Here's the next chapter.

Italics when for when Bilbo is in his shifted form and response from the dwarves when not spoken.

Enjoy

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ Chapter 8 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

"I thought we had."

"No, we didn't. Bilbo, what were you going to do once we reclaimed the mountain? Would you have left?"

"Yes."

"And gone where? Back to the Shire?"

"I don't know. Away from everyone, away from the pain. Now that I have left the Shire I would never be allowed back. My things would probably be auctioned off and my hobbit hole taken over by my awful relatives. That's only if my will is ignored."

"I am sorry. Bilbo, I don't want you to leave."

"Thorin, how can you trust me knowing I'm something that you have hated since you were old enough to know better."

"I knew you as a hobbit before I knew you were a shifter. Bilbo you fought to save us from the trolls and got hurt in the process. I know I wasn't very nice just after and I am sorry but as I have said I don't express things well."

Bilbo looked around and saw the company asleep aside from Balin who was keeping watch. Bilbo looked to Thorin who was sitting against the wall and had his arms folded lightly over his chest away from the bruising.

"Thorin, stand up." Bilbo said and Thorin frowned before standing and Bilbo grabbed the bed roll and dragged it from the wall and laid it, so it was in front of his curled-up body. "Lay down."

Thorin looked down at Bilbo before laying down on the bed roll and he felt Bilbo curl his body around him slightly, Bilbo's tail coming and resting over his body. Bilbo curled his head around Thorin's on the ground. Thorin sighed and rolled on his side so he was facing the company and pressed himself back against Bilbo, his unbruised side on the floor. Bilbo felt warm and Thorin felt himself relaxing further. Bilbo looked at Thorin and smiled slightly and closed his eyes.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Balin looked over when he saw movement Thorin was standing as Bilbo moved the bed roll and Thorin then laying down in front of Bilbo. Balin smiled and turned back to the fire to give them privacy. He knew that Bilbo was Thorin's One since before Rivendell, even if Thorin didn't realise it. Seeing them interact as they were just now, proved it.

Balin was surprised when he heard Bilbo's voice in his head back when they all thought Thorin was going to die. He knew Thorin's words were cruel to Bilbo and he was surprised to see Bilbo cared for him as well.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Bilbo woke the next morning and saw that Dwalin was awake and stoking the fire. Bilbo looked to Thorin to find he had turned around during the night and was now facing towards him and pushed in close for warmth. Bilbo heard shifting and saw some of the dwarves were starting to wake and quickly nudged Thorin to wake him. He wasn't sure if Thorin wanted the other dwarves to know about them, so he decided to wake him. Thorin groaned and opened his eyes to see brown fur in front of him. Thorin moved slightly onto his back so he could see Bilbo's face.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"Everyone is about to wake up. Thought you might like to wake up before them."

"Why?"

"Just in case you don't want them knowing about us. The only ones who know are Oin, Gloin, Ori, Balin and Dwalin and possibly your nephews."

"I don't mind the others knowing unless you do."

"I don't at all."

Thorin nodded and rolled back onto his side and Bilbo chuckled slightly and laid his head down behind Thorin's back.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Fili and Kili woke shortly after Bilbo and Thorin's talk. They had been woken by Dwalin kicking their feet and being told to help with breakfast. Fili and Kili were not happy but sat up and looked around for their Uncle.

"Fili look." Kili said softly.

Fili looked to where Kili was pointing to see Bilbo in his shifter form and their uncle laying against his side asleep. Kili quickly stood up and started to quietly walk over keeping out of reach of Bilbo's head so he was down by his uncle's feet, just in case Bilbo got startled. Fili stood next to Kili and they both looked between their uncle and Bilbo with wide smiles on their faces.

"Can you believe this?"

"No, I can't. We must still be dreaming."

"Thorin doesn't get along with Bilbo. How is it that they are sleeping together?"

"Who can sleep with you loud mouths talking?"

Fili and Kili looked to their uncle to find his eyes still closed before they yelped covering their heads. Bilbo's eyes were now open, and his tail was returning to its resting place over Thorin's body. Thorin rolled slightly to open his eyes and glare at his nephews who gave sheepish grins in return.

