A/N: I finally had time to finish it! This is the last chapter and I really hope you enjoy it! This story was never meant to be this long but what can I say, ThThilbo fluff just writes itself so I really hope you've enjoyed the story. Now for the last chapter!

THE SOLSTICE

Bilbo woke early the next morning, his dreams uneasy and full of blue eyes staring into his own. He was just as tired when he woke up as when he'd gone to sleep but his body was restless and more than once he found himself tapping his foot against the soft sheets. His mind also raced, lingering on the way Thorin had smiled so warmly and looked so gently at him as they'd stood, foreheads together, for what could only have been a few moments but felt like a lifetime to Bilbo.

Frodo woke not long after, blinking open his bleary eyes and smiling up at Bilbo as he remembered what day it was.

'It's the Solstice today! It's Yule!' he exclaimed, immediately moving to pull off the covers and get up. Bilbo chuckled, shaking off any of the last vestiges of melancholy he might be feeling before joining Frodo. He ran a quick bath and he and Frodo hurried through it before they got dressed - in their normal clothes; Bilbo was saving their best for the celebration that evening.

They headed for the dining room where they were to meet and bumped into Balin and Dwalin who led him to a door slightly further on from the dining room - a living room of sorts, large enough to fit them all in and filled with a large table to one side and lots of plush sofas. Some of the Company was already there, Fíli, Kíli, Bofur and Nori looking a little pained (Bilbo knew they had consumed particularly large amounts of ale last night).

'Happy Solstice!' they still greeted the new comers loudly and Kíli still managed to bash his head against Balin and Dwalin's, even if he did grimace slightly. Bilbo and Frodo sat down and soon enough everyone else had arrived too, Thorin and Dís last of all. The sight of Thorin made Bilbo's heart constrict as he remembered the evening before and he had to force himself not to squirm when Thorin sent him a warm smile.

Thorin ordered food to be brought in then and it was a good distraction as they sat on the sofas, eating the traditional Solstice breads filled with currants and raisins and lightly spiced. Bilbo thought he felt Thorin's glance land on him a few times so he focused on his food, not looking to make sure if he was correct in case he lost all his careful restraint and did something stupid.

When the plates had been cleared away and Bombur had explained the origins of the Solstice bread (it had apparently started off as a lighter kind of fruit cake, but then the bread version was cheaper and became more popular; the recipe evolved from there) Dís declared it to be time for Solstice to really begin.

She began herding them all into the centre of the room and in the confusion and general bustle Frodo left Bilbo's side and ended up between the princes while Thorin somehow appeared next to him; Bilbo vaguely wondered if Thorin wasn't trying to drive him to distraction, especially as he smiled extra warmly and he'd changed his braids, an intricate pattern now on his head which pulled more hair away from his face, emphasising the noble features.

He saw Bilbo looking at the plaits in his hair. 'Do you like them?'

'Of course I do,' he spluttered. He just especially liked them on Thorin... His breath hitched slightly when Thorin's expression turned serious and he reached out a hand, gently running a finger across Bilbo's curls.

'You... Your hair would be beautiful with a braid or two.' Thorin's voice was so low Bilbo almost felt it rather than heard it, rumbling in his chest and through his fingers. It was low and sensuous and Bilbo had to physically restrain himself by clasping his hands behind his back so that he didn't reach out and pull Thorin in for a kiss.

'I'm not a dwarf, though,' he said hastily. 'I thought such things were kept among your people only.'

'True,' Thorin acceded, his hand dropping back down to his side but his eyes still boring into Bilbo's. 'But you are more than worthy of simple braids, Bilbo.'

Bilbo shivered when Thorin said his name, and quickly (and gratefully) snapped his gaze away from the dwarf beside him when Dís called them all to attention.

'Gentlemen,' she said, and immediately everyone hushed. 'It's time for our Solstice tradition!' As with everything, the dwarves all burst into cheers and Dís motioned for Kíli to bring her something she'd stashed behind one of the sofas. He did so and handed it to her -it was a smallish, tissue-wrapped parcel, and immediately Bilbo had visions of playing Pass The Parcel with these battle-hardened dwarves and had to stifle his laughter. In fact, he wasn't far wrong.

