She trusted him, but she was a ‘fraidy cat’ when it came to being in an unknown place by herself. Thankfully in LA she hadn’t been so alone. If she reasoned with herself, she’d have realized that she wasn’t alone in New Zealand either.

As she pulled her last bag from the conveyer belt she heard quick paced steps approaching her from behind. Since the airport was relatively deserted and her ears were like a cat’s, she had no problem hearing the swishing of a long jacket and the shuffle of some crisp jeans.

She was grinning as she turned around, and felt very unable to contain her excitement. When she saw who stood behind her, drenched in rainwater, her mouth dropped open.

“Orlando!” Liberty cried, flinging her arms around him. He grinned as she engulfed him. “I thought Elijah was coming,” she said as she pulled back.

“He’s shooting at the moment. I said I’d come. I had the day off. More or less.” Orlando chuckled and made a movement with his chin to her baggage. “These all yours?”

Liberty nodded, “Yeah. Too much. Again.”

He heaved one off the ground and flung it across his shoulder like one might do to a wild boar, “It’s less than Raya. She had an entire cartload.”

Liberty pointed to another bag behind him and he laughed. She grabbed it and followed him out of the airport. His car, a black utility vehicle of unknown origin, was parked illegally next to the sidewalk with its lights blinking. “Raya’s here?” Liberty asked as they put her things in the backseat.

“She was, she’ll be back.” He opened the door for her and bowed slightly, “In you go.”

Liberty laughed and hoped in. Orlando climbed in the driver’s side and threw his hat into the backseat. His hair was soaked and water droplets ran down his back.

“Bloody rain,” he muttered, pulling onto the street. He glanced sideways at her, “Before I forget to tell you, I’m really glad you’re here.”

Liberty smiled, “Thanks, I’m glad too.” She coughed, “But enough of the mush. Where are you taking me?”

“Do you want to go to the set and see Lij? Or…where are you staying?” He looked confused suddenly and then annoyed, probably at himself for not asking Elijah where he intended to put her.

“I don’t actually know. There wasn’t much time for little problems such as that.” She chuckled, “Didn’t really think this through.”

“Well, you can stay with me…but Raya’ll be there. Might be a bit odd for you. YOU TOSSER!” They had just gotten cut off. The rain had stopped, now, and it was easier to see but cars seemed to think it was okay to just ram in front of Orlando without using a directional signal.

Liberty jumped at his outburst, but then settled back, “It would be weird,” she agreed, “Did Elijah expect me to stay with him?”

“You can’t very well stay with Dominic,” Orlando sidestepped the question wonderfully, “And you probably don’t want to stay with Sean and Christine. What about Billy?”

Liberty shrugged, “I could stay in a hotel. I don’t really care where I stay, to tell you the truth. I’m just excited to be here.”

“There’s always Viggo’s place, though he’s got Henry.” Orlando frowned in thought. “I could give him a ring. I think he’s home. It might be nice to get a second opinion on the matter, in any case.”

“That’s fine by me,” Liberty said, “I’ve never even met Henry.”

Orlando was fumbling with the buttons on his cell phone when he replied, “He’s a brilliant kid.”

Liberty looked out the window and muttered, “Mmmm” while Orlando talked on the phone.

“Bonjour,” Viggo answered.

This was apparently a normal greeting at the Mortensen residence, for it didn‘t phase Orlando one bit, “Vig? Orlando here. Where is Liberty staying?”

“Last I heard,” Viggo replied, sounding hoarse, “Billy was cleaning up his extra bedroom. He had lots of odd things in there. Orlando, have you ever heard of a Sweedish Made Penis Enlarger?”

“On Austin Powers,” Orlando responded, then shook his head, “VIGGO!”

Viggo laughed, “Sorry. Take her to Billy’s. He only lives the floor above Lij, anyway, so they can share her if need be. Is she there with you now? Can I speak to her?”

Orlando handed the phone to Liberty who looked confused, but said, “Viggo!” when she heard him cough on the other end. “Are you sick?”

“Not yet, hey there.” She could hear the smile in his voice and she smiled back, “Are you set if Orlando throws you out at Billy’s?”

Liberty laughed slightly, “Uh, yeah, sure.”

“You’ll be fine, he won’t try anything. I’ll threaten to shove my sword up his----Henry, hello. Up already?” There was some mumbling in the background, Liberty listened and laughed; then Viggo came back on the line, “Sorry about that. He can’t sleep. Dratted storm. Oh, I wanted to tell you something but you have to promise not to kick Elijah anywhere that would cause him the inability to have children. Okay?”

