By: Dana
Summary: Things that need to be said, are said.
Characters: Freddy, Merry, and Pippin
Pairings: Merry/Pippin because of the series, but the story is gen
Rating: G
Warnings: Angst and more angst
Author's Notes: In Those Who Wander, after Merry and Pippin go to see Freddy, this is what happens.
I would like to thank sophinisba for the beta on this. ♥
Prompt: Strangers (#25). Words: 984
25/100.
Series Index: Roads Go On and Years Go By.
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to owning the rights of anything to do with J.R.R. Tolkien or New Line Cinema. Any and all characters and situations that have been borrowed are for the author's personal use only, and for the entertainment of others.

It isn't the first they've seen him, since that day in November when they carried him out into the light; but he does look desperate, Merry thinks, and somehow, that, that desperation, knowing in name at least all that Freddy had faced, that affects Merry in ways that are hard enough to consider, but harder still to name. Fatty has always been his cousin, and almost always been his friend. But right now, he doesn't quite seem to fit into himself – Fatty no more, isn't that what Pippin had said? And it isn't just for how he's too-thin, and how he seems too-tired... Cousin Rosamunda had endured it all well enough, taking care of her son after they had brought him back home – and it was something of their fault, wasn't it? They never should have left him on his own. Perhaps they shouldn't have gone from the Shire, themselves, but Merry does not think that could have been otherwise.

But Cousin Rosamunda had endured it all well enough, when they had brought Fatty... Freddy... Fredegar back home. He might have looked like a hobbit no more than three days from a horrible imprisonment, but she would not have let him dress that way. He was too-thin, but his clothing fit as well as it might, his mother having seen to that herself.

And there Freddy sat, at the edge of his bed, looking so very out of sorts, looking at his hands – hands shaking. And Merry, not having considered the action, finds that he grips Pippin's own right hand, perhaps too tightly. He came back to himself, and loosens his grip.

By then, Freddy's looked at them. And he smiles, but to Merry it doesn't seem like much of a smile. They are standing there, at the open door – for it had been left open – and he feels like he is looking at a stranger, a hobbit that he does not know, that he has never known – and he doesn't quite know what to think of that.

'Estella said you'd come,' Freddy says.

And Pippin, all smiles and warmth and for that, Merry is very grateful, pulls his hand from Merry's, and goes into the room. 'It's so very good to see you, Fatty,' and once Freddy has risen, Pippin pulls their cousin into his embrace. The lines of Freddy's face seem sharp, and his eyes seem very distant – but he smiles, just slightly, and leans his cheek against Pippin's shoulder, hugs him in return, at least in that brief moment.

Then he draws back. He's looking at Merry. 'Estella tells me I've keep myself cooped up for far too long. If Folco were here, then I think... well, if Folco were here, perhaps I might...'

'Perhaps what we need,' Pippin adds cheerily, 'is to get out of this room.'

Freddy blinks. But then he nods. 'Yes, I think Estella suggested that herself. Are you sure she hasn't sent you here to keep an eye on me, hrm?' And he smiles once more, and of course he's right. But he doesn't know that.

'Perhaps we thought we needed to keep an eye on you ourselves,' Pippin replies. And he's grinning, and he takes Freddy by the arm. 'Come then, cousin – there is only so much sitting in bed you can do before you find yourself with a disagreeable hobby. We'll walk a bit and, then, if you'd like, we could all have something more to eat. Merry here's not thought to eat since, oh, before Bucklebury.'

'I had other things on my mind,' Merry protests.

Pippin leads Freddy on. 'Thinking too much? And not eating? We need to do something about dear Merry, dear Fatty!'

And Merry turns, watches them as they go – Pippin, tall, his frame lean and wiry, and Freddy, shorter, his shoulders not nearly as broad as they once were. Merry finds himself smiling, and then he shakes his head.

It is not all so dark as it seems, and Freddy is not so much a stranger as a friend that is need of reacquainting.

He catches up with them, and walks at Freddy's other side – and they talk of what they've seen and what they've done, but there are some roads they are not willing to walk down, quite yet, and they do not tell him everything they might. At one point, a gaggle of young lads, all very impressed with Merry and Pippin, attempt to talk them into telling them of Bywater – Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin, and there will be talk of that Battle until the end of days.

Merry doesn't quite feel up to it, but Pippin is obliging of the lads – Merry and Freddy sit to one side, on another bench, outside the Hall in the winter-bare garden, and Pippin sits with one of the smaller lads on his lap – one with dark hair, and bright, eager eyes. And they all listen as Pippin goes on.

'What was it like, sir?' one asks.

'Did you kill any of those horrid Men?' another does.

And Pippin laughs, in a serious fashion. 'Now, there are stories I oughtn't tell... but, we did give them just as they'd deserved.'

And Freddy and Merry, sitting to one side – sitting in silence, when there ought to be words. But Merry at least puts his hand on Freddy's, and he's not quite able to look at him – not when he blames himself, as much as he does – and he says, 'I'm sorry. We tarried far too long. But there were...'

'Other,' Freddy starts. 'And bigger things at stake. Don't think I'm one to blame you, Merry. Perhaps I regret some of what's happened, and I don't think I'll ever quite be myself again. But I don't think I regret it all.'

And they sat in silence once more, but it felt more comfortable at least – and Pippin went on, telling his tale.