Poor Sam *hugs him*.

:D

Beautiful! I was tearing up by the 7th paragraph. As a parent of two grown (one still a teen) children, I love stories that explore the (oft poignant) passage of time, the boundless love and pride parents have for their children, etc. And I love Sam, and the concept that Tolkien created of Sam eventually joining Frodo. (Talk about having your cake and eating it, too, eh?) Thank you.