Chapter 7: The Baby Sisters Unite!
Lydia Bennet
This was ridiculousness. Jane and Darceface were up in the great white north with Ricky Collins doing something while I was stuck caring after mom's nerves. And it was driving me up the wall. Completely and entirely crazy. And I had had enough of it. There was one other person who must feel the same way as I did. I was nervous and I dialed the number I got off Lizzie's phone. I had never actually met this girl but I knew that she and Lizzie were close and that she must feel guilty about stupid Wicks too. The phone rang three times before a confused 'hello?' came through the line.
"Hi, um is this Gigi Darcy?" I winced. My voice sounded weird and high pitched.
"Yes, this is. And whom am I speaking to?" the sing-song voice responded.
"Umm, this is Lydia Bennet." There was a pause and I could hear Gigi taking a deep breath.
"Oh my gosh Lydia! I've wanted to meet you for such a long time now! I've heard so much about you from my brother and Lizzie. Speaking of which please tell me you have news. Will keeps saying that he's on it but he doesn't want me involved since it looks like Wickham's in this so I am getting radio silence from him. Please, please, please say something good happened!"
"Ugh, I know!" I responded. "Like I screwed up, I know! But it doesn't matter if I get a little hurt seeing Wicks being a loser-face, I need to help my sister! They haven't been giving me direct updates but I eavesdropped when Darcefa-I mean Darcy called my father with news and I heard a bit. So your brother and my sister Jane are in Winnipeg Manitoba trying to track down the Rachael Younge you were telling him about. Ricky Collins is with them because he knows the area really well or something. They found the place and Jane found one of Wick's shirts there so they know that they were there for sure. Darcy showed the lady there a picture of Lizzie and Wicks and the girl identified them as George Hammond and his little sister who had tried to run away from home to be with a horrible man and apparently George said that he was taking her back to their parents or something in Montreal but Darcy is pretty sure that's not where they're going so he got Wick's new cell number and they are trying to track it down."
"Look I can't stand not doing anything. I at least want to be with you guys for moral support! I miss Lizzie so much and I can't take being by myself and not knowing anything. I know this is a ton to ask but if I flew out to Longbourne would I be able to stay with you guys?" I squealed in excitement.
"Oh my goodness yes! Gigi this is going to be tots amazing and the second we hear that they have Lizzie and that she's safe and Wicks is taken care of and whatever, we can start planning an insane-welcome back we're glad you're not kidnapped anymore party!" Gigi responded enthusiastically and it was nice to know that someone else tried to be as normal as possible in circumstances like these. It wasn't going to get my sister back any faster if we were mopey and annoyingly boring! We had to rally and keep mom and dad's spirits up. And having another single girl in the house to set up on dates might be just the thing mom needed right now. Gigi and I planned times and I ran downstairs to tell mom and dad the good news. I was getting a new sister and Jane and Darceface would find Lizzie and Jing would get married and have babies and everything in life would be perfect. Oh, and I would murder George Wickham.
This was ridiculousness. Jane and Darceface were up in the great white north with Ricky Collins doing something while I was stuck caring after mom's nerves. And it was driving me up the wall. Completely and entirely crazy. And I had had enough of it. There was one other person who must feel the same way as I did. I was nervous and I dialed the number I got off Lizzie's phone. I had never actually met this girl but I knew that she and Lizzie were close and that she must feel guilty about stupid Wicks too. The phone rang three times before a confused 'hello?' came through the line.
"Hi, um is this Gigi Darcy?" I winced. My voice sounded weird and high pitched.
"Yes, this is. And whom am I speaking to?" the sing-song voice responded.
"Umm, this is Lydia Bennet." There was a pause and I could hear Gigi taking a deep breath.
"Oh my gosh Lydia! I've wanted to meet you for such a long time now! I've heard so much about you from my brother and Lizzie. Speaking of which please tell me you have news. Will keeps saying that he's on it but he doesn't want me involved since it looks like Wickham's in this so I am getting radio silence from him. Please, please, please say something good happened!"
"Ugh, I know!" I responded. "Like I screwed up, I know! But it doesn't matter if I get a little hurt seeing Wicks being a loser-face, I need to help my sister! They haven't been giving me direct updates but I eavesdropped when Darcefa-I mean Darcy called my father with news and I heard a bit. So your brother and my sister Jane are in Winnipeg Manitoba trying to track down the Rachael Younge you were telling him about. Ricky Collins is with them because he knows the area really well or something. They found the place and Jane found one of Wick's shirts there so they know that they were there for sure. Darcy showed the lady there a picture of Lizzie and Wicks and the girl identified them as George Hammond and his little sister who had tried to run away from home to be with a horrible man and apparently George said that he was taking her back to their parents or something in Montreal but Darcy is pretty sure that's not where they're going so he got Wick's new cell number and they are trying to track it down."
"Look I can't stand not doing anything. I at least want to be with you guys for moral support! I miss Lizzie so much and I can't take being by myself and not knowing anything. I know this is a ton to ask but if I flew out to Longbourne would I be able to stay with you guys?" I squealed in excitement.
"Oh my goodness yes! Gigi this is going to be tots amazing and the second we hear that they have Lizzie and that she's safe and Wicks is taken care of and whatever, we can start planning an insane-welcome back we're glad you're not kidnapped anymore party!" Gigi responded enthusiastically and it was nice to know that someone else tried to be as normal as possible in circumstances like these. It wasn't going to get my sister back any faster if we were mopey and annoyingly boring! We had to rally and keep mom and dad's spirits up. And having another single girl in the house to set up on dates might be just the thing mom needed right now. Gigi and I planned times and I ran downstairs to tell mom and dad the good news. I was getting a new sister and Jane and Darceface would find Lizzie and Jing would get married and have babies and everything in life would be perfect. Oh, and I would murder George Wickham.
Chapter 8: Boom! A Tots Brilliant Idea
Lizzie Bennet
This had progressed from varying levels of horribleness to an all-out hell hole. George has now firmly convinced himself that he's saving me from the evil of Darcy and that for this I was going to fall madly in love with him any moment now. This included an awful lot of Darcy bashing and even more ass groping. I had tried to run away about 50 times now but those muscles that I had once ogled at now were the bane of my existence along with the fact that I was now securely tied up ALL THE TIME! My wrists were starting to chaff and bleed and I was getting blisters on top of other blisters on my ankles. This was starting to get real. For a while there being kidnapped by George Wickham was kind of a joke, I mean George Wickham? We used to be friends! We used to be more than friends! Sure he nearly destroyed my baby sister and I set the record straight on him for the entire internet to see but I didn't think I was in actual danger. Now I wasn't so sure. He was actually starting to scare me. Every time I opened my mouth to verbally strike back at him I got another bruise to add to my collection. And despite this motivation to keep my mouth shut, I couldn't seem to be able to do it.
I found myself thinking about him. All the time. George brought him up often enough that I was almost able to convince myself that I was just thinking about him because he occupied most of George's conversations but I knew that George Wickham's obsession with his ex-friend wasn't the only reason I couldn't get him out of my mind. If I got out of this, I wasn't going to hide behind fear of rejection any longer. I was going to walk right up to him and tell him how I felt and kiss those perfectly formed lips. The only thing I couldn't figure out was exactly how I felt about him. I obviously liked him. I liked him a lot in fact, but the word 'like' didn't seem to encompass all that had happened between the two of us.
The first time Darcy expressed any interest in me whatsoever he came right out and told me he loved me. Saying that 'that had escalated quickly' was the understatement of a century. And despite the fact that we had fought immediately afterwards and that we had gone on absolutely hating each other for a few months, the time I spent at Pemberley changed everything. I had come to see who he really was and I had begun to fall for him without even knowing it. Well I knew it now and a fat lot of good it did me stuck here with Wickham in the middle of God knows where, Canada. I think I'm in love with him. But what if he's changed his mind about me too? I mean, when you tell a girl you love her and she insults you and yells at you, don't you kind of tend to stop liking her like that?
And if he's seen my videos then he knows that I know about the Lydia thing. And he had several days to call me back so obviously he doesn't want to talk to me. Not that I was necessarily ever getting out of here, but if I did, I was just going to have to take a leap of faith and tell him that I loved him. I mean he told me, I think that makes it my turn. Oh sweet Lord, he was back. And he was drunk. I closed my eyes and prayed to whatever gods were listening to get me out of here as soon as physically possible. Drunk, crazy Wickham did not sound like an experience I ever wanted to go through.
William Darcy
It had been a week. He hadn't used his phone in forever and staking out Rachael Younge's house in case of Wickham's return had been a waste of time. I didn't know what else I could do. I was tracking his credit cards (in a way that wasn't necessarily legal I might add) and had even involved the police. So far, nothing. I didn't know what to do anymore. That wasn't going to stop me. This was Lizzie. Failure was not an option. If I had to personally go door to door and speak with every single Canadian until I found him I would do it without hesitation. Jane was being strong. She was convinced that the next hour would turn up something new and that we would get one step closer to finding them. This strange sort of hope mostly meant that she spent a lot time in our hotel room's kitchen making cookies and trying to shove them down my throat when we were on the road searching.
I finally told her. The next hour might not turn up anything, but we can't lose hope based on one hour. Oddly enough, the next hour did turn up something unexpected. And as unexpected as it was, it certainly got us closer to finding them. I was first made aware of this unexpected turn when I heard a knock on our hotel room door. I ran to answer it and I was not prepared for what I saw.
"Gigi?"
"Hey Will!" She responded cheerfully as if it were another day at Pemberley and she was simply stopping by my office unexpectedly to bring me a hug or an encouraging word.
"Hey Darceface!" a second cheery voice came from the hallway.
"Lydia?" I questioned, my brow furrowed. "What are you both doing here?"
