A/N: Thanks to Phiametta and Azzie for looking this over! :)

Welcome to Earth!

Chapter Twenty-Five: IgNite!

"I'm sorry!"

"Quit apologizing already!"

"Both of you shut up!" Mel finally cried, exasperated. The other members of the Fellowship smirked, glad that something had finally broken the monotony of apologies from Aragorn. Bri flashed her friend a grateful look.

"Thanks, chica."

"De nada." Their Middle-Earthen guests looked at them expectantly, and Bri left Melody to explain Spanish, sensing that her linguistically talented friend could go on for hours about it. Maybe Legolas would teach her Elvish. That would make her day, Bri thought, smiling absently.

"What are we going to do until the show?" Ruby asked, as the girls clustered around them, leaving the Fellowship at the mercy of Melody's passionate lecture.

"Wander around. Catch some more rides." Bri shrugged, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"No yawning." Melody warned, grinning. "Come on, let's go!" She grabbed Bri's hand and dragged her away, expecting the others to follow. Which they did.

They continued to travel around the park, seeking short lines and good rides along the way as night fell. Jokes and laughter ran rampant, but everyone was getting pretty tired. Finally, when it had gotten so dark they couldn't see the lines anymore, they went back to the main square, where a huge crowd had gathered around an odd white structure.

"What's this?" Boromir asked.

"The stage." Melody replied carelessly. She disappeared for a few minutes and later returned with tickets and flashing lights. She handed them out and led the group over to a security guard. They were allowed through into the small, separate area right at the base of the 'stage'.

"What now?" Pippin asked curiously.

"We wait." Music played overhead, and some guys came out and started singing and dancing. Bri got up and started dancing as well, and soon a crowd had gathered around her, clapping and cheering.

"She's good!" Ruby exclaimed, and she and her sister joined them. The hobbits followed suit soon after.

After a few songs, Bri grabbed Melody's hand and pulled her into the crowd. Melody resisted at first, but finally gave in when her other friends circled around the two, dancing with a wild abandon that stunned and awed their companions.

Legolas in particular watched the uncomfortable girl in the center closely, trying to ensure that she didn't get too upset. Finally, she threw her arms up in the air and her body started moving, flowing like water from one pose to the next, never still, never pausing. Her feet beat the ground in a steady rhythm as her hands met above her head, her hips swayed, and her hair swirled like an orange cloud around her shoulders under the flashing lights. The elf's heart felt lighter than it had in years, and all he wanted was to get up and join her, but he didn't know the steps to this dance. He happily pointed this out to whoever tried to coax him into dancing.

"There aren't any steps. She's making it up as she goes along." Bri explained at last. "Come on!" With that she yanked the elf up off the ground and pulled, pushed, cajoled him into the group, passing him deftly off to Melody. She took his hands with a smile and pulled him across the ground easily. Before long, he found himself joining her, his body moving in a pattern that mirrored hers perfectly, no longer stumbling, but elegant and graceful as the dances back home, though somewhat less restrained.

Aragorn joined them next, and soon Boromir was the only one left sitting out.

Finally, a voice came over the speakers and began telling a story. The people around them calmed down and found places to sit, so they followed the crowd's example. The show must have gone on for some time, but it felt like only minutes. Bri nestled her head against Aragorn's shoulder. She had apparently forgiven him completely for the wave pool incident. The hobbits, Ruby, and Toria formed a pile of laughing bodies on the ground, with Gimli on the edge of the circle. Boromir sat gloomily off to the side, and Legolas found himself seated next to Melody, as seemed to happen quite often with this group. But Legolas was finding that he minded less and less, and now, as they fell more and more in love. He gently covered her hand with his, and looked over at her out of the corner of his eye. Her eyes sparkled with stars, and her hair tumbled loosely around her shoulders in an orange cloud. He pressed his face into it briefly, kissing her forehead before pulling back. She squeezed his hand and turned her head to smile at him.

He almost kissed her then and there, but she simply leaned against his side and turned back to the show. As the last song played over the speakers, the crowd shifted and moved, rising to dance once more.

Once it was over, most of the Fellowship just milled around, staring blankly at the flood of people leaving.

"Are you guys okay?" Wynter asked, concerned.

"Fine...was that it?" Gimli muttered, looking confused. The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Yup!" Melody giggled.

"C'mon, we have to get out of here before the parking lot fills up!" Wynter exclaimed, already running towards the exit. Everyone else raced after her, grabbing hands whenever the crowd threatened to pull them apart.

In the car, they pulled some snacks out of the back and popped a movie into the DVD player. Bri wanted to watch Chicago, and Melody didn't object, so they did.

Of course, Melody was asleep on Legolas' shoulder ten minutes later. Her dad was asleep when they got back, so everyone tiptoed their separate ways, whispering good-night. Aragorn and Bri disappeared for a good twenty minutes, leading to much whispered teasing and the beginning of a search, before Legolas pulled Melody aside.

"Happy birthday." he whispered, sitting on a large tree limb outside her window with his arms around her. She smiled happily and leaned against him, staring up at the stars.

"That...was the best birthday I've ever had." she admitted quietly. "I don't want it to end."

"Then it won't." Legolas heard himself saying. What am I doing? he thought to himself.

"Everything has to end sometime."

"Not everything." He gently tilted her chin with his fingertips, looking straight into her eyes to make sure she got the message. She blushed and trembled slightly, though not from the chill. Nonetheless, he gladly took the chance of an excuse to hold her closer.

Time seemed to freeze as the elven prince made up his mind. No matter what happened, Melody was a one-of-a-kind girl. He'd never find another woman like her.

Finally decided, he squeezed her waist gently, sliding his fingertips along her jawline as he brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss.