Summary: Lizzie and the Darcy clan head to Tahoe for New Year's. Presents are exchanged, fun is had and William Darcy meets a certain Mr. Parker Notes: I apologize for the delay. I was actually looking on real estate websites to find the perfect Darcy cabin as well as doing some fake Christmas shopping. bre/properties/Paradise-Point/ I can't even afford one night.
William Darcy is not in a good mood. The last time he checked, the weather report called for more snow last night. From the looks of it, it appears that it hasn't snowed in awhile. As they pass the 'Welcome to Lake Tahoe' sign, Lizzie notices the slight scowl on his face.
"What's wrong, Will?" Lizzie asks, looking at him sympathetically.
"The snow is old," William grumbles and Gigi bursts into laughter from the back seat.
"The snow…is old? What does that even mean?" Lizzie asks in confusion, looking out the passenger window.
"Let me handle this," Gigi says, pulling herself forward and putting a hand on William's shoulder. "What my dear brother is complaining about is that the snow you see is not exactly fresh. It has foot prints, it's slushy and there are tire tracks all over the place…something that has never bothered him before."
"This is Lizzie's first time to our place," William furrows his eyebrows. "Forgive me if I want things to be perfect."
"Will," Lizzie says softly. "I have no complaints."
William glances at Lizzie and they share a small smile before he returns his attention back to the road.
"So Lizzie…" Gigi starts. "Have you really never gone skiing before?"
"The rumors are true. I've only been in snow once before and I was little," Lizzie shrugs.
"William will teach you!" she grins, patting him on the shoulder before sitting back in her seat.
"I will if you would like," William says with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"I would like," Lizzie says, giving him a playful smile. "I may be terrible at it though."
"I'll start you out on the bunny slopes. It's not a problem," William replies with a smile on his face. He continues driving while Gigi tells Lizzie a few skiing stories from previous years. It's not long before William turns into the driveway and turns off the car, quickly getting out and opening Lizzie and Gigi's doors.
"When you said you had a cabin, I expected something half this size," Lizzie says, slightly shocked.
"Really?" William asks, looking at her expectantly and offering his hand to Lizzie. Gigi jumps out of the car and shuts both doors before quickly walking to the front door.
"I don't know," Lizzie mumbles as she entwines her fingers with his own. "Does this place have a name too?"
"Paradise Point," Gigi says before running into the house.
"And when you said you were near the lake, I didn't think you would be literally right next to it," Lizzie says with eyes wide open. "I can see the lake through the front door!"
"Lizzie," William gives her a half smile, squeezing her hand.
"Alright," Lizzie says, playfully. "How about you give me a tour of this totally not a cabin?"
"I'd be happy to," William grins and closes the door behind them as they walk in. Lizzie lets out a tiny gasp as she walks into the living room to see a fireplace and a beautiful view of the lake through the floor to ceiling windows.
"This is definitely not a little cabin," Lizzie breathes out, turning around to look at William.
"I never said it was," William murmurs, kissing her on the temple. "Would you like to see the rest of the house?"
Lizzie nods and William pulls her through the living room and into the dining room. It has a table that could easily seat eight people and more spectacular views of the water. She turns to see a kitchen even bigger than theirs at home and her eyes go wider, if that were possible.
"We are totally baking cookies in this kitchen," Lizzie says. "The ovens are a little intimidating though."
"The previous owners owned a few restaurants and liked to take their work home with them," William says. He shows her the small office and the first guest bedroom just off the living room before taking her upstairs.
"How many bedrooms are there?" Lizzie asks.
"Six altogether. One of them is above the garage and the other is in the guest house," William says as they reach the top of the stairs.
"Six bedrooms…guest house?" Lizzie says under her breath, shaking her head. William pauses at the rec room complete with pool table, flat screen TV, fire place and another amazing view of the lake.
"Oh man. We are definitely having a fire," Lizzie smiles.
"You have your choice of a few fireplaces. All complete with lovely views, comfortable furniture and a boyfriend to sit with," William grins.
"I am quite a fan of snuggling. Is the boyfriend willing to snuggle?" Lizzie playfully pouts.
"It's practically a requirement," William says, kissing her on the cheek.
"That's good because the girlfriend is going to get cold in this weather," Lizzie says.
"Then it's even better that there's a fireplace in our bedroom," William smirks before tugging her along. He passes Gigi's room and another guest room before Lizzie stops him at the third room.
"Bunk beds, Will?" Lizzie points at the set of bunk beds next to each other.
"Oh," William chuckles. "Previous owners also had kids. They had those beds built. They have come in handy during some New Year's parties."
"Interesting," Lizzie clucks before she follows William to the last room.
"And here is the master bedroom…our bedroom," William says, opening the door for Lizzie. She slowly walks in and then gets excited when she sees what's past the French doors.
"We have our own deck?!" Lizzie spins around, smiling widely at William and he nods. She turns back around and throws the doors open, walking out onto the small deck.
"It's decided. Waking up with you and having a view like this… We're never leaving," Lizzie says, throwing her hands around for emphasis.
"If it wasn't so cold, you could also swim in the hot tub or relax on the pier," William points out as he stands behind her. "At least there's a bath tub in the bathroom."
Lizzie hums in excitement before she turns around and rests her arms on his shoulders.
"This place is amazing, Will. Thank you for inviting me," she smiles.
"Thank you for coming with me…for being with me," William murmurs and bends down for a short kiss. "I have wanted to bring you here for awhile."
"Well, I'm here now and with the best company," Lizzie says quietly, giving him a peck on the cheek before slipping out of his arms and walking back into the bedroom. She sits on the edge of the bed and pulls off her shoes, flashing William a grin as he closes the doors and leans against them.
"What in the world are you doing, Lizzie?" William asks as he watches her stand on top of the bed.
"Testing out the mattress," Lizzie giggles as she begins jumping up and down. "Care to join me?"
"Another time perhaps," William quirks an eyebrow as she continues jumping for another moment. She beckons him over and he obeys, stopping a foot in front of the bed. "Is it to your liking?"
"I think it will do nicely," Lizzie says smugly as she grabs at his suspenders, pulling him to stand closer to the bed. She bends down slightly and kisses him slowly, cupping his face with her hands. She sighs when she feels his hands grasp her hips gently. She moves in closer with her toes hanging off the edge of the bed and slowly pulls away from him.
"I think we should properly test out the bed," Lizzie murmurs, moving her eyebrows suggestively.
"We need to go grocery shopping first," William says, his voice slightly rough.
"This bed is more enticing," Lizzie licks her lips. She rakes her nails through William's hair and he momentarily shuts his eyes from the movement of her fingers.
"Lizzie," he hums and then clears his throat. "We really should get food."
"Now, I know that's not what you want to do," Lizzie whispers, grinning.
"Of course not," William says, turning towards the door. "Let me just go tell my sister that we're going to stay here and have sex while she does the food shopping. I'm sure that will turn out well."
