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fellowshippers2004-08-09 09:04 am
ex-salwood.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2004-08-09 09:04 am
World Trip - Chapter 33
Title: World Trip 33/?
Author/Email: Salogel (salogel42@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Rating: 15 - for swearing
Summary: Dom and Lij travel along the Sunshine Coast.
WARNING: None
Feedback: Yes please
Archive:Hobbit Haven
Disclaimer: None of this happened or will ever happen. It is all made up in my overactive mind.
Additional Notes: Any flashbacks are written as they happened, and not necessarily as a point of view.
Previous chapters can be found here.
Thank Yous to: to Jesslotr for my wonderful icon! And Ru for being a fantastic beta!
World Trip
Chapter 33 – The Sunshine Coast
**
21 August 2005
I haven’t written in my journal for days. It has been difficult finding the time to do so, as Dom seems to be constantly at my side - which is incredibly nice - but it doesn’t give me much opportunity to write anything, and I miss putting my thoughts in here.
Our week in Sydney was fantastic. Not as relaxing as I would have liked, but then that is all my fault – I always want to see everything, and Dom is so incredibly understanding… he just tags along, letting me organize everything. He doesn’t really have much say…
However… I’m sure he’ll make the surfing decisions in terms of which beach is the best, once we head out of Brisbane. He has always been the better surfer…
… fuck - I haven’t surfed in almost two years! I’m gonna be like a total beginner…
*
Our flight is mercifully short. It was a panic this morning getting to the airport… we slept far too long in that fantastic mountain hotel, both of us exhausted from the day before … but we saw some awesome sights in those mountains. I really do regret not being able to stay there longer.
But that is life, and we are now on our way to Brisbane… plenty of sun, and sea… and… … driving.
Going to be fucking weird getting behind a steering wheel again. Last time I drove was in Berlin… fuck… that seems a long time ago.
Thinking of it…. … …Berlin.
Dom was such a different person back then... those days in Berlin and just afterwards, well, they were pretty dark. The change in him is profound… I fucking love Dom the way he is now.
Actually, on reflection, I would say we have both changed a great deal on this trip… and it has been so evident this past week.
Since getting of the ship, I feel different… fuck knows why, but I do. And Dom is so relaxed, not his usual edgy self. As far as I am aware he hasn’t been rude to one person this week… except maybe the porter in the hotel room!!! ….
…. Dom, I raise my hand… I’m one hundred percent guilty for that one!
I’m so glad that the trip to New Zealand is now out in the open... at last! It’s been fucking hard keeping quiet for all these months.
Trouble is, Dom now hovers over me when I log on to any Internet connection. So just before we flew out of Sydney I managed to send him on an errand and quickly e-mailed Sala my cell number, not that it will do much good – Dom is pretty much always within touching distance of me, so being secretive is no easy task.
Still… it is another means of communication… and there is one more thing I want Sala to organise, if he can. It’s a fucking brilliant idea… if he can work on it… it will have a really special meaning, and last more than a lifetime.
*
Dom is sitting next to me in a contemplative mood. We didn’t have much time at the airport, but I let him read an e-mail to me from Billy, which went something like this:
Elijah,
Get your fucking wanking boyfriend to open his e-mails and switch on his mobile!
Fuck… I’ll speak to him when you return home at Christmas!
Tell him he’s a bastard.
Bills
Of course after reading that, Dom wanted to log on, but we had to board our plane.
I’m trying to recall when it was that Dom seemed to cut off communication with home. I don’t think I have seen him make a single phone call, or check his e-mails since… Christ… well… since at least June when we were in Malawi. He was so sick back then… and since his recovery, well… he just seems too tied up with me.
Billy’s e-mail was a bit of a wake up call… I guess Dom will be looking for an Internet café as soon as we land.
And I need to call Mom too, she said she had some exciting news… but I must remember to get the time difference right, last time I woke her at 3am!
*
So, we’ll be landing in twenty minutes… I’m going to try and keep this journal updated a little more… especially when we get to New Zealand!!
**
Dominic stared at his hands as he waited for Elijah to sign all the necessary rental forms for their motor home. He felt guilty… no… more than guilty. Billy was right, he was a bastard. An unforgivable bastard.
“Shit…” Dominic ran his hands over his face… some bloody best mate he had turned out to be.
As soon as they had picked up their luggage at the airport Dominic knew he had to get to an Internet terminal, and when he logged on, he could not believe what he saw.
“Four hundred e-mails!” Dominic looked at Elijah in shock. “Fuck!”
Elijah shrugged. “I did tell you to keep on top of them, Dom… you’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
“Aw… shit, Lij.”
Elijah didn’t feel one ounce of sympathy. “I think you had better start making the peace with Billy. I’ll get us a drink.”
Dominic groaned as he scrolled down his in-box. He got rid of all the junk mail, and then looked at all the unopened e-mails from Billy. There were about thirty of them.
Shit, Bills. I’m sorry…
He opened the most recent one, which had just one word in it…. ‘Wanker!’
Aww, fuck! Dominic decided to start from the beginning.
“So?” Elijah sat down beside him and handed him a polystyrene cup of coffee. Dominic took a sip before placing it in a cup holder.
“He’s got a major role in a new movie. Fucking over the moon. His e-mails are full of it. I feel like a real shit, Lij. Billy’s my best mate…”
Elijah didn’t say anything.
“He’s gone away now… on location, for four or five months. Up some bloody mountain range in Argentina. I won’t even be able to wish him happy birthday.” Dominic looked glum.
“Of course you will… you can call him… remember that cell phone that you used to use?”
“Yeah… very funny…” Dominic wasn’t in the mood for humour. “Look at this…” He clicked open an e-mail.
Dom, you bastard!
Where the fuck are you?
I give up!
There is no way you’ll be able to reach me until I return.
Thanks for nothing, mate.
B.
“He didn’t even sign his name, Lij. He’s really pissed at me.”
Elijah sighed. “Just send an e-mail anyway, Dom. It can’t hurt. Maybe he will pick it up at some point. And Dom…
“Yeah…” Dominic looked forlorn.
“Grovel like fucking mad.”
So Dominic had written it, and sent it, and he knew that once they were hooked up to an electric supply he was going to charge his phone and attempt a call. That’s if he could find his fucking mobile. The last time he saw it, it was buried at the bottom of his suitcase.
He couldn’t believe how selfish he had become… Elijah had become his world… to the exclusion of all others.
“Ready?” Elijah handed the motor home keys to Dominic.
“I’m driving?” Dominic stood up. He still looked miserable.
“Yes… you need to take your mind off Billy. Concentrate on something else. You know he’ll be cool… he’ll come round… in the end. You two are like brothers… don’t let it get you down.”
Dominic took the keys and stared at them. There was fuck all he could do to amend the situation… but boy had he learned a lesson… a bloody big fat hard lesson. He looked at Elijah but couldn’t smile. He had been a wanker all his life… so nothing had changed there, then. Fuck to it all…
“Come on, Dom.” Elijah hoisted his luggage over his shoulder… “Let’s get moving.”
*
The motor home was small but adequate, and well equipped.
“Are we going to cook in here?” Dominic looked around the small space.
“Yeah… it’ll be cool. It’ll be cosy.” Elijah dropped his suitcase on the floor.
“Cosy… sounds good…” Dominic peered into the cupboards, and then tried the taps.
“No water…?” He looked at Elijah.
Elijah smiled. “It gets filled up before we leave, same with the gas for the cooker.”
“Right…” Dominic peered into the small shower cubicle. “Hmmm…this looks like fun!” He looked over his shoulder and winked at Elijah.
“Not a lot of room is there?”
“Just how I like it… up close, and very personal!”
Elijah grinned… Dominic was sounding a little better. He knew how Dominic could brood over things and let them fester. He was upset about Billy, of that there was no doubt, but hopefully he would be able to push it to one side and concentrate on the trip ahead.
“So, where do we sleep?”
“Up here…” Elijah stepped onto one of the seats and crawled into the compartment over the driver’s cabin.
Dominic followed him. The bed was big, although not quite double size.
“Very nice!” Dominic rolled onto his stomach and looked out of one of the small windows at the end of the bed. Elijah crawled over him to get to floor level, when Dominic caught him by the wrist and pulled him back in. He gathered Elijah on top of him, and kissed him.
Elijah nestled his legs between Dominic’s thighs and looked questioningly at him. “You going to be ok, Dommie?”
Dominic studied Elijah’s face for a moment… before nodding. “How could I not be, baby…” he spoke softly. “I’m with you…” They kissed again, and for a while lost themselves in each other.
*
Their first stop was a supermarket. The motor home rental company had given Elijah directions, and a wallet full of maps, brochures and information giving them advice and instruction on safe traveling.
One of the first points was, ‘don’t always expect to find a fully powered campsite.’ So with shopping trolley at the ready they trawled the shelves and filled it up.
“Candles?” Dominic picked up a box. “Can we use them?”
“In an emergency, I guess…”
Dominic dropped them into the trolley.
They spent an hour buying things, and then another hour putting them all away. Finally they were ready to hit the road proper.
“So…” Dominic slid into the driver’s seat. “Where are we going?”
“Bribie Island… should get there before dark.”
“Great… ok…” Dominic felt a little nervous. The half a mile drive to the supermarket had been nothing, this however was completely different.
“Want me to drive?” Elijah could see how apprehensive Dominic was. “I don’t mind.”
“No… I’ll be fine…” Dominic turned on the ignition. “We have insurance don’t we?” He grinned at Elijah as he pulled out of the car park.
“Don’t even joke about it, Dom!”
They joined the Brisbane rush hour traffic.
**
22 August 2005
This morning we are going to find a different campsite. We arrived here late yesterday evening, and basically it’s nothing more than a field.
