Disclaimer: If I owned LOTR, wouldn't I be writing better stories, somewhere I could make money on them? Thought so. Needless to say, I don't own anything. Thanks for rubbing this in. *runs off to cry in Legolas' lap*
A/N: After a VERY long "break", I've returned to the world of FFN and started writing again. This is my first LOTR fic, my first slash fic, my first fic in a year. This was previously posted, and it turns out the load didn't come up correctly, and so I put it up again. Special thanks to Lula, who reviewed my story the first time around! Her kind words helped me around my writer's block. Read her M/P fic, "My Favorite Fairy Tale." She's the best writer!!! Read and review! Flames will be used to destroy the Ring!
Summer
By: Allaya Cooks (aka Aruraya)
It was a quiet morning in the Shire. The sun was just coming over the tops of the trees, warming everything with the fresh glow of summer. Birds fluttered from tree to tree, singing cheerfully to one another.
In Bag End, Sam Gamgee was just waking up from a long night's rest. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes drowsily as he thought of all there was to be done. The laundry was calling, the garden needed to be weeded, the guest room needed to be Merry/Pippin-proofed…The two troublemakers were planning on coming to Bag End for a visit shortly after elevenses and would be staying the entirety of the summer. Sam laughed softly. Yes, this was going to be an interesting summer, with those two around…
Sam got dressed and headed off to the kitchen, wondering what he should make for breakfast. He surveyed the freshly stocked kitchen with question. "Now, what would Mr. Frodo like?" he said out loud, then blushed, thinking of his roommate. Mr. Frodo indeed, with the soft black curls, those startling blue eyes, Mr. Frodo with the delicate, nearly elvish like features, Mr. Frodo whom he loved…Sam shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. No, he told himself fiercely, it's not proper, thinking of your Mr. Frodo like that. What would he say if he knew? He'd be right disgusted with you, and that's that. No, best leave those thoughts alone. Lovin' another lad! Why, I never! And with new resolve, he grabbed some things from the pantry and set to making an omelet. While the omelet cooked, he began slicing bacon and mushrooms, which he threw into the pan. He sliced and toasted some bread, and set this, along with the omelet, some fresh fruit, and a pot of tea on the table. He gave a slight nod as he went back to survey his work. "Breakfast is ready," he said, then went off to wake Frodo.
~*~
"Merry! Wake up!" an energetic Pippin said, bouncing onto Merry's bed. "Get up!" Merry stretched and yawned as his eyes regained focus, looking at the red-haired hobbit sitting on his bed. "Whaddya want?" Merry said sleepily, shifting his legs and throwing the young Took off balance. "It's 6:30. Go back to sleep…"
"Merry, don't you remember? We're supposed to be at Bag End today! After elevenses!" Merry scratched his head. "Pip, what in the name of the Shire are you talking--- oh!" He shot bolt upright, eyes wide. "No…I never packed…we'll be late…" Pippin smiled. "See, and usually it's me who forgets these things. You can pack after you eat. Come on, Mer." Pippin led his older cousin down the hall to the kitchen, where the table groaned under the weight of enough food to feed Hobbiton. "Pippin," Merry said, looking from the table to the younger hobbit, who just shrugged. "I woke up early. Come on, eat!" Merry smiled, resigned, and went off to join Pippin at the table. He loved nothing more than these days, waking up to see his Pip's smiling face, his bright green eyes, always wide and sparkling with excitement and energy. Peregrin Took had the ability to brighten a room just by being in it. When he was sad, Merry wanted nothing more than to kiss away his tears, whisper in his ear that it would all be better again. Pippin was his love, his life, his other half, his… Cousin, Merry thought bitterly. He's my cousin, and a lad besides. No way, no how. And I have no right thinking these things about my sweet little Pip with the lovely green eyes and the full, oh so kissable lips that I can almost hear saying my name over and over…
"Mer. Merry." Merry finally snapped back to reality. "I'm sorry, what was it?"
