Frodo awoke, and became slowly became aware that he was still lying in Aragorn's arms. He wondered if Aragorn was annoyed about the fact that Frodo had fallen asleep barely ten minutes into their frantic kissing session. He couldn't be too annoyed, Frodo decided, if he was still holding Frodo now.

But they shouldn't stay there much longer, Frodo reminded himself. They should go back to the others in case they were suspicious. Although they'd probably been sleeping solidly all night and not noticed they were gone anyway.

"Aragorn." Frodo shook the ranger gently. "Aragorn, we should get up, and go back to the others. so that they don't think." He blushed a little, as Aragorn woke and looked a bit confused at the little hobbit.

Aragorn tried to work out what the hobbit was doing lying half on top of him like this, and why he was still so tired. Then suddenly all of last night's events came flooding back to him. The activities of the rest of the Fellowship must have corrupted him, he realised with horror, and made him take advantage of poor little Frodo, making the hobbit have to pretend to be asleep in order to escape his mad lust.

He cursed himself inwardly. How could he have done such a thing?

Frodo watched Aragorn, studying his face for sign of his thoughts. Was he starting to regret last night? He awkwardly put his hand in the ranger's hand, to see what he would do.

Aragorn jumped as the hobbit's soft fingers brushed his hand and a tingling feeling ran straight through him. He quickly got to his feet, pulling Frodo to stand up almost roughly.

"We'd better go back to the others then," He said, avoiding the hobbit's gaze, and felt Frodo's hand slip away from his in disappointment.

"Just wait here. I'll go and check," Aragorn said, and seeing Frodo's slightly hurt expression, he gave a reassuring smile. Frodo's face immediately lit up.

As Aragorn turned away to creep towards the others, he allowed his smile to fade away and be replaced by a worried look. What kind of effect would this have on the Ringbearer? And his own role as his protector of the Ring bearer? How could he abuse his position like that?, he scolded himself.

Peering round a rock and preparing himself to cover his eyes if necessary, he saw with relief that everyone was fast asleep again. The only noises Gimli were making now , were snoring, and it seemed safe to proceed.

He turned back, and beckoned for Frodo to come over. Frodo did so, carrying his blanket forlornly. He'd put his shirt back on, and was holding it together in one hand as Gollum had ripped half of the buttons off in his excitement last night. Frodo looked up at Aragorn sorrowfully, big blue eyes making the Ranger melt.

Aragorn pulled himself together and began to creep back towards the others. He paused by the sleeping hobbits, who had broken away from their lovers and were sleeping innocently.

He nodded at Frodo. "Try and sleep for now. The others should wake up soon."

He turned to walk back towards where he'd been sleeping previously, but Frodo tugged at his sleeve.

"Can't I lie next to you again?" He asked.

Aragorn tore his gaze away from those pleading eyes. "No Frodo, it would only look suspicious."

He couldn't trust himself to lie that close to the hobbit again, and he didn't feel he deserved it. What's more, he didn't want the others to realise he was as pervy as them.

Frodo looked disappointed, and let go of the Ranger's arm.

Aragorn quickly walked away, before he gave in to temptation.

Frodo lay down and huddled up with his blanket, watching the ranger disappear into the darkness. He suddenly felt very alone, and shuffled along the floor a little to lie next to Sam. He could always trust Sam.

Frodo tried to sleep, but couldn't. He couldn't stop thinking about Aragorn and what the man must think of him now. Frodo had obviously been wrong when he thought that Aragorn liked the kiss. He sighed, and then cried softly into his blanket.

***

Aragorn found that his blanket was still wrapped up around Legolas, and swore quietly.

He lay down on the floor without a blanket, and tried to sleep but soon found himself shivering. Without a blanket or the warmth of a sleeping companion, this was a very cold place.

He reached out and tried to tug his blanket away from Legolas carefully. Legolas however was lying on one side of it, and he didn't want to pull on it too hard for fear of waking the elf up.

Sighing, Aragorn moved closer and curled up under the furthest edge of the blanket, keeping as much distance between him and Legolas as possible.

***

Sam woke up to find Frodo in his arms. This confused him somewhat. Had all his dreams come true and Frodo had been his last night? Slowly last night's events came back to him.

He frowned. Hadn't that been Pippin? But Frodo was here now. and it had been Frodo he'd wanted all these years, so why did he remember it as Pippin? On the other hand, Sam reflected, perhaps it had all been a dream.

He tried to make sense of it all, and failed. He simply hugged Frodo tightly instead, glad to have his master near him.

***

Aragorn woke up again to the sound of chattering and realised that the hobbits were awake. And Gandalf, who'd lit his staff and now there was light around the place.

He realised to his horror that Legolas was lying suspiciously close to him, and got up quickly. Legolas glared at the Ranger, and stayed huddled up in his blanket sullenly.

