Elizabeth's POV (Continued)
When Jane came out of her room, I could tell that she seemed to be at a loss as to what to do. I know that she has been worried about tonight all day. I doubt she even paid attention in any of her classes. I looked over to William and noticed that he was watching Jane as well. I walked over to Jane and gave her a hug as I pulled her into the kitchen.
"Janey, why don't you set the table? William and I are almost done making the lasagna and desert is in the fridge. Just try to relax. Charles will be here soon and then we will eat. Don't forget that William and I are here and ready to help both of you."
"Thank you, Lizzy. I know that I am probably worrying about nothing but I don't want to get hurt again and what he tells me will have the power to do that."
"I know and I also know that William and I have told him that he needs to tell the whole truth and not just what he thinks you want to hear. Now go set the table and relax."
"Ok lizzy and thank you for this. I know that you would rather just spend time alone with William."
"Don't worry about that. You are my sister and I love you. After tonight we will be able to spend time just me and William but tonight you need us so we are here."
With that she gave me another hug and then went and set the table. I looked over to William and he just pulled me in for a hug before we returned to getting dinner prepared.
"William I know that you are just worried about Charles as I am about Jane. I hope this works out. He will tell her the truth won't her?"
"I am worried but right now I am more worried about Jane than I am about Charles. I didn't realize until a little bit ago how hurt she really was. I hope he tells her the entire truth. If he doesn't then I will step in and make sure he does. I know that I should worry more about him but Jane looks so fragile right now that it breaks my heart, because I know that her hurting hurts you as well."
"William you are so sweet. I am so glad we found each other again."
Before I could continue talking to him, the doorbell rang. I knew that Jane was too nervous to answer so I made sure that she knew I would get it. When I opened the door and greeted Charles, I led him into the living room. I was glad to see that William had already sat down with Jane to try to help her relax. I told Charles to sit and went to put the lasagna in the oven. When I returned I almost burst out laughing at what I saw. Charles was staring at Jane looking like a lost puppy, Jane was staring at her hands trying not to show that she knew Charles was staring at her and William was trying hard not to let out a laugh. When he looked up at me, I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. It was so obvious that Charles wasn't sure what to say but that he had fallen hard for my sister. I told everyone that dinner would be ready in about a half an hour then I sat down by William. I turned to him and whispered, "I can already tell that Charles is lost. I am just worried about Jane. What should we do?"
"Well I don't think that Charles should say anything until after dinner. If he starts now he will continue through the meal and I think they need some privacy. I say after dinner we go to another room and hang out while they talk. That way we are close by if they need us but they still have some privacy."
"I agree with you. We can go to my room and watch a movie while they talk. I hope that this awkwardness between them dissipates though."
I looked up at the other two in the room and I wasn't surprised to see Jane looking at me and William. I know that she wishes that things with Charles would work out like they did for me and William. I also know the only way that will happen is if Charles tells her the truth and I am worried that he won't. I know Jane and she will ask me about whatever Charles says and I will not lie to her. Jane deserves to find happiness and I think Charles is the one she will find it with. Just then the timer went. William came to the kitchen with me to serve everything while Jane and Charles went to the table.
"I hate this William. I hate feeling like I can't do anything and especially that Jane looks so broken. I don't know what to do."
"I know what you mean. I don't think there is anything we can do but be prepared for a very silent and awkward meal. I don't think anything will change until they are able to talk. Part of me wonders if we should have made it so they could talk before we ate but it is too late to decide now. We just have to make the best of it."
"I know and I agree that this is going to be very awkward. The best we can do is be there for them and hope it works out. Let's go in and eat."
When we walked to the table, I was unsurprised to see Charles sitting next to Jane, but I was surprised to see them whispering to each other. When they noticed our presence, they stopped talking and looked to us. I served everyone their food and sat down by Jane with William on my other side. When I looked at William, I saw that he was surprised as well but he was always relieved. I looked to Jane and saw that she seemed a bit happier. I knew that Charles didn't have enough time to tell her everything while I was in the kitchen but whatever he did tell her has made her a bit happier. I knew that she wouldn't tell me anything until later so I took the opportunity to just smile at her and we started to eat. All through dinner we talked about classes and family. We found out that Charles has two sisters and one of them was married while the other seemed to think that she was with William. When Charles said that I turned to William and he was shaking his head while trying to hide his frustration.
