AN: I promise that next chapter tensions are resolved, please don't hate me!

P.S. Don't think about the baby-making too hard it's more humour the biology.

Chapter 18 - Mending

Balin had many thoughts, and none of them made sense.

It wasn't difficult to deduce how very much father and son loved one another, kin or no, but there remained a tension between them that could not be settled.

What was more, they all knew Bilbo on some level. Thorin certainly spoke of his One often enough, orbiting around his soul half while never claiming him for fear of being unworthy.

That was a foolish notion all on its own.

Though it was clear outside forces were keeping them apart. There was the fact that Thorin didn't want to pressure him into leaving his adoptive cousin behind or taking him away to their people to live in Ered Luin.

Thorin certainly couldn't move permanently to the Shire.

But now?

Now, if they survived this journey, their peoples would literally be uniting and living beneath the same mountain.

So what was holding them back?

Balin was annoyed, but Dwalin was amused and began the betting pool.

His worries were soon set aside, however, for Bilbo's nephews were entirely too inquisitive. Balin was only too happy to regale them with tales. It was a novel experience to be able to share freely with outsiders who were inexablably kin. Balin had the honour of being the first to share these stories with them without having to regulate his speech.

The nights seemed to fly by as Bilbo turned out to be quite the talented story teller himself.

Let Thorin take care of his own brooding and pining, Balin was glad of the additions to their company.

But one could only take so many nights of Thorin drifting further away from the company each night.

Finally, Balin had enough of watching his king sitting awkwardly on the edge of their camp.

When the hobbits went off to forage with Oin and Bombur, Balin was determined to confront the issue head on.

It should have been easier for him, that his One who he had been courting for seasons had raised one of his nephews.

But clearly, the opposite had happened.

Because it had become plain as day to all present that their youngest prince had been and was keeping secrets.

That for some reason he was afraid to share his past with them.

Which was ridiculous, knowing that a hobbit had raised a dwarfling was infinitely less heart rending than to think of all the harm that could have befallen him living among men.

But Fíli fear wasn't the only problem because apparently, Bilbo had been keeping secrets as well.

"You could talk to them," Balin ventured in their own tongue.

Thorin merely exhaled a long puff of smoke. "I don't think it's a simple answer, Balin."

"No one can blame our lad for being afraid to go home nor Bilbo for abiding those fears."

"I don't blame him."

'Then why not clear the air and prove their fears groundless?'

Thorin sighed and pulled the dagger from his belt and held it out to Balin who frowned as he accepted it.

"Fíli is a credit to the line of Durin in his craft," Balin said, admiring the blade in the moonlight.

It was an elegant thing, wickedly sharp, and reminded him of ancient dwarvish styles that had been shaped from copper.

"The making of that blade was made by no apprentice of man or halfling," Thorin said.

Balin froze, looking up to see Thorin's stony expression. "The elves would not shelter us."

"The woodland elves would not," horin agreed.

Balin looked back down at the blade in his hand, perfectly balanced, as beautiful as it was deadly. "The elves do not share their knowledge with our kind."

"They haven't, no. But perhaps there are exceptions for hobbits who come asking for shelter, hobbits who have quirl with no race save the occasional starving animals who take before being fed."

"So what if the elves did shelter Fíli? He chose us. He chose Kíli and his mother over Bilbo and even the mention of elves."

Thorin looked at him Balin, "How can I trust them?"

"Don't ask that."

"How, Balin? How can I trust them when they don't trust me?"

"Do not mistake lack of trust for fear of disappointing you, Uncle."

Balin and Thorin turned as Kíli approuched, sitting boldly between them.

Fíli had taught his brother how to walk more softly no matter what the hobbit professed about Oliphaunts.

"He's told you," Thorin growled.

"More than he's told you or Amad," Kíli said. "Don't worry, he doesn't think I'll disown him."

"Tell me–"

"No," Kíli said. "I promised to keep his confidence and I intend to keep that promise."

Thorin persed his lips but didn't push, merely passed his pipe to his nephew.

Kíli took a puff then handed it back fighting not to cough.

Thorin smiled and Balin was glad to see it.

He hadn't believed he'd ever see anyone of the royal line smile again until Fíli returned home to them.

"Bilbo is your One?" Kíli asked his uncle softly.

