A/N: Bag End is filling up with Gamgee children as Sam is hoping for a son
who wants to be a gardener just like him and his father before him. Being
Mayor keeps Sam busy and Rosie's hands are full with the care of all their
children. Sam notices one of their children is really special and it
worries him.
Samwise, The Brave
His old withered hands closed the book that he had been writing for hours as he finished the very last line. 'So this is it. It is finally finished,' Sam thought to himself. "Only one last thing to do and that is to deliver this to my girl."
Sam placed the book into the box but it would not fit as it did when he took it out. He thought odd of this. Looking deep into the box he could see something that had been added in the box. He pulled out a rainmaker rattle and laughed as the memories that rolled in the back of his mind.
~*~
"Slow yourself down and give your mother some needed quiet!" shouted Sam at his children. Frodo and Elanor came around the corner of the kitchen and began to usher the smaller children outside to leave for the Bolgers.
"Old Fredegar Bolger told me that his sister Estella is visiting and she has promised to make cherry tarts if you little ones are good today," Sam smiled at the group of his smaller children. "When you come back tomorrow morning, you'll have a new baby brother or sister."
"Will you send me word when Mama has the baby?" Frodo asked.
"You'll have to find out when the younger ones will, Frodo and Elanor. The mid-wife will be along in no time. With just her and I helping with the bringing of the babe, I'll not have a hand free this time," commented Sam. "Now be off with you, my dear little ones."
Sam watched six of his children skipping down the steps and through the gate as they all turned to wave good-bye to their father.
"Sam! Sam!" Rosie called from the bedroom. Sam shut the front door and ran to Rosie's side.
""It's time Sam. The baby is coming right now!" Rosie told him.
"But the mid-wife is not here yet!" Sam said alarmed as panic set in.
"You'll have to do this time, Sam. We have done this six times already," Rosie said calmly. "After six, this one should not be a bother."
By the time Sam prepared all the things he needed to deliver the baby, the baby began to make his way into the world. Sam's eyes widened in surprise at seeing the seventh Gamgee being born. Just as the infants head was out, Sam noticed that the cord was rapped around it's little neck.
Sam shouted, "Rosie! Do not push, breath!" Sam knew from stories he heard from others of loosing their baby because of this. His heart began to beat wildly in his chest as fear began to shake his very soul.
Rosie fell back upon the pillow breathing as fast as she could.
Sam knew he had to put his fear aside and focus just on the infant. The baby needed him now and Sam was not going to allow his child to die. He put those thoughts from his mind and began to work.
Sam's hands shook as he placed one hand upon the infant's head and taking his fingers he gently pulled the cord over the baby's head. As he did, he turned the infant gently and noticed the baby's face was a dark blue and was not breathing on his own. Seized in panic Sam worked rapidly and shouted at Rosie, "Push!" as he freed the cord.
With one big push, the infant landed into Sam's open arms. Quickly Sam worked to tie and cut the cord as he turned the infant over and cleaning out the baby's mouth. He gently brought the infant to his mouth and lightly forced some air into its lungs. Again he tried and again, but still the infant did not breathe.
"Sam! The baby is not crying?" Rosie said as she intently listened for the faintest cry.
"I'm working on it, Rosie!" Sam said in a strained voice.
Rosie raised her head and gasped seeing Sam rapidly trying to breathe for the infant.
She held her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming, as her eyes remained frozen on the two in front of her. The seconds ticked by and still the infant did not cry.
Rosie's voice let out a scream of sorrow as the door burst open and the mid- wife rushed into the room. Seeing Sam working on the infant, the mid-wife took the infant and rushed from the room.
Knowing there was nothing more Sam could do. He rushed to Rosie's side and held her tightly in his arms. They both looked at each other in shock as the tears rolled down their face. Within a few seconds a loud infant wailed out its first cry and their despair turned to over joy. "The baby is all right!" shouted Sam. "It's going to be okay!" Sam wrapped his arms around Rosie crying with tears of happiness.
