Chapter 33
Sunday November 4
Lizzie's phone on the nightstand rang. Darcy quickly picked it up and carried it out of the room before it woke Lizzie. Seeing Jane's name on the screen he answered it
"Hello, Lizzie is still sleeping Jane," he said.
"Darcy?" Jane asked. "Charlotte left Lizzie with you?"
"Oh, she fell asleep on the couch before Charlotte left last night and seemed best not to try and wake her."
"How is she feeling? Charlotte said it was just a sprain but - -"
"She's your little sister and you worry."
"Yes. I can't help it."
"She has been a bit, unfiltered with the pain pills and tired."
"Unfiltered? She hasn't said anything to make you feel uncomfortable I hope."
"Oh no, nothing like that. Good things actually."
"That's right, Bing mentioned he found out about the videos from you, so you must have already known about well, before..."
"Have you watched any of Lizzie's recent videos Jane?"
"No, I've been too swamped here but I really should. She's my little sister after all and I shouldn't let myself get too busy for family."
"I didn't mean to imply you were not making time for family. I just wondered, if you knew..." He trailed off as a knock sounded at the door.
"Know what Darcy?"
"Oh," Darcy said, "I, uh, well I think I can safely say your sister no longer hates me," he said as he opened the door.
"Or at least one of them doesn't," Lydia said stepping into the room. "Charlotte said she left my hurt sister here. With you," as she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Umm," Darcy said.
"Is that Lydia?" Jane ask recognizing her youngest sister's voice.
"Uh yea," Darcy said into the phone eyeing Lydia, who held out her hand for it. He handed over the phone.
"Someone had to come... Charlotte's working a lot and I totes wasn't leaving Lizzie at the mercy of Darceface and company... I will be... I left a note... It's totes cool... Love ya," she said as she hung up. She turned and glared at Darcy. "I've seen Lizzie's videos, I'm totes onto you. Nothing gets by me. You're not having your way with my sister and ditching her like your friend did Jane."
"I-"
She cut him off saying fiercely, "I'm totes keeping her safe, she's perpetually single for a reason. I'm not about to let another one of you come around and hurt another one of my sisters."
Darcy looked at her thoughtfully while she glared at him. He cleared his throat and said, "You're very fierce aren't you."
"I totes don't care what you think of me."
"I admire your protective stance - -"
"Will," Lizzie's voice called from the bedroom. Darcy started toward it, but Lydia barreled by him.
"Lizzie," she cried bouncing onto the bed.
"Lydia?" Lizzie ask disoriented and confused.
"The one and only. Ly-di-ah!"
"You're here?" Lizzie ask blinking. "In Darcy's hotel?"
"Of course. I left like super early this morning and drank like three coffees and a Red Bull on the drive. I called Charlotte and she told me where to find you. So here I am. Don't worry I won't leave you."
"Huh?"
Darcy appeared in the bedroom with a bottle of water that he held out to her. Lizzie gratefully took it.
Lydia looked around the room, looked at Darcy and said, "Get out."
"Lydia!" Lizzie said.
Darcy glanced at Lizzie, "It's fine," he told her and left the room. As he left he heard Lydia say "Are you having sex with Darceface?"
He busied himself in the kitchen trying not to eavesdrop as he got Lizzie's breakfast ready. She needed to eat so she could have more painkillers. Lydia he realized was extremely protective of her sisters, a trait he could relate to. She had showed up and planned to literally guard Lizzie from him it appeared. She had seemed to misunderstand his intentions though. Lydia's accusation he knew came from her perception of the situation with Bing. He'd have to make clear to Lydia he loved Lizzie and wanted to spend his life with her, that he wasn't going anywhere.
His suite door open and Gigi and Fitz appeared in the doorway.
"See I told you he'd be awake," Gigi said.
"How's Lizzie? Still unfiltered?" Fitz ask with a waggle of his eyebrows.
"Did anything happen last night?" Gigi ask eagerly.
Darcy glanced towards the bedroom door.
"Darce, you dog, you did not take advantage of Lizzie while she was on painkillers?" Fitz teased.
"Oh my God, he did. Or at least in his mind he thinks he did," GiGi exclaimed.
He glared at his little sister.