"I suggest you get going to whatever Dwalin asked of you before I assign you extra training with Dwalin and myself and extra night watches."

Both brothers disappeared quickly making Bilbo chuckle and move slightly as Thorin rolled over to face the company who were busy making breakfast or breaking up bits of camp that they didn't need. Bilbo slowly stood up stretching his body and quickly grabbed the clothes he piled aside and walked around the corner of the rock.

Bilbo changed and quickly slid on the pants and jacket before moving back to the river where his shirt was still hanging. Bilbo quickly put his shirt on under his waist coat and jacket and moved back to camp. Bilbo heard hammering and saw Dwalin with Thorin's armour, trying to hammer out the dented armour to make it wearable again. Bilbo saw Thorin was still in the same spot he was when he left but Balin was there talking with him.

Bilbo went to the fire and sat down next to Kili who looked at him smirking. Bilbo rolled his eyes and accepted the bowl from Bombur. Bilbo saw there was more food in there than normal and Bilbo looked to Bombur who didn't look at him.

"Bombur this is too much."

"No Bilbo we had extra food."

Bilbo looked to everyone else who nodded but Bilbo wasn't sure if it was true or not. Bilbo decided to eat what he could.

"We leave once everyone has eaten." Thorin said standing behind Bilbo.

"Uncle, is there anything you want to tell us?" Kili asked.

Thorin looked to Kili with a glare and Bilbo blushed and stared at his bowl and eating so he focused on something else.

"You should do well to mind your own business Kili. But for those that don't already know. I have found my One."

There was a cheer going around the company even from those that already knew.

"Who is it Thorin?" Bofur asked.

"It is our Burglar." Thorin said putting his hand on Bilbo's shoulder with a soft smile.

"Bilbo?!" Some of the company said in shock.

"Congratulations Thorin." Once they got over the shock.

As the congratulations went around Bilbo slowly moved from where he was sitting back to where they slept for the night and collected his sword and putting it on. There was a hand on his shoulder making him jump to see Balin there with a soft smile.

"Sorry laddie, didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's ok Balin. I'm a bit distracted. Is there something you need?"

"Just wanted to make sure you are ok. I know you and Thorin didn't see eye to eye and I know he wouldn't force this on you. I know a little about shifters and wanted to make sure this is what you want."

"Balin, he didn't and Thorin is my mate. Even if I wanted someone else I couldn't not unless something happened to Thorin, even then it is highly unlikely I would find someone else or want to. Like dwarves we tend to only love once but it is not impossible to love another if something happens to their mate."

"Alright laddie, I didn't mean offence."

"You didn't Balin, please don't worry, you worry for Thorin. But I do have a question."

"What is it laddie?"

"Is it not normal for everyone to find their One?"

"No some never do. If we don't find our One, we tend to become married to our trade instead. Those that do find their Ones are lucky in our race."

"I see."

"And for Thorin it is more highly celebrated."

"Why?"

"Because Thorin had given up on finding his One and he had made an announcement in Ered Luin that he would not be actively searching for his One. When someone says this, it means they have generally given up."

"Oh." Bilbo said and looked to Thorin who was smirking at Dwalin who was glaring in return.

"Don't worry laddie. Though if you have any trouble with Thorin let me know and I'll see if I can help. I know he isn't easy to talk to and doesn't show much emotion."

"Thankyou Balin."

Balin nodded and walked over to join Dwalin and Thorin. Thorin looked over at Bilbo and sent him a soft smile making Bilbo smile back. Dwalin rolled his eyes and said something making Thorin glare at him and say something in Khuzdûl.

Bilbo looked around camp to see things packed away, well the things they had left. Bilbo went over to Bombur and helped him pack away their food and few cooking items he had left.

When everything was packed up Bilbo looked for Thorin to find him coming through the trees with Dwalin, dressed back in his clothing and armour, Orcrist strapped to his back.

"Let's move out."

