Wherever You Are Is Home Chapter Sixteen - "Forgiveness" It is 1410 in the Shire Reckoning Pippin is 20 and Perivnca 25 is Merry is 28 and Pimpernel is 31 Merry laid quietly next to Pippin's sleeping form, gently running his hands over his cousin's warm flesh. The dim lighting in the bedroom did nothing to mar Pippin's dazzling beauty, it only served to make his features dark and mysterious. His Pippin. His baby. His love. The feelings he had for Pippin were so strong and fierce they were almost unreal. His heart leapt whenever he saw him, and his stomach would grow warm and tight, sensations that had not been dulled by time. They had lived together for thirteen years, and been lovers for five of those years, yet even after all that time, Merry still found Pippin exciting and wonderful. Merry's hand, stilled over Pippin's skin as his cousin shifted in his sleep. He looked to Pippin's face, to catch Pippin watching him through one, half-opened eye. "Are you awake, goose?" "I am." Pippin said softly. "Are you still a big ninny who thinks I am too young to dress himself without help?" Merry gazed at Pippin thoughtfully, knowing that Mattais had been right. He kept insisting that Pippin was a child for no other reason than he was younger than him, and not because he was truly a child anymore. Part of him still worried that Pippin's refusal to stand up to his father about the Smials was a childish, petulant fit, but he would not argue about it anymore. If Pippin wished to throw away his birthright, there was nothing Merry could do. He had already done all he could do. Even if Pippin was making a mistake, Merry's conscience was clear. If Pippin was sorry for it in the end, he would just have to live with his regrets, just as Merry was trying to live with his. "I am not." Merry said, smiling weakly. Then his face went sheepish, almost sad. "I'm sorry, Pip." "For what?" Pippin asked. He rolled on the bed, curling up next to Merry. "Being a ninny?" "Yes, that." Merry said, kissing his forehead. "And I lied to you." "When?" Pippin asked. His face looked hurt fleetingly, and he raised and eyebrow at his cousin. "Earlier, you asked me if I had regrets." Merry replied. "I knew it!" Pippin exclaimed, his eyes growing wide. "You think I should have gone of with someone else for a time, so you would not be all I know." "Not exactly that." Merry said. A few years back he might have thought that, before he fully understood the depths of his feelings for Pippin. Now, the thought of Pippin touching someone else made him insanely jealous." "Then, what?" Pippin insisted. He made a pout, and wriggled away from Merry a little. "You were too young, the first time I touched you, and that I do regret, sometimes." Merry admitted. "I should have waited longer, waited until you were older. I just couldn't control myself anymore." "I didn't want you to control yourself." Pippin argued, narrowing his eyes at Merry. "I wanted you to touch me." Pippin paused, considering. "I want you to touch me, now." "Truly, even if I am a ninny?" Merry asked, rolling onto Pippin. He felt Pippin harden against his leg, and that was answer enough. His stomach fluttered, seeing how easily Pippin stirred at his touch. He hoped it would always be so, that Pippin would always find him as exciting and wonderful as he found him. "Well, possibly, you're not a complete ninny." Pippin admitted, wrapping his arms around Merry to pull him closer. Merry licked and nuzzled at his neck, and Pippin sighed. "I mean, I guess you're right." "About what?" Merry asked, pulling away from Pippin to eye him incredulously. "That you should speak to your father." "Yes." Pippin said, a bit grudgingly. "If he wants Pearl to be Thain, that's fine, but I suppose I should talk to him, anyway." "But I don't care a whit about the Smials, Merry, really I don't." Pippin continued. "If I had to pick between being Thain or being with you, I would choose you." "Oh, Pip." Merry said, kissing him. He knew it was a rash, impulsive decision, but the knowledge of all that Pippin was willing to give up for him made his heart swell until he thought it would burst. Twining his fingers into Merry's hair, Pippin kissed him back hard, pushing his tongue into Merry's mouth. Merry returned the kiss eagerly, cupping Pippin's face and sucking on his tongue. "I love you, Pip." Merry said, pulling away breathlessly. "Let's not fight ever again." "No, never." Pippin agreed, pulling Merry's shirt over his head. "I love you, too." Merry melted into Pippin's mouth, relieved that their disagreement was over. Sliding his hands under Pippin's shirt, he ran his fingers over his chest as he kissed him, savoring the feel of Pippin's soft, smooth skin under his hands. He teased a nipple, pinching the nub lightly