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fellowshippers2005-08-09 10:37 am
ex-salwood.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2005-08-09 10:37 am
World Trip - A Birthday Snapshot
Title: (World Trip) - A Birthday Snapshot
Author: Salogel42
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Summary: This story takes place 7 weeks after Dominic and Elijah's return from honeymoon.
Rating: 15 - for a bit of swearing
Warning: None
Disclaimer: None of this is real... all made up.
Author's Note: This snapshot is a continuation of my World Trip/The Wedding series, which can be found here
World Trip
A Birthday Snapshot
Dominic looked at his watch. Christ, how many times had he checked it this afternoon? Fifty times? One hundred? He looked at it again and followed the second hand as it slowly ticked around the clock face… Why was time dragging so fucking much?
“Dom!”
Dominic jumped, startled momentarily by Peter’s voice.
“You’re going to wear that watch out, mate.” Peter glanced up at the office clock hanging at a precarious angle above his computer console.
“Want to call it a day?” Peter asked. He knew Dominic’s plans for the coming weekend. Dominic had been on edge from the moment he had arrived in work that morning, and as the afternoon wore on, it had become more and more evident that his attention was elsewhere.
“Well, I … I haven’t finished this yet, Pete.” Dominic looked rather sheepishly at Peter, and then at his computer screen.
“And you’re not likely to, either. Go on, off with you!” Peter waved his hand. “Go see Elijah.”
Dominic couldn’t help grinning.
“And wish him a happy birthday on Sunday from Fran and me!”
“Thanks, Pete.” Dominic scraped his chair backwards.
“But be in early on Monday!”
“I will… I will…” Dominic opened his desk drawer and retrieved an envelope. He slipped it into his carryall.
“Thanks, Pete. Thanks for this…” Dominic stood meekly in front of his boss.
“Well…” Peter smiled. “What are you waiting for?”
Dominic grinned and slapped Peter on the back before quickly making his way outside into the hot bright New Zealand sunshine.
*
Elijah was on his knees. He had been on his knees for the past hour and twenty minutes, and any second now he was going to be lying on his back, and with a man he had never met before in his entire life.
He laughed quietly to himself at this bizarre situation. He never knew that installing an espresso machine could lead to such intimacy with a complete stranger!
The stranger grunted as he struggled with the old plumbing. A few obscenities were thrown in every now and then, mingled in with the odd barking order as the stranger- come-plumber asked Elijah to hand him certain tools.
Mal hovered in the background. Elijah’s shop had been open for just five weeks, and had become the place to hang out. The breakfast bar they had built at one end of the shop was in constant use, and the kettle and jar of instant coffee were no longer an option - they had to go.
The youngsters of today were into posh coffee, served in proper cups. This of course meant, washing facilities were needed, which in turn meant registering with the Public Health Inspector.
The plumbing, as old as it was, received a clean bill of health after drainage was installed. All that was left to do was install the hi tech, but incredibly expensive espresso machine… but try telling that to the bastard pipes which ended up being two centimetres too short. It was either saw the breakfast bar in half… or scramble about on hands and knees underneath Mal’s wonderful wooden construction, and start lengthening and soldering the water pipes.
There was no contest. The shop was far too busy for any major reconstruction to start taking place in the middle of the day. And as the plumber was on his own - because he had envisaged it being any easy job - Elijah ended up with no option but to help install the machine.
Mal kept one eye on Elijah while attending to customers, sorting out new stock, and organising bookings for the recording room. He had never envisaged Elijah’s shop taking off as well as it did. Elijah had obviously found a niche in the market, and once curiosity of a hobbit owning a music shop had passed, he was sure it would settle down to a manageable and quite profitable little business.
“Errm….” A young man with an armful of purchases looked around the payment counter. “Do I make my payment payable to Elijah’s Shop?”
Mal nodded. Elijah’s Shop. Actually the shop had no official name. On his return from honeymoon Elijah had been ecstatic, and barely able to contain himself on his first day back with Mal.
“He’s giving me his name, Mal. I’m going to have Dom’s name. This means the shop’s name will have to change, not that I had anything concrete in mind. But how fucking cool is that, Mal? I’m going to be a Monaghan.”
Mal remembered smiling at the joy that filled Elijah’s face. “That’s wonderful Elijah,” he had said. “I am very happy for you.”
Elijah had just stood there in front of him grinning from ear to ear.
“So… It’s just ‘Elijah’s Shop’ for now, then?” Mal confirmed, making a mental note to contact the bank manager to inform him of their temporary name.
“Yeah, ‘Elijah’s Shop’… that’ll do… for now.”
Mal wandered over to Elijah after he had served the customer. As he stood watching the plumber making such a big deal over what he knew was not really that difficult a job, and one he probably could have dealt with much more thoroughly on his own, he saw Dominic’s car pull up outside - on double yellow lines, as usual. One day Dominic would get caught.