"Did she like it as much as kissing you?" GiGi teased him.
"We heard all about what a great kisser you were yesterday, so if you kissed her, it wasn't taking advantage of her Darce," Fitz assured him.
Before Darcy could say anything Lydia appeared in the doorway. Taking into the rooms newest occupants she glared at Darcy and said "Darcface, hallway, now." And marched to the door.
Gigi and Fitz looked at each other.
"Isn't that - - " Fitz started to say as Gigi said, "Lydia?"
"The one and only," she said tossing her head. Then glaring at Darcy said, "Now."
He opened the door and gestured for her to go first. Before the door closed Lydia looked over her shoulder at GiGi and Fitz and said, "Don't even try and listen at the door."
Darcy looked at her patiently. Lydia glared back. He crossed his arms. She narrowed her eyes. He stared back. Finally Lydia broke after about 10 minutes of silent staring.
"Thank God she's in like totes complete denial. What are you doing?"
"Please clarify what you want to know," Darcy said.
"What are you doing with my sister? Are you just trying to get into her pants?"
"No."
"Well unless I know nothing, which isn't the case, someone got some sort of action last night. You're not the type to leave dirty boxers on the floor when you go to bed," she told him smugly.
Darcy gaped.
"And she called you Will," Lydia said with narrowed eyes.
Darcy remember Lizzie's comment about Lydia and rusty scissors, he all the sudden feared for Bing.
Lydia planted herself in front of the door. "You don't get to go in and see Lizzie until you start talking. I want answers bucko."
Darcy grinned.
Lydia glared. "Your hotness won't work on me," she said.
"Haven't you always wanted a rich older brother Lydia? Ask Gigi, I make a great older brother."
Lydia's mouth dropped open. "You want to marry her? You want to marry Lizzie?" Her eyes narrowed. "You hate her family. Lizzie loves us. She'd never give us up," she challenged him.
"I would never expect her to."
"You'd spend Christmas with us?" she ask in disbelief.
"It'd be an honor. I understand trains are involved."
"Holy shit! You totes are really in love with her Darceface."
"I know."
Lydia smirked and said "I'm still not going to make this easy for you."
"I wouldn't expect you too."
She stared at him. He stared back waiting for her to give again. He used his big brother stare. She was good, but he was better. He figured another five minutes tops. She lasted six.
"If you break her heart I will hunt you down and put your balls in a jar," Lydia said when she caved.
"Understood."
Lydia stared at him. He stared back her first words niggled his brain. He broke first this time.
"You said she was in denial," Darcy said.
"Oh yeah, she totes is."
"Not about how I feel? I told her I..."
"You told her what? OMG did you already tell her you loved her?"
Darcy frowned. "I thought she understood when I told her. That she was now aware of my feelings."
"I don't know if she believed you or what. But she's in denial about her own feelings."
Darcy paled. "I thought she no longer hated me," he said.
"Oh trust me she doesn't," Lydia said smirking. "Well future Big Brother let's go check on Lizzie," she said as she knocked on the door.
Fitz opened it and with a grin said, "Well, are you Darcy friends now?"
"Better, he's practically family," Lydia said with a wink.
Gigi squealed. "Oh I'm Gigi by the way," she said.
"Wait," Darcy said. "You called me-"
"Yea, but don't get to far ahead of yourself. She's still in denial but I can totes tell," Lydia assured him.
"Where is Lizzie?" he ask since she wasn't in the kitchen with Fitz and GiGi.
"Shower," Gigi said.
"Alone? What if she falls?" Darcy ask starting towards the doorway.
"Relax Darce. She will be fine. She wanted to shower. Let her shower in peace. She has a sprained ankle not a broken leg," Fitz said.
Darcy looked at the bedroom door and reluctantly turned around back to the kitchen. Lydia, Gigi and Fitz all grinned at him like maniacs. Mentally he shuddered. Lizzie had three more doses of prescription painkillers before switching to over-the-counter medication, Charlotte was stuck with Ricky, which left him as the only rational adult. Unfiltered Lizzie and these three, maybe that could work to his advantage. Was it taking advantage of her painkiller state if he got these three to convince her to go to Vegas with him. He sighed, he couldn't try and trick Lizzie into marrying him. This wasn't the 1800s there would be nothing to keep her married to him.
