Next chapter! I've been busy graduating, so that's why it's been a while since the update. I have my commencements on Thursday though so I will hopefully be able to stick to a regular schedule for updates.

Each chapter seems to span up to five minutes of movie... This is gonna take longer than I thought


Charlotte was dancing with Mr. Collins again, Gwen noticed. She was standing by the wine in the ornate punchbowl, holding a glass full of the red liquid but not touching it. The joy she had found in the idea of getting drunk was no longer as appealing as before.

The whole event, in fact, had lost its luster. The aroma of the many flowers filling the intricate vases had become cloying, the many candles glaringly white. She didn't understand why Darcy had made her so upset, but she couldn't seem to shake it. It didn't help that Caroline Bingley would give her this dirty look every time she walked by.

She couldn't move past it like she normally did. Her mood was darkening, and she could feel her usually sincere smile turn plastic as she dwelled on everything that had happened in the past two months. She was being antisocial. She knew it, and she didn't like it.

Music therapy, Gwen decided, setting her untouched glass of wine on a nearby table.

Mary had beat her to the piano, however.

"Have you ever heard anything so awful?" she overheard two women near me saying. They were clearly in their forties or so, white powder caked on their faces, jewelry dripping from their ears and at their throats.

Gwen raised an eyebrow at them. Maybe it was leftovers from her argument with Mr. Darcy, maybe it had something to do with her continued stress about being stuck somewhere she didn't belong, but suddenly, she had had enough of the seventeen hundreds.

"You two are grown women, yes?" They looked startled, not expecting her to say anything. She sneered rather unattractively at them. "Act like it."

Gwen stormed off, knowing full well she would regret saying what she did. No, on second thought, she wouldn't. They were insulting Mary, and even if the younger girl didn't like her, she and her family had taken her in. She deserved to be stood up for.

She slammed out of the doors into the Netherfield garden, ignoring the many eyes following her out.

For the first time in a long time Gwen could feel tears filling her eyes. Why was she here? What did she do to deserve this? Had she really been that bad of a person?

She found a bench in front of the large pond, just out of sight of the mansion.

Wiping the tears off her cheeks, she could feel herself deflating as she sat there, staring at the rippling water near the edge of the pond. She was never getting home. The thing that sent her back in time, whatever it was, wanted her here, so here she would stay.

There was a crunch of gravel as someone joined her outside. Gwen moved her eyes to her feet, getting angry with herself for crying in public. Whoever was out in the garden with her waited a moment, then joined her on the bench.

"I'm sorry for causing a scene," she said, assuming it was Mr. Bingley. She didn't want to ruin his party for him. It wasn't his fault she was an emotion 21st century wreck. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Gwen glanced sideways at her visitor and froze. Her luck just kept getting worse and worse.

"Oh… um… I'm sorry. I thought you were…" Gwen cleared her throat, turning her eyes back on her shoes before the eye contact got uncomfortable. Oops. Internally wincing, she went back to pawing at her eyes, trying to get rid of the redness.

"I-" He stopped whatever he was about to say, looking incredibly uncomfortable as he turned his gaze out over the garden. Before he could find the courage and words to say what he wanted to, Gwen spoke up.

"Look, I'm sorry for what I said in there. I'm just trying to figure things out, and I'm a long way from home. I miss my parents and my friends and- oh crap." The tears had started again, along with what felt like the beginnings of a panic attack.

She wrapped her arms around her stomach and tried to control her breathing. Mr. Darcy's eyes widened, a look of panic falling over his face. He clearly didn't know what to do in this situation.

Gwen had had several of these attacks back when she first woke up in England, but it had been almost a month since she had one, and she felt a bit out of practice with the whole thing. Closing her eyes and bending over so her head was as low as she could get it, she did her best to calm down.

At some point in this process, Mr. Darcy started gently rubbing her back tentatively. At least she didn't puke. He kept it up as her heartbeat and breathing slowed.

Gwen didn't know how to feel about Mr. Darcy, but it was clear to her that she felt something. And that was frightening.

"Well that wasn't fun," she said quietly, taking a deep breath before sitting up again, more composed than when she had rushed out to the garden. She turned herself on the bench to face him. "I, uh, I'm sorry about…" Gwen smiled sheepishly, gesturing vaguely with her hand.

"Are you alright?" The look of concern in his eyes was real. Gwen bit her lip and nodded, looking at the ground again.

He took a deep breath, about to say something, then let it out, and they sat there for a moment. Gwen glanced up at him, but he was once again looking out at the garden.

"Well, if there is nothing I can help you with, I will leave you to your thoughts." He abruptly got up, only glancing at her for an instant before dipping in a shallow bow and turning back into Netherfield.

Gwen breathed heavily out of her nose. She really needed to figure out what she wanted.

The stars looked beautiful out here. She hadn't gone stargazing when she was at Longbourn, an oversight that needed to be corrected ASAP.

She stayed out in the garden, lying on the bench, looking at the stars until the eastern horizon began to lighten. So much for not being antisocial.