"William, do I need to worry about Caroline?"
"You have nothing to worry about Elizabeth. Charles and I have tried numerous times to make her see that I am not and I never will be interested in her, but it hasn't worked."
"That's true Elizabeth. Caroline seems to think that if she is around enough he will eventually be interested but everything she does to get his attention just annoys him so it backfires. She doesn't see it but everyone else does."
When Charles told me that, I couldn't hold my laughter back anymore. I remember Georgiana and William telling me about Caroline but having Charles' input made me see that Caroline might be a bit insane. I am looking forward to meeting her and seeing how she acts towards me now.
"Charles, you make her sound a bit crazy. How does she treat other women when William is around?"
"She is a bit crazy, at least when it comes to Darcy. She can be a bit of a bitch to other women so I am warning you now to be ready for it. I don't think you will have to worry for awhile yet because we try to avoid her as much as we can. She is my sister and I love her but she is a BITCH!"
Finally I heard Jane join in the laughter. I know that she is still worried and hurt, but I also know that she fell for Charles that first night. I just hope everything works out the way it is supposed to. Once we were finished with our meal I looked to Jane and she nodded to let me know it was ok to leave them on their own. I turned to William and asked him to help me with desert and led him to the kitchen. After I ran out Jane's and Charles' desert I led William to the balcony where we just sat and talked.
"I don't know what he has already told her, but she is already starting to let him in again."
"I noticed that. I am pretty sure I heard him tell her how sorry he was and that he really cared for her, but he was scared. He stopped talking when I walked in so I don't know what else he said. It was good to see Jane smile a bit though."
"Yeah it really was. I just hope everything works out. She fell for him that first night and I know he did too. Now let's talk about something else."
"Ok I want to tell you thank you for dinner tonight. I think that was the best lasagna I have ever had."
"Well you helped make it. I am glad that you are here."
"I am as well. I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tomorrow night, at my place. It will be just the two of us. I feel like we are always with other people."
"I would love that. I want more time with just you as well, but what about Georgiana?"
"She will be at our aunt and uncles. My cousin Richard will be back from his tour of duty and they wanted Georgie to stay the night with them to welcome him home. He has always seen Georgie as a little sister so they have a very close bond. I guess that he has been having some trouble reacclimating and they hope that her presence will help."
"Then I gladly accept and will be looking forward to it since we don't have class tomorrow. I am sorry to hear about your cousin though. I hope the Georgiana is able to help."
"I know that is why I wanted to have dinner tomorrow. I would have been walking in the park all day looking for you if I didn't." said William. When he realized what he revealed, he blushed. I didn't want him to be embarrassed so I took his hand in mine and kissed his cheek.
"I have to admit I would do the same. I think that I am getting used to seeing you everyday. I like it."
He squeezed my hand and brought it up to kiss it. I saw that he had a smile on his face as well. Every time he smiles, I feel my heart skip a beat and that smile made me realize that I had fallen for him and it was at the party. Every minute that I spend with him now just makes me fall in love with him a bit more. I can't imagine not talking or seeing him everyday and I am glad that he seems to feel the same way. William and I just sit on the balcony holding hands and looking at the stars. After awhile I looked up at him to see him watching me as well. I smile and lay my head down on his shoulder. I felt him kiss my head and wrap his arm around me, pulling me closer.
"Elizabeth, this has been the best night and I am looking forward to tomorrow night as well."
"I agree William. I have had so much fun with you today."
He kissed me on my forehead again and we looked back up at the stars. I know that we would eventually have to check in with Jane and Charles but I didn't want to leave my seat with his arm wrapped around me. After a bit longer, I felt him turn to look inside and heard him laugh.
