Chapter 22

Sunday July 22, 2001 cont.

William and Charles drove back to Pemberley in silence. Their thoughts were with the women they had just left behind.

"Will," Charles said heavily, as they rode up the long driveway of Pemberley, "I think I'm going to stay here tonight, if that's okay with you."

"Don't want to face her?" he asked. They both knew who they were talking about.

"Nope, don't want to go to jail for homicide."

William shrugged, "You are of course, welcome at Pemberley, but you are going to have to face her, Charles."

"Oh, I know," he said darkly, "In fact, I'm looking forward to it."

***** Monday, July 23, 2001

Caroline Bingley sauntered into her office at her usual time. (10:45) Claire was just hanging up the phone as she passed by and followed Caroline into her office.

"I just spoke to Mr. Bingley, he needs to see you right away," she said.

"Charles?" she sniffed, "He can wait."

"He said Mr. Darcy was with him."

That did it. Caroline was out of her office and moving to the elevator bank in less than a minute. She strode confidently into her brother's office. Charles Bingley's executive suite was everything you would expect for one of the Vice Presidents of BP: lavish, elegant, large and airy. Charles was waiting in front of his vast, marble topped desk, wearing a steel gray suit. William was standing off to the side, near the large windows over looking the Boston harbor.

"Charles," Caroline said brightly, "and William, what a surprise!"

Charles looked at her coldly. "I'll make this quick, Caroline, so shut up and listen."

Caroline gasped in shock at his tone.

"I had a very interesting weekend, Caroline. I spent yesterday afternoon with Jane Bennet."

Caroline's face paled visibly under her make-up. "Really?" she asked, trying to remain calm.

"It's over, Caroline. I know everything," his voice cut right to the bone. "Why did you do it? Why did you hurt her and hurt me? Were you really so stupid as to think I wouldn't find out?"

"Find out what?" she said, trying to look innocent. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Charles shook his head, glaring at her darkly. "It won't work, Caroline. Don't even bother." He called out, "Claire!"

Claire Gates walked into the room carrying Caroline's purse. For the first time, Caroline panicked. "What, what are you doing?" she sputtered.

"As of now, Caroline, you are dead to me. You are terminated from Bingley-Pryce and you are forbidden from entering my home," Charles said in a businesslike fashion as he took the purse from Claire and emptied it on to his desk.

"WHAT are you doing?" Caroline repeated, her voice filled with outrage. She looked from Claire, to Darcy, to Charles, finding no support.

Charles ignored her and began sorting through the contents of her purse, creating two piles. Then he picked up a pair of scissors and began cutting her credit cards in half. "Charles! Stop!" she screamed.

Charles lifted up one side of his mouth in a grin. "Oh, now you're getting it, Caroline?" He tossed the credit cards away and pushed the remainder of Caroline's possessions towards her. "I've left your personal credit cards, and your personal checkbook. Whatever you have in your own bank account is your business. Here's your last check from Bingley-Pryce." He laid the check on top of the pile.

Caroline glared at him furiously, "You can't do this! I'll tell father!"

Charles smirked, she was so predictable. "Go ahead. I've already talked to him."

"He won't let you fire me for interfering with that little two-bit tramp!"

Charles closed his eyes a moment, as his fist opened and closed at his side. He became aware of William's silent presence beside him. Charles took a deep breath and continued with the script. "No, he wouldn't. But he would fire you, or any employee, who lied to me and who was untrustworthy."

Caroline's rage grew. "So, this is how you are going to get your revenge on me for messing you up with your little playmate?" she asked, her voice cruel and taunting.

"No, Caroline. I'm going to get my revenge by marrying Jane, having a passel of kids and by being blissfully happy for the rest of my life. This," he said calmly, "is simply how I get rid of you."

He walked around to the front of the desk. "Take your things. Security will escort you out and there is a car waiting to take you to the house. There I would suggest you pack a traveling bag, because you will never be allowed back into it. When you get to where ever you are going, let my staff know, and your possessions will be shipped to you."

"Where am I supposed to go?" she squawked indignantly.

