[Orual]

Sam closed the door slowly after the children had filed out after Frodo. Only Goldi and Hamfast were left. The former was sulking in her room, and the latter was sleeping, so the Gamgee parents were left alone. Rose watched as Sam walked into the living room, a strange look on his face, and picked up some letters that he had not opened. She followed him, threw her around his shoulders and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

"I'm so glad that you asked him!" she exclaimed, hugging him. "You won't regret it. Did you see his face? He wants to see you! He misses you as much as you miss him."

"Does he?" Sam muttered, not so much out of real doubt as just for the sake of argument. If at first he had been a little hurt, then resolved, he was now just plain confused. Frodo didn't seem to want to come, not at first, but then Rose was right--he had looked pleased, even excited after he accepted. "Rose, I just don't know what's going on."

"What's going on is two old friends who think they've grown out of each other, and are both afraid it's true," Rose said softly, taking a seat by Sam on the couch. "Neither of you want things to have changed. I think that you both fancied your meeting to bring you back twelve years, to when you were always together, to when you were like brothers. But twelve years apart changes people, Sam. You weren't the same man that I knew after you returned from your Quest. You had seen things that I'll never see, experienced things that I'll never understand because I'll never experience them. It's the same with Frodo, now, only you're in my position this time. He's seen things and experienced things that you haven't, and probably won't ever."

Sam did not interrupt Rose, but silently he contradicted her.

She went on. "And where it was only a matter of a year and a few months with you and me. This time it's been twelve years. Sam, things change, people change."

"So should I even try?" Sam asked, a little irritably. He put down the letters and looked at Rose, who looked back at him evenly.

"You didn't let me finish," Rose said gently. "Things change and people change. But some things don't. I still loved you just as much when you came back, though you had changed. And you still loved me, though you saw me with new eyes. What we shared didn't change at all. And I don't think that what you and Frodo share has changed either. You and he experienced things together that nobody else will ever understand--not me, not the children, not even Bilbo. It'll be a little uncomfortable for a while--you'll remember our first meeting after you came back. I even said some silly things because I didn't know what you'd been through. Silly things will be said, Sam, and you'll have to feel your boundaries. Once you know your boundaries with each other, you'll know how to speak to each other, and the boundaries will expand until they're gone, and you'll remember your old friendship. Just give Frodo a chance, Sam, and he'll give you one."

"You're sure?" Sam asked quietly. Rose was making a lot of sense, he realized that. But somehow he would have to see it before he believed it.

"Quite sure," Rose replied. "I know you, Samwise Gamgee. I married you, didn't I? If after a year in which so much happened I still knew you well enough to marry you, then you and Frodo, after twelve years, will still be able to talk. Promise."

Sam smiled and gave his wife a hug. "Thank you, Rose. I needed to hear that."

She let him be for a moment, then gently pushed him off. "Finish your letters, Mr. Mayor. I didn't do anything but tell you what you already knew. You just do what you need to, and I know it'll all work out for the best."