The shopping trip was done by mid-afternoon which left Liberty plenty of time to get ready for her date with Dom. Liv and Raya insisted upon helping her and enlisted the help of Christine and many of her beauty products.

This entire thing resulted in Sean shaking his head as there were screams of horror from Liberty and many thumps (the origin of those, Sean couldn’t decipher) until finally he called in the troops. To Sean’s horror, Viggo had departed for the gym several hours ago, about five minutes of screaming was all he could take.

“Dominic Monaghan,” Sean stated the second Dom picked up his cell phone. “Where are you?”

“At my hotel,” Dom replied, “Why? What have I done now? Or rather, what has Billy done?”

“I have not done anything,” Billy shouted in the background. “That I know of.”

Dom laughed, “We’re watching a movie with Lij. What are you up to?”

“I’m just sitting here in my living room listening to Liberty screeching and numerous things falling to the ground above my head.”

“What has that got to do with me?” Dom asked, intrigued. “I’m obviously not causing her to scream since I’m here and she’s there.”

Sean looked at the phone, outraged, “Well, you started it by asking Liberty out.”

“I didn’t realize it would be such a production and inconvenience to you, Sean.” Dom replied, sounding very amused and yet very innocent.

“What is he saying?” Came Elijah’s voice somewhere behind Dom. Dom cupped the receiver and relayed the information to the younger boy. “Hmmm,” he said after Dom had finished, “Perhaps I should run over there and help them.”

“I don’t think so, Wood,” Sean yelled so loud that Elijah heard, laughed, and went back to the movie.

“Sean,” Dom was saying, “Do you want me to call her and cancel?”

“No,” Sean stated, sounding surprised, “I just wanted someone to come over and hang out so I wouldn’t have to listen by myself. Where’s Orlando?”

“We’re not good enough for you?” Dom asked; Sean could practically see his lower lip sticking out in a Dom-pout.

“Of course you are,” Sean replied in a Sam voice, “But you’re busy. I don’t think he is, since Raya’s here.”

“Raya’s there?” Dom asked, sounding quite surprised, “What’s she doing there?”

In all seriousness, Sean replied, “By the sounds of it, giving Liberty a bikini wax.”

Dom made a face, “Ouch. Too much information.”

“Sorry,” he said quickly, “Maybe Elijah should come over. He has a stronger stomach for womanly things.”

“What, since he is one?” Dom asked.

“No, because he has a sister,” Sean laughed.

Dom knitted his eyebrows together in thought, “I don’t think I’ll allow Elijah to help Raya with Liberty’s bikini wax.”

Elijah laughed loudly and Billy, by the sounds of it on Sean’s end, had fallen out of his seat.

“Bill, you all right?” Dom was saying, laughing quite a bit, “Billy just fell off the bed. Apparently had a nice mental image.”

“It was wonderful,” Billy said, sounding reminiscent.

“Anyway,” Sean said, “You can’t come over until you’re ready to pick her up.”

“That’s right,” Dom agreed, “I’ll send Elijah and Billy.”

Billy stood up in a superhero pose and sang some sort of little superhero tune. He shouted, “Billy to the rescue!” and then flew from the room at top speed, Elijah following. Dom watched them go, laughing crazily.

*

“I’m just curious,” Liberty said, while Raya tied up the back of a corset she was forcing on her.

“Curious as to why I’ve got you in a corset? Well, it holds things in and…pushes other things up.”

Liberty laughed, “No, no. I mean I was curious how you’re always so immaculately dressed and your hair is never out of place.” She inhaled deeply, “OW.”

“It’s supposed to be tight,” Christine said from the bed, where she sat shifting through clothes with Liv. They had been trying to get Liberty to put the corset on for about a half hour. She had refused at first to wear such a Madonna-like thing (it was black lace)…but finally after much screaming and falling off the bed to try and get away from Raya, she’d consented to at least try it.

“I know it’s supposed to be tight, but I think I should be allowed to breathe.” Liberty joked.

“We must make sacrifices for fashion,” Raya said reasonably, “And I am always so immaculate, thank you by the way for the compliment, because I put a lot of time into my appearance each morning. And hair spray works wonders…I buy mine from France. It’s very expensive but is worth it. Doesn’t leave my hair sticky and doesn’t make it smell awful.”

