Bridget Jones: Beyond Reason
Written by: C. Vaughan
2005-2008
Disclaimer: Most characters owned by Helen Fielding
--
Bridget Jones: Beyond Reason
(Sequel to Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)
Chapter I
Decent and Indecent Proposals
Weight: 8 st 2 (Crash diet in form of Thai prison stay); Fiancés: 1; Important Lessons Learned: 1
Thursday December 20
1:30pm My flat Our enduring love really does transcend any reasonable explanation. Am now convinced of it. What a fool I had been to ever doubt Mark Darcy. Just because he didn't always seem to love me the way I wanted him to, or show his love in frequent intimate gestures, or never quite fit into the mold that I had carved as being the prototype of the ideal man, doesn't mean that he didn't love me with all that he was capable of. And now, thanks to Jude, Shazzer, Tom, and Magda's enlightenment of the grandiose, yet unconventional manner in which he now has proven his love, am going to take the chance to reclaim that love I had thought was lost to me forever.
5:15pm Mark's house Was like a surreal dream I never wanted to awaken from. It had all happened so amazingly fast. Entered the corridor of the Middle Temple Inns of Court, soaking wet following a rather unfortunate mishap with a puddle. Was sorry for interrupting such an important lawyer's meeting, but impetuosity would not let what I had to say wait any longer. Not this time. Politely introduced myself to a roomful of dignitaries and professed my love for Mark, right there before them all. Stood nervously clutching my purse with a white-knuckled death grip as he speechlessly stared back at me. Became panic-stricken, instantly feeling as if I had made a v. grave mistake in listening to friends who quite obviously had misinterpreted Mark's actions of releasing me from prison. Was perhaps merely carrying out orders after all.
He mumbled something incoherent before leading me by the elbow from the large room into the more private corridor. Then he facetiously criticized my declaration of love as not being romantic, but then it happened. He asked me to marry him. My lovely Mark Darcy asked me to be his wife.
Once behind closed doors of his chambers, Mark took me in his arms and held me close for a long while without uttering a sound. He was gazing so deeply into my eyes, was sure he could see my soul.
"My darling Bridget," His eyes were glassy as he spoke. "I've missed you so. I'm just so lost without you." He rested his head against mine. "But wait, one thing…"
"What is it Mark? Anything…"
"You didn't actually answer my question…Will you marry me?"
"Yes Mark! Yes, yes, yes! I would be honored to be your wife. I love you so much. I can't imagine my life without you." By now I was crying. He wiped my tears with his kisses.
"I love you Bridget. I always have. I'm so sorry that I've ever made you doubt that. I will spend the rest of my life making up for everything that I've done…or rather haven't done." Had never heard Mark speak with such earnest, desperate emotion before.
Was lost in his familiar scent, his warm, loving embrace, remembering all too well what I had missed about him most. It had been far too many months since we had held each
other so intimately. Our mouths came together with such urgency that I lost my breath.
"I want to take you…" He flashed a salacious grin. "…home right now."
"Mark Darcy, how dare you be so vulgar," I teased. "But even still…I think you may be needing this key back." Mark gladly accepted my flat key and deposited it into the pocket of his suit jacket.
He fished through his trouser pocket and pulled out a key ring and removed one of the keys. "Why don't you take my key and I'll meet you at my place." Turning a corner for sure. In all the months prior to our separation, had spent very little time at Mark's house and never had I spent the night. Certainly have never had a key. Was like I now possessed the keys to the kingdom and all it's splendor and glory.
Our mouths came together again forcefully and we fell against a bookcase.
"You make my heart grow every moment that I'm with you, do you know that?" he breathed into my hair fervently. Pressed so closely, our chests heaving together as one, it did not escape my notice that his heart wasn't the only thing growing at that particular moment. Hmmm…
Began fumbling with his belt to release his growing passion. "Oh God, no Bridget! There is a room full of people waiting for me. I can't do this now...here. For God sake, the door isn't even locked." He protested, but made no action to stop me. His trousers dropped to the floor and I took him in my hand. His eyes were closed and a bead of sweat trickled from his brow. "Oh Bridget…" He breathed an expletive as his fingers began to work their way up the backs of my thighs dragging my dress up with them.
Suddenly there was a sharp knock at the door. "Mr. Darcy? Are you in there? We really do need to get back to work" Mark abruptly removed his hands from my person and swallowed hard, but still firmly within my grasp.
He grabbed my wrist, trying unsuccessfully to free himself. "I'll…I'll be right there Mr. Hernandez," he managed to announce weakly. Couldn't help but to giggle a bit at Mark's struggle with such a departure from his comfort zone.
"Very well then.." The sound of footsteps faded down the corridor.
"Bridget, I have to go. I can't do this now."
"I thought you wanted to be more spontaneous?" My tongue began to trace the frame of his strong jaw and the dimple of his cleft chin, ignoring his pleas.
"I do Darling, but not at the risk of being disbarred for indecent exposure. But I am trying…I really am trying." He seemed caught in a crossfire between desire and duty. I knew that he meant every word of what he was saying.
"Just trust your heart Mark." I placed my hands against his pounding heart. "Just trust your heart," I whispered more softly, and then…hmmm
Dismissed myself from Mark's office, confident that he would not be one second longer at work than he needed to be.
6:00pm Am sitting in Mark Darcy's stark, lifeless sitting room anxiously awaiting his return from work, still thinking about everything that had happened: Mark's proposal and then a rather Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky-esque tryst in his chambers. Do believe that I am the happiest girl in the world.
6:50pm Wish Mark would get home soon. Am getting sleepy…think I'll just lay down in his bed to wait for him in manner of sexy screen vixen...or Goldilocks. Wonder which scenario he will prefer. Naughty or innocent?
1:15am Awoke to gorgeous man propped on elbow next to self…watching me sleep. Did he awaken me with thought vibes??
"I had never realized before just how peaceful and beautiful you are when you sleep." He spoke in a whispered tone, pushing a stray hair from my face.
"Because I'm not cocking something up when I'm unconscious, is that what you mean?"
"Don't be silly," he smiled.
"Mark Darcy! I was joking, but that is the reason, isn't it?" I sat up and climbed off of the huge white bed in protest, but he caught my arm and pulled me back.
"Bridget, I'm always intrigued by your unpredictability. This afternoon's encounter in my chambers was no exception. There is no other woman like you." He pulled me to him, both of us on our knees atop the bed. He began to nibble my ear. "You know how lawyers enjoy a challenge."
We shagged passionately as if no time had passed at all. Afterward, as we laid gazing into one another's eyes, I thought back to the disdainful way he had looked at me in that prison cell and a tear wetted my eye. "Oh how I have missed you," I told him while running my fingertips through his soft brown waves. We kissed tenderly before slowly making love again. Mmm…I could not get enough of this man, my future husband.
Mark does love me. Of this I am confident. I just have to remember to love him just as he is, as he loves me for who I am.
Nevertheless, Mark has so much to learn…and teach him I will.
--
The timeline varies from the film version of Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason, as Bridget arrived back from Thailand much earlier in the year. However, this is my version of the events that followed Mark and Bridget's reunion.