I wish I could respond to your comments with memes, that would be so funny ! School holidays may not be the best time to write but they are perfect for proofreading, apparently since my proofreader managed to correct 2 chapters in a week. I should probably buy her a drink. Now that this is done, and that chapter 29 is half written, I can go back to sewing my kids' halloween costumes (we are going as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, I insisted, I admit, but they do look cool in their little costumes). Hope you enjoy this chapter, bring on the reviews, it's so encouraging to hear from you, I love it.


The debate was animated. Lizzie's hands were flying around her, her curls bouncing with every movement of her head. Darcy was listening to her with interest. When her tirade was over, he slowly shook his head no, took a sip of his coffee and started to make his point. They were both bent towards one another over the breakfast table, totally engrossed in their conversation. His index finger was repeatedly pointing at the table to stress his argument.

- What's today's topic ? Richard asked while taking a seat near Georgiana.

By way of answer, Georgiana pushed aside the mass of black hair that covered her ear to reveal a headphone.

- Clever girl, he smirked.

Next to them, Darcy and Lizzie were absorbed by their discussion, it was far from being over. Over the previous few days, the breakfast table had become Darcy and Lizzie's scene of debate. The themes were usually only of interest to them, so they were the main, not to say only, participants.

- How about completely abolish commute and expand work from home ? That would solve the question of what type of car, electric or combustion engine car, will have the upper hand in the future, or even if it's still a relevant mode of transport. And it's better for the planet. Win-win, Lizzie stated.

- I'm not entirely convinced by the environmental argument, Darcy countered. Studies have proven that with more work from home, workers tend to live further away from cities, leading to an increase in the use of vehicles for small distances, distances which would formerly have been covered in town on foot, by bike or by public transport. And of course, commute increases when they still have face-to-face days. Furthermore, people need to get together to create some team spirit and increase motivation, so, according to me, total work from home wouldn't work. You are right in that time is the most important currency in this equation though, Darcy admitted.

- But of what use is it in self driving cars ? One is stuck in a small space with very few things at hand to take advantage of it, Lizzie challenged.

- The advantage doesn't have to be pecuniary, it can be used to read or rest. Or knit, he teased with a ghost of a smile. Additional me-time. It's capital to be productive. One does not have to exhaust oneself at work, it was proven to be counter productive, his sentence stopped abruptly.

Lizzie was sitting back in her chair. arms crossed. Her mesmerizing eyes were laughing so hard he could almost hear them. His expression was unreadable. Georgiana held her breath and unplugged one of her earplugs. Was this the beginning of an argument ? It didn't look good.

- You're stating opinions that are not your own, he said.

Lizzie laughed.

- Us, mere mortals, call it teasing.

The paper towel he threw at her face increased her hilarity, as did his laugh, when it blended with hers. Georgiana blew out breath that was half exasperation, half relief, and went back to her podcast. Those two were incomprehensible. She could never tell if they were about to fight or kiss. Not that they did in public, kiss that is. They apparently had, at some point. She turned her head to Richard. At least, he was not such a complicated case. Charlotte and him didn't hide. There had already been some talk online about their romance, but who cares about drummers ?

