Disclaimer: My sister in law is downstairs doing Billy's Bootcamp Workout. No...I'm not Jane Austen.

A/N: Sorry for the long time to repost. I got a comment telling me about how the story and characters are not so much like the original or believable etc. I've been musing about it and realised that the story line I have is kind of AU or just straying quite a bit from the oringal. I add characters, take away characters and blur things. So a bit of a warning. If you want something that plays very closely to the original story. This isn't it.

Also I'm trying very hard to make things more realistic....I'm not sure if I'm succeeding. Hey I never could colour in-between the lines as a kid. But if you think there isn't enough consistency with something, please tell me. I want to improve my writing! Also I think personalities aren't consistant enough so confirming my worries or reassuring me is always met with affection and e-cookies

Chapter Seven- And The Storm Rages On

"Oh Kimmie, I don't know what I'm going to do if I have to spent another night alone with those people. They're driving me insane!" Lena was currently spilling her woes to Kim after they had shared a breakfast

"Not Blake I hope."

"No, he's the only nice one." that seemed to keep Kim at ease until she started to cough violently

"Please get better soon. How's the back?"

"It's better, but still a little sore." With a sympathetic look, Lena placed a hand on Kim's forehead as Blake walked in

"Oh, Lena I didn't know you'd be in here. I just came to see if Kim needs anything. Do you Kim?"

It amused Lena how much Blake looked like a puppy waiting for scraps. He was slightly disappointed when Kim weakly shook her head no.

"Actually, Kim's more comfortable here than she would be at home."

"That's wonderful! I mean, not wonderful that your home wouldn't be comfortable. Not that it isn't I mean, I'm just glad you're here...not that you're here sick, just your here...being sick." Blake started to turn red and couldn't stop digging his own hole

"I'm glad I'm being sick here too." Kim finally spoke up

As much as Lena hated the prospect of being with the Bingley Troupe without Blake as a buffer zone, she got up to leave the two lovebirds alone.

'Those two better be getting married.' Lena thought as she once again found herself in the company of the Lily Bingley, the Hursts and Mr. Darcy. The Hurst couple was playing cards while Lily had taken up gliding around and asking Darcy questions as Darcy grudgingly answered while typing on his laptop. The infamous Princess was sleeping on a couch. Only Darcy and Lily had glanced at Lena when she walked in and on Lily's part it was to fix her with an evil glare

"Mr. Darcy, whatever are you typing? You type so fast." Lena had already picked out a Voltaire book to read while Lily continued to try and woo Mr. Darcy

"You're mistaken, I type rather slowly. And if you must know I'm typing an email to Mariella. I plan to send it once the weather lightens and the internet works again."

"Oh, do tell her that I miss her and can't wait to see her again. You know I adore her and I know she adores me just as much if not more."

"I've already told her that you want to see her. Why don't you write her an email?" Just at that moment, Blake had waked in

"Kim's fallen asleep again." he told Lena and sat across from her, then started to doodle on a nearby paper scrap

"So Mr. Darcy, what's new in dear Ella's life?" Lily had now placed her hands on the table Darcy was using and she was leaning forward. It looked like her cleavage was desperately trying to escape her tight shirt. Still, he didn't take any notice of her

"She's started up again with her debut album. She's finally agreed to continue work on the original classical attempt. It may take another month or so before she goes into the studio."

With a bored 'Oh', Lily started to walk to the stereo. After choosing a house tune that would soon give everyone a headache, Lily started to dance. Princess woke up and barked a little before going back to sleep.

When dancing yielded no results, she turned the music down a little and ask Lena to join her. Lena and Darcy both jerked their heads towards Lily

"What?" asked the extremely perplexed Lena

"Dance with me. It's lonely dancing by myself and I know no one else will."

Hesitantly, Lena got up and was dragged over by Lily. While Lily danced as if she were in a club, Lena followed awkwardly behind.

"Mr. Darcy, would you like to join us?" cooed Lily

"You know I'm not fond of dancing. Besides, it defeats your purpose." Darcy shot back as he stopped typing and gave the two his undivided attention

"What does he mean?" Lily stopped dancing and put an arm around Lena now that she had what she wanted

"You just want me to watch you because you know your bodies are more alluring when dancing as such."

"Oh how very bad of you Mr. Darcy. Lena, I think we should punish him. What do you think?" giggled Lily delightfully

Well, Lena might as well join in the fun. It still looked like it would take another day to light up outside

"Hmm, we could just ignore him or tease him."

"No, Mr. Darcy should not be teased." Lily said in a voice stating 'I respect you, this twit doesn't...love me Darcy!'

"Why not? I'm up for a good laugh even at someone else's expense." Everyone treated Darcy like he was some perfect God who should not be bothered. It irked Lena. "Now let's see, what does Mr. Darcy have wrong about him? That's normally a good and subtle place to start. So Mr. Darcy, what's wrong with you? Bacne? Unpleasant mole?"

"I wonder if you're eagerness to try and damage my confidence is a bad habit?" Mr. Darcy asked, Lena had started to walk towards him and didn't break eye contact

"Not so much a bad habit as curiosity. I mean, we're all human here aren't we? Or is there something you're not telling us? Knocking someone off a pedestal isn't illegal here. Is it in England?"

"You do seem to take a keen interest in engaging in oppressing activities. I remember hearing you beat up people in school. Are you trying to cover any inadequate feelings you harbour for yourself?"

