One Day at a Time

AN: Here ya go. Another fic. Sorry I haven't been posting everyday like I wanted to. Inspiration seems to allude me most days. Between work, school, family and friends, ideas seem to get pushed to the back burner. But hopefully this will spur me to write more.

Mussitate: to silently move the lips in simulation of audible speech

The wind howled and shook the windows. The snow was flying horizontally. It was bitterly cold out. But that meant nothing to the couple curled up on the couch watching the end of Pride and Prejudice. Zane wasn't thrilled with the movie choice but it was Jo's turn to pick a movie, so he sat through it without complaint. They had been working so hard recently, trying to meet their deadlines, that any chance to relax with the love of his life in his arms was worth the sap.

Jo sighed happily as the credits started to role across the screen.

"That was probably the best love story ever told. Every girl should have their own Mr. Darcy."

Zane chuckled. "I'll be your Mr. Darcy, Jo-Jo."

Jo snuggled deeper into his arms, "You already are."

Zane smiled. They laid there in comfortable silence for a long time. The fire light crackling, sending a gentle glow around the room.

"We were a lot like Elizabeth and Darcy, ya know." Zane said after a while.

"How so?"

"We hated each other when we first met. I thought you were beautiful but you thought I was too proud and too full of myself. I thought you were a bitch. Everything you did irked me.

"But when you showed up in this timeline, I saw you in a new light and wanted to change so that maybe I'd have a chance with you. I stopped my stupid pranks and tried to become a better person, like your Zane. I feel in love with you and wanted you to love me."

"I do love you."

"But you didn't when you first showed up. You loved your version of me, not the me from this timeline. You had hope that I would turn into the man you had loved. You played Darcy once though. When I first met you. You said you would marry me. I laughed and shot you down."

Jo contemplated his comparison between the movie and their story. "Yeah, you're right. We have a Hollywood romance."

There was silence again. The windows shook, a tree branch scraping across it. Jo jumped. Zane laughed and held her closer.

"Aww, is Jo-Jo scared of a little storm?"

"Little storm?" she said incredulously. "This storm is gonna close the town down for at least two days."

"Good. I could use some time alone with my Elizabeth Bennet."

Jo rolled her eyes.

"Want some more hot chocolate. You want some?"

Jo agreed in the affirmative. She detached herself from his arms and allowed him to rise to his feet and head into the kitchen.

She sat there happily, content with her life at that exact moment. There was no work looming over her head, no town wide catastrophes demanding her attention. I was just her and Zane.

Zane returned shortly, two cups in his hands. He handed her the one topped with a large helping of whipped cream, her favorite.

She took the cup. Sitting on top of the mound of whipped topping was a ring. A ring that looked very familiar. Her mouth dropped open.

Zane placed his cup on the side table and dropped to one knee.

"At the end of the movie, Darcy asked Elizabeth to marry him and she said yes. Will you let me be your Mr. Darcy?"

Jo sat there too astonished to answer. Her mouth opened and closed, no words making it past her lips. Just like the last time she was completely blindsided. But unlike the last time, she managed to nod her head, telling him yes. Her vocal chords didn't seem to want to work but her head sure did. She nodded emphatically. A jubilant smile spread across Zane's face as he took in her meaning. He rose from his knee and kissed her.

That kiss seemed to send her voice into over drive. She pushed him away and yelled, "Yes! Yes I'll marry you."

"I'm right here Josefina. There's no need to scream." Zane grinned.

AN part 2: Pride and Prejudice is my favorite love story of all time. Jo and Zane's story seemed to parallel the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. I figured I could use this for the forum challenge too, though P&P isn't exactly a fairytale.