Summary: Bilbo Baggins has been trying to find his baby sister a home, where she will be cherished. He never expected to find the perfect excuse when a wizard shows up in search of an adventure. (OFC/Thorin...Bilbo/Bofur)

Chapter 1: The Opportunity

Bilbo Baggins was at his wit's end. The heads of each family in the Shire, wanted him to make his baby sister settle down. They had told him that they wanted what was best for her, but in truth, they wanted control of her abilities. You see, upon her birth, Heather Baggins had been blessed from of the Valar. She could control the elements. Bilbo would never allow anyone to use his sister. Both he and she knew that they were not meant for the Shire. When they were in their tweens, they were forever leaving their green home. They made it as far as the City of Dale. They were friends with many of the Dwarrow of Erebor. Not only that, but they have been trained by Dwalin, Fíli, and Kíli. And they have yet to meet Thorin Oakenshield, the rightful King Under the Mountain. But sadly, he is the King in Exile.

A dragon stole his home, but Bilbo and Heather knew that he would soon reclaim it. They have heard whispers of him calling for willing hearts to reclaim the mountain. They, too, would join if permitted. Bilbo needed to get his baby sister out of the Shire before she was forced to marry. Bilbo had stopped doing business with those that want to use his sister. He had been a landlord, but due to the treatment of his sister, Bilbo made everyone leave his properties, and he turned them into farming land. He was now the wealthiest hobbit in the Shire. After he stopped beinging a landlord, he used his skills with farming and gardening and became a spice merchant.

He didn't do business with the Hobbits, but he did with every settlement and Kingdom of men, elves, and dwarves. There were very few hobbits he talked to now and claimed as kin. Drogo, Primula, Holman Greenhand, and the Gamgee family. He had nothing to do with the Took and Baggins families because of how his baby sister was treated. Heather was a treasure and would be treated as such.

He had made a vow to himself two years before his sister came of age. He would never allow anyone to use his sister for their own gain. Furthermore, he would never allow her to marry anyone that would crush her wild spirit. She had the heart of a warrior, and he would never allow that fighting spirit to be crushed out. Heather deserved better than that. He had promised his parents that he would see to her welfare and happiness. She would never want for anything.

So, when she came to him wanting to learn hand-to-hand combat and weapons training, he wrote to the dwarrow of the Blue Mountains and the Iron Hills, hiring the best weapons and hand-to-hand combat instructors. Bilbo wouldn't let her make the journey on her own, so he purchased traveling equipment for them both, and went with her. Until Heather was married, it was his duty to make sure that she was safe and secure. It was a duty he performed happily. Bilbo was the older brother, therefore, in the place of their father, it fell unto him.

Bilbo was outside waiting for his sister to return, when a tall man, and from the looks of him, a wizard, appeared in front of him. "Good morning," Bilbo greeted.

"What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning? Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on? Hm?" Bilbo was amused at the response. He was reminded of his mother.

"All of the above," he smiled. "What can I do for you?" he inquired.

"I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure," Gandalf said, wanting to know if one of Bella's children inherited her love for adventures. He got his answer in the form of a rather large smile.

"I would be happy too, but if I go, so does my little sister. I will not leave Heather here," Bilbo said, quite firmly. Gandalf was stunned at the tone of voice Bilbo had used.

"Surly Heather would be safe here..." Gandalf trailed off at the look of rage that settled onto Bilbo's face. "You were friends with my mother Gandalf. Yes, I remember you. I am sure that my mother told you of Heather's gifts..." he continued when Gandalf nodded in agreement. "Well, the people here want to use my sister for her abilities, and they want her dowry upon her marriage. They want to crush her spirit and I will never allow that," he said, just as Heather wandered into the yard.

"Bilbo, I know you hate how I am treated, but calm down. It will do you no good to get angry. I just received a missive from Dís. She said I could come to her if I would want to," Heather explained. "Well, Gandalf just told me of an adventure, and I am not leaving you here with these people. The decision is yours," he said, smiling as her eyes widened in excitement.

"I want to come with you. I think it may be Thorin Oakenshield. Dís told me he was traveling in this area with kin," she beamed. "He is reclaiming what was stolen," they muttered proudly. It was about time.

"Am I safe to assume that you will go on the journey?" Gandalf wondered smiling. "Yes. When can we expect them?" Heather asked. "In one week," Gandalf said, before wandering away and disappearing. "We better get our belongings packed, and ready for uncle Elrond," Bilbo said, as he opened the door for his sister. Lord Elrond and his kin and armies were the reason why Bilbo and Heather survived the Fell Winter. It had been too late to save their parents, and Bilbo lost a leg, but thankfully, nothing happened to his sister. He was thankful that he could still fight and protect Heather, along with beinging able to run his business.

They packed up everything that they valued, and Bilbo wrote his cousin, Drogo, that he was leaving Bag End to him. Bilbo sold his farms and gardens to Holman Greenhand and made him a partner in his business. He would ask the Lord of Dale, and King Thorin if he could start a farm, and plant gardens whenever they settled. By Yavanna's grace, no one knew that Bilbo and Heather had repaired what they could of Dale, and outside Erebor. Heather healed the land, while Bilbo did what he could for the structures.

Bilbo's last thought before drifting off to sleep was that his baby sister would be safe from beinging something she wasn't.