Chapter Text
Bilbo Baggins of Bag End considered himself to be a very ordinary hobbit. Though he was most certainly not ordinary, not one bit. Most would call him very unordinary, as hobbits never did anything adventurous.
Yet, two years ago on this day exactly, he'd been whisked away on a whirlwind adventure to help a company of dwarves reclaim their home in Erebor.
Now though, he lived most comfortably back in the Shire, content with his life and thinking he'd finally put the Tookish part of him to rest. But of course, things never went the way one wanted.
It was an ordinary day, Bilbo tending to his garden that he'd set up upon his return, when a most unusual fuss and alarm was raised around the Shire. He ignored it, probably they were gossiping about the hobbits over the River again.
"Bilbo." Or not.
He stood and turned, finding his suspicions confirmed when he saw old Balin, smiling as ever.
"Balin." The dwarf bowed.
"At your service."
"What can I do for you on this fine day?" Bilbo cleared his throat, clearly confused and startled now that the shock had worn off. Whatever was Balin doing this side of the Misty Mountains? Was there trouble in Erebor?
"I was simply coming to visit and catch up. You never seem to write." Bilbo flushed scarlet in embarrassment at this. He'd promised to write when he left and yet he never found the time. "We were beginning to think something happened to you, laddie."
"Well as you can see I am very much alive and well."
"That I can." Balin nodded, chuckling a little. "Am I in time for tea?"
"Tea? Oh! Yes of course, how rude of me." Bilbo was quite flustered, pacing a little. "Won't you come in?" Balin smiled and followed the anxious hobbit into his home, noting with some amusement that nothing at all had changed. Except perhaps for that elvish sword now mounted over by the wall and the mithril armor set on a desk all in plain view. "Sorry for the mess, I'm still collecting my possessions that were being auctioned off when I returned."
"Oh I don't mind a bit but you'll have to tell me that story once we're both settled." Balin knew the once burglar was in a bit of a tizzy, all ruffled from his sudden arrival in his home yet again.
Soon enough, cups and tea were set out along with some honey cakes. And just as Bilbo was beginning his tale about how all of his possessions had nearly been auctioned off, there was a loud knock on the door.
Bilbo felt a sense of déjà vu happening here.
"That would be two certain dwarves no doubt who decided to follow me." Balin chuckled, eyes full of mirth.
Nervously, Bilbo answered, only to find himself yelping and being knocked over onto the floor by a certain pair of dwarf princes.
"Kili, Fili, get off the poor lad." Balin called upon hearing all the ruckus.
They stood and helped Bilbo back to his enormous feet, brushing him off only to have the hobbit glare, though there was no actual heat behind it.
"I told you boys to stay home."
"When we found out you were coming to the Shire." Fili started excitedly, a bright smile on his face.
"We just had to follow you. To make sure Bilbo was okay." Kili finished, grinning rather proudly to himself.
"Well as you can see, I'm quite fine!" Except for being nearly crushed under the two princes that is.
"But we missed you too!" Kili made a face like a puppy at the hobbit, making his heart melt a little. Had he always been able to do that? He shook it off and put his hands on his hips.
"And what about your duties as the Durin princes? Surely Thorin must not be pleased with the two of you shirking your duties to come all the way out here!"
"Well..." Kili looked at his brother.
"Uncle said we could go. As long as we brought you back with us." Fili tapped his chin as he thought, trying to think if that was indeed what the King had said to them.
"Balin, tell me that isn't why you are here too?"
"Well I'm mostly here of my own desire." The old dwarf smiled. "But Thorin may have asked me a thing or two."
"So you were sent to fetch me, is that it?" Bilbo frowned at this. Though he and Thorin had forgiven one another, the Kings words still burned deep in his mind and the hobbit was firmly set on never returning to Erebor.
"Not so much sent to retrieve as to convince." Balin hummed, finishing off a honey cake. The boys saw there was food and tea and looked pleadingly at Bilbo who rolled his eyes and went to get some for them as well. He hurried though before Kili started tossing his recently reclaimed dishes again.
Soon they were all settled and eating their fill, the two princes loudly proclaiming that they had missed Bilbo's home cooking and cakes.
"So what's all this about convincing me then?" Bilbo brought it up again after he'd been caught up on the going ons of Erebor and Dale.
"Uncle misses you dearly though he won't say it aloud." Kili said through a mouth full of muffin.
"He wants you to come stay in Erebor for a while. Or for ever. He wants you to see the kingdom now that it's mostly rebuilt." It was a long shot but they really did want him to stay.
"Your uncle made it quite clear he didn't want me there."
"But you two forgave each other!" Kili protested, getting that puppy dog look on his face again.
"Yes but I still would not feel completely welcome. His words hurt me very much. Even if I did forgive him in the end."
Now both princes had that puppy dog look.
Bilbo sighed in exasperation, shaking his head as he looked at the boys.
"Bilbo, all of the company miss you." Balin interjected, pouring himself some more tea. "Surely coming just for a small visit wouldn't be so terrible?"
The hobbit chewed his bottom lip, getting up to get more sweets for his guests. Surely just a small visit would be okay...? The Took side of him was already trying to overpower the more sensible Baggins half of him- and it was winning.
"I suppose a short visit would be alright." He finally concluded. He was unprepared for the younger dwarves to jump up, cheer and tackle him to the ground once more out of joy.
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow!" Kili grinned. "Pack your things! The sooner we leave, the sooner we go home!"
"Wait just a second!" Bilbo pushed the two off and got to his feet, all flustered and out of sorts. "Tomorrow? That's far too soon! What about my garden, my home? Maker above forbid Lobelia get ahold of my things again."
"Bilbo my lad, you worry too much. It will be just a short visit and then you'll return. No need to worry about being presumed dead." Kili and Fili both gave Balin and Bilbo strange looks then. "Bilbo can tell you later once we're on the road."
Bilbo knew there was no sense in arguing, the boys obviously had it set in their thick skulls that they were to leave on the morrow.
"I will pack my bags." He sighed. "There shouldn't be any need for me to bring Sting..." He murmured this more to himself as he glanced at the sword.
Another cheer erupted from the Durin princes, the two breaking into an all too familiar, frustrating song as they began to toss his dishes. Bilbo didn't even complain, he simply buried his face in his hands.
"Would it be much of a bother to stop by for supper? The Prancing Pony is nice and all but it gets rather busy come supper time." Balin asked as he and the boys stepped outside.
"I don't suppose there would be any harm." Bilbo sighed. "And after supper I'll pack and turn in early since the boys will doubtlessly be up early to come wake me."
"Why can't we stay here?" Kili gave a dramatic wail, snickering to himself.
"Honestly, you are impossible." Bilbo groaned. "Bring your ponies, it would be best if we were all in the same place." The princes grinned at one another. Soon enough, all three were gone and returning some time later with their ponies, creating even more of a stir.
The tongues of the hobbits were practically on fire as the rumors once again began to spread about one Bilbo Baggins.
Ponies were tied to the fence, fed and given water and the three dwarrow men made themselves at home for the night in a cozy hobbit hole.
Bilbo just simply mourned the end of his peaceful life once more.