Charles gave her a look of perfect indifference. "Personally, I'd like to see you go to hell, but I really don't care. That's your problem." Caroline's eyes flared. She quickly shoved the remains of her property back into her purse and turned to leave.

"Caroline," William said softly, as he walked beside her. "A word?"

Caroline sighed with relief. William, at least, would support her. "Yes, William," she said in her sweetest voice.

"Caroline, I'd just like to make one thing clear," he said in a reasonable tone. "If you ever touch, call, approach, speak to or in any way try to contact any of the Bennet family, I will kill you." His voice had turned cold and emotionless.

Caroline swayed slightly. She looked up into his eyes, cold and hard as steel, and she believed him. "In fact, it would be best, for you, if I never saw you again. Am I making myself clear?"

Caroline nodded sullenly, then turned and left, the security guards following her. William walked back to Charles, who was watching thoughtfully. "You think she got it?" Charles asked.

"Oh, she got it," William nodded. "I've never wanted to hit a woman before but . . . "

Charles shook his head once, "She's not a woman, Will. She's a thing. Besides, a beating would be wasted on her. Just kill her where she stands and be done with it." He turned away from the door and from the person who used to be his sister, forever.

"Claire," Charles said in a voice that was suddenly tired. "Here is your check. Thank you for you help. Sabrina will have the letter of reference for you within an hour." He looked at her, "I hope you understand that I never want to you see here again."

Claire nodded. She was getting off lucky, she knew. In return for her cooperation, Mr. Bingley was giving her a very healthy severance check and a positive recommendation. She would have no trouble meeting her expenses until she found a new job. "Thank you, sir," she said softly as she exited the office.

****

Elizabeth smiled as she heard the phone ringing. William had asked her to call when she got home, and doing so was proving an interesting experience. First she had called the D-tech number he had given her. Figuring that because it was only slightly after 3pm, he would still be there.

A crisp female voice answered the phone, "Mr. Darcy's office."

"Hello, may I speak with Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked in her professional voice.

"Mr. Darcy is currently away from his office. May I ask who is calling?" the voice replied.

"This is Elizabeth Bennet, may I leave a message for him?"

"Miss Bennet" the voice kicked up a notch. "William left specific directions for you in case you called."

Elizabeth noticed that all of a sudden they were talking about 'William'. "Is this Margaret?"

"Yes," the voice chirped.

"Ah, yes, William told me about you," she smiled. "So what are my specific directions?"

"He asked for you to call him on his cell phone. Do you have that number?"

Elizabeth looked at her sheet and read off the number there.

"That's right. If for some reason you can't get through, please call me right back, and I will get a hold of him for you."

"It's really not that important, Margaret," Elizabeth said, not enjoying the fuss that was being made of the situation. "I can just leave a message."

"Miss Bennet, please don't." Elizabeth wasn't used to being pleaded to by executive secretaries. "William will be very upset if he misses your call."

Elizabeth smiled, as she recognized she wasn't going to win this one. "I'll call right away, Margaret," she assured her, trying to repress the giggle in her voice. It seemed that William could be quite the tyrant when he chose to be.

She dialed the cell number and waited. On the second ring it was answered and an emotionless voice snapped, "Darcy."

"Hi," Elizabeth said, grinning in spite of herself.

"Elizabeth?" It was amazing how his voice could change so much with two little words. From cold, hard business man to tender lover in a heartbeat.

"You asked me to call when I got home."

"Can you hold on just a moment," he said. Elizabeth could sense from the sounds she was hearing that he was moving to a different room.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said.

"No! Not at all," he assured her. She heard a door close and his voice relaxed. "Now I'm alone and we can talk."

Elizabeth smiled. "What did you want to talk about?" she said playfully, charmed by his voice.

"How was your drive home?" he asked.

"Fine, boring," she shrugged. "We are home safe and sound. Tell me about your day. Did you do anything interesting?"

"You might say that. Charles fired Caroline today and kicked her out of his house."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked, drawing the word out. She was clearly pleased.

"Yes, he did."

"Couldn't happen to a better person," Elizabeth grinned. "Did you help?"

"I threatened her life if she ever came near you or your family," he said plainly.

