In Sickness and In Health

‘Hey Elfboy,’ she grinned.

‘Who you calling boy, darlin’? I’m older than you are.’ he retorted playfully.

‘Uh, yeah, in calendar years maybe,’ said Lynn, rolling her eyes.

‘HEY! I had NOTHING to do with that food fight! NOTHING! Well, not til Billy and Dom attacked me. . . But then it was just self-defence!’ he protested.

Lynn laughed. ‘So what’s up. I wasn’t expecting to see you til tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Manicure.’ he said.

‘Huh?’

‘You’re getting a manicure, oh and a pedicure. I’m getting a manicure.’

Lynn rolled her eyes and muttered something. Orlando couldn’t be sure but it sounded suspiciously like ‘prissy elf.’ He laughed and grabbed her hand. ‘C’mon.’

‘Wait!’

‘What?’ he said puzzled.

‘Do you see anything wrong with the way I look right now? Maybe odd?’

He looked and then started laughing. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel, and she was wearing an oversized hockey jersey over a pair of grey leggings. ‘I’ll wait while you change and do whatever it is you need to do with your hair. OH! HAIR!’ he cried.

Lynn looked at him as though he had grown a second head.

‘You’re getting your hair done too. Anything you want done, Viggo’s orders,’ Orlando said with a wink, as though that absolved him of any responsibility.

Lynn sighed laughing. ‘I guess he was listening when I told him I was in need of a new ‘do,’ she grinned. ‘He’s been so preoccupied lately I wondered.’

‘He just has a lot on his mind, something he’s plann. . .,’ his voice trailed off. ‘Uh, yeah, has a lot on his mind,’ he said quickly.

Lynn turned and looked him in the eye. ‘All right Elfboy, what do you know?’

‘I can’t say Lynn, I really can’t!’ Seeing the look in her eyes he added, ‘Don’t bother Lynn. Out of the two of you I am more afraid of Viggo. Not very afraid,’ he hastened to add. ‘Seriously though, he will kill me if I spill the beans.’

Lynn looked at him for a moment, then smiled. ‘Okay, then. Let me go change, and brush out my hair.'

Orlando sat down, and dropped his head in his hands. He hadn’t given much away, but even a little was too much.

He drove her to the salon. After determining what Lynn would need, they set about to get her fixed up. She got her hair done in a stacked bob, a bit longer on the sides, angling up slightly to the back. They wisped out her bangs, and then they followed up with the requested hi-lites.

While she sat under the dryer, they did her manicure. They finished just as her timer on the dryer went off. After her hair was finished, it was time for the pedicure. Finally she was done. Orlando paid, despite Lynn’s protests. ‘Argue it out with Viggo,’ was all he would say. She groaned in frustration. Orlando just laughed.

He dropped her off at home, where she found Viggo waiting for her. He had brought over sushi and some Chinese food. When she let herself in, she felt herself drawn to him, as though they were magnets.

When she reached him, he smiled. ‘I love your hair, angel. That look really suits you.’ She smiled, and hugged him.

After dinner they cuddled up on the sofa, watching television. Whose Line is it Anyway (the US version) was on, and Lynn laughed until tears streamed from her eyes. He gazed down at her. She was so. . . vivacious. She loved to laugh and did so easily and energetically. He tightened his arms around her. Less than 24 hours left. . .

The day of the Awards Lynn woke up feeling slightly panicked, heart pounding so loudly she could hear it–no, wait. That was the door she heard. She drew a deep breath. Then another. Calming herself–no caffeine for her today –she rolled out of bed and went to answer the door.

‘Lij ’ she said.

‘Hey girl,’ he grinned. ‘I brought my sister over to help you out; she’s used to this hoopla.’

Lynn was touched. Out of all Viggo’s friends that she had met, Lij was the one she saw least often, and consequently, didn’t know very well. She stood back and opened the door wider.

‘Have a seat while I brush my teeth and stuff. I JUST woke up.’

When she came out, Hannah had a makeup box out and had turned her table into a mini makeup room. Lij was watching footy on tv, DC United vs Chicago Fire, of Major League Soccer.

‘Where would you like me to sit, Hannah?’ she asked.

