Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to Jane Austen's works. I just wish I did.

A/N: Okay, so this is my first Austen fic, so I'm going to ask that you please be nice and really tell me what I could improve upon. And, I haven't seen a story like this up here, so I'm hoping this is somewhat original. I hope you enjoy it. And, this is kind of told from a third person, omnipotent (think a camera that knows everything) pov.

"Lizzie, you need to get ready for the party," Jane told Elizabeth, her sister.

"Jane, please," Lizzie said to Jane. "We both know that no matter what I do Mother is going to drool over you and Lydia and then proceed to criticize the fact that I can't possibly do anything right in her eyes because I'm too plain and I don't comply with what she says is best."

Jane just sent Lizzie a look because she had heard this argument before. But, Jane knew why Lizzie said what she did. She said it because it was mostly true. Lizzie and their mother had never really gotten along well because, just like Lizzie said, she didn't comply with what she said they should do.

But, even though it may be true, Jane still took it upon herself to help Lizzie at least escape most of their mothers scathing remarks about her shortcomings.

"Lizzie, I really need you to cooperate with me because if we are late to this welcoming party our mother will kill us," Jane said, finally getting a little exasperated with Lizzie.

It seemed that was what Lizzie needed to hear because she was ready to go five minutes later. As Jane and Lizzie drove to Longbourn for the party their family was throwing, Lizzie once again thanked the Powers That Be that she didn't live with her mother anymore. She had finally reached that age where she could live on her own, which she wanted to do, so she and Jane had decided to live together since they shared a room and bed for a good portion of their lives.

"So, Lizzie," Jane started awkwardly, "have you gotten any ideas for any new books?"

Jane was being careful because Lizzie was usually pretty touchy about her writing. Mainly because when their mother found out what Lizzie wanted to do with her life, she went ballistic and wouldn't talk to Lizzie unless it was to tell her that she would never make a living for herself and she would end up in the street.

But, fortunately, their mother was wrong. Lizzie actually had a successful line of children's books that had made her a lot of money and she was now working on a teen series that she hoped to have published in the next year.

"Not really," Lizzie said. "I'm just working on tweaking the ones I haven't sent in yet and revising the ones they've sent back."

Jane nodded and didn't say anything else. Suddenly Lizzie broke the silence by saying, "Mary told me that Mother invited some man that just moved into the neighborhood, a Charles Bingley or something like that. Apparently he's very rich and Mother has plans to push the two of you into each other."

Jane didn't really say anything. She was used to their mother, Mrs. Bennet, trying to push men on her because she was a reputed "beauty." Although, she personally couldn't see this. She thought she was very plain and that she didn't deserve any distinction above her sisters. But, most people thought she was very pretty and usually told her so.

She just shook her head and continued to drive. Thus, the drive was finished in silence.

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By the time they arrived at Longbourn, there were already a lot of people there, although Jane and Lizzie both knew that their mother had probably invited twice as many people. Jane and Lizzie slowly made their way to the backyard and were able to slip in without anyone noticing them. Since they were a little late, they didn't want their mother saying anything.

Lizzie raked her eyes over the room, taking in all the people that were there. She saw her friend Charlotte Lucas and rushed over to give her a hug.

"I'm so glad you're here!" Charlotte exclaimed as she and Lizzie embraced.

"Why? I am that important to you?" Lizzie asked, feigning surprise. "I never knew I meant this much to you."

Charlotte laughed at Lizzie's joke and started to chatter about everything that had happened since she had been there. Apparently a few people had already had drinks thrown on them and Charlotte thought she saw one person throw up in the corner. Then, Charlotte directed Lizzie's attention to a small group of people standing off to the side.

"That," Charlotte said, discreetly pointing, "is Charles Bingley. The constipated looking girl is Caroline Bingley. The other woman is her sister Louisa Hurst and that's her husband looking like he could be sick any moment. And, the incredibly handsome man next to Bingley is his best friend, William Darcy. Although, I don't think you'll like him. He's a disagreeable sort of fellow."

Lizzie nodded and looked at each person in turn. She thought that Charles Bingley looked like a really nice guy and that he would make friends easily. Caroline really did look constipated. And, her sister didn't look much better. Although, it looked like she may have actually let the stick leave her ass, unlike Caroline, who looked like she had smelled something bad as well. And, Mr. Hurst didn't really require words because you could look at him and tell that he spent most of his time three sheets to the wind. Of course, with the way two of his relations looked, Lizzie thought she might want to be three sheets to the wind most of the time as well.

