***PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN:::

A/N: Okay, so, the Will's POV for Chapter 20 exceeded the word count limit for the PM feature (which is odd, because it doesn't exceed 8k characters…hmm…oh, well). As a result, I'm posting it as a very, very informal and unofficial "Chapter 20.5." It's a collection of thoughts…and not all of them good. I'm honestly afraid to post this publicly. *gulp* It will, however, help clear up the confusion behind some of his actions in chapter 20. Will does a lot of self-castigating and jumping to conclusions in this. He's learning patience. He has not yet learned that he doesn't need to take the blame for the actions of others. He's getting there. Sit tight and chill. ;). Also, I changed some things in Chapter 20, so be sure to reread...especially the part where she enrolls for college...

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND this is not edited. I wanted to get it out here to ya'll so please forgive the typos and holes and enjoy.

CHAPTER 20.5 - WILL'S POV

Will paced restlessly back and forth across the floor of his study early Sunday afternoon. Elizabeth hadn't yet called or returned his texts. He'd kept a watchful eye on her flight status, via the airline's app, and while he knew she'd had had a three-hour layover in addition to a several-hour-long delay, she should have made it home hours ago. He'd even kept an eye on the news as it played on the television in his study, listening for any reports of downed transatlantic flights. He absently ran a hand through his hair. Perhaps she had merely been tired and had gone to sleep. His gaze swept sideways to the computer on his desk. Perhaps he should check her local news for reports of car wrecks. He squeezed his eyes shut. No. He would not let his mind wander in that direction. He was jumping to conclusions and being unreasonable.

Will turned abruptly on his heel when he heard the study door that connected to the library open. A moment later, Georgiana stepped inside the room and closed the door.

She leaned against a wood-paneled wall and crossed her arms over her chest. "You're going to wear a path in the carpet, Will. I've heard you pacing for the last half hour, at least. What has you so worried?"

Will ran his tongue over his dry lips and exhaled heavily. The last thing he wanted to do was worry his sister. He gave her a reassuring smile. "It's nothing."

Georgiana dropped her arms to her sides and pushed away from the wall with her shoulder before she crossed the room to stand in front of her brother. She regarded him with a steady gaze. "I'm not an idiot, Will. You're obviously worried about something, so out with it."

Will shook his head. "Elizabeth hasn't called yet, that's all. I'm just a bit concerned. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

Georgiana gave him a knowing smile and reached up to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "She's probably still sleeping, Will. You told me at lunch that her flight ended up being seventeen hours long with the delay and the layover. If that's the case, she only just got home five hours ago. She's probably exhausted."

Will grimaced. "You're most likely right."

Georgiana gave him a hug and then left the room, leaving him to his own thoughts once again.

His mind wandered back to their time spent watching the sun rise over the ridge the morning before. He'd give anything to have that time with Elizabeth every day. He hadn't meant to take things as far as he had, physically, on the hilltop. However, the full weight of the knowledge that he'd have to wait seven weeks to see her again had hit hard and heavy. He'd needed to feel her against him, feel the silk that was her warm skin, experience her kiss one last time. She'd told him that she didn't want to leave, and, although he knew she was only giving voice to what she felt, for an instant, hope filled his heart, only to have it deflate a moment later. After all, he knew she couldn't stay. Then, she'd offered her compromise – that, if everything went well between them, she'd move to England at the end of the school year – and he'd felt happier than he could remember feeling since before his parents died.

He was determined to do whatever was in his power to make their relationship work.

Later that night, after a hard run, to help clear his mind, Will returned to his room. He pulled off his sweat-dampened t-shirt and running shorts and tossed them on top of his dresser before he headed into the bathroom to shower. When he returned to his room, he gathered his clothes from where he'd thrown them, intending to put them in the laundry basket that he kept in his dressing room. When he lifted the clothes, the flat, black box underneath them caught his eye.