Dominic strode into the shop, all smiles.
“Hey, Mal!” They high-fived. “Where’s Lij?”
Mal pointed to the floor at the far end of the shop, and Dominic laughed.
“Don’t ask…” Mal rolled his eyes, and then turned his attention to the ringing telephone.
Dominic stood with arms folded watching Elijah who was totally oblivious to his presence.
Since they had returned from their honeymoon life had been fucking wonderful, and once Christmas was over and the New Year had begun Elijah lost no time in submitting his request to officially change his name. Dominic had the declaration of that name change in his bag. It had arrived a week ago but he had hidden it from Elijah. He wanted to give him the document this afternoon… at the beginning of the very special birthday weekend he had planned to celebrate Elijah’s twenty-sixth year.
From this day onwards, no more Elijah Wood…Dominic thought. Only Elijah Monaghan.
Elijah emerged from underneath the breakfast bar, and stood up to brush himself down. He still hadn’t seen Dominic, who had positioned himself slightly behind one of the music racks.
Dominic smiled as he watched his lover, his beautiful lover. He looked so relaxed, and totally at home in this new environment which he had created. How different this birthday was going to be compared to last year’s.
The road that Elijah had taken in just twelve months was astounding. Never did Dominic think that the Elijah he saw standing in front of him today, would emerge from the cowering scared Elijah that hid constantly away in their apartment last year.
Elijah had found a way back… it had been nothing short of a miracle. Elijah was and would always be, his miracle…
“Is that it?” Elijah wiped his brow as he spoke to the huffing, puffing plumber.
“Yep…” The plumber grunted as he gathered his tools. “Fine machine you have here…” The plumber patted the top of the drinks machine. “Any problems… you know where to call…”
“Yes… I have the number…” Elijah nodded as he replied, hoping and praying that the whole contraption would work perfectly.
“Good…” The plumber got Elijah to sign a piece of paper, and then bid him farewell.
Elijah looked at the machine and scratched his head. Maybe he should have asked for a demonstration. How difficult can it be to make a cup of coffee?
Dominic continued to observe Elijah from his secret vantage point. Dressed in green cropped trousers, and white vest, with flip-flops on his feet and hair tied back… Elijah looked like a stereotypical Californian surfer. But of course he wasn’t, for he now lived in New Zealand, had been nowhere near the sea since…. since…
Dominic stepped into view… “Black, no sugar…” he said.
Elijah spun round. “Dom!”
“Hi, baby!” Dominic smiled as he enveloped Elijah in his arms. “How was your day? God, I’ve missed you! I always miss you.” They kissed briefly before pulling apart.
Elijah took Dominic’s hand and tugged him over to his new purchase. “This has taken up most of my day!” Elijah looked at the shiny new machine before turning back to Dominic. “So, Pete let you out early then! Is he sick?”
Dominic laughed. “No… it’s me. I’m sick…”
“You are?” Elijah looked worried. He put a hand to Dominic’s brow… but Dominic removed it and kissed it.
“Just love sick for you, my Lijah…”
Elijah stared at Dominic before laughing. “Fuck, Dom… you say the weirdest things… you do know that, don’t you?”
Dominic grinned. “Yeah… I’ve got it bad for you, haven’t I?”
Elijah laughed again and shook his head. “Way bad,” he replied.
“Can’t help it if you send me crazy!”
“Dom!” Elijah couldn’t help giggling as he returned his attention to the machine. He frowned… “Now, where the fuck do I begin with this?”
Half an hour of fumbling and cursing resulted in three hot frothy cappuccinos. Mal joined them as they sipped their beverages.
“Umm… Lij… I have something for you…” Dominic glanced over to Mal and nodded. “In fact both of us have something for you.”
Elijah looked at them expectantly. “You do?”
“But we need to shut shop…”
Mal walked over to the entrance and locked the door, turning the open sign to read closed.
“What is it, Dom?” Elijah looked at Dominic.
Mal disappeared into the recording room.
Elijah watched him return with a huge flat parcel. “What have you two been up to?” he asked as Mal stood in front of him.
Dominic winked at Elijah. “Come here, Lij,” he said as he got off the stool.
“What…?” Elijah asked again as he stood up.
Dominic held Elijah’s hands and looked into his enormous blue eyes. He pushed away a lock of hair that had escaped the ponytail.
“I hope you don’t mind… but I’ve waited until today to give you this…” Dominic handed Elijah the envelope that he had been hiding for days.
Elijah looked at it and then nervously grinned at Dominic; he felt his heart begin to race…
“Is it what I think it is?”
“Open it and see…”
“Oh, God… Dom…” Elijah’s voice trembled as he tore open the envelope. Inside was a birthday card, and inside the card was the official declaration of name change. Elijah unfolded it and read it through a blur of tears.
