//I can't remember when you weren't there\\
//When I didn't care for anyone but you\\
//I swear we've been through everything there is\\
//Can't imagine anything we've missed\\
//Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do\\
-"Through the Years", Kenny Rogers
Chapter One
~Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar site. We were home~
-Frodo Baggins, 1420, S.R.
We passed the Buckleberry Ferry which meant we were that much closer home. I think that we were mostly taking our time, I mean we had been gone for thirteen months; what was a few more minutes?
"Are you all right?" Pippin asked me.
"Fine," I smiled. "Just excited is all."
And there it was. The rolling hills and open roads of the Shire. The first home we passed was the Proudfoot's. Mr. Proudfoot was on his front porch, sweeping. As we each went by him on our ponies we nodded and he just shook his head and went on with his cleaning.
Merry and Pippin lived in one direction and separated from us. Before leaving, Pippin placed a soft kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you later?"
"Yes," I smiled. And they turned down the path. Frodo, Sam and I went forward. I could see my home from where we were and I stopped my pony.
"Aren't you going?" Frodo asked.
I took a deep breath. "Yes." I got closer to my home and saw that my mother was on the porch, hanging a few flowers above the door.
I missed my home so much. The little picket fence, the warm kitchen and dining area, Father's study and my nice warm bed. I wondered if Mother had done anything with it.
I stopped my pony at the fence and hopped off. Mother turned slightly, expecting to probably see a bird or perhaps a wondering dog, but her jaw dropped when she saw it was me. "Wisteria?"
"Momma," I quietly replied.
She slowly came down the stone path and opened the gate. She just looked at me, observing my clothes and pony tied to the fence. "You're wearing a dress."
"Mum," I repeated. She came even closer and took me in her arms.
"Poppy, Ivy, Tigerlily, Fastolph!" she called and released me. "We've all been so worried about you." She stroked my hair. "All of you and all of us. The Brandybucks, Tooks, Cottons and Gamgees. Girls, Fastolph! Come quick! She's home!"
The door opened and my sisters stopped when they saw me. "Wisteria!" Ivy yelled. They came running to me, almost knocking me over with their embrace.
"We missed you!" Tigerlily cheered.
"We were so worried!" Poppy said. "Mrs. Took and Mrs. Brandybuck were here a lot hoping you'd bring Merry and Pippin home!"
"I thought you didn't like the Tooks," I laughed to Mother.
"Don't be silly," she replied. "We just didn't like you getting in trouble with Peregrin. His mother and father missed him greatly."
"That's good," I smiled. I looked at my mother and sisters. Each had tears streaming down their cheeks, but were still smiling with me.
"Wisteria," I saw my father at the door. He leaned on his cane as he hobbled down the path. He stroked my cheek. "It is good that you are home." I smiled and sniffled. "Come, come inside." He ushered my sisters, mother and I inside.
Home. I looked around the hall. The den to the left, the kitchen to the right, five bedrooms, and my door.
"We left your room as it was," Mum told. "Now..."she held back I sob. "I never thought you'd come home. But...you, you must tell us everything. No, we must inform Mayor Boffin, that, that you all. Wait, did you all come back? I know that Mrs. Brandybuck would be broken if anything happened to Merry, and Mrs. Took, they, they miss their brother so much. And Rosie, she spoke of Sam every day."
"We all came home Mum. The worse that happened was Frodo injured his hand,"
"Good," she smiled. "But, yes we must inform Mayor Boffin, there should be a celebration tonight." She wiped her tears. "Ivy, go, go and see if you can get message to Mayor Boffin."
"Yes, Mum," she pulled on a cloak and went out the door.
"But, come, Wisteria, sit, you must be hungry," she rushed off to the kitchen. Poppy and Tigerlily followed her. Father leaned on his cane again.
"She missed you so much," he said. "She wondered why you left."
"I didn't go on purpose," I replied. "I was out-"
"Don't say anything!" Mum ordered. "Come, and sit and tell us." Father and I went into the kitchen and sat on the table.
It was just as it had always been. Father sat at the head of the table, in a large wooden chair, Mum was to his right, I sat to the left, Ivy came back to sit next to me and Tigerlily and Poppy were on the other side.
"Mayor Boffin said he already heard from the Gaffer, the Tooks and Brandybucks and says that he is organizing something for tomorrow,"
"Thank you, Ivy," Mum gushed. "Now, Wisteria, tell us, why did you leave?"
