Hello everyone! I am sorry this took so long, but I had a bit of writer's
block. Big thanks to Mint Sauce and Lady of Ithilien for helping me get
past it! Everyone bow down to them! *bows*
Rosa Cotton: I'm glad you like Estella. I know that it was really fun to write her, and try to get inside her head!
Lady of Ithilien: *joins in the happy dance* As to whether Estella will be forgiven, you'll see in this chapter!
Mint Sauce: Yes, Estella is finally getting the hang of it! Merry sure brings out the best in her, doesn't he? (My brother knew a seven year old girl once who would always act like Mr. Burns . . . sorry random though.)
Herculeha: Thank you very very much! *Gasp* I'm not writing on a Saturday morning!
Arwen Baggins: Thank you very much! I actually am considering a Merry/Estella story . . .
Loveofthering: You are always so kind in your reviews! Thank you very much! Well, here is the last chapter! :0)
Lemondrop: Haha! Yup, Sam will have several more births to look forward to! Hehe. I'm glad you like Estella! She was fun to write.
NOTE: If any of you are wondering where I am going to go from here, after this story is over, don't worry cause I'm going to still be writing! I'm still going to work on my other Sam story, Rain Rain Go Away. Also, since I have had so much fun writing the small moments between Merry and Estella, and also because all of your comments concerning them, I think the plot bunnies have come up with an idea for a story about them. I'm not sure how long it will take to develop, but at least you all have that to look forward to!
Enjoy the last chapter!
**********************************************************
"No, Merry." Estella whispered, backing away from the door hesitantly. "I cannot."
Grabbing her hand, Merry squeezed it reassuringly. "Of course you can."
"No!" Estella yanked her hand away from his. "They were not supposed to find out! I did not want them to know what I did."
"Estella . . ." Merry took her chin in his hand and lifted her gaze up to meet his. "I know you care about them. You have a kind heart. You know what you should do."
Estella, though staring into his eyes unflinchingly, felt the ice in her glance begin to melt.
************************************************
"Estella!" Rosie exclaimed from her position on the bed (And Elanor still in her arms, for Rosie couldn't bear to let her go), watching as the other hobbit made her way into the room. The chair beside Rosie's bed was empty, for Sam had finally been convinced to go get something to eat. Estella and Rosie were alone.
"What brings you in here, Estella?" Rosie asked politely. "I thought you were with Merry."
Estella, seeming to be observing something fascinating on the floor, replied simply, "Well, I was."
Rosie's eyes twinkled. "Did you enjoy your time with Merry? You seem to spend an awful lot of time with him."
Estella's head snapped up. "What?" She floundered for a second, and then regained her composure. "Oh, well . . . he talked to me."
Rosie did not respond, but tilted her head to show she was listening.
"Rosie," Estella confessed. "I tried to keep Sam out during the birth." Estella's expression rendered an unnatural sadness. "I was afraid that something bad would come of it. I lied to you both." Estella had to gather up much of her reserves of strength to say the next words, words that very seldom passed her lips. "I'm sorry."
Rosie smiled, and patted the seat of chair beside her bed, motioning for Estella to come and sit down beside her. Estella reluctantly obliged.
"Estella," Rosie said kindly. "Do not worry. I never doubted that you would do anything to hurt either me or my Sam." Rosie's smile grew wider. "I know that sometimes you do not often display this side of you,"
At this Estella blushed slightly and looked away.
"But," Rosie insisted, "You are my friend, and I know you well. I know you have a kind heart."
Not knowing what to say, Estella just nodded.
"Hey, friend!" Rosie laughed jokingly. "We have just had a touching moment in our friendship! It is only proper that we embrace!"
Estella let loose a small chuckle, but kept her face mostly solemn. "I do not embrace anyone."
Rosie only laughed harder. "Oh, forgive me, Estella. I must have forgotten."
************************************************
As soon as Rosie was fit to be out of bed, she bid Sam to take a chair outdoors, so that she could sit on the lawn and enjoy the glorious spring sunshine. So it was, that she sat curled up and snuggled in quilts, with little baby Elanor on her lap. Sam went about his work tending the gardens, for there was no other place his heart may reside, except with his wife.
Merry and Estella sat on a blanket on the grass, a basket of muffins in between them. Merry kept on prodding Estella to toss him little chunks of muffin, and see if he could catch them in his mouth. Refusing, she insisted that he was immature, and scolded him to act his age.
At Rosie's insistence, Frodo also came out to join them, though he sat apart, under the shade of a nearby tree, a book in his lap. The talk and laughter of the group was faint in his ears.
