The Problem
A tale by Carrie Key
Rating 18 A
Sliding the key into the lock, he opened the door to his apartment, hearing the beeping of the alarm, telling him to enter the code soon. Sighing, he cursed under his breath. `She's not back yet' he thought as he punched in the code. Tossing his keys onto a table in the foyer and closing the door, Orlando Bloom dreaded walking any further into the place he shared with his girlfriend of two years. A girlfriend he rarely saw during those two years. Grabbing his bags he slowly walked into the Living Room, taking note that Elisa had once again rearranged the furniture on him. Every time he went away to film a movie she would always change the furniture around. It got on his nerves, but at least it alleviated his fears from their last conversation.
He had been in LA finishing up some re-shoots for a new flick he was working on and was on his way home when he was trapped in New York City due to weather. He'd rung Viggo Mortensen and stayed there while he waited for the weather to allow him to go home to a woman he needed. He called her from there and promptly was chewed out. Things had been edgy at best between them with all the time apart and they had planned on something special the next day when he was to be home. From the sound of her voice he was certain she was going to leave him. Viggo tried to help calm him down after the call, but he spent that day and the next worried that Elisa would walk out and not look back.
The moved furniture was a good sign she was here to stay, at least for a little while longer. He turned and headed down the hallway to their London flat, wondering where she was and when she would be back. It was six at night, London time and even though she worked at a local magazine, she was always home before four. Dropping his bags down on to the hardwood floor, something on the bed caught his eye. Flipping the light switch, he sees it's a note with his name scrawled on it in her perfect handwriting. Fearing the worst he leans up against the wall, letting it guide him slowly to the floor. Massaging the back of his neck and fighting back the tears, Orlando shook his head.
Could it be a break up letter? Sure, the last time he'd been home for any length of time was about seven months ago for three weeks, but she knew how he felt about acting. Glancing up at the bed worried, the letter looked like a poisonous snake ready to strike at and kill him if he should read it. Rubbing his hands over his face, he tried to get calm. Eyes closed tightly he slowly crawled over to the bed and reached for the piece of paper. He sighed relief at it not biting him when he touched it. The young actor, eyes still closed sat up against the bottom of the old cast iron bed he'd bought for her on their one-year anniversary together. The sound of velvety sheets rustling as he moved was all he heard. His heart stopped beating and he couldn't breathe. He opened the letter as he slowly let his eyes see it.
“Orli,
Went out to do the monthly shopping. Will be back around 7 with dinner. Hope you are there when I get back. We need to talk.
Love E.”
Nearly exploding from holding his breath and the relief that he still had a chance with her, Orlando felt a little woozy. She hadn't left was all he could really think about. Looking up at the clock, he saw he had more or less thirty minutes before she got back. Smiling broadly he ran into the bathroom to so he could get rid of the sickly feeling on his skin he always got from long journeys.
Elisa MacElveen didn't know what hit her. She had just walked through the door with her arms full of groceries and she'd been accosted against the wall, lips bruising hers in a lustful attack. Finally her attacker let her up for some air, whispering, “I love you” into her ear. “ORLI!” She screamed at him. “What the bloody hell do ye think ye're doing!” Of course with her Scottish accent it sounded all jumbled and as if she were speaking a totally different language. She felt him chuckling under his breath. “Oh, ye think ye're funny, huh?”
“C'Mon, Elisa. I'm home, and what better way to surprise you then this way?” He ran his fingers through her soft brown hair.
“Ye scared me `ave ta death, ye did!” She shook herself free of him and headed for the kitchen, trying to ignore the fact that he was wearing her favorite cologne, Aspen. It always sent her over the edge when he wore it. But she couldn't give in to that. Not right now. “There're more bags in the car if ye want to lend a hand.” She called over her shoulder.
Sighing and shaking his head, Orlando figured what was going to come and he didn't like it. His head down in near defeat, he walked out to the car and grabbed the rest of the bags in it. Back in the house he heard cupboard doors being slammed shut. Shaking his head, he wished he knew what to do to make her stay. He had worked it out that once she came through the door he would sweep her off her feet. He wore her favorite cologne and even put on the black silk shirt she loved to see him in. And the new velvet pants he'd gotten while in LA. Resigning himself for what was to come he slowly walked back into the house and into the kitchen.
When he got to the kitchen he saw Elisa bent over the sink making retching sounds. Dropping the bags he rushed over to her, “Elisa! What's wrong?” He felt her taking deep breathes between retches, but she didn't say anything. He stroked her back and held her hair back for her until she finished. When she did, he had a glass of cool water and a towel waiting for her.
“Thank you”, her voice shaky as she took the glass and towel.
“You feeling all right?” He stroked her cheek, trying to let her know that he cared and wanted to be there for her.
She nodded. “Just something that didn't agree with me.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes as she leaned back onto the sink.
“Ok.” He started to walk away to put away the groceries when he felt her hand on his arm. “Yeah?”
“I'm going to brush my teeth. When I get back we need to `ave a talk.”
As she walked away, Orlando felt his world crash around him. He knew that when a woman ever said the word “talk” in a certain manner that the guy could kiss all hope of ever being with her away.
A few minutes later, he was done putting the food and things away and sat in the living room waiting for her. He sat on the couch, one leg propped up on the other and his arms stretched over the back. He looked around the room, eyes landing on a few pictures above the fireplace. One was of them Bungee Jumping together in New Zealand, where they had met, while he was filming the Lord of the Rings movies. They hadn't started seeing each other then, they were just having fun hanging out. She had been there on assignment for the magazine she worked for to cover a bit of the filming and they struck up a friendship that a year and half later turned into a full-blown romance. The picture next to it was of them with Elijah and Sean Astin at the premiere for Two Towers, shortly after they had started dating. The third one was a portrait that his mother insisted that they have done. He was dressed in a black suit with white tie and she had on a beautiful white lace and silk dress that she always looked so incredible in.