They played Toss The Parcel instead.

The rules were simple - you threw it to anyone and once you'd dropped it you were out of the game. Bilbo immediately panicked - he'd always had terrible hand-eye coordination so he was bound to be the first out; to his relief Frodo looked thrilled at this departure from the civility and passivity of Pass the Parcel at home, and from the looks of it he was happily retelling the boredom of hobbitling birthday parties to Fíli and Kíli, who were nodding sagely and making sympathising noises.

And then the game began. Dís had started and thrown it to Balin, who'd thrown it to Glóin, who'd thrown it to Bofur - who'd dropped it, letting it slip through his fingers and land with a dull thud.

'Oops,' Bilbo heard him mutter before the cheers of the dwarves sounded loud. Bofur seemed to accept his fate with grace, laughing at his own clumsiness until someone - Bilbo thought it was Nori - called out loudly, 'E's still drunk!' Bofur just grinned and flopped messily down on a sofa to watch the proceedings.

Óin was out next and then Bombur, and with each time it was another dwarf and not him who went out Bilbo got slightly giddier. Frodo was holding his own rather well, all things considered, and he seemed to be having the time of his life. Bilbo got even more flustered however as every couple of turns Thorin would throw it to him - not nearly so strongly as he had to the rest of the Company and more than once it was almost more like he was trying to place it into his hands rather than let him catch it.

Bilbo was the next one to drop the parcel however, and graciously he went to join Bofur on the sofa, still feeling a little giddy. Thorin shot a glance in his and Bofur's direction, a strange expression on his face as Bilbo and Bofur laughed at their lack of grace, but then his attention was once more forced back to the game and Bilbo was left to ponder it.

He found he didn't mind being out, not really, as it meant he could better admire Thorin's figure. His broad shoulders rippling under his dark blue shirt and the well-muscled torso... Bilbo had to quickly push those thoughts away when at one point Thorin turned and caught his eye, smiling; Bofur nudged him afterwards and chuckled while Bilbo elbowed him back and tried to settle his blushing.

Frodo lasted for quite a substantial while longer than his uncle and it made Bilbo proud to see him keeping up with the dwarves; eventually though it did slip through his fingers after a throw from Fíli (Kíli had gone out the turn before) and Fíli claimed it was his fault so both he and Frodo dropped out, joining Kíli on one of the sofas, but not before Frodo had come and given his uncle a hug and laughed that Bilbo hadn't been the first to be out.

'It's only because Mister Thorin gave you those easy throws,' he said in a lowered voice, laughing.

'Oh aye,' Bofur said, laughing, 'of course Thorin wanted Bilbo kept in the game. He's missing having him by his side right now.'

Frodo giggled and looked mischievous as he ran off to Fíli and Kíli again.

'Bofur!' Bilbo hissed, again shocked at his friend's candid remarks. Yes, alright, he was completely head-over-heels in love with Thorin but he didn't need - or want - Bofur teasing him like that. But Bofur just raised an eyebrow and said nothing, the small smirk on his face saying everything his silence didn't. Bilbo crossed his arms and fully intended to sulk at his friend, before a loud cheer erupted and Thorin was stepping back from the circle, acknowledging the fact he'd dropped the parcel, which left only Dori and Dís vying with each other for the parcel.

All half-formed plans to sulk were of course put paid to when Thorin took the seat next to Bilbo, filling up the sofa and by necessity sitting so close they were almost touching. Bilbo tensed slightly and scowled at the innocent grin that Bofur was shooting in his direction - the hatted dwarf was practically waggling his eyebrows and Bilbo coughed in indignation and embarrassment, which only worsened when Thorin reached out to pat him on the back. Bilbo must have been as bright as a holly berry after that, and he could hardly look at Thorin afterwards so busied himself with picking at his fingernails. He didn't miss the suspicious look Thorin shot at Bofur over his head, however.

A loud cheer interrupted Bilbo's intense study of his nails as Dís stood triumphantly before bestowing a hug on Dori. When the others realised there was a winner they all began to cheer and clap, Fíli and Kíli wooping especially loudly, and Thorin just muttered into Bilbo's ear, 'I told you she was fearsome,' and giving him a small lopsided smile before turning to his sister and cheering.

