To Love a Woman
By L'Ange Romantique

Summary: With their history, it's amazing they fell in love. Now, together, they confront the past to live a happier future.

Author's Note: I don't know how far I'm going to continue this story. But, the more support I get, the more I write! Thanks to ILoveIt09, Merenwen Calmcacil, Lucy65, Lady Tamara SilverMoon, and kiz-aliasrox for their reviews. So, until next week, I'll leave you to R&R chapter 2 of To Love a Woman.

Disclaimer: This is not for any profit. Use of P&P and the song are purely for fun.

Chapter 2
What the Hell

Elizabeth remembered what it felt like to be kissed by Fitzwilliam. This kiss was different. A good different. She had foolishly trusted him back then, giving him a chance, which meant she had given him the power that he had craved and needed. The second he released her from his captive, she saw how wrong she was to have trusted him. In true Elizabeth Bennet style, she had lashed out at him, shouting to his face what she thought. The look on his face was priceless; magazines would have paid big dollars to get photos.

Almost immediately, without any real thought, he said his apologies, turned away from her and walked out of the door. The next morning, she woke up feeling tired, hurt and angry, hoping never to see him again. But while she didn't see him, his presence was in the room, in the form of a rather long letter. It was then she realised she never really gave him a chance.

Now, he wasn't the same man. She was sure of that. As long as they didn't move too fast, she would give him a real chance to prove he had changed. And, what the hell, she did want to know him better, to understand him. There was something about the way he acted, the way he walked, the way he thought, that arrested her attention, waking up a need to discover everything about him. If there was one risk that she'd be willing to take in her life after he entered, it was Fitzwilliam Darcy.

His memories of that night came creeping into his desire-filled brain, and the accusations came rushing back. In his current situation, he clearly remembered the one that he had found the truest: taking advantage of his charm, wealth and name to "seduce woman who know nothing better". The women who knew nothing better may have been gold-diggers, knowing exactly what they were doing, but the fact remained he had taken advantage of them. At the time, he thought it wasn't so bad – he gave them what they wanted, and he got pleasure in return – but now, after months of analysing his life, he saw how base his actions were.

Tonight, he would not ruin his chance to redeem himself in Elizabeth's, his Elizabeth's, eyes, so he slowly broke his lips from hers, and slowly kissed her forehead. He noticed that the people around them had started to steal glances at them.

'You don't know how tempting you are, Elizabeth.'

Slowly recovering from the kiss, she managed a, 'Is that so?'

She was his captive, not noticing anyone else in the crowded, or the loud room. The song had changed, becoming once again upbeat, encouraging faster moves, new partners and starting the night of fun. Unlike the other couples, they chose to remain close, holding each other like they were afraid it was all a dream. Faint sounds of the music made their way to her ears, and she grinned up at his face.

Do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

'Well, Mr Darcy, I can say that currently, you're doin' it well.' He caught her message: you haven't stuffed up – yet. That was good. If he could just not make any stupid comments or actions for the rest of the night, the date that she had agreed to be secure. If only...

Here's the thing
I was minding my own business doin' what I do
I wasn't tryina look for anything
All of a sudden couldn't take my eyes off you

'That's nice to know. When I came in to the room, I couldn't take my eyes off you.'

'I'll take that as a compliment.'

'What else would it be?'

I didn't even know if you could tell
That you had me in a daze sayin' 'What the hell'
Here's my name, number baby just hit my cell
Loving everything you do 'cause you do it well
Don't know what you got me thinkin'

The difference between this dance and their last dance was great. Bodies, previously at a safe distance from them, moved in closer. She may have been blind to everyone else, but she knew the women would now take their chances in seducing Fitzwilliam Darcy, trying to move her out of their way. Their efforts were fruitless.

You ain't even tryina play me boy
'Cause you're so good, and you're so fine
Got me sayin' crazy things, listen

'Do you think that the DJ knows our history?'

For a man of a substantial amount of intelligence, he looked baffled at her question. 'What about the DJ?'

'The songs – well, the lyrics to be precise – tell our history, and our present state. You said earlier that you thought the song was written for you.'

He caught on to what she was saying. 'Like how I've got you saying crazy things? Remember, you agreed to a date with me. The Elizabeth that I know wouldn't agree to a date with me.'

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

Shrugging, she said, 'If I'm crazy for saying that, then sure.'

'Would that mean I'm crazy for loving you?'

