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Remember, be sure to take a look at the cute new icon picture that 'yellowcardgirl13' drew for the story. I will be replacing it with my original icon by the next chapter, so don't miss it.

Now, on to more fun in the Shire.

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Chapter 155

~X~

In no time at all, Daisy had laid out a sumptuous meal, literally fit for a king. It didn't surprise Thorin much, however, recalling the great quantities of food a hobbit kept on hand and ready for their seven meals a day. Still, with such a large group descending on them all at once must have seriously depleted their food stores, and they would need to make sure they restocked it soon. Just as everyone was finishing up and the dishes were being cleared from the table, the little timepiece on the mantel chimed, announcing the hour, and causing Bilbo to rise from the table.

"You know, Marigold, now that we've filled up the corners, so to speak." Here he paused and patted his full belly with a smile. "I believe it's still early enough for you and Bergie to go down and visit with your family for a bit. I'm certain they would not begrudge a few lost hours of sleep if it meant seeing you tonight, as opposed to first thing in the morning."

"But everyone is welcome to come back here to sleep," Daisy spoke up. "We have beds made up for everyone, and plenty of room to house you all." She then looked over at Bergie. "However, some of the ladies and I did take the liberty of cleaning up your old home, in case you wished to stay there. No one had been in it since you locked it up and left for Erebor, so there were a few cobwebs and a lot of dust to clear out, but it's right livable now. We even washed the sheets, remade the beds, and laid in a supply of firewood."

"Oh, Dwalin, could we go there tonight?" Bergie asked, turning to grab hold of her husband's arm in an excited manner. "I would love to show you around my little home." She then turned to look at Bilbo and Daisy. "That is, if you both don't mind."

"Not in the least," Bilbo assured her. "Besides, it would be a shame if all the ladies' hard work went to waste."

"Can we go see Frodo too?" Flinn begged, just as eager as the others to visit their friends. "Please?"

"Yes, Uncle…please?" Frerin chimed in, ever one to support his brother.

"I'm sure that can be arranged," Thorin laughed, never able to resist his littlest nephews' pleading eyes.

This was met with cheers of excitement from all the little ones, yet before anyone could even push back from the table to rise, there came a firm and insistent knocking at the door.

"Bilbo! Bilbo Baggins, you let us in immediately!" came the unmistakable voice of Rory Brandybuck. "I know you are harboring my daughter and grandchildren in there, now open up!"

Marigold leapt to her feet so fast that she nearly knocked over the chair she had been sitting in. Quickly, she handed little Raina over to Bergie, and with a huge grin, she ran to the door, throwing it open as she greeted her parents enthusiastically.

"Mother! Father!" she cried, launching herself into their awaiting arms.

"Oh, my baby is finally home!" Menegilda all but sobbed, unwilling to let the hobbit lass go. "We've been counting the days!"

"And here we find you have slipped into town without us knowing?" Rory stated, sounding a bit perturbed. "If it had not been for Ferdinand Took stopping by on his way home from the Green Dragon to say he saw you all riding in earlier, we would have been left ignorant till morning…or later!"

"No, Father," Marigold protested. "We were on our way to see you just now, honest. We only delayed here in order to grab a bite to eat; the children were hungry."

"Children?" Menegilda squealed, craning her head in hopes of catching sight of her two granddaughters. "Where are they?"

"Come in and see," their daughter urged, taking them both by the hand and pulling them inside.

Everyone had left the dining room by then and met them in the parlor, giving the two hobbits a warm smile of greeting.

"Rory, Menegilda," Thorin said, taking a step closer as he bowed to them in respect. "It is good to see you once more. I do hope you will forgive me for postponing our trip to visit last year. But now I am able to keep my promise twofold, and introduce you to both your granddaughters."

"Well…I'll admit I was a bit piqued at you, son," Rory admitted, his stern look softened by the twinkle in his eye. "Keeping my little girl so long in that mountain of yours. But now that you're here at last, I find I don't have the heart to be upset. Now," he said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, "where are my grandbabies? I have a lot of spoiling to catch up on!"

