Disclaimer: ::cries:: I don't own any of them! Wait! I own the healer,
but you can take her if you want. I care not.
A/N: I'm not sure how close Tuckborough and Buckland are, but in this story, they are close enough for a half-day's journey.
I have a beta. She's just busy as a bee betaing my other story, (30 chapters) so she hasn't looked at this yet. I looked it over and it seems ok. It'll go to her and we'll see what she thinks, so this could get reposted. If you'd care to help her out as I have ANOTHER story in the works, let me know!
The comment that inspired this story:
pippinmerry: Well, you have done a beautiful job writing about Pippin and I wanted to know if you plan on writing about anyone else? Merry perhaps? You seem to have a strong grasp on the characters themselves and I think you would do a wonderful job.-Belladonna Took
She wrote this after reading my "Pippin Story" as it was affectionately known, so thank her for this! The Pippin Story will be up as soon as my betas are done with it.
LOTR Fan Club Message Board Comments (my screen name there is "pippinmerry"):
Awwwwww! That is just the cutest, Pip! What a great beginning!-Evermind (I thank you!)
AWWW Pip that was great! Poor little Frodo. I know the feeling though. Thanks! ((Pip))-Belladonna Took (You're welcome and thank YOU for the idea!)
Awww! You can't help but love Merry, (especially when he's asleep, lol!) Can you? :-)-Avondster (LOL, no, you gotta love Merry. And what baby ISN'T loved when it's asleep?)
Chapter One-Love At Second Sight
"Uncle," Frodo Baggins said as he sat next to Saradoc Brandybuck in the living room. Saradoc wasn't actually his uncle. They were, in fact, cousins, but Saradoc had been Frodo's guardian for more than a year and it made the lad more comfortable to call him 'Uncle'. The thirteen-year-old looked up at him. "Will Aunt Essy be alright?"
Saradoc smiled at the boy. "She'll be fine, lad. Hobbit lasses have been having babies for years. This one is no different."
Frodo sighed and leaned his head on Saradoc's shoulder. "It's cold in here, Uncle. Can we make the fire bigger?"
Saradoc chuckled. "It is February. Go right ahead, lad." He watched as Frodo added a few logs to the fire.
The healer, Hilga Grubb, appeared in the doorway. "Saradoc?"
He got up and went over to her. "How is Essy? Is she alright?"
"She's fine, sir. And so is your lad."
"It's a boy?" Frodo asked as he ran to Saradoc's side.
"Yes, he is. A strong boy at that." Hilga turned to Saradoc. "You can go in and see her."
"Would you like to come as well, Frodo?"
"Oh, no, thank you, Uncle. I'll see him later," he said, a slight sadness in his voice.
Saradoc looked down at Frodo. "If you're sure, lad." He went with Hilga leaving Frodo alone in his thoughts.
He sat in a chair near the fire. He was happy Saradoc finally had a son. He'd known of their desire for a child prior to his arrival. He knew they loved him dearly, but he couldn't help feeling as though he would be pushed to the side. After all, he wasn't their real son. Frodo sighed, curled up in the chair and fell asleep.
Saradoc left his wife's side a short while later to get his younger cousin. He had noticed a slight sadness pass over the lad at the news and he worried for him. He stopped when he saw the boy sound asleep in a chair. "Frodo," he whispered. He brushed back the dark curls. "Frodo- lad, wake up."
Frodo stirred. "Uncle?"
"Wake up, lad. I want you to met your cousin."
Frodo rubbed his eyes. "Alright." He didn't really want to meant him, but his curiosity got the better of him. "What did you name him?"
"We decided on Meriadoc," said Saradoc, beaming.
Frodo got up and followed him into the bedroom. Esmeralda lay in the bed, a small bundle in her arms.
"Frodo-lad. Come here and meet your cousin."
Frodo walked over and kissed Essy on the cheek. "Hello, Aunt Essy." He looked down at the little hobbit baby. He wasn't entirely impressed.
"Isn't he beautiful, Frodo?" She looked up at him.
Frodo noted her obvious exhaustion, but he also the deep joy at finally having a child of her own. He thought the baby was rather ugly, but he couldn't tell Essy that. "Yes, Aunt Essy. I'm very happy for you."
She reached up and caressed his cheek. "You're a good lad. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful example for my little Merry here." She gazed lovely at her son.
Frodo just smiled before swiftly leaving the room. The sound of a door banging closed echoed through the hallway.
Essy and Saradoc exchanged a look. "Saradoc, I think something's wrong with our Frodo-lad," she said as the baby stirred in her arms.
Saradoc nodded and followed the lad's footsteps. He came to Frodo's room. He could hear a sniffling noise and what sounded like sobs. "Frodo," he said as he entered the room. The boy lay flat on his bed, head buried in his pillow. Saradoc sat beside him and ran his hand over his curls. "Frodo-lad, what's troubling you?"
