A/N
Been a few days since my last update - sorry! My work schedule is nuts. Anyways. I felt I needed to state a few things before the next few chapters!
1) so honestly, I didn't realize Samwise had siblings. And because of that lack of realization, I will say then this is slightly AU with Samwise being an only child simply for my own sanity and ability of writing for children. I don't spend enough time around them to be able to understand how kids even begin to function, so dear Samwise is an only child.

2) No real angst in this story either, just a heads up. Except for this chapter. I did my best with angst.

Enjoy. :D

Chapter 6
eglantine rose

When Clover woke up again, Bofur was working on a wood carving next to her bed. He was humming something as he worked, focused entirely on his project. Sighing softly, she stretched her arms, reaching over to touch his shoulder.

"Bofurrrr." She grumbled, voice still hoarse. He looked at her and smiled, putting the project back into his bag.

"You're awake!" He exclaimed, a little too relieved sounding. Clover frowned a bit.

"Aye, just needed a bit of sleep." She yawned as she straightened herself up in the nest of pillows and blankets. "Heh, how long have you been sitting there?"

"Oh, not long." He replied, shrugging as he got up to pour her some tea. "I actually worked your shift at the pub for you. Your boss said my pacing was too loud up here, so I was put to work."

"Why... why were you pacing?" She asked as he handed her a cup of tea. "Dear Bofur... this is just a cold, you know? I will be back to normal in a few days." She sipped the tea. "Why are you so worried? Do dwarfs not get sick?"

Oh, the look on his face, it broke Clover's heart. It was a look of loss, sadness, despair. Clover had never seen so many emotions in one person's face before.

"Bofur."

He shook his head and grabbed the tray from the table. He had brought her a fresh bowl of soup for her to eat, given that he had eaten the earlier one. He set the tray down on her lap, making sure it wouldn't topple over on her.

"Bofur, you are worrying me. Why are you acting like I'm going to be greeted by Death soon?"

"I'm not. I'm just sad you are ill, Miss Clover." He said as he sat back on his chair. "I hope you get better! And I will do what I can to help." He was back to smiling now, any trace of sadness was gone. Clover sighed and started to eat her soup. She sensed there was something more to this than he was letting on.

In fact, she knew there was.

Bofur ended up staying the night, camped out in that chair next to her bed. Clover waited until he fell asleep before throwing a blanket over him. She didn't need him getting sick! Once she got comfortable, she fell into a somewhat peaceful sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, however, he was gone. Sighing, she stretched out on her bed, relieved to have a few moments to herself. She threw her blankets off and sat up in her bed, turning herself to get out of the bed. Placing her feet on the cold floor, she shivered and stood up as she paced around her room a bit. Lying around was nice and all, but she was starting to get stiff, even after one day!

She crept out of her room and down the hallway to the bathroom to relieve herself. From the sounds of the downstairs, Bofur was working her shift again. There was much laughter and chatter, which was something not heard when she worked. But then again, Bofur was far more social than she was. While Clover did not mind her job, she was never intent on making friends with everyone she saw, like Bofur did.

Once she was back in her room, she climbed back into her bed, sighing. The moment she pulled the covers back over her, Bofur was opening the door, carrying a tray of tea and soup, with toast, in one hand. On the tray was also a small vase of flowers - phlox, oxeye daisies, and mallows. His smile lit up the room when he saw that she was awake.

"Sleep well? I hope my snoring didn't keep you awake." He said as he brought the tray over, setting it on the bed. "Your boss is a very nice man, you know! He doesn't mind letting me work your shifts for you while you recover."

Clover smiled a bit as she sat up straighter in the bed. "Thank you for doing that. Keep all the money you make from it, though. You worked for it."

Bofur shook his head, pouring them both a cup of tea. "No, no. It is your job, therefore your money. I am just helping you while you are ill."

"Mhmm, dear Bofur, you are far to kind for your own good." She replied as she took a cup from him. He merely shrugged, putting the vase of flowers next to the photos of her brother and nephew. She took a few sips of her tea, watching him curiously. "Dear Bofur, why are you so adament on taking care of me? I will be fine, you know..."

Bofur sighed softly and set his cup down. "I... just want to be certain that you will get over this, that's all. I've seen many get sick so easily in the last few years, and then pass away..." He trailed off, shuddering.

"Oh, dear Bofur..."

"I can't bare to see it happen again." He continued, his voice cracking slightly. "I haven't told you all the reasons I left the mountains, dearest Clover."

She shook her head and set down her tea. Being mindful of the tray of soup, she turned in her bed to face him. After taking his cup away and setting it aside, she pulled him into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her and let out a shuddering breath, tightening his grip on her.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered.

"Oh, shush. There is nothing to be sorry for." She mumbled against his shoulder. "'lest you have a wife and horde of children back in the mountains, then you have something to be sorry for." She added jokingly.

To her surprise, and some relief, he chuckled at that. He held onto her for another few minutes before finally pulling back, sniffing a bit.

"I was married, though. Was." He began, rubbing his nose. She handed him a handkerchief and he took it with a nod of thanks. "Heh, even had a child."

"Had?" Clover repeated with a frown. Bofur nodded.

"Forgive me if I do cry, dear lass. I will do my best not too." Bofur said, a sad smile on his face. "It was no more than two years ago. There was an illness going around the Blue Mountains. Dwarfs were getting all around. Most were able to fight it off; they were well within a week or so. But some... just couldn't fight it." He lifted up his cup of tea, hand shaking slightly. "Me, my wife, and child all became ill at once. My brother did what he could to take care of us. I managed to bounce back pretty quickly... but my wife... she never fully recovered after giving birth to our daughter all those years ago. It really took a toll on her."

Clover listened intently to him, trying to absorb what he was telling her as she sipped her tea. Bofur brought his tea up for a drink, but decided against it, putting it back on the bedside table.

"I did what I could once I got better, but I was still so tired from being sick myself..." He choked a bit, covering his mouth before trying to calm himself down. "Our... she died first, our daughter. She was always a delicate thing for a dwarf child. And when she passed, my wife followed shortly after. They couldn't shake the illness. Later learned it to be the flu - something that ails the humans more than us dwarfs!"

"Oh, Bofur..." Clover set her tea down and pulled him back to her. She didn't know what to say, keeping her arms around him. Her brother was far better with comforting words than she ever was. All she thought to do was hold Bofur, to let him cry on her shoulder if he needed. "I'm... so sorry."

He nodded, burying his face against her shoulder. "'m sorry, too." He replied, voice muffled against her shoulder. "Tellin' this to you while you're sick..."

Clover tightened her grip around him. "Oh, hush. This is a cold, I know because I've had them before. I'm already starting to feel better, and having you around has certainly helped."

He nodded, holding onto her for another moment before pulling back again. "I came here only a few months ago, you know. I tried to continue living there in those mountains, with my brother and cousin, but it was so hard with the memories of them. Thought if I came somewhere new, everything would be better."

"Oh? And has it gotten any better?"

Shrugging, he sat back on his chair. "I suppose... I became happier. I also met this lovely hobbit lass! Though I think I spooked her when I said I would marry her."

Clover smiled a bit. "I think you did. Though I think the hobbit wonders now if you really wish to marry her, even with the heartbreak you've endured."

"Trust me, the dwarf would have to be an idiot to not want too." He replied smiply, his smile returning.

"You still don't know me that well, Bofur..."

"Which is why, dear Clover, we have the rest of our lives."