“So,” Raya said, placing her hands on her hips and shifting her Gucci bag to the other shoulder. It’s contents jingled and Liberty wondered just how many beauty products were in there; she made a mental note to ask when Raya didn’t look so threatening. “Nice skirt,” Raya complimented. It seemed she was going to start out with niceness and then swoop in for the kill.

“Uh,” Liberty remarked intelligently, “Thanks.” She sighed, “What’s going on?”

“I’ll make this easy for you,” Raya replied in her business tone, “You don’t even have to ask me directly. I will just tell you.” Liberty didn’t try and stop her, it seemed she was intending to ask something. Raya sighed sadly, “Anaka is a nice girl, a little grabby, and that’s my only warning.”

“Grabby,” Liberty repeated, looking confused. “Okay?”

“I suppose you can fend her off for the few hours that I’m spending away?”

“Yes,” Liberty responded slowly. “Except you said she was worse than you.”

Raya nodded seriously, “Any rift between you and dearest Dominic in yonder vehicle will require my interference…and it won‘t be as pleasant as the first date.”

Liberty looked stricken for a moment, but replied, “How is that, exactly?”

“It would involve wax,” she stated vaguely, “and a lot of it.”

Liberty blinked, “Well, then. I’ll just, uh, fend her off as best I can.”

Raya nodded in approval, “Good. Although, perhaps I should put the wax in anyway, your legs could use some good exfoliation.”

Cringing, Liberty said, “Have fun with Orlando.”

“Oh,” Raya smiled, “I will.” She began to turn away, “It’s good to see you, Liberty.” And with someone expecting the world to end at any given moment, said, “Good luck.” Then she walked onto the “closed” set and towards the trailers in the back of the lot. Liberty jumped back into the car, in the backseat by herself now, and closed the door behind her.

Dom turned around and smiled at her, “Did you know that Anaka was born in Germany, and then she moved to Manchester when she was sixteen?” He sounded highly amused at this new information.

Anaka smiled slightly and flipped her hair over her shoulder, “Ja spreche ich fließend.”

“Yeah,” Dom replied, not looking at her.

“We should probably go ahead and take Anaka home. She’s most likely extremely tired.”

“I’m not really,” Anaka stated airily, “But thank you for caring, Libets.”

“It’s Liberty,” she corrected.

“Libets is a cute nickname,” Dom said randomly, turning the car back on. It was Summer in New Zealand, as it was winter in America, so the windows were up and the air conditioning was on a comfortable climate. Of course, Dom had made several adjustments because Anaka was getting too chilly or ‘too roasty.’

Anaka shed her leather jacket and carefully set it behind her back. “New Zealand is lovely,” she commented, glancing at Dom out of the corner of her eye and smiling.

“It’s one of the most beautiful things in the world,” Dom agreed, turning into Orlando’s driveway. Luckily, the ride hadn’t been too long. Liberty was going a bit insane, having to put up with Anaka all by herself. So far Anaka hadn’t gotten too grabby, though, so she was happy about that.

“I haven’t seen much yet,” Liberty commented to no one in particular.

“Billy would probably take you round if you wanted,” Dom said, jumping from the car.

“Yes, I bet he would,” Liberty replied, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. She would have helped anyone else, but she didn’t feel the need to do much for this particular person. Dom was being helpful enough for both of them, in any case.

After four trips up to the house, Dom came running back to the car, “Can you drive yourself home, Lib?”

“Huh? What?” Liberty asked, sitting up and looking around sleepily. “Sorry, I must’ve fallen asleep.”

Dom smiled warmly at her, “It’s okay.” He was leaning in his car door, looking back at her.

“I don’t have a New Zealand driver’s license, and besides that, I’ve never driven on the wrong side of the road before. I’m a bit like Liv, in that respect.”

“You’re like her in other respects to,” Dom commented, glancing back at the house. Anaka was waiting in the open doorway. “Anaka would like me to stay and help her get settled in. As tomorrow’s my day off, I said I would. So I can call Billy to come and collect you.”

“I could walk,” Liberty suggested, her voice sounding the slightest bit angry.

“Nonsense, it’s nearly midnight,” Dom gave her the ‘one minute’ signal and raced up the driveway. After a few seconds of speaking to Anaka, with her nodding and smiling and flirtingly touching him, he came back. He jumped in the car and turned the ignition on. “Jump up in front, Lib.” He patted the passenger side seat and she unbuckled to slid into the front.

“What’s going on?” She asked, bucking and then bracing herself as he tore around a corner.

“I said I’d take you home and come back. Poor thing was very teary. Says she’s never been alone at night before in an odd place and didn’t want to start now.” Dom gave Liberty a charming smile, “I can’t very well leave her. I wouldn’t leave you.”

“Just a quick comment,” Liberty replied regretfully, “But you ARE leaving me.”

“With Billy,” Dom clarified. “He’ll still be up, and if he’s not, go up with Lij. I’m sure he’s up watching a movie or going over lines or something like that.”

“Dom…” she said.

“Yes?” He asked, parking on the street in front of the apartment building.

