A/N I mean it's a teeny chapter but we're just setting up for Dragon Time (tm) anyway. Besides, it's not the size that matters, it's the motion of the ocean. Or in this case, the feelz.

Anyway, got some double Aragorn for you. Enjoy!

April, 3021

Josephine's packed bag was ready by the door of their chambers, waiting for morning when she'd set out for Ithilien. Osgiliath was under way, the city was in good hands, and now her sights turned to the overgrown ruins they'd passed through on their way to and from Mordor.

To quell her excitement, she curled into her chair by the fire to sketched out designs for ruins she hadn't even seen yet.

Brushing his hand over his beard and stifling a yawn, Aragorn came in to join her, leaning over her shoulder to see what she was working on and pressing a kiss to her temple. "It is beautiful. For Ithilien?"

"Maybe." She held the sketch out in front of her and scrutinized the building. "Not really sure what it's supposed to be yet. But Ithilien reminds me a bit of Hollin so I guess it's elven inspired."

"It suits the land well. Moving on to Ithilien feels as if we are passing beyond simply recovering from the war."

Josephine had been thinking the same thing. Rebuilding Ithilien wasn't necessary like Minas Tirith and Osgiliath. It could carry on as it was under the watchful eyes of the rangers for years more without much more damage. But things were easing, times were brightening, and a new sun was on their horizon framing thick fields of grain and colorful orchards.

"So I was thinking…" She mused, leaning her head back against his shoulder so they were cheek to cheek. "Once Ithilien is under way and I won't be making as many trips out there…" She paused nervously, even though she was so sure about the answer five minutes before. "What would you think about having a baby?"

He didn't move, but she could feel his heart speed up and his face pull into a smile. "You know what I think of such things. You need only say you are ready and we shall have as many children as we wish."

"I was thinking after Yule. I should have Ithilien well in hand by then and we could start trying?"

In a flash his arms were around her and he was pulling her into the air, kissing her, lingering as if he was moments away from saying why wait until then when now was just as good.

Josephine had known her suggestion would make him happy, he would've been ready for children as soon as they'd been married if she had been too. But she hadn't expected the joy that rolled off of him, bursting through her own chest and lighting up his face.

When she was back on her feet again he held her face in his hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Yule could not come soon enough even if it were tomorrow."

Laketown

Cross legged on the floor in front of the fire, Tilda and Josephine held their hands out in front of them, palms facing each other and clapping together in time. Josephine had needed to wrack her brain to remember the rhyme but as she got started and they got a rhythm it started to come back to her. Thankfully Tilda caught on quickly and helped her stay on track.

"Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack, all dressed in black black black…"

She was pretty sure she'd made up a new set of clapping motions to get them through it but it didn't matter, Tilda was smiling and distracted from the stress that had laid over the house for nearly three weeks and that's what mattered.

"What are elephants?" Bain interrupted.

"And what's fifty cents?" Tilda added.

"Fifty cents is about…" She thought about it for a second and shrugged. "Half a brass coin. And elephants are like the Oliphants of the south but much, much smaller."

That got Tilda's attention. "How much smaller? I've heard oliphants are as big as a mountain!"

Bain rolled his eyes. "Oliphants aren't real, Tilda, they're just a story."

"If you were on a tall horse your head would just almost hit their knee." Josephine said, reaching over to tussle Tilda's hair and look over her shoulder at Bain. "I've seen them."

"Do you want to try, Bain?" Tilda offered, shifting as an offer to move out of the way.

He was reluctant, having viewed the whole thing as childish and told them as much when they started, but Josephine could see he wanted to try it anyway.

"Here, Tilda, why don't you teach him?" She got to her feet and brushed off her pants. "I'll help your sister make dinner."

Before she made it over to the kitchen, Fili pulled her aside to a quiet corner. The other dwarves watched from their various places around the room but didn't join them so they wouldn't draw the attention of the kids.

"Tomorrow is Durin's Day and you've had us do nothing while you grow more fearful. What is coming?"

"Something bad." She agreed, there was no hiding that part. "But I have a plan. All you need to worry about is taking care of the children."

"Bard was right, wasn't he?" Fili said darkly. "They'll enter the mountain and Smaug will awaken. And where else will he go to dispel his anger but here? I'm right, aren't I?"

"Well you're certainly not wrong." She mumbled.

"I cannot let you fight a dragon on your own! I believe that would fall under the description of you doing something foolish, which uncle strictly forbade."

"You uncle doesn't know the future so he doesn't get to decide what's foolish, and neither do you. You all," She leaned in to whisper. "Will need to get the heirs of the throne of Dale to safety while I deal with the Dragon." Maybe with a little more context that they'd find important he wouldn't ask so many questions, even if their lineage was the least of her reasons for protecting them.

Fili's eyes widened in understanding and he nodded. "Right. Dale."

"Dale." She confirmed. "There's nothing we can do to stop what's coming but we can mitigate the danger the best that we can."

"So you'll deal with the bargeman, and we'll deal with the bairns."
"Yep."

"And the dragon?"

"Don't ask, you don't wanna know." Sure it'd be Bain and Bard doing the shooting but it wasn't like she wouldn't be in the absolute thick of it.

"And if Uncle asks why I let you go fight a dragon?"

She smirked and pinned him with a look of disbelief. "You really think he won't believe that I lied to you and ran off? Come on, Fili."

He laughed. "You're right, we've got nothing to worry about."

"Bain! You're doing it wrong on purpose." Tilda snapped.

Fili looked past her with an amused smile. "Looks like you're needed, mother hen. Go on."

Minas Tirith

Calendars, maps, and letters had practically turned their sitting room into a war room. Every day of her journey he knew like it was his own. Sometimes when he closed his eyes, he could see her path, the view of the mountain from the ruins of the old Laketown was well known to him. But for her, they'd yet to become ruins. The bones of a dragon had yet to bleach in the sun where they rose from the water, which had run black for half a year, stories said, while it rotted away. Would she face Smaug in the mountain, at Thorin's side, or in Laketown with his nephews? Based on Gimli's stories he wasn't sure which one he hoped for but in his heart he knew she had stayed behind.

"Twenty-two days more, mellon nin." He whispered, clutching her token in his hand. "You must hold until then."

Loud voices outside drew his attention and he looked up as the doors at the end of the hall burst open with a jovial Gimli leading Legolas, Boromir, and Faramir with several clay bottles in his hands.

"Did ye think we'd let ya mope in here alone on a day like this?" He said, shoving a bottle towards him.

Boromir uncorked one and took a drink of cider. "Doubt any of us but the elf will sleep tonight wondering what happened, might as well keep each other company."

Aragorn couldn't ignore the warmth that spread through his chest and accepted the bottle with a gracious nod. From the edge of the group, Legolas caught his eye and gave him a reassuring nod. He supposed Josephine may have sworn him to silence, but that didn't mean he couldn't slip him a morsel of comfort now and again.

"Very well, let us wait up with her."

Boromir raised his bottle, waiting for the others to uncork theirs before continuing. "To her majesty, the reason for every one of my gray hairs."

"To the dragon who has no idea what kind of fight he's in for." Gimli added.