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It Takes a Took by Dreamflower	9 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 11/15/2005
"Merry felt gratified that she didn’t add--as so many did--”for a male”. Oh, that was cute! So this wee bit of "contention" went as far back as Middle-earth, lol? And to think our generation had started it... I really enjoyed the horseplay between Pippin and Merry. I like to think that they had as much fun together after they became adults (semi-adult, in Pippin's case). LOL, is she being maneuvered again? Now Esme's behind it! Rosamunda may as well give up. As for Diamond, I do think being ill has helped her to empathize with her own patients. Not that she was unsympathetic prior to spotted-fever, but it helped. Pippinfan Author Reply: Well, in the Shire, my Shire, at least, the vast majority of healers are female. And of course in any occupation dominated by one gender, certain biases arise, sometimes within the occupation, sometimes from those who make use of the occupation (eg. patients) and sometimes both. I think they probably were still playing around and goofing off when they were little old hobbits retired to Gondor, LOL! (Can't you just see them trying to spar with their walking sticks?) Oh, yes. Manipulating Rosamunda is a treasure art form among her relations... Anytime a healer has to be a patient herself, she will learn a bit more about empathy.

Ariel	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Preens Oh, I didn't miss that at all! Thank you for doing me this honor too! It tickled me pink that someone would chose to use a character (or however much of him you are planning on using) that I 'made' up. squee I will definitely look for your fic in the next challenge and please look for mine! I will have a Merry (believe it or not) angst piece in there that you might enjoy! Ariel Author Reply: I so glad that you're glad! chuckle I am using the name, and his lineage, and a little of his story, but not all of it, and I loved the personality that was beginning to emerge at the end of your story, when he realized he was free of that evil old doctor, so some of his personality as well. He really was a very well realized OC, and I'd love to see you make some use of him yourself in some later fics. I'm looking forward to this month's challenge, I think there are going to be some good ones in there!

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Oh no, Pip and Merry are going home? Does that mean the story's almost over? I could really read a lot more of this, I was hoping that Pip and Diamond would share at least one kiss before parting. But there's still time for that. hint hint Poor Pippin, not being able to carry his girl to the cottage, but then that would be bad, cause they'd both probably wind up hurt. Pippin still shows his youth doesn't he? He sounded like his old self a bit in this chapter - restless, impulsive and whiny. :) I sympathize with Diamond, the worst and most frustrating part of getting over a serious illness is the lack of strength. As embarrassed as she may have been about being carried, she had to be relieved that she wouldn't have to walk all that distance. Author Reply: I'm thinking the story is just about over, but as you know, I am good about taking hints (actually, that particular scene is already written, just not the chapter that it goes in yet--it was one of my first scenes.) Can you imagine him trying to maneuver her and the crutches? LOL! Yes, Pip's showing a little of his old self here--he is still young, and boredom does not bring out the best in him! Face it, the poor lad's been cooped up for weeks, and now he doesn't even have the prospect of his lass to cheer him up. And he is homesick for Crickhollow. He and Merry have made a nice little home there. I'm sure she was relieved, and that Lavender was grateful as well. It is hard to have to build up strength after being sick. Especially for someone who is more used to caring for others than being cared for.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Well having company put and the holidays didn't give me much chance to check up on things here. In a way it was nice I had lots of chapters for this story to read but I think I like doing it one at a time! The way you wrote Merry and Pippin revealing their pasts was very well done. Very touching without being over dramatic about it. I forget who said it, Merry I think, but I like them saying that if they were going to share their futures they had better share their pasts, something to that extent. I like that they are getting it all out in the open! Eglantine and Pearl manuevering Rosamunda so that the lads could have a chance to tell their tale in their own time. She has her own agenda anyway! I guess since she isn't opposing Merry and Estella's union, at least not openly, she would have her own ideas. I still love that Reggie and his girls took care of Diamond! Now they have a friend who didn't know the before attitudes of the girls! I guess they will miss Diamond, especially Opal, although it isn't like she has gone for good! Pippin wanting to go home and it not being the Smials must be quite difficult for his family, especially his mother. But I'm glad they will be on their way soon! How far is this story going to go? I certianly hope at least through Yule, but I'm wondering about Freddy's return and Merry and Estella's actual marriage! Looking forward to more, as always! Thank you! Author Reply: Goodness, you did have a lot of catching up to do! I hope you had a nice holiday! It is nice, sometimes to have large blocks of a fic to read all at once. The parts of them telling over their stories was hard--I always worry about boring the readers with things they already know, but I had to make sure that I included anything that would have made a great emotional impact. I'm also glad you didn't think it was overly dramatic, as I also worried about everybody bursting into tears so much. I just about made myself cry in a couple of places--but I had the book there, and Boromir's death, and Merry lost in Minas Tirith do that to me anyway. Rosamunda's priorities are not those of her daughter, but she does love her and want her happiness. She's mostly concerned about the appearance of things and as long as Tina and Pearl could assure her that everything was all right, she allowed herself to be manipulated. Yes, Diamond's friendship with Opal and her sisters--but especially Opal--will continue to be very important to her down the years. Pippin and Merry have made Crickhollow their home--Eglantine knows this, though it is somewhat bittersweet to her. But she also knows he'll be back for plenty of visits, and she wants him to be happy. It is definitely going through Yule, which is actually what I am aiming for in the way of finishing up, by Second Yule, at least--(fingers crossed,LOL! I do have to work for three days starting tomorrow)--but even when I finish this one, I have more in mind. I can't show Freddy's return until I've shown his travels! grin

