Most of them had taken their leave; some heading toward the green dragon and some going to wherever they had set up camp.

Bilbo couldn't help but feel deep relief as they each, bowed and thanked him for his hospitality; forced as it had been.

"Please," Gandalf gently pleaded, "Do think about it Bilbo."

Bilbo rolled his eyes and held the door open for the old wizard, saying nothing as Gandalf's shoulders dropped and he left behind a disappointed sigh as he departed.

"He's a persistent fellow," observed a smooth, lyrical accent and Bilbo turned to see Bofur leaned against the wall.

Observing the hobbit with his bright eyes he offered a soft smile.

"I almost didn't come me self. But Bifur wasn't to be deterred, not after Gandalf said he could very well do away with the Orc that buried that hatchet in 'is head."

Bilbo closed the door, wondering if the dwarf meant not only to drain his last keg of ale, but also to stay the night being as how he was the only dwarf to remain in his ransacked hobbit hole.

"An Orc…did that to him? You're related?" Bilbo inquired, suddenly nervous under the charming dwarf's gaze.

Bofur nodded. "Aye he's my cousin, Bombur and mine I mean. He was at Moria with me father," He explained, "and with another of my kinsman. We're still surprised he survived that wound. When he's lucid, he speaks often of gettin' revenge."

Bilbo cocked his head; "You're not here for your own gain?" He asked, "You've come just because of him?"

Bofur shook his head and drained his mug.

Turning and heading to the kitchen he continued over his shoulder: "Not exactly, if we can see this through, the reward I get can help me and the remainder of my family out. But, honestly, Bifur needs to be watched over…that axe heats up his already foul temper."

Bilbo paid no mind that the dwarf walked through his smial as if it was his own home, suddenly very curious about him.

"How many are there?" Bilbo asked as Bofur washed his mug in the tub that had been used earlier to clean all of the dishes the dwarves had soiled in their long visit, "In your family I mean. If it's alright that I ask."

Bofur chuckled and set the mug aside to dry. "Let's see," He began as he started to count on his fingers, "There's Bifur, Me, Bombur, our sister and her daughter, Bombur's wife and his twelve children~"

"Twelve!?" Bilbo exclaimed with a laugh, "Sounds stressful!"

Bofur laughed and shrugged: "I'm a good uncle," He explained, pulling his pipe from his leather jerkin, "And they are good lads and lasses all the same! What about you?"

Bilbo hesitated. "Huh?" He asked and Bofur smirked. "'ave you any kin, Like sisters or brothers…a wife?"

Bilbo chuckled while he blushed. "Resolutely single and an only child," He explained, "My parents have passed on while most of my kin are only of distant relations."

Bofur looked at him, his eyes sad. "Don't ye get lonely?" He asked, "Bein' in such a large home with no one to keep ye company?"

Bilbo shrugged, suddenly wanting Bofur to stay longer so they could converse further, regardless of how late it was.

"I like my solitude-shall we go into the study?-If I get lonely I find a way to satiate it."

Bofur followed and took the seat opposite of Bilbo in the homely den, loading his pipe as he did.

"You're not married?" Bilbo asked, and seeing Bofur shake his head, chuckled.

"That surprises me," He confessed, "Truly."

Bofur lit his pipe and slouched; "I get that a lot. But like I said, with a younger brother and his children, and a half-insane cousin…it keeps me busy, you see. Besides, our women are few and far between. Plus, toy makin' doesn't fetch enough profit in a way that would cause anyone to take attention."

Bilbo sighed and stared into the flames that roared and crackled in his fire place. "Nor does tutoring once or twice a week," He offered, and Bofur chuckled suddenly.

"Tutoring?" He asked, "You're a teacher?"

Bilbo shook his head. "I'm a stand in," He explained, "I tutor the children of lower class families; When their children are having more troubles in certain areas; reading and such."

Bofur smiled. "You educate, and I entertain," He observed, watching as Bilbo smiled softly, "Yet neither you nor I have children…funny isn't it?"

Bilbo became nervous again and wondered suddenly, if Bofur had meant to delve further into his life with his last statement.

