Megan walked through the round hobbit hole. She could hear the morning birds outside as the world woke up. Bilbo would be waking quite soon to make his first breakfast along with hers.

It had been a year sense she had landed in the old forest from a stupid crack in the sidewalk. She laughed to herself, remembering the frantic run to the office. As a journalist, she knew the importance of keeping deadlines, but had failed to wake up in time for work that morning. She had to put together a news package on a shooting downtown. The damn media seemed obsessed with shootings, as if nothing else happened in America. She normally tolerated reporting on shootings, but loathed them after the death of her best friend James who had fallen in with a gang.

It was yet another nameless Black person that had not caught the media's attention. She shuddered, imagining the bang of the gun that cut off the life of her best friend. How many more deaths would her fellow black Americans have to suffer before the country decided to wake from its sleep? She didn't want to think about it, but as a journalist, it was her job to cover these stories.

Being objective and neutral was a blessing. It helped her shove her grief to the back of her mind. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought of James. How he was always helping those in need, willing to give the clothing off his back if it would keep one more person from suffering.

"Miss Megan, are you well?" Bilbo's concerned voice sounded from behind her.

"I-I am fine," said Megan.

"You do not look well to me," said Bilbo.

"I am fine," Megan repeated.

"If you are certain," said Bilbo. Megan could clearly tell that the hobbit didn't believe her, but was choosing to drop it for now. "How does pancakes and eggs sound to you?"

"That sounds simply wonderful Bilbo," said Megan. "Can you help me find some of your black tea?"

"Oh, I do apologize," said Bilbo. "I should know better, having a blind guest in my home. I will need to organize my tea in different shaped tins for you." Megan heard the cabinet door open as Bilbo selected her favorite tea.

"You are such a good friend Bilbo," said Megan.

"Think nothing of it," said Bilbo, a smile in his voice. "You are my guest, as well as my friend. It is dreadfully sad that we have to have Lobelia over."

"We will get through it together, somehow," said Megan with a sigh. She grimaced, remembering the first time she ever met the horrible woman. Her annoyance had turned to strong dislike when the hobbit referred to her as that dark woman lodging with Bilbo. Racist b itch, she thought. Ham fast Gamgi was altogether different. He was a friendly hobbit with a no-nonsense practicality that Megan respected. He came from hard working folks, and didn't tolerate nonsense.

"Do you need help Bilbo," Megan asked.

"No, you just sit and enjoy your tea," the hobbit replied, busying himself with the preparation of the meal.

"Oh, stickle bats," snapped Bilbo, closing his cupboard. "I am out of flour. I shall have to go to market and get some. We can have some eggs, bacon, and toast for you if you would like."

"That will be good with me," said Megan. She heard Bilbo sigh as he prepared the food. She could soon smell the bacon as it popped and sizzled in the frying pan.

The breakfast was soon laid out on the table along with jam and fresh honey for the toast.

The two of them sat side by side, enjoying the meal and the peaceful silence of the hobbit hole. Megan especially savored the silence. TO her it meant safety from the sound of gun shots and the cries of devastated family members. Silence was a precious thing to her, never to be taken for granted.

Bilbo watched his friend with concern. He could see sadness in her eyes. Even after a year of staying in Bag-end, she was still not used to the quiet peacefulness that the Shire brought. Every time he tried to bring it up however, she would refuse to answer his questions. When she first arrived, she would jump at every noise, and gaze out his round window in suspicion. It took her about a week to step foot out of his door. Still, she didn't speak until she was spoken too. She was clearly as suspicious of hobbits as they were to her. It was not often that one of the big folk would lodge in the Shire.

Hobbits as a rule were not trusting of outsiders, and Miss Megan clearly shared their views. She had taken a shine to young Hamfast however, his no-nonsense ways of looking at the world seemed to calm her a bit, and the fact that he would invite her over for some taters and cabbages. He was always kind to her, and never tried to pry into her affairs. In turn, she would help him and Holman in the garden. It was then that she would let her guard down, laughing with the Hobbits as they directed her how to plant the flowers and veggies. It lifted Bilbo's heart to know that she had at least a couple of friends apart from himself.