"I...I didn't do it on purpose. Merry, Pippin and I left on accident. We were in Farmer Maggot's crop and bumped into Frodo Baggins and Sam. And there was this Black Rider chasing us. We had to get Sam and Frodo to Bree and we did," and I found myself spilling my heart out about the last thirteen-months of my life.
I told them of meeting Strider and at Weathertop when Frodo was stabbed and how I hit my head. (Mum gasped at this, but I assured her the injury was well over a year old and nothing to worry about). Poppy and Tigerlily got excited when I spoke of Rivendell and the Elves and immediately wanted to know if they could borrow my Elven dresses.
I told them how I sneaked out into wilderness to f my friends and the caves of Moria. Mother had tears in her eyes when I told her of Gandalf falling, and the girls got happier when I spoke of Lorien and those Elves. I spoke of being captured by the Orcs, and getting separated from Merry and Pippin. The Riders of Rohan and meeting Eowyn and the girls wanted to borrow my human dresses. I told how I was trapped under ground during the Battle of Helm's Deep and how I had injured my leg, but Legolas healed me.
I told them of loosing Pippin again and riding to battle for Middle Earth and how I had to dress as a man in order to fight. I told them I had finally found Pippin and a wounded Merry on the battle field. I spoke of the Black Gate and the great light once the ring was destroyed and how we had thousands of humans bowing down to five little hobbits.
"That was so beautiful," Mum dabbed the corner of her eyes.
Beautiful? Yes, I suppose it was. A long, beautiful and worthwhile journey.
******
For the first time in a year, I lay on my soft, feathered bed. I slept in my own night ware, I had brushed my hair out with my brush, I had opened MY window and the moonlight was shinning on my face. I was home.
As I closed my eyes, I heard a small rustling outside my window. "Psst!" I rolled my head to the window to seeing a pair of dark green eyes watching me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, walking over to him.
"Had to see you," he smiled, giving me a light kiss. "Did you get all the questions?"
"Yes, I'm told there is going to be a party in our honor tomorrow,"
He nodded. "I just had to see you tonight." He kissed me again. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight," one last kiss before he disappeared from my window. I chewed on my thumb nail, happily as I went back to my bed. A worthwhile journey indeed.
******
:: M'heart was all a flutter as I started down the dirt path to my house. I had sneaked over to her house millions of times before, but now... I could feel the grin on m'face. It was late, but I wasn't in the least bit tired.
When I had gotten home earlier that day, the only one in the house was m'youngest older sister Pervinca. She was so excited and shocked to see me that she fainted. I felt bad for laughin' but I couldn't help it! She had teased, tortured and avoided me the whole twenty-nine years of m'life and I'm only gone for thirteen months and she was happy to see me! I'd never understand my siblings.
When Ma got home she was carryin' several bags from market, and dropped them on the kitchen floor. I felt bad then because she had milk and some eggs that broke. Pearl and Pimpernel walked in right after and dropped their bags as well.
I had never gotten as much attention from them as I did within those precious moments I returned.
I continued down the path until I reached home. I walked through the front door and was stopped my Da, sitting in the den. "And where were you?" he asked me.
"Just went for a walk,"
"In the dead of night?" he exhaled from his smoked pipe.
"I had to check on somethin'," I shuffled my feet. I never felt confident around Da. He was normally yellin' at me or ignorin' me.
"You're mother would be worried if she found your bed empty. You know how she sometimes checks on you children,"
"I know," I quietly replied. My eyes were heavily fixed on the floor.
He chewed on the pipe and exhaled at the same time. "Go on lad. Head to bed."
"Yes, Da," I quickly went straight to m'room.
I lay in my bed, the first time in ages, my bed. While I was gone, Ma dinn'a touch anythin' in hopes that I'd return.
I heard my door creek open and I looked up. Ma was standin' in the doorway. "Did I wake you?" she asked. I shook my head and she walked a little further in. "Is everything okay? I didn't want to move anything or let Pervinca take over."
"It's fine Ma,"
"Good," she smiled. She came right up to the bed and pulled the sheets up to my shoulders, just like when I was a little boy. "Good night." And she kissed my forehead. "We missed you." Was all she answered before leavin' and closin' the door. I could hear her cryin' on the other side.
