Spring had come sooner than most hobbits could expect. Sam and the Gaffer were already working in the gardens around Hobbiton and Bag Shot Row and many others were hired to help with the preparations for the wedding that was about take place in less than two months.

The Cottons had offered to make the desserts for the after party while the Bagginses made preparations for the party field. Banners and signs were prepared for tables so that the invited guests new where to be seated. Decorations where being prepared and would be hung up on the day of the wedding. Bilbo also took it upon himself to have some gifts made for the guests; small toys for children, new pipes for the lads and bracelets for the lasses.

Bilbo also lent Kalista some pretty cards and his colored inks for her to make invitations for her guests. She had asked Bilbo once to use his inks and he said 'no,' because they were for special occasions. Well, if this did not count as a special occasion, then what did? Thrilled, Kalista returned to her home to busy herself immediately with writing cards.

Soon, the days passed and then weeks and before long, the wedding was coming up in a matter of two days. Times were busier than ever and everyone was both excited and nervous by the occasion. Kalista had been away from Bag End for more than a week, due to her parents wanting to have long talks and to spend time with her. Because of this, Bag End had been particularly quiet; "the quiet before the storm," Bilbo had once said as he looked out his window to watch a few hobbits working down at the Party Field.

One particularly quiet day, Frodo was sitting by him self, drinking a cup of tea in the dining hall. He was swirling his spoon in the cup, watching the water flow around in a smooth circle. He was not in the fondest of moods. In fact, he felt miserable and frustrated. As the wedding came closer, Frodo was sure he was about to loose Kalista for good.

He never admitted his feelings to her, save twice: once in the letter he wrote her during her stay in Michel Delving, and the other by the lake, when Kalista told him directly that 'she was Sancho's girl.' Now she was marrying Sancho and she was slipping away from Frodo more and more every day.

"Good Morning, Frodo lad," greeted Bilbo as he walked into the kitchen for his own cup of tea. He smiled cheerfully to the younger hobbit as he walked by the table. However, as Bilbo looked down to his nephew, he saw the depressed look in Frodo's eyes. "Frodo?" he asked with curiosity as he forgot about his tea and took a seat at the table, opposite of Frodo. "Is something wrong, lad?"

Looking up to Bilbo, Frodo offered a polite smile and then returned to his tea. "I am all right Bilbo, good morning to you too."

Bilbo nodded; not quite believing Frodo was all right. "If you are all right then, drink your tea, I can tell it's cold already."

Frodo let out a sigh and nodded his head. He then continued to stir the liquid with his spoon. Silence filled between the two for a few moments but Bilbo did not budge. Frodo finally looked up to his uncle to speak. "Bilbo," he started hesitantly. "What would you do if you were in love with a lass, but she was in love with someone else?"

Bilbo was silent as he thought. "Well Frodo, you know I do not have much experience with the female species. I would not know where to begin. Is this about Dora?"

"Dora?" Frodo asked. Furrowing his eyebrows, he looked at Bilbo and then remembered Dora Boffin. Bilbo must still think Frodo fancied the Michel Delving aristocrat. "Right, Dora Boffin. Yes, she is seeing someone else and I don't know what to do," he lied. Best not lead Bilbo to know about him pining over Kalista; if would only bring on a headache for Frodo later.

"Well, my lad, the best thing I can tell you to do is let her be. If you love someone you have to set him or her free. There are other fish in the sea, so to speak." Bilbo explained. Though, Bilbo was still rather unsure of how effective his opinion would be.

Frodo let out a sigh and shook his head. "It is hard, Bilbo," he commented. "I care for her so much and I hate that she is seeing another lad. I want to tell her but I am afraid of what could happen if I do."

Bilbo was quite perplexed now. Standing up, he went to fetch some tea, like he originally came out to the kitchen to do. "I do not know what to say, Frodo. Sometimes you have to let go of the things you love. It is hard, very hard but you shall always be Dora's friend and that, my lad, is more special then courting each other. Fancies change; friendships last forever."

Once Bilbo finished preparing his tea, he walked over to Frodo, placed an affectionate had on his shoulder and walked back into his study to finish some work on his book. Frodo just sighed. 'Some help Bilbo was,' he thought to himself. But perhaps Bilbo was right; he had to let Kalista free. She was marrying Sancho and that was that. If she wanted Frodo's company, then she will visit Bag End when she could. Frodo would savor every moment of those visits.