He dropped the forgotten clothing on the floor, and, with a feeling of foreboding, picked up the leather case. He didn't even need to open it to know what it contained, but something in him needed to see it anyway. He hoped that, perhaps, she'd left a note inside, explaining why she'd left the gift he'd given her behind. Will only hesitated a moment before he opened the jewelry box. The emerald and pearl necklace sparkled back at him, but there was no note, and his mind could come up with no explanation as to why she'd return it without his knowledge. A thick, black, cord of doubt and fear wound its way around his heart.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Will sat behind his imposing desk and scrolled through the headlines on the Omaha World Herald's website for the fifth time in two days. It was Wednesday morning and Elizabeth still hadn't called, nor had she returned any of his texts. She hadn't been active on Facebook, either. He was sure something must be seriously wrong. Although there had been several car accidents and a shooting in the Omaha area, Elizabeth's name wasn't listed as a victim in any of the articles. What could be the matter? He wondered.

Ever since he'd found the necklace that he had gifted to her on top of his dresser, he'd been in a constant state of doubt. His mind continually ran back over the details of their farewell at the airport. She had been reserved, but that could certainly be attributed to the crowds of people. The last, longing look she gave him as they parted would be forever burned into his memory. Had she been saying goodbye?

Will pulled his phone out of his pocket once more. His thumb hovered over Elizabeth's number, and then Jane's. He finally pressed Charles' contact icon. His friend answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

Will swallowed his growing apprehension and greeted his friend in a clear, steady voice. "Charles. I'm just wondering if you've heard from Jane. Did she and Elizabeth reach home safely?"

"Yeah, Jane called me Sunday. It seems their flight got in late. I've talked to her every day since then. Why?"

Will shook his head. "I haven't been able to contact Elizabeth, and I'm concerned."

"You know," Charles said in a thoughtful voice, "Come to think of it, Jane did mention that she hasn't been able to get ahold of Lizzy, either. I'm sure she's just fine though. Jane's going to go over there today. She thinks that Lizzy may have lost her charger during the delay or the layover, so, if that's the case, she may just have a dead battery. She also said that she occasionally misplaces her phone. I'm sure everything's fine, Will."

Will dropped his chin to his chest and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "I'm sure you're right."

After he'd hung up the phone, Will rested his forehead in his hand and stared down at the dark wooden surface of his desk. He was afraid something was amiss, and he felt that he needed to fix whatever it was that was wrong – if there was anything wrong at all. Maybe Elizabeth had just lost her charge or perhaps she had been busy. But, if that were the case, wouldn't she have at least called him on Skype? Or checked her Facebook messages? There had to be something bigger going on.

That evening, Will decided he'd call Elizabeth once more on Thursday. If she didn't answer by then, he'd buy a plane ticket.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Georgiana burst into Will's study early Thursday morning and nearly slammed her iPad down on his desk. He looked up at his sister in alarm. She was furious. "What is it, Georgiana?" he asked with concern.

Georgiana raised her eyebrows and pointed at the tablet on his desk. "Look!"

Will's alarmed gaze dropped to the screen that displayed the front page of the previous day's Daily Mail. His expression changed to one of rage when he saw the photos and read the headline. He cursed under his breath.

"What are we going to do about this, Will?" Georgiana asked with raised brows. "And what will Elizabeth think if or when she sees it?"

Will felt enraged by the accusations. He was used to being disparaged by the press, but he would be damned if he'd allow Elizabeth's name or Richard's to be dragged through the mud along with him. He'd promised Elizabeth that he'd prevent this very thing from happening. He took a deep breath to calm his rising temper and rested his elbow on his desktop and covered his mouth with his tightly-clenched fist. "Where's Richard?"

Georgiana shrugged. "He's out for a run, but he should return soon."

Will nodded. "Send him in when he does, please."

Georgiana rounded the desk and wrapped her arms around her brother's broad shoulders in a hug. "I will." She picked up her tablet and left the room.