"Tis a boy! And a big one, to say the least. He's fine now, so don't you be fretting none," said Mother Mags. "We'll have him cleaned up proper and back into your loving arms." The mid-wife held the naked crying infant and reached for his blanket and clothing as she turned to take him back into the kitchen.
Sam looked at Rosie and burst out laughing. He circled his arms around his wife and kissed her.
She returned shortly with the infant wrapped warmly in his blanket. "Now my lad, you take your boy fer a walk and show him the kitchen. I'll be tending your wife," Mother Mags told him as she put his son into his arms.
"Sam bring him to me," asked Rosie.
"All in good time there, Mother," said Mother Mags. "You had him for nine months, tis time you shared him with his father. I need to tend you first and I'll bring the babe when we are done."
Sam pulled the blanket from his son's face and smiled at seeing the pink little face and tiny little nose as Sam walked out of the bedroom and stood in the kitchen just staring at this wonderful site.
"You got yourself a fighter there, Mrs. Gamgee. A fine wee boy he is," Mother Mags told her as she cleaned up Rosie and made her comfortable in her bed.
"Is he beautiful, Mother Mags?" asked Rosie.
"Tis so, a fine looker, he is. As white of hair as the Gaffer, bless his poor soul," commented Mother Mags and after a long pause she continued. "Unnatural if you ask me. Never in all of Mother Mags long years, have I not seen nothing like it. Born twelve of me own children and mid-wife to half the town of Hobbiton, by my counting. All these blonde hair children running around. The Elves has spread their magic around is all I can say about it. Trouble could come of such things as unnatural for hobbits." Mother Mags shook her gnarled old finger towards Rosie in warning her. She busied herself in changing the linens on the bed and brought Rosie her bed jacket to warm herself.
"Tis time the young master to be fed, I'll fetch him straight away and make a good mid-morning meal for the both of you," said Mother Mag.
Opening the door Mother Mag paused and watched the new father talking with his son.
"Him is just the sweetest little fellow. Daddy is going to teach him all about gardening and growing only the best flowers and vegetables this township has ever seen. Yes, he is," Sam spoke in a silly, gently tone of voice.
'Not an hour old and you already be teaching him about gardening, Master Samwise?" asked Mother Mags.
Sam turned sharply to see Mother Mags watching him. "Can't help it none, not one of my other six children have an interest of it. There should be one Gamgee as gifted as the Gaffer was," Sam told her.
"Looking at those thick hands of the boy, I'll wager this one will take to it right off!" said Mother Mags. "The Gaffer would be right proud of his lad, if he was still around, mind you."
"How is Rosie doing?" asked Sam.
"Go see fer yourself, Mayor Gamgee. She's doing right fine."
Sam carried the baby into the bedroom and gently laid him down into Rosie's outstretched arms.
Rosie looked long into his sweet little face and cooed as she gently stroked his cheek. "Sam, What should we name this little one?" asked Rosie.
"I was just talking with Mother Mags and she thinks this one will be a gardener. So I was thinking that perhaps we name him Hamfast. What do you think Rosie?" asked Sam.
"The Gaffer would have liked that, Sam," said Rosie. "It's a fine name and well deserving of this little one here."
Sam wrapped his arms around them both and kissed Rosie and then little Hamfast.
~*~
Within a year, little Hamfast grew and took his first few steps by himself. When Sam would sit in front of the fireplace on his chair, he would tell his children their favorite bedtime story of the Nine fingered hobbit named Mr. Frodo and Samwise the Brave, as he named in his story. The children would all gather around together on the floor sitting in front of him, while a younger child sat in his lap.
Just like every other time that Rosie would place Hamfast in Sam's lap, he would cry and scream to get down. In fact he was doing a lot more screaming every time someone would pick him up to cuddle him. However, left to his own accord, Hamfast would entertain himself for hours at a time. Usually his favorite item would be finding a long string on the floor or pulling one from a rug.
