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Bilbo and Kalin were as different as different could be. They came from two very distinct cultures, and Bilbo found that he liked the way the fiery Dwarf balanced him out. A simple touch of their foreheads or her fingers in his hair had become such an intimate exchange since he learned about Dwarven customs. He had plenty of opportunity to learn about her heritage, what with spending nearly a year traveling with a party of fourteen Dwarves, but felt that she had yet to learn much about his own.Kalin had only been in Hobbiton for two months. Bilbo could tell that the other Hobbits were still adjusting to her presence, though she paid them no mind. Her confidence in such an unfamiliar place still amazed him, even now. Still, he felt it was an appropriate time to teach her one small piece of Hobbit tradition; he planned to give her a handmade bouquet, an offer of courtship in the Shire. He chose the flowers carefully; The bouquet required a red, a yellow, and a white flower each, but the rest was up to his own creation. Traditionally, when someone was given a bouquet by another, they would choose a flower from it to return to the one offering courtship. A red flower if their affections were mutual, a yellow if they preferred friendship, and a white if they needed more time to mull the offer over. Bilbo knew Kalin was unfamiliar with this tradition, so he didn’t expect to get one back. After all, the status of their relationship was fairly permanent at that point.After nearly an hour of work Bilbo was finally satisfied. He felt that warm colors best suited Kalin, and had chosen a blend of red, orange, and yellow roses and tulips. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt nervous butterflies fluttering in his stomach as he made his way home from the market. Kalin wasn’t in the house when Bilbo arrived. He knew that around this time she would venture out back to the garden to train with her hammer. She knew she would have little use for it in the Shire, but what better way to stay in shape? He cleared his throat as he entered the yard, careful not to spook her while she was swinging her weapon. She turned towards him as he approached and wiped the sweat from her brow. “What’s all this for?” Kalin smiled at the bouquet Bilbo handed her, positively glowing in the light of the garden.“For… For you. I know we’ve never talked about it, but a handmade bouquet is an… an official sign of courtship among Hobbits.”Kalin couldn’t help chuckling a bit, but a blush still crept along her cheeks. “I very much appreciate it, Bilbo.” She gave him a gentle kiss, which still turned Bilbo’s knees to jelly. “You know, I have a courtship ritual of my own…”“Wh-What’s that?” Bilbo asked, composing himself. Kalin beamed at him and ran her hand through his curls.“Putting a braid in your hair. You don’t have to keep it permanently, but… Will you let me?”“O-Of course, love.”And that night, by the warm glow of the fire, Kalin carefully braided a small lock of Bilbo’s hair while he read a book. She was very particular about placement, and Bilbo’s heart ached with how much he loved the woman gently running her hands through his hair. Eventually she was satisfied and fastened the braid with one of her father's clasps. Bilbo knew how much that meant to her, and was honored at the gesture. Weeks later, Bilbo caught Kalin pressing a few flowers from the bouquet he gave her in the kitchen, to preserve them. And they still sat, years later, on display in their bedroom for each of them to look upon as a reminder of their love.