Hannah looked round for a moment, and brought a chair over by her picture window. Lynn sat down, and over the next half hour or so Hannah applied various colours to her face.

‘Done, for now.’ When Lynn looked confused, Hannah said, ‘No lipstick til right before I leave. That way it has less time to wear off. Although this is supposed to stay on all nite, I haven’t had a chance to try it.’

Lynn smiled, grateful for her ministrations. She was hopeless with make up, the last time she even touched it was November 2002, for her wedding; the makeup lasted longer than the marriage, she thought with a wry smile.

The siblings stayed about and chatted all morning; shortly before Viggo was to pick her up Hannah touched up her makeup, did the lipstick, and gave Lynn tips for re-applying anything she might need, leaving her with the a small evening bag that matched her dress.

Lij grinned. ‘It’s a gift from my sis and me. I’ve seen your bags, nothing would’ve gone with your dress,’ he said, sticking his tongue out.

Lynn was touched. ‘I hope this mascara is tear proof,’ she said. Hannah and Lij laughed. ‘It is.’

‘Now don’t forget that there will be cameras on you periodically, and definitely when Viggo’s nomination comes up. Stay calm, just focus on Viggo. You will be fine,’ Lij offered.

Hannah straightened Lynn’s dress, helped her with her wrap, and touched up her hair, finishing up with some hairspray.

Hannah guided her to the full length mirror that she had seen in Lynn’s room. Lynn gasped.

‘Is that ME?’ she gawped. ‘I look, I look. . . .GOOD ’ she stammered. Lij and Hannah laughed delightedly. ‘Of course you do. You’re beautiful,’ commented Hannah.

Lynn transferred her ID and a few other things to her new bag, and slipped into her shoes–silver and strappy with a low heel, just like Robyn had suggested. Just as she finished, there was a knock at her door. ‘Viggo!’

Lij turned off the tv, and Hannah gathered up her things, meeting Lynn and Viggo at the door. Viggo looked at Lij and groaned. ‘You’re going in THOSE?’

Lij looked down at his comfy blue jeans. ‘Well, yeah. . .’

Viggo shook his head and chuckled. ‘Usually the saying is “I can dress you up, but I can’t take you out.” I think you got it backwards ’ he chuckled. ‘Oh to be young again.’

He led the way, Lynn’s hand in his. He helped her into the limousine, climbing in after her. Lynn greeted Henry, who had been waiting in the limo.

Lynn noticed Viggo had one hand in his pocket, fiddling with something. He caught her eye and smiled at her. ‘I love you, beautiful,’ he whispered, before exchanging a wink with Henry.

They arrived at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland® and the limo pulled into the line of limos waiting for their passengers to step out at the red carpet. Viggo sensed her nervousness, and held her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand.

Henry slid across and sat next to Lynn, giving her a hug. ‘You’ll be fine,’ he whispered. Lynn smiled at him and thanked him. Then she silently thanked God for bringing these wonderful men into her life.

Finally they were second in line, and now it was Viggo’s turn to get nervous. He had worked on this plan for over a month, he hoped it went over well.

When it was their turn, he stepped out, flashbulbs popping and camera shutters whirring. Reporters announced his arrival for their viewing audiences, some live and some taped. He helped Lynn out of the car, and tucked a wayward strand of hair back into place. He smiled at her, his intimate ‘I know something you don’t’ smile, and gave her a light kiss. Henry stepped out next to them, and they made their way up the red carpet.

Viggo stopped a few times for photos, keeping his arm securely around Lynn’s waist.

‘Viggo, is this the lady we’ve heard rumours about the past six months?’ asked one reporter.

‘It is. This is my girlfriend Lynn.’ Lynn smiled, and shook the proferred hand.

‘Viggo, what do you think your chances for winning are?’

‘Oh, about one in five,’ was his sardonic reply.

The questions quickly turned back to his love life. ‘What does your ex-wife think about your girlfriend?’ asked one reporter, hoping to get a rise out of him, or some juicy gossip.

‘Well, you’ll have to ask her that. I’m afraid I can’t speak for her.’

‘Lynn, how come we’ve never seen you out with Viggo before?’