between two fingers, and Pippin moaned, arching against his hand. Pippin's hands wandered Merry's body, desperate to loose himself in Merry's flesh and forget their earlier, angry words. Moving his mouth away from Merry's, he kissed and licked Merry's ears, and nipped and sucked at his neck. He pulled Merry to him fiercely, wanting him close, raking his nails down Merry's back. Pippin's nails clawing his back made the fire in Merry's belly rage. He lifted up, quickly pulling the shirt and breeches off of Pippin, wanting him naked. He barely pulled Pippin's breeches off before Pippin was pulling and Merry's laces, struggling to free him from the cloth. They both gasped as Merry moved back over Pippin, sparks shooting through their body as their erections slid together. Merry pushed against Pippin, grinding, never wanting the delicious feelings to end. Pippin renewed the assault on Merry's neck with his lips and tongue and teeth, and teased Merry's nipples with his fingers. With Pippin's mouth so close to his ear, the sweet, soft sounds he was making seemed to echo in his head, and he pushed and writhed against Pippin mindlessly. Pippin moved his mouth to Merry's ear, gasping and whispering naughty things that threatened to bring Merry's release then and there. "Merry! Please, Merry!" Pippin cried out, when Merry snaked an arm between them to stroke Pippin with his hand. "I want you inside me." Merry reached for the bottle of oil on the bedside table, his hand never leaving Pippin's hardness. He released it only long enough to tip some oil out onto his hand, then resumed stroking Pippin as he coated himself and readied Pippin's entrance. "Sweet Lady, Merry!" Pippin gasped as Merry entered him. Once he was sheathed in Pippin's tightness he paused, reveling in the beauty beneath him. The slightly sweaty sheen to Pippin's body made him glisten. His cinnamon curls were tousled around his head, and his eyes were wide and dark with desire. Merry's stillness was teasing to the point of torture. Pippin moved his hips, nudging against him and whimpering. "What do you want, love?" Merry breathed. He inched out of Pippin, taunting. "You, Merry. I want you." Pippin said, shuddering. "Take me." The heat in Merry roared. He pushed forward, striking the sweet spot inside Pippin. As he felt Pippin buck under him he captured his wrists, pinned them over his head, and began to thrust into Pippin quickly. Pippin cried out helplessly, torn between the agony of being unable to touch Merry, and the excitement of being held down. He struggled against the hands that held him, writhing, and wrapped his legs around Merry's waist, so part of him could have contact. Merry growled as Pippin fought to free himself, enjoying the way Pippin's tight heat moved around his erection as he wiggled. He pushed into Pippin fast and hard, angling his thrust so he hit Pippin's spot each time he went in. He trapped Pippin's wrists under one hand and trailed the other one down Pippin's body, rubbing his nipples and scratching at his sides and belly. Pippin cried out wordlessly, arching up against Merry and tightening the grip of his legs around Merry's back. He struggled against the hold Merry had on his wrists harder, making Merry thrust into him harder. Merry moved his wandering hand down to stroke Pippin's erection. Pippin, moaning and shaking, thought he would die from the feeling. "I want to touch you, Merry." Pippin choked out. "Let me touch you." "Not until you come." Merry said, grinding his erection against Pippin's spot and he pushed into him. After a few more thrusts, Pippin's body went taut, and Merry felt his erection throb. "Scream for me." Merry growled, stroking Pippin hard. "I want to hear you." Pippin let out a low, growling moan that turned to a wail as his erection jerked into Merry's hand. He shuddered, shouting Merry's name loud enough to be heard in Michel Delving, and bathed Merry's belly in hot white heat. Merry released Pippin's hands. They quickly moved to Merry's body, grasping and clutching. Merry slowed his movements, and bent to kiss Pippin, plundering his mouth with his tongue. "Turn me around." Pippin said, when Merry's mouth left his. Merry quickly obliged, pulling out of Pippin to roll him onto his belly and pull his hips upwards. He reentered Pippin slowly, relishing the feeling. Merry enjoyed this position, for its dominant nature as well as the wonderful view of the curve of Pippin's rump, but Pippin rarely let Merry take him like this, preferring positions where he could touch Merry and see his face. One inside, he found himself pushing in and out of Pippin as fast as before. He had wanted to prolong it, giving Pippin the opportunity to release again, but his body, seeming to move of its own accord, did not want