Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings; Tolkien does.

Merry was sitting on his bed, crying because his heart was broken. His cousin Frodo, who was as close to him as a brother, was leaving for Hobbiton in a few days. He didn't want Frodo to leave.

Frodo walked down the hall to go to sleep when he heard Merry crying. He walked into the room, sat down on the bed, and faced Merry whose face was wet with tears.

"What's the matter Merry?" he asked his little cousin.

"You are going leave here, and I will never see you again."

"Just because I'm leaving, doesn't mean we won't see each other again. We will visit each other as much as possible."

"But, it's not the same. You won't be here all the time. You won't be in the room next to mine. I'm losing my brother. I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to leave either, but I need Bilbo. He's the closest to a parent that I ever had besides my own."

"What about my mommy and daddy?"

"I love Aunt Esmeralda and Uncle Saradoc very much, but I have more in common with Bilbo than with anyone else. He's the closest thing to a father to me."

Merry began to have feelings of jealousy.

"Does that mean you love him more than me?"

"Of course not, you are as close to me as brother. I don't love Bilbo more than you only differently."

"I wish you don't have to go Frodo. It hurts so much that I won't see you everyday."

"It hurts me too, but we will see each other as much as possible. I'm sure your parents will bring you to Hobbiton, and Uncle Bilbo and I will come here. Uncle Bilbo is fond of your family. He told me that he likes them better than some of his relatives in Hobbiton.

"Like the Sackville-Baggins?"

"Yes."

"I will miss you so much Frodo," Merry said while he began to cry harder.

Frodo took his little cousin in his arms and rocked him until he calmed down.

"Do you feel any better, Merry?"

"A little. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Frodo nodded. He pulled the blankets back and tucked Merry in it. Then he climbed in the bed himself and put his arms around his little cousin.

The End.