Liberty looked at the phone, and inevitably at Viggo, as if it were crazy, “I have never kicked anyone anywhere.”

“Dom doesn’t know you’re coming.” Viggo cringed on the other end of the phone, ready for the screeching.

Orlando was turning into the parking lot of a nice looking apartment building and Liberty got out as soon as the car pulled to a stop. After several moments of silence on the line (Liberty was helping to unload her bags), she said, “Yeah. I had a feeling.”

“You’re not angry?” Viggo asked hesitantly.

“Not at you,” Liberty chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just worried that Dom doesn’t want me here.”

Both Viggo and Orlando burst out laughing at that. Orlando was carrying the brunt of the luggage up the stone steps. Luckily for him Billy lived on the second floor. The apartment building was set up so it was three floors, but each floor held one apartment only. Orlando knocked on the door and set the bags down.

“Alright. Apparently I just made a joke I’m not aware of,” Liberty said to both Viggo and Orlando.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Lib,” Viggo said, “Glad to have you here.” Then he hung up.

She watched Orlando carefully, waiting for an answer. He didn’t look at her, but said, “Dom will be glad to see you, Liberty. He misses you. You ought to know that.”

The door opened just then revealing a tussle haired Billy who looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. His eyes widened when he saw Liberty and a large smile made its way onto his lips. “LIBERTY!”

Billy flung his arms around her and she hugged him back, laughing slightly. “Did we wake you?”

“Yeah, but I don’t care. I have to go back to the set in about ten minutes. I came home an hour ago to get some rest.” Billy moved aside, allowing both Liberty and Orlando to enter. “What are you doing here?” He smiled widely at her and watched as Orlando set her bags by the door.

“Elijah didn’t tell you?” Liberty questioned, glancing anxiously at Orlando. He “It seems he didn’t tell anybody.”

“He invited you?” Billy asked, smiling, “Brilliant. This’ll be good.”

“What do you mean?” Liberty wondered, looking overly curious. Orlando made a slicing off the throat motion and Billy cleared his own throat.

“Nothing. I don’t mean anything. Are you staying here? I’d love to have you.” Billy smiled widely.

“I thought you were clearing out your extra room for her?” Orlando said, looking quizzical.

“Oh, well I was clearing out the room…for Raya’s friend. She called me a while ago, after you left the house to get Lib, I imagine…she said she’s bringing an old friend out here and she needs a place to stay. I, of course, offered my services. But Lib can stay here and Raya’s friend can bunk out somewhere else.”

“Raya’s bringing someone back here with her? Who?” Orlando sunk onto the couch and sighed, “Last time I met one of her mates I was scarred for years.”

“A girl,” Billy answered vaguely, “I don’t know anything else about her.” He shrugged at a still anxious looking Liberty. “She can stay with Dom…” Billy trailed off, “No, never mind. That won’t work.”

“She can stay with us,” Orlando said, swallowing hard. “It’ll be fine.”

Liberty dropped onto the couch beside Orlando, “Why do I have a really, really bad feeling in the bit of my stomach?”

“I dunno love,” Billy said, sitting in the chair opposite her. “I’m sure it’ll all be fine. You’re here!”

She smiled wanly at him, nodding slightly. “Yeah. I’m here.”

*

“Where’s Billy?” Peter Jackson fretfully asked Dom.

“He just called. He’s on his way.” Dom covered up a yawn. “He said he had some sort of present for me.” Dom shrugged, looking confused, “I’m a little scared, now, actually.”

Peter laughed, “Eh, don’t be. It’s probably a nice pair of woolen socks.”

Dom looked doubtful but then laughed, “Yeah. Maybe. I COULD use some socks.”

The two of them were standing on the set while cameras were being set up and orcs were being put into costume. Dom was waiting for Billy before transforming to Merry. He was humming to himself when he heard footsteps approaching. Peter had walked off to check on something so he was standing by himself.

Dom turned around expecting to see Billy wandering casually towards the set, but instead he saw Liberty and Billy laughing about something as they made their way across the parking lot.

“Liberty?” Dom questioned, squinting into the darkness. He had this overwhelming feeling that his eyes were playing tricks on him. “Liberty?” he repeated, shaking his head of the fogginess.

