Darkness, pure and simple darkness. Nothing seemed to matter here. No pain. No fear. Just a cradling comfort that only darkness could bring. It was comfortable here. Why had he feared the darkness before? He was almost thankful for it, now. He could rest here, and he was so tired. So very tired.

"Come back to us, Samwise."

That voice. He knew that voice. It was very familiar, and yet he couldn't quite place it. The soft, almost melodic timbre of it, seeming to slice through the darkness. Sweeping it away like fog in a gentle breeze. He pushed it from his mind. There was no voice. He imagined it. Yes, imagined it. He was safe here, and nothing could touch him.

"Samwise, I know that you can hear me. You must open your eyes, or all is for naught."

Oh, bother! He could almost hear the raised eyebrow in the tone of voice. Couldn't he stay here a little longer? Sounds started coming back to him. Hushed voices. Horses. The wagon's wheels moving upon a path. Frodo's crying.

Why was Frodo crying?

He forced himself upwards. Crawling up through the blessed darkness towards consciousness. Frodo needed him. He had to get to Frodo. There was something important he needed to do.

"Frodo …"

He forced his eyes open. They were still bleary and he couldn't make them focus. He could feel Frodo's arms around him, stroking his sweat-damp curls. Blinking more. Was that Lord Elrond?

"Oh, Sam! Thank the Valar! I was so scared!" Frodo's voice sounded so relieved, through his tears.

"Indeed, Samwise. We were very close to losing you." Elrond spoke calmly from his seat by Sam's feet. "I need you to drink some of this, it will ease some of your pain until we arrive back in Imladris." He said, passing a cup to Frodo, who offered it to Sam.

Sam swallowed as much of it as he could before the hot band of pain gripped his belly once more. He cried out, wishing that he were still floating in the comfort of darkness. The pain grew, and grew, coming finally to a climax. At which point, Sam felt a popping sensation inside, before a puddle formed between his legs. He could feel the blush rise quickly up his face. He hadn't just lost control over his bladder in front of the Lord of Rivendell, had he? He was mortified.

"I'm … I'm sorry!" Sam choked out.

Elrond simply put his hand up in a very lordly manor.

"You didn't, Samwise. Do not trouble yourself. This is simply another stage in the labor process. Things would start progressing now." Elrond stated calmly, before placing his hands upon Sam's over-large belly, and closing his eyes.

Time seemed to stand still as Elrond tilted his head slightly. He seemed to be listening to something that neither hobbit could hear. Sam felt a feeling of calm wash over him as soon as the elf's hands were laid upon him. The world around him became sharper and more defined.

Another contraction. Stronger than the others. Sam braced himself for crying out in pain. Though he never did. He simply breathed through the pain, with a feeling of disconnection. Sam knew he was in pain. He could feel it, but it didn't seem to matter. This must be how elves feel He mused, as the pain subsided. When Elrond finally removed his hands, Sam felt his weariness hit him once more, at full force.

"Tired." Sam moaned softly before dozing until the next contraction.

They arrived in Rivendell only minutes later. Relief washes over Frodo, replacing the terror that had gripped his heart for so many hours. He knew that if there were anything to be done to help Sam, this was the place that they would find that help. He watched helplessly as another elf came and lifted Sam into his arms, carrying him to a clean chamber, led by Lord Elrond. He knew he should follow, but his feet wouldn't obey him. He stood, frozen in the courtyard, watching his lover, in the throws of labor, being carried away from him.

"Frodo?" Merry's quiet voice sounded from beside him.

"Huh? Oh, Merry." Frodo shook his head, trying to gain control of the situation once more.

"Frodo, you should go in there. Sam needs you, now."

He swallowed hard. Merry was right. Sam needed him. He knew this, and yet here he still stood, frozen to the ground. How could he bring himself to go in there and watch while his reason for living slipped away from him? What if his dream were going to come to pass?

It seemed an eternity that he stood there. Unable to move, until finally breaking into a run at the sound of Sam's pained voice crying out for him. That sound wrenched his very heart, and forced him back to tears. The sight that greeted him, as he burst through the door, terrified him.

Sam lay on an examining table, deathly pale, and covered in the slick sheen of sweat that had coated him for hours. He was writhing with the pain of a new contraction, and Frodo's heart screamed at him for standing at the door and not trying to comfort Sam. His lover was bare from the waist down, though his shirt covered most everything important. Though the sight of the blood that pooled on the sheet was all that Frodo's eyes could see.

Was that normal?

Elrond noticed Frodo's hesitance and ushered him forward saying something about Sam needing his support now, as the baby was coming.

"Frodo … I …" Sam was cut off as yet another pain washed over him, forcing him to stop speaking and scream once more. This was torture. Slow and very painful torture.

"Shh, Sam. Just breathe. I'm here, and this will all be over soon, love." His wet blue eyes met Elrond's in a pleading look. He knew Sam was weakened after so many hours, and prayed this would move quickly. Everything would be fine, right?

"Samwise, I want you to push, with all your strength, when the next pain comes." Elrond stated from his seat at the end of the bed.

Sam nodded, and when the next contraction came, pushed with all his might. He felt he might tear in two, but his body seemed to be taking over. No longer was he reasoning what he was doing. He was simply following his instincts. Instincts? His body really did know what to do right now?

Frodo kisses the sweat-soaked brow, and held Sam's hand for support. He wished he could make all the pain go away, while all he could think of was that he was the cause of that pain. He vowed to himself that he would never, ever, risk Sam's life in this way, ever again.

He was lost in his thoughts for a long time, until a thin high-pitched wail cut through him. He blinked and cleared his eyes, to see a very tiny baby being passed to the elf by Elrond's side. His child. It was almost over. Sam squeezed his hand, tears in the hazel eyes.

"Master Baggins, come meet your daughter." The other elf stated with a smile as Frodo's eyes followed him.

His daughter.

He tore his eyes away to meet Sam's as if to ask permission. At Sam's nod, he crossed the room to the small table that held the squalling infant. She seemed too tiny, and fragile. A small tuft of golden curls upon her head, and large blue eyes, which seemed not to focus properly. Tiny arms and legs waving about in the air, and a little pink cupid's bow of a mouth.

The whole world seemed to dissolve around him. All sound, and sight of anything else around him, seemed to vanish. Everything paled in comparison to the beauty of this new life before him. A life, which he had helped to create. Tears of joy rolled gently down his face as he watched his daughter being wrapped in a small blanket. Never before had he felt such an overwhelming feeling of protection for another.

"Frodo, would you care to introduce your daughter to her mother now? Elladan and I shall leave you three to get acquainted. We will return shortly." Elrond said, before leaving the room with his son.

"Frodo …?" Sam asked weakly from where he lay, now cleaned, and resting on as comfortably as possible on the bed.

Picking up the baby, Frodo made his way to the bed. She was so light in his arms, and he felt as though she might break her as she simply looked up into his face with newborn wonder. He smiled as she squeaked a little when he lay her into Sam's waiting arms.

"Oh, Frodo! She's absolutely beautiful!" Sam said, forcing himself to stay awake, allowing his tears to flow freely now.

"I know, love." He replied, sliding his finger into the tiny newborn fist. "Hello, little Lyndir!" Frodo looked down at Sam, realizing how very beautiful he was at this moment, and the amazing gift they had both just received.

"I'm so proud of you, Sam-dear. You did so very well, and now we're a true family."

Frodo's smile grew. Everything would be fine now. Sam had survived the birth, and their daughter was the most perfect being he'd ever laid eyes on. Everything finally fit together, and he suddenly knew where he belong.

The End.