DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do, however, own my OC, Thia! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in whichever way you would like, but make your thoughts known and be polite while you do it. Thank you!

CHAPTER 2

I've heard that after vigorous sessions of physical activity, sleep comes easy. I can see that is true based on my partner's light snores. Not me though; I can't bring myself to fall asleep and miss one second of elation. Lying snuggled in his arms with my head resting on his shoulder and leg tossed over his stomach, I bask in his heat. 'He couldn't get away if he tried.' Caressing his bearded cheek, I take in his face.

The scowl he is known for is nowhere in sight, leaving him with a calm and relaxed expression. Peaceful even. His beard has grown, as he has no reason to keep it short anymore, giving him an 'I survive on nuts, berries, and my own urine' look. Not a turn-off but not a turn-on either. I'd never ask him to cut it but I liked him the way he was. Even so, every hard edge and soft curve is perfectly placed; I could stare at him like this forever, to be honest. Right now, there is no danger or impending doom. No dragons or orcs or gold sickness. There's just us. It's all I ever really wanted; us.

I dreamed of our reunion hundreds of times but I was never so bold as to think that something like this would happen straight away. I figured we'd sit down, have a nice little chit-chat, and work over the details of time gone by. Glancing down at the numerous hickeys scattered across my skin, I can admit that SOMETHING got worked over. While a joyous experience, it is nothing compared to what I feel by simply being with Thorin. To lay by his side, safe and content feels better than anything we've done before.

During our time apart I was sometimes afraid that he'd forget me or resent me for leaving. But he doesn't, as this happens right off the bat. Not that I regret finally making the step; we are married with two kids, one of which he is unaware of. It's about time we got around to the fun stuff. My heart sings at being so close to him after so long just as much as my body still tingles from our meeting.

"I missed you so much." I whisper hoarsely into his throat, nuzzling the bite I gave him "So so SO very much."

If anyone had asked me before I met Thorin how I felt about marking someone as their own, I would have laughed at the very idea. What need did I have for violently assaulting a loved one with my teeth? I was even on the fence about it when I returned home. One particular morning when the pain of our separation grew so bad that I thought my heart had really been ripped out of my chest, I looked in the mirror and I saw it; the bite to mark me as his. Permanently set right where my shoulder meets my neck was the evidence that he loves me. It broadcasts: 'I belong to someone.' A ring can be removed and a promise can be broken but not a bite.

While you may marry a girl because you got her pregnant (ahem, cough cough), it does not mean you love her. But claiming her as your own and having her do the same is like shouting from the rooftops so that everyone can know of your feelings for each other. It's possessive and more than a little primal but it made me so happy when I saw it. My father would roll his eyes at it and the twins would often ask if Duke bit me. Still, I always just smile because no matter what anyone else thinks, I know what it means. With a content sigh, I fold my arms across his chest, resting my chin on them, and just watch the dwarf king sleep.

"I could stay awake just hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

While you're far away and dreaming

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender

I could stay lost in this moment forever

Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure."

I softly sing, not wanting to wake him but feeling the song is perfect for this. I often hum it while I watch the twins sleep. I watch them religiously because I'm just so worried they'll fly away and leave me. Mahal did say they would return and despite my mother's assurances, I feared they would go without me. I personally know from experience that it can happen. Being alone I think was the scariest course of action that could happen. Placing my ear on his chest, I listen to Thorin's heartbeat.

"I don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

Cause I miss you, babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I still miss you, babe

And I don't want to miss a thing."

Voices intrude on the reverie, reminding me that I've no idea what time it is for sure and should probably get up. It may have been the afternoon in my world but it could be morning or evening for all I know. Though, if Thorin was sleeping when I arrived, it's probably early. Ignoring the delicious soreness that has me rolling on my back like a turtle, I aim to exit the broken bed to pull on my clothes once I regain my strength. Using my 'jump' once more to 'feel' for my children and Duke, I know that they are still close by and together. Good. It's about time they met their father.

It's a trick I learned a few years back: Feeling. I could 'feel' the distance of a 'jump' even if I was unable to do any actual jumping. I use it to check up on my family occasionally because picking up the phone is too impersonal and doesn't intrude on privacy enough. The skill doesn't work if the person is dead, I found that out some boring afternoon, and that's a good thing if you ask me.

