PLEASE NOTE:

I do not own ANY of the following material. The places, events, characters, names, titles, etc. belong to their proper owners, and they get full credit. Events are fictional. Names that resemble any other individual, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Any and ALL content pertaining to the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and any other holders of the rights. All rights reserved to them and them only. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED!

Ten years went by way too fast for Frodo and Esmerelda. They were both forty-four years old now, but they both looked exactly the same as they had ten years ago. They were years that were filled with joy and misery. It was joyous, because Frodo was working on his story while helping Esmerelda raise their children at Bag End and they were enjoying watching their kids grow. Frodo II had, indeed, acquired his father's mischievous side, and Frodo would always take the younger Frodo on walks and little adventures close to home with him. Frodo II enjoyed that quite immensely, and as he got older, he enjoyed it so much more.

It was miserable, because Frodo was still suffering horribly from the adventure he went on eleven years ago. He was still having waking nightmares, one of which he screamed so loud that it woke little Frodo when Frodo was about five. He came into Esmerelda & Frodo's bedroom and said, "What wrong wif Daddy?" They placed the child in their bed, and a sobbing Frodo just held his son, crying and saying, "Daddy loves you, Mommy, and your brothers so much, little Frodo. Daddy just had a bad dream." Little Frodo would say, "It's otay, Daddy. I wuv you, too and I sca-uh the bad dweams away!" Then there was the strong desire Frodo still felt for the Ring, and the way he always fell ill on the anniversaries of Weathertop and the poisoning of Shelob.

There was one such instance when Frodo fell ill on the Weathertop anniversary that little Frodo became ill with the measles. Lily was over for the two days it took Frodo to get better, helping her daughter out with the children and with Frodo himself. Little Frodo had only been about seven years old at the time, and he kept asking Esmerelda if both he and his daddy were going to die. Esmerelda told him absolutely not, and that everything would be alright. Everything was, too, at least physically, for Frodo. Mentally and emotionally, he was still torn and broken over the Ring and his journey to destroy it.

Esmerelda had given birth to another son six years ago, whom they named Aragorn Baggins, with Belladonna delivering him. Esmerelda's mother had died a month before Aragorn was born, and Belladonna had sold the house after Esmerelda delivered Aragorn, moving to another part of the Shire. Merry and Pippin would be over there most of the time as well with their own children, and the Baggins and Gamgee kids loved Merry and Pippin to pieces. All of the kids were good friends as well, and that is something their parents loved seeing.

Today was the eleventh anniversary of the stabbing on Weathertop, and Frodo was finishing up his book. He and Esmerelda had both come to a decision on what they wanted to do, and she was off saying her goodbyes to Rosie and her kids. At first, Frodo did not think Esmerelda and the children would be allowed, and he decided right then that he would not go if they could not. Gandalf worked it out, and said that Esmerelda and the children would be allowed as well. Sam was at Bag End gardening on that day, and would find out soon enough what was happening. Frodo wasn't feeling well, and his shoulder was aching horribly, but he managed to finally finish the book that he started years ago.

Esmerelda was five months pregnant with their fourth child, and everything was going so well. Frodo was saddened about taking Esmerelda and the kids away from their home, and he told her that she did not have to accompany him if she didn't want to, but she told him that she was. She had told him, "I thought I lost you once. I'll be damned if lose you for good this time." That was the end of that, and they were both happy that Frodo would be able to find peace and happiness once more after years of torment, sadness, misery, and suffering.

He heard the front door open and close, and then he was aware of someone kneeling down behind him. He could smell Esmerelda, still smelling just as beautifully after all these years, and he felt her head rest on his shoulder. Her arms came around to embrace him from behind, one of them resting gently on his sore, achy shoulder. He brought one of his hands up to hers and rested it over hers, squeezing it lightly.

"It's time, my love," Esmerelda whispered in his ear.

Frodo just leaned his head back into hers, nudging it gently until he found a comfortable place. He closed his eyes when he did, and Esmerelda closed hers as well. She was feeling very bittersweet about leaving, because this was her home, but she wanted Frodo to be happy again. She didn't care that she had to leave; if it would make her beloved happy again, then it was worth leaving. They opened their eyes after a few minutes and kissed, looking out the window at their three handsome sons, who were playing tag with Merry and Pippin. Pippin was giving little Aragorn a piggy-back ride, and Aragorn was laughing happily. Aragorn had Frodo's hair, but he had Esmerelda's lovely eyes, and even from such a distance, both Frodo and Esmerelda could tell just how much he looked like her right then. Such a sight made them both so sad that they would have to leave Merry and Pippin behind, because both they and their sons loved them both so much. Frodo II was now age ten, Samwise was nine, and Aragorn was six, and all three of them were growing up so fast that it made Esmerelda and Frodo a little sad.

