Summers that have been.

I can't quite remember the day Pippin grew up. See he was always such a "clingy" Hobbit. He'd never leave my side whenever I went to stay. But sometime between his fifteen Birthday and his seventeenth, he changed. He didn't want to see me as much-didn't care for the fact I was ill in bed as much as he would've done. He didn't strive to see me. He didn't particularly feel inclined to see me but more upsettingly, he wondered if seeing me and spending time with me was compulsory.

"He was always such a sweet boy. It's a shame he's gone and changed." My mother said to a dozen other Hobbit-mothers.

It was market day. A wonderful time to exchange gossip and embarrasses your only offspring. My mother smiled at me and then continued discussing Pippin like he was this evil no-good Hobbit who stole treasures and beat other Hobbits up. No matter how distant he seemed from me now, I knew he most certainly was-and never would be-that sort of Hobbit. I spent endless nights wishing he were back. Wishing for the Pippin that constantly craved my attention-even in the dead of night. I wished so much for his little squeak-like cry of protest when I would bat him away and tell him to get some sleep. I even wished for his little pout and tears when he'd fallen and hurt himself. All these emotions he had-and only me that could make it right again. Now he hardly gave me so much as a smile, let alone speak to me. It troubled me to think what he could've gotten himself into. He wasn't the cleverest of Hobbits. In fact he was verging on one of the most stupid. That didn't bother me. It would bother others, I knew-which is why I was so shocked to find out what Pippin had really been up to.

Pippin charged past me. His seventeenth Birthday hadn't been that great, but I went to see him the next day and all I'd received was a quick stare and then a faded "bye" as he left and went out. Seeing him again in Hobbiton, I thought perhaps he'd had a change of heart. No such luck, he practically ignored me as his shoulder jabbed against mine as he past me. I decided that I'd had enough. I was intent on following Pippin to wherever he was in such a hurry to go to but I had to subtle. I didn't want him to know of my doings. Still I followed him to the cornfields where the hay bails were stacked. I watched him jump the fence and check behind him as he started forward. Suddenly he stopped and did a strange thing with his left hand. He raised it to the air and then sort of twisted his wrist around. Then he leant forward and I saw another Hobbit. Pippin whispered something to him-it didn't take a boffin to work out it was some sort of secret password. Still I watched as Pippin dug into his pocket and pulled out some brown paper wrapped around something. I narrowed my eyes as he unwrapped it and to my shock revealed a fresh batch of his father's pipeweed. I nearly gave my cover away as I dropped to my knees in shock, only to receive another surprise as he produced a large canister of drink from his coat pocket. If anyone from Pippin's family found this out he'd be disowned and thrown out! I had to sort this before he ended up causing himself more trouble than it was worth. My first instinct was to go over there right away, but I bettered myself and decided to wait. No wonder he'd been acting so strangely. But the thought worried me that he'd been acting so strangely for so long. Had this really been going on for nearly two years? I was going to find out. And Pippin had a lot of explaining to do.

"I don't want to see him. He's boring." Pippin commented. I was stood just outside-he wasn't being very subtle about the fact he didn't want me there.

"Well you've got no choice. Your father and I are going out and your sisters aren't here to look after you. You're not old enough to be left on your own."

I heard Pippin sigh loudly. This was sure to cause an unwanted outburst.

"I'm seventeen! I don't need to be babysat-especially not by Merry."

I heard his mother gasp slightly. There was a silence before she continued herself and her tone was rather strict.

"I don't care if you're seventeen or seventy. Merry is your cousin and he is staying here. I don't know what exactly has gone on between you two but there was once a time when you preferred him to us. You can't just turn round now and say you hate him after all the years he's given you. Don't you be so spiteful, Peregrin Took. I did not raise you as my own to be a selfish little boy."

I sighed and leaned my head back against the wall. I knew where this was going. Pippin's "mother" was not his real one. Eglantine Banks was his real mother. Paladin had told him she'd left because she was unhappy with the life she had in the Smials, Pippin knew she'd left because she was unhappy with Paladin. I knew exactly what this would do to Pip. Seconds later my thoughts were correct.

"Well you didn't raise me, did you? You weren't even around when Merry was born, let alone me! You came into my life and ruined everything. You stole my father, you made my sisters hate each other and me and now you're saying you've raised me as your own. I will never be your own. I would be so ashamed to have your blood in my vines. I just wish you were dead-because that's all you'll ever be to me!"

