*IMPORTANT: I have uploaded five chapters (excluding this one) (starting with Chapter 14)!

This is the last chapter, you guys! Thanks for sticking around and putting up with my random and very long hiatuses :)

Weeks later at sunset...

Thorin threw open the doors of the stables and accidentally startled some workers. He led Bilbo inside and quickly steered him to a grey pony and a brown pony. He secured a saddle on the brown one while Bilbo cautiously petted the grey pony.

"I am deeply sorry for neglecting you, sweet Bilbo," the dwarf king apologized. "The rebuilding has taken longer than I had originally hoped. So, as a way to make up my lack of attention to you, I'd thought we might take a ride toward a place I stumbled upon recently. What do you say?"

He looked at Thorin and smiled. It was a true change to see Thorin go from a level-headed, strong, firm dwarf king to a giddy little lad wanting a cookie before supper. "I suppose if the King commands it, it shall be done."

Thorin grinned. Then he nodded at the hobbit. "How is your arm, by the way? It seems like ages since I have asked you that."

"Fine. Oin says the scratches might be permanent," Bilbo replied without thinking.

The dwarf harrumphed. "Bofur should have stayed with you."

"Bofur didn't do anything, Thorin. And didn't you apologize to him?" he pointed out. "Besides, I am not making a big deal about these scars. Believe me, I have got a lot more from that quest a wizard so thoughtfully suggested to me."

"I did apologize," he muttered grumpily . "Doesn't mean I have to accept what has already been done."

Bilbo puffed. Well, this lovely morning wasn't exactly starting out on the right foot. As stubborn as Thorin was, Bilbo wished sometimes he could just bop the other on the head and be done with it, like he did in the beginning of this beautiful mess.

Thorin studied his hobbit who was still petting the grey pony. "Ah, I see you've met Titus."

He looked up. "And what is the brown one's name?"

"Misty. We've been spending a lot of time in the stables during the cleanup." Thorin tied his cane to the saddle, unbeknownst to Bilbo. "Titus is a good and fast horse. Misty is sort of... not for transporting stone in a timely manner," he chuckled. "But she is perfect for a nice stroll."

"She's beautiful," the other said with awe.

Thorin extended his hand to Bilbo, helping the hobbit up onto the brown pony. Shortly after Bilbo was settled, he swung up behind him.

"We're taking the same horse?!" Bilbo squeaked.

"Oh, come now darling. I hardly think you're disappointed," Thorin rumbled in his ear. He urged Misty forward.

The pony galloped past the mountain, past the scattered huts, past the empty fields, and into a clump of trees beyond the vast mountain. Bilbo frowned lightly as the scenery looked very familiar to that surrounding the pond he had found and hoodwinked himself into swimming.

"No, my love, this is not the same forest as the elves," the dwarf muttered behind him. "You'll see."

Bilbo felt excitement bubbling up within him as the pony continued to gallop. The suspense was growing and Bilbo could hardly wait to see the end result.

"Oh, Yavanna," he breathed. With eyes widened with awe and mouth ajar with surprise, he took in the small, secluded, intimate patch of land before them. The center of the space glowed orange with the fading sun, an opening in the canopy of the trees. He vaguely felt Thorin dismount and pull him down to the ground as well.

He gave the dwarf a very disbelieving look. "And you just stumbled upon this place?"

Thorin looked almost shy. "Would you believe me if I said I went out looking for it?"

Bilbo let out a small but amazed laugh. "And here I thought you were moving rubble. H-how did you find this place?"

The dwarf looked up at the setting sun. "When I was a lad and avoiding extra chores, I often took a pony and just wandered the outskirts of the mountain. One day, the sun was setting as well, I found this area." His face held a somber look. "It was much greener then, before the dragon came and ruined it."

He watched the other fall silent at the memory of the dragon taking everything his family had worked so hard to earn. "Thorin," he spoke softly, resting his hand on the dwarf's forearm.

He gave Bilbo a soft smile. "I had forgotten about it until you took me to that small pond. After all misunderstandings with Bofur settled, I left the rebuilding early every day until I found it again."

"Thorin Oakenshield, you promised you wouldn't - we wouldn't start courting until all of this rebuilding was over," Bilbo said almost scandalously.

