The occupants of the car were silent as Amelia drove, either staring out the window or around the vehicle with wide eyes. Eventually though, Kili found his eyes straying to their driver. Amelia's brow was furrowed; the crease between her eyes deepening every so often. She knew that the closer they got to their destination, the closer she would be to saying goodbye to her family.

Kili resisted a sigh as her eyes moved first to the car in front of them, then to the car behind. She quickly dabbed at her eyes, and Kili glanced away.

"Mia?" called Ori. "Can I ask you something?"

Amelia nodded, glancing back briefly to where Ori sat. "Of course," she answered.

Ori gulped. "Why do you and your brother look so different from your parents?" he asked.

Kili all but groaned as Amelia's hands tightened on the wheel of the car. He watched her carefully out of the corner of her eye, noting how she gulped, how her face contorted.

"My siblings and I are all adopted," she answered him.

Ori's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked. Now Amelia had everyone's attention, and she sighed as she realized this.

"Why did they adopt?" asked Nori. "Could they not have their own children?"

Amelia shrugged. "They didn't want to." She paused, considering how to explain things to the dwarves. "They really weren't into that sort of- the things required…"

She trailed off, her cheeks heating up. Was she really about to have the talk with the company? Was she mad?

"So they don't like sex?" asked Dwalin. Amelia winced at his bluntness.

"It's called asexual," she told them. "Some people just aren't interested in that sort of thing."

"Hmmm." Dwalin thought for a minute, then shrugged. "If it works for them, whatever."

Amelia sighed in relief; not everyone reacted with such understanding to her parents' preferences. An awkward tension settled over the car as the occupants again descended into silence. It was only broken by Kili, who, sensing a need for a mood-breaker, began to read every sign they passed out loud. He did so with such a silly accent that soon the entire car was giggling, and Ori had joined. Soon Nori, then Gandalf followed, and even Dwalin warped his voice to a rather unlikely squeak as he read off a mile marker. At last Amelia could resist no longer, reading off a Dunkin' Donuts sign as they passed it with a ridiculous French accent.

Kili started playing around with the buttons within the car, and Amelia showed him how to turn on the air conditioning and the heat. Then he pressed the button that turned on the music, and he yelped as the speakers situated around the car began to blare.

Amelia snickered as she lowered the volume, and Kili scowled.

"How does it do that?" he asked. "What are those instruments? Where are they?"

"There aren't any musicians here," she told him. "This is simply a CD of what someone has done."

"What's a CD?" asked Ori. There was a hurried flipping of pages at the back of the car as he rushed to find a blank page in his book. "Uh- Nori, here hold this." Beside his little brother Nori sighed as he accepted the ink pot, holding it where Ori could reach it.

"A CD is sort of like- well, think of books. You can read them over and over again, and they tell the same tale." She waited for the assembled dwarves and wizard to nod that they understood before continuing. "A CD is like that, only instead of recording words to read, you store sounds on them. Singing, instrument playing, everything gets stored on the CD. And then you just put it into a compatible music player, and it will play what's on the CD for you."

Ori nodded. "How does it work?" he asked her.

Amelia sighed and launched into a very long explanation of film. She told Ori about cameras, those used for pictures and for videos, and how everything was brought together to produce music, TV shows, and movies. To her relief, the dwarves didn't seem to know about how they were represented in her world in such media, and if they did they didn't say.

They stopped halfway to New York for a rest, and Amelia and Jack slipped into the mobile station they were at, grabbing granola bars and packages of chips off the racks. The clerk at the register raised an eyebrow at the heap of food and drinks they set on the counter, but processed the order without comment. The company ate quickly, then they took to the road again. As Amelia drove she continued to tell the dwarves in her car about her world, Ori scribbling fanatically in the back of the car.

The sun had nearly set on the day after Amelia had woken by the time they arrived at her sister's home. As they neared Amelia's breath became more labored, her palms sweaty on the wheel of the car.

Veronica's house was small, painted a deep blue. Amelia slowly slipped from the car, unable to move closer. There was an excited squeal as Jack ran up the front steps, repeatedly pounding on the doorbell.

Amelia jumped as she felt a hand on her arm. Glancing back, she saw that Kili had come up behind her, and he gave her a warm smile of encouragement that she returned. He squeezed her hand softly, and Amelia pushed tears out of her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Kili nodded. "Anytime."

Amelia turned back to the house, then took a deep breath and started forward. Kili followed behind her, and within moments Fili was by his side. It didn't take long for Amelia's sister to open the door, and when she did the company studied her. Tall with long, blonde hair, she had a red pen stuck behind her ear. As she spotted her family she grinned, then her brown eyes widened as she took in the platoon of dwarves on her doorstep.

