Traveler 7
Canoodling.
by Gillian
July 1421 S.R
"You're beautiful," Frodo whispered, stroking a smooth perfect cheek. He couldn't resist planting a tender kiss there, smiling as she blinked wide blue eyes up at him. "Dear Lavender."
From Sam's arms Fael reached out little arms to Frodo and his father chuckled and kissed a smooth cheek. "Jealous lad," he chided. "That's your cousin, that is."
Fael didn't seem impressed, he waved his arms, plump little face screwing up as his Frodo-dad didn't instantly pick him up.
"Come to your Auntie," May said, reaching out to her nephew. There were weary lines by her eyes but her skin was glowing and her eyes were filled with joy.
"He's heavy," Sam warned, handing him over.
"He's perfect, aren't you Fael?"
The six month old lay his head on her breast and gazed up, blowing a bubble of drool at her fondly.
"Look at the difference in the size of them," Frodo marveled. "And Fael was smaller than this when he was born!"
"They grow fast all right," Sam agreed, reaching out and letting his new niece wrap her hand around his fingers.
"And the midwife said everything's fine?" Frodo asked anxiously, and for the third time.
May chuckled and kissed Fael's little pink nose. "It all went without a hitch," she repeated patiently. "Honestly, Frodo, you're worse than Rory!"
Her husband joined her laughter from his seat by the bed, sitting back and looking as smug as a new father should. May cast him a fond look and he shrugged, a little sheepishly. "You should have seen me at the time," he admitted. "I about wore a hole in the hall carpet with my pacing!"
Fael began to fret again and Sam lifted him from his aunt's arms. "Time we left you two alone for a while," Sam said and Frodo regretfully kissed Lavender's wrinkled little brow and laid her tenderly in her mother's arms.
"Congratulations, May, Rory," he said softly.
"May did all the work!" Rory exclaimed. "I had the easy part!"
Sam snickered and Frodo covered a chuckle with his hand. The young father's face flushed.
"Hush up, you pair," he chided. "You now what I mean." He rolled his eyes expressively. "If lads had to have babies there wouldn't be any folk in the world, I'm thinking."
And then he looked nonplussed as Frodo and Sam laughed even harder.
888
Sam carried their empty basket and Frodo cradled Fael against his chest, strapped firmly in his sling. The baby kicked his legs strongly and twisted around, craning his neck to see as much as he could.
"I think we need a new carrier," Frodo panted, trying to still the wriggling child. "Fael's sitting quite well and he wants to be able to see."
"I'm glad the birth went all right," Sam said gratefully. "May and Rory will make wonderful parents."
Frodo fanned himself. "I just wish she'd chosen a cooler time of the year! And carrying about this hot water bottle of a lad doesn't help!"
"Let's find some shade and sit," Sam suggested. "There's a nice patch just ahead, over the high verge. It's quiet and peaceful there."
They found the spot on the road he meant and struggled over the grassy verge, skipping down the other side into the shade of a large weeping willow. A bit further from water than a willow liked this one was old and gnarled, it's fronds rustling dryly in the small afternoon breeze.
Frodo collapsed with a sigh and unbuckled Fael, lifting him gratefully onto his lap. He blew a few loose curls out of his eyes and relaxed.
"I'm so unfit!" he exclaimed.
Sam tossed the basket down and sat next to him, crossing his legs and leaning back on one arm. "You look all right to me," he said flirtatiously and Frodo raised one brow at him.
"You can get that idea out of your head right now, Sam Traveler," he said firmly.
"What idea?" Sam made his best innocent face.
With a smirk Frodo leaned back next to him, lifting one hand to slowly unbutton the top of his shirt. Sam's eyes flew to the spot and Frodo laughed out loud. "That idea!" he pounced and Sam wrinkled his nose.
"Aye, you caught me there," he said shamelessly. "But it was only a spot of canoodlin' I had in mind, Frodo me love."
"I should hope so! What else could we get up to just a few feet from the road in broad daylight with our baby on my lap?"
"And a right fair picture you make too," Sam said huskily, leaning forward and lifting his hand to stroke a touch on Frodo's knee. "The sun shining on your hair, the sky reflectin' in your eyes..."
