After a long day of royal obligations, Thorin was more than happy to finally get to spend time with his favorite hobbit. It filled him with a new supply of energy at the mere thought of seeing his beloved husband. It made him feel a bit melancholic that the king got to see his consort so little sometimes, but his kingly duties were important to him and dear, sweet Bilbo was always so understanding, so supportive. It made the time Thorin did get to spend with Bilbo all the more special, showering him with love and attention to make up for being busy.

Thorin met with Bilbo in their private dining room where they have dinner together most nights. Except Saturday nights, those dinners are spent with the rest of the Company, plus Dís and Tauriel. It's their way of keeping in touch with everyone after everything they've been through together to reclaim their home.

Bilbo greets Thorin at the door, pulling him into a kiss, gripping the front of his robes. Thorin's hands find the small of Bilbo's back and the back of his head, fingers threading through coppery curls.

"Missed you today." Bilbo sighed against Thorin's lips.

"Missed you more, my treasure." Thorin replied, pulling away enough to look at his love's face.

Thorin's smile faltered as he took in Bilbo's slightly haggard appearance. The bags under his red and watery eyes, the faint paleness of his skin, and the redness of his nose that look rubbed raw, none of it sat right with the dwarf.

"Dearest, are you alright? You look tired." Thorin asked, concerned.

"Me? Tired? Thorin, have you looked in a mirror lately?" Bilbo snorted, waving a hand dismissively.

Bilbo was deflecting, he only does something like that when there is something wrong and he doesn't want anyone to worry.

"Bilbo." Thorin admonished, glaring firmly, yet with no less care, at his husband.

"Ah, fine." Bilbo exhaled, defeated.

"I guess I am feeling a bit run down. But it's nothing to worry about, it's probably just the weather. Hobbits don't do well in the cold, it's why we live in the ground." he told the worried dwarf.

A tickling sensation comes upon Bilbo's nose, causing him to hastily pull out his handkerchief and sneeze into it.

"Good heavens! My apologies, darling." Bilbo said, sniffing and dabbing at his nose.

As Bilbo was trying to suppress a shiver, Thorin says nothing as he takes off his thick outer robe and drapes it around the hobbit's shoulders.

"Come, amrâlimê, a warm meal ought to help take the chill away." Thorin said, gently guiding Bilbo to their dinner table, his hands placed on Bilbo's back.

"I thought so as well, that's why I made a stew." Bilbo replied, blushing at the special dwarven term of endearment Thorin had used.

Smelling the stew that was a special recipe passed down from Bilbo's paternal grandmother, Thorin remembered how hungry he was. During their meal, they discuss the events of the day, though Bilbo didn't talk as much as he normally would have. Another thing Thorin noticed that was very unlike his husband was that he didn't eat nearly enough of what was typical of him. This confirmed Thorin's suspicion that something was definitively wrong.

"Are you sure you're well? You just seem so unlike yourself." Thorin asked, reaching across the table towards Bilbo's hand.

Bilbo's hand was ice cold and he must have been spacing out because Thorin's touch startled him.

"Hm? D-did you say something, dear?" Bilbo mumbled tiredly, maybe more so disoriented.

"Alright, that's it." Thorin growled out, throwing down his spoon into his empty bowl.

He pushes his chair out with a force that caused a loud scraping sound, then marches determinedly over to Bilbo's chair and throws him over his shoulder like a large sack of flour. He did this with the utmost gentleness and care, of course. Thorin would never dream to handle his beloved so roughly...not unless said beloved gave him permission to do so. Bilbo squeaked out a yelp when he was drawn from his chair.

"Thorin!? W-what the...what are you doing!?" Bilbo sputtered.

"I-I am not really in the mood for--" he stammered sheepishly.

"That's not what this is for." Thorin stated, knowing Bilbo's assumption.

"Well, what is it for, then?" Bilbo asked as he was carried into the hall.