Once breakfast was over, Bilbo and Megan made quick work of washing the dishes, and headed out to enjoy the sunshine. They stood together outside of the round green door, Bilbo smoking a pipe, while Megan smelled the flowers.

"My neighborhood is not this quiet and peaceful," said Megan, taking a puff on Bilbo's long pipe. Bilbo took it back from her, blowing an enormous smoke ring. Before he could require upon her remark, he spotted in the distance a tall figure making his way towards his hobbit hole.

As the figure got closer, Bilbo could make out his appearance. He was a tall old man, with a gray beard that fell past his waist, and a pointed hat sat atop his head.

He strode with purpose, a tall staff in his hand.

"Good morning," said Bilbo, puffing on his pipe.

"What do you mean good morning?" the old man inquired. "DO you want to wish me a good morning, or do you feel good this morning, or is it simply a morning to be good on."

"What the hell does that even mean," Megan muttered. Bilbo merely shrugged.

"Don't know," he whispered to her.

"Well, all of them at once I suppose," he said to the old man. "Why don't you join us and have a fill of my pipe? It is a good morning for blowing smoke rings, and we have all the day before us." With these words, he joined Megan on the front step of his home.

"Very pretty," the man remarked after Bilbo blew his smoke ring. "I do not have the day to blow smoke rings, I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am putting together. Who is your charming friend?" he added, spotting a rather tense looking Megan.

"This is Megan Evans. She was lost, wondering around the market, so I am letting her stay until we can figure out how to send her home. We don't want any adventures however, they are nasty things, make you late for dinner." Spotting his letters, he selected one, pretending to read. He didn't like this man, and Megan's nervous demeaner. She was pacing back and forth, hands twisting together. This man was not his sort, acting all mysterious.

"As I said," said Bilbo. "We do not want any adventures. Why not try over the hill and across the water? Good morning to you." He hoped that this would send the man on his way, but the opposite happened. "I never thought I would live to be good morninged by Belladonna Took's son as if I was saling buttons. I am Gandalf the Gray."

In the end, this was Gandalf the Gray, the wizard who took quiet lads and lasses on adventures, and set off fireworks to be remembered.

"Why don't you come to tea on Wednesday," said Bilbo, grasping Megan's hand and leading her towards the hole. He wished the wizard a good morning and closed the door behind them.

"What in the fuck was that all about?" Megan asked as soon as they were inside.

"I don't know," said Bilbo. "I don't know why I invited him to tea." Sighing, he wrote down the appointment in his engagement book before he and Megan went to buy flower and began the day's baking. Lobelia had canceled their luncheon, claiming that her husband was ill. This was perfectly fine with Bilbo. The Hobbit hole was soon filled with the smells of seed cakes, apple tarts, and bread. They heard the snipping of the overgrown plants on the window sill. Bilbo read to Megan from one of his favorite books about elven adventures in the first age.

All and all, it was a pleasant day, and Gandalf's visit seemed a distant memory. Dinner was a delicious meal of fried fish and veggies. They ate slowly, savoring each bite, and washing it down with glasses of wine and water. Dessert was one of the delicious apple tarts with custard on top.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Bilbo asked once the dishes were cleaned.

"That would be nice," said Megan. Bilbo grabbed his favorite walking stick, and they were off.

The night was quiet except for the sounds of crickets and frogs.

"I wish my home was as quiet and peaceful as the Shire," said Megan.

"Why is your home not as peaceful?" asked Bilbo. A look of sorrow crossed her face.

"You need to understand the history of where I come from in order to understand what is happening now," she said. With that, she told him of her country, a large place called the United States of America and the history of the enslavement of black people from Africa. She discussed the founding of her country, and the continuation of slavery.

"Slavery divided our country until we broke into civil war which lasted until 1865." She went on to tell him about the Jim Crow laws which continued into the civil rights movement.

"Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968 along with Malcom Ex." She continued, talking about gun violence from police, and imprisonment of blacks and the different gangs that have been formed.

