Work Text:
It’s not like Lizzie had planned on moving in with Darcy less than six months into their relationship.
Darcy had offered, of course. But Lizzie Bennet was an independent woman, god damnit, and she was going to get her own place (or well, house sit for Dr. Gardiner’s friend again. But semantics).
And she loved Dr. Gardiner’s friend’s place, she really did, but well…Darcy’s place had Darcy. And a hot tub. And a screening room. Within a month she was staying over there three nights a week, and by the time Mary came up to stay on her couch, it just seemed rude to subject her to being a third wheel when Darcy had a perfectly good bed Lizzie could spend her nights in instead.
So yes, she de facto moved out and let Mary have Dr. Gardiner’s friend’s place to herself (something that Mary seemed very grateful for but Lizzie was too in love to even question why), swearing Mary to secrecy, knowing the freak out that would occur if her mother ever found out she was “shacking up” (so to speak) without even the slightest hint of a ring anywhere on her finger.
And Lizzie could’ve taken that secret to the grave had Lydia not showed up on a surprise visit to San Francisco, barging into an apartment that Lizzie was very much not staying in.
She tried to deny it, of course. “What are you talking about, Lydia? Of course, I live here, I just…I just was out getting coffee with Charlotte.”
“Ha, nice try! I’ve been here for two days already, nerd. Let me guess, you only even came back here for one of your lame books, didn’t you?” Which, yes, Lizzie had, but she would never admit that. Nor would she ever call her well-worn copy of Anna Karenina lame. “You’ve been living in sin with DarceFace,” Lydia continued with glee. “Mom’s gonna flip!”
“Lydia, please don’t tell her,” Lizzie begged. “Mary’s the only person who knows, I haven’t even told Charlotte yet.” (Which, oy, that was going to be a conversation unto itself).
The Lydia from before probably would’ve already filmed the lack of Lizzie-ness in the apartment and posted it for the entire internet to see. But the more mature Lydia simply rolled her eyes and sighed, crossing her arms before saying, “Fine, I won’t say anything. But when this all blows up in your face, which it will, I get to say, ‘I told you so’ for eternity.” Okay, so maybe she still had a little more maturing to do.
Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Lydia. Really.”
“And also, I get to come stay in Darcy’s cool apartment whenever I want! I’m sure the walls are less thin than they are here…”
Lizzie’s brow furrowed as Lydia’s eyes went wide. “Wait, what does that mean?”
And that’s how Lizzie found out about Mary’s girlfriend Violet.
---
Once Lydia was in on the secret, Lizzie knew that it was only fair to tell Charlotte. She dragged her out of Collins & Collins, insisting that she needed to take a lunch break, but as soon as they were seated at the bistro around the corner, Charlotte simply raised an eyebrow and said, “You’ve moved in with Darcy, haven’t you?”
“Wha – Lydia?”
“No, she didn’t tell me,” Charlotte smirked. “I just know you that well. Also, I came by for a bad movie marathon last week and Mary’s excuse for why you weren’t there was mediocre at best.”
Lizzie flushed slightly. “You’re not mad I didn’t tell you?”
Charlotte simply shrugged. “I knew you would eventually. You know, once you got over your pride about not being truly independent like you wanted to be.”
Charlotte was right: she did know Lizzie that well.
---
Gigi and Fitz were the next two to find out.
Darcy and Lizzie told Gigi themselves over dinner one night, although in hindsight they probably should’ve picked a less public place to do it, the other diners certainly didn’t seem to appreciate Gigi’s high-pitched screaming.
Fitz, on the other hand, was not quite told. Instead, he had come over to borrow from Darcy’s rather extensive tie collection, and Lizzie was unable to stop him in time from opening the drawer that used to house said tie collection, but now was home to well…certain items of her own that she had rather hoped would only be seen by Darcy.
Lizzie blushed as Fitz smirked at her. “Why, Lizzie B…Well, it’s a good thing Darcy owns this place, getting your name on the lease would be quite the bureaucratic headache.”
“Oh, just…shut up.” Not her best retort, she could admit.
Fitz just laughed in response.
---
To Lizzie’s surprise, Jane took the news the worst.
“What do you mean you’re living with Darcy?” she asked over the phone. Her voice wasn't harsh per se, but the usual softness within it was gone.
“Wait, Lizzie and Darcy moved in together?” Lizzie heard a voice in the background ask, presumably Bing.
“I guess so,” Lizzie hears Jane tell him. “Bing, can you give me a second?” He must agree non-verbally because Lizzie doesn’t hear anything from him again. “Lizzie, this is way too fast,” Jane goes on.
Lizzie shrugged before realizing that Jane couldn’t see her. “Yeah, I mean it’s fast, but I don’t know…it just felt right.”
“Lizzie,” Jane sighed, a disappointed tone in her voice Lizzie hadn't heard since everything with Lydia went down. “Rushing into things is not a good way to show love, us Bennet sisters don’t exactly have a good track record with that.”
