I don't own the hobbit, I'm not that good. I do own Bella, so no-touchie.

Thoughts/telepathy

There are skin-changers and then there are shape shifters. Once there were many skin-changers, they roamed in packs across Middle Earth. Then Azog came. He killed many and those he didn't he kept for sport. Now only a few are left. But their cousins, the shape shifters, were never all that common to begin with. There is no real 'race' of shape shifters; they can be born in any race even in families with no prior history of them. This is the tale of two such beings, born to an unlikely pair of hobbits in the West, in a green land called the Shire.

"You know Bella, I'm pretty sure they only swing by here to catch us doing something un-hobbity." Remarked Bilbo Baggins, glancing at the pair of hobbits walking close enough that they could see the twins but (they thought), far enough that they wouldn't be noticed.

"They always pick the wrong time. This is one of the few moments we are being reasonably proper." Bilbo smiled, catching the faint traces of amusement in his sister's voice. After the Fell Winter, his twin Belladonna rarely smiled, rarely laughed. He thought it lucky that she remained usually peaceful. At the moment she was sewing gloves and hats of rabbit fur from the rabbits caught yesterday. One of the few things she did that was "proper." If you left out the fact that she had caught them herself.

"We should go for a flight sometime. Maybe visit Tom." Said Bella.

"Hush, someone's coming." Bilbo blew a magnificent smoke ring and watched with some confusion as it turned into a butterfly and landed on his nose.

"Lovely." He muttered, gazing up at the tall old man in front of him with a grey beard and grey clothes that looked desperately in need of washing. He settled on an expression of innocent puzzlement. Bella focused on her hat.

"Good morning."

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

"The third." Bella said without looking up. The old man made a 'hmm' sound and raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Bilbo who blew two more smoke rings before answering.

"I'd say the second. Failing that, all of them at once." Another 'hmm' from the old man. "Can I help you?"

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

Bilbo paused and sent his thoughts to Bella. Did you hear that?

My hearing's as good as yours.

What do you think?

I think we need more information. I also think he doesn't need more about us.

Agreed.

"An adventure?" He asked out loud. It took mere seconds for the twins' silent communication, the wizard likely hadn't noticed. "You won't find many adventures here. Nasty, uncomfortable things that make you late for dinner." The sarcasm in his voice was nearly invisible, not so in Bella's.

"And we wouldn't want that now would we."

"I'm sorry do we know you?" Bilbo said quickly, drawing the older man's gaze back towards him.

"Well you know my name though you seem to have forgotten I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means, me."

Now Bella looked up, albeit briefly, seeing the wizard's eyes on Bilbo she turned back to her sewing. The hat was nearly done and she hated stopping in the middle of a project.

"Not Gandalf the wandering wizard who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to light them up on midsummer's eve; they made the most beautiful flowers, snapdragons and harebells. I believe it was also you who gave him those diamond earrings who never came off unless ordered. Gave me a nasty bruise those devils." He rubbed his ear.

"I'm pretty sure it's also the same Gandalf who's sent so many quiet lads and lasses off to the blue, climbing trees and chasing elves and other naughty, improper things." Bella said dryly, as if they had never done such things themselves.

Bilbo cursed mentally as Gandalf gave Bella a disapproving look, he'd forgotten there were times when her sarcasm was only noticed by those who knew her well.

"We didn't know you were still in business."

The disapproving look switched to him, but before the wizard could say anything Bilbo continued. "Of course you said you were 'looking for someone to share in an adventure,', so I suppose you are still in business." He smiled cheekily.

"Would you be interested in an adventure, then, Bilbo Baggins? You seem to have changed, an not entirely for the better, I did not think I would be greeted by Belladonna Took's son as if I was selling buttons at the door!"

That was it that ticked the twins off, though Bilbo had already suspected, and he saw Bella's eyes flash. He turned back up the stairs and she went with him.

"I had not expected her son to mistrust her memory so much!"

Bilbo wheeled around, keeping his face deceptively calm. "I mistrust my mother like an elf mistrusts trees. And while I have nothing against adventures, I have a lot against people who forget that Belladonna Baggins had twins."

The twins watched with satisfaction as the wizard's jaw dropped. It didn't last long unfortunately, but they got to enjoy the slow realization Gandalf's eyes as he survived Bella up and down.

Gandalf could not believe he had forgotten Belladonna's daughter, though now that Bilbo had told him he remembered how the young hobbit had kept mostly to herself. It was even more obvious now as she finally met his gaze, while Bilbo had his father's golden curls and bright green eyes; Bella was nearly a mirror image of her mother, from her black curls to her name. The only difference was her eyes, while Belladonna's eyes had been sapphire blue, Bella's were the same brilliant emerald as her twin's.

"Still, mother spoke very fondly of you, so why don't you come for tea or supper sometime tomorrow? We'll see you then." Said Bilbo with a smile and the twins walked inside.

Gandalf blinked. Well, he felt stupid, but he forgot that very quickly and scratched the mark on the door that matched the twins' eyes. He did set a thought to the fact that if Bella took after her mother in temperament as well he might be in trouble, but they would need a bit of fire on this journey.

Bella raised an eyebrow at the new, glowing mark on their door. Burglar wants job and good pay; I never robbed a house, just people. Doesn't burglar usually mean robbed a house?

Don't mind it. I'll mind it, I just painted that door. I'll cook the meat if you bring it in.

We have till tomorrow I think; if I hunt today we can cook tomorrow… you clean I hunt?

To market first.

Do you really need my help? There was a sigh and Bella smiled, she wasn't fond of crowds. Then I'll see you later. There was a shrill cry and anyone looking up would have seen the shape of a hunting falcon streak towards the forest. Inside Bag-End, Bilbo's eyes gleamed and he answered Bella's happy cry with one of his own.