Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long to update! School is crazy right now. Not much time for updating stories. (And for those who are impatiently waiting for me to update Cinder Rose *cough* Herculeha*cough, cough* I am currently working on chapter 13.)

Sam will be making an appearance soon, don't worry. There is also a bit of Tom/Marigold in this story.

Celebrindal: Yes, Rosie is a cat…well, a kitten. I hope you don't become too crazy for you to read this chapter, lol. Peter Pan *sighs dreamily*…I'm in heaven. I've seen it three times and like it all the more. I am writing my review of it and will post it on my profile, so keep your eyes open.

Nenya Culariel: Those are some very good questions. And I do not know the answers to all of them. We will simply have to wait and see what happens. ;)

Arwen Baggins: The real Rosie is now a little kitten. And yes, this shall be my second Sam/Rosie chapter story. You are on the ball girl.

Herculeha: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope this story will be good too. And I'm glad your cat seems to enjoy it. I have ready the latest chapters of MSOARD, and they are great! I promise to drop by and review them!

Now, on with chapter two. And please let me know what you think!

~~~

Chapter Two

"Tom!" Whack! "Wake up Tom," Marigold cries. Slap! "Fainting will not help solve our problem!" Smack!!!

Rosie the kitten yawns and paces back and forth before the two hobbits, continuing to watch the amusing scene as Marigold attempts to revive her brother…by slapping him hard across the face repeatedly. Rosie is surprised Marigold has not stopped yet; surely her hand must be stinging and her arm tired from swinging one way and then the other nonstop. If Tom stays unconscious and if Marigold keeps slapping him, this scene will have played out for over ten minutes. Rosie sits and begins licking her paws.

Without pausing in her slapping Tom's face, Marigold glances at her now furry friend and grins. 

"Rosie."

The kitten looks up.

"I must admit I am enjoying this." She glances down at Tom's still form.

Rosie meows in understanding and agreement. She then shakes her head in annoyance. If the two hobbits in front of her had just stopped "beating around the bush," this whole mess would have never happened. But nooooooo, they refuse to admit to each other that they fancy one another. And it has been driving her crazy. Marigold has secretly been interested in Tom for the last three years but thinks he does not see her…that way. And Tom, well, he finally noticed Marigold as more than his friend's little sister. So things should have been fine then: Tom would have spent more time in Marigold's company and would have seen if they processed beyond friendship. But, no, of course not, things went from bad to worse, in Rosie's opinion. She continued listening to Marigold pine after her brother because it seemed as if only friendship was between them. And Tom…oh, Tom pretended not to treat Marigold any differently. But he was very much alert to other lads who seemed to have an… interest in her. And when he noticed, he acted like an angry dog, telling Rosie just why none of those lads was worth Marigold's time (while refusing to say who would be worth her time. Probably none in his opinion, Rosie muses.). Obviously he was jealous. If it mattered that much to him, all he had to do was admit his feelings. Then he wouldn't have to worry about lads flocking around Marigold. But no! Instead, he has a little heart-to-heart talk with each lad and warns him about how protective Sam is of who sees his sister. Excuse me?! Rosie rolls her eyes in amusement. She can indeed think of how very protective a certain hobbit is of who sees Marigold – and it is not Sam. Why, why, why must she be so caught up in her brother and friend's love lives? 

A low moan escapes Tom's slightly parted lips, catching his sister's attention. Finally! The sooner he awakes, the sooner we can get out of here. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can decide how to turn me back to my rightful form.

The groaning from Tom increases in volume as the sound of hand of meeting cheek quickens in pace. Yep, this was all Tom's fault.

~~~

"Admit it, Tom!" Rosie pants, trying to keep up with her brother's long strides. "We're lost!" Next to her, a breathless Marigold nods her head in silent agreement.

"We are not lost!" Tom snaps, throwing a look over his shoulder at the two girls – actually, a glare towards his sister, a lingering soft glance at her friend. "We're just…" he trails off, trying to come up with a reply.  

