Bilba tried to salvage the rest of the day, her happy mood of dis-morning leaving her entirely. Hamfast seemed to notice this and didn't try to make idle conversation while he helped her stretch hot wire on the lower twenty. The chore helped Bilba work out her frustration at Lobelia and Gandalf as she used this anger on the post digger, using her weight to bring the metal tube down. By the time they went back to the farm, Bilba had a nice burn that came from a hard day's work.

"We'll finish up the rest tomorrow, Hamfast, tell Bell and the children hi for me" she said as she wished Hamfast a good evening.

"You sure you don't want to come down for supper?" asked Hamfast, "Bell would love to have you, and the kids would be happy to see you again."

Bilba smiled at the thought of Hamfast's five children, who more often than not called her Aunty Bilba, but she politely declined. "Not tonight Ham, I have a bath tub that is calling me, than I think I'll end up curled in front of the fire place with a good book, maybe later this week."

Hamfast just smiled and waved good-bye as he got into his truck and drove home leaving Bilba all alone. Sighing slightly he headed into her quiet house. It was hard to remember when the house used to be so full of laughter, but now she glided around it like a ghost. After her mother's accident she had tried to make a lot of noise to fill the house afraid of the silence, now it wrapped around her like an old friend. The pictures on the wall were the only evidence that the house used to have more than one person in it.

She found herself running a hand along the wall as she walked to the bathroom, Gandalf's words echoing in her head. A part of her longed to join Gandalf on this Circuit that he had mentioned, but her heart wouldn't allow her to make that mistake again. With these thoughts running through her mind she couldn't enjoy her bath and got out quickly. Seeing no point in getting dressed up again, she slipped into her night cloths of gym shorts and an extra-large t-shirt that hung like a dress on her. As evening began to fall the air had gotten chiller, winter still hanging on. She went into the living room with the fireplace and quickly started a merry fire; she grabbed one of the many quilts that she had lying around and wrapped it around herself. She snuggled deeper into her cover as she watched the flames leap and dance around, she considered getting up and making something but she was too comfortable to move. She started to doze on the couch when she was jolted awake by a pounding on her door. Her eyes flew up to the clock, the time of 6:00 peered down at her. She quickly stood up when the pounding started again, she untangled herself from her blankets and headed to the front door, wondering who it was. It was a Tuesday night and Hamfast would have called before he just came over, and if it was family they would have just come in, unless it was Lobelia.

With that in mind, Bilba cautiously opened the door halfway, keeping a firm grip on the door and making her body block off the rest. She startled at who was on the other side. The man was easily six feet tall, his head was completely bald, while his face was covered in a beard that came to his chest. He was wearing a gray plaid button down shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and the bared skin was covered in tattoos. His mouth was set in a frown as he looked down at her.

"Are you Bilba Baggins?" he asked, peering down at the woman, who was looking at him in shock, she seemed to recover quite quickly as she nodded.

"Yes, I am and who are you?" she asked politely not budging the door an inch.

"Dwalin Fundinson, at your service" said the man, bowing his bald head at the woman in lieu of a hand shake. Dwalin was hiding his shock at the sight of this woman. She could barely be over five feet tall, with a petite form. She was dressed in a pair of sport shorts and a loose fitting t-shirt, her hair, which he would call bronze, was in a ponytail. She was looking at him suspiciously; her hand gripped the door hard as her knuckles turned white.

Bilba nodded back but still didn't budge even though Dwalin was looking expectantly at her, with annoyance beginning to show on his face. Bilba calmly looked him in the face, "If you don't mind my asking, but what is your business on my farm Mr. Fundinson?

Dwalin looked at her confused, hadn't Gandalf explained anything to this woman. "Gandalf sent me."

"Gandalf sent you?" When Dwalin nodded again watching with enjoyment as Bilba's face slowly began to get red, Bilba swore much to his amusement, he liked this small woman's spunk, it wasn't often that someone wasn't intimidated by his size and looks.

"That sneaky bastard," she muttered, opening the door wide for Dwalin to enter. "Please come in then, and maybe you can explain what is going on." She was about to shut the door when she heard a truck come turning down her lane, she leaned out and took in the strange truck heading towards her house. "Friends of yours" she called over her shoulder. Dwalin stopped his inspection of the house to return to her side and glance out the open door to the truck that had come to stop next to his.

He smiled as he caught sight of who was driving. "Aye lassie, that would be my brother Balin."

Bilba upon hearing that this man was Dwalin's brother expected another tall, bald, and tattoo person. She could tell as he exited the truck that he was shorter than his brother. His hair was completely white, although he didn't appear to be old enough for it. Also like his brother he had a beard, as white as his hair, though his was shorter coming only about an inch or two off his chin. He paused beside his truck and Bilba was surprised as two children came crawling out from the other side. Bilba face morphed into a soft smile as she looked at the two boys, she had a big soft spot for children.

"Mister Dwalin" cried the younger of the two boys, his messy brown hair flying back as he launched himself onto the older man. Following behind him was an older boy with blond hair that also launched himself on top of Dwalin much to Bilba's amusement. It took a clearing of someone's throat to tear her eyes off of the sight and turn towards the last man in the group.

