A/N: We're trying to update more frequently, and here's a gift for all you Will…I mean Orlando…I mean…whatever! You know who we're talking about! Anyways, this chapter (unfortunately) has no Jack/Johnny in it. We'll try to work him into the next one. Happy reading!

Chapter 6

The moment Liz was thrown into the van, she began struggling, she flung her arms everywhere in hopes of striking her attacker, she rolled around trying to escape the man's grip on her arm, and then she tried to reopen the door and run. Before she could accomplish her goal, something was suddenly pressed painfully into her back. Liz stopped moving instantly.

"Wise decision." She heard in a thick Italian accent. Liz looked up to see the man who had kidnapped her. He wasn't very big and she thought if she reacted quickly enough, she could take him on. He must have been able to read what was going on through her mind, because the weapon suddenly dug deeper into her back. "That wouldn't be so smart." He smiled slightly. "You're feisty. I guess I must tie your hands to eliminate any more thoughts of escape from your pretty little head." The man in black said pinching her cheek with his free hand. He nodded to the front. "You see him there?" Liz noticed for the first time the man in the driver's seat. He was dressed identically to his partner and he squashed all Liz's hopes of escape left in her mind. She could fight one goon but definitely not two. The first man continued, "He will be keeping an eye on you while I tie you. Now be a good girl and hold your hands out for me. It will make it easier on the both of us if you cooperate and without your resisting you will, a: keep me from having to harm you and, b: save you some energy." Liz obediently did as she was told. She knew he was right and realized she would just have to listen to him, for now. So Liz held out her hands as the man in black tied them together in front of her body and then proceeded to place a blind fold around her eyes. "Can't be to careful."

She felt him sit back in the seat, clearly not worried about her escaping anymore. I'll show you, she thought as another plan formed in her head. Liz sat rigid, waiting for the opportune moment. Slowly scooting forward in her seat every few minutes or so, Liz smiled inwardly to herself as she felt the end of the seat underneath her. Then, slowly she lifted the arm rest out of her way, while at the same time, confirming that she could still move her arms. She heard a low laugh. She turned towards the sound. Even though she couldn't see the look on his face, Liz knew she had been caught. "You might as well relax. The door only opens from the outside, chicky-poo." He laughed once more at the grimace Liz made as she dramatically fell back into her seat with a hrmph. "Besides. What were you going to do? Jump out into the middle of traffic?" Liz sat quietly with a determined look on her face. "Well?" He prodded.

"If you must know I hadn't thought that far ahead. But any thing is better than here." The man burst out into hysterics. Liz cocked her head to the side wondering if the man had lost it. Seeing the confusion, he tried to explain.

"You know that you've hit bottom when someone would prefer being road-kill to being next to you." He said still laughing. Liz couldn't help but join in. The situation was too much and the shock was finally starting to wear off. She was being taken away from her home, against her will, and there was nothing she could do about it. And to top it off her kidnapper thought he was a comedian. Soon, her giggles turned into tears and before she could stop herself, she was weeping uncontrollably. The blindfold was rapidly immersed in her salty tears. Liz felt him sit up straight next to her. He hesitated for a moment then placed an arm around her shoulders, unsure of what else to do. She started crying more. The only person here to comfort her was the person who was the one inflicting all of the anxiety. It was too much for her emotions to handle.

"I'm scared," Liz sobbed out. "I'm so scared." He gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

"It will be alright. We aren't going to hurt you. I promise. We're just following orders," he told her in a soft voice. He started rocking her back and forth like a small child until her sobbing ebbed. Liz worked up the nerve to ask the one question that had been bothering her.

"Why are you doing this?" He let her go and leaned against the back of the seat, examining her. She was rather beautiful, besides for the blotches of red that now poked out from under the blindfold and he knew that he would have paid a fortune to get her back. He noticed for the first time the freckles that littered her cheeks and nose and had an urge to trace them with a pen. He smiled to himself. In his thick accent he finally answered her,

"You are the fiancée of Orlando Bloom. Are you not?" Liz felt her blood run cold.

