San Francisco, 1886

Five Years Later

"Fili, the carriage is here. Are you ready yet?" Kili called from the bottom of the stairs, wiping his hands on a dishtowel and checking his reflection in the hall mirror. His unruly hair had been combed back into submission and his moustache trimmed neatly the night before. The suit, a navy blue that Fili always said looked best on him, just came back from the tailor's yesterday, let out slightly to fit him more comfortably in the shoulders and the middle. Stepping back to get a full view of himself, Kili had to admit, he made a striking figure. He didn't try to hide the smirk that spread across his face at that thought.

"Fili!" He called again, "hurry up or I'm leaving without you!"

"Coming, darling," Fili came down the stairs still tying his tie, not paying attention to his feet and almost tripping on the last step. Kili steadied the blond and took over the tying the tie with a sigh of exasperation.

"Their train arrives at noon, Fee. I don't want to be late. I want to be standing there on the platform when they step off the train," he grumbled, dark eyes focused on the task in his hands.

"Don't worry," Fili cooed, checking his watch. "We still have plenty of ti-, on second thought; yes let's get a move on!"

The pair managed to make it to the train station with a few minutes to spare, finding a spot on the platform with a good view of the arriving train. Bilbo was the first to step off when it arrived; racing straight into Kili's awaiting arms. Dwalin came next, setting down their bags and pulling Fili into a bone crushing hug.

"My boys, my beautiful boys!" Bilbo said tearfully, cupping their faces in each hand. "I thought you were all grown up when you came home from Europe but now…" His voice broke and he bit his lip, shaking his head slightly, his greying curls bouncing in the summer sun.

"Alright, let's get on our way before he causes a scene!" Dwalin moaned good-naturedly as they began to head toward the awaiting carriage.

It was a beautiful summer day, unseasonably warm for San Francisco, as they rode back to Fili and Kili's home in the Mission District. Bilbo and Dwalin both marveled at the cable cars sailing up and down the hilly streets, just as Fili and Kili had done on their arrival in the Bay City.

The carriage pulled up to a small blue house with white shutters on Fair Oaks St.; there were flower boxes in the windows and a black wrought iron fence and gate. The interior of the home was warm and welcoming, decorated in a similar fashion to Bag End with one obvious exception; the number of books in Kili's home nearly doubled Bilbo's collection. Bilbo smiled to himself as he looked it over, only fitting for a schoolteacher, after all.

Fili led Bilbo and Dwalin to a cozy parlor that also doubled as Kili's study. "My study is across the hall but I hardly ever use it," Fili admitted when Kili left to prepare the tea. "We're rarely ever apart when we're home, except when Kili is in the kitchen, of course. I'm rather clueless in that area!" He laughed and Dwalin joined in as well. Bilbo rolled his eyes but his fond grin belied his true feelings.

"How is Central Pacific treating you?" Dwalin asked as he took out his pipe.

"Very well, actually. I couldn't be happier. Of course it helps that I mentioned the name Erebor Railway, certainly opened a few more doors!" Fili said with a sheepish grin. He'd managed to secure a well-paying position with the western railroad thanks to his experience with both Erebor and the Long Island Railroad.

"Of course it did and there's no reason why you shouldn't use the name to your advantage," Dwalin said seriously.

Kili returned not long after, carrying a tray laden with tea and plenty of treats; little iced cookies and sweet breads and cucumber sandwiches just like Bilbo always served. "I bought the cookies from the baker down the way, but I made the rest," Kili said proudly, chancing a glance at Bilbo who beamed back at him.

"How was the trip out here? And how is everyone at the boardinghouse?" Kili asked when he had poured everyone's tea and sat down with his own.

"The trip was lovely," Bilbo said wistfully, shaking his head at Dwalin's snort. "Of course, not everyone fancies a week on a train," he cut his eyes at the person in question. "Which is curious considering Dwalin's line of work! But the accommodations were more than adequate and we got to see so much lovely country!"

