Bilbo fumbled briefly with his keys before opening the door to Bag End, kneeling down to get on eye level with the little hobbit who stood next to him on the doorstep.
"Well we're finally here! It's been a long walk today, but I think you'll like it here. There's a garden and other children who live nearby – Samwise Gamgee is about your age, you might get on quite nicely."
Frodo looked down at his feet, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he played with the hem of his shirt.
"I've got a room ready for you, it's right next to mine – but if you'd rather sleep in my room for now that's okay too," Bilbo said, gently ruffling the boy's hair. He stood, and pointed at the open door down the hall. "There's your room if you'd like to take a look."
The little hobbit nodded and began to look around the smial, stopping in front of where Sting was mounted on the wall. "Uncle!" he shouted, eyes wide as he pointed up, "That's a sword!"
"That's Sting," Bilbo replied as he walked over. "I got it from the Trollshaws on my adventure with Th- the dwarves from Erebor."
"Dwarves?" asked Frodo. "Can I meet the dwarves? When are they coming back?"
Bilbo paused. No, no, no, curly brown hair, blood, no, green vest, rosy cheeks, anything but that tent – he felt his chest grow tight – hardwood floor, white wa-
A tug on his shirt pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I'm hungry."
"Well let's get you all washed up for afternoon tea then, shall we?" Bilbo said, a fond smile on his face as he took Frodo's hand and started down the hall.
After afternoon tea and dinner, but before supper, the two of them took a walk through Hobbiton and the sun was setting as they walked back up Bagshot Row.
"Look, Uncle Bilbo! Fireflies!" Frodo took off, laughing.
Bilbo stopped to just watch his nephew have fun. It was the first time since before Primula and Drogo's accident nearly a month ago that he saw Frodo look so carefree.
And it's not like you're unfamiliar with this process, Bilbo reminded himself. For the first time in forty-two years the tension fell from Bilbo's shoulders as he watched the child leaping after the fireflies that seemed always just out of the hobbit's reach.
As Bilbo stood there, he wondered what the day would have been like if Thorin had been there even though he got the feeling that if Thorin had known of his thoughts he would have glowered. Hush, you. I know you would have stayed in Erebor and that I would have been there with you – but that doesn't mean I can't imagine.
Bilbo knew that Thorin would have adored the chance to raise a child again, especially one that wasn't nearly half the menace Fili & Kili were. Thinking about this reopened a hole in his chest and the hobbit's smile faltered; he was completely unaware of the way his hand went into his waistcoat pocket and started fiddling with the pipe there.
Not a day goes by where I don't imagine what my life would be like with you.