When she had gone, Will dialed the number of his public relations agent.

Thirty minutes later, Richard entered the study. "Georgiana said you wanted to see me," Richard stated as he closed the door behind him and crossed the room to plop unceremoniously down on the sofa.

Will eyed his cousin's handsome, ruddy face and athletic frame. An ugly suspicion had been rising in his mind over the past half hour, entwining with the black cord of fear and doubt that had been strangling his heart for the past several days since he'd found the necklace. Could there be something between Elizabeth and Richard? Was that why she'd been so reserved at the airport? Why she laughed freely with his cousin and spent so much time with him? Will decided that the only way to resolve the matter was to discuss it with Richard, himself. He sat back in his chair and gazed steadily at his cousin. "Can you assure me there's nothing between you and Elizabeth?"

Richard gave him an incredulous look and scoffed. "You have to be joking! Have you seen the way the woman looks at you?"

Will shook his head. "You can't deny the affection you feel for her."

Richard sighed heavily and shook his head as he ran a hand through his light brown hair. "I will not deny that I think her beautiful, but the love I feel for Elizabeth is familial and nothing more, Will. I swear it to you."

Will ran a hand over his mouth. "And what about her feelings for you? You're so easy with each other that I find it intimidating at times."

Richard looked taken aback. "Perhaps you should try to lighten up a little then. It can be quite intimidating to be in the presence of someone who's solemn and brooding most of the time. Especially for someone who has only known you for two months."

Will shook his head. "She's so easy in your company."

"She is in yours as well," Richard returned.

Will's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It's not the same."

Richard shrugged. "Of course, it isn't. After all, it's often easier to exchange banter with a friend than with someone you're attracted to and trying to make a good impression upon." Richard's eyes shifted to the floor, and he stared thoughtfully down at the rug. After a few moments of silence, he raised his head and looked Will in the eye. "Elizabeth loves you, Will. I think her reserve with you stems from fear."

Will was baffled. What did Elizabeth have to fear from him? "Fear?"

Richard nodded. "Of being hurt. Put yourself in her shoes. How do relationships with people of your social status and occupation usually end? Not well."

Will sat back in his seat, his mind reeling with the implications of what Richard had said.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Will was awakened by his Skype ringtone at 4 a.m., on Friday morning. He rolled over and blindly groped for his phone to answer the call. He finally located it and picked up on the fifth ring. When the video connection loaded, Elizabeth's face appeared on the screen. "Elizabeth?" Will asked, rubbing his bleary eyes with the fingers of his free hand so that he could focus better on the screen. He peered at her image once more. She looked exhausted. Her eyes were red and puffy with dark circles underneath, and her normally neat hair was thrown up in a disheveled bun. When she didn't answer immediately, Will feared he might be dreaming, after all.

"Hey," Elizabeth greeted in a nervous sounding voice.

Relief filled Will's entire being. He cleared his throat. "Hold on, alright?"

"Sure," Elizabeth replied.

Will set the phone down on the blanket beside him and reached out to switch on the light on his nightstand. He sat up and propped his back against the headboard and quickly attempted to finger-comb his hair into some semblance of order before he picked the phone back up. "Sorry about that," he said, "I wanted to sit up."

Elizabeth shook her head. "No worries."

Will stared at the screen, drinking in every detail of Elizabeth's image. Again, he was overwhelmed by the same feeling of immense relief he'd felt upon answering her call. He'd been so worried about her. Didn't she understand that? His relief was quickly replaced by impatience. "Do you know how worried I was?" he asked, his voice tight with concern. Will made an effort to reign in his temper. After all, she was safe, and he was thankful. He softened his voice. "Look, I'm sorry, but you can't imagine the horrible scenarios that have been going through my mind. I've been scouring the news for reports of planes that went down over the Atlantic and even for news of car accidents in Nebraska. I even considered looking at the obituaries – do you know how terrible of a feeling that was?" The memory of the pain and uncertainty of the past week squeezed Will's chest like a giant fist. His throat burned, and, with effort, he swallowed the lump that had formed there. He ran a hand over his jaw and exhaled sharply, hoping to wipe away the emotion that he feared was plainly written there. "You didn't answer your phone for five days, Elizabeth. I was afraid something terrible had happened. And then I saw the necklace and I thought that maybe there was a reason you weren't answering. I was so worried I bought an airline ticket-"

