Disclaimer: I own none of the characters etc.

A/N: First things first, thank you alive-in-vunderland for betaing this chapter - any remaining mistakes are my own as I have added a bit since then.

Also thank you to scruffyreader 7, Jenny, Diane3006, SCS, Rhea Bleu, NYT, jupiteranne, geril, Smilz101, honuangel, Bonbennett, mommakittie, biteme1994, jkmk, Loli-pop0394, Lelalini and Avanell for revieiwing the last chapter (apologies if I miss anyone or if you review after this is posted) ALL of your comments mean a lot to me and as you can see it has spurred me on to write the longest chapter I have written so far.

I hope you enjoy and we'll speak afterwards . . .

"Darce, you know you have a home right?" Charles stood in the door way, taking a sip out of one take away coffee cup whilst holding another.

Darcy jumped at the interruption, and lifted his head out of his hands. It took a few seconds for his sleepy eyes to focus on anything, but eventually the fuzzy image of his best friend came into focus.

"Wow, did you sleep here?" Charles said incredulously. Darcy had always been dedicated, but this took it to a whole new level – he was even wearing the same clothes he wore last night.

Darcy didn't dignify the question with a response. He simply shook his mouse to take his computer out of hibernation, "You either came here to give me a coffee or gloat, now do one or the other and get back to work." Darcy snapped.

In the harsh morning daylight, Darcy looked down at his dishevelled appearance and winced. In frustration he'd loosened his tie, so that it now hung untied around his neck and his shirt sat open exposing the top of his chest to the open air. It sent a shiver down his spine.

Darcy was conscious that his scruffy mien was so out of character, so he self-consciously tried to flatten his unruly dark curls, in an attempt to make himself more presentable. God forbid if any of his other employees saw him in his current state, they'd probably think he was drunk. A small part of him wished he was.

Charles just laughed, handing one of the coffee cups to Darcy, who took it gratefully, "Darce, you look ... how do I put this politely," he paused, innocently resting a finger on his lips, "Like shit."

"That's polite?" A smile turned up the corners of Darcy's mouth.

"Yeah, I was going to tell you that you look fucking awful," Charles said, with a raised eyebrow and a huge grin on his face.

Darcy chuckled and turned his attention to the coffee cup in his hand. He sniffed it, and winced as the rich smell hit the back of this throat, "Charles, did you plan to caffeinate me or kill me? What the hell is in here?" Darcy held the cup at a distance, curiously sniffing the foreign liquid, There was no way he was going to drink that.

Very matter of fact, Charles stated, "Coffee," as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What, straight from the bean?" Darcy offered with biting sarcasm.

"Well that's generally how it works . . ."

Darcy scowled at his friend, and sniffed the drink again; it made him feel a little nauseated when it was that strong.

"Just drink it Will," Charles said exasperatedly – talking with Darcy was like negotiating with a child.

Begrudgingly Darcy raised the coffee cup to his lips, and took a mouthful. He spluttered, and spat it back out; it burnt the back of his throat. His eyes watered as the coffee travelled down his sensitive throat: it was like napalm.

"That is NOT coffee; its rocket fuel." Darcy coughed, and slammed the cardboard coffee cup down on his desk. Unfortunately the instability of the cup caused the lid to pop off, and the hot liquid sloshed out of the cup, and down Darcy's thighs, burning his legs. "Oh fucking hell," Darcy jumped up from the desk, inwardly cursing, and scowling at his incompetent friend.

Much to Darcy's chagrin, Charles couldn't help himself; he burst out laughing, a deep rolling laughter that had him clutching his sides and gasping for breath. Darcy shot Charles a malevolent look, and proceeded to dab at his crotch with this month's financial report – it was that worth reading.

At first Darcy tried to remain indignant, but whether it was through exhaustion or sheer resignation, before long Darcy started laughing too; he couldn't stop – it was a little bit funny. After the night he'd had any bit of relief was greatly appreciated.

Charles sank into the seat opposite Darcy's, and rested his feet on the edge of his desk, earning him a disapproving look from the master. "So, Jane called – William's out of hospital."

