Hey, guys! My very first story on FanFiction! Please R&R! And I do hope you like it! Chapter 1 right now, trying to write Chapter 2 as fast as I can.

Chapter 1

The new-comer

"How old will he be?" I asked her, staring at her passed my own reflection.

"25… if I remember correctly." Mum replied, sewing the hole in my dress.

"Oh, Ma!" I exclaimed, "I should know! After all, he is my best friend!"

I froze instantly, as I heard the knocking at the door.

"That'll be Master Peregrin, Petal." Mum said, grinning.

I sped towards the door, opening it and seeing Peregrin Took standing there, beaming at me.

"Pippin!" I found myself lost for words. "I – you – wha – Happy Birthday!"

Pippin cocked his head to one side and beamed at me.

"Thank you, Pet. But – I can't believe it, Pet – you remembered this time!"

"Yes!" I lied, hoping Pippin, my bestest friend, wouldn't see my blush of guilt.

I allowed Pippin inside, and that was when I began to look at his clothing. He was dressed out of his usual, which were his dirty brown dungers and a rubbish excuse for a top. Well, he was wearing the cleanest, white t-shirt that I had ever seen anybody wear and blue bottoms.

"I know I look …. Odd." Pippin said, seeing my face. "But Ma-"

"Save your breath. Ma's do it all the time."

We entered my own bedroom, which I had forgotten to tidy – again.

Pippin hopped over my other ripped dress, and smiled at the drawing on the shelf. It was Pippin, Merry and I, when we were about 15, smoking a pipe in the meadow.

"That was ages ago." I said, sighing. "Who drew it again? Was it Mr. Bilbo?"

"No, it was his nephew."
"Who?"

"Do you not remember him? Thick, dark hair, light eyes, cheery grin."

"I can't remember him because he must have been before my accident." I sighed, gingerly stroking the dark, sickly green bruise on my head.

"Well," Pippin grinned, "at least you remember us."

"Thank God."

I let out a quick laugh before starting a new topic.

"You are having a birthday party, aren't you?"

"Yes, and you are at the top of my list."

"Merry's second?"

"Oh," Pippin mumbled, looking away from me, looking somewhat ashamed. "He's third actually."

"What?" I asked, almost astonished. I, or Merry were either second or top on his inviting-guests-list, birthday party list and others. "Whoever else could be second?"

"Someone." Pippin said quickly. "Nothing to worry about. You know him, or at least you did before he left. But he's coming back."

"Oh."

That's very unusual indeed. Pippin's a troublemaker, like Merry and I, and we're together. The Troublesome Three they called us. Merry is very close to Pippin. Who could steal his place as second?

"Petal!" Mum shouted from the hallway. "I've fixed this nasty little hole in your dress-"

"Don't you mean big hole?" I grinned, skidding out of my room and snatching the dress. Quickly, before Pippin can come, I tore off my old rags and put on my dress when I use outside.

"Does this mean we can go to my Hobbit-hole to meet Merry?"

Pippin stood by the front door. I smiled as I walked towards him and squeezed his hand.

"Yes. Let's go."

We escaped my Hobbit-Hole. I glimpsed at the close sun, which was shining over the Shire. The green door shone brightly as I closed it behind me. Pippin exhaled loudly before we left my garden, and set off, towards the town, to Peregrin Took's Hobbit-hole.

I took another breath of the fresh air in Hobbiton. It's all the same. The long grass blowing in the zephyr, children playing in the meadows, farmers laughing as they sew new seeds on picked crop.

I smiled as I knew how lucky I was to have a really good friend, well, two. I only have two friends.

"Pet! Pip!" a voice called behind us.

I spun around, seeing Meriadoc Brandybuck, walking towards us, his hands in his working trouser pockets and a pipe in his grinning mouth.

"Hey, Merry!" Pippin said cheerily.

Merry and Pippin were almost never separated. They've always been at each other's sides, well…. When it came to the times they were bullied in school or should I say when Pip was bullied in school, Merry was always there to help him, and threaten the bullies. Merry was the bravest Hobbit I knew. Apart from Mr. Bilbo up at Bag End.

I couldn't recall the other Hobbit who was sometimes with them. Brown hair, light eyes and a very jolly demeanour….

I didn't remember his name but who cared? I didn't think he ever played with me.

We entered Pippin's bright, lively Hobbit-hole, full with the Took's. Pip's Mum, Eglantine, winked at me when I passed her. I knew that Pearl, Pippin's eldest sister wasn't there because she was forty, over the age to be able to live by herself. Pervinca was still living with her family, and didn't seem too pleased about it. I passed her and she glared at me, as though it was my fault that she was doing the house-chores.

