Chapter 32 Lad Trouble

Daisy Gamgee knelt down on the windowsill, gazing out over the Shire landscape. She noticed two figures walking at the far end of Bagshot Row and let out an excited squeal. May, Marigold and Sam, who were drinking tea in the parlor, all jumped up in surprise.

"What is it, Daisy?" asked Marigold, twirling her light blonde hair with her finger.

Daisy turned around, her lips curled into a slightly evil smile. "Mr. Frodo and Mr. Bilbo are coming home. I heard their cousin just got married last week!"

"Married? Which?" asked May, putting her hands on her hips.

"I think it was one of their Took relatives."

Bell Gamgee came into the living room to do a random clean up when she noticed the youngest of her children staring out the window. She shrugged and went to stand behind them, and then rolled her eyes.

"Stop goggling at the poor boy as though he were a bird in a cage," She snapped, causing all of the girls to whirl around. Sam was still watching the road, and had to be prodded out of his daydream.

"I was not goggling, Mum." Daisy defended herself. " 'Twas only watchin'."

"Can we go out and greet them, Mummy?" begged Marigold.

"I suppose that wouldn't hurt." Bell had to leap aside as her children bolted past her and towards the front round door of the smial. They scurried down the little stone pathway and to the main dirt road, standing in a line and waving as the Master and heir to Bag-End approached. Daisy, who was unable to contain her excitement, ran all the way to Frodo and literally knocked him backwards in an attempted hug.

"Ack!" Frodo gasped once she let him up. "What was that for?" He cried in disbelief, watching as Sam and the other two girls stood giggling. Bilbo chortled as he aided Daisy in helping Frodo back to his feet.

"How was the wedding? Who was married again?" asked Daisy. "Let me help you with your bag, sir." Sam offered and took Bilbo's pack, beginning to head for Bag-End.

"My cousin Pearl-the Thain of Tuckborough's eldest daughter." Frodo explained, clearing his throat. "Is there a reason why the four of you were standing here and waiting for us?"

Daisy shook her head and shrugged. "No particular reason except we missed you."

"YOU missed him, you mean." May teased.

"Be quiet!" Daisy snapped.

"Well-would you care to join us for a bit of tea and cookies?" Bilbo offered.

"No thank you-we just had tea," Marigold replied.

"I'm dead tired, Uncle." Frodo yawned. "I think I'm going to go straight to bed."

"But it's only 4 o'clock!" Daisy cried.

Frodo just gave her a weak sigh before continuing to walk. Bilbo watched as Frodo disappeared around a corner before turning to the eldest Gamgee daughter. "I apologize for his behavior, Miss Gamgee, but he's had a bit of a rough few days. His other cousin, Pimpernel, had some trouble coping with the idea that her sister's marriage, and he has been quite the councelor."

Daisy nodded in understanding. She wasn't sure how she'd react if one of her sisters got married and had to move away. Then her eyes widened- she'd be the first to marry most likely, as she was the oldest! Oh if only Frodo would pay more attention to her-then she'd be able to snag him!

"I understand. Well, we ought to return home. Welcome back, Mr. Bilbo."

Bilbo patted her on the shoulder before following in Frodo's footsteps. Daisy stood watching as Bilbo disappeared around the same bend before kicking at a loose stone on the ground. "Damn!" She snapped. Then she gasped, realizing what she had said, but found that her other siblings had gone home by this point. She hitched her skirts and hurried back to Number 3, Bagshot Row. When she entered the smial, she fought the urge to slam the door and nearly ran into her mother who was waiting for her.

"I was wondering what happened to you, love." Bell said with a smile. "I need your help folding some of the laundry that I just brought in from the line."

Daisy nodded. "Mama-can I ask you for some advice?"

"Certainly, dear! Come with me and we will talk."

The two hobbits made their way into the kitchen where a bucket of dried clothes sat on the table. The sounds of Hamson and Hamfast could be heard from the garden as Daisy began the process of folding the clothes. "Mama-how did you and Papa fall in love?" She asked.

Bell nearly dropped the pair of bloomers she held in her hands and turned to her daughter with an expression of shock. "In love?"

Daisy nodded. "Yes."

Bell frowned. She had been fearing this discussion for years, and now that the time was here, she was not quite sure where to begin.

"Erm...."

"Mama-I can't find my letter book." Sam came into the kitchen with an expression of confusion on his face.

"Not NOW, Sam! Get!" Daisy snipped.

"Mum!" Sam wailed.

"Daisy! That was not very nice. Samwise, you left your letter book in our bedroom last night. It is sitting on my dresser."

"Thank you." Sam stuck his tongue out at Daisy before turning on his heel and storming out of the kitchen. Daisy scowled after him as she yanked another article of clothing from the basket.

Bell turned back to her eldest daughter and shook her head. "I do wish you'd be nicer to your little brother."

"I just hate it when he interrupts important discussions like that!" Daisy sighed. "But no matter. So how did it happen?"

"Well-I remember-we were at a picnic celebrating Helda Bracegirdle's daughter's coming-of-age party. Not too grand of an affair, but just large enough to be satisfactory. Anyway-I was walking over to one of the long picnic tables carrying a cherry pie I had baked for the occasion, and who did I happen to bump into but your father!"