Thorin sighed but inclined his head in the affirmative.

"Why haven't you told him?" Kíli asked. "He is obviously fond of you, to say nothing of how many times he's taken you in over the years."

Thorin's shoulders hunched, "It doesn't concern you."

Kíli was unmoved by his brooding uncle, "Yes, it does. He's our family. I mean, he's not event that attached to the Shire seeing as he's bringing his own nephew to the elves."

Thorin glanced over the camp but they were far from fire, the closest ones to hear were Óin and Dwalin.

"And why do you think that might be, Kíli?"

Kíli frowned at him. "Because he doesn't have parents or siblings?"

"Because the Shire isn't a place for outsiders. Bilbo Baggins is considered a Disturber of the Peace which is a near criminal offense for their kind harking back to the ages when hobbits lived in hiding and to draw attention to themselves could get them killed."

Balin blinked, "What?"

"They were nomadic harvesters and gathers, until they made treaties with the King of Gondor and were given a truly barren scap of land," Thorin explained. "The hobbits made it what it is, before that it was like the Brown Lands."

"How do you know that?" Balin asked.

"Bilbo told me," Thorin said dryly.

Balin winced. It was one thing to have been needling his friend for years to bring his One home, it was another to contend in person the differences between their races.

"Why is Bilbo a Disturber of the Peace? I mean before he became Thain. He's seems kind and domestic enough to me," Balin remarked.

"If I had to hazard a guess," Thorin said in the same dry tone. "Taking in a dwarfling, travelling outside the Shire, and taking any strange dwarf of the road for tea. Not to mention they blame him for the death of his parents and Frodo's."

"They what?" Kíli hissed.

"They thought he was cursed," Thorin said. "I thought he was joking the first time he told me but to take Frodo from the Shire? Bilbo's life wouldn't have been ruined if I had been able to protect my family. If I had been a better king."

Balin's gut twisted, "It was not your fault we were betrayed. You've always done your best by us, it is not your fault that these dark times have befallen us."

Thorin said nothing.

Kíli pressed his shoulder into his uncle's, "He's right. It's not your fault, and if Bilbo is your One than you were meant to be and Fíli was meant to be found by him. I don't think Amad would be appoused to adopting Bilbo's hobbitling in turn to spare him from the elves."

Thorin wrapped an arm around his heir and pressed the sides of their foreheads together. "If I could convince you and your brother to stay with the elves and far from the dangers of Erebor, I would."

"Good thing you know better than, don't you?"

Thorin squeezed him a little tighter. "If we survive this, I will speak with Bilbo about adopting you a cousin."

"Another little brother," Kíli corrected smugly. "Because I think the hobbit already adopted me as a honoury son."

"I didn't think you would be so keen on someone replacing your father."

He shrugged. "I don't really remember him all that well. You've always been more of a father to me than my dimming memories. Besides if both you and Fíli love him, the hobbit is already family, isn't he?"

Balin smiled at Kíli, giving the lad a wink.

Thorin was in many ways wedded to his sorrows and burdens. Bilbo Baggins was someone who reminded Thorin to live not just for his people, but for himself.

oOo

"We are staying here," Thorin said, exhausted.

The wizard glowered at him, before storming off.

"And where are you going?"

"To talk to someone with some sense!" Gandalf called back, muttering about blasted dwarves.

"And whose that?" Saradoc asked.

"Myself, Mister Brandybuck."

Bilbo quickly undid one of his many food sacks and shoved it into Frodo's arms, "Follow him."

"What?" Frodo asked, wide-eyed.

"You heard me, I don't care if you both have to run the whole way, stay Gandalf," Bilbo urged.

Neither Frodo nor Sam questioned him, running after the wizard.

Thorin raised a brow at his One.

Bilbo shrugged, "They haven't gotten into trouble yet on this journey, I would like to blame Gandalf if something does happen."

As it turned out later that night, they should have sent Fíli and Kíli along with the faunts.

oOo

Bilbo came into the light of the fire with two hissing dwarves walking bent beside him as the hobbit each princeling by an ear.

"If these two are your only heirs, Thorin, then I pity the kingdoms of Ered Luin and Erebor," the hobbit announced before tugging both dwarf princes down. "Now sit down and eat, lest you get lost in the woods and come upon a den of starving wolves."

