Disclaimer is on chapter 1.

Okay here's where thing get a bit Alternate Universe-y. (With great apologies Mr. Tolkien) I'm changing around a few things in the Scouring of the Shire. Mainly conversations. I'm not going to be all like "suddenly Mr. Frodo became a mighty morphing Power Ranger and used his super sonic ray to turn Worm tongue into a dog".. although.... wouldn't that make a funny story? Joking!

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***And oh behold the mayor's daughter

She was a treat for the eyes

Why this the only thing to live for

Just made you want to die***

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It was a rare occasion that it would rain so heavily in the Shire, almost as if the heavens themselves needed a good cleansing. Rosie felt like even the cosmos were weeping with her.

Beyond the constant patter of pouring rain a low sound was heard, dim the distance. At first she thought she had misheard but it came again.

Almost as if this was the call the sky had been waiting for the heavy rain lessened into a light shower. Finally able to seeing through the rain Rosie noticed a dark figure, riding in the distance, heading down their lane.

" Mother!" Rosie yelled, running out from her room. "Father! Tom!"

Only her middle brother Nibs and her mother answered the call. " What is it?" Lily Cotton asked pulling her robe tighter.

" Someone is coming." Rosie said hurriedly. " I don't know where father or the others are."

Lily Cotton's face went white. " Ted Sandyman." She breathed. " Nibs, get the pitchfork." She ordered, she turned to her daughter. "I will not let him take you."

" What's going on?" Nibs asked confused at the conversation going on in front of him.

"The pitchfork." Lily said shortly. "Get it."

Nibs usually the slowest of Rosie's brother's returned with the pitchfork within seconds. Before venturing outside to meet the stranger Nibs turned to Rosie and said solemnly. "I know I'm not the best relation in the Shire but by my life or death I will protect you."

Rosie looked at her brother as if seeing him for the first time. " I hope it never comes to that." She said holding him close.

Nibs walked out to the front porch ready for attack. Rosie stood at the door, feeling time slip past her.

" Come Rose." Lily Cotton said quietly, "leave through the backdoor."

"No." Rosie said, still standing at the front door. " I will stand with my brother. Ted Sandyman may take me from my family but he will not take them from me." With that she left the house.

Lily Cotton drew a breath before following her children. "A mother does not abandon her young." She said, placing her hands on Nibs and Rosie's shoulders as if to let the strength within her flow into them.

" It's me!" A voice on horseback called from the dark.

A flicker of hope rose within Rosie's soul, like a warm breeze on a summer's day all the fear and the pain of the past year evaporated leaving only delicious warmth.

".Sam Gamgee" The voice continued, trotting into the glow of the house. "So don't try prodding me Nibs. Anyway, I've got a mail shirt on me."

The Cotton's scarcely breathed lest they should disturb the sight in front of them. The pitchfork fell from Nibs hand, but all stayed silent.

A thinner, wiser Samwise Gamgee stood like a ghost before them. Sam wore his newfound pain and glory, like his proud new armor, for all to see. His hair was lighter than before but his steps heavier. "Good evening, Mrs. Cotton." He said solemnly. His cheeks pinkened slightly as he half-turned to Rosie. " Hullo, Rosie."

Rosie was the first to come out of their initial shock. Millions of thought coursed through her, she scarcely knew whether to fly at Sam in rage or break down weeping. Finally she settling with, "hullo Sam."

"Where have you been?" Rosie demanded after another moment of thought, then her voice softened slightly. "They said you were died; but I've been expecting you since spring." Rosie paused for a moment, watching Sam stand before her nervously. "You haven't hurried have you?" She asked him quietly. What did he have to return to anyway? She thought to herself.

"Perhaps not." Sam returned quietly, he looked up into her eyes and continued. "But I'm hurrying now." His face deepened it color as his gaze returned to the ground. "We're setting about the ruffians, and I've got to get back to Mr. Frodo. But I thought I'd have a look and see how Mrs. Cotton was keeping, and you, Rosie."

