It's a birthday!
Sep. 22nd, 2004 10:15 amThe First Birthday - Part One
Bilbo silently opened the door to Frodo’s bedroom and looked in on the sleeping form of his young charge. Frodo had been living with him for just over five months, and already he couldn’t remember what life had been like without the lad.
Moving as stealthily as if it were a dragon sleeping in that bed, he slipped into the room and carefully placed a thick envelope on the bedside table. Slipping out just as noiselessly, he closed the door with a smile and hurried down the hall to the kitchen, where he began preparing breakfast.
Half an hour later Bilbo heard the first sounds of stirring from Frodo’s room. There was the usual thumping and bumping about that he’d come to associate with Frodo washing and getting dressed. The lad was a bit clumsy in the morning and everything he did made a great deal of noise. Then there was silence and Bilbo pictured Frodo opening the envelope. He wondered what the lad’s reaction would be, and tried to still the nervous fluttering in his stomach.
Trying to be patient, he poured out the tea and set breakfast on the table, settling himself in his customary chair. He did not have long to wait. He had barely settled himself when he heard Frodo’s door open and footsteps come hurrying down the hall.
The lad burst into the kitchen, brown curls still tousled with sleep, red cheeks giving ample evidence of a vigorous wash, and eyes wide. In his hand, he held a thick sheaf of papers and he looked at Bilbo with an expression that held love and gratitude, but also the barest hint of a sorrow Bilbo fervently wished he could erase forever from the eyes and heart of his precious lad.
“Happy birthday, Frodo-lad,” Bilbo exclaimed cheerfully, knowing only time could work that sort of cure.
“Happy Birthday to you, too,” Frodo answered. “Bilbo,” he asked, brandishing the papers, “is this what I think it is?”
“Indeed it is, my lad. I’ve taken the liberty of adopting you officially. I’ve spoken to your Uncle Rory and he agreed that it only made sense, what with you living here and all. I do hope you don’t mind.” Bilbo was suddenly uncertain. Maybe this was too soon. Maybe he should have waited a bit longer before springing this on the lad.
Frodo’s face split in a wide grin. “It...it’s wonderful!” he exclaimed. “But are you sure? After you’ve had me a bit longer, you might decide you’ve made a terrible mistake.” He said this with a cheeky grin, but Bilbo could see the uncertainty lurking deep within his eyes.
“Never you fear, Frodo my lad,” he answered, a bit gruffly. “I will always want you.”
Frodo didn’t answer with words, but the sheen of his eyes and the strength of his hug were all the thanks Bilbo needed.
“Come now, lad. Breakfast is getting cold.”
Bilbo silently opened the door to Frodo’s bedroom and looked in on the sleeping form of his young charge. Frodo had been living with him for just over five months, and already he couldn’t remember what life had been like without the lad.
Moving as stealthily as if it were a dragon sleeping in that bed, he slipped into the room and carefully placed a thick envelope on the bedside table. Slipping out just as noiselessly, he closed the door with a smile and hurried down the hall to the kitchen, where he began preparing breakfast.
Half an hour later Bilbo heard the first sounds of stirring from Frodo’s room. There was the usual thumping and bumping about that he’d come to associate with Frodo washing and getting dressed. The lad was a bit clumsy in the morning and everything he did made a great deal of noise. Then there was silence and Bilbo pictured Frodo opening the envelope. He wondered what the lad’s reaction would be, and tried to still the nervous fluttering in his stomach.
Trying to be patient, he poured out the tea and set breakfast on the table, settling himself in his customary chair. He did not have long to wait. He had barely settled himself when he heard Frodo’s door open and footsteps come hurrying down the hall.
The lad burst into the kitchen, brown curls still tousled with sleep, red cheeks giving ample evidence of a vigorous wash, and eyes wide. In his hand, he held a thick sheaf of papers and he looked at Bilbo with an expression that held love and gratitude, but also the barest hint of a sorrow Bilbo fervently wished he could erase forever from the eyes and heart of his precious lad.
“Happy birthday, Frodo-lad,” Bilbo exclaimed cheerfully, knowing only time could work that sort of cure.
“Happy Birthday to you, too,” Frodo answered. “Bilbo,” he asked, brandishing the papers, “is this what I think it is?”
“Indeed it is, my lad. I’ve taken the liberty of adopting you officially. I’ve spoken to your Uncle Rory and he agreed that it only made sense, what with you living here and all. I do hope you don’t mind.” Bilbo was suddenly uncertain. Maybe this was too soon. Maybe he should have waited a bit longer before springing this on the lad.
Frodo’s face split in a wide grin. “It...it’s wonderful!” he exclaimed. “But are you sure? After you’ve had me a bit longer, you might decide you’ve made a terrible mistake.” He said this with a cheeky grin, but Bilbo could see the uncertainty lurking deep within his eyes.
“Never you fear, Frodo my lad,” he answered, a bit gruffly. “I will always want you.”
Frodo didn’t answer with words, but the sheen of his eyes and the strength of his hug were all the thanks Bilbo needed.
“Come now, lad. Breakfast is getting cold.”
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Date: 2004-09-22 07:33 am (UTC):)
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Date: 2004-09-22 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 08:55 am (UTC)*did you get the email I sent you the other day*
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Date: 2004-09-22 11:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 03:44 pm (UTC)For me, the story is more about what is going on in Merry's head and his own healing process, which this chapter sets back quite a bit more than I had planned. But I realize that most other people are more interested in the Merry (no slash intended)/Pippin relationship. Hell, if I was a reader instead of the writer, I'd probably be more interested in the Merry/Pippin dynamic as well.
Anyway, I'm babbling on again. I'm going to read some actual slash (Mariposa's latest fic) and then watch Lost. I've got my blank tapes ready - this one gets taped, in case I really like it and it gets cancelled after a month or never comes out on DVD.
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Date: 2004-09-22 07:55 pm (UTC)Okay, I promised myself I'd work on Chapter 13 tonight (mine, of the OF; 13 out of 20, I'm 3/4 of the way through the final revisions/edits). Continue in the manner you are with your chapter 14, I think you are doing exactly the right thing for the story. And it's drawing out the anticipation of the eventual M/P time, which you will, of course, pay off in grand fashion! :-)
Hugs,
P.
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Date: 2004-09-22 08:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 08:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-22 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-23 05:43 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked part one. :)