Marigold turned and reached out for Raina, who was still being held by Bergie. Yet as she did, Rose marched up to the two newcomers and gave a fine curtsey.

"Hello," she greeted them, looking up at her grandparents with a wide grin. "Are you really my amad's mother and father? I think you are, because you look an awful lot like her. I'm five now, and that's pretty old if you ask me. In Erebor I'm a princess, but here in the Shire, Amad says I'm just regular folk, which is fine by me, since back home I have to dress nice all the time and be polite. Do I have to do that here too?"

"You most certainly have to remember your manners no matter where you are," Thorin insisted, coming up and placing his hands lightly on his daughter's shoulders, smiling at the now nearly crying hobbits. "Rory, Menegilda, this talkative little creature is your oldest granddaughter, Rose."

Menegilda instantly went down on one knee, holding out her arms in an invitation for a hug. Rose, not having a shy bone in her body, immediately accepted the embrace, her cheeks being peppered with warm kisses from her grandmother.

"Oh, by my teacups and saucers, you are a pretty one, no doubt about it!" Menegilda told her, planting one last kiss on her cheek. She held her at arm's length, inspecting her from head to toe. "Just look at your beautiful hair! So shiny…and long! You certainly didn't get that from your mother's side of the family." The older hobbit stood, picking her granddaughter up in her arms, quite unwilling to let the child go now that she had a hold of her at last.

"No, that she did not," Marigold laughed, knowing that Rose greatly favored her dwarf heritage in appearance. "However, this one," she said, indicating the other child in her arms, "she is more of a hobbit lass. This precious one is Raina." And since Menegilda still had her arms full of Rose, Marigold handed the one year old to Rory.

"Well, hello there, my little sunshine," he cooed, bouncing the child a little as he began making funny faces at her. This made Raina giggle, and she reached out and grabbed hold of Rory's nose, causing him to laugh out loud.

"Oh, Marigold…they are an absolute delight!" her mother told her, wiping at her eyes as she looked from one child to the next.

"We've been storing up presents for you both, too," Rory told Rose, as he continued to be fully entertained by Raina. "I hope you brought a large enough wagon to take them all home in."

"Oh, father, you'll spoil them!" Marigold laughed.

"That's a grandparent's privilege," he informed her firmly. "You wouldn't deprive us of such a joy, would you?"

"Not if we know what's good for us," Thorin told him, smiling at how happy the two hobbits appeared to be. And he could not blame them, for he thought their children were pretty special as well.

"Where is Saradoc?" Marigold asked, suddenly noticing that her brother was nowhere to be seen. "Didn't he wish to come see us?"

"Of course he did, and as a matter of fact, he, Esme, and little Merry were at our house when Ferdinand dropped by," Menegilda assured her. "Yet, while we headed right over, they went to tell Drogo and Prim about your arrival. I would guess they will be here very soon as well."

And right on cue, there was another knock at the door, signaling the arrival of more guests.

"I'll get it this time," Bilbo chuckled, noticing how Flinn began to dance around anxiously, apparently quite excited about the prospect of seeing Frodo again. And just as expected, it was indeed Saradoc, Esme, Merry, and the younger Baggins clan as well. There were more hugs and squeals of joy as families and friends were once again reunited. And as the adults crowded around each other, little Frodo was weaving his way through the forest of legs and skirts, searching for his dearly missed sword-brother. Flinn too was perched on his tip-toes, scanning the crowd for any sign of his hobbit friend. When at last the two spotted each other, their eyes lit up with delight, both running forward and throwing their arms around each other.

"Frodo!" Flinn cried out happily.

"Flinn!" the young hobbit laughed. "I thought you'd never get here!"

"Me either," he admitted. "It was a really, really long way, but I had this to guide me." Here Flinn stepped back, and reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a wooden button for his friend to see.

"My button!" Frodo gasped, shocked that Flinn had kept it. "It really showed you the way?"

