Disclaimer: Not mine. Really wish they were. A Little Help From My Friends was rejected from a site along with Brothers In All But Blood. They were very patronizing about it, but "Friends" is posted on about five sites so I don't really care. See, if I owned them, I could post them anywhere.

Hai Took-You'll see what happens. Don't really need a witness. That's my "foreshadowing" moment. :-). Would be cool if Pimpernel could go along but...well, you'll see.

Eternalflame-Must I be so cruel? No, I suppose not. Poor Pippin. His sister and me. They are dreadful, but don't worry. Things won't stay the same.

LOTR Board Comments:

He is very sweet. What mean big sisters!-Orangeblossom Took (I know. I feel bad for my Pippin.)

Sorry it took me so long to upload this but you know, life....anyways..

Chapter Eight-Mark of a Big Hobbit

Pippin sulked around the house for nearly five months. His punishment for destroying part of the crops was he had to stay in the house, only leaving to help his father in the fields and to do his chores. No amount of his pleading had changed his father's mind. Through it all, Pippin maintained his innocence. Another part of his punishment was he couldn't go to Frodo's birthday. Neither Merry nor Frodo were allowed to visit either.

Nel had tried to comfort her brother but it was in vain. The only thing he wanted was his father to end the punishment.

Their parents argued often about this incident.

"Paladin, don't you think you're being unreasonable?"

"Unreasonable? Tine, he ruined part of our crops. I feel terrible, keeping Merry and Frodo from him, but he has to learn."

"He keeps saying he didn't do it. Pippin's always been honest with us."

"I know he has. Part of me wants to believe he didn't do it. But if he didn't then who did?"

Meanwhile, Pearl and Pervinca were enjoying their brothers distress. They were often seen smiling at each other whenever Pippin asked when he could see Merry again.

They took their joy for granted though.

It was almost February. Merry's birthday was approaching and Pippin hoped his punishment would end so he could go to his party.

He walked to his father's study just two weeks before the party and knocked softly.

"Come in."

Pippin opened the door and walked in. "Father?"

"Yes, son?"

"I...I was just wondering..." He looked down at his feet. "I was just wondering if my punishment will be over in time for me to go to Merry's party."

Paladin sighed. It had been five months since the punishment and Pippin had been on excellent behavior since then. "We will have to see, Pippin-lad, alright?" Paladin had t o admit to himself the punishment was rather extreme for such a small lad, but had been told on more than one occasion to stay out of the crops.

"Yes, Father."

Pippin turned to leave when his father called, "Pippin, come here, son."

He walked over and crawled into his father's lap. "I know how much you miss your Merry. You do have to learn though." Paladin ran his hand over his son's curls.

"I didn't do it though, Father. I know you don't believe me, but it's the truth."

Paladin kissed his son. "I wish I could..." he stopped at the sound of two giggling voices in the hall.

"I can't believe we got away with it!" said one voice.

"I know! Pearl, you have the best ideas. Without Merry around, he's miserable!"

"You should be proud of yourself, Vincy. You're the one who did such a job of the field and cleaned yourself up rather well I might add."

Paladin's face turned to stone. He placed Pippin on the floor and headed to the door of his study. He opened angrily. "Pearl. Pervinca. In here now."

Pippin stood quietly in front of his father's chair as his sister were led in. He smiled inside at the looks of sheer terror on their faces. They hadn't expected to be heard.

"Explain yourselves."

Pearl started to speak but Paladin held up his hand. "No, wait. There is no explanation for such a thing. There is no reason for the two of you to set up your brother like that. To let him have your punishments for five months. You've both lied to me every day since August. You could've spoken up but you didn't. And the fact that you planned this? Is he really that terrible? What has Pippin ever done to the two of you that make you so horrible to him?"

Both girls looked down at their feet and didn't answer.

Paladin sighed and turned to his son. He knelt in front of him. "I'm very sorry I didn't believe you, Pippin. Do you forgive me?"
Pippin nodded.

"Alright then, why don't you go and pack. I'll be taking you to Buckland once I've dealt with these two."

Pippin smiled. "I get to see Merry?"

Paladin returned his son's smile. "Yes, you get to see Merry."

Pippin hugged his father and ran quickly out of the room, without a word to his sisters.

"Well, let's see now. What should I do with the two of you?"

The two girls exchanged a look before turning back to their father.

Meanwhile, Pippin skipped happily down the hallway. He almost ran into Nel, he was so overjoyed. "Oh, sorry Nelly but Father says I can go to Buckland today! Pearl and Pervinca were the ones who ruined the field!"

Nel gasped. "What why?"

Pippin's joy died down a bit. "To get me in trouble. I don't know why though."

Nel hugged her brother. "Me neither. But don't worry. Father will take care of them."

Pippin nodded. "Thank you, Nel. I know you believed me. I'm sorry but I have to go pack now. I get to see Merry!"

Nel laughed. "Alright then, have fun."

Pippin ran into his room. He didn't take the time to pack correctly. The faster he packed, the sooner he might get to leave.

A door slammed down the hallway and two figures ran by Pippin's door. Both were in tears.

Pippin finished packing and ran to his doorway where he almost ran into his father. "Oh. I was just going to see if you were ready. Was that Pervinca and Pearl that just ran by?"

"Yes. Indeed it was. They are confined to the house, just as you were. In addition, they won't be going to the Spring Festival in May."

Pippin looked up at his father. "Da?"

Paladin looked down in surprise at his son. Pippin had never called him that before but he rather liked it. "Yes, son?"

"I think you should let them go."

Paladin got down eye level with his son. "What? After what they did to you? You still want them to go?"

"Yes. They may not like me, but I love them. They love the Festival so much and...and I want them to go."

Paladin looked into his son's eyes. "You're really growing up, Pippin. You know that? That may be more of a punishment to them. Knowing that you forgive them enough to want them to go."

Pippin smiled. "I still have a while until I'm of age, Father."

"You know, Pippin," Paladin said as he stood up, taking Pippin's hand. "I liked when you called me, 'Da' just then. Wherever did you hear that?"

The pair walked down the hallway towards the kitchen so they could say good bye to Tine.

"That's what Sam calls his father. You really liked it?"

"Yes, yes I did. I wouldn't mind if you called me that. Only in private situations though."

Pippin nodded. "Of course!" he said. "Da," he added after a paused.

Paladin pulled his son close and kissed the top of his head as the two enter the kitchen.

"Going somewhere?" Tine asked when she turned and saw Pippin's travel bag.

"Yes! I'm going to Merry's!"

"Oh, really?" Tine raise an eyebrow at her husband.

"I'll fill you in later. Come on, son. If we leave now, we'll get there by nightfall." He clapped Pippin on the shoulder before turning again to his wife. "I'll leave first thing in the morning and be back by lunch tomorrow."

Tine walked over and kissed her husband and son good bye. "You have fun with your cousin. And behave for your aunt and uncle, you hear?"

"Yes, Mother." He hugged her tightly before grabbing his father's hand and leading him outside.

Soon the two were on the road to Buckland.

Pippin turned to his father. "Da, do you really think I'm growing up?"

"Yes, yes I do. That was a very grown up thing you said, about letting Pearl and Pervinca go to the Festival. That's the mark of a big hobbit."

Pippin looked out over the countryside. "But I'm not big, Da. I'm small for my age, everyone says."

Paladin looked down at his son. "Pippin, you are small for your age but you still have a lot of growing to do. Besides, I meant big on the inside. You have a good heart, son. Your sisters will see that one of these days."

Pippin looked at his father. "I know they will. I just hope they hurry up."

Paladin laughed and the two continued their journey to Buckland.