Apologies for the mahoosive delay in uploading the final chapters to this story. I had a complete mental block where Pushed Out was concerned and in the meantime have written two other pieces of fanfiction, one short one I have already posted on here, and one longer more darker version of Frederick and Anne's relationship I hope you will enjoy - with a HEA ending don't worry. So without further delay here is the next chapter. Now my creative juices are flowing again where this is concerned, I will hope to upload the next few and final chapters asap. Thanks for staying with me.

Chapter Fourteen

Frederick made his best attempts at a smile, although Anne could tell just the mere mention of her family and her returning there, had him out of sorts again. He was far from completely recovered.

"I suggest now we make good on my proposal to visit my sister and the Admiral." he suggested.

"Are they actually expecting me, or was that just a way of us vacating Camden Place?"

This time when he smiled it was genuine, "Alas a bit of both. My sister has expressed a desire to spend some time with you, away from the watchful eyes of everyone else. And it was a good excuse for us to leave was it not?" he grinned.

"It was, and I should like to spend some more time with Mrs Croft and the Admiral –and you- very much." she answered.

He held out his arm for her and she took it, eager to be away from that place and all the misery it held as soon as possible. The very air in that part of town seemed poisoned. She could not think nor act rationally when nearby. After a few minutes of less that comfortable silence Anne began fretting what would happen when she did have to return.

"Stay with the Crofts." Frederick suggested in response, secretly loving the idea of extracting Anne from those people she had -and soon he would have- the misfortune of calling relations. A few days within the bosom of his family would change her bleak outlook on things he was sure.

"Frederick, how can I? Not only would it be an inconvenience on your sister, but I cannot be seen to be the sole guest living under the same roof as a single man, when I am already considered to be practically engaged to another. Our announcement has not even been made."

Frederick tried to ignore the comment regarding her near brush with catastrophe at the hands of her family. "The announcement is something I intend to rectify as soon as they are open for business my sweet. I assure you. The sooner everyone in this wretched place knows of our intentions, the better. As for inconveniencing Sophia, is that your only concern, other than my being there after dark?" She nodded. "Well let me put your mind at ease, Sophie will be thrilled –you could never be an inconvenience to anyone." he said tenderly. "I shall begrudgingly remove myself to the White Hart and stay a while amongst the Musgroves' and Harville."

Anne pulled an apologetic face, and opened her mouth in what he was sure was another reason that would mean she would have to return home, so he would not have to leave his bed. "We shall hear no more about it." he grinned, and feeling the earlier tension between them lift completely she grinned back.

Silently Frederick was happily anticipating how many times he could call on his fiancée without having to request a formal visit through her family, and without the constant intrusion from Lady Russel. He frowned, he had to remember these were Anne's family he was belittling in his mind. He would be more courteous from now on, however difficult that may be. However much he despised them, they were a part of her and she would be giving them up in the most part when she came to him as his wife. "Do you think you will be sad to leave home? Once we are married I mean." he asked nervously.

Anne swallowed hard, so hard she was sure he must have heard it. Her head had been so taken up with the events of the past few days she hadn't given their actual marriage much thought. Now she could barely think of anything else. In a short while they would finally be man and wife, able to spend the rest of their lives together after all they had overcome the happy ending was finally in sight. The idea of living with her soon to be husband and all that entailed was almost overpowering. "I…" she stuttered.

Frederick turned to look at her. "I for one shall be pleased to settle in one place, no more travelling about the country – not for a few weeks at least. I think we deserve some time just us, do you not agree?"

Anne held her breath unable to put into words how truly wonderful it was to hear him talk so. "I will miss my family." She blurted out. She didn't know why she had said it. Although in a way she would miss them, she was certain they would not miss her, unless it was to make up the numbers at a party. After all that had happened, she could not bring herself to truly miss them. She would be beyond pleased to be free of that life, and to begin her new one. She had said it in the most part because -as always- she believed it was the right thing to do. She was leaving home to begin married life, of course she should miss her family. Whether it was true or not. Frederick frowned, and she knew he was taking it to mean more than she had intended. "But, I find the idea of spending my days with you more than enough to console me." she said, softening the blow. "I find I am looking forward to being your wife, to running out household, very much." she blushed.

