Bilbo looked at Frodo and then at Sam who was in his nephew's arms. 'Yes, Sam will be the perfect friend for Frodo. Just what he needs. And I know that he'll take good care of my boy when I have to leave.'

Bilbo sighed. He did not regret adopting the boy and wanted to be there for him, but there was always that pull that he felt. He felt the need to go exploring again. But, he would most definitely wait until Frodo was older.

Suddenly a loud knock broke Bilbo out of his reverie. He quickly made his way to the door. A very angry Lobelia Sacksville-Baggins was on the other side with her son, Lotho, four years Frodo's senior by her side.

"What did you think you were doing, Bilbo Baggins?" The woman shouted at him.

"I'm not sure that I know of what you are talking about." Bilbo feigned confusion. He knew that Lobelia was upset about Frodo being his chosen heir. He didn't notice Lotho slip by him as Lobelia became angrier.

Lotho was on a mission. He wanted to see just what this hobbit looked like that would be getting Bilbo's money instead of his family, as it should have been.

When he approached the main room, he saw what he was looking for. But, what a surprise! An incredibly pale hobbit, with the gardener's son on his lap. 'Brandybuck.' Lotho thought.

Sam woke suddenly, only to see Lotho Sacksville-Baggins staring in his direction. "Master!" Sam said, in hopes to wake Frodo.

"Hmmm?" Frodo said, just waking, in a soft voice. He gently removed his arms from around Sam and looked up. He didn't recognize the other boy who was in the room. This boy was eyeing Frodo skeptically. Then the boy turned his attention to Sam.

"I thought you had more respect for your betters than that Samwise." Lotho finally said.

"Oh! Sorry, Mr. Lotho." Sam said, quickly jumping down from Frodo's lap. He looked down at the floor in shame.

"What?" Frodo questioned. He was still a bit groggy from sleeping.

"You should have more respect for your master, gardener's son." Lotho said, coming up and sticking a finger in Frodo's chest. "Of course, he would have been my servant if it wasn't for you, Brandybuck." Lotho said, now speaking to Frodo for the first time.

"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked. He didn't know who this Lotho was and he didn't know what he meant about Sam being his servant. Frodo never had his own servant.

"When your parents died, old Bilbo felt the need to take you in and make you his heir. He does this just so he doesn't have to leave Bag End and all his possessions to my family." Lotho said angrily, finger still in Frodo's chest. "This house would have been my parents' and this servant," he said, indicating Sam who now stood a little ways away from the two older boys. "was supposed to be mine. He's a real good worker; I'd bet he could have done all my chores for me. Right boy?"

Frodo shrugged away from Lotho and went over to Sam. "Don't talk about my friend that way." Frodo said indignantly.

"Friend?" Lotho said, incredulously. "Mum was right about Brandybucks having queer ideas!"

Lotho once again looked at Frodo. "You don't look near my age, as I have been told you are. You look more to be around the servant's age. You're way too thin and pale and talk about having weird eyes! What's wrong with you anyway? I could break you in half!" Lotho said threateningly.

Sam quickly jumped in front of Frodo, forgetting his own fears. He put his fists up, his eyes challenging Lotho.

"Don't worry about it Sam." Frodo said, shakily.

"Oh, I think the gardener's son has a good idea. I think it just might not be such a bad thing to make you reconsider staying here. You should go back to Buckland where you came from, pathetic creature." Lotho pushed Sam aside with such a force, that he fell to the ground.

Lotho wasted no time and quickly and harshly slapped Frodo's cheek before the younger hobbit had a chance to react to the situation.

Frodo, being a slight as he was, lost his balance due to the impact. He fell to the floor and hit his head on the table behind him.

Bilbo Baggins entered the room in just enough time to see Frodo's head connect with the table with a smack. Bilbo became angrier than he could ever remember becoming. "Lobelia!" He yelled. "Take your son and get out of this house!"

Lobelia did as she was told, but not before smiling at Bilbo as if Frodo had deserved what Lotho had done to him.

