March 1462
Fari galloped Anduril down the road, anxious to get to Bag End. He hadn't seen Goldi in months. She was back in Hobbiton now, having gone to stay with Elanor for the winter. "I don't get to see her much," Goldi had told him, when he'd pouted over her going so far away for the winter, "and it won't get any easier once we're married and start having babies."
Fari put Anduril in the paddock at the bottom of Bag Hill, briefly considered going to say 'hello' to Frodo, then decided he really needed to see Goldi. He trotted up the path to the Gamgee's home.
She was out in the garden, talking to her father as he worked, when Fari came up the path. She squealed and ran out the gate to fling herself into his arms.
"I missed you!" she said and kissed him. Fari put his arms around her, melting into the kiss and letting his hands slide just a bit lower...
A cough behind them broke them apart. "Sorry, Dad," Goldi muttered, stepping away from Fari.
"Hello, Uncle Sam!" said Fari cheefully. He might as well try to defuse the situation.
"Fari," Sam said with a nod. He turned to Goldi. "Your mum's probably got tea about ready," he said. "Why don't you take Fari inside."
Goldi grabbed his hand and pulled him into Bag End.
As always around a meal time, Bag End was organised chaos, with everyone running around setting the table and serving up food. Rosie was in the middle of it, directing them like a captain.
"Fari!" Rosie pulled the kettle from the fire, handed it to Daisy to put on the table, and came over to hug him. "I figured you'd be here today," she said. She kissed his cheek. Fari smiled and gave her a kiss back. Uncle Sam may be wary of him, but at least Aunt Rosie still loved him.
-o-O-o-
"Have you seen Rose recently?" asked Rosie over tea.
"Just last week," said Fari. "Theo said she's--" he stopped. He had been about to say 'not as insane', but figured that would be the exact wrong thing to say in front of Sam and all these Gamgee lasses. "--doing a lot better this time. Not as tired. And happier." He smiled, quite proud of himself for saving himself like that.
"That's good to hear," said Rosie as she refilled Sam's tea cup. "I know how hard those first few babies can be." She turned away suddenly. "Tolman! Don't you dare put salt in Ruby's tea!" She turned back to Fari, and refilled his tea cup, not even pausing in her conversation. "Goldi, Daisy and I will be heading to Buckland right after Emerald delivers."
They chatted on a while longer, mostly Goldi relaying news from Westmarch. More hobbits were movng to the region, giving Fastred more responsibility. Mer and his new wife had moved out there last summer, and Pip and Hamfast were considering going as well.
"Well, I need to get over to Bywater," Sam said, pushing away from the table. He leaned over to kiss Rosie, then looked at Fari and Goldi. "I suppose you're wanting to take Goldi out, so I'll stop and talk to Nibs and Iris about accompanying you this evening."
Fari nodded, keeping a neutral face. Nibs and Iris Cotton were nice, but they were strict chaperones. They never let Fari and Goldi out of their sight.
Sam left and the room fell into chaos again. The girls started clearing plates, but the boys were heading out the door.
"I'll do that," Fari said, taking the dishes from Rosie's hands. "You go sit in the parlor and catch up with Goldi."
Rosie beamed at him, then turned on her sons. "You boys would do well to learn from Fari! He gives your poor mother a rest!" She stalked past them and into the parlor.
The boys all glared at him before running out the door. Fari just shrugged and took the plates to the washbasin. They could figure it out for themselves, about the importance of endearing yourself to your future mother-in-law.
-o-O-o-
"That was..."
"Boring." Fari looked over at Goldi. They were back at Bag End, after a boring evening at the Green Dragon. How anyone could make an inn boring was beyond him, but Nibs Cotton apparently had the ability to do so. Any touching, even while dancing, got them a stern look from Goldi's uncle. Fari hated dancing, but he did it at the Dragon, just because he could sneak a kiss whenever other dancers blocked them from Nibs' view. They were only allowed a short time to themselves for conversation, sitting on opposite sides of a table, while Nibs and Iris watched them from across the room.
Rosie had convinced Sam to leave them alone in the parlor for a while. It's not like they could do anything, being in such a large household. Goldi shared a room with Daisy. Fari was going to be staying with Pip and Hamfast. No, this was pretty much it as far as alone time.
But Fari had an idea forming in his head all evening. He decided to see what Goldi thought of it. "What are you doing tomorrow night?" he asked, leaning over to whisper to her.
"Nothing, considering you'll be back at the Smials. Or are you wanting to stay longer?"
He shook his head. "How about if I'm not at the Smials. Or here." He tugged playfully at her braid. "How would you like to meet me somewhere?"
"What?" She clapped her hand over her mouth. They both leaned over to peek out the parlor door. Across the hall, Sam and Rosie were still sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea. Goldi got up, went to the door, and checked the hall. Then she came back. "Nobody's listening," she said. "Now, what?"
"I'll meet you. You sneak out after dark and I'll meet you...up by the Party Tree."
"Fari..."
"Goldi!" he whined. "We're not going to be able to be alone. Ever. Well, not until we're married. And that's two whole years away." He sighed. "I might die waiting."
She rolled her eyes. "Right, Fari."
"Please," he pleaded. "Just for a little while. Anyway, we're betrothed, so it's not like we're really sneaking around doing things. We're only sort of sneaking around doing things."
"What things?" she asked, scowling at him, warning in her voice.
