"I think she over reacted Pip," Merry said jokingly as he and Pippin mopped up the remains of their adventure. It didn't do much though. Their clothes were still so wet that as they mopped up the water, a new puddle would form where they were standing.
"Naw, her reaction seemed about right. Her face went all red and her eyes bulged, not to mention that after she finished yelling, her hair was all over the place. It was just like the time she caught the two of us shaving the neighbor's cat."
Laughing at the fond memory, Merry smiled at Pippin, who was imitating his mother's angry look. "I love it Pippin!" But not as much as I love you, he thought. I suppose I shall never be able to tell him that…
Pippin sat still long enough to notice that Merry had that blank look on his face again. Pippin screwed up his face, trying to understand exactly what it was that Merry was staring at. Turning around, Pippin concluded there was nothing too interesting about the spot on the wall that Merry's eyes were attached to. "Merry, are you alright?" he asked. A hint of concern could be found in his voice. Merry meant the world to him, he was his best friend, and more; but Pippin was too young to understand the other thoughts he was beginning to feel about his cousin.
Shaking his head violently, Merry stood up from the mop he had been leaning on. He tried to focus his eyes on Pippin, but his thoughts were still elsewhere. "Umm, yea, I'm alright," he lied, "I'm just tired. Say, lets hurry up and finish here. I'm hungry, and the sun is shining brightly. Can we go on a picnic?"
Pippin beamed brightly at him. "Of course! You go get the picnic stuff together, and I will finish cleaning up here."