“Are your parents extremely rich?” Liberty asked, grinning, but then cringing as Raya tightened the ties in the back. “Remember, breathing is a necessity.”

“I know breathing is a necessity,” Raya admonished, “And, yes, my parents are wealthy. We are quite comfortable.”

“I knew I had reason to be jealous of you,” Liberty mused.

Raya looked thoroughly amused, “The fact that I’m dating Orlando wasn’t enough?”

“Nope,” Liberty answered truthfully. “We should have gotten me a leather jacket.” She surveyed Raya’s, which was slung casually on the bedpost.

“You can borrow mine,” Raya offered, finishing the ties and stepping back to survey her handiwork. They hadn’t worked on Liberty’s hair yet, they were still only in the clothes section, makeup would come last.

“Really?” Liberty asked, in awe. “That’s so cool of you.”

Raya waved a hand around, “I always help the less fortunate.”

“I don’t think that’s the best thing to wear on a first date,” Liv said, looked critically at the corset.

“Me either,” Liberty agreed, “I’m not a hooker. I think Dom might get the wrong impression.”

“We’re going to be covering it up,” Raya answered.

“With what?” Liberty asked, “And how am I supposed to sit down?”

“Alright fine,” Raya said, clearly annoyed, “Take it off. Put some jeans on and an impossibly disgusting t-shirt. But, if you ever end up at an awards show or premiere with Dom, you have to wear this under a sleeveless dress, got it?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Liberty said, dashing to her bathroom to tear off the constricting corset. They could hear her swearing a lot as she did so. “DAMN THING!” and then many bleeped phrases that could rival Ozzy Osborne.

“Where did she learn to swear like that?” Liv asked, sounding impressed, “I’ve never heard her swear before.”

“She’s been hanging around the boys too much,” Christine answered seriously.

Raya laughed, “I’ll put money on the fact that Dom taught her quite a few curses.”

There was a huge bang and then some more swears. It seemed she had fallen into the bathtub.

*

“Oh thank god,” Sean said, opening the door to a smiling Billy and Elijah. “Please, please, come in and save me. I think Liberty just died up there.”

“How do you mean?” Billy wondered, looking up the stairs as he entered the foyer.

“There were a lot of swears, I’m assuming Lij taught her some, and then a big bang and some more swears.”

Elijah looked proud, “I taught her some…but she was pretty well versed.”

Sean raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know what they’re doing to her.” He looked really frightened.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Billy said, “She’s tough. She can hold her own against the fashion queens.”

“I don’t know,” Elijah looked doubtful, “Raya probably plucked her eyebrows raw and then waxed her legs and laughed cruelly when big red welts showed up.” He cringed, “I feel sorry for her. She’ll end up having her first date with Dom in the hospital.”

“Dom wouldn’t care,” Sean replied, laughing slightly.

“Too true,” Elijah agreed, “He’s got it bad.”

Billy shook his head seriously, “No, I think Sean meant because Dom’s so desperate.”

Sean laughed sarcastically, “Does Dom really have it bad?”

Elijah shrugged, “I don’t really know. He hasn’t dated since he broke up with Cassie. So it’s hard to tell.”

“That was a year ago,” Billy pointed out, “I do actually think he’s finally over her.”

“Oh yeah,” Sean replied in certainty, “I know he’s over her. I just don’t really know how he feels about Lib.”

“I think that’s obvious, if you’ve seen the way he looks at her,” Elijah replied, plopping down on the couch. Billy slid down beside him and Sean sat on the other.

“Really?” Sean asked him, then took on a professional voice, “Does that bother you?”

“Why would it?” Elijah responded, “We’re not dating. Never were. Weren’t going to.”

“You did kiss her, mate,” Billy pointed out, sounding quite serious. “And it’s odd you’re not speaking in complete sentences. That’s unlike you. Usually you’re so talkative---”

Sean cut in, “She kissed him once too. I’m still not clear on why that happened. She doesn’t go around kissing every single guy ‘cause then Billy would have had some action, too.”

