Hi guys! I'm being the chappie title right now. I bet none of you expected me to actually go through with this spree of mine, huh? Then again, if I were you, I would do the same thing. I'm not that good with promises, as all of you can tell with the previous year.

But hey, at least I'm doing this now. I'm almost done with school too. All that's left is our clearance (signatures and passing leftover projects and stuff), community service for anyone that was late/absent, and then the actual moving up. Woohoo! I'm gonna be a senior next year! I can't wait, cause I'm really sick of school and I just want it to end.

Leona2016: Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it. I'm still gonna update it in a spamming spree, cause I want to try to keep my promise. I'll try to keep myself healthy. Is it weird if I say 'You too'?

Disclaimer: I would like to defy expectations *snicker* and say that The Hobbit is mine, but sadly, it is not. Enjoy this chapter!

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I.

Gandalf expected different from the Hobbit in front of him. The fun, improper adventure-seeking fauntling changed into a conscious, adventure-wary Hobbit, and it bothered him greatly. It would make him joining the quest more difficult than he imagined.

(Gandalf briefly wondered what would happen to his person if the Company knew that he was lying and didn't tell their burglar about the quest. No, even if Bilbo Baggins changed, and not for the better, he was still raised by Bungo Baggins, and if he knew the late Baggins Head, Bilbo would be the polite Hobbit Bungo raised and not complain to the dwarves. He should be safe for now until the inevitable discovery. Hopefully he'll be far away by then.)

The wizard thought that Bilbo Baggins would still be the fauntling he was years ago, but living without parents and with his suspicious peaceful Hobbit neighbors made that unrealistic, even he had to admit.

(Alright, he may not have visited the Shire for a long time, but he thought that Belladonna's behavior would rub off on her son. Clearly, Bilbo needed some persuading to join the quest.)

Oh well. The Grey Wizard might be old but he still have his tricks up his sleeves.

II.

Kíli, son of Dís, didn't expect the Halfling to insult them when they were in trouble! And was it really the time to do that? They were tied to sacks and half of the Company were being cooked alive! He knew most were hard on the Shireling, but surely Master Boggins wasn't resorting to name-calling? With the trolls around them to boot! If they made it out alive, he'll have the knowledge that trolls think their burglar so poorly of them.

As everyone started shouting at the traitor, Uncle Thorin kicked him (painfully! He was going to bruise, he just knew it!), which caused a huge THUD, and everyone went silent. Oin got it first.

"Ah got p-parasites as big as mah arm!" That caused a few comments to start as everyone tried to outdo each other.

(Kíli was ashamed to admit that it wasn't his finest moment. 'I got HUGE parasites!' Yeah, he hoped Ori wouldn't put that in his journal/travel log book thing. That would be so embarrassing!)

It was only afterwards that he realized Bilbo Boggins saved them from trolls by saying they were infected with worms.

(Ok, it was effective but it still hurt. He thought Master Boggins hated them! He didn't want Master Boggins to hate him. He didn't seem the type to hate but Kíli didn't want to risk a chance.)

III.

The funny-hatted Dwarf didn't expect such harsh words from such a kind being, even if it was true. Sure, they didn't have a home, but that was the reason for this quest. They were going to claim it back! Bilbo was going to help them; that was the point for getting him as the Company's burglar!

Bofur realized that Bilbo was just upset － probably Thorin's words earlier was the cause for that (damn you stupid Dwarf of a King! Everyone can see the tension between the two; why can't they admit their feelings?! And to say such harsh words even though it wasn't true was just too much, even for him) － and he wasn't thinking (like so many Dwarrows in the Company).

That didn't mean it didn't hurt. So, with sorrow in his heart, he let Bilbo go. It wasn't his place to hold him back if the Hobbit was homesick and he couldn't deprive him of his home.

(Bofur didn't expect the ground to open up, but he didn't blame Bilbo. There was no way the Child of the West had anything to do with that.)

IV.

The Halfling surprised him. He came back, made a speech, and then he saved Thorin from becoming warg dinner.

He didn't have to risk his life; that was his job! The Hobbit didn't like Thorin (he refused to think about those two in a relationship), Dwalin knew that, yet he just rushed into battle to kill the orc soldier and face Azog the Defiler. That took serious guts. Guts that Bilbo Baggins had all along during the quest. Guts that Dwalin thought didn't exist.

(Dwalin still wanted to thump him across the head. What in Mahal's name was he thinking, rushing into battle?! Inexperienced with a sword and he faces an orc decades older than him? It was a bloody miracle he didn't die! He was going to teach the suicidal idiot how to handle his tiny letter opener before the lad could go into another fight. He would be a piss poor companion if he let the burglar do such a thing again. He'll have to recruit the others too.)

Dwalin didn't expect the backbone of a Burglar Hobbit.

V.

Thorin… didn't know what to expect. For the first part of the quest, Bilbo was, frankly, useless. He got them into (and out of) trouble (such as the trolls). He consorted with the elves in Rivendell. Thorin almost fell when he boosted up the Halfling in the Misty Mountains and therefore almost died.

Then he saw the Burglar in a new light. He was courageous and loyal, a good mediator (Thorin didn't want to think of the skin-changer or of the elves), and he was extremely kind and resourceful.

(He was always kind and resourceful, Thorin couldn't say he wasn't. But it was never highlighted. He never noticed it until after Azog. Perhaps if he did, he wouldn't have been so harsh to the Halfling in the beginning. But time couldn't be reversed and hopefully Thorin could be a little bit kinder to the Baggins Head in the future.)

He prove that by somehow sneaking them out of the blasted leaf-eater's dungeons. He still can't believe they escaped Thranduil's jails with barrels and got out with minimal injuries.

Bilbo Baggins was an enigma to him. And he doubted he could figure out the Hobbit even with all the time in the world.

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Bilbo: Am I really that surprising?

Shadow: No offense, Bilbo, but you don't really have the 'tough' vibe at first glance. Unless you decide to just go wrestling with one of the Company, then you look like you can handle a fight at least.

Bilbo: ...At least I've been in fights.

Shadow: Alright, I'll concede to that. I'm not much of a fighter. I rather stay at the sidelines.

Bilbo: And not do anything, right?

Shadow: Yup. I can't tell you how many times my parents lectured me about that. But defying expectations, so to speak, is not that bad. I rather like that idea. Makes people interesting! So, be happy about that, Bilbo.

Bilbo: Thanks for that. I'll keep that in mind when you use me for another story of yours.

Shadow: Hehe. Gotta run though, Bilbo. 'rents are calling! Have fun with the Company. Bye!