A/N: From the Great Beyond, Jane Austen and company reflect on the use - and in this segment in particular - abuse her leading characters have received of late.

If you don't like consistency, thoroughness, or are in need of a 'light' read this story may not be for you. Consider yourself warned.

If, on the other hand, you admire Miss Austen and think critically, then this story is for you.

My thanks to LizzyAusten1999 and Ldibo who suggested this idea and edited it.

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Also, since we are talking of rude, belligerent comments: when I had my old name, Gykinga returned this message last month, on the 9th of May. So much for that "grace under pressure."

God, I am so fed up of your kind. You go and f*** yourself. to answer your language. I have explained several times and in the story I backed up the premise. Read it first.

By the way, Elizabeth went down on Darcy big time playing his mistress. Twisted Fates, ch 11. That is ok, is it?

Uh, and forgot, Do not f*** tell me again to read the original book.

Gykinga - you are more than double my age. If you can't argue on the merits of your story, blame yourself. It's not my fault your plot/story is a landmine full of explosions. As for Twisted Fates, I have read it and she did develop a credible plot line. It is not as easy read, I grant you that, but neither is it easy to pick holes in that story as they are blatantly obvious in yours.

Chapter 1:

"...I declare I do not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening, when he has nothing to do." Charles Bingley, Chapter 10, Pride & Prejudice

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"I see no other option, we must do this." Fitzwilliam Robert Colin Legh Darcy said with a resigned sigh as he took his seat.

"Yes," the answer came from one Jane Austen as she sat regally in her chair. "It is not only your reputation that has suffered but each of us," she said, catching the eye of Elizabeth Darcy next to her husband and then Charles and Jane Bingley.

"We are to spend an afternoon dissecting a feeble attempt written by a woman who is too insecure to apply the criticism she has been given and fails to understand anything about our history and customs?" Elizabeth asked. "I hardly believe she is willing to reason. She has proved otherwise thus far."

"We do not do this for her," Miss Austen replied fervently. "First, we do it for ourselves. On occasions we have to remind ourselves who we are and this is an opportune moment. Second, we do it for the readers who value truth and not an alternate version of reality with little to no evidence. We do it as a form of gratitude, a form of affirmation to honor and encourage those who have chosen to fight on our behalf."

"And remind the belligerent few that we are here, present." Charles added.

"Nor willing to take insults in silence." Jane spoke with a quiet determination.

"Agreed," Elizabeth concurred. "These sordid individuals are more stubborn than you, my love," Elizabeth teased Darcy. "Fortunately, you proved to yourself worthy and not above redemption."

Darcy brought her right hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Only because you are my saving grace."

Jane Austen shared a smile with the Bingleys as they diverted their eyes from the couple, in her eyes, in the Great Beyond, it was as it always should be. All three had been aware how the toll and bickering from the peoples below had taken a toll on the Darcys. They had fierce defenders. But an equal number of fools who would indulge any insubstantial whim without a valid thought.

Their meetings had come of earnest and formally established not long after the adaptation had been released five and twenty years ago. At first the stories shared were delightfully written, from Bits of Ivory to Firthness, most if not all, staying true to the premise and language she had employed in all her works. Some were more passionate than others but engaging nonetheless. She recalled many stories she wished to have completed so she could have her curiosity satiated and had wanted to do more to inspire those authors, but it could not be so. Even in this realm of the Great Beyond, her capacity was limited. The muse she gave could only go so far. So, she could give her muse but not interfere. There were rules to be obeyed for the order of the universe to be maintained, and so as to not tamper.

Taking a look at her companions, Darcy caressed Elizabeth's hand in comfort. Of the Bingleys she could tell their hands were intertwined underneath the table. Charles' cheerful countenance lacked the vigour that often characterized him as he sat somewhat subdued and Jane, sweet Jane, who reminded Miss Austen of her young self, fresh and new on the Season scene from so long ago, was despondent. She had never thought that the pages and passages that she had written in her short life would meet her in the next. Yet they had, from the Bingleys to the Darcys, to the Knightleys and to her beloved Wentworths who had suffered much heartache and folly but had remained tried and true in their love to each other.

Speaking off - she mentally groaned. She would have to schedule a meeting with Mr and Mrs Wentworth. She hoped this new adaptation was not as insulting to her sense and legacy as was Dear Sir but the segment released proved they had Lizzy-fied her Anne. And of that she could, would not tolerate in silence. Oh Netflix! It seemed of late, really, when it came to their productions, it was a split between heads or tales. Well, sigh, it was neither here nor there.