Dori handed her the parcel (now slightly squashed) and she opened the many layers (Bilbo supposed you'd need a fair number of wrappings to protect whatever the prize was after the bashing it had just received) to reveal a fruit cake, admittedly slightly misshapen, but Glóin assured her it was only the finest and made using his great-great-grandmother's secret recipe, and Dís looked chuffed with it.

After that Bombur, Bofur, Bifur, Óin and Glóin all left to go and spend time with their wives and children/nieces and nephews, reducing the number of the present company dramatically. Not that it mattered, as soon Frodo was piping up about Tig and how they should play that. Bilbo knew why his nephew had chosen that game - it was particularly difficult for those who had not grown up with it as hobbits had to fully understand it and Bilbo knew Frodo was looking forward to showing off just a little.

Obviously this was unknown to the others so they all agreed cheerfully, settling back down in a circle. Bilbo was sandwiched between Frodo and Thorin and he could feel Thorin's leg pressed up against his own in a truly distracting manner.

Frodo began to explain the rules, which caused many a brow to knit in consternation as the dwarves all tried to understand, and then the game started. Frodo was very patient as the dwarves struggled with how many tigs to a tog and when you could tag and the special case of the tug, and Bilbo just focused on the game and forced himself not to shiver every time Thorin touched him, which was rather often in this game as they tapped one another's palm as they spoke.

Eventually it was only Ori, Bilbo and Frodo who were left, a tense battle of tigs and tags taking place. Bilbo could feel Thorin leaning over his shoulder and the warmth the dwarf emanated on his back, surely making him blush. At this rate all the blood in Bilbo's body was in his face and he wondered if it was abandoning the rest of his body to settle in his cheeks purely out of spite. He sighed.

Ori didn't win but he put up a good fight, and Frodo did manage to outwit his uncle, much to his delight and Bilbo's pride at his sharp little nephew. So he had inherited the Baggins shrewdness along with the Brandybuck outgoingness; Drogo would be so proud if he could see his son now.

They had spent a long time playing games so it was then time for a quick lunch. Sandwiches and cakes were brought in and Bilbo ate happily, even with Thorin's warm bulk beside him making him want to lean into that warmth.

'I apologise for the small portions,' Thorin said suddenly, breaking into Bilbo's thoughts. 'But there's the feast tonight and I promise you, you'll want to be hungry for that!'

'Oh! It's fine, really. There's enough for me here, even if we haven't had second breakfast today,' Bilbo grinned. 'Apparently you're singing tonight as well,' he added carefully, glancing up from under his eyelashes at Thorin as he pretended to be engrossed in his sandwich.

'Hm,' Thorin murmured noncommittally. 'Where did you hear that?'

'Oh, just...around, you know,' Bilbo said, hedging. He didn't want to get Fíli and Kíli into trou-

'Did your sources go by the names of Fíli and Kíli, by any chance?' Thorin said in amusement, his eyes piercing Bilbo's.

'They may have done,' Bilbo said sheepishly, and Thorin just grinned.

'Don't worry, it's no huge secret. The King sings at the Solstice Festival every year,' Thorin explained. 'Even during our exile we kept up the tradition, so I've had plenty of practice.' He gave a wry smile. 'I'm glad you're here to share it with me this year, Bilbo. With - with us.'

Bilbo felt a surge of fondness. 'As am I, Thorin,' he said quietly, and smiled. Thorin's answering smile was warm and Bilbo's stomach fluttered so he quickly returned to his plate.

When lunch was over they all settled onto the sofas in the room and there was a pleasant moment of quiet for a while, Frodo leaning against Bilbo.

'I wonder if it snowed at home, Uncle,' the boy said.

'It might have done, but perhaps it won't for a week or two,' Bilbo said, playing with Frodo's curls. 'I just hope my garden's alright!'

