Here ya go! This is sort of a full version, that I wrote one night during my inspiration fit, which, unfortuantely for my predetermined word count, is no longer here. Oh well, hopefully I get get it going again! Ta, all and have a good one!

HL21

Here's the full version of one of my Sammy drabbles! More Celandine, it was oh so fun to work with her again! Forgive me if it's a tad rough, I wrote it at 10:30 at night.....
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“Mum?”

Celandine was roused by a soft voice at her bedroom door. For a moment she wondered where she was, then remembered. She was at the Gamgee’s watching Sam while Bell and Hamfast took a trip.

“Mum?” the voice whispered again.

Celandine rolled over and saw Sam standing by the door. Tears were on his cheeks and clinging to his eyelashes.

He met her gaze and stepped back, startled. “Sorry, Mrs. Celandine. I guess I forgot you were here. I’ll go back to bed.” He turned to go.

“No, wait.” Celandine said, holding out her hand. “What’s wrong?”

Sam said nothing, merely gazed at the floor.

Celandine sat up and, crossing her legs, looked expectantly at him.

Sam slowly walked into her room. The blanket he’d wrapped around his shoulders dragged on the floor. He crawled onto her bed and, wrapping the blanket like a hood around his head, sat gazing at Celandine.

Celandine cocked her head at the lad and smiled. “Is that the blanket from your Mum and Da’s bedroom?” Sam nodded. Celandine was amazed by children’s tendency to grab things that smelled or reminded them of their parents when they were afraid or lonely. And Sam was definitely afraid or lonely. Tears slipped slowly form his big brown eyes and he was trembling. “What the matter?” Celandine asked gently.

Sam traced the design on her blanket and mumbled, “I miss Mum. I thought she was here, an’ she wasn’t.”

I should’ve known. Celandine thought. “Oh Sammy…” she murmured.

The tears were coming fast and hard now. Sam’s little body shook with silent sobs.

Celandine reached out and drew him to her, enfolding him in her embrace, stroking his brown curls and waiting for the storm to subside. Sam clung to her tightly, his whole body shaking. What goes on in childrens’ hearts, Celandine thought as she held the child close. When night is here and parents away, when the world seems a howling wilderness and loneliness threatens to overwhelm them? “Shh, Sammy, it’s okay, I’m here.” Gradually the sobs subsided and Sam lay quiet in Celandines arms. “Better?” Celandine whispered, kissing his hair.

Sam nodded. The two were silent for a moment, then Sam asked in a shaky voice. “When is Mum coming back?”

“In a week.” Celandine replied, rubbing his back to sooth away any remaining sobs.

Sam considered this. “Is a week like a tomorrow?”

“A week is seven tomorrows.” Celandine answered.

“Seven…” Sam murmured. He regarded his fingers for a moment, counting up seven. “That’s a long time…. Will you go and leave me alone before Mum gets back?” he asked anxiously.

“No, my dear, I won’t leave.”

Sam snuggled closer to her. “Are you a mum, Mrs. Celandine?”

Celandine gazed at her belly, where her first child slept. “Not quite. Soon, though.”

Sam mused this over, then turned and smiled up at Celandine. “Well, when you DO become one, you’ll be real good at it.”

Celandine felt her eyes fill with tears. She nuzzled her nose into his curls. “Thank-you, Sammy.”

The child rested his head on her lap and slept, safe in the knowledge of her love for him, lonely no more.