More weeks passed and still Poppy showed no signs of being with child. Fili never worried about this too much until he went to the market one morning and heard several hobbit gossip about their lack of a child. He didn't understand why this was such an important topic for them since it often took quite a long time for dwarves to become parents. He bought the things they needed and decided to visit Bilbo.
When Bilbo opened the door he was quite surprised to find Fili standing there alone. "Oh Fili, is something wrong with Poppy?" He asked worriedly.
"Good morning Bilbo!" Fili smiled "No, don't worry. I passed by and wanted to see you. Poppy is at Camelia's to learn a bit more about babies."
Bilbo's face lit up "Is she with child now?"
Fili shook his head "That's why I decided to visit you. Can we talk? I have a question."
"Of course! Come in, I'm going to make some tea and then we can talk." Bilbo suggested.
A few minutes later the dwarf and the hobbit sat in Bilbo's living room with two cups of tea and some cookies. Bilbo had heard some hobbits gossiping about his friends and could already imagine what had happened at the market. "So Fili, tell me what's wrong?"
"At the market some hobbits gossiped about Poppy because she's not with child yet. I don't understand that." Fili said with a frown.
Bilbo sighed. He knew that he had to explain this very carefully. Otherwise the dwarf would start to blame himself for everything again. "Well, Fili, as you see hobbit families have lots of children. It's quite easy for our females to conceive and give birth to children. Nearly everyone of them is with child within a few weeks after their wedding."
Fili tore his hair. "I never realised that until now." He sighed "We're married for more than half a year now. Of course they wonder why we don't have a child yet." Suddenly it dawned on him and his eyes widened. "What if all of this is my fault? What if a dwarf and a hobbit can't have children or I can't sire any? I'm sure she'd have a baby already if she married a hobbit."
"Fili, please stop thinking such things! I'm sure you're going to have a baby one day. I've heard that it often takes years for dwarves to have children and Poppy is still very young, many females of her age aren't even married. Maybe you simply need some more time." Bilbo said.
Fili wasn't convinced but nodded "I hope you're right, Bilbo. Thank you, I'm glad to have you as a friend. I think I should go now. I have a lot of work to do."
"Wait, I received something for you." Bilbo stood up to fetch a box and a letter from Lady Dis.
Fili took it with a smile and went down the hill towards his home. He put the basket with the food, the box and the letter onto the kitchen table and went to the forge.
Poppy came home in the afternoon to cook. After dinner she went back to Camelia to help with the children.
Fili sat down on one of the chairs in the living room and started to read his mother's letter.
My dearest Fili,
I'm sorry that I didn't reply sooner. The king has been wondering why one of the raven's is on the way to the Shire so often. He knows that I wrote letters to Bilbo but I tried to be a bit more careful nonetheless.
It makes me happy to read that you had such a wonderful wedding. I'm sure Poppy was a wonderful bride and it makes me proud that she wore my jewellery. I'd love to see a painting of the two of you. But I know that this is too dangerous. I'm glad that the hobbits have accepted you in their community. It sounds like you're more happy there than you've ever been among dwarves. I hope it'll be like that for the rest of you're life.
Thank you for letting me talk to Dwalin about you. He sends his regards and is very happy for you. I don't know what I'd do without him. He helps me so much. He's my best friend and we can talk about everything. The King isn't too happy about that and says instead of taking we should concentrate on begetting a child.
A few weeks ago, I felt quite sick and the healers confirmed that I'm with child. I hope I'm going to have a son. I don't want to imagine how Thorin might react if I birth a lass.
Yesterday I've been told that you're not just going to be a brother but also an uncle very soon. We received a letter from King Thranduil's realm, Kili and Tauriel are going to have a child. I was actually quite surprised about that. It normally takes a very long time for dwarves and especially elves to have children and they are married for just a little over a year. As you may notice I'm not too happy about that. I always wanted to be a grandmother but I still don't like Tauriel and I simply can't understand why Kili married her.
I've heard that hobbits have many children and conceive easily. So I'm pretty sure that you're going to be a father soon as well and that your Poppy is with child already. If this is the case, I'm more than happy for you. In the box you'll find the blanket I made for you before you were born. I want you to use it for you're child.
I hope you and you're family are well and I hope to hear from you soon.
With love,
your Amad
Fili opened the box. It contained a beautiful white blanket with golden embroidery. It looked beautiful. Fili decided to hide it in box that held his weapons. He didn't want Poppy to see it because he was sure that it would make her sad.
The young dwarf read the letter again. His brother and the elf were going to have a child although it should be difficult for them. One the other hand Poppy should conceive easily but they didn't have a child so far. A few tears started to roll down his cheeks. Now he knew for sure that is was possible for a dwarf to father a child with a female from another race. Something had to be wrong with him.