A/N: Written for the Drabble Tag at the LOTR Fanfiction Challenges Forum. Pairing: Sam/Rosie, prompt: blossom.

Coming into Age

Rosie had known Sam for a long time; she working on the farm or, occasionally, in the tavern and Sam doing the gardening for the Baggins family, saw the two of them often on a bench together after a hard day's work. But that was when they were both kids: wiry twiggy things that ran about and got dirty together under the disapproving look of Rosie's mother.

And, when they got older, she'd give him a drink and lean on the counter and he'd sit in a stool and they'd chat.

But eventually they started growing up, and changing. Rosie was busy dealing with admiring glances that came from tavern visitors and passers-by and Sam was busy looking the other way, pretending friendship wasn't turning in to love.

But Rosie knew Sam well and knew he'd, one day, turn around. Even if he had to go all the way around Middle Earth first.