This chapter was inspired by a very fluffy update of a P&P regency fic titled 'Spite and Scorn'. It got me feeling all feelsy and I enjoyed writing this chapter so hopefully you'll enjoy reading it!

Darcy sat down where Lizzie had patted the bed and then turned to face her.

"I don't want to make it seem as if I had a horrible childhood- I did not. I had wonderful parents who were both great role models. But I can't help but look back and feel like I missed something.

My parents loved Gigi and I undoubtedly. We never questioned that. But my mother was the more affectionate parent. She was always the one hugging and kissing us and helping us. I have very fond memories of my mother.

Unfortunately for us, she fell ill when I was ten years old and Gigi was five. She was bed-ridden for months at home until she passed away a few months later. We were all able to say good bye before she left us. And I remember it, clear as day, when she told me: 'William, promise me that you will protect your little sister. Promise me that you'll be the good man I hope you'll become.'

And I did. With tears in my eyes, I nodded yes."

Lizzie didn't really know what to say to him. Here she was in her childhood bedroom surrounded by only happy memories. She can't exactly say she understood what he went through. So she did the only thing she could and just grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

This seemed like encouragement enough for Darcy to continue.

"After my mother was gone, my father threw himself into his work as a means of escape, I suppose. He was already a quiet man and after that, we didn't really speak much. With Gigi he tried a little harder because she was younger. He still hugged her every night and sat her on his lap while he read status reports.

I assume that he thought I was old enough to handle grief on my own. But I wasn't. So when he hired Mr. Wickham to take over management of the estate a few months later- what used to be my mother's job- I was thrilled to see I had someone my age to play with. His mother had also passed a long time ago, so we already had that in common.

All your anecdotes and tomfoolery you experienced in your childhood were somewhat present in mine, except mine are tinged with memories of a time where George was a good guy and with the absence of my father. He worked too hard. Even after the doctors warned him that his heart couldn't take much stress, he kept on working.

That openness and playfulness you have with your parents makes me sad that my father didn't have that with Gigi and I. I was twenty years old and away at university when he fell ill from a heart attack and I made it just in time to say good bye. He gave me one last rare hug and his last request was the same as my mother's: to become a good man and take care of Georgiana.

I was an awkward taciturn kid who became a socially inept adult because I didn't have a kid's childhood. It wasn't unhappy, just not fun. I feel like I grew up too fast and like I had to take care of Gigi all by myself because as the years passed, my father grew more distant with us. And I... well, I'm glad that you are mothering our baby. Because with you as a parent, I know they will have good memories and grow up happy."

Lizzie realized he was confessing his fears about inadequacy as a father as a result of his absent parents and wanted to comfort him.

"William, I'm sure you'll be a great dad! Look at what you're doing. You bought all those baby books and videos because you're interested; because you care. I watched you when we would just hang out at your house. You would rub my belly and you're so gentle with me now because of the baby. You are doing a fantastic job so far, in my opinion.", Lizzie said trying to reassure him. She had no idea that he was feeling insecure.

He looked up at her and saw the kindness in her eyes and the bit of sadness brought out by his little monologue. "I hadn't thought of it like that... Wow, I have hit the jackpot with this woman.", he thought to himself.

He kissed her hand, which she then used to wipe the single tear that had escaped without him noticing. She had leaned closer to him to do that, and he took the opportunity to kiss her softly. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Lizzie was smiling, which made him smile.

They were still getting to know each other, and this confession and vulnerability that Darcy displayed was a major step in their relationship. Their intimacy was now beyond just physical.

He had often wondered how he would tell her he loved her, but he never imagined it would be in her bedroom after telling her parents he had impregnated her.

She was just sitting there across from him, looking so beautiful, smiling at him. She made him feel at peace and he wanted her to know just how much she meant to him.

Unbeknownst to Darcy, Lizzie's feelings were very similar to his own. She felt this strange sense of pride and joy at being able to make her man feel better. "Maybe it's the maternal instinct kicking in?", she thought as she sought to explain this wave of intense emotions that she had never experienced before and couldn't describe, but which had slowly been building over time.

