Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters of Jane Austens "Pride and Prejudice" but I DO own this plot.
It was time. She knew it, could see it in his eyes. Her hands trembled when she reached out to grab onto his. The tears she´d tried so hard to hold back, finally spilled over as she
saw how her old, wrinkled hand still fit so perfectly into his larger, just as wrinkled, one. After all these years they were still made for each other.
"Please don´t leave me. Please don´t make me continue without you. Please –" Her voice broke, sobs wrecking her frail body. William hated to see his wife hurting like this and
knowing that he was the cause of it. What made it even worse was, that he was actually glad, that he was the one dying first. That he wasn´t the one left behind, living a life
without his fiery Lizbeth. So many years had passed since he´d first laid eyes on her face and she was still just as beautiful. What a fool he´d been to let his pride blind him,
almost completely ruining his chance at happiness. He tugged on their interwoven hands until his love was lying beside him on their bed, head draped safely on his chest, arms
wrapped firmly around him.
"I´m so sorry my Lizbeth. So, so sorry." His fingers brushed softly over a wet, wrinkled cheek. Beautiful brown, doe like eyes locked with his own blue ones. Even so he was able
to see her anguish quite clearly the love shining in them was breath-taking. "Do you still remember our first dance?" Her watery chuckle made him smile, glad that he was able to
make her laugh one last time. "Of course I do. Silly man. How could I ever forget?" Her exasperated fondness made him laugh in earnest. Just like old times. Her arms tightened
as she pressed even closer.
Sobering he started humming softly, a melody of old, which meant so much to both of them. His voice hitched as a sob escaped him. "I don´t want to go" He felt his nightshirt
getting wet at the place where his love´s face rested as she started crying in earnest. For minutes all they did was basking in each other's presence while he stroked her hair.
Noticing his wife tilting her head upwards, he bend down and they shared a last, tender and heartfelt kiss. They both tasted the salt on the others lips but at the same time they
didn´t care. It was still perfect. "I love you!" Whispered at the same time, their words intertwined, danced together in perfect harmony, just like their creators always did.
Settling down again he retook his humming, never noticing that Elisabeth's breathing slowed just like his own. Her fiery spark had left her eyes the moment they´d realised that
Fitzwilliam's time was coming to an end, as she saw no sense in living a life without him present. Their eyes closed as their song came to an end, never opening again. And as
their souls left their bodies to be reunited once more in heaven, a smile lingered on their lips.