The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

A/n I was in the hospital for a minor injury. I am getting better. This year has been rather unfortunate, but it will get better. I have not abandoned my other stories, just wanted to finish the 1st part of this. I'll confess this chapter made me sad.

True Brothers

Before Richard came into the room, William Darcy had a strange sensation, like someone was at his ear. He heard a little voice. "Listen carefully and remember my words, no matter what you hear, be glad, accept it. If you do that, I will come later and tell you a secret." Somehow, Darcy knew the voice wasn't lying. When he saw a tiny man with butterfly wings land on his nose to kiss his forehead, he knew it was real. Then it was gone. He felt he was loved.

Richard saw William, looking sad and worried. He had lost weight since he had seen him last, nearly two years ago; William had grey hairs and a troubled mien. He was stretched on a couch with a full glass of brandy on the side. He had his dog with him, sitting with her sister by the fire. The sister was Richard´s dog that stayed with his mother. Both ran to greet him. He crouched to pet them and let both lick his face. Richard needed the dogs' comfort to be brave; his heart ached, not knowing how to tell him. He heard William's chuckle.

"I see the mighty Lord covered with dog's hair. Nothing changes." William grinned.

"William, what a surprise. I thought you would be gone for a year. Goodness, it is good to see you." Richard exclaimed.

Darcy stood up; Richard, as usual, hugged his cousin. They were in a private setting, and they were affectionate as William's father and his own had been.

Darcy was happy to see Richard, his best friend, his brother. "I am back. I just arrived in London today, my Lord." William grinned, "What a dashing lord in civilian clothes, besides the dog hair; women must be at your feet." He didn't wait for an answer and told Richard about Georgiana. They sat to talk. Once Darcy finished his tale, both shook their heads, thinking Georgiana always came up with the unexpected.

Richard decided to tell him the news, "I am so glad you are here, on time for my wedding."

Darcy's face changed to the color of chalk. He knew the name of the bride, not able to wait. He blurted out, "To Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

Richard could see the pain in William's eyes. He suddenly remembered the little man and what he had said that day long ago, "Save him, I would do anything for him; I would give him whatever I wanted the most, even my life." He loved William enough to do that; nothing had changed. It was true then, as it was true to this day.

"You deserve her; I don't." William Darcy's eyes filled with tears running down his face. He was no longer proud. His were tears of mourning for Elizabeth, for what couldn't be his.

Richard couldn't stand seeing William so heartbroken, "You love her, don't you? I can step aside." Richard felt as if someone was tearing his heart into small pieces; it hurt badly. He couldn't help it. A tear ran down his cheek, but he stopped himself. He would give his life for William, for those he loved; and, he would step aside for his beloved cousin.

But William loved Richard just as much. He knew he could have looked for Elizabeth and didn't. "You are my brother, a gallant, brave man. I treated her badly. I have you know Peter Strau laughed until his stomach hurt when I told him. He said I was a proud buffoon. He was right; he wasn't one and married the Bennet sister without hesitation. No, you marry her; you can be happy. I missed my chance." When William Darcy said that, an immense feeling of peace filled him. He didn't know why, but he believed he would see the apparation again. He knew he had done the right thing.

They sat down to talk. Richard told him what he knew about Wickham. He also shared about Mr. Bennet's inheritance. When it was time to leave, they made plans for the wedding. Although sad, William didn't feel hopeless.

A Small Revelation

On his way home, Darcy saw the tiny man, no bigger than this thumb, but bigger than before, standing on his hand, no wings this time. Daisy, his dog, beat her tail looking at the little man, so Darcy knew it was real, specially when a biscuit landed by Daisy. "William Darcy, I will share a secret with you, but you will forget it for a while. But first I must say that you and Richard make me proud." He told William the story of finding him bleeding.

The tiny man clicked his teeth, "You didn't crack your head when you fell down; George hurled a rock and hit you. He didn't go home; he was following the two of you. His stepmother ordered him to do it." He told him that Richard had said he would give him what wanted the most to save his life; just as he had earlier. "Now, I must tell you, you two are my sons. It was my right to claim you when I saved your life as Richard asked. But neither of your lives will end as other mortals's lives. One day, you two will come with me; you will accept to come because it will be the right choice. This might sound like a lie to you, but it is true; in the place where you two will go, many things are possible. You haven't lost Elizabeth forever; you will see. Just don't marry; time goes by fast; you must be patient. Mortal lives are short."

"George was a little boy, why?" William was sad to hear about George.

"His stepmother told him her sister, George's mother, confided George Darcy was his father. With you out the way, George could be the heir." The alleged father-to-be explained.

"Was that true, was George my brother?" William asked.

