Nine weeks going on ten and Lizzie could barely see a difference. "I mean, sure I have a bit more of a muffin top and I now always look like I've had a big meal… and my bra seems to be a little tighter… but shouldn't I look more, I don't know… pregnant?", Lizzie thought to herself as she examined her body in the mirror before getting dressed before work.

At Lizzie's insistence, she and Lydia had been brought back to her place Sunday night after a lovely dinner with the Darcys. They enjoyed spending time in each other's company and took advantages of all the perks that come along with being in an exclusive relationship with someone.

Lydia was eating some cereal when Lizzie finally came out dressed. She was wearing black slacks and a top that didn't hug her belly. She wanted absolutely no one at Pemberley Digital to know she was pregnant, lest they find out who her baby daddy is. Also, she didn't want anyone to know before she told her family.

"Lydia do I look different to you? Like, can you tell I'm pregnant?", Lizzie asked worriedly. Now that she knew she was pregnant, she felt like she had a big neon sign pointing to her stomach.

"Not really. I think we all gained a little weight with mom's cooking during… well, you know- that month that we were all home eating mom's consolation meals. So I wouldn't have thought anything of it. Don't worry, Lizzie. Nobody will notice. Just don't stare at your stomach and don't rub it and stuff and you should be totes fine.", Lydia said reassuringly.

Lizzie sighed in relief and asked, "Are you ready to go? I'm skipping breakfast for right now- I think if I eat anything I'll just puke it back up."

Darcy awoke slightly annoyed at the fact that Lizzie wasn't by his side. He understood the newness of their relationship along with news of a baby on the way was more than enough to warrant 'taking it slow', but still he longed for the day she would agree to finally move in with him. He hadn't had a chance to ask her because before he could even try, she was laying down rules.

He and Gigi talked baby talk all the way to work and it reminded him that he knew absolutely nothing about a developing baby or how to take care of one after its birth. "I will have to order some baby books and videos online. For the mean time, Google will have to do for basic information.", he thought as he parked in the VIP parking at Pemberley's parking garage.

Gigi was a ball of excited energy and she felt stir-crazy because she had no one to talk to it about until Lizzie and Lydia arrived. She didn't want to pressure her brother, but Gigi desperately wanted for him to tell Fitz so they could fangirl together about the unborn child. Gigi must have been putting out extremely good vibes to the universe because lately, a lot of her desires have been coming true, and this one would as well.

Lizzie and Darcy decided yesterday that it would be best for them not to spend so much time around each other at Pemberley, so he had plenty of free time to complete the task he set for himself earlier that morning. In between emails and phone meetings with foreign investors, Darcy was on the internet shopping for baby material. He bought a couple hundred dollars worth of books and movies and instructional videos before his lunch break arrived. He wanted to be absolutely sure he was the best (and most prepared) father he could be. There was one book titled, 'Pregnant Sex=The Best Sex', for which he very interestedly read the brief description. "It won't harm the baby? Hmm… must conduct further research to be sure…", he decided as he added the book to the online shopping cart.

He scrolled past another book titled 'Baby and Me: Daddy's Guide to Creating an Unbreakable Bond from Day 1' and the sudden thought that his social awkwardness and difficulty reading social cues would make it challenging for the child to love him made his throat dry. He quickly added it to his shopping cart and then headed to the water cooler in the break room to have a drink. He had a stocked mini fridge in his office but he wanted to walk around and work off the nervous energy.

Fitz poked his head into Darcy's office, as was his habit, and when he saw Darcy wasn't there, he let himself in and walked to Darcy's desk. He sat down in one of the comfy seats in front of the large mahogany workspace, but then decided he'd rather annoy Darcy by sitting in his chair behind the desk. Fitz made himself comfortable and propped his legs up on the table.

"If Darcy doesn't at least grimace at this, then Lizzie's got him totally whipped. As if I didn't know that already…", Fitz thought as he leaned back in Darcy's chair. He stayed like this for a few minutes but then got bored and decided to play Solitaire on Darcy's computer. He shook the mouse and then his eyebrows shot up as he saw what was on his screen.

"Why would Darcy be looking up baby books?", he thought obliviously.