"Well…I'm here, aren't I?" Flinn stated, matter of factly. "Do you still have mine?"

"I sure do, tucked away in my room at home," Frodo told him proudly.

"Good, that means one day you can find your way back to visit me as well!" Flinn informed him with a wide grin. The young dwarfling could hardly believe this was real, he had waited and dreamed of this day for so long…and it was finally here! Frodo had been his dear friend for nearly half his young life, and he couldn't imagine their bond ever fading. Even across the miles and years they had kept in touch, and as he looked into the hobbit's familiar brown eyes, it was like nothing had changed. He was still his sword brother and dear, dear friend. Flinn then spun around and pulled Frerin up beside him. "And this is my brother, Frerin. Frerin…meet Frodo Baggins, my sword-brother!"

Frerin didn't quite know what to say, for of all the people he was to meet on this trip, Frodo was by far the one he had been most looking forward to. Not only since he was in a very odd, and convoluted way, related to him, but because Flinn had been talking about this particular hobbit ever since Frerin could remember. And here he was at last…Frodo Baggins of the Shire, and sword-brother to Flinn.

"F-f-frerin, at your serbus," he stammered with a stiff bow, still a bit in awe. "I…I've heard a lot about you!"

"And Flinn has written me many times telling me all about you," Frodo told him with wide grin. "I can't wait to get to know you better."

"You…you can't?" This shocked the little dwarfling, for he could in no way understand why Frodo would want to get to know him. When all he wanted to do was learn everything he could about this amazing hobbit.

"Of course," Frodo assured him. "After all, if you're Flinn's brother, then you must be quite remarkable."

"Oh, he is!" Flinn nodded, excited to have his two best friends in all the world meeting at last. "And I can't wait to hear what you've been up to as well. Will you show us around the Shire tomorrow? Take us to all the places you wrote to me about?"

"You bet I will!" Frodo grinned, looking forward to playing tour guide to his dwarf friend, and anyone else who wished to come along. "But first…meet my little sister, Holly!" Here he ducked back through the legs of the adults, who were still laughing and talking amongst themselves, returning with a petite little lass in tow. "This is Holly…she's my sister. She's only five still, but she's a lot of fun anyway. Holly, this is Flinn, my sword-brother, and his own brother, Frerin."

"Hello, Holly," Flinn greeted the hobbit child, his younger brother just waving politely.

"Hello, Flinn…Frerin," she responded quietly, bobbing her head as she shyly looked at the floor. "Nice to meet you."

"Don't worry," Frodo whispered behind his hand. "She'll warm up to you soon enough, and then you won't be able to shut her up."

"Oh, and this is Torin and Talin," Flinn further introduced, waving his two cousins over to meet Frodo. "They're Bergie and Dwalin's kids."

The twins greeted the two hobbits warmly, and soon all six of them were chattering away, asking questions and making plans for the following day's adventure. Rose and Raina were still ensconced in their grandparent's arms, so they would have their introductions later. As would Merry, who was only about three and still a bit unwilling to leave his parent's side in the face of so many strangers.

Yet soon enough, all the adults broke off into smaller groups, with the males in the sitting room, the females in the parlor, leaving the little ones to talk and play on the floor. While the women folk busied themselves with tea, Bilbo passed around a bag of Longbottom Leaf, with all those who had pipes filling them to the top.

"Oh, it is good to have you back, Sister," Esme grinned, watching how Marigold fawned over little Merry, who at last had been willing to let her hold him. "We've talked of nothing else for the past several months, and I was even able to get Saradoc to help me clean the house from top to bottom…with no complaints!"

"Well, I would say that's only fair," Marigold chuckled. "Remember, I've lived with Saradoc longer than you, and I can bet that he was the one that made most of the mess." She then leaned in and nuzzled little Merry's cheek with her nose. "And I can't wait for this little one to get to know his cousins better. Your son is simply precious!"

"So are Rose and Raina," Esme assured her sister-in-law. "I can't get over how different they look from each other. You can certainly tell which one has more hobbit than dwarf in them."

