Frodo woke up slowly. The sun was already up and glaring through the window into his now squinted eyes. He was in the sitting room on the couch and there was something warm in his arms. By this time Frodo was awake enough to move and he looked down. There was Regina, peacefully asleep and snuggled cozily into his chest, her arms curled snugly around him. He smiled as memories of last night's kiss flooded his mind. The kiss had lasted seemingly forever, yet not near long enough. They had laid snuggled close on the couch, staring into the dying ashes until they had both fallen asleep.
Frodo wondered offhandedly if Bilbo or Gandalf were awake. He thought suddenly what they might think if they had seen he and Regina in their current position. 'They know better.' He thought dismissively. 'Ah, well, I suppose they've known about us for longer than we ourselves have, anyway.' He continued staring at Reggie, and he was content. Why could this not go on forever? They loved each other, and that was all they needed. She looked so peaceful, so happy. It was so right that they should be together. Looking at her, Frodo realized that he loved her more than life itself and that he would do anything for her, she needed just to mention it. He also realized, though, how young she looked. How young she was. How young they both were. Why, they were hardly into their tweens! Many young tweenagers had barely discovered those of the other gender, much less thought of love and… and of marriage. For Frodo knew that he and Regina would be married one day, when he came of age. 'When I come of age… eleven more years! Ah, but I cannot wait! Not that long!' Frodo searched his mind, but he realized that there was no way around it. It just simply wasn't done. 'But what could I give her before then, anyway?' He thought rationally, though his heart still cried out in rebellion. 'I will not have my inheritance until then, and I wouldn't have her live in someone else's home. She is my queen, and won't be treated as anything less.' But in his heart, a fear arose: a growing fear that for some reason Regina would not be a part of his life in eleven years. 'That's ridiculous!' His mind cried, and he looked down at Regina quickly, as if to make sure she was still actually there.
Frodo slowly moved his hand to Regina's face and brushed a stray red curl out of her eyes. She was so beautiful. Regina stirred slightly and her eyelashes fluttered. Suddenly Frodo found himself under the scrutiny of two sea-gray eyes surrounded by long auburn lashes. He smiled tenderly at the face that harbored them. "Good-morning, Reggie. Sorry I woke you." Regina yawned and quickly brought a hand up to cover it.
"Good-morning, Frodo, dear! Don't worry about it! It's high time we got up anyway, by the looks of it. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, better than ever before. You?" Frodo asked. Regina sighed happily.
"Just as well. I am a wee bit hungry, though. I wonder if Bilbo has gotten that promised breakfast ready." She said drowsily. "What time is it?"
"It's half-past nine, since you asked, and yes, Bilbo has long had breakfast ready." Came the voice of Gandalf from the doorway. "You two looked so peaceful we couldn't bear to wake you, but now you will have to pay the price for our good will. I'm afraid breakfast is quite cold, but if you wait a while, Bilbo promised second breakfast shortly."
Frodo and Regina looked slightly sheepish and were silent for a moment. "Good-morning to you, too, Gandalf!" Reggie said, sitting up. "Lovely day, isn't it?" Gandalf chuckled.
"It is indeed, Regina." And with a nod at a still silent Frodo, he turned and went back to wherever he had come from.
"Well that was odd." Reggie stated. Frodo looked thoughtful.
"Yes. He didn't seem the least bit surprised about us at all. You'd think he and Bilbo were expecting to wake up to this one morning." He said. Regina laughed.
"I'm sure they were! In fact, I think they planned it, the rascals!"
"No harm done, though." Frodo said.
"True. We probably owe them a debt of gratitude, actually." Regina said, smiling. Frodo was relieved. It hadn't been just part of the moment! She really cared! She truly loved him. 'But what next?' Frodo thought. 'Where do we go from here?'
"Well," he said. "I suppose Gandalf is leaving tomorrow, and you said you'd be leaving the next day, right?"
"Yes." Reggie responded quietly. They were silent for a moment.
"I don't think I can stand for you to leave." Frodo said solemnly.
"I don't know how I'll be able to leave, either. It just won't be the same back at Brandy Hall. I'll always feel like... like I've left part of me behind." Reggie said, her lip quivering slightly. "You'll have to come and stay in Buckland for a while." Frodo put his arm around her comfortingly, as he had so many times before, but this time was different. Reggie leaned her head over on his shoulder.
"Of course I will, and you will have to come back to Bag End whenever you can." Frodo said softly. "Bilbo will be happy to have you." They were quiet again.
They heard Bilbo come in the door of Bag End. He and Gandalf began to talk, but Frodo couldn't quite catch the words. Then, "Second breakfast is almost ready!" called the voice of Bilbo. "Come and wash up, you lazy-heads!" Frodo sighed and shook his head, smiling.
"Well so much for the 'Good-morning, dears! Did you sleep well?'" Frodo said, bemused. Regina laughed softly.
"You know, Frodo, we should be glad he didn't wake us with cold water!" She reminded him.
"True. Once is quite enough." Frodo agreed.
"Hurry, you two! Don't miss this meal as well!" Bilbo's shrill voice came again, only this time he appeared in the doorway a few seconds later. "Come on!" he said again.
Frodo and Regina, resigned to their fate of a good breakfast, got up hand-in-hand and followed Bilbo to the kitchen.
On the way out Reggie squeezed Frodo's hand and whispered, "I love you." Into his ear. Frodo smiled at her.
"I love you, too."
~THE END~
Please review! You don't know how much it means. If you don't review it, I don't know you've read it, so leave your mark!!! A big thank you to all of you who have been telling me specific lines you like. It's very encouraging. Thanks for reading!