A/N: I definitely do not own Pride and Prejudice. I do love reviewers.

And I'm really sorry to those of you who didn't like that Jane called Lizzie "desperate". I know that's not really very sweet of Jane, but I see Jane as someone who is a sweetheart but she also calls it like it is. I'm basing her on a friend of mine who is an absolute sweetheart but also someone who isn't afraid to call it like it is. I'm actually basing most of my characterizations on people I know.

Chapter Six: It's not Unusual

Lizzie's POV

Damien had rapidly taken over my life. By New Year's Eve, all I was doing was spending time with Damien and working. Christmas Eve, I had gone to Mass with my family and then gone out with Damien until three in the morning. I was becoming the kind of woman who existed only for her boyfriend. Now that probably sounds pathetic, but it is true. It's pathetic and true. But that was what I had become.

He was pushing me to go all the way, but I wasn't ready. I'd always wanted to remain a virgin until I got married. I wasn't always completely sure about Damien and I had my days when I was pretty darn sure this wasn't the guy I wanted to learn my virginity to. Yes he'd been treated horribly by Will Darcy but he also seemed to have a wandering eye, which had been known to land Katie and Lydia on more than one occasion. Katie had just turned eighteen a few weeks earlier and Lydia would be seventeen in March; something about Damien's interest in them unnerved me. But he was my boyfriend; he was mostly devoted to me.

Charlie Bingley was opening the Netherfield on New Year's Eve with a big party and he'd invited everyone he knew. My sisters and I were going even though we usually spent New Year's Eve at the Longbourn party. But my sister was dating Charlie and she wanted to show her support for him. I was going because she wanted me there. Mary wasn't going but Katie and Lydia wouldn't miss up the chance to make a scene in front of handsome men. Damien had told me he was coming. "I'll meet you there, babe," he told me the night before the party.

"But Will's going to be there," I reminded him.

"It's okay. If he doesn't want to be around me, he's going to leave. I'm not going to let him stand in the way of me having a good time with my girl."

Knowing that Damien would be there, I put a great deal of thought and effort into my outfit for the evening. The party was black-tie, so I opted for the plum colored evening gown I'd worn in a wedding the previous Christmas. I even went through the trouble of having my mom's hairstylist, Cindy, do my hair for the occasion. And I wore my grandmother Gardiner's wedding pearls, which she'd left me when she died three years earlier.

Jane was wearing a burgundy dress she had from her best friend's wedding. Contrary to popular belief, Charlotte is not Jane's best friend. That honor has been filled by Sarah Fleming since kindergarten. Jane was Sarah's maid of honor last July; she'd been gorgeous. Burgundy was a wonderful color for my older sister. Jane has light brown hair and blue eyes; we don't really look that much a like aside from our facial structure. We have the exact same facial structure, and we're similar heights and builds but that's about where the similarities end.

When we left our condo, Mary told us that we both looked "absolutely spectacular, and make sure that you don't drink too much. Men are likely to try to take advantage of two such gorgeous women." Then she told us to get out of there so she could enjoy her New Year's Eve in peace.

We arrived at the Netherfield at 8:07 precisely. Lydia and Katie were already there and dancing. Charlie and Caroline were greeting guests at the doors and Caroline even condescended so far as to compliment both Jane and me on our dresses. The esteemed Miss Bingley was wearing a yellow number that was far too revealing for a cold Michigan New Year's Eve. But she seemed more interested in showing off her boob job than the temperature in the room. Charlie was wearing a black three-piece suit that really looked wonderful on him. His brown hair was getting a little long and had a bit of curl to it. "It's getting to the point where Will calls me 'Mr. Fluffy'," he told me when I commented on his hair.

I smiled. "Don't stress it; it's a good look for you."

"Oh, I'm sure Will agrees; he himself is headed into the Mr. Fluffy zone. He'll never admit it but he inherited his mother's curly hair."

"And his father's hideous ears," Caroline commented, butting into the conversation. "Oh, and his mother's monster nose, he really should look into plastic surgery. I can't imagine what it must be like to live with those ears or that nose."

