Chapter Thirty-Seven

"C'est Si Bon"

C'est si bon
Lovers say that in France
When they thrill to romance
It means that it's so good

C'est Si Bon
So I say to you
Like the French people do
Because it's oh so good.
Every word, every sigh, every kiss, dear,
Leads to only one thought
And the thought is this, dear!

C'est Si Bon
Nothing else can replace
Just your slyest embrace
And if you only would
Be my own for the rest of my days
I will whisper this phrase
My darling, my darling
C'est si bon!

"I'm starving," said a voice in Liz' ear.

Liz yawned and moved closer, attempting to close up any space between them. "I believe I dreamed about you, then I wake and I find you're real. It's a delightful reality," she whispered. That statement elicited first one long kiss which then morphed into a series of kisses that radiated over her cheeks, her chin and neck.

"Is that hungry for my lips or hungry because your belly needs nourishment?" she asked when her lips were free again.

He sighed. "You had to put things in such a perspective, didn't you?" He nibbled on her neck. "I've no idea what time it is and all we've managed to have is a cup of coffee. I doubt I have anything in the house for lunch as I rarely eat that meal at home."

"Surely there are places that deliver to Atherton?" suggested Liz as her hands began moving a little more insistently around his body.

They ordered take out, but not before they made love again.

There was a need to be practical in the sense of checking in with others. Liz contacted her new employers and assured them that she was happy to be coming in to work the next day. She also needed to deal with the fact that there were family and friends who were missing her. She texted Ron who had sent follow-up texts to the one from the previous night asking her whereabouts, and Was she okay? Liz responded that she was well, had stayed with a friend, but would be home by the evening.

The text to Jane she had to craft with more thought; Liz considered whether to be vague or more truthful. She decided to be forthcoming, but Jane had her own distractions that day, a new job in a company where her boss was her boyfriend. Jane didn't need the additional worries about Liz, so Liz found a sort of median line between enough and too much information.

Hope day is going well. Thinking of you. Ran into Fitz. We are talking.

Liz thought it quite summed up things, and they could cover all of the in-between territory when she and Jane contacted each other or saw each other next. She was not sure when Jane would have time to share about her own experiences or even contact Liz, since she had not called since moving to town.

Fitz had a mountain of things to deal with. The most interesting bit of news he had was an email from his assistant, Alex, saying she was giving two weeks' notice as she had found another job. Apparently, C.W.W. Collins was wooing Alejandra away to work for him; Fitzwilliam was happy to see the last of Alex. He wondered how Alex felt about having sent that email but that her boss was not even at work to discuss it. But really, he had far more interesting things to think about than the fact that his PA was resigning.

Bob was frantic to get a hold of him, though it appeared more out of curiosity. There were multiple texts and emails of the "where the hell are you?" sort from his cousin. Fitz finally texted him back Jack died. I am at home.

He left it at that. There would be a lot of time to explain about Liz. Charles had emailed him as well to say he wanted to swing by to introduce Jane, which had been followed up with a text. Where are you? No one seems to know where you are?

Even Mrs. P. seemed to have gotten involved in tracking him down as there had been a voicemail from his HR director asking him if he was okay, was he sick, or taking a personal day, and to please inform her.

Fitzwilliam and Liz had moved into the study; it took Fitz longer than he wished to deal with burning emails and voicemails. But then they lingered, sharing stories about themselves, both about their current lives and their childhoods. They discussed some of their favorite birthday memories, and it turned out that they had both enjoyed a trip to Disneyland for a birthday though the way their families had chosen to go to Disneyland had been quite different.

"I'm going to need to leave," she said eventually. Liz was curled up like a cat in a chair. Fitz was sitting like a businessman at his desk with his laptop open before him (though the screensaver had long been on), but he snapped it shut at that news.

"You can't go," he cried.

"I have to. I'm going to be a working woman tomorrow," she explained.

"Can't you stay tonight?" he pleaded.

"I need things at my house. Clothes. I just need to go home to get ready," she explained. "First of all, I need my car if you'll drive me."

