Hello again everybody!

Another update for you :)

To everyone who wants to see more Darcy and Lizzy together, I promise it's coming, but I decided, given their many jobs and reasons for previously not being in relationships, they really don't do enough work. So they're having a bit of real life time (some might say fillers...) until they see each other again. I hope you dont mind and I'll get there as soon as I possibly can for you. And once they do, there'll be a lot of them, a lot of romance and a lot of sex/ Speaking of which, I'm always interested in your opinions - anything sexual you think has been massively missing so far? Any fantasies you'd like to see? Send a review and let me know. I might not be able to write them all in but I'll do my best.

Finally I have to say this:

WE HIT THE 1000 REVIEW MARK! WOOHOO!

Thanks thanks thanks to everyone who reviewed. I definitely did a little dance to myself and yes, it is true that the more I read reviews, the more fired up I get to write...

Anyway, as a thank you, I wanted to offer you guys something nice (other than more chapters of course) and I wondered if you'd be interested in a competition of sorts?

I love writing for you guys, so I thought if there was a D&L P&P idea that anyone longs to see written but hasn't got the inclination to do it themselves, I'll write it for you. Just put your idea in a review and I'll pick whichever I think I can do the best justice to. All I ask is that it be an idea that can be done in a oneshot (I dont mind long oneshots, I just don't want to take writing time from YECTDM). You might not be interested at all, but I'd like to offer it up as a thank you.

THANK YOU!

xx

Will ran his hand through his hair and rolled back his shoulders, cricking out the kinks in his neck. He had been sat in his study since 7.00 that morning, and three hours of being hunched over papers had reformed forgotten knots in his back.

He took a swill of the now tepid coffee Giana had brought him half an hour ago when she had finally woken. He had so much more to do, piles of reports that demanded his attention, but all he wanted to do was go back to bed, preferably with an Elizabeth in tow.

From somewhere under the mountain of black and white, there came a timely buzz. Searching and shuffling, Will retrieved his phone to see a welcome ID on its screen. Though he berated himself for his teenage-like unbridled anticipation, he couldn't answer fast enough.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you too" came Elizabeth's still sleepy voice.

"I take it you've just woken up?" He replied, smile evident in every word.

"Mmm, I'm still in bed though. I haven't made it downstairs for a tea or coffee yet, so I can't guarantee how alert I'll be."

"I do wake up next to you Elizabeth, I think I can handle you at your sleepiest."

She chuckled lightly – cutely as Will would have it.

"That's true, though don't tell me you haven't been warned. What are you up to?" She asked, her sentence blurring out into a yawn.

"Working. All DC stuff. I've been stuck behind this desk trying to sort out everything I need for the next few days in the office. I'm already bored to death and in need of a massage."

"Poor babe. It's a tough life at the top eh? But just think of all the lunches you could buy me with that hard-earned money you're making…"

"Lunches? Only the thought of showering you in diamonds gets me through the day" he joked, relishing the sound of her responding laughter.

"Careful Darcy, I may just hold you to that one day."

"Elizabeth, you do remember our conversation about the ridiculous amounts of money people relentlessly give me right? I will carry out such a threat if you want me to… now what carat of diamonds would prefer?"

He heard a strangled squeak on the line.

"You're a ridiculous man," she grumbled, "one I will have to take care what I say to in future."

"What, and take away all my fun? I hope not. So what are you going to do with your first day off? Any chance of relaxing and doing nothing?"

"Nope. I need to choreograph some new material, so I'll probably do some brainstorming and then maybe head to Qandisa either today or tomorrow to try it all out on stage. After that, Jane doesn't 'want' but apparently 'needs' me to go shopping with her – something about this new boyfriend of hers taking her out on a flashy date and having nothing appropriate to wear."

He swore he could hear the roll in her eyes.

"Ah, boyfriends eh? Such troublesome creatures."

"You're telling me."

"I bet you'd never dream of having such a thing."

"Of course not."

"God forbid."

"Exactly."

"Well how about the other thing?"

"What other thing?" she asked confused.

"The date."

"What about it?"