“You did it, baby… you changed your name.” Dominic took Elijah’s hand and squeezed it. “You’re a Monaghan now… Elijah Monaghan.
“Yes… yes, I am… Elijah… Monaghan…” Elijah wiped his eyes as he spoke those longed-for words, then he looked at Dominic. “It’s what I’ve always wanted, Dom, ever since I met you, from those very first days in Wellington… I only ever wanted to be part of you….”
“And you are, baby… I just wish it hadn’t taken me so fucking long to understand what all this meant to you…”
“That’s ok.” Elijah slipped his arms around Dominic’s neck, and their foreheads touched.
“Love you, Lij …” Dominic whispered.
“Love you, too, Dom…”
Mal coughed politely.
Dominic grinned at Elijah before kissing him gently; he then slipped an arm around Elijah’s waist as they both turned their attention to Mal.
“Umm… Elijah…” Mal began, looking more than a little nervous. “Dominic and I had this idea… We took it from your doodles. But… if you don’t like it, it will be perfectly ok for you to say so, we can change it. We… ahh… … Well…. we had the shop sign made for you… as a surprise… for your birthday… and in celebration of your new name. We waited until today to show you, I mean give it to you … as a sort of start to your birthday weekend.”
“My birthday weekend?” Elijah looked at Dominic who winked at him. “What have you been planning, Dom?”
“Oh, a little something, I’ll fill you in after you’ve opened this…”
Elijah looked at the parcel that Mal was holding. It stood eight feet high, by four feet wide, and three inches deep.
“You know, Elijah, if you want it to remain ‘Elijah’s Shop’, then that is no problem.” Mal stood back as Elijah took hold of the parcel. “I can get a new official sign made… you don’t have to run with this one.”
Elijah smiled at Mal’s nervousness. “Would you help me open it, Mal?”
“Of course…”
They both tore off the thick brown paper that enclosed the sign… then Elijah stood back to read it.
Silence…
Mal looked at Dominic, who in turn looked at Elijah, who was standing with his back to him staring at the sign. Dominic walked over to him and placed his hands on his shoulders. He massaged them gently.
“Lijah… ?”
“It’s perfect…” Elijah’s voice was barely a whisper. “It’s just so perfect, Dom. I… I don’t know what to say…”
“You don’t have to say anything… come here…” Dominic turned Elijah around and took him in his arms. “Lij Monaghan… has a kinda sexy ring to it, don’t you think?”
Elijah couldn’t help smiling. “It does…” He turned in Dominic’s embrace to look at the sign again. “Lij Monaghan…” he spoke to himself. “You know, seeing it in big letters like that, makes it really real … even more real that this.” He pointed to the declaration, which he had placed on the breakfast bar.
“I know, baby…” Dominic kissed the nape of Elijah’s neck.
“Thank you… thank you… both of you…”
Mal's face broke into a wide grin. “Well, Elijah,” he said. “There is no time like the present, and it would be nice for you to see the sign up before you go.”
“Go?”
“Away…” Dominic whispered into Elijah’s ear as he kissed him again.
“You have definitely planned something Dominic Monaghan… haven’t you?”
“Yes, Elijah Monaghan, I have…” Dominic smiled as he spun Elijah around so that they faced each other again. “I’m going to take you away for the weekend… and our flight leaves in…” Dominic checked his watch… “about three hours…”
Mal quietly sidled off, only to quickly return with a ladder and tool bag. He disappeared outside to begin erecting the sign.
“I think Mal’s going to need some help.” Elijah watched the door close behind Mal.
“Joe’s outside… Mal called him when I arrived.”
Elijah smiled. “You really did have this all worked out, didn’t you?”
Dominic nodded. “I just want you to have the best birthday ever, Lijah. You deserve it… and do you know what? … it starts from right now!” Dominic covered Elijah’s mouth with his own, and began kissing him, letting his tongue explore slowly as Elijah’s tongue entwined with his own.
Every kiss with Elijah was as sensual as the one before - Elijah had a way of making Dominic forget everything except the man in his arms, and even after all this time, all these years, Elijah’s mouth tasted as exquisite as ever. Kissing Elijah never failed to fill Dominic with desire and love… pure unadulterated love… that he knew would never falter or ever fade.
“God, I do love you, Elijah…” Dominic cupped Elijah’s chin as he reluctantly broke their kiss. “Wish this never had to stop… wish we could do this for ever and a day!” Dominic ran his tongue over Elijah’s moist lips… “Your mouth is like a temple, and I worship it…”
Elijah tried not to giggle but couldn’t help it, and Dominic grinned at him. “In fact your whole body is a fucking temple… and I worship it, too… all of it!” Dominic ran his hands over Elijah’s arms… “All of it…”
The door suddenly opened and a face they were just starting to get used to peeked in and spoke to them.
“Mal’s almost finished… he needs a rag to give the sign a quick polish?”
