Author Notes: I love you all! I might die of happiness, but then you'd never get the ending, would you? Mish – thanks for reading! I'm getting to that part, slowly but surely, I promise. Butterfly – I love you always! You're the greatest! BelleMonte – um, dear,cough, I wrote it so that the Gamgees came from the West Farthing. Away from Buckland. But never mind; I'm so glad you like it! You write such nice reviews! Yay! As for the 'young man' comment – you know what I meant! Besides, saying 'young hobbit' a lot tends to back up the conversation. g Paper Crane – thank you! I thought so, too. But more angst is on the way. Not easy to write about coping with grief without some angst. shirebound – you're the coolest! I wanted Frodo to have some sort of relationship with the Gamgees. Glad you like the way it turned out. As for this installment, most people write fics where Frodo doesn't know he loves Sam till Sam is – well, physically mature (and extremely handsome.) And then Frodo not only loves him, he loves Sam that way cough. Need I say more? So I decided Frodo starts loving him now (yes, that's right. This very instant g). Later, this love can grow into that love (brotherly as opposed to romantic), but for now, he just loves him. I'm babbling; these notes are almost as long as the chapter. Onward and upward, my friends!
He came home just as the sun was setting, after a final farewell to the Gamgee clan. The other children had treated him like a fourth brother, Hamfast had tousled his hair affectionately, and Bell had kissed him on the forehead before he left. There was a warm, easy glow in him as he headed back up the hill to Bag End. Turning one last time, he saw Samwise and Marigold come running back, hand in hand, to their home. The sunset flared on Sam's hair and turned it dark gold. What a pretty child, Frodo thought to himself, before sighing and opening the front door.
Bilbo was in the living room, reading a book. Frodo entered quietly.
« Hello, cousin » said Bilbo, smiling.
« Hello. Sorry I'm late. I was off with the Gamgees, picnicking » he explained.
« That's fine. Did you have a nice time ? » Bilbo asked, noting with relief that darkness in Frodo's eyes was gone.
« Oh, yes ! » said Frodo emphatically. « A wonderful time ! »
« Bell Gamgee packs a good picnic » Bilbo said with a chuckle. « Did you see your Elf ? »
« Only for a short while » said Frodo, frowning slightly. « He was kissed by everybody before he grabbed a sandwich and ran off with Marigold. I wanted to introduce myself, but he didn't even see me. »
Bilbo chuckled again. « It's just as well. He's a very shy child. »
« Yes, that's what his family all said. » Frodo looked wistful at the mention of Sam's family. « He's the favorite, isn't he ? » he asked. « I mean, the way they looked at him – all of them – like he was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened. And such a pretty child » Frodo mused.
« Yes, he's the favorite. And it's truly incredible that he's not a spoiled brat. He's got all the fixings. » Bilbo raised his brows. « I suppose some children are just born good » he said, looking incredulous.
« Mhm » nodded Frodo absently, thinking about Sam. Thoughts of Sam led to thoughts of Sam's parents, which in turn led to thoughts of his own. The glow in him faded, and he felt sad again. I wish to heaven I could just find a mood and keep it ! he thought crossly. The emotional storms of the past several weeks were tying him in knots and wearing him down. Bilbo saw his mood shift again, and worried for him.Frodo sighed, and mumbled good night.
I wish I was Samwise, he thought suddenly, walking down the dark hallway to his room. He still has parents.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Every morning after that, Hamfast presented him with something Bell had made. Frodo was fast learning that Bell Gamgee was one of the finest cooks in the Shire, and he always expressed his appreciation for the gifts. About a week after the picnic, he went down to their smial and thanked Bell himself.
« They're wonderful, Mistress, just wonderful. I look forward to them every morning, » he said earnestly. Bell smiled proudly.
« Thank you, young master. I'm glad of it, » she said. « Nothin' to make a body feel better than a good meal in the morning. Come in, come in ! You can have your second breakfast with us. »
Frodo hesitated, uncertain, and she took his hand and led him inside. The house was quiet, and then a burst of laughter rang out from the living room. Bell shook her head. « My girls, » she said fondly. They entered the kitchen, and Frodo could see the girls through the adjoining door. Daisy was sitting at a loom, weaving, and May was busy polishing something. Marigold sat on the floor in a pile of yarn, playing with a handful of colored glass beads.
The weather outside was cool and rainy, and made being inside seem that much cozier. Frodo sat at the kitchen table, eating one of Bell's excellent cinnamon rolls while she prepared breakfast. « Where're the boys ? » he asked, and she turned to him, surprised.
« They've all been out working since cock-crow, » she said.
« You mean they haven't had breakfast yet ? » Frodo asked, raising his brows. Bell smiled at him.
« Aye, they've had breakfast. In the dark, before dawn. » Frodo almost choked on his roll.
« Why'd they have to get up so early ? »
« We all get up so early. There's work to be done, lad, an' it won't wait » Bell explained, rather amused at his ignorance of working-class ways. Frodo, who, until the accident, had made a habit of not waking until mid-morning, felt humbled and strangely ashamed of not thinking sooner. They're not rich, you idiot. Not everyone has money. Some people actually have to earn it. His cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and there was a short, uncomfortable silence. Then Bell reached over and tousled his hair, smiling affectionately, and Frodo felt forgiven, somehow. He smiled back at her, before another question came to him.
« Even Samwise ? » he asked. « Surely he's too young ? »
« Even Samwise. He's only four, but already useful, » she explained, and her eyes shone. Yes, he's the favorite, no question, Frodo thought.
