Happy Accidents

Credit to Fantasyinallforms

Summary:

Dis has dragged Thorin to a plant and sip outing with her and the boys for their birthday. Thorin isn't any good with plants but reluctantly goes anyway and finds himself pleasantly enchanted by the shop's owner. His black thumb and wandering mind cause him to make a fool of himself, and it might just be the best thing that has ever happened to him.

Chapter One : Falling For You

There were many things you could say about Dis Durin. Chief among them was that she loved her boys with her entire being. She especially loved spoiling them whenever the occasion arrived, and this week there was an occasion. It was Fili and Kili's 11th birthday, and Dis had a small catalog in front of her filled with places she could take them. The boys sat on either side of her, eagerly throwing their opinions into the mix.

"Thorin! What do you think of this one?" Dis called to him as he walked inside from his shop. Thorin peered over the table to read what she was pointing at.

"Plant and sip? Isn't that where you build terrariums and sip on wine? You might be about ten years too early for that one, sis."

"They have non-alcoholic parties." Dis rolled her eyes. "What do you think, boys? You get to build a terrarium for a cactus or succulent." Yells of excitement flooded the house for the next few moments as Dis got a clear answer to her inquiry.

"Alright, we're going next Saturday at 2pm. Thorin, make sure you're free." Dis commanded matter of factly. Thorin put down the cup of water he was drinking to cock an eye at his sister.

"What makes you think I'm going? I have a black thumb. I'm good at building things, not growing them."

"It's not about being good at it! The boys want to spend more time with you. Do it for them" As if on queue Fili and Kili abandoned their excited conversation about cacti and rushed Thorin's legs.

"Please, uncle! Please, please, please! It's really hard to kill a cactus!" The boys refused to stop hopping around his legs until he eventually gave in.

"Fine! I'll go!" Thorin shouted, running his hands through his hair in defeat. He glared and rolled his eyes at the pleased self-satisfied smile Dis was now sporting.

A week later, he was pulling up to a barn-style building with a wooden sign hanging from it called 'The Sipping Plant. To the right of the building was a long greenhouse. It was a locally owned place, not a chain. That actually made Thorin a little happier. Being a small business owner himself, he understood the struggle. He waited for Dis to arrive, and they all walked in together. The inside had a distinctive boho vibe to it. The front seemed to be a store. There were shelves lined with pots, trinkets, and various plants. As well as some handcrafted wood-based items like birdhouses and pre-made planter kits. An older man wearing overalls and gardening gloves greeted them just inside.

"You must be the Durins! Go ahead and get settled in the back party room, and I'll direct your guests through as they come in. You're expecting 14 people total, correct?" The man asked.

"Yes, 14. Are you the owner?" Dis asked.

"Me? No, no. I just work here. Name is Hamfast Gamgee, but that's a mouthful, so you can call me Gaffer. Owner is Bilbo, and he'll be leading the terrarium building" Gaffer led them to the back room. Beds of plants lined walls, and wide tables with matching wooden benches sat in neat rows facing another table on a raised platform at the front of the room. The room had been decked out in balloons and ribbons, and the chalkboard at the front read 'Happy birthday, Fili and Kili!' in pretty loopy handwriting. Strung between 2 very tall cacti was a banner that said 'WELCOME.'

Dis sat them all at the front middle table, and they waited. Soon the room was filled with Fili and Kili's friends and a few parents. The room was a buzz with voices, and Thorin was wondering how this mystery instructor was going to get everyone to quiet down. Just as he thought that, the lights in the room turned off, then turned back on again. The noise died down as everyone looked toward the door. In walked a short man (thought that was relative to Thorin, who was 6'6ft) with curly honey-brown hair. He wore jeans and a ruffled yellow shirt covered by a green gardening apron with large front pockets. He had a round face, an adorable button nose, and his ears were just slightly pointed. His mouth fell open as he watched the man walk across the room and take his position behind the table.

He stopped in front of the chalkboard and surveyed the room before addressing everyone in a pleasant tenor voice. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but he could sware the man's eyes lingered on him just a tad longer than the others in the room.

"Welcome! My name is Bilbo. Raise your hand if it's your first time here." most of the room raised their hands. "Wonderful, thank you for being here. I know this is in celebration of two very special birthdays. So let's start with making sure our birthday boys stand out!" He approached the table they were sitting at and knelt down. "Looks like I have two queen bees today" He handed them a pair of bee antennas. The boys took them hastily and put them on their heads.

"But wait! We're not the queen! Mama would be the queen! Can we be prince bees?" Kili asked excitedly. Bilbo looked at Dis, who seemed a little flustered but gave a small nod. He returned to the table, got another pair of antennas, and handed them over.

"Prince bees and their mom, the queen bee it is. But what about your Dad?" Thorin paled immediately

"I'm their uncle, not their dad." Thorin quickly rushed to say. He really wanted this man to know that he was very much not taken. Bilbo nodded and returned to the front. He instructed everyone to get a drink from the coolers in the corners of the room and walked them through the different materials they would be working with. They each chose a pot and two succulents from the plant beds Bilbo pointed to. When they sat back down, Bilbo laid out rocks, a bucket of soil, and some decorations at each table. The rest of what Bilbo said was lost to him. Enchanted, he watched small, nimble hands dirty themselves in the soil and expertly transplant the succulent from the temporary pot it was in into the more permanent one in front of him. How could a person be this cute?

"Alright, now it's your turn. I'll walk around if anyone needs any help." Bilbo announced. Shit. He hadn't been paying attention to the actual words the man had been saying. He grabbed the little trowel in front of him and layered a big scoop into his pot. Before he could start taking the nursery pot off his succulent, Bilbo picked up his pot and dumped out the soil.