Bofur smiled at Bilbo's, his eyes shining as if somehow Bilbo had answered him without the use of words.

"It helps havin' all those nieces and nephews," He continued to joke, "I can test my products thoroughly!"

Bilbo chuckled and continued to stare into the fire and for a while a silence passed between the hobbit and the dwarf.

"Yer thinkin' about goin' aren't ye, lad?"

Bilbo startled and gazed at his guest.

Bofur, having finished his pipe, waited patiently for his host to answer.

"Um…w-well…that is to say, I-I don't know," Bilbo replied, secretly admiring the adorable way Bofur cocked his head and smirked.

"It would be quite a change fer ye I imagine," He explained, "A Halfling tutor in the company of dwarves. The vulgarity you'd hear alone might be a risk to your sanity."

Bilbo scoffed; "I'm more than comfortable with vulgarity!" He protested, "After all, I did put up with the lot of you tonight!"

Bofur sniggered and rose to empty the ash from his pipe into the fire. "Avoided us is more like it. But I can see how that would be a way of puttin' up with us. Ye weren't too pleased with our belching contest."

Bilbo blushed and countered; "Well, you all did clear out my pantry! I didn't think, even dwarves, could eat so much!"

Bofur let out a guffaw and came back to sit across from the hobbit with the same youthful shine in his eyes.

"We left ye some crackers," He chortled, "and if it makes ye feel better, I was rather pleased with the food you kept. No wonder ye eat so much!"

Bilbo couldn't help but smile, rather enjoying Bofur's innocent humor.

"And Thorin?" He asked with a smirk, "The poor King only took some soup I managed to whip up…without any of you noticing!"

Bofur waved his hand dismissively. "Thorin's an arse hole!" He confessed, and laughed heartily again when he saw how slack jawed Bilbo became.

"You didn't seem to think so when he made that quip about me being a grocer!" He joked, "I saw how you laughed!"

Bofur smirked and slouched in his seat; "Can ye blame him or I? Ye certainly keep enough-well, kept- enough food to be considered such."

The two sat in silence again before Bofur let out a yawn and stood. "I best be off," He explained, "never a good idea to leave Bifur unattended for too long."

Bilbo nodded and rose from his own seat to escort the dwarf to the door.

"It was nice, visiting with you," Bilbo offered as Bofur put on his cloak and offered the hobbit a low bow, "I dare say, you're more civil than most of them."

Bofur chuckled and, to Bilbo's surprised, leaned in and tapped his forehead lightly against his.

"I imagine some civility was needed after all o' that," He replied, "G'night Master Baggins."

As he began to leave Bilbo reached out and caught the dwarf by his arm.

Bofur waited for him to say something, gazing at him with soft and patient eyes.

"Do you think I would do the company any good?" He asked, "Or do you think I should stay behind?"

Bofur hesitated and looked Bilbo up and down as easily and gently as he did when Gandalf had earlier described how Bilbo would and could be an asset to the group instead of a burden.

"We all have our place," the dwarf finally remarked, "What ye will choose will be of yer own free will. I…out of my…gratitude fer ye, would think it wise to stay behind but at the same time…Ye haven't tossed that contract away. While were thrown together, mind you, we do look out for one another."

Bilbo bit his lip, saying nothing and nodding a quick thanks to the dwarf as Bofur finally departed.

Finally alone, Bilbo went to where the contract still lay and took it into his hands.

He was simply a tutor; living off inheritance and biding his days with lessons, long walks, and friendly chats with those he felt no attachment to; this, the question laid out before him, was something he'd never known.

He was someone he'd never known.

Bilbo wondered, did Bofur stand out amongst his company, or did he only stand out to him?

What was it? What had he felt when the dwarf, nearly crushed by the rest who'd tumbled into his home, and on top of him, looked up at him and after a moment, offered a friendly and embarrassed smile.

Bilbo sighed and dropped the contract back on the table.

He needed to sleep.

Forsaking his pajamas, the hobbit crawled onto his bed and curled into a ball.

The image of a youthful smile and soft hazel eyes staying at the forefront of his mind as sleep came seeking him slowly and peacefully.