Chapter Text
I am looking into the most gorgeous eyes, they are saying so much without words as we hold hands and these words are spoken "do you Lee Grinner Pace take Lily Ann Simmons to be your lawfully wedded wife ......", he smiles bigger, gently moving his thumbs over my hands and a single tear rolls down his cheek. I am fighting the tears and smile back at him as my mind drifts back to about a year ago, when we first met:
I step off the plane......feels so good to finally being able to stretch my legs, it is a long flight from LA to Wellington, New Zealand.I have been summoned here to work on "The Hobbit" as the main jewelry designer, just like I worked on the LOTR several years back.
I usually work in LA out of my own design studio and as a gem and diamond buyer. With some luck and good fortune I ended up in New Zealand on LOTR's and had loved every minute of it, made lasting memories and lifelong friends. I was contacted a few months back and was so excited to be given this chance, so Skype and emails had been buzzing as we started to work together, coming up with ideas for designs, working closely with hair, makeup and costume designers. Long distance only works for so long, so here I am in Wellington to meet with everyone else and get everything ready before they start shooting.
I collect my suitcase and walk out in the fresh air, inhaling deeply before making it over to the line of cabs- they drive on the "wrong" side here and there is no way in hell I would try to drive here, both for my own and others safety. I get in the cab and tell the driver to head to the West Plaza Hotel-I will be put up in a flat in a few days, they were still working out the details, so a hotel it is until then.
We arrive quickly and after paying and thanking the driver I head into the lobby and to check in, promptly greeted by a friendly kiwi "good afternoon, how may I help you"?.
"I am here to check in, it is probably under Warner Bros.".
"What is your name, we have quite a few checking in under them today".
"I bet, I think the entire Hobbit Team is assembling, it is Lily Ann Simmons".
Staring at his screen "yes, there you are and welcome back, just need your ID and I will get your key".
I hand him my passport and he quickly checks it "thank you so much, here is your key, elevator is right over to your right, you are on the 7th floor".
"Thank you so much for your help" and make a b line for the elevator and making it in before the doors close.
I look at my fellow elevator rider and smile, saying a quiet "Hi".
The tall guy meets my eyes and smiles back, a big gorgeous smile and say "Hi" and we both reach for the buttons at the same time, our fingers touching and I'm feeling I got hit by lightning.
We both withdraw and laugh and the guy turns to me "Sorry, you go ahead, what floor are you heading too?".
I meet his eyes again "I am headed to the 7th floor".
His gaze intensifies and he lifts an eyebrow "Really, so am I. Are you in the Hobbit by chance?".
I snort "No, I wish, but not that talented I am afraid. I am working on it though" and all of a sudden a light bulb goes off in my head "Lee Pace?".
He looks surprised and smiles again, he should stop doing that "Yes, and should I know you?".
I extend my hand " Lily Ann Simmons, I am the lead jewelry designer on the movie and have already done some serious bling for Thranduil" He takes my hand, swallowing my entire hand and part of my wrist with his enormous paw, "Nice to meet you, Lily Ann and yes, that is some nice bling.......I have only seen a few drawings so far".
I want to hold on to him, but don't want him to think I am weird, so I slowly let go "Thanks and you should be able to try it on and wear it in a week or so".
We arrive on the 7th floor and he reaches for my suitcase handle "May I?".
I nod "sure, knock yourself out" and we step out, him following me "What room are you in?".
"707"
He steps ahead, not hard to do with those long legs of his "Oh, I am right next door, follow me"
I glance at him sideways "Oh, great........I hope you don't snore loudly or have wild parties at night, I like my sleep".
He laughs "No worries, I don't think I snore and no wild parties here, too busy trying to wrap my head around this crazy journey of the Hobbit".
We get to my door and I look at him "I bet, but just cherish every moment........it will be one of the greatest experiences of your life. I had the privilege of working on the LOTR's back in the day and it was amazing".
He looks at me "I am sure, would love to hear more about that sometime....I still can't believe I am actually here".
I stick my key in the door and gets it open, while still talking "Pete and the rest of the team are so great to work for and with. Have you met the rest of the cast yet?".
He follows me in, still dragging my suitcase and turns around right inside "Where do you want this? And yes, I met the dwarves a few days ago and Evangeline and Orlando yesterday, they are all great".
I throw my purse on the bed and turns to face him "Just over by the dresser and thanks so much, bell hopper".
He chuckles "I expect a large tip just so you know, but would swap it for a dinner date instead".
Our eyes meet and I smile "Are you serious, we just met".
He puts the suitcase where I asked him to and walks over, still holding my gaze "Yes, I would not ask if I didn't mean it, so dinner tomorrow, pretty please?".
He stops right in front of me, I have to look up as he is towering over me, I am just barely over 5 ft. tall "Okay, what time?".
"How about 6pm, I will just knock".
I nod and reaches for the fridge "It is hotter than hell in here, drink?".
He grabs my hand/arm "Wow......don't touch anything in there, water bottles are $6 and yes, I know Warner Bros. will pick up the tab, but it still seems like such a waste, hold on..." and he quickly walks over to the door dividing our rooms, flips the lock "I'll be right back" and he hurries out the main door.I just stand there and a minute later the dividing door swings open and Lee returns with two bottles of water and hands one to me "Here you go, I stocked up in the extra fridge I asked them to bring me".