"It looks like you might have missed a step. Rocks first for drainage, then soil." Thorin failed to keep the blush off his face as he corrected his mistake. Eventually, they made it to the final decoration stage. They were instructed to decorate their pots and soil however they wanted. The boys seemed to be having a blast decorating theirs with little plastic dinosaurs and spaceships. The artist in Thorin liked this part a lot himself, although he was going for a less busy aesthetic than his nephews. He was deep in concentration when he heard a stool pull up beside him. Sitting on the stool, Bilbo was at eye level with him. From a distance had thought the man had brown or maybe even dark blue eyes, but now that he had a good look at his face, he saw that his eyes were, in fact, a deep shade of green. Deeper than emerald but far more mesmerizing.

"That looks amazing! Most of my adult clients are usually pretty tipsy by this point in the process. Is that a crow?" Bilbo asked enthusiastically.

"It's a Raven. I've always really liked ravens." Thorin replied sheepishly.

"As you should! They're smart, beautiful birds and more helpful in a garden than you would think. It's very detailed. I wish I could draw half as well as you." Bilbo giggled, and Thorin couldn't help but smile at the sound of it. He felt like a kid that got the attention of his crush, and he didn't want to lose it."

"I'm good with my hands!.... I mean, it's my profession using my hands... Building things! I build things. Mostly out of metal but also wood. So you could say I have a lot of practice being creative." He wanted to bury his head in his hands in embarrassment. Luckily he was rescued from his torment by another table asking for help.

"You should get his number after this!" Dis hissed in his ear, causing him to jump. Thorin shot her a slightly incredulous look. "I've known you my entire life. I can tell when you get heart eyes for someone, and you practically ogled the man on his way into the room."

"Chances are he's not even gay!" Thorin hissed back

"I forgot your gaydar is hopelessly broken. There are two pride flags in this room, Thorin. Which means if he's not gay, which I would bet money he is, he at least won't take offense to the question." Thorin looked around the room to find the flags he clearly missed. One was sitting right on the desk in front of him, nestled in a jar of sharpies. The other took him longer to find, and it wasn't until he looked back at Bllbo that he saw the flag pinned clear as day to his apron. Well, it wasn't sure proof, but it definitely boded well.

It had been a few years since he had tried his hand at the dating pool. He valued his space and his solitude and wasn't willing to give that up for just anyone. One look at Bilbo, though, and he was considering it. Surely he was being silly. He had met this man an hour ago, but something about him radiated like sunshine through thunderclouds, and it made him want to try.

The formal part of the party ended, and the room was left to them for cake-cutting and unwrapping gifts. The boys were over the moon with all of it. Thorin was particularly happy with their reactions to the wooden swords he made and painted for them. Soon after the last package was unwrapped, guests started filtering out until, finally, it was just Dis, the boys, and himself. He took the antennas off the boy's heads and whispered to his sister.

"You get the boys home. I'm going to hang back for a moment." Dis's face lit up, and she pushed his nephews out of the door, sparing him a wink before she left. He wrestled his nerves and turned back towards the party room. Bilbo was wiping down the chalkboard and humming an unfamiliar tune. In all his nervousness, Thorin's approach set off an unfortunate chain of events. He went to step onto the raised platform and underestimated the ledge causing him to trip. In an attempt to break his fall, he absent-mindedly grabbed the saguaro cactus standing to the side of the chalkboard. This caused him to jump back in a jolt of pain, again, forgetting the ledge. Thorin fell backward off the raised platform and crashed into a table. The table's legs snapped under the weight of the impact, sending it and him to the floor with a bang.

His head swam for a moment, and there was a light ringing in his ears as the world came back into focus. It was a very pleasant focus as Bilbo's face was now inches from his.

"Mr. Durin, are you ok! Gaffer, help me get him up, then go grab the first aid kit!" He felt his body get pulled into a sitting position, and finally, he fully regained his senses.

"First thing you should know...it was an accident. Second thing is that I will definitely make you a new table," Thorin mumbled, clutching his head. He winced when he realized one of his hands was covered in cactus spines.

"I'm not worried about the table! Do you need me to call an ambulance?" Bilbo fretted. He was kneeling on the floor in front of Thorin, one hand supporting his back and the other resting on his chest.

"No, no, I'm sturdier than I look. I might need help getting these spines out of my hand, though."

"Yes, I can help with that. Here lean on me, and I can help you up." Bilbo braced himself so that Thorin could lean on him instead of his injured hand.

"No offense. Are you sure you can help me up? I'm twice your size."

"I'm stronger than I look, but to be safe, make sure you lean into your other hand." It was a little bit of a struggle, but Bilbo was able to help him stand up and get seated on a proper bench. A short time later, Gaffer came running back in with a first aid kit in hand. Bilbo took it and pulled a chair to him so close that their knees interlocked. He held out his hand, motioning for Thorin to hand his over. When he did, Bilbo took it in a firm but gentle grasp.

"I am so sorry, but this next part will sting a lot, and the pain will likely ache the more spines I take out. Are you sure you wouldn't rather have urgent care do it?" Bilbo met his eyes with a worried expression. Thorin put his hand on Bilbo's knee.

"No, I'm fine. Like I said, I'm sturdy." Thorin enjoyed the little blush that crossed Bilbo's face at the casual touch, but he retracted his hand, not wanting to overstep. Bilbo started plucking the spines out in silence. He wasn't wrong; the more spines came out, the worse it hurt. Sensing his discomfort, Bilbo tried to strike up a casual conversation.

