Chapter 2 - Sweet, sweet reality

Acceptance for their inappropriate relationship turned into friendship for Fili and Kili, as far as Bofur could see. By the time they reached the valley below, Bilbo can always be seen making conversation with the brothers. One time he even catches the hobbit touching Fili's arm without having it ripped away by Kili.

He started teaching Bilbo how to use Iglishmek, on the way down. It might come in handy, anyway, since he doubted that the life-or-death situations were over. Their burglar is a fast learner, and Bofur is glad that he can distract him from the hard stones beneath their feet and the stubborn pace that Gandalf and Thorin make them walk. Sometimes along the day, however, Fili and Kili always manage to steal Bilbo in conversation.

He is curious, of course, to know what has made Bilbo so comfortable around them. Even when the two seem to be laughing at him, the Halfling is laughing with them. Bofur is terribly jealous when one night Bilbo pass right through him and pulls both brothers aside, so they share a quiet conversation away from the fire. He cannot see the hobbit's face, but the mischievous grins that appear on the lads' faces make him suspicious. What on earth did Bilbo Baggins thought he was doing? There was already enough mischief in those dwarf-sized foxes as it was, they certainly didn't need the hobbit giving them ideas.

The answer to that question came on the following night.

The dwarves had found a small lake where they could wash themselves before going further. It came as good relief from all the gobblin blood they had on their clothes. They went in pairs, that way there would be enough dwarves ready to fight in case some peril appeared in the middle of their bath.

Bofur tries not to glow too brightly when he is paired with Bilbo. They had been going somewhat in brother pairs, but when his time came Bombur winked at him before dragging Bifur along, leaving only Fili, Kili, Bilbo and him. Had he been that obvious to his kin? At least they didn't seem to mind.

Fili and Kili managed to disappear by the time that his brother and his cousin returned, so he smiled tentatively at the hobbit.

"Well… I guess it's our turn."

"Oh, yes. I think the boys will prefer to bathe themselves after everybody is asleep." Bilbo rolled his eyes and they shared a quiet laugh.

"That is likely to happen yes." Bofur said and tried to voice the thought that had been eating his insides "Ye and the lads have grown close these last few days."

"I guess we did." Bilbo answered without hesitation, warmth appearing in his eyes "I think they miss a mother, sometimes. Or at least, someone they can confide in. Besides, I thought I'd give you a rest from my endless questioning."

"Oh, ye don't need to worry about that!" Bofur said quickly "I am happy to teach ye everything I can about us dwarves. Are you enjoying yer Iglishmek lessons?"

"Of course I am! You are a very good professor, Bofur." Bilbo gives him the most radiant smile, shining in the middle of the dense woods, and Bofur has to look ahead to hide his blush. He had been getting more of those, but he was still overwhelmed by it.

They reached the lake in a comfortable silence.

The while that takes them to bathe is a bit awkward. Bofur resisted as bravely as he could to turn around and take a look at pale skin beneath the moonlight (his mother had taught him manners, thank you very much). So, he is startled when they are already dressing and Bilbo calls out to him.

"Your… your braids… are a bit of a mess." The hobbit chuckled a bit, a light tone of pink gracing his cheeks, bringing the urge of kissing him again.

"Oh, well… with all this running around, it's hard to keep them." Bofur pulls his tunic over his head to hide his own brief blush. It was true that he had been sloppy in taking care of them. It happened after he had realized that the hobbit knew nothing of their braiding traditions, and he didn't want to rouse suspicion among the company.

"Do you want some help with that?" Bilbo asked him when his head resurfaced.

Bofur was ready to say no, because he would not take advantage from Bilbo. The hobbit couldn't possibly know how intimate the act of braiding was, specially that kind of braids. Unweaving those braids meant that you were claiming courtship over the dwarf who sported them. Nonetheless, there was a small smile on his face, a rosy tone filling his cheeks, and his head was nodding without his permit.

