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Author's Note: I am so…so…SO sorry that this last chapter took so long. Part of the reason I wrote this was to practice NOT abandoning multi-chapter stories. I succeeded in finishing this one, but it took SEVEN MONTHS FOR FOUR SHORT CHAPTERS. This final chapter is the shortest one (SICKENINGLY short to me), and it took me so long. You can shoot me if you want to, really. Please review and tell me…was this last chapter really worth the wait?
Ah well, in other news…my fifteenth birthday was July 6th, a week ago. Send me presents with your mind-powers.
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Lying by your side
Tender is the touch
Of someone that you love too much
Tender is the day
The demons go away
Lord, I need to find
Someone who can heal my mind
Come on, come on, come on
Get through it
Come on, come on, come on
Love's the greatest thing
Come on, come on, come on
Get through it
Come on, come on, come on
Love's the greatest thing
That we have
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Chapter Four: Tender
A few weeks ago Merry had almost been a faraway thought – just an occasional, random memory that sent a chill up his spine. But ever since that day one week before, when Merry confronted Pippin, the hobbit was on his mind constantly.
Pippin was also frightened by his own confession from that day – "No, I'm not happy." That was the first time Pippin had revealed that to even himself.
"I'm thinking about this obsessively again," Pippin said, disgusted with himself, "and I don't even realize it."
Now he was thankful for the plans he had made with his father that day. It would take his mind off things. They had simply made plans to take a walk and have a bite to eat – and hopefully, Merry would not turn up on the way.
Pippin was fixing his shirt when Paladin knocked on the door. He opened it cheerfully. Their relationship had definitely improved over the past few weeks.
Pippin pretended to be happy about it.
They walked through the fields outside first. The cool wind cleared Pippin's head; but he couldn't help but notice Paladin behaving in an odd manner.
"I…" he started. "I'm not sure if you know…just how proud of you I am right now."
Pippin winced.
"Your smiles seem strained around me. Maybe you're still upset about what I had to do to you a month ago. I know it might have seemed harsh, but it really was for the best. Look how much better things are now."
Pippin kicked at a pebble, thinking to himself.
I liked things better the way they were before.
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Weeks of avoiding Merry were over. If this weight was to be lifted from Pippin's chest, he needed to talk to Merry – in private.
Pippin's head swam with dread. He and Merry alone…who knew what could happen? And worse, if it did…who would know?
Little did the hobbit know, Merry wasn't planning on speaking to him for quite some time, and he was extremely taken aback a few hours later when he found Pippin on his doorstep.
"Oh. Pippin. I haven't seen you in a while. Do you need to borrow something?"
"No. I need to talk to you."
Merry paused. "I'm actually quite busy now," he said slowly.
"…Oh." Pippin lowered his head, dejected. "Maybe some time tomorrow, then?"
Merry nodded, then quickly returned to his house and closed the door. Pippin shivered and headed home.
Inside the other hobbit's house, Merry Brandybuck lowered himself to the floor by his doorway to try and calm his pounding heart.
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As Pippin expected, when he ventured back to Merry's hobbit hole the following day, he was no where to be found. Merry was avoiding Pippin, and with good reason. Even he would admit to that.
A picture of Merry formed in the young hobbit's head. With it came butterflies to his stomach, and a lightness in his head – then a feeling of sadness. Pippin was not happy without his cousin. He couldn't be.
"Maybe he went down to Hobbiton," he said to himself. Without taking a moment to rest, he started off to Bag End.
He did not spot Merry along the way. And Bag End stood empty of company, save for Samwise Gamgee. Neither he nor Frodo had seen Merry that day.
"You honestly wish to speak with him?" Frodo said, surprised. "I never thought I'd see you two look each other in the eye again."
"I know," Pippin said weakly, slumping down into a chair. "But I can't do it. It's driving me out of my head. I've been trying, but I don't think my feelings for him have changed at all. Maybe talking to him will settle all this, you know?"
"You want to be with him again?" Frodo speculated.
Pippin swallowed a lump in his throat. "I don't know. I think so…but then, I don't want to. It's wrong, isn't it? No one else around here has this problem."
Frodo's expression changed to one Pippin could not identify. "Oh, Pippin…there you are wrong. There are many other hobbits in the Shire that are like you and Merry. They, though, have never had the misfortune of being found together."
"How do you know?"
Frodo smiled. "Just trust me on this one."
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Merry and Pippin were not SO different, as the older one thought they had become. He had an anger-induced thought in his head, that Pippin would be spending all his free time sucking up to his father for the rest of his life. So, Merry figured, of course he couldn'tbe with Frodo.
Merry approached Bag End, finding the door open. He heard Frodo's voice first.
"You want to be with him again?"
Then another voice – Pippin's voice.
"I don't know. I think so."
Merry fell against the wall, dizzy. He waited a few moments, recomposing himself, before he entered the room.
"Just trust me on this one. Oh, look – it seems we have another guest."
Pippin looked up at him. Merry didn't need a mirror to know that he was blushing. It was okay, though – since Pippin was doing the same.
He couldn't tell who had taken the first step, but in an instant he had Pippin in his arms. Pippin shook against him.
"Pippin…what about your father?"
"He lied to me, Merry…he called me sick. I don't care about what he says anymore."
Merry could not stop smiling if he tried. Finally, everything was doing to be all right. He and Pippin were going to be together again, and no one had to know. Other friends besides Frodo and Sam didn't have to know, Merry's parents didn't have to know, and especially – Paladin didn't have to know. And if, by any chance, they were found out…who's business was it to mind, as long as Merry and Pippin truly care about each other?
On the other side of the room, Frodo Baggins took his gardener's hand in his own.
"Now, Sam…isn't that just the most adorable thing you've ever seen?"
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