Thanks for all the great reviews! I'm so happy you are enjoying the story :D

Chapter 6

Elle sat in her car as the gates to her parents' home slowly opened. Elizabeth's family was well off. Her father's real estate company was very profitable. Their lifestyle afforded her mother the privilege of always being dressed in the latest designer fashions. And her father's success also allowed him to set aside money for each one of his five daughters' college educations. However, the Bennet's wealth was no where near the range of the Darcys. If you calculated all the Bennet's assets, it probably didn't even equal one percent of the Darcy fortune.

Elle parked her car in the driveway and started removing her bags from the trunk. When Elle graduated from U. C. S. B. in December, she moved back home with her parents. The original plan was to move in with Charlotte and share an apartment. But Charlotte got engaged to Colin in December and decided to move to L. A. to be with him. Elle briefly contemplated moving in with Jane but quickly decided against it. Elle had seen how close Jane and Charlie had become. So she couldn't help but think they might become engaged soon. If they did, Jane would probably move in with Charlie leaving Elle with the responsibility of paying all the bills by herself. Having just graduated, Elle didn't feel she was financially secure enough to afford a place on her own.

Elle took a deep breath before she opened the front door. The moment she did she saw Lydia running down the stairs screaming, "What'd you get me!? What'd you get me!?"

Lydia came to a stop in front of Elle as she replied, "Well it's nice to see you too, Lydia."

"Oh, uh, sorry," Lydia said as she threw her arms around her sister and said, "I love you. I missed you. So, what did you bring me?"

Elle shook her head and laughed as Lydia released her.

"It's in my bag," Elle replied as Lydia bent down to open it.

"Lydia! Can't you wait til I put my bags in my room?" Elle said in annoyance.

"Here, I'll help you," Lydia said as she grabbed her duffel bag and started up the stairs.

"Katie! Lizzy's home with our presents!" Lydia screamed at the top of her lungs.

Mary walked into the foyer as Elle shouted, "Lydia don't go through my stuff! You'll just make a mess!"

"Hi, how was your trip?" Mary asked as she gave Elle a hug.

"Fine. Where's mom and dad?" Elle asked hesitantly.

"They went out to dinner with the Lucas'," Mary replied.

"Oh, I just dropped Maria at their house," Elle said as she heard Lydia screaming.

"Lizzy! Hurry up!" Lydia whined.

Elle rolled her eyes as she and Mary started walking up the stairs.

"Why are the two of them home on a Saturday night?" Elle asked.

"They were begging me to drive them to some party they'd heard about at school. Mostly seniors. I also heard some guys that were on leave from the army were even going to be there. Anyway, I told them I wouldn't take them. Lydia threw a fit and said she'd ask her friends to drive them. I told her the moment they left the house I was going to call dad and tell him where they went. Ever since she has been bitching and complaining," Mary said in frustration.

"Good job Mary," Elle said as she put her arm around her sister. "Fifteen year olds shouldn't be going to senior parties."

"I didn't do it just for them. Do you know how embarrassing it is to show up at school and have everyone tell you your little sisters crashed another party over the weekend?" Mary said as they walked into Elle's room.

Once her sisters had collected their presents they left Elle alone to unpack. Instead, Elle just sat on her bed and tried to think of a way to break the news to her parents. She was extremely grateful she was given this brief reprieve. She knew she would probably breakdown the moment she saw them. She could already picture the disappointment in her father's eyes.

Elle was lost in thought when she heard her cell phone ring. She grabbed it from the night stand and looked at the caller ID. It read private number, so she flipped it open and said, "Hello."

"Hi beautiful."

"Will?" Elle said in surprise.

"How's my beautiful bride?" Will asked.

"Oh, fine I guess," Elle said with a sigh.

"You don't sound fine," Will remarked.

Elle let out a breath as she replied, "I'm just tired and have a lot on my mind. That's all."

"I'm guessing you haven't told your parents then," Will said.

"They're not home. They went out to dinner," Elle answered.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive up there so we can tell them together?" Will asked.

"No, I need to do this on my own," Elle stated.

"Elle, you never have to do anything on your own. I'm here to support you. It's no longer you or me, it's us," Will said affectionately.

Elle was silent for a moment. She wasn't sure how to respond. Will was being so loving. Finally she replied, "I know. It's just going to be a big shock as it is. I just don't want to add to it."

"Alright, they're your parents. You get to tell them how ever you want. You just shouldn't take too long. The longer you wait will only make it worse," Will commented.

"I know," Elle said in agreement. She knew Will was right. No matter how much she wanted to put it off, she knew it would only make matters worse.

"I just called because I wanted to hear your voice and make sure you got home safely," Will said softly.

"Thanks. That was very thoughtful of you," Elle replied.

"There's no need to thank me. I wouldn't have been able to sleep unless I knew you arrived safely," Will said honestly.

Again Elle was floored by how much he cared about her. She had no idea how to reply. Thankfully she didn't have to.

"You know I could sit here and talk to you all night, but you've had a long day. So I think you should get some rest," Will said with concern.