"Evening Ms. Baggins, I am Balin Fundinson" said the man holding out his hand. She could see wisdom and kindness in his brown eyes. As she shook his hand, she couldn't help but compare him to her grandfather Took, he had the same air about him as this Balin did, a grandfatherly feel.

"Evening Mr. Fundinson, please come in" she said politely opening the door fully to allow the men folk inside her home. She was glad to see that the boys had been taught to wipe there feet before entering her home, though she couldn't say that for the older to men. It was only after a pointed glare that rekindled her anger, they took the hint and wiped there feet before venturing further into the house. Balin managed to keep a firm grip on the two boys, making sure that they didn't run off.

"Ms. Baggins, allow me to introduce my cousins,this is Fili, and this is Kili Durin," introduced Balin his hands firm on the boys shoulders. Bilba's anger fizzled as she looked at the boys, it was no fair that she could never be angry when there were children about. Smiling she leaned down and offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you Fili, Kili, I'm Bilba Baggins"

Kili looked up at her with eyes that reminded her to much of her Took cousins. "Nice to meet you Ms. Boggins" he said sweetly. Balin sighed slightly shaking his head, he opened his mouth to apologize to their host but stopped at the smile on her face.

"None of that now, you can call me Bilba" she said gently, "Do you boys want to know a secret?"

Fili and Kili shared a look briefly before nodding eagerly, latching onto her hands she lead them into the kitchen, the Fundinsons could hear her voice as she revealed the secret. "There's seems to be a jar in my kitchen that is full of cookies, but you can't tell anyone which jar it is or a cookie monster will eat them all."

Balin chuckled at the look of loss on his brother's face as he realized he would be missing out on cookies. Dwalin pouted at him for a moment before grinning. "I see you were the ones to bring the twin terrors," chuckled Dwalin, sharing a look with Balin.

"Yes, I wanted them to get something to eat while its hot," Balin chuckling along with Dwalin. "Knowing Thorin, he'll get lost on some back road a few times before finding his way here, I just hope the others get here soon" Both were too busy chuckling that they missed their host pausing in the doorway to her living room as she gave the boys permission to watch her T.V.

Fortunately neither missed how she rounded on them, "Excuse me, did you say you're expecting more people to show up at my house?!" demanded Bilba her eyes flashing.

Balin and Dwalin looked at each other, and slowly nodded "Yes lass, didn't Gandalf tell you we were coming?"

"No that sorry old codger didn't, how many am I to expect?" demanded Bilba with her hands on her hips, staring down Dwalin and Balin despite the height difference. Fili and Kili were ignoring them sitting in front of the television munching the cookies that Bilba had given them.

Balin cleared his throat gently, "There will be ten more showing up, along with us four, so fourteen in all."

Bilba's eyes narrowed, "They are expecting supper I take it?"

Balin nodded hesitantly, "Yes, that is what Gandalf told us when he called us this afternoon."

Bilba closed her eyes and breathed deep through her nose trying to calm down before she opened her eyes again. Dwalin and Balin had the decency to look sorry, but Bilba had no time for that. She had fourteen guest that would be showing up soon and she had a feeling they would be bringing their appetites. Without a backwards glance she swept into her kitchen, turning on her oven to pre-heat, before taking in what she had in her cupboard.

She was immensely grateful she had just went to the grocery store the day before, she grabbed what she needed and laid it out on the table. She was going to cook a proper homemade meal. She then went to her freezers, grabbing a couple bags of chicken and the two pans of lasagna she had made then froze. Returning back to the kitchen she was surprised to see Dwalin and Balin still standing there, shoeing them out of the kitchen she began to work, though neither went far as they watched her work around the kitchen.

She ignored them as she threw the chickens in a bowl, running hot water over them to de-thaw. She grabbed the pot roast she had dethawing in the fridge and put it into a pot, pouring in a half a litter of coke and making sure to rub it down with a BBQ rub. Next she went to her basement and gathered a bucket of potatoes, while also grabbing a few jars of fruit. Grabbing a knife, she skillfully began to peal the mountain of potatoes.

Bilba was glad she had thrown more than one dinner for her family, otherwise cooking for fourteen would have been a challenge, but it was nothing compared with cooking for close to thirty as was the case with the Took family. She was a whirl, making Balin and Dwalin astonished as they watched from the doorway as she went here and there seasoning, peeling, and frying. The house was soon a mixture of smells from fried chicken, lasagna, roast, potatoes, and fresh rolls. Bilba was thankful that when her father had redone the kitchen he had installed two ovens, one regular one and a smaller one that was installed in the wall. The smaller one was where she deposited the cooked products to keep them warm.