They sat for a while longer and then Thorin stood up and retrieved a book from the large bookcase by the fireplace. It was incredibly old and well-thumbed but in good condition otherwise, and it was huge - at least a thousand pages long. Ori was looking at it longingly and fondly - Bilbo knew Ori's penchant for old scripts - and Thorin handled it reverently, those large powerful hands so gentle in their movements.

'It's time for the Solstice story,' Dori explained as Thorin leafed through the book until he got to the correct page. 'It tells the story of the dwarves.'

And then Thorin began to read.

His voice was already enchanting when he spoke normally, so deep and powerful and attractive, and his singing was other-worldly in its haunting beauty. But Thorin Oakenshield's reading was simply mesmerising. There were no words which could describe the lilt of his voice, the deep timbre and perfect enunciation. Bilbo supposed it was a result of his training as a prince, but it was still enough to send shivers down his spine as he spoke of Mahal the Maker forging the first Seven Fathers in secret, the long sleep they were put under when Mahal was found out and then the joyful day when Mahal woke up his sons and the dwarves came to be in the world on the day of the winter Solstice. It was like nothing Bilbo had ever experienced and he was left breathless by it, as he was by so much about Thorin.

What made it even more intense was the way that Thorin would sometimes look up at his audience as he read and more often than not his gaze met Bilbo's (if Bilbo was truthful, he didn't think he'd looked away once) and Bilbo's heart faltered. Every time it did so it hurt a little more at the fruitlessness of this...this silly crush (Bilbo knew it was more, and that even if he didn't know it Thorin held his heart in the palm of his hand) but then the simple pleasure he got from merely being in the dwarf's presence was enough.

All too soon yet at the same time it felt like hours later, Thorin finished; closing the book gently with a little sigh. There was silence as everyone seemed to wake up from the almost trance-like state Thorin had put them all in, and Bilbo was uncertain of the protocol required here. No one was clapping so he refrained too, but he felt like he needed to do something to acknowledge how amazing it had been. So he settled for simply smiling the biggest smile he could when Thorin looked at him after putting the book away.

Thorin returned the smile and he walked over to Bilbo. 'Did you enjoy it?'

'I - Thorin, that was amazing. Of course I enjoyed it.'

Thorin laughed then, a small laugh but filled with such happiness it made Bilbo feel all warm inside.

'Thank you, Bahèl,' he said, and he pressed his forehead to Bilbo's just for a moment but it was long enough that Bilbo's legs turned to jelly beneath him. Especially when paired with Thorin's words - Bilbo had picked up a little Khuzdûl over the course of their journey and had remembered it; he knew the term Thorin had just used meant friend of all friends. As if Thorin needed to do anything else to make Bilbo even more smitten than he already was!

Bilbo was interrupted from his thoughts by a small knock on the door and then a maid entered. 'Your Highness, it's beginning to grow dark outside. Everything is set up ready for you in the market and the gate is prepared.' She gave a curtsey and Thorin nodded at her and she left. Thorin looked around at the Company.

'We need to be ready in half an hour,' he said. ' Meet back here in half an hour's time. Be sure to tell the others.' The other dwarves quickly dispersed and Thorin turned to Bilbo and Frodo. 'You need to change into your best clothes and meet back here-'

'-In half an hour, yes,' Bilbo said, smiling. Thorin nodded. Bilbo coaxed Frodo up from the sofa and left the room, heading quickly back to their chamber where he got out their very best clothes.

Bilbo had packed them extra carefully, keeping them as wrinkle free as is possible when they're in a pack saddled to a pony, and they had all been hung up neatly by a servant when they'd arrived so were thankfully in perfect condition.

They both wore a snow white shirt of soft linen and then a fine waistcoat - Frodo's in a festive red, Bilbo's a holly-leaf green - with snowflakes and holly detailing in the silk. The material was shot through with gold thread and the buttons were real gold too; the cuffs on their shirts were embroidered with a flowing pattern of gold. On top Bilbo insisted they wear their new dwarven coats and then, after making sure Frodo's hair was brushed properly, they were ready to go.

They were early, still with five minutes to spare, but they weren't alone as Dori, Ori and a very smart-looking Nori were already there too. Nori looked uncomfortable in his ornate clothing but Bilbo thought that all three of them looked incredibly fetching. The others grinned and Nori said, 'you don't scrub up so bad yerself, Bilbo.'

