A/N: I want to give a big thanks to Slayer3, Navaer Lalaith, and Bourgeois Sounds Swell for their helpful reviews! Romanticlady and I really do take the time to read and appreciate the reviews that are sent to us, and we want to give a thanks to those who have reviewed. Enjoy the next chapter! Btw, for everyone's information...I(Lady Boromir) am writing Hayley's POV, and my friend Romanticlady is writing Trinh's POV. Just wanted to make that clear. Onto the story!

Disclaimer: We own nothin'.

-------ME Stands for Modern Earth?-------

Hayley's POV:

You can imagine the first thing I thought when I woke up in the morning and smelled smoke. FIRE! I figured one of the hobbits had unintentionally started my furniture on fire...but imagine my delight when I found out all my furniture was intact! Apparently, Sam was very skilled and quick to catch onto things...and Trinh was helping him of course, and he was actually cooking breakfast for the rest of us!

I looked awful...plain and simple. My hair was sticking out in places and my clothes were saggy in spots, not to mention I had a watch-imprint on the right side of my face from where I'd fallen asleep onto it. It wouldn't have been a big deal if the Fellowship hadn't been casually spending the night at my house. Needless to say I freaked out and rushed to the bathroom, locking myself in it. I was not going to come out until I looked appropriate...maybe even a little impressive.

Although, getting ready wasn't as easy as it was supposed to be. I nearly fell asleep while taking a shower, and then I smeared lipstick on my face when I slipped, and then my head hit the marble countertop in my bathroom. Hard. Luckily, I didn't lose consciousness...can you imagine being woken up by the epitome of your fantasies with lipstick smeared all over your face? Yeah, neither can I...and fortunately, Boromir did not walk in on me with lipstick smeared all over my face.

I quickly got cleaned up and then made my way to my dining room where the Fellowship were seated all around, although the Hobbit's heads just barely passed the top of the tables. Trinh was sitting on the end, chatting Legolas up and I immediately wanted to wring her neck for looking so refreshed when I felt so Eru-awful. She stole my bed after all, the thief!

I took a seat next to Aragorn, and grabbed some of the bacon that was left over. I'd missed out on most of the other stuff...but did I complain? Of course I didn't!

Not a lot anyway.

"You ate all the eggs, didn't you, you greedy Dwarf!" I hissed at Gimli who sat munching on some bacon.

He took the piece of bacon out of his mouth and waved it at me. "Don't be accusin' me of stealin', missy!"

"Gimli." Aragorn warned in a low voice.

"You did so steal it! Now I'm stuck with just bacon! First the pizza...and now this! What kind of guest are you!" I cried at him. Maybe it was because I had an awful morning, but whatever it was...I was angry as heck at that Dwarf.

"Stop yer cadawallin', Lady. I haven't stolen nothing!" Gimli retorted smartly.

I glared at him and managed to refrain from saying anything else to him. I ate the rest of my breakfast in silence, occasionally glancing up to look at Boromir or glare at Trinh. Day two and still getting suspicious glances from Boromir...I can't say I didn't see that coming. He's the most suspicious of the Fellowship...I'll have to earn his trust the old fashioned way...

"You look great this morning, Boromir!" I blurted out, immediately growing red while Pippin chuckled.

Note to self: You're an idiot, Self.

Trinh's POV:

After the guys finished eating, and Hayley was trying, rather obviously, to touch Boromir, I decided it might be a good idea to show them around the house.

"Thank you, Lady Trinh," Aragorn said, "but we have to leave."

"NOOOOOO!" Hayley cried out, permanently latching herself to Boromir's arm. "P-please don't leave."

"But we have to," Gandalf said as Boromir tried, unsuccessfully, to get Hayley off his arm. "We have a quest we must fulfill!"

Desperately, I tried to think of something to get them to stay. "Well, it's not like Sauron can see out of Middle Earth!"

Simultaneously, nine heads whipped around to face me. "What!"

Hayley rolled her eyes, saying "Nice going, Trinh." Then she brushed her cheek against Boromir's vambraces. "I love these, by the way. Even more than your Horn of Gondor."

Boromir was looking very uncomfortable.

