Summary: Everyone has something to celebrate this holiday season. It's Eleanor's first Christmas and it's memorable for everyone.
Notes: Another long wait but the good news is that you're in for a long chapter! It's even longer than the labor chapter. Whoops. Thank you all for the comments. I always appreciate them. Hope you enjoy this one!
Thursday, December 6th
Lizzie began to feel more and more like herself as the last days of November bled into the first days of December. Even with Eleanor being her middle of the night wake-up call and early morning alarm, her energy level was rising again and there was a sense of normalcy returning. While she waited to be cleared for more rigorous activities, she began to pick up the pace on her evening walks with William and Eleanor and they would last just a bit longer. She joined William in the mornings again to work on the easiest yoga positions while he continued improving on the advanced ones. When she finished her shorter routine, she would sit down with Eleanor and cheer William on as he kept on with his poses. The one time she pretended to speak in the baby's voice, he burst out laughing and landed on his back.
Lizzie and William were surprised how quickly time was passing and could barely believe it was already December. Lizzie was relieved that they were staying home for the holidays instead of traveling to their cabin in Tahoe. They both felt that Eleanor was too young for the drive and they would be too worried about the cold weather. Gigi, Fitz, and Brandon were all told they were welcome to go to the cabin without them like they had in previous years but they declined for the first time so they could be around for Eleanor's first Christmas. The one thing Lizzie and William were disagreeing on was presents. Lizzie wanted minimal gifts for Eleanor while William wanted to go all out. It was something William had mentioned in the morning and by the evening, they were having a full-blown heated discussion about it.
"Will, seriously. She's going to be eight weeks old. She's not going to remember a single thing you give her," Lizzie said.
"But it's her first Christmas. We have the ability to give her anything so why wouldn't we? She'll look back at pictures from this year and see what? A tree with nothing under it?" William argued. Lizzie sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose before glancing at their sleeping daughter in her swing seat.
"I'm not saying we give her nothing. I'm saying that we be reasonable about it. You know my parents are going to give her too much and so is the rest of the family. Our friends too. We give her the important gifts. Her first stocking, her first Christmas ornament, and a few toys," Lizzie said. "It's our first Christmas with Eleanor. We should be focusing on the fact that we're celebrating this as a real family now. This is what I was looking forward to the most. You, me, and our baby."
William's features softened and Lizzie knew she had won the argument. He shook his head and a little smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I want it all. I want her to be able to see that we did everything for her and gave her everything she deserved," William admitted. "But you're right. It should be about the three of us."
"I can't wait until she gets to that age where she understands the excitement of the holiday. When she's big enough that we can stuff the bottom of the tree with too many presents or she comes running into our room way too early in the morning and jumps on the bed, yelling at us to get up so she can open presents. When she can hang her stocking up herself and help us decorate the tree. When she can help us pick the tree," Lizzie said, lighting up as she talked about it. "This year, we introduce her to the traditions you and I have created together. We give her what's important and we make new traditions with her."
"That sounds wonderful, Lizzie," William exhaled. "You know, she can still help us pick the Christmas tree this year."
"Yea? How can she help? Coo if she likes it and cry if she doesn't?"
"Obviously."
Lizzie let out a loud laugh and startled Eleanor, who threw her arms up as a reflex and jerked in her seat. Lizzie winced and she leaned down towards her, rubbing her belly in comfort and kissing her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Ellie. Daddy made Mommy laugh. It's okay, baby girl," Lizzie murmured softly. After a moment, Eleanor relaxed again and Lizzie tucked her back into her blanket. Lizzie sat back and returned her focus to William.
"So, I was thinking that we could go all out this year in decorating."
"We could get the same decorating company I use for the cabin," William suggested.
"That's no fun. We should decorate the place ourselves. It won't be as lavish as that but it will have that homey feel. Lights everywhere, garland on the staircase, and decorations wherever we can fit them," Lizzie said. "And the biggest tree we can fit in this place."
"The biggest one?" William raised an eyebrow.
Lizzie nodded quickly, a twinkle in her eyes. "Yep. Eleanor deserves the biggest and the best. Wasn't that your argument?"
Friday, December 7th
Lizzie and William had decided to get started on Christmas decorations first thing in the morning. After he pulled the Christmas boxes out of the storage closet, they went through them and made a list of anything else they needed before going out to pick their Christmas tree. After Lizzie finished nursing Eleanor, William came in to ask if she needed any help. She put him in charge of replenishing the diaper bag and finding the holiday-themed onesies for her. He put a small pile on the changing table while Lizzie was changing Eleanor into a fresh diaper and he returned to filling the diaper bag.
"Okay, baby girl. Let's see what Daddy picked for you!" Lizzie said, beaming down at Eleanor. The first one had a snowman's face on it and she held it up for a moment, then put it to the side. The next one was red and a reindeer was popping out on the side, with a big red nose. "Do you like this one, Ellie?"
Eleanor waved her arms around and kicked her legs, making an excited breathy noise.
"I like it too," Lizzie said happily, putting it to the side to check out the rest of the selection. She grabbed the next one and held it up, immediately laughing. "Was this from Fitz?"
William looked over his shoulder to see Lizzie holding up a white onesie that said 'I sleigh' and a reindeer wearing black-rimmed glasses. He chuckled. "Who else could have possibly given that to us?"
"Nobody," Lizzie shook her head, turning back to Eleanor and holding it up for her. "Do you see what your Uncle Fitz gave you? He's a silly man. Yes, he is. A very silly man!"
Lizzie watched as her daughter's eyes lit up and her face brightened before she let out a happy gurgle and her mouth opened into a big and crooked smile.
"Oh my god," Lizzie gasped, bringing a hand to her chest. "Is that a real smile I see? Are you smiling at me, Eleanor?"
"What? What happened?" William appeared by her side within seconds.
"She just smiled!" Lizzie told him excitedly, feeling a total rush.
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely," Lizzie said confidently. William turned his attention to their daughter, who was still moving her arms around and looking up at them with those curious eyes of hers.
"Are you smiling for Mommy? Did you just smile, sweetheart?" William asked Eleanor in a warm tone reserved solely for her. He reached out and traced a finger down her little nose before bopping the tip and making a sound effect to go with it. She flailed her arms around and her face lit up once more, giving them both a big gummy grin. "Oh wow. Look at you, pretty girl! Smiling so big for us already."
Lizzie whipped out her phone and they spent the next few minutes making silly faces to try and capture another smile. It took a while but when William picked her up and kissed her all over her face, she gave out a little coo and one more smile long enough for Lizzie to get it. She felt overjoyed to witness to her first real smile and she could barely contain the heart-bursting love that she was feeling.
"I could do this all day, just to see that smile one more time," William said before putting Eleanor back down on the changing table and grinning at Lizzie. She could see the same joy in his expression. She was so glad that he was there at the right time to see the milestone moment.
"But we have things to do," Lizzie said with a happy sigh, bending down and kissing Eleanor's cheeks. She ultimately chose a white onesie that said 'Santa's Little Helper' with a Santa hat above the first word. "We have to get you dressed! We're getting you your first Christmas tree. Isn't that exciting, baby girl? It's a big day."
After Lizzie and William stopped to buy some more lights and decorations, they headed to their favorite place to get their tree. It was an overcast and somewhat chilly day but they bundled Eleanor up and put on a knitted cap that Jane had sent them. Lizzie also wrapped Eleanor up in the Moby wrap, keeping her close to her body but keeping her hands free.
As they walked inside, they went past the smaller trees without a second glance and spent some time perusing through the next size up. It was some time before they began to seriously look and compare the different types of trees available. William stood between two different trees while Lizzie compared them, walking around them to find the imperfections.
"I don't know. Your choice is taller but looks skinnier. Mine is more tree-shaped," Lizzie said.
"Tree shaped?" William arched his neck to look between the two.
"Yea. You know…" Lizzie mimicked the shape of a triangle with one hand while keeping the other lightly pressed against Eleanor's back. "Tree-shaped."
"Well, what does our dear daughter think?" William playfully asked.