"Yeah. My brain is kind of on overload at the moment. I'm not sure if I'm thinking clearly anymore. So I should probably get some rest," Elle said in agreement.

"Well, I'll be dreaming of you tonight," Will paused briefly before he affectionately added, "Goodnight love."

"Goodnight Will," Elle said softly before she ended the call.

Elle spent a few moments just staring at her cell phone. She finally threw her head back against her headboard, closed her eyes and groaned. What was he doing to her? He was messing with her head! Her stomach felt like it was twisted up in knots.

Elle couldn't help but recall their goodbye at the airport. Will had tried to convince her one last time that he should accompany her to Santa Barbara. When she refused, he pulled her away from the others and wrapped her up in a passionate embrace. Elle had been so caught off guard, she had to wrap her arms around his neck to steady herself. When he finally broke the kiss, she just stood there, wide eyed, in complete shock. Will was very amused with himself. He realized he had the power to render her speechless.

Elle had finally managed to ask, "What was that for?"

"We're not going to see each other for a week. I had to make the kiss memorable," Will said as he leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.

Elle now sat on her bed, remembering how that kiss made her feel. She liked it. She more than liked it. This just caused her to growl in frustration. This situation was getting more and more complicated with each passing second. How could she just walk away when he could make her feel like this? How could she ask him to end their marriage if he really did care about her?

Yet, how could a marriage between the two of them ever work out? They were always fighting. Well, in the past they had anyway.

Maybe she was looking at this from the wrong standpoint. No marriage was perfect. Every marriage had its problems. If she tried, maybe she could make it work somehow. Now the most important question was, could she fall in love with him? She honestly didn't know. Will was getting to her. But Elle knew it wasn't love. It was too soon for that.

Elle finally changed into her pajamas and got into bed. Even though she was exhausted, she wasn't able to get any sleep. Too many unanswered questions were running through her head. First and foremost, how was she going to tell her parents? And what would she say when they asked what she planned to do next?

Elle was suffering from a guilty conscience. How could she file for divorce, or an annulment, without trying to make her marriage work? Divorce was such a huge, life changing step. So how could she go through with it knowing she never made the effort to try to make the marriage work? Did Elle honestly think they could make their marriage work? No. But she didn't want to be responsible for their marriage failing either. After all, Will was more than willing to try to make it work. So could she live the rest of her life knowing she was the one responsible for her marriage failing?

Elle heard her parents come home but chose to stay in her room. She wasn't ready to face them yet. She was finally able to fall asleep sometime after two in the morning. Elle woke up several hours later when she heard yelling coming from the hall.

"Lizzy! Lizzy! Wake up! You're famous!"

Elle groaned into her pillow the moment she heard her twin sisters shrieking in the hallway. Katie and Lydia were the only ones who called Elle, Lizzy. Elle started referring to herself as either Elle or Elizabeth, when the third grade boys realized Lizzy rhymed with lizard. Ever sense that faithful day, Elle hated to be called Lizzy. Katie and Lydia were only infants at the time. So they never got the memo.

"Lizzy! Lizzy! Wake up! You're on TV!" Katie and Lydia screamed as they ran into her room and jumped on her bed.

"Go away. Leave me alone," Elle grumbled underneath her pillow.

"Didn't you hear us! You're on TV! There are a dozen photographers outside the gate! I can't believe you married Will Darcy!" Lydia yelled with excitement.

"What did you just say!?" Elle said as she bolted up in a sitting position.

"It's all over the news! You married Will Darcy!" Katie screamed.

Elle was horrified. She jumped out of bed and ran downstairs with Katie and Lydia right behind her. She entered the family room and found her parents and Mary staring at the television in disbelief. Mr. Bennet had the remote in his hand and flipped from one news channel to another. A photo of Will appeared in a box next to the anchor's head as she began to speak.

Now on to other news. Well, it seems what happens in Vegas, doesn't always stay in Vegas. Not when you're business mogul Fitzwilliam Darcy that is. One of the 50 Most Eligible Bachelors is a bachelor no longer. Two nights ago, the CEO of Darcy Media Group, one of the most prominent media conglomerates in the country, was caught smooching with a woman who we have now identified as Elizabeth Bennet, while the two waited in line to obtain a marriage license. A passerby used their cell phone to capture this image of the couple locked in a passionate embrace.

Our sources have confirmed that a marriage license was filed that shows the couple married yesterday in the early morning hours. Our sources have not been able to find any kind of legal documentation showing a prenuptial agreement existing between the two.

Who knows what this announcement, and the seemingly impulsive behavior of its CEO, will do to Darcy Media Group's stock prices? And its current net worth which is in the billions. Though the person who stands to lose the most in all this is Fitzwilliam Darcy himself. Considering he and his family own fifty percent of the company's stock.

We have not been able to find any sources who could tell us how long the couple have been dating. Or how long they've even known each other. But we have been able to dig up these few paparazzi photographs from a couple of months back. Each photo depicts the newlyweds leaving various locations with Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet. Jane Bennet is Elizabeth's sister, and Charles is Fitzwilliam's long time friend, and heir to The Bingley Publishing Company.