Darcy winced at the mention of William: after dropping Georgiana back at her apartment, his Bentley had streamed through the deserted streets of London, heading towards his house. He'd felt exhausted, and a big soft comfy bed was like heaven, but a niggling thought in the back of his mind kept reminding him that he would go to bed alone. No amount of Blackberry surfing had pushed away the feeling of loneliness that had coursed through his veins, and when the car had pulled up in front of his apartment building, he'd stared up at his uninviting, inhospitable and deserted apartment building and realised he didn't want to face it alone.

An internal war had raged through him, he could go back to the hospital or go to Elizabeth's and wait for her there or he could go to work: work it was.

When he had entered 'dArta software's headquarters the night security had been on duty, and looked suitably stunned when their employer had strolled past their desk at 5am in the morning; it felt like a mirage when he waved to them and entered the elevator – he never waved. The dull burr of the machines had been soothing, and the light from his computer had illuminated his office enough so he didn't need the lights on. "Peace," Darcy had thought . . . you know when something seems too good to be true, it probably is – well this was one of those times. Everything he looked at reminded him of William and Elizabeth, he had just been fooling himself into thinking he could find a distraction, he had left his heart with his son and Elizabeth and there was no getting it back.

Darcy was ripped out of his daydream by the snap of fingers in front of his face, "Wake up Darce, did you hear what I said?"

"Yes," why hadn't Elizabeth called, she said she would.

"Would it kill you to act like it?"

Darcy simply nodded.

"Oh come on Will, this is the part where you scold me for talking to you like that, and tell me to get back to work – play your role," Charles joked.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't play a thespian very well," Darcy said, with a bit of a stiff upper lip.

Charles just shrugged, and dragged a deep sip out of his cup, responding thoughtfully "No, but you play the part of the arrogant boss better than anyone I know."

Darcy abruptly stopped laughing, and stared at Charles, raising one perfect dark eyebrow at him. At first Charles wasn't smiling, and remained stoic, but slowly a smile crept onto his face, and he spluttered, falling into a deep laugh.

Darcy visibly released a shaky breath, struggling to regain his composure. Although Darcy tried to write off Charles' joke as just that, he couldn't; there was a part of him that knew he did play the arrogant boss well, too well to be an act.

It wasn't just at work that he was arrogant though, everything Elizabeth said in the hospital was evidence for that. Her words haunted him through the night, it was why he couldn't sleep, why he tried to find sanctuary in work, "you wouldn't have believed the baby was yours...trying to trap you." Darcy inwardly winced as the show reel replayed in his mind. As much as the words had stung last night in the stark morning light, he couldn't deny that she was right. Since 3am he had been trying to think of instances/circumstances which would prove her wrong, but he couldn't. She was 100% justified to think those things.

How was it that he'd become so cynical and selfish? Whether it was through the society he lived in or the social circle he travelled in, Elizabeth was right, he wouldn't have believed her.

Darcy had always vowed to be the kind of man his father, Hugo had been: all his father's employees respected him, and loved him, they wanted to work for him – he wanted that, and although Darcy had always commanded respect, he garnered it through fear not through love or admiration, and ultimately that's what he wanted.

The circumstances of the past 24 hours made Darcy think about the type of man he had grown up to be and consider the type of man he wanted to be. A man William would be proud of.

Darcy vividly remembered the day he had vowed that one day he would make his son as proud of him as he had been of his dad; regardless of how strained their relationship had been over the latter years of Hugo's life. Darcy had been 8 years old, and he had been sent home early from boarding school due to an outbreak of Nits.

Hugo tiptoed into the room, gently prying open his son's silvery curtains, so that a ray of early morning sunshine filtered through the gap and rested on his son William's face. William groaned and pulled the covers further above his head, falling back into a deep sleep. Hugo laughed, and gently rested on the bed, easing back the sheets and exposing his son's handsome face to the morning sunshine.

"Will ... Will ... it's time to wake up," Hugo whispered, brushing his son's soft hair away from his face.

Will's eyes fluttered open, and he rubbed at them with his small hands, blinking away the sleep.