"You're getting a warm bath and then it's straight to bed with you. You're clearly unwell and I intend to see to it that you get a good night's rest to hopefully remedy that." Thorin answered, making his way towards the royal bathing chamber.

Along the way, he commands a guard to run ahead of him and start preparing the bath so that it would be ready when he gets there. By the time Thorin reached the bathing chamber, the bath was filled with steaming water and a touch of lavender and eucalyptus scented bath oils. He sets Bilbo down onto the edge of the large stone tub, then his hands hover over Bilbo's waistcoat, silently asking for permission to strip him of his clothing. Bilbo nods, allowing him to do so.

After each item of clothing is removed, it is folded neatly and set to the side. The only thing left was the robe Thorin had given Bilbo. It was left wrapped around Bilbo's naked body to keep him from freezing while Thorin shed his own clothes. Once Thorin was also naked, he carefully lifts Bilbo into his arms again, not throwing him over his shoulder this time. He steps into the water and sits, positioning Bilbo to lean back against his chest.

Bilbo sighs contently, leaning his head back onto Thorin's shoulder.

"Is the water warm enough for you, my treasured one?" Thorin hummed into Bilbo's hair.

"Yes, darling." Bilbo nodded.

"I....haven't worried you, have I?" he asked, his smile turning to a frown.

"Bilbo, what kind of husband would I be if I didn't worry about your wellbeing?" Thorin replied exasperatedly.

"I worry only because I care. Would you not worry too if our places were switched?" he added, calmer.

"You're right. Though, at least assure me that you aren't overly worried. I don't want to cause you so much stress that'll end up harming you." Bilbo said, turning to have a better look at his husband.

"I assure you, love, I am the appropriate amount of worried. I merely wish to take care of you and make you feel better." Thorin told him, cupping his cheek.

After the bath, Bilbo is already half asleep, and when he was dressed and tucked into bed, sleep finally claimed him completely. Thorin smiles fondly down at his little hobbit sleeping peacefully. Figuring that it would also do himself some good to turn in early like Bilbo, Thorin pulls back the covers and gets into bed. It didn't take long for Thorin to follow Bilbo in sleep with him safely in his arms.

Hopefully by morning, Bilbo will be feeling better.

But, rather unfortunately, Bilbo did not feel better when morning came.

When Bilbo awoke in the morning, or at least what he thought was morning, he felt as if he were thrown down a rocky hill. Every inch of his body ached. And the stuffiness in his nose that went away due to the bath's steam was back with a vengeance. Bilbo could barely breathe through his nose and when he attempted to breathe through his mouth, his breath caught in his throat causing him to cough.

Hands hook under his armpits, helping him to sit up so he can breathe without triggering a coughing fit. Then, one of those same hands is pressed to Bilbo's forehead.

"Bilbo? Are you awake, amrâlimê?" Thorin's voice rumbled softly.

"Thorin? What's happening?" Bilbo croaked, blinking his eyes open.

"You developed a fever during the night. And it's gone down some, but hasn't yet broken." Thorin answered, shifting his hand from Bilbo's forehead to his cheek.

"Dearest, how poorly are you feeling? And please be honest. I need to know what your needs are so I can care for them." he questioned, playing with the marriage braid Bilbo had behind his ear.

Bilbo didn't know how to put into words how he felt, so he, instead, groans.

"That bad, hm?" Thorin replied, frowning sympathetically.

"I'm sorry." Bilbo whimpered, tearing up.

"Don't apologize for being ill, please don't do that." Thorin pleaded.

Sniffling and nodding, Bilbo mumbles an 'okay'. Thorin holds a handkerchief to his nose to help him blow his nose. He also rubbed the hobbit's back as he coughed and hacked.

"You're due for more medicine. Though, I'd prefer to get some food and tea in you first. You skipped quite a few of your hobbity meals while you were sleeping." Thorin said, walking over to the doors of their royal chambers.

He pokes his head out and asks one of the guards standing watch to go to the kitchens and get the Consort of Erebor something to eat and a cup of tea.