I glanced around the room until my eyes fell on Will Darcy who was talking to Charlotte Lucas and Ethan Collins. Will's ears did stick out from his head a little bit but it wasn't the end of the world. And I happened to like his nose; it gave his face character. I had to admit that he was handsome. But he was also horrible. How could anyone treat my sweet Damien the way he had? Damien was due the money old Mr. Darcy had left him; how could Will withhold that money from him?

My brief scan of the room had not revealed Damien to me and as I walked away from Charlie and Caroline, Sean Denny approached me. "Damien wanted me to give this to you," he said, handing me a piece of paper. "He was called out of town at the last moment and he wanted me to tell you how sorry he is that you can't spend New Year's Eve together."

I thanked him and walked over to a quiet corner where I opened my note.

Liz,

I'm sorry I can't come to the party this evening. A friend of mine called me and invited me to spend the New Year with him in Chicago and I just couldn't pass up his offer. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'll probably see you when I get back.

-Damien

I sighed and tore up the note. This was the end of our relationship; I knew it. He was moving on to someone else who would give him what he wanted. I wasn't that kind of girl. And now I didn't have a date to the Netherfield New Year's Eve Grand Opening. The only person who would be willing to dance with me now was Ethan Collins and that was only because Char made him dance with all the dateless girls at dances like this. I wasn't looking forward to this party anymore. Ethan wasn't much of a dancer. Now if Mark Lucas was around, I could dance with him; he was a pretty decent dancer. But looking around the room, my eyes didn't catch Mark's light brown hair. I was standing by the wall all through the first dance. It was fun to watch Char dance with Ethan; neither of them was an amazingly talented dancer, but they didn't care. They were just enjoying themselves and ignoring people who were staring at them.

Char came over to me after the first dance ended. "So where's Damien? I really wanted Ethan to meet him tonight."

I handed her the note. "He's not coming. He went back to Chicago for the New Year, but I have a feeling he's not going to be coming back to Meryton anytime soon."

"He liked you," she told me. "I saw the two of you together. Trust me, hon; he'll be back."

I shook my head. "No I don't think he'll be back, at least not for me. Char, he needs someone who can live his lifestyle. I can't just pick up and go places whenever I want. Damien's a great guy, but I'm just not right for him."

She gave me a quick hug. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll meet the right guy soon. I mean I met Ethan right after I broke up with Neil. After Neil dumped me, I never thought I'd meet anyone worthwhile. But then a couple months later, you invited Ethan to your birthday party and now look at us. We've been together for two and half years."

I looked over at Ethan who was standing by the refreshment table piling his plate with various hors d'oeuvres. He wasn't very tall, but he sort of resembled Wolverine from X-Men except for the fact that his hair was more sandy blonde than dark brown. And he's no Hugh Jackman. But he's a good guy, when he's not running off to Chicago after he fights with Char. They're not fighting anymore though and maybe they'll actually get engaged this time. After all, they're both out of college and have stable jobs. They can support themselves and a family. What are they waiting for?

I smiled at her. "I'm just sick of being a lonely, desperate woman."

"You're not lonely or desperate," she replied with a smile.

"Oh yes I am," I protested. "Damien was the first guy I'd dated since I graduated from college. That was well over a year and a half ago. Face it, Char; I'm lonely and desperate. I just hate being alone. I want to get kissed at midnight; I'm sick of my carriage turning into a pumpkin at midnight every single time."

"Oh, Cinderella," she sighed. "Prince Charming will come along eventually. Look, Will Darcy is coming over here right now."

I turned and saw Will approaching us. "Oh, crap," I moaned. "What does he want?"

"Maybe he wants to talk to you," she said. "Oh, he could want to dance with you."

"Why me?" I moaned. "What did I do to deserve Will Darcy's attention?"

"He's a good guy, Lizzie," she said. "I know Damien told you some really nasty stories about him, but maybe you should give him a chance to defend himself, to explain. Maybe there's a reason why he didn't want Damien to have the money his father left him."

"Why would that be? Damien is a great guy; he's far more responsible and level-headed than Will Darcy could ever be."

"Oh really? He is? I'm sorry, Lizzie, but are we talking about the same Damien Wickham who dumped you because you wouldn't sleep with him? Because if we are, that's not a guy I want my best friend to be dating. You need to be with someone who will respect your morals, not dump you because he doesn't like them."

