As November turned into a much colder December, Elizabeth found herself wondering how quickly the past seven weeks had been. She had been living with Will, Leonard and Mrs Reynolds for seven weeks but it felt like much longer. Every morning she would wake up in Will's arms before heading downstairs for breakfast with Leonard.
Her job at Mary Rose with Jacob was going exceedingly well. For the first time since Jacob had left his old school, his behaviour and happiness were getting better; and he had met a potential foster family who were taking him out on the weekends to get to know each other better, he talked about the Smiths quite a lot during the week when he spent time with Lizzy.
They bought their first Christmas tree as a couple during the first week of December and decorated it over the first weekend with Leonard and Mrs Reynolds. They didn't place any presents underneath, they were going to be spending Christmas eve through to Boxing day at Longbourn with the Bennets and then the twenty-seventh to New Year at Pemberley with the Darcys. Seeing the house lit up in twinkling, colour lights and tinsel brought Elizabeth a little bit of cheer that after all the worry and grief that had happened over the summer, she could focus on being a little happier at Christmas.
Leonard broke up for the two-week school holidays on the nineteenth of December which meant that Lizzy was also off from work which Will was happy about. From the first day of the holiday up until the twenty-third of December, the three of them were preparing for their trip away for the rest of the holidays, making sure that they had plenty of footwear to take with them; Will had warned her that Pemberley tended to get deep snow around this time of the year.
When the day finally came for them to travel to Longbourn, Lizzy felt nervous about how things were going at her childhood home. Whenever she had called to chat to her father, Mr Bennet tended to be brief whenever she asked about how Lydia and Kitty were doing under his new rules. Mr Bennet would just say that things were 'fine' but Lydia was now nearly half way through her pregnancy and was starting to show the world what her actions over the summer had done.
Kitty would complain that her lack of social life meant her breakup with Denny and faced alienation from her friends because she couldn't just come and go as she pleased at home any more. But whenever Lydia spoke to her over the phone, her youngest sister would insist that everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about. But Lizzy did worry.
So on Christmas eve they arrived at Longbourn, with their bags being taken to the rooms they would be staying in. After the delighted squeals and hugs from Mrs Bennet, who was happy to have all her daughters back for Christmas, had settled down, Lizzy took Jane to one side in the gardens to have a private chat.
"Lydia and Dad insist that everything is fine but I can't help but wonder if they're putting on a pretence." Lizzy said.
Jane sighed heavily as they sat on one of the stone benches.
"Lizzy, you are right when you say that they're putting on a pretence. Lydia is having to take her lessons in seclusion because she was beaten up by a few of the girls in her year group. When the school phoned, we took her to the hospital and although the baby is fine, Lydia is struggling to accept that her actions have changed her school life. Her popularity has gone, her friends want nothing to do with her and everyone calls her a 'slut' or worse. Seclusion was the only option available to keep her and the baby safe. Last week, Dad had a visit from his lawyer about the upcoming trials. Mrs Younge was offered a plea deal if Lydia backed up what she had said, because the woman was willing to allow Lydia to return home before Wickham returned home, they offered her a four-year sentence but could be let out in two on good behaviour." Jane explained.
"So what happened with that?" Lizzy asked.
"Lydia backed everything up that Mrs Younge had written in her statement with the CPS. Dad wasn't happy about it; he thinks that a four-year sentence for kidnapping a child is a light sentence. He's also worried about how long Wickham will get for his charges, the lawyer thinks that he'll get six and he has to go on the sex offenders register for life. The lawyer also thinks that the pregnancy won't help the trial." Jane continued.
"I understand that Wickham is the father of the child but surely that won't factor in on the jury's decision?"
"The lawyer thinks it could. Despite the fact that Lydia was underage when she ran off with Wickham and the fact that he groomed her, Wickham's defence is going to try and make out that she knew what she doing. They're going to use her previous sexual knowledge to their advantage and paint Lydia as a rebellious wanton or something like that. There's a possibility that they're going to say that Lydia got herself pregnant on purpose and persuaded Wickham to start a new life with her."
