The day began with a light tapping at Merry's window.

He slowly opened his eyes… and fell off his bed, calling out in fright as he saw a shadowed hooded figure at his window. "Merry, it's me!" Merry peered up from the side of his bed and saw Bando removing the hood from his head. Breathing a sigh of relief, Merry stood and opened the window, flinching in the cold. "Bando! You've scared me half to death!" Bando then remembered that his hood and cloak looked somewhat like that of his uncle's description of the Ringwraiths that Pippin's Fellowship had to fight against. "Sorry, Merry. I wouldn't have worn it if it weren't for the snow."

Merry craned his neck and saw that a good deal of snow had fallen sometime during the night and large white flakes were currently drifting over the Shire. "Ah, just in time for Yule," Merry murmured. Bando looked up. "Yup, it's making for a pretty holiday. I got up early to shovel some of it from my yard so my mother wouldn't fall. Was wondering if you and Uncle Pippin would like some help, since you live in such a bigger place." Rubbing his shoulders from the cold, "Merry remarked, "I don't know where you come up with this whole responsibility thing, coming from our family. First of all, come in through the front door, like normal hobbits." With that, he closed the window and Bando moved towards the front of the house as Merry grabbed a jacket from his chair and put it on.

Letting the younger hobbit in through the front, Merry asked, "Why didn't you knock on the door in the first place? Pippin would've let you in." Unbuttoning his jacket in the warmth of the house, Bando responded, "I did. I knocked for a few minutes, both here and on Uncle Pippin's window, but no one answered. I thought maybe the two of you were already having breakfast or arguing in your room or something." Puzzling over this, since he knew Pippin to be a reasonably light sleeper, Merry murmured, "Hmph, that's odd."

Brushing back his hair with one hand and rubbing sleep out of his eyes with the other, Merry made his way over to Pippin's bedroom door. Knocking, he called, "Pip? Hey Pip, you awake?" Turning the knob and peering into the room, he said, "Bando's here. It's snowing out. How's about a snowball match, eh?" He stopped when he saw that the room was empty. "Hmm." Stepping into the room, Merry looked around. The bed was made, and it seemed that the entire contents of Pippin's wardrobe were on the floor. Looking in, Bando commented, "Well, looks like Uncle Pip's an early riser today, too."

His eyes going over the entire room once again, Merry muttered, "That's very odd."

"All right, Peregrin… you can do this."

Pippin repeated the words to himself as though they were a sacred mantra. He enjoyed the snow, but he began growing anxious as the precipitation dampened his clothing, after he had turned his room inside-out in search of just the right outfit. He felt suffocated, made-up, and wholly uncomfortable. But that didn't stop the fact that Merry was right; if he didn't shape up, Diamond would ultimately choose the company of Bando over his own. Pippin and Bando liked one another for their similarities and loved one another for their differences, but that didn't mean that Pippin was going to let an eight-year courtship (though he had only realized it was a courtship recently) go to waste.

"Pippin! What are you doing here?"

At first he thought that he was asking himself this question, but soon realized that it was a girl's voice calling out to him over the strong wind. Turning towards the voice, he saw none other than Diamond waving to him from the expanse of trees that grew behind her family's property, wearing a burgundy velvet cloak and a broad grin, carrying a large basket in her other hand. Gulping, Pippin asked himself what was he doing there as he approached her. "Hallo, Diamond!"

As he neared her, she tightened her cloak around her as she said, "I was just getting some berries for Mother's pies together before the weather decided to act up. I'd never think I'd have seen you walking around this area in this weather… and at this time of day! I always took you for a late sleeper, Peregrin Took!" Scratching the back of his head and laughing nervously, he replied, "Yes… well… I couldn't sleep. And as for the weather, this really isn't all that cold, compared to some of the places I've been."

"That's right! You've seen mountains!" Excited now, Diamond took his arm and peered up at him as she led him towards a trail amidst the trees. "Walk with me and tell me some more of your adventures, Pippin!"

"But Diamond! I've told you everything! At least dozens of times each!"

"Well, tell me again! You know how much I love a good story! And I do hate having to coerce that nephew of yours to tell them to me."

"Bando? You have Bando tell you my stories?"

"That's right," she replied as Pippin began to willingly walk with her. "I don't see you nearly enough for my tastes, so I ask him to tell me all about his great uncle. And stories are no fun unless told straight from the person they happened to. Oh please, Pippin, as a Yuletide present! Just walk with me for a bit this morning and tell me about the evil Lord Denethor and his brave son Faramir!"

