Author's note: *cries* Man, I love this story! JK. This is my absolute favorite to write, however. Sorry it's been so long since I updated. Thank you for reviews! :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own the Bywaters, this storyline, and the very important character introduced in this chapter! Piques your interest, huh? Makes you want to keep reading? So do! And review!

Chapter Four: I'm Losing You

It took Glory a while to recover from the humiliating incident on the bridge. For several weeks, in fact, she refused to go to Hobbiton, or anywhere else where she might see Bilbo. However, that became rather boring after a while, so she bravely resumed normal activity, and soon even managed to chat with Bilbo quite naturally. However, they never quite went back to their previous carefree friendship. Bilbo, not being an observant soul, didn't really notice, and whenever he chanced to think upon it, simply decided it must have something to do with the fact that Glory was "a growing girl." Glory was just proud that she had enough composure to speak to him at all.

For indeed, she stored up every conversation they had and searched each one for some secret meaning. It wasn't easy work, for Bilbo was (to her mind) disgustingly plain-speaking, and not even her active imagination could make "Lovely morning!" mean anything more than "Lovely morning!"

Her greatest fear, of course, was that he, now that he was of age, would decide to court some other hobbit girl. She trembled every time she saw him even look at a passing lass, but for over five years after that fateful day, there wasn't so much as a rumor that the young master of Bag End was considering taking a bride.

On the day when this comfortable state of affairs changed, Glory had gone into Hobbiton. She didn't have to beg to go anymore; in fact, most of the time she was ordered to. She was twenty-six by then, and, of her sisters, only Opal remained living in the great farmhouse with their parents. Chrysanthemum and Amethyst had held a lovely double wedding two years back, and now Amy lived in Great Smials and Chrys had set up house in Buckland. Opal, older than both of them, was horribly jealous and refused to do errands or in any way contribute to the household necessity and her own sour disposition had kept her in. So the chores fell to Glory.

As she walked through the marketplace, swinging a basket and humming a tune, she looked just as she had a few years before, except for a more serious look in her eyes and a bit more roundness to her figure. She was a plump sort, but not remarkably so for a hobbit; her red hair was unusual for the Shire and received many compliments, but, as a whole, she'd never been considered anything stunning.

People called out greetings as she passed, and she returned them cheerfully. She ran into Dora Baggins at Farmer Maggot's vegetable stall, and the two girls gossiped and chatted their way through the town square.

"Look! There he is!" Dora whispered, nudging Glory. Dora was the only one who knew Glory's secret besides Hom. She was a very organized and sensible girl, and she always tried to be helpful with the situation. "I mentioned you in my letter to him last week."

Glory smiled. "Oh, thank you! What'd you say?"

"Just that you came to my picnic that Sunday."

"All right. I suppose that's- oh!"

"What?"

"Who's that?"

"Who?"
"That girl! With the dark hair. He's looking at her!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"
"Well, that doesn't matter. I'm sure Bilbo's looked at lots of girls before."

"Not like that," Glory replied nervously. "Oh!"

"What now?"

"He's going to talk to her!"

"Well, I'm sure it doesn't…" Dora trailed off.

"Good heavens!" Glory gasped indignantly. "What in the world!"

"Well," Dora said calmly. "He's never done that before!"

Neither of the girls could believe their eyes. Bilbo Baggins, sensible bachelor, had just kissed the strange girl's hand!

"Dora, are you sure you don't know who that is?" Glory hissed anxiously.

"Yes, I'm sure. I've never seen her before. What do you think has come over Bilbo?"

"I don't know! Come over here!" Glory stepped into the shadow of a clothseller's booth, pulling Dora behind her. She leaned over to get a better look at the unfolding events.

"Look! He's smiling so strangely! Oh, she's much prettier than I am."

"Don't be silly, Glory."

"I'm not being silly. Oh, dear. They're walking off together!" Glory let out a little moan and leaned weakly against the side of the stall. "He's in love with her, I'm sure!"

"Glory, stop wailing. No one falls in love that quickly!"

"I did!" Glory shrieked.

"No, you didn't. You knew him for a long time before then."

"Oh, it doesn't matter. He's going to court her, I know. Oh, Dora, what am I going to do?"

"Now, now, there's nothing you can do. It will all be fine." Dora patted Glory's shoulder consolingly.

"Oh, hush!" Glory snapped, jerking away.

"Glory!" Dora exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Come on, let's finish my shopping. I want to go home."

Half an hour later, Glory had bought everything she needed. Dora bid her farewell solemnly and promised to find out all she could. Glory thanked her glumly, and walked off down the road toward her house. A moment later, she stopped.

"I don't want to go listen to Opal's griping and complaining right now," she sighed to herself. She turned and made her way quickly through Hobbiton until she had reached the outskirts of the town. She remembered an empty field full of daisies she'd had a picnic in a few years back, and she decided it would be a very good place to clear her mind.

When she reached the field, she plunked herself down in the tall grass and began making daisy chains. As her fingers quickly attached the long stems, her mind brooded over everything she'd seen that day. He'd kissed her hand, for goodness' sake!

"Well, he kissed my cheek!" she muttered defiantly. "That's much better."

Just as she spoke, she heard voices. She looked around, and didn't see anyone at first, but then she saw the outline of two figures, coming from the direction of Hobbiton. She leaned forward to get a better look; her jaw fell open. It was Bilbo and the girl!