"Will, calm down!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "It's been a crazy couple of days, okay? I'm sorry."

Will watched as she ran a hand across her forehead and brushed her hair back from her face. He remembered the feeling of her soft skin beneath his palms and the silky texture of her hair, woven between his fingers when he held her to him as he kissed her. He longed to reach across the distance and touch her. "I am perfectly calm," Will said. He pressed his mouth into a hard line. "I'm just wondering when you are going to understand that you are everything to me."

Elizabeth stared at him through the screen with a surprised expression that was soon replaced by one that he recognized as anger. "Look, I'm sorry, Will. I got home in the middle of the night Saturday and ended up sleeping through until Sunday evening. When I woke up Monday, I was really sick with the flu, and then on Tuesday, I had a migraine, and I had to go set up my classroom on Wednesday and left my phone at home because my battery was dead, and then today, I went back to work and," she paused and squeezed her eyes shut as she raised a hand to massage her temples. "Well, let's just put it this way, it's been a really, really crappy day for me. Will-" she began before she bit her lip and shook her head.

Will raised a hand to rub his chin. He could tell there was something she wasn't telling him, and that only worried him more. He watched her shoulders rise and fall as she pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. It looked like she was bearing the weight of the world, and, more than anything, he wanted to carry some of that burden for her. Concern replaced the irritation he had felt earlier. "Are you alright? Is there anything I can do? I can catch that flight first thing in the morning and be there by tomorrow afternoon." He hoped she'd say that she wanted him to do just that.

Elizabeth shook her head. "You can't fly across the world every time I'm sick, Will."

He leaned forward slightly and stared hard into the camera, wishing to convey his point. "I would gladly do so. You know I would."

"And I appreciate that," Elizabeth smiled softly at him through the screen. "But don't worry, I'm feeling a lot better. As far as the necklace goes, didn't you see the note?"

Will shook his head. He hadn't seen a note, but in a centuries-old house, there were drafts everywhere. It could have blown off or been knocked to the floor when he'd carelessly thrown his clothing on top of it. "No, I didn't but hold on a moment."

He rose from the bed and began to walk toward the dresser. "I'll look underneath the dresser. It probably blew off." He switched on his phone's flashlight and dropped to his knees to search the floor for the note. A small square of white was just visible, lodged between the wall and the back of the dresser. He withdrew the small piece of paper and unfolded it. "Found it! It must have fallen behind my dresser."

He looked down at his phone screen just in time to see Elizabeth roll her eyes. "Told you so."

He raised an eyebrow.

She shrugged. "What? I can't be blamed for the drafts in your house that carry notes off to goodness knows where!"

Will shook his head and settled himself on the floor, just below the window. He took a moment to read the note.

"Will,

I'm leaving this here with you for safekeeping. Thank you for such a beautiful gift.

I love you…

-Elizabeth"

The black cord that had been strangling Will's heart for the past week loosened its noose, and he drew, what felt like his first deep breath in days. He looked up at Elizabeth's image on the phone screen. "Elizabeth?"

"Yeah?" she answered.

The love he felt for her nearly overwhelmed him and his normally well-regulated emotions threatened to choke him again. He took a deep breath and whispered, "I love you."

Elizabeth smiled. "I love you, too." Her smile faded. "Did you see the tabloids yesterday?"

