I have a feeling I'll never really stop liking the way he calls me Mister Bitty. I'm not even sure why except that no one's ever called me that before and, from him, it sounds like an honor, not condescending in the slightest. Also, if Kili isn't speaking from his stomach, I'd like to ask him what he is speaking from and I almost do just that before he suddenly gets all flustered.

"Oh, you don't have to if it at all makes you uncomfortable," I rush to tell him. "I just thought I could pay you in baked goods if you'd like. Not that I won't be more than happy to give you any number of pies or cookies your heart desires, of course. There's no pressure at all. It's just that, after what happened a few weeks ago, I feel like it might be good for me to learn some things. I'm not gonna be able to rely on Derek all the time and if I'm gonna live here on my own, I should... I should be able to hold my own, you know? It's a big city. And you're a warrior, so I thought... I don't know. Is it a stupid idea?"