"Dad, what time is it?" Will whispered.

"Who be a dad? I am Captain Darcy – the most feared of all the pirates, and you are my second and most trusted companion: Pirate Will Blackbeard – Argggh!" Hugo imitated a pirate, popping a tricorne onto his head and snapping a patch over his eye.

Will hastily jumped up in bed, a huge smile spreading across his face, "Dad?"

"Enough with the dad talk or I shall have ye walk the plank, does ye understand?" Hugo declared in his best pirate voice, jumping off the bed and throwing his finger in the air.

"Aye aye, Captain Darcy," Will declared, saluting his father.

"Right, now come m'boy, there are a great many coves to explore, islands to loot and much booty to be discovered, and it all must be done before your mother gets home. Now get dressed matey there's an adventure waiting for us." Hugo laid out a pirates outfit for Will and walked out the room, pretending to have a peg leg.

Will scrabbled out of his bed as fast as his legs would carry him, he was so excited – Peter Pan was his favourite book, he wanted to grow up to be a pirate. After washing, brushing his teeth and throwing on his pirate outfit, he sped down the stairs, taking all the steps leading up to his front door in one and ran to the car.

Hugo and their driver were waiting for him in the car, and to Will's surprise their driver was also dressed as a pirate.

"Ahoy! Master William." Alex, their driver declared, whilst pulling away from the house.

"Ahoy, Pirate Bartholomew," Will pressed his nose to the window, watching as their "ship" set sail. "Where are we going?" Will turned to his dad and smiled.

"We be headin' t' Darcy cove, we plan t' find booty thar," Hugo said, looking at his son with an affectionate gaze.

After a short drive the "ship" pulled up to shore and Hugo enthusiastically pulled Will out the car and into the Darcy Publishing Headquarters in Canary Wharf. It was a beautiful glass building that gleamed in the sun light, Will couldn't help but be a little intimated and he stepped into the building adorned head-to-toe in pirate wear.

Will shyly looked around the main reception and was taken aback when he realised that the entire interior of the building had been decorated to look like a pirate ship and all of the employees were dressed as pirates, but going about their every day work.

Will noted how everyone smiled at them, his dad knew all their names and as they snaked through the building and up to his dad's office on the top floor, his dad spoke like a pirate to all his employees and everyone of them took the time to speak to them – asking Will about his birthday, what he thought of his costume and how he found school.

Why were they doing this?

The elevator doors pinged open on Hugo's office floor and Will stood astounded in the elevator, taking in everything around him. His dad's entire floor had been decorated as a pirate ship and about 100 employees were gathered in the office, dressed as pirates and lost boys. A giant feast of cakes, biscuits, crisps, ice cream, sandwiches etc. was lined up on one side of the room and on the other a band dressed as pirates, were filling the air with "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me." Hesitantly Will stepped out of the elevator and shielded himself from view by hiding behind his father's cloak, everyone was having so much fun.

"Me hearties," Hugo shouted, raising his arms and the room fell in silence, "I present to all of ye, my son Pirate Will Blackbeard."

Will peaked out from behind his dad and everyone was now looking at him and cheering, "WILLIAM, WILLIAM, WILLIAM," they all chanted.

A deep crimson blush spread across his chubby cheeks and he retreated behind his dads figure again, periodically peering out at everyone.

"Come now Blackbeard, what's troublin' ye?" Hugo crouched down, so he was at eye level with his son and held Will's arms.

"Why are they all here?" Will said quietly, taking his hand off and running it between his fingers.

"Where is the fearless pirate I raised?" Hugo smiled, and brushed Will's hair out of his eyes.

"I'm scared," Will spoke shyly and looked down at the floor, scraping the floor with his foot – everyone was back partying again.

Hugo took Will's chin in his hands and gently raised his head, "William, these people are all here because they wanted to meet you."

"Why?" Will said meekly.

"They respect you and love you because you are my son – the most precious thing in the world to me."

