Have a little faith in me

3. Return

Three months later, Dom’s doorbell rang. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and he didn’t expect anyone. He got up, walked to the door and opened it. He didn’t have the time to realize who was standing in front of him, when something jumped on him with a force that he almost fell.

“Hiii!” The person hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. Then it looked at him smiling.

It was Billy. Dom was so surprised that he wasn’t even able to say hello. The scot had changed so much since the last time he’d seen him. He looked healthy, happy and absolutely gorgeous.

“Um... Dom?” Billy asked.

Dom shook his head: “Sorry. Jesus, you look great! I didn’t know you were coming home today. I missed you so much.” He hugged him again and smiled.

“Me too. Um… you don’t mind if I stay at your place for some time? I’ve sublet my flat and I couldn’t just throw those people out, could I?” Billy asked with his sweetest smile.

“Of-of course, no problem.”, Dom smiled back and helped his friend carrying his bags inside. They put them in the guestroom, then sat down on the couch. Then Billy looked at Dom, smiling.

“So what have you been up to while I was gone?”

“Well...” Dom said shrugging. “Nothing special, you know. The usual. But what about you? I was really worried about you, you know? You could’ve called at least as I wasn’t able to reach you. Three months without a word… I thought you’d just abandoned me.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. But I’m here now, so you see that I’m fine. I just needed some distance, you know. I spent much time with my old friends and I really had a great time and I’m feeling so much better now. But I missed you. Honestly.” Billy said and smiled.

Dom blushed slightly and smiled: “I’m happy you’re better. I just couldn’t bear seeing you like that. I like you much better like this.”

“Yeah... me too.” Billy said grinning. He got up and got himself a glass of water in the kitchen. He came back and sat down again. “So... what’s new? How’s everybody?”

“They’re all great. Sean Astin was in Italy with his family, but I think they should be back by now. And Viggo’s shooting a new movie here in LA… And, well Orli and Sean are still so in love and that’s about it.”

“And you? Are you seeing someone?”, Billy asked, winking at his friend.

Dom shook his head. “No.”

“Oh, come on, there’s got to be someone. If you continue like that, you’re gonna end up all alone, darling. Old spinster.” Billy grinned.

“Shut up.” Dom took a pillow and threw it at Billy. “It’s not that long ago that I’ve broken up with Ash.”

“Yeah, right Dom. It’s about... what 2 years ago?”

“And?” Dom looked at him questioningly. He really didn’t see Billy’s problem. Was it so bad to be single for 2 years?

“And?! 2 years is almost an eternity. I mean... I’ve split up with Elijah three months ago and I’ve already met someone new. And you can’t compare Ash with Elijah, I really loved him, you and Ash... weren’t that close, right?”

Dom looked at Billy. In the past seconds, his face had lost all its colour. “W-what...?”

Billy frowned: “What what? Don’t tell me you’re still not over Ash. Are you alright? You’re a bit pale...”

“What... You’ve met...” Dom stuttered. He couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, I’ve met someone in Scotland. It might become serious. His name’s Alan and he’s really, really cute. Tall, beautiful, smart; just perfect.” Billy smiled.

Dom couldn’t speak. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t move. He was like paralysed. Billy had met someone. His name was Alan and he was perfect. It might become serious. It took some time before Dom really understood those words. They meant that Billy was in a relationship again. They meant that Dom had to wait again. They meant that he had waited too long to confess him that he was in love with him.

“Dom, are you alright? Maybe you should lay down for some minutes, you don’t look that well.” Billy said now and put him comfortably on the couch. “Here, drink something, that might help.”

Dom drank the whole glass and took a deep breath. After it, he felt a little better. He looked at Billy, who was bent over him, looking at him with concern.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Billy asked.

“Nothing... I just... I didn’t eat much today, it might be that.” Dom murmured.

“Okay. Are you sure, you’re okay?”

Dom nodded.

“Good.” Billy said. “Well, I think we have to celebrate my return, don’t you think? I try to call everybody and we’re gonna go out tonight, what do you think?”

Dom smiled slightly: “Okay, why not.”

Billy jumped up, grabbing the phone to call all their friends. Dom stayed on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He had to tell Billy anytime soon. He couldn’t wait until Billy broke up with Alan. He had to know if there was a chance that he and Billy would ever get together. He just had to wait for the right opportunity. Then he got up and started getting ready for the night.

~ * ~ * ~

At 11 pm, they drove to a new club called “Jester” that Orlando had absolutely wanted to go to. About 11:30 they had actually found it, which was 15 minutes later than they had been supposed to be there. They got into the disco and went looking for their friends and found them at a table in a dark corner. Orlando was on Sean’s lap and they were passionately kissing eachother. Viggo and Sean A. looked really relieved when the two hobbits finally appeared. They got up and hugged Billy, asking him how he was and were happy to see that their friend was better than the last time.

Viggo offered to get them something to drink and they agreed, sitting down. Billy looked at Sean and Orlando who still hadn’t noticed that they were present. Billy looked at Dom grinning.


“Hm?” Dom said.

Billy kept grinning and pinched Orlando’s ass, who squealed looking at Sean. Then his eyes met Billy’s big grin and he smiled: “Billyyy! Hey, how are you?”

“I’m great.” Billy smiled. “You seem to be fine too.”

Orlando gave his boyfriend a peck on the cheak: “How couldn’t I with this perfect boyfriend? So, how was Scotland? Are you over Lij?”

Billy nodded: “Yeah, I really don’t know how I could be so stupid to believe he would ever love me. And Scotland was great. Actually, I met someone back there.”

“Really? Who? But what about Dom-“ Orlando said when Sean suddenly kissed him passionately.

