I look into the canopy of trees above me; it is beautiful in the spring here. I am walking far away from Bag End. I'm going to come back of course, to Rosie and the children.

But for now, I'm just in need of a few hours alone, not to have a pity party, but to think about what used to be, Frodo especially. I miss him dearly.

We walked a lot together before and after the quest. After seemed more meaningful than before. There are reasons for that I suppose. Before we would talk happily and it would always be loud with laughter or stories. When we returned we would walk then as well, but it was significantly different. Don't get me wrong; it was a solemn difference, but not a bad one. Instead of talk we would simply take comfort in the closeness between us. Instead of laughter, we would talk softly about the old days, and sometimes, on rare occasions discuss the more recent times. It wasn't all bad, there are a few humorous stories involving Merry and Pippin mostly.

There is a certain place I like to stop; it's a clearing on top of a tree- covered hill. You can see Bag End and most of the rest of Hobbiton. But no one else seems to come here. On the other side you can see a field of wild flowers in the spring. Before the quest we would lie here and laugh at each other or play small games. After, it was more common that he would read, sometimes aloud to me. I would comment on the words and very often there would be silence after a very sad or dramatic chapter and we would simply sit and know that we could relate, but we had better and closer hearts because of it.

When I finish looking out over Hobbiton, I lay in the trunk of a tree and rest. It was quiet a long time until I woke from what I thought to be a silent reverie. I looked across the clearing and there peering over some bushes towards the field was Frodo.

A shocked breath escaped me as I heard him call my name,

"Sam" So beautiful to hear.

He did not look back at me but waved his hand for me to come near.

I did of course and looked over his shoulder, more trying to see him than what he was trying to show me. He pointed across the field and my eyes moved from his eyes to the scene in front on me. There in the tall green grass were two young foxes playing and wrestling the other to the ground. I laughed softly, unconsciously.

" It is good to hear you laugh again Sam." I heard him say. It was then I saw him looking at me.

"It has been a very long time." My face must have fallen, for his look turned concerned.

"What's wrong Sam?" He asked genuinely concerned.

"How could you not know?"

There was a little bitterness in my voice and my heart and he could tell.

His eyes fell to the grass, mine didn't.

"Sam, I thought you forgave me. I did not want to leave you."

" I know." He looked up.

" But do you know how it hurt me? To see you just leave…"

He touched me. "Sam, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, I had no other choice."

"I know. There is nothing to forgive Frodo. I'm simply selfish."

"No, no more than I am. Do you know, how much I wanted you to just leave all of Middle Earth behind and come with me?"

My eyes met his again. There was sadness there.

" I would have."

"I know Sam, that is why I could not ask you. They need you here."

"But you need me!" I told him, too forcefully I think, for he joined me in tears.

"Oh, Sam nothing will happen to me where I am." He took me finally in his arms.

"But I see that you are sad, even this place you speak of cannot stop your sadness."

"But you will, one day." There was a beautiful silence for a long moment and then;

"I'm waiting Sam." I opened my eyes to see that he was gone.

A great sadness filled my heart, but there was much hope there as well, as I walked back to those who needed me.