I snorted but before I could say anything, Will was standing next to me. "Excuse me, Lizzie; I was wondering if you would like to dance with me."

Before I could say anything, Char pushed me toward him and said, "She'd love to dance with you."

I followed him out onto the dance floor, determined to not have a good time. This was Will Darcy, who had ruined Damien's life. How could I ever have a good time with this man?

Then we got out on the dance floor and I discovered something about Will Darcy. That man can dance. We were dancing to an old swing tune and I've never danced with anyone who could dance like that before. Mark Lucas is a good dancer; Will Darcy is an amazing dancer. "Where did you learn to dance like that?" I asked him during a slower part of the dance.

"I took a ballroom dance class my junior year of high school," he replied. "I did it partially because I actually like dancing and partially because I was trying to impress a girl."

"Oh really, did it work?" I asked, only slightly intrigued. After all, this was the idiot who had made Damien's life a living hell.

He shrugged. "We dated for a while but then we broke up; it just wasn't meant to be. She was one of those girls who just lived to have a boyfriend; she didn't know what it really meant to have a relationship."

"I've met guys like that. They're just interested in one thing and once they're got it, they're gone."

"You really have a negative view of men," he remarked.

"No I don't," I snapped back. "I'm just a realist. Men hurt women and most men are only interested in one thing."

"Oh really?" he replied. "I suppose you have plenty of experience and research to back that statement up."

"Oh I do," I told him. "I have a lifetime of experience. And furthermore, I've also discovered that the rare male who is not hell-bent on having sex with everything that moves is bound and determined to make more money than was ever dreamed humanly possible. All men are interested in is sex and money."

"What on earth happened to you to make you such a cynical man-hater?" he asked, looking into my eyes. "You know, Elizabeth Bennett, I feel sorry for you."

"Why should you feel sorry for me?" I snapped back as he spun me around. "Is it because I'm poor or because I'm ugly?"

He sighed. "It's for neither reason. I don't know whether or not you're poor; personally wealth matters little to me. And you're not ugly; I'm sorry if anyone has ever told you that you are, but that's a downright lie. You're gorgeous and you deserve to be treated with respect."

"You're just saying that to get on my good side."

"I'm not sure you have a good side. You were all kindness to me until you met Damien Wickham and then suddenly you started treating me like I was lower than dirt. I'm sorry if wicked little Wickham doesn't like me, but that's his issue, not mine. I've grown up over the past five or six years; now maybe he should follow suit."

"Damien Wickham is far more mature than you'll ever be," I snapped back, spinning away from him. "You'd do well to take a lesson from him and learn how to treat women."

"Oh, so you do prefer the 'love her and leave her' style of love?" he snapped back. Then he pulled me close to his chest and stared into my eyes. "Listen to me well Miss Elizabeth because I'll only tell you this once. Don't always judge people based on your first impressions because some people make wonderful first impressions but then turn out to be horribly loathsome people. Don't jump into things just because you're desperate, but actually wait and find someone who will respect you and love you just the way you are." As he said that, the music ended and he released me. "Thank you for the dance; I hope you have a lovely evening," was all he said before walking away from me.

I watched him across the room for the rest of the evening. He was an amazing dancer and he looked peaceful; he was actually smiling as he danced. He took the time to dance with Jane and Char as well as various other women who were introduced to him throughout the evening. His words kept running through my head no matter how hard I tried to push them away. He was wrong; Damien was a great guy and it was William who was the louse.

It was getting near midnight and the only guys I'd danced with since my "discussion" with Will were Charlie and Ethan who were obviously only dancing with me out of duty to their girlfriends. Couples were gathering all over the room. Even people who had come without dates had found someone with whom they could share midnight. But I had no one, so I slipped out of the ballroom and went and sat in the lobby. It was cooler there and I could collect my thoughts. I could forget just how amazing Will Darcy looked when he took off his suit coat and tie. The lobby was quiet and abandoned except for one man working the reception desk and a dark-haired man sitting quietly in an easy chair. He was huddled over some sort of Black Berry-type phone; he looked like he was reading something on the phone. It was probably an email from his sweetheart he'd been separated from by a business trip.

