I published this a while ago, and just sort of "rediscovered" it. Kind of forgot I had it. I fixed some mistakes, and added quite a bit.
"Sam sat silent and said no more. He had a good deal to think about. For one thing, there was a lot to do up in the Bag End garden, and he would have a busy day tomorrow, if the weather cleared. The grass was growing fast. But Sam had more on his mind then gardening. After a while he sighed, and got up and went out." -The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: The Shadow of the Past (44)
Sam walked slowly to Bag End, nervously swinging the
shovel he was carrying. He inadvertently beheaded a dandelion, but
didn't even take notice. As he reached the beautiful garden, he
threw the shovel to the side, uprooting a clump of grass. He knelt
down heavily and began pulling out weeds, but taking along a few
flowers with him. Frodo came out to see how he was fairing, and
noticed the amount of uprooted tulips.
"Sam, what are you
doing?" he asked, kneeling beside him.
"Mr. Frodo! I was just
weeding the-" but as he looked over to the pile of 'weeds' he
groaned. "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't realize...I'll plant more,
straight away. I'll take 'em out of my own garden, I will!" Sam
said, standing up and beginning to run back to 6 Bagshot Row.
"Sam,
don't worry about it. There are still plenty left. Just try and be
a little more careful, please," Frodo said, standing up and putting
his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam looked at the hand, and Frodo could
have sworn he saw tears welling up in the gardener's eyes. "Sam
it's only a few flowers!"
"No Mr. Frodo, it's not that,"
Sam muttered.
"What is it then, is something troubling you at
home?"
"No, nothing at home sir."
"Well Sam, stop being
an ass and tell me!" And with that Sam shrugged, leaned forward,
and kissed Frodo. When he was finished, his cheeks were bright red,
and he instantly knelt down and began weeding the garden again. Frodo
stood stone still, staring at the spot where Sam had been.
"Sam..."
Frodo murmured.
"Yes Mr. Frodo?" he asked, not looking at him.
Frodo grabbed Sam by the elbow and pulled him up. He whirled him
around, and planted a very firm kiss on his lips. After this was
over, the two hobbits stared at each other for a while, both not
quite believing what had just happened.
"Well I suppose my old
gaffer will be coming to wake me up soon," Sam said, sitting
down.
"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked, cocking his
head.
"Oh, no, don't even try this time. I have had this dream
a good many times, and you always try and tell me it's real. Well
not this time, Dream Frodo," Sam said, hands on hips. Frodo
laughed.
"Sam, this is no dream."
"Nice try. But I know
this couldn't never happen in real life."
"Is that so? If
you were dreaming, then would this hurt?" Frodo asked, smacking Sam
very hard on the bottom. Sam opened his mouth wide.
"You mean to
tell me that...that really just happened?!" Sam shouted, looking
around.
"Yes, my dear Sam. It did." Sam did not seem to know
what to do. He looked at Frodo, and smiled.
"Frodo! I mean, eh,
Mr. Frodo! This is amazing! But you really...I thought you'd
never..."
"Sam, I really do insist that you call me Frodo. No
offense, but calling me mister makes it rather...well creepy really.
And Sam, for longer than you could ever imagine I have watched you in
this garden, waiting for the day when I could finally get up the
nerve. But it was you who finally did it!" Sam shook his head and
began examining his toes.
"I only did it cause I thought I was
dreamin', if you follow me. No way I'd find it in me to do that,
unless I figured twasn't really happenin'."
"Well I'm
glad it was," Frodo said, smiling. Sam looked up at him, and stared
straight into his eyes, as if looking for some sign of deceit. It did
not seem like this could be happening. But to his relief, he found
only sincere longing. Frodo took a step forward and placed his hands
on Sam's shoulders. Both hobbits quickly leaned in, becoming lost
in a very long, intimate kiss. They would have continued like this,
had it not been for the shrill laughter heard coming over the hill,
accompanied by...
"I never would have guessed it! And all this
time I thought you were gardening, but apparently you're digging
elsewhere, Sam!" Pippin jeered, struggling to stay on his
feet.
"What is it Pippin, what are they doing?" Merry called,
too far down the hill to see. But a pleading look from Frodo caused
Pippin to hold his tongue.
"Nothing, I was only joking, Merry."
Merry came walking up, looking around at the three hobbits. Sam
muttered a quick 'afternoon' and began weeding the garden
again.
"Hello Frodo! We haven't seen you in such a long while!
Sorry we didn't give any notice, but can you say no to this face?"
