a/n: This chapter fought, dear readers, fought hard against being written. Apparently, Beryl wanted to keep this all to herself. Shame on her. Thank you for all the kind reviews last chapter. Hopefully, I did not forget anyone when replying. If i did, feel free to pm me. It was not by intent, I assure you. As I said, last chapter saw the culmination of kkolmakov's grand scheme. If you enjoyed her idea for my story, stop by her page and let her know. And now, the long awaited mushy scene:

Beryl and Fili walked hand in hand in silence amongst the flowers. She was giving him time to collect himself, and she was using that time to let her heart rate settle before The Talk.

"He's wrong, you know. I was going to ask you myself after the quest was done, and I could promise a tomorrow beyond dragonfire." Beryl's head came up from the columbine she was admiring. Someone apparently felt he needed to clarify his intentions.

"Well, that's a silly idea, because what if there isn't an 'after the dragonfire?' Could you really send me into Smaug's lair without so much as a kiss?" The words were out, and Beryl couldn't even be sure she wanted to take them back. She held her breath as she waited for Fili's response.

What she didn't expect was to be spun around and crushed to that wall of an overheated chest, nor to meet searing blue eyes without a speck of humor. At this moment, his expression was more like his uncle's than any that normally graced his own face. His arms slowly slid up and around from her back until he cradled her face in his broad palms, studying her as if she held the secrets to the Universe in her eyes. She laid her hands over his, as she waited for him to speak. He then sank slowly to one knee before her, never relinquishing his gaze or gentle hold on her face.

"I was drawn to you the moment you shooed us out of your house. I was intrigued by your independence, and bowled over by your ingenuity. Every new thing I learned about you caused those feelings to grow, until I realized that I love you, completely, thoroughly, and eternally. Will you have me as your husband, Beryl?" His words had Beryl's heart beating like a triphammer. It was real. He did care. It was a good thing she was already somewhat leaning on him, because the sudden light headed feeling left her distrusting her own balance. Her tongue had tied itself into knots. "I promise you, I will never forsake you, I will put you first in all things, and I would be your rock against life's storms." His voice was almost cajoling now. Beryl still hadn't found her voice.

"Beryl? Will you have me?" A slight note of panic had seeped into Fili's voice, disturbing the usual baritone rumble. Beryl still hadn't quite recovered the power of speech, so began nodding somewhat frantically at him.

She didn't have to worry about words, because he was kissing her, or she was kissing him. Either way, she wasn't complaining. Fili slowly drew her onto his knee. That was fine, her legs had turned to rubber. Her hands were buried in his golden mane, and she was clinging for dear life.

Some time later, Fili's head rested in the crook of Beryl's shoulder, while he regained his composure. He cleared his throat, and kissed the creamy skin. "Shall I do your braids, now?" Fili's smile broadened as he felt her giggle against his neck. He was seated on the ground, with Beryl in his lap, pretty much right where they'd fallen during their kissing spree.

"So, I get a hairdresser as well as a husband?" She giggled as she turned, presenting her unruly curls for the taming. "A girl could get used to that sort of treatment."

"Your only hairdresser and husband." He grumbled, giving her goosebumps at the possessive growl. Beryl felt the unmistakable tugging of a comb pulling her wild brown curls into order. Where Fili had been hiding a comb, she'd no idea. Quite probably it shared a hidden pocket with one of the numerous daggers she'd seen disappear and reappear in his hands. She wasn't going to worry too hard about it. She could feel him caressing her curls as he sorted them into intricate braids. "I've wanted to do this for so long now. It's almost too much to believe I'm actually putting in our betrothal braids." His voice was soft and low. She could feel the hair not yet braided lift with each word, blowing in the light breeze his breath created.

"Does this mean i'll be able to return the favor, then?" Beryl leaned and tilted her head back to grin at Fili. He dropped a kiss on her nose.

"Mahal yes." He finished off the last braid with a flourish and an engraved silver clamp. He gave her the comb, caressing her fingers as he did. She smiled as she felt his work. He had braided the mass into a coronet on the back of her head, with the betrothal braids hanging free behind her ears. She felt the designs in the hanging braids. They felt very intricate, enough so she felt nonplussed about braiding them into his hair.

"You'll have to tell me how they go." She sing-songed at him as she stood and rounded his broad back. She wondered where to begin, given his hair was already braided better than the grandest matron in the Shire.

"My pleasure." Beryl followed his directions as best she could. Given the situation, Beryl expected her hands to shake as if palsied. Knowing him, even if they looked like the efforts of a cross-eyed five year old, he'd wear them with pride. She wanted them to be something he'd have good reason to be proud, besides the requisite 'coming from his own love's hands'. Careful strand by strand, she listened, verified, then looped, pulled tight, and eventually asked him for the silver clamps to hold the braids. She hoped the loops and whorls in the braid said 'property of Beryl Baggins" instead of something ridiculous like 'I have snails in my pockets."

She flipped the end of the newly made braid over his shoulder. He could at least see that much of it. Careful fingers felt of it, and she saw that delectable mustache braid swing in a familiar half smile. "It feels like you got them just right."

"Oh thank goodness." Now she felt all the nerves she didn't let herself feel while braiding. Then she realized what she hadn't said yet. She sat on the ground in front of him, grabbing that adorable head by both ears, holding him firmly. "I think I should tell you. I love you, too. I want to be your partner in all things, the one you seek when you need help, and the shoulder you lean upon when you need comfort. All the things you are to me, I want to be for you." She really should have expected the kiss. It was, after all, the perfect reply.

It was somewhere around round three of the kissing game when they both heard the careful cough. There, not twenty feet away, stood Balin. A teary smile on his face as he saw the new braids. 'We thought you might need reminding to come to dinner. I can see that all is well?" He chuckled at the matching blushes. He then turned a stern face to Fili. "You'll need to have a talk with Dwalin and myself. We are her guardians, and there'll be certain things we'll need to settle to satisfy both custom and Law," Balin couldn't maintain it for long, though. He sighed fondly at them. "but I think it can wait until after dinner."

bubblegum13 chapter 37 . Jul 30

Your doing awesome! I almost had a heart attack when Thorin began proposing. I thought you maybe mistook Beryl for Wren, or Thorin for Fili, then when I read. 'Becoming my sister-son's wife.' I let out a freaking wail of relief, that was very very clever. You get a pat on the back.

~Thank you, though save one for Kk, it was her idea. Though she left the handling of it all in my hands, the stinker.

Guest chapter 37 . Jul 30

What! Oh you... You... Ah! Forget Beryl! You almost gave ME a heart attack! *takes a moment to breath* okay better now. Wow! Seriously though, great chapter. Can't wait to here more.

~it was the good kind, right? Right? If not, I'm laying responsibility solely at kk's feet. Afterall, it WAS her idea.

LovesDragons chapter 37 . Jul 29

I am shocked and loving it. Round of applause to you. Wren was wonderful, could never have seen that coming.

~That Wren, she's a sneaky one, isn't she? Kudos for seeing the mastermind behind the proposal, btw.