I do not own any of these characters or places or things. I am simply borrowing them from Tolkien, as many others here are. THEY ARE NOT MINE.

Please also do not make me, myself, & I , mad by suing us for any reason. We are innocent precious... Once again, for all of you conspirating lawyers out there, ME, MYSELF, & I DO NOT OWN ANY OF MASTER TOLKIEN'S CHARACTERS, PLACES, SETTINGS, PLOT, OR WORK. They ARE NOT mine. The only thing I own, or would own, in this chapter, is the bar of soap, the smelling salts, and the spider.

Now, please read& review. : )

I used a bit of algebra to find out that our age of six is equivalant to the age eleven of hobbits.

All Merry could think about was getting to Pippin. Nothing mattered. He could hear his feet pounding against the ground, and he ran so fast that he skidded past the bathroom door. Just a picture slid across his eyes as he slid by. As if in time had stopped, Pippin was huddled in a corner, hugging a bar of soap, a bottle of smelling salts, and he was hiding his eyes in a towel. Even though there seemed to be no movement in the room, he could hear Pippin sobbing.

"Pip!" He yelled, and then charged back in. Sam, who had wrapped a towel around himself, was kneeling down next to Pippin. The water in the bathtub was still sloshing back and forth from the movement that had happened, and was lapping over the side to make puddles dot the floor. Frodo who had gotten into the bathroom before Merry, seeing as he hadn't slipped by, was attempting to pull away Sam from Pippin.

"What's wrong Mister Pippin? If it's something I've said or done, I really didn't mean it." Sam whispered, casting his eyes over his back as Frodo pulled him away to talk. Merry rushed in and hugged Pippin.

"It's okay. It's okay Pippin. I'm here. Whatever it is, I'll stop it." While saying this, Merry cast a glare in Sam's direction. Pippin continued sobbing into his shoulder for several moments, and as his gasping decreased to occasional tears he looked into Merry's eyes. Merry looked back. His younger cousin's eyes were red from crying and were filled with fear. Instantly his chiding became serious, "What is it Pippin?" Wordlessly, but sniffling continuosly, Pippin raised one arm and pointed up at the very corner of the ceiling. As soon as he had done so, he once again launched into sobs. He didn't look where he was pointing, as if there were something there that would hurt him. Something dangerous. Merry slowly followed his finger until his eyes hit the spot. There was nothing there.

"Pippin!" He sighed exasperatedly,"I can't believe this. All this fuss for something that isn't even there." Pippin shivered and moved closer into Merry's arms. And for the first time, Merry noticed that Pippin was soaking wet. it wasn't just tears that were wetting his shirt, but water. If nothing had been there, Pippin might have made a fuss, but he most certainly wouldn't have been in such a rush that he tripped into the bathtub. Meriadoc grabbed a towel and began scrubbing Pippin dry.

"Frodo?" He asked, Frodo turned towards him with questioning eyes, "Frodo. I'm drying Pippin off, but there's something up there in that corner. He's afraid of it. Would you mind checking what is up there?" Merry was ferrociously rubbing the towel over Pippin's head, which recieved a small squeak and several giggles. Pippin peeked out with glittering eyes, and messed with Merry's hair, trying for the same affect. But as he did so, his eyes caught Frodo, moving toward the corner. He looked above Frodo's head, and shrieked. Pippin collapsed into Merry's arms sobbing once again, and hiding his eyes in Merry's shoulder.

"Frodo...what's up there?" Merry asked while rocking Pippin back and forth, and cooing at the young hobbit. Frodo had gotten onto a chair and was analyzing the ceiling carefully. Suddenly he broke into laughter.

"Merry! It's a spider. Not even poisonous. Just a Long Legs!" Pippin peeked out from Merry's shoulder and once again began crying.

"I don't care what it is Frodo! Just kill it. It's upsetting Pippin! Can't you see that?" Merry's voice elevated as Pippin's sobs became more desperate.

"Fine, although I don't agree with killing it. It was minding it's own buisiness in the corner when-"

"Frodo!" Sam and Merry yelled simultaneously. Frodo lowered his head and picked up a wet rag.

"I don't see why, it couldn't possibly hurt him," Frodo began dejectedly while staring at the towel in his hands. With sudden anger and protectiveness, Sam lept forward and took the rag, he quickly through it up at the spider.

The rag flying through the air seemed as if it was all in slow motion to Frodo. He was still standing atop the chair, and was shocked by Sam's sudden action. The towel flew from his hands, and slowly made it's way up to the spider. With a sudden, thick 'thud' it hit the spider, and it's web collapsed. Spider and rag fell parrallel to eachother, until they hit the ground. The small spider lept up, back onto it's legs.

Everything seemed to fast for Pippin. He watched as the humongous spider fell, and risked getting out of Merry's lap, confident that it was dead. But it wasn't. The small spider raced towards him.

"Mister Merry! He's going to drop the-" Before Sam could warn anyone, the smelling salts came to a heavy crash on the floor, glass shattered and spread everywhere in a light tingling noise. The smelling salts fell into the puddles with an overwhelming scent. Pippin ran as fast as he could to the door and slammed it shut behind him. Frodo collapsed onto the chair, and looked at the mess of the bathroom, while Sam leaned against the wall, and Merry remained still. The little spider ran back and forth. Back and forth. Trying to find something. Back and forth. As if blinded. Back and forth.