Dori began fussing over Frodo, straightening his jacket almost obsessive compulsively, but Bilbo knew he just liked to fuss over those he cared about and Frodo bore it with patience.

And then Thorin and Dís and the princes entered, the former in the purple and gold robes that Bilbo had seen yesterday and the latter in suits (and a truly beautiful dress, in Dís' case) of deepest blue velvet and encrusted with gold and diamonds. Of course they looked fabulous, but Bilbo's eyes were only for Thorin. The man was just too attractive; Yavanna, no one else even stood a chance just being in the same room as Thorin.

Thankfully the others all arrived very quickly afterwards, Glóin and Bombur with their wives and children which caused no end of commotion as they had to be shepherded around and they chattered loudly until they were sent sharp looks from their mothers. Eventually though all members of the Company were gathered and ready, and they set off down to the centre of the city - the market square.

They heard the noise of the gathered populace long before they saw it, the low rumble of chatter and laughter travelling through the thick rock. Bilbo was holding tight to Frodo's hand and a pleasant curl of anticipation had started to build in his stomach; Frodo was already nearly thrumming with excitement as he gripped Bilbo's hand. When they reached the market Thorin turned off into a smaller corridor with a set of stairs, which they all followed. There was a pageboy at the top of the stairs who bowed low to Thorin, who said a few words in Khuzdûl to him and he scampered through the door behind him.

Bilbo heard silence fall outside as the page stepped out and then he spoke a few words; while Bilbo didn't understand it all, he recognised Thorin's name being called and then a haunting set of notes were played. Before Thorin stepped out he sent a warm smile to Bilbo, reassuring him, and then he went out.

The noise as the people cheered was deafening and it made Bilbo happy to know that Thorin was so popular with his people. He heard Thorin shouting out in Khuzdûl once the cheering had died down again, and then it was their turn to move, Dís laying a hand on his shoulder and leading him and Frodo through the door, the rest of the Company following.

They stepped out on to a large balcony, overlooking the crowds, with a set of stairs on one side which was blocked off by guards at the bottom to stop people coming up. Dís and Fíli and Kíli stood close to his side while the others arranged themselves around the balcony, but before Bilbo could go and stand and seek comfort at Bofur's side Thorin had placed a hand on his shoulder and drawn him to the front next to him.

Bilbo's clasp on Frodo's hand tightened infinitesimally and the lad returned it with a small squeeze of his own as the two stood at the front of the balcony, Bilbo pulled close to Thorin's side in a way that made Bilbo's heart pound and Frodo just looking absolutely chuffed at the whole thing.

Thorin continued to speak in Khuzdûl, the people below listening attentively, and Bilbo heard his and Frodo's names being said in the stream of harshly beautiful-sounding Khuzdûl. And then Thorin stopped; an unlit reed torch was handed to him, along with a small candle of dark blue wax, its little flame casting shadows on his face as he stared into the orange light.

Absolute silence fell; just for a moment it was as if Erebor was empty, it was so quiet. Thorin muttered a couple of words and then he began to sing.

All the singing Bilbo had heard before paled in comparison to this. All the little songs he'd heard Thorin sing over the course of their journey were nothing compared to the deep, haunting but still joyful notes that echoed around the hall. Bilbo felt inexplicable tears begin to well up and he hastily wiped them away, laying a hand on Frodo's head as a source of comfort. As Thorin sang he slowly put the little flame to the oil-dipped reeds and they lit in a whoosh of hot, orange flame before the fire settled and began to burn evenly.

Slowly the others began to join in the song, first Dís and Fíli and Kíli, then the rest of the Company and gradually the whole gathering ofc dwarves below. When the cavernous halls of Erebor were filled with the sounds of hundreds of thousands of voices, Thorin lifted the torch high in front of him and began to walk down the stairs. The rest of the Company and the two hobbits followed, forming a long snaking procession. The people had cleared a path and as they passed the people joined the procession until they were all stood outside in the dark Solstice night, the moon and stars blinking down on them.