Rosie shakes her head. Tom is not one to swallow his pride when it comes to admitting that she is right – particularly when it is his fault for the mess they are in. She rolls her eyes. Today – of all the days she had let Tom talk her into going along with his great idea, when she could have done her work or stopped by the Gamgees' – she had begged her ma to let her go just this once, and look what she got herself into.

"Then why does it seem as though we're going in circles?" Marigold asks, glancing at an old maple tree, its leaves turning red; it's the third time she has seen it in twenty minutes.

Tom ignores her comment but starts turning a glorious shade of red. Rosie stifles a laugh by coughing loudly. To be put off by one's sister is one thing. To be put off by the lass one has fancied since this past spring… Rosie starts shaking with silent giggles. Tom turns to her again before he again faces forward. If looks could kill….

"Soooo," Rosie starts in a chipper tone, "we're lost here in the forest –"

"We are not lost!" Tom interrupts hotly.

Rosie goes on as though she was never interrupted, "—because you insisted on showing us," here she grins broadly, "something. And you wanted to me to bring Mari –"

"Stop it!" Tom exclaims, rounding on his sister. "All right, we are lost. There. Happy?" His eyes burn into her, refusing to look at Marigold.

Rosie simply grins.

"What did you want to show…us?" Marigold asks, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Tom stutters. "Well, um, just something," he says lamely.

Rosie's grin widens, basking in her brother's discomfort.

"Do enlighten us, dear brother. I don't know much about this myself. Just why today of all days did we have to go out?  And why did you want us two along?"

"Rosie! Give Tom a rest," Marigold rebukes her friend gently.

Both Cotton siblings blink in surprise. Tom's scowl disappears as he looks at Marigold. For a moment she meets his eyes. Then both drop their gazes, blushing deeply.

Rosie bursts out laughing. Tom's face darkens again as her eyes flick from him to Marigold and back. Letting out a growl, he lunges at her. Squealing, Rosie turns and takes off running through the woods. Tom races after her, pushing bushes out of his way with his long arms. Marigold trails behind the two.

"Rosie…" wheeze, "…if you dare tell…" gasp, "…her, I swear…," Tom pants.

"Afraid…that the cat will be let out of the bag?" Rosie teases, looking over her shoulder at her brother who is rapidly gaining on her.

He grunts and picks up speed. Rosie turns back and quickly halts, right on the edge of a hill. She sighs in relief. A great force hits her, knocking the wind out of her. Tom yells, and together they tumble down the hill. Rosie hears Marigold scream above them. The world is a blur as her body continues hitting the ground hard. Splash!

~~~

Tom's head snaps back and forth repeatedly. He tightens his shut eyes.

"Tom! Are you all right?" a worried voice asks.

His head stops moving as the hand hitting pauses and then starts up again.

"I-I-I will be-e-e on-ce you stop-p-p sl-ap-ping me!" he stammers between each blow.

"Oh."

The hand stills and withdraws.

Slowly Tom opens his eyes and touches his bruised face. He bites back another moan at the tenderness of the skin under his fingers. He had no idea Marigold had such a hard slap. Wait. A. Minute. Marigold?!?

There indeed is the pretty lass, leaning over him and peering anxiously into his face. His eyes widen. What an interesting situation he is in.

Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her! Rosie chants silently as the two hobbits stare into each other's eyes. But Marigold scurries back and picks Rosie up, a flush rising in her cheeks. Tom coughs and slowly sits up. Rats! So close, then one of my problems would have been over! Rosie pouts. Tom looks up at Marigold and then at the kitten in her arms.

"No! It wasn't a dream."

"No. Sorry," Marigold says, looking down at Rosie with pity.

"Here, let me take her," Tom says, getting to his feet. "I guess we should at least start walking."

Marigold nods, handing Tom his sister. "We cannot stay here for the night. And your brothers and my family may be getting worried."

"Aye. Thank goodness at least Ma and Pa are away. I don't know how I would explain Rosie to them," Tom sighs. Suddenly a sly smile graces his lips, and he whispers in the kitten's pointed ear, "Looks like the cat is still tied up in the bag."

Rosie is silent. She swipes at him with her paw. She meows in satisfaction as Tom yelps and covers his now bleeding cheek.

Sisters.

~~~

TBC…