One pair of Red shoes: Missing

Okay…here finally the last and final part of the story.

It gets a bit sweet …but I just thought that Dom deserved that after
the days that I sent him.

Thank you so much to everbody!!! (long form later)

Title: One pair of red shoes: Missing (4/4) (DM/EW)

Author: Strange Music

Chapter 4

For the first few moment, everything was all right. At
least till he saw the questioning gazes that people
threw at him. After all, he was the only stranger at a
party that consisted mostly of friends and
colleagues. He was very certain that this would be a
long afternoon till he finally heard his name shouted
by someone else than Billy.

"DOMINIC!" and seconds later he found himself in the
warm embrace of a certain former elf warrior. Taking a
wild guess he hoped to be right in assuming that this
meant that he and Orlando new each other, he smiled
back

"Glad to see you too, Orli."

Not taking his hand off Dom's shoulder, Orlando looked
with a confused gaze at Billy. And just as Dom was
starting to worry about not calling Orlando by his
full name, the confusion was solved.

"What did you put in this poor guy’s tea.
A tranquillizer? Or is he still scared from your
driving?"

Being the same as always, Orlando took the swat on the back
of his head coming from Billy like a man. Wiping it
with an expression of very clearly pretend hurt.

Turning back to Dom, he smiled. "So how are you doing?"

"Not too bad." He tried to be as vague as possible. At
least till he found out from where Orlando knew him.

It was Billy that helped him this time. And once more
Dom thanked all higher beings that he had ever heard of, that
he had told his friend.

"I didn't know you knew Dominic, Orlando?"

Tightening the arm slightly for a brief second,
Orlando smiled. "We met at a party 4 years ago. And
well...let's just say that we had a great time at the
party..." *and after*. It wasn't said but it was as
clear as if.

So he had slept with Orlando. Hopefully just 4 years
ago or his meeting with Viggo might turn out less than friendly.

Not really seeing the wide eyes that Dom had made
upon this revelation, Orlando steered him away from
Billy and into the heart of the party.

"I heard that you had quite a lucky streak when it came
to contracts. And that now you and Billy have joined forces
on the 4th series of Shawcross."

He was just about to answer when his eyes fell on
someone that he hadn't expected at the party. The only
person that he couldn't vouch for being able to be his
normal self when coming in contact with.

And it was exactly this person that Orlando was aiming
for in a beeline.

"Elijah! I have to introduce you to this guy!"

"Dominic...Elijah.....Elijah......Dominic."

Dom didn't know what he was supposed to do. Not when
all that he felt like doing was stand still like the
scared statue that he was. Till finally Elijah held
out his hands and it was only instinct that made him grab
it.

But he made the mistake of looking directly into
Elijah’s eyes and what he saw there was enough to send
him running.

~*~*~*~

About 5 minutes later at the restroom, 2 minutes of cold
water and 3 minutes of deep breaths later, he felt he
was starting to get better.

The total lack of recognition on his lover’s face had
just been too much.

Billy's appearance a few moments later was not that
unexpected but still welcome.

"Orlando came to me. He looked worried. Told me about
your flying run," he said, pushing a wet curl out of Dominic's
face.

"I told him that you had just a slight bit of stomach
flue. Thankfully, you were looking pale enough that he
believed me. He and Elijah wanted to come with me. I
just managed at the last minute to tell them that you
probably aren't too keen on a crowd while
throwing up."

He knew his smile was grateful but trying.

"What happened, Dom? You seemed to be okay till
Orlando went to greet Elijah...." There was a pause
that Dominic used to lower his head to avoid Billy's
gaze. But all too soon, he felt a hand on his chin
lifting his face again to meet Billy’s eyes. The
gaze was short and inquiring and the gasp told him
that one too many times his eyes seemed to speak too
much.

"You are in love with him!"

He wished it had been a question so that he could have
denied it. Or laughed at it. But it wasn't. It was a
statement from a very shocked looking Billy.

