Hello, all!

Thanks to all the reviewers, readers, and subscribers! I appreciate all of you. Really, I do.

I enjoyed writing this chapter and am pretty happy with it. You'll get a little background on Kerrianne and progress in the Kerrianne/Haldir relationship. Let me know what you think!

As always, I own nothing.

-Choupette Lagerfeld

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A couple weeks later Kerrianne woke with a jolt to the darkness of her room. She gulped down the air as her eyes blinked and tried to adjust to the deep black around her. As the seconds passed, her heart slowed and she caught her breath as her eyes were able to distinguish the shapes of the objects in the room.

She'd been having such an intense dream and it took a moment for her to grasp what it had been about. Slowly, it flowed back to her and she as able to recall the dream. She'd been back home, on Earth, walking in the courtyard of her apartment building. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her dead-end job and her parents' disappointment that she wasn't using her expensive degree. It had been a common topic lately and Kerrianne had been feeling the pressure to either go to grad school or start applying to jobs within her field. The problem was that she wasn't sure she even wanted to use her education degree anymore.

From high school on, Kerrianne had been encouraged by her parents to suppress her psychic abilities and to focus on getting a job in a dependable and respected field. She'd chosen art education specifically because she loved art of all sorts and could see herself teaching it to adorable little children. Then when she finally earned her degree and started her job search, the economy had tanked and all of the positions at good schools were filled. She'd taken a job as a barista just to have some income while she looked for a better position and never left.

Kerrianne actually enjoyed her job at the coffee shop. It was a very "hipster" kind of place and she fit in well, even with her "peculiarities" (as her parents referred to them). Her co-workers became her best friends and after a couple years she rose the ranks and had become a co-manager and was actually making more money than she would have been earning as a new teacher. Life was good.

Then her parents started their pressuring again and she'd become more and more anxious about the entire situation. She wanted to make them proud but she was happy for the time being. On one hand, she didn't want to do anything just to please someone else and on the other hand she knew her parents had a valid point.

That night she had decided to take a walk to clear her head and make a mental pros and cons list. As she became more and more conflicted, her anxiety rose and with her anxiety came less and less control of that small psychic part of her brain. Kerrianne could feel the pressure building inside her body and an almost static noise rang in her ears before everything went black and she couldn't recall anything else.

In the present time, Kerrianne swung her legs over the edge of the bed, suddenly revitalized with a nervous energy. This was more than a dream; it was a vision. She'd finally recalled what had happened before she'd appeared in Middle Earth. The reason she was here had to be connected with her state of mind before she was so mysteriously transported. She wondered if Lady Galadriel would be awake at such an hour and debated for a minute on whether it would extremely rude of her to inquire.

With her mind made up, Kerrianne slipped into a long silky dress and tried to tame her curly into into a presentable style before giving up in frustration. The elves would just have to deal with her as is. She walked through the dark city and finally made it to the high talan where Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn lived. As she came to the winding stairs leading up to their home, a voice broke out behind and made her jump about a foot into the air.

"What are you doing here at such an hour?" Haldir's quiet yet firm timbre sounded and Kerrianne whipped around, her hand on her heart in shock. Even though she'd been living with the elves for about a month and a half, she still had not gotten used to their ability to move in absolute silence. She probably never would.

"Haldir!" Kerrianne exclaimed before she could stop herself. Of all the elves to appear out of the darkness, it just had to be him. He quirked one eyebrow and stepped slightly closer. Seeing him illuminated under the moonlight brought back memories of the pool and his naked body. Kerrianne tried to hide her blush but figured she failed. Basically nothing could escape the notice of an elf.

"Why are you here so late?" Haldir asked, crossing his arms and leaning up against a nearby tree.

"I don't see how thats any of your business," Kerrianne replied, trying not to be distracted by his firm biceps. Damn him.

"Everything that happens here is my business," He said, his eyes never wavering from her face. Yes, he most definitely had noticed her blush. Damn him and the horse he rode in on.

"Fine," Kerrianne muttered with an exaggerated sigh. "I think I finally have an idea of how I got here. Or at least why," She shrugged, trying to bely her nervousness and excitement at the prospect of finally gaining some answers. Haldir didn't reply at first but merely studied her, his eyes flickering over her face and down lower. Kerrianne colored as he took her in, from her messy hair to her toe tips (and her chipped teal polish).

"And what have you discovered?" Haldir's eyes glinted in unabashed interest and Kerrianne couldn't tell if it was interest in her body or in finding out how she'd appeared in the forest and why. He was so abhorrently difficult to read.

"I think I should discuss it with the Lady Galadriel before anyone else. She might be able to help me work it out," Kerrianne stated as Haldir's eyes narrowed.

"I am not capable of such a task?" He asked, clearly not impressed with her answer. She shook her head as his arms flexed in irritation and Kerrianne's breath caught in her throat. How she loathed the effect he had on her! He gave her a knowing look and stepped closer to her, crowding her. Kerrianne half-heartedly tried to hold her ground but acquiesced after a brief second and allowed herself to be pushed back against the vine-covered wall behind her.