Dom is eager to check out the beaches, there are several on this island… he’s speaking to one of the locals now, getting directions, and finding out where we can obtain beach permits
It’s going to take some time getting used to living in this vehicle, especially after living in hotels for months on end.
But it’s kinda cool - like living in our New Zealand trailer, only smaller. Dom seems to love it; he even cooked breakfast this morning…
We made a deal though… if the weather gets bad, we’re booking into a hotel. I can’t imagine anything more miserable than being stuck in here with nothing to do. Although I guess Dom would make sure we had plenty to do… and it’s not something I can’t write about in here!
I need to call Mom, and both of us need to find an Internet Café. At least Dom will be busy with his own e-mails, he told me he has to send one to Danae. He was in no mood to write to her yesterday. At least that will give me a little space to see if Sala has contacted me regarding my latest idea, although I don’t think I have given him enough time to re-arrange things and organise it.
Dom’s coming back now… I guess it’s time to make a fool of myself on the surfboard!
**
“You look amazing!” Dominic eyed Elijah appreciatively as they walked up the shore to their bags.
Elijah laughed… “Not on a surf board I don’t.”
Dominic smiled. “It’ll come, Lij. You’re just a bit rusty… by the end of the week you’ll be like an old pro again.”
“Maybe…” “Elijah sat down on his towel, removed his goggles, and replaced them with his glasses.
Dominic sat down beside him as he unzipped the top of his wet suit. “The surf’s not brilliant… but it’ll get better.” He shook his head getting rid of the last of the seawater from his hair. “And there are so few people about. Couldn’t ask for more could we?”
“Nope…” Elijah began shrugging out of his suit… it was stuck to him like a second skin.
“Want some help?” Dominic helped peel away the thick wet fabric.
“Thanks…”
“Hmmm… pity we’re not alone…” Dominic murmured as he tugged the wetsuit over Elijah’s hips.
Elijah just grinned as he wriggled out of the garment.
The weather was warm… pleasantly warm… almost hot, and the sun was still as dangerous as it was during the summer months.
Dominic smoothed the sun cream over Elijah’s body… something he always loved doing. Elijah was dozing… his skin had warmed up considerably after coming out of the sea, so the cream sank in immediately… making his already tanned skin glow.
Fucking beautiful, Elijah… Dominic continued, letting his hands and fingers travel everywhere… Elijah murmured appreciatively half in and half out of sleep.
I’m so fucking lucky… Dominic stopped what he was doing and stared at Elijah’s body as a wave of emotion suddenly hit him. Never in a thousand years did he ever think he would be as happy as he was right now. Never in a million years did he ever think he would fall in love with someone, so deeply… so totally, so irrevocably. And never… never, in all eternity did he think he would find anyone who would love him in return, and unconditionally, too.
Elijah could have had anyone… but he chose him, an almost totally unknown British actor, and Dominic often thought why? What was so different about him? What did Elijah see in him that no one else did? He could be aggressive, domineering, self centered and utterly selfish. Elijah had none of these traits… he was the most caring, understanding and tolerant person that he had ever known. And boy, did he have to be tolerant…
Dominic knew he could be a real pain in the arse to live with… he knew that better than anyone. Yet, Elijah was always there for him, putting up with his moods, and his tantrums, and at times, his soul destroying insecurities. So why? What was it about him that made Elijah stay?
Why did Elijah love him?
Elijah turned onto his back, his eyes were still closed.
“Why do you love me, Lij?” Dominic whispered as his hands slowly began to move over Elijah’s warm body again.
“Dom?” Elijah opened his eyes and squinted at Dominic.
“Umm… oh, Lij…” Dominic was startled that Elijah had heard him; he had thought he was asleep.
“What did you say?”
“Ummm… well… nothing.” Dominic stammered. “I was just wondering…that’s all… you know, just thinking out loud.”
“Wondering…?”
“Umm… yes… “
“About what?”
“Well…” Dominic scratched his head, uncertain whether or not to say exactly what had been thinking.
“Dom…?”
“Ok…” Dominic nodded as he looked down at his hands, he suddenly felt incredibly vulnerable. “I was just wondering what it is… about me, Lij… that you love so much.” He raised his eyes and looked directly at Elijah. “I don’t think I could ever love me.”
Elijah propped himself up on his elbows and studied Dominic’s face. “What on earth has made you ask this, Dom?”
“I don’t know,” Dominic felt embarrassed. “Like I said, I was just thinking out loud, … ignore me… I might go away.”.
“No… don’t go away… don’t ever go away.” Elijah took Dominic’s hand and pulled him down beside him.
They looked at each other before Elijah spoke again.
“I’m sorry, Dom.” Elijah tenderly touched the side of Dominic’s face. “I’m sorry that you have to question that. I don’t show you or tell you often enough just how much I love you. But I do…” Elijah kissed Dominic gently on the lips, knowing now that his surprise in New Zealand was more important than ever.
“I know you do, baby. I know… and you do show me, all the time, by just being with me. But… but I guess I’ll never know the reason why…”
“Why?” Elijah repeated. “You re asking why I love you? Well… there is only one answer why, Dom, and that is because, you are you.”
Dominic smiled; the serious look on his face melted away. “You’re too fucking good for me, Elijah…you know that? But God, I fucking love you for it.” Then Dominic rolled on top of Elijah and began kissing him, oblivious to any onlookers who maybe watching nearby.
**
24 August 2005
Called Mom this morning… seems she has caught the travel bug too. She is taking Hannah on a cruise… some island cruise or something I didn’t quite hear where. She should enjoy it; it’s totally her scene… she wanted some advice… what to take… what to wear?
How the fuck do I know? She’s a woman! And Hannah will be ten times worse.
Anyway, I hope they enjoy it. I can keep in touch via e-mail, although I know what Mom’s like when she goes away… no interruptions. At least I’ll get to speak to her before we go to New Zealand, she’ll be back by then, and I’m going to tell her what I have planned!
New Zealand…it’s getting so close now! I can’t fucking wait.
And, Dom… you wanted to know why… why I love you? New Zealand will answer that question and more, I’m sure.
Thirty-four days until we fly out! Fucking cool!!!!!!!!
**
It was Elijah’s turn to drive, providing they didn’t get lost it should take them two hours to reach the next site that Dominic had ear-marked on their journey along the beautiful Sunshine Coast. He wanted to steer clear of the main tourist traps, although their next stop after Coolum was one of the post popular places along this stunning Australian coastline.
Coolum was a quiet beachside town, so the brochure said, and if the conditions were right, then the surfing could be exceptional.
Elijah’s surfing skills were returning, and he was really beginning to enjoy himself, and Dominic couldn’t help thinking back to their early days in New Zealand when they were new to the sport, and new to each other. Seeing Elijah half naked back then used to send him delirious with desire, and it still did now. Elijah’s wetsuit never left anything to the imagination…
If only we could find a private cove or beach, with no one else around… Dominic thought as he looked out the window at the scenery passing before him. We did once, long ago… The old New Zealand memory made Dominic smile as he glanced at Elijah who, was concentrating so diligently on his driving. God, I’m still as crazy about you now, as I was then…
*
Coolum was perfect. After finding the RV Park and hooking up to the relevant supplies, Dominic set about making something to eat while Elijah went in search of information. Both of them wanted access to the Internet – that day.
Dominic was already peeved with himself with regard to ignoring contact with home. When he had finally checked his e-mails there had been a lovely one from Danae.
Danae had been so kind and understanding towards him, although he hadn’t deserved it. She talked with reason, and had given him hope, and she made him look deep into his soul, where, at long last he found answers, and some form of peace. He didn’t like to think what could have happened if he hadn’t been made to confront his fears and talk them through with her.
Would he still be with Elijah? He seriously doubted it… And without Elijah he would be nothing, so… he had a lot to thank Danae for… without knowing it, she has probably saved his life, because without Elijah, he knew he would have no life. He stared out the window as he recalled the time on her boat. He was a different person back then… he’d almost driven Elijah away.
Thank you, Danae… Dominic returned to his food preparation. As soon as Elijah returned and they had eaten, his first priority was to write to her, he owed her that much, at least. In fact, he knew he owed her everything.
*
The library. Elijah looked at the address he was given and then translated that to his town map. Dominic unhooked the motor home and off they went. They found the library quickly; it was small with one computer terminal, which had a list a mile long of people waiting to use it.
So they filled in a form and joined the queue. Then they wandered outside to sit in the warm sunshine.
Finally Dominic’s turn came.
“I’ll wait out here, Dom.” Elijah knew that Dominic would need some privacy to write whatever it was he wanted to write to Danae. “Come and get me when you’ve finished.”
“Sure?” Dominic asked.
Elijah nodded… “Go on.”
So Dominic took a seat and logged on to his e-mail account. There was nothing from Billy, and he felt a little disappointed, although he had totally expected it.
He opened Danae’s e-mail again…
Dominic,
I hope this finds you well.
I have written separately to Elijah.
Thank you for the photograph, it came out very well. We are all smiling… it was a good end to our boat trip.
So how are you, Dominic? Are you dealing with things better now? You were so troubled when you were on my boat. It is never easy to overcome such a deep rooted fear.
I do hope that you have been able to think things through more rationally. Your relationship with Elijah is the most valuable thing that you have. You must treasure it, and look upon it as a gift. A great gift.
I am on a weekend break now, this time of year is very busy for me… but occasionally I need to rest.
I would love to hear about your travels in Africa, if you have the time.
Take care my dear, Dominic…
Yours,
Danae.
The e-mail was dated 30 July. So it wasn’t that long ago. Dominic had been going over in his mind exactly what he was going to write. But now that he was sat with his fingers hovering over the keyboard, he couldn’t remember any of it, so he just wrote, and from the heart.
Dear Danae,
Please excuse my delay in replying… I’m crap at keeping in touch, Elijah’s the one who has been keeping folk at home updated on our travels.