The song ended after a while and Thorin climbed up to the Main Gate, the torch still in his hand. He spoke again into the silence that had fallen, his voice strong and loud in the crisp winter air, something about the fire of Durin, and then he put the torch to the large lantern above the gate. When it caught cheers sounded from the crowd and they started to sing again, a jollier sounding tune than before.

Thorin shut the door of the lantern to protect the flame and rejoined the others and the procession back inside began, this time to the huge main hall where a feast was set up.

'Did you like the ceremony?' Thorin asked Bilbo, who was still clutching Frodo's hand tightly, and there was an air of sincerity in his voice underneath the light tone that suggested he really did want to know what Bilbo thought.

'It was unlike anything I've ever experienced,' he said. 'It was... I can't even describe it,' Bilbo admitted, at a loss for words. How could he describe to Thorin the emotion it had evoked in him; the pride that they would share their culture with him, the unbridled joy that Thorin wanted him here with him...the pain of knowing that he was going to have to leave sooner or later and go back to being the strange old bachelor Mr Baggins with only his nephew for company. After what he'd known here, life in the Shire just wasn't the idyllic haven it had been before.

'I hope that's a good thing,' Thorin said, a little uncertain. Bilbo placed a hand on his arm gently.

'It is,' he said simply, and Thorin placed a hand on top of Bilbo's and gave it a gentle squeeze before joining his sister and nephews to lead the procession into the hall.

The feast was as all dwarven meals were - plentiful, rich, with an almost unending supply of ale and mead and mulled wine. Thorin presided over the head of the Table of State and the rest of the Company sat around it, eating and drinking and laughing. Bilbo was next to Bofur and the dwarf kept pouring him another glass of mead or mug of ale and Bilbo felt himself grow slightly tipsy as his head buzzed and he laughed a lot easier. Frodo was next to Ori and the two were deep in discussion of Father Snowbeard, who was the dwarf equivalent of the hobbits' Papa Yule, while Bofur kept teasing Bilbo.

'Do you see Thorin giving me funny looks, Bilbo? He's jealous of me...' Bofur chuckled, leaning close to Bilbo and talking into his ear. Bilbo blushed and sent a quick glance in Thorin's direction and, sure enough, Thorin was looking at Bofur with slightly narrowed eyes but he smiled when he noticed Bilbo looking at him, before taking a long gulp of ale and turning to talk to Dís. 'Look, he's even blushing now...'

'Bofur, please stop...' Bilbo muttered, incredibly embarrassed and yet a traitorous spark of hope lighting his belly which he tried to suppress immediately with a good dose of common sense; but common sense, it seemed, had abandoned Bilbo this evening, or at least been washed away by the copious amounts of ale he'd drunk.

'Alright, alright, I'm jus' sayin',' Bofur grinned, raising his hands in defeat. But it didn't stop him sending Bilbo the odd suggestive glance or pointed look at Thorin. Bilbo was so embarrassed his ears were burning so he focused on his food, decidedly ignoring Bofur and talking around him to discuss the food with Bombur.

At one point Frodo jumped up to go and talk to Fíli and Kíli, and Bilbo was a little concerned by the amount of grins that were exchanged and the mischievous glint in the princes' eyes, but Frodo was calm when he came back and leaned his head on Bilbo's shoulder.

Bilbo began to rake his fingers through the dark curls that were in disarray and after a while Frodo grew gradually heavier against his arm as he grew more tired.

'Are you ready for bed, lad?' Bilbo whispered gently and Frodo nodded, his eyes closed. Bilbo wrapped an arm around him and held him close while he asked Bofur if it would be rude to leave the table to put Frodo to bed. Bofur assured him it wasn't so he woke Frodo and made the lad get up and the two left the Hall, leaving behind the noise and chatter. Bilbo kept his arm around Frodo, although he nearly stumbled when he heard his name called.

'Bilbo?' Bilbo turned to see Thorin looking at him in concern. 'Is everything alright?'

'Oh, yes, Frodo's just tired so I'm putting him to bed.' Bilbo's heart was hammering at being so close to Thorin without thirteen other witnesses, and Frodo looked as if he might drop off at any moment. Thorin's face cleared a little at his words.