Bilbo ate a cookie and took a sip of tea before continuing. "Radagast left last month. He's off to North Carolina, took a position with some horticulture society I believe. Very excited about trying out his new fertilizers," Bilbo chuckled at the thought. "Arwen, poor dear, hasn't found stardom as of yet but hasn't given up hope. Tauriel was promoted to Head Housekeeper at the Mount Vernon! She oversees all the chambermaids! No more cleaning for her! She's earning enough for both of them now but Arwen still teaches piano. Fortunately for me I don't think they'll ever leave Bag End, I certainly hope they don't. I just don't know what I would do without my St. Louis darlings!"

"I miss them so much," Kili said softly, a small smile lingering on his face as he thought about the last time he saw them. The night their ship returned to New York's harbor after two years abroad. Three long years ago. They'd been welcomed back by the entire boarding house, just like the day they had left. Bilbo had made a feast to rival Christmas dinner for their return.

"You know you're always welcome at Bag End, the both of you. Visit whenever you like," Bilbo said as if he had read Kili's thoughts, reaching across the table to take hold of Kili's hand.

Neither Kili nor Fili held any great desire to visit New York again, aside from seeing the residents of Bag End again. They hadn't considered going back since moving to California, life was easier here, no one knew them; they both arrived with a clean slate and the growing city accepted them easily as the Durin brothers. Aside from seeing Tauriel and Arwen, there really was no other reason for them to return. And that tasted bittersweet somehow; the place that had been home to them all their lives no longer felt like home.

"Kili dear, how are you liking school? Do you have many students?" Bilbo asked in an attempt to change the subject. Despite how much he had grown over the years, Kili still wore every emotion plainly on his face and Bilbo could see that the boardinghouse was a tender subject.

"It's wonderful, Bilbo! I have two classes, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. I teach them writing and reading. Another teacher handles arithmetic, I'm not very good at that," Kili confessed with a faint blush. "The children are out for the summer but I will see them again in a few months. Sometimes I see them out during the day when I'm running errands," Kili replied with a wide grin, his face lighting up as he spoke.

"He's really done wonders with them, to hear the parents in the neighborhood talk," Fili added, knowing Kili wasn't one to brag about his own accomplishments. "You see, the Mission District here is mostly Irish and German immigrants and many of the children don't speak English very well. Kili's done a fantastic job of teaching them. We get pies, eggs, cakes, all sorts of things as thank yous from the mothers of the neighborhood, all for Kili! Once, the son of a fisherman even brought us some kind of huge fish! Remember that, Kee? Oh, it smelled awful!"

The whole table laughed and tea passed with light and pleasant conversation. Dwalin and Bilbo retired to the guest room to relax and settle in before dinner. Kili was cleaning up the tea service when Fili pulled him down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around Kili's middle to keep him firmly in place.

"If you're not going to help me the least you could do is not hinder me!" Kili groaned, swatting Fili playfully with a napkin.

"I can't help myself, you look so adorable when you're being domestic," Fili said with a smirk, puckering his lips and leaning in for a kiss.

"That's because I'm the only one who ever does anything domestic around here," Kili said with a wry smile. But he leaned in and gave Fili the kiss he wanted, moving closer and laying his head against Fili's shoulder with a happy sigh.

"We could get a housekeeper, we can afford it," Fili suggested, running his fingers through Kili's hair.

"I already told you, we don't need one. I'm perfectly capable of keeping my own house," Kili countered, that same smile returning to his lips.

"That you are, my love. You take far better care of me than an army of servants ever could."

"I know," Kili replied, his smile widening into a wicked grin.

/

If Bilbo wasn't proud of Kili before, dinner that evening certainly took care of that. Kili had put together a delightful meal of everyone's favorites; roasted chicken, sweet glazed carrots, creamed spinach, fluffy rolls light as air, and for dessert a three layer chocolate cake so rich it nearly made Dwalin's eyes cross. He managed to put away three slices of cake before he finally gave up.

In the parlor after their meal, as everyone enjoyed a glass of brandy and a warm summer breeze through the open windows, Fili finally asked the question that had been on his mind since before their guests even arrived. The question that everyone knew would come eventually.

