A/N: Hello! Christmas is almost here. Yay! And this update is actually on time, finally.

Thank you for your reviews BlackStarsLight, snoopyontop, Me and Not You, Mii3.1415926, RevedeMorte, A.D. Reese, guest, Scylla's revenge, ana, Trich, WickedGreene13, Niceguys, i-am-naeblis, Raider-K, Aearvir, shophiescastle, melodicechoes, . .ra, WinnieFawn, Araloth the Random, , Andy the willow tree, REMdream, Guest, dreamer, Jshaw0624, Guest, LadyPorpoise, Ninde, Andy the willow tree, TreehouseCity, Iduna, SparkyTAS, CalistaLegaci, Woman of Letters, dreamer, Woman of Letters, Amateur Bacon Cook, WyomingCowboy15, and middleagemanager!

. . . . .

"What day is it?"

"It's today," squeaked Piglet.

"My favorite day!" said Pooh.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

"Okay, thanks!"

A tiny, dark-haired woman pulled the door shut with a bang, bag in hand. "Bye-bye!"

She watched her go with a plastered smile on her face. And the instant she was gone…Kristy dropped, cradling her head. It felt like someone pounded on her skull from all sides.

No one should have to work Christmas Day. But Corby lost a lot of business through all this. Business was money. Money was the lifeblood of, well, everything. She had masses of work to do too, hangover or not. Paperwork. And it was better done here than at home, with him.

Still, not too many people were out shopping. Maybe the army trucks trundling by had something to do with it, or maybe the hordes of citizens blocking up the roadways, trying to get out of the city. Shopping wasn't on their minds, and Christmas wasn't either.

Yet the ebbing stream of passersby didn't ease up. A dull hum of traffic outside buzzed back and forth. Noon passed to early eve. She was exhausted. Police cars screamed past outside and they set her nerves on edge, more than one 'lawman' having passed by 'on the beat.' Personally, she didn't see how they could possibly find the poor lost souls from the portals like that, not if they could blend in as well as Legolas.

The thought made her frown. Legolas: arrogant, bull-headed elf.

Thinking about him never did good. She couldn't stand it. She wearily eyed the order-forms on the counter. Then decided against them. They made her think too much. It was the last thing she needed. So Kristy was crouched on her heels behind the counter, polishing glass when they came in.

"Hey, Kris!"

A short, plump woman barreled through the doorway, followed closely by a friend in bright pink.

"I said hey!"

"Alice," she said, not a hint of exasperation in her voice. Kristy peered at her through the glass. "What are you doing here? Your shift isn't until tomorrow, you know."

"Yeah but Kris, listen…I forgot my bag again."

"Is that it?"

Alice gasped, hand on her ample chest. "Aren't you glad to see me?" She strutted past, feigning hurt. Her friend waited on the doorframe, and the sound of laughter echoed from the back room. "Cause I'm sure not glad to see this place."

"Alice, it's barely three." Kris resisted the urge to sigh. Alice staggered through the back, fumbling for her purse. "Don't you take the three o'clock rule seriously?"

She laughed again, and Kris winced. Aspirin. Where was aspirin when you needed it?

"Today is a day to celebrate, Kristy."

"Why?" she stopped the sigh before it could morph into a groan. "You mean because it's Christmas?"

Alice scoffed. She was a few years older, but quite a bit shorter under brunette, bobbing curls. "Haven't you heard?" She came out, toting the bag.

"Heard what?"

"Corby!" Alice threw her purse up, as if it was obvious. "Hasn't he come in yet? He's going to go stay with his sister for a whole…" She leaned close. "…blessed, week."

"Why?"

Alice just shrugged. "The woo-woo storms round here have got the old toad pretty shook up. His house was up there, where they first hit you know. So now he's out crying on his sister's doorstep."

Sister. Did that mean he was leaving?

"Hm." Kris ran fingers through her hair, hesitating. "I guess I didn't see that coming. What's he doing with the store?"

She shrugged again. "Don't know; he didn't tell me." She pulled the burly coat around her neck and got to the door, still upright, but slurring dramatically. "I guess he just doesn't care to consult with the part time help."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Pooh!"

And with that, Kris pointed at her. "You shouldn't be driving."