“Ok… Joe… there’s plenty in the store room…” Elijah pointed to narrow door at the rear of the shop. “Help yourself.”
Joe, at first was just the deliveryman of Elijah’s stock, someone Mal had to deal with on a daily basis while Elijah and Dominic were on their honeymoon. Now, Joe was more than just a deliveryman… and it warmed Elijah’s heart, and Dominic’s too, to see Mal happy in a way they had never seen him before.
“There is someone for everyone, isn’t there, Dom?” Elijah watched Joe return outside. “In this big world I mean…”
“I think so, baby … if the timing is right.”
“We timed it right, didn’t we?”
“We sure did…”
“I wouldn’t change a thing you know, none of it… if I could live my time over again, since meeting you… it would be exactly the same, because essentially it has led us to this point in our lives. Even the bad times, Dom, I would live them again, too, because without them, I don’t think we would be here, as we are right now.”
Dominic swallowed hard.
Elijah had always been of the mindset that he could never express his love for Dominic in the way that Dominic could for him, but by declaring what he had just had, that he would gladly relive the horror of the sting, and the dreadful illness that followed just so they could be in the position they were in now, was an ultimate declaration of love. Elijah had almost lost his life, yet he would willingly endure that again, just to be here….
Dominic suddenly felt choked…
“Dom…?”
“Hold me, Lijah…”
Elijah took Dominic into his arms, and held him tightly, and then they lost themselves in a kiss again… but it was more passionate this time… with tongues darting, and lips crushing… sending blood coursing through their veins.
The shop door opened, Mal peeked in, and then closed the door again. He’d give them five more minutes…
From seemingly out of nowhere, an alarm broke the silence… and gradually, but incredibly reluctantly, Dominic and Elijah slowed their kiss, and finally pulled apart; both were breathless.
Dominic guiltily took his mobile out of his pocket and turned off the alarm.
Elijah looked at him quizzically.
Dominic smiled… “We have to go to the airport…”
Elijah laughed. “You are so unreal, Dom!”
“I know,” Dominic chuckled.
“So, I guess my stuff is already in the car, then?”
Dominic nodded. “Yep…”
“Ok,” Elijah looked around his shop. “And I guess Mal will cash and lock up, too?”
“Yep…”
“Are you going to tell me where we are going, or is it a surprise?” Elijah went into the storeroom to pick up his rucksack. When he re-emerged Dominic took his hand, and pulled him towards him.
“I’m taking us to Wellington, Lijah, for a long weekend. You’ve often said to me you would like to go back to the hospital to thank everyone who saved your life, and we haven’t been back there since we settled here. And we both love that city. It holds a special place in our hearts, in more ways than one.”
Elijah nodded.
“And I also want to take you back to the place where you gave me this.” Dominic pulled out the jade twist from behind his shirt.”
Elijah looked at him, as he touched his own pendant.
“And then,” Dominic continued… “On Sunday morning, your birthday, I’m going to take you to the summit of Mount Victoria, where you wanted to go when you were so desperately ill, and we’ll watch the sunrise on your special day, Lijah…”
Dominic paused as he ran a finger down the side of Elijah’s face. “And then, I’m going to take you back to our hotel room and make love to you, all morning, and all afternoon. Long slow sensual love… I’m going to explore every part of you, over and over again, kiss you, taste you, and lick you, every inch of you. I’m going to make sure your birthday will be a day you’ll never forget…”
… Elijah suddenly remembered to breathe.
“So, Lij… are we ready to go?” Dominic kissed Elijah’s hand.
“Yes…” Elijah finally found his voice. “More than ready …”
Dominic nodded and smiled as they walked out of the shop.
Before leaving for the airport they stood hand-in-hand looking up at Mal’s handiwork on the shop front. Dominic gave Mal his camera, and Mal proceeded to take a few pictures, firstly of Elijah standing under his new sign, and then of Elijah and Dominic together, and after a mild protest, Mal agreed to stand with Elijah while Dominic took a picture of them both.
Then Mal looked at his watch. “You two had better move it,” he warned. “Or you’ll miss check in.”
“Thanks, Mal… thank you for everything…” Elijah shook Mal’s hand and then took him into a big bear hug. He looked across at Joe, who was standing silently in the background. “Make sure he doesn’t come to work on Sunday, Joe. I know what Mal’s like in my absence!”
“Will do.” Joe grinned.
“Lijah…” Dominic opened the car door, and Elijah climbed in.
“See ya on Monday, Mal.”
Mal nodded.
Then Dominic looked at the shop front again, with its pristine sign…
‘Lij Monaghan’.
Fucking fantastic!
End
Author: Salogel42
Pairing: Dom/Elijah
Summary: This story takes place 7 weeks after Dominic and Elijah's return from honeymoon.
Rating: 15 - for a bit of swearing
Warning: None
Disclaimer: None of this is real... all made up.
