Bilbo had been excited to have Lilly there, to see her and have her in his hole again, but now he was dreading it. She had come in, all smiles and sunshine even with winter's chill still nipping at her cheeks, and he had taken her coat like a professional. No need for such a pretty hobbit to fumble, not in his hole, and he played his part as host perfectly; tea, biscuits, anything? She had been so sweet, so gentle, and happy to see Smaug as he came skulking around the corner distrustfully.

Now that he saw him with company, seeing him in the tatters of his own things looked ridiculous and Bilbo's face coloured shamefully. So much for being a respectable hobbit.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Bilbo's large folk friend." She said amiably, smile bright as she trotted right up to him and offered him her hand. "I'm Lilly, Lilly Rumble, but we've just been acquainted so I'm pleased to do so. What do you call yourself, stranger?"

Bilbo was sure none of his neighbors had ever heard of the Lonely Mountain, let alone the Desolation of Smaug, but that didn't stop a sudden moment of fear from taking him. What could the dragon say? Smaug, the Great and Calamitous? Smaug the Terrible?

"Dale." Smaug's answer was short, sweet, and Bilbo had to take a great breath of relief as Lilly's expression shifted in surprise.

"'Dale'?" She repeated. "My, what a sunny name for such a serious tall folk fellow." She laughed, prompting a nervous titter from her host in return, and she just smiled as she righted her skirts. "Well, Dale, it is my pleasure to be here to fit you for some proper, well-to-do Hobbiton garments. Mr. Bilbo said you had a need and there's no way to sit in at the taverns in such as this." With a secret smile, she added: "It simply wouldn't do with the Shirefolk."

Setting down her little case of notions, pulling out a tiny but of graphite and a note, Lilly wasted no time in bringing a long roll of measuring tape from her apron pocket and pointed at the nearest stool.

"Stand there, please. You're quite a lot of man and I'm only one hobbit." She said, lifting her chin calmly and finding no issue in giving Smaug directions. Bilbo could hardly stand it, waiting for Smaug to snap at her and make him regret ever letting her near him, but the dragon just seemed to simmer on his distrust and allow it. He moved fluidly, if carefully, and he examined her as he assumed position and she stepped up onto the stool smoothly. It didn't make them an equal height, but it made things much easier.

"You have gusto for someone so small." Smaug noted dryly, letting her motion and guide his limbs to have him posture properly for measurement.

"And you have some pout for someone so tall." She said, laughing a little as he glanced down at her disapprovingly. "I've never seen someone so sour. Has Mr. Bilbo not fed you, Mr. Dale?"

She was all laughter, amused, and Bilbo was glad to have something to laugh about now as they seemed to get into a rhythm. Lilly remarks, Smaug counters, and Lilly quite pleasantly welcomed the challenge as she kept measuring. She had a few bolts she could gladly make use of, especially to finally make something special for such a special guest, and she hummed a little as she jotted down her measurements dutifully.

"Mr. Bilbo, you must bring your friend down to the Dragon for a pint. They've spoken about how busy you've been… even this snow keeps you in, and you've been seen so little." Lilly told him encouragingly, smiling. "The Shire needs it's Baggins. Soon the neighborhood will be here to unearth you from your smials for a sight of you."

She was glad to smile at Smaug too, even if he didn't seem to deserve it, and Bilbo laughed a little at the idea. "I suppose a small outing wouldn't be amiss." Bilbo compromised, glancing at his guest and seeing Smaug watching him with unnerving intensity. Lilly, caught in her task, didn't notice, but Bilbo found it hard to break their eye contact.

"Mr. Bilbo, really," She huffed. "clothes are meant to be worn out and I won't have all such hard work wasted to have them simply see moths. You two must certainly come out of this hole sometime. Fatty Bolger and the Scarlows have a wonderful spring fest planned for when the crocuses break ground and you must, must attend." She looked up at him, looking between the two of them, and nodded firmly."Yes, certainly, an outing at least once a week, some time for your neighbors to make gossip, no doubt, and to the sprint festival. You know how beautiful it always becomes, and I had hoped that young Frodo might be introduced to the neighborhood."

Now that brightened Bilbo's demeanor immediately.

If there was one thing that he could talk about, wax and wane about, it was his nephew, Frodo. He was so precious, so young and bursting with energy that he couldn't help but be was thrilled to be a part of his life. He'd been blessed with a nephew, loved him like a son, and he was so excited to tell and show Lilly every bit of correspondence they'd had so far.

Eventually, with measurements done and far merrier subjects at hand. Lilly and Bilbo managed to settle in by the fire with a warm slice of pie. Bilbo happily doled out tea, and pie, and fluffy whipped cream in proportionate measure, and he was just glad to find Smaug capable of silence. There was no 'thiefling' or looming going on, just some almost peaceful coexistence and the man-dragon's ever watchful eyes. Bilbo could see it again when he looked at him, the way his angled features hinted at dragon scales, and while he told Lilly all he could, he could almost hear him slide scale against scale as he pondered it all.

Dragons hoarded treasures, hoarded what they would, and Bilbo could practically feel Smaug adding such tidbits of information to his trove. How fitting.