So, Bando even tells her my stories, does he? Pippin took this as a good sign. If, during her time spent with Bando, Diamond still wanted to hear about Pippin's exploits, then he still had a chance, didn't he? Alas, Pippin's mind was indeed still in his early tweens, rendering him helpless in this situation. If only my biggest problem was running away from an Orc. That I can handle.

With this thought in mind, Pippin sighed and consented to Diamond's request.

"Where do you suppose Uncle Pippin went?"

Merry finished attiring himself in his warmest clothing as Bando inquired as to Pippin's whereabouts. The wind had picked up, as did the rate of the snowfall. "I don't know, Bando, but you can bet that the fool is probably off getting himself in trouble." The younger hobbit in tow, Merry threw open the front door and was hit with a particularly strong gust of wind. With a surprised squeak, Bando clutched Merry's arm for balance. "Ah! So much for having shoveled the walk for mum!"

Helping Bando regain his footing, Merry looked out about his property. "This is bad," he murmured. "The Shire's never had weather this bad, and Pippin's warmer clothes are strewn about his floor. What he was thinking of, I'll never know, but we should find him and get him somewhere warm."

"Don't you think Uncle Pippin can take care of himself?"

"No, but I'm sure he thinks that he can, and that's what worries me."

Braving the outdoors, the two hobbits fought against the wind and began their search. "Hey," Bando said suddenly. "Maybe he's over at the Gamgees'! I know how much he likes their kids, and Bag End has a tremendous fireplace! Maybe he's taking cover there and playing with the little ones." Adjusting his scarf to protect his face, Merry stated, "I hope you're right."

Taking hold of Bando's arm, Merry began to lead them towards Bag End.

"Oh! My basket!"

"I'll get it, Diamond!" Lumbering after the woven basket that was now spraying a variety of berries every which way, Pippin added, "And stay there! The wind's gotten pretty bad!" His words could not have been more of an understatement. Grabbing hold of the basket handle, Pippin tripped and landed in the snow. The unexpected cold contact made him wish that he had dressed for warmth rather than appearance. Stupid Merry and his stupid advice!

"Pippin! Are you all right?" Getting to his knees and wiping snow off the front of his jacket, Pippin looked up to see Diamond right behind him, concerned. "I thought I told you to stay there!" She was about to reply when a loud crack! was heard, and both hobbits turned just in time to see an enormous branch fall from a nearby tree and collapse right by the spot on which Diamond had been standing when she lost her basket. Aghast, Pippin turned to her and saw that she gave him a wry expression. "What was that you were saying?" Diamond asked sarcastically.

"Er, I was saying… I was saying it's time we get you back to your house!" Standing with the basket, Pippin took her arm and surveyed their surroundings. "Now, in which direction was it?" Diamond looked around, and Pippin realized with horror that she didn't know. The wind was blowing the falling snow all around them, erasing their footprints and seeming to trap them in a cylinder of white. "I- I'm not sure!"

Cold and scared, the pair was now also very much lost.

"Pippin? Not in bed at this time?"

"Please Sam, stop joking!" Merry was getting frustrated. Sam didn't seem anywhere near as concerned about the situation as he and Bando were. "Just look out the window!" With a casual glance, Sam responded, "I'm looking. And I see nothing but a small reminder of the much larger and more perilous weather at Caradhras. Remember, Merry, Pippin can handle himself around some wind and white stuff. As long as there are no Orcs around that he could alert or an important mission that he could foul up, he'll be fine." With a groan, Merry stood up from the chair he had been sitting in and yelled, "Now listen-!"

"Merry! Shhh!" Bando scolded. He was sitting in the chair closest to the fireplace, a mug of hot cider in his hands. Elanor and Frodo were sitting on the floor besides him, and were looking up at Merry with a look of half-confusion and half-fear. "Baby Rose is asleep and Rosie just went to lay down some. Where's your manners?"

Breathing deeply and trying to get his head on straight, Merry muttered an apology. "But Sam, there's got to be something you can do! Let me borrow Bill for a bit, maybe I can spot Pip and bring him back." Finally seeing Merry's genuine apprehension, Sam sighed, "Merry, you know that Bill's gettin' old. Plus, he's been a bit sick lately. I don't want to risk taking him out in this weather." With a noise of disgust, Merry bitterly remarked, "This weather's not fit for a pony, but it's well enough for a hobbit!"

