Jane had gone out with Charlie twice, and Lizzy and Charlotte were dying to talk to him again. Lizzy thought she would have more opportunities to talk to him, given she was catering dessert for him, but he was having Rich and Darcy do all the calls with her. She needed to talk to him again, to see him with Jane, so she and Char asked to go out with them. Jane was more than happy to oblige, and they all decided to go to a bar that was having a local band playing.

Unfortunately, Charlie invited Darcy and his sister, Caroline, along. Honestly, Lizzy should have seen it coming. Jane was bringing her best friend and sister, so it only made sense for him to bring his best friend and sister. Still, she didn't want to have to deal with Mr. Frowny-Face, and one look at Caroline made Lizzy think she was much the same as him. Just talk to Charlie, that's why you're here.

Charlie was as pleasant as ever, Lizzy really liked him. More so than any boyfriends Jane had had before. The guy couldn't keep his eyes off Jane, though she actively tried not to stare at him. She was shy, and didn't like public displays of affection very much, even if those meant just staring into each others' eyes. Still, Lizzy could tell she liked him a lot.

Caroline, on the other hand, sat next to Darcy and said little. She would occasionally offer a comment that seemed nice to Jane, but something about her tone made Lizzy question her sincerity. Char looked at Lizzy a couple times, and her face showed that she thought the same thing.

"Jane, you look lovely in that dress. I could never pull off something like that," Caroline commented.

"Thank you," Jane said politely. A guy bumped into her walking by their table. Jane turned, smiled politely, and apologized. The man did the same. Caroline gave Darcy a look, then turned back to the table and smiled again.

"You two are so cute together."

"Well that's easy with Jane," Charlie laughed, and Char picked up the topic to complement Jane. It always made her blush. Lizzy sat, and listened to the conversation, when Caroline caught her attention again.

"William, your hair is always a mess," she said, reaching up to straighten it. Lizzy didn't see how it was a mess. It was slightly curly, but he kept it neat. Darcy stopped her hand before she could touch him.

"I'm sure it's fine," he said. He looked away.

"Did your sister pick out this tie?" she asked, and brushed it with her hand. He stiffened, and barely looked at her. Either Darcy was oblivious to her flirting, or he wasn't interested. "She has such good taste. Bow ties are very trendy right now."

"She did, though not for that reason." Well at least I'm not the only one to struggles getting a conversation with him.

"Why did she pick it then?" What a riveting conversation.

"By her words, 'bow ties are cool,'" he answered. Lizzy laughed, which got their attention. He raised an eyebrow, which Lizzy guessed was an invitation to join.

"Is she a Whovian?" she asked.

"I didn't know there was a word for it."

"Oh does she still watch those silly shows?" Caroline said quickly to jump back into the conversation. "I thought she would have grown out of them by now." Darcy's frown deepened slightly, but he didn't answer.

"Oh you never get too old for Doctor Who," Lizzy continued. "I hope she never tires of it." Mr. Miserable seemed to study her, and was about to say something when Caroline cut him off.

"Well, maybe that is good for you," she said sweetly, "but our families move on to more stimulating material." Lizzy smiled back.

"Ah, I see," she replied. "I hope I never move on from a good sense of humor though. Oh well." She excused herself, and went to the bar for another drink and to just get away from Snob 1 and Snob 2. Just as she was about to order, she felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped.

"Hey, what's- George." Lizzy smiled when she saw him. She ordered her drink, and turned back to him. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah, just out with some friends. And You?"

"Here to get to know by sister's boyfriend a bit better."

"Ah, making sure he's good enough. I wish I had a sister half as loyal as you." He grinned at her. "But it works in my favor that you aren't my sister." He picked up her drink, and handed it to her. Lizzy bit her lip to try to keep from smiling. She was about to take a drink, when someone bumped into her to get to the bar. She turned around, and saw Darcy scowling behind her.

"Hey, watch it," she snapped.

"Sorry, I didn't see you," he replied, but his eyes remained on George. Oh course he didn't notice me. Lizzy grabbed a napkin, and started to dry off her shirt. His eyebrows were slightly knit together in a glare at George. Geez, what is Mr. Cockblock's problem?

"Darcy," George said. His smile was forced, but at least he tried. Darcy just kept the same dirty look.

"Wickham," Darcy said. "You do know everyone is carded when they come in here. You won't find your usual type."

"Look, we're all just trying to have a good time," Wickham replied coolly. "I know you don't like that, but maybe you can let us enjoy ourselves just this once." Lizzy looked back and forth between the two men. She felt like she had totally disappeared, and they were just aware of their hate for each other. There was no other word for it. These two hated each other. She had no idea what to do or say, and hoped for a rescue before things escalated.

