"May, Kalista, come along," Belle called as she peeked into the girl's room. Both girls woke up squinting and moaning about it being too early to wake up. Belles rolled her eyes and began pulling blankets off the beds until the girls got up. "Come along sleepy heads, it is time."

Kalista was a bit confused with what her mother was saying. However, she soon remembered what day it was and rushed out of her bed and dressed. May soon followed and the two girls ran into their brother's bedroom.

The door to Sam's room was slowly opened and the family walked in quietly. Daisy stood by the curtains and waited for the signal before throwing them open letting the bright sunlight flood in. The hobbits were about to start singing birthday cheers to the youngest boy in the Gamgee residence before realizing his bed was empty. Marigold stood with her forefinger in her mouth, confused, "Where's Sammie mama?"

Belle scratched her head and searched the room. "I don't know honey," she replied.

Kalista thought to check his closet and as soon as she turned, a giggling Samwise Gamgee knocked her to the ground.

"Got ya!" Sam laughed. The rest of the family laughed and shouted out happy birthday as Sam tickled Kalista.

"Very cute Samwise; ruin the surprise," Belle chuckled. "Come now, I am making a special breakfast for the birthday boy."

Sam grinned and got off of his sister before running down the hall. On the kitchen table were plates of hot Mushroom and ham omelets. A special meal Belle always prepared for special occasion. Sam smiled brightly and sat down immediately. The rest of the family followed and began to eat.

"Mamma, is it all right if I go over to see Frodo today?" Kalista asked casually as she took a bite of her eggs.

Belle nodded, "That sounds fine, but you two stay out of trouble."

"Now Belle," The gaffer interrupted. "Stop worrying as if these two were younguns,"

"But they are," Belle replied. Hamfast laughed at his wife and continued to eat. Kalista took a bite of her omelet, "I'm nearly Twenty-one."

Belle sighed and ate her meal, "You are still a child. It seems like only yesterday you were playing with Sam on that old swing."

This comment caused Kalista to chuckle, "it was only yesterday."

"Don't you be playing smart with me, Kalista-Rose Gamgee," Belle stated before standing up away from the table and going into the other room.

Hamfast laughed and leaned back in his chair, pulling out his pipe. "Don't you mind your mother, you know how she gets when birthdays come."

Kalista nodded and took a sip of her juice, "I know, I know." clearing her throat, she mimicked her mother she best as she could: "They just grow up to fast, I'm afraid one of them is going to come home one night from a party and tell me they're engaged."

Sam chuckled at the impression as did Hamfast but Belle soon walked back in and glared at them all. "And what is so funny?" she asked. Kalista stopped and kept down her smile, "nothing mum." Lowering her eyes, she laughed, causing the rest at the table to join her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Down at Bag End, Bilbo and Frodo were just finishing their breakfast and enjoying their pipes in the common room. Bilbo was talking to Frodo about how he was going into Michel Delving to pick up a few stationary and book binding supplies. Once Bilbo left for the day, Frodo finished his pipe and began to tidy up the hobbit hole.

Kalista walked down the flower-lined road humming brightly. Most of the plants had gone dormant for winter, but there were a few still blossoming. Stopping for a moment at a bush of yellow daisies, Kalista picked a few and put them in her hair.

Kalista finally came to Bag End and skipped up the steps to the door and walked inside as she usually did. "Good Morning Baggins!" she called happily.

Frodo looked up and smiled to Kalista, "Good morning to you too, Gamgee. I did not think you would be over so early, with it being Sam's birthday and all."

Kalista walked into the kitchen and watched as Frodo worked. "Sam headed out early with Dad to help him with the Proudfoot's." she shrugged. As she continued to watched Frodo work, she felt rather unneeded so she leaned against the doorway and sighed. "Can I help you?"

Frodo shook his head; "I was just putting away the breakfast plates for Bilbo." He placed the last mug away and then looked at Kalista. "Shall we go for a walk?" he asked.