His question was expressed so seriously, she thought about answering the same way. 'Absolutely. You know, it would take a crazy person to love someone as judgemental as I am...'

'Don't go there. It was my fault. I was—'

She gave a weak laugh. 'Here I am, bringing up the subject I told you not to worry about.'

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

Oh, yeah... hey

The mood, before so carefree, was shattered, so he went about to see it put back up. 'I don't suppose that you've ever met a man like me before?'

'Oh, yes I have. You see, he was tall, dark and mysterious...I also found out he was a player. But the weird thing is I fell for him. He turned me on from the moment I heard his rich voice.' A corner of her mouth went up, challenging him to answer.

Let me tell you how it's gonna go
You and me, gonna need a little privacy
I don't wanna do the dance, no do-si-do
I'm a one woman man 7 days a week

'So let me get this straight. If I had had his voice, I'd turn you on?'

'Pretty much.'

'Looks like I'm going to have to visit Ursula.'

A delighted laugh, meant only for his ears, came out. She marvelled at his knowledge of Disney movies. 'And does that make me Prince Eric?'

'In a way, Princess Erica.'

'Then shouldn't you be mute? I clearly remember that Ariel wa—'

'Mute? I'll show you mute!' His lips, previously moving to make sounds, were now employed in a different manner, much to the lady's enjoyment. For that blissful ten seconds, he remained mute, just as he said he would.

Quit tryina play it cool boy make your move
I told you how it is, nothin' to lose
You been starin' over here all night for free
And I ain't takin' no cash or credit, just a guarantee
There ain't nobody else but me boy

'Mute enough for you?'

'Uh huh.'

You ain't even tryina play me boy
'Cause you're so good, and you're so fine
Got me sayin' crazy things, listen

The night was still young. A blond, showing off perfect legs that would rival Carmon Diaz's, put a hand on Fitzwilliam's arm. Instead of even trying to pretend to be polite, he ignored her, and kissed the top of Elizabeth's hair. The unnamed blond wasn't a bimbo for no reason – she didn't get the message, and stayed.

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

Wiggling her generous assets, she moved to his back, disregarding Elizabeth's presence. It was clear that she thought he would take up her hint, as he would have done in the past. After months of not having the club's owner grace the room, one would think they would start questioning if he had changed his behaviour. Many people did, including the smarter gossip columnists, but bimbos were bimbos.

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

The man who was receiving the special attentions didn't bat an eyelid, remaining in a seemingly calm mood. However, his partner was starting to have feelings of annoyance, and lucky for the man, he sensed her change.

'Have I ever told you how sexy you are?'

'Remind me...'

'I love your hair colour. It's so much more pleasing than blond. Don't ever dye it, you hear me?'

'Sure thing, sugar.'

At the direct mention of how he didn't like blonds, the woman stalked off, muttering about how much prettier she was than his current squeeze.

Baby not lookin' for false pretences
I think you just shocked me to my senses
Everything that you do feels right
Do it, do it
Do it, do it all night

'I thought that she would never leave!'

'Jealous?'

Pulling herself from his arms, she asked in a child-like innocence, 'Moi? Jaloux? Non!'

'Come back here then, mon amour.'

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
'Cause you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

'French is said to be the language of love.'

'And I love you.'

'I know.' Those two words, as simple as they were, were filled with a trust so strong that he suddenly felt he couldn't protect her from all his imperfections, to give her a pain-free life that she deserved.

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
'Cause you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

Language, or the lack of language, could not describe what connected them. It was supposed to be an abstract "object", but between the two it was visible enough to be almost tangible. When they were separated from what they would later name The Fight, each lost part of their person to the other. But, the loss did not show to anyone, not even those closest to them, with Fitzwilliam being the master of the mask and Elizabeth who could not burden Jane with her worries.

If Elizabeth was to explain why she was morose, her father and mother especially wouldn't have believed her. She could envision her mother exclaiming 'Unhappy over him? Oh no, he hasn't used you too, has he? And your father thought you were the smart one. No, you would think you'd learn from a mistake such as...that man, spitting out the last two words.

I ain't ever met a man like that (No) (Like that)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No) (Like that)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

Tiptoeing up, she said in a voice barely heard, 'Maybe just a little jealous.'

'May I ask why?'

'Listen.'

I ain't ever met a man like that (No)
I ain't ever fell so far, so fast (No)
You can turn me on, throw me off track
Boy you do it, do it
You do it, do it
You're doin' it well

The song is "Do It Well" by Jennifer Lopez (aka J.Lo)