Darcy realised that his father had lied to him that day; all the Darcy Publishing employees weren't there because they respected an 8 year old, they were there because they respected and loved Hugo; he was an assiduous employer and they would have done anything to make him happy – even if that meant dressing up as a pirate and entertaining his 8 year old Peter Pan obsessed son.

Deep down Darcy hoped that one day his employees would do that for William.

Whilst Darcy was lost in reverie, Charles moved over to the wardrobe at the back of the room and rifled through it, feeling a cold shiver run down his spine when he felt a pair of eyes watching him.

"So why the fashion statement?" Charles muttered, whilst rifling through the pressed designer shirts, jackets and trousers hanging up in the wardrobe.

"Would you believe me if I said I was trying something different?" Darcy said, yanking off his toe and putting it on the desk.

"No – Caroline always memos me the latest fashion updates and 'hobo chic' wasn't on it," Darcy started kneading his temples when Charles mentioned his sister, Caroline; she was possibly one of the most irritating women on the planet.

"How astute of Caroline," Darcy said in a dead pan voice, "what is she doing with herself these days?"

"You mean since you broke her heart?" Charles poked his head round the door, and raised a knowing eyebrow at Darcy.

Darcy jumped to his feet, "I object. I most certainly did not break her heart."

"What, because she doesn't have one?" Charles voiced it as a question, but he knew it was true, his sister was vile; he was glad she had moved to America.

"Can I agree with that and not get kicked in the nuts?"

"No!"

"Right, well what I was going to say was, Caroline and I went on one date – ONE and that was only because you asked me to do it," Charles opened his mouth to continue, but Darcy silenced him with a wave of his hand. "Nay, you blackmailed me into it – holding that AGM security video over my head. I will not be held responsible for the fact that she had her wedding dress, our children's names and our vacation homes all picked out before I'd even asked her whether she'd like some wine." Darcy gritted his teeth, thinking back to his horrific date with Charles' sister – if he dated before, he certainly didn't after that fiasco.

Charles waved a white shirt at Darcy from behind the wardrobe door, "I surrender."

Darcy snorted and relaxed back into his sumptuous leather director's chair, still rubbing the sides of his head in remembrance.

"Darce, has something happened that you aren't telling me?"

Darcy squeezed his eyes tightly shut, inwardly shouting, 'Yes I have a son, you met him, William Bennett is my son. Elizabeth is the girl I have been dreaming about for years – I love her.' Darcy shot up in his chair, looking around him as the weight of the words rested on his shoulders, it all made sense now – of course I love her. "No!" Darcy lied.

"So no financial woes? I'm not out of a job am I?" Charles joked.

"The Times Rich List would disagree with you on the first account, and tell me, how did my mood become about you?"

"I'm insecure, everything becomes about me eventually." Charles shrugged his shoulders, resting his hands on his hips as he looked into the wardrobe, contemplating which tie to put with which shoes.

"Charles ... I have nothing to say to that."

"Good, you're enough of a bastard to me at times as it is," Charles wiggled his eye brows at Darcy, "So what's wrong?"

"I'm just . . ." Darcy forced a massive yawn to illustrate his point, "tired."

"I understand. It must be difficult being the chief ... business meetings, fancy jets, huge pay checks, beautiful women throwing themselves at you, houses all over the world, and holidays on private islands."

"That's not my life and you know it." Darcy almost wished it was, but he had the battle scars to prove it had been a hard slog to get to where he was today.

"So, it wouldn't kill you to loosen up every once in a while. Go on, try it; get one of those lady boy massages when you are away - it's on me."

Darcy frowned, "That's Thailand and I will not."

"Oh come on Darce, when was the last time you got laid?"

"I don't intend of dignifying that with a response," two years ago.

After some serious deliberation, Charles finally emerged from the wardrobe and handed a crisp purple and white striped shirt, a pair of grey dress trousers and a razor to Darcy who took them hesitantly.

"What is this?" Darcy said, whilst staring dumbly at the clothes in his hands.

"Does tiredness affect brain function? Because I'd say I've just handed you a shirt, trousers and a razor," Charles said sarcastically. "Does your Georgiana tie your shoes too?"

