Author's Notes: I wasn't planning on putting up this next part so quickly... I had originally planned to wait until tomorrow or whatnot but my dad informed me that when I get off and go to bed tonight that I am to unplug the computer and pile all the plugs and wires onto the computer desk. Stupid "hurricane" Isabel... *shakes fist* Flood my basement, will you? Make me unplug my sweet Sam the computer... not fair! The only upside is that if the storm ends up being as bad as the news keeps saying, I won't have to go to school! And if I don't go to school, I can't have that Philosophy test on Monday! Speaking of tests I got my IB math test back today: 47% Total ick... but at least now I have a goal to work towards.

Now about this story. This next chapter... okay, well the main event in this chapter takes place about a year or so after Pippin's birth. So Merry is around nine and Pippin is somewhere around the age of one.

Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien and therefore do not own these characters.

Pipsqueak Peregrin

Chapter Two: Nothing More than a Bawling Brat

My opinion of the new lad changed very quickly over the next little while though. My stay with Mum and Dad at Great Smials was not one of fun nor relaxation. Pippin was a fussy baby and spent most of the time, especially the nights screaming and wailing for something. Despite the smials being one of the largest hobbit holes in the Shire, Pippin's shrieking somehow managed to carry down every passageway. There was no escaping it. Uncle Paladin would not play with me anymore. He was too busy with his son. Pippin was a very important baby. He would be Thain now some day when he was grown and was now Uncle Paladin's heir. Mum and Dad even seemed too busy for me. They gave all their attention to Pippin and I was often told to go and amuse myself either in the garden or in the play room.

Other hobbits and relations came from all over to see the new addition to the Took family, and the new heir to its fortune. Even cousins Bilbo and Frodo Baggins came down from Hobbiton to see their new cousin. I was glad at first. Frodo would surly play with me and Bilbo always had time for all hobbit children. But I was wrong. All Frodo could talk about was Pippin and Bilbo spent all his time with the new babe and Uncle Paladin.

I just couldn't understand what all this fuss was for, and over such a small thing too. Babies weren't something new, so why was everyone treating Pippin like they had never seen anything of the like before? How could they adore something so loud and fussy too? It just didn't make any sense! In my opinion, the sooner Mum and Dad decided to leave for home, the better. Pippin wouldn't be coming with us and they'd have no choice but to pay attention to me now.

Sure enough, our stay with the Tooks was eventually over and we returned to Buckland, much to my endless relief. No more Pippin, no more being shunted aside; things would finally go back to the way they were supposed to be. At least, that's the way it would be in Brandy Hall.

Uncle and Auntie however would no longer have all the time for me that they once did. Uncle Paladin especially would pay less attention to me now that he had his own son to fool around with. I suppose I couldn't blame Pippin for stealing back his own father but I was still bitter. Especially when all Mum would constantly talk about was "dear little Peregrin."

Fortunately, I had other Brandybuck cousins and friends to play with back in Buckland and was soon submerged into the normal tidings of daily life. Fatty Bolger and I spent our days playing around the borders of the Old Forest or skipping stones down at the Brandywine River. In no time at all I had nearly forgotten about Pippin altogether.

Then they came to visit. The year's winter had given way to a lovely spring and all the Shire was filled with green. I was looking forward to this warm new weather. Dad had promised to take me out fishing now that he had decided I was old enough. It was all I looked forward too. But then a message came from the Tookland. Uncle Paladin and his family were coming to stay at Brandy Hall for a while. This meant the brat would be within my sight again and all the attention would once again be focused on him.

Sure enough, upon their arrival, all attention was drawn towards Pippin. Dad kept saying how much he had grown since he had last seen the boy which was obviously a lie. Despite having grown some hair instead of his soft fuzz, Pippin was still a miniscule little thing and could barely stand on his own two feet, let alone walk. He had not learned to speak to hobbits when he wanted something too and still resorted to wailing at the top of his lungs whenever he wanted someone's attention. In my opinion he was no different than the last time we had met, only with more hair.

It seemed to me that Pippin was not that impressed by my mother and father or Brandy Hall in general. He refused to let anyone but his own parents hold him and started to cry whenever one of the nurses would pick him up to deliver his bottle. I was almost ashamed for Pippin. He was given so much attention but seemed to have no appreciation for it. I thought he was too stupid to realize what was going on. A lad his age should be able to manage more than just a few simple words and should especially be able to walk on his own. But it seemed Pippin was determined to stay on all fours and simply cry when he wanted something.

I shouldn't complain though. With Pippin being the small and sluggish hobbit he was, it was very easy to shake him off. Despite not wanting to be touched by any of the other Brandybucks at the hall, Pippin seemed to have developed a fascination towards me. Everyone said it was so adorable how whenever I was around he'd shout, "Mer!" and squirm in his mother's arms in a vain attempt to reach for me.

I suppose I should give him credit... he could at least say half of my name. That was no saving grace however as Pippin had barely been at Brandy Hall for a few days when he first etched himself a permanent place in my bad books.

