A/N: Chapter 15. The start of Pemberly! This story is moving very fast, I'm not sure how many chapters will be left but we're more than half way! Thanks for sticking with it.
P.S My 17th birthday is tomorrow so for my birthday I would like some reviews...please :)
Ch. 15
Liz neared home an hour later with her head a little clearer. Walking always helped ease her mind.
She knew she had to go back to New York, there was no way out of it. It was her job, after all. But what about Will? He probably never wants to see me again. I'll just...act professional. I'm just doing my job, there will be no emotion at all. I am a stone cold journalist.
As she turned the corner to the street her building was located, a huge swarm of people clicking cameras in her face greeted her.
"Elizabeth! Liz! Look over here! Mind giving me a few words about your relationship with Will Darcy?" One asked.
"Yea, fuck off." Why would they come to my home? The picture wasn't even a big deal, guys!. She pushed past the dozen reporters and entered the lobby. At least her head was clear for a good ten minutes.
"Liz, your home early." Lydia looked a little surprised to see her older sister open the door to the apartment. "Did you see all those paparazzi outside? I wonder what they're here for."
"Yea, I needed to get out of the office." She responded, ignoring the second part. Liz took in her sisters appearance. Her makeup was on and she was dressed a little too fancy for a day of lounging around, watching tv. "Are you going out?" Liz asked her sister.
"Uhm...yea...I was." Lydia responded a bit suspiciously, but Liz didn't have time for her right now. She had her own shit to deal with.
"Okay, have fun. I'm going to go pack. I have to leave for New York tomorrow." Liz gave her sister a peck on the cheek.
"Cool. Bye." Lydia said before the door shut behind her.
"Well she seems to be in a rush." Liz muttered. Luckily, there were only a couple more days until Lydia would be back on a plane to Philly and Liz and Jane could stop playing babysitter.
Liz went into her room and pulled out her laptop. She sat on her bed with her legs crossed, checking to see if Mr. Stevens' assistant had already e-mailed her the plan.
Surely enough, she did. Liz opened up the e-mail.
Ms. Bennet,
You will be arriving in Rochester, NY at six p.m tomorrow. Your hotel is a five minute drive from the airport, we've already booked you a room. The next morning, you will be arriving at the Darcy residence in Rochester at promptly ten a.m. Your flight plans and directions to Mr. Darcy's home are in an attached file.
Elizabeth opened the attachment with her flight times. By the looks of it, she would only have to spend one day with Will. She could handle that. It's just a couple of hours, Liz she kept telling herself as she packed her clothes.
Liz was so busy calming herself down that she didn't hear Jane walk into her room. "Hey Liz." Jane said gently from her position against the doorframe.
Liz was startled. "Oh, hi Jane. I didn't hear you come in. Why aren't you at work?"
"I could ask you the same question." Jane joked. "There was a problem with the lead actor today, she refused to leave her dressing room, so we had to stop shooting. They didn't need me to be around."
"Well, I'm glad you're home. I need to talk to you." Liz sat on her bed and pat the bed next to her, signaling Jane to sit with her.
"Yea, I have something I want to talk to you about too." Jane looked a little stern, but loving. She had a look that only Jane could make.
"Okay, you go first." Liz said.
"Mom told me about the conversation you two had yesterday. She told me about the picture. Why didn't you tell me that you saw Will Darcy in New York?"
Liz sighed. "I don't know. I think I'm kind of scared. Scared that I might have had feelings for him, but none of that matters because I can't. I can not and I do not have feelings for him."
Jane wrapped her arms around her sister. "Oh, Liz. I'm sorry you're going through that, but don't ever feel like you cant talk to me about it." Jane wasn't naive, she knew there was something going on between the two of them but she felt that if Liz wanted to talk about she would. Jane didn't need to bring it up herself.
Liz returned Jane's hug. "Thanks Janie. Now about the thing that I have to tell you..."
Liz told Jane all about how her boss set up the interview and how she had to leave for New York tomorrow.
"Poor Liz. But the sooner you can get it over with, the sooner you can come home." Jane rationalized with a clever smile.
Liz nodded her head in agreement.
An hour later, Liz was sitting in front of her tv with a carton of ice cream. Jane had left to go somewhere with Charlie and Lydia was God knows where.
Someone knocked on the door. Liz groaned. Human interaction was not what she wanted right now. And when she opened the door, the human in front of her was one she never wanted to interact with again.
"George." Liz sneered.
Her tone was lost on Wickham though. "Lizzy! I'm so glad to see you! I heard you went to New York." George pushed his way into the apartment.
"Yea." Liz walked back to the couch, leaving the door open, hoping Wickham would get the hint. He didn't. He just plopped himself down on the couch next to Liz.
"So...what are you watching?" Wickham asked casually.
"An old episode of Friends." Liz responded curtly.
"Cool. Cool. Speaking of old friends, I heard you had a run-in with Darcy. Must have been awful. I've heard what the tabloids are saying about you guys. So sorry you had to be around that sad excuse for a human being."