'Shall I carry him? He looks nearly dead on his feet,' Thorin offered, and before Bilbo could protest he'd scooped Frodo up and was holding him to his chest. He and Bilbo then began walking, making their way up through the silent halls to their quarters. They didn't talk much, Bilbo out f fear that his alcohol-loosened tongue might betray him by saying something stupid, Thorin out of... Bilbo wasn't sure why Thorin didn't talk, but it wasn't out of character so he didn't wonder why. He did have a look of concentration on his face, however, which Bilbo did wonder about. Had Frodo eaten that much...?

They reached Bilbo's rooms and Bilbo opened the doors for Thorin, pulling the covers back on the bed so Thorin could put Frodo down among the furs and blankets. Bilbo sat on the edge of the bed next to his sleeping nephew and tucked him in gently.

'I'll get him changed later on,' Bilbo said, more to fill the silence than because Thorin needed to know. 'I'll have to make him go to the privy as well...' he quickly shut up then as Thorin really didn't need to know that.

He quickly pressed a kiss to Frodo's head and stood up - a little too hastily perhaps, as he swayed a bit and Thorin caught him, his hand causing sparks to shoot up Bilbo's arm and settle in his stomach. He thanked Thorin and muttered that they should move to the ante-chamber so as not to wake Frodo up, and Thorin still didn't say anything but just nodded and held the door open for Bilbo.

They stood there a little awkwardly, Bilbo not having a clue what to say now that he really was alone with Thorin, who had a slight frown on his face as he regarded Bilbo. Bilbo's throat was suddenly dry and he swallowed and licked his lips, and jumped when Thorin let out a small huff.

'Bilbo, I -' he started, and then stopped and looked at the floor as if it was personally to blame for his awkwardness. 'Bilbo, there's a... A tradition at the Solstice that the one thing you really wish for, if it's at all possible, should be granted. I... I wonder if there's anything, anything at all, that I can grant you?'

Bilbo's breath stopped and he had to remember to actually breathe, in and out... Of course there was one thing he wanted with all his heart, that he'd wanted for six whole years, but of course he couldn't ask Thorin for that. He couldn't ask for what he wanted, no matter how deeply he wished for it.

'I...' he cleared his throat. 'I don't believe there is anything, no,' he said, not letting his sadness show in his voice.

Thorin frowned slightly but stepped closer to Bilbo, whose breath hitched and he coughed to cover it up.

'I will admit,' Thorin said, 'there's one thing that I have wished for. I've wished it for so long-' his voice cracked and he took a deep breath before carrying on. Bilbo's heart was pounding as if it would jump right out of his ribcage when Thorin took another step closer. 'You're the only one who could grant me it, Bilbo.'

He was so close to Bilbo now, so close their breath was mingling.

'W - what is it?' he whispered.

'You,' Thorin said, and then ever so gently he pressed his lips to Bilbo's.

Bilbo froze in shock, but when his brain caught up he immediately returned the kiss, growing more sure as Thorin wrapped his arms around Bilbo's waist and let out a little moan. Bilbo smiled against his lips and reached up to touch Thorin's hair, his fingers twisting in the dark locks.

He'd dreamed of this for so long, for six long years and now all his barriers were broken down and his love and his pent-up desire was pouring out of him after that one gentle kiss from Thorin.

Suddenly they both froze, jumping apart at the noise of the door clicking. They turned, expecting to see someone there but there was no one. The room was empty of anyone other than them. They both relaxed again, Bilbo blushing now after the intensity of his feelings, but then a small laugh sounded from outside.

It sounded suspiciously like Fíli and Kíli.

Thorin took Bilbo's hand and curled his hand around it, holding it tightly and drawing Bilbo close to him as he walked to the door and twisted the door handle, pulling on it -

But it didn't open. It was locked, and when Thorin pulled on it again, trying to open it, the laughs from outside grew louder. It was definitely Fíli and Kíli

'Boys!' Thorin shouted through the door. 'Open the door!'

'Hello, Uncle! Or should we say, "Uncles"?' That was Kíli.

