A?N: This is a transition chapter. Read and Review. You guys are amazing.

"Okay, so dinner at Bing's turned out to be better than I thought it would be," said Lizzie. "I can now say with authority that Bing is totally into my sister."

Charlotte had come over shortly after Lizzie had returned home form coffee with Darcy to film the video for the next day.

"Okay, so I might have prejudged the guy, but he's actually a nice and sensitive guy. He might be good for Jane. Plus, he is one cool customer. Even my mom trying to weasel her way into a dinner invitation didn't faze him."

One accurate impression and anecdote about her mother's insanity later, Lizzie said, "I don't know how he did it, but he managed to get my mom to go to our house to have a good panic due over the fact that she had just invited him to dinner and he had accepted the invitation. It was amazing."

Lizzie grinned at the camera. "But even more amazing than that was the fact that Bing talked to Jane every chance he got. He totally likes her. Jane played it cool, of course, which is great. I mean they haven't even been on a real date yet. There is nothing worse than a girl who throws herself at a guy just because he shows the tiniest bit of interest."

Charlotte harrumphed from behind the camera.

"Something to share with the class, Charlotte?"

Charlotte came and sat on the stool beside her. "Two things. One, I think that Jane might have been playing it a little too cool. I think it's obvious that she really likes him, but I think you and I are the only ones who can see it. He might not put in the effort if she doesn't help him along."

"Well if he doesn't want to put in the effort, he's not worth her time," said Lizzie. "What's the second thing?"

"Darcy," said Charlotte.

Lizzie flushed and said, "Maybe next time," before turning off the camera.

-/-

"So, you guys are going to be friends?" asked Charlotte, clearly disappointed that Darcy hadn't asked her out.

"Yes. What did you think he was going to ask me?"

"Come on, Lizzie," said Charlotte.

"Oh gosh, Charlotte. We barely know each other. He wouldn't just ask me out."

"Oh please. He clearly likes you, and no offense, but you don't ask someone for coffee if you just want to be their friend. Having coffee is basically a pre-date."

"Well, if that's true than this was an exception," said Lizzie sarcastically. "Friends can totally have coffee together. It wasn't a big deal."

"You gave him you phone number, over coffee," said Charlotte, "sounds date-like to me."

"Well, it wasn't. Let's just drop this, okay?"

"Fine. For now anyway," said Charlotte.

-/-

"My name is Lizzie Bennet," and this is where Jane chimes in," said Lizzie.

The title card flashed and Darcy took another sip from his coffee mug. He had his headphones in because he was sitting across the table from Caroline.

I've asked Jane here today because I've been getting some comments that imply that I'm a bit biased in my portrayal of friends and family members. To that I say, of course I'm biased. It's my video blog, so, to be fair, asked Jane, the nicest person ever, to come and give her opinions."

Darcy wondered if Lizzie would talk about him. She had promised she wouldn't say anything bad about him on her videos, and she had kept that promise so far. However, she did not promise to refrain from talking about him altogether."

Darcy glazed through Lizzie talking about her parents and paid closer attention when they got to talking about his best friend. It was apparent to Charlotte and Lizzie that Jane liked Bing, so he had learned from the previous vide, but he was always a man to draw what he knew from his own conclusions.

"How about Bing Lee?" asked Lizzie.

Jane flushed, and stammered, "Well, you know I like him." Darcy frowned. That wasn't much to go on.

"How about Darcy?" said Jane.

Darcy took a deep breath as he waited for Lizzie's answer.

"He's kind of awkward, and he didn't make the best first impression, but he seems like an okay guy. How did I do, Jane?"

"Well, I would admit he's shy and a little prickly, but he's been Bing's friend for years and to me that says something good about him. He definitely improves after the first impression. I bet he will turn out to be a really nice guy."

"Ah, Jane Bennet, always the best in people."

"So you don't agree?" asked Jane, sounding surprised, "But what about—"

"I'm not disagreeing," Lizzie cut in. "He did improve after the first impression. I hope you're right about him."

Darcy sighed with relief. It wasn't perhaps the most flattering portrayal, but he couldn't deny its accuracy. At least Lizzie had agreed to be his friend.

He was grateful for Jane for putting her criticisms, not that there were many, diplomatically, and he appreciated her attempting to see the best in him because of his friendship with Bing. Darcy considered himself to be a man who would do anything to help the people he cared about, and he hoped for an opportunity to show that side of him to Lizzie.

A moment later, "Jane could be right about Caroline, I guess, but I don't think that she likes it here very much, and if she's being nice to Jane it's probably because she knows that she should like her because her brother does. At least that means she's smart. Besides, she always seems to be going off with Darcy. Maybe she's just into him. I don't know. We'll have to see about her."

Darcy paused and checked to make sure that Caroline's attention was still on her magazine. It was.

Darcy smiled despite himself. Lizzie was right about one thing concerning Caroline. Ever since Bing had introduced him to his sister, she had been dropping not so subtle hints about how similar and compatible they were. It made Darcy uncomfortable. Even now, sitting across the table from her while Bing was at the Grocery store was odd. She was always finding ways for them to be alone together even if it was only for a few minutes.

He resumed play. "Stay tuned for next week because Bing and Caroline are coming to dinner. I don't think Darcy is coming. He has plans apparently."

Darcy did have plans. He had a conference call. He didn't like that he was missing an opportunity to spend time with Lizzie, but Pemberley Digital had to come first. They were only friends after all, and Darcy was still a workaholic.

-/-

Darcy had just finished his conference call when his cell phone rang. It was Caroline. She sounded annoyed. "Darcy, you have to come meet us at Carter's Bar. Dinner at the Bennet's house was a disaster, and now we're all leaving to meet Lizzie's friend, what's-her-name at the bar. Bing hasn't paid attention to anyone but Jane the whole night and I need someone to save me from being alone with these people. Please say you are done with your work for the night."

"I am. Of course I'll come," said Darcy, glad that he would be able to see Lizzie after all.

Of course he didn't anticipate that Caroline would try to monopolize his time for the remainder of the evening.