“Where’s Billy?” Liberty asked, looking around the table at the people gathered for dinner. They had just been seated and were about to enjoy a rather large (and expensive) dinner, when she realized they were one short.

Raya looked up from the coloring book she’d been sharing with Priya, “He had a third date with my sister, Elizabeth, tonight.”

“I haven’t seen her since the wedding,” Liberty replied thoughtfully. “Is she keeping hidden?”

“Not from Billy, by the sounds of it,” Dom said to her behind his menu. She shot him a look and he looked back at his menu, looking thoroughly interested in what was to offer, “Mmmm, the wild boar looks good.”

“There is no wild boar,” Orlando said from across the table; he was seated between Priya and Elijah in order to ‘keep the peace.’ Will was at home with a very capable babysitter: Orlando’s sister, Samantha, who had flown in with Elizabeth in order to help out. “There’s lobster.”

“They’re very sturdy,” Priya commented, swishing some pink across her picture of the ocean.

Elijah looked across Orlando at her, gawking, “Where’d you get that from?”

“Lilo and Stitch,” Liberty and Dom answered simultaneously.

He looked blankly at them, “What?”

Liberty set her menu down to look at him properly, “The Disney movie. She watched it with us last night while Orlando was running lines and Raya was bathing Will.”

“Oh, so THAT’S where you were when I called,” he replied, nodding. “Coldplay was on BBC doing an interview so I called, but all I got was the answer phone.”

“You’re so British,” Liberty laughed. “And yet, you’re from Iowa. What’s up with that?”

“You’re from Michigan and you act British from time to time.” He set his menu down. “I’m having steak.”

“Like a true American,” Raya mused, taking the crayon her daughter was handing her.

Dom turned to Elijah, who was seated beside him at the circular table, “Elijah. I would like you to be my best man.” Everyone stopped whatever he or she was doing to look at the two of them. Sean, who had been on the phone with Christine, bid her goodbye and put the phone down.

“What about your brother?”

“He’ll understand. I called him the other night and made him usher. He’d rather that, or so he says.”

“What about Billy?”

“Do you not WANT the job?” Dom pretended to look put-out. “I thought you’d be best at it. Orlando is in such a tizzy whenever something important is going on, like a birth, that I reckoned he’d just faint. And Billy, while being my best friend in the entire world, doesn’t want to be best man. He says that if someone is best man four times in a row they have to be the next married.” Dom rolled his eyes and sighed. “You don’t have to be. I can get Liberty’s brother…or Sean.” He looked at Sean, who shrugged.

Elijah, in a surprising gesture, reached over and gave Dom a huge hug; when he pulled back, he looked a little teary eyed. “I’d love to be your best man.”

“There, that’s settled. Let’s order some sturdy lobsters.”

*

Liberty cradled the phone between her chin and shoulder as she spoke, “ALEXXXXXXIA”

“Sorry. I spaced out. Um, I think that’s awesome, Libs, except…”

“Except what?” Liberty asked, tapping her pencil against her knee and looking down at the list of things she had to do that day. The boys were all off at the set so she was on her own and she figured the best thing to do was to make the phone calls she needed to make. Which included asking Alexia to be Maid of Honor and to contact her brother to see if he’d be available to do the music at the reception.

Alexia took a deep breath, “I thought Raya would be your maid of honor.”

Sincerely curious, Liberty replied, “Why?”

“Because, well, you spend more time with her now than you do with me.”

“But Raya doesn’t have time to help me with the plans and stuff. Billy and Elijah are, but they can’t be Maid of Honors. They’re guys. And you’re my best friend, Lex. I’ve known you the longest. It just seems right. Plus, Raya’s making my dress and she says that’s the only wedding thing she really wants to do, besides show up. Though she is going to be one of my bridesmaids. Anyway. What’s more perfect than to have my oldest and dearest friend my maid of honor?”

Liberty could practically feel the smile radiating off her friend at these words; Alexia squealed in delight, “I’d love to, Libs, honestly. When do we start?”

“Do you want to come stay with us in London? Not right away, of course, but in a couple months? After the premieres and stuff, when we’re all settled down. You can come visit and we can do wedding things.”

“That sounds like fun.” She paused and added, “Will Elijah be there?”

