A/N: So here's chapter seven. Just a quick disclaimer: I know I usually research the hell out of details when it comes to my stories but given this is fiction, I'm going down the fictional route of divorce in this story. Usually in the UK, where my story is set, there are only a few guidelines when it comes to divorce. Also going off my parent's divorce (which ended after 18 years of marriage) theirs was finalised within 8 months. So, I'm not an expert when it comes to how to divorce a spouse, I'm not even married to my long-term partner. So, please bear this in mind when it comes to this chapter.

Chapter Seven

"Elizabeth would you like to stay for dinner? I've made a stir fry." Alice asked warmly. b

It was nearly six-thirty on a Thursday night at the end of June, having been in her job for nearly a month. Her day had consisted of picking up the list requirements for Mia's upcoming school trip to Hampton Court Palace next week and observing Mia at her afterschool trampolining club that she had taken up last week.

"Yeah! Stay for dinner Lizzy," Mia pleaded excitedly, "I love stir fry!"

Will chuckled as he ruffled his daughter's hair.

"You are welcome to eat with us. Alice's stir fry is a family favourite." He said.

Elizabeth nodded her agreement, pulling out her phone to send her dad a text to tell him she'd be home a bit later than usual. The past week Will had left work earlier to be home long before it was time to tuck Mia into bed. Whilst it had meant a few earlier finishes, she had also gotten to see a lot more of the bond between Will and Mia and she found herself touched, as if her heart glowed whenever she witnessed the closeness that father and daughter shared. She felt so lucky that over the past month she had been accepted into their little unit.

"I'd love to stay, thank you." She replied softly.

Following the three into the dining room, she sat at the table and watched as Alice served up equal portions for the adults and a slightly smaller portion of stir fry for Mia. Will started off the conversation asking what everyone had been up to that day, making sure he took notice of every word said as the four ate their dinner. Elizabeth took the opportunity to ask Will shout his day in return, taking an interest in his work as a lawyer; even though he couldn't go into detail about his caseloads or clients due to confidentiality. Listening to the way he spoke about his work, Elizabeth could tell he loved his career.

"This stir fry is delicious, Alice." Elizabeth complimented.

"Thanks dear," Alice beamed, "It's an old family recipe."

"Alice used to cook it when Daddy was my age." Mia informed her, taking a bite off her fork.

"I did," Alice confirmed, "It was one of the meals I used to love to cook for my own husband and children."

"Are they big fans as much as Will and Mia?" Elizabeth asked.

"They were," Alice replied, "My children, James and Maggie, still ask for me to cook it whenever I spend time with them and their families. Sadly my husband Arthur died ten years ago."

"Oh…I'm sorry…"

"No apologies my dear, he lived a full and wonderful life." Alice said fondly.

With that, Will decided to move the topic of Alice's deceased husband to telling Elizabeth fond memories of Alice and her family at his family home, how he had grown up with Alice's children and had come to think of them as cousins. As they continued to eat their dinner, Elizabeth couldn't stop herself from smiling at just how lucky she was to be working and getting to know a generous and thoughtful man like William Darcy.

ooOoo

Dinner had been eaten with chocolate ice-cream served for dessert. Will had kindly offered to give her a lift home after he had done Mia's bedtime routine. While Elizabeth waited in the living room, Alice brought her a freshly made cup of tea and the two women were watching Coronation Street just as they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"I'm just going to unload the dishwasher." Alice announced cheerfully, getting up from her seat and exiting the room.

Will entered the living room and sat next to Elizabeth on the sofa where Alice had sat only moments ago.

"Mia's fast asleep, let me know when you're ready to go home." Will said.

"Are you sure it's not too much trouble?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'd rather you got home safely and I wouldn't have offered if it was too much trouble." Will replied.

"Thanks."

They sat watching the rest of Coronation Street when she heard him ask her something she hadn't expected him to ask.

"So…what's the situation with your sister…if you don't mind me asking?"

Her eyes diverted from the television to Will, an eyebrow raised.

"Which sister? And are you asking for yourself?" she questioned.

"No! not for me-"

"My sisters are amazing, you'd be very lucky." Elizabeth teased.

But Will had yet to catch her amused tone.

"I'm sure I would…but after that weekend where we bumped into you at the bar…and Charles was a bit…deflated I guess when your sister Jane turned him down…"

Ah. Charlie. The man that Jane had connected with and had turned him down on account of her life with the twins. Elizabeth understood her sister's decision. Contemplating going on a date with someone when she was a single mother was complicated. Add on the fact that one of her children had special needs would make dating rather more complicated. She also understood why Jane hadn't gone into detail about Lucy when she had told Charles about the twins. After everything that had happened with George, she could understand why her sister was hesitant about letting another man into her life.

"It's not really my place but I know she likes your friend. She hasn't shut up about him for starters and she feels guilty for what happened." Elizabeth said softly.

"I suppose I can understand…being a single parent and being asked out…it can be a little scary…" Will said quietly.

"All my sister thinks about and does is look after her twins. My niece and nephew are the luckiest kids alive having a mum like her." Elizabeth replied.

"I can relate. After my wife died and I became a single parent, I poured all of my focus into Mia. She got me through my grief."

"Did you ever date anyone after your wife's death?"

It was clear her question had taken him by surprise by the stunned expression on his face. Will cleared his throat with a sharp cough and shrugged his shoulders.