"Hi Veronica," started her mother. She glanced past Veronica, pointedly looking at the interior of the house. With a blush her daughter stepped aside, and the company began to file past.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Jack chuckled. "It's the company!" he told her. "From-"

He was cut off as Amelia's hand covered his mouth, and he quickly fell silent.

"We need to talk," she told her. Veronica nodded, reading the intensity in her little sister's eyes. As Amelia pulled her hand off Jack's mouth Veronica pulled them both to her in a hug.

"I've missed you," she whispered. "My students are fun, but it's just not the same without you goons."

Amelia fought back tears as she pulled away. "I've missed you too," she choked. Before Veronica could say anything else she slipped into the house. When the rest of her family joined her a minute later they made their way to the kitchen, where the company was already going through Veronica's pantry. Quickly introductions were made, and as Bombur started shouting orders as to what to do with the food Amelia sighed and dragged her family into the next room.

Veronica shut the door to the spare bedroom behind her. "How are they here?" she asked. "What's going on? And what happened to you two?" She pointed first to her mother's arm, then to Amelia's chest, noticing the stiff way she'd been moving.

Amelia sighed. "We don't know what's going on," she lied. Her heart pounded, but she forged ahead, knowing the truth would crush her family. "A bunch of orcs showed up at the house, and then that lot. We couldn't stay in Minnesota, so we came here."

Veronia frowned. "Why did orcs attack you?" she asked. She laughed shortly and sat on the bed, her head in her hands. "This is impossible," she insisted. "This can't be happening."

Amelia sat next to her. "It is," she said softly. Veronica nodded, looking lost, then pulled her sister to her in a hug.

"Why were you attacked?" she repeated. "I mean, what's so important about us?"

Amelia shrugged. "No idea," she said.

"Are we safe here?" asked Veronica.

"We should be," stated their father. "Maybe don't tweet about how a bunch of dwarves are hiding at your house."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Thank you Captain Obvious," she growled. She sighed and stood. "We better get out there before all the food is gone."

Oin steered her mother off almost immediately to look at her arm, and when he came for Amelia she waved him off. "I'm fine," she promised. Oin looked skeptical, but he meandered off to help the others set the table.

Amelia found herself squished between Jack and Bofur, staring wide eyed around her at the company that was joking, laughing, and throwing food. From across the table Bilbo caught her eye and laughed.

"I know how you feel," he called. "I was a bit overwhelmed when I first met them."

Amelia chuckled, recalling how the hobbit had looked in the movie. "Yes," she stated. "I imagine so."

Before she knew it the dwarves were exchanging grins from across the table, and as the meal wrapped up Fili and Kili stood. They nudged Ori and Bilbo, and obediently the two joined them.

"Why do I put up with you?" she heard Bilbo mutter.

The two brothers laughed. "For old time's sake," Fili pleaded. Bilbo sighed, then nodded. Amelia watched as the hobbit adopted a very disgruntled expression, staring at the dwarves crowded around the table as Gandalf came to stand by his side. By now the others had begun milling around slightly, though an excited air was overtaking them, and Amelia frowned as Ori approached Bilbo timidly, a plate held in his hands.

"Excuse me," he said. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?"

Amelia's eyes widened as Fili tapped on Ori's shoulder. "Give it to me, Ori," he commanded. He quickly snatched the plate, then threw it like a Frisbee to his brother, who caught it with ease.

From beside Ori Bilbo made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, though there was a playful gleam in his eyes.

"Excuse me," he shouted. "That's my mother's West Farthing pottery; it's over a hundred years old!"

Amelia's mouth had dropped open, and she giggled as around her the dwarves began to pound with their silverware on the table. Bilbo scurried over.

"Do you mind not doing that?" he asked. "You'll blunt them."

"Oh, do you hear that lads?" asked Bofur. "He says we'll blunt the knives."

Amelia ducked as the dwarf chucked a plate over her head to Fili, and within moments it had been tossed to Kili. He then chucked it to Bifur, who had taken up position at the sink. As he threw he began to sing, and Amelia couldn't help but notice how his chest puffed out, the way he slinked back and forth like a cat.

"Blunt the knives and bend the forks!"

Fili threw another plate to his brother, grinning widely.

"Smash the bottles and burn the corks," he sang.

"Chip the glasses and crack the plates!

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Now the entire company was singing, even Thorin, as the dwarves began to throw the dishes to Bifur. Veronica shot halfway out of her seat, but as Gandalf tugged at her arm she sat again, watching the dwarves nervously. Bilbo for his part staggered around the house, making small noises of protest much the way he had done in the movie.