Frodo sniffled before picking his head up and looking at his cousin. "I don't want to be left behind again."
Saradoc frowned. "Left behind? Wherever did you get such an idea?"
Frodo looked away from his cousin. "My parents left me behind."
Saradoc sighed and hugged the lad tightly. "They didn't leave you behind, Frodo-lad. Just as Essy and I won't leave you either." He pushed the boy away so he could look into his eyes. "Why would think we'd leave you behind?"
"You have your lad now. You don't need me anymore."
Saradoc pulled the boy into his lap. "Yes, we have our lad now, but I think you'd find it hard to get away from us, Frodo." He kissed the boy's dark curls. "If you ever think we're ignoring you, I want you to tell us, alright, lad?"
Frodo nodded and clung tightly to his cousin. "Can I still call you 'Uncle'?"
"Do you want to?"
"Yes. It suits you."
Saradoc laughed. "Then so it shall be. Uncle Saradoc to you, my lad."
"I'm sorry for being such a bother today."
"'Tis no bother, lad." He kissed the boy's head again. "Now, it's growing late. Why don't you get some sleep?" He laid the boy back into the bed and tucked him. "I need you around, Frodo-lad. My son will need someone to watch over him." He kissed Frodo's brow and left the room.
Frodo barely slept that night. The cries of baby Merry echoed through Brandy Hall, keeping the young hobbit awake. He arrived at breakfast the next morning, half awake, his hair up in all directions.
"Oh, my..." said Saradoc. "Frodo, you couldn't sleep last night?"
The boy shook his head. "No, Uncle. I kept hearing the baby cry."
Saradoc smiled. "Yes, he kept half of Brandy Hall up last night, the little scamp. I'm sorry, Frodo."
Frodo nodded and sat down to breakfast. He ate his meal slowly, too tired to notice it got cold.
His sleepless nights continued for a week before he got used to the cries and slept right through them.
When little Merry was a month old, Frodo and Saradoc made plans to travel to Tuckborough. It was Pimpernel Took's third birthday and, as her aunt and uncle, Saradoc and Essy were invited. Saradoc, however, didn't want his wife to make the journey so soon after having the baby.
"Essy, Merry is only a month old. That's far too young to be taking on a journey from Buckland to Tuckborough!"
"We traveled there before I had him to Pearl's birthday, we can travel there now."
Saradoc sighed at his wife's logic. "Maybe none of us will go now."
Frodo, who hadn't been listening to the conversation too closely, perked up at those words. He leapt up from his spot by the fire and ran to Saradoc. "Please, Uncle. I want to go."
Saradoc sighed. It was two to one. "Alright. We'll go."
The next day, they traveled down the road to Tuckborough. Frodo sat silently in the back, not paying attention to Saradoc and Essy's conversation as most of it focused on Merry, a topic Frodo was loathed to discuss. He laid down and shut his eyes, calmed by the sounds of the Shire.
"Frodo. Frodo-lad, are you sleeping?" Essy asked a short while later.
"Oh, no Aunt Essy. I'm sorry." Frodo sat up.
Essy smiled. "Would like to hold Merry the rest of the way?"
Frodo scowled inside. He didn't really want anything to do with the lad. He wasn't even sure he liked him, but he hadn't shown any sigh of that yet. He smiled. "Alright, Aunt Essy."
He was handed the sleeping babe. He looked down at the lad. Merry didn't nearly as ugly as he had that first night and he couldn't help, but smile at the content look on the baby's face "Hello, Merry," he whispered. "You know, I think I do like you, when you're sleeping."
Merry opened his eyes and looked around, his eyes not fixing on anything until they landed on Frodo. He held his gaze at the older hobbit before cooing softly. He began to wave a fist in the air.
Frodo looked down at the baby and let out a slight laugh. He held out a finger to lightly brush the lad's cheek, but the little fist got to it first. It gripped the finger tightly. Frodo smiled. Merry's skin was very soft and he found it hard not to gently rub the small hand around his finger.
Essy looked back at the boys and smiled. "Looks like our boys are bonding, Saradoc," she whispered.
"Our boys?" he asked turning his head slightly to Essy.
"Yes. I do think of Frodo as ours."
Saradoc smiled. "He is ours, Essy."
"The poor lad's been through so much. I hope we can provide what he needs."
"As do I. Ah. There's Paladin, waiting for us."
Frodo stood carefully after the wagon came to a stop. He handed Merry back to Essy before hopping out of the back. "Hello, Paladin!"
"Frodo! Look at you." Paladin hugged the lad close. "Got a new young friend I see."