She shook herself from her stupor and cleared her throat. "Have you all read the updated version I sent that Miss Brady posted on the story site?"

She received solemn nods.

"And who would like to begin our discussion?"

The Darcys and Bingleys looked at each other as if adrift at sea.

"Where does one begin?" Mrs Bingley asked with a somberness not often used to describe her.

Miss Austen rested her elbows on the table and placed her palms on each side of her cheeks. She had endured over two centuries, her lack of table manners could be overlooked.

"At the beginning I suppose. Naturally I would want to know what you all think. I would not have any of you shy for honest dialogue. It is only a pity that the quality of this story is insubstantial and nonexistent compared to the last story that brought us together last time."

"I would not dare mention the name of this story in the same sentence as the last one we discussed," Darcy stated.

"And I would concur with you," Miss Austen said. "This Terrible Love is in another caliber of itself, superior in every way."

The others nodded, in agreement.

"So, let us begin with a simple question: what one word would describe this letter that you read? We will address the author's attempts of the additional extract at a later time. Darcy, start us."

"One word you say? Hardly fair when I have thought of many!"

"And no doubt they are four syllables!" Miss Austen quipped as the table gave a small chuckle.

He paused, thoughtful and deliberate as he always is, "repugnant."

"Elizabeth," Miss Austen called.

"Insolent."

"Bingley?"

"A distortion."

"Those are two, Charles," she said patiently, accompanied with an indulgent smile of a wiser, kinder older friend now considered a dear sister, if not by blood, then at least, affection.

"I wish to add more, as you well know, but will await my turn for the next round."

"Fair enough," Miss Austen conceded. "Jane."

"Slander."

Miss Austen nodded thoughtfully.

"Would you care to add your own word?" Elizabeth asked her from across the table.

"I think you all know of my frankness by now to believe such a description is not appropriate for such a setting!"

A happy laughter roared from them all!

"Touché!" Elizabeth smiled and tipped her head slightly, "I acquiesce to your superior intelligence."

"Thank you, my dear."

The laughter died down and Miss Austen turned to Jane. "Could you share with us why you think this story is slander to you?"

"It is more than that," Jane Bingley began. "It is subterfuge, a dissembling of necessary facets of the original to fit an incongruous and inaccurate account. It is an assassination of my character and of all of us."

"Can you take us through your thoughts and what led you to such a conclusion?" Miss Austen prodded, "I believe you, as you well know, but not everyone has insight to your character as we do. What are they misunderstanding?"

"Well take for example the letter," Jane pointed to the parchment that sat before her on the table. "Why would a genteel lady like myself communicate with a man I never exchanged one word with. Nor one conversation. It makes no sense. In addition such man insulted my family and friends, including myself."

"The lady claims that you saw Darcy for what he was. Apparently by your mere powers of understanding you could discern Darcy," Miss Austen rebutted.

"Pray, what powers are these that I possess? Did Charlotte not also warn Lizzy not to put weight to his words? Not to scoff a man of his consequence? Should she not also have written a letter too or push herself to Darcy claiming such prowess?

"Where Charlotte saw my brother for his consequence, his wealth, status, and position, I saw it through the lens of misunderstanding. To give him the benefit of the doubt. And I did the same with Wickham as well when Lizzy shared their interactions. Perhaps Miss Brady should have had her Jane write Wickham or push herself at him as well!"

"Let us not get too ahead of ourselves here. We do want to give this letter a thorough review. I will not have Miss Brady think we are not reading her work carefully though it does feel like drinking from a poisoned chalice."

Miss Austen picked up the letter. "Here," she began reading the first paragraph.

"Stop," Jane Bingley said before Miss Austen could continue. "Do you hear that?" She looked at them, "two matters come to the forefront: the pandering and the servile, ingratiating obsequiousness for the first -" she looked down at her own copy of the letter - "three sentences."

"Dear God!" Bingley cried, "you sound like Collins!"

"Exactly so!" Jane cried. "If her attempt is to show a more heroic version of myself, she has failed from the start."

"And the second part?" Miss Austen asked.

"The latter portion - betraying the trust of my dearest sister and friend."

There was a heavy pause before she continued.