"Don't overthink it, my love. You're known for jumping to conclusions so many times," Thorin tried to assure the puffing hobbit.

"Now listen, Bilbo. I meant what I said, I wouldn't be king without you. I plan on keeping you around for a very, very long time," Thorin grinned, or had the nerve to grin. "Given everything we have been through, I will do anything I can to repay you for saving my life countless of times."

Bilbo huffed and folded his arms over his chest. "I am flattered by this, but... rebuilding your homeland is the main priority here-"

"And it is," Thorin assured him. "For the past week, I have been doing double shifts day and night. Staying up till the crack of dawn with the other dwarves. Making sure we are ahead of schedule so that I may, you know, take a little break."

The hobbit narrowed his eyes, or at least tried to. He couldn't be mad at the dwarf after his story. "Oh alright," he relented mock none too happily. A small smile curved the corners of his mouth.

Thorin grinned and snatched off the bedroll that was tied to the saddle.

Bilbo frowned. "I didn't see that when you put me on the pony," he managed, pointing an accusing finger at the object the dwarf held.

"I put it on after."

"How could you have known I would have allowed us to stay here and not march right back to the mountain so you could continue working!"

"Because, I," Thorin began as he laid out the material, "am very persuasive." He patted half of the space.

Bilbo rolled his eyes but lied on the bedroll. "Yes you are. Now, don't let that go to your head." He watched as Thorin settled in beside him and tossed his fur coat over them both.

The sun had faded and the sky above them was on its way to turning a nice dark shade of blue.

"The night is peaceful," Bilbo uttered in a quite content voice. "I can just lie here and forget about all that has happened and even mull over at what lies ahead for us."

"Aye," the dwarf king rumbled. "Though, forgetting is not as easy for me. I do not want to forget."

Bilbo looked at him curiously.

"I do not wish to ever forget it was you who saved me from myself. I do not wish to forget it was you who brought me back, who gave me, and my nephews, a second chance at this life." Thorin's blue eyes met Bilbo's green. "I will not waste this life, I assure you Bilbo. You have lost too much - except your property back in the Shire."

The hobbit blinked.

"Had a few dwarves of the Blue Mountains get rid of those pests, the Sackville-Bagginses you spoke of."

Bilbo blanched. "I-I didn't think you'd remember that, remember them." He let out a happy laugh. "Oh, Thorin, you are utterly and completely perfect. Even if you do mysteriously take time off to find this place."

"Perfect, eh?" he smiled. "Don't let Dwalin hear that. He won't ever let me forget that right good hit you gave me back in Lake-Town."

"Well, you were far from perfect then, though I was partly to blame for that. I do jump to conclusions easily," he gave Thorin an apologetic look.

The dwarf gave a light chuckle and pressed a kiss to Bilbo's temple. He gazed up at the stars that were starting to become visible in the night sky.

"Do you miss your mum?" the hobbit asked after studying Thorin's face as the dwarf watched the sky.

Thorin blinked at the sudden question but didn't look at Bilbo. "Sometimes," he replied quietly. "When we were at the pond, I remembered her. She was the one who taught me how to swim." He cracked a sad smile as he thought of her. "Dis, my sister, looks just like her. Others said I did too, but I always saw more of her in Dis. One day, you will meet her.

"She, my mother, didn't make it out of the mountain when the dragon attacked. I was still living in the same chambers as my parents. Before I left for my hunting trip, she told me to be back by sundown for supper and that she loved me."

He sniffed and swallowed past the lump that grew in his throat. "The dragon never reached that level. The gold wasn't up there. I know she suffocated eventually. I try not to think about it." He turned his head and gave Bilbo a small but sad smile.

Bilbo returned his smile with a soft one. "I always thought it was embarrassing for grown lads to miss their mum. I never admitted it to anyone in my life that I would often think of mine."

"It is not embarrassing, Bilbo. It's love."

The hobbit rested his head on the dwarf's chest and looked back up at the night sky. Then it happened.

"Thorin!" Bilbo gasped, pointing up at the sky. "A shooting star!"

The dwarf followed his gaze and gave a true smile. Then he turned and captured Bilbo's lips.

The past might not have been kind to them, but the future was looking up.

The End.