She looked up, flashed him a huge smile and then raced towards him, “Dom!”

Dom broke from his trance and began running towards her; they met in-between in a huge bear-hug. “Oh, my God,” he breathed into her hair.

Liberty pulled away smiling, “Hey there.”

He ran a hand down her cheek, “Hey yourself.” Dom looked past her at Billy, who looked very proud of himself. “Is this my present?” Billy nodded smugly and detoured his path so he was now headed towards the prosthetics trailer. “This is the best present he’s ever given me,” he smiled at Liberty, “and he’s given me a crate of liquor before.”

*

Dom and Liberty were hanging out in his trailer when they heard some odd girlish screaming and pounding on the door. It sounded like a hyena, but a peek out the window told them it was only Billy and Elijah, both of which were in full hobbit regalia. Dom had one scene left before he was allowed to leave, and the crew was currently setting it up, so he was in full costume as well. Elijah and Billy poured into the contrite trailer the second Dom opened the door.

“Hello there,” he said pleasantly, “What are you two fine, young hobbits up to?”

“I wanted to see Liberty,” Frodo Elijah replied, stepping into the trailer and running to Liberty at full speed. He plopped beside her and engulfed her in a hobbit hug. As he pulled away, he whispered, “I told you Dom would be happy to see you.”

Liberty smiled at him, “Yes, well…Yeah.” She laughed, “It’s so good to see you.”

Billy sat across from them at the small kitchen table and Dom leaned against the sink, smiling happily at Liberty. “So,” Billy said, his voice airy, “What are you two doing? Are we interrupting some things we shouldn’t be?”

Dom laughed, “Nope.”

“Damn,” Billy muttered, then smiled, “Did Lib tell you she’s staying with the hottest hobbit?”

“I didn’t know she was staying with Elijah,” Dom responded, looking at Elijah, who was laughing silently.

Billy cleared his throat, “No, Dominic, I am talking about me. The sexy Scot?”

“Ah,” Dom said, nodding, “Of course. Sorry. Lib’s staying with you?”

“Yes indeed,” Billy replied happily.

Liberty started laughing hysterically, as if she’d been holding it in until now; the three hobbits stared oddly at her. “I’m sorry,” she said after a moment, trying to catch her breath, “It just feels so weird to be talking to you in your hobbit gear.” She burst into another fit of giggles and wasn’t calmed down any when Dom sprung onto her and began tickling her madly.

“Are we hotter as hobbits?” Dom asked, grinning.

“AH!” she cried, trying to push his hands away. Elijah fell onto the floor, as that side of the table was not big enough for a Dom as well. Then, “No, you’re really not.” except it sounded muffled because he was still tickling her. “Dom! Stop!”

Dom stopped tickling, “We’re not hotter as hobbits?”

Liberty sat up, gasping for breath and clutching at her side, “No. You are hotter as Dom.”

“I’m hot!” Dom cried, punching the air with his fist. Then he sobered, “Wait a second. I already knew that.”

*

Liberty and Dom, now looking like Dom rather than Merry, walked up the path to the apartment building some time later. Elijah and Billy had taken them out for a welcome party type thing at a local pub. Elijah and Billy had gone home when Liberty and Dom decided to take a short walk around town. Orlando had joined them at the pub briefly, but had to get to the set (“Blasted Helm’s Deep”) and had gotten a call from Raya saying she’d be arriving tomorrow evening. Dom was slated to pick her up, as Orlando would be doing Helm’s Deep every night, all night, for months. He had sworn quite a bit about not being able to get her, but Liberty had said she’d wanted to see Raya anyway so she would go with Dom.

“So, I will see you tomorrow after shooting. About…” he racked his brain for his ending time, “…five.”

“Okay,” Liberty replied, smiling. “I will see you then.” She cleared her throat, not really sure what to expect. Since she and Dom weren’t technically dating she wasn’t sure what she should be doing. As it was, she wouldn’t have to decide, and she was thankful for that.

Dom took a step towards her and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, a large grin on his lips. “I am SO glad to see you.”

“Likewise,” Liberty laughed. They heard shuffling in the apartment and figured it was Billy coming to play ‘father’ so Dom smiled at her and then disappeared down the hallway.

When he reached the stairwell, he called, “I’ll call you tomorrow on my break.” and then she went inside the apartment. She was asleep the second she fell onto the couch, clothes and all.

“Damn jet lag,” Billy muttered, shuffling into his room and closing the door quietly.