Peregrin is the youngest in his family, the only male, apart from his father, Paladin.

"Well," Merry said, surveying the house quickly. "We need to give this place a scour for your party, Pip."

I organised the decorations because apparently being the 'girl' of the Troublesome Three, I was responsible for these things. Pip was in charge of music. He didn't do much apart from run outside like a madman towards the pub to find a sturdy band for the party.

While Merry and I were alone I whispered, "Do you think Eglantine would mind if we trashed her house?"

"So, you can't remember Pip's twelfth birthday, eh? Eglantine went out for two minutes, and Pip and I were already in the kitchen, tipping over every table with edible items and you and Frodo were running amock-"

"Frodo?" I asked aloud. "Who's Frodo?"

"I – well -" Merry stammered, blushing terribly. He laughed quickly to cover his embarrassment before Pippin came back in, looking very pleased with himself. He looked suspiciously at Merry when he suddenly walked away from me when Pip entered, especially when Merry was blushing to the roots of his hair.

"Got the band sorted?" I asked.

"What's up with Merry?" Pippin asked quietly, hoping Merry wouldn't drop some eaves.

"Nothing. He just said something about someone and I asked him who that person was-"

"Who did he say about?" Pippin spoke sharply, seeing Merry across the room and glaring at him.

I looked questionly about him. "Someone called…." I stopped speaking because I realised I couldn't remember their name.

"It was nobody, Pip." Merry said heatedly, not facing us. "It's just a figment of her imagination. She does suffer from brain damage, y'know."

"Brain damage, not ear damage." I spat at Merry. "I can still hear your insults. It wasn't my fault that that accident happened."

And with that final retort, I faced my back towards Merry and stalked towards the other side of the room.

I didn't know what to think. I was feeling fuming at Merry, for saying those awful words. Goodness knows what he spoke to Pippin when I was not there with them.

"Pet," Pippin said quietly. He gently placed his hands on my shoulders, facing me towards him as he knelt down on one knee with a small smile on his face. He brushed the tears that I just noticed were creeping down my face, off me. "There's no need to be upset."

"I'm not upset," I said, "I'm angry. I'm angry at that – that Hobbit – who I call my friend!"

"That Hobbit," a noise came angrily from the other side of the room, "has got hearing and can hear every little breath you breathe and word you utter."

"Shut up, Merry." I glared at him, looking over Pippin's honey-coloured hair. Pippin smirked, trying to fight off a laugh, but stopped suddenly and startled when he saw me slump onto the ground and burst into tears.

"Stop it!" he said, alarm and fear taking over him. He had never seen me cry before. "Don't cry!"

"I'm not crying!" I wept, brushing away the tears on my cheeks but they were merely being replaced. I suddenly pulled out my fist and hit my own face. I laughed with anger, unhappiness, pain and a hint of real joy when I saw Peregrin's really confused and scared face. I got onto my feet as I pulled Pippin up onto his too and I hugged him fiercely.

"What's with the sudden affection?"

I withdrew from him and then kissed his forehead. He froze – actually, he froze – as I smiled and raced over to Merry, looking as though he would rather be somewhere else.

After hugging him and kissing his forehead too, I narrowed my eyes suddenly but a smile crept on my lips.

"Uh… Pet?" Merry asked, his anger dematerializing. "Are you sure are you alright?"

"No!" I shouted, not with anger but with happiness. "I've never been alright! Because of that damn accident! I can't even remember what happened! I want to remember everything that has happened to me!"

I shook my head violently before I finished the decorating. Merry finished off the food and Pippin admired my banner with the crimson words of 'Happy Birthday, Peregrin Took!'

Dusting off my hands, I stood back and smiled at my work. Merry gazed at Pippin and Pippin smiled at me.

"Finished." I announced, "Finally. Three long hours. What is the time now? Oh my goodness! We've missed second breakfast!"

"Let's have it now then." Merry said, "After all, we deserve it."

I turned towards my friends and stopped smiling when I saw Merry's horror-expression face.

"Pippin!" Merry said, in a low and slow voice. "We forgot!"

Pippin gasped and groaned but took off his indoor jacket before opening the door and gesturing me outside.

"So," I panted, trying desperately to keep up with my best friend, who was struggling to keep up with Merry. "Why are we going to the Green Dragon?"

They didn't answer, of course, Merry didn't hear me and Pippin was out of breath.

