The day's chores kept Sam busy, as they seemed to do every day. It was only in keeping up a frantic pace of activity that Sam could avoid his melancholy and depression. Having a babe to care for added additional distractions into Sam's life, and added some peace and joy that otherwise would have been absent. He was very careful to maintain a cheerful facade for Rosie's sake, for he didn't want to burden her with something that she could do nothing about, no matter how strong her love for him.
On this particular Highday, Sam had agreed to meet Merry and Pippin at the Green Dragon for a meal and some ale at dinnertime, so he wanted to make sure all of the chores for the day were done by then. Merry and Pippin happened to be visiting Pippin's parents at Great Smials, and thought they would extend their trip to touch base with their fellow Traveller. They had all been so busy with their respective duties and responsibilities that they hadn't had a chance to see each other since celebrating Yule together at Bag End. That had been over three months ago.
Sam sighed. He was of two minds about this meeting. On the one hand, he always enjoyed spending time with Frodo's cousins. Although they were gentry, they always seemed able to put Sam at his ease with their informal manner. Both of them were very entertaining with the tales they spun and the jokes they made. On the other hand... well, on the other hand, the subject of Frodo was bound to come up. And Sam didn't know how he was going to deal with it this time.
Well, at least he would only have to endure for a few hours at the most. It wouldn’t be like the last time, when Merry and Pippin has stayed at Bag End for the entire Yule-tide week, reminiscing and sharing stories about Frodo.* That had been, unbeknownst to both Frodo’s cousins and Rosie, almost unbearable for Sam. It had been a wise, healthy thing to do, but it had also been very painful. The pain was still there, but it had lessened from an acute stabbing pain to a chronic dull ache. Sam didn't know which was worse.
Sam stood up slowly from weeding the flower garden, hand on his stiff back. Groaning, he stretched and yawned. Shading his eyes with his hand, he checked the position of the sun. Should be almost lunchtime, he guessed. As if on cue, Rosie opened the front door, holding Elanor in her arms. Smiling, she said, "Sam-love, lunch is ready whenever you are."
Sam smiled as he turned towards his beloved. Rosie could always make him smile; he blessed the day that she had agreed to marry him. She kept him anchored and sane, even when his thoughts and emotions were all in a turmoil.. He wondered, not for the first time: if Frodo had been lucky enough to find someone, would that have been enough to keep him in the Shire where he belonged? Sam's smile faltered slightly. He gave himself a mental shake as he reached for Rosie's free hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. He strengthened his smile for her, although the smile did not reach his eyes, as he followed her into the smial.
* See my story, In Memory of Frodo, posted here at SoA.