Frodo gazed back into Sam's eyes and sighed, temptation on his face. "Well..."
Sam leaned forward just a mite, then quick as a flash he'd pressed a teasing finger to Frodo's pert nose. "Got you!" he crowed.
"You beast!" Frodo accused. "If I didn't have this baby on my lap..."
"What, this sleepy lad?" Sam said slyly, plucking Fael up and laying him in the cool grass. "He wants to look up at the sky for a while, don't you, Fael?"
Fael kicked his legs, not looking at all sure he liked this idea.
"Look up at the clouds, my hinny?" Sam crooned and Fael followed his father's voice, blinking great blue eyes.
"You might as well give up now," Frodo teased. "He's far from being sleepy yet. Not with so many more interesting goings on."
Sam raised one cheeky brow. "More interestin', hey?" Then he pounced, literally, bearing Frodo back into the summer warm grass, drawing an oof of surprise from him.
"Sam you loon!" Frodo panted, his struggles turning to wriggles as knowing hands made their way under his shirt. "I wasn't joking about - stop that!"
Sam stole a kiss and closed his mouth for a few seconds, but the minute it was free Frodo began anew.
"I'm serious," he panted, throwing his head back and giving Sam access to his vulnerable throat. "We're too close to the - oh, yes, just there, hmmm."
"Too close to something," Sam chuckled, lifting his head for another kiss, his laughter fading as Frodo's hands wrapped around his back in that way that made him feel so big and strong, and Frodo's lips yielded under his in that way that made him want to howl to the moon.
"A little canoodling?" Frodo whispered breathlessly as Sam lifted his head and gazed down at him. "That's all, right?"
Sam spared a glance at Fael who was now industriously immersed in trying to suck his own big toe.
"Very very little," Sam promised huskily, head lowering again.
"Yuck!" A small voice pronounced. "Two lads kissin'!"
Sam groaned and didn't fight as Frodo shoved him off onto the ground.
"Bluebell," he said resignedly.
"I saw you two kissin'," Bluebell said in a sing-song voice. "And I'm gonna tell me mam!"
"You just do that,' Sam invited. "In fact go do it right now."
Blue looked crestfallen. "Don't you care if I tell mam on you?"
"Not a jot or whittle," Sam said in exasperation while Frodo struggled to contain his laughter next to him.
"Pftt," Blue puffed. "I shan't bother then. Can I play with Fael?" And ruffled bloomers flashing she climbed the embankment and slithered down the side.
Giving up his dreams of canoodling for the moment Sam steadied her as she reached them at the bottom and automatically straightened her little mob cap. "You have a new little cousin just down the road," he said resignedly. "Why don't you go play with her?"
"New babies are dull," Blue pronounced with the world weary cynicism of an older sister. "Fael can smile and play pat-a-cake with me. And he knows my name."
"Boo!" Fael squealed in delight and Blue grinned widely, showing off the gap in her front teeth.
"See?"
"Fine then," Sam sighed, only a little mollified when Frodo leaned back against him and let Sam wrap his arms around him.
"Are you out here alone?" Frodo asked, craning a look at the verge.
"Mam's comin' with the littluns," Blue said airily, sitting Fael up and holding his pudgy hands. "Pat-a-cake, Fael! Clap hands!"
Fael drooled a smile and let Blue clap his hands together, nodding his curly golden head happily as she sang.
Frodo was wriggling back into his lap teasingly and Sam groaned, nibbling his tempting neck.
"Serves you right for getting us all worked up in broad daylight," Frodo whispered.
"Glad to hear I'm not the only one worked up," Sam whispered back, hands managing to slip under Frodo's shirt again and set him wriggling in a whole new way.
"There you are."
Sam jumped in surprise then dropped his head in resignation as Daisy's head appeared over the verge like a ruddy brown sun rising in the east.
"Bluebell Green, you're supposed to be holding your brother's hands!" Daisy chided as she hefted herself over the embankment and clambered down, Holly in her arms and her other four sliding down around her with various shoves and wails.
"Mam! Little Eddy pushed me!"
