In early winter Tulip turned three and a few weeks later the twins celebrated their forth birthday. Bilbo, Daisy and Hugo planned a party for the theee of them at the Green Dragon Inn. All the hobbits finally wanted to celebrate that Vili was back and so the party was even bigger than expected. The little ones got many presents and of course presents for the guests had been prepared, too.
Fili was overwhelmed by the love and friendship all the hobbits offered him and his family. Sometimes he still couldn't understand that the hobbits had accepted him and his love for Poppy that easily. He looked towards his wife and smiled. He was incredibly happy to see her like that again. At the moment she was sitting in the floor with her children and helped them unwrap their presents. He walked over to them and kneeled down to kiss their heads.

Vili held a small box in his hand and tried to open it. Fili looked at it curiously because it looked dwarvish to him. The little boy had problems to open it and so he helped him. Then he gasped and tears started to trickle down his cheeks.

Poppy looked into the box and took her husband's hand. She knew that this gift was from Dis and how much Fili missed her. They still wrote letters to each other but they never talked about anything important or their feelings anymore since Vili was back. "It's from your mother, isn't it?"

Fili nodded and whipped his tears away. He took the five silver beads in his hands. "Aye! These beads belonged to me once. My father made them for me before he-" Fili sighed. "He died. I wore them only important occasion because Amad was scared that I might loose them. She also kept them when we went on the quest to reclaim Erebor. Amad treasured everything we had left from Adad."

Poppy smiled at him and caressed his beard. "They are beautiful. She loves you so much. Otherwise she wouldn't give them to you. Are they even a gift for the children?"

"Of course they are! A very special gift for their birthdays, like the jewellery for you on our wedding day. Let's braid them into their hair tomorrow. I want to do this when we're alone." He put the beads back into the box and ruffled his children's hair.

Poppy nodded and kissed her husband.

A few minutes later Lili and Tulip announced that they wanted to dance with their father. Fili agreed happily and took their hands. Vili looked a bit sad but soon Poppy convinced him to dance with her. For the rest of the evening they danced with each other. Vili even danced with his sisters while Poppy danced with her husband. Later that evening they went home and cuddled up in bed all together.

Soon the days became warmer and sunnier and everyone was happy to be able to spend more time outdoors again. Poppy and the children spent most of the time in the garden. They played and ran around to chase each other. Sometimes Vili fell and rolled down a small hill but nothing bad happened. They also loved to help their mother to put the seeds and small plants into the soil and to take care of them. Tulip adored the flowers she was named after and showed them proudly to everyone who walked by. Often Fili joined them for a walk along the Water. They always sat together on the shore to play and feed the ducklings.

One day in the middle of summer Poppy stayed with Daisy, who was sick. So Bilbo looked after the children for the day. They played and Bilbo told them stories.

That evening Vili told his parents that he wanted to try to sleep in his own room. Poppy was angry that apparently Bilbo had tried to convince him to do that but she agreed nonetheless. Of course Lili and Tulip wanted to stay with Vili, and so Poppy prepared a bed for them in the nursery. She put a big mattress with several cushions and a huge blanket on the ground. Like that all the children could sleep cuddled up to each other.

Fili brought them to bed and sang for them until they fell asleep. Then he joined his wife in their own bed. It was strange to lay there without the children between them but he enjoyed to hold his wife close until they heard Vili scream. They stood up immediately and stayed with the children in their room for the rest of the night.

For the following weeks Vili often had nightmares and yelled for his parents in his sleep or woke up and ran towards their bedroom. Poppy hated to see him like that and suggested that they could sleep in their parents' bed again. But Vili insisted to try to sleep in his own bed since he wasn't a baby anymore. Poppy sighed and pulled him close. She told him that she was very proud of him. Fili wrapped his arms around both of them and agreed. He also told his son that he didn't have to be brave though. Everyone here understood why he was scared and needed to be close to his parents.

A few weeks later Fili realised that he didn't have a lot of metal and other things for the forge anymore. He knew that he'd have to travel to Bree soon although he didn't want to. He tore his hair because he didn't know what to do. He needed the materials but he didn't want to leave his family alone. Poppy seemed to be happy during the day but she wasn't the same hobbit she used to be before Vili's disappearance. She tried to hide her fears and worries as good as she could but at night she often had nightmares, especially since Vili tried to sleep in his own room. Fili always pulled her close, stroked her back and told her that everything was fine. He knew that his wife was strong but he wasn't sure if she'd manage on her own.

In the end he didn't have another choice and travelled to Bree. Poppy promised him that she would be fine and Daisy and even Bilbo promised that they'd stay with her.

Fili couldn't think of anything else but his family and traveled as fast as he could. At the Prancing Pony he heard a few Rangers talk. Apparently quite a lot of orcs had been seen west of the Misty Mountains recently. The alliance between the Men, Elves and Dwarves in the East was strong. Now the Rangers worried that the orcs might attack Bree or other settlements in the West. Fili worried about Bree and hoped that the Rangers were wrong because a small Orc pack was nothing too extraordinary. The next day he was able to buy everything he needed without any problems and returned back to Hobbiton three weeks later late in the evening.

He entered his home and found Bilbo and Daisy in the kitchen. They told him that Poppy was in the children's room and that they'd go home because they didn't want to disturb their reunion. Fili nodded and thanked them for helping her. Then he went to the nursery. Poppy stood in the door with his back towards him. She startled when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hair but soon relaxed.

"You're back." She smiled and turned around to kiss her.

Fili returned the kiss and held her close. "Aye, I couldn't wait to have you in my arms again. Is everything alright with you and the little ones?"

"I missed you, too. Yes, everything is fine. We played and worked in the garden. Daisy and Bilbo helped wherever they could and took good care of us. Vili even slept in his bed for the whole night for the last two days." Poppy said with a smile and put her head against her husband's chest.

"Really? That's great news. Let's not wake them. I will greet them in the morning." Fili said and pulled his wife towards their own bedroom. He took off his traveling clothes until he wore just his pants. Then he kissed her passionately and slowly opened her dress.

Poppy put his hands on top of his to stop him. "Wait. I haven't drunk the tea while you were gone."

Fili sighed and looked at her sadly. "You still don't want a child."

Poppy shook her head. "I just wanted you to know. I'm still scared that something might happen again. But... But we don't have forever and I've always wanted to have many children." She took a deep breath. "So, if you still want more children, let's try to have one." She blushed and smiled shyly.

"Are you really sure?" Fili asked and caressed her face.

Poppy nodded and kissed him. "Yes, I want more children, Fili! I know that you will protect us."

Fili kissed her again and continued to undress her. When he kissed the tip of Poppy's ear, she moaned and all her worries were forgotten. They made love for most of the night. Then Poppy fell asleep with her head on her husband's chest. Fili held her and couldn't stop smiling. He hadn't been that happy for a long time.

I'm sorry for the late update. I had to work the whole weekend.

Thanks again for the follows, favourites and reviews :)