Epilogue

Rise with the birds, the sparrows that find their way onto his mountain-side balcony. Their chirping reminds him of days spent on the road, forest paths and cold mornings under the open sky. He wakes to a pair of sapphire blue eyes staring into his own, a usually-grim mouth softened into a smile.

Then first breakfast, which he takes with his husband - apples are Thorin's preferred choice and Bilbo heartily agrees. Thorin never eats much in the morning, preferring to start the day as early as possible.

Then a hot soaky bath - there's no shortage of scented oils for him to use, some from even the elves. While theirs are of extremely good quality he prefers the simpler ones, that smell of pinewood and forests. He closes his eyes in the tub and simply remembers, smiling that those faces are no longer mere memories but ones he sees nearly every day. One in particular. When he's washed and his hair is drying, it's time for second breakfast, which he takes with whichever members of the company happen to be free - but always Dori. They've bonded over their love of tea and Bilbo's even managed to get him to try the elvish infusions.

He'll go to the Council meeting after that, or the diplomatic ones - Thorin needs him there. He's still not lost his thick-headedness (Bilbo would mourn the loss, if he's honest. He likes his stubborn dwarf) and sometimes it takes Bilbo's lighter voice and charming diplomacy to set a matter straight. Thorin rewards him for it later that night, and Bilbo doesn't complain.

Then time for elevenses, finest cakes and breads and tea available in Erebor served to him as he does his own thing for a while. He likes to read, novels full of adventure and daring tales. Ori sometimes helps if he's trying to read Khuzdûl, the dwarf tongue still impossible for him to fluently comprehend, but he's learning. Slowly, but he learns. Often he takes elevenses with his nephews, before shooing them off to their sparring lessons.

The post is brought to him, little notes and compliments and not a small number of petitions from people, even some from the elven-king himself. (He likes to leave those letters out so Thorin sees - especially as they're written in Sindarin - because a jealous Thorin is an undeniably attractive Thorin.) Then he potters about until dinner, usually forcing Thorin into taking at least half an hour to lunch with him. Dinner is always good, sometimes with the Company, sometimes just the two of them, sometimes Dís and the boys too. It makes Bilbo's heart nearly burst with happiness that his family has grown so large and numerous.

At night he always gives a little prayer of thanks to Mahal and the Green Lady, before curling up in the big bed under warm pelts and furs with the warmth of his husband beside him.

But today is different. Today he receives a letter from the Shire, from his cousin Drogo. He was married not a year ago, although Bilbo couldn't make it to the wedding (over-protective dwarf husbands are certainly overrated, even if his is particularly handsome) and he has a terrible sense of foreboding. But the news sends him running through Erebor to find Thorin, then his nephews. A new cousin, a new nephew for them all. Little Frodo Baggins, son of Drogo and Primula.

That's not the end of it - Bilbo wants to go straight away but Thorin wants him to wait (Bilbo knows he just doesn't want him to leave again for so long). But Bilbo makes discreet agreements with Balin and Dís and the boys' teachers, and everything is arranged that they can leave the very next day if they wish it.

Bilbo hopes they do. It's been far too long since he saw his husband with flowers in his hair, and a hobbit naming ceremony would be just perfect.

Of course, Thorin can never deny him anything and not two days after receiving the letter, Thorin and Company set out on another journey, this time with good food and laughter and family at the other end of it.

Bilbo thinks he cannot be happier.

Finis

A/N: Again, a huge huge thank you to EVERYONE who read, reviewed, favourited or followed! I appreciate it, really I do! Thank you all so much!

I'll probably be taking a bit of a step back from writing now - or at the very least posting - because my exams are only a few months away and I really need to do well so I'm taking a break for a while (much as it pains me!) But I may be writing and jotting things down so come the summertime I'll hopefully have plenty to share (Bagginshield a-plenty :D ).

Thank you so much for reading Stoneblind and I honestly hope you enjoyed it. :3