The next bus was nearly full. Aragorn let Chrysies sit in the very last seat, while he stood up.

"Hang on to that pole," she advised. Merry and Pippin managed to sit together. After the initial jolt, Merry began to actually enjoy himself.

"But I still want to ride in one of those red ones," he told Pippin confidentially.

"Look at Strider," grinned Pippin, discreetly turning his face away. The future king was hanging on for dear life.

That looks like fun!" reflected Merry. "I'm gonna try it!" Frodo, who was sitting in front, overheard him.

"Merry, you're three and a half feet tall in a city of Big People and you're guarding the Ring. For heaven's sake try to keep a low profile!" Merry ignored the ironic admonition. Soon he was being jounced around with Strider, and gained several glares as well as chuckles, until at last his grip on the pole loosened, and a sudden halt threw him against Aragorn, who was himself unsteady, and the pair of them toppled into another man's newspaper. Instantly Chrysies was on her feet and hustling the apologetic pair off the bus. The others followed snickering.

"Well, you've really put your feet into it this time," she quoted." Or should I say your back sides?" Frodo thought the phrase sounded vaguely familiar, but Aragorn grimaced.

"I told you so," said Frodo pompously. Merry glared at him, then laughed. Chrysies pointed at a three-story apartment complex up ahead.

"That's where I live, with my husband, on the top story." She saw the hobbit's faces.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she chuckled. "I forgot you don't like heights." Merry shrugged.

"I don't mind them so much," he said.

"Nor me," added Pippin trying to look brave.

"Well come on up, then." She smiled encouragingly.

The Fellowship followed her up two flights of stairs and then down a hall. She threw open the door and ushered them in, but couldn't help doing a little jig of glee and making a few faces at the opposite door (inhabited by a non-fanatic) before entering herself.

"Alex should be home in half an hour with the groceries. Make yourselves comfortable and I'll get you a bite to eat before dinner." The Fellowship stared about them in surprise. Merry sat on the leather couch with Boromir and Aragorn. Gimli sank into a recliner. Legolas stood.

"That looks an awful lot like the Ring on the mantelpiece," Sam whispered to Frodo. Chrysies heard, and ducked into the refrigerator stifling a laugh. Uncertainly, Frodo took out the Ring. It made a noise.

"S-Sam, did you just hear the Ring say something?" Sam wrinkled his nose.

"I heard something, Mr. Frodo. Why?"

"I think it said something."

"What?"

"'Imposter,'" Sam chuckled.

"Jealous, It is." Chrysies came up behind them.

"Would you like to wash up? Come on back." Obediently, the eight travelers followed her to the bathroom, but at that moment the doorbell chimed.

"Oh, he's early!" cried Chrysies happily, and rushed back to the door.

"Hail, my Evenstar!" said a man's voice when she opened it. "I've got the food!" Chrysies planted a kiss on his cheek and took some of the plastic grocery bags, nearly tripping over the weight.

"You sure know Hobbits!" she muttered to herself.

Alex turned to his visitors. "Mae govannen! Chrysies tells me you've been tramping about the city-look at you, you're all wet!" He was commenting mainly on Legolas, who had been right in front of one of the sprinklers. Chrysies stopped her rush to get the steaks out of their impossible packaging long enough to exclaim

"I'm so sorry! I didn't notice. Too excited, most probably. I was just going to have them wash up when you arrived. Get them some clothes, will you, Alex?" Alex was already guiding the eight of them to the bathroom.

"This, my friends, is a bathroom." Alex declared dramatically. With the inherent instinct of a hobbit, Pippin headed straight for the tub, a monstrous affair. Merry was close behind.

"I could go swimming in this practically!" he exclaimed. Feeling quite the showman, Alex turned on the hot water faucet.

"Observe! Hot water in instants! Go on, put your hand under, Pippin." Pippin experimented, and quickly withdrew them. "Ouch!" Alex left the water running and turned their attention to the other facilities, but the hobbits kept inching back to the tub. By the time Alex had finished explaining various hair products to Legolas and Gimli (not without the rapt attention of the Men, however) the bath was full and Alex discreetly switched on the Jacuzzi. Amid cries of astonishment and fear he demonstrated the safety by putting his own legs in. After that, all eight of them wanted to try it.

"Not now, tomorrow. There'll be dinner soon. Let's get you fellows some clothes!"

Rummaging in his closet, Alex tossed shirt after shirt after shorts after jeans out onto the bed.

"I think-what's your name-oh, you're Boromir? I'm Alex, unless you want to call me Elendil-private joke, haha-"They didn't catch the joke. "I think you'll fit in my old shirts-the ones before I made up my mind to slim down-no offense-"but Boromir didn't seem to take any. "Aragorn-yes, this outfit will work. Legolas-hmm it'll be big around the waist but-now Gimli" Alex scratched his head." Don't know as I have anything that will work for you, friend dwarf." Boromir snickered. Alex heard him and grinned, but for a different reason. Legolas felt Gimli's clothes, to the Dwarf's great indignation.

"That is alright, his clothes are pretty dry now," Alex ran his hand over Gimli.

"So they are. Phew! Next! Haha, I have just the thing for you hobbits. Chrysies is gonna SCREAM! Now, I've must help with dinner, so you get dressed, but don't come out till I come back. Oh, and Legolas," Alex took a comb out of his pocket before he shut the door and tossed it to the Elf, who inspected it with great interest.