Pippin was a fretful baby, and didn’t thrive. His appetite was poor and he tended to point to things he wanted, seldom speaking save the word ”No!”

When the Brandybucks arrived for Pimmie’s birthday Merry couldn’t wait to see his Pippin and hurried to the nursery via the kitchen, where he liberated two gingerbreadlads. Pippin, just waking from a nap when Merry burst in, fairly beamed in delight.

“My Mer!” he crowed, and was soon cuddled in his cousin’s arms.

“My Pip! Look what we’ve got!” Pippin took a big bite, grinned, and said, “One for Pip, one for Mer!”

Tiny Pippin tired easily and even Merry couldn’t cajole him into crawling much, or to begin walking when the grown-ups thought he should. But Briony was not worried, saying Pippin would walk when he was ready.

Then one day Merry fell from a tree. Briony gave Pippin a biscuit to keep him busy as Hortensia bandaged Merry’s sprained arm.

“Poor my Mer,” Pip said tearfully, and the three watched dumbfounded as Pippin tottered across the room to press the now-soggy biscuit into Merry’s good hand. He patted his cousin’s leg comfortingly.

“See?” Briony sniffed. “He just needed a good reason.”

“Umph!” The small hobbit tackled Merry excitedly, tumbling them to the ground. “I win again, Merry!” Pippin squealed. “That’s three for me and two for you.”

“You win then, Pip, I am worn out.” Merry hugged him close, Pippin panting, his heart thumping. No more today then. They’d raced between the oak and pump five times. Merry couldn’t let Pippin win every time as he was no fool, but a year ago Pip wouldn’t have been able to run so far once!

Pippin was getting stronger and Merry would keep pushing him, for his lad was too precious to lose.

When Pippin was six, he came to Buckland after being very ill. Merry never left his side. One day they happened to walk past where Merry’s sisters were buried.

Pippin couldn’t read the marker, but found the cat Merry had carved when last there. Merry explained gently that he had made it for his sisters who had gone to Overheaven long ago. Pippin was intrigued that Merry had sisters who had gone away but more interested in the cat.

“Would you make me a pony, Merry, if I go to Overheaven?”

“If you like Pip,” said Merry, his voice shaking.