With a new look on the situation, Frodo felt his mood lighten. He finally felt up to doing something fun for a change instead of moping about at Bag End. He then wondered if Samwise Gamgee would be too busy helping out his father to take a trip up to Bywater for the night. Frodo wanted to go to the 'Green Dragon' for a while. Finishing his cold tea, Frodo dressed and made his way towards the Gamgee's to find Sam.

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

The Green Dragon was hopping with People that night. A few of the Brandybucks and Tooks were in town for the wedding and had decided to take the night out at the tavern. They were comfortably situated on chairs and couches by the fire, smoking, drinking and singing songs. There were other hobbits dancing in spaces cleared out for the activity. Laughter and song filled the dense rooms of the tavern and mugs of beer were on every table.

Frodo and Sam arrived by sunset that night. Friends and the lady workers immediately greeted them as they passed by the door. Taking a seat in a corner table, the two hobbits ordered drinks and prepared for an enjoyable night at the tavern.

"Aye," Sam gasped as he happily sipped his beer. "After a long day in the gardens, I deserve this."

"That you do, Sam," Frodo returned, taking a sip of his own beer. For hours the two talked and enjoyed their conversation. Frodo even convinced Sam into a few dances with some of the ladies.

Around the nine o'clock hour, the tavern became even more joyous when Kalista and Sancho walked in. The crowd cheered for them, urging them on for a kiss. The two gladly did so and made a big show of the moment. Frodo and Sam walked over to them both and invited them to stay at their table. Sancho and Kalista agreed and after ordering a few beers, they all sat and talked.

"I did not think you and Sancho would be at the Green Dragon tonight," said Frodo as the four sat down. "How is your evening going?"

Kalista chuckled and looked around at the scene excitedly, "Other then the incessant chanting of 'kiss and sing,' everything is well."

"Not for me!" Sancho laughed as a waitress brought over two mugs of beer. After giving Kalista hers, Sancho took a gulp of his and then looked to Frodo. "She has had me running all over the Shire today, I am sure of it."

Frodo laughed and looked over to Kalista. "What are you doing to this poor lad?"

Kalista looked to both hobbits as if she were hurt by their comments. "Well, there is so much we have to do!" she commented, breaking into a fit of giggles as she did so. "There are the food preparations and the cake and the bouquet. One of the band members is ill so we have to replace him. Who ever thought getting married was so much work?" she leaned back on her chair then took a sip from her mug.

"Don't overdue yourself though," Frodo advised as he listened to her list. "I don't know why people go through so much trouble for a wedding; it only lasts a day."

"It's the memory of the event, Frodo," said Sancho casually. "We want everyone to remember this wedding."

"Yes," Kalista added. "Just because everyone thought I was going to be an old spinster."

The group around the table laughed at the idea but the subject was soon forgotten when music began in the tavern again and everyone became moved to sing and dance. Sam began to sing a popular drinking song and anyone spirited to do so began singing. After three rounds of unison singing, the crowed began to urge Frodo up onto the table for a number. He always had a fair and pleasing voice but the hobbit was too modest to get up at first.

But after a few more drinks, Frodo was willing to get up. He hopped up onto the table and took Kalista's hand; not letting her get away with making fun of him. Instead, she would have to make a fool out of herself as well. The two began dancing and singing as loud as they could. They led the chorus for a few minutes but then Frodo did something completely unexpected: He pulled the bride-to-be close to him and pulled her into a playful but passionate kiss for all to see.

Sancho laughed at the scene and pointed at the couple. "Hey Baggins!" he laughed, slapping Frodo's foot playfully, "don't be taking my lass!"

Frodo smirked at the comment and stumbled slightly. He leaned on Kalista for some support looked down. He was feeling loose and quite confident at the moment. He was drunk, but he did not care. "She ain't yours for two days yet, Milbanks," he replied in return and kissed Kalista once again

"Besides," Sam added in with his own drunken laughter, "you don't know Kalista; she don't like possessive people."

"Aye," Frodo laughed, wrapping his arms around Kalista's waist and tugging her close to him. Kalista giggled, not fighting off the gestures at all. "You will be out on the street with an attitude like that and then she will be up for the taking."

Everyone laughed at the comment, including Sam, who extended his arm out to help Frodo step down off the table. Kalista stepped down as well, stumbling only slightly. She then walked over to Sancho and Frodo and pushed both lads away. "Boys, boys, no fighting, there's enough of me to go around!" she laughed while spreading her arms out, presenting herself.

