Gentle Reader,

I've been giving some consideration to making a small series out of this idea, short stories inspired by other songs. If any one has any requests/suggestions, feel free to DM or comment them. No promises that I can get to everything, but I'm enjoying this.

I hope you like this short scene from an Italian restaurant.

Love,

RobinDesBois

Perhaps a bottle of Rose, Instead

For William's birthday that November, Lizzie threw him a surprise party.

Yes, of course, she was well aware that he did not generally enjoy parties, but she was also aware that having Gigi and Fitz set up dinner and get Jane and Charlie from the airport while she keeps him distracted and out of the house for the afternoon doesn't really count as a party.

That's how they found themselves eating a late lunch at their Italian restaurant. He was right about rosé, it paired perfectly with her salad, his sandwich, and the trifle they shared for dessert. It was also a lower proof, which was beneficial to keeping them sober enough to stay out for the afternoon, but still made them feel delightfully bubbly.

"So, William, what would you like to do next?" Asked Lizzie while they waited for the check.

"Library."

"You want to spend your birthday...at the library."

"Yes, I do."

"Okay, then. Your day." Lizzie moved quickly and snatched the check as soon as it was set down, for once she was going to treat.

"Really, Lizzie, I can pay, I don't ca-"

"I know you don't, but it's your birthday. Let me do this for you."

After she had paid the bill, they began to walk the short way to the nearest library branch, which happened to be the largest, most stunning of its kind that Lizzie had ever seen.

William, having been there before, was less overwhelmed. He spoke to the librarian for a moment, then gently led Lizzie through the quiet rooms as she looked around in amazement. He pulled her into a small room off to the side, and she tried not to comment on the sign that read "George Darcy Memorial Reading Room." He closed and locked the door behind them.

"William, how did you get the key to that door?"

"It's a huge library, they let you sign out study rooms in half hour blocks. We've got an hour and a half in here." He smirked as he pulled her close to him. "Besides, I've wanted to bring you alone to this room since the first time we danced."

"That's," she gasped as she felt his teeth lightly bite into her neck, "That's really specific."

"Perhaps. But the walls here are sound proof, and having donated the room gives me...certain privileges." He reached down and easily lifted Lizzie's legs around his waist and kissed her thoroughly backed her into the shelf of books behind her. He moaned and pulled at the realization that she wasn't wearing underwear.

"Happy birthday," she whispered, and he kissed her even harder. With his hands occupied supporting her weight, she slid her arms down between them and released him from the confines of his pants. He was in her in a moment, and she was moaning against him in minutes. He bit into her shoulder to muffle moans of her name as he came, not entirely confident in the library's capacity to contain his pleasure.

William refastened his pants and sat down in the soft leather chair while Lizzie straightened her skirt, then settled in his lap. They had the reservation of the room for an hour and a half, the maximum time allowed by the library, and had only managed to fill 15 minutes of it. Fortunately, William wasn't out of ideas to fill their time.

"I've wanted to do this for a while, too," he whispered, reaching to the shelf behind her and grabbing Anna Kerenina. They took turns reading aloud to one another.

William didn't even look at the page when he read, "They've got no idea what happiness is, they don't know that without this love there is no happiness or unhappiness for us-there is no life."

They decided that the library and the George Darcy Memorial Reading room would become a birthday tradition.