"She's not!" The friend in pink said, Debbie, tossing a stray lock of hair from her eyes. "I am."

Kristy stared at her, before smiling half-heartedly. Figures.

And with a wave, they were leaving out the door. Her smile shriveled to nothing, watching them bundle into the car. Kris went back to polishing. She sprayed the glass and moved the rag in circular motions, round and round…but more slowly. Leaving.

Did this mean she was out of work? Would he let her run the store instead?

Kris almost scoffed. With Corby's new girlfriend taking up so much of his time, she nearly did anyway. She wasn't sure how long she mulled it over, tossed it back and forth in her head. But before she knew it…the chime rang and the door opened. Dammit. Kris scrubbed harder.

"Be there in a sec!" Kris said. Why did she have to drink so much last night? Why did her head hurt so much?

And then…something happened.

A face, familiar and clear peered at her through the glass. Kristy stared. Something, something she couldn't name made her heart drop. It was Legolas.

She blinked, utterly stunned, before forcing her eyes to narrow. Her voice became very cool. "Legolas."

He stared at her with silent, blue-gray and smiling eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked anyway. Home was two miles away. "How did you get here?"

His eyes flickered down and up, as if to blink. But he didn't. "I walked," he said simply, muffled by the glass.

"Oh." She blinked. "Well, what do you want?"

And then, she slowly got to her feet. Legolas rose with her until they stood on opposite sides of the counter. She looked over him as quick as she could, but her eyes wanted to linger. Legolas was wearing a dark jacket, pea coat more like, with his hands stuck deep in his pockets. Tousled hair, pale blonde and gleaming in the dusky light, soft, worn jeans hung off his hips in a-she glanced down-strangely casual… appealing way.

"Is something wrong?" she managed to force out. Her voice sounded like a stray squeak.

And he smiled lazily. "No...nothing. Just wanted to visit you."

Such a dramatic change from last night. Kris didn't know what to make of it. She didn't even know if she should still be angry. What happened last night? Why is he so relaxed, so easy now, nonchalant and…and almost, sexy?

Kristy looked away furiously, gripping the rag so her knuckles turned white. Stupid thoughts. Stupid. "If there is nothing you want then, Mr. Luke Smith," she used the name on the hospital entry like a weapon. "I have work to do."

"Work. Hm. Anything I can help you with?"

Kris frowned. "Not unless you know how to fill out a stack of order forms as high as you are."

And he smiled again, showing a row of gleaming white teeth. "Lead the way."

"I'm not letting you help, Legolas."

Temper. Legolas reminded himself. She was just being difficult. He could handle this. "Than what time is your work finished?" he said in a voice like deep honey. "Four-thirty…like normal?"

"What business is it of yours?" she snapped.

"I would like very much to walk with you," he murmured very innocently.

Kris narrowed her eyes. Why did he have to be like this? Why did he have to be so insufferable and- and so irresistible? But he wasn't. She could resist him, and she would. It would just take some effort.

"If you have something to say…spit it out. If not, I've had quite enough of you."

Legolas tilted an eyebrow, silently wondering if she had. Or was Aragorn right? Did she find him…appealing? Did this girl actually, in some remote way, desire him? Had she developed feelings for him?

Legolas scanned his eyes slowly down Kristy's flushed face, letting her see. He let his eyes linger appreciably on her panting chest. The long sleeved, simple black shirt was elastic and smooth. She became aware of how it clung, how her frustration heated her body and made her flush.

Legolas saw it all pass through her face, and he marveled. He marveled at how she could slump so fast, set her jaw in defiance. As if she could hide herself from him in such an outfit, keep his eyes from looking at her. She was furious…furious and embarrassed.

Almost without thinking about it, Legolas smiled. How'd he gotten to know this woman so impossibly well? Without her fea to guide him, even? It was remarkable.

And now with his cutest, most tantalizing smile-the one they told him was irresistible—he said brightly. "Then I will wait for you. And then, when the twenty minutes are up, you will walk with me."

Kris straightened. "What? Where?"

"To the park, of course, to see the lights in the trees."

She smiled sarcastically…or was it relieved? He couldn't tell. Kristy told him it was one of the things she loved most about Christmas. The lights in the trees, the hedges, illuminating the pools in the park. She said she wanted to see them. But that was before…before all this.