Fíli and Kíli bowed their heads, as contrite as Thorin had ever seen them.

No one spoke, too shocked at this entrance to say a word.

This was the second time they had seen the hobbit lose his temper, and as well-behaved as his sister's sons were, it was quite obvious that Master Baggins had indeed raised a dwarfling.

It was in the tone and demeanour that many dwarrow mothers learned early on that not only did raising a dwarfling take a great deal of will power but the ability to draw clear, distinctive lines between what was and wasn't acceptable behaviour.

Not that dwarves had so many standards as hobbits who were far more particular about social niceties, but being a prince, Kíli had been raised to be very aware of the expectations their people had for him.

Had Kíli followed all those expectations, no, but nor had Dis failed to impress upon her son when he had fallen short of them.

Thorin could see now why Fíli had returned to them with as much, if not more self-awareness.

But they were both still young dwarves far from home who had clearly found themselves in trouble, though Thorin couldn't imagine what.

Kíli, who despite seeming to like the hobbit did not fear his wrath quite as much Fíli–possibly because he hadn't been present when said hobbit had chewed Thorin out for bringing them on this quest– ventured to say, "It worked out and no one got hurt–"

The look the hobbit gave him was so withering and seemed all the more threatening for the shadows cast by the fire answered back with, "I cannot wait to speak with your mother, Prince Kíli Durin's Son."

Kíli immediately shrank in on himself. To be fair, neither Thorin nor Frerin were unaffected by the invoking of his sister's wrath as well.

Balin snorted, "Aye, Fíli, no wonder you fit in so well. Your hobbit's nothing like your late father, but I do believe he will get on swimmingly with our dearest princess."

Kíli groaned into his soup but Fíli offered his hobbit a chargrinned smile.

"They do get along," Thorin said. "I'd be more worried about the magpies giving her weekly updates."

"You weren't planning on doing that before?" Bilbo asked.

"It's supposed to be a secret mission," Thorin gruffed.

"You're just lucky your brother didn't give your location away before I had him up a tree. I swear, you lot are keeping with the Big Folk for Oliphaunt mimicry."

"I am not that loud," Kíli protested.

"Loud enough, no wonder Gandalf thinks you need a burglar," Bilbo huffed.

"What exactly happened?" Dwalin asked.

"Trolls," Bilbo growled. "Trolls who your fools of nephews tried to sneak up on."

"They took two of the ponies," Fíli protested.

Dwalin was visibly furious, "You went after trolls!?"

"Technically, they went after us," Kíli said unhelpfully. "But we tripped them over a cliff."

"And almost fell over with them," Bilbo grossed.

"The cliff was your idea," Fíli said.

"Only after you'd been spotted," Bilbo snapped. "Trolls, I tell you. Do you have even the faintest idea how dangerous they are?"

"Yes," Kíli said. "I can safely say that now we do."

"I doubt it or the first thing you would have done was go back for help," Bilbo said. "As orcs are elves stolen and twisted into something evil, so trolls are to ents. And while they maybe their stunteted cousins with no wisdom to speak of, that does not make them incapable of stringing you up by your ankles as one might pluck chicken from its coop."

"What's an ent?" Kíli asked.

Bilbo groaned and covered his face with both hands in despair, muttering several choice somethings under his breath. The only thing Thorin could make out was '...save me from the idiocy of dwarflings.'

Smiling to himself as he saw for the millionth time how his One could fit into his family. Though it was clear that Bilbo was most familiar Fíli, it was just as clear that he was coming to love Kíli as a son as well.

For Kíli's part, he seemed to lean toward Bilbo as a flower follows the rising light. While Thorin doted on his nephews as best he was able, he knew neither he nor Frerin were ever as… open as Bilbo was.

The same was true of Dís who knew what it was too lose it all was fierce and protective of her sons in a way that Thorin imagined might feel stifling.

Dís must have agreed with that assessment as she had caved to the princes conviction to join this company far sooner than she would have if she hadn't kept the boys in Ered Luin for the last decade.

Bilbo was no less protective, but he was younger and less world-weary. He didn't look at the world like Dís who saw the suffering of their people or like Thorin took that weight onto himself. No, the hobbit looked at the world and never failed to spot the wildflowers tucked between roots nor fail to note the blue of the sky.

Bilbo treated neither dwarfling like they were princes but as the children they ought to have been.