"Tell me you are joking," Elizabeth interjected. William said nothing. Elizabeth observed that there was a downside to having a boyfriend who was scrupulously honest. "Will!" she whined.

"I'm sorry if that upsets you, Elizabeth, but I've told you before, I have a line," his voice was concerned and earnest. "It takes a lot to cross that line, but once someone does, that's it. Caroline interfered and hurt the people I care the most for without any thought of the consequences. I can't forgive her that and I'll be damned if I will ever let her do it again."

Elizabeth sighed quietly, "I hope your list of people who have crossed that line isn't too long, Will."

"You have more fingers, Elizabeth."

"That's a comfort," She heard a strange banging noise coming over the phone. "William, what's that noise?"

"Oh, that's Charles."

"What?"

"He's trying to break the door down."

Elizabeth was amazed at the calm way he could report all this. "Why?"

"Well, I suspect he wants to talk to Jane."

Elizabeth could hear a hint of humor to his voice. "Where are you?" she asked grinning.

"Charles' office." He was definitely smiling now, she could hear it.

"Why doesn't he just unlock the door?" she giggled.

"Because I have his key," he chuckled.

The banging continued unabated. "So he's trying to knock down the door?" she laughed. "Will, maybe you should just let him in."

"No way! It is my phone and my phone call."

Elizabeth laughed. This was the fun-loving, silly, naughty boy that sang Loony Tunes to her. She loved this side of him. "I'm surprised he's not yelling," she said as calmly as possible.

"Oh he is," William corrected her. "The office is soundproofed."

Elizabeth laughed again. "You're insane," she said sweetly.

"I know," he agreed. "It was very nice having dinner with you last night. I really enjoyed it."

"I did too," she said. "I hope we can do it again."

"Count on it," he said warmly.

Elizabeth sighed, "It's going to be a long two weeks until Pennsic."

"I know, but it will be worth it to have two weeks there with you," he said plainly.

"Oh, Will," she smiled tightly, her heart melting. The banging continued. "You know, he's going to hurt himself."

"I know," he grumbled. "Is Jane there?"

"She's been circling like a hawk the whole time I've been on the phone."

William chuckled, "Well, at least she's quiet about it. I guess it's time to release the hounds. I'll call you tonight, okay?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Bye, Elizabeth."

"Bye, Will," Elizabeth listened as she heard a door flung open, then she handed the phone off to Jane, who squealed happily and took it into her bedroom.

Elizabeth sat down at her kitchen table and looked at her calendar. It was a Monday, she had week and a half until she and Jane left for Pennsic the following Friday. As they had for the past two years, they would leave early Friday morning, making the eight hour trip during the day. Arriving in the late afternoon, they would check in at Coopers Lake Campground, the Pennsic site, then get dinner and go to the hotel room they had reserved back in April.

The following morning they would have some breakfast, and go to the site for land grab, during which each camp would be given its allotment of land.

Elizabeth bit her lip as she reviewed everything she had to do in those next two weeks. She needed to finish her sewing, get her car serviced, and pack a mountain-sized pile of gear. As part of her responsibility as the camp's harbinger, she needed to make contact with everyone in her camp to double check their arrival date and their tent size.

A smile played on her lips, as she contemplated an idea she had been toying with all spring, but had given up on during the mess with William. With a smile, she decided she still had time to do it. She walked to her computer and reviewed the plans she had downloaded there, thinking happily at how William would be surprised.

****

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

The phone rang, waking Elizabeth up. She grabbed it, while opening one eye to check the clock. "Hello?" she said sleepily.

"Elizabeth," said the voice she knew best.

"Will? It's seven o'clock! Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong," he said, his voice reassuring. "I couldn't reach you last night. Was your phone working? I kept getting a busy signal, and your cell phone was turned off."

"Oh, yeah, it was working. The problem is called Jane and Charles." She said, while rubbing her face.

"They were on the line all night?"

"Well, I went to bed at 11, so I can't say what happened after that, but from 7 o'clock on, yup, it was them." She closed her eyes and snuggled back down on her pillow with the phone to her ear. "So you decided to call me now?"

"I promised you I would call," he said, "I had to. Did I wake you up?"

"Yes," she said simply.

