Author's note: The quote from Gandalf isn't mine, darn it. The usual disclaimers apply.

What Empty Places are For

Chapter fifteen

Pippin had settled himself in the spare bed in the room he shared with Boromir's sons. Ruby had warmed his nightshirt and robe by the fire and even put a bed warmer between the sheets for him along with a stack of handkerchiefs on the small table beside his bed. As the Hobbit snuggled in, he thought about Boromir saying he had learned his fathering skills from his Hobbit friends and though Pippin was feeling sickly, he had to smile at the memory. Saro and Boromir had done a splendid job with their brood.

It isn't as though they had the best examples from their childhoods, he thought. At least Boromir had his Mum for a while, and at least Denethor had not lost his mind when Boromir was small. But poor Faramir! What would he have done without his brother? I shudder to think! Even then, Boromir was learning how to be a father. And dear Saro… why, she had such a miserable time of it for so long. The only happiness she ever had was after she met Boromir. Their time together was so brief. At least I had my Diamond a little longer.

A tap on the door brought Pippin out of this reverie, and a very different Diamond poked her head into the room after Pippin called out hoarsely for the knocker to enter. Like Boromir, her hair was the color of red gold and her eyes were like green opals.

"Would you come to keep a fool of a Took company, Diamond?" Pippin asked. The lass skipped into the room. Under her arm she carried a little rag doll. Much of it's hair and one of it's eyes were missing. The young one sat on the side of Pippin's bed.

"Tilly is sick, too." She held the little doll out for Pippin to examine. "She needs some of Poppa's special soup. That would make her ever so much better."

"And is that what I smell cooking? Your Poppa's special soup?"

"Yes," answered the girl. "Perhaps you and Tilly could take your soup and medicine together?"

"Well, I certainly see no reason why not," Pippin answered. "Is there anything else she needs?"

"Well, she needs some of Uncle Faramir's medicine. It's very stinky, but it does make you feel better."

"It doesn't sound very pleasant, but if it will make her better, then perhaps she should have some."

"Yes, though she will complain very much." Little Diamond leaned close to Pippin and whispered, "She can be very, very n-o-t-t-y sometimes."

Pippin couldn't help grinning at her misspelling. "Well, perhaps if she has a n-a-p she won't be so n-o-t-t-y. Would she be comfortable enough here next to me?"

Little Diamond held the doll out at arm's length. "I think she will. Now, Tilly," Diamond said in a stern tone, "You are to lie here and take a nap with Uncle Pippin. Don't take on so!" Diamond shook a finger at Tilly. "You are being very naughty! You should be ashamed! What? You want Uncle Pippin to hold you? I shall ask him. Uncle Pippin, would you hold her? She says she will take a nap if you hold her." The little lass held the battered doll out to Pippin. Pippin took the doll and tucked it into the crook of his arm.

"I'm sure she will be quite comfy here with me," he said.

"Good!" Diamond beamed, "I have so much work to do! My other babies need to be looked after. Lilas has a dirty nappy, Rosie is crying for her Mummy and Marigold has spilt tea on herself and all over the table. Mummies and Poppas have to work so hard!"

"You are so very right," agreed Pippin. "You go and take care of your other babies, I shall take care of Tilly for you."

"Very well, then," nodded the child. "Uncle Pippin?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"When I grow up, will you marry me?"

Pippin hid his laughter under the guise of coughing. As soon as he collected himself, he replied, "I would be very happy to marry you."

"Goody, one less thing! Now I must go take care of my babies while Tilly and you have a nap." She hugged Pippin and kissed his cheek. "Take your rest, now," Diamond admonished. "And Tilly, you must behave for Uncle Pippin. He is to be your father, you know." She hopped down from the bed. As she walked out of the door she called out. "Only look what you have done, you are very naughty children!"

Pippin held the doll out at arm's length, unaware he was doing so in the exact manner little Diamond had done. He regarded the doll, brow drawn in contemplation. The little one-eyed doll stared back. With her head misshapen from years of being mothered by all of Boromir's daughters and rescued from Orcs and dragons by all his sons, the little doll looked world-weary, as though she had been witness to far too much.

