Summary: Pippin has always been scared of thunderstorms.

Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR, nor do I have the patience to pretend otherwise.

A/N: Just a cute story about our favorite Hobbit. Pure fluff. Starts when Merry and Pippin are the Hobbit equivalent of 13 and 5 human years old and goes to about when the War of the Ring ends. Multi-chapter eventually.

"Merry? Are you awake?"

Meriadoc Brandybuck awoke to the sound of squeaking hinges and a tiny voice from the doorway.

"Pip, is that you?"

"It's scary in my room." Pippin stepped in, holding a stuffed bear close to his chest. "It's all loud outside."

"What?" Merry sat up and looked out the window. Sure enough, it was raining outside and lightning was flashing. "Pip, it's just a little-"

There was a loud bang as thunder filled the sky.

"...Rain."

A whimper issued from the younger Hobbit.

"Merry, I'm scared..." Pippin's left hand rose to his face and he stuck his thumb in his mouth. "Can me and Bubby sleep here?"

"C'mere." Merry sighed and motioned for his cousin to come close. "You can sleep here." He pulled the covers aside and lifted Pippin up onto the bed. "C'mon."

"Thanks." Pippin hugged his bear to his chest. "I won't be scared anymore."

"I know." The older Hobbit laid down and pulled the covers back up as his cousin scooted over and rested his small head on his shoulder. "Good night, Pip."

"Good night, Merry."

They were silent for a minute or two.

"Merry?"

"What, Pippin?"

"Why does lightning happen?"

"...It happens because the Big People and elves are lighting fireworks in the sky. Remember, like Gandalf does when he visits?"

"Uh-huh." There were quiet sucking sounds and Merry guessed that Pippin still had his thumb in his mouth.

"Well, that's why there's lightning and thunder. Fireworks."

"Oh." Pippin shifted under the covers and curled up in a ball. "Merry?"

"Yeah?"

"How do fireworks work?"

"I don't know, Pippin."

"Are they magic?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"What does that mean?"

"It means you need to go to sleep. It's bedtime." Merry yawned, put his arm around Pippin, and started petting his hair.

"But what if the bad things get me?"

"I won't let them get you, Pip." He gave the top of his cousin's head a gentle kiss. "I'm not going to let anything hurt you."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Good." Pippin took his thumb out of his mouth and snuggled up to the bigger Hobbit. "Good night, Merry."

"Sleep tight, Pip."