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     Fili sat against the cold stone wall, his baby brother asleep in his arms. Tear tracks were on his beardless face, and his eyes were red. He looked down at Kili and held him closer. He quickly wiped a tear from his cheek when he heard someone coming his way. It was Uncle Thorin.

      "Fili, are you alright?" Thorin asked softly, sitting down beside his five-year-old nephew.

      Fili slowly nodded. "I h-have to be strong for- for Mommy." He held back a sob and another tear slid down his cheek.

      Thorin pulled Fili close and wiped away his tear. "Stop your crying; it'll be alright."

      Fili sniffed and nodded. The two remained in a silent embrace before Fili whispered, "Kili will never know what it's like to have a father."

      "Not if I have a say in it." Thorin gently said. "I may only be an uncle, but I promise you this; I will love and protect you as if you were my own sons."

      Fili looked up at his uncle. "Promise?"

      "I swear to Durin. If by my life or death I can protect you, I will."

      Fili leaned his head against Thorin's chest and closed his eyes. Within minutes he was sound asleep, he and Kili breathing in rhythm. Thorin, not wanting to wake either of them, fell asleep right where he was.

      Later that evening Dis, not knowing where her sons were, had Balin, Bofur, Dori, Nori, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Bifur and Bombur help her look for them. After a few minutes they found the young princes. Kili was sound asleep in Fili's arms, and Fili was sound asleep in Thorin's arms.

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     Thorin woke up at dawn the next morning. He looked down at Fili, still sleeping in his arms, and smiled. Noticing Kili was gone, he looked up, starting to panic, but relaxed when he saw Dis standing a few feet away with a sleeping baby in her arms.

     "Don't panic, Thorin." She said with a chuckle. "Kili's right here.

     Thorin smiled, then grimaced. "My back is killing me."

     "Well, when you sleep against a stone wall all night..."

     Thorin looked his sister in the eye. "How are you doing?"

     "I'm fine." Dis said hesitantly with a saddened expression.

     Thorin raised his eyebrows at her. "No, you're not."

     Dis's lip quivered and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I-I wish it didn't hurt so much. I w- I wish Dili was still here."

     Thorin gently repositioned Fili, who stirred a little, and patted the floor beside him. "Come here, Sis."

     Dis sat down beside her older brother an leaned her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. "Grandfather's dead, Father's missing, and now my husband. Kili will never get to meet his father, and Fili was brokenhearted last night."

     Thorin kissed Dis on the cheek. "Kili may never get to meet his father, but I'll be as much a father as I can to your boys."

     Dis smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Thorin. They need a father figure in their life."

     "Doesn't everyone? Durin knows where I'd be without one." Thorin shot Dis a playful glare. "Not a word, Sis."

     Dis pointed at herself. "Who? Me? Now, why would I say anything?"

     The two of them laughed, accidentally waking Fili up. "Is it morning?" He mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

     "Yes, it's morning." Dis said.

     "Are you alright Fili?" Thorin asked.

     "I think so." The young prince answered. "I still feel a little sad."

     "I know, Fili." Dis said. "I do too."

     "I know how to make you feel better." Thorin said, looking from Fili to Dis.

     Dis and Fili gave him a questioning look. "How, Uncle?"

     "By doing this." Thorin grabbed his nephews side and began tickling him.

     Fili burst into a fit of laughter and kicked. He tried to push his uncle's hands away, but it was no use. "Uncle, stop! Stop!"

     Thorin continued tickling the helpless little Dwarf, who had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard.

     "My sides! They hurt now! Uncle, stop; please!" Fili begged, still laughing.

     Thorin stopped and set Fili in his lap. The Dwarfling breathed in deeply, trying to catch his breath. He looked up at his uncle with a huge smile as he motioned for Thorin to lower his head so he could whisper in his ear. Thorin complied.

     "Tickle Mommy! She needs tickled too!"

     Thorin laughed and set Fili down. He took Kili from Dis and put him in Fili's arms before he grinned mischievously at her. Dis gave him a questioning look, then widened her eyes when she realized what was about to happen.

     She stood up and backed away as Thorin followed after her. "Thorin, no! No!"

     Thorin ran after her as she bolted. He grabbed her by the wrist and began tickling her sides. Dis dropped to her knees, trying to avoid Thorin's tickling fingers. "Thorin!" She said as she laughed. "Stop, stop! Show mercy, please!"

     "Never!" Thorin said with a smirk. "Hey, Fili! Where is Mommy most ticklish?"

     "Fili, don't you dare tell him!"

     "Her feet! Her feet!" Fili exclaimed.

     Dis let out a playful scream as Thorin began tickling her feet. "Thorin!"

     Thorin finally stopped and Dis gasped for air. When Thorin turned around, she gave a mock-evil grin. She got up and jumped on Thorin, wrapping her arms around his neck.

     "I got you now!" She exclaimed.

     Thorin's eyes widened in surprise. "You are heavier than you used to be."

     "Well, I did just give birth yesterday Beards-For-Brains." She looked over at Fili. "Fili! Put Kili in his crib and come help Mommy!"

     With a grin, Fili quickly but carefully rushed to his room, laid Kili in his crib, and hurried back out to where his uncle and mother were.

     Dwalin, Balin, Dori, Nori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur all woke to the sound of laughter, which was echoing through the halls. It was man's laughter. They followed the sound and began laughing when they saw the sight before them.

     There was Thorin lying on the floor, in a fit of laughter as Dis and Fili both tickled him. "Stop, stop! Dis! Fili!"

     "Never!" Dis said. "You showed us no mercy; we will show you no mercy!"

     Little Fili was tickling Thorin's feet, and Dis was holding his arms down. As Thorin laughed, Fili laughed along. He'd never seen his uncle laugh this hard in his entire life! Dis and Fili stopped at last, and Thorin lay there gasping for air.

     "Need help up, old man?" Dis laughed, holding out her hand.

     Thorin rolled his eyes, but accepted her offer and grabbed her hand. "You're an annoying little sister, you know that?"

     "And you are the most annoying older brother ever." Dis answered. "But; I couldn't ask for a better brother."

     "And I couldn't ask for a better sister."

     The other Dwarves, who were still standing behind a pillar, watched as Dis picked up Fili and poked him in the ribs. He giggled before he grabbed his mother's face and kissed her cheek. Thorin smiled and wrapped the two in a hug. Yes, they were all going to be just fine.

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