"So, what were you on your way to ask me before all of this happened?" Bilbo asked, still concentrating on his hand.

"I was returning the antennas, and I was going to say thank you. The boys had a lot of fun." He winced as the last of the spines came out. "Is that all of them?" Thorin asked

"No, I have to get the fine hairs out next, then clean it. This next part won't hurt as bad, but it will feel weird. Bilbo pulled out a little jar of glue and coated his hand in it, then placed a few gauze pads over it. "The glue will dry and pull the little spines out. So were you just coming to return the antennas, or did you want to ask me something...else?" Thorin's head snapped up to look a the bashful smile spreading across Bilbo's face.

"Well, I should probably ask for your number. You know, just in case I decide to put my hand through another cactus. You do definitely seem to know what you're doing." Thorin tried to flash a cheesy grin, hoping his attempt at being smooth wasn't as horrible as it sounded in his head. To his delight, Bilbo started laughing.

"I've had a lot of practice bandaging accidental cacti wounds. I've never had someone break a table, however, so I will get to add that to my list of firsts." Bilbo looked him right in the eyes with a sweet smile and ripped the glue-soaked gauze off his hand in one clean motion. Thorin wrenched his hand back in a yelp of pain.

"You said that wasn't going to hurt as much!" Thorin grumbled, rubbing his hand

"I lied, sorry! I needed you to not tense your hand. I'm sure it feels much better now. I just need to clean it with some peroxide, and we're all done." Bilbo gingerly wiped his hand down. When he was done, he gave the back of his hand a little pat and got up. Thorin was sad to see him move away. He was also sad to realize that Bilbo had never actually given him his number. Thorin pulled the car keys out of his pocket and scratched behind his head in a nervous gesture.

"I appreciate the help, and again, I'll make sure you get another table. I guess I should probably head out." He started to turn around for the door when Bilbo called him back.

"Wait! You just crashed into a table; there is no way you should drive home! Y-you could have a concussion or... something. Let me drive your car home, and Gaffer can follow behind us to take me back." He was not about to question getting to spend a little more time with this cactus-loving gardener.

"I live about 30 minutes away so as long as you're sure. My truck is a stick shift. Is that going to be an issue?"

"Not at all! I love driving stick!" Bilbo seemed oblivious to his double entendre, then turned a wonderful shade of scarlet. "I mean, I drive stick all the time! Wait, no I... just give me the keys...." Bilbo swiped the keys from his hand and quickly walked out the door, not making eye contact. Thorin stared after him with a lopsided grin and fond eyes. He had known Bilbo for all of two and a half hours, and he already wanted to kiss the man silly.

The car ride was comfortable. They listened to a few songs off their playlists and then swapped stories about their jobs and hobbies. All too soon, they pulled up to Thorin's house.

"Wow! Your house is way nicer than I thought it would be! Not that I thought it would look bad or anything! It just doesn't match up to the aesthetic I thought you would keep." Bilbo put the car in park and stepped out. Thorin did the same. He walked around to the side of the car Bilbo was standing on to continue the conversation.

"That's because my sister picked the house. Most of what makes me, me is in a workshop around the back. You should see it sometime. I know you do projects of your own I think you'd like it." Thorin hung the second bid for more time together out in the open, hoping Bilbo would take it.

"I think I'd like that," Bilbo replied, blushing. He held his breath as those deep green eyes looked through lases up at him. Bilbo stood comfortably in the shadow of his broad frame and heaven above; he looked like he was meant to fit there. The air hung heavy for a moment before Bilbo rolled up onto his tiptoes and planted a chaste kiss on Thorin's lips. "I have to go but... you should call me!" He felt him slip something into the breast pocket of his flannel shirt, then turn and walk away. He stared in shock as he watched Bilbo's pleasant form disappear into a yellow Volkswagen. When he checked his pocket a moment later, it was a business card for The Sipping Plant with a heart drawn around where Bilbo's number was. 

Chapter Two : Expected Friends In Unexpected Places

    Bilbo got into the car, grinning from ear to ear. His whole body was vibrating with excitement from the bold move he had just made. When he woke up this morning, he had certainly not expected the day to end with him kissing the most gorgeous man he had ever laid eyes on. He wondered how long Thorin would wait before texting him. He didn't wonder for long. Ten minutes down the road and his phone buzzed with an unlisted number.

Thorin: Hey! It's Thorin! Dis told me I'm supposed to wait three days before I text you, but I really didn't want to do that.

Bilbo: I'm glad you didn't! If it's not too soon to say, I'm also glad you tripped and broke my table. Not that I'm glad you got hurt! It's just that it gave me a chance to spend time with you that I might not have otherwise. Does that make sense?

Thorin: Makes perfect sense. And I can say that I'm happy to have made a fool of myself if it ended like it did tonight. I don't think I ever actually fully introduced myself, by the way. I know you probably got my name from the reservation, but it seems silly that I've kissed you but never specifically told you who I am. So, hello. I'm Thorin Durin.

Bilbo: Hello, Thorin Durin. I'm Bilbo Baggins.

Thorin: When is the next time I can see you again?

Bilbo: I'm busy the rest of the week, but I usually spend Sunday in my greenhouse. It's not super eventful, but you could keep me company? Not this Sunday but next Sunday?

Thorin: Keeping you company sounds perfect. I'll bring lunch. Meet you around 1ish?

Bilbo: 1ish is great. I just got back to the shop, and I have to close up. It was wonderful meeting you today. Can I text you more later?

Thorin: You can text me whenever you want, however much you want. Have an easy close-up, Bilbo. I'm glad I met you too.