I settled myself on the couch with a glass of wine. I was miserable, again. Damien wasn't the guy for me; he wasn't a horrible guy, but he wasn't right for me. He and I had different opinions on sex and that was that. I just needed to find a different guy. And he needed to find a different girl. We could be great friends, just never anything more.

Will's POV

It was almost midnight and I was sitting in the lobby reading an email from Georgie. I had gone back to Chicago for Christmas, but now I was back in Meryton to help Charlie with the grand opening of his hotel. The place was booked solid for a month, due to people who wanted to go skiing and ice fishing in the area. Things were looking great for Charlie and the Netherfield. But I was feeling pretty lousy after the tongue-lashing I'd given Lizzie Bennett that night. Granted she deserved what I'd said, but still. My father always taught me to treat women with respect no matter how they treated me.

Now I was sitting in the lobby with Lizzie who seemed not to have noticed me. She was curled up in the couch nursing a glass of wine and reading a note that she'd been clutching in her hands all evening. I knew how miserable it was to spend New Year's Eve alone; this was my fourth New Year's Eve I'd spent alone. But I knew she hated me; Damien had filled her head with all sorts of lies about me. I didn't know what he'd told her, but I could guess. He'd told my own sister that I wanted her trust fund and that I'd withheld his inheritance from him. The truth couldn't have been further from Wickham's lie. I had willingly given him everything my father had left him in his will. Then he came back and asked me for more money, twice. He also asked me for more money when Georgie dumped him. I suspect that if he knew about Georgie's baby he would find a way to use it to milk money out of me. The baby was due in early March and I was determined to keep Wickham from knowing about this child's existence.

Lizzie was sniffling now and I knew I should probably go comfort her. But I also knew she'd probably take offense at my actions and tell me to go take a flying leap off a cliff. So I just stood up and smiled at her. "Are you all right, Miss Bennett?"

She looked up at me. "Oh, yes, I'm fine." She wiped her eyes quickly and glared at me. "Don't worry about me, Will Darcy; I'm not some pathetic loser who will fall for your fancy clothes and big bank account. I'm looking for a real man, not some wimp like you."

I sighed. "Well then this wimp will be leaving your presence. I hope you have a lovely New Year. And you don't need to be worried about me troubling you anymore; I'm going back to Chicago on the second and I'm not sure when I'll be back in Meryton."

"Thank goodness for small favors," was all she said as I walked away.

I spent the first minutes of 2008 with Caroline Bingley trying to get me to kiss her. I had gone to the lobby hoping to avoid such an incident, but my decision to attempt to comfort Lizzie had ruined that plan. Now I had no choice but to watch Charlie and Jane enjoy the benefits of being in a relationship at the New Year. Caroline was pawing at me, but I didn't want to kiss her. The only girl I wanted to kiss at midnight was sitting out in the lobby hating my guts. I really didn't know what I'd done to offend Lizzie Bennett so severely, but I now knew I'd better steer clear of her for the time being. Going back to Chicago seemed to be the best possible decision.

So I left for Chicago on January 2, 2008 with Caroline and Louisa. We had tried to convince Charlie to come back with us but he wasn't ready to abandon the Netherfield only a few days after it opened. We'd tried to tell him that it seemed like Jane didn't really care about him, but he refused to believe us. He told us that he knew that she cared about him and that he was pretty sure he loved her. Caroline and Louisa were convinced she was nothing better than a "money-grubbing whore." I didn't think Jane was a gold-digger, but I wasn't entirely sure her motives were as pure as Charlie's were. Charlie was genuinely falling in love with Jane, but she still seemed very reserved around him. I wasn't sure if she was just naturally shy or she wasn't as interested in Charlie as he was.

A few days later, I received an email from Charlie with an update on things with in Meryton, especially things with the Netherfield and Jane. He seemed really interested in Jane and excited about the way things were going with her.

To: "William Darcy" "Charles Bingley" January 8, 2008

Subject: life, the universe, and everything.

Will,

How's Chicago? Is the law business treating you well? How is the Pemberley resort chain doing these days? Have you seen my sisters very much? And speaking of sisters how is Georgie?