This was wrong, taking advantage of him, but the moment Bilbo's hands reached for his hair, everything else was silenced inside him, there was only the sound of his heart racing. Could the hobbit hear it? Would he understand the meaning of it? It was not like Bofur was an expert in hiding his emotions – it was quite surprising that he had kept his mouth shut about his feelings so far. In his delirious thoughts, Bombur's voice told him how proud he was and Bofur shook his brother from his mind.

Bilbo's hands worked with confidence. His delicate fingers dismantled the braids and untangled all the knots on his dark hair. There were a good number of them, so, understanding it would take some time, Bofur tried to relax, closing his eyes.

Every once in a while he would hear Bilbo sigh at a particularly difficult knot or make little content noises. This indication that the hobbit was enjoying the close contact with him made his heart soar. This moment he would never forget, even if it was a torment and bliss at the same time. What were the odds that his feelings were returned? Perhaps it was time he was a bit more obvious about his intentions? Bofur was desperate to not scare the hobbit away, but at some point he would have to take the risk. And if he was not corresponded then… well, at least he would know for sure instead of just dreaming.

Just dreaming took you nowhere, and again, Bofur took pride in being realistic. He supposed his chances were not that high. Most likely Bilbo thought of him as a friend, one of the few from the company that had been kind to him long before the hobbit had been ready to stand and fight. But how high did he rank? Higher than most, probably, but not higher than Fili, Kili, Balin and Thorin, perhaps? It was hard to tell. Besides, even if he was first in Bilbo's friendship, that did not mean necessarily that a romantic relationship could blossom.

Bofur held back a sigh. He should just tell Bilbo. If the Halfling was to love him back, he would do despite his bluntness. It was what he had believed most of his adult life, wasn't it? That if he was to be loved by someone, it would be because of his true self. Certainly Mahal would not be so cruel as to make him a One that did not know him truly?

Hobbits were not Mahal's children, though…

"All done." Bilbo announced, bringing him out of his musings "Take a look on your reflection."

Had Bofur been more in hold of himself, he might have noticed the hesitation in Bilbo's voice. But he wanted to see the handiwork of his beloved on his hair, it had just become the most precious thing he carried with him, so he knelt by the lake and leaned down to see.

What he saw, though, blew every shred of coherent thought from his mind. Instead of the twin braids that held all of his hair, he found two courting braids on each side of his head, contouring his face. Behind him, he saw Bilbo's face looking terribly flushed, his eyes glistening with both hope and fear, showing that he knew the meaning of those braids. Bofur's mouth went dry with the understanding that his prayers had been answered.

He turned to look up at the hobbit with awe that this small precious creature who he had fallen for was feeling the same thing he was. There were no words to describe the sensation. His heart wanted to rip his chest apart, though, and Bofur found himself wanting to say something but fearful that his stupid mouth might ruin the moment.

"I had Fili and Kili teach me, but… you know them." Bilbo rolled his eyes briefly in the midst of his embarrassment "They wouldn't let me practice on their hairs, so I had to learn with three pieces of cloths. I-I'm sorry if they are not good. And, and of course, I'm sorry if… if this… if this is not what you want… I can completely understand if you don't—"

Bofur did not let him finish of course, because there was only so much he could stand while holding himself in place. Bilbo had been brave enough to court him, he had to be brave to show his feelings as well. He stood up and brought Bilbo to his arms in a single move. He did manage to not say anything too blunt, although one could say that the kiss he placed upon the other's lips was blunt enough. Traditionally, courting braids should be answered with other courting braids, but seeing that there was nothing traditional about them, Bofur didn't think it was such a horrid mistake.

This was his life on the right track, as Bilbo's short arms surrounded his neck and the softest lips responded the kiss in kind. Shyly at first, then needy and demanding. When their tongues met, the hobbit's taste sent shivers through his spine, and Bofur embraced him tighter. Getting back Erebor or not, this quest had just become much more worthy of being taken. Let Thorin Oakenshield have his mountain, let Fili and Kili have each other, Bofur had just won his own prize now.

"I've been told… that you would answer… by braiding my hair." Bilbo whispered panting after they parted, but keeping their foreheads together.