I had been minding my own business, dreadfully bored on a particularly rainy day with nothing to do but curl up with a book. Books are not a bad thing and I rather enjoy reading but I would have preferred to be outside in the open air. The weather seemed to set her will against mine, however, and I was forced to be indoors.

It wasn't a particularly interesting book; I don't even remember the title. I wasn't really into it; I concentrated more on listening to the sounds of the hall. I was surprised to discover none of Pippin's daily shrieks were reaching my ears. It was relatively quiet in the room, save for the pitter patter of rain against the window. I sighed peacefully and smiled to myself. The silence was golden.

This didn't last long, however, as a sudden squeak of "Mer!" interrupted all thoughts and daydreams I had been experiencing. I glanced over the top of the book's pages and, sure enough there was Pippin, sitting on the floor smiling up at me. He seemed pleased with himself for having crawled all over the hall to finally discover my hiding place.

I decided it would probably be best to ignore him and go back to my book. Maybe something in that head of his would click properly and he'd take the hint to go away. Unfortunately, this action seemed to have the opposite effect and with a small huff of indignation, I felt Pippin grab at my ankle.

"Meeeeeeeeeeeeeer!"

"What?" I asked exasperatedly.

"Up!" Pippin squeaked, holding out his arms as an indication for me to pick him up.

"Oh go bother someone else," I replied, going back to my book.

"Up!" he repeated. "Mer! Up!!!"

"No, Pippin, go away."

These words didn't seem to register inside my cousin's mind. Instead of crawling off to get someone else's attention he still seemed keen to get me to look at him, something I had no intention of doing. I watched over the top of my book as Pippin struggled to pull himself to his feet, using my foot as leverage. I was nearly tempted to kick him off once or twice but decided against it. Not that I cared for the brat's safety but knew I'd probably get punished for it.

Despite not being able to walk or balance himself, Pippin seemed to be a good climber and after several minutes of valiant struggle, managed to pull himself up onto the arm chair and into my lap. I sat, staring at him in surprise. He just smiled back, giggling.

"You're really quite proud of yourself, aren't you?" I remarked, arching an eyebrow. Pippin smiled and clapped his hands together as a sign of agreement. "Well, let's see if you can't do that again." Setting down my book, I picked up the lad and set him back down on the floor.

Pippin didn't seem the least bit perturbed by my actions and in no time had proceeded to climb back up into my lap. I set him down on the floor once again and yet again Pippin climbed back up, giggling. I frowned. He thought this was all a joke. It had to have been at least the fifth time Pippin had climbed back into my lap when I decided enough was enough.

"No," I said firmly, setting him back down on the floor. I quickly drew my legs up to my chest and sat back so he couldn't use me as a ladder.

Pippin sat there, looking up at me for a while. Slowly, his amused grin faded and his face darkened in disappointment. I sighed. This was all too familiar a situation. I knew what was going to happen next.

"Mer? Up?" asked Pippin, his voice quavering.

"No up," I replied.

Threatening tears were glistening in the corners of his large green eyes. Pippin held his arms out, reaching for me. When I made no move to pick him up, Pippin let his arms fall limply to his sides. His bottom lip was quivering. I covered my ears, knowing what was to come next. Sure enough, Pippin opened his mouth and let out an ear splitting wail which reverberated off the walls.

It wasn't long before Mum and Auntie came running into the room to see what was going on. I looked helplessly at Mum as Auntie scooped up the bawling Pippin to try and calm him down.

"What happened?" she asked, trying to hush the tiny Took.

"He just started crying!" I explained. "All because I wouldn't let him sit in my lap!"

"Merry!" huffed Mum, fixing me with one of her disapproving looks. "What was wrong with looking after your cousin?"

"I don't play with lads who soil themselves and can't talk," I replied curtly. Auntie looked at Mum who frowned.

"Come here, young man," Mum ordered, seizing me by my ear. "We're going to have a little talk about baby cousins and how older lads ought to treat them."

Mum dragged me out of the room very painfully. She stood me in the hall and loomed in front of me, looking very displeased.

"Really, Meriadoc, I don't know what's the matter with you," she said. "Pippin may be a handful but he's young and doesn't know any better yet. All he wants is to play and as his cousin you ought to be there for him. He loves you and it seems he's chosen you to be an impression for him. So you best smarten up and act proper!"

Before I could reply she turned and left for where Pippin and Auntie were. Frowning, I skulked off for my room deciding I was better off staying in there for the remainder of the day.

Pippin this and Pippin that. Didn't anyone see what was really going on? I'm sure Pippin knew very well what he was doing and that was annoying me and getting me into trouble! He had to learn you didn't always get your way and that intelligent hobbits such as myself did not play around with stupid brats like him and crying would not change things.

I know, Merry seems like a really wicked cousin, doesn't he? But I suppose if he feels like Pippin's his replacement he wouldn't be too keen on the lad. Review, remember it encourages me to post up the next chapter and I will see you all... whenever. *goes off to unplug Sam*