Three hours after returning from Netherfield, Gwen dragged herself from the bed she and Jane shared. Her scalp still hurt from all the pins that had been shoved in her hair.

"Mornin'" she slurred to Jane as she made her way to the wardrobe to grab a dress. Dresses. That was another reason she couldn't wait for Collins to leave. While it was just her and the Bennets, she could wear her big sweat pants that she kept in her backpack, but while Creepy Collins was here, she had to wear 'the attire of a proper lady,' as Mrs. Bennet had put it. Yuck.

Jane, who was already fully dressed and ready for the day did up the buttons on the back of Gwen's dress and pinned up her hair for her.

More awake, Gwen smiled her thanks and the two headed downstairs. The smell of eggs and bacon was a welcome aroma to her, but Mrs. Bennet wore a slightly put-out expression as she spread jam on some toast. Gwen sympathized with her. Eggs weren't the most appetizing thing when hung over.

Mary was hammering away at the piano. Kitty had told me about how upset she was when Mr. Bennet had pulled her away from the piano and she had heard what some of the other girls were saying. That was unfortunate. Gwen knew what it was liked to be picked on. Perks of public school.

She flopped into a seat beside Jane. Mrs. Bennet must really have been out of it, she didn't berate her.

A bit more cheerful than the night before, Gwen grabbed a piece of toast and a few strips of bacon.

Bacon fixed everything.

She didn't even get five minutes to savor her greasy pork deliciousness. Mr. Collins came downstairs and uttered a sentence that made her food turn to cement in her stomach.

"Mrs. Bennet, I was hoping, if it would not trouble you, that I might solicit a private audience with Miss Gwendolyn."

Her toast slid from her hand onto her plate.

She didn't hear what Mrs. Bennet said to his request, as she was too busy begging Jane to stay with at the table with her eyes.

"I'm sure whatever it is he has to say, he can say to everyone!" Gwen could hear the panic in her own voice.

"Nonsense, everyone out," Mrs. Bennet fluttered, looking very excited.

As the rest of the Bennets cleared the table, Mr. Bennet giving her a sympathetic look, variations of the word 'no' ran repeatedly through her head.

Of course, she had no way of knowing what EXACTLY Mr. Collins was planning on asking her, but his comment to her at the dance gave her an idea. She had no intention of becoming Mrs. Collins.

He was shorter than her. She had a rule. No dating boys who were shorter than her, unless they had an absolutely amazing personality. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins didn't fall in that category.

She fixed her gaze on her fallen toast and tried to compose her features. She could feel the panic in her eyes.

"Miss Gwendolyn. My attentions have been too marked to be mistaken." No no no no no. "Almost as soon as I entered this house, I singled you out as the companion for my future life." NO no nononono no nono no no no no nononono no. "But before I may run away with my feelings, perhaps I may state my reasons for marrying." Facinating, he's like a robot who pretends to be human. Also, NONONO. "Firstly, that is the duty of the clergyman to set the example of matrimony at his parish." How romantic. Does that line get you a lot of ladies at the club? "Secondly, I am convinced it will add greatly to my happiness." I'm a bright ray of freaking sunshine right now. "And thirdly," yes, end of the list! "It is the urging of my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine, that I select a wife." Your boss cares about your marriage? "My object in coming to Longbourn was to choose such a one from Mr. Bennet's daughters." WHAT?! "But you are far lovelier." Good to know I'm a better catch than ONE OF YOUR COUSINS!

He knelt down, the sudden movement attracting Gwen's gaze for the merest fraction of a second before her head snapped back to the now unappealing meal in front of her. What was even happening? She couldn't marry this man! Not only did she had absolutely NO interest in him, but he was the worst sort of man. She wouldn't wish him on anyone.

That was harsh, she scolded herself. And yet… true.

But… she couldn't stay with the Bennets forever. They had been lovely, putting up with her and her baggy sweats for two months, teaching her the dances and proper etiquette. She couldn't be a burden on them for too much longer. But couldn't she do at least a little better than Mr. Collins?

"And now nothing remains but for me to assure you in the most animated language-" Gwen couldn't take this anymore.

"Mr. Collins!" She interrupted, taking a deep breath, she looked him right in the eye. She hated confrontation. "Thank you for your offer, but I have to say no." She hated confrontation almost as much as she hated lying.

His face fell a little bit, but he kept a small smile in place. "I know ladies don't seek to seem too eager…"

She breathed out through her nose and squinched her eyes shut. So this was how it was going to be.

"I can tell you that that is one hundred percent not the case."

He didn't seem upset by me, Gwen would give him that. His sleazy little smile stayed firmly in place. If they had been in the 21st century, Gwen thought he would be the type of boyfriend who would possibly be emotionally abusive.

"Despite manifold attractions, it is by no means certain another offer of marriage will ever be made to you. I must conclude that you simply seek to increase my love by suspense-"

Gwen stood up rather abruptly, knocking her chair over.

