The time before the show passed uneventfully. Carrie sat in the dressing room, barely aware of the bubbly activity around her. Some of the girls glanced at her from time to time but left her to her thoughts which understandably focused on the three men and what the evening ahead might have in store for her.

Carrie half expected to see them sitting in the same seats as they were the previous night but instead there were a bunch of high school kids sitting there, talking throughout the performance. Well at least the other guys were quiet! she thought indignantly.

While she danced, she scanned as much of the crowd as she could to try and spot the three men. They were not in the first few rows, nor did anyone come around the back of the building to see her during intermission. That didn't necessarily mean they were not there, she thought, and then berated herself for wanting such reassurance.

She came out of the dressing room after the show and searched the crowd in the lobby for any sign of them. There were those damn high school kids again. What were they doing? Playing tag? She shook her head and continued to look for the three men. She didn't find them and an emotion she completely did not expect came over her.

Disappointment.

She flushed, embarrassed by her reaction. Why in the world was she disappointed? Was it because she may never see them again? Why would that upset her? They only came into her life yesterday and may very well have left as suddenly as they came. Wait, why did they come in the first place?

Maybe they were scam artists, coming to ask for money to get back to their time and save the world. But why would they single her out? She had no money. Maybe that's why they weren't here - they realized that they couldn't play their trick on her. Whatever. She would never fall for something so stupid, even if it was coming out of the mouth of a beautiful man.

Why did her thoughts keep returning to him? Admit it. It's him you want to see again. She sighed, realizing it was all too true. Crazy or not, she was uncontrollably attracted to him. Oh why couldn't he just be normal? Why? Life was so unfair.

Oh, well. She walked outside and lit up her cigarette. She may never know the reason for their arrival, especially if they never returned. Just when she was about to give up hope, she heard her name called from a little ways down the building. Her heart leapt. If one of them was here, did it mean all of them were here?

You don't care about all of them.

Shut up, she told the voice. As she walked towards the man who called her name she thought about her conversation with Ronnie and made a quick decision. If they wanted to pretend they were someone other than who they were, she would let them. She wouldn't be stupid about it, she wouldn't be taken in by them, but she'd play along – for now.

She reached the man at the same time the other two came around the corner of the building. Smiling – partly in greeting but mostly because the sight of one of them made it impossible not to – she greeted them warmly.

"Good evening, Aragorn." She inclined her head towards the 'dwarf.' "Gimli." She turned to the man who had been haunting her thoughts for the past day. Her face all of a sudden felt warm. "Legolas." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly but it was 'Aragorn' who spoke.

"What did you call me?" Carrie held 'Legolas's' gaze a moment longer before facing 'Aragorn.' The older man looked shocked and angry. Slowly, he turned his head towards the man who thought he was an elf.

"It's ok," Carrie said, anticipating the censure he was about to give and wondering why she felt the need to prevent it. "Legolas told me who you were, or who he was, at least." He focused on her again, making her nervous under the weight of his gaze. Clearing her throat, she continued. "So now I know you're three of the most important men in middle earth, and somehow you appeared in my time and are, let me guess, looking for a way to get home."

'Legolas' spoke before 'Aragorn' could respond. "She believes nothing she is saying, my friend." His blue eyes flashed angrily. "She called me insane before. She is merely mocking us."

Arrogant prick, thought Carrie, hurt that his voice could take on such a cold quality when talking about her. "I'm not mocking you," she assured 'Aragorn.'

'Legolas' arched an eyebrow. "You do not deny that you don't believe us."

Stung by his icy regard, Carrie responded more harshly than she might have otherwise. "Well, I'm sorry Mr. Elf Prince," she heard 'Gimli' snicker, "but what would you do if someone showed up in 'your world' and claimed they were someone from one of your favorite childhood stories?" She walked towards him. "What if I said I was Elbereth, or Tom Bombadil?"

"You know of those of whom you speak?" Disbelief and surprise were obvious on his face, but the idea also seemed to please him.