Sam walked in on their embrace, and both Frodo and Esmerelda gave Sam a sad, small smile, and got ready to leave. Sam, Merry, and Pippin thought that the journey they were going on was to say goodbye to Bilbo, for he was departing for the Undying Lands. Little did they know, though, that Esmerelda, Frodo, and their three children would be joining them.

Esmerelda, the boys, Frodo, and Bilbo all took carriages (Frodo & Bilbo in one and Esmerelda and the boys in another), while Pippin, Merry, and Sam took horses. When they reached the Grey Havens, Esmerelda just gaped in shock and awe over how beautiful it looked. There was a huge boat waiting for them, and it looked so majestic and beautiful that it could've been straight from a painting.

"Wow!" Frodo II marveled. "It's so pretty, Momma!"

"It is, sweetheart," Esmerelda agreed. "I've never seen a sight more breathtaking in my life."

"I have," Frodo said, smiling at her and lacing one hand in hers. Esmerelda smiled back, then looked back at the boat.

"You're Esmerelda Baggins, I assume?" a tall man with long dark hair asked her.

"I am," she said. "It is nice to meet you, um–"

"Elrond," he replied, bowing to her.

"It's nice to meet you, Elrond," Esmerelda said.

"The pleasure is mine," Elrond said, smiling at her.

"As is mine," a lady with long, crimped, light hair said. "I am Galadriel."

"Nice to meet you, Galadriel," Esmerelda said as Galadriel bowed.

"And I," said a man with long blonde hair "am Celeborn."

"Nice to meet you," Esmerelda said as he, too, bowed.

Esmerelda of course knew Gandalf, and she smiled warmly at him. He returned the smile, and Esmerelda focused her attention back to her family and friends. When Gandalf called Esmerelda, Frodo, and the boys to go onto the boat, Pippin, Merry, and Sam looked at them, puzzled.

"It is for his sake," Esmerelda told them. "He will not be truly happy until he leaves Middle-earth for good."

"That's not true," Pippin said. "It's–it's not true, Frodo. You can be happy."

"I cannot," Frodo told him, smiling sadly. "I've been here for ten years since the journey ended, and I cannot escape the pain I endured. This is the only way that escape can happen."

"No," Merry said, tears running down his cheeks. "Frodo, Esmerelda. No."

"I am so sorry," Esmerelda said, tears spilling down her own cheeks as she pulled Merry into a big hug. "I truly am sorry."

The kids shared their hugs and tears with Sam, Merry, and Pippin, and then Gandalf took them on the boat to wait for their parents. It was such a heart shattering scene, even the Elves and Gandalf couldn't deny that. Now, it was Esmerelda's and Frodo's turns to say goodbye.

"I love you," Pippin whispered in Esmerelda's ear. "Not in that way, of course. You have always been my sister, my rock. I am going to miss you dearly."

"I love you, too," Esmerelda whispered back, tears leaking down her cheeks. "You are my brother and I am going to miss you awfully, too."

Esmerelda gave Sam a big hug after Frodo did, and she realized that Frodo had given him his book and left him Bag End like he said he was going to. After Esmerelda was done hugging Sam, she and Frodo tearfully walked away from their friends, their brothers. They looked back when they had gotten on the boat and smiled back at their friends, who were also crying. The boat then began to depart, and Esmerelda and Frodo didn't look back.

Esmerelda, Frodo, and the children loved their new residence in the Undying Lands. It was a huge, beautiful, castle-like place with a great view. Esmerelda and Frodo always said that it was like their own castle, for he was looked upon as a hero and Esmerelda was admired for being the hero's wife and for being such a kind-hearted, beautiful-spirited hobbit to everyone she encountered. Esmerelda and Frodo always said it was like they were Prince Frodo and Princess Esmerelda (or even King Frodo and Queen Esmerelda) because of how things had seemed and how they were treated. They weren't complaining, though; the home was exquisite, and Frodo hadn't felt one bit of pain since he had gotten there. He no longer fell ill on the anniversaries of his ailments and he never once felt desire for the Ring ever again. He still had the scars and the missing finger, of course, but they were no longer markings of his hardships to him. They were markings of what he overcame and of his heroism. His eyes also got their beautiful joyous glow back, as well as his smile and himself as a whole.