I start to sit up only to be halted by a hand on my hip pulling me to lay flat on my back once more. The king rolls me under him, eyes sparkling in adoration that is blush-worthy.

"Good morning." I say, finding it the most likely greeting "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in years. Though, I enjoyed falling into slumber and waking beside you even more than the rest itself." He grins and nips at my collarbone, beard scraping softly against my skin. I can feel his laughter before I hear it as he continues "Almost as much as I enjoyed being insi-"

"Sorry if I woke you up with my singing." I cut him off by covering his mouth with my hands before he can finish embarrassing me. He immediately licks my palm, sucking a finger into his mouth while staring straight into my eyes. Shivering slightly, I snatch the limb away with a mild look of mock disgust as my body flushes with heat "Ew."

"You enjoy it, do not tell false tales." He flashes a toothy smile as I fold my arms across my chest "You always did have a beautiful voice."

"Thanks." Pushing at his shoulders to give me room to sit up only results in the dwarf settling his hips between my thighs. The word 'insatiable' comes to mind and I give him a pointed look. Addressing him as I would one of the children when they try to eat up all their Halloween candy at once, I sternly reprimand him "Thorin, you've had enough."

"I have not." He denies wholeheartedly "Not nearly enough."

"Well, I have."

"You can still move though." he runs a hand up my ribs, causing me to flinch away from the tickle, just to make his point. He places a kiss on my shoulder before pulling the flesh into his mouth "Shall we rectify that?"

"No, we shant," I answer firmly but place a kiss on his nose to soften the denial. I've been away from the children long enough without returning in a medieval wheelchair "I've got people waiting for me and the boy cries if I'm late."

"The boy…" Thorin raises onto his forearms to gaze down at my flat stomach and then back at me as I nod my head "I missed his birth…"

"It couldn't be helped." With my lower torso somewhat free I slither from under the dwarf, toss the blanket on his head, and collect my clothes. I'm already sliding into the undergarments by the time he is free. I haven't the time to indulge him any longer. Theodore, being the more sensitive twin will indeed start having a fit if I don't show up soon and I don't want to cause him any unneeded stress. Not that Thoria won't have a fit of her own; she's a sassy little thing and lectures me when I do things she doesn't 'approve' of "You going to sit there all day?"

"You should be laying down."

"I would if I could but I can't."

"How did you receive the scar on your stomach?" The question is sudden but I expected it to come up later "I am able to identify the others, though they have healed extraordinarily well, however not that one."

"... Giving birth is hard. Giving birth to a dwarf is harder." Shrugging my shoulders, not wanting to make such a big deal out of it right now, I rush to finish "I had to be cut open and-"

"I sincerely apologize." He interrupts, pulling me into his arms "I was not there and you suffered."

"It couldn't be helped. Now," I pat his arm to try and get him moving "up up and away."

The dwarf shakes himself free of the trance he's fallen into and follows my lead. It's like we are rewinding, this time helping each other into our clothes instead of out of them. I help him because he helps me, though he only has pants to slide into. They could be middle earth underwear though. I can never tell. He helps me because I'd probably fall over if he doesn't. It's almost comical how shy I become and how confused he is at trying to figure out where each opening for my limbs should go through. Growling in frustration even as we finish on my end, he plucks clothes out of his closet to ready himself for the day.

As such, I finish first; slipping on my shoes and leaving the monarch on the bed to put on his own. I can feel my body slowly tightening up and if I don't do some stretches or something, I know I'll be feeling some pain later on. The original interruption of my calm catches my attention once more. The hushed voices snicker from outside and feeling curious, I inch up to the door to stretch… and secretly collect intelligence.

"They broke the bed." The first voice chuckles lowly and I feel my face heat at knowing someone heard us. From the deep gravel texture and accent, I can safely assume that standing outside the door is a dwarf. A guard probably. Gossiping lot "She must have been some ride!"

"Aye! I've no idea 'ow 'is majesty snuck 'er in there." The second voice responds with a chortle of his own and I huff in mild annoyance at their rudeness "I suppose 'e's preparing 'imself for the dry spell."

"He's just meetin' with a few suitors today. The first he's ever accepted." All amusement fades from my mind at the statement. The bed creaks behind me but I don't bother turning around, intent on hearing the rest of the conversation "Erebor needs a Queen."