"Lydia," Lizzie said with a wan face from the bedroom doorway. Darcy immediately crossed to her side and swept her up and in his arms off her injured ankle. "You should have another dose Lizzie," he said, "you're in pain."
"Not until after I talk to my sister. I'd rather have a clear head when I grill her on why she drove all the way here when she has school tomorrow."
"Lizzie," Darcy said gently, "she was worried about you, don't be upset with her."
Lizzie looked searchingly at him and nodded.
"Lyds, you're not just skipping?"
Lydia rolled her eyes. "I heard you were injured and knew Darceface was lurking around you again. How was I supposed to know he gone all human," she said nonchalantly.
"Lydia!"
"Hey I'm not the one who dissed him on the internet and turned him into a meme."
"I got him a pillow," Gigi told her proudly.
"Let's talk about that after pain meds kick in this morning," Fitz said grinning and handing her a banana. "Food first, then the fun begins."
...
"So how are you feeling Lizzie B?" Fitz asked as they sat in the hotel suite.
"Fitz," Darcy said warningly.
"Darcface, don't be a buzz-kill," Lydia chided him.
"Lydia, be nice. He's sweet and a good kisser. You can't kiss him - - " Lizzie told her sister.
"They've kicked in," Gigi crowed.
"Darceface is good kisser? Way to go mancake," Lydia said to Darcy. "What else is he good at?"
"He has really nice hands," Lizzie told her sister smiling happily. "He is good with them. They are big and warm. I like when he touches me – –"
"TMI. God," Lydia said, " she really has no filter does she?"
"Nope," Fitz said grinning.
"Do you like William, Lizzie?" Gigi ask grinning at her red-faced brother who was sitting next to Lizzie. Lizzie nodded happily. Fitz looked at Darcy and nodded his head towards Lizzie. Darcy stared back blankly. "Ask her," Fitz mouthed.
"No," Darcy said turning back to Lizzie and putting his arm around her, pulling her closer to him.
"Lizzie B, will you go to dinner with Darcy?" Fitz ask her.
"We are on Monday," she said happily. "Oh wait, we have to reschedule, Lyds is here now."
Lydia smirked at Darcy.
"She can hang out with Fitz!" Gigi announced.
"Or I can totes go with you and Darceface, really get to know him totes better," Lydia said brightly.
"Why don't you and I hang out then. I could tell you anything you want to know about Darcy," Fitz told her. "You can ask me anything."
"When did he lose his v-card? Is he a thoughtful caring lover? Does he know his way around a woman's body? Can he -"
"Never-mind group dinner it is," Fitz said. "I'm not sure I want to think about or answer any of those."
"That's what I thought," Lydia said smugly. Grinning at Darcy she said, "So where are we going? Five star restaurant? You're paying obvs."
"He can't pay for us Lyds. I'm paying for us. My budget says we're going to - - oh my God, we're eating Ramen Lyds. I'm getting a bill from the clinic for this," Lizzie said pointing at her ankle.
"Yea, I kind of doubt that," Lydia smirked as Darcy ducked his head.
"You smell really good," Lizzie said sniffing Darcy.
"She kinda has a short attention span unless she's talking about my brother when she is like this," Gigi told Lydia.
Lizzie snuggled into Darcy and announced "I like you."
"I like you to Lizzie," Darcy said.
"We should watch a movie. Gigi's never seen Risky Business," Lizzie said changing topics.
"Seriously?" Lydia said turning to Gigi.
Gigi shrugged.
"I have to shoot a video for tomorrow morning," Lizzie said.
"Don't worry Lizzie B I think me Gigi and Lydia can handle that for you," Fitz told her.
"Totes!" Lydia agreed.
"I'm going to be on Lizzie's vlog?" Gigi ask excitedly.
"I think I could fall in love with you," Lizzie told Darcy.
Everyone froze and looked at Lizzie.
"I hope most feverently that you do," Darcy told her tenderly. "I want to spend my life with you."
"I've tried not falling in love with you and it didn't seem to really work. It's scary. I don't know if I want to fall in love. But I think I am with you."