Frodo thought for a moment. "Yes. Yes, I do. Merry and I are great friends."
A/N: I'm not sure how close Tuckborough and Buckland are, but in this story, they are close enough for a half-day's journey.
I have a beta. She's just busy as a bee betaing my other story, (30 chapters) so she hasn't looked at this yet. I looked it over and it seems ok. It'll go to her and we'll see what she thinks, so this could get reposted. If you'd care to help her out as I have ANOTHER story in the works, let me know!
The comment that inspired this story:
pippinmerry: Well, you have done a beautiful job writing about Pippin and I wanted to know if you plan on writing about anyone else? Merry perhaps? You seem to have a strong grasp on the characters themselves and I think you would do a wonderful job.-Belladonna Took
She wrote this after reading my "Pippin Story" as it was affectionately known, so thank her for this! The Pippin Story will be up as soon as my betas are done with it.
LOTR Fan Club Message Board Comments (my screen name there is "pippinmerry"):
Awwwwww! That is just the cutest, Pip! What a great beginning!-Evermind (I thank you!)
AWWW Pip that was great! Poor little Frodo. I know the feeling though. Thanks! ((Pip))-Belladonna Took (You're welcome and thank YOU for the idea!)
Awww! You can't help but love Merry, (especially when he's asleep, lol!) Can you? :-)-Avondster (LOL, no, you gotta love Merry. And what baby ISN'T loved when it's asleep?)
Chapter One-Love At Second Sight
"Uncle," Frodo Baggins said as he sat next to Saradoc Brandybuck in the living room. Saradoc wasn't actually his uncle. They were, in fact, cousins, but Saradoc had been Frodo's guardian for more than a year and it made the lad more comfortable to call him 'Uncle'. The thirteen-year-old looked up at him. "Will Aunt Essy be alright?"
Saradoc smiled at the boy. "She'll be fine, lad. Hobbit lasses have been having babies for years. This one is no different."
Frodo sighed and leaned his head on Saradoc's shoulder. "It's cold in here, Uncle. Can we make the fire bigger?"
Saradoc chuckled. "It is February. Go right ahead, lad." He watched as Frodo added a few logs to the fire.
The healer, Hilga Grubb, appeared in the doorway. "Saradoc?"
He got up and went over to her. "How is Essy? Is she alright?"
"She's fine, sir. And so is your lad."
"It's a boy?" Frodo asked as he ran to Saradoc's side.
"Yes, he is. A strong boy at that." Hilga turned to Saradoc. "You can go in and see her."
"Would you like to come as well, Frodo?"
"Oh, no, thank you, Uncle. I'll see him later," he said, a slight sadness in his voice.
Saradoc looked down at Frodo. "If you're sure, lad." He went with Hilga leaving Frodo alone in his thoughts.
He sat in a chair near the fire. He was happy Saradoc finally had a son. He'd known of their desire for a child prior to his arrival. He knew they loved him dearly, but he couldn't help feeling as though he would be pushed to the side. After all, he wasn't their real son. Frodo sighed, curled up in the chair and fell asleep.
Saradoc left his wife's side a short while later to get his younger cousin. He had noticed a slight sadness pass over the lad at the news and he worried for him. He stopped when he saw the boy sound asleep in a chair. "Frodo," he whispered. He brushed back the dark curls. "Frodo- lad, wake up."
Frodo stirred. "Uncle?"
"Wake up, lad. I want you to met your cousin."
Frodo rubbed his eyes. "Alright." He didn't really want to meant him, but his curiosity got the better of him. "What did you name him?"
"We decided on Meriadoc," said Saradoc, beaming.
Frodo got up and followed him into the bedroom. Esmeralda lay in the bed, a small bundle in her arms.
"Frodo-lad. Come here and meet your cousin."
Frodo walked over and kissed Essy on the cheek. "Hello, Aunt Essy." He looked down at the little hobbit baby. He wasn't entirely impressed.
"Isn't he beautiful, Frodo?" She looked up at him.
Frodo noted her obvious exhaustion, but he also the deep joy at finally having a child of her own. He thought the baby was rather ugly, but he couldn't tell Essy that. "Yes, Aunt Essy. I'm very happy for you."
She reached up and caressed his cheek. "You're a good lad. I'm sure you'll be a wonderful example for my little Merry here." She gazed lovely at her son.
Frodo just smiled before swiftly leaving the room. The sound of a door banging closed echoed through the hallway.
Essy and Saradoc exchanged a look. "Saradoc, I think something's wrong with our Frodo-lad," she said as the baby stirred in her arms.
Saradoc nodded and followed the lad's footsteps. He came to Frodo's room. He could hear a sniffling noise and what sounded like sobs. "Frodo," he said as he entered the room. The boy lay flat on his bed, head buried in his pillow. Saradoc sat beside him and ran his hand over his curls. "Frodo-lad, what's troubling you?"
