Dear Readers,

If you care to read these at all, I'd just like to say thanks for giving this story a chance! I must warn you however, that I am not a very good writer. At all. Every now and then I get a plot bunny that I just have to write down as it won't leave me a lone and writing relaxes me.

As I said, that doesn't make me a good writer. I'm in fact quite poor at it. Trying to get a good flow, good characterization, not going too over dramatic, etc. etc.

So that's just a warning! I'd appreciate any constructive criticism though!

Thanks! Enjoy :P

Warning: Disclaimer, I do not own anything in this story. My story shall differ from the book and movies of The Hobbit, but I do not own any of the lore, characters, setting, etc.
Furthermore, I shall use some direct and some indirect quotes from the books and movies. To anyone who knows either well enough this will probably be evident as to where.
Story rating may change from T to M as it progresses. We'll see.

It has been remarked by some, according to the Tooks Billa knew, that hobbits only have one real love in life; food.

A rather unfair observation, Billa thought, as we hobbits have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales and smoking of pipe weeds.

However, to any that truly know hobbits, they know that our hearts truly lie in peace and quiet and good tilled earth. For all hobbits share a love for things that grow.

For Billa herself, there were two things she loved most in the world; warm summer days to stretch out under the sun in her garden and just bask in the sun's glow; and rainy summer days where she could escape to the shuttered gazebo in the centre of her garden, sheltered from the wind and rain and read a book under candlelight as she could hear her garden being nourished. It would be so happy and she would be almost euphoric in her peace.

It was a day very much like the former described, in its nature, where one found miss Billana curled up in the speckled shade of one of her trees, where she found herself being disturbed by an over-sized shadow. The small hobbit frowned, at first believing the shadow to be another cow having broken into her garden.

When that had happened, Billa had been distraught. She'd been roused by the distress of her garden, to find one of the females of a herd passing through, had managed to find a way into her garden and was trampling and eating her plants! Thankfully, the Gamgees heard her cry out and helped her right her garden and remove the cow, giving it back to the herder whom was fraught with misery at the actions of his charge.

Thankfully, this shadow didn't belong to any cow, as her garden was only somewhat put off by the extra weight belonging to a heavier foot of the stranger blocking her shade. Opening her eyes, Billa identified that this was, in fact, a Man! She quickly stood to right her hair and clothes, but was very confused. Who was he? Did he not believe it to be quite rude to sneak upon a hobbit – a single one at that! – enjoying their garden and not announce themselves?

"Good morning!" She squeaked, pulling leaves from her hair.

"What do you mean?" The stranger demanded. Billa squeaked again at his abrupt tone. "Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that this is a good morning whether I want it to be or not? Or, perhaps, you wish to say you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on? Hmm?"

Billa quirked an eyebrow at the questions. She had never really thought about the greeting in that way. "Quite honestly, all of them at once. How do you do?" She asked, ducking her head.

Evidently, however, this was not the correct thing to do, as the easygoing expression upon the man's face was wiped off as he critically assessed her. It was as if he was searching her and finding something wanting. Billana wasn't sure what to do, as she was unused to such reactions upon meeting people. She prided herself on her good manners and amiable disposition, so this reaction of disapproval from a stranger made her feel extremely uncomfortable and self-conscious.

"Can I help you?" She tried again, shifting slightly from foot to foot.

"That remains to be seen!" The man huffed. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, as if figuring out how to best phrase what he was next going to say. Then again, Billa amended to herself; it may be just because he was obviously quite elderly. The tall man had wrinkles a-plenty and a walking stick besides. In fact, there was something quite familiar about this man with his grey cloak and hat… something that niggled at her brain. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."

Billa's mouth dropped slight, only what was proper, mind, upon hearing this. An adventure? "An adventure? Well… unfortunately, I can't imagine anyone west of Bree would be able to oblige you, Mr.…"

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

That's where Billa had been reminded of! When she was but a young fauntling,

Gandalf would often visit Old Took! "Goodness gracious me! You are the wondering wizard, aren't you? You made such particularly excellent fireworks! Old Took would have them on Midsummer's Eve. Oh! So splendid! They used to go up like great lilies and snapdragons and laburnums of fire and hang in the twilight all evening! Oh! You also gave Old Took a pair of magical diamond studs that fastened themselves to whatever you pleased and would never come undone until ordered! My! I remember you would tell such wonderful tales at parties, about dragons and goblins and giants and the rescue of princesses and the unexpected luck of widows' sons.

"From such fantastic tales you would whisk away many quiet lads and lasses, encouraging them to go off into the Blue for mad adventures! Anywhere from climbing trees, to visiting Elves – sailing in ships, sailing to other shores, searching for fairies! Bless me, life used to be quite inter –"

Billa paused to catch her breath from her nostalgia, missing the chuckles of the wizard as he listened to her exuberant gushing, when she realized what the wondering wizard must be here for. "But oh! Dear me! Mr. Gandalf, no! I shall not!"

"Shall not, my dear?" He watched with amusement as the young lady began to scamper around the paths of her garden, he following her more sedately.

"Don't play the fool with me, Gandalf Greybeard!" She turned on him very suddenly, wagging her finger at him sternly. "I thank you for the offer, but I shall not be joining you on any adventures! I'm very sorry!"

Gandalf laughed again. "Never let it be said that Bagginses are slow to wit! Your parents raised you well. And why ever not? An adventure would be good for you."

Billa squeaked and continued to scamper around the foliage towards her lovely smial. "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things! Make you late for tea!"

"It is decided then!" Gandalf announced as the pair finally reached the entrance of Billa's garden. "I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it."

"Gandlaf! I'm sorry! I don't want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Now have a good morning! But please come to tea - any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come tomorrow! Goodbye!" Billana scuttled outside the garden gate and strode towards her home, in what could be considered a hasty but still polite retreat. Not only did her upbringing prevent her from behaving as such, but also one must always tread carefully around wizards. Wizards after all are wizards.

Then Billana had to stop herself from banging her head upon her door as she realized what she had just said to Gandalf. "What on earth did I ask him to tea for? Bother!"

Billana was sure that wizards could be very persuasive when they wanted to be and she very much wanted to avoid any adventures, if she could help it, thank you very much!

So caught up in her own musings and fussy habits, darting about the smial in order to clean up and consider what to do if Gandalf did, indeed, turn up for tea, that she missed the noise outside her door. Had she been listening, she would have heard Gandalf laughing to himself before taking the small step up to the door. There he used the end of his staff, where a nail pointed out, to scratch a rune into the beautiful, fresh green paint of the hobbit's door. It glowed briefly until it dimmed to become quite inconspicuous. Then, to anyone who may have been watching (which they weren't), the grey wizard seemed to vanish into thin air.

So this is just a really short chapter to start off with. I have more written and most of the plot line thought out, at least.

My take on , Billa, is that essentially she'd be strong in much the same way Bilbo is, confident, educated and still retain that sense of adventure as a child but have it expressed in her reading and education, etc. She'd also be a bit lady like, as Bilbo attempts to be gentlemanly in the beginning of the Hobbit.

This story is Billa/Thorin.

I'd really like to hear what anyone thinks and if they can offer any constructive criticism and/or tips? Even just on spelling and grammar mistakes. Another question I have for anyone who cares, is in regards to the quotes I have used from the books and movies, are you meant to make special note of that during the chapters? Just because I find it annoying when I read it in other stories, but do you have to?

Also, if anyone has any plotline advice, ideas or requests, let me know and I'll take them under advisement! Thanks again!