An- So something I realized- LOTR 2003 turned fifteen back in 2018! Like damn, where did the time go? Another big question- how are we still writing this lol? So yeah, here is an anniversary chapter, written in the post-story three era (it's somewhere between the third and fourth part of the holiday chapter I wrote a few years ago). Why two years late? Because life is a pain in the ass. Why now? A pandemic has the world shut down and what else is there to do. Enjoy, and take our thank you for the last fifteen years (how anyone got through the first story, let alone enjoyed it, I don't know, but I'm grateful. I can't believe we weren't laughed off the internet). Cheers.

Fifteen Years Later

Jane was the one who picked the date, for all that it was Erin's celebration. She had a little grin on her face when she said it and then insisted on it without explanation, and Erin just went with it. She needed a date to send to Niori and the beginning of summer in the Shire was lovely. Erin had other details to worry about, and once again she was in her element. Wedding planning -or renewal of vows in this case- would have been her calling if she had stayed in her world. Besides, what did dates matter when she and Frodo had already waited this long? Erin wasn't going to worry about that when it had been over a decade from their original wedding date.

It was three days before the ceremony, and Erin had been bullied into taking the day off. She hadn't wanted to, but Niori and Jane played dirty- they got the children and grandchildren involved. She couldn't say no to all those 'please mom/grandmas'. So here she was, sitting on a grassy knoll, her friends beside her, while they watched their families just below them.

Amowiel had set up a makeshift target and was showing Carla how to shoot. Carla looked up at her in sheer awe and adoration, which Am soaked up as only a pre-teen could. Bilbo was watching wearily, like he wasn't sure about his sister being around such pointy objects. Bella, who had taken to visiting the Shire whenever Niori came, was braiding Faevianna's hair. Erin's youngest had hair that couldn't be tamed, and yet Bella's patience was paying off. Erin would have to ask her for help for the day of the ceremony. Jane's brood, except for little Iris, who was asleep on Jane's lap, were playing tag. The four of them shrieked as Dominic chased them, dodging his over exaggerated catching motions.

Erin couldn't believe that their combined families were this huge, and that was even with their husbands elsewhere (Frodo was writing even more invitations, Elijah was working, and Legolas taking care of their horses- they'd be there later). Erin was glad she had waited so many years to get around to renewing her vows. This way all her children could be there, and they were even old enough to remember it. Even some of the grandchildren were old enough to remember it. Lilly, Merry, and Primula would, and Drogo might. Five was the age that memories really began to stick.

"- and then Drogo hit him, and that made Primula get in there, screaming about not touching her brother. Daisy had to grab her and drag her out, and thank God the teacher is Sam's daughter, otherwise I don't think my children would be allowed back. God only knows how bad it would have been if Lilly and Merry had been there. That would have been even worse."

Erin tuned back into Jane's story. She hadn't been home that afternoon, but she had seen the aftermath that night. It had been terrible. The little brat -it was that kid's fault, as far as Erin was concerned. He deserved it for teasing Drogo about his human sized feet- had a black eye and his parents hated them all now. There were even more whispers about their family (because the ones before apparently weren't enough already), but what was a few more?

"Your children are hellions," Niori replied, then grinned, "I love it."

"Don't tell them that! Don't encourage any of it! There are no child therapists here to help me deal with anger management issues!"

"You have my word," Niori said, still amused, "but I'm sure as hell going to keep laughing at it."

"It's not fair that you have so few horror stories!" Jane complained, shifting Iris in her lap, "How can your children be the most well behaved?"

"My horror story is that I almost died giving birth. The universe owes me calmer children. They're far from perfect, they just give me less hell than most kids. Though they've been getting worse, especially Am. Teenage years aren't going to be fun, I think."

"Please don't mention teenagers," Erin groaned, "Carla isn't too far off. I don't even want to think about it."

"Since she somehow manages to take after our Carla," Jane added, "I'm sure she will."

"We survived being teenagers," Niori said, "we'll survive having teenagers. Hell, out of all of us, I was the only one that was a hell raiser. None of those kids can be as messed up as I was."

