MMMG: Hey everyone, I'm back! And I've got to say, wow! 9 reviews! Thanks for all of the support! This chapter has a lot of detail in it as well, but it should lessen a bit next chapter.

And just as a warning, there's some mild Gandalf bashing. He's still a good guy, but he's going to get a bum rap in this story. Got the idea from blackdragonqueen's 'Into the Fire' (located at Archives of Our Own)

Dovahkiin the Imperial: You're my first reviewer for my Hobbit story! Bilbo's medicine book will be used a lot on the journey, for obvious reasons, and the account of the first journey and the lord of the rings is only if Bilbo perishes on the quest. He's not going to go waving it around.

Anime Princess: Nice to know I was able to do something first. Yes! Archery and medical skills won't happen until after the troll horde, but it will happen.

Malo919: Glad to know someone appreciates the detailed work. While it is dryish, it's so important in the future chapters.

Azile Signer: Maybe. I can't find any dwarvish customs online, so I'll probably use what everyone else is using. Braids, hair beads, etc.

MMMG: Well, I don't own the Hobbit. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 2

Bilbo wiped the sweat from his brow as he backed away from the large oven his father had built in the backyard. It was very large, able to cook 2 full deer at the same time and used to coot meats for large parties in the Shire. But right now, Bilbo was using it to cook the meat he would serve the dwarves when they arrived at his home tomorrow.

Every year, at least once and possibly twice, Bilbo would have to take a torch and shove it down the chimney to burn the squirrels nest, and this year was no exception. The dratted things never learned, and shrieked and chitted at him from the trees as Bilbo got the fire going the day prior. In fact, the blasted things were still at it, and Bilbo was very tempted to let some arrows fly and serve squirrel stew as an appetizer. But ever since his first time threw Mirkwood, Bilbo had lost any and all appetite for squirrel.

So he prepared meat, meat, and more meat, one of the best ways to win approval from the stubborn and suspicious race. He had venison roasts, lamb legs and liver, beef brisket and steaks, and pork chops, sausage, and ribs that would be smoked. He had three or four of each type, and most were marinated a certain way to bring out the flavor. The cooked meats could be easily sliced for sandwiches to eat on the road. Much better than the crumbling biscuits they had to eat on the first day last time.

"I sure hope I know what I'm doing." Bilbo sighed as he checked the cooking meat while ignoring the squirrels, hoping that Ori would snap a few rocks at them with his slingshot when he got here.

To be honest, Bilbo was just about scared out of his wits. He was going to see his old friends again, six of which whom had died before he departed for the Undying Lands. He was worried he wouldn't be able to keep himself together, but scolded himself the way his mother use to and squashed down his doubts and fears, not willing to let them ruin his second chance.

Bilbo had also decided that he wasn't going to tell anyone that he was living his second chance at life. At least, not until he had their absolute trust or the ring was destroyed, whichever came first. He didn't want anyone to think of him as crazy and lock him up where he couldn't do a thing.

So he had been doing lots of little things all month to get himself ready for the upcoming journey, like practicing his archery skills. Each morning Bilbo went out to the target practice area he had set up in the nearby woods and went through a series of poses and runs while firing arrows. This last time, he had only missed three out of seventy targets, (some were the same target from different angles), so he felt pretty proud of himself.

Bilbo had also adjusted his mother's traveling coat to be more gender neutral. It was held together with tan buttons instead of a leather 'ribbon' that tied the front shut, but Bilbo had taken the 'ribbon' and sewed it into the coat around the waist to make a drawstring that he could adjust as his body size changed over the journey. He also made himself some traveling clothing, better suited for the road then his Sunday's best velvet waistcoat. He now had a deep tan sleeveless tunic that fell to a couple inches above his knees, and a light brown shirt with sleeves that reached his elbows. His pants were a darker brown and fell to mid-calf. Shoes were a no-no, no matter how many times he may get sent back into the past.