"Dwalin, how is Thorin?"

"The same, Fili," Dwalin finally said with a sigh. "The same as he was the last time you saw him. He runs Erebor and cloisters himself in his home when he's not at the rail yard. He rarely goes out into society these days, the only person I know him to converse with is my brother. I have not actually had any contact with him since…well, in five years. But Balin, he keeps me informed."

Fili nodded and said nothing. Bilbo stared out the window to the lamp-lit street as if it were terribly fascinating, Kili watched Fili for a long while, as if trying to read his feelings from his blank expression.

"Elizabeth, she had her second child a few months back. Little boy, named Balin after his grandpa," Dwalin said with a smile, to cut the tension in the room. "Their daughter, Luthien, is nearly three I believe. Quite the handful, last I saw her. Elizabeth likes Rhode Island very much or so I hear from Balin."

The change of subject seemed to improve everyone's mood, at least outwardly. Fili stood and refilled his brandy, swirling it in his glass as he smiled softly.

"I am glad to hear she is happy. She deserves it," he said, more to himself than anyone else in the room. Fili knew talking about his uncle would be difficult, bad feelings and memories long buried now clawing their way to the surface. But he had to, it wasn't something to ask in a letter; and despite how Thorin himself might feel, he was still Fili's uncle.

"We have lots of things planned for your visit," Kili spoke up, looking from Bilbo to Dwalin. "You can't come to San Francisco without seeing the Pacific Ocean, and taking a ride in the cable cars. And Fili wants to take us all to our favorite restaurant tomorrow night for dinner." He stood and walked to Fili, slipping a comforting arm around the blond's waist.

Fili gave him a look of pure love and admiration and the other two took that as their cue.

"It's been a long journey and a long day, wouldn't you say, Bil? If we really have that much to see here I think it best we turn in. I'm ready for a night's rest on a bed that isn't moving over rails!" Dwalin said with a chuckle, holding out his hand to help Bilbo up from his armchair.

"You're quite right, my dear. Kili, thank you for a lovely dinner," the smaller man stood and kissed both Fili and Kili on the cheek, standing on his tiptoes, before smiling and turning to walk up the stairs. "Goodnight to you both."

Once the other two men were upstairs, Kili pulled Fili into a tight hug, gently holding him there for several minutes. "Are you alright, my love?" He asked quietly when they eventually pulled apart.

"I'm fine, just…I can't forgive him yet for all he's done. Maybe I won't ever forgive him, Lord knows he will never forgive me but…ugh, I'm just having a moment of sentiment, I suppose," Fili replied, his voice thick and his eyes slightly unfocused.

"We all have those moments," Kili reasoned simply. "You can't help that you still love him, that you still view him as family."

"You are my family," Fili said swiftly, as if he felt the need to reassure Kili.

"I know that, just as you are mine. But he is too and it's not wrong that it makes you feel sad that he doesn't feel the same way," Kili brushed an errant curl away from Fili's forehead and kissed the tip of his nose.

"You're right, of course. As usual," Fili grinned, pulling Kili in for a peck on the lips. "When did you become so insightful, anyway?"

"I've always been this insightful, you just gave me the courage to say it out loud," Kili replied with a sly smirk. "Come, Mr. Durin," he said, taking Fili's hand and leading him out of the parlor. "Let's go to bed."

"You know, I think Bilbo is very proud of you, I hope he doesn't try to steal you away when they leave. Take you back to New York to run the boardinghouse with him," the blond chuckled as they began to climb the stairs.

"He can try, but I'm right where I belong."

I feel it's important to mention that the Mission District was mostly untouched by the 1906 earthquake and resulting fire, so Fili and Kili were safe.

During the late nineteenth century, the Mission District was filled with mostly German and Irish immigrants despite the fact that it was settled by Spanish missionaries.

And so ends my first epic! Thank you so much for reading! It's been an incredible journey and I appreciate all the love and support this story has received.