A/N: Oh me dear! I’ve been going over my story, and it’s just NOT going the way I want it to. I’m sorry about taking so long to update, I really have NO idea what to do in this chapter. Really. On a lighter side: This Wednesday, I’m going to start taking Zoloft. ‘Cept I’m scared I won’t be able to write, because..never mind.

Note: I’m very satisfied with this chapter. It’s funny, because the only other one I liked was the first chapter. I was looking over the other chapters, and really got to criticizing them. I’m trying to work on using the right writing technique in the right situation. Hope you like!

~~

With a jolt, Pippin snapped awake. He had been dreaming, about what he couldn’t remember. He vaguely realized that he was being squeezed in an embrace by Merry, whose arms were wrapped around him and clasped behind his back. He was sweltering, and his stomach was in knots. He almost felt nauseous. His wrist was crushed under his own side, and he was afraid to move, lest he wake Merry. But if he had wondered what had wakened him, he immediately found out.

"Come, Mr. Merry, Mr. Pippin! The sun is – well, it’s not shining quite yet – but breakfast is on the table for you both."

Sam briskly placed a small pile of clothes at the foot of the bed. He smiled at Merry, who stirred, sat up, and yawned. Pippin rolled onto his back.

"Breakfast is ready," Sam repeated, "Come when you like." He winked, and was gone. Merry swung his legs over the edge of the bed, stood up, and ran after him.

Pippin unfolded the clothes. They were Frodo’s, no doubt, but they fit him all the same.

"What is going to happen today?" Merry asked, catching up to Sam in the hallway.

For a moment, Sam didn’t answer. He didn’t look at Merry, and he continued to walk. "Mr. Frodo and I have decided that, well," Sam said after a moment of silence, "That it’s best if we didn’t really talk about what happened."

"So, we’re not going to do anything about this?"

"No, I mean – of course we are, Merry! I’m just saying that I don’t think this is the most comfortable subject to talk about."

~~

Peregrin mutely walked down the hallway. Despite the absence of a rug, his feet still made no sound on the wood. He thought about the events of the past couple days, and snitches of words and images flashed before his memory.

‘Fool of a Took..’

‘Misbehaving!’

‘…Pippin will come and live at Bag End.’

‘…too young.’

‘I saw you crying.’

‘Why didn’t he tell you?’

‘I don’t want to go to..sleep..’

So caught up was he in his thoughts, he did not realize where he was walking.

"Hullo, Pip!" A voice said, interrupting him. He realized that he was already in the kitchen, standing there, with a blank look on his face. "Did you have a good night’s rest?" Frodo asked.

Pippin nodded, sitting at the table. Sam was helping Frodo cook, and Merry was sitting across from him, tapping his fork on his plate. He looked hungry. Merry stopped tapping, looking up and meeting Pippin’s gaze. He smiled sheepishly.

"Free meals and free bedding," he said with a weak grin. "It isn’t this good in Buckland."

His eyes drifted, and he began tapping his fork again. Pippin looked around, wondering if he was dreaming again. The air around him seemed tense and uncomfortable. He sat for a minute or two, bouncing his knees anxiously and waiting for words to be spoken. There was only silence, except for the occasional sizzle of water over the fire, or the Clank of one pan grazing another.

No one seemed to want to talk. "Is something wrong?" Pippin asked tentatively. Merry dropped his fork in surprise, not having expected the sudden speech. Sam looked even more uncomfortable, but Frodo set down his gloves and sat next to Pippin.

"We just, well, we thought.." Frodo started lamely, "We weren’t sure if we should talk about this sort of thing. We were going to ask Bilbo, but he didn't’wake up yet..It's just..things like this, they’ve never really happened before."

Merry and Sam nodded in agreement, however avoiding eye contact. Pippin seemed to realize the problem.

"Well.." he said slowly. "I guess, we don’t have to talk about it..not right now.."

"I couldn’t have put it better myself," said Frodo, standing up. He seemed relieved, and began to cook again.

"One thing I was wondering, actually," Merry said suddenly. "What was Bilbo doing last night?"

~~

"Uncle Bilbo?"

Frodo rapped on the door, slowly opening it. He stepped into the room, and looked around. Bilbo was sitting by the window, wide awake. He smiled warmly as Frodo came in.

"Good morning, my lad," he said. After a moment, he added: "We’ve a lot to do today."

Frodo sat on the edge of the bed. "What do you mean?"