"Well, I guess someone needs to take the poor spider outside." Merry broke the silence. He got up and walked over to the spider, he laid down his hand tentatively, while avoiding the broken glass, and allowed it to climb up. Merry opened the bathroom door, and slowly walked out towards the front of Bag End.

"How in the Shire am I going to get this all cleaned up in time, before Bilbo comes home?" Frodo sighed.

"I dunno Mister Frodo, but if I can help, I will, and to the best of my ability. I'll work until I hurt, and seeing as you normally won't allow it after that, I won't work anymore. But neither will I let you work." Sam stated gallantly. Frodo looked guiltily at Sam's cut hands.

"I'm sorry Sam. I never meant for it to go this far. All I wanted you to do was relax. Now everything is a mess."

"You should expect everything to be a mess whenever you invite both Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took to your hole at the same time. It's common sense." Samwise took a step forward and set his foot on the ground firmly.

"You're right Sam. Let's get this cleaned up." Frodo jumped off the chair, and kneeled onto the ground. He began picking up the various pieces of colored glass. After a few minutes he looked up. Sam was still standing in the same place, he had not moved.

"Sam?"

"If I ever meet another spider I'll kill it. I swear by the Valar, by everything good in the Shire, by my Gaffer, by you, Mister Frodo, by-"

"Sam, that's enough, why do you suddenly want to kill the spider?"

"I'll kill it right and good, I will." Sam ignored Frodo and stated firmly. Frodo looked up to Sam's face, and saw tears rolling down the hobbit's eyes and following well formed streaks down Sam's plump cheeks. Sam was biting his lip, which quivered whenever he talked. Frodo looked down from Sam's face to his foot. The puddle which his foot was in was getting veins of blood that ran through it. With a startled cry, Frodo lept up and pushed Sam back, releasing the weight from that foot. Sticking out of the firm padding of the hobbit foot, was a jagged piece of glass. He hid his worry by retorting with a quick joke.

"Good thing you're not one of the Big People Sam, if you were, this glass would cut right to the bone. Maybe even through your foot." Frodo smiled. He quickly grabbed the towel Pippin had been sobbing in and laid it on his knees. Sam chuckled, but another tear fell down his face, he sat down so that Frodo could have a better angle.

"Please Mister Frodo, just get it out." Frodo closed his eyes, took a hold of the blood stained glass, and pulled. Sam squeaked and the crammed his eyes shut. Frodo quickly wrapped the rag around Sam's foot, which was received by an angry grunt.

"Mister Frodo, that feels like your putting salt into my foot. I don't intend to have any hurting no more."

"Then you're not allowed to walk on that foot for a week, and you'll have to stay here at Bag End under Bilbo's and my care. And that salt, is of the purest kind, straight from young Master Took's eyes." Sam laid his head back with a thud against the wall.

"That Took. That Took. I'll get him one of these days."

"Sam, you go into the second guest room, Pippin and Merry are already taking up the first. Lean on the wall's while your walking, so it won't hurt as much. And if you see Merry or Pippin, tell them they owe me a bottle of vinegar and a meal."

"What's vinegar got to do with anything Mister Frodo?"

"Everything in the Shire, dear Sam. Everything in the Shire. Also, ask them to help you. Once you get to the second guestroom, get into a nightshirt and go to sleep. It'll be the best thing for you."

"I don't understand any of this Mister Frodo. And I intend on staying to help."

"Sam. You aren't dressed, you're tired, and plus you promised me you would work only to get hurt, and you already are. Go to bed Sam." Frodo whispered, he then turned and began picking up the tiny pieces of glass and remnants of salts, and piling them up. Sam stared at him for a moment, sighed, and then limped out into the hallway.

"You're not as alone as you think you are Mister Frodo." Sam whispered to himself, "You've never been, and you never will be. Because you've got me."

Dedicated to the Daddy long legs that lived above my shower, and surprised me. He never saw another day, yet he inspired me to right this today.

Remember PipLover? The one I smooshed with the toy.

Lil'Pip: Thank you! I'm glad you like!!! Yes! I most certainly agree with you. Most hobbits are cute...

mumbles about Sackville-Bagginses

PipLover: Yes, I am cruel aren't I? evil laugh Especially with the sneak preview!!! So, have you gotten a new manicure, or gotten fat and flabby yet? ;) I hope your days are one edge with the wonderful, deluted, half-hints I give!! eg

RabidSamFan: I'm updating quickly as possible. I got the idea of Vinegar soup, since I myself am a vinegar/sour addict, and constantly add more to my hot and sour soup until I use one third the bottle. I got the idea for this when I made hot and sour soup the other day, my mom had a taste and had the same reaction as Frodo in this story. Later on she took a bowl for herself! It is addicting, almost as addicting as LJ. It is Vinegar Mushroom Soup to be exact.

ShireBound: You always read my stories, you always compliment, and you always tell me to get a beta-tester. For all of which I am greatful. glares at shadowfax8, she told me that was how to spell ommitted Lately though, I've had more of a brain relapse than normal and have forgotten how to spell easy words. I know! I just can imagine him not trusting Merry or Pippin, can't you? ; )

Plz R&R

Sorry about this being a short chapter, but I promise I'll do better next time.