Disclaimer: I don't own it…

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had a major case of writer's block and my teachers take delight in having something due every day of class. So…yeah, I've been busy. But, thankfully I've gotten this written and posted. FYI: this story is nearing the end. I have an idea of how many chapters are left, not positive on the number, but it will be over in the next few posts. So lets hope that I don't anymore bad writer's block!

The next day dawned a little too brightly to Darcy. He had a horrible night and he hadn't gotten much sleep because he knew that Lizzie wouldn't stay the rest of the week. He sighed as he opened his eyes and sat up.

While walking to the in-suite bathroom, he rubbed the heel of his hand across his eyes. When he got in the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. He looked horrible. It was obvious that he hadn't gotten a good night sleep and nothing he could do would change what he looked like: death warmed over.

He quickly turned the shower on and stepped in, vigorously cleaning himself. It was like he thought he could wash away what had happened the night before by scrubbing himself until he was bright red.

A few minutes later, he climbed out of the shower and got dressed, slowly making his way downstairs. When he entered the breakfast room, he was met with a very angry Georgiana and a surprisingly quiet Richard.

"Good morning," Darcy said while putting food on his plate.

"It is morning, though I don't think it's a good one," Georgie said looking at Darcy angrily.

Darcy looked at her and waited for her to explain where her ire was coming from. A few seconds later he got his reward when she said, "How could you let Aunt Catherine say all those things in front of Lizzie and Jane?!"

Darcy sighed and didn't say anything. Georgie continued by saying, "I mean, you know what she's like! She thinks you should date and marry Anne and won't listen to anything you say and you still let the two of them be exposed to her!"

Georgie continued on her tirade for a few minutes and when she finally ran out of steam, sat in her chair breathing heavily. The silence hung in the room thickly. No one was willing to break it. Finally Georgie broke it again by saying, "Well, do you have anything to say for yourself Will?"

"Not really," he replied.

"Will!" Georgie exclaimed. "You need to be serious!"

"I am being serious. Lizzie left last night to go back to London. Right now, I can't do anything to fix this situation. I refuse to do it any other way besides in person and I think we both could use a day or so away from each other before we talk again."

"But Will—" Georgie started.

"Georgie, I think you should leave it alone for the time being," Richard softly told her when he saw the wretched look on Darcy's face.

Georgie glanced at her brother and saw that Richard was right and let the subject rest. The rest of the meal was passed in silence and once everyone finished eating, they all went their separate ways.

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Lizzie awoke that same morning not feeling much better than Darcy had. Once she had gotten back to her apartment the night before, she couldn't fall asleep because of her discussion with him and had ended up thinking about it way too much. But all of the thinking caused her to realize that she had been a little irrational in her reaction to the information that Lady Catherine had announced to everyone. She now realized that Lady Catherine didn't care about anyone's life besides herself unless it suited her and it was obvious Lizzie wasn't anyone of significance to her.

Lizzie now wished she had stayed the night at Pemberley so she and Darcy could have a talk about the day before and so she could apologize to him for her somewhat childish reaction. But she had stupidly let her temper rule her thoughts and actions, causing her to flee the night before. Now she was forced to wait until he got back to the city or she could get a hold of him on his cell before everything could be worked through.

She slowly got out of bed and made her way into the bathroom. After turning the water on, she turned to the mirror and looked at herself, not liking what she saw. She saw a woman that had experienced everything that was wonderful in a man with her for a few blissful weeks then in a fit of anger had pushed that greatness away because of what some batty old woman said.

Lizzie climbed into the shower, wishing (though knowing it wouldn't happen) that the water would just wash away her worries and make everything better again.

A little while later, she climbed out and after drying off and wrapping a towel around her, walked into the kitchen to flip through the mail that had piled up the few days she had been away. She paused when she saw one from her publisher.

She quickly opened it and gasped when she saw what it stated. It seems that the higher ups wanted her to start a book tour promoting her published books and the teen series she was starting to work on, giving out small samples. It was to take the better part of six months and it would encompass part of Europe and the United States.

Lizzie turned and walked immediately down the hall to Jane's room, knocking on the door. Jane quickly opened it and after looking at Lizzie asked, "What's wrong?!"

"Read this!" she said, thrusting the letter into Jane's hands.

Jane cautiously scanned the letter and let out a small shriek when she saw what they were asking her to do.

"Lizzie! This is amazing! This will help you so much!"

"I know!" Lizzie told her, pulling her into a hug.

"I guess I should get dressed and go see my publisher. I need to get this started as soon as possible…" Lizzie started to mumble to herself as she walked down the hall.

But before she could walk into her room, Jane called down the hall after her, "What about William?"

Lizzie stopped and looked back at Jane. "I'll call him once I've dressed to see if we can meet soon."

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After Lizzie dressed, she did call Darcy, but she was unable to talk to him because he had gotten an urgent call stating that he was needed in one of his Middle Eastern holdings for a problem. He had left soon after he had eaten breakfast and had tried to call Lizzie, but couldn't get through on any of her phones to leave a message stating where he was going.

Lizzie did leave a message with his secretary, but Darcy would never get the message because Lady Catherine made sure that the secretary knew to disregard any message left by a Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

So it worked out that the two of them left the country without either of them knowing it. It would be a long time before the two of them saw each other again and when they did see each other again, there wouldn't be incredibly amiable feelings on either side.