Jane made a sound of distress, probably at the mere idea of having a child who acted like teenage Niori. Erin had the same flash of horror but knew better to vocalize it. Niori turned to glare at Jane, who turned scarlet and stuttered, "That was meaner than I meant it to be. I mean..."

Niori just rolled her eyes and let it drop. Jane looked relieved, and Erin almost felt bad for Niori, if she hadn't agreed with the sentiment so much. Having a teenager with Niori levels of sex and alcohol fuelled partying would be terrible. Then again...

"I'm just hoping no one follows in my unwed teenage mother footsteps," Erin admitted.

"May all our children be like Jane, with her first hangover at eighteen and virginity until twenty," and that was how Niori took her revenge.

"Hey!"

Part of Erin still felt disbelief that they were here, like this. The three of them sitting, watching their children playing together...this was a future she had never imagined. Part of it was Carla's absence, and the stab in her chest reminded Erin how wrong it was, even after all these years. Carla should have been sitting there with them, watching all the children -maybe with some of her own- and feeling the absolute contentment of the moment.

The thoughts of Carla made a new line of thought flash through her mind, "Do you think she'll be there?" she asked softly.

Neither of them had to ask who the 'she' was. Niori answered first, voice confident, "Of course she will. She came to ours; she'll be here for yours. Carla has the force ghost thing down by now."

Erin made a face, "Are we still calling it that? Carla didn't even like Star Wars. She hated Sci Fi."

"What are we supposed to call it? Her spirit returns to celebrate milestone occasions. It's a bit of a mouthful."

Erin took Niori's point, even if she didn't like it. Why had they not figured out a better term for it after all these years? They'd had enough experiences with it over the years. Speaking of things she never would have imagined...speaking so casually about her friend's ghost making appearances every once and awhile. Erin could never have expected that.

"If anything, I'd think she'd have more power, given the day. That one must add a little bit of magic to it. That has to be how it works."

"What is your obsession with this date?" Niori questioned in exasperation. Erin was finally curious as well.

"You're really telling me neither of you have any idea of why it's important? Not even a little?"

"Would I be asking if I did?"

"It's our anniversary! In three days, it's been fifteen years since the Fellowship fell into Carla's closet."

It was like breaks screeching in Erin's mind. Her thoughts derailed, Niori just blinked owlishly, and Jane giggled.

"Wait, what? Are you serious?" Erin asked in surprise.

"Of course! Why would I lie? I've been keeping track of the date since the day it happened!"

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"We were busy on the five and ten years, I guess. This just seemed like the perfect time. How poetic is it- an important date on the anniversary of the most life changing date in our lives?"

Erin stayed quiet, marvelling at Jane's revelation. She had known it had been that many years, obviously, but this hadn't even crossed her mind. Before Jane had said it, Erin wouldn't have even remembered the actual date it all happened, only that it was at some point in June. She had no idea how Jane had kept up with it, but she was grateful. Jane was right. That was the best day of her life, because it was what led to all this. Knowing that made her renewal of her vows even more important. It was more touching, and she couldn't wait to tell Frodo. He would love it as well.

"Damn," Niori whispered, and then looked back over her children. She didn't say anything else.

Jane kept smiling, and Erin felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she remembered. There was a bang that she had only heard the tail end of as she and Jane walked in the door. She remembered going down the stairs with a bounce in her step, announcing they were there. Then she walked through the door, more words dying as she saw the Fellowship of the Ring standing there, weapons raised at a shocked looking Carla and a panicky looking Niori. She had stopped dead mid step, mouth dropping open. Her eyes swept over them all, and landed on Frodo, whose expression was probably a mirror of her own. Their equally confused eyes met, and that's where Erin secretly decided her destiny finally started.

Jane was smiling and Niori's face was soft. Erin wondered how they were remembering that day. What parts were playing in their minds?

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Niori's eyes widened and she yelled, "Amowiel Greenleaf- Richards, don't you dare give that arrow to Carla!"

Erin's head whipped around to see a bow in her daughter's hand, with the other one reaching for the arrow Amowiel was holding out to her.