"I swear to you, if you have harmed him in any way I will tear out your eyeballs and make you eat them for dinner." Liz said with a renewed strength, concern washing over her. He chuckled,

"Don't interrupt me. It's not like that. My boss seems to think that your lover will pay a pretty penny to have you back." He patted her leg. "Therefore, there is no use in us harming him…or you. So stop worrying and just calm down. The boss is taking care of all negotiations as we speak. It will all be over before you know it." As an after thought he added, "My name is Tony, by the way, that up there is Nickolas." he said indicating the driver. "And we're sorry for the inconvenience this might be causing you." Liz's thoughts were still on Orlando. She silently prayed he wouldn't do anything rash to upset these mobsters.

They had been driving for an hour and Liz hadn't said anything since Tony had told her his name. He seemed like a nice enough guy under the circumstances, but she didn't want to risk actually liking him. The light blur that she could see through the blindfold had finally diminished and all Liz could see was darkness. They had been going straight without stopping for about 25 minutes so she knew that they had to be on a back country road.

Finally, the car stopped. Liz listened attentively as she heard Nickolas get out of the vehicle. Seconds later she heard her door slide open and felt him reach for her arm to help lead her out. Tony followed behind her and grasped her unclaimed arm. Both men walked slowly so Liz wouldn't fall. She felt the gravel under her feet as she walked and knew that she was far from civilization. She tried listening for any sounds that would prove her wrong but all she could hear was the wind rustling the trees and the birds that were in them. They stopped walking and Liz heard Tony speak,

"There are three steps in front of you so be careful." The men helped her up and then set her down in a small seat and strapped her in. After five minutes she heard an engine start and a slight humming. They began moving forward. Liz gasped when she felt them rising off the ground. She was in an airplane. Liz started to panic…she didn't want to be any farther from home than she already was. Tony realized her apprehension, "It will be okay chicky-poo." Liz wasn't so sure.

"Where are we going?" He looked down and saw her white knuckles clutching the armrest. He felt so bad for her, but orders were orders.

"That, I can not tell you."

The girls were still laughing when they reached their apartment.

"Man, I wish could be there when Liz figures it all out," Allie said as she opened the fridge. Becky looked worriedly at Brooke and Allie.

"Are you sure that we did the right thing? Do you think we should have told her?" Allie fought the urge to laugh.

"Becky, Liz will be fine," Brooke assured her roommate.

"Won't she be mad at us when she finds out that we were in on it?" Becky asked, still looking skeptical.

"By the time she gets back here, she won't be mad anymore," Allie said logically. "She'll take out all her anger on her kidnapper." She sat down at the kitchen table, a sandwich in hand. "Come on; we've got some planning to do."

Liz was awakened by a slight shake on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to darkness. Liz blinked, trying to see who the culprit was, but then remembered that she was blindfolded. However; she smiled slightly when she realized that they were once again on the ground. Liz didn't fly very often. In fact she had only flown for the first time, with Orlando, a few weeks ago. She stretched her bound arms and uncurled her legs, then yawned.

"Time to wake up, chicky," a voice said enticing her back into reality. Liz turned her head towards the voice and yawned once more and then tiredly asked,

"Where are we?" Tony could hear the apprehension in her voice and the guilt was increasing every moment. She had slept for most of the journey and the shame of what he had done had been nagging him the whole time. He couldn't wait for the whole incident to be over.

"I can't tell you that," he said with a sigh, "but you will find out soon enough." Liz took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She stood up and almost fell instantly back down. Sometime while she had been sleeping she curled her right leg under her and it gave out as soon as it had hit the ground. Nickolas grabbed her arm to steady her and Liz heard him speak for the first time since she had met him,

"Careful there." It was very quiet and she wasn't even sure if she had indeed heard it at all, but at the same time it seemed somewhat familiar. She was still trying to place it when her thoughts were shifted else where. Tony put his hand on her shoulder; then instructed in his Italian drawl,

"Come this way." He started to lead her off of the plane. She took a few steps then stopped. Liz reached a decision. She had been walking blindly for long enough and she wanted to know what was going on.

