Chapter One - Distraction

"Megan darling, I only said you should visit your uncle," the voice wavered threateningly through the receiver and Megan Schofield frowned. "I mean you could have worked as his personal assistant but no you had to stay at that blasted university of yours."

"Yes, mom, and I'm up for a place in the English department," Megan reminded her mother. "But I will see if I can squeeze in a trip down to Zealand."

"Well you should, darling, after all this is a prestigious production ..."

"I know, mum, but I prefer to read the book rather than seeing it hacked to pieces beyond recognition," Megan almost snapped and squeezed her eyes shut as her mother started to tell her of all of her shortcomings. Bookworm, and throwing your life away, were some of the finer points. Megan counted silently to ten then backwards.

"Okay, I will phone him up and see if Uncle Ian and Robbie got the time ..."

The conversation had taken place seven days ago and Megan now sat in an transatlantic flight from London to Sydney. She had tried to read, then sleep but the person behind her in the seat had kept bumping more than once into the back of her seat, disturbing her to no end.

'bump'

'Okay that was it,' Megan thought and, shutting the book she had been reading, turned around in her seat. The person in her back wore jeans and a v-necked sweater, but apart from that and recognizing that the person was male, she could not see anything. What looked like a blue scarf was wrapped around the man's head, obscuring him from view.

'bump'

'The nerve,' Megan thought and leant more out of her seat to get a good look at the perpertrator.

"Enjoying the view, mate?" a muffled voice came from beyond the scarf and Megan looked up irritated in time to dodge the blonde flight attendant who stormed down the aisle as well as raise an eyebrow at the cheeky passenger.

"Excuse me... but ... I really would like to read in peace but you keep bumping into my back."

The man straightened up and for the first time, Megan noticed that his long legs had been the problem. 'Well not really,' she thought. 'Nice legs for a man.'

"I'm sorry, mate," the muffled voice came again and the scarf was pulled down. "I'm not built for e-class anymore." A twinkle appeared in his eyes when he took the first good look at her. "Though you seem to be built for it. No problem with your legs, eh?"

With a grin he pointed to her bare legs as she was wearing her khaki shorts, or as Uncle Ian would have called 'I'm Jane and these are not Tarzan's' shorts. Not wanting to act like a spinster, Megan grinned and straightened out her leg in front, giving the man another good look.

"Well I never thought I'd be happy to have short legs," she said and caught the other man laughing at her.

"And such nice legs, love," he said and put the scarf back in place when the flight attendant came by them.

"Miss, please remain in your seat," the flight attendant commented with a hint of annoyance in her voice, and Megan smirked.

After she had settled back in her own seat, she felt a hand tab on her shoulder and looking back over her shoulder, she could just make out a pair of deep brown eyes in the small space between the two seats.

"So where are you heading?" The young man obviously wanted to chat for a bit and Megan relented.

"New Zealand, I'm visiting a relative, you?"

"Work," he answered with a snort. "Though it's fun most of the time."

He chuckled and the scarf moved down quite a bit giving Megan an unobstructed view of his face for the first time, not counting it was framed by two backs of the seats. His hair was cut mohawk style that was just about growing out on the sides again. It looked ridiculous and Megan suspected that her newly found acquaintance knew that - hence the scarf.

'Nice dimple,' Meg thought before she concentrated on what he was saying.

"So what do you do for a living, ehh...."

"Megan," she answered his unasked question about her name. "I'm at university teaching English Lit," she replied, chiding herself that she had not caught what he was doing. 'Damn. That dimple is distracting!'

"Orli, nice to meet you, Megan," the young man said and a hand sporting a big silver ring on the thumb appeared over her head. Megan smiled and squeezed the hand shortly, then she turned back to peer at him from between the seats.

"You said you are teaching English Literature, love?" Orli's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled and Megan smiled back.

"Yes, sort of ... I hold classes for contemporary English," Megan replied, leaning closer but colliding with the passenger on her left. "Sorry," she murmured and drew back.

"Would it help if we switched seats?" The older man asked and Megan opened her mouth to decline the offer when she noticed he was talking to Orli.