I rolled away to my window. The flutter in m'heart had went down a bit, my family had actually missed me.::
//When I didn't care for anyone but you\\
//I swear we've been through everything there is\\
//Can't imagine anything we've missed\\
//Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do\\
-"Through the Years", Kenny Rogers
Chapter One
~Thirteen months to the day since Gandalf sent us on our long journey, we found ourselves looking upon a familiar site. We were home~
-Frodo Baggins, 1420, S.R.
We passed the Buckleberry Ferry which meant we were that much closer home. I think that we were mostly taking our time, I mean we had been gone for thirteen months; what was a few more minutes?
"Are you all right?" Pippin asked me.
"Fine," I smiled. "Just excited is all."
And there it was. The rolling hills and open roads of the Shire. The first home we passed was the Proudfoot's. Mr. Proudfoot was on his front porch, sweeping. As we each went by him on our ponies we nodded and he just shook his head and went on with his cleaning.
Merry and Pippin lived in one direction and separated from us. Before leaving, Pippin placed a soft kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you later?"
"Yes," I smiled. And they turned down the path. Frodo, Sam and I went forward. I could see my home from where we were and I stopped my pony.
"Aren't you going?" Frodo asked.
I took a deep breath. "Yes." I got closer to my home and saw that my mother was on the porch, hanging a few flowers above the door.
I missed my home so much. The little picket fence, the warm kitchen and dining area, Father's study and my nice warm bed. I wondered if Mother had done anything with it.
I stopped my pony at the fence and hopped off. Mother turned slightly, expecting to probably see a bird or perhaps a wondering dog, but her jaw dropped when she saw it was me. "Wisteria?"
"Momma," I quietly replied.
She slowly came down the stone path and opened the gate. She just looked at me, observing my clothes and pony tied to the fence. "You're wearing a dress."
"Mum," I repeated. She came even closer and took me in her arms.
"Poppy, Ivy, Tigerlily, Fastolph!" she called and released me. "We've all been so worried about you." She stroked my hair. "All of you and all of us. The Brandybucks, Tooks, Cottons and Gamgees. Girls, Fastolph! Come quick! She's home!"
The door opened and my sisters stopped when they saw me. "Wisteria!" Ivy yelled. They came running to me, almost knocking me over with their embrace.
"We missed you!" Tigerlily cheered.
"We were so worried!" Poppy said. "Mrs. Took and Mrs. Brandybuck were here a lot hoping you'd bring Merry and Pippin home!"
"I thought you didn't like the Tooks," I laughed to Mother.
"Don't be silly," she replied. "We just didn't like you getting in trouble with Peregrin. His mother and father missed him greatly."
"That's good," I smiled. I looked at my mother and sisters. Each had tears streaming down their cheeks, but were still smiling with me.
"Wisteria," I saw my father at the door. He leaned on his cane as he hobbled down the path. He stroked my cheek. "It is good that you are home." I smiled and sniffled. "Come, come inside." He ushered my sisters, mother and I inside.
Home. I looked around the hall. The den to the left, the kitchen to the right, five bedrooms, and my door.
"We left your room as it was," Mum told. "Now..."she held back I sob. "I never thought you'd come home. But...you, you must tell us everything. No, we must inform Mayor Boffin, that, that you all. Wait, did you all come back? I know that Mrs. Brandybuck would be broken if anything happened to Merry, and Mrs. Took, they, they miss their brother so much. And Rosie, she spoke of Sam every day."
"We all came home Mum. The worse that happened was Frodo injured his hand,"
"Good," she smiled. "But, yes we must inform Mayor Boffin, there should be a celebration tonight." She wiped her tears. "Ivy, go, go and see if you can get message to Mayor Boffin."
"Yes, Mum," she pulled on a cloak and went out the door.
"But, come, Wisteria, sit, you must be hungry," she rushed off to the kitchen. Poppy and Tigerlily followed her. Father leaned on his cane again.
"She missed you so much," he said. "She wondered why you left."
"I didn't go on purpose," I replied. "I was out-"
"Don't say anything!" Mum ordered. "Come, and sit and tell us." Father and I went into the kitchen and sat on the table.
It was just as it had always been. Father sat at the head of the table, in a large wooden chair, Mum was to his right, I sat to the left, Ivy came back to sit next to me and Tigerlily and Poppy were on the other side.
"Mayor Boffin said he already heard from the Gaffer, the Tooks and Brandybucks and says that he is organizing something for tomorrow,"
"Thank you, Ivy," Mum gushed. "Now, Wisteria, tell us, why did you leave?"