« Will I get to meet him ? » he asked suddenly. Bell frowned thoughtfully.
« It depends. We'll have to tell him you're here. What he does after – he may or may not decide to stay. »
« Why doesn't he like me ? » he asked unhappily.
« He does like you ! He likes you very much, young Frodo make no mistake about that. But he's terrible shy, is Samwise even if he stays, he won't look at you, nor talk to you, » she said.
« But why ? »
« I told you, lad he's shy. Think about it. » Frodo thought, remembering his own childhood. It was no use he had never been terribly shy about anything. Quiet, yes, but not shy. He sighed.
« Oh, well. Least I'll get to meet him, » he said. Bell looked at him curiously.
« An' why hasta taken such an interest in him, lad ? » she asked. Frodo hesitated, unsure of what to say. He decided on a half-truth, leaving out the incident at the meadow.
« I – I like him. I don't know why, I just do. I saw him once, when I was out walking. And he's … left me things. Little gifts. Here, I'll show you, » he said, hefting his pack onto his lap and pulling the things out one by one. Bell paused in her work and came over, picking up the gifts and turning them over in her hands.
« Isn't that just like him, now ? » she murmured softly. Frodo looked up at her.
« I think he's the one whose been leaving these for me I almost caught him doing it once. But then he disappeared. I just want to thank him, » he said. « And to ask why. »
« Why ? » Bell said. « He likes you, you silly. He wants to be your friend. This is the best way he knows to win you over without actually introducing himself. »
« Oh, » said Frodo, surprised. I hadn't thought of that. « Well, he's won me already. I told you, I like him. I like him a lot. I just want to meet him, now. »
« That'll come when it comes, » she said. « Just give him some time to work up his nerve, an' you'll have him. He'll be a true friend to you, one of these days. »
« I don't doubt it, » Frodo said. The girls in the living room had quieted enough to hear his voice, and Daisy called through the door.
« Frodo ? Sir, is that you ? » Frodo stood and went into the living room. The sisters left off their respective duties and embraced him, with a soft kiss to either cheek. He blushed hotly and felt strangely pleased to be so included in their familial group. Marigold shrieked with joy and ran over, holding her arms out. Frodo laughed and picked her up, kissing her wild dark curls.
The sound of voices came from outside, and the front door opened as the men of the family came trooping in. Their dark hair was wind-tousled, their faces smudged and their hands black with dirt. Their shirts were wet, and Frodo could see the well-developed muscle underneath. But for this, they showed no signs of having been workiing since sunrise their eyes were bright and smiles played about their mouths as they burst into the kitchen. Hamfast, Halfred , - where's Hamson? Frodo wondered. The narrow hallways had rather obstructed the eldest son from view, but Frodo saw him as they entered the kitchen. He's got Samwise ! The little boy was equally awake and alert, but his brother carried him, nonetheless, as though he were an Elven princeling whose feet should not touch the ground.
The sisters called out their greetings, and there was a general air of business and confusion for a few moments, till Bell called out « Breakfast ! » The sisters rose – except Marigold, who was still in Frodo's arms – and the four of them joined the others in the kitchen. The older boys exclaimed in delight when they saw Frodo and immediately were beside him, patting his back and mussing his hair and asking him how he was and what he'd been doing.
Frodo looked for Samwise, but Hamson had put him down. He saw him standing over by Bell, looking out warily from behind his mother's skirts. The boy didn't meet his eyes when Frodo looked at him, and ducked quickly back behind his mother. Bell knelt down in front of her son and touched foreheads with him. She was murmuring something that Frodo couldn't quite catch for all the conversation around him, but his Elf-child relaxed and nodded. Bell kissed Sam on the forehead and handed him the largest cinnamon roll. He smiled brilliantly up at her and, to Frodo's disappointment and dismay, left the room. Bell saw his expression and smiled apologetically at him.
« Sorry, lad. I did warn you, » she said. Frodo sighed.
« Yes, Mistress, » he agreed. The others seemed to take no notice of it and sat down to breakfast.
One of these days, I'm going to meet that child. No matter what, I'm going to meet that child and we're going to be friends. But first, I have to meet him, Frodo thought. And therein lies the trouble.
He ended up spending the rest of the day with the Gamgees, most of it with the daughters. The men came in for dinner and afternoon tea, and Frodo was asked by all of them several times over to stay for supper. He willingly complied with their wishes, and ate better that day than he had for six weeks. The girls were smart and funny and friendly and kind, and Frodo found himself wishing for sisters. He felt completely at ease in their company, and the day would have been perfect, but for the fact that he only saw Samwise once after breakfast. He had gone to fetch more yarn from the linen closet for Daisy, and walking down the hallway, passed an open door. Looking in, he had seen his Elf sitting on a narrow bed, playing with some colored glass beads, like Marigold's. A sudden gleam of sun had pierced the clouds outside, and the glass beads glowed like jewels, lighting the face of the boy who bent over them. In that instant, completely absorbed and unaware of Frodo's presence, bent over his little glass jewels with a look of delight, Frodo became convinced that Samwise was the most beautiful child he had ever seen. A strange warmth spread through him as he gazed, and he found himself smiling. I love this boy, he decided, and nodded to himself. Yes. I love this boy, and I don't know why. But I love him. And one of these days, he'll know. One of these days, he'll be my friend, and then he'll love me, too. For the first time in six weeks, Frodo felt absolutely sure.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: You like? More is on the way! Just review, and I'll update faster (this is called extortion. eg).