slow. He moved is body quickly, running his hands down Pippin's back to grasp him by the hips. Pippin, his face pressed into a pillow, made muffled moans and balled the blankets in his hands, and Merry moved an arm around Pippin's body to find him hard again. As Merry touched him, Pippin clenched his muscles tightly, squeezing Merry's hardness from inside him. Merry felt fire and ice wash over him, and released into Pippin with a moan. Merry paused long enough to catch his breath, then rolled Pippin back over. He gave Pippin's erection a few hard strokes, and bent as he felt it throb, catching Pippin's release in his mouth. "I love you, Meriadoc." Pippin said, once he was able to speak. "I love you to, Peregrin." Merry said, moving to lay along side him. "And I always will, no matter what." "It's so good to see you, Master Thain." Seredic Brandybuck said. "Its been what, now? Two years?" "About that." Paladin managed politely, forcing himself not to grunt and Saradoc's youngest brother. Paladin Took was fit to be tied, and he had not even set foot into Brandy Hall. With Everard and Melilot's wedding so close at hand, Brandy Hall was a menagerie, packed from roof to ceiling with Brandybucks, Tooks, Baggines, Grubbs, Chubbs, and whatnot. Paladin had been hoping to slip into the overgrown burrow unseen, and remain unseen until he had taken care of more important matters. Peace, however, was not to be had. Not only was Brandy Hall threatening to burst with hobbits, half the guests, visitors and various connexions had been milling around when he arrived. Instead of beating a marriage proposal from Berilac out of Merimac, he was forced to stand in the courtyard and make polite chitchat with every Bracegriddle and Boffin in the Shire. In his efforts to avoid Saradoc, he had not traveled to Buckland in over two years. Eglantine and the girls had even attended Celedine's recent birthday party without him. As some of these hobbits had not seen him in those two years, they were all determined to greet him now, and tell him how glad they were to see him, nevermind his business to attend to. "And where is Master Peregrin?" Seredic asked, glancing about. "The lad's out and about." Paladin said smoothly, retaining an unruffled expression. "Got it in his head to see a bit of the world. Went off to see Staddle and Bree." If one more hobbit inquired about Pippin, Paladin Took was going to have an apoplectic fit. "Ah, yes." Seredic said, smiling. "He always was the adventurous sort." "Well, we'll be going inside, now." Paladin said. To his relief, Eglantine had stopped yammering with Peony Baggins, and was now standing at his elbow. Glad to be rid of Seredic, he took a step towards the burrow, only to stop dead in his tracks. "Sweet, merciful Lady." Paladin breathed, as he spied who was standing in the doorway. "Of all hobbits in the Shire." Saradoc Brandybuck was standing in the center of the round doorway to Brandy Hall. He moved forward grudgingly, at a poke in the ribs from Eglantine. Saradoc was the last person he wanted to see, but it looked like speaking to him was unavoidable. Paladin would have to climb over him to get inside, so he could not very well ignore him. "Master Took and Thain." Saradoc exclaimed warmly. "We were not expecting you so soon." Not expecting me, at all Paladin thought bitterly. He was sure Saradoc was in no more of a hurry to see him than he was to see Saradoc, though the Master of Brandy Hall seemed to be putting on a brave face. "Master Brandybuck." Paladin said, remembering how to speak after another poke in the ribs from his wife. Eglantine, who had been a collection of cool expressions and curt words on the journey to Buckland, was now all warmth and smiles. She stepped forward to embrace Saradoc quickly, then prompted Pimpernel to do the same with a sharp nudge. "I do believe that some of the larger guestrooms are still available." Saradoc said. "That would be very kind of you." Paladin said, grimacing inwardly. The larger guestrooms were in the center of the burrow. Paladin had been hoping for a smaller, secluded one, even if it was barely large enough for him to turn around in. "And you must join me for an ale and a smoke." Saradoc said. His voice was tight, as if he was only asking to be polite. "In my office, after dinner." "Sounds right nice." Paladin said, before Eglantine could poke him again and he ended up with a bruise. There were fewer things he would rather do less, but with half a hundred hobbits watching and Eglantine's eyes boring a whole in him and her finger nigh, there was no way he could refuse gracefully. Eglantine leaned to say something to Pimpernel, and Paladin took the opportunity to address Saradoc quietly. "Tell me, Saradoc, is my daughter about?" He