Gandalf coughed. "W-what do you mean Sauron will not see out of Middle Earth? You mean, we're . . . out of Middle Earth?"

I did a face-palm. Blast. "Uhhh . . ."

Frodo started panicking. "W-what do you mean we're not in Middle Earth anymore? We have to destroy the Ring!"

"Oh please," Hayley said, resting her head on Boromir's shoulder. "You're going to try to take the Ring and rule Middle Earth. I say Boromir should have been Ringbearer."

"How do you know I wanted to be Ringbearer?" Boromir asked her, finally able to shake her off his arm.

"Yes, I am too curious," Gandalf said suspiciously.

Legolas gasped. "Are you all witches?"

Hayley turned to Boromir. "Depends . . . do you like witches?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, we're not witches."

"Then how come you have all these powers?" Gimli inquired.

"Because we're technologically advanced!" I snapped. Gimli is soooo annoying! Why did I ever like him anyways? Oh yeah . . . his axe. Well, it's not that firm and sharp anymore. Psh. What a waste of 100 hours of glomping a week on the internet.

"Er . . . Hayley, you wanna take this?" I asked.

"Take what?"

"Want to explain to them why they're not in Middle Earth anymore?"

"Oh, sure."

"Hayley?"

"Yeah?"

"Please let go of Boromir and explain."

Boromir nodded, one again trying to shake Hayley off his arm. "Please."

"Fine," Hayley said, reluctantly letting go of Boromir. "You see, this is not Middle Earth."

"It's not!" Sam gasped, a little slow.

"But the road we took had a sign that said ME!" Aragorn said.

"I think that meant Modern Earth," I said.

Boromir shot Aragorn a dirty look. "Nice job, Aragorn. Not only did you take us the wrong way, you took us to a different world!"

"Why would you take a path that leads to "Middle Earth" when you already were in Middle Earth?" Merry asked.

And in a matter of five minutes, the entire Fellowship turned on Aragorn.

"Thanks for ruining this quest!" Gimli said.

"I got my hair dirty just for you!" Legolas said, nearly crying.

"You know how hard it was to walk for that long?" Merry demanded.

"We all didn't have a horse to kiss like you!" Pippin added in.

"You're useless!" Gandalf added.

"Another reason why I should be king," Boromir said.

"You made Mr. Frodo tired!" Sam shouted.

Frodo started crying. "Now we'll never destroy the Ring and it'll take me over!"

"Hey, look," Hayley rubbed against Boromir again, which resulted in him jumping in fright and me sending a note to myself telling her that being clingy is not cute. "You're stuck here," Hayley continued, "you might as well make the most of it."

"You can go to McDonald's and put the Ring in its fries-maker," I said. "It can destroy anything!"

"And now back to more important things," Hayley smiled up at Boromir. "You ever thought of getting married?"

Hayley's POV:

So I'm not exactly what we'd call tactful, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I mean, I've nearly worshipped Boromir since I first read the Lord of the Rings when I was a lot younger. Maybe it's the vambraces, or the Horn of Gondor, or the 'misunderstood hero' thing...but whatever it is, I just loved that Gondorian to death. However, I did-for his sake- stop making such sudden advances. I usually wasn't so riled up--not that anyone reading this would believe me-- but he brought out the worst in me.

"Hehe...just kidding." I added quickly, and let go of him...reluctantly, I might add. "Ok, so let me get the story straight...Aragorn lead you down a path that lead you to here...in our time."

Everyone glared at the poor heir of Isildur. "It was a simple mistake."

"Of course it was, Aragorn." Note to self: Boromir would not have lead them down the wrong path. He should be King. "And you all need to get back to Middle Earth before Sauron forges another Ring and uses that to destroy all of Middle Earth. Correct?"

Frodo looked timidly to Gandalf. "He couldn't really forge another Ring, could he, Gandalf?"

Gandalf seemed to think about it for a moment. "Since his fate is entwined with the One Ring...no, my lad, he could not."

Frodo sighed in relief, as did everyone else.

