A/N: Hey, I decided to write this because I really thought there was a severe lack of Frodo/OC pairings. I mean, how many fanfics can you write about Legolas before it gets way too redundant? Anyway, please let me know what you think, because I'm still not sure if I feel 100% comfortable about writing a LoTR fic.

A hazy innocence, at nearly all times, covered The Shire in a warm embrace. Especially in the summer, when it felt like the sun gently caressed and kissed every space of land with motherly affection. The days would be long and lazy, starting with the pale spread of dawn and ending with evening, the colors melting in the sky like spilled ink. The stars would then come out, completely unobstructed by anything other than the occasional cloud. Young hobbits would sometimes gather outside before bedtime, rolling through the long and lush grass, extending their freshly washing hands upwards to catch fireflies.

"Young Daisy!," Daisy Greenhand's mother would call to her. "I just cleaned you up in the bath, and now look at ya! Getting those pretty little hands of yours dirty again! Come inside before I go and drag you in first!"

Daisy would then smile mischievously, flashing a grin to her friends and playmates before eventually obeying and returning to her mother. Her mother would give her an exasperated shake of the head, and gently place her hand on her daughter's back as she escorted her back into the cozy hobbit hole.

She wasn't but twelve years old then, and already took pride in escaping with her fellow young hobbits. Daisy was sociable and, true to the ways of hobbits, was always looking for laughs and antics. Of course there was only so much one can do at the age of twelve, but nonetheless she enjoyed her carefree days, with her hardest chore helping her mother cook and sweeping the porch.

At this stage in the hobbit's lives, they had not yet been fully molded by the typical family roles in hobbit society. The girls still playfully rolled around and fought with the boys without worrying if their curly hair was in place, and the boys didn't mind shoving the girls around as hard as their fellow males. They all laughed and raced around, equals under the kind and warm sun. Life should be able to stay like this, however growing up tends to make the simplicity of childhood murky. In the mean time, Daisy would help orchestrate her group of friends, all of them dancing in the fields, barefooted and tanned deeply.

One particularly fine summer day, as Daisy and her group of friends played outside Bag End, she noticed an unfamiliar hobbit standing outside the circle. Everyone else was completely absorbed in their game of Simon Says, but Daisy caught the glance of the somewhat shy and forlorn looking hobbit boy. She slipped out of the game and approached him.

"Hi, my name's Daisy, what's yours?" she said.

The hobbit blinked and smiled a little. "My name's Frodo,"

Daisy smiled brightly at him. "I've never seen you around here before. Where did you come from?"

Little Frodo's smile faltered for a moment. "Uh, I just moved here from Buckland. I'm living with my uncle right now. He said I should try and make some new friends, so he told me to come and join you all,"

Daisy cocked her head curiously. Her family structure had always been so clear and traditional. "So why aren't you living with your mom and dad?"

Frodo was silent for awhile and looked around nervously. The sound of the laughter from the other children, who hadn't even noticed Daisy had left yet, cackled like fireworks in the background. The sun dripped like honey across their faces.

"Well Daisy, I'm not quite sure I'd like to talk about it right now. But my parents... Well, they... They recently drowned. I was taken in by my dear Uncle Bilbo..."

Daisy let out a little gasp and put her hand over her chest. "My! I'm sorry. Well, if you don't want to talk about it, we shan't. Come, I'll introduce you to the others."

Daisy cleared her throat and called out to the smiling children, who were still entirely focused on the leader of Simon Says.

"Hey, this is Frodo. He's new here, and a friend of mine. He's going to play with us."

All the young hobbits smiled, waved, and greeted Frodo. Their faces were freckled and bright. Daisy began rattling off all the names of the children, pointing to them and saying a little anecdote about them.

"... And this is Sam Gamgee, who, unfortunately, is pretty close with my family, 'cause we're all gardeners..." she paused to let out a denatured cackle with the others, and Frodo and Sam exchanged a brief look and smiled shyly at each other. Sam was stocky, yet had a very earnest look about him.

"... And this... What was you're name again?" Daisy laughed. "Oh, I'm just kidding. This is Rosie Cotton, and she's been my best friend since birth, likely."

Frodo looked around at all these wholesome kids, and felt a mix of emotions. He was too young for such a shift in his life. These new hobbits seemed friendly enough, but he missed the company of his friends Merry and Pippin and others in Buckland. And he especially missed his parents. Curse the water! No wonder most hobbits never went in the water.

By the time Daisy was finished introducing everyone, Frodo joined the games for the day and momentarily forgot the pains of his life. He ran with the other children, across the lazy fields and under the trees, often stopping by the raspberry bushes or strawberry patches. They bit into the sweet fruit, their young baby teeth flecked with seeds and their lips tinted pink.

By the time the sun was starting to set, the parents of The Shire began to call their children inside one by one. The children waved goodbye to each other in the light of the departing sun, knowing that the next day would bring much of the same simple joy.

When Daisy heard her mother call her name, she pretended not to notice for a moment. She turned to Frodo, who had hardly ever left her side the entire day.

"Hey," she whispered, her voice mingling with the sound of crickets. "You know, we don't have to play with the other kids again all day tomorrow. You should come with me into the woods. There's a place I want to show you."

Frodo nodded, blushing and breathless. Daisy had made Frodo feel a little happy again, even if it was only for a little while that day. That day was so nice and simple and engrossing, and Daisy was the one who had made it feel comfortable and easy for him.

"Where should I meet you?" he inquired.

"Daisy Greenhand!" yelled Daisy's mother.

"I'll find you, don't worry!" said Daisy, as she rushed away towards home for her evening bath.

The next day, Frodo stood outside his uncle's hole, looking at the flowers that lined the pathway to the door. He had just stepped outside for the day, and he decided to look around the grounds and familiarize himself with his new home. The noonday sun radiated down to the tender earth, just as succulent as the day before. He became slightly lost in the garden for a half an hour or so, kneeling to look at some of the roses, when suddenly he heard a voice call out a little distance behind him.

"Frodo Baggins! My father told me all about your uncle last night. The richest and sneakiest man in The Shire, how about that?"

Frodo stood up and held a finger to his lips.

"Shhhh! Don't you think everyone in The Shire knows that? No need to remind them!"

Daisy laughed, lumbering her way up Bilbo's pathway.

"No harm intended. Now come on, I'll show you the place I was talking about!"

Daisy grabbed Frodo's arm and lead him, running, across the fields and brooks of The Shire until they came into the forest. Daisy never lowered their pace, and they swiftly slid through the branches of the trees until they came into a little clearing besides a tiny babbling creek. Daisy let go of his arm and knelt before the creek, cupping her calloused hands inside the cool water. She brought her hands to her face, water dribbling down her arms and chin, and slurped handful after handful of the clear water.

"Come on, have a sip!" Daisy beckoned.

Frodo knelt beside her, and followed suit. The water was exceptionally sweet and cold, and it felt good against his warm lips. He let out a sigh, and wiped his face with the back of his wrist. While his eyes were closed for that brief moment, Daisy splashed some of the creek water against Frodo. He reeled from the initial shock, and then they both began to laugh. Frodo splashed her back, only to have Daisy chortle and return the gesture.

Once they ceased, they were both decently wet, their faces covered in sweat and water. Their smiles were frozen in time, and the small bugs and the sunlight were like halos for the small hobbits.

"I'm glad you decided to be my friend, Daisy," Frodo said, his face youthful and ripe.

"Likewise," Daisy laughed.