Fluff-bunny: Pippin is a new uncle doting over his new niece or nephew.
Characters: Pippin, Merry, (Pervinca, Pearl, Pimpernel – one of them or all of them)
Elements: uncle, nappie, bath, laugh, sing

 
Little niece Emmi 

For Barb and betaread by Barb  Thanks! 

“Please Pearl, may I hold her?” Pervinca asked, looking with shining eyes at the little bundle in her sister's arms.
“Of course, dear. Come over here.” Pearl said, patting the place next to her.
The younger lass sat down on the bed and Pearl placed the new-born baby into her arms.
“ Ohhhh…..” crooned Pervinca, “ she is so beautiful!”
Pearl beamed at her. “She is, isn´t she? She is my darling little sunshine!”
Pimpernel, kneeling in front of her sisters on the soft carpet, could not take her eyes off the small one.
“I can´t believe it yet.”  She said, wearing a wide smile on her face. “You are a mother now, Pearl! I am so happy for you and Finnegard!” She squeezed her elder sister's knee gently, tears glistening in her eyes.
Pearl beamed even more, if possible. “Thank you Nelly! I can´t even express how happy I am. Just look at her. Just look at my daughter!” Pearl laughed. “Isn´t she a wonder?”
Then the lass looked up, smiling at her little brother, who was standing at the foot of her bed, wearing an uncomfortable expression on his face.
“Do you want to hold your niece, Pippin?” she asked.
Pippin stared at her in shock. “Me? Uhm… well..I…actually… uhm…”
“Don´t be shy, silly goose!” Pervinca put in. “Sit down next to me!”

When Pippin hisitated she said in her best teasing tone. “Come on! You aren´t afraid of a little babe, are you?”
“Of course not!” Pippin answered, annoyed, and did as he was told.
He shallowed visibly, when Pervinca gently placed the baby in his arms.
“Say hello to your uncle Pippin, little Emmi!” she  whispered in the little one's ear.
Pippin stared uncertainly down at Emerald. He didn´t dare to move and had no idea what to do now.
He was unaware of the amused looks his sisters exchchanged and didn´t noticed the giggles, they tried to hide.
“What a small baby, she is.” Pippin thought. “So rosy…and these small fingers…and she already has some curls on her head, the same auburn colour as mine.”
A smile had spread over the lad's face, when suddenly Emerald scrunched up her nose and began to wail. Pippin froze in shock and lost all colour. “Oh no…Pearl..oh no…what to do? Help Pearl!” he said, panic rising in his voice.
His sister however just continued smiling and said in a gentle voice: “Why don´t you sing a song for her, Pip?”
“You think that will help?” Pippin asked, distressed, and was rewared by giggles from all three sisters. “Well, try it.”  First trembling, but then gaining more and more self-confidence, Pippin begann softly to hum a melody and then to sing.
 
Sleep, baby, sleep!
Thy father guards the sheep,
Thy mother shakes the dreamland tree,
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee.
Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!
Across the sky roam sheep.
The stars are little baby lambs,
They're herded by the moon's kind hands.
Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep!
To you, I'll give a sheep,
And with a little golden bell,
It'll play with you and stories tell.
Sleep, baby, sleep!  *

When Pippin had finished, he looked down, astonished at the babe in his arms. Emerald had stilled and closed her eyes. Her face was a picture of peacefulness.
Pippin beamed up at her sisters. “It has worked! Pearl, Nelly, Vinca, have you seen? It has worked!”
Pearl put a finger over her lips. “Psss, Pip, she whispered. “Not so loud.” And then she added smiling. “And you really did a marvoulous job at calming her, dear brother. I think I may borrow you now and then, what you say?”
“Oh really, Pearl? That would be great! She`s such a cute baby.” Bending down to Emerald he whispered: “You are my very favourite niece, Emmi!”
“ She is your only niece yet!” Vinca said smiling.
“Well, “ Pippin responded with an crooked grin on his face,” I have three older sisters, so I doubt she will be my only niece for long.”
The lasses blushed and laughed silently behind their hands, cautious not to wake the sleeping baby.
 
******************

“Hi Pip!” Merry, who was visiting the Tooks, because of the birth of Paladin's first grandchild, called out, when he saw his cousin passing by.
“I haven´t seen much of you in the last two days,” he said, trying to sound careless. After all usually it was Pippin, who was following him around, if he wanted it or not and not him having to seek Pippin´s attention.
“Do you want to go fishing today?” he asked hopefully.
“Hi Merry, sorry, but I am awfully busy right now. Emmi should wake up from her nap every minute. Maybe we can go later.” 
“Oh….” Merry tried to hide his dissapointment.
“Isn´t Emmi cute, Merry? She has such rosy cheeks and such a small pea-butt. When I was changing her nappie this morning, she…” Pippin interrupted himself.
“Merry look, he cried, pointing at some flowers growing nearby on the field, aren´t these pretty flowers? They are as pretty as my little niece. I think I will bring Pearl some of them. She will be delighted. It´s not easy to be a mother, you know. We were up nearly all night!”
“Ah….” Merry said, slowly nodding his head, his expression rather stunned.
“Should I bring Pearl these yellow flowers or the blue ones from over there?”
“Uh….”
“ You are right, why not both. They are both pretty. And Emmi has that little dress, that Frodo gave her. It`s yellow with little blue sheep on it. So the flowers will match perfectly!”
“Uhu…” Merry said, lifting an eybrow in confusion.
“All right Merry. I will see you later! I have to hurry now. Not that Pearl starts to give her a bath without me ….” Pippin shouted over his shoulder, while already making a run for the door.
Merry stared after him dumbfounded.
“Yeah…bye then, Pippin,” he mumbled and sat down heavily on the grass.
“Good grief!” Merry sighed, massaging his tembles. “ Flowers! Nappies! I´m glad I don´t have a niece!” He shuddered. “How will I ever survive this visit?”

Pippin glanced back over his shoulder and saw Merry sitting there in dejection. “Poor Merry!” Pippin thought. “ He can´t have any nieces, since he´s an only child! Maybe I should let him help with the baby, too!” He grinned. “I´m sure he´d like to change nappies!”

************** 

The next morning:

“Ui, Pippin, hold up her head a little higher, will you? She getting water in her nose!”

“Oh, alright Merry!”

“Now look at these small feet!” Merry said smiling, taking one foot in his hand. “Aren´t they cute?”

“And have you seen Merry, she already has some curls on there too! She will have the most beautiful feet ever, all hairy and nice!”

“Of course she will. She is my little cousin, once removed.” Merry declared proudly and bent down to give little Emmi a gentle kiss on her forehead.

The End

AN: * First three translated verses of an old german cradle song.

Sorry for the poor formation. Somehow this sides hates me today and just refuses to do what I want. *pouts*