Reconciliation
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" Pippin asked, eyebrows raised. "It's been three months. You must have something to say."
"What're you doing here?" Diamond asked, wrenching her hand away from his grasp.
"I'm here for you," Pippin said, as if it were perfectly obvious. "I'm taking you home."
"I told you I wasn't going back," Diamond said, getting upset. "How dare you order me about!"
"I never have before, and look where that got me," Pippin retorted, his own anger rising to match Diamond's. "I thought it was time I tried something else."
"You got yourself into this mess," Diamond said stubbornly, crossing her arms and glowering.
"No, you did," Pippin retorted. "You're the one who decided to exile yourself."
"Only because you- you-" Diamond turned scarlet and shut her mouth, scowling harder than ever.
"Because I what? Because we, note, happened to for once actually behave as a married couple and made love?"
"You never should have!" Diamond yelled, red in the face. "Never!"
"In case you've forgotten, Diamond," Pippin retorted, "I was drunk! So were you, for that matter! And whatever you say, the only bit I regret is letting you stay here!"
Diamond opened her mouth to snap back, but stopped short. She looked up at Pippin oddly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Pippin said sharply, "that I'm madly in love with you! Are you that blind, woman?"
"Prove it," Diamond snapped without thinking. And with a speed that any elf would have been proud of, Pippin grabbed her arms, pulled her close, and kissed her with enough force to bruise her lips. At first Diamond stiffened, but then everything left her mind except that he never stopped.
"Well!"
Pippin pulled back. Sage was staring at the two of them with her jaw hanging. When she realized Pippin was staring at her, she scowled.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" she demanded.
"Proving a point," Pippin said grimly, and then returned to kissing Diamond senseless.
Sage gaped for a moment, then shook her head and slipped away. Last time she tried to see to her daughter's wellbeing…
Eventually Pippin and Diamond simply had to come up for air. Diamond felt dizzy, so she clutched Pippin's jacket. Pippin placed a hand under her chin and tilted her head back so he could meet her gaze.
"Believe me now?" he asked, suddenly much softer. It took Diamond a moment to process his words.
"All you want is someone to do your laundry," she said stubbornly, although she didn't really believe it herself.
Pippin shook his head. "Silly woman." He kissed her again then, but much more gently. Somehow it was even more powerful than the previous forceful touch; Diamond felt she could have melted.
Pippin pulled back slightly. "Come home, love," he murmured against her lips. "I miss you."
Diamond shivered slightly, soaking in the moment. She knew now that all the ale in the world couldn't have created something that was never there to begin with.
"All right," she whispered. "All right."
* * *
That afternoon they walked back to Rose Briar and found supper, as well as Diamond's parents, awaiting them. The meal was a quiet affair- Tiberius and Sage kept silent, and neither Diamond nor Pippin wanted to get into their previous discussion with the older couple as witnesses.
Afterwards they all sat before the fire, occupied with small tasks- Sage the mending, Diamond knitting a blanket, Tiberius with his figurine carving and Pippin with merely tending the fire and humming absently to himself.
"How did the harvest go, Pippin?" Tiberius asked, blowing wood chips off his currently shapeless chunk of pine.
"Well enough. Enough that we sold some hay to some other folks."
"That's good."
"Aye."
That was the extent of their after-dinner conversation- Sage soon retired, claiming that she felt unwell. After a few minutes Tiberius too excused himself and left Diamond and Pippin to their own devices.
Pippin silently watched Diamond as she worked, her brow furrowed with concentration as she carefully counted stitches. For half a moment Pippin could have imagined they were in the small house in Tookland instead of Long Cleave, by their own fireside instead of that of Diamond's parents. Then he sighed and looked at the clock on the mantelpiece.
"It's half past ten."
Diamond looked up sharply, startled, and then relaxed as the words settled in her mind and looked at her knitting again. "Oh. Yes, it seems so. Busy tomorrow; best get to bed." She said all this with a highly preoccupied air, as she was still knitting. Pippin laughed and reached over to still her busy hands.
"If I don't send you there myself you'll be up until all hours of the morning," he teased gently, green eyes sparkling in the firelight. "Put that away, it will be here to finish tomorrow."
