Disclaimer: Am I a decedent of Tolkien? No. Therefore, I do not own them. ::Cries::

Thanks to persnickety(my beta) and Katelin-dear who kept reading even though I made her cry.

Hai Took-I know, they are horrible, but they'll turn around soon enough. Glad you liked Frodo's gift and the Frodo-Merry moment. ::Shameless plug:: If you want to read about that, that's the plot of my story, Brothers In All But Blood. If you do, bring tissues.

Xena-Aw, didn't mean to make you cry! Ok, I did, but at the same time I didn't. Yes, little Merry did follow Frodo around (see shameless plug above). Even though I wrote it, I too am shocked at Pearl and Pervinca. Who could be mean to Pippin? Hooray for Paladin! I'm glad you liked Frodo's gift!

LOTR Board Comments:

Not fair, not fair!! I want to know now. Please! Please! ::goes off and pouts in the corner::-Belladonna Took (oh, don't pout! LOL)

I love reading about little Pip. He is so dear. Wonderful chapter. I wonder what Paladin wants to talk to him about?-Orangeblossom Took (He is dear, isn't he? I want a Pippin....)

Great chapter! I so loved his meeting with Sam and his time with Nel and the neat little story about the Gaffer...such a fun story this is...thank you.-agape4rivendell (Awww, thank you!! I was seriously lacking Pippin-Sam time..)

Thanks to Ianar for helping me with Sam's lines and making him more like Sam!

Chapter Five-No Use Crying Over Spilt Cake Mix

Pippin leaned against a tree near the edge of the fields. He ran his hand casually over the grass until he found a suitable blade. He popped one end into his mouth and put his hands behind his head. His thoughts began to wander. It was August and his twelfth birthday was approaching. It was normally a happy time for the young hobbit, but not this year. Merry had come down with a late summer illness and would be unlikely to make the party in two days.

Pippin sighed, tossed the blade on the ground, and got up. He looked toward the fields, intending to run through them. He wanted to get away and run all the way to Buckland; all the way to Merry.

"Pippin?"

He turned around and saw Nel standing before him.

"Hello, Nelly." He turned back to the field.

"Pippin, are you alright?" She stepped forward and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Nel."

"No, you aren't and that worries me."

"I told you, I'm fine." He pulled away from her grasp and crossed his arms over his chest.

Nel frowned. She loved her brother deeply and it hurt her to see him so upset. She stepped forward and put her hands on his shoulders. "Is this about Merry?"

Pippin turned his head away. "Maybe."

"It is. I know it. You can't hide anything from me. Pippin. You never could. I'm sure Merry wishes he could be here, but it's only one birthday. He's been there for the last eleven and he'll be there for many more."

Pippin sighed and looked back as his sister. "I guess you're right Nel."

Nel put her arm around her brother. "Come inside, Pippin."

The pair headed towards their home. "Nel, do you know if Frodo is coming?"

"Mother hasn't heard from him yet, but we do have two more days so don't worry. Besides, he gave you that coin so he'd always be there, even when he wasn't."

"Nel, I'm glad you'll be there. I don't think I could handle a party without you being there."

Nel smiled. "I love you, dear Pippin, and I'll always be there."

Pippin hugged her as they walked.

She looked at her brother again and couldn't quite understand why Pearl and Pervinca could be so mean and hostile towards such a child. Pippin was a bright, happy lad, who radiated joy on almost everyone who met him, except, it seemed, Pearl and Pervinca. She knew that Pippin loved all his sisters. He tried so hard to get Pearl and Pervinca to be nice to him that he usually ended up making things worse.

Once the two were inside, Nel went off to her room while Pippin went into the kitchen to find his mother. Instead he found Pervinca and Pearl mixing something in a bowl.

Pippin walked over to the counter. "Where's Mother?"

"She went out to give Father his luncheon," said Pearl.

"Is that my cake you're making?" he asked, eagerly.

Pearl sighed. "Yes, Pippin. Now please, leave us alone."

"Pearl, please, I want to help. I want to help make my own cake." He tugged on his sister sleeve.

"Let go, Pippin." Pearl walked over to the table and put the bowl down. "Leave Vinca and I alone or there will be no cake."

Pippin looked over at the table and at the bowl. Both Pervinca and Pearl had their backs to it. He ran over and took the bowl in his hands, pulling it towards him. He had the overwhelming urge that all children have to reach in and sample some.

"Peregrin Took! Put that down!" exclaimed Pervinca.

Pippin started to run all over the kitchen, laughing. "You'll have to catch me, Vincy!" He held the bowl out in front of him.

Pervinca scowled at her brother as she chased him.

Pippin giggled as he looked over his shoulder. He chose a bad moment to do so as he ran into Pearl, spilling the entire contents all over his eldest sister.

"PIPPIN!" she hollered! "Look what you did to my new dress!" She began to cry.

"I'm...Pearl..."

Of course, at that moment, Tine returned to her kitchen. "Pearl! What happened?" She saw her daughter's tears and ran over. "What in world?" She put her arms around Pearl's shoulders.

"HE happened! He stole the cake mix bowl and spilled it all over my new dress." She buried her face in her mother's shoulder.

Tine sighed and looked at Pippin. "Pippin?"

"It was an accident, Mother. I didn't mean it." Pippin stepped closer to his mother.

"Well, now you've ruined it, Pippin. I don't think you'll get a cake now," said Vinca as she got down to clean the mix off the floor.