“Elijah?” Liberty echoed, “Em, yeah. Yeah, he’ll be here then. He’s promised to be my wedding ‘helper’ as he calls it.”

“Cool.”

A light bulb went off somewhere over Liberty‘s head, “Alexia, do you LIKE him?”

“No!”

“Liar,” Liberty grinned. “You DO!” She sat up, pushing the pad of paper onto the floor as she did so. “He was really upset you thought he was gay. I am pretty sure he likes you, too.”

Alexia groaned, “Oh, God.”

“This is so fantastic,” Liberty gushed. “Two of my best friends. Now I know why Raya loves matchmaking so much!”

*

Dom came back to the hotel room looking as if he hadn’t slept in about four years and hadn’t showered in three. He held a hand up to her when she opened her mouth to speak. “Don’t even ask,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “We did the battle scene. I’m so dead, Libs. You should see the bruise I’ve got on my right thigh.” He cringed, remembering. “I gotta take a shower and then I’m going to sleep for fifty years.”

“Awww,” she walked towards him and gingerly laid a hand on his chest. “Do you want some help?”

“With what, showering? No, no. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m too tired for any funny business.”

Liberty was so shocked that she didn’t speak for several seconds, until he was in the bathroom. “How’s Elijah?” She yelled to him; she heard pants drop to the floor when she stood in front of the partially closed bathroom door.

“He’s fine, why?”

“I need to speak with him. I’ll just pop to his room while you shower.”

“Okay,” Dom replied wearily. “I hope you’re not going there to get what I can’t give you right now…”

“Well, one good thing is that you’re not too tired to JOKE.” She shook her head and then left the room; she trotted down the hall and knocked on Elijah’s door. He answered after several seconds, wearing just boxer shorts.

“Hey, Libs,” he greeted her quietly, pulling the door open more and allowing her to enter. “I was just about to go to bed. What’s up?”

“Well, I need to talk to you about something serious.”

He flopped onto his bed and pulled the covers to his chin, sighing. His eyelids were heavy, his hair a dreadful mess and his sighs were frequent. “Oh?” He covered a yawn as he nestled into his pillows.

“It can wait until tomorrow, if you want to sleep.”

“No,” he waved a hand at her and she sat on the chair opposite him. “I’m all right. I always make time for you, anyway. Even when I’m dying. Dom’s worse, though. Poor guy.”

“He’ll be okay, he’s in the shower.” She paused, “I talked to Alexia today. She’s really into you.”

“She thought I was gay,” Elijah remarked blankly, closing his eyes.

“Yeah, but she’s glad you’re not.”

“That’s nice.”

“She’s looking forward to seeing you when she visits us in London. She’s going to help me with the wedding; she’s the maid of honor.”

“Lovely.”

“Yeah, so I just thought you’d like to know that she likes you.”

“Likes or fancies? Normally I’d be too tired to care, but whatever.”

“Fancies, I’d say. Anyway. Good night!”

He sat up in bed, giving her a look that resembled Priya’s glare and she sat back down on her chair. “Wait, what is the point of this conversation? My head is really tired.” To showcase this, he put a palm to his forehead and fell back against the pillows.

“Well, erm, I thought you two could go out when she gets to London.”

“Which is when?”

“Couple months? I’m not sure.”

“I don’t know my schedule, Liberty. I’ll have to check my date book.”

Liberty rolled her eyes, “Oh, come on. Don’t give me this attitude. I know you too well, Elijah. I know what’s going on in that head of yours.”

Elijah did all he could to mask his grin when he replied, “Oh? Do you?”

“Yes, and you’re really very pleased with this new information. In fact, it has turned a very tiring day into one of the best of your life.” She nodded matter-of-factly.

“You’re half right. I am pleased. If it’s true,” he added as an afterthought.

She sighed, “Think about it then and get back to you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to my boyfriend to make sure he hasn’t fallen in the shower and died.”

“Fiance,” Elijah corrected, closing his eyes again.

Liberty stopped at the door, “Oh. Right. Hmmm. Okay. Good night. Sleep well.”

“You too,” he muttered, sounding amazingly tired. With her hand on the door handle, he ventured, “Hey, Libs?”

She turned around and looked at his recumbent form, “Yessssssssssssssss?”

“I love you, you know.”

