A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this fic. As my nephew's second birthday was just this past Friday, I offer ice cream of your favorite flavor.

Disclaimer: I do not own either The Lord of the Rings or the lyrics to the song The Rose.

Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows,

Lies the seed that, with the sun's love, in the spring, becomes the rose.

Hobbiton, The Shire, May 1, 3020 TA:

Samwise Gamgee was going to marry his beloved Rose Cotton today. He could hardly believe it! After all his pining and fear of rejection, he'd found that she was as much in love with him as he was with her. She had simply been waiting for him to tell her.

When he'd finally told her, over a month ago, how he felt, she'd pointed out that she didn't like his going away for a whole year. She had felt that they had lost time with him being away, and she didn't want to wait any longer. She had worried for him while he was away, had waited through the long, cold winter, even though she had no way of knowing if he would return. She was so glad to see him coming up the path to her parents' door, had almost run up to him to welcome him home!

But she had to wait until he had sorted those ruffians before she could really settle their personal plans. She thought Sam was very brave, to fight those Men. He had helped to chase those invaders from the Shire like a gardener keeping pests out of a flower bed. Rosie was very proud of what he'd done to protect everyone. And when the ravages of the Troubles were on the way to mending, she informed him that she wanted to get married as soon as he could manage it.

Sam was reluctant to get married, at first, as Mr. Frodo had wanted him to move into Bag End. The poor gardener was torn in two, wanting to marry Rosie and move in with Mr. Frodo. When they discussed it, Mr. Frodo solved Sam's dilemma by telling him to marry Rosie, and the couple could move in to Bag End together.

Even knowing it was about to happen, Sam couldn't believe his luck. He had spent much of his time thinking that Rose would already be someone else's, by now. But she had waited for him, even in the face of so many people telling her that he was dead. And now, she would be his wife! He was so happy, he could almost sing! He could not believe he was finally marrying his Rose!