"Will," Lizzie pulls a face, putting her hands on her hips. William turns back to her and gives her a little playful smirk.
"How can I persuade you to come to the store?" William says, his face softening.
"I don't know. The thought of you and this view combined is very tempting," Lizzie says in her faux defiant voice. William tries not to laugh at Lizzie's attempt to be serious while standing on top of the bed.
"The store has a pick and mix section. You can get as many of those chocolate pretzels as you want," William replies, arching an eyebrow.
"Ooh!" Lizzie breaks and William chuckles.
"Alright, love. You're coming with me," William smiles, grabbing her legs and throwing her over his shoulder. Lizzie squeals with laughter as William exits the bedroom and heads downstairs to meet Gigi at the door.
Lizzie wakes up the next morning to see that it hasn't snowed yet. She knows that William won't be happy about it because he was quite certain it would. He wants to teach her how to ski on fresh powder, even though it doesn't matter to her, so they will wait. Lizzie looks to her side, seeing that William is still sleeping and she slips out of bed. She grabs a blanket from the chair in the corner and goes out to the rec room. She steps out onto the balcony, quickly realizing her mistake in forgetting shoes and wearing only one of William's tshirt and her pajama shorts. The air is nippy, to say the least, and the wood is cold. Lizzie hops back into the rec room and laughs quietly to herself, thinking that the warm bed with William would be a great place to return to right now. She checks Gigi's room to see that her door is closed as well so she heads back to William.
When Lizzie gets back to the bedroom, she pauses for a moment to contemplate waking William up or getting dressed and making herself breakfast. When William stirs and shifts to his back, Lizzie smiles and quietly closes the door before moving onto the bed. She bends down and gives him a light kiss on the cheek, her knees pressing into the mattress. She hears a small sigh coming from William and she knows he is close to waking up. Lizzie never gets tired of waking him up this way because she gets to see that smile reserved only for her. A sleepy smile that will start out at the corners of his lips and spread all the way to the crinkles around his eyes as they slowly open. An unabashed smile that gives her goosebumps every time because he is so happy she's the first thing he sees in the morning. A smile that makes her break out into her own face cracking grin and fall in love with him just a little bit more. Needless to say, it is one of her favorite smiles to see from him. She kisses his forehead and then lets out a yelp of surprise when William quickly grabs her around the waist and pulls her on top of him.
"Good morning, love," William smiles, his voice rough with sleep.
"Good morning to you too," Lizzie giggles as he locks his arms behind her. She rests her head on her folded hands and smiles at him. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing quiet well considering it has just started," William smiles back. "And you?"
"I learned that the deck is very cold in the morning," Lizzie says.
"Did you go out in these shorts?" William asks, a hand moving to the top hem of her shorts and pulling at them slightly.
"I did," Lizzie scrunches her nose and he gives her a look that she knows too well.
"You're going to catch a cold if you keep that up," William says softly.
"I will be sufficiently dressed next time. I promise," Lizzie says, sliding up slightly and kissing his bare chest. "Any plans for today?"
"Hmm. Fitz and Brandon are arriving early this afternoon. I see that it hasn't snowed yet," William says, looking out the French doors. "So maybe we can give you a little tour of the area after they arrive."
"But nothing this morning, right?" Lizzie asks, pulling herself up and straddling his lap. William sits up and leans against the headboard as Lizzie burrows her feet under the covers.
"No. Did you have something in mind?" William says.
"I thought maybe you and I could open our presents," Lizzie says, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"That sounds like a great idea," he says and Lizzie kisses him on the cheek before getting up. She grabs two large bags and sets them down on the bed next to William. He pulls himself up further against the headboard, stretching out his legs and making room for Lizzie as she sits cross-legged between them. She grabs her bag and pulls out a square, wrapped box, holding it in front of William
"My turn first," Lizzie grins as William takes the box.
"Hmm. What could this be?" William teases as he gently shakes the box. "It's not heavy. It doesn't rattle…"
"Just open it, silly," Lizzie says, grabbing his lower thigh. William chuckles and unwraps the box before pulling off the top. She can see the corners of his mouth upturn as he pulls out a long sleeve, dark green button up dress shirt from the box.
"Very rich color. I love it," William murmurs as he holds it up against his chest. "Thank you, Lizzie."
"I saw it and thought you might like it," Lizzie says.
"You didn't possibly pick this color because I love green on you, did you?" William quirks an eyebrow.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lizzie says, lifting her chin.
"Mmhmm," William hums. "You will look very sexy in this when you eventually steal it."
Lizzie sticks out her tongue at him playfully before leaning forward and giving him a quick kiss. William grabs the other bag and sets it down next to his hip, pulling out a similar shaped box.
"Now this gift seems even more appropriate," William smirks as he hands the box to Lizzie. She looks excitedly between him and the box as she opens it. She pulls out a blue t-shirt with 'Seattle' written across the front. She holds it up and giggles at the size.
"Are you sure this isn't yours?" Lizzie asks, giving him a look.
"I did actually buy it for myself but I knew you would borrow it," William says.
"Do you know why I wear your shirts?" Lizzie leans in, her hands pressed against his legs.
"Because you love to torture me with your gorgeous, bare legs?" William grins, moving one finger up along her calf and up to the hem of her shorts.
"That too but… they all smell like you," Lizzie pauses. "When you're at work really late or one of us is on a business trip, I can slip on one of your shirts and be engulfed by your smell."
"Well then," William chuckles.
"So you can wear this shirt and I will claim it at the appropriate time," Lizzie gives him a cheesy grin. She grabs a long, thin box out of her bag and hands it to William. He shakes it again and she gives him a playfully annoyed look. When he opens it, he pulls out a steel blue tie.
"I bought it because I thought it would match your eyes," Lizzie mentions as he runs his fingers along the fabric. William pulls the tie out of the box and holds it up against his forehead, giving her a silly look.
"Does it?" William asks as Lizzie laughs. She nods as she takes the tie out of his hands and drapes it over his neck. She pulls him in and gives him another light kiss, William caressing her cheek with the knuckles of his fingers. He pulls out a smaller, rectangular box as she pulls back and lets go of the tie.
"I think our gifts are complimenting each other," William smiles as he hands her the box. She pulls off the top and lets out a tiny gasp. In the box lies a silver chain necklace with a teardrop emerald hanging from it.
"This is beautiful," Lizzie whispers as William takes it out of the box. She leans forward slightly and pulls her hair up as he clasps it around the back of her neck. His fingers trace her skin near her chain and she shivers from his touch.
"You make it look even better," William smiles softly at her and she blushes slightly.
"Thank you," Lizzie whispers before kissing him on the cheek. She pulls out a smaller box and pauses before handing it to him.
"Don't shake it!" Lizzie says quickly and William chuckles. He unwraps the box and pulls off the lid to reveal a black case. He gives her a quizzical look before taking the case out of the box and slowly opening it. Inside sits a Cherry Burl fountain pen with black and gold accents. His full name is inscribed on the side of the pen in gold lettering. He looks back up at her and a smile starts forming on his face.