"Well I was getting sick with worry and I was all by myself seeing as Fitz and Brandon are cross country searching all of Wickham's continental United States spots and you were up here. Then you wouldn't answer your phone calls and when you did I wasn't getting updates because you thought I couldn't handle it. So all of a sudden, this one calls me!" She smiles and gestures with her head towards the energetic ginger beside her.
"And I was getting lonely because Jane was gone and Mom and Dad were being tots boring so I invited her to stay at the Bennet res-ih-deeeense!" she sang out.
"You both do realize I'm looking for a person right? Who is in actual danger?" I snarled at them. "Can we maybe do this without the dancing and…" I trailed off looking for a word.
"Energeticism?" They both suggested simultaneously.
"Just listen to the story Will!" Gigi insisted. "We've got great news!"
"Yeah Darceface. You're gonna love the ending I promise!" I rolled my eyes as my sister continued.
"I went to go stay with Lydia of course because being home alone in a giant house during a crisis just makes you feel worse and we still both felt completely useless. And that's when I realized it."
"We both realized it, actually," Lydia cut in grinning.
"Realized what?" I didn't have time for this nonsense. Where was Jane? She always seemed to know how to shut Lydia up. I was sure she could silence my sister and get us all back on track in an instant.
"We are both so over George Wickham right now, that talking about him 24/7 isn't even affecting us." Gigi said with a proud look on her face.
"Yeah, after this stunt there was no way even our over-trusting hearts could like him."
"And we wanted to come and tell you that but on the way, I had an idea." Gigi continued.
"A tots brilliant and majorly epic awesome idea!" Lydia chimed in.
"Who knows George Wickham better than the two of us?" she asked.
"Um, well I guess that would have to be…"
"That was a rhetorical question, Will."
"Oh. Right. Continue."
"No One!" Gigi grinned. "So put our minds together and what can we do?"
"Is that rhetorical too? I can't really tell." Lydia sighed, clearly frustrated that I wasn't getting this 'tots brilliant idea' yet. She held out her phone.
"We can hack into Wickham's cloud account. And email. And Facebook. And Twitter." They both smiled at me widely as my mouth dropped open in shock. That was actually helpful. This wasn't complete ridiculousness!
"Boom!" Lydia verbalized her emotions as I pulled the phone out of her grasp.
"Well, to be fair, it's all the same password so once we got into one, we got into all of them." Lydia admitted.
"How did you…" I began.
"We put in every date, year, name and pet that has ever meant anything to George." Gigi started.
"And then when that didn't work we started putting in the most vulgar, disgusting, crude words and phrases we could think of." Lydia continued.
"And after 5 minutes of that, we were in!" Gigi finished.
"Jane!" I yelled over my shoulder. "Our sisters were just really helpful! Come force-feed them some of your Snickerdoodles!" Within a minute Jane and a fresh plate of cookies were running into the room.
"Lydia?" She started. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping!" She grinned.
"Jane this is Gigi!" my sister sprang forward and hugged Jane as I intently flipped through about a million emails.
"Of course I recognize you from Lizzie's videos." The girls grew silent at the sound of Lizzie's name. That's when I saw it.
"Gigi," I began casually. "Do you recognize the name Johanna Forster?"
"No, not really. I know he knew someone he called Jo-Jo but I thought she lived in the Valley not in..."
"Yes." Lydia cut Gigi off. "He used to talk about a Jo-Jo who had just moved out of the country. And a J. M. Foster was one of the names used to cover up who really sold the video." She added quietly. I barely heard her. Not when I had seen what I had just seen. I was reading his most recent Facebook messages and he seemed to be speaking with Johanna Forster a lot. There was one particular strand of messages that stuck out. They couldn't be talking about what I thought they were talking about. I handed Lydia's phone to Jane and showed her the Facebook messages I was reading.
"Can't wait to see you. I'm bringing a friend to see you, like we discussed." She read out loud before flipping to the response. "Great. Can't wait to meet your girl. Still having problems with her?" she read ahead and grinned biting her lip. "Still seems to think that he is this amazing guy. She thinks she's in love with him." She paused before reading the response. "And?" Jane looked up at me, flicking to the next message. "I am going to destroy him. She is mine and he's never going to find us. It will break him and when he gives up she will realize that I am the one for her." she glanced back down at the Facebook page. "It says that Johanna Foster lives in Sandy Lake, Canada." I grabbed my keys.
"Get your coat, Jane." The girls hurriedly grabbed their effects and rushed out to my car. The car sped down the highway as we made our way towards Sandy Lake. And for once, Gigi didn't complain about my speeding.
This had progressed from varying levels of horribleness to an all-out hell hole. George has now firmly convinced himself that he's saving me from the evil of Darcy and that for this I was going to fall madly in love with him any moment now. This included an awful lot of Darcy bashing and even more ass groping. I had tried to run away about 50 times now but those muscles that I had once ogled at now were the bane of my existence along with the fact that I was now securely tied up ALL THE TIME! My wrists were starting to chaff and bleed and I was getting blisters on top of other blisters on my ankles. This was starting to get real. For a while there being kidnapped by George Wickham was kind of a joke, I mean George Wickham? We used to be friends! We used to be more than friends! Sure he nearly destroyed my baby sister and I set the record straight on him for the entire internet to see but I didn't think I was in actual danger. Now I wasn't so sure. He was actually starting to scare me. Every time I opened my mouth to verbally strike back at him I got another bruise to add to my collection. And despite this motivation to keep my mouth shut, I couldn't seem to be able to do it.
I found myself thinking about him. All the time. George brought him up often enough that I was almost able to convince myself that I was just thinking about him because he occupied most of George's conversations but I knew that George Wickham's obsession with his ex-friend wasn't the only reason I couldn't get him out of my mind. If I got out of this, I wasn't going to hide behind fear of rejection any longer. I was going to walk right up to him and tell him how I felt and kiss those perfectly formed lips. The only thing I couldn't figure out was exactly how I felt about him. I obviously liked him. I liked him a lot in fact, but the word 'like' didn't seem to encompass all that had happened between the two of us.
The first time Darcy expressed any interest in me whatsoever he came right out and told me he loved me. Saying that 'that had escalated quickly' was the understatement of a century. And despite the fact that we had fought immediately afterwards and that we had gone on absolutely hating each other for a few months, the time I spent at Pemberley changed everything. I had come to see who he really was and I had begun to fall for him without even knowing it. Well I knew it now and a fat lot of good it did me stuck here with Wickham in the middle of God knows where, Canada. I think I'm in love with him. But what if he's changed his mind about me too? I mean, when you tell a girl you love her and she insults you and yells at you, don't you kind of tend to stop liking her like that?
And if he's seen my videos then he knows that I know about the Lydia thing. And he had several days to call me back so obviously he doesn't want to talk to me. Not that I was necessarily ever getting out of here, but if I did, I was just going to have to take a leap of faith and tell him that I loved him. I mean he told me, I think that makes it my turn. Oh sweet Lord, he was back. And he was drunk. I closed my eyes and prayed to whatever gods were listening to get me out of here as soon as physically possible. Drunk, crazy Wickham did not sound like an experience I ever wanted to go through.
William Darcy
It had been a week. He hadn't used his phone in forever and staking out Rachael Younge's house in case of Wickham's return had been a waste of time. I didn't know what else I could do. I was tracking his credit cards (in a way that wasn't necessarily legal I might add) and had even involved the police. So far, nothing. I didn't know what to do anymore. That wasn't going to stop me. This was Lizzie. Failure was not an option. If I had to personally go door to door and speak with every single Canadian until I found him I would do it without hesitation. Jane was being strong. She was convinced that the next hour would turn up something new and that we would get one step closer to finding them. This strange sort of hope mostly meant that she spent a lot time in our hotel room's kitchen making cookies and trying to shove them down my throat when we were on the road searching.
I finally told her. The next hour might not turn up anything, but we can't lose hope based on one hour. Oddly enough, the next hour did turn up something unexpected. And as unexpected as it was, it certainly got us closer to finding them. I was first made aware of this unexpected turn when I heard a knock on our hotel room door. I ran to answer it and I was not prepared for what I saw.
"Gigi?"
"Hey Will!" She responded cheerfully as if it were another day at Pemberley and she was simply stopping by my office unexpectedly to bring me a hug or an encouraging word.
"Hey Darceface!" a second cheery voice came from the hallway.
"Lydia?" I questioned, my brow furrowed. "What are you both doing here?"
"Well I was getting sick with worry and I was all by myself seeing as Fitz and Brandon are cross country searching all of Wickham's continental United States spots and you were up here. Then you wouldn't answer your phone calls and when you did I wasn't getting updates because you thought I couldn't handle it. So all of a sudden, this one calls me!" She smiles and gestures with her head towards the energetic ginger beside her.
"And I was getting lonely because Jane was gone and Mom and Dad were being tots boring so I invited her to stay at the Bennet res-ih-deeeense!" she sang out.
"You both do realize I'm looking for a person right? Who is in actual danger?" I snarled at them. "Can we maybe do this without the dancing and…" I trailed off looking for a word.
"Energeticism?" They both suggested simultaneously.
"Just listen to the story Will!" Gigi insisted. "We've got great news!"
"Yeah Darceface. You're gonna love the ending I promise!" I rolled my eyes as my sister continued.
"I went to go stay with Lydia of course because being home alone in a giant house during a crisis just makes you feel worse and we still both felt completely useless. And that's when I realized it."
"We both realized it, actually," Lydia cut in grinning.
"Realized what?" I didn't have time for this nonsense. Where was Jane? She always seemed to know how to shut Lydia up. I was sure she could silence my sister and get us all back on track in an instant.
"We are both so over George Wickham right now, that talking about him 24/7 isn't even affecting us." Gigi said with a proud look on her face.
"Yeah, after this stunt there was no way even our over-trusting hearts could like him."