"This dear one fell asleep a few minutes ago," Lizzie told him with a shrug. She glanced down to see her fast asleep, her left cheek pressed against her chest and her lips parted slightly.
"Tree shopping is exhausting," William chuckled, looking to his right. Lizzie saw a spark of something in his eyes and he abandoned both trees, walking away but silently beckoning her with his finger.
"What? Are you serious? Where are you going?" Lizzie asked in confusion, following behind him. He ducked past a tree to another row but Lizzie had to take the long way around to the next row, not wanting to wake Eleanor up by brushing through two trees. When she caught up to him, he had a big grin on his face and he gestured to the tree next to him.
"We're getting this one," William said simply. It was perfect. It was tall, full with no discernible gaps between branches, and it was exactly the right shape she had described just a few moments ago.
"If Eleanor was awake, she would absolutely approve," Lizzie said. "Think it will fit?"
"That's the perk of being on the top floor. High ceilings," William said. "It will."
Lizzie smiled and eagerly nodded. "Let's get it."
The rest of the day was reserved for getting their place ready for the holidays. William took care of getting the tree in just the right place, after carrying it up to the apartment with the help of the doorman, while Lizzie watched his efforts from the couch while nursing a very hungry Eleanor. Once her daughter was satisfied and put down for a nap, Lizzie helped him decorate it and the rest of the apartment. She really felt the holiday spirit as William put the tree topper on top. Eleanor woke up just in time for them to light the tree and gave her parents another little smile.
After dinner and a bath for Eleanor, she was put down for the night in the nursery. Since she was sleeping longer throughout the night, they finally felt comfortable enough to move her from their bedside to her crib. It was only her third night in the room but she appeared to be adjusting just fine. She usually woke up once more around midnight so they'd taken to staying up until then and unwinding, sometimes together and sometimes doing their own thing. Tonight, they were spending the time spooning on the couch, with a fire going and a movie they were barely paying attention to on TV.
"We really did pick a great tree," Lizzie said.
"It's even better all decorated," William agreed, pulling her closer against him. Then he pressed a light kiss to her neck and she hummed in delight.
"It's still missing one vital thing," Lizzie pointed out. She grabbed his hand that was draped over her waist and laced her fingers with his.
"Eleanor's first Christmas ornament should be arriving in the next two days," William said. "And then it will be complete."
"Can't wait," Lizzie murmured, looking at the tree for a few moments. "Do you remember our first tree?"
"Of course," William said. "It was our first Christmas at home and it was just before we got married. You wanted that tree to be perfect because it was our first. You also helped me find those videotapes and my mother's tree topper." William nuzzled his nose just below her ear, "Which I am quite grateful for."
"I'm glad we found those," Lizzie said, squeezing his hand. "So much has changed since then."
"For the better, I'd hope."
Lizzie turned onto her back so she could look at him. "There's a tiny human in the other room that proves it."
She watched as his eyes lit up just at the mention of their daughter. That look was the same kind of rush that went through her whenever she thought about Eleanor. William was the one who showed her the meaning of true love but her daughter made her understand what unconditional love was.
"You know what really made today so great?" William began and Lizzie nodded.
"The smile."
"It's so amazing," William said, his voice full of warmth. "Our little girl can smile now."
"It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something right," Lizzie told him. "I was able to make her smile. It's like she's telling me that she likes me for more than just my boobs."
William burst out laughing. "I mean, they are rather nice."
"Will!" Lizzie smacked his arm before she started laughing along with him.
"I'm allowed to admire. Besides, you know she loves you for more than just that. You're her mother," William told her. "She's still very young and we're barely scratching the surface of everything she's capable of. Dr. Gates said she's right on track with her development. We've got so much ahead of us."
Lizzie exhaled. "So, you said something about admiring me?"
William mouth's tipped up into the beginnings of a smirk and waggled his eyebrows. "Would you like to know what else I admire?"
"What exactly would that be, Mr. Darcy?"
"I'm a very big fan of your lips, Mrs. Darcy. They're quite enticing."
Lizzie snickered and grabbed his shirt, pulling him down to her. "Admire away."
Wednesday, December 12th
"Alright, Lizzie. Go ahead and sit back up for me," Dr. Gates said, pulling off her gloves and tossing them in the trash. She was at her six-week post-partum appointment while William was at home taking care of Eleanor. He had offered to come with her but she told him it was just a check-up and to stay home. "You've healed nicely. I see you're already down to your pre-pregnancy weight too."
"William and I have been going on walks with Eleanor in the evening. I'm not really one to sit around and wait but I didn't want to push it either," Lizzie explained.
"It's a good habit, Lizzie. Even light exercise can help with fighting postpartum depression," Dr. Gates said. "Luckily for you, I'm clearing you for everything else. You have no more restrictions."
"Oh really?" Lizzie said, surprised that she didn't feel immediately relieved. "None at all?"
"You ease into whatever you're comfortable with. You don't have to rush," Dr. Gates told her and Lizzie nodded absently. "But I can see some hesitation in your face. What is it?"
"Well. It's not so much hesitation as being a bit nervous about sex." This was part of the real reason why she didn't want William to join her. She didn't want him making it a bigger deal than it was. "It's more about just having sex. We've had big breaks before for other reasons but this time feels different. I read that it could be uncomfortable."
Dr. Gates smiled sympathetically. "Sex after giving birth is often not the same as before and it's usually why we recommend waiting until you've completely healed, which you have. Yes, it's true that it can be uncomfortable but you don't have to let it be. Lubrication helps. Some of my patients have told me that it's actually better because they take their time and set a romantic mood. "
"That's easy to say when there's not a baby in the house," Lizzie joked. "Even if she is basically sleeping through the night."
"Having a sex life when you're a new parent can be challenging," Dr. Gates chuckled. "I would talk to William. Have a date night. Take some time for yourselves. Whatever you decide, you should use condoms since you're breastfeeding. I would wait until Eleanor is six months old before you get back on your birth control."
"That was going to be my next question," Lizzie said.
"That's what I'm here for, Lizzie."
"Actually, I have a couple more, if you don't mind."
Lizzie stopped by their favorite bistro to pick up lunch before getting home. As she walked in, she heard William before she saw him.
"Guess who's home, sweetheart? Mommy's home!"
"Hello," she greeted in a sing-song voice. As she came down the entryway, she saw that the coffee table was pushed away from its usual spot in the living room. She found Eleanor on her play mat laying on her stomach and William was directly across from her, mirroring her pose and resting his chin on his arms. It was a sweet sight to see him this way. She wondered if she would ever stop feeling the butterflies in her stomach from watching William being so attentive and caring with Eleanor. She sincerely hoped she wouldn't.
"Hey, beautiful," William smiled as he saw her, pulling himself up to his elbows.
"What's happening here?" Lizzie asked, putting the food down on the coffee table. She lowered herself next to William and rested against the couch.
"We are having some much-needed tummy time," William replied. "I was just reading an article that suggests getting down to her level to make tummy time more enjoyable. It also suggested varying tummy time positions so she's not just on the floor every time."
"Sounds interesting," Lizzie said. "Is it helping?"
"She's smiled at me a couple times," William said proudly. "So I'd say yes."
"I want to read that article," Lizzie said.
"Already sent it to you."
She shifted and got down on her stomach, mirroring William's position. "It's a good thing your parents like doing research, Ellie! You're going to be spoiled in more ways than one."
She reached out and brushed her hand across Eleanor's head, smoothing down her hair that was standing up.
"It won't help. I've tried a few times," William commented. "It's a wild hair day."
"She's still adorable," Lizzie said with a smile and he nodded in agreement.
William nudged her shoulder. "How was the doctor?"
"Good. I am officially clear to do any and all exercise I was doing before," Lizzie said. "And she assuaged some of my concerns so I feel better."
"Concerns?" William asked, his brows furrowing.
Lizzie bit her bottom lip. "You know, it's been a while for the two of us…"
"Lizzie, you know I would never pressure you before you're ready," William said sincerely.
