The Gaffer sat outside his hole on the New Row, clasping the stem of his pipe between his teeth as he looked up towards Bag End. After a long time simply staring at the horizon, he put his pipe down and placed his arthritic hand over the hand of the matron that sat next to him.

"Who would have thought that, after Sharkey lay the Shire to ruin, we would see the land, and all in it, bloom like this.  I have never seen the grass so green and the trees almost look as if they are stretching up to reach the sun.  I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams, in those dark days, before the boy came back, that Samwise and Rosie would be living in Bag End with some faunts. And Sam the mayor, no less." The Gaffer looked across at his companion and sighed "And a good woman to keep me company in my final years."

Another hand settled over Hamfast's and the Widow Rumble patted and clasped the old man's gnarled fingers. "We have had a few good years, haven't we?  I don't think my Mr Rumble or your Belle would begrudge us them."