"I went on a few dates and there was one woman that I was 'seeing' for about three months but it never developed into something serious. I hope there will be one day where I can meet another woman who can love my child as much as they'd love their own child." He explained.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't-"

"No, it's fine," Will smiled reassuringly, "How about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Would you want to start seeing someone?"

"My divorce is still pending, I haven't even signed papers yet." Elizabeth reminded him.

"So maybe not now or in the near future. But how about…I don't know…a year from now?" Will asked curiously.

"I'm not really looking for that. When David told me that he wanted a divorce, I decided to move back home for a fresh start. That was five weeks ago and I'm starting to feel a little more positive about myself. I guess what I'm trying to say is…I want to focus on me for a change. I've got an amazing job which I absolutely enjoy and look forward to everyday, I'm slowly saving up for a deposit on my own place. Eventually I'll buy my own car but first I need to move out of my parent's house!" she said, adding a laugh at her last sentence.

"I think it's great that you're putting yourself first. I take it that your marriage was an unhappy one?" he asked.

"Not at first. It was quite a happy one. I loved David…at least I think I did. I was twenty, he was the first man that I ever thought about a future with. But like I said, we were married young and fast. When I finished university, our whole marriage was about David's career. David's future. David's opportunities. He expected me to run the house daily and do all the chores. I was only allowed a part-time job so that it didn't interfere with David's vision of our life. Towards the end of our marriage…there were a lot of…" Elizabeth paused

"Arguments?" Will offered.

"A lot. And pressures and tears. There was one subject that we couldn't work through together but I've come to realise recently that my marriage was purely about David and what I wanted or what I desired didn't matter." Elizabeth sighed.

"I know this may sound horrible, but at least you got out of there. It sounds like your ex-husband is a selfish man." Will said softly.

"He is." Elizabeth agreed quietly, looking away from him.

That was something she had come to reflect on rather quickly. While she had known for a long time that her marriage was rocky, she had been willing to give counselling a try over the difficulties she and David faced. It pained her to learn that she would never be able to conceive and carry her own biological child and it was something that she was pushing to the back of her mind. Or at least trying to.

Will cleared his throat and switched over the TV channel once Coronation Street finished and Elizabeth finished her cup of tea.

"If you need any help with your divorce proceedings or help with the settlement of assets, I have some friends who specialise in family law. I can pull some strings if you want to put a firm close on that chapter of your life." He offered quietly.

Elizabeth turned her head to look at him, frowning slightly at the surprising offer to help her through her divorce. It surprised her that he would be willing to do something like that for her.

"I don't know what to say…" she said breathlessly.

"Well…we're friends aren't we?" Will asked.

"You're also my employer." Elizabeth reminded.

"True. But you're off the clock now. We've been talking for the last half an hour as friends." He pointed out.

"I just don't want a developing friendship with you to get complicated because of our working relationship."

"So we set some boundaries," Will smiled with reassurance, "During the hours you care for Mia, we maintain a professional standard."

"Do you think we can?" Elizabeth asked.

"I do."

Sharing a warm expression the two got up from their seats and left the house so Will could drop Elizabeth back home.

ooOoo

Charles stood in his new living room, proud of how much work he had accomplished in his week off work. He had taken a week off to be able to start decorating his new home. He had only been off for a few days and he had already decorated one of his spare bedrooms, his bedroom, the kitchen and today he had finished off the living room. He still had a lot of work to do, with the plans to start decorating the bathroom tomorrow.

He'd also finally gotten around to setting up his internet and television service provider which meant he could now fully enjoy his new home after going backwards and forwards between his old rented flat in London and his new house in Meryton on his weekends. He was now officially living in his new house and he planned to enjoy it to the fullest.

Another reason he was planning to keep so busy with decorating was to keep his mind off Jane Bennet. He hadn't seen her since the night he and Will ran into her and her sisters at the bar a few weeks ago and after she seemed to regretfully turn down him asking her out, he had decided to give her some space. She was a single mother to twins. Perhaps the hardest job of all raising two children by herself and it seemed like she genuinely regretted turning him down. But he understood. Her children had to be her priority and he had left the ball in her court as to whether or not she would change her mind.

But he still felt his heart race in his chest whenever his thoughts drifted to her. He knew that he liked her. That there had been something between them. He really liked her but he didn't want to pressure her or stalk her like some persistent predator.

Just as he sat down on his sofa he heard his front door knock. Rolling his eyes, he walked out into the downstairs hallway and opened his front door, being winded as a large leopard print suitcase was thrust into his chest. Charles pushed the door to a close and rested his blue eyes on the woman who had barged uninvited into his home.

"Caroline, what are you doing here?" Charles groaned in frustration.

His little sister flicked her loose red hair over her left shoulder.

"Can't a little sister come and spend some time with her favourite brother?" Caroline asked.

"Not when I didn't know you were coming!" Charles protested.

Caroline glared at him.

"Oh that's nice! You always know how to make someone feel special, Charles! I just wanted to spned some time with you for Christ's sake."

Rolling his eyes at his sister's tantrum, he placed her suitcase on the floor.

"You can stay for a few days! No longer!" Charles stated firmly.

Caroline gave him a sweet smile and hugged him tightly.

"You won't regret it, big brother." She whispered, her possessive eyes settling on the photograph on the side table of her brother, a baby girl with curly hair and William Darcy.