We are Glad You Have Returned
Disclaimer: Tolkien and New Line Cinema own Lord of the Rings. I don't.
There is no slash in it. A little Spoiler.
It was a cool spring morning and the sky was shining brightly in the sky with a few white clouds moving slowly. In front of Bag on the manicured lawn, Rosie was sitting on a chair with her youngest child, Tom, on her lap while her oldest daughter, Elanor, sat down next to her stitching one of her sibling's shirts. They were watching Merry, Pippin, Goldilocks, and Ruby playing tag on the grass. The children were laughing and having fun.
"You're it Merry!" shouted Goldilocks.
"Not for long!"
Merry began to chase after Goldilocks but just as he was about to tag her she ran to the left side of him and made him miss.
He ran after Pippin and Ruby, who were running together, but soon they began to run in opposite directions, and Merry quickly decided to go after Pippin. Pippin ran quickly towards the flower garden where the tulips and daffodils were growing.
"Stay out of the garden!" Rosie yelled.
Pippin ran behind a bush that was next to the flower garden. Merry stood in front of the bush with his arms out moving side to side hoping to catch Pippin when he ran in front. Pippin could not move too far behind the bush because there was a carrot patch and their parents would be mad if they ran on it. A few minutes later Pippin made a dash forward hoping to have veered far enough to the left to avoid Merry, but Merry reached him and tagged him.
"Ha! Ha! I got you!" yelled Merry.
Pippin was chasing after Merry, but Merry touched home base (which was another bush). He saw Ruby running toward the right and began to chase after her. A few minutes later he tagged her.
"Got you, Ruby!" said Pippin.
He picked up his little sister and began to spin her around, while she laughed and giggled before he put her down. Merry and Goldilocks watched them. She began to run after them. The three other children ran slowly because Ruby was much younger and smaller than they were.
While they were playing, Sam and his oldest son, Frodo, were busy getting a very large dirt patch ready to plant potato bulbs in. They used the muscles of their arms, hands, feet, and backs to push their shovels in the hard dirt to loosen it. They remove the sticks and stones and flung it to the side away from the dirt patch. Sam dropped the shovel and picked up the hoe to help loosen the dirt even more, while his son continued to dig.
"I'm going to go into the shed to get some potato seeds," said Sam. "Why don't you rest a bit from the digging; you are tired."
"The dirt has to be thoroughly plowed before we can plant anything, Sam-Dad."
"You sound like me, when I worked for Mr. Frodo. We have both worked very hard since sunrise, and we both need a little break."
"Yes, Sam-Dad."
"Do you still miss Mr. Frodo, Sam-Dad?" Frodo asked.
"Yes, I do. It would be nice to see him again," said Sam.
Sam walked into the shed while Frodo Lad sat down on the ground eating the sandwich that he brought with him.
While Sam was in the shed the others stopped what they were doing and watched a Hobbit wearing an elven cloak walking towards them from a distance. Rosie recognized the hobbit right away; she put Tom off her lap and began to run. The other hobbit ran toward her and they met in a large embrace.
"It is so good to see you again, Frodo!" Rosie exclaimed excitedly. "It's been so long."
"It's been more than 20 years," said Frodo happily.
"It's great that you are here. Sam will be so happy to see you again. I am going to cook you the most delicious meal you have ever eaten."
The children were watching Sam and Rosie talking to each other. They walked over to them because they wondered who he was.
"Children, this is Frodo Baggins who returned to us from Valinor. Frodo, these are some of our children: Elanor, Tom, Merry, Ruby, Goldilocks, Pippin, and Frodo."
Frodo smiled at the children.
So we finally get to meet the Famous Frodo Baggins," said Pippin.
"I remembered two of you before I left," he said to Elanor and Frodo.
"I remembered you a little," said Elanor.
She was three years old when Frodo sailed away.
"I don't remember you at all," said Frodo Lad.
"You were only an infant when I left." Frodo answered.
At that moment Sam came out of the shed and his eyes brightened when he saw Frodo talking with his family.
He ran toward Frodo shouting, "Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo!"
Frodo saw Sam running toward him and smiled and began to run toward Sam when the two of them met they embraced each other tightly and for a long time because they were so glad to see each other after so long.