"Good morning Aragorn," said Gandalf, seeming very cheerful this morning.

Aragorn smiled weakly, and tried to put all of last night's events out of his head. He'd just pretend it never happened.

He avoided Frodo's gaze, and went to see what Merry and Pippin were making for breakfast.

***

Gandalf announced that he had decided which of the passageways they were to travel down this morning, after a long night of thinking. No-one dared to mention the incident with Gimli, they were too busy trying to make sure their own escapades had gone unnoticed.

Gimli and Gandalf weren't being very discreet however, winking at each other and smiling seductively every five minutes. Everyone ignored them as much as possible, and so they began another long trek through the mines.

Frodo wondered why everyone was acting so weirdly this morning. Every time he went near Sam, Sam would blush, and it was the same if Pippin went near him too, although Pippin was smirking and winking at poor Sam for no reason. As for the others: Aragorn was still ignoring him; Gimli and Gandalf seemed quite unnecessarily happy; Legolas was sulking; Boromir kept smiling at Merry and Merry kept going all shy and giggly. Of Gollum there was no sign, and Frodo wondered where he was.

Actually, Frodo considered, Aragorn wasn't just acting strangely around him, he was acting strangely around everyone. He was ignoring Frodo, but he was acting very awkwardly around everyone else, muttering and avoiding people. He seemed to suddenly have a grudge against Legolas, who kept trying to talk to him and was being shunned, more noticeably thanthat Frodo was.

Frodo looked up at the Ranger wistfully, and realised to his surprise that Aragorn had been looking at him. He smiled nervously, wondering what Aragorn was thinking, and Aragorn returned the smile before looking away quickly.

Aragorn reprimanded himself for letting Frodo catch him in the glance him looking, and for even looking in the first place. As he turned away, he in turn found himself being watched.

Legolas had his hands on his hips and was glaring at him jealously, having seen the interaction between Frodo and Aragorn.

Aragorn sighed, and wished last night had never happened.

He had considered informing the others about the incident with Gollum, but decided it would only excite them and it might lead them to conclusions about the Ranger's own feelings for the hobbit. He and Frodo were the only sane ones around here, Aragorn grimly decided and they should not do anything to change that.

***

"What's up with Merry and Boromir do you think?" Pippin smirked.

"Uh, I don't know," Sam said, a deep shade of pink. He looked around for Frodo, but he was talking with Aragorn and Sam couldn't think of an excuse to go and walk with them.

"Look at the way Merry's playing with his hair and smiling shyly at Boromir. Something going on there I reckon. What pervs."

Sam said nothing, but secretly felt Pippin was being a little bit hypocritical. And somewhat jealous.

***

Frodo was surprised but pleased to find Aragorn suddenly by his side. Legolas, who was walking in front, kept turning around to look at them, and Frodo couldn't help but sense the elf was a little bit cross. He wondered why.

"You must keep quiet about last night's incident," Aragorn whispered.

Frodo felt himself blush. Was Aragorn ashamed?

"With Gollum I mean," Aragorn added hastily, feeling rather embarrassed himself as he recalled the *other* incident.

"Oh. Oh yes, of course. If you think it best." Frodo said, trying to cover his awkwardness, and wondered why Aragorn did not want to tell even Gandalf.

Aragorn sought for a reason as to why Gandalf should not know. He didn't want Frodo to find out about the kind of things the others were capable of. "We shall talk with Gandalf about it when we are out of this place," he said, putting off the situation for a bit longer.

Frodo nodded, and then sighed sadly as the Ranger slipped away to walk by himself again.

Legolas stuck his tongue out at Frodo and quickly followed Aragorn.

Frodo looked a little surprised.

***

Sam had been alarmed when Pippin had suddenly grabbed him by the arm and dragged him in front to walk with Merry and Boromir, who looked a bit annoyed. Sam had been even more alarmed when Pippin insisted on holding his hand, and giggling at him.

He looked around to check that Frodo couldn't see how Pippin was behaving, but Frodo was distracted by Aragorn.

Sam smiled and nodded and didn't really listen to Pippin's ramblings to Merry and Boromir, instead thinking about last night. It all seemed far too real to be a dream. but could it have really happened?

And was it Frodo or Pippin? Judging by the way Pippin was acting now, it could well have been. but well, he didn't like Pippin like that, and Pippin didn't like him that, surely? He remembered being somewhat surprised about the emotions he suddenly found himself feeling last night, but he couldn't work out exactly what they were.

His train of thought was broken as Merry addressed him. "Is that so Sam?"

Merry and Boromir were looking quite impressed at Pippin's latest revelation and Pippin was smiling smugly.

Sam wondered what exactly Pippin had said.

"Uh, yes, I mean, uh, you know how it is," Sam smiled weakly.