Merry asked, looking over to Pippin, who was very poorly attempting
to look cherubic and innocent.
"Why, yes I believe I could. No,"
and with that, Frodo walked into Bag End and slammed the door.
"Oh
Frodo, I really think you ought to let us in!" Pippin said, smiling
devilishly.
"And why is that, young Took?" Frodo asked,
clearly not to concerned with the wrath of his childish cousin.
"I
don't suppose it would bother you if I told Merry about your work
in the garden then?" Pippin chided, looking down at Sam to see his
face go red right to the base of his sandy curls. Instantly the door
was open, but Frodo had run back down the hall so quickly neither
Merry nor Pippin could see him when they entered.
"Cousin?"
Merry called, walking down the hall. "Cousin!"
"In here,"
Frodo muttered. Merry and Pippin walked into the kitchen, and found
Frodo sitting at the table, drinking tea.
"Merry, do you think
maybe you could go and get some tomatoes out of the garden?" Frodo
asked.
"Can't I just ask Sam to-"
"Now, Merry. Thank
you." As soon as Merry walked out the kitchen, Frodo rounded on
Pippin.
"Think you're mighty funny, do you?" Frodo demanded,
grabbing the seedcake that Pippin had just picked up out of his
hand.
"What?" Pippin asked, grabbing the cake back and taking
a bite.
"How could you do that? Threatening to tell Merry!"
"Oh
come on. He wouldn't care. Besides, since when do you care what
people think, Frodo?"
"I don't care, but what about Sam? He
has a family who might toss him out for all we know! And how could
you embarrass him like that! Not ten minutes ago was the first time
we had ever..." Frodo stopped, and looked to Pippin, assuming he
would know what he meant.
"I'm sorry, cousin. I didn't think
about that," Pippin said, head falling. Frodo smiled.
"Oh,
don't worry about it. No harm done. But just...try not to say
anything, will you?" Pippin smiled and made as if he was buttoning
his lips.
"Frodo, Sam says that the tomatoes won't be ready
for another couple of weeks," Merry said, walking into the kitchen
and rolling his eyes.
"Forgive me Merry. I had forgotten,"
Frodo said, smiling.
"Yes, I'll bet," Merry said, sitting
down and eating a seedcake. Not to long after, Sam came into Bag End,
and stood in the door way of the kitchen.
"Mr. Frodo, I've
finished for the day," he said, turning to go back out.
"Sam,
wait! Please, sit down," Frodo said, pulling out a chair. Sam
looked to the chair, than to Pippin who was smiling apologetically.
He warily walked across the kitchen and sat down. Now Frodo and Sam
were on one side of the table, Merry and Pippin on the other.
"Would
you like some tea, Sam?" Frodo asked. Sam shook his head, but a
look from Frodo to Pippin caused Pippin to jump up and begin making
the tea.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it," Merry
said, leaning back in his chair.
"Saw what?!" Sam and Frodo
shouted at the same time.
"The...garden," Merry said, looking
shrewdly at the two.
"Oh, yes! Sam's been doing a wonderful
job, truly wonderful," Frodo said, daring to breath again. Frodo
put his hand on Sam's shoulder and Sam jumped. Frodo looked at his
hand and drew it back as if a snake were lying on Sam's head. Frodo
folded his hands and put them on his lap. Sam saw this, and
carefully, under the table, reached over and took one of them in his
own. He squeezed gently, and Frodo looked to him and smiled. Merry
shrugged and took another seedcake. When Pippin offered Sam his tea,
Sam had to release Frodo's hand for a moment. Frodo put his hand on
Sam's knee, and began drawing little circles with his pointer. Sam
began drinking his tea, while Pippin knocked a napkin off the
table.
"Oh dear. Look what I've done!" Pippin said, very
melodramatically, and bent down under the table, looking over to Sam
and Frodo. He giggled, and as he drew his head back up, slammed it on
the underside of the table.
"You imp of a Took!" Merry cried,
rushing over and taking Pippin in his arms. Tears were welling up in
Pippin's eyes. Merry sighed.
"A tweenager and still he needs a
nap when he gets cranky," Merry muttered, leading Pippin off into
one of the bedrooms of Bag End. Frodo immediately wrapped his arms
around Sam and kissed him. When Frodo finally came up for air, Sam
seized the opportunity to ask him a question.
"What did you and
Mr. Pippin talk about?" Sam wondered.
"How he needs to learn
to keep his mouth shut," Frodo smiled, leaning in and kissing Sam
again. Sam drew back after a bit.
