Hello again everyone! I am extremely sorry for the long wait, but I have been very sick lately, and have had exams, so not a lot of free time to spare. But! I am back, so updates will be more frequent, especially with the weekend coming closer.

There had been concerns from the last chapter about Bungo killing his own wife after she fad him cousin Ferumbras. Well! Don't worry, that is not what happened, and if you read back a few chapters you will see that she was killed by wolves while helping a neighbor give birth.

Now that that is out of the way, a few notes on this chapter. It will be split in 2, as it is late, but I just really wanted to get a little bit of it out there, and to you, my loyal readers. So this is part one of chapter 14. Or just a really short chapter 14… But never the less, before the week is over, there will be more, and it will be good! Enjoy the Last Homely Hole

Gust continued to blow snow dunes all over Hobbiton and appeared to not be thinking about letting up even slightly. More and more crystals settled over the bare trees, benches and windowpanes of the hobbit holes scattered around the village, settling in to wait for the spring sow to let them leave.

Bilbo and the brothers had settled into a comfortable routine of work and interaction, evenings devoted to settling in front of the fire, hammering away with their miniscule tools, creating the wonderful trinkets for the Took wedding. It took Fili a bit, but he was finally able to put together a small air-pumped drill, that, when the bellow was pumped, spun the tiny metal contraption fast enough for him to engrave the bone and metal pieces he was working on. Usually Bilbo was the one doing the pumping as he sat in a rocker the brothers dragged in from one of the back rooms, reading a book, or knitting. With the hobbit's assistance and the clever contraption Fili's portion of the work was being done a lot quicker than when he was doing it all by hand. Kili's was still painstakingly slow, but the creations of his labor were gorgeous and deserving of praise.

While evening were spend with doors locked and windows behind the shatters to ward off the cold and dark, days were occupied with chores and the outside activities. A lot needed to be done, and Bilbo was extremely grateful for the help provided by two dwarves. Before, a lot of things were only possible with the help of his many cousins and neighbors, but now Fili and Kili were the ones helping him move around barrels in the cellar, clear out the snow path in front of Bag End, and generally keep up the hole at the tidy level of clean that the hobbit wanted.

Ofcourse the cousins and neighbors still dropped by on many a usual occasion, and the Took ones got along with the brothers splendidly. His cousin Drogo came by a few times and was scared witless by the sight of Kili stumbling into the kitchen, looking for all intents and purposes like a disheveled blob of blankets and hair. He was swiftly reassured of the dwarf's harmlessness and had a cup of calming tea shoved in his hands.

As the harshness of winter lessened, the spirits soared and the hobbit nature once more started to rear its head. Fili and Kili had both noticed that the folks of Shire were a bit melancholic during the long winter months, but now that spring was nearer they seemed to be perking up. More and more people were out on the open air. Children began to poke their noses out of Holes and tumble out; swaddled in layers upon layers of cloth, usually leaving only their tiny noses and eyes peaking from under shawls and scarfs that hobbit mothers hefted on them. Not once but many times was either brother brought to their rump by a squealing ball of wool, yarn and curls, as a hobbitling rolled by, quite alike to a tumbleweed, usually followed by a few more of said "balls", all happily yipping and laughing.

Kili once tried to catch a little hobbit ball as he was once more rendered earthbound by a pack of them, but was unfortunately unsuccessful in his endeavor, rather ending up being assaulted by a multitude of snowballs, and pelted from behind piles of sleet with well-aimed projectiles, followed by high-pitched warrior cries.

He came home bewildered and slightly confused, asking Bilbo if all hobbits were taught to be good with long-reached weaponry. At that Bilbo laughed and invited the brothers to visit the Took household in the summer, when plenty of small game was to be found and hobbits practiced their throwing.

To the hobbit's surprise, an invitation to that particular establishment had arrived a lot sooner than he had expected.

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Bilbo sifted through his daily mail, while trying to ease back into the Hole, without taking his eyes off the thick envelopes in his hands. It bore the intricate wax seal of the Took family on the crease that had a weaving of three bronze cords hanging from it, and Bilbo was fairly certain he knew what it meant. Light trepidation filled him, along with unease, as he remembered the talk with his Took cousins about the tradition of the Winter Gathering in Took Hall.

All young hobbits of Took and other relations were to come in the last month of winter, crowding together in the great hall of Tooks in order to show themselves off, present an image of their grown selves, and, if heart was amiable, court and get courted by those around them. Bilbo was both excited and terrified of the prospect…

Like every hobbit he had thought about having a family. He loved things that grew and bloomed; all the Shirelings did. But at the same time Bilbo felt that in the last few months the expectations placed on every hobbit out there were beginning to become a burden to him. Especially since the arrival of Fili and Kili, and their quick integration into the hobbit's life. Bilbo truly felt more at home, and more comfortable then he had in years with the constant chatter and chaos of the brothers to keep him occupied and engaged in multiple activities.