"And we wanted to come and tell you that but on the way, I had an idea." Gigi continued.
"A tots brilliant and majorly epic awesome idea!" Lydia chimed in.
"Who knows George Wickham better than the two of us?" she asked.
"Um, well I guess that would have to be…"
"That was a rhetorical question, Will."
"Oh. Right. Continue."
"No One!" Gigi grinned. "So put our minds together and what can we do?"
"Is that rhetorical too? I can't really tell." Lydia sighed, clearly frustrated that I wasn't getting this 'tots brilliant idea' yet. She held out her phone.
"We can hack into Wickham's cloud account. And email. And Facebook. And Twitter." They both smiled at me widely as my mouth dropped open in shock. That was actually helpful. This wasn't complete ridiculousness!
"Boom!" Lydia verbalized her emotions as I pulled the phone out of her grasp.
"Well, to be fair, it's all the same password so once we got into one, we got into all of them." Lydia admitted.
"How did you…" I began.
"We put in every date, year, name and pet that has ever meant anything to George." Gigi started.
"And then when that didn't work we started putting in the most vulgar, disgusting, crude words and phrases we could think of." Lydia continued.
"And after 5 minutes of that, we were in!" Gigi finished.
"Jane!" I yelled over my shoulder. "Our sisters were just really helpful! Come force-feed them some of your Snickerdoodles!" Within a minute Jane and a fresh plate of cookies were running into the room.
"Lydia?" She started. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping!" She grinned.
"Jane this is Gigi!" my sister sprang forward and hugged Jane as I intently flipped through about a million emails.
"Of course I recognize you from Lizzie's videos." The girls grew silent at the sound of Lizzie's name. That's when I saw it.
"Gigi," I began casually. "Do you recognize the name Johanna Forster?"
"No, not really. I know he knew someone he called Jo-Jo but I thought she lived in the Valley not in..."
"Yes." Lydia cut Gigi off. "He used to talk about a Jo-Jo who had just moved out of the country. And a J. M. Foster was one of the names used to cover up who really sold the video." She added quietly. I barely heard her. Not when I had seen what I had just seen. I was reading his most recent Facebook messages and he seemed to be speaking with Johanna Forster a lot. There was one particular strand of messages that stuck out. They couldn't be talking about what I thought they were talking about. I handed Lydia's phone to Jane and showed her the Facebook messages I was reading.
"Can't wait to see you. I'm bringing a friend to see you, like we discussed." She read out loud before flipping to the response. "Great. Can't wait to meet your girl. Still having problems with her?" she read ahead and grinned biting her lip. "Still seems to think that he is this amazing guy. She thinks she's in love with him." She paused before reading the response. "And?" Jane looked up at me, flicking to the next message. "I am going to destroy him. She is mine and he's never going to find us. It will break him and when he gives up she will realize that I am the one for her." she glanced back down at the Facebook page. "It says that Johanna Foster lives in Sandy Lake, Canada." I grabbed my keys.
"Get your coat, Jane." The girls hurriedly grabbed their effects and rushed out to my car. The car sped down the highway as we made our way towards Sandy Lake. And for once, Gigi didn't complain about my speeding.
Chapter 9: A Knight in a Newsie Hat and Bowtie
Lizzie Bennet
"Look, darling, you don't understand. George is protecting you!" I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth for what must have been the hundredth time in the past two hours. Wickham had just gone off to get us supper and this Johanna person seemed intent on changing my mind. She may be married but it was clear she was in love with George Wickham.
"From what exactly?" I retorted angrily. I will admit that it was nice to be able to talk back to someone without getting hit. "Because from an outsider's point of view I'd say that the guy who kidnaps someone is the real danger here."
"He didn't kidnap you, he is taking you away to clear your mind and get it out of the brainwashing, all Darcy-loving place you were surrounded in. He's keeping you away from that monster!"
"Have you actually ever met Darcy?"
"Well not personally but I have heard so much through George and from other people unconnected to George who would have no reason to speak of a person in such awful terms unless they meant it."
"Yes, Darcy makes an," I paused looking for the right word. "Interesting first impression it's true and he is a bit socially awkward. But he is an amazing person who takes care of the people he loves. He has a huge heart and he is completely selfless."
"Really? Than why wouldn't he give George the money to go to college that his father had promised him?"
"Wow. Okay 'darling'. Let me explain something to you. Don't feel bad. I fell for that story, too. Let's talk about what actually happened. Like how Darcy said he could just pay the school directly but Wickham insisted he wanted to handle his own money so he ended up spending all the money he was going to use in four years at a super nice, ridiculously expensive school, in one. He went back for more money but Darcy refused because he knew he'd just be throwing money away. Then when he ran dry again, he went and seduced Darcy's baby sister and convinced her that he loved her. Then when Darcy found them he wrote Wickham a check and Wickham didn't even pause on his way out the door. He just said 'Sorry Peach' and walked out with a fat lot of cash. Then last year he got my sister to film a sex tape with him and then he made a website asking for subscriptions to watch it practically ruining my sister's life. Darcy bought up an entire company in order to keep the tape from ever showing. Which person sounds like the good guy here?" she paused.
"He called her Peach?" She asked quietly. My heart softened for her. It was clear that she had fallen for him too.
"That's what he called her, and me and my baby sister. If I had to bet, I would say that he calls everyone he's ever been involved with 'Peach'." Johanna's eyes drifted down to the floor. Just then Wickham stormed through the door.
"Hey Peach! I've got Chinese." I glanced significantly at Johanna.
"Sorry George, who were you speaking to there?" she asked casually. He paused and looked between the two of us, a little unsure of what had just happened.
"Jo-Jo, what are you talking about? I've called you Peach forever! Of course I'm talking to you!"
"I just know you called her Peach earlier so I was confused." Johanna gestured towards me with her head.
"Peach, come on. What's going on here?"
"Nothing! You know what Wicks, I'm not really hungry. So you and Lizzie can eat alone together. I'm going to go meet my husband at work, see if he wants to get a bit out." And with that she turned around and stalked out the door. Wickham turned to me.
"What the hell was that?" All sweetness was gone from his voice.
"We were talking and I happened to mention Gigi and Lydia and how you happened to call all three of us Peach, that's all." I feigned a shocked look. "Why? Was that some sort of national secret? You did it on two people's vlogs and an automatically posted Domino promotional video. I just sort of assumed it was common knowledge." I smirked at him and glared him down.
"You bitch!" Wickham snarled, his fist finding my face. How did he do that? The same spot every time. "I was going to have that tonight," He hissed in my ear. I shuddered trying my best to pull away from him. "No matter. I'll just have to take you instead." His hands were running over my body roughly and his fingers found themselves up my skirt and shoved inside me. I gasped in pain and squirmed but to no avail. He was in good shape and he could hold me down. Within a minute his pants were down and I was shoved up against a wall, begging him to stop. I had decided going into this that I wasn't about to lose my dignity and plead for anything but this changed everything.
"Please, don't do this." My voice was cut off by his tongue plunging roughly into my lips. He tasted like mouthwash and vodka. He'd been drinking. No wonder it took him so long to get some simple Chinese food. I could feel him growing below me and I cringed. I didn't want him anywhere near me right now, let alone this. Please God, if you exist, please send help. Don't make me go through this. The knot on my wrists was as tight as ever but he untied my ankles as he threw me down on the ground. I kicked and pushed away with everything that I had but as he held me down with only his weight I realized that it wasn't enough. Where was Johanna? She should get back here, make him stop. Someone should get here. Anyone. "Please," I begged. It was all I could manage before the back of his hand found my cheek again. There was a loud bang as my flailing leg came in contact with a bookshelf. I twitched a bit in shock. I hadn't expected it to be that loud. a few books had fallen on top of Wickham but he pushed them off himself without thinking. Wickham thrust into me and I whimpered as he groaned loudly.
"Please, Stop. Don't do this." I tried to push away but with my hands tied, pressed between my back and the floor. My eyes focused on the green lace of my dress as his fist found my face again. The weight of him was suffocating. My shoulders burned from the way I was tied up and I wanted so desperately for him to get out of me. I closed my eyes and tried to block it all out by going to some semblance of a 'happy place' as Lydia always joked. There she was. Lydia. Laughing, smiling a true genuine Ly-di-yah smile and dancing with Mary. Jane and Bing, holding hands and running through our gardens and into the forest near our house. I walked through the paths in the woods and found Gigi and Fitz laughing and smiling, they too were happy in my happy place. And he was there. Everywhere. He was behind this tree, ahead of me on the path. He was hugging Gigi and laughing with Fitz. He was holding out his hand to me, smiling. I tried to smile back at him. Darcy. In my mind I reached my hand forward to take his hand.
Just then the weight disappeared off the top of me and Wickham was ripped from me. My eyes flew open and I almost didn't believe what I was seeing. Jane was running across the room to me and the second she knelt by my side she was picking me up and fumbling with the knot around my wrists. Gigi was close behind her and the two of them pulled me into a sitting position and held me close. Lydia was here too glaring down the blond maniac and there he was. He was here. My Darcy.
"Look, darling, you don't understand. George is protecting you!" I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth for what must have been the hundredth time in the past two hours. Wickham had just gone off to get us supper and this Johanna person seemed intent on changing my mind. She may be married but it was clear she was in love with George Wickham.
"From what exactly?" I retorted angrily. I will admit that it was nice to be able to talk back to someone without getting hit. "Because from an outsider's point of view I'd say that the guy who kidnaps someone is the real danger here."
"He didn't kidnap you, he is taking you away to clear your mind and get it out of the brainwashing, all Darcy-loving place you were surrounded in. He's keeping you away from that monster!"
"Have you actually ever met Darcy?"
"Well not personally but I have heard so much through George and from other people unconnected to George who would have no reason to speak of a person in such awful terms unless they meant it."
