Author's Note: Bilbo reunites with those of the Company in Erebor…and as he might have predicted, it's a bit chaotic. Just a bit.

Reunited

"Ho, Kíli! You're back early!"

Bilbo looked up at the call. Though the sun turned the form to a silhouette, he had no difficulty in spotting the tall, bulky form. "And that," he told the children, "is Dwalin, one of Thorin's warriors."

"And Captain of the Guard," Kíli added. He waved to Dwalin before calling out. "Let uncle know we've got company!"

"He's loud," Rosie piped up before anyone else could speak, putting her hands over her ears.

"Dwalin or Kíli?" Bilbo laughed as his young Dwarf friend pouted at him. The other Dwarves seemed to be fighting off their own chuckles and Merilin's shoulders shook in a rather suspicious way as she bent over Diamond's tiny form.

"Both," the innocent young lass replied.

The Dwarves laughed, laughter which only deepened as Dwalin's shout became more of a roar. "Of all the-!" The shout cut off as a door above them somewhere slammed closed.

Kíli turned to Bilbo with a bright smile. "I think he spotted you."

"You were one of my favorites," the Hobbit informed him. Kíli pouted and Bilbo shook his head. "How old are you again?"

"Let me through!" The roar had returned, but much closer. "Bilbo Baggins!"

Bilbo, being neither slow of wit nor of feet, spun and plucked Merry up off the ground. He turned back in time to drop the startled young Hobbit into the tall Dwarf's arms. "There you go, Merry-lad!" Bilbo announced in a cheery voice. "This is Dwalin, the warrior Dwarf you wanted to meet."

Everyone stared, though Bilbo could hear Merilin' soft laughter behind him. He could not tell which of the two were the more surprised – Dwalin stared down at the tiny creature in his hands, frozen and stiff as if afraid he might break the lad; Merry blinked up at the Dwarf, still started from his sudden change of venue.

After a long moment, Dwalin managed to shake off his stupor enough to give Bilbo a good strong glare. "I'll refrain from stringing you up," he announced in a gruff voice that did nothing to hide his happiness. "I'd hate to upset the younglings." He bent down and set Merry back on the ground. "What's all this then?" His gaze narrowed on Merilin.

She tilted her chin, giving him an acknowledgment of equals, warrior to warrior. "Greetings, Captain Dwalin," she said, her voice soft and yet projecting without difficulty. "I am called Singer, one of the Dunedain Rangers of the north."

"And my companion," Bilbo chimed in. "She and a company of Elves came with me until Mirkwood. The Elves stayed as guests of Thranduil while Singer came with me."

Dwalin nodded at Bilbo before focusing back to Merilin. "And your plans now, Ranger?"

"To remain until such time as Bilbo chooses to leave," she replied in a serene tone. Dwalin's eyes narrowed and she offered him a smile. "Should the king prefer I not remain within Erebor itself, then I shall find a place to stay in Dale during our time here." Determination settled in her features. "My duty is to see Bilbo back to Rivendell when he is ready. I intend to see my duty done."

The Dwarf Captain gave her a long searching look before he offered an approving nod. "Good," he announced without elaborating further. "Then we better take you into Thorin."

Bilbo kept a sharp eye on the younglings as they entered Erebor proper. The Dwarves entertained them during the ride, but the sights and sounds of the kingdom under the mountain threatened to send them scattering as they tried to see everything. He could well understand the desire. Nothing drove home the years it has been since his quest quite the way seeing Erebor in all its rediscovered glory. His last images of the mountain kingdom came for only a few short months after their victory. He remembered those months – dark and dim as they waited, praying to any Valar they thought might listen – to Eru himself – for the lives of Thorin, Fíli, and Kíli. His memories included shattered stone and crumpled metal, cold hearths and dark passages. Now?

Erebor gleamed – she glittered and shone and echoed with life.

It took his breath away.