Lizzie had not so much been teasing Will as keeping him talking. She would have said anything to be able to feast upon his concentrated mien a little longer. How he intently listened to her arguments, how his eyes focused on her only warmed her heart. She might sigh while hearing his intelligent and well constructed arguments. Will finished his coffee, smiling at her over the rim of his cup. It took all she had not to ogle him like a lovelorn fan. Yet, she couldn't tear her gaze away from him. Everybody else sitting at the table was but an extra. This was ridiculous. His empty cup joined his cleared plate. As he stood up, his blazing eyes held hers for a few seconds, screaming come. She shivered. He turned around and left. This was really ridiculous. Lizzie clutched her coffee. She was making a poor job at pretending that the few remaining drops needed so much time to be drunk. But she stubbornly remained seated. She was not going to follow his every moves ! She could also enjoy a pleasant conversation with the others, apparently Charles and Jane, since they were the only ones talking. The subject of their discussion was The Meryton Assembly's radio appearance, that was scheduled for this afternoon. Lizzie tried to be part of the conversation. It would be easier if Charlotte and Richard stopped smirking at her like that. She glared at them. They laughed. When did they become so annoying ? Georgiana lifted her head and noticed her brother's absence. Noting that Lizzie was still at the table, she directed a questioning look at her. Lizzie rolled her eyes. Why was everybody so irritating ? The last drops of coffee were gulped down and she stood up. Everybody's eyes followed her. And everybody smiled. Really ? She sighed and left the breakfast room. They didn't make such a fuss when Jane and Charles started dating, so why were they on her back ? Plus it's not like they knew. Her train of thought was interrupted by the hand that grabbed her arm and pushed her against a wall where she was thoroughly kissed.

- What took you so long ? Will's husky voice demanded in a whisper.

His intense eyes were scanning her, as if to decide which part of her he was going to devour first. She smiled.

- Vexing company.

He suddenly released her, cleared his throat and nodded towards the elevator. Lizzie worked hard so that giggle that threaten to fall from her lips remained where it was. The more severe his expression was, the more turned on he was. She was never going to get tired of this. The elevator ride was silent. The door of his room was opened and closed with precise gestures. Tension built within Lizzie. She knew all this calm would soon explode. And it did. His warm hand found her neck and brought her to him for a hungry kiss. He kept walking, forcing her backwards to the bed. Clothes were soon scattered on the floor.

- I really wanted to simply talk to you, Will said.

His hand was lazily tracing random patterns on her back. She was lying on him, on what had become their favourite cuddle position. Lizzie leaned on one elbow, throwing her abundant hair over her shoulder.

- We talked at breakfast, and look where it got us !

His impossibly hot smile slowly lit his face. Was she still breathing ?

- Where I like you the most.

His face came forward for a kiss. How could he make her feel so beautiful and powerful with one sentence and his eyes only ? Oh no, here they were again, stupidly lost in each other's contemplation. She would never make fun of Jane again. Ever. She should probably apologise, by the way. Her ringtone interrupted this excessively pink and sweet moment. After a quick pec on the lips, Lizzie rolled on her side to grab her phone from the nightstand. Hum. Kitty. Kitty never called her. She texted, or emailed, but she never actually talked on the phone. She often reminded her elder sisters that this was old people stuff. And never this early. This was not good. With her stomach as knotted as her brows, Lizzie answered.

- Kitty ? What is it ?

Shit, that was a little too rush. Maybe what she had to say wasn't as bad after all. A few seconds of silence greeted her.

- Hey, Lizzie…. I …. it's probably nothing, ….I….

An other couple of seconds passed in muteness.

- I didn't want to call Jane, she would be… and the parents…

An other pause. Her sister had a real talent for raising one's nervousness.

- Speak, Kitty ! Lizzie almost yelled.

She then turned an apologetic look to Darcy, who was sitting up in the bed, a serious look on his face.

- It's Lydia ! Kitty started in an anxious rush.

The words poured out of her.

- She went out yesterday night and she didn't come back to the dorm, and this morning she sent me a message saying she had been with Wickham and that, thanks to his connexions, she was going to be famous, that I should look for very revealing photos of her online, that she was going to show everything. I tried to call her, but she wouldn't answer her phone or any of my messages. I… I don't think this is a good thing, I mean, for Jane, right ? I… I didn't know who to call.

How she could manage to say all of this with one breath was an anatomical mystery.

- Breath, Kitty, Lizzie advised her.

