Chapter 24 Grief-stricken

Bilbo in deed was startled to see the carriage pull up later on that afternoon. The only thing he could think of was: "Oh Frodo." And he bolted from the front doorway of Bag-End to the vehicle.

"Good afternoon Bilbo." Paladin stepped down from the carriage once it came to a stop and he immediately noticed the expression of great concern on the older hobbit's face. "Frodo is just fine-however, there is something I must discuss with you. He's asleep at the moment-very lengthy journey."

"Of course, of course. Thank goodness he's all right. What is wrong?"

"Pippin."

Bilbo blinked in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

Paladin took a deep but shaky breath. "Pippin is very ill, Bilbo. He came down with influenza the other night and the doctor was afraid that Frodo--that Frodo is in danger of coming down with the illness as well, since he is so frail."

Bilbo took a quick glance at his nephew who slept on and then turned back to Paladin. "I'll get him into bed immediately."

"Now just a minute, Bilbo. He hasn't shown any signs of the illness so I wouldn't fret just now. I just told you the news so that you would keep a close eye on him."

Bilbo nodded. "Absolutely. Thank you for bringing the dear boy home."

Paladin went over to Frodo's side of the carriage and gave the tweenager a shake. "Lad-we're here." He whispered and Frodo's impossibly- blue eyes opened slowly.

"Mrm? Oh-sorry-fell asleep." Frodo let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms over his head before pulling down the blankets and sliding out of the carriage. Immediately he was enveloped into a big bear hug from Bilbo.

"Welcome home." Bilbo told him with a big smile. "How are you feeling, lad?"

"All right, Uncle. Just a little tired but I was asleep in the carriage. I'll wake up after some tea and cookies I suppose."

Paladin laughed. "Not to mention the fact that he wolfed down an entire basket of biscuits on the way here. Yet he is the perfect hobbit- shows a lovely appetite. I just wish this would puff up." Paladin rapped Frodo's flat-as-a-pancake stomach causing the lad to laugh.

"I know. Well-you should get back to your family, Paladin. Thank you again."

"Of course. Do you have everything, Frodo?"

Frodo helped pull his traveling bags out of the back and set them on the ground. Then Paladin gave a final wave before hopping into the cart again, turning the horse and trotting away. When the carriage disappeared around the main bend, Frodo turned to Bilbo who was gazing ahead blankly.

"Bilbo?" Frodo asked. "Are you all right?"

Bilbo blinked. "Oh-I'm sorry. Come on, Frodo. You must be famished." The old hobbit wrapped his arm around his nephew's shoulders and aided the boy in carrying his things inside.

Once in the kitchen and sitting down, Frodo just gazed down at his snack and did not touch it.

"What is bothering you, Frodo?" Bilbo asked as he took a bite of one of the cookies on his plate. "I know you're worried about Pippin." He took a gentle grip on Frodo's arm. "Have a good cry, lad. You haven't done so in quite sometime and it is perfectly all right."

Frodo did cry and he wrapped his arms around Bilbo, sitting in the old hobbit's lap, sobbing heavily. He missed Pippin-and worried gratefuly over the little one. The tears brought back memories, both good and bad. He tried to picture them as best as he could.

**Flashback (3 years earlier)**

"Come here, you little imp!"

"Noooo! Frodo! Noooo!"

"The water isn't cold, you silly hobbit, and you have to learn to swim eventually." Frodo grasped the wriggling toddler around the waist and hoisted him into the air. Sitting on large picnic baskets, Pearl, Pervinca, Pimpernel, Paladin and Eglatine watched on and laughed as Pippin squealed when his tiny toe touched the water.

"No! Pip!" Frodo grimaced as Pippin tried to crawl up his head and perch on top as though he were a bird.

"Pippin-let Frodo teach you how to swim. It may come in useful one day lad." Paladin told his son. With much effort, Frodo waded into the clear lake and set Pippin halfway in.

"Eeeeeeeeee! Lemme out! Lemme out!" Pippin sobbed, splashing around.

"I'm not going to let go of you, Pip. Just relax. There we go." The toddler calmed down and watched his reflection in the water, giggling as his face ripped with the water's natural movement. Delighted, Pippin clapped his hands and kicked the water with his feet.

"You can see yourself, can't you? Now listen and don't struggle. I'm going to let you float on your stomach. Flat out, now-that's it. I'm still holding you-still holding you." Frodo slowly loosened his grip and watched as Pippin's light body bobbed in the water. Suddenly the little hobbit took a deep breath but unfortunately swallowed a mouthful of water and began choking.

"Oh!" the girls cried and Frodo immediately lifted Pippin out of the water and patted his back till his lungs were clear.

"I want to go bye bye, Fwrodo. I want Mommy!" Pippin reached towards the shore.

"Perhaps we should leave it here for today." Frodo wondered. Pippin was clearly terrified of the water and he hated to scare the little mite any further. So holding Pippin tightly to him, he carried the little lad out of the water and brought him over to his family.

"You tried, Frodo." Eglatine told her nephew as she wrapped her son in a thick, fluffy white towel. **End Flashback**

Bilbo continued to hold Frodo, rocking the tweenager back and forth till the tears diminished. "I think you must rest, lad. You look exhausted."

Frodo nodded, sniffling noisiy and wiping his nose with his sleeve. "Oh Uncle," he choked. "Can it ever be that we will laugh again and have fun again?"

Bilbo wiped the leftover tears from the lad's cheeks. "I wish I knew the answer to that, my dear boy." He replied.