I'm amazed that this became popular!

So, as promised, here's an update~

enjoy!

also: note: bard's son: Bian. Oldest daughter: Sigrid. Youngest daughter: Tilda

...i think...

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Bilbo ran his fingers absent-mindedly across his opposite hand. For some reason, it still tingled as though Bard had touched him there only moments ago rather than hours.

He sighed contentedly and held his hand to his chest, trying to will that warm feeling to take over his chest again. Why did he feel like this? Because Bard was the first 'big person' (aside from Gandalf) to see his worth and treat him with kindness? It was so odd... The stories in the Shire said that men were selfish and greedy. They were loud and filthy with no sense of priorities, no sense of tradition or family. And they certainly didn't have as high opinion of food as Hobbit's naturally did.

Now since Bilbo had spent time in Bard's home, he knew those stories were wrong. Sure, there were some humans that were unkind and lowly, but Bard was... What was a good way to describe him? He was many things: Loyal, couragous, patient, daring, empathetic...

Loving.

Bilbo smiled sweetly to himself as he relaxed against the rocks leading to a patch of moss and small naturally growing vegetation he had found while wondering outside one day. As the sun warmed his skin, Bilbo thought to Bard's smile as he hugged his children.

Bian cherished his father so dearly... Bilbo knew the boy would grow up to be as strong and noble a man as his father. Sigrid... She would make a man a very good wife and mother. She was so smart and so protective. And little Tilda... She had such wide-eyed curiousity and was so sweet.

A small pain filled Bilbo's chest. He'd grown attached to the children since his stay in Bard's home. He loved watching Bain take his role as man of the home in Bard's absense. He loved seeing Sigrid tend to the home and play with her little sister. He loved Sigrid's imagination that reminded him so much of his own youth.

And Bard...

Bilbo fought back the heat behind his eyes. He would miss the brave bowman. He would miss those dark locks, that stubbly jawline, those wise eyes and that heart-warming smile.

Already he missed being in Bard's oversized clothing. He had yet to return the garbs, actually. He'd grown attached and despite so much time around Smaug and the dwarves, it still had a lingering smell of Bard on them from so many years of ownership. And, in truth, it was the only thing Bilbo had that came close to Bard's true embrace.

Except for the way... Bard held his hand and gaze last night...

"Bilbo?"

The Hobbit was torn from his thoughts as Kili approached, a smile on his face. Bilbo returned the warm smile, reluctantly dropping his hand from his chest. "Kili. How are you feeling, today?"

"Right as rain," Kili assured, plopping down on the ground across from Bilbo. "Hope I wasn't interupting. You seemed lost in thought,"

"No, it's okay. I was just..." He trailed off, not sure what to say. Surely he couldn't tell Kili of his growing affections for the human.

Kili smiled knowingly. "Thinking about... someone?" Kili may have been seen as a reckless and dense fool by some, but he was good at reading people. And since their travels, he'd gotten good at reading Bilbo. He saw the way Bilbo looked at the bowman. He saw the way Bilbo smiled as Bard embraced his children; like a wife and mother seeing her husband embrace her own children. And really, Kili was happy. If anyone deserved Bilbo, it was Bard. They shared the same sense of home and comfort. And KIli was more than happy to help the two of them see that they were perfect for eachother.

Bilbo flushed a light pink. "What makes you say that? I was merely... enjoying the warm whether. It's been a horrible winter. Warm days are rare when there's so much snow,"

Kili nearly snorted in amusement. "Sure. I just wanted to see if Bard made it to your room last night," he commented, keeping his tone casual.

Bilbo's blush became worse. "Wh-what?!"

Kili had to bite the inside of his cheek to supress a laugh. "He said he wanted to thank you for what you did. Had to ask me for directions to your room,"

Bilbo tried to calm his racing heart. "Oh..." Of course that's what Kili meant! Why did he let himself get so worked up? "Y-yes, he spoke to me... He was very greatful,"

"Did you discuss anything else, by chance?" Kili pressed on.