"Yes, of course," he replied. Fitz realized how much he didn't want her to leave. He wanted her to move in, share his space with him. It had been everything he had ever imagined to have her there in his house. Liz talking or being quiet. Sharing a meal with him. Watching her bathe in the tub. Making love in his bed. He did not want to part from her. But considering she had just come back into his life about twenty-four hours ago, asking her to move in with him, today, that afternoon, would probably scare her off.

As they were driving to get her car, he asked if they had finished their twenty questions.

"I don't know if we have or not," she answered. "We have covered a lot of territory, but I've a rather personal one."

"Yes," he prompted.

"And I admit it will probably concern me, whatever your answer," she admitted.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter but nodded.

"What is your net worth?" asked Liz.

"Oh." There was a drawn-out pause. "I haven't calculated it for a while," he said. The sounds of their breathing were the only ones for another long moment. "Personal assets: the house is worth about sixteen million these days. I have real estate and other investments of about twenty million." He briefly looked at her. "My company is both an asset and a liability. Its last evaluation was about forty-five million. I own roughly half; my cousin owns the other half, but there are some smaller investors. And there's the Mason Darcy Grandchildren Trust Fund."

"You have a trust fund?" her voice rose and the concern made it break on that last word.

"It's the grandchildren's trust fund. My Aunt Ellen is a financial wiz. She was CFO before my cousin Bob, and set up a trust fund for all of the grandchildren of her father, for whom I'm named, Mason Darcy. It fluctuates between eighty-five and ninety million dollars. She's done well with the investments. I have a twenty-five percent stake in that," he explained.

"I think I've lost track," said Liz whose voice was a little weaker than before. They had arrived at the parking lot by then. He remembered her car though she still pointed it out.

"I'm worth between seventy-eight and eighty million dollars, I guess," he said. "Some of it is also considered a liability; the company holds a lot of debt which falls on me."

"So you could really afford my not going to Vegas," she remarked, her hands came up to clasp her shoulders. "The cost of that unused ticket."

"No. I missed you," he insisted as he turned to look at her. He smiled his half smile.

"Fitz," her fingers tightened their grip, "I made a hundred dollars a day walking dogs," her voice sounded as if she was to break out in tears.

"But you will soon make more, you have your new job," he soothed. He wanted to take her in his arms to placate her, but kept talking instead.

"Do you know how in debt I am? My liability as you put it? Tuition at Stanford is forty-five thousand a year," her voice still sounded broken though Liz loosened her grip, and her hands fell back to her lap. She did not look away, however.

"Don't look at our relative value only because of our relative wealth, Liz. I was lost; I felt abandoned, and then I met you. I realized that all I did was work, but I didn't even live for work. There are some people who enjoy being so focused on work, but you got me thinking about seeking out life, seeking more meaning for myself. And I did, when I found you." He turned even more in his seat to look at her.

"Then I ran away and abandoned you. I hurt you, Fitz. How can that be good?" Tears did come then as her hands gripped at her jeans.

"But we have a second chance, Liz. The fates have given us a second chance and I mean to take it. We were not perfect, we had issues when first we met; we are still imperfect but we are dealing with our issues, and we have each other. We realized our initial mistakes and are wanting to try again. At least," he looked at her tear-stained face with a jolt, "do you still want to try again?" He shifted again and held a hand out, palm up. He had more to ask her, to reassure himself that she loved him and this was not a final farewell, but he waited.

"Yes, I still want to try," she smiled through her tears, lifted a hand from her lap and placed it in his.

"I love you, Liz," he said. He wanted to add 'move in with me,' but clasped her in his arms to kiss her lips gently and to kiss away her tears. Despite the awkwardness of the seats, the angles, and the gear shift.

"I should go," she said as she pulled back. That sense of loss hit him, of being cheated, but he knew he would see her again and had to let her go. He had to trust Liz.

"Can I see you for dinner tomorrow, hear how the new job goes?" he asked as he straightened himself.

"Yes absolutely," she nodded before she reached down for her bag of items. Liz pulled the handle to open the car door then turned to gaze at Fitz. "I love you," she called. He watched as she started up her car and drove away.

