Poppy woke up early the next morning. Fili was still asleep and so she went to the nursery to feed and dress the twins.

After the babies fell asleep again Poppy started to prepare breakfast but then went back to bed since everyone else was still asleep. She cuddled up against Fili and put her head on his chest and ran her fingers through his chest hair.

Her movements startled him and soon he opened his eyes and smiled down at his wife. He carefully pushed her down onto her back on leaned over her to kiss her.

Poppy caressed his beard and tucked at his hair. Then she broke the kiss and looked into his eyes. "Fili, I have to tell you something. I didn't go to the market yesterday just to buy strawberries." She swallowed. "I went to see Pimpernel."

Fili looked scared and cupped her cheek with his hand. "Are you sick, love? Please tell me the truth."

"No Fili, I'm not sick. I'm with child." Poppy said but her wide smile soon turned into a frown because her husband didn't react in the way she was hoping for.

The young dwarf gasped and looked down at his wife with wide eyes. He had not expected her to have a child again so soon. He knew that for hobbits it was much easier to conceive again than for dwarves. The five years between him and Kili had already been a quite short time. Of course hobbits had a lot more children than dwarves in a shorter amount of time but he really couldn't imagine that it could be healthy for a female of any race to be with child again just a few months after giving birth. "We're going to have another baby?"

"You don't want another child." Poppy whispered and started to cry. She wanted to run away but Fili gripped her arm.

"Of course I want many more children with you, my flower. I simply didn't expect you to be with child again so soon and I'm scared that something might happen to you." He said and wiped her tears away. "Is this normal for hobbits?"

Poppy nodded. "Yes, it is. Honestly, I was shocked as well when she told me. But now I can't wait to feel the child move within me." She smiled and put a hand on her lower belly. "Are you really happy about it?"

Fili wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her passionately. "Of course I'm happy as long as this is normal for hobbits and you are in no danger."

"It is normal." Poppy said once again and smiled at her husband reassuringly.

Finally the dwarf started to smile brightly and kissed his wife again. He put his head on her belly and kissed it. Poppy couldn't stop smiling and stroked his hair until they heard Dis and Dwalin in the corridor. "I think we should get up, too." The hobbit said.

"Aye, I want to spent as much time with them as possible. Do you mind if I tell them about the baby?" Fili asked with a grin.

"Of course! You wouldn't be able to keep it a secret anyways." Poppy said and kissed her husband once more.

After breakfast the couple showed Dis and Dwalin their home and the forge. Fili's life in Hobbiton was a lot simpler than it would have been in Erebor, but the two older dwarves saw how happy he was and promised that they'd do everything to support them.

It was a warm and sunny day and so Poppy suggested that they could go for a walk through Hobbiton and along the Water to have a picnic at the place where she and Fili had fallen in love. Dwalin looked a bit grumpy but then Dis said that they had come here to find out, how Fili and Poppy lived.

Fili had some work to do and so Dwalin decided to help him. In that way they'd be able to finish everything until lunch. He also hadn't worked in a forge for a long time and was looking forward to it even if it was just to mend a few pots.

Meanwhile Dis helped Poppy to prepare some food for lunch and then they dressed the three little ones.

Dis had tears in her eyes when she saw Vili with the white blanket with the golden embroidery she had sent over a year ago.

Poppy put her hand on the dwarrowdam's arm and told her that it was her son's favourite and that he wanted to sleep with it every day. She liked her mother in law very much and hoped that she'd be able to help her with the children. Camelia tried to help as good as possible but it was clear that the children were different from fauntlings and so advice and help from a dwarrowdam would be wonderful.

When the two dwarves arrived, Fili, Poppy and Dis took the children and Dwalin took the basket with the food, some toys and blankets. He started to grin when he saw a big box with cookies in the basket.

They walked up the hill to Bag End. From there one could see most of Hobbiton and even the neighbouring Bywater behind the Green Dragon Inn. Dis immediately liked the peaceful scenery with the gentle green hills, trees and flowers everywhere.

They talked to Bilbo for a few minutes and then continued their walk down the hill towards the inn. They crossed the Water over the stone bridge next to the mill. Poppy introduced Dis and Dwalin to her best friend. Daisy had seen the two dwarves the day before and was relieved that they were Fili's kin.

Poppy bought some strawberries and peaches and then they strolled along the Water until they found a lovely spot where they were alone.

Dwalin put a blanket for the children onto the grass. Poppy kneeled down next to her twins and gave each of them a strawberry. They put it into their mouths and sucked at them immediately. Dis chuckled and asked if Dwalis could get one, too. Poppy nodded and handed one to the little dwarfling.

The four adults sat down, talked and enjoyed the sunshine. Poppy threw some bread towards a few ducks. Lili and Dwalis lay on their bellies and looked at them excitedly. Vili was a bit scared of the noise but when Lili touched him and laughed, he started to laugh, too.

Poppy watched her children with a smile but had to stifle a yawn quite often. Fili sat down behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He made her lean back against his chest and put his hands on her belly.

"Try to sleep, my love! I know that you're tired." He whispered into her ear and kissed her temple.

Poppy nodded and put her hand on his.

Dis looked at her son curiously. The way he held her and caressed her belly reminded her of her first husband Vili. He had behaved in the same way when she carried Fili and Kili. She wondered if Poppy might be with child again but was pretty sure that this was impossible.

"Fili, is something wrong with your wife?" Dis asked in worry.

Fili smiled at his mother brightly. "No Amad, Poppy is fine. It's just, umm, we're going to have another baby. Poppy is with child again."

Dis's face lit up and she shrieked in joy.

Poppy had just opened her eyes to make sure that nothing terrible had happened when Dis threw her arms around Poppy and Fili and kissed the hobbit's cheek. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. This is wonderful news."

Dis sat down next to her daughter in law and asked if she was allowed to put a hand on her belly, too. Poppy nodded but said that it was too early to feel something. Dis wrapped her arms around her again and buried her face in Poppy's curls to hide her tears of joy.

Dwalin slapped Fili on the shoulder. "Congratulations, laddie! If you continue like this, you'll have an army of dwobbits soon."