"That's disgusting! Don't get me wrong, she was stupid for what she's done but she was a child and Wickham was an adult!"
Jane shrugged, "I'm angry about it too Lizzy, we all are. Lydia's been put on a counselling programme to help her deal with the situation and talk about what's happened."
"Did Dad tell Lydia what the lawyer told him?"
Jane nodded, "She knows everything and she's prepared to deal with what they throw at her. The trial is set for the second week of February with the verdict being delivered on the Friday afternoon depending on if the whole jury agree to the same verdict. Lydia is giving her evidence via a camera link so she doesn't have to face him." Her sister explained.
Lizzy sighed heavily, she couldn't understand why her father hadn't told her what the lawyer had said about Wickham's defence and now she worried that the stress would be too much for Lydia to handle. She knew that the whole pregnancy thing was a lot to adjust to, especially as her youngest sister was determined to keep and raise the baby on top of having to do GCSE's around the time she was due to give birth but if the defence were determined to paint Lydia as the instigator to Wickham's crime, Lizzy was worried about the toll it would have on her little sister.
"Is she going to cope with it?" Lizzy asked.
Jane shrugged again, "She seems to be struggling but that's to be expected with everything that's happened. Dad isn't making things any better for her or for Kitty at the moment and whilst I agree that he needs to be harsh and curb their wild behaviour, he also needs to remember that Kitty is eighteen soon and will be off to university where she'll be free to live her life how she wants and that Lydia is already being punished for her stupidity."
"How exactly does she see herself as being punished? It wasn't her fault that Wickham used her the way he did."
"Lizzy, she thinks that getting herself pregnant is her fault. Lydia believes that because of her stupidity by running off with Wickham and 'allowing' herself to get groomed by him the pregnancy is her punishment."
"But it's not a punishment. A baby is a wonderful thing." Lizzy argued.
"I agree with you but Lydia has mixed emotions about the baby. One part of her wants the baby to prove to herself and the family that she can change her selfish ways and be a good parent whereas another part of her feels like because having a child is a life commitment, she's giving herself a life sentence for her mistake." Jane sighed.
"Does she truly want to be a mum? Does she truly want the baby?"
"I think she does. Mum took her for her in depth scan last week and apparently she was quite fascinated when the sonographer showed her how the baby was developing."
Lizzy smiled, "I imagine it was quite an exciting time for her, did she find out the sex?" she asked.
Jane nodded, "She did, but she won't tell anyone what she's having."
Their conversation ended when they were called into the house for lunch. Mrs Bennet had made a shepherd's pie for everyone. As they all sat in the dining room, Lizzy observed Lydia as distantly as she could and saw that Lydia had changed a lot because of the ordeal she had been through. She remembered the times in the past when meal times were a time when Lydia would gossip about some girl or situation that had happened in Meryton or at school, how Lydia would whine about Mr Bennet not giving her enough pocket money but now she simply passed the gravy boat to those who wanted a top-up and occasionally replied to a question if one was asked to her directly but throughout the meal, she mostly remained silent.
Once lunch was finished with, Mrs Reynolds helped Mrs Bennet do the washing up whilst Mr Bennet, Charles, Will and Leonard went out into the gardens to have a kick about with Leonard's football. Mary was sat at the family piano practising, whilst Kitty went to be antisocial in her bedroom. Jane was busy making a start on her lesson plans for the new year when school started up again, leaving Lydia and Lizzy in the living room watching a Christmas movie on the TV.
"Lydi, can I talk to you for a second?" Lizzy asked.
Her youngest sister pressed the mute button on the TV remote before turning to face her.
"Sure. What's up Lizzy?"
"I just wanted to check in. You say that you're fine whenever I call the house but I had a little chat with Jane and she told me about what Dad's lawyer said regarding Wickham's trial and what happened at school." Lizzy replied.
