So I realized after posting last chapter that I mixed up the terms 'Master' and 'Mister' when addressing Bilbo's new status as an adult so I have gone back to the previous chapters and fixed that. Sorry about the late update!

Chapter 3- The Company's Hobbits

Bilbo had no idea what hurt more. His head or his stomach. He thought he was hungry, but then he moved and his head was threatening to split open. He groaned thinking one of the many swears every hobbit tween did at one point in their life: I will never drink again.

"Aw, is little Bilbo awake? Are you ready to maybe talk about the stupid, ridiculous, VALAR BE DAMNED THING YOU'VE DONE?!"

Bilbo sat up wincing as his head pounded and his stomach flipped threatening to spill what little bile remained. He blinked up at his cousin from his spot on the bed having never seen Adlar so angry. His eyebrows furrowed as he noticed it wasn't just him. Roper's face was chalk white, and Siggy looked torn between being mortified and just as pissed as Adlar.

"Why are you shouting at me?" He complained. "Wait, where are we?"

"Still at the Green Dragon!" Adlar exploded, throwing his arms in the air, the document in his hand trailing after like a streamer.

Bilbo tried to process this, and that's when he remembered his purpose in being there.

"Thorin?" He questioned looking around as if the dwarf would magically appear.

"Yep. Met him. He was as much a delight as you painted him to be." Adlar continued to lecture.

Bilbo flinched, and Roper took pity on him at that point giving him a glass of water and a loaf of bread before placing himself next to the hobbit. His hand patted Bilbo's back awkwardly.

"Bilbo...something happened."

Bilbo quirked an eyebrow as he proceeded to stuff his cheeks. He was unbelievably hungry in spite of his nausea. Before he could question the exact drunken shengagian he got up to, there was a knock on the door.

"Open. Now."

Bilbo felt himself choke as he heard Hildifons' voice on the other side. He glared at Adlar who returned it as he went to answer the door. He turned his betrayed gaze onto Siggy who looked beside himself.

"You didn't give us a choice! You signed a contract." He hissed.

Bilbo froze. He did what? Hildifons gave him a single look before turning away with his arms crossed. Isam came in next. His reading glasses were perched on the end of his nose muttering to himself as he read through the document Adlar had previously had in his possession. Garry brought up the rear giving Bilbo a flat look.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Bilbo nodded his head, his throat too tight to speak as shame from his actions burned deep. Garry gave him a nod in return before heaving a sigh and running his hands through his hair.

"Thank you for your help, boys. Why don't you wait downstairs. We need a minute, alone."

Roper, Siggy, and Adlar quickly crossed the room at Isengar's order. Bilbo tried to give them a pleading look, but they all knew that if Garrywas mad, they would definitely not want to be there. Bilbo set the glass and bread down beside him. His eyes were focused on the wooden floor below him, and he absolutely refused to look his uncles in the eyes.

"All the stars in Yavanna's Garden." Isam swore. "Well, this is quite a mess you've gotten yourself in, Bilbo. I don't know how much you've read of this before you slapped your name on it, but from the boys' account it can't have been much, if any. This is an actual passage in the damn thing 'Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including but not limited to lacerations, evisceration, incineration'...do you understand Bilbo? This isn't a holiday to Bree. If you get hurt on this accursed quest, THEY WON'T HELP YOU!"

"It didn't say they wouldn't help me, just that they are accountable for injury." Bilbo snarked.

"No." Hildifons stepped in finally spinning back around to glare at him. "You don't get to talk back today. You get to sit there and take everything that's coming to you. What kind of idiot do you have to be to sign a contract you DIDN'T read while inebriated because you were ANGRY at not getting treated like an adult?! HOW DO YOU EXPECT US TO REACT WHEN YOU PULL SHIT LIKE THIS BILBO?!"

"I was angry that I woke up with the world before me, and was told there was actually a secret predestined plan I was to adhere to." Bilbo jumped up to defend.

"I already told you to button up." Hildifons growled staring him down.

Bilbo opened his mouth ready to push just how far his uncle was willing to take it when Garry stepped in.

"Bilbo, do you understand how serious this is? Are you aware that we can't protect you from this? You just signed away your future to a quest you don't understand, with a very real possibility of death before you get there. Do you get that?"

Bilbo felt his chest tighten. However, before he could get his bearings, his mouth ran away before his head could catch up, and he never wished more that he could eat his words.

"I don't need you all to protect me! I would have been just fine on my own, and I certainly don't need nursemaids anymore to check and make sure I've wiped!"

