A/N: This is a bit of a filler chapter, really, just Bilbo getting all his affairs in order. Still, hope you enjoy! Your reviews, faves and follows mean the world to me

To say Bilbo was conflicted would be a complete understatement. That was not how he'd imagined his second first meeting with Thorin happening. Why did he and Gandalf have to be in Bree? At least, he supposed, there will be no "So This Is The Hobbit" nonsense. And if he says he got lost I'll- he shook his head. Whatever would happen, would happen, and he was just going to let it play out however it may.

As it happened, though, he had an adventure to prepare for - and part of that meant preparing for the possibility of not coming back. He had last time - but now, when everything could -would- turn out differently, he definitely did not want the whole mess with Lobelia and Otho Sackville-Baggins swooping in to steal his home. No. If it was going to anyone, it would be Drogo and Primula. They were his dear cousins, and parents to his Frodo. If anyone deserved to have happiness all their life, it was that boy.

So Bilbo sat down in his study and got out a long scroll of parchment and dipped his quill into the inkwell. It was an action very familiar to him, though he was more accustomed to it being for his book and his poems and songs than for any sort of legal document. For all that he had been a very respectable Baggins before, he had never been very organized on that count, seeing as he'd avoided all thoughts of death - perhaps unwisely, considering the fate of his own family. Now he did not have the excuse of being taken by surprise. He knew the dwarves would come, and he knew how dangerous their journey would be, and had no doubt that he would be stepping between them and danger at every opportunity. Scratching his chin with his free hand, he thought about what to write. A letter to the Thain seemed appropriate.

Dear Gerontius Took, Thain of the Shire, and my dear grandfather,

I have decided to go on an adventure. It has been a long time in coming, and I feel it will do me good. However, it is not quite the run of the mill adventure that my mother would go on. No. This is a quest, to help a people reclaim a homeland long lost. Gandalf has enlisted my assistance in the aid of a band of dwarves who wish to save their mountain from a dragon. There will be many perils which we will face, even on the journey there, and so I am not certain if I shall ever return. I know it shall upset you to see me go, and it will grieve me to leave you, but you and I both know that there is not truly a place for me in the Shire any longer. It has long since ceased to be home. I dream of mountains and forests and the cool green sea. I will go East with these dwarves, and give them what little help I can. Maybe they'll even tell stories about me, just like old Bullroarer, eh? At any rate, I believe Gandalf means to pass through Rivendell on our way, and I should very much like to meet the elves that so often I sought in the woods.

In case you seek to stop me - and I do hope you won't, for it would be a fool's errand - these dwarves have lost much. Their home, their families. They have sought work in places far below their station because they are looked down upon and called greedy. Greedy! When their children are starving! I had one of them as my guest this last night and he expected to have to PAY me for dinner, the poor fool. Can you imagine? Making guests pay for dinner? As if the house was some sort of inn. The very idea! Oh, don't you mind, he was very polite, but a backwards sort of fellow. And I had to give him a map so he could find his way back to Bag End with his companions. No sense of direction above ground, dwarves. But I find myself moved by their plight. They have wandered for so long, but could not find a true home in the West. Their eyes long for the Lonely Mountain, grandfather, as deeply as a heartsick elf would gaze out to sea. I must help them, or perish in the attempt. Do not weep, though, I shall be glad to finally see the world beyond my books - even if it does mean facing a dragon.

Yours affectionately,

Bilbo Baggins, of Bag End

P.S. I have attached to this my Will, if only to make sure that Lobelia keeps her sticky paws off my silverware, minx that she is.

P.P.S. Try not to worry too much, dear old fellow. I'm half a Took, with the good sense of a Baggins. I'll be alright. This is just in case.

Lifting the quill from the parchment, he sighed. He hadn't said nearly all that he had wanted to, but he couldn't really, could he? And it was more warning than he'd given the first go around. But now he had actually to write his will.

It was difficult, but in the end, he ended up leaving most of it to Primula and Drogo, and "any children they might decide to have", whilst making some provision for Hamfast. After all, Sam and Frodo still had to end up best friends. He left a little token to the parents of Merry and Pippin as well. Oh, how dearly he had loved those mischief makers when they were children, those bright smiles and the way they always spoke in sync. It was always "merry and pippin" never one without the other, and it had always reminded him of two very dear dwarflings. He had wondered at one point if it was them reincarnated, but no, he didn't quite think so. For one thing, Pippin had never been any good with a bow. He briefly wondered if he'd ever get a chance to tell them his stories this time around?

He shoved his melancholy thoughts aside. They would not do him any good. He decided he would go and visit his grandfather himself to give him the letter. It had been quite a while since he had seen the Old Took, and even longer since he had spoken to him. Not through malice, but simple negligence on both parts. Gerontius had many, many relatives, and keeping up with them all was simply impossible. So Bilbo decided to set out for Tookborough with letter in hand.