"So now, we have a movement called Black Lives Matter because we are tired of our lives being less than whites, and having our neighborhoods shot up by police."

"That was a lot," said Bilbo. "Your home is quite different from mine. All of this racist nonsense just because your skin is darker than mine. That is utterly disgusting."

"It is," said Megan. "My best friend James was shot as he tried to leave a gang. It is sad how people get influenced to follow a bad path. Now, he can't get his college degree like he wanted." "There is more I could tell you, but it is a lot to unpack and sort out."

"I am sorry about your friend," said Bilbo. "It simply is not fare that you and your people can't live in peace and safety." Bilbo felt his Took half wake up. He wished he could travel to her home with her and help out somehow, though he didn't know what a small hobbit such as himself could do. He now understood her mistrust of him and her reluctance to shelter with him when they first met. She didn't know if he would hurt her or how safe his neighborhood would be.

"I am at peace and comfort in the Shire," said Megan. "The only thing I am worried about is my Mom. She couldn't pay for her rent and got kicked out of her house. She's staying with me, but I am sure she is frantic with worry and has sent out a missing person's report by now. I do miss her."

"That is horrid," whispered Bilbo. "Kicking out people from their very homes just because they cannot pay coin. That is not how a lady should be treated, let alone anyone else." Megan nodded in agreement.

"Money can drive people to do terrible things," Megan whispered" "Anyways, I don't want to think of sad things tonight, it is such a nice night with a lovely breeze. Let's go to the Green Dragon for a drink."

"As you wish," said Bilbo, heading to the right towards Bywater.

The inn was cozy with a warm fireplace as they entered, choosing a table near the fire.

They ordered a bottle of wine to share and a large plate of sweet cakes and mushrooms for something to snack on. Bilbo closed his eyes in bliss at the wonderful mushrooms. Like all hobbits, he had a passion for them. He was pleased to see that Megan was enjoying them as well, savoring each bite as she popped it into her mouth.

Once the mushrooms were gone, they sat back, drinking the wine slowly, and nibbling on the cakes, listening to the hobbit gossip around them.

Hamfast was at a nearby table with two or three other hobbits, discussing the growing of potatoes and other veggies for the Spring planting.

"What about that strange woman lodging with Master Bilbo," said a hobbit who was at a nearby table. "Strange for one of the big folk to visit our part of the world. I hear tell she was in the Old forest, a quear spot to be in at any rate." Bilbo saw Megan give a shudder, eyes flashing with fear.

"Now now, Miss Megan is a good lass, always helpful in the garden she is," said Hamfast. "It isn't our business to go asking about the old forest where the trees move, they say."

"Something seems to move,' Megan whispered to Bilbo. "I had a most dreadful time getting out of that place, and the air was so still and stuffy. I was so hungry too."

"How long were you there?" Bilbo asked.

"A day or two," said Megan. Then I kept traveling, and met the Master of Buckland who pointed me out to where Hobbiton was. I was lucky to get out of that horrible forest. Those trees were scary."

"There is no such thing as a tree that moves," sniffed Hamfast's companion.

"How would you know Sandyman?" Hamfast challenged. "You have never been inside of the old forest."

"Nor have you Gamgi," Sandyman replied. "Moving trees is just children's stories to scar little hobbits who do not obey their parents."

"It is a cruel thing to do Sandyman, I won't be scarin my lads and lasses with any such tales, besides, all you have to do is ask one of them Brandy bucks, they will know far more than the likes of us about such matters." Sandyman huffed and got to his feet. Eying several hobbit lasses who were talking together in the corner.

Bilbo scowled at his behavior as the lasses shifted in their seats looking rather uncomfortable with the gleam in his eyes.

"Sandyman!" Hamfast said, voice sharp with anger. "GO on home with you and sleep off the ale you have consumed." Hamfast looked rather menacing as he stepped in front of the lasses' table, blacking Sandyman's view. "We do not tolerate such nonsense in the Shire," added Bilbo. He and Megan got to their feet, joining Hamfast in guarding the table.