He walked around the shop in a happy daze. He checked that the cactus had made it out unharmed. Luckily it did. Saguaro cacti were hardy things, after all. He picked up the broken table pieces and leaned them against the wall.

"I'm headed out, Mr. Bilbo. I brought the mail in for ya. See you on Monday." Gaffer called. Bilbo, too, finished up, grabbed the mail from the checkout counter, and locked the front door. Home for him was a simple walk out the back door. The store itself sat on about an acre of land. Most of the storefront and greenhouse were on the front of that acre. The rest was taken up by his personal residence. Home for him was a lovely prefab tiny home with a big circular wooden door he made himself. Next to his house was a big vegetable garden bursting at the seams with life. He stepped inside and started the kettle before settling into his armchair and opening his mail. Most of it was junk with a few bills mixed in. The last piece was a flyer for the Eriador flower festival happening in a few months. He participated just about every year, and it was a good way to drum up business. He casually skimmed the flyer until he saw the text at the bottom.

In an effort to support small businesses after the pandemic, the city of Eriador, sponsored by Acorn & Oak Leaves LLC, will be offering a grant of 25K to the small business with the most sales at the end of the third day of the festival. Please see the website below for more details.

He clutched the flyer to his chest. In the first year of the pandemic, Bilbo had almost been forced to close down forever. His business was not one you could do online, and sales of plant kits or even individual plants were just not enough to keep the lights on. He had made the hard choice of turning to his well-off cousin Otho and his horrid wife Lobelia for a business loan. For the last two years, Lobelia had never let him live down that he was in their debt. The horrid wretch of a woman collects his payments in person every month just so she can sneer at him. The worst part is that if he had to make the choice all over again, he would. He loved his shop, it was his little slice of happiness, and regardless of what Lobelia said, he owed its success to no one.

The week passed much too slowly. Every free moment was spent messaging Thorin. He just couldn't learn enough about him! They kept the conversation light talking about books, movies, and where Thorin should pick up food from on Sunday. Thorin revealed that he worked in construction hence the 'good with his hand's' comments from the day they met. Conversation between the two of them flowed as easily as water.

Thorin: I love my job, but I hate how early I have to wake up.

Bilbo: How early is early?

Thorin: I have to be at the site by 5am, which means waking up at 4am. It's ok, though; it's about to be a lot easier to wake up.

Bilbo: Ouch, that is really early. I'm not usually out of bed till 7am, maybe 7:30am. The shop isn't actually open till 9am. Why is it about to get easier?

Thorin: you'll see. ;)

Bilbo had almost forgotten about the conversation in the bustle of the day, and Thorin never brought it up again in any of their subsequent conversations that afternoon. The next morning dawned, and Bilbo's alarm went off at 7:30am. He silenced it with a groan and saw he had one unread text message.

Thorin: Waking up is easier when you have someone to send Good Morning texts to. Good Morning Bilbo. I hope you have a good day at work. I'll be thinking of you. :)

Bilbo clutched the phone to his chest, grinning like a fool. One thing few people knew about Bilbo was that he was an absolute hopeless romantic at heart. He had mostly given up on the idea of being on the receiving end of that kind of affection himself. Content to be the bachelor plant enthusiast of his family. He was desperately hoping those life assumptions were way off.

The rest of the week finally came to an end, and Bilbo woke a little later than usual to the same good morning text he had received for the last several days, only this time with "see you later today" added to the end. The morning was quiet, and chores helped him keep his eyes off the clock. Finally, around noon he made his way to the greenhouse to get started tending his flowers. Succulents took a very long time to grow, and most of what he used in the shop were succulents he got from third-party vendors. What he held in the greenhouse were his faster-growing flowering plants and his most prized cacti. The ones he had for over 20 years.

It wasn't long before he heard a car pull into the lot. He got a big grin on his face and subconsciously patted down his apron. When he heard the door open, he turned excitedly, and his face dropped immediately. It was Lobelia standing there in a horrid yellow dress with white dots with a much too expensive handbag slung over her shoulder. She stood there with a wrinkled nose, staring disapprovingly at his plants. He checked his phone to confirm he had the date correct.

"You're a day early, Lobelia. What can I do for you?"

"Good afternoon to you too. Otho and I are going on a trip next week, so I'm collecting the payment now. Or are you doing so poorly that you need an extension?" Lobelia held her nose in the air, never actually making eye contact with him.

"I can write you a check now; just stay here and let me grab my checkbook." Bilbo ducked out, frustrated, and wanting to get this over quickly, preferably before Thorin showed up. Right before he stepped back into the greenhouse, he saw a midnight blue pickup truck park in front of the shop. Shit.

"Here's this month's amount. Have a good vacation." Bilbo didn't want to prolong this, and he definitely didn't want to give her any reason to start a conversation. She started one anyway. Just as she was launching into the thick of how grateful heshould be for all her help, the door opened again, and Thorin stuck his head in, looking slightly bewildered. He looked lovely. His long raven-black hair was slightly damp and shimmered under the light. He had trimmed his beard since last week, and it framed his face just right, bringing out that perfectly chiseled jawline. Bilbo sighed, and a lazy smile and subtle blush stole his features.

"Excuse me! Are you listening!" Lobelia snapped her fingers in his face forcing his attention back to her. He saw Thorin step fully into the greenhouse with a very annoyed look on his face. Bilbo met his eyes and, as subtly as he could, shook his head, hoping that he was correctly conveying for him not to engage. It seemed to work, and Thorin nodded and stepped back outside. He watched Thorin's large shadow walk around to the side of the greenhouse Bilbo was on and hover just on the other side of the frosted glass.

For most people seeing that they had an audience to their unfortunate nature would make them consider switching to a more good-natured attitude. Most people.

