NOTES: Lizzy's POV. Bit of a longer chapter. Some mild (MILD) angst in the beginning, but I'm making up for it now :) next is gonna be FUN. Stay tuned y'all, and a happy Easter to those who celebrate it!

Love you all, leave a review with any commendations or suggestions! Will post again soon! ~Vinny

Lizzy Bennet was not, by nature, a worrying kind of person. She told herself this as she sat in the back of a cab, willing traffic lights to change.

It.. it's not that bad, she coached herself, almost half-believing it, So what if his whole family thinks you're a slut now? So what if they're kind of right because Jesus Lizzy that was the first date and you barely know the guy and you were all ready and roarin' to—

Yeah, okay, that's enough.

Green light!

The taxi lurched forward, almost knocking Lizzy into the front of the seat. She tried not to notice the driver's smirk as he had given her wrinkled and hastily donned clothes a once-over.

It wasn't called the walk of shame because it was a cakewalk, after all.

Lizzy had never had the 'Walk of Shame' before. She had been with boys before, sure, but she was usually prepared. She usually waited until at leAST THE SECOND DATE OH MY GOD.

Breathe. It's okay.

Fitzwilliam was… was a great guy! He wasn't some frat-boy beast, who only wanted her panties down! He would understand, if Lizzy was a little hesitant going forward.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed with a text.

'Hi Lizzy it's me I'm just texting to say I am very very sorry about that and are we okay?'

It buzzed again.

'I mean, are you okay?'

Over the next few seconds, where Lizzy turned off her phone and got out of the taxi, her inbox was filled with the following texts, from a certain CEO.

'I know you said "we'll talk about it" with dinner tonight but I really wanna make up for what happened and could I please take you out?'

'I don't want to leave things like how they are now.'

'Also— I'm sorry for forgetting this— do you need a ride? I'd be more than willing to drive you home if you need it.'

'Lizzy are you there?'

'Hello?'

'God I'm texting too much aren't I. Sorry'

'Just please let me know you got home safely. Bye.'

When Lizzy saw these, her first (traitorous) response was to smile at Fitzwilliam's obvious care and awkwardness. Her second was to frown at the fact that said awkwardness made it such that he didn't know when to give a girl space.

Wait. Did… she want… space?

She wanted to see him again, yes, but.. weren't they moving too fast? Lizzy didn't want to become dependent on a guy who might run away, or leave her in the dust. Or, worse, a guy who would stick by her no matter what and make Lizzy feel like the villain if she ever wanted to see other people.

It.. was only their first day as a couple. If they even were a couple. They didn't need to be spending every waking moment together, including waking UP together..

Lizzy (who had made it back to her apartment by this time) leaned her head against a wall and groaned. She really wished she didn't miss him already.

Okay, that was it. Deciding factor, right there. She was developing feelings that were possibly not reciprocated, very early on in a relationship. She needed to take a step back, for her own safety.

Today was not the day for a leap of faith.

She picked up her phone, and, after a few rough drafts, texted him back.

'Hey, Fitzwilliam. Thanks for checking up on me. Yes I made it back safely. I am.. alright. But a little shaken up, if I'm being honest. I like you, Fitzwilliam, and that's why I don't want to ruin things by moving too fast. Is it.. alright… with you if we just… take it slow, for a while? Get some breathing room? I just think we would do better if we took our time with this. Is that okay?'

For a few, nerve-wracking seconds, all Fitzwilliam said back was typing dots. Then a response popped up.

'Of course. We'll take it slow.'

Lizzy smiled down at her phone with a kind of twang in her chest. This was what she wanted. She wanted this.

The rest of her day passed uneventfully. She went back to her shift after a brief nap, and made fresh coffee. She checked on the herb garden. She considered walking to the library, but opted out just in case another customer came in while she was gone. She watched her phone carefully, unsure of what she wanted to see.

Really the only part of her day worth noting was a conversation with Violette, near the end.

"Soooo," her friend said, leaning on her elbows over the counter, "How was your daaaaate?"

Lizzy sighed a little. "No comment."