"No, but your grandfather Fitzwilliams was his father. She was a young woman who worked for them, and he forced her; he wasn't a good man. When George's mother was with child, she went to your mother, a kind lady. Your mother talked to your father, and he asked Wickham Sr. to marry her. What a sad story, George's mind was poisoned early when his aunt came to your home months before he tried to kill you. Now, be content; you will love Elizabeth, but it won't hurt." The little man jumped to stand on William's shoulder and patted his cheek.

"George left little ones; tell Richard to take care of them. They are also my relatives, just like George was. He repented in the end; you see, he loved you." The little man was going to say something else but didn't. With those words, the little man disappeared. Darcy vaguely remembered the little man; some of his words stayed. George's tale did; he also remembered not to marry and be happy for his brother Richard.

William decided to drop by Peter since he had a couple of packages his cousin, Georgiana's ex-fiancé, had sent him. He wanted to avoid seeing Elizabeth's family for a while; so he best do what had to be done.

The Family

Meanwhile, Richard sat to have a drink, he had remembered the day when William nearly died. He also remembered seeing a rock hitting William's head before he fell down. Someone had tried to kill William, he knew who, George. George had no chance when his aunt married George's father. She was a beautiful but wicked woman.

Richard was grateful William rejected his offer. The idea of losing Elizabeth had made his insides hurt; he had felt icy cold, no matter that all the fireplaces were lit, hewas in love; he fell in love from thinking about her, or maybe he fell in love with her because William did. Too bad they couldn't marry the same woman; this way both could live with her. Where he had been, men married several wives, though he guessed men didn't share women unless they were queens; queens could do as they wished; or, maybe, men did it without anyone else knowing.

Now, it was time to change clothes; he was going to the Strau home for dinner. One more day before Lizzie was his; he was counting the minutes. He loved her smile, her graceful body, her amber colored eyes, her quick wit, her vast knowledge, he loved everything about her.

He heard voices; his mother had arrived; he was right, she came in the room with two young girls. His eyes filled with tears; he seemed to cry a lot these days. The girls were Bartlett's daughters, seeing them reminded him of his older brother; they weren't shy and ran to him. They had not seen their daddy in a few months, and he looked a lot like Bartlett. "Daddy," they called him. He was going to say he was their uncle, but his mother stopped him, lifting her hand and shaking her head.

They were nearly three, dressed in light blue, exactly alike. Both short-curly-haired blonds had large bows adorning their hair. "We knows you are my daddy's brotter, but grandmama says you are our daddy now." One said, and the other pulled her arm and nodded, agreeing.

"I like it," one said, and the other said, "Me too."

Richard picked them up and sat with them. He sat one on each leg and laid their heads on his chest; to his surprise, they fell asleep. "Poor dears, they haven't napped today, wanting to come and see you. They were not fond of Letitia, oh dear best not to say much around them." Richard's mother smiled.

Sure enough a twin barely opened her eyes, "She is mean and stinky; she said grandmama was somefing. Letia smells like phew; she said we are 'uerfas.' I loves you." The next second, she was out again. They looked exactly alike; though he knew their names Daphne and Emily, it would take a while to know who was who.

Richard laughed, "You said William and I were trouble; you knew how to handle us."

His mother nodded. "True, you were; so I have experience, ahem. I was hoping your bride would meet the girls, but they are too tired."

Both girls opened their eyes, "Not tired, we wanna see Miss Brye." They said it at the same time; they meant the bride.

Richard's mother sighed. "Do you mind darling? I could come and will bring them back after a short while."

Richard grinned, "So you say." He hugged the girls, "My bride's name is Miss Lizzie, but you decide how to call her. Yes, you may come." Richard was very happy, he was to have a family. He was marrying the woman he loved for so long; he couldn't wait to be with her. His body felt on fire just thinking about her. He missed Bartlett, though he understood how horrible it would had been to come home to find Lizzie married to him.

He decided to arrive early so the girls could go home before dinner time. In the carriage, both girls sat on his lap, one asked, "Is your Lizzie going to be my mommy?"

"Yes, I guess so," he kissed her head. They smelled so good. After the horrors of war they were a joy to be had. He came out the carriage holding both of them, feeling the luckiest man alive.

"You're pretty," one of his nieces said.

"Thank your darling, I hope that my bride thinks so." Richard answered, not seeing his mother shake her head.

When he stepped down, he saw William's carriage and wondered what was going on. He was worried something had changed, and William was there to talk to Lizzie. It didn't occur to him that his thoughts made no sense since this wasn't Lizzie's home. He had no idea this was planned by someone else. Someone that wanted Richard to know all would be well.

a/n The whatever loves both Richard and William. Is he a fairy? We shall see. No, he wants to keep both of them safe.. He says both would like to go to him later on. he has nothing nefarious planned for them, maybe he can see the future, hmm. Many Lords and powerful men would avail themselves to the young workers. Unfairly, the young women would lose their jobs when they were pregnant.