"I'm not going another step until you tell me what is happening, how long was I sleeping anyway? Oh…and I'm not wearing this anymore." She raised her tied hands and tried to take off the blindfold but was stopped by two stronger ones.

"You have to keep that on for just a little while longer. We're taking you to our boss and you were asleep for about ten hours." He started walking once more. "Now come on…he is expecting you." A shot of fear ran through Liz. So far her captors had been very civil towards her. All she kept imagining for "the boss" was some leader of the mafia, like in Godfather. What if Orlando wouldn't pay the ransom? Would they hurt her? She quickly shook the thoughts from her head. She knew that Orlando would do anything to insure her safety. He risked his life last time she was kidnapped. She shuddered at the memory of the British Navy capturing her and Allie then quickly tried to think of happier things. Money was no object she quickly decided. Orlando would save her. In one way or the other. She was just hoping that he wouldn't do anything stupid in the process of the negotiations. Nothing is worth endangering your life. Liz knew that Orlando wouldn't think twice about giving the money. His pride was what would be hurt. He could be a stubborn man. He hated for anyone to get the best of him.

"We're here." Liz had been so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't realized they stopped walking. "So this is where we leave you now." Liz heard a door open in front of her. Tony pushed her into a dark room (she could tell with the blindfold on because the dim haze she already saw grew more dark when she stepped in) and then he closed the door behind her. Icy fear once more crept up her spine. Liz slowly walked forward, hands outstretched in front of her so she wouldn't run into anything.

In next to no time, Liz felt a hand at the small of her back. It gently led her towards the center of the room and sat her down. Liz could smell the delicious food on the table in front of her. Her stomach then embarrassedly rumbled in accordance with her nose. Liz heard a soft chuckle at her ear and then felt two arms reach down around to her hands. She stiffened as the man behind her began untying her restraints. The moment Liz was free she used all her force to elbow him in the left side of his body. She heard him exhale deeply and then not waiting another second ran for the door. Liz wasn't sticking around to see what he had in store for her. She flung her blindfold to the floor so she could see where she was heading. When her eyes adjusted to the light she looked around for the door and headed towards it. Ten feet from her escape, she heard her perpetrator rising from the floor. Not looking back Liz ran the rest of the way as fast as she could. She reached the handle and then heard something that stopped her cold; a deep familiar voice from behind her.

"Liz." It was quiet and forced but she knew instantly who it belonged to. She turned to see her fiancée staggering towards her, hands at his middle. "Lizzy," he called again. She ran to his side noticing for the first time the finely set table for two with a single candle burning low on a silver holder. To complete the effect, there were rose petals scattered all around the romantic set-up. The room they were in was massive and there was a little draft. The only thing in it (besides them) were the table and chairs and a little table with a small radio on it.

"Are you all right?" she asked as she examined him for any serious injuries. "Did they hurt you?" He started laughing and Liz grew very confused. She stepped back and looked him over once more. He was wearing a dark pair of blue jeans and a white tee shirt with a black suit jacket over the top. His hair was longer than the last time she had seen him and it had a slight wild look to it. She came to the conclusion that he was indeed alright and breathed a sigh of relief.

"The only pain I have recently felt has been your elbow digging into my kidney." Liz looked down a little embarrassed. Then quickly looked back up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry. Why didn't you speak up and let me know it was you?" He pulled her into a giant hug and murmured into her ear.

"Because that would have ruined the surprise."

"Surprise?" Liz looked up at his handsome face and then around the room, realization finally hitting her. She stepped out of his embrace.

"I was never in any real danger was I?" Orlando shook his head. "You planned this?" This time he nodded his head in the affirmative. Liz couldn't believe it. She sat down in the chair and started laughing and crying at the same. She wasn't sure which emotion was catching up with her first: relief, fear, or anger. Maybe a little bit of all of them. Orlando kneeled down next to her and waited for her to finish. When she had finally settled down she looked down at him feeling very deceived.