Darcy shot a dirty look at Charles, who was lounging comfortably back in his seat opposite Darcy's, "I meant, why do I have them?"

"Because Darcy it's the job of a best friend to tell you when you stink and mate, you stink!" It was harsh but true; Charles knew Darcy would thank him for it later.

Darcy never let anyone take care of him but having Charles tell him what to do was strangely comforting, it was easy.

"Have you even been out on a date, you know since you started pining for that Emily chick?"

Elizabeth "No, I've been busy." Darcy shouted from the bathroom, whilst staring at his reflection over the marble wash counter. He chuckled at his appearance; it was definitely a change from the norm. His dark hair stood up at the front where he'd fallen asleep on his hand and the purple bags under his eyes were accentuated by the dark stubble on his chin. He wondered whether Elizabeth would find it attractive.

"Oh really, so you call sleeping in your office busy?" Charles asserted mockingly.

"Evidently, I'm so busy I don't even have time to sleep at home."

"But you'd sleep at home if there was someone waiting for you." Charles loved teasing Darcy, it was like playing with fire, and occasionally he got burnt. "So you aren't interested in anyone?"

"No," liar, Darcy's thoughts betrayed him, he definitely knew he was interested in someone it was just complicated and he couldn't tell Charles that.

"Not even say . . . Elizabeth Bennett?"

"Shit."

"What's wrong Will?" Charles asked, concern showing in his voice.

"I cut myself shaving," does Charles know as well?

"Bit old for doing for that," Charles waited a few seconds before proceeding, making sure his friend didn't bleed out. He heard him yanking toilet paper off the holder - he was fine. "So yeah, I hear Elizabeth is single?"

"And that would matter to me because . . .?"

"Well I don't know Will, let's have a think," Charles paused, "how about because she's incredibly attractive, has a fantastic cleavage, she's witty, kind, interesting and hard working: she's a perfect match for you."

"Yes she is attractive -," she's beautiful, mesmerising, her eyes sparkle..."- But apart from that I have to disagree, not only is she a flight risk, remember she left the AGM early last time because she was supposedly sick -,"

"Darcy," Charles called from the other room but Darcy didn't stop his rant.

"- Need I remind you that she is also a single mother, that can't even look -,"

"Darcy!" Charles was pleading this time but Will didn't stop.

"- After her son without landing him in hospital, why would I want to be with someone like that? She's tolerable, I suppose but not attractive enough to tempt m . . ."

"DARCY, STOP TALKING!" Charles shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Why?" Darcy wiped his face and looked at himself in the mirror; he was freshly shaven, clean and presentable . . . now to sort out the rest of his life.

"William, how are you today handsome?" That sounds like Charles, Darcy thought.

"Handsome?" Will stopped cold. "Charles did you just call me handsome?" Darcy threw the towel down and strolled out the bathroom, stopping dead when he noticed that Charles and Mrs Reynolds were stood by the door cooing over his son.

A warm sensation rose in Darcy's stomach as he looked at his perfect son, nestling in the protective arms of mother, Elizabeth. "God she's beautiful," Darcy breathed.

Will wriggled about, a wide smile erupting over his face, causing dimples to appear in his chubby cheeks, as he lapped up all the attention his new friends were lavishing on him.

Darcy uncomfortably pulled the collar of his shirt, remembering what he had said moments ago, bollocks did she hear me?

Charles glanced behind him, spotting Darcy who was stood white as a sheet by his bathroom door, "Darce, look, Lizzie and William popped in to see us." A goofy smile erupted on Charles' face as William pulled at his tie – was it wrong for Darcy to be jealous?

"Good morning Miss Bennett." Darcy said formally.

"Morning Mr Darcy, sorry to interrupt you, I just wanted to let you know William is okay," Elizabeth gently nodded her head and smiled, signalling to only him that William really was okay.

A wave of relief crashed over Darcy, he nearly rushed up to embrace them, but he felt too emotional, he couldn't move, "Thank you." Thank you, God.

