Author's Note: Sorry for the cliff hanger! I got a bit of writer's block and I've been really busy. So here's what happens next. Hope it lives up to your expectations :D

Chapter 8

Slap!

Darcy blinked in surprise. He really should have seen that coming. Well, he guessed he should be glad that she didn't deck him one where the sun don't shine. Little Willie was safe. For now. And he planned to keep it that way. If only his big mouth would cooperate.

"Ah. I deserved that, didn't I?"

"Deserved that? You more than deserved that you arrogant, conceited, bastard! I can't believe you said that about me! Jerk!" Her tears were falling in earnest now. Rivers were flowing out of her eyes. She stepped closer, put her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. She hadn't allowed herself to give in to tears since she graduated from grade school, and even then she tried not to cry in front of anyone. But Will was different. She wasn't embarrassed. And he was comforting.

Will's heart shattered as he watched the regal and poised 'Liz Bennet, Chairman', crumble and the fragile shell of a girl, take her place. It cut him to the core that he was the reason for her tears. Although he had to admit, that slap caused quite a big bruise on his ego. But for Becca, he would willingly go to hell and back.

After Becca had run out of tears and she had composed herself, the friends spent the afternoon catching up on what each had not informed the other over their emails. Will told Becca about running Pemberley, which he was surprised to learn that he neglected to tell her before, and Becca in turn informed him of why she had changed her name.

"Well, I didn't change my name, per say, but rather I'm known as R. Elizabeth. Rather than Rebecca E. I really don't want mother finding out that I'm already in control of the company. And Fanny Wilson does not need another camera following her everywhere. I don't just have my reputation to protect now. I can't let everyone in this company down just because of my mother and sisters' scandalous behaviour." She explained.

"But they'll find out one day, you know. Then they'll be like starving wolves, and you'll be the bit of meat they fight over and rip to shreds."

"I know," Becca sighed. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, I guess. Oh, and could you not tell anyone about this? I mean, Jane knows, and now you do, but you're the only ones. I want to keep it that way. The more people that know, the more likely the paps will hear about it. Then, it'll be all over the news and Fanny will no doubt find out. That is something that I wouldn't want to inflict on the poor world."

Will had to agree with her there. Normal Fanny Wilson was a force to be reckoned with. And angry Fanny Wilson was of another dimension altogether. He hoped to be on the other side of the Earth (with Becca, of course) on the day that she gets this news. Maybe she'll do something so heinous that they'll finally be convinced to lock her up in Bedlam.

Both were extremely surprised to be interrupted by a knock at the door at 5:30. Jane poked her head in to remind them of the time. She was glad that they had worked out their problems. But she felt that it was her sisterly duty to at least reprimand him for his – admittedly – horrific behaviour.

"Darcy." She extended her hand to him after she closed the door behind her. She couldn't believe that she hadn't recognised him! Well, the lighting hadn't really helped. But still.

Darcy shook her hand tentatively. He had seen the look that now adorned her face on Becca's before, just when she was about the punch the lights out of their neighbour, George, for taking Georgie's teddy. Dear Lord. What had possessed him that night? He was nigh on trembling in his shoes.

Jane took a step closer to him and raised her hand. Darcy flinched. A look of confusion briefly flickered across her face. Why would he flinch away? It's not like I'm going to slap him… Wait. She should have known that Becks was the kind of person who would slap. Poor Will. Coming back to the present, she poked her index finger hard into Darcy's chest.

"If you dare do that again, I swear on all that is holy and my pink fluffy slippers, I will personally see you six feet under." Jane – placid Jane, sweet Jane, angelic Jane – had delivered a threat. And she meant it. He nodded meekly in response. Darcy was in some deep shit. And he knew it.

Becky was looking on at this scene in amusement. It was not very often that someone would be able to rile Jane up. In fact, she could count the number of times that Jane had been so angry at someone on one hand, and this threat had to be her first. Unfortunately for Darcy, he was now officially the first, and only person on Jane's black list. She didn't know about him, but Becca would do anything to come off the black list and stay off. Otherwise, Jane might find herself charged with murder, and she didn't want to have to visit her favourite sister and best friend in a cell. To lose her two most trusted people in the world to such a circumstance would be unthinkable. No, it was to the benefit of everyone that Darcy come off Jane's black list and come off quick.

Darcy suddenly realised the time. He was having dinner with Charles and his sister (ugh) tonight. And he was late. A definite disadvantage if one was about to be subjected to dinner with Caroline Bingley. Words alone could not describe her. Suddenly, in a moment of utter brilliancy – if he did say so himself – he was struck with an absolutely marvellous idea.

"Well, it's almost dinner time now, and I don't know about you, but I'm rather hungry. And I ate something at lunch, unlike a young lady that I happen to know," Darcy gave a pointed look to Becky, who's stomach had been growling all afternoon thanks to the restaurant incident. "Seeing as Becca here missed lunch because of me, I would like to make it up to you. How about you both come with me to dinner? Charles is going to be there, and you can make the acquaintance of Caroline, his sister."

Jane's face lit up like a Christmas tree at the mention of dinner with Charles, but she demurred, saying that she didn't want to intrude. Becky, on the other hand had a very strong suspicion about Caroline Bingley, and judging from Darcy's face, her guess was right on target. She was being handed first class tickets to what looked to be an interesting show, and she'd be damned if she didn't take it.

Between Darcy and Becky, they managed to convince (and they didn't have to try too hard) Jane to attend dinner with them. After he had gotten their agreement, he called Charles, informing him of the change in plans to now include the sisters as well as alerting him to their late arrival. All the while, he was jumping up and down with glee underneath his mask of serenity, cheering at being able to avoid Caroline's excessive attentions. For now.

Becky took a couple of minutes to splash her face and redo her make-up to get rid of any evidence of her earlier tears. It would not do to go out looking like a cross between a bunny and Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. Finally, Darcy, Becky and Jane piled into Becky's Bentley, giving Mr McLean the directions. They made good time, considering the rush hour traffic, and only got there ten minutes late.

Unfortunately, this meant that the group had arrived just after Caroline and so they were greeted (well Darcy was greeted, Becky and Jane were ignored) by a blur of what can only be said to resemble a giant orange peacock. On drugs.

"William, dah-ling!" The orange thing practically screeched. Becky thought that her screech could probably match Fanny Wilson's. "How are you, my dear? Your day must have been ever so tedious! You had so many business meetings, did you not? And to think the last person had the audacity to keep you from your dinner! William, dah-ling, you must be starving! But that's quite okay. We'll remedy that in a second." Caroline paused for breath and seemed to finally notice the two other arrivals.

She gave them each a once over. Tailored designer suits adorned each of her "competition". Bah. Boring business people. But they were most likely wealthy. So she would be nice. For now.

She looked at Will from under her eyelashes.

"And who might your friends be, Mr Darcy?" she purred. Or at least tried to, completely oblivious to the hilarious picture she made, hanging off Darcy's rigid arm like a dishcloth. The look on Darcy's face made it clear that he would not have been any more disgusted than if she were a dirty dish towel.

"Caroline, this is B-" Darcy was interrupted before he could blurt out her real name.

"Hi I'm Liz Bennet." Becky held out her hand, which Caroline only just deigned to shake. "This is my… ahem… this is Jane."

"Hello, Caroline, I'm happy to make your acquaintance." Jane said gently, also holding her hand out.

A/N: What did you think?