"What's gotten into you?"
he asked.
"For years I've been wanting to do this, and now I
finally can. I have a lot of time to make up for!" Frodo laughed,
pulling Sam towards him once again. But soon the sound of Merry
returning could be heard.
"Sometimes I wonder if he's ever
going to grow up," Merry said, sitting back down.
"Give him
time, Merry. He's the son of the Thain, he's used to being
spoiled," Frodo said, putting his hand on Sam's thigh under the
table.
"Yes, but as soon as we got out of the room he told me I
should go do something else, too. Let you and Sam have some time
alone. I don't know what's gotten into that hobbit, but..."
Merry stopped when he saw the looks on Sam and Frodo's
faces.
"Oh...oh...ohhhhhh. Well I'm going to go take a nap as
well, then," Merry said, quickly walking out of the room.
"Merry,
you don't have to..." Frodo began, but he was gone. Frodo turned
to Sam, but Sam was looking away, red faced.
"What is it?"
Frodo asked, but as he looked down he saw that his hand was rather
close to certain unmentionable regions. "Oh, Sam, I'm
sorry!"
"Don't be!" Sam nearly shouted, grabbing Frodo's
hand when he tried to take it away. "I mean...it's alright."
Frodo smiled.
"Sam, you dirty, dirty hobbit!" Sam blushed
furiously, then smiled. He now put his hand exactly where Frodo's
was, but on Frodo's thigh instead of his own. Now Frodo's
breathing became baited.
"I think maybe I'm going to take a
nap too," Frodo said, jumping up and running to his bedroom.
"And
me!" shouted Sam, following Frodo.
Later that
night...
"That was a lovely dinner! Well done, Frodo!"
Merry said, pushing back his empty plate.
"Yes, very nice,"
Pippin agreed, piling still more food onto his own plate.
"Don't
thank me. It was mostly Sam," Frodo said, putting his hand on Sam's
knee.
"Don't you start that again..." Sam muttered.
"What?"
Merry asked, looking from Sam to Frodo.
"Nothing! Nothing,"
Sam said, blushing. Frodo quickly took a sip of his tea to hide his
smile. Pippin, completely oblivious, yawned loudly.
"Well I'm
going to hit the sack," he said, standing up and leaving his plate
at the table. A look from Frodo caused him to roll his eyes and walk
back, cleaning up his plate. Merry stood up and took care of his
plate.
"I'm going to go to bed, too, I think," Merry said,
following Pippin. Sam and Frodo watched the two walk out of the room.
As soon as they were gone, Frodo, of course, leaned in. Sam quickly
stood up.
"Now Mr. ...er...Frodo. Frodo, we must clean up first.
Come now, these dishes won't wash themselves." And with that, Sam
stood up and picked up his and Frodo's plate, and brought them to
the sink. He began wiping the dishes with a sponge, when Frodo came
up behind him, and rested his head on Sam's shoulder.
"You
don't have to do that you know."
"I know. But I don't
mind," Sam said, handing a dish to Frodo for him to dry. As Sam
reached into the sink for another dish, a little bit of water
splashed onto Frodo's arm.
"Hey!" Frodo cried, reaching into
the sink and splashing Sam back. Sam smiled and splashed Frodo again.
Frodo filled a mug up with water, and dumped it over Sam's head.
Sam laughed, and put his arms around Frodo. Frodo smiled, and put his
hands up on Sam's shoulders, clasping them behind his neck. The two
stood like this for a long time, until they heard footsteps coming
down the hall. Soon a half dressed Merry walked into the
kitchen.
"Have you got any of that pudding left?" he asked,
not noticing as Sam and Frodo quickly let go of each other.
"Yes,
right here," Frodo said, handing Merry a small bowl.
"Thanks,"
Merry said, putting a spoon into the bowl, taking a small amount, and
toasting the air in front of Sam and Frodo. He quickly turned around
and walked back to the room he and Pippin were sharing.
"Have
you got it?" they heard Pippin gleefully ask.
"Yes, yes,"
Merry said, closing the door behind him.
"Frodo, you don't
think..." Sam said, looking at the closed door down the hall. Frodo
cocked his head.
"Merry and Pippin? No...no. But, now that you
mention it..." Frodo said thoughtfully.
"They do mean a lot to
each other. And spend enough time together. And they always seem to
share a room when they visit, that's all I'm saying," Sam said,
sitting down at the table. Frodo joined him.
"Hmm. I think maybe
they are," Frodo said, putting his head on Sam's shoulder. "Do
you think you could spend the night?" he asked.
