As sleep left the hobbit, and he once more returned to the waking world, he tried to keep his eyes closed just a little longer. Pretend that he has made it past this point in his life, and that he wasn't about to see the dream-like grayish ring-world version of the small alcove he managed to duck into for the night in Thranduil's palace. However, drawing on his courage, he found that to be exactly the case.

For a moment, he just sat there, refusing to let the tears fall from where they clogged his throat and eyes. It was never going to end. There was no way for him to ever escape this moment. Constantly trapped. If he hadn't already ruled out the possibility on his fourth time through, he would have believed the Elfking, himself, cursed them to this existence. But then...Bilbo was the only one who ever seemed to remember the previous cycles.

For once in his entire life, he was out of ideas. He had nothing left, but to sit there and wait. Wait for him to fail so he would be forced to do it all again. Maybe he was actually dead, and his crimes were so terrible, the Valar sought to punish so for he had no other answers as to why this was happening.

Slowly, the kingdom around him seemed to wake up as well (even though the elves rarely slept), as they began their hustle and bustle of preparing for their feast later that week. Bilbo debated on participating this time or pulling off another half-hearted escape attempt. In the end, he chose to visit Thorin. He had found himself growing rather fond of the dwarf, even before this never-ending madness, and would much rather waste away this cycle listening to his deep, melodic voice.

At this point, he could find the way to the deeper cell with his eyes closed. Uncaring for if he got caught or not, he traveled the busy path until it branched off and then continued down into the underground prison. Having taken to always carrying sleeping drought on his person (for instances such as this), he slipped it into the lone guard's meal with an ease that came from practice. After waiting the ten minutes for it to take effect, he slipped off the ring before approaching Thorin's cell.

Like always, the dwarf king sat with his back against the far wall, knees bent up to his chest, arms crossed over his knees, and head tilted back to glare at the ceiling. Bilbo could watch him for hours, just like this. And if he had taken one of his lives to do so...he felt he couldn't truly be blamed. However, he came down to hear Thorin, not just look at him. He flicked the bar on the cell twice, letting the soft tone alert Thorin to his presence. Like so many times before, Thorin's head snapped towards him with a vicious glare twisting that beautiful face before it fell to surprise, then light up with glee. Bilbo's soft smile was more nostalgic than anything as Thorin left to his feet to rush over to him.

"Bilbo!" He exclaimed with awe.

"Hello, Thorin. How are you holding up?"

The dwarf's expression smoothed over into a grimace, and Bilbo immediately regretted his words.

"These elves..." Thorin spat with some rather ugly sounding curses in Khuzdul. "I should have expected no less."

Bilbo ignored talks about the elves. He's heard this particular rant thirteen times now.

"Are you eating at least?"

Just like he hoped, a look of wry fondness stole its way onto Thorin's face.

"I should have expected no less from a hobbit's priorities. Aye, Master Baggins, I eat what has been provided."

The first time Thorin said this to him, he got so offended he left. It was the fourth time that he learned this was the dwarf's attempt at humor.

"Very good." Bilbo fulfilled the script. "It does me no good to..."

He felt himself trail off. Normally he made a joke about how it wouldn't do him any good to break them out on an empty stomach. But he still wasn't sure he wanted to break them out this time. What was the point? What was the point to any of this?

"Bilbo...?" Thorin prodded gently, surprisingly astute.

Of course, it was only after Bilbo lifted his head to meet his concerned gaze that he realized why. The damn tears finally decided to fall.

"We're never getting out." He whispered, needing someone else to know his plight. "We'll be trapped here forever."

Thorin seemed to freeze, and Bilbo ducked his head again, shame filling him up.

"No, Bilbo, please!" Thorin begged, reaching through to tilt his chin back up to him. "Please don't lose faith! You are our only hope. If you can't..."

Bilbo ripped away from him, his despair turning to anger in an instant.

"Don't you think I know that! I know I'm your only chance at freedom! At completing the quest on time! But you don't. Get. It. I've tried! I've tried everything...and I still can't..." Bilbo heaved a sigh. "It seems all I'll ever be is a disappointment."

It was silent. The kind of silence that stretched for so long it almost felt like to break it would be uncomfortable, but finally Thorin did. And his haggard voice was Bilbo's undoing.

"You've never been a disappointment." Thorin choked out. "Even with the unfair standard I set for you, all you've done is exceed my expectations for you each and every time. The only time I've been disappointed...is right now. And it's at myself for making you think you still have something to prove."

Bilbo's head suddenly shot up. And Thorin's hand was right there to rest gently against the side of Bilbo's burning face.

"I see you, Bilbo Baggins." Thorin intoned, never looking more serious and imploring than in that moment. "I see the optimism you have shackled under this layer of...hobbit fussiness."

Bilbo dropped eye contact shyly as he gave a wry snort. Thorin chuckled in return, but his thumb began to trace Bilbo's cheekbone as if hold the hobbit's attention. Something the dwarf had never once lost.

"So don't give up." He pleaded. "Not yet. Because I will never give up on you."

Bilbo slowly lifted his eyes back to meet the hopeful shining blue orbs boring into his very soul. He couldn't look away. He couldn't stop the warmth Thorin inspired in him from spreading. Nevermind that his situation was literally helpless, he would live through this moment a thousand more times, and be better for it. For it was the first moment that he's ever allowed a thought, a feeling, he's held to actually be given a name. Love. He was in love with Thorin Oakenshield. And it was the greatest and most terrifying feeling in the world.