She felt ridiculous; they were heading right for her, but didn't seem to have seen her. The grass came nearly up to her ribs when she was sitting down. She dropped the daisy chain into her lap and tried to figure out what she should do.

To her relief, they stopped before they drew very near to her. They sat down beneath the shadow of a tree, and she could hear them quite clearly.

"Thank you for walking with me, Miss Amaryllis," Bilbo said, his voice sounding rather tense.

"Amaryllis is an ugly name!" Glory whispered, hunching down in the grass. Oh, she wished there was some way she could move without them seeing her! She'd always been told not to eavesdrop; her mother would scold her to no end if she could see her right now!

"You're very welcome, Mr. Baggins. I've enjoyed spending time with you today. I hope we'll see each other again soon!" Amaryllis smiled bewitchingly as she spoke; Glory could see her better than she'd been able to back at the market. She was, depressingly enough, very pretty. Her hair was black and fell to her waist smoothly, without the characteristic hobbit curls that made Glory's hair a mass of tangles on windy days. She had green eyes that sparkled like the dew on fresh grass, but had a rather crafty look to them. As soon as she'd finished speaking, she reached over and took Bilbo's hand. He sat up very straight, as though a current had just flowed through him, and Glory glared.

"A brazen one, she is!"

"Well, I-I…as a matter of fact, I was going to ask if perhaps I could call on you tomorrow afternoon?" Bilbo stuttered, staring at Amaryllis' hand as it caressed his.

"Why, certainly!" Amaryllis gushed, smiling even more brightly. "What time?"

"Ah…ah, one o'clock?" Bilbo said, his voice nearly rising to a squeak on the last word.

"That's fine. I'll tell my parents to expect you. You're welcome to come anytime."

"Oh, I don't want to hear this!" Glory moaned, covering her hands with her ears and trying to make herself even smaller.

"Thank you!" Bilbo blurted out, managing to speak without stuttering for the first time in the whole conversation.

"It's my pleasure, Mr. Baggins. Any girl would love to be called on by a gentleman as handsome as you!" She released his hand and looped her arm through his.

"Thank you!" Bilbo repeated breathlessly, his eyes looking as though they'd pop out of his head. "That's very kind of you to say!"

"Only the truth!" Amaryllis trilled. "Oh, dear!" she exclaimed. "It's later than I thought it was! I must be going home." She reluctantly released Bilbo's arm and stood up. He sprang to his feet like a grasshopper.

"Allow me to escort you!" He held his arm out to her, and Glory grimaced as she took it.

"Latching onto him again!" she hissed.

"Thank you, Mr. Baggins! Now you'll know the way to my house for tomorrow, as well."

"Please, call me Bilbo!"

"All right. You may call me Amaryllis."

"As though it's such a great favor, to call anyone such an ugly name!" Glory commented caustically.

She watched with mingled disgust and relief as they walked back toward Hobbiton. Once they were out of sight, she stood up and stretched, scattering the daisies she'd picked at her feet. "Well, that was horrible!" she declared. She picked up her groceries and headed back toward Bywater, still in a state of righteous indignation.

As she stomped past the bridge, she heard someone calling her name. "Glory! Ho, Glory, over here!" She looked around, and saw that it was Bilbo, running along the bridge toward her.

"Hello," she said quietly, feeling instant guilt wash over her. Oh, she'd been so stupid, spying like that! But what else could she have done?

"I must tell someone this, before I burst!" Bilbo said, shifting his weight from foot to foot as though it would kill him to stand still.

"Oh, my, what is it?" she said, praying it didn't have anything to do with that wench.

"I'm in love!" Bilbo practically shouted the words, flinging his arms wide. "Can you believe it?" he added, when she didn't reply for a moment.

"No, no, I can't!" she said, trying vainly to sound enthusiastic.

"Her name is Amaryllis- odd name, I know!- and she just came here from Michel Delving. She's so pretty, the prettiest girl I've ever seen, and oh, goodness, she's nice, too! I'm going to go call on her tomorrow, and I've just walked her home now! Oh, Glory, aren't you happy for me?"

She looked at the boy she loved, and saw how he looked more joyful than he ever had before, and despite her hatred for the girl that had bewitched him, she loved him still. "Yes!" she cried, and she almost meant it.

Bilbo grinned and threw his arms around her. "Oh, my, I'm so glad!"

Glory froze, and let out a little gasp. For a few precious seconds, he held her close, then he stepped back. "Here you go," he said, handing her the market basket she'd unconsciously dropped. "I'm going to go home now. Goodbye, little friend Glory. I can hardly believe this day is true!"

Glory stood there blankly for a moment, then slowly kept walking. He'd hugged her! But only because of his glee at being in love with another girl. But still, that was something! Wasn't it?

When she reached her house and threw the door open, Opal's harsh voice called out to her. "Whatever has taken you so long, Glory? I wouldn't be surprised if we'd all starved while you traipsed around Hobbiton!"

"If you're so anxious for food, go yourself next time! I wish I hadn't gone to town today at all!" Glory retorted, dumping the groceries on the table. Everything had changed.

A/N: Depressing, eh? But don't y'all worry, it gets better! Please R and R!