"Anything you think is proper," he said. He decided he had to pull out the secret weapon, something he'd seen his Dad use on Ivy when Ivy was cross with him. His Dad only had to do this one thing and Ivy would forgive him. Then, their argument forgotten, they'd often disappear into their room for a while. Fari sighed and then he gave her the look--eyes wide, eyebrows raised, lips pouting just so, a slight turn of a smile at the corner of the mouth--turning the Took Charm on full force.
Goldi was still scowling at him, but then her face softened. She closed her eyes and sighed. "All right," she said.
Fari grinned and leaned over to give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Tomorrow night, I'll be waiting for you at the Party Tree." He stood up. "Well, we should probably turn in," he said, glancing out the door towards Goldi's parents.
"Already?" she asked, "It's still fairly early."
He grinned. "Well, I want to make a good impression on your dad, don't I?"
-o-O-o-
"You came!" Fari scrambled to his feet. Goldi trudged up the hill toward him, wrapped in her cloak, her nightdress bright white in the moonlight.
"Of course I came," she said. "But it wasn't easy. Daisy caught me leaving. I had to promise to do the dishes for a week."
He gave her a sympathetic kiss, then took her hand."Come with me." He pulled her down the hill, towards the grove of trees near the bottom. They went into the tress and Fari led her to a little clearing, where he'd spread a blanket.
"Fari, I--"
Fari pulled her down next to him and kissed her. Her hair wasn't in its usual braid and he ran his fingers through it. He gently pushed her back, still kissing her, until she was lying on her back, Fari half on top of her. He pulled away from her mouth, kissing his way down to her neck. She squeaked and writhed when he kissed her there, which didn't do much for his self control. Then she squirmed, which pressed her thigh right into his erection. He moaned and instinctively pressed back.
"Fari...wait...stop." She put her hands on his chest and pushed him up.
He rolled away from her, gasping for breath. "Sorry," he said. He couldn't help it. They'd never done anything like this before, lying together like this. He wanted her so much.
She sat up. "I think we should stop now," she said, her arms crossed over her chest. She glanced towards his crotch.
He touched her arm. "Goldi, it's fine. I'm just..."
"I know, Fari. I know what's going on. I'm not stupid."
He rolled onto his side, propped up on one arm, and reached up to pluck a leaf from her hair. "Then you know how much I want to be with you."
"I know. I want to be with you, too." She sighed. "But I don't want to disappoint my parents."
He nearly said 'They don't have to find out', but he knew that would probably make him a bachelor again. "We'll take it slower, all right? Nothing you don't want to do."
She shook her head. "No, Fari, I think we should stop."
"Goldi!" He flopped over on his back. "Look, how about I keep my hands to myself--." He put his hands under his head. "--and you decide what we do?"
She looked at him, chewing on her lip in thought. He started to give her the look again, but she turned away. "Don't you dare look at me like that again!" she said. "That's what got me into this." She turned back and sighed. "All right, we'll do this."
He smiled at her as she shifted around to sit next to him. She leaned over and kissed him. That was nice, but he hoped she'd get just a bit more adventurous. Then she kissed her way down his jaw, like he had done to her, her mouth coming to rest on his throat. Her teeth scraped the skin and he groaned, his erection twitching.
She pulled back to look at him. "You like that?" she asked, her eyes wide.
He nodded and lifted his head, pulling his hands out to reach for her, but she pushed him back and grabbed his arms. "No," she said. "Hands to yoursef, remember?" And then she gave him a wicked grin.
Fari shuddered, not quite believing what he thought was happening. He put his hands behind his head again and then she leaned down, her mouth going to his throat. He groaned again, and bucked his hips, trying to relieve the ache between his legs. Goldi pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "This is fun," she said and leaned down to capture his mouth with hers. She ran a hand down his chest, her fingers weaving around the buttons. Fari moaned and squirmed. His trousers were rubbing against his erection and he had to struggle to keep his hands behind his head. He thought he was going to die if he didn't get relief soon, but he didn't know how he was going to do that with Goldi here. He'd have to wait until she went home, and he groaned in frustration.
Goldi sat up, grinning at him, and touched his side, right where she knew he was ticklish. He giggled and jerked away, pulling out one hand to grab hers.
"No," she scolded, tucking his arm back. "Or I'll leave."
"Fine," he huffed. She smiled and kissed his pouting lower lip. Then she touched his ticklish spot again.
"That's not fair!" he complained. "You don't have to touch me there."
"Where should I touch you then?" He saw her glance at the bulge in his trousers and then she lowered her eyes.
He didn't quite know what made him say it. "You can touch me there if you want." He raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly how to get Goldi to respond. "Unless you're afraid to."
She looked down at him, years of being rivals putting a determined look on her face. She lifted her chin and moved her hand over him, just above his trouser buttons. Then she reached down and squeezed.
Fari groaned as his body seemed to explode all at once: the warmth in his belly blazed and a tingle shot up his spine and an overwhelming urge to thrust took him. Goldi snatched her away like she'd been stung. Fari reached down to grab himself, needing to finish it, screwing his face up as the climax overcame him.
He opened his eyes and found her staring at him, wide-eyed.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I didn't mean to...I have to go." She stood up and pulled on her cloak.
"Goldi, wait!" He sat up, still shaky from the climax, and reached for her.
She shook her head. "No, Fari. I...I need to go home." She turned and ran up the hill towards the Party Tree.
Fari lay back and punched his his fist on the ground. He should have known better than to push her too far.
