Author's Note:
Hi, guys! I ran out of prewritten chapters, but I thought you deserved the last chapter of the year. As I've mentioned before, I've been writing fanfiction for 7 years now, but in March this year, I decided to share my writing for the very first time and you have been wonderful. You have made me feel I have some talent and creativity, which I never thought I had, and have pushed me to be better, but you have also encouraged me and inspired me.
It's been an awful year and I know we all feel so unconnected to each other, isolated both physically and emotionally, but you have kept me company in some way. Some of you have told me that my stories were helping you through this year and that has both blown my mind and made me extremely happy. I hope I have brought all of you some comfort and some fluff in all this mess and that next year will be better.
Anyway, this is a short chapter, but, in my humble opinion, cute. I hope you like it.
Happy new year and stay safe!
Jen
"But you love me anyway," she chuckled and ran her wet hands over his shoulders.
"I do."
The combination of her touch, which always delighted him, and the cold water on his heated skin, which had begun to perspire underneath so many layers of clothing, felt heavenly. He slid his own hand down her back, caressing her bottom before giving her an appreciative squeeze and holding her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. Here, in the water, she was light and she did not fear being too heavy for him with the added weight of their child.
The cold of the water was enough to cool their skin, but not their ardour. Fortunately, nobody was there to witness the intertwined lovers in their little private nook.
57.
Elizabeth's second pregnancy was a lot like the first one. She enjoyed the feeling of her babe's kicks and nudges, was thoroughly pampered by her family, and constantly questioned by a curious little boy who saw his mama's belly increasing rapidly. Bennet had seen both his parents speaking to his mama's belly and had lately begun speaking to the babe himself. He had introduced himself and promised to be the best big brother which had both amused and endeared his parents. Fortunately, Elizabeth was spared most of the stomach discomforts associated with childbearing but there was no escaping the struggles of a heavily pregnant woman. She could only hope that this babe would not arrive late.
During the first days of July, the Bingley family arrived at Pemberley to help Elizabeth receive the new addition to the Darcy family. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Stone, Charlie's nursemaid, did their best to keep the two energetic toddlers calm. This time, Elizabeth felt more confident and knew what to expect and so she had asked her family to join them. A much more tranquil Mrs. Bennet had thanked her daughter and demanded her husband escort her and the girls to Pemberley, and so Mrs. Bennet, Mary, and Kitty, who had not been there when Bennet was born were now there to receive their second child. The Fitzwilliams came for a short visit, too, though they planned to stay a sennight and leave before the babe was supposed to arrive.
"Mama, when will my brother arrive?" Bennet asked them one night as they tucked him in bed.
"Brother?" Fitzwilliam smiled at his wife. "Have you decided it shall be a brother?"
"Yes, like Charlie, Papa."
"You might have a sister, darling," Elizabeth pointed out.
"No, it is a brother, Mama, I know."
"Do you, now?" Elizabeth asked, amused.
"Now, Ben, neither I nor your mother can control that. If it is not a boy this time, it might be next time if we are blessed with more children."
"Do you not wish for a sister?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes," their son replied, although he did not know any girls smaller than Cousin Beth who, at 7, was quite grown up in his eyes, but he very seriously added: "But later. This time it's a boy, Mama."
"Well, we shall see," she said and they both kissed their son goodnight.
"Do you think he will be too disappointed if it is a girl?" Fitzwilliam asked his wife later.
"I hope not. After all, it is just as likely."
Elizabeth sat down on the settee in their private sitting room and leaned down to take off her slippers. She sighed as she realised her almost nine-months bump was in the way. Fitzwilliam smiled and knelt down in front of her, removing her slippers one by one. He sat next to her on the settee and brought her feet to his lap. As he began massaging her swollen ankles, he said:
"With all the activity at home, I worried you would be too stressed."
"You know I enjoy our family's company."
"I know, but you are quite heavy with child and I also know that you are extremely uncomfortable during the last month. The babe shall be here in a few weeks."
"Yes, he shall," she smiled at her husband, placing a hand on her stomach. "Are you worried?"
"When am I not worried about you, Elizabeth? Yes, I am worried sick about you and the babe."
She slid closer so her legs rested on him and cupped his cheek.
"All shall be well," she whispered against his neck and turned his face to kiss him.
"Mrs. Darcy, may I speak with you?" Mrs. Harris asked timidly as soon as she entered the parlour where the whole family was taking tea.
"Of course," Elizabeth said and followed the nursemaid. "What is it, Mrs. Harris?" she asked, once they were alone.