"It's not that. I've missed you," Lizzie assured, leaning into him. "My body went through so much so I'm not sure what to expect but I realized as I was talking to Dr. Gates that I've really been in my head about it all. I should have talked to you about it immediately. You always put my needs above yours but I still can't help but feel a bit nervous about it all," Lizzie said. "She suggested it might be good to set the mood or have a date night."
Lizzie saw a familiar look in William's eyes that gave her a different kind of fluttering feeling.
"Leave it to me, okay?" William said.
"I had a feeling you'd say that," Lizzie murmured.
"You know me too well," William echoed her earlier words. Eleanor grunted and lifted her head, looking at them curiously. William started making silly faces at her and Lizzie watched him, loving every moment.
This was a completely different man from the one she first met. She wondered what the William from six years ago would say if he was told that he'd be sprawled out on the floor, talking in a silly voice and making adorable faces just to get a smile out of his daughter. Eleanor seemed to be feeding off that energy because she finally cooed and smiled at them before dropping her head back to the mat.
"There's my happy girl!" Lizzie boasted. She pulled herself up to a sitting position before picking Eleanor up, showering her face with kisses. The baby gurgled in delight. Lizzie kissed her one more time on the tip of her nose before propping her up in her lap. William sat back up and grabbed a nearby toy, playing with it in front of their inquisitive daughter.
"Adam called me while you were gone. Reminded us about the play on Saturday first, then said that they landed and they were on their way."
Adam had come over a couple weeks ago to talk to them about wanting to do something special for Lydia's birthday. While it wasn't a milestone birthday for her, it was her first with him and he wanted to celebrate it in style. After they all put their heads together and the rest of the group lent a hand, they had the perfect plan. Lydia was being treated to a two-day trip down to southern California to go to both Disneyland parks. They took care of the transportation and accommodations, Fitz got them reservations for Club 33 for dinner, and Adam took care of the rest.
"I talked to her while I was waiting to be called. Lydia was thrilled. She had no idea and was saying which rides she was the most exciting about getting on," Lizzie said. "She's going to have a great birthday."
"She is," William said, smiling as their daughter grabbed one of his fingers. "I can't wait to bring Eleanor to Disney."
"Me neither," Lizzie said. "But not until she's big enough to remember and be able to ride whatever she wants. My parents took us when we were very young and I barely recall meeting Mickey."
"And here I thought you remembered everything," William teased.
"Not from before I was five!" Lizzie laughed.
"Don't worry. She has two great parents who will make sure all our trips will be memorable."
Lizzie smiled at him. "I don't doubt that."
Tuesday, December 18th
Saturday had marked the first holiday event for the Darcy family. While they were keeping their social calendar light this year with Eleanor, there were still a few parties and Christmas to look forward to. Adam had invited everybody to see him in A Christmas Carol and it was a big success, despite Eleanor sleeping through most of it. She did wake up just in time for curtain call while everybody gave the cast a standing ovation. The group caught up with Lizzie and William for a short time after the play and they finally got to witness Eleanor's smile in person.
It also gave William and Lizzie the opportunity to talk to Gigi about babysitting for them so they could go out. Though she knew they would be out for the whole night, he wouldn't tell her many details until this morning. He said to wear a nice dress and to be ready by six pm, which gave her a familiar thrill at the mystery of it all.
As it got later in the afternoon, nervous excitement was building up in the pit of her stomach. It would be the first time that they would both be away from Eleanor at the same time and it would be the longest time yet. Gigi had already shown how great she was with her niece so she knew she would be in good hands. Still, it was hard not to worry a little. As soon as she finished packing everything she needed, she wrote down their nightly routine for Gigi to calm her nerves a bit.
Needing an overnight bag told her exactly what to expect for the night but she knew he was going to take his time until he made sure she was ready. In the past week, she had truly craved the weight of him on top of her, the way he felt inside her, and the sound of his voice in the heat of the moment. He had caught her openly ogling him as he worked out in the morning and undress for the shower. She was ready again.
She needed something that made herself feel sexy. Luckily, she had just the thing and it was all thanks to Jane. She made her a gorgeous dress as a gift for her birthday last year but she had yet to wear it. It had been sitting in the closet hidden from view in a garment bag and it was just begging to be unveiled. When she unzipped it, there were details of the dress that she had forgotten about and she smiled to herself. It was perfect.
William took a shower while Lizzie nursed so the bathroom would be free when she needed it. She was just finishing up when William came in, only partially dressed with well-fitted black slacks and nothing else. She refrained from licking her lips. He smirked as he took Eleanor from her, shooing her off to get ready. If he was going to play that game, she would do the same. She grabbed a few lingerie items from a drawer before taking everything to the bathroom.
When she got out of the shower, she could hear William slightly muffled by the bathroom door. He was clearly talking to Eleanor by the tone of his voice. She peaked through the door and saw their daughter on the bed, propped up with the boppy pillow and William holding up two different shirts. He was asking her which one she liked more and Lizzie smiled at his playfulness before closing the door and getting dressed.
Her dress was nearly backless, dipping down in a deep V that hit her lower back. Thankfully, Jane had recommended a backless bra that still gave her some support. She didn't want to risk going braless while she was breastfeeding. She matched the black bra with lacy black boy shorts, a garter belt, and thigh high black stockings with a back seam. She glanced at herself in the mirror and loved what she saw. It was the most confident and sexy she had felt in forever and couldn't wait to see the look on her husband's face.
Lizzie slipped on the green lace dress and zipped it up. The skirt ended just below her knees and had a fullness to it that gave her an even curvier look, especially with her newfound cleavage. She put on a little makeup, wanting to look natural, and started to curl her hair the way William liked. When she was nearly finished, there was a knock on the door.
"It's unlocked."
"Lizzie, which tie should I wear? Eleanor is no help and—" William stopped in the middle of his sentence she saw his reflection's eyes widen and his jaw drop. "Elizabeth. Wow…"
She looked over her shoulder and gave him a little smile as he walked up behind her.
"You like it?"
"Like it? I love it," William practically growled. He bent down and kissed the curve of her shoulder. "Perhaps we should skip dinner and go straight to dessert."
"Oh no, Mr. Darcy. I was promised wooing," Lizzie said, turning around and giving him a pointed look. "And I expect wooing."
"Wooing you shall get then, love," William said softly, kissing her cheek. "You are positively stunning."
"Thank you," Lizzie said. "You had a reason for coming in here?"
"Oh! Yes. Which tie should I wear? Our daughter is not too vocal with her opinion." William held up a black tie and a red tie against his white button up.
"Definitely red. We'll completely the holiday color palette that way," Lizzie told him.
"Thank you," William said, giving her a kiss. "Also, Gigi should be here in a few minutes."
"Alright," Lizzie said as he started to walk out. "Will? I'm really looking forward to tonight."
"Me too." William said. "Especially since I'm lucky enough to be accompanied by the most beautiful woman I know."
Lizzie was putting her and William's overnight bags and her breast pump bag at the end of the hallway when there was a knock at the door. William was finishing up getting ready so she answered it, happy to see Gigi.
"Hey! Whoa, hot mama!" Gigi greeted and Lizzie laughed. "Look at you!"
"Thank you. I tried," Lizzie said, giving her a twirl when she asked.
"I love the back. Is that a Jane original?"
"It is!" Lizzie replied, ushering her in.
"She really knows how to make some beautiful dresses. Wow," Gigi said, giving her a one-armed hug. "You're obviously ready for your sex date."
"Gigi!" Lizzie cried.
"What?" Gigi said with a toying look. "I'm staying over, you're going out all night, and you're dressed to the nines. It's totally a sex date."
"You're terrible!" Lizzie shook her head as they walked down the entryway. "How would you like it if I asked for the dirty details of your neighbor?"
"There are none," Gigi said, putting her bag on the couch. "The neighbor is no more."
"What? No! What happened?"
"Well, not no more, but his equally attractive girlfriend moved in," Gigi shrugged. "It's fine. I've met her a few times. She's so nice. She's an aspiring baker and has already pawned some of her goodies off on me."