The newlyweds were said to have flown home last night. Though witnesses say they left the airport separately. Our cameras were able to catch Mr. Darcy leaving his Bel-Air home early this morning. Sporting a wedding band on his left hand, but with no bride in tow. Could there already be trouble in paradise? Will they break Britney Spears' record for the world's quickest celebrity annulment? I guess only time will tell.

Mr. Bennet turned off the TV, and along with Elizabeth's mother, turned to look at her with their mouths hanging open in shock. After a while, her father finally broke the silence, "Is it true?" he asked.

"Ummmm, wwwweeeellll," was all Elle was able to get out. She didn't know what to say. She had no excuse for her actions.

"So it's true then," her father stated.

All Elle could do was nod.

"Oh Lizzy! You're rich!" Lydia yelled as she and Katie started jumping up and down, and then ran up to embrace her.

"You can get us into all the cool parties now! Like the ones thrown by Maxim and Stuff magazine!" Katie yelled.

"You can introduce us to all the celebrities!" Lydia shrieked.

That's when Mrs. Bennet was finally knocked back into reality, "Oh my dear!" she said as she walked over to hug Elle.

"You sly thing you! How did you ever manage to get that man to marry you? Of course we would have loved a big wedding. But it's more important that you got a commitment out of him. Good thinking. Oh my clever girl! Imagine all the mansions you'll have! I heard he already owns several. Oh my girl! I'm so proud of you!" Mrs. Bennet gushed.

"Proud of you? Proud of you! Have you lost your mind!? Our daughter has just married a man whom she has claimed to hate for months now. And you're proud of her!? Have you lost your senses!? Elizabeth Bennet! What were you thinking marrying that man!?" Mr. Bennet yelled.

"Technically it's Elizabeth Darcy now," Lydia piped in.

"Lydia!" Mary warned.

"Girls out!" Mr. Bennet shouted as he pointed toward the entrance of the family room.

Mary, Katie and Lydia followed their father's orders and exited on cue.

Mr. Bennet turned his attention back to Elizabeth who just stood there dumbstruck, "Well, Elizabeth, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Elle stood there for a few moments not really knowing what to say. Finally she said the first thing that came to mind.

"I guess it's like they say. There's a thin line between love and hate," Elle said meekly as she shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't going to lie and say she was in love with Will. Or use love as an excuse for marrying him. Yet, telling her father she was drunk at the time, didn't seem like a very good option either.

"You're being flippant! You think this is funny!?" Mr. Bennet yelled.

Elle hated when people asked her that. Whenever people asked her if she thought something serious was funny, the answer was usually yes. And she usually responded by laughing. Like the time her friends told her their car had been broken into by a bear while camping in Yosemite. The moment the words came out of their mouths, Elle busted up laughing. She couldn't help it. She kept imagining her friends' car being robbed by Yogi Bear.

Honestly, at this point, all Elle really wanted to do was laugh. This whole situation was completely ridiculous. She had married Fitzwilliam Darcy in Las Vegas while intoxicated. The whole thing was absurd! She might as well have run off with an Elvis impersonator!

When that silly thought popped into Elle's head, it made her unexpectedly smile. That only made Mr. Bennet's temper grow worse.

"Why are you smiling!? This situation is not at all humorous Elizabeth! You just went and ruined your life!" Mr. Bennet yelled.

Mr. Bennet's anger quickly sobered Elizabeth up from her momentary lapse in judgement. But she still remained silent. She couldn't defend what she had done.

"Dear! Do you even hear what you are saying? Of course she's smiling. She just got married to one of the most prominent business men in the country! We should be congratulating her and praising her for a job well done," Mrs. Bennet piped in, standing in front of Elizabeth and defending her daughter for the first time in her life.

Mr. Bennet was about to respond when their maid Hilary walked in.

"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt but there's a . . ." but Mr. Bennet cut her off.

"Not now Hill!" he told her.

"But sir . . ." Mr. Bennet cut her off again.

"Hill, I said not now!" he shouted.

Hilary turned around and left as Mr. Bennet turned to address his wife.

"Congratulating her? Praising her? You yourself have said that you can't stand that man! Now you're happy that he married our daughter?" Mr. Bennet asked in disbelief.

"Well obviously I was wrong about him if he went and married her! He must really love her! Why else would he marry her? It's certainly not for her money," Mrs. Bennet remarked.

Mr. Bennet was about to respond when they heard shouting coming from the foyer.

"Where is she!? Where is that girl!?"

Elle groaned. She knew that voice and she knew exactly who it belonged to. Just then, Hilary lead a grumpy, old woman into the room.

Elle turned to address her, "Mrs. DeBourg, what a surprise," Elle said sarcastically.

Author's Notes: Just to clarify, Elle and Darcy got their marriage license Friday night before midnight. They got married after midnight, so technically it was Saturday. The news is reporting this on Sunday morning. So I hope that helps to clarify the time line, just in case I confused any of you.

By the way, I envision Will's job being like Ted Turner's. How he is well known, but not constantly hounded by the press like other celebrities are.

So what do you think is going to happen next? Let me know what you guys think :D