By: Dana
Summary: And they remember him as he should be remembered, laughing – for all that it had been three years, now, that he'd been gone.
Characters: Fredegar Bolger, Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck
Pairings: None stated, though there are implications
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash implications and bawdy hobbit humour
Author's Notes: For three years in the Lord of the Rings fandom.
Thanks to Nanni, frodobaggins252, and Lullenny, for making this ficlet possible.
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.

"We should drink to something," Fredegar says. This must be hindsight, Pippin supposes. They've all been drinking, and there hadn't been worry that they needed something to drink to.

"What could we toast?"

"Horses – ah, ponies," Merry blurts. Merry would say that, Pippin thinks, and he laughs into his ale – seems that most Bucklanders have river in their blood, but Merry more and more seems to have horse, instead. "Oh, why not? Ednew really did a marvelous bit for me back at the Lithe-day Fair – couldn't have been happier, really, given his blood."

Well, Merry would. Pippin leans against his shoulder, and in a voice far too loud to be a proper whisper, he says, "How about we toast Fatty's returning girth?"

Merry snickers. Fredegar, bemused, pats his stomach – it has expanded, at least since the last time he'd come for a visit, and for all they'd been feeding him, since he'd first arrived, it's certainly grown several inches more – and Fredegar grins. "Yes, it's coming along quite nicely, wouldn't you say? Not quite up to par, ah, but it's growing, and to plan."

"Isn't it? Ah, back in shape, and before you know it."

Fredegar's grinning, still, and Pippin settles back in his chair. "We ought to toast to Frodo," Fredegar says. And of course, that had to be said. Pippin wishes, once again, that Sam could have made it. But Sam will join them, as soon as he can – he has been very busy, lately. Too much work to be done. Fredegar goes on, "Yes, that's what we ought." Pippin nods, and Merry does, too, and Pippin takes hold of his mug and hoists it up off the tabletop. "To Frodo," and there is a mumble of agreement and then a louder chorus, and their mugs all come together, with a sound thwack.

"To Frodo," Pippin says, again, as they all drink, and he mostly drains his mug. He can't believe it's been three years.

"Ah, you know," Fredegar mutters. "I wonder…"

"What do you wonder?" Merry asks.

"Ah, well, it's just that he always was quite slender – not like Pippin here, who seems to be nothing more than skin and empty bones, for at least Frodo had a bit of proper shape. But he was thin enough, don't you think? I wonder if his girth has been growing, with him off in the Undying Lands."

Pippin is finishing off his ale, and he snorts it through his nose, and spits it out, and then he's laughing and rubbing at his face with his sleeve, as his eyes water at the thought. Merry gives him an odd look, and Fredegar does, too. But Merry laughs, after a moment's thought – no, he snickers, and grins. Pippin manages, though his nose still stings, and he's all but laughing, "Frodo had plenty of girth, Freddy – it's just you never saw it, I think."

Fredegar gazes at him, curious, and Merry knocks the bottom of his mug against the tabletop. "Hear, hear!"

"Oh, but you should see Merry, Freddy." Pippin nudges Merry's shoulder, laughing when Merry realizes what he means. "Old Treebeard's Ent-draught, ah, it really was a marvelous thing."

"Whatever are you…?" Fredegar begins, but then he stops, and he's laughing, too, most especially when Merry mutters, "Oh, you Took."

Letting Merry keep hold of what dignity he can, Fredegar lifts his mug again, instead – and Merry's and Pippin's both follow. "Well, then, to the task and the toast at hand – to Frodo's hidden girth! For all I never did experience it's joy – pity that we lost it to the elves."