"Last night, I had a talk with Will. The Mayor, Will Wheafoot. Seems we’re not the only ones who know about Paladin and.." he trailed off.

"Ted Sandyman," Frodo recalled. "He said something about that, and that he worked for the Mayor."

"Yes," Bilbo confirmed. "He does. And it seems that he may not be as cold- hearted as he seems to be. Last night, if I heard correctly, he expressed concern for Peregrin."

Silence. Frodo thought about the day before, remembering his conversation with ‘Sir’ Sandyman. He remembered how, for the smallest second, Ted’s eyes had lost their ice-cold glint when he mentioned Pippin. Bilbo watched, noticing the look in Frodo’s eyes.

"Doesn’t seem quite the type, eh? That’s what I thought. But back to the subject – I had a chat with the Mayor last night, and we’ve come up with a plan."

"So that’s where you went last night. What do you mean, a plan?"

"We’re going to meet Will at Paladin’s Smial. I guess you will be coming, then."

~~

The walk passed in silence. No one wanted to talk about ‘it’, and ever if they wanted to, they wouldn’t know what to say.

Pippin was, above all things, confused. Sam and Merry flagged him on either side. He had no idea why they were going to his Smial. Though, about being confused, he was afraid.

Merry seemed to be the only one who decided to break the silence. "What is that?" he whispered to Pippin. Everyone heard, though, and stopped.

"What is what?" Frodo quipped.

"That," Merry said, pointing to Pippin’s wrist.

Only then did they notice the silky cloth bound around Pippin’s wrist. It seemed to be the exact same color of his skin, which explained why they didn’t see it before.

"That?" Pippin repeated. "I’m not sure..But, I think my wrist is..well..it hurts, or it did, I just realized I can’t feel it."

~~

They arrived later at the Great Smial. Bilbo pushed open the front gate and strode to the front door. A hobbit stood next to it, eyeing them warily. He seemed to be about coming of age. His hair was a dull brown, his eyes a dull hazel, and his skin was pale. He was attired with black and brown clothes, and a red cloak.

"Liatius. Liatius Took," Sam said, sounding as if he knew him. Liatius did not observe him, and instead turned his attention to Bilbo.

"What business have you with the Thain?" he asked.

"We’ve got his son here," Bilbo said, and Merry pushed Pippin forward, "And we have a meeting with Paladin and the Mayor."

"I see." Liatius said plainly, and allowed them entrance.

"One more thing," continued Bilbo before he entered. "Where is the other guard?"

"At the back door."

With that settled, the company entered the Smial. Bilbo led them into the next room, where Will Whitfoot and Paladin sat, waiting. Pippin sat down across from his father, and Merry dragged a chair across the floor to sit next to him. Liatius sat on his other side, and Pippin realized he had followed them in. To the Mayor’s right sat Ted Sandyman.

"Well," said Will, looking between the son and the father. "Do either of you have any say on this?"

Both remained silent.

"Then without the consent of either of you, the plan is set into action. Guards will be posted here during the day, and will stay here at night. Any ‘funny business’, and I’ll bring in the Shirrifs, Paladin."

Paladin looked up sharply. He was obviously furious, and his fists were clenched. Pippin felt a hand slide into his, and clasped it tight. Merry smiled at him.

"And for two weeks," Will added, "You are not to come in contact with Pippin. If he chooses to do so, he may stay with Samwise Gamgee."

"What about me?" Merry demanded before he could stop himself. "Why can’t he stay with me?"

"I’d prefer to keep Peregrin under a watchful eye, if you please. Now Mr. Paladin, Mr. Bilbo, if you’ll stay we have something more to discuss."

A strong hand grabbed Pippin’s upper arm and escorted him to the foor. Liatius gave him a small push, and Pippin stumbled gracefully out the door. Merry, Frodo, and Sam followed in suit.

‘Being escorted out of my own Smial,’ Pippin thought, ‘Like a criminal.’

"Well, what do we do know?" Merry asked.

"Could we.." Pippin began timidly, "Go to the Party Field, and help them set up?"

"The Party!" Frodo cried in surprise. "I forgot – the Party is the day after tomorrow!"

~~

A/N: I like this chapter. Now that I’ve gotten it done with, I’m open to experiment with the several plots I have. ~does that thing at the end of Meet the Parents~ Can you deal with THAT? ~snort~ R + R! And I’m SO sorry it took so long to get posted!