A/N: Wow, guys. I never expected this kind of response! Thank you so much for taking the time to review. Additional responses can be found at the end of the chapter =D

Thank you to Starlit Niphredil for being such a WONDERFUL beta!

One last note: In this chapter we begin to see more of the 'real' Pippin, more than Diamond's first few encounters with him. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

The Mystery That's Peregrin Took

Later that night I sat on my bed, knees tucked neatly beneath my chin. I had opened the window in order to enjoy the cool breeze - it had finally stopped raining and had somewhat cleared up. Now and then, as the clouds traveled lazily across the sky, I could catch glimpses of the moon.

My thoughts traveled back to supper. It actually hadn't been bad. Peregrin had been surprisingly quiet and focused solely on eating. He had had little reaction to my cousin Opal's attempts at doting over him as she offered him seconds, and then thirds, and the way she let her hand linger on her arm and scooted her chair closer to him every few minutes.

I snorted into the darkness of my room. It was ridiculous of her. No wonder he had such problems with conceit. It was lasses like her that made him that way.

But he really hadn't seemed that conceited during dinner, and if anything was somewhat shocked about Opal's undertakings... I frowned. Perhaps it was an act, everything he said about his charm and such. Something he said because he didn't really believe it. A few years ago when I insisted I wasn't a nuisance, Amethyst told me that the only reason I said it was because I didn't want it to be true, when, clearly, it was.

Of course, she was just saying that to upset me, but the general idea is the same.

Then again, maybe he really did believe it. I paused in my thoughts: what was 'it' exactly? The fact that he seems to think every lass is completely and utterly infatuated with him, I reminded myself at once.

Oh, yes, that.

Though... it wasn't like he didn't have reason to not believe it. I concentrated on his appearance for a moment. His face swam before my vision: vivid green eyes, messy curls that tumbled across his forehead and threatened to hide his eyes with even the slightest movement, his unnatural and oddly becoming height, the dusting of freckles across... I swallowed. Whatwas I doing? I was becoming exactly what I had just been disgusted with moments earlier!

Why am I even putting this much thought into Peregrin Took, anyway? I wondered. I had no answer to that. So I decided to do the only logical thing: stop thinking about him. It was a waste of time, anyway. So maybe he was good-looking. That didn't mean he had to become the center of my thoughts.

Deciding to leave the window open for the night and hoping it didn't rain again, I crawled beneath my covers and pulled them up to my chin. Since I wasn't thinking about a certain Took, I determined that it was best to think about something completely distracting. Something that took up all my energy.

My cousin Opal. It was perfect. I wrinkled my nose, glaring up at the ceiling. That haughty, stuck-up lass that strutted around here like she owned the entire Smials, absolutely convinced that every lad was desperately in love with her. She once told me that while she was walking home, a whole flock of lads followed her until she got halfway - before it became too much and she had to run and hide and wait for them to disperse. Then she nervously hurried home.

Of course, I didn't believe this for a second. Well, perhaps I did at first, but only for a few seconds. I almost laughed out loud at this memory, and quickly put a hand over my mouth to suppress my giggles as a sudden thought struck me: She and Peregrin deserved each other! He was just as...

I was thinking about him again, I realized. I glowered in frustration. Rolling over, I buried my head beneath my pillow, trying to will myself to sleep.

This wasn't going to happen anytime soon, though. Only a few minutes later, I heard soft voices floating through my window on the chilly air, though they were incoherent. From the sound of it, they were just outside and not very far from my window.

Curious, I clambered from my blankets and crept across the room. Once there I peered out into the darkness, brow puckered as I gradually made out two familiar shapes: one was distinctively tall - the other was undeniably Amethyst. I scowled. What was Peregrin doing with my sister? There was no lull in their conversation, and they appeared to be talking quite elatedly, although dreadfully soft.

I leaned out the window, straining my ears to hear. Their jumbled speech was still just as disjointed and bewildering as before. I shivered as the night air bit into my bare arms, took a deep breath, and leaned out even further.

The next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the moist grass, staring upwards at the sky in a slightly dazed manner. A dull pain throbbed across my backside. It took me a minute, but I realized I had fallen from my window. How I had managed to miss the rose bush would forever remain a mystery.

"Diamond!" Amethyst exclaimed from somewhere up above. I groaned and blinked, trying to clear my vision. Two strong hands clutched mine and pulled me to my feet.

"Are you all right?" Peregrin asked. I hesitated, allowing my head to stop spinning, and then stared at them both through the dark. It suddenly struck me that it was downright cold out here and I shivered violently.

"Just fine," I muttered, blushing deeply.

"What were you doing?" Amethyst asked. I could hear rather than see the smile in her voice, and I gazed at the ground.

"Nothing," I muttered. I looked up in time to see Peregrin and Amethyst exchange amused glances. I wanted to ask them what they were doing, but the desire to get as far away as possible overruled it and I kept my mouth shut. "I'll just... go back inside now," I said lamely, taking a step backwards. I turned towards my window awkwardly. It was further up than I remembered.

"We do have a door," Amethyst told me.