Things in Meryton are going well. The Netherfield is booked solid through September, which is great considering that we've barely been open a week. The guests seem to love the place and I'm falling more in love with the charms of the hotel and the town day by day. I'm hoping you can come up and visit me again soon. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get away next, but I'm hoping to come visit my sisters for Easter, if nothing sooner. I really want to be as hands-on as possible for the first few months of business. But I'd love for you to come up for a few days and just check the place out. It looks better than ever with all the guests milling around. Plus the penthouse is pretty lonely all by myself.

However, I'm not lonely really. I've been seeing quite a bit of Jane lately. We're together at least three or four nights a week. I know we've only been together for about five weeks, but I have a really good feeling about this. She's not the most demonstrative girl I've ever been with and I don't always know what she's thinking, but that's fine with me. I like it when a girl isn't all showy with her emotions and always throwing herself at me. Jane is really refreshing.

And don't get like my sisters and try to convince me that Jane isn't interested in me. I know she is. She wouldn't spend time with me if she wasn't interested in me. She's not after me for my money; you guys need to just get over yourselves and stop thinking that everyone is obsessed with having our money. Also that fact that my sisters are gold diggers doesn't mean that every woman ever born is a gold-digger. Just trust me, Will; things with Jane are going wonderfully. I think she might be the one for me. And yes I mean like The One. I know I've only known her since around Thanksgiving, but I have a really good feeling about her. The next time you're here, maybe we can do a double date with you and one of your friends, or something like that. Let me know what you think

Oh and you might be interested to know that Charlotte Lucas and Ethan Collins are now engaged. They got engaged on New Year's Day while watching football. Your Aunt Catherine is transferring him to the New York branch of Rosings Unlimited. They're planning on getting married in September, but they're both moving to New York so she can find a new job. I don't know much more than that but I thought I'd let you know since you and Char got along pretty well while you were up here.

See you around,

Charlie

To: "Charles Bingley" "William Darcy" January 8, 2008

Subject: RE: life, the universe, and everything

Charlie,

Chicago is great. The Windy City is pretty darn windy. It's a usual Chicago winter, pretty cold and windy, but not horrible. It's actually pretty nice. The law business is also pretty nice. Aunt Catherine is out of town for a month, so it's just Anne and me in the office. But you know what Anne is like; she fakes sick every other day. So the office is pretty peaceful and I'm actually getting a lot of work on my new case. It's another really stupid paternity case, but you know how those go. It'll end soon and then some poor kid will be more screwed up than he would have been if no one had ever started to wonder who the poor kid's father is. That might not make a lot of sense to you, but it makes sense to me.

The resort chain is also doing well. After Georgie has the baby, I'm planning on going on a tour of all our resorts. I want to see how the managers are handling them. I'll probably do that in April and May. Georgie asked me to stay in Chicago until after she has the baby, which I'm more than glad to do. Georgie is doing pretty well for being seven-months pregnant. She's looking forward to having the baby, but dealing with all the physical and emotional ramifications of being pregnant. She's decorating the baby's room in our house in all sorts of girly colors and decorations. She's really into shopping for baby clothes. She seems really happy and she seems to be pretty much forgetting about Damien.

I haven't seen your sisters recently; Louisa is busy with something for Jeffrey's business and Caroline is busy being a socialite and a gold-digger. She's looking for a loaded husband who is over the age of seventy. It's really ridiculous, from what I hear. I haven't seen her since we got back. But I hear enough about her in the society pages of the newspaper. There are also plenty of pictures; it's kind of embarrassing.

I'm glad things are going well for you with the Netherfield. I don't know if I can come see you before June or so. I'm busy but I'll definitely try to get up there for a weekend at some point; I'd like to come up there in February for a weekend. But if you could get down here for Easter, that'd be great. I'll try to be in town for Easter. I know I also need to check up on some stuff in New York at some point soon. Aunt Catherine is going there right after Easter and she wants me to come with her. So I'll probably go there with her and check up on Pemberley.

Jane is a great girl and your sisters are ridiculous. Just be careful and don't move to fast. Don't do anything stupid or rash. And who knows? It might do you some good to get away from her for a little while. It would just be to give you some perspective. But I'll back you whatever you decide to do. Just be careful.

See you on the flip side,

Will

A/N: Okay, I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again. But I hope you liked this chapter. Please review!