He glanced at his companions and smothered a chuckle. Merilin held Diamond safe in the crook of one arm while she wrapped her other hand in a firm grip around one of Merry's. Pippin would not leave his cousin's side, so that accounted for three of them. He himself held Frodo's hand while Rosie walked beside Dwalin, pestering him with questions. Kíli seemed to have Sam enthralled with his stories.

Better the young Gamgee than the imps. All he needed would be for Fíli and Kíli to go teaching Merry and Pippin new ways of getting into trouble. The twin terrors of Rivendell – Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond – had been bad enough. Hobbits could not quite manage Elvish pranks. Dwarves, on the other hand, were more of a Hobbit size…and their pranks would be easier for Hobbits to attempt. No, no, and no. Bilbo did not need any of the younglings in his care learning any new…

Hold on – he missed two.

His sharp eyes moved back around the small group. Ah, there was Fredegar behind Pippin, rubbing his stomach and looking around, but staying close. Now, where was..?

"How deep is it?"

The high voice, feminine and not at all Dwarvish, drew his attention. To be accurate – it drew everyone's attention. Outsiders might not be unheard of in Thorin's mountain, but they were not common either – particularly not this young.

Bilbo spotted his missing youngling standing at the edge of one of the rock spans leading to the throne room. She leaned over, peering down into the depths, and his heart lodged in his throat. He tried to clear it, wanted to clear it and call her away, but fear of startling her seemed to be strangling all of his attempts. He fought to speak, but someone else beat him to it.

"Well now, little miss," came a jovial voice. "I don't know that it's ever been measured."

The elder Hobbit all but staggered in relief as a familiar dwarf in an equally familiar hat stepped up beside the girl. Bofur gave Bilbo a cheeky grin as he steered her back towards them. "I think you might be worrying your folk though."

"Estella Bolger!" Bilbo scolded as the pair reached them. "You might have fallen right over the edge!"

The young Hobbit lass flinched and her lower lip trembled. "Sorry, Mr. Bilbo."

"I know you are," he sighed, as the anger drained away. "But this isn't the Shire. You must stay with us."

"Yes, sir."

"It will be all right," he told her letting his voice soften a little more. "Just…please do not do that again, alright? I do not want you to get hurt."

"Yes, Mr. Bilbo." She gave him a small smile.

"Go stand by your brother." Bilbo's attention swung back to the Dwarves as she followed his orders. "Thank you, Bofur," he said, nodding at his friend.

"Ah, don't you worry, Bilbo lad," laughed the Dwarf, his wide, welcoming grin stretching from ear to ear. "We'll make sure nothing happens to your tiny Hobbitlings." Then he stepped up and threw his arms around Bilbo. "About time you came back by the mountain! It's been ages since we saw you last!" He pulled back, his hands firm on the Hobbit's shoulders as he gave him a small shake. "And it was your turn, wasn't it? Had a few of us at your place the last time!"

"You stopped by on your way back from Ered Luin!"

Bofur waved that away, but he did not get a chance to speak before loud, rapid-fire Khuzdul filled the air. Arms swept Bilbo up and into a rough embrace. Mere moments passed before he felt his feet touch the ground again, but then strong hands patted his back, causing him to stumble even as the voice continued talking.

"Bifur!" Bilbo turned around in an attempt to ward off any more buffets. Friendly or not, Bilbo hoped to avoid any further bruising. Bifur seemed to be chuckling and Bilbo sighed. A tug at his jacket drew his eyes down to see Pippin standing beside him. "Yes, my lad?"

"Cousin Bilbo," Pippin whispered – or tried to whisper as best as a three-year-old boy could manage. "Cousin Bilbo, he's got a thing in his head!"

Bilbo pinched the bridge of his nose, but Bifur patted his arm, shaking his head and muttering a few words. Bofur nodded and translated for his cousin. "Bifur'd rather people be like the little one and ask outright. Better than them whispering behind him. The little ones need to get used to it, but when they do – they ignore it. That's what he'd prefer anyway."

