Chapter Text
Some weeks later.
Midterms were hell.
They managed to get through them, albeit just with enough sanity and sleep. Thankfully Boromir had decided to hold his party after the midterms rather than the weekend after Ava’s accident.
Ava was all healed and back in business. She had missed a week of school but professor Baggins and professor Thranduil were more than happy to help. Although, professor Baggins sometimes got distracted by a certain uncle who just so happened to waltz into the living room without a shirt on. When Ava questioned Thorin on his new style, he shrugged and said it was hot. From then on Ava stayed after class with Fili, Ori and several other students who needed extra lesson time and Bilbo was more than willing to help.
Thranduil, when it was his turn to tutor, remained focused and business like. Ava would go to his house and study for an hour. When Legolas was there, the two would chat while Thranduil made dinner. Slowly, Legolas became accustom to his father dating his friend. But Ava and Thranduil made a promise to never act like a couple around him.
But when Legolas wasn’t there, and when the lesson had finished, Ava found herself usually in the arms of her professor. He’d kiss her silly as a ‘reward’ for studying so hard. To be fair it did make Ava try harder.
But once midterms were over, Dwalin and Thorin took the kids out to dinner along with Dis and Balin. It ended up with Ori’s brothers, Gloin, Oin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur all joining them in the end. Thankfully the restaurant owners didn’t mind their rowdiness.
Two days before Boromir’s party, Ava had a date with Thranduil at the French restaurant they had gone on their first date. It was around lunchtime and Ava was lying on the couch. She didn’t have to get ready for another six hours.
Fili had gone to soccer practise with Haldir and Éomer while Kili was out with Faramir and Gimli doing boy things. That usually meant eating lots of food.
“What crap are you watching?” Thorin asked as the came down the hallway. He was in jeans and a t-shirt with bags under his eyes. Thorin had gained a new author with a new story. Starting new was always the most tiresome part of the process.
“It’s not crap,” Ava grumbled, shuffling up so Thorin could sit down. She put her legs on his lap. “It’s Downton.”
“Sounds like crap to me.”
“Better than your antiques road show.”
“If you tell anyone about that I will shave your hair off,” Thorin threatened with a childish glare. Ava rolled her eyes at her uncle. “So what have you got on tonight?”
“A date.” Ava didn’t miss the way Thorin stiffen nor the tightness in his tone when he said ‘oh’. She knew not to elaborate and to just leave it there. She was glad her uncle was getting better at accepting it. Albeit slowly.
“Will you be home tonight?”
“Yeah, probably around ten or so.” Thorin nodded with a minute sigh. “Wanna watch one of your James Bond movies?”
“God yes,” Thorin replied with a broad grin. So for the rest of that afternoon, Ava sat on the couch watching a young Sean Connery kick bad guy butt and win the girl. It eased Thorin really well as did the few texts that were obviously from professor Baggins. Ava could tell by the grin on his face.
When it came time for Ava to start getting ready, Thorin disappeared to his study with a terse goodbye. Last time he just grunted. Ava wore a dark blue dress with a v-neck, lace long sleeves and a puffy shirt that stopped at her knees. She wouldn’t admit to having ever stood in front of her mirror for a good five minutes just swaying her hips to see the skirt move.
When Thranduil came to pick Ava up, she met him in the carpark for Thorin’s comfort. He wore a dark red buttoned shirt with the sleeve rolled up. God Ava loved that. And black dress pants. Always looking sharp and proper.
“Hello my dear,” he said before he pulled her in for a kiss. Ava hummed when they pulled back, tempted for more. “Ready?”
“Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” Ava replied with a grin. Thranduil couldn’t help but kiss her again. The car ride was pleasant. They talked about midterms (Ava complained) and movies, books and Boromir’s upcoming party.
“Do you want me to climb through the window again?” Thranduil asked with a leery smirk. Ava just huffed and hit him playfully on the shoulder. He chuckled in response before focusing on the road once more. Ava had refused to drive since the accident.
When they got to the restaurant, Ava headed toward the front door. But Thranduil tugged her arm so she had his front pressed against her back.
“Not that way,” he murmured into her ear like some childish secret. The grin on his face was certainly childish as he led Ava around the back under the rose archways. He led her by the hand down a cobble walkway to a large cheery tree. The pink blossoms were in bloom and fairy lights mingled among them, shining daintily.
Ava stopped for a moment to simply gape at the spectacle.
“Ava? Are you coming to sit down?” Thranduil asked, pulling one of the black iron wrought from the table of the same material. The cushion and table cloth were both pristine white.
“Yeah- I ah- this is beautiful.” Ava hadn’t even noticed the quiet sounds of piano and violins until she sat down. Thranduil pushed her chair in before taking his seat. He watched her admiring the splendour, content with just that. But when she looked back him, something in his chest fluttered as though he was sixteen again.
“Do you like it?” He asked. Ava nodded with a sweet smile and a blush on her cheeks.
“It’s really amazing. Did you plan this or has it always been here?”
“I called and made a request. They certainly have delivered.” Ava agreed.
Dinner was wonderful just like the other times and Ava spent more time smiling than actually eating. So it take longer for them to eat. Before dessert however, Thranduil stood and offered his hand to Ava. She took it without thought and allowed her to stand and be pulled close.
Thranduil’s right arm went around her waist while the other held her hand out. They couldn’t keep their eyes from the other’s as Thranduil slowly started to sway them. Ava followed his lead and zoned everything else out besides the man in front of her and the song playing softly in the background (The Hundred Acre Woods - Base of My Heart).