"Master Bennet is very... active today, mistress."
"Isn't he always?" Elizabeth chuckled.
"Yes, but you see, he was running in the halls and he stumbled upon one of Lady Anne's vases. I fear it has broken, Madam."
"Oh, dear! Which one?" Mrs. Harris walked Elizabeth to the hall and showed her the broken vase. Elizabeth was relieved to see it was not one of her mother's favourites.
"I am sorry, Mrs. Darcy," Mrs. Harris said.
"Not at all. I am sure it was not your fault. Bring my son here, Mrs. Harris. I shall ask Lady Anne and my husband to join us."
Elizabeth came back with her mother-in-law and her husband and they met with a contrite Bennet.
"Now, Bennet," Elizabeth said. "Would you like to tell us what happened?"
Bennet looked up to his parents and his grandmama with green imploring eyes under those beautiful, long eyelashes and almost melt the three of them.
"Mama, I did not mean to," he said.
"What did you not mean to do, Bennet?" Fitzwilliam asked, for his wife had not told him what he had done and he was confused by his own mother's presence there.
"Papa..." he hesitated. "Papa, I was only playing with Charlie."
"And?"
"And..." Ben looked down for a moment before meeting his father's eyes again. "I was running and grandmama's vase broke."
Elizabeth almost laughed. "It broke? By itself, my dear?"
"I think."
Elizabeth watched the corner of her husband's lip rise a bit as he tried not to smile.
"Do you mean that you running in the halls had nothing to do with it?" Fitzwilliam asked and when he received only silence, he added: "Are you supposed to run in the halls, Bennet?"
"No, Papa." His lower lip protruded in an adorable toddler pout as the three adults in front of him tried not to give in to his cuteness.
"It was your grandmama's vase," Elizabeth said. "Do you not believe you should apologise for breaking it?"
"Yes, Mama," Bennet said and turned to his grandmother. "I am sorry, Grandmama. I did not mean to break your vase."
"I forgive you, my love," Lady Anne replied, and knew that as much as she wanted to hug and kiss the boy and undermine this little accident, she knew she had to let his parents raise him.
"You can run all you want outside, Bennet, but you must be careful inside. Not only could you break something, as you did today, but you could get hurt."
"Yes, Papa."
"You are dismissed."
"Oh, thank the Lord," Lady Anne sighed when Bennet was escorted back to his nursery. "I did not think I could stand another minute without coddling him."
Elizabeth laughed. "You did amazing, Mother."
"I thought you would surrender for a moment," her son commented.
"It took all of my self-control," Lady Anne confessed as they returned to the parlour.
"What happened?" Mr. Darcy asked and many curious eyes turned to them.
Elizabeth chuckled. "Apparently Bennet's naughty behaviour will be exposed to all of you. He was running the halls and broke one of Mother's vases."
"Oh, my," Georgiana smiled. "Did he pout?"
"Of course," Fitzwilliam replied. "Only after he stared at his grandmother with the most repentant look he could muster."
"Oh, I know that look," Mr. Bennet chuckled.
"If it is difficult for a parent to resist, I cannot imagine for a grandparent," Lady Matlock said.
"It was torture," Lady Anne said. "I melt when he pouts."
"He knows exactly what works with you, Mother," Fitzwilliam argued.
"Well," Elizabeth said, pouring herself a cup of tea. "I think Mother withstood your son's tactic very well."
"My son?" Fitzwilliam asked, amused. "Why is he my son when he misbehaves and your son when he is a little angel?"
Elizabeth looked at him as if surprised. "I thought it was rather obvious. The Bennets are quiet and docile, any boisterous or lively traits must come from your family."
Everyone had to laugh at that.
"I think we can agree that Bennet is the spitting image of his father," Mr. Bennet smiled, "with his mother's attitude."
"Papa!" Elizabeth complained, chuckling. "You cannot betray me!"
"I cannot say you did not warn me," Fitzwilliam replied to his father-in-law as he watched his wife with tenderness in his eyes.
"Yes, well, you cannot give her back now," Mr. Bennet laughed.
"I would not dream of it."
I do not own any Pride and Prejudice properties, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.
Characters and situations, created by Jane Austen, are taken from Pride and Prejudice and from the Pride and Prejudice (1995) adaptation created by Simon Langton and distributed by BBC.
This story is released under the GPL/CC BY: verbatim copying and distribution of this entire work are permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided attribution is preserved.
