Chapter 41: Words Left Unsaid..

Last Chapter Synopsis: Darcy threw a surprise engagement party for Bingley and Jane that everyone had a fantastic time at. Afterwards, Darcy and Lizzy got hot and heavy in the back of the Limo, but Darcy put a stop to the friskiness when he realized that Lizzy was more intoxicated than he originally thought, especially when she blurted that she loved him. In spite of his reservations, Lizzy asks him to stay with her, and he does.

Lizzy Bennet nestled more snugly into the cozy and comforting warmth that had found her under the covers, trying to ignore the incessant ringing that threatened to drag her out of sleep induced bliss. Sighing deeply, she pressed her eyes shut and tucked herself further into the pillow, making an even stronger effort to block out the horrendously nagging sound in favor of returning to the peaceful dream that was already quickly fleeting.

The sudden and unexpected motion behind her, however, brought her out of slumber and fully into the present in an instant. Before she could even process it's source, Will's rumbling voice filled the room with a tired and throaty, "Hello?"

Time stood still as Lizzy attempted to make sense of her present situation. Losing the security of the bedspread as she quickly turned to face him, the chill of the hotel room air breezed over Lizzy's legs. She watched in hazy confusion as Will mumbled a "thank you" and hung up the phone. Catching her wondering and incredulous gaze, he offered a tired smile and continued, "Um...well...that was your wake up call."

The tumultuous swirl of questions that had already begun winding their way in Lizzy's mind temporarily ceased as the importance of the call slowly recalled her thoughts to the present.

"Wait, what?" Lizzy looked over his shoulder in an attempt to catch sight of the clock on the night stand, wincing at the dull throbbing at the base of her temple as a result of her sudden movement. "What time is it?"

Turning to look himself, he released a groan that bordered on a growl, covering his eyes with the palms of his hands. "4am."

"Oh…OH!" Filled with panic and eyes wide, Lizzy momentarily forgot all about her early morning companion as she leapt from the bed and began yanking clothes from her drawers and into her suitcase.

She heard him release a deep sigh amidst her frenzy, and she could almost picture him rubbing the bridge of his nose as he sometimes did while in deep thought. "Lizzy, did you seriously book a red-eye flight on a Saturday?"

Turning to face him, Lizzy discovered that Will was already standing at this point; as much as she told herself not to, she couldn't resist indulging in a momentary admiring glance at the sight of him in only boxer briefs before returning to her packing. Slightly embarrassed at her brazenness, she mumbled into her open suitcase, "Um, yeah...why?"

"I can think of multiple reasons why not actually. Can I get you to change your flight? I'm sure I have connections at your airline."

Lizzy met his gaze again as her heart responded to the gentleness in his tone. "Honestly? I would love to. But...I can't. I promised my baby sister I would meet her new boyfriend later this afternoon. It was the first time we were able to coordinate our schedules, and I go back to work first thing Monday morning."

"And you're not packed already?"

Lizzy sheepishly shook her head.

"At all?"

Lizzy shot him a teasing look. "Let's get something straight here mister...I didn't plan on being out all night at an engagement party the day before my flight. I wouldn't have missed it for the world…but yes, it seems to have set me back in the packing department."

He shook his head in knowing disbelief, a smile curling his lips in spite of himself. "Alright, what can I do to help?"

Glancing hurriedly around the room, Lizzy directed him to the closet and told him to begin throwing the clothes inside into one of her carry-ons. She had to smirk when she saw him folding them into pristine squares before placing them in her duffle, even as she began dumping the toiletries on her bathroom counter into the nearest plastic bag.

She peeked her head around the door frame, mirth still toying with her lips at the thought of the pair they made, but focusing herself enough to acknowledge his efforts. "Thank you for helping, Will."

He smiled back at her. "Of course. I just wish I could convince you to stay."

Lizzy's stomach knotted as she acknowledged that staying was exactly what she wanted to do. However, ever since Kitty had mentioned her new man, Lizzy had always gotten a sense of anxiety about whoever this new boyfriend was. She hoped that she was just being paranoid, but she had made a promise to herself that she would make sure that this person was legitimate, and aside from that afternoon, Kitty had been unable to get her boyfriend to commit to a convenient time.