"I'm sorry, it's just I wanted to be sure that I would reach you."

"No, it's okay, I kinda like it," she smiled naughtily. "Are you still in bed?"

"No," his voice was slow and drawn out, "but I could be."

"Hmm," she considered. "Is your bed already made?"

"Yes."

"Next time, call me before you get up, okay?"

"That could be very early, Elizabeth," he said, his voice husky. "Are you sure you want to be woken that early?"

Elizabeth yawned, "How early are we talking about?"

"I usually get up around six, so I can exercise. What time do you wake up?"

Elizabeth stretched her legs, "During the school year, I get up at 6:30, but during summer break, I usually get up around 8."

"Do you want me to call back in an hour?"

"No, I can never go back to sleep once I'm awake." Her voice was still sleepy. William could picture her, hair tousled, her body warm and soft under the blankets. "I hope you aren't planning on getting up that early at Pennsic?" she asked.

William smiled, "Only if I have a good reason."

"Is that an offer?" She asked provocatively.

"Yes."

Elizabeth's breath caught. She was wide awake now. "Um," she tried to think of something safe to talk about. "I met Margaret on the phone yesterday."

WIlliam bit down on the disappointment he felt as she changed topics. "Did you like her?"

"She was very nice, but she seemed terrified of failing you." She giggled, "What did you say to the poor woman? Did you threaten to fire her?"

William grinned. "Not at all." His voice warmed slightly, "A person I admire and respect very much recently pointed out that I needed to be more forthcoming in expressing my feelings. I've been trying to take this person's advice to heart, so instead of threatening Margaret, I simply explained to her how important your phone call was to me." He smiled, "I was surprised at how effective it was."

Elizabeth grew silent, as she listened to his words. "I would like to meet this admirable person someday, William," she said shakily.

"I think that would be redundant, Elizabeth. I'm sure no one knows her as well as you do."

Elizabeth's heart raced, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Recently I had cause to reflect on some of the things I thought I knew about myself," she confessed softly, "I found that I was mistaken in many of my beliefs about myself, and that I had a number of prejudices that I was unaware of, that made me at best a fool, and at worse, a hypocrite."

"Elizabeth," his voice was full with caring and wonder, "I am certain that whatever prejudices you may have had were not without reason. I'm sure the behavior of the object of these prejudices incited them within you." He paused a moment, "but these actions of yours have not been without merit. They have inspired me to change myself, in hopes of improving your opinion of me."

Elizabeth lay silently, her senses overwhelmed by what he was saying. "Elizabeth?" he asked softly.

"I'm here," she replied. "I just don't know ... " she stopped again, "Let's talk about something else."

"All right," he agreed, content that he had made his point with her. "What are you going to do today?" he asked pleasantly.

"I'm going to do some sewing and," her voice lifted excitedly, "I'm going to begin a secret project!"

"Secret project?" he asked, his voice rich with amusement, "What kind of secret project?"

"It's a secret!" she informed him. "Don't worry, I'll show you it at Pennsic."

William grinned. "I'm looking forward to it."

"What are you going to do today?" she asked.

William sighed. "I'm going to work. In fact, I am going to have to go soon."

"What about after work?"

"I'm going to help Georgianna get furnishings for her new house."

"What new house?"

"She's transferring to Brown, remember? She's going to need a place to live," he told her patiently.

"William, have you ever heard of a thing called 'dorms'? Also known as residence halls?" she asked archly.

"Georgianna is not going to stay in a dorm," he said simply. "She bought herself a nice little house, and she's going to live there with a friend."

Elizabeth shook her head. "It must be nice."

"What?"

"Having money like that."

William paused, biting back his first response. "Can I call you again tomorrow?"

"I'll be here," she said lightly, "William, have a good day at work."

He smiled, "Thanks Elizabeth."

After they hung up, Elizabeth went to use to the bathroom, her mind full of what he had said. She realized that he was doing this all for her. Letting her get to know him, all of him. She also realized she was back on very dangerous ground. She was amazed at how quickly they had become so close. It worried her. *****

The phone calls continued every morning that week. Elizabeth became very comfortable with William's voice coming to her while she lay sleepily on her pillow. Most mornings they talked for a half hour or more, but once he had to cut it short, due to an early morning meeting at D-Tech. Everyday, however, Elizabeth always ended the phone call by wishing him a good day at work.