"Alright, well...before we start pointing the blame once again at Strider...or Aragorn...or whatever he wants to be called, why don't we all go into the living room. That way I don't have to keep standing." I say. Hey, I've been woken up quite early and now all the Fellowship wants to go back to Middle Earth and I could very well never see Boromir again...can you blame me for just wanting to sit down?

Everyone took their own seats around in my living room. I, being the Lord of the Rings nerd that I am, decide to start my own little Council. And this Council shall be called the Council of Modern Earth. Yes, quite catchy...I know.

"Welcome to Modern Earth," I begin, waving around showing them the living room. "Somehow, you all have managed to mysteriously be transported to my world and time frame. This is the year 2006, and you are currently located in San Diego, California...in the realm of...erm, the United States of America!"

"Nicely phrased." Trinh whispers to me. I smile.

"Thanks...continuing on, we need to get you back to your world, obviously. Any ideas? Suggestions? Comments?"

"Aragorn is an idiot." Gimli mutters.

"For once, son of Gloin, I agree with you." Legolas replies, nodding his head in agreement.

"Now is not the time to point fingers..." I say calmly, someone has to be the peace-maker here. "Let's figure out a way to get you all back first...then you can lynch Aragorn."

Aragorn's frown deepens and he looks remarkably like he did when he first met Frodo at the Prancing Pony. In fact, when he is displeased you can see it for certain. His eyes grown a darker shade of their usual color and he wrings his hands together nervously. It's actually a bit adorable...but for the sake of all Arwen/Aragorn shippers, I'm gonna leave that description as is for the time-being.

Suddenly a thought hits me. "Aragorn, you said you simply took a path and ended up here, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you think anyone else has taken or could have taken that path either before or after you?" I ask nervously. I hope to dear God, that nothing evil has come through that little portal.

Aragorn rubbed his scruffy chin for a moment, as if mulling the thought over. "I believe it is possible."

Trinh and I groan in unison.

"Lady Hayley, is there something the matter?" Legolas asks in a calm manner of tone. He seems worried, but only in his eyes...his face does not betray what he's thinking.

YES! Sauron could easily send forces to conquer my world! Saruman could find the portal and send Uruk-Hai...or even worse. Nazgul could come...oh, man, I hate those things. I should tell them all the dangers and threats of the portal or whatever it is. I should. Then again, they'd go into super protection mode most likely and start barricading my house down.

"No...I was just curious, is all." Legolas seems hesitant to accept my answer but nods in acquiescence.

"I still think we should just give the Ring over to McDonald's...I swear, they can make things invincible, might as well have the power to destroy anything too." Trinh pipes in, throwing Legolas cutesy looks. And here I thought she loved Gimli...poor annoying hairy Dwarf.

"McDonald's?" Boromir repeats, raising a curious eyebrow.

"Don't ask...it's a bad place. Makes you...er, explode from the inside out." Boromir seemed horrified by the prospect.

At this point, I'm pretty proud of myself. I just said a non-suggestive thing to Boromir. Baby steps...baby steps. I smile to myself.

"Lady Hayley and Lady Trinh, what do you propose that we do?" Gandalf queries. "We certainly do not know the way back to that...portal, as you called it."

Legolas is quiet as the rest of them talk to each other, trying to recall the way to the portal. I watched that Elf sit for quite a while...just looking contemplative as always. Serene, almost. Part of me hopes they find no way to return, but then again...that would be unfair to them. They'd never see their families or family-to be's. Not to mention that I'd be hunted down by Aragorn/Arwen shippers for sure.

I sat there, as Legolas did, trying to come up with a plan...

Trinh's POV:

"So . . . what is this San Diego place?" Boromir inquired.

"And why is it so hot?" Legolas added in.

"Because this is like . . .Mount Doom," I said. "You see, San Diego used to be a desert, but then some stupid East-Coasters just had to come and build aqueducts and buildings. And now, people live here. But everyone's a surfer-preppy idiot."

"Surfer-preppy idiot?" Sam asked. "What's that?"

"A mix of a King, an Elf, and an Orc," I said.

"Oooooo..." went the Fellowship.

"How disgusting," Aragorn exclaimed.

"I know!" I agreed. "I wanted to move to New York, which is like, Gondor, or Washington DC, . . . which is like . . . Rivendell, but Hayley said noooo. She wanted to live in a place where people die due to lack of water."