Liberty sighed, unbuckled, and opened her door, “Never mind.”

He leaned over to her and gave her a quick kiss, “I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you want to spend the day together?”

“Yeah!” Liberty said happily, “I’d really like that.”

Dom smiled and nodded, “It’s a date, then. I’ll see you around ten.”

“Okay,” she slid from the car and looked back at him, “Be careful, Dom.”

“Careful of what?” He asked, laughing.

“Of Anaka.”

Dom patted her hand, “I highly doubt she’ll stab me, love.”

“I’m more worried about romantic notions, not murderous ones.”

“Oh that’s foolish,” he said, shaking his head and laughing, “She’s not interested in me. I mean look at her!”

Liberty swallowed, feeling desperately sick all of a sudden. “Yeah.” She nodded, “See you tomorrow.”

Dom pulled a U-turn and drove off down the street the second she closed the car door.

*

When Liberty threw her purse on the table beside the door, Billy emerged from the kitchen. “Hey you,” he greeted kindly, “Early night? That’s odd because Dom has the day off tomorrow, I didn’t even think I’d see you ‘till tomorrow evening.”

“Where would I be?” Liberty asked, dropping onto the couch.

“With Dom,” Billy answered as if this were obvious. Liberty snorted and Billy raised an eyebrow before sitting in the chair opposite her. “What did he do?”

“Nothing,” Liberty said quickly, “Yet.”

“What’s Raya’s friend like? Anything like Raya?” Billy asked. He seemed to have a sixth sense all of a sudden. “Also, what IS her name?”

“Her name is Anaka, she’s not like Raya unless you count how they dress and how their hair’s done.” Liberty sighed, “Which I don’t. God, Billy, you should have seen how freaking flirty she was with him…and he basically ignored me. Raya told me that Anaka’s very grabby, which worries me.”

“I wouldn’t worry,” Billy replied reassuringly, “Dom’s not an idiot.” He paused, cocking his head to the side, “Wait, what am I saying? Of course he is. Call him up! No, wait, better yet --- let’s go over there!”

“No,” Liberty groaned, “It’ll look like I’m jealous or checking up on him.”

“So?” Billy asked, “Who cares? Maybe you told me all about her and I want to meet her. That’s reason enough. Isn’t it?”

Liberty gave him a look that plainly stated it was not enough of a reason to go traipsing to Orlando’s, randomly, at this time of night. “I just want to go to bed. And, anyway, Dom said he’d see me tomorrow morning.” She shrugged.

“I think that you should be trusting of Dom, like you are being,” Billy commented, relaxing in his seat, “But I also think that sometimes…well…sometimes women can’t be trusted. If you catch my drift.”

“I do,” Liberty affirmed, nodding, “But honestly, I think Dom will be pissed if we just show up there.”

“Why? He’s always glad to see you.” Liberty gave him a withering look as if she knew better than what he was saying. “You know I’m not lying. So, go change into something remarkably sexy, preferably with cleavage showing, and we’ll go pay them a surprise visit. By the time we get there, Orlando should be home too.”

“He’s supposed to be home at, like, four, Billy.” Billy jabbed a thumb at the clock on the wall and then got up to go change. He had obviously been in for the night, in his pajamas, but was now making a sacrifice for Liberty. “God,” she breathed, standing and heading towards her room, “How long were we at the airport?”

*

Orlando and Raya had been home for five minutes, when Orlando pulled Raya out of the main room to have a private chat. Dom had called this a “lover’s quarrel” to Anaka on the down-low, but was mistaken. When Orlando and Raya had arrived at home, Anaka was down to her slip and bra and was draped all over Dom, who wasn’t protesting.

"Raya! Your friend is making moves on Dom!" Orlando admonished, trying hard to keep his urgent voice down.

"Well, it's not my fault that Dominic is responding this way." Raya replied, glancing out into the living room. Dom had pried himself away from Anaka’s clutches thanks to the interruption, but she was still on the prowl.

"Aren't you going to do something about it?" Orlando demanded, his eyes darting back and forth.

"Not if you aren't." Raya answered simply. Orlando’s lower lip went out in a pout that rivaled everyone else’s in the world. "You're going to have to find some other way to get your wishes, Bloom." She started back to the living room. “The pout is unfair, by the way.”

"Dominic Monaghan," Raya bellowed angrily, and so harshly that Dom nearly fell off the couch in shock. She grabbed his t-shirt collar and pulled him off to another room. Orlando and Anaka merely looked at each other and shrugged, then he began telling her, in a gentlemanly way, not to be a whore.

"Oh God, Raya, if you're going to kill me, at least do it quickly,” Dom sighed and leaned against the wall. Raya closed the bedroom door and stood facing him angrily.

“What were you doing?” Raya asked, letting his shirt go.

He began to adjust it, looking severely shaken, “I was trying to stop your friend from pawing me.”

Raya laughed harshly, “Didn’t look that way.”

“I WAS,” he stated, “Seriously. What is WRONG with her?”

“I’ve no idea, as she seems to like you quite a bit. I should probably have her committed. What do you think?”

“Liberty likes me and you don’t have her committed,” Dom retorted.

