A/N: Not really a note, but I want to add in a special thanks to Dynne for putting up with all my crap lately g She listens to me whine and complain and think out loud and worry and complain and whine and then goes and reads my fic and cheers me on... ::grins:: it's a good thing. Thankies ^_^

And... reviews! Reviews! I live for reviews! Don't make me sing the Review Song.. too late, I'm singing it (and making it up as I sing, heh)... this can be sung to any tune you wish... I prefer to sing it to the wuntan lotion song Adam Sandler sings in Billy Madison (Suntan lotion is good for me, it protects me, teeheehee...)

iOhhhh...
Reviews are lovely
Reviews are cool
Reviews are what make me
Write fanfic at school
By leaving me reviews
I know what is wrong and right
They help me writing my fanfic
In the middle of the night
When you leave reviews
It makes me grin
I'll update my fic sooner
If you'd just send them in!/i

::bows::
::ducks from flying vegetables::

Stop looking at me, swan!!

::shuts up and goes back to the fic:::




Forgotten Roads
by Ani Ledger




[Chapter Six]

I called.

Lily asked, opening the door. She smiled and hugged me. Welcome back!

I grinned. My parents let me ride in all alone! I couldn't believe it! I cried. They let me have a small cart and a pony, finally agreeing after a few days to let me go. My older brothers had left home already, and though they were of age when they left and I wasn't, they seemed to understand that going to stay with Lily meant a lot to me.

I can't, either, Lily replied. Well, come in! You must be hungry. She let me in the house, and led me into the kitchen. We sat down at the table and had luncheon, talking excitedly the whole time. You know, she said, Meriadoc and Peregrin have gone to Hobbiton for the week.

No, I didn't know, I said, hiding my disappointment by taking a sip of tea.

Visiting Frodo Baggins.

Baggins--I've heard that name, I said.

You've heard of Bilbo Baggins, I'm sure, Lily replied. He disappeared from his one hundred and eleventh birthday party years ago... you were little then, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

Yes, that's right, I said, remembering. But who is Frodo?

Bilbo's heir, I suppose you could say. He's related to Merry and Pippin, too, somehow. Cousins, although more distant. Merry and Pippin attended the party for Bilbo, and they're friends with Frodo.



Lily grinned at me. You were hoping to see Pippin, weren't you? she asked, and I blushed and shook my head quickly. Don't you lie to me, Diamond! she cried, laughing. Do you think I don't know my own cousin?

Well, I--

Pippin didn't know you were coming, she noted, and I didn't either, really, until you arrived. He'll be quite surprised when they return, I think.

When will he be back? I slipped, and turned even redder.

Lily smiled and said, Three days. She sighed. It's been a long week without Mer--without them around.

Now it was my turn to grin. At least you get to see Merry all the time, I said.



I've known about you and Merry for a while, I giggled. It's not as if you were very subtle... and besides--do you think I don't know my own cousin?

Oh, Diamond, Lily laughed, taking my hand across the table. I don't know why I never told you. I was embarassed, I suppose, because Merry gets into so much trouble all the time--with Pippin and all--oh! And now, with you and Pippin! she cried. Now I understand why you were so insistent on returning to Buckleberry! She grinned mischievously.

How long have you and Merry been... you and Merry? I asked.

Since the spring. We've always been friends, but something changed this year. I don't know what--but we're both so happy.

I smiled.

Someday, dear Diamond, you'll understand what being in love--really being in love--is all about.

---

I was going to write to Diamond while we were in Hobbiton but didn't have the time. I loved visiting Hobbiton with Merry. Although I was the youngest--Frodo was twenty-one years older than me (and about twice Diamond's age, I noted subconsciously) it was always fun. Frodo had lots of stories to tell--mostly Bilbo's. I did my best to think of Diamond as little as possible, and it wasn't too difficult since there was always something to do.