"I don't
know. My gaffer said to take care of anything you wanted, he figured
Merry and Pippin would be coming. Heard 'em talking at The Green
Dragon."
"Anything?" Frodo asked, smiling devilishly. Sam
smiled back.
"Bed time?" he asked. Frodo nodded, and quickly
ran to his bedroom. But Sam grabbed his arm, whirled him around, and
kissed him. The two became so intent on the kisses, that they ended
up falling onto the couch in each others arms.
"Morning, Frodo. Morning Sam," Pippin said, half awake,
walking past the couch to the kitchen for breakfast.
"Morning,
Pip," Frodo muttered from underneath Sam.
"Mornin', Mr.
Pippin," Sam said, not opening his eyes. Pippin walked into the
kitchen, and picked up an apple. He opened his mouth wide to take a
bite, then, eyes opening wide, he dropped the apple onto the
floor.
"Frodo! Sam!" Pippin cried, running back to the couch
and shielding his eyes.
"Ahh!" Sam shouted, picking up a
blanket and wrapping it around himself.
"Oh!" Frodo yelled,
taking a bit of blanket from Sam and wrapping it around his own
waist. The two hobbits began ambling towards Frodo's bedroom, Sam
tripping as he went, and in doing so showing Pippin some things he
did not want to see. It was just as Sam and Frodo closed the door to
Frodo's bedroom that Merry came out of the room he and Pippin had
shared.
"S' going on?" he asked, looking at the door which
had just been loudly slammed.
"Nothing. Apple?" Pippin asked,
handing Merry the felled apple. Merry took the apple, (luckily the
floor had recently been cleaned), and took a bite. Pippin took a new,
clean apple, and began nibbling on it. Ten minutes later, Frodo and
Sam returned to the kitchen, both very red in the face.
"Morning
Frodo, Sam," Merry said, nodding to them as they came in.
"Morning
Merry," Frodo muttered. Sam could only meekly return the
nod.
"What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well?" Merry asked.
Pippin took a rather large bite of his apple to prevent himself from
laughing. Sam and Frodo both grunted into their mugs of tea which Sam
had just prepared.
"Don't know why, but I'm really in the
mood for squash," Merry muttered, rubbing his stomach.
"We've
some in the garden," Frodo said, glad to give Sam a chance to get
out into the fresh air. "Sam, would you show him?" Sam nodded and
led Merry out. Pippin took the seat next to Frodo where Sam had been
sitting.
"Please cousin, for your and my sake, don't do that
again," Pippin said, smiling. Frodo's cheeks became very
flushed.
"I'm...sorry. We just...didn't have time to..."
Frodo stuttered.
"Don't worry about it," Pippin smiled,
putting a comforting hand on Frodo's shoulder. Frodo smiled
back.
"How do you and Merry..." Frodo began.
"How do me
and Merry what?" Pippin asked.
"You know, keep it quiet?"
Frodo continued.
"Keep...keep what quiet?" Pippin probed, not
sure where this was going.
"Pippin, how do you keep people
from finding out that you two are...together?"
"What? Frodo,
you don't think that me and Merry are..."
"But, you
are...aren't you?"
"Frodo, me and Merry are together... but
not like that!...but we are together..."
"Oh! I thought you
two were..."
"No," Pippin shuddered. "We're...we're
cousins, Frodo! First cousins! And he's my best friend."
"Sorry,"
Frodo said, "I just thought with all the sharing beds, and how
close you two are..."
"Frodo, we share a bed so we get a
chance to talk. Merry's going to be Master of Brandyhall, and I the
Thain. We hardly have any time for each other anymore. Anytime we
have together must be well spent." Pippin said, looking deeply
saddened.
"Aw Pip, don't worry. I know you two are always
going to be together. But not like that," Frodo added as Pippin
opened his mouth to speak. Pippin smiled and walked outside to join
Sam and Merry in the garden. Frodo walked to the window and watched
the three things that meant the most to him plodding around in the
garden, Merry and Pippin licking their lips hungrily as Sam explained
just what everything was and when it would be ready for picking. Sam
looked up and saw Frodo staring at him through the window. He smiled
and moved his pointer and middle finger into the tiniest wave, then
turned and began explaining to Pippin why he can't eat the small
crunchy things crawling around on the tomatoes. Frodo smiled, and
with one last look at Sam, who's hair was catching the sun just
right to make him look as though he was glowing, Frodo walked into
his Uncle Bilbo's old study.
