AN: I really should be working on my other stories, but real life won't give me time for it. A combination of incessant Christmas music at my work and hobbit overload at home led to the creation of this story. I hope you enjoy it, if not then I at least got it out of my head.

Disclaimer: I do not own the hobbit, or anything else recognizable.

Mid-winter celebrations in the Shire, a time of family, friends and lots and lots of good food.

Every smial was decorated with greenery and ribbons. All the ovens were working over-time. The little hobbitlings were on their best behavior. Every family coming together to exchange presents, and to give thanks for another year coming to a peaceful close.

It was almost mid-winter eve and the whole of the Shire was in an uproar, some trying to prepare for the feasting to occur in two day's time and others rushing to their family hearths to partake of said feast.

Everyone except one little hobbit sitting outside his green door, soaking in the unseasonably warm weather- though it was likely to turn cold quickly, they hadn't not had a white mid-winter celebration in all of living memory- he was one of the few who had nowhere to go and no one to cook for- though that didn't stop him from cooking and baking until all his several pantries were overflowing.

As the small man puffed on his favorite pipe, relaxing as he waited for his most recent baked goods to be ready- he really shouldn't be making as much as he was, he didn't have anyone to share it with after all- his musings were interrupted by a tall man in a grey robe.

"Good morning." He ventured, not really knowing what to say; random travelers were rare within the Shire.

"What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I wish it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

"All of them at once, I suppose." Replied our rather flustered hobbit while the tall Man just stood there scrutinizing him.

"Can I help you?" He finally offered to break the awkward silence.

"That remains to be seen." The tall Man said in a rather mysterious tone.

"I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."

"An adventure?" Could this Man be serious?

"No, I don't think anyone west of Bree, would have much interest in adventures." Had he never met a hobbit before?

Attempting to hide his nervous jitters- he had always wanted to go on an adventure, but he was a respectable hobbit and so couldn't have one- he went to collect his mail.

"Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things; make you late for dinner." Looking over his letters, he had the impression he wasn't fooling the tall Man. Puffing on his pipe a bit more, he tried to make his escape.

"Good morning." Racing up his steps he was stopped by what the grey dressed Man next said.

"To think that I should have lived to be 'good morninged' by Belladonna Took's son, as if I was selling buttons at the door." That peaked the young hobbit's attention.

"I beg you're pardon?" How did this Man know of his mother?

"You've changed, and not entirely for the better Bilbo Baggins." The Man knew his name as well! What was going on here?

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Well, you know my name, though you don't remember that I belong to it. I am Gandalf. And Gandalf means... me."

Bilbo felt bad now, he had obviously hurt the Man's- no, Gandalf's- feelings. Racking his brain for what little he might know of that name it finally came back to him.

"Not Gandalf the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks. Old Took used to have them on midsummer's eve. No idea you were still in business."

The moment the last left his lips he knew it was a mistake, the wizard had seemed to preen at first; but now he looked crestfallen again. This was no way to treat an old friend of his mothers'. Especially not during the holidays! He had been raised better than that.

"And where else should I be?"

Bilbo had to make this right, it was never good to hurt someone's feelings and he had done so twice now without thinking. Looking around the festively decorated hillsides, an idea came to the small man; and he hastened to implement it before the opportunity slipped away.

"I am sorry for my rudeness, it was not my intention to offend. It is simply that I have not heard of you in these parts since I was in my early tweens. Please, allow me to apologise." Now for the part he was unsure would go over well.

"Accept my invitation to dinner. You must have traveled a long ways, it would mean a great deal to me if you would join me. And I know the inn is closed for the holiday, so I can offer you lodgings as well."

Bilbo hoped he hadn't laid it on too thick. He couldn't go on an adventure,but that didn't mean he didn't want to know about one. A thought suddenly hit him: no one traveled alone anymore, Gandalf would have companions in need of housing as well.

"And if you have any traveling companions, I would gladly welcome them as well." The twinkle in the wizard's eye made Bilbo uncomfortable for a moment. Perhaps he had shown too much eagerness?

"Are you sure you wish to extend the comforts of your house to those you do not know? Besides, I am traveling with thirteen others; you may not have enough room."

"I am sure I have plenty of room, though it may lead to close quarters if they are all as large as yourself." Bilbo tried to reassure the wizard as quickly as possible, he didn't want this opportunity to slip through his fingers- he was tired of only reading about adventures, he wanted to hear about them as well!

"As for not knowing your companions... you were a dear friend of my mother's, and of Old Took as well, if you vouch for them then I will trust your word."

"Then we will be glad to join you tonight, Master Baggins. Until later." The grey haired Man gave a short bow of dismissal, and Bilbo followed suit. Rushing indoors to begin preparing for his guests, Bilbo never noticed the blue mark that Gandalf moved to scratch into his door.

Making up all of his guest rooms, he only had ten- he hoped his unknown guests wouldn't mind sharing a few of the rooms, he was happy he had enough beds at least; though he had had to readjust there sizes for larger bodies- he set about making his smial more guest friendly.

He placed clean towels in the bathrooms- he hadn't used the second one in quite sometime, and was happy that all the plumbing and heating was still in working order. Bundles of herbs he placed in all the corners of the guest rooms to help dispel the unused musty smell some of the rooms had gotten, and finally he gathered up enough chairs to seat everyone comfortably.

Moving furniture, and finishing up his cooking, took up the rest of Bilbo's day; he was just setting the table for fifteen when a knock sounded at his door. Putting down the platter of glazed yams he was carrying, Bilbo went to greet his first guest of the night. This was one holiday he wouldn't be spending alone and he couldn't be happier.