"I want to hear about Mr. Frodo, did he ever destroy the ring?" asked little Pippin.
"Now I have not gotten that far yet, Pip," said Sam.
But Da, I just can't wait. I want to know now," said little Pippin.
"Now look, your brother Merry is not fussing about the ending. Nor should you. I'll get to it when the times comes," said Sam. "Who wants to hear about Samwise the Brave and how he got Mr. Frodo to take him with him when he left the fellowship by the shore?"
"That's my favorite part, Da!" said Frodo excitedly.
Rosie walked over and placed Hamfast into Sam's lap. Again he arched his back and wiggled to get down.
"Oh, Mama. You know he hates that. Ham is just going to ruin the story!" shouted Pippin.
"Now Pip, Ham has to learn to sit still and listen also," Rosie told him.
"But it does not look like it is going to be this evening! My love," said Sam as little Hamfast scampered off to sit on his favorite rug with all the strings.
Rosie shook her head as she watched Hamfast find another string and pulled it free from the rug. She rubbed her rounded belly and only hoped that the eighth baby would not be so stubborn. Rosie returned to the kitchen to finish washing the dishes.
When Sam finished the story and ending where Samwise the Brave and Mr.Frodo first realized that they were lost and a foul creature was following them. Sam announced it was bedtime.
"Oh no, Da! Can't we hear what happens next to Mr. Frodo?" asked Pippin. "Who's the creature that is following them?"
"That is tomorrow's story, my boy," said Sam as he directed little Pippin to his bedroom. Merry soon followed and told his brother to stop asking so many questions.
Rosie pick up Hamfast as he screaming wanting to get down. Sam was at her side and took Hamfast from her. "Rosie, I'll get him ready for bed. You need your rest. I'll be in shortly as soon as this little one is asleep."
Sam kissed his wife good night and took the screaming Hamfast to his room to change him and feed him his bottle.
This is the end of chapter one and in Chapter two Sam becomes very worried about his little boy. Rosie gives birth to her eighth child and Bag End is filling up with the Gamgee children. If you like the beginning of this story please let me know by your reviews as I am trying to decide to continue this..
Samwise, The Brave
His old withered hands closed the book that he had been writing for hours as he finished the very last line. 'So this is it. It is finally finished,' Sam thought to himself. "Only one last thing to do and that is to deliver this to my girl."
Sam placed the book into the box but it would not fit as it did when he took it out. He thought odd of this. Looking deep into the box he could see something that had been added in the box. He pulled out a rainmaker rattle and laughed as the memories that rolled in the back of his mind.
~*~
"Slow yourself down and give your mother some needed quiet!" shouted Sam at his children. Frodo and Elanor came around the corner of the kitchen and began to usher the smaller children outside to leave for the Bolgers.
"Old Fredegar Bolger told me that his sister Estella is visiting and she has promised to make cherry tarts if you little ones are good today," Sam smiled at the group of his smaller children. "When you come back tomorrow morning, you'll have a new baby brother or sister."
"Will you send me word when Mama has the baby?" Frodo asked.
"You'll have to find out when the younger ones will, Frodo and Elanor. The mid-wife will be along in no time. With just her and I helping with the bringing of the babe, I'll not have a hand free this time," commented Sam. "Now be off with you, my dear little ones."
Sam watched six of his children skipping down the steps and through the gate as they all turned to wave good-bye to their father.
"Sam! Sam!" Rosie called from the bedroom. Sam shut the front door and ran to Rosie's side.
""It's time Sam. The baby is coming right now!" Rosie told him.
"But the mid-wife is not here yet!" Sam said alarmed as panic set in.
"You'll have to do this time, Sam. We have done this six times already," Rosie said calmly. "After six, this one should not be a bother."
By the time Sam prepared all the things he needed to deliver the baby, the baby began to make his way into the world. Sam's eyes widened in surprise at seeing the seventh Gamgee being born. Just as the infants head was out, Sam noticed that the cord was rapped around it's little neck.