Kalista nodded and the two left Bag End for the day. The morning was not blistery cold, it was comfortable, but when the wind Blew, Frodo would catch a slight chill. The two walked down the hill and towards the land that led into the woods. They walked along the edge of a stream and then stopped in a small clearing for a rest.

The two sat together under a tree and talked about each other's current affairs. Frodo explained how Ned Grub was courting Dora Boffin and that he had not seen her for a few weeks.

"I'm sure she isn't going to be as happy with him," Kalista smiled with an encouraging tone.

Frodo let out a chuckle, "I was just too closed off for her taste. She needs someone who loves to go out in public. I rather stay at home and read."

Kalista smiled slightly and lay back on the grass. 'To bad she doesn't know him as well as I do,' she thought to herself as she watched Frodo. He was staring at the flowing stream in thought.

At that moment, Frodo watched Kalista as she laid back. She looked so lovely; peaceful and delicate. He sat down besides her and watched. At that moment, Frodo felt as if his heart would beat out of his chest. He smiled in spite of himself and then leaned his hand in and moved a strand of curly hair behind Kalista's ear. "Kalista," he asked in a soft, breathy whisper.

Kalista smiled and looked over at Frodo with a questioning look, "yes Frodo?"

Frodo's sapphire eyes twinkled in the sunlight and he removed his hand away from her and set it on the ground. "Kalista, have you ever thought about us?" Frodo was becoming nervous. He had never been so plagued with lack of words, but when he thought of Kalista in this way, he could say nothing to express his feelings.

As Frodo's normally ivory cheeks started to turn pink, Kalista smiled and sat up, "Of course I have, Frodo. Actually, I have often thought about it." However, Kalista paused and frowned. She hated to say the next words. "But Frodo, I'm Sancho's girl. Maybe if I were unattached, something could have happened between us. But not now."

Frodo stopped breathing for that moment. He knew that Kalista was fond of Sancho and he her. However, the extent of that fondness was not clear to Frodo until that moment. Or perhaps it was Frodo not caring to see the signs before that made him blind to the truth. But now, as he sat there with one of the most beautiful lasses in the Shire, Frodo realized that their friendship would not grow into anything more.

"Well, I didn't mean anything; I was just curious," he said mindlessly. Frodo then turned his head away thoughtfully. At least he had a little closure. "He is a wonderful lad," he then commented about Sancho.

Kalista was glad Frodo didn't seem to be hurt. "I know he is," she said with a smile. As the two finished their talk, they both decided to talk a walk to Hobbiton with out another word on the subject.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"And he keeps on blabbing about how it is *his* birthday and he does not have to do any work," Kalista huffed as she and Frodo walked towards Hobbiton for the day.

Frodo could not help but chuckle at his friend's attitude. She really hated when people bragged about it being their birthday. Of course, she did the same thing when her own birthday arrived.

"Well, I am glad I don't have annoying older brothers or sisters," Frodo laughed.

Everyone in Hobbiton was busy that day. Farmers and their families bringing their goods to market, some of the women selling new quilts and blankets. Wives swept the front porches of their smials while the husbands were fixing fences and gates. Laughter from children was also a pleasant sound filling the air.

The two enjoyed the day chatting and looking at shops. At one point, Kalista spotted a beautiful burgundy party dress in the window of Marleena Chub's dress shop. Kalista's face lit up at the site. "I wish I had that dress," she commented dreamily to Frodo.

Frodo raised and eyebrow, "All those dresses Bilbo bought you and you wouldn't wear a single one. Now I can't keep you out of a dress shop."

Kalista looked at Frodo and let out a sigh. "Well, Bilbo has lousy tastes in dresses," she commented, turning her gaze back to the window.

Her comment caused Frodo to laugh in spite of himself. "I suppose, but that lovely pink dress he bought you with the puffy sleeves looked lovely on you."

"Oh, hush up Frodo Baggins," Kalista snapped as she turned away from the dress shop and walked down the road. Frodo was still laughing. Once he calmed himself down, he walked after Kalista.