Liz thought she could sneak in the door at home, but Ron heard the front door open and close. He poked his head out of his bedroom and stared down at her.

"Hi sweet girl. I've been worried about you. 'Ran into a friend,' is what you said, but I didn't think you had many school friends," he accused her with a concerned frown.

A flush of gratitude washed through Liz at his concern and love. "You have officially been promoted in status to brother," said Liz as she walked over to throw her plastic shopping bag into her room. She turned to look up that short set of stairs, "it's a story worthy of a long dinner. I ran into Fitz."

"Your cheating ex?" he choked.

"Yes," answered Liz. "Feel like cooking with me?"

The two of them prepared and cooked a meal while Ron listened. Brad returned from an errand to join them and to hear the bulk of her tale.

"So, you're going to try it again, give it a go?" asked Ron.

"Yes," answered Liz.

"I give her a week before she's moved in with him," predicted Brad. "We are going to need two new roommates in the fall."

"Is Charlotte that taken with Raj?" asked Liz, her voice changing. She and Char were still not speaking on a regular basis.

"Seems so," answered Brad though he did not sound convincing.

"Take it slow honey," said Ron looking at her.

"I plan to. We messed things up so much last time that we need to be careful and take baby steps," she nodded.

"Two weeks then," quipped Brad.

"I've never thought about living with anyone, sharing a space before," said Liz. "I will need time."

"Sounds like he has plenty of space. Half of a relationship is learning how to give each other space when you need it. But with this Fitz fellow, you'd be forever losing him in that house of his. You will need GPS just to track him down!" Ron laughed at his own joke.

"Thanks," said Liz. "Both of you."

Brad dropped her off at the CalTrain station very early the next day. Her new job was everything she hoped it would be: challenging, interesting, compelling and fulfilling. Fitz met her at the train station when she returned that evening. They had dinner together, and she shared about her entire day and all the aspects of her new job. She also let him pay.

It was the same pattern the rest of the week. One of her roommates dropped her off at the train station and Fitz would be there waiting for her when it pulled into the station. They would talk over dinner; he would drive her home, and they parted at her doorstep. Liz spent the weekend with Fitz in Atherton, then returned home Sunday evening. Monday through Friday she stayed at her own condo; Brad or Ron drove her to the train station and Fitz would pick her up.

Despite Brad's prediction, Liz did not move out in two weeks though Charlotte was gone at the end of June. Char had both a job and a new place as she moved in with Raj though she was equivocal about whether she was truly going to drop out of school. Her room remained vacant. Though Brad and Ron had said Liz could take over the larger room; Liz stayed where she was. There could only be so much change.

Jane must have been ecstatically happy with her new job, or overwhelmed by it, or not concerned about Liz' radio silence as far as Liz' weekend and running into Fitz, but neither sister contacted the other until Friday.

I love my job I love Charles had appeared on Liz' phone as she rode home on the train from San Francisco.

U realize am on train, cannot talk? Liz replied.

Best summer ever Replied Jane.

Where are u even stayin? Asked Liz.

w/ Charles

What! We need girls night Texted Liz.

Yes, long talk, long long talk little sis! Replied Jane.

Your job good? Continued Jane.

Awesome, perfect fit Replied Liz.

Everything turning up roses for Bennet sisters Said Jane.

You are TOO happy Texted Liz who could not help but laugh out loud despite being on a train with strangers. You know that?

Can't help, see first text Replied Jane So, Fitz?

Awesome, perfect fit Texted Liz again.

What does that mean? Asked Jane. Liz could hear Jane's concerned big sister voice in those words as she read them.

Life is good w/ Fitz in it Answered Liz.

I worry, as a big sister Jane was the older sister to two sisters, after all.

Thanks Replied Liz, but we are taking our time, talking, better foundation, Explained Liz.

We so need to talk more Was Jane's response.

But, ok Jane continued, Love you

Love you

It became obvious very quickly that Charles and Jane were a couple at Pemberley Energy. Jane's reporting relationship went sour quickly as Jackson Carter resented being put in a position of being her manager and being denied the ability to date the lovely Jane Bennet.