Dom looked at Orlando with a shocked look and blushed. Orlando really didn’t think sometimes. Now he had almost told Billy about Dom’s love for him and didn’t even realize that he wasn’t supposed to.

Billy looked slightly confused: “Huh? What about Dom?”


Orlando looked at Dom. He suddenly realized what he had almost done.

“Um… nothing, so tell me about this… boyfriend of yours.”

Billy smiled and started telling Orlando everything about Alan. Dom breathed out, relieved that Billy didn’t ask any further questions. He looked at Viggo who grinned.

“So, you haven’t told him yet?” he asked.

“Does it look like? And he’s got a boyfriend now anyway.” Dom said with a deceived expression.

“Then try to get over him.” Viggo proposed. “It can’t be that hard. Just find some other cute guy.”

“But I don’t want another boyfriend!” Dom protested.

“That’s right, Vig, I told him to find someone too, but he just doesn’t want to, do you understand that?” he suddenly heard Billy’s voice.

Viggo shook his head and looked like he was thinking about what could be the reason for Dom not wanting a boyfriend.

“I… wanna dance.” Dom said and got up, moving towards the dancefloor. Billy and Viggo looked at eachother, shaking their heads and grinning. Dom always tried to escape when a situation was becoming too tense.

“You’re coming?” Billy asked getting up to follow Dom.


* * * * * * * * *

A few weeks passed and Billy was still living in Dom’s appartment, because the people who were living in his own had some trouble finding a new place to stay. They had gotten used to living together and got along very well. Dom still hadn’t found the courage to tell Billy the truth, but he kept telling himself that he just hadn’t had the perfect opportunity.

On a cloudy Wednesday, the doorbell rang. Billy had gone out to get something from the supermarket, so Dom got to the door and opened it. He looked at a tall young man. He was very handsome with his dark brown long hair and his blue eyes.

“Um… hi?” Dom said. He didn’t know the guy and couldn’t imagine what he could possibly want from him.

“Hi.” The man had a sexy dark voice. “My name’s Alan. Is… Billy there?”

Oh. So that was him. That was the perfect boyfriend Billy had talked about. Dom had to admit, he was goddamn hot.

“Oh. Right, well he’s gone to the shop about half an hour ago, but he should be back any time. Do… you want to come inside and wait for him?” Dom asked. He didn’t want to let his ennemy enter his flat, but on the other hand he had to be nice or Alan would complain about him not being friendly.

“Yes, thank you. You must be Dominic.” Alan said and entered the flat.

“Yeah, oh sorry for not introducing myself. Dominic Monaghan.” He said holding his hand to the stranger who introduced himself as Alan Tucker. It was happening. Dom was being overnice. He didn’t want to talk to this man, but instead of just ignoring him, he was being too friendly.

“There’s the couch, you can wait there. Do you want something to drink? To eat? The bathroom’s around the corner.” He couldn’t believe how he was acting. He was far too friendly.

Alan just shook his head: “Thanks I’m fine.” He sat down on the couch and took one of the magazines lying on the table.

Dom nodded: “Well, then… I’m gonna use the bathroom if you excuse me.”

With those words he headed straight to the bathroom locking it behind him. ‘Jesus, Dom. Grow up, you’re acting like a child.’ He looked into the mirror. Within the last few minutes, he had completely lost hope. He wouldn’t stand a chance against that beautiful man, he knew it. He sighed and sat on the edge of the tub. He ran a hand through his hair and thought about Billy kissing that Alan. It hurt like someone had pierced his heart, so he quickly chased that thought out of his head. He got up, splashed some water in his face, dried it and got out of the bathroom. He came into the living room just at the moment when Billy was coming home. He opened the door and came in with some bags in his hand. When his eyes met Alan, he dropped them, running towards him: “Alan!”

They hugged eachother, placing kisses all over the other one’s face. Dom looked at his feet. It hurt like hell. He went to the door and closed it, taking the bags and carrying them into the kitchen, where he put the errands where they belonged.

When he got back in the living room, Billy was sitting on Alan’s lap. When his gaze met Dom, he smiled: “Hey, this is Alan. Isn’t he just perfect.”

Dom tried to smile and nodded: “Perfect. Absolutely.”

It hurt to see his love with someone else, but on the other hand, he was happy seeing Billy so happy.

“Which hotel are you staying in?” Dom asked, because he didn’t know what else to ask him.

Alan wanted to answer, but was interrupted by Billy: “Actually we were wondering if he could stay here as long as we’ve found something. Of course only if you don’t mind…”

Dom stared at them. “Of course I don’t mind. Why should I mind? No, no, stay as long as you want to.” There it was again. His overniceness. He couldn’t control it. He really wanted to tell Alan to get the fuck out of his appartment and go back where he came from, but instead he offered him to sleep in Billy’s bed, by his side, where he himself should be lying instead of this… man.

“Well, I… gotta get out… I need some… thing.” Dom said, grabbing his jacket and quickly getting out. He was furious as he’d never been before. What did this Alan have what he didn’t….. beside the really good looks?

He was quickly walking down the street. He had to calm down before he got back to his flat. He had to get used to seeing his beloved Billy snogging this Alan. It had taken him some time to get used to him kissing Elijah, but this was even worse. This Alan was perfect. Too perfect. There was something about him, Dom didn’t like. He was probably a criminal, who broke out of jail to seduce an innocent filmstar to get his money or whatever. He wasn’t good enough for Billy even if he was perfect. He couldn’t give him the love Billy deserved. The only one who was able to do that, was Dom. He had to do some research about Alan. He certainly had some dark secrets that Billy didn’t know…