"Well, Tilly," said Pippin. "How do you suppose Beornomir is getting along? I hope he is comfy enough. And you, my lass," Pippin cocked his head. "However do you manage to see, having but one eye? Perhaps I might make that a bit better for you."

He climbed out of the bed and knelt beside it, pulling out his baggage. After rummaging in it's contents a few minutes he found that for which he was seeking: his sewing kit. He always took it with him when away from home. Being once more a bachelor he didn't have a wife to see to his buttons and he sometimes lost a button or two. The laundress was so very busy betimes she would overlook a loose button, and Diamond Took had always checked them for him. In the kit were a few spare buttons, but none that matched Tilly's good eye, so he chose two matching buttons – the only two that did match, in fact.

He then climbed back into the bed. Taking Tilly in his lap, he pulled the remaining eye off – it was hanging on by only a few loose threads. "Now Tilly, you mustn't fret," he admonished. "This won't take long." Pippin's nimble fingers busied themselves, and in a trice, the doll had a new pair of eyes. Once more he held the doll out at arm's length. "Now, then," he said. "I trust this is a better situation for you." Studying the misshapen head, Pippin squeezed it around in his hands until the stuffing filled the head out properly. Tilly didn't look quite as world-weary now, but her hair was a hopeless tangle of yarn. She was bald in places as well. "Well, my lass," he said to the doll, "I've done all I can do for you just now. Perhaps Ruby can spare some yarn for your poor little head, so that you might once again have a proper head of hair. I hope your Mum will be happy with your new eyes."

"I'm sure Diamond will be pleased with the handiwork of her betrothed, my good gentlehobbit!" The door swung wide and Boromir walked in carrying a tray on which rested a crockery bowl of steaming hot soup.

"Boromir! Make some racket the next time, you nearly frightened me to death!"

"What? I seem to recall your saying we clumsy Big Folk make such a racket with our blundering through the wood that you scarce could see how we ever managed a successful hunt!" Boromir placed the tray on Pippin's bedside table. "Any road, I must remind you the High King has declared my humble, clumsy, blundering self a Hobbit. Besides, if I am to be your, ahem, father-in-law, kindly show me the respect due to me! Also, I should like to know... how long have you been conversing with dolls?"

Pippin grinned sheepishly. "Not since I was but a wee lad held thrall by my sisters," replied the Hobbit. "To be honest, they aren't known for their witty remarks, but for a lonely Hobbit they will do in a pinch… little fellow!"

"I see you are not so ill that you cannot hold your own." Boromir handed Pippin a napkin and a soup spoon, then placed the tray in Pippin's lap, dislodging Tilly from her spot. Sitting at the foot of the bed, Boromir picked up Tilly and examined Pippin's handiwork. "I see you have not been idle. Diamond will be well pleased. She will not fail to notice Tilly now has green eyes. These buttons are quite costly, Pippin. A child may not know enough to appreciate this, but I thank you. The price of those buttons is greater than many such toys."

He looked at Pippin, wondering why the Hobbit had said nothing. Pippin was fanning his open mouth with one hand. At last he gave Boromir an accusatory look and said "What is in this soup? Dragon's breath?"

"Oh, dear! Please accept my apology, I should have warned you," Boromir grinned. "To answer your question, yes, it does have Dragon's Breath in it; Dragon's Breath peppers, and my hottest onions. We used to have this back home when we had a cold, Faramir and I. It is quite restorative, I assure you."

The soup must not have been too spicy for Pippin, though. Once he was aware of the peppers, he set to the bowl of soup with a will. No more had he finished it than Boromir quietly whisked away the bowl along with the spoon and the napkin, then pulled from his pocket a small jar sealed with a cork.

"I take it this is Faramir's medicine my 'future wife' warned me about? Pippin said, eyeing the jar suspiciously.

"That it is," replied his friend. "The children are right about the smell, but it is quite effective. You need only rub a little on your chest. I'll just fetch some chamomile tea to help you rest whilst you're doing that."

When Boromir returned with Pippin's tea he could smell the foul odor of the medicinal rub. Pippin was holding his nose.

"Faugh! Borobeer, it sbells like cat's biss and Orc sweat! I thag you very buch, but bust I be subjected to such torbent?" Pippin complained.