Author's Note: This snapshot is a continuation of my World Trip/The Wedding series, which can be found here
World Trip
A Birthday Snapshot
Dominic looked at his watch. Christ, how many times had he checked it this afternoon? Fifty times? One hundred? He looked at it again and followed the second hand as it slowly ticked around the clock face… Why was time dragging so fucking much?
“Dom!”
Dominic jumped, startled momentarily by Peter’s voice.
“You’re going to wear that watch out, mate.” Peter glanced up at the office clock hanging at a precarious angle above his computer console.
“Want to call it a day?” Peter asked. He knew Dominic’s plans for the coming weekend. Dominic had been on edge from the moment he had arrived in work that morning, and as the afternoon wore on, it had become more and more evident that his attention was elsewhere.
“Well, I … I haven’t finished this yet, Pete.” Dominic looked rather sheepishly at Peter, and then at his computer screen.
“And you’re not likely to, either. Go on, off with you!” Peter waved his hand. “Go see Elijah.”
Dominic couldn’t help grinning.
“And wish him a happy birthday on Sunday from Fran and me!”
“Thanks, Pete.” Dominic scraped his chair backwards.
“But be in early on Monday!”
“I will… I will…” Dominic opened his desk drawer and retrieved an envelope. He slipped it into his carryall.
“Thanks, Pete. Thanks for this…” Dominic stood meekly in front of his boss.
“Well…” Peter smiled. “What are you waiting for?”
Dominic grinned and slapped Peter on the back before quickly making his way outside into the hot bright New Zealand sunshine.
*
Elijah was on his knees. He had been on his knees for the past hour and twenty minutes, and any second now he was going to be lying on his back, and with a man he had never met before in his entire life.
He laughed quietly to himself at this bizarre situation. He never knew that installing an espresso machine could lead to such intimacy with a complete stranger!
The stranger grunted as he struggled with the old plumbing. A few obscenities were thrown in every now and then, mingled in with the odd barking order as the stranger- come-plumber asked Elijah to hand him certain tools.
Mal hovered in the background. Elijah’s shop had been open for just five weeks, and had become the place to hang out. The breakfast bar they had built at one end of the shop was in constant use, and the kettle and jar of instant coffee were no longer an option - they had to go.
The youngsters of today were into posh coffee, served in proper cups. This of course meant, washing facilities were needed, which in turn meant registering with the Public Health Inspector.
The plumbing, as old as it was, received a clean bill of health after drainage was installed. All that was left to do was install the hi tech, but incredibly expensive espresso machine… but try telling that to the bastard pipes which ended up being two centimetres too short. It was either saw the breakfast bar in half… or scramble about on hands and knees underneath Mal’s wonderful wooden construction, and start lengthening and soldering the water pipes.
There was no contest. The shop was far too busy for any major reconstruction to start taking place in the middle of the day. And as the plumber was on his own - because he had envisaged it being any easy job - Elijah ended up with no option but to help install the machine.
Mal kept one eye on Elijah while attending to customers, sorting out new stock, and organising bookings for the recording room. He had never envisaged Elijah’s shop taking off as well as it did. Elijah had obviously found a niche in the market, and once curiosity of a hobbit owning a music shop had passed, he was sure it would settle down to a manageable and quite profitable little business.
“Errm….” A young man with an armful of purchases looked around the payment counter. “Do I make my payment payable to Elijah’s Shop?”
Mal nodded. Elijah’s Shop. Actually the shop had no official name. On his return from honeymoon Elijah had been ecstatic, and barely able to contain himself on his first day back with Mal.
“He’s giving me his name, Mal. I’m going to have Dom’s name. This means the shop’s name will have to change, not that I had anything concrete in mind. But how fucking cool is that, Mal? I’m going to be a Monaghan.”
Mal remembered smiling at the joy that filled Elijah’s face. “That’s wonderful Elijah,” he had said. “I am very happy for you.”
Elijah had just stood there in front of him grinning from ear to ear.
“So… It’s just ‘Elijah’s Shop’ for now, then?” Mal confirmed, making a mental note to contact the bank manager to inform him of their temporary name.
“Yeah, ‘Elijah’s Shop’… that’ll do… for now.”
Mal wandered over to Elijah after he had served the customer. As he stood watching the plumber making such a big deal over what he knew was not really that difficult a job, and one he probably could have dealt with much more thoroughly on his own, he saw Dominic’s car pull up outside - on double yellow lines, as usual. One day Dominic would get caught.
Dominic strode into the shop, all smiles.
“Hey, Mal!” They high-fived. “Where’s Lij?”
Mal pointed to the floor at the far end of the shop, and Dominic laughed.
“Don’t ask…” Mal rolled his eyes, and then turned his attention to the ringing telephone.
Dominic stood with arms folded watching Elijah who was totally oblivious to his presence.
