Disclaimer: Jane Austen is a genius and she owns Persuasion etc, please don't sue me!

Captain Frederick Wentworth stood aghast. His heart plummet to the drawing room floor as his lungs stilled and eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak, but he was unable to remember how to do so. All thoughts chased away by those nine simple words: Miss Elliot's younger sister is now Mrs Charles Musgrove.

Clambering to remember how to speak, he managed to stutter, 'Which younger sister?'

Sophia gave him a curious look while she pondered the conversation which sourced her information. After what seemed an eternity, she said, 'I believe there is only one younger sister…' Oh, heavens! Married or dead! Please don't let his sweet Anne to have passed from this earth unknown to him.

'…Sir Walter and Miss Elizabeth only mentioned one younger sister, her name was Anne,' Sophia finished.

Relief swept through Frederick, only to be immediately shunted away by horror once more. Anne, his Anne, had married someone else.

All the anger and pride he had religiously tended and inflamed towards the delicate lady was washed away like unleashed barrels overboard in a storm. He had been so stupid! She had been perfect. Sweet, intelligent, caring, lively and, oh God, begging. She had begged him, with tears in her eyes, to listen and not leave until she had explained. She must have had a good reason for her actions, of course she did; he had just been too prideful and hurt to listen to her. He had left her.

And now it was too late.

If only he had taken his chance to come back and ask her to marry him after his first commission ended. He should have returned and made her see reason.

'-erick, answer me!' Sophia's alarmed voice broke into his devastated thoughts.

'Wh-what?' Frederick asked.

'You're as pale as a ghost, are you unwell?'

Seeing his chance to mourn his lost heart in peace, Frederick replied, 'I think the journey has tired me more than I anticipated, I daresay I just need rest. Excuse me, Sophia, I will retire for the remained of the day and see you tomorrow.'

'Of course, do let me know if I need to fetch the doctor. I will ask the servants to bring dinner to your room later; if you recall, the Admiral and I are dining with the Musgrove family tonight.'

Frederick nodded vaguely, glad to be excluded from such a dinner, and went to his room, where, for the first time since Anne had broken their engagement, he allowed tears to trace down his face.

Frederick did not sleep for most of the night; furious at himself for having persisted in his hatred towards Anne and, as a result, for losing his chance at happiness. His heart felt like it had broken into splinters, splinters that re-pierced him with each new thought. He vowed that never again would he fail to listen to another lady or continuously condemn someone for injuring his pride.

Yesterday he had forgiven her for breaking their engagement. Today, he would forgive her for marrying another. As soon as he had the opportunity, he would wish her well and he would be happy in the knowledge that she was cherished and cared for by another; for no one could help but love her.

He called a servant for assistance in dressing and then trekked downstairs to breakfast. As he entered the room, he found his sister chatting happily with her husband, Admiral Croft.

'Good morning, Sophia, Admiral.'

'Frederick,' the Admiral called in a friendly tone, 'you missed quite an evening!'

'Frederick, good morning, are you feeling recovered?' Sophia questioned, concern clear on her face.

'Yes, much better from the rest, thank you,' Frederick replied.

'I'm glad to hear that. As the Admiral said, we had a delightful evening last night, the Musgroves are a charming family, for the most part. They were disappointed not to meet you, so I promised we would all visit today if you were feeling better,' Sophia said.

Frederick blanched at the thought of seeing Anne happily married so soon, but quickly steeled himself; this was his opportunity to wish her well in an attempt to make amends for his past actions. 'Then we had best visit them today. I knew Mrs Charles Musgrove when I was last in the area and I should like to give my congratulations for her marriage.'

'Excellent. We shall head over after breakfast, we can drop you at Uppercross Cottage, her home, and then meet you at the main house,' Sophia offered.

Frederick nodded, not wanting to open his mouth due to the nausea threatening to make itself know to the others at the thought of seeing Anne in her new home and wishing her all the best. He would conquer this. He would.

Frederick drew together his strength in with a deep breath as he stood before the doors of the quaint cottage, the clop of horse hooves growing faint with distance. Anne must love this home; its style and situation suited her modest and generous personality well, although he was surprised not to find any of her favourite flowers blooming in the front garden.

Raising his hand, he knocked on the door firmly. His knuckles were white with forced calm.

He heard russeling on the other side of the door and it opened with a groan, my thoughts exactly, he mused. As the door swung wide he saw a slim lady in a fade dress, looking at her face he was surprised to see that the lady was Anne. His thoughts were thrown into a jumble: Why was she opening the door and where are the servants?

'Captain Wentworth,' Anne said with a polite curtsey, face frightfully pale.

He bowed, holding off the moment he would have to acknowledge her marriage. Concerned with her pale colouring, he asked, 'You look pale, may I help you to a chair?'

'Oh, um.'

Frederick took her arm and led her in the direction which he hoped was the sitting room. Fortunately, it was.