It broke Thorin's heart that Kíli seemed to crave that type of affection, for even when taken by the ear and being scolded, he remained seated by the hobbit's side.

If Thorin and Bilbo had been strangers, he would not have tolerated anyone talking to Kíli as if he were as much Bilbo's as Fíli had been. But this wasn't casual nor a passing friendship.

Bilbo was his One, his hobbit who had raised his sister's son, who was willing to face down a dragon for them, and was everything Thorin believed he didn't deserve.

Bilbo was a gentle creature at heart, loyal, and so humblingly kind. How the other hobbits could think him queer was beyond Thorin who saw in his One all the hobbits boasted to be. Every quality of generosity and love for living that had shaped the green hills of the Shire was embodied by Bilbo Baggins.

Gloín and Bomber, the only two among them who was married, stared at Thorin with dumbfounded realization.

Though work in the Shire had been worth the journeying, there had been other reasons he returned to Bag End season after season.

He had been courting Bilbo for years without ever informing the hobbit whom he would never have asked to depart his sheltered and prosperous life for the cold and struggling existence of the Blue Mountains that had long ago been stripped of its treasures.

The revelation that Bilbo had been the being to rescue his youngest nephew and quite willing to abandon his life in the Shire were facts that Thorin hadn't fully been able to wrap his head around.

Returning to Erebor was now more than bringing his people home but perhaps the beginning of making his own home.

Thorin thought of Bilbo growing his stubborn herbs around the watchtowers and Frodo running between the pillars and balconies that had defined Thorin's own childhood was like a physical ache upon his chest as he longed for a life he had never dared to hope for.

That courting Bilbo Baggins now in front of his nephews, cousins, and nosy friends and their younger siblings was going to be far more awkward.

Whether Bilbo accepted his courtship after their journey's end or not would not dispell the truth that they were already family in more ways that Thorin had understood.

He would value these days, this journey with his One.

oOo

Bilbo felt the tension between Sara and Fíli and found it unacceptable. He thought they would be able to mend it themselves but that had yet to happen. Where once they all knew how to behave together.

Bilbo had well and truly given over to his Took side and knew just the thing to get the ball rolling, glad that Sara had remained with Bombur rather than Troll taunting the night before.

When they all began eating their breakfast, he waited for the perfect moment to strike.

Which just so happened to be when Fíli was drinking from his water skin.

"My dear Sara, do you know how the other races have children?" Bilbo asked innocently.

Fíli immediately choked on his water and it took him a minute before he could splutter between coughs, "Dah!"

Sara was frowning between them, "Of course I do."

"He has a son of his own, why wouldn't he know?" Gloin asked.

Fíli groaned, "Dah, why?"

Bilbo grinned, "Because theoretically hobbits could do it both ways and it just wouldn't do to take our dear Saradoc out into the wilds without him learning a few things."

Fíli glowered, "It isn't funny."

It was and Bilbo knew that the age gap between Sara and Fíli was bothering them both. Fíli was more worldly but younger in relative maturity, but hobbits rarely grew up and Bilbo was ready to prove, father or no, Sara was still more Fíli's age than Bilbo's.

Frerin leaned into him, "What do you mean, both ways?"

"Hobbits are similar to elves, we don't have faunts unless we want to, and no one ever chooses your way unless it's between men and hobbits. It's very unpopular."

Sara gaped at him, "You're joking, surely!? Bilbo… You can't mean– that's a myth! They aren't animals!"

Fíli covered his face, "Dah, I hate you."

Bilbo sniggered.

Kíli frowned, "Wait, how do you think children are made?"

Sara glared at Bilbo, then answered, "I was taught that humans bake their babes, which always seemed weird to me because they aren't a race known for their cooking, elves have life trees that bear the babes like fruit, and dwarves carve them from their mountains."

There was a long silence, before the entire company broke down in laughter save for Fíli who kept his head bowed in mortification.

"Baked?" Nori gasped. "Men bake their beirns?"

Sara crossed his arms, "That's what the men always say, they have a 'bun in the oven' and they must have to try really hard given how fat their women grow in the months leading up to their babes."

Some of the dwarves were crying in their mirth bent over in halarity.

"Carved out of the mountain," Oin chuckled.

"You call your faunts pebbles!" Sara exclaimed, red faced.

