Chapter Seven: The New Black Widow

"Mom?" came the strangled, startled reply of her stricken daughter.

The shocking-pink-clad woman shrieked:

"Lizzy! What is your excuse this time?"

"What do you mean?"

"Daniel called me and told me that he couldn't visit me today, because you weren't there to take him back and forth, and I thought it was another stupid excuse that he couldn't visit as usual, so then I, like, came over to your place at Trump Towers – why won't you buy me such a place, it's almost as good as a Madison Avenue apartment – and the doorman said that you were at this lovely establishment – you should buy me one of these instead of the Trump one, actually – and so I came over here."

Lizzy kept trying to interject into the monologue, but never seemed to get an edge in the 'dialogue' with her mother. She cringed. Again.

"Mom, Jane is sick, and I can't have to worry about more than one person at a time. I don't like Daniel being out of the apartment unless I'm one hundred percent available for him."

"Whatever, let me see that gorgeous Jane! I wish you ended up like her instead of being short and mousy. Or you should be like Lydia – she at least dyed her hair and she looks so much better with that nose job that she got – you know, your nose is huge, you should really do something about that bump!"

"Okay Mom."

"Where is Jane!? You're deliberately trying to keep her away from me! You know, she's so much prettier than that Kate Bosworth; they should really stop comparing Jane with that girl. Jane just looks healthier and she didn't even need surgery! Though you, Lizzy, really need to do something about your figure. Are you putting on weight?"

"Mom, I clearly told you that Daniel couldn't visit, and the lawyers are aware of this. I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to leave."

"Now Lizzy, just let me see Jane, and then I'll leave. Doesn't that sound reasonable?" Leslie Bennet shrieked in a condescending tone, and showed herself upstairs to fuss over Jane.

~*~*~*~

Caroline Bingley dialed her B.F.F. of the moment while Jane was being unnecessarily fawned over.

"Lyds, why the hell is your, um, mom, like here? She's totally ruining my time with my dear William…No, it's not official yet, but he's been sending me these stares…yeah, a burning stare…mmhmm, I think it means he wants me…but anyway, your mom is driving me crazy, you've gotta get her out of here, and your sister! She's so fucking annoying, like she's like the bitchiest person ever and she takes up dearest William's time….yeah, I know! Oh God, she's so much worse than your mom, she's like living in my space with her model friend like… Okay, yeah, that's so smart! Where would I be without you! Okay, see you later!" Caroline blew air kisses at the phone and hung up. She bared a very malicious grin.

~*~*~*~

"Mrs. Bennet?" cried a weary Charles Bingley for what seemed the millionth time. He was feverishly trying to get the woman to close her mouth because his poor Jane needed her rest. Mrs. Bennet finally stopped her incessant chatter and said overly sweetly.

"Call me Leslie, Mr. Bingley, I'm not with Mr. Bennet anymore."

"Mrs. Ben-uhm-Leslie, would you kindly lower your voice, for Jane is sleeping and she needs her rest."

"Oh, Mr. Bingley! Jane doesn't need her beauty sleep, because she's already beautiful!"

"Yes mom, she is, but Jane needs to-" Lizzy almost finished her sentence, but then the doorbell rang. The occupants of the living room heard simultaneous squeals and chatter after the opening of the door.

~*~*~*~

Lydia Bennet sauntered into the living room, flipped her extended-bottled-blonde hair, pulled off her crystal-lens jet Prada sunglasses, and coolly surveyed the scene. She was garbed in a dangerous red – the kind that reminds someone of new bloodshed. Her lips were filled with the red of her short Donna Karan dress. Lydia wore Christian Louboutin high-heeled cage booties, a matching Louboutin spike-studded oversize bag, Mia and Me thick gunmetal mesh bangles, and its matching gunmetal draping chain link necklace by Paige Novick. To top it all off, Lydia sported two statement rings – a black Stephen Dweck Marquise Carved ring and a Stephen Webster superstud dark silver ring. (A/N: Lydia's wardrobe was compiled via Neiman Marcus' website.)

Lizzy was incredibly confused after seeing her sister. The girl was wearing an incredibly expensive and chic, if not a little elaborate, outfit. Where had she acquired the income for such a wardrobe? And the interesting taste that bordered between dark goth and fashionista?

At five foot seven Lydia was taller than Lizzy's mere five foot five, but with her shoes she was Bingley's height of five eleven. She glided over to Lizzy and towered over her. She stared at her for what seemed interminable, and then she said, quietly, menacingly:

"Lizzy." A pregnant pause. "Go home."

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"You heard me. Careful what your next move is, because I will come for you."

"Lyds, I don't understand."

"I think you do. That was a threat, and I've rejected you as my sister."

"What-"

"That was a warning. Leave Caroline's house, and stop irritating mom. You're getting in the way of my," she caught herself, "you have until Jane heals fully to cease contact with the Bingleys." Then, louder,

"Oh Charlie! You should, like, totally, throw a party soon! Caroline's parties are always so much fun!" The change in character was creepy, like two different people inhabited the same stylish and plastic-enhanced body. Lizzy blinked twice, as if to affirm that the bi-polar character in front of her was really Lydia.

"That does seem like a good idea, when Jane is better I'll be sure to have Caroline plan another one!"

"Sounds good, Charlie! I'll like, see you guys later. Come on mom, we need to, like, go shopping!"

"Oh Lydia, you always know how to ease my nerves!"

~*~*~*~

Lizzy could not believe what came out of her sister's mouth. Since when did Lydia speak without using the word like at least once? She knew Lydia was strange, but since when did strange mean incredibly scary? She feared for the future, for her brother, for Ana. Especially Ana, because if Lydia found out about her…Lizzy shivered.

~*~*~*~

Darcy felt for Lizzy. He wanted to feel her too, but that was another matter. He heard all Lydia said, including the threat. He silently vowed that he would protect Lizzy because he lo-liked...her a lot. Lydia, he thought, took away the Black Widow title from Caroline – she not only sounded incredibly evil, she dressed it too. Caroline was going to have to be christened another alias. Hmm…Mandarin Fireball sounded good to him. Yeah. Especially when she got really mad at Bingley.

William sighed, again. It seemed to him like all he did was to sigh and mope about everything. He felt a small weight on his arm, and startled, he looked up. He saw the love of his life – wait what? – smiling up at him, asking him something.

"Sorry, what did you say?" he asked.

"I was just asking if you were okay, you looked completely tortured."

"Oh, well, I've got a lot on my mind lately."

"Okay, if you need anything, I don't mind listening." Lizzy couldn't believe she just offered the man who insulted her help, but it seemed right?

"I'll be fine." He wanted to tell her, but how could he? She would think the worst of him!

"Oh. Okay then. I'm going to go help Charles out in the kitchen," she smirked, "it sounds like he needs some help." She needed to leave the room, pronto, before she further acted upon her desire to comfort the somber man.

He didn't respond, unfortunately for him, because he could have kept her with him for longer. Fortunately for her; she was confused as hell. Lizzy left the room with a puzzled expression on her face, while William watched the love of his life – yes, it felt right to say so – leave him. He smiled a small smile, an incredible feat at this point in his life. She cared. So he would care for her.

A/N: Please review! It would make my day, and me smile…