Kili in particular was adamant about making sure that the hobbit was never left out of their games or discussions. The young dwarf had become protective and constantly followed Bilbo around when the other had ventured outside the Hole. Not that Fili was any better, but had at least tried to keep his protective nature hidden for a while. All pretense of subtlety went out the window at the face of the winter night spend holding the frozen hobbit between their warm bodies, while he told them of the horrors that took away his family and a bit of his humanity.

Since that night both brothers kept a closer look on him, which annoyed Bilbo greatly, but also made him feel warm, and comfortable. He had not had anyone to truly worry about him for quite a long time now, and the sudden attention and attentiveness while unusual and somewhat unfamiliar, was never the less welcomed by him.

Now, as Bilbo finally got through the door, and opened his letter, confirming his suspicion on its contents, he did not know exactly how to respond. He had to go. It was simply unheard of not to show up on the Winter Gathering after being invited. And a lot of people showed up without an invitation as well, but if one was received, you went. No excuses. And Bilbo was faced with a dilemma.

Does he attend and suffer through the embarrassment of clumsy courting rituals, or does he stay home and face the wrath of the head of the Took family for denying the invitation and most likely endanger his "nephews" success with the hobbits? That last bit quickly made up Bilbo's mind, seeing that just as the brothers were protective of him, Bilbo also constantly kept an eye on them and their doings.

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Bilbo had to wait until that evening to inform Fili and Kili about his visit to the Tooks later that week, and had prepared a fine dinner in anticipation of the talk. His chicken clove pie was the main attraction and softener, as he rightfully anticipated a firm rebuttal to his news from both dwarves. They rather see him safe and sound behind the Thorin reinforced doors. And while Bilbo appreciated the concern, he was a grown hobbit, and fought to preserve his right to making his own decisions.

Rather as he expected Fili came in first, dragging a snow-splattered Kili behind him, dropping their wet cloaks in the hallway and following their noses to the kitchen. The brothers were met with a sight of a spread upon the table, their mugs set next to the plates, and a feast sprawling most of the surface. Kili dug in with an appreciative yelp, but Fili came towards Bilbo with a slow caution in his step. He knew the hobbit well by now, and found out that he was able to easily perceive their weakness to his food. If their Auntie was putting this much effort into tonight's dinner, something was going on.

"Auntie." He said, sitting down at his customary chair next to his brother.

"Hello Fili, Kili" smiled Bilbo as he bustled about the room, bringing in a pitcher of ale and a tankard or cider. "How was the day? Anything interesting to tell me?"

Fili glanced towards his brother who was just in the beginning of the process of decimating the chicken clove pie, and temporarily forgot about the question. With a howl he snatched the plate away from Kili's grabby hands, and clenched his prize close to his chest. Oh no! Not tonight! Auntie Bilbo's pie was a sacred thing, not allowed within the younger dwarf's hands if he could help it.

As the two battled for the pie, Bilbo sat down and looked at them. Oh, he just knew that something would go wrong with the conversation. Finally he had had enough of the squabbling, and wanted to get the talk over with. Its not as if anything too drastic would happen anyways.

"Fili! Kili!" he said sharply, bringing the two to a halt. "Put the pie down, I made enough for both of you, and Fili!" At that the older leaned slightly back. "Stop taking food from your brother, he's a growing dwarf, he needs the strength."

Fili could only open his eyes wide at that exclamation. "I'm a growing dwarf too! I need my strength too! Why does Kili get to be the baby?"

"Oi!"

"He's not a baby, but you are older. Now put down the pie, and settle; I have something to tell you"

Grumbling still, the dwarves sat down the pie and pulled the chairs closer to the table, looking at Bilbo with expectant eyes. Taking a deep breath he decided that quick was better in this situation.

"I've been invited to the Winter Gathering in Took Hill. It's for every hobbit that had reached their maturity the past year, and since my birthday was in the fall, I am also in that category. I'll be going there at the end of the week. It's going to be a big party, and I might get courted, but don't worry, I'll come back in the morning, and everything will be alright!" The speech was blurted out in a single breath, and by the end of it Bilbo was a bit red in the face. Unfortunately for him, he was not as red as the two in front of him.

Fili and Kili both had turned scarlet, and stayed that way as soon as Bilbo mentioned courting. Oh no. No. Nope. Not happening. Their Auntie was not about to be seduced by some grocer of a hobbit at some "First official time to pat a rump party"! They would not allow it. So in a synchronized way their opinion was made public.

"NO!"

"You're not going! You can't, and we won't allow it, won't we Fee!"

"You're right! Auntie, you can't just tell us something like that! What kind of a gathering is it anyways, if you have to suffer through bellicose hands and wondering eyes? It's completely improper!" bellowed Fili as he stood up. No one was going to snatch up Bilbo if he could help it.

The aforementioned hobbit could only sigh as he observed he spectacle in front of him. He just knew that this would happen, and hoped that the food would pacify the two, but it seems that their mutual love for his pie had put a damper on that plan.