"You found me more than capable a short time ago," Haldir spoke into her ear as his arms caged her, one on either side of her shoulders. Kerrianne inhaled breathily, taking in the scent of the forest and leather. It was Haldir's natural scent, which she found deliciously erotic in spite of all her misgivings.

"Thats not fair. We're talking about entirely different things!" Kerrianne replied hotly, her brown eyes boring into his blue ones. He didn't answer. "Besides, you're the one who put an end to that," Kerrianne pushed against him, trying to free herself. Just when she'd finally put the night in the pool at the back of her mind, Haldir had to show up and fuck her all up. Typical stupid, infuriating elf!

"And I regretted it immediately. Do not hold it against me," Haldir whispered in her ear, catching her hands in his as he inhaled, his nose pressed against the tender, delicate skin of her neck. From anyone else, the action would have been awkward but Haldir set her on fire like no one else. She tried to be strong and not allow him so much power over her.

"Haldir, please stop," Kerrianne protested weakly as he pressed a chaste kiss into her heated skin.

"Do you really want me to stop?" Haldir asked, raising his head to look her in the eyes.

"Or do you desire something else?" She found she couldn't formulate a reply. He slowly leaned down, giving her time to protest. When she didn't, he gathered her in his arms and caught her lips with his, searing her mouth in a hot kiss. She moaned despite herself as he hugged her close. Why did this always happen? Was she so weak that she could let him take advantage of her?

"No," Kerrianne finally found her voice and protested against his lips. She turned her head away and went limp in his arms. He took the hint and backed away.

"I don't understand. You respond to my touch. I see the desire in your eyes and feel it in your body. Why turn me away when we so clearly go together?" He questioned. It was evident that he was not used to such rejection.

"Because we don't go together! You and I both know there's no future in anything for us so why toy with me?" Kerrianne exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes. She hated that she was going to cry. It's not that she was truly so upset; she was just frustrated by the situation. She knew that deep down she liked Haldir and obviously she wanted to sleep with him, but where could it lead? It had been made clear to her that humans and elves were incompatible. Frankly she didn't see why Haldir was intent on leading her on.

"Toy with you?" Haldir had the gall to actually appear insulted. "I assure you that my intentions are honorable," At this Kerrianne couldn't help but scoff as she wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye.

"Sure. Almost fucking me in the pool was nothing if not honorable!" Kerrianne laughed hollowly and crossed her arms, not missing the way Haldir's gaze flickered to her chest. She rolled her eyes.

"Don't pretend to be so noble, Haldir. You're just like every man I've ever met. You all think with your dicks!" She smirked, though her voice held no humor. Haldir looked positively horrified at her language, Kerrianne thought, proudly.

"I am not a man, don't compare me to the human males you've trifled with in the past!" Haldir replied hotly, his nostrils flaring. Kerrianne couldn't deny that he was doubly attractive when he was pissed off.

"Are you insinuating I'm a slut? You're the one who came onto me, mister!" Kerrianne marched the short distance to Haldir and poked him in the chest with an accusing finger. He merely glared down at her.

"All I meant was if you had chosen your lovers carefully in the past, then maybe you wouldn't be overreacting now," He hissed out quietly, watching as Kerrianne's eyes widened in shock.

"Don't pretend to know anything about my past, you asshole!" Kerrianne spat and whipped around to head up to Galadriel's talan, intent on leaving Haldir by himself. She had no patience for him any more. She had gone only two steps when an iron grip on her arm halted her progress.

"I don't believe we were done with our discussion," Haldir said, drawing her back around to face him. Kerrianne clenched her jaw as she faced him. His stony expression stared down at her.

"I have nothing else to say," She bit out, tapping her foot impatiently. Haldir sighed and ran a hand over his face, inhaling deeply. She'd never seem so agitated before and Kerrianne took a certain satisfaction in the fact that she was the cause of his distress.

"I am sorry to have offended you. It was not my intention to do so. I have no experience with human women. You are very different from the ellith," He said in almost a pleading tone of voice.

"I don't need you to remind of how different I am from the elves. I am painfully aware," Kerrianne responded, feeling a pang in her heart at the admission. She had no hope of ever fitting in with the elves.

"Then you should understand my predicament. I wish to get to know you better but am not sure how to go about it," He answered. Kerrianne almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. The hottest, most capable, most thought-provoking elf was in front of her, telling her he wanted to get to know her better. What a night!

"Well maybe you should have just told me that instead of almost screwing me in the bathing pool," Kerrianne said, smiling slightly to show she wasn't angry. At least, not very angry. She thought she saw a slight blush on his face but it may have been a trick of the moonlight.

"I'll remember that for next time," Haldir smiled back and this time it was Kerrianne's turn to blush. She smiled up at him.

"Friends?" Kerrianne asked, reaching for Haldir's hand before she could stop herself. To her delight, he didn't pull away and instead wrapped his fingers around hers.

"Friends," Haldir replied.

"March Warden? Kerrianne? What are you doing here?" Galadriel's dreamy voice floated down to them and they jumped apart from each other, like guilty school children. Kerrianne blushed and glanced at Haldir, who managed to look stoic despite the situation. How was she supposed to explain this?