"Oh, yes, Rose is her father's daughter and no doubt about it," Marigold laughed, watching as little Raina yawned once more before shutting her eyes and falling asleep in her grandmother's arms. "While Raina here is more suited for the green growing places of the Shire. But they are born from both mountain and field, the best of both worlds."

"And the very best of both their parents," Menegilda agreed, kissing little Raina on the top of her curly head.

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Meanwhile, Bilbo was pumping Kili for an explanation on how his marriage to Tauriel had all come about.

"The last time I remember seeing your elf lass, she was locking you all up in the dungeons," Bilbo laughed, recalling how disgruntled all the dwarves had been by this…well, everyone except Kili. Now he was starting to understand his young friend's strange reaction to their situation. "How did things go from jailer and prisoner, to husband and wife? And more importantly…how did you get Thorin here to agree to it?"

"Oh, well, it wasn't as if Uncle had his opinions about it all," Kili grinned, watching Thorin roll his eyes in exasperation. "Still, in the end, he didn't have much room to talk, since he'd already married a hobbit," Kili laughed, taking a sip of the mug of ale Drogo was now passing out. "And it turns out, Tauriel's my one. So even Thorin couldn't argue with that."

"Ahhh, you hit him with logic, I see," Bilbo snickered, turning to stare at his old friend. "I bet you weren't too happy about that."

"I am perfectly capable of adapting to change, Bilbo Baggins," Thorin huffed. "I got used to you, didn't I?"

"True, true," the hobbit nodded thoughtfully. "And it took you only, what, a journey across Middle Earth and the slaying of a dragon to do it. Oh, yes…capable of change, but not exactly at high speeds."

"Oh, he's got you pegged," Dwalin laughed, elbowing Thorin in the side teasingly. "Still, we all warmed up to Tauriel pretty fast, even our grumpy king here," the war chief assured him happily. "But what really changed Thorin's way of thinking, was that she saved everyone's lives on the rescue mission at the mines."

"Rescue mission?" Bilbo asked, instantly intrigued. "What mines?"

"Oh," Kili grinned, having quite forgotten that his amad had at first forbid anyone to write and tell Bilbo of Flinn's rescue, or how he had been reunited with his family. It had been Dis' idea to surprise him with the news, along with Kili's marriage, when they came to the Shire. Yet when his parents had to bow out of the trip, due to the baby coming, everyone forgot to write Bilbo and fill him in. "Well, then here's a tale you won't believe." Kili then told the flabbergasted hobbits all about how they found his father still alive, and that he was now currently back in Erebor, taking care of his wife and new daughter!

"Flinn…your father…is alive?" Bilbo gasped. "And he and Dis…had a baby?"

"That they did, a little lass, just before we left Erebor," Thorin nodded proudly. "They had both planned to come and mind Flinn and Frerin themselves, but when they found out Dis was pregnant, Kili and Tauriel offered to come in their stead." He then leaned in a bit closer and lowered his voice, looking nervously over to where Daisy was talking with the other females. "However, it's probably a good thing they didn't come. You see, when Flinn found out about how you…well…you had some feelings for my sister, he didn't take too well to the idea."

"What?" Bilbo squeaked, looking a bit frightened. When he noticed Daisy stop talking and give him a curious look, he shot her a reassuring smile and then turned back to Thorin, lowing his voice even more. "I may have, at one time, considered your sister a very lovely lass, and sure, I did inquire if she might be interested in a…well, relationship. But she turned me down and that was that. Besides, I'm married now, and quite happily too, so there is no longer any reason for Flinn, or anyone else for that matter, to be upset over something that took place – or more specifically, didn't take place - many, many years ago!"

"Five years is hardly many, many," Kili pointed out, having easily overheard everything Bilbo had been saying…as had the rest of the males gathered around. "And you do know what they say about dwarves."

"You mean about them being greedy?" Drogo asked with a goofy grin.