She followed her own advise. She needed a few seconds to process everything her sister had told her. This was bad, really bad. Wickham. Her sister. Nothing good could come out of this combination. Her gaze was searching the floor, like some sort of solution could be found there. Wickham. Swiftly, her eyes went to the man sitting in bed next to her. Her heart stopped. His expression was dangerous. He had heard it all. Not that she meant to hide it from him, but she wished she could have brought the news to him in another way. Was there even a soft way to tell him what the man he hated the most on earth had done ? And how her sister, whom he already despised, had done the dumbest thing on the planet ? Her horror grew. This could affect him, through his link to The Meryton Assembly. Her skin lost a few shades of colour. This was a disaster. She turned her attention to the phone again.

- Don't call Jane, she has a radio interview this afternoon. If she knows anything, she'll cancel it and come home. Don't call mom and dad either. Just…she sighed, what a bloody shit.

She turned to Darcy.

- I'll come, she said in the phone.

She was waiting for him to say something, to make a sign. But he didn't.

- Thanks, Kitty said. I'm sorry.

After the call ended, she stared at her phone. How could this be real ?

- You should go, Darcy growled.

His words stabbed her. Of course he wanted her away. Her world turned from pink to the darkest of black. She couldn't look at him. She was so ashamed of her sister's behaviour. He must be enraged. Of all the people, Lydia had to choose Wickham to do stupid things with. This was a catastrophe. Will was never going to forgive her the bad press when the pictures became public. And he wouldn't come within 15 feet of her. How could she even stop this ? She had no idea, but she had to help her sisters, in some way or another. In a strange reaction, she silently put her clothes back on and tip toed to the door, like if making some noise would infuriate him further still. That's when she realised that when she had left the room, she had kissed her heart goodbye, for it was going to stay in there, with him. She knew she had had feelings for him, rather strong ones, but their real depth only hit her now.

The faint clic of the door enraged Darcy even more. It should have banged closed, that would match his mood better. That bastard, that fucking excuse of a human being. Will sat on the edge of the bed, the muscles of his arms grabbed the bedsheets so tightly they almost hurt. He did it again, he had soiled something beautiful in his life. Will's furious gaze settled on the pretty July sky through the window. Damn it, why wasn't it raining, or storming? Where was the dramatic weather when you needed it ? Lizzie was never going to forgive him for bringing Wickham into her life. If he had not had this history with Pemberley and with him, the son of a bitch would never have preyed on her sister. Wickham wanted revenge over him, the girl didn't even have anything to do with it. He was never going to stop, was he. That was it, that was the last time. Will reached for his phone and called his lawyer.

- Matlock ? an older voice answered.

- It's Will, he grumbled.

- Hey ! How are things going, boy ?

The fatherly tone of his voice soothed him a little. The lawyer had been in charge of the affairs of Will's parents' before their deaths, he had known Will and Georgiana their whole life. Even now that Will was a world star and a few years shy of thirty, he still stuck to that 'boy' nickname.

- I need to buy a magazine, Noise.

The faint squeaking of a pen roaming across a paper reached him through the phone.

- Maximum bid ?

- As much as it takes. I need it now.

The older man was still taking notes.

- Anything I need to know ? he tone was business like, but Will knew he could confide in him if he needed to.

He was the closest thing he had to an uncle. As reluctant as he was to have his personal business laid in the open, he answered.

- Wickham. I'll need you again on this matter later.

Telling the truth about Wickham and what he had done to Georgiana was going to be difficult. Right now for Matlock, Wickham had been fired because of a personal problem, which was true but this was a rather rough version of the story. But that was for later. Right now, Will had another problem to focus on.

- I'll reach out as soon as it's done.

- ooOoo -

Despite years of working for Noise Magazine, the receptionist was not used to seeing world famous rock stars enter the office. So when William fucking Darcy came in with a determined look on his face, she was in awe. Darcy asked to speak with whoever was in charge and followed her pointed finger towards the office of the chief editor. The fluting voice of Mary King invited him to come in after he had knocked. She cleared her throat nervously when he entered. He was not the type of visitors to usually come into her office, nor was he the one she expected. She generally dealt with agents or secretaries but never with the stars themselves. This smelled like trouble.