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Bilbo wasn't sure what was going on; Perhaps there was something in the air preventing him and Kalin from keeping their hands off each other. The two barely made it in the front door before they set upon one another, beginning to discard their clothes as they stumbled their way to the bedroom. They separated briefly to clamber onto the bed, then Kalin’s lips crashed against Bilbo’s once more and he let out a noise of surprise as she pressed into him, pushing him onto his back and laying atop him. Her tongue darted along his lower lip before he opened his mouth to her with a moan. Bilbo’s left hand tangled into her hair, his right gripping her thigh where her dress had ridden up. She couldn't help but notice the hardness pressing into her thigh, and made a few teasing motions with her leg, making Bilbo whimper underneath her and grip her harder. One of her hands braced herself on the bed, the other began to swiftly unbutton Bilbo's shirt.“Wait,” he mumbled against her lips, “The window--” Kalin pulled away. “I'll get the blinds, you get your pants off.”She didn't wait for a response before rushing over to close the curtains. When she turned back around, she stifled a laugh at the sight of Bilbo desperately kicking his trousers off. She slid her dress over her head and joined him back on the bed.She tugged off his undergarments as he sat up and shrugged the rest of the way out of his shirt. Kalin reached over and planted another heated kiss on his lips before he pulled her back on top of him. Seven long years together and they still couldn't get enough of one another. Bilbo reached between the two of them and teased at her folds before easing a finger into her while his thumb swirled around her clit. She broke from their kiss with a gasp, burying her face in the crook of his neck. His grip on her hip tightened as he sunk another finger into her, curving them upward and pressing into her sweet spot, making her bite down on his shoulder and barely stifle a groan. She bucked against his hand and breathlessly whispered his name, gasping against him and gripping harder at his hair as an orgasm tore through her. Bilbo’s grip on Kalin became bruising, but she was such a quivering mess that she barely noticed. As soon as she stopped seeing stars she slid her free hand down his chest and slowly began stroking him. His fingers finally left her hips and tangled into her hair, pulling her lips crashing back to his. She bit at his bottom lip before plunging her tongue back into his mouth, eliciting a deep groan from his chest and making him buck into her hand. "P-Please…" he whispered against her lips. She smiled into their kiss and began trailing kisses down his jaw and to his neck. She moved her hand back up to grip his shoulder and instead ground her dripping folds against him while she sucked a bruise into his neck. It was so much stimulus all at once that he let out a needy moan louder than he would have liked to. She silenced him with another ravenous kiss, moving to position him at her entrance. Bilbo ran his hands down her curves and gripped at her rear just as she finally pressed down onto him. His head fell back in a moan, his grip on her tightening as he urged her back up, and then slamming back down onto him, making her groan. She gripped his chin and angled his face back down where she could urgently press more kisses to his lips. The taste of her was intoxicating, the sound of her whimpering against his mouth made him even harder, if that was possible. Bilbo's hips thrusted up to meet hers, and he broke from their kiss only to give her a bruise on her neck matching his. She carded her hands through his hair, practically panting. "Bilbo, I'm close…"He moaned, still stunned after all these years that he was the one making her say that. Her head fell back in what could only be described as a growl as she ground her hips against his urgently. He released her ass to furiously tease her clit, sitting the both of them up to swirl his tongue around her nipple before closing his mouth around it. All of these sensations all at once had her gripping Bilbo's hair with one hand and his shoulder with the other, gasping his name over and over with a string of curses thrown in for good measure. He felt her walls spasm, hugging his cock in all the right ways and he couldn't hold back his release any longer. Bilbo buried his face into her chest and cried out her name, hugging her around the small of her back and rutting into her until he was spent. The pair fell back onto the bed. Eventually Bilbo’s breathing leveled, but his heart was still pounding in his ears at the feeling of every one of Kalin’s curves flush with his body. She let out a contented hum, and they both quietly thought about how they never wanted to move again.