"Well now I've shown how fine we are, we better be off." Elizabeth artfully pulled one of William's little hands off of Charles's tie and she gently munched on his fingers, distracting him. A dazzling smile spread across her face, it was a smile that could guide ships home; it was so beautiful it made Will place his hands at the side of her lips: he was as mesmerised by it as Darcy.

Realising he was about to lose her, Darcy moved forwards and showing more confidence than he felt said, "Charlie, Martha, could you give me a moment alone with Miss Bennett?"

Elizabeth seemed as shocked as they were, but they acquiesced and shuffled out the door reluctant to leave William. As Charles shut the doors behind Elizabeth a smug smile pulled at the corners of his mouth which Darcy chose to ignore, for the minute but promised to make him pay for it later.

Elizabeth stood holding William awkwardly by the door. Why must he look at me like that, she thought. After everything he said last night. He revealed the most atrocious things to me and yet all I want to do is kiss that frown off his face.

When they were alone Darcy moved towards his desk, using the steady oak for support, "Could I . . . I mean . . ."

"Are you always this articulate?" Elizabeth teased.

"Only around you," Darcy straightened his collar, preparing to continue, "would you mind if I held William?"

Elizabeth looked to William, who seemed to be in sync with Darcy because their son was desperately struggling out of her arms, trying to get a hold on his father, "I guess he's made the decision for me." Elizabeth gently transferred William into Darcy's arms, trying to ignore the apprehensive feeling that bubbled in her stomach.

Just like in Elizabeth's house the day before yesterday, holding William felt natural to Darcy, it was as if William was made to fit into his arms and it brought a broad smile to his face. His eyes roved his son's handsome face, and like yesterday, he took in all the features they shared and all those he shared with Elizabeth.

William's eyes were darker than usual, probably because he was tired after yesterday, but he was lively enough and wiggled in Darcy's arms, as his father tried to restrain him from falling out. William was at an age where he took an instant interest in everything he saw, he tried to trace the patterns on Darcy's screen saver, play with the curls at the back of Darcy's neck and pull at the buttons fastening down Darcy's collar.

"What did the doctor say?" Darcy didn't take his eyes off Will. He simply smiled and kissed the boy's forehead.

"That he's fine, the MRI didn't show anything for them to be concerned about. They kept him over night, as a precaution and let me take him home early this morning."

"But you haven't changed?" Darcy hadn't meant for it to come out so blunt and he inwardly cursed himself.

Elizabeth's lipped tightened and her cheeks glowed as she glanced at her dishevelled jeans and long grey cardigan, "Trust you to be so observant, and I have changed. I was wearing pyjamas last night. My uncle dropped these off last night after you left." Darcy registered the accusation in her voice. Did she not realise he left to stop his sister from attacking her?

"You misunderstand me, I didn't mean to offend you; I'm just surprised to see you." Darcy tried to correct his mistake.

"Why? I promised I would tell you how William was." Elizabeth tried to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes, so she went to stand by the window, looking out at Hyde Park.

"Yes, but yesterday must have been exhausting for you. I would have been satisfied with a phone call," Darcy knew that wasn't true, he had felt wounded earlier when he thought Elizabeth hadn't told him that William was okay.

"Well I wouldn't have been," Elizabeth said earnestly.

". . . Thank you. Did you stay in the hospital last night?"

"Yes, I stayed in William's bed all night. I'm sorry I didn't ring you last night. I was just so tired."

"It's okay; it must have been uncomfortable staying in William's bed all night."

"Not really, just to have him in my arms, breathing felt -" her breathing hitched, as she fought back the sobs, "felt amazing. Even if he did thrash about a lot." Elizabeth shot a look back over her shoulder, admiring William and Darcy.

"I bet you had fun sleeping in mommies arms didn't you little one?" Darcy bounced William up and down, making him giggle. It was as if Darcy he had done it a thousand times, it felt so right; he even placed a tender kiss on his son's head, causing the little boy to grab his head and wiggle it about.

Elizabeth swallowed back the lump that kept threatening to rise to the surface. It felt so good to watch Darcy tenderly embrace his son as if he had been a part of their lives since Will had been born.

