The rain was icy and sharp as it collided with Ovila's face and she frowned slightly. Her gaze flicked up to the sky, but the grey clouds showed no sign of moving on and a small sigh escaped her. It was typical really that it would rain on her return to Belegost after a two year absence with Hilda, Chalrim, Caldin, and new little Balili, though everyone shortened the babe's name to Lili. There had been difficulties with little Lili's birth and Chalrim had needed help, so Ovila went. Calim couldn't leave the shop, Thondi wouldn't leave Baltil, and Baltil was too ill to travel. He just hadn't been the same since the Warg attack and the family worried for him constantly.

Another sigh pushed free from Ovila's lips as she took in the familiar, comforting sight of the city rested at the base of the mountain and she smiled slightly. She'd missed Belegost and was eager to get back to the jobs she was made to do instead of caring for children. She did love Caldin and Lili, but she was made to heft axes and throw knives, not cradle children and sing them to sleep. The feel of an axe in her hand, the weight of a knife, the smell of the metal, all called to her and she missed her family and her friends. She actually missed Thondi's stern voice, desperately missed Baltil's soothing embrace and Calim's gentle smile. She missed Ori's steady, quiet, loyal presence and Bofur sneaking them free drinks at The Golden Ladle when he was helping Bombur. She missed training with Fili and the banter that came so easily to them.

She missed Kili.

Ovila hadn't realised how much she'd liked to just see him and know he was okay until she was gone. She knew the ten year mark had come and gone and she'd spent that day waiting, stupidly, for him to just appear so they could put those courting braids into their hair. He hadn't, she'd known he wouldn't, but it still hurt when he hadn't turned up, even if hadn't known where they were staying. It was just some little cottage in Dunland, rather isolated, and was so far from Belegost that there was no hope of him appearing. Perhaps she should've gone home, but her brother, Hilda, and the children had needed her and she couldn't just walk away. He'd understand, at least she hoped he'd understand, and her teeth worried her bottom lip nervously.

The entry gates only had a little traffic, so the pony was easily manoeuvred into the city and Ovila breathed in the familiar smells, sounds, and atmosphere of her home. Her smile grew slightly at the people hurrying here and there in a desperate attempt to finish their chores and get out of the rain as soon as possible. Heavy cloaks of various colours were wrapped around people, just as she wore one of dark green, and the rain made the fabric even heavier. The hood dripped water into her eyes, so she shoved it back carelessly and let the water slide over her hair and her face. Her blonde hair was quickly weighted down, frizzing and curling slightly at the moisture, and she closed her eyes and tilted her head back with a smile.

Ovila was home, she was home.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in!" a familiar voice laughed and Ovila opened her eyes to see Bofur, Bombur, and Bifur. "Welcome home lass!" Bofur grinned and Ovila grinned back, unable not to.

"It's good to be home!" she replied cheerfully and continued on her way. "I've missed everything dearly," she murmured to herself and steered the pony towards home.

No one was expecting Ovila back, as there'd been no set time that she would be away and she hadn't any means to send letters. Thondi would, no doubt, give her a lecture for staying away for so long, ask about Chalrim, Hilda, and the children, and that would be that. Baltil would give her a tight hug, welcome her home, and insist she have the last portion of dinner. Calim would ruffle her hair in that way only big brothers can and give her a hug tight enough to steal her breath away. Tomorrow, then, she would go to the training grounds and make sure everyone knew that she could still give them all a run for their money, no matter how long she'd been away.

The pony was soon stabled with the meat bulls, who snorted at Ovila and the shaggy pony derisively, and Ovila was soon letting herself into the house. She slid off her rain sodden boots and shook the lingering water from her hair. Her drenched cloak was hung up on the coat rack and yanked her socks off and stuffed them into her boots. The tiled floors were cool to her bare feet as she padded down the hall to the kitchen where her parents' voices were coming from, along with a few others. Ovila couldn't quite catch the others to recognise them with Thondi's sharp voice and she picked up an apple from the hall table where the fruit bowl resided. She took a generous bite and leaned casually on the frame of the kitchen door.

"I'm home."

Thondi cut herself off mid-sentence. Baltil jolted in his seat. Calim broke out into a wide grin. Fili's mouth fell open slightly. Thorin's eyebrows raised just a little. Dis stared with blatant shock. Kili's eyes widened and he gaped at the rain soaked Ovila munching on an apple in the doorway as though she hadn't been gone for two years. It was as though she wasn't a year and a half late for their ten year deadline and she hadn't changed in the slightest. Her hair was still impossibly long and curled in the rain. She still wore form fitting breeches, figure hugging shirts, and had her hair loose with too many braids, beads, bells, and clasps to count. She still had that grin with those bright, hazel eyes and she was still completely infuriating.

"You're home!" Thondi yelped and Ovila raised her eyebrows with a slight grin and her eyes finally descended upon their guests.

She promptly choked on the bit of apple still in her mouth.

