Touch

Hello to all of my faithful followers! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up, but I was involved in a charity event for the last week. Here's the next chapter to make up for my absence. Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish upon a star, I do not own the Lord of the Rings saga.

As the words leave Frodo's mouth, something in Sam breaks. He watches Frodo as he crosses his arms and lowers his eyes in shame. Sam decides then and there that it is time for him to take initiative. He moves toward his friend, who has now turned away from him, and lays a hand on Frodo's shoulder.

"At least let me try."

In those five words, Samwise Gamgee means everything. And somewhere in those five words, Frodo Baggins loses it once more. Tears cascaded down his cheeks, sobs wracked his body, and Frodo felt well and truly done for. As he felt himself bend under the weight of his grief and self-loathing, he also felt himself reaching out to grasp Sam's hand, which still rested on his shoulder. It was like a rope that was pulling him out of some twisted sort of hell.

"I'm glad that you are here." He manages through his choked sobs.

At this admission, Sam pulls Frodo up and spins him around into a hug. Frodo rests his head on Sam's shoulder as fresh sobs tear their way through his chest. And Frodo cries. And Frodo lets it go. Once his sobs decrease in frequency, Frodo is left hiccupping and looking up at Sam, his tether to reality, the one who played a major role in helping him live to see today.

"Thank you, Sam." Frodo says, cupping a cheek with his hand. All that is left unspoken hangs between the two of them as they inch closer together. Abruptly, as Sam and Frodo were a hair's width apart, so close that they could feel each other's breath tickling their lips, Sam spoke.

"Wait Mr. Frodo, we can't. I care for Rosie greatly. I may even love her."

This struck a painful chord in Frodo, who opened his eyes, which at some point had slipped shut, and nodded understandingly. "I understand." he replies with a soft smile. He opts instead to peck Sam on his other cheek.

Sam looked genuinely surprised at Frodo's gesture. He looked at Frodo, the definition of conflicted written plainly across his face, and decided in that moment to throw caution to the wind. He closed the, albeit short, distance between his and Frodo's faces and claimed his lips in a kiss, one unlike any he had received before. This one had passion, fervor, a spark that could not be compared to anything. Although initially taken aback by Sam's sudden change of heart, Frodo enthusiastically reciprocated, placing his other hand on Sam's bare cheek, and moving their bodies even closer together. Sam wrapped his arms around Frodo's body, effectively eliminating any remaining space between them two. Frodo's hips reflexively bucked into Sam's and Sam ground into Frodo.

"Oh Mr. Frodo…" he moaned.

"Frodo, call me Frodo." Frodo gasped between kisses.

Somehow, neither of them quite sure how, they managed to stumble, kissing the entire way, to Frodo's room. (Neither of them fancied the idea of Bilbo walking in on their little "engagement") And they closed the door to prevent such an occurrence.