But, with William Darcy, she didn't really know what to think. From what Charlotte told her, she figured she wouldn't like him, but he mostly seemed to be uncomfortable. Not proud or arrogant as she had heard a lot of people say to describe him.

Lizzie was still contemplating him when she saw Jane wave her over to where she was standing with their mother. As soon as she got over there, she was dragged with the rest of the clan over to where Bingley and his group were standing.

"Mr. Bingley, it's so nice to see you again," Mrs. Bennet started. "Here are my other two daughters, Jane and Lizzie."

Mr. Bingley nodded to both of them and started a conversation by asking what they did.

"Well, I'm a school teacher at a local elementary school," Jane told him. When she noticed that Lizzie wasn't going to be forthcoming with her profession, Jane said, "And Lizzie is a writer. Perhaps you've heard of her books? It's the Audrey Rose series of children's books."

Bingley had a look of awe on his face. "You write those? At the hospital that I work at, I'm a doctor by the way, the children love your books. It always perks them up to know that Audrey will come out on top of whatever adventure and mishap she gets herself into."

Lizzie smiled and thanked him, but for the most part kept quiet. Lizzie heard Bingley ask Jane to dance and watched them go to the dance floor. She glanced around her and saw that she was standing beside Darcy. When he looked at her, she blushed and glanced at the ground.

"I like your books as well, Miss Bennet," he said, startling her.

"Um…please call me Lizzie. I feel like I'm my mother or something if someone calls me that. And, thanks," she said, a little unsure of herself. "What do you do?"

"I work at the hospital that Bingley works at," he said somewhat shortly.

Lizzie looked a little taken back by what he said, but didn't make any further comment. Since it seemed that he wasn't going to be particularly forthcoming with any other comments or beautiful insights into his person, she slowly walked away, trying to find Charlotte.

She found her quite easily and pulled her over to the tree where they had built their tree house when they were younger. They climbed up to escape the party and collect themselves.

Lizzie was in the middle of telling Charlotte what her and Darcy had briefly talked about when the object of their musings and Bingley came to a stop underneath their tree.

"Darcy, please. I must see you dance with a girl," Bingley started. Darcy just shot him a look. "Will you at least dance with another girl besides my sister? There are plenty of pretty ones here. You can have your pick!"

"Thank you for thinking of me Bingley, but I think I would prefer to stay over here. You know I have trouble when I am around people I don't know very well."

"Well, since you want to, I may not agree with it, but if you're happy with it, I can be. And, what do you think of Jane, if you don't mind me asking."

Lizzie had to stifle a giggle when she heard Bingley ask Darcy that question. But, apparently she didn't stifle it well enough because they both glanced around trying to find the source of the suppressed sound.

"She is very pretty. She seems to suit you," was Darcy's reply.

"And, what do you think of her sister, Lizzie? I think she is rather pretty as well," Bingley said, trying to prod Darcy. "I saw you talking to her."

"Yes, I was. I actually decided to make an effort that didn't end well. And, they never do. I thought she was pretty. Her eyes are very enchanting."

Lizzie and Charlotte exchanged a look. They hadn't expected to overhear something like this. They tuned back into the conversation in enough time to hear Darcy tell Bingley to go back to Jane and not waste anymore time with him in the shadows.

They watched Bingley walk away and then Darcy walk away before they said anything.

"Wow, Lizzie. It seems your mother will be very happy that you caught the fancy of someone so rich!" Charlotte said.

"Charlotte! Now, you know I could never do anything to make my mother happy! Besides, I wonder if he wasn't just saying it or something. I'm really not that great."

Charlotte scoffed at what Lizzie said, but she knew that she didn't need to push the matter. They sat up in the tree house for a little while longer before they decided to head back down to rejoin the party.

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A/N: Please review! I would really like to know whether this is a good idea or not. And, just so everyone knows, the occupations are as follows: the Bennet family is a middle class family. Money was tight when the five daughters were growing up, but once Jane and Lizzie moved out, it wasn't so bad because they then only had five people to support and not seven. Caroline doesn't do anything. She welches off Bingley. Mr. Hurst is a fairly successful lawyer and doesn't spend as much time with Bingley as he did in the book. Louisa doesn't do anything either. A professional wife is what I guess you would call her. And, I think that about covers everything. I hope you liked it!