- Mr Darcy, her voice almost didn't shake, what can I do for you ?

Darcy took a seat opposite the desk she was sitting at.

- By now, you should have received an email from your boss informing you that I have bought the magazine, he announced in a business like tone.

Her eyes narrowed. That was not good. She checked her inbox and indeed, their was an email from the board of directors. She scanned it quickly. He was telling the truth, he had bought Noise. She exhaled angrily and placed her glasses higher on her nose before tearing her gaze from the screen.

- I suppose you mean to give instructions about the editorial policy.

She had a hard time disguising her annoyance. There were two ways about this : Pemberley could dictate them what to write and write almost exclusively about them as an additional promotion, as if they needed any ! Or, they could prevent the magazine from writing anything about them. She couldn't yet decide which option Darcy would choose. The last thing she wanted was to be the puppet of a rock band. After a few moments of silence, during which Will chose carefully his words in order not to sound as furious as he was, he spoke.

- There is a journalist working here, George Wickham.

His name tasted like bile in his mouth. Mary's brows knitted.

- I want the address he gave the HR.

Judging by Darcy's dark demeanour, it was not to give a courtesy call. Oh my. What had happened ? Everybody knew the story of Pemberley's first poor manager who was excluded when the band started taking off. At least, the office knew Wickham's version of the story well, for he had told it again and again. But, this story was told, why was Darcy here ? Wickham had not written anything about Pemberley, nor had anybody else at Noise. Why would someone as famous and respected as him come to look for a simple journalist ? The matter looked serious. There was something fishy. When she had been named editor in chief, Wickham had asked Mary out, to celebrate. And then again a few times after that. He was charming. Mary slowly shook her head.

- I should have listened to my uncle, she mumbled while browsing her computer, he told me this guy was trouble.

She took a piece of paper, wrote the address on it and handed it to Darcy.

- Thank you, Darcy put the paper in the pocket of his jeans as he got up. You should fire him, he's going to be in trouble with the law soon.

Although his words meant a suggestion, the tone of his voice was rather the one of an order. So was the intent stared he levelled at her. Mary paled.

- I'll keep that in mind, thank you.

- ooOoo -

The building was situated in a filthy neighbourhood in the city. That suited Wickham fine. Money was obviously running low, that explained his scheme. Part of it, at least. The sound of loud screams, babies crying and objects being smashed on the ground accompanied Darcy as he climbed the stairs of the stale building. The smell of piss and cold cigarettes completed the olfactory environment. He stopped in front of the door labelled '315'. Two, three deep breaths and he knocked.

' Ah thank God, I'm starving !' a feminine voice, probably Lydia's, exclaimed from inside the apartment. Footsteps grew louder and the door opened on a smiling Wickham.

- At last ! he cooed in his usual honey coated voice, we were starting to.

His smile vanished at once. Wickham's mouth opened again. Darcy closed it with his fist. At last, indeed. It felt so good. Wickham stumbled backwards and put his hands to his mouth. Will followed him in the apartment and closed the door behind him. Wickham lowered his bloodied hands and watched them with horror.

- Darcy, what…

He was silenced once more. This time, Will hit the nose. The first blow was for Georgiana, the second one was for Lizzie. Wickham moaned in pain. He staggered backwards and fell over a coffee table. When Lydia hurried by his side, Darcy realised she had been screaming. His fury, pulsing in his ears, had deafened him. Wickham was clutching his face, blood was running through his fingers. Will's knuckles started to hurt and throb but he didn't care. For the first time since entering the room, he looked around. The place was small and cluttered. Not exactly nasty, but definitely not to Wickham's standards. No camera in sight, Wickham must have taken the pics with his phone, it was quicker and easier to send afterwards. Plus, it gave those pictures a trashy scandalous effect Wickham surely relished. Darcy's wrath was fuelled anew.