Cocking her head to the side with a smile quirking her lips, she approached the bed, “I love you, too.” With one swift motion she’d engulfed him in a hug.

“This is very sappy,” he mused after a moment.

She straightened up, “You only love me because you’ve finally got a date.”

“That’s not true,” he laughed. “And you know it.”

Shrugging, she turned back to the door, and whispered, “I want you to be happy.”

“I know you do. And I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” she replied quietly. “Happier than ever.”

“I can tell.”

“Elijah…”

“Hmmm?”

“I really do love you. You’re like a brother to me.”

“Same here, Libbets. Only more like a sister. Perhaps a second sister as I’ve already got the one and she’d brand me with her cigarette if she thought I was trying to replace her.”

“Ah, Hannah. Lovely girl. I gotta give her a call.”

Elijah nodded, closing his eyes yet again and resting against his propped up pillows, “You do that. I’m going to pass out for about twelve hours. Wake me again in the morning when there’s coffee on.”

“I’ll bring you some when I go out for a run.”

“Since when do you run?”

“Since I have to fit into the corseted wedding dress Raya’s designing.” She gave him a little wink, a wave, and then disappeared; leaving him alone to fall deeply asleep feeling very happy with life in general.

*

“And how is Elijah?” Dom asked, coming out of the bathroom wearing just a towel and holding another, as he toweled off his hair; Liberty had just gotten back from her visit with Elijah.

She smiled at him from across the room, “He’s fine.”

Dom nodded, not needing any more information; he tossed his hair towel into the bathroom and dropped onto the bed. “I feel like I could sleep for eighteen years.”

“That’s a very long time,” Liberty mused, sitting down beside him. She kissed his shoulder and leaned her head against his smooth skin. “I’m really happy.”

He couldn’t hold back a chuckle, “That was rather random.”

“I was just talking about happiness with Elijah,” she replied, lifting her head up to look him in the eyes. “Do you know how ridiculously happy you make me, Dominic Monaghan?”

Dom’s grin was huge when he answered, “I have a good idea, as you make me that happy as well.” He put his arms around her and she leaned into him, sighing in contentment.

“I know it’s sappy, and I’ve almost reached my fluff quota for the day, but can we just stay like this forever?”

“No, I’ll get cold.” He plucked at his towel, where it was held loosely together at his waist.

“You can get clothes on,” Liberty replied, turning towards him. “Or you could take that off and we could get into bed.”

“You’re such a minx,” he laughed, kissing her hard on the lips. When he pulled away several minutes later, they were both breathing hard. “I like that idea the best.”

“I thought you were tired?” She asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Not too tired for some loving.”

*

The following day was dubbed “Everybody Hates Liberty” day because she was the only person awake enough to wake everyone else up; everyone else meaning Dom, Elijah and Billy, and none of them were too happy with her.

“Everybody loves Raymond,” Liberty complained, handing Elijah a cup of coffee and plopping down in the seat beside the television. He had just thrown several pillows at her while simultaneously yelling things that sounded like ‘garble tired garble asleep garble’ plus a bunch of obscenities. “Why must you all DETEST me?”

“You left me for last, I see,” he mumbled, tossing the coffee down his throat and not caring that it burned on its way down.

“Yeah, because I figured you’d be the worst, but no.” She huffed, “Billy called me a lot of colorful swear words and Dom swore he would withhold sex for a month.”

“That’s an empty threat,” he replied, downing the last of it and dropping the empty Styrofoam onto the floor beside the bed. “Also, too much information.”

“Sorry,” she muttered half heartedly.

Elijah sat up, groaning, “Did you bring them coffee as you did me?”

“Yes,” she replied, blowing a breath out and rolling her eyes. “Bastards.”

“We don’t detest you.”

“You have a funny way of showing it. I’m going. I’ll see you later. Tell Dominic that I am staying at the Bloom cottage tonight.”

Halfway through his shower, he realized what she’d said and quickly finished getting the shampoo out of his hair before calling in the troops.

*

“It’s very odd to see you standing outside my door at 5 o’clock in the morning with luggage,” Raya said, moving out of the way and grasping her robe closer around her as she felt the chill of the morning enter through the open door.

Liberty hauled her bag inside and flopped down onto one of the kitchen chairs. “I have decided to call this day ‘Everybody Hates Liberty’ day because…well…because they do.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Raya yawned, brushing some hair out of her face as she pressed the on button of the coffee-machine. “Were you the wake-up call this morning?” The look Liberty gave her was not pleasant, but it told her what she needed to know. “Well, you should have been warned. After their really hard day yesterday, and figuring how sore they all are…they must have been bloody awful to you.”

She sighed in response and then shook her head, “How’s Will?”

“Sleeping. He’s well.”

“And Prie?”

“She’s fine, too.” Raya dropped gracefully onto a seat across from Liberty and said, “Have you left Dominic because of a little row?”

“I haven’t ‘left’ him, per se,” Liberty answered vaguely. “And it wasn’t just a ‘little row’.”

“I do wish you’d stop using the finger quotes. You sound so horribly sarcastic.”

Liberty glared at her, “He told me he’s withholding sex for a MONTH.” Raya began laughing so hysterically that Liberty was caught off guard and tumbled off her chair on top of her bag. Messaging her back, she sat back up and said, “WHY is that funny?”

“Dominic saying he is withholding sex is about as meaningless as any Pauly Shore movie.”

Crying off in the distance indicated that it was time for Will’s breakfast so Raya, still laughing, bustled out of the room to fetch him; several moments later Priya, in a night dress that proudly displayed her love of Legolas, padded into the kitchen. She climbed up the cabinets to retrieve a box of cereal, milk and a bowl and spoon and proceeded to make herself breakfast.

She sat across from Liberty and began digging in, “Would you like some breakfast, Auntie Libs?”

“No, thank you, Priya.”

“Have you rowed with Uncle Dominic?”

“While I appreciate your concern, I don’t think it’s best for me to reply to that.”

Priya still had not looked at Liberty; she was studying the back of the cereal box, most likely looking at the Nutritional Information. “So you have.”

“Priya, you have a most unnatural affinity for gossip.” Liberty chuckled fondly and sat back in her seat. “Uncle Dominic is being a b---bloke who is, erm, silly.”

“He’s being Uncle Dominic, then.” Priya nodded to herself and ate a spoonful of cereal. “Daddy says he’s a bit of an idiot sometimes.”

“Yes,” Liberty conceded dryly.

“He also calls him a tosser.”

“He is that, yes.”

She pointed her spoon at Liberty, who recoiled slightly, “You love him.”

“Sure.”

“So what’s the problem, then?”

“You’re far too smart for a two year old.” She ruffled her hair up a bit and smiled, “There is no problem. I just wanted to come and see you.”

“Oh,” Priya giggled happily and shoved some more food into her mouth. “Will you take me to the zoo?”

Liberty grinned, remembering herself when she was younger; she‘d always wanted to go to the zoo, every day without fail she‘d ask her mother. However, she‘d scarcely gotten to go, which made telling Priya no all that much harder. “It’s closed, it’s about fifty below zero.”

Priya scowled at her cereal bowl, “Bugger.”

Wanting to sidestep the glare, she said quickly, “I’ll take you to, er, the set if you’d like.”

“No, thanks.”

“What would you like to do, then? Besides the zoo.”

Priya smiled up at her, “We could go to the movies.”

“I suppose so,” Liberty replied, making a face. “I’ve never taken a two-year-old to the movies, though.”

“I’m good at movies. Daddy says it’s because of him, because he’s good at movies too. I listen real good and stuff.”

“He’s good in movies. Not so good AT them. He gets a little heated at times and excited at others. Once he squealed when he saw himself on screen for the first time. Dom still brings that up.”

The phone rang just then; Priya jumped off her chair and ran to it while yelling, “I’ll GEEEEEET IIIIIIIIITTTTTT!” to her mother, Liberty assumed. “HELLOOOOOOOO?” Liberty giggled at her greeting and ate a handful of cereal from the box while Priya talked. “Mummy’s feeding Willy.”

“Who is Willy?” Dom asked from the other end of the phone.

“My brother,” Priya replied dryly, making a face at the phone.

“Oh, right. Well, I didn’t know you called him that.”

“I started today.”

“Splendid, Priya. Is Auntie Libs there?”