Daisy giggled. "I'm sure the pie made an awful mess!"

"All down the front of my new skirt and I was furious, of course. But he apologized profoundly for having run into me and said he had not been paying attention and would I like it if he went to the market to buy me a fresh one?"

"Did you let him?" Daisy asked. This story was very simple and sweet so far.

"No, I did not. He helped me clean up my skirt and blouse and then the two of us fell into a very nice discussion and later at the party he asked me to dance!"

"Ooooh!" Daisy squealed. "Did he tell you you were the prettiest lass he'd ever seen in all of his life?"

Bell laughed. "He did. He said my eyes were like a soft summer sky and that he would be very heart broken if he did not have them to peer into all of the time. He told me summertime was his favorite season."

Daisy was grinning at this, and tried to imagine her mother covered from head to toe in bits of cherry pie! "Let me guess what happened next," She giggled.

"Well, the next time we saw each other after the party was in the market. He had baked a fresh cherry pie for me that he had baked himself." Bell continued. "I fell for him immediately. We were dating for several years before Mr. Bilbo gave him a job as gardener for Bag-End. The reason we could not marry was the money circumstance-he did not have what was needed to keep a proper home or a proper meal on the table. But with the wages that Mr. Bilbo paid him, he finally made the decision to ask me to marry him. I was beside myself of course and said yes, and we of course formed a wonderful family together."

Daisy blushed as she sighed and leaned her chin in her palm. "That is so wonderful."

Bell cocked an eyebrow. "Why is it you wanted to know this story? Do you have a love in mind and are trying to find out how to get him?"

Daisy's mouth fell open. "Mother!" She cried.

"I promise I will not tell the rest of your siblings or your father. Who is the lad?"

Daisy let out a small squeak. "Erm..."

"You do not have to be embarassed to tell me, love. Who is it?"

"Frodo Baggins." Daisy replied quickly and then breathed a sigh of relief. "There-I feel much better! Mama? Are you all right?" She saw the look on her mother's face-a mixture of shock and amusement. Daisy frowned. "Say something please." She begged.

It took Bell a few moments to gather her thoughts and put them to words.

"Frodo Baggins. Great havens." She sighed. "Daisy..."

"I know what people say about him, Mama, and I do not listen to any of it! He is not-well he is-odd for a hobbit, but he is so lovely and so handsome and Mother, I love him!" She cried, waving her arms.

Bell frowned. "Why do you love him, Daisy?"

"I do not love him because he is rich, mother!"

Bell was taken aback by her daughter's outburst. "I did not mean that, Daisy!"

"Mama-I was-Mr. Bilbo told me that Frodo's eldest female Took cousin just got married and moved away. I was just thinking-I will probably be the first to leave also, as I am the eldest. I have fallen for Frodo ever since he came to live with his Uncle at Bag-End and I only wish he would notice me! I guess I asked you the story about how you met father to see if you had any ideas on how I could get him to notice me."

Bell smiled gently and went over to her daughter, touching the hobbit lass's cheek tenderly with the palm of her hand. For a few moments neither mother or daughter spoke. "Perhaps, dear, Frodo is not interested in dating. After all, Mr. Bilbo is a bachelor. Unfortunately, as many of our elders put it, Mr. Frodo has inherited quite a few of the old hobbit's traits."

Daisy growled. "I just wish there was SOME way....perhaps we could bake a cherry pie and....."

This comment sent Bell into laughter. "I do not think that would be a good idea, dear."

"Mum-I-you and father will not be ashamed of me if I am not the first to marry, will you?"

Bell gasped. "Of course not! We will support you whatever you decide. If you love Mr. Frodo so much then I do not see a reason that you can not try to get at him. But just do not be too disappointed if no results come about. There are plenty of lads in the Shire who would be stupid not to fall for you."

Daisy blushed an even deeper shade of pink. "Thank you, Mama."

"Mmm hmmm. Now I think we can end this discussion for now."

"Mama-I think I will go and apologize to dear Sam for snapping at him. He is only little. May I be excused for a few moments?"

Bell nodded. "Of course dear."

Daisy gave her mother one last grin before leaving the room. Daisy found her little brother sitting on one of the overstuffed couches reading one of the books (upside down mind you) that Mr. Bilbo had given him for his previous birthday. He looked up when he heard footsteps.

"Hullo." Daisy greeted.

Sam's lower lip stuck out. He threw down his book, turned away and folded his arms tightly across his chest. Daisy tried very hard not to giggle at how rediculous the child looked. She went to sit down beside him.

"Go away." Sam snapped. "I don't want to talk to you."

Now it was Daisy's turn to fold her arms. "Samwise Gamgee, turn around so I can apologize to you correctly. It won't do no good to apologize to your back."

Sam slowly turned his head to face his older sister, but she noticed that his lip was still sticking out in a pout. "You were mean," He snapped.

Daisy nodded. "I know. I know I was." She drew him into a hug. "I was just a bit jumpy and did not mean to yell at you. Can you forgive me?"

Sam was trying very hard not to smile, but finally he did and threw his chubby little arms around his sister's waist. "Uh huh." He replied.

"Good."

What Daisy did not know was that her mother stood in the doorway of the living room, watching the two of them with a warm smile on her face. She shook her head softly before returning to her duties in the kitchen.