Since they had returned from their honeymoon life had been fucking wonderful, and once Christmas was over and the New Year had begun Elijah lost no time in submitting his request to officially change his name. Dominic had the declaration of that name change in his bag. It had arrived a week ago but he had hidden it from Elijah. He wanted to give him the document this afternoon… at the beginning of the very special birthday weekend he had planned to celebrate Elijah’s twenty-sixth year.
From this day onwards, no more Elijah Wood…Dominic thought. Only Elijah Monaghan.
Elijah emerged from underneath the breakfast bar, and stood up to brush himself down. He still hadn’t seen Dominic, who had positioned himself slightly behind one of the music racks.
Dominic smiled as he watched his lover, his beautiful lover. He looked so relaxed, and totally at home in this new environment which he had created. How different this birthday was going to be compared to last year’s.
The road that Elijah had taken in just twelve months was astounding. Never did Dominic think that the Elijah he saw standing in front of him today, would emerge from the cowering scared Elijah that hid constantly away in their apartment last year.
Elijah had found a way back… it had been nothing short of a miracle. Elijah was and would always be, his miracle…
“Is that it?” Elijah wiped his brow as he spoke to the huffing, puffing plumber.
“Yep…” The plumber grunted as he gathered his tools. “Fine machine you have here…” The plumber patted the top of the drinks machine. “Any problems… you know where to call…”
“Yes… I have the number…” Elijah nodded as he replied, hoping and praying that the whole contraption would work perfectly.
“Good…” The plumber got Elijah to sign a piece of paper, and then bid him farewell.
Elijah looked at the machine and scratched his head. Maybe he should have asked for a demonstration. How difficult can it be to make a cup of coffee?
Dominic continued to observe Elijah from his secret vantage point. Dressed in green cropped trousers, and white vest, with flip-flops on his feet and hair tied back… Elijah looked like a stereotypical Californian surfer. But of course he wasn’t, for he now lived in New Zealand, had been nowhere near the sea since…. since…
Dominic stepped into view… “Black, no sugar…” he said.
Elijah spun round. “Dom!”
“Hi, baby!” Dominic smiled as he enveloped Elijah in his arms. “How was your day? God, I’ve missed you! I always miss you.” They kissed briefly before pulling apart.
Elijah took Dominic’s hand and tugged him over to his new purchase. “This has taken up most of my day!” Elijah looked at the shiny new machine before turning back to Dominic. “So, Pete let you out early then! Is he sick?”
Dominic laughed. “No… it’s me. I’m sick…”
“You are?” Elijah looked worried. He put a hand to Dominic’s brow… but Dominic removed it and kissed it.
“Just love sick for you, my Lijah…”
Elijah stared at Dominic before laughing. “Fuck, Dom… you say the weirdest things… you do know that, don’t you?”
Dominic grinned. “Yeah… I’ve got it bad for you, haven’t I?”
Elijah laughed again and shook his head. “Way bad,” he replied.
“Can’t help it if you send me crazy!”
“Dom!” Elijah couldn’t help giggling as he returned his attention to the machine. He frowned… “Now, where the fuck do I begin with this?”
Half an hour of fumbling and cursing resulted in three hot frothy cappuccinos. Mal joined them as they sipped their beverages.
“Umm… Lij… I have something for you…” Dominic glanced over to Mal and nodded. “In fact both of us have something for you.”
Elijah looked at them expectantly. “You do?”
“But we need to shut shop…”
Mal walked over to the entrance and locked the door, turning the open sign to read closed.
“What is it, Dom?” Elijah looked at Dominic.
Mal disappeared into the recording room.
Elijah watched him return with a huge flat parcel. “What have you two been up to?” he asked as Mal stood in front of him.
Dominic winked at Elijah. “Come here, Lij,” he said as he got off the stool.
“What…?” Elijah asked again as he stood up.
Dominic held Elijah’s hands and looked into his enormous blue eyes. He pushed away a lock of hair that had escaped the ponytail.
“I hope you don’t mind… but I’ve waited until today to give you this…” Dominic handed Elijah the envelope that he had been hiding for days.
Elijah looked at it and then nervously grinned at Dominic; he felt his heart begin to race…
“Is it what I think it is?”
“Open it and see…”
“Oh, God… Dom…” Elijah’s voice trembled as he tore open the envelope. Inside was a birthday card, and inside the card was the official declaration of name change. Elijah unfolded it and read it through a blur of tears.
“You did it, baby… you changed your name.” Dominic took Elijah’s hand and squeezed it. “You’re a Monaghan now… Elijah Monaghan.
“Yes… yes, I am… Elijah… Monaghan…” Elijah wiped his eyes as he spoke those longed-for words, then he looked at Dominic. “It’s what I’ve always wanted, Dom, ever since I met you, from those very first days in Wellington… I only ever wanted to be part of you….”
“And you are, baby… I just wish it hadn’t taken me so fucking long to understand what all this meant to you…”
“That’s ok.” Elijah slipped his arms around Dominic’s neck, and their foreheads touched.