"Aye… don't worry… I'll give ye the most beautiful courting braids." Bofur said, still in awe of this blessing "I'll braid yer hair and wrap the colors of my family upon your wrist, so everyone will know that ye are not be courted by anyone else."

Bilbo chuckled at this. "Never pegged you like the possessive kind, Bofur."

"Every dwarf is possessive of the thing he loves the most." Bofur says back with passion, then he flinches at the intensity of his words. This is what Bombur had warned him against all those years ago "I… I mean… I… Dwarves love—"

"Only once in their lives, I know." Bilbo cuts him, his eyes glowing "In the middle of all this mad adventure, is good to be sure of at least one thing. Which is very good, because, you know… Hobbits are creatures of habits, and I this is one I'd like to keep for as long I live."

"This—this one? Which one?" Bofur asks, again being abandoned by thought process.

Bilbo answers by kissing him again, and all the rest is forgotten.

Xx

Later that night, after much kissing and hair braiding, they snuggled close by the fire after everyone has gone to sleep and it was Bofur's watch. Bofur didn't think the company would find problem in their relationship, but the privacy was good and he wanted this secret for a while.

They discovered not everyone was asleep when Fili and Kili came from the woods, chuckling and quietly chasing each other with tickling hands. When the two brothers looked at them however, they smiled from ear to ear, understanding what had happened. Kili, being the most loud-mouthed of the two, came closer immediately with a goofy grin.

"Oh, so things worked out just fine! I told you it would be, didn't I, Bilbo? Now let me see if you managed to learn something from my braiding skills after all." Kili said with a teasing smirk. He suddenly removed Bofur's hat and started touching the new braids there.

Bofur's heart raced warmly when Bilbo's hands batted Kili's away from his head. It was not that he minded Kili, but it felt incredibly comfortable to see his One being slightly possessive over him.

"You made me keep my hands out of your mate's hair, so now you keep yours away from mine."

Kili laughed at this and took a sit by the fire facing them. "Fair all this possessiveness we'll make a dwarf out of you yet, Bilbo Baggins."

Bofur let Bilbo and Kili exchange banter and raised his eyes at Fili, who approached slowly. There was a knowing smile on his face, and as he sat behind Kili, pulling his brother to rest against his chest, he casted a questing look towards him. Bofur understood what that question meant.

"I'll stand by ye, lad, if it ever comes to it." Bofur says with a small nod, and got two dazzling and relived smiles in return. In his arms, Bilbo placed an approving kiss upon his chin.

"You take good care of him." Fili said somewhat sternly, but there is a smile on his face and Bofur realized how important they had just become for the two princes. Despite their young age and constant laughter, there was an unexpected maturity in them. Forbidden loves did that, he supposed. There is gratitude in their eyes, which makes Bofur all the warmer to them. These two were very worthy of ruling the mountain, incestuous affair or not, if they could value the approval of a common miner and his newly bonded hobbit mate.

"Don't ye worry, I will keep this hobbit safe and loved for as long as I live." He answered and added an afterthought, because Thorin's actions were becoming so irrational and destructive that the day in which Fili will lead them might not be that far away. And because they had helped Bilbo to court him, of course. "My king."

This startles Fili, and the blond looks uncomfortable for a moment, nodding at him with a shy smile. Kili however, is looking radiant at Bofur, as if someone else acknowledging his brother was the most important thing in the world for him.

"You two go and sleep, my brother and I will keep watch." Fili said, and Kili nodded his agreement.

"Are you sure? You have barely slept these last days." Bilbo asked sounding a lot like a mother hen. This brings images of a little curly haired dwarf into Bofur's mind, and his heart is certain that Bilbo would be amazing raising kids.

"Go, you deserve it." Fili insisted and winked at them, returning to his usual playful self, because he was not king yet.

"Yes, go. We'll be fine." Kili said from his comfortable position splayed upon his brother like a big cat, offering them a mischievous smirk "Be quiet, though. And don't do anything we wouldn't."

