SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Adiva: Hah! My own chapter! My own! My precious! *ahem* This used to be rather shorter, but Summer insisted on more length. And y'know? She was right. It's way better (Never say I never complimented you, Summer). *crosses fingers* Here's hoping the formatting worked. Enjoy! Reviews are the only income Really Big Pencil Ltd. has, so please - give generously.

************************************************************************

My dear Bagginses and Boffins!

 "Hello, Frodo, sorry I'm late."

 Frodo glanced over. A hobbit lass slid onto the bench beside him. "Well, hello there. Glad you finally made it."

 Tooks, and Brandybucks!

 "What did I miss?"

 The Sackville-Bagginses shot a disapproving look at the two young hobbits, whispering to each other.

 "Not much."

 Grubbs –

 "Just Bilbo welcoming families."

 Chubbs –

 "Good." The girl leaned back to listen, shooting a cheery smile at the S-B's, who sniffed and turned away.

 Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, and Proudfoots!

 "Proudfeet!" Yelled a voice from the back. Everyone laughed appreciatively.

 Proudfoots, repeated Bilbo. Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday: I am eleventy-one today!

 Frodo and the hobbit lass applauded, and the lass leaned over to Frodo. "Happy birthday to you, too, Frodo. Thirty-three - you're getting to be quite ancient!" Frodo grinned and shushed her - she wouldn't celebrate her coming of age for another six months.

 Alas, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!

 Silence. The hobbit lass stifled a giggle with the back of her hand. Frodo whispered out of the side of his mouth, "Bit jumpy, are we?"

 "I had too much cider," she whispered back.

 But Bilbo was talking again. He had put his hand into his pocket and was now clasping his hands secretively behind his back.

 I regret to annouce that this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!

 There was a flash of light, and Bilbo had disappeared. The assembled hobbits gasped. Frodo smiled sadly and raised his cup to his now non-existent uncle. The hobbit lass stared at him.

 "What just happened?" She demanded.

 "He's finally done it," said Frodo in an undertone. "He's leaving. I'll miss him . . . But don't worry yourself, Chrys . . . Chrys?"

 But the lass had left the party in a hurry. That was the last most of the Hobbiton hobbits saw of her for quite some time.


LATER . . . .

 Bilbo gave one last glance at the ring, lying on the floor, before stepping hurriedly outside. Gandalf followed. Bilbo took a deep breath and said, without turning around. "I've thought of an ending for my book." He turned to face the wizard. "And he lived happily ever after, to the end of his days."

 "And I'm sure you will, dear Bilbo," replied Gandalf, taking the old hobbit's hand. "I'm sure you will."

 The two walked down the path to the garden gate. Halfway down, Bilbo noticed a dark shape standing by the fence. When they reached the gate, they could see it was the young hobbit lass.

 "Mr. Bilbo?" Called a tentative voice. The speaker stepped forward, into the light spilling from the hobbit-hole.

 "Chrysanthemum Brown!" Exclaimed Bilbo. "What in the world are you doing here?"

 "You're leaving, aren't you?" Replied the girl, in a slightly accusatory tone.

 "Yes." Replied Bilbo firmly. "And I don't believe I shall come back."

 "In that case," she said, picking up a small pack by her feet, "I shall come with you."

 "What?" Exclaimed Bilbo, again. "Young lady, you can't!"

 "I've taken care of you for years, Mr. Bilbo," argued the girl.

 "Against my wishes," muttered the older hobbit.

 "And I'm not about to stop now," she continued, ignoring his comment.

 "Young lady, I absolutely forbid you to come with me. What would your father say?"

 "He'd laugh and say 'Bring me another ale,'" she retorted with bitterly.

 Bilbo opened his mouth to argue, but was stopped by Gandalf's hand on his shoulder. "Bilbo, I think you should let her come with you."

 Bilbo looked up to protest, but the look in Gandalf's eyes stopped him. His face softened, and he smiled. "Very well, then." He looked back at the hobbit lass, whose face was stubborn. "I should like the company, anyhow."

 The girl's face relaxed, and she smiled at the old hobbit. As Bilbo turned around, facing the Road, she shot Gandalf a look of gratitude. He winked at her with a smile. The girl turned around as well, and she and Bilbo set off down the road.

 "Goodbye, my friends," murmured Gandalf. "Until our next meeting."