#renateseline

[dresupi]

Bucky/Darcy, Regency AU

for @renateseline

20.  Regency AU

“Mr. Barnes is here.  Again…” Her mother sniffed as she glanced down at the front walk from her perch at the upstairs window.  “Honestly, Darcy...can’t you put him off nicely?”  

Darcy shrugged with indifference.  “Has it ever occurred to you, Mama...that perhaps I didn’t want to put him off?”  

“True, he’s an officer, but I’ve asked as to his family, dear daughter, and they come from trade. You can’t expect to procure a marriage proposal from a decent suitor if you keep such wretched company. And he’s not even very pleasant, you know.  There are a dozen other officers in the regiment more worthy of you.  He’s from trade, he’s gruff and unpleasant...and that arm...”  

Darcy sighed and rose, putting her needlepoint to the side.  Her mother grabbed the hoop almost immediately, scrutinizing her work as she glided from the room to go meet her company.  “I care not about his family, nor their money.  I have more than enough of both as it is.  I care not that he is ‘gruff and unpleasant’, as you put it, Mama...even though shyness often mimics unpleasantness to the undiscerning eye.  Furthermore, I care not about his arm. He cares not, so why should it bother me?”  

Her mother was silent for a full ten seconds.  The longest in her entire life, no doubt. “This is full knots, Darcy…” Her mother reached for the scissors.  “You’re going to have to redo it all again...I don’t know what I did to deserve such a daughter...keeps company with sons of tradesmen. Needlework full of knots…He doesn’t even leave a card, your Mr. Barnes!”

Darcy rolled her eyes and left the room.  She found James waiting for her in the parlor, his hands behind his back as he inspected the painting hanging on the wall.  

“Mr.  Barnes....” She dipped into a curtsey.  

“Miss Lewis…” he bowed briefly.  “I briefly entertained a game of cards, but since arriving…” He glanced up towards the staircase. The sound of her mother’s complaining could be heard as it carried down from the sewing room. “I wondered if you would fancy a walk in the garden instead?”  

Darcy smiled.  “I would like that very much, sir.  It’s a lovely day.”   

[Part 2]  

[dresupi]

Darcy/Steve, Coffee Shop AU

for @renateseline

14. Coffee Shop AU

She came in every day and she usually ordered the same thing.  In fact, Steve had taken to making it ahead of time for her.  

“Caramel latte, Darcy?  Extra whip?”  he asked when the door jingled at exactly 8:13 am.  

“Better make it a double, Steve…” She placed her bag on the counter.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked, dumping her coffee and starting a fresh one in a mug instead of a to-go cup.  

“Got fired,” she said with a smirk.  

“Good riddance…” he said, with a small sigh of relief.  She was always complaining about her boss.  

“I guess…” She pulled out her laptop.  “I have to update my portfolio.  Thinking about going freelance...what do you think?”  

Steve leaned over the counter, clasping his hands together as he peered at her laptop screen.  “I think we could use some work on our website…”  

“What website?”  She chuckled.

“Exactly...maybe you could design one?”  he asked hopefully.  More for her company than the website.  “Write up a quote and get back to me.”  

Her smile was almost better than anything else.  “Sure thing.  As soon as I finish my coffee…”

[dresupi]

Bill/Fleur, Regency AU

for @renateseline

20. Regency AU

“Monsieur Weasley, cursebreaker at Gringotts...”  the maid read from his card.  “I’ll inform Mlle Delacour, would you like to wait in the drawing room?”  

He nodded once, a smile pricking at the corners of his mouth as he followed the maid, who left him alone in the overly-decorated room.  He was too nervous to sit down, opting to instead bounce on his toes and look at a particularly interesting painting.

He could hear the rapid French being spoken up the stairs through the cracked door.  He tugged on his waist coat and waited for Fleur to open the door and greet him.  

“Monsieur Weasley…” she burst through the door in a flurry of blue skirts, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw him.  “Bill…” Her hands came up to cover her mouth.  “You’re Monsieur Weasley?  I zought you were...you were…I had no idea you were a cursebreaker.  I...”  

“I have no intention of giving away your secret, Mademoiselle…”  He did smile then, in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.  “I was simply wondering why I hadn’t seen you back at Gringott’s...I’ve missed you.”  

