A/N: Heya! Am sorry for no terribly recent updates, but I hope you'll enjoy this. As always SR is Shire-reckoning, and FA is Fourth Age. And everything you see here is the Prof's, even the imaginary children! Enjoy.

Bag End, 1442 SR, 21 FA

It was pandemonium. Master Samwise Gardner, Mistress Rose and their eldest child Elanor were planning to leave the Shire to spend a year in Gondor, at the invitation of King Elessar and Queen Arwen. It was a very long journey, but it looked as if they would never leave until they could get everything under control – unfortunately it was not. Their eleven other children were being split up and shipped off to various aunts, uncles and cousins around Bywater to stay for a year, and none of them were happy about this.
'Dad, why can't we go?' pleaded Frodo and Rosie-lass, the two after Elanor, about to enter their irresponsible tweens.
'I'm sorry, my loves, but that's the way it goes,' Sam replied. 'If I could, I'd take you all with me, but I can't.'
'But why Elly?' pouted Rosie-lass.
'She is the Queen's handmaiden, don't you remember?'
At this, Rosie-lass turned on her heel and stormed off, Frodo running after her. Rosie-lass sometimes did not appreciate the attention given to her elder sister, although Sam and Rose tried their very best to treat the children equally. Sam sighed. At this rate, they would never leave.
Just at that moment, Sam's sisters Marigold and Daisy turned up at the window, poking their heads in, with smiles on their faces.
'Need some help, Sam?' Marigold asked.
Sam smiled, relieved. 'Please, come in!'
They walked through the door, the floor littered with clothes and packs, attempts to get the younger children ready to leave. Rose, carrying their thirteenth child, was in no condition to try to round the children up. Elanor was busy trying to pack her youngest brother Robin's clothes, while Robin was delighting in pulling the clothes back out and watching them fly through the air. The four youngest, Primrose, Bilbo, Ruby and Robin looked up with delight and cried, 'Aunty Marry! Aunty Daisy!' and promptly plowed themselves into their legs. The three eldest boys, Frodo, Merry and Pippin took this distraction as an opportunity to quickly stuff clothes into packs. Rosie-lass and Goldilocks had gone to help their mother pack the last of the provisions for the journey, Hamfast and Daisy quietly getting themselves ready. Marigold helped the other children while Daisy helped the massively overwhelmed Sam gather his papers for delivery to his deputy, mayor in his absence.
With his sisters' help, Sam soon got his children into some kind of order, their packs bulging with clothes and their favourite toys. The living room was tidy now, every stray bit of clothing packed. Finally, the children were ready to leave. Elanor, Rosie-lass and Goldilocks carried a few trunks and packs out to the cart outside. Now came the tearful goodbyes.
Ruby and Robin, who were only four and two respectively, both burst into tears. They didn't understand why their mother and father were leaving, they were too young. Rose bent down and hugged them first, explaining that they were going away for a while and they were coming back, and they were bringing back a new brother or sister with them. They both seemed thrilled at the idea of a playmate, and they were calmed down. Sam and Rose hugged and kissed all their children goodbye, wishing that they could all come. However, Frodo, Merry and Pippin were pleased with the idea of not having their parents around for a year, getting up to mischief, no doubt, thought Sam. Rosie-lass was placated somewhat with the idea of great presents from Gondor, but she was still a little upset. Goldilocks, Hamfast and Daisy were excited about presents however, but they were happy that they could visit their friends nearby while staying with their aunts and uncles. The youngest children were still a little confused, but all of them had family to look after them. Sam was glad that his and Rose's brothers and sisters so graciously offered to take on a big task of looking after their other eleven children.
He was really looking forward to getting away from it all for a while and going to visit his beloved friends. He wondered if Queen Arwen Evenstar was as beautiful as he remembered. He hoped that Elanor would have a wonderful time, as well as Rose. And, of course, he was excited about the birth of his new child, although he hoped that it would wait until Gondor to be born!
As Elanor kissed her siblings goodbye, Sam and Rose said goodbye also to Marigold and Daisy, confident that their children would be well looked after. The cart outside was ready to go. Sam helped his wife up, then his daughter, taking hold of the reins. His children and their aunts stood by the gate, waving goodbye as Sam gently flicked the reins and the cart started down the hill. They were off.
As Sam drove through Hobbiton, Rose let out a big sigh. He turned and smiled.
'Finally, we're off, my loves!'
'Finally!' Rose smiled. 'I love them all, but I desperately need a holiday.'
'And what better place to go, than to Gondor!' Elanor said. 'What's Gondor like, Dad? Will I like it there?'
'I'm sure you will, Elanorellë. It's very beautiful, and King Elessar and Queen Arwen are wonderful hosts. You'll get to meet their children, and perhaps Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn, maybe even King Éomer.'
'Will I get to see my flower, Dad? And Elves?'
Sam laughed. 'I'm not sure, my dear. Elanor are only in Lórien, and not many Elves live there now. But Elves in Gondor...' His eyes twinkled, as if he knew something she didn't. 'Maybe.'
Elanor smiled, knowing that her father was hiding something from her, but she didn't press him. Sam looked at her, marvelling at what she'd become. She was in her tweens, far from coming of age, but he could see how much she had grown. She had long blonde curls and deep blue eyes, and was rightly named 'the Fair', although she did not know of this name that Elessar had given her. She looked more like an Elven-child than a hobbit, but she was also learned. She could read Elvish letters and knew some of the language, as Sam hoped all his children would. Sam was proud that all of his children knew their letters. As they climbed through the hills of Hobbiton towards the West, Sam smiled. This was going to be a pleasant journey.