It was with mixed feelings when Elizabeth woke to the phone ringing at 7am on Saturday morning. "William, it's Saturday," she whined, "Don't you ever sleep in?"

"I am sleeping in," he told her, his voice warm and intimate. "I just wanted to do it with you."

Elizabeth's face lit up in a grin, "What, we are just going to sleep over the phone?"

"Yes," he sounded pleased. "Now 'Shh!' and stop hogging the covers."

Elizabeth laughed softly and snuggled back down with the phone. "You are crazy, you know that," she said quietly.

"Yes, I'm crazy for you," he said.

Elizabeth stopped breathing for a moment. This was the first time since War Camp William had said anything about his feelings. "You still there?" he asked.

"I'm here," she said, her voice lonesome. "But I wish I was there."

He paused, "So do I," he said with a simple longing in his voice. "Tell me again why you are there?"

She smiled, this was familiar ground, as they had argued this point repeatedly. "Because I promised Ellen I would work at the fabric store today."

"Call in."

"William, you know I can't," she sighed. "Why aren't you coming here tonight?"

"Because the household is coming over on Sunday to pack the trailer for Pennsic," he answered wearily. They had discussed this before.

"See? It can't be helped," she acknowledged resignedly. "Seven more days, William."

"That's what I keep telling myself, but it doesn't seem to be helping."

"I know. Sleep with me now, okay?"

"Okay," he said sleepily.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and listened to the sound of his soft breathing, and she was almost able to convince herself she wasn't alone.

When she opened her eyes again, she was surprised to see it was 8:20. The phone was silent. "William, are you still there?"

"I'm here," came the response immediately. "I was listening to you sleep."

Elizabeth grinned. "And what do I sound like?" she asked amused.

"You snore," he teased.

"I do not!" she asserted indignantly.

"How do you know?"

"I don't," she pouted, "do I snore?" she asked in a small voice.

"No, you make a very cute, soft sound when you breath, but you definitely don't snore."

Elizabeth giggled delightedly. Then she sighed, "William, now I have to get ready for work," she said disappointedly.

"I know. Have a good day at work, Elizabeth. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Thanks," she said, her heart touched. "Bye, William."

William hung up the phone and laid back, looking unseeingly at his ceiling. Elizabeth, it would be seven days, to the hour, before he would see her again. Their daily phone calls had become the most important part of his day. He cherished them, even as they tore at his heart. Seven days until he saw her, but then what? He wasn't sure. He didn't have a plan for her. No, he had learned his lesson about plans. He would simply do what he had been doing: loving Elizabeth and being completely open to her, and let things develop as they would.

He could sense that her feelings towards him had changed, but had they changed enough? Did she realize how he loved her? He wanted to tell her, to show her in every way, but he knew not to push it. He knew that words alone weren't enough. No, if he wanted Elizabeth's love, he would have to show her, as well as tell her.

At least now he felt they had improved their communication skills enough that he could tell her. His thoughts lurched a moment, as he wondered if this was all in vain. Did she love him? Could she? He could still too easily remember her face, when she damned him at War Camp with his deeds. No, he would never underestimate Elizabeth again. She was not some nice little toy he could place in his fantasies at random; she was a person, a woman of strength. She was almost more than he could handle, but what choice did he have? She had captured his heart and he could not help but love her. He was determined that he would win her heart. Nothing would stop him.

His mind turned away from the image of Elizabeth angry and instead recalled the last time he had kissed her, in front of her aunt's house. Her intelligent eyes had looked at him with longing, and hope, and dare he think it, affection? Her lips had been warm and sweet beneath his, and all the sweeter because he knew that she wanted his kiss. Knowing all his faults, knowing all he could be, she wanted him.

'Surely there is no greater aphrodisiac in the world,' he thought as his hand slipped beneath his covers to touch himself.

****

Friday, August 3, 2001

The phone rang at the usual time, "Hello?" Elizabeth answered brightly.

"Do you know how badly I want to kiss you all over?" asked a lusty male voice.

