RL has been keeping me from writing but I am hoping that it's calming a little now. Enjoy...
/ / / Gaffer \ \ \
The next day, Bilbo took his children for a long walk around the Shire.
"Mister Baggins," the Gaffer said, tipping his hat as they passed on a footpath.
"Hello, Gaffer," Liliana said loudly, bouncing over towards him.
"Miss Liliana," Gaffer said, with a bright smile.
Bilbo couldn't believe how often Old Gaffer smiled for his daughter when the hobbit had always been known for having a decidedly grumpy expression, at least for as long as Bilbo had known him.
"Would you like to see my gardens?" Gaffer asked.
"Do you have flowers?" Lily asked.
"Do you have fruit trees?" Theron asked, seconds after his sister.
The Gaffer looked at Bilbo. "Ask your father, he used to steal fruit and vegetables from my garden."
Liliana and Theron turned back to Bilbo with shocked expressions. Bilbo looked over their heads at the Gaffer. There was a twinkle in his eye and Bilbo suspected this was not the first time that the older hobbit had gained his revenge for youthful stealing when that hobbit had their own children.
"So you are a burglar," Liliana said.
Bilbo smiled and looked at Gaffer. "It seems your father picked well."
Liliana turned back to the Gaffer. "Popa stole from a dragon too. That was why Daddy fell in love with him."
Gaffer looked at Bilbo sharply. "You are definitely your mother's son."
Bilbo smiled wider that he had in a log while. "Thank you."
"So, Miss Liliana and Mister Theron, do you like pears?"
Theron nodded ferociously.
"I have a tree full of lovely, ripe pears."
Theron turned and looked at his father. Then Liliana turned as well. "Please, Popa?"
"Of course," Bilbo said with a smile.
/ / / TBC \ \ \