A/N: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I'll be sure to post more frequently with the stories coming up. I'm happy about the response from the first post; maybe posting this fanfiction wasn't such a bad idea after all. :) I've gone a separate way from the episodes now (obviously) I thought of this being the ending before the whole "tape" scandal. As always, sorry for the typos, incorrect grammar, and enjoy! :)

"So this new and working-on-improving William Darcy does know how to flirt," Lizzie thought to herself as his hand rested on her knee. It's a good thing that the new and working-on-it-too Lizzie Bennet can as well.

"Even if it leads indirectly to me calling you a newsie?"

Darcy laughed a bit at the quote from earlier this morning. He quoted back, "Even then."

"I also wanted to mention something about that," Lizzie started.

"I'm all ears, Ms. Bennet," Darcy responded dreamily, he said her name ever so soft as it turned into a whisper. Lizzie's heart started beating faster.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, for the videos. I can be bitter sometimes and, and we didn't necessarily start on the same…page in the beginning. I'm just really sorry for the way I portrayed you previously, in my videos and my thoughts," Lizzie stuttered this all out. She couldn't look him in the eye anymore and started playing with her hands as she felt herself starting to blush. Way to flirt, Lizzie, way to flirt.

Darcy flashed another small smile as he knew what she meant. Well, somewhat of what she meant. Did this mean her feelings have changed for him completely? Did she love him? No, no Darcy was getting ahead of himself here; she just said they were friends a minute ago. But his hand is resting on her freaking knee for crying out loud and she is blushing, this counts for something right? He couldn't get the nerve up to ask her though- he sometimes had a difficulty explaining himself. Darcy knew actions spoke louder than words, and as he said "It's fine, I don't care about that," he started to lean in.

Lizzie understood now. She understood his intentions of leaning in, his thoughts of her, and no matter what she did, these thoughts would never change. She didn't understand his reasoning though. She didn't understand why he still had feelings for her or why he still even talked to her. Most importantly, she didn't understand what her feelings for him were. Lizzie just knew that whatever this was, and what this will be, felt right. She was leaning in as well, closing her eyes.

As she felt his warm breath on her face, as they were inches apart from each other, Kelly Clarkson's 'Miss Independent' song started to play from Lizzie's bag.

Darcy's and Lizzie's eyes both blinked open to look at each other and then the bag. They both quickly moved: Lizzie to her bag and Darcy to the corner of the couch in the opposite direction.

Lizzie knew it was Jane. (she had recently changed Jane's ringtone to 'Miss Independent' from the 'Walking on Sunshine' cover by Aly & Aj after the episode, 'New Jane'. It was getting hard to listen to be reminded of the cheerful song when thinking of Jane after Bing had left.) As Lizzie searched through her purse, cheeks flaming by now, she thought what a weird time for her lovely sister to call her. Not because she was just about to kiss William Darcy but because it was during Jane's work hours.

She pulled out her phone and answered in the most casual voice she could manage at the moment, "Hey Jane, this is some weird timing for you."

"Lizzie you must come home, it's urgent." Jane said in one breath, obviously not hearing what Lizzie said before.

"What do you mean? Is everything ok? Is it Mom and Dad?"

"No…it's Lydia."

"Oh what did she do now?" Lizzie sneered into the phone, her anger rising increasingly. She was about to kiss Darcy. Darcy. If you were to tell her that just a few months ago she would've been repulsed but nowadays his lips seemed ever so soft…

"She's gone. Sh-She ran away."

"What?" Lizzie was beyond confused. Why would Lydia run away when Lizzie had already left? "Did she run away to see you again?"

"N-no," Jane sobbed from the phone. "She ran away wi-with George Wi-Wickham."

"What are you talking about Jane?" Lizzie couldn't believe what she was hearing; Lydia did spill water on him…But that was a long time ago, Lizzie was sure she was over him since and she could've sworn he had left town again since December.

"They've been dating for a while now." This hit Lizzie like a dozen of bricks. She found it hard to breathe. "Mom and Dad came home from the store to see her camera st-still still recording in the living room, her phone and everything still left on the coffee table. Th-They called me but I-I haven't heard anything from her."

"So how do they know she left with…him?" Lizzie wasn't standing up but she started to feel lightheaded and dizzy. She was staring at her shoes the whole time and they were starting to appear blurry.

"He was o-over when they left. When they went around looking for her, he was gone from town as w-well. Lizzie you have to come home, I'm on my way to the airport now, I'll be home in a few hours."

"I'll try to get there as soon as I can, it may be a day or two though." And with this Lizzie hung up her phone and stared at it in her hand. How could she have been so stupid? How could Lydia have been so stupid? Why would she date such a monster? Lizzie was lost; she didn't know what to think. All she knew was that she had to go home. Now.

Forgetting that Darcy was still there, she got up and hastily walked to the door to leave. She barely even heard him saying, "Lizzie, stop, what's wrong?" as he grabbed her hand to turn her towards him. (She noticed him now that they were holding hands.)

"Nothing, this is my problem and I need to go. Sorry." She couldn't look him in the eye, not when she was crying.

"This has to be something if it's making you cry," Darcy points out in a soft tone. He's trying to make her look him and tell him what's wrong; he can't stand seeing Lizzie cry, it's breaking his heart. He pulls her into a hug as Lizzie let's her emotions out and starts to sob. Darcy can't help but notice how perfectly she fits into his arms but now was not the time for that. With the same soft voice he says, "Please tell me what's wrong."

"Lydia ran a-away w-with George Wickham. They were d-dating. No one knows w-where they went. I n-need to go home."

Darcy places his chin on her head and rubs her back gently. He knows exactly what she's going through and just remembering his pain with Gigi dating George only years before makes his heart start to hurt again. He needed to help her, regardless if it means she'd have to leave him here at Pemberley or, more importantly, leave his arms.

"Ok, we'll get you home by tonight," Darcy leaned back and made eye contact with her and gave her a reassuring look.

"No, no you don't have too, its fine. I'll manage to get there by myself," Lizzie looked up to him and wiped her tears off her pale face.

"No, Lizzie don't, I insist. I'll get you on the next flight out right now."