Finally! I've gotten this up! Apologies in advance: due to the author's schedule being jampacked, this chapter was written in small sections over the past two weeks, so the flow may not be too great. But oh well. Hope you enjoy anyway! :D

Oh, and thank you so much to those of you who reviewed - I REALLY appreciate it. I've had problems in the past with starting stories and just fizzling out, so the reviews help me keep going. A kick in the pants, if you will. :P And in answer to your question, Senni: yes, Fredegar will have an important role in this story...I'm just not there yet. But I will be soon!

********************************

I awoke to the sound of furious knocking on my door. Sitting bolt upright, I realized that for the second night in a row, I'd ended up sleeping on a still-made bed while fully dressed. I squinted in the direction of my window, gauging the sunlight that poured through, and figured that it was probably about ten o'clock - no wonder Tulip was practically breaking down the door.

She burst in, apparently tired of knocking, and slammed the door behind her. "Stella, just WHO do you think you are?" she demanded crossly, arms folded against her chest.

I passed a hand over my eyes. "I'm really sorry," I began, but Tulip cut me off before I could finish.

"Yes, I know you're sorry. You have more regret and guilt than anyone I know." She glared at me.

"Well, then," I said, rather vaguely.

Tulip sighed and muttered, "Why do I give in to you every single time?"

"Because you're a kind, loving, and compassionate friend?" I suggested hopefully.

"Don't flatter me! But yes." Tulip grinned impishly for a moment, then hurriedly frowned again. "You still have a lot of explaining to do."

I sighed and launched into an account of the previous evening's events. When I had finished, Tulip fixed me with a long, withering stare before shaking her head and muttering, "I swear, Stella, you could pick a fight with - well, I was going to say Fred, since he never gets mad, but since he's also your brother he's probably not a great example. Let's just say you sometimes need to work on holding your tongue."

"I know," I moaned. "And usually I do all right. But yesterday...I guess I was just not in a good mood."

Tulip nodded in rueful agreement. "And now look, here I am, not mad at you anymore. How do you do it?" She shook her head, exasperated. "But in any case, you're still coming with me."

"Where?"

"To the market. Aunt Pearl needs some odds and ends and she's sent me off to get them. And you're coming. It's the least you can do." She raised an expectant eyebrow.

"All right," I replied wearily. "I'll come. Just let me change and I'll be right out."

Tulip snorted. "Oh, I've heard that one before."

I threw up my hands in surrender. "Fine! I'll go as I am, in a wrinkled, slept-in dress!"

"Good," Tulip replied with more satisfaction than was strictly necessary. "No one will care anyway. Let's go."

I smoothed out the rumples in my skirt as best I could before following her out the door.

Bucklebury's central market was, as usual, bustling with ware-sellers and customers alike. Everything from fine cloth to fresh produce to pipeweed was displayed in the numerous shops and stalls, and the air was filled with calls of the vendors and chatter among the townspeople. Pulling a scrap of paper out of her bodice, Tulip glanced at it and read out loud, "Apples, cheese, eggs, and ink. Hmm. Interesting, I didn't know ink was such a popular condiment."

I rolled my eyes. "You're so clever, I think I'll kill myself. Missus Boffin is right here; come on."

As we approached the egg stand, a smiling middle-aged housewife called out, "Why, good morning, lasses! What can I do for ye, Miss Tulip, Miss Estella?"

"Two dozen, if you please, Missus Boffin," Tulip told her. As she handed us our eggs, the older woman flashed us a mischievous grin.

"An' I suppose you two had the lads fallin' all over ye last night," she teased. "Such pretty faces canna have gone unnoticed."

Tulip grinned right back. "Of course. I must have had a train of fifty running after me."

"An' ye, Stella, I suppose ye topped that with sixty?"

I managed a weak smile, wishing that the topic of conversation was anything but the cotillion. "Almost. Only fifty-seven."

"Ah, well, there's always next time," Mrs. Boffin chuckled. She suddenly caught sight of someone behind Tulip and me, and waved a hand in greeting. "Good day to ye, Miss Celandine! One dozen or two, lass? An' how d'ye do, Master Merry?"

I stiffened and shot a glance at Tulip as the two Brandybucks approached the stall.

"Good morning, Cel," Tulip sang, avoiding my eyes. Help was not coming from her; that much was clear.

Celandine smiled in greeting, and Merry replied, "Morning, Miss Tulip - Miss Estella."

My smile was strained and brief. Celandine collected her eggs, Mrs. Boffin bid us a cheery goodbye, and Tulip suddenly piped up, "Where are you off to now, Cel?"

"Home," Celandine answered. "We're finished."

"What a coincidence!" cried Tulip delightedly, linking arms with her friend. "So are we."

I gaped at her. "Tulip, what are you talking about? We've lots more to get!"

Tulip did not appear fazed in the least. "Well, then, here," she chirped, handing me our eggs. "You three go on, I'll only be a minute."

"Oh, I'll come!" exclaimed Celandine, turning to Merry. "Be the dear, sweet cousin that you are and take these for me?" she asked, fixing him with an adoring gaze.

Merry rolled his eyes but grinned and accepted the proffered basket. I started to protest, but was cut off by Tulip's cheerful "We'll catch up in a minute!" and the two lasses were gone.

Merry and I stood, blinking, watching them run off. I stole a quick glance at him, only to find that he'd chosen that exact moment to sneak one at me. We both looked away hurriedly. Merry coughed. I stared at my toes, suddenly very aware of my disheveled dress.

"Well," said Merry finally. "Shall we?" Without waiting for an answer, he started off down the road. Biting my lip, I trotted to catch up, drew in a deep breath, and spoke.

"I - I want to apologize. For last night."

