At first I was reluctant to show Zac the Oasis but eventually I couldn't take the smell any longer. When I had smelled just as bad it was okay. I couldn't distinguish between the two of us because my nose had gotten used to it. Once I had bathed, however, clean was my priority and my nose no longer took to his smell so kindly. It was a good man smell, of work and sweat, but it was a bit overbearing and there was a unpleasant undertone of liquor. The liquor was my real complaint, otherwise I MIGHT have been able to stand it. I eventually gave in and showed Zac the Oasis. He needed a good scrubbing.

I surprised him with it the morning after he and I made up. I led him to the area in front of the cleft, which was still hidden by the leaf frond. Then covering his eyes with one of my handkerchiefs, I led him through the woods to the cleft. Once inside, I led him to a point where the whole of the Oasis was in view in all it's splendor and beauty, then I removed the blindfold.

"Oh my gosh." He gasped, "It's beautiful."

"I know, isn't it?"

"Yeah . . . wow."

I laughed a little at his amazement. "You stay here and I'll be right back, okay?"

"Sure." he said a little absently, I got the feeling he would explore the Oasis contentedly until I got back. My presence was of no real matter at the moment, so absorbed in this new-found haven was he.

I ran back to the cave very quickly and gathered some soap and other things I thought Zac might want including a cloth and his clothing. I then ran back to find Zac high on the hill about where the small waterfall was.

I yelled at him and he waved back. "Melli! You gotta come up here! It's beautiful!"

So, I set down my burdens and made my way around the lake and up the steep rock side. As I neared the top Zac gave me a hand and pulled me up the rest of the way. I regained my balance and turned around. There below me lay the Oasis is all it's beauty and behind it, falling away majestically was the forest. A small brown line weaved it's way North through the trees to a faraway village that I realized was Leena. I gasped and slowly turned in a circle taking in the whole view around me of the trees. To the east (behind me) the ground slowly rose until it eventually formed a majestic mountain range high above and far away. From this great distance they looked hazy and of almost a bluish/purple tinge. As I faced in a more southerly direction I saw the trees gradually grow farther apart and more large and majestic with less underbrush. The gradual change occurred in a circle, going to a point somewhere in the center that I could not see. I knew immediately what it was. It was the area in which Zac and I had first found ourselves in this world. I looked at the area surrounding that patch of forest. It was like that of our present location. The trees were not much different than the normal ones at home though of an unrecognizable species. It struck me as strange that that area and only that area of forest was different. I turned to share my finding with Zac only to find he was already on his way down the cliff face, having had enough of gazing. He had seen the soap and things I had brought. Despite the slight distance he knew what they were. He was ready for a bath. One long overdue bath.

I slowly made my way carefully down the rock face. When I reached Zac he had already stripped off his shirt. I did my best not to stare and tried to look indifferent. I did however notice that he had gained more muscles since I last saw him with his shirt off. I had known that fact already but had never really consciously noticed. It was nice.

"Um . . . well I have biodegradable soap, shampoo . . . whatever you'll need. I suggest you wash your clothes too . . . uh. . . I'll go now. Just be careful not to get sunburned. I glanced pointedly down at my very red arm.

"Okay sure." He grinned at me broadly, "You don't want to stay?" That was said in a sort of whining/teasing voice.

"Uh . . . no. I think I'll go for a ride on Soulfire. I'll probably take Jem with me. They both need a workout. " Jem was the stallion Zac had ridden out to find me. I had gotten the slight implication Zac had suggested but I decided to ignore and avoid it at that time. At that time. I mentally slapped myself for the thoughts that his bare chest and words had invoked. I made my way out of the Oasis making sure not to look back.

"Okay, have fun!" Zac shouted after me, laughing. I wasn't sure if he knew or not, but I suspected he did. That's Zac.

I hurried out to the clearing and busied myself with the horses trying not to think too much about Zac. It was very difficult. I decided to relate my problems to SoulFire, occasionally including Jem, while I rode. It was a very helpful one-way conversation. Horses are very good listeners. Especially SoulFire. She seemed to actually understand what I was saying. I know it sounds bizarre, but that's what it felt like. At least I didn't imagine she answered, God forbid.

The situation between Zac and myself was better but there was still tension between us. I knew what but I wouldn't admit it to myself so I stayed oblivious to it as best I could. I told myself that it was better and I was happy. Ha.

In my mind while sitting in the clearing watching Soulfire and Jem graze, I reviewed every occurrence since we arrived in the world we were now in. I then realized that though Zac and I had had many a long conversation about his life in stardom and just life in general, we had never really talked a whole lot about my life. He knew tons about me, myself, but only from spending a lot of time in my presence. He did not know much about my life back home, what I went through or what sort of life I lived.

Late that night when sitting around the fire after eating dinner Zac spoke up, "Melli? You never really told me a whole lot about your life . . ." I looked at him horrified, "What? What did I say wrong? Do you not want to talk about it-"

I finally snapped out of it. "No, that's not it. Not at all. It's just today I was just thinking about that. That's just really weird."

"Oh. hmmmm . . . so you wouldn't mind telling me some more about yourself?"

"No not at all." I laughed a little, "You still don't know all that much after all this time . . .wow. Anyway, well what do you want to know? Facts or my life story in the short?"

