Chapter 1
The Girl Who Cured Pip's Heart
"Happy birthday, Pip!" exclaimed Merry Brandybuck as he gave his cousin a big slap on the back.
"Thanks, Cousin," said Pippin Took. He looked round the empty Brandybuck house, "Where is everyone?"
Merry smiled, "Getting ready for the big celebration of course," he signaled backwards towards a door, which led to the backyard. "They've been out there for almost two hours, you'd think they'd rush a bit more; after all, we can't keep the birthday boy...er... MAN, waiting!"
Pippin walked to a window which had a clear, wide view of the excitement and rushing about outside. Pippin glanced at Merry, "I'm not sure I want all this," he said with a frown that was so very rare on such a cheerful hobbit.
Merry cocked his head to one side and studied Pippin for a while, "Are you alright, Pip?" he paused, "After all, this is tradition... It's your thirty-third birthday...."
There was a long silence that lasted just a few seconds too long and Merry felt uneasy, "My mother's baking you a cake!" he blurted, "HUGE! CHOCOLATE!" he smiled stretching his arms out, trying to show the enormousy of the cake.
Pipin stared at his feet. Merry tried again, "Chocolate AND fudge!" Merry frowned, ".... Your favorite..." Merry placed an arm around his cousin, "Pip, what is it?"
Pippin continued to focus on his feet; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. He looked to Merry. Merry stared into Pippin's eyes that seemed to tell the entire story. Merry frowned, "...you miss Frodo?"
Pippin nodded, "Merry, I don't really want all this... If I could have one gift... it would be for my cousin Frodo to be here." He choked grabbed his head that seemed to throb terribly. He had a headache, a bad one and he was frustrated, "It doesn't seem fair. He was there for your thirty-third birthday... even Sam's," he paused, "I guess I'm just selfish." Pippin managed to laugh a little, but it was a laugh that made Merry feel uncomfortable and even scared. Merry took a cautious step towards his cousin, "It'll be alright," he said with a forced smile, "You got me after all."
Pippin nodded. He looked through the window and spotted a hobbit girl spreading a bright yellow tablecloth over a long picnic table. She had short thick, dark-chocolate-brown, curly hair. She looked up at Pippin and for that brief second when her green eyes locked with Pippin's, he forgot all his troubles and felt something new. A feeling that reminded him of that moment just before sleep; when you feel weightless...as if you're flying. Then the girl smiled and Pippin grinned back.
Merry stared at Pippin, half concerned and half relieved. Merry's mother called from the kitchen, "Merry!"
"I'll be right back, Pippin."
"Yes, Mama?" (author's note: Have you read my story, "Mama"? Read it!)
Merry's mother was covered with flour and mess from head to toe and Merry could hardly contain his laughter, "Mama, what happened?"
"Is it that bad?" Merry's mother said with a light chuckle, "My boy, I need a man's help with this batter! It's just too thick! I'm not strong enough to mix twelve pounds of this!"
Merry took a wooden spoon and began to stir the incredibly large bowl of chocolate batter.
His mother took a towel and began to wipe herself clean, "So how's Peregrin? Excited? Nervous?"
"Not excited, nor nervous. Mama, I don't really know what he feels right now." Merry thought back to the curly haired girl and Pippin's awe struck gaze. "Mama, there's a lass outside… brown curly hair, light skin, freckles… I believe she was wearing a blue dress…"
"Diamond."
"Diamond?"
"Yes, that's her."
"I think Pippin has a liking for her. He spotted her through the window and… just stopped… It was odd."
"Diamond and Peregrin! O, the names just go hand in hand, don't they?"
There was a pause as Merry finished stirring the batter.
"Mama?"
"Yes, Dear?"
"I was wondering... are you and Papa upset?"
"Why for?"
"Because... because I haven't wed."
"Merry, you don't have to get married! You're still young!"
"It doesn't feel that way, with Pip love struck and all." Merry handed his mother the wooden spoon, "I'm going to help with the decorations outside."
As Merry walked outside, he saw through the window, Pippin and Diamond. They were laughing and Merry felt a feeling he rarely felt… He was jealous.