Pippin tried to focus his eyes on what was in front of him. It looked like home... But not quite. A few hobbits that were lingering in town had gathered around. Pippin acted like he couldn't see them staring at him. For now, nobody seemed to recognize him. For now, that seemed like the best thing.
A small, energetic boy tugged at his mother's dress.
''Mommy... is that a real horse? A real actual horse, Mommy? Mommy... have you ever seen one before?" He turned from his mother to look at Pippin. "Hey, Mister, we don't have horses here... can I touch it?"
Pippin grinned. He kneeled down to the child's height to welcome the child over. The boy took the hint and tentatively walked up to the horse. His mother had a look of protest as Pippin looked for her consent, but she smiled as if to say 'okay'. He picked up the child to hold him almost to the horse's head.
"See?" He asked the young lad. "Just like a pony. Only bigger." Pippin said soothingly. The boy smiled in awe and gently stroked the horse's mane.
"Where did it come from? Does everything get tall where you are from? You are tall for a hobbit, Mister."
Pippin grinned again and he could feel the spark in his own eyes. He gently set the child down and the boy walked back to his mother.
"Mommy! It's just like a pony mommy, only bigger. Don't be scared mommy. It's a nice horse." The mother held her son's hand and when they turned away she looked back and mouthed to him,
"Thank you."
Pippin tried his best to force down a laugh, but a little burst came out anyway. But with a sudden rush of happiness he immediately thought of Diamond. His face felled and he pulled himself back, unloading his things from the horse. Most hobbits that had come to see the return of the two had already walked off to return to their own business.
He slid the last little pouch from the horse's burden and struggled to hold everything at once. An older man walked beside him and held the horse by the stirrups. Pippin tried as best he could to keep the huge load of bags and pouches in his grasp, or talented balance.
"Want me to put this in the stable with the others?" The old, tired man asked. He was sick of his job.
Pippin hesitated as he did not know which stables the horse was going to, but he saw that Merry had gone off already and the damned thing was one of the last of his worries.
"Please." Pippin said with a grunt and he fixed a bag to balance on his arm. The man snorted and looked up at the horse.
"And, thank you." Pippin thought it best to say that, too. The man looked in disgust at the beast and started jerking it along.
"You should hope it fits under the roof." He grunted as he pulled the horse beside him.
Pippin raised his head to see if there was anyone around that he recognized. No one. Not a Took or a Brandybuck or even a Baggins that he knew. He looked to the sky. 'Rain. Damn. It'll be hell getting these things to the Great Smials.'
He sighed as he saw the first drop on the ground. He started his journey wondering where Merry had to go in such a hurry. He didn't even see him leave. Oh well. Best without him anyway. He would talk too much. But could she like me?
Pippin walked in silence as the rain got gradually harder. The storm clouds cloaked the sky in darkness. He struggled to wipe annoying rain drops from his eyes, but the load would not allow.
'Always raining in the most inopportune moments' He eventually had to ease his right arm a little, but a small bag fell from his grip. It had occured to him that most of these things were Merry's anyway, and for reasons unfathomable to him he had ended up with all the burdens.
'Annoying Brandybuck', he thought. 'Probably off with Estella.' He made an effort to bend down and pick up the bag and gave up. He stood up again to consider his options when he saw something unthinkable. A figure moved closer to him, wet hair draping on shoulders and silent. He stood gaping in awe. He finally gathered his senses enough to speak.
"Diamond?"
As if it was planned, she leaned forward and touched his cheek.
"Pippin Took, you imbecile!" She was more frustrated than angry at his sudden appearance. "You go off and leave and nobody knows where you are! After all of those years that I took care of you, you do that to me!" Her voice started to crack as tears set in. She stood with her arms crossed until she brushed a soaked strand of hair from her face. Pippin found it very hard to find something to say. He started to set all the things he was carrying on the ground.
"You're insensitive and a fool. All these years of loving you and you don't even bother to say a thing about it. Are you completely ignorant or do you just not care?"
"Ignorant." He replied immediately. She fell silent and stared at him.
"Really?" It seemed like a sarcastic question.
"You really- you really loved me?" He stuttered, fearing embarrassment.
He gave up on the bags and tossed them to the side.
"Diamond, if I had known, trust me… I just thought that you'd never, I mean, I'm not doubting you, but I never thought…"
"Pippin…" She giggled. "I take it back!"
He froze. "You don't love me anymore?"
She laughed harder. "No! I mean yes, I still like you, I take back what I said about you being insensitive."
"Oh… that's good then, right?"
She leaned in and kissed him.
Okay guys, hope you like it. As I said, it was written when I was 14 and I'm 16 now, so forgive me if it seems a bit juvenile. Please review!