‘Privacy.’

Viggo smiled at her. The reporters wouldn’t get anything more out of her than she wanted to give, she had trained to testify in court when she had worked with juvenile crime victims. She was good at answering questions, even hostile ones, ESPECIALLY hostile ones, he thought satisfactorily. He suspected she simply pictured the reporters as defence lawyers.

Taking her hand, he excused them, and continued the long walk up the carpet. She seemed a lot calmer now.

‘You did well back there baby.’

‘Thanks, I just pretended I was in court with a hostile attorney.’

Ah, he HAD been right. He grinned. ‘That’s what I figured.’

The last stop before entering the theatre; the one he had been waiting for for six weeks, since they bought her dress. Joan and Melissa Rivers, for E!TV.

Thanks to a few phone calls, the two hostesses knew what was coming. So did Orlando, Dominic Monaghan, and Lij, who were standing nearby, just out of sight.

Lynn looked surprised when Viggo removed his arm from her waist. Before she could ask why, though, he dropped to one knee, pulling something out of his pocket. Murmurs quickly spread throughout the crowd, and all attention turned to them.

Lynn noticed none of it, her attention was focussed solely on the man in front of her, the man on bended knee. Her hands flew to her mouth.

Melissa Rivers held the microphone at waist level, so that it would catch every word he said.

‘Lynn, you have brought me and Henry nothing but joy since we met you. I don’t want to ever let you go. Would you do me the honour of being my wife?’

‘Oh my God,’ she whispered. ‘Oh my God! Yes!! God Viggo Yes!’ She was laughing and crying now, and he stood and placed the ring he had chosen on her finger.

He hugged her tight, and thumbed away her tears. Lynn saw Henry, Orlando, Dom, and Lij behind him grinning, and became vaguely aware that everyone who had been outside was cheering.

It wasn’t until she heard Melissa say, ‘a happy ending for the first ever pre-Oscar live wedding proposal. Viggo Mortensen is officially off the market ladies, he’s getting married!’ that she realised he’d proposed to her in front of the whole country, and parts of the world!

Lij hugged her and whispered, ‘I had Hannah make sure to get tear proof mascara for tonight for a reason ya know.’

Orlando hugged her next. ‘Was this the surpise?’ Lynn asked.

He nodded grinning. ‘I did a good job keeping it quiet right?’

She hugged him back tight. ‘You sure did, Elfboy,’ she whispered.

Dom was next. ‘I know we’ve never met, but congratulations. If you are even a fraction of the woman Vig raves about he is a lucky, lucky guy.’ Lynn was so touched that she started crying again.

‘Aww, Dom, look what ya did!’ teased Orlando. Lynn laughed, and Viggo put his arm around her again.

‘We gotta go in baby. We’ll see them all later. They’re coming to my place. . . OUR place. . . after the ceremony.’

They were ushered to their seats, near the front and on an aisle, like all nominees. Viggo sat on the aisle, with Lynn sitting between him and Henry. Viggo put his arm around her, and drew her close, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.

She took a moment to examine her ring; he watched her for her reaction.

‘I’m not really a diamond person,’ said Lynn one time. ‘They’re too icy looking.’

‘What do you like then?’ he had asked.

‘Amethyst or turquoise. I love the purple and blue colours.’

He had remembered that conversation. Her ring had a light coloured amethyst set in the center, with a small turqouise set on each side of it. She smiled, once again blinking back tears.

He brushed a kiss across her lips, and forehead. She smiled at him, no longer nervous at all.

Soon the ceremony began, and they sat hand in hand, except when applauding.

Soon came time for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Viggo and Lynn clutched hands tightly, and Henry grabbed Lynn’s other hand. It was hard to tell who was most nervous. The nominations were announced.

‘Viggo Mortensen, for All my Life’

‘Carlos Evans, for This Moment’

‘Jack Edwards, for Death in LA’

‘Mark Johnson, for Hell on Earth’

‘David Matthews, for Love is a Four Letter Word’

Lynn was acutely aware of the camera on Viggo, who was so close to her that she had to have been in the shot.

As soon as the nominations were read, she whispered, ‘Good luck, sweetheart.’ He smiled at her, gratefully.