"Darcy!" Charlie, popped up behind him. Oh you precious drop of sunshine, Lizzy thought when she saw him. He looked nervous, but covered it well with a smile. "There you are. Hey, maybe we should get going. Caroline has a headache, and Char said she'd drive the girls home." He nodded to Lizzy.

"That sounds like a great idea," Wickham said. Charlie's smiled faltered a moment, but he patted Darcy on the back. Darcy nodded. Lizzy tried to thank Charlie with a look.

"I apologize again, Elizabeth," he said. He handed her her new drink, paid for it, and left with one more dirty look at Wickham. Lizzy and George stood there without saying anything for a minute before she cleared her throat nervously.

"Ok, so…." she began.

"You're curious?" Wickham asked. Lizzy nodded, making George laugh. "Ok ok. So Darcy and I had a really bad falling out."

"You don't say."

"We were practically raised together," George continued. "My father died when I was young, so Darcy, the older one, he took me in. I was like a second son to him. And Will, that's what we called him, he was apparently jealous. I just didn't realize until his father died." He paused to take a drink and gather his thoughts. "Darcy promised me an inheritance. Nothing as big as his two kids got, but something to help me out. When he passed, Will refused to give it to me."

"What?" Lizzy gasped. Wickham shook his head.

"You know how rich people are. The second a relative dies, they're all in court trying to get as much money as possible from them." Lizzy had heard of those stories before, families falling apart over money. She never understood how someone could do that. "Well it was no different with Will. When I asked why, he just said because I wasn't a Darcy."

"That's so awful, George. I'm so sorry to hear it."

"It's not the worst part," he continued. "Will also has a sister, and I was close to her. She was every much a sister to me as she was to him, but once he got custody of her, he wouldn't let me see her. That's what really hurt me." Lizzy put her hand on his arm.

"It's ok, George," she assured him. "She'll be old enough to reach out to you eventually, and I know you'll be there for when she does." George gave a weak, but grateful smile. He leaned into her…

"Lizzy!" Charlotte yelled, and pulled her away from George hard. "I got the band to play our favorite song!" Lizzy laughed at her friend, and went with her. She felt sorry for George, but she was glad Char pulled her away before things got awkward. Maybe next time.


Darcy was driving that night, so he sped home in silence. He could feel Charlie looking at him, but he didn't want to talk while Caroline was around. She was in the back seat, rattling off everything she found wrong with Charlotte and Elizabeth. Aren't people with headaches supposed to be quiet? When they got back to their building, Darcy dropped Caroline off at the front to get rid of her, then went to park. He pulled into a spot, turned off the car, and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, man," Charlie said. "I didn't know he would be there."

"I know. I'm not mad. At least, not at any of you." Charlie nodded.

"I didn't even see him until you went over," Charlie admitted. Darcy spotted him as soon as he came up behind Elizabeth. Sure, he had been looking at her, but not in a creeping way. He hadn't even noticed he was been doing it. Caroline had been preventing any conversation with her. Every time he thought he saw an opening, she stepped in. Instead he probably looked like creep by not saying anything, and staring instead.

"I saw him with Elizabeth," Darcy admitted.

"Yeah you seemed to have your eye on her…"

"I wasn't going to say anything," Darcy said quickly. "I just saw him hand her a drink and…" And he didn't trust the guy. "Look, we don't-"

"Darc, I know what he tried to do to Georgie," Charlie interrupted. Darcy turned to him in surprise. "She's like a sister to me, Darc. She told me a couple months ago." Darcy had no idea. He didn't think Georgie had told anyone what had happened expect him and Richard. "She wanted me to stop asking about him," he added apologetically.

"I don't think he would have done anything to Elizabeth," Darcy explained. "I just didn't want to risk it."

"No, I totally get it. And you were real smooth," Charlie said, starting to grin. "You just looked like an asshole who spills drinks because you don't notice anyone, not an asshole who spills drinks on purpose."

"Thanks, Charlie, you're a real pal," Darcy said drily.

"No problem. And if it's worth anything, I agree with you stepping in discreetly. It's nice that you like someone enough-"

"I don't-"

"Ok ok," Charlie said defensively. "Whatever you say. But…." He have Darcy a sidelong glance. "I did tell Charlotte that Lizzy looked like she needed a rescue, so she probably pulled her away from him right after we left." Darcy smiled, and shook his head.

"Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for."