“Yes. She’s going to take me to the movies. She said you’re a silly bloke, Uncle Dominic. Daddy calls you a tosser, though.” Liberty was watching Priya closely, trying not to laugh. “Why did you make Auntie Libs upset?”

“I didn’t mean to,” Dom replied, sounding aggravated. “Can I speak to her?”

Priya turned to Liberty, “Uncle Dominic wants to speak to you.”

She took the phone hesitantly and said, “Yes? This is Liberty Crane, and who is speaking?” Priya laughed a little and then finished her cereal quietly.

“I heard her tell you it was Uncle Dominic,” Dom replied hotly.

“She may have.”

“What’s the matter? Why are you being all Raya-ish on me?”

“I’m not,” she retorted. “Did you want something?”

Dom rolled his eyes, “Listen, I don’t have much time, but I didn’t MEAN to withhold sex. I was tired. You know how horribly awful I felt last night!”

“I know.”

“Then why are you PMSing?”

Liberty’s mouth dropped open, “Oh, don’t you start.” She stood up from the table and went into the living room; she could hear the distant sounds of Raya getting William bathed and dressed, she was singing a song to him that Liberty didn’t know.

Dom let out a long breath, silently counting to ten, “Is this our first real fight?”

“I suppose it is,” Liberty answered coldly.

Dom let out a whoop of happiness, “WOOOO! And it isn’t even over anything important!”

“You don’t think being mean to me is important?”

“Of course I do, but I didn’t MEAN to be mean to you. Remember that time I woke you up to make the plane and you kicked me in the face? I forgave you for that.”

“You deserved that,” she pointed out angrily. “You woke me up by tossing water on my face.”

“No, Billy tossed the water. I distinctly remember telling him NOT to, but he did anyway.”

“Whatever,” Liberty sighed and dropped onto the couch by the window; she could see snow starting to fall outside and her spirits didn’t rise any at the thought of it.

“This is pointless,” he said after a moment. “I won’t bother trying to get you to come back home.”

“To the hotel, you mean.”

“Either way. It’s home with me, and if you would like to stay with the Blooms, then you can. I suppose you’ll want to stop the invitations from going out?”

“We haven’t got invitations yet.”

He ignored her and continued on, “And we’ll have to return all the gifts we’ve gotten thus far, and the ring. You have to break the news to Elijah, I don’t want to deal with him blubbering and crying all over me.”

“Dom,” Liberty laughed. “We haven’t gotten any gifts yet.”

“See how silly all of this is, then?” He asked her, a humorous note in his voice.

“I agree it’s stilly, except I always thought that the woman withheld sex, not the man.”

“I don’t know why you’d care,” Raya said, coming into the room and handing Will to Liberty. “It’ll give you a bit of a break.”

Liberty giggled as she juggled Will and the phone; Will stared up at her with his big blue eyes wide. “I’ll see you tonight, Dom.”

“Of course you will,” he replied briskly. “As if you could stay mad at me for long. I mean, look at how bloody attractive I am!”

“I can’t, as I’m miles away.”

“That is too bad,” Dom considered thoughtfully. “Because if you saw me right now, all decked out in battle armor, you’d want to rip it all off.”

Liberty laughed and said sternly, “Goodbye, Dom,” before hanging up the phone.

Raya was watching her curiously from the kitchen doorway, “Priya’s told me you’re taking her to the zoo for her help in counseling you?”

“I hope she didn’t use those exact words.” Liberty stood up and began cooing at the baby as she made her way over to Raya. “If she did, then you’ve got a lot more trouble on your hands than I thought. She’s only two, and while she should be speaking…should she be speaking so properly?”

“She’s British!” Raya explained airily, bustling into the kitchen with Liberty and Will at her heels. “And a Bloom.”

Before Liberty could reply, she was frozen to the spot in the doorway, cradling Will to her chest. Raya was at the sink washing dishes, her back to the middle of the room; she obviously hadn’t seen what was going on. Liberty couldn’t help giggling hysterically at the scene that bestowed her eyes; Priya was sitting on top of the kitchen table, her cereal bowl on top of her head, leaking milk through her curly hair and all down her face. The cereal box was upturned in her lap, spilling colorful crispy bits of cereal all over her small lap.

“Well,” Liberty mused as Raya gently reprimanded her daughter and cleaned up the mess. “At least we know she’s human.”