We are in Australia now, Africa seems so long ago. We had a good time there, despite me falling ill, again. But I will not bore you with those details.
Reading your e-mail, I know that you are right… Elijah is a treasure… irreplaceable and priceless - and Danae, I swear my love for him grows daily.
You asked if I am better, now? I do believe I am. Much better… and I can’t thank you enough for knocking some sense into me. You are the only person I have ever spoken to about my fears, I have carried them with me for so long, and they were eating away at me, and eventually I think, deep down, that they would have destroyed my relationship with Elijah.
Being able to talk to someone who has experienced such anguish and pain as I have was such a relief. I will never be able to thank you enough. Although as you so rightly told me, your pain was greater. I have always harboured the fear of losing, while you yourself experienced true loss. How you came through it, Danae, I will never know… you are a very strong person… I am however, very weak… I have learnt that now.
At times it’s very hard for me to explain how I feel, because it overwhelms me. Just a couple of days ago I found myself questioning once more why Elijah loves me. And I know that if you were here, right now, you would sit me down and tell me that sometimes there are no answers…
I sometimes feel that Elijah and I were meant to be … does that sound stupid? You know he is my life, Danae, and out of the millions of people on this planet he chose me… it’s like it was really meant to be. Like fate intervened and plucked me from out of nowhere to become part of his life, and it’s a life that he truly wants, too.
I still have self-doubt, and fears, but I am learning to keep a lid on them, not letting them surface and take over. I have found that I am less tolerable of people since Elijah’s attack, less trusting, as you yourself know.
I would keep Elijah away from everyone if I had my way, but I know that is not the way, you taught me that… and your lesson was hard… but I am getting there! I hope that Elijah can see a difference in me.
We’re going to New Zealand in a few weeks. It’s for a birthday party, but at the same time it will be a very special occasion for us. You see, it will be six years ago that I first met Elijah. You have no idea how special that day was for me… when I first saw him…when he came into my life.
I’m hoping to do something special for him, when we are out there. I have no idea what just yet, perhaps take him to one of our favourite beaches…
But do you know what I wish I could do? Propose to him, I mean really propose, no fooling around and pretending. Ask Elijah to marry me!
God he would love that, Danae – he would love that more than anything. If only it were possible… …maybe it will be one day… in a few years time… who knows?
Ok, I’m going to end here. I hope you pick up this e-mail soon, and I promise I will reply a lot quicker next time.
Thank you for staying in touch, Danae I owe you so much.
Love always,
Dominic
Dominic stared at his typing but didn’t read over it. He didn’t want to alter anything, he wanted it to go as it stood, because he knew if he altered anything, then it wouldn’t be from the heart.
He clicked ‘send’.
Speak again soon, Danae. Dominic whispered as he logged off.
“All done?” Elijah asked as he stood up and stretched; he had dozed off in the sunny garden.
“Yep.”
“Sure? Anything from Billy?”
“Nope…”
Elijah nodded in acceptance. “Come on then, let’s go.”
“Don’t you want to log on?” Dominic frowned as he pointed to the library behind him.
“No, changed my mind, I can do it later.” Elijah grinned inwardly… he had spoken to Sala on his cell while Dominic was inside. “It can wait.”
“Ok, then. To the beach? We could fit a walk in before it gets dark?”
“Cool…”
They both made their way back to their motor home.
***
Sunshine Beach… highly recommended. But as they drove into their next destination, Noosa, they discovered that the caravan park was a long way away from the beach.
“You know, if we had a tent, we could camp on the beach. Then we wouldn’t have to keep on plugging and unplugging this bloody vehicle.” Dominic moaned as he pulled into the campsite, and parked the motor home.
They both got out and stretched their legs before booking in. Then after securing a pitch they were on their way again, by the time they reached the beach, the sun was beginning to go down.
Dominic locked the motor home, removed his trainers and followed Elijah onto the sand. The beach was deserted, and seemed to go on for miles and miles in either direction. The sand was white, and warm between his toes. It was a spectacular setting, and reminded him very much of the beaches in New Zealand.
Elijah looked out at the sea, this looked like the best beach so far for surfing. He found he was looking forward to their daily surf time, he hadn’t realised just how much he had missed it. The thrill of waiting for the right wave and then riding it was an awesome feeling – especially when he didn’t fall off the board!
Surfing was also a tiring sport, and Elijah knew his fitness levels had dropped off over the months that they had been away, and with a weakened ankle he did find surfing difficult at times, but wasn’t going to tell Dominic. So far so good… he was being extra careful, and made sure he had plenty of rest in between times. Dominic on the other hand, was never out of the sea!
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dominic took Elijah’s hand as they walked towards the surf. “How long here, Lij?”
“Three days…”
“Fantastic…” The water felt cool, not cold as it washed over their feet. “If the coastline is like this all the way to Cairns, I think I may never want to leave.”
“Wait till you see The Great Barrier Reef!” Elijah said as he watched the waves wet the bottom of him jeans.
“That’s it… I know I won’t want to leave.”
“Over thirteen hundred miles long…”
“Jesus, is that right?”
Elijah nodded. “It’s going to be awesome… fucking awesome.”
They strode along the beach awhile, and stopped now and then to kiss and watch the sun slowly sink towards the horizon. The water turned golden where the dying rays hit it. Dominic took a few photographs of the sunset and then of Elijah wading in front of him. He knew which was the more beautiful…
***
“To absent friends!” Dominic clinked his beer bottle with Elijah’s. “Happy birthday, Bills, wherever you are.” Dominic paused before taking a mouthful of cold liquid. “Hope it’s a good one.”
Elijah smiled gently… it was Dominic’s idea to celebrate Billy’s birthday, and why not? It was late evening and they were sitting outside their motor home, drinking and eating, after a long day of surfing. Dominic had even purchased a cake and put a candle on it, and then set up his camera and took a self-timed photograph of himself and Elijah blowing the candle out. It was his way of letting Billy know that he was thinking about him on his special day.
“Wonder what he’s doing?” Dominic drained his bottle and opened another. “I hope he’s not too drunk.”
“Well, you soon will be.” Elijah indicated the empty bottles that were gradually building up on the grass by Dominic’s feet. “Then you’ll snore all night, and I won’t get any sleep!”
Dominic laughed. “Well let’s both get smashed, that way we can pass out, and it won’t bother you!”
Elijah grinned.
“I’m sure Billy would appreciate us getting blitzed in honour of his birthday! He’s probably out of his head, right now!” Dominic took another drink.
Elijah chuckled. “I seriously doubt it, not half way up a mountain.”
“You don’t know Billy… he’ll have his whiskey stashed away somewhere. Aww… shit, Lij!” Dominic drank all his beer down at once. “I wish I could fucking speak to him and wish him happy birthday.”
“I know, Dom… I know.”
Dominic opened another bottle in silence. Elijah slowly sipped his beer; somehow he just knew he was going to have keep a clear head.
*
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLS!!!! YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!”
Dominic had climbed onto the top of the motor home and was shouting at the top of his voice, a half full bottle of beer dangled from his fingertips.
Elijah had disappeared to the on site washrooms, and as he made his way back he could hear Dominic’s loud voice filtering through the night air. Shit…! He took off at a run!
Dominic was now singing happy birthday as loudly as he could, and out of tune.
“Dom! Get down!” Elijah was concerned. “Before you fucking fall off!”
“Lijah!!!” Dominic grinned down at Elijah. “Come and join me. The view is great from up here!”
“Dom… get down!”
“Come up here baby, and I can snog you under the stars.”
“Dom…” Elijah couldn’t help but chuckle. “Just get down, will you?”
“You’re not coming up?”
Elijah shook his head… “No…you come down!”
Dominic groaned. He took another swig of beer and then turned round so that he was facing the other direction. He tilted his head backwards and started to sing Auld Lang’s Syne.
“Jesus Christ, Dom! You’ll have us kicked out!” Elijah ran to the other end of the vehicle so that he could see Dominic’s face.
Dominic carried on singing.
“DOM!!”
Dominic stopped and pouted. “You can be such a spoil sport, Lij. Just ‘cause you can’t sing!”
“And nor can you when you’re pissed! Now will you just get down before you break your fucking neck? I don’t like the idea of finishing this holiday on my own.”
“Stand back…”
“Don’t you jump!”
Dominic leapt off the roof, landed with a thud on the ground, did a forward roll, and then stood up. “Peace of cake!” He shook himself and grinned at Elijah.
“You twat!”
“Hmmm… you look gorgeous, in the moonlight, Lij!” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hands and pulled him towards him, so that their bodies bumped together.
“There is no moon, Dom!” Elijah tried to keep a straight face.
“There isn’t?” Dominic looked up at the night sky. “Where did it go?”
Elijah laughed… “I think I should make you some strong coffee!”
“Don’t want coffee… want you…” Dominic put a hand behind Elijah’s head and pulled him in for a kiss. Then he burped!
“Thanks, Dom!”
“Oops…” Dominic grinned sheepishly! “I think I’ve drunk a little too much!”
Elijah nodded and tried to pull himself free.
“Just one little kiss…” Dominic succeeded this time, and Elijah endured the beer taste of Dominic’s mouth.
“Nice!” Dominic pulled back and looked at Elijah’s mouth. “You taste like honey.”
“Dom!” Elijah was highly amused.
“Honey and ice-cream!”
“Get outta here!” Elijah tried to remove himself from Dominic’s clinch.
“Wanna taste the rest of you… see what hidden flavours you have!”
“Well, not out here you’re not!” Elijah giggled.
“No one will see!” Dominic took a step backwards, and then suddenly staggered. “Oh…”
Elijah caught him before he fell.
“Who moved the ground?” Dominic clung to Elijah as the horizon kept dipping this way and that.
“Come on, you…” Elijah helped Dominic into one of the chairs. Once he sat down Dominic pulled Elijah into another embrace, tipping the chair backwards sending them both sprawling on the grass.
