A/N: Some stuff I want to clear out about the story before any rambling…
Estella most probably won't be involved in the story…She may, though, but won't be playing any big roles.
The present story starts from when Pippin was in the Green Dragon; but for now I'll be writing chapters about their past, until it slowly unravels back into the present. I'll tell you guys when it does…I'll make it as confusing-free as possible!
And one more thing, if I'm writing any wrong information/abuse of character, please inform me because I haven't finished reading all of the books, so I don't really know if I'm right or wrong. I'll try to straighten out the bits when I can.
And finally, *takes a breath* if you want to give me any suggestions about the story or where it's going, please e-mail me at ambrosian_dreams@hotmail.com I'd be too happy to listen to them. :D
A/N: I'm glad that some of you have pointed out a that my fics are a little too long… (and spacey!).. I'll make sure I'll shorten them. And thank you Tauremorna, for that warning…I'm trying my best to keep the story rolling, and, make sense at the same time. Thank you so much for those awesome reviews! *hugs*
IMPORTANT QUESTION: I've just realized I have NO clue of how Diamond looks like. Yeah, that's a great start, *especially* when she's a part of my story. Sad, I know… can someone please tell me??
Summary:
Prequel to my first chapter. The hobbits are in their mid teens. Diamond is coming to visit, Poppy is allergic to muffins, Merry is acting weird and Pippin is the main victim of the story. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: They're all Tolkien's (the lucky…man), except for Poppy and her Merry-crazed sister.
Chapter 3 – MuffinsLittle grey irises peek in through the corners of the round windowsill of the kitchen, studying religiously the steps of an endearing blue-eyed hobbit as he walks down the lane. Strands of Lily-Rose's buttercream hair fall over her pink cheeks as she impishly bites her lower lip. She wouldn't want him to catch her spying on him, now would she? Of course she wouldn't call it spying, just merely noticing him. Doing even his everyday activities. Literally every day. That's all…
Poppy saw her little sister puckishly crouched near the window as she walked into the kitchen, and out of pure, unadulterated temptation she snuck behind her, creeping slyly and faintly to make sure her sister wouldn't notice. At the perfect moment, Poppy dived onto her victim, clawing her neck with her fingers and letting a deep roar escape her throat. Lily-Rose let out a maddened shriek and seeing it was her older sister being the culprit and not some wild beast that had found its way into their home, she started walloping her silly with the nearest tablecloth. Poppy choked in laughing fits.
"Stalking on the cute lad again, Lil?" Poppy asked keenly, her voice still trembling with bubbles of trailing mirth, her hand seeking balance from the nearest chair.
"I'm not stalking! I'm just…watching. Very…intently," shuffling her words, she gave her sister a trying poised look.
This only made Poppy burst out even louder, and Lily-Rose cupped her sister's mouth quickly. "Shush! What if he hears us?" Lily anxiously warned.
"Then I'll invite him in! I might as well tell him all about you and your little 'watching', miss," said the muffled voice. Seeing Merry was already out of sight, Lily-Rose released her captive and started for her muffins, freshly baked and set to cool on the table.
"Mmm, Lily these look wonderful! You're such an angel," Poppy said, her eyes set on the warm, golden little cakes set in a tray.
"They aren't for you, they're for Merry," Lily-Rose answered primly. "Besides, these have poppy seeds in them, and unless you want another romp down memory lane, you wouldn't want even a nibble out of them."
Poppy remembered clearly why she despised poppy seeds; and so did Lily-Rose. So did the whole family in fact. She was about nine years old and had scoffed down a muffin their mum had baked. Minutes later Poppy was capering vigorously on the dining table, and hopped about the house giggling deliriously. Merry and Pippin were there too, as unfortunate witnesses. Soon after that incident she went down with a high fever and stayed in bed for three grueling days. The thought of it was really ironic, not to mention coincidental that Poppy was allergic to…well, poppy seeds.
"You couldn't stand the sight of a muffin for weeks after that," reminded Lily-Rose. It was true, and Poppy took a step back, away from the kitchen table and those menacing muffins.
Just as she backed away a scrambled knock was heard at the door. "That must be Pippin. He must've sniffed your muffins miles away," answered Poppy, and she took to the doorknob. To her surprise, it was Merry; and Lily-Rose stumbled over her own foot at the sound of his voice, and was sent crashing into the dishes.
"It's alright! I'm fine! No need to worry about me!" She scrambled up, brushing away make-belief dust off her skirt. Smiling awkwardly at the four eyes that were glaring back at her, she hurriedly cleaned up after her catastrophe.
"Ah, she does that all the time," said Poppy, pouting her eyebrows and shaking her head. "So what brings you here? Pippin hasn't broken a leg or anything, has he?"
"Oh no, Pippin's fine. In fact he's coming over to have a little chat with you later. He's been thinking a lot lately. Very bad."
"Oh? Thinking about what?"