Liz put her ice cream down. The gloves were coming off. "Actually, I'm sitting right next to a sad excuse for a human right now, George. That's right, I know all about you and Georgie. The truth. Not the bullshit you fed me. Will Darcy is a good person." George blanched. "I want you to leave my apartment right now, and never come back. If I ever see you in the hall and you so much as look at me I will beat the shit out of you. I will finish what Will started. I suggest you move. Now get out!"
Liz was fuming. George didn't even try to defend himself, he just walked right out of her apartment, shutting the door behind him.
When she was alone again, Liz started sobbing. She ran to her room and reached in her purse, picking up the letter from Will. She read it over and over again. After the tenth time, Liz felt like the words were engrained in her mind. What have I done? She kept repeating to herself.
At 5:55 the next day. Elizabeth Bennet arrived at Greater Rochester International Airport. She got off the plane and made her way to the exit.
Liz was surprised to hear a familiar voice call from behind, "Elizabeth!" The deep voice could only belong to one person. Will Darcy. Shit!
Liz pivoted so that she could face Will. "Uh, hi Will. What are you doing here? I thought we were supposed to meet tomorrow."
Will smiled nervously. "We were. But I called your office to check what time you were getting in and I thought...or I hoped that you would want to come over for dinner. I mean, it beats being holed up in a hotel all night." He started fidgeting with his thumbs.
"Dinner?" Liz repeated.
Will's eyes widened when he realized that when he said dinner, she probably thought he meant dinner date. "Well, yea. I uhh...with my sister. I want you to meet my sister. She...she's around here somewhere."
Just as Will said this, a slender girl with long, dark hair walked up to them with a Starbucks coffee in her hand. She looked to be a few years younger than Elizabeth. "Sorry, Will. I really needed caffeine." The young woman said. "Oh, you must be Elizabeth!" She said when she noticed Liz standing there.
Liz stuck out her hand for a greeting. "Call me Liz. You must be Georgie." Liz said.
Georgie swatted her hand away and pulled Liz into an embrace. "It's so nice to meet you! I've heard so many great things about you."
"I'm sure you have." Liz responded. I wonder what Will told his sister. Does she know that I know about George? She doesn't seem depressed, maybe she's better now. I can only hope...the poor girl has been through so much.
"So, Will. Did you ask her about dinner?" Will nodded his head. "Good, so you're coming, right?" She eagerly asked Liz.
Liz could have said no. She would have gone to her hotel and sat around in her room wondering what would have happened if she had said yes. So, to avoid questioning herself later, wondering what if, Liz accepted the invitation.
"I guess I could for a little while..." Liz said.
"Yay!" Georgie clapped her hands which still held the piping hot coffee. "Let's go." She grabbed Liz with her free hand and directed her towards the door.
Will followed behind, hands in his pockets but a smile on his face.
The ride back to the Darcy residence was short but awkward. Georgie sat in the back seat, completely at ease, yet Liz was anything but.
She was trying not to focus on the fact that she was extremely nervous. Her stomach was doing backflips. Will didn't seen to hate her, but that was not what she expected.
"We're here." Will gently touched Liz's shoulder, who was staring out the window, admiring the beautiful landscape.
Liz looked in front of her to a huge, three story victorian house. It had a light blue siding and a wrap-around porch with adirondack chairs. It looked gorgeous in the dimming light. "Wow." Liz said.
Will smiled. "Yea, I like it, too. Let's go inside." Will suggested.
Georgie was already in the house talking to an older woman with graying hair.
"Hello." The woman smiled at Liz. "I'm Martha Reynolds, the families housekeeper."
"Oh, please." Will said. "You know you're more like family." He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Reynolds. I'm Liz Bennet." Liz shook Martha's hand.
"I know who you are sweetie." Mrs. Reynolds gave her a knowing smile. What she knew exactly, was beyond Liz.
Will cleared his throat. "Is dinner ready yet?" He asked.
"It is. I made your favorite. Chicken marsala."
Will smiled. "Great. Shall we?"
The food was already set on the table in the dining room. Will made it a point to pull out a chair for Elizabeth that was next to his. She blushed a little as she sat down. Mrs. Reynolds and Georgie just looked at each other and giggled. They both obviously liked each other.
Once their plates were full with delicious food, Liz said, "Your home is beautiful. What made you choose to live in Rochester?"
Will answered her. "It's quieter here. Paparazzi rarely ever come up here. I guess they just like to wait until I'm in L.A." He chuckled. "Besides, this house has been in my family for generations. My great grandfather built it."
"That's so nice. It's like your own little piece of history." Liz smiled at Will.
The rest of dinner was spent in idle chatter. It was mostly Georgie or Mrs. Reynolds asking Liz about herself. Will was mostly silent, but it was no longer the stiff and condescending silence she usually saw on him. It was a content silence. He was just happy to be home with Mrs. Reynolds and Georgie. And seeing Elizabeth He thought to himself.
When they finished, it was nearly nine o'clock.
"Thank you so much for dinner, but I think I should be getting to my hotel. I have to get a good nights sleep in order to put up with Will tomorrow." Liz joked.