Lydia exhaled heavily, "I knew that she'd tell you eventually. You two were always close."
"I'm concerned about you and so is Jane. I don't want you to feel like you have to suffer in silence and deal with everything by yourself."
"Lizzy, it's my fault that I got into this mess." Lydia muttered.
"You're a victim Lydia. Wickham got inside your head and made you feel like you could only rely on him. It's what he does, you're not the first girl he's done this to." Lizzy said softly.
"I know, I found out a little about his history with William's sister. Don't you think it's a bit weird how I'm having George's baby and your boyfriend's nephew is going to be my baby's half-brother?"
"Don't change the subject Lydi."
Lydia sighed, "Lizzy, I'll be fine. It's been hard, I knew it was going to be when I decided to keep the baby. Life at school has changed, I've accepted that. I've been bullied and gossiped about but maybe I deserve that. After all, how many times did I gossip and take the mick out of people because of school gossip? I'm only getting a taste of my own medicine. The seclusion is hard but it's to keep me and the baby safe so I've dealt with it. As for the trial, I'm shitting myself when I have to go to court and give evidence and then have to deal with George's defence trying to paint the situation to make him look better, I know what they'll probably try and do."
"It seems like you know what you're in for then."
Lydia nodded, "Honestly, I'm trying to better myself. The lawyer gave it to me straight that it's not going to be pretty but at least I don't have to stand in front of him, I'll be in a different room via a live feed camera. I'm trying to change and not just for me, I'm having this baby and I want to prove that I can be a person that doesn't think of her own selfish desires and actions."
"I think you've learned your lesson, just don't be too hard on yourself. The parenting thing, yeah it's going to be hard but I want you to know that we'll support you." Lizzy said.
"I know. Dad and Mum are going to ensure I can go to sixth form because Dad doesn't want me to waste my life doing nothing, he wants me to do my A-Levels like the rest of you have but weekends sneaking out and partying are over. The weekends, I'll be spending with my baby, as well as the majority of nappy changes and night time feeds. Dad isn't making this easy for me and I can't say that I blame him, I put him through hell. I put all of you through hell." Lydia replied.
"I'll take your word for it that you're going to be okay but I want you to promise me that if you ever need to talk to someone, you can talk to me about it. I want to be there for you Lydia."
Lydia chuckled slightly, "I don't understand how you can be so nice to me after everything I've done. I ran off with your ex-boyfriend, the man who nearly killed you. I don't deserve anything nice from you."
"You're my sister, that's all that matters."
There was a brief moment of silence before Lydia pulled out her recent scan photograph to show to her. Lizzy smiled as she looked down at the little baby in the photograph, the black and white making it only capable of showing the head, the spine and the feet.
"It's a boy." Lydia whispered.
Lizzy looked at her, "A boy?"
Lydia nodded, "A boy."
The two sisters shared a hug before crying tears of joy.
"Oh Lydi, Mum will freak when she finds out. She only knows how to deal with girls." Lizzy laughed.
Lydia laughed too, "She was a bit annoyed when I told the sonographer that I wanted to be the only person to know the baby's sex. It'll be a nice change. Dad says that cousin Bill is having a girl?"
Lizzy nodded, "Well Bill doesn't want the baby but Charlotte is very happy with the fact it's a girl."
"When's Charlotte due?"
"The end of April, a few weeks before you are."
Lydia smiled, "Thanks Lizzy, for being supportive despite the fact I've always been a cow."
"Like I said, you're my sister and I'll always be there." Lizzy replied.
Lydia smiled as she turned the volume on the TV back up and the two resumed watching the film in silence. Now that Lizzy had been told and had spoken to Lydia about the current situation, she felt slightly better. Now all she could hope for was that Wickham would be found guilty and have another sentence added on to his current eight for the manslaughter of William's sister, that way he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else ever again.