"How would you feel about having one of those?" He asked, tone light and easier than he felt in asking. "It doesn't have to be a flashy date if you don't want. Any date would do."

There was a pause on the line and he waited, listening.

"Aren't we having a date next Sunday?"

Sunday – his mind took a moment to recollect and he barked a loud laugh when he did.

"Ha! No. Sunday is definitely not a date. I'm more than certain the things I plan to do to you on Sunday don't count as romantic, Elizabeth." His dark little chuckle set Lizzy's imagination on fire. "No, no. I know we claimed we'd had three dates, but I would like to take you out on a proper one – so that I can woo you."

"Woo me?"

"Yes, it's what us non-boyfriends do."

She paused again, thinking once more, leaving Will on hopeful tenterhooks.

"Okay."

"Okay? By okay do you mean yes you'd like to or okay, but you're forcing this one on me."

"Both." She laughed and Will grinned. "Yes, I'd like to be wooed by you. Or to see you try at the very least." Will's brow furrowed in an offended frown, which Elizabeth apparently interpreted. "I'm kidding. Cheer up; you've just got yourself a date with the one and only Elizabeth Bennet you know. When will this date of yours occur?"

"This date of ours will have to be next week as I'm working late for the first half of this week and I assume you're doing the same for the latter?"

"Mmhmm" she affirmed, a light yawn passing her lips.

"How does next Tuesday sound?"

"Free as a bird. Any ideas for what we will do?"

"None whatsoever, but when I know, you'll be the last person I tell."

Lizzy let out an annoyed groan.

"Surprises remember?" she moaned through gritted teeth.

"Good things remember?" he shot back.

"Fine. But give me some wardrobe warning will you?"

"Agreed. Now we've got the pleasantries out the way, how did it go last night? I assume you spoke to the bastard?"

Lizzy sighed at hearing the jocular mood drop from his voice, replaced by a darker, unnameable tone.

"We did and it's done. We simply have one more day left with him on Wednesday as we're required to give a day's notice period to the agency."

She heard his sigh of relief.

"And how did he take it?"

Lizzy paused, wondering what to say and how to phrase it. Would telling Darcy of those sneering lips and furious eyes make him feel any better?

"Okay, I think, from what Jane and Sanders told me. They were the ones who did it. They told him we knew someone who could work for free as a favour. He didn't react much, just simply sat there and accepted it. Lost in his own thoughts, so they said."

"So you weren't there?"

"I was waiting outside the office. I saw him come out."

"And?"

Bugger. She sighed.

"And he didn't say much, but he didn't need to. The face I saw exiting that office was not the same as the one inside. He seemed… incredibly angry. But he quickly shook it off and spoke cordially for a moment about what a pity it was. Then he left."

Will was silent, mulling it over. Despite Wickham's propensity for being a vicious bastard, he couldn't necessarily see a reason as to why he would turn nasty at Elizabeth and Jane. Still he was uneasy – but he knew a part of him would never be okay at the mention of George Wickham's name. It would forever be something he would wince at.

"Okay. Well just be careful until he's gone and then we can all move on."

"Of course. When am I anything but?"

Will nodded even though she couldn't see. He knew Elizabeth was certainly a match for most and should really stop worrying. Doing so was a lot harder than saying so though.

"So what will you do behind the bar in the meantime?"

"Who knows? Get looking for a replacement at another agency and hope Sanders can handle himself until then. Unless you want the job of course?"

Will could hear the sound of her smile and he smiled back.

"Much as I enjoyed the late night harassment, I think a third job would actually kill me. And that would be incredibly inconvenient as I have a date on Tuesday that I just can't miss."

"How very selfish of you."

"I know."

Their voices fell quiet, both smiling into the silence, relishing in its comfort.

"I should probably get up."

"And I should probably get back to work. I can barely see over the top of all this paperwork. I could actually build a fort out of it."

"Well that sounds like an amazing idea for the day. Bugger work, you should totally just do that." She actually sounded excited by the idea and Will chuckled.

"Well, maybe I will…"

"Ha," she snorted "that'll be the day! Giving up work to have fun Mr Darcy? I think not."

