It was a Saturday Evening at the "Green Dragon." The night was full of merriment with dancing and singing. Even Frodo Baggins had his fill of ale and was loose and joining in song.

Her hair was gold,
She danced and sang for free!
And when she found the one she loved
His socks she dunked in tea!

No one cared that the song was bad, everyone laughed and added his or her own lines.

Samwise Gamgee was sitting on a chair, drinking and laughing as he watched Frodo jump on top of a table and start dancing. The bar became a bit wild and everyone was all over the place making as much noise as possible. It was the busiest night of the week.

A while later, Meriodoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took entered the tavern. They found Frodo and Sam in the corner and started to laugh when they saw Frodo dancing from tabletop to tabletop.

"Way to go Frodo!" Merry cheered and whooped as Pippin went to get some drinks at the bar.

Frodo saw his two cousins and shouted a hello. He then jumped off the table and met with his friends. "Glad you could make it!" he laughed.

Merry took a seat beside Sam. Then Pippin came with two beers and sat beside Frodo.

"So how are you fine gentlehobbits this glorious evening?" Frodo asked.

"Very well, yourself?" Merry asked.

"Doing well."

"You won't believe the news we heard," Pippin chimed in. Merry looked at Pippin and knew what he was going to say. He started laughing.

"What's up?" Sam asked.

"We just found out that a certain brunette, female Hobbit is having a birthday party." Merry stated with a large grin on his face. He looked at Sam to let him know whom he was talking about. Immediately, Sam started to blush. "What is so special about that? Everyone knows Rosie is having her party.

"Well - we heard from some sources, that she has a crush on someone. YOU know," Pippin then hinted.

Suddenly Sam's heart dropped. She liked someone he knew? Who could it be? It was probably Frodo. A good-looking hobbit like him got all the lasses. "Who is it?"

"Pippin and Merry started to laugh and looked at Frodo who also got the joke. "Well Sam, he is good looking.... Kind.... Is the son of a gardener...and she is hoping he will ask to accompany her at the party." They smiled.

At first Sam did not get it. Then when Merry said ‘son of a gardener;’ his ears perked up. "Really? She wants me to accompany her to her party?"

Merry and Pippin nodded their heads then clinked each other's glasses and drank merrily. "Congratulations Samwise Gamgee!" they shouted.

"But I can't!" Sam yelled.

"Why not Sam?" Frodo asked in confusion.

"I can't ask her. I am too shy!" he protested.

"Sam, this is a once in a lifetime offer! You know that Rosie Cotton has ALL the eligible hobbits pounding at her door. She wants YOU and you can't pass that up!" Pippin argued.

"We won't let you!" Merry determinedly stated. He stood up, as did Pippin and Frodo. Frodo and Merry grabbed each of Sam's arms and dragged him out of the Green Dragon.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?" Sam asked, trying to get out of their grip.

"We are going to get you a date with the hobbitess of your dreams!" Frodo answered.

The three hobbits dragged Sam all the way down to Bag End. They would make him the center of any hobbit lass's attention if it killed him or them.

************

An odd site it was in Bag End. Pippin was standing by Sam in a dress and bonnet on his head. The young hobbit was not happy. "Is there a reason why I had to dress like a lass?" Pippin asked.

"Because the imagery will help Sam. Now be quiet and act like a lass." Frodo explained. Pippin just sighed and Merry sat on a chair and watched in hysterics.

"All right, Sam." Frodo started. "If you are going to escort Rosie to her party, you need to know how to act in front of a lass.”

Sam looked at Frodo. He was a bit embarrassed and wished he could just go home and hide under the bed. "Oh, all right then," he sighed.

"Now, when Rosie first comes up to you, the most romantic thing you can do is take her hand…take Pippin’s hand." Frodo instructed.

Sam looked at Frodo and then at Pippin. Taking Pippin’s hand, he held it up slightly. "Right. Now what?"

"Kiss it."

"He will NOT!" Pippin yelped and he pulled his hand away. "I don’t go that way Frodo."

"I am not asking you to MARRY him." Frodo said. "Look, Pippin, do you want to help Sam or not?"

Pippin let out a growl and put his hand back into Sam’s. "Go ahead," he said reluctantly.

"Good. Now, look into her eyes and never take your eyes away. Make it seem like your focus is solely on Rose," Frodo stated.