"Oh, yes!" Carrie smirked at him and resisted rolling her eyes. "And I was quite disappointed when Tom Bombadil was left out of the movies – him and the River Daughter. Ask anyone. I went on about it for days…"

"Do not speak so lightly of things you do not understand." There was an edge to his voice that Carrie had not heard before and for the briefest moment she questioned whether she should continue to provoke him.

"Oh please." Carrie did then roll her eyes, disregarding her passing hesitation. "I understand perfectly fine. It's a book. It's a good book, but that's all it is." She shook her head. "You guys seriously need to get a life!"

'Legolas' took a step towards her, closing the distance between them, and she could see controlled fury boiling beneath the surface. Good, she thought, still rankled by his earlier manner, I'm getting to him. She decided to push just a little bit more.

"I'm disappointed, Legolas." She put as much disbelief into his name as she could. "I thought elves were above things like losing their temper," she crossed her arms, "being all ethereal and immortal and stuff."

She saw his jaw clench before he turned his back to her. 'Gimli' looked from her to him with an expression that was somewhere between shock and amusement.

"What?" she asked him, but he just shook his head and looked away. She was struck with a pang of guilt which she abruptly pushed aside until she saw the look in 'Aragorn's' eyes. He gestured towards the 'elf' and Carrie took it as indication that she should make some sort of amends. She shook her head and sighed.

"Sorry," she said, not entirely sure what she was apologizing for. When she didn't get any reaction, she shrugged at 'Aragorn.' He gestured encouragingly at her.

"Legolas?" she called gently and saw his back tense, though he did turn around to face her. He stared silently at her. No one spoke, in fact, and the growing tension not only irritated but also bewildered Carrie. What the hell? She turned to 'Aragorn' for explanation. Her expression must have reflected her thoughts because he understood.

"What you said, it is not entirely…" he paused, searching for a word.

"Proper," Legolas supplied.

"Proper," Aragorn acknowledged the word he had been searching for.

"Proper?" Carrie repeated. The answer only served to fuel her aggravation at the so-called elf. "Proper?" she asked him.

"Let us forget what has passed. I do not wish to speak further of it." His voice was calm but in his eyes Carrie saw remnants of the anger that had been there before.

"Why?" she snapped. "Because it wouldn't be proper? Now I have to worry about what is proper? I'm sorry!" She put her hands on her hips. "Was your accusing me of mocking you proper? Was your coming to my house proper? Or… or… was your having me touch your ear proper?"

'Legolas' looked away as 'Aragorn' rounded on him.

"You let her touch your ear?"

"She thought them fake."

The older man pulled him aside. Well, Carrie mused, I guess he's the younger man if he's only 80-something and Legolas is a couple of millennia. She scoffed at herself. She was getting sucked into their delusion.

She looked at the two of them, talking in hushed voices a few paces away. Apparently 'Aragorn' was not happy about the ear touching. Amusement at his reaction removed all of her anger. She turned to the dwarf and raised her eyebrows.

"I guess it wasn't proper."

'Gimli' chuckled and then looked at her seriously. "Don't you know about an elf's ear?"

Carrie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sensitive and all."

"No, that's not it." He frowned. "An elf's ear is sensitive, yes. But to touch one is a very intimate gesture. The fact that he allowed you to touch his ear…" he broke off and shook his head. "Let's just say I'm not surprised Aragorn is unhappy about it."

Wow, thought Carrie. It was an intimate gesture, huh? He let her touch him intimately. He invited her to, actually. Her pulse raced. Wait! Touching someone's ear was not an intimate gesture, whether or not they thought they were an elf.

But, if he thinks he's an elf, and he thinks it's an intimate gesture… Oh jeez. Get over it! she scolded. Attractive or not, he's still delusional. She contemplated the short man. He seemed fairly reasonable. Maybe she could get some straight answers from him.

"So," she began, "Gimli." She tried to sound like she actually believed that was his name. It must not have worked because he looked at her hesitantly.

