Aemilia Rose: Thanks for your reviews! They are really very encouraging.
Sam and Rosie are already close as friends; that's a lovely component of
their relationship!
Rosa Cotton: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you enjoy all the cuteness!
Everybody else: Please, please review!
A/N: All right, I know this fic is declining in terms of storyline and linguistic detail. Please give suggestions on how to improve! Thanks!
5 Years Later
Rosie stretched as she straightened from the bed of begonias. Looking down the path, she saw Sam fast approaching the front gate. The sight of the bright smile on his face made her wonder and she cocked an eyebrow as he jogged up to her.
"What happened? What did you do now?"
Sam assumed an injured air.
"What do you mean?"
"I can see it on your face." She tapped her foot on the ground. "Come now, out with it."
Sam looked down at his feet, cheeks flushed with pleasure.
"The Gaffer said I could go and work in Mr. Baggins' garden with him! I knew enough, he said, to be of use."
Rosie laughed delightedly, knowing how much Mr. Bilbo and Frodo meant to Sam. Often had she been told of the wondrous tales Mr. Bilbo told him, of the elves and of the curious far-off places.
"That's wonderful, Sam! This calls for a celebration." Taking his hand, she led him into the cottage.
* * *
Sam started as her fingers touched his. Silently, he followed, as she pulled him into the kitchen, merrily describing the cookies she had baked that morning. :What was that about?: he wondered. :Nothing: He dismissed the thought, sure that the tingles that had ran deliciously over his spine at her touch were nothing more than a figment of his imagination.
:Must have slept too late last night: He watched her as she gingerly balanced the tray of chocolate chip cookies over to where he sat at the kitchen table. Pulling out a chair, she watched as he sampled one. Sam chewed deliberately, testing the flavour and texture of the cookie. At last, he nodded approvingly.
"Delicious."
"I rather think I've out done myself this time, don't you?" Rosie asked as she handed another cookie to Sam. He shook his head exasperatedly.
"Modesty is a virtue. And it's one which you sadly lack." He patted her head fondly.
Rosie looked up at Sam, eyes twinkling mischievously. Laughing, she reached up a finger and brushed a crumb from the corner of his lips.
In a sudden reflex, Sam took her finger before she could withdraw, holding it captive as he gazed steadily at her.
:I know this face so well. These eyes, this nose,: He reached out his other hand, finger trembling as it outlined the pert feature,
:this mouth: His finger continued downwards, tracing her lips wonderingly. To his surprise, a slow blush crept up Rosie's cheeks as she turned away slightly. This rare shyness only endeared her to him and he caught his breath as he tucked her ringlets behind one ear. Out of the corner of her eye, Rosie glanced at him tenderly.
:You seem surprised by my reaction. Surprised by my diffidence. But then, so was I when I first realised how much you meant to me. Surprised at how deeply I had misinterpreted my feelings for you.:
She spoke, her voice dissipating a crystallized dream.
"Sam," she whispered.
He started, suddenly aware of his motions. Quickly, he dropped her hand, backing away hurriedly.
"Sorry, sorry.." he stammered.
"Sam, it's all right. I."
"No, I've got to go." He stumbled for the front door. Attempting an awkward wave, he left, bolting down the garden path. Rosie watched him leave resignedly.
:My love has already budded. Will it be given a chance to bloom?:
Rosa Cotton: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you enjoy all the cuteness!
Everybody else: Please, please review!
A/N: All right, I know this fic is declining in terms of storyline and linguistic detail. Please give suggestions on how to improve! Thanks!
5 Years Later
Rosie stretched as she straightened from the bed of begonias. Looking down the path, she saw Sam fast approaching the front gate. The sight of the bright smile on his face made her wonder and she cocked an eyebrow as he jogged up to her.
"What happened? What did you do now?"
Sam assumed an injured air.
"What do you mean?"
"I can see it on your face." She tapped her foot on the ground. "Come now, out with it."
Sam looked down at his feet, cheeks flushed with pleasure.
"The Gaffer said I could go and work in Mr. Baggins' garden with him! I knew enough, he said, to be of use."
Rosie laughed delightedly, knowing how much Mr. Bilbo and Frodo meant to Sam. Often had she been told of the wondrous tales Mr. Bilbo told him, of the elves and of the curious far-off places.
"That's wonderful, Sam! This calls for a celebration." Taking his hand, she led him into the cottage.
* * *
Sam started as her fingers touched his. Silently, he followed, as she pulled him into the kitchen, merrily describing the cookies she had baked that morning. :What was that about?: he wondered. :Nothing: He dismissed the thought, sure that the tingles that had ran deliciously over his spine at her touch were nothing more than a figment of his imagination.
:Must have slept too late last night: He watched her as she gingerly balanced the tray of chocolate chip cookies over to where he sat at the kitchen table. Pulling out a chair, she watched as he sampled one. Sam chewed deliberately, testing the flavour and texture of the cookie. At last, he nodded approvingly.
"Delicious."
"I rather think I've out done myself this time, don't you?" Rosie asked as she handed another cookie to Sam. He shook his head exasperatedly.
"Modesty is a virtue. And it's one which you sadly lack." He patted her head fondly.
Rosie looked up at Sam, eyes twinkling mischievously. Laughing, she reached up a finger and brushed a crumb from the corner of his lips.
In a sudden reflex, Sam took her finger before she could withdraw, holding it captive as he gazed steadily at her.
:I know this face so well. These eyes, this nose,: He reached out his other hand, finger trembling as it outlined the pert feature,
:this mouth: His finger continued downwards, tracing her lips wonderingly. To his surprise, a slow blush crept up Rosie's cheeks as she turned away slightly. This rare shyness only endeared her to him and he caught his breath as he tucked her ringlets behind one ear. Out of the corner of her eye, Rosie glanced at him tenderly.
:You seem surprised by my reaction. Surprised by my diffidence. But then, so was I when I first realised how much you meant to me. Surprised at how deeply I had misinterpreted my feelings for you.:
She spoke, her voice dissipating a crystallized dream.
"Sam," she whispered.
He started, suddenly aware of his motions. Quickly, he dropped her hand, backing away hurriedly.
"Sorry, sorry.." he stammered.
"Sam, it's all right. I."
"No, I've got to go." He stumbled for the front door. Attempting an awkward wave, he left, bolting down the garden path. Rosie watched him leave resignedly.
:My love has already budded. Will it be given a chance to bloom?:
