Author's Note: Hey everyone. Thanks again for the kind words. I have to admit, it's quite nice to know so many people out there are so concerned with Pippin. (I'm not the only one, yay) Keep the reviews coming!
Sorry it's taken a bit longer to update, schools started again so... groan. As promised, I've started to reply to my reviewers personally, so here goes.
Life is what Happens
(BTW I thought I should perhaps mention that Pippin is 10 years old in this fic, a year before Bilbo leaves the Shire, and he is the equivalent of a 6 year old human boy... sorta)
Orliey and XoO Phoenix OoX: You guys are my most loyal reviewers! Thanks for all the kind words, and concern for little Pippin. He's most grateful. LOL
Immortal Sorrow (Arrow): Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it. ;) Frodo's Sister: I'm sorry you feel bad for poor Pippin. Something tells me he'll be fine.
Coolio02: Hey thanks. Another concerned Pippin fan! I'll look after him for you.
Ice Ember: Hi! You're one of my most loyal reviewers too. Thanks! Hehe, don't worry; Frodo will look after Merry too. He'll try at least...
I don't own Tolkien, LOTR or any of the characters, save Aunt Flo, Jak and Malta.
Keeping Merry away from Pippin proved harder than Frodo had originally thought. That first morning, Frodo had allowed his cousins a hug, and a few words, before sheparding Merry out into the hall. The look on their faces had almost broken his heart, but he knew it was for the best.
For much of that day, Frodo had drifted back and forth between Pippin's room and the kitchen, spending as much time as he felt he could with Merry. Merry, for his part, spent a good deal of the day sulking, and pleading with anyone he thought could help him to get inside the room. At length he gave up, and began attempting to sneak inside.
Frodo understood how Merry felt, but was not going to let him inside. Having two sick cousins was not something that he thought he could deal with. Luckily, Merry was showing no signs of sickness or fever, so Frodo began to relax slightly. He trusted Bilbo. His uncle would look after Pippin.
Paladin and Eglantine arranged for Pimpernel and Pervinca to be sent away for a short while. Eglantine had realised quickly that Merry would not be going anywhere, unless they tied him up and dragged him away, so a bed had been made temporarily for him in the lounge room.
Now Frodo was sitting by the window seat in Pippin's bedroom, waving to the girls as their cart rumbled down the dirt path. Pimpernel was hugging her little sister tightly. Neither had wanted to leave.
A sudden cough startled him, and he jumped: straightening and turning around. Pippin was shifting restlessly in his bed, coughing weakly. Frodo sighed and came to kneel at his side.
"Pippin?" His cousin yawned and twisted his neck to gaze at him wearily. At length he smiled faintly, and held out a hand. Frodo took it.
"Hullo, cousin." Frodo smiled back.
"How do you feel, Pip?"
"...Been better."
"Yes, I guess you have. Do you hurt anywhere?" Pippin nodded slightly.
"Head... hurts... and my tummy." Frodo ran a hand through his soft curls gently.
"I know, Pip. Bilbo says you will have a headache for a few days, and it will hurt you to cough, no doubt. But don't worry: I'll be right here while you sleep. If you want something, you only have to ask." Pippin grinned weakly.
"Candy?" Frodo laughed.
"Perhaps. If you're well behaved. I'll try to sneak some in for you."
"...drink?" Frodo got up and found the pitcher of sweetened water, almost hidden amongst the towellettes and flasks on the desk. He also found a small cup, and returned to his cousin swiftly, holding it to his face.
"Here. I'll have to help you drink it, though." Slowly he raised Pippin's head, and watched closely as he swallowed gingerly. He set the cup aside when Pippin seemed to be having trouble, and Pippin sank backwards tiredly.
"Mer?" Frodo's face fell.
"Oh, er... well Pippin..." Pippin smiled hesitantly, and closed his eyes tiredly. Frodo looked away, searching for the right words, but a few seconds later, his little cousin had fallen fast asleep.
Frodo exhaled. There was no avoiding that question forever. ...
...
Merry glanced up glumly as Frodo flopped down upon the chair besides him. No words were forth coming, and Merry looked away, stubbornly waiting. He fiddled with the fork in his hands: Pearl had cooked him an early dinner of sausages and bacon, in an attempt to cheer him up. He looked down at his barely touched food, and smiled inwardly. At this rate, he would be begged to go back into Pippin's room.
Frodo rested his chin on his fist, and gazed at him with a faint smile.