" We're keeping nicely." Lily Cotton interjected before her daughter could speak. " Or should be, if it weren't for those..." She turned slightly to her daughter and brushed a few tendrils of hair out of Rosie's face. "thieving ruffians."

Rosie pulled out of her mothers grasp. " Well, be off with you." She said looking at Sam coldly. "If you've been looking after Mr. Frodo all this time, what'd you want to leave him for, as soon as thing look dangerous?" Rosie knew she had hit an ill nerve with Sam even while she spoke. Repenting immediately she ran after Sam as he silently walked away and mounted his pony.

Grabbing the reins, she held the pony in place forcing Sam to look down at her. " I think you look fine, Sam." She said apologetically. "Go on now! But take care of yourself, and come back as soon as you've settled the ruffians."

**

" The Green Dragon is back in business!" Merry cheered, draping his arms around his fellow hobbits. "Come let us celebrate the End of the War with a good pint of ale!"

"Shouldn't we tend to the Shire first?" Sam protested, looking gloomily at the new buildings and mangled gardens.

"All in good time." Pippin said patting Sam's back. " I could use a good ale after what we've all been through."

" Are you coming Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked as Merry and Pippin waltzed ahead of them, singing in the dark.

Frodo slowly shook out of his silence. " I could use a few laughs." He said leisurely.

" Then it's settled." Sam was about to continue when he remembered a very important oath.

" What is it Sam?" Frodo asked, seeing the look of dismay on his friend's face.

" It's Rosie Cotton. I promised to go see her after ridding of the ruffians."

"Is that all?" Frodo said chuckling, not seeing the problem. "Well you go see to your Rosie."

But Sam was still reluctant to leave his master. "Will you be okay?"

" Of course!" Frodo said wholeheartedly. "I've got Merry and Pippin as well. Take as much time as you need."

**

A rustling in the bushes, halted Sam on his journey to the Cotton farm. Reaching for his sword he quietly crept upon a darkened shape. "Out with you!" He called feeling quite like the "Samwise the Brave" of his daydreams.

" You think you're so important." A slurring voice muttered as the shape stumbled out from the bushes.

Sam was shocked to see a fairly drunken Ted Sandyman standing in front of him.

**

"Rosie? What are you doing here?" Frodo asked confused, seeing the pretty hobbit maid serving Merry and Pippin their drinks. "Sam's was going up to the farm to meet you."

Rosie looked slightly shocked at Frodo's words. "I assumed Sam would see you to the Dragon."

Frodo shrugged slightly. " He must really like you." He teased. " You can still catch him on the road if you hurry."

" Thank you Frodo." Rosie smiled as she left.

**

"You think you're so important just 'cause you come into town with some new clothes." Ted Sandyman continued.

" Ted." Sam sighed. "Your drunk, and you're a fool. Go home, to your family.. that is if they still speak to you."

" You're still just a dirty..pathetic... gardener." Ted Sandyman said, as if the word 'gardener' was a curse. " The only thing you have in life is a stupid garden."

" Yes." Sam agreed, not wanting to rise to the bait. "I'll have that. But I'll also have my family and loyal, caring friends. What do you have?"

Ted Sandyman smiled, much like a cat that had finally killed it's prey. " I have her." He pointed just beyond Sam.

Sam turned to seeing whom Ted was pointing at and his heart dropped to his feet. Standing there, almost glowing in the pale moonlight, stood a very frightened Rosie Cotton.

Ted Sandyman, seeing he had finally won. "Sam, have you met my fiancée?" He drawled.

Sam looked at Rosie, his heartbreaking with every passing second. But Rosie, refused to return his gaze. In a sort of nightmare-ish haze he rounded onto Ted Sandyman and threw the hardest punch he dealt in his life. He watched with grim satisfaction as Ted Sandyman crumpled to the ground unconscious immediately.

" Sam? Please." Rosie pleaded softy, as Sam pushed past her and resolutely avoided her face. She watched his shoulders crumpled as he walked away from her. "You don't understand." She whispered as he became a shadow in the night.

***** Coming soon (preferably Monday), can Frodo help repair this tangled web? Wow, is it just me or is Ted Sandyman constantly drunk? Oh well.