By the time Henry arrived back to Rosings Park he'd was fully worked over from the mentally flogging he'd done. Something about that long legged Mary Bennet that made him forget her was here on business, that Darcy was counting on him, and the Army was kicking him out. What did that hummingbird tattoo look like? More importantly, would she show him?

He stopped by the pool, kicked off his running shoes, and dove in. The refreshingly cold shock of water did nothing to take his mind of Sister Mary.

He laughed at his own joke of calling her Sister Mary. He'd overheard her quoting scripture to her sisters and having a friendly, based on sound theology, debate with Bill. Had he not known it was her, not seen what she looked like, he would have thought it was a nun. Hands down. But just like he knew when his mark was within shot range and he had to decide to pull the trigger or not, his gut told him Mary was no saint.

Inside her, deep inside maybe, was a girl ready to let her hair down and run free. Henry wanted to be the guy to help her. He needed a little light in his life. A happy ending to something. His career was in the toilet, his new potential career wasn't all that and a bag of peanuts. He could do with some laughter.

Inside him was a beast, an unfamiliar fracture to his soul. It was insatiable, feeding on anger alone and was unlike Henry had ever experienced. He didn't know how to reconcile this animal. Having known only the military as his career, when he tried to picture a different life, visualizing one was beyond comprehension. Mostly because he couldn't see past his anger. How did they expect him to do back to back tours and not get injured? Compared to some of his teammates, he was darned skippy. The picture of health. Heck, he was alive. He was willing.

Mostly.

He was mostly willing. Lately, he'd grown concerned that going back to the only life he'd known as a grown man might give rise to this beast and destroy him completely. He would never be the good natured Henry Fitzwilliam his family once knew. He wondered if, even now, that person existed?

He swam ten laps before coming to rest at the end. When he pushed through the water Darcy was standing at the edge looking down.

"Is this addition to your workout regime have a purpose or are you merely hot?" Darcy tucked his hands in his cargo shorts.

"When's the last time you let your hair down, William?"

"Is this a reflective question based on your current state of affairs or are you remarking on my lifestyle?"

Henry studied his confident, pragmatic cousin. "Is there something else you wish you had done instead?"

Darcy seemed to give his question weight before answering. "I'll admit that there are many aspects of this job I do not prefer. Obviously, as I'm willing to relinquish a good part of the job to you." He furrowed his brown. "What's your status?"

Like Henry, Darcy was waiting for the PEB, Physical Examination Board, to determine Henry's fate in the military, but with two concussive incidents resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury, Henry was positive his career was over. The wicked tremble in his gun hand didn't make for the safest of situations, paired with his sudden irritability and headaches, he could understand the military's caution. As frustrating as it was for him, to lose something he worked immensely hard to achieve, he knew he would not be the same person if he suffered another head injury. He already was different. But he also knew he'd not be happy pushing paper around a desk like they offered as well. So he'd taken his months of leave and would be sitting in his house feeling sorry for himself had his cousin not intervened.

"I'm still waiting for word." Henry wiped the dripping water from his face.

Darcy nodded. "What do you think of Pemberely International?"

"It's great I'm enjoying it." He forced enthusiasm into his voice. It wasn't awful. That part was true, Henry wasn't sure it was for him. But when a man spends his life waiting for hours to pull a trigger there wasn't much in the civilian life that would be an easy transition.

"Is that why then, Henry, you have Chaz checking the Uniform Code of Military Justice. What are you hoping to find?"

In true Darcy form, there would be no tiptoeing around issues.

"I'm not sure, but advancing me to Colonel, years before I'm eligible, is a sign William. They're letting me go and think that by advancing me it'll reduce the sting, but it doesn't. It makes it worse. I was supposed to be a Lieutenant Colonel for another four years at least. Now they've given me this rank I haven't earned it yet they expect me to be happy with it."

"And you're not." Darcy rubbed his chin. "But Chaz is an entertainment lawyer."

"He's got a brain, doesn't he. He can read can't he? Maybe he will find something." Henry lifted out of the water and sat on the edge. "It sounds crazy but if they're getting rid of me then take back the promotion. If Chaz can help with that aspect—"

"Have you talked to a JAG lawyer?"

Henry shook his head. "They work for them."

"What bothers you more, the promotion or a board deciding your fate?"

