Introduction

Darcy's POV

The music was playing in the background as Caroline pushed me to dance with her. I grabbed her hand and lead her to the dance floor, and she started to lean on me, but something felt like it was missing, I just couldn't figure out what it was. She complimented me well, she loved going to any function that I needed to go to, and she enjoyed being my arm candy, she was smart, and very influential, but apart from all of this there was a void that she hadn't filled, and I knew that she had been in my life long enough for me to return the favour and marry her. I'm 35, and I'm not getting any younger, and starting all over again is too much of a hassle for me. Caroline has always tried to make my life easier, so why not just give in and settle down.

Lizzie's POV

Lizzie Benett, you cannot hide forever. You're just going to have to stick it through and be the tough girl that your parents taught you to be! Did law school, and being an attorney not teach you anything? You have just have to stop thinking of what could have been and do this for Janie and Charlie, and be the best sister you can be for her. William…well William will probably not even be there, he'll have big time CEO things to do that is more important that any wedding stuff that Jane has planned until the wedding. Okay, breathe!

"Janie, its Lizzie, I will send you a text right now, but I just wanted to give you a head's up that I will make it, late but I'll be there, hold the forth for me with mom meanwhile, please! Love you Janie see you soon" Lizzie finished her voicemail to Jane and looked at the two dresses that Jane had sent for her to wear tonight.

"Oh Jane, whatever will I do without you" she said to herself

She looked at the teal evening gown and then at the emerald green one, and after looking at them both and deciding which one she can walk in without looking out of place, she reached for the emerald green one, and went to the bathroom to bobby pin the curls that had magically appeared with the help of hot rollers into a nice side bun(Once Jane taught her how to use them she found them practical and handy without having to get frustrated using the evil curling iron ever again), she applied her makeup, and when she was going to put the last coat of mascara, her phone beep, and in came in a text from both Jane and Lydia.

From Janie:

LizzieBear, sorry I missed your call :,(

I will distract mom meanwhile. See you soon ..XOXO

From Lydia:

Hey Sissy! Send me a pic of ur hair and make up B4 u leave the hotel room!

Lizzie laughed and took a picture to send to Lydia to get her approval, and a minute later her phone beeped again.

From Lydia:

Girl you are gonna be smoking hott tonight! #WerkIt #StrutYoStuff

As the cab drove her to the venue for the dinner party that they were having to celebrate Jane and Charlie's upcoming wedding, she was looking through her emails to calm her nerves and to also make sure that she had crossed her t's and dotted her i's for the next month that she was going to be out from work.

She was proud of the path and obstacles that both Jane and Charles had walked to overcome certain obstacles, the input of family and friends, unemployment, but they managed to work through it all, and she was proud that Jane was getting her happy ending.

She paid the cab driver and walked up the steps to the restaurant's banquet hall, and eye the room to see if she saw Jane anywhere in sight, when she spotted her blonde golden locks she headed into her direction when someone, pushed her back without looking back, and she felt two strong hands grip her by her waist making her avoid the floor by a mere inch or two.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" a deep voice asked her, when she (with the help of those strong hands) turned around and looked up to see the face of her savior she came face to face with the owner of that sexy voice.

"William! HiyaThankyou!" She winced, as she thought of the weird sick joke the Heavens decided to play on her today.

Darcy raised and eyebrow and gave her a concerned look as he touched her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze " Liz-…er.. Elizabeth, I hope that you're not hurt? You're not hurt, right?"

"Lizzie?" "Sorry Darcy, I think I'm still overcoming the shock of it, um, I'm fine, I think it was just the scare, but thanks Darcy for being here and helping this clutzy damsel in distress." She tried to give him a reassuring smile, although in her mind having him in such a close proximity wasn't doing anything for her nerves, for her emotional 'curse the gods that have decided that today was the day that I repaid all my past sins' she grumbled in her mind

"Do you want to go sit down? I'll help you, if that's okay…" "I have to go see Jane" "Please sit Lizzie just for 5 minutes just so that we can make sure you're okay, and I'll go bring you a drink or Jane if you prefer…" He said it while his eyes pleaded with hers as he lifted her chin.

She looked into his piercing blue eyes and couldn't have the guts to deny him anything "yes of course" He smiled and gently place her arm in the crooked of his and slowly guided her to a nerby sofa. Once she sat, he sat beside her and squeezed her hand. She closed her eyes to take in the moment, and he saw this as her wincing in repulsion, he immediately let go of her hand, and apologized profusely, saying that was to forward of him, when she turned to him, and grabbed his hand again she said that she appreciated his gesture.

He smiled weakly, and leaned in closer to her, using his free hand to cup her cheek, and put a curl behind her ear. He gently moved his fingers to her cheek, and let it glide down tracing a line on her collarbone. His touch had felt like electricity awakening her senses. She closed her eyes letting her senses take over and she subconsciously licked her lips. Darcy noticed this and saw this as an unspoken invitation.

He leaned in even closer and she sensed his presence closer, and she was ready to take him in, his musky scent, to take in his taste, to feel his lips crush against her, she also met him halfway because she yearned for his kiss…

"Eliza!" they both pulled away quickly and followed the voice that interrupted their almost kiss.

"Eliza, dear, it's been ages since we've seen you, how have you been?" Caroline asked while she looked her up and down and then give a pointed look at Darcy.

"Just swamped with work, that I have been quite a hermit for a while, how have you been Caroline?" she asked trying to ground herself back to reality.

"Just fabulous!" she took this moment to sit between them both and add, "William has made me one of the happiest women, by dating me this past year, it's been so divine, and amazing, hasn't it darling?!" as she took his hand and placed it on her thigh

"It's been…something" Lizzie didn't know how to reply, especially after almost making a fool of herself and almost kissing a man who no longer loved her. ("Stupid, stupid Lizzie keep it together" she reprimanded herself) "Oh that's great, I'm sure you'll have good news of your own to share with us soon, right?" "Of course, I'm sure my Willy here is waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect diamond to really show it!" "Well best of luck to you both, I better go fine Jane…it's been a pleasure, Caroline. Darcy." She got up, picked up a flute and down it faster than one could say "Crap" "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Lizzie, why would you think he would still have feelings for you after you rejected him, after everything that happened?!"

She felt a poke in her shoulder "Janie!" "Lizzie it's so good to see you!" she brought her sister into a tight squeeze. "I'm so glad you were able to leave the bat cave to share these very special moments with me! Your presence has made it even more special, come Lizzie, Charlie is really excited to see you again." Janie gently lead her through the crowd of well wishers to where Charles was standing with the colleagues, brightening up as soon as he saw them both.

She was met with the ever friendly red hair, who was too agreeable for his own good, "Lizzie! I'm glad that you graced us with your presence, I was starting to think that you had gone on a super secret CIA mission or that you had move into the Twilight Zone!" Charles chuckled when Lizzie lightly nudged him at his teasing.

"Hey! When you're in legal trouble go find another bat cave to do your dirty work" she teased back.

Lizzie was glad that she made it, especially because she saw how much Jane was happy, and that made her happy. At least that was what was going to get her through the entirety of the events until Jane's wedding.

She'll avoid William when possible and be as cordial as she could without getting emotionally involved. "He's happy without you, keep it together and just get through this!" She gave herself a finally pep talk before she headed to the bar to order something strong, not noticing two pair of eyes following her to the bar, one pair looking at her with desire and the other with utter disapproval and hate.