Sam shouted, "Rosie! Do not push, breath!" Sam knew from stories he heard from others of loosing their baby because of this. His heart began to beat wildly in his chest as fear began to shake his very soul.
Rosie fell back upon the pillow breathing as fast as she could.
Sam knew he had to put his fear aside and focus just on the infant. The baby needed him now and Sam was not going to allow his child to die. He put those thoughts from his mind and began to work.
Sam's hands shook as he placed one hand upon the infant's head and taking his fingers he gently pulled the cord over the baby's head. As he did, he turned the infant gently and noticed the baby's face was a dark blue and was not breathing on his own. Seized in panic Sam worked rapidly and shouted at Rosie, "Push!" as he freed the cord.
With one big push, the infant landed into Sam's open arms. Quickly Sam worked to tie and cut the cord as he turned the infant over and cleaning out the baby's mouth. He gently brought the infant to his mouth and lightly forced some air into its lungs. Again he tried and again, but still the infant did not breathe.
"Sam! The baby is not crying?" Rosie said as she intently listened for the faintest cry.
"I'm working on it, Rosie!" Sam said in a strained voice.
Rosie raised her head and gasped seeing Sam rapidly trying to breathe for the infant.
She held her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming, as her eyes remained frozen on the two in front of her. The seconds ticked by and still the infant did not cry.
Rosie's voice let out a scream of sorrow as the door burst open and the mid- wife rushed into the room. Seeing Sam working on the infant, the mid-wife took the infant and rushed from the room.
Knowing there was nothing more Sam could do. He rushed to Rosie's side and held her tightly in his arms. They both looked at each other in shock as the tears rolled down their face. Within a few seconds a loud infant wailed out its first cry and their despair turned to over joy. "The baby is all right!" shouted Sam. "It's going to be okay!" Sam wrapped his arms around Rosie crying with tears of happiness.
"Tis a boy! And a big one, to say the least. He's fine now, so don't you be fretting none," said Mother Mags. "We'll have him cleaned up proper and back into your loving arms." The mid-wife held the naked crying infant and reached for his blanket and clothing as she turned to take him back into the kitchen.
Sam looked at Rosie and burst out laughing. He circled his arms around his wife and kissed her.
She returned shortly with the infant wrapped warmly in his blanket. "Now my lad, you take your boy fer a walk and show him the kitchen. I'll be tending your wife," Mother Mags told him as she put his son into his arms.
"Sam bring him to me," asked Rosie.
"All in good time there, Mother," said Mother Mags. "You had him for nine months, tis time you shared him with his father. I need to tend you first and I'll bring the babe when we are done."
Sam pulled the blanket from his son's face and smiled at seeing the pink little face and tiny little nose as Sam walked out of the bedroom and stood in the kitchen just staring at this wonderful site.
"You got yourself a fighter there, Mrs. Gamgee. A fine wee boy he is," Mother Mags told her as she cleaned up Rosie and made her comfortable in her bed.
"Is he beautiful, Mother Mags?" asked Rosie.
"Tis so, a fine looker, he is. As white of hair as the Gaffer, bless his poor soul," commented Mother Mags and after a long pause she continued. "Unnatural if you ask me. Never in all of Mother Mags long years, have I not seen nothing like it. Born twelve of me own children and mid-wife to half the town of Hobbiton, by my counting. All these blonde hair children running around. The Elves has spread their magic around is all I can say about it. Trouble could come of such things as unnatural for hobbits." Mother Mags shook her gnarled old finger towards Rosie in warning her. She busied herself in changing the linens on the bed and brought Rosie her bed jacket to warm herself.
"Tis time the young master to be fed, I'll fetch him straight away and make a good mid-morning meal for the both of you," said Mother Mag.
Opening the door Mother Mag paused and watched the new father talking with his son.
"Him is just the sweetest little fellow. Daddy is going to teach him all about gardening and growing only the best flowers and vegetables this township has ever seen. Yes, he is," Sam spoke in a silly, gently tone of voice.