"At least you're making a friend out of this," Lizzie said.
"Exactly!" Gigi laughed before clapping her hands together. "So, big date for you two."
"Thank you so much for doing this. I wrote down Eleanor's schedule and both our numbers, the hospital's and doctor's number, and the emergency number," Lizzie said, grabbing the list and handing it to her.
"Lizzie…"
"And there's breastmilk in the fridge. There's plenty. Especially if she gets hungry after her late feeding."
"Lizzie."
"She's started sleeping through the night in the last week but if you put her to bed too soon—"
"Lizzie!" Gigi interrupted her. "Eleanor is going to be in great hands. I'm an awesome babysitter and I've been here enough times to see your nightly routine. I think we can survive one night without you and William."
"I know but…"
"I wouldn't have asked Gigi to look after her if I didn't trust her," William said, walking in with Eleanor in his arms. He was fully dressed in a fitted black suit with white button down and red tie. Calling him handsome was an understatement.
"I trust her," Lizzie said adamantly. "It's just our first time leaving her overnight though."
"I know how you feel," William said, adjusting Eleanor and kissing her forehead. "I'm going to miss this little girl the whole time we're gone."
"Hopefully not the whole time," Gigi joked. "This night is about the two of you. Have a little fun."
"That's the plan," William said.
"We're going to have the best time, aren't we, Ellie? Yes, we are!" Gigi made a couple silly faces at her until Eleanor reciprocated with a little smile. Gigi brightened and looked at William and Lizzie in satisfaction.
"See? She loves me. We're going to be great."
William put an arm around Lizzie's waist and she felt calmer, knowing Eleanor was going to be cared for properly. She saw him pull his phone out from the corner of her eye.
"We should get going. Our car is here," William said.
"You got us a car? Of course you got us a car," Lizzie said. She leaned in close to Eleanor and gave her a few kisses on her cheek and forehead. "See you later, baby girl. We'll be back in the morning. I love you."
William said his own goodbyes and then handed Eleanor over to his sister. "She is freshly changed and Lizzie fed her less than an hour ago so you should have a happy baby on your hands. Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions."
"I won't," Gigi promised. "Now shoo! Go have fun."
William picked up their bags and chuckled, tugging on Lizzie's elbow while she waved goodbye to their daughter.
"We're going! See you tomorrow!"
"And not a moment sooner!"
Lizzie tried to guess where they were going when she noticed they were heading towards the bay but he simply smiled. He didn't even cave when she started poking his side and pleading with him. William kept his secret of where they were going until the very end. As the car finally pulled up to The Waterbar, Lizzie was happy he did. It was a wonderful surprise. They had never been but she had wanted to go for a while. The restaurant was known for their seafood, their waterfront location right near the Bay Bridge, and the views.
"Shall we?" William asked, holding his hand out after he opened her door. Lizzie took his hand and stepped out of the car, thanking him his gesture.
"I feel like I haven't had proper seafood in almost a year," Lizzie said.
"And that's why we're here," William said, resting his hand on her lower back as he led them to the restaurant. Lizzie felt goosebumps as his thumb brushed against her bare back and she held back a sigh. It was such a simple touch but it made her feel so much. William gave their name to the hostess and she found their reservation, grabbing two menus and leading them to their table. He managed to reserve a table by the window facing the Bay Bridge and near the aquarium pillars. William pulled out her chair and she gave him a grateful look before they both sat down. The hostess gave them menus and told them their waiter would be with them in a moment.
"Look at that beautiful view," Lizzie exhaled.
"I could state the obvious," William began, looking pointedly at her. "But you already know."
"Sweet talker," Lizzie laughed softly, reaching out for his hand. He smiled and entwined their fingers, caressing her wrist.
"So." William broke his gaze from hers and looked down at the menu. "What should we order?"
Dinner was even better than Lizzie expected. William ensured that it was a very romantic and memorable evening. He ordered one of their favorite bottles of wine and one glass was enough to help her relax and keep her mind from worrying too much about Eleanor. She ordered the Alaskan halibut and he ordered Maine lobster. It was a large enough portion that he didn't stop her from picking off his plate. They even managed to find topics to talk about that didn't revolve around their daughter. They shared a dark chocolate dessert that was heavenly and Lizzie had to stop herself from licking the plate. After William paid, they went for a short walk along the wharf and stopped to watch the Bay Lights along the bridge.
"This is wonderful," Lizzie said, watching the animated display moving across the bridge. William was behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist.
"It is. I've never really stopped to watch before," William said. "I'm glad we found the time."
"Thank you for planning this," Lizzie said, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I feel a little guilty for saying so but I think we really needed a night for ourselves."
"I had this conversation with Gigi because she helped me with tonight and talked me through my own guilt. I love Eleanor and I'll do anything for her but we have to take care of ourselves too. We shouldn't put our marriage on the backburner just because we've become parents," William said. "We deserve a night out every so often. We have a whole line-up of babysitters ready and willing to watch her so we can have a few hours."
"To work on our relationship?"
"I'd like to think it doesn't need any work," William said. "We just need the time to keep it as strong as it is."
Lizzie nodded in agreement, leaning into him more. He kissed her temple and rested his chin on top of her head. They watched the light show for a few more minutes, seeing them twinkling on the water. There was a gust of wind that made Lizzie shiver.
"What do you say we head to our next destination?" William suggested.
"And where would that be?"
William bent down and kissed the tip of her ear before whispering, "You'll get nothing out of me, Mrs. Darcy."
Lizzie was surprised that she began to feel nervous again once they got back in the car. William must have sensed the change in her emotions because he reached for her hand and squeezed it, giving her a gentle smile. She leaned into him and he kissed the top of her head. They drove through Union Square and it was transformed for the holidays, complete with a skating rink in the middle and a giant Christmas tree. They pulled up and stopped in front of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and she looked at him curiously, wondering what the significance of the hotel was. He helped her out of the car and she went to grab her bag from the trunk but he pulled her back gently.
"It's not what you think," William said, trying and failing not to look smug.
"It's not, huh?" Lizzie asked and he shook his head. She smiled and thanked the doorman, who welcomed them and held the door open for them. William led them into the hotel and up the grand staircase, covered in garland and Christmas lights. The style and the opulence of the hotel was gorgeous, especially with it all decked out for the holidays. They turned left past the lobby bar that featured a large red statue of Sir Francis Drake with presents near his feet.
She was distracted by the large Christmas tree on the next level as they headed for the elevators and missed the obvious sign telling her where they were going. Whatever he had planned, he was excited about it. The elevator doors slid open and they stepped inside before William pressed the button for the twenty-first floor.
"The Starlight Room?" Lizzie asked, pleasantly surprised.
William put an arm around her waist. "You didn't think we'd just be going out to dinner, did you?"
"Actually, yes," Lizzie admitted.
"We're all dressed up and it's our first night out in a while. I figured we could go dancing and the Starlight Room features jazz on Tuesday nights," William told her.
"You asked to be wooed. That fits that criteria, don't you think?"
The Starlight Room was all decked out and astonishingly not too busy. William had reserved a booth near the windows and close to the dance floor. The view was spectacular from so high up especially with the city all lit up for the holidays. They ordered drinks and spent some time listening to the live jazz. There seemed to be no hurry between them and Lizzie even found the time to excuse herself for a short time to pump. When she returned, William led her to the dance floor and they danced for the next hour.
The last couple songs they danced to were slow tunes and William pulled her in close. He kept lightly stroking her back with his fingers and it was getting her more and more wound up from it. She pulled him in for a kiss and they got caught up in it enough that they were doing more swaying than dancing. By the time the song ended, she was more than ready to call it a night.
William paid the bill and they grabbed their things, heading back down to the car. She couldn't remember the last time they had been so handsy and he wasn't playing fair, kissing the spot just below her ear. She didn't mind in the slightest. The drive wasn't long and thankfully William knew it because he stopped just before they reached their final destination. The car pulled up to the front entrance of The Fairmont and William grinned at her when he saw the look on her face. He got out of the car and grabbed their bags from the trunk before helping Lizzie out of the car. William graciously tipped the driver and thanked him for the evening.
