During the next few days the hobbits slowly got used to living in Rivendell. They mourned their dead and tried to organise their new lives. Finally they had enough food to fill their half-empty bellies. The elves also sewed clothes and even had some toys for them. Some fauntlings were orphaned and were simply adopted by other families.

Due to her worries about Fili, Poppy hadn't even realised that all of Camelia's family except for Primula had been killed in the Orc attack. When the hobbit found out, she wanted to take the little girl in. Poppy was hardly able to take care of herself and her own children though. So Bilbo suggested that some of his relatives could look after Primula for now. But of course she could visit Poppy and her family whenever she wanted. In the end everyone agreed to that and Primula liked her new family as soon as she met them.

The day after their arrival Lord Elrond examined Poppy once again because he worried deeply about her child. Although the Orc had not hurt the little one with his knife, all the worries and distress may have harmed him or her. Luckily the baby grew everyday and seemed to be fine but one couldn't tell for sure until after the birth. So the elves made a potion to give her more strength nonetheless.

Poppy spent all the time with her children. At night they slept cuddled up to each other in one big bed. During the day they sometimes walked around Rivendell with Bilbo. But most of the time they stayed at Fili's side. Lili, Vili and Tulip touched his hands and face and told him stories and how much they loved him.

Fili's condition didn't change for a few more days. With each day Poppy's fear that he might never wake up again grew. One evening Bilbo wanted to accompany her back to her room when she collapsed onto the floor sobbing Fili's name. She hit the ground with her head and had a laceration on the forehead. The elvish healers treated to wound and decided to let her sleep in the infirmary. Poppy wanted to stay with her husband and so the elves put Fili into a bigger bed and laid her down next to him. Lili, Vili and Tulip were also allowed to sleep on the other side of their father. They cuddled up against him, but we're very careful not to touch his wounds. From that day onwards they spent most of the time like that.

A few more days passed and Fili still showed no signs of waking up. One afternoon the elven healers had to change the dressings on Fili's wounds. They had healed nicely but still looked quite bad. So they asked Poppy to wait outside with the children. Poppy, Lili, Tulip and especially Vili didn't want to leave, but in the end Bilbo convinced them to have afternoon tea with him.

Suddenly one of the healers rushed towards them. "Master Fili has woken up and is yelling for you. He thinks you're dead. Please come with me quickly."

Poppy shrieked and covered her mouth with her hands. "Really?"

The elf nodded and Poppy smiled at her children with tears in her eyes. "Let's go to visit Papa. But remember that we still have to be careful around him, alright?"

The little ones jumped in excitement but promised to be careful. Poppy took their hands and together they slowly walked to Fili's sickroom.

Fili laid in the bed with his head popped up against a few pillows. When his family entered he smiled weakly. "Poppy, Lili, Vili, Tulip! You are all here." He whispered and coughed until the healer gave him something to drink.

Poppy wanted to run to her husband and throw her arms around him. But she knew that this wasn't possible since Fili was still injured. So she slowly walked to him with her son and daughters. They sat down on the bed next to Fili and touched his hands. The children were careful but incredibly happy that their father had woken up. They babbled happily how much they had missed him. After a few moments Vili cuddled up against Vili's side and cried.

Fili frowned at Poppy who told him everything that had happened during the past weeks. He felt terrible for the little boy. He remembered how he had felt when he saw Poppy lying on the ground and shuddered. He didn't even dare to imagine how it felt to just hear the painful screams without seeing what happened. The young dwarf still had problems to move but with some effort he managed to stroke his son's golden curls. "Vili, Papa is here. Everything will be fine. I promise."

Vili clutched his father's nightshirt even harder. "Papa! Papa! Never go away again."

Fili wanted to kiss his son but bending down was to painful. So he continued to stroke his head while he smiled at his three girls. Lili and Tulip crawled up to his face and kissed him. Then they cuddled up against Fili, too. Soon the three little ones were asleep.

Poppy stroked her husband's beard with tears in her eyes. "Oh Fili, I'm so relieved that you woke up. I worried all the time that you might die. I couldn't have raised four children without you."

Fili was still weak but he wanted to talk. So he whispered. "Are they alright?"

Poppy nodded. "Yes, they had just a few scratches." Then she put a hand on the bump of her belly. "This little one is fine, too."

"But the knife in your belly?"

Poppy smiled. "I was unconscious for some time because I had lost quite a lot of blood. But the Orc hadn't injured me or the baby seriously. Lord Elrond says that everything should be fine."

"That's wonderful news!" Fili said and coughed again.

Poppy helped him drink some more tea to ease the pain and moisten his throat. She caressed his beard and kissed him.

Fili took her hand and held it in his much bigger one. "Poppy, when I slept, I...I saw my father."

The hobbit looked at her husband with wide eyes. "But your father is dead."

"But I saw him Poppy! He was there. He even talked to me about the way he died." Fili started to cry. "I could have joined him. It would have been so easy. It would have stopped all the pain I felt but... But I couldn't do that, Poppy!" Fili sobbed even more.

Poppy had trouble to understand him and tried to wipe his tears away but they wouldn't stop flowing. "Shh, shh, Fili, it's ok. You have to calm down."

Fili took a few deep breaths and continued speaking in a low voice. "When I saw Adad, I remembered the day Thorin told us that he was dead. I will never forget my Amad's screams and cries. Back than I thought I'd lose her, too." He stroked his wife's hand with his thumb. "I didn't want you or the little ones to feel such pain. So I fought my way back to you. It was difficult and painful but I wanted to live! For you and our family." Fili smiled but still couldn't stop crying.

Poppy carefully cradled his head in her lap and stoked his hair and beard. "I'm so glad that you're here with me, Fili! I will never let you go again."

Fili kissed his wife's belly. "I love you!"

Suddenly Poppy gasped and smiled down at her husband. Their baby had moved for the first time. The young dwarf felt it, too and kissed her again. Soon Fili fell asleep again with a light smile on his face. They had lost their home but they still had each other. That was everything that mattered.