It had been two months since Lizzie had started working at Pemberley.
As she had guessed during her first week, she would not see much of Darcy. The only time she knew they would be in the same room at the same time was at the company's biweekly meetings. So much for their "fresh start"…
During those biweekly meetings, Lizzie was pleased to see that Darcy listened to suggestions of the rest of the team and if he did not agree, he would be tactful and not brutally franc. He looked at ease discussing different topics such as storylines, softwares and financial projections.
Their agreement to put their past behind had allowed them to have a normal work relationship and Lizzie stopped getting flustered when they would happen to meet in the hallways or in the elevator.
Lizzie was at her parents' house for the weekend. She tried to visit at least twice a month. She wanted to spend time with Lydia and her father, and even with her mother, who only spoke of Jane's impending wedding.
They were eating dessert after dinner when Lydia told Lizzie that she was finally moving to Los Angeles. She had asked George for some of his contacts in the industry and was already looking for an agent. Lizzie was happy for her sister and trusted that she was going to do everything in her power to make her dream come true.
After that little announce, her father cleared his throat, which meant that he also had something to say.
"Yes, Dad?", Lizzie asked before taking a bite of her pie.
"Liz, I have news. The company I work for is transferring me to Arizona. And that means that your mother and I are selling this house."
Lizzie stayed silent, processing the news. She could not believe that she was losing her childhood home.
"Lizzie?", her mother said.
"This is sad… I don't mean the transfer but selling the house… have you told Jane?"
"Yes, she knows. Actually, she wanted to come here for a short visit with Bing. I am pretty sure she will call you. Are you okay?"
"What if I keep the house? I can move in here…"
"No, Lizzie, you got a new start in the city, with George. Besides it's more convenient for us to sell the house. Everything will be fine", her father comforted her.
Lizzie tried to smile, but her mother and Lydia stood up and hugger her, she felt better. They spent the rest of the evening remembering old times and watching home videos. She made a plan with her family to stop by and help with the packing.
Two weeks later, Lizzie and George said goodbye to Lydia and her parents. All of her belongings were in boxes that they put in a storage unit.
As her mother had said, Jane called Lizzie. She and Bing had changed their travel plans and were waiting until her parents were settled in Arizona to visit.
She also had news about her job. The agency she had been working for the last years was launching a fashion line designed by her. After Bing's gala, three years ago, Jane had organized other parties for charities and had sold some of her designs to different boutiques. Finally, she had sit down to design an entire collection and her agency was promoting her.
Lizzie was very happy by Jane's accomplishment. They talked for a while about their lives; and then she called Charlotte.
Lizzie would usually talk with her best friend once a week, if they were not super busy.
Charlotte stopped asking questions about Darcy after the fifth time, when she accepted that Lizzie was not spending time with him and did not know if he had a girlfriend. Charlotte justified herself by saying that she just was curious and needed the distraction from work. She was very busy at Collins & Collins and her relationship with Mark was going though a rough patch.
Charlotte asked her about George. He was doing fine, slowly getting jobs in San Francisco, but he still traveled to Los Angeles if he had an offer there. Their relationship had some highs and lows as any other couple. Sometimes, they would fight about something, and Lizzie would just want to go away and not see his face. But then, George would apologize and do something marvelous and special to make it up to her.
Lizzie had been working with Elaine all day. Pemberley had finally released their newest web adaptation along the beta of the Domino application. They had been involved in the casting and were also present in the shooting of the series, as well as Lizzie working with the writers.
It was almost six and they were still in Elaine's office. They were almost done when Elaine gasped. Lizzie lifted her eyes from the computer and got worry as soon as she saw her boss.
"Elaine, are you ok?"
"Don't know…", she replied and gasped again.
"Elaine!"
"I think I need to go to the hospital…", she looked down at her chair and saw blood.
"Oh my god!", Lizzie immediately rose and grabbed her bag and Elaine's and helped her to the elevator. Lizzie got her new car and drove to her boss to the hospital. In the way, Elaine called her husband and he was on his way to meet her. Since they had left in such a hurry, no one knew what had happened except for Elaine's secretary.
By the time they got to the hospital, Patrick, Elaine's husband was there. He thanked Lizzie for her help and then Elaine and him went to see her doctor.
Lizzie decided to stay; she needed to know if everything was all right with Elaine's baby. She went to get coffee, and by the time she returned, she saw Darcy in the waiting room.
"Darcy?"
"Elizabeth. How's Elaine? Lucille told me what happened."
"I don't know yet. She just went inside with her doctor and her husband. I'm just waiting."
"Thanks for driving her."
"Of course, it was the only thing I could do to help", she was still amazed that he was there, for Elaine, "do you want some coffee while we wait?"
He accepted and they walked to the coffee machine. He chatted with her about Elaine; she was already working at Pemberley when he took control of the company. She had worked with his father for a while and then moved on to her actual post. Clearly, he considered her more than an employee and Lizzie thought better of him.
They sat together in the waiting room. To pass the time, they started talking about Fitz and Jane and Bing's wedding. Even though the date was still to be set, they already had asked them to be best man and maid of honor.
"What are we supposed to do anyway? Just stand pretty next to them in the aisle?"
His joke was very unexpected, and Lizzie had to cover her mouth to muffle her laugh.
"Sorry, this isn't probably the best time for jokes..."
"That's okay, I feel less anxious", and Lizzie smiled to him. William felt something he had not felt in years by knowing that he was making her happy.
In that moment, Patrick arrived with news. Elaine had suffered a minimal placental abruption, but she and their son were okay. She was going to stay in the hospital under observation, and likely under bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. Both Lizzie and Darcy asked if they could see her and Patrick nodded.
"Hi Lizzie. Oh William! You are here."
"Of course, I drove here as soon as I heard."
"I'm glad you are both fine", Lizzie said and took her boss' hand tenderly.
"Yes, me too. I shouldn't have waited so long to have a child, there are too many risks and…", Elaine was fighting back tears.
"Love, please…", Patrick said, looking concerned at his wife.
"Yes, sorry. I want to thank you again, Lizzie, for you help today." Lizzie just smiled as a reply.
"Well, you heard what the doctor said. I will have to stay in bed for the next four months."
"That's what we were preparing for, Elaine, it's just sooner that expected. We have Domino now. It will be okay", Darcy said.
"What about our…"
"Don't worry, I will inform Elizabeth and work with her in that".
"Tell me about what?"
"We talk about that tomorrow, Elizabeth. For now, I think we have to leave Elaine to rest."
Lizzie frowned and dropped the topic reluctantly. They said goodbye and went to the parking lot.
"So, about what thing Elaine said…", Lizzie needed to know.
"Yes, I think it's better if we talk tomorrow. It's late already…"
"Fine, good night."
"Good night, Elizabeth."
The curiosity was killing her, and it did not leave her for the rest of the night.