Hearing her walk in, Orlando looked up. She looked so scared and he wanted more than anything to grab her and never let go. “What's going on Elisa?”
“Orli, I need to know something. And I need ye to answer honestly.” She gingerly sat down on the loveseat across from him.
“Of course, hon. What?” He tried to remain as calm as possible with what he knew was going to happen. But his voice betrayed him as it wavered.
“I need to know that ye'll be there when I really need ye, not when ye can due to ye're job.” She looked as if she were going to cry.
“Elisa, you know I'm there for you no matter what. All you need to do is ask or tell me and I'm there! Honestly!” He pleaded with her.
“That's not what I meant, Orlando.”
“What is it, Elisa? What is so wrong?”
“What is so wrong? What is so wrong! I'll tell ye what is so wrong!” She snapped. “The fact that it has been a month since the last time we were together and then a month and a half before that!”
Sitting up straight, Orli wasn't sure what was going on. “El, you know what I do for a living. We'd talked about this before. Why are you having a problem with it now?”
Inhaling deeply, Elisa looked over at him, tears stinging her eyes. “What is bugging is that for the last six weeks I've needed ye here with me and ye were no where in sight but only one time for two days! One minute it's a job, the next it's one of ye're friends wanting you to do this or try that! What am I gonna do in a few months when ye're not here and I seriously need ye! Huh?” She stood up and went over to the fireplace, the sobs wracking her body.
“Huh?” Orlando sat there dumbfounded. He wasn't even sure they were talking about the same thing anymore. “El please let me in.” Striding over to her, he wraps both arms tightly around her, crushing her back into his chest. He plants soft kisses n her head while rocking her. She mumbled something but he couldn't understand her. “What?” He asked softly.
“I'm pregnant.” She said a little louder.
He felt the blood rush from his head and his stomach doing cartwheels. She actually had to help him to the loveseat. He just sat there, staring blankly into space, not saying a thing. His throat felt parched and he could have sworn he'd seen his life flash before his eyes. After a minute or two, that felt more like an eternity, he faced her. He saw the look of fear and concern on her face. He just stared at her in awe. This was the woman that was going to give him a child. The woman that he loved and wanted nothing more than to be with her and she was having his baby. Swallowing hard, he croaked out “Pregnant?”
“Yes” she nodded.
“Wow.” He sat there and stared at her longer, trying to make sense of the flood of emotions coursing through him.
Elisa was getting worried. He hadn't said much and he just kept staring at her. He hadn't given her a negative response yet, but then he hadn't really given her any response. “I… I'll understand if ye don't want to see me anymore. I know how hard it will be for ye to have a little one runnin' around…” She started to get up.
“Wha…? No, Elisa, get back here.” He flashed her a smile that told her he wanted her to stay. Taking her arm he gently pulled her down, straddling his lap. He placed his hand on her stomach and a look of pure joy was plastered on his face. “I'm gonna be a daddy.”
“Yes, ye are.”
“You've known for six weeks?” He asked her.
“Well actually I found out the day after ye left for LA. That is why I got so upset at ye being delayed yesterday. I wanted ye here so badly so I could tell ye. I didn't want to say anything over the pho…” She couldn't finish what she going to say since he pulled her down, cradling her head in his hands and kissed her with a passion she hadn't felt from him in ages.
He heard her moaning under his lips as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. She had a habit of sucking on butterscotch candies at work to keep her from smoking and he loved the taste of it in her mouth. Feeling an incredible sensation overcome him, he pulled her down onto the loveseat and positioned himself over her, without breaking the kiss. He reached a hand down to stroke her belly and she giggled. She was extremely ticklish.
Breaking off the kiss, he looked into her light blue eyes, seeing an intense love being returned. Reaching down, he trailed butterfly kisses along the base of her neck to her ear and back, not forgetting to pay attention to both sides. She tugged at his shirt, trying to move it where she could reach up and run her hands along his smooth skin.
Grabbing her hands, he pinned them above her head. “No love. Tonight, you sit back and relax. You've made me the happiest man alive and I want to repay you for that.” Plundering her mouth again, he felt her pressing her breasts into his chest. He chuckled a bit, knowing she loved it when he took control. Reaching a hand down he pulled her shirt up to expose her breasts. He could feel the hardened nipples through the fabric of her bra, begging him to pay attention to them. Still holding her hands above her head, Orlando, moved down some and used his teeth to free first one mound, then another. He ran his tongue around, first one nipple, then the other. She shivered underneath him, her leg brushing against his already growing erection. Growling he ravaged her breasts and then her neck, not able to get enough of her. The noises of pleasure coming from her were enough to add to that enthusiasm. And he had just started.
A few hours later, they both lay on the floor, in front of the now roaring fireplace. Orlando leaned back on a few couch cushions he's tossed down there for support and she was cradled up against him. He ran his fingers through her hair and sighed in contentment. She brushed her fingers across his chest and joined him in the sigh. “You know, I was afraid you were gonna leave me.” He said looking down at her.
“And I was afraid of what ye're reaction would be.” Elisa hugged him close, not wanting to think those scary thoughts that had been running through her mind ever since she found out about the baby. Orlando was one for taking risks and he seemed to take them all. She knew that for him to fit a baby into that world he had made for himself would be asking a lot of him. But after what had just taken place, her fears were washed away.
“Elisa, I love you. I think us having a baby is exciting. Definitely a new challenge, and you know I love those.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I know. It's just hard to throw yereself out of planes when you have a baby strapped to ye're back.”
“Oh, I don't know. I think the little guy would love it!” He laughed as she took a throw pillow and whapped him in the head.