Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings and "The Lord of the Rings Online". The Lord of the Rings and other Middle-earth works belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers, Turbine and Standing Stones Games. "The Lord of the Rings Online" belongs to Turbine and Standing Stones Games. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material—original characters, original locations, etc.—belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Summary: Frodo Baggins receives an unexpected gift. It's the video game called "The Lord of the Rings Online"! And a fine game indeed! But is Frodo's friendship with Samwise Gamgee on the line? Will Sam join Frodo on his quest? Will Frodo allow it? AU. Happy Hobbit Day!

Frodo Baggins was a hobbit. It was true, even on days when he didn't feel like he deserved to be called a hero. Somehow, he didn't know if that was going to help him.

He received a new video game on his birthday. It was called "The Lord of the Rings Online". It was a curious video game. Black speech was written in red letters, wrapped around the video game's title. The gold band, the One Ring, was present on the centermost part of the front cover of the video game.

Frodo chuckled, as he put the DVD into his computer's DVD/CD player. He smiled, staring at his laptop in interest. It was a laptop covered in stickers of the Fellowship of the Ring and, yes, there was Smeagol, looking as pleasant as ever.

Sam didn't agree that Frodo should have a Smeagol sticker on the lid of his laptop, but Frodo didn't care. Frodo still believed there was good in Smeagol. Though, Frodo couldn't expect anything less from Sam. That much was clear.

But at least, Frodo got to keep the Smeagol sticker on his laptop. So that was a plus! Frodo finished installing the video game rather quickly and decisively.

He rubbed his hands together, eager to play the game. He watched the cinematic trailer take shape for the game. "Excellent! When can I start?" Though he was terrified of facing evil, well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to play a video game.

The moment he got to the character creation screen; Frodo got to work creating his hobbit. Frodo named his character Thristen, because he thought it was a cool name!

"Thristen, it is! Now let's play!" Frodo cheered; grateful his hobbit minstrel was created.

.

The moment Samwise Gamgee returned to Bag End; he could swear he saw Frodo on his computer. Sam shook his head, knowing the game Rosie Cotton-Gamgee, Samwise Gamgee's wife, gave to Frodo was no more a birthday present than it was to unleash Frodo's inner child!

Or Frodo's inner demon! Frodo looked as though he lost his mind, the way his eyes widened and his teeth clenched. Frodo fought another… slug? Sam approached Frodo from behind, standing behind Frodo's chair in the parlor.

Sam chuckled. Frodo was facing slugs.

"Yah! Get those slugs!" Sam said, sitting down next to Frodo. He pulled up his own laptop, getting ready to play the same game Frodo was playing. "Don't worry! I've got a character in the Rushock Bog, too! Let me help you!"

Frodo glowered at Sam, giving Sam the worst grin one could give someone. That was it! Frodo had to defeat those slugs, before Sam took them! NOO! What was Sam doing?

"Sam, you stupid…"

"Mr. Frodo, look! Look! Team up with me! Come on!" Sam said, showing his toon off to Frodo's toon.

Frodo smirked, chuckling as they Fellowship'd up! It was wonderful! It gave Frodo some relief. Although Sam stole his kills, Frodo was grateful to have Sam around… at least for a while.

.oOo.

Happy birthday, Frodo! Happy Hobbit Day!

Thanks for reading. :)