Diamond shot him a slightly annoyed look, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "All right- if you insist."
"Which I do."
Diamond set down her knitting and stood, stretching out her cramped shoulders. "Going to escort me?"
"Of course, my lady," Pippin said airily. "May I?"
"You may." Diamond offered her arm and Pippin took it in his own with a playful smile.
Pippin didn't know the way around Rose Briar so Diamond led the way to her room. As soon as Diamond opened the door Pippin turned to leave, but halted at Diamond's gentle touch.
"Where are you going?"
"The guestroom, if I ever find it," Pippin said. "Why?"
A vaguely hurt expression flickered across Diamond's face. "Well…"
Understanding suddenly ran through Pippin's mind. He kissed her gently; questioning, but mostly longing. It was over after only a moment that was at once forever and only an instant. He suddenly felt uncertain, even after the electric kisses they had shared earlier that day.
"Stay with me," Diamond whispered. "Please?"
Pippin's only reply was to enter the room with her and close the door.
* * *
Later that night, they laid together in the bed, listening to the sounds of the night drifting in through the open window. They were spooned together, allowing as much tactile contact as possible.
"I missed you," Pippin murmured, pressing a kiss onto Diamond's bare shoulder.
"And I you," Diamond said sleepily. "But it's all better now."
"I'm sorry I didn't come before now."
"It's all right," Diamond said softly. "It's over now. Shh, go to sleep."
And so they did.
* * *
The world was right.
Diamond was terrified that was when awoke she would be alone again, that the previous night had only been a wishful dream. But she woke to the sound of Pippin's deep breathing against her ear, their legs tangled together and his arm clutching her tightly as if he too were afraid she would be gone when he awoke. Diamond sank into it all, soaking up the moment.
It still seemed unreal, but no dream was ever so blissful. Never had she felt so rested, even when asleep. And even the wildest dreams could never summon up such a feeling of being protected, of being loved.
After a few minutes Pippin too awoke but said nothing- Diamond only knew it by the change in his breathing. She rolled over to meet his gaze.
"'Morning," she said softly.
"Mmm," Pippin murmured groggily. He smiled lopsidedly. "Not going to send me off again?"
"No. Never again."
"Good." Pippin kissed her gently and traced circles on her side beneath the blankets. Diamond jumped back.
"Ticklish?" Pippin asked, a teasing smile stealing across his face. Diamond flushed.
"Partly," she confessed sheepishly. "And partly unused to not having clothes on."
"Ah." Pippin sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The room was far brighter than it had been the last time that they had awoken in such a position. Diamond seemed to realize just how bright it was at the same time Pippin did.
"Oh no!" she gasped, getting out of the bed so fast that she didn't untangle herself from the sheets and fell onto the floor. Blushing, she seized her dress from the floor, along with the rest of her clothes. "Papa and Mother probably know exactly what happened," she said as she hurriedly climbed into her clothes. "Oh dear."
"Calm down," Pippin said, getting up himself and finding his own clothes. "They'll understand. Really. They were young once too."
Diamond shot him a glare. "You don't know my mother, then," she said as she finished dressing. "It's probably nigh-on eleven o'clock!"
"Well, we were up late," Pippin said diplomatically, ignoring Diamond's sudden blush. "All right then, go panic," Pippin said as he pulled his shirt on, the latter half of his words muffled. "I'll be out directly."
Diamond nodded and slipped out, closing the door firmly behind her. She took a moment to grin to herself, unbelievably happy that she would never again have to dream to have Pippin beside her. Then she steeled herself and went into the kitchen.
Tiberius was sitting at the kitchen table, nibbling some toast and reading a genealogy chart while Sage washed dishes. The poses looked rather too rehearsed to be natural.
"Good morning," Tiberius said, setting down the chart. "You look well," he said mildly, although a smile was tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Where's Pippin?"
"Dressing," Diamond said shortly. "What's that?"
"This? Oh, I was seeing how much room there was for grandchildren," Tiberius replied, smiling openly now. Diamond flushed brilliantly.
"Papa!"