"Yes, Darcy makes an," I paused looking for the right word. "Interesting first impression it's true and he is a bit socially awkward. But he is an amazing person who takes care of the people he loves. He has a huge heart and he is completely selfless."
"Really? Than why wouldn't he give George the money to go to college that his father had promised him?"
"Wow. Okay 'darling'. Let me explain something to you. Don't feel bad. I fell for that story, too. Let's talk about what actually happened. Like how Darcy said he could just pay the school directly but Wickham insisted he wanted to handle his own money so he ended up spending all the money he was going to use in four years at a super nice, ridiculously expensive school, in one. He went back for more money but Darcy refused because he knew he'd just be throwing money away. Then when he ran dry again, he went and seduced Darcy's baby sister and convinced her that he loved her. Then when Darcy found them he wrote Wickham a check and Wickham didn't even pause on his way out the door. He just said 'Sorry Peach' and walked out with a fat lot of cash. Then last year he got my sister to film a sex tape with him and then he made a website asking for subscriptions to watch it practically ruining my sister's life. Darcy bought up an entire company in order to keep the tape from ever showing. Which person sounds like the good guy here?" she paused.
"He called her Peach?" She asked quietly. My heart softened for her. It was clear that she had fallen for him too.
"That's what he called her, and me and my baby sister. If I had to bet, I would say that he calls everyone he's ever been involved with 'Peach'." Johanna's eyes drifted down to the floor. Just then Wickham stormed through the door.
"Hey Peach! I've got Chinese." I glanced significantly at Johanna.
"Sorry George, who were you speaking to there?" she asked casually. He paused and looked between the two of us, a little unsure of what had just happened.
"Jo-Jo, what are you talking about? I've called you Peach forever! Of course I'm talking to you!"
"I just know you called her Peach earlier so I was confused." Johanna gestured towards me with her head.
"Peach, come on. What's going on here?"
"Nothing! You know what Wicks, I'm not really hungry. So you and Lizzie can eat alone together. I'm going to go meet my husband at work, see if he wants to get a bit out." And with that she turned around and stalked out the door. Wickham turned to me.
"What the hell was that?" All sweetness was gone from his voice.
"We were talking and I happened to mention Gigi and Lydia and how you happened to call all three of us Peach, that's all." I feigned a shocked look. "Why? Was that some sort of national secret? You did it on two people's vlogs and an automatically posted Domino promotional video. I just sort of assumed it was common knowledge." I smirked at him and glared him down.
"You bitch!" Wickham snarled, his fist finding my face. How did he do that? The same spot every time. "I was going to have that tonight," He hissed in my ear. I shuddered trying my best to pull away from him. "No matter. I'll just have to take you instead." His hands were running over my body roughly and his fingers found themselves up my skirt and shoved inside me. I gasped in pain and squirmed but to no avail. He was in good shape and he could hold me down. Within a minute his pants were down and I was shoved up against a wall, begging him to stop. I had decided going into this that I wasn't about to lose my dignity and plead for anything but this changed everything.
"Please, don't do this." My voice was cut off by his tongue plunging roughly into my lips. He tasted like mouthwash and vodka. He'd been drinking. No wonder it took him so long to get some simple Chinese food. I could feel him growing below me and I cringed. I didn't want him anywhere near me right now, let alone this. Please God, if you exist, please send help. Don't make me go through this. The knot on my wrists was as tight as ever but he untied my ankles as he threw me down on the ground. I kicked and pushed away with everything that I had but as he held me down with only his weight I realized that it wasn't enough. Where was Johanna? She should get back here, make him stop. Someone should get here. Anyone. "Please," I begged. It was all I could manage before the back of his hand found my cheek again. There was a loud bang as my flailing leg came in contact with a bookshelf. I twitched a bit in shock. I hadn't expected it to be that loud. a few books had fallen on top of Wickham but he pushed them off himself without thinking. Wickham thrust into me and I whimpered as he groaned loudly.
"Please, Stop. Don't do this." I tried to push away but with my hands tied, pressed between my back and the floor. My eyes focused on the green lace of my dress as his fist found my face again. The weight of him was suffocating. My shoulders burned from the way I was tied up and I wanted so desperately for him to get out of me. I closed my eyes and tried to block it all out by going to some semblance of a 'happy place' as Lydia always joked. There she was. Lydia. Laughing, smiling a true genuine Ly-di-yah smile and dancing with Mary. Jane and Bing, holding hands and running through our gardens and into the forest near our house. I walked through the paths in the woods and found Gigi and Fitz laughing and smiling, they too were happy in my happy place. And he was there. Everywhere. He was behind this tree, ahead of me on the path. He was hugging Gigi and laughing with Fitz. He was holding out his hand to me, smiling. I tried to smile back at him. Darcy. In my mind I reached my hand forward to take his hand.
Just then the weight disappeared off the top of me and Wickham was ripped from me. My eyes flew open and I almost didn't believe what I was seeing. Jane was running across the room to me and the second she knelt by my side she was picking me up and fumbling with the knot around my wrists. Gigi was close behind her and the two of them pulled me into a sitting position and held me close. Lydia was here too glaring down the blond maniac and there he was. He was here. My Darcy.
Chapter 10: Feeling Dizzie
William Darcy
This was the address Johanna Forster had put as her home on Facebook. Not that she'd shared that with any of her friends but Lydia was proving useful with her hacking abilities. Jane had commented that Lydia always understood how people thought and that she had always been able to break through people's passwords given enough time and some knowledge of the person. Johanna Forster's password had been Peach. That explained a lot. I knocked on the door and there was no answer. Jane and I tried to pear through the opaque windows but we couldn't see a thing. Lydia fiddled with the knob but it was locked.
"Maybe they're out. We could stake out for a bit." Gigi suggested. I pounded on the door one final time and as we turned to walk back to our car a man opened the door.
"Sorry, I was a bit, indisposed." He was grinning ear to ear and awkwardness spread about the group as we looked at his ruffled clothes and saw that the buttons on his shirt were one off. Johanna Forster stood behind him. I recognized her from her Facebook pictures. Her dress was also hanging on her oddly and it was obvious what they had just been up to.
"Wow, okay. So sorry to bother you." Jane's voice cut in and she took control of the situation. She held up the picture of Wickham and Lizzie, a still from one of Lizzie's vlogs. "Do you know where we might be able to find these people? That's my sister and this man has kidnapped her. We just want her back!" she assured them, looking directly at Johanna as she spoke. The man looked at the picture and from the way he studied it, it was clear that he had no idea who these people were. Then his brow furrowed a bit of recognition hit his eyes.
"Say, doesn't that girl have a video diary?" he looked up at me.
"Good Lord! You're him! That guy who's in love with her!" I smiled as kindly as I could with the impatient feeling that was bubbling up inside of me.
"Yes. I am." I admitted. I could sense Jane grinning beside me. Was she really so thrilled when it appeared as though we were hitting another dead end?
"Well we will certainly keep our eyes out for them! Imagine! The Lizzie Bennet in our little town!" We walked back down the path and I swore under my breath.
"I heard that. Gigi muttered. I was about to apologize when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Johanna. She slipped a piece of paper in my hand.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "Tell Lizzie that she was right about everything and that I am so sorry." With that she ran back to her husband. I looked at the slip of paper. There was an address, just outside of town. I handed the note to Jane and we practically ran to the car. I drove like a madman but no one said a word. I followed the GPS immaculately but every time we got held up at a light or behind a slow moving vehicle my hands began shaking. I was so close to my Lizzie I could taste it but until I saw her and held her in my arms I wouldn't calm down. We finally pulled up in front of a tiny wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere. I jumped out of the car and the girls followed me as I strode quickly to the door. I pounded on the door but there was no reply. Well it wasn't like I had expected Wickham to just open the door and invite us in for tea. I leaned into the door and listened for any hints that someone was inside.
That's when I heard it. A voice. Her voice. It was faint and far away but it didn't sound happy. I pressed my ear to the door and I heard it again. "Please." She whimpered. That was all I needed to hear. He was hurting her I could tell. I stood back and kicked the door as hard as I could. Jane jumped and was about to cry out in shock but I put my hand over her mouth before noise could give us away. I put my finger to my lips and the others nodded following me in. we crept through the hallway and made our way into a living room of sorts.
My blood boiled. That is the only way I can actually describe what happened to me. Anger swelled through me so strongly that my entire body overheated and the blood in my veins began to burn. She was lying, helpless on the ground, her arms twisted underneath her at a strange angle and his body was holding her down. His pants were wrapped around his thighs and Lizzie's eyes were tightly shut and several tears were sliding down her cheeks. She was whimpering, clearly in pain and he was simply taking his pleasure from her. Before I knew what I was doing I was across the room and grabbing Wickham and shoving him up against a wall. His arms were fumbling with his pants, pulling them back up and covering himself.
"Darce!" he tried to look casual. "What are you doing?" my fist found him face three times before I gave him a break long enough for him to spit some blood out of his mouth.
"Gigi, call the police. We've found our kidnapper." I heard Gigi speaking to a dispatcher but I wasn't listening to carefully to what she was saying.
"Come on Peach, don't be like this." The monster begged her. My fist went back, readying itself to make contact again but Lydia beat me to it. Her tiny fist found its way forcefully into Wickham's still, 'excited' nether regions.
"Shut up asshole." She said calmly. Wickham was doubled over in pain. I smirked at her. She smiled back. "Heads up Darceface, Citizen's arrests are tots legal in Canada." With that she tossed me the ropes that had been holding Lizzie's arms together. We had Wickham tied up and Lydia and Gigi were watching him closely, both glaring him down like the beast he was. I slowly turned around to find her. She and Jane were standing across the room, holding each other close. The tears had stopped falling but several droplets still clung to her cheeks. I wanted nothing more than to run to her side and hold her in my arms, keeping her safe but something stopped me. That wasn't what she wanted and I wasn't about to force myself on her as I had at Collins and Collins. It was almost enough that she was safe. I knew Jane would keep her safe. Suddenly she looked up at me. Our eyes met and none of it mattered anymore.