Esmerelda gave birth to more children in the Undying Lands under the best supervision and Elvish healers. She gave birth to Peregrin Baggins four months after their arrival in the Undying Lands. He had Frodo's dark hair and Esmerelda's blue-green eyes. Esmerelda suffered a tragic miscarriage of Frodo's daughter a year after the birth of Peregrin, and the children, Frodo, and Esmerelda were incredibly devastated over it. However, it didn't take her long to get pregnant again after the tragedy, and it was a very different pregnancy for her indeed.

"Frodo," she had said one night as they lay in their huge, comfortable bed.

"Yes, love?" he asked her.

"I forgot to tell you the news," she said. "I only found out earlier today when I went to see the healer."

"Is everything alright?" Frodo had asked.

"Everything is spectacular," Esmerelda said, grinning up at him. "Frodo, I am carrying twins."

"Two little babes are living within you right at this moment," Frodo said, placing a hand on her growing belly and smiling huge. "Little twins. That's wonderful news!"

Esmerelda gave birth to two perfectly healthy, fraternal twin boys months later. It was the hardest labor Esmerelda had to go through, because she had to bring out two children in the same course of time, but it was worth it. She loved all of her children, and having twins was something that she and Frodo had both always wanted. They named one twin Drogo Baggins and the other was named Andwise Baggins, after Esmerelda's & Frodo's fathers. Drogo had blonde hair and Frodo's eyes, while Andwise had dark hair and Esmerelda's eyes. Esmerelda suffered yet another miscarriage a year and a half after the birth of the twins, this time another son. Bilbo had passed away not long after the miscarriage, and both Esmerelda and Frodo were mourning the loss of both him and their lost son.

Esmerelda gave birth to their seventh child, Meriadoc Baggins, and he had Frodo's dark hair and the most unique set of eyes anyone had ever seen. One of his eyes was icy blue, like Frodo's, and the other was blue-green, like Esmerelda's. They were the most beautiful set of eyes of any hobbit in existence. Esmerelda nearly bled to death & had a nasty infection again after Meriadoc's birth, but since she had the greatest Elvish healers at her side, she recovered quicker and didn't suffer as she had when Frodo II was born. She had to be cut open to remove Meriadoc, because she began hemorrhaging severely when the labor began. Frodo II was sixteen, Samwise was fifteen, Aragorn was twelve, Peregrin was six, and the twins were three at the time of Meriadoc's birth.

Esmerelda gave birth to two daughters, one two years after Meriadoc's birth and the other two years after the first daughter. They were named Primula Baggins and Lily Baggins. Primula was the spitting image of her mother, and Lily resembled Frodo. Esmerelda and Frodo would have had another child, a daughter, two years after Primula's birth, but Esmerelda miscarried again. Their other children helped their parents tremendously with the younger children, and Esmerelda and Frodo were so thankful that they had raised such caring, helpful young children. The Elves even assisted when it was absolutely necessary, too.

Esmerelda delivered their final children, one boy and one girl. The boy was named Bilbo Baggins II, and he had Esmerelda's fair features. The girl, who was named Belladonna Baggins, had Esmerelda's hair and Frodo's eyes.

Years went by, and when their children were old enough, they returned to the Shire to acquire mates. Their children and their mates all returned to the Undying Lands once they found their mates, and married there. They went to the Shire & Bag End for their honeymoon, and returned once it was over. Esmerelda and Frodo remarked on how it came full-circle for Frodo II, Samwise, Aragorn, and Peregrin, for they were conceived in Bag End. Samwise and Aragorn were born there, too.

Frodo and Esmerelda became grandparents, too–forty seven times, actually. Frodo II & his wife had four daughters, Samwise & his wife had two sons, Aragorn & his wife had four children (two sons, two daughters), Drogo & his wife had eight children (five boys and three girls), Peregrin & his wife had one son and one daughter, Andwise & his wife had four daughters and one son, Meriadoc and his wife had three daughters, Primula and her husband had three sons, Lily and her husband had one daughter and two sons, Bilbo and his wife had six children (five boys, one girl), and Belladonna and her husband had seven children (four girls, three boys). Esmerelda and Frodo were so overjoyed when they were surrounded by their entire family, and they loved just how huge it was. It was what they had always wanted, what they had always dreamed of. They both had turned gray and were starting to get old, but neither of them cared. They were still beautiful to one another.