"I'm hurt. Do you just think I'm a boring workaholic?" he pouted to himself.

"Workaholic, yes, boring, no, and fort builder, definitely not."

"Wow, you make me sound like the life and soul. There are good things about me, right?" he asked with a huff.

"You're the hottest piece of ass ever?" she tried with a grin.

"Have you got anything that isn't purely physical?"

Lizzy snickered at his offended tone and decided that he deserved her sincerity once in a while.

"You sir, are the sweetest gentleman I know."

It was his turn to snort. "No I'm not. Bingley is."

She paused. "Yep, very true. The kindest gentleman I know."

"Still Bingley."

"The most accommodating?"

"Definitely still Bingley."

"Jesus, Jane's boyfriend is sounding a lot better than mine right now."

A heartbeat.

"Your what?"

Shit.

"Nothing. Better go. I'll talk to you later Darcy–" came a rushed reply and the line went dead.

Will Darcy looked at the phone in his hand, at the pile of papers in front of him, and back at the phone. It was a moment before he let a glittering grin grace his handsome features, feeling like he'd unknowingly just won a rather important battle.

"What's got that dreamy look on your face?"

His eyes shot to the door to see Giana standing there, regarding him with amusement. She clocked the iPhone still in his hand.

"Ah, let me guess, Lizzy called?"

He put the phone down on yet another file and leaned back in his chair.

"Who says it was Elizabeth. It might have been Rich."

"It wasn't Rich."

"How do you know?"

"Call me psychic… So are you seeing her today?"

Will capitulated.

"Nope. Too much work and too many sisters to amuse between the two of us."

"Because I'm such hard work," she grinned.

"That you are. However, to make up for being so difficult to raise and nurture and entertain, you can do me a favour."

"What…" she asked suspiciously, wondering what chores he could possibly throw on her. Anything but laundry…

"I need to build a desk fort."

That was a new one.

"A desk fort?"

"Yes, a desk fort. From all this paperwork and files. Then I need to take a photo and send it to Elizabeth."

"Will, I swear to god you guys have the weirdest foreplay known to man."

Will blinked at another voice and the sudden apparition that went with it of an eagle-eyed red-haired figure. Richard was standing in his study doorway.

"How long have you been in my house?" Will asked in surprise.

"Arrived about 10 minutes ago. You were all loved up in here and we didn't want to disturb in case it was a sexy call."

Rich made an obscene gesture and Will rolled his eyes, wondering if he'd ever survive his cousin and sister plotting against him and his love life.

"Psychic indeed" he frowned at Giana. "And are you here for a reason?"

"Well I originally came to convince my two favourites out to lunch and I'm glad I did because there's now far more of a reason for me to be here." Will raised his brows in question. "My dear cousin, if you're going to build a desk fort, you're going to need a King of Forts. And that, my friend" he pointed a thumb at his chest, "would be me."

"Is that a new qualification they're giving out at Cambridge?"

"No but they can't say I didn't try. Giana, you sort some piles out, I'll get the phone and call for take out and you –" he pointed at Will "–you just stay pretty."

In a whirlwind of ginger he was back out the door, leaving Will to look helplessly at Giana.

"I'm never going to get any work done am I?"

"Probably not." She agreed, grinning nonetheless. "Who knew you getting a girlfriend would be such fun for all the family eh?"

"She's not my girlfriend" he automatically denied, but the recollection of her slip up had him beaming like a loon at his own words: she might not be his girlfriend yet, but she very soon would be.

Giana watched the play on her brother's face and realised that, for the first time in his life, William Darcy looked completely goofy.

Four hours later saw Will still sat behind his desk, quietly scribbling across the latest sheaf of papers that he'd had to dismantle from the elaborate structure atop his desk.

On the chesterfield lay Richard, quietly dozing, with Giana crashed out on the floor below, the two of them surrounded by take out boxes and an empty wine bottle Rich had dug out from the cellar.