"You know, Bilbo, I would be more careful with how you spend your time. You're on a running clock. If you can't keep this place up and running by year's end, then you will no longer get to be the owner. And IF we decide not to tear the place down, then you might want to be a little more courteous to your future boss." Bilbo put his hands in his pockets to hide the fact that they were balled tightly into fists. Lobelia turned on a heel and, with her nose in the air, finally walked out.

Bilbo let his shoulders drop. He was exhausted the entire interaction had taken the wind out from under him. Thorin's shadow still lingered on the other side of the glass. He put his back to it and hoped Thorin could hear him.

"I'm so sorry about that. She wasn't supposed to be here till tomorrow." Bilbo signed

"She's the one who should be sorry. Do... do you still want me to keep you company?" Thorin asked.

"Only if that little interaction didn't send you running for the hills." It was meant as a joke, but there was tension in Bilbo's voice. He saw Thorin's shadow move away from the glass, and his heart pulled a little in his chest until he saw the greenhouse door open. Thorin had to duck under the door to enter, and the sight made a giggle bubble up through his chest. He was holding a colorful bouquet of tulips and grinning.

"Why would one silly interaction like that send me running for the hills when I have been waiting to return the gift you gave me all week?" Thorin had a silly smile on his face, but he had lost Bilbo, whose expression was now pleasantly puzzled. Thorin set the flowers on a planting station and, in one smooth motion, gently grabbed Bilbo by the waist and pulled him forward into a passionate kiss. It was so much nicer than the chaste peck he had just barely managed to pull the courage together for last time. Thorin's lips were warm, and his breath tasted like campfire smoke and old leather. He leaned into the kiss, almost desperate for more contact, and chased Thorin's lips when they finally parted.

"That's the best gift I think I've ever received," Bilbo cooed.

"Luckily, it's one I can keep on giving." Thorin kissed the tip of his nose fondly. "I'm sure you're probably hungry. The food is in the back of my truck, and I put some blankets in the bed. I figured we could have a makeshift picnic? Unless you would rather eat inside?"

"No, that sounds wonderful! Let me just get these tulips into some water." Bilbo turned around and unwrapped the plastic on the flowers, immediately throwing away the little flower food packet and using his own. When he stepped outside, Thorin was reaching through his passenger window, giving him a very pleasant view of his rear. When he pulled back, he was holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He set them in the bed of the truck and beckoned Bilbo over. The bed of the truck looked wonderfully comfortable. He had put a foam mattress topper down and thrown a few blankets on top. There was a big spread of food laid out. He could see cheeses, several types of finger sandwiches, some cut-up fruits and veggies, and a tray of sweets. It all looked amazingly well made. At the back of the truck was a narrow table where a toolbox would normally be. It looked like it was built for just this purpose.

"Have you done this before?" Bilbo asked in shock.

"Oh, you mean because of the table in the back? I actually built it a few days ago. I couldn't stop thinking about today." Thorin sported a cheesy grin and scratched the back of his head in what he assumed was a nervous gesture. Bilbo looked to see if there was a step or something he could use to get into the truck and found none.

"Let me help you get in!" Thorin knelt on one knee and offered his hand so that he could use him as a step. His entire body flushed at the gesture. There is just no way this man is single, he thought to himself. They ate and chatted. Thorin didn't ask about what Bilbo was sure he had heard before, and he was grateful for it. After they finished the food and a few glasses of champagne, Bilbo was feeling sufficiently bold. He gathered the leftovers and put them on the narrow table before sliding up to press his body to Thorin's. He was met with a pleasant hum and Thorin's large hands coming up to caress his sides. He was not a very big guy. He was no taller than 5'5 and had been described by people before as 'mousey.' Thorin, by comparison, was a bear. His broad hands practically encompassed the whole of Bilbo's back, and his chest was wide enough that he could press himself to it with plenty of room to spare. They got lost in each other's kisses for a while, content to keep things at an enjoyable simmer. This was a first date, after all. Eventually, they broke apart, and Bilbo rested lazily in Thorin's arms.

"Please tell me you don't have some secret family in the Iron Hills I'm going to find out about in six months." Bilbo blurted out. Thorin was mid-sip of champagne and nearly spit out his drink in a coughing fit. It was a half choke, half laugh, and it caused him to sit up suddenly, ejecting Bilbo from his lap. When he regained the ability to breathe properly, he leveled Bilbo with an amused stare.

"And what exactly gave you the impression I would?" Thorin asked bemused

"I-I don't know; you're just a little too good to be true." Bilbo shrunk where he sat suddenly, very self conscious. Thorin gently grabbed Bilbo's hand and pulled him back to rest against his chest.

"I fear that if the man who almost crushed one of your favorite cacti and broke your table is too good to be true, you might be suffering from incredibly low standards." Bilbo felt the rumble of Thorin's voice echo through his body.

"Are you calling yourself low standard?" Bilbo teased.

"No, I am only saying I started at a disadvantage and have a lot of catching up to do. I can also say that while I have family that lives in the Iron Hills, I do not have a secret family I'm neglecting. I'm afraid my bachelor status can be attributed to being buried in my work and having no real interest in dating. Until now, at least." Thorin pressed a kiss to Bilbo's curls.

As all evenings eventually do, this one came to an end. It was a drawn-out goodbye with lots of little kisses. Eventually, Bilbo stood in his parking lot and watched Thorin's taillights disappear down the road. Despite the presence of arguably his least favorite person, today was one of his favorite days in recent memory. Several weeks passed, and despite talking every day, work and the comings and goings of everyday life stopped them from being able to spend any real time together outside of short meet-ups. Until one happy morning, Bilbo got a text.