He saw and placed his other hand on top of hers on his arm. "I realise I do not have some grand estate like Kellynch to offer you Annie, but I have already sent enquiries regarding a number of modest properties that I think should please us both."

"Not in Bath." Anne burst out.

Frederick chuckled. "No, not in Bath. I confess the idea of settling on a coast, somewhere I can see the sea, even when I am on land is too big a draw. Seeing Harville settled in Lyme, as meagre as it was, I found myself envying him. He has his house by the sea, his children around him, and his wife by his side." he smiled at her again. "I do declare I can think of nothing better."

"Will you miss it? I mean unless there is another war, I suspect it is unlikely you shall travel far from home. Do you think you will find enough to occupy your time? That you will not wish yourself away at sea once again." Away from me and the boredom of home life, she added silently.

Frederick stopped walking and turned to face Anne, studying her face, then to Anne's astonishment he blushed. "I think being kept closer to home where you are, shall have its advantages, and that we shall have plenty to occupy our time." he smirked and then winked at her. She suddenly realised what he was about and took her turn to blush profusely. Once their moment was over she tugged on his arm suggesting they keep walking.

In no time at all they reached the temporary home of the Crofts. Having spent the remainder of the short journey discussing homes and future dreams, the business of earlier had all but been forgotten and the lovers were very much as in love as ever.

The Crofts to Frederick's credit were just as delighted buy their surprise visitor as he had implied they would be. Sophia pulled Anne to her, embracing her as if they were already sisters –better than sisters, for her own rarely showed such affection- and whispered how pleased she was that they had at least settled their differences. Anne couldn't help but be comforted by the warmth and acceptance, and bitterly disappointed that her own family had displayed only cold opposition or indifference.

When Frederick explained briefly the events at Camden Place, his brother and sister were astonished. Despite the fact they had heard of, and even witnessed on occasion with their own eyes Sir Walter's blatant disrespect for anyone he deemed lower in status that himself, they could not believe he would be so rude to a man, a hero, such as Captain Wentworth.

As much as Sophie loved Anne, deep down – all things considered- she was of the opinion the Elliot's would be lucky to have such a match for a middle daughter already seven and twenty. With Elizabeth at home also, they should be proud to call her brother their family, not see him as only a solution for their spinster eldest daughter and the family's financial woes. She would not voice her opinion now, she did not wish to embarrass her future sister in law further; the poor thing had already been mortified by her family's behaviour enough for one day. Sophia was very fond of Anne and knew she was not of the same cloth of her family, despite being of their blood.

"Tell me Miss Anne, do you expect any repercussion upon your return?" She asked thoughtfully. Anne looked at Frederick, the smallest hint of colour tinting her cheeks, and a thought struck Mrs Croft that maybe she hadn't heard the full story. Something else had occurred they did not wish to share, the fact was Anne was reluctant to return home. Sophia briefly wondered if her brother had lost his temper or behaved somewhat inappropriately. Heaven forbid he had struck Sir Walter or the cousin. But just as quickly as it appeared, the thought was dismissed as ludicrous. Although the thought of the impeccable Sir Walter waltzing around Bath sporting a blackened eye, did make her want to chuckle. Instead she allowed herself a small smile hidden behind her hand before addressing the couple again. "Well you are more than welcome to remain here my dear, if my brother can be persuaded to give up his room and remove himself from the house, you can stay and we can get to know one another better."

Frederick sighed. "Is it really so necessary that I leave Sophia?" Anne shot him a look, but he continued. "We are engaged after all, and chaperoned by yourself or the Admiral." he glanced at his friend and brother by marriage, only to find him shrugging and looking to his wife as he usually did in these cases. He could not see a problem either, it had been fine at Kellynch when Anne was recovering.

Sophia sighed already reading their minds. "We are not in a small village now, surrounded by friends and family who have known Miss Anne's sound reputation for years. Here, we are in Bath, where gossips gossip, and will love the idea of a lady being almost betrothed to one gentleman, only to seemingly attach herself to another out of nowhere, then to move in under the same roof as he." Sophia shook her head. "It will never do. The rumours shall be rife and I would not want either of you to suffer for the sake of you staying somewhere else for a few nights Frederick. What if enquiries were made about how you know each other? What if the servants talk? The night you spent together at Uppercross could become common knowledge and then your living arrangement could be deemed even more inappropriate."

