a/n: Thanks again to angelface04 for reviewing all my chapters ;)

Chapter Eight

When Frodo and Peral entered the Tooks' home, the table in the huge dining room was already richly layed and not only was the whole family of Paladin II Took there but also Merry with his parents Saradoc and Esmeralda. They were warmly greeted by everybody. They sat down next to each other on a bank wich was still free - abd by the look in Eglantine Took eyes fully on purpose.

After the second-last meal of the day was finished, the female Hobbits went into the kitchen to tidy up while Paladin, Saradoc and Frodo went outside for a smoke and an ale. Merry and Pippin who were still too young for that, so they locked themselves in Pippin's room to "think up that terrible pranks of them", like their mothers had placed it.

After some time Frodo excused himself and went inside to look for Pearl. He found her in the dining room where she cleaned up the table. "Pearl," Frodo said, "do you think I could, well, ask your parents if I ... you know ...", he trailed off lost for words. "Yes?" Pearl asked who was pretty sure she knew what he wanted to ask but also wanted to hear the words from him. Frodo turned red and continued: "You know, I could ask them if we ... you and I could be together." Having that out Frodo took a deep breath when suddenly Pearl's arms were around his neck. "Well, sure!" she exclaimed happily. Then she took herself together and answered more politly: "I would be honoured."

Hand in hand they went into the kitchen and Pearl said: "Mother, Frodo has something he wants to ask you and father." Eglantine smiled at her long- distant nehew and answered: "Sure you can ask us something, my lad." She went to the next window, opened it and asked her husband who sat below it: "Paladin, darling, would you join us inside for a moment?" Muttering something about being disturbed in a lovely talk the Thain went inside.

"Yes?" he wanted to know when standing in front of his wife. "Frodo here wants to ask as something", she answered and went over to stand beside him. With that tone in her voice, Paladin was pretty sure what this question was about and he wouldn't say no. A baggins always was a good match.

"Yes, Frodo. What do you want to know from us?" he asked. "Well, Aunt Eglantine, Uncle Paladin, I wanted to ask you ... since Pearl is all right with it ... if you would give us your blessings if we wanted to be together." While Frodo had been talking, Pearl had moved to stand besides him and the two were now holding each others' hand. Paladin and his wife smiled broudly and Paladin answered: "Frodo, I can speak for my wife and me when I say that we would be very happy to see you two as a couple." After that words, everybody hugged everyone else and Pervinca and Pimpernel who were standing beind a corner the whole time came also over to congratulate their sister.