Disclaimer: This is my first fanfiction to be published, though not the first one I have written. I welcome any comments to help me improve my writing. Of course, Tolkien must be given credit for Bilbo and his books. Also, a fanfiction I read on here enlightened me as to what Frodo probably went through when he came back from disposing of the ring, and I figured Bilbo was probably treated in the same way. You know who you are! Please enjoy and thank you.

Have you ever wondered what was happening in between the time that Bilbo returned from his adventure and had his long awaited party? Well this is a tale about one of many things which happened during this time span: the story of Poppy Proudfoot.
The Proudfeet were a prominent family in the Shire, though not nearly as much as the Bagginses were before Bilbo’s wild escapades off to unknown lands. They and the Bagginses were always friendly with each other; in fact, a certain branch of the family was near to Bilbo’s age, and, as they lived close together, the children were fairly close as they grew up. Poppy was one of those children, two years younger than Bilbo and always tagging after her brother, Pimpernel. She was quite a tomboy growing up but thankfully grew out of that after she came of age. However, coming of age meant, for some unknown reason, that the Proudfeet were not as close to the Bagginses as they once were.

Then, when Bilbo was 50, he ran off with Gandalf and 13 dwarves on an adventure. This caused quite a disturbance among the Shirefolk; they were to the point of thinking he had been killed and were about to sell off his home, Bag End, and his belongings when he returned. Upon his homecoming, Bilbo found that he had caused the name of Baggins to be marred. Many people disregarded him, thinking he was a bit crazy, and thus did not speak to him as they once did.
Bilbo really had changed. He was more hermit-ish and unfriendly than he had been in the past. However, the hobbits largely ignored this because they found he gave nice gifts at all his birthday parties; it is a well-known fact about hobbits that they give each guest a gift at their parties rather than having the guests bring presents. Not to mention that about 26 years after his return Bilbo took in his orphaned cousin Frodo, which did improve the sights of many hobbits, but that is neither here nor there.

This is where Poppy Proudfoot comes in. She brought Bilbo some soup a few days after his return, thinking he would not have much food stocked up as of yet and could use a decent meal; she had noticed he’d lost quite a bit of weight on his trip. Bilbo gladly accepted, even inviting her in to share it with him, which she did. They spoke of his trip and Poppy was fascinated that he had actually spoken with a real live dragon! Soon, she was visiting Bilbo frequently, and he her, until much rumor was going around that they were courting!
One day Bilbo asked Poppy, “What do you think of all this nonsense about us courting? Shall we have a go at it for real, just to give them some true facts?”
“Bilbo!” she giggled. “That sounds like a spectacular plan! Give them fuel for that silly twaddling fire of theirs!”
“Well then, what should be our plan as a ‘courting’ couple?”
“How about a carriage ride? The younger boys and girls find that quite romantic, though I don’t see why, bumping around like that behind some horse liable to run off to the ends of the earth at any minute! And it would be quite scandalous, in light that most of those in Hobbiton are scared of horses!”
“Capital idea! I shall find one immediately and we can use it on the morrow.”
And so Bilbo procured a carriage and they rode in it the next day, causing quite a stir throughout Hobbiton. Despite her misgivings, Poppy ended up having a lovely time and by the end of the day she was wishing Bilbo was courting her for real. Perhaps the same ideas were running through Bilbo’s head as well; sparks certainly flew when the carriage had hit a bump, throwing Poppy practically into his lap!
That evening when they were dining together, Bilbo proposed something else. “Poppy, would you like to make this a real courtship? I must confess you have made me think of marriage for the first time in my life.”
“Bilbo Baggins! So soon?” Poppy was ecstatic inside but wanted to be sure he was truly falling in love with her rather than just going through a stage of mere infatuation, so she thought being coy would help her figure that out.
“Why, we’ve known each other all our lives! Of course it’s not too soon, unless you think so?”
“I think it is the perfect time! I am quite a spinster around here, you know.”

And that is how their courtship began. They soon were wed and before they knew it Poppy was expecting their first child. But Poppy was old for bearing children when she was married and something went wrong. She died while giving birth to their stillborn son and Bilbo buried them side by side, never to fall in love again. Bilbo was really not the same after that, keeping more to himself than ever before. That is also why the ring was gaining its hold on him, though that did subside a very small bit once he took in his orphaned cousin Frodo.
Thus was the romance of Bilbo Baggins and Poppy Proudfoot.