"It's handmade so it's essentially one of a kind," Lizzie says, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. "It's for your calendar."
"I will use it today then," William smiles at her before making a scribbling motion against her leg with one finger. "December 27th: Lizzie gave me an engraved pen that I absolutely love. I am writing this sentence with it."
"You dork," Lizzie laughs as she smacks him against his bare chest.
"Lizzie just hit me. I am very traumatized," William continues the scribbling motion. "She is quite violent."
"I will just kiss it and make it better," Lizzie gives him a flirtatious look as she scoots in closer between his legs. She places her hands on his lower torso and he quirks an eyebrow as she leans in. She begins to leave lingering kisses on his skin and she hears a small sigh from William.
"Lizzie never fails in making me feel better," William breathes out, still tracing her leg with one finger. Lizzie sits back up and smiles as William gazes at her for a moment.
"I'm glad you like it," Lizzie says quietly.
"I do. Very much," William replies as he pulls out the last present in his bag. He takes a deep breath before handing it to her.
"Ooh. It's sturdy," Lizzie nodding her head I approval as she pretends to weigh it in her hands. "Is it a fancy paperweight?"
"Why don't you open it and find out?" William chuckles. Lizzie quickly rips off the paper to reveal a white cardboard box. She pulls off the top and pushes aside the tissue paper covering it.
"Oh my god," Lizzie gasps. Her head snaps up to look at William in shock before looking back down at the object in the box. She slowly and carefully pulls out a battered and faded blue copy of Anna Karenina. She opens up the cover and traces over the lettering with the slightest touch.
"Is this…" Lizzie trails off as she examines the book more closely.
"A first edition," William says softly.
"This must have cost a fortune, Will," Lizzie says with concern.
"It actually didn't," William replies and she narrows her eyes at him. "You're not going to believe this but I found this book for extremely cheap at a book store when I was with Gigi a few weeks ago."
"So, if I asked Gigi about it…" Lizzie says with hesitation.
"She will tell you that I found it with pure luck. You were working late so Gigi and I went out to dinner. We walked past this little book shop that I hadn't seen before and I wanted to check it out," William begins. "There was absolutely no rhyme or reason to this place and it just had piles of books everywhere. I was looking through one particular pile and this was in the middle of it. I could barely believe it myself. The store owner had absolutely no idea and I was not about to tell him that he had a first edition of Tolstoy in his store. I knew right away that I had to buy it for you so I did."
"This is amazing," Lizzie's face softens. "I've always wanted a first edition…of any book really. Then you find this one."
"I found this one," William repeats. "And I'm not going to lie. I would have spent thousands of dollars to buy this just to see that look on your face."
"I will not have you spending exorbitant amounts of money on me," Lizzie huffs.
"Lizzie…on rare occasion, you should let me," William murmurs as he plays with a lock of her hair. "You deserve the best."
"I can't do the same for you though," Lizzie whispers.
"I have you and you are priceless," William smiles and Lizzie's shoulders relax as she returns the smile. She uncrosses her legs and climbs into his lap, William's arms wrapping around her. After a few moments, Lizzie pulls back and begins leaving light kisses on his face. William beams until she reaches his lips and he deepens the kiss right away. He tightens his grip around her waist and shifts to lie Lizzie down on the bed, Lizzie whimpering quietly against his mouth. He pulls off her pajama shorts and his hand begins to slide under the hem of her underwear when Lizzie quickly grabs his wrist, breathing heavily.
"I still have one more gift," Lizzie says, slightly flustered.
"Are you trying to out do me?" William teases her as they sit back up. Lizzie keeps her legs draped over William's upper thighs as she reaches behind her for her bag.
"Maybe. This one kind of literally fell into my lap," Lizzie says. She pulls out a thin, medium sized wrapped box from the bag and sets it on the bed. She quickly takes the gifts and puts them back in the largest bags, setting them on the floor to clear the bed. She picks up the gift once more and hands it to William.
"This gift comes with a bit of a story but…" Lizzie pauses. "I think you should open it first."
"You're making me nervous," William says, looking at the present in his hand for a moment.
"Don't be," Lizzie says quickly. "I know you're going to like it."
William flips the present over twice before taking his time removing the wrapping paper. Lizzie takes to biting on one nail as he opens the box from the side and slowly pulls out a silver picture frame, the back facing him.
"Whoops," William chuckles and turns the frame over. The smile disappears from his face and is replaced with a look of shock. He looks up quickly to Lizzie and starts shaking his head slightly. His mouth is trying to form words and nothing but strangled noises comes out.
The frame contains a picture of William and his parents. He is no older than five years old and he sits between them. He and his mother are looking at each other with laughing smiles on their faces while his father is looking at his mother with an unabashed grin. They are all dressed up for a celebration, William and his dad wearing matching bow ties.
"I thought I lost this picture," William says, barely above a whisper.
"You see…I wasn't joking when this fell into my lap," Lizzie says quietly. "I found it last Saturday while you were running errands and Gigi was over. I grabbed a random book from the shelf and this was between the pages. I showed Gigi and she told me that it was your-"
"Favorite picture…" William manages.
"Yea," Lizzie smiles at him. "She said that it got misplaced during the move and you were pretty upset when you couldn't find it. I immediately called in a few favors and went in to work. I had it retouched, blew it up a little and then framed it. Getting it framed is what nearly made me late for the party. Also, the original is behind the frame."
"I really thought I would never see this picture again," William murmurs before smiling at her. "And you found it."
"I did," Lizzie says bashfully, watching him as he looks at the picture again
"Do you want to know why this is my favorite picture of me and my parents?" William says.
"I have a thought but I'd like to hear yours," Lizzie replies, grinning at him for encouragement.
"You were quick to point out my pride…and my parents were very proud people," William starts. "The photographs you've seen of them are at Pemberley and rarely candid. This was taken on my mother's birthday and she loved seeing us dressed up so that's why my father and I are in matching bow ties."
"You were an adorable child, Will," Lizzie interrupts.
"Thank you, love," William smiles at her. "We were getting our annual family photo taken. This one was when I had said something silly…I don't remember what it was…but my mom started laughing, so naturally I started laughing too. A few months afterwards, my parents told me that they were having Gigi and I was scared they would stop loving me. She took the photo off the mantel and gave it to me. She said, 'Look at this picture and you'll know that I will love you forever.'"
"Will…" Lizzie says in a shaky voice, a few tears falling down her cheeks. William quickly sets the picture down on the bedside table before wiping her tears away. He pulls her into his lap and hugs her fiercely tight, Lizzie wrapping her arms and legs around him.
"I love you," he hums against her skin and she whispers it back. They hold onto each other for a few more moments before they pull back and he gives her a big smile. Lizzie moves her hands from his shoulders to his neck, moving her thumbs lightly across his stubble.