"Awww, too bad. I thought it would have gone somewhere."

"It— It did! It is, going somewhere. But… I just said I wanted to take it slow. He's a great guy, he's just.. he was moving a little fast for me."

Violette made a face. "Girl, that's a MINOR concern," she laughed. "Relationships always move a little faster than you expect! It's how it works!"

"And you're an expert on this?" Lizzy asked mildly, raising an eyebrow.

Violette puffed up proudly. "Actually, as of yesterday, I might be. I got asked out."

"Oh really? That's wonderful, Vio!" Lizzy gushed, racing to hug her friend. "Was it that guy from yoga— Dennis, was it?"

Violette squirmed out of her grip, looking a little uncomfortable. "No.. it's… um, a guy from our high school."

Lizzy perked up. "Who?"

Violette swallowed, looking like she was forced to eat a stink bug whole. "It's, ahh, Collins."

"...Collins."

"Yes. Collins."

"Like.. THE Collins?"

"What other Collins is there?"

Lizzy laughed, a little incredulously. "God, I dunno, one that ISN'T a stalker who ate paste senior year?"

"That was a long time ago," Violette said, trying not to sound half-hearted. "He's changed."

Lizzy couldn't help raising her eyebrows. "Really."

"Y-yeah!" Violette hurried to turn away. "He's.. different, now. More.. career-oriented."

She sighed. "For your sake, Vio, I hope so."

They didn't talk about dates or boys for the rest of the shift. Lizzy tried not to feel bad for her friend, who was so quick to settle for what she was given. She tried not to feel like she made a mistake with how she handled things with Fitzwilliam.

It would all work out for the best. It would!

It was hard to believe that, though, when no head of rowdy curls and a familiar half-grin walked through the Longbourn doors— either that day, or the morning after.

Right towards the end of her shift the next day, Lizzy got so eager to see him, that her head would shoot up like a rocket, anytime the doors made that bell chime.

That was how she locked eyes with a very guilty looking man, with messy blonde tufts sticking every which way. He gave her a little half-wave.

Lizzy turned pink. She gulped. "Dah… hi, Blondie."

"Hi," he said. He walked over to the counter, shuffling, and the light caught the sheen of his swollen black eye.

"Oh my gosh," Lizzy said, before she could stop herself, "what happened?"

Blondie shot her a rueful smile. "Uh… walked into a door frame. Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Look, could I talk with you for a sec?"

She glanced around the all-but-deserted cafe. "Um.. sure."

"Lizzy," he began, pleading with his one good eye, "I'm really sorry for.. the scene I made. It was… kind of childish of me."

She folded her arms and almost grinned. "Ya think?"

He chuckled dryly. "Yeah, yeah, it was. I was rude. I just… well, I don't really have an excuse. Teasing's just in my nature, ya know? And.. I sometimes take it too far. I'm sorry."

"I forgive you," Lizzy said, with only a little difficulty.

"But I didn't come here to ask for you to say that," Blondie hurried on, "to ME, anyway. Look…" he rubbed at the back of his head.

"I know this isn't my place but… Darcy's really messed up about this whole thing. He got it into his head that he needs to back off, and… well, he's pretty miserable. I know y'all care about each other, and… He just needs you to reach out to him. Sorry— I know I'm overstepping— but I thought you should know."

Lizzy smiled genuinely this time. Softly, she inclined her head. "Thanks, Blondie. I'll.. talk to him."

The man gave a swift nod, and made for the door. As he turned around, he called out, with a flicker of his old gusto, "And I was never here. Got it?"

"Got it," she laughed. "Wouldn't want another door frame accident, would we?"

Blondie just laughed, and was gone. Lizzy breathed out into a smile. She wasn't happy that Fitzwilliam was unhappy, per se, but… it was nice to know she wasn't the only one affected by this.

Gathering her courage, and her phone, Lizzy closed her eyes, and typed out a message. She hit send before she could overthink anymore. She missed him, and that's all there was to it. So why not?

'Good morning, Mr Darcy. Have you ever been to laser tag?'