"I am only teasing because I love you," he said, wrapping his arm around Kalista's shoulder.

"You're so sweet Frodo," Kalista replied sarcastically. At that moment, Kalista heard someone calling her name. She stopped in the middle of the street and looked around. She finally eyed the Green Dragon tavern and was surprised to see Sancho Milbanks and his father in their farm cart. The boy was waving towards Kalista excitedly.

Kalista's eyes widened with delight and before she knew what she was doing, she began sprinting towards Sancho.

Sancho smiled as he saw Kalista running toward him. He jumped down off his cart and went to meet Kalista. "Kallie!" he called happily. As the two reached each other, Sancho grabbed hold of Kalista and swung her around with delight. "I have missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too! I didn't think you'd be here until after harvest." Kalista giggled.

"Well, we had so much grain and we had a few extra orders so we got to come early," Sancho replied. "I am sorry I didn't get a message sent to you."

"Oh no, no, I'm just glad your here," Kalista smiled. She pulled Sancho into another hug. She was so excited to see him.

As the two talked, Frodo walked up slowly and leaned against the farm cart. He said nothing for he did not want to interrupt. A few moments later, Sancho talked his father into allowing him to spend the day with Kalista instead of working. After Sancho's father agreed, Kalista walked off, leaving Frodo alone in Hobbiton. Which Frodo did not mind, he had time to stop into the Green Dragon to meet a few of his friends, which is what he decided to do.

Kalista and Sancho walked all over Hobbiton. Kalista showed Sancho the dress she was admiring with Frodo earlier. They then stopped at the fruit stand and bought a few apples. They laughed and chatted about the slighted and silliest things. After lunch, the two walked up to a river stream and took a seat. The air was crisp and fresh blowing in Kalista's hair. Her cheeks became reddened and she smiled to Sancho.

He leaned back lightly and took a look at Kalista, savoring and memorizing her features. "You look lovely today," he smiled.

Kalista blushed and turned her head away. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I have something for you," Sancho then stated as he slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and clutched something in his hand. He then pulled out a small item wrapped in brown paper. "Compliments of my mother."

Kalista's eyes widened happily as she accepted the small gift. It was a chocolate! She loved chocolates and Sancho knew it. She unwrapped the paper and was about to slip the little delight into her mouth when Sancho reached over and stole it from Kalista's hand.

"Hey, that is cruel," she pouted. "May I have it please?"

Sancho shook his head, however and smiled devilishly. "Perhaps, but what do I get for payment?"

"What do you want?" Kalista asked, eying the chocolate as Sancho waved it around to tempt her.

"A kiss."

Kalista laughed, "You don't need to but my kisses Sancho." She leaned in and kissed Sancho happily. Wrapping his arms around Kalista gently, he returned the kiss. Only pulling away to hand Kalista her chocolate back. She accepted it and returned to kissing Sancho.

Kalista finally pulled away and popped the chocolate in her mouth, smiling innocently. Sancho laughed at the face she made. "I am going to marry you some day." He laughed.

Kalista swallowed the treat and blushed at Sancho's words, somehow not believing him. "Sure you are Sancho."

"And you will say yes," Sancho laughed.

"Sure I will," She giggled, standing up and walking back towards Hobbiton.

Sancho stood and followed her, "And we will live happy together."

"Happy as jackals," Kalista continued to lead him on.

"I will bring you chocolates everyday," Sancho went on before coming up behind Kalista and kissing her on the cheek. "And you will reward me with kisses."

Kalista turned around and faced Sancho, smiling sweetly. Her emerald eyes danced with mirth and joy, "I like that idea."

The two hobbits kissed once more and returned to Hobbiton where Sancho continued to help his father with the harvest. Kalista walked home in a daze. It had been such an enjoyable day. She turned to take one last look at Sancho before walking away. She then thought of Sancho's words. Somehow, she truly wished he were telling the truth.