[dragoneyes]

In between the tasks they had been given, Hal and Gaddy's eyes were always on the road from Bywater. Hal was sitting outside the Took household, watching Gaddy finish off what he was doing and absent-mindedly chewing a piece of grass. He heard a small giggle from around the corner and looked towards it. He saw a small hobbit-lass, just five years old, his sister, Bella. "Bella!" he cried as the small hobbit came running fast as she could towards her older brother. She jumped onto him where he sat and he hugged her close. She giggled again, "You look like a sheep chewing grass like that!" Hal smiled at her and asked her where the rest of the family were. They were waiting out front, on the road.

His mother was the first to notice him, she ran up to him and held him tight, all of his five sisters soon following suit. From what Hal could see through the many-armed hug, his father wasn't there. He became worried and asked where he was. "I'm right here Hal, use your eyes." came a familiar voice from behind him. Hal spun round and saw his father standing there, with his arm in a sling. "What did you do to your arm?" he asked "Oh it was those foul beasts-"
"What beasts?" interrupted Hal, becoming serious. "Don't listen to dad, Hal," said one of his sisters "He slipped on the ice."

"Hal! Where are you?" came Gaddy's voice from behind the house "Here!" Hal called back. Gaddy came out onto the road and saw Hal's family, he looked surprised for a moment, then regained himself "Hello Mr. Cotton, Mrs. Cotton." he said, nodding politely to each of them. "Oh yes, Gaddy." said Hal's mother, just remembering "Your family is coming soon, I don't think we left too long before them did we?"

Hal took his family inside to introduce them to Autumn and Carl and anyone else who happened to be there. Gaddy, however, remained outside waiting. It wasn't too long before he heard soft footfalls on the road, he ran a little further down the road and saw his own family. His brother recognised him immediately and ran to him. Gaddy knelt down and caught him. The next thing he knew, Gaddy was pressed in on all sides as everyone hugged him at once. They stepped back, Gaddy's mother had tears streaming down her face, as did his older sister, behind them, his father stood, his younger brother and sister were still clinging to him.

They stood like that for some time in silence, all thinking how lucky they were until Gaddy said, "Would you like to come inside?"
"Oh Gaddy!" cried his mother as she fell onto him again, "I've been so worried about you!" she let him go again and they began to walk back to the Took mansion. Gaddy's brother, Dima, asked questions upon questions, usually before the first question had been answered. First it was about the weather, then about the different places he'd been, and finally about elves. Gaddy wasn't entirely listening though, his mind was occupied with thoughts of how to break it to his family that he was engaged.

He stopped just before the front door and turned to face them all "Before we go in, there's something I need to tell you," he said, he paused a little and then continued "I'm engaged." He finished. There was a shocked silence until his mother, restraining the tears, hugged him once more. "That's wonderful news!" Said Finny, his elder sister, also hugging him. "Come on, lets go in and meet everyone." said Gaddy opening the door. "Yes," said his father, "I'd very much like to meet the young lass who's stolen my son's heart." giving Gaddy a wink.