"I'd never hurt you Lizzie," Darcy said kissing her softly. "I love you."
Lizzie sighed, snuggled even closer almost in his lap and closed her eyes. Seconds later she was asleep.
"OMG leave it to my sister to drop a bomb like that and then get totes knocked out from her pain meds," Lydia said breaking the silence.
"We," Fitz said indicating him, Lydia and Gigi, "are going to go get Risky Business, shoot Lizzie's video, and pick up something and bring it back for lunch. You get to stay here with Sleeping Beauty."
Darcy didn't acknowledge Fitz, he was too focused on Lizzie asleep on him who had just told him she was falling in love with him. He wanted to remember this moment forever.
...
"I knew it," Lydia said smugly.
"That she was falling in love with William?"Gigi ask.
"Duh," Lydia said.
"Before you got here?" Gigi wanted to know.
"I was totes worried about her after the crap he pulled with Bing when I saw him on her videos, but Darcy's different now."
"You know about Bing?" Fitz asked.
"Darcy got into his head," Lydia said with a shrug. "He fixed it, or he has tried to. Bing totes shouldn't have let Darcy make him leave Jane."
"Having met you, I'm kind of surprised you didn't show up in LA and harass Bing. I mean that in the best way possible," Gigi said.
"Jane deserves better than some guy that lets others tell him what to do. If he grows a pair and actually comes back for Jane it'd be worth my time. He won't get to hurt her twice."
"I think you will have to line up behind Darcy if he hurts her again," Fitz told her. "He told him he'd punch him again if he did."
"Darcy punched Bing?" Gigi ask. "When?"
"In Tahoe," Fitz told her.
"He totes said something about Lizzie didn't he?" Lydia asked.
"I don't know," Fitz said.
"He's a little overprotective isn't a he?" Lydia commented.
"He means well," Gigi assured her. "He really is a great big brother."
"He said you'd say that," Lydia said smirking. "So what's your story? Why are you in Hunsford GiGi?"
"I came to visit my brother," Gigi said glancing at Fitz.
"I'm not buying that. You are worried he'd screw up with Lizzie and wanted to be here to do damage control."
"How did you guess that?" Gigi ask
"I notice stuff. I might not be a "judge of character" like Lizzie but I totes make up stories for people based off what I see. Like you want to help your brother with his love life. Some jerk broke your heart and you see your brother as a good guy that should get the girl."
"You are really perceptive. Have you considered a Psychology major?" Fitz ask her.
"Totes not, too many textbooks."
"You could be addressed as doctor if you became one," Fitz pointed out. "None of your sisters are doctors."
"I might keep that in mind Fitz," Lydia said thoughtfully. "The Bennet sisters all have their own slots we are expected to fill and shine in. Lizzie's the academic one, but doctor would be a fun distinction."
"Well I think you'd be good at it," Fitz told her.
"No one's ever said I'd be good at something like that before."
"I've seen Lizzie's videos, you should consider it," Fitz told her again.
Turning back to Gigi Lydia said, "Whatever Wickham did, don't worry if he pops up again I'll whack and down so hard he won't get up again."
GiGi startled at Wickham's name. "How'd you - -"
"Your brother hates him, totes more than could be explained by the Darvid and Batman story. How long do you think Darcy will wait?"
"Wait for what?" Fitz ask.
"He has something rock hard in his pants he wants to give Lizzie. We shouldn't speculate about size, but knowing Darcy it's big," Lydia said thoughtfully with a smirk.
Gigi turn bright red and gasped, "He's my brother."
Lydia looked at her innocently and said, I was talking about the ring in his pocket GiGi. The one he fiddles with."
Gigi and Fitz both looked at her.
"Ahh, he totes wants to marry her, and he fingers something in his pocket whenever he stares at her," Lydia pointed out.
"Oh my God. He bought a ring. You're really good. You've only been here two hours. Fitz I can't go back home tomorrow. If Lydia is here I might miss something big."
"You're not skipping Gigi. Lydia isn't skipping either. I'm e-mailing her professors and telling them she is doing career research," Fitz said.
"I'm what?"Lydia said in disbelief.
"You and I are going to research psychology degrees, Fitz told her firmly.