“Darcy and I are not George and Lydia – “
“Of course not – “
“Or quite frankly, you and Bing,” Lizzie finished perhaps a tad too harshly. “I know Bing hurt you, I know you felt that everything happened too fast the first time around…” Lizzie almost brings up the forty-eight hours of worry then, but stops herself in time, realizing that would be a low blow. “But Darcy and I are just…so different than you guys. You two practically fell in love at first sight, I didn’t even like Darcy for the first six months of knowing him. We saw each other’s worst sides before we even went on a first date. I know what I’m getting into with him. I know this is right.”
Jane was eerily silent on the other end of the line, and Lizzie worried for a second that she might’ve lost her. “Jane? Are you there?”
“Yeah,” Jane said softly, her voice cracking just a little. “Yeah, I’m still here. I just…You just sounded so mature right there. So adult. I…I know you’re old enough to rent a rental car and everything now but…it really just hit me that you’re not my baby sister anymore. Well, of course you are, but…I’m not making sense.”
“No, no.” Lizzie thinks she might be about to tear up then. “I get it.”
“I’m…I’m really proud of you, Lizzie.”
Yep, definitely tears.
---
At this point, Lizzie had kind of assumed that one of the big mouths in her life would’ve told her parents already, but it seems that she wasn’t going to get out of the awkward conversation that easily.
Her and Darcy had come down for a visit, sitting around the dinner table at home, Lizzie already a little nervous since Lydia was off at NAU now, meaning it was the first time it was ever just the four of them.
“And how has the apartment search been going, dear?” her mother was asking. “Surely, Dr. Gardiner’s friend’s sabbatical must be up now.”
Lizzie’s head snapped up in surprise from her casserole, sharing a panicked glance with Darcy. “Oh um…I moved out of there a while ago actually.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize. Are you staying with Mary then? Or Charlotte?”
Lizzie thought about taking the easy way out of course, and simply lying by omission and letting her mom think that yes, she was living with Mary or Charlotte or whatever random female friend. But then she remembered what Jane had said when she had told her, about Lizzie being all mature and shit now, and simply smiled, before grabbing Darcy’s hand for support. “No, Mom. I moved in with Darcy.”
Her mother dropped her fork with a loud clang, but to his credit, her father simply raised an eyebrow. “Well, at least you’ll save money on rent,” was all he said.
Her mother shot him a look. “Is that really all you have to say? Lizzie, dear, what are you thinking? You two aren’t married or even engaged!”
“That didn’t seem to matter when you practically forced me and Jane to stay at Netherfield!”
“Jane and Bing weren’t sleeping in the same bedroom as I’m sure you two are!” Lizzie and Darcy shared another quick look but said nothing. The mature thing to do would not be to rat her sister out, Lizzie reasoned.
“Oh, come on, Mom, you’re being ridiculous! It’s 2014!”
Her mother rolled her eyes at that. “Now, did your father and I engage in certain activities before we were married, of course – “
“Oh my god, Mom, stop, please!” Lizzie cried out, horrified, putting her hands over her ears as Darcy shook with silent laughter next to her.
“But living together? Now, what would people think? Our family really can’t use any more embarrassment, Elizabeth.”
Lizzie opened her mouth to retort, but to her surprise, Darcy beat her to it. “Now, with all due respect, Mrs. Bennet, I think people would think Lizzie was a smart, mature woman fully capable of making her own decisions and running her own life. Lizzie’s right, it’s 2014, not the 1800’s. Believe me, Lizzie wouldn’t be living with me unless she absolutely wanted to, isn’t that right?” Lizzie realized he was speaking to her then and quickly nodded her head in agreement. “No one is going to think anything less of her or think what she’s doing is anything to be ashamed of. And besides, I promise you my intentions are very pure, I fully intend to make her my wife someday,” he blushed then, before weakly finishing with, “If she would have me of, course.”
Lizzie’s heart felt like it might beat out of her chest, but she knew now wasn’t exactly the time or place to discuss the ending to Darcy’s little speech. So, she simply gave his hand a little squeeze instead.
Her father spoke up again then, looking over at her mother. “Honestly, dear, I don’t think there’s anything you can say to change these two kids’ minds. They clearly are sure of their decision and there’s nothing to be done about it but wish them the best of luck.”
Her mother sighed but smiled. “Alright. Two stubborn peas in a pod,” Lizzie heard her mother mumble under her breath. And that was the end of that.
Later, once they were upstairs and out of earshot, Lizzie leaned into Darcy, running a hand over her face. “God, that wasn’t very fun.”
“Hey, but she kind of came around towards the end there,” he tried to soothe her. “Besides, everyone knows now. We have nothing to hide anymore.”
“Well, except for your Aunt Catherine,” Lizzie couldn’t help but point out.
They shared another look, before they both said, “Yeah, we are never telling her.”
Two peas in a pond indeed.