"I'm not a bully. If I think someone or something is wrong then I speak up. It's because I think something needs to be changed for better not because of low self esteem. If you must know I think you're 'perfect creation of the gods' act that everyone seems to promote is wrong. No one's perfect and if what I'm going is my fault or 'bad habit' then so be it." with a raised eyebrow Lena challenged Darcy

"You're right, no one is perfect. I'm far from perfect. I have my faults." Darcy punctuated his statement by crossing his arms across his chest and leaning back in his chair

"Really? Like judging others when you don't know them?"

"Tell me you don't also do that."

"Oh I'm tired of dancing." Lily tried to break the tension and turned off the music when she realised the attention of Mr. Darcy had yet again passed over her. Lena was standing right in front of Darcy and now started to walk away until he called her back with a comment

"If judging someone is a sin then everyone is guilty of that."

"How about pride then? As a fault?" Lena suddenly turned around again. She was going to find a fault in Darcy that he also saw as a fault if it was the last thing she did

"Pride? There is nothing wrong with pride if it is rightly deserved."

"You seem to be quick in justifying yourself. It really makes you sound perfect." Almost sneering, Lena turned around and sat down. Darcy watched her as she angrily took up her book again.

"I have a bad temper and often times don't think things in my personal life through. It can cause quite a mess."

With a final stare, Lena thought she could see a hint of regret in Darcy's face but he quickly started to type again. Everything started to move back to it's sluggish movement and Lena tried not to think about the confusing mass that was Darcy.

"Oh Mr. Bingley, thank you for watching over my daughters! You're so kind!"

It was agony. Instead of Lena just driving Kim back home in their car, the rest of the females in the Chen family had to come to say hello. Right now, Kim was packing up while the Bingley party watched the Chen girls in disgust. In truth, it was slightly comedic. Their mother in some odd modern and traditional Chinese outfit mesh sitting next to Mitch in her Goth girl attire, Mandy in her green and slightly revealing dress to Ali's uncalled for pink short shorts and too revealing tank top. Deep down Lena knew this was all an act though. Mrs. Chen still didn't like Mr. Bingley. She just wanted his publishing company to help their father. The sugar sweet voice of Mrs. Chen was starting to make Lena sick though. The more Mrs. Chen hated someone, the 'nicer' she was to them

"No, it was our pleasure." Blake offered

"Oh but I'm sure it was. Kim is such a good girl. Though I hope Lena didn't ruin anything. She can be like that sometimes."

"Mom"

"No Lena you know it's true. Mr. Bingley I hope you and your friends like it here in Marling."

"Yes, very much. What about you Darcy?"

"I prefer larger cities. There's more to do and more variety in people, I mean if you must be in contact with many. There might as well be a large variety."

"What? How can you say that? There's a lot of different people here! There are at least 30 families in this neighbourhood!" That upset comment earned a huge snicker from the Bingley sisters

"Well I love it here and plan to buy the house." Blake said in reply. His sisters' eyes almost bugged out of their heads and Lena stifled a small laugh

"Oh Mr. Bingley, you're holding a party here, right?" Ali suddenly asked. Slapping Ali seemed like a good idea to Lena right now as she stared in surprise at her youngest sister

"Well..."

"It would really suck if you had such a nice place and no party. I mean, everyone expects it of you and it would make us really happy." Ali continued while Mandy just shook her head in agreement then added

"Please have a party! You could get to know more people."

"Oh, all right. Once everything in the neighbourhood is fixed we'll have one as soon as possible!" Blake said enthusiastically. Lena noticed he was easily swayed

"Parties are such pointless things nowadays. It's not very good for meeting new people" Lily mentioned

"And clubbing is? Might was well have a party to meet people because you won't do it very well when clubbing and most people you met then are on E." Mitch let slip

"Thank you Mitch." quickly replied Lena in order to keep Mitch from going on. Though truthfully she wanted to laugh at the scandalised look of Lily

The good byes were rather quick and done in an ordered line. The Bingley troupe lined up with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst to say good bye first, then Lily, Blake and Darcy. Mrs. Chen said a quick good bye to everyone but Blake who she took by the hand and started to thank once more while 'subtlety' discussing more of Kim's better attributes and reminding him of their father's book shop. The three younger sisters all said good bye quicker than anyone else and then piled into the car. Mrs. Chen drove off hoping Kim would hurt herself again and not be able to go home.

Kim was next to say bye. The Bingley troupe treated her more civilly and Blake gave her hand a slight squeeze and chaste kiss on the cheek. Finally, it was Lena's turn to leave the wretched house

"Good bye Mr. and Mrs. Hurst"

"Bye Lena."

"Bye Lily and thanks for the company."

"Pleasure I'm sure."

"Bye Blake, I can't thank you enough for taking care of Kim."

"Oh of course, it was my pleasure. If she's ever ill again don't hesitate to bring her over."

"Good bye Mr. Darcy"

"Good bye Lena. You're witty comments will be missed." At first, Lena thought he meant that sarcastically but then he did something she would have never imagined. He took her hand and kissed it while looking into her eyes. Completely stunned, Lena walked to the drivers seat of the car.

"Did Mr. Darcy just kiss your hand?" Kim asked as Lena turned on the engine

"I-I'm actually still not sure." Lena was going to do some major meditation when she got home. She needed to desperately get the voices of Lily and Darcy out of her head.