Chapter 2: In which Bilbo would have never believed…
Frodo stared blankly at Rosie. She rushed over to the rocker. It was then that Frodo realized the baby was crying.
"You’re holding her too tight," informed Rosie, pulling his arm loose. "You must be more gentle with her."
"I’m sorry," Frodo sputtered out, his face distraught. "I did not realize I had tightened my hold." He went to give Primmie to Rose, but she shook her head.
"You must learn how to handle her. Cradle her a bit lower." Rosie situated Frodo’s arm under his ribcage, so the baby could be seen better. Primmie had stopped crying, but was still whimpering. "I believe she’s hungry. You stay put with her while I fix her milk."
Frodo followed her with his gaze as she left the room. Leaning against the doorway was Sam, watching him intently. "I can’t do this, Sam," Frodo said, voice cracking.
In two steps, Sam was at his side, kneeling before him. "Yes, you can, Mr. Frodo. It’s been a very long time since you’ve been around a baby, has it?"
Frodo nodded. "The last baby I was around was Pippin, and that was so long ago. I was still just a tween, and I was only a distant cousin who saw him here and there. This," he glanced down at the restless babe, "is a child I helped sire."
"That’s right. You are her father." Sam grazed a finger over Primmie’s soft cheek. "Dulcie may be gone now, but at least she left this beautiful little lass for you."
"I can’t raise this child alone."
"You won’t have to. You have Rosie and Mrs. Cotton and myself and everyone in this family. We’re here."
There was a pause of silence then Frodo replied with a ghost of a smile, "Thank you, Sam. I don’t think I could function in life without you."
Sam squeezed his master’s arm. "You’ll always have me."
Frodo glanced down at the babe, her whimpers subsiding. "I wonder what Bilbo would think of me with a child - a daughter at that. He was so uncertain about Dulcie."
***
"Taking extra seedcakes again?"
A guilty hand froze over the seedcakes in the basket on the table. "I’ve been a bit more hungry lately, Uncle Bilbo," replied Frodo, a sheepishly grinning.
"You could have told me," Bilbo went on, ignoring his young cousin’s excuse.
"Told you what?" Frodo asked, hand dropping limp at his side.
"About the lass," Bilbo said, clamping a hand on Frodo’s shoulder. "I know you and the Gamgees’ cousin have been scampering off into the woods. I don’t know how long you’ve been seeing her, but I spied you two the other day. You didn’t have to lie, lad, about going to read in the woods."
"But that’s what I am doing. Dulcie and I read my books together then we discuss what we read."
"Come on, Frodo-lad. I was a tween once, a long time ago. But still, I was a tween and know that running off into the woods with a lass to read a book doesn’t happen."
Frodo wrenched away from his uncle, hurt in his eyes. "But it’s the truth, Uncle. Dulcie is the first lass whom I have come across that enjoys reading. We enjoy each other’s company in more ways than you presume."
"Has anything but reading gone on?"
"No!" Anger welled up in Frodo. He thought Bilbo knew him better than that. Yes, he got into trouble at Brandy Hall, but he’d matured much since the days of mischief at the Hall. "Dulcie is my friend."
"All right, Frodo." Bilbo stepped closer, keeping eye contact with his cousin. "I just want to warn you. The Gaffer informed me of Miss Goodchild’s history. I know she is part Took, but I also know her family does not have much gold or status. She might use you."
It had never occurred to him, not once, that Dulcie was using him. Barely had they talked of family or happenings of the Shire. Such a nice lass, she was. Frodo couldn’t imagine any plans of her taking advantage of him.
"You’re overreacting about this, Bilbo."
"I’m just saying be careful, Frodo. You’re young. You don’t know much of these situations."
Frodo huffed, feeling betrayed by Bilbo. He pushed passed his older cousin, grabbing his book off the table, and darted out the front door. It stung, what Bilbo had said, like bees from a stirred hive. He rarely was angry with his cousin, but to down a good friend of his was unthinkable.
"Frodo!" He turned at the sound of Dulcie calling. She was running toward him. "I’m so glad I caught you," she said, out of breath.
"What is it, Dulcie?" he asked in concern.
She swallowed hard. "My mother and father have come to bring me home. I received a letter from them the other day, but was too sad to tell you I was leaving. I’m so sorry."
Distress crossed Frodo’s face. He had just defended her to his beloved cousin, and now she might have left without saying goodbye? "You could have told me."
"Please forgive me." Dulcie touched his arm. "If it were my choice, I would stay until I’m not welcome."
Frodo hung his head, secretly glancing at the hand on his arm that was sending prickling feelings through him. He heaved a sigh, and handed her the book he held. "Take this. You’ve taken to these tales with such enthusiasm."
Dulcie’s shoulders slumped. "I couldn’t take your book."
"I want you to have it." He pressed it in her hand. "Look at it as an early birthday present since you cannot be here for my birthday."
Dulcie smiled softly. "You’re true, Frodo. Thank you for being my friend." She brushed a kiss on his cheek. "I’ll miss you."
"The same," was all Frodo could manage.
With that, Dulcie turned and was gone from his life for the first time.
***
"Here’s the milk," Rosie said, appearing at Frodo’s side. She smiled down at him and Primmie. "Would you like to feed her?"
"Oh no," Frodo replied, hurriedly. "I couldn’t."
"Yes, you can." Rosie handed him the squeeze bag her mother usually used for icing cakes. "Hold this at an angle to her mouth, and squeeze it very gently."
Frodo timidly took the bag, and did what Rosie instructed. From trekking across the entire Middle-earth into the heart of Mordor, he hadn’t felt this scared. It wasn’t scared for himself though, but for the babe he held. Babies were fragile. One wrong move and you could hurt them. Rosie seemed to have confidence in him, and Sam watched him with all the trust in the world.
He didn’t believe he could do it until the babe accepted the narrow piece at the end of the bag and began suckling. After a long trouble-free minute or two, the tension in his shoulders dissolving. He stared at the babe, a look of wonder on his face - a strange delight fluttered in his heart. It was then he knew how much he would love this child.