"I can't believe you picked this place," Lizzie said.
"We spent our first night here as husband and wife," William said. "I thought it fitting all things considered."
"Too bad Bing sold Netherfield. We could have gone there," Lizzie joked.
"I thought about it. The people he sold it to are turning it into a bed and breakfast but they're still renovating. They won't be open for another six months," William told her as they walked under the awning and up the entrance steps.
"Shame," Lizzie said, stopping when they walked in. The last time they had been here was after the holidays so they missed out on all the decorations. The Fairmont went all out. Poinsettias were all over the lobby, garland and lights were strung around the open doorways, and there was a huge Christmas tree in the center of the lobby that was tall enough to almost reach the high ceilings. What was most impressive was the two-story gingerbread house, made with real gingerbread, frosting, and hard candy. There was a picket fence surrounding the house, fake snow in the front yard, and several Christmas trees in the yard and on the second level. There was even a working train track with a train going in and out of one section.
"This is amazing!" Lizzie gasped. "It's the size of a real house!"
"They do this every year but it gets bigger as time goes on," William said. "We should bring Eleanor here when she's big enough."
"Definitely," Lizzie agreed. "Should we check in?"
William pulled out an envelope and held it up. "Already did."
She stood up on her toes and kissed him, whispering 'thank you' as she pulled away. She slipped her hand in his and they headed for the elevators. They headed up to the fourth floor and he led them to their room near the end of the hall.
"I tried and failed to get our same room," William said, opening the door for her.
"It's not the room that matters," Lizzie told him and he visibly relaxed. She walked inside the parlor, seeing a vase of roses with an envelope leaning against it on the coffee table. She looked back at him. "Are those for me?"
"Maybe," William said, playing along.
Lizzie hurried past the plush chair and grabbed the card, taking a seat on the couch. She opened the envelope, closed with his personal seal, and he walked away into the bedroom to put away their stuff. The note was long, romantic, and perfectly William. He wrote about how much he loved her, how proud she constantly made him, and that he was even happier than the last time they stayed here. He told her his feelings about her being mother and his wife and it brought tears to her eyes. His love for her emanated off the pages and she already knew exactly where she'd keep it; with the very first letter he wrote her. She heard the sound of footsteps and she looked up to see William leaning against the wall, no longer wearing his jacket, shoes, or socks.
"Will…" Lizzie sighed, putting the letter down. She walked over to him, bringing her hands up to his neck and pulling him in for a kiss. He slid his arms around her waist to pull her in close and she hummed in delight. She deepened the kiss as his lips parted, running her tongue over his. She stood up on her toes to get closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers through the back his hair. He picked her up off the ground and her shoes fell off as he backed up into the bedroom until he hit the bed. She broke off the kiss and they both gasped for air.
"So you liked the letter," William said and she laughed breathily, nodding.
"How you manage to write such a beautiful letter so effortlessly is beyond me. I'm blown away every time." Lizzie said, sliding her hands down to play with his tie. "Thank you for that and thank you for tonight. I don't have anything for you."
"Lizzie, you've given me everything," William murmured, pressing his forehead to hers. "So I should be thanking you."
"We could do this all night, Will," Lizzie said softly.
"Then let's do something else," William suggested. He closed the distance and began kissing her again. Lizzie gently tugged and loosened his tie while his lips moved across hers and she pulled the material off, letting it fall to the floor. She slid her hands up his body and began to unbutton his shirt, hating that her hands were shaking slightly. She wanted him so much but her nerves were still getting the best of her. After the amazing evening, the couple of drinks she had, and the letter, she was frustrated with her nervousness.
William must have sensed something because he ended the kiss and glanced down, watching her movements for a moment before grabbing her hands to stop her.
"Lizzie, we don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"But I do!" Lizzie said adamantly and William took a seat on the bed. "This whole night was better than I expected. Dinner was delicious and there were so many surprises and it was all leading up to here. It might sound silly but it all kind of feels like I'm experiencing my first time all over again. That's where the nerves are coming from."
"It doesn't sound silly at all. I know exactly what you mean. I felt like a teenager yesterday when I was buying condoms. I swear the cashier was smirking as he scanned them," William confessed and Lizzie let out a short burst of laughter. "The last time I bought condoms was the night you told me you loved me."
"That was a great night."
William reached out for her hand. "If you're not ready, I'll understand. I'll wait as long as you need me to. We could spend tonight watching television or sleeping for all I care. As long as I'm spending tonight with you, I'm happy."
With those words, it was like Lizzie could physically feel the pressure lifted and the nervousness melt away from her. This man sat before her and had planned this fantastic evening without a guarantee of anything all because he loved her so much. She knew at this moment that she wanted him more than anything else and she felt positively giddy.
"God, I love you." Lizzie kissed him roughly. He made a noise of surprise but reciprocated quickly. She reached behind her and unzipped her dress, pulling it off her shoulders and wiggling out of it before climbing into his lap. He brought his hands to her waist and his fingers dug into her skin. He broke off the kiss and she slowly slid her lips up his slightly stubbled jaw.
"Elizabeth," William breathed, pulling back to look at her. He ran his hands over the lace of her underwear and down her thighs, playing with her garter straps. His eyes darkened with desire and she felt her own in the pit of her belly.
"Surprise," Lizzie whispered.
William growled, grabbing her around the waist and standing up. She gasped and wrapped her legs tightly around him as he turned them around. He kneeled down onto the bed and moved closer to the headboard before laying her down. He untucked his shirt and unbuttoned the last few buttons before taking it off. This time, she didn't stop herself from licking her lips at the sight before her. She unbuckled his belt, pulling it from his belt loops and tossing it to the floor. He bent down and captured her lips, kissing her deeply while she clumsily unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. They laughed against each other's lips while they both worked to remove his pants, Lizzie pushing them down and William kicking them off.
Lizzie slid her hands down to his butt and pulled him in closer, moaning at the contact. She could feel him straining against the fabric of his boxer-briefs. The ache between her thighs pulsed just thinking about how good he was going to feel. Her body was waking up and it was doing it quickly. William pulled away and looked her in the eye for a moment, as if he was searching for something. After a moment, he smiled a crooked smile and it made her heart flutter. Then he slowly began to work his way down and past her neck, leaving a blazing hot trail of kisses. He pulled one strap of her bra down her arm and she grabbed his bicep, making him pause.
"Not yet," Lizzie breathed. He looked at her inquisitively and she elaborated. "Look. Don't touch. Not while I'm nursing."
"I can manage that, love," William said, kissing her softly. He moved down and resumed his trail of kisses, making a point to only kiss the valley between her breasts and still being attentive. She sighed as his hand skimmed down her side to her thigh, fingering the edge of the lace. He unclipped each strap and tugged at her stockings before sitting up on his knees. Lizzie lazily knocked one leg against his side as he rested her other leg on his shoulder, taking his time to remove her stocking and throwing it away. After pressing a few kisses to her ankle and up her calf, he lowered her leg to take her other, removing that stocking and repeating his actions.
He leaned over and grabbed her garter belt to take it off, dipping his fingers in her underwear to remove them at the same time. She lifted her hips to help him out as he slowly dragged them down. He knew how to make her antsy but comfortable at the same time. She had never been modest around him but this was the first time since giving birth that she was really naked around him.
If she had any worries about her body, he completely erased them with the way his eyes were raking over her. He bent down to softly kiss the few faint stretch marks that she had and she let out a shaky breath, reaching down and brushing her hand through his hair. The gesture was not lost on her and she felt the love spread through her body when he looked up and smiled at her. That smile turned playful and there was a mischievous look in his eyes before he started moving on a downward path.