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Wonderful!! A change of scenery for everyone, that is good. Now, how do we get Diamond to Brandy Hall? So very well done. Author Reply: Thanks! I thought it was about time to get them out of the Great Smials! I have a plan to get her there, never fear!

Ariel	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Wheee! I get to get caught up with this fic! Thanks for keeping up with this story - I have been enjoying it. Author Reply: I'm so glad that you caught up at this chapter. I was going to email you to look out for an appearance of Master Dody the healer! (He'll also be making an appearance in my upcoming Marigold Challenge fic.) I'm very happy to hear that you are enjoying it.

pipinheart	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
Very nice... Diamond is recovering, but is now in the cottage,and it seems Estella and family is invited to Buckland for Yule by Merry's Mum.... Pippin is doing well,but he misses Home..And he can't wait till he can start courting her properly.. There is some funny moments and you can feel the warmth of family... great job... Author Reply: Yes, things are starting to pull together now. I'm thinking I might only have a few chapters left. Pippin does miss his own home; he and Merry have made a life at Crickhollow, and I'm sure they both miss it. It's good that you feel the warmth. I love to show the cousins playing together, even though they are older.

Eruviluieth	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/29/2004
I love your chapter endings! Things seem to be progressing well. I liked Merry carrying Diamond. Poor Pip! Must have been tough to watch Merry get to carry HIS lass. So, you've gotten Estella to Brandy Hall for Yule, how will you manage to get Diamond there? You may not be planning it, but that seems the most obvious step to me. Author Reply: Oh, thank you! I'm never sure about ending a chapter. I tend to write until I get to what seems a natural stopping point, and so sometimes my chapters are pretty long and other times (most of the time) they are very short. Yes, well, Pip would have preferred to, but it would have been awkward with crutches.grin But he would not have wanted his lass worn down by the long walk. Well, sometimes the obvious is pretty obvious! I have a somewhat plausible scenario in mind.

Auntiemeesh	Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 12/28/2004
Pippin sat twitchily on the settee in the family sitting room, and gave his mother a reproachful look. “I don’t see why I could not have at least walked down there with them. I’m doing fine on my crutches.” This must be torture for Pippin, now that he's feeling better, to still be couped up indoors with very little entertainment. “Merry? When are we going home?” He hadn’t meant for the question to pop out like that in front of everybody, and he blushed, realizing just how that was going to sound to his mother. I love Pippin's mix of maturity and youth. He's been through so much that he really is older than his years, but every now and then he proves that he's still just a tween. Author Reply: No matter how old Pippin gets I don't think he'll ever be mature enough to like being cooped up and having to sit still. I would guess that when he is an old gaffer retired in Minas Tirith, he will still get twitchy if he's bored!LOL! I'm glad you saw what I was going for there: to show that in a lot of ways, Pippin is still very young, and in spite of his new-found maturity--it still pops out sometimes. There is a reason hobbits take coming-of-age so seriously.

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