Lizzy opened her mouth to further explain why she had to return on the flight she had booked, but stopped herself suddenly. What if it was Wickham? It was such a remote possibility that she didn't want to cause Will any unnecessary concern. Besides, she had already made sure that they would be meeting in a public place where she was certain that they would be safe. And if it was Wickham, she would absolutely have the upper hand; even if he ran, she would have easy access to his contact information and latest whereabouts from her sister. In the ideal scenario - in the tiny, remote chance that she was still dealing with Greg - Lizzy would soon be able to call Will with the good news that Wickham had been captured.

Biting her lip to hold back her explanation, Lizzy wistfully replied, "I wish that too, Will. More than you know. But I really can't this time. I'm sorry."

The look in his eyes was all Will had to say in reply.

Twenty-five minutes later, Will was lifting the last of Lizzy's bags into the trunk of his car. Opening the door, he ushered for her to go in first and then settled into the backseat beside her.

Will watched as Lizzy tried to hide a tired yawn while looking up at the inky black winter sky. Her words from last night reverberated over again and again in his mind, the potential magnitude of their importance made greater by the rapid drumming of his heart. I love you. He wanted to ask her, but he wasn't even sure if she had known what she was saying at the time. Just a few moments ago, Lizzy seemed to have decided that whatever she felt for him wasn't even enough to induce her to stay an extra day. Perhaps it was simply better not to bring it up.

By this time, Lizzy had tucked her head on his shoulder; soft brown curls tickling the base of his neck and spilling onto his chest. Just before he could summon the courage to ask about her late night confession, Lizzy softly cleared her throat and quietly spoke first, "So, um...did we, ah...well, you know..."

A light chuckle escaped his lips at her uncertainty. "Sleep together?"

"Yea."

"You really don't remember?"

"Well, I don't think that we did, but...well, I honestly woke up not realizing that I would be missing so many clothes...or, that you would be so undressed, either…so, I guess I just…figured I would ask..."

"We didn't." It actually hurt to say it, the pang in his chest reminding him that he had been holding his breath during her speech. Once again attempting to settle himself, he forced out the one fact that still gave him hope: "You asked me to stay, so I did."

"I do remember that, actually. I'm glad you stayed."

A small smile curled the corner of his lips. "Me too."

Falling back into a comfortable silence, Will watched as the streetlights passed over head, rhythmically casting them both in a comforting glow before throwing them into mysterious shadow. She was so close, and she did remember parts of last night. Maybe she had known what she was saying after all?

Now was the time. It might never come again. "Lizzy?"

"Mmm?" she mumbled in reply.

"Last night, you said something that I had almost given up hope of ever hearing from you."

Silence. Not the best start, but not the worst either.

He continued, "I hope you don't mind me bringing it up, but…you actually told me that you loved me. Is that...is it true?"

He waited a moment, but received no response. Looking down at the lush curls cascading on his shoulder, Will tried again. "Lizzy?"

The only reply was a soft and content sigh, and he soon realized that her steady breathing was the only answer he would be receiving. Lizzy Bennet had fallen fast asleep, and although he would have preferred an answer, Will couldn't deny that the feeling of her body pressed serenely into his side was no small consolation.

Lizzy's dreams were tortured on the flight home.

One involved her and Will walking calmly hand in hand in a valley that was lush in spring greens and purple flowers. Suddenly, and without warning, a split would begin forming in the ground between them. Realizing that the ground was breaking them apart, both would sprint into a run in the hopes of getting ahead of the crack. However, instead of being able to overcome the growing chasm, Will and Lizzy would wind up on opposite sides of an ever widening canyon, to the point where she could no longer see or hear him.