"You know, dear, you weren't exactly subtle," Sage said, turning around and wiping her hands on her apron. "I saw how you were looking at each other; beyond that you weren't very quiet last night."
Diamond couldn't think of an answer. She just stood in the doorway, blushing from one end to the other.
"Morning," Pippin said cheerfully, easing around Diamond to get into the kitchen. "Is there any breakfast to be had? I'd like to leave before three o'clock."
"Keeping warm on the hearth," said Sage, gesturing to the kitchen fire. "I'll fetch it for you." She began dishing up the still-warm remnants of breakfast. Pippin took a seat at the table. Still a bit pink, Diamond did as well.
"Sure you won't stay?" Tiberius asked, looking at Pippin over the top of his reading-spectacles. "Just for another day or so."
"Thank you for the invitation," Pippin said politely, "but I'm afraid not. I'm rather anxious to get back home."
"Taking Diamond with you?"
"That's the idea."
"About time," Sage said as she set the plates on the table. "We love you dearly, girl, but you belong with Pippin. It's positively shameful for a married woman to be living with her parents."
Diamond began eating resolutely, trying to hide her recurring blush. Pippin grinned slightly at her and set to eating.
"It's a two-day trip, isn't it?" Tiberius asked. Pippin nodded, his mouth full. He swallowed before answering verbally. "About that, yes."
"I'll pack some food for you, then," Sage said. "For the trip." She disappeared into the pantry and could be heard shifting things around.
"Hurry up then, Diamond," said Tiberius, standing and removing his spectacles. "You'll be needing to pack your things."
Despite Pippin's plans, it was after four when they finally left Rose Briar. What with packing, gathering provisions, loading the cart, and saying good-bye, particularly to Laurel, it had on the whole taken longer than anticipated.
As soon as they were beyond sight of Rose Briar Diamond let out a long sigh. Pippin cast her a questioning look.
"I'm just glad it's really happening," Diamond said by way of explanation. "That you didn't forget me."
Pippin smiled slightly and grasped her hand. "I could never forget you."
The rest of the afternoon passed in companionable silence.
* * *
They arrived late at night the next day. The little neighborhood was sleepy and quiet, and so were the two travelers.
When Pippin pulled the pony to a stop in front of the little house, Diamond automatically picked up what bags she could reach and went inside while Pippin saw to the pony. It was pitch black inside and she was unsure where the candles or matches were, so she left the bundles by the door and went out to fetch the remainder while Pippin went into the tiny stable.
After she had carried the last of it into the house and left them in a pile, Pippin came in behind her and shut the door. Diamond was trying to make out the shape of the entry hall and jumped when Pippin wrapped his arms around her from behind. For half a second she was afraid she had strayed into another dream, but such notions vanished a moment later- no dream was ever so vivid, so real.
He pressed a gentle kiss against her neck, and then murmured, "Welcome home, love," next to her ear. Diamond turned within his arms and pulled his head down until their foreheads touch.
"I love you," she soft, softly and yet fiercely. "You hear me? And no matter what I say, never leave me again."
"I won't," Pippin said quietly. He reached up and touched her cheek softly.
"Promise?"
"I promise." As if to seal his promise, Pippin kissed her with an almost strange tenderness. After the kiss broke, he grinned slightly.
"What-" Diamond's words were cut off with a startled shriek of laughter as Pippin literally swept her off her feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck, partly delighted and partly afraid she would be dropped.
"What're you doing?!"
"Taking my wife to bed," Pippin replied, grinning mischievously. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Diamond said breathlessly. The idea that she belonged to him was far from irritating- she rather liked it, in fact.
So Pippin carried her down the hallway to the master bedroom. Diamond had to open the door and then push it shut again, as Pippin was otherwise occupied. Then he set her gently on the bed and kneeled on the floor.
"I didn't know you could be so romantic," Diamond teased gently.
Pippin shrugged. "Never had occasion to."
"I rather like it."
The corner of Pippin's mouth quirked upwards. "Glad you approve," he said.
"Come up here," said Diamond, scooting back and lying down. Pippin got up onto the bed and lay beside her.
"Diamond-"
"Shh."
"What?"
Diamond pulled him close and kissed him then, and the rest of the world fell away.