"She's choking," Calim pointed out helpfully and Ovila managed to give a very rude hand gesture. "Is that what you taught Caldin this time?" he asked innocently and the apple smacked him straight in the nose.

"Ovila!" Thondi scolded and Ovila managed to dislodge the bit of apple choking her. "You're dripping water everywhere! You ridiculous child! Go and get a towel and get into some dry clothes!" Thondi barked and Ovila muttered something that earned her a good whack over the head. "Now!"

"Father-!"

"Welcome home, firecracker," Baltil grinned and stood to hug his daughter, even if she was soaking wet. "How is everyone?" he asked and Ovila grinned.

"Great, really great," she promised and hugged her father back tightly. "It's so good to see you, Papa," she whispered into his shoulder and his good arm tightened around her.

"I've been worried about you," Baltil admitted softly and held her at arm's length to inspect her. "You haven't changed at all," he said fondly and she laughed.

"I've been gone two years, Father, I wouldn't have changed too drastically," Ovila teased and he tugged on one of her braids. "With that look, anyone would think you didn't want me to come home," she shot at Thondi and Thondi's eyes narrowed.

"I've just cleaned this floor," Thondi bit out through gritted teeth and everyone looked at the puddle that was steadily forming about Ovila's feet and the tracks she'd left.

"I'm giving it another clean," Ovila replied cheekily and ducked beneath a swat with a tea towel. "I'm going!" she cried and bolted before Thondi could hit her again.

"Calim, go and get some cake," Thondi ordered and Calim sighed, but stood. "Her favourites," Thondi added and allowed herself to smile. "Ridiculous child," she added softly and shook her head as her son left and braved the rain.

"Where's she been again?" Fili asked curiously and Kili glared at his brother.

"Hilda had a little trouble with the second birth - I've always said that woman didn't have wide enough hips for a Dwarf child, let alone two," Thondi answered and clucked her tongue. "I would've gone, but I couldn't just leave and Ovila offered to help look after the little ones, but it must've taken Hilda a little longer than expected to get back onto her feet."

"So, she wasn't here because of family commitments that were necessary and unavoidable," Fili directed this at Kili and Kili squirmed slightly in his seat, suddenly finding the tabletop very interesting. "Interesting," Fili grinned and Kili punched his brother in the arm.

"Kili," Dis scolded absently and Kili frowned a little.

Ovila was back and the fact made Kili feel uneasy. He'd waited for her to saunter through the gates at the end of the ten years and for things to just magically snap back into place. Part of him, a rather large part of him really, had known that it wouldn't happen and things weren't magically fixed. They'd have to talk and have one of those awkward conversations where they discussed feelings and she'd probably cry and he'd awkwardly pat her shoulder. It'd never happened between them before, but, if it ever would, that conversation would be the thing that started it and he wasn't looking forward to it. He couldn't actually recall ever seeing Ovila cry and he didn't want to.

Suddenly, an eardrum shattering scream rattled the beams on the ceilings and everyone bolted down the hall to find the origins of the scream. Stood on a bed with a knife clutched tight in her hand in her room was Ovila and she had her eyes glued to her trunk. There was a flash of movement, followed by another shriek, which was closely echoed by Thondi, and Thondi ran back to the kitchen as fast as she could.

"KILL IT!" Dis yelled at her brother and Thorin sighed heavily.

"It's a mouse."

"That is not a mouse! That is a mutant!" Ovila bellowed and the mouse, maybe slightly bigger than the norm, scurried across the floor in search of a better hiding place.

Fili and Kili were too busy laughing hysterically to be of any help and there was a sudden squeak that was quickly silenced. A small dagger pinned the mouse to Ovila's skirting board and Thorin shook his head at the females. Dis could stand up to the biggest men with no fear, Ovila was a strong warrior in her own right, and Thondi could strike fear into the hearts of the strongest with a look, yet they all turned into shrieking imbeciles at the sight of a mouse.

Ovila cautiously stepped down from her bed and cleared her throat awkwardly. "If you tell anyone, I'll gut you," she threatened Fili and Kili and they just carried on laughing. "It is not that funny!"

"I've missed you," Kili gasped out and hugged her tightly with a grin on his face. He felt her tense slightly in surprise, but that faded surprisingly quickly and her arms slid around his middle. "You're late, you know," he muttered into her ear and she tightened her arms around him slightly.

"Sorry about that," Ovila murmured in reply with a small smile. "I missed you too," she admitted quietly and he tugged on her wet hair. "But, I guess I forgive you," she stated and left the room.

"For what? I didn't do anything!"

"Exactly!"

"I don't understand girls," Kili said to Fili, Thorin, and Baltil earnestly.

Three sets of raised eyebrows were Kili's reply.

I'm not that happy with this chapter, but I this was all I could come up with and I hope you like it!

Thank you to everyone that read, reviewed, alerted, and favourited this story, especially those I couldn't reply to personally :D