The topic had kept Will awake the night before, as had Richard's keen insight into Elizabeth's feelings. He exhaled heavily and distractedly ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, unfortunately." When Elizabeth didn't say anything, he raised his eyes to the camera. "It'll be taken care of, Elizabeth," he assured her. His PR team was already working on it, and he had some plans of his own, as well. Elizabeth looked miserable, and he wanted nothing more than to be able to be with her to comfort her.

Finally, she said, "I know. And Will, you know it's not true, right?"

Guilt over the doubt he'd had in Elizabeth and his cousin rushed over him. He felt that he'd failed them both by imagining the worst. He'd failed her. She'd been ill and busy with work, and he'd thought the worst of her. He knew that there was likely much more to the situation and that she had been about to tell him what it was, but he had a feeling that it was something she was struggling to bear, and she evidently didn't feel that she could trust his reaction enough to tell him the truth of it over the phone. He was determined to change that though. He vowed to himself that from now on, instead of assuming the worst and calling her out on it, he'd prove that he could be patient and not jump to conclusions. He gave a slow nod in reply.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

Will met Charles for lunch in Manchester two weeks later. Their conversation, naturally, turned to the women they loved.

"I'm concerned about Elizabeth," Will admitted. "Things are going well between us, but every time I ask her how work is going, she changes the subject or skips around it. She never hesitates to speak her mind about anything else." He took a deep breath. He hated feeling like he was prying into Elizabeth's personal affairs. If there was something she didn't want him to know about, he should respect that. The other part of his mind though needed to know if there was anything he could do to fix the situation. "Have you heard anything?"

Charles picked up his drink and took a sip, eyeing the tabletop thoughtfully as he did so. He set his glass down and met Will's eyes. "She hasn't told you anything about work?"

Will shook his head. "Nothing." He watched as his normally forthcoming friend appeared to be fighting an internal battle.

Finally, Charles leaned forward in his seat and rested his forearms on the table. "Alright, but listen, please don't let it be known that you heard this from me, Will."

Anxiety began to creep into Will's mind. He gave Charles a single nod.

Charles began, "Lizzy's teaching contract was terminated. They cited the fact that she'd shot Wickham and the negative publicity and the potential for the press's invasion of the privacy of their students as the cause. She's gone back to college to take the courses she needs to qualify for application to a doctorate program. Jane said the whole situation has been pretty rough on her."

Will sat back in his seat, stunned, his eyes staring blankly at the table in front of him. "It's my fault," he murmured.

"I wouldn't say that," Charles returned.

Will shook his head. "Thank you for being honest with me, Charles."

His friend gave a solemn nod in reply.

When Will returned home, he immediately made his way to the top of the ridge behind the house and sat down on the stone bench. He felt immensely guilty about the loss of Elizabeth's job. After all, if they'd never been in a relationship, none of it would have happened and she'd still be happily teaching. He rested his elbow on his thigh and dropped his head into his hand. He desperately wanted to fix it for her, but he knew that she'd only resent his interference. She obviously hadn't wanted him to know about the situation. He supposed she planned to tell him about it when she felt ready. He knew that if he said or did anything about it, he'd appear high-handed like he had on so many other occasions already during their short acquaintance. He'd wait until she was ready to talk about it, and he'd be there for her, in person, when she was if it was the last thing he did.

If nothing else, Elizabeth was certainly doing a fine job of teaching him patience.

OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO

After three weeks of separation, Will was thoroughly frustrated by his and Elizabeth's long-distance arrangement. Although they talked over Skype whenever they had the chance, it wasn't the same. He could see how easy it would be for them to unintentionally grow apart, and how misunderstandings left undiscussed or misinterpreted could lead to a rift. He couldn't risk their relationship. He wouldn't. He'd come to understand – through a series of painful lessons over the course of the summer – that misunderstandings were almost always the source of their arguments.

