"Oh, come on, Fara, it's been two days!" Rose said to me.

"I don't care," I replied. "I'm just not ready yet."

"He's been gone for over a year! You've brooded so much about how you've missed him. Well, now he's back and you don't want to see him! What's wrong with you?"

"He's just...he's not the same."

"Well, I think it made them all man up. I'm going out with Sam tonight."

I looked up at her. "Really? He asked you to go with him?"

She nodded. "Yeah, not that long ago, actually."

I sighed. "Well, perhaps I should talk with Frodo."

Rose nodded. "Go. I'm sure he is worried about you."

I nodded. "Alright."

I took my uniform off and walked to Underhill. Cautiously, I knocked on the door to Bag-End. There was no answer.

"Frodo?" I asked. I slowly opened up the door. I didn't hear anything. Perhaps he wasn't home. I stepped inside anyway.

I walked through the house, which was no longer completely abandoned. I walked into his bedroom just as I had done in all of my dreams. And there he was. Lying down on his bed, his back facing me. Only this time, I was certain that he was asleep.

I sighed and climbed in next to him. He unexpectedly turned over and faced me in bed. I froze. He was still asleep. I relaxed a bit.

He looked so utterly peaceful, yet unhealthily thin. I wondered how many 2nd breakfasts he skipped.

I reached up and brushed his dark locks away from his smooth forehead. He didn't look any different from when he first left the Shire. But he was completely different at the same time.

I snuggled into his arms. I felt him wake up.

"Fara?" he asked. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"Sshh," I ordered. "Just sleep."

We made eye contact. His blue eyes shined brighter than ever.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "You seem a bit...uptight."

"I'm just...confused is all."

"About what?"

"About what I want to do."

He nodded. "Well, I'll give you some space to think. But not right now."

He kissed my cheek and snuggled against my back. "I'm going back to sleep."

"We have a lot to catch up on," I reminded. He nodded against my back.

"Tomorrow," he whispered. "I promise."

How many promises can you make, Frodo Baggins? I thought. Until you break one?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~