"I'm so glad you like your presents," Lizzie breathes. "I love mine."
"I will cherish them," William replies, tucking a strand of hair behind Lizzie's ear. "How will we top it next year?"
"I don't know. You'd probably have to buy me an island or something," she jokes and he raises an eyebrow. "Don't you dare!"
"But think of all the benefits of a private island," William grins, pulling Lizzie in close.
"Do tell me, Mr. Darcy," Lizzie gives him a wicked look. "What are the benefits?"
"Well, Miss Bennet," he pauses as he begins kisses her jaw line. "We would be near water all the time."
"Mmmm," Lizzie hums. "We live on the coast now."
"Fair point," William murmurs as he moves his lips down her neck. Lizzie lets her head fall back as his lips glide across her skin and she sighs. "The water would be warmer."
"I do like the sound of that," Lizzie breathes out. William's hands slowly move down her sides and reach the bottom of her t-shirt. He toys with the hem as Lizzie leans in, kissing and licking his ear lobe.
"We could go swimming any time we'd like," William murmurs as his hands slide under her shirt and slowly up her torso.
"We could go swimming at home," Lizzie whispers before pulling at his ear lobe with her teeth. She licks the sensitive spot behind his ear and William lets out a tiny groan. His thumb brushes across one of her nipples and her hips jerk slightly against him.
"We wouldn't have to worry about bathing suits," he replies as he takes his hands out of her shirt. He grabs the bottom hem and pulls it up, Lizzie sitting back on his thighs and lifting up her arms. They gaze at each other and she gives him a tiny smirk as he pushes the shirt past her breasts and over her arms. He tosses the shirt to the side and brings his hands back to her waist..
"There would be more sunshine," William says as he begins kissing along and between her breasts. Lizzie grabs fistfuls of his hair as he drags his tongue across them and whimpers when his teeth graze across each nipple.
"I…h-have pale skin. I m-might burn," Lizzie stutters out as William continues his torturous touches on her sensitive skin.
"I will rub sunscreen all over your body," William's voice vibrates against her chest and Lizzie jerks her hips against his once more. She can feel him hard against her thigh and she aches to remove the rest of their layers. She pulls him up and they look at each other for a moment, eyes filled with desire. Lizzie leans in and gives him an achingly slow kiss as his hands move along her sides and rest on her thighs. She gasps against his lips as he brushes his fingers along the fabric of her underwear. She runs a hand down his bare chest to his waist, stopping at his boxers. She moves her hand down under the hem and reaches for him, William groaning at her touch. Lizzie smiles against his lips and strokes him a few times before William grabs her hips and pulls her roughly to him. She sits up on her knees as he looks at her with hooded eyes, hooking his fingers under the top hem of her underwear.
"The best benefit…the very best one of all," William says huskily as he pulls her underwear down her legs, Lizzie leaning heavily against him. "…is the absolute privacy. Nobody would ever interrupt us…or hear us."
"That sounds like heaven," Lizzie's voice is thick with lust, her body hovering over William as he makes quick work of removing his boxers. Lizzie scoots in closer to him and cups his face with her hands, giving him another passionate kiss. She bites and pulls at his bottom lip as his hands slowly move up her thighs, finally resting on her hips. She feels him pressed against her and he moves her back and forth, teasing Lizzie and making her buck in his grip. The need between them quickly grows and Lizzie grabs his hands to stop him. They gaze at each other intensely as she takes her time sliding down on him, Lizzie biting her lip from the relief of finally feeling him inside her. She pushes up on her knees slightly until she can barely feel him and then quickly moves down again. William's grip on her waist tightens as she tries it a few more times, each feeling better than the last. Lizzie grabs the headboard behind William as he begins to drag his tongue along her neck, stopping to kiss the freckle near the hollow of her throat. She begins to roll her hips, eliciting groans from both of them. She pushes against the headboard and sinks even deeper onto William, feeling the twinge in her stomach beginning to rage. She feels pleasure as she keeps rolling her hips and slowly begins to grind against him. She grabs William's back with one hand and digs her nails in deep as he pulls her in closer with every movement. Lizzie can feel her body overheating and she throws her head back, biting back a moan and squeezing her eyes shut. She quickly feels the pleasure building and is about to snap at any moment. She feels William's hand begin to stroke and pinch her and she finally feels her release, her orgasm spreading all the way to her toes. William only lasts a few moments more and he pulls her in close, groaning out her name.
Lizzie rests her head against his shoulders as she catches her breath, William leaning his against the headboard. He hears and feels her light muffled laughter before she pulls her head back, giving him a big grin. He smiles back at her and she kisses him softly on the lips, William sighing. She combs her fingers through his hair and looks at him with hooded eyes.
"You're still not buying me an island," she smirks as she moves off him and gets up from the bed. William watches her as she gets dressed and he sits on the edge of the bed, putting his boxers on.
"How about I just make you some breakfast?" William quirks an eyebrow. She turns around to walk over to him, leaning down to meet him eye to eye, and rests her hands on his thighs.
"I'll accept that," Lizzie grins, kissing him on the side of the mouth. "See you down there?"
"I'm going to take a quick shower and then I will make you that crispy bacon you love so much," William says as she pulls him up from the bed. William places his hands on her waist and kisses her shoulder.
"My mouth is watering already," Lizzie says excitedly as she turns around. William lightly pinches her butt and she gasps, looking over her shoulder at him.
"I couldn't resist," William smirks.
"You better watch it. I'm going to get you back," Lizzie says saucily before running out the bedroom door.
Fitz and Brandon show up shortly after lunch and Lizzie comes running down the stairs in excitement to greet them.
"Lizzie B! How was your Christmas?" Fitz asks, hugging her.
"It was good!" Lizzie says. "My mom was no worse than usual."
"You mean she didn't give you a priest and force you and Darcy to get married?" Fitz jokes.
"Good lord," Lizzie laughs. "She probably would have if she thought of it."
"Who would have what?" Gigi asks as she comes into the room. William is right behind her and gives Fitz and Brandon quick hugs.
"Just another marriage joke involving my mother," Lizzie says, shrugging.
"She wasn't that bad. She kind of officially welcomed us into the family," Gigi says to Fitz and Brandon.
"That's nice of her," Brandon says.
"Speaking of welcoming…where are we sleeping this year?" Fitz asks, looking at William.
"We're putting Sidney in this bedroom," William says, pointing behind him. "So unless you want to sleep in the bunk beds across from Gigi, I set up the guest house for you guys."
"I don't know, Darcy. We could keep a look out on Gigi's room and make sure there are no shenanigans in the middle of the night," Fitz grins.
"Hey!" Gigi says, furrowing her brows.
"I wouldn't worry. I've got cameras for that," William says seriously but with a sparkle in his eye. Fitz bursts out into laughter and Lizzie quietly snickers.
"Excuse me!" Gigi says defensively. "I do not appreciate what you're implying. Don't you trust your own sister?"