“Damn straight,” Billy replied, laughing, “I’m so gypped.”

Elijah gave him a look, “I don’t know why she kissed me. It was one of those caught in the moment things. I kind of see her as a sister. She and I are so alike, we wouldn’t have been a good couple. I think we’re best as friends.”

“I agree,” Billy stated honestly, “You like girls who are your opposite. Almost spawn of Satan opposite. If you were god, which you aren’t.”

“The spawn of Satan is the opposite of God?” Sean asked, looking mildly amused and very curious.

Billy stared at Sean, his eyes unblinking, his lips pursed and his face serious, “You just ruined my joke, Sean.”

Sean and Elijah broke into laughter.

*

“You do need to go out with a bang,” Raya said, surveying her handiwork. Liberty’s hair, which had been Raya’s primary job, was curling casually around her face in soft tendrils. Her makeup, Liv’s department, was soft pastels- and a glittery purple eye shadow which somehow brought out the brown in Liberty’s eyes. Her outfit: borrowed shoes from Christine and a shimmering purple summer dress, which was both casual and elegant. She wore a sandblasted denim jacket to complete the ensemble. Everyone had agreed that the leather jacket would be overkill.

“Since this will probably be your first and only date,” Raya continued, “You have to make an impression.”

“How can I make an impression now? I’ve known him for about two weeks. Wouldn’t my impression have been made before now?” Liberty asked, biting her bottom lip until Liv smacked her hand out of the way. (“You’ll have to reapply the gloss again!”; “That’s a double negative.”; “No, it’s not. Because we’ve had to reapply once before and therefore you’d be reapplying AGAIN.”)

Raya coughed to interrupt their debate, “You can always make impressions, Liberty.”

“Well maybe YOU can,” Liberty replied, “But I’ve already made mine.”

“Just because you’ve made one, doesn’t mean you can’t make another,” Christine replied, “And please let’s stop, because I’m confused.”

Liberty looked at herself in the mirror, moving around a little to watch the dress fly naturally around her knees, where it dropped to. She began biting her lip again.

“Liberty,” Liv said sternly, “Stop it. It’s just Dom.”

Raya raised an eyebrow and watched Liberty critically, “It’s not Just Dom to her,” she said, “Not with the way she’s carrying on. What are you so worried about, Lib?”

Liberty dismissed the fact that slightly standoffish Raya had just used her nickname, “I honestly don’t know.”

“Well,” Raya replied quickly, brushing some invisible lint from the jacket, “You look lovely. Nearly as lovely as I looked on my first date with Orlando.” She smiled, “I’m kidding. You honestly look brilliant. So stop biting your bottom lip or I’ll let Liv pluck your eyebrows…trust me, she’s not as gentle as I am.”

Liberty smiled a little, “I can’t even thank you three enough. I think I would have ended up with jeans, a t-shirt and sandals if it weren’t for you.”

“Actually,” Liv said, “That having been said, I don’t think Dom really cares what you wear. Where are you going anyway?”

“He mentioned the movies,” Liberty replied vaguely, raising a critical eyebrow at her mirror image.

“Dom doesn’t like movies on the first date. Says you can’t TALK. He likes to talk.” Liv replied, making a ‘hmmm’ sound.

“I think she knows he likes to talk, as she has known him for more than five minutes. Everyone knows he likes to talk.” Raya laughed, “Everything will be perfect and they’ll be madly in love by the end of the evening.”

“That doesn’t happen,” Liberty replied honestly.

Raya looked all-knowing, “Doesn’t it?”

The shrill sound of the doorbell broke Raya’s omniscient attitude, and the mood was most definitely shifted when Liberty cried out, “Jesus Christ!”

*

“Oh,” Sean mumbled, moodily, “It’s just you.” Elijah and Billy, who were jumping up and down excitedly behind him, looked crestfallen as Sean moved aside and looked back at them, “It’s just Viggo.”

Viggo stepped through the threshold, “Ah, what a lovely welcome! The most pleasant one I’ve ever gotten. Aside from that parade in Sicily.”

“You’ve gotten a parade in Sicily?” Billy asked, “No fair.”

“He’s lying,” Sean said, “Aren’t you?”

