Okay, I'm sorry this is late and short, and the ending is kind of weird, but this is what I've got...Also, there might be a short period of time where you guys don't get your frequent updates, I've got like a million papers due for school, and only half of the next chapter typed. That's it...one half. I'm trying to make it a really long one though, so when it does get posted, it will be good. Thanx much, review if you want to, I'd love to know what you thought of this.Huzzah to my new reader(s)!PLK

Chapter 29: Of Tooks and Bagginses

Rosie was as shocked as the rest of the Hobbiton at my announcement. Even though I did give her the courtesy of telling her face-to-face.

I walked back to Bag End with a growing headache and an upset stomach. And I could physically feel the stares of passers by on my back. No one even attempted to confront or talk to me.

Frodo looked worn, and was paging though a stack of maps in the drawing room when I got home. I sat down heavily stretching my legs out in front of me, and sighing. "There are some things for you to go through in your room. I put them on your bed." He said flatly.

He showed little sympathy for me…feeling that I had brought all of this stress on myself. In his opinion, I didn't have to go tell everyone.

I scowled and tromped out, mumbling about inconsiderate hobbits.

I smiled when I opened the door. Stacks of baby things were piled from my pillow to the foot of my bed.

"A few of those are my old things…" Frodo called absently from the drawing room.

My eyes were tearing up, as I filtered through blankets and jumpers, hats and little vests. I swiped at them impatiently and the baby fluttered in my belly. I wondered who had knitted all of these things for Frodo, and my fingers grazed over a bigger vest with FB embroidered in gold over the pocket.

I would have to find a way to thank him.

OOO

Merna of Long Cleeve, age 26 wishes to announce the up and coming birth of her first child. The baby is due around the approximate date of November the twenty-fifth. Gifts (if any,) are to be dropped off at Bag End (near Bag Shot Row) if one feels that oneself wishes to contribute Miss. Long Cleeve's joy.

Thank you.

Pippin read it slowly, his frown deepening. He turned the page over, looking for more, but there was nothing. That was it. Merna was going to have a baby was all it said. No mention of marriage or who the father was.

He reached up to rub his temples, letting the paper fall to the floor with a quiet rasp.

He hadn't expected something like this so soon. Frodo must have told her to do it. Why else would she have brought every gossip and curious hobbit in Hobbiton down upon her back else wise?

Pippin shook his head and wondered what he was going to do now. Confront her? Finally ask her to tell him the truth? Did he finally have the courage to do it?

He would have to now. There was no other choice. She was going to have the baby in only four months. Four months. If he didn't…she would stay with Frodo. Perhaps even marry him. He would be the father that her child knew.

Merna Baggins.

Pippin clenched a fist.

Diamond Took.

He sighed and leaned heavily back in his chair.

How many times had she said those two words to him? Diamond Took, she'd told him, her arm slung across his chest after they'd made love that first time in his bedroom. He had held her tighter then, not in love, but in fear.

What have I done? He had thought.

It wasonly a little laterthat he knew that he knew for sure that hewould have to marry her…or leave her disgraced in her father's eyes. Old manBrace Girdlehad walked in upon them a few days later…down in one of the guest rooms of her home.

"You listen here, Sonny. You're lucky to still be standing on both legs after what I've just seen." Her father had snarled quietly in his ear afterwards, Diamond, mortified in the tiny library, well out of earshot.

"So, you're going to marry my girl good and proper for this. I won't have her be talked about by folk for what you've done to her. Understand me? I won't have it. And if you don't…well, my girl won't be the only one who'll go through hell for it."

And not knowing what else to do, Pippin had agreed.

Of course, he had thought Merna dead at the time. Had mourned for her, more so, even at the thought of marrying someone else.

It seemed that his bloody knack of getting himself in trouble had surfaced again. Come back like a cancer to torment him once again. Why hadn't he thought things through?

And now he had to choose…Diamond or Merna. He had to decide who needed him the most.

OOO

She opened the door with a slight smile, noting the worried look on Pippin's face.

"Is something wrong?" She whispered, voice wavering as he took a step towards her.

He gathered her into his arms. "I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair, fiercely holding her against him, not wanting to let go. "I'm so sorry." The sorrow in his voice rocked her, and she had wanted to push him away, and comfort him all at the same time...

"Pippin, you're scaring me."

...But she hadn't had a chance to make that choice, for then he had kissed her. Passionate and longing like he hadn't done in such a long, long time.

And She wove her fingers in his hair and kissed him back. All of the rampaging thoughts in her head suddenly quieted as she realized that she had never felt so right before…

…Had never felt so loved.

OOO

Huzzah!

PLK