Summary: Bilbo has no where else to go, they cannot go to Rivendell and they cannot return to the Shire.

It has been three years since the end of their Quest, the one where Bilbo's Hurt colors first bloomed, and while on a short Adventure to see the trolls from his stories Bilbo and the four faunts he had brought along have heard about an attack on the Shire and that there have been no survivors Bilbo desides he must keep the children safe.

-A/N: Meant to fix it, broke it further first, Sorry.

Yellow-Harmed in happiness (Like Bumblebee yellow)
Silver- When you feel nothing when you harm someone


In Bree Bilbo decided that they should stop for the night, the young Hobbits he had brought along for this short trip were not used to the long walks that Bilbo now favored for his trips. Even though they had only just left the Shire the children were tired and so Bilbo had stopped at the Prancing Pony for some proper rest before they headed further.

For all their exhaustion, Bilbo could tell that the children were excited to have been allowed along with him, their parents had made it clear that they did not like the idea of Bilbo Baggins, with his high collared clothing and Adventures that took him away from his home for days if not weeks.

But Primula and Drogo Baggins had taken to letting him look after their young son Frodo when it came to their knowledge that, not only did Frodo quite like the odd Hobbit but that Bilbo's neighbor's son Samwise was Frodo's soulmate, their Hurt-colors blooming after a party hosted at Bilbo's that they had both been invited to.

When Primula had told Bilbo of it Bilbo had given her the list of young faunts that had been there and as Samewise had been closest they had gone there first to check to see if the two were a match, there had been no need to look further and Bilbo had gained a small faunt underfoot on most weekends.

Now they were off on an Adventure to see the trolls from Bilbo's tales and Merry and Pippen were along because they had begun to get the Tookish wandering feet already and Bilbo was going anyway so why not take them along. Bilbo hadn't minded, his little cousins were angels after travelling with Dwarrow and Bilbo liked the company.

"Now, darlings, it's straight to bed so we may leave early in the morning." Bilbo told the children as he arrived at their room, opening the door for them to enter.

"Yes, uncle Bilbo." Four voices replied.

After they were in bed Bilbo rechecked his pack to make sure he had all he needed and checked the supplies the children had placed in their bags at his promptings, unneseccary but wanted things, so that if the children lost their pack it was nothing they could not do without.

And then Bilbo rolled his bedroll out on the floor, pressed his lips to his left wrist and went to sleep.


Bilbo woke early in the morning and, after checking on the still sleeping children, made his way downtstairs to fetch breakfast before waking them.

What he got instead was news whispered from the Rangers, whispers that the Shire had been devistated and that there were no survivors or none yet that had been found or had found shelter elsewhere, the roads were being watched for Hobbits and there were some whispers of selling any that were found.

Not by the Rangers of course but by some of the darker characters in the Inn.

Bilbo slipped back up to his room before they saw him and quietly woke the faunts, slipping their oilcloaks around them, grateful he'd gotten them so they could grow into them and that they fell to almost drag upon the ground.

As they exited Bree and stepped off of the main road to follow the exact path Thorin had once led a company of Dwarrow and a Hobbit upon Bilbo was never so glad that he remembered the way so well, that Thorin had had no want to be noticed and had gone out of their way to avoid civilization.

Each night Bilbo would make their camp, leave young Samwise in charge, for he was the eldest, and seek out rumors, trying to never go far.

He heard that even the road to Rivendell was unsafe, that the last Homely house was surly where any Hobbit would seek aide and shelter, they could not go to Rivendell.

As the children slept deep inside the relative safety of the Troll cave where once Bilbo had taken a chest of treasure that a group of Dwarrow had buried, where Sting had been found, Bilbo thought about where he could take them that they would be safe, where none would dare try to harm them.

Bilbo looked to the east, where beyond all the he could see lay a mountain.

Bilbo had been in contact with Balin for much of the last two years. Balin often wrote him, sometimes slipping in wrinkled and crumpled notes that Thorin had written to him, unfinished and stolen Bilbo suspected, all of them trying to figure out how to ask him to return.

It had been a relief to find out that Thorin lived after the Battle and the little notes, unintended to be seen by Bilbo's eyes, reassured him that Thorin still cared for him even if Thorin no longer loved him as Bilbo loved Thorin.

Perhaps... perhaps Bilbo could finally return, not only for the children's safety and not because there was no other place. Bilbo had wanted to return to the Lonely Mountain for several months, but Frodo had begged Bilbo to be there for his Birthday Party and Bilbo could not find it in him to refuse, it had also given him time to set his affairs in order as he suspected that after arriving in Erebor he'd never wish to leave again.

He'd been writing to Balin about coming to the Durin's day celebration that year and Balin had encouraged it as had Ori and Bofur, both of whom Bilbo had a regular corrispondence with, the others being hopeless or busy, and Thorin being unable to commit to anything sound and repeating things often in the stolen snippets of his writing that Balin snuck along with his own.

It reassured Bilbo that Thorin's silence was not meant to harm him but rather he had no idea what to write or how to not offend Bilbo without realizing as Bilbo had often found some of Thorin's writings filled with apologisy and promises for rewards and trinkets, though he again would apologize for thinking Bilbo could be bribed.

Bilbo shook his head at his Dwarf's ridiculousness, it did not matter to him that Thorin would think they'd not spoken in years, Bilbo sent Thorin simple letters about day to day life in the Shire that Bilbo knew through Balin that Thorin read, and would read the starts of Thorin begging Bilbo to remain away from him and safe, scoffing at the Idea that Thorin would ever intend to harm him again.

Balin had assured Bilbo that Thorin would welcome him, sending along a proclimation copy the recended Bilbo's banishment and named him Hero of Erebor signed by Thorin as proof.

Bilbo looked at the sleeping children, he'd had told them about the Shire tonight instead of the Trolls as he had planned before the Shire's Fall and how they could not go back, could not risk going home.

Little Merry had suggested going to Rivendell to the Elves, the small thing had always been facinated by the stories that featured them. Pippin had wanted to go to Beorn to see his giant bees, he wanted to ride one and refused to believe Bilbo that he would be too big. Both Sam and Frodo had been silent, understanding more than Merry and Pippin, understanding that they were now without parents and a safe home.

Bilbo had settled them in the deepest part of the cave and it said more about Sam and Frodo's understaning of their situation that only Merry and Pippin complained about the smell.

Bilbo had searched through the muck and bones to find several small knives that could be hidden on one's person, as much as he hated the idea of arming the children that were now his, it would not do for them to have no protection should they somehow become separated.

As much as Bilbo loved Elves Bilbo knew that they would have little loyalty towards keeping his children safe, however, there were many Dwarrow that were still returning to Erebor, some that Bilbo had encountered and had been pleased that Bilbo had asked them to take letters along with them, he suspected it was because it gave them and excuse to meet a Hero of Erebor in person once they arrived at the Mountain.

If one of the Children encountered a Dwarf and gave their name as Baggins Bilbo had no doubt that the Dwarf would see the child safely to the hands of one of the Company, Dwarrow were greatly protective of family and children moreso, they had to have heard about the Shire by now, and Bilbo would not be surprised much if he found any member of his Company along the way seeking to find information on his safety.

Bilbo sighed and glanced back at the sleeping children, he would tell them about seeking Dwarrow in the morning should anything happen to him, hopefully they would make to Erebor safely.