"Cheers, man, thank you," Orli was quick to answer and stood up. Megan followed him with her eyes and she knew she was gawping, he wasn't that tall but had a litheness and grace to his movements that caught her unawares.

'Well at least Uncle Ian will enjoy that visual when I tell him,' she told herself and moved out of the aisle while Orli and the passenger moved almost in unison to change seats.

After the older man had settled in Orli's vacated seat, Orli looked at her questioningly. "Window or aisle?"

"Window?" Megan asked with a smile she hoped was enticing.

"Sure, love," Orli replied good-naturedly and held out his hand.

After they had settled themselves, Orli sighed contently as he stretched out his long legs. "Now that's better," he mumbled, while he drew up his scarf that now covered the lower half of his face again.

Every time the flight attendant came to inquire the scarf was back in place and Megan frowned slightly at this kind of behaviour, but instead of asking why her new acquaintance did what he did, she made a mental note and filed it away under 'curious encounters on transatlantic flights that make good anecdotes for Uncle Ian'.

They conversed softly about literature, especially genre and the time passed quickly. She was impressed by his knowledge on Tolkien's work and his impression on scenes from the books. She told him so and was rewarded with a sheepish grin. Soon the flight attendant was back and they ate. With a curious glance at his tray, she noticed he had ordered a vegetarian dish.

"Soy milk?" she asked, her look dubious.

"It's good, want to taste it?" Orli asked and Meg shook her head.

"Thanks, but I think I decline," she said and smiled when Orli watched her with a puppy dog expression on his face.

"Humour me?" he inquired, still holding the cup of tea which he moved forward to her lips when Megan nodded yes.

Carefully she took a sip, mindful to not make a mess while Orli tilted the cup for her.

Inquisitive eyes watched her as Megan licked her lips.

"It's good, different, but good," she said and was rewarded with the dimple again. Meg made another note, 'Make that a damn cute dimple.'

After the trays had been squared away, Megan felt the events of the day rushing to her, and with a stifled yawn she buried herself deeper into the seat, wiggling a bit to get into a more comfortable position.

With her eyes closed she only half-heartedly listened to Orli asking for a blanket and she would have peacefully fallen asleep if Orli had not stirred beside her. Sleepily she raised her head only to be covered by a soft blanket.

"Let me get that out of the way," Orli said and brought the dividing armrest up between them. After he had accomplished that he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Is that a try to cop a feel?" Megan asked with a smile, and Orli shook his head.

"Hmmm, is this an offer?" he asked with a smile and for a moment their eyes met, so he elaborated. "You can almost stretch out when you lean against me, it's better for sleeping."

"Ta," Meg mumbled, resting her head against his shoulder. She wondered briefly that she had never thought she would fall asleep on a complete stranger while on a transatlantic flight, but mentally shrugged as she inhaled the mixture of after shave and soap and let her mind get the rest it deserved.

Orli grinned when he felt the young woman's even breathing and he wondered at how quickly she had fallen asleep.

"Quel kaima," [Good night/sleep] Orli whispered, silently congratulating himself that he remembered some of the Elvish he had to learn for his job.

Moving slightly and hugging her close, he tilted his head back and tried to calm down his thoughts. He had to admit that it felt good to have someone in his arms again, even if it was a complete stranger. Three months ago he had gotten the Dear John speech from his long-time girl friend and ever since then he had missed the small comforts, like hugging and sleeping with another person's arms around him. Of course, he goofed around and hugged with his cast mates, but that was just it - they were guys, not someone cuddly and soft as Megan.

Cracking an eye open, he tilted his head down to watch her sleep. 'Man, he had missed that as well', he thought. 'Just the simple things, watching someone sleep, the rise and fall of another person's breathing.'

Orli shook his head and tried to remember the last time he had given into that urge. It had been only a few days ago, back in the UK for his well-deserved break in shooting, he had thought that he was up enough to get back into the fray, a few dates here and there, getting laid, no questions asked, no answers required. Simple.

'Yeah right.' He smiled ruefully. He had failed miserably and gloriously. Not the first or third time around, no, but the fifth time with some model chick who had just as much as thrown him out when he had started to get all weepy on her. He wasn't ready yet. He knew that now.

'But it would be cool to share the little things again', a little voice reminded him and with this he fell asleep.