Thorin: Good Morning, Sunshine. Your shop is closed on Mondays, right?

Bilbo: Good Morning, and yes, it is?

Thorin: Good! I have a surprise for you. Can you meet me at my place at 11am? I'll send the address.

Bilbo: Sure! I'll see you then!

Bilbo blinked at his phone and then sprang out of bed so he could jump in the shower. Soon enough, he was following his GPS to the house he had dropped Thorin off at that first fateful day. He walked up to the luxurious double doors and didn't even have to knock before the door was flung wide open by an excited Thorin.

"I'm glad you could make it!" Thorin's hands were on either side of his face, and he was pulled into an affectionate kiss. "I know you've met my sister, but she's going to want to say hello formally, then we can head to my shop for the surprise. Is that okay?" Bilbo nodded his head, still a little dazed by the welcome. "Oh, one more thing. Do you mind if I introduce you as my boyfriend?" Bilbo sucked in the air around him in pleasant surprise, then nodded vigorously in approval.

"Yes! Absolutely!" He couldn't keep the giddy smile off his face as Thorin pressed another kiss to his lips.

When Bilbo had seen the house from the street, he had accurately said it didn't look like a place he would choose. The inside felt much the same. While there were elements of Thorin dotted around, it didn't feel like him.

"Hey, Dis! Let me introduce you formally to Bilbo Baggins. My boyfriend." Thorin smiled down at him knowingly.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you again. Hopefully, my brother is treating you well. You should know he hasn't stopped smiling in weeks. It's becoming nauseating." Dis seemed to be taking a lot of enjoyment from the embarrassed look Thorin was sporting. Bilbo found it endearing. A moment later, the two birthday boys, Fili and Kili, came running down the stairs brandishing short wooden swords in some sort of mock battle. They stopped short of his legs and stared widely up at him.

"You're from the flower shop!" Fili observed

"I am, and I remember you and your brother very well. Prince bees. How was your birthday?" Bilbo asked

"It was awesome! We put the pots directly in the sun, just like you said!" Kili was beaming with pride at sharing this fact. Thorin seemed in a rush to move him through meeting his family, so Bilbo wrapped up the conversation and let himself be led out the back door. The backyard was much bigger than he had envisioned. The shed nestled to the right of the big green space was a little bigger than the entirety of his 500 sqft house. It was starting to dawn on him that Thorin might come from some serious money. He pulled him along until he was standing in front of the shed door.

"Okay, close your eyes!" Bilbo did. He heard the door open and felt a heavy hand push into the small of his back, guiding him forward.

"Okay, open!" Bilbo opened his eyes and gasped. He was standing in front of a table with the same dimensions as the one Thorin had broken. This one, however, was far nicer. Instead of flimsy pine, this table was made out of sturdy oak. When he looked closer, he could see that carvings of hanging plants and stretching vines had been burned into the wood, making the darker lines contrast against, the lighter wood finish. When he ran his hands over the designs, they weren't ridged. The top of the table was covered in a thin layer of epoxy, meaning it would be easy to clean and maintain. Thorin had truly thought of everything.

"Do you like it?" Thorin asked. Bilbo realized he had been open mouth staring at the table without saying a word.

"Yes! Thorin this table is amazing! It's so much nicer than the one you broke! You didn't have to go through all this trouble." Thorin slid his hand back around Bilbo's waste and crowded him against the table.

"It doesn't count as trouble if I'm making it for you." Bilbo nearly buckled under the weight of the stare. No one had ever looked at him with so much adoration, it was intoxicating and maybe even dangerous. How long were you supposed to date someone before you realized you were in love? Surely more than a month, one week, and three days? Thorin leaned down and captured his mouth. With Thorin's lips on his, he didn't care. One week, one month, it didn't matter because regardless of propriety, he was in love and falling further every second. Thorin's hand was still cupping the side of his face when they broke apart.

"Hey, wait right here Sunshine, I have one other thing for you that goes with the table, but I left it in the house." Thorin slipped out the door, and Bilbo finally caught his breath. When he collected himself, he let his eyes wander around the rest of the room. This space felt like Thorin. It was organized, and everything had its place. The wall on one side was made of peg board, and all his tools were hung expertly. Even some of the bigger power tools had spots along the wall where shelves had been made for them. The back of the shop seemed to be where unfinished projects lived. A large shelf with dozens of little drawers held different pieces of hardware. Bilbo was admiring some wood carvings, and absent-mindedly leaned into a pulled-down murphy table. The table's weight shifted immediately as the leg went out from under it. The flat part of the table was on a hinge and slapped the wall behind it loudly. Bilbo tumbled over in surprise. He landed hard on his backside, and the table leg fell comically into his lap. The door to the shop opened as Thorin stepped back inside.

"Bilbo?" Thorin called. He walked around to the side of the shop and saw Bilbo on the floor, clutching the table leg in shock and embarrassment.

"I promise you that was an accident!" Bilbo squeaked. Thorin took in the sight and then burst out laughing. He was laughing so hard that he had to clutch the table next to him so as not to double over.

"That was just propping the murphy table up; it wasn't attached. You didn't break anything." He offered his hand so Bilbo could get up.

"What a pair we make." Bilbo jested. Thorin pulled him back towards the front of the shop and stopped in front of his new table. Before he could protest, he lifted him with no effort and sat him on said table.

"I had spare wood from making the table, so I made this too." Thorin held out a fancy wooden sign that read

Step 1: Gravel

Step 2: Soil

Step 3: Transplant Succulent

Step 4: Decorate

~

FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCULENT, DON'T SKIP STEPS!

