Yay, tomorrow it's Christmas! I wish everyone a very mary happy xmas and a very mary happy 2006!
ArwenEvenstar83: two brand new chapters, here's your update!
Anonymous (an.): 'B-d'? I don't know what you mean :S Could you explain? 'Coz I never censor my character's language!
Kates Master's Sister: hm, you've got a nice sister... Haha, lol ;) Thank you!
WhiteCamellia: Et voila, an update!
Read and review please - it would be really appreciated ;)

9. Lavender Dreams

Lizzie walked into the garden. Her head needed the silence of the calm place with all its trees, flowers and bushes. They had a large garden, especially when she thought of the fact that they lived in a town.
Dinner had been a drama – mother hadn't been able to cook and had locked herself up in her bedroom, father had locked himself up in the barn and Jane had baked some pancakes, telling Lydia that she wouldn't manage it to handle a baby, while Kitty and Lizzie had been enthusiast.
"Certainty," Kitty had told Lizzie, "Finally. That was the most horrible thing about the whole situation; we had no idea what was gonna happen."
Mary had been playing another piece of Schumann. Lizzie didn't know her opinion, but the music sounded quite happy.
Lizzie froze, she saw Lydia sitting on the grass.
"Hello," she carefully said, and Lydia looked up. She smiled.
Lizzie sat down next to her, and they looked together at the lavender bush, that was in front of them.
"I like lavendel," Lydia said.
"Me too," Lizzie beamed.
Silence. They smelt the green grass, they saw the purple lavender and they heard a chirping bird. It was a warm October evening and Lizzie waited untill Lydia would say something. So many had happened the last few weeks... And she had grown up. And her younger sister certainly had.
"I can't think of good names," Lydia suddenly said.
"You still got something like seven and a half moths to go," Lizzie smiled.
"I know, but I already want to know good names," Lydia smiled back. "I went to the docter, this afternoon, together with Kitty. He said Baby's okay."
"That's cool," Lizzie was glad to hear her future nephew or niece was healthy.
"Yes, it is. Kenneth."
"Huh?"
"Kenneth, would that be a nice name?"
"No, I mean... Kenneth Bennet, that doesn't sound right," Lizzie shook her head, "other options for a boy?"
"James, Craig, Daniel and Philip."
"Hm, nice," Lizzie smiled. "Let's think... which one do you like the most?"
"That's the problem, I don't know!" Lydia laughed, "but I guess Craig and James."
"Well, then call your son... James Craig Bennet."
Lydia clapped in her hands, "that sounds nice! But what's with Daniel and Philip?"
"You're the mother, you can decide," Lizzie smiled, "this is only a suggestion."
"I know, but it's so difficult."
Lydia softly sang a song Lizzie didn't know.
"You don't have to decide right now, Lyds."
"James Daniel Bennet," Lydia answered, and Lizzie smiled again. "That's a beautiful name."
"Yes, it is, I like it. Now the girl..." Lydia bit on her lip, "I was thinking of Susan Grace."
"Susan Grace Bennet..." Lizzie echoed, "that sounds great! James Daniel or Susan Grace, brilliant!"
Lydia flushed.
"Thank you, Liz," she softly said, "for everything."
Their gazes met and the earnesty in Lydia's eyes was touching.
"You're welcome," Lizzie responded.
"It's so weird, having this little thing in my belly," Lydia said, after a while.
"Yeah, that must be strange," Lizzie tried to imagined how it must be like. "Do you feel sick and stuff?"
"Only in the morning," Lydia grinned. "It's a small sacrifice, because about a few moths I've got a beautiful son or daughter. I wonder how it looks then, maybe it has a birthmark on its back, just as me. That would be cool."
Lizzie looked at the lavender bush again. This was what she had been scared for – it seemed Lydia was still too light-hearted.
"But that's one of the only cool things, because it's gonna be hard," Lydia continued, "I'm sixteen when I'll give birth to Baby. That's young, younger than I'd planned. But I'm gonna manage, I know I will. This afternoon, after visiting the doctor, I went to our parents. Dad, mum and I had this conversation... I'll stay at home. After my pregnancy I'll attend school again. They'll take care of Baby, and when I'll pass my exams, I'll buy my own place. I'll find work, maybe not the greatest job in the world, but good enough to make money and have time for Baby. It's not like I'll get the chance to be lazy," she laughed.
Lizzie looked at her sister in amazement, and then hugged her.
"Hey, Liz, what's this?" Lydia asked, surprised and laughing.
"Not only mum and dad will take care of Baby, Lydia," Lizzie smiled, "I'll also do. And I'm sure the others also will. Jane still has to get used to your pregnancy, but I know she will be just as excited, she just needs a little bit more time."
"I know, she's only concerned," Lydia smiled. "I can understand that. And it was incredibly stupid to go to bed with Wickham... but I've learned my lesson. I really have. Unbelievable," she shook her head, slightly laughing, "it's only two months ago that Kitty and I fancied Jesse Dawson."
Lizzie also started laughing, "he never liked that, Eve told me."
"Kitty still fancies him, to be honest," Lydia grinned.
They talked and laughed the whole evening, and the peacefull feeling Lizzie had, made everything only more and more beautiful.