"I trust you. I don't know Sidney yet so I can't trust him," William says, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"William…you promised," Gigi pouts.
"This is going to be good," Brandon whispers to Fitz and he nods back.
"Gigi, I'll be right by Will's side when he meets him so I'll make sure he doesn't give Sidney a heart attack," Lizzie assures her.
"If Sidney has a heart attack then that will be because he has a congenital heart defect and not because I scared him," William retorts.
"You are so weird," Gigi huffs, hitting William in the shoulder.
"How many times have I told you not to hit family?" William raises one eyebrow, his lips tight. Gigi rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him.
"I hate to interrupt this family moment but I think we should settle in," Brandon says.
"When is Sidney getting here? I don't want to miss it," Fitz grins, nudging Gigi.
"Oh. It will definitely be entertaining," Brandon nods at Fitz.
"You guys all suck. He's getting here tomorrow," Gigi says slowly.
"Awesome!" Fitz says as he heads towards the front door. "We will be around."
"Oh how the tables have turned for the Darcy family," Brandon quips before he closes the door.
The rest of the day is spent alternating between the rec room playing games, reading by the fire and torturing Gigi about the following day. Gigi eventually groans and retreats to her room early, leaving Lizzie and William to enjoy the fire alone.
Lizzie and William wake up the next morning to no snow yet again and William groans. Lizzie kisses the frown lines on his face until they disappear and lets him know she is having a wonderful time despite it. She drags him downstairs to make breakfast and is shortly followed by Fitz, Brandon and Gigi. Lizzie can see how fidgety Gigi is after breakfast and knows Sidney won't arrive until after lunch. She distracts her by suggesting they bake cookies from scratch and it is a big help. William is able to get a little work done while Fitz and Brandon go on a long walk around the area. The morning quickly melts away and Gigi's nerves get the best of her when they return.
"Sidney is going to be here soon and I need you all to not scare him away," Gigi says, wringing her hands.
"We would never, Gigi D," Fitz says. "Though, one last thing I gotta say."
"What's that?" she replies with trepidation.
"Can I get you guys anything? Some snacks? A Condom? Let me know!" Fitz grins. Gigi and Lizzie immediately burst into laughter and William looks baffled.
"I don't need you to encourage that, Fitz!" William says quickly, sitting up. Lizzie quickly pushes him back to calm him down.
"Fitz is quoting the cinematic masterpiece Mean Girls, Will," Lizzie gives him a soft smile.
"Well…either way," he grumbles.
"Did you just say you don't want to encourage sex?" Fitz points out. "From the one who is probably getting more action than all of us?"
"We're not getting into this right now, Fitz," William gives him a dirty look and Lizzie looks down, trying not to laugh.
"I think I'd like to talk about something else other than the sex lives of people I'm related to," Gigi mumbles.
"Good idea!" Lizzie says quickly. "I wanted to ask you something actually."
"What's that?" Gigi looks at her.
"Were you with William when he bought that first edition?" Lizzie asks.
"Oh my god. That was crazy! That shopkeeper was so dumb," Gigi laughs.
"I told you," William murmurs, nudging Lizzie. She turns to him and smiles, shrugging her shoulders in defeat.
"He practically stole that book for how little he spent," Gigi adds.
"Darcy bought you a first edition? Of what?" Fitz asks.
"Anna Karenina," Lizzie replies.
"Darcy got more game than I thought possible. Damn," Fitz whistles.
There's a knock at the door and Gigi freezes, eyes open wide.
"Everybody just act normal, okay?" she says, not moving from her spot.
"Somebody should probably let him in, Gigi," Lizzie says encouragingly. Gigi lets out a tiny squeak and runs to the door. Lizzie hears muffled voices and sneaks a glance at William, who looks a bit stiff. She slips her hand into his and he flashes a quick smile at her. They both stand as Gigi comes walking in with Sidney, a hesitant smile on his face.
"Everybody, this is…Sidney," Gigi gestures to him and he half heartedly waves.
"I didn't realize I would actually be meeting everybody at once," Sidney says with a nervous laugh.
"I couldn't persuade them otherwise. I'm sorry," Gigi pulls a face before pulling him towards the couch. "This is my brother, William Darcy."
"It is very nice to meet you. Uh, should I call you sir or William?" Sidney asks, holding out his hand.
"You can call me si-" Lizzie quickly elbows him in the ribs. "William is fine. Nice to meet you, Sidney."
"I want to thank you for the invitation. It is quite impressive," Sidney says, looking past them. "Fantastic view too."
William nods curtly, looking at him in the eye. Lizzie notices the exchange and butts in.
"It really is…it's my first time here too. I'm Lizzie," she smiles, holding out her hand.
"It's so nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you. All good things," Sidney replies, shaking her hand.
"I would hope so," Lizzie says and Sidney chuckles. Gigi pulls him across the room to meet Fitz and Brandon while Lizzie turns to William.
"Why did you elbow me?" William hisses.
"Stop trying to intimidate him," she hisses back. "He's nervous. I remember someone else being just as nervous when he met my dad."
"She's my baby sister," William whispers.
"So, be nice," Lizzie mouths, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. He takes a deep breath and shakes his head.
"Sidney, did you bring your bags in?" William asks.
"Oh, um, not yet," Sidney says.
"Why don't we go get those and I can show you what room you'll be staying in. Give you a tour of the place," William offers. Gigi smiles at him and mouths 'thank you' as he waits for Sidney to pass him. When the two men exit the door, Gigi runs up to Lizzie and grabs her hands.
"You are a life saver, Lizzie," Gigi thanks her.
"It's no problem. Meeting relatives is nerve wracking. He should know," Lizzie grins.
"Seriously though, I don't think he would survive if he met William before you came along," Gigi smiles.
"I shape and mold to my liking," Lizzie says dramatically, throwing her hands up for effect and they both giggle.
"You know…he could just be killing him outside without us realizing," Fitz jokes.
"He said something about looking for a shovel earlier…" Brandon trails off.
"I hate you both," Gigi rolls her eyes at them before running out the front door.
"You two are horrible people," Lizzie says in amusement as Fitz and Brandon both bow.
The evening is quiet and everyone has retreated to various corners of the house. Gigi and Sidney are watching TV in the downstairs living room while Fitz and Brandon are in the guest house playing cards. Lizzie is sitting out on the balcony under a blanket, reading and occasionally getting caught up with the view.
"Lizzie?" William pokes his head out the open doors. "I started a fire if you want to come in."
"Just a little longer," Lizzie smiles as she puts the book down and stands up, leaning against the rail. "I'm enjoying the view."
"It's pretty cold out here. Are you sure?" William asks, grabbing the blanket from the chair and draping it over her. He wraps his arms around her and Lizzie turns, smiling at him before he gives her a quick kiss.
"Well…now I have you to keep me warm," Lizzie says, pressing herself into his body.
"Mmm," William hums, resting his chin on her head. "So, despite the lack of snow…how are you enjoying yourself?"