I knew she didn't feel as I did. I was certain she barely tolerated me, let alone like me but I couldn't hold back for another minute. "Lizzie." I breathed. As if pulled by magnets we both practically ran into each other's arms and I pulled her close, inhaling her sweet scent. "Thank God you're all right." My arms were wrapped around her lower waist and my face was buried in the crook of her shoulder and neck. I stood up and picked Lizzie up with me. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and her fingers slid naturally into my hair as she clung to me. This might be my only chance to hold her like this and I wasn't about to let it go by. I saw Jane try to look casual as she made her way towards Lydia and Gigi to give the two of us what little privacy we could have in the middle of a room with four other people in it. "My God Lizzie. Don't ever scare me like that again." As the words left my lips I realized how stupid they sounded. It wasn't like she had run off on an adventure I was about to apologize when she cut me off.
"Okay." There wasn't the slightest hint of teasing. She understood what I had meant and only clung to me all the tighter. This was now getting drawn out. I knew that I had to let go eventually. I set her back on her feet and slowly let her pull back from me. She barely got a half a foot away from me when she stopped. She took a deep breath and stared up into my eyes. My heart was beating so quickly. I still couldn't believe I had finally found her. She was safe and sound and there was a small sort of smile on her face. How could she smile right now? "Lizzie I'm so sorry. If only I had gotten here sooner! If only I had found you then-" Her fingers found my lips stopping my vehement apology.
"This isn't your fault." There was a pause and she looked up at me shyly, continuing on. "You came for me." She said. It was almost a question, like she couldn't believe I had done it. "Why?" I looked down at her.
"You know why." I said simply. "And I know you don't feel the same way, that my feeling are not reciprocated but that doesn't change how I feel and if you just want to be friends or even just acquaintances I completely…"Suddenly her lips were on mine and her hands were holding my face gently. My eyes drifted shut on their own accord as I took in this moment. Electricity surged through me and my legs felt oddly light and tingly. This was better than my most vivid daydream because she was real. She was in my arms and she cared for me. We pulled away slowly and I completely forgot where we were and even that both all of our siblings were watching us right now.
"Does that," She paused, her voice was low and full of passion. "Clarify some things for you?" I wanted more. I needed to feel her lips on mine again, to convince myself that this was real.
"Some." I admitted, still holding her tightly in my arms. "I could use further illumination on certain points however." And with that I dove in for kiss number two. She reacted as I did and we deepened the kiss, exploring each other's mouths fully until the girls began catcalling and whooping. I broke off the kiss and Lizzie blushed beautifully.
"That was so adorable!" Jane whispered loudly to Gigi. Our other two sisters didn't seem to care about being quiet and giving us privacy.
"They need a name!" Gigi decided! "Now that they are official-like Jing!"
"Lizarcy!" Lydia called out. "No that's horrible. How about Darcizzy?" Gigi laughed and they both proceeded to come up with the oddest sounding names in the world until Jane cut in.
"Dizzie." Gigi and Lydia gasped in happiness. As they squealed happily I leaned in and whispered to my lovely Lizzie.
"A perfect fit. I have but to look in your eyes to feel dizzy." Her blush spread and I grinned knowing that I finally had the effect on her that she had on me.
"I love you Darcy." She whispered back and I was certain that I was glowing in happiness too. I leaned back in for another kiss.
"Hope you don't mind where that mouth has been Darce." Wickham cut in. Damn that bastard. In this moment of happiness I had completely forgotten about him. "Because I've been using it all week. And for more than just kissing." An animalistic snarl escaped from my lips and I lunged at him, ready to destroy what was left of his pathetic life. Lizzie's hand grabbed me and pulled me back.
"Darcy, Darcy! Will!" That finally got my attention. "He's not worth it. He's going to go to jail for a long time and it's not worth it if you get locked up too. Will please. The police are on their way and then we can walk away and never think about him again." I paused my breathing heavy as I glared down the man who used to be my best friend but ended up hurting everyone I care about. But I could hold back. How could I not when Lizzie held my hand so comfortingly? When she stood beside me and declared for everyone how she felt? I loved her and she loved me and we could walk away, start a life together and live happily ever after. No one could taunt me out of that future.
This was the address Johanna Forster had put as her home on Facebook. Not that she'd shared that with any of her friends but Lydia was proving useful with her hacking abilities. Jane had commented that Lydia always understood how people thought and that she had always been able to break through people's passwords given enough time and some knowledge of the person. Johanna Forster's password had been Peach. That explained a lot. I knocked on the door and there was no answer. Jane and I tried to pear through the opaque windows but we couldn't see a thing. Lydia fiddled with the knob but it was locked.
"Maybe they're out. We could stake out for a bit." Gigi suggested. I pounded on the door one final time and as we turned to walk back to our car a man opened the door.
"Sorry, I was a bit, indisposed." He was grinning ear to ear and awkwardness spread about the group as we looked at his ruffled clothes and saw that the buttons on his shirt were one off. Johanna Forster stood behind him. I recognized her from her Facebook pictures. Her dress was also hanging on her oddly and it was obvious what they had just been up to.
"Wow, okay. So sorry to bother you." Jane's voice cut in and she took control of the situation. She held up the picture of Wickham and Lizzie, a still from one of Lizzie's vlogs. "Do you know where we might be able to find these people? That's my sister and this man has kidnapped her. We just want her back!" she assured them, looking directly at Johanna as she spoke. The man looked at the picture and from the way he studied it, it was clear that he had no idea who these people were. Then his brow furrowed a bit of recognition hit his eyes.
"Say, doesn't that girl have a video diary?" he looked up at me.
"Good Lord! You're him! That guy who's in love with her!" I smiled as kindly as I could with the impatient feeling that was bubbling up inside of me.
"Yes. I am." I admitted. I could sense Jane grinning beside me. Was she really so thrilled when it appeared as though we were hitting another dead end?
"Well we will certainly keep our eyes out for them! Imagine! The Lizzie Bennet in our little town!" We walked back down the path and I swore under my breath.
"I heard that. Gigi muttered. I was about to apologize when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Johanna. She slipped a piece of paper in my hand.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "Tell Lizzie that she was right about everything and that I am so sorry." With that she ran back to her husband. I looked at the slip of paper. There was an address, just outside of town. I handed the note to Jane and we practically ran to the car. I drove like a madman but no one said a word. I followed the GPS immaculately but every time we got held up at a light or behind a slow moving vehicle my hands began shaking. I was so close to my Lizzie I could taste it but until I saw her and held her in my arms I wouldn't calm down. We finally pulled up in front of a tiny wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere. I jumped out of the car and the girls followed me as I strode quickly to the door. I pounded on the door but there was no reply. Well it wasn't like I had expected Wickham to just open the door and invite us in for tea. I leaned into the door and listened for any hints that someone was inside.
That's when I heard it. A voice. Her voice. It was faint and far away but it didn't sound happy. I pressed my ear to the door and I heard it again. "Please." She whimpered. That was all I needed to hear. He was hurting her I could tell. I stood back and kicked the door as hard as I could. Jane jumped and was about to cry out in shock but I put my hand over her mouth before noise could give us away. I put my finger to my lips and the others nodded following me in. we crept through the hallway and made our way into a living room of sorts.
My blood boiled. That is the only way I can actually describe what happened to me. Anger swelled through me so strongly that my entire body overheated and the blood in my veins began to burn. She was lying, helpless on the ground, her arms twisted underneath her at a strange angle and his body was holding her down. His pants were wrapped around his thighs and Lizzie's eyes were tightly shut and several tears were sliding down her cheeks. She was whimpering, clearly in pain and he was simply taking his pleasure from her. Before I knew what I was doing I was across the room and grabbing Wickham and shoving him up against a wall. His arms were fumbling with his pants, pulling them back up and covering himself.
"Darce!" he tried to look casual. "What are you doing?" my fist found him face three times before I gave him a break long enough for him to spit some blood out of his mouth.
"Gigi, call the police. We've found our kidnapper." I heard Gigi speaking to a dispatcher but I wasn't listening to carefully to what she was saying.
"Come on Peach, don't be like this." The monster begged her. My fist went back, readying itself to make contact again but Lydia beat me to it. Her tiny fist found its way forcefully into Wickham's still, 'excited' nether regions.
"Shut up asshole." She said calmly. Wickham was doubled over in pain. I smirked at her. She smiled back. "Heads up Darceface, Citizen's arrests are tots legal in Canada." With that she tossed me the ropes that had been holding Lizzie's arms together. We had Wickham tied up and Lydia and Gigi were watching him closely, both glaring him down like the beast he was. I slowly turned around to find her. She and Jane were standing across the room, holding each other close. The tears had stopped falling but several droplets still clung to her cheeks. I wanted nothing more than to run to her side and hold her in my arms, keeping her safe but something stopped me. That wasn't what she wanted and I wasn't about to force myself on her as I had at Collins and Collins. It was almost enough that she was safe. I knew Jane would keep her safe. Suddenly she looked up at me. Our eyes met and none of it mattered anymore.
I knew she didn't feel as I did. I was certain she barely tolerated me, let alone like me but I couldn't hold back for another minute. "Lizzie." I breathed. As if pulled by magnets we both practically ran into each other's arms and I pulled her close, inhaling her sweet scent. "Thank God you're all right." My arms were wrapped around her lower waist and my face was buried in the crook of her shoulder and neck. I stood up and picked Lizzie up with me. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and her fingers slid naturally into my hair as she clung to me. This might be my only chance to hold her like this and I wasn't about to let it go by. I saw Jane try to look casual as she made her way towards Lydia and Gigi to give the two of us what little privacy we could have in the middle of a room with four other people in it. "My God Lizzie. Don't ever scare me like that again." As the words left my lips I realized how stupid they sounded. It wasn't like she had run off on an adventure I was about to apologize when she cut me off.