Just then, Darcy walked in feeling much more at ease- at least until he saw Fitz clicking around on his computer. He kind of froze but then reminded himself that he was going to have to tell him sometime, and he might as well do it now.

"Fitz, will you please remove your feet from my desk? It's mahogany. Have some respect.", he said with a stern voice but with a smile that reached his eyes.

"Oh okay, good. You're still you. I was gonna say that if you didn't scold me, you were gone for good due to Lizzie's charm.", he said jokingly.

"Despite the happiness that Lizzie has brought into my life and the new responsibility we will share together, I am still very much myself.", Darcy said, still smiling.

"Dude. Seriously. I'm glad to see you happy and all, but the smile still kinda creeps me out. If you're gonna smile, just smile all the way. Don't hold back the happy."

Darcy just laughed as he shooed Fitz away from his chair.

"Sooooo….. you wanna tell me what responsibilities you and Lizzie have now? Did y'all get a dog or something? And D-man, what's up with the baby research? If you guys are getting a pet, I think you need a different set of books..."

Darcy cleared his throat and said, "No. I'm looking up the correct material. The truth is my relationship with Lizzie has been going on longer than you've been aware. She and I went on a date the last time she was at Pemberley- you know, before the whole Wickham situation."

"Whatttt?! This is gold! Why have you been holding out on me?!"

"Well, I thought we were done and that she thought that night had been a mistake since we were slightly inebriated-"

"Wait, what?! You guys got drunk and…", the dots connected in his head. "WHAT?! No way! You and Lizzie hooked up?!"

Darcy assumed that meant intercourse so he nodded yes.

"Hold on, like hooked up-hooked up or hooked up-hooked up?", Fitz asked confused.

Darcy had had enough misinterpretations with Lizzie to last him a life time, so he cleared things up.

"Lizzie and I had sex. Today is Monday, so according to the doctor's calendar and my own, that was nine weeks ago exactly."

"My dawg! Pound it! You finally got with the woman of your dreams! I wish you woulda told me sooner, man! We coulda gone out to celebrate… Oh yeah, but the Wickham thing happened… Wait, back up Darce, what doctor?"

"Lizzie is pregnant with my baby, Fitz. I'm going to be a father.", Darcy said proudly. He hadn't really announced it to anyone, since obviously Lizzie, Lydia, and Gigi already knew. He felt a rush telling Fitz about it.

Fitz jaw dropped. And he was quiet. This was a rare treat and Darcy reveled in it for as long as he could. Fitz finally came to, and got up and hugged Darcy and patted him on the back.

"Congratz, man! Wow. That's major news! How did that happen? Well, I know how, but how could that happen to you and Lizzie? You two are the most sensible people I know."

"There's always a risk, contraceptives or not."

"Whoaaa… I need to go congratulate her... Does Gigi know? Oh, who am I kidding? That two-timer didn't tell me anything… Whatever happened to team FIGI?!"

"Please be discrete with your congratulations, Fitz. Lizzie doesn't want anyone at the offices to know."

Fitz nodded as he made his way out of Darcy's office. He was going to go to Lizzie, but decided to see if Gigi was around so he could demand answers as to why he was kept out of the loop.

Lizzie was sitting at her desk, her soup and salad bowls left completely empty. She had just devoured her lunch and was staring at the ultrasound picture of her baby, when Lydia walked in with her cell phone's talking end covered with her hand.

"Lizzie! Put that away! Don't come crying to me when you get caught red-handed!"

"Most of the employees here have manners and knock before they enter someone's office."

"Yeah, yeah. Look, mom is totes dying to talk to you! I told her you were busy, but she said 'None of my girls are eva too busy to talk to their mama'", Lydia said, mimicking her mother's accent almost as well as Lizzie.

"It's alright, just give me the phone. It's perfect timing for me to tell her we're going to visit this weekend."

"So you mean you're telling them forrealsies?"

"Yes, Lyds. I'm gonna start showing eventually and I'd rather them find out from me than by my baby bump. Now give me the phone before mom thinks you hung up on her."

Lydia quickly gave her the phone and said, "I'll be in Gigi's office. You should come quickly! Fitz and Gigi are fighting and it's hilarious!"

