Bagginshield confession/getting together fic idea
I've seen many different versions of this, and they're all wonderful.
But I don't think I've yet seen a combination/crossover with another of one of my favorite stories. Specifically, Much Ado About Nothing from Shakespeare.
Thorin and Bilbo as Benedick and Beatrice, the bickering, insulting each other to the ends of the world couple. (Not a 1:1 match between the couples, but using their story's plot points.)
The Company conspires to get the Thorin and Bilbo together, as they know they're in love with each other but won't admit it.
Thorin "overhears" someone from the Company (Hmmmm, Ori maybe?) speaking to a few others of their group. He realizes they're talking about him, so he hides to listen in.
Ori tells the others about something Bilbo had confessed to him.
That Bilbo is in love with Thorin.
This almost causes Thorin to make enough noise to be caught, but he manages to stay hidden.
(In reality, the Company members talking have done so very purposefully so that Thorin can overhear, right next his hiding spot and just loud enough that he can understand every word.)
The gossiping dwarves at first think that Bilbo should tell Thorin about this. But Ori says that Bilbo is secretly worried about "a simple hobbit" confessing of love to a King. (This may or may not be accurate, but it's what they guess Bilbo's reaason is for hiding his feelings.) They then come to the conclusion that considering all the times Thorin had insulted Bilbo, Thorin would more likely scoff and reject him. And maybe they can convince Bilbo to settle down with a nice hobbit back home.
Thorin is stunned, finally coming to terms with his own feelings.
Later, Bilbo hears Kíli and Fíli talking, maybe with a few other Company members. He hears his own name and, likewise, hides to listen.
Fíli and Kíli are lamenting how much their uncle is besotted with Bilbo, but will never say anything of his feelings.
Just as Thorin had, Bilbo barely stays quiet and hidden. Though, just as before, he needn't worry, as this is very staged anyway.
Thorin's nephews talk of how wracked with love Thorin is in secret. But he won't confess, they are convinced, because Thorin feels his love would be unwanted by Bilbo. Especially after his goldsickness and actions at the gate. (Again, may or may not be the real reason why Thorin never confessed, but it's what they guess is the reason.)
Perhaps one of the nephews even wishes Thorin would do finally share his feelings specifically because "I'd like him to be Uncle Bilbo" and his brother agrees.
Bilbo almost cries out, fully aware now and knowing what he needs to do.
Unclear where to go from here.
Whether there is another plot that causes problems along the way to them confessing, as in the original Much Ado.
Or if they simply both confess at the same time, then cue dramatic first kiss. 😘
(And several Company members celebrating and congratulating each other quietly, just out of the new couple's perception.)
Either way, they might find out eventually that there was Meddling involved in them getting together. They may pretend to be mad at those who messed with their love lives, but aren't actually. Because they were only doing it out of care, really.
And besides, it worked. 😉