"Well so sorry, I just can't go walking today." She threw her hands up in a useless gesture. "See, Roger is picking me up at six for dinner and giving me a tour of his barracks."

And the world stopped. Legolas blinked.

"Rog-…of his what?"

Kristy leaned closer. She said very sweetly. "Where he lives, where he and his men sleep? It's a barracks, and he's gotten special permission to show it to me."

"But…" he spluttered, "But you can't."

"Oh, I can." She smiled. "And I am."

"I will not allow it."

Kris slammed the cleaning rag down. "You don't own me, Legolas. When are you going to get it? In fact," she spluttered, looking around. "you have nothing over me. Nothing at all!"

Legolas was so angry he almost snapped. He almost reached across the counter, grabbed her by her sleeves, and shook some sense into her. But he didn't. Not quite.

Instead, Legolas eased back on his heels. He carefully slipped his hands between the flaps of his coat, and stuck them in his jeans pockets. Then, he dropped his eyes a little. "Alright, Kristy."

She blinked, breaths slowing and shaking. She was expecting him to protest. She thought his eyes would flare and like when he was angry, he'd lean closer, fuming. She thought she could throw this delicious defiance in his face and walk away.

But she couldn't. This reaction surprised her.

"I see. And I see why you wish to do it." Legolas fingered his belt loops, looking into nowhere. And knowing Kris was watching intently, confused, he relaxed so his back swayed and his hips rested forward. He glanced at her once, let his eyes linger on her. They were deep and stormy blue, roiling and twisting into dark…misery, shame, sorrow. Beautiful.

Kristy stared.

"I am sorry for disturbing your work," he said, let her see the agony hiding just under his eyes one last time…and turned slowly to the door.

"Legolas!" she said before she could stop.

And the elf paused, waiting. His heart skipped as he gazed intently at the door. Don't move. Move now, and you will lose.

"Legs, I…I'm sorry," she said. And he glanced back, a brief flare of something in his eyes…hope, or satisfaction. She didn't know. But it made the next words spill out faster. "But I'm not disappointing Roger."

Legolas stayed absolutely still. From his gaze, Legolas' heart fell. "I see." He lifted crystal blue eyes and peered at her.

Oh…he wasn't doing this. Was he really, actually doing this to her? She couldn't believe it. How could those big azure eyes be so sorrowful, so exquisite?

Dammit. Kristy, get it together! She mentally shook her head, forcing the thought away. Precious Tauriel probably thought the same thing. She probably told him so in that lilting, fluent Sindarin every night.

And she hit the tabletop. "Dammit Legolas!" she hissed. "I said I'd go, and I'm going."

Legolas didn't utter a word. He just looked.

"I'm not going be talked out of it!"

He smiled faintly. "I see. I do understand that you'd not wish to spend Christmas with us." Legolas said. He fingered the edge of the doorway, chewing the inside of his lip. She'd never seen him do that…not awake. It made her look at his mouth. She didn't want to, but she did.

"You don't understand anything," she said like she meant it.

"Then tell me. Explain what I don't see."

Kristy looked down, desperately working her thoughts, looking for something to say…think, do.

"I know that I have…overstepped some boundaries, recently," he said anyway, making her glance up again. "And I know you must wish to spend your holiday with loved ones. I understand that you don't want to decorate with us, or celebrate with us. You don't," he looked down, scrunching his brows in a distraught, anxious frown. "You don't want to be there because of what we are."

"What are you?"

"We are your burden."

And she couldn't take it anymore. "Oh Legolas," Kris bit out. "It's not that."

She shoved off the counter and he looked up. She strode up to him, intending to tell the elf precisely what she thought of him and his guilt-tripping tactics… And Legolas stepped closer, matching the movement. Kristy froze.

"Then what is it, Kristine?" He rolled the name off his tongue like a caress. He saw what it did to her. She went breathless, flicking her eyes over the shaggy hair tousled over his forehead. It was so wild. So erratic. She glanced to the lines of his throat.

"I-I…" She swallowed a visible lump. Legolas leaned closer, let fierceness into his eyes.

"I-I?" he echoed, glancing over her face, letting his eyes linger on her parted lips. "I what, Kristine?"

