Poppy didn't know what to do. She had only looked away for a few seconds and now Vili had disappeared. She checked the Frog Pond and the bushes but couldn't find her son anywhere. She didn't know what to do and started to yell his name hysterically while tears streamed down her cheeks. This alarmed many of their neighbours including Camelia and Daisy.

Even Bilbo could hear her screams up the hill and ran towards her smial immediately. When he arrived, Daisy was holding her best friend in her arms and asked her what had happened. Poppy looked as if she would collapse any minute. They couldn't barely understand what she was saying but in between her sobs they finally understood that Vili had disappeared within the blink of an eye.

They hobbits looked at each other and gasped. Camellia's husband jumped into the Frog Pond but of course Vili wasn't in there. They worried about the Water but Daisy had found out that Poppy had looked everywhere close to the garden. The Water was quite far away from them and Vili could never have toddled off that far within a few minutes.

The group of hobbits decided that Daisy and Camelia would stay with Poppy, Lili and Tulip. Everyone else would start searching the little dwobbit. He had to be somewhere.

A few second later the hobbits went off into many different directions. Daisy wrapped her arms around her best friend's waist and helped her to walk to her home and living room. She made her sit in the armchair when Camelia entered the room together with Lili, Tulip and Primula.

Lili was also still screaming and ran towards her mother. Poppy picked her up and cuddled her close to her chest. She wanted to be strong for her daughters but she simply couldn't stop crying.

After a while she forced herself to eat and drink something and to breastfeed Tulip while Daisy fed Lili some mashed potatoes and the raspberries Poppy had picked earlier.

After the sun set Bilbo entered the living room and told them that still nobody had found any trace of Vili. Poppy sank to her knees and cried and screamed once again. She blamed herself for loosing Vili and was sure that would never have happened had her husband been at home. Fili. The thought of him made her cry even more. How should she explain to him that his beloved son had disappeared right under her nose. She was a terrible mother and was sure that he'd never forgive her.

Camelia, Daisy and Bilbo looked at Poppy sadly. Lili had finally fallen asleep from exhaustion after she had been crying half of the day. But nothing they said or did calmed Poppy down. In the end Bilbo went to Pimpernel. She had already heard what had happened and told Bilbo how sorry she was. The she gave him some herbs for a tea that would make Poppy sleep for a while.

Since Poppy wasn't able to do anything on her own, Daisy helped her to put on a nightgown and to lay down in her bed. She made her drink a cup of the tea and finally she fell asleep with Vili's favourite stuffed animal in her arms.

Later that evening Fili arrived back home from Bree. He was tired and all he wanted to do was to take a quick bath, wrap his arms around his wife and sleep. But instead of Poppy he was greeted by Dasiy and Bilbo.

The dwarf looked at the hobbits with wide eyes. "What are you two doing here?"

Bilbo swallowed. "Fili, please sit down. We have to tell you something."

Fili frowned and went towards a chair. "The last time you said these words you wanted to tell me that Poppy gave birth to twins. But this can't be the case this time. So please tell me what has happened!"

Bilbo sadly shook his head and sat down opposite to Fili. "No, it's not." He took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened in the last few hours.

Fili buried his face in his hand and tried to stifle a sob. His beloved son had disappeared. What if Vili never came back? He had never been able to spend as much time with him as Vili had deserved. He would never forgive himself. He wanted to scream and punch something. But he had to be strong for Poppy, Lili and Tulip. "This can't be true! Don't we deserve any happiness at all? Where's Poppy now?"

Daisy took his hand. "I'm so sorry Fili! I wish there was something I could do to bring him back. Poppy is asleep now. Please don't wake her up. We had to give her a sleeping draught to calm her down." Then she wiped a tear away. "She didn't say anything but she's my best friend and I've known her all my life. I think she blames herself and believes that you will blame her and hate her now."

Fili looked at Daisy in shock. "I would never hate her. My poor love! But you're right. Let's let her sleep. I will talk to her in the morning."

The dwarf took a few deep breaths and stood up. He went towards the bedroom and opened the door. Poppy, Lili and Tulip slept peacefully and so he closed the door again as quietly as possible. He would never be able to sleep now and so he left the smial to look for his son. But he couldn't find him either.

Early the next morning Fili returned home and sat down next to Poppy on the bed. He pushed her curls out of her face and caressed her face. After a while Poppy opened her eyes and looked at her husband with wide eyes. "Fili! You're back! I, I have to tell you something. Vili... He-" Poppy's voice broke and she cried again.

Fili wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close and stroked her back and head. "I know, my love! Bilbo and Daisy have told me everything."

Poppy looked up at him and sobbed. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have left him alone. I, I-"

Fili kissed her and then cupped her cheek. "Poppy, don't blame yourself! None of this is your fault."

"But he, he disappeared only because I turned around."

"Shh, shh my love! I'm sure we will find him safe and sound." Fili tried to reassure her. But he couldn't hold back his tears any longer.

They stayed in each other's embrace until they had calmed down at least a bit.

The following months passed without any trace of Vili. No one dared to say it out loud but they where sure that Vili had died. Maybe he had fallen into the Water and the river had carried his small body away.

Fili's and Poppy's life had changed drastically. They barely smiled anymore but tried to be strong for their daughters' sake. Especially Lili missed her brother terribly and barely ate or slept. Poppy never left her daughters' side and at night they all slept together in Fili's tight embrace.

Eight months after Vili's disappearance Fili received a letter from his mother. He wondered why she wrote directly to him and not to Bilbo. He sat down on a stool in the smithy and started to read. After a few sentences he dropped the letter and roared like a lion. He took his hammer and hit a piece of metal as hard as he could until his fingers hurt. Then he sank to the ground and cried like never before in his life.

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So, Vili has disappeared. What do you think has happened to the little dwobbit?