Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine (except for Regina and her da); they belong to the illustrious professor. I've just borrowed them to play with, but I promise to put them back.

Birthdays

            Birthdays in all different stages of Frodo's life. Some will be shorter than others. Reggie will make small appearances here and there.

Big Lad­- Frodo's 7th

            Young Frodo looked around him in amazement. Was all this for him? Had he remembered, his parents had been throwing him big birthday parties for most of his short life, but Frodo hadn't really understood until now. He looked at all the festooned trees and shrubbery. It was all so colorful! When his da had taken off the blindfold, Frodo had had to blink a few times to make sure it really was the yard behind Brandy Hall under all the decorations. "Do you like it, Frodo?" His ma prodded. Frodo nodded dumbly. "Well, good. Come along now, the guests are starting to get here."

            Milo Burrows and his older brother Marmadas had arrived, both looking very uncomfortable in their stiff party clothing. Frodo was uncomfortable in his new suit too, but he didn't care anymore. Ma and Frodo approached them with their gifts: two mathoms suited to younger folk, as were all of the gifts Frodo would be giving. "Hullo, Frodo." said big cousin Marmadas. "Happy birthday! I hear your turning seven! You're getting to be a big lad, now aren't you?"

            "Yes. Almost as big as you!" Frodo responded, jumping up and down to make himself seem taller. Marmadas laughed. Primula nudged Frodo a little. "Here." Frodo said simply, giving the brothers their gifts. They were two little wooden animals, a dog and a pony. A smile spread over little Milo's face.

            "Thank you, Frodo. Happy birthday." he said.

            "Yes, thanks, Frodo." Marmadas said, a tad bit distracted now that some hobbit lasses had begun to bring their younger siblings as well. "Hoy, I'm going to go over there now, but have a good party." He said, walking away as suavely as was possible in his own mind, and tripping over a tree root on the way there. Milo shook his head sagely.

            "Is he always like that?" Frodo asked incredulously.

            "Yes. Whenever a lass or food is in the room, my brother is there too. When he doesn't fall on the way there, that is." Milo said nodding. Primula nearly choked on her restrained laughter and Frodo gave her a disapproving look, which had the opposite of the desired effect and didn't help his ma's situation in the least.

            Frodo looked around at the arriving hobbits... he was looking for... looking for... ah! There she was! "Hoy! Regina!" He called to his best friend. He ran over to her and her da, grabbing her present on the way. He had worked hard on this one. He'd made a little vase, no more than a glob of clay, really, and picked some of Reggie's favorite flowers to put in it. They didn't stand up in the vase very well, but Frodo didn't notice and his parents had pretended not to. Regina's face had lit up when she had seen him. She was only five, but she and Frodo had formed a close friendship anyway. Frodo arrived at the pair panting slightly, followed by Primula at a more dignified pace.

            "Hello, Fwodo!" Regina cried happily. "Happy Birthday!" Frodo caught his breath.

            "Thanks, Reg! Here. I made it for you." He panted, handing her the vase. She smiled sweetly when she saw it.

            "Thank you, Fwodo! It's so pwetty!" She said taking it. Suddenly Frodo felt himself being swooped into the air by strong arms.

            "Grrrr!" growled Regina's father, Annanias, as he tickled Frodo. Then, "Oi! You're getting to be too big of a lad to pick up! Oh, but I forgot! You're a year older today! Why, you must be thirteen you're so big!" Frodo giggled. He'd never been mistaken for a teenager before!

            "N- no!" He said between giggles. "I'm only seven!"

            "Seven!" said Annanias, faking amazement. "Well, I'll be!" Primula laughed.

            "Go along, Frodo. Go greet your other guests." she said.

            "Alright. Come on, Reg."

            The party was over, the guests were gone, and Frodo was helping to clean up. "There," he said, picking up the last bit of paper off of the ground. "All done!" He and his parents began walking back to the Hall. They were silent for a while. "It was a good party." Frodo stated. His da began to laugh but was silenced with a stern look from Primula.

            "How do you mean, Frodo?" Drogo asked.

            "Well, it was fun. And everybody kept saying what a big lad I was!"

            "Really?" Drogo asked, amused.

            "Yes. Reggie's da even told me I looked like a teenager and that I was getting too big to pick up!" Frodo said emphatically.

            "Oh really?" Drogo said again. Frodo nodded. "Well, you're still not too big for you're ole' da to pick up." And with that he swung Frodo into his arms with a roar. Frodo giggled and snuggled down into his da's embrace. The small family was quiet again.

            "But you are getting to be a big lad, you know." Drogo said after a while.

            "I know..." Frodo said sleepily.

            "Well, here we are!" his da announced when they reached their rooms.

            "Shhhh..." Primula shushed him and nodded towards the tiny body in his arms.

            Frodo was fast asleep.