Elizabeth was awake at dawn, not wanting to waste a single moment in traveling from the Bingley's home to Longbourn and she was well-equipped to deal with the inevitable questions and fits of nerves. With a deep breath, she stood at the foot of the carriage, taking William into her arms and bouncing him lightly, speaking directly to him and only to him. "Mother is going to miss you very much," she promised him, smoothing soft hair back from his forehead and watching the way William's inquisitive eyes watched her. "She will be back very soon, indeed."

Darcy actually looked worried in almost an adorable mother-hen sort of way and Elizabeth gave him a peck on the cheek. "We'll miss you," he said, sounding quite broken and worried.

"Take care of our boy," she instructed. "Children are not, as a rule, to be dropped upon their heads and contrary to your belief, are not to be fed whatever you so please." Darcy's smile was rueful and Elizabeth was smiling as well, but she pressed on. "He is to wear clothes and is not to be let out to roll about in the snow, like a common dog."

"With his breeding, he is hardly common," Darcy replied dryly.

Elizabeth shot him a stern look, and gently placed William in Darcy's arms, kissing his cheek with a lingering and loving peck, brushing her lips to his and pressing another kiss there.

"I shall be a letter away," she promised, settling into her seat. "If anything happens, you must write," she warned. Darcy eased closer, adjusting William in his arms. "Even if you think you've seen Jane about, write. And please, write to Caroline… Georgiana, Lydia, and Louisa as well, please, tell them. Perhaps they might help." There was an edge of desperation in her voice and to suggest Caroline for aid was a clear sign of how much she wanted her sister back and to what lengths she would strive to achieve that goal.

Darcy nodded to each missive that Elizabeth gave and closed to door to her carriage for her, giving her an assured nod through the window. She mouthed a tender 'I love you' to both her husband and her son and grasped the cushion of the seats as the carriage took off, at a speed that she best remembered only from years ago, when the entire family had been in such an uproar over Lydia's elopement.

It all seemed so recent, those times, but in truth, they were distant. Elizabeth, however, still remembered the night before their weddings and Jane's anxiety coupled with her girlish excitement.

Jane was packing up her belongings, but interspersed with the necessary task, she jumped on the bed with such a fit of joy and delight that Elizabeth was beginning to wonder just what creature of mischief and ecstasy had secretly slipped in and replaced her sister during the night.

"Jane!" Elizabeth remarked with shock. "Honestly, I think your lips have permanently curved upwards! Mr. Bingley will be rather disappointed when he wishes to kiss you and you can do nothing but smile." She was sitting upon the bed, twirling the cloth ribbon keeping her hair tied up. "Perhaps I should mimic you and Mr. Darcy might have to find a new, inventive way to kiss his bride."

Jane covered her mouth and her smile with a hand, clasping it over her lips. "Oh! Do not tease me so," she gasped, but laughed good-naturedly as she crawled upon the bed and embraced Elizabeth tightly. "I do not think I have ever been this happy," she sighed happily. "It is quite a feeling, to be so elated!"

"And to think," Elizabeth observed with love and awe, enjoying the sight of her sister being so delightfully free, "you shall feel this way forever. Mama's meddling seems to have finally paid off."

Jane jumped a little, easing away and returning to her packing. "And to think, that this time tomorrow, you shall be Mrs. Darcy and I, Mrs. Bingley! It seems all too dream-like to be real."

"And yet, it really is truly a dream," Elizabeth assured, her own feelings towards the wedding that of excitement and anticipation, however in the light of Jane's incomparable shine, she seemed only a dull star when her sister was shining like the sun. She tugged Jane closer to her, to keep her close on this, the last night where they were to share a bed as sisters.

Soon enough, they would be wedded women.

Jane rested her head upon Elizabeth's shoulder and together, they whiled away the lonely hours of the morning that taunted them with its' darkness, for it would not shift to dawn and did keep their husbands-to-be far away from them. Elizabeth contented herself in stroking Jane's wild hair and fathoming the future from where they sat. Perhaps they would never drift and things would be so very perfect. Perhaps they would both have heirs within the year.

"Lizzy?" Jane murmured sleepily after they both spent some time alone in their thoughts.

"Yes, Jane?"

"Never leave me," Jane spoke softly. "I realise that we are to be parted, but you must write still and I shall write and always visit. We must remain sisters and best friends."

Elizabeth could not possibly think of any other promise she was so happy to make.

The scenery passed by the window, but Elizabeth barely watched it as she had kept her gaze upon the floor between her boots, thinking of some way to tell her Mama and Papa that Jane was missing. It would no doubt have a heavy bearing on how Kitty and Mary were treated and Elizabeth did not wish either of them to be kept inside as though imprisoned.

The driver did his job and for that, Elizabeth was more than grateful. Speed was the most necessary tool of the moment, and she was sure that once she arrived, Papa would have ideas and if nothing else, they could contact their Aunt and Uncle to aid in the search.

After all, they had found Lydia. They could find Jane.

tbc