THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND REVIEWS!
Here's the next chapter.
"Uh Janie and I are on our way to the hospital. Her water broke and and..."
"She's having the baby!"
"I have to call Will, your parents, Caroline..."
"Don't worry, I'll let Will know."
"You're with him?"
"No, I just- yeah, I am. well jump on a plane. we'll see you soon Charlie! Congrats." Lizzie jumped with happiness, "Rafa is coming! Oh my god, I'm so excited." She turned to William, Jane is in the hospital!"
"but he's not due for another three weeks."
"Shit, I'm not prepared! I have to take leave, I have to pack... Fuck, my car is still at the-"
"Goose, relax. Get dressed and we'll take a car to the restaurant and I'll drive us. You can get some of your things and we'll go to Janie."
He smiled reassuring her, "God you are so good." Lizzie pressed her lips towards him and got up off the bed. She was still wobbly, but managed to get clothes on while Will packed his stuff and began to call his assistant.
"Hi Kayla, Charles and Jane are about to have their baby, and I'm still in Derbyshire. I need you to cancel meetings, and then buy two tickets for the next flight home for me and Lizzie. yes Elizabeth Bennett. thank you."
When they were finally on the plane, Lizzie let out a deep breath, "I'll pay you for the ticket Will."
"No, Lizzie, it's fine," he reached to hold her hand, "this makes it better that you're here."
Lizzie fell asleep pretty much right away, while Will got started on writing emails apologizing for his hasty leave. she didn't wake up until they were landing in Meryton. There was a car waiting for them and took them straight to the hospital. It was 2 in the morning when they got there, Lydia was sitting up in the waiting room with Rafael while their mother was in the room with Jane and Charlie. She let go of his hand really quick.
"Lizzie! Will!" Lydia jumped up when she saw them, "thank god you're here. You might want to take mom's place in there."
"What happened?"
"Jane refuses to give birth as long as she's in there."
"I'm going to go in."
Lizzie knocked on the door and Charlie opened it fast, he was so relieved to see his sister in law standing in front of him. Hell he would've been glad to see anyone.
"Lizzie! Come in!"
"Hi guys, how's it going?" She looked over at Jane who was obviously uncomfortable. "Hi Mom."
their mother was on the chair next to the bed and she was visibly upset. "Elizabeth, why do you look like that? You are in public and you came-"
"Mom." Lizzie cut her off, "could I please have a word with you?" She stood up and followed her middle child to the bathroom. "Mom, I know Rafa is your first grandchild, but can't you see that you're stressing literally everyone out?"
"Do not use that tone with me,"
"If I didn't you wouldn't listen. Like you're not listening to Jane. She's call you in the room after she gives birth, so go sit outside with dad and Lydia."
"Elizabeth, I just want Jane to be as comfortable-"
"I know mom, she knows too, but a ton has changed since you had us, better medicine, better methods, you have nothing to worry about." Her mom nodded and wiped away tears, "Will is outside of you want to say hi."
She headed for the door and gave Jane and Charlie a kiss before heading outside.
"Damn, is that how you work? You work dirty Lizzie." Charlie said, much more relaxed.
"Thank you Lizzie." Jane said just as a contraction hit her. "God this hurts so much."
"You got it baby, just a tiny bit more." Charlie held her hand. "Is Caro here?"
"I don't know, Will is so she might descend soon."
"Will is here too! Thanks for telling him."
"We were already together." Lizzie said. "Speaking of which, I'm going to grab a coffee before I pass out. Need anything?"
"I can only have ice and water." Jane responded.
Lizzie smiled and went to grab Will from the waiting room. "Want coffee?" She asked everyone." She got a yes from everyone, "I'll go help you Goose." Her eyes widened a little. Then relaxed when she saw he realized the mistake too. Hopefully her parents didn't.
"I'm so sorry Lizzie!" He said when they got into the elevator. She just laughed at him, "I'm pretty sure we're just being paranoid." Lizzie smiled and tippy toed to get close to his lips. Will help onto her and kissed her, his tongue slipping in her mouth. He rested his hand on the small of her back and held her close to him.