Bilbo huffed a bit, not liking the turn the conversation was taking. "Shouldn't you be bothering Tauriel?" He grumbled, standing and dusting off his clothes before slinking back inside, trying to ignore the faint sound of Kili chuckling behind him.

Damn dwarf...

ooooo

The talk with Kili did have an upside: Bilbo was then reminded that he needed to go and thank Thorin for keeping his word and giving the gold to Bard.

Outside his door, Oin nodded that it was okay for Bilbo to come in and announced the Hobbit's arrival to the wounded King.

Once their eyes met, Bilbo gave Thorin an encouraging smile which Thorin returned almost immediately, moving to sit up despite his protesting wounds.

Bilbo rushed over. "Thorin, lay down! You're still not healed!"

"I am well enough to make proper eye contact with my bur-...ah... my former burgler," Thorin sighed and gazed at Bilbo for a moment too long, making the Hobbit figet.

"Um... Thorin... That is, King Thorin... I wanted to come and thank you for keeping your word," He said, looking to the comforter on the bed rather than Thorin's face. The dwarf rarely looked at people so intensely and Bilbo was still unsure how to handle it. Especially since... since the Gates...

Thorin seemed to be able to know what Bilbo was thinking and surprised the Hobbit by taking Bilbo's hand in his own, forcing Bilbo to lock eyes with him out of surprise. "Dear Bilbo, it was the very least I could do. You did so much for me... Even after I treated you so horribly,"

"Thorin, you already apologized,"

"I could say sorry everyday for the rest of my life and it wouldn't be enough," Bilbo felt a pain in his chest at seeing Thorin so regretful and simply gave a weak smile, squeezing Thorin's hand in return. It wasn't at all like Bard's touch, though. This was familiar... This was family and friendship... Loyalty... Not really like Bard's touch, where it was comforting, protective, and seering with something more, something unknown underneath. Thorin suddenly smiled again. That good-natured smile he used when laughing at one of Bofur's jokes. "But I suppose helping you in this way is a good start, right?"

Bilbo felt a bit of confusion. "Well, it's more for the people of Dale, really. But I do appreciate you allowing me to give my share to them,"

Thorin quirked a brow, still smiling. "I meant that it goes towards your cause," he said, putting emphasis on every word.

Bilbo's expression scrunched a bit as he tried to decipher what Thorin meant. "Thorin...?"

The dwarven king merely started chuckling. "Think nothing of it. I'm sure I'm only babbling due to the medicine," Bilbo felt as though Thorin was lying but let it slide. For the time being, anyway. "Why don't you oversee the repairs for me? I'm rather anxious to see Dale rebuilt to its former glory. I would love to hear what plans Bard has. Would you go and ask him for me?"

Bilbo flushed at the idea of seeing Bard again and being in such close proximity with the bowman. "You want to make sure your gold is being used to its full potential, then?"

Thorin gave a knowing and smug smile. "Something like that. You'll speak to him for me, won't you? So I have something to look forward to other than healed wounds and mead?" Despite what many may think, Thorin was not thick-headed in the ways of the heart. He knew Bilbo felt something for Bard. He himself had grown to feel fondness for the burgler. While he had his doubts about Bard at the beginning, he was certian now that if anyone deserved Bilbo's loyalty and love, it was the human. Of course, he knew Bilbo wouldn't put himself in a position of having his feelings known unless Thorin made it look like a small favour Bilbo could do for him. The Hobbit was selfless like that.

Bilbo wanted to say no. He wanted to keep himself distant from the flames that consume him everytime he even laid eyes on the bowman. But it was too tempting. And if it was for Thorin... "Of course. I'll go right away," He replied, smiling softly and praying his heart wouldn't fly from his chest.

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more to come if people review

so ... *cough* hint hint lol

btw im working on more updates for my other fics. ive just been swamped because of the holidays