A/N: I promised this to be an extra-long chapter, I know, but I'm still getting over my case of writer's block. However, I worked hard to make this as long as I could without dragging it out. So, I hope it's to everyone's liking!

Disclaimer: LotR is property of J.R.R. Tolkien. Not me. Now, my OC's. . .that's another story. . .

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Pippin trudged along, keeping his gaze glued to the ground. He didn't want to do anything to upset Will. For the past few days, the Man had been very irritable, and from his prior experience with him, Pippin knew to keep his distance. But now that he had gotten to know Fidell better, things weren't that bad. The two would often talk together as they walked, or if Will began to shoot them angry looks, they would talk to each other when they camped. Fidell had become almost like a second Merry. . .almost. Pippin still would prefer to have his cousin back.

But there were two things that still lingered in the back of his mind: Where was Will leading them and when were they going home? He noticed that the trees were getting thicker. That meant they were going deeper into the forest. Why deeper? Shouldn't they be going *out* of the forest? Pippin rubbed his forehead wearily. He hoped they would stop to rest soon. Will had to get tired sometime, didn't he? Pippin glanced over at the Man. Didn't he. . . ?

Just as he thought his legs were about to break in half, Will stopped them, dropping his pack onto the ground in front of a large willow tree.

"We'll rest here tonight, and keep going tomorrow," he told the other two. "We're almost there."

'Almost where?' Pippin wanted to ask, but he held his tongue. He would know soon enough anyway. With a huff, he slumped down against the willow tree, closing his eyes. Sleep was coming on fast, and he welcomed it with open arms. That was one part of traveling at a grueling pace every day: sleep came very easily. And this would have been a very peaceful sleep, except for one thing: Pippin could've sworn he felt something tugging at the back of his jacket. He swung his arm blindly to swat it away.

But the tugging persisted. His brow furrowed and he opened his eyes to get rid of whatever pestering creature was disturbing his sleep. But there was nothing there. Grumbling to himself, Pippin shifted and closed his eyes again. Suddenly, there was a firm yank on the back of his jacket. Startled, Pippin jumped up, shedding his jacket in the process. Will and Fidell were immediately at his sides. They watched as a crack opened in the tree and in went Pippin's jacket. The Hobbit stood wide-eyed and open- mouthed.

"My jacket!" he cried after a moment. "That tree ate my jacket!" He went over and kicked the tree. "Give it back, you wooden nuisance! Spit it out! You don't see me eating your leaves! Give me my jacket!" With a sudden whoosh, Pippin was sent sprawling backwards. One of the willow branches had swung around and struck him in the stomach. He stared up at the tree. "That is not a normal willow!"

"No, it's not," Fidell agreed, cautiously helping him to his feet. "Will, what is this thing?"

"It's Old Man Willow," Will answered. "I should've remembered. . .just don't go near it. We should be fine." A small branch suddenly swung, hitting Will in the back of the head. He swung around quickly, rubbing the stricken spot. "All right, perhaps we're still a bit too near. . ."

"Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring a ding dillo!"

Pippin looked up at the sound of the song. Where was it coming from?

"Ring a dong! Hop along! Fal lal the willow!"

It didn't sound very far off. . .Pippin never knew people lived in the Old Forest.

"Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!"

And the song continued, until on the path came a most unusual sight. It was a man, a short man, with bright red hair and clothes equally as flashy. Pippin had to look twice. He thought he was dreaming at first. But there he was, plain as day, walking cheerily down the path, singing. The little man spotted the other three, who were all staring openly at him, and smiled. The singing ceased.

"William!" the little man cried, running over to Will.

Will blushed. "It's Will, Tom."

"William, I knew you'd come back to visit me one day!" the man, or Tom, continued, ignoring Will's statement. "Goldberry has missed you. Ah, and you have some friends with you! A Shire-Hobbit, by the looks of him, and a strapping young lad! Now, where did you manage to find such noble companions?"

As much as Pippin was beginning to like this fellow, he couldn't take his mind off of the tree that happened to still have his jacket. Fidell snickered.

"Excuse me, sir?" he chimed in. "My friend here, the Hobbit, has lost his jacket to this. . .um. . .intriguing willow tree here. Do you suppose you could help us to retrieve it for him?"

"Most certainly, my fine lad!" Tom said joyfully. With that he walked over to the large willow tree, and began. . .singing! Pippin wanted to laugh. Of all things to do, he had not expected singing to be the chosen attack plan. He had thought perhaps set fire to the tree, make it give up the jacket? Or cut it open or something. But not sing to it!

However, this method seemed to work, for after a moment, the tree opened slightly in the trunk and spat the jacket onto the ground before Tom. The cheery man picked it up, thanked the old tree and returned it to its owner. Pippin gratefully took it and put it back on, glad to have it again.

"Now tell me, my dear William," Tom said, going to Will's side as the four began walking. "Where are you and your companions headed?"

"That is of little importance," Will replied. "We shall talk of it later. How is your Goldberry?"

After this, Pippin drowned out the conversation, not wanting to be rude and eavesdrop. He found it rather odd that this fellow showed up out of nowhere, and just in the nick of time, too. Perhaps it was more than coincidence. . .but then again, how could it be? The Old Forest was large, and planning something like that sort of chance meeting would be rather difficult. So he set the thought aside and let his mind wander: to this Tom Bombadil fellow, Merry and Iris, the Shire, and most of all: food.

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A/N: A very Pippin-y ending, I think. All righty, I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so. . .*deep breath*. . .SOOOOO sorry that I haven't updated sooner! I have been extremely busy. My exams are almost here in school, so of course I'm getting tons upon tons of homework thrown at me to prepare. Not to mention I have two other stories now to work on, and one that I haven't worked on in awhile, but hope to finish someday. I'm going to try to work out a system for my writing, and hopefully no more severe cases of Writer's Block will befall me. I doubt many of you still read this story, but if you still do, thank you so much for being so very loyal. Now, please review! Dancheshoen!