(requested by the wonderful lotrmxisyy! Thank you so much for the request!)

Type: One-shot

Pairing: Meriadoc Brandybuck x Female (Hobbit!) Reader

Hope you like! 

Five knocks on the front door of Bag End echoed through the cozy halls of Maisy-Rose Baggins' dear home. A scribble or two later, she left her notebook on the side of her dresser and slipped out of bed, curiosity filtering into her thoughts. The sun had only risen an hour ago, and as it was Summertime, that made it still quite early for callers. Still, she quickly dressed, calling to Frodo to get the door in her stead. A familiar voice came from the doorstep, then moved to the parlor along with her half-brother, and Maisy grinned. She had a feeling she knew who it was, but still, she withheld a jump to conclusions. After all, she hadn't seen him in over a week, and it was a Tuesday morning, an unusual time for a catch-up, no matter how sudden.

"Well, I'm not about to break it now."

"I know- and you shouldn't, Merry, it's only-"

"Good morning!"

Merry's eyes palpably lit up as Maisy walked into the parlor, quickly tying the belt of her pinafore around her waist. Both stepped quickly into each other's arms for a hug, neither noticing the knowing smile on Frodo's face.

"About time you stopped by!" Maisy scolded him, and he ran a hand through his curly hair, tilting his head to one side, then the other.

"I wish I could visit you more- I really do. I've just been so...

"Busy?"

"Yes, busy."

Frodo looked away, seeming like he was trying not to shake his head, but Maisy did not notice his disappointment, only Merry's wide smile.

 "We should go somewhere. Just the two of us. How does that sound?"

"Lovely!" Maisy blushed a little, realizing how eager she must seem, and added quickly, "I should have breakfast first, though. Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes."

Maisy grinned. "Second breakfast it is!"

After a splendid morning meal for all three hobbits, Frodo offered to do the dishes so Merry and Maisy could head along. Not even the empty chair at the head of the table, where her dear relative Bilbo always sat yet did so no more, could lower her spirits. Out the door they went, Merry courteously holding it open for Maisy, and both were glad to find the cool morning mist that often settled over the Shire in the middle of the summer was dissipating quickly as the sun warmed the earth.

"Where shall we go?"

"Anywhere," Merry responded softly, then paused. Maisy looked at him, noticing his hesitation. There was something on his mind, she'd picked that up well enough when she'd walked into the parlor earlier, but she did not know what it was, nor did she want to bother him by asking. Merry lapsed into motion again and Maisy followed him out the gate and down the row.

"And where would anywhere be?" she asked, seeing as he'd chosen a direction and assuming he had a place in mind.

"Ah, how about a walk? To the wood. Perhaps we'll see the red doe with her fawn, like last time."

Maisy nodded, a smile creeping onto her lips. "A splendid idea."

Merry offered her his arm and, as Maisy's heart fluttered, she took it with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The nasturtiums in your garden are blooming beautifully, Maisy."

She smiled. "All thanks to Samwise. He really is the best gardener in all the Shire, not to mention a wonderful friend."

Merry stiffened- something she'd said had upset him, she knew him well enough to see that.

"Merry?"

"It's nothing."

Maisy frowned. She didn't even ask anything, so clearly, it wasn't 'nothing'.

"What's bothering you? I know there's been something on your mind all morning. Don't you suppose it would help to talk about it?"

Merry fiddled with a twig in his hands for a moment, not looking up. Maisy sat up from where she was leaning against the trunk of a great cedar tree and laid her hand gently over his- but he pulled his own hand back at her touch. Maisy, surprised and worried by this, frowned.

"Have I done something wrong?"

"No," he was quick to correct, "no, never something wrong. It's all my fault, really-"

"What-"

"-and I don't know how to get rid of it, and I don't want to break your trust, and your friendship, and how have you not seen it yet? It's both a blessing and a curse that you haven't realized, please Maisy, don't you get it?"

Maisy sat silent, stunned. After a long moment, Merry stood up, shaking his head, not looking at her. Realizing he meant to hurry away, embarrassed to a good degree for some reason, she hurried to her feet as well.

"Merry, please, I don't see it-"

"I know, and it's clearly for the better-"

"Show me." He froze, giving her time to step in front of him, blocking his path. "Merry, we've been friends for years-" He winced, and she broke off her own sentence, a flash of realization crossing her gaze. That was all it took for him to look away, step back.

"If I showed you, you would hate me."

"No. No, I would not." Still, he kept walking, so she overlooked her rising alarm and added, not entirely meaning it, "I would hate you if you just left me here, unanswered, alone."

Again, she'd made him give pause. This time, though, he did not stop, but pivoted on his heel and swiftly wrapped one arm around her back and the other came up to hold her cheek. Before she could say another word, his lips were on hers, and she was rendered speechless. Although she was surprised, it all made sense now. He had not played some prank that had gone too far, nor decided to leave the Shire all of a sudden, as she'd feared, no: he was in love with her. It had been clear as day, now that she thought about it, and she regretted her ignorance up to this point.

"Now do you see?" Merry's voice was quiet, but strained. Emotions ran high between the two of them, so close, feeling the ghost of the other's lips on their own. Maisy, tears forming in the shallow recesses of her eyes, threw her arms around him and held him close.

"Yes, I see."

"And?" He sounded almost afraid to ask. Even after facing the direst horrors of the world, he still found fear in his feelings for her. They must be quite strong indeed, she realized, and kissed his cheek as she took a slight step back.

"I have loved you since Minas Tirith, when you-"

"-promised to bring you home safe to the Shire," they remembered together, and a smile spread across Merry's face, that of which was quickly mirrored on Maisy's.

"You love me, too," he murmured, brushing his thumb along her bottom lip, bringing a blush to her face, and she leaned closer, feeling his breath on her cheek.

"Yes, Merry, I love you, too."

She kissed him then, and they held each other for a moment afterward, smiling. Merry's grin was more triumphant than Maisy's more shy one, but the relief on her face far outweighed the mischievous look on his. Merry twirled Maisy about, both of them laughing quietly in their happiness, and as he put her back down, he drew her into another kiss, then another, and so on for a good few minutes, each of which was a dream come into reality for both. Even when they drew apart, neither let go of the other's hand, and as they turned to leave the woods, Merry took a last glance around them, as if memorizing the spot for some future purpose.

"As soon as we tell Pippin, he'll have the news all over the Shire," Maisy mused, smirking softly. Merry chuckled as he looked back at her with a sweet smile, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"Oh, I'm counting on it."