Author Notes: Hey, all! I'm back! What happened to my reviewers? Are you guys all on vacation? Excepting, of course, IloveSam, tiggivon, and my veteran readers – shirebound, Paper Crane, Mish, Morodiel, and last but definitely not least, my dear Butterfly. Thank you guys so much for reviewing, I really really really appreciate it! I love you people! Okay, you wanted more? Here's more! You want them together? Read on, my friends. Onward and upward!
When Frodo awoke, a short while later, his eyes blinked open to the sight of thick, golden hair, glossy in the sunlight. For a moment, he stared, confused, until his mind connected the image with the head to which it was attached. Samwise ! He sat up and looked at the child, who had fallen asleep curled next to him, his back to Frodo's side. His Elf-child's features were relaxed, peaceful, and his small mouth was slightly open as he breathed. He's so beautiful, just so beautiful… Strange thing to say about a boy, but he is. Like one of Bilbo's Elves. Frodo sat a moment, gazing at him, and wondering what to do. Should I wake him ? Or would that just terrify him ? Finally, after all this time, he's here – just right here, beside me. I can't believe it. It's too perfect. How soft his hair looks, I wonder if it feels that soft…he reached out carefully and touched Sam's hair – barely daring to at first, but then the boy didn't wake, and Frodo grew bolder.
He ran his fingers lightly through Sam's thick gold hair, taking a lock between his finger and thumb and rubbing it back and forth, marveling at the silky feel. Sam shifted, and frowned in his sleep, and Frodo paused for a moment. He laughed quietly to himself and shook his head. Ironic. The roles are reversed. Now who's stroking whose hair ? He lightly traced his forefinger around Sam's ear, pausing a moment at the point, and then down the line of his jaw. Frodo smiled as he looked at him, and felt inexplicably glad. He'll be my friend he'll wake up and see me and we'll introduce ourselves and then he'll be my friend and he'll love me, yes he will, he will… All thoughts but these were vanished from his mind as he sat there, half lying-down, with a dreamy smile on his face. My Elf-child, my pretty boy, he'll be my friend…
Samwise stirred again and turned over, his long lashes blinking open slowly, like a cat's. He lay a few moments, staring at the sky and the purplish clouds massing in the west. He seemed to be regaining his bearings, and Frodo watched him expectantly, waiting to be noticed. The little boy yawned, and slowly sat up. He raised a hand to brush the grass from his hair, and froze. He's awake he's awake oh Father what do I do now ?
Frodo gave him a hesitant half-smile, and raised a hand shyly in a sort of wave. His Elf-child looked uncertain as to whether he should move, or just sit perfectly still and pray not to be noticed. He's like the wild kittens Melilot used to catch. They'd just freeze like that. As though being still made them invisible. She had to coax them before they'd come to her, yes, to coax them… Forget it, Frodo. He's not a kitten, he's a boy, and a very intelligent one at that. Still. I suppose a *little* coaxing wouldn't hurt…
Sam watched him warily this whole while, not daring to move. His former courage held – he was no longer shy of Frodo. But now that matters had come to a head, he was suddenly desperately uncertain. I just sort of – expects him to be friends. But what if he don't want to be ? What if he doesn't love me ? or even like me ? Oh, no, that can't be true. I'll die if that's true. But what do I do ? Maybe I should go, now, before he can stop me – but what if he *does* want to be friends ? Then what ? If I leave, maybe this'll never happen again, an' we'll never meet eachother proper. Oh, Father, Father ! What do I do ? He sat there, frozen, his eyes locked on Frodo's and his mind racing.
What goes on behind those dark green eyes ? Frodo wondered. He could almost see Sam's emotions cross his face – love, trust, fear, disbelief, and an uncertain hope all mingled in the child's eyes as they stared at eachother. Coaxing, he needs coaxing…I know !
« Don't you leave me, » he said quickly, almost laughing at the boy's startled look. He turned, and got to his knees, rummaging through his backpack. He had found something beside a creek a few weeks ago, as he wandered through the woods. It was small, and smooth, from years of water flowing over it, and it shimmered with a peculiar golden-brown sheen. It was a tiger's-eye stone – a very rare find, indeed. He'll like this, Frodo thought with satisfaction, and turned back to Sam, who was also half-kneeling and watching him curiously.
« Close your eyes, » Frodo said. Sam raised his brows, but Frodo smiled and gestured for him to close his eyes. His Elf-child eyed him skeptically for a moment before closing them. Frodo ran his tongue over his lips. Alright, I hope this works…
« Hold out your hand, » he said, and Sam held out a small slim hand. Gently, Frodo pressed the stone into his palm and closed his fingers over it. He sat back and crossed his own fingers for luck. Sam opened his eyes and uncurled his fingers, and Frodo grinned at his gasp of delight. Hopeful green eyes raised themselves to Frodo's blue ones.
« For me ? » he asked softly, a hesitant smile already on his lips. Frodo nodded emphatically.