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It was official. Kalin couldn't hide it any longer. She stood in the bathroom and rinsed her mouth, having just vomited. Again. “He isn't dull,” she thought to herself. “He’ll catch on soon. Why are you so worried about telling him?”She ran her hands over her face and fixed her braid that had come loose before marching out into the sitting room, where she knew Bilbo would be having his morning tea. She wondered what was more frightening, this or facing Smaug.“Bilbo, dear?”“Yes, love?” He smiled up at her, but his brows furrowed when he saw her face. “Are you alright? You look quite pale.”Kalin smiled and waved a dismissive hand. “Fine, fine, stomach is just a bit fussy today. I was wondering if we could go to the lake tonight, stargaze a bit.”Bilbo grinned again and stood to hug her and press a kiss to her cheek.“That sounds lovely.”Kalin was relieved. She would have the whole day to figure out what to say.But night fell quickly. Mahal, she couldn't do this. She never even thought this was possible! After all, she had never heard of a Dwarf and a Hobbit conceiving. Well, she had never heard of a Dwarf and a Hobbit being together period. Surely they can't be the first, though? What is she going to tell him? Guess what, Bilbo? We made a hybrid!They sat now on the lake, and Kalin gazed up at the clear sky above them. Bilbo, however, was frowning at her. She seemed to be trembling.“Kalin? Are you sure you aren't ill?”He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. She was warm. She stared at him and his heart dropped when he saw tears glistening in her eyes.“Not… Not quite ill…”“What's going on?!” He clasped her hands, thumbs stroking the backs of them, holding her gaze with his worried expression. She laughed as tears finally fell.“Darling, I'm pregnant.”Bilbo's face went slack, expressionless, while he desperately tried to process what she had said.“You… You're… but, how did…?“You know fine well how!” She said incredulously, laughter shaking her voice.“Well, yes, but… I didn't think we could…”“Me neither…”“Are… Are you sure?”“I've been vomiting every morning for a month. And I haven't bled for two.”Bilbo just stared at her. “How have I not noticed?”“I worked very hard to hide it… Are you… happy?”Bilbo let out a shaky laugh. “Happy? I'm ecstatic! We're having a baby!”-----As the pregnancy progressed, Kalin went through many noticable changes. Of course she put on a bit of weight, though she still kept up with her weapons training, and she could no longer stand the aroma of the lavender tea she normally enjoyed every afternoon. On the flip side, pickled onions, which she normally despised, were now one of her biggest cravings. Bilbo had to keep at least three jars in the house at a time.Things progressed smoothly, and the town doctor and midwife informed Kalin that she was about halfway through her pregnancy. She and Bilbo had been unsure of how long the pregnancy would last, because while Dwarf pregnancies last quite a long while, Hobbit pregnancies last less than a year. She had been pregnant for about six months now.Kalin woke with a groan in the middle of an autumn night, her back pain keeping her from a restful sleep. Sleep had quickly become an issue when Kalin, someone who normally slept on her stomach, could no longer get comfortable at night. Bilbo still snored quietly beside her, and she peeled back her covers gently to avoid waking him. She lifted the oversized shirt she wore to bed and gazed at the bump her usually muscular stomach had grown into.“I know you'll be worth it all, baby, but I sure am tired of this pregnancy business.” She sighed and laid a palm on her belly. “Are you nice and snug in there? I wonder how big you are now… not baby-sized yet, surely. Are you going to look like me or your father? Have you got little fingers and toes yet?” Kalin felt a little silly talking to her stomach like this. ”Do you even know who this voice belongs to?”What happened next was indescribable. Like a hardy little poke from inside her gut, like a particularly massive butterfly was trapped inside her, Kalin felt the baby kick. She had been warned that this would happen, but it was unlike anything she could have expected.“Bil...Bilbo… Bilbo!”She lightly slapped his shoulder until he sat up and rubbed his eyes.“What's wrong?” he croaked. “Are you alright?”“The baby! They kicked!” She squeaked suddenly. “They just did it again! Oh, it's so weird! Here--" she grabbed his wrist and held his hand to her stomach.Nothing happened. Bilbo gave her a sad smile, illuminated by the moonlight filtering in the window.“Maybe they don't quite like me yet.”“No, no, try talking! That's what I did.”“Talking? To… your stomach?”“Well, to the baby in my stomach, but yeah! Go on, give it a go.”“Um… well.. hello, baby? I--I'm very excited to meet you--" A kick. And a big one. Bilbo sat up suddenly and pulled his hand back. “Oh--Oh wow.” He put his hand back slowly, loving gaze resting on Kalin’s stomach. Her heart felt very full in that moment, as Bilbo kept babbling to her stomach and giving a delighted, nervous laugh each time the baby responded to his voice. She shut her eyes and smiled at the sensation, feeling very much like she was listening to a conversation between father and child, and eventually drifted off to a comfortable sleep.-----Kalin was due in a matter of weeks. Months ago, she had sent letters announcing her pregnancy out to Erebor, and Dwalin and Bofur both insisted they be there when Kalin delivered the baby. She was happy, and honestly sort of relieved when she had gotten their replies. She and Bilbo were eager to see them again, and Bofur had quite a bit of experience with children, what with being an uncle to fourteen little ones back home.The Dwarves were due to arrive at any moment now, and Kalin could hear Bilbo flitting around the house, making sure everything was ready for their guests. When the bell to the door rang, Kalin struggled to her feet and waddled to the door as fast as she could. When she threw it open, Dwalin immediately scooped her into his arms and started weeping.