Will shook his head with an affectionate smile. It was like having two little kids come over to play, and despite delaying and distracting his pressing work, he couldn't pretend that he hadn't enjoyed it. It was amazing to him that just a month ago he was bereft of Giana, had never met Elizabeth, and was utterly lonely and work-orientated. Now he was sat behind the paper-stacked remnants of a hard made fort, nibbling away at the pad thai in the little box at his hand, watching his loved ones snooze in the warmth of his study. He couldn't quite decide if it all made him feel very old or reminded him of just how young he was; he didn't spend enough time just messing about and having fun. He could certainly get used to it, even if it meant and increased exposure to Rich's relentless teasing.

His cousin caught Will's eye once again. He wondered if the ginger demon knew how much Will relied on him. It wasn't often that he'd say it aloud, or even hint at it now he came to think about it, but Rich had always been there, from his work life to his personal, always the family that pulled him back from the brink. Will would be forever grateful for the man-child snoring on his couch, for being both his consummate professional, oftentimes scary agent and his closest confidante and endless tormenter.

Will watched as his hand twirled a pen about his fingers, simply musing happily on the lucky mess before him as it twirled. Rich had always badgered him to have more fun and now he had two more people saying the same. It seemed it was about time he started listening to them. He stared at the spinning marker and back to his cousin as a grin spread. No time like the present. Perhaps Rich would come to regret such sound advice when he woke up.

Will rose from his chair, slipping silently about the desk extravaganza and stalked toward his passed out cousin, pen in hand and mischief in mind.

Lizzy was sitting in a café with Jane, warming herself with a chai latte when she received word from Darcy. It had never crossed her mind that the stoic man would actually go through with building a fort, but when her phone flickered to life on the table, a file of pictures in tow, she found herself gleefully surprised.

He obviously hadn't taken all the photos himself – his sister must have been roped in – but they were unexpectedly wonderful. The first showed the entire structure, piled atop the huge antique desk that Lizzy had envisioned he would own. The amount of paperwork was unbelievable, but more surprising was how brilliant it looked and the extent they had gone to. The papers themselves had been stuffed neatly into cardboard files of various colours, which then acted as bright bricks in the building process. It was a rainbow-coloured wonder of a den, complete with a couple of plastic file windows for good measure. How much work had he actually done today?

The second photo was a picture of a pocket-sized young blonde, eyes shining brightly with a laugh on her perfect face, looking at the camera. Beside her, an instantly recognisable figure had clearly said something funny as he adjusted the makeshift conical hat on his head – evidently fashioned from some important piece of DC work. It now didn't seem quite so ridiculous that Darcy's day had ended up like this; Rich Fitzwilliam was involved.

The pretty blonde was obviously Darcy's sister, though you'd never be able to tell from their looks. Where one was dark, the other was sweet lightness, one sharp cheekbones and sculpted features, the other with perfectly round face and apple-cheeked. What gave it away though were their eyes; Elizabeth had never seen anything like Darcy's eyes – she had always assumed they were wholly unique. But here were his eyes glinting out from this girls open, smiling face. They might have a different, easier sparkle about them than Darcy's, but they were most definitely his dark blue. Lizzy wondered which of his parents must have passed them on.

The third was a picture of him, and Lizzy decided it might be one of her favourites, despite the fact it showed only half of his face. For all the modelling shots and carefully constructed photos, Will looked his best like this; eyes shining and clearly smiling, at ease with his friends and family – this was no moody man of modelling.

He was posed with only his eyes and the bridge of his long nose peeking over the top of a pile of coloured files, unruly dark hair curling about his forehead and the tips of his ears. It looked like he was playing hide and seek – she could imagine he and his sister had often done so in their younger years – and it was so wonderfully artless and happy that it did a better job of warming her than the hot drink.

It was the final photo however, that may have won the day; she just wished she hadn't taken a swig of chocolate before she saw it, as it very nearly ended up sprayed over Jane. The younger Darcy's face was just visible in the corner of the picture, eyes closed in slumber, but the main focus was Richard, equally as crashed out. There was one major difference however; where Giana's pale white skin glowed, Rich's was covered from top to bottom in black pen.