"There is nothing you wouldn't do." Bilbo mutters, his ears getting red nonetheless.

Bofur chuckled and pulled him to prepare to sleep. Finally he was able to place their bedrolls as close as he wanted, in an almost proper bed made for two. He was extremely happy in the middle of feeling like going home and picturing the two of them raising children. Bilfur sounded like a good name. Or Bobur, it had a strong ring.

"What are you so deep in thought about?" Bilbo asked from somewhere in the middle of his arms.

"Children's names. I think Bilfur and Bobur are a good mixture of our names, and they still resemble the naming style of my house." Bofur answered immediately, then froze in place, placing a hand upon his mouth. A little early to speak about having sons, perhaps? Again, Bombur's voice appeared in his mind, sounding very disapproving. However, Bilbo's words surprised him.

"Those are boys' names."

"Er… yes."

"What if it's a girl?"

The true curiosity in his beloved's voice made Bofur almost cry. Because this was Bilbo not freaking out about his bluntness, about building a family with him.

"Well… there aren't many women born among dwarves…" he said, still in awe of the reality of things.

"We have quite a lot of women among hobbits." Bilbo said before he snuggled even closer, burying his face in Bofur's neck "I guess we'll have to wait and see from which side they will take after."

"Th-they?"

"Oh, yes. At least, two, I think. Must be terrible being a lone child." The hobbit answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and this time Bofur really cried. Tears rolled freely from his closed eyes and a quiet sob escaped from his throat, which made Bilbo hug him tighter "Hey, what is it?"

Bofur shivered silently at Bilbo's concern, and caressed his back, inhaling the sweet scent of the curly hair recently braided.

"Just amazed that this is finally happening." He managed to say the words without being muffled by his cries "I've been wishing this ever since I looked up at ye from yer house's ground."

"Oh… well… I don't know how long I've been thinking about being with you, but… I've been drawn to you ever since that night when you invaded my house. You were so nice, even though you wanted to take me away in an adventure." Bilbo said "I just know that one day I looked at you from across the fire and I… I knew."

Bofur answered this by kissing him slowly and lovingly, trying to show how happy he was.

They did this until it subdued to just their faces pressed close together, their breathing synchronized as they waited sleep to take over them.

"What about our home?" Bilbo asked sometime later into the night. None of them was able to sleep, apparently.

"What do ye mean?"

"Is it going to be back in the Shire… or in Erebor?"

This time Bofur answered with silence, because this was something that required careful thinking. Personally, he didn't think he would mind living under the peaceful green hills that Bilbo called home. And yet, there was more to home than just the place. Bombur and Bifur needed him. The task of building Erebor back to its former glory would need him to, and the promise he had just made to Fili and Kili ringed loudly in his head.

"I think… I'm afraid the adventure I signed up for is a bit longer than what yer contract says…" he said at last "There are many things I still have to do even after the dragon is gone."

Bilbo repays him with a silence of his own, sending cold fear through Bofur's body. He had said the wrong thing, hadn't he? After all this time, even after babbling about kids' names, he had finally said the thing that would scare Bilbo away!

"Can we at least go back to the Shire so I can get my books?"

Sweet, sweet reality. Bilbo was willing to stay with him, even under the mountain. Could it get better than that?

"We can go and get your entire hobbit hole if ye want, Bilbo." He vows, he rolls them over, so he is upon the hobbit and placing hundreds of kisses on his face "I'll dig us a hole in the mountain and build it exactly like yer old one."

"With more room for the children, though." Bilbo laughs his way between the kisses

Apparently, it could.

"As many as ye want." He promises before taking Bilbo's mouth in his and proceeding to do the kind of things not even Kili would.

Bofur ended up discovering a thing or two he was rather good that, and he was not just being too full of himself, if Bilbo's later dreamy sighs were anything to go by.

Sweet, sweet hobbit.

xxxxxxxxxx

And there you go!

Again, it's long, I'm sorry.

And I'm sorry if it has too much Fili/Kili in it, I just couldn't help it. *blushing heavily*

Thank you for reading!