"I understand, but there's a time for manners and a time for asking," Bilbo sighed. Then he gave a small shrug. "He is only three." Bilbo put a hand on Pippin's back and pushed him forward. "Pippin, meet Bifur. He was hurt in a fight a long time ago. It was too dangerous for them to take the axe out, so they had to leave it in."

"Oh." Pippin blinked up at Bifur and leaned back against Bilbo's legs.

Bilbo started to say something, but then Rosie darted forward. She tugged on Bifur's sleeve and waited. He looked down at her and she held up her arms in a silent request to be picked up. Bifur swung her up in his arms and stared at her. She stared at the axe for a long moment and then patted his cheek with her small hand. "Does it hurt?" He shook his head and shrugged at the same time. A frown flickered over her face. "Was that a yes or a no?" she demanded.

"Sometimes it's a yes, lass," Bofur told her. He lifted his hands. "And sometimes it's a no. It doesn't hurt all the time, but sometimes it does."

Rosie wrinkled her nose but nodded. She rested her head on Bifur's shoulder. "I'm sorry it still hurts, Mr. Bifur."

Bifur blinked at the child nestled so trusting in his arms. He gave a puzzled frown to Bilbo, but the elder Hobbit did not get a chance to speak. Sam moved over beside the wild-haired Dwarf. The young Hobbit fixed serious eyes on him and tilted his head in question. "Mr. Bilbo says you make toys?"

Mutters of Khuzdul accompanied the nod that came in answer to the question. "That's right, lad," Bofur translated. "We'll show you some later."

"Thank you!" Bright smiles broke over almost every child's face.

Then Bofur turned to Kíli. "Thorin's got that mess of 'diplomats' from the Iron Hills in with him right now. You might want to wait before descending on the throne."

"Oh?" Bilbo's eyebrows went up in curiosity.

"Bilbo Baggins!"

"Again a Dwarf shouting my name," he sighed. "At this rate we won't need to be announced to Thorin. The whole place will be ringing with the information." An affectionate smile stole over his face as he turned to face Glóin as the joyful, yet bristling Dwarf stormed up.

"We've missed you, laddie!" A strong hand patted his shoulder, causing him to skid forward a step or two.

"I missed you too," Bilbo admitted, straightening his jacket.

Glóin huffed out an amused breath. "About time you came back," he scolded. "You've still to meet my lad Gimli and I find you with a pack of youngsters of your own."

"Oh, no," Bilbo shook his head as a shadow passed over the children's faces. "I have only…borrowed them for now. Only one of these mischief-makers is actually mine." He started to turn so he could introduce Frodo when another pair of arms pulled him into a hug.

"Bilbo!" The soft-spoken, happy voice of the company's quietest member soothed the atmosphere, giving everyone a moment to catch their breath. "Welcome back." The large Dwarf stepped back, an affectionate smile curving his lips in greeting.

"Bombur," Bilbo smiled back. "Good to see you. You are looking well."

"Aye," he replied. "My wife spoils me." He patted his stomach. "It'd be bigger, but Bofur makes me go walking with him."

"And good for you I do," his brother scoffed. "You'd be needing help just to get to the table."

The ginger-haired Dwarf gave Bofur a lofty glare and then turned back to the Hobbit. "You all look tired," he noted.

"It's been a long journey," Bilbo agreed. His gaze swept over the children and he leaned forward, giving a false pretense of secrecy. "Do you know where we might get a small snack? The younglings have grown quite tired of lembas."

"Lembas?!" Bombur looked downright scandalized. "I can't believe you've been feeding that to growing children!" He turned to his kinfolk. "Bifur, give the lass over to Glóin, and the two of you come with me. We'll get this fixed up right away." Bilbo's eyes widened as he watched the usually shy Dwarf issuing orders with all the authority of Thorin.

A soft chuckle in his ear caused him to jump. Wicked amusement danced in hazel brown eyes as Bilbo glared. "Something wrong, Master Baggins?" Nori asked, innocence dripping from his voice.

