The next few days seemed to pass very slowly for Sam. Things were very quiet around Bag End, and rather lonely. It had been days since Frodo had talked to Sam. He had taken to leaving before Sam awoke, and returning home after bedtime. Sam had the distinct feeling that Frodo was avoiding him.

The cut upon his cheek was healing nicely, but they had never talked about how it had come about. Sam knew that Frodo hadn't meant it, that he hadn't known who Sam was at that moment. Over the past few days, Sam had felt Frodo looking at him, but when he turned to look back, Frodo cast his gaze in another direction. In the long nights since the anniversary illness, Sam found himself longing to be held by Frodo. To feel the safety of his arms, and the comfort of his touch once more.

Sam now sat by the fire, trying to comfort himself and fight back the tears that threatened him all too often now. He felt alone, as though Frodo had abandoned him. Their child grew within him, day after day, but Sam's heart broke a little more as each day passed.

"Maybe he don't want you no more, Sam, my boy." He whispered into the fire and ran his hands over his ever-expanding belly. "Don't you worry little one, no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you. I know Frodo loves you. I know he does. You're the most precious thing in all of Middle Earth, to either of us. I guess he's just scared is all. I bet he feels guilty for hurting me like that, even though he shouldn't. I know it weren't him, little one. I know it was the poison that's still runnin' through his veins."

Sam had started to cry now. He couldn't hold in all these emotions any longer. He felt he was losing Frodo, a little bit more each day. They had been to the end of the world and back, and Sam knew he would have done anything Frodo asked of him. Save one. Sam knew that if Frodo asked, he could never let him go. Sam's heart screamed within his chest at the thought of having to live without Frodo. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it.

"Lyndir, my child, even if I've to give up my own life in the process, I will not let your father abandon us. That's a promise, and no mistake!" Sam sighed and closed his eyes, falling into a dreamless sleep.

Frodo opened the door as quietly as he could. It was late, and the last thing he wanted was to wake Sam now. As the door swung open, Frodo's breath caught in his throat, and hot tears bit his blue eyes. The last few days had been so hard for him; he hated avoiding Sam like this. He just couldn't bring himself to talk to Sam about that night.

Sam was sitting in a chair by the fire, the glow from the embers bathing his face in a warm orange glow, highlighting his sandy hair. Frodo's eyes were drawn to the soft skin covering Sam's eyes, with their golden lashes curling every so slightly. Sam seemed so peaceful when he slept, so open. The gentle roundness of his belly, beneath the soft nightshirt he was wearing, made Frodo's knees weak at the thought that some harm might come to either Sam or the child, someday.

Frodo walked to the trunk under the window, and pulled out a thick wool quilt. He laid the blanket over the sleeping form of his partner, tucking the edges down around him. Letting his hands slide softly over the firm curve of Sam's belly. Frodo held in a sob of pain. How could he ever have injured one he loved so much? Even in the state he'd been in?

He ran his hands all over Sam's stomach, looking up into the peacefully sleeping face. Sam had such dreams for them both. For their family. Frodo laid his head softly against the firm roundness that was Sam's belly, and cried softly. He was so afraid of himself, lately. After the things he'd done, he felt like a stranger to himself. He would never forgive himself for striking out at Sam the way he did, and it frightened him terribly that someday he might do the same to their child.

"Oh, Sam." Frodo whispered softly through his tears. "What have I done to you? I dragged you from your home, your family, and your peaceful life. I've depended on you, my dear, for everything that you could possibly give to me. I've taken it all, and never given you anything in return." He lifted his head and looked at the small wound he'd caused on Sam's cheek. "After all you've done for me, I repay you by lashing out in my own terror, and causing you harm!"

Frodo's mind churned. For days he'd been thinking about nothing but that fearful morning of the sixth. He'd been wandering the many paths through the Shire, searching for answers that would never come to him.

"What am I to do, my love?" He began in a quiet whisper once more, feeling as though his voice was failing him. "The last thing I ever wanted to do was to hurt you. Or this child." He patted Sam's belly softly, and laid his head down once more. "I'm so afraid, dear heart. Afraid of myself. Sometimes I think all the goodness in me has left. That I'm but a hollow shell left behind after the ... the ring took everything from me. I fear for you and this child, that all I might do by staying is cause you more harm. I couldn't bare it if I harmed our child, Sam. What if someday, I mistook our child for someone else, during one of my ... illnesses ...?" He couldn't finish the thought for the shiver of fear that ran through him.

Frodo felt Sam's hand slide through his hair softly. "It won't happen, me dear." Sam whispered. "I wouldn't let you harm anyone else, sir. I promised long ago that I would protect you, and I mean to. Even if it means protecting our child from you, love."

Sam slid his hand under Frodo's chin and guided it up so he could look into the blue eyes that he loved so much. He smiled and wiped the tears from Frodo's rosy cheeks. Then taking Frodo's hands, he pressed them firmly to his belly, and looked deep into Frodo's eyes.

"Don't you ever think you've not given me anything, love. You've given me a future, you have." He smiled again. "Right here. This is our future, Frodo. 'Tis all that matters now. I have no fear, nor should you. Everything is going to be alright, sir, you'll see!"

Frodo felt tears rolling down his cheeks again. "Samwise, what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"I don't rightly know, love, but I know something you could do now ..." Sam laughed a little.

"Yes, love?"

"You could go to the kitchen and get me some of the scones I made this morning!"