DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything that has to do with Lord of the Rings. Nothing. Nada. Nil.

Merry and Pippin sat in the shade of a big oak tree, smoking their pipes and enjoying the lovely weather. It was very peaceful in the Shire, something many hobbits had not felt for a while. When Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin had returned to their beloved home, they found it overrun with evil men. Saruman had taken control of the Shire, along with the skulking Wormtongue. The four Halflings had their work cut out for them, but managed to run Saruman out of the Shire. Along the way out, Wormtongue, in a fit of fury, threw himself on Saruman and slit his throat with a knife. When he ran, hobbits shot him down. Thus the evil was driven from the Shire, although there was still much damage to be fixed. It was now two months later, and the grass was just beginning to grow again, flowers were blooming, and homes had been rebuilt. Yes, life was returning back to normal. Well, almost.

" Well, now with the Shire safe and everything, I have a bet to win!" Merry said happily as he stood to his feet and began to make for the Green Dragon Inn.

" Oh, Merry, must we still go on with this silly game?" Pippin asked. Secretly, he was hoping that Merry had forgotten all about the bet they had made in the House of Healing on that far away day. He had not yet seen Diamond, but he was beginning to doubt himself.

" Oh, come on, Pip, I bet she's down at the Green Dragon, waiting for you!" Merry teased as he headed for the very place.

" Hey, wait for me! A good pint of ale sounds good!" Pippin cried as he jumped up and followed Merry down the dirt road.

" Yes, I am sure a pint of ale does sound good," Merry said sarcastically. As they drew nearer to the inn, laughter and other sounds of merriment could be heard.

" After you," Merry said, stepping aside and letting Pippin enter first. Pippin walked in and instantly spotted Diamond, with her glossy black ringlets framing her face and blue eyes catching the light. She looked his way, then got up and began walking over, her arms open for a hug. Pippin almost went into shock. He smiled and held out his arms in eager anticipation. Could this be happening he thought in joy. Diamond drew closerthen floated right by Pippin and into the arms of a handsome hobbit behind him! The smile faded from Pippin's face as he wandered over to the bar.

" A pint of Ale, please," he said, then took his mug and sat down at an empty table in the corner, feeling dejected. He watched Merry stroll over to him. Both hobbits, when they were standing, were a good six inches taller than the others because of the Ent draught they drank in Fangorn.

" Well, Pippin, I can see that you have your work cut out for you!" Merry remarked lightly as he sipped his ale.

" Aye, that's for sure," Pippin said sadly as he watched Diamond talk to the hobbit she had hugged.

" Well, if you'll excuse me, Estella is waiting," Merry said as he stood and walked over to the pretty, blonde hobbit maid. He plunked his ale down on her table and took the empty seat next to her.

" Hello, Estella," he said, trying to sound dashing. She looked at him oddly as she scooted a couple of inches away from him.

" What are you going to do to me, Meriadoc Brandybuck? Put another spider down my dress like you did at Bilbo's party?" she asked crossly, her hazel eyes flashing.

" No, I would never dream of doing anything of the sort!" he said in indignation, his eyes widening.

" Then what is it? Have you got some other foul scheme planned?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

" No, honestly!" he said, trying to sound more innocent than dashing now.

" Well, whatever it is you have planned, it is not going to happen!" she said angrily as she rose and stalked off to another table. Merry stood, crestfallen, and made his way back to Pippin.

" Oh, aye, she was definitely swooning in your arms," Pippin said sarcastically.

" I'm just wearing her down, Pip. You just wait. A little more of my magic, and Estella will be mine," Merry gloated to cover his despair.

" I am sure she will be," Pippin said doubtfully as he took another drink. You see, Pippin knew, as well as many others, that Merry was the kind of hobbit that teased and mocked his true love, but never really meant any of it.

" Well, I don't see you having any success with Diamond," Merry said to draw the attention away from his own failure.

" She is making small steps. She made eye contact with me a minute ago," Pippin said proudly.

" Reeaally?" Merry asked slowly.

" Yes- oh, there she goes again!" Pippin whispered excitedly as Diamond glanced his way. Merry looked at Pippin as if he felt sorry for him.

" A little more eye contact, Pip, and she might just smile at you," Merry said sarcastically. At least he had TALKED to Estella.

" I think I'll go over there and talk to her," Pippin said abruptly as he stood up and began to make his way towards Diamond. He reached her table just as she was laughing at something one of the other hobbit's had said. He stood in front of her. She looked up and noticed him.

" Uh hiuh," Pippin stammered. Diamond looked up at him expectantly.

" Hello, Pippin!" she said cheerfully, as if encouraging him to go on.

" You know who I am?" Pippin asked hesitantly.

" Everyone knows who Peregrin Took is!" one of the hobbit men said loudly with a laugh. The table erupted in laughter, including Diamond. Pippin looked down and walked back to Merry, their raucous laughter chasing him.

" You should have stuck with the eye contact, Pip," Merry said, feeling sorrier for Pippin than ever. Pippin drained his ale, then stood up.

" I'm going to head home, Merry," he said quietly.

" Do you surrender?" Merry asked. Pippin turned to him, his eyes flashing.

" No, I don't!" he said angrily, a rare thing for Pippin. Merry watched him walk out of the room, slightly shocked at the outburst. Soon, he too headed for his hobbit hole.

Do ya all like that? Huh, do ya? Do ya? Do ya?

Laurelin: if you read my other story, "A Different Kind of Hero", the whole Angmar thing makes a bit more sense and is actually quite plausible because I haven't had any complaints so far! Keep reading!

Heart of Flame: Pippin is one of my favorites, too! I'll go check out your poem and tell you what I think.

Pandagrrl: Yes, more laughs for you!