"Mother! It's fine!" Amowiel's voice was followed by Carla's sound of agreement.

"No, it is not fine!" was Niori's reply as she got to her feet and started down the knoll, "I didn't let you shoot a real arrow when you were nine. I'm not letting my not an Elf goddaughter do it!"

"Aunt Erin!"

"Mom!"

Erin sighed, happy memories put on hold as she was drawn into the argument. She got up and followed Niori, who was saying something about being a good archer didn't make you a responsible archery teacher. Amowiel was trying to pull Dominic into defending her skills. Carla was complaining that no one ever let her do anything.

Erin was already tried of this whole thing, and it had barely started. It was time to be Stern Mom, "What have I told you about sharp objects?"

l. .l.

Jane's renewing of the vows had been small. It was just friends and family. Erin's, on the other hand, was as big as she could make it. She had already wanted the large fairy tale wedding, and she had to miss out on it the first time. This time she was going full speed ahead with it all. Frodo just laughed at the whole thing, commenting that the Shire hadn't seen such a party since Bilbo's 111th birthday, which made Erin nod in satisfaction. Everyone she and Frodo knew in the Shire and beyond were invited to the outside ceremony, and the party afterwards was also open to everyone. Erin was a celebrity, though for the Shire it wasn't exactly for the right reasons, and she was going to be married like one.

"I still can't believe you had my seamstress make you your dress," Niori said as she helped adjust the material around her shoulders so that it didn't cover her jewelry.

Erin had sent her measurements and a design to Niori in a letter with a request to have it made as Niori's wedding present to her, "Elves have fancier dresses than Hobbits. This is the real version of my wedding. I'm not doing simple," her dress was two shades of light blue, the bottom layer sky and the top baby. The sleeves were long, wide, and had a swirling pattern of ferns embroidered on the top layer. It was stunning and she already had every intention of wearing it on every occasion she could away with. The only simple things about her was the crown of forget-me-nots in her hair and only a silver chain for jewelry.

"I knew what I wanted and knew I couldn't get it here," she said, unashamed. It's not like she demanded it- if Niori's seamstress had said no she wouldn't have thrown a fit.

"You're one of those people who would have spent like 20,000 dollars on a wedding back home, aren't you?" Jane commented from where she was sitting.

Erin neither confirmed nor denied that, and the other two took it as confirmation anyway. No one else was as fancy as her, not even Frodo or the actual royalty, and she could fully acknowledge the narcissism involved with that, but she had her reasons. Erin had never said it out loud, but part of her always felt like she had been robbed of a real wedding. She would never regret the wedding she had or when she had it, but it had been off the cuff, in a war camp during a war. It had been bare bones and rushed, nothing like she had ever imagined. At least Jane's quickie wedding had been in an Elven kingdom. Erin was getting all of that now.

"Okay then," Niori said, "I'd say you're done, and you look beautiful," Erin looked into her mirror and grinned, because she really did at the moment. Niori snorted, "humble as well."

"We'll see you out there," Jane squeezed her hand as she passed. Niori gave her a quick hug as she followed.

The two traditional things Erin was passing on were anyone standing up with her and Frodo. They had too many loved ones to choose from, so instead it would only be Frodo, her, and the officiant on the raised platform. Their friends and family would sit in the front row and everyone else behind them. The other thing was that she would walk up onto that stage herself, with no one giving her away.

Five minutes later, Erin took a deep breath. She felt no nerves or panic like she had before her first wedding. This time, all she felt was happiness as she stepped out into the field and then ascended the steps. All the chatter from the crowd stopped when she made her appearance, though she still heard whispers (probably about her dress, if Erin knew half this crowd). Then, fifteen years to the minute when they first met, Erin caught Frodo's eyes and they smiled at each other.

The actual ceremony only lasted about twenty minutes, and every moment was perfect. Frodo's vows made her tear up and laugh at the same time, and Frodo grinned while she gave hers. Her eyes were drawn to the crowd below them, and when Fae bounced in her seat and waved in excitement. Erin waved back. It made the rest of the little ones try and get her attention too, which made the crowd laugh and Jane facepalm with a sigh. She and Elijah and then quietly tried to hush them, not that it worked. Erin looked back to Frodo, who didn't seem to mind the interruption and neither did she.