"Well Winnie poked her tongue out at me!"
"I'll clap both your heads together if you don't behave," Daisy warned amiably, settling herself on the grass with a puff. "Oh, what a day! If that grass gets any drier it'll snap in half." She cast an appraising eye over Sam and Frodo, still pressed back to front. "Been canoodlin'?"
Frodo dissolved into laughter and Sam rolled his eyes, reflecting how difficult it was to be romantic surrounded by bickering children and a sharp eyed sister. He was only grateful they'd visited Rivendell to find Frodo's cure, if they'd had to stay home the poor lad likely wouldn't have got himself conceived at all.
"We were resting actually," he said with dignity.
Daisy snorted. "T'was restin' like that what got me this fine half dozen," she smirked and Frodo completely lost it, rolling sideways in the grass holding his belly and roaring with laughter. Winnie and Little Eddy yelled and jumped on top of him and he was forced to defend himself against their tickling assault, still laughing weakly.
Just when he thought he couldn't feel any more love for his other half, Sam thought, smiling tenderly at the sight. There was his fine Frodo; lips kiss-swollen, hair full of grass, wriggling and giggling with an armful of hobbitlings. He was beautiful.
"Sam, help me!" he finally appealed breathlessly and Sam relented, pulling his niece and nephew off and wrapping a strong arm around each of them.
"You pair leave off assualtin' your uncle," he lectured, blowing raspberry kisses on grubby little necks. "I hope you're more gentle with your new cousin!"
"Auntie May had a baby," Winnie lisped and Little Eddy made a face.
"A lass," he moaned.
"Nothing wrong with lasses, my lad," his mother lectured. She cast an arch look at Sam and Frodo. "Though some seem to manage just fine without us!"
Sam rolled his eyes again.
"Come on then, my ducks," Daisy said briskly, standing and brushing her apron down firmly. "Let's go call on your aunt and see this new babby."
"We made presents," Blue said proudly, flashing her gap toothed smile again.
"You help your brothers and sister up," he mother warned and with a long suffering sigh Blue kissed Fael's head and jumped up.
Once over the verge Daisy popped her head up again and winked at the pair of them. "You pop by to see me tomorrow," she smirked. "I'll tell you a sight better spots for what you had in mind than this'un."
"You mind your business, Daisy Green!" Sam called after her as she disappeared with an evil chuckle.
Deprived of his playmates Fael was inclined to grizzle, still chuckling Frodo lifted him and cradled him close, kissing his sun flushed cheeks with smacking pecks that made him smile again.
"Just once I'd like to get the last word with her," Sam groused, but he couldn't hold onto his sour mood, Frodo still had grass in his hair and his eyes were reflecting the endless blue of the sky. With a sly move Sam leaned over to tweak a stalk from his silky curl and managed to sidle over in the process.
Frodo cast him a teasing glance. "You know she's probably waiting just over the verge to spring on us again."
"Don't worry, I learned my lesson about daylight canoodlin'," Sam murmured. "At least so close to the road," he quickly amended.
"What are you doing then?"
Now Sam was curled close all down one side, inhaling Frodo's clean sweet scent, feeling his warmth through the layers of good serviceable cloth between them.
"Have I told you I love you today?"
Frodo's teasing smile blossomed like the sun.
"Love you too," he murmured.
Sam leaned forward ever so slowly and pressed one soft kiss to tempting half parted lips, sighing his pleasure. "Sometimes waitin' can make the treat sweeter."
Eyes narrowed with pleasure Frodo huffed a soft laugh. "If this gets any sweeter it might just finish me off."
Chuckling smugly Sam flopped back into the grass. "Wouldn't want that on my conscience."
Frodo kissed one of Fael's wavering little hands and snuggled him close before laying back, curling into Sam's side. Now they lay back and gazed up at the sky through the rustling fronds of the willow, tracing the paths of little high up clouds that drifted lazily across the blue expanse.
"Sam?"
"Hmm?" Sam had plucked a grass stalk and was chewing the fat end dreamily.
"Have you ever thought about us having more babies?"
