~:~ Archery ~:~

Very much disgruntled, the hobbit sat with his arms folded across his chest and a heavy scowl on his face. His children: Frerin, Myrida, Astrid, Thoryna, and Bili were huddled around Kili.

"Stop pouting, Bilbo Baggins," Thorin grunted, nudging his hobbit's side. "The children are having fun. That's all that is important here."

Said hobbit stewed with a scowl upon his face. "Don't you back up your nephew, Thorin Oakenshield. You know as well as I that he really can't be trusted with our children alone."

"He isn't alone, dear. He's standing over there," he said, pointing to the brunette who was in the middle of the circle of children. "Fili is nearby as well."

"I just don't like it that he's teaching them archery."

"They aren't going to be our little babies forever, Bilbo," Thorin reminded him.

A partially sad sigh escaped the hobbit. "I know."

The dwarf felt he had to continue. He rested his hand on Bilbo's shoulder. "What if Myrida wants to be a hunter? Are you going to stop her?"

"From taking lessons with Kili, yes," he replied quickly.

The dwarf king stammered out, half in vain and half in astonishment, "You want her to take lessons then from an elf?" There was no way his husband wasn't going to be this stubborn about the matter.

Bilbo had his arms folded across his chest. "In comparison to your nephew, yes. I dare say an elf is better trustworthy than Kili."

"You're aggravating," he grunted.

The hobbit let out a puff of air. "I don't want my children learning this! It just puts them closer to being out there in the real world!"

"Bilbo, there is peace in this world now," Thorin continued to try. His voice had gone soft - as if he were comforting one of their children after a particularly bad night terror. "They have a much greater chance of making it out there than I did."

He didn't answer.

"I know all you've seen is the safety of the Shire then you were thrown out into the world along with thirteen ungrateful dwarves and an annoying wizard. I understand - I know this place is not the Shire. It's nowhere remotely as close to being the Shire, but it's not as open and wild as out there. It's our children's home. And they are known by those around here-"

"But what's to stop them from getting into mischief outside the borders?" Bilbo argued sharply.

He shook his head. "Nothing."

"Thorin," Bilbo pouted.

He grasped the other's hands. "Listen to me, Bilbo. Making mistakes and learning from them is what's going to make our children succeed. I know you don't like that, but they can't live with us forever."

The hobbit refrained from making any sort of noise, but his bottom lip still protruded as he pouted.. which Thorin found endearing and cute.

"Kili is an excellent instructor. In fact, Thoryna just told me she wants to be just like Kili when she grows up."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he said with a glare at his husband.

"Be not afraid, dear hobbit. Kili is a good role model for the children."

Bilbo snorted.

"Hey, he learned from the best," Thorin said, straightening himself and looking rather pleased.

"Oh, don't let it all go to your head, you great oaf." He nudged Thorin's shoulder with his own and smiled when the dwarf nudged him in return.

Whizz! Crack!

"Ahh!" Bilbo squeaked. He stumbled backwards and sideways, away from the arrow that was lodged in the wooden leg of the bench under him, hastily until he was practically sitting on Thorin's lap. "Kili!"

The younger dwarf was white as a sheet. Fili stepped forward to retrieve the arrow, smacking his brother's head on the way there. "Sorry, Uncle Bilbo," he said weakly. Then he turned to the young dwobbits. "See, kids... that is what not to do..."

Bilbo removed himself from Thorin and narrowed his eyes at the dwarf, his left eye twitching. "Trust Kili, eh?"

"I didn't say he was perfect," the dwarf said defensively with his hands up.