An idea had been forming in Will's mind. He had asked Elizabeth to move to England, without considering what she'd have to sacrifice by doing so. He, however, had nothing tying him there, not really, anyway. As Will's partner, Richard did most of the hands-on work with Darcy enterprises, while Will worked and managed things remotely. He could work from anywhere in the world that offered a Wi-Fi connection. Georgina would be away at school, anyway, and he could fly home whenever he wished or was needed.

He had promised Elizabeth that he would do whatever was in his power to make their relationship work and eliminating the distance between them was certainly something he could fix. That afternoon, he began searching online for condos in the Omaha metro area. As he scrolled through the listings, a familiar address appeared. He squinted and looked more closely at the screen. 1813 Longborn Street. That's Elizabeth's building's address, Will thought in surprise. His momentary excitement was tempered by another thought. Did he dare purchase a condo in the same building where she lived? Would she feel smothered? Would he, if he were in her shoes?

Will gave the matter careful thought over the course of the next week. He discussed the matter with Georgiana and Richard. They both thought it a wise course of action, at least until Elizabeth was ready to move to England the following summer. Will took their opinions under advisement and decided to purchase the condo and deal with the repercussions with Elizabeth – if there were to be any – later.

It didn't take long to close the deal. Because Will possessed dual citizenship and because he was able to have the money transferred directly to the seller, there was no need to go through citizenship or loan processes. The realtor emailed the closing documents to him, and Will printed and signed them and had them notarized before he mailed them back using priority shipping. Over the next two weeks, he made the necessary arrangements, and ordered furnishings for the condo online and arranged for them to be delivered the day after he was scheduled to arrive. The day before he left, he packed the clothing and other items he'd need into four large suitcases and placed a much smaller, much more valuable box in his carry-on bag.

He didn't feel nervous about his decision until the end of his Skype conversation with Elizabeth late that night. It was nearly 2:30 in the morning and his flight was scheduled to leave at six a.m. from Manchester, so he'd made it a point to stay up so that he could sleep on the plane and be well rested when he arrived in Omaha. He planned to leave as soon as he was through talking with Elizabeth.

He watched a sad smile curve her lips through the screen. "I have to get going. I'm going out with Jane and Charlotte tonight, and I need to get ready."

"Have fun," Will told her. He couldn't help the smile of his own…he'd see her, get to hold her, in a few short hours.

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

Suddenly feeling nervous, Will shook his head. He didn't want to lie to her and tell her that he'd call her the next day. "Sorry, I won't be around tomorrow," he answered evasively.

Elizabeth shrugged. "Okay, Saturday, then."

He pressed his mouth into a hard line, "Not then, either. I'll be out of town," he hedged awkwardly.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Okay, do you just want to text me then?"

Will's nervousness increased. Had he acted rashly? Should he have discussed the purchase of the apartment with her instead of deciding to surprise her? What if she didn't want him as a neighbor? What if she felt angry or weirded out by it? He exhaled heavily and looked down at his hands, forcing the doubt into the back of his mind, before he met her eyes again. "I don't think that's going to work, Elizabeth." He wouldn't be able to text her from the plane.

Elizabeth looked concerned. "Will…what's wrong?"

For a brief moment, Will debated whether or not to just tell her but he decided against it. They didn't have the time for what would probably be a lengthy discussion, and he'd rather talk to her in person about something of that magnitude anyway. He shook his head. "It's nothing. I'll talk to you later, alright?"

Elizabeth gave him a confused look. "Is everything alright?"

I certainly hope it will be, Will thought. A frown tugged at the edges of his mouth before he realized that his uncertainty probably wasn't helping reassure her that all was well. To hide the concern that he was sure was reflected by his facial expression, he snapped his practiced smile into place. "Everything's fine. Goodnight, Elizabeth."

"Goodnight…" she replied a bit uncertainly.

Will ended the call and scrubbed his hands over his face. He felt as nervous as a teenager on a first date. He silently prayed that Elizabeth would be happy about the surprise and that she'd understand everything.