Hullo fellow Hobbits! ;)

Oh, I am so glad you are enjoying it. It was a great deal of fun to write, and I enjoyed it immensely! (especially after the 'Concerning Hobbits' scene in the extended cut DVD)

Yeah, Sarah, 'cute' is *the* adj. for Rosie and Sam! :) aren't they adooooooorible? Yep, yep yep yep! *begins to imitate Ducky…for some reason* ;)

Hey Kellen, I'm glad you're still enjoying this! *blushes* I must say, I don't deserve any of the praise about my writing, but am SO glad you like it! And, no, Frodo can't cook. What *would* he do without Sam? Die, probably. Certainly in light of TTT and *especially* ROFTK! And who *wouldn't* want a sweetie like Sam? Especially while looking like an elf! ;)

What do you mean, no one wants to hang out with a churchgoer? *I* would! I hope at least, or I could never live with myself!…quite literally. ;) Oh, and I'm very glad you had a good trip, though I had to be temporarily deprived of your pleasant ramblings! :P Keep it up, Kellen! Thank you ever so much!

Ooooh I know, Shamllow, they're just- just- so Q-T! Ready everyone? (1,2,3...) AAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*sigh*

I just love writing about them. It makes me want to hug the closest being! Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally tight! Poor Zoe. Why does she keep hanging around when I'm writing? Oh well. She needed to be skinnier anyway. ;)

Well, I'm thrilled that you three are enjoying this so much, and hope this one's as good!

Here 'goes!

Chapter 3

A Bit of Rainy Weather

Frodo shook with silent laughter, and could almost feel Sam doing the same beside him. "I to this day can't make parsley stew." Frodo admitted, wiping a few tears of laughter away. Sam also wiped some tears from his deep blue eyes, and looked up at Frodo.

"I must admit, I'm hard to get through to, am I not, Mr. Frodo. I made myself quite difficult then."

"You did indeed," Frodo conceded, "but soon as you knew that Rosie took such pleasure in your flute-playing, you were suddenly sure of it being a good afternoon for you and her alike. And once having that decided, you said the worst that happened was Yarrow had to wash her dress, and your Gaffer was made to have parsley stew several meals in a row. But for the most part, as even you said that day, it was worth it."

"Indeed." Sam agreed.

"Rosie's always been willing to be content around you. No matter what the conditions. Remember the handkerchief?"

Sam nodded, smiling broadly. "You mean with the storm?"

Frodo returned the knowing smile. "What else?"

*****

"Mr. Frodo?"

"Hullo Sam!" Frodo opened Bag End's door wide enough for his friend. "Bilbo and I were just having second breakfast. Would you like to join us?"

"Thank you, but I was actually wondering if I may have Rosie's handkerchief. The one she left a few days ago after our tea?"

Frodo nodded, smiling. "I wondered when you'd want that. Worked up the courage to return it to her, have you?"

"I think so."

"Well, then, let me get it for you." Frodo returned shortly with a white piece of cloth, trimmed with lace, and baring the embroidered letters RC with a rose sewn bellow. "Here it is!"

Sam took it carefully as though it were a priceless jewel, and put it gently in his pocket. "Thank you, Mr. Frodo."

"You're welcome Sam. Why again did you not keep it yourself? That is unless you should like to not explain to me."

"No, that's quite all right, Master. I was afraid I'd lose it or something. I don't want to lose Rosie's things if I can help it."

"I understand, though you are not as forgetful as you think, Sam. As I'm sure even Rosie has told you before."

"Yes, I suppose on thought, she has."

"And yet you refuse you are any better than you say you are! Well, I hope it goes well!"

"As do I, Frodo sir."

But Sam didn't go immediately to the Cotton's, being too preoccupied with still working on his nerve.

"You're not brave enough for it, Samwise. You shall make a fool of yourself!" something in his head told him. "But that doesn't matter, if you *truly* want to see Rosie. You *do* want to see Rosie, Sam Gamgee, don't you?" another voice insisted, somewhere in his heart.