Esmerelda had told all of her children about Frodo's journey at Frodo's consent. He did not stay to hear it, for he had lived it and that was enough. The pain was gone, all of it was and had been gone for years, but he just did not want to relive it. Their children eventually told the grandchildren, and the grandchildren told their children, and so on and so forth. The story also lived on in the Shire through Sam, who would read the Red Book of Westmarch to anyone who was willing to listen–which was pretty much everyone.

More years passed, and Sam joined Frodo, Esmerelda, and their big family in the Undying Lands after Rosie's death. Esmerelda was devastated by Rosie's death, and missed her horribly with each passing day. Thirty-one years later, Frodo and Esmerelda were laying in their bed, both of them now aged one-hundred-and-twenty-five years old, wrapped in each other's wrinkled arms. They had just celebrated their ninety-first wedding anniversary exactly nine months ago.

"My love," Frodo said, "how would you like to go?"

"To my death?" Esmerelda asked, and Frodo nodded against her head slowly and weakly. "I would not want it to be a painful death. I would want it to be peaceful, and I would like to go with you. I could not stand the pain of being left here without you."

"I could not stand that pain, either, love," Frodo said.

"I would want to go, just as we are now," Esmerelda whispered. "Here in the arms of my beloved Frodo. Here in the arms of the only true life I have ever known. You are my home, my dear Frodo. I want to meet my death in the loving embrace of my home."

Frodo tilted her head up and kissed her, just as he had when they were both young and freshly in love. She still tasted of strawberries and smelled of honeydew and flowers, even in her old age. Esmerelda kissed him back, noting of how he still tasted of honey and smelled sweetly of musk. She was immediately taken back to their youth, the nights where they would just lay in bed, kissing and cuddling. The nights when they would make love constantly until the sun rose and would sleep all day long from being so wore out from all of it. The way they would hold hands and run through the beautiful fields and streams with their sons both in the Shire and the Undying Lands. The way they would fall asleep in one another's arms every night, clinging to each other dearly as if their lives depended on it.

When they pulled apart, they held onto each other as tightly as they could. Esmerelda whispered, "I love you, my sweet, dear, beloved Frodo," and Frodo whispered, "And I love you, my beautiful, kind-hearted, beloved Esmerelda." They fell asleep in one another's arms, just like that. They felt themselves slipping away, and neither of them fought it. They welcomed it.

Sam found them both the next morning. He went to wake them up for breakfast, only to find that neither of them were breathing and they were both as cold as ice. Sam realized right then they were both dead and gone, and he was increasingly upset. He was beyond devastated at their passing when it really sank in, as well as all of their children and grandchildren. Frodo and Esmerelda were buried next to each other in the cemetery behind their home. They were placed beside of their deceased, unborn children & Bilbo, and their gravestone read, "Frodo Baggins "The Valiant": 22 September, 2968 TA–29 October, 93 FO & Esmerelda (Burrows) Baggins "The Fair": 11 May, 2968 TA–29 October, 93 FO –The Greatest Hobbits Who Ever Lived: A Heroic Prince and His Beautiful Princess."

Their children, their spouses, and the grandchildren all returned to the Shire permanently upon their deaths. They always went back on the anniversaries of their deaths and laid beautiful flowers on their grave, and Sam's as well. Sam passed away about six months after Frodo and Esmerelda, and he was placed next to them.

Frodo and Esmerelda were both happy in the afterlife. They were both aged thirty-three again, and they were joined by Lily, Belladonna, Bilbo, Andwise, Pippin, Merry, Frodo's parents, Rosie, and Sam, all of whom had gone back to looking young again. Frodo and Esmerelda were sitting by a pond in one another's arms, looking down into the pond. It was a mirror into the mortal world, where they would sit for hours a day looking down at their family as it grew and grew, feeling accomplished for all they had done.

"Esmerelda?" Frodo said, grinning at her.

"Yeah?" Esmerelda asked.

"We are going to have our family back someday," Frodo said. "All of them. We will be gazing down into this pond for all of eternity, just gazing down at our ever-growing family."

"I know," Esmerelda said. "I love it, my beloved. I do."

"I'm glad, then," Frodo said, kissing her hair.

"Frodo! Esmerelda!" they heard Rosie and Sam calling from behind them.

They turned and saw their friends, accompanied by Pippin and Merry, standing behind them. They were smiling at them, and Esmerelda and Frodo grinned at each other. With one last look into the pond, they smiled at each other and got up, running toward their friends. They all hugged happily, then ran off together into the beautiful, blissful eternity, overjoyed to be spending it together and knowing that it would eventually expand to include their own families. Nothing made any of them happier–except for each other.

They would always have one another, forever and for always. Their love and friendship would never die.

THE END!