"Welcome home, friends," Frodo said, giggling a little here and there.

"Hmm." Pippin said, nodding. "That was a good dream."

"What are you joking? That was fantastic. Let's do it again!" Merry said, rushing back into the hallway. Frodo laughed when Gandalf moved him back into Frodo's bedroom. "Well, it was."

"Yes, but Mr. Frodo," Sam faced him now. "How do you feel? You're better now?"

Frodo looked about the room. "Hmm… well, I had hoped to see my pirate garb. My robes. Something to remind me of that dream we just had."

"Are you sure?" Irmo said. "Frodo – Master Baggins – I'm afraid what stays in the dream stays put. The only way you can go that deep into the dream again is…"

"Then let me go back into the dream… one last time," Frodo said.

"Us too!" Merry and Pippin said together.

"Just this once," Irmo said.

"Excellent!" Pippin said, following Merry down the hallway.

"I'll see you in the dream world, Frodo," Sam said, rushing out of Frodo's bedroom.

"Pleasant dreams, my friends," Gandalf said.

Frodo grinned as his head moved back onto the pillow. He glanced up at Irmo, the man who helped in his quest through the dream world.

"Are you ready, Frodo?" Irmo asked him.

Frodo nodded. "I am."

"Then relax and let the dream take you to where you need to be…" Irmo's voice faded as Frodo fell asleep, thinking of nothing but the darkness…

Frodo giggled fondly. He was dressed in his pirate garb. Only something had changed about the dream world. He was now on an island with white sand. Before him stood the five worlds he'd just seen: the Titanic, Tortuga, the Dawn Treader, Dinotopia and the Surprise. They were all here. And here he was in the middle of these realms related to the sea and land… wait. What? Was this the next part of his journey?

"Well, we made it!" Merry shouted. He was still garbed in his red Dinotopian robes. "Just like Irmo promised."

"I'm still dressed as a navy officer!" Pippin chimed in, for indeed his uniform was white with a blue jacket and tricorn hat.

"We made it!" said Rosie, resting her arm around Sam's arm. "We're back."

"But where are we?" Pippin and Frodo asked.

"Good question. I only wish we knew what to expect," Frodo said, joining his friends.

"Will we all see the Sea someday," Merry asked them.

"I duly hope not," Sam said. "But then, who knows in this dream world."

"It's your option." Irmo said. "This is the very reason I created this dream world."

"Will we return home? Or go out to Sea and not come back?" Frodo asked.

Irmo paused. "Why not do both? Frodo, your wounds are healed, but your mind will take time to heal after such a quest. The choice is yours, but you can pass between realms and still find healing. Don't give up hope just yet. Eru works in mysterious ways, but he will assist you in your quest." He winked, grinning.

"Oh. So it's not the end," Frodo said.

"No. Not it is not," Irmo said, his voice mixing with Gandalf. "Now sleep. And when you wake up, you will find what you need before the day is done."

"Hullo Frodo." It was the hobbit lass, moving up to Frodo.

"You," Frodo was confused. "Who are you?"

"My name you will know soon. I'm Vivien," the hobbit lass introduced herself. "Do not be afraid. You will find healing soon. For now…" Frodo kissed her soft lips. He wanted her, even though he didn't know her that well. Still… he was right where he should be.

On the edge of wakefulness, a smile creased across Frodo's face. Already, he found healing in his heart. It was this healing that seeped its way into his left shoulder and the back of his neck. He was healing and that was well. It was well enough for him to handle and endure, in a good way. He knew that and that's all that mattered.

-.-.-

Two Weeks Later…

Sam ploughed Bag End's garden soil. It was fresh and ready to have seeds planted into the ground. He wiped the sweat off his forehead The perspiration was great and yet he needed to continue his journey… only he craned his head over his shoulder. Frodo was well, much better than he had seen him in the past few weeks. That was good.

"Did you see the hobbit lass Vivien yet?" Sam asked Frodo.

"No. But thank you for showing me the dream world, Sam," Frodo said, moving over to a bench.

"It wasn't my doin'. You needed healing," Sam said.

"Aye, that I did," Frodo grinned.

"Still usin' the pirate's language, I see," Sam said.

"Yeah," Frodo smirked. "That hasn't gone away just yet."

"When will it?" Sam asked. But Frodo's attention was turned elsewhere. There was the golden-haired hobbit lass, wearing a short white dress. It was Vivien.

"I'll see you at dinner, Sam," Frodo said, approaching the hobbit lass. "Vivien, care for a walk?"

"I just got here." Vivien said. "You know how Irmo is with Dream Worlds and the Waking World." She said, hotly, "Come on. Let's not waste time." Frodo followed her down the dirt road. She wouldn't stop talking about the Dream World. Frodo was glad. Maybe there was a way to pass between realms after all. "The Dream World has given me and my family so much. I just got here, you know. But I've seen dreamers come and go from Middle-earth. You're the first hobbit I've seen who's survived the Titanic dream. You and your friends. That's a feat, you know." She said next, "I can see you're healing well."

"Yes I am. The Dream World's been doing me wonders," Frodo said. "Thank you."

"Frodo, I can't stay long." Vivien said. "I know you care about me. And I know you're allowed to pass between worlds, between realms whenever you want. Eru's orders. I hope this is not goodbye, but our relationship needs to stay as friends. I live in the Dream World, but I'll visit you often."

"Is there no hope for us?" Frodo asked her.

"Only you can discover that. It'll just be a hard thing to do. Maybe if the circumstances were different, we'd…" Vivien was cut off. Frodo kissed her on the lips. The moment was sweet, tender and… no. Vivien was turning to dust.

"No. What can I do?" Frodo was stunned.

"I'll see you in the Dream World. My time is up," Vivien said, vanishing into the open air.

"What?" Frodo was distraught. How did this happen? This wasn't fair. He needed to speak to… Irmo. Irmo was here. "You knew this would happen." He approached him. "How could you do this to her? She was meant to be…"

"Frodo!" Irmo spoke to him. "All things have their time. How do you feel?"

"I don't know. The fact that I'm allowed to travel anywhere is…" Frodo stopped himself. "And my wounds are…"

"Healing," Vivien said. Frodo spun around, facing her. She was leaning against the white fence, her arms crossed. "Frodo, I can only move from the dream world to the present, but in such a short time."

"So how do we make this work?" Frodo asked her.

"Would you prefer to be friends," Vivien said. "Frodo. There are some things beyond our calling. You're here because this is where you want to be. If you go to the dream world and beyond, you may not come home right away. If that's the life you choose. I'll stay if you want, but only for a short time." She asked further, "My time is at its end, until we meet again in the Dream World. We can't…"

Frodo kissed her again. He didn't want to lose her, and yet he hardly knew her. He understood that now. Releasing her, he said, "Then let's be friends. I hope this arrangement works, but…"

"I know. I hear it all the time from people who need to be in the dream world. To lose that is to lose yourself, or a piece of you," Vivien said. "Don't forget me when you fall asleep. I'll stay with you as your guide. You may yet figure out the dream world."

"I think I'm ready for that… this new quest," Frodo said.

"Then I wish you luck, Frodo Baggins, in all your endeavors," Vivien said, stepping back into the dust.

"Good luck, Frodo," Irmo said, before he vanished into the sunlight.

And Frodo would remember their words. In all the days he had, he finally was healed physically. The rest would take time, but he could handle it. He could do whatever he wished. And that was all he needed to know for days to come.

The End.

*.*.*

Thanks for reading. :)