Pippin sat on a patch of cool, green grass, watching as the Party was constructed before him. Despite his earlier actions ("Please, can I help? Please? Pleeaase?") he decided his wrist had had enough for one day. The tents were up, and they were just starting to bring in the tables. The sun burned high above their heads. Next to him, Frodo paced nervously. The fireworks, the grand fireworks which were to be the highlights of the party..were late. But Gandalf was never late. Well, once, but he had a good reason.

Without warning, a sound similar to the rumble of thunder cut through the air. Over a nearby hobbit hill, blue and pink sparks shot over twenty feet in the air.

‘Gandalf!’ Frodo thought happily. Several of the others looked in shock at the sparks and shook their heads.

"It’s Gandalf, isn’t it?" Pippin asked hopefully. Merry who had been working, came over, wiping sweat off his brow.

"You go check up on Mr. Gandalf, Frodo," he said, sitting down. "I’ll watch Pip."

Frodo nodded and scampered up the stone steps leading to the road. He ran past a hill, and disappeared momentarily from sight.

"So," said Merry, settling next to his cousin and smiling. "Are you tired yet?"

"Just watching them makes me tired," Pippin responded with a yawn.

Merry paused, seemed to be pondering, then leant close to Pippin. "I have a plan for tomorrow, you know, and us being partners in crime.."

~~

"You’re late."

The grey-cloaked figure look up at him, eyes shaded by a large, weather- beaten hat. Through the beard on the man’s face, he could clearly make out a smile.

"I am not late, Frodo Baggins, nor am I early," the old man said. The reins fell loose in his hands. "A wizard is never late. I arrived exactly when I got here, and I couldn’t have picked a better time myself."

Frodo laughed jovially, and with a little help, lifted himself into the cart.

"It’s been a long time, Gandalf."

Gandalf shook his head, gently snapping the reins. The horse began again at a brisk trot.

"Not that long. Though, in my absence I see that Hobbiton has remained unseen and unchanged. Nothing amiss, I hope?"

Frodo’s smile faltered. "No, everything’s fine, Gandalf," he lied. "Everyone’s very excited about the Party," he added.

"And why wouldn’t they be? I hear it’s going to be a party of great magnificence." Gandalf said with a wry grin.

"And I hear there’s going to be wonderful fireworks," Frodo shot back, grinning.

Gandalf furrowed his bushy eyebrows as they rounded the next corner. Down in the Party Field, work had stopped. A table was on its side and mostly everyone who had been working was crowded around it.

"It looks like they need your help," Gandalf said. But Frodo had already leaped off, and was hightailing it to the field. Gandalf tugged on the reins slightly, and the horse slowed to a stop. He climbed out and came to the gate. A sign was jauntily nailed to it:

STRICTLY PARTY BUSINESS, ONLY

Gandalf however pushed the gate open, strode to the front door, and rapped on it with his staff.

"I will see no relatives, party-goers, or well-wishers, thank you very much!" came Bilbo’s voice from inside. He sounded stressed, and there was a THUNK as something large hit the floor. "Now go away!" he added.

Gandalf smiled again. "What about very old friends? Open this door, Bilbo Baggins, or I shall blast it open and down the hall."

Within seconds, the door was flung open. Bilbo stood there, looking perturbed. Seeing Gandalf, his face immediately became merry.

"Gandalf!" he cried happily. He rushed forward, and Gandalf kneeled. They embraced. "It’s so good to see you again!"

Gandalf drew back. He observed a lock of Bilbo’s brown hair, then looked him over.

"My friend, you haven’t aged a day.." he said softly.

Bilbo paused. "Old age was always a Baggins quirk," he said cheerfully, and led Gandalf inside.

~~