Chapter 2

Billa turned on the kettle. She had a match on Sunday, today was Thursday. She could go to the gym today and tomorrow, and then rest her muscles on Saturday. Frodo would want to come. He could play with Sam while she trained with Hamfast.

Billa checked her phone for any messages while the water was boiling. Two texts from Bofur and one from Grey; both from last night. She opened the message from Grey first.

'Expect company 2marrow 1300. –G'

What? She thought to herself

'Who? Because if it's another one of your "Friends" …' the reply was almost instant.

'Yes it is 1 of my friends. I have known him 4 a very long time, he is very trust worthy. -G' She received a second text before she could even start a reply. 'He will not harm you, Frodo, or any of your things. I will be accompanying him. -G' Billa narrowed her eyes at her phone. Even if she said no, Grey would come anyway.

'Fine. Bring jam.' He might as well be useful.

()()()()()()(()()()()()

After picking Frodo up from the Greenleaf residence, she headed over to Hamfast's gym. On the way over Frodo told her all about how Legolas showed him how to discipline Mr. Greenleaf for 'Partying too hard and coming home late' and 'that a hangover is not an excuse to skip work, you're going in even if you don't want too.' Billa thought to herself that Legolas would make a fine parent one day, and that she would never let Thrandy watch Frodo alone. EVER.

"Hello Billa, Frodo." Bell greeted at the front desk. She was Hamfast's wife and receptionist. He would be completely lost without her. "Sam's on the floor with his Dad." She told Frodo. The raven hair boy looked to his mother.

"Go on. Tell Gaffer I'll be right out." He nodded run off to find them.

"Are you okay Billa? You look awful." Bell asked putting a 'be right back' sign on her desk, walking with Billa to the locker rooms.

"Thanks." Billa said sarcastically as she held the door open for Bell. Dropping her bag down on one of the benches she fished out her workout clothes, heading into one of the changing stalls. "I didn't have a good night."

"What happened? You were going to Bofur's right? You always are cheery after visiting him. 'His cheer is contagtious' you once said I believe."

"It is. Well… Ibeatsomeoneupinanalley." She mumbled adjusting her sports bra.

"What?"

Billa took a deep breath. "I… beat someone up in an alley." She winced when Bell gasped.

"Why?"

"I thought they were coming at me, I went into auto-pilot. The man was huge! Built like a mountain."

"And you beat him up?"

"I thought he was going to attack me! I didn't mean too!"

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, I think I knocked him out. When he fell I ran."

"Oh my." Bell gasped again.

"Right?!"

Billa heard the door open.

"Mommy! Gaffer said to 'tell her to hurry her lazy booty up.'" Frodo relayed the message. "Mommy?" Her son asked when he didn't see her.

"Tell him I'll be right out Frodo." Billa told him, tying her sneakers.

"Yes Mommy."

After a minute Bell said, "We need to teach him to knock on the women's locker room before entering."

"Eh, he's still at the age where everyone wants to just pick him up and cuddle him; but your right." Billa said as she stepped out of changing stall, bouncing on her feet a little. "Can you help me wrap my hands?"

()

When Billa smiled when she saw Frodo, Sam, and Hamfast waiting in the training ring.

"Give me a minute to stretch and warm up a bit." She told them, starting her normal stretches.

"Hurry up. You're the slowest fighter I know." Hamfast laughed.

"Mommy, we gonna help you train! Toot toot!" Frodo told her.

()

Apparently 'help you train' meant 'were going to get distracted and go play somewhere else until your done.' the boys ran off after the first few minutes.

After a few rounds of sparing with Hamfast, Billa decided that it was enough for a day. Hamfast held the sand bag for as she practiced her jabs, hooks, and a few high kicks.

()

"Do you know who you're fightin' on Sunday?" Hamfast asked her when they were breaking for some water.

"Yeah, some tall girl with red hair." Billa wiped her forehead. "Tauriel or something. She's from out of town, she's staying in the Homely House on Mirkwood dr. I've seen her in the lobby once or twice. I'm like half her size." He laughed.

"Good, we can use that to your advantage."

"Mommy! Mommy!" Frodo and Sam came running out of the woman's locker room.

"What were you two doing in there?" She asked light heartedly.

"Da phone went buzz buzz!" She hadn't noticed that Frodo was holding her phone, until he held it out for her. She unlocked the screen.

'We will b late. 1400 at the latest.-G'

She had completely forgotten Grey was coming over today. It was almost two thirty now, she only had thirty minutes to get home and shower!

"Gaffer we're going to have to cut it early." she told him, as she started to unwrap her hands. Fast walking to the locker room.

"Okay, we'll see you on soon Ms. Baggins." He picked up Sam who was waving to Frodo.

Billa ducked into to the locker room, shoving the wrappings into her gym bag, grabbing it then leaving. Frodo held on to her hand out to the car in the parking lot. There wasn't time to shower at the gym like usual.

()

When they reached to room Billa set Frodo in front of the TV, turing on Spongebob. Billa quickly got into the shower. She was in it five minutes top. There was a knock at the door as she was getting out.

"Mommy someone at da door."

"Shit! Don't answer it Frodo. I'll be right out."

"No-no word!" Her son gasped.

Billa opened the door, towel secured around her. "Sorry sweetie." She ruffled his curly hair.

"Ewie! Mommy you're wet!" he ran out of the room back to the TV.

There was a knock at the door. "I'll be right there, give me a minute!" She dressed quickly, and then ran to the door. The chain lock still in place she cracked the door.

"Hello?"

"Hello Billa. How are you on this fine day?" Grey greeted.

"Where's your 'friend'?" she asked, about to open the door for him.

"Right here I assure you. Billa Baggins, may I introduce Thorin Durinson." Billa gasped when he stepped aside to reveal the man Billa had beat up in the ally. She knew it was him because he had a bruise in the shape of her fist on his face.

"It is a pleasure to-" She slamed the door in their faces.

"Not again Ganhelmalf! Not. Again!" she called through the door. Never again.

"Mommy, was dat Granpa Grey?" Damn that man. Frodo loved when Grey visited, and now if he didn't come in to say hi Frodo would be very upset.

She was tempted to say no. she really was. "Yes." She sighed.

"Why did you close da door?"

"Because he is a wicked old man, and he brought a friend Mommy wasn't expecting."

"Mr. Bofur?"

"No, a new friend."

"New friends are good!" Frodo smiled proudly, unintentionally throwing Billa's own words back in her face.

"Yes they are." She sighed again. She turned around and undid the chain lock. When she opened the door Grey and Thorin froze mid argument.

"Fine you can come in." she eyed Thorin up and down. It wouldn't be too hard to take him again. He looked much better in light... if you ignored the bruises.

(A/N: Billa is a kickboxer with Muay Thai training. Muay Thai is slightly more aggressive then Kickboxing and allows knees and elbows to be used where in kickboxing they're prohibited. I left it a little vague last time.)