"I didn't need the snow to have a good time. I have you," Lizzie says, placing a hand over his. "This place is absolutely gorgeous. I could look at this view for ages and never get tired of it."
"I couldn't agree more," William murmurs, looking at her. Lizzie catches his stare and ducks her head, blushing slightly. He chuckles and kisses her hair, Lizzie snickering in his arms.
"I forgot to give you something," William says after a moment, reaching into his pocket.
"Another gift?" Lizzie asks, looking at him warily.
"Not really. It's more of an idea of sorts," William smiles, pulling out his phone. "I was talking to a few people while I was in Seattle."
"Okay…" Lizzie says slowly.
"I mentioned I was trying to think of vacation places that fit the restrictions you gave me," William says. "And one person told me about this place he took his wife to a few years ago that would be perfect."
"No crossing oceans or anything?" Lizzie prods him.
"There is water involved but we'd be taking a ferry," William smiles. "It's on Vancouver Island."
"Canada?" Lizzie perks up.
"You got it. You'd be going out of the country without going that far," William smiles, wrapping her arms back around her and resting his hands on the rail, showing Lizzie the website. "The views from this place could rival here. All the cabins have ocean views and there is a private beach."
"It sounds kind of expensive," Lizzie scrunches up her nose.
"Oh, it's reasonably priced. He told me that they saved money by cooking half the time," Lizzie narrows her eyes at him. "Just look at it."
"Now, that is what I call a cabin," Lizzie points to the screen. "I like it. Ooh. A hot tub."
"I thought the same thing," William chuckles, kissing her ear lobe. "They are all private cabins and there are hiking trails as well as plenty to do within a short driving distance."
"I think I'm sold," Lizzie murmurs.
"Yea? I called and asked about vacancies," William says, Lizzie looking at him. "I promise I didn't make any reservations but…they still have available cabins during the week of our anniversary."
"And my birthday," Lizzie reminds him.
"I would never forget your birthday," William whispers. "I wanted to make it special so I thought it would be nice to go on our first real vacation then. What do you think?"
"I think you should make the reservation," Lizzie smiles.
"I was hoping you would say that. Do you want to pick the cabin?" William says, showing her a few different options.
"They all look amazing," Lizzie breathes. "Whatever has a hot tub and a fireplace. Also, obviously, I am helping pay for some of this trip."
"I wouldn't be able to stop you if I tried," William sighs. They continue looking at a few more photos when Lizzie notices a few wet spots on the balcony rail beside her. Before she can say anything, a snow flake falls on the screen of his phone.
"What…" William wipes his screen off and they both look up.
"It's snowing!" Lizzie says excitedly. A few flakes fall in her hair and she sees that it is beginning to snow heavier. "Think it will stick?"
"I hope so," William says, pulling her in closer. "I'd love to take you skiing tomorrow if it does."
Lizzie leans her head back on his chest and they watch the snow fall for a few minutes until she can feel the snow flakes in her hair start to melt.
"I think my clothes are getting wet," Lizzie says, feeling the fabric with her hands.
"Then how about we get out of them and take advantage of the fire?" William waggles his eyebrows at her.
"I see what you're suggesting and I say yes," Lizzie gives him a wicked grin. William grabs her by the waist and picks her up, walking them both inside to the bedroom as she laughs. Lizzie kicks off her shoes and pulls off her socks as he quickly closes the balcony doors before doing the same with his shoes and socks. He walks back to Lizzie and stands behind her, wrapping his arms back around her waist.
"It is nice and warm in here," Lizzie notes, her voice smooth.
"How would you like to make the windows steam up?" William whispers in her ear.
"Ooh. You're feisty tonight. I like it," Lizzie bites her bottom lip.
"I learn from the best," he says, taking her ear lobe between his lips. Lizzie sighs and closes her eyes from the sensation, grabbing onto his arms to bring him closer to her. William continues kissing her, moving from her ear lobe to the sensitive spot behind it. They slowly make their way to the bed when Lizzie stops abruptly. She turns around in his arms and pulls him in for a kiss, slowly moving her lips against his own. She drags her tongue across his top lip and he parts his lips to give her better access. As the kiss deepens, William's hands wander down her hips and he grabs her thighs, lifting her up. He walks the rest of the way to the bed and breaks the kiss, giving her a playful grin when he hits the bed frame. He places her on the bed and she scoots backwards, matching his grin and not breaking eye contact. She quickly pulls off her sweater and top, leaving her bra and jeans. William is nearly as quick to remove his own sweater but makes a show out of unbuttoning his shirt, quirking his left eyebrow as he takes it off. He climbs onto the bed and hovers over Lizzie, stilling her hand as she starts to unbutton her jeans.
"Not so fast," William drawls out, his fingers lightly tracing her jaw line before kissing her neck.
"Are you going to tease me all night again?" Lizzie sighs out as his tongue moves up her neck.
"I seem to recall you loving it last time," William murmurs, looking at her slowly. Lizzie sees the glint in his eyes as his fingers dance across her skin, reaching her jeans. His hand moves under her jeans and she lets out a tiny gasp at his touch, grabbing for the bed sheet beside her.
"I think you l-love watching my squirm m-more," Lizzie manages as he continues to taunt her with his light touch.
"That I do," William hums against her skin as he kisses her collar bone and travels downwards. He pulls his hand out of her jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping before pulling them off slightly roughly. After he drops them to the floor, he sits on his knees as he unbuttons his own pants. Lizzie watches as he removes them, half helping pull them down with her feet. Both clad in only their underwear, Lizzie pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as he grabs her hips and flips her over, now resting on her stomach. She looks over her shoulder and flashes him a mischievous grin, now knowing the type of mood he's in. He bends down and kisses her shoulder as his hands lightly brush along her curvy frame. William brings one hand between her thighs and begins teasing her against the fabric of her underwear. He unclasps her bra with his free hand and she feels a small sense of relief against her heated skin. It doesn't last for long when he drags his tongue across her back and blows cool air on the trail he's made. She lets out a soft moan as he continues the pattern on her back and the teasing between her legs. Lizzie melts into his touch and the feeling of his lips on her body when he stops, close to her ear.
"Can you stand it? Shall I continue?" William's deep voice taunts her ear drums and she nods against the mattress. He kisses her ear before she feels his hands slide beneath her hips and lifts her up slightly. He grabs the pillows from the head of the bed and places them beneath her. He kisses down her back once more, pausing to nip and lick the small of her back. He grabs her underwear and pulls it down her legs, Lizzie whimpering slightly. The anticipation builds as his large hands move slowly up her bent legs and then wrap around her lower hips. Lizzie buries her face into the mattress as William presses his tongue against her, her hips bucking in automatic response. She can feel his tongue glide flatly across her with long strokes, William knowing it drives her crazy to go slowly. Her breathing begins to pick up as he alternates between long, slow strokes and quick flicks with his tongue. When he introduces the circular motions, she begins to grab for him blindly and moan out his name. He takes her hand in his as he continues the motion and uses his other hand to slide two fingers into her. Lizzie's hips are jerking against him with every stroke and her muffled groans are becoming more shuddered. His teeth graze against her most sensitive spot before he uses his thumb for more pressure and she falls apart. Her grip on his hand tightens and her legs shake while she whimpers out his name. She is breathing heavily but she looks back at him and gives him a very satisfied grin, her eyes dark with lust.