Viggo smiled, “Who were you expecting? The dashing Dom?”

“Dashing, I’m not so sure,” Elijah replied, “But, Dom, yes.”

“Well, when the bell rings again, don’t get excited. Orlando just called me and said he was on his way over here to quote, ‘claim his woman before anyone else could.’ What a poncy elf.”

“Yeah, really,” Billy agreed, trying not to smile, “Who would be able to steal her away from him, with those good looks? Honestly, I don‘t think any of us are hotter than he is.”

“I am,” Elijah replied indignantly.

“No doubt, Lij,” Billy said, “But Raya hates you.”

“She doesn’t HATE me,” Elijah argued, “She dislikes my fame.”

Billy, Viggo and Sean all exchanged glances and rolled their eyes.

“Wait,” Billy said, and the others could nearly see the light bulb above his head, “Dom’s as hot as Orlando.”

“Oh, in his dreams,” Orlando stated briskly, striding into the room.

“Did anyone hear a doorbell?” Billy asked no one in particular.

“Why are we all standing around here like fathers waiting for their daughters’ first date?” Orlando pondered, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. He was obviously ignoring Billy’s jab at him.

Everyone shrugged, but a yell down the stairs stopped anyone from replying, “SEAN!” Christine hissed, “Is Dom here!?”

“No,” Sean stated, strolling over to the bottom of the stairs. “The bell was just Vig…and Orlando.”

“Where’s my woman?” Orlando hollered, going to stand behind Sean.

Raya appeared at the top of the stairs, her hands on her hips, “I detest being called your ‘woman’, Bloom.”

“What about my bitch?” Orlando asked, grinning cheekily.

“Orlando,” Raya replied sternly, tapping her foot against the floor.

“Oh come along, love, it’s just a bit of fun.” He laughed, “Get your jacket, we can leave now if you’re done.”

Raya chuckled, “Oh right. I will not leave until I see the finished product.”

Orlando‘s eyebrows knitted in confusion, “Haven’t you seen it--her, already?”

“Yes,” Raya admitted, “But I haven’t seem Dom’s reaction to her yet.”

Orlando sighed and went to sit with Billy, Viggo and Elijah in the living room. Billy muttered something about Orlando not being able to control his woman; a statement that got him a nice pillow in the face which blew apart on contact and littered everyone with goose feathers.

Elijah was plucking feathers from his hair for weeks, and Viggo was cursing about it longer than that; Billy just laughed, he didn’t seem to care too much.

“Oh don’t worry Vig,” Orlando replied, taking a feather from the older man’s hair, “It didn’t ruin your hair-do. I mean, there’s no way that it can. Of course, if the hair weren’t so greasy, the feathers wouldn’t stick so well.”

Before Viggo could tackle Orlando to the ground and pull his sword out, the doorbell rang and everything lapsed into eerie silence.

“Someone should get it,” Billy whispered.

“You think so?” Elijah whispered back, “Maybe he’ll go away if we don’t answer it.”

“This door is not soundproof!” Dom hollered, and those who were in the hallway could see his face pressed against the glass, “I can hear you!”

Sean laughed and went to open the door and there was mad scuffling going on upstairs. Apparently, Raya and Christine had alerted Liv and Liberty of Dom’s arrival.

Dom entered the house and stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting. He knew what his job was, it was as if he’d rehearsed it; he probably had, actually. Orlando, Viggo, Elijah, Billy and Sean all stood in the doorway between living room and foyer, watching with apt attention. They all looked like little kids peering at presents on Christmas morning while their parents slept.

Raya, Liv and Christine descended the stairs; Raya was smiling very happily at Dom which sort of scared him a little.

“Er---is Lib up there?” He asked reluctantly.

“Yes,” Raya smiled, “Are you prepared for what you’re about to see?”

Dom tugged at the collar of his plain navy blue t-shirt which had some faded lettering on it. He wore lose worn looking blue jeans and cool looking brown boots. Tossed over his arm was a very suave looking jacket. His hair was messy in a good way and his gray-blue eyes were bright, but hesitant. “Um…yes I believe I am, Raya.”