Boromir laughed and handed Pippin his tea. "I am sorry for the smell, but soon you'll see the good of it. For all I know, it may very well have 'cat's piss and Orc sweat' in it, in fact I would not be in the least surprised. But you'll do well to trust me in this matter. I know it is difficult to do, but you must try to inhale deeply, so that the vapors can do their work."

Pippin sighed. "Very well, then. How fares your other guest?"

"Oh, he is still napping. Rather fond of naps he is, I suspect. As soon as he wakes, I shall introduce him to the children. I took the liberty of posting a letter to Merry. I should be most pleased to introduce our new friend to he and his family, and to Faro. Besides, I expect Faro misses his father." Boromir paused to take a sip of his own tea. "Please, do stay in bed and recover soon," he continued. "We need you well as soon as is possible. I have posted a letter to Faramir as well, and asked for assistance in building your library. Also I wrote to the High King. Aragorn will be most pleased with this effort, and I expect he will spare no expense to help us. Also, there is the Yule feasting to think upon. Now that you are ill, I'll need to call on Merry, Theo and Faro to make a list of families in need of meat, bread and drink. Bree can be handled by myself and my own children."

"Then I shall make every effort to hasten the return of good health," Pippin agreed. "But Boromir, there is one more thing I should like to do after Yule. Would you accompany me to the graves of my daughters, and of Diamond?"

"Most certainly," Boromir said softly and kindly. "I would be most honored to do so. In return, I should like to ask you to accompany me to the graves of my firstborn, Faramir, and that of his mother. And though Saro is here near my home, I should like to have you visit her grave with me as well."

"Yes, yes, we should do all those things, my friend. It is time to let them go, now, so that they – and we – may find peace."

Pippin watched Boromir sip his tea, then hang down his head. The Hobbit watched a single teardrop fall with a soft splash into Boromir's teacup. Pippin put aside his own cup, crawled from beneath the blankets and placed a hand on Boromir's shoulder as his friend softly wept. The Hobbit took one of his handkerchiefs and handed it to Boromir.

"I recall a certain Wizard," Pippin said soft and low, "who once said to me, 'I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.' And at least, after all this time, it has been my turn to hand you a handkerchief."

The jest, gentle and small though it was, served in easing Boromir's heart. He smiled at his friend and waved his hand in the direction of the bed. "You should be resting, not comforting me, Peregrin Took."

"Then be at rest, yourself, you great goose!"

"May the both of us soon find respite in that regard." Boromir sipped his tea once more, the shadow on his heart having diminished somewhat. "Pippin?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you so very much for coming for a visit. Many Hobbits have I learned the good of, some few I love as family. But you, my dear friend…"

"I know, and I assure you the sentiments are returned. You've made a wonderful Hobbit, Boromir. Strider would be most pleased. And thank you for coming to Great Smials and rescuing me from myself."

"Then allow me to say, Pippin, one Hobbit to another, you are most welcome. That is what friends do, you know, just as you said the day I first met my Saro. I am most Blessed among Men, er, Hobbits, to count myself befriended by Merry and your most Tookish self."

"Yes, I quite agree!"

Boromir took both of their cups. He carefully set them aside, then took one of Pippin's pillows and gave him a playful smack with it. "I quite agree indeed! Under those blankets with you now, soldier! You'll not lollygag in bed forever, we've much to do!"

Pippin complied. The tea was making him drowsier than he had thought it might, and he yawned hugely. Boromir watched as his favorite Took's eyes drooped, then closed in sleep. Tucking Tilly under the blanket next to Pippin, Boromir grinned. His youngest daughter would be most pleased to find her "future husband" taking such good care of the worn little doll.

"Rest well, my friend," Boromir said softly. "You are weary from illness and much heartache. May we find our way through this dark time together." He rested his palm on Pippin's forehead a moment. The Hobbit had begun sweating and his breathing was now easier, sure signs the soup and the medicinal rub were doing their work. "I have said it a thousand times, and I'll say it once more: Hobbits! Someone really should have warned me about Hobbits."

He rose and left the room, pulling the door almost shut before sparing one more glance inside. He watched Pippin's chest rise and fall a moment, smiled, shook his head and closed the door.