"I...I didn't do it on purpose. Merry, Pippin and I left on accident. We were in Farmer Maggot's crop and bumped into Frodo Baggins and Sam. And there was this Black Rider chasing us. We had to get Sam and Frodo to Bree and we did," and I found myself spilling my heart out about the last thirteen-months of my life.
I told them of meeting Strider and at Weathertop when Frodo was stabbed and how I hit my head. (Mum gasped at this, but I assured her the injury was well over a year old and nothing to worry about). Poppy and Tigerlily got excited when I spoke of Rivendell and the Elves and immediately wanted to know if they could borrow my Elven dresses.
I told them how I sneaked out into wilderness to f my friends and the caves of Moria. Mother had tears in her eyes when I told her of Gandalf falling, and the girls got happier when I spoke of Lorien and those Elves. I spoke of being captured by the Orcs, and getting separated from Merry and Pippin. The Riders of Rohan and meeting Eowyn and the girls wanted to borrow my human dresses. I told how I was trapped under ground during the Battle of Helm's Deep and how I had injured my leg, but Legolas healed me.
I told them of loosing Pippin again and riding to battle for Middle Earth and how I had to dress as a man in order to fight. I told them I had finally found Pippin and a wounded Merry on the battle field. I spoke of the Black Gate and the great light once the ring was destroyed and how we had thousands of humans bowing down to five little hobbits.
"That was so beautiful," Mum dabbed the corner of her eyes.
Beautiful? Yes, I suppose it was. A long, beautiful and worthwhile journey.
******
For the first time in a year, I lay on my soft, feathered bed. I slept in my own night ware, I had brushed my hair out with my brush, I had opened MY window and the moonlight was shinning on my face. I was home.
As I closed my eyes, I heard a small rustling outside my window. "Psst!" I rolled my head to the window to seeing a pair of dark green eyes watching me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, walking over to him.
"Had to see you," he smiled, giving me a light kiss. "Did you get all the questions?"
"Yes, I'm told there is going to be a party in our honor tomorrow,"
He nodded. "I just had to see you tonight." He kissed me again. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight," one last kiss before he disappeared from my window. I chewed on my thumb nail, happily as I went back to my bed. A worthwhile journey indeed.
******
:: M'heart was all a flutter as I started down the dirt path to my house. I had sneaked over to her house millions of times before, but now... I could feel the grin on m'face. It was late, but I wasn't in the least bit tired.
When I had gotten home earlier that day, the only one in the house was m'youngest older sister Pervinca. She was so excited and shocked to see me that she fainted. I felt bad for laughin' but I couldn't help it! She had teased, tortured and avoided me the whole twenty-nine years of m'life and I'm only gone for thirteen months and she was happy to see me! I'd never understand my siblings.
When Ma got home she was carryin' several bags from market, and dropped them on the kitchen floor. I felt bad then because she had milk and some eggs that broke. Pearl and Pimpernel walked in right after and dropped their bags as well.
I had never gotten as much attention from them as I did within those precious moments I returned.
I continued down the path until I reached home. I walked through the front door and was stopped my Da, sitting in the den. "And where were you?" he asked me.
"Just went for a walk,"
"In the dead of night?" he exhaled from his smoked pipe.
"I had to check on somethin'," I shuffled my feet. I never felt confident around Da. He was normally yellin' at me or ignorin' me.
"You're mother would be worried if she found your bed empty. You know how she sometimes checks on you children,"
"I know," I quietly replied. My eyes were heavily fixed on the floor.
He chewed on the pipe and exhaled at the same time. "Go on lad. Head to bed."
"Yes, Da," I quickly went straight to m'room.
I lay in my bed, the first time in ages, my bed. While I was gone, Ma dinn'a touch anythin' in hopes that I'd return.
I heard my door creek open and I looked up. Ma was standin' in the doorway. "Did I wake you?" she asked. I shook my head and she walked a little further in. "Is everything okay? I didn't want to move anything or let Pervinca take over."
"It's fine Ma,"
"Good," she smiled. She came right up to the bed and pulled the sheets up to my shoulders, just like when I was a little boy. "Good night." And she kissed my forehead. "We missed you." Was all she answered before leavin' and closin' the door. I could hear her cryin' on the other side.
I rolled away to my window. The flutter in m'heart had went down a bit, my family had actually missed me.::