Chapter 5

(Wills POV)

Earlier he had put a scarf round his head and disappeared off from the venue, hired a car and drove around for a bit. He ended up back at the beach where they had all had dinner the night before. How could she be so charmed by that man who had already broken poor Georgies heart? That was the trouble George Wickhams charming was so convincing even beautiful, intelligent Lizzy has been taken in by him. He'd have to warn her about him but how without telling her of Georgies pain, would she believe me, she was so angry with me. What lies has he told Lizzy? Once Will had calmed down it had got quite late, he hoped Georgie wasn't worried about him but she knew what he was like. She would have got home safe with Jane, Lizzy and the band. Lizzy… she hates me again what am I to do. She looked so peaceful, curled up on top of the stairs he didn't want to disturb her but it couldn't have been that comfortable and it was getting very cold, she would catch a chill. Will softly called her name but she just went hmm….. "Lizzy you need to go to bed you will catch your death here!"

"Hmm hmm" was all Lizzy said. Will knew he had to do something; he couldn't just leave her on the steps. He gently scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the house. She leaned into him and put her hand on his chest and his heart started pounding. She would be really upset if she woke up and herself like this with him after their angry exchange earlier. She hated him but it felt so wonderful to hold her close to him. He thought the best thing to do was to gently carry her into her room, place her on her bed and leave her to wonder how she got there in the morning. He placed her on the bed and looked around for something to put over her so she warmed up, when she reached out for him, gently touching him on the arm saying "don't go" and she finally opened her eyes "Will" she gasped.

"Sorry I will go I just couldn't leave you out there in the cold" he whispered.

"Please don't go, I need to apologise for all the awful things that I said that were all untrue" pleaded Lizzy. Will eyes widened in shock "I am so truly deeply sorry Will and would do anything to make it up to you" she said. Will just looked deeply into her eyes, she wasn't angry with him anymore. What had happened? Lizzy slowly sat up and began her story "Your sister bumped into George Wickham and was in deep shock and in a distressed state and was asking for you. Of course you had left then after our fight and she told me that man had broken her heart and all the wicked lies he spread about you and then I was in deep shock, I'm so sorry that he tricked me as well as your sister but luckily not to the same extent. I did think he was charming but there was something about him a bit too smooth for me. I hope in time you can forgive me and that we can be friends again"

"Of course we can be friends dear Lizzy, let our fight be forgotten, I am sorry I shouted at you, you didn't deserve that, I'm sorry I ran off particularly as my sister needed me although I'm not sorry she confided in you instead. I wanted to tell you what George Wickham was really like but I didn't think you would believe me after being taken in by him. I needed to calm down before I came back" said Will.

"Where did you go?" said Lizzy reaching for his hand and looking into his eyes.

"To the beach, I always find the beach very calming, listening to the waves" said Will gently taking Lizzy's hands in his and giving them a gently squeeze.

" I find the beach very calming too" she said and she smiled at him and he smiled at her in return. "I was remembering our lovely evening there last night." He said

"Yes it was a wonderful evening, one of the best evenings I have had in a long time".

"What were you doing sleeping on the steps?" Will asked Lizzy

"I was waiting for you to come back so I could apologise and beg your forgiveness and hope you wouldn't hate me one day" Lizzy said.

"I could never hate you Lizzy whatever you said to me. Who can blame you for thinking I was the bad guy. I don't go out of my way to be friendly to people, but I am trying to be a better man, when you met me first I was so arrogant, I am trying to remedy that".

"So we are friends again then?" Will questioned hopefully.

"Yes, we are good" Lizzy said staring deep into his eyes. She couldn't help being drawn to them, and she couldn't tear her eyes away from him or him from her, something had changed between them now everything was out in the open. Finally they broke eye contact and Will said

"right I better let you get some sleep" he said and he gave her a kiss on the forehead and left. He didn't want to leave but he thought he better while things were good between them.

(Lizzys POV)

Lizzy was so relieved they had worked things out but felt a bit lost that he had gone. He didn't hate her and he hadn't been seeing a secret girlfriend. He was her friend, but something had changed between them, there was certainly more. She had feelings for him now but it was too late. She had messed him about too much for him to ever want more, she got undressed and went to bed but couldn't stop thinking about him. There was no way he would have feelings for her now it was too late! She had, had her chance but she hadn't realised what he was really like. Well friendship would have to do, hopefully friendship would be enough for her. She was still coming to terms with these new feelings, maybe they wouldn't last although she knew she was kidding herself thinking that. The way her heart had hammered when she got to Oz when she saw him even before she knew the real story about George Wickham told her that these feelings were a bit deeper than that. Well she would have to be tough at least he didn't hate her.