"Nori!" Bilbo huffed in resignation. "Do stop doing that! One day you will scare someone to death!"

"The Hobbit travels across the wilderness with a company of Dwarves, faces trolls, goblins, wargs, and orcs, flies on a Great Eagle, fights giant spiders, steals prisoners from the Elf king, riddles with a dragon, prevents one battle just to fight in another one, and he worries about a simple thief." Nori shook his head in mock confusion. "I don't understand."

Bilbo opened his mouth to respond, but Bombur broke in first. "Lecture him in the Company's meeting room," he advised. "That's where we'll bring the food." He swept up his brother and cousin and hurried off.

Nori laughed. "Being head chef of the Royal kitchens has done him good."

"So it has," Bilbo agreed, still amazed at the change. He glanced around, smiling as he noticed Rosie now chattering at Kíli while Merilin looked on in amusement. Diamond shifted and gave a small mew. The Ranger looked up. "We might want to find somewhere quiet before she wakes fully."

"I should think so," he agreed.

"Come along then," Kíli gestured with his head. "The meeting room is just for the Company, so it should be quieter there." He gave Bilbo a quick grin. "And don't worry – Bombur's got younglings of his own; he'll know to bring something she can have."

They made their way down quieter and more refined corridors. Guards kept careful watch, nodding to Kíli in respect even as their eyes widened at the sight of the Hobbits. The Company surrounded them, overprotective as ever it seemed. Bilbo followed along, his hands free for once as Frodo walked beside Dwalin, chattering about their journey. Free to relax, knowing the children were safe, Bilbo turned to Nori. "Dori? Ori? How are they?"

"Oh, we'll see the fussiest of us in the meeting room," Nori replied, his airy tone doing nothing to hide his affection. "He's going to smother you, you know." A hint of concern flickered in his eyes, but the Dwarf kept his tone light and even. "His mothering instincts have been starving with Ori away."

"Oh?" Bilbo kept his request to a simple inquisitive sound. It would spur Nori more than any barrage of questions could manage.

The former thief gave him an amused look, but did not call him on his attempt at manipulation. "Aye," the star-haired Dwarf nodded. "Ori's gone off with Balin and Óin to investigate the possibility of reopening Moria. We get letters, of course, but Dori worries himself between each one."

"You've got funny hair."

Both of them looked down at the sudden comment. Bilbo sighed. "Pippin…."

"It's true," insisted the small Hobbit.

Bilbo shook his head. "It is not polite to say, no matter what you might think."

"It's hard to be polite," Pippin pouted.

Nori chuckled. "That's what I say!"

"Do not start," Bilbo spun to face him, one finger coming up in warning. "These Hobbit children are going to learn proper manners if I have anything to say about it."

"Ah, Bilbo…"

"Nori!" Everyone looked up to find a silver-haired Dwarf with his hands on his hips. "You heard, Master Baggins," Dori continued. "You leave him alone. His children will get into less trouble than all of you, I've no doubt."

"Now, Dori…"

"Dori!" Bilbo broke in before the older Dwarf could get started on his irrepressible younger brother. "I thought I asked you to call me Bilbo?"

"Yes, well, I suppose you did," Dori hemmed about the topic, before dropping it – unanswered – to smile down at Pippin. "And who is this lad?"

"We're going to the meeting room so we can meet them all," Nori told him.

A new figure stepped up from behind Dori. "Meet who?"

"Fíli," Bilbo's smile widened as the blond Dwarf blinked at the group in surprise. "How good to see you again!"

"If it's not Mr. Boggins!" Fíli laughed, throwing his arms around the Hobbit. He gave him a quick, hard embrace and then stepped back and hit him on the shoulder. "You shouldn't have stayed away so long!"

"His name is Baggins, not Boggins!" Frodo frowned up at the Dwarf prince.