"Wait!" I shouted helplessly.

The Green Dragon is a cosy pub, the only pub in Hobbiton that I've ever been to. Only Hobbits enter it because of the low ceilings and small chairs. Half-pints are the only sizes of beer available.

Is it a little too late to introduce myself? My memory hasn't still fully returned, even after years and years. I'm Petal. Or Pet, whatever you prefer. I don't really have a second name. That is if my family could remember it.

I did have the best memory in family, before the accident…

But I'm Pet. People call me Pet Took. Friends say that because Pip and I are so alike: we're often mistaken as each other. Pip's like a brother to me. Other folk, normally the not-so-keen-on-us-ones call me Petal Took because I love Pippin.

Let me tell you that I had not given my heart to anyone. I did one day, but not then. But I was still in my Tweens.

I have curly and thick (most Hobbits do) honey-coloured hair. I have quite dark eyes and big ears. The problem is – so does Pippin.

Nobody could ever tell the difference between us before when I turned twenty. We wore similar clothes and we did things together. Twenty was the time the bruise came.

The bruise came when the accident happened.

You're probably thinking "What the hell was the accident because she keeps talking about it?"

I'm telling you the truth of this. I remember walking with Merry: Pip was somehow not there, I can't remember why. We were walking through a forest, on the outskirts of Hobbiton. The next thing I remembered was Merry telling me to move, his scream, a low groaning sound and a pain.

Next thing, I was in my bed, with a small figure sitting by my bed, bent and shaking, sobbing and saying he wouldn't leave me again.

4 years later, they tell Pippin and me that it wasn't his fault. The tree would have still fallen even if Pip was there.

We drew up to the Green Dragon. Entering the thick, smoky atmosphere, we sighed like the good old days.

I looked over to Pippin with a gracious smile. He's ever so thoughtful of his friends and family, and he's the best thing that ever happened to me.

Pippin and Merry spoke in hushed voices over the loud crowd, craning their necks around. Were they looking for something?

"Will he help her?" I heard Merry say.

"I don't know, Merry." Pippin answered.

I may have brain damage, but I'm not all stupid. I thought.

"Who are we looking for who's going to help me?" I asked loudly.

The boys exchanged nervous glances.

"We," Merry said, "want you to meet someone who was with you before the accident."

I sighed and fought off the thought of this stupid bloke trying to help me feel better, only nobody could. Nobody could make me feel better.

I looked at Pippin and saw the dark abyss in his eyes sparkle, as he apparently saw something in the corner. He shook Merry's arm and said, "Merry! He's here!"

Before I could turn around, Pippin ushered Merry towards the crowd and as he melted into it, Pippin and I were outside.

"Pippin," I said quietly. I listened to children's laughter in the meadow. "Why won't anybody tell me what's going on?"

Pippin turned towards me, smiling.

"Because you'll remember, Pet."

We decided to take the shortcut home, because that way was exciting, risky but exciting. It was a climb over a rather large Hobbit-Hole with a dark green door. I hopped onto their garden bench before scaling up the grassy mound and lying on the grass uphill.

Sighing, I stared into the sky. I saw Pippin looking at me, pretending to roll his eyes and be annoyed. I sat up into a sitting position and nudged him. He nudged me back. In the end, we were laughing, trying to push each other down the hill.

Trying a new tactic, I grabbed his collar, shaking him and pushing him. Pippin, through his dizziness, caught my foot and we tumbled down the other side of the hill.

I shrieked with laughter at the bottom, because there was a giant pond, and guess who was foolish enough to enter it while the other stood by the other side and laughed.

"Come, Pippin!" I laughed, seeing him from a distance. "You can come out now."

I saw him submerge under the water and bubbles float to the surface.

My eyes grew big as nothing emerged to the water surface.

"Pippin!" I shouted, wading into the water. Suddenly, a hand, like a vice, caught my foot and pulled me under. Screaming, I pulled on the hand and Pippin re-surfaced, laughing.

"That was not funny!" I said sternly.

"It was a joke, Pet."

"A joke you are never going to do again."

Wet by the ankles, I trudged inside my house. Soaking from top to bottom, Pippin followed and sneezed.

"Oh, no!" I said, leading him into the kitchen and putting the kettle on. "You have a cold. I shouldn't have gone the shortcut way! Sorry, Pippin. I'll just-"

"It's not your fault just to have a bit of fun."