'Not an hour old and you already be teaching him about gardening, Master Samwise?" asked Mother Mags.
Sam turned sharply to see Mother Mags watching him. "Can't help it none, not one of my other six children have an interest of it. There should be one Gamgee as gifted as the Gaffer was," Sam told her.
"Looking at those thick hands of the boy, I'll wager this one will take to it right off!" said Mother Mags. "The Gaffer would be right proud of his lad, if he was still around, mind you."
"How is Rosie doing?" asked Sam.
"Go see fer yourself, Mayor Gamgee. She's doing right fine."
Sam carried the baby into the bedroom and gently laid him down into Rosie's outstretched arms.
Rosie looked long into his sweet little face and cooed as she gently stroked his cheek. "Sam, What should we name this little one?" asked Rosie.
"I was just talking with Mother Mags and she thinks this one will be a gardener. So I was thinking that perhaps we name him Hamfast. What do you think Rosie?" asked Sam.
"The Gaffer would have liked that, Sam," said Rosie. "It's a fine name and well deserving of this little one here."
Sam wrapped his arms around them both and kissed Rosie and then little Hamfast.
~*~
Within a year, little Hamfast grew and took his first few steps by himself. When Sam would sit in front of the fireplace on his chair, he would tell his children their favorite bedtime story of the Nine fingered hobbit named Mr. Frodo and Samwise the Brave, as he named in his story. The children would all gather around together on the floor sitting in front of him, while a younger child sat in his lap.
Just like every other time that Rosie would place Hamfast in Sam's lap, he would cry and scream to get down. In fact he was doing a lot more screaming every time someone would pick him up to cuddle him. However, left to his own accord, Hamfast would entertain himself for hours at a time. Usually his favorite item would be finding a long string on the floor or pulling one from a rug.
"I want to hear about Mr. Frodo, did he ever destroy the ring?" asked little Pippin.
"Now I have not gotten that far yet, Pip," said Sam.
But Da, I just can't wait. I want to know now," said little Pippin.
"Now look, your brother Merry is not fussing about the ending. Nor should you. I'll get to it when the times comes," said Sam. "Who wants to hear about Samwise the Brave and how he got Mr. Frodo to take him with him when he left the fellowship by the shore?"
"That's my favorite part, Da!" said Frodo excitedly.
Rosie walked over and placed Hamfast into Sam's lap. Again he arched his back and wiggled to get down.
"Oh, Mama. You know he hates that. Ham is just going to ruin the story!" shouted Pippin.
"Now Pip, Ham has to learn to sit still and listen also," Rosie told him.
"But it does not look like it is going to be this evening! My love," said Sam as little Hamfast scampered off to sit on his favorite rug with all the strings.
Rosie shook her head as she watched Hamfast find another string and pulled it free from the rug. She rubbed her rounded belly and only hoped that the eighth baby would not be so stubborn. Rosie returned to the kitchen to finish washing the dishes.
When Sam finished the story and ending where Samwise the Brave and Mr.Frodo first realized that they were lost and a foul creature was following them. Sam announced it was bedtime.
"Oh no, Da! Can't we hear what happens next to Mr. Frodo?" asked Pippin. "Who's the creature that is following them?"
"That is tomorrow's story, my boy," said Sam as he directed little Pippin to his bedroom. Merry soon followed and told his brother to stop asking so many questions.
Rosie pick up Hamfast as he screaming wanting to get down. Sam was at her side and took Hamfast from her. "Rosie, I'll get him ready for bed. You need your rest. I'll be in shortly as soon as this little one is asleep."
Sam kissed his wife good night and took the screaming Hamfast to his room to change him and feed him his bottle.
This is the end of chapter one and in Chapter two Sam becomes very worried about his little boy. Rosie gives birth to her eighth child and Bag End is filling up with the Gamgee children. If you like the beginning of this story please let me know by your reviews as I am trying to decide to continue this..