#parentshield

happy 2026, all! happy year of the horse!

It’s September 22nd, and you know what that means (*^ω^*)

Happy Hobbit day to my two favorite Baggins!! A quick drawing I made in class of Thorin bear hugging his two best boys (they’re a family in my mind)

Bilbo had encouraged Frodo to call Bilbo his uncle, it made more sense than cousin or something else more specific. He never wanted to replace Frodo's parents, so something like dad was out of the question.

However, Frodo was young enough that he didn't fully grasp the idea that the typical hobbit family unit consisted of only two parents.

Thorin came into his life and never told Frodo what to call him. But Thorin did everything his other dad did. Told him to clean up before dinner, scolded him when he was bad, comforted him when he cried. Read him his favorite books so he could fall asleep. Ruffled his hair affectionately. Let Frodo pick his cookies first from the tray as soon as it came from the oven. Crouched down and gave him his full attention when Frodo had a cool bug to show him. Taught him words in Khudzul, which Thorin said was only between them and Bilbo, because they were family.

They were family! His mom and dad were gone, but that could be okay because he had his second dad, and his uncle! Besides, Frodo looked just like Thorin. Uncle Bilbo said so all the time. So it all clicked, made sense to little Frodo.

So it was only a matter of time before Thorin was tucking the faunt into bed and pressing a kiss to his hair, and Frodo sleepily yawned, "Goodnight, papa."

Thorin, of course, remained entirely calm. He blew out the light at Frodo's bedside, said goodnight in return, and quietly let the door latch shut behind him.

Bilbo, in their own bed, was reclined with a book in his hand. He paused when Thorin entered, scanning him over his spectacles. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you alright, dear?"

"Frodo called me his papa. On his own."

Carefully, Bilbo set his book aside. "And... how does that make you feel?"