"So, Merry, still sulking, are we?" Merry glared at him.
"What does it matter to you?" Frodo's barely readable smile remained, and he flexed his fingers unconcernedly.
"Well, I am your cousin. And still your friend, I hope." Merry said nothing. "Well, that's all right, Mer. I understand."
"No you don't." Slowly Merry raised his head, frowning still, but his face had softened. "You think you do, but... I understand why I cannot see him. You, and Bilbo, and... everyone, has already explained it to me, over and over. But I-"He paused, looking embarrassed.
"What?"
"Well... I don't..." he sighed. "Pippin is used... expects me to be hear him, especially when he's hurt or scared... I don't know, I just can't rest until I know he's all right. I just... can't help it." He glanced up at Frodo miserably. "I think... Pippin, in a way, helped to fill some of the... well, the loneliness I felt when you left. Even as a baby: at least I felt I was doing something helpful, when I looked after him... Not that he was replacing you, Frodo-"he added hastily, but Frodo waved a hand absently.
"No, I understand, Merry. Of course you were lonely when I moved to Hobbiton. I spent all of my time with you... I missed you very much for the first few months, myself." Merry nodded glumly. "Merry, you know that I would let you in to see him if I could. But... the thought of having two sick cousins is not something I want to... even think about!" Merry smiled faintly.
"I know."
"If it will help, I at least can convey messages to him for you."
"Just tell him to get well soon." Sighed Merry. Frodo squeezed his shoulder.
"Of course... you really should eat some of this, you know... Well, I have nothing else to do but return to Pip's bedroom. I'm a little to old now to have any interest in his... mountains of toys, but maybe there will be something interesting to see out his window." He winked at Merry and stood, snatching up an apple as he passed, and disappearing into the hall.
Merry blinked.
"Oh, very clever." He muttered, rolling his eyes heavenward. "Aunty wouldn't let me outside any...way..." He glanced around swiftly, suddenly realising how quiet it was. The kitchen at least was empty.
Leaning forwards to peer into the lounge room from around the corner, he saw Paladin stretched out on the couch, sleeping restlessly. Pearl and Eglantine were curled up by the fire, dozing peacefully. The other girls were gone, and Bilbo was no doubt in the stables, gathering his things.
Merry grinned. He stood wearily, stepping away from the table, before pausing, and grabbing at a piece of bacon, which he chewed on as he slid outside.
Through the door, he was hit immediately by a wall of cold air, and shivered. He wished briefly that he had thought to fetch his jacket, but shrugged it off, too eager to see his cousin again. He supposed it had only been an hour since he had last hugged Pippin, but when he was sick, things were different.
He paused to watch Malta and Stepper, where they were frolicking happily in the fresh snow. He smiled, and made a mental note to lead them back to the stables when he came back. Pippin's little pony Shadow had joined them, and was nosing at something buried beneath the white blanket of snow that covered the fields.
He shivered again, and hurried away from the door, angling around to the rear of the hole. He climbed onto the slight rise of the hole, and stumbled upwards, crowing delightedly when he saw that Pippin's window had been pushed open. Merry slid down to crouch besides it, and Frodo leant out, smiling tiredly.
"You took your time, Merry. I half expected you to beat me back here." Merry shrugged, finishing off his bacon.
"I had to sneak out, you know, Frodo."
"Oh yes, I imagine that would have been hard." Merry thought briefly of his exhausted uncle before grinning, and pushing Frodo aside so he could lean upon the glass pane, peering into the bedroom.
"How is our cousin?" he asked softly, watching the slow rise and fall of Pippin's small chest. Frodo gave him a sympathetic look.
"Not any different from when you last saw him, Mer. You're worrying yourself unnecessarily, I think."
"If that is the case, why can I not see him?" he moaned in reply.
"What I meant, is that I don't believe he will get any worse. Pippin was so looking forwards to this holiday... I think he'll force himself to wake up and get well soon, don't you?" Merry smiled grimly, leaning forwards slightly.
"I certainly hope so. It would be awfully lonely without him." Frodo glanced up, and suddenly wrapped his arms around Merry's neck, squeezing him tight. Merry protested weakly, and Frodo grinned at him.
"Cheer up, little cousin." He said brightly. "Everything will be alright. You'll see."
TBC
Hey y'all. This is going somewhere, I promise. I'm a bit lost at the moment, I'm trying to write about six different stories, along with schoolwork, but I will try and make this more interesting, Ok? Thanks for sticking with me. The next chap is where it all happens.