"Fili, they're here!" Hana called.

"Coming," Fili called back. He was busy re-tying Thorin's sleeping gown at his feet. They used to leave his sleeping gowns untied, but he was such a busy baby, that he would maneuver his clothes until they were up under his armpits, leaving his tummy and legs exposed.

Fili pulled the blankets around his son and wrapped him tight, but it didn't matter much that he did this, Thorin would kick he way out of his blankets soon enough. Fili went out into his sitting room and found it crowded with hobbits.

"King Fili," Sam said. They all bowed.

"None of that here," Fili laughed. No one had bowed to him in a year's time. "We're in the Shire and everyone thinks of me as a simple blacksmith." He embraced Sam like an old friend. He kissed Rosie's cheek and look at the small hobbit babe in her arms. "So this is Ruby?"

"Yes, it is," Rosie beamed.

"She's beautiful. May I?" Hana asked.

Rosie passed baby Ruby to Hana and then she took Thorin from Fili's arms. Everyone cooed over the two infants. Fili looked around for his favorite hobbit lass and spotted Primrose hiding behind the skirts of her eldest sister, Elanor. She looked at him nervously.

Fili knelt down. "Hello, Primrose."

She waved.

"Do you remember me?" he asked. It had been over a year since they had seen each other. She nodded. "You've grown so much. You're as pretty as your Mama."

Primrose giggled. Her attention was drawn to Mailis, who crawled across the floor to her Papa. Fili picked her up.

"Do you remember holding the baby princess? This is her. Mailis has grown, too," Fili said.

Primrose came out from behind her sister. Fili held his hand out to her. She put her little hand in his. "King Beard?"

"That's right," he smiled.

"Mama said you King Fili," Primrose said.

"Fili's my name. You can call me Fili, if you like."

"I like baby princess." She touched Mailis's hands before she looked at Fili. "I lost a tooth." She smiled broadly at Fili.

"I see that."

"I can dance. Do you want to see me dance?" Primrose asked.

"Yes, I do." Fili watched as Primrose began to twirl about, which was difficult with the number of people in the small smial. She bumped into Elanor once and just about fell over, but Fili caught her before she could tumble.

"That was a lovely dance. Later, when I play my fiddle outside, will you dance again?" Fili grinned.

Primrose nodded enthusiastically. "Do you have any biscuits?"

Fili laughed. "Of course I do. Come to the kitchen with me and we'll get them out."

Fili took Mailis and Primrose to the kitchen, where he handed her a cookie from the tray Hana had sitting out. Balancing Mailis, Fili brought the tray of goodies out to share with everyone.

They all found places to sit, in chairs and on the floor. Rosie filled them in with news on their companions. Pippin, Diamond and Faramir would call on them tomorrow, but they were all doing well. Merry and Estella had already gone back home in Buckland as Estella was expecting their first baby and the journey had been tiring for her. Hana was thrilled for them.

Sam filled them in on how the planting was going, which was very well, according to him. He expected that they would be able to raise all the grain that Erebor needed that year. Fili was very happy to hear this and he promised to greatly reward the Hobbits for their almost two years of service to Erebor.

Sam explained Kili had already done so, and more than they needed. Still, Fili was determined to show them his thanks, somehow. Sam brought Fili and long letter from his brother. It was written before Thorin's birth, but Fili treasured every word of the letter. More than anything, he missed his brother.

It was mid October now. There was no way he could make the trip back to Erebor this year. They would have to wait another six months before they could leave. By the time they would make it home, it would be late summer. Perhaps they could celebrate Thorin's first birthday in Erebor. Fili looked at his month old son and sighed. Another ten months before he would be home.

Well, the past year had gone quickly. Maybe the next year would too.

Kili,

I don't know when you will get this. The winter weather here is terrible. I'll be instructing the raven, who is taking you this letter, to go slowly and safely. I hope Erebor is well this winter. How is the family? I miss you all. I can't believe Klin and Keil just turned twenty eight. Where does the time go? Weren't they just newborn dwarflings last year?

We are well enough. With such heavy snow, business at the forge is slow. I only go there a few days a week now. I'm not complaining about that, though. It means more time at home with my family. Our smial remains warm and cozy, although to preserve wood, we only keep a fire lit in the kitchen for cooking and in the largest bedroom, which is where we are all sleeping to conserve the heat.

Mailis is learning to walk. She has taken a few steps. She grows quickly and looks so much like Milly, that I can't help but smile. She has started to call me Papa and Hana, Mama. I keep wondering how I will tell her, when she is older, about her Amad and Adad. I want her to know them, but how do I tell her? I guess I'll do like I did for Milly with her two mothers.

Thorin is an amazing baby. He is so unlike Milly, Hrafn or Mailis. He is always moving and loud. He can bellow out a cry that would make his namesake proud. He is a terrible sleeper, preferring to spend his nights awake and crying. For a while, Hana was worried it was her milk that upset his stomach, but after trying goats milk, cow's milk, and wet nurses, we've decided it has nothing to do with his feeding and it's just his personality. He's a strong person trapped in a tiny, helpless body.

When he is not crying, Thorin is a handsome babe. He has Hana's brown hair and my blue eyes. He has a wonderful smile. Mailis can be, surprisingly, a big help with Thorin when he is crying. She can make him stop by making silly faces at him.

I have already begun making preparations for the journey home. I can't wait. We'll leave as soon as spring arrives. I am eager to get home and as much as Hana loves the Shire, she misses Erebor, too. I'll write you again as soon as the weather gets a bit better. Say hello to everyone for me.

-Fili

Happy Independence Day, for those who celebrate it! Regardless if you do or not, have a wonderful day! Thank you all for all the comments on the story. They make me so HAPPY! I was glad many of you liked the last chapter with Kili, Torsten and Agli. When I first started this story, I meant to have the story follow many lines - Kili's Torsten's, Hrafn's Milly's as well as Fili's. But that turned out to be more of an epic undertaking that I expected. So, it has continued to be more Fili-centric, with the rest of the family thrown in here and there.

The story will be coming to a close soon, so if there are any loose ends you'd like to see tied up, any characters you want to see developed a bit more, I am happy to do so. Just let me know. -Idrylla