"Well, considering we have time, and facts are boring, how about a life story?" He had a devilish glint in his eye and he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. I laughed at him.

"Okay, I can deal with that. Let me see . . . where to start, where to start. Well, my parents are Jack and Destine McCoy. They met late in college and were married after knowing each other a full of 4 years. They both became college professors in Los Angeles, California at UCLA. Two years after their marriage they had me. I was born on March 29, 1985. Two years later my sister Gwen was born and three years after that my brother Robert. My dad loved to take all of us out camping and doing outdoor things. I was pretty much a tomboy in LA, always spending my time outside doing something active. My best friend, Alex, was the grandson of my next door neighbors who were like a third set of grandparents to me.

"Then my Dad failed in his attempt to get tenure at UCLA and my Dad lined up a job in South Carolina. I was about 8 when he got the job. For a year he transversed between LA and SC. Finally we too moved to our house in Fairfax, SC. I left behind all my friends and everything I knew and was familiar with.

"Eventually I fit myself into life there and settled in. My brother and sister adjusted well, even a little faster than myself. After a few years the tension in my family grew. Our financial status was not well off and my parents often fought. It wasn't until February 13, 1997, I know the exact day, that I found out that when my dad had spent the year there by himself that he had met a woman in his class. He had had an affair with her, one that had continued until and through that day. I was devastated to put it bluntly. My life at that point in time, fell apart.

"Most of what happened after that kind of blurs in my memory. I became very depressed and most of those I termed "friends" either didn't help me, didn't listen or just nodded blandly and said "I'm sorry". I felt unwanted and unloved. My grades dropped and my enthusiasm for life diminished. Soon my parents divorced and my Mom, my siblings and I moved to Rock Island, Illinois in the Quad Cities where my Mom had found a good job. I couldn't fit in. The people hated me and I grew to hate them. My grades dropped even more.

"I remember back in SC hearing about Hanson." It was my turn to grin with an evil glint in my eye,"I thought you were a bunch of gay girls." I reverted to an apologetic smile, "Sorry. It was when "I Will Come To You" came out I actually realized that you guys had talent. I got your CD. I listened to it and I liked it. I came to call "Weird" my theme song. It let me know that I wasn't alone in the world. I fell in love with Hanson because of that. You guys brought me through. Really.

"For Seventh grade I went to a private school. Somehow I was able to fit in. Your songs gave me back my willpower to try and make friends and to try and make my life worth living. I felt comfortable at my new school and I made some really good friends. One girl named Alyssa became my best friend. I later convinced her that you guys weren't so bad and she too came to love Hanson, though she had a huge crush on none other than your brother Taylor. She thought, and still thinks that he has a cute ass." I couldn't help but grin at Zac and giggle a little. I then continued.

"Basically those are the main events in my life, though it doesn't quite bring you up to date. My father later married Renee, the girl he had met in class. I visited him a few times but it was never very comfortable. Gwen never went down though. She could no longer get along with my Dad since Renee was included in everything and Gwen could not stand that woman. I still haven't forgiven my Dad fully and I still don't like Renee, but I attempt to put up with it. Attempt." Zac was being a really good listener. He hadn't interrupted once, as I expected he would. He still seemed interested, rather than bored out of his wits, so I kept talking.

"Alyssa is my absolute best friend and we are really close. I miss her a lot . . . She is kind of an all around girl, she gets along with everybody in our small school. I mean, I do too, but she just somehow inserts herself in everything with ease, unlike me. I sometimes have a little problem with including myself. It's not too bad though because my school is a close knit crowd since it's so small. Everybody knows everybody and we all get along, most of the time anyway. I really like it there. I feel more at home there and with Alyssa than I have anywhere else.

"Well, I think you have probably heard enough about my life right now. I feel like I've been blabbing on for hours."

Finally Zac spoke. "No, I'm glad you told me. I really didn't know much about you."

"No . . . I guess not." I paused, "Zac . . . I would like to thank you."

"What for?"

"For . . . for being Zac Hanson. For writing songs. For daring to follow your dream. For letting me know that I am not alone. For somehow guiding me through that tough part of my life. For opening up to me. For being yourself. For being there for me. For . . . .for being the man I love." I stopped startled. I couldn't believe I had finally said it, finally admitted it to myself and to him. Of all people I had never imagined I would say that to Zac Hanson, much less to any living person. As I said it though, I realized it was true and that it had been long overdue, so I said it again, this time with conviction and no hesitance or doubt, "I love you, Zac."

He wasn't quite comfortable being given so much thanks that he really didn't deserve. All he had done was write, sing and play songs. It was kind of disquieting though to learn that songs had that much effect. He was glad that somehow he had helped Melli, protected her and guided her through rough times even before he had met her. She was the one thing he had left in his life, the one thing that meant anything anymore after all his time in this strange world, and he made it his goal and sole duty to be her "bodyguard". He was glad that the job had been performed even before it was known to him.

Then she admitted that she loved him. Before he knew it, he too said the words he never quite imagined himself saying, "I love you too, Melli."

The next thing he knew, their two sets of lips met in a kiss. A flash of something came and passed in that instance. Whether it was the foretelling if fate, the joining of soul mates or the knowledge of righteousness, no one knew.