"Okay." There wasn't the slightest hint of teasing. She understood what I had meant and only clung to me all the tighter. This was now getting drawn out. I knew that I had to let go eventually. I set her back on her feet and slowly let her pull back from me. She barely got a half a foot away from me when she stopped. She took a deep breath and stared up into my eyes. My heart was beating so quickly. I still couldn't believe I had finally found her. She was safe and sound and there was a small sort of smile on her face. How could she smile right now? "Lizzie I'm so sorry. If only I had gotten here sooner! If only I had found you then-" Her fingers found my lips stopping my vehement apology.
"This isn't your fault." There was a pause and she looked up at me shyly, continuing on. "You came for me." She said. It was almost a question, like she couldn't believe I had done it. "Why?" I looked down at her.
"You know why." I said simply. "And I know you don't feel the same way, that my feeling are not reciprocated but that doesn't change how I feel and if you just want to be friends or even just acquaintances I completely…"Suddenly her lips were on mine and her hands were holding my face gently. My eyes drifted shut on their own accord as I took in this moment. Electricity surged through me and my legs felt oddly light and tingly. This was better than my most vivid daydream because she was real. She was in my arms and she cared for me. We pulled away slowly and I completely forgot where we were and even that both all of our siblings were watching us right now.
"Does that," She paused, her voice was low and full of passion. "Clarify some things for you?" I wanted more. I needed to feel her lips on mine again, to convince myself that this was real.
"Some." I admitted, still holding her tightly in my arms. "I could use further illumination on certain points however." And with that I dove in for kiss number two. She reacted as I did and we deepened the kiss, exploring each other's mouths fully until the girls began catcalling and whooping. I broke off the kiss and Lizzie blushed beautifully.
"That was so adorable!" Jane whispered loudly to Gigi. Our other two sisters didn't seem to care about being quiet and giving us privacy.
"They need a name!" Gigi decided! "Now that they are official-like Jing!"
"Lizarcy!" Lydia called out. "No that's horrible. How about Darcizzy?" Gigi laughed and they both proceeded to come up with the oddest sounding names in the world until Jane cut in.
"Dizzie." Gigi and Lydia gasped in happiness. As they squealed happily I leaned in and whispered to my lovely Lizzie.
"A perfect fit. I have but to look in your eyes to feel dizzy." Her blush spread and I grinned knowing that I finally had the effect on her that she had on me.
"I love you Darcy." She whispered back and I was certain that I was glowing in happiness too. I leaned back in for another kiss.
"Hope you don't mind where that mouth has been Darce." Wickham cut in. Damn that bastard. In this moment of happiness I had completely forgotten about him. "Because I've been using it all week. And for more than just kissing." An animalistic snarl escaped from my lips and I lunged at him, ready to destroy what was left of his pathetic life. Lizzie's hand grabbed me and pulled me back.
"Darcy, Darcy! Will!" That finally got my attention. "He's not worth it. He's going to go to jail for a long time and it's not worth it if you get locked up too. Will please. The police are on their way and then we can walk away and never think about him again." I paused my breathing heavy as I glared down the man who used to be my best friend but ended up hurting everyone I care about. But I could hold back. How could I not when Lizzie held my hand so comfortingly? When she stood beside me and declared for everyone how she felt? I loved her and she loved me and we could walk away, start a life together and live happily ever after. No one could taunt me out of that future.
Epilogue: A Snapshot of the Future
Lizzie Bennet
I sat silently, my fingers running over the leather of the chair I was sitting on.
"Lizzie?" Dr. Murray asked prompted me. "Did you hear the question?" I looked up at him. "I asked how you were feeling about the upcoming events this weekend."
"Honestly?" I sighed before answering. "I have been trying not to think about it." I looked up at my therapist, one of the best that Darcy had insisted on paying for as usual. I had assured him that it wasn't necessary-the therapist Lydia saw when she was dealing with what he had done would do just fine. He finally won me over by saying that he was going to pay the guy for a time slot either way, I might as well use him.
"Are you nervous about seeing him again after all this time?" Dr. Murray was talking about him again. He was asking for a retrial, claiming he had gone temporarily insane but his new doctor thought he was better. Lydia, Gigi and I were going to have to go to court to witness for the opposing council. Saying that I was nervous was the understatement of a century.
"A bit." I admitted. "Mostly I'm just worried about Darcy."
"Darcy?" He asked, raising one thick, ginger eyebrow. "Why are you worried about him?"
"Of course it is going to be tough for me to see him again, and I'm worried about my baby sister and how she will be feeling and one of my best friends and how she is going to be feeling but that is entirely to be expected. We are going to have the support of so many wonderful people but Darcy having to see him again? I saw the anger in his eyes when he found me, and I've spoken to Gigi about the way he was when he found the two of them and I worry about how he is going to react to this. But most of all, I'm afraid that he is going to take one look at Wickham and loose it. He has been so strong for me, with everything I've had to go through and I am afraid that he is going to be affected by this. I don't want to hurt him and I know that he wouldn't be going through this if it weren't for me."
"Lizzie, you know that he loves you. He wouldn't give you up for this. Is that what you're afraid of?"
"No of course not, he's just done so much for me and all I can do is bring the one person he truly hates back into his life again and again and cause him all kinds of pain. I don't deserve him and I'm afraid that he's going finally realize that." Nearly an hour later I walked out of his office still thinking about that. As I got on the Metro on my way back to my new (and very small) office I kept running that thought through my head. Despite what Dr. Murray had assured me and talked through with me, I was constantly terrified that one day Darcy would wake up and realize that he was way too good for me and could do so much better and go find someone like Caroline Lee. Not that he could actually go for her anymore seeing as she was engaged to some high class senator. My point still stood. I went about the rest of my day, scripting the new episode for our up and coming internet show. When I finished I walked to William's house, agreeing silently about the unforgiving nature of the hills but walking on anyway and used my key to unlock the door. Gigi would be back from work soon and Lydia was coming to stay with us prior to the hearing. Darcy had insisted on the both of us joining them at their house claiming that Gigi needed our support but I knew that his protective nature wanted all of us in one place so he could keep his eyes on us. It had been six months. Half a year. And other than my therapy sessions I had avoided thinking about him as much as humanly possible but now he just had to come back out of the darkness and rope us all into his scheme to get free. The lawyer Darcy had hired assured us that there was no way he would walk but none of us wanted to see his face ever again. We had taken our time, heeled and moved on with our lives, who was he to pull as back into the darkest times of our lives? Gigi and Lydia had this idea to bring in everyone he'd ever hurt throughout his life to prove that it wasn't some sort of temporary insanity but his nature. And they had found a lot of them. I should have helped, but I didn't want to go near him. They understood and let me have my space but now I wished I had done more to help them.
When Lydia arrived later that night and began chatting away eagerly about the new Game of Gourds episode with Gigi Darcy still hadn't arrived home. He had texted that he might be late, he had an important meeting with a couple of investors, but I was still worried. Not worried so much as anxious. I wanted him safe and sound in my arms as soon as possible. When Lydia and Gigi fell asleep in Gigi's room, the TV still playing their favorite Sandra Bullock movie I pulled the comforter over them and muted the flat screen. Slipping silently downstairs I made some tea and pulled out my book and waited for him. The clock ticked loudly, mocking me and I glanced up at the door after every paragraph, convincing myself that I had heard his garage door open. One every page or two I would jump up to go and check and try to refresh my phone in case it missed a text. It was two AM before the lights of his BMW shone through the window and his car parked in the driveway. I jumped up and wrapped my robe tightly around me before flinging open the front door and racing down the driveway. Darcy barely had time to shut his door and turn around, arms open before I threw myself into his embrace. My face was buried in his neck and I inhaled deeply, focusing on that deep, sweet, safe smell of my Darcy.
"Lizzie, what are you still doing up? I thought you'd all be sleeping." He said quietly into my ear.
"Gigi and Lydia fell asleep hours ago but I couldn't sleep."
"Is something wrong?" His voice changed from tired to instantly alert and anxious.
"No! No of course not. I just missed you." We fell apart long enough for him to pick up his briefcase and then I found myself wrapped back under his left arm as we walked back into the house. It felt strange, but in a good way, us walking back into the same house and being together. We hadn't moved in together partially because I didn't want him paying for everything and if I moved in there was no way he would let me pay for part of the rent let alone things like groceries, but also because we were taking this pretty slowly. We had done everything wrong leading up to this relationship, and the gentleman in Darcy wanted to do this part perfectly.
On one hand this gave me a pretty good excuse when he tried to buy things for me that I didn't need or could take care of on my own, but on the other it meant that intimately we were on the slowest train ever. Like the slowest one in existence. As in I could probably bike faster than this. We kissed and hugged and I found myself wrapped in his arms all the time, but as far as our sex life went, it was sparse and safe. At first I think he was trying to be respectful after what happened with Wickham and for a month or two I didn't want anything to do with sex but now, I mean come on William, a girl has needs and this once in a while-proper gentlemanly way of his was getting old. Kissing, cuddling and talking until we got tired and falling asleep in each other's arms was only sweet and romantic for so long. And besides, Lydia had insinuated that Gigi had outright commented that her brother tended to get pretty physical pretty fast. His last serious girlfriend, Elise Westwood, had moved in after a month and she, Fitz and Bing had taken to calling at least 15 minutes in advance and once again when she was walking up the driveway to keep from walking in on any awkward situations after a few times too many. Okay so maybe I had picked up the phone line during one of Gigi and Lydia's hour long conversations to tell Gigi that I had found her cell phone and I overheard that particular snippet. Really Darcy? You'd think that someone as smart as him would figure out after the fourth time his sister and/or his best friends walked in on him that he needed to figure out a different kind of system. Not that I was jealous. Or upset. Or anything. Anyway the point was that I liked this feeling tonight was fostering that we were pseudo-living together. I cleaned up my tea things as he set his briefcase down in his office.
