Disclaimer: I'm sorry, but I still don't own em. Wish I did because then I would be rich, famous, British, and not sitting here in my living room watching Roseanne while typing up a disclaimer saying I don't own them! ::breathes heavily:: Sorry.

Estella Brandybuck- Yes, they are happy for now. Yeah, I kinda wish I'd made this AU and Frodo stays but alas, I'm not doing that.

*sniffle* Awww, that is such a wonderful chapter! I can't get over the way that you write! So beautifully, you describe everyone's feelings so well! This is an incredibly wonderful inkling, like the others, I'll be sorry when it's finished, but luckily, you have "And All of Tuckborough Will Kneel". Thanks for entertaining us all!-Queen of Gondor (Aw, thank you so much!! Maybe I can keep "And All of Tuckborough Will Kneel" going forever! I'll probably end it when Pippin and Merry leave the Shire but that's a ways off right now!)

Aww Pip you did a wonderful job with this chapter. You made me cry again.- Belladonna Took (I'm sorry. Here's a tissue)

*snif* Very sweet-Orangeblossom Took (Thank you!!)

Wonderful, as usual, Pip!!!!! (((Frodo))) :)-Silivren Ithildin (::hugs Frodo:: Thank you!!)

This is a great chapter, little bit of Kleenex using waiting for chapter 11- vaires (yea, Kleenex is necessary.)

AN: I like this story better then Beginnings and Endings, but that one has more reviews. I guess more people are like me and do a "Pippin" search over a "Merry/Frodo" one, but I know people are reading (hugs her enhanced stats) and I thank you, even if you don't review.

Chapter Ten-Family Talks

Merry spent practically every waking moment with Frodo. For nearly seven months, one couldn't be found without the other. Merry even insisted on spending each night in Frodo's room which lead to some discord in Brandy Hall.

"It's not good for him, Saradoc, to spend each night in Frodo's room. To spend every waking moment with him. He'll miss him that much more when he leaves," Rorimac said one day in late July. "You shouldn't encourage it, son."

"I know, Father, but it's hard to say no. He idolizes Frodo so much..." He sighed and turned away from his father. "I hate the thought of Frodo leaving. It makes me feel as though I've done something that made him hate it here. I tried to be his father, I loved him as a father, and still do, matter of fact, but I guess it wasn't good enough."

Rorimac placed a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. "You did the best you could under the circumstances, Saradoc. You took him in when no one else would. He was lucky to have you."

Saradoc smiled. "And we were lucky to have him. I can only imagine Merry without him."

Rorimac chuckled. "Same here."

Saradoc sighed. "Did I every tell you Essy and I considered formally adopting him at one point?"

"No," Rorimac said, raising an eyebrow. "Why didn't you?"

Saradoc shrugged. "I guess we always thought he'd be here and it wouldn't be necessary." He shook his head. "Our Frodo-lad. I'll miss him."

"Talk to Frodo about this. He's a bright lad." Rorimac patted his son on the back and left him alone in the family room.

Saradoc sat there in his thoughts for hours. He thought of all he and his Frodo-lad had done over the last nine years. He sighed and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "Oh, Frodo-lad. I tried so hard to be what you needed. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough," he whispered to himself.

"Uncle?"

Saradoc turned to see Frodo standing by the doorway. "Frodo-lad. Good to see you." He looked behind Frodo. "Where's your shadow?"

"Aunt Essy caught him." Frodo went to Saradoc's side. "And Uncle, you were good enough."

"You heard me than," he whispered.

Frodo nodded. "Yes, and...you were exactly what I needed. You were there for me, you and Essy, when no one else was. I could cry on your shoulder. I knew I always had a place with you. You became my father, and I love you like a son. That was what I needed...then." He knelt before Saradoc. "Now, I need something different. Something Bilbo can give me, I guess. But I will never forget all you and Essy did for me."

Saradoc smiled at Frodo. "You're a good lad, Frodo. You're welcome here anytime for a visit. And should you ever decide to return for good, your room is always here. Essy and I are always here for you."

Frodo nodded, fighting back tears.

"Lad, save those for the day you leave, alright?" Saradoc gently wiped them away. He kissed Frodo on the top of his head and stood up. "You know, lad, everyone questioned Essy and I taking you in, but I never regretted it."

Frodo stood up and hugged Saradoc. "Thank you, Uncle."

"Oh, you were a joy to have, Frodo-lad." He patted him on the back as he pulled away. "Go on now. Enjoy your last summer in Buckland."

Frodo smiled. "I'll see you at dinner than?"

"Yes, lad. Off with you now." Saradoc watched with a heavy heart as his Frodo-lad left the room.

"Oh, drat," Essy exclaimed as she dropped her third egg shell into the cake batter. "I'll never get this made."

"Do you need help, Aunt?" Frodo said, appearing at her side.

She smiled down at him. "Frodo-lad, I would love your help. I can't seem to keep my mind on making this cake."

"What's it for?"

"Oh, no reason. Just an important anniversary."

Frodo thought for a moment and then smiled slightly. "The day you took me in. We've never had cake before."