However, Sancho did not take the comments as playful, not with the way Frodo was acting around Kalista. Normally the older hobbit was more refrained in his actions but with all the beer he consumed, Frodo was acting not him self. This made Sancho angry and a tab bit jealous as well. "What makes you think that she ain't my girl yet, Baggins?" he frowned slightly. He did not mind the kissing when it was playful; Frodo and Kalista would always give each other endearing kisses on the cheek or forehead, it was common and Sancho was use to such gestures. But the kiss Frodo just gave to Kalista looked more than friendly to him. Sancho was not happy.

Frodo raised an eyebrow and finished the last of the beer in his mug. He then sat opposite the table Sancho was sitting at. "Well, I did know her longer; we have more in common," he returned. "We have a bond and the only thing you two have is..." Frodo cleared his throat a bit and stopped what he was going to say. He knew that he was playing with fire. Even though he did think Sancho was an ass and deserved whatever was said.

"Is what?" Sancho asked slightly perturbed. He raised an eyebrow at Frodo, waiting for him to answer the question.

"The only thing you have going for you with her is that she has you trained," Frodo mocked with a scowl at Sancho. "Kalista is the type of lass that needs a strong minded lad, not a 'yes man' like you, Sancho,"

Sancho's jaw dropped slightly and he sat back up straight. Frodo was going to far, what he would give to punch the lad in the face. "And I bet she needs a lad like you eh, Baggins?" Sancho spat. "Some orphaned Brandybuck?

"Orphaned or not," Frodo growled, "you can't take care of her like I can and you don't have the past I have with her. The only thing you can share is her bed and she needs more than that; stick with the farm lasses in Hardbottle."

"Friendship is nothing if you can't support her with something more than your uncle's riches," Sancho scowled. "What would you do if you ran out of money? I bet you never worked a day in your life!"

Frodo was becoming angrier by the moment. What was Sancho saying? That he was a good for nothing hobbit? Frodo was no such thing. "At least I am educated, which is more than you can say. I bet you could not even pronounce Kalista's name right until she told you."

"You are not educated, Frodo; you are a mindless bookworm. You would be no good for Kalista because your head is in the clouds." Sancho moved closer to Frodo then until he was right up in the other hobbit's face. "You would probably love her and then leave her for some insane adventure like your mad uncle."

Watching Frodo's face turn redder with agitation pleased Sancho and he smiled with delight and kept going. "You can stick with your mad uncle and his crazy stories of elves and dragon's gold!" he hissed. "You're cracked, all you Bagginses are cracked and always have been!"

Those words hit Frodo like a brick wall. No one had ever said such a think to the hobbit in front of his face. And whether he deserved it or not, it did not matter to Frodo. Anger filled him and through clenched fists and clenched teeth, something snapped in his mind. After letting out a frustrated growl, Frodo swung his fist around, hitting Sancho in the chin.

Sancho's head jerked to the side and his face was full of astonishment. No words could explain Sancho's anger and shock. Instead, Sancho immediately turned around and punched Frodo back. It was hard in the jaw and Frodo gasped at the pain. The two then simultaneously lunged towards each other's throats and it took the strength of both Kalista and Sam to pry the two hobbits off one another.

At this point, a few other lads from the tavern came to help stop the fight. All four hobbits were pulled apart until Sam broke free and ran to Frodo who was ready to jump at Sancho again. "Mr. Frodo!" Sam pleaded, pushing Frodo to the door. "Stop now, I am taking you home!"

Frodo said nothing; he just glared at Kalista and Sancho with a hateful yet pained stare as he wiped a few drops of blood from his now cracked lip. Sam then led Frodo down to road towards Hobbiton. Frodo said nothing to answer the many questions pouring out of the younger hobbit. Soon, he and Sam disappeared into the night, leaving some of the other patrons to calm Kalista and Sancho down.

Kalista could not begin to understand what had just happened between her friend and fiancée. Why did this happen? Too much alcohol was the first reason that came to her mind, but that was no excuse for what had happened here tonight. Looking over to Sancho, she took his hand and looked at him pleadingly. Tears of anger and shock filled her eyes and threatened to run down her cheek. Everything had happened so fast. Sniffling to fight off her emotions, he pulled Sancho up and led him to the door. "Take me home."