Silence settled heavy in the room, and Bilbo felt like he had just dunked his head in the Brandywine in the middle of winter when he finally looked up into his uncles' eyes. Isengar wouldn't look at him, Isengrim's eyes were full of shock and betrayal, but perhaps worse was the utter heartbreak on Hildifons face.

"Wait. I didn't mean…"

"You heard Mister Baggins." Hildifons interrupted, yanking the contract out of Isengrim's hands.

He shoved it straight into Bilbo's chest causing him to stumble a little. Then he moved towards the door.

"Hilde…" Isengrim tried to stop him.

"No! He's an adult, and he's made it very clear he's not our responsibility. Let him lie in the bed he's made. I'm going home. It's been a long night."

With that Hildifons slammed the door behind him. Isengrim turned to Bilbo ready to say something when he heaved a huge sigh and with a shake of his head, he followed his brother's example and left Bilbo as well. He turned pleading eyes on Isengar who still hadn't quite been able to look him in the eye. When he finally lifted his head, the sheer disappointment was enough to cut Bilbo's heart in half.

"Uncle Garry." He breathed, wanting the older hobbit to tell him it was all going to be okay.

Isengar gave him a shake of his head with a bitter smile.

"Words hurt, Bilbo. Hildifons is right. If you want so badly to be an adult, then you take care of this. And when you're ready to apologize, you know where in Tuckborough to find us."

After he left, Bilbo crashed to the ground and buried his head into his knees. He was having the worst hangover ever. It took a few moments for him to catch up to the fact that Isengar said Tuckborough and not Bag End. He was truly and completely alone now.

Then a knock sounded on the door. Bilbo stumbled to his feet, almost running into the bed in his haste to answer. He didn't even care if it was Hildifons back to scream at him some more. He opened the door to a dwarf about his size with a flowing, curly white beard.

"G-Good morning." Bilbo greeted trying not to sound out of breath.

"Yes, it is." The dwarf remarked with a twinkle in his eyes. "We were wondering when you would be ready to depart, Mister Bilbo?"

"I'm sorry?" Bilbo questioned, giving the dwarf an odd look.

"Apology accepted, laddie. We were hoping to leave before midmorning though, if it's all the same to you and pending your...family matters were sorted."

Bilbo closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as his sluggish mind worked through what exactly this dwarf was telling him. Quest, yes, that must be what this is about.

"Uh, right." He stated flatly looking back into the room where his pack sat all ready to go. "I'll just...gather my things…"

The dwarf took pity on him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright, laddie?"

"Yes, of course. I did sign the...c-contract after all." Bilbo's voice most definitely did not break on 'contract' like a fauntling.

The dwarf with the white beard wasn't as impressed. "Mister Bilbo, forgive me for being impertinent, but might I ask you a couple of blunt questions?"

Bilbo raised an eyebrow, but nodded his consent.

"Are you of age?"

Bilbo blinked before he slowly nodded. The dwarf merely stared at him unimpressed. Bilbo cleared his throat as he felt his cheeks color knowing what it must have looked like to have his three uncles barge in on him this morning.

"Truth be told, Master Dwarf, I may have become of age only yesterday, but I am by the Shire's reckoning, an adult."

A grin spread across the other's face as he nodded his understanding.

"Well that explains the drinking then. One more if you may, you signed the contract as a Mister...Boggins, but you said last night that you were a Took. Are you?"

Bilbo looked down at where the dwarf was pointing at his abysmal signature, seeing very easily how he was mistaken as 'Boggins' rather than 'Baggins'.

"Does my being a Took matter that much to this company?" Bilbo returned.

The dwarf nodded. "It matters a great deal. If you're not, we'll have to absolve you of the contract immediately."

Finally, the answer to all his problems. For telling the truth was a very finicky thing in this situation. Bilbo could easily say that he was not a Took because there it was in writing that his family name was Baggins. Had the dwarf asked if Bilbo had Took blood, well that would have been a different story. With a single sentence, the dwarf handed Bilbo an escape route on a golden dinner platter. He would be released from the contract, he would go back up to his smial, sleep off the remainder of his hangover, and then the real work would begin.

He would become the official Master of Bag End, and would have to begin his reign by writing hundreds of apologies to all of his guests and family for not attending the party the previous evening. More than likely, his uncles would forgive him, but he would go from seeing them everyday to casual family gatherings like the rest of his relatives. His Baggins relatives, who lived closer, would fill the void instead and insist that he take care of the marriage contract immediately. They didn't like putting off tomorrow what could be taken care of today.

So Bilbo would be introduced to his prince, and they would settle Bilbo's affairs and more than likely move him into the Blue Mountains for he doubted he would retain the freedom to continue living in the Shire. That would be the end of his familiar comforts, his dreams, his independence.

