The rest of the week was uneventful for Elizabeth. She would drop David off by Bill Darcy's in the morning. She would pick him up in the evening and it had become habit to spend some time with Anne Marie, David and Bill Darcy.
Elizabeth and Darcy even became friends and she could talk about anything with him. He was very understanding about her irritation with Lydia. She told him about her family, her sister Jane especially and her other sisters as well. She told him about her father and her mother. She explained that her mother's goal in life was get her daughters married off to good men.
He would talk about his day at work and about things that Anne Marie would do that would make him laugh. Bill was comfortable with Elizabeth and he was starting to think about her as if she were his girlfriend or more precisely his wife. To him it was the best part of his day to come home to Elizabeth and the kids; to hear about her day as well as tell her about his. They would spend time with the children and each other.
For the first time in many years, Bill Darcy felt content with his life. His dreams at night showed what he was missing in life. In his dreams he held Elizabeth in his arms and kissed her with a passion that he had denied himself since becoming a single father. He remembered the feel of her in his arms and he wanted to feel her against him again.
On Thursday, Lydia was there to pick up David when Elizabeth arrived home with him.
"Damn it Lizzie where I have you been? I've been waiting for you for over an hour." Lydia was in a bad mood and was taking it out on her sister.
"You've been waiting for an hour." Elizabeth hissed back at her, "I've been waiting for you since to show up since Saturday."
"Well, I'm here now and I want my son." Lydia said as she grabbed David out of his car seat. "I want David to meet my boyfriend, Michael."
"Oh joy," Elizabeth said sarcastically, "David gets to meet another boyfriend."
"I don't need your judgmental attitude right now Lizzie." Lydia grabbed her son, put him in the car and took off down the road.
"I am the one who has been most supportive of you." Elizabeth shouted after the disappearing car.
Elizabeth called Bill Darcy and he answered, "Bill Darcy."
"Bill, this is Elizabeth," She said into her phone, "I just wanted to let you know that Lydia picked up David so I will not be dropping him off in the morning."
"So she just shows up out of the blue." Bill felt his anger growing for the unknown girl, "She dumps David on you all week and then shows up without calling."
"It's what she always does, I'm used to it."
"She doesn't deserve that wonderful little boy." Darcy was ranting and he knew it but he couldn't stop because with David gone, he wouldn't see Elizabeth as often and he had grown accustomed to seeing her every day. It was the best part of his day, talking with her and playing with the kids.
Bill's heart dropped into his stomach when he remembered that tomorrow was Elizabeth's date with Bingley. "I've got to go." He said suddenly as the anger was rising in his voice, "I'll talk to you later."
Elizabeth was confused and a little hurt when she got off the phone. Why had he snapped at her? What had she done? After her fight with Lydia and now this Elizabeth had to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Everything will look better tomorrow. Elizabeth was just emotional exhausted and needed to get some sleep.
After Bill got off the phone, he paced the room and he had his fists clenched in anger until he felt the small hand of his daughter move onto his.
"Daddy," Anne Marie said, "Is something wrong?"
"David's mommy picked him up so Elizabeth won't be bringing him here tomorrow." Darcy was obviously upset as he spoke.
"But Elizabeth and David are part of our family now." Anne Marie was not happy, "They are supposed to be here with us."
"I know." Bill said under his breath but to his daughter he said, "It's time for bed, sweetheart."
When Barbara arrived on Friday, Anne Marie was in one of her rare bad moods. "I want to see Elizabeth." Her bottom lip was stuck out in a pout.
"Honey, I told you that Elizabeth would not be bringing David today." Bill said to his precocious daughter, "David's mommy took him."
"I want Elizabeth." She repeated as she watched her father carefully.
"I'll call Elizabeth later and see if she will visit you." Bill said with a sigh, "That's the best I can do."
"Okay." His daughter said, "But make sure that you tell her how much I want to see her."
"I will." Bill agreed, "Now you behave for Barbara." He glanced at the babysitter.
"Don't worry about us, Mr. Darcy." Barbara said with a smile, "Anne Marie and I always have fun."
"It's going to be a long day." Bill muttered to himself knowing that he had to face the gloating face of his friend who had a date with Elizabeth tonight.
"Elizabeth Bennet." She answered her phone.
"Elizabeth, this is Bill Darcy."
"Yes, Bill, how can I help you?" She said in her most coldly professional voice, "Is there something wrong with the furniture."
"No nothing at all." He said quickly while he wondered why she sounded so cool with him, "Its Anne Marie, I'm afraid she was very upset because you and David did not come this morning and was very grumpy." He rushed on, "I had to promise her this morning that I would call and tell you that she really wanted to see you before she would allow me to go to work."