One of the final things Bilbo did was send letters to several hobbits. His grandfather, Gerontius Took "Old Took", the Thain of the Shire, Lobelia Bracegirdle (eventually Sackville-Baggins) and her parents, and Hobson "Roper" Gamgee, his wonderful next door neighbor. And to the local plumber, asking him to tighten up his plumbing before the dwarves arrived.

To his grandfather, Bilbo told him that he would be leaving on an adventure like the way his mother used to, and not to be alarmed, but he was wondering if he might have a pony on hand that he might use, no offense to dear Myrtle. Bilbo was certain the poor pony had gotten eaten by wargs last time.

To his 22 year old distant cousin and her parents, Bilbo asked if they could look after and maintain Bag End while he was away, and also collect rent from the properties to deposit in the bank. And yes Lobelia, you can wear his mother's wedding dress on your wedding day.

To Hobson Gamgee, he requested that the master gardener and his son, Hamfast, to care for the gardens, since the Bracegirdle didn't exactly have a green thumb. And yes, they were there with full permision to care for the house.

All had replied positively, and Gerontius had come marching up the lane two weeks before the dwarves would arrive with a pony in tow. To Bilbo's surprise, it was Myrtle. Apparently, the dwarves had bought her on their way into the Shire the first time, or that was Bilbo's theory. He thanked his grandfather profusely over elevensies, luncheon, and afternoon tea. Bilbo then made a habit to visit the spunky little pony each evening and spend an hour or two riding so he wouldn't be so sore after the first day of riding at the start of the quest.

Wiping the sweat from his brow again, Bilbo sealed the oven door off for the night. The meat inside would smoke on the upper rack or slow cook over the embers. He had done all he could for the evening, so it was time to visit Myrtle.

The next morning, Bilbo was up at the crack of dawn, determined to make the dwarves visit a more pleasant one, and that meant freshening up the three rooms that could be used to house guests. He had a guest room, a spare room, and his own bedroom on the north end of his smial, and a back room on the south end. He knew that the dwarves would want to naturally want to be close together, so they could have the north end of the house, and he would sleep in the smoking room instead.

Dori, Nori, Ori, Dwalin, and Balin would share the guest room. He knew that Dwalin was going to want to keep an eye on Nori, so might as well make it a tad bit easier. At least the two beds were trundle beds, so only two people would have to pair up on one bed in this room, most likely Dori and Ori.

Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur would use the spare room, which was just about as elaborate as the guest room. Again, the two beds were trundle beds, but Bombur would take up one bed by himself, so perhaps Bifur and Bofur wouldn't mind sharing.

Thorin, Fili, and Kili would get his bedroom, and for once he was grateful his bed had a trundle bed under it. Thorin would most likely bunk down there while Fili and Kili snuggled together. And Gandalf… well, Bilbo wasn't too sure where the wizard would sleep, probably in the back room on the south end of the house. His mother had made the room into a Big Person room since Gandalf had visited more before his birth.

Checking the time, Bilbo realized that it was almost time for Gandalf to arrive. Bilbo checked his clothes to make sure he was wearing the white collared shirt, yellow vest, and brown colored pants he had worn the first time. Seeing that everything was in order, he grabbed his pipe and some Old Toby before heading out to his bench, where he sat down, took a few deep breaths, and relaxed. All too soon, the familiar pop of smoke on his skin startled Bilbo out of his relaxed state, and he looked up to see Gandalf the Grey.

"Good morning." Bilbo greeted with a nod, trying extremely hard not to overreact at the sight of the Wandering Wizard.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf questioned as he leaned onto his staff. "Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good this particular morning? Or are you simply stating that it is a morning to be good on? Hm?"

Bilbo's tongue felt thick and he swallowed hard. He couldn't break down, not now. Not with the dwarves so close to being here. Swallowing again, Bilbo opened his mouth to reply.

"All of them at once, I suppose." Bilbo said as he put his pipe back and his mouth and took a deep breath, letting the Old Toby calm his nerves a small touch before he looked back up to Gandalf. "Can I help you?"

"That remains to be seen." Gandalf replied with a thoughtful tone. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure."