"Merry!" Sam started, but was cut off by a flurry of knocks on the door. Getting up and walking towards the door, Sam told Merry, "Do me a favor and just calm down before we start this conversation up again!"

Answering the door, Sam saw a panting "Fatty" Bolger leaning against the doorframe. Because of his weight loss, Fatty was no longer referred to by his old nomenclature. "Fred! What can I do for you?" Stepping aside so that the visitor can come in, Sam wondered what the new calamity was.

"Sam! Have you… seen… Diamond of… Long Cleeve… by any chance?" Merry and Bando stood up at the mention of Diamond's name. "Er, the stout girl? No, I'm afraid I haven't. Is something wrong?" Fred entered the house and collapsed in the first chair he found, trying to steady his breathing. "I dunno," he responded. "My sister and I were over at her place to help her old mother with the baking for tomorrow's feast, and Estella says that Diamond went out to get more fruit for the pies just as the snow started coming down like this. She's worried sick, and so's Diamond's mum. Her mother's suggested I find some strong friends to go combing through the small woods in the back of their place, so I thought I'd run over here. What luck to find those two here with you," he finished, pointing towards Merry and Bando.

Bando turned to Merry. "Diamond's gone missing, too! What are the odds!" Suddenly remembering his conversation with Pippin the previous night, Merry exclaimed, "Pretty high! I'd bet we're likely to find two hobbits at once instead of just one or the other!" His strength slowly returning, Fred sat up and asked, "So you're willing to help search, then? Great! Just give me a moment to regain my senses."

"Oh no, you don't," Sam said, walking towards Fred and giving him a mug of steaming hot cider. "The snow's blinding out there. When I stop to think of it, the only ones in the Shire who's fit to go out in that mess are Merry and I. You and Bando stay here and watch my children, okay?"

"No way!" Bando called, already putting his cloak on. "I'm coming with you! Pippin's my uncle and Diamond's more my friend than she is yours or Merry's! Besides, if we stick together, there's no reason why I can't handle myself!" Reluctantly, Merry agreed. "He's stronger than both of us, Sam. And besides, I'll bet your kids want their 'Uncle Pippin' back as soon as possible, too!" Elanor looked up at Sam, and before she could even say a word, he relented.

"Fine. But no horsing around! A quick comb of the woods, and we all stick together!"

"Come on! Just keep in a straight line!"

Pippin led Diamond through the trees, trying very hard not to panic. It was just some snow and wind; nowhere near as bad as the mess up in Redhorn. But at least there, we had Aragorn and Gandalf with us. Here, Diamond's relying on me Trying not to let the thought frighten him, Pippin pressed on.

"Pippin," Diamond gasped, "how do you know we're going the right way?" I don't, he thought, but didn't tell her that. "I don't need to know," he told her. "If we just keep going straight, we'll get out of this mess of trees soon enough, and then be able to find the way back to your house."

"B-but Pippin," she argued. "If we're headed northward, we'll wind up straight in Bywater Brook! Or even worse, the lake!" He was about to tell her that that was a chance that they were just going to have to take, when he realized that there was no ground underfoot. "W-whoa!"

Instinctively dropping Diamond's hand so she wouldn't follow, Pippin felt himself dropping down a sharp incline. "Pippin!" Shielding his face with his arms, Pippin landed on his stomach with a heavy thud and found himself sliding. Strange… since when does fresh snow "thud?" Trying to stand, Pippin only made it into a crouching position when he realized what he had landed on. Eyes widening, he held his breath, daring not even to breathe until he saw Diamond carefully making her way down the incline. "Diamond!" Pippin called crisply. "Stay there!"

"But Pippin-!"

"Stay. There."

Unheeding of his orders, Diamond continued on her way. Pippin stood and hoped for the best. A thin crack could be heard beneath his feet. With a shudder, he braced himself and pushed himself forward. Unfortunately, Diamond decided that she would make her trip shorter by sliding the rest of the way down. Before he could call out to her, she landed heavily on the ice right in front of him. "Pippin, are you-?" Another sharp crack invaded his ears, and this time Diamond heard it even as Pippin took hold of her arm and pulled her to her feet. "Get out of here," he told her hurriedly with a firm push.

No sooner had he pushed her away did he feel the ground beneath him give away and a sharp coldness stung his whole body as he fell underwater.

"So this is Long Cleeve."

