The week flew by and before they knew it, Charlotte had texted Lizzie saying she had landed safely and was going to wait for her ride outside the airport. That whole week Lizzie had been super excited to see her best friend because she hadn't seen Charlotte in months!

"When was the last time I saw Char? Was it at my baby shower? Hmm, the fact that I can't remember is proof enough that it's been too long.", Lizzie would ponder at night while feeding little Ben.

It was just after lunch and Lizzie asked Darcy to go pick her up. "Can you pick up Char, Will? I would go myself to greet her but I can't leave the baby. It would look as if she weren't important if we just sent Frank to go pick her up, ya know?"

Darcy didn't really feel like leaving his house. He was comfortable and he was making silly faces at his son, who was snuggled up in his arms. But he knew how excited Lizzie was, and he loved to make his wife happy, so he nodded yes. Lydia, who was in the vicinity, heard Charlotte had arrived and volunteered to accompany Darcy to the airport.

He smiled and said, "Lydia? Can you do me a favor and start the car? We'll go in the white Range Rover today." Lydia nodded and went to grab the keys labeled 'White Range' off the key rack in the hall way that led towards the garage. The Darcys had multiple cars so they kept all the keys labeled and organized. Darcy had loosened up over the years but he was still a very neat man and he preferred order.

Darcy reluctantly handed Benjamin over to Lizzie and kissed his forehead when he was settled in her arms. He then pecked his wife on her forehead, each cheek, and then gave her a short, loving kiss on her lips.

He smiled and said, "I will be back shortly with Ms. Lu.", and headed out to the car.

Lydia was seated in the passenger seat, and had already selected a pop radio station. Darcy rolled his eyes and sighed. He had grown quite accustomed to pop music, and popular culture in general, thanks to the influence of the Bennets. He had also grown quite used to Lydia, and he secretly preferred her over Jane. Not that he disliked Jane or anything- she was a wonderful person and he was glad she was a part of his family- but Lydia was more fun than Jane, and she brought out a very youthful side of Darcy. She reminded him so much of Gigi and yet, she was her own person.

"Seatbelt, Lydia.", Darcy reminded her as he buckled his own and pulled out of the garage. "Pfft. Like I need it. You, big bro, are an excellent driver. Very safe and law-abiding, but you don't drive like a snail. Kudos, kudos!", Lydia complimented as she buckled up.

"Thank you. But it's not my driving that we need to watch out for. It's the rest of those crazy people out there.", he responded as they drove down the long drive way.

"Yeah, yeah.", Lydia said sticking her tongue out at Darcy. He proceeded to do the same and made Lydia started snorting and Darcy teased her about it. They always teased each other when they were alone like this.

"Oh so we're starting the teasing already, huh? Well, okay then Darce! Tell me, how many days have you crossed out on Gigi's calendar, hmmm?", Lydia retorted. Darcy's face turned bright red at the slick comment. Lydia always teased him about sex and she manages to get him blushing pretty hard most of the time.

The truth is, he actually did keep the calendar Gigi gave him. He doesn't count down the days by crossing out the calendar, though. He just took the date that Gigi marked as 'the day he and Lizzie could make love once again' and put it in his smart phone's calendar. He had been occupied with attending to his in-laws' needs and getting to know his son, but he was already starting to get antsy.

After getting used to being intimate with his wife multiple times a week for the past few years, he was going to have a hard time adjusting. "How does she always know right where to poke fun? Is it that obvious?", Darcy wondered as he tried to think of something to tease Lydia about.

"So how about that man your mother was talking about at breakfast last week? 'A couple of dates here and there' doesn't sound right to me, Lydia. Do you have a secret boyfriend you're not telling us about? I'd sure loooove to give your mother the big news!", Darcy teased, hoping he hadn't guessed incorrectly.

Lydia stopped laughing at Darcy and began blushing herself. She crossed her arms and looked out the window. "Hmm. I don't know what you're talking about.", she said defiantly.

"So I was correct?", he thought to himself as he smirked. "This is going to be a fun car ride, Lydia, don't you agree?", he asked tauntingly and Lydia groaned in response.

While Darcy and Lydia were gone, Lizzie found herself alone in the living room. The TV was on some baby-themed show, Benjamin was sleeping in his bassinet, and Lizzie was sitting on the couch awaiting her bestie. The rest of her house guests were busy elsewhere: Bing was working out in the home gym that was in the basement; Jane was bathing Charlie; and her mother was on the phone bragging to one of her friends, as usual.

Mr. Bennet had just entered the living room and sat next to her. He put his arms around her and they hugged silently for a minute before Mr. Bennet ended their embrace by pinching her cheek. "Geez, daddy.", Lizzie said while rubbing her sore cheek.

Mr. Bennet grinned. "It's been a while since I've done that to you, Beth." Her father was the only person who got away with calling her that; and he only said it when he was emotional. Lizzie looked up at her father's eyes and it felt like a reflection of herself. She had gotten his eyes, nose, and his red hair.

Mr. Bennet sighed and finally confessed, "I've been dying to speak with you, Lizzie. We haven't had one of our talks in a while and with all the commotion that happened with the kidnapping, I haven't wanted to bother you. But I can see you're not busy right now. Can we chat for a while?".

Lizzie looked at her dad tenderly and said, "Of course, dad. What's up?".

He began telling her how worried he was when they were missing, and that he thought he'd lost his confidant. They began reminiscing about the girls' childhoods. Lizzie could see he was feeling nostalgic and kind of gloomy.

