Lucia I. L. Tanaka - Glad you're enjoying this story. It's a short one, but one that's been rattling around in my brain for some time.

Breon Briarwood - Hobbits and furry little kitties are a recipe for cuteness, aren't they? That cat knows trouble when she sees it, aka Lotho!

Shirebound - Frodo seems the sort that a gentle animal would be drawn to. In my experience, cats are very perceptive! We'll see Widow Rumble's reaction to the cat in this final chapter.

Camellia Gamgee - Took - Not all of us are cat lovers, I suppose. But given Frodo's experience with Farmer Maggot's dogs, I figured he might have more of an affinity with felines, lol!

Endymion2 - The cat is in no way related to Bramblethorn, thank goodness! This was written shortly after "Harvest of Ashes", maybe as a way to recover from all that angst. I may be wrong to capitalize "Uncle" without following it with a name, but I'm using it in sort of a respectful replacement of a proper name. I'll have to check the guidelines on that!

Mythwen - Not much is cuter than young hobbits and young cats!

Hobbitfeet 13 - This story is quite a tame one coming on the heels of my last piece. My four kitties were the main inspiration.

Cpsings4him - A home for the kitty is to be found in this chapter, as you might have suspected. Here's more for you!

Shelbyshire - The cat would probably love to meet your parakeet. (Yikes!) Lotho is a poop. Willow Wode's Lotho has become what I picture of that character too.

Sam - I would hate to be allergic to cats. I love my four so much! Frodo will do a very good deed in this chapter.

FrodoBaggins87 - Nothing like reading a cat story with your own kitty nearby.

FrodoBaggins1982 - Cats have all the fun, don't they? Watching the behavior of my own pets has helped with the portrayal of the kitten.

GamgeeFest - I've never been owned by an orange tabby, but I've got a gray and black one who is a real fireball!

Iorhael - Too bad Frodo can't keep the cat, but she's going to bring joy to someone who needs it!

GentleHobbit - Bilbo's allergies are going to prevent Frodo from keeping the cat, but there's someone not far away who will love her.

Spootasia Tomoe - It was fun writing the cat's point of view. I often watch my kitties and wonder what they're thinking.

Chapter 3 - A Gift of Comfort

Just after elevenses the next morning, Frodo found a basket with a hinged lid and coaxed the cat into it. She inspected the space curiously and leapt in, curling up happily inside. "Come on, girl. Let's go pay a visit," he said as he settled the basket in his arms. He left by the back gate and made his way down the Row to a smial at the very end, the home of Widow Rumble.

Standing on the front steps, Frodo took a deep breath and steadied himself. He rang the bell and waited. Just as he thought his summons would be ignored entirely, the door swept open and there stood Mrs. Rumble, glaring sourly at him. All that he had carefully planned to say was forgotten as he faced that stern gaze.

"G - good morning, Mrs. Rumble," he stammered, shifting from one foot to the other nervously.

"Good morning, Master Baggins," she said, her tone not really cold, but not inviting either. "What brings you to my door?"

"I - I was just wondering - " Frodo cleared his throat and looked down at the basket in his arms.

"Well, now, what were you wondering about, young hobbit?" She prodded. "I've things to do and can't be standing in my doorway all the day long, you know."

"I was wondering if you would like - um, I mean, I've someone I'd like you to meet - " As Frodo struggled for words under Mrs. Rumble's scrutiny, the basket shifted in his hands and the lid flew up. The cat leapt out unbidden and darted through the open door into the smial as Frodo gaped in horror.

"Oh my!" Mrs. Rumble gasped in surprise, her hand flying to her breast. The cat began to sniff at her feet and legs.

"Oh, Mrs. Rumble, please forgive me," Frodo said, trying to coax the cat back into the basket.

Mrs. Rumble didn't seem to hear him. She was staring at the cat as it wound about her legs, purring. She bent slowly and picked the cat up, settling it in her arms. Rather gingerly she began to stroke the fur on its head, listening to the purring that followed.

"Mrs. Rumble?" Frodo said quietly. "I wanted you to meet her. I don't even know if you like cats, so I hope you'll forgive my intrusion."

"She's lovely," Mrs. Rumble said softly. "Is she yours?"

"No, Ma'am," Frodo answered, smiling slightly. "She wanted to be, but Bilbo is allergic to cats. I've been looking for a good home for her and when I saw you yesterday - "

"You thought of me," she said quietly. When she looked up again, Frodo thought he saw tears in her eyes.