"You don't get it, Legolas."

"What don't I get?"

And slowly, she recovered herself. She inwardly steeled herself, and said very breathily, very resolutely. "I happen to like Roger. He happens to like me. That's what. In fact, he says I'm the most beautiful and interesting woman he's ever met. Does that tell you anything at all, Mr. Smith?"

Legolas' face flinched into a smile. And he lifted a single finger, touched her chin. It made her wince. "It says that he's not blind, my Kristy."

Oh, that did it.

She was blushing so madly, so furious, she smacked his hand off and stepped away. "I'm going with Roger tonight, Legolas. You can decorate yourself. You can do whatever the hell you want. Have fun." She smiled icily. "To quote a wise man, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

He smiled a little. "Yes." Legolas drew back, rubbing his hand. And as it crept up on him, he found he was highly amused. "I will try."

It was all he said, but as Legolas watched her go in a whirl of Kristy fury, a smirk tugged at his mouth. She was so angry, so embarrassed. It was electrifying, watching what he could do to her.

. . . . .

It was a few hours later.

"I don't cook." Tauriel was saying, "I never did. I never will."

Jingle bells flitted through the kitchen from the stereo in the other room. She didn't know the English words, but it was a cheerful melody. She shoved the burned pie away and grabbed a knife. She just couldn't manage her own hands! This body felt different. And cooking was hard enough at the best of times. Humans were clumsy. Humans were inept and they couldn't keep track of things.

"Well what are we going to eat then?" Legolas gestured uselessly to a half-empty box of cold cereal. Damnit. Any other night Kristy wouldbe doing this.

He was hungry. Starving, actually.

Tauriel and he were struggling for a proper meal. Estel kept Shenzie, that worthless dog out on the balcony. The ranger was too busy to concern himself with things like the biggest Earth holiday though, and its dinner. He was mapping the stars, trying to decipher the next time the portals might be opened.

Legolas explained again and again that it was random, and completely unpredictable. Kris explained some of the aspects of solar energy to him. It was charged in the atmosphere from the passing of the comet, and the storms were becoming more unstable. Legolas told him this and he didn't listen. Knowing the ranger, he was probably right.

Either way, food was priority one right now.

"No, chop them smaller," Legolas instructed, coming over as Tauriel struggled with the simple act of dicing vegetables. She was more used to the sword and slaughtering yrch then carrots and a kitchen knife.

"Since when have you learned about the culinary arts, Prince Legolas?" she snapped in a rare display of frustration.

"Since I lived three months in a steel complex with no one to feed me but a woman who works eight hours a day. Here." He reached out. "Le me-" and he winced. "Ah!"

"I am sorry!" Tauriel hissed, instantly drawing her hand back.

"It…is alright," Legolas said, clutching his bloodied palm in shock.

"Are you sure?"

Tauriel creased her brows. Legolas recoiled a little. She'd cut him and… well, it hurt. Then, she carried on the fight with the vegetables with a vengeance.

"Wise not to reach for a kitchen knife in use, hmm?" she snarled, shoving the plate clean and into a bowl.

"Yes," Legolas agreed, taken aback.

He squeezed his palm tightly, trying to stop up the flow some. And she threw him another glance. "It is not serious, surely?"

Legolas shook his head a little, a brisk 'no'.

"Does it hurt?" she pressed.

"No," Legolas lied.

And that was that.

He turned away, feeling a little offended... and if he were honest, neglected. It was discomforting, but he knew why, too. He was so used to shooing away an agonizing Kristy. If she'd sliced his hand like that, she would have a bandage, salve, and painkiller on his hand before he could say a futile word. It was strangely…unsettling.

"I am fine. I'll just go bind it." he muttered.

Tauriel nodded.

So when the elf went out into the living room, glancing back disgruntled, he found Estel inside again. Shenzie had frost under her gold chin, clinging to her mouth and panting lavishly. She watched with big dark eyes as Estel got down on his knees. The sight almost made Legolas smile. Estel rutted through the cold boxes like a homeless man in the trash…Christmas decorations.

"What are you doing?" Legolas half laughed, forgetting the twinges in his hand.

"Strange holiday, this Christmas," Aragorn commented, before holding up a sprig of something tied up in a red ribbon. "What is this?"