She pressed her lips together.  “If my father were to discover I was learning...a trade?  He’d would be furious.”  

Bill took a deep breath.  “I suppose he should not discover it, in that case.”  

“What interest do you have in my learning a trade, Mr. Weasley?”  

He smiled.  “I do rather enjoy your company, Fleur.”  

She pursed her lips before smiling back.  “I rather enjoy yours, Bill.”  

[dresupi]

Bill/Fleur, Coffee Shop AU

for @renateseline

14. Coffee Shop AU

“What will you have, love?”  He smiled at her and Fleur melted.  He was spinning the cup, tossing it and grabbing it behind his back.  Show-boating for her.  Likely not just for her, but in that moment, she could pretend, couldn’t she?

“Just a black coffee…” she said with a smile.  

“Just black?  Nothing special I can do for you?”  His nametag said Bill.  And his eyes said trouble.  

Fleur blushed and shook her head. “No, I am a woman of simple tastes.”  

He poured the coffee into a mug, sliding it over to her.  “In that case...perhaps I could...take you out later?  I’ve never met a woman of simple tastes.  I might be to your liking.”  

She found herself nodding, accepting his number scribbling onto a napkin.  

[dresupi]

Darcy/Pietro, meet-cute

for @renateseline

9. Meet-cute

Pietro was just going to zip through the lab, grab the shoes Tony had put out on the table for him and retreat back to his apartment.  

Of course, that was before he saw one of the lab assistants struggling with two drink carriers’ worth of coffee.  

He zipped back over, grabbing both and depositing them safely on the counter, spinning around and slipping his arm around her waist as she tumbled towards the ground . “Whoa…” he grinned and set her upright.  

She looked up at him, her bright blue eyes wide with what started out as fear and ended in something else.  “Whoa yourself…” she said with a grin.  

He shifted his weight back on his hip and ran his fingers through his hair.  “I’m Pietro...maybe you’ve heard of me?”  He shot her a smile.  

She smirked.  “I’m Darcy, Pietro. And you’ve gotta cool it a few hundred degrees...some of us are trying to work.”

[part 2]

[dresupi]

Because of your answer to 79: 78? Also 81?

78: Who would you like to see in concert?

Hmmm. Ideally, if I could see anyone I wanted... Britney Spears if she does like...a comeback tour.  Matchbox Twenty because same.  Realistically?  I’d go see the Avett Brothers.  Love those guys.    

81: Tea or coffee?

I’m a southern girl, and I like tea.  I like it sweet.  With Ice.  And lemon wedges.  And I like it a lot, y’all.  It’s my fave.  I’m drinking it right now.  We have Milo’s tea as part of our grocery budget.  It’s probably an addiction, but I don’t EVEN care.  

[dresupi]

Darcy & Jane, Amnesia

for @renateseline

19.  Amnesia

Jane sat up, a dazed look in her eyes.  Darcy snapped her fingers.  “What day is it?”  

“March sixth…” Jane replied.  

“How many fingers?” Darcy held up four in her face.  

“Four.”  

“What’s my middle name?”  

“I have no idea.  What’s your first name?”  

Darcy frowned.  “What?”  

“I thought if you gave me your first name, the middle name might come to me.” 

“You should know my first name, Jane…”  

The other woman shrugged.  

“Great, come on…” Darcy helped her stand.  “Let’s go find Tony.”  

“Bennett?”  

“That’s close, but no.  It’s another last name from Pride and Prejudice.”  

“No, I meant..Tony Bennett?”  

“Oh good grief, Jane...come on…”

[dresupi]

Darcy/Steve, Gifts

for @renateseline

Darcy laughed aloud when she opened the door to their apartment.  “Whoa, did Cupid barf in here or something?”  

There were roses on every flat surface.  An absolutely enormous Teddy Bear was sitting on the couch.  There was chocolate and balloons and…”  

“Oh wow…”  

And an absolutely gorgeous super soldier in a tuxedo serving her dinner.  

Steve grinned nervously.  “I...um...I’ve never done Valentine’s Day before, so I thought I’d go all out...is it too much?”  

“No.  No way.  It’s just right. I love it.  I love you,” Darcy moved towards him, arms open wide.  

“Love you too, Darcy.  Happy Valentine’s Day.”