Author's Note: So I just saw BotFA and I have never cried so hard during a movie since I saw The Lion King at age two twenty-one years ago. It exceeded ever expectation and I desperately needed some good ol' Durin family moments to make me feel better.

I like this chapter. I wasn't quite sure about it at first but I've grown rather fond of it. Hopefully you will like as much as I do.

Oblivian03- Thank you! I had some issues with starting this one but I'm fond of how it turned out!

sarah0406- Rangers aren't just a Tolkien thing. Aragorn is actually a ranger, as is Faramir. I looked it up to get a better definition for you and this is what it gave me: rang·er/ˈrānjər/

noun

1. a keeper of a park, forest, or area of countryside.

2. a member of a body of armed men, in particular.

3. a person or thing that wanders or ranges over a particular area or domain.

They were basically a ground of men who travelled the countryside and fought orcs, protected small villages and lived in the wild. As for your oneshot idea, hopefully I can whip something up! As for family bonding, be prepared to sob during number three. There's plenty of family stuff and my heart still feels like its missing.

Jessie152- Awww! Thank you! That made me smile! I'm so glad you like my writing. There isn't as much conversation in this chapter but hopefully it's still enjoyable.

BM originally- DoS wasn't my favorite but sweet virgin Mary on the hood of a Mercedes Benz BotFA was beyond amazing. There were some parts I didn't like and some I wished they had changed but overall it was very well done. As for the earlier Hobbit films...both are equally bad. Elrond's beard in the 80's version. That is all I have to say. I'm so glad you enjoy my writing and may I say, your reviews always bring a smile to my face. You always make me feel good about what I've written. (And the muse is back! Hopefully I'll be pumping out chapters and new stories left and right!)

iamthesoulfinder- Thank you! I'm glad that I could manage to relate the unrelatable to you! This chapter is a bit lighter but still fun!

AnastaziaDanielle- Thank you! Now the boys get to reassure Thorin!

The journey was officially started. The Hobbit...Mr. Baggins...had joined them as of that morning, contract signed. Thorin still had...reservations over their choice of a burglar but he supposed Gandalf-being a wizard-had some idea of what he was doing.

Currently the camp was settling down for the night. Bombur was cooking dinner and his nephews were...giving him more grey hair.

Kili was hanging upside down by his knees from a tree while Fili attempted to throw what looked to be grapes into his mouth. Thorin sighed, this was neither the time nor the place for their antics but better now than farther in the journey when he needed them to act more...mature.

Mr. Baggins, on his part, seemed to be getting some sort of lesson on Dwarven genealogy from Ori. The younger Dwarf was explaining family ties amongst the party from his brothers all the way down to Thorin himself. It was when he heard Bilbo say his name that he actually started listening in somewhat.

"So Thorin is really the only one without any direct family here? I mean you have your two brothers and everyone else seems to have a brother as well," Bilbo was asking Ori.

The little Dwarf looked at the Hobbit puzzled, "No. No, Thorin has family here. He has Fili and Kili, his nephews."

Bilbo looked incredulously at where Kili was now spitting grapes back at his brother, "They're Thorin's nephews?"

Ori nodded, "They live with him and everything. He helped raise them when their father died from what I know."

Bilbo frowned, "Seems like a tough household to be in. Thorin doesn't seem to be a...cheerful person. Not very...nurturing, so to speak."

Ori shrugged and their conversation drifted to knitting techniques.

Thorin wandered slightly away to the outskirts of their camp and sat down against the base of a tree, Mr. Baggins's words ringing through his head. He had never expected to have to step in and be a father but when the situation had been thrust upon him he wasn't going to let his baby sister flounder alone. He knew he was aloof and stern but he liked to think there was a softer side to him as well. He had to have some desirable traits other than warrior and unsmiling leader. He had never thought his nephews would be pitied for having to live with him but that certainly been what was in the Hobbit's eyes. Sure, he wasn't the most...conventional parental figure but he did the best he could and the boys had never voiced protest...

Before his mind could continue to race his nephews sauntered over and plopped down on either side of him, slightly breathless from horsing around. Kili held out a handful of fruit with an ever-present Kili grin, "Grape?"

"I can promise that these weren't in Kili's mouth," Fili assured him with a grin of his own.

Thorin gave them a look, "You shouldn't be wasting food like that."

Nevertheless he took the fruit in question anyway and popped one into his mouth before another reprimand occurred to him and he turned to his younger nephew, "And if you continue to hang from trees like that you're going to fall and break your wrist again."

Kili stared at him blankly for a moment before sending him another bright grin. Thorin just rolled his eyes and leaned back against the tree's base. Both boys followed suite, Fili pulling out his pipe, and Kili pulling out a whetstone for one of the many knives hidden on him. Peaceful silence regained for a moment and Thorin slipped back into his increasingly dark train of thought.