Pippin was screaming at this point. I don't think he cared for anyone who may've heard him either. This was a pretty sensitive subject for him, but he could've just left it instead of making matters worse. I heard the sound of her striking him-hard-and not for the first time I would imagine, and then she left quickly, tears streaming down her face. I waited a few moments before going inside. Pippin was sat against the far wall, angry tears running down his face.

"Alright, Pip." I said softly.

"Jus' go away." He mumbled.

I ignored him. He couldn't fight this on his own. He needed someone. I slowly walked over and knelt down in front of him.

"What's caused all this?" I asked gently.

He remained in his little ball of distaste and shook his head.

"I said go away." He said, though more softly.

I remained in front of him. I wanted him to know I'd be here for him. Deep down I knew he knew that. Deep down he was still my Pippin, but something had made him change. Something had made him want to be so disconnected and so distant from me, I'd had no choice but to let him be. It had gotten to the stage now that I couldn't let it continue. It had to stop.

"Why don't you come and stay with me for a while?" I asked.

Pippin glanced up. His green eyes still shimmered, but the tears had stopped. For a brief moment, he looked like the Pippin I remembered. Needy, familiar, loving. Not this pale-faced, thin tired looking Pippin that had become.

"Pippin, I know you've been smoking. I know you've been drinking. Pippin, you know your not the right age to be-" Pippin shook his head.

"I'm not, Merry. I just supply it. I don't do it." He answered.

My eyes widened and I gasped in shock.

"What? What do you mean? What have you got yourself involved in?" I asked.

Pippin sat forward and toyed with the dust with his finger. He gave a soft sigh and then looked to me slowly.

"They said they'd leave me alone if I got them that stuff. They used to chase me around and hit me and throw things at me. They said if I got them pipeweed and drink then they'd leave me alone." He said.

I shook my head.

"But they're not, are they? The more you supply, the more they'll want. Pippin, this has to stop. All of it. Why have you changed? Why don't you need me anymore?" My voice cracked a little.

Pippin could detect how upset this was making me. He shrugged a little and stared at the ground. He had no answers. Perhaps he didn't even know why. There was an element to him that wanted to come back to me. That still needed me. But there was another part of him that was committed to proving weed and drink to these other Hobbits. This was not the way it was going to go. I was deadly certain that I would get my Pippin back. No matter what lengths I would have to go to in order to get him back. Pippin was only seventeen. There was still so much innocence in his eyes that it hurt me to see him doing this to himself. We'd arranged for him to stay at Brandyhall, much to both our mother's disgust. His "mother" was still intent on keeping him at home, saying he was her own and going out with his father leaving him all by himself. Paladin loved his son so much. He was a doting father, but he was lonely. Now he had Elissa he was regaining what he'd lost for so long. Eglantine had left when Pippin was thirteen. He'd seen her a lot before she decided to leave the Shire for good. That hurt Pippin more than anything, for she promised she'd never leave him. He'd stayed with us for a while, then, too.

"Everything alright?" I asked, popping my head round the door.

He turned to me suddenly, dropping a brown-wrapped object in surprise. I walked over and examined his hands. Brown dirt and weed essence was under his fingernails. I could smell the weed on him. Pippin had tried it once. I remember the day I caught him with his father's pipe. He'd abruptly been sick afterwards and vowed not to do it again. I knew once he discovered the different tastes and different ones available to him, he'd change his mind. Still, I didn't want hobbits thinking he was smoking at seventeen.

"Pippin-" I started, my voice dropping.

He scrambled to collect it all up and again and half-shook his head, half- murmured.

"No, Merry, this is the last time. I promise. I'll take this and I'll tell them today. Merry, just one last time." Pippin promised.

He was staggering over his words. He was nervous I could tell.

"Do you want me to come with you? They wouldn't have to know. I'll hide like I did before."

Pippin shook his head.

"I can't take that chance. Merry, sorry, but I must do this on my own." He replied.

It was starting to get dark. I was worrying even more. I should've followed. I shouldn't have let him go alone. I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach and I waited by the window longer and longer. I couldn't tell either ma or Da why I was so concerned. Neither of them knew what Pippin had been doing. Both were oblivious. Suddenly, I heard the door creek. I spun round. Pippin was stood there. He looked terrible. His chestnut curls sprang from all directions; his shirt was ripped and stained with blood. His face was bruised, mixed with blood, dirt and fair amount of cuts and scrapes. He stood there a few more moments, took in a little sigh and then abruptly collapsed into an exhausted heap on the ground.

* Please let me know whether you think this is worth me continuing or not. This was a completely spontaneous moment of writing so I haven't actually planned this one out. Let me know what you think and whether you'd like me to write more. Thank you. ~ Highland-spring.