"Why?" She thought she would at least find out what his motives were before she killed him. Orlando suddenly seemed very nervous. This wasn't turning out how he had hoped. He could see the fires forming in her emerald eyes.

"Happy anniversary." Liz looked at him incredulously. When Orlando realized that she wasn't going to comment he continued. "You see it was on this very night of June 17...292 years ago, of course…that I spied a wandering Princess dancing around on my ship. I wanted to make her mine. Naturally I did and so I wanted to celebrate the anniversary of our first sincere kiss with the most special woman in my life." He gave her a sheepish grin. Liz looked at him disbelieving. How did he always manage to melt away her irritation with a few words? She let what he had told her sink in.

Then the true understanding sunk in: she was safe and not in danger. Tears once again started to stream down her face as the last 15 hours came to the surface of her brain. Orlando reached for her arms and pulled her gently down into his lap. He stroked her hair and rocked her until the whimpers subsided. When she was quieted down they just sat in silence. Liz gathering her thoughts and Orlando waiting for her response. It was the second time in 24 hours that someone had had to comfort her like that. Liz felt very foolish. She looked up at him for the first time in ten minutes.

"I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to break down." Liz looked back down at her toes. But Orlando held her chin with his thumb and index finger and directed her gaze back upon him.

"It is I who am sorry, Liz. I did not know that it would frighten you so. I just thought it would be a fun way to bring you out here. I guess Billy and Dom did their job too well." Once again dawning hit Liz. Of course it had been those two rascals who had kidnapped her. That's why they were treating her so nicely. And it explained why "Nickolas" hardly spoke, Liz would have recognized his thick Scottish brogue immediately. Liz started shaking her head back and forth and then let out a heavy sigh.

"I am such an idiot. I can't believe I didn't catch on to this sooner." She eyed Orlando who still wasn't sure how she was really feeling. "You know what?" She didn't wait for him to answer, "Someday I will look back at this and laugh." Liz stood up and offered him her hand. "Now let's eat I'm starving." Sitting down and then almost standing directly back up she walked over to where Orlando was already sitting, eyebrows raised at her peculiar behavior. "I almost forgot…" Liz leaned down and placed a soft but firm kiss on his lips. She pulled back and smiled at the pure look of pleasure on his face. "I've missed you and it's wonderful to see you." With that she walked back over to her chair, sat down and started eating the roast chicken that was on her plate.

Orlando just watched her eat. He was too happy that he was reunited with her again. He was excited about the next week. It was going to be perfect: just the two of them. Planning their wedding and their future. Deep in thought he missed Liz's question.

"Sorry…what was that?" Liz just grinned at him.

"I said…I should probably call my room mates and let them know I'm not dead."

"Don't worry…they helped me plan this." Liz looked shocked. Would the surprises never end?

"They did?"

"Yes…someone had to pack a bag for you." Liz remember for the first time the plane ride that she had taken just about an hour ago.

"Where exactly are we? And what else is planned? I don't think I can take anymore surprises." Orlando smiled from ear to ear.

"I was wondering when you were going to ask that. My dearest Lizzy, you will be spending the next two weeks here in London with me, where we will begin planning our wedding and deciding on the date. Which is going to be sooner than later I hope," he said with a devilish smirk. Liz let out a cry of happiness.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Oh Lando!" He loved the delight he was able to put on her face. Liz then came back down to reality. "Wait…what about the movie?" Orlando stood up from his chair and walked to Liz pulling her up to him when he got there.

"I am finished with the movie. I worked really hard to get it done early so we could spend this time together. I am now at your beck and call, milady. No more cell phones telling me I'm needed on set. No more directors reminding me I only have five more minutes on break. Just you and me." Liz smiled and kissed his cheek.

"It sounds perfect."