As Anne sat down, she was watching his face with an unsure expression. 'I apologise for surprising you, Captain Wentworth, the servants are either at Uppercross Hall or detained upstairs.'

'Not at all, indeed I am glad to have this moment to speak.'

Anne looked at him with wide, alarmed eyes.

Frederick recalled the same look from their last interaction and hastened to reassure her, 'Mrs Musgrove, I would like to apologise sincerely for my actions when we last spoke and offer you my most heartfelt congratulations on your marriage to Mr Musgrove.'

'Wh-what?'

Frederick was unsure what to say, but hoped something appropriate would come out if he continued talking, 'Please, Mrs Musg-'

'I-I'm not married to Charles, not to anyone,' Anne clarified, pain evident in her voice. 'My younger sister, Mary, married him. I am a guest here.'

Frederick blinked.

'You- you are not married to Mr Musgrove?' Frederick asked, fearful that all the hope rising in his chest would mean a huge fall when his hopes were dashed.

'No, I am not,' Anne said quietly, eyes cast away from him.

'A-are you ma-married to someone else?' Frederick waited with baited breath as Anne recovered from evident surprise at the impertinent question.

'No, I still live with my father and elder sister who have removed to Bath. My younger sister invited me to visit before I leave the county.'

Frederick took a hesitant step forward, he had not been so nervous in years. Not thinking his actions through, he asked with strong feeling, 'Please, say you forgive me for not listening to you when last we parted.'

'I forgive you, it was my fault anyway; I am not good at explaining things when I am upset.'

'No! You tried to explain and I would not listen.' Taking another three steps forward he took her hand. 'Do you think it is possible for you to allow me to try and capture your heart once more? I promise, I will not fail you a second time.'

Anne gasped.

Of course she is surprised, she is unlikely to love such an uncouth and proud brute, Frederick thought. He immediately went to withdraw his grip on her hand, to stop his imposition on her, however she held on firmly.

'My heart has always been yours,' she admitted in a whispering hum.

'It has!?'

'Yes,' she replied timidly, 'that is why I did not wish to hinder your career by marrying you and becoming a weight around your neck.'

'That was why you broke our engagement!?'

'Indeed.'

'It wasn't because Lady Russell persuaded you that you could marry better?'

'Heaven forbid, that was never the reason: I wanted no-one but you, if I wanted to marry someone with money and land I would have accepted Charles Musgrove when he proposed; Lady Russell certainly tried to persuade me to.'

He cursed himself for judging her so harshly, for thinking her weak-minded and weak-willed. He truly did not deserve this selfless creature; but as she loved him still, he would count his blessings and luck.

Tugging her closer with his hand, Frederick whispered, 'Please, marry me?'

'Yes,' Anne whispered with a brilliant smile.

Time seemed to jump back to when they were first engaged, like the dissolution and passing years never occurred. Frederick dropped his lips to hers and wrapped her in his arms; he felt her relax into him, her lips warm against his.

'Anne, have you seen my- Anne! Sir! Wha-' a woman yelped in an incredulous tone.

Anne immediately jumped back from him, and he missed her instantly. Surely these past years had been a half-life, a half-life he was only just beginning to comprehend now he had found Anne, his Anne, once more.

'Mary,' Anne replied with a flush, it made her so beautiful, 'please calm down, sister.'

'Ah, so this was the true Mrs Musgrove.'

Mary Musgrove continued to splutter, before declaring herself faint and sitting in the closest chair.

'Why are you kissing this strange man, Anne!? What is going on?'

'Mary, allow me to introduce my fiancé, Captain Wentworth,' Anne replied.

'Fi-fiancé, but you're not engaged! And you haven't even been introduced!'

'I assure you, sister, we are engaged and we have known each other for many years.'

Mary looked between them both in confusion. 'But, but Henrietta was supposed to marry the dashing Captain Wentworth.'

Frederick decided the lady was so shocked that she was having leave of her senses. 'Anne, perhaps you should call those servants to help your sister to bed; she is clearly unwell. I should join my sister, Sophia, and her husband, Admiral Croft, at Uppercross Hall. Will you join me?'

'Yes, yes I am quite unwell, so good of you to notice,' Mary Musgrove muttered.

Anne nodded and called two servants to see to her sister.

Frederick assisted Anne with her worn cloak; he made a note to himself to insist she order new clothes, maybe he could give them as a wedding gift, he thought with a smile.

Linking his arm with Anne, he allowed her to lead him to Uppercross Hall where he would tell his sister the news. He would have tried to determine Sophia's reaction, however the pleasant feel of Anne by his side distracted him too much. Ah well, I may as well just enjoy my time alone with Anne, I doubt I will be so lucky again until after we are wed, he thought, and then contented himself with listening to his fiancé's soft voice.

THE END

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story! Should I do a follow up detailing the reactions of the Uppercross Hall attendees?