(Wills POV)

Will went and checked on Georgie before he went to bed but she was sleeping soundly which was a great relief to him. He thought he would probably have difficulty sleeping after this night. He was so relieved they were talking again, that they were friends although he desperately wanted more, he wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her that he loved her, deeply….., passionately….. but she wouldn't feel that way about him. So friendship is what he would have to settle for, to have her in his life would have to do. She would always be in his life when Charlie and Jane got married, he was so happy that Charlie had met someone wonderful to share his life, he really should tell his friend how happy he was for him but it was difficult to be happy about anything at the moment. At least that meant he would still see Lizzy. He drifted off dreaming about a life with her he could never have, at least he had his dreams if nothing else.

(Lizzys POV)

Lizzy woke early after a restless night, she showered and dressed in simple shorts and a strappy top and wandered into the kitchen where Georgie was cooking up sausages and bacon. Before Lizzy said anything Georgie said "its okay they are all veggie as I know Jane is a veggie and the rest are happy to go veggie for a few days as they love Jane so much".

"That's so sweet of them, so thoughtful, I wish everyone was so thoughtful" and she told Georgie about the meal Lizzy and Jane had at Carolines house. Georgie couldn't believe that even Caroline could be that thoughtless.

"Did you know Caroline wanted to accompany me to Oz?, it took a lot of persuading her that I would be fine on my own as I had travelled all over the world to meet up with my brother on tour over the years. I also told her that she might not be able to have all the home comforts she was used to in Oz and persuaded her that she might not like it there with the heat and the bugs!"

"Well done you, I don't think I could have coped with Caroline after everything that has happened since we have been here" said Lizzy.

"My brother is back, I checked his room this morning" said Georgie.

"Yes I know he found me asleep on the steps outside, I was trying to stay up to apologise to him but I couldn't keep my eyes open" said Lizzy looking embarrassed "he carried me to bed".

"Always the gentleman, did you sort things out?" asked Georgie hopefully concerned for her new friend.

"Yes we did, thank goodness he has forgiven me even thought I don't deserve it" said Lizzy sadly.

"You do deserve it, please let it all be forgotten" said that rich, deep voice that seemed to now make her heart pound every time she heard it. Lizzy turned around to see Will grinning the corners of his corner turned up for a change, dressed in tan shorts and a white t-shirt that displayed his tanned muscular arms.

"Hi sis, how are you doing today?" Will asked with great concern for his little sis, giving her a knowing look.

"Morning Bro I'm not too bad now thanks, breakfasts nearly ready, can you see if you can kick the others out of bed or they won't get any". Georgie beamed at her brother, you could tell that they loved each other very much it was heart-warming to see.

"Can I do anything to help Georgie?" asked Lizzy.

"No you sit and relax Lizzy I'm going to look after you all today". The guys started appearing looking rather dishevelled,

"Hi Lizzy, Georgie did you sleep well?" said Steve. Jane appeared then holding Charlie's hand and grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi Lizzy and morning everyone, we have had a crazy idea and we want to run it by you Lizzy" Jane said.

"Go on Jane, I'm intrigued" said Lizzy.

"Do you remember that meal we had with Caroline" said Jane.

"Actually Georgie and I were just talking about that" said Lizzy.

"Well do you remember that Caroline thought we should have a big wedding and that Charlie and I hated that idea"

"Yes I do", Lizzy was beaming now as she had a feeling what Jane was going to say "You are going to get married here aren't you and very soon?" Lizzy said.

"Do you mind, Lizzy? What do you think?" said Jane looking hopefully for Lizzy's approval.

"I think that's a wonderful idea if it can be done on such short notice, anyway it doesn't matter what I think it's up to you and Charlie" said Lizzy.

"But I would still like your approval all the same all the same" said Jane.

"Well of course you have it" and Lizzy gave Jane and then Charlie a huge hug.

"Charlie is going to ring up to see if we can get a special license and we can have a big party when we get back to the UK. We would love you and Georgie to be bridesmaids and Will to be best man"

"I would be honoured to be your best man Charlie, Caroline is not going to be happy though!" said Will

"I don't care" said Charlie very uncharacteristically "I have had enough of her interference in our lives. I know I will suffer when we get back, but I will be the happiest man alive, married to my Jane so I won't care! We need to keep this quiet from the rest of the family and everyone else. We need to make sure the press don't hear about it, or it won't be private at all. We have three more gigs to do here and then we have a break before we fly back to England so that will be a perfect time for the wedding".