Over the next few days they stayed in Orlando's flat enjoying each other's company and making plans for their wedding. They had stayed inside the whole time, Orlando not wanting the press to bother them. It was 10:30 in the evening and they were on the couch taking a break from their planning. The TV was on but neither one of them were paying much attention to it. Orlando was sitting comfortably by the armrest, legs stretched out on the floor in front of him. Liz was laying on her back with her head resting on his lap. He had his hands tangled in her hair, massaging her scalp. He was telling her about some of his experiences at Guildhall when she suddenly yawned. Orlando looked down at her drooping eyes and smiled. She looked like cat curled up ready for a slumber. He pulled his hands from her hair and gently lifted her shoulders. She looked back at him tiredly.

"Time for bed, Princess." Liz didn't move and just kept looking at him dreamily. Orlando wiggled his eyebrows. "Can you make it yourself."

"I think I can manage." Liz said finally standing up stretching her arms high above her head. Orlando rose as well.

"C'mon…I'll walk you to your door." He grabbed her hand and led her down the hallway to the guestroom where she was staying. Liz hugged him goodnight and then opened the door and started in. Pausing, she turned around at the threshold.

"Would you like me to cook breakfast again tomorrow morning?" He leaned over and tweaked her nose.

"Nah…How about we go out tomorrow? We've been cooped up here for the last three days. I think we need to get out, don't you?" Liz just nodded in agreement. "Besides this is your first trip to London, correct. We'll have to see some of the sights before you go home. Plus, I've got a surprise for you tomorrow," he kissed her forehead, turned her around and swatted her bottom, "Now go to bed…we have a long day ahead of us." Liz did as she was told.

Once in her room Liz changed into her pajama's. Then she went down the hall to brush her teeth and wash her face. Stepping out of the bathroom she saw a light still on down the hall. Following the glow, she heard Orlando cleaning up the dishes from dinner in the kitchen. Liz walked over to the table in the dining room and picked up the remaining items. She tip-toed into the kitchen and sat them down on the counter. She saw her fiancée singing to himself at the sink as he was scrubbing the pots and pans. She watched him for a minute enjoying the view, knowing he was all hers. Liz smiled and quietly walked up behind him. She wrapped her arms around him. Orlando jumped in the air spilling water all over the front of his shirt. Liz laughed and wiped her now wet arms on his shoulder blades. He turned around and grinned wickedly. Before Liz realized what he intended to do he had already pulled her close. She squealed and tried to push away but he just held her more firmly. When he finally let her go, her pajama top was soaked.

"That's what you get for sneaking up on me." Liz rolled her eyes.

"I thought you were supposed to be an elf? You should have heard me coming a mile away." He tried to flick water at her but she dodged it with no problem.

"And I thought you were supposed to be in bed?" Liz looked at him bashfully. She walked back over to him and hugged him tightly not caring about the water anymore.

"I forgot to give you something." He looked at her confused. "This." Liz stood up on tip-toes and kissed his lips softly. "Goodnight, sweetheart." She pulled away and walked back to her room without saying another word.

The next day the couple set out to see the sights of London. Liz was excited the whole time. She had always wanted to go to England and being here with Orlando made everything ten times better. He had shown her some of the small theaters that he had acted in and some of the local hangouts he used to attend. Plus, all of the normal tourist sites. Luckily, due to Orlando's beanie and shades only a few people recognized him and asked for autographs. However, after a long day of walking in the sun the two decided to go home to shower and change for dinner. When they reached the flat, Orlando told her to go get ready, and to dress in the best she had.

"I'm taking my Princess out for a romantic evening in my favorite city." he said tugging her hair, "So go get dolled up." She began to protest,

"Lando I haven't got any…" He stopped her before she could continue.

"No excuses. Now go get ready."