"I am a Took, on my mother's side." He clarified.

The dwarf nodded in satisfaction. "Well then, welcome to the Company, Mister Boggins! As soon as you're ready, meet me downstairs, and I'll introduce you properly to everyone."

"Thank you, Mister…?"

"Balin." The dwarf answered with a grin. "I certainly prefer it to Grandpap Beard."

Bilbo grinned to be polite as the dwarf pat him on the shoulder not quite understanding the joke. He left Bilbo at that with a shout of 'no more than an hour' over his shoulder. It wasn't until he was out of sight that Bilbo realized he forgot to correct him on his family name. Oh well, plenty of time on the road, he was sure. Bilbo closed the door again and settled on the bed with the contract. He read through it thoroughly, as he should have done the previous night to get an idea of just what standard he was being held.

Erebor. A burst of memories of his mother's adventure stories swept him up, and he found himself frowning at the parchment. What exactly were a small group of dwarrows hoping to accomplish in that cursed kingdom? As he read more, he felt his heart plummet. When he decided he was going to meet Thorin yesterday, he assumed this journey was some great and noble quest. They were nothing more than treasure seekers. Well if they were going to be ignorant, then they deserved as much cursed gold as they could carry. He, on the other hand, would not be touching a single coin even if 'for your offer of professional assistance, our grateful acceptance and terms are cash on delivery, up to and not exceeding one fourteenth of total profits (if any)'.

No, really his part was fairly easy in this whole thing. He just had to stay alive, and manage to take some vague gem they kept mentioning from Erebor's vault. Now, the contract did outline that it was his responsibility to somehow open the magically sealed vault and take care of any traps or tricks intended to cause the company harm. Still, for a contract he signed while drunk of his arse, it could have been a lot worse.

With a sigh, he rolled it up and stuck it in the deep folds of his pack. He stared at the worn burlap thinking about how a little under twenty hours ago, he was so excited to get to this point. Now, he could hardly get his feet to move. Bilbo moved his hands through his hair in an attempt to flatten his erratic curls, swept his foot hair all in the correct direction, and straightened out his red jacket. Without further ado, he shouldered his pack and trudged downstairs to meet with the dwarrows.

Ol' Agil gave him a worried look, but Bilbo was quick to reassure him that there was 'nothing sinister in nature afoot'. That he was in fact completely willing in this venture with those 'troublemaking dwarrows'. He was also quick to remind him that Tooks like him seldom got into situations they didn't want to be in which earned him a chuckle. When he asked about his friends, Mister Proudfoot was reluctant to tell him that his uncles shooed them off back to their holes already. Bilbo swallowed the fact that he didn't get to say goodbye with a tight nod.

"One more thing, Mister Proudfoot, if you would?" He asked.

"What is it, lad?" The inn owner asked kindly.

"Could you...if it's not too much trouble, could you pass on a message to my uncles?"

"I could probably get Poppy to run up to the Hill." Agil mused. "What's the message?"

Bilbo hesitated not sure exactly how to sum up what he wanted to say without airing out all of his family drama for the past couple of hours.

"Could you have her tell them that...I recognize the truth in their words, and that I'm sorry I belittled their judgement. Also! Could you have her tell them that I understand their desire to return home, but if they could be bothered to check up on Bag End in my absence, that I would greatly appreciate it."

"You've got it, Bilbo." Agil slapped him hard on the back. "You finish up your business and hop your little way on back here soon. Those uncles of yours would hang the stars for you, and I'm sure they'll be missing every moment you're gone."

Bilbo felt his stomach lurch uncomfortably at Mister Proudfoot's words. He barely managed a weak smile and goodbye before he stepped out into the sun making the measly amount of bread and water want to come back up that much stronger. The dwarrows weren't hard to find as they were busy saddling up twelve ponies just off to the side of the road.

"Well lookie there lads! He lives!" One of them wearing a ridiculous hat announced pointing out Bilbo with a wide smile on his face.

There were some chuckles and more than a few smirks as they all stopped to stare Bilbo down. Bilbo shifted uncomfortably and used his foot to scratch the other as he ducked his head at their teasing.

"What's the matter, Master Hobbit? Nothing more to say about our 'im-fressive beards'?" The one with his hair braided into three points carried on.

This started a new round of laughter and did nothing to help Bilbo's mortification.

"Enough. We've dallied too long as it is. Be done so we can move on." Thorin shouted above the din commanding everyone's attention.