"I'm irresponsible," I said quietly, sitting Pippin down at the couch and pouring the kettle water into the mug. Pippin thanked me as I gave him a cuppa. "I'll never be a proper Hobbit. I'll never be responsible in the coming-age…"

"Don't dare say that," Pippin said kindly, as I sat down beside him. "You'll jinx it!"

"I hope something big happens so I can prove myself useful."

"Why, you're doing it right now! You've given me a nice warm cup and keeping me company!"

As far as I knew, Mum wasn't in. Pippin placed his warm cup after taking a sip onto the kitchen table and I fished out a small, soft blanket and rubbed it over his head.

Leaving the towel over his face, I walked over towards the window. Two small specks were rushing over from the distance. Pippin crossed over and smiled.

"Pet!" he spoke quickly. "Bedroom! Now!"

Confused, I reluctantly stood inside my room and sat on my bed. Over the room, on the shelf, was the drawing. I tried to remember…

"Stand over there, you three…." A jolly voice called. "I'll draw you….. Leave your pipes in, there're good fellows!"

It pained to hear that voice in my head. But I couldn't picture him. It definitely wasn't Merry. It wasn't Pippin.

Where was he? Who was he?

I started dropping out of my thoughts when I heard talking and laughing in the hallway.

"It's good to see you!" voices came.

I stood up, and left my room, entering the hall, to see what was so good to see.

Three small figures, acting like children, were standing in the look of the sun.

I recognised Pippin, bouncing like a rabbit, fine.

Merry, happier than I normally see him, fine.

Who was this other stranger?
Obviously the one they saw at the pub.

They stopped bouncing up and down and embracing each other as I came into view.

"Pet!" Pippin laughed, outstretching an arm. "Come with!"

I advanced towards them and I saw another Hobbit, with dark, curly, thick hair and a pale face as he spread a huge grin over his face.

"Do you remember me?" he asked softly. I definitely remembered his voice from somewhere. I looked into his face, boring into his light, sky eyes. They were peaceful, like there could be absolutely no harm in his life. In a way, it annoyed me.

"No." I said suddenly.

"Try harder." The Hobbit said firmly and pressingly. I took a deep, troubled breath as I closed my eyes and tried.

"Stand over there, you three…." His kind voice called. We grinned again and found a nice place in the meadow, lying by the cut grass, pipes sticking out of our gobs, smoke around us. The boy laughed as he drew us and kept on telling us to keep still or there would be no more stories from Bilbo…

"Pet," he called, rushing over to my seat. It wasn't the same place. We were at the square, at Pippin's 15th Birthday Party. "Come and dance with me."

He gave me his arm and we danced with the others, laughing and smiling…

Next memory, Pippin was bent over me, crying and sobbing. There was pain in my head and I could just see the dark-haired Hobbit on the other side of me, very pale, with a bag. He left….and he didn't come back…

I angrily brushed the tears off my face.

"No." I said, firmly, pushing away those happy memories. "I don't know you!"

I finally forced a smile to his disappointed before I walked back to my room.

"He's gone, Pet." Mum said, as I rushed to the garden. I saw him shrink into the distance.

"No! No!" I called. I opened the gate and tried to follow him, but my head was in too much pain to keep up. Blinding pain hit my chest as Merry struggled to hold me back. Tears blinded my eyes as I opened my eyes that were big. "The stupid accident will make me forget him! Bring him back!"

The dark mop of hair finally disappeared. He thought it was his fault that he couldn't save me. He left, so I wouldn't remember him.

Back to the memory about when I was in bed and the Hobbit was over me.

"Pet," he croaked. "Pet… I'm so, so sorry. I was there with you…. I could have saved you. A pair of dark dungers, a blue dirty undershirt was lying by my bed, on the ground, stained with blood. My hair was platted when the accident happened and a torn, bloodied hat was tossed into Pippin's lap…

I raced to my drawer, trying desperately not to cry. I pulled out every item of material. Finally, my hands sought a pair of dungarees and a blue undershirt, weary and partly in scraps.

Still holding onto the clothing that I found, I ran into the hallway. I tried to look for Pippin, Merry and the other one.

No one was in the hallway.

I ran outside, into the day, panting quickly and looking desperately for him. My eyes planted on the stranger, walking again into the distance, like last time. He was going to leave me, make me forget again, leave me into despair.

Not that time.

"Wait! Come back-" I called. His name. What was his name?

"Odo!" I shrieked, running towards him. The Hobbit turned around, smiled as I reached him.

"Pet."

"Odo."

"Nice try," 'Odo' said. Or should I say 'Frodo'.

Thanks for reading!