked to uncle already. Everything will be fine." Kili explained happily and kissed Daisy.
The hobbit smiled at her betrothed. She took the necklace from him and put it around her neck. Then she hugged him again.
Fili put his arm arounds Poppy's shoulders and smiled at his brother and his soon to be sister-in-law. He was glad that they would finally get the happiness they deserved.
Thorin looked at Kili and Daisy and then at everyone else in the room and sighed. Kili had Daisy, Fili had Poppy and even though Dwalin and Dis weren't in love, they were still best friends and had a wonderful daughter. Suddenly Thorin felt sad and realised that he wanted a family as well. He dreamed of the beautiful healer Fjola and decided that he wanted to try to win her heart when he wasn't king anymore.
Suddenly Vili pulled on the hem of his tunic and so Thorin was pulled from his thoughts. He looked down at him and sat him on his lap. "What's wrong, lad?"
"What's happening, Uncle Thorin? Why is Daisy crying?" Vili asked with some worry in his voice.
Thorin wondered how to explain the situation but then Daisy walked towards him and stroked over Vili's golden curls. "I'm very happy because I'm going to be your aunt soon."
"But you are Aunt Daisy already!" Vili exclaimed.
Daisy chuckled. "Yes, but soon I'm going to be your aunt officially because I will marry your Uncle Kili. And you will also get a cousin in a few months."
"Hurray! That's great!" Vili yelled and hugged Daisy. Then his siblings joined him; all of them wee happy that she would be a member of their family soon too.
A few days later Fili and Poppy finally found the time to talk about Thorin's wish of Fili becoming king when someone knocked at the door. Fili went to open it and was surprised to find his brother standing there with a nervous expression on his face. "Fili, can we talk?"
"Of course Kili, why don't you come in?" Fili suggested.
Kili entered the room with a nod and followed his brother to the living room. Poppy was happy to see her brother-in-law but decided to leave him and Fili alone. So she kissed her husband and told him that she'd visit Dis together with the older children.
Fili kissed her back and then sat down opposite to his brother. "Kili, I'm happy that you're here. But you look troubled? What's wrong?"
"I finally wanted to apologise for everything I have done to you. You have always been there for me and I treated you in the most terrible way." Kili said in a low voice.
Fili took his brother's hand and squeezed it. "Kili, I know that this wasn't your doing. Amad gave me the letter and I understand why you acted the way you did. I wanted to talk to you when you first arrived here but we weren't sure if this would be a good idea. And then she hurt you and I never thought it was the right time to talk about it."
Kili finally looked up and so Fili smiled at him. "I have already forgiven you, Kili. You don't have to apologise."
"Really?" Kili asked with a frown.
Fili stood up to embrace his brother. "Of course!"
Kili returned the hug and for the first time in years he was truly happy.
They stayed like this for a few more moments until Fili heard his youngest son cry. He sighed and let go of Kili. He went to the nursery and realised that Thorin needed a new diaper. He wondered if Kili wanted to help him since he was quite insecure about being a father and so he called him.
A few seconds later Kili entered the nursery and looked at his brother with wide eyes.
Fili chuckled. "Kili, I thought you could try to change the diaper. I know that it might be difficult but of course I'll help you."
"Daisy suggested that you might teach me some things about fatherhood but I wasn't sure if you really wanted to. So yes, let's try that." Kili answered. He had no idea what to do with the diaper but he wanted to learn.
"Of course I'll help you, Kili." Fili answered happily. "Why don't you try to put in on while I'll bring the old one away?"
"Yes, why not." Kili said and walked closer to his nephew. He had never been around small children and had no idea what to do with it. He smiled at his nephew and tickled his belly with his breath. Thorin smiled and pulled the diaper towards his face. Kili thought that the little boy most likely knew where it belonged and put it on his head.
Kili heard his brother talking to Dis, Runa, Poppy and Daisy in the hallway. He hoped that Daisy would be happy that he spent time around his youngest nephew.