Sam, looking up from his gardening, saw his Master alone and apart, put down his tools, and went to bring Frodo closer to the rest. To set on reaching his Master, he did not see the figure rushing heedless up the path, until it was too late. They collided in a tumble of limbs.
Sam was horrified that his carelessness had gotten both he and the other hobbit covered in dirt and dust. He helped the other hobbit up, assisting him in brushing the dirt off his cloak. "Oh dear, me! I am sorry sir! I did not see . . ." It was then that Sam actually did see who it was whom he was addressing.
"Pippin!" Exclaimed Merry, running down to meet him. "What on earth are you doing dragging poor Sam down into the dirt?" With a smile, the two hobbits embraced each other.
"Oh Merry!" Pippin laughed. "I was so frantic to get here. We got news from Buckland that you had left for Bag End! I had no idea what you could have been doing here, and then it hit me!" Pippin slapped his forehead to illustrate just exactly how it had 'hit him.' "Sam and Rosie's baby!"
"Oh!" Merry laughed, Estella coming up to stand at his side. "I'm proud of you for figuring that out Pip! It seems you haven't been to busy daydreaming about a certain Diamond!"
Pippin glared mockingly. "Don't you try to use that against me!" He gestured towards Estella. "I could throw the same tactic right back at you!" Before Merry could retort back, Pippin turned to Sam. "So, where are your sweetheart and the little one?"
Sam smiled and pointed up the hill. "Up here. Follow me." He led Pippin, still squabbling with Merry, up the hill to where Rosie sat seated with Elanor.
Pippin, at the sight of the mother and her child, dropped to one knee, after performing an overly eloquent bow. "My Lady," He stated in an exaggerated regal tone. "Would you grant me the honor of holding your beautiful child?"
Rosie could not help but giggle. "Get up off the ground, Pip, and stop acting important Pip, and I just may let you!"
Pippin grinned and jumped to his feet. Rosie held out her daughter for Pippin to take into his arms. Pippin looked at her for a moment, before turning his cheerful face to Sam. "Sam, my dear hobbit!" He gasped playfully. "Your daughter looks nothing like you!"
They all laughed so hard, they feared they would burst.
****************************************
Frodo Baggins, still sitting apart from the others, watched the amusing scene unfold before him. A smile came to his lips.
The End
Rosa Cotton: I'm glad you like Estella. I know that it was really fun to write her, and try to get inside her head!
Lady of Ithilien: *joins in the happy dance* As to whether Estella will be forgiven, you'll see in this chapter!
Mint Sauce: Yes, Estella is finally getting the hang of it! Merry sure brings out the best in her, doesn't he? (My brother knew a seven year old girl once who would always act like Mr. Burns . . . sorry random though.)
Herculeha: Thank you very very much! *Gasp* I'm not writing on a Saturday morning!
Arwen Baggins: Thank you very much! I actually am considering a Merry/Estella story . . .
Loveofthering: You are always so kind in your reviews! Thank you very much! Well, here is the last chapter! :0)
Lemondrop: Haha! Yup, Sam will have several more births to look forward to! Hehe. I'm glad you like Estella! She was fun to write.
NOTE: If any of you are wondering where I am going to go from here, after this story is over, don't worry cause I'm going to still be writing! I'm still going to work on my other Sam story, Rain Rain Go Away. Also, since I have had so much fun writing the small moments between Merry and Estella, and also because all of your comments concerning them, I think the plot bunnies have come up with an idea for a story about them. I'm not sure how long it will take to develop, but at least you all have that to look forward to!
Enjoy the last chapter!
**********************************************************
"No, Merry." Estella whispered, backing away from the door hesitantly. "I cannot."
Grabbing her hand, Merry squeezed it reassuringly. "Of course you can."
"No!" Estella yanked her hand away from his. "They were not supposed to find out! I did not want them to know what I did."
"Estella . . ." Merry took her chin in his hand and lifted her gaze up to meet his. "I know you care about them. You have a kind heart. You know what you should do."
Estella, though staring into his eyes unflinchingly, felt the ice in her glance begin to melt.
************************************************
"Estella!" Rosie exclaimed from her position on the bed (And Elanor still in her arms, for Rosie couldn't bear to let her go), watching as the other hobbit made her way into the room. The chair beside Rosie's bed was empty, for Sam had finally been convinced to go get something to eat. Estella and Rosie were alone.
"What brings you in here, Estella?" Rosie asked politely. "I thought you were with Merry."