Lizzie kept her gaze locked with his as he settled between her thighs, lifted her legs, and rested them on his shoulders. Her hips jerked at his initial touch but she assured him with a nod that he could keep going. As soon as she felt his mouth on her, she grasped at the sheets and whimpered. He was taking his time, kissing every part of her. He was savoring what he had been missing these past weeks and he was picking up right where he left off. He pressed his tongue against her clit and she moaned loudly. William was focused and determined and it was even better than she had expected as he alternated between swirling his tongue against her and long, flat swipes. She reached down and dug her fingers through his hair, tugging him even closer. He groaned from her grip and it sent vibrations through her, bringing her right to the edge. All she needed was a little bit more and she pleaded with him for it, moaning and tightening her hold on him. He slid two fingers in and stroked, giving her that extra boost. She cried out his name and she arched her back as she climaxed. Pleasure spread through her and she closed her eyes.
She could vaguely feel and hear William shifting and moving around. When she opened her eyes and focused on him, he had removed his boxer-briefs and he was above her.
"It's hard to say who enjoyed that more," William said smugly.
"I'd say me," Lizzie snickered and pulled him down for a kiss, tasting herself on his lips. She reached down and wrapped her hand around his erection, giving him a little squeeze. He broke off the kiss and groaned. "But there's obvious evidence for you too."
"You little minx," William said huskily. He reached past her and opened a drawer next to them, pulling out the box of condoms. He deftly opened it with one hand and pulled a condom out, sitting back on his knees to unwrap it and slide it on. Lizzie would have offered but she was just as needy as him and it had been too long. When he was ready, he positioned himself at her entrance and paused. "You're sure?"
"Yes, Will. I'm all yours," Lizzie murmured and he smiled, bending down to kiss her. He entered her carefully. She felt full and needed to adjust to him. William kept his gaze on hers, studying her face until she was ready. After a few moments, she finally nodded and he began to slowly thrust into her. The rhythm he was created was unhurried and every move was better than the last. She lifted her legs and locked her ankles behind his back. He closed the gap between them and kissed her, pulling at her bottom lip. She rocked her hips with each of his thrusts and sighed as he kissed along her jaw. When he reached her ear, he began to nibble on her lobe. She squeezed around him and he grunted, jerking his hips. She gasped from the pleasure and kept going, wanting so much to hear that deep voice fill her eardrums.
Their groans and ragged breaths filled the room and they began to pick up the pace, bringing each other closer to what they craved the most. She slid her hands to his back and felt the movement of his muscles against her palms. He adjusted his position and Lizzie cried out as he found her most sensitive spot. Only a few more deep thrusts and she was gone, her eyes rolling back as she orgasmed. As if he was waiting for that moment, William came and groaned her name. Sheer bliss thrummed through her body and she clung to her husband. When she looked at him, his bottom lip quivered and it brought her back to their first time when she learned about that quirk. It was truly one of her favorite discoveries that night and she still appreciated it now. She slid her hands to his neck and pulled him in, lazily kissing him as they came down from their joint high.
William kissed her once more before he hesitantly pulled out of her, smirking when she involuntarily whimpered from the loss. After he took care of the condom, Lizzie excused herself to go the bathroom to clean up. When she came back out, William had the covers pulled back and he patted the empty space beside him. She smiled and hurried over, jumping in and throwing over the covers. She burrowed into his chest and he draped an arm around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"That was worth the wait," William murmured.
"Definitely."
"What do you say to getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep?"
Lizzie laughed softly. "I say that sounds absolutely divine."
They still woke up in the middle of the night, despite their best efforts. They took advantage of the fluke and had sex again, with Lizzie on top and taking control once more. After thoroughly tiring themselves out, they slept the rest of the night. They even managed to sleep in until eight, an accomplishment after getting up at six am for nearly the past seven weeks. After a shared shower that left them in an exceptionally good mood, they had room service for breakfast out on their balcony.
As they found themselves gushing about Eleanor throughout the meal, they knew it was time to call an end to their time alone. They packed up their things and headed home. They were greeted by Gigi and a sleeping baby, having just been fed into a milk coma. Lizzie and William were thrilled to hear that she had no trouble with Eleanor and took to the bottle every time. They thanked her profusely for her time and said she would be happy to do it again. Once she left, they settled in with no other plans than to spend the whole day with their daughter.
Saturday, December 22nd
Lizzie and William's date on Tuesday had rekindled something in their relationship that had been dormant the past number of weeks. When they weren't doting on Eleanor, they were flirting and teasing each other. It almost felt like old times, especially every time one of them would cop a feel or steal a kiss. Their date helped them understand how to better balance their parental and married roles so that neither would take a backseat.
On Friday, Lizzie and William made an appearance at Lizzie's company party. It was the more casual of the two company parties but they still wanted to look nice. It was the first time that she had seen her coworkers and employees since she went on maternity leave. She dressed up in a white and blue lacy dress while William strived to match in a blue button down and white tie. Lizzie dressed Eleanor up in a red onesie with a reindeer on it, putting on little red cloth booties that Mrs. Bennet had crocheted to match. They didn't plan to stay more than an hour or two and Lizzie devised a sure-fire plan to stick to it by nursing Eleanor just before they left. She'd be hungry again in a few hours but for now, she was sleepy and happy.
Just before they walked into the venue, William took her from Lizzie's arms, guessing that she'd probably be bombarded with hugs. His guess was right. Everybody was thrilled to see Lizzie back, even if it was only for the party, and she was all hugged out within ten minutes. They were even more thrilled to meet Eleanor. Andrea gave Lizzie a more thorough rundown of everything that was going on and also learned that year-end projections were looking better than predicted, which left Lizzie in an even better mood than before.
Eleanor began to give signs that she was done with the party a little over an hour into being there and they said their goodbyes. Lizzie wished everyone a great holiday and to enjoy their much-deserved two-week break. She wouldn't be back for another month. Lizzie realized how much she missed the office, her peers, and her work. She also knew it would be incredibly hard to leave Eleanor so she was going to cherish the next month to the fullest.
Saturday was a longer day for the Darcy family. Lizzie always looked forward to the holiday party at Pemberley Digital because the company went all out. William always made sure that his employees were given a proper party for all the hard work they had accomplished throughout the year. This year was no exception. With William out of the office, Fitz took over so she knew it was going to be extravagant. The one request her husband had for Fitz was to have Santa Claus at the party since employees were encouraged to bring their children.
Fitz and Brandon held a pre-party party for the friends so everyone could exchange Christmas presents. While everyone was staying in town, they would be busy with their own visiting families throughout the week so it was the best time. Charlotte and Sam were the only other ones able to make it. Lydia and Gigi both had plans and Adam was busy doing his last two shows for A Christmas Carol.
Lizzie and William were dressed for a fancier occasion. William was in a slate gray three-piece suit with a black tie while Lizzie wore another Jane creation that had just debuted on the runway. It was a deep blue calf-length dress that flared out at the waist, had a gold waistband, and a high neckline. She paired them with comfortable black heels and accessorized with gold drop earrings William had given her two birthdays ago. After his enthusiastic reaction when she showed off her outfit, she had to reapply her lipsticks and readjust the pins in her hair but she did it with a little smile.
Eleanor was purposely dressed in the 'I sleigh' onesie that Fitz had given them for the pre-party, while her nicer outfit for the office party was in the diaper bag. Lizzie also wanted to put her in it because her daughter first smiled when she was joking about the outfit. Ever since then, Eleanor seemed to smile at everybody they knew but her biggest smiles were reserved for her parents. They agreed that it was her way of showing them she knew they were the most important to her.
They managed to find a parking spot on the same street as Fitz and Brandon's house. As they were taking things out of their car, they heard a wolf whistle and looked in that direction to see Charlotte and Sam walking towards them. Sam was wearing a maroon button-down shirt with a black tie and pants while Charlotte was wear a silver knee-length dress with a white sweater.
"Hey foxy lady!" Charlotte said with a grin, waving. Lizzie waved back as they approached the car. "I'm glad Sam's taking me out after this or we'd be totally underdressed."
"Oh? Where are you going?" Lizzie asked Sam.
"That's for me to know and my wife to find out," Sam said, winking. Charlotte rolled her eyes and went to talk to William. Sam smiled and gave Lizzie a big hug. "How are you doing?"