She finally dared to ask, "What's wrong, daddy? Why the long face and that far-off look in your eyes? If I didn't know you so well, I'd think you were sad!".

Mr. Bennet sighed and answered, "Oh but I think I am, my darling Elizabeth. All my girls are growing up and leaving me. I think I'm experiencing empty-nest syndrome!", he joked. "But seriously, I'm a grandfather now. Two of my girls are matriarchs of their own families, and one isn't too far off from moving out and forgetting about us. I'm just missing my girls, is all. And I miss you the most. I will deny ever saying I have a favorite child because I love all my girls, but you are the most like myself and I miss our debates and just hanging out in the den talking about nothing. I've already had a similar conversation with Jane a few days back, while Bing was with Charlie. She suggested I visit more often, but I don't want to intrude. You girls are just beginning your lives and you should be left to enjoy your husbands and kids. What wise words have you to comfort your old man?".

Lizzie had no idea her dad was taking their growing up so hard. "Have you tried talking to mom? I'm sure beneath the weird need to have a million grandbabies, she misses us too.", she suggested.

Mr. Bennet chuckled. "Oh believe me, your mother does miss you girls dearly. But her joy for your happiness outweighs her sorrow. I'm ashamed to say I'm not as selfless as she is."

Lizzie patted her dad on the back and said, "It's okay dad. All three of us love you and we'll never forget about you. What you need to do is forget about us a little. You and mom need to find a hobby together. Preferably something that you would both be interested in. How about you teach mom how to fish? Or how about you learn how to sew from her? Hmm? You've gotta try, dad. That's one thing I've learned from marriage. You've got to try to make it work and communicate a lot because the other person isn't a mind reader."

Mr. Bennet smiled and said, "My own daughter giving me relationship advice. Tsk tsk. I should have Darcy and Bing go straight to you whenever they have a question for me."

Lizzie fake-gasped and said, "So that's what you guys talk about when you have those random poker nights!", and the mood was no longer somber.

Charlotte arrived at the Darcy estate to find everyone waiting for her outside. She ran over to everyone and hugged and kissed them all, leaving Lizzie for last. When Charlotte finally got to Lizzie she kissed her friend noisily on the cheek and grabbed her new nephew.

"Hello, you precious little angel! Auntie Charlotte is here!", she said to him excitedly as she caressed his soft little face."Oh, Lizzie, he's even cuter in person! And he's so big! Poor Lizzie! You might want to consider epidural for the next one."

Lizzie laughed and said, "Most definitely. I do not want to go through that again."

Darcy, who had gone to put Charlotte's bags in her guest room, had come to join the rest of the family. Lizzie kissed him appreciatively on the lips. "Thanks for picking up Charlotte, babe. You are the best!", she thanked him.

"It was nothing. It was great catching up with Charlotte on the ride back. We've actually got some business to discuss later. Right, Ms. Lu?", he said.

"Why of course, Mr. Darcy. Lu&Collins has some projects that may interest Pemberly Digital.", she said mimicking Darcy's business tone, but the smile on her face indicating something fishy was going on.

"Here, let me hold Ben while you two catch up.", Darcy suggested, taking Ben from Charlotte and walking into the house while making weird faces at his son.

"He does know that babies don't start smiling until they're at least like a month old, right?", Charlotte asked.

Lizzie laughed and said, "Nope. I don't think he does."

Mrs. Bennet walked over and grabbed Charlotte, "Come on in Charlotte, honey! I've made some snacks for you. You must be exhausted from traveling. Tell me, what does your mother think of my new grandbaby?". Everyone was walking back into the house when Lizzie's phone rang.

It was Gigi. "Hey Gigi! Charlotte's here!", Lizzie said excitedly as soon as she answered.

Gigi replied, "Yeah I know. I saw it on Twitter. But you see, I kind of slipped up on Twitter. I- umm- was sending a picture of Ben to my boyfriend's sister, Eleanor, you remember her, right? From your baby shower? Well she's on vacation on some island and her cell isn't activated. Anyways, I was sending it to her through a message on twitter but I accidentally tweeted it! And now a lot of people are asking me if that's your baby! And they aren't stupid, Lizzie. Your followers know you were super pregnant, but everyone thought you were going to be due later. I'm sorrrryyy!", Gigi blurted out all in one breath.

"What?! Gigi, I specifically told everyone at the baby shower that Will and I would reveal Ben to the world!", Lizzie responded angrily.

"I knowwww! I'm so sorry! I deleted it but you know how the internet is.", Gigi said, guiltily.

Lizzie groaned. "Great. The little bit of peace we had is going to be over. Ben's birth was kept away from the public because we had a private room and it wasn't my due date yet. We managed to keep the kidnapping secret because Darcy donates a large amount of money to the Justice Dept. of California. But now everyone will know about the baby and we are going to be harassed by magazines and the like. Ughhh. But whatever. This would be the case eventually." , Lizzie reflected.

Gigi was apologizing profusely over the phone and Lizzie was about to tell her that it was fine and it was bound to happen sooner or later, when her phone indicated someone else was calling her. She looked at the Caller ID: Caroline Lee.

So that was this chapter. Sorry for the mushy Mr. B bit. I didn't plan it like that, it just happened. :P And what's up with Charlotte and Darcy? What are they scheming?

Also, I couldn't help but LOL when writing about the calendar because I'm remembering from the show when Darcy and Lizzie were arguing about how long they had been dating and Darcy was like, "It's in my calendar."

Thank you all for reading and for your lovely reviews and suggestions! They definitely motivate me. *CyberHug*