TITLE: Dances With Uncles
AUTHOR: Tinuviel's Song

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Frodo, Bilbo, The Springle-Ring, or anything else Lord of the Rings-related (sadly). If I did, I'd be filthy rich and living in a little seaside cottage on the Eastern Coast of Scotland, but we can't always get what we want, can we? (sigh)
SUMMARY: Bilbo wants Frodo to get a life and learn to dance, so what does he do? Well, read and find out…
RATING: G
CHARACTERS: Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin
SPOILERS: Not much, if you didn't know squat about LotR, already…
NOTES: This is my first fanfic… Eva! I know it sorta stinks, but I tried, all right? FLAMES ARE NOT WELCOME! Um… Enjoy… (scoots off somewhere)

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys. I really appreciate it. :)

Chap. 2: Tea for Two and Two for Tea

Later that day, Frodo went out into the frozen world, accompanied by Bilbo's gardener's twelve-year-old son, Samwise Gamgee. Samwise, known by most as 'Sam', had begged his father to let him come over to the Bagginses', since he quite enjoyed following around Frodo, who he had sought out as a role-model.

As the two hobbit-lads tramped along the frosted road towards town (fully bundled in scarves and coats), they saw a little speck at the edge of the road, coming their way and getting bigger and bigger as it came closer. Soon enough, Frodo and Sam came close enough to realize who the speck was. It was Meriadoc Brandybuck (who was generally called Merry), Frodo's ten-year-old second cousin. In Merry's arms was a sleeping two-year-old Peregrin Took, who everyone called 'Pippin' on account of the way he mispronounced his name in his attempt at forming words, though he could now say full sentences.

'Hullo, Merry.' Frodo greeted at a whisper, minding Pippin's sleeping state.

'Hullo, Frodo, Samwise.' Merry replied, nodding politely to Sam.

'So,' Frodo said, picking up a clump of snow and patting it into a rather large ball, then throwing it over a nearby fence. 'What brings you to Hobbiton, Merry? And where's your mum?'

'Well, lil' Pip here's old enough to be around people, so 'is mum an' da decided to bring him over to your house to see your uncle an' you. Mumma brought me down here to visit a friend of her's, and Pip an' me just happened to meet up. Me and the little dibbun got quite attached.' Merry proclaimed, looking down and smiling at his cousin. Pippin suddenly opened his big, green eyes and his mouth cracked open to let out a tiny peep of a yawn, which made Frodo chuckle softly. Merry smiled again and looked up at Frodo. 'What brings you… to the road?' Merry asked awkwardly.

'Mr. Frodo and me're goin' to the market, Mr. Merry.' Sam blurted out, peeking out from behind Frodo.

'Hm! The market. How exciting.' Merry said dryly, kicking a chunk of what looked like dirt mixed with snow, though it might not have been. Frodo rolled his eyes jocularly. Somehow, Frodo was always a magnet for small children. Perhaps it was the reason that they often stopped him in the market and asked him to tell them one of Bilbo's stories. Perhaps they just liked being around an older child. Who really knows?

'I have to run some errands for Bilbo. He's run out of tea-leaves and he dreadfully needs them, for he's caught a bad cough lately (or so he claims).' Frodo stated knowingly.

'I'm just taggin' along, really.' Sam pipped in, shrugging his shoulders.

'Thank you for that comment, Sam. It was much needed.' Frodo said, tussling Sam's light-brown curls, to which Sam replied with a jovially indignant 'Hey!'. Frodo chortled. 'What say we get a move on, shall we? The sun's beginning to set and I don't want to be late for dinner.' He promptly began walking down the road where he was going in the first place, quickly followed by the gaggle of tots.

When they reached the market, the sky had turned a dark blue hue, and snowflakes were beginning to fall gracefully from their fluffy white perches. The four hobbit-lads walked past the thin crowd of people bustling about in the stands. Pippin stretched his little body sideways as he eagerly reached for a shiny, red apple from one of the stands, but Merry scooted away from it, thus separating the little hobbit from his prize. Pippin began to crumple up his cherubic face and was about to cry when Merry said, 'No, Pip, you can't have that. I know, you're teething and you need something to gum, but you can't have it. It's too late.' Pippin whimpered sadly, and Merry hugged him close, patting him gently on the back. 'I'll sneak you one later, all right?' Merry whispered soothingly, pulling Pippin out again to look him in the eye, giving him a gentle poke in the tummy. Pippin gave a seven-toothed grin and giggled. Frodo suddenly tapped Merry on the shoulder. Merry craned his neck to look at him.

'I'm going to go into that store over there, see?' Frodo said, pointing to a small shop across the street. 'Don't trail off or talk to strangers, all right? Sam's going to look after you, so don't give him any trouble, all right?'

'Yes, Mother.' Merry said teasingly, fluttering his long eyelashes like an innocent angel. Frodo nodded and swerved on his heel, walking off to the store he was destined for.

'Oi, Sam! Get over here!' Merry hollered, receiving various stares from adults surrounding him. Merry just grinned proudly.

Sam, who was casually plucking weeds from the sides of houses, heard Merry's call and came loping towards him. 'Yes, Mr. Merry?'

'Frodo wants you to look after us. Be nice to me, or I'll tell my dad an' he'll give you what for!' Merry warned, giving Sam the evil eye.

'Yes, Mr. Merry, whatever you say.' Sam laughed, a bit amused at being threatened by a younger hobbit, no matter if the hobbit was just a year younger than him. Merry nodded stiffly, letting out an arrogant 'Hm!'.

After a few minutes of silence, Merry let out a sigh. 'Pippin, you're getting a little heavy, chum.' Merry stated, setting Pippin down on the ground with slight strain. 'Stay with me, Pip.' Merry ordered softly, taking Pippin's chubby little hand. Pippin wiggled free and hugged Merry's leg tightly, shivering with the light snowfall that was descending upon his head. Merry took off his huge green scarf and draped it around Pippin's tiny shoulders, which instantly caused the lad to stop shivering. 'You good, mate?' Pippin nodded, curls bobbing as he went.

'Where's Fwodo?' Pippin queried worriedly (for a babe, that is).

'He went into a store, don't worry, Pip.' Merry cooed, brushing back the little one's scraggly bangs with his hand.

'Hey, didya hear? Mr. Bilbo's teachin' Mr. Frodo how to dance.' Sam interrupted, causing Merry to twitch a little.

'I swear, Sam, your comments are so random…' Merry mumbled, staring at Sam through a lowered brow. In an instant, he changed moods and his voice warped to a boisterous holler. 'Anyways, where did you hear this?'

'From me ol' Gaffer, o' course. He was speakin' to Mr. Bilbo this mornin' and Bilbo told him that he was going to teach Mr. Frodo how to dance.'

'Bilbo? Teach Frodo to dance? O, that's rich! I gotta tell that one to my pal, Dinadoc!' Merry exclaimed, laughing cruelly.

'What's 'rich'? Did I miss something?' A voice said, startling the little hobbits. Merry turned to see Frodo standing there, a bag of tea-leaves in his hand.

'Nothin'. Ye missed nothin'.' Merry said angelically (if not a little hastily), picking up Pippin from the ground, smiling sweetly. Frodo just cocked a brow.

'…Come, we mustn't dally. It isn't safe being out so late.' Frodo said, quickly ushering the little tots towards the mouth of the market.

Yeah, I know the ending to the chapter sucked, but I tried. Tellest me whast thou thinketh.