"This is so exciting" exclaimed Georgie "But what about the parents, what will they think?" asked Georgie.

"Well my parents were happy for me to do what makes me happy" said Charlie "and Janes dad will be fine about it but Janes mum is not going to be so happy but we will let her organise the party when we get home which will hopefully appease her a bit".

"Yes that sounds like a good idea, I think Charlie understands our parents very well" said Lizzy.

"Right come on let's sit down for breakfast before it gets cold" said Will.

"Can we be bridesmaids too" grinned Steve. Georgie hit Steve over the head with the spatula she was holding. They tucked into their breakfast and made plans for the day. The band was gigging that night so they couldn't go too far a field. Jane and Charlie were going to spend the morning seeing what they could do about organising the wedding while the rest of the group went to the beach. Lizzy asked if she could do anything to help but Jane said they would be fine.

They grabbed their beach gear and headed off to another private beach the band knew about and they were the only ones their. They found a place to settle on the beach and Dave suggested they should have a sandcastle competition, but who was going to judge? They decided they would all give each other points and the person with the most points would win. Lizzy being very competitive as usual was determined to win particularly to beat Will! They all spaced out and got digging. Georgie build a castle with shells decorating the turrets. Lizzy had a moat that went out to the sea so it would fill up with water. Will built a guitar shaped castle, Steve drums and Dave a microphone. Lizzy laughed "you guys really are obsessed with your band, although I don't blame you and they are amazing sandcastles! How on earth can I judge these are all wonderful, I think we need someone else to judge. In the end they agreed that Georgies was the best as they all loved her very much and they were happy to let her win. Lizzy and Georgie then ran down to the water and dipped their feet in, the guys came running up behind them and splashed them. Will in a spontaneous moment picked up Lizzy and put her over his shoulder and ran into the sea with her and threw her in. Lizzy playfully hit Will on the chest with her arms in a mock protest but it did give her a chance to look at and feel his perfectly sculptured chest it, was magnificent

"Sorry Lizzy I couldn't resist!" Will laughed.

Georgie, Steve and Dave were looking at each other with knowing grins. Lizzy and Will joined the others and they messed about in the water for a while until it was time to go back and get ready for the gig.

"The wedding is booked for a week today!" Jane and Charlie announced when the others got back to the house.

"That's brilliant" said Lizzy "We need to get Jane a dress then"

"And dresses for you and Georgie, we thought we could have a look while the guys are getting ready for the gig, what do you think girls?" said Jane.

"How exciting" Georgie exclaimed, right lets go!"

"I have already booked suits for us Will and the rest of the guys I hope you don't mind" said Charlie.

"Of course not Charlie I'm happy to wear what ever you want us to wear as long as you don't put me in pink!" laughed Will.

The girls headed off in a hire car to town to look for dresses, Jane had already booked an appointment and it didn't take long for them to get the dresses sorted out. Jane chose a very elegant, simple strapless cream dress and dark red short dresses for the girls with simple sandals, the girls decided to go to dinner again before they joined the guys at the concert. They decided to go to a simple Aussie restaurant by the beach.

"It was good to see you and Will getting on well this afternoon" Georgie said smiling.

"Yes we are on our way to becoming good friends now and I am so happy" said Lizzy.

"I think you are well on your way to becoming much more than just friends" said Georgie boldly.

"No no don't be daft Georgie, he would never want to be more than just friends with me especially after the way I have treated him" stated Lizzy.

"So are saying that you would like to be more than just friends Lizzy, I thought you didn't think about him that way? said Jane smiling.

"Maybe I do but he wouldn't think about me in that way" said Lizzy sadly.

"But you know he likes you, as he told you" said Jane.

" That was a long time ago before I treated him so badly, before I knew what he was really like".

"He is crazy about you, he talks about you all the time, which was why I knew so much about you when I met you" said Georgie.

"But that was before I treated him so badly and before I knew how I felt" said Lizzy.

"The way he looks at you I don't think his feelings have changed and I think you are being hard on yourself he wasn't the friendliest person in the world when you met him, you were right to be wary of him" said Jane. "I'm sorry Georgie but your brother did not give a very good impression of himself when we met him" said Jane.

"I know what my brother can be like, he does put on a mask to protect himself and he was a bit spoilt before but he has always been the most wonderful brother to me, maybe a bit protective but after what happened to me I am glad he is like that. I have seen a major change in his attitude since he met you Lizzy. You have changed him for the better. You have made him want to be a better man. A change like that would not be for a passing fancy Lizzy. The way he looks at you, the way he is with you I have never seen him act like that around anyone else ever" said Georgie. It was the longest speech the girls had ever heard the quiet Georgie say.