Once again his friend only knew him too well.

Taking a deep breath that ended in a sigh, Dom clasped
his hands together.

"You remember those memories that I told you about?
Let's just say that this was not a one-sided feeling."


"But there has never been any indication to imply that
Elijah was anything else than straight." Dom could see
that Billy was battling between compassion and worry.
"And he certainly wasn't lacking offers. Sometimes I
think that boy could bend a statue with those eyes of
his."

"Well he wasn't exactly in that direction in my
reality either. At least till 10 months after we
started filming. Protecting both our privacy--let's
just say that no alcohol was involved in that
intoxication." he felt a sad smile "We had been a
couple ever since."

He heard the sound when Billy sat down beside him.

Yet before either of them could say anymore, the door
opened and two curly heads pushed their way into the small
restroom.

"Everything okay?" They both looked truly worried.

And before either of them could decline, both Elijah
and Orlando had made their way to Dom.

Thankfully, his expression must have certainly
appeared to be one of a man that had just thrown
up because neither of them asked any more questions
about why he had left.

"He’s better," Billy answered for him, since his mouth
had stopped working the moment that Elijah had
entered the room. Leaning back at the washbasin beside
Orlando, Elijah offered a small smile.

"Well, people have called me ugly before but I have to
say that you’re the first to show it that obviously."
It was a joke but somehow Dominic still couldn't stop
himself from replying.

"You are not ugly!" And from some place inside himself
he found the courage to raise his head and to look
directly into Elijah’s eyes when he repeated, "You never
where nor will be ugly in any sense of the word." He
didn't know what his eyes said-- if it was more than
the words that he had spoken. But he heard Billy and
Orlando gasp at almost the same time. And he saw
Elijah’s eyes get large. Looking away, he was afraid to
look again in their direction.

The sound of the door opening and closing was not
unexpected.

But what was unexpected was that the hand that lifted
his chin didn't belong to Billy. Instead, he was faced
with the big blue eyes of Elijah.

"Well, if I’m not that ugly, will you then do me the
favour of sharing the next dance with me?"

He felt himself freeze in fear at the same time that
his heart started racing. But even when words failed
him, he felt himself nod.

Seconds later, he felt Elijah's hand take his as he
led him out of the restroom and onto the dance floor.

~*~*~*~

There was a lot of talk for the rest of the day, and
the later the hour got, the more relaxed Dominic felt.
Even without sharing the furry feet or 18 months in New
Zealand, there was still enough connecting between them to have
them talking almost without a minute’s pause.

After being virtually ignored for most of the time,
Billy and Orlando had finally left them alone about an
hour ago. Or at least he thought that it had been an
hour ago. He hadn't really paid that much attention.

It was just so amazing, to see the unrecognising gaze of
Elijah slowly change to the glance that he had seen
not too log ago. He knew that he wasn't the only one
to realise that. Not when Sir Ian had already passed
their table twice with a very knowing smile. And since
there wasn't any press around, he didn't feel the
least a bit guilty when he drew Elijah onto the dance
floor for yet another song.

Just that the dare was that this time it was not the
fast ones that they had danced so far. There was a
moment of uncertainty in Elijah’s body language.

But it changed as soon as Dom smiled encouragingly at
him. And with a small giggle, he let himself be drawn
out to the dance floor.

Wrapping his arms around Elijah, Dom didn’t give him time to change his
mind, and Elijah’s close embrace reassured him.

It was as if everything and everyone around them no
longer mattered.

As if the scare of the last few days was gone.

Whispering with the music, he smiled.

*It was no accident
Me finding you
Someone had a hand in this
Long before we even knew*

And for the first time he found the courage to hope
that like his friendship with Billy, some things were
just meant to be.

~*~*~*~

It was late when Billy finally came up to him.

"Sorry, Dom. But we really need to go now. It’s almost
3 o'clock and I can't promise how much longer I’ll
be awake enough to drive a car."