"What are you laughing about William?"
"I think our worries were for nothing. Look at Charles and Jane."
I did just that and what I saw made me smile. Jane was curled up into Charles' side like I was with William and they were whispering to each other. I was so relieved and laughed as well.
"It looks like she accepted what he said. I am glad. I know that she fell for him at the party. She deserves to be happy."
"He fell for her that night as well. I am happy for them and now I don't feel like he will be upset about you and me. I could tell that he seemed a little depressed any time he saw us together."
"I noticed the same thing and Jane seemed so sad anytime I mentioned you. I felt a little guilty, but it seems to have worked out. I have to ask though, how will Caroline react to Jane?"
"I honestly don't know. I think that she will be ok to her but I could be wrong. Whatever happens we will be there to shield her."
"Thank you William for knowing why I am worried about that. Should we head in now? It is getting a little bit chilly."
"Let's go in. I just saw Charles motion for us to join them."
With that we walked in and sat down on the love seat across from Charles and Jane.
"How did it go?"
"It went well Lizzy. I know that you were worried but I also know that you were hoping we would work it out and we did. I can understand why he didn't look for me like William looked for you because I saw it the same way as he did. If we were meant to be the universe would bring us together again and it did. Thank you for helping us meet again."
"Janey, we didn't do anything. I just want to be happy and I know that that is with Charles. Now that that is done, we will just have to hang out more."
"Lizzy, you really are the best sister. Now I know that you and William would like to spend time just the two of you, especially since you seem to have spent a lot of time helping us, so how about once a week the four us hang out and the rest of time we do whatever."
"That is a great idea Janey. William and I will be having dinner together tomorrow but how about in a week the four of us go to Don Jose's for dinner and to hang out?"
"Elizabeth, where is that? I don't think I have been there before."
"Well it is a Mexican restaurant in Lake Elsinore that Jane and I have been going to for years. It has really good food and I think you would love it."
"Darcy I think you would love it. I tried a few weeks ago with Caroline and it seemed your kind of place."
"O.k. let's do it then. Now how about we watch a movie?"
"Ok what movie would you like to see?"
"Jane you pick the movie because it looks like you know which one you want to watch."
"O.K. William but I will warn you it is an old one. Lizzy and I grew up watching it with our parents."
"Which movie is that?"
"Singing in the Rain."
"That is perfect Janey I think I have it in my room. I will be right back."
I went and grabbed the movie and then set up for us to watch. Once it started I cuddled back up to William and we all watched the movie. It was even better watching it with William's arm wrapped around me and feeling him kiss the top of my head every so often. When the movie was over, the guys decided to head out so I kissed William's cheek and hugged him good-bye promising to see him tomorrow. When they were gone I turned to Jane and was relieved to see a huge smile on her face.
"Janey I am so glad to see you smiling"
"Lizzy I am so happy. He told me that he was devastated when he couldn't find my number. I was a little sad when he explained why he didn't search for me but I understood. I know that he felt the universe would bring us together again if we were meant to be and I have to admit that I agree with him."
"I knew that as long as he told you the truth you would see it that way. I am so happy for you two."
"I am happy for you and William as well. I know that you told him to be honest and not tell me what he thought I wanted to hear. Thank you for that and I am glad he listened to you. We made plans to have dinner out tomorrow night."
"Oh Janey I am so glad to hear that. I was a little worried about leaving you on your own but I really want to spend time with William alone."
"I know you do Lizzy. I can tell that you two haven't had a lot of time by yourselves so go and have fun."
With that said we hugged and then went and watched "How I met Your Mother" for a little while before going to bed. I was so happy for Jane and looked forward to seeing William tomorrow. I ended up lying in bed thinking over the night with a smile. After an hour I decided to find a book to read so I could hopefully get some sleep.
AN: Sorry about the long wait but it has been a busy couple of weeks. next chapter will be the dinner from WIlliam's POV and his date with Lizzy. THere will be about three more chapters until the sisters meet Caroline. Please Review!