whispered. "Pearl?" Saradoc asked, after a pause. "Can't say I've seen her." "No, not Pearl." Paladin said, looking at him flatly. "Pervinca." "Pervinca." He repeated. Another, longer pause. "I did see her earlier. Hours ago." He gestured dismissively. "At elevensies." Paladin sighed heavily, narrowing his eyes at Saradoc's cagey answers. Saradoc looked at him blankly, and Paladin had to force himself not to shake the Master of Brandy Hall by the shoulders. It would seem Pervinca had flown the coup. The first person he had seen when he arrived had been Danelle, the girl Pervinca had traveled with, and he had not missed the look she had given him. She had given a noticeable start, eyes wide, and had opened and closed her mouth like a landed fish. She had tried to flee, but Paladin had caught her by the sleeve. When he had asked about Pervinca, she had looked at him blankly for a moment, just as Saradoc had, as if she did not know who Pervinca Took was. Then she had smoothed her features, and told him that Pervinca was asleep. It had been a big, fat lie and Paladin knew it, but Adelard's bratling had dashed off before he been able to question her further. "Do you know what room she has taken?" Paladin asked, though he was now talking to no one in particular. Saradoc had used Paladin's introspective moment to engross himself in a conversation with Pimpernel and Eglantine. Evidently, if he was going to find Pervinca, he was going to have to do it himself. Pimpernel surveyed the throng of hobbits outside Brandy Hall with a tight face and a slightly curled lip. She did not feel well, at all. Her mother had told her to expect an uneasy stomach for the following couple of months, but her mother had neglected to inform her that her belly would be so violently uneasy. All she wanted to do was lie down and die. She and her mother took a few steps forward, only for Paladin Took to stop in his tracks, speaking with Uncle Seredic Brandybuck. Narrowing her eyes at both Uncle Seredic and her father, she cursed her father's being the Took and Thain. If he was an ordinary manner of hobbit, no one would be making small talk with him before he or his family had even managed to get inside. All she wanted to do was lay down and die. Noticing her unpleasant expression, Eglantine patted Pimpernel's hand reassuringly, smiling softly. Their forward progress was halted again, this time by Saradoc Brandybuck, blocking the doorway. Pimpernel's lips twisted in a thin smile, noticing the way both her parents stiffened like a poker had been stuffed up their spine when they caught sight of him. Sighing, she rolled her eyes as Saradoc and her father made obviously forced chitchat. They were both so fidgety and uncomfortable it looked as if they had sand in their breeches. Since Saradoc and her father looked like they planned to shoot their breeze until afters, uncomfortable or no, she turned back towards the courtyard, eyeing the group of hobbits. Adelard had apparently invited every hobbit from Michel Delving to Green Hill County. She snickered inwardly at Adelard's presumption. He was not even the Thain, and he had invited more guests to Melilot's wedding than her father had invited to Pearl's. Mad as old Bilbo, Adelard was. Pimpernel wondered idly where Pervinca was hiding herself, not that she was really in a hurry to see her. Pervinca was a sour, ill-tempered, meddling busybody. She had traveled to Brandy Hall a few days earlier with Adelard and his family, and Pimpernel had enjoyed being free of her, though she had to admit, her father's personality on the trip over had made Pervinca look like the kindest of hobbits. "Lovely weather, isn't it?" Saradoc commented lamely. "Perfect for a wedding." It took her a moment to realize someone was speaking to her. Saradoc Brandybuck, who appeared to be fleeing from her father like he was Biblo's dragon, was now nattering on about the weather to her mother. Botheration Pimpernel thought. I'll never get to lie down. At this rate, I'll birth this bairn before we ever get inside. She gave a start as she spied Berilac, standing on the far end of the courtyard with Melilot's and Celedine's brothers. At that distance-- his hair was a bit darker and he was a little shorter-- he almost looked like Merry. But he wasn't Merry. Her stomach grew tight as she looked at Berilac, a stabbing, knotting discomfort that had nothing to do with the bairn. Actually, it had a good deal to do with the bairn, though not in the traditional way a bairn meddled with a belly's disposition. Looking at Berilac was making her anxious and panicky, and she wanted desperately to go inside. To hide, as much as to lay down. Pimpernel was unable to hide, and she found herself unable to stop looking at Berilac. As she watched him, she