Estella, seeming to be observing something fascinating on the floor, replied simply, "Well, I was."
Rosie's eyes twinkled. "Did you enjoy your time with Merry? You seem to spend an awful lot of time with him."
Estella's head snapped up. "What?" She floundered for a second, and then regained her composure. "Oh, well . . . he talked to me."
Rosie did not respond, but tilted her head to show she was listening.
"Rosie," Estella confessed. "I tried to keep Sam out during the birth." Estella's expression rendered an unnatural sadness. "I was afraid that something bad would come of it. I lied to you both." Estella had to gather up much of her reserves of strength to say the next words, words that very seldom passed her lips. "I'm sorry."
Rosie smiled, and patted the seat of chair beside her bed, motioning for Estella to come and sit down beside her. Estella reluctantly obliged.
"Estella," Rosie said kindly. "Do not worry. I never doubted that you would do anything to hurt either me or my Sam." Rosie's smile grew wider. "I know that sometimes you do not often display this side of you,"
At this Estella blushed slightly and looked away.
"But," Rosie insisted, "You are my friend, and I know you well. I know you have a kind heart."
Not knowing what to say, Estella just nodded.
"Hey, friend!" Rosie laughed jokingly. "We have just had a touching moment in our friendship! It is only proper that we embrace!"
Estella let loose a small chuckle, but kept her face mostly solemn. "I do not embrace anyone."
Rosie only laughed harder. "Oh, forgive me, Estella. I must have forgotten."
************************************************
As soon as Rosie was fit to be out of bed, she bid Sam to take a chair outdoors, so that she could sit on the lawn and enjoy the glorious spring sunshine. So it was, that she sat curled up and snuggled in quilts, with little baby Elanor on her lap. Sam went about his work tending the gardens, for there was no other place his heart may reside, except with his wife.
Merry and Estella sat on a blanket on the grass, a basket of muffins in between them. Merry kept on prodding Estella to toss him little chunks of muffin, and see if he could catch them in his mouth. Refusing, she insisted that he was immature, and scolded him to act his age.
At Rosie's insistence, Frodo also came out to join them, though he sat apart, under the shade of a nearby tree, a book in his lap. The talk and laughter of the group was faint in his ears.
Sam, looking up from his gardening, saw his Master alone and apart, put down his tools, and went to bring Frodo closer to the rest. To set on reaching his Master, he did not see the figure rushing heedless up the path, until it was too late. They collided in a tumble of limbs.
Sam was horrified that his carelessness had gotten both he and the other hobbit covered in dirt and dust. He helped the other hobbit up, assisting him in brushing the dirt off his cloak. "Oh dear, me! I am sorry sir! I did not see . . ." It was then that Sam actually did see who it was whom he was addressing.
"Pippin!" Exclaimed Merry, running down to meet him. "What on earth are you doing dragging poor Sam down into the dirt?" With a smile, the two hobbits embraced each other.
"Oh Merry!" Pippin laughed. "I was so frantic to get here. We got news from Buckland that you had left for Bag End! I had no idea what you could have been doing here, and then it hit me!" Pippin slapped his forehead to illustrate just exactly how it had 'hit him.' "Sam and Rosie's baby!"
"Oh!" Merry laughed, Estella coming up to stand at his side. "I'm proud of you for figuring that out Pip! It seems you haven't been to busy daydreaming about a certain Diamond!"
Pippin glared mockingly. "Don't you try to use that against me!" He gestured towards Estella. "I could throw the same tactic right back at you!" Before Merry could retort back, Pippin turned to Sam. "So, where are your sweetheart and the little one?"
Sam smiled and pointed up the hill. "Up here. Follow me." He led Pippin, still squabbling with Merry, up the hill to where Rosie sat seated with Elanor.
Pippin, at the sight of the mother and her child, dropped to one knee, after performing an overly eloquent bow. "My Lady," He stated in an exaggerated regal tone. "Would you grant me the honor of holding your beautiful child?"
Rosie could not help but giggle. "Get up off the ground, Pip, and stop acting important Pip, and I just may let you!"
Pippin grinned and jumped to his feet. Rosie held out her daughter for Pippin to take into his arms. Pippin looked at her for a moment, before turning his cheerful face to Sam. "Sam, my dear hobbit!" He gasped playfully. "Your daughter looks nothing like you!"
They all laughed so hard, they feared they would burst.
****************************************
Frodo Baggins, still sitting apart from the others, watched the amusing scene unfold before him. A smile came to his lips.
The End