"In that letter, that Jane tries to assure Darcy that the contents of his letter are held in confidence. But clearly Miss Brady misses the utter hypocrisy of that moment," Jane Bingley continued: "How can he - Darcy - rely and trust me, when I have betrayed my sister - my closest friend and confidant - by going behind her back to assure a man who never once spoke to me nor sought my company, and think very little of me and my family. I am astounded!

"What kind of sister am I? Or a friend for that matter? Certainly not someone who should be trusted based on this rubbish."

Miss Austen sat back, "An excellent critique if I may say so, dear Jane. I only wonder how many were made aware of this blight at the beginning."

"Many," Darcy offered from his perch.

"And many more who failed to see it, and still fail to see it," Elizabeth completed the sobering thought.

They sat again in a moment of silence, contemplating the gravity of the situation.

"Tea, anyone?" Miss Austen asked a minute or two afterwards as she stood from her seat. "I fear our work is cut out for us!"

"Why do you say that?" Jane Bingley asked Miss Austen.

"Well rumor is Miss Brady's Jane dangled our dear Bingley as a consolation prize to Lady Catherine de Bourgh as a suitable mate for her daughter."

"She what?!" Charles Bingley cried.

Jane Bingley startled, her jaw fell in distress as she brought her hand to cover her open mouth.

The Darcy's could only look in shock and sympathy at their dearest friends and family.

"Oh yes!" Miss Austen cried. "I am quite curious who is next on her list as bait for sale!"

"She has no shame, does she?" Mrs Bingley turned, asking her husband.

Bingley tried to console her. "Some people are boundless in their shame as in their arrogance. Miss Brady is certainly living up to her reputation on Earth."

"If only she had Wickham as the accompanying act, she may take her talents on tour," Darcy grounded out.

Elizabeth's eyes sparked as she chuckled at Darcy's barb. "Come, husband, I too find myself in need of a fortifying cup of tea and a walk around the gardens. Will you join me?"

Darcy stood from his seat and Elizabeth settled her hand on his arm and they followed after Miss Austen while the Bingley's remained.

"I never thought I would find myself in such a situation," Jane whispered quietly to Bingley as she leaned upon his shoulder.

"During our discussions, usually it is Lizzy or Darcy that defend themselves and their actions when they are out of character."

"Come, come now," Charles cajoled. "You have done so yourself on a few occasions."

"Yes but the underlying premise for most of the attempts is the consistency from the onset. A version of Jane Bennet that is rude and selfish as Cinderella's sisters or some other matter. This lady has taken the story of my life and has ripped the pages to distort who I am for her own selfish gain. Just from the letter alone I feel as if a looking-glass was thrown to the ground and shattered to a thousand pieces and I have to put myself back together."

"You do not have to toil in silence or in loneliness, my love. I am here, and I will help you as you have often helped me."

"Thank you," she offered a relieved sigh.

Moments later she replied, "Come we must get some sustenance if we are to continue," yet neither made any effort to move.

"And afterwards?"

"Oh I hardly know what we will do," Jane blinked tiredly. "Perhaps cry ourselves to sleep."

"Perhaps we can dance to our song," Charles suggested.

"And afterwards?"

"Afterwards," Charles shifted in his seat and Jane sat upright and met the determination in his gaze, "I will take you to our bed and I will love you and worship you with this body like I did when you became my wife and every moment after. Like I loved you when we finally were reunited on this side of eternity. I have loved you for these almost 210 years and I vow to love you for a thousand more. And a thousand after that."

He leaned and kissed her, not with the shyness of a new lover, but with a commitment and devotion which spanned many an age and remained kindled still. He assured his wife of her goodness and gentleness. He assured her from that embrace that she was not a servile creature but a lady whose beauty both within and without had captivated him then and still evokes his deepest affections. He affirmed her and loved her and would follow through with his promise this night and every night thereafter.


References:

1. When Elizabeth related her discussion with Wickham.

"As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister." (P&P, Ch 15)

2. When Charlotte warns Elizabeth about Darcy

"When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper, not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence." (P&P, Ch 18)

Next chapter explores: How many self-respecting women reach out to their sister's ex and promote themself to him, behind said sister's back? This question is for self-respecting ladies. Again, note the premise: self-respecting. There will be much to be said on the subject.

A/N: Miss Austen thanks you for reading and requests your assistance as she explores the discordance of the aforementioned subject with our dear couples. For any irregularity you have noticed, please include the chapter and sentence in similar format as done in the reference section above. Miss Austen thanks you for your service.