"She is in sore need o' one. I the crown prince had sired any the line, halfbreeds! But nae, he hasn't any, and the other... well... ye know."

"Ye know not to speak of it is what ye know. As for half breeds, tisn't such bad thin'. Though, even if the king's One was still alive, she'd be preparin' for her deathbed by now."

"If she's even real. Few out of the thirteen 'ave ever even seen 'er before. She could be made up!"

"I doubt it. His majesty often wears the face o' a dwarf who has loved and lost. Any would regret the loss of the Queen Mother and the child lost to the world for all we know."

"Aye… T'is sad but true." They remain silent for a moment before softly laughing off the atmosphere "But they broke the bed!"

With that, the pair drift off into silence or away from the door or maybe I just can't hear them anymore over the roar of my heartbeat in my ears. Their words ring in my head like a siren, getting louder and louder with each passing second. 'Honeymoon. Officially. Over.' I take a couple of deep breaths to calm myself as I hear my name being called.

"Thia…" Slowly turning around, I try to convince myself to listen to what Thorin has to say before I start flipping tables "Thia you should not be standing. Darling, come here."

"No. No, um…. I'm good over here." Which isn't true, as I can feel my back starting to ache something fierce "What, uh, what were they" I gesture flippantly to the door "Talking about? Suitors? What suitors? Why would you have suitors?"

"…You must understand-" he steps forward but I put my hands up in a 'stop' motion "Love-"

"I don't. I really don't." I puff out a humorless breathy laugh. The situation has done an about-face and what was a beautiful reunion is now about to spawn another dragon in this mountain. I pull my hair up into a messy bun, finding that the damp spirals irritate me as they swipe over my arms. My beads clink quietly beside my ear and I push them behind it "Why are they saying that you are going to meet your potential wife today?"

"Because I am." My head snaps up and it's his turn to raise his hands to stop my approach "Was. I WAS."

"Why?" I ask through clenched teeth. My head is pounding and my vision swims but I refuse the dwarf's aid once more as he attempts to help "Just… why?"

"Oh, Thia." He sighs deeply and looks very old as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed "It has been so long."

"It's been four years!" I hiss lowly, not wanting the nosy pair outside to hear "Do humans die at 26 around here?"

"Four? No no, Thia, it has been much longer than a mere four years." My eyebrows curl in confusion as I impatiently wait for him to continue "It's been 60 years Thia. You've been gone more than half a century. Men do not live much longer than 70 years and you were already 22."

"So… you thought I was dead… I should have listened to the dog when he said to 'talk' but did I? Noooooo!" the information doesn't make me feel any better, as the situation of him going to find a new spouse hasn't changed "What then? Were you just waiting to be sure I was dead and gone before you found yourself a new bedroom squeeze toy?"

"You know that is not true!" he growls standing a pointing a finger at me and even though I know it isn't, the hurt doesn't allow me to back down "I waited for you, for YEARS, enduring the pain of your loss, the constant subtle requests, and then later blatant demands of my people for a Queen."

"You think I stayed away on purpose?" I demand, feeling defensive "I would have come back immediately if I could have. When I finally do make it back, you're on your way to some other woman." Gesturing to the space between us "What was this? Huh? Why would you even bother with... with... this if you're going to someone else? TODAY no less! Is this some sort of-of-of-of Middle Earth booty call?"

"I have too much respect for you and myself to subject either of us to that type of treatment." Apparently, they have booty calls, of all things, in middle earth "I missed spending half a century to be with you, I would not waste the other half I have left."

"…That…" I do a few math calculations, to figure out the current year and bulk at my findings. Not because Thorin is old as dirt but because of… everything else. The knowledge of the past 60 years runs through my head and I bolt, as fast as a bolt can be with a limp, over to my bag "No… nooooo that can't be right."

"Thia, what-"

"Not now, Mr. Almost-Adulterer." I don't slow my digging as I snap at him "We can deal with your pass time hobbies later."

Pulling out the book of notes I made, I leaf through the tattered sections from extended use searching for the right page. Nearly tearing the lined pages from the spine, I finally find the correct place. No, Thorin is not off the hook but I have to know. Placing my hand on the sheets, I fly across the room and sit on the bed, wincing as I plop down. Pulling him to sit beside me, I ignore him as he watches me in a way that I'm sure means 'she's lost it.'

