"Uncle Bilbo," Frodo asked when he woke up early the next morning, "did Miss Greenhill leave?"

"Yes, Frodo, she left yesterday evening just after you fell asleep," Bilbo replied. "But she'll still see you everyday until you get better," he added noticing Frodo seemed disappointed. "And even when you're not sick any more, you'll still see her around Hobbiton."

"Can we invite her over for tea?" Frodo asked hopefully.

"Of course we can," Bilbo told him. "And speaking of tea, your Uncle Saradoc and Aunt Esmeralda are coming over this afternoon, and they should be here just in time for afternoon tea."

"They're coming here? Why?" Frodo asked nervously.

"Why?" Bilbo asked, surprised. "Because they're concerned about, as is the rest of the family."

"Is that the only reason?" Frodo asked, still looking worried.

"Well, they're concerned about both of us. I would do anything for you, but I could certainly use some help around Bag End." Bilbo, seeing how anxious Frodo still looked took his hand and smiled gently. "Don't worry, lad. Everything is going to be all right, you'll see." Frodo managed to smile when he heard that. "So, how are you feeling now?" Bilbo asked. "Do you think you could eat something?"

"Better than yesterday," Frodo told him. "My throat still hurts, but I think I could eat soft food now without too much trouble."

"I'm glad to heard that," Bilbo said. "Your throat probably will be uncomfortable for at least another day or two, but the important thing is that it's getting better. I'll bring you scrambled eggs with apple sauce and pudding and of course, some healing tea with your tincture but fortunately you only need that three times a day now."

Frodo happily ate his breakfast while he and Bilbo talked about Hobbiton all the fun things they could do when he was well enough. They talked about Bilbo's library too and the interesting books Frodo would find there. Frodo was excited at first, but to his surprise, and frustration he quickly became sleepy again.

"Don't fight it, lad, just go to sleep if you're tired," Bilbo told him. "The more you sleep the better and everything will be here when you wake up." Frodo tried to object, but quickly realized it would get him nowhere, so he put his head down obediently and was sleep almost as soon he closed his eyes.

Saradoc and Esmeralda arrived later that afternoon, just as Bilbo was putting a pot of water on to make tea. While they waited for it to boil, Bilbo told about how Frodo had become sick early the day before and the things that had taken place since then.

"Frodo has scarlet fever? " Esmeralda gasped. "My goodness! Are you sure?"

An understandable question, Bilbo realized, given how shocking the news was. "Yes I am sure," he replied. "I suspected it from what I've read and his healer confirmed it. He had quite a time last night, I can assure you."

"You must have a had quite a time too, Bilbo," Saradoc pointed out. "When was the last you slept, or ate a proper meal?"

"I had second breakfast and a full lunch today while he was asleep," Bilbo said. "As for sleeping myself, I managed to get a few hours today, but I couldn't sleep last night because I had to give Frodo some medicine every half hour. Not that I would have been able to sleep much anyway, given the situation."

"Well, you don't have to worry now, Bilbo," Esmeralda told him. "We'll take care of everything. I'll start dinner now. Then could we see Frodo?"

"Yes, I think he'll be awake then," Bilbo replied, "but of course, he still needs as much rest as possible. It's a good thing he likes reading, that should make a bit easier to keep him in bed."

Frodo was sitting up looking out his window when they came in. In spite of his concerns earlier that day, he was glad to see Esmeralda and Saradoc again and was surprised and deeply moved by how glad they seemed about seeing him.

"Frodo, we were so worry about you!" Esmeralda told him. "We knew before we came that you were sick, but we didn't know it really serious."

"That's right," Saradoc added. "Bilbo told us about last night. It must have been horrible for you."

"Well... " Frodo seemed to reflect on this before he answered. "It wasn't easy, but it could have been worse. Uncle Bilbo was with me the whole time and he's been wonderful and of course my healer was here and she was wonderful too. It wasn't as if I had to go to through it alone. "

"Well then, it's a good thing you were here instead of back at Brandy Hall," Saradoc pointed out after an awkward pause. "And of course, you'll be staying here until you're fully healed at least." He and Esmeralda were visibly uncomfortable with Frodo's last sentence. There was no hint of accusation or resentment in his voice when he said it. Indeed, he didn't even seem aware of its implications, but the three adults certainly were.

"You must be hungry, Frodo," Esmeralda said, wanting to change the subject. "Are you? I can get you anything you want."

"Actually, yes I am," Frodo replied, sounding surprised by this fact. "I'll have anything soft, if it isn't too much trouble."

Esmeralda hurried into the kitchen to prepare something suitable for him. She returned about twenty minutes later with a tray piled high with steamed fruits and vegetables, boiled eggs and toast. She also brought him some healing tea with the tincture added to it, after being reminded in note that Bilbo had left in the kitchen.

Frodo offered to share the meal with his relatives, but they insisted it was for him and to everyone's surprise and relief, Frodo ate nearly everything he was given. "Thank you very much," he said when he was finished. "Would you like me to help take the dishes out?"

"No, Frodo, we want you to rest," Esmeralda told him quickly, "we'll take care of everything. That's why we came, to help you and Bilbo."

Frodo thought for a minute . "Then can I do something else?" he asked. "It doesn't have to be anything hard. Maybe I could go to your library, Uncle Bilbo?"

"No, Frodo, I want you to stay in bed until Miss Greenhill says you can get up," Bilbo replied firmly.

"In bed?" Frodo asked incredulously.

"Yes, Frodo, I know it's difficult, but we can't take any chances," Bilbo told him. "Don't you remember how sick you were last night?" Frodo looked surprised by this question and seemed to think seriously about it before he nodded.

"What did you want to read, Frodo?" Saradoc asked. "I'll get the books, whatever subject you want." After a bit more thought, Frodo mentioned he'd like to read some books about Elves. "Well, I'm sure Bilbo has plenty of those." Saradoc replied with a laugh as he went to look for them. Frodo's eyes lit up when they were brought in and he become even more animated as he shared with his family all the new things he learned while reading them. Frodo went to sleep about five hours later, after two more large meals and another dose of his medicine. His relatives were then left with the uncomfortable but necessary task of discussing what the future held for them and more important, for Frodo.