Step after step and turn after slow turn, they danced for what felt like forever. Ava’s chest felt lighter than it had ever. Nothing else mattered in that moment than Thranduil. And for him, it was the exact same.
“I love you,” Ava admitted shamelessly. Her eyes remained on his, soft and affectionate. Thranduil’s smile slipped easily across his lips as it always did with Ava. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. They closed their eyes and Ava revelled in the sweet scent around them and the quiet atmosphere that held them together. It was like a dream.
“It makes me ethereally happy to hear that,” Thranduil countered, voice relaxed and airy. Gently, he pressed a feather light kiss to Ava’s mouth which had her heart racing. But then he kissed her hungrily, his lips tugging hers. Ava tilted her head to slot her mouth against Thranduil’s and shivered at the feeling of his tongue tracing the inside of her mouth.
Ava moaned quite loudly when Thranduil pulled her tightly against him. Her arms wound around his neck as they kissed, music now forgotten. While reverting back to kissing sweetly, Thranduil started turning them around slowly. The music had changed to something slower that Ava wasn’t able to recognize. Not with her professor dragging his teeth along her bottom lip.
Ava pulled back with a drowsy smile and a breathy giggle. Thranduil dragged his half-lidded eyes from Ava’s lips to her eyes despite wanting to kiss her more.
“I have to be home by ten,” stated Ava, still dangerously close to closing the distance between them. Thranduil understood the full meaning of her words.
“And we still have dessert to go.”
“Oh, I thought that was dessert?” Thranduil raised his eyebrow in question. “It was certainly a treat.” Thranduil chuckled while Ava giggled at that cheesy reply.
“Come on, I think there’s a waiter standing awkwardly by the door waiting to bring us said dessert.”
Ava felt completely embarrassed at the thought of that and didn’t make eye contact when the waiter did come over with their dessert. Thranduil, however, had a devilish smirk on his face.
The car ride home was pleasantly quiet. The apple pie and ice cream dessert had been so good and Ava sat in her seat enjoying the lingering taste of it. She almost didn’t notice when Thranduil had parked the car in the car park and killed the engine. He looked at the watch on his wrist.
“You still have ten minutes till you’re expected.” He stated monotone. Ava hummed then turned to look at her professor. There was a moment of stillness before they both leaned in.
Thranduil’s hands cupped Ava’s face while she clung to his shoulders. The kisses were quick paced and a little sloppy. Ava felt positively giddy and couldn’t help the smile she had. Thranduil, on his part, felt once again like a teenager as he nipped at Ava’s bottom lip. He ran his tongue over it to soothe any sting he might have left (there was no sting but it was very kind of him to do so anyway).
When Ava did finally leave his car with another kiss goodbye, she was two minutes late. Cursing, she didn’t stay to see Thranduil drive off. The elevator seemed to go slower than normal.
“Hurry up,” she grumbled a moment before the doors dinged opened. She raced down the hall to the door and found it locked. Once she’d got the lock undone and inside, Ava found the living room to be dark. Though the TV was still on. Creeping around, Ava found Thorin asleep on the couch with Antiques Roadshow’s title sequence looping.
Being the kind and caring niece that she was, Ava turned the TV off and pulled a blanket over her uncle. Then she crept to her room and went straight to bed. But sleep came later. The memories of the date kept Ava’s heart racing and her mind at a million miles an hour. She pinched herself she was so happy. But when sleep did come, it was simply peaceful.
The night of Boromir’s party came and Ava got ready along with Sigrid, Tauriel, Fili, Kili, Legolas and Éomer. Ori was coming too and they had all agreed to take care of him since it was his first ever party. It took a lecture from Thorin, threats from Nori and heartfelt assurances from them all for Dori to allow it. Fusspot he was.
Thorin was out on another date with Bilbo which Fili, Kili and Ava knew meant that the two were waiting for them all to leave. When they did, half of them squished into Fili’s car while the rest piled into Éomer’s.
The party was in full swing when they arrived. Heaps of people were there as usual but Boromir still managed to greet them all at the door. Ava watched as Boromir dragged Legolas towards the keg stand while Fili and Éomer went to find their other football mates. Sigrid followed along with her hand being held by Fili.
“Come on Ori!” Kili called over the music, dragging the younger guy by the hand towards the dancefloor. Feeling sorry for him, Ava went to grab herself, Kili, Tauriel and Ori a beer. Maybe the alcohol would help with Ori’s nerves.
Ava danced, she sang, she drank with the boys and kicked Gimli’s butt at beer pong with Arwen’s help. She had no idea how many selfies she took but more than once Fili had grabbed her around the shoulders to take one.
About three hours into it, Ava headed upstairs to the bathroom which was thankfully unoccupied. She need a moment since the alcohol was getting to her. It wouldn’t do to comer out or throw up. So she pulled out her phone with a sense of nostalgia and read the text that was waiting for her.
From: Thranduil
How is your evening going?
~
To: Thranduil
Prety good. Guess where I am
~
From: Thranduil
At the party you told me about.
~
To: Thranduil
No shit Sherlock. I’m in the bathroom again. Feeling a bit nostalgic and all.
Ava sat on the edge of the bath and waited for the text to come. When it did, she smiled and giggled a little.
From: Thranduil
Would you like me to climb through the window again?