"That's what we tell them when they're too young to understand sex, laddie," Balin said wryly.

Sara looked appalled, "All the other races make babes like horses and sheep? While doing–" he waffled his hands though avoided any lude gesture.

Bilbo put a hand on his shoulder, "Mahal carved the first dwarrow from stone, the rest came through more difficult paths. It's also how most races determine gender by who can possibly bear and those who cannot."

Sara wrinkled his nose, "That's so– ugh, messy."

Bilbo lost some of his mirth, "Do not forget that we can bear too, Sara. I know you and Esmeralda have been trying for more–"

"I wouldn't do that to her!" Sara exclaimed, shooting up to his feet. "That's– No. No! How dare you even–"

"Sara, we aren't in Hobbiton anymore, we don't always get a choice in these things."

"We won't let anything of the sort harm you," Frerin interjected.

Sara deflated sitting back down beside Bilbo.

Hobbits were an extremely fertile race. All hobbits could bear faunts the instinctual way, but the intent for children had to be there. But most hobbits wanted children so…

Bilbo knew hobbits in Bree who had been left no other option than to go that route because most men were incapable of giving themselves to the earth.

"You can have children?" Thorin asked Bilbo.

He smiled at his Heartsong and wondered if they survived this journey if they might get the chance to try to add to their families.

Where yesterday their worlds had been seperate now they were working to join their people's fates together for the entirety of the next age.

"I can. Either way. Though obviously our prayers to Yavannah are preferable. dwarrow believe in her, right?"

Balin nodded, "Of course, she is Mahal's. Though we don't often ask her for guidance."

"In this case, praying to both is acceptable, the belief is most important."

Thorin turned his head to the side, "What do you mean, belief?"

"Our people survive because we love the earth. Through a ceremony, a couple chooses a seed that has meaning to them and they pick a place that is suited to them in their gardens or on the edge of a forest. Our children are never born without love, our commitment to the earth and our heart's desire gives the spark of life. the soil craddles them and when they are ready they crawl from their gardens."

Bilbo did not explain the singing that was involved.

Ori gaped, "Wait, you can actually grow your children, like vegetables?"

Sara nodded, "Yes, it is the preferred and civilized way of doing things."

"How do you know if it's worked?" Oin asked.

"If the plant grows and matches its seed or if nothing grows, conditions were not right for a child. If it is successful a flower will bloom above the soil. Enfant Flowers, they differ in color and shape but they never resemble any other you could name this far north."

"What happens if someone pick it?" Dori asked.

Bilbo shuddered. "Poison. It's rare. It goes against every instinct but it's called a Bloom. The flower turns into powder and it is deadly if breathed or touches flesh. Only men, orcs, and goblins have ever done that though in known history even wargs trust their instincts well enough not to risk it. The men call them 'shroom-flowers' because they think of them as deadly spores."

"Keeps them away, thankfully," Sara said. "Now days, men are so fearful they don't dare go near them."

"Not that we let them," Bilbo affirmed.

Enfant flowers could be any color any shade though they were typically white.

He had been told that his and his mother's flowers had been golden.

Gloín shook his head, "No wonder you have so many if it's that easy. My wife is going to be so jealous when she hears this."

"Your poor wife," Sara affirmed. "And you Big Folk must have it twice as hard."

Fíli said in the Green Speech, "We aren't Big Folk. Elves and men treat us like hobbits with fangs."

Sara gave him a half smile, "You would all be adorable with fangs they way your lot growl so much."

It was Bilbo's turn to choke on his drink as he pictured his Heartsong with fangs.

Sara and Fíli laughed at him.

Bilbo rolled his eyes, suppressing a smile that his plotting had born fruit so quickly.

They had been best friends, there was no reason they couldn't be such again.

oOo

Gandalf returned to them on the road without the faunts.

"Where are they?" Bilbo demanded.

"I met Elrohir and Elladan on the road, they took your nephews ahead," Gandalf answered with a smile.

Bilbo let out a sigh of relief.

The wizard held up wrapped packages, "I saw you ran into a bit of trouble last night and I have the reward for it."

The reward came in the form of elvish blades, Orcrist for Thorin, and a letter opener for Bilbo.

oOo

AN: Thoughts, acorn-woodpeckers, or feedback, pretty please?