"Oh," I said. "Yes, right. I'll just... use that then." Obviously, I was very intelligent tonight.

"We'll escort you," Peregrin said cheerfully.

"Don't be silly," I said quickly.

But they insisted. Surprisingly enough, I didn't hear a single word about my sudden appearance, or much of anything else for that matter. They appeared to be done with their earlier conversation, but before Amethyst left us for her room, she shot Peregrin a knowing glance.

"Well," I said as soon as she was gone, suddenly feeling quite silly as I was left alone with Peregrin. I couldn't get what I had just done out of my head, and felt myself grow red again. "Thanks, I suppose... I'll just go to my room now..."

"I'll walk you," Peregrin decided, and before I could object, he added, "Lead the way."

I did so, thankful it was just to my room. Pausing outside the door, I felt that I should say something else. "Thanks again," I told him. "Goodnight."

"What were you doing at your window that caused you to fall, anyway?" Peregrin asked. Obviously he wasn't ready to leave just yet.

I sighed. "I could ask what you and my sister were doing..." I shot back with a glare.

"We were just talking," he said, shrugging. He smiled. "I didn't know you sneaked around listening to private conversations... you even risk falling from windows..."

"I do not!" I objected, and blushed.

"Just tonight?" he asked, smiling again. I was confused. Instead of a smirk, it was more like a warm smile... a nice one.

"Well, since you're so extraordinary and everything..." I retorted. He laughed. His nose wrinkled when he did. It was rather cute. Before I could berate myself for thinking this, he spoke again.

"You didn't... hear what we were talking about, did you?" he asked. His tone was almost worried. I stared at him. What had he been telling my sister? More about his charm, or how pretty she was? I took back anything nice I ever thought about him. He wasn't cute at all. He wasn't at all nice. He was arrogant and insolent.

"No, I didn't. Don't worry, I'm sure she thinks you're quite charming and considers herself extremely lucky that you so much as glance in her direction," I practically hissed. I put my hand on the doorknob of my room, intending to open the door and storm inside, leaving him out here to think about what I had said. I turned the knob and pulled, but the door didn't budge. I pulled again, before realizing my door opened inwards. I felt myself color again.

Peregrin didn't notice, or at least didn't comment. "I think you've gotten the wrong impression of me," he said quietly. I stopped dead and stared at him.

"Do you?"

"I was only teasing about the things that I said," he told me. "Every conversation, except this one, has been extremely short and not at all serious. It's not much to judge someone by." I eyed him skeptically. He smiled then, genially. "I'm not about to let you go to bed until you admit that I'm not as bad as you seem to think."

"Excuse me?" I asked, gaping at him. "I'm sorry, but I was taught not to lie." I tried to push my door open, but Peregrin grabbed the knob and pulled. I hung onto the knob and pushed. Of course, he won.

"It's not hard, Diamond," he said softly, grip never loosening on the door.

"Perhaps you aren't as bad as I first thought," I spat finally.

"Aren't as bad?" He cocked an eyebrow questioningly, smiling playfully. "What do you mean by that?"

"Not as..." I rolled my eyes and hesitated, searching for the right word, not entirely sure why I was playing along with him. "Haughty," I supplied at last. "Or at least not as rude."

"Rude?" He asked with an amused laugh. "If you'll kindly get the story right, Diamond. You're the one who decided that soup would do better on me than on the table. You're the one that started it."

I snorted. First he makes me admit he's not as bad as I thought, and then he argues with me! "I started it?" I questioned. "Perhaps I would not have poured soup on you if you hadn't been so arrogant!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Peregrin said swiftly. He kept a straight face, though his eyes gleamed with unspoken laughter. I suddenly found I couldn't tear my gaze from his.

"You started it, and you know it," I said softly. Then, before my mind could control my mouth, out slipped, "You're eyes are very... green."

He didn't say anything, but held my gaze before I felt my face burn and broke eye contact with him. I inhaled slowly, hoping to control the unexplained fluttery feeling in my stomach. I squirmed uncomfortably.

"Green is your favorite color," He stated.

"I..." I began, finding myself looking at him once more. I paused, brow furrowing at his words. "How did you know?"

His smirk was back in place. "Goodnight, Diamond," he said cheerfully, and strutted off down the hall. I watched him a moment, confused, then finally pushed my door opened.

Peregrin Took is a complete mystery. There is no other explanation. I slid into bed and this time was able to slip into slumber.

The next morning, I couldn't remember anything other than vague notions about my dreams - but I knew they had included a certain Took.

TBC

Thank you everyone for your reviews! I just have a few quick things to say to individuals:

brachan90 - I think I would fall for Pippin's charm, too. :) As for your question regarding Amethyst, she's older than Diamond.

Lady of Ithilien - I've always pictured Pippin as a flirtatious, slightly conceited (although he has every right to be! =D) hobbit. I've always imagined him receiving tons of attention from the girls after returning back to the Shire... it just had to boost his ego. ;)

Sigil Galen - Your comment about Diamond being a real gem actually made me laugh out loud! She's so much fun to write =D

PopcornLeader - I'm glad I made you smile, that was my goal =)

Everyone else, thanks so much for reading!