Title: Pride
Author: rooster dawn
Alternative Universe
Summary: Harm and Mac act out Pride and Prejudice
Disclaimer: JAG is property of Belisarius productions, no copyright infringement intended.
Pride & Prejudice is the property of Jane Austen
(First known as First Impressions)
: Warner Brothers 1940
: BBC 1979
: Arts and Entertainment Network/BBC co-production 1995
: Universal Studio 2005
no copyright infringement intended.
Please let me know what you think, it's the only way I can write better stories for you.
part thirty seven Forever Happy
Everyone mingled and danced for the rest of the day. The Mackenzies and Keeters got to know each other better due to the common thread that the Keeter's parents had been well acquainted with the Burnetts. In fact the older Keeter girls remembered them quite well.
"So what was Jack like as a child?" asked Jordan.
"He was kind of wimpy. I guess being the only boy with six sisters will do that to you. We used to dress him up in dresses. He was like a doll to us." laughed one of Jack's older sisters.
"So that's why he knew all the names of the different feminine undergarments." smiled Jordan to the delight of the others.
"It's probably why Papa sent him away to that stogy military boarding school for boys. It's where he met Mr. Darcy." another sister added.
"So how long have you known Mr. Darcy?" asked Sarah.
"It must be close to fifteen years now. He came to visit us one summer. He was such a proud and prideful little boy. We tormented him pretty good. We slipped him some sleeping potion one time.
When he woke up at the assembly ball he found himself looking like a beautiful young lady. There were many young men who asked him to dance that night. I think he was the most popular young lady there." laughed one of his sisters.
"That might explain why he doesn't like to dance much at public assemblies." sighed Sarah.
"I'm surprised that he doesn't like your sister better, he seems to only tolerate her. He went on about accomplished young women when I stayed here last year."
"You mean Allison? While I have to admit, she has come a long way the last few years, she was a regular little tomboy most of her life. She never liked to wear dresses. We usually had to bribe her with candy to dress up.
She used to like to go fishing and hunting with Jack and Mr. Darcy. She used to bait the hook for Jack." laughed his older sister.
Allison though wasn't very amused. She had worked very hard the last five years to become quite accomplished. She had hoped to show Mr. Darcy that she was as good as any woman that he would ever meet.
But in the end maybe her sisters were right. While Mr. Darcy may have liked her as the little girl he went fishing with, but she wasn't the elegant daughter of the gentry.
Sarah was a daughter of the gentry even though her family wealth and connections were far below that of Mr. Darcy. She knew how to carry herself when in the presence of Mr. Darcy.
She knew how to take him to the edge and yet not cross the line. While she might tease and flirt with him, she didn't degrade him in the company of others as she made him see the error of his thinking.
"Why do you think Jack told you that Allison was a better rider than he was? So Ms Sarah, are you looking forward to your day? I envy you, you're going to be the Mistress of Pemberly. You're going to have invite us all now since we're family." smiled Jack's sister.
"I've been bouncing back and forth from being very calm and being very apprehensive. Pemberly is very beautiful and I'm going to love living there, but I will be far away from my family. I'm going to miss them." replied Sarah.
Sarah was concerned about living so far away, but Darcy had told her that she would see them often enough after they were married. He usually needed to go to town regularly. They could always stop in Hertfordshire on the way to see them and of course her family was always welcomed to visit Pemberly.
Friday
25 December
Longbourn Chapel
The day had finally arrived. Sarah would be marrying Mr. Darcy. It was a unique experience for her. She was very nervous, even more so than her mother. After today she would be married and moving far away from Longbourn.
She didn't know whether to be happy or to cry. She knew she was going to miss her family. They had been a very large part of her life. Even when she had been away for three weeks this summer and for six weeks last spring, she thought about them daily wondering how they were and what they were all doing.
She had imagined Jennifer playing the piano forte while her father hurried to his library for some peace and quiet. Mattie and Chloe were probably in town complaining to her Aunt Phillips about the officers being away.
And Jordan, she had been so worried about her. She had been so sad and despondent when she went away a year ago. But now everything was right in the world. Jordan was married to Mr. Keeter. Mattie was happy to be married to her officer, Mr. Turner.
She was getting married to Mr. Darcy. She was going to be living in the most marvelous and beautiful estate in the world, Pemberly. Still she was sad. She was going to miss seeing and talking to her father everyday who always gave her sage counsel and who loved her very much.
She was going to miss the closeness she had shared with her mother the last few months as they planned her wedding. It had been a long time since they had spent so much quality time together. It had made her quite happy that she was able to spend so much time with her.
It was a beautiful wedding. They had invited all of their families and close friends. There were a few business associates of Darcy there too. Darcy had rented a hall to hold the reception. He didn't want to impose on Jack.
There was fine dining and dancing as everyone mingled and renewed old acquaintances. Sarah danced most of the afternoon with Darcy, but saved one special dance for her father.
"You look so beautiful Sarah." complimented Harriet.
"Thank you Harriet. My mother helped me pick it out. We spent some quality alone time together the last few months." smiled Sarah.
Harriet knew what Sarah meant. When you are part of a large family, there isn't always enough time to go around for everyone. One's parents usually spent more time with the younger siblings who needed them more.
"That must have been nice Sarah. I miss spending time with Mama. I live so far away from her. Bud doesn't like to travel much unless there is something to gain from it. Though I do think he likes the idea of spending time with family.
His father wasn't the most pleasant man in the world. He liked to make life miserable. I'm so happy for you." cried Harriet.
"Have you been lonely Harriet ... living so far from home?" asked Sarah.
"Sometimes, but I have a lot of things to keep me busy. I get to run my own house, getting to know Bud, and sometime next summer I'm going to have a baby." smiled Harriet.
"That's wonderful Harriet. I know I'm going to miss my sisters. I missed them so much last year when I was away. I'll be going away for much longer now. At least I will be at Pemberly. It's so beautiful there. You will have to come and visit me before you have the baby." pleaded Sarah.
"Only if you come and visit me next summer after the baby is born." replied Harriet.
"I'll be there with you when the baby is born Harriet. I wouldn't want to miss the birth of your child." Sarah corrected her.
"I would like that Sarah." smiled Harriet.
"Where are you going on your honeymoon Sarah?" asked Harriet.
"Darcy is taking me to the continent. We're going to travel around the continent for a few months before returning to Pemberly." replied Sarah.
"That sounds marvelous Sarah. What about you Jordan, how was your honeymoon?" asked Harriet.
"We spent a couple of weeks traveling up north through Scotland and Wales. After the first of the year we're going to Ireland." smiled Jordan.
"That sounds like fun. I didn't have much of a honeymoon. Bud has an excessive need to be near Rosings. He doesn't like to be gone for any length of time. He wanted to be there for Lady Catherine's beck and call." moaned Harriet.