EveryThingBurrito: Welp, here is Chapter Three~ And I'm not going to lie, this is a tad bit of a filler chapter QAQ

But, I still like it~

Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed, Favorited/Subscribed to this story QUQ I really do enjoy reading your comments and hearing the feedback. And seeing all the favorites and subscribes helps too~

Read and Review please~

Chapter Three

"Come on Pepper, stop being such a brat and come outside with us!" Merry yelled from outside Pepper's window, his younger cousin Pippin was standing next to him as they both tried to coax the chubby black haired little hobbit out from her hobbit hole. Neither were getting very far, seeing as how this was their fifth failed attempt this week at getting the girl to emerge from her room.

Ever since they had all somewhat met underneath the big oak tree the week before, the two boys had taken it upon themselves to pester the girl non stop, both refusing to let up until she would come out and play with them. Unfortunately for them, Pepper had her mind set on ignoring the both of them, and was holding strong to it.

"Oh come on Pep," Bilbo spoke up from the doorway, grabbing Pepper's attention. "Have some pity on the poor lads, they but only want to play with you."

Pepper snorted, "Persistent little twats they are." She stated with a roll of her eyes. "They have been by my window three times this week, and another two times by my door. You would think they'd get the hint by now."

Bilbo just laughed, "You can't blame the lads for tryin. Well, if you don't plan on joining the lads outside how bout you come and join me for a slice of cake?"

Now that she could agree to. "I'd love too!" Pepper grinned, hoping up from her bed to go and stand with the older hobbit at the doorway. "Can you tell me another one of your stories Bilbo? I wouldn't mind hearing the one about the trolls again."

"How bout a trade? I'll tell you one of my stories," Bilbo bartered, his eyes glinting mischievously. "If you go and invite those poor lads outside in for some cake and stories as well." He laughed at the young hobbit's flabbergasted face, and gave her a slight pat on the shoulder. "That's the deal Pep, take it or leave it." He winked.

Pepper frowned, well there went her happiness right down the drain. Not only would she have to share her cake but now her stories as well? She scoffed, those two twits didn't deserve any of her cake, or any of Bilbo's stories for that matter. But, she did want to hear a story today, she didn't get to hear one yesterday. And she feared that if she refused to go and get those twits that Bilbo wouldn't tell her a story today period. He might even hold out until she compromised and gave in to the two hobbit boys annoying advances.

With an agitated sigh, Pepper grudgingly made her way back to her room. She grabbed a small chair before dragging it over and placing it underneath her windowsill. She really did hate her height, here she was seven years of age, going on eight and she had yet to pass the two feet marker. She felt like a babe.

"Oi, do you two want some cake or what?" Pepper asked after she had climbed up a top the chair. She had been hoping that the two of them had run off, but it seemed that luck was against her today. The two boys were still just sitting there, right beneath her window seal finding and tossing stones about. Both had paused in their rock tossing to stare up at Pepper after she spoke up.

"Cake?" Merry questioned. "You're inviting us in for cake?"

"I like cake." Pippin stated bluntly.

Not willingly, Pepper thought rolling her eyes. "Do you want some or not?" She asked grudgingly.

"Well," Pippin grinned up at her. "I'm not one to pass up on free cake."

Now it was Merry's turn to roll his eyes. "Or cake in general."

"Yeah," he agreed, turning to grin at his cousin. "You got a point there Merry."

"Whatever," Pepper said, not at all pleased that the two boys would soon be in her home...near her...eating her cake. Yes, she was not pleased. "Just hurry up." She didn't wait for their response and instead hoped down from her chair to go and join Bilbo out at the table. She was ready for her cake.

"So, did you invite the two in Pep?" Bilbo asked, chuckling to himself and watching as Pepper grumpily made her way into the dining room. The front door opening and the sound of pattering feet soon answered his question. The older hobbit gave her a smile, "Good girl Pep."

Pepper just rolled her eyes. "Do I get my cake now?"

"But of course." Bilbo replied, chuckling again and giving Pepper a few pats on the head, before walking over and into the kitchen busying himself with cutting the cake.

Soon both boys had made their way into the dining room, each grinning at the other before taking an empty seat to either side of the grumpy Pepper. This of course only made the young hobbit girl groan inwardly. How she would make it through all of Bilbo's story was beyond her. She already wanted to throttle the both of them.

