A.N: this is not a continuation of the story, this chapter and all the following are simply scenes that didn't fit into the rest of the story for one reason or another. Some covered too much of the same ground as other chapters, some just weren't enough to continue with or slowed things down too much. Quite simply this is a further glimpse into the world I built. As far as this chapter goes, as nice as it was to see what Fili and Bluebell got up to while Frerin and Belladonna were talking it also didn't feel quite right. It would have added nearly 1,000 words to Bluebell's first chapter once I'd managed to get it all tied in, and as nice as it would have been to use this beginning between Bluebell and Fili I also wanted to leave it a little ambiguous. Both boys are obviously high spirited and flirty (Kili and his elves, Fili when he walked into Bag End with that sexy little smirk on his face), but Fili's part in this felt a little bit too familiar given he's just apologised for being rude to Bluebell. I made a few changes after deciding to cut this bit, mostly to Kili's role in it, and in the end I felt it flowed a little bit better without the conversation. If I had a beta they might have disagreed but I've been out of the fanfic game for a long time and don't have one anymore so any bobbles and mistakes are entirely mine anyway.

Fili and Bluebell talk

Bluebell braces her hands on the side of the sink and takes a deep breath. The kettle will whistle soon to tell her that the water has boiled for her mother's tea. Quite honestly, she could do with a cup of chamomile herself, or maybe just a hit of those spirits that Frerin thinks he keeps so well hidden on the top shelf in the pantry. The enormity of the evening is beginning to sink in. Frerin's family is here, they have found him. She doesn't think they expected him to be here, not if the expressions on Fili and Kili's faces was anything to go by. She can't think of any other reason for them to have come, however, dwarves are mostly ignorant of the existence of hobbits and entirely unaware of the gift the smaller race possesses.

The whistling kettle startles her, and it takes only a moment to fill the small teapot she has already prepared and take it through to her mother. Belladonna is quietly looking into the fire and nods her thanks in that absent way Bluebell has come to associate with her mother attempting to gather her thoughts. Bluebell places a kiss on her mother's cheek and hurries back into the kitchen. No doubt their unexpected guests will be expecting refreshments and it's only proper to provide them anyway.

"Mistress Baggins?" A voice says behind her and she lets out a little shriek as she turns. Fili grins at her from beside the kitchen table.

"Master Fili," she gasps, then scowls.

"Peace," he holds his hands up. "I came to apologise, for myself and for my brother." He rubs at his ear, which is quite red now that she looks closely. "We had no business treating you as we did in your own home."

She blinks, momentarily taken back. She certainly didn't expect an apology and her own behaviour was no better. Guests, even unwanted ones, should never be treated like errant faunts or scolded as though they are little more than children. Which is when it occurs to her, given all of the stories that Frerin has told her, that she just dragged the heir to the throne of Erebor (not that they have a mountain at the moment) through her smial by his ear. She feels herself blush.

"Thank you," she says simply, "but I should also apologise. My reaction was-"

"Justified," he interrupts. "Our mother would have done worse had she seen us."

"Lady Dis?" Bluebell asks.

"You've heard of her?" Fili seems surprised but his eyes flicker to the corridor where Frerin is still talking to their other guests.

"Frerin speaks of you both, and his brother and sister, with great fondness." She reaches for the tankards on the top shelf and huffs when she realises that she will either need to get the steps or Frerin.

"Let me help," Fili offers, reaching over shoulder. "How many do you want?"

"How ever many we'll need for the number of you coming," she replies. "How many is that, anyway?" He pauses, still behind her and close enough that she can feel the brush of his coat when she breathes.

"You don't know?" She glances back to see that he is staring at her. "We believed you were expecting us."

"Not at all!" She exclaims and sees his face fall. "But surely only one or two more of you are coming?" If they are here for Frerin, as they must surely be, the only ones left that need to come are his siblings.

"Thirteen of us, all together," is his response. She turns and stares at him in horror.

"And I suppose you're all going to want food and ale?" She asks in a weak voice, remembering the first arrival's calls for just that.

"We were told there would be plenty of both," he shrugs. "We had no reason to doubt it."

"I'll bet you bloody didn't," she mutters thinking on her mother's words earlier and her belief that Gandalf is somehow involved in all of this. Bluebell rather suspects that her mother might have been entirely correct in that assumption.

"You really had no idea we were coming?" Fili asks, as though to confirm her earlier assertion. She meets his eyes and raises her eyebrow before muttering a few choice phrases that would horrify her parents.

"If we're expected to feed you all I'm going to need help," she sighs.

"Whatever you need," he offers, and she thinks she sees a moment of guilt pass over his face. She thinks for a moment, having a dwarf or two at her disposal will probably prove useful and no doubt the others will be more inclined to listen to one of their own.

"Alright," she breathes. She can do this. It has been a long time since they have entertained in Bag End, and she was still a child then, but she knows what to do. She just has to make it all work. "I'll show you where to find the ale, you'll find it easier to move the casks than I will and-" The doorbell rings, announcing another arrival. "I'll show you once I've answered that," she concludes before shouting through to her mother that she will handle it.

Fili follows her into the hall. The absence of his brother is explained by a quick yell of "careful lad" from the direction of the dining room and she pulls a face. Yavanna only knows what kind of state the place will be in come morning, given the scrape of moving furniture. She's tempted to tell Fili to go and tell them to be careful of the floors, not sure she wants him following her around, but loath to send him away. It helps that he's easy on the eyes and his voice is pleasant to listen to, she supposes, and she's glad she didn't send him away when he pulls her out of the path of an avalanche of dwarves when she opens the door.

She ignores the warmth and strength of him to, instead, give the sniggering Grey Wizard a piece of her mind.