All the dwarrows quickly got back to work, not giving Bilbo another passing glance. He locked eyes with Thorin for a moment, before even the blue-eyed dwarf found other matters worthy of his attention. Bilbo just stood there completely at a loss, and more than a little self-conscious.

"Know anything about riding, Master Hobbit?" A dwarf with golden hair approached him, his fawn eyes gleaming with a level of hidden mischief.

"Um...no, actually, not at all. Us Shire-folk like to keep our feet firmly on the ground." He answered.

"And your backsides as well if last night was anything to go off of!" The dwarf with the hat laughed again.

The golden dwarf turned to the other. "Itkit! Me asnân tada Mahal duhû kansu tah. (Shut up! You are proof that Mahal has no humor.)"

Bilbo watched apprehensively as some of the other dwarrows laughed at this including the one with the hat who only shook his head at them.

"I'm Vili." The golden haired dwarf continued turning back to Bilbo. "The Sunny Beard."

Bilbo didn't know what to do with this dwarf's raised eyebrows and insistent grin and decided to nod to be polite.

"A pleasure." Bilbo responded, shaking the dwarf's hand.

He took the hand adamantly before he proceeded to continue introducing Bilbo to the rest of the company.

"Ol' Mustache Beard here with no sense of humor is Bofur." He pointed to the dwarf in the hat who smiled and nodded in Bilbo's direction. "Then we have Bifur, Axe Beard. Nori, Star Beard. Gloin, Red Beard. Of course you've already met Balin, Grandpap Beard. Tall Beard next to him is his brother, Dwalin. Then you have Frerin, Short Beard. And finally Thorin...well, what name would you have for Thorin?"

Bilbo became increasingly overwhelmed and confused by Vili's introductions. He greatly appreciated the visual confirmation along with their names, but Isengrim never taught him that it was common practice to introduce a dwarf by the physical characteristics of their beards. Besides that, barring no offense, some of those titles were pretty ridiculous. Anyways, if that was the case, why was Vili waiting for him to comment on Thorin's facial hair?

"I don't understand. Is describing your beards a way you dwarrows normally introduce yourselves?" He finally asked.

Everyone started laughing at him again, and Bilbo was afraid embarrassment was going to color him many times throughout this journey.

"Not normally, no." Mustache...that is, Bofur laughed. "That honor belongs all to you."

Suddenly small pieces of last night returned to his memory. He remembered talking to a 'Tall Beard', and then grabbing Thorin's face between his hands… The meager breakfast that had been swirling around in his belly didn't wait much longer before forcing its way back up. He had just enough time to excuse himself and waddle a few paces out of the way before he emptied the contents of his stomach once more. He started patting down his coat and pack to find a handkerchief to rid him mouth of the aftereffects only to find he had forgotten to pack one. That was quite easily his last straw.

Bilbo threw off his pack, and plopped down on the ground putting his head in his hands. What was he doing? He wouldn't be able to survive this. There was no way! He's barely made it past Bree on his own, and these rude dwarrows intent on laughing at him probably wouldn't be much help. He thought back on Isengrim's words earlier about all the dangers outlined in the contract. Why hadn't he just listened? Why hadn't he let Balin get him out of this? He couldn't do this on his own!

Bilbo could feel the company's stares, but wasn't privy to their silent exchanges. It seemed that none of the dwarrows knew exactly how to handle the little hobbit upset at getting sick and unwilling to move. Of course, it would be Thorin that everyone looked to for instructions on what to do. He merely rolled his eyes and marched over to smaller being unaware of the ensuing storm threatening to break.

"Are you quite through, Mister Bilbo? I fear we've suffered your antics more than enough as it is."

"Now see here!" Bilbo jumped to his feet with fire in his shining eyes, managing to catch the dwarf off guard. "I've suffered more than enough of you! You with your blue eyes and your oaken shield and your drunken contracts. I am, was, a respectable hobbit! I've given up everything to come on this blasted quest of yours, and if I want to spend five minutes on the ground sulking over not having a handkerchief...well I believe I have earned that right!"

If Thorin's eyes could burn holes into a person, Bilbo was certain a dragon would do less damage.

"I didn't ask you to join us! You unbelievably irritating abrâfu shaikmashâz (descendent of rats)! Come or not, it matters little to me anymore. I will gladly set fire to the ashes of your contract if it keeps you out my sight for the next thousand years, you miserable Halfling!"

Bilbo wasn't sure who was more surprised, him or Thorin, when a fist swung round to connect with the dwarf's jaw. Maybe Bilbo was just surprised that it wasn't his own fist as he looked over at his cousin who appeared from nowhere holding said hand in pain.