Bilbo felt two presences at his side and looked on either side to see Fili and Kili causing Bilbo to groan. Both snickered and put their arms around his shoulders and started to bring up the middle of the company. Thorin was up the front with Dwalin and Gandalf as they set off.

"What do you two want?"

"Well we just wanted to talk to you." Fili said.

"You seem to be avoiding us." Kili said.

"I wonder why." Bilbo mumbled.

"You wound us Bilbo." Kili said.

"We aren't that bad." Fili commented.

"Yes, you both are, and you'll get over it." Bilbo said answered Fili and then Kili's comment.

"Well we wanted to know a couple of things."

"Like what?"

"Well how long have you cared for uncle?" Fili asked.

"A while and I don't think you two should be talking about your uncle behind his back."

"Yeah well, he will never answer us."

"Yeah. We are not asking much."

"There is a reason for that." A voice said in front of them.

The three looked up and stopped walking and there stood Thorin with his arms crossed looking at the two brothers.

"I believe I told you both to let this subject drop."

"We were just enquiring about you uncle."

"Yeah you don't tell us anything."

"My relationship with Bilbo has nothing to do with either of you, if and when I ever feel like it, I will tell you what you can know. Now get up the front with Dwalin."

Both quickly walked around Thorin and up the front of the company. Thorin looked to Bilbo who gave a small smile and ducked around Thorin and continued walking. Thorin chuckled and turned and walked up beside Bilbo and wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him to slow up slightly. Bilbo looked to Thorin who walked beside him instead of up the front.

"Thorin everything ok?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I saw my two annoying nephews asking questions they shouldn't."

"It's alright. They just care and want to make sure their uncle is ok. They care about you. They look up to you."

Thorin smiled looking up where Fili and Kili were walking behind Dwalin. Bilbo smiled and leaned slightly into Thorin's side making the arm around him tighten slightly.

"Where are we heading from here?"

"To Mirkwood then bypassing Lake Town and then on to Erebor."

"How long till we get to Mirkwood?"

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Bilbo was out scouting after hearing howls of wargs in the distance and he headed up the side of mountain and peaked over the side to see Azog on his warg looking around from the mountain side they were on. Bilbo watched as they darted down the mountain before he heard something snarl and saw a huge bear watching as the Orcs disappeared. Bilbo quickly ducked down and made his way back down the mountain and then when out of sight, ran down to the company.

"We need to move."

"The Orcs found us." Dwalin said.

"No something else."

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked.

"Yes, but bigger much bigger. Bigger than a warg."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked.

"Yes. Though I know of somewhere where we might take shelter. It's not far."

"What choice do we have?" Thorin asked just as a loud roar ripped through the air.

"None." Gandalf said.

Bilbo looked back as the others started running. Bilbo quickly followed after them. They ran for a long time. Bilbo stopped, smelling something as the breeze blew in the direction they were running. Bilbo smelt the bear and then also smelt the orcs and wargs that were chasing them. Bilbo started running again but he couldn't quite catch up. As Bilbo broke through the trees he saw the dwarves were entering a gate surrounding the house and he heard a roar behind him. Bilbo saw Thorin's eyes widen and Bilbo looked back and jumped to the side seeing a bear leaping at him. Bilbo changed, shedding the last of his clothes and growled at the bear.

"Run Thorin. Get inside." Bilbo said to him seeing Thorin about to come to him. "I'll be fine. Get inside."

Bilbo ran towards the house as the bear leapt at him again. Bilbo saw the dwarves were inside and Bilbo turned as soon as he entered the gate as the bear tried to leap at him again. The bear's gaze was caught on the dwarves and he charged at the door as they closed it and locked it. Bilbo quickly exited the gate and quickly scurried around the side of the wall and huddled down hoping it would leave. Bilbo heard the bear leave but stayed where he was. Bilbo listened he could hear the dwarves inside talking.

"Bilbo!" He heard Thorin shout worriedly.

"I'm fine Thorin."

"Don't scare us like that."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to. Azog is close as well."

"Where is the bear?"

"I don't know."

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 8 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

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