September came and with that came cool weather and the first harvest from Erebor's grain fields. The reports from the fields came in. With help from the small army of hobbits, Erebor's first year of growing its own grains went very well and they were able to bring in half of what they needed. The other half would be bought from Dale as well as some extras to replace their emergency storage they had to use last winter.

Sam had gone around to some other nearby lands that belong to Erebor and found one other small piece of land suitable for farming. Some land belonging to Dale near Long Lake was also determined to be good land for farming, so Fili would be going to negotiate a sale on that land very soon.

The hobbits agreed to remain in Erebor through the winter so they could be here for spring to help pant the fields. Also, Sam and Rose were expecting baby number eleven now and decided against travelling.

Milly was doing worse and Fili feared that each day would bring him news of her death. He hated the fear, the waiting for the inevitable. He prayed to Mahal every day, begging him to protect Milly and the baby and keep them safe and well for one more day.

Hrafn's beacon project with the Iron Hills was almost complete. He and Graig left to check on the sites one last time before their dedication. The guard posts would be fully stocked and manned by mid fall.

Torsten and Agli were staying in Erebor for one more month, until Milly's baby was born, then they would return to the Glittering Caves to set up their own home. Fili was glad to have his nephew there a while longer. Torsten had been missed by everyone and Agli was a delightful addition to the family.

Fili was reading in his sitting room. The fire was warm and his book very interesting. Hana had only just returned from her day with Milly. Arwen and Tauriel would be staying at Milly's tonight, with Graig being gone until the end of the week.

"Fili?" Hana came up behind him and kissed his ear.

Fili put his book down and looked up to Hana. Her hair was wet and she worse a purple house gown. She smelled of soap and her cheeks were slightly flushed. She came around and sat next to him on the couch. Fili tried to pull her into his arms, but she wouldn't let him. Instead, she turned to face him and placed her hands on his forearms. She ran her hands along his arms, feeling the hard muscles underneath.

"What's on your mind?" Fili asked.

"Um, well," she took a deep breath, "do you remember, I told you how when I was married to Beled that he made sure I kept careful track of my body's cycles so we would never have relations at a time I could conceive?"

"I remember," Fili nodded.

"And do you remember your promise to me?"

"That I would never deny you a chance at motherhood?" Fili looked into his wife's lovely brown eyes. He couldn't quite read them.

"Do you still stand by that promise?"

Fili was a little shocked. He wasn't used to his promises being questioned. "Of course I do. Why? Are you with child?" he asked excitedly.

"No, I'm not."

Fili felt his heart deflate somewhat.

"Out of habit," Hana continued, "I still keep track of my cycles. If we coupled now, my body is ready that I could conceive a child."

Fili was excited by the idea, but curious about Hana's behavior. He thought she wanted this, to have a baby.

"Why do you tell me this? I thought this is what you wanted."

"It is. I tell you this because I know, at this time, that I could conceive and I know you promised me that if I did manage to conceive a child, you would be happy. But, I wanted to give you that choice; a chance to take back what you said, in case you really don't want a child right now. And I understand if you don't want a child now. You're about to become a grandfather, for goodness sake.

"I want this," she continued, "and I could have brought you to our bed and pretend I didn't know and suddenly find myself pregnant. But I didn't think that would be a good idea. You are my husband. You deserve the truth and the truth is, right now, my body is ready to conceive. But, we could wait until my winter cycle or my spring cycle, if this isn't what you want right now. I'm not going to trick you."

Fili listened to Hana in near shock. "Oh Hana," he took her hands and pulled them up to his face. He placed them on his cheeks and then turned his head to kiss and nuzzle them. He did not deserved such a thoughtful wife, but her thoughtfulness on this matter made him a little upset.

"Hana, I would never think you were trying to trick me. I thought we agreed that if you could conceive, we would have a baby and I would be overjoyed. And now, that you have presented me with the choice, the opportunity to back out, I feel a little more nervous that I might have otherwise. I begin to second guess myself. Is this what is really the right thing to do at this time? You have given me the power to tip the scales, but I would not retract my promise. If it is your wish to conceive a child, right now, then it is my wish too."

"Really?" Hana looked ready to cry.

"Yes, really. Are you quite sure the time is right? We aren't getting our hopes up for nothing?"

"I'm quite sure, Fili. Of course, you realized, it might now work. It's been more than forty years since my last pregnancy. My body might reject it, but right now, it is possible."

Fili leaned in for a passionate kiss. "Then what are we waiting for?"

A loud pounding woke Fili up from a very pleasant dream. He sat up in bed.

"Fili!" Kili called off in the distance.

Fili heard the front door of his home open and close. Kili had his own key to Fili's home for emergencies. A moment later, Kili was pounding on Fili's bedroom door.

"Fili!" he called again. There was urgency in Kili's voice.

"What is it, Kili?" he asked.

"It's Milly. She's gone into labor. Tauriel sent me to tell you," Kili shouted.

"What? But it's a month early!" Fili jumped out of bed. "When did this start?"

"I don't know exactly," Kili began, but Fili interrupted him.

"Open the door and get in here. I can't talk to you through wood," Fili was up and pulling on his trousers when Kili walked in. Hana was at the wardrobe pulling on a tunic over her night gown.

"Sorry," Kili mumbled to Hana.

Fili pulled on his shirt and plopped back down on the bed to get his boots on. "How long has this been going on?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think very long. I believe it came on quite suddenly. Tauriel didn't really tell me, she just sent me to fetch the two of you," Kili answered.

Hana walked over to him. "Kili, ties these laces," she stood with her back to Kili. He looked to Fili for his approval, but Fili was too busy with his boots. Kili took the laces of Hana's tunic and pulled them before tying them. Hana, meanwhile, braided her hair in one quick plait and wrapped it around her head, securing it out of her face.

By the time Fili had finished his shoes, Hana had grabbed her bag and they followed Kili out of into the hall. The three of them ran to Milly's apartment. They opened the door and hear a yell from Milly. Hana ran right into Milly's room.

Fili turned to his brother. "Kili, will you ride to find Graig? He and Hrafn should have made it to the second beacon by now." It would be a long ride, but he trusted Kili to do it more than anyone else.

Kili nodded. "I'll bring him home," he turned and left.

Fili turned back to Milly's room and laid his hand on the handle. He squared his jaw, opened the door and went in.

"Adad!" Milly cried out. "Adad, I want Graig!"

"Kili's gone to get him. He'll be here soon." Fili stood at Milly's side. Her face was sweating and contorted in pain as the next contraction began. She yelled out. Fili took her hand in his and watched her endure the pain. He remembered this with Sigrid when Hrafn was born - the complete helplessness he felt. He could do nothing but hold her hand and stand by her side.

Hana was gathering things and placing them alongside the bed. Much to Fili's mortification, several sharp knives were among the items waiting by Milly's bed. Tauriel brought a chair for Fili. He sat next to Milly and held her hand.

Arwen's slender fingers placed ghost-light touches along Milly's delicate skin. Then she pressed on her stomach, causing Milly to cry out in pain again.

"The babe is turned properly. That's good," Arwen said.

Milly cried out as another contraction began, "Help me, please," she begged.

"We'll do everything we can," Arwen promised.