Along the Way Beta by Elanor and Dreamflower!

Merry smiled as Pippin toddled along after him. At first, he had thought the little Took quite the bother and nuisance. But as time wore on, the little lad latched onto Merry's heart, and it seemed now he was there for good. Every time Merry's family visited his Uncle Paladin's in Whitwell, he found himself looking forward to it with delight in a way he never had before. After all, his three lass cousins really weren't so very amusing after a week's visit. In fact, it got to be rather boring.

But after Pippin's arrival, no more boring days were spent at the Whitwell farm. That little one kept everyone on their toes, so to speak. And Merry wouldn't have it any other way.

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"Go on, kiss her."

"Merry!"

"What? She's practically standing under the mistletoe, Pippin; now's your chance."

"But she's gorgeous!" Pippin looked down at his scrawny self. "She'd never abide the likes of me."

Merry smiled fondly at his young cousin. "Pippin, don't you know that half the lasses in the Shire would give their right arm to step out with you?"

Pippin looked puzzled. "But why?"

Merry was genuinely surprised. "You don't know? Pippin, you are a very handsome fellow. And you are quite charming, as well. Any lass would count herself lucky to be seen adorning your arm. Also, the fact that you'll more than likely be the Thain's heir when old Ferumbas passes just makes you all the more eligible."

Pippin rolled his eyes. "Wonderful. As if I really want to worry about whether or not a lass actually likes me, or just my title."

"Don't worry, Pip. One day you'll meet someone who will fall head over heels for you, just because you're Pippin Took and for no other reason. Now, best to get started weeding them out. Ask her for a kiss!"

Newly confident, Pippin strode over to where Poppy Proudfoot was standing, whispered something in her ear that caused her to giggle, and led her over to the mistletoe, where he promptly and cheerfully kissed her.

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"No, Pip."

"Merry, you cannot leave me behind. I'll just follow you if you try."

"Pippin, you're not even of age yet! Your father will have my hide if I take you traipsing outside the Shire. What if something happens to you? This isn't a hobbit walking party!"

Pippin frowned at Merry. "I know that well enough. I'm not a faunt anymore, Merry. You can't protect me from everything. If you're following Frodo into danger, then I am too. I love Frodo just as much as you do, and I want to do what I can to help."

"You can help by staying behind with Fatty and ... "

"No, I will not. I'm going with you."

And with that, Merry realized he really had no choice in the matter.

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Once again, he felt like a piece of baggage. The jostling of the wain made him feel sick, sicker than he already felt... sick with dread.

When the news had come, it wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good, either. Frodo and Sam had been rescued by Gandalf, and were in a healing sleep. But Pippin... Merry swallowed hard. Pippin was holding on by barely a thread. He wondered if Pippin was just waiting for him to get there, in order to say goodbye.

And so it was with immense relief that he arrived to a conscious and healing Pippin; indeed, a Pippin who would not stop chattering! And Merry was not going to complain, not this time.

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Merry couldn't stand the silence any longer; he was going to have to break it. He walked up to Pippin, who was seated at the hearth, staring silently into the flames.

"Pippin, I can make us something to eat if you'd like."

Pippin turned his head to look at Merry, and Merry gasped.

"Pippin, you look terrible. You really must eat, and you must sleep in a bed for once. You haven't moved in two days. This really must stop, Pippin."

Pippin grimaced. "Stop? It will never stop, Merry, not for me. He's gone...." Pippin swallowed. "He's gone, and he's never, ever coming back, is he, Merry?"

"No, Pip, he's not." Oh, how it hurt him to say that to Pippin. But it was only the truth. "He's not coming back, but he's gone where he will be healed. He is happy now, Pip."

"How do you know that?" Pippin asked angrily. "How can we really know that for certain?"

"I trust that Elrond and Gandalf would never have allowed it if the chance for healing wasn't real," Merry replied softly.

Pippin looked up at him and nodded slowly. "You're right, Merry. I just... I miss him so."

"I do too, Pip." Merry put his arms around his cousin, and squeezed him tenderly. "Hopefully this first anniversary will be the worst; hopefully it will get better as time goes on."

Pippin leaned into Merry's embrace. "I hope so too, Merry; I really, really do."

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Merry watched with a look of satisfaction as Pippin led his bride of one hour onto the dance floor. Pippin was flushed with happiness; he would be bringing Diamond home to Crickhollow, to share the house with Merry until Merry and Estella wed the following year. Life seemed to be moving on at a good pace. The nightmares had virtually stopped, and Merry and Pippin could fall into easy conversation about Frodo without breaking down. The past few years had been good to them.

Merry had finally started courting Estella, after having his eye on her for years. Pippin hadn't exhibited any such hesitation; as soon as he had laid eyes on Diamond during the Harvest Festival, he had nudged Merry and whispered, "That's the one. She is going to be my bride one day."

And so she was. Merry at first had chalked that comment up to youthful impetuousness. But Diamond seemed to return Pippin's regard right from the first, and the rest, as they said, was history.

With an air of gratitude, Merry cut in on Pippin, twirled his bride away, and whispered in her ear, "Thank you."

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Merry held the tiny hobbit in his hands, marvelling at the little miracle. He counted two pointy ears, ten fingers, and ten toes. Two hairy feet. Deep brown eyes and ebony hair to match his mother's. Tears stood in Merry's eyes as he contemplated the little bundle of joy.

"I don't see aught of his father in him yet," Merry commented as he handed little Faramir Took to Pippin, "but once he starts walking and talking, I'm sure we'll be able to see the resemblance."

Pippin laughed.

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The two hobbits leaned against the parapet, looking down upon the Pelennor. The comings and goings of various folk could be seen, entering and exiting the main gates of Minas Tirith. From the sixth level, they looked like little ants going about their various tasks.

One of the watching hobbits was dressed in the black and silver livery of the Tower Guard, and his russet curls had held off the grey of encroaching years. His companion, however, had hair that was perfectly white. He was dressed in his common, everyday clothes; white shirt, grey breeches, and the Lorien cloak that marked him as a companion of the King. The day was overcast, and had a slight chill to it, for all of it being the end of Thrimidge... May, they called it here.

"I can't believe Strider still lets you take Guard duty, Pip," Merry muttered. "For goodness' sake, you're 96 years old. Does he really think that you could hold your own if an enemy attacked?"

"Merry! I'm crushed at your lack of confidence in my battle skills," Pippin returned good-naturedly. He smiled at his companion, and clasped a hand to his shoulder. "After all, you're 104. Are you telling me that if Rohan was attacked, you wouldn't be in the thick of the fighting?"

Merry grunted in response. Pippin smiled to himself. Merry had always been very protective of Pippin and Pippin's well-being; the passing years had only made him more so. Merry was constantly mothering him, and Pippin basked in the attention. Their days were waning, and he meant to enjoy his cousin's company for as long as he could.

A bell began to toll, and Pippin grinned at Merry. "It's time for luncheon, Merry, and I'm off duty now. Let's go find Strider." Every day, the two hobbits had luncheon with the King and Queen. It was Aragorn's subtle way of keeping an eye on his aged guests, to make sure that they were yet doing well. Merry had caught on to that fact, but it was doubtful that Pippin had.

Merry smiled back at Pippin and linked arms with him. "Right. Let's go, then; we don't want to be late for an appointment with the King."

Pippin winked at Merry, humming contentedly as the two hobbits walked towards the palace. There was no place in the world that he would rather be than right here, and right now, with his dearest friend and cousin.