His ears twitched as the sound of the guard waking carried down to him. So soon?! How long has he been down here with Thorin? When he turned back to the dwarf, a understanding determination was steeled into his being. He dropped his hand and gave Bilbo a quick nod.

"Go." He ordered.

Bilbo hesitated for half a second longer. There was so much to say, and yet he didn't even know where to begin. Thorin's jaw twitched with a sad, knowing smirk.

"It's okay. Just go."

So Bilbo did as his king commanded. He backed away from the cell and just when he was out of sight, slipped the ring back on. Besides, if they were going to make another run at this, he had work to do. Honestly, the barrels were truly the only plan he has found to work from him without fail, and so it was where he headed this time as well. Like clockwork, everything fell into place exactly like the first five times he did it. It was always the journey down the rapids themselves where things went wrong. The first time, Kili was shot with an arrow. The second time, Bilbo took the arrow for him. The third time, Bombur had been impaled by orcs. The fourth time the Company had all be captured and killed by the orcs, and the fifth time Bilbo had drowned. He quit trying after that. But for Thorin...he would give it one last go.

He managed to get the keys, and his first stop was unlocking the cell belonging to the Dwarf King. Every single time he's done this, he's hesitated after freeing him. Like there was something he needed to say, but then he would lose the courage and go free the others. He didn't hesitate this time. After all, it wasn't like it wouldn't all just recycle anyways. As soon as the door was open, he threw his arms around Thorin's neck and kissed him. He felt the dwarf freeze against him, before those strong arms were circling his waist, dragging him closer as Thorin proceeded to steal his breath away. Bilbo became lost in the moment wondering why he's never tried this before as he explored those wonderful lips, that warm tongue...then Thorin was pulling away.

Bilbo tried to chase him, and Thorin gave him three quick pecks as an apology.

"We'll have time later, Amrâlimê." Thorin panted. "Right now, I believe...we were escaping?"

Bilbo finally pulled far enough away to come back to himself. Time...it was rather cruel to be reminded that this was only one cycle. However, he would relive that kiss over and over again gladly. Finally, he nodded leading the way back to the others. He was more than pleased at the dwarf's hovering and little touches every time they paused or ducked out of sight.

Finally, they reached the cellar, and one look at Thorin had him barking at the dwarves to go along with his plan. He just didn't anticipate the newest wrinkle.

"What about you?" Thorin questioned in concern having yet to get in a barrel.

"I...well, I'll just have to get a good running start and swim to the nearest barrel." He admitted with a weak smile.

Images of the rapids rising over his head and his lungs burning immediately plaguing him. Thorin seemed far from impressed as well as he insisted on being the one to pull the lever. Before Bilbo could offer up an argument, he had Bilbo stuffed in a barrel and then they were tumbling down into river below. Bilbo was quick to scold the grinning king as he swam over to hang onto Bilbo's barrel.

Of course, Bilbo knew this was only the beginning of their unfortunate river ride. However, Thorin, amazing, wonderful Thorin, overcame every obstacle. When Kili ran up to free the barrels after the orc ambush, Bilbo gave Thorin Sting ordering him to protect his nephew. Together, the duo managed to get them floating again and avoid the large orc's arrow. They both managed to jump into empty barrels at that point, and for the first time Bilbo was able to be inside a barrel instead of clinging for his life. They all managed to survive the orcs, and by the time the river calmed, Thorin was out of his barrel and heaving him out of his own. Bilbo leaned against him as he pulled Bilbo into another kiss ignoring the whistles and snickers of the rest of the dwarves.

"I knew you could do it, Ghivashel." Thorin remarked, awe-filled.

Bilbo just knew, no matter what lay in store for him in the next cycle, that this would be his favorite loop. In fact, as they lay down curled up against each other on Bard's barge, he found himself wishing (not for the first time) that he didn't have to wake back up in the horrid woods of Mirkwood. Going back to killing spiders and rescuing the Company. Although, he and Sting were getting really good at killing spiders. In fact, in one cycle he presented himself as a spider exterminator to Thranduil, he was neither amused nor interested.

Thorin gently grabbed the fingers that had been idly stroking his hair and face and gave each digit a small kiss before sleepily ordering Bilbo to 'get some rest'. Punctuating it with another Khuzdul term. The third one that day, and something that Bilbo promised himself if nothing else, he would learn as he relived it all over again. Against his will and around the ache in his chest, his eyes finally managed to close of their own accord.

"Lukhudel, wake up. Look."

Bilbo groaned as he felt his shoulder being jostled. The forest! Damn, this dark, malicious forest! He folded in on himself tighter, trying to squeeze just five more minutes out of the dream that was the previous cycle, when he felt lips press against the crown of his head. Well that's never happened before. His eyes immediately blinked open only to squint against the too bright morning sun. Sun?!

Bilbo felt a hand fondly stroke his curls and he looked up almost painfully hopeful. Thorin was smiling down at him before bending down to give him a chaste kiss.

"Good morning." He smiled.

Wait. Please don't let this be a dream. Please don't let this be a dream. Bilbo almost hesitantly sat up and looked around. All thirteen dwarves were accounted for trying to stave off the cold of the river that was quickly opening up into a lake. A lake! Not a forest.

"Is it...is it truly over? We did it?" Bilbo dared to whisper.

Thorin laughed lightly before settling himself down to hug Bilbo from behind.

"Well we do still have the 'making it by Durin's Day and dragon' part of the quest, but look. Can you see it?"