With a jolt, Orli opened his eyes, his whole body shaking. Shit man, that's a dream I could do without, he thought and rubbed his face tiredly, feeling the stubble beneath his fingertips.

"Fuck!" he muttered under his breath and looked around, trying to focus on his surroundings. When his befuddled brain sent him all the right information, he groaned and slumped back into his seat.

The dream was always the same ... over and over he felt himself falling ... crashing through layers of clouds and then impacting hard. That was when he usually woke up. Since his bad fall from a three storey buidling, breaking his back in the process, he had these dreams and although he should have gotten used to them by now, he wasn't. They scared the shit out of him.

A mumble and soft stirrings beside him made him look down on his body and for a moment he could not help but grin, the nightmare almost forgotten.

Too bad I haven't dreamt about that, he thought with a rueful grin and gingerly picked up the small hand that rested against the fly of his jeans. Adjusting his shirt and the blanket on his lap, he entertwined his fingers with those of the woman beside him and hugged her closer.

Drawing small circles on the soft skin between her index finger and her thumb, Orli looked down at her still sleeping face. He had to grin when he noticed the small rosy tip of her tongue sticking out and he wondered what her lips would taste like. Nudging his head closer, he felt her stirring and he froze for a moment.

"I don't want to wake just yet," Megan mumbled softly, being enwrapped in one of her own dreams.

"You don't need to, Meg," Orli whispered, his face only inches away. Sleepy eyes met his own and Orli thought he detected green flecks in the light brown eyes.

"Good morning, honey," he said softly, his eyes focusing on the soft lips, the rosy tip of her tongue that now moistened these lips.

"Morning," Megan whispered, staring at his eyes like a rabbit caught in the lights of a car.

'Beautiful eyes', both thought independantly.

In an impulse, Orli tilted his head and brushed his lips over Megan's and for a moment or two it was just that. A soft brush, sharing breath, no tongue - all very innocent. Then Meg moved forward, only slightly but it was enough. Nibbling at her lips, Orli closed his eyes. For a moment he pretended it wasn't Megan, but his mind put a stop to this thought immediately.

'No that wasn't fair to her,' he told himself firmly as his hands drew her closer and one hand cupped her cheek. The kisses were soft, just testing the water but all the more intense when it came to the place, they were still on a plane somewhere over the Atlantic and here he was kissing a complete stranger.

Megan came fully awake now, at first she had thought she was dreaming but when Orli's tongue had teased her lips to open her mouth for him, she had come awake. Now laying almost half sprawled over a complete stranger she only knew the first name of and being French kissed, her mind sent her all kind of objecting feelings.

Both groaning, they did not notice the flash that went off, then another one and only the annoyed voice of the flight attendant made them break off the kiss, as they came up for fresh air.

For a moment they stared at each other in shock, before they both almost tore apart as if they had burned themselves.

"Thank you, Mr Bloom," a man grinned down at them, hugging an expensive camera to his chest.

Orli frowned and pushed himself to this feet.

"Give me the film, man ... this is my downtime," he demanded, with a growl in his voice.

"Sorry, Mr. Bloom .. you know the rules - free press and all," the man sidled away and Orli stared at him with a frown.

'Fuck', he thought and could only imagine the headlines back home. 'Elvin Boy tongueing beautiful stranger on transatlantic flight' was only one of the more tamer headlines that came to mind.

'Now where did that come from?' he thought, and turned slowly towards Megan again. Beautiful?'

Watching the young woman who stared out of the small porthole, he had to admit she was beautiful. Small, with a grace to her movements, hair that changed colour from honey blonde to fiery red depending on the light, a pert nose with freckles like gold dust and lips ... lips soft and full.

'Better not go there, Orli,' he told himself firmly as he slumped back into his seat. Turning his head, he watched how Megan clutched the blanket on her lap, the knuckles white against the dark of the fabric.

"Megan?" he asked, his voice not more than a whisper but from the way she tensed her shoulders, he knew that she had heard him.

"Meg?" he asked again when she still did not acknowledge him. Reaching out, he touched her hand, immediately noticing how cold it was.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Megan said and pushing his hand away and dumping the blanket into his lap, she grabbed the small backpack at her feet and brushed past him.