Lizzie was grateful for Sam, who consistently checked on her first before asking about the baby. It was obvious that he picked the right profession.
"I'm really good. I'm actually feeling more normal these days. William took me out on a date that was just about the two of us and it was really nice," Lizzie told him. "And Eleanor has basically started sleeping through the night, which is amazing."
"That's great! On both accounts," Sam said, giving her arm a squeeze. "Now, how can I help?"
"We've got all the gifts in the back," Lizzie said and he nodded, lending her a hand to get everything.
Lizzie watch as William unbuckled Eleanor from her car seat and picked her up. He chuckled when he turned around and saw Charlotte holding out her arms. She challenged him with a raised eyebrow and he gave in, handing Eleanor over to her. Charlotte beamed and thanked him.
"Come on, Miss Eleanor. Let's go see your Uncle Fitz and Uncle Brandon!"
Lizzie and the rest of the group were greeted with hugs and compliments from the hosts, inviting them in. Fitz promptly took Eleanor from Charlotte, much to her chagrin, and took her on a tour of their place since it was the first time she had been brought over, though she fell asleep by the time he had finished.
As predicted, their friends were generous and half the presents under Fitz and Brandon's tree were for Eleanor. From cute and funny onesies that ranged from three months to eighteen to books and toys to help her develop, she was set and thoroughly spoiled. The most surprising gift was to William from the rest of the group. It was a child bicycle seat for his bicycle and safety equipment. She wouldn't be big enough to use it for another eight months, at least, but William was ecstatic about the prospect of including her.
After Charlotte and Sam left for their mystery date, Lizzie excused herself to nurse Eleanor while William and Fitz packed up the car with their gifts. Once Eleanor was done, her diaper was changed before she was put in a green and gold dress, a gold band and bow on the waist with gold sequins spread all over the skirt, with on a matching green headband to tame her wild locks. As soon as she was ready, Lizzie brought her out and found William, Fitz, and Brandon waiting for them. William lit up at the sight of them.
"My pretty girl!" William walked over to them and took Eleanor from her arms, kissing her cheeks. "You're going to give your mommy a run for her money!"
"Or this entire room!" Fitz spoke up and Lizzie laughed. "Alright, Darcy family. Are we ready? We've got a party to get to!"
Pemberley Digital had been completely transformed for the holidays with lights and Christmas trees and decorations everywhere. Waiters were walking around, passing out drinks and various appetizers. As Fitz promised, there was a Santa Claus set up in a big chair and surrounded by numerous presents. He passed out a present to any child who went to visit him.
Lizzie and William were able to sneak in without causing too much of a fuss but every person who ran into them were thrilled to see them and meet the newest Darcy. As they made their way around the party, William was on the lookout for Sue Reynolds and knew he was getting close when Lizzie pointed out Tucker, her grandson.
"Hey Tucker!" William said.
"William! Lizzie!" he said excitedly, waving. Lizzie gave him a high-five and William offered him a smile, his arms full.
"I haven't you seen you here in ages!" William said. "You've gotten tall. How old are you now? Sixteen? Seventeen?"
"I'm nine!" Tucker giggled. "Mom says I'm an early bloomer. I'm the tallest in my class."
"What are you doing these days?" Lizzie asked.
"I'm playing soccer!" Tucker replied before pointing to Eleanor. "Is this your daughter? Grandma said you were home with your daughter."
"It is. Tucker, this is Eleanor," William said, coming down to his level. He held out her arm and Tucker shook her hand, making Lizzie smile.
"How old is she? My aunt had my cousin Nick a while ago but he's not much bigger," Tucker said.
"She's just shy of two months old. She's got a lot of growing to do," William said, straightening up. "She's still small."
"I remember when you were this small."
William whipped his head around to see Sue standing behind them.
"Sue," William said warmly. "Just the lady I was hoping to see."
"I heard rumors you were here," Sue smiled before looking to Tucker. "Your mom is looking for you, Tuck. She's near the present display."
"Okay. See ya later!" Tucker waved goodbye and ran off.
"Sue, hi!" Lizzie said, giving her a hug.
"We've missed you two around here," Sue said, pulling back. "Lizzie, you look great! I'd never believe you had a baby two months ago."
"You know I like my walks," Lizzie said.
"Now, I have been waiting to meet this little baby girl since I heard she was born," Sue said, turning to William. "May I?"
"Of course," William beamed, handing Eleanor over. Eleanor squeaked and let out a little yawn in Sue's arms.
Sue made a few faces and brushed a finger across her cheek. "She has hair like Gigi did when she was this young."
"So it's your side," Lizzie joked, nudging him. "It's untamable, sometimes."
"Yea. Your mother would say the same thing about Gigi," Sue told William. He smiled at her words. "She is absolutely beautiful. I can see bits of both of you in her. Congratulations again."
"Thank you," they said in unison. William slid an arm around Lizzie's waist and pulled her in closer, kissing her temple.
"Is she giving you any trouble?"
"Besides the normal new parent struggles, I think we're doing pretty well. Don't you think?" Lizzie asked, looking to William.
"I do. She makes my day brighter," William said warmly.
"Our day," Lizzie corrected. "Especially now that she's started smiling. She does it all the time around us."
"Oh? She's already smiling?" Sue asked, looking at Eleanor. She was more sleepy than anything else and William quickly pulled out his phone. He showed her pictures of her first smiles as well as other cute pictures that he managed to capture throughout the last weeks. They talked for a while longer, catching up with everything going on. Eleanor began to get a little fussy so Lizzie took her back and calmed her down back to her sleepy self. She saw an opportunity to get a picture with Santa so she let William know and he said he'd be right there. Lizzie gave Sue a hug and began to make her way through the party crowd.
"Well, I don't really want to miss my daughter's first meeting with Santa," William said, watching Lizzie walk away.
"No, you really don't," Sue chuckled. "Before you leave, Brookings and Morris want to run a transfer by you."
"You know I'm not actually back, right?"
"It's somebody from the London office. They want him to fill the head of communications position and you said you wanted the final say. He's being courted by another company and he's the best for the position so it's time sensitive," Sue said.
"I'll make sure to talk to them. Thank you, Sue. I'll see you later?"
William hugged her goodbye before making his way through the crowd and catching up with Lizzie. She was sitting in a chair against a wall close to the Santa exhibition and had Eleanor in her lap. She was playing with her and getting her into a happy mood. William joined her and helped her out until he saw Eleanor light up with a gummy grin. They were careful about transferring her into Santa's arms but thankfully she never burst into tears about the relative stranger. She looked unsure at first and then relaxed enough to get a few good pictures. After William had a quick word with a couple board members, they did one last round around the room and called it a night.
Tuesday, December 25th
It was just the three of them on Christmas Eve, which was for the best. Eleanor wasn't in the happiest of moods and cried any time they left her alone. She was strapped to one of them throughout the rest of the day and it helped significantly. Her newly monogrammed stocking was added to the fireplace and they spent the evening watching holiday movies. After Eleanor was finally put down for the night, Lizzie and William retreated to the bedroom for some much-needed alone time
Lizzie was the first to wake up on Christmas morning but William stirred awake moments later, pulling her in closer and tightening his hold around her waist. He pressed soft kisses along her neck and she sighed.
"Good morning," William murmured near her ear.
"Morning," Lizzie hummed.
"Merry Christmas."
Lizzie turned around to face him and smiled. "Merry Christmas."
"I'm glad we decided to stay home this year," William said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Me too," Lizzie agreed. "It's far less stressful."
"There's also more time for the three of us," William added. The plan for the day was to open presents over Domino with the Lee family and the rest of their family would be coming over in the early afternoon. Most of the morning would be just about them.
"So, does that mean you're making me a lavish breakfast?" Lizzie asked. She pushed her bottom lip out to pout and he chuckled.
"I suppose I could do that," William said. "Pancakes?"
"Always."
"Maybe some eggs and bacon?"