Merry had heard of the northern town from Pippin many times, but he had never had a reason to go there. Looking at the "small" woods behind Diamond's family property and observing the white haze and howling wind, he scratched his head. "Great! How are we supposed to find them in this mess?" His arms crossed over his chest, Sam responded, "You're the one that wanted to play the part of the hero, weren't you?" That Pippin, Sam thought as he shivered. Something good had better come out of this.

"I still say we have a more likely chance of finding them if we split up," Bando said. "That may be true," Sam answered, "but we'd also have a less likely chance of finding one another if we split up. Now come on."

They had decided that rather than entangling themselves in the midst of the trees, they would walk the perimeter of the woods, visually searching the interior as best as they could. Diamond was last seen with her Yuletide cloak on, and the deep red would surely stand out against the white and brown and green. If this proved fruitless, they would search within, but only in a straight line. It would be all too ironic for the search party to get lost.

As they were near the end of the western stretch of the trees, a high-pitched scream echoed through the barren morning. Startled, Merry stopped in his tracks and pulled at Sam, who had also stopped. Bando, however, looked towards the direction of the scream and widened his eyes. "Diamond!" As he bolted in the direction of the shriek, Sam unfroze. "Bando, come back! It's too dangerous!"

Seeing that the young hobbit was ignoring him, Sam followed him with Merry chasing quickly.

"I think he's coming to."

A warm stinging invaded Pippin's cheeks as he slowly opened his eyes. He heard a soft crackling of fire and felt scratchy but warm wool covering him up to his chin. "Pippin? Pippin, can you hear me?" Disoriented at first, Pippin's eyes managed to focus on Diamond's worried face gazing down at him. "Diamond," he groaned, then flinched. His lips stung worse than the rest of his body, it seemed, forcing him into reticence for the first time in his life.

"Pippin!"

"Pip!"

Turning his eyes away from Diamond, he saw an ecstatic pair of hobbits rush over to his bed. Sam and Merry made their way to his side, grinning. "Don't you ever scare me like that, again!" Merry exclaimed. "We thought we lost you." The quieter of the two, Sam explained, "We were out lookin' for you and heard Diamond screaming near the brook and Bando rushed over. Without stopping to think, he threw himself into the hole you made in the ice and fished you out. Merry had to help him get you out, though, since you're far too heavy for him."

"Bando?" Pippin murmured with difficulty. "Is he...?"

"I'm fine." Merry and Sam stepped aside as Bando entered, holding two steaming mugs. "We were more worried about you. You swallowed a lot of water, and had been wearing far less than I was. Once we got it out of you and got your circulation working again, all was well. I was in the kitchen with Diamond's mum, Uncle Pip. She made us some hot chocolate." Offering him one of the mugs as Diamond gingerly helped Pippin sit up, Bando grinned widely. "There's also some fresh-baked cookies, courtesy of Estella Bolger, but she won't let me near them. 'Course, she was so happy that Merry helped save her best friend, that she blessed him with a handful or seven." Pippin noticed that Merry's pockets were bulging with cookies, and the latter hobbit looked away stubbornly.

"Well," he defended, "I did carry Pip, so I deserve an extra reward."

"Have some buttered bread."

Pippin shook his head. "No thanks, Diamond. I couldn't possibly eat anymore. You've been doing nothing but feeding me since I woke up." With a mock pout, Diamond asked, "Well, isn't that supposed to be an admirable quality in a woman?" Trying his best not to look nervous once again, Pippin stated, "Well, yes. And it is. But-"

"And besides, you did help keep me safe today, Mr. Took."

"Safe? Diamond, are you joking?"

"What do you mean?"

With a heavy sigh, Pippin said, "I didn't do anything but foul things up. If you hadn't seen me, you would've been safe at home before the blizzard started. If I had any sense of direction, we would have never gotten lost, and I wouldn't have led us in the opposite direction of your house, right into the brook."

"Yes," Diamond quickly interjected. "But if it weren't for me dropping my basket, we would have never gotten lost. If I had stayed put when you told me to, we wouldn't have gotten in so much danger. And if you hadn't pushed me out of the brook, I would have fallen into the ice, and I wouldn't have been able to scream and direct our friends to us."

"Even so…."

"Even so, Peregrin Took, you're a hero. And besides… I wouldn't have asked you to tell me stories about the War of the Ring if I didn't want to be with you." She said the last part quietly, lending it an even deeper air of sincerity. Pippin looked at her, and was surprised to see that she was looking down as she sat besides him on the bed, her fingers fumbling over the slice of bread on a plate that she had brought him.