Pippin looked at his feet.

Tine managed to calm Pearl down and set her to the bath. "Pippin, why don't you go outside? I'll have your father deal with you later. You know better than to bother your sisters in the kitchen."

"But, Mother, I just..."

"No 'buts', Pippin. Please, do as I tell you."

Pippin shuffled slowly out of the kitchen. Once outside, he leaned against the wall and sank to the ground. He pulled his knees up to his chest and put his head on his knees.

Pippin sat that like for a time when he heard a slight noise coming up the path. He popped his head up and saw a cart coming to a stop. In the driver's seat was Samwise Gamgee.

"Hello there, Mister Peregrin!" Sam said as he got out of the cart.

"Hello, Sam."

Sam looked curiously at the smaller hobbit. He knew at once something had to be wrong as Pippin never failed to tell him off for calling him 'Mr. Peregrin'. The young hobbit usually asked that Sam call him 'Pippin', which the gardener always refused.

"Is everything alright?"

"Not really Sam. Oh, if you won't call me Pippin, will you at least call me, Mr. Pippin? I hate being called Peregrin." He once again buried his face in his knees.

Sam smiled and sat next to Pippin. "Well now, I think I can manage that, Mr. Pippin. Now, if you don't mind my asking, what's the matter? I don't rightly know when I've seen you without a smile."

Pippin mumbled something Sam couldn't make out.

"What did you say, Mr. Pippin?"

"I ruined my birthday."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry to hear that. But how did you get to ruining your birthday when it isn't for two more days yet?"

"I spilled the bowl of mix all over Pearl's new dress. So, not only will I not have a cake, I'll probably get in trouble for ruining her dress. To top it off, Merry can't come and I haven't heard from Frodo yet." His tears threatened to spill over.

"I reckon I might have something to change some of that, that last part anyhow." Sam held up a letter that was addressed to Pippin.

Pippin looked curiously at the letter. "Is that from Frodo?"

"That it is, sure enough. I was on my way to Tuckborough as it were and so Mr. Frodo asked if I'd be bringing it by to you, knowing as how you'd be that anxious to get it and all."

Pippin smiled and took the letter. He ripped it open. "He's coming! Frodo's coming! Oh, thank you, Sam, for bringing this to me!" He hugged Sam. "Thank you." He pulled away. "You're coming too, right?"

"You'd be wanting me there, Mr. Pippin?"

"Of course I do! You're Frodo's friend so that makes you mine as well."

"Well, I thank you, Mr. Pippin and I will be there."

Pippin leaned his head against Sam's shoulder. "Do you remember the day you met me, Sam?"

"Don't know as how I could forget? I've never seen the Gaffer as mad as all that before, and that's a fact. I also never saw him calm so quickly as he did. You sure do have a way with adults, Mr. Pippin."

"Well I was only three Sam."

It had been early spring when Pippin had gone with his family to see Frodo and Bilbo. While the adults had been talking, a curious three-year- old Pippin had managed to work his way outside. He saw the garden that Bilbo was quite proud of. Of course, most of the work was done by Sam's father, who everyone called 'Gaffer'. Pippin, too, fell in love with it. He ran through the numerous flowers. After a short while, he laid down among them. He decided to pick a flower for each of his sisters and his mother. Despite how they treated him, Pippin still cared for Pearl and Pervinca and didn't want to leave them out.

It was at the moment that the Gaffer decided to come out and check on his work. "What are you doing?" he exclaimed, his face turning a deep read

Pippin shot up quickly. "I'm sorry. I just likeded the flowers." He held up the four he had picked.

The Gaffer calmed a bit when he saw who the culprit was. One found it hard to be mad at a three-year-old hobbit for very long, especially this three-year-old.

"Da? What is it?" A thirteen-year-old Sam showed up on his father's side. "Who is that?"

"That, my lad, is Mr. Paladin's son, Peregrin. Mr. Peregrin, this is my son, Sam."

"Hello, Mr. Peregrin."

"Call me Pippin." The young hobbit looked up at the two taller ones.

"Oh, I don't think I could do that, Mr. Peregrin."

"Sam, why don't you take him back into Bag End. I'm sure they'll be looking for him. You may stay and visit Frodo if you wish."

Sam nodded and held out his hand to Pippin, who looked up curiously at his newfound friend.

"You friends with Frodo?"

"Yes, I suppose I am."

"Me too! He said so!"

Sam smiled down at Pippin. "Yes, I'm sure he did."

A small laugh brought Pippin out of his thoughts. "What is it, Sam?"

"You haven't changed much since then, Mr. Pippin?"

"Yes, I have! I've grown and..."

"I didn't mean that, Mr. Pippin. Leastways, I meant to be sayin' that inside, you're still the same." Sam stood up. "I'd best be off now as I've still things to be seein' after, if you follow me. I'll be seeing you at your party, Mr. Pippin. And I thank you for invitin' me."

Pippin stood up. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry there'll be no cake."

Sam got back into his cart. "Oh, I'm sure there'll be a cake, anyhow. I don't doubt your mother will make sure about that. Farewell for now, Mr. Pippin."

"Bye, Sam." Pippin waved as Sam went back down the road.

"Pippin," came a stern voice behind him.

He turned to find his father standing in the doorway, hands on his hips.

"Yes, Father?" Pippin said, leaping to his feet.

"Come here, son. We have to talk." Paladin place his hand on his son's shoulder and led him inside.