"So this San Diego is like Mount Doom!" Frodo exclaimed. "That-that means we can destroy the Ring here!"

I gasped. Hayley gasped. The Fellowship gasped. I gasped again.

"OMG that could totally work!" Hayley said, scooting closer to Boromir on the couch. "I guess that means you're just going to have to stay . . ."

Hayley's POV:

Sometimes I really hate my pessimistic nature. Then again, all my thoughts were usually hopeful and wishful thinking. I knew they couldn't stay here...why would they want to? Sure, everything runs on power and electricity...but their lives belonged in Middle Earth. They'd probably just end up getting themselves in trouble. My heart plunged at the thought of them all leaving...but I wasn't just going to force them to stay here. It would be going against all my fangirl laws.

"Actually, no, Frodo. It wouldn't work. The One Ring can only be destroyed in Mount Doom, where it was forged. No other place can destroy the Ring." Gandalf said, earning sad gazes from the rest of the people in the room.

An awkward silence fell in the room, and I could see how frightened Frodo was of keeping the Ring and being unable to destroy it. Just being in this close proximity with the Ring was...strange, to say the least. Everyone always thinks...'oh, Frodo was such a wuss for wanting to keep the One Ring' or 'I could easily have fought the temptation of the Ring' but I'm here to tell you that you're all wrong.

I don't know how to describe it so you'll have to bear with me. It's like...the Ring knows your thoughts, hopes, dream, and it preys off of them. You hear it talking to you, but not as if in an actual voice, but more like a feeling. You just want to reach out and touch it, partly in hopes of silencing the feeling voice it emits. The Ring is almost like that one cookie in the cupboard or pantry that you aren't suppose to eat, yet somehow...it's the only one you want.

It's seductive and corrupting, and there's no way around those two words when it comes to dealings with the Ring.

"Well, until we figure out how to get you guys home...feel free to stay here." I say suddenly, shattering the uncomfortable silence.

Gandalf smiles kindly at me. It's a warm smile that reminds me of my grandparent's smiles. "Thank you, Lady Hayley. We appreciate your hospitality."

"Heh...no problem." I mumble. I've always liked the spotlight, but at the moment...I wished everyone's eyes were on someone else.

Trinh sighed dramatically, turning on the fan. "Did I mention how much I hate San Diego?"

"You don't hate San Diego, you hate the heat." I pointed out...but my voice was lost among the many mutterings of the Fellowship as they stared in amazement at the small fan whirling.

"A contraption that produces...wind?" Legolas asked, utterly amazed by the fan.

I looked to Trinh who saw this as her chance to talk more with the Elf prince. "Yeah, and if you think that's impressive...you should see my telephone!"

Trinh dragged Legolas off to go show him more of the magical 'contraptions' that entranced him so. I was left to deal with the rest of the Fellowship. Which, under normal circumstances would have been fantastic, but the looks in the hobbit's eyes were really starting to get to me. Their eyes held so much fear and sadness, and I just wanted to hug them and make them smile. If you've ever seen a puppy after it's been kicked, with those small pleading eyes...that's what these hobbits looked like and I swear, it was the most pitiful look ever.

"Well, lass, looks like you're stuck with us." Gimli said.

"Lucky me." I muttered, half serious, half sarcastic.

Then I made the mistake of looking to the hobbits, Merry in particular. Curse his cute innocence. I had to do something to get these hobbits' minds off of their home that they could very well never see again. So I did the natural thing...

"Anyone hungry?" I asked.

All the hobbits reluctantly raised their hands.

"Well, it's still pretty early...but I don't think serving lunch would be a bad idea." I said, thinking aloud. "I hope you all like macaroni and cheese..."

I immediately left them to go start fixing the food, as I was getting the pots out of the cupboard, I heard faint little hobbit footsteps from behind me. I turned to see Sam standing uncomfortably in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Sam? Something you need?" I ask, while moving to the pantry to grab the other materials and food I'll need.

He looked to the ground respectively. "I was hopin' that I could help you, being if that isn't a problem, miss."

