I'm amazed that this has become as liked as it has! Makes me stay motivated to write~! (Not that I wouldn't anyway, but if this didn't get the love it does, I would've discontinued it...)

Anyway, here's chapter four~! Enjoy~!

oooooooooooo

As Bard walked around Dale with Bilbo, gesturing to all the sites and telling the Hobbit of his plans, Bard made it his goal to make Bilbo as interested as possible in the hopes that Bilbo would visit with him longer.

Of course that wasn't the only benefit to their conversation. "So...What is it like where you're from? Your...home?" There was twinge of hope that if Bard made Dale as comfortable for Bilbo as the Shire had been, then maybe Bilbo would stay for good.

Bilbo smiled gently. "It's... very different from anything around here. Everyone there is either a farmer or too well off to really bother with anything,"

"You were a farmer?"

Bilbo blushed. "Ah...no..." He left it at that, too embarrassed to speak anymore on the subject. Looking back on the life he lived before the journey, he could see why the Dwarves- especially Thorin- took so long to warm up to him. He hadn't had to work a day in his life! If he had children, they wouldn't have to work either.

The last thought made Bilbo sigh sadly. Children. Now that'd be nice...

Bard mistook Bilbo's sigh and felt a wave of panic wash over him. Did Bilbo think less of him because Bard didn't choose a life of luxury when given the option? Was Bilbo really so homesick that he'd leave the first chance he could? Bard couldn't let that happen! "So... You like the lavish lifestyle then?"

Bilbo paused, gnawing at his ower lip. About a year ago he would've said yes. Now...What could he say. "Being... comfortable is nice, but... Not lavish, really."

Bard thought over the answer before continuing. "Do you miss it, though? Your life there?"

Bilbo gave a joyless chuckle. "Yes and no. I miss my books and armchair... But I don't miss how lonely it was. I didn't really have any family or friends... Aside from the Tooks. Being one of them, they accepted me when no one else did. The only time any other Hobbits came around was when there was rumors of free food and drink,"

Bard mentally flinched at the idea of Bilbo spending years in an empty house. He couldn't even imagine what that was like... He had friend in his youth, made friends from the good deeds he did, had his wife and children... To be alone... The idea made his insides cold. "So you prefer it here, then?"

Bilbo smiled. "I do. I don't belong here, though. This place isn't made for Hobbits who build houses straight into hills and have large gardens surrounding them. As lonely as the Shire will be, it's the only place I really know how to behave,"

"How to behave?"

"That is, I know what to do to be seen as respectable,"

"Is that so important? You didn't seem to mind what people thought when you bobbed down the river, or were covered in fish, or had to come up from the toilet..."

Bilbo laughed, a wonderous ringing sound that made the bowman's heart flutter. "Yes, I suppose my priorities have changed... I guess I more said that out of habit,"

Bard smiled in return. "If it means anything, I find you very brave and loyal. If that's not considered repectable, I feel sad for our time,"

Bilbo blushed deeply at that. He hadn't realized Bard thought so highly of him. What did it mean and why did it make his stomach flip? "Th-thank you..." And now he was stuttering?! What was happening to him?!

ooooooooooooo

boom

plz review