Legolas got a rag from the bathroom. "That's mistletoe," he explained. "Kristine says it's a sign of peace. It's also a custom for anyone caught beneath it…to kiss."

Estel scoffed, sitting back on his heels. "What kind of a custom is that?"

Legolas shrugged.

So he tossed the plant aside, before rutting deeper in the box, maybe looking for something useful. "Queer."

"Indeed." Legolas sat on his legs beside. He slid his hands under his knees and rocked back and forth, letting the pressure stop up the blood flow. After a minute, a teasing smile pulled at his lips. "…Unless the fair Evenstar were here, of course. It might not seem so queer then."

Aragorn shot a look. "I would not wish for anything that Arwen be marooned in this Eru-forsaken place."

Legolas was about to chuckle, but the thought sank in and the urge faded. "No, you are right."

It was miserable enough that they were here, much less Aragorn's love. Legolas leaned back on the cold wall, shrugging to warm himself. Barely any heat in this place. The walls were chilly to the touch. On cold nights, Kristy used to keep him warm. He started sorting lights for something to do, and he wondered if those days were gone for good. Maybe they should be gone.

Legolas was still mulling over it when the doorbell rang, snap ding.

Shenzie jumped off the floor and started barking like mad, bouncing on her front legs. Aragorn's head shot up.

"The door?"

"I'll get it." Legolas pushed off the floor. In the same instant, Tauriel and Aragorn got out of sight, using Shenzie's insistent noise to cover it.

Legolas looked over his shoulder and when he was sure they were gone, Legolas unlatched the bolt. Anyone could be out there: soldiers, police, worse…the landlady.

So he hesitated, before carefully cracking the door open and -

"Kristy!" Legolas said in surprise.

And it was.

Legolas blinked. She stood outside in black, strappy heels, shifting obviously uncomfortably. His eyes flew up and down her bare legs, the jumbled strands of hair rippling past her shoulders. She was supposed to be gone for hours yet.

"Kristy. What a surprise," he repeated more subdued, more dazedly. Legolas hadn't seen her before she left. She'd spent an hour in the bathroom, getting ready, only to fly out the door. And he wished he had. He wished he'd gotten a chance to see this short, black dress on her. She never wore dresses.

"Kristy." The door swung open uselessly then, and Legolas remembered himself. Be attractive. Stupid is not appealing. So Legolas put a sultry smile on his lips. "You look beautiful."

"Yeah, well." She sighed, looking at the toe of her shoe a little awkwardly.

"Is something wrong?" Legolas pressed, positioning himself to block the entrance. He carefully leaned on the doorframe, highly amused. She was so pretty when she flushed like that. It almost made this game worthwhile. It was so easy.

"I forgot my purse is all," Kristy mumbled.

"Your purse," he said disbelievingly.

"I forgot my purse, and my money," she said.

"You have been gone nearly two hours."

"What is this, twenty questions?" she snapped. "Let me in. You don't think I'm letting Roger pay for my dinner, do you?"

Oh, it was food for the fire.

"But on a date, the male buys for the female," he countered, totally aware she didn't want to do this. "Unless it," he pretended to gasp, "…wasn't a date? Unless Roger isn't willing to put his money where his profligate mouth is?"

Oh. That was too far.

"For your information, Mr. Smith," she hissed venomously, stepping forward. "Roger offered to pay for everything. I said I wanted to come home because-because I was worried about Shenzie, a-and I forgot my keys."

Legolas blinked.

"I don't want you starving my dog, and I don't want to be locked out of my own apartment," she insisted, before shoving past him and walking into the apartment. "I swear, Estel is the only one with a head in this place."

Aragorn smiled.

Legolas just spun around, staring after the girl in surprise. Estel just watched. It was a miserable attempt at enticing her. If that elf kept his temper at bay for a solid five minutes…maybe he'd stand a chance.

"What did I do?" he protested in Sindarin, looking to Aragorn.

"Only being yourself, my friend," he sighed. "Charming to the last."

. . . . . .

