A/N: I've kind of mixed this story with the book and movie plots, just for convenience. Also, (since we're into the book/movie parts) I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to be using exact dialogue. Just the general feel of it. Oh, and I'm also going to skip some of the parts where we all know what's obviously going to happen. I hate reading fics that just recap what already happened in the original story.
15 years later...
Daisy ran to greet Frodo, nearly knocking him over on his front step with a brief yet strong embrace. She pulled away from him, smiling and ruffling his hair while inspecting him. She fixed his vest, straightening it out and brushing off his shoulders.
"Happy 33rd, Frodo. Sure took you long enough," she said with a wink. She had turned 33 just three months before, and she always liked to tease him about her seniority.
"I think it's Bilbo you should be congratulating. I can't believe the man is 111, and hardly looks it. But I suppose it's a strange fate for a strange man, no?"
"Perhaps, but Bilbo's not the one I'm about to give this gift to," she said, pulling a small box tied shut with a ribbon out of her apron. She handed it to him, grinning.
Frodo looked at the box in his hands, smiling to himself and then shooting a glance at Daisy before opening it. What could possibly be in a box so small? He tugged at the edges of the ribbon, slowly letting them unravel before taking the lid off the box. Frodo looked at the contents of the box, puzzled, and burst out cackling.
"It's just like you, Daisy Greenhand, to give me a single strawberry on arguably the most important birthday of my life! Why did I ever choose to fall in love with such a sideways hobbit like yourself?" he joked, all the while grinning.
"Now, don't jump to conclusions there, Frodo. First of all, this birthday is just as important as any other birthday you've ever had. Second of all, don't you see how ripe that strawberry is? I was in the garden with mother this morning, and I happened to spot it. I thought to myself, 'that has to be the nicest, ripest strawberry I've ever seen. It must go to Frodo'! Surely it's a sign," she said with a giggle and a pointing hand gesture. "And, thirdly, this is not your true birthday gift. I'm saving that for after the party," she said with a joyful smirk.
Leave it to Daisy to always have something up her sleeve, Frodo thought to himself. The mischievous spark in her eyes had never once wavered since they were twelve. Sure, Daisy had matured overall, but there was still something genuine and childlike about her. He never regretted for a second deciding to move beyond friendship with her. Sure, it had been a little frightening at first, but there was no one else he felt so comfortable and at ease with.
He bent over and kissed Daisy briefly.
"Well, I'll be seeing you later, Daisy. I still have some things to do before the party."
"Likewise. Don't get into trouble, either. Don't let your new number get to your head, Frodo." She said with a laugh as she patted him on the shoulder and ran off again.
Daisy and Frodo, over the last fifteen years, had slid into a comfortable and casual romance. It fit the both of them like a glove. Sure, they had their squabbles, but more of the kind an old married couple would have. And of course there were a few expectations from relatives. Daisy's parents were practically waiting on the edges of their seats for Frodo and Daisy to get married, especially with them both turning 33. But the two of them weren't really in a rush, as they'd been perfectly fine together without wedding bands around their fingers.
Frodo walked back to Bilbo's hole, chuckling to himself as looked into the little box with the strawberry inside. Daisy was right, it was certainty a fine strawberry. Perfect hue, nice and ripe, and full with lively shape. It would almost be a shame to eat it, he thought to himself. But regardless, he slipped the end into his mouth, his teeth sinking into the sweet center. He knew Daisy wouldn't have wanted him to waste such a nice strawberry.
Daisy went home, sliding through the front door and walking towards her room. However, halfway to her door, she was intercepted by her mother. Daisy groaned, knowing exactly what she was going to say.
"Mother, please spare me the-"
"When are you and Frodo going to marry? you know it's about time you left this house and started on your own."
"Don't sound too delighted with my company, mother. One might actually get the impression that you enjoy having me around.'
"You know I love your help around the house Daisy, but it's about time we marry you off."
Daisy laughed. "Oh, if only you could hear how absurd you sound, mother. Don't worry, the time will come."
"You've been telling me that for quite a long while, sweetheart. Let's not wait much longer, alright?"
Daisy shook her head, still smiling. "From the sound of it, it seems like you'd be the one getting married, not I."
"I've had my time, Daisy. Not it's your time."
Daisy only smirked more and continued to work her way to her room. Her mother still stood in the hall with her arms crossed, but also with a gentle smile on her lips. Daisy gave her a sarcastic smile and wave from her door and proceeded to enter, closing the door behind her.
Once Daisy was in her room, she reclined on her bed, staring up at her ceiling, a slow smirk creeping along her face. She'd been daydreaming for years about the day her and Frodo would get married. She wanted a dress similar to how her sister's had been, except maybe with a ribbon around the waste. And she'd want a nice cake, with flowers along the base, and she'd want to move into Bag End someday, hopefully, and perhaps...
She snapped herself out of her fantasies and sat up on her bed. One day at a time, she thought to herself. One day at a time. In the meanwhile, she went over to her closet in search for something to wear. It was a particularly warm September day, one of the nicest days of any September she could remember.