pondered her decision, wondering if she had made the right choice. She would have to marry him, there was no way out of it now, but she could not help but wonder. She knew next to nothing about him, mainly because she had never bothered to learn. How little she knew about him had not mattered when she approached him at Celedine's birthday. She had not been nearly as drunk as she had been pretending to be when she had suggested they go for a walk, but he had been drunk enough for both of them, and had followed her easily enough. They had not spoken since. Even the morning after, as she and her mother and her sisters had been leaving, he had not said one word to her. She had not been nearly as drunk as she had been acting at all, just drunk enough that if she slid her eyes half-closed, she was able to pretend it was Merry. But he wasn't Merry. Not that she had really ever cared for Merry either way, not as much as she had liked the idea of him. He was more than pretty enough, and he was sweet and kind, but more importantly, marrying him would have made her the Mistress of Brandy Hall, instead of being the plain, boring wife of some Boffin of Chubb. Being the Thain's daughter had not helped Pearl when it had been time for her to wed. She was saddled to a Bracegirddle, for the Lady's sake. She had been more than willing to ignore the fact that Merry was obviously in love with her brother, as long as he had kept his fithy proclivities to himself. But, of course, he hadn't. He had proceeded to love Pippin, with no concern to if anyone noticed. Even her father had noticed, and he was not always the quickest hobbit in the Shire. And, he had admitted to touching Pippin, a fact that had enraged her father to the point he had refused to let her marry him, nevermind the fact that she had still been willing to, and no matter how sadly and sweetly she had wept for her cause. She had been willing to, even if he did prefer lads. Small price to pay to be the Mistress of Brandy Hall. She ripped her attention away from Berilac when she heard her mother speaking to her. Saradoc, thankfully, had wandered off, and it looked like they might get inside before the bell for supper was rang. "Are you well, Nel?" Her mother asked, noting her pinched expression. She glanced over at Berilac quickly, then turned to her mother and smiled. She might not know Berilac, but there were worse people she could be married to. And with any luck, Merry would stay in hiding, and she would still get to be the Mistress of Brandy Hall. "I'm fine." She said, patting her stomach lightly. "I'm just a little tired." A very small price to pay. "Lovely weather, isn't it?" Saradoc commented lamely. Pimpernel nodded to him absently, not really hearing what he was saying. "Perfect for a wedding." "Oh, yes." Eglantine said, though she sounded like she had not really heard him, either. She was currently distracted with keeping an eye on her husband, who was vexed beyond reason. No fewer than eight hobbits and inquired about Pippin's whereabouts since they had arrived not fifteen mintues past, and Eglantine could almost picture smoke coming out of Paladin's ears. I do hope it holds." Saradoc said, smiling thinly. "The weather, that is." Eglantine nodded, giving Saradoc a curious look. The way he had turned and spoke to her so suddenly had struck her as odd. If she had not known better, she would have thought Saradoc had jumped into conversation with her to escape her husband. Ridiculous notion, really, though that was the way it had looked, the way he had turned from her husband so abruptly, and started speaking to her and Nel before they were even paying attention. Of all the hobbits in the courtyard, she thought she made a strange choice for Saradoc to run to, even if she had been the closest hobbit to hand. She shook her head slightly, and mumbled to herself about the silliness of men. Ignorning Saradoc's prattle, she paused and eyed Pimpernel, giving her an appraising look. Her daughter's face was pinched and tight, and she wondered if she was feeling well. She had only felt a little queasy when carrying Pimpernel and Pippin, but when she had been carrying Pearl and Pervinca, she had been violently ill, nearly the whole term. She murmured an appropriate response to something Saradoc said, still watching Pimpernel. She noted that her daughter looked distracted, and followed her gaze. Berilac Brandybuck. The lad was at the far end of the courtyard, speaking with Doderic, Ilberic, and Merimas. He seemed unaware of Pimpernel, though considering the scene that Paladin's arrival had caused, Eglantine thought it unlikely that he was truly unaware. It wasn't that he had not noticed her, he just wasn't paying her any mind. Pimpernel's face was still taut and set as