"Are you done with breakfast? I mean, do you want me to help you pack?" Merry nodded and the two walked back to the bedroom. After a quick dash around in the closet, Merry found his traveling bags and began packing them. Pippin sat on the dresser and watched him fold a pair of pants. He admired everything about Merry, from his charm and wit to his kindness to the way he folded pants. He loved him, and never more so than the nights he'd wake up crying, memories of the War vivid in his mind. Merry would hold him close, telling him not to worry, he was there. He never treated him like a baby. They were always equals. Smiling, Pippin watched Merry's rear end dance about in the air as he packed the suitcase. Charming, indeed…
~*~
"Mr. Frodo! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!" rang Sam's voice through Frodo Baggins' bedroom door. In response, he pulled the covers over his head. Sam sighed and laughed, stepping up to the bed. "Good morning, Mr. Frodo he said as he yanked the covers off of his master. Frodo curled up and shivered, opening one eye to glare at Sam, who just smiled. "Breakfast is ready." Frodo sat up and sniffed the air. "Smells good. I'll be there in a second. What are we having?"
"You'll find out when you get up," Sam said, then laughed as Frodo playfully tossed his pillow at him. Sam left Frodo to get dressed, folding up the bedcovers and leaving them across the room. He knew Frodo would love nothing more than to crawl under the blankets for another few hours, and would do so if they were left anywhere near the bed. But Frodo was reasonably awake now, and rather enjoyed the little game they played everyday. This was almost heaven, waking up to Sam's smiling face and breakfast every morning. Almost heaven. But Frodo wanted more. He wanted to truly have Sam for his own, in a way that was considered very unacceptable by the rest of the Shire. But he didn't care what everyone else thought. He only cared about Sam. And growing up on his "Gaffer's" ideals, he was pretty sure Sam would've been repulsed by the idea. He might feel uncomfortable enough to leave. And Frodo needed him. He couldn't stand to lose him forever...
"Mr. Frodo? You coming?" Sam called from the kitchen.
"Yes, just a moment," Frodo cried, and ran off to the washroom. Shortly afterwards, he emerged, clean and dressed, and sat down to eat. "This looks wonderful, Sam," he said, and Sam blushed with appreciation. "Thanks, although it near froze before you decided to come and eat!" They both laughed, a light, melodious sound that filled the air. But inside, their hearts ached for each other.
~*~
Merry and Pippin looked at their bags, then at each other. They had just finished packing Merry's bags, and were standing outside the entrance to Crickhollow, going over the contents of their suitcases.
"Now, Pip, are you sure you've gotten everything?" Merry asked.
"Yes, Merry, for the umpteenth time! I'm not the one with the last-minute packing, you know!" With that, Pippin hoisted his bags onto his shoulders and turned around. He was pretending to be mad, but soon fished an apple out of his pocket, tossing it up and down and singing gaily as he went. Merry shook his head and laughed, falling into step next to him.
O! The road stretches forevermore,
Past the woods and wild blue moors.
By the trees, and o'er the hills,
'Tis mine to travel where I will.
I've searched upon land and sky above,
But still I've yet to discover love.
When my road stops short and falls amiss,
Finding someone to be there with a tender kiss.
Pippin stopped singing to look at Merry. Oh, how he truly wanted to kiss him on that beautiful smiling mouth that was singing so beautifully right now. All these years of watching, secretly hoping that Merry didn't like lasses, that maybe he liked him, maybe loved him…He sighed and kept walking. It's not fair. Merry'll never feel the same. The sooner I face that---yes? Then what? A little voice in the back of Pippin's head answered. Gonna forget about him? Like you could do that. Stop lying…"Shut up," Pippin said firmly. Merry turned around, startled. "Who, me?" Pippin shook his head. "No, just…ah, never mind," he said just as they entered Hobbiton.
"Race you to Bagshot Row."
"You're on!" And the pair took off running, laughing wildly the whole way.