"I'm sorry that she's upset." Elizabeth's tone warmed as she spoke of the child.
"When can I tell her that you will visit her?" Darcy's asked her with a voice that was slightly demanding.
"I'll try to come by either Saturday or Sunday when I'm off work." Elizabeth didn't want to give him a definite time.
"Why can't you come tonight?" Bill pushed her.
"I've got a date tonight with Charles Bingley." Elizabeth was becoming exasperated with this conversation.
"Well can't you come and visit for a few minutes before your date?" Darcy couldn't believe the words came out of his mouth, "Bingley can even pick you up at my house." In his mind he was thinking that he wanted Charles to see that Darcy had a prior claim on Elizabeth.
"Okay." Elizabeth agreed after a long pause, "I'll call Charles."
"That's alright." Bill said, "He's right here, I'll tell him." He covered the phone for a moment and Elizabeth couldn't hear what was being said but in a minute Bill Darcy said to her, "Bingley will pick you up at 8:00 at my place." He lowered his voice and said, "I'll expect you at my place by 6:00, you can get dressed there, I'm sure Anne Marie would enjoy the girl time."
"But," Elizabeth started to protest but knew that it wouldn't do her any good and said quickly, "Tell Anne Marie that I'll see her at six."
"I will." Darcy told her, "Thank you Elizabeth, I know Anne Marie will be pleased."
That evening when Elizabeth rang the bell of the Darcy house with her dress bag and overnight case that carried her make-up and hair products. Her hair was slightly damp as she had quickly taken a bath at home before she came.
Bill Darcy answered the door and Anne Marie quickly scooted below him to hug Elizabeth around the knees. "I knew you would come." The joy in her voice was infectious as Bill took the items from her hands so that she could greet Anne Marie.
"I'll put these things in my bedroom." He said as he turned to leave.
"But that's not necessary; I can get ready and dressed in the bathroom." She picked up Anne Marie and followed him and when they arrived at his bedroom, he motioned for her to enter.
She looked around in shock as Anne Marie wiggled to get down. Elizabeth let her down and excitedly ran into the room to the largest vanity that Elizabeth had ever seen.
"This was my mommy's." The girl told her, "I like to play dress up here when Daddy let's me."
Bill whispered to Elizabeth, "My late wife had this all installed and I've kept it for Anne Marie's sake." He moved his arm around Elizabeth's waist as he guided her into the room while he caressed her gently, "She loves this because it was her mother's and to have you get ready here is like one of her fantasy's come to life. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," Elizabeth said quietly, "It's beautiful and functional."
In a loud voice, Bill said, "I'll leave you ladies to your ministrations." He left the room but he didn't go far because he couldn't resist watching the woman interact with his daughter.
He watched as Elizabeth finished drying her hair. The process took a lot longer than normal because she also had to blow and brush Anne Marie's hair.
As she applied her make-up, Anne Marie said, "I want to wear make-up too."
Elizabeth quickly and expertly applied a little shadow, blush and lip gloss to the girl to match her own.
Elizabeth pulled back long dark curly hair into a clip and upon Anne Marie's insistence styled her hair to match.
Elizabeth went into the attached dressing room to change and when she reappeared Anne Marie's eyes grew wide as she saw the simply cut red dress that Elizabeth was wearing. It came just above her knee and had a scoop neck that just revealed a hint of cleavage.
"You are beautiful." Anne Marie said as she saw her and Bill who had been waiting in the hall entered the bedroom.
"I completely agreed with my daughter." Bill said as he caught her hand and kissed it, "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." His fingers moved across the side of her face as he fought to control his impulse to kiss her.
The doorbell interrupted and Bill Darcy stepped back from her with embarrassment. For just a moment he had forgotten that it was Charles Bingley who was taking her out and not him. Damn.
Bill answered the door while Elizabeth scooped Anne Marie up and carried her into the front room.
"Wow you look gorgeous." Charles Bingley said when he spotted Elizabeth, "But I didn't know I was going to have two gorgeous dates, I thought it was only one."
"I'm not your date." Anne Marie said with a pout, "I don't like you anymore."
"Why not, my sweet?" Charles asked as he leaned over to look her in the face, "Have I done something wrong?"
"Elizabeth is supposed to be going on a date with my daddy." Anne Marie said sulkily, "Not you."
Charles Bingley let out a laugh and glanced over at Darcy who was flushed with red. Bingley whispered something to Anne Marie who smiled and giggled as she said, "Okay, I like you again."