"Get yo peeping tom self the hell out of here and leave these women alone!" Megan bellowed; eyes full of fury.

"A lady should not use such lang—" Megan took a step towards Sandyman, voice lowering to a threatening growl.

"Don't you dare tell me what a lady should or should not say. Get out of this tavern or so help me God I will throw yo ass out myself. I am sick and fucking tired of sexual harassment."

"I wouldn't test her," said Bilbo from behind her.

"You heard her," said Bell, a young hobbit lass that Hamfast rather liked. "Get out before I call the inn keeper." There was applause from other hobbits at her words. Sandyman had to leave after this, even he recognized he would be sent out if he did not leave on his own accord. The hobbit staggered out, boos following him in his wake.

The night had rather lost its fun after that, Bilbo decided to take Megan back home, Hamfast accompanying them. He and Bilbo exchanged a look as Megan walked ahead of them, grim and silent as she glanced mistrustfully at some of the exuberant hobbit lads.

"Miss Megan, are you quite well?" Hamfast inquired.

"I will be in a minute," said Megan. "It is just, back where I came from, sexual harassment is quite common."

"How terrible," Hamfast said.

"It is," said Megan. "It also amazes me that children can run around and play freely. Parents have to guard their children quite closely where I am from, parents don't even think of letting their children walk to school. It makes me sad to think about it."

"Then don't think about it," said the ever-practical Hamfast. "Let us speak of other matters, such as your love of boating. I have always said, and I will say again, boating is unnatural." Bilbo chuckled as the two of them proceeded to have a loud argument about the pros and cons of boating.

Megan gesticulated with her hands to make a point, while Hamfast stood still, legs apart, and hands on hips. It was often like this with the two of them, it took time for Hamfast to speak his mind and tease Megan, he was afraid to offend her in some manner.

With her encouragement however, Hamfast opened up with her.

"I enjoy a fun debate every now and then,' she had told him when they first met. "It is good for your mind and helps you think on your toes."

"Boating is good exercise, and you get out in nature," said Megan.

"Bah," said Hamfast. "I get out in nature when I garden, and gardening is plenty of exercise as you say. You won't ever convince me to ever do any boatin."

"Never ever?" Megan asked.

"Never ever," said Hamfast. "I will stick to cabbages and potatoes myself. I don't need to do anything outlandish as boatin."

"I will concede that cabbages and potatoes are good," said Megan.

"Well, it is good that you have some sense about some things," said Hamfast as they neared the hill that led to Bilbo's front door.

"My dear Ham, when it comes to food, I am quite sensible," said Megan, giving the astonished hobbit a quick hug.

"That is good to hear, though, I cannot see how you can only eat three meals a day. That isn't enough food for anybody to go on with."

"Maybe not for a hobbit, but it is more than enough for a human. Though, I don't always remember to eat when I am working. I have been known to skip meals."

"What?" spluttered Hamfast. "Skip meals?" He turned to bilbo, pointing a threatening finger at him.

"Mr. Bilbo, you make sure this silly woman is eatin will you?" Bilbo laughed.

"Don't worry Master Hamfast, she gets plenty to eat." Bilbo had to laugh at the horrified look on Hamfast's face.

"Skippign meals, most unnatural," he muttered as he started for home.

Bilbo and Megan slipped inside Bag-end and hung up their cloaks.

"I am glad to be home again," said Megan. "That is, if you don't mind me calling this home."

"Are you happy here?" Bilbo asked, gazing up at her taller form.

"I am happy here," said Megan. "I don't know why, it seems selfish of me when my Mother is in trouble, I should be looking after her. She tells me not to worry, that I have my own life to live but I can't help but worry. She is probably frantic with worry, trying to find me and putting up missing person reports. I wish she was here with us; she would love it here in the Shire."

"You can't worry about what you cannot change," said Bilbo. "I think your Mother would wish for you to be happy in whatever form happiness takes for you. You are not selfish for wishing to call this place your home. Who knows what fate has in store, you may see her once more. In the meantime, you should follow her advice and live your life.