'Boys...' Thorin growled. 'I'll tell your mother about this if you don't open this door right now!'

'Ah, I doubt that'll have the consequence you'd be hoping for...' Fíli said through the door.

'She may have been the one to set this up...' Kíli added thoughtfully.

Thorin leaned his head against the door. 'Boys,' he growled, and Bilbo tightened his hold on Thorin's arm and leaned into him. 'If you don't open this door, you won't get your Solstice presents...'

One of the boys coughed thoughtfully. 'Erm. About that...'

'We might have already found them...'

'Last week when we came to look for you...'

'And Nori may have seen us...?'

Thorin growled again.

'Now, Uncle Thorin, you're staying in there until you and Uncle Bilbo have...sorted things out.'

'I'm sure you know what we mean by that, uncle Bilbo...'

Bilbo blushed and Thorin gave a final pound on the door and growled that his nephews were going to be in serious trouble when he got out before turning back to Bilbo and capturing his lips in a passionate kiss once again, leaving Bilbo breathless when they finally parted.

'Your nephews are terrors,' Bilbo murmured, carding his fingers through Thorin's beard.

Thorin pressed his forehead to Bilbo's and looked at him, his eyes so full of love that Bilbo couldn't quite believe that gaze was directed at him.

'They're your nephews now too,' Thorin murmured, his voice so sensuous and full of desire that Bilbo shivered.

'You mean that?' Bilbo asked, hands pausing from stroking Thorin's beard - which was as prickly as he'd imagined so many times before, but so much softer at the same time - and looking up at Thorin.

Thorin smiled and kissed him again. 'Of course. And I keep my word.'

Bilbo flushed in pleasure at hearing those words and lost himself in Thorin's soft lips again. The feel of Thorin's kisses was making him giddy and with the mead he'd consumed he swayed slightly when Thorin released him. He laughed lightly and Thorin immediately tightened his grip on Bilbo's waist again and nosed his ear.

'I - I think I need to lie down,' Bilbo admitted to Thorin's chest and then let out an ungainly squawk when Thorin picked him up and started carrying him to the bedroom.

'Thorin!' he laughed. 'We can't-'

'Bilbo, don't worry,' he said, smiling into Bilbo's curls. 'We've got the rest of our lives for that...'

Bilbo just wrapped his arms around Thorin's neck and sighed happily. Frodo had moved around on the bed and was sprawled across the middle of it, breathing softly as he slept.

Thorin looked at him fondly and Bilbo smiled, his nephew and his love together and he thought he might simply explode in happiness at the surge of love flowing through his veins so fiercely and furiously. He lay down, flopping next to Frodo and taking hold of the lad's hand.

'He's your nephew now too,' he said softly, and Thorin smiled so happily that Bilbo laughed. Frodo suddenly stirred and woke, blinking blearily.

'Hey, Frodo,' Bilbo breathed softly and stroked his curls. Frodo noticed Thorin sitting next to Bilbo and a huge smile appeared on his face.

'Stay,' he commanded, and Thorin chuckled lightly.

'I'm not going anywhere,' he said, and Frodo smiled in a satisfied manner before closing his eyes and falling back asleep. Thorin lay down on the other side of the bed when Bilbo tugged at his arm, catching Bilbo's hand and holding onto it, their arms resting over Frodo's sleeping body. Bilbo lay, happily looking into Thorin's eyes over Frodo's mop of hair and thinking that this, this is what he'd been dreaming of for six lonely years. His heart had never felt so full, and when Thorin began stroking careful circles on his palm with his thumb Bilbo smiled as he closed his eyes and fell asleep, feeling happier than he had done in years.

When Frodo felt Thorin and his uncle holding hands as they lay on either side of him, he thought that Papa Yule had indeed been very generous this year. He was happy, his uncle was happy... It was the best Yule ever.

Funnily enough, Bilbo and Thorin quite agreed.

Finis

A/N: I hope you enenjoyed! Thank you all so much for the reviews, favourites and follows - I appreciate it so very much :3 Please do let me know what you thought of this story because I'd love to know :D :D

Finally, my dear DancingChestnut - I hope you liked your present :')