Fíli's eyes went wide. "A tiny Hobbit!" His eyes moved around the group. "Quite a few tiny Hobbits," he corrected himself. His gaze narrowed on Merilin, but he glanced down to Frodo. "My apologies, lad, I was just teasing him."

"Why?" Frodo tilted his head.

"Because it's been so long since I've seen him that I've had to save up all my teasing chances."

The young Hobbit seemed to consider the idea before nodding. "Oh, that's alright then."

"Thank you, sir," Fíli swept a low bow. "I am grateful for your understanding."

"Dwarves," Bilbo sighed.

"And Rangers." Fíli's gaze moved back to the quiet form beside Dwalin.

Merilin tilted her head, dipping it in a show of respect. "And Rangers," she agreed. "I am called Singer."

Fíli's shoulders twitched and his eyes sharpened. Bilbo would have sworn that his entire body had chosen to focus on the soft-spoken Ranger.

And he was not the only one to notice.

"Fíli?" Dwalin prompted, concern shading his voice. "You alright?"

"Yes," Fíli replied in a distant tone, "yes, I'm fine." His eyes never left Merilin – who appeared more confused than anyone else.

"Come on then," Kíli urged, even as his eyes narrowed on his brother. "This is the room."

Everyone obeyed and moved into a large room filled with cushy, comfortable chairs at one end and a large dining table at the other. Shelves lined one wall while tapestries decorated the opposite side. It looked comfortable, private, and welcoming. "Our escape from the burden of duty," Kíli remarked at Bilbo's expression. Then he gave a soft snort. "Or so Balin called it. I just think it's a great hiding place when they want to drag me into another meeting."

The Hobbit younglings began exploring the room, peering in and around everything. "Now then," Bilbo called out, "all of you stop that."

"Oh, let them explore," Dwalin laughed. "They can't hurt anything."

"And they have not yet been properly introduced!" Bilbo insisted. "It is not right-."

"Here we are!" Bombur hustled back into the room, his brother and cousin following him. All of them bore trays of food with yet more food in the bags strapped across their chests. "Let's eat!" The children all cheered.

Chaos reigned as everyone tried to find seats. Bilbo noticed that Fíli managed to place himself next to Merilin, almost shoving Bofur out of the way to do it. Now what was going on there? The children distracted him before he could think on it long, but he made a note to himself to keep an eye on the situation. For the moment, he did his best to keep an eye on the younglings as they began to inhale the food in front of them. It would not do to reach the mountain only to have one of them choke on something. A few minutes into the meal he realized the Dwarves had stopped eating and stared at the children with faint disbelief in every face.

"Mahal bless," Dori shook his head. "Where are they putting it all?"

Fredegar looked up at him and frowned. He finished chewing his current mouthful of mushrooms and then pointed at his plate. "I's putting it in my tummy!" he announced.

The room dissolved into hilarity at the youngster's matter-of-fact reply.

"Rumor proves accurate for once." A deep voice broke into the merriment. Everyone turned to find a solemn-faced Thorin standing in the entrance. "Erebor has indeed been invaded." A stern expression swept the room – only to fade into amusement as his eyes settled on Bilbo. Suppressed mirth tinted the Dwarf king's voice as he addressed his newly-returned companion. "Did it take you so long to plan an effective invasion strategy?"

Bilbo rolled his eyes. "Now I know where Kíli gets it from."

Laughter erupted in the room once more as Thorin strode forward to pull Bilbo into a welcoming embrace. The elder Hobbit heard his nephew demanding to know what was so funny. Gratitude filled him as he heard Merilin step into the breach and answer the persistent boy's question.

"King Thorin is teasing your uncle," she replied. Her soft chuckle served notice that Frodo did not think her answer sufficient. "Do not worry, Frodo – the king means no harm. It is the way of friends and family to have matters which amuse them and confuse others. And it has been a long time since your uncle and his friends have been together."

A long time indeed, Bilbo thought as he felt the rest of the company gathering around them. A long time indeed.