"Are you sure they're coming today, Bing?"

"Yep! Jane said they just had to help move some furniture before the contractors arrived this afternoon then they'd be over."

"Well, you said they were coming for 2pm."

"Uh-huh."

"In case you hadn't noticed, my ever-oblivious brother, it's a quarter past."

"And?"

"Well-ahem-they're already fifteen minutes late."

"What are you getting at, Car-oh no, don't tell me you're actually upset over a few minutes!"

"All I'm saying is if they were falling behind schedule the polite thing to do would be to let us know. They have our numbers, our emails, our twitters, I think you even gave Jane your fax information..."

"Fifteen minutes is hardly a reason to call an amber alert, sis. They probably just got caught up saying goodbye to their family."

"Well, fifteen minutes may not seem like a lot to you, Bing, but my time is very valuable-"

"Hah, yeah, okay, sorry to have cut into your average Saturday agenda of avocado skin treatments and deep conditioning."

"My beauty is a work of art and like a fine painting it requires patience and care-"

"-and two hundred dollars every other weekend-"

"-and attention, so if I'm stuck hanging out in the netherfield entry way all afternoon waiting for our house guests to show up 'whenever'-"

"Sis, I love you but sometimes I need to remind you to get off your high throne, oh mighty queen of complaining. If anyone had a justifiable reason to voice concern to the whereabouts of our lovely house guests it would be Darcy."

"P-pardon?"

"Darcy, I know you put off an important video conference just so you could greet Jane and Lizzie. That's really decent of you, man, and I know it will make them feel so much more welcome."

"Oh yes, because nothing says we're happy you're here quite like the classic Darcy blank slate expression."

"Caroline..."

"Oh calm down, Bing. If you get any more anxious for Jane's arrival you might wet yourself."

"Caroline! What's gotten into you?"

Darcy had been listening to the sibling exchange from their spot on the netherfield front stoop with out much vigor, more preoccupied with watching the elongated drive to the estate for any sign of their guests arrival, his heart jumping anytime a car came down to the far cul de sac only to turn around back toward the neighborhood. The silence that followed Bing's slight exasperation, however, seized his attention from the road to glance beside him at the Lees. It had been an unspoke agreement that all three of them dress to impress, so as they were waiting for their guests to show Caroline's designer heel had been tapping and the normally ever-laidback Bing was constantly checking his hair in the reflection of front door's glass window. However, now the two sibling had stop their habits to glare at one another, Caroline hugging her arms to herself with a narrowness in her eyes that signified her intense annoyance. Bing, on the other hand, was frowning at her, though patiently so, and eventually the tension passed and she sighed, turning away.

"Nothing, nothing at all..."

"Well, alright. You know, if you ever want to talk about things that are bothering you sis you know you can always come to me." Caroline glanced back to her brother, her lips curling slightly and expression softening though they quickly fell back to their disdain as Bing continued. "I just hope that no matter what you won't take your frustration out on Jane. She's the kind of girl who's so compassionate that she will try to take on your burdens herself." Bing smiled to himself at the thought of Jane, so truly unaware how this statement affected Caroline's composure. She caught Darcy's eyes and with a small, tight motion he shook his head. This caused her to smile, happy to be understood by someone even if Bing remained ignorant.

"They're here!" Bing announced, causing their heads to snap back around toward the drive. Sure enough, a small and dull-gray car was approaching the garage and Bing in his eagerness stepped down to the path to greet them on the pavement. Darcy and Caroline remained behind; she was watching with contempt though Darcy felt ill with jittery nerves knowing Lizzie was about to emerge from the vehicle.

"I know you agree with me." Caroline's voice was smooth and sure.

"Hmm?"

"You agree that their tardiness was rude. It's written all over your face."