I take it gratefully from him and flop down on the couch in the sitting corner, waving my arm for him to join me and he sits on the other end, facing me, I look at him "Thanks"and pointing to the door now open between our rooms "Should I be worried about that?".
He laughs "No, I promise I will behave and not sleepwalk or barge in".
I give him a thoughtful look, all kinds of things running thru my head "Hmm...ok, I shall hold you to it then" he smirks.
I continue " So you said you met everyone. I know Orlando from the Ring days and we have kept in touch. Awesome guy. I designed his wife's engagement ring and their wedding bands."
Lee is about to respond when my phone starts making annoying noises from my purse, I reluctantly get up "excuse me, I better at least see who it is" and I grab it, seeing "Tami" blinking on the screen, I hold up my hand "Sorry, but I gotta answer or she will freak out". Holding the phone to my ear "Hey Girl, yes I am here safe and sound ".
Tami squalls on the other end "Awesome, why haven't you called, I was getting worried".
I smile at Lee, knowing he can hear every word, Tami is loud when she gets excited "I know, I'm sorry.......I kind of got to the hotel and uhm, got busy.....".
Lee lifts an eyebrow at me as Tami gets suspicious "With what? what aren't you telling me?".
I gesture with my hand "Nothing, just like when you failed to tell me you are seeing the king under the mountain".
Tami lets out a snort and Lee's eyes go wide " Well, you know how I feel about dating people on the set, let alone one of the stars and Richard is very private and doesn't want anyone to know. But seriously Ann, what are you hiding?".
"Nothing, I just ran into Lee Pace at the hotel and we are chatting", I glance at Lee, he is trying to be polite and pretend he is not listening to any of it.
Tami makes a funny noise "Aha........you are talking to the Elven king, I told you he was smoking hot, didn't I?".
I feel the heat rise to my cheeks, avoiding looking at Lee as I answer "Yeah, you did".
I hear knocking and Tami calling "Come in! Sorry, Peter King is here to talk makeup and hair. I will see you at the welcome party at Stone Street tonight. Can't wait to see you! Go jump Lee"
"Ha, ha, very funny! Tell Peter hi and I will see you tonight. Bye!".
I hang up and look at Lee "Sorry, that is my girl friend Tami, the one that does hair and makeup.......we met during the Ring and have remained friends since".
He smiles "I really like her, she is so nice and down to earth".
I nod "Yeah, what you see is what you get and I love that about her".
He smirks "So what is this about her seeing the king under the mountain? Is she dating Richard Armitage?".
I meet his eye and look rather serious "I will have to ask you to keep that under wraps, I got carried away and should not have said anything. They don't want anyone to know or affect their jobs".
Lee nods his head and reached over and lightly touch my arm "Don't worry, I wont say anything. I understand the whole film set, dating co workers etc, it can get complicated".
I gently reach over and touch his hand with mine and he effortless turns his palm over, his fingers softly moving around mine and I look at him "Thank you".
We just sit there in silence for a minute, his long fingers gently touching mine, it should feel awkward, but for whatever reason it doesn't.
Then there is loud banging coming from Lee's room and I hear a familiar voice "Lee, are you in there? It's Orlando, we can't find you, called your cell. Hello?".
Lee reluctantly lets my hand go, sighs and slowly get up "I left my phone in the room, be right back" and he walks towards his room "Yeah, hold on......I will be right there".
I hear the door open "Sorry man, but we are going to look at apartments and wondered if you would come along? Are you ok? We got worried" Orlando blurts out and I imagine him looking around Lee's room, looking for trouble, he worries about the people he cares about.
Lee answers "Yeah, sure and I just left my phone in here, I was talking to my new neighbor in her room next door".
I can hear the teasing in Orlando's voice "Her? Are you already flirting with someone, Lee? That sure didn't take you long" and he lets out a laugh.
Lee is coming back in my room, while talking over his shoulder "It is actually your friend, I believe....Lily Ann Simmons".
I hear quick footsteps and Orlando rushes past Lee and runs over and grabs me, yanking me up from the couch and gives me a big hug "Ann, when did you get here? Tami said you would be in today. He lets go for a minute and looks at me, kisses my cheek "it is good to see you and I see you have met my dad".
I look at Lee and he is smiling at me, but I catch a glimpse of something else in his eyes as he looks at me and Orlando still half embracing, was it jealousy, hurt? It passes in a second as I answer "Yep, I have and I told him to do a better job of keeping you in line".
Orlando laughs and lets me go "I am going to steal Lee for the afternoon, they have found some apartments and wants us to go check them out".
I face both of them "That's fine, I should probably hit the gym and the shower before the welcome party tonight, trying to beat the jet lag I am feeling right now. But I assume you will both be there?".
They both nod, Orlando waving as he walks back towards Lee's room "Shuttle will get us at 7pm, see you then".
Lee looks at me and I walk over to him, reaching for his hand, hanging at his side, I grab it and locks eyes with him "Thank you for hauling my suitcase".
He gently brings his other arm up and embraces me, bending his tall frame down and kisses me on the cheek "Anytime, Ann and I will see you tonight" and he walks to his room, carefully shutting the door between us.