"No!" Kili huffed, yet then amended. "Well, they do say that too, but that's not what I meant."

"That they drink like fish and have terrible table manners?" Saradoc guessed next.

"NO! Now stop that," Kili growled, not liking the way his race was being painted. "I mean how dwarves have a very hard time forgiving…or forgetting an offense."

"But I never offended Dis…or your father!" Bilbo hissed.

"By propositioning my sister, even if at the time everyone thought her a widow, was a great affront to Flinn," Thorin explained. "We dwarves take our ones very seriously."

"And trust me, now that I've found my own, I completely understand why my adad wants to chop you up like kindling," Kili assured him somberly.

"HE WHAT?" This time Bilbo did cry out loud, causing Tauriel, Daisy and the rest of the lasses to halt their conversation and stare in their direction.

At this, Thorin, Kili, and Dwalin could hold in their amusement no longer and broke out in laughter. In fact, Kili soon rolled out of this chair and was on the floor, holding his belly as he laughed till he cried.

"We…were only…teasing you, Bilbo," he was at last able to get out. "Amad would never have let him harm a single hair on your fuzzy little feet. But oh, the look on your face!"

"I'm just now beginning to remember why it has been so long since I visited Erebor," Bilbo huffed, glaring at each of the still chuckling dwarves. "One can only stand so much of your antics…you and your brother, for that matter. I suppose I should be grateful that he chose to remain at home."

"Oh, come on, Mister Boggins," Kili continued, not letting up. "It was only a small joke. And you did too miss me, admit it."

Bilbo tried to remain upset, but it only took one look at the young scamp sitting on the floor, a wide smile and laughing eyes, and the hobbit melted.

"Yes, yes, I've missed you all," he admitted with a humorous shake of his head. He then looked over at Thorin and Dwalin. "More than I ever thought I would when you all first showed up at my door and ate me out of house and home. Truth be told, I still look back on that journey as the highlight of my life." He then turned and gave his wife a loving glance, who had since gone back to talking with the others by now. "Yet, I couldn't be happier right here, in Bag End with my darling Daisy. Adventures can be fun, but I have everything I could ever want within these walls. Love, my dear friends, is the greatest treasure of all."

Kili, Dwalin and Thorin all let their gaze fall upon their wives as well, a warm smile spreading over their faces.

"You will get no argument from us on that point," Thorin nodded. "None at all."

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A bit later, Bilbo, Saradoc, Drogo, and Kili left to take care of the ponies and the wagon, getting them housed in a nearby stable, before bringing everyone's belongings up to Bag End. It was getting late and Bergie wished to sleep in her own home, still very anxious to show Dwalin where she once lived. Torin and Talin were getting rather sleepy, so they didn't fuss much when their parents told them to say farewell to their new friends and follow them back out into the night.

Frodo wanted to stay the night with Flinn, but Prim put an end to that.

"Everyone is bone weary from their travels, so they do not have the time or energy to deal with you and Flinn giggling all night long," she told him, kindly, but firmly. "There will be plenty of time for you and your sword-brother to have sleepovers…just not tonight."

So it was, with promises to meet up again for breakfast, the Brandybucks and the younger Baggins made to depart, accompanied by Dwalin and his family. It was only a short walk down to Bagshot Row, where Bergie had once called home. As her little hobbit hole, with the now slightly weathered yellow door, came into view a wide smile graced her lips.

"There it is!" she all but squealed in delight.

"Oh, Ama, it's perfect," Torin exclaimed, much of his weariness fading at the chance to explore the new dwelling.

As she pulled out her little key, and turned the lock, Dwalin lit the small candle Bilbo had given them before they all filed inside. It was not as large or spacious as Bag End, but it was homey, comfortable and inviting. In no time at all, Dwalin had a fire going in the hearth, and Bergie had gone around lighting candles and lanterns until the place was bright and cheery.