He found his way back into the kitchen as I was closing the dishwasher.
"So I guess I should head up to the guest room now." I said, grinning as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Indeed," he agreed sounding not at all convincing as his arms snaked around my hips. "It is late and we promised Gigi that we'd take Lydia to all the sights."
"Mhmm, so you go to your room and I go to mine…" I trailed off as our faces inched closer and closer.
"Precisely," He murmured, his lips nearly brushing against mine. "That would be the gentlemanly thing to do."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a lady." I whispered grabbing the lapels of his coat and pulling him forward and capturing his lips with mine. He replied happily and with equal fervor immediately deepening this kiss by swiping his tongue across my lower lip. Darcy walked me backwards until I was pressed snugly between the kitchen wall and his broad, muscular chest. Electricity ran through my limbs and remained in my fingers and toes. My heart was racing and I could feel a coil of desire in the pit of my stomach. I felt his hands sliding down the small of my back and cupping my ass sending chills up my spine and a wave of need for him cascaded over my entire body. I reciprocated by wrapping my leg over his hip and smiled into his kiss when I heard him moan.
Then, out of nowhere he stopped and pulled back. He was still breathing deeply but his eyes were trained on a spot on the wall behind me. "Um, okay, should I be offended here or were you not just feeling what I was feeling?"
"No, no of course I was. I just didn't want to…" He trailed off. "I'm sorry Lizzie, I didn't mean for it to go that far. Why don't we just go and get ready for bed." He forced an extremely fake grin onto his face. "I'm sure reruns of The Nanny will be on by now, I can pour us a couple glasses of wine and we can curl up until we…" before he had a chance to finish I cut him off.
"Don't you dare say fall asleep." I rewrapped my falling down, silk robe around my and tied it shut finding myself completely out of the mood now that he was doing this again. I stalked over to the sink and poured myself a glass of water, drinking the entire thing before turning back around to face him. "What's going on here William? Hmm? Are we ever going to have an actually physical relationship? I am absolutely thrilled that what we have between us isn't just attraction and that we actually enjoy spending time together and can get along but a girl has needs you know! Clearly you don't have a problem with the whole sex before marriage thing and I don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to move in but that doesn't mean I don't want to sleep with you. I have a drawer of clothes here because I sleep here nearly as much as I sleep in my own bed but I can count the number of times we've gotten past second base on my fingers."
"What do you mean 'clearly I don't have a problem with sex before marriage'?"
"That isn't the point! You're deflecting and trying not to answer the actual question by questioning everything I say!"
"No, actually I'm not and if you answer me this I will get around to figuring out what on earth you are actually asking me so that I might endeavor to answer it for you." My eyes narrowed.
"Nothing. I don't mean anything by it. Maybe if I was as attractive as Elise Westwood I wouldn't be having this problem."
"Elise Westwood?" he practically spat out. "What does a girl I haven't seen in years have to do with anything? You've never even met the woman!" I dropped the glass back into the sink and the loud clatter and his tone startled some of the actual anger out of me.
"Forget her. That wasn't my question. I just want to know why you won't sleep with me."
"No, no, no. You brought one of my exes into this. You've clearly been thinking about this for a while now. What is really bothering you? What does Elise have to do with this?"
"I'm telling you what is really bothering me! Why won't you get intimate with me?"
"What does Elise have to do with this?"
"Nothing! Gigi, all your friends, they all joke about you and Elise, and how much they walked in on you two," I trailed off, searching for a way to coherently explain why that bothered me so much.
"And you think what? That she's still in my life? That I still have feelings for her? Lizzie I haven't thought about her in years and you know I love you! I have never been so serious or seriously in love with anyone in my entire life."
"Of course I know that William! It's not that. I'm not jealous. Not in that sense anyway. But hearing them joke about how much the two of you used to go at it and I can't help but think that there is something wrong with me when you will barely touch me! Are you not attracted to me? Do you not want me in that way? What is it?"
"Of course I want you Lizzie! Of course I've thought about you in that way! It's just," He trailed off, burring him face in his hands. "I don't want you to think or feel that I am forcing you to do this if you don't want it. I want you to be entirely ready and I don't want you to have to think about what happened to you. If this will remind you of him, of that in any way shape or form I can live without it as long as you are happy!" My heart softened. Oh my dear, sweet Darcy. Even trying to protect me from things that only existed in his mind. I walked to him and pulled his hands down from his face, holding them in my own hands.
"William Darcy, you are one of the biggest fools I've ever met and I love you so much for it." he got that look on his face, where he knew that I wasn't mad with him anymore but he wasn't exactly sure what had just transpired. "How on earth could I think about the incident when I have your strong arms wrapped around me? I feel so safe with you that I could never feel as though he were near us. And I will be happy-completely, perfectly and incandescently happy when you stop worrying about all that and we start really being together in this relationship." His fingers traced the curve of my jawline and I smiled up at him.
"Truly? You are alright with this?" I snorted a laugh.
"Alright? William I've been wondering what's wrong with me, that you won't come near me! I've been wanting this for so long and I've been dying without you."
"As have I, without you my Lizzie."
"Say that last part again." I whispered without thought.
"Which part?"
"The part where you call me yours."
"My Lizzie," His voiced tickled my ear as he drew me back into his embrace. "My lovely, wonderful, maddening Lizzie." His lips found their way to mine again and I frowned at the lightness of his kiss. Had he not been listening to this entire conversation? I tried to intensify the moment but he simply laughed and pulled back. "Have patience my Lizzie." And with that he picked me up bridal style and kissed me all the way up the stairs and into his bedroom where he lay me down on the bed. He slowly teased of my robe, kneed next to me and kissed my collarbone delicately. I rolled my eyes. Always the romantic.
I rolled over him, pinning him to the bed as I straddled his hips. "Yeah right. We've done this sweet romantic thing a few times now and as much as I love it, tonight is not going to go that way." Before he could protest I leaned forward and kissed him as passionately as I knew how, feeling his imminent and immediate excitement begin to press on my inner thigh. I rolled my hips urging him on as his hands gripped my ass tightly. He groaned into my mouth and I began to pepper kisses along his jaw line down to his neck, biting and nipping softly on my way down. No, tonight would not go as our past nights together had progressed. And as I smiled into the skin of the love of my life, I knew that our future together, would never be the same.
I sat silently, my fingers running over the leather of the chair I was sitting on.
"Lizzie?" Dr. Murray asked prompted me. "Did you hear the question?" I looked up at him. "I asked how you were feeling about the upcoming events this weekend."
"Honestly?" I sighed before answering. "I have been trying not to think about it." I looked up at my therapist, one of the best that Darcy had insisted on paying for as usual. I had assured him that it wasn't necessary-the therapist Lydia saw when she was dealing with what he had done would do just fine. He finally won me over by saying that he was going to pay the guy for a time slot either way, I might as well use him.
"Are you nervous about seeing him again after all this time?" Dr. Murray was talking about him again. He was asking for a retrial, claiming he had gone temporarily insane but his new doctor thought he was better. Lydia, Gigi and I were going to have to go to court to witness for the opposing council. Saying that I was nervous was the understatement of a century.
"A bit." I admitted. "Mostly I'm just worried about Darcy."
"Darcy?" He asked, raising one thick, ginger eyebrow. "Why are you worried about him?"
"Of course it is going to be tough for me to see him again, and I'm worried about my baby sister and how she will be feeling and one of my best friends and how she is going to be feeling but that is entirely to be expected. We are going to have the support of so many wonderful people but Darcy having to see him again? I saw the anger in his eyes when he found me, and I've spoken to Gigi about the way he was when he found the two of them and I worry about how he is going to react to this. But most of all, I'm afraid that he is going to take one look at Wickham and loose it. He has been so strong for me, with everything I've had to go through and I am afraid that he is going to be affected by this. I don't want to hurt him and I know that he wouldn't be going through this if it weren't for me."
"Lizzie, you know that he loves you. He wouldn't give you up for this. Is that what you're afraid of?"
"No of course not, he's just done so much for me and all I can do is bring the one person he truly hates back into his life again and again and cause him all kinds of pain. I don't deserve him and I'm afraid that he's going finally realize that." Nearly an hour later I walked out of his office still thinking about that. As I got on the Metro on my way back to my new (and very small) office I kept running that thought through my head. Despite what Dr. Murray had assured me and talked through with me, I was constantly terrified that one day Darcy would wake up and realize that he was way too good for me and could do so much better and go find someone like Caroline Lee. Not that he could actually go for her anymore seeing as she was engaged to some high class senator. My point still stood. I went about the rest of my day, scripting the new episode for our up and coming internet show. When I finished I walked to William's house, agreeing silently about the unforgiving nature of the hills but walking on anyway and used my key to unlock the door. Gigi would be back from work soon and Lydia was coming to stay with us prior to the hearing. Darcy had insisted on the both of us joining them at their house claiming that Gigi needed our support but I knew that his protective nature wanted all of us in one place so he could keep his eyes on us. It had been six months. Half a year. And other than my therapy sessions I had avoided thinking about him as much as humanly possible but now he just had to come back out of the darkness and rope us all into his scheme to get free. The lawyer Darcy had hired assured us that there was no way he would walk but none of us wanted to see his face ever again. We had taken our time, heeled and moved on with our lives, who was he to pull as back into the darkest times of our lives? Gigi and Lydia had this idea to bring in everyone he'd ever hurt throughout his life to prove that it wasn't some sort of temporary insanity but his nature. And they had found a lot of them. I should have helped, but I didn't want to go near him. They understood and let me have my space but now I wished I had done more to help them.