Fili entered the room again and chuckled. "Oh Kili! I think there is pretty much you'll have to learn about babies."
Fili's chuckle had lured the four females to the infirmary. They were worried how Kili might react but they couldn't contain a small chuckle.
Luckily Kili seemed to have a good day and started to grin. "I suppose the diaper doesn't belong there but I had no idea and Thorin wanted me to put it there. So you have to blame him."
Everyone was relieved that Kili even joked about his mistake and they all started to laugh. Daisy walked towards Kili and kissed him. "Oh my, I think you really need some lessons on fatherhood."
"I think so, too. Fili, would you help me, please?" Kili agreed and asked.
"Of course! Come on." Fili laughed and took the diaper from his son's head. He helped Kili to put it on in the way it's meant to be. But they immediately realised that this was one of the tasks Kili would never be able to do on his own. Fili regretted that he had even asked Kili but the latter said that he was happy about his first lesson. He would never be able to change his child's diaper on his own but he said that he could help Daisy to do it now that he knew how.
Everyone on the room smiled at Kili but then they left the room to give Poppy some privacy to nurse her son. Fili stayed with her though. "I really worry about him. What if it bothers him that he will never be able to do all the things a father does more than he shows us."
Poppy stroked over her son's dark brown curls and frowned. "We will have to keep a close eye on him. It won't be easy for them but the love each other. And we have to show him that we will always be there to help."
"Yes, you're right! He's not alone. But I think I should try to teach him some things he can do on his own. Otherwise he'll think he useless after all." Fili said and smiled at his wife. He kissed her and smiled at his son.
In the living room Daisy, Dis and Runa prepared the table for the dinner with the children.
Kili watched Runa curiously. Of course he remembered her and her husband from Ered Luin. He wondered why he never saw them together though and decided to ask her.
He walked to Runa and smiled at her. "Runa, I'd like to ask you something."
"Of course, Kili." She smiled back at him.
"I'm happy to see you and that you're friends with Fili and his family. But I've been wondering where Anor is. I'd like to see him as well." Kili said.
Runor, Daisy and Dis gasped and looked at Runa in worry. But the dwarrodam just swallowed. "Would you like to join me on a walk? I'll tell you then."
Kili agreed and soon they walked through Erebor in silence. After a while Kili realised that they walked towards the communal burial area. "Runa, what are we doing here?"
Runa took a deep breath and explained how Anor had died. She had just finished her story when they reached his tomb.
Kili was shocked and had tears in his eyes. "Oh Mahal! He was my friend; I can't believe what you just told me! First these miners killed him and then they nearly killed Fili, Thorin, Poppy and my nephew. I'm glad they're already dead, otherwise I'd kill them." Kili said and took Runa's hand in an attempt to comfort her. "But why did you never tell me when I was here. I would have liked to know."
Runa swallowed again. "Kili, when you and your wife were here for the Durin's Day celebration the year after your mother's wedding, me and Anor wanted to meet you. We walked towards the table you sat at but you weren't there. We told your wife that we were friends of you. But she told us that we should leave; you were a prince now and a miner and a cleaner had no place in your life, especially not as friends. Unfortunately we believed her and left. That's why I've never tried to approach you again."
Finally the tears streamed down Kili's cheeks. "This can't be true! I wonder how much more of my life she ruined with her lies and actions. I'm so sorry, Runa! I've always considered you as a friend." Kili wiped his tears away and hugged Runa.
They stayed at Anor's grave for a while and then went back to Fili's rooms.
Hello everyone! Once again thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows. You make me so happy :)
I'm sorry about the late update though. The story is supposed to be happier from now on after everything Fili and his family have been through. I have lots of ideas but unfortunately it's quite difficult for me to express these happier parts. So I struggled a lot with it and wondered about if and how to continue. But I think that you deserve a finished story because I don't like it myself when writers suddenly stop in the middle if the story and so I will try to finish it as good as I can :)