Hi y'all, I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry it took so long to update, in case you didn't figure it out, school started again and it's just been crazy and hectic. Spending a huge amount of my spare time working on my article (which looks like it will be published, not that any of you will want to read it) and even then there isn't that much time since I'm in court 3 days a week thanks to my student practice order (kind of like Liz, except I work for the government not a firm . . . oh and no Darcy)

So thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews and for sticking around, despite my infrequent updates. I know the chapter is extremely short, but I wanted to get started again and post a new contest for y'all (I do promise that if I'm not done with the story when I finish school in May, I will lock myself in a room and not come out until I complete the entire story).

Enjoy!

Chapter 24:

Over the next few months Darcy and I began to establish a really good working relationship, in addition to a tentative friendship. We would occasionally have lunch together, generally with Josh. Every so often he would try to elicit information from me about how Julie was doing, being that Julie and I had become quite close. Understanding Julie's need for privacy, I never gave him the information he was seeking, which frustrated Will to no end.

One morning at the end of March, Darcy came knocking at the door to my office while I was tapping away at my computer.

"Liz, do you have a moment?"

I held up one finger as I finished typing my current thought. I then turned toward him.

"Sure Will, have a seat."

He did exactly that.

"What's up?"

"Well, Charlie is coming home this weekend."

"Oh!" This was news to me. "Does this mean that all the Tokyo accounts have been taken care of?"

"Yes. Everything is finally straightened out and the clients are happy."

"That's good to hear."

"Anyway, he's coming home this weekend, and there is going to be a little welcome back get together Saturday night. I wanted to invite you to join. It won't be anything big, just a few people."

"Um, are you sure I'd really be welcome Will?"

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"I'm not quite sure what his current relationship with my sister is."

"Haven't you spoken to Jane?"

"Jane is doing work in Uganda, she isn't exactly near a phone or computer most of the time. I occasionally get an e-mail from her, but it isn't very frequent."

"Well, Charlie likes you as a friend. I'm sure regardless of what his relationship with Jane currently is that he would be happy to see you."

"I don't know . . . "

"Julie's coming, I'm sure that she'd love to be able to have someone to talk to that she likes, aside from me."

"That's playing dirty."

He shrugged. At the same time, Josh walked past my office and saw both of us in there and stopped in.

"What ya guys doing?"

"Talking about this weekend." I answered.

"Will, are you trying to steal my one and only love?"

I laughed.

"I'm telling Jen that you said that." I replied, knowing that Jen and Josh were still dating and that their relationship was getting stronger and more serious by the day.

"Go ahead. She knows that she is merely a substitute until my true love" he gestured to me "decides to finally come to her senses and run away with me."

"Keep dreaming Josh."

"Josh –" Darcy interrupted. "Are you joining us Saturday night?"

"Charlie's party?"

Darcy nodded.

"Can I bring Jen?"

"I don't see any problem with that."

"Then, yes, I should be coming. Who else will be there?"

"Charlie, Caroline, possibly Maggie, Diana, Edward, Julie and Liz."

"Hey, I didn't say I was coming!!"

Josh looked at me and pouted.

"Please Liz, won't you come? Pretty please with a cherry on top?!"

"I find it hard to believe that Jen can deny you anything when you act like this."

"Jen knows not to even bother trying so we never get to this point."

I sighed.

"Fine, I'll come."

Josh let out a whoop.

"Fantastic! Now we'll have more interesting people than boring ones. I say we get Caroline and Diana drunk and watch them fight over Will."

"Oh! That actually sounds like fun! Can we do it while Will is in the room?"

"Going to throw me to the wolves are we? I thought you liked me?"

"First off, they're cats, not wolves. Second, I do, but I do so like to be entertained."

"I'll keep that in mind." Will responded, with a glint in his eye.

"What does that mean?"

"Oh, nothing."

I didn't believe him.

"So will you and Julie ride in with Jen and myself?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be. Jen would love to have your company in the car so that I keep my attention on the road, and besides then Will wouldn't be going berserk about the possibility of you and Julie taking the train."

"You and Julie are not taking the subway to this" Will ground out.

"Darcy, I really don't think you get much of a say in the matter. Josh, if you don't think we'll be intruding too much, I'd love to hitch with you guys and I'm sure when I check with Julie, she'll feel the same."

"Great. Settled. I'll pick the three of you up at 7."

"Sounds good."

Darcy and Josh then left my office, leaving me to my work.

Yes, it's short. Sorry. Will try to update soon (don't expect next weekend though, I have an article deadline). However, until then, here's my next contest. Will said that he'd keep in mind that Liz wants to be entertained at the party, which means he'll have something up his sleeve. I don't know what that thing is yet. The first person who reviews (yes, there must be a review attached), with a good idea of what Will should do at the party (and no, not kiss her) will win the contest. Winner gets a sneak peak at the next chapter and gets to decide how the party turns out. Sound good?

Ready . . . Set . . . REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!