"Cut the cloth and trail the fat!

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!

Pour the milk on the pantry floor!

Splash the wine on every door!

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl!

Pound them up with a thumping pole!

And when you've finished, if they are whole!

Send them down the hall to roll!

Amelia giggled as Bofur descended into a quick solo on his flute, and she caught several of the company grinning proudly at the sight of her twinkling eyes.

"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Veronica stood and peered into the kitchen, feeling the need to check that the dwarves had been careful with her dishes. They were stacked neatly on the counter, gleaming after being scrubbed so thoroughly.

"I guess that takes care of cleaning up," she commented. Around the table there were several chuckles as everyone returned to their seats. Kili shot Gandalf a quick nod, and the wizard replied with a wink. Amelia's mood had lifted with the company's performance, and both were glad for it.

"What is music like in your world?" asked Dori. He turned to look at Amelia, and she shrugged softly. Before she could be forced to answer Veronica jumped in.

"I don't think you'd like it very much," she commented.

"No," stated Ori. "I don't." He made a face, and Amelia couldn't help but giggle.

"There's got to be something decent," Bofur translated for Bifur. He glanced over to Amelia. "Can you sing?" he asked her.

She cringed backward. "No!"

"Yes," corrected Jack. He nudged his sister's arm. "She just doesn't sing in front of people. Only in the shower."

Amelia scowled and swatted her brother's head.

"Then sing," commanded Gandalf.

Amelia shook her head quickly, resisting the urge to run from the room.

"Mia, please?"

She bit her lip at the wide eyed puppy dog look Kili was giving her. No doubt on purpose. "Just one song," he pressed.

Amelia sighed. "Alright," she snapped. She thought, then settled on a song. It was more the length of a poem, which meant that Amelia wouldn't need to sing for very long. It was also something that she knew from the Lord of the Rings, and although she was with the wrong group, she nonetheless felt that it was appropriate.

"Home is behind, the world ahead.

And there are many paths to tread.

Through shadow, to the edge of night.

Until the stars are all alight.

Mist and shadow, cloud and shade.

All shall fade. All shall fade."

Amelia gulped and ducked her head as she finished, ignoring the way everyone was staring at her. Her father was giving her a knowing look, and she determinedly didn't look at him.

"That," said Bilbo, "was beautiful. Where did you learn it?"

Amelia blinked in surprise. Wasn't that a Shire song? Only in the movie, she realized. Billy Boyd, the actor who had played Pippin, had written the song himself. It didn't exist in Middle Earth.

She merely shrugged in response to the hobbit's question. "From a movie," she told him.

"It's sad," commented Fili.

"Not always," Amelia told him. "Sometimes sad songs are actually quite happy."

This caused the dwarf to tilt his head as he considered. A moment later Gandalf clapped his hands.

"We've all had a long few days," he said. "I think it time we get to bed." His eyes flashed to the window, through which Amelia could see that the sun had by now completely set. She gulped, knowing what the wizard had on his mind, but obediently stood.

"I have no idea where we're all going to sleep," Veronica commented. "I don't really have the space. Sorry."

"It is fine," Thorin promised. "We can manage." With that the dwarf began to unroll his bedroll in the living room, and the rest of the company followed suit.

"I do have some spare beds," protested Veronica.

Gloin waved her away. "And we've slept on much worse than a carpeted floor," he told her. "You and your family shall take the beds."

Veronica sighed, but backed away. As she passed Amelia she muttered something under her breath, and Amelia pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

Veronica had two spare bedrooms. Her parents were given one, and Jack and Amelia were put in the other. Amelia made sure to hug each member of her family before they could disappear to bed, knowing that she would never have the chance to again.

Her mother rubbed her good arm up and down her back. "Honey, what's wrong?" she asked. She pulled back slightly to stare at her daughter, and Amelia shook her head.

"Nothing," she rasped.

Her mother's eyes softened, and she pulled Amelia into another hug. "I know," she whispered. "We'll get through this, I promise. We'll all be fine."

Amelia nodded against her shoulder. Sniffling back tears, she gave her mother a soft smile. "Night Mom," she whispered. "Night Dad. Night Vonny."

Her sister scowled slightly at her nickname, but nonetheless imparted a hug to her little sister.

"Good night Mouse," she responded. Amelia smiled and slipped into the bedroom, where Jack was already curled up.

"Scoot over," she ordered. Jack rolled his eyes but did so, then yelped as his sister wrapped her arms around him.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked. He shoved Amelia off him, and she chuckled as she settled down beside him.

"Nothing," she said. "Can't I hug my little brother?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "No," he decided. He turned over and hit the light switch. "Goodnight Mia," he called, putting a tinge of annoyance into his voice.