As the visit finally came to an end, Lilly swaddled and assuring them she'd have at least one Shire-worthy set of something to them by the next day, Bilbo saw her out the front door wistfully before he returned to his books and his fireside armchair.

Sinking into it, wiggling his furry toes and finding his eyes drooping, BIlbo would have gladly dozed off all this excitement had the heat not built. Eyes peeking open hesitantly, he was unsurprised to find Smaug waiting there, leaning on the arm of his chair like he belonged there.

Bilbo gave him a long look at the silence. He was expecting some grand utterance, some criticism, but Smaug was still as stone and he eventually had to speak up.

"Is there something more you need?" He asked him, sitting forward to roll his shoulders a little.

"I desire to see this Frodo of yours. He must be extremely valuable to be so influential. Your cataclysmic change in demeanor seems to have lifted from even just that simple visit from your tailor." Smaug pointed out, watching him as the shock slid across Bilbo's face. "I wish to be privy to this…'Shirefolk' spectacle."

"My nephew is not a spectacle!" Bilbo protested shortly. "Frodo is a growing Baggins and a fine hobbit, and you…"

"Simply want to inspect him." Smaug finished tersely. "If he's as valuable and fine as you say, I'll be the judge of that. Only a great wyrm such as I would have the knowledge of such fineries necessary to make a ruling." He waved a hand, unconcerned as Bilbo puffed up like a ruffled bird. He was steaming, irritated by Smaug's flippant remarks, and he needed a deep, slow breath before he rubbed at his tired eyes and sighed.

"You're truly atrocious." Bilbo huffed, though he supposed it could be much worse.

"It's in my nature, thiefling, to covet and appraise, as it is in your nature to steal." Smaug said smugly, letting his arms fold over his armrest and his chin rest on his arms. "We cannot do what is not in our nature."

"And it's in your nature to appraise my nephew?" Bilbo questioned carefully.

"For my amusement, more so." Smaug told him calmly. "I am curious. Such curiosities mean I have leeway. I left you alive in curiosity and here such things have come to fruition. Had I not, I'd have had nary a morsel and the end of your silver-tongued flattery."

Bilbo snorted. "You seemed quite taken in by that flattery, thank you."

Smaug, countering, was happy to blow a plume of dark smoke out his nostrils. "You're not incorrect. It was amusing. No mortal had tried to deceive a wyrm in too long. It was a brave move, if a foolish one." But he didn't look irritable despite the sentiment. As a matter of fact, when he looked at him fully, Bilbo saw amusement in his guest;s eyes.

"You know, you should try to say that when you don't look ready to eat me whole." Bilbo said, weary enough to be flippant with him. "I'm too tired to play word games with you today."

"Still ailing. I should've kept you in the nest." Smaug grunted, eyes no darker but his mouth dropping from a smirk to a frown. "You'll be ill long, and then your tailor will be in to scold us both."

"Lilly?" Bilbo looked puzzled, bashful. "She's the town seamstress, not my tailor."

"But you wish to make her your tailor." Smaug rumbled, watching him keenly. "Or yours. Simple. How fitting that that skulking stone brained fool should be alone. I hope she strives to return such frivolities, if only to see that Oakenshield thwarted." Even the chuckle Bilbo heard was cold, cruel- the heat had sapped from the room completely, leaving Bilbo's guts churning. "Will you rob mountains and slay dragons for this love, thiefling? Sing her your pretty songs?"

Bilbo, frozen, watched Smaug watch him, lips tightening for a moment before he swore under his breath a little. It drew up one of Smaug's eyebrows skeptical he'd actually heard the filthy words leave his mouth. It surprised even Bilbo for a moment before his indignation was back, and he gripped the arms of his chair firmly.

"You have no idea what loyalty I have to Thorin, and Lilly is frankly none of your business." Bilbo said, feeling brave as he sat there stiffly. "Go amuse yourself, wyrm. I may turn in after all."

Smaug, eyes widening, moved to catch him before he could rise and he hurried to pin his wrists to his chair.

"No," He growled, "I want your company! You cannot go!"

"You can't stop me." Bilbo insisted, pressing back into his chair as Smaug hissed in his face. "This is my hole. I will do as I please! I'm here, in my home! You cannot do this to me, and it is none of your concern!"

This time, when Smaug puffed up on him so fiercely, looming over him already with that ferocious intent, Bilbo was ready. He was frightened and tense, but he didn't have anywhere to go and he did the first thing he could think of. His hands reached up, struck out, and he hissed as his palm cut across his angular human face. All the faint flames he'd been building in his throat cut, his shock enough to dispel it, and Bilbo had a moment of fierce delight as he got the upper hand for once.

It was victory, for the first time in a long time.

"You don't own me!" Bilbo said, sitting up like a ramrod as he took advantage of his shock. "This is my home! You are in my home! This has gone far enough and I won't tolerate it any longer!" He swore he'd never been so sure of this, so daring, and he could feel his heart going a mile a minute. "You are myguest and if you want to have my company, you will have it when Igive it to you!" Bilbo could see himself yelling, stunned by it, but he could hardly stop it. It was like watching someone else use his hands and lips to enact this strange, terrifying play. "Don't you dare yell at me again! You are here in my house, you don't have any right to shout at me!"

And, pushing up, Bilbo was glad to at least get to his feet before Smaug recovered.