I don't believe she would want you to wallow in sadness and worry all the time. This is your home Megan, for as long as you wish it to be."

"Thank you, Bilbo," said Megan. "Your right of course, I can't dwell on what I cannot change. I am verry happy here. I love that I can walk through the Shire without any fear of being attacked or anything else." She grinned at him. "I also love that you make the best food around."

"Nonsense," said Bilbo with a laugh. "You can't say that my table is the only thing you like about my hole," he teased. He couldn't help but be pleased at her praise of his table. He felt a glow of pride at her words.

"Well, no," Megan replied. "I like your dishes, your books, your gardens," she moved closer to him. "Most of all, I like you Bilbo Baggins," she said. She had a bashful smile on her face with red cheeks.

The hobbit felt a smile of his own appear on his face as their hands met.

"I am fond of you as well," said Bilbo. They stood in silence for a moment, enjoying the moment of peace and comfort, the ticking of the clock and crackling fire the only sounds in the sitting room.

After another minute, they turned towards one of the kitchens to make a pot of tea, a nightly ritual before bed.

Once the tea was brewed, they adjourned to their favorite sitting room, just off the kitchen in a pair of arm chairs that faced the fire. Each chair had a small table to set drinks upon.

Bilbo could just see the garden with its many flowers in bloom through the window.

"What story do you wish to read tonight?" Bilbo asked.

"Something about Gondor," said Megan. "I want to know more about the history of the place. I minored in history in college. My major was journalism."

"That is where you interview people, and gather news about the world and write in down in a newspaper. Is that right?" Bilbo asked. She had told him what she had done for a living, but he wished to be certain he was correct.

"Yes," said Megan. "There are people who are war correspondence, people who report on wars, there is local news that focuses on the local town or city, there is sports news that focuses on different sports like wrestling, and there are news anchors who read headlines on tv and radio. There are also people who do news packages for tv stations such as a local crime like the kidnaping of a child."

"You mean to tell me that people take children from their parents?" asked Bilbo. He lunged forward to protect her, as if someone was going to burst through his hobbit hole and snatch her away.

"Yes, and worse things," said Megan.

"How on earth can it be worse?" asked Bilbo, voice trembling with fear.

You don't want to know how nasty humans can be to one another," Megan whispered. "We are quite good at taring each other a part, but let's read the story." She clearly didn't want to discuss the subject anymore, and Bilbo was all to willing to read to her about the history of Gondor and the kings and stewards.

She took his hand as he read. He was comforted by the feel of her touch as his fear began to subside for the present. He was glad to be safe and sound in the Shire where women and children were looked after by decent folk.

Once the chapter was over and their tea was gone, they dropped their cups in a wash basin and headed to their beds.

Bilbo made sure that Megan went into the correct room, she still got lost sometimes, even after a year's stay in his hole. Her room was two doors down from his own, and his best guest room was in between them.

He had shoved two hobbit beds together to make a comfortable bed for her. Once he made sure she was comfortable with a glass of water on her night stand, he went to his own room.

Bilbo and Megan slept, looking forward to another peaceful day in Bag-end. They slept peacefully with no bad dreams to disturb them.

The routine of baking, gardening, shopping and writing continued next day. Bilbo made some sweet cakes for Megan who loved them best, along with some seed cakes. Soon the hole was full of the lovely smells of baking food. It made Bilbo's stomach growl. He couldn't wait until tea time.

"Stickle bats," he said in alarm. "Gandalf is coming to tea today." The poor hobbit began to squeak in alarm wondering if he had made enough food and drink.

"It will be fine Bilbo," said Megan. "You made enough food to please an army." Bilbo sighed, becoming much calmer.

"Your right, I'm just a bit flustered I suppose. I forgot to look at my engagement book. Confiscate and bother it all. I just hope there will be enough for you and me." Megan smiled at him, helping him set the table. Just then there came a ringing at the door. Bilbo and Megan went to answer it, not knowing their peaceful life and the Shire would be rudely shattered.