"I don't really know myself. He doesn't usually keep secrets; it's very unlike Pippin.." Merry trailed off, his eyes gazing fearfully at a bouncing blonde belle that was compact with delirium, grinning forcefully; a picnic basket in one hand. She plunked herself beside her sister and quivered at her stand.
"I…I made these for you, Merry. They're…um…umm…"
"Muffins?" helped Poppy.
"Yes! Muffins…I was wondering if you'd l-like to have some...muffins. I m-made them this morning…these…poppy seed…muffins…! " Lily-Rose stumbled and choked on her words, her voice barely fathomable and her cheeks flushing dark pink. Did she just say 'muffins' three times in one sentence? Poppy thought in helpless grief, rolling her eyes.
"I'd love to! They smell wonderful," cheered Merry, his hazy blue eyes almost twinkling at the thought of warm, moist morsels of rich freshly-baked muffins sinking in his mouth. Lily-Rose felt weak in the ankles at the sight of the husky irises.
"Aaaaaalright then," Poppy announced, getting slightly annoyed her sister's slow, dull hints.
"Lily-Rose!" She darted hastily, "Why don't you and Merry go have a picnic outside since you've baked these lovely muffins? It's such a nice day after all!" She perked her eyes and rapidly pushed the two hobbits out of the house.
"Have fun!" She slammed the door to their backs and waved the two goodbye from the kitchen window. The last of Lily-Rose that she saw was a pair of bright red cheeks, and two evil grey eyes darting back at her. Oh you'll thank me later, Lil, Poppy grinned to herself.
But for now, she was too distracted to think about her sister. Merry's words rang in her head. Pippin? Thinking?
…he's coming over to have a little chat with you later…
Now Poppy was beginning to worry. It's not like Pippin to do anything serious. Maybe he's going to ask about Diamond; she is coming over tonight. But maybe…maybe it's… or maybe it's nothing at all, Merry just gotten me thinking too much! That's it. Poppy was panicking, her heart was pulsating madly and she started feeling uncomfortable in her own skin. "It's not like I've done any crime, I don't even know why I'm worrying!" She kept reassuring herself, trying to giggle away the disturbing thoughts.
* * *
"I don't know why I'm worrying, it's not like I'm doing something wrong…" Pippin kept asking himself. He had taken a stroll around the little neighbourhood to clear his mind. Walking back and forth under the same tree a million times it seems, one might wonder why he hasn't left a large hole of his tracks in the soil.
After hours it seemed of self-arguing, "No, of course I'm not! And that's why I'm going right now to tell her!" he concluded, and as if with renewed spirit he marched down the road to Poppy's door. He was going to tell her, and nothing would stop him. Nothing of course, except for Poppy.
* * *
"Pippinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!" She sang, bursting at the door when she saw his face. She giggled hysterically and dragged him in with both arms. "Pippinnnn! Where have you beeeeen? You almost made me miss you! Hehe!" Poppy chuckled again, now romping about the kitchen, humming to a familiar tune. She hauled Pippin close until they were inches apart, her bright aquamarine eyes looking mischievously into his. Pippin, dumbfounded, gulped hard, his ears and cheeks burning hot at the proximity of their lips. "Pippin," she breathed, her voice calming a little.
"Yes, Poppy?" his throat was sandy, his hands were sweaty and his heart was beating furiously as he gazed back at her. Slowly her lips curled, and she chortled again. "Dance with me!"
Poppy forced him into an embrace, his hands clasped tight around her waist, and they skipped and danced around the kitchen table, and in the halls. One red, bewildered Pippin and a laughing, craze-driven Poppy. She sang a tune of an old hobbit-folk song, and despite their chaotic capering her humming was the only thing Pippin could hear. In Pippin's eyes, he saw, while they were spinning and turning and whirling across the house, the sight of the prettiest angel, and he felt something that he hadn't felt in a long while. He was happy and contented. And right there and then, Pippin felt like spending eternity just dancing, with her in his arms.
Just as they thought the world was shut out from them, a knock came on the door and the lass entered by herself. Her eyes were wide in shock, pleasant or unpleasant it was hard to tell, as she saw her dearest friend giggling madly, with a hobbit in her arms. Poppy took notice of the visitor and she shrieked in absolute, high-pitched delight.
"Diamond! You came! Would you like to try some muffins?"
~to be continued~
A/N: Ah, how can I continue without wonderful reviewers such as you to feed me your thoughts?! Oh how?? How?!?
Post A/N: ah, I hope you didn't find that confusing. Still trying to get used to making my chaps a little more packed… okay so I got Poppy high on L-R's muffins….And Pippin didn't do much this chapter. Well he couldn't. Anyway what do you think about Merry together with Lily-Rose? Cute, no? hehe more on that and (hopefully) the next chap would be more stable…trust me, writing a fic when you downed 3 different painkillers is not good…