When they were done, Erin threw her bouquet out into the crowd. She didn't care who actually caught it since she was too busy bending down to kiss her husband. Then everyone cheered, or wolf whistled in Niori's case. Frodo took Erin's hand and they left together. As they moved, people shook their hands and clapped them on the back, as though this was the first time they got married. There would be gossip later, commentary about every single thing, but for right now everyone at least pretended to be happy for them.

They were followed to the party field, where tents and tables were set up with so much food and drink that even the group of Hobbits would struggle to finish. The band started up as soon as the crowd arrived, and the party was in full swing even before everyone arrived. Erin went straight for the dessert table, not caring that Frodo chuckled at her. She was starving and had no shame when she stuffed a cookie in her mouth. Frodo joined her and took his own. Then they were swarmed by their children and grandchildren. They all struggled to hug them all at once, and they had to move away from the table so not to block the growing traffic.

"You look so pretty Mommy!"

"Grandma your dress!"

"Daddy!"

"Grandpa you're handsome!"

"And let's all move out of the way," Jane herded the children and then Elijah helped her. As soon as the kids were out of the way, everyone else walked up to quickly congratulate her and Frodo. Erin's smile was broad and sincere the whole time. She loved being the centre of attention this way.

Eventually, she felt an arm drape around her shoulders, "There is music," Niori said, "Why are you not dancing?" and with that, Niori was pulling her away and handing her off to Elijah, who was smiling. Niori then took hold of Frodo for herself.

"Congratulations Mother," Elijah spun her around, following the quicker line dance steps, "you look lovely."

"Thank you!"

They laughed instead of talked until a partner change was required and she found herself facing Legolas. He looked awkward, trying to fit his elegant movements into this type of dance and Erin teased him the whole time. Eventually, she went through them all -Sam, Pippin, Gimli, Niori, Jane, the children- until she was finally facing Frodo. Their dance only lasted half a minute before Erin had to bow out before her legs gave out. Frodo led her to a bench before Erin shooed him away to have more fun, saying she'd join him in a bit.

She closed her eyes and leaned back, every inch of her exhausted but still buzzing with adrenaline. This was everything she wanted it to be. It took awhile, but she'd gotten the wedding she'd dreamed about. Erin felt someone settle down beside her, body pressed close. It was cold, sending a shiver down her spine, and it made her realize who it was. Despite the cold, Erin leaned against it, even if she didn't open her eyes.

"Thanks for coming," Erin whispered.

"Always," Carla's voice sounded so far away, like the last bit of an echo when you yelled in a cave, "the dress is a bit much."

"The dress is absolutely perfect thank you."

"If you say so."

They were silent then, just taking in each other's presence, knowing it couldn't last very long. Whenever Carla managed this, whatever this actually was, it never did. Erin leaned her head on her shoulder and felt Carla take her hand.

"Mom?"

Finally, Erin opened her eyes at her daughter's call. Her eldest daughter was a few metres away, staring at her in confusion.

"Thanks for naming her after me," Carla's voice was even more faint, the feel of her body less solid, "now go on."

"I love you," was Erin's reply as tears burned her eyes.

She felt a kiss close to the hairline on the side of her head, a gentle goodbye instead of words.

Erin got to her feet and began to walk towards her daughter. She glanced back over her shoulder once, and saw nothing, only a faint haze that could have been human shaped. She smiled ruefully before turning around. When she reached her daughter, Carla looked even more confused.

"Who was that?" She asked.

"A friend," Erin said, putting an arm around her daughter. All the children knew about Carla, of course, especially the child Erin had given the name to, but the whole potentially supernatural powerset she apparently had wasn't something that had come up. Maybe it was time to bring that up, to see if she could get her daughter to believe it, "I'll tell you about it in the morning," Carla began to protest, but Erin cut her off, "let's go dance."

L.l.l.l.l

An- So here, for a world on fire, have some complete fluff. Happy belated anniversary.