Certainly the boys seemed well adjusted enough. All though Dis could be explained for that. His baby sister was the one who worn the pants in that family, not him. Thorin glanced at Kili who seemed to sense his stare at beamed up at him. Thorin felt his mouth twitch in response and Kili's smile broadened before going back to his knives. Despite it's intent, Kili's infectious grin did nothing to lighten his spirits. If his youngest nephew could be made happy with not even a smile back from Thorin himself...

And then there was Fili. His elder nephew was a bit more reserved...if one could ever use the word reserved to describe either boy. Fili, who could pass for Thorin's twin if not for the blonde hair he inherited from his father.

Sagnus. Thorin had wished his marriage brother was still alive to see his boys grow just as often as he selfishly enjoyed every moment of raising the boys as his own. Thorin was roughly jolted out of his dark mindset by a nudge from Fili. He looked up at the blonde who was staring at him with a raised brow. Thorin matched the look and waited for his nephew to speak. The held a staring contest for a moment before Fili broke, "You're brooding."

Thorin frowned, "I'm not brooding."

Fili looked around him at Kili who looked Thorin over before nodding. Fili seemed to take this as a good enough response and turned back to his uncle, "Yes you are."

Thorin's frown deepened to dangerously resembling a pout, "I am not."

Fili looked back at Kili who nodded sagely at him before they both responded, "Yes you are."

Thorin resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "I'm not brooding. I'm thinking," He fondly reached over to ruffle both of their hair, "You should try it sometime."

Kili stuck his tongue out at him and Fili swatted him off. Thorin didn't bother holding back the small smile that escaped, "Mature."

Fili brightened almost instantly, "Got you to stop brooding."

Thorin sighed, feeling an exasperation setting in that only came from dealing with the boys, "For the last time, I was not brooding."

It was Kili who responded this time, "Yes you were."

Thorin managed to keep his groan at bay and rose, "I am going to check on dinner. You two are going to behave."

Both boys nodded, eyes completely innocent and he turned back toward where the camp was. Thorin made it about ten steps before his nephews came flying out of seemingly nowhere, Kili attaching himself to Thorin's right shoulder and back and Fili plowing into his left side and latching on like a leech. Their combined weight made him stumble and nearly brought them all down. Thorin managed to keep his footing and flipped them so Fili and Kili landed in front of him in a pile of laughter. The spun around to face them and he leveled them both with a glare.

Meanwhile the entire Dwarf (and Hobbit and Wizard) camp held their breath, dreading Thorin's response. Fili and Kili were the youngest of the group in both age and temperament and their childish antics could wear on anyone, let alone their rather short-tempered leader.

Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to five, "You two are such children."

Kili looked inordinately proud of that fact, "Our sole purpose in life is to keep you young and give you more grey hair at the same time."

Thorin sighed before chuckling despite himself, "You're succeeding."

He extended a hand to both boys and pulled them to their feet before cuffing them lightly on the back of the head, "Go check on the ponies."

Both nephews went and did as they were told, ramming into one another as they walked. Thorin suddenly felt all the camp's eyes on him, "What?"

Balin gave him a rather indulgent smile, "Nothing lad. Dinner is almost ready."

The entire camp seemed to sigh in relief and rose to retrieve their dinner from Bofur. Bilbo received his bowl before speaking to no one in particular, "Should someone bring Fili and Kili theirs?"

Thorin shook his head, "They didn't go that far. Boys! Food!"

The Dwarf leader paused for half a second before swiftly stepping to the left as Kili plummeted out of the tree directly onto his brother who pounced out from behind it. They crashed into one another before rolling off of one another with a groan. Thorin smirked down at them, "You done now?"

They both nodded and got to their feet still grinning brightly. Thorin sighed fondly and handed them their bowls and ruffling their hair again. They swatted him off and he followed them to settle against the base of a tree to eat.

Soon the air was filled with munching noises and the sound of light chatter. Thorin felt a very light tap on his shoulder and he looked over to where Fili was seated next to him, "Yes?"

Fili had a soft, knowing look on his face, "Nothing. Just wanted to let you know that we're pretty happy with the father figure who raised us. We never wished for a different one."

He got to his feet, pulling his brother up with him. Fili sauntered away but Kili paused a moment to look back at Thorin, "We couldn't ask for a better uncle."

Thorin smiled softly, "ANd I could not have wished for two better nephews."

Kili smiled back at him before following his brother to get more food.

Instantly Thorin realized what they had been up to and was grateful. His dark mood and heavy thoughts were certainly gone thanks to his distractions. He settled back against the base of the tree and continued to eat before he heard a soft noise. Thorin glanced slyly to the side and saw Bilbo not-so-subtly attempting to eavesdrop on their conversation. The Hobbit looked mildly surprised as he shook his head softly before muttering to himself, "Huh. Guess I was wrong."