They were both lost in laughter for a while, enjoying poking fun at the circumstances of their first meeting. When they regained their composure, Thorin braced his hands on the table on either side of Bilbo's thighs and leaned into Bilbo's space.

"I do have one question. I didn't want to ask the day we had the picnic because I didn't want it to spoil the mood, but it's been worrying me. I know you've told me that the woman was your cousin, but what gives her the right to talk to you like that? And why do you let her?"

"That's two questions." Bilbo teased.

"I'm serious!" Thorin was making direct eye contact, determined not to let this drop.

"Okay, fine. I almost went out of business during the pandemic. In order to stay open, I had to take out a loan, but no banks would lend to me at the time, so I had no choice but to turn to my cousin Otho. He loaned me the money, but the stipulation was that if my business didn't make enough to repay the loan after four years, then I'm obligated to sign 51% over to him. He would effectively own The Sipping Plant. My four years is up March of 2024, so a little under one year."

"That's a horrible deal! Why would you sign something like that!" Thorin's brows knit together. He looked genuinely shocked.

"I had no choice! No bank would give me the money, and it was that deal, or I lose everything I spent the better part of two decades working on!" Bilbo hung his head. "Lobelia, his wife, has never liked me. She's thrilled she has something to hold over me. What good does telling her off do?" Bilbo couldn't bring himself to meet Thorin's eyes.

"They tricked you into that deal and took advantage of your misfortune. That was a vile thing for them to do. It reminds me of my grandfather. He started the business my sister, and I now run. He was a greedy bastard who sought profit no matter the cost. I rebuilt the entire company to erase the stain he left. I'm sure you've noticed that I find myself in pretty good financial fortunes. Say the word, and that debt is cleared," Thorin whispered. Bilbo's head shot up.

"What, no! Absolutely not! I will pay off the loan, and it will be on my own terms!"

"Okay, okay!" Thorin chuckled and threw his hands up in defeat. "But I want to help. That woman is horrid. I don't think I could stand there and watch her berate you like that again. Please, Bilbo, let me do something to help?" Thorin ran his fingers down Bilbo's arm and leaned in to press kisses to his neck. The press of his lips and the scratch of his beard sent shockwaves rippling through his body. His mind melted, and he was having a hard time forming words under Thorin's careful ministrations.

"Mmmm Th-Thorin, there ah! Might be o-one way for you to help." Thorin pulled back from his neck to look him in the eyes again. "Are you familiar with the Eriador flower festival?" Thorin's smile nearly tripled in size.

"I am."

"They're giving a cash prize out this year to the booth with the most sales. You're an amazing craftsman. Way better than I am. Do you want to help me build an eye-popping booth?" Bilbo wiggled his nose and cast his eyes up, hopefully. Thorin just continued to smile. He brushed one of the curls out of Bilbo's face.

"Yes, absolutely anything you need, and it's yours, Sunshine. Let's start looking at designs. We only have two months to complete it after all."

"Is two months cutting it close?" Bilbo asked, amused.

