Chapter 35

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like... Something

"Merry Christmas!" cried Mrs. Bingley as the entire clan came in from the cold.

"What no carols, Carol?", boomed Mr. Darcy. The entire group groaned at his bad pun. His loving wife good-naturally punched his shoulder. They all exchanged many hugs and bags of presents to be placed under the tree were handed off to Rick.

The entire Bingley family was dripping with what used to be snow, but were now the remains of thousands of snow flakes thanks to the heat of the house, so they were glad to be in side the warm house. After the back and forth of merriment and wishes of glad tidings, the entire group moved to the living room where a roaring fireplace heated the room, and a twinkling Christmas tree was making the room glow.

The two families immediately broke off into a group of "kids" and a group of "grown-ups". Though if the moods were to judge the moods, you would have thought the parents were younger, than the sons and daughters. The parents were laughing and joking with one another, while the teens were at best politely disinterested.

Charlie just couldn't make himself happy. The entire break had been a drag. He just couldn't seem to shake this dark cloud that had been above him since Jane had ditched him at the party. Rick was deep in thought about what had happened the day before. Gia had come home this morning and he hadn't gotten the chance to talk to her yet. So he was bamboozled, flumexed, and any other word that shows a state of confusion. Caroline was just tying to get Rick's attention, but was failing miserably. And Gia was just trying not hyper-ventalate. She had pushed off coming here for as long as she could. But staying here made it impossible to think clearly. It had brought up all new kinds of feelings she thought she had let go of. Of course she knew she would be uncomfortable, it's why she didn't want to go, but her therapist said that it would be good for her to confront her fears in this way.

Caroline was the first to speak, "I'm so glad to be back in Chicago."

No one said anything.

"I mean even if we have to do all of those dorky things that Mom makes us do," she continued.

Still no one said anything.

"Like making Christmas cookies. She even made us go to a soup kitchen. To, like, help homeless people. But the worst thing is the whole ban on technology or whatever. Does she really need to take our phones?"

Silence. Still. Are you catching on Caroline?

"I'll never do this to my kids. Seriously. It's torture. At least we only have one day left."

Apparently not. Since the negative wasn't working, Caroline decided to try being positive.

"But not everything is bad. Macy's windows were gorgeous."

"Marshall Fields," said Rick.

"No, Rick. Macy's bought Marshall Fields. They changed it to Macy's. If I know one thing it's shopping. Geeze, I thought you followed the news."

"I know that, Carrie. But everyone calls it Marshall Fields. You go to New York for Macy's. And L.S. Ayers for LA. You go to Chicago to see Marshall Fields. It's a landmark. I don't know why they changed it. Ridiculous. They can own it. That doesn't mean they have to brand it."

Caroline laughed, "Well, duh! I knew that. Anyway, it's just good to be out of surburban hell! Don't you think, Rick?"

Rick absently nodded.

"I mean I knew it would be bad. But, seriously, how tacky can a town get! When we left, we actually saw one of those blow up Santa Clauses and Snowmen, like on people's lawns. I thought those were for like car dealerships or trailer parks."

"I saw them. I didn't think they were all that bad. I mean they aren't the classiest of things. But I didn't think they were that bad," piped up Gia. Caroline was really getting on her nerves. Which had momentarily made her forget how freaked out she was.

"Well, whatever. The people are worse. I mean the boys are just disgusting. And the girls! My God. I have never seen fatter or uglier people. I guess that's what fast food does to you," continued Caroline. "Remember your first day, Rick? What did you say? It was like you could believe that people actually wore sweat pants to school. And didn't they know they could use all the help they could get?" Caroline laughed shrilly, "I mean we couldn't find one attractive person could we? Well, except for your darling Lizzy Bennet?"

Rick didn't look up at Carrie's words. He just continued to look down.