Everyone that met Will loved him, he was sociable, in that respect he took after Elizabeth and he loved meeting new people, but a natural bond had been forged between Will and Darcy and it glowed like an aura around both of them.

When Elizabeth had emerged from the elevator earlier, Mrs Reynolds had immediately started fussing over William, and ushered her into Darcy's office without ceremony or invitation – it felt nice. Elizabeth had been a little taken back to see Charles, sitting in there, playing on what Elizabeth presumed was Darcy's computer, but hey, while the cat's away the mice will play.

She liked Charles. In the little time she had known him, it was obvious he had a kind heart and he was obviously very keen on Jane; he could hardly take his eyes off her. Ever since Elizabeth had been a little girl she was convinced Jane would marry a prince, someone that would sweep her off her feet, someone she could grow old with and look after their 50 grandchildren with – Charles seemed like that guy.

Admittedly, Elizabeth hadn't really spoken to Jane that much recently, and when they had it was all about her but she was convinced that something was going on between Charles and Jane because her sister spent an excessively long amount of time going to "meetings" with their new Client. It was customary for Elizabeth, Jane or one of their other project managers to meet with Clients maybe once a month, but Jane had seen Charles 5 times in two weeks – that was either dedication to the job or love. Elizabeth hoped it was a bit of both.

Elizabeth didn't realise Darcy was in the room, but she swiftly heard Charles trying to shut him – what were they talking about her? At the time she had been a little bit curious, but with a squirming 15 month old in her arms she was a little too preoccupied to care.

"You have an amazing view," Elizabeth said, resting her slender hand on the glass.

"Thank you, that's why I chose this office – I just love Hyde Park," Elizabeth jumped when she realised Darcy was stood right next to her, holding William and looking down at her, with a tender look on his face.

"Well you are very lucky," Elizabeth held Will's little hand in hers, kissing his fingertips.

"Yes, I guess I am," Darcy looked from his son to Elizabeth, and all the anger he felt last night just wasn't as strong anymore, it no longer consumed him.

"No matter where I travel, London will always be one of my favourite cities."

"Why?" Darcy couldn't understand why, he hated the place.

"Have you ever just ... meandered though the streets of London at night? When I used to live in Knightsbridge I used to just love walking from there to Buckingham Palace, down the mall to Trafalgar Square to look at the latest modern art and then onto Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus – it has more charm than people give it credit for."

Darcy shook his head, causing Elizabeth to laugh.

"I didn't think you'd understand."

"I understand what it's like to love where you live, but I can't understand the attraction of this city."

"I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but I think it's unconventionally beautiful, forget the nasty tubes, the obnoxious people pushing past you in the street, the tourists crowding outside of Harrods and next time just look at it," Elizabeth smiled, remembering why she loved her home town.

"Okay." After her enigmatic speech Darcy found himself wanting to find the same beauty in London as she did.

"Momma," both Darcy and Elizabeth's attention turned to Will, who was reaching for her to pick him up.

"Do you mind?" Elizabeth inquired, not wanting to interrupt Darcy's time with William.

"Not at all."

Elizabeth gratefully took Will back into her arms, cradling him on her hip and pointing to all the people, buses, cyclists, birds etc. outside.

"Thank you," Darcy finally said, looking out the window.

"For what?" Elizabeth questioned, whilst pulling her hair out of little Will's searching hands.

"For coming today –," Darcy started.

"I already said that I wanted you -,"

"No, for coming today after all of the atrocious things I said to you last night," Darcy looked to Elizabeth, who was a little shocked. "I'm sorry about last night."

"Please, don't be. You had every right to say what you did." Elizabeth smiled meekly at Darcy, nodding her head gently to emphasise her point.

"Maybe so, but there was no need for me to abuse your family," Darcy said sincerely, looking down at William and smiling, "they are after all, our son's family."

Elizabeth truly couldn't believe what she was hearing, was William Darcy really apologising for what he'd said? Elizabeth's mind had been so preoccupied with thoughts of William and Darcy that she hadn't had a chance to examine how she felt about what he'd revealed about her mother. After everything her estranged mother had put her and her sisters through over the years it really wasn't something she didn't believe she was capable of. Regardless of how believable it was Elizabeth didn't want to dwell on it now, she could do that at a later date, over a glass of wine with Charles.

