Chapter Text
"Adad, are they here yet?" Frodo asked Thorin, for what felt like the tenth time that day, at least.
Thorin glanced up from where he was seated in a chair in his workshop, mending one of Frodo's old toy carts. Bofur had made it for Frodo's own introduction to the outside world, over nine years ago.
Meeting his son's blue eyes, Thorin shook his head.
"No, dashat. They are not. However, when they do arrive, at least one of them will knock on the door, and then you will know they are here."
Thorin watched Frodo huff while crossing his arms. The latter then blew on the fringe of brunet hair that had fallen over his eyes, after he came to a stop in the middle of the workspace.
Thorin smiled, then trained his gaze back down at what he was meant to be doing. The toy had a wheel or two that needed oiling, before it could be used by Frodo, or anyone else.
Carefully, he repositioned the little dropper he was using to apply oil into the crevices of the wheels and began to work again. However, no sooner than he had managed to remedy the stiffness in one wheel, did Thorin hear a dramatic, elongated sigh. That drew his eyes away from his task, back up to Frodo, again.
Once Frodo realized he had Thorin's attention, the Dwobbit said, "I'm bored."
Thorin raised an eyebrow.
"Have you tried helping your Papa in the kitchen?"
Frodo hopped to and fro, side to side, then said, "I did. He's all done now, so he sent me your way."
Thorin nodded.
He could surmise that might not be the whole truth of it, but rather than trying to discuss that with a child, said, "Come here, then. I think it's time you learn how to grease the wheels of this cart."
Frodo's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Thorin afforded him a smile, then motioned for him to come sit on his lap. Frodo did as he suggested. Soon after, Thorin was instructing his son on what they had discussed.
"That's so simple," Frodo said, when they were through.
Thorin chuckled.
"It can be, yes. Now, here." Thorin held out the toy to Frodo, who grasped it eagerly. "You can play with this, while we wait."
In his hands, Frodo held onto the cart, then spun the newly oiled wheels, and watched them turn. Meanwhile, his little legs swung in between Thorin's, from where Frodo was perched on his right thigh.
Thorin glanced away briefly to place the stoppered dropper back on his workbench behind him, before returning his gaze forward, to watch Frodo once again. The little Dwobbit had been running about their smial, feet pattering across the floor as he could barely contain his glee at the fact that his cousins would soon be there.
Fíli, Kíli and Ori were due any moment. However, they were also toting around a very precious new addition to the family, and the youngest member of the line of Durin; Niri. The pebble was only a handful of years old, and this would be her first time visiting Bag End.
Previously, Frodo had met his cousin beneath the Blue Mountains. The first time had been hours following her birth, while Fíli was resting his hands after being met with the famed 'Ri family strength during Niri's entrance into the world, as Ori had been clasping his hands quite tightly. Frodo had been allowed to stand beside the bed, where Ori laid holding the newly arrived babe. The Dwobbit had been curious, though largely unimpressed soon when he realized Niri was unable to play with him for some time.
After saying hello and babbling a bit to her, only to be met with a steady, brown-eyed stare and then a yawn, Frodo said, "Babies don't do much."
Over the years, Thorin, Frodo, and Bilbo had traveled back and forth to see Niri, as well as Fíli, Kíli, Dís and Ori, as the newest member of their family developed her stone sense. It was important to dwarrow that for the first five years of a dwarf's life, they be kept amidst the rocks they were likely to call home, to become attuned to the way the stones sang.
Niri's most recent fifth birthday had passed, and so for Frodo and Bilbo's own birthdays, they were bringing her to the Shire for her initial trip into the outside world. Frodo was ecstatic, and that was why he had been insistent that a toy he hadn't bothered with for some time, be properly working again. He wished to share the cart with Niri and play with the now walking pebble.
The last visit that they had made for Niri's birthday, she had been confidently making her way around on little legs. Meanwhile, there had been a light dusting of her chestnut beard across her chin, that had not been there at their last visit.
Ori, much like Bilbo with Frodo, read to Niri quite a bit. So, her ability to speak was progressing faster than some pebbles her age. According to Fíli, she chirped and chattered quite a great deal, at home. Though she was shy around those she didn't know or did not see for great lengths of time in between.
In the Blue Mountains, she was never too far from a family member, at least. While one day she might not be an only child, she was for the moment, so that was a good thing for when Ori and Fíli both were busy.
Bilbo cleared his throat, which made Thorin only slightly surprised. Both his husband and their son were quite light on their feet, managing to shock him at how they were able to enter a room without his notice if they were so inclined.
There was an apron on Bilbo, and his face had a bit of flour on his left cheek. Thorin grinned, seeing that.
"I see you've found something to occupy yourself with at last," Bilbo said, to Frodo.
Frodo hopped off of Thorin's leg, then ran towards his Papa. He held up the cart they fixed together, then said, "Adad taught me how to oil the wheels. Now Niri and I can play with this cart."
Bilbo nodded, a smile coming to his face.
"I'm sure your cousin will love that."
Frodo was quiet for only a moment, before he asked, "Do you think Niri will like this toy? It used to be my favorite, but she's," Frodo paused, then said quietly, "different."
Bilbo and Thorin shared a look, then Bilbo came to rest his hands on Frodo's shoulders.
"Everyone is different, lad. You enjoy playing with your carts and toy horses or gallivanting off into the wilds seeking out what we read about in your story books. Meanwhile, your cousin simply enjoys quieter pursuits. There's nothing wrong with that."
Frodo gazed up at Bilbo, and said, "She lines up her toys, rather than making noises with them, like Posey does."
Bilbo sighed.
"Yes. Posey plays that way, and Niri plays another. That is simply how we all are; we each do things in our own way."
Frodo quieted, clearly thinking over what Bilbo had said.
Thorin took that opportunity to add, "Niri may or may not enjoy your cart, but I am sure you two can find something to do with each other, now that she is older, and able to hold a conversation."
Frodo turned and scrunched his nose.
"Not a very long one."
Bilbo snorted.
"At one time, you were the same, Frodo. One day, you two can do more together. For now, you will just have to accept that your cousin is simply too young for certain things."
Frodo sighed.
Thorin said, "You love listening to us read books to you as she does with her own parents. Perhaps you could read to her?"
Frodo turned back towards him again, with bright eyes.
"That's a great idea, Adad. Thank you!"
Soon Frodo was running off, shouting something about going to the library to pick out his favorite books for when Niri arrived.