“Love you, Lij …” Dominic whispered.
“Love you, too, Dom…”
Mal coughed politely.
Dominic grinned at Elijah before kissing him gently; he then slipped an arm around Elijah’s waist as they both turned their attention to Mal.
“Umm… Elijah…” Mal began, looking more than a little nervous. “Dominic and I had this idea… We took it from your doodles. But… if you don’t like it, it will be perfectly ok for you to say so, we can change it. We… ahh… … Well…. we had the shop sign made for you… as a surprise… for your birthday… and in celebration of your new name. We waited until today to show you, I mean give it to you … as a sort of start to your birthday weekend.”
“My birthday weekend?” Elijah looked at Dominic who winked at him. “What have you been planning, Dom?”
“Oh, a little something, I’ll fill you in after you’ve opened this…”
Elijah looked at the parcel that Mal was holding. It stood eight feet high, by four feet wide, and three inches deep.
“You know, Elijah, if you want it to remain ‘Elijah’s Shop’, then that is no problem.” Mal stood back as Elijah took hold of the parcel. “I can get a new official sign made… you don’t have to run with this one.”
Elijah smiled at Mal’s nervousness. “Would you help me open it, Mal?”
“Of course…”
They both tore off the thick brown paper that enclosed the sign… then Elijah stood back to read it.
Lij Monaghan’s Music
Buy it, Play it, Make it
Buy it, Play it, Make it
Silence…
Mal looked at Dominic, who in turn looked at Elijah, who was standing with his back to him staring at the sign. Dominic walked over to him and placed his hands on his shoulders. He massaged them gently.
“Lijah… ?”
“It’s perfect…” Elijah’s voice was barely a whisper. “It’s just so perfect, Dom. I… I don’t know what to say…”
“You don’t have to say anything… come here…” Dominic turned Elijah around and took him in his arms. “Lij Monaghan… has a kinda sexy ring to it, don’t you think?”
Elijah couldn’t help smiling. “It does…” He turned in Dominic’s embrace to look at the sign again. “Lij Monaghan…” he spoke to himself. “You know, seeing it in big letters like that, makes it really real … even more real that this.” He pointed to the declaration, which he had placed on the breakfast bar.
“I know, baby…” Dominic kissed the nape of Elijah’s neck.
“Thank you… thank you… both of you…”
Mal's face broke into a wide grin. “Well, Elijah,” he said. “There is no time like the present, and it would be nice for you to see the sign up before you go.”
“Go?”
“Away…” Dominic whispered into Elijah’s ear as he kissed him again.
“You have definitely planned something Dominic Monaghan… haven’t you?”
“Yes, Elijah Monaghan, I have…” Dominic smiled as he spun Elijah around so that they faced each other again. “I’m going to take you away for the weekend… and our flight leaves in…” Dominic checked his watch… “about three hours…”
Mal quietly sidled off, only to quickly return with a ladder and tool bag. He disappeared outside to begin erecting the sign.
“I think Mal’s going to need some help.” Elijah watched the door close behind Mal.
“Joe’s outside… Mal called him when I arrived.”
Elijah smiled. “You really did have this all worked out, didn’t you?”
Dominic nodded. “I just want you to have the best birthday ever, Lijah. You deserve it… and do you know what? … it starts from right now!” Dominic covered Elijah’s mouth with his own, and began kissing him, letting his tongue explore slowly as Elijah’s tongue entwined with his own.
Every kiss with Elijah was as sensual as the one before - Elijah had a way of making Dominic forget everything except the man in his arms, and even after all this time, all these years, Elijah’s mouth tasted as exquisite as ever. Kissing Elijah never failed to fill Dominic with desire and love… pure unadulterated love… that he knew would never falter or ever fade.
“God, I do love you, Elijah…” Dominic cupped Elijah’s chin as he reluctantly broke their kiss. “Wish this never had to stop… wish we could do this for ever and a day!” Dominic ran his tongue over Elijah’s moist lips… “Your mouth is like a temple, and I worship it…”
Elijah tried not to giggle but couldn’t help it, and Dominic grinned at him. “In fact your whole body is a fucking temple… and I worship it, too… all of it!” Dominic ran his hands over Elijah’s arms… “All of it…”
The door suddenly opened and a face they were just starting to get used to peeked in and spoke to them.
“Mal’s almost finished… he needs a rag to give the sign a quick polish?”
“Ok… Joe… there’s plenty in the store room…” Elijah pointed to narrow door at the rear of the shop. “Help yourself.”
Joe, at first was just the deliveryman of Elijah’s stock, someone Mal had to deal with on a daily basis while Elijah and Dominic were on their honeymoon. Now, Joe was more than just a deliveryman… and it warmed Elijah’s heart, and Dominic’s too, to see Mal happy in a way they had never seen him before.
