NOTES: Switches POV a lot. Emails between our favorite couple, very long chapter, mostly dialogue.

Also, I know that some of y'all want me to wrap it up a bit quicker and get back to the fluff— and don't worry, they'll be LOTS of fluff coming very soon— but you do have to understand: I don't like writing time skips. At most, I say 'A few days later...,' and because of this, I have to take it slow, or else it won't be realistic.

Granted, it's not SUPER realistic anyway, but c'mon y'all. This is fan fiction. It's what ya signed up for ;)

Anyway, I'll be posting again soon— Thank you so much for reading, and stay safe out there! ❤️ ~Vinny

"Ugh, dude, I am SOOO glad you guys are planning the bachelor/bachelorette party together! It was really starting to make me worried, ya know? Plus, I think you'll be GREAT for each other!"

Darcy held the phone a little tighter. His fingernails dug into his new case. He stayed silent, and listened to Charlie ramble on about how great Jane's sister was, and how HAPPY he was that they were working together.

"Listen, Bingley," he said, interrupting him. "Don't get your hopes up. She and I aren't 'working together.' We barely started emailing! I don't even know her name!"

He heard Charlie laugh. "That sounds like Li— Well, that sounds like her. She likes a bit of whimsy in her life. Or so I'm told. I don't.. actually know her…"

"I don't really want to know her!" Darcy exploded. "She's— immature! And I- I can't work with her."

There was a pause on the other line. Then a long laugh.

"Oh, oh my god, Darce, you really know how to crack a guy up!"

Another, lengthier pause.

"Wait, you're serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious!" Darcy cried, flopping back onto his couch. "Why would you think I'm not?!"

"Well.. I mean.., Darce, you've only exchanged.. what? Five emails with her?"

"Something like that," he mumbled.

"Then you can't really know her yet! At least, not enough to hate her!" Charlie sighed into the phone. "Look, Darce. This party is really important to me— and Jane. You guys are the most level-headed out of.. well, all our friends! (Not sure what that says about us, but…)"

Darcy snorted, and Charlie continued.

"It's just one party! All y'all have to do is just decide on decor, compromise a bit, and send out invites! It's not that hard. Look, I'll text you the guest list now."

"Wait, I—" Darcy stopped. He grimaced as his phone lit up. "Nevermind."

"Awesome." There was a short break in conversation, where Darcy wasn't quite able to surprise his sigh.

"Look, man," Charlie, began, then broke off. He started again, slower this time. "I know… this.. isn't your forte… but.. well, I want you to be there on my wedding day. So please, just this once, just grit your teeth and do something you don't want to do— for me."

As the weight of his words sunk in, Darcy cringed back from the phone. How many people in his life had to tell him he was self-centered before the message got through?

"I'm— sorry," he said, haltingly. "That was shitty of me to do. You're right— this is not about me. I'll do whatever I can to help with the party."

"Thanks," Charlie's relieved voice said. "And.. try to be a little nicer to L— to the maid of honor. She's not actually all that bad, from what I know."

"Sure," Darcy said with a firm smile. "Later, Bingley."

He hung up the phone, and ran a hand over his face. Damn it. He didn't have the emotional energy to email the Maid of Honor right now. He needed to sleep, maybe sort some shit out.

Was he getting worse, as a person, because Lizzy had left him? Or had he always been this way, but never knew?

Bed. He had to get to bed.

Unfortunately, sleep did not delay his problems for long. When he woke up, it was all still there.

Plus a raging headache.

Pulling himself out of bed was a Herculean Task, and when he finally managed it, he only got as far as the kitchen before he slumped down in a chair. Ugh. He didn't feel sick, but his whole body ached; his head, worst of all.

But he had work to do. Even if it was a Saturday.

He copied and pasted the short guest list into his email, and wrote a quick note.

'Dear Maid of Honor,

I am sorry I acted the way I did in our last emails. It was very wrong of me. I hope we can move forward.

Attached is Charlie's guest list so far. Would you please send me Jane's so we can combine them? Thanks.

Sincerely,

Best Man'

He had only just gotten up to pour himself some orange juice and maybe grab a painkiller or two, when he got his reply. Surprisingly, she wasn't excessively rude.

'Best Man,

I'm sorry you acted that way too, but I am especially sorry for my own behavior. I don't even know you. If you are willing as well, of course we can move forward.

I also attached Jane's list of people. It's a lot shorter, I know, but that's why we're combining right? So it's okay.

Also, just a side note, does the 'Caroline B' on the guest list happen to live in the city here? Just checking for a personal acquaintance.

~Maid of Honor'

He almost laughed, but instead just groaned audibly. Fuck. He had completely blipped over the fact that CAROLINE would be at the wedding. Because of course. Darcy was liking the idea of this wedding party less and less with every passing minute.

