It was a day sometime in late June when Lizzie finally started to explore the apartment. There were a few rooms that Lizzie hadn't ever needed to go in, so she left them. Gigi's room was one, There was also a room whose door was next to the bathroom, she made the mistake once when she first arrived, but didn't think about it until then. She opened the windows and curtains in Gigi's room and went to explore the other one. It was dark, and dusty, and it looked like it hadn't been entered in a long time. She felt the wall for the light switch, but couldn't find one. She made her way, carefully along the wall, to the curtains and threw them open. Sitting in the middle of the floor, was a baby grand piano, the walls were proofed against sound but there was a section that could be folded back, she folded it back and found the light switch, Lizzie turned it on and the room was flooded with stage lights. There was a little filing cabinet in one corner, which was revealed to be full of music. Noting that Gigi didn't play, Lizzie smiled and left the room.
That night, Darcy came home a little later than usual, He had been held up both at the offices and in traffic. And worn out, held up Mr Darcy, was not a happy Darcy. And his day hadn't been good from the start.
'Hey Darcy! How was work?' Lizzie decided against the ambush as soon as she saw his face.
'Not good, I'd explain it to you, but you wouldn't understand it anyway so what's the point?'
'If you insist Mr. Cranky-pants' Lizzie said, taking the food out of the oven where she had stored it until such time as it could be eaten.
'I'm sorry, Lizzie, it's just been a long day. Hey wasn't I supposed to cook tonight? I thought we worked this out? You can't cook every night, whether you're home or not!"
'Well, you called and said you'd be home late and I had the time, besides, I found this really cool recipe that I wanted to try out!' Lizzie served up the meal and they took their plates to the table.
'Wow! Lizzie! This is really good! Where did you find this recipe!?' Darcy said, chewing on some peas.
'Oh on this site I somehow go onto, you know when you stay on the internet for a while you end up in some weird places? Well, that's basically what happened. I found this blog that's all about cooking for the hungry husband or whatever, yeah, I thought it could have some cool recipes and, even though we aren't married I thought, you know, same kinda rules isn't it?'
'Yeah I suppose' Darcy was slowing down now, visibly tired.
'So…'
'Yes Lizzie?'
'I was airing out the apartment today…'
'yeeess?'
'and I found…'
'Oh no…'
'The piano'
'Oh no'
'Oh yes, you never told me you played! William Darcy you bad, bad boy.'
'I haven't played in a long time Lizzie'
''That explains the dust'
'Not since I met you, you made it too difficult, I had to stop!"
'I made you stop playing piano? Well we'll have to rectify that immediately, It'd have to be like riding a bike right?' Darcy was obviously finished, and as was Lizzie, so she cleared the plates away.
'No Lizzie, it's nothing like riding a bike, you have to relearn ever Goddamned note every time you want to play after a year.' Darcy cleared his eyes. 'I had a love/hate relationship with piano'
'And now…?' Lizzie said, hoping to Segway into a tune.
'Well I'd have to play again and find out wouldn't I?'
Lizzie smiled. Darcy was getting a little more irritable.
'why don't you? Play I mean, I can dust it off, get out some music… you might enjoy it!'
'Not Tonight Lizzie, I'm too worn out' Darcy said, helping with the washing up.
'Oh come on! Just one song, I've waited all day, just to get you home to play the piano' Lizzie said, finishing the washing up.
'Well maybe I've waited all day just get home and not have someone else tell me what to do!' Darcy snapped. He went into the room, followed my Lizzie, and proceeded to play a piece by memory. It lacked soul.
'There. You see. I hate it' Darcy closed the lid and left the room again. Not bothering to check if Lizzie was there.
Lizzie shrugged sadly and shut the door. Things aren't always happy in paradise.
The next day; a Saturday, Lizzie was going out, Charlotte was visiting so they were going to spend the weekend together. Darcy spent half of the day wandering aimlessly about the house. Unsure what to do, he sat down to do some work and then stopped; He picked up a book but abandoned it within the first 10 pages. He started a movie, but turned it off in the first hour. The door next to the bathroom seemed to grow bigger and bigger, until it consumed most of the wall. Sighing, Darcy opened the door and turned the lights on. He chose a pile of music and started playing Fur Elise. Something fairly easy to ease himself back in. It worked, and he played the baby grand for most of the afternoon. Some pieces were long, others were relatively short. But there was one song he found the music to, and he played it over and over again.
William Darcy had a favourite song. He had found it not long after meeting Lizzie. He didn't know why, but it made him so happy to think about the song, to listen to it. (It was now at the top of his most played songs). There was like a smell that went with it. Contentment. He would have played it until his ears bled. He would never get sick of it. It was his go to song. After a stressful day at work one might have heard him humming it as he left the office. They might have even seen him singing it in his car. It was a chance to deformalize himself. To be Will. Instead of Mr. Darcy or some, Darcy to most, or William to his sister. He felt like he could dance to it. Like properly dance to it, to swing his arms around in wide circles, and to leap around in his room like a normal teenager. Sometimes he even did. But he always felt subconscious doing it like someone would see him being Will. Like they would see it and they wouldn't see him for the same person. He liked the feeling of risk. He knew that he shouldn't. That William Darcy is not a risk taker. That he should tighten his tie and go about his day, but every time he heard it he couldn't help but smile. It wasn't about anything. He didn't relate to it. It wasn't about Love or Loss or revenge or little sisters, or running company or going out with friends. But he loved it. Just as it was. It fit into his life like it was meant to be there and he wondered how he hadn't heard it before. He loved it. He would read and play the song. He would shower and sing the song. He could do anything on any given day and that song would make it even cooler.
So he played it on that rainy Saturday until his fingers were sore.
Lizzie came home while he was still playing that song. She opened the door and heard the familiar song filtering through the apartment. She smiled. She hoped that meant that he had forgiven her.
'Will?' She called once the final notes had come to a stop.
'Lizzie!' Darcy came out of the piano room and met he halfway, pressing his lips against hers in an earnest yet hungry kiss.
'I hope you will forgive me for my behavior last night, it was…unforgivable, however, I do hope that you will if I tell you how utterly wrong I was, in both my behaviour and my assessment. Thank You Lizzie without you that piano may have gathered dust for a far longer time.' He paused to let her speak.
'Darcy listen, I wasn't exactly well behaved either. I shouldn't have pushed you as much as I did, I just… I was waiting all day hoping you might play something. You're very good!'
'Thank you' Darcy said nervously, he wasn't used to taking complements.
'I made Dinner!' He said, motioning to the rather clumsily made macaroni and cheese on the table. ' I know you like it'
'No William' Darcy's eyes turned inwards. 'You don't understand. I love Macaroni and cheese!' She smiled and sat down.
Tadaaaaaa sorry for the lateness. I'm trying to update at least once a week, but it's not working since I'm working a lot more now. And… I'M STARTING UNI AS WELL which means even less time to update (I apologize in advance) anyways here is the new chapter… What did you think? Do tell me, I love reviews, even if they literally say 'loved it!' It does mean a lot that you are all waiting for the next part etc etc.
Also I have to say Leakycon! If Only I loved in the right part of America to go to all the cons. Tell me, is it usually the west coast for cons? Or do they alternate? Or What?
Kaythanxbye!
