It was very late--well, all right, technically it was early in the morning--when their impromptu party finally disbanded. They staggered out of The Red Hen, leaning on each other to make it to their ponies. It was a good thing the ponies knew the way home.
The Smials was quiet when they stumbled through the front doors. Hopefully, he could sneak into bed and she wouldn't know how late... um, early, he'd been out and--
"Where have you been?"
Pippin cringed.
Next to him, Merry snorted. "You're in trouble now, Pip," he laughed. "She's got that look on her face, just like her mum. Éowyn gets that look and I know I'm in trouble."
"Oh, you're in trouble, too," Ivy said, crossing her arms and glaring at her father.
Pippin giggled and clapped his hand over his mouth. He couldn't help it, thinking about Merry getting chewed out by his daughter.
Ivy turned her glare back on him and he coughed. "Sorry, love," he said.
"Hmmm." She clenched her jaw and stomped off to their room.
Merry patted his shoulder. "It was nice knowing you, Pippin. You're my best friend and I'm really going to miss you." He snorted again and stumbled off to his guest room.
Pippin hesitated at the door to his bedroom. He'd received his fair share of scoldings. But she looked really mad this time. He'd finally worn her patience too far. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
"I'm sorry," he said before he'd even seen her. "I'm really sor--" He stopped, his stomach dropping.
Ivy was laying on the bed on her stomach, her face in the pillow, her shoulders shaking. She was crying?
"Oh, love, please..."
She rolled over, gasping with laughter. "You should have seen your face!"