By the end of July, there was a shake-up at the company with Carter giving notice and saying he was moving elsewhere; he took Bolton-Meyers and the rest of the team with him. The battery project floundered. Fitzwilliam had been of two minds about taking on government contracts and Bob had actually been against it. His position had been that they needed to concentrate more on licensing revenue and less on innovation and design. But Jane's reporting relationship was certainly compromised.

Now, there was the issue of an intern who had no manager because Charles could not oversee Jane's work (they lived together for god's sake). But things between the couple had rapidly become serious; it even appeared as though they might marry.

A solution for both parties and the company was found because Bob, clever Robert Richardson, sat down with Charles (when he was not distracted by the beautiful face of his beloved), to talk about Jane Bennet's skills. The subject of her rotor design award was mentioned. Bob decided to file a patent for it. Pemberley Energy set up a licensing agreement with Jane about her design which delighted her—the idea that there was money to be made off of her design. She was also thrilled to know that her name would be on a patent.

Jane decided to switch schools, applied to Berkeley and was waiting acceptance on her transfer. Charles assured her she could remain at Pemberley if she wished. Rather than firmly resolving to choose one option or the other, she decided to be fluid about her future and to take each day as it was presented. If Berkeley accepted her application she would finish her graduate work, but if they did not, she would stay and work at Pemberley.

Minerva Bennet had felt (back in May), that her entire world had come crashing down. That biblical Samson had pushed the walls out from around her world. Samson was not a man she ever liked—men should not have long hair. Her rebellious daughter with her own ridiculous hairstyle was on a disastrous course to be dropping out of school, she was convinced. Moving across the country and away from Minnie's influence would not end well for Mary. Minerva had never expected great things for her youngest, never expected a rich spouse to raise her up, though she had grudgingly admitted that Bridget Morris had a head on her shoulders and would likely keep Mary away from mischief once they moved to Boston.

But her other two daughters! Liz had been a most dutiful child, and Jane was practically perfect, and yet in May, Liz declared she was no longer coming home to see her mother on the weekends because she claimed her coursework was too overwhelming and intense; the time driving home, and being away from school made it too difficult to concentrate on her studies. As if!

But then Jane wrote her an email (not even calling!) to say she would not be coming home to celebrate her own birthday and gave the same reason: schoolwork. Minerva thought her nerves and her constant headaches would land her in the hospital for sure—that she would not survive until June and her children would be sorry for provoking her.

But she should have known Jane was being sly. She should have known there was a man involved. Jane had landed a rich one! Minerva went from feeling neglected, and rebuffed and brooding about her ungrateful children, to sending Jane daily notes asking details about him.

It became evident, quite quickly, how involved they were as Jane was not the type of person to hide such details. If Minnie had to worm out the fact that they were sharing a house, she felt Jane was justified in hiding that one fact.

Her other child had, at least, found a job for the summer and seemed rather happy with it. Mrs. Bennet could not help but be surprised that majoring in English led to any sort of profitable employment.

Her days were long but Liz was used to long days. A roommate would drive her to the train station every morning; she would ride into San Francisco, but Fitz would always meet her when she returned. They would eat together. Sometimes they would go out, sometimes they would eat in (having picked something up), and sometimes she would cook. Most often it was at his place. The kitchen at her condo, after all, was so small. Fitz had that gourmet kitchen with room to spare. But they both knew, unlike Charles and Jane who seemed to be happily nesting together in his rented house, that given her and Fitz' past history, they needed separate residences.

They worked fiercely on talking as much as possible. They shared small things about their day. They shared details and events from their past, even embarrassing moments or vulnerable moments, as they became more and more comfortable with each other, and grew more in love.

Their weekends were spent together. It was everything that Fitzwilliam had imagined to have a companion in his life to spend time with. He did not need some activity or sport to be with someone—to be with Liz. He did not need to know how to race boats or know how to save the world in order to enjoy the company of another. They always found something to do.

Because Liz was working and not in school, her mind was fully on their relationship and not partly on her schoolwork. They knew though, that come the fall, that would change, and their time together would change. Fitzwilliam constantly thought about the idea of Liz moving in, particularly come the fall. His house was, after all, only three miles from Stanford. But he knew that was a decision and an offer he had to sit on. He would need to propose it later, at the end of summer.

