Chapter 2-In Over Their Heads

The five hobbits gathered around Merry's kitchen. Merry was preparing tea and listening to Pippin's and Holly's account of the practical joke they tried to play on Sam, but ended up playing on the Gaffer. Merry laughed when they were finished.

"So you really managed to get the Gaffer drenched in alcohol…I never knew you two could do it!" Merry looked at the two practical jokers.

"Yes, but I have a feeling, we'll get ourselves into trouble if we continue. So, Pippin, you and Jess…going to the party! Let me tell you how cute that is!!" Holly laughed when Jess turned five shades of red in twelve seconds…if that's even possible.

"Yeah, we're going to go to Bilbo's party together. I thought it would be lots of fun!" Pippin said. He grinned at Jessica friendly and then looked at Holly in a flirting manner. Holly tried to pretend she didn't notice; no one else did. She was getting nervous that she wouldn't be able to say no to him.

"You know, that party's not just for Bilbo, I'm turning thirty-three!" Frodo acted as if he was being left out. Holly giggled at his lame attempt to get himself into the conversation.

"I can't believe it, our little hobbit's becoming a man. How enticing!" Jessica laughed as Frodo was about to whine once again, but thought against it.

"Come on, Jessica, give it a rest. I'm sure Mr. Frodo's tired from working on preparations for the party!" Holly defended the hobbit she loved.

Pippin looked at Frodo and, being the slower hobbit, didn't really take this comment as defending in a flirting manner. He just saw it as sticking up for the hobbit.

"Let's give everything a rest and go over to my hobbit hole. It's extremely messy and I need to get it cleaned up before the company comes tomorrow!" Merry was about to continue when the door opened hastily.

"Alright, who took it??" a hobbit raced through the door and looked as if there was a scandal in the air.

"Who took what?" Frodo asked, getting up from his chair.

"Your uncle's mithril corslet is gone. And everyone's been pointing the fingers to you!" the hobbit looked defiantly at the five companions and gestured for them to follow him.

"But why would we steal something so precious to the old hobbit? We would never do such a thing! Besides, I'm related to the old fellow and I know how much that corslet meant to him!" Frodo denied everything that was charged against him and his friends.

"We'll just question Bilbo then, maybe he knows who would have a motive to steal the treasure."

With that, the five friends followed the other hobbit to Bilbo's house, which was less than a league away. The hobbit who had accused the others of stealing knocked on Bilbo's door even though a sign lay on the gate reading "No admittance. (except on party business)".

"Are you sure we should be doing this? I mean, Bilbo's probably stressed out from all the party-planning!" Holly was nervous because Pippin was staring at her and she didn't want something to happen that would somehow prove that they were guilty, even though they most certainly weren't. Or did Pippin do something to get all of her friends in over their heads?

Bilbo opened the door before she could whisper anything to Pippin. "Go away. Party business ONLY!" He shouted, but before Bilbo could close the door, the unknown hobbit put his hand between the frame and the door.

"Excuse me, but I have a few questions to ask you." The unknown hobbit glared into the eyes of the older hobbit, who was glaring back. It was clear that these two did not get along well.

"Ask quickly. Then leave even quicker!" Bilbo did not tear his eyes away from the unknown hobbit.

"Do you know of anyone who would steal your mithril coat? It has been found missing just yesterday from the museum." The unknown hobbit started to cower away.

"Why, it's not missing, I just took it home with me yesterday. Maybe if you checked with Master Took who gave me the corslet, you would have known this information!" Bilbo looked more sweeter at the other hobbits who were breathing sighs of relief. "Now, if you will please leave me alone with the other five hobbits, I will surely let you live another day!"

The unknown hobbit quickly ran away, for he feared Bilbo mightily. He heard many stories surrounding the mysterious dwarves he traveled with. He thought that Bilbo was not the kindly old hobbit he seems to be, but actually has become stubborn and cold-hearted, like the dwarves. (A/N: Geez, if Gimli were here, he'd use that axe to put a dent in this hobbit's head!)

"So, my friends, I hear you're getting mighty excited for the big party I'm hosting!" Bilbo smiled as he put on a kettle of water for tea.

"Yes, we are really looking forward to it! I'm sure it'll be huge as ever." Jessica had a wide smile to show how much she can't wait to be escorted by Pippin.

"Jessica's going with me to your party, Master Baggins. I foresee much excitement and fun!" Pippin grinned while Bilbo looked frightened.

"Just don't ruin it, Peregrin Took, that's all I ask. Frodo, my dear lad, have you found a date? I think the host of the party should have one, especially to this important celebration!" Bilbo glanced over at Holly, who looked hopeful that Frodo would choose her.

"Well, I haven't found one yet…but I was thinking of someone to ask. I'll ask her sometime in a bit of more privacy. If you'll excuse me, I should very well like to go back home. I'm tired and I've got much work to do for tomorrow. Holly, would you like me to walk you home? Your house is on the way." (A/N: let's just say all of the hobbits live in Hobbiton in my story…it makes my story a helluva lot easier!)

"I'd love to. Merry, you'll meet me home, right?" Holly got up and looked at her bandaged foot. She had forgotten the whole spraining incident and was grinning because Frodo once again lent a shoulder to the limping hobbit.

Once out of earshot, Frodo began talking to Holly.

"So, Holly, I was wondering if you've found a date for the party yet." Frodo began confidently.

"No, actually I haven't, Mr. Baggins." Holly said politely.

"Well, in that case, would you like to escort the Frodo Baggins to the famous birthday party?" Frodo stopped to stare at Holly.

"I would love to!" Holly embraced the hobbit in a very tight hug and Frodo looked almost unsure of his decision to ask Holly to the party.

"I noticed Pippin was taking quite a liking to you…" Frodo began after the silence after the hug.

"How could you tell…was it the way he stares at me or the fact the he was practically kissing me mentally back at Bilbo's!" Holly stared at the ground, trying not to make it seem like she was crying because she had this feeling that Frodo was going to try and get her to go after Pippin instead of him.

"Oh, come on, Holly, he's a really sweet hobbit! I'm sure you know that because you've been able to go on some of his practical joke stakeouts. Just give the hobbit a chance to be romantic and he will. I know it!"

The two hobbits reached the hobbit hole and Frodo kissed Holly goodnight on the cheek. "I'll probably be over tomorrow, helping Merry clean up the old hobbit hole. Maybe you could show me around your room, Merry's been telling me how stylish it looks!" Frodo suggested.

"NO!" Holly quickly rejected the suggestion. "I mean, it's kind of messy…it would take me a while to clean. Perhaps some other time." Holly closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a few seconds, in a pensive state. 'Now I'm really in over my head!' Holly thought.