"I did? Wait, what time is it?" Bilbo asked, pushing himself to sit up fully on shaky arms.

"A couple hours after midday, I think." Thorin told him, coming back to sit on the edge of the bed.

"What!? Thorin, didn't you have three council meetings today!?" Bilbo replied, frantically.

"Yes. But I decided not to attend any of them today, nor anything else until you're well again." Thorin answered, gently holding Bilbo's hands.

"But, darling, your duties as king are very important to you, dont--" Bilbo began to protest.

"Bilbo!" Thorin interrupted, cupping Bilbo's face with both hands.

The other is stunned into silence by the serious, hard look on his husband's face.

"Yes, my duties as king are important to me, but not more so than my duties as a husband. You will always come first, amrâlimê, always." Thorin declares, bringing their foreheads together and deeply staring into his eyes.

Bilbo's breath hitches, then tears well up in his eyes and his bottom lip wobbles. Then he starts sobbing, with some coughing and wheezing mixed in, he was still sick after all.

"My treasure, why are you crying?" Thorin fretted.

"Because your words are too maudlin and saccharine. I'm in no such state to handle so much adoration." Bilbo wept through a small smile.

He falls into Thorin's chest, burying his face into the crook of the dwarf's neck. Thorin lets out a hearty chuckle, hugging his dear one firmly, resting his cheek on his head.

"I only speak the truth." Thorin said, kissing Bilbo's temple.

The food and tea arrives, specially made by Bombur himself; it was a simple porridge with honey. After Bilbo is finished with his light meal, Thorin gives him more medicine then tucks him back under the covers. He lays a cool cloth onto Bilbo's forehead to help ease his fever. Then he goes in for a kiss on Bilbo's slightly chapped lips.

"No. Don't. I'll get you sick." Bilbo declined, turning his face into his pillow.

But Thorin gives him a kiss anyway, stating that dwarves are of sturdy stock, so he'll be just fine.

A week later, he was, in fact, not 'just fine'.

All throughout one of his council meetings, Thorin kept sniffling and stifling coughs behind his fist. And Balin was at the end of his rope with it all.

"Thorin--" Balin started to say.

"For the last time, I'm not sick." Thorin grunted gruffly.

"Sure, and I'm an elf princess." Dwalin mumbled sarcastically.

Then, when Bilbo and Fíli enter the council room, a smile replaces the stubborn scowl on Thorin's face.

"Bilbo, my beautiful husband, what brings here today?" Thorin greeted.

"I'm here to take your stubborn a** to bed. You. Are. Sick." Bilbo replied, grabbing Thorin by the arm and pulling him to his feet.

"But, I have another meeting in a few minutes." Thorin protested.

"Worry not, Uncle, I shall act on your behalf." Fíli said taking a seat in Thorin's chair, leaning back in it and propping his feet onto the table.

"Get yer feet off the d*mn table, boy! Were you raised in a f**king barn!?" Dwalin scolded, smacking Fíli's boot.

Fíli puts his feet down, sitting properly in the chair.

"I'm okay enough to sit through a simple meeting." Thorin said.

"No you are not! You look dead on your feet." Bilbo argued.

"How do you expect to fulfill your duties if you don't first take care of yourself?" he asked, his hands on his hips.

Thorin sags in defeat, unable to come up with something to counter Bilbo's point.

"You see? Now, come along, off to bed with you." Bilbo said, taking the king's hand and pulling him to follow.

"Rest well, Uncle!" Fíli called out a the two of them left the council room.

When they get to their room, Bilbo gently pushes Thorin to sit on the bed. Next, he dresses him in comfortable sleepwear and lovingly orders him to lay down under the covers.

"Now, I do believe it is my turn to fulfill my duties as a husband, don't you agree?" Bilbo tutted as he smoothed out the covers over Thorin's chest.

And Thorin, well, he just couldn't help but to relent to his hobbit who was right, like he is oftenly.