Merry and Pippin were best of friends, cousins, and quite in love with each other.
Now neither of them knew about the others feelings, how could they?
No one ever questioned their relationship; no one pushed them one way or another, other than themselves.
It happened three years after the Ring had been destroyed, Merry decided to move on from his precious Pip, give him his space, his time to make decisions.
That was his first mistake, that almost cost him the love his life.
This is the first reason that almost kept Merry and Pippin apart.
"Do you ever feel so terribly lonely Frodo, like the one you love is just inches from your reach but no matter how hard you try, you cannot get them?" Pippin says as he smokes his pipe with one of his favorite friends, Frodo Baggins, one of the only people he could truly call a friend these days. Frodo himself let out rings of smoke, just like Gandalf taught the small Hobbits.
Frodo frowns and nods. "I know that feeling all to well Pip, I wish we could all just end up like Legolas and Aragorn, happy and healthy, and so terribly in love. I guess we are not as lucky as the two of them." Aragorn and Legolas had found each other shortly after Lady Arwen's death, the two were happy together, Aragorn had been granted immortality by the Elven gods in Valinor, and that was that. They were constantly dropping by the Shire, it felt a bit like they were shoving their love in everyone's faces. Of course we are all happy for them, but Frodo and I are well, both rather lonely.
"Have you ever thought about giving up on Sam, Frodo? Letting him be happy… Setting your self-free from guilt, pain, and heartbreak? Moving on?" Pippin whispers as he allows a tear to fall down his cheek.
Frodo stares at the stars, searching for an answer he cannot find. "I have, but then I wonder who will I move on to? Who would want me for me, not my money, my fame?" Frodo sighs and looks Pippin in the eyes, blue on brown.
"Surely there is someone for you Mr. Frodo, just as I hope there is one for me… no matter how much I sincerely doubt it" Now Pippin knew that Sam, Merry, Rosie, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn were all inside Bags End. He however, did not anticipate that one of the Hobbits was watching as Frodo pressed his lips to Pippins. He didn't notice that the same Hobbit was watching as he kissed Frodo back, watching with a broken heart. This was he first time Merry figured out just how much he messed up, and how much he wished he could do things differently.
He watched as the two hobbits outside made no apparent signs that they were going to be finished with each other anytime soon.
Merry felt the tears welling in his eyes and spilling onto his cheeks. How he longed to be in place of Frodo, to be able to kiss Pippin, to be able to taste him.
To be closer to Pippin the ne way they had never been.
To be much like Legolas and Aragorn.
"Pippin…. I think I have moved on from Sam" Frodo eventually whispers to Pippin.
"And I from Merry" Merry felt his heart crack into two, if he had made his feeling known, Frodo and himself might be switched right now.
"Aragorn… how did you know Legolas was the one?" Pippin whispers, knowing Frodo could wake at any moment, and after the night they had last night, he doesn't want Frodo to think he doesn't care for him. He does, but he has always reserved a place for Merry in his heart.
Aragorn smiles softly and looks over at the elf that is currently chatting to Gimli, discussing who would win in a fight. The look of pure love in Aragorn's eye as he looks at Legolas is something Pippin himself wans one day. "I just knew, he was my best friend, he was always there, through the best and worst of times. He never left, after Arwen died, I found myself noticing the small things about Legolas, and I told him about the feeling I had, I just got lucky he returned them. May I ask why young master Pippin?"
Pippin finds himself looking at the slightly sad looking Merry, who is discussing the importance of second breakfast with Sam and Rosie.
A conversation I would usually join in on, but not today.
"I'm rather conflicted. I love one, but am with another. I have no clue what to do anymore."
"Follow your heart Pippin. I did the same, and look how happy I am now. Love is strong, tell Merry how you feel." Pippins brown eyes fly open with wonder, how does Aragorn simply know everything?
Pippin closes his eyes for a second and puts his head in his hands.
"But I am with Frodo now… I cannot just leave him, that would be cruel."
Aragorn nods thoughtfully before frowning at the hobbit in front of him.
"Then I suppose you have a choice to make Pippin, I do know you and Frodo are together, as does Merry. It was rather hard not to hear you two last night. Choose wisely Pippin or you could very easily lose them both, but no pressure young one," Aragorn says with a wink before standing and going to sit in the elf's lap, leaving Pippin horribly blushing, and confused.
He couldn't lose his two best friends…
Maybe, Pippin decides, I best leave everything alone.
Things will happen if they are meant to, and that is all there is to it.
"Hello Merry, would you be up for going on a walk with me?" Legolas questions his small hobbit friend.
The hobbit nods sadly as he sees Frodo and Pippin cuddling on the couch, sharing sweet moments together.
A bit into their walk they stop at a public bench and watch some of the small hobbit children play.
"You know you do not have forever to make Pippin your own?" The elf says with a knowing look in his pale blue eyes, "If I had waited, I would not be with Aragorn right now, I would be wallowing in self pity much like you right now. You must tell him Merry, it kills Aragorn and I to watch you fall and not allow yourself to be caught."
Merry looks at he elf, of course it was easy to win the man of your dreams when you're an elf, you are the most beautiful creatures of middle earth, the most accepting, the most perfect. It is hard not to win the one you want. On the other hand, I have fallen in love with my bestfriend who will never be attracted to me… I'm a no one, Frodo is someone, someone everyone desires in the Shire. Why wouldn't Pippin want Frodo? "Why would Pippin want me ever? Telling him would be a huge mistake." Merry whispers, on the verge of tears, Legolas gives his friend a sympathetic look.
"You never know until you do…"