Frodo walked slowly toward the kitchen. He still had a headache, but at least it wasn't as bad as before. He was actually feeling a bit better today. Suddenly, he heard Pippin give a small shriek, followed by Merry's laughter. Entering the kitchen, he looked around at everyone. Pippin was looking up at Bilbo, guilt all over his face; Bilbo was glaring down at him; and Merry was watching the two, obviously amused.

"What happened?" Frodo asked curiously.

"I was making breakfast," Bilbo explained, in a somewhat angry tone. "Merry offered to help, and Pippin said he wanted to help, also. Merry and I had already finished a few things; but instead of helping, I caught Pippin trying to eat when I wasn't looking." Bilbo gave a small smile, and winked at Frodo.

Frodo chuckled, wishing he would've gotten there sooner. "Uh-oh," he said, playing along with Bilbo's teasing. "That's not good. I did that once," he said to Pippin. "And… I couldn't have any meals for a whole day!"

Pippin's eyes widened, as his mouth fell open. "A whole day?" he asked, worried that he would get that punishment, as well.

Frodo nodded, trying hard to keep from laughing. "Yes, that's right."

Pippin looked unsure of what to do. Finally, he threw himself onto Bilbo, clutching his leg and looking up with wide eyes. "I'm sorry Bilbo, I'm really sorry! I'll never do it again, I promise! Please don't say that I can't eat anything today, I'm really hungry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!…"

That's when Frodo finally broke out laughing. "It's okay, Pip," he told his cousin. "We're just teasing you."

"You are?" Pippin asked; he looked as if he might cry. "Then I can still eat today?"

Bilbo smiled, and nodded, "Yes, you can eat." Then his face grew serious, and he pointed to the bacon Pippin had been sneaking, "But wait until everyone else can eat, as well."

Pippin sighed happily, "Alright, I'll wait."

Frodo finally managed to stop laughing, and looked at Bilbo curiously, "Do you mind if I go see Sam before breakfast?"

"I guess that would be alright," Bilbo told him. "But don't stay out for too long."

Frodo nodded with agreement, then looked to Merry and Pippin, "Would you two like to come along?" Both of them nodded, and followed Frodo out the door.

Bilbo watched them go, and then thought about what they had done to Pippin. He was the youngest, was he always the one being teased? He didn't seem to be angry at the teasing, though. Bilbo chuckled to himself - actually, Pippin seemed to have already forgotten it.

~~~~~

Frodo knocked on the door of the Gamgee home. The three were silent as they waited for someone to answer. Finally, Bell opened the door. Smiling, she greeted them, "Well, hello Frodo, and…" she noticed the other two "…your friends."

"These are my cousins," Frodo told her. "Merry and Pippin. They're visiting from Buckland."

"Oh… well, how do you like it here?" she asked them, still smiling.

Merry shrugged, "We haven't really had much of a chance to look around."

"Would you lads like to come in?" she asked, stepping back so they could enter.

But Hamfast opened the door wider. "Hello," he greeted them. "Here to see Sam?" he asked, and they all nodded. "Well, I'm afraid he sleeping at the moment," he informed them. "Besides, I wouldn't want you to catch his cold."

Merry and Pippin looked questioningly at Frodo. "Oh, we won't stay long," Frodo assured him. "Besides, I've already got a cold, and I can't catch another one at the same time."

"Do they, as well?" Hamfast asked, motioning to Merry and Pippin.

Frodo shook his head slowly, "No, sir."

"Alright then…" Hamfast said to them. "Perhaps Sam may stop by Bag End when he's feeling better."

"Well, a-alright," Frodo agreed, nodding. Then along with Merry and Pippin, he turned to leave.

Hamfast shut the door, and Bell crossed her arms. Shaking her head, she told him, "I don't see why you wouldn't let him in. This idea of yours is silly. They are close friends, you can't keep them away from each other for long."

Hamfast sighed; maybe she was right. But… "Not for a long time," he assured her. "Just until I'm ready to trust Frodo again."

"Well, you better hurry up with that," Bell warned. "Sam hasn't seen Frodo for a couple days, and was worried about him. As soon as he's well, you know he'll want to go over to Bag End"

"I know," Hamfast nodded. "Just let me think about it for a little while longer…"

~~~~~

"I don't understand," Frodo told his cousins. "You would not catch his cold in just a short time. Or, at least, he could have let me in for just a minute."

"Maybe he just didn't want to wake Sam up," Merry suggested.

"Yes," Frodo nodded, opening the door to Bag End. "You're probably right."

Bilbo had just finished making breakfast, when he heard the door open and shut. "You've gotten back just in time," he called out to them. "I just fin--" they walked in, and Bilbo saw the sad expression on Frodo's face. "What's wrong? Is it Sam? Hamfast said he was alright, but--"

"Yes," Frodo interrupted quickly. "He's alright. It's just that we couldn't see him."

"Oh…" Bilbo said, thinking. He knew Frodo wanted to see Sam, but if he couldn't… "How about, after breakfast, I give the three of you a ride into town?"

Merry and Pippin agreed happily, but Frodo figured it was simply to cheer him up. He realized, though, that he really did want to go. A smile grew on his face, and he agreed.

~~~~~

Simon set a picture down on the table. It was of his whole family, although it was a rather old one. His wife, Ellen; his daughter, Lina, who was only five at the time; and his two sons, Michael and Jake, they had been ten and thirteen. But that was a long time ago. Sadly, his wife had died, and his children had gotten married, and moved away. He missed them all so much… he didn't like being lonely!

Frodo and Sam were nice. But why had they come? He was getting used to being alone, but then they came and made him even more lonesome for his family. He liked them, though. They reminded him so much of his own lads. Maybe he could ask around Hobbiton to find out where they lived. Perhaps he might go and visit them…

~~~~~

To Be Continued…

*Thank you to all who have reviewed this story so far! You guys are great! I'm so glad you're liking it! ;~D *