"I wouldn't do that to anyone. That's a horrible thing to do. I. Am. Not. Interested. I'm sorry you wasted your time." She turned around, side-stepped her chair, and strode out the front door of Longbourn as fast as her legs would take her.

She could hear Mrs. Bennet calling after her but she kept going until she was in the middle of the Bennet field. Kitty and Lydia had shown this place to her, the place where she first showed up. It was… peaceful. It was far enough away from the house that the usual chaos of the Bennets couldn't be heard, and there was nothing else to disturb her.

Gwen flopped on her butt, crossing her legs. The half-grown wheat reached her shoulders. From this angle, it was easy to imagine getting lost in the golden grass, just disappearing into the ether. She wouldn't have to put up with this sexist crap anymore.

This place was going to drive her up the wall.

The saying 'you don't know what you have until it's gone' resonated with her in a way it never had when she was back home. She missed feminism, she missed voting, she missed Canada. She missed not feeling guilty about turning a guy down at the club.

About five minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet made an appearance in her little grass oasis.

"Tell her you insist they marry!" Mrs. Bennet was clearly at her wit's end. Her hair was frizzy and escaping from its pins, her eyes wild.

Gwen couldn't meet their eyes. Instead, she looked at her hands folded on her lap. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bennet, but there is no way I can marry him."

"Why in heavens name not?! Tell him you've changed your mind!"

"I truly appreciate all you've done for me, and if you wish to kick me out for this, I would go, but there is no way on earth that you can make me marry him." I met Mr. Bennet's eyes as I spoke the last sentence. "Please, there's no way I could ever be happy with him." To my horror, I could feel a lump forming in my throat. No more crying, she told herself stubbornly. I did enough of that last night.

"Mr. Bennet! Say something!"

He took a deep breath, looking from Gwen, down on the ground, to his wife, pacing furiously, looking incredibly annoyed with her adopted daughter.

"You aren't our daughter," he said slowly. "But we are responsible for you. Mrs. Bennet insists upon you marrying Mr. Collins."

"Yes! Or I shall never see her again!" She cried, throwing her hands in the air. Gwen felt her heart sink.

"Mrs. Bennet will never see you again if you don't marry Mr. Collins," Mr. Bennet reiterated. "And I will never see you if you do." He got the familiar twinkle back in his eyes. "Of course you will be staying with us until the day you find a man worthy of your attentions."

Gwen sprang up and hugged Mr. Bennet tightly, ignoring Mrs. Bennet's splutters.

"Thank you so much, sir," Gwen said sincerely, doing a clumsy pirouette as she headed back to the house.

Luckily for her, Mr. Collins seemed to have left Longbourn for a walk into town or something. Gwen didn't really care, as long as she could keep contact with him to a minimum.

"Jane! Jane!"

Gwen had to go upstairs to find her friend, and it took her a moment to shift her focus from excitement to concern for the blonde. She was sitting on their shared bed, a piece of paper on the comforter in front of her.

"What's the matter?"

Jane was staring blankly at the letter, her emotionless face was starting to creep Gwen out. She sat beside the blonde and touched her shoulder.

"Jane?"

She started slightly, but smiled vaguely at the redhead.

"I- I got a letter. From Caroline Bingley." She was more shaken then Gwen had ever seen her.

"May I?" She extended her hand for the paper. Jane nodded and hesitantly handed her the letter.

Gwen muttered to herself as she read. Some rather rude words she wasn't proud of tumbled out of her mouth at Caroline's words.

The nerve of that woman! It was ridiculous. While keeping up her polite and friendly façade, she managed to insinuate that her brother would be marrying Mr. Darcy's younger sister and had spared Jane not even the barest of thoughts. She was good with words though. Gwen had a kind of grudging admiration for that.

"We'll see about this." Gwen stomped out of the room in a very un-ladylike fashion, ignoring Jane's protests as she went downstairs and headed straight for Mr. Bennet's study.

He answered a moment after her brusque knock. She held the letter at eye level.

"Have you seen this?"

"No I haven't, what is it?" asked after squinting at it a moment. He gestured her into the room. It was then that she noticed that Mrs. Bennet was also in the room. Gwen could feel her face heat as the woman glared at her and averted her eyes. She wasn't here for herself, she was here for Jane.

"It's a letter from Caroline Bingley informing Jane that her, her brother and Mr. Darcy are heading back to London."

At that instant, it no longer mattered what she had done to Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet completely forgot it. The world wind that immediately surrounded her smelled of perfume as the letter was snatched from her hand. Plans were set in motion to send Jane to her aunt and uncle's in London.

As she sat in a comfy red straight-back chair, Gwen figured out that she may have just successfully gotten rid of her one good reliable friend in the Bennet house.

At least she still had Charlotte.


Review please! I'm super excited for the next couple chapters so I'll hopefully get those done pretty quickly. Anyway, tell me what you think, constructive criticism is welcome!

Thanks for reading :)