Red, blue, pink lights danced merrily on the walls. Holiday music and jingle bells played on the stereo on the shelf, filling the apartment with a cozy, festive feel. Even Kristy felt better that night, tossing tinsel over a Christmas tree. It happened slowly. She didn't think it would. She didn't want to swallow her pride enough to come back. It was disgraceful…

But she felt too guilty, wining and dining with Roger.

"Don't bother." Kris glanced up. Tauriel held an over-excited Shenzie down in the kitchen, teaching her down on command in case they ever needed the dog to be quiet. It was uncomfortable, speaking to the she-elf, but she did it anyway. "She's as dumb as a pail of rocks."

Aragorn smiled. "So what do you do on this 'Christmas' holiday, Kristine?" he spoke up, sketching something that she couldn't see. "What are your traditions? Customs? How do you celebrate?"

She deliberately avoided Legolas as he walked past, and she shrugged. "Well some people get smashed. Some people go home to their families. You know…eat together, play games, catch a cold." She laughed.

Aragorn smiled. It was a little hard to understand Kristy's Westron, the way she randomly shoved and placed English words in the mix, but manageable. "And you? How do you usually spend it?"

"The latter two, I guess," she confessed.

Legolas smirked. He picked up a box of things to hang on the tree, and he came up behind Kristy, bumped her lightly with it. She jumped, before sighing. Legolas held the carton with an infectious grin.

"You need help, Legolas."

"What kinds of games, Kristine?" The ranger asked, ignoring the comment.

Instead, Legolas sidled up next to her, enveloped in the glow of the tree's lights. It smelled of plastic and pines, of dust burning on the tiny bulbs. "Truth or dare?" he suggested, remembering it from a movie on the television.

"Not a chance."

"But-" And Tauriel came out of the kitchen. Legolas broke off and smiled at her, behind Kris' back. He nodded her over, inviting her to help. "But everyone could do with more truth in this world. Do you not agree?" he pressed, handing Kris a glittery object. Tauriel hovered near the window, and he beckoned her over, expecting -

"Legolas!" Kristy gasped suddenly. "What the hell happened?"

Legolas jolted. "What."

She grabbed his wrist.

"Your hand!"

"Oh," Legolas flinched at the touch. "It is not serious."

She snatched the box away from him anyway. "Estel," she hissed, pointing at the ugly, dark slice across his palm. "What happened? Did he do this?"

Legolas yanked his hand back, offended. "Why do you ask him what happened to me?"

"Because you wouldn't tell me if I asked," she snapped.

Legolas rubbed his hand, aware of Tauriel's surprised glance between them. He suddenly felt some of the festive feel drain out of the air, and he hurried to get it back. "Try me," he dared.

Kristy blinked at him, obviously not expecting that. She glanced over his face. "What?"

"Try me. Ask."

"Well, what happened?"

"Truth or dare?"

Kris frowned.

"I cut myself on a kitchen knife," he stated, opting for the truth. "While you were out gallivanting with Roger, I wanted something to eat."

"There's tons of microwavable dinners in the freezer," she said, as if it were obvious. "What did you have to dice?"

Legolas scoffed. Better to turn the tables away from himself though, and he said flippantly. "Tasteless mush. We wanted food for a change. And obviously you weren't around for the task, Kristy."

Tauriel raised a brow, crossing her arms. "That food does not taste very much like food; it is true."

"So you cut yourself chopping food," she said skeptically, letting the box rest on her hip.

Legolas side-eyed her reluctantly, before nodding. Why didn't she just let it go?

"Did you clean the cut?"

He shifted, taking a bell-shaped ornament from the box, fingering it, before hanging it on the tree instead.

"Legolas? Did you clean it?"

And he smiled a little guiltily. "No."

"Oh, come on." She took his hand.

"But-"

"Legolas!" she snapped, and with that, dragged him away. "You. Bathroom. Now."

Tauriel watched them go with a sideways glance, then turned to Estel. He was still drawing…something, charts and maps of it laid out under him. The sight of them made her smile a little, but it couldn't seem to last long.

So she focused on the ranger. It was strange, standing here. She'd never met the man before he came to Lothlorien. It was their common need to find Legolas that drew them together; she felt it even now.

"Something is wrong," she said quietly, gazing after them with a sigh. This time, it wasn't in herself…the discontented stirrings she felt deep inside her, telling her to leave, to move on.