Sometime between afternoon tea and supper, he made his way to Bywater, and knocked on the Cotton's O-shaped door. For awhile, there was no answer. Then, Farmer Cotton appeared in the doorway, and smiled down at the hobbit in front of him. "Hullo Sam! What brings you here? Rosie's not home now."

Sam's face fell. "Where'd she go?"

"She and Nibs went into the woods to collect flower seeds. 'tis almost Winter, and we should like to grow some flowers in our own grass once Spring comes back."

"I have her handkerchief. She left it at my house on Bagshot Row. She and Miss Yarrow Brandybuck came for tea awhile back there."

"I see. Well, I can take it and give it to her when she returns." he caught the look in Sam's eyes, a look of disappointment, but near-assent. "Or, you may go look for her and Nibs in the woods. Perhaps they should like help and company."

"Then I shall go help them!" Sam promised brightly, and turned towards the woods.

"Just, please Sam, tell Nibs to come home soon!" Farmer Cotton called after him. "It will be getting dark, and looks as though it will rain!"

Sam made his way, as quickly as possible through the woods, until he finally spotted Rosie and her brother. They were kneeling in the dirt, and collecting the flower seeds in it with steady fingers. Sam approached slowly. "Hullo!" he called, and they turned.

"Hullo Sam!" Rose smiled brightly, and Nibs raised a dirty hand in greeting. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to return your handkerchief, Rosie. You left it at my house."

"Oh you found it! I was wondering if maybe you hadn't found it, or decided to keep it!"

"You knew I had it?" he asked, looking more than a little confused.

"Why of course I did. How else would I get you to come by some time?"

Sam's jaw dropped. "You left it on purpose?!"

"Is there something wrong with that?" she asked innocently.

"No! No, it's all right. I'm glad I could come help you. That is, if you want me to."

"Why not?" Nibs smiled, handing Sam a small, leather, draw-string pouch. "Why don't you collect all the Sweetclover seeds, and put them in that bag. You know the difference between Sweetclover and Tiarella don't you?"

"Now, Nibs." Rosie said, in a good-natured reprimand. "Sam knows everything about flowers!"

Sam glowed with pride, and began to pull the pearly seeds from the Sweetclover blossoms.

It began to get dark, and Sam had already notified Nibs of his father's wish to have them home soon, so they began to head back, their leather bags full of seeds, ensuring spring at least in the Cotton's garden next year.

Halfway through the woods, it began to rain, and the three hobbits were soon soaked. They trudged on, getting more and more wet as they went. Suddenly, while climbing over a fallen tree, Rosie slipped, sliding backwards in the mud.

"Rosie!" Nibs and Sam stopped abruptly, and pulled her slowly to her feet. "You okay?" Nibs asked, steadying her on the small incline.

"I'm fine." she assured, but she was looking around slightly panicked.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked, looking around where she was looking.

"My bag of Gentian seeds! I can't find them." she sighed, watching the mud churn beneath her feet. "I don't think I can plant them if their covered in mud, even if I could. And they were my favorite."

"I'm sorry Rosie." Sam told her, giving her damp shoulder a squeeze. "They were my favorite too."

"Come on, Rose. Sam." Nibs put an arm around his sister's shoulders, and they kept going. "We need to get out of the rain a bit. Give it time to slow down." they ducked into the first rock cave they could find. It was more like a big rock sitting over a indentation in the side of the embankment, but it worked as a shelter for the small hobbits.

Rosie sat shivering against the dirt wall, until Nibs moved over, sitting up beside her to keep her warm, and the two began to drift off that way. Sam watched them, but especially Rosie as they slept. He sat against the rock wall beside them, and stared into the never-ending rain, thinking of Rosie, and how pretty she looked when she was sleeping, listening to her small breath easing in and out.

Suddenly, he felt a hand reach around his neck. He jumped, and found himself staring into deep brown eyes. "You look cold." Rosie whispered, and pulled him into her and Nibs' circle. After awhile, he relaxed into her grip, and laid an arm around her shoulders, eventually feeling Nibs' arm back there as well. Then, Rosie fell into a genuine sleep, and let her head fall on his shoulder, her curls brushing his face.

