A/N: Thanks to the reviewers! I love you all!

"Samwise Gamgee! You get back here this instant!" An irate Mrs. Gamgee pursued the bottomless little hobbit as he scurried down the hall, waving his pants in one hand. Giggling, the little hobbit skillfully and consistently eluded her, darting from room to room. Trapped finally in the sitting room, he kept up the chase, first ducking under a small side-table, then crawling under the large armchair, before taken captive on the hearth. He kicked furiously as his mother attempted to put the pants on and the minute she was done, was up and running again.

"Samwise…" his mother sighed and wiped her perspiring brow.

"Wanna see papa!" he shrilled and took off towards the front door, his object being the front garden, Gamgee's favourite respite. It was shut however, though not locked, and the small brass knob was beyond his reach. After a few kangaroo imitations, he gave up and kicked the door angrily. Then another plan fermented in his busy little brain. Turning to his tired mother, his face lit in an angelic smile.

"Outside, outside. Please!" he begged, using his charm to the best effect. His mother reached down and patted his chubby cheek affectionately, before relenting. Once the door was open, he shot outside, leaving his mother to watch the little critter fondly. Then she shook her head and returned to the kitchen. It was almost time for lunch.

:And he's only three.: She thought belligerently as she started scrubbing the potatoes.

*-

"Papa! Papa!" Little Sam enthused as he threw himself at his father and was promptly smothered in a huge bearhug.

"There, there, my lad." Gamgee held his small son in front of him, his eyes dancing. "I'm just pulling weeds but you're welcome to help."

"Pull weeds! Pulls weeds!" Yelled little Sam and demonstrated his enthusiasm by pulling out a particularly large one.

"Well, that's an onion, actually. You see, Sam, weeds look like this…" and Gamgee embarked on the details of his lifelong passion. Sam squatted beside his father and listened, fascinated, his round eyes peering curiously at the different types of weeds. After the mini-lecture was over, Sam and his dad fell to work. They planted seeds, dug with their trowels and watched the little worms in the garden squirm in the soil. Sam, armed with his small set of gardening tools, trundled his hobbit toddler-sized wheelbarrow up and down the paths busily.

"Lunchtime!" Mrs. Gamgee's voice rang out gaily from the kitchen window. Gamgee looked thoughtfully at his muddy shirtfront, then down at Sam.

"I've got to go change my shirt, Sam, 'else your mamma will scold. Why don't you water the flowers, then come in to eat, ok?" So saying, he ruffled Sam's hair and handed him the hose. The toddler agreed ecstatically and Gamgee headed inside.

Sam was spraying the water this way and that, laughing delightedly as the water droplets splashed his grubby face, when a burst of scarlet caught his eye and he ran to the lovely profusion of flowers near the front gate. As he gazed at them, almost drowning the poor blossoms with the torrent of water he held over them, something stirred within his memory.

"R…ro..rose!" He managed, then stood there grinning, ridiculously pleased with himself. He stooped unceremoniously and plucked one from the bed, undeterred by the scratches left by the bramble.

"R..rose!" He cried once more, when a small voice chimed in.

"Rose!" Sam turned at the sound of the alien tone, only to find a small hobbit-girl peeking over the hedge at him.

"Rose!" She said, then pointed at herself. She knew this flower well indeed. Often had her father taken her on his knee and told her the meaning behind her name.

Sam blinked in surprise, then proffered the rose to the little girl.

"Here." She accepted it graciously and watched as Sam dropped the hose and disappeared into the house, suddenly shy of the stranger.

"Mmmm." Rosie blissfully burrowed her nose among its petals and skipped back home.