"Can I ask you a question, Miss Bennett?" Darcy said formally.

"Only if you call me Lizzie or at least Elizabeth, Miss Bennett suggests we hardly know each other and I'd say that ship set a long time ago," Elizabeth looked to young Will and smiled, they did have a son together after all.

Darcy blushed, "Miss Be ... Eliza ..."

"Lizzie," Elizabeth helped him out.

"Lizzie, it's been bugging me, how did you know the woman you met yesterday was my sister? Have you met her before?" Darcy brushed his foot back and forth along the floor, avoiding her gaze. He still couldn't understand how Georgiana knew about William before him.

Elizabeth smiled, "well that's easy, she defended you so vehemently I couldn't imagine it would be anyone else. Why do you ask?"

Darcy laughed, "Yes well, I'm sorry... for how she acted and what she said, it was uncalled for. I only ask because you see, Georgie already seemed to know about William."

"Oh! Well that's ummm ... Darcy I swear, Jane and my aunt and uncle are the only people I have ever told, I swear; I don't know how she found out, perhaps she overheard our conversation. My uncle certainly did."

"Yes perhaps," Darcy didn't believe that it at all, but he could find out how she knew later.

"Darcy, please don't apologise for your sister. I have the utmost respect for anyone that so obviously defends their sibling like that, it was very admirable. She is everything I imagined her to be."

"How did you even remember her?"

"I remember everything you said to me two years ago. You talked about your sister with such passion, I've been dying to meet her ever since."

Elizabeth knew the conversation and come to a natural end and so turned her attention back to the window and little Will, Darcy just silently observed watching the obvious delight on his son's face; it was painful to admit how easily they both fit into his life.

"Will you excuse me for a second?" After several minutes of silence Darcy cleared his throat, his eyes looking slightly glassier than usual.

"Boodie, boodie," Will exclaimed, pointing frantically at the birds outside.

"Of course," Elizabeth said and looked back to William, who was now pointing at the airplanes in the sky.

Darcy left the room via the main doors and Elizabeth almost immediately she felt alone, like a dam had broken and small trickles of insecurity were seeping through, a prelude to the rush that would come. Glancing about the room Elizabeth noticed that Darcy had left a brown leather notepad sitting on top of his desk, it was tattered and sheets were falling out. Looking to the door to make sure that he wasn't coming back, she carefully balanced Will on her hip and began to unwrap the leather string binding the pages together. After everything Darcy had said last night she was desperate to note down a few important details for him, so she leafed through the notepad trying to find a blank sheet of paper, but there wasn't one.

Not wanting to disturb the slotted in sheets of paper, she gently tried to wrap it back up when something jumped off a page at her . . .

Emily Benedict

0207 946 0000 NO ANSWER

07863 946 0194 WRONG

0208 946 0946 WRONG

0113 406 0627 WRONG

The numbers continued on and on, for three pages, they were all heavily scribbled out and often interspersed with words such as 'where' and 'how,' finally at the end of the third page it read . . .

Emily Darcy, where are you?

Author's note: So, what did you think? Did you like it? It's a break from the hostility of the past few chapters, and gives you a little insight into how Darcy is dealing with the fallout from finding out he has a son.

I have one request to make if you read this chapter, please please please review it, even if it's just one word like 'poor' 'good' etc. I'm going to be on a hospitality desk for three days after tomorrow and just some encouragement will urge me to writer faster. I have also enabled anonymous reviews, which I didn't have on before because I didn't know they existed :)

The next chapter will be set a few weeks later than this, so you can read on to find out - how is Darcy dealing with having a son? Did Elizabeth go on her date with Richard? Did Darcy go to Japan? Did Darcy take Elizabeth with him to Japan? Has Georgiana confronted ELizabeth? Does Charles know about little Will?

I hope you all have a lovely week and I look forward to reading all your lovely reviews . . .

Kx

P.S. Off to eat some strawberries and chantilly cream - it is Wimbledon after all :)