Aragorn's hand stilled.

"He is not the same as when we parted, those years ago."

The ranger began turning the pen in his hands, round and round. "In what way?"

The captain tore her eyes from the empty doorway and walked over, before sliding down on the couch beside. "Legolas was a withdrawn, quiet prince," she said. "I knew him since I was a child. He loved the trees and our people. He was a…dear friend."

Aragorn stared at his rough knuckles, listening. Friend. A part of him hoped Legolas was listening. But he knew it wasn't so.

"There is a change about him." He said in a quiet voice, "And I am not sure where it is from. What has happened to him, maybe this place. Or Kristine."

"I hardly recognize him," Tauriel confessed.

Aragorn glanced up, studying her dark, furrowed eyes in the glowing lights. Sprigs of shadow glowed on the walls from where the garlands twined around tiny bulbs. It was peaceful, and yet he felt unsettled. "Even when he is not speaking…'English'."

"And what is he doing with Kristine?" she shook her head, whispering.

Aragorn didn't answer.

"Does he hope to keep her from the Marines by provoking her?"

And Estel half-laughed. "I know not. But he does understand her better than I. Perhaps he knows what he's doing."

She sighed, staring at her cracked, broken nails. "I hope so."

. . . . . .

In the white light, Legolas leaned on the counter, staring at a tousled, blonde head as she bound his hand. The bright overhead bulbs were painfully bright. Kristy avoided his eyes. She moved with crisp, precise movements.

She was still angry at him.

"I know you are upset. You need not tell me with every look on your face."

She didn't react. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Legolas almost smiled. "Kristy-" and instantly, he flinched. Something stung, alcohol or peroxide in his hand. "Eh!" He yanked his hand back. "Be careful with that."

Kris stared straight ahead, mouth in a tight line. Then, she lifted her eyes acidly.

"Kristine." He pulled his fingers into a fist, ignoring the expression. "Tell me something. Did you desire to stay with Roger tonight? Is that why you are upset?"

She folded her arms, staring at him, but didn't answer.

"You could have gone back to him. Why didn't you?"

"I didn't feel like it. I was tired."

"Tired." Legolas tilted his head a little. Tired? What a feeble excuse. "What's the real reason? Please, I want to know."

Kris flicked her eyes at him once. "Are you going to give me your hand?"

And with a frown, Legolas snapped the lights off. She gasped.

"Legolas!" She groped blindly and flicked them back on.

He flipped them off again and stepped closer, barring her access to the switch. "Tell me. I wish to know."

"I don't care what you want to know!" She growled. "Gimme your hand…and turn the light back on."

"Not until you tell me."

She stared up at him, breathing a little irregular. Then with a flustered, nervous twitch of her mouth, she shrugged indifferently. He felt it stir the air, and with the bright city lights outside streaming through the shade, he saw her eyes darken. "Fine. Fine! What do I care? Let the thing get infected. You'll probably contract hoof and mouth and die!"

He smirked. "You mean foot and mouth? Too many veterinarian shows for you, precious thing."

She glowered. "Don't patronize me. And I meant what I said."

"For your information the disease is from oral ingestion," he informed her, shifting forward, letting his voice become low and warm, "…according to a physician's medical book. Not surface injuries. Also, it is not fatal."

Kristy gaped at him.

"Now why are you angry with me?" he murmured, shifting closer, keeping his hands trailing along the counter. He pressed a palm against the wall, pinning her against the tile.

"G-get away from me," she whispered.

"I feel your heartbeat, Kristine." He breathed, "You are afraid."

"I'm not afraid."

And Legolas curled his fingers, opening and closing his fists. He felt her reach up to his chest, as if to push him away, and her fingers lingered, pressing against him. An open shade threw horizontal shadows across her face...her dilated pupils, parted lips drying like she couldn't breathe.

Oh. This was exquisite.

Legolas flexed his hips. Blood rushed. It filled Kristy's face a bright red. Her heart pounded in her chest; he heard it in her breath, felt it in her skin as it radiated heat, charging the air. Kristy reached behind herself with her other hand, blind, grimacing, feeling for the light switch, even as she glanced up into close, smoldering eyes. They were hooded in the dark.

"You told me you thought of me as a brother."