Darcy cleared his throat and grabbed Lizzie's hands in his own. "The last time I said this, it didn't turn out as planned, but I have to get this off my chest... Lizzie, I am in love with you and what I felt when I confessed my love for you last time cannot even compare to what I feel right at this very moment... I-"

He was interrupted by Lizzie's lips on his.

He looked puzzled and was going to try to continue his speech, but Lizzie began speaking.

"I've been feeling something that I couldn't understand but you have just made it clear to me. William Darcy... I think am in love with you, too...".

She said it mainly to herself, but her audience was over the moon. Just when he thought she couldn't make him any happier, BAM!

He felt giddy all of a sudden and started kissing Lizzie all over and tickling her, which made her giggle. Within seconds, Lizzie was on her back laughing at Darcy's tickling and very much enjoying his little kisses.

Lydia had her ear phones in and didn't hear the loud giggling from outside the door. She didn't stop to think that Lizzie might be in her room with Darcy, so when she opened the door, she was very shocked to see Darcy straddling Lizzie while tickling her; and her giggling and yelling, "I love you, I love you, I love you!"

You see, Darcy had used Lizzie's confession against her. He wouldn't stop tickling her until she said it again. "Say it again, Lizzie!", "What was that?" he would say jokingly while she tried to stay strong and not give him the satisfaction. But ultimately, she failed and that was what Lydia barged in on.

"Ummmm, guys?", Lydia said taking out an ear bud and walking over to the bed to drop down the house phone. Lizzie and Darcy looked over, Darcy's hand frozen in mid-tickle.

"Jane wants to speak with you...", Lydia said after a few seconds.

She began walking away, but not before giving the couple an odd look that clearly expressed, "WTF are you two doing?"

Darcy, who would probably have been really embarrassed if he hadn't been so happy, said, "Wait, Lydia, we can explain!"

Lydia's brow shot up and she replied, "Riiight... Freaks!"

Lizzie burst out laughing at Darcy's expression after Lydia's comment.

"Remind me to lock my door next time, Will.", she said as she reached for the house phone and put it on speaker.

"Lizzie! It's so good to hear from you. Mom said you came over with a surprise... And please excuse me, sis, but did you just day 'Will'? And I heard a man's voice that sounded an awful lot like Darcy..."

"Damn it, Mom! I told you not to go near a phone!", she thought, annoyed at her mother.

Lizzie sighed and replied, "Well, Jane, I have to explain some things to you. I was gonna actually call you later. Would you mind video-chatting?"

"Not at all but-"

"And is Bing there with you? We kinda hoped to tell the two of you together." Darcy had been mouthing 'Ask for Bing'.

"Yeah, he is actually. I'm thinking about breaking my 'separate apartments' rule because he seems to spend more time here than at his own place...", Jane said laughing.

"Excellent. I'm gonna turn my laptop on and I expect a call from you in a couple of minutes."

"Alrighty. But you said 'we'. Is Lydia alright?"

"She's fine, Janie. Just call me."

"Okay... bye!"

Lizzie looked up at Darcy who had gotten off of Lizzie after Lydia walked in. She was still laying on the bed but then sat herself up.

"Can you pass me my laptop, please? And do you mind taking this phone back down to its base. I think this phone is the one in the living room."

Darcy paled. No way did he want to run into Lydia after what she had just witnessed.

He sighed but he did as told and made his way downstairs.

Lizzie booted up her computer and took a deep breath before clicking on the Skype icon on her home screen.

"So many things to tell Janie. I hope she isn't hurt that I didn't tell her earlier...", she thought sadly while waiting for Jane's call.

I'm moving at a snail's pace with this story lol. But that means it'll last longer, right? :P

Guys, I'd love to hear any suggestions/ideas you may have. I want Darcy and Lizzie to get married eventually but I don't know whether to make it before or after the baby is born. And I have yet to decide on a gender for the baby but I'm leaning towards one side...

Also, how do you guys think Lizzie's fans (aka YouTube) will find out about her pregnancy? That's coming up after everyone finds out.

Anyways, hope you liked it! I'll try to update soon.

*And shout out to my international readers! I am from the USA but I see some views from all over the world, which is pretty cool! Thank you!* :D