On our sixth day, Merry got a letter from Lily. We were sitting outside of Bag End in the evening. He was rereading the letter, and got a strange look on his face. It was all I could do to keep quiet. He looked up at me, grinned, and put the letter in his pocket. It's been a good week, he said, thoughtfully smoking his pipe.

I nodded silently.

You've been awfully quiet, Merry noted. Something wrong?

I didn't want to admit that I'd been thinking more about Diamond than I wished. No, nothing. Just thinking, is all.

Pippin Took, thinking? he laughed. Someone call a doctor, you must be ill!

I gave Merry a look, and he grinned. Anxious to get back to Bucklebury, he said quietly. I wasn't sure if he was directing a question at me, or talking to himself, so I just nodded.

Merry chuckled. I'm going to get some sleep, he said with a yawn, and I suggest you do the same. We're leaving before luncheon.

Okay. Good night, Merry.

Night, Pip, he said, standing and going inside.

I sat outside for a few more minutes. I stared up at the sky, which was quickly darkening as night fell. When the stars began to appear, I sighed and went inside.

---

Lily and I spent the next few days together, enjoying ourselves and having fun like we used to. I remembered why she was my favorite cousin--because she didn't treat me like I was any younger than she was--or, rather, she didn't act like she was so much older. We left behind all our worries and inhibitions and were little girls again, playing outside and picking the flowers that were left from summer--those that hadn't died when summer ended--and making daisy chains and telling secrets.

Three days after I arrived in Bucklebury, Lily reminded me that Merry and Pippin would be returning. The ride in from Hobbiton was not so long, and Lily estimated they'd be in by midday. After luncheon, I went up to the hill to wait.

It was cool outside, but not cold. The sun had disappeared behind a layer of clouds. It was a typical autumn day. The river, as I noted on my way into town, was much different in the summer than it was now. The surrounding trees were losing their leaves, the grass was no longer the brilliant fresh green it had once been, and the flowers had long since stopped blooming. But it still held onto it's beauty and peacefulness. I sat up on the hill and brought my knees up to my chest, staring off at the ferry crossing.

After what seemed like hours, a cart appeared on the road up ahead. I grinned. Pippin was back.

---

I yawned. We'd left Hobbiton earlier than I'd expected. Though Merry told me we were leaving before luncheon, he forgot to mention that we'd be leaving right after second breakfast. I tried not to nod off in the cart, but wasn't succeeding.

Oi, Pip, Merry said, poking me. I woke up. I didn't realize I fell asleep. Wake up, we're almost back. I rubbed my eyes and saw the Brandywine River up ahead. I stretched and yawned. You sure do sleep a lot, Merry noted. He smiled as he saw something in the distance.

I squinted. Someone was sitting on the hill on the other side of the river. Someone who looked an awful lot like...

No--it couldn't be. She was in Long Cleeve. She hadn't written in months.

I rubbed my eyes again, staring in disbelief. As we got to Bucklebury Ferry, the figure on the hillside stood up and waved.

It was Diamond.



A/N #3: Wa-na-na!! (That was supposed to be dramatic music... bah). Look, stuff happened in this chapter!! =D

I am having so much fun with this fic... now, anyway. I think I have the final plan drawn out in my head. As I told one of my fellow fanfic author friends today.. when I write a fanfic (or any story, really) I am completely and totally obsessed with every. Little. Detail. Everything has to be just right for me to like it. And I really, really like this fic ::grins:: I worked really hard on chapter five and previous chapters... But considering how long it took me to get chapter five up, I wrote chapter six in only a few hours, andince I have so many final details worked out now, it was a piece of cake. Mmmm... cake... hungry. Anyway. I have the rest of Part II planned out for sure, and most of Part III... each part has several chapters, of course, but I have a really good outline going here.

Review! Please? I know you don't want to hear me sing the review song again... but maybe I just won't update until I get... say... 25 reviews? ::evil grin:: We'll see. Please review ^_^ You'll be my hero forever, I promise..