“Yes, LIBERTY,” Raya stressed the name. “Is that your girlfriend? Because, last time I checked blokes with girlfriends didn’t let other girls maim them.”

Dom sighed and rolled his eyes, “Raya, it’s not what you think. We didn’t DO anything. She was just there and I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“Short of pushing her off,” Raya replied blandly.

“Exactly,” Dom said, sounding relieved.

“Dominic,” Raya started, becoming very severe, “If you do anything to hurt Liberty, I think I shall have Orlando use his bow and arrows. He brings them home with him, you know.”

Dom cringed and then stood up straight, “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”

Raya looked doubtful, but opened the door and pushed him out, hoping he was telling the truth.

When Raya herself went out into the depths of the living room, she saw a very ‘decked-out’ Liberty and an excited Billy standing in the doorway.

“Helllllloooooooooo there, Raya,” Billy greeted Raya with a nice over exaggerated bow and Liberty, out of fun, did a curtsy in her low neckline black tank top and flowery, flowing skirt. Dom laughed and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend’s waist, kissing her cheek; Liberty hugged him, seemingly very happy to have his attention.

Billy and Raya both noticed Anaka fuming from the couch as she threw an unbuttoned blouse over her bra; she’d already added a pair of black pants, probably when Orlando had given her the stern talking-to. If Liberty was bothered by Anaka’s attire, she didn’t show it.

Orlando decided it was time for proper introductions, “Billy, this is Raya’s good friend, Anaka. I believe you know Liberty.” Anaka nodded sourly and waited while Billy kissed her hand. He didn’t seem out of place doing this, like others might.

“You look smashing,” Dom said into Liberty’s hair, which was flying free and looked especially immaculate in comparison with how she normally kept it. Because of the wonderful New Zealand sun, and sitting on Billy’s deck sleeping the day before, she had a nice glowing tan and lovely blondish highlights in her auburn brown hair. It was obvious Dom wasn’t completely repulsed by this; Raya smiled in secret, happy she wouldn’t have to break out the wax and/or give Dom a good beating.

The next day, Liberty found herself alone in the apartment; the alarm clock beside her bed read ten am. Her mind immediately went to Dom for he was supposed to be arriving at ten on the dot. Upon careful inspection of the outer rooms of the apartment, she found a note from Billy on the kitchen table stating that he’d gone to see Dom and they would be coming back together after grabbing some breakfast for the three of them. She showered and dressed and etcetera and was reading one of Billy’s movie magazines when the two boys flew threw the door. She threw it on the coffee table where it landed softly on top of a hunting magazine.

“Hey!” Dom called, setting a paper bag on the table and swooping to give Liberty a quick kiss on the forehead. She had stopped wondering, for a time, why their kisses weren’t as passionate as they had been in Los Angeles; but now that she was getting kisses on the forehead, a less romantic place than the cheek it seemed, she was wondering again. She thought maybe it was just too soon in their relationship to be making out all over the place, but she couldn’t help but want to.

Billy watched her looking in Dom’s direction seeming a bit distraught and upset as he set some coffee on the table; he beckoned her over with a quick wave of his hand.

“So,” Liberty said, sitting between the two of them at the circular wooden table. “How’s Anaka?” She was trying very hard to sound non-bitchy and less than bitter, but Billy could hear it in undertones.

Dom, on the other hand, was clueless, “She’s fine. All settled in now, thankfully.”

“What do you mean, ‘thankfully’?” Liberty questioned, “Did she annoy you?”

“No, not completely,” Dom answered, biting into a donut. Billy was carefully watching them, sipping on his coffee. He handed a coffee to Liberty, who quietly thanked him. “She’s just a bit clingy.”

“Grabby was the word Raya used, but whatever,” Liberty pulled the lid off her coffee and sipped at it.

“She is that, yes,” Dom affirmed, nodding and laughing.

“How much does she charge per hour?” Billy questioned, looking curiously perplexed.

Dom nearly spit out some of his donut, but recovered quickly, glancing at Liberty who was laughing behind her hand. “Is she a hooker?” Dom asked, sounded astonished, surprised, and amused.

“I don’t know,” Billy replied offhandedly, shrugging. He looked at Liberty, “Is she?”

Liberty was extremely amused when she answered, “I have no idea.” She put her coffee down and looked seriously at Billy, “You know, I’ve never seen a hooker so grabby.”

“Mmmmm,” Billy nodded, “Nor have I. Dom?”

Billy and Liberty both turned to look at Dom, who was smiling largely, “All right you two, I get the point.”

“What’s the point?” Billy asked.

Dom sighed and tipped his head back with his eyes closed. When he looked back up, both Liberty and Billy were red with silent laughter. Dom began laughing with them, “I do believe she was quite grabby. At first I thought she was trying to find my wallet. I was sadly mistaken.”

“It happens to the best of us,” Billy chortled.

“It won’t happen again,” Dom said seriously to Liberty.

She nodded, “Oh, I know.”

“So, we’re cool?” He asked in an American accent.

“That we are,” she answered, doing her best impression of Dom.