Author's note: I do not own the Pride and Prejudice or the characters from it, or even the basic plot of that ingenious book. They all, unfortunately, belong to Jane Austen, and I am not in any way making money from this. I am, however, wasting time with this… Not that I'm complaining, I love doing it! Beats physics any day!

BTW: This story might seem a bit complicated to follow… It will go back and forth between flashbacks and the present time, and not always in order… tough the flashbacks will mostly be long and give a lot of information…

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Elizabeth knew she would regret it for the rest of her life... she just knew it. How could she be so stupid? You weren't thinking, that's how. You just couldn't say no, could you? And now you are with every step closer and closer to the seven circles of hell… There goes the first circle...

But really, no one can blame her. What else could you do but accept when you are offered the job you know will make your career fire out like a rocket? And really… working for the royal family of Great Britain is not someone you would want to shy out from a resume.

"M'am, would you please put your seat in an upright position, we are about to land." Elizabeth was on a plane, via London. Yep, in the next couple of days she will be introduced to the royal family, to mostly all of the English aristocracy… Needless to say, she was dead nervous about the upcoming week or so.

"Welcome everyone to London! The temperature is 5 centigrade above zero, so I suggest you put on those coats! There is no visual on the sun…oh, and beware on the main road, traffic is wicked at this hour… Well, this was your captain speaking, hope you enjoyed the flight, hope to see you again and thank you for choosing British Airways." It was just her luck… even the pilot was a new guy. "Oh and, before I forget… the Stones rock!" And a Rolling Stones fan… Could this day get any worse?!

Elizabeth didn't remember leaving the plane, getting through immigration or even picking up her bags… Fortunately, she was an experienced traveler, and knew her way around airports… even the likes of Heathrow. As she walked under the "Arrivals" sign, she saw before her a totally 'Love Actually' scene… families welcoming loved ones, long-lost Benjamins returning home, with hugging and cried and all the sentimentality… She knew she had no one to look for, no one to come to pick her up, no one to greet her and say a warm "Welcome back honey"… And yet she still saw the face she loved the most and regretted for ever losing. His nose, his ears, his all-so charming eyes staring at her from every wall it seemed, unconscious of who he was smiling at.

"Taxi! Taxi please!" she called outside the airport. "To Longbourne, please, number 186B". She was going to stay with her sister, Jane, and her current very serious boyfriend, whom she still hasn't officially met…nor unofficially.

She looked out the window, as she usually does… She saw the same trees pass by, the same houses… here and there some new constructions, but apart from that, everything was the same as the last time… Except her company… No, you shouldn't think about him. It's over, and nothing can change that. He has moved on, and it's really about time you did the same. He doesn't love you anymore… How can he? You've ruined it, and now you must act as if nothing had ever happened… For both your sakes.

"Welcome home dear! No, let me, you just relax." Jane, her ever sweet older sister greeted her with all the warmth in the world. They haven't actually seen each other in quite a while… almost 3 years. She hasn't changed much… if anything, she has become even more beautiful, though she never thought that could be possible. Elizabeth always looked up to her sister, and, though there were times jealousy separated them, they were always close confidents… until about 8 years ago… But then again, she has stopped confiding in people in general that time, so it wasn't really Jane's fault at all.

"Now, Lizzy, Charles is at work, and won't be coming home until tomorrow… He said he has a big project to work on, but I know it's because he doesn't want to bother our catching-up… He's such a considerate person, so sweet, so… perfect!" Elizabeth twitched a little at her name… She didn't like being called that, not since… Well, anyway, Jane seemed not to notice, she was lost in the perfect world she shared with only one person. Elizabeth has never seen her sister like that, so very much in love. That Bingley fellow must really be all of what Jane says he is… nothing less would be deserving of my sister.

"Janey dearest, I would really love to chat but, I'm really tired… It's quite a long trip from Australia…"

"Oh, yes, of course! I'm so sorry. Your room is the one on the left, wit purple bed sheets… it's quite easy to recognize… Lydia and I went sopping yesterday for a dress for the upcoming ball and we found this charming little shop for house appliances and furnishings and all that, and the moment we set eyes on these we both agreed they were perfect for you… Don't you think they match you perfectly? Oh, silly me, how much I talk! Well, I'll let you change, take a warm bath, and I'll make some supper… Or perhaps you want to go straight to sleep? You really should eat something; you look like a skeleton, if you don't mind me saying…"

"No, Jane, but thank you… I really don't have much of an appetite" Elizabeth tried to smile. She knew her sister was nervous; she never usually spoke so much. And she knew it was her fault, last time they met was for a week and they had a terrible fight… Of course, via gmail they made up, but it's still not the same as being face-to-face. "But… I wouldn't mind some tea and Queen after my bath…" It was a sisterly tradition, drinking tea and singing Queen songs with their charming voices… which could positively shatter crystals. Jane smiled.

"All right, Liz. Enjoy your bath." and with a motherly, clam smile she left.

Elizabeth felt very lonely the second the door was closed. She liked solitude; all her life she was more of a staying-in and reading type of person that a party animal… But now she felt lonely. It's not the first time either… these past 8 years she has managed to pus everyone who was close to her at some point away. She looked around; Jane seemingly made every effort possible to make her feel at home. This room was decorated almost the same way her old room was… In her family's apartment in Peru. Except, this brought about such a surge of memories, emotions, regrets… Though she tried with all her might, she could not hold back her tears. Every drop was silently rolling down her cheek, drop after drop, as her eyes turned glassy and unreadable… She heard a faint tapping, like when raindrops fall onto plastic sheets… She heard it above her head… She looked up-

---FLASHBACK---

R&R please!