She instructed Balin and Dwalin where they could find folding tables and chairs to add to her dining room table. So when the clock struck seven thirty, came around Bilba had the food prepared, the excess dishes washed, and the dining room set, she had even managed to sneak upstairs and change out of her night where and into some jeans and a sweatshirt. When she returned, she made work of her wooden spoon, slapping Dwalin's hand away from trying to sneak food away. Balin had to snicker at his brother sitting in the living room, nursing his red knuckles. He was impressed at this Ms. Baggins that had made what looked and smelled like a wonderful dinner in just a few hours despite how it was clear she was not expecting them. He was almost looking forward to the conformation between her and Gandalf; it was promising to be a good one if the lasses mumbling was taken into account. It would serve the older man right to throw the Company at this girl without any warning, especially if Thorin proved to be difficult about the whole thing.

He looked again at the pictures that adored the wall, most showed what he guessed as child Bilba riding horses with an older woman and sometimes a man that Balin believed to be her mother and father. Most were of a young Bilba, with only a few of a teenager Bilba and then they stopped. There was no pictures of Bilba recently, none with a husband, or children and as Balin looked around the house it appeared Bilba lived here all by herself. He paused when he heard the voices of his young charges and glanced through the doorway to see the boys standing in front of their host.

"Can we have one more cookie Bilba, please?" asked Fili, doing his best doe eyes, while Kili did his best puppy eyes. Balin didn't even have to see his face to know what he was doing, he had seen those Durin blue eyes work their charm before, and Kili's brown ones resembled a kicked puppy when he turned them onto the intended victim. Though Bilba didn't seem to have children of her own, she seemed to have a lot of experience with young ones with the way she handled them. He could see the laughter in her eyes as she looked down at them with her hands on her hips.

"I will split one between you, I don't want you to ruin your appetite before you've had supper." Bilba laughed out loud as the boys clutched at her legs thanking her over and over again, Bilba just smiled and crab walked back to the kitchen as the boys refused to let go. As she reached the canister that held the cookies she heard a slight movement behind her. Glaring over her shoulder she watched Dwalin looked hungrily at the canister as she lifted a chocolate cookie out of it and broke it in half giving each boy half. Bilba had seen the look on Dwalin's face on many other people faces and she knew that her cookies wouldn't be safe. She jumped slightly when there came a pounding from her front door.

"That would the door lass" pointed out Dwalin as he leaned against the doorway, eyeing the canister that she had pulled the cookie from, confident that he would be able to liberate a few cookies while she went to answer it without being smacked by a wooden spoon. Bilba couldn't help the smirk that spread across her face as she eyed him.

"Oh I heard it" she said sweetly, wiping her hands she made her way towards to door, making sure to grab the canister of cookies as she made her way out of the kitchen. She savored the look on Dwalin's face as his eyes followed the cookie canister, realizing his plan wouldn't quite work. Her smirk vanished as she reached the front door and opened it barely avoiding becoming a pancake as a pile of men fell into her doorway. She took in the pile of plaid that now decorated her front hallway before her gaze fell on the only person that hadn't fallen. She literaly growled as she stepped over the fallen bodies with a polite 'excuse me' before she grabbed Gandalf by his grey beard and pulled the door shut behind her.

"You have a lot of explaining to do you old coot, why in the hell is my house being invade by a bunch of men!" she demanded, anger rolling off of her in waves though she kept her voice down. "This is not what I meant when I invited you over for supper later this week and when I invited you I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you to bring fourteen extra guests with you. What is wrong with you! Sending such a number without even a warning! What if I hadn't enough food on hand! You're lucky that a few members of this group arrived an hour and a half early and was able to explain to me that I was expected to have supper ready for fourteen men or else it would have just been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the lot of them." At the end of each sentence Bilba tugged Gandalf's beard lower and lower until Gandalf's face was level with hers.

"Now Bilba if you would just let me explain," started Gandalf from his hunched position. Bilba looked so much like her mother in that moment that it wasn't funny, and an angry Belladonna wasn't someone you trifled with and it would seem that her daughter had inherited her temper as Bilba's face turned a lovely shade of red.

"Don't Gandalf, just don't I'm not in the mood for when you explain things and by the end you have explained nothing. Is this about the Circuit you mentioned?"

Gandalf looked like he wanted to deny this but he sighed defeatedly and shook his head as much as he could with his beard still firmly clutched in Bilba's fist. "Yes my dear it is"

She released his beard, much to his relief, her eyes were hard as she looked up at him. "I told you Gandalf, no! I will feed this group but after that I want them gone" she said throwing her free hand in the air. Gandalf chose to retreat a few steps, his hand coming to rub at his chin the other leaning on his cane.

"That is all I can ask, except one thing. Why do you have a canister under your arm?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Bilba scowled at him, "I have to protect my cookies from that Dwalin Fundinson, I saw him eyeing it when I gave those boys some and I already had to smack his hand when he tried to steal food before it was served."

Gandalf let out a chuckle, "Wise choice, Dwalin is rather found of his sweets."

Bilba gave him a small smile as she hugged the canister close before beckoning Gandalf. "We might as well go back in, who knows what a bunch of men is doing to my clean house and who knows they could be as bad as the Tooks and have half the supper eaten already."

"If they are anything like the Tooks, then we are indeed having a merry gathering" smiled Gandalf as he followed the young woman back into the house.

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