With a start Sam bit off the bitter end of grass and almost choked on it. Sputtering and coughing he sat up. "Don't spring a question like that on a fellow unawares," he gasped.
Frodo was patting him on the back, with rueful apology. "It was just an idle question!"
"What do you want for dinner is an idle question," Sam shot back. He huffed out a breath and relaxed back a bit. "Where did that come from anyway? We've had our spell, love, and got our baby from it." A sudden thought occurred to him and he raised his brows nervously. "That spell was just for the one time, wasn't it?"
Frodo shouted a laugh. "Now you think of that? After all this time?"
"Never occurred to me afore," Sam, defended. "But it was, wasn't it?"
"It was," Frodo confirmed. "And just as well it was or you might have put me in the family way again last night. And last week, and at harvest home, and-"
"All right, all right," Sam interrupted, pink cheeked.
Frodo sobered a little. "Would it have been such a bad thing though?" he said, a trifle wistfully it seemed.
Sam wrapped an arm around him, his free hand coming up to cradle Fael's curly little head. "Oh love," he sighed. "I can't lie and say I wouldn't like another one like our lad here. Someday."
Frodo sighed too, a little sadly now.
"But how much luck can two fellows ask for anyway? We've got it all now, haven't we?"
"We do," Frodo agreed firmly. "Anyway, there isn't another like our Fael, is there, my lad?"
Fael grinned, showing off his pink gums.
Despite Frodo's bright tone Sam could feel the soft sorrow in him, and he hugged him a little closer and rested their heads together for long minutes in comfort.
Finally Sam pulled away with a little sniff and sought to lighten the mood, which is a hobbit's way. "Not that I could stand to see you go through that birthin' again," he said decisively. "I swore it then and I swear it now."
Frodo followed his lead and raised a teasing brow. "What makes you think it would be me pregnant this time?" he said archly and Sam blinked in surprise."
"What?"
Leaning back a little Frodo ran an appraising eye over him until Sam positively squirmed. "Hmm, yes," the blue eyed hobbit said mischievously. "Your turn to get all round and full I think."
Sam recovered from his shock and teased back. "Ah, the sun's addled your poor wits, my hinny," he said pityingly. "You'd find it hard to sow the seed when I'm the one who does all the plantin'."
"So far," Frodo said complacently, heaving himself to his feet and shaking the grass off himself and Fael.
This time Sam was struck dumb.
Frodo sat Fael on his hip and looked around loftily. "You coming?"
Sam scrambled to his feet. "Wait a minute," he said hoarsely. "Are you sayin' you want to..."
"Sow the seed?" Frodo said smoothly.
Sam could only nod.
"Maybe."
"Oh." Sam considered this, feeling Frodo's eyes on him. It had been so long since he'd offered, he'd thought Frodo just wasn't interested in that, and now it seemed he was. Sam shot him a half shy look and saw the trace of anxiety in his love's gaze. Was Frodo worried about his answer? Sam made up his mind.
"All right then."
Frodo huffed out a breath he'd been holding. "Really?"
"If - if that's what you want," Sam said timidly.
"Only if it's what you want, Sam." Frodo wasn't teasing now, his eyes were earnestly worried.
"You do want it then?"
Frodo traced a tiny shrug. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. I've only thought of it once or twice since we've been home."
Sam took a step closer. "But you have thought of it?"
"Once or twice." Frodo seemed breathless now. "You?"
"Now and then," Sam allowed.
"Do you really want to then?"
Sam turned it over in his mind. Did he really want to? He hadn't even known he wanted to kiss Frodo that first time until he did, hadn't known how good being close to him would feel. Could never in his wildest dreams have imagined how wonderful being inside him would be.
Having Frodo inside of him?
"Yes," he said, all of a sudden. "I want to."
Frodo gave him a soft half smile, managing to convey love and desire and fear and nervousness all at once. "I... I'm glad."
"Me too."
"Um, tonight?"
Sam reached out and took his hand and they stood in the shade like that, hands linked, Fael nodding sleepily between them.
"If you can wait that long," he teased gently.
"Well, like you said," Frodo teased gently back. "Sometimes waiting can make the treat sweeter."
888