she looked at him, and Eglantine found that odd, too. When they had spoken of her condition in the garden that day, she had seemed almost eager and wistful-- a lass in love who had been unable to wait for the proper time and place to lie with her lad. She was now looking at the lad like he was a terror out of one of Bilbo's stories-- not exactly the way a lass usually looked at the lad she wanted to marry. Pimpernel was not promiscuous, the entire idea of her taking a tumble with some lad in the bushes at a party did not fit in with her character. Especially taking a tumble with some lad she barely knew. For all Pimpernel's sighing and acting in love when she had first spoken of wedding Berilac, it did not add up. Eglantine could count on one hand the number of times she had seen Pimpernel speak to Berilac. Pimpernel had mentioned that she had had a bit to drink, but that explanation did not sit well with Eglantine, either. She had never known her daughter to drink to the point of tossing her virtue to the wind. Also, Pimpernel had still been patently mopping over Merry, right up until they had arrived at Brandy Hall for Celedine's birthday. Eglantine could not reconcile how Pimpernel had brushed away the melancholy and heartache she had been holding on to for two years so suddenly. Had she thought to forget Merry and mend her broken heart by indulging in too much ale and climbing into the bushes with Berilac Brandybuck? Well, why not? Eglantine had thought to forget Saradoc and mend her broken heart by marrying Paladin Took, and eventually, it had worked. Over the years, she had forgotten, and her heart had mended, and she loved her husband well. "Are you well, Nel?" She asked suddenly. Pimpernel had gone quite pale, and looked like she might retch. "I'm fine." She said, after favoring Berilac with a quick glance. "I'm just a little tired." Silently, Eglantine led Pimpernel inside, favoring Berilac with a look of her own. Done was done. The bairn had been made, and Pimpernel was just going to have to marry the lad. If she realized later that taking a tumble with him had been a mistake, she would just have to learn to live with it. Pippin moaned loudly, clutching a handful of Merry's curl. Spots fluttered in front of his eyes as Merry's mouth slid over his erection, his tongue tracing patterns over the underside of his length. Merry slid his mouth up, swirling his tongue around the tip of Pippin's shaft before plunging down again. Pippin's knees wobbled, and he leaned back against the kitchen table for support, murmuring Merry's name. Once again, Pippin had been cooking in his underclothes. Merry's hands trailed over Pippin's legs and thighs before curving around to his rump. Merry dug his nails into the soft flesh, pulling him closer, taking him deeper into his mouth. "Merry." Pippin whimpered weakly. Pippin glanced down, seeing Merry's mouth encircling him. It was a truly beautiful sight. Merry's eyes moved up to him and he shivered, pulling painfully at Merry's hair. Pippin wanted to touch Merry, to make Merry feel as good as he felt, but Merry was holding him fast against the table. He moaned loudly as Merry sucked on him hard. He looked down at Merry, and the gleam in his cousin's eyes was almost wicked. "Touch yourself, Merry." Pippin demanded. It was so unfair, that he should feel so good while Merry had to wait. Cupping Pippin's rump with one hand, Merry obliged, moving the other hand down to unlace his breeches and take hold of himself. The sight of Merry stroking himself while he was in Merry's mouth was highly erotic, and as he watched he felt the coil of heat in his belly tighten and flare. "Oh, Lady, Merry. You're beautiful." Pippin choked out around gasps. Suddenly, there was a loud, almost violent knocking at the door. Merry paused briefly, and Pippin's body went rigid. "Not now, Mattias." Merry shouted, pulling away from Pippin long enough to speak. "We're busy." Pippin shouted. "Go away." "Let me in, or I'll have both your hides!" It was not Mattias, but a female voice. Grudgingly, Merry let Pippin slide out of his mouth, and rose, lacing up his breeches. Pippin, cursing, pulled up his breeches and followed Merry to the door. "Pervinca!" Merry exclaimed, as he opened the door. Pervinca pushed past him before the door was all the way open. "Its good to see you, Vinca." Pippin said, hugging her. "What are you doing here?" "The same thing you two had been doing here for the last two years." Pervinca said dryly. "What's that?" Merry asked, eyeing her curiously. "Hiding." Pervinca said flatly. "Now make me some tea, if you please. I've got some stories to tell." Thus ends Chapter Sixteen, as Pervinca tells it. Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Seventeen Back to the Blue Book