"I'm so happy to see you again Mr. Frodo. It's so long since I've seen you. I missed you so much," Sam said when he let go of Frodo.
"I missed you so much too. I asked the Valor, and they gave me permission to come here and surprise you."
"You did surprise me, Mr. Frodo," Sam said excitedly. I wasn't expecting you to return, but I'm glad you did.
"So am I," said Frodo. "It's great seeing you, Rosie, Elanor, and Frodo again, and meeting your other children."
"Come inside the house, Mr. Frodo; there are more children for you to meet."
"There's more?" Frodo said, surprisingly.
"You haven't met all of them yet."
Sam and Frodo walked inside Bag End. Frodo was looking around inside the large entrance, taking in the sight that he hasn't seen for so long. The old rug on the floor that Bilbo bought years ago was still clean and in good condition. The light brown walls still had pictures of Frodo and Bilbo's families, with the Gamgees added to them. The room was still bare except for the two couches on both sides and the sofa chair added by the Gamgees.
"I can hardly believe that I am back in Bag End after so long," said Frodo in wonder.
Sam said nothing, but walked to the door at the end of the large room and opened the door.
Inside the cozy parlor were several comfortable couches and chairs, two end tables stood at the right side of two of the couches and a coffee table stood in the middle. The room floor of the room was covered with deep beige carpeting. Towards the left side was a fire place, but there was no fire inside, because it wasn't that cold. Frodo was looking around in the parlor taking it all in just like he did at the large entrance.
"It's wonderful to be back, isn't it Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked.
"Yes, it is," Frodo answered.
Sam walked to the door on the left and they entered one of the long halls. They began to walk through it passing the kitchen on the way; they turned left and passed many doors until they spotted a door near the end of the hall.
Sam opened the door to a guest room. There was a bed and a dresser drawer with a dish on it used to wash face and hands. The dish was currently empty. The rest of the Gamgee children sat down on the rug playing a board game.
"These are the rest of my children, Daisy, Primrose, Robin, Bilbo, and Hamfast. This is Frodo Baggins."
"Wow!" said Primrose excitingly. "I always wanted to meet you.
"So did I," said the other children.
It was nice meeting all of you too," said Frodo.
"Who's winning the game?" Frodo asked while he looked at the board game.
"I am," said Hamfast.
"I see," said Frodo.
"He's really good at it," said Primrose.
"I won the last game," Mr. Frodo said Bilbo.
"Whose turn is it?" asked Robin.
"It's your turn," answered Bilbo.
Robin rolled the dice and they turned up three. Robin moved his pawn three spaces and landed in the orc space.
"Captured by Orcs; lose turn till rescued by elves," Robin read out loud.
"Looks like you are stuck in there," Primrose laughed.
Frodo and Sam let the children continue the game by themselves and walked out of the room.
Late in the afternoon Frodo and Sam were sitting on one of the couches in the parlor talking to each other and enjoying each other's company.
"It's great that we are here together after so long Sam," Frodo said.
"I agree," said Sam. "How long are you going to stay?"
"I'm going to stay for a very long time because I don't have to return until it is time for you to go to Valinor.
"You are welcome to stay in your old room Mr. Frodo; we kept it nice."
"Thank you Sam, but I don't want to get in the way of you and your family."
"You are a part of our family, Frodo dear. I always considered you to be my brother because you are as close to me as a brother, and Rosie considers you to be like her brother to, and you can be an "uncle" to the children."
"I feel the same about you and your family especially you, Sam. I love you like a brother."
"I love you too Mr. Frodo."
"Thank you Sam, you've always been a good friend to me."
"How are Gandalf and Bilbo?"
"Gandalf is doing well; he is very happy in Valinor."
"That's great. I miss the old wizard."
"Bilbo died recently," Frodo said with a touch of sadness in his voice.
Sam placed an arm around Frodo. "I'm sorry," Sam said sympathetically. "It must be really hard on you."
"It is, but he is in a happier place now."
"Merry and Pippin are coming over tomorrow with their families."
"That will be great!" Frodo said while perking up. "I can't wait till I see them again."
To Be continued.