He quickly dodged Dominic's protest before it was even
voiced.

"I’m not letting you behind the wheel. Not when you
look like you believe that you’re able to fly."

Not letting go of Dom’s hand, the younger man was more than willing to
escort the two of them to the car.

A fact that made Dom too happy to be bothered by the
playful rolling of Billy’s eyes, and the whispered *young
love* that he exchanged with the giggling Orlando.

The goodbye by the car was quick. The air was too cold for Elijah to
stand
toog, cg, clad as he was in only a T-shirt.

Pushing his hands deep into his pockets, he smiled at
Dominic.

"If you want we can meet again tomorrow. I would
really like to...talk some more. Have you got something to write with?"

After searching his pockets, Dominic came up with a piece of
paper and with a pen that Billy luckily had in his car.
Eligavegave him a number that Dom already knew by heart. And that
he now finally had the permission to call.

"Thanks." And before he could say anything else he felt
a quick kiss on his lips before the other man
disappeared back into the building.

He didn't know how long he stood there with a grin
that threatened to split his face were it not stopped
by his ears. And it was only Billy’s voice that called
him back to earth.

"Dom. I know that you probably don’t feel much
right now. But the ones with a less than happy love
lives are starting to freeze. So would your majesty
please get his arse into car before I freeze mine off. I’m quite sure
you’ll see him again soon."

Still smiling, Dom felt himself nod and then get into
the car.

Still humming,

*I have all I eneedneeded
Thanks to the keeper of the stars*

Yes, life was good.

~*~*~*~

Billy, who had groused in a good-natured way on the
way home, still was obviously very happy for his
friend.

And afterwards, he had taken over Orlando's bed, whose
permission he had gotten after Orlando had implied with a
twinkle in his eyes that he would remain loyal at the
side of the King of Gondor.

Sleep was slow in coming in spite of the late hour.

When he had woken up three days ago, he hadn't
believed that he was going to be this happy. Sure, he
had things that he had thought would make him happy.

But not everything.

Happily humming, it wasn't till yet another pillow
found way to his face, accurately thrown by Billy that he finally let
his
eyes close.

~*~*~*~

The next thing that he recognised when he woke up was
that the smell had changed. The soft potpourri smell
was now replaced by what he realised was that of a strong
desinfectant, like they used in hospitals.

This thought made sense with the other sounds
that he heard: the beeping and chirping, and the constant hum of
conversation.

Also, the hard bed that he felt was a rather big change to the soft one
that he had fallen asleep in yesterday.

Furthermore, his head hurt in a way that was
completely unwarranted by the fact that he hadn't
drunk a single drop of alcohol last night.

A soft moan escaped his lips when the first ray of
light sent spikes of pain into his brain. It was now
that he realised that his hand was being held, when
the grip tightened at his movement.

"Billy!" it was whispered urgently from a voice that
he would recognize anywhere.

A sleep muffled "Hmmm?" was the only answer.

"I think he’s waking up!" A chair was pushed back
with a loud screech and then Billy's voice didn't
appear to be quite as sleepy anymore.

“Are you sure?”

He had no clue what had happened in the time that he
had gone to bed. But apparently, it had been
something that had put him into hospital.

But knowing from their voices that both Elijah and
Billy where at his side, he didn't care for what he was
in here for.

"Can you hear me, Dom?" It was whispered as if
Elijah knew that loud voices would hurt. Or maybe
because he didn't want to risk being thrown out of the
room.

"Hmmm...hear you."

He heard the swallowed tears.

"Would have called you."

There was a moment silence. "I know that you would.”
Then he felt a kiss on his head and then the closing
of the door.

The confusion was enough to make him open his eyes
even more.

But now the chair at his side was occupied by Billy.


"Lij?" His movement to look for him was stopped by
Billy's hand. "He’ll be back in a few moments. Just
needs a bit of space. The last few days have been quite
hard on all of us."

"Days?"