"You paint quite a dim picture Sophie." The Admiral commented awkwardly, smiling apologetically in the direction of the couple, while glaring at his wife.

"I know, I know. But we must think of all the reputations involved. Surely for the sake of removing himself to the White Hart, Frederick would not be selfish enough to put all those he cared about at risk, along with himself."

The betrothed couple glanced at each other again, a silent conversation taking place between them, convincing Sophia further that there was more to the story.

"You are correct of course sister." Captain Wentworth agreed finally. "I shall have my things taken to the Inn as soon as they are packed, if it allows Anne to stay here." He looked warmly at his fiancée. Anne smiled in grateful response. All this talk of spoiled reputations and gossips had brought the horrific circus of earlier back to the forefront of her mind and she once again felt shame and embarrassment. She wanted to tell the Crofts the real reason they had fled Camden Place and why she was so reluctant to return to it, especially alone. But in a swift look of warning when they first arrived, Frederick had asked her not to. It felt wrong keeping it from them, as ridiculous as it was. But she had already wronged her fiance and been the course of a quarrel between them once today, she did not wish to do so again.

"So, now that is decided, Anne, you may dispatch a note asking for your things to be sent here, and we shall have some tea. When we can discuss more happy topics, like your wedding." Sophia smiled at them both and tried not to notice how relieved they both were at the change in subject.

While Anne sat at the small writing table in the corner, the Crofts had gone about arranging everything within the house for Anne's stay, and Frederick's subsequent removal to the White Hart. He was to go there himself to secure lodgings shortly, but not before he took the opportunity to speak to Anne unobserved once more. He pulled up a chair so that he could sit beside her, watching her.

"Sir what are you about?" she said sternly, yet the corners of her mouth were upturned in the beginnings of a smile. "I am busy writing a letter, as you can plainly see."

"I was wondering to myself just now, how much time would have been saved if I had only written to you, when I had made my first bit of money, when I was established in the Navy. Say in the year eight when I returned to England."

Anne's eyes widened, she had no knowledge he had even been back to England before recently. Then she frowned and he knew he was right in his assumptions. Although her family had instigated their separation, it was his pride which had kept them that way.

"I thought about it so many times. But is suppose I imagined you happy maybe even married, and I did not want – I could not stand- being turned down a second time." He confessed.

Anne covered his hand with hers. "I never turned you down, and I never shall. I accepted your proposal then because I loved you. I never stopped, even when everyone was telling me I should. I could not. I still love you."

"I know that now." He admitted.

They both sat for a time, seconds which felt like hours, contemplating all the past mistakes and regrets, before Anne took a deep breath in, exhaling long and loud. "Let us stop talking of the past and what might have been. We are together now and we shall be married soon."

"Soon." Fredrick repeated.

"How soon?" Asked Sophia as she re-entered the room.

The couple sprung apart not having realised how close they had become. Anne's hand left his and not for the first time Frederick wished them married already, so that he could hold her hand as often and for as long as he wished.

Sophia tried not to chuckle. She knew in her and her husband's absence, the couple would have sought the chance to grasp a few moments alone. Had the Admiral and her not done the same when they were engaged? It would be great fun to attempt to catch them out, like her annoying younger brothers had done with her.

Frederick and Anne looked startled but her brother recovered first. "As soon as everything can be arranged. Sophia I am sure we can count on your assistance and guidance where needed."

His sister beamed back at him, she would love nothing more. She had no children of her own, this would be her one chance to be involved in such an occasion. She looked at Anne for confirmation she would not be stepping on anybody's toes, but Anne only smiled widely too. "It would be wonderful if you could." she added.

"It would be both an honour and a pleasure to assist you in any capacity." Sophia said before sitting down. "So again, how soon is soon?"

"Tomorrow if it meant we could be rid of interfering, well-meaning relations, and free to be together." Frederick mumbled.

Anne had to prevent herself from laughing out loud, there was no way her interfering relations were at all well meaning, they were the complete opposite, as they had regrettably discovered to their own detriment. However the fact that Frederick was still trying to give them a chance, made her smile. He truly loved her, enough to take on all her family too.