Author's Notes: Sorry that the last chapter was so short, but I had to get them off to the party somehow.  Anyway this one is longer, so that should please you.  Also, I know that in chapter 2 I mentioned a co-author, but that didn't really fly, so this story is officially 100% me.  Well, except for all of the things and people that I don't own.  Which is basically everything (and everyone) but Anya.  Oh, FYI, Bilbo's speech is taken mostly from the book, except for the few obvious changes and additions from the movie that I used.

Ooh, ooh, ooh; reviews, reviews, reviews!!!  As of the writing and posting of this chapter, we'd broken into double digits with reviews.  That's right, ladies and gentlehobbits; we hit the big 1-0.  I know, I know, I sound pathetic, getting excited over 10 reviews, but hey, this is a big thing for me.  Muchos kudos to Obelia medusa for submitting the tenth review.  Since I'm not the kind of author who thanks each individual reviewer for fear leaving someone out and boring everybody who didn't review, I'll just give one huge thank you shout-out to everyone who reviewed.  And if you want me to start thanking individually, I'll consider it if ya'll start sending me ideas.  I would like to say however, that I'm very impressed and pleased with the response that I've gotten on Anya; I really wasn't sure what to expect.  Anyway, enough of my absent-minded ramblings, on with the story!

Chapter 4: A night to remember

            The hobbits cheered as another of Gandalf's marvelous fireworks exploded overhead.  The younger hobbits danced enthusiastically near the band while the adults kept close to the food and ale.  Bilbo walked around, trading greetings and jokes with old friends and neighbors.  As he was greeting the members of the Bolger clan, he noticed a group of small children peering at him shyly.  Suddenly, an idea popped into his head as an opportunity to do one of his favorite things presented itself to him.  He walked over to where they were sitting.

            "Hullo there," he said joyfully.  "Say now, would you tikes like to hear a story?"

            Meanwhile, Frodo and Anya danced freely with the others near the makeshift stage.  Most of the dancers were tweenagers, a few years younger than the twins, but almost all of them were friends of Frodo and Anya.  As the music paused for a moment while the musicians changed tunes the twins collapsed on either side of their friend Samwise Gamgee.  Sam was several years younger than Frodo and Anya, but that had not stopped a fast friendship from forming between them when the two had moved to Bag End.

            As the twins caught their breath, Frodo noticed Sam eyeing Rosie Cotton, who was dancing in the crowd.  "Go on Sam; ask Rosie for a dance," Frodo encouraged.  Sam glanced at him with a look that was a mixture of terror and doubt.

            "I think I'll just have another ale," he replied, and began to stand.  Frodo exchanged a glance with Anya, a twinkle in his eyes.  She caught his meaning immediately and together they stood and seized Sam from both sides.

            "Oh no you don't," Frodo said, as he and Anya shoved him in Rosie's direction.  She grabbed him immediately and kept dancing, forcing him to join her.  The twins fell back on the bench laughing. 

            Yet another of Gandalf's fireworks was set off; this one exploded into hundreds of birds that flew out over Bywater before disappearing.  Unaware of the magnificent display overhead, however, was the group of small children that Bilbo had spotted earlier.  All of the children were completely engrossed with Bilbo's story of his encounter with trolls. 

            Gandalf gathered more fireworks from his wagon, laughing as he did.  A few moments later, two hobbits in their tweens popped out from behind a nearby tent and one of them hopped into the back of the wagon.  No one noticed as he grabbed the biggest firework of them all and hopped back down, his accomplice and himself disappearing as quickly as they had come.

            Bilbo soon finished his story and the children went scampering off to take part in the other festivities.   "Hello Mrs. Bracegirdle," Bilbo said, greeting another of his old friends.  "Dear me, are all these children yours?  Well now, you have been productive," he laughed, walking off.  Suddenly, a familiar voice caught his ear.  A flash of horror passed over the old hobbit's face as he turned to flee, and promptly ran into his nephew.

            "The Sackville-Baggins," Bilbo hissed, pointing behind him.  Frodo quickly ushered Bilbo behind a tent, where they hid silently, waiting for their obnoxious relatives to pass. 

            Lobelia and Otho neared the other side of the tent where Frodo and Bilbo were hiding.  Just as they were about to step into the tent, Anya came walking up.

            "Why Lobelia, Otho; how wonderful that you made it!  We were concerned that you wouldn't be coming when you didn't respond to your invitation," Anya said, pasting a fake smile on her face as she spoke.  Lobelia looked down her nose at the younger hobbit and her face twisted into something that was a cross between a sneer and detestment.

            "Anyanka," came Lobelia terse reply.

            "Were you looking for Uncle Bilbo?" Anya asked sweetly.  Without waiting for a reply she continued.  "Well now the last time I saw him he was over around the ale kegs; probably trying some of the Gaffer's home brew if I know him.  I'm certain that you'll be able to find him somewhere over there," Anya said, pointing behind her.  Lobelia smiled at Anya much as one would smile at a bug they're about to crush as she and Otho brushed past her to continue their mission.

            "Enjoy the party," Anya called after them.  "Old bat," she finished under her breath.  She waited a few moments by the tent, making sure that they were gone.  Then she crossed her arms and called out in a somewhat motherly voice, "Alright you two.  You can come out now.  They're gone."  At that, Frodo and Bilbo sheepishly came out from behind the tent.  Anya turned to face them, waiting patiently. 

            "Thank you, my dear," Bilbo said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.  With a sigh of relief he straightened his shoulders and headed back out into the party, taking careful note to go in the opposite direction of Lobelia and Otho.  As he walked off, Anya turned back to Frodo, eyebrows raised, waiting for his response.

            "I was going to help you," he said.

            "Oh really," Anya replied. 

            "Well, it's just that, you were doing so well on your own, and I, um…" Frodo trailed off, and Anya, clearly enjoying her brother's scramble for words, turned and began to walk off, laughing as she did.

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A/N- Okay, so I really wasn't planning to end this chapter here, cause I really wanted to do the entire party in one chapter, but it's just getting too long to make ya'll read in one sitting. 

P.S. - I feel like I'm doing a lot of recapping from the movie.  I am basically going with the movie outline, because I think that it is more familiar to most people and less complex to work through.  Anyway, I would really appreciate comments on this (i.e. if I'm recapping too much, suggestions on getting around it, etc) I will be skipping as much of the explanations and such as I came in future chapters.  It's just really hard getting through this first part.  Any suggestions and comments are welcome, but flamers will be used to set off my fireworks.  So go ahead, you know you want to review, just press the little blue button in the corner.