Elizabeth struggled to remain calm, "No, Charles, why don't you tell me?" she asked frankly.

"Liz?" he squeaked.

Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, didn't you realize it was me?" she asked after her initial burst of laughter.

"Um, ah, um," he sputtered.

"Jane," Elizabeth called out, "It's for you. It's your daily obscene phone caller." Turning back to the receiver Elizabeth told Charles, "Just twenty minutes, Charles. I'm expecting a call from William and we want to be on the road by 8." She handed the phone to a blissfully smiling Jane, who cooed into it while Elizabeth got some breakfast.

Elizabeth had grown used to Jane's extended phone calls from Charles taking up the whole evening. She had been forced to use e-mail to communicate with her household, because the phone was hopeless. Not that Elizabeth begrudged Jane her calls from Charles. Jane deserved them, and it wasn't like Charles couldn't afford them, she thought with a shrug. After 20 minutes, she found Jane, hiding in the bathroom and tapped her wrist until Jane hung up the phone, excitedly promising to see Charles tomorrow.

Within seconds of Jane hanging up, the phone rang again. "Hello?" Elizabeth answered it.

"Good morning," William's voice answered.

Elizabeth smiled and walked to her bedroom, as Jane told her,"Twenty minutes." "Good morning to you, sir, " Elizabeth replied.

"I'm thinking that Charles beat me to the phone this morning."

Elizabeth laughed, "Yes, in fact, he made some very interesting suggestions to me when I answered the phone, until he realized I wasn't Jane."

"Oh really?" William laughed, "What did he do when he realized you weren't Jane?"

"Sputtered, mostly." she grinned. "So, today's the big day. I'm very excited. When are you leaving again?" she asked, knowing full well the answer.

"As soon as we get out of work. I expect we will be on the road by six."

"So you are going to drive through the night, correct?"

William smiled at her teasing, "That's right."

"And why aren't you taking today off and staying in a hotel like intelligent people?"

"Because I'm a turnip head, are you happy?" Elizabeth laughed. "And because I do have a company to run that I will be away from for two weeks as it is."

"I'm sure they will manage without you, somehow."

"Somehow," he agreed. "I want you to be careful when you are driving today," his voice was concerned.

"I will be," she assured him, "And I'll call you when we arrive."

"I can't wait to see you tomorrow, Elizabeth."

"I can't wait to see you either, William," she said, her voice full of longing. "Be careful when you drive too. I'll see you in the morning."

It took all of William's willpower to not tell her he loved her at that moment. Closing his eyes tightly, he simply said, "Bye Elizabeth, have a safe trip."

******

"Do you need a break from modern living. Do you long, to shed your weary load."

"Jane! Please, stop singing that!" Elizabeth exclaimed for what felt like the hundredth time. A few years ago, Elizabeth and Jane and their young cousins made the mistake of watching 'The Goofy Movie' on The Disney Channel. Unfortunately, Jane picked up on one of the songs from it, and pronounced it their 'Pennsic traveling song'. Elizabeth agreed for the first half dozen times she sang it, but by now, she was sick of it. It was three 'o'clock, they were just about done with their trip.

Elizabeth took the off ramp that took them to route 79 from route 80. That was the nice thing about their drive to Pennsic, you just had to count downward. Route 87 to route 84 to route 81 to route 80 and finally, route 79 south.

Elizabeth had made this trip five times and she knew it well. Her heart was slowly filling with joyful anticipation, because she knew they had less than a half hour to go. The rolling hills passed by as they kept silent looking out the right hand window for their first sight of Pennsic.

There was something about coming back to Pennsic. The first time there is often overwhelming to a person's senses. The sights and sounds and smells are so rich and diverse and intense, it overloads your brain's ability to process them, but the next year, and every year after that, it becomes a return to home.

It's like a piece of your brain retains that feeling of Pennsic, and associates it with good things, so that when you return to it your brain knows this is a good place, a happy place, and it slips into a different gear.