She searched coolly, settling on one of her nicer, yet simpler, numbers. It was a peachy cotton frock, with a little red ribbon around the waste, and no extra embellishments. Something that emitted casual beauty, she mused to herself.
The stars shone brilliantly that night, with the sky also illuminated with the flash of multicolored fireworks. If there ever was a party that represented what The Shire was about, this would be it. More than enough food and ale, laughter, dancing, the whole works. Even Gandalf had made an appearance, a legendary visitor in The Shire. Daisy had met the old wizard a few times when he came for his occasional visits to Frodo and Bilbo. She found him a curious character, but always looked forward to his stories.
Frodo and Daisy had danced together for a few songs, and were now sitting on the outside, the two of them sipping ale with Sam Gamgee. He eyed Rosie as she spun around and danced solo.
"Sam, I've been friends with you and Rosie for nearly as long as I can remember, and let me tell you that nearly nothing would make me happier than seeing the two of you dance. I can't stand a moment more of watching you look at her like that from afar!" Daisy exclaimed, shaking Sam's shoulder.
"Just ask her to dance already, Sam," Frodo agreed.
"You both you know I can't do that," said Sam, looking down at his now empty mug. He started to stand up, about to retrieve another.
"Yes you can!" Frodo said cheerfully, pushing Sam towards her with a laugh. Both Daisy and Frodo grinned, watching Sam bashfully take Rosie.
"Aren't you glad you never had to go through all the tedious work of falling in love like that, Frodo?" Daisy asked, sipping from her mug.
"Absolutely. I wouldn't want to be stuck with any other hobbit, after all."
Daisy was completely at a loss for words, just like nearly ever hobbit at the party. She squinted her eyes at Frodo in confusion. How could Bilbo just disappear into thin air like that? It was completely unnatural. Frodo didn't look at Daisy for a moment, as he stared straight ahead, his eyes like saucers. Once he turned to her, his expression read something like realization and slight concern. It was a very mixed message.
"Frodo, what was that?"
He just shook his head
"I don't know for certain, but I suppose Bilbo is finally leaving The Shire..." Frodo looked down at his lap, hesitating before he stood up. Daisy stood up abruptly next to him.
"Where do you suppose he's going?" Daisy inquired, baffled.
Frodo offered no reply and stuck his hands in his pockets. He shook his head and remember some of the odd, vague things he had said earlier that day to him. He supposed, in retrospect, he should have seen it coming.
"Well what do you suppose we do now?" Daisy asked, he hands on her hips. She was trying to process what had just happened, however many of the other hobbits were beginning to go back to enjoying themselves, like Bilbo had never vanished. Of course there was some grumbling amongst the guests, but nothing more to suggest any concern.
"I don't really know. I think I saw Gandalf slip away a moment ago. I suppose he knows where Bilbo has gone, and to talk with him." Frodo looked up the hills around him, searching for any signs of further disturbances.
Daisy put her hand on Frodo's shoulder. "If you'd like, you should go and find him. Perhaps get to the bottom of this."
Frodo sighed. "I'd like you to be there with me, Daisy. This whole situation doesn't make me feel all that comfortable."
It had taken Daisy quite a bit of convincing and stubbornness to make Gandalf allow her to stay while he explained the ring and Bilbo's whereabouts to Frodo. He said that if he did decide to speak of such things in her presence, she would inevitably be bound to whatever it was that Frodo was about to experience. Without hesitating, Daisy said she didn't care. If Frodo was going to experience something, for better or worse, she wanted to be apart of it as well. No exceptions. They were a team.
"Fine, Ms. Greenhand, but I cannot guarantee that you'll like what you're about to hear."
In all honesty, Gandalf loathed the idea of bringing more innocent hobbits into the ordeal then necessary, but alas the nosiness and stubbornness ingrained in their genes made that a little difficult. At the end of it, two extra hobbits got thrown into the mess that was about to unfold.
"Samwise Gamgee and Daisy Greenhand, although I had not originally intended it to be this way, will both be accompanying Frodo on his quest. I suggest you take leave as soon as you can."
Frodo sat on the edge of his bed that night after he had finished getting his things together. In his hands he toyed with a ring. Not the ring of power, which he could already feel beginning to poison his idea of a happy life, but another, more dainty ring. In the center of the ring, there was a tiny structure of gold, made out to look like a tiny nest. Inside the "nest" was a simple ruby. Bilbo had obtained the ring as one of his many spoils from his journey to The Lonely Mountain, and had given it to Frodo once he knew that he and Daisy were together.
"Save this, lad. For Daisy," Bilbo had said with a wink many years ago.
He had planned to give this ring to Daisy today, both as a birthday gift from him and as a proposal. As nervous as he had been about asking her, he only wished he had the chance instead of Gandalf's news dropping on him like a heavy weight.
Frodo stood up and slid Daisy's future ring into his coat pocket. He sighed. Perhaps there would be a chance someday.