"Well I don't know, I think I will have to earn his trust again and that's going to take a while" said Lizzy sadly.

"So how do you feel about him" said Jane trying to drag some information out of Lizzy.

"I think…..I am falling in love with him" said Lizzy quietly understating her new feelings.

"Hooray I hoped that was the case" said Georgie excitedly.

"Can we change the subject as I don't think anything can come from this" said Lizzy sadly.

"OK" said the girls smiling to each other.

"So what other arrangements need to be made for the wedding?" asked Lizzy.

"We just need rings, a photographer (although we are looking to ask the band photographer but we are booking him out but not telling him what it is for until just before) maybe a cake but we were just planning going for a nice meal after their wedding with you lot" said Jane.

"Sounds like its all sorted that's great" said Lizzy

"Yes, lovely and simple just as we wanted it" smiled Jane.

The girls headed off to the concert and Lizzy took her normal place up front in the crowd, Georgie had decided to come and join her to see why Lizzy liked to go and stand there. "Wow I can feel the buzz down here, everyone is so excited!" said Georgie.

"You see why I like it down here" said Lizzy her eyes shining bright with excitement. As soon as they started playing Lizzy and Georgie started jumping up and down. About five songs in the band announced that they had a new song they had been playing around with that they wanted to test it out on the Queensland fans. It was a haunting piece about unrequited love and how the person didn't feel that they were good enough for the person they were in love with. Wills guitar solo was incredible and after the crowd were silent, they were so moved by this beautiful, sad song. They played one of their big hits, upbeat pieces next and the crowd were back to jumping around again.

After the encore Lizzy and Georgie went and joined the band backstage.

"That new song was incredible" said Lizzy her eyes bright with excitement "Who wrote that?" she asked.

"I did" said Will quietly and he moved over to Lizzy and walked her over to a corner away from the others "I wrote it about you" Will said with his head hung low, he couldn't look Lizzy in the eye. He hadn't wanted to play the song tonight but the band really wanted to try it out on the crowd and in the end he agreed. He hoped Lizzy wouldn't notice it, trust her to like it, to like the song where he was pouring out his pain. He wasn't going to play it to the others ever, but one night when he was feeling particularly low on the tour before Lizzy, Jane and Georgie arrived and he had, had a few drinks he decided to open up and play that song to them. Of course he didn't tell them who inspired the song but the band loved it, they thought it was the most beautiful song they had heard and thought he should share it with the world.

Lizzy stood there with her mouth open. She was speechless (which was rare). Lizzy reached out for Wills face and lifted his chin so he would look at her. She searched for his eyes until they locked with hers and they just stood there for a moment. He looked so vulnerable and apprehensive. When Lizzy could find the courage to speak she said "you wrote the song about me".

"Yes I did, I'm sorry it was never going to be played but the band loved it so much" said Will.

"Is that…..how ….you….really….feel?" said Lizzy.

"You know how I feel about you Lizzy, I told you at our after show party all those months ago".

"I didn't think you would feel anything for me after the way I treated you" said Lizzy.

"My feelings have never changed for you, in fact they are even stronger than before. I know you had good reason to treat me as you did, I deserved it after the way I was with you and anyone else. Anyway this is all irrelevant as we will never be anything but friends" said Will. Lizzys heart plummeted in her stomach, she had started to hope that there might be a chance for them to be together but his last statement must mean that he didn't want a relationship or that she was not good enough for him. Lizzy realised that she wanted to be with him more than anything else in the world and the realisation that she couldn't be with him made any toughness in her dissolve. Lizzys eyes welled up and a single tear ran down her cheek, Will brushed the tear away from her face and looked at her with such sorrow. "Why are you crying Lizzy, shouldn't it be me crying? I am the one who is in love with you, with no chance of you loving me in return" said Will. Lizzy stopped crying and looked at Will in disbelief.

"But you just said it was all irrelevant" said Lizzy.

"Only because you would never have feelings for me" said Will. Lizzy took Wills face in her hands and gave him a slow tender kiss on the lips and then it was Wills turn to look surprised. He soon recovered and wrapped his arms around Lizzy and at first gently kissed her and then he deepened the kiss until they were passionately embracing. Finally they parted but still holding onto each other's arms and staring deeply into each other's eyes, their eyes both full of questions but just enjoying the moment. Finally Will plucked up the courage to speak he asked "can it really be true that you might have some feelings for me?".

