Title: Autumn Daze
Author: Robin Girl
Part: 4
Universe: Movie
Slash: None
Beta-ed: October 2008
Story notes: This takes place three or four days before Bilbo's birthday party.
Disclaimer: I own no one!


Merry sighed as he sat down on the edge of Pippin's bed. The young one's fever had shot back up around elevenises and it hadn't come back down. Though the good thing was that Pippin's case of the Autumn Daze was more of the flu, which Merry rejoiced about every second of the day. He'd never been so scared than when he learned that his youngest cousin had the Autumn Daze.

He brushed away some of Pippin's curls and kissed the sleeping hobbits forehead. Pippin murmured slightly in his sleep but didn't awaken. Merry reached into the bowl and grabbed a cloth. After ringing it out, he soaked Pippin's burning brow in it. "I'm so sorry you had to get this, Goose. You of all people, to get this disease."

"Merry?" Frodo walked up behind Merry with a tray in his hands. He sat the tray down on the table then sat on the other side of the bed. "How is he?"

"Eru, I thought he was getting better!" Merry hissed unable to hold his feelings in any longer. The young Brandybuck hung his head and began to cry. Frodo smiled sympathetically and got up walking over to Merry. "Why is he sick, Frodo? What did Pippin do?"

"Pippin did nothing, Merry." Frodo replied softly. He knelt down in front of his younger cousin and hugged him close. "You've been so brave not crying once. I know it's hard, but you have to have faith in Pippin." In all of the fuss everyone had forgotten just how young Merry was. He was still a tweenager trying to grow up.

No matter how much 'Child Raising' he'd preformed flawlessly with Pippin, he was still a child, a growing lad, himself. Frodo rocked the young hobbit as he sobbed. If Pippin had been awake the young Took would have been frightened beyond reason at seeing his Merry cry. "He will get better, Merry."

"I know, it's just so hard to believe that when he's writhing in pain with a fever that's so high."

Frodo nodded fighting back his own tears. "I know, Merry. I know. But Pippin's stubborn he'll pull through. If he can fall from a tree and not break a limb then surely he can fight this sickness." That got a giggle out of Merry. The blonde pulled away still slightly sniffling. "That's it, smile. You don't want to be looking so down if Pip wakes up. You'll frighten the poor lad."

Merry smiled wiping his tears away and nodding. "What's the food for? I already ate."

"It's for Pip. He needs to eat so he can have strength to get well." Frodo replied. "You want to feed him or shall you want my assitance?"

"Stay, please." Merry said sitting on the edge of Pippin's bed. "I may need your help." With that Merry gently carressed Pippin's feverish cheek. "Pip, come on, wake up." The small body slowly began to answer to the gentle touches coming from the Brandybuck. He groaned and opened his eyes. Merry took a deep breath after seeing his cousin's feverish glowing green eyes. "Oi, Pippin."

"I want to sleep." Pippin croaked rubbing his eyes.

Merry shook his head and gathered the Took in his arms. "No, I need you to eat."

"No, Merry, no food." Pippin cried trying to get away. "I'm not hungry."

Merry sighed and would have let Pippin go back to sleep but Frodo's gaze stopped him. "No, come on. Either eat it yourself or I'll feed it to you." He took the plate of bread from the tray and tore off a tiny piece handing it to Pippin. Pippin relucantly took it and put it in his mouth. After Merry was sure Pippin had swallowed it, he gave him another piece.

Slowly Pippin ate stopping once in awhile to drink some of the water Frodo had brought. Merry was glad that Pippin was eating something. He was afraid that he was going to have to force something down. "That's it!" Merry congradulated the young Took. "You're doing great."

"Merry, I'm not hungry any more.." Pippin whispered pushing the last bit of bread away. Merry cuddled the youngest close and then laid him back down in his bed.

"You did great, Pip." Merry whispered pulling the covers over Pippin's small frame. It broke his heart for Pippin to be pushing away food, but at least he ate something without fuss.

"You won't leave, right, Mer?"

"Of course not." Merry replied stroking Pippin's small hand. He moved back to where he was sitting in the chair and nodded a thanks to Frodo who squeezed his shoulder reassuringly before leaving. "I'm staying right here."

Pippin let a weak smile play across his face before closing his eyes. In seconds he was fast asleep with one hand intertwined with Merry's. Merry moved the chair closer and watched over his cousin before drifting off with his head on the bed.

End Chapter 4