"It's 3001?"

"The year?" he questions and I nod vigorously. What else could I be talking about, shoe sizes? "It is. Afterlithe 28th to be exact."

"2941 is the Battle of five armies…"

"Yes that's corr-"

"2968 is when Frodo was born, followed by Samwise in 2980…"

"I'm not sure who-"

"Here!" I start slapping the page, indicating for the dwarf king to look "2994, Balin, Ori, and Oin. They…. They… They didn't… die… did they?"

"They were meant to?" the simple question lights my heart even as he continues, reading my expression "They would have if not for... Kili breaking Ori's leg."

"Excuse me?" that doesn't seem like the Kili I know. I don't miss the hesitation in Thorin's voice as he says his nephew's name "What happened?"

"He was attempting to teach someone how to properly shoot a bow and accidentally pushed Ori off a balcony. Dori still has yet to let me hear the end of it." Thorin explains, seeming apologetic for his nephew's actions, and I hang on to every word "The lad was supposed to go with Oin and Balin but the trip was delayed because of it. If they had left when they were supposed to… from your question I know they would not have lived."

"Oh thank God." I place my face in my hands, happy that I haven't lost any friends. Thorin pats my back like Theodore has taken up doing lately. My head shoots up again and I groan. If it's been 60 years, then that means any and everything could have changed in the mountain. I don't want the kids running around with a dog and an unnamed cousin. Especially if Kili has developed a balcony-throwing habit "I've got to go."

"What? No. You have only just arrived and if you move too much after…" his mind catches up to mine and his eyes meet my own, shimmering with potential "Our son."

"Is somewhere in this big rock." I answer, not telling him about our daughter. Surprises are fun "They came ahead of me but had I known so much time had passed I wouldn't have…" without my consent, my temper flares again "You know, a little warning would have been nice."

"What would have had me say?" he asks, near exasperated

"Oh I don't know, something along the lines of" I deepen my voice and do my best impression of the dwarf "You look kind of young for an 82-year-old woman so I think something is up. Before you do anything worth doing I think you should know that you've been pronounced dead and that I'm taking applications for your open position."

"Thia please…" he exhales harshly, opening his arms in a tired fashion "I do not wish to fight with you."

"Good work with that. Are you still going to meet with her? Them? Him for all I know anymore." I ask, voice low as I'm sure I know the answer already. I'm being mean and a little unreasonable but I can't help it. It's all I can do not to strangle him "Even with me showing up, are you still going to carry this out?"

"I cannot simply send them away." He sighs, eyes silently pleading with me to understand "It would not look-"

"Yeah politics, I get it." I cut him off with a wave of my hand prior to repeating "I've got to go."

"Can I not persuade you to stay?" he takes my silence as a negative and tries a different venue "I would like to… meet our son."

"Would you now? Then don't get lost." Repacking my bag, I grip it in my hand to take with me and I prepare myself. Hoisting it onto my back is not going to happen, and leaving the items would mean I'd have to reenter the room later if I wanted something from them. Something I don't want to do right now. I focus on my children's position, hoping I can pull this off "And if you could NOT bring your 'suitors,' that'd be great."

Yes, I could have waited for the dwarf or at least told him where to find us. But I don't. And no, I'm not going to take my anger at his marriage proposals out on him by way of keeping our children away from him. Still, to say it doesn't hurt would be a lie. It's not that I don't understand the harshness of politics, I just know I'm not really meant for them. Kings need Queens and the excuse of 'she's on vacation across the galaxy' isn't going to cut it.

Dead or not I always expected us to be together. Forever and always. Is that childish or is it just too much to ask? To know that once I died he planned, or allowed someone to plan for him, to remarry for whatever reason is more than I care to dwell on at the moment. Instead, I keep myself positive. 60 years means Bilbo's big birthday bash is coming up and I don't want to miss it. September 22, meaning I have a few months to get there. Even with my gift, I've got my work cut out for me but first, my babies.

The first 5-10 chapters dont not seem to need that much work, so I'll post those rather quickly this week. Next week, updates for this story will drop down to maybe 3 chapters a week. The week after will be similar to my other stories of one time a week: Sundays. Keep a look out, I'm doing my best!