Chapter III: Pippin Makes a Confession

As Pippin ran along the muddy road, he truly wished he had ridden his pony instead. His feet (not to mention the rest of his body) were freezing cold, and there had been no sign of Diamond of Long Cleeve. Apparently, she was a much faster walker than he was a runner.

He was about to give up and turn around when he saw a tiny figure on the path ahead, sitting on a bench. "Diamond!" he cried.

The hobbit looked up and turned toward him. "Who is that?" she called, squinting to recognize him.

"It's Peregrin Took!" he answered.

"What are you doing out here, Peregrin?" she asked, still sounding upset. "Go home!"

"But Diamond!" he protested.

"What now?"

"I love you!" he shouted into the rain.

"You what?" she yelled.

"I love you!" he repeated more loudly.

Diamond stood up rather shakily and stumbled over to him. "You - you what?" she asked quietly.

"Please don't make me say it again, it was hard enough the first two times," he said, lowering his head in embarrassment.

Diamond shook her head disbelievingly. "I never thought you could ever love me, Peregrin, I just never thought!" She grinned broadly and embraced him, though a bit hesitantly. She felt more comfortable the longer she held onto him, and hugged him more tightly.

When they separated, Pippin said a bit quickly, "You're going to catch your death out here."

Diamond shivered. "What about you, coming out into the rain without a coat."

Pippin smiled sheepishly in realization that he had indeed forgotten his jacket.

She tried to take his hand. "Come on. Oh, Peregrin, don't be shy, just hold my hand."

He obeyed and was silent for a moment. "Uh, Diamond, I have something to ask you."

She nodded excitedly, as if expecting something. "Yes?"

"Could you call me Pippin?" he asked.

Diamond seemed a bit surprised. "Oh, all right…Pippin."

He smiled. The name sounded so wonderful and sweet coming from her lips…
BR>Pippin laughed with a dreamy look in his eyes. "And then the next day we both got sick."

Merry massaged his forehead and looked out the window. "Yes, you mentioned that…once or…twice." He yawned.

"Have I?" Pippin asked absently. "These past two weeks have been like a dream."

"More like a nightmare," Merry muttered. He ate a few spoonfuls of soup. "Have you spoken to Sam lately?"

"No," Pippin replied, "but I hear Rosie's coming along quite well." He acquired that glazed look in his eyes once again. "I hope it's another girl and that they name her Diamond."

Merry's spoon fell onto the table with a clatter. "Look, Pippin, I'm really glad that you've found a girl that you like, but enough is enough!" He paid no heed to his cousin's shocked expression. "For the last two weeks it's been nothing but 'Diamond this' and 'Diamond that,' and 'we both got sick the very next day!' I'm tired of it."

They say in silence for a moment, before Pippin slowly rose from the table. "I'd better go." He lied quickly about meeting his father at the pub, an excuse to leave Brandy Hall immediately.

Merry didn't say anything, nor did he watch him go, he just stared at the table, feeling guilty for what he had said.