"It is for what I have in mind."

~~~~~~~~

All the time they couldn't spend together the previous month was made up for in the following two months of preparation for the festival. Finally, the day came. Bilbo woke up especially early and drove out to the festival grounds to stake out a good spot. Thorin arrived about 30 min later with the pieces of his booth in the back of his truck. Thorin truly didn't do half-measures. The booth was magnificent, if not a little over the top. It was a square structure for ease of transporting, but the front had two expertly painted wooded cactus cutouts built into it. Fairy lights were strung from post to post and all through the interior. Thorin had made custom display shelves for his flower kits and birdhouses and another one, especially for the flower bouquets and succulents. Bilbo had ramped up his product production and added some additional items to sell, like bat boxes, some T-shirts, and plant stands. He was as ready for the day as he was going to be.

"What will you be doing all day?" Bilbo asked after they had gotten the stand fully set up.

"My sister and the boys are here, so I'll spend some time with them and window shop for a little while. Some food booths look good, and I wouldn't mind trying a few games. I'll come back around lunchtime to see what you want to eat, and we can have lunch together. How does that sound?"

"It sounds perfect. They'll start letting people in soon" Bilbo was fidgeting with his apron and bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"You're going to do great, Sunshine. Call me if you need anything." Thorin stepped out of the booth just as the overhead announcer instructed people to make their way through the ticket lines. The first day went beautifully; he had people in and out of his booth so frequently that he didn't end up eating until nearly the end of the day. Thorin had mercifully brought him some greek gyro-style tater tots from a fancy fusion food truck, and he scarfed it down between customers. At the end of the day, one of the admins for the event collected his total items sold paperwork, thanked him for participating, and walked off.

He was feeling confident going into day two. Thorin saw him off in the morning just as he had done the previous day. It wasn't quite as busy as the first day, but he was still slammed during the peak times, and inventory was moving well. He saw almost nothing of Thorin, however. Lunch was approaching, and Bilbo looked into the crowd, hoping to glimpse the top of his ridiculously attractive head. Then his phone dinged.

Thorin: I'm really sorry, Sunshine. I won't be able to make it for lunch today. I had some business stuff come up. I know you'll do amazing. If you get the chance, go to the stand with the giant pineapple. They sell pineapple ice cream and put it in the actual pineapple. It's right up your alley!

Bilbo's heart sank. He was really looking forward to lunch. He didn't end up trying the drink. He was too scared to move from his booth and possibly miss a potential sale. By the time the day ended, the only truck still serving was a hot dog stand. He scarfed down the hotdog and tidied up his booth while waiting for the admin to stop by.

On day three, Bilbo was a bundle of nerves. Thorin had not met him at the booth that morning. He had received a good morning text wishing him good luck and that Thorin promised he would see him by the end of the day. This day proved just as busy as the first day, and thankfully it made the time fly. Because it was the festival's last day, the area was open for an extra hour so they could announce the business grant winner. Bilbo was getting his papers for the admin sorted when Lobilia decided to make a surprise appearance.

"I'm guessing this booth was your latest attempt to keep your head above water?" Lobelia sneered,

"My business is doing fine. I just want to pay off the stupid loan." Bilbo scowled through gritted teeth.

"Oh, now it's a stupid loan? It wasn't so stupid when you came begging my husband for the money. I'm going to enjoy being your boss one day very soon, Bilbo." Lobelia sounded so self-satisfied. All his anger at the situation and his anxiety about still having yet to see Thorin today bubbled to the top.

"You know what, Lobelia, I would rather burn my shop to the ground than let you exact your gaudy pretentious influence over it. You are by far one of the saddest people I have ever met. It's like you were put here to make everyone around you miserable. I genuinely don't know how Otho manages to stay married to someone whose personality is this vile. You should be forced to carry around a potted plant to replace some of the oxygen you waste." Bilbo picked up one of the potted seedlings still on his shelf. "Here, take this and get out of my booth!" Lobelia looked scandalized. She took a step back, her jaw agape. For once in her life, she was at a loss for what to say. Finally, she burst into tears and ran from his booth, still holding the potted plant. A part of Bilbo did feel bad for making her cry, but he would admit that the interaction felt therapeutic. The intercoms announced that the winner would be declared in less than 15 minutes in the festive center. Bilbo made his way, still trying to peak over the top of heads to see where Thorin was. This wasn't like him. Thorin had shown him nothing but overwhelming kindness and love the last few months. Why would he disappear right when Bilbo needed him the most? He got to the announcement just in the nick of time.

"It was a real close one, folks, but the winner is All About Bees!" Bilbo didn't hear the rest of the announcement. He stared at the scoreboard with tears in his eyes. The Sipping Plant sat as the runner-up by less than 10 sales. It had been his one real chance to get out from under that witch, and he failed by less than 10 sales. He walked back to the beautiful booth that Thorin had helped him build with tears streaming down his face and started to pack up. Very shortly after, Thorin came running up from the announcement crowd.

"Bilbo! There you are! I'm so sorry I wasn't able to be around a little more this weekend." He saw the tears streaming down Bilbo's face and reached out to pull him into a hug. "Hey, don't cry; these things have a way of working themselves out. You did amazing this weekend! You sold almost completely out!" He ducked the hug and stood red-faced in the corner of the booth.

"Don't tell me these things have a way of working themselves out! Where were you! I really needed you! I poured my heart into this weekend, and I was so close, but it wasn't enough, and now I get to go into the next year still beholden to that wretch." Bilbo sank to the ground and drew his knees up to his face in an attempt to hide his sobs. Thorin knelt down on the ground in front of him.

"What if I told you you didn't?" Bilbo looked up at Thorin, confused. "What if instead of 25k to the winner, they decided it was such a close tie that they would award 25K to the top two?" Bilbo dried his eyes on the back of his hand and met Thorin's eyes.

"That's a nice sentiment, but that wasn't the deal." Bilbo replied dryly.

"But it can be," Thorin smirked.

"You're not making any sense Thorin"

"Sunshine, did you really not Google me once in the last three months?" He pulled out his phone and tapped it briefly before turning the screen back to Bilbo. It was his LinkedIn profile. Bilbo's eyes skimmed over the stern photo and rested on the words just under company and position. Thorin Durin CEO of Acorn & Oak Leaves LLC

"I'm Acorn & Oak Leaves, and if I say that I'm giving out two checks, then so be it." Thorin smiled widely as he watched comprehension dawn on Bilbo's face.

"Wait, What! No! I can't let you just give me money! You've known me for three months, and that is a LOT of money!" Bilbo was no longer huddled in on himself. He was standing on his knees, his hands balled in the front of Thorin's shirt. Thorin just laughed.

"I'm not just giving it to you. By your own admission, you earned it. Less than a 10-sale difference between you and the other person on that board. I promise it's freely given. You would sign the same contract as the other person. I won't ever ask for it back or for anything in return."

"But what if we don't work out? Wouldn't you regret it then?" Thorin grimaced and sat down fully on the floor. He swept Bilbo's hair back away from his face affectionately and pulled him into his lap.

"I really don't want to think about that possibility." Thorin breathed out a shaky breath and squeezed Bilbo to his chest. "If we do, then I can live happily with the knowledge that there is at least one small business out there that's doing a little better because of me." Bilbo felt the tight grip slacken, and Thorin guided his eye line back to him. "Please let me do this for you? I've seen you work so hard. I can't stand to think that you walk around every day terrified that you might lose your slice of happiness. I love you, and I just want you to be happy." Thorin's confession stunned him into silence. It took him a moment for the weight of the words to settle on his chest, and when they did, he burst into tears for an entirely different reason.

"Thorin, this means everything to me; thank you, thank you! I love you, too, so much! But wait, why did you disappear all weekend?"

"I didn't want people to think I was playing favorites when you won," Thorin revealed.

"But I didn't win... and you changed the rules... so you kind of did play favorites." Bilbo pointed out.

"Yes, but the festival didn't need to know that. Besides, I signed up to sponsor well before meeting you." Thorin huffed.

"So what your saying is that all this was a coincidence?" Bilbo turned his body so he was now straddling Thorin's hips.

"I'd call it a happy accident. We do seem to have a lot of those." Thorin purred.

"Let's hope they never stop."