"I did not."

And as quickly as it happened, it ended. "You are afraid of me," he whispered. And with that, leaving it hanging in the air like a threat…a challenge, he pushed away from her.

Kris found it with a gasp of relief. By the time the fluorescents snapped on, Legolas was against the opposite wall like he'd never left, smiling coyly at her. His breathing was fast and irregular, but he forced it down. Stay down. Do not become flustered. Flustered is not appealing.

But she couldn't walk away. Kristy gasped short, panting breaths. "A-afraid…of you." She gaped, chest heaving, so furious she wanted to hit him. "Of you?"

He just stared at her like he knew she wanted him to.

"Alright Legolas," she gasped, shaking. "You wanted to know why I'm mad at you? I'll tell you! I'll tell you alright." Kris choked and swallowed, hitting hair out of her face. She tried to recover her composure, and she couldn't. She gulped a swallow of air. "You're an arrogant son of a bitch. You can't stay out of my life. You t-think you run me. You think I want your stupid opinion. You-"

"I what," he said, absolutely serious. "I care about you? I want to protect you?"

"No!" she spat. "No. You want to run my life!"

And he pressed his lips together, leaning back so his spine arched a little. He relaxed against the wall. The tile was cold, and he crossed his arms, tilting his head to one side. The movement made her wild, flashing eyes glance unwittingly to his chest. He knew it and she was caught.

"You are so afraid, Kristine," he said in disbelief.

But before she had a chance to protest, Legolas forced a smile at her and pushed off the wall with his arms. Legolas nipped her chin with the back of his finger, and flew down to press his lips against her mouth.

She was too surprised to stop him. A searing caress…yet he lingered too long. He was about to turn away when she ripped her mouth from his and thrashed his face.

He stared at her, shocked...before touching his cheek. It stung, even though she didn't slap him hard. He just glanced her over, smiling a little, and walked away.

Kris stared after him, fuming so hard she couldn't see. It blinded her and the world was red, not white. Afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid of him? It was so preposterous, so infuriating she wanted to scream, hit something.

But that wouldn't help. It would mean he won.

And she didn't want that. Not even a little. He wouldn't win.

. . . . . .

Late that night, Tauriel held herself in her arms.

The sea-longing. When it happened, the world became empty, like a barren wasteland. It was a never-ending search for something better. And between foggy distant shores and a dewy ocean, the longing rose like a living, whispering thing. It curled and twisted out of the sea. It reached over hills, over dales and snowy mountains. It was a spray of foam and a gust of salty air in the wasteland. It lapped at your feet. It pulled, promised, soothed.

Tauriel looked over the city lights, Legolas at her side.

Lied? No, never lied.

It whispered of healing. Yes…healing, gray havens, of sailing ships. Distant, departed loved ones reached out with gentle, searching hands. She heard them. It reached through time and space, whispered from a hum of traffic, voices. She heard it and she wondered when it would be answered.

"Legolas," she whispered faintly, gazing at the stars.

He made a responsive sound, chin in hand. He was preoccupied. Something…Kristine maybe…shrouded his mind and engulfed him. His eyes were dark.

"Once." She said softly, "you said you would never sail the sea. You said the trees were your only home."

He grew still. "So it is for all Woodelves. No matter where we go, the Greenwood will always be home."

Tauriel didn't answer. She just…looked. It was so beautiful, the song.

Legolas turned. Brisk, flickering wind pulled at the midnight strands of her hair, dark in the blue of the sky. She stared, as if entranced with…something, haunted with a promise. Something beautiful and enchanting, like a far-away song.

"What is it, Tauriel?" he asked quietly.

She didn't answer. When she turned to him, Legolas drew back. He inhaled a sharp, rigid breath.

"Tauriel?"

The ethereal glow filled her eyes; Legolas saw it and he didn't understand. He wouldn't. Even as the expression faded, utterly bound in a spell she felt weaving her soul into discontentment, longing…the word slipped from her lips.

"Nothing. I am sorry."

Legolas reached to touch her hand, and she drew back.

"Truly, it is nothing."

. . . . . .

A/N: Thank you for reading! I don't have to say again how much your guys' reviews have meant to me, but I will! Thank you. They mean so much to me. :)) And please have a great day.