Disclaimer: I do not own any familiar characters/settings/plot featured in this story. They all belong to (most likely rolling in his grave) J.R.R. Tolkien.

Part Two

Thorin doesn't understand why everyone is shocked at how easily he can deal with Estel. He had helped raise Fíli and Kíli for Mahâl's sake. A broody little boy with daddy issues was a piece of cake.

Thorin simply stared at Bilbo.

"I thought I told you to leave him alone," the king finally said, half-scolding him and half-questioning. "That the more you push at him, the more he's going to pull away."

"You did tell me that," Bilbo acknowledged, stirring his tea and taking a sip to test the temperature. The slight burn he got for his efforts told him it needed more time to cool.

"Then why are you making him help you organize the library?!" the King Under the Mountain demanded, banging his fist on the table and causing the delicate china set to jump and tremble.

Bilbo flashed him a scolding glare and was satisfied when Thorin flinched and apologetically fixed the plate of scones that had overturned. "I'm trying to get him involved in the reconstruction of the kingdom in order to give him a chance to forge a bond with Erebor."

Thorin just stared again. "You've been talking to Bard again haven't you."

"Of course I have," he scoffed, rolling his eyes. "He's the only one around here who has any idea how to relate to Estel."

"It's not very hard to understand the boy."

"No. It's not very hard for you to understand him," the Hobbit corrected. "You are both moody and like to glower at inanimate objects, and he's probably going to end up with your horrible taste in clothes. I foresee a lot of fur coats in his future."

"Better than waistcoats," the Dwarf muttered.

Bilbo pretended not to hear.

"He won't like you just because you're around each other," Thorin added in louder tone. "He might even come to hate you more."

"I know that but I have to try," he insisted, playing with the handle of his delicate teacup. "Besides, it won't be just me he'll be helping. I've also asked the others to allow him to assist them in their projects."

Thorin stared at him for a long moment with his brows furrowed. When he spoke again, his voice was softer than earlier, "Bilbo, why is this boy's affection so important to you? Are you trying to make up for not having Frodo?"

"Don't be stupid. No one could replace my nephew in my heart," the Hobbit replied, scoffing at the very idea of it. Not even Thorin—the love of his live(s)—could hope to compare to the level of affection he held for his adopted son.

"Estel is just... a different matter. I knew him, once. His future self. And yet..." Bilbo sighed and rubbed the tip of his nose. "Estel hates me. He hates me. His future self was my friend, a good friend. Aragorn did so much for me by protecting Frodo and the others and I could never repay him for that. And now he hates me."

"Bilbo, he does not hate you," his husband soothed, reaching out to clasp Bilbo's free hand. "He is simply angry and lashing out at what he sees as the cause of his misfortune. In time, he will come to see that you are not to blame."

Bilbo squeezed the rough hand holding his own as he confessed, "But I am to blame. I'm the one who came back and changed everything. If not for my meddling, he would still be with Lord Elrond and his family."

"Yes, and Fíli, Kíli, and I would be worm food right about now," Thorin reminded him, looking unsympathetic to his guilt. Bilbo had noticed that Thorin, while being a broody brat most days, did not like to see it in others, and would always do his best to pull the Hobbit out of his dark thoughts. Bilbo had a theory this was because Thorin liked to be the only dramatic goon in the mountain and could not stand the competition.

"And it was not exactly your choice to return to the past," the king added, rubbing Bilbo's knuckles with his thumb. "Besides, you know that if Estel stayed with Elrond, Sauron would have used that to his advantage. He knows the Man that Estel would have grown up to become, and he would have used that knowledge to destroy the boy before he was strong enough to stand against the Dark Lord. By bringing Estel here, his mother has changed everything. Now Sauron is as blind to his future as the rest of us."

Bilbo stared, feeling a bit taken back by his husband's words. He forgot, most of the time, that Thorin had been around for two centuries; that was a lot of time for any mortal. He only remembered when Thorin opened up his mouth and said something so insightful and wise that it could have come from an Elf or Gandalf.

"You're wonderful," he said as simple love coursed through him, "I love you. Why did you ever agree to marry a stuffy little thing like me?"

"Survivor's guilt," Thorin replied with the sweetest smile before he high jacked Bilbo's last berry tart.

Bilbo immediately scowled and pulled his hand back. "I want a divorce."