From moustaches to generously proportioned appendages, he was covered. Lizzy laughed as she made out each carefully drawn tattoo; hearts on each cheek, a cock sneaking in at the side of his just-open mouth, 'THUG LYF' across his forehead, a twirly curling moustache and many more. Lizzy was glad that she and Darcy had managed to resolve things and experience time as an official item, because when Rich woke up, he was going to absolutely murder Will.

All the while, Jane regarded her sister over the top of her tea as she became lost in the little world on her phone, smiling then snorting at whatever she was looking at. It was easy to forget with such an adult job just how young her sister was sometimes. She was so controlled and calm and cool that she had always appeared wise and worldly beyond her years, but watching her giggle over her phone made Jane feel utterly endeared to the little girl now grown up, forever her baby sister. She could only imagine it was Will that had produced such a smile on her face and she hoped it would long continue. Jane could honestly say neither she nor Lizzy had been this fulfilled and happy in a long time.

Taking another sip of tea, Jane leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and thanked the day that had brought Charles Bingley into her life.

Will was safely ensconced back behind his desk when she replied.

"You win. I shall eat my words, my hat (and anything else you'd like to put in my mouth) and take it all back. You build one hell of a fort, and dare I say, had fun doing it too? The family photos are adorable. You can definitely take the title of most surprising man I know. E x"

Grinning, he sat back from his work to pen a reply, allowing himself a few moments to converse with her.

"I'll take anything you're willing to give and I promise to employ your mouth with far more enjoyable things on Sunday. And you're right; it was a surprising amount of fun. I hope your day was enjoyable too – what are you up to now? Finished dressing Jane? Dx"

"Just stopped for a drink and then heading on home. Shopping was a success – Charles will be suitably stunned, stumped and stiff when he sees her. Choreography sped by – I think I can attribute that to a sudden influx of erotic inspiration… So thank you. E x"

"The job of inspiring you is thanks enough and I'm more than willing to do so whenever you like – if I ever escape work that is. Forts and family have taken over today. Looks like I'll be working late tonight, with the image of a stiff Charles in my head. Gee, thanks El. Dx"

"Anytime! I best leave you to your work then and stop distracting you. Good luck handsome. E x"

"Best distraction I could ask for. Enjoy the rest of the day and I'll speak to you later. Dx"

Putting his phone back on his desk, he smiled to himself. God he wished he could talk in person with her. Instead he would be stuck working for the next few days clearing the backlog and getting on top of things. It would be a dull, if necessary, week of meetings, managing and no Elizabeth.

Who was he kidding? There was no way he could make it to Sunday without seeing her… he suddenly remembered the unanswered charity gala invite and decided there was nothing for it. He would have to make an appearance, just to see her – that and to bat away anyone else who saw her. Elizabeth debuting into a room filled with philanthropic models and actors, the best looking people in the world, was his idea of a nightmare. And he hadn't even begun to imagine what she might be wearing…

His imaginings were interrupted by the soft moan of a waking sister, who stretched her arms and blinked her eyes from her place on the floor. Catching Will's eye, she was about to speak when he put a finger to his lips and beckoned behind her.

Eyes glazed, she turned to look at the sleepy Rich and choked, holding a hand tight to her mouth to halt the explosion of laughter. Immersing herself instead in a fit of silent giggles, it took a good few minutes before she could turn back to her mischievous and clearly proud brother and ask in a underhand whisper:

"Got any coloured pens?"

By the time Rich was ushered out of the Darcy household later that afternoon, utterly oblivious to his colourful plight, his face looked like a Keith Haring/Kandinsky collaboration – something that his parents, for all their artistic background, didn't quite appreciate as he rocked up to their house half an hour later. They appreciated even less the litany of lewd words that erupted from their son as they stood him in front of the hallway mirror to fully appreciate the state of his face.

What they did catch between curses and threats of revenge were a mangle of three names, two of which they knew very well indeed. As he headed upstairs to raid the bathroom and fix his face, Andrew Fitzwilliam turned to his equally perplexed wife and asked what was on both their minds.

"Who on earth is Lizzy?"