"Sweet Yavanna! Was your face carved from stone?" Siggy swore nearly doubled over.

Thorin, on the other hand, merely rubbed the spot as if it was nothing more than a pesky insect bite. He held up his hand to hold up Frerin and Dwalin who had been approaching as if they needed to support Thorin in what would be the most one-sided fight in the history of Shire brawls. Thorin glared at the two before looking at Siggy who placed himself bravely between Bilbo and Thorin even while he was still shaking out his knuckles with a grimace.

"You're one of the hobbits from last night." Thorin finally grunted.

"That I am, and while I'm sorry for the rude welcome, that's my cousin you're insulting, Master Dwarf." Siggy announced, his chest puffed out in pride.

Thorin crossed his arms letting Siggy be the sole subject of his heated gaze. However, he shocked both of them when he gave a small bow of his head.

"Your family's honor is restored. Your business with my company, however, has yet to be explained, Master Hobbit."

"Oh, right!" Siggy exclaimed as he dug through his pockets before coming up with an old piece of parchment with clearly childish writing. "I'm under contract. My cousin Bilbo and I have promised to join each other on any adventures that arise. So I've taken it upon myself to join this venture."

The taller dwarf, Dwalin, released a series of what Bilbo could only assume were impressive dwarvish curses that had Frerin smirking. Thorin's fists clenched tightly as his jaw locked, looking very much like he would rather kill the both of them and rid himself of hobbits altogether.

"That is not happening. I will not be burdened by two of you."

"You're just going to have to think of this as an asset, then." Siggy continued on much to Bilbo's amazement. "We can watch each other's backs leaving less for you to have to worry about. Besides, two Tooks are better than one!"

He swung his arm around Bilbo's shoulders at that giving the biggest, capricious grin Bilbo had ever seen. Thorin's eyes left Siggy and circled back to Bilbo. However, with the support of his cousin, Bilbo met his icy look with a defiant glare.

"You have five minutes or we're leaving without you." He ordered before turning to walk away.

"Well, you sure know how to pick them." Siggy sighed as he turned towards Bilbo shaking his head.

Bilbo just stared at his cousin in utter adoration. "Siggy, that contract was never binding, and it expired once Adlar became of age. Whatever are you doing here?"

Siggy snorted. "You think I would let you have all the fun without me? I just needed an excuse for him to let me come. Besides, you look like you could use this."

Bilbo eyed the handkerchief in his hands making a vow to himself that he wouldn't cry as he threw his hands around his cousin's neck. Siggy hugged him back with no further preamble seeming to know just how much Bilbo needed that.

"So tell me, are all hobbits like the two of you?" Vili interrupted their very touching moment with a large grin.

"Nope! When you get Bilbo and I, you get the best of the lot." Siggy bragged.

"Well that certainly speaks volumes about the Shire." Gloin murmured to Nori just loud enough that Bilbo was able to hear their snickers.

Bofur took the opportunity to bring a pony over to them that Vili offered to help strap their packs on.

"You two don't mind sharing, do you?" Bofur questioned.

"That would probably be for the best." Bilbo answered as Siggy stared at the beast in contemplation of 'how to get up there'.

"Now Siggy, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Hildibrand were really okay with you coming along?" Bilbo felt the need to clarify before letting himself want this.

Siggy's eyes widened. "You're supposed to tell them?! I just took a page out of your book and left a note before crawling through the window."

"Siggy…" Bilbo sighed.

"Do you mind, Master Dwarf?" Siggy asked Vili indicating his desire to be placed on the pony's back.

"Not at all, Master Hobbit." Vili grinned before slinging him up there.

"Sigismond…" Bilbo tried again only to give a yelp when Bofur helped him up behind his cousin.

Bilbo clutched tightly to Siggy's waist greatly despising the amount of air between the bottoms of his feet and the road.

"How do you make it move?" Siggy wondered.

"Press your heels into her flanks and snap the reins." Nori offered with a smirk.

"Like this?" He questioned before following the dwarf's instructions.

"SIGGY!" Bilbo shouted as the pony shot off like a bolt.

The dwarrows sighed and shook their heads, a few of them chuckling under their breaths as they saddled up as well. Thorin watched them go with an unreadable look as if debating to just leave them before ordering the company after them. Needless to say, their hobbits were going to be a handful.

I did not go with the original company, but I have reasons for that. Number One: In this time warp I've placed them in Fili and Kili are still fairly young. Two: Each member of this company will play a significant role and so I cut out the extras. Number Three: I get tired sometimes of the Hobbit being retold over and over with just minor changes or beginnings. So I gave it my own twist!

Thanks for reading, Sunny.