"Can't I come, Will?"

"You'll see her soon."

His own words to his sister ring in his ears as he peers above the heads of everyone hovering near the luggage carousel. He knows he's going to get an earful about the business class ticket he's surprised her with, but he is somehow anxious to see her despite it all.

The holiday rush, even in suburban New England, is a very real thing.

Left and right, families holler at their children and businessmen shed their coats while yelling angrily into their phones. All three carousels are spinning constantly, parading batch after batch of battered luggages of every shape and size. Right outside the terminal, a Santa laughs with his bulging belly, the sound of his cheerful 'ho-ho-ho' echoing into the arrival hall whenever someone fumbles through the automatic doors.

And she's still not here.

"Will!" He hears his name to his right and turns just in time to see a breathtaking Lizzie running - walking, maybe - towards him in her bright red coat. Her luggage rolls merrily behind her. He's glad he got her that too.

The fact that she did ride the plane, and that she did bring the luggage, implies that she may not react too negatively to the rest he has in store for tonight.

He smiles. "Lizzie."

She walks up to him just when he opens his arms. And they hug.

And when they hug, the smell of her hair is an exotic mix of femininity and airline seats. He holds on for a little longer than he expected himself to.

"How was the flight?" He asks cordially, reaching for her luggage.

"You know I didn't need business class," she reprimands.

He just smiles and tugs at her luggage handle until she yields it to him. "I wanted you to be comfortable."

"Are you implying I wouldn't be in coach?"

"We - have a long night ahead of us."

She rolls her eyes, but she's smiling. And they take off towards the parking lot.

"What time is the party?" Lizzie asks, smile bright and voice airy. When a car honks at them right before they cross the street, she loops a hand around his arm. She doesn't remove it when they resume walking.

"The car will come at five. As hosts, we will have to arrive slightly earlier than the rest. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not."

"Everything you need is already at the house."

"And Georgiana?"

He smiles that she remembers. "She is eager to meet you."

"I guess that's good."

He unlocks the car and loads her luggage in the back.

Then he faces her. "My sister is very eager to meet you, Lizzie, as are my associates tonight. I hope you - understand."

She looks quietly at him for a second. He worries if he's scaring her.

Then her lips tilt into a pretty little smirk. "That bad?"

"I'm sure you will impress them all."

"I - sure." She doesn't look as certain.

"Lizzie." He holds her by the shoulders. "My sister hasn't even met you, and she is already convinced that you are the most delightful woman on the planet. I had to fight her quite hard about coming with me to pick you up."

"Oh." The smirk is replaced by a soft, delectable smile. "But she's not here?"

"She - I - " It's a little difficult to explain himself to her. "I suppose I - preferred some privacy."

"For what?" Lizzie smiles.

He leans down to kiss her, squarely on the lips. He feels her returning his kiss after a small spurt of surprise.

He pulls back.

"For that," he says softly.

"Uh huh." She chuckles. "We're, uhm - practicing for tonight, huh?"

He's not sure if she's a little cold, what with the breathy way she is talking.

He doesn't want her to catch a cold. He likes her far too much for her to catch a cold.

So he decides to agree, before they slip into his car, "Yes, for tonight."

And she smiles softly at him in reply.

"This is Elizabeth, my girlfriend."

"Mr. Chapman, it's been a while."

"Mrs. Delaney, hi, have you met my girlfriend?"

"Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, how wonderful to see you again."

"This is Elizabeth."

"Luke! Have you met Lizzie?"

The night continues in a swirl of social interactions that make Lizzie dizzy twice over. She hasn't really had the chance to talk to Will since their arrival at the mansion. How could she when the last three hours have been spent in answering all of Georgiana's wide-eyed questions and in glamoring up for the big night?

But even she has to admit that the pale pink dress Will got her - bespoke, according to Georgiana - makes her feel like a princess.

"Mrs. Fellini! No, not my sister. My girlfriend, Elizabeth."

The introductions continue. Lizzie smiles and nods for wave after wave of people. It's never-ending, and even the glory of the champaign fountains and chandeliers start to fade a little after a while.

Is this how life is for Will?

In a world of endless connections and pomp and circumstance - is it any wonder that he found the Bennet family oddly refreshing?

"Elizabeth, is it?" An old lady catches her by the hand two introductions later. She's thankful she has Will's staying hand on the small of her back, guiding her around all night, telling her he's right there with her. "I always knew he was looking for someone special."

Lizzie chuckles softly, and a little awkwardly. She sends Will a bewildered look.

"Aunt Penelope was close friends with my mom for years," he explains, his stage smile plastered all over his face, though it looks slightly less stiff for now. "She's made sure to remind me every year that it's about time I bring a lady friend."

"A lady friend?" Lizzie raises a brow, teasingly.

He has the good sense to look slightly abashed. "I mean - that is - "

"A wonderful companion is what he needs!" Aunt Penelope explains in her rickety yet enthusiastic voice. Her smile, all dentures, is still effervescent in its own way. "And I know a good one when I see one. William Darcy, this one's a keeper."

Lizzie chuckles awkwardly again, but Will steps in to excuse them this time.

"I'm sorry about that," he whispers, when they're at least a yard or two away.

"Old people. I get it. Nothing my mom hasn't done."

"I suppose."

"It's fine."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

"Because you don't think I'm a keeper?" She grins at him. He grins back softly.

It's one of those things that is mostly a joke but just as well isn't. And it's leading them into dangerous territory that Lizzie isn't quite ready to face - but is too playful to discipline herself to avoid.

"Of course you are," he whispers, and he leans down to peck her on the lips.

She kisses him back, because she does.

And once they've started, they can't seem to stop.

They kiss when his great-uncle compliments her, they kiss before he steps on stage for his speech, they kiss when he completes the speech, stepping down towards her with relief written all over his face.

And when the countdown to midnight ends with fireworks and horns and overdressed people embracing left and right, he kisses her so passionately that she forgets anything and anyone else exists in the world.

The fire crackles under the framed pictures of his family.

To his left, Georgiana snores in her pajamas, her upper body draped over the arm of his parents' favorite grey couch. To his right, Lizzie whispers small, happy words in her sleep, her legs curled up to her chest and her head on his lap. Darcy runs his fingers absent-mindedly over the sliver of skin peeking out between Lizzie's baby blue T-shirt and matching pajama bottoms.

Supposedly, being trapped against the couch after a Christmas movie isn't the most comfortable place.

But he'll gladly stay like this, for as long as he can - maybe, for the rest of his life.

A/N: It's the calm before the storm, but I promise I'll keep any sad twists brief!