He shot me a startled look. "You don't have to - "

"Yes, I do," I interrupted. "My behavior was inexcusable, and I feel awful about how I treated you. I hope you can forgive me...I suppose I just wasn't at my best last night."

To my amazement, a small smile began to tug at the corners of Merry's mouth. "I'm not THAT idiotic, you know," he said. "I could tell you were more than a bit upset, whether you admitted to it or not."

I blushed. "I was a spoiled brat."

He laughed outright. "Yes, you were," he agreed amiably. "But there are some cases in which it's understandable."

I finally began to relax. "Maybe..."

"Definitely. Your brother filled me in on what happened. You were stretched to the breaking point and Garnet pushed you over." Merry spoke matter-of-factly, but his eyes danced with amusement. "I think it was quite noble of you to defend Fa - Fredegar that way," he concluded solemnly, aiming a half-bow in my direction.

My face hardened. "He's hurting. A lot. No one seems to understand that. And - I don't know, I feel like it's my responsibility to protect him. I get angry with anyone if they hurt him." I shrugged helplessly. "But it got a little out of hand last night. I *was* uncomfortable to begin with; I guess I was just looking for an excuse to leave. Unfortunately, you tried to interfere with my self-pity, and my self-pity didn't like that very much." I glanced up at Merry, and to my surprise, there was something that looked like respect in his expression.

"You shouldn't feel that guilty about it," he said quietly. "You had good intentions, and even if it got a bit out of hand - "

"It did," I cut in wryly.

"Fine, so it did," he corrected, grinning again, "but we all make mistakes. Right? So you can stop obsessing about it and get rid of that dour expression, for goodness' sake. I forgive you, Garnet probably deserved it, and there's nothing else to be guilt-ridden about!"

I attempted a tentative smile. "There you go!" Merry exclaimed. "I was beginning to think your facial muscles were paralyzed." He glanced behind us. "And here come our loyal cousins now. What's the betting they don't even thank us for our service?"

I raised my eyebrows. "I'm not taking that bet."

"There. See, you do possess some common sense. Though not a lot."

I gasped in mock indignation. "Well, excuse me! At least I have any at all. It's a well-known fact that you, Master Brandybuck, can SWIM."

"And why not?" he asked.

"Well, for one thing, it's against all common sense. Which, I thought, was our topic."

"I thought the topic was YOUR lack of it."

I turned and called to my cousin, who was now only a few strides behind, "Tulip - who has more common sense, Merry or me?"

"Merry," she replied emphatically, at the exact moment that Celandine said, "You, Stella, definitely."

Merry and I looked at each other. "Betrayed by our own kin," I said with a melancholy sigh. Merry shook his head in sorrow.

"Well, I wouldn't call it betrayed," Tulip began.

"Just...exposed," Celandine finished. "After all, Merry, whose idea was it just last week to throw rocks at Pippin's window to get his attention, but ended up breaking it instead?"

Merry winced. "Actually, I believe that one was Pip's."

Celandine turned to Tulip. "Can you believe that we are talking about two fully-grown hobbits here? You'd never guess." She faced Merry again. "Would he back you up on that?" she inquired, quirking an eyebrow.

"Most likely not. He lies incessantly, you know."

I could not remain silent any longer. "Oh? I seem to recall Pippin revealing - truthfully, I might add - a great many things that a certain Master Brandybuck wished to keep hidden."

"Lies, I tell you! All lies!" cried Merry, before I could reel off a list of incidents. Celandine gave him a playful shove; he pushed her right back. Slipping on a loose stone, Celandine lost her balance and grabbed Merry's sleeve in an attempt to keep her feet. Instead, Merry was caught unawares and he toppled as well, the basket slipping from his grasp. The two Brandybucks and a dozen eggs ended up in one very slimy tangle on the ground.

As Tulip and I watched them wipe egg from their faces, hair, and clothes, we could not help doubling over with laughter. And, after recovering a bit from the shock, Celandine and Merry joined in. We received a good many disapproving looks from hobbits passing to and from the market, but the four of us could not have cared less as we shook with mirth in the middle of the street.

Finally Celandine wiped her eyes and gave a final giggle. "Well, we've lost the eggs," she observed brightly.

"Really?" I replied, getting to my feet. "I hadn't noticed."

Merry reached up for my hand. "Help me up. I think I've been wounded."

"Oh, no," said Tulip, concern in her voice. "What's hurt?"

"Only his pride," I answered, grinning at Merry. "Am I right?"

"Alas, m'lady, you see right through me."

I pulled him up by his sleeve, and he slung an arm around my shoulders as if unable to walk on his own. "Help me," he gasped dramatically. "I think I can make it, with your aid."

Startled, I pulled away and he nearly fell again. "Come on," I said, suddenly uncomfortable. "Enough foolishness. Go get yourself cleaned up or people will think you're an egg monster."

"Which he is," Celandine countered. "But you're right. Meriadoc, wipe that pathetic look off your face and get moving."

Merry started to brush the dust from his trousers, realized the absurdity of it in his egg-plastered state, and instead simply picked up the empty basket. "I guess there's actually a reason they say not to put all your eggs in one basket," he said, sounding more amused than rueful.

"Yes," I agreed. "You never know when a certain clumsy hobbit might drop it."

"And we wouldn't want that, would we?" exclaimed Merry with wide-eyed innocence.

"Goodness no. Think what a disaster that would be!"

"Quite." Merry winked at me before finally turning with Celandine and heading toward Brandy Hall. Tulip and I hurried home as well; while she delivered our purchases to Aunt Pearl in the kitchen, I disappeared to my room. I had a lot to think over.
*******************

Okay, so you've read: thank you. Now PLEASE review! ::puppy eyes:: :D