Another dream began while she sat waiting at her gate in the airport, when suddenly she would hear banging on the glass behind her. Turning, she would find Will trying desperately to get her attention and gesture her over to him. Almost immediately after, the call would come over the PA announcing the boarding of her flight. Although she wanted to get behind the glass to hear what Will had to say, a stewardess would come over and pull her firmly towards the gate, sternly informing her that she was not permitted in the area where Will was standing. Lizzy would then glance at the destination on her ticket to realize that it only read, 'the last time you will see Will Darcy.' Turning back to Will, she would be horrified to realize he had disappeared.

There was also the nightmare where Greg would show up dressed as the Joker from The Dark Knight, insisting on strapping Will to an oversized Game of Life wheel in order to throw knives at him; the clacking of the wheel would echo loudly in the hellish underground stone prison he held them both captive in, driving Lizzy slowly insane from the torment.

After the nightmare, sleep seemed less likely, and less important. Considering how they had parted, it didn't make sense why her subconscious seemed to feel so negatively about her and Will's future. Will had walked with her as far into the airport as he was allowed, at which point both had stopped to look at each other for a long moment. He then reached over and looped a strand of hair behind her ear, saying that he hoped that they would see each other again soon, and gently giving her a kiss on the cheek goodbye. She remembered the feel of his lips on her cheek, and the strong temptation she felt to turn her face to kiss him; but the moment was too tender to ruin. Then, as she had turned to leave, he suddenly remembered to ask her for her number so that he would be able to reach her when he returned to the states. His usual confidence had faltered slightly then, but there wasn't any time left to talk. At least, not enough to have the conversation that she needed to have with him.

She kept telling herself that it would be alright; that if they were meant to be together, they would. However, there was a dull ache in her stomach telling her that something wasn't right. She couldn't place how or what, but if it didn't go away soon, she knew that it had the potential to cause many more sleepless nights.

The subway ride to central park seemed to take even longer than usual, and Lizzy settled deep into the music playing in her headphones in an attempt to find some calm. As the train slowly ground to a halt at her station, she encouraged herself that it would all soon be over; she would meet this guy, hopefully get a good read on him fairly quickly, and then make a decision regarding Kitty's best interests. She could then return home and make an attempt at unpacking the last two weeks of her life, and maybe - if she was really lucky - she would be able to find the time (and words) to send Will an email. Simple enough, really.

The moment Lizzy reached the frigid pavement leading into the park, Lizzy dialed Kitty to find out where to meet her. Her sister answered rather quickly.

"Hi Liz." Sniffle.

"Hi Kitty. Where can I find you guys?"

"Uh...um...we're near the lake."

"It's a little cold out to be around water, Kitty. And you sound like you're getting sick. Do you feel alright?"

"I know but we wanted to take a look anyway. I'm fine."

Lizzy sighed. "Ok, where is that?"

"Um…sort of in the middle…I think around 74th?"

"Kitty, this isn't very helpful."

"Don't worry, Liz. Just walk that way and we'll find you. OK?"

Lizzy couldn't help but notice how tired her sister sounded.

"Okay…are you alright, Kitty?"

"Yea...just hurry. I…"

Abruptly, the phone hung up, and Lizzy felt a chill course through her bones. Lizzy re-dialed only to hear it go straight to voicemail. Instinct immediately took over, and Lizzy found herself half running, half scanning the area for any sign of her sister. In her search she passed a few solitary joggers willing to brave the chilly air, each one leaving a misty swirl of breath in their wake as they passed. She wasn't sure why she had thought that there would be more people in the park; but no one could have predicted the below freezing temperatures that the day would have, right?

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lizzy noticed two figures standing away from the main path on an incline overlooking the lake. Lizzy did not even have to see the man's face to know that her worst fears had actually been realized.

Before she could do much, however, both Kitty and Greg had turned to face her.

And that is when Lizzy saw the gun.

A/N: Oh boy. I don't have much to say for myself, except that it felt awesome to finally get this chapter to a place where I could post it. I'm afraid that it is really far from perfect, so expect me to tweak it in the coming week or so.

I missed you guys a lot. I hope that you're still with me. We really are in the home stretch here.

I've changed jobs again (which is how I finally found time to write), so let's hope this continues! Thanks for all the support and encouragement along the way everyone. :)