"Fuck!" Orli exclaimed and almost flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw the concerned eyes of the elderly man he had switched seats with the night before.

"I would go after her if I were you. The young lady seemed very upset," the man said and Orli frowned. 'As if I haven't noticed that', he thought.

"I don't think she wants to see me, or hear from me," Orli answered and smirked sadly.

"Damn reporters, always on the look out," the elderly man said and both men nodded. "Though I cannot blame him, you two made a pretty sight for old eyes."

"Thanks man," Orli said with a grin and the older man nodded before leaning back into his seat again. The flight attendant, still looking like she had just come out of a fashion magazine offered him coffee, and Orli gladly ordered two. After ten minutes, when Megan's coffee had cooled off considerably, and she still had not returned, Orli grew impatient. Standing up, he weaved his way towards the small rest room area.

'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!' Megan repeated over and over in her mind as she closed the door to the small bathroom and watched herself in the mirror.

"What possessed you, you stupid cow?" she asked her mirror image out loud and smirked when she heard the raspiness in her voice. She knew she was always vulnerable in the mornings, she didn't function properly before several cups of coffee, let alone being kissed fully awake.

"Shit," Megan muttered as she rummaged through her backpack to retrieve some toiletries. Methodically, she freshened up, giving her mind something to do instead of berating herself. But when she was done she just stared into the small sink.

"How could I have been so stupid. Way to go, Megan," she muttered. "Uncle Ian will have a fit."

'No,' she thought. 'Uncle Ian will probably laugh his little tush off, and so will Robbie. Mum will be furious if she sees me all over the tabloids.' With a sigh, she shook her head. 'I better ask the flight attendant for another seat,' she resolved. She started to pack her backpack when there was a small rasp on the door outside.

"Hang on, I'll be out in a minute," she told the person outside, and with a last look into the mirror, she grabbed her pack and opened the door.

"Megan, you alright?" Orli asked, as he ushered her back into the small room and closed the door.

Megan stared at him, then tried to push past him. "I'm fine," she snapped. "Don't you think you had enough already? Why did you follow me in here? The photographer will have a field day if he saw you and me exciting this room."

"I don't care," Orli said and held her back, placing his hands on her shoulder, massaging the tensed muscles softly. "He'll probably think we have joined the mile high club," he chuckled when she threw him a dirty look over her shoulder. "I'm sorry for earlier."

"Well, yes," Megan said and shot him a look over her shoulder. "Nothing to lose sleep about, I guess it was just the cosiness of the situation and all." She shrugged and for a moment Orli just stared at her before it dawned on him.

"I'm not sorry for kissing you, Megan ... I meant the photographer. I should have thought about something like that happening but I didn't."

Giving him another look and raising an eyebrow at him, she swung around and shoved the backpack into his hands.

"Well, also nothing to loose sleep over," she replied tersely. "I told you ... it was just the situation. I'm not even fully awake before I don't have one or two cups of coffee."

Orli stared at her, then shook his head. "I don't think so," he breathed softly. He had thoroughly enjoyed their kiss and he didn't think that this was just a spur of the moment thing. 'Heck, I know it wasn't. No one kisses like this without any meaning to it.' "You were all over me as if your life depended on it!"

"Oh please," Megan rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that male chauvinist crap. It was just the situation, that is all. No big deal."

Orli grinned at that. He knew he was being cheeky, but he liked the way she was all bristly and yet bright and shining.

"Wanna test it?" he inquired.

"What?" Meg asked, doubting she had heard right.

"If it is was just the situation," Orli commented, giving her his best puppy dog expression. "Then we will just have a kiss and that's it."

Megan snorted at that and shook her head. "Men, why do you always have to make a big deal about nothing?"

"Because were are helpless and cute and adorable?" Orli helped her.

With a laugh she shook her head and pointed towards her back pack in his hands.

"Go get yourself freshened up, lover boy," she grinned and opened the door with flourish and stepped into the small corridor beyond.

Orli stared at the closed door a little while before he rummaged through her backpack and found some mouth wash and soap. He smelled the lather and grinned goofily when he remembered that she smelled like that.