Amelia sighed. "Goodnight Jack."

She waited until her brother had begun to snore, then carefully rose and slipped out the door. The company had already rolled up their bedrolls again, and were smoking quietly in the living room. Smoke drifted out a window that someone had opened, and Amelia waved a few tendrils away from her.

"Ready?" asked Gandalf.

"One minute," she said. She pulled a notepad and pen from a drawer, then leaned against the counter to think.

Mom, Dad, Jack, and Veronica,

I'm sorry I had to sneak off like this, but it's the only way. The orcs that attacked us at the house were after me, and I can't risk them looking here for me. As long as I'm with you, you're all in danger.

I'm going to be fine. I have the company to protect me. I'm not going to say that once this is over I'm going to come back, because I can't promise that. I don't know when this is going to be over, or how this will end. All I know is that I'm a part of something big, and that I have to leave.

I love you. I will always love you. I'm sorry that I have to go; I don't want to, but I have to. I'll never forget you, and if I can come back, I will. That much I will promise.

I love you,

Mia

Amelia tore the paper out of the notebook, folding it in half and setting it on the counter. She hadn't even realized she was crying until she felt tears dripping down her face, and hurriedly she brushed them away. The company avoided her eyes as she moved to the door, and she knew that they had seen, but none of them commented.

"Let's go," she whispered. Silently the company filed past her, until it was only her standing in the doorway of Veronica's house. She glanced back, trembling. She wanted to run back inside, to crawl into bed with her parents like she'd done as a child. Why did this have to happen to her? She didn't want this.

"Mia."

Amelia glanced over at the sound of Kili's voice. The dwarf stood only a few feet away, watching her with sad eyes. He held out his hand, and slowly she reached out to take it. She glanced back into the house one last time, then back to Kili. Then, with a deep breath, she nodded and began to clamber down the steps.

The group didn't bother with the cars; Amelia was the only one who could drive, and there was no chance of the entire company cramming into one car. They started down the street, and once they had turned the corner, losing sight of the house, Kili pulled his hand from Amelia's. She frowned, but, remembering Fili's words about the girl he'd lost, she didn't comment.

"Where are we going now?" she whispered to Kili.

"Into the forest," he told her. "We're already there; your sister's neighborhood is right on the edge. It's perfect."

Amelia nodded. Sticking to nature did make more sense than trying to blend in among civilization. She tried to imagine the company lounging around a Starbucks, and just couldn't do it.

They walked until the sun came up. Deeper and deeper into the trees they went, and by the time Thorin called for them to stop Amelia's eyelids were drooping.

Wanting the warmth of a fire, they quickly gathered some firewood. The company began to unroll bedrolls, pausing when they realized they were one short.

"Its fine," Amelia insisted. "It doesn't matter."

"Nonsense." Bilbo handed her his own bedroll. "It's a bit small for you, but it should do. Thorin and I can share a bedroll."

Amelia couldn't help but notice how the mountain king looked slightly panicked at the idea, but he readily agreed. Bilbo too looked unnerved by the thought, but as the two snuggled together by the campfire their nerves fell away, and the two were soon asleep in each other's arms. Amelia stared at them for a moment; their relationship had definitely not been in the book, then shrugged. It had been somewhat implied towards the end of the movie, and Amelia certainly wasn't going to complain about it. She just hoped that Bilbo and Thorin's relationship wasn't all that changed in Middle Earth.

Then she stared around her and bit her lip. Where was she going to sleep? She spun as Bifur cleared his throat behind her. The dwarf pointed to a spot on the ground by him, and gratefully Amelia spread out her borrowed bedroll. Bifur looked rather pleased by her presence, and he grunted what she assumed was a goodnight in Khuzdul before settling down. Bilbo had been right; his bedroll was much too small for her, but it was better than nothing. Fili set up his bedroll on her other side, and Amelia thought she saw Kili shoot his brother a glare as he curled up beside him.

Soon the entire company was snoring, and Amelia turned to look up at the trees above her. She had never been camping; her mother hated nature and its plethora of bugs, but Amelia had always wanted to go.

Thoughts of her family were soon stirring, and Amelia squeezed Bilbo's bedroll in her hands as she struggled to quiet her sobs. Memories of her old life were flashing through her head; Jack's first birthday, Veronica's college graduation, nights spent lounging around the house with her family, just joking and laughing. Several friends ran through Amelia's mind as well, friends who she would never see again. She squeezed her eyes shut as tears flowed freely down her face.

"I'm sorry," she blubbered. "I'm sorry."

The only thing that answered her was the crackling of the fire and the snores of the company.