Darcy was never one to beat around the bush.

Henry scanned the property, ensuring their conversation was private, but there was no need. Darcy would never have started it if they weren't.

"I don't like someone else making my life decisions for me. It's my job to decide if it's time to get out of the military or not. No one else's." Anger rolled through him.

"You have a complex head injury, Henry. I know you say the tremor is the worst but you have episodes of not recalling conversations. The other night at dinner Anne asked if you wanted to go into the city with her, to which you agreed. Then today you were surprised she was waiting for you. Angry even when she challenged you on it. Asking if you remembered?"

"I simply forgot!" Anger, quick and hot spiked through him. There was no slow boil for Henry.

"When lives are on the line can being forgetful be a sufficient reason for an error?" Darcy said gently.

"So you're saying I'm expendable? That I should lose the 16 years I've put in. The blood sweat and tears—"

Darcy sat next to his cousin, letting his feet dangle in the water. "Not at all. But I'm saying that being a sniper might very well not be the best job for you any longer. It's not saying it wasn't ever the right job or that you weren't good at it. Maybe that it's time to change."

"This about me or you?"

Darcy laughed and it almost sounded bitter. "Both perhaps? I won't lie and say that parts of this job were eating at my soul. Like owning that gossip magazine." Darcy shook his head. "Constant monitoring. Constant lawsuits. For what? Sensationalism? Best thing I did was sell off that part of Dad's holdings. Why he added so much entertainment to his holdings I will never know but if you have an interest in that area I'd happily turn the entire portion over to you."

Henry shook his head. "I'm still climbing the learning curve. It's a different world."

"You have a knack for business. You've brought valuable insight to this matchmaker company situation. I wouldn't worry about you taking over anything half has much as you would."

"Thanks, man." Henry stuck out his fist and Darcy pounded it.

"As for the last time I let my hair down? Well, I imagine that was on Everest when my oxygen tank stopped working and I had to switch out canisters all while dancing between consciousness and a permanent fade to black."

Henry shook his head. "What's wrong with us? Who knew we'd grow up to be such thrill junkies and look where its gotten me?" He pointed to his head.

"I think it started for us that summer you shoved me in the lake here at Rosings. Remember? I couldn't swim and you thought it would teach me," Darcy said.

"Nah, that never happened," Henry replied, the corner of his lips twitching, looking as if they were fighting the mad impulse to not smile.

"Really? Can't recall that can you? How about the time you hooked me when we were fishing?" Darcy pointed to a scar on his chin.

Henry tapped his head. "Nope. All gone. And if it's not in here how do I know you aren't making it up?" Henry hid his smile behind his hand.

"I bet you don't remember how you took on this new endeavor to learn the business for free. No monetary pay. Just the pleasure of my company." Darcy smiled too.

"I would never do such a thing. I may be forgetful but I'm not an idiot."

Darcy shook his head. "That lake is dark and disturbing. I think I got a skin infection from being in the water."

"I bet that would have been something to see had it happened," Henry said with false innocence.

"Yeah? It looked like this." Darcy gave a quick shove and his cousin's belly flopped into the pool and came up sputtering. "Add some dirt and reeds."

Henry laughed, rose up in the water, and came down with such force it sent a giant wave over his cousin.

"I want to play," yelled Anne who came streaking across the yard toward the pool. "Cannonball," she yelled when she reached poolside. She landed between them, making a large wave of her own.

"Fair enough," Darcy yelled while pulling his shirt off. He took a few steps back before making his own run at the pool.

Leave it to Darcy to strive for the best in everything. Including the wave, which was impressive.

Henry laughed. He knew he was lucky man. Darcy and Anne had shown up hours after the med board put him on limited duty and he'd dropped his leave chit in to his commanding officer, storming out after. How Darcy had found out still amazed him and he knew Darcy was determined to help him find his way back to happiness.

Maybe sister Mary could help with that too. In her own way.

Authors note: Forgive any errors. Its not been edited and when I proof read my eyes tend to cross.

Thanks for all the name ideas. Chauncey was my favorite.

LMFG: Your chapter is coming up. The questionnaire might be in one and then the pairing realization will be later, maybe.

I'd really like to know what you think of Darcy. I worry that he's not very likable.

You all are THE BEST. Thanks for reading and giving feedback :-)

Have a great day,

XOXOXO Kristi