~*~
Sam was hard at work in Bag End's garden, pulling the weeds from the vegetable patch. Standing up, he stretched and brushed the hair out of his eyes. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, and he had already taken off his shirt, it now lying neatly folded on a small garden stool. Looking up, he noticed Frodo sitting there, deeply engrossed in a book. Sam watched as a smile crossed Frodo's face and laughed, happy that his master was happy. Frodo looked up and waved before returning to his book. Sam sighed. If only he knew…
Just then, a very out of breath Pippin came running up the lane, stopping in front of Bag End. Merry was not far behind. Pippin grinned broadly. "I've won again! I daresay, Mer, I think you're getting old!" This earned him a playful push and he laughed. Sam laughed too, and the other hobbits looked up at the sound. "Well, hullo there Sam!" Merry called across the garden. "Hello yourself," Sam replied, and they grinned.
"Where's Frodo?" Pippin asked. "Inside reading again?" Sam nodded. "He's sitting on the windowsill. Come say hi."
The two cousins walked over, carefully stepping around Sam's neat rows of tomatoes. As they came closer, Sam knocked on the window. Frodo looked up, startled, but relaxed after seeing his three best friends' grinning faces. He pulled open the window.
"Hello," he said. "It's nice to see you two again. I was about to start making elevenses," he said brightly. "Come on in."
Pippin stared at the older hobbit. "You mean you're cooking?"
"Yup, sure am." Frodo grinned proudly. Merry and Pippin exchanged horrified glances as Sam shrugged helplessly. "I can't talk him out of it." Frodo looked indignant. "My cooking's not that bad..."
"Yes, it is," Merry said firmly. Pippin laughed. "I can cook while you catch up with your cousins," Sam offered. The two visitors shot him a look of pure gratitude as they led Frodo into Bag End's comfortable living room. As they sat down, Merry pointedly looked from Frodo to the kitchen, where Sam was working, and back to Frodo again. Frodo shook his head sadly and Pippin sighed. "It's really not fair. To either of you. You need to say something about this." I'm such a hypocrite, he thought bitterly.
Frodo shook his head fiercely. "No!" he said. "He'd hate me, and I couldn't bear that. I don't want to lose him." The three hobbits were silent, thinking on this awhile. Pippin sighed. He wished, just wished he could tell Merry how he felt. But he was so afraid. He would die if he lost him. No one knew how alone, how fragile Pippin was without Merry. Beneath the smiles and sunshine, Pippin needed him to the depths of his soul. He needed his Merry, who, although he didn't know it, was thinking these same thoughts about him at this very moment...
Merry looked at his younger cousin, deep in thought. He wanted to tell him everything, how much he cared, but he was still unsure. Unsure about what, Meriadoc? The two of you have discussed Frodo and Sam before. It's not as if he's uncomfortable with the idea...Take it to the next step. You'll never know until you try...Merry steeled himself as a fresh wave of emotion took over. I'll tell him...
"Pip?" he said, and melted as his cousin turned bright green eyes to him, full of emotion. "Yes?"
"Uh, nothing," Merry said as all of his resolve melted away.
Chicken.
Shut up.
~*~
Frodo grinned at this exchange, knowing exactly what Merry had planned to say. Both boys had confided in Frodo, then sworn him to secrecy promptly after. He knew how much the two cousins loved each other. He wished he knew Sam's feelings towards him, if there were any at all. A fool I am, thinking like this, he thought sadly. Sam's destined to be with Rosie Cotton...lucky lass. What I would give to be her...
Sam Gamgee entered the room to find three uncommonly quiet and brooding hobbits. He cleared his throat, not quite knowing what to say. Everyone jumped at the sound, and Sam blushed.
"I, uh, finished cooking, if anyone's still hungry." The three hobbits got up, happy for the distraction, and followed Sam from the room. As they settled down in their seats, Merry bumped into the table and the dishes clattered loudly. The sound was harsh in the silent room, and they all laughed nervously. As they began eating, Frodo wondered at his cousins' relationship once again. Are they truly too blind to see how much they cared for one another? Frodo grinned. He would have to fix that. After all, he thought bitterly, someone deserves to be happy...
~*~
A/N: Well, how was it? I worked really hard on it, and although it's only one chapter, it's the longest fic I've ever written. Kinda sad, but hey...
Also, I got a review alert shortly after the story was taken down saying that Hithlain also reviewed! Thanks alot! Reviews make the world go round! Keep em' coming!
Love and Kisses--- Aru-chan 3