Ok, all Sam fangirls...you'll have to forgive me for my next statements. Sam...is...the sweetest hobbit that ever graced the Shire. I don't think Sean Astin captured all of Sam's sweet innocence. He never thinks of himself, always of others first. The way he looks to the ground and avoids eye contact while speaking is also the cutest nervous habit that I've ever seen in a hobbit. Overall, the hobbit is just perfect. I never liked him until that moment when he offered to help me so sweetly.

"It's not a problem at all!" I answered, almost too enthusiastically.

He smiled in relief and I got him a stool so he could reach the tops of the countertops and even reach a few shelves. Sam was a quick learner and it wasn't long before he'd mastered the use of the stove. After that, he insisted on preparing lunch for everyone...so I naturally agreed, especially considering the fact that I'm not the greatest cook. Let's put it this way, I've burned cereal.

While Sam went about preparing the meal and I started setting the table, I noticed Sam humming something. I just have bad luck with songs or something...because I started humming it shortly after. Then he started singing and, much to my amazement, he's a fantastic singer! It wasn't long at all before we were both singing while going about our work. I believe it was the fact that Sam had such an easy nature to him, that I felt comfortable singing with him...because, as all my friends and family know, I hate my own voice. Not because it sounds bad, merely because it's my voice.

Anyway, imagine my surprise when I realized that Aragorn and Boromir were standing in the doorway behind me. Ever see a beet? Well, I was about as red as that...perhaps even more red. I immediately silenced myself and pretended that I hadn't just been singing an old hobbit folk-song.

"Why did you stop?" Boromir queried.

Sadly, the compliment I got would be from Aragorn. "You have a lovely voice."

"Not really..." I mumbled. Great, I thought, I'm already turning into a damn Mary-Sue. Curse my voice, it's betrayed me...again!

"Actually, you do, Miss Hayley!" Sam added. "It reminds me of Miss Ro-"

I knew who he was talking about, so when he stopped himself suddenly, I thought it better not to pry. Him and Rosie Cotton had always made a cute pairing, in my opinion. I'd always loved hobbit-love! Yes, Rosie/Sam shippers...I am on your side!

"I'm gonna...erm...go...find something-someone! Yes, I am going to go find someone!" I stammered, brushing past the two men blocking my doorway. And for once, I was thankful that Trinh had gone off when she wasn't suppose to.

Trinh's POV

"And this is a laptop, a laptop, it's a machine that lets you talk to people even though you're far away," I was explaining to Legolas. "You can also listen to music, write, play games, etc. etc."

Legolas gasped as he clicked a key and letters were written down on the computer. "Fascinating. Who invented this?"

I could have told the truth, but to be honest, I don't really know who invented the laptop. "Oh, I did."

Legolas stared at me to doe eyes. "Really?"

"Really."

"You really are a witch!"

"No, I'm just very smart," I said as my ego alarms started going off.

"Is Lady Hayley as smart as you?"

" . . . she can sing well."

"Anything else?"

"She plays video games well."

"Video games?"

"It's like the games I showed you on the laptop, but more advanced, and you need more coordination. I mean, people think it's so easy to jump on those mini-islands in Zelda, but it's freakin' hard!"

Legolas blinked.

I blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you."

"It's all right, Lady Trinh." Legolas flashed me a look that some could interpret as I'm damn handsome and that's why I have a bigger fanbase then all the other guys put together. But since Legolas didn't know about his fanbase, that was not the case. However, he obviously knew how hot he was.

All of a sudden, the voice of Austin Powers rang throughout the room. "You've got mail, baby."

Legolas didn't waste anytime before putting an arrow through the laptop. "There's monsters in there!"

I winced. "Oh (censored)!" I pulled the arrow out of the laptop screen, a few electrical sparks flying out. Giving Legolas his arrow back, I closed the laptop and hid it under Hayley's bed. "Okay, Legolas, we do not ever ever mention to Hayley what you did to her laptop, okay?"

Legolas, suspected he did something wrong, nodded. "Sure."

I cleared my throat. "Now, I shall show you something that is more advanced than a laptop . . . prepare to be amazed: an Etch-A-Sketch."

A/N: Please review, every review helps make myself and Romanticlady better authoress'!