“Ouch!” Dominic complained, and then looked at Elijah’s face, which was only inches away from his own. “Oh, hello… do I know you?”
Elijah looked at Dominic seriously for a moment before laughing out loud.
“You are such a wanker, Dom Monaghan!”
“But you love me anyway!” Dominic grinned and then they both kissed…
Getting a drunk Dominic into bed was no easy task. Elijah decided to make up the lower bunk. There was no way he was going to let Dominic climb into the overhead bed, not in the condition he was in… knowing him, he would fall out!
So in between Dominic’s insistence on continuously trying to snog him, Elijah managed to get Dominic undressed and ready for bed. Getting him to take piss inside instead of outside, however proved more difficult, and Dominic ended up standing outside the motor home, stark naked, emptying his extremely full bladder. Elijah just prayed that no one would come along.
When he had finished, Elijah dragged him back inside, and then got undressed himself. When they both crawled under the sheets, Dominic gathered Elijah into his arms.
“I love you, my Lijah… you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Dominic began, his voice was slurry. “I love you more than anything… more than… more than… I dunno… more than…”
Elijah smiled in the dark.
“Well, just more than… know what I mean?” Dominic pulled Elijah in a little tighter.
“Yes, Dom… I know.”
Elijah heard Dominic yawn. God, was he going to have the mother of all hangovers in the morning.
“You’re my everything, Lijah. Hey… that’s a song isn’t it?” Dominic kissed Elijah lightly on the forehead.
Elijah thought for a moment that Dominic was going to start singing again.
He actually started to hum. Elijah pressed his finger against Dominic’s mouth.
“Sshhh… Dom. Let’s try and get some sleep now…”
“I love you, my Lijah.” Dominic snuggled in even closer… his voice was becoming more slurred as sleep began to take over. “I love you so much…”
“I love you too, Dom…”
“Love… … You… … Lijah… …” Dominic’s breathing slowed… his words were now no more than a whisper. “Want you… … Lij…. …Want you to marry me.”
Then he was asleep.
**
29 August 2005
We’ve spent most of the day here at the campsite. Dom isn’t well, poor bastard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so green. He’s been in bed for most of the day. I knew he would have a hangover.
He can’t remember much about last night, and he doesn’t believe me that he was on the roof!
He doesn’t remember me putting him to bed either… he doesn’t remember any of it…
So there’s no point… no point at all in telling him that he asked me marry him.
It will only ever remain just a dream…
**
North, to their last stop on the Sunshine Coast. The sun was blaring down, and Dominic was fiddling with the air conditioning controls while Elijah drove. The further north they went the hotter it was getting. It really was quite hard to believe that this weather was considered to be ‘winter’.
Dominic glanced through Elijah’s guidebook, one of many on he had on this area of Australia. They were headed for a place called Hervey Bay near Fraser Island. Elijah had learnt that it was whale season, and special trips could be arranged for tourists to be taken out into the bay to see the whales up close. It sounded fascinating, and would be a nice break from all the surfing they had been doing.
Fraser Island also sounded very interesting. The biggest sand island in the world, and more than probably the last place that they would surf before heading off into the tropics and the realm of the Great Barrier Reef.
It was going to be an enjoyable few days… Dominic closed the book and looked out the window. The scenery was beautiful. He had spent most of his of time while on the road, trying to spot kangaroos. He’d heard that they were everywhere but he had only seen them in the far distance. It was weird really, because the only time he had ever seen kangaroos were in zoos or wildlife parks. He was more used to see cows and horses in fields, not wild kangaroos hopping about.
“Want a drink, Lij?” Dominic unclipped his seat belt and went to the rear of the vehicle.
“Please!”
Dominic returned with two cold bottles of coke. He handed one to Elijah as he re-took his seat.
“Want me to change the CD?” Dominic picked up the collection of CDs they had bought from various supermarkets.
“Can do…”
Dominic selected one and placed it in the CD player. Music, which had been such a big part of their lives before this trip, had taken a complete back seat for months now. It was quite nice to just sit back and listen to some as they covered the long distances between each port of call.
Dominic put his sunglasses on as he took his usual position of looking out the window… then he sat bolt upright.
“Fucking hell!”
“What!” Elijah felt the motor home swerve as he turned to look at Dominic.
“Look at that!”
“Look at what!” Elijah managed to get the vehicle back under control.
“Kangaroos! Bloody loads of them!”
“For Christ’s sake, Dom!”
“Well… I ain’t seen them before. Gotta get a picture!”
“Dom, you wanker! You frightened the living shit out of me! We’re in Australia… what did you expect!”
Dominic returned with his camera. “Pull over, Lij.”
“Dom!”
“Come on,” Dominic whined.
Elijah rolled his eyes as his foot applied the brakes.
“Brilliant!” Dominic went and stood by the door, and as soon as the vehicle came to a halt he hopped outside, and took his picture. Once he returned he sat down with a big cheesy grin on his face!
“Happy?” Elijah slipped the gear into first.
“Very.”
“Don’t want to go looking for any cute koalas?”
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
Elijah pulled back onto the road.
**
2 September 2005
What a fantastic day! We arrived here in Hervey Bay yesterday, but spent today on an organised tour of Fraser Island.
It is absolutely incredible. When you hear that it is a sand island, you have visions of it being just one big sand bank in the sea. Well this island is so diverse; it’s like a complete miracle.
I think the thing that amazed me more than anything is, although the island is essentially sand based, we walked through a rain forest. I mean how incredible is that?
Dom loved it. He’s always had a thing for forests and trees. Unfortunately, because it was an organized tour we didn’t have a great amount of time in each place. But Dom managed to take plenty of photographs, and we sat together this evening looking through them all on the back of his camera.
One of the fascinating things that interested us both was a shipwreck on the east coast of the island. S.S. Maheno. It was grounded there in 1935, seventy years ago. I’ve never seen a real shipwreck before. It was creepy just lying there in the sand with the sea lapping around its hull. It kind of reminded me of some prehistoric skeleton - a beast long dead…
We’re going to spend tomorrow surfing, and then the day after we’re going on the whale watch. We were lucky to get a place on the boat. They are usual booked up for weeks on end. It’s amazing how Tolkien has opened a closed door for us on so many occasions!
I can recall looking at the whales with Mal in South Africa, that was awesome, but this should be even more so. We shall be seeing humpback whales, the fifth largest animal on the planet and we’ll be in the water, right beside them!
**
Elijah and Dominic stood at the front of the catamaran as it slowly made its way out of the harbour. The vessel was packed with other excited tourists. It felt a little too crowded for Dominic’s liking, but it gave him a good excuse to stand really close to Elijah without any raised eyebrows from those inclined to do so.
They had booked a full day tour, as they were guaranteed more likely to see the whales that way, and more of them too. All food and drink was provided on board.
A member of crew called for everyone’s attention and proceeded to fill them in on the itinerary of the day, and what they expected to see. There were monitors around the vessel for underwater viewing, but the guests were assured that there would be plenty of whale activity above the water too.
It wasn’t long before they saw their first whale, and it was breathtaking. Dominic was standing behind Elijah; his hands thrust deep inside Elijah’s jeans pockets when only a few hundred yards in front of them a whale jumped out of the water. It was an unforgettable sight, which had Dominic scrabbling for his camera. Then before they knew it, there was a pod of whales, and whale song began filtering through the special speakers dotted around the catamaran.
The whale song was haunting, yet beautiful, and both Dominic and Elijah were mesmerised.
“This is wonderful, Elijah…” Dominic brushed Elijah’s hair away from his ear as he whispered into it. “Thank you… thank you so much for bringing me here.” He wrapped his arms around Elijah’s waist and rested his chin on his shoulder as this wonderful show of nature continued to unfold in front of them.
The day past quickly, but would be well remembered. Dominic had managed to photograph a young male whale as it playfully nudged the catamaran. Everyone had clung on to the railings, as the whale nudged the vessel again and again. The whale then brought its head out of the water and looked at the passengers watching him. It had been fucking incredible.
Humble… that’s how Dominic felt… humbled and honoured to have experienced such an event. And he had Elijah to thank for it! Elijah was amazing… he researched everywhere before they arrived, making sure that they got the best out of each location. If it had been left to him, Dominic knew that they would have surfed all day, and every day. It was just as well that Elijah took charge…
*
Dominic tidied up the kitchen area, while Elijah showered. They were parked on one of the few sites with no hook up facilities, but they knew a shower was essential. They had been soaked by sea spray all day long, and it had been hot, and the thought of climbing into bed without a wash wasn’t a particularly pleasant one.
Dominic stripped off his clothes and dumped them in the ‘to wash’ pile, which had grown at an alarming rate over the past few days. He knew that the number one task for the morning would be to find a launderette, before they set off for the Keppel Islands.
He looked at himself in the small mirror on the outside of the shower door. His hair had turned incredibly blonde, and had grown quite a bit since he had it all cut off in July. He ran his hand over his beard, and raised his chin to look at his face from a different angle, when suddenly his reflection was replaced by an image of a very wet looking Elijah.
“Oh…” Elijah had pulled the door open and was about to step out and grab a towel.
“Going somewhere?” Dominic asked as he stepped inside the small cubicle pushing Elijah back in and against the far wall.
“No…” Elijah smiled as he felt Dominic’s cool body press against his warm wet skin. There was very little room to manouevre.
Dominic slid the door closed as he switched on the shower and then took Elijah’s face in his hands. As the water ran over their heads he pushed away the long wet locks from Elijah’s forehead, and then tilted his head up slightly and kissed him on the lips.
A warmth immediately began pooling in his loins as their kiss developed into something more passionate, filled with hunger – always filled with hunger - and longing. The water rained down on them from above, but gradually it soon began to cool down and then eventually it ran out.
tbc
Author/Email: Salogel (salogel42@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Rating: 15 - for swearing
Summary: Dom and Lij travel along the Sunshine Coast.