"Diamond." At his low mention of her name, she quickly looked up at him, almost expectantly. Swallowing hard, Pippin summoned all of his courage and said, "Bando did a brave thing today. I think that someone like him… someone that strong, that smart, that brave… I think someone like him would be a very smart match for you." As he spoke, Diamond's face fell. He, however, did not see that, as he was looking down. He didn't want to say those words, but he knew they were right. He just messed things up. Gandalf always said it, Frodo always said it, and Sam and Merry continue to say it. Sensing Diamond standing from the bed, Pippin sighed again as he conceded defeat. Nothing could prepare him for the words that followed.

"Ooh, you fool of a Took!"

Upon hearing the familiar phrase, Pippin gaped at Diamond. The plate was put aside and her arms were crossed over her chest. She gazed down at the surprised hobbit in annoyance and exhaustion.

"I don't want a smart match! I want you!"

"Why, Miss. Gamgee! That's a smart-looking dress you're wearing!"

"Thank you, Bando!" Elanora smiled happily as she looked up at Bando, who was accompanied by his mother Pearl. All of the Shire turned up for the first night of the Yule feast, even the crotchety old Ponto Baggins. Despite the fierce snow that had attacked them the morning before, the hobbits proved once again to be remarkably resilient. The broken ornaments on the large Yuletide tree were replaced, the food was cooked and ready, and roads were paved to allow for safe travel for all of the Shirelings.

Pouring two glasses of ale, Pippin was intercepted by Fred Bolger. "How're you holding up, old chum?" Taking a sip of the first glass, Pippin responded, "Fine! It's remarkable… I hardly feel like I was frozen solid just 24 hours ago!" With a good-natured laugh, Fred replied, "Well, it might have to do with that new jewel of yours! Hey, look who's here! That bandit Meriadoc!"

Turning, Pippin saw Merry adjusting the collar on his new shirt and fixing his hair. "What was that you called me, Fatty?" Another good-natured laugh, and Fred faded away into the crowd. Looking at Pippin, Merry's eyes widened in delight. "Oh, good boy, Pip! Thanks for pouring me a glass!" Pulling the glass away from Merry's outstretched hand, Pippin said, "Sorry, Merry. This one's for Diamond."

"Diamond!"

"Yeah. You know, that whole speech you gave me about putting on my best clothes and brushing my hair, it all actually worked. True, not in the way you were thinking, probably, but it worked." With a grin, Merry cried, "You rascal! 'Too sick to come home,' my left foot! You were probably making out like a fiend." Drinking from his glass again, Pippin smirked, "Those who can, do."

Before Merry could ask for all of the details, Sam stood up from his seat and called for the attention of the guests. Pippin dragged Merry to sit with him and Diamond, and Estella Bolger moved from her seat besides Diamond to sit closer to Merry. After Sam's long and arduous greetings (which both of the young male hobbits in question could not concentrate on because of their lovely companions), Mayor Gamgee began to talk of things more interesting and with more resonance to the holiday at hand.

"My friends, this is a time of peace and prosperity that all of us, young and old, can enjoy. This is a time of love, of true fellowship. I look at you all and see not neighbors, not friends, but family, tried and true. And, as such, I would like to share with you some very happy news. Early this morning, my wife, Rosie, gave birth to a baby boy."

Applause and cries of surprise and happiness abound, along with a few shouts of "What're you calling it?" With a smile, Sam put his hands up to signal for silence. "After some deliberation and discussion, Rosie and I have decided upon the perfect name. In keeping with the season in which our new child was born, we could think of no better name to call him than… Meriadoc Gamgee."

With a shout of glee, Merry stood from the table and threw his fist in the air triumphantly. "Yes!" Seeing the rest of the Shire looking at him with either amused or bewildered expressions, and a slight eye roll from Sam, Merry added, "Ahem. I mean… nice choice. Very nice choice."

Laughter and applause filled the air. As Merry took his seat and Sam continued with his speech, Pippin turned to Diamond and gently nudged her. "So," he said with a mischievous gleam in his eye, "what do you suppose we'll name our first child?" Her face overcome with surprise, Diamond squealed, "Oh, Pippin!" She reached over to hug him and gave him a kiss. A little disappointed, Pippin realized that his lips were still numb from the day before.

Ah well, he thought contentedly. It's only the first of many.