/ / / Gardening \ \ \
Bilbo tugged at the weeds in his garden with one eye on Liliana and Theron as they helped him. He could feel the heat of the sun on the back of his neck and the warmth of it in the soil around his fingers. He smiled as he pulled out more weeds, as he freed the flowers and wild strawberries from the competition. The Gaffer had been keeping the gardens tidy for him but as soon as he had known he was coming back he had written to the other hobbit and asked him to stop. He wanted his children to know this as well as they knew the gems and jewels of Thorin's mountain and the ways of working with metal. Liliana wanted to plant flowers while they were in the Shire and Theron wished to plant the vegetables that would not grow in Erebor at the top of a mountain.
The Gaffer had visited them earlier in the day with saplings and seeds for Liliana and Theron. The dwobbits had proven themselves to be as gracious as any other hobbit child when they thanked him properly with gleeful smiles before turning to Bilbo and begging him to take them out into the garden.
Bilbo looked up at Thorin who was sitting under the lemon tree out of the sun. He was wearing the lightest clothes that he had brought with him and he looked comfortable relaxing in the shade. Bilbo grabbed a damp cloth and wiped his hands off before he went over and sunk down onto the soft grass next to Thorin.
"It's nice to relax," Thorin said tugging Bilbo to him for a kiss.
Bilbo grinned at him. "I never would have believed that you would relax."
"I trust my sister and my nephews with my mountain and I am pleased that I could see your home."
"I'm glad to bring them home. I'm glad for you to be here, in my old home."
"As am I," Thorin said resting back against the tree. "They enjoy being out here, more than I thought they would."
"They are hobbits just as much as they are dwarves."
"I know," Thorin said with a smile. "We'll have to bring the next one back as well."
Bilbo looked down to where their next dwobbit was growing. "Yes."
"Popa," Liliana called out. "Come and help us."
Bilbo kissed Thorin once more and then stood to go back to his garden.
/ / /