"Well why don't you just stay here?" Georgie suggested.
"Oh, I couldn't. I don't want to impose."
"You wouldn't be imposing. Right, Will?" Georgie look to her brother with pleading eyes.
"No imposition at all." Will said warmly. "We would love to have you. And besides, you'll be here tomorrow. Why not just stay the night?"
So much for only spending a couple hours in Will's company. But oddly, she didn't mind it. The dinner reminded her of their day in central park, both of them at ease. There was, however, one thing that Liz needed to address. Once she apologized, she would feel completely at ease.
"Okay. I guess it would make more sense." Liz admitted.
"Super! We can have a sleepover! It will be so fun!" Georgie squealed as she attacked Liz with another hug.
"I'll go get your bag. I left it in the car." Will said.
Liz nodded her thanks, but then was pulled into the living room by Georgie.
"This is so exciting! I haven't had a sleepover in the longest time! I mean, I know I'm an adult, but still." Georgie laughed. "I feel like I know you so much already. Will has told me so much."
"What did he say?" Liz asked, curious to know what he told his sister.
"Well, he said that you are really pretty and that you are so passionate when you speak. And that you're an amazing writer. He's read a lot of your articles. He really likes you."
"I don't think he feels that way anymore." Liz said shyly.
"Not unless he changed his mind since dinner. I see the way he looks at you." Georgie turned serious. Liz blushed. She didn't really know what to say.
The door opened and Will stepped in with Liz's bag. "I'm gonna put this in one of the guest rooms upstairs."
Liz smiled. "Thanks, Will." Will headed up the stairs to the second floor. She then turned back to Georgie, who looked oddly fidgety, as if she was thinking of what to say next.
"Liz...I know that Will told you...about George. And everything that happened." The girl looked down to her lap, not able to make eye contact with Liz.
Liz bit her lip. "I promise I won't tell anyone, Georgie." Liz put a reassuring hand on Georgie's shoulder.
Georgie's eyes shot up. "Oh, no! I didn't think you would! I trust you Liz. I gave Will permission to tell you because I didn't want a huge misunderstanding to keep you apart. I wanted him to tell you because I didn't want you to believe George and fall for his lies like I did."
"I did fall for his lies. But I haven't suffered nearly as much as you have."
Georgie nodded and visibly swallowed. "When I found out I was pregnant, I has such a wide range of emotions. Hopeful that maybe George did love me deep down, sad that I had a future ahead of me that I had to completely reimagine. Depressed because I would have to take care of a child without a father. But despite all those sad emotions, I was overjoyed with the fact that I would be able to have a baby. I mean, it's not how I imagined it would happen, but I still wanted to keep it. There was no question on whether or not I should keep it. Will was helping me, he promised he would help me take care of the baby. But even then, I lost it. I lost my baby. I was devastated after the miscarriage. Will was such a great brother, always trying to cheer me up. I've gotten to the point where I don't cry every time I think about it." Georgie paused, eyes glistening.
Liz pulled her arms around Georgie in a hug but said nothing.
"I'm telling you this because I wanted you to know the entire story. My side of the story."
Liz nodded. "Thank you for trusting me with so much. You are such a strong girl, Georgie."
Georgie smiled, only a hint of sadness still there. "There is one good thing that came of it." Georgie got up from the sofa and gestured to Liz that she would be back in a minute.
When she came back, Georgie had her hands full with a little bundle of fur. "After my miscarriage, Will got me a dog." She held out the dog to Liz and Liz picked the dog up eagerly.
"It's so cute! Is this a Jack Russell Terrier? Oh my gosh I might just have to steal your dog Georgie!" Liz cooed over the dog who wagged it's tail with the attention.
Georgie chuckled. "Thanks, but you are not stealing my dog! Her name is Bella, by the way."
"Aww, what a cute name." Liz started talking to the dog in a baby voice. "Oh aren't you just a little cutie. I have already fallen in love with you. Yes I have, you little precious baby." Bella licked Liz's face.
Georgie smiled. "She is like my baby." Georgie pet Bella's head. The look on her face a mixture or sadness and contentment.
Will stayed in the shadows for a few minutes after he came downstairs. He heard almost all of Liz and Georgie's conversation. He smiled when he heard how Liz handled it all. Liz was definitely good for his sister.
And how she treated the dog! Will wished he would show that kind of attention to him.
When he heard Georgie say "I wonder where Will is..." he knew that he has to step out of the shadows. He turned around the corner and into the room where Georgie, Liz and Bella were, trying to make it look nonchalant and as if he wasn't just eavesdropping. Being an actor, he though it would be a lot easier than it actually was.
"Oh there you are!" Georgie said, already suspicious that her brother had heard their conversation.
"Yup, right here." Will said nervously.
"So what do you want to do guys?" Georgie asked.
Liz shrugged. "How 'bout we play a board game?" Will suggested.
"Sure, sounds fun." Liz agreed.
Georgie clapped her hands together. "Okay! I'll go get the board games!"