Déagol held up his line, proudly displaying the fish on the other end, it's scales gleaming silver.

Sméagol smiled. 'I know what we are having for supper, then. My boy has caught a fish.'

Déagol had begun to remove the fish from his line, but at this he stopped fumbling with the hook, peering up at Sméagol from under the brim of his hat. 'Hmm?'

'I said, 'My boy caught a fish', so I know what we're having for our supper.'

'So I'm your boy now, am I?' Déagol's eyes were dancing as he struggled to hold back a grin.

Sméagol ducked his head, suddenly very intent on inspecting the bottom of the boat. 'Of course you are..and I'm yours.'

Déagol finished removing the fish from it's hook, dropping it into a waiting basket by his feet.

'Come here.'

Sméagol watched him with a wary eye. 'Why?'

'Why not?'

'Because, you might do something.'

'Perhaps so, but what?'

Something about this question and the way it was posed made Sméagol curious enough to shift closer to Déagol, despite the risk of some joke.

'I'm here now,'

'I can see that,' laughed Déagol, 'and..' He leaned forward, gently nuzzling his nose against Sméagol's. 'I love you.' His words came out in a deep hush, but were unmistakable.

Sméagol felt a crushing but welcome pain, mixed with an unnameable pleasure, as if his very soul could not hold and would break.

'And I love you, Déagol.' The words, however shaky, tasted sweet on his tongue. 'I wouldn't even care if you threw me in the river right now. That's what I thought you were going to do.'

Déagol laughed. 'Don't be giving me any ideas.'

Sméagol smiled, feeling almost giddy. 'I love you,' he repeated. Now that he had heard those words & spoken them himself, he knew he would never tire of either hearing or saying them.

'I love you, Sméagol.' A pause. 'Come here.'

'Why?'

'Because I might do something.'

Sméagol needed no further assurances or special promptings this time, instead leaning nearer still to Déagol.

Déagol brushed his hand across Sméagol's cheek, then meeting no resistance he cupped his chin, bringing their faces closer together, close enough to feel each other's breath.

Déagol held his gaze, and seemed to be asking him some sort of question. Sméagol wasn't entirely sure it was or what answer he gave in return, but it was affirmation enough to satisfy Déagol, who then closed his eyes, tilting his head slightly as Sméagol found himself doing the same to match him as if by instinct.

Sméagol thought he could hear far away waves, the sound of them filling his ears as they crashed upon some distant shoreline, all time seeming to stand still for an unmeasurable beat, before rushing forward again as Déagol brought his lips to Sméagol's, swift but soft and cautious at the newness.

The roaring waters began to fade from Sméagol's thoughts, allowing him to fully take in what was happening and, after a brief moment of surprise, to respond in turn, feeling shy but eager.

As he returned Déagol's kiss, feeling ever more brave (although still quite nervous), Déagol made a small, desperate noise in the back of his throat that somehow said so many things all at once and made Sméagol wish that he could somehow shout into the skies above and the river below that he loved Déagol, would love him forever-

A sudden splashing commanded their attention, however, breaking the spell for the moment and bringing them back to the world of their small boat. A fish was struggling on Sméagol's line near the surface of the water, it's scales sparkling silver in the light of the afternoon sun.

Déagol grinned, and Sméagol noticed his eyes were filled with tears- though tears of happiness he knew, for he felt the same way.

'Yes,' Déagol said, 'we will have a very nice supper. My boy has caught a fish.'