‘And the Award goes to. . .’

‘To. . . Viggo Mortensen for All My Life!’

Lynn screamed and threw her arms around Viggo who hugged her back excitedly. Suddenly Lynn felt Henry throw himself on her back as he hugged his dad and step-mother-to-be. Viggo disentangled himself, pausing long enough to give Lynn a quick kiss, then made his way up to the podium. From somewhere in the back he heard Orlando, Dom, and Lij, and grinned.

After accepting the award and shaking hands with Johnny Depp and hugging Liv Tyler, the presenters, he made his way to the podium.

‘Well. . . it’s. . . uh. . . it’s not often I don’t know what to say. [laughter] I’m a little superstitious so I didn’t prepare anything ahead of time; guess I’ll just wing it. God. . . [pause], yeah God’s a good place to start. [more laughter]
'Um, the Academy of course.
'My co-stars in All My Life, who helped me through some rough scenes.
'My fans, who have stood behind me through some dry periods.
'My son Henry who doesn’t get mad at his dad when he has to leave town to shoot. [gentle laughter, some ‘awww’s]
'Last, but certainly not least in any way, my beautiful fiancée, Lynn, who, because she put aside her fears and came out to be with me tonight, is my new hero as well as my love. I love you, angel. [applause, cheers,‘awww’s] Thank you.’

He returned to his seat several minutes later, having been stopped several times by well-wishers. He sank back into his seat, exhausted. ‘I think that was harder to do than some of Aragorn’s scenes.’ He sighed and pulled Lynn close to him again. ‘I really did mean what I said, baby. I am really proud of you for coming out tonight.

She smiled at him, and rested her cheek on his shoulder. ‘I love you. I wake up and thank God for you, everyday.’

He bent his head and kissed her forehead, ‘Love you too. You look tired love, do you need to rest? And be honest, don’t say you are fine if you need rest.’

She dropped her eyes. ‘As much as I would like to stay, I really should lie down.’

He stood, and reached for her hand. Henry, who had long been bored, barring his dad’s win, was happy to accompany them. Viggo put his arm around Lynn, holding her close. ‘We’ll probably have to deal with reporters again. If they ask you something you don’t want to answer, or you get to where we have to go, squeeze my hand, and I’ll get us out of there.’ Before stepping outside, Viggo called the limousine driver’s cell phone, to have him bring it round.

Not surprisingly, Viggo was right. Although it was considered bad form to leave before the final Award was presented, especially nominees of earlier Awards, some attendees did it, for varying reasons. For this reason, the media waited around during the show, to catch stragglers in, or early departures.

Almost immediately their eyes were assaulted with flashbulbs and mounted video camera lights.

‘Lynn! Were you expecting Viggo’s proposal tonite?’

‘No.’

‘How did you two meet?’

‘A mutual friend.’

‘How does it feel to be dating someone old enough to be your father?’ The question was spoken rather snidely.

Lynn smiled. ‘As a wise man once said, the true measure of a person’s age could be measured by experience and wisdom, not by calendar years.’ ‘Nice answer,’ Viggo murmured so only she could hear it.

‘When will the wedding be?’

‘Folks, I only just got over the shock of being proposed to in front of a large percentage of the world. Then my fiancé won a rather prestigious Award. I haven’t had time to think about a wedding yet! We’ll let you know beforehand though. If you’ll excuse us,’ said she with a gracious smile.

Viggo looked at his new fiancée. ‘You handled that very well, angel. Nice answers to all the questions.’ He smiled. ‘So I am a wise man, eh?’

She smiled back before climbing into the limo, a rather cheeky grin, ‘well, you picked ME didn’t ya?’ Viggo threw his head back and laughed as he settled in next to her. Once Henry settled in, Viggo told the driver to bring them back to his house.

‘It’s a long ride, angel. Why don’t you rest til we get home.’ She smiled at him. ‘Home,’ she thought. ‘I like that.’

Kicking off her shoes, she turned, rather inelegantly, in the seat until she could lie down, with her head on Viggo’s lap. Soon, her deep and even breathing told Viggo she was asleep. He looked down at her, and stroked her cheek, smiling.