Now that he had been found, little Frodo Baggins could do no wrong in Bilbo's eyes. It didn't matter how many times he spilled his food or how loudly he cried, Bilbo didn't feel even the slightest twinge of annoyance. Instead he found himself afraid to turn his back for a second and constantly checking the crib or the high chair or the playpen to make sure Frodo was still wherever Bilbo had left him.
Before Frodo woke up in the morning or during his naptime- which was always indoors now, as Bilbo never could bring himself to use the pram again- he would write and rewrite different drafts of certain chapters for his book and then read them to Frodo later that evening. Whichever one he liked the best or was most attentive to was usually the one Bilbo kept. Soon both of them had settled back into a routine, one where Bilbo began to look forward to seeing those blue eyes look up at him with tiny arms outstretched. Which was why he was so surprised when the letter came.
Dearest Bilbo, Primula had written. My friend is just about completely mended now, and her husband is doing much better. I believe we shall be able to return home sometime next week, so you can expect us to come by and pick up Frodo a few days after that. Thank you again, dearly, for looking after him. We've missed him terribly and are very much looking forward to seeing you both.
Bilbo had thought for sure that he'd be relieved. These past two months had been some of the most trying times in his life, and considering the adventures he'd had, that was saying a lot. He'd thought that when Primula's letter came, he'd be dancing for joy.
Instead it made him want to cry.
"Bibbo!" Frodo called him. He was holding a stuffed bear. "Look at bear," he said, and proceeded to make the teddy bear walk across the floor.
"I see him," Bilbo said, and set the letter on the mantelpiece. "Frodo, do you know Mummy is coming home soon?"
Frodo looked up. "Huh?"
"Your mum and da. They just wrote your Uncle Bilbo a letter saying that they're coming back to take you home." He knelt down to look Frodo in the eyes. "Are you excited?"
Frodo smiled. "Mumma!" he shouted, and jumped up and down. "Mumma, Mumma!"
It was selfish, he knew, but Bilbo couldn't help feeling disappointed that he sounded so excited.
For the next few days, Bilbo tried to engrain baby Frodo into his mind. More likely than not, he wouldn't see the little lad for some time, and he would be completely changed by then. He memorized the softness of his skin, the sparkle in his eyes when he'd look up, that way he had of choosing just one of Bilbo's fingers to hold onto when he sat in his lap. He began to cherish those moments of watching Frodo wake up, play with bubbles in the bathtub, feeling his head rest against his chest when he'd fall asleep, and the sound of his laughter when Bilbo tickled him and played peek-a-boo.
And so he was ready, though terribly sad, when finally the day came when there was a knock on the door. Frodo had been sitting on the floor with his toys while Bilbo had been gazing out at his garden pondering what flowers and fruits he should ask Gaffer to plant, and both of them looked up at the sudden interruption. Frodo scrambled to his feet and actually managed to make it to the door before Bilbo and give the handle a good tug.
"Mumma, Da!" he screamed, and ran straight into her arms. Bilbo stood back and smiled warmly as mother, father, and son were reunited with hugs and kisses all around. He felt an ache for his own parents, but pushed it back so he could invite his cousins inside.
"Oh darling, we missed you so much!" Primula said, squeezing her son tightly. "Was he good for you, Bilbo? I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
"Truly, he was no trouble at all," Bilbo said. "I quite enjoyed having him here." He ruffled the dark curls. "I shall miss him terribly. We had fun together, didn't we, Frodo?"
"You'll see each other again in September, or if not then, at Yule," Drogo said. "In the meantime, we have to see about getting Frodo's things out of here and into the carriage."
"So soon?" Bilbo asked. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay a while? I have plenty of room and I'm sure you must be tired from the trip."
Drogo shook his head. "No no, we've accepted your hospitality long enough. Much as we've enjoyed seeing you, we miss our home and would like to return to it as soon as possible."
Bilbo shrugged. "All right, suit yourselves. But at least let me help you with the moving."
For the next half hour, Bilbo silently said goodbye to the crib, the high chair, the baby bathtub, the changing table (though changing nappies was one aspect of caring for a faunt he was not going to miss), the toys, the baby clothes, the rocking chair, the playpen, and- he shuddered- the pram. As far as he knew, Primula and Drogo had no idea that he'd lost Frodo, and he hoped it would stay that way. Frodo sat on the floor while they worked, sucking his pacifier and cuddling his stuffed bear. When they had finished and everything was in the carriage, Primula scooped him up and faced Bilbo.
"Well sweetheart, it's time to say goodbye to Uncle Bilbo."
Frodo didn't seem to understand. He simply blinked and let his pacifier fall out his mouth as he said, "Bibbo." Bilbo picked it up and handed it to Drogo, then held out his arms to Primula.
"May I?" She handed Frodo to him and Bilbo embraced the little lad closely, blinking back tears. "I'll miss you, Frodo. You come back and see your uncle very soon, all right?" He kissed him on the cheek and handed him back to his mother. "You will visit again soon, won't you?"
"Of course we will," she said, and she kissed Bilbo's cheek and Drogo embraced him before they turned around. Frodo had his head on his mother's shoulder, and as she began to walk out the door with him and Bilbo stood there waving, it finally seemed to dawn on Frodo that they were leaving.
"No!" he cried, reaching out his little hand. "Bibbo!"
"It's time to say goodbye to Uncle Bilbo," Drogo said gently.
"Bibbo!" Frodo screamed and began to cry. He squirmed in Primula's arms and she held him tighter.
"Bilbo, I believe he thinks you've adopted him," she said. She bounced Frodo in her arms, cooing to him. "Hush now, you'll see each other again soon. Frodo, aren't you happy to see Mummy and Da?"
"Have safe travels, and write me so I know you got there safely," Bilbo called out to them, but he didn't walk them out to their wagon as he knew he should. As he moved to close the front door, he was forced to walk past the spare room, and he felt an awful ache in his heart at seeing how empty it was. He sank into his chair and cried for a few moments. It struck him how quiet the house was without a high little voice babbling baby gibberish in it.
"A part of me wishes I could adopt that little Baggins," he said. But he shook his head and picked up his pipe, determined to push the thought away.
He knew he would never have the chance to adopt Frodo in a million years.