WARNING: None
Feedback: Yes please
Archive:Hobbit Haven
Disclaimer: None of this happened or will ever happen. It is all made up in my overactive mind.
Additional Notes: Any flashbacks are written as they happened, and not necessarily as a point of view.
Previous chapters can be found here.
Thank Yous to: to Jesslotr for my wonderful icon! And Ru for being a fantastic beta!
World Trip
Chapter 33 – The Sunshine Coast
**
21 August 2005
I haven’t written in my journal for days. It has been difficult finding the time to do so, as Dom seems to be constantly at my side - which is incredibly nice - but it doesn’t give me much opportunity to write anything, and I miss putting my thoughts in here.
Our week in Sydney was fantastic. Not as relaxing as I would have liked, but then that is all my fault – I always want to see everything, and Dom is so incredibly understanding… he just tags along, letting me organize everything. He doesn’t really have much say…
However… I’m sure he’ll make the surfing decisions in terms of which beach is the best, once we head out of Brisbane. He has always been the better surfer…
… fuck - I haven’t surfed in almost two years! I’m gonna be like a total beginner…
*
Our flight is mercifully short. It was a panic this morning getting to the airport… we slept far too long in that fantastic mountain hotel, both of us exhausted from the day before … but we saw some awesome sights in those mountains. I really do regret not being able to stay there longer.
But that is life, and we are now on our way to Brisbane… plenty of sun, and sea… and… … driving.
Going to be fucking weird getting behind a steering wheel again. Last time I drove was in Berlin… fuck… that seems a long time ago.
Thinking of it…. … …Berlin.
Dom was such a different person back then... those days in Berlin and just afterwards, well, they were pretty dark. The change in him is profound… I fucking love Dom the way he is now.
Actually, on reflection, I would say we have both changed a great deal on this trip… and it has been so evident this past week.
Since getting of the ship, I feel different… fuck knows why, but I do. And Dom is so relaxed, not his usual edgy self. As far as I am aware he hasn’t been rude to one person this week… except maybe the porter in the hotel room!!! ….
…. Dom, I raise my hand… I’m one hundred percent guilty for that one!
I’m so glad that the trip to New Zealand is now out in the open... at last! It’s been fucking hard keeping quiet for all these months.
Trouble is, Dom now hovers over me when I log on to any Internet connection. So just before we flew out of Sydney I managed to send him on an errand and quickly e-mailed Sala my cell number, not that it will do much good – Dom is pretty much always within touching distance of me, so being secretive is no easy task.
Still… it is another means of communication… and there is one more thing I want Sala to organise, if he can. It’s a fucking brilliant idea… if he can work on it… it will have a really special meaning, and last more than a lifetime.
*
Dom is sitting next to me in a contemplative mood. We didn’t have much time at the airport, but I let him read an e-mail to me from Billy, which went something like this:
Elijah,
Get your fucking wanking boyfriend to open his e-mails and switch on his mobile!
Fuck… I’ll speak to him when you return home at Christmas!
Tell him he’s a bastard.
Bills
Of course after reading that, Dom wanted to log on, but we had to board our plane.
I’m trying to recall when it was that Dom seemed to cut off communication with home. I don’t think I have seen him make a single phone call, or check his e-mails since… Christ… well… since at least June when we were in Malawi. He was so sick back then… and since his recovery, well… he just seems too tied up with me.
Billy’s e-mail was a bit of a wake up call… I guess Dom will be looking for an Internet café as soon as we land.
And I need to call Mom too, she said she had some exciting news… but I must remember to get the time difference right, last time I woke her at 3am!
*
So, we’ll be landing in twenty minutes… I’m going to try and keep this journal updated a little more… especially when we get to New Zealand!!
**
Dominic stared at his hands as he waited for Elijah to sign all the necessary rental forms for their motor home. He felt guilty… no… more than guilty. Billy was right, he was a bastard. An unforgivable bastard.
“Shit…” Dominic ran his hands over his face… some bloody best mate he had turned out to be.
As soon as they had picked up their luggage at the airport Dominic knew he had to get to an Internet terminal, and when he logged on, he could not believe what he saw.
“Four hundred e-mails!” Dominic looked at Elijah in shock. “Fuck!”
Elijah shrugged. “I did tell you to keep on top of them, Dom… you’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
“Aw… shit, Lij.”
Elijah didn’t feel one ounce of sympathy. “I think you had better start making the peace with Billy. I’ll get us a drink.”
Dominic groaned as he scrolled down his in-box. He got rid of all the junk mail, and then looked at all the unopened e-mails from Billy. There were about thirty of them.
Shit, Bills. I’m sorry…
He opened the most recent one, which had just one word in it…. ‘Wanker!’
Aww, fuck! Dominic decided to start from the beginning.
“So?” Elijah sat down beside him and handed him a polystyrene cup of coffee. Dominic took a sip before placing it in a cup holder.
“He’s got a major role in a new movie. Fucking over the moon. His e-mails are full of it. I feel like a real shit, Lij. Billy’s my best mate…”
Elijah didn’t say anything.
“He’s gone away now… on location, for four or five months. Up some bloody mountain range in Argentina. I won’t even be able to wish him happy birthday.” Dominic looked glum.
“Of course you will… you can call him… remember that cell phone that you used to use?”
“Yeah… very funny…” Dominic wasn’t in the mood for humour. “Look at this…” He clicked open an e-mail.
Dom, you bastard!
Where the fuck are you?
I give up!
There is no way you’ll be able to reach me until I return.
Thanks for nothing, mate.
B.
“He didn’t even sign his name, Lij. He’s really pissed at me.”
Elijah sighed. “Just send an e-mail anyway, Dom. It can’t hurt. Maybe he will pick it up at some point. And Dom…
“Yeah…” Dominic looked forlorn.
“Grovel like fucking mad.”
So Dominic had written it, and sent it, and he knew that once they were hooked up to an electric supply he was going to charge his phone and attempt a call. That’s if he could find his fucking mobile. The last time he saw it, it was buried at the bottom of his suitcase.
He couldn’t believe how selfish he had become… Elijah had become his world… to the exclusion of all others.
“Ready?” Elijah handed the motor home keys to Dominic.
“I’m driving?” Dominic stood up. He still looked miserable.
“Yes… you need to take your mind off Billy. Concentrate on something else. You know he’ll be cool… he’ll come round… in the end. You two are like brothers… don’t let it get you down.”
Dominic took the keys and stared at them. There was fuck all he could do to amend the situation… but boy had he learned a lesson… a bloody big fat hard lesson. He looked at Elijah but couldn’t smile. He had been a wanker all his life… so nothing had changed there, then. Fuck to it all…
“Come on, Dom.” Elijah hoisted his luggage over his shoulder… “Let’s get moving.”
*
The motor home was small but adequate, and well equipped.
“Are we going to cook in here?” Dominic looked around the small space.
“Yeah… it’ll be cool. It’ll be cosy.” Elijah dropped his suitcase on the floor.
“Cosy… sounds good…” Dominic peered into the cupboards, and then tried the taps.
“No water…?” He looked at Elijah.
Elijah smiled. “It gets filled up before we leave, same with the gas for the cooker.”
“Right…” Dominic peered into the small shower cubicle. “Hmmm…this looks like fun!” He looked over his shoulder and winked at Elijah.
“Not a lot of room is there?”
“Just how I like it… up close, and very personal!”
Elijah grinned… Dominic was sounding a little better. He knew how Dominic could brood over things and let them fester. He was upset about Billy, of that there was no doubt, but hopefully he would be able to push it to one side and concentrate on the trip ahead.
“So, where do we sleep?”
“Up here…” Elijah stepped onto one of the seats and crawled into the compartment over the driver’s cabin.
Dominic followed him. The bed was big, although not quite double size.
“Very nice!” Dominic rolled onto his stomach and looked out of one of the small windows at the end of the bed. Elijah crawled over him to get to floor level, when Dominic caught him by the wrist and pulled him back in. He gathered Elijah on top of him, and kissed him.
Elijah nestled his legs between Dominic’s thighs and looked questioningly at him. “You going to be ok, Dommie?”
Dominic studied Elijah’s face for a moment… before nodding. “How could I not be, baby…” he spoke softly. “I’m with you…” They kissed again, and for a while lost themselves in each other.
*
Their first stop was a supermarket. The motor home rental company had given Elijah directions, and a wallet full of maps, brochures and information giving them advice and instruction on safe traveling.
One of the first points was, ‘don’t always expect to find a fully powered campsite.’ So with shopping trolley at the ready they trawled the shelves and filled it up.
“Candles?” Dominic picked up a box. “Can we use them?”
“In an emergency, I guess…”
Dominic dropped them into the trolley.
They spent an hour buying things, and then another hour putting them all away. Finally they were ready to hit the road proper.
“So…” Dominic slid into the driver’s seat. “Where are we going?”
“Bribie Island… should get there before dark.”
“Great… ok…” Dominic felt a little nervous. The half a mile drive to the supermarket had been nothing, this however was completely different.
“Want me to drive?” Elijah could see how apprehensive Dominic was. “I don’t mind.”
“No… I’ll be fine…” Dominic turned on the ignition. “We have insurance don’t we?” He grinned at Elijah as he pulled out of the car park.
“Don’t even joke about it, Dom!”
They joined the Brisbane rush hour traffic.
**
22 August 2005
This morning we are going to find a different campsite. We arrived here late yesterday evening, and basically it’s nothing more than a field.
Dom is eager to check out the beaches, there are several on this island… he’s speaking to one of the locals now, getting directions, and finding out where we can obtain beach permits
It’s going to take some time getting used to living in this vehicle, especially after living in hotels for months on end.