"It's better every time," she gasps out. He gives her a smirk and sits up on his knees to remove his boxers.
"I aim to please" William says smugly as he leans over her, getting close to her ear. "Ready, love?"
"Always," she breathes out, feeling him pressed against her entrance. He turns her head towards him and kisses her as he buries himself inside her. He lets out a guttural groan as she arches her back, giving him the ability to go as deep as possible. He moves slowly in and out of her, kissing the nape of her neck and shoulders as he does. He puts all his weight on one arm as he brushes his fingers along her chest and stomach. William sees her hands digging into the fabric of the bed spread and he grabs both her hands, lacing his fingers with hers. She looks over her shoulder as he continues thrusting slowly into her and licks her lips, something that drives him crazy with desire. She tightens the grips on his hands, whimpering and gasping from every movement. She pushes into him and he lightly nips at her shoulder, grinning at the moan he elicits from her. They move rhythmically against each other, William picking up speed as he feels the pleasure building. He kisses and licks her salty skin, noticing the blush that's starting to appear. She pulls their linked right hands to her center and they both work to bring her over the edge again. Lizzie throws her head back as his thrusting becomes even rougher while their hands move in all the right places. She squeezes her eyes shut and his name, as well as some incoherent swearing, tumble from her lips as her orgasm hits her hard, her body shaking beneath him. The feeling of her clenching around him brings his own release and he cries out her name, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
It takes them a few minutes for them to catch their breath, William peppering kisses on her shoulder blade. William feels her body shivering beneath his and he shakily moves off of her. He lays on his back and Lizzie collapses on her side next to him, grabbing the pillows to rest her head. She turns her head towards him and gives him a lazy grin. William takes a deep breath and beams at her before kissing her forehead. He grabs the top of the silky comforter and throws it over them, too lazy to move under the covers. He takes one last look out at the balcony to see a light dusting of snow before they succumb to sleep.
Lizzie wakes up the next morning, slipping on William's sweater and some pants. She checks outside to see that everything is covered with a thick blanket of snow with more lightly falling. She jumps back onto the bed and effectively wakes William up.
"Will! Wake up!" Lizzie straddles him, poking his chest.
"Be a little more gentle in the morning," he grumbles sleepily, rubbing where she poked him. "What's going on?"
"We have snow!" Lizzie grins down at him, kissing his cheek. He looks outside to see snow on the balcony and looks back at her, beaming.
"It looks like I'm teaching you to ski today," he says happily.
"I hope I don't get eaten by any snow beasts," she teases.
"What?" he frowns.
"Oh…It's a reference to Ski Free, an old computer game," Lizzie says sheepishly. "That's the closest I've gotten to skiing."
"Ah," William nods. "I will protect you from any such beasts."
"My hero!" Lizzie says melodramatically, throwing her hand against her forehead and swooning. William gives her a look before shaking his head at her.
"You are so weird," William chuckles. Lizzie cups his face with her hands and leans in close.
"But you love me anyway," Lizzie flashes him a cheesy grin. William tucks some hair behind her ear and smiles at her.
"With all my heart," William whispers and Lizzie gives him a short but sweet kiss.
"I love you too," Lizzie pulls back. "I'm going to go eat breakfast."
"Good idea. Store up some energy for the slopes. I'll join you soon," William says.
"See you downstairs!" Lizzie says as she closes the door behind her.
Lizzie learns very quickly that she is terrible at skiing. William spends the next two days teaching her the basics of skiing. He shows her how to stand and how to move on the skis but she finds herself on the ground within moments, despite how much she pays attention to the lessons. She is amused by how worried William gets the first time she falls and it never subsides. He is by her side every time she falls and making a huge fuss about it, helping her up each time. When she finally thinks she's ready to try the bunny slopes, William explains how to get off the lift when they get to the top. It doesn't help. She finds herself flat on her back with the skis sticking up in the air and laughing as William pulls her up. Lizzie doesn't get very far down the hill when she loses her balance once again and thinks it would be better to just lay there. In the end, it takes her longer than she would have liked to reach the bottom of the slope.
William never shows impatience with her lack of skill and that's what makes her give it one more chance. The rest of the group willingly skis on the bunny slope and give her more tips to keep her balance. Still, she falls more than she thought possible but someone is always there to pick her up. After lunch on the second day, Lizzie finally calls it quits.
"Lizzie…are you sure? You're getting better," William says with a sympathetic look.
"That's very sweet of you to think so but you know it's not true," Lizzie smiles at him as she sits on the bench to unbuckle the skis from her ski boots. "I have fallen more times than a baby learning how to walk. Pretty sure I have some fantastic bruises showing up."
"I'm sorry," William says, looking down at the ground.
"Don't be. It's not like you were pushing me," Lizzie nudges him. "I am going to go enjoy that fire inside and read a book I brought."
"You brought a book?" William asks, amused.
"Always be prepared for anything," Lizzie shrugs. "Now, you guys can go out on the bigger slopes and not have me holding you back. I'll be fine."
"You aren't holding me back…" William frowns.
"Of course I wasn't. You guys were all on the bunny slope just for fun," Lizzie laughs and William sighs in defeat.
"Alright. We should be quitting before dinner and we'll meet you inside," William flashes a small smile towards her as he gets up.
"Hey Will?" Lizzie tugs at his ski jacket and he sits back down. "You know what I would like to do with you tomorrow that I've never done before?"
"What's that?" William looks at her with curiosity.
"Go sledding and build a snow man," Lizzie grins.
"I…I've never done that as an adult," William admits.
"But you'll try it with me?" Lizzie looks at him, hopeful.
"Of course. It sounds like fun," William smiles at her.
"Yay!" Lizzie claps her hands together. "Okay, now go have fun on the slopes."
"Have fun reading," William kisses her cheek before heading back.
"Oh, I will," she replies smugly.
New Year's Eve day is mostly spent outside in the snow. While the rest of the group gets some more skiing in, Lizzie and William go sledding with a fancy sled he produces from the garage's storage space. They take up all of the morning, trudging up a hill and holding on to each other tightly as they go sliding down it and over. Sometimes they fall off and roll around in the snow but they get back up again eventually. There are a few times that William pulls her against a tree to kiss her and she laughs against his lips. One time, Lizzie lures him in for a kiss but gives him a face full of snow instead just to keep him on his toes. They start off on short hills until Lizzie finds a sledding path that goes on for ages. Lizzie looks like she is having the time of her life and William loves to see her this way, after two days of witnessing her frustration on the slopes. He gets the same exhilarating feeling from sledding down hills with her as he does when he goes skiing down mountain sides. They don't even realize that they have skipped lunch until they hear William's stomach growling and they see the time.
