Chapter 4-Clean-Up at the Brandybucks'

Frodo, feeling somewhat embarrassed himself, took the key from Merry's hand, unlocked the door that Holly was now sobbing behind, and pushed the door open, locking it behind himself.

"What do you want? To make me feel even more miserable than I am already?" Holly didn't think she could possibly hurt inside any more than she already did, not unless Frodo mocked her drawings.

"I just want to comment on your drawings," Frodo began. 'Uh-oh here it comes he's going to tell me that they don't look good.' Holly thought. "They're beautiful but when did you draw them all?" Frodo was happy when Holly looked less hurt and pain-stricken.

"Well, I found myself following you to the treetops of Hobbiton just so I could lay a pencil to the page and draw these beautiful sketches." Holly found herself speaking poetically; she even spoke some excerpts of the poem she had just written. Frodo couldn't help but grin at this and sat right next to Holly on her bed. She then decided that, because Frodo didn't seem to hate this attention he got from Holly, that she would recite the poem.

Blue eyes, sparkling like the sea

Calling to me painfully

While I ask why must this happen?

If I could confess my love

I would have this guilt uplifted

And we could live peacefully together.

Your heart calls for me,

I can feel it in my bones,

You secretly want me to be with you.

Please, don't let this continue,

Tell me you need me to

Live every day until eternity,

I will wait until you give your answer.

Holly waited for Frodo to say something about this poem she had read aloud, and while she was doing so, she studied Frodo's features.

"That was beautiful! When did you learn to draw and write like this??" Holly's creative talent amazed Frodo.

"I just kind of picked it up after a while. I guess it might have run in my family whoever they were" Holly stared at the ground. Again, the fear of loneliness returned. She thought it went away when she was taken in by the Brandybucks, but she kept feeling like she didn't fit in with her adopted family.

"Oh, don't be sad, Holly, you've got friends, and more importantly people who truly love you. There is no need to have the gloomy face, especially around me." Frodo put his arm around Holly's shoulder and would have moved in to kiss the hobbit, but he heard voices coming from the kitchen.

"I think Sam and Jess are here, Frodo, but I will be waiting to continue this lovely talk." Holly got up and opened the door, listening intently to the two sibling hobbits, Sam and Jess, talking.

"Oh come on, Sam, we all know that you're obsessed with Rosie. Just admit it!" Jess laughed at Sam's red face. Sam didn't say anything so Jess went on. "Love bird! Love bird! Sing for us, love bird!" Jessica saw Holly emerging from her room, followed by Frodo and stopped this attack on her brother.

"Hey, Jess, how long are you going to be teasing your brother? Because we could surely use your help, but if you're just going to be a nuisance, you might as well leave!" Holly moved away from Frodo, but glanced backwards to see him grinning.

"Don't worry, I'm finished. Now, let's all grab a broom, we've got some work to do!" Jessica laughed and occasionally made her way over to Pippin to whack him with her broom every once in a while. Pippin made the occasional sad glance over at Holly and knew that Holly liked Frodo and sadly, he returned the emotions. Merry looked at Pippin, who had begun changing his mind about Jessica, now that he knew that Holly was no longer in his grasp. Frodo and Holly were having broom fights every five minutes, which were broken up by Merry and Sam, but they ended up continuing the fights anyway. It seemed like days until the Brandybuck hobbit hole was in order, but it was only a few hours. They had taken the occasional break to eat meals, but Merry only allowed his friends ten minutes to prepare the food and fifteen to eat. They stared at the newly cleaned hobbit hole in awe, for it looked like it had just been painted and refurnished.

"Um...Holly, would you like to continue our conversation in your room?" Frodo asked, grabbing her hand and placing it around his shoulder. Once inside the room, Frodo spoke again. "I see your leg has healed quickly."

"Well, your ointment has helped very much. I've been staying off it as much as possible," Holly placed her head on his shoulder and grinned. This was the one moment she had dreamed up and would always see in her mind. Now, it was finally happening and she didn't know what else to do. She looked at Frodo's kind, loving face, whose eyes now closed and his face leaned into hers. They embraced for a long, passionate kiss that seemed to last a lifetime. Frodo finally broke away when he heard "Ooh-ing" from the doorway. Neither hobbit had locked the door, while the other four hobbits watched this scene as if it were free for all to see. Holly blushed and looked over at Jessica, who was grinning from ear to ear.

'Now if only I could get Pippin to be this passionate...' Jessica thought, and then walked inside Holly's room and took her best friend's hand. "Come on, Holly, I need you to do something for me." Jessica whispered.

Frodo fell back onto her bed and looked around at all the pictures that were posted on Holly's room of him. He heard the other hobbits laughing at him and making fun of him, but he didn't mind. He got his girl, which was all that mattered.