But it’s kinda cool - like living in our New Zealand trailer, only smaller. Dom seems to love it; he even cooked breakfast this morning…
We made a deal though… if the weather gets bad, we’re booking into a hotel. I can’t imagine anything more miserable than being stuck in here with nothing to do. Although I guess Dom would make sure we had plenty to do… and it’s not something I can’t write about in here!
I need to call Mom, and both of us need to find an Internet Café. At least Dom will be busy with his own e-mails, he told me he has to send one to Danae. He was in no mood to write to her yesterday. At least that will give me a little space to see if Sala has contacted me regarding my latest idea, although I don’t think I have given him enough time to re-arrange things and organise it.
Dom’s coming back now… I guess it’s time to make a fool of myself on the surfboard!
**
“You look amazing!” Dominic eyed Elijah appreciatively as they walked up the shore to their bags.
Elijah laughed… “Not on a surf board I don’t.”
Dominic smiled. “It’ll come, Lij. You’re just a bit rusty… by the end of the week you’ll be like an old pro again.”
“Maybe…” “Elijah sat down on his towel, removed his goggles, and replaced them with his glasses.
Dominic sat down beside him as he unzipped the top of his wet suit. “The surf’s not brilliant… but it’ll get better.” He shook his head getting rid of the last of the seawater from his hair. “And there are so few people about. Couldn’t ask for more could we?”
“Nope…” Elijah began shrugging out of his suit… it was stuck to him like a second skin.
“Want some help?” Dominic helped peel away the thick wet fabric.
“Thanks…”
“Hmmm… pity we’re not alone…” Dominic murmured as he tugged the wetsuit over Elijah’s hips.
Elijah just grinned as he wriggled out of the garment.
The weather was warm… pleasantly warm… almost hot, and the sun was still as dangerous as it was during the summer months.
Dominic smoothed the sun cream over Elijah’s body… something he always loved doing. Elijah was dozing… his skin had warmed up considerably after coming out of the sea, so the cream sank in immediately… making his already tanned skin glow.
Fucking beautiful, Elijah… Dominic continued, letting his hands and fingers travel everywhere… Elijah murmured appreciatively half in and half out of sleep.
I’m so fucking lucky… Dominic stopped what he was doing and stared at Elijah’s body as a wave of emotion suddenly hit him. Never in a thousand years did he ever think he would be as happy as he was right now. Never in a million years did he ever think he would fall in love with someone, so deeply… so totally, so irrevocably. And never… never, in all eternity did he think he would find anyone who would love him in return, and unconditionally, too.
Elijah could have had anyone… but he chose him, an almost totally unknown British actor, and Dominic often thought why? What was so different about him? What did Elijah see in him that no one else did? He could be aggressive, domineering, self centered and utterly selfish. Elijah had none of these traits… he was the most caring, understanding and tolerant person that he had ever known. And boy, did he have to be tolerant…
Dominic knew he could be a real pain in the arse to live with… he knew that better than anyone. Yet, Elijah was always there for him, putting up with his moods, and his tantrums, and at times, his soul destroying insecurities. So why? What was it about him that made Elijah stay?
Why did Elijah love him?
Elijah turned onto his back, his eyes were still closed.
“Why do you love me, Lij?” Dominic whispered as his hands slowly began to move over Elijah’s warm body again.
“Dom?” Elijah opened his eyes and squinted at Dominic.
“Umm… oh, Lij…” Dominic was startled that Elijah had heard him; he had thought he was asleep.
“What did you say?”
“Ummm… well… nothing.” Dominic stammered. “I was just wondering…that’s all… you know, just thinking out loud.”
“Wondering…?”
“Umm… yes… “
“About what?”
“Well…” Dominic scratched his head, uncertain whether or not to say exactly what had been thinking.
“Dom…?”
“Ok…” Dominic nodded as he looked down at his hands, he suddenly felt incredibly vulnerable. “I was just wondering what it is… about me, Lij… that you love so much.” He raised his eyes and looked directly at Elijah. “I don’t think I could ever love me.”
Elijah propped himself up on his elbows and studied Dominic’s face. “What on earth has made you ask this, Dom?”
“I don’t know,” Dominic felt embarrassed. “Like I said, I was just thinking out loud, … ignore me… I might go away.”.
“No… don’t go away… don’t ever go away.” Elijah took Dominic’s hand and pulled him down beside him.
They looked at each other before Elijah spoke again.
“I’m sorry, Dom.” Elijah tenderly touched the side of Dominic’s face. “I’m sorry that you have to question that. I don’t show you or tell you often enough just how much I love you. But I do…” Elijah kissed Dominic gently on the lips, knowing now that his surprise in New Zealand was more important than ever.
“I know you do, baby. I know… and you do show me, all the time, by just being with me. But… but I guess I’ll never know the reason why…”
“Why?” Elijah repeated. “You re asking why I love you? Well… there is only one answer why, Dom, and that is because, you are you.”
Dominic smiled; the serious look on his face melted away. “You’re too fucking good for me, Elijah…you know that? But God, I fucking love you for it.” Then Dominic rolled on top of Elijah and began kissing him, oblivious to any onlookers who maybe watching nearby.
**
24 August 2005
Called Mom this morning… seems she has caught the travel bug too. She is taking Hannah on a cruise… some island cruise or something I didn’t quite hear where. She should enjoy it; it’s totally her scene… she wanted some advice… what to take… what to wear?
How the fuck do I know? She’s a woman! And Hannah will be ten times worse.
Anyway, I hope they enjoy it. I can keep in touch via e-mail, although I know what Mom’s like when she goes away… no interruptions. At least I’ll get to speak to her before we go to New Zealand, she’ll be back by then, and I’m going to tell her what I have planned!
New Zealand…it’s getting so close now! I can’t fucking wait.
And, Dom… you wanted to know why… why I love you? New Zealand will answer that question and more, I’m sure.
Thirty-four days until we fly out! Fucking cool!!!!!!!!
**
It was Elijah’s turn to drive, providing they didn’t get lost it should take them two hours to reach the next site that Dominic had ear-marked on their journey along the beautiful Sunshine Coast. He wanted to steer clear of the main tourist traps, although their next stop after Coolum was one of the post popular places along this stunning Australian coastline.
Coolum was a quiet beachside town, so the brochure said, and if the conditions were right, then the surfing could be exceptional.
Elijah’s surfing skills were returning, and he was really beginning to enjoy himself, and Dominic couldn’t help thinking back to their early days in New Zealand when they were new to the sport, and new to each other. Seeing Elijah half naked back then used to send him delirious with desire, and it still did now. Elijah’s wetsuit never left anything to the imagination…
If only we could find a private cove or beach, with no one else around… Dominic thought as he looked out the window at the scenery passing before him. We did once, long ago… The old New Zealand memory made Dominic smile as he glanced at Elijah who, was concentrating so diligently on his driving. God, I’m still as crazy about you now, as I was then…
*
Coolum was perfect. After finding the RV Park and hooking up to the relevant supplies, Dominic set about making something to eat while Elijah went in search of information. Both of them wanted access to the Internet – that day.
Dominic was already peeved with himself with regard to ignoring contact with home. When he had finally checked his e-mails there had been a lovely one from Danae.
Danae had been so kind and understanding towards him, although he hadn’t deserved it. She talked with reason, and had given him hope, and she made him look deep into his soul, where, at long last he found answers, and some form of peace. He didn’t like to think what could have happened if he hadn’t been made to confront his fears and talk them through with her.
Would he still be with Elijah? He seriously doubted it… And without Elijah he would be nothing, so… he had a lot to thank Danae for… without knowing it, she has probably saved his life, because without Elijah, he knew he would have no life. He stared out the window as he recalled the time on her boat. He was a different person back then… he’d almost driven Elijah away.
Thank you, Danae… Dominic returned to his food preparation. As soon as Elijah returned and they had eaten, his first priority was to write to her, he owed her that much, at least. In fact, he knew he owed her everything.
*
The library. Elijah looked at the address he was given and then translated that to his town map. Dominic unhooked the motor home and off they went. They found the library quickly; it was small with one computer terminal, which had a list a mile long of people waiting to use it.
So they filled in a form and joined the queue. Then they wandered outside to sit in the warm sunshine.
Finally Dominic’s turn came.
“I’ll wait out here, Dom.” Elijah knew that Dominic would need some privacy to write whatever it was he wanted to write to Danae. “Come and get me when you’ve finished.”
“Sure?” Dominic asked.
Elijah nodded… “Go on.”
So Dominic took a seat and logged on to his e-mail account. There was nothing from Billy, and he felt a little disappointed, although he had totally expected it.
He opened Danae’s e-mail again…
Dominic,
I hope this finds you well.
I have written separately to Elijah.
Thank you for the photograph, it came out very well. We are all smiling… it was a good end to our boat trip.
So how are you, Dominic? Are you dealing with things better now? You were so troubled when you were on my boat. It is never easy to overcome such a deep rooted fear.
I do hope that you have been able to think things through more rationally. Your relationship with Elijah is the most valuable thing that you have. You must treasure it, and look upon it as a gift. A great gift.
I am on a weekend break now, this time of year is very busy for me… but occasionally I need to rest.
I would love to hear about your travels in Africa, if you have the time.
Take care my dear, Dominic…
Yours,
Danae.
The e-mail was dated 30 July. So it wasn’t that long ago. Dominic had been going over in his mind exactly what he was going to write. But now that he was sat with his fingers hovering over the keyboard, he couldn’t remember any of it, so he just wrote, and from the heart.
Dear Danae,
Please excuse my delay in replying… I’m crap at keeping in touch, Elijah’s the one who has been keeping folk at home updated on our travels.
We are in Australia now, Africa seems so long ago. We had a good time there, despite me falling ill, again. But I will not bore you with those details.
Reading your e-mail, I know that you are right… Elijah is a treasure… irreplaceable and priceless - and Danae, I swear my love for him grows daily.