Liz turned around and headed for her room. She immediately went to her luggage to try to find something appropriate to wear. After going through the things that Allie had packed for her, Liz decided on a simple black skirt and pink three quarter sleeve top. It was the best she could do. For the first time since she had met up with Orlando she wished she was home so she had the splendor of her closet. Shaking the thought from her mind, she decided what she had would work. Liz took her outfit to the bathroom and took a quick shower. Finished, she quickly dressed and tried to choose what to do to her hair. Making up her mind, she decided that she would do "twisties" back and then let her curls fall freely from on top of her head. Liz opened the drawer to find her bobby pins, but was surprised that they weren't there. "I must have left them in my room," she said out loud. She walked across the hall to get the pins off her dresser but stopped in her tracks when she saw the red dress she had bought with Allie months earlier on her bed. Without hesitation she put the new dress on. She then went back to the bathroom to finish getting ready. She'd have to remember to thank Allie later and Orlando for surprising her with it.

Orlando sat in the living room waiting for Liz. He was eager to get going. Tonight was one of the main reasons for bringing her abroad. He had been planning it since Allie had told him about the dress that Liz had gotten and believed she had nowhere to wear it. He patted the tickets he held in his breast-pocket making sure they were still there. When Orlando looked up again he saw Liz standing in front of him. She looked lovely in the red dress: her hair and make-up done immaculately. While Orlando was obviously gazing at her, Liz took the opportunity to admire him. He was wearing a midnight black suit that had to have been tailored to fit him with a red tie that matched her dress perfectly. His hair was still somewhat wet from his shower and it was curling around his neck. They both stood gaping at each other until Orlando snapped himself out of his trance and offered Liz his arm.

"Shall we go?" He escorted her to the car and then they were off. They drove in comfortable silence with Orlando's left hand on Liz's thigh for about 30 minutes. Soon they pulled up to an elegant building. A valet came around to her side of the door and opened it for her. Orlando came around and offered his arm once more. He gave the valet his keys in exchange for a pick-up number.

They walked into the beautifully designed building. Once inside Liz saw a stunning foyer and realized at once where they were. Her eyes were shining because of her excitement. "Welcome to Her Majesty's Theatre, Lizzy." Liz looked around and saw The Phantom of The Opera posters everywhere. She could hardly contain herself. This had been one of her dreams for a long time.

"Thank you. This is the best. I love you so much." He smiled and placed his hand on her back. He pulled out their tickets and found the box number they were to be seated in.

"I'm glad you like it." Orlando said kissing her temple. "Now let's go. We're to be seated for dinner in 10 minutes. The show starts in an hour." He led her to box five, where Liz had one of the best nights of her life.

The vacation was over too soon for Liz. She had grown to love London and didn't want to leave. But the 14 days were already coming to an end. The only good thing was that Orlando was coming back to the States with her.

"Liz are you all ready? We're going to miss our flight!" Orlando called down the hall. Liz sighed when she heard the summons. She did one last double check of the room and left, switching the light off as she went. She carried her bags out to the living room and sat them down so she could get one last look at the charming flat. It had been their paradise. She loved being able to spend so much time with him. Not having to share him. Liz inwardly cursed herself: she was selfish, that was all there was to it. She looked at her fiancée. She'd have to learn to share with the rest of the world.

"We will come back here, right?" Orlando chuckled.

"I'm glad you liked it so much. My home is your home. C'mon."

Liz slept for most of the trip home, just as she did to come out. When they landed, Liz was hit with a touch of pride. She did love the U.S. And as mush as she would miss England, she was glad to be home. Orlando rented a car at the airport and soon they were headed to Liz's apartment. Liz drove because Orlando didn't like (not that he couldn't) driving on the right side of the road. Orlando grabbed Liz's luggage out of the trunk and followed her up the stairs. Trying to open the door Liz discovered it was locked. Odd she thought, but began digging through her purse to find her keys. She opened the door and stepped into darkness followed by Orlando. Liz threw her keys down on the end table next to the door and called out,

"Hello? Is anyone here?" No response. She looked around again trying to adjust her eyes to the dark. Suddenly, the lights were turned on and she heard shouts of…

"Surprise!"