'More like you've already found him.' Bilbo thought while repressing a snort.

Last time around, while they were in Laketown, Bilbo found out the dwarves knew they were going to his house two weeks prior to their arrival, Gandalf giving each of them a map so they could find their way. After Bilbo told the dwarves he had been asked to go on an adventure just that morning, they became very annoyed with Gandalf's actions. Bilbo was extremely ticked off, and gave the wizard the cold shoulder on the journey home, after they left Beorn's house until they reached Rivendell.

In fact, he was still annoyed at many of Gandalf's actions from the last journey, and wanted to watch the wizard stutter a little. So Bilbo had a choice to make. He could say, 'Yes! I'm the hobbit you need!' and things might run smoother, or his could play it like he had last time and bite his cheek to keep himself from laughing while he cause Gandalf to trip up on his words or action.

The choice too easy.

"An adventure?" Bilbo asked with a perturbed look on his face before going to gather the mail. "Well, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, very uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner!"

Bilbo shuffled threw his mail, knowing that Gandalf wasn't going to leave despite the 'ignoring' he was giving the Maiar. Clearing his throat, Bilbo moved on the next part as he nodded his head in dismissal.

"Well, good morning!" Bilbo turned to head for his door.

"To think that I should have lived to be 'good morninged' by Belladonna Took's son as if I were selling buttons at the door!" Gandalf huffed loudly.

Bilbo stop and turned around, making sure he had a stunned look on his face. It wouldn't do if he started laughing now, oh no. He would do that once he was inside.

"I beg your pardon?" Bilbo questioned.

"You've changed." Gandalf sighed with a slow shake of his grey head. "And not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins."

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Bilbo asked, while trying not to answer himself with a 'yes'.

"Well, you know my name although you don't remember I belong to it." Gandalf replied, somewhat frustrated. "I am Gandalf! And Gandalf means… me."

"Not Gandalf, the wandering wizard who made such excellent fireworks." Bilbo smiled as he recalled the pretty lights on his 111th birthday, being a tad too young to actually remember any fireworks that Gandalf had made when he was a boy. "Old Took use to have them on Mid-summer's Eve."

Gandalf was smiling, but unknown to him Bilbo was smiling for a different reason. Bilbo's smile had turned into a grin as he puffed at his pipe again. It was time to watch Gandalf get all flustered with one simple line.

"I had no idea you were still in business." Bilbo said as he puffed strongly at the pipe to keep himself from laughing.

"And where else should I be?" Gandalf questioned as his smile slipped away, but Bilbo didn't respond as he kept going at it with his pipe so he wouldn't start laughing. "Well, I'm pleased to find you remember something about me, even if it's only my fireworks."

Bilbo coughed and cleared his throat. Okay, settle down with the Old Toby. He didn't want to keel over before the quest even began.

"Well, that's decided." Gandalf nodded, looking very pleased. "It will be very good for you… and most amusing for me. I shall inform the others."

Gandalf turned to walk away, not seeing Bilbo's grin. To be honest, the hobbit was having a hard time not whooping in joy that he had pulled it off. Well almost… just one more bit of acting…

"Inform who? Wha- no! No. No, wait." Bilbo ran up his steps as Gandalf turned to look back at him. "We do not want any adventures here, thank you- not today! Not- I suggest you try over the Hill or across the Water…"

Bilbo turned towards the door, part of him wanting to crow in delight, (his Took side, no doubt), while his other side cautioned against it, telling his to stick to the plan, (the Baggins side). Thankfully, in this instance, the Baggins side won.

"Good morning!" Bilbo nodded his head and rushed inside.

Shutting the door and locking it, Bilbo collapsed against the wood, breathing hard. He knew at that very moment, Gandalf was marking his door with the dwarf's burglar ruin, but he couldn't bring himself to move away, not even to look out the window.

He had done it. The dwarves were coming for supper.

Oh, Eru help him.

MMMG: End of chapter 2! I know, not much Bagginshield, but it will get going once Thorin arrives!

Anyway, please review and let me know what you think!