You asked if I am better, now? I do believe I am. Much better… and I can’t thank you enough for knocking some sense into me. You are the only person I have ever spoken to about my fears, I have carried them with me for so long, and they were eating away at me, and eventually I think, deep down, that they would have destroyed my relationship with Elijah.
Being able to talk to someone who has experienced such anguish and pain as I have was such a relief. I will never be able to thank you enough. Although as you so rightly told me, your pain was greater. I have always harboured the fear of losing, while you yourself experienced true loss. How you came through it, Danae, I will never know… you are a very strong person… I am however, very weak… I have learnt that now.
At times it’s very hard for me to explain how I feel, because it overwhelms me. Just a couple of days ago I found myself questioning once more why Elijah loves me. And I know that if you were here, right now, you would sit me down and tell me that sometimes there are no answers…
I sometimes feel that Elijah and I were meant to be … does that sound stupid? You know he is my life, Danae, and out of the millions of people on this planet he chose me… it’s like it was really meant to be. Like fate intervened and plucked me from out of nowhere to become part of his life, and it’s a life that he truly wants, too.
I still have self-doubt, and fears, but I am learning to keep a lid on them, not letting them surface and take over. I have found that I am less tolerable of people since Elijah’s attack, less trusting, as you yourself know.
I would keep Elijah away from everyone if I had my way, but I know that is not the way, you taught me that… and your lesson was hard… but I am getting there! I hope that Elijah can see a difference in me.
We’re going to New Zealand in a few weeks. It’s for a birthday party, but at the same time it will be a very special occasion for us. You see, it will be six years ago that I first met Elijah. You have no idea how special that day was for me… when I first saw him…when he came into my life.
I’m hoping to do something special for him, when we are out there. I have no idea what just yet, perhaps take him to one of our favourite beaches…
But do you know what I wish I could do? Propose to him, I mean really propose, no fooling around and pretending. Ask Elijah to marry me!
God he would love that, Danae – he would love that more than anything. If only it were possible… …maybe it will be one day… in a few years time… who knows?
Ok, I’m going to end here. I hope you pick up this e-mail soon, and I promise I will reply a lot quicker next time.
Thank you for staying in touch, Danae I owe you so much.
Love always,
Dominic
Dominic stared at his typing but didn’t read over it. He didn’t want to alter anything, he wanted it to go as it stood, because he knew if he altered anything, then it wouldn’t be from the heart.
He clicked ‘send’.
Speak again soon, Danae. Dominic whispered as he logged off.
“All done?” Elijah asked as he stood up and stretched; he had dozed off in the sunny garden.
“Yep.”
“Sure? Anything from Billy?”
“Nope…”
Elijah nodded in acceptance. “Come on then, let’s go.”
“Don’t you want to log on?” Dominic frowned as he pointed to the library behind him.
“No, changed my mind, I can do it later.” Elijah grinned inwardly… he had spoken to Sala on his cell while Dominic was inside. “It can wait.”
“Ok, then. To the beach? We could fit a walk in before it gets dark?”
“Cool…”
They both made their way back to their motor home.
***
Sunshine Beach… highly recommended. But as they drove into their next destination, Noosa, they discovered that the caravan park was a long way away from the beach.
“You know, if we had a tent, we could camp on the beach. Then we wouldn’t have to keep on plugging and unplugging this bloody vehicle.” Dominic moaned as he pulled into the campsite, and parked the motor home.
They both got out and stretched their legs before booking in. Then after securing a pitch they were on their way again, by the time they reached the beach, the sun was beginning to go down.
Dominic locked the motor home, removed his trainers and followed Elijah onto the sand. The beach was deserted, and seemed to go on for miles and miles in either direction. The sand was white, and warm between his toes. It was a spectacular setting, and reminded him very much of the beaches in New Zealand.
Elijah looked out at the sea, this looked like the best beach so far for surfing. He found he was looking forward to their daily surf time, he hadn’t realised just how much he had missed it. The thrill of waiting for the right wave and then riding it was an awesome feeling – especially when he didn’t fall off the board!
Surfing was also a tiring sport, and Elijah knew his fitness levels had dropped off over the months that they had been away, and with a weakened ankle he did find surfing difficult at times, but wasn’t going to tell Dominic. So far so good… he was being extra careful, and made sure he had plenty of rest in between times. Dominic on the other hand, was never out of the sea!
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dominic took Elijah’s hand as they walked towards the surf. “How long here, Lij?”
“Three days…”
“Fantastic…” The water felt cool, not cold as it washed over their feet. “If the coastline is like this all the way to Cairns, I think I may never want to leave.”
“Wait till you see The Great Barrier Reef!” Elijah said as he watched the waves wet the bottom of him jeans.
“That’s it… I know I won’t want to leave.”
“Over thirteen hundred miles long…”
“Jesus, is that right?”
Elijah nodded. “It’s going to be awesome… fucking awesome.”
They strode along the beach awhile, and stopped now and then to kiss and watch the sun slowly sink towards the horizon. The water turned golden where the dying rays hit it. Dominic took a few photographs of the sunset and then of Elijah wading in front of him. He knew which was the more beautiful…
***
“To absent friends!” Dominic clinked his beer bottle with Elijah’s. “Happy birthday, Bills, wherever you are.” Dominic paused before taking a mouthful of cold liquid. “Hope it’s a good one.”
Elijah smiled gently… it was Dominic’s idea to celebrate Billy’s birthday, and why not? It was late evening and they were sitting outside their motor home, drinking and eating, after a long day of surfing. Dominic had even purchased a cake and put a candle on it, and then set up his camera and took a self-timed photograph of himself and Elijah blowing the candle out. It was his way of letting Billy know that he was thinking about him on his special day.
“Wonder what he’s doing?” Dominic drained his bottle and opened another. “I hope he’s not too drunk.”
“Well, you soon will be.” Elijah indicated the empty bottles that were gradually building up on the grass by Dominic’s feet. “Then you’ll snore all night, and I won’t get any sleep!”
Dominic laughed. “Well let’s both get smashed, that way we can pass out, and it won’t bother you!”
Elijah grinned.
“I’m sure Billy would appreciate us getting blitzed in honour of his birthday! He’s probably out of his head, right now!” Dominic took another drink.
Elijah chuckled. “I seriously doubt it, not half way up a mountain.”
“You don’t know Billy… he’ll have his whiskey stashed away somewhere. Aww… shit, Lij!” Dominic drank all his beer down at once. “I wish I could fucking speak to him and wish him happy birthday.”
“I know, Dom… I know.”
Dominic opened another bottle in silence. Elijah slowly sipped his beer; somehow he just knew he was going to have keep a clear head.
*
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLS!!!! YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!”
Dominic had climbed onto the top of the motor home and was shouting at the top of his voice, a half full bottle of beer dangled from his fingertips.
Elijah had disappeared to the on site washrooms, and as he made his way back he could hear Dominic’s loud voice filtering through the night air. Shit…! He took off at a run!
Dominic was now singing happy birthday as loudly as he could, and out of tune.
“Dom! Get down!” Elijah was concerned. “Before you fucking fall off!”
“Lijah!!!” Dominic grinned down at Elijah. “Come and join me. The view is great from up here!”
“Dom… get down!”
“Come up here baby, and I can snog you under the stars.”
“Dom…” Elijah couldn’t help but chuckle. “Just get down, will you?”
“You’re not coming up?”
Elijah shook his head… “No…you come down!”
Dominic groaned. He took another swig of beer and then turned round so that he was facing the other direction. He tilted his head backwards and started to sing Auld Lang’s Syne.
“Jesus Christ, Dom! You’ll have us kicked out!” Elijah ran to the other end of the vehicle so that he could see Dominic’s face.
Dominic carried on singing.
“DOM!!”
Dominic stopped and pouted. “You can be such a spoil sport, Lij. Just ‘cause you can’t sing!”
“And nor can you when you’re pissed! Now will you just get down before you break your fucking neck? I don’t like the idea of finishing this holiday on my own.”
“Stand back…”
“Don’t you jump!”
Dominic leapt off the roof, landed with a thud on the ground, did a forward roll, and then stood up. “Peace of cake!” He shook himself and grinned at Elijah.
“You twat!”
“Hmmm… you look gorgeous, in the moonlight, Lij!” Dominic took hold of Elijah’s hands and pulled him towards him, so that their bodies bumped together.
“There is no moon, Dom!” Elijah tried to keep a straight face.
“There isn’t?” Dominic looked up at the night sky. “Where did it go?”
Elijah laughed… “I think I should make you some strong coffee!”
“Don’t want coffee… want you…” Dominic put a hand behind Elijah’s head and pulled him in for a kiss. Then he burped!
“Thanks, Dom!”
“Oops…” Dominic grinned sheepishly! “I think I’ve drunk a little too much!”
Elijah nodded and tried to pull himself free.
“Just one little kiss…” Dominic succeeded this time, and Elijah endured the beer taste of Dominic’s mouth.
“Nice!” Dominic pulled back and looked at Elijah’s mouth. “You taste like honey.”
“Dom!” Elijah was highly amused.
“Honey and ice-cream!”
“Get outta here!” Elijah tried to remove himself from Dominic’s clinch.
“Wanna taste the rest of you… see what hidden flavours you have!”
“Well, not out here you’re not!” Elijah giggled.
“No one will see!” Dominic took a step backwards, and then suddenly staggered. “Oh…”
Elijah caught him before he fell.
“Who moved the ground?” Dominic clung to Elijah as the horizon kept dipping this way and that.
“Come on, you…” Elijah helped Dominic into one of the chairs. Once he sat down Dominic pulled Elijah into another embrace, tipping the chair backwards sending them both sprawling on the grass.
“Ouch!” Dominic complained, and then looked at Elijah’s face, which was only inches away from his own. “Oh, hello… do I know you?”