"Ooh. You're spoiling me! Come here," Lizzie said, pulling him in for a kiss. She slid her arms around him and played with the hair at the nape of his neck. He deepened it and parted her lips with his tongue, running his over her own. She moaned and rolled to her back, bringing him with her. He squeezed her hip and she toyed with the band of his boxer-briefs when they heard Eleanor begin to babble over the baby monitor. They broke apart and William dropped his head to her shoulder as they laughed. "Our daughter has amazing timing."
"She does," William said. "I'll get her."
"Thank you," Lizzie said as he sat up to pull his black sweats on. He picked his shirt up from the floor as he stood up and slipped it on.
"I'll be right back."
Lizzie watched him go and then laid back down, listening to Eleanor on the monitor. William's voice coming through a moment later and she could clearly hear his sweet tone. He was in the nursery for a few minutes, changing her diaper and playing with her. His voice began to fade on the monitor but she could hear him approaching their bedroom.
"Somebody's in a better mood today," William announced, walking in with Eleanor cradled in one arm. Eleanor lit up at the sight of Lizzie and she sat up, resting against the headboard.
"I can see that!" Lizzie said as William gave Eleanor over to her. Lizzie kissed her cheeks and her daughter cooed. "Merry Christmas, Eleanor! I love it when you're not so grumpy, baby girl."
"I'm going to make us breakfast," William said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
The morning was very relaxing for the Darcy family and they stayed in their pajamas for most of it. They had holiday music playing in the background, with all the Christmas lights on in their place from the moment they moved from the bedroom to the kitchen. Lizzie nursed Eleanor while William made an elaborate and delicious breakfast.
Afterwards, they migrated to the living room to open their presents from each other and Eleanor watched on in her swing seat. William's favorite gifts from Lizzie were silver cufflinks with their daughter's birthdate and initials engraved around the edges and a framed picture of him and Eleanor that was one of Lizzie's favorites. He gave Lizzie a beautiful silver necklace that featured a tree within a circle with three different stones spread throughout. He explained that they were their birthstones and that was room to add more. She also received monthly massages for the next year from the same place she went to when she was pregnant. Besides a couple small board books that Lizzie put in Eleanor's stocking, William only had one present for her and he handed an envelope to Lizzie.
"What is this?" Lizzie asked him, inspecting the outside of the envelope.
"It's for Eleanor but she's not quite dexterous to open this herself at the moment."
Lizzie glanced to their daughter. She was kicking out her legs and erratically moving around her arms, cooing and clearly enjoying herself. Lizzie smiled before opening the envelope. Inside was a bank statement in Eleanor's name.
"Five thousand dollars," Lizzie breathed, snapping her head up to look at William. "Will…"
"I thought about what you said when we talked about presents. She will grow out of her clothes, I can wait to give her the books most important to me, and our friends have inundated her with toys already," William said. "I always intended to start a college fund for Eleanor so I thought this was the best time."
"A college fund!" Lizzie said, fully understanding. "I don't think I expected to start out with this amount."
"It's always going to surprise you, isn't it? Even though you've become so successful?" William asked and she nodded. He smiled. "Honestly, I love that about you. Eleanor's not going to have to worry about money with us as her parents but I still wanted to do this. We can both add money to the account any time we want and I've set it up with a stipulation. It must be used for college but if for some reason she decides not to go, she won't be able to access it until she's twenty-one."
"I hope she goes to college but I'm glad you set it up that way," Lizzie said, putting the envelope down on the coffee table. She laid her hands on his face and leaned in, kissing him softly. "Thank you for all your gifts. I love them all."
"I love mine too," William said warmly. When she pulled away, he reached out for Eleanor and lifted her out of her swing seat. "This is my favorite gift of all."
"She's pretty special," Lizzie agreed.
"And I think she needs her diaper changed," William said, standing up. "Let's get you changed and dressed for the day."
"I picked her outfit. It's on the bureau."
"Let's go see what Mommy picked for you," William said, walking away. "We're going to have a great Christmas today, aren't we, sweetheart?"
The video chat with the Lee family was entertaining and it was clear that Scarlett and Charlie were on a sugar high. Lizzie and William loved seeing the kids' excitement and were looking forward to when Eleanor would be old enough to show them the same emotions.
After they were done, they got dressed and cleaned up the place for their family's arrivals. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived first, with Gigi and Lydia close behind them. They all took turns helping out in the kitchen to get dinner and dessert prepared, tagging each other out to play with Eleanor. Dinner was a big success and the rest of the evening was surprisingly quiet, even with a full house.
Lizzie and William gave her parents with a suite at The St. Regis so they could stay overnight and have more time with their granddaughter. Mrs. Bennet gave Eleanor a cute holiday dress that was black on top, had a red band with red roses around the middle, and the skirt red and green plaid. It came with a matching diaper cover and, during her next diaper change, Lizzie dressed her up in the outfit. Mrs. Bennet couldn't hold back the happy squeal and she covered Eleanor's face in lipstick kisses.
As the evening wore on, Eleanor became increasingly agitated. It was something Lizzie noticed when they were with bigger groups. She would be the happiest baby for much of the day and then reach a threshold where she wanted to retreat back to the quiet. It reminded her of William when she was first getting to know him. William always caught onto it first and this time was no exception. He called an end to the night and everybody said their goodbyes, promising to see them in coming days and meet her parents for breakfast at their hotel.
Once everybody was gone, Lizzie could feel Eleanor physically relax in her arms and cuddle into her. She and William spent some time with their daughter before starting their nightly routine of getting her to bed. When she was down, Lizzie and William spent the rest of their evening on the couch, enjoying their time alone together and watching the fire slowly die down. It was one of their favorite Christmases together.
Monday, December 31st
Eleanor turned two months the day after Christmas and celebrated the milestone by going out to breakfast. She could now lift her head for longer periods of time during tummy time but would still be wobbly when she was propped up on their laps. She was also constantly smiling and more aware of her surroundings.
The last days of the year flew by and before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve. Lizzie and William wanted to stay in with Eleanor, so Gigi came over for dinner and provided some delicious dessert. She spent some time with her niece and helped with bath time before she left to join Fitz and Brandon for a night out.
Eleanor was still wide awake after bath time. Lizzie left her with William to take a long hot shower, feeling refreshed when she was done. When she came back out to join them, she saw William in the living room playing peek-a-boo with Eleanor and had her propped up on his legs. Lizzie watched for a few moments before William spoke up, making her jump slightly.
"Does Mommy want to play our game?"
"Maybe." Lizzie came over and sat next to William. "You like it when Mommy and Daddy are silly?"
Eleanor looked at her for a moment and brightened up. Then Lizzie brought her hands up to cover her face and pulled them away. Sure enough, Eleanor cooed and flashed a gummy smile.
"Well, I think that answers that," William chuckled. He lightly pressed the tip of her little nose and continued their game of peek-a-boo, him and Lizzie going back and forth.
"Remember what we were doing this time last year?" Lizzie asked after a while, dropping her hands to her lap. William continued hiding and uncovering his face to make Eleanor smile.
"I do."
"We were in Tahoe and waiting to ring in this year," Lizzie said. "And now we're staying home and playing peek-a-boo with our daughter."
"I love going to the cabin but tonight is better," William said, covering and uncovering his face. He smiled when Eleanor cooed.
"It is," Lizzie hummed.
"Every year is better since I met you and now little miss Eleanor is with us," William said, lifting her up and giving her a peck on the lips. He held her out in front of him and she looked at him curiously. "Are you excited for the new year, sweetheart?"
Lizzie brushed her thumb across Eleanor's cheek. After a few moments, William laid her back down on his legs.
"I'm really looking forward to it. You and Eleanor have made every day better," Lizzie said. He turned his head and gave her an affectionate look.
"If the last two months have been any indication of the year to come, I cannot wait."
Notes:
And we're done with 2018! It's on to 2019 for the Darcy family. What will the new year bring?
I have a bunch of extras for this one, including all of Lizzie's dresses for her events (I love them, guys) and other stuff.
I'm determined to finish this story. I have it outlined and everything! Stay tuned for more!