Mike Reynolds received a promotion, but with that promotion came a territory change for the salesman. The family was to move so that Mike could work from the company headquarters in New Jersey. Yvonne could keep house for just the Reynolds family. She could see Derek off to school and care for Grayson in a house of their own. It seemed even more of a reason for Fitzwilliam to suggest to Liz to move in with him.

Their relationship was tested when Georgie came home after completing her summer program in art. Georgia had two weeks to spare before she needed to return to Galveston and begin her fall semester, and while Fitzwilliam Mason Darcy had shared with his sister about Liz, he felt like he had not shared the extent of his feelings for Elisa Vittoria Bennet, how close they had grown, and how truly crazily in love he was with her. But he needed to not worry. Georgie had his back and his interests at heart.

Fitz had told Liz they would have less time, and she might need to stay at home while Georgie was in California, but his sister wanted to meet Liz. There was evidence, already, of Liz' presence in the house. She had made small changes there, ejecting expensive designer-picked furniture and decorations for simpler, more creative and yet homey pieces. Liz axed the boxy lamp in Fitz' bedroom for a more practical reading light. There were cozy pillows in the landing area which was turning out to be one of Liz' favorite spots as the openness and the quality of daylight, and the small two-seater couch proved perfect for reading. She sometimes thought that Morgan le Fey would love it too as it was a perfect spot to watch everyone's comings and goings.

Georgie had not been home more than a half day before she was commenting on the changes to the house and made some pointed inquiries about them, how they came to be, and when was she going to meet Liz?

The two women liked each other. Georgie, who had always adored her brother, had found she had difficult relationships with women. But she welcomed the idea of a sort of built-in sister. The fact that Liz was also in school meant they had a ready set of topics to talk about. When she discovered that Liz had two sisters, Georgie was happy to discuss girlish things with Liz and shoo her brother away, almost monopolizing Liz' time at the house during her short vacation in August.

Despite signs that Mary was not going to get her act together, she did manage to get all of her paperwork in to transfer schools. She did not, however, meet the deadline to start in the fall. That turned out to be okay as it gave her a chance to work and save money. It also gave her a chance to get used to being away from home and living in a new town.

Boston, in the area around the college, was so urban that it was an experience like no other for this rather country young woman—who had never considered herself as one. She could not help but be shocked and feel a little enclosed and claustrophobic at times. Maybe even a little paranoid, with so many eyes and people everywhere. Despite Mills being in Oakland, which was a rather urban city, Mills was still located in a little tucked-away valley, away from the sprawling downtown.

Bob was interested in selling out and Charles was interested in buying. However, it was not such a simple transaction as going to the electronics store and purchasing the latest phone. It was likely to take a year to actually do the deed, but Bob was excited to move on and get off to Boston. It also gave Charles the push that he needed to decide that he wanted to stay. Stay with Jane, stay in the United States, and stay in California to pursue citizenship. Since his Nan was gone there was only his sister left in England, and that was an indifferent relationship.

It also prompted Charles to purchase a house. He looked all over the peninsula, and while he admired his friend Mason's house, houses in Atherton did not come on the market with great frequency, so he ended up purchasing one in a neighboring city. He and Jane continued their communal living though to Minerva Bennet's dismay, they did not rush to Vegas for a quick wedding or choose to have a full-blown church one either.

School, Stanford, did not start until mid-September. Liz' company wanted to keep her on board until the day she went back, but Fitzwilliam wanted a small holiday before she was embroiled in her last year of college so he proposed a short trip to Hawaii.

It was after Georgie went back to school, and with his sister's blessing, that Fitz asked Liz to move in when with him they were sitting on a beach in Kauai. She would be busy with school. They would have less time for each other. They could, at least, see each other at home. And such a prospect thrilled both of them, the idea of coming home, of sharing a home together, of coming home to each other, of making a home: whatever that looked like.

All this was due to Benny, the good dog. Benny who had introduced them, split them apart (though he had not intended to do that), and who had also brought them back together again at the end.