- Where is your phone ?

Even to his own ears, Darcy sounded menacing. Wickham sent him a glare and let go of his nose to give him the middle finger. The anger Will had been trying to control exploded. In a few strides, he was towering over Wickham. Lydia crawled away from his enraged countenance, he was positively terrifying. Will grasped the collar of Wickham's shirt and lifted him until their noses were almost touching.

- Do you want me to ask again ? he hissed though gritted teeth.

He almost wished for the dick to do something stupid, so he would have an excuse to punch him again. A shaky hand pointed towards the kitchen. Darcy released his shirt and Wickham dropped to the ground. He picked the phone from the counter top and took it back to Wickham.

- Unlock it, Will barked.

Wickham complied. Will browsed through the photos and found the ones he was looking for. They dated from the evening before, or rather early this morning. He flinched. There were quite a few disgusting pictures. He started erasing them, one by one, then thought better of it and deleted everything, including the recently deleted file. Now, time to check if the bastard had sent some, or made some backups. That could be a problem. Will went through his messages and emails. Luckily, the dickhead had not shared them with anyone. He was an opportunist but not an extremely clever one. That made things easier. That motherfucker. Was there even an insult strong enough for him ? Anger was still pulsing though Will's body, dictating his every movement. He smashed Wickham's phone against a wall. The device dissolved into small bits that dusted the floor. Will was tempted to kick the dickhead in the stomach as he passed him to take his laptop on the couch. Nothing in it either. He was about to ask him if the pictures were somewhere else but he knew better than to do it. Wickham would surely lie to him. The scumbag was still sitting on the floor, grumbling something to Lydia through his bloodied hands. The girl was crouched beside him, a hand on his back in a soothing gesture he didn't deserve. Will got up and walked to them. Standing alongside them, his body oozing fury, he looked colossal.

- You come with me, he ordered to Lydia.

His tone broke no argument, yet she shrieked.

- What ? No way ! Who do you think you are ?

She jumped up, her hands on her hips in a defying posture. For Lizzie. That annoying and stupid girl couldn't even see what her best interest was. For fuck's sake, he had no patience for this ! Will took one step to her and repeated his words slowly, his voice lower and more dangerous than before.

- You come with me.

Her eyes went huge, her arms dropped by her side. Was she afraid he was going to hurt her ? That thought infuriated Will yet again. He took a deep breath and turned around. A knock resonated on the door. Shit. He had forgotten about the delivery guy. He handed some cash to Lydia and nodded for her to open as he stepped against the wall, out of sight from the door. The last thing he needed was a random guy claiming he had seen him in a shabby apartment near a bloody dude. Wickham would not hesitate to scream what had happened, even adding some disgusting details from his imagination. That would make for months of juicy stories for the tabloids. When Lydia closed the door, a large pizza box in her hands, Will put on a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses. He took one last look at the fuckhead crawling on the ground.

He nodded for Lydia to follow him out. He looked so titanesque that she obeyed. Yet, Lydia being Lydia, she found her voice soon enough to comment on an important fact, at least according to her, when they had reached the parking lot.

- We are going to drive in this ? she gasped with abhorrence when she saw the rented Chevrolet Will had driven here. Why didn't you come with the limo ? she pouted.

For Lizzie.

- So the whole neighborhood could see ? he flatly pointed out as he buckled his seatbelt.

- Well duh !

For Lizzie. Will breathed slowly. Even if her dorm was quite close, this was going to feel like a long drive. At least, her concern for the bastard up there was short lived. He wished he could have sent Lizzie home on the jet, but he needed it to get here fast. She was surely still on the road.

- I don't want people to know I was involved, he stated.

His eyes pointedly held hers. She didn't seem to understand.

- You must tell no one.

He enunciated each word carefully and slowly, hoping it sounded intimating. She shrank in her seat and nodded. Apparently it worked. He started the engine and drove away.