« Yes, for you ! » he said, blushing for pleasure when Sam smiled back at him, a radiant, breathtaking smile. It's just a pretty stone. He acts like I'd given him silver and diamonds. Oh, Father ! I'm so glad he likes it ! « Do you like it ? » he asked, just to be sure. The child smiled brighter still, and looked down.
« Yes, » he answered, and raised his eyes again. « Yes, I like it. » I like it. I love you better, though. Does this mean we're friends now ? His smile faded, turned thoughtful. Frodo feared he was losing him, and spoke up again.
« What're these kind called ? » he asked, hoping to draw the child out.
« Tiger-eye » Sam answered promptly. « I don't know why though. I never seen no tigers. »
Frodo smothered a laugh. « Neither have I, » he admitted. Their eyes met again, and they regarded one another for a moment before Frodo asked « So what's your name ? » He knew, of course, but felt that a proper introduction was necessary.
« Samwise, » the boy said simply. « What's yours ? »
« I'm Frodo. Baggins, that is, » Frodo answered. Sam nodded and smiled shyly back. « Are you the one who left all those things ? » Frodo asked.
« Did you like them ? » Sam asked, his eyes brightening. « 'T were pretty things. »
« Yes. Yes, they are. And I do like them, very much so. Why'd you give them to me ? » asked Frodo curiously. Sam gave him a look so clear and direct, Frodo suddenly felt as though he were the younger of the two.
« I saw you crying. In t' meadow, here, » he said, gesturing round them with a wave of his hand. « And I wanted – I wanted to make you smile. S' all. Just to make you smile. T'were pretty things, » he said again. Frodo smiled at him.
« Yes, they were. And are. I wanted to thank you for them before, but you always ran away. Why didn't you just give them to me in person ? » he asked, and bit his lip as soon as he said it. The child blushed darkly and looked away, no traces of a smile now on his face.
« Never mind, » Frodo said quickly. Oh, Ilbereth, I've done it. I've gone and lost him. And everything was going so perfectly, too ! There was a pause, and Frodo cringed internally. Please still want to be my friend, please I promise not to ask again…
« I – I would've, » Sam said suddenly. « But I didn't – I didn't know… »
« Know what ? » asked Frodo, curious. The boy blushed even more deeply and seemed so uncomfortable that Frodo unconsciously reached out and picked him up. Many was the cousin at Brandy Hall he had comforted in a similar way, and he just didn't think about it as he lifted Sam's slight weight into his lap. The boy stiffened and sat very still, looking at Frodo warily. « Know what ? » Frodo asked again, trying to break the silence. Damn you, Frodo Baggins, you've done it again ! Even worse, this time ! Asking him questions he doesn't want to answer and then picking him up like that ! He's not your cousin, idiot ! Sorry ! Sorry, sorry, sorry. I just wanted to know. Anyway, I can't undo it.
« Whether… » Sam trailed off.
« Yes ? »
« Whether you – whether you wanted to – »
« Wanted to …? » Frodo coaxed.
« To be friends ! » the child burst out, and his cheeks flushed so red he looked positively ill. Frodo was surprised at the statement.
« Of course I want to be friends ! » he said. Sam gave him a sidelong glance that eloquently bespoke his disbelief. « No, really, Samwise ! »
« No, you don't, » the boy mumbled.
« But I do ! » Frodo protested.
« Why ? » Sam asked. « Why should you want to be friends with me ? » Frodo shook his head, confused. Strange question for a four year-old to ask.
« Because I like you, » he answered. Sam's green eyes widened with hope and surprise.
« Really ? » he asked.
« Yes, really ! » Frodo said. « Why shouldn't I like you ? »
Sam paused. « I ain't never had a friend before, » he said softly, and Frodo raised his brows. That's hard to believe, he thought, but one look at the loneliness in those dark green eyes convinced him it was true.
« Oh, little one… » he murmured, and held the boy closer. Sam relaxed a little and let Frodo stroke his hair. « Well, I'll be your friend, » he said. Sam looked up.
« Really ? » he asked.
« Yes, really. Promise, » Frodo said, and made a cross in the air over his heart. « See ? Cross my heart. »
« You'll be my first, » Sam said, still a little uncertain.
« I'll be your best, » Frodo said. Why did I say that ? He's twelve years my junior ! How could someone twelve years younger than me be my best friend ? He looked down at the child on his lap, who was looking up at him with wonder and uncertain joy. A strange, warm feeling surged in his breast – the way he had felt that rainy day at the Gamgee's house, when he had glimpsed Sam through the open door. Because I love him, that's how. I don't understand it, but I do. I love him. He'll be my friend. He shook his head again in wonderment. « I'll be your best, » he repeated, and laughed for joy when Sam threw his small arms about his neck.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: No, this is not the end of the story! Storm clouds are massing in the west, Frodo and Bilbo have to reconcile, and Sam – well, you'll see ^_^ Review, review, review! Thank you! All of you! You're the greatest!