"Yes?"

She decided to just be honest. "I'm going to level with you." She glanced quickly at the other two. They were both deep in intense conversation. "I don't believe a word you guys are saying."

"I thought as much, milady."

"Please," she continued. "Call me Carrie."

"Very well." He seemed to think it over. "Carrie."

Carrie smiled at his uncertainty and hoped the familiarity of using her name would make him comfortable enough to answer her honestly. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you? I mean, a poor innocent girl, scared that she's fallen in with some crazy guys that would hurt her..."

"We would never hurt you, mil… Carrie." he assured her.

She nodded, "Even so, can't you see I can't trust you guys? Not while you are maintaining that you are who you say you are. It's just impossible."

Carrie jumped when she heard the voice behind her. "What can we do to prove the truth of our claims?"

Jeez, he could be an elf the way he sneaks up on people. She hadn't realized the other two had heard any of her and 'Gimli's' conversation. She wondered what had been the outcome of theirs.

"We need your trust," he continued.

She looked at each of them, full of uncertainty and doubt. They all were so sure, so convincing. She might actually believe them if… If it weren't so ridiculous! She didn't know what to think and wondered how much of that was from the lack of judgment she had feared earlier.

Aragorn placed a hand on her shoulder. "Gimli and I must take our leave." He shot a meaningful glance at Legolas before smiling warmly at Carrie. "I bid you farewell until we meet again." He gestured for the dwarf to follow him and, after a disgruntled huff, Gimli joined him. Carrie watched them walk down the path.

"Carrie." Her heart skipped a beat when he said her name. Her pulse raced through her veins and her breath caught in her throat. Never had her name sounded so beautiful. She swallowed against her body's reaction and met his gaze.

"Legolas," she said, as calmly as she could manage. Unfortunately there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice – she couldn't help it – and his eyes narrowed.

"You still do not trust us?"

"Are you looking for my trust, or my belief?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest. "They are two very different things. And," she continued as an afterthought, "are you wondering if I trust all of you, or just you, in particular? Because that's different too."

"Very well," he assented. "Do you believe us? Any of us?"

"No." Carrie answered simply and then chuckled at his dismayed reaction. "I'm sorry; I don't."

Legolas pressed his lips together. "Do you, then, trust us?"

Carrie thought it over; she wanted to answer honestly. To stall for more time, she turned the question back to him.

"Do you trust me?"

"I do."

"You do?" she questioned.

"We do," he amended.

"You said 'I,'"

"Would you have me speak for anyone other than myself?"

"I would… have you…" Carrie sputtered, getting frustrated.

"We all do," he offered, "and hope for your trust in return."

"Oh," Carrie said and dropped her gaze. She did want to trust them, but how could she when they said what they did. She especially wanted to trust him, which is what made it so much harder to do so, particularly because she didn't trust herself around him.

He waited patiently for her to continue. She met his eyes again and realized that she couldn't do it, not with the way he made her insides clench. She could not forget what he claimed to be, as Ronnie had suggested, and just go with it. It didn't matter with the other two, she had no vested interest in them, and so she could make-believe along with them until the cows came home. But with him, it was different. With him she wanted him to be real with her and he wasn't. She also knew she would not be able to admit this to him.

"I trust 'Aragorn.'"

After her pause he asked, "And Gimli?"

"Yes, I suppose 'Gimli' too."

They were both silent. Carrie wasn't sure if he would come out and ask about himself. But she would not offer any more than she had already said.

"And…?" he finally prompted.

She knew what he wanted to hear but could not in good conscience lie to him; not when the subject of their discussion was trust. Obviously he cared what she thought or he would not have asked. She glanced away and answered quietly.

"You say you're an elf."

She looked to see what effect her words had. His eyes flashed but she could not tell if he was angry or hurt. He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes but when he answered her his voice was cool.

"Very well. Until we meet again." With that, he turned and walked away.