With the Sacksville-Bagginess gone, Bilbo wasted no time. He quickly ran to his nephew.

Frodo was trying to sit up, his hand covering the spot where Lotho had struck him. Tears where swimming in the small hobbit's eyes, until they over ran the floodgates and began to stream down his face. Frodo couldn't understand why some bigger boys always felt the need to hurt him. He never understood what he possibly could have done.

Sam quickly ran up to Frodo and helped him sit up. Then, he sat with his back against Frodo's so he could sit up while leaning on Sam instead of having to rely on his own strength.

Bilbo gently took Frodo's hand away from his face. He could see the ugly red welt of a hand mark on the porcelain cheek.

"Oh, my poor boy." Bilbo murmured.

"I didn't do anything, Uncle." Frodo said quietly.

"Shhh. I know you didn't Frodo-lad. Now, lets see about your head." He carefully brought Frodo onto his lap. Sam turned around to watch, tears now streaming down his own face.

"Did he hurt you too, Samwise?" Bilbo asked.

"No, sir." Sam replied sadly. "I tried to help Mr. Frodo, honest I did!" Sam said, sounding on the edge of hysterical.

"I know that you did what you could Samwise. You're a good boy." Bilbo said, kindly.

Then, he turned his attention back to the lad in his arms. He felt around in Frodo's hair, looking for a bump. He finally found a small one. He brought his hand back; there was a little bit of blood on his fingers. He looked more closely at the spot on Frodo's head. It was just a small scratch thankfully and nothing to worry about.

"Samwise, could you get me a wet cloth?" Bilbo asked. He watched Sam's eyes grow wide in worry.

"Oh! It's okay Samwise, just a little scratch on his head." He reassured.

Sam did as he was told, but not before giving Frodo a little handkerchief from his pocket.

Frodo smiled at Sam through his tears. The small cloth shown of a tale tell sign of dirt that Sam probably accumulated while playing in the garden. "Thank you Sam." He said, using it to wipe his tears.

"You're welcome Master." Sam said, before running out of the room.

'There's that whole master thing again.' Frodo thought. "Uncle?"

"Yes, my boy?"

"Is Sam really my servant?" Frodo said in a tone of voice that Bilbo couldn't place.

Bilbo sighed. He knew that Frodo was too innocent, too young, and too…well Frodo, to understand just how class systems worked. "Well, yes. I guess you could say that he is lad. Samwise's family has been working for ours for generations. When the Gaffer is too old to work in the garden, Samwise will take over his job."

"Oh." Frodo said. He thought for a while and then said, "Well then I am glad that Sam is my servant."

"And why's that?" Bilbo asked, hugging the still sad looking boy.

"Because I can tell that he is going to be a great friend." Frodo said, finally smiling a big and rewarding smile. His big blue eyes, brightening a little through watery eyes.

****************************************************************************

Please review.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter.

Kate Fairbairn: I hope you have continued to read it. See? Not much hurt/comfort. Thanks for the comments on my writing style. It makes me feel good to hear you say that. I do like both the books and movies very much. I tired to use bits and pieces from both. Yes, watching and experiencing is usually where I come up with at least part of a story idea.

Katani Petitedra: Thank you for reading. I also love pre-quest stories dealing with Frodo & co. Especially Frodo and Sam friendship stories. Hope you continue to like mine.

Obelia medusa: I love your Fanfiction! It means so much to me that you have reviewed mine. How do you like what I have done with Lotho the Loser so far? Nothing compared to the loveliness of your story, of course. I know you like fics that deal with this part of Frodo's life. I love it too! Hope you like my take on it.

Michelle Frodo: Glad that you like my fic. You write beautiful poetry. I really didn't know how Sam would have acted when he was younger. Most portray him much like he is in the books, but I remembered that he was a little kid. He must have been full of energy when he was small! That little boy in my church was great inspiration. Speaking of little Elijah, he kept crying for his mom last week, because she was up in the front singing. Poor little kid!