Raya nodded, smiling, and clapped her hands twice. It was as if she was unveiling an immaculate painting by a new artist. The boys in the doorway were wide-eyed and looked excited in anticipation; Liv and Christine looked very proud and excited as well; Raya had an eerie calm about her and a permanent smile that irked Dom because he’d never seen her smile at him before unless it was filled with disdain.

Dom took his eyes from Raya when he heard the swishing of clothing and the soft footsteps as Liberty came down the stairs. By the time he looked, Liberty was practically in front of him and he felt his knees go slightly weak.

“Ermmmmm----” he trailed off inarticulately.

“Hi,” Liberty smiled sweetly and then glanced around, feeling self conscious.

“Wanna get outta here?” Dom asked, smiling.

“Yes, if Sean’s done giving you the third degree.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Sean replied from the doorway.

“You look brilliant, by the way,” Dom said to her as they started walking towards the front door. Liberty smiled at him. “Simply smashing.”

“Why thank you,” Liberty responded, blushing a little. She felt very unlike herself at the moment, but was happy about that. The two of them waved to their audience on the way out.

“Well,” Raya said, leaning against the wall and sighing, “I think that was quite successful.”

“Yes,” Orlando agreed, “You’ll have them married in a week, tops.” She swatted him on the arm.

*

“So you’re leaving in two days,” Dom stated, as they walked up the driveway to the house. They had been out for several hours, talking at a local café, walking along a row of shops on Main St, driving carelessly around; just having fun.

“You are too,” Liberty replied. “I’m headed back to mundane Michigan and you’re headed to amazing New Zealand. I’ve always wanted to go there, actually. I don’t know why.”

“I do,” Dom said seriously, “It’s gorgeous there.”

“Mmmm,” Liberty responded, “I’ve seen pictures. My best friend, Alexia, used to live there.”

“No kidding,” Dom said, “I can’t imagine living there all the time, it’d be completely brilliant.”

“She loved it. Of course, she was about twelve at the time, but she remembers it fondly.”

“As do I,” Dom grinned. “Though I’m older than twelve.”

They had reached the door by now, the porch light shown down on them, illuminating them eerily. “So,” she said, sighing, “I guess I won’t see you again. We’ll both be packing and stuff.”

“Mmmmm,” he replied, smiling a little. He looked up at the house, “Will Sean come rushing out at midnight to make sure I don’t try anything?”

Liberty laughed, “I doubt it, since it’s nearly 3am.”

Dom looked at his watch in shock, “Is it, really. Wow. Time flies.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, “Cue me using hackneyed expression, ‘when you’re having fun.”

Dom smiled fondly at her and ran his hand down her arm. “I’ll miss you, you know, when you’re gone. Or when I’m gone. When we’re not together…I mean, when we’re separated…no, wait, when we’re in different countries.”

Liberty looked quite confused, but figured it out in the end and laughed. She nodded, “I’ll miss you too.”

He took a step closer to her, “So this is sort of like, ‘I’ll see you in a year?’ or is it a goodbye? I, for one, don‘t want it to be a goodbye.”

“It’s a see you later,” Liberty responded, smiling sadly.

“Right,” he said, leaning closer still. “I’ll see you later.” He pressed his lips to hers in a simple, gentle kiss that was quite unlike the other kisses they had shared. It didn’t hold the passion, the lust of the fire of the others but it was a kiss that brought them closer together; a kiss that said all they needed to say in parting.

He slid his arms around her waist and he felt her arms go around his neck as her hands roamed his messy hair. As their bodies got closer together, the kiss deepened into something that could only be described as the opposite of chaste.

Liberty was an innocent type of girl, and the kisses she’d shared with Elijah had been childlike and pure, but when she and Dom connected, innocence flew out the window.

She got onto her tip-toes in order to get at a better angle for their lips and he pulled her as close to him as humanly possible. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed heavily and could feel the heat radiating off of him.

Dom was the one to pull away, but only because he needed oxygen. Liberty looked at him with big eyes, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

“Maybe it’s a sooner rather than later thing?” Dom asked her, smiling mischievously.

Liberty laughed softly, “I hope so.”

The End.

[Song used: “Back To You” by John Mayer; album: “Room For Squares”]

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