"Four, to be exact." He felt his brows draw together
from more than just the headache. "What is the last
thing you remember, Dom?" He closed eyes that had
started to hurt from the white surroungings.

"Party...kissing Lij....driving home with you...lying
down in bed."

There was a stunned silence. He opened his eyes
again.

"Why asking?"

But his question was ignored.

"Dom...What day do you think it is?"

Well, it had all started on Sunday after the party.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

"Thursday?"

"Yes! How did you know?"

"Monday hell, Tuesday getting better, Wednesday getting
Lij back. He’s mine....no matter what life I lead.
as I’m his."

He felt himself falling asleep again, happy in the
knowledge that things had not changed when he had
woken up.

~*~*~*~

His headache had lessened a lot when he woke up what
appeared to be later that day. Both Elijah and Billy
where still there. Only this time around it was
Elijah who had fallen asleep, his hands still clutching
his own.

He was definitely a loyal boy considering that in his timeline he had
only
known Dom for the last few hours. Not
counting the stalker-like phone call from Monday.

But then he recognised a few things that he hadn't
seen the first time around.

Elijah's hair was cutrt art and no longer the curly one that
he had worn what seemed only hours ago.

Hair like the one he wore the last time when he had
said goodbye to him for his trip to London.

Could it be? Taking care not to wake him up, he
dislodged his hand from under Elijah's until he
finally saw what he had been hoping for.

The ring. It was back on Elijah’sd.
d.

Damning his headache and dizziness to hell he careful sat
up to sweep Elijah into the tightest hug since forever.

"How long have you known me?"

Both sleepiness and general confusion at the question
left a real cute expression on Elijah's face.

"Three year...." and that was all that he managed to
say before he was silenced by Dominic's happy kiss.

He leaned back while his smile got even brighter.

"And I’m not nominated for a Bafta. Right?"

If possible, the confusion on Elijah's face grew into
worry. "Are you feeling all right, love?"

"Just say that I’m not nominated because *Hobbits get
no nomination*."

"You’re not nominated. Look, shall I call the nurse.
Do you need anything?"

Cupping his lover’s cheek, he smiled at him. "No... I
have everything I need."


~*~*~*~

It was hours later that he finally was told the whole
story. It seemed that the taxi that he had taken home had
had an accident. He hadn't been hurt badly but had
suffered from a bad concussion and fallen into coma.

The doctors had assured Billy that it was just a
matter of days until he would wake up. Still, neither of
them had been able to stop Elijah from jumping into
the next plane that took the route NY/ London.

And after being prodded and poked by the doctors, they
proclaimed him with a smile, healthier than he had any
right to be.

A fact that none of them was really complaining about.

When the doctors had left again, he felt Elijah snuggle
in his arms as he lay down at his side.

Calmed by the familiarity of the situation, he had
almost fallen asleep again when he heard Elijah speak
up.

"Do you remember what you dreamed while you where
unconscious?"

"Bits and pieces." It was a lie but somehow he felt
that it was best if he forgot the other life as soon
as possible, "Why are you asking?"

"Because you said some pretty strange things when you
woke up." Looking up at Dom he asked, "So what do you remember?"

Dom felt himself smile again as he placed a brief kiss
on Elijah’s head.

"What do I remember. I remember that I found out that
some things are just meant to be."

The End

I hope you enjoyed the story and I apologize for the
sappy parts at the end. Maybe the song that I
played had a downside.

Songcredits:
Tracy Byrd: Keeper of the Stars (Kept in a constant
loop for a few hours)


PS: There is one big problem. I finished the story without any second
thoughts. But hadn’t considered my Muse, who is still insisting that
she wants to play some more in this universe. Especially since Sean had
been pretty much missing in this story.

So what do you say? Leave it there?

Or would you be interested in another story in this universe that has
Sean realize that things about one of their hobbits have changed have
changed. And that for the first time in month he and Dom actually have more in
common than fights about PR.