As Charles escorted her to his car, Elizabeth asked, "What did you say to Anne Marie to get her to change her mind so quickly?"
He opened the car door for her and said, "That's between the two of us."
He took her to dinner where they had a nice meal and chatted easily.
"Charles, I like this restaurant, I don't think I've ever been here before." Elizabeth said to make conversation.
"Call me Charlie." He said before he shrugged and said, "A friend of mine owns this place and keeps a table for me."
Elizabeth made Charlie laugh with stories of horrible clients that she had dealt with in retail.
"I swear he measured every keyboard in the place until he found the precise size he wanted." Elizabeth laughed, "He was there for four hours." Elizabeth looked into his eyes, "Of course your boss was quite picky as well."
"I know Bill can come off as an ass but he's really great when you get to know him." Charlie was trying to make a point, "He is very loyal to his friends."
"Of course, I've become friendly with him and Anne Marie but his moods turn on a dime." Elizabeth started to laugh, "I've counted at least 5 distinctive scowls that he has depending on his mood. Are there many more."
"There are hundreds." Charlie laughed.
After dinner, Charlie paid the check and took her to a local bar to go dancing and he found a table for them.
They chatted happily but it was clear to both of them that there was no sparks between them.
Elizabeth was blunt and to the point, "I like you Charlie but the chemistry isn't there and I need to be attracted to any man I date."
"I understand but it was worth a shot." Charlie lifted his eyebrows in humor, "That doesn't mean we can't dance at least once."
"Alright, one dance." Elizabeth agreed as he led her onto the small dance floor.
After they had danced to a fast paced number and left the floor laughing, Elizabeth spotted Jane and Charlotte Lucas sitting at the bar.
"Charlie this is my sister, Jane Bennet and my friend, Charlotte Lucas." Elizabeth watched the fire that was lit as Jane and Charlie saw each other and she smiled wickedly.
"Nice meeting you." Charlie and Jane said together before they laughed.
Elizabeth took Charlotte by the arm and moved her away from the couple, "It's been a long time since I've seen you."
"Yes." Charlotte agreed, "First medical school and now as an intern, I haven't slept in years."
Elizabeth laughed and Charlotte said, "Why are you leaving your boyfriend with Jane? Didn't you see the way they looked at each other?"
"He's not my boyfriend, just a friend and of course I noticed which is why I dragged you away from them."
"Oh, is that the situation." Charlotte said with a smile, "Tell me all."
Elizabeth told her what had happened in the last few weeks and the intuitive Charlotte said, "It sounds like this Bill Darcy has a crush on you."
"Not a chance." Elizabeth said, "He's just a friend too. But I do love his daughter."
"Sounds like a great kid."
"She is and David loves her like a sister."
Charlotte just smiled at this and thought she understood the situation even if Elizabeth didn't seem to.
Elizabeth went back over to Charlie and Jane, "I'm going to catch a ride with Charlotte. Do you mind giving Jane a ride home?" Elizabeth said with a smile on her face.
"No, no problem at all." Charlie agreed quickly as he studied the beautiful blonde woman in front of him.
Charlotte drove her back to Darcy's where she had left her car.
Bill Darcy saw her pull up and get out of her friend's car and was shaking his head in wonder. Before he thought about it he opened the door and asked, "Where's Charles?"
"He met my sister Jane." She laughed, "Those two are perfect for each other so I ditched them."
Bill Darcy felt his heart lighten and said softly, "I'm just about to put Anne Marie to bed, do you want to come in for a while?"
"Sure." Elizabeth agreed.
Anne Marie was excited to have Elizabeth help put her to bed and insisted that she read her three stories. Bill watched as his daughter fell asleep in the middle of the last one. He felt a surge of love and didn't try to identify the source; he was just going to enjoy the moment.
Elizabeth read until the end of the book. Bill took it from her and replaced in on the shelf before they quietly backed out of the room. He guided Elizabeth to the sofa and took his place next to her.
"I wanted to thank you for the care you showed Anne Marie earlier." His eyes were full of emotion, "She never knew her own mother and she didn't stop talking about you after you left."
Elizabeth picked up his hand and caressed it lightly, "It was my pleasure." She giggled, "Even at his young age, David won't let me play dress up with him."
Darcy couldn't stop staring at Elizabeth's lips and the feel of her hand felt incredibly good. He wanted to pull her toward him and feel those lips against his as he moved his hand down the curves of her body.
His thoughts were interrupted by Elizabeth, "I had better get home." She got up and gathered her things then he walked her to her car. His sense of disappointment was like a cloud in the air as he watched her drive away from him. He clenched his hands into fists as he walked back into the house.