So sorry for the wait and even more for all the mistakes. I have been trying to find a Beta reader, but no one has gotten back to me yet, so I'm afraid you will have to suffer through with me. Thank you all for the encouragement and lovely reviews! I am so excited! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter one

Thunder crashed and Emma burrowed further under the blankets, hiding from the noise and the flashes of lightning. She didn't like thunder storms, but she tried to stick it out a little longer, wanting to be brave and more grown up like William and Peter.

When they were all younger and a storm came the three of them would run strait to Mama's bedroom and they would all get into bed. Mama would let them tell stories until they fell asleep.

But then William had decided he was too old to do that, and of course whatever he did, Peter had to follow. Emma tried too as well, wanting to be grown up like her older brothers. But she was still a little girl and she couldn't always manage to, stubborn as she might be.

One more loud crash of thunder was all she could take and with a little squeak of fear, she darted out from under the thick comforter on her bed and into the darkened hall, her white nightgown fluttering behind her.

She wished for a candle as she darted past the darkened upstairs sitting room as fast as her small feet would carry her. Thunder crashed again and lightning lit up the hall way before her illuminating the impressive wooden door behind which her mother slept.

Shivering in the cool night air, Emma paused outside the door, wondering if she really should, she could still go back to bed… another rumble of thunder and she made up her mind, and quickly turning the cold mettle knob she pushed the door open.

The next flash of harsh light lit the bedroom coming and Emma sighed with relief to see that her mother and father were both in the bed. She had feared they might be in her father's adjoining room, and she didn't like papa's room as much. The large dark furniture was frightening at night, casting creepy shadows, and making you wonder what might be lurking in the corners.

Closing the door quietly she tiptoed to the bed, already comforted by her father's soft snoring, hovering by her mothers side of the bed she whispered "Mama?"

"Hmm?" half asleep, Elizabeth Darcy turned towards her daughter.

"The storm is keeping me awake" Emma whispered back, her dark eyes wide.

"Oh, would you like to climb in bed with me?" Elizabeth asked with a yawn. Without hesitating, Emma crawled into the bed, quickly snuggling down in-between her beloved Papa and Mama. Her Papa groaned in his sleep but didn't wake up.

"Do you feel safe?" Elizabeth asked softly, brushing the dark curls away from her daughter's face. Emma nodded; snuggling up close to her Papa, there was no place safer than next to her father. The thunder crashed again, but Emma was already asleep.

Fitzwilliam Darcy woke to the early rays of sunlight coming though the window, turning over on his side he found not Elizabeth next to him but Emma, curled under the blankets and smiling peacefully in her sleep.

Elizabeth usually woke earlier than he did and often had an early cup of tea or took a walk around the grounds, which was no doubt what she had done this morning.

He watched his daughter sleeping, a fond smile playing about his lips. As she had been the first girl in their family, there had been much debate as to whom she looked more like. He had the others discuss it all they wanted to, to him she was obviously like her mother, with dark curls and eyes just as fine as his wife's. And as she grew more similarities showed them selves, in her temperament and expressions.

Watching her sleep he was struck again by how very blessed he was and how different his life would have been if he had made different choices, if he had not fallen madly in love with the fiery Miss Bennet.

With a sigh, Emma woke and stretched "good morning Miss Darcy" he said with a smile.

"Good morning Papa" she greeted him with a yawn, rubbing her eyes, then frowning she added anxiously "will you please not tell William and Peter that I was afraid of the storm?"

"I would never dream of revealing such a secret. All ladies I am told must have their secrets."

Emma giggled than asked "what are Mama's secrets?"

"If I tell you it won't be a secret."

"I won't tell any one, it could be one of my secrets too."

"Your mother can climb a tree better than William."

"Even better than you?"

Mr. Darcy laughed "I haven't climbed a tree in years, not since I was a little boy."

"How did you find out that Mama can climb trees? I've never seen her."

"That ismy secret Little One."

The day was balmy and warm and Emma found herself with nothing better to do than follow the gardeners around asking them questions and pestering them to let her help.

She found herself alone because her Mama had gone off to see too some of the tenants that she had heard were sick, and Papa was busy in his study, even her two brothers were busy.

William and Peter were down by the stream in front of Pemberley catching frogs. They had kindly invited her too join them. Emma, as the only girl had played with her brothers since she was born, and as there were two boys and only one girl, they usually played boy games. That was fine, Emma liked playing most boy games, but catching frogs was not one of them.

Emma tagged along behind Josef Bowen, the son of the steward, at only twelve he was closer to her age than any of the other gardeners and had always been kind to her, showing the patience her older brothers some times didn't.

"What is that flower called?" Emma asked.

"That is a forget-me-not" he answered, as he busily pruned the near by hedge.

"That's a long name."

"Yes, but it's hard to forget" Josef grinned.

Emma poked around the flowers in the dirt "do you think I could grow something?"

"I'm sure you could."

"Maybe I could have my own little garden!" Emma's face brightened "I will go ask Papa. Carefully lifting the skirts of the light summer dress she wore, Emma dashed up the stairs from the back courtyard entrance, hurrying inside, and intent on her errand to reach her father in his study. She wasn't supposed to disturb him when he was busy, her mother had told her so, only if it was very important, and this was of course.

She was interrupted in her mission by meeting one of the upstairs maids carrying the baby of the family her three year old brother Ben. "Oh, Miss Darcy" the young maid curtsied "is your mother around? Master Bennet has woken up and wants to see her" she said, glancing at the small boy in her arms as he rubbed his eyes

"No she's out taking care of the tenants, but Papa is here in his study." The young maid bit her lip, looking as if she didn't know what to do. She was saved by Mrs. Reynolds the house keeper arriving.

"Oh, give the young Master to me" she beamed at the little boy "his father will be wanting his tea in a few minutes and will be glad to take him." Though she would never admit it, young Ben was her favorite of the Darcy children, quite possibly because he was the spitting image of his father, whom she thought so very highly of.

"May I have some tea also?" Emma asked, forgetting the question she had wanted to ask her father as tea sounded better.

"Certainly Miss Darcy. And Mary?" Mrs. Reynolds addressed the young maid relieved of her burden "please call in Master William and Master Peter."

"I'll get them!" Emma volunteered remembering to walk and not run this time until she was outside. Emma skipped down to the stream following the sounds of her brother's shouts and the loud quaking of a duck.

She stopped a little distance from them seeing that the two boys were sneaking up on a catch, and waited. William, the oldest, was the one that took after their mothers looks the most with eyes and hair much the same color as hers, and a smile just the same.

Peter, was the only one of the four children that didn't have dark hair, his curly mop was much lighter with a little reddish tinge, somewhat like his aunt Georgiana's.

The boys made a grab for the frog and came up empty, voicing their disappointment loudly. "William! Peter! Mrs. Reynolds says to come in to tea!" Emma shouted.

Both boys trooped towards her happily "you should have helped us catch frogs!" Peter said grinning "there were lots."

"No thank you" Emma said primly "ladies don't catch frogs."

William laughed "you're not a lady yet!" he said, putting an affectionate arm around his little sister.

"No" Emma conceded "but almost" she smiled up at her brother until she saw Peter had something in hi pocket. "What's in your pocket Peter?" she asked.

"I brought a frog to show Mrs. Reynolds" he said with a grin.

"I don't think Mrs. Reynolds likes frogs" Emma said, her voice fading as the siblings went into the house, hungry from their mornings exercise and ready for tea.

Sorry again for the mistakes, hope you enjoyed it! Next up, the Bingley's! I am trying to write a little ahead, but will try to post the next chapter sooner.

Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews! It was so nice and encouraging!