Elijah looked at Dominic seriously for a moment before laughing out loud.
“You are such a wanker, Dom Monaghan!”
“But you love me anyway!” Dominic grinned and then they both kissed…
Getting a drunk Dominic into bed was no easy task. Elijah decided to make up the lower bunk. There was no way he was going to let Dominic climb into the overhead bed, not in the condition he was in… knowing him, he would fall out!
So in between Dominic’s insistence on continuously trying to snog him, Elijah managed to get Dominic undressed and ready for bed. Getting him to take piss inside instead of outside, however proved more difficult, and Dominic ended up standing outside the motor home, stark naked, emptying his extremely full bladder. Elijah just prayed that no one would come along.
When he had finished, Elijah dragged him back inside, and then got undressed himself. When they both crawled under the sheets, Dominic gathered Elijah into his arms.
“I love you, my Lijah… you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Dominic began, his voice was slurry. “I love you more than anything… more than… more than… I dunno… more than…”
Elijah smiled in the dark.
“Well, just more than… know what I mean?” Dominic pulled Elijah in a little tighter.
“Yes, Dom… I know.”
Elijah heard Dominic yawn. God, was he going to have the mother of all hangovers in the morning.
“You’re my everything, Lijah. Hey… that’s a song isn’t it?” Dominic kissed Elijah lightly on the forehead.
Elijah thought for a moment that Dominic was going to start singing again.
He actually started to hum. Elijah pressed his finger against Dominic’s mouth.
“Sshhh… Dom. Let’s try and get some sleep now…”
“I love you, my Lijah.” Dominic snuggled in even closer… his voice was becoming more slurred as sleep began to take over. “I love you so much…”
“I love you too, Dom…”
“Love… … You… … Lijah… …” Dominic’s breathing slowed… his words were now no more than a whisper. “Want you… … Lij…. …Want you to marry me.”
Then he was asleep.
**
29 August 2005
We’ve spent most of the day here at the campsite. Dom isn’t well, poor bastard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so green. He’s been in bed for most of the day. I knew he would have a hangover.
He can’t remember much about last night, and he doesn’t believe me that he was on the roof!
He doesn’t remember me putting him to bed either… he doesn’t remember any of it…
So there’s no point… no point at all in telling him that he asked me marry him.
It will only ever remain just a dream…
**
North, to their last stop on the Sunshine Coast. The sun was blaring down, and Dominic was fiddling with the air conditioning controls while Elijah drove. The further north they went the hotter it was getting. It really was quite hard to believe that this weather was considered to be ‘winter’.
Dominic glanced through Elijah’s guidebook, one of many on he had on this area of Australia. They were headed for a place called Hervey Bay near Fraser Island. Elijah had learnt that it was whale season, and special trips could be arranged for tourists to be taken out into the bay to see the whales up close. It sounded fascinating, and would be a nice break from all the surfing they had been doing.
Fraser Island also sounded very interesting. The biggest sand island in the world, and more than probably the last place that they would surf before heading off into the tropics and the realm of the Great Barrier Reef.
It was going to be an enjoyable few days… Dominic closed the book and looked out the window. The scenery was beautiful. He had spent most of his of time while on the road, trying to spot kangaroos. He’d heard that they were everywhere but he had only seen them in the far distance. It was weird really, because the only time he had ever seen kangaroos were in zoos or wildlife parks. He was more used to see cows and horses in fields, not wild kangaroos hopping about.
“Want a drink, Lij?” Dominic unclipped his seat belt and went to the rear of the vehicle.
“Please!”
Dominic returned with two cold bottles of coke. He handed one to Elijah as he re-took his seat.
“Want me to change the CD?” Dominic picked up the collection of CDs they had bought from various supermarkets.
“Can do…”
Dominic selected one and placed it in the CD player. Music, which had been such a big part of their lives before this trip, had taken a complete back seat for months now. It was quite nice to just sit back and listen to some as they covered the long distances between each port of call.
Dominic put his sunglasses on as he took his usual position of looking out the window… then he sat bolt upright.
“Fucking hell!”
“What!” Elijah felt the motor home swerve as he turned to look at Dominic.
“Look at that!”
“Look at what!” Elijah managed to get the vehicle back under control.
“Kangaroos! Bloody loads of them!”
“For Christ’s sake, Dom!”
“Well… I ain’t seen them before. Gotta get a picture!”
“Dom, you wanker! You frightened the living shit out of me! We’re in Australia… what did you expect!”
Dominic returned with his camera. “Pull over, Lij.”
“Dom!”
“Come on,” Dominic whined.
Elijah rolled his eyes as his foot applied the brakes.
“Brilliant!” Dominic went and stood by the door, and as soon as the vehicle came to a halt he hopped outside, and took his picture. Once he returned he sat down with a big cheesy grin on his face!
“Happy?” Elijah slipped the gear into first.
“Very.”
“Don’t want to go looking for any cute koalas?”
“Ha, ha, very funny.”
Elijah pulled back onto the road.
**
2 September 2005
What a fantastic day! We arrived here in Hervey Bay yesterday, but spent today on an organised tour of Fraser Island.
It is absolutely incredible. When you hear that it is a sand island, you have visions of it being just one big sand bank in the sea. Well this island is so diverse; it’s like a complete miracle.
I think the thing that amazed me more than anything is, although the island is essentially sand based, we walked through a rain forest. I mean how incredible is that?
Dom loved it. He’s always had a thing for forests and trees. Unfortunately, because it was an organized tour we didn’t have a great amount of time in each place. But Dom managed to take plenty of photographs, and we sat together this evening looking through them all on the back of his camera.
One of the fascinating things that interested us both was a shipwreck on the east coast of the island. S.S. Maheno. It was grounded there in 1935, seventy years ago. I’ve never seen a real shipwreck before. It was creepy just lying there in the sand with the sea lapping around its hull. It kind of reminded me of some prehistoric skeleton - a beast long dead…
We’re going to spend tomorrow surfing, and then the day after we’re going on the whale watch. We were lucky to get a place on the boat. They are usual booked up for weeks on end. It’s amazing how Tolkien has opened a closed door for us on so many occasions!
I can recall looking at the whales with Mal in South Africa, that was awesome, but this should be even more so. We shall be seeing humpback whales, the fifth largest animal on the planet and we’ll be in the water, right beside them!
**
Elijah and Dominic stood at the front of the catamaran as it slowly made its way out of the harbour. The vessel was packed with other excited tourists. It felt a little too crowded for Dominic’s liking, but it gave him a good excuse to stand really close to Elijah without any raised eyebrows from those inclined to do so.
They had booked a full day tour, as they were guaranteed more likely to see the whales that way, and more of them too. All food and drink was provided on board.
A member of crew called for everyone’s attention and proceeded to fill them in on the itinerary of the day, and what they expected to see. There were monitors around the vessel for underwater viewing, but the guests were assured that there would be plenty of whale activity above the water too.
It wasn’t long before they saw their first whale, and it was breathtaking. Dominic was standing behind Elijah; his hands thrust deep inside Elijah’s jeans pockets when only a few hundred yards in front of them a whale jumped out of the water. It was an unforgettable sight, which had Dominic scrabbling for his camera. Then before they knew it, there was a pod of whales, and whale song began filtering through the special speakers dotted around the catamaran.
The whale song was haunting, yet beautiful, and both Dominic and Elijah were mesmerised.
“This is wonderful, Elijah…” Dominic brushed Elijah’s hair away from his ear as he whispered into it. “Thank you… thank you so much for bringing me here.” He wrapped his arms around Elijah’s waist and rested his chin on his shoulder as this wonderful show of nature continued to unfold in front of them.
The day past quickly, but would be well remembered. Dominic had managed to photograph a young male whale as it playfully nudged the catamaran. Everyone had clung on to the railings, as the whale nudged the vessel again and again. The whale then brought its head out of the water and looked at the passengers watching him. It had been fucking incredible.
Humble… that’s how Dominic felt… humbled and honoured to have experienced such an event. And he had Elijah to thank for it! Elijah was amazing… he researched everywhere before they arrived, making sure that they got the best out of each location. If it had been left to him, Dominic knew that they would have surfed all day, and every day. It was just as well that Elijah took charge…
*
Dominic tidied up the kitchen area, while Elijah showered. They were parked on one of the few sites with no hook up facilities, but they knew a shower was essential. They had been soaked by sea spray all day long, and it had been hot, and the thought of climbing into bed without a wash wasn’t a particularly pleasant one.
Dominic stripped off his clothes and dumped them in the ‘to wash’ pile, which had grown at an alarming rate over the past few days. He knew that the number one task for the morning would be to find a launderette, before they set off for the Keppel Islands.
He looked at himself in the small mirror on the outside of the shower door. His hair had turned incredibly blonde, and had grown quite a bit since he had it all cut off in July. He ran his hand over his beard, and raised his chin to look at his face from a different angle, when suddenly his reflection was replaced by an image of a very wet looking Elijah.
“Oh…” Elijah had pulled the door open and was about to step out and grab a towel.
“Going somewhere?” Dominic asked as he stepped inside the small cubicle pushing Elijah back in and against the far wall.
“No…” Elijah smiled as he felt Dominic’s cool body press against his warm wet skin. There was very little room to manouevre.
Dominic slid the door closed as he switched on the shower and then took Elijah’s face in his hands. As the water ran over their heads he pushed away the long wet locks from Elijah’s forehead, and then tilted his head up slightly and kissed him on the lips.
A warmth immediately began pooling in his loins as their kiss developed into something more passionate, filled with hunger – always filled with hunger - and longing. The water rained down on them from above, but gradually it soon began to cool down and then eventually it ran out.
tbc
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Sorry it took me so long to get to it - bloody computers!
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While away I drafted up the next few chapters!!!
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There was something about Lij in Sept Empire - he is such a clever boy!