"Oh. Um, yes, very rude." Darcy honestly had not given it much thought, like Bing he too was excited for the arrival of a certain guest though he would never admit this to Caroline. They watched in silence as Bing helped Jane from the car with a kiss to her cheek and she fluttered her lashes and beamed. He then jogged around the front of the car to help Lizzie out though she had already begun to emerge without his assistance. Darcy felt a swoop in his stomach as he watched her face pop up from behind the car, a part of him wishing that he could hug her in greeting as easily as Bing did. The movements of her grace had him mesmorized, as if she were in slow motion as she casually shut the passenger side car door. As if she felt his gaze her eyes lifted, meeting his with a face falling in surprise and Darcy quickly jerked his head down to stare determindly at his polished italian shoes as of they were the most interesting thing in the world. He shifted his gaze after moment, looking toward the clouds and distance neighbor hood in an effort to remain aloof even though Lizzie's presence made him anything but.

The pleasant chatter of Bing, Jane and Lizzie was drawing nearer forcing Darcy to rip his gaze from the sky to greet their arrival. Bing was carrying three bags-a mismatch of vintage patterns and styles that Darcy knew must belong to Jane, along with a larger and simpler pull along with he suspected belong to Lizzie who was carrying two bags of own. Jane only carried her oversized purse and Darcy scowled at her for not offering to help Lizzie with her duffles.

"Caroline, Darcy, hello! It's so good to see you both." Jane's glowing cheerfulness already struck a wrong cord with Darcy as she hugged Caroline. "So sorry we're a few minutes late, Lydia was throwing a bit of a fit bit we think she's excited to see our cousin Mary later so that calmed her down."

"Oh Jane, no need to apologize, we're just excited you both are here, in our home." Caroline's voice was light and sweet like artificial sugar.

"Thanks again for letting us stay here," Lizzie was earnest as she readjusted the placement of one of her bag's shoulder straps. "There really was no room for us all at my cousins, I'm quite sure what our parents were thinking..."

"Do you, er, Lizzie do you need assistance with your things?" Darcy blurted out, watching how she was struggling and discomforted as she held all her bags. However, when she set her eye on him, he panicked and spoke again. "Because we have a house keeper who gets paid handsomely, on the hour. I'm sure they would be more than obliged to carry your bags up to your room."

"Oh, no, that's okay, really they're not that heavy."

Bing, who had went along inside to drop off his armful of luggage poked his head out the door and smiled at them all.

"Jane, I put your bags in our green guest room and Lizzie your roll-along is in the purple room just besides Jane's. Come on inside, we'll get you two settled in!" His eyes fell on Lizzie and he came out onto the stoop to approach her. "And I will take those up for you!" He reached out for her bags and she retreated slightly.

"It's okay, I can handle them." Bing chuckled.

"No one said you couldn't! But I insist." She smiled at his kindness and let him take her belongings off her shoulders. She rubbed one, her arm windmilling as she rolled her neck about.

"Well thanks!" Darcy felt cheated though he knew Bing was just acting as a benevolent host and nothing more. Sometimes he feared his friends easy and genuine charm made him appear lacking any in comparison though he quickly dismissed this thought from his mind. That had been George's ploy and Bing was a far greater man than his former best friend could ever wish to be, and Bing would never do anything intentionally to make Darcy feel lesser. And so, as they all filed into the house (he conviently waiting so as to be standing behind Lizzie's form) made a mental promise to himself that he would develop his own methods to woo her, a charm that was entirely his own.

A/n: I recieved a challenge from reader Solyahu to write a chapter that was almost all dialogue to break up the usual format. Challenge accepted, how do you guys think I did just writting a conversation without descriptors or references to who said what in the first part of this chapter? Did you like it, were you confused, do you prefer when I describe how they are speaking, or do you not care? Tell me your input! Also if you ever have a challenge for me just write one in a review and ill consider basing a chapter on your request (it's great practice for me as a writer :) side note, this chapter was written from my phone because my freaking laptop charger overheated and died. Desperate times called for desperate measures but auto correct was being annoying so let me know u find any bizarre words in this update that don't belong. As always, remember to review, fav, follow, and share!