Thankfully, for Pepper, Bilbo came back to the table shortly after the boys had arrived, cake in hand. "Here you go lads," Bilbo grinned, placing a nice sized slice of cake in front of both Merry and Pippin. "Eat up."

They didn't need to be told twice, as soon as Bilbo had turned to get the other two remaining slices of cake both boys had already begun digging in. Pepper eyed them both disgustedly. Sure, the cake was good but those two were wolfing it down with their bare fingers alone, no forks, no spoons, no nothing.

Pepper murmured a quiet thank you to Bilbo as he handed her her slice of cake and a fork before silently digging into her cake as well. She though, unlike the boys, going at a much slower and cleaner pace.

After Bilbo had settled into his seat and had eaten a good portion of his cake, he began his story about the three trolls. Pepper had heard this particular story on more then one occasion, but she had still found it quite exciting and enjoyable. Bilbo had seen trolls, real trolls! If that wasn't exciting then she didn't know what was.

Bilbo went on to tell the three young hobbits about how Gandalf had volunteered him to be a "Burglar" for a group of dwarves, and how while they were on their way to the city of Elves they had come about the three trolls' campsite. The dwarves, seeing this as an opportunity to test out their new burglar, had sent poor Bilbo out on his first official task to make off with some of the trolls' treasure.

So off Bilbo had went, sneaking into the Trolls' campsite in search of some treasure. The trolls, who were busy at the time sitting around the fire and eating mutton, had not at all noticed the sneaking, thieving hobbit that had managed to creep into their little campsite. And Bilbo, seeing that the trolls were distracted and aloof, took this as his chance and made his way over to the bags of money that were scattered around the trolls. Sadly, when he had finally managed to grab hold of one of the bags to make off with, the trolls had heard him and quickly snatched him up before proceeding to fight about how to interrogate and question the now captured hobbit.

Then the dwarves, hearing the commotion, one by one had entered into the trolls' campsite to see what all the fuss was about and too see where their burglar had gone to. The trolls, while dull-witted as they were, were smart enough to quiet down so that they could hide in the trees and sack each and every one of the approaching dwarves.

"So there I was," Bilbo said, looking at the three of them, his voice gravely serious as he delved deeper into the story. "At the mercy of three monstrous trolls and they were all arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to cook us. Whether to be turned on a spit or whether they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly." His nose crinkled up at the mere idea, and then he continued. "They spent so much time arguing the witherto's and whyfor's that the sun's first light cracked open over the top of the trees and poof!" He made a poofing motion with his hands. "And turned them all into stone!"

Pepper hid a grin as she heard both boys on either side of her gasp. Apparently they, unlike her of course, had not heard this story.

"We later learnt that it was thanks to Gandalf that the trolls began arguing amongst themselves to begin with." The old hobbit smiled before winking. "He had cleverly changed his voice to mimic that of the trolls and easily had them bickering amongst themselves till the sun came up." He chuckled, before taking another bite of his cake. "Oh that Gandalf," he murmured fondly with a grin. "The clever ol' Wizard."

Pepper felt her chest puff up with pride at Bilbo's comment. Her Gandalf was definitely something else and she loved him dearly for it.

Bilbo continued to tell the young hobbits stories of his past adventures until the night had come around. Then at that time he sent the boys off home to get some much needed food and rest, before feeding Frodo, Pepper, and himself.

The boys hadn't been too bad, Pepper thought grudgingly as she later got herself ready for bed. But she still didn't care for them. And she highly doubted that that was going to change any time soon.

Special thanks to the following:

My very first reviewer, you know who you are: Thank you so much for reviewing QUQ you were the very first to review~ I am glad that you vow never to flame xD that eases my worries xD And hopefully this story will continue to amuse you and keep you interested ;D

MadeOfTitanium: I am so glad to hear that Pepper so far is NOT a sue QAQ like, you have no idea lol. I'm always worried that she may be too sueish QAQ. And you are totally right, Merry and Pippin just don't get enough love QAQ Especially poor Merry ;;n;;

Vorpalkitty: I'm glad that you like it so far ;;u;;

daughterofthering: In chapter One Pepper is 5 years old. In chapter Two and in this chapter she is 7 years old. Hope that helped some xD

Also Thanks to: PhoenixSongs, Lift the Wings, and lotrfan812.