Author's Comments: This started as one drouble but got out of hand and is now quite a gathering of them. (I blame the migraine tablets I was taking at the time it started).

The First Glimpse of Frodo's Garden

Sam's POV

Sam stretched his shirtless back as he stood from his gardening. He pulled one elbow over his head to try and get the last kinks out of his body.

At this movement he heard a sudden intake of breath from behind him. He was well aware that his hard earned muscles and tanned skin could have that effect on folks, so he thought he might have some fun with whatever lass had been venturing past and stopped to look.

Sam bent down, successfully stretching his breeches over round, tight buttocks, to grab a bucket of water he had brought from the well. He straightened and poured the contents over him, letting rivulets of water wind their way down his torso and shook the remaining water out of his hair.

The wind carried a low whisper of "Oh my" to his ears.

Sam could no longer resist the urge to spin round and catch an unsuspecting maiden looking. His eyes widened at the sight of Master Merry stumbling through the gate.

"Well met Sam," Merry managed to choke out, from under a spreading blush, "I do always enjoy the first glimpse of Frodo's garden, ..but not usually quite this much."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Merry's POV

It had been a long walk from Buckland, but Merry had enjoyed the time to himself . He needed time to think.  He hoped that time spent with his cousin Frodo would give him a chance to come to terms with his rebelling body.  He was looking forward to spending lazy days in the garden at Bag End and tables full of food cooked by Sam.

Maybe Sam would have time to play silly games with him like they used to, Merry thought.  Letting him fend off responsibility for a little bit longer.

Merry had reached the road at the front of Frodo's garden and as he cast his eyes over the well-tended grounds, he gasped a throaty "Oh, my".  His eyes rested on the well muscled back of a young lad with golden hair who had just upended a bucket of water over himself. 

Merry was wondering who this hobbit could be and why he hadn't met him on previous visits to Bag End when the vision turned towards him.

"Well met Sam," Merry managed to choke out, from under a spreading blush, "I do always enjoy the first glimpse of Frodo's garden, …but not usually quite this much."  

Cooking in Frodo's Kitchen

Frodo's voice carried from the library, "Merry, go help Sam in the kitchen"

Footsteps sounded down the hall as Merry walked cautiously into the kitchen. Sam and Merry looked at each other for a moment before dropping their eyes and blushing. It was still awkward after the incident in the garden this morning, when Merry had witnessed the show Sam had thought he was putting on for one of the local lasses and Merry had spoken before he had time to think.

Sam broke the silence between them.

"Mr Merry, would you like to help with the scones"

Good, thought Merry, normality, … no need to get flustered.

"Yes, Sam, just tell me what you want me to do"

"Can you rub the butter in," Sam instructed.

Rub, butter, … this was not a good idea

"Now you should knead it, make sure the movement is strong and measured, otherwise it won't rise"

Kneading, strong, measured, rise…. Oh dear

"You're ready to roll on the counter now, Mr Merry", Sam said interrupting his thoughts.

"Owww…" Merry wailed, wiping his hands on his breeches as he ran outside leaving Sam in the middle of the kitchen holding a rolling pin.

Words

Frodo leaned on the doorjamb into the kitchen with a large grin on his face. He had witnessed the whole scone incident and was laughing to himself.

Sam was still standing in the middle of the kitchen holding the rolling pin with a very perplexed look on his face. At the sound of laughter, Sam spun around.

"What just happened sir?" Sam said with a bewildered look on his face.

Frodo simply smiled and said "I think it just got too hot for Merry in the kitchen, is all, Sam. Pop the scones in the oven and go out and find him – But, perhaps choose your words more carefully this time Sam."

"Words, Mr Frodo ….." Sam started to say, until he began to recall the conversation in vivid detail.

Hot in the kitchen, rolling on the counter.

"Oh,…I see" Kneading, rising, butter, rub…..

Blushing, Sam rushed from the kitchen muttering "Yes, Oh, Got to speak to Mr Merry …….."

Frodo finished putting the scones in the oven. He hoped that the boys would work out what was happening between them soon because, at this rate, he would get no work done at all until Merry's visit was finished.

Finally

"Mr Merry. Where are you?" Sam was at once hoping to find Merry and also hoping that he wouldn't have to face the future Master of Buckland after the set of events that had transpired.

A soft whimper came from behind the tool shed. Sam slowly made his way round to where Merry was sitting with his head in his hands. "Oh, Mr Merry, don't cry."

"Go away Sam, I just want to be left alone," Merry looked at Sam through tears. "Just go away."

Sam reached over and wiped the tears from Merry's cheeks. He looked straight into Merry's eyes, bit his bottom lip to stop a grin forming and took a leap into the unknown.

"You know, sir, when I'm hurt and crying my big sister always kisses it better. Do you think that might help?" All hope of holding the grin at bay was now gone. Merry tilted his head and his face broke into a smile. "But Sam, I don't want to kiss May."

With that Sam laughed, pushed Merry to the ground and threw himself on top. "Thank goodness, I thought I had been receiving mixed signals. Do you still want to be left alone?"