Caroline continued,"I really don't see what you like about her though. Her nose is off center I think. And her hair! It's always up in a ponytail or a messy bun. Doesn't she care about her appearance at all? Whatever I don't see what the big fuss is about her. I mean remember, Rick? Remember what you said?" said Caroline desperately, "You said that if she was considered one of the prettiest girls at then you understood why the boys didn't try."

"Yes, I did say that." said Rick much to Caroline's delight. "But now I think Lizzy is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever met. Maybe the most."

Caroline flounced up making some excuse about having to reapply her lipgloss.

The others stayed put and continued to be quiet. Charlie, still moping about Jane, Rick, thinking about Lizz and how he could fix whatever that was yesterday, and Gia, inwardly laughing at Caroline making a fool of herself. Gia, suddenly in a much better mood, started talking to Charlie about his Christmas break ans what his family had done so far. But she noticed something was up. And so being the natural problem solver she was, like all Darcy's, she asked him what was up.

"You wouldn't understand," said Charlie glumly.

"Oh yes I would. I've helped Rick out with all of his girl problems."

Charlie looked up in shock, "I didn't say anything about there being a girl."

"Please, Charlie! I know that look. It's obvious."

So the therapy session started. And Gia listened and patted Charlie's back and said, "How does that make you feel?" at all the right times.

Meanwhile, Rick had gotten up, so as not to mess up the therapy session, and began to wonder where Lizzy was. As if on cue, the door bell rang. Rick rushed to get the door. And there she was, smiling. He welcomed Lizzy and her aunt into the house. And as he was taking their coats into the coat room, his mother called out, "Rick, is that that marvelous Lizzy?"

"Yes, Mrs. Darcy. It's me! Though I don't know about marvelous." said Lizzy as she walked into the livingroom.

"Pish posh. You are marvelous! And what did I say, call me Diana!"

"And remember that I'm Patrick, Miss Lizzy. No Mr. and Mrs. here!" chimed in her husband. "Have either of you met Lizzy, John?"

"No, but I believe we saw her and her sister at our party last week," said Mr. Bingley.

"Yes, we did. I remember because Charlie danced with... Jane? That's her name right, dear?" asked Mrs. Bingley to Lizzy.

"MMhmm. She's my older sister."

"Can you believe this, Carol, John? Lizzy here is only a Junior and she can outwrite Rick. Ha! Th boy came in all flustered because her part of the essay made his look poor by comparison. Which it wasn't. She just know how to write damn well!" boasted Mr. Darcy as if Lizzy was his own child.

Both of the Bingleys laughed at poor Rick's expense just as he was coming back from the coat room.

"What'd I miss?"

"Oh, we're just laughing at you," said his mother.

"Don't worry, I wasn't!" said Lizzy.

"That's right! She was still blushing from what Patrick, I mean your dad, was saying,"giggled Mrs. Bingley.

For a second looked mortified. Why did his dad have to tell them that he liked Lizzy. Not that it was a secret! But in front of her! Gah, he was leaving this family right now.

"I mean who wouldn't after such a compliment? Not many people are better writers than you, Rick."

Relief swept over his face. Okay, his dad wasn't that bad. Phew!

"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry! You're Judy. Aren't you?" said Mrs. Darcy, "We are just enamored with your niece."

"I understand why. She is quite enamoring," smiled Judy. "Um, I have these cookies, we made them last night."

"Oh, thank you! They look scrumptious! What are they sugar cookies? Rick, will you take them to the kitchen?"

"I'll take them if you want, Rick. I know where the kitchen is."

"No, that's okay. But you can come with if you'd like?"

So, the grown-ups continued to introduce themselves while Rick followed by Lizzy took the cookies to the kitchen.

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Hey readers!

Look an update! Aren't you glad? Not much happened... YET No worries tons of drama is in store for the next chapter! What do you think of the new cover? I made it all by my self! Can you believe it? It's super complicated. Haha not really. But I'm rather fond of it :D REMEMBER TO REVIEW! Or else I'll think you don't love me :_( and that's sad. So REVIEW! Updating soon :)

Lots of Love,

Mary