"Oh, I know, lad, but...seeing as how you won't be here next year, I thought, we should remember this year." She reached out and brushed back his hair. "It was such a big day for us all."

Frodo sighed. "Yes, I remember. You two seemed so happy, yet so sad at the same time."

"Saradoc and I had been hoping for years for a child. Then something terrible happened..."

"My parents died," Frodo said, solemnly.

She smiled softly at him and gently caressed his cheek. "Yes, lad. When Saradoc and I learned that there was no one to take you, well, we jumped at the chance. It would mean we'd finally have a child to look after."

"I remember. You were both so nervous. It was like walking on..." He glanced in her bowl. "Egg shells."

"Yes, that was one very quiet night, but I like to think we grew on each other. Then..."

"Then Merry came," Frodo said with a smile.

A sense of peace seemed to come over Essy as she smiled. "Yes. My Merry-lad." She looked over at Frodo. "And than we had two sons. I've always considered you my son, Frodo, and I hope I treated you as such."

"Oh, you did, Aunt. You...you became my mother, when I needed it most." He hugged her tightly. "Thank you."

"Frodo-lad," she whispered as she held him. "My gosh. Where did the time go?"

Frodo backed away and looked at her, puzzled. "Aunt Essy? What do you mean?"

"Well, you're nearly as tall as me now. Wasn't all that long ago I could pick you clear off the ground."

"You still have Merry for that," he said with a chuckle.

"Yes, but it's different with each child."

"I hope you can forgive me, Aunt." He hung his head.

"Forgive you?" She put her hand under his chin and lift his head, their eyes meeting. "For what, lad?"

"For leaving. For making you and Saradoc think you'd done something wrong."

"Frodo-lad, we know you love being here and that you love us. We know you love Merry. Bilbo can give you something we can't and we understand why you want to leave." She kissed him on the cheek. "It's been a joy having you."

Frodo laughed softly. "I'm not leaving for another two months."

"I know, but I think I shall cry when that day comes. Can't cry now. Have to bake this cake." She looked down at the batter, broken egg shells scattered all over it. "Minus the egg shells."

"Aunt Essy? Why didn't you and Uncle Saradoc ever adopt me?"

Essy sighed. "I don't really have answer for that, Frodo-lad. We thought about it." She looked over at Frodo and smiled. "I guess we thought we wouldn't need it. I can't tell you the number of times I called you my son."

Frodo smiled. "Thank you, Aunt Essy. For everything."

One of Rorimac's assistants appeared at the doorway. "Excuse me, Miss, but the Master wishes to see Frodo in his office."

"You'd best go, Frodo-lad."

Frodo nodded. "I'll be back later to help you, Aunt Essy." He smiled at her before leaving the room.

Essy sighed and watched as her Frodo-lad left the room. "We should've adopted you, Frodo-lad." She turned back to her cake and got back to work.

Rorimac sat in his office later that night. He looked up at the soft knocking at his door. "Come in," he called, knowing who it was. "Frodo, come, sit."

Frodo sat across from his uncle. "You wanted to speak to me, sir?" he asked, nervously

Rorimac smiled. "Calm down, Frodo. This is a friendly visit. I wanted to speak to you."

Frodo calmed down slightly. "About what?"

"Your leaving." The Master of Buckland sighed. "Frodo, the day my son told me he wished for you to come stay with him, I thought it wasn't the best thing for any of you. I thought you should to be with a Baggins. I thought that having you would only make them want a child even more then they already did. I was wrong though." He looked down at his hands.

"Uncle?"

Rorimac looked up at his nephew. "I came to find out none of the Baggins wanted to take you in, at least back then. I don't know why though. You've been a wonderful lad for us. You've done us proud. And..." He stood up and paced a bit. "And you were the best thing for my son and his wife. I don't think I'd have my little Merry-lad without you."

"Excuse me, Uncle, but how do I fit into that? I know enough to know that Saradoc and Essy didn't need me to make a Merry."

Rorimac chuckled softly. "I didn't mean it that way, lad. I meant, you relaxed them. Made them less worried about having a child. Before you know it, we had Merry."

"You did have Beri," Frodo pointed out. He'd noticed how little regard Rorimac seemed to have for Merimac and his son.

"Oh, yes. Little Berilac. He was gift to me...after my wife died." Rorimac seemed to lose himself in some distant memory. "Alas, his father and I disagree about many things so I see very little of my first grandson. And I do miss him. I miss them both, actually."

Frodo didn't quite know what to say. Fortunately the two were interrupted by a knocking at the door.

"Come in," Rorimac called.

A curly head peeked around the corner. "Frodo! There you are!" Merry said, running into the room. "Can you come read me a story?"

"Of course." He stood up and faced his uncle. "Thank you," he said holding out his hand.

"No, thank you, lad." He hugged him. "Now, go read that grandson of mine a story before he bursts." Rorimac ruffled Merry's curls.

Frodo laughed and took Merry's hand, leaving his uncle alone in his office.

"Frodo, why did Grandfather look so sad?"

"Oh, he's just sad he's losing another grandson."

Merry started to comment, but thought otherwise as they made their way to Frodo's bedroom.