Hi!

I have one or two warnings for this story and to readers who read only ODC as the main couple stories.

"This isn't a L/D story, well, it is, but not hea."

"Also this isn't a fluffy story, it contains so much angst."

Hope you'll enjoy it!

Feedbacks will be appreciated :)

"I don't want to marry that despicable man!" she cried out between her sobbing. Her sister looked so much like a child, hugging her legs and crying her heart out. The last time Lizzy acted this way, she hadn't turned to five yet.

Their mama told Lizzy to learn needlework and before reading a new book, at that; she cried so hard all day that mama couldn't bear to see her crying and that day at night, while dining declared that she could read her book first, then she could learn needlework.

She got back to present when another sob her sister let out. Oh! How she wanted to do anything for her sister just to see Lizzy laughed again.

"That arrogant prideful man, I hate him, Jane," said she in a most pitiable voice.

She hugged her in an instant and held her head on her bosom. "There, there, my dearest Lizzy. Everything will be alright."

She knew what she should do. She, as the eldest sister, should help her sister, should step in and prevent the unfortunate outcome. Though Lizzy soon got angry, she had a right to be angry. He said the most undeserving thing about her sister, her sensitive sister.

Furthermore, she wouldn't be as miserable as her sister if married him. He was a good man after all, even though he was a bit prideful. She could even feel respect for him. Most importantly, Her sister's spirit and wit would stay intact and when she found the right man she would marry for love and would be happy, thus, that was enough for her to be happy as long as her family, in particular, her Lizzy were happy.

She raised her chin, squared her shoulders and said the most future-changing sentence, "I'll do it."

Her voice was so strong and out of character that Lizzy was startled by her. "Jane?" It was one of the rare moments of looking confused.

"I'll do it instead of you, that is, marrying him. Everyone only knew that a Bennet girl had compromised with Mr Darcy, but not knowing which one, well, except Charlotte. Really, hadn't mama said that herself, nobody would know about the compromising situation, but now that was done, we may do it the way we could to prevent the worst ending."

"But, what about you, Jane?! You were so happy, dancing with Mr Bingley, all the night. And I can't imagine, you, with so much sweetness marrying that hateful man."

Jane smiled gently to her sister. Dear Lizzy, always thinking and caring about her. "Don't worry, my dearest. I was happy, but I don't know him more than that and fortunately, my heart isn't with him. And for Mr Darcy, well… I think he should've been in a bad mood and didn't know what his words meant." She smiled more at her sister and looked serene as ever. Did her sister notice that her mask nearly slipped off? Did she know, she smiled more to hide her sorrow? There were things that younger sisters shouldn't bear, at all cost. After all, there was a difference between being Miss Bennet and only being Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia.

Lizzy's beautiful face disfigured into an angry look and said, "He knew what he was saying. Jane, you see only good in people, but how is a man that runs in a very rigid social circle and is one of the ton not knowing to act in a very simple assembly? He knew it well and didn't care. Wasn't that enough, he also compromised me. For the first time, I'm so happy to hear of one of mama's outbursts."

"Oh! Lizzy! My dearest you deserve to be happy by ridiculing someone for once."

Lizzy widened her eyes and smiled like mama and said in a hysteric voice, "oh! My Lizzy, I knew you have it in yourself. Putting a man as unlikable as him in his place, he deserved it."

Both laugh at that, they deserved to have that, she thought. But as soon as their laughter rose, it once again died and remained the sorrowful thought.

After a long silence, once again Lizzy spoke, "I was so proud at that moment for putting an angry red mark on his face and making him so disheveled and imperfect, then he should have put his disgusting hand on my bosom, before the very eyes of mama and Charlotte!" She made a noise, as if she was disgusted with the mere thought of his hands.

She wanted to say, maybe he didn't know what he was doing, but then he was a man of eight and twenty, not a young girl of nine and ten. Could she bear to live with a man whose hands were all over other women? No, she couldn't, but she would for Lizzy. So she once again said her decision, more delicately and although Lizzy wasn't very happy with her suggestion, agreed at the end.

Mama would agree as she thought Lizzy was so opinionated and couldn't hold her tongue before such a man. And papa, well, he would agree with whatever made Lizzy happy and that was good.

That remained, Mr Darcy, himself. Would he totally disagree and leave them in the lurch? Or he would act as a gentleman he should be? But he didn't compromise her, would he be offended with such a proposal? Hopefully not, because she couldn't bear to see her sister in not only a loveless marriage, but also an unrespectful marriage.

"But what if he wanted to marry me for revenge?"

She smiled at her sister's exaggerated thought. "Don't worry, Lizzy. We would both stand to him if he wanted to do that; we're unstoppable sisters." They both laughed the night away together.

:-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)

"Mrs Darcy, the young master, wanted to ride his horse."

She came out of her reveries by Mrs. Reynolds' voice, looked outside, sighed. "It's windy and cold." She needed to talk to her son, when he planned to do something, he would go through anything to do that.

"That's what I said to him." She fell into step with her. She continued, "but he said he missed his father and wanted to ride his horse, because it's what they did together." It was what they all did together, before she– she put her hand on her round belly. Maybe, this one would be a girl, so she could have a confidant.

"Mama!" They heard him before seeing him. The sound of his steps came rather loudly.

"Slow down, William." Too late, Jane. The cry of William raised. As much as she could, she ran towards him. Mrs. Reynolds helped him to sit and both she and Jane checked him for any sign of injuries. She breathed in relief, nothing serious. "Shh, it's alright, you're my strong boy."

Between hiccups she heard him say, "I miss papa."

"As do I, dearest. As do I." She tightened her hold on her son. She wanted to cry the same as he, but she wouldn't let her mask of serenity leave her, not now when her son needed her. "Come, my little man, we'll have one or two cups of hot chocolate with your favourite cake, cinnamon and apple cake."

"Oh, yes!" He clapped his little hands and started running towards her favourite drawing room where she spent most of her time.

"Careful."

"Yes, mama," he ran again, but with more care. She smiled, a real smile that made her glow.

She wouldn't look back, if she looked back, she couldn't be Miss Bennet that became Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the serene and gentle woman that smiled too much, then she would only be a crying woman whose constant companion at night were her wet pillow.