When Lydia arrived later that night and began chatting away eagerly about the new Game of Gourds episode with Gigi Darcy still hadn't arrived home. He had texted that he might be late, he had an important meeting with a couple of investors, but I was still worried. Not worried so much as anxious. I wanted him safe and sound in my arms as soon as possible. When Lydia and Gigi fell asleep in Gigi's room, the TV still playing their favorite Sandra Bullock movie I pulled the comforter over them and muted the flat screen. Slipping silently downstairs I made some tea and pulled out my book and waited for him. The clock ticked loudly, mocking me and I glanced up at the door after every paragraph, convincing myself that I had heard his garage door open. One every page or two I would jump up to go and check and try to refresh my phone in case it missed a text. It was two AM before the lights of his BMW shone through the window and his car parked in the driveway. I jumped up and wrapped my robe tightly around me before flinging open the front door and racing down the driveway. Darcy barely had time to shut his door and turn around, arms open before I threw myself into his embrace. My face was buried in his neck and I inhaled deeply, focusing on that deep, sweet, safe smell of my Darcy.
"Lizzie, what are you still doing up? I thought you'd all be sleeping." He said quietly into my ear.
"Gigi and Lydia fell asleep hours ago but I couldn't sleep."
"Is something wrong?" His voice changed from tired to instantly alert and anxious.
"No! No of course not. I just missed you." We fell apart long enough for him to pick up his briefcase and then I found myself wrapped back under his left arm as we walked back into the house. It felt strange, but in a good way, us walking back into the same house and being together. We hadn't moved in together partially because I didn't want him paying for everything and if I moved in there was no way he would let me pay for part of the rent let alone things like groceries, but also because we were taking this pretty slowly. We had done everything wrong leading up to this relationship, and the gentleman in Darcy wanted to do this part perfectly.
On one hand this gave me a pretty good excuse when he tried to buy things for me that I didn't need or could take care of on my own, but on the other it meant that intimately we were on the slowest train ever. Like the slowest one in existence. As in I could probably bike faster than this. We kissed and hugged and I found myself wrapped in his arms all the time, but as far as our sex life went, it was sparse and safe. At first I think he was trying to be respectful after what happened with Wickham and for a month or two I didn't want anything to do with sex but now, I mean come on William, a girl has needs and this once in a while-proper gentlemanly way of his was getting old. Kissing, cuddling and talking until we got tired and falling asleep in each other's arms was only sweet and romantic for so long. And besides, Lydia had insinuated that Gigi had outright commented that her brother tended to get pretty physical pretty fast. His last serious girlfriend, Elise Westwood, had moved in after a month and she, Fitz and Bing had taken to calling at least 15 minutes in advance and once again when she was walking up the driveway to keep from walking in on any awkward situations after a few times too many. Okay so maybe I had picked up the phone line during one of Gigi and Lydia's hour long conversations to tell Gigi that I had found her cell phone and I overheard that particular snippet. Really Darcy? You'd think that someone as smart as him would figure out after the fourth time his sister and/or his best friends walked in on him that he needed to figure out a different kind of system. Not that I was jealous. Or upset. Or anything. Anyway the point was that I liked this feeling tonight was fostering that we were pseudo-living together. I cleaned up my tea things as he set his briefcase down in his office.
He found his way back into the kitchen as I was closing the dishwasher.
"So I guess I should head up to the guest room now." I said, grinning as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Indeed," he agreed sounding not at all convincing as his arms snaked around my hips. "It is late and we promised Gigi that we'd take Lydia to all the sights."
"Mhmm, so you go to your room and I go to mine…" I trailed off as our faces inched closer and closer.
"Precisely," He murmured, his lips nearly brushing against mine. "That would be the gentlemanly thing to do."
"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a lady." I whispered grabbing the lapels of his coat and pulling him forward and capturing his lips with mine. He replied happily and with equal fervor immediately deepening this kiss by swiping his tongue across my lower lip. Darcy walked me backwards until I was pressed snugly between the kitchen wall and his broad, muscular chest. Electricity ran through my limbs and remained in my fingers and toes. My heart was racing and I could feel a coil of desire in the pit of my stomach. I felt his hands sliding down the small of my back and cupping my ass sending chills up my spine and a wave of need for him cascaded over my entire body. I reciprocated by wrapping my leg over his hip and smiled into his kiss when I heard him moan.
Then, out of nowhere he stopped and pulled back. He was still breathing deeply but his eyes were trained on a spot on the wall behind me. "Um, okay, should I be offended here or were you not just feeling what I was feeling?"
"No, no of course I was. I just didn't want to…" He trailed off. "I'm sorry Lizzie, I didn't mean for it to go that far. Why don't we just go and get ready for bed." He forced an extremely fake grin onto his face. "I'm sure reruns of The Nanny will be on by now, I can pour us a couple glasses of wine and we can curl up until we…" before he had a chance to finish I cut him off.
"Don't you dare say fall asleep." I rewrapped my falling down, silk robe around my and tied it shut finding myself completely out of the mood now that he was doing this again. I stalked over to the sink and poured myself a glass of water, drinking the entire thing before turning back around to face him. "What's going on here William? Hmm? Are we ever going to have an actually physical relationship? I am absolutely thrilled that what we have between us isn't just attraction and that we actually enjoy spending time together and can get along but a girl has needs you know! Clearly you don't have a problem with the whole sex before marriage thing and I don't know what to do anymore. I don't want to move in but that doesn't mean I don't want to sleep with you. I have a drawer of clothes here because I sleep here nearly as much as I sleep in my own bed but I can count the number of times we've gotten past second base on my fingers."
"What do you mean 'clearly I don't have a problem with sex before marriage'?"
"That isn't the point! You're deflecting and trying not to answer the actual question by questioning everything I say!"
"No, actually I'm not and if you answer me this I will get around to figuring out what on earth you are actually asking me so that I might endeavor to answer it for you." My eyes narrowed.
"Nothing. I don't mean anything by it. Maybe if I was as attractive as Elise Westwood I wouldn't be having this problem."
"Elise Westwood?" he practically spat out. "What does a girl I haven't seen in years have to do with anything? You've never even met the woman!" I dropped the glass back into the sink and the loud clatter and his tone startled some of the actual anger out of me.
"Forget her. That wasn't my question. I just want to know why you won't sleep with me."
"No, no, no. You brought one of my exes into this. You've clearly been thinking about this for a while now. What is really bothering you? What does Elise have to do with this?"
"I'm telling you what is really bothering me! Why won't you get intimate with me?"
"What does Elise have to do with this?"
"Nothing! Gigi, all your friends, they all joke about you and Elise, and how much they walked in on you two," I trailed off, searching for a way to coherently explain why that bothered me so much.
"And you think what? That she's still in my life? That I still have feelings for her? Lizzie I haven't thought about her in years and you know I love you! I have never been so serious or seriously in love with anyone in my entire life."
"Of course I know that William! It's not that. I'm not jealous. Not in that sense anyway. But hearing them joke about how much the two of you used to go at it and I can't help but think that there is something wrong with me when you will barely touch me! Are you not attracted to me? Do you not want me in that way? What is it?"
"Of course I want you Lizzie! Of course I've thought about you in that way! It's just," He trailed off, burring him face in his hands. "I don't want you to think or feel that I am forcing you to do this if you don't want it. I want you to be entirely ready and I don't want you to have to think about what happened to you. If this will remind you of him, of that in any way shape or form I can live without it as long as you are happy!" My heart softened. Oh my dear, sweet Darcy. Even trying to protect me from things that only existed in his mind. I walked to him and pulled his hands down from his face, holding them in my own hands.
"William Darcy, you are one of the biggest fools I've ever met and I love you so much for it." he got that look on his face, where he knew that I wasn't mad with him anymore but he wasn't exactly sure what had just transpired. "How on earth could I think about the incident when I have your strong arms wrapped around me? I feel so safe with you that I could never feel as though he were near us. And I will be happy-completely, perfectly and incandescently happy when you stop worrying about all that and we start really being together in this relationship." His fingers traced the curve of my jawline and I smiled up at him.
"Truly? You are alright with this?" I snorted a laugh.
"Alright? William I've been wondering what's wrong with me, that you won't come near me! I've been wanting this for so long and I've been dying without you."
"As have I, without you my Lizzie."
"Say that last part again." I whispered without thought.
"Which part?"
"The part where you call me yours."
"My Lizzie," His voiced tickled my ear as he drew me back into his embrace. "My lovely, wonderful, maddening Lizzie." His lips found their way to mine again and I frowned at the lightness of his kiss. Had he not been listening to this entire conversation? I tried to intensify the moment but he simply laughed and pulled back. "Have patience my Lizzie." And with that he picked me up bridal style and kissed me all the way up the stairs and into his bedroom where he lay me down on the bed. He slowly teased of my robe, kneed next to me and kissed my collarbone delicately. I rolled my eyes. Always the romantic.
I rolled over him, pinning him to the bed as I straddled his hips. "Yeah right. We've done this sweet romantic thing a few times now and as much as I love it, tonight is not going to go that way." Before he could protest I leaned forward and kissed him as passionately as I knew how, feeling his imminent and immediate excitement begin to press on my inner thigh. I rolled my hips urging him on as his hands gripped my ass tightly. He groaned into my mouth and I began to pepper kisses along his jaw line down to his neck, biting and nipping softly on my way down. No, tonight would not go as our past nights together had progressed. And as I smiled into the skin of the love of my life, I knew that our future together, would never be the same.
|
If you don't want to use your own email address on the comment form use the following email instead!
[email protected] |