He hadn't quite expected to see Gandalf just as he was opening the door to go out.

"My dear fellow! Where are you off to?" The old wizard asked, leaning against his staff as if he really was just an old man with a bad back. Bilbo closed the door behind him before answering.

"To visit my grandfather, Gandalf. Would you very much mind accompanying me? I do suppose I'll need an extra witness for my will." The wizard frowned at him before nodding thoughtfully.

"I suppose this is all very sensible of you" He conceded, though he looked worried.

"Well, I can't very well come back to find them auctioning off my silverware. Imagine if Lobelia got Bag End" He shuddered at the memory of it, and Gandalf chuckled at him.

"Perish the thought, my dear Bilbo. And it has been a long while since I have seen Gerontius. I am not sure he shall be glad to see me."

"He should not blame you. You did what you could. Shadows grow in all corners of the world, and a wizard's work is never done, nor is it ever easy." He patted his friend on the back and smiled sadly. Gandalf looked quite touched by his words. Bilbo continued, "And if he does, grandfather or no, I will punch him." At that, the wizard let out a startled laugh.

"You are certainly not the hobbit I expected, Master Baggins." The wizard mused as they walked through the peaceful, grass covered hills of Hobbiton. They got a few strange looks, but folks otherwise left them to their own business.

"Indeed not, Gandalf. But... Thorin and his people have lost their home, and... and I will help them take it back if it is within my power to do so. Add to that, dragons are not familiar with the scent of hobbits. I doubt Smaug has ever been this far West, even in his youth. I pray that he never gets the chance to. Orcs were bad enough... but a dragon. Still, I'm letting my imagination get away with me. Was there a reason you came to my door today?"

"What? Ah, yes, there was. I meant to ask you something. Can I trust you with a very important fear of mine?"

"I am only a hobbit, Gandalf." Bilbo protested, "but if you wish to impart it to me, I shall never break your confidence. I am a Baggins, after all." The wizard nodded.

"There is someone who I once counted a very dear friend. I fear that he ... that something has changed." The worried frown that the wizard wore made Bilbo wary.

"Is this friend another wizard?" Startled, Gandalf could do nothing but nod.

"Well... keep up the appearance of friendship, even if it seems his actions are... less wise than you are accustomed to - do not let him see your suspicions. Power corrupts, and great power even more so - be wary. That is why hobbits are a peaceful folk. We do not seek, nor need power."

"You are wise beyond your years, Bilbo, and your counsel is most appreciate it. And somehow, I believe you know exactly whom I refer to." Wise beyond my years? No Gandalf, I earned my wisdom throughmy years.

"Come along, then, we're nearly at Tookborough. Grandfather won't be happy, but he won't stop me, either."

They stopped by the door of his smial and knocked. It took the Old Took a good long while to answer, but when he saw Bilbo he embraced him.

"Ah, it is good to see you, my boy. How have you been keeping? The last few months I've been hearing some rather odd things about you. What does a hobbit need knives and swords for?"

"To defend oneself. Naturally. That is what weapons are for, you know-"

"WIZARD HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE. IT'S YOUR FAU-" Bilbo slapped his grandfather and growled.

"ENOUGH. You really blame yourself, but Gandalf is a convenient scapegoat. Yes, he arrived late, but he actually came. He has more of Middle-Earth to watch over than just the Shire, so if I hear one more word against him out of your mouth, I'll have a few more worse for you." Bilbo did not yell, except that first word. His voice was dangerously quiet, and the Old Took stepped back, wary of his grandson.

"Look, the only reason I came here was to give you this. And since Gandalf appeared as well, I would like you both to sign my will as witnesses as I am going on an adventure and do not know if I will return. So I'd really rather have everything in order before I go."

"But Bilbo... you can't... you-"

"I must." Bilbo countered, holding the old hobbit's gaze. Gerontius looked away first, sighing sadly.

"I've seen that look before, on your mother." He shook his head. "Alright, alright. There'll be no stopping you, and you're a grown hobbit, capable of his own decisions, even if they're damn fool ones." Bilbo beamed at him and grasped him in a firm, but gentle embrace, even touching his forehead gently with his own. Gandalf looked on, quietly amused.

"That's quite the dwarfish gesture, Bilbo, my lad. I think you'll fit right in with them."

"Yes, well, not if they start dancing on my table."

The Old Took led them into his study and both he and Gandalf witnessed Bilbo's will, after reading through to making sure it was all in order, and they left his grandfather to read the letter in peace, then made their way up to Bag End, where Bilbo invited Gandalf to come and have a little afternoon tea.

"Watch that chand-" But Gandalf had already hit his head off of it, and Bilbo smiled a little secret smile, because no matter what universe he was in, and no matter how many times he might have to relive everything (and by Eru he hoped it was only the once) there were some irrefutable things that would always stay the same.