Disclaimer: I own no characters who show up in the books or movies.

Author's Note: words in Khuzdul and thoughts will be italicized. "Dwarrowdam" means "Dwarven woman," short form is "dam." A "damling" is a female dwarf child, a "dwarfling" is a male dwarf child. "Dwarrowlings" are dwarf children, either male or female. Some words I made up, others I borrowed.

nadadith - little brother

Einharon - my One

barithon - beloved husband

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Just as she decides to try and investigate into their past, there's a knock on the front door.

Nora jumps a little, and Thorin's eyes snap open. He gently nudges Dis and the boys awake, then stands and makes his way towards the stairs. Another knock sounds as Fíli and Kíli rub the sleep from their eyes. They're yawning and stretching until a young female voice says, "Morning, Uncle!" Suddenly excited, the boys jump up and race towards the stairs. Dis, though much more calm about it, isn't far behind. Nora quickly follows, wondering what's going on. Forgetting that she's supposed to have a limp, she bounds down the stairs after Dis. What she sees confuses her even further.

Standing in the doorway, hugging Thorin, is a female dwarfling a little older than Fíli. She has golden-blonde hair like Fíli's, and stormy-grey eyes like Thorin and Dis's. She's an inch or two taller than Fíli, and young enough that no curves have yet formed. Her facial features match Kíli's almost to a tee. When she sees the boys, she grins and releases Thorin to turn towards them. Said dwarflings shout "Flika!" and run to her. She pulls them both into a hug, laughing and grinning.

"Oh, I've missed you both so much!" she says when they release each other enough to look at each other. "So tell me, how are my favorite little brothers?" At this, the boys laugh. Wait...brothers?

"Flika," Fíli says between giggles, "we're your only brothers!" Kíli giggles, as well.

"Yeah, Lee! We're the only ones!" he says. "Flika" grins.

"And that, my dear nadadith, is precisely why you two are my very favorites!" She says as she tickles Kíli, who squeals in delight, then Fíli, who squeals less and laughs more. Thorin chuckles at the three of them. Dis laughs.

"Well," she says with a grin, "am I going to get my hug now, or should I go prepare breakfast while I wait?" Flika grins, then breaks apart from the boys to hug Dis.

"Hello, Ama! I missed you!"

"And I missed you so very much, my little topaz!" Did says as she wraps her arms tightly around the girl. "Now, tell me," she says, releasing Flika just enough to look at her, "how was Bree? Did you have fun? Did you mind Balin and Dwalin?"

"It was great, yes we did, and yes we did," Flika laughs. We? Before another thought can cross Nora's already-blown mind, another voice sounds.

"Ada!" Thorin's face splits into a wide grin as he turns toward this new voice. A little blur runs into the house and leaps into his waiting arms. Both of them laugh as he spins them around. When he finally stops, Nora is able to see that the voice belongs to a little female dwarfling, even younger than Kíli. She has curly black hair and grey eyes like Thorin, but the resemblance stops there. Nora thinks she might one day grow to look like Katie McGrath, but doesn't have to wonder who she gets the rest of her features from, because another dwarrowdam enters the room right after the little girl.

Thorin shifts the little girl to his right arm and reaches with his left for the dam, a tender expression on his face as he looks as her.

"Einharon," he says before planting a kiss on her lips. "It's good to have you back, my love." The dam smiles at him.

"It's good to be back, barithon," she says. The dam is the same height as Dis, but has straight brown hair and brown eyes. She reminds Nora of Hayley Atwell, in her voice as well as her looks.

"Is my daughter the only one who will be giving me a hug this morning?" Dis says with humor in her tone. The little damling in Thorin's arms turns toward her with a grin, wiggles out of his grasp, and runs toward Dis.

"Auntie Dis!" she squeals with delight. Dis laughs as she wraps her arms around her niece.

"Welcome back, little Tari!" The damling kisses her aunt on the cheek, then eagerly turns toward the boys. "Fee! Kee!"

"Ree!" the boys shout in response, sandwiching her in a hug. Meanwhile, Dis walks toward the other dwarrowdam and they hug each other tightly.

"It's good to have you back, Tama," she says as they release each other. "I swear, if I trip once more over my brother's boots, I might just pull my hair out!" All three of the adults laugh at her comment.

"So," Thorin says when they've calmed down, "Where are our friends? I don't see either of Dwalin's lads, and they usually follow the girls everywhere."

"Dwalin suggested they go home first and unpack," Tama answers. "He pointed out that it's easier to have happy reunions without travel packs in the way. Tari and I dropped our packs at home, and Flika's is right there," she says, pointing toward the doorway where the damling dropped a canvas bag.

"Well," Dis says, bringing her hands together, "now that we know where everything and everyone is, I suggest we get something in our bellies." Somehow, over the loud and gleeful talking they're doing, the dwarrowlings hear Dis's comment and immediately rush around the adults' legs, eagerly agreeing that food was a grand idea. Said adults laugh, and (after Thorin closes the front door) they all follow Dis into the kitchen, where they either sit at the table and wait or help make the food.

Nora stays rooted in her spot, which she hasn't moved from since she first came down the stairs. Her brain is a confused and jumbled mess of thoughts. In an effort to preserve her sanity, she attempts to organize her thoughts and findings.

Dis has another child. A girl, Flika, nicknamed "Lee," who is a bit older than Fíli. Thorin has a wife, Tama, who appears to be about the same age as Dis. He also has a daughter, Tari, who is younger than Kíli. He apparently does not live on Dis's couch, but in his own home, with his own family. The reason they weren't present when Nora arrived is that they were in Bree. Dwalin has two sons who follow Flika and Tari around. Dwalin and his sons were in Bree with Balin, Tama, and the girls.

Okay...what? Neither the books nor the movies ever described or even mentioned Dis's daughter, Dwalin's sons, or Thorin's wife and daughter. Apparently, Nora knows so much less about the Durins than she originally thought. Thankfully, though, she's saved from contemplating even further and driving herself insane.

"Hey, Girl." Fíli's voice reaches her ears and she finally unfreezes and turns her head toward him. "Come on, let's get you some food." As if on cue, her stomach growls. He giggles and waves her over. "Come on." She decides to let her contemplating wait until later and walks over to him. The smile on his face disappears as she nears him, and he walks a few steps towards her. Confused, she looks around, then at herself, wondering what the matter is. She looks back at him, and sees his bottom lip starting to quiver. Alarmed, Nora nuzzles his cheek, hoping to cheer him up and get him to tell her what's wrong. He isn't cheered up, but he wraps his arms around her neck and buries his face in her fur. She wonders what could possibly have upset him, until she remembers something: her limp. She was supposed to limp. He must have seen her walking normally and remembered that his mother said she would have to leave when she was healed. Understanding and sympathy fill her mind, and she takes pity on the dwarfling. She gently wiggles out of his arms, walks to the other side of the room, then turns to face him. Making sure he's looking, she walks back towards him, faking a limp. His eyes light up and the smile returns to his face as he wraps her in another hug.

"You're a good girl, you are," he murmurs into her fur. "I'm sorry I got upset. I'm glad you're okay; I just didn't want you to go. I've never had a pet before." Nora chuckles (which, as a wolf, means she's quiet and her shoulders shake) at that last part. Fíli releases her and looks her in the eye. "But, if it's not too much trouble, could you keep pretending to walk funny?" She chuckles again at his lack of knowing the word limp. "Even in front of Kíli. I love him, but he's too young to know how to keep a secret." She nods, amused, causing the little dwarfling's face to split into a happy grin. Her stomach growls, and he laughs.