Sam nodded in understanding. He then looked into Pippin’s eyes and kissed his hand softly. "Rosie?" he asked.

Pippin smiled and in a soft high-pitched voice replied: "Yes?"

"I was wondering…" Sam continued.

"Yes?" Pippin asked in the soft dainty voice.

"May I have the pleasure of escorting you to your party?" Sam asked in a shy smile.

"Get lost Yokel." Pippin then answered in his own tenor monotone.

Frodo slapped his forehead with his hand. "This is going to take longer than I thought," he sighed.

************

"All right Sam," Merry said as he set his friend down in front of the dinner table. "Today, we are going to teach you proper etiquette for when you are dining with Rosie."

"Of all people to teach etiquette, why you?" Pippin asked with jest in his voice.

"Don't start Peregrin," Merry snapped. "It so happens that I am the MASTER of proper dinning.”

"Says who?" Pippin retorted.

"Auntie Jinella Brandybuck, that's who," Merry replied.

"But Auntie Jinella is one hundred years old and is half blind," Pippin corrected.

"Look you two, we don't have much time, so can we get through this?" Frodo interrupted as he sat down beside Sam. Poor Sam was so nervous. He looked around. "What should I do first?" he asked.

Merry sat on the other side of Sam and patted him on the back. "Relax and eat dinner as you would usually eat dinner and then when we find something wrong, we will tell you," Merry explained.

Sam nodded and picked up his fork and dug into his food.

"STOP!" Merry yelped. Sam jumped and accidentally flung his fork across the room. "What-what did I do?" he asked.

"You forgot to put your napkin on your lap. Do you want Rosie to think you are a messy slob?" Merry asked.

"Well, no, I forgot."

"It's all right Sam. We will try it again." Frodo smiled softly as he got up to get Sam another fork and then pick up the old one.

Sam tucked the white cloth into his shirt and then looked at Merry who nodded for him to continue. Sam continued to eat, as well as the three other hobbits.

When dinner was finished, Merry, Pippin and Frodo congratulated Sam on his good work.

"You know, this was wonderful. I am actually starting to feel confident!" Sam exclaimed happily.

Frodo's icy blue eyes twinkled with excitement for Sam. "That's great Sam." he smiled.

Unfortunately, as the four hobbits stood from the table, Sam realized he did not have his napkin tucked into his shirt. It was the tablecloth. As he stood, all the left-over food, glasses and plates came crashing to the floor. Sam turned white with embarrassment and passed out.

Frodo, Merry and Pippin looked at each other. "Well, at least he didn't get anything on his shirt," Merry stated.

************

It was late that night and Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were half falling asleep. They had been up all day trying to teach Sam all he needed to know so that Rosie would notice him. It was now time for the last lesson.

Pippin stood in front of Sam and studied him for a moment. "Right, Samwise," he started. "We are going to teach you how to speak romantically to Rosie. Poetry ALWAYS swoons a girl."

"But I don't know any good poetry," Sam argued.

"Don't worry. Frodo here is a good poet. He will teach you all you need to know," Merry soothed.

Sam frowned a bit and realized that it would not hurt to take a few pointers from his friends.

"All right, Sam. Repeat after me:" Frodo said. He then stood up straight, cleared his throat and recited:

"A day can not go by without the thought of you in my mind. When I think of you, the birds sing and the flowers bloom. They all whisper your name. A name that fights off my gloom: Rosie..."

Merry and Pippin stood up and clapped for Frodo's words. Frodo bowed but Sam just looked nervous.

"I can't remember all that," he stated.

"Sure you can Sam. That was easy," Frodo replied.

Sam just nodded his head. “Well… I will try. I just don't want to make a fool out of myself."

"Hey now, you are not a fool. That is Pippin's job," Merry stated.

"HEY!" Pippin snapped.

"Just get some sleep tonight Sam, Tomorrow is the party and you need to have all this information soak in," Frodo explained.

Sam agreed and he left for home quietly.

That night, Frodo, Merry and Pippin were having some tea before bed. "I sure hope Sam does well. Do you think we pushed him too hard?" Frodo asked.

"Na, Sam needs to be more outgoing. If he doesn't, everyone will walk over him," Merry explained.

"Yes, you are right. Well...here's to Sam and may all the luck be with him!" Frodo cheered. The three hobbits clinked their mugs together and then went to bed. Tomorrow would be a long day.