"Well, yes, I did," Frodo said. "I just thought maybe you could use a friend."

"A friend, yes." She looked again at the little cat and she smiled. It was the first time she had smiled in some time, she realized. She suddenly felt as if she were seeing the sun break through a layer of clouds for the first time in many days. During the past few months she had hidden herself away except for the necessary excursions to the market. She had come to loathe the pitying looks and the words that were meant to console her. Now here was this young hobbit at her door, bringing not useless condolences, but something genuine and generous, a gift of simple kindness.

"I haven't named her," Frodo ventured. "Would you like to keep her?"

"Yes, young Frodo, I would like that very much," Mrs. Rumble answered, her eyes dancing. "I think I'll call her Sunny. She's the color of sunshine and brings cheer with her where she goes."

"She does at that," Frodo agreed, smiling broadly now. "Thank you, Mrs. Rumble. I know she'll be happy here."

"Thank you, Frodo. We'll both be happy, I think."

Frodo turned to leave but Mrs. Rumble stopped him with a light touch on the shoulder. "You and Bilbo are always welcome, you know," she said softly.

"And you are always welcome at Bag End as well," Frodo answered politely. He bade her farewell and walked up the path, the empty basket swinging on his arm and a warm feeling flooding through him.

~*~

"Frodo, what have you been up to?" Bilbo asked as Frodo entered the kitchen at breakfast time the following day. "Been out and about charming the ladies, have you?"

"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked a hint of amused confusion in his tone.

"Oh, just baskets of home made apple tarts appearing on the steps with notes of thanks," Bilbo said, gesturing to a basket on the table. A delicious aroma was issuing from it, and Frodo looked at it in wonder.

"Notes? From whom?" he asked. Bilbo handed a folded message to him and he began to read it.

Dear Master Frodo,

I wish to thank you properly for your wonderful gift and visit yesterday. I confess I was rather startled to find a young hobbit at my door, or anyone for that matter. Since Mr. Rumble's passing I've not been very good company, I fear.

Your gift has brought a joy into my heart that has been absent for some while. Sunny and I are getting on splendidly. She is simply delightful and seems to know exactly when I'm in need of her.

I hope you and Bilbo are doing well, and that you will enjoy the apple tarts. You are a fine lad, and Bilbo must be very proud of you.

Sincerest regards,

Mrs. Rumble

As Frodo stared at the note, Bilbo patted his arm and said, "The coming of that little cat seems to have been a good thing indeed."

"Yes, it has," Frodo responded. "I'm so glad she has a good home."

"You've done a fine deed, lad," Bilbo praised the tween. "You did what so many others have failed to do."

"What do you mean?" Frodo regarded Bilbo quizzically.

"You've provided true solace to one who was very much in need of it, and all by being thoughtful. Mrs. Rumble didn't need to hear anyone say how sorry they are to hear of her husband's passing, or any of the other things most adults say as a matter of course or habit. She needed to have someone say 'I'm thinking of you.'"

Frodo nodded, understanding. "You should have seen her when the cat jumped out of the basket. She was surprised at first, but then she just sort of... changed somehow."

"The same way you did, all those years ago when you lost your parents. Do you remember?" Bilbo watched as Frodo's gaze became wistful and faraway.

"Yes. For months I avoided everyone. I thought if I could hide away from them I could hide from my sorrow too. And then you came to visit."

Bilbo had indeed gone to Buckland a few months after Frodo's tragic loss, for the express purpose of seeing how the lad was getting on. There had been an emptiness in Frodo's eyes that had disturbed him greatly, and he had decided to try to draw him out the only way he could think of.

"I left the book right where I knew you would find it," Bilbo recalled. "I didn't have a cat to give you as a friend, but I thought perhaps the lure of a good tale would bring you into the open again. After all, you are a Baggins."

That last statement brought a laugh from Frodo. "Yes, I am at that," he agreed. "And rather than patting me on the head and saying, 'poor lad', you gave me something else to think about, something to capture my attention besides my sadness."

"Time heals most things, Frodo. You and Mrs. Rumble will always remember those you have lost, but you'll treasure those who remain near you and you'll let them bring you joy." Bilbo handed Frodo a cup of tea and raised his in salute. "To life and all the good things it brings us, Frodo lad."

Two teacups rang against each other in the kitchen of Bag End.

~*~ End ~*~