A/N: This here is my first foray into writing in a long time. It is my first fanfiction in over half a decade. I am trying to get better as a writer and this is the path I am currently taking to get there. That being said, I am extremely rusty. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite love story of all time, but I commonly find myself wonder what happens 'after'. That, added along with the current season, spawned this. I hope you enjoy.

-Alex

That the grounds of Pemberley never looked as fantastic as they did in the fall was the first thing that Elizabeth thought when she stepped out this morning onto the grounds. Autumn was in full swing, the air crisp and clean and the leaves of the trees every colour you could imagine leaves to be. A few of her servants were tending to the lawn gathering the fallen wayward leaves, waving a light greeting in the direction of their mistress. Elizabeth waved back, still getting used to the idea that she had so much hired help even though it had been a few years since she had married their employer. It was one of many changes in her life that she had to get used to since moving here. Other changes, however, fit into her being like it was made to be there.

Warm hands found her shoulders, squeezing slightly as she felt lips press into her hair. This, Elizabeth thought, was one of those changes. She turned around immediately, catching his mouth with hers and sliding her hands around his shoulders.

"Good morning, Mr. Darcy." she breathed, stepping back to take a look at her husband. His dark hair was, as per usual, perfectly placed on his head, though she far liked it better when it was a little mussed. She was pleased at his choice of outfit, the color of the fabric complimenting his dark eyes extremely well. Eyes that were very intently looking down at her.

"Good morning, Mrs. Darcy. How might you be doing this fine morning?" he asked. Elizabeth smiled, knowing that few things in the world gave her husband more pleasure than calling her Mrs. Darcy. And few things in the world gave her more pleasure than hearing it.

"I'm getting some fresh air. Before, you know, the chaos."

William grimaced immediately, running a hand through his hair, a scowl fixating on his face.

"Why did we have to invite them here? Why did you have to remind me?" he asked his wife. Elizabeth sighed, shifting uncomfortably as she attempted to keep an even face when what she really wanted was to grimace with her husband.

"Because dear Jane attended to them last year and we agreed, stupidly, to take turns. This year, the turn is ours to host my family. All of my family, I'm afraid. Lydia begged the money to come see the family since it's been a couple years since anyone's seen her and my mother cries at being unable to see her grandson."

"And of course, I assume you gave it to her."

"Of course, Will, she's my sister."

It was a bitter memory between them, when Elizabeth first reminded William of their obligation to host the family for the holidays several months ago. The arrangement had been made between her and Jane soon after the sisters were married, since it soon became quite apparent their mother never expected to host for the holidays with two daughters so well off. Every couple months, a request came from Longbourne about how much their mother missed them, how their father was restless to see his dear Lizzy, and filled with the recent most accomplishments of their younger sisters enclosed. At the end of every letter, Mrs. Bennet implored Elizabeth when would be a good time to visit, while Elizabeth was still simply glad her mother asked for permission instead of just showing up at her door. Her husband made it quite clear that he wished the Bennet visits be kept short and far between, exceptions being made for the Gardners and the Bingley's. Elizabeth didn't disagree with him and thus the once-a-year visit for the Holidays had been born as an incentive to close off Longbourne visits for other times of the year. It was the sheer love of her sister Jane coupled with the longing to see her father that Elizabeth didn't just dump their mother on the Bingley's completely for all eternity.

Her mother alone was enough to make Elizabeth run and hide for the hills, for her mother's temperament had hardly improved even though she had only one remaining daughter to marry. Mary had caught the eye of a lovely young merchant that recently moved to Meryton and had, thankfully, fallen in love with him. He tolerated her playing, indulged in her need for silence, had a modest income of a couple thousand pounds a year, and Mary adored him with her entire being. It gave her elder sisters great pleasure to see her off and they each generously gave their sister wedding gifts. Jane and Bingley gave the happy couple furniture and the Darcy's gave Mary her own pianoforte, for which Mary was completely grateful.

This year, however, her youngest sister had begged and pleaded to attend the family gathering since she had missed it the previous years. There was no way the Wickham's could have afforded to come home—to any estate owned by Lydia's relatives. And, of course, there was no way to invite the sister without also inviting her husband—and the hellion of a child the couple were carelessly molding into their image—and neither Elizabeth nor Fitzwilliam cared to be near George Wickham any more than necessary.

"Besides," added Elizabeth, "my mother will be a lot more pleasurable in the company of her dear favorite."

This, above all else, was the reason Elizabeth had relented, in the hopes that perhaps the arrival of Lydia and her child could keep her mother occupied enough to afford her some peace and quiet.

William Darcy sighed, brushing invisible dust off of his coat. He grabbed his wife's hand gingerly, bringing it momentarily to his lips before lowering it. Elizabeth responded by gripping his hand harder, suddenly in no mood to be separated from it, as if she was mentally preparing for battle. Which, in a way, she was.

"Then, before the chaos begins, perhaps I can walk with you around the gardens. The scenery is lovely today, though nowhere near as lovely as you" he said, indicating towards the vast expanse of land before them.

"It is. Are you asking my permission to walk me around the grounds?" Elizabeth asked, a smirk gracing her lips.

"I am, if you allow it. How many hours do we have before war?"

"Permission granted, then. Father, Mother, and Kitty should be here in the afternoon. They'll be the first ones to arrive with the Bingley's and the Wickham's coming soon after. The Harrisons will be the last to arrive, I think. Mary's husband John had some things he needed to take care of in town enroute. I think that gives us a couple hours to prepare. Is that enough time for what you have in mind, Mr. Darcy?"

"Oh, Mrs. Darcy, a couple hours is more than enough time for what I have planned to do with you."

And, with that, Fitzwilliam Darcy walked down the steps to the grounds, heading towards the woods that Lizzy had come to love and enjoy, tugging his grinning, laughing wife behind him.