Disclaimer: Not mine. Tolkien's. Lucky.

Estella Brandybuck-Glad you don't think he seems too old, phew. As for him and Ferdi, well, keep-a-reading!

Hippy Hobbit-Isn't he cute? Little Ferdi! My brother sucks his thumb and he's 19. Scary, but that's where I got the idea from.

LOTR Board Comments:

((((Pip)))) That was great Pip. You are doing a wonderful job with Merry and Frodo-Belladonna Took (Awww, thank you!!!)

Excellent chapter! I'm amazed at how much you write in so short of time! Keep it going!-Queen of Gondor (When the muse hits, it doesn't stop! Thank you!)

Wonderful again PM!!!!!! :)-Silivren Ithildin (Thank you again!)

Aw, Yay! Another gorgeous chapter! And no 'hobbit angst' this time! (Well, not much) lol!-Evermind (Hobbit angst is fun though! Thank you!)

Loved it. There is a chapter 7 right? Can't wait.-vaires (Oh, but of course.)

Great chapter! Can I adopt your Merry and Frodo? :-)-Avondster (Sorry, they aren't mine to begin with, and if they were, I'd want to keep em.)

I am considering doing a fic about Regi and Ferdi in the Great Smials. It would take place around the same time as this fic and go up to around the time Pippin becomes Thain if not further. Anyone like the idea?

Chapter Six-Realization

It turned out, not only did they have to share a room, but a bed as well.

"You'd better not kick," Merry said as he and Ferdi were put to bed later that night.

"Now, Merry, be nice," Essy said.

"Yes, Mother." He looked over at Ferdi who was squirming from Regi's grip.

"Good night, Merry-love." She kissed his brow before turning to Ferdi. "Good night, Ferdi."

Regi turned to his little cousin. "Say good night."

"Night, Miss Essy."

"Good enough," Regi said with a chuckle, as Essy left the room.

"Frodo, why can't I stay with you?"

"Merry, Regi and I haven't seen each other in a long time. You can stay with me any time you want at Brandy Hall. Now." He kissed the top of his head. "Be nice to Ferdi."

"Alright, Frodo," he said with a sigh.

"That's my Merry-lad. Good night."

The two little hobbits were left alone in the room. Merry rolled over and looked at Ferdi. "You'd better not kick," he repeated.

"Regi says I don't."

"Regi lets you stay in his bed?"

The little hobbit shrugged. "Yes. Merry, why do you hate me?"

Merry thought for a moment. He didn't really hate Ferdi and he felt bad for making him think so. "I don't."

"Yes, you do. You told Frodo." The little hobbit turned to look out the window.

Merry frowned. He remembered that day. The Brandybucks had traveled to Tuckborough a little over a year before to see the Thain. Ferdi had followed Merry everywhere as Regi was with his parents visiting an elderly aunt.

"I hate him," Merry said.

"Now, Merry, he's just a little hobbit like yourself."

"He follows me!" Merry crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't like him."

"Yes, you do. Be nice to him, alright, Merry?"

Merry sighed. "Alright, Frodo."

Merry was very amazed that the hobbit remembered the words. He had been barely two at the time. He felt bad, knowing that Ferdi had overheard. "I'm sorry, Ferdi." He laid back in the bed and drifted off to sleep.

Ferdi looked around the dark room. Now that his roommate was sleeping, he was scared. He planted himself right next to Merry and soon fell asleep, his head on Merry's shoulder.

Regi was the first one in the room the next morning. He smiled at the sight of Ferdi laying half on top of Merry. Merry had had his arm around the smaller hobbit. He smiled when Frodo entered the room. "Looks like it worked, Frodo."

They extracted their respective cousin. "Time to get up, Merry-Mer."

Merry yawned and stretched. "Good morning, Frodo."

While Frodo was warmly greeted, Regi was not so lucky.

"No! I want Mama!" Ferdi hollered.

Regi hung his head. "I know, lad. Come on. Please, Ferdi." He looked his cousin in his eyes. "For me?"

Ferdi shook his head and dove under the sheets.

"Is he always like that in the morning?" Frodo asked as he helped Merry get dressed.

"Yes. Quite a challenge for his father when he can be bother to deal with him. Usually I can get him up, but..." He looked down at the lump under the covers. "Not today I guess. He's been like this since his mother..." He looked over at Merry.

"Merry, why don't you go into the kitchen and tell your parents good morning," Frodo said.

"No, what happened to Ferdi's mother?"

Regi sighed as he pulled back the covers and got Ferdi out of the bed. He held the little hobbit as he cried. "She...she died, Merry. Just a few months ago."

Merry frowned. He couldn't imagine losing his mother. "I'm sorry, Ferdi." He went over and held the smaller hobbit's hand. "You have to get up. We can't play if you're in bed."

Ferdi looked over at Merry, his eyes were red from tears. "We can play?"

"Yes."

"You don't hate me?"

"No, Ferdi. I don't hate you."

Ferdi nodded and let Regi help him get changed.

Later that day, Regi and Frodo struggled to keep up with their two active cousins.

"And to think, we wanted them to be like this?" Regi said as they watched the two little hobbits engaged in a wrestling match. "I think I liked it better when they weren't talking."