“My lil’ gem, about to be a mother!” He wailed.“Uncle, please!” She laughed and hugged him back, beaming at Bofur over Dwalin’s shoulder. When she was finally released, and Dwalin had moved on to pull Bilbo into a bone-crushing hug, Bofur was finally able to hug Kalin close. He held her at arm’s length when they separated and examined her stomach.“You’re having a girl.” He said matter of factly.“What? There’s no way you can tell.”“‘Course I can! Call it instinct.”They playfully argued for a little while longer, placing mock-bets on what the baby’s sex would be. The guests had stayed only for a few days when the big day finally arrived.Kalin had been tooling around the kitchen baking some honey cake, a recipe she had gotten from Beorn eight years prior after the battle for the Lonely Mountain. She suddenly lurched forward and dropped her measuring cup with a clatter onto the counter. The pain caused her to mutter a few unsavory words before she tried continuing on with her baking. But the pain returned, this time longer lasting.“Bilbo?!” The Hobbit came rushing into the room. “Go and fetch the midwife, I think it’s time!”-----Everyone thought the baby was absolutely the most beautiful thing they had ever seen when she was born. She had pointed ears and a tuft of dark chestnut hair, and Bilbo couldn’t stop counting all her little fingers and toes every chance he got. It took Kalin a week to get back on her feet, which is when Bofur and Dwalin stepped up to help Bilbo take care of little Kiran, they named her. Bofur had been right about Kiran being a girl after all, and would brag about it any time he was near Kalin. She would have been more agitated with him, were it not for the fact that his singing put the baby straight to sleep whenever she grew fussy.Bilbo came to bed one night, when Kiran was just two weeks old, and Kalin was nursing her in bed. She smiled up at him when he joined them in the bed and pressed a kiss to the top of Kiran’s head.“Our lives are forever changed now, Bilbo…”“For the better, I think.”They shared a kiss and Kiran began fussing, done with her meal. Kalin covered herself again, burped the little baby, and laid her into the bassinet that was alongside their bed now. They watched her blink up at them a few times before letting out a tremendous yawn and falling asleep. Both parents felt a little overwhelmed, and more than a little scared, but mostly proud and full of a love so fierce that they hardly believed it could be real.This little person was their whole lives now. She was the most important thing, someone they would both die to protect. They had such a responsibility now, to make sure she grew up a capable woman. It seemed a daunting task, but one that they would do their best to complete.Bilbo wrapped his arms around Kalin as they laid in bed and nuzzled his face between her shoulder blades. He couldn’t believe how proud he was that she had brought this child into the world, and felt honored to be taking this journey with her. They fell asleep embracing, hearts full of passion and adoration for one another, confident that they had chosen the perfect partner to raise a child with.
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Kalin groaned as she sat up, hand grasping for the empty spot in the bed beside her. Bilbo wasn’t there, and the covers were thrown back like he had left quickly. She glanced at the crib in the corner of the room and saw that it, too, was empty. Kiran must have been fussing and Kalin didn’t hear. She tiptoed out of bed and into the hall to try to find where her family had ended up.
She almost didn’t believe her ears as she rounded the corner and paused in the doorway to the sitting room. In the ten years she had been with him, Kalin had never heard Bilbo sing. He wasn’t shy about much with her, but that was one thing he wasn’t comfortable doing in anyone’s presence. Except his daughter’s apparently.
Kalin peeked into the room and saw Bilbo standing in front of the window, rocking back and forth with Kiran poking her head over his shoulder. The baby was still whining softly, but seemed to be calmed by the low hum of Bilbo’s voice. Kalin recognized the song as one she had taught him, a Dwarven lullaby that Dwalin would sing to her as a child.
She kept watching them until Kiran stopped weeping and fell asleep in Bilbo’s arms. The moonlight from the window illuminated his soft smile as he pressed a kiss to his daughter’s forehead. Kalin snuck back into the bedroom and into bed before him, only sitting up once he returned.
“Oh, you’re up. I tried not to wake you…”
“You didn’t, I woke up on my own.”
Bilbo gave Kalin a peck on the lips as he settled back into bed with a sigh. She wrapped an arm around his middle, nuzzled into his hair and whispered, “I wish you would sing more. You have a lovely voice.”
She couldn’t see his reaction, but knew he must be a little embarrassed that she had overheard him. The next time Kiran grew restless, though, he joined Kalin in singing her back to sleep.