Frodo sniffled before picking his head up and looking at his cousin. "I don't want to be left behind again."
Saradoc frowned. "Left behind? Wherever did you get such an idea?"
Frodo looked away from his cousin. "My parents left me behind."
Saradoc sighed and hugged the lad tightly. "They didn't leave you behind, Frodo-lad. Just as Essy and I won't leave you either." He pushed the boy away so he could look into his eyes. "Why would think we'd leave you behind?"
"You have your lad now. You don't need me anymore."
Saradoc pulled the boy into his lap. "Yes, we have our lad now, but I think you'd find it hard to get away from us, Frodo." He kissed the boy's dark curls. "If you ever think we're ignoring you, I want you to tell us, alright, lad?"
Frodo nodded and clung tightly to his cousin. "Can I still call you 'Uncle'?"
"Do you want to?"
"Yes. It suits you."
Saradoc laughed. "Then so it shall be. Uncle Saradoc to you, my lad."
"I'm sorry for being such a bother today."
"'Tis no bother, lad." He kissed the boy's head again. "Now, it's growing late. Why don't you get some sleep?" He laid the boy back into the bed and tucked him. "I need you around, Frodo-lad. My son will need someone to watch over him." He kissed Frodo's brow and left the room.
Frodo barely slept that night. The cries of baby Merry echoed through Brandy Hall, keeping the young hobbit awake. He arrived at breakfast the next morning, half awake, his hair up in all directions.
"Oh, my..." said Saradoc. "Frodo, you couldn't sleep last night?"
The boy shook his head. "No, Uncle. I kept hearing the baby cry."
Saradoc smiled. "Yes, he kept half of Brandy Hall up last night, the little scamp. I'm sorry, Frodo."
Frodo nodded and sat down to breakfast. He ate his meal slowly, too tired to notice it got cold.
His sleepless nights continued for a week before he got used to the cries and slept right through them.
When little Merry was a month old, Frodo and Saradoc made plans to travel to Tuckborough. It was Pimpernel Took's third birthday and, as her aunt and uncle, Saradoc and Essy were invited. Saradoc, however, didn't want his wife to make the journey so soon after having the baby.
"Essy, Merry is only a month old. That's far too young to be taking on a journey from Buckland to Tuckborough!"
"We traveled there before I had him to Pearl's birthday, we can travel there now."
Saradoc sighed at his wife's logic. "Maybe none of us will go now."
Frodo, who hadn't been listening to the conversation too closely, perked up at those words. He leapt up from his spot by the fire and ran to Saradoc. "Please, Uncle. I want to go."
Saradoc sighed. It was two to one. "Alright. We'll go."
The next day, they traveled down the road to Tuckborough. Frodo sat silently in the back, not paying attention to Saradoc and Essy's conversation as most of it focused on Merry, a topic Frodo was loathed to discuss. He laid down and shut his eyes, calmed by the sounds of the Shire.
"Frodo. Frodo-lad, are you sleeping?" Essy asked a short while later.
"Oh, no Aunt Essy. I'm sorry." Frodo sat up.
Essy smiled. "Would like to hold Merry the rest of the way?"
Frodo scowled inside. He didn't really want anything to do with the lad. He wasn't even sure he liked him, but he hadn't shown any sigh of that yet. He smiled. "Alright, Aunt Essy."
He was handed the sleeping babe. He looked down at the lad. Merry didn't nearly as ugly as he had that first night and he couldn't help, but smile at the content look on the baby's face "Hello, Merry," he whispered. "You know, I think I do like you, when you're sleeping."
Merry opened his eyes and looked around, his eyes not fixing on anything until they landed on Frodo. He held his gaze at the older hobbit before cooing softly. He began to wave a fist in the air.
Frodo looked down at the baby and let out a slight laugh. He held out a finger to lightly brush the lad's cheek, but the little fist got to it first. It gripped the finger tightly. Frodo smiled. Merry's skin was very soft and he found it hard not to gently rub the small hand around his finger.
Essy looked back at the boys and smiled. "Looks like our boys are bonding, Saradoc," she whispered.
"Our boys?" he asked turning his head slightly to Essy.
"Yes. I do think of Frodo as ours."
Saradoc smiled. "He is ours, Essy."
"The poor lad's been through so much. I hope we can provide what he needs."
"As do I. Ah. There's Paladin, waiting for us."
Frodo stood carefully after the wagon came to a stop. He handed Merry back to Essy before hopping out of the back. "Hello, Paladin!"
"Frodo! Look at you." Paladin hugged the lad close. "Got a new young friend I see."
Frodo thought for a moment. "Yes. Yes, I do. Merry and I are great friends."