Elizabeth and Jane passed the sign announcing the exit for route 422 and then they saw it. First came the mile of rolling, grassy hills that would become the parking lot, but were now empty. Than they saw the flat plain on which they would camp. It was known as the 'serengetti', because it has been a cornfield which had been converted to camping grounds as Pennsic grew. Elizabeth could see the large tents that were security, troll, and the class areas. The huge plain was mostly empty now, but in two days time it would be teaming with life.

They took their exit and followed the small curved road that brought them to the camp entrance. The campground workers, wearing the blue scrub tops that was their uniform, directed them to the battlefield where the temporary parking was located. Elizabeth found an empty space and parked.

All land agents, like Elizabeth and William, had to be on site by Saturday morning at 10, or else their camp would lose its land. Until the land assignment process, or 'land grab', as it was more commonly known, was completed, no one was allowed to camp on site. The land agents could either camp on the battlefield overnight, or get a hotel room, like Elizabeth and Jane did, or arrive in the morning, as William and Charles did.

Elizabeth and Jane couldn't keep the goofy smiles off their faces as they stretched their legs and walked across the street into the site proper. Pennsic had a town road running through it, separating the battlefield and archery range from the rest of the site. This was actually useful, as it assisted in crowd management.

Crossing the road, Elizabeth and Jane entered the troll tent, where they signed in and received a numbered metal medallion. The medallion served a number of purposes: it was proof that they had checked in and had not jumped the gate, and it was a form of identification. The number on the medallion was entered into databases at security, troll & chirurgeons. If someone was found unconscious, security could run their medallion number and find out who this person was and to what camp they belonged.

It was an emergency system that was both effective, and not glaringly modern in appearance. Elizabeth's number was 378, Jane's 379. They were impressed, it was the lowest number they had ever received. They took a quick walk around the site, including the block they would be camping at. No one was there, however, so they returned to the Volvo and drove to their New Castle hotel.

Pennsic is situated evenly between the towns of New Castle on the west and Butler to the east. Route 422 connected both towns, and Pennsic sat on it, right in the middle. Elizabeth was a bit more familiar with New Castle, but the towns were about equal in what they offered. Both towns had become used to Pennsic being there every August, as it had been for the past thirty years. The townsfolk had come to welcome the money the event brought in, as well as the visitors who spent it.

As soon as they were checked into their hotel room, Elizabeth pulled out her cell phone and dialed William's. "Hello," Charles' cheerful voice answered.

"Hi there," Elizabeth said playfully.

"Hey!" Charles laughed, "How are you doing?"

"We're good," Elizabeth nodded. "We just checked into our room. How about you?"

"Oh wow, you are done already? We just got underway. Will's driving, which is why I'm on phone duty." Elizabeth could hear William's voice in the background saying, "Ask her about the roads." "Lizzy," Charles said, "How were the roads, any hold ups?"

It was something that Elizabeth could never understand, but the state of Pennsylvania was always in the process of repaving major stretches of route 80. While she appreciated that the state wished to maintain the road, she noticed that the NYS Thruway never needed so much work. "Yeah," she informed Charles, "there was a bad bit just before Clarion. We were stopped for almost an hour, but the rest of it was pretty good, and you will be hitting that in the middle of the night, so hopefully you won't have a delay."

"Thanks Lizzy. Is Jane there?"

"No, she's out turning tricks to pick up some extra cash."

"Lizzy!" Jane scolded her, reaching for the phone. "Hello, Charles," she said into it.

Elizabeth could only listen to Jane's half of the conversation, which she did unashamedly. "No, not too tired." "Yes, we are going to get dinner in a moment." "No, not too fast, although there was this one point, when Def Leppard came on the radio and she was doing 90 over the mountains."

"Hey," Elizabeth objected.

Jane laughed, and turned away, "No, 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'." Jane laughed again, then said, "I will," and turned off the phone.

"William says he hopes you have a good night and he's looking forward to seeing you in the morning." Jane reported.

"Did he really?" Elizabeth asked.

"No," Jane admitted, "I expanded on his 'tell Elizabeth I said hi' a bit."

"Well, he can't talk while he's driving anyway. Let's go eat." Elizabeth said smiling.

Elizabeth wasn't even disappointed she hadn't gotten to talk to William. It didn't matter now. She would see William in the morning, and that was all she cared about.