Lizzy slowly spoke "I have been falling for you for a while now, since I have got to know the real you but I thought I had no chance, feel how my heart thumps when you are near" she took his hand and put it over her heart. They stared into each other's eyes for a while and then Will said

"Is this really real or am I dreaming?"

"I can hardly believe it myself but it is real" said Lizzy smiling.

The rest of the band had finished packing up and looked over to Will and Lizzy and realised what was happening. Steve and Dave started clapping and everyone else joined in as Lizzy and Will turned a dark shade of red.

"Hooray, at last" said Georgie " I knew you two would work it out some day".

"Come on we better get going" Charlie said. Will took Lizzys hand squeezed it gently and lead her to one of the cars to take them back to the house never dropping his gaze from Lizzy for one minute. Will and Lizzy didn't say a word travelling back to the house they just stared into each other's eyes. When they got back to the house Will and Lizzy stayed outside and sat on the steps while everyone else went to bed.

"You really wrote that song about me?" Lizzy asked again, she just couldn't believe it.

"Yes, I did, I have been in turmoil ever since you ran off on me at the bands after show party. I realised than that I wasn't good enough for you and that I had to do something to try and make myself worthy of you, even if I could only be friends with you. Having you in my life as a friend would be better than not having you in my life at all though I would have found it really hard when you had a boyfriend. I got jealous when you talked to men anyway, especially your friend Joe he is so obviously in love with you but who can blame him. I am amazed that every man that knows you is not in love with you. Even if I could never be with you, meeting you has been a turning point in my life, it has made me want to me a better man. You made me realise how stupid and arrogant I have been for no reason at all. I'm sorry, I hope this is not all too much for you, the last thing I want to do is scare you off".

"That's not going to happen" said Lizzy smiling as she moved a stray hair away from Wills face and then gently stroked his cheek.

"Yes I have seen a change in you for the better, although there was also always a good man there, looking after your sister when your parents died, it can't have been easy and look at the amazing woman Georgie has become. I have changed for the better too; I judged you way too harshly because of your attitude and trusted a man I barely knew because he was charming and friendly on the surface. I thought my judgement was better than that, I thought I had more sense. I have also learnt to change my attitude for the better".

"I don't believe you did anything wrong Lizzy, my sister fell for George Wickhams charms as well and she is also a very intelligent women" said Will stroking Lizzys hair and gazing into her eyes. "Lizzy are you warm enough? You have goosebumps" Will said as he put his leather jacket around Lizzys shoulders.

"I hadn't noticed I was getting cold, somehow tonight I don't think I would notice anything".

Will held Lizzys face in his hands and gave her a long slow kiss which turned into another and another. They wrapped their arms around each other until Lizzy really started shivering.

"Come on, I'm taking you inside I don't want you freezing to death!" said Will looking concerned.

He took her by the hand and led her inside. The house was quiet as everyone else had gone to bed. Will poured himself a Glenmorangie "would you like a drink Lizzy?"

"Yes a whiskey would be great" and so he poured Lizzy a glass and they sat on the sofa.

"A toast to us" said Lizzy as they clinked glasses. Will put his arm around Lizzy and she held his free hand in both of hers and started playing with the rings on his fingers.

"How do you manage to play guitar with all those rings on your fingers?" Lizzy asked "I just always have" said will I have got used to it.

They sat, talked and kissed and drank whiskey all night. As it got light, Will guided Lizzy along a concealed forest path that led out to a view point looking out through the forest to the sea and they watched the sun rise hand in hand, it was just perfect. "Oh dear" said Lizzy as they got back to the house "How did it get to morning? Time has gone by so fast" as Georgie appeared getting up to make breakfast as Lizzy and Will entered the house.

"Have you two really been up all night?" laughed Georgie. Lizzy and Will just grinned and excused themselves. Lizzy was yawning she really didn't want to go to sleep because she didn't want to stop talking with Will but he started yawning too.

"Well I better leave you to go to get some sleep Lizzy or you are going to fall asleep standing. They had reached Lizzys bedroom by now and Will thought she was going to pass out very soon. He scooped her up and gently placed her on the bed, he kissed her on her forehead and whispered goodnight.

"Don't go Will, please stay with me" begged Lizzy.

"I really want to, I really, really want to but this is all so new I don't want to ruin it" said Will.

"Then stay with me" Lizzy murmured only half awake now.

"If you are sure" whispered Will.

Poor Will was trying to be a gentleman. This was too important to mess up by rushing in too quickly. Hopefully he would be able to control himself but it would be so difficult with her so close. He removed his shoes and covered them both over with a duvet and cuddled up to Lizzy. She pressed herself against him and they both fell into a contented sleep.