"Lizzie," Will paused. She looked up at him waiting, he looked conflicted, as if he wanted to say something but held his tongue, "are you?- would you move back here and take the job with Greg Spencer?"
"I don't know. It's a possibility. I've been looking for a change of pace, and now Rafa is here and well, you..." They walked up to the coffee cart, and orders six drinks. "I would like to, but my obligation to the station and... I just think to weigh the pros and the cons." He nodded his head and held onto her.
When they got back, Lydia downed her coffee and paced the other row of seats. Rafael had his arm around his wife while she tapped excitedly on his leg.
Lizzie and Will say on the other side of of the row, watching Lydia. Lizzie placed her hand on Will's thigh and squeezed, she looked at him with sad eyes, "do you think if we had gotten married we would've already had children?"
"We would've had five by now Goose."
"I don't know about five, but I'd like to think if we had, we would've already had children."
"Me too." She didn't know why she brought it up, but it put a spell of awkward silence over their conversation. She leaned back on the chair and waited. Charlie came out 20 minutes later beaming, "we have a beautiful baby boy!"
"Congrats!" Everyone pretty much yelled. Mrs Bennet ran into the room to be the first to see her grandchild, "meet Rafael Anthony Bingley." Will and Lizzie let the grandparents and Lydia see him first. Lizzie was hesitant all of a sudden. She loved babies, but couldn't bring herself to hold her godchild. He was already wrapped in the blue blanket Lizzie got him.
"Lizzie, are you not going to hold him?" Jane asked. Will was holding him, ready to pass him on.
"Maybe not tonight Rafa,"
"Aww Lizzie, you'll be fine."
"No, no, no, I'll wait."
Will smiled, "Just hold him Goose." His eyes widened again, really apologetic. That was more noticeable than the last time. Lizzie looked over at Lydia.
"She doesn't want him, I'll take him. Lydia said. Will passed the baby to her and backed to Charlie. He started conversation with the new Dad. Lizzie snuck a glance at Jane, she was just so happy.
Until the nurse came in and made everyone leave. "Lizzie! Come, stay."
"Why won't you hold Rafa?"
"I don't know, he's just so tiny and- and I don't want to hold him wrong."
"You'll be fine."
"Maybe next time. I'll just see you guys tomorrow." She quickly ducked out of the room.
Lizzie sighed and found her mom and dad sitting on the seats again.
"Your mother doesn't want to go home."
"Mom there's always tomorrow. Rafa is here to stay."
"I know, but my grand baby."
"Let's go get some sleep mom."
"William honey, are you going to come over?"
"Sorry?"
"It would be a shame to make you drive all the way back home, you can sleep in the guest room tonight."
"thank you so much. I can drive Lydia and Lizzie home if you like."
"Yes please." Lydia said. "I love the kid, but hospitals make me woozy."
"Okay. We'll stay to make sure they have everything they need."
"Mom, Charlie and Janie got it."
Just then Charlie came out, "hey Mom, Jane's calling you."
She looked back at Lizzie and Lydia and nodded, "you girls can go back home, thank you William."
Will was holding on to Lizzie's hand as he drove back to the Bennet household. Lydia fell asleep in the back and quietly snored as he zoomed on the freeway.
"You don't have to stay in the guest room Will." Lizzie said.
"Are you saying you want to go public?"
"I'm saying I don't want to go to sleep tonight and you're not next to me."
He looked at her and smiled, "i've gotten used to having you sleep next to me again."
"So have I." She ran her nimble fingers over his hands. "Thank you Will."
Lydia didn even say goodnight and walked straight to her room. Lizzie took her time changing into her pajamas. She watched Will on her bed, watching her. His head rested on her pillow. She smiled then crawled onto her bed next to him. He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her. Lizzie turned to face him and kissed the top of his nose, "goodnight." She fell asleep comfortably in his arms.
I've been listening to sad songs, and it matches my mood. I don't know why, but I haven't been feeling Christmas-y lately and it's usually my most favorite time of year. Maybe I should listen to some Michael Buble... Goodnight
3Abbs