Lizzie chuckled and felt a flood of relief at hearing Lydia's high-pitched vocal inflections again.

"Hey, mom, I have some great news! We're coming to visit this weekend…". She purposely emitted that she was bringing her baby daddy along with her.

The week was an anxious one for both Lizzie and Darcy. The baby itself they consider a blessing and they are glad it exists, but it was the how of the situation which they dreaded telling.

Lizzie and Darcy were in his bedroom after dinner as she told him about the conversation she had with her mother that afternoon. He was sitting up against the headboard with his laptop on his lap and papers all about, while Lizzie laid beside him venting about telling her parents.

"How do I tell my dad, 'Hey Dad? Remember that guy we thought I hated? Yeah, I actually don't and we had amazing sex on the day that news of Lydia's video was announced and due to faulty condoms I became pregnant from that one time. But no, wait! There's more, dad! After we went and kicked Wickham's ass in the names of our younger sisters, we finally agreed to date because we both realized we feel strongly about each other! And shortly after that, I faint and discover I'm knocked up with his kid! Because who else could it possibly belong to? I haven't gotten laid since I was an undergrad.' Oh yeah, might as well tell him about that too."

He closed his laptop, picked up his papers, and put them all on his bedside table. He looked down to Lizzie, whose big doe eyes didn't try to conceal the anxiousness rumbling about inside of her. He swept a few stray hairs from her face and leaned down to kiss on the forehead before speaking.

"Lizzie, darling, you need to calm down. I can't imagine that those types of emotions are good for the baby. And remember you're not going alone. It takes two to tango and I will stand right beside you, holding your hand, as I say the words I never would have imagined would come out of my mouth in one sentence: 'Sir, I impregnated your daughter. Nice to see you again, I don't know if you remember me but I'm William Darcy.'"

This made Lizzie laugh out loud with tears and everything. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as Darcy's ears reddened a little. She keeps forgetting that she's not alone anymore.

They spend the rest of the evening with Lizzie's head in Darcy's lap, discussing whatever topic came to mind. At times, they would have nothing to say but that was okay. Awkward moments were nonexistent between them anymore. He would just absent-mindedly rub Lizzie's belly and they'd both know that each was thinking of the future.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Lizzie. I ordered a small library of baby material that should arrive tomorrow or the day after. I feel I need to prepare myself since I have no prior experience with infants or toddlers. Gigi was already a teen when I was left to take care of her."

"Aww how sweet! That's not a bad idea. It doesn't hurt to prepare, but don't you think it's a little early? I mean, I'm not even showing yet."

"But time flies. I don't want to put it off for the last month and have to cram everything. What if I forget something or do something wrong?"

Lizzie was about to reply but instead she yawned.

"Looks like it's time to get you home."

"Yeah.", Lizzie said with a sigh as she got off of the huge bed.

"You know… you're welcome to stay here, with me, whenever you'd like. Just let me know."

Lizzie smiled in response and hugged him.

"I know.", she mumbled into his chest. "Maybe I should just move in with him? I mean, I can pay him back later right?", she considered on the way downstairs.

The rest of the week passed in the same fashion. Lizzie and Darcy would spend their evenings together alone in a different room of the house every night checking out the baby material Darcy had purchased and talking (among other things). But during the day, they would try to see each other- although not for long. Either Darcy would go to Lizzie's office for a minute just to give her a quick kiss (which neither party ever felt satisfied with) or Lizzie would need to ask him a couple of questions for her study or on behalf of Gigi, during which they just held each other and basked in the serenity of being in each other's arms (and Darcy couldn't help if his hands had a mind of their own while they were locked in their embrace).

Gigi served as Lydia's personal tour guide of San Francisco and every night they went out after dinner, with Gigi dropping Lydia off at home long after Lizzie had fallen asleep. Gigi enjoyed Lydia's company as much as she could, for if their plan worked, Lydia would be staying behind and Lizzie would be living with Darcy on their return from the Bennet home.

They had an early flight scheduled for Saturday morning so they arrived at the Bennet house before lunchtime. To say that Mrs. Bennet was shocked to see Darcy, of all people, would be an understatement.