Billa falls asleep in that easy chair by the fire and wakes to the odd sensation of rocking. She is disoriented at first until she opens her eyes to the concerned face of Bofur and notices the sky above his head. It becomes apparent to Billa that Bofur is carrying her through the streets of Hobbiton. She makes a disgruntled noise

"Bofur I am perfectly capable of …."

"Easy there now lass. Just stay where you are for the mo. I've almost got you back to Bag-end. Gave me a right fright you did"

Billa buries her nose further into the fur around Bofur's collar " 'm sorry"

"I don't begrudge you a bit of freedom from those old biddies who come a'callin but please let me know before you wander off some place"

"Yes nadad"

"I know that it's difficult but… Nadad!" Bofur lurches to a stop, so abruptly that Billa almost falls out of his arms and onto the muddy ground.

"nadad?" Bofur's face twists in confusion and sadness and an expression that Billa might even describe as hope if she had seen it under any other circumstance "what did you call me that for Billa?" he said eyeing her closely.

"I don't know" Billa said with a yawn "it just felt right" suddenly her eyes snapped open "Why? I didn't say something wrong did I? Oh dear, I am most sorry"

"no, no, nothing of the sort" replied Bofur seriously, before bending down to rest his forehead against hers and whispering "you called me….. Nadad means… Billa, you called me your brother"

"only that!" replied Billa with a sly look on her face, "from your reaction I would have thought I had called you an elf!"

"Oh" Bofur shifted Billa in his arms and continued on towards Bag-End "your'e alright with that?"

"of course I am … if I wasn't I wouldn't have woven that bracelet and placed it around your wrist" she nodded towards his arm "I may not remember much but I trust my own judgement enough to know that you are special and that I would be honoured to be part of your family"

Billa avoided looking at Bofur's face as she made this proclamation, perhaps in fear of seeing rejection in the eyes of her Dwarf-friend. If Bill had been able to meet his eyes she would have seen the look of pure joy that lit up Bofur's countenance and misted over his eyes . It was only when a splash of wetness hit her cheek that she looked up into the face of her Dwarf-friend to find him tearing over.

"Bilberry Baggins, I would be honoured to be considered your brother. Would you do me the great honour of allowing me to braid your hair when we get home."

"I would like that" said she "but why wait until we reach Erebor? You can do it we get to Bag-End"

Author's note

Once again I am sorry for my long absence. I have the highest respect for those who publish a new chapter every week, I really don't have the self discipline.

Hope you like this short chapter - it sort of teases things for the next chapter

As a reward for your patience, here's a short clip from a chapter that I have already written that takes place after Billa and Bofur return to Erebor (Spoilers)

Sincerely

Witchrose

Gorgeous spread Billa!" exclaimed Kili, pulling an entire pie towards him

"Oi!, sharing is caring little brother, pass some here?" Fili said, reaching for the pie

"Can't, I'm watching your weight"

Billa laughed gaily, enjoying the brothers banter "That one's not for you Fili my duck, let Ori and Kili have that one and eat this instead" she said as she placed a different pie on the table in front of the blonde Dwarf.

"Why does Fili get his own pie Billa? I want my own pie too? I'll have that one and he can share with Ori" pouted Kili, reaching over to try and snag Fili's pie from under his nose only to have his hands slapped away with a hefty wooden spoon wielded by a comely hobbit lass.

"None of that now Kili, there's a special reason why that pie is Fili's and not yours"

"you haven't put anything in it to get me back for the prank with the honey have you?" asked Fili suspiciously, his brows furrowing

"Not this time" laughed the hobbit "Didn't you say you never wanted to smell the smell of apples ever again? That my friend" said she gesturing at the pie destined for Kili and Ori "is an apple pie"