But he had to remember. This was not about him. This was Charlie's big day.

'Maid of Honor,

Thank you for sending Jane's list.

Caroline does in fact live in the city here. I must admit, if there was anyone I wish I could univite, it would be her. For… personal reasons.

I hope for your sake it is not the same Caroline that we are thinking of.

~Best Man'

Only about a two hour drive away from where Fitzwilliam Darcy hit send, a woman reading her email burst into laughter.

So! She thought, He DOES have a sense of humor! Good on him!

Or, Lizzy amended, sobering quickly, he is just a nasty person who means whatever he says to the letter.

No. No! She wasn't doing that again.

Lizzy had gone to bed last night satisfied that that would be the end of their interactions. But when she woke up, reality came crashing down. Had she just said 'FUCK YOU' to the person she was supposed to work with for the next few weeks?! God, she was an actual child. She needed to grow up.

So, instead of presuming the worst in her response, this time, Lizzy chose to presume the best. That the Best Man didn't eat children and spit on old ladies in the street. That he may just be.. an actual… normal person.

'Hahaha,' she wrote, 'I hope not too. My Caroline tried to….' Wait. That was a little too personal. Lizzy deleted a bit, and retyped.

'Haha! Yeah, I hope it's not the same Caroline as well. She was.. not the nicest person, to say the least.

Honestly, her being at that wedding would be… pretty much the biggest coincidence I could think of.

Oh, also, last night I was thinking… I'm pretty sure I came up with a solution to the dress code issue we had: casual chic. It'll be nice, but give the ladies a chance to rest their feet from high heels.

What do you think?

~Maid of Honor'

While Lizzy waited for his response, she went and grabbed a mini-carton of milk and some berries. She popped a few into her mouth as she read, and tried not to do so between the lines.

'Maid of Honor,

That sounds like a good compromise. There's just one thing: Isn't the restaurant jazz-themed? Maybe we should say casual chic, but mention that it is a themed atmosphere, so that no one feels uncomfortable.

Plus, when I looked up "Casual Chic," I found some pictures of models in suit jackets with cowboy boots. It made for a rather disturbing image of the wedding.

Thoughts?

~Best Man'

Lizzy snorted into her milk. Of course this guy had a bone to pick with cowboy boots. I mean, why wouldn't he?

It was just too ridiculous.

But, she had to admit, he had a point about the theme. So, Lizzy ended up sending this back to him:

'That sounds like a great idea. I can start adding that to the invites.

Though, I must admit, I got a little giddy thinking about a bunch of honky-tonkers tearing up the dance floor at my sister's wedding.

An interesting sight, wouldn't you say? Maybe they can teach us to square dance haha

~Maid of Honor'

Only a two hours drive away, a melancholy man with a broken heart cracked a smile. He shook his hand, laughing softly into his hand. He wouldn't admit it for the world, but… maybe he had been wrong to judge too quickly.

Darcy wrote this back.

'I will never admit that I laughed just now. It would indeed be a.. very interesting sight. But, I think I'd have to pass on the square dancing. I'm fine with having an open dance floor, just… I think I'll pass.

Are the Best Man and/or Maid of Honor required to do any dances, like the bride and groom are?'

Lizzy grinned at that, and smacked her keyboard fast as she spelled out her reply.

'Best Man, I don't think we're required to dance... but I'd pay good money to see you do the funky chicken.

Actually, do it right now! I dare you! I double dare you! :)'

Throwing his head back in laughter, Darcy responded quickly. 'What?! You can't make me do that! LOL'

'Sure I can!' Came the almost immediate reply, 'It's.. um… it is a TRADITION that Best man and Maid of honor dare each other to do stupid stuff during the wedding planning! You can't mess with tradition, man!'

Darcy highly doubted that there had EVER been a tradition like that, but.. well… almost against his will, he was having fun. So, he ended up replying in the affirmative.

'Fine. Hit me with it— and NO DANCING ALLOWED'

'Awww, okay, baby steps then!' He read out eagerly from her lightning-fast response. 'I dare you to… hm… Give a sincere compliment to someone at work! Or go out of your way to be nice to a janitor, or intern, or someone you think is below you. Betcha that'll be hard for ya, haha'

Less than a second later, the Maid of Honor added this.

'Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't think about what I was saying. You don't have to respond to that.'

Darcy's grin turned sanguine. He closed his eyes briefly, and breathed out before typing his clear, careful response.

'I'll do the dare, Maid of Honor,' he said, 'If you go out of your way not to form snap judgements about people.'

His inbox lit up for the last time that morning. It was… strange, how calm it made him to read that one simple word.

'Agreed.'