They sat there for hours, but Sam didn't want to fall asleep. He just sat, thinking of how pretty Rosie's hair smelled, how fresh it was mixed with the light odor of rain, and listening to the downpour also mix with Nibs' light snores, and Rosie's light breath. How could he fall asleep when there were things like this to be hearing, seeing and feeling…?

Sam awoke with a start. Nibs was kneeling next to him, shaking his shoulder. "Sam? Sam. I'm going to go back to our home, and tell what's been on. Everyone'll be worried sick about us."

"I'll come with-" Sam began groggily.

"No, stay here with Rosie." Nibs told him, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "And don't let her get too cold or wet. Don't really want her catching anything."

"I'll take care of her, you can be sure of that." he promised, wrapping his other arm around Rosie's chest to clasp the one around her shoulders on the other side of her small body.

"I know you will, Sam." Nibs smiled, and ducked out of the cave and into the sill-pouring rain.

Sam adjusted his position next to Rosie, and sat a long while. He stared at here, and smiled as noticed her small fingers tangled in the light brown curls that crowned her head. Gently, ever gently, he moved her hand down, releasing the beautiful locks. "Don't want you reconsidering a cut, do we Rosie?" and he smiled fondly down at her awhile longer.

After awhile, he grew a little restless. Now he was awake, he didn't really feel like sleeping anymore. Slowly, he moved out from under Rosie, and lay her on the soft ground. Standing up, he looked into the rain and nodded. He knew exactly what he could do.

Rosie's eyes opened slowly. It was still raining fairly steadily outside, and she could hear it echoing through the nearly empty cave. Nearly empty.

She sat up, and found she wasn't as alone as she thought. Sam was sitting, his back against the wall, his eyes half-closed.

"Samwise Gamgee." he jumped slightly, and looked over at her. "You are an incredible mess. What happened?"

He smiled sheepishly, and handed her something. She fiddled with the leather pouch, and finally opened it's drawstrings. She let a few particles that looked rather like bread crumbs trickle into her hand. "Gentian seeds…" she gasped, and looked up at Sam. "You went out in the mud and rain to get these?"

"I know, there aren't very many, but I plucked all them I could find. I'll look for more if you-" but Rosie had flung herself across the cave, and into his arms. She sat there a long moment, her head resting on his chest.

"Thank you ever so much, Sam." She whispered.

"You're welcome Rosie." he whispered back, blushing the color of what the Gentians would look like in bloom. "You're worth it. And more, Rosie. And much more."

She hugged him tight, and finally let go. "Shall we be off to Bywater again?"

Sam glance out at the rain. "I suppose we might want to, unless you want Nibs and Farmer Cotton having to come through the rain to find us."

Rosie jumped up, her head almost brushing the ceiling. "Well, we don't want that! Come along!" and with that, she strolled out into the rain, and Sam had to run to catch up.

"Why, it's not raining at all hard out here." Rosie mused. "In fact, I don't feel-" she looked up, and giggled. "Sam, put your coat back on! You'll be soaked."

"I'm soaked anyway." he responded, smiling broadly, and continuing to hold his coat over Rosie's head. Rosie shook her head, smiling.

"I hope you're not doing this *just* because Nibs' always worrying about me."

"No," he responded simply. "I don't want you to get your locks wet. For you *do* get frazzled over it, and I shouldn't like you to cut those lovely curls!"

"You silly hobbit!" she exclaimed, giving him a playful shove. "Lets run through rain!"

"You'll get wet," he warned. She grinned at him, and stepped out from under the protective coat.

"Well, too late to stay dry *now*!" she giggled, her cheery laugh rippling through the air. "Lets off to Bywater!"

Sam grinned back, and, after slipping his coat back on, the two raced through the rain, and back towards Bywater, Sam calling at her all the way. "If Nibs asks, this was *your* idea, Rosie!"

*****