They are putting the finishing touches on the snow man when Lizzie runs into the house. William continues to pack the snow down when she comes out with a newsie cap she found and a plaid scarf. She gives him a sly grin and he gingerly places the cap on top of the snow man, both standing back to admire their work. Everyone else returns from their ski excursion soon after, admiring the William-esque snowman and Lizzie convinces them all that a snow ball fight is definitely necessary. It turns into a total war with Fitz stocking up on snow balls and hiding behind a big snow mound, pelting those unlucky enough to be in his crossfire. Sidney is using the shovel from the side of the house and creating makeshift holes to hide in while Gigi is attempting to get snow down Brandon's coat front. William grabs Lizzie's hand and runs behind the house, hiding under their balcony against the side of the house. They spend a few moments in silence and William keeps grinning at her, holding a finger up to his lips to remind her. Lizzie finally grabs the ends of his scarf and pulls him against her. He gazes down at her, seeing how rosy her cheeks are from the cold and places a kiss on each one. Soon enough, Lizzie and William are kissing other and forget about the snowball fight all together. That is, until they are surrounded by Fitz, Gigi and Sidney and pelted with multiple snowballs.
The plans for New Year's Eve become all the more welcoming after the last few exhausting days. Lizzie suggested they all cook a big dinner, play games and enjoy a few bottles of wine until midnight. William is more than happy to stay in on New Year's in previous years, he was dragged to crowded restaurants and even more crowded events. The thought of staying in with Lizzie and her being his New Year's kiss makes the evening sound absolutely perfect.
Fitz and Brandon are in charge of appetizers while Gigi and William make the Darcy family signature chicken dish for the main course. Sidney offers to bake dessert and everybody is impressed with the chocolate cake he makes from scratch. He takes it as a compliment when William cuts a second piece and splits it with Lizzie.
The rest of the evening goes by in a flash as they play various games including charades. Gigi and Lizzie conspire with each other and get William and Sidney to be a team but it works out well in the end. They end up dominating the game and Gigi is more impressed than any of them.
Brandon breaks out the champagne when they see that it is only ten minutes until midnight. William grabs his and Lizzie's coat, pulling them out onto the main balcony. William wraps his arms around Lizzie and listen to the distant sounds of partying for a few minutes.
"So…do you think you had a good year?" William asks, Lizzie turning around in his arms and resting her hands on his shoulders.
"It started off a bit rocky but over all, I'd say it was pretty nice," Lizzie says cheekily. "What about you?"
"I had a delayed start but once March hit…vast improvement," William grins.
"Oh? Anything interesting happen in March?" Lizzie asks, playing with the hairs at the nape of his neck.
"Um…nothing noteworthy. I bought a couple companies and a new shirt," William looks to the side. "I'm particularly fond of the shirt."
"Wardrobe purchases can make your year significantly better. I read it in the New Yorker," Lizzie smirks.
"I think I read that article as well," William grins down at her.
"So…nothing else happened in March worth noting?" Lizzie gives him a look.
"Now that you mention it…" William murmurs. "I seem to remember St. Patrick's Day as rather eventful."
Lizzie chuckles in his arms and rests her head against his chest when Fitz sticks his head out the door.
"20 seconds, love birds!" Fitz shouts. He throws the doors wide open as Gigi turns the volume up on the TV. William and Lizzie smile widely and gaze at each other, listening to the crowd on the TV as it approaches ten seconds. They quietly count down with each other until they finally hit one and the noise is practically deafening. Fitz and Brandon let off poppers before sharing their midnight kiss while Sidney gives Gigi a respectful peck as they sit on the couch, seemingly waiting to get struck by lightning or a brother's dirty look. William leans in and kisses Lizzie, pulling her in close. She wraps her arms around his neck and he lifts her up off the ground like he loves to do. Their lips are in no hurry and they both happily sigh as they slowly break apart. Fireworks are going off in the distance over the blackened lake and they turn their heads towards the noise.
"Happy New Year, Lizzie," William murmurs.
"Happy New Year, Will," Lizzie replies, kissing him on the cheek. He lowers her back down to the ground and pulls her back to his chest so they can both watch the fireworks. The noise from the surrounding parties tapers off a little as the fireworks continue.
"Have you thought about any New Year's resolutions?" Lizzie asks after the last fireworks reach a stunning finale.
"Hmm," William pauses for a moment. "I resolve to…tell you I love you on a daily basis."
"You know you do that already," Lizzie giggles as he kisses her ear.
"Then I'm on the right track," William says softly. "I also resolve to…kiss you at least once a day."
"You do that too, Will," Lizzie looks over her shoulder and smiles at him.
"I should be able to keep my resolutions then," William smiles, kissing her temple. "And what about you?"
"I quite like your resolutions," Lizzie says slowly. "I think I'll copy yours."
"I have no complaints about those," William says. "What about any of your own?"
"Maybe I'll resolve to see what you write in your calendar," Lizzie teases.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" William chuckles and Lizzie nods her head against him. William has a niggling feeling in the back of his head and it begins to form an idea. Lizzie nudges him slightly and he is pulled out of his thoughts.
"I think I'm going to take down Pemberley Digital."
"You're going to what?" William asks, slightly taken aback.
"Take down Pemberley," Lizzie turns around in his arms to face him. "More specifically, take down the CEO. I think I'll infiltrate his office and take over his desk."
"Care to tell me more?" William raises an eyebrow.
"Certainly. I know the CEO's weakness," Lizzie smirks. "If I can enter his office late in the evening, I should be able to clear his desk and get secrets out of him."
"What if he doesn't budge?" William lifts his chin up.
"Oh he'll budge. I am highly trained in a special kind of torture," Lizzie purses her lips. "I can bring him to his knees."
"He could be stronger than that," William's nostrils flare. "Do you have a back up plan?"
"I will ride him hard until he cracks," Lizzie says cheekily.
"It, uh, sounds like you have your bases covered," William clears his throat.
"As I said before, I am always prepared," Lizzie says as she steps on her toes, quickly giving him a kiss. "Shall we rejoin the others?"
"Um, yes," William chuckling. "We shall."
William slips his hand into hers and they both head back in, closing the doors behind them. They sit on the sectional next to Sidney and Gigi, watching the festivities winding down on television. Lizzie pulls her legs up onto the couch and curls into William as he drapes an arm over her shoulder. He smiles down at her and she gives him a peck on the jaw. He is confident that this year will be even better than the last with her by his side.
Notes: Aaaand I'm done. No. Just kidding. There's plenty more to come. Here is the necklace that William gave Lizzie
www. The pen that Lizzie gave William
handcrafted-fountain-pen-cherry-burl-gold-and-blac k/ I hope you enjoyed this one! I think it might be my second longest to date!