Scones…

Merry hid behind the door of Bag End as Sam stood over the washing basin, finishing the last of the dishes, a teatowel draped over his shoulder.

"Sam, do I need to add anything to the shopping list before I head off to Hobbiton?" Frodo asked as he grabbed his coat and stepped through the doorway. "Having Merry here has certainly made the pantry bare. I wonder what he has been getting up to to give him such an appetite?"

Sam felt a blush rising on his cheeks and mumbled, "You could get some cream for the scones this afternoon"

With that Frodo walked off towards Hobbiton. This gave Merry the chance to come out of his hiding place and sneak up behind Sam, wrapping his arms round him and nibbling on his neck.

With a low husky voice and a mischievous pelvic thrust, Merry whispered "Mmmm, scones – all that kneading, rubbing and rolling on the bench - I can't wait."

Sam twisted out of the embrace, grabbed the teatowel off his shoulder, twirled it in the air and then flicked it towards Merry, "Now Mr Merry …….. you are incorrigible. If you let me work now, we can play later."

Cooking Time

Sam wiped floury hands on his apron. The scones were in the oven, fifteen minutes and they would be ready to lift out. He leaned back against the table and closed his eyes, resting before the next job.

Sam was interrupted from his thoughts by a stray hand smoothing over the front of his breeches, the very action having the exact opposite effect.

“Merry ............. What are you doing?” Sam almost squealed.

Merry winked a reply, “I was going to do some kneading of my own but *it* seems to be rising quite well by itself.”

“Don't start anything you can't finish.” Sam almost dared, as he looked down at hands working on his trouser buttons. “I've only got ten minutes before the scones are ready.”

“Ha, you think you could last ten minutes under my ministrations? I'll have you screaming long before then.” Merry's hand snaked into Sam's already loosened undergarments. Sam's hips thrust forward into the waiting hand as Merry took a firm grip.

The kitchen table creaked with the frantic rhythm that was achieved and Merry, true to his word, did indeed have Sam screaming his name between shaking spasms - long before the oven's contents went gollden brown.

On Top of Bad End

Merry turned his face towards the afternoon sun and let it warm him while he lazed on the hill over Bag End. He had taken off his shirt and was languishing in the soft carpet of fragrant grass.

What a pleasant visit this has been, Merry thought dreamily. He had always liked playing with the Gamgee children when he had previously stayed with Frodo, but this time 'playing' with Sam had been more than fun. He was getting hard just thinking about it.

A rustle in the grass roused him from his thoughts and he looked up to see Sam looking down at him. "Well, what a pretty sight you are Mr Merry," Sam smouldered. "Up here, half naked," Sam’s eyes dropped to Merry's trousers, "and all hot and bothered."

Merry propped himself up on his elbows, throwing Sam his most mischievous lopsided grin. "Well Master Gamgee, aren't you going to do something about it? I seem to remember being owed favours from this morning's scone baking."

"I'd love to," Sam said as his foot found its way to Merry's crutch and rubbed for a split second, "but Frodo's back from his shopping expedition and will be wanting afternoon tea."

Merry Gets Underfoot

Merry sat down and pulled his chair into the table, thankful for the cover the tablecloth provided, as he remembered Sam's touch through his trousers no more than ten minutes before. Sam's knowing grin and the smell of warm scones were also conspiring to further restrict the room in the front of his breeches. Sam deposited the afternoon tea on the table and sat across from Merry.

"Cousin, have you had a pleasant day?" Frodo asked. "I hope you haven't been getting under Sam's feet in the kitchen while he was cooking."

"No, Frodo,.." Merry started to say as he felt Sam's foot wind its way up his leg and rub tentatively at the bulge in the fabric in his lap. "No, I definitely didn't get under Sam's feet this morning while he was cooking." Although, I have been on the receiving end of them twice this afternoon

"He hasn't been too much trouble, has he Sam?" Frodo enquired. "I hope he hasn't been a nuisance while you've been working."

"No, not at all, sir." Sam's foot continued its firm press on Merry's groin. "He was a pleasant distraction and a helping hand while waiting for the scones to cook."

Echo

The scones were set on the table. A bowl of cream sat next to them. Sam had ducked into the pantry to find the strawberry jam to complete a hobbit equivalent of ambrosia.

It was at that point that Frodo entered the kitchen from his study…... and Sam was ambushed by Merry in the pantry.

"Oh, Sam. These scones smell so good," Frodo called.

Merry's lips rested on Sam's ear, where he could feel him breathe deeply."Mmm, smells so good."

"I hope you're getting the jam, Sam. I'm going to pull one apart so that it's ready."

Opening Sam's shirt, Merry glided a hand across Sam's chest. "Just pulling it apart so you're ready."

"You've put a lot of work into the cream - whipped to stiff peaks "

Merry's hand settled on one of Sam's nipples, and pinched softly.

"I can't wait, Sam. I'm going to have a taste of one without anything on it." Frodo succumbed to the scone."Mmm, delicious."

Sam's shirt was pushed open further and Merry's mouth latched onto the erect nub that was exposed. "Mmm, delicious." Sam could feel a smile form on Merry's lips." I wish I could taste you with nothing on."