A/N: Thanks to my 3 reviewers. You guys rock...and I hope you enjoy (and review) this chapter. :D

Chapter 3

The next morning, Merry Brandybuck arrived at Bag End with no knowledge that Pippin was staying there. He smiled at Frodo when he entered.

"Hullo, cousin. Why the urgent summons?" His smile faltered at the look on Frodo's face. "What happened?" Many thoughts raced through his head, but the one thing that came to the forefront was Pippin. Something had happened to him, and it was Merry's fault. Merry's heart lurched at the thought and he suddenly felt dizzy. He grasped the reins of his pony and closed his eyes for a moment. Frodo was instantly by his side, leading him toward to the door. Merry realized he was still leading the pony. He went to move and Frodo stopped him.

"Don't worry about the pony, Merry, I'll have Sam put her up. You go into the kitchen and pour yourself a cup of tea." Merry complied and was sitting in a kitchen chair when Frodo came back in with a stern look on his face. Merry immediately became concerned. Frodo sat heavily in a chair, his years and heartache weighing a great deal upon him. He stared at the tabletop for a moment and then spoke in a soft voice.

"I wanted to talk to you," he began. "About Pippin." Merry flinched at Frodo's tone. Pippin had told him. Merry was instantly ashamed of what he'd done.

"Frodo, I-" Frodo cut him off with a gesture and a frown.

"I will talk first, Meriadoc Brandybuck. And you will listen to what I have to say. Yes Pippin told me what happened. He's asleep in one of the spare bedrooms at the moment. I wanted to tell you a story," his voice faltered and began to waver as he continued. He cleared his throat and began.

"A few years ago, a young lad about your age fell in love, with another lad. He worried about what the other lad would think if he revealed his feelings, because the other lad had never shown any interest in him as anything other than a friend. He worried about what others would think, about how unnatural he was. He worried and worried and that hidden love ate at his heart like a cancer and the doubts that clouded his mind seeped into his very soul and he convinced himself that he was wrong, and that the other lad would never understand, couldn't possibly know because if he found out, he'd know this lovesick lad was perverted in some way and abnormal and would shun him. He'd leave him forever.

"So the young lad kept his feelings secret for many long and painful years. And during that time, the lad's friend became more handsome, and more enticing with each passing year. And the lad fell more and more in love with each passing of the seasons. But still, he didn't reveal his feelings and the lad's friend went about things normally, never knowing an inkling of it.

"Until one day, while taking a walk, the young lads went on a swim and the lovesick lad saved the other's life from drowning. His friend was so grateful; he said that if there was anything that he could do for him, he would. He also said that they would always be best friends and that nothing could drive them apart. The young lad, feeling very content and happy, then decided to tell his love about his feelings" Frodo stopped and looked at Merry, who had silent tears running down his cheeks, as he knew what was going to happen. "You know what happens next, don't you, Merry," Frodo said quietly. Merry nodded and shook his head.

"Frodo…. I can't feel the same way Pippin feels for me. It's… I…. My father would…" Frodo raised his eyes to look at Merry. Saradoc Brandybuck had never entered his mind. Merry's father had ruled his life since the day he was born, preparing him to become the Master of Buckland. He managed his son with an iron-like fist, with lessons enforced by a belt or his hand. Frodo frowned.

"Do you know whose story that is, Merry?" Merry wiped his eyes and shook his head. Frodo gave a sad smile. "It's mine." A gasp came unbidden from Merry's lips. "Yes," Frodo said. "I was in Pippin's predicament a long time ago. The lad that I loved rejected me and it tore a wound open in my heart that will never fully heal. I've grown accustomed to the pain, but I don't want Pippin to have to get used to it, or to deal with it. I don't want him to ever suffer like I have. I promised that if I could prevent it, no one would have to be subject to the pain I was." Frodo stopped as he struggled to reign in his emotions. Merry slipped from his chair and put his arms around Frodo in a reassuring hug.

"I don't know if I can learn to love Pippin, Frodo," Merry whispered forlornly in Frodo's ear. Frodo patted Merry's arm and pulled him back to look into his eyes.

"You can. It's there, in your heart, just waiting for the right moment." He thought about it for a second and then gave a wide smile. "Why don't you go down to the market for me and get a few things. You can use the time and think about Pippin." Merry frowned in confusion and Frodo elaborated. "Just think about things you like about him and things you don't like about him. Just think about him for a while. Inspiration might strike from anywhere." He sent Merry out of Bag End with a long list of things that he really didn't need.

"You have that glint in your eyes again, Mr. Frodo," Sam Gamgee stated plainly as he watched from the front garden as Merry walking down the lane with the long list in his hand. "Something's up. Where's Mr. Merry off to without Mr. Pippin?" Frodo smiled and hugged Sam.

"He's going for a little shopping trip and Pippin's still asleep. When he wakes up I'll have a chat with him." Frodo became distracted and then smiled at Sam. "Would you be a dear and make breakfast? I am in the mood for a stroll this lovely April morning." He went back inside and got his walking stick and a light coat.

As he was walking, Sam was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast. He paused in the middle of sautéing the mushrooms.

"But I just went to grocery yesterday. What could we possibly need now?"