“There is someone for everyone, isn’t there, Dom?” Elijah watched Joe return outside. “In this big world I mean…”
“I think so, baby … if the timing is right.”
“We timed it right, didn’t we?”
“We sure did…”
“I wouldn’t change a thing you know, none of it… if I could live my time over again, since meeting you… it would be exactly the same, because essentially it has led us to this point in our lives. Even the bad times, Dom, I would live them again, too, because without them, I don’t think we would be here, as we are right now.”
Dominic swallowed hard.
Elijah had always been of the mindset that he could never express his love for Dominic in the way that Dominic could for him, but by declaring what he had just had, that he would gladly relive the horror of the sting, and the dreadful illness that followed just so they could be in the position they were in now, was an ultimate declaration of love. Elijah had almost lost his life, yet he would willingly endure that again, just to be here….
Dominic suddenly felt choked…
“Dom…?”
“Hold me, Lijah…”
Elijah took Dominic into his arms, and held him tightly, and then they lost themselves in a kiss again… but it was more passionate this time… with tongues darting, and lips crushing… sending blood coursing through their veins.
The shop door opened, Mal peeked in, and then closed the door again. He’d give them five more minutes…
From seemingly out of nowhere, an alarm broke the silence… and gradually, but incredibly reluctantly, Dominic and Elijah slowed their kiss, and finally pulled apart; both were breathless.
Dominic guiltily took his mobile out of his pocket and turned off the alarm.
Elijah looked at him quizzically.
Dominic smiled… “We have to go to the airport…”
Elijah laughed. “You are so unreal, Dom!”
“I know,” Dominic chuckled.
“So, I guess my stuff is already in the car, then?”
Dominic nodded. “Yep…”
“Ok,” Elijah looked around his shop. “And I guess Mal will cash and lock up, too?”
“Yep…”
“Are you going to tell me where we are going, or is it a surprise?” Elijah went into the storeroom to pick up his rucksack. When he re-emerged Dominic took his hand, and pulled him towards him.
“I’m taking us to Wellington, Lijah, for a long weekend. You’ve often said to me you would like to go back to the hospital to thank everyone who saved your life, and we haven’t been back there since we settled here. And we both love that city. It holds a special place in our hearts, in more ways than one.”
Elijah nodded.
“And I also want to take you back to the place where you gave me this.” Dominic pulled out the jade twist from behind his shirt.”
Elijah looked at him, as he touched his own pendant.
“And then,” Dominic continued… “On Sunday morning, your birthday, I’m going to take you to the summit of Mount Victoria, where you wanted to go when you were so desperately ill, and we’ll watch the sunrise on your special day, Lijah…”
Dominic paused as he ran a finger down the side of Elijah’s face. “And then, I’m going to take you back to our hotel room and make love to you, all morning, and all afternoon. Long slow sensual love… I’m going to explore every part of you, over and over again, kiss you, taste you, and lick you, every inch of you. I’m going to make sure your birthday will be a day you’ll never forget…”
… Elijah suddenly remembered to breathe.
“So, Lij… are we ready to go?” Dominic kissed Elijah’s hand.
“Yes…” Elijah finally found his voice. “More than ready …”
Dominic nodded and smiled as they walked out of the shop.
Before leaving for the airport they stood hand-in-hand looking up at Mal’s handiwork on the shop front. Dominic gave Mal his camera, and Mal proceeded to take a few pictures, firstly of Elijah standing under his new sign, and then of Elijah and Dominic together, and after a mild protest, Mal agreed to stand with Elijah while Dominic took a picture of them both.
Then Mal looked at his watch. “You two had better move it,” he warned. “Or you’ll miss check in.”
“Thanks, Mal… thank you for everything…” Elijah shook Mal’s hand and then took him into a big bear hug. He looked across at Joe, who was standing silently in the background. “Make sure he doesn’t come to work on Sunday, Joe. I know what Mal’s like in my absence!”
“Will do.” Joe grinned.
“Lijah…” Dominic opened the car door, and Elijah climbed in.
“See ya on Monday, Mal.”
Mal nodded.
Then Dominic looked at the shop front again, with its pristine sign…
‘Lij Monaghan’.
Fucking fantastic!
End
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I loved World Trip so much!
ANd this was perfect Sal! Simply perfect!
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As usual it was beautiful- I feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
Um.. you ARE going to write a chapter about their trip to Wellington, right? You can't leave me hanging like this :)
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Initially I was not going to write the birthday weekend, I will have to see... it is tempting though! :)
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..... how about a snapshot in Wellington .... hmmmmmm?!!
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Well that would be more than a snapshot... it would be a sexfest! hmmm... ponders :)
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Dom/Lij fit so well together - just like strawberries and cream. Hmmmm, delicious!
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All bundled up nicely, but I'm sad to see it end...again...so maybe there's hope for some more?
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Couldn't have said it better myself!
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