"So, tell me again Pip, why did we have to come all the way to Long Cleeve for the market? There are markets much closer to home." Merry questioned his cousin, hoping to get a clearer response than he had during their travel.
"I told you," Pippin said evasively. "They have the best salted pork here." He was looking around constantly and Merry had a feeling it was for more than pork. Merry knew full well that the salted pork tasted just about the same anywhere in the Shire and he eyed his cousin suspiciously. Then something clicked.
"Are you sure this isn't about Diamond again?" He asked, smiling.
"What?" Pippin yelped, acting shocked. "Of course not," he was still looking round though, like a lost dog looking for its owner.
"You know, I heard she was going to the market in Hobbiton today," Merry was trying to look innocent.
Pippin turned sharply to look at him. "She is? Why? Where did you hear that?"
Merry didn't answer at first; instead, he feigned interest in a display of mushrooms. Actually, it had been nearly two hours since he had eaten and he was rather hungry. He ordered some mushrooms and could feel his favorite cousin staring at him as he received his order.
"Where did you hear that, Merry?" Pippin asked again.
"Well…" Merry finally looked up, revealing a mischievous grin. "She thinks the salted pork is the best there."
"Oh, Merry! You shouldn't make fun like that." Pippin said, but he couldn't help smiling a little sheepishly as Merry passed him some mushrooms.
"Look, there she is, Pip."
"I dare not believe you, Merry. I cannot get excited again or I will never sit still."
Merry didn't listen. Instead he took Pippin by the shoulders and turned him around. And there she was.
Diamond had arrived in the market only a short while later with her friend, Estella, and, seeing the cousins at the mushroom stand, veered off to another vendor, blushing wildly.
"Hullo, Diamond! Are you quite well?" The vendor, a baker actually, who was selling bread in the market, asked.
"Oh, yes, I feel fine." Diamond replied, but she had a slightly frantic look in her eye.
"You look as red as a cherry, Miss!" The baker watched Diamond for a while, studying where the young girl's eyes kept flicking. "It's that Took lad, isn't it?" She asked, smiling. "Why not go speak to him?"
"Oh, I dare not bother him…" Diamond mumbled, noticing that Estella was biting her lip to hold back giggles. "He seems busy."
"Miss, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck are hardly ever busy with anything but mischief! You may do us all a favor! Take him some bread. Go on!" The baker refused to hear another word and placed three packages of her best bread into Diamond's arms instead.
Diamond hesitated, trying to get her blush under control. Realizing that was hopeless, she left Stella to talk with the baker and turned towards Merry and Pippin.
This was when Pippin saw her. To him, it looked like she was glowing. He quickly rubbed his eyes with the backs of his hands but the glow was still there. She was looking down at her feet as she walked and he could see a blush on her cheeks. Pippin felt like doing a jig when he saw she was walking towards him and was faintly proud that he managed to master that urge.
Slowly, Diamond approached them, stopped in front of them, and looked up. Pippin couldn't help but grin at the beauty he saw. "Hullo, Diamond!" He said thinking, what a fitting name!
"Hullo," she mumbled softly. "The baker sent me over here; she gave me bread for the both of you."
"Really?" Merry asked, taking the bread Diamond offered to him. "I think I shall go thank her," he shot a grin at Pippin then turned his gaze to Estella and headed off, leaving Diamond and Pippin alone.
Diamond watched Merry walk away, Pippin, however, kept his eyes on the lass. When she looked back and saw him staring the blush rose once more to her cheeks and she quickly looked down. Pippin smiled.
"Do you often shop here? I've not seen you here before," Diamond asked to fill the silence.
"Only when I want to find something very special," Pippin responded quietly.
"What brought you here today? Did you find it?" She asked, looking at the booths around them, wondering what he could be looking for. His hands were empty except for mushrooms. She still wasn't looking at his face.
"I did," Diamond could hear the smile in Pippin's voice as he said this and she finally looked him in the eyes. He was looking right back at her, grinning, with slight blush in his cheeks. He dropped the mushrooms he was holding – Merry, who was watching from the baker's station, was slightly distraught by that – and grabbed her to him, kissing her full on the lips. They both smiled into the kiss.