Frodo smiled. "Yes." He chuckled. "Cousins. I remember one day when I watched both Merry and Berilac. They decided to throw mud at me."

"Throw mud?" said Merry as he and Ferdi came over, both of them quite dirty. "Why throw it when you can play in it?"

Frodo raised an eyebrow. "Oh, my. We're going to be in a lot of trouble for letting them get this dirty."

Regi sighed and nodded. "Good thing his father isn't here. He'd have a fit."

"I'm sure he wouldn't be too mad at you, Regi. He is barely three after all."

"Not at me, at Ferdi."

Frodo raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment, knowing there were two little hobbits presents.

The two younger hobbits exchanged a look before throwing themselves on their older cousins.

It wasn't long before all four hobbits were muddy, but very happy. Merry and Ferdi fell asleep on their cousins' chests, very exhausted after a day of play

Frodo and Regi lay on the ground side by side, content at the peace that fell over them with the two younger hobbits sound asleep.

Frodo looked down at Merry. He still liked to watch the little hobbit sleeping, just as he had four years before when he feel in love with his cousin.

"I think I like them better like this," Regi said with a smile. "I remember when Ardy was this small," he added, referring to his five-year- old brother Everard.

"Where is he anyways? I'm surprised he didn't tag along as well."

"He wanted to stay with Father, and he's too young."

Frodo chuckled. "And Ferdi isn't too small?"

"We came here for Ferdi. Uncle Ferdinand has been wrapping himself up in his work lately. All but ignoring his son. Mother suggested a visit here, but someone had to come with him."

"You."

Regi nodded as he gently rubbed his cousin's back. "We've just told everyone I wanted to visit Uncle Paladin. We didn't want anyone to talk and have Ferdi hear."

Frodo sighed. "People do seem to forget that children have ears too. Come on, Reg, we'd best get this two inside and cleaned up before dinner."

The two stood up as best they could without disturbing the sleeping hobbits. Ferdi, ever the light sleeper, awake and looked up at his cousin. "Hello, Regi," he said as he got comfortable in his arms.

"Oh, so you are awake. You can walk then." He swung the small hobbit onto the ground. "Almost time for dinner, and you need a bath, you little mud puddle."

Ferdi giggled and went over to Frodo's side. "Merry! Wake up." He tugged at the cuff of Merry's trousers.

Merry stirred and woke up. He looked down before wiggling out of Frodo's arms. He grabbed Ferdi's hand and the two ran ahead of their cousins.

Frodo laughed at the sight. Both were very dirty and their dirt- streaked hair was sticking up in all directions from sleep. "We are in so much trouble, Regi."

"We should try and catch them. Get them washed up before they're seen."

Frodo nodded and soon they had two wet, younger cousins slashing everything in sight.

"I think I liked them better dirty," Regi said as Ferdi kicked his legs, sending water in all directions. "Ferdi, stop that please."

Merry giggled. "I like being dirty, too. Regi, did you know that Frodo is my brother?" He stood up rather quickly and would've slipped if Frodo hadn't grabbed him.

Regi raised an eyebrow. "Is he now?"

Merry nodded, his wet curls falling into his eyes. "My brother. No one else's, right Frodo?

"Yes, Merry." He poured another cub full of water over the hobbit's head.

Merry sputtered and brushed his hair out of his face. "Frodo!"

"Alright, you're as clean as you're going to be. Come on." He wrapped a towel around his cousin and took him out of the bath. "So, you two are friends now."

"Yes, good friends, Frodo. We're staying in the same room again, right?" The little hobbit looked over at Ferdi who was speaking in soft tones his older cousin.

"If you want to." He finished dressing Merry and grabbed a comb. As gently as he could, he combed the knots out of Merry's hair. "There. Much better." He kissed the top of his cousin's head.

"Well, they're clean and presentable, but our clothes are still very dirty. You two run along to dinner. We'll join you in a bit," said Regi, sending the two younger hobbits away.

Regi and Frodo cleaned up the bath and themselves before joining their family for dinner.

"When do you return to Brandy Hall?" Regi asked as they headed toward the dining room.

"Soon, I'd imagine."

"You really told Merry he's your brother?"

Frodo stopped. "That's quite a subject change, Regi."

"I'm sure you meant well by it, but it will only hurt him in the end."

Frodo stared at his friend is disbelief. "Hurt him? What are you talking about?"

Regi sighed. "It just will hurt him, Frodo. Thinking of you as his brother. What's going to happen if you leave? Just think about it, alright? Before you keep this up." He didn't wait for Frodo's response and he went into the dining room.

Frodo stood in his spot. Regi's words had cut right to the heart of the matter. He'd been asked by several Baggins to come and live with them. He'd actually been considering taking one of them up on the offer. He found it strange none of them had wanted him after his parents had died, and now, all of a sudden, he was a prize to be won, but he rather liked Old Bilbo Baggins. But would such a move hurt his younger cousin? He could only hope it didn't

AN: I'm posting Chapter One of "Beginnings and Endings" if you want to read it. It's about my favorite little hobbit, Pippin!