Daisy and the others had done a fine job cleaning and Bergie took great pleasure in showing her family around her one time dwelling. Three beds, one in the master chambers as well as two smaller ones in the guest room, had indeed been freshly made, and to the travel tired group they looked wonderful. The children were anxious to see every nook and cranny of the little hobbit hole, yet even they could not fight back the yawns that betrayed their exhaustion.

"There will be more time to explore tomorrow," Dwalin insisted, ushering them into the room that had been prepared for them. "Now, into your nightclothes and off to bed with you both."

Thankfully, without much argument, they complied, crawling into their little beds and allowing their parents to kiss them goodnight before they drifted off to happy and peaceful dreams.

Once they knew their little ones were snuggled in safe and sound, Bergie and Dwalin followed suit, anxious to be sleeping in a soft bed once again and no longer forced to make due with bedrolls on the hard ground. Yet even though the mattress was feather soft and the blankets were as fresh as rainwater, Bergie could not seem to shut her eyes. Even in the darkness she could make out the details of her old room, thinking back on all the time she had spent in her comfortable little hobbit hole.

"I can't believe I am back here," she whispered into the darkness. "It feels like so long since I laid in this bed and stared up at this ceiling. A lot has happened since then."

"Aye," Dwalin mumbled, laying on his side with his back to her as he attempted to get some sleep.

"And now, here I am, once again in the very same bed and the very same house I lived in before we ever met," she continued, unable to keep her words inside. "Do you realize…this is the very first time I have ever shared this bed with anyone!"

"It bloody well better be!" Dwalin huffed, beating his pillow a few times with his fist, and then rearranging himself in an effort to get comfortable. Yet only seconds later, he froze…his mind finally catching up with her words. Instantly he sat up and turned to look at his wife, just making out her sly grin in the dim firelight. "You mean…now?"

"Well, if you're not too tired," she hinted, her smile growing even wider.

"Durin's Ax, wife!" Dwalin said with a low and need-filled growl, throwing back the covers so that he might have easier access. "You know I'm never too tired for that!"

"Then get over here, my big brute, and let's christen this bed properly," she giggled, reaching out for him.

"With pleasure!"

Well, it looks like Dwalin is enjoying the Shire. ha ha.

How did you like Rory and Menegilda meeting their granddaughters?

How did you like Frodo and Flinn meeting once again? And Frerin meeting him for the first time?

And don't none of you go pairing up little Holly and Flinn...or Frerin. The age difference thing would not work out at all for them. Sorry. Hobbits come of age at 35 and dwarves not till around 75 to 80. It would not be a good match at all.

Well, Bilbo knows about Flinn Sr. and the mean old dwarves scared the fur right off his feet by telling him that Flinn was out to get him for propositioning Dis. ha ha.

Guest Reviews:

Feu d'Argent: Sorry about your ouchie. Fili will just love a few of those cool knives! Tauriel was sweet. And yep, Daisy will be checked out thoroughly. Flinn will be very careful with his sword. I promise. Thorin will never live that getting lost thing down. I know it was probably something just dreamed up for the movie, but it was funny. Thanks!

abc: I am glad that a reader talked me into stopping at the troll hoard. ha ha. The kids loved it, they got a few nice presents and it was a good excuse to bring up the parasites. ha ha. Frerin will come to love Bilbo just like everyone else does. Oh yes, the children met. I hope you liked their introductions. And marinate then roast...interesting. Thanks

Emily Crane: Glad you like Daisy. I didn't want Bilbo to be alone all his life. And really, him having a wife does not upset the while LOTR thing. So I figured, why not. And Lobelia is certainly NOT happy about anything that robs her of Bag End and the precious Baggins' silverware. ha ha. Thanks

Emrfangirl: Well, YOU would be afraid of being eaten too if you were that little. ha ha. That reminds me of when Tilda said that Flinn was so sweet she could just gobble him up...he didn't take too well to that either. ha ha. Kili LIVES to tease others...and it is most enjoyable to do so with Dwalin. ha ha. What little kid wouldn't want to see HUGE parasites. ha ha. Don't worry, Daisy is good people. They will find that out soon enough. Thanks.