************

Merry and Pippin were sitting quietly behind a small food tent as they watched Frodo and Sam go up to Rosie. They were nervous but cheered their friend on.

"I don't know about this Mr. Frodo,” Sam stated. The two were slowly making their way through some hobbits and towards the brunette beauty of Sam's dreams. She was merrily talking to a few of the other boys. But when she looked up to see Sam, she gave him a bright smile and waved him to come over.

"See that Sam?" Frodo said happily. "She WANTS you to come see her. Now remember all we told you," Frodo stated then as he walked by a flower bush. He picked a flower and gave it to Sam. "Give her this and recite the poem I told you."

Sam let out a sigh and stood up straight. "Right. I can do this,” he stated confidently. He marched up to Rosie and smiled. "Hi ya. I mean, Good afternoon Fair--um...Queen-a-miss...a LADY" Sam smiled and gave her the flower.

"Hello Sam. I am so happy you and your friends could come. Hello Frodo!" She smiled, hugging Frodo then looking at Sam. "Thank you for the flower Sam, you are so sweet."

Sam blushed and forgot what to say next. He looked worriedly at Frodo who leaned in and whispered to his ear. "Complement her, her hair, her eyes, pick a feature."

Sam nodded and looked at Rosie. "Rosie, your eyes- your eyes..um...YOUR EYES are like cupcakes floating in a sea of sour cream!" Sam then proclaimed.

Frodo slapped his hand across his forehead and sighed. Rosie looked shocked but then laughed. "Thank you Sam. That is very...sweet." She stated.

Sam turned a bright red then continued on. "Rosie...I.... Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the party?"

"Oh, I was hoping you would ask." The young hobbitess exclaimed happily. She lifted her hand and wrapped her arm around Sam's and the two walked toward the food tables.

Frodo let out a deep breath and looked towards Merry and Pippin's direction. They all winked at each other as a sign of relief.

The party was going very well. Sam was as much a gentilehobbit as any rich high-ranking official was. He was graceful and polite and half the hobbit lasses were fawning over him like crazy.

Frodo, Merry and Pippin were sitting at a table drinking some beer and were watching the festivities. "This is going wonderfully," Frodo smiled.

"Yes. Who would think Sam was such a Lady's Hobbit," Merry stated. He watched as Sam and Rosie danced around happily.

"Yes, but look at US!" Pippin stated. "The three best-looking hobbits in the Shire and no one is asking us to dance." Pippin stated as he chugged some of his ale.

"Relax Pippin, this is Sam's night," Frodo explained. Just then the desert table was being loaded and Frodo, Merry and Pippin decided to go check out what was being offered. There were all kinds of good treats: Raspberry tarts, cream pies, cheesecake, ice cream, cup cakes, and chocolate fudge brownies with almonds sprinkled on them. Merry and Pippin's mouths were already watering.

"Let's say we sneak a little piece?" Pippin asked. Merry agreed but when they went to grab the same cupcake, a fight started. "Hey, I had this one first," Pippin stated.

"No you didn't! I did," returned Merry. He picked up the cupcake and smashed it in Pippin's face. "Well, NOW you have it," he laughed.

Pippin looked at Merry with rage. He picked up another cupcake and looked at Merry. "You should try one Merry. Here, allow me!"

Frodo saw what was going to happen and knew he had to do something. He got between the two but instead of stopping the fight, he got a handful of cake smashed on his face.

Merry and Pippin started to laugh at the sight of the elegant Frodo Baggins covered in cake. But Frodo didn't take it as fun.

"All right! You two have HAD it!" Frodo yelped as he grabbed a handful of cheesecake and smacked it into Pippin and Merry's faces. Suddenly, an all out food fight ignited between the three friends!

Sam and Rosie were coming to get their desert when they saw a bunch of people standing around the desert table. "What is going on?" Rosie asked. Sam shrugged his shoulders and moved past the people to see. Sam was surprised to find Frodo, Merry and Pippin on the ground covered in all kinds of desserts. He turned white and was afraid Rosie would think her party was ruined, then all of a sudden, Sam heard Rosie laughing. She enjoyed the site very much.

"Samwise! Your friends are hilarious!" she laughed. Frodo, Merry, and Pippin looked up to her and they all laughed, as did Sam. He was happy Rosie wasn’t mad. This was a good sign…right?