Jump to new as of April 28, 2002

Chapter 1

It's quarter to three
There's on one in the place
'cept you and me

In the darkest corner of the bar a man looked gloomily at the bottom of the glass. The barman approached but seeing his expression said nothing. Without a word he poured a whisky and placed it in front of him.

"You look like you need this. On the house"

The man was disturbed from his reverie. He looked around with mournful eyes at his surroundings. The room was nearly empty, the only customers were drunkards or men like him. Drowning their sorrows. He took another sip of his whiskey, rejoicing in the pain he felt as the strong liquor burnt his throat.

So set em up Joe
I've got a little story I think you should know
We're drinking my friend to the end of a brief episode

He thought bitterly how appropriate the song was. He could hear his pain being sung by the sweet voice. Emboldened by the alcohol he looked towards the stage.

Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

He saw a vision. A beautiful woman stood crooning into the microphone. Her dark curls fell over her shoulders on to the dark green dress she wore which showed off her figure and looked radiant against her ivory skin.

Feeling so bad
Won't you make the music
Easy and sad

He winced in pain and returned to his glass. He couldn't bear to look at anything beautiful. It reminded him of her beautiful laugh coming from her beautiful lips. The beautiful laugh he had heard that night when he came home early...

I could tell you a lot
But it's not in a gentleman's code

He gave a sigh and retrieved a wad of papers from his coat pocket. He scanned its contents although he knew what is said. He reached for his biro and clenched it tightly. Closing his eyes, he scrawled roughly on the line.

William Darcy

In a daze he folded the papers and put them back into his pocket. With a final swig of his whiskey he tentatively rose from his seat and paced slowly towards the door.

Just make it one for my baby
And one more for the road*

He turned and looked once more towards the singer. The words she was singing went straight to his heart. It was painful but he longed to hear more. She opened her eyes and looked towards him. Their eyes locked and William was drawn in, for a moment oblivious to his surroundings and to his pain. The song came to an end as the piano softly played the final chord. The spell was broken and he stepped out into the night air.

Ella sang her final song. The mood in the room appealed to her to sing this song. As she let the last line float from her lips she was compelled to look up. Her gaze was met by a man, a handsome man, with dark curls and eyelashes. She breathed in deeply as she looked into his eyes. The pain she saw ripped through her and her heart went out to him. As he turned and left she was surprised to find tears in her eyes.

*'One For My Baby' Frank Sinatra, Robbie Williams

Chapter 2

Will groaned as felt a drill drive into his head (or at least that's what it felt like to him). When his mind took him back to why he had gotten so drunk he groaned again. Those damn papers. He had finally signed them. 'I guess it's official' he said to himself. Then he smiled when he thought what his Aunts' reaction would be. She couldn't bear the thought of a divorce polluting the shades of Pemberley.

There was a quiet knock at the door and Georgie crept in timidly with a breakfast tray. She set it down as quietly as she could next to her brother

"Thank you Georgie" he said.

"You're welcome Will... Will?"

"Yes?"

"We were worried last night. You should have told us you were going. You were in such a state when you left and we didn't know what to..."

"I know, I'm sorry honey". Will sighed and pulled his sister down to him giving her a big bear hug. "I think it's out of my system now. I... I just thought that Caroline and I would work things out, I didn't think it would come to this."

Georgie didn't want to say it, but she was glad the marriage was over. She had always known they were wrong for each other but despite her efforts to stop the marriage it had gone ahead. She was furious at Caroline for what she had done to her brother. Of course Will hadn't told her the details but as far as she could gather Caroline had been cheating on him and when Will found out she had said she wanted a divorce. Off she went with Will's heart in her suitcase along with a large portion of his money. Thank God she hadn't wanted Pemberley. She never liked it, preferring to take the villa in Europe. Georgie handed Will the coffee.

"I made it extra strong. And take this" she handed him a Berocca. "I know when I... I mean... it's meant to be good"

Will sipped the coffee and eyed Georgie with a suspicious look and a hint of a grin. It was the first time he had smiled since 'the incident'. Richie, Charles and her and done all they could to cheer him up but it was a hard task so she was pleased to see a slight change. That reminded her-

"Oh, remember that Richie and Charles are coming over tomorrow night. I told Charles to bring this girl he just met who he's been raving about"

"Oh yeah. I'd forgotten about that, thanks for reminding me"

"And I think her friend is coming too if that's ok?"

"Yeah sure. I imagine she feels a bit intimidated coming alone to meet strangers. Just make sure Mrs. Reynolds knows"

The door opened with a rattle of keys and Ella walked in with her curls everywhere and her arms balancing grocery bags.

"Jaaaaane!"

"Coming, coming!" Jane raced out of the kitchen and took some bags before they spilled to the floor.

"Phew thanks!"

"How'd it go last night?"

"Same as usual. Everyone was asleep. Don't think they noticed I was there. I can't wait to leave that job but it seems like my break is never going to come"

Ella flopped onto the couch and was soon asleep. Jane chewed her lip as she thought about how she would approach the subject of tomorrow night. By the time Ella woke up Jane would be out at work. Inspiration hit and she scribbled out a note.

Ellie Bellie-

Big favour- please please please come to Dinner with Charles and I at his friends' house? I need moral support. Please? I know you won't want to because you hate being a third wheel but please? Please please please please please please! Thank you! I know you will because if you don't I'll scratch your Sinatra CD! See you this arvo.

Jane

'Tomorrow Night'

"Stop grumbling Ella!"

Ella adjusted her skirt as Jane rang the doorbell. The door was opened by Charles whose face lighted up when he saw Jane and continued to stare at her while he greeted Ella. They were taken upstairs. Ella admired the rooms they passed. It was a really beautiful town house. They were led into a comfortable looking room and introduced to Charles' friends. Ella looked around and took a deep breath in. Those eyes again.

Will looked at the new arrivals and gasped. Those eyes again. When he realised everyone was staring at him he went over and shook hands with Jane and the eyes, or at least the owner of them.

"...and this is Darcy. Darcy, Jane and Ella. Jane and Ella, Darcy!"

After the pleasantries were over and drinks were served they all sat around to chat. Jane and Charles were in their own world and Will was casually discussing some soccer match with Richie which left Georgie and Ella to get acquainted. They were soon engrossed in a conversation which Will who was straining to hear couldn't understand at all.

"Oh and the wet shirt!"

"Yes! And when he cries after Hunsford!"

"That's so sweet! And his face when she's at the piano!"

He gave up and turned his attention back to Richie. After ten minutes of his play by play description of some game he went to he listened in to the other conversation again.

"So what do you do, Ella?"

"I'm a singer"

So it was her! He hadn't been sure. He didn't have too long to think about it as dinner was ready.

Over dinner Will noticed that Richie and Ella were getting on well.

"No way, there's no way I'm going to believe that Ella!"

"It's true!"

"Uhuh.."

"Okay, so maybe I didn't actually talk to him but he was there"

"You sure about that?"

"Yes. Well, mostly. Maybe. Possibly. Okay so it might not have been Hugh Grant..."

"I knew it!"

"...but it was someone who looked a lot like him!"

"That Ella's really nice."

Richie and William were pouring drinks for the others in the kitchen.

"Yeah but I wouldn't get too involved with her Richie. She works at a bar. I don't think it would be a good idea for you to get involved with someone like that. For all we know she's a cheap cocktail waitress."

"Will that's a load of rubbish! I can't believe you could be so stuck up!"

"Oh that's where you are Ella!" they heard Jane's voice right outside the kitchen. Then they heard Ella's.

"Yeah, here I am. Mind if we go now? I'm a bit tired."

She had heard.