Chapter Eighteen; With this Ring I thee Wed
"Lizabeth! Lizabeth, I can't feel my hand." Elizabeth snapped out of her daze at Fitzwilliam's words she shyly let go of his hand and he flexed it, attempting to get blood flowing to it again. They were sitting first class on his dime. The Bennet – Bingley wedding was in a week and the party was sure to last twice that long. The Collinses, Hursts, Caroline, Gaye and Jessie, as well as the extended family were already there and waiting for the Best man and Bride's maid.
"You're not afraid of flying are you?" Darcy asked Elizabeth.
"No, I just get tense when I go home. I'm sorry if I hurt you." She replied, looking out the widow. Darcy watched her for a while before he took her hand again and let her cut the circulation off anew.
"BBBBBEEEEENNNNN!" The shout met Elizabeth as soon as she was in view of the commons; there was her father, the Collinses, Jessie, and Meg. That was shortly followed by "DDDDDAAAAARRRRRCCCCCYYYYY!" Apparently Caroline was there as well to welcome Fitzwilliam. While Elizabeth was being passed around by the family to get love, Darcy was being attacked and peppered with kisses and chocked by Caroline. Once the true couple's eyes met, Elizabeth's plucked brow raised and Darcy blushed and apology to her. He was going to have to make this up to her. And he knew a ring box would do the trick but not with the wedding so close.
Eventually the group trooped to the baggage claim, while waiting for the belt to roar into life Elizabeth examined the group around her.
"You know one person with a car would've worked well. Why are ya'll here?"
"It was this or help your mother with the engagement party décor. You beat Gulch any day." The voice was familiar, the body was familiar, but it couldn't be William 'puritan who stool the best girl in the world' Collins.
"Who are you and what have you done with the Collins I know?" Elizabeth asked. The Collins clone laughed truly laughed – the sound was foreign. Geeky, but rather endearing. Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do. There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears, and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call ... THE TWILIGHT ZONE. A place where stuffy William Collins no longer has a poll up his ass. Elizabeth thought as she laughed with him. She felt a bit uncomfortable still with him, but if he kept this up she could deal.
"That bra you gave me had made me see things a little differently. Thank you." He finally said. She smiled at him and gave him a small hug. When they separated she asked him,
"Is mother that bad?" the look he gave her was all the truth she needed.
Dread refreshed in her she sat in the back of Kink's van (the very same one she had driven to the Ozarks months before) she returned to Maryton. Jessie sat beside her, the Collinses across from her, her Father and Gaye in the front. The conversation was pleasant, a touch foreboding, but pleasant. They discussed the up coming wedding plans as well as up coming murder plans for the bride's mother. Francis was twice as unbearable as the days ended brining the wedding closer and closer.
Darcy on the other hand was NOT enjoying the car ride. Caroline refused to shut up; she was leaning over his seat screeching directly into his ear.
"You flew in with Eliza I see, I didn't know she lived in New York. She must be something of an oddity, is her job in a little side show – The amazing Hick, sort of a missing link?" Darcy gnashed his teeth. Sorry Lizabeth, I know you hate this but I can't take it. He thought
"She does work out there, she's a dancer."
"A dancer!" Caroline crowed, "You're so wicked Darcy, she a dancer – I'd sooner call her mother a wit. She's not refined enough for ballet and not pretty enough for exotic, although I suppose a dark club and an easy girl it doesn't matter. Now really what does she do?" Darcy took a deep breath hoping it would kill his temper, right at that moment he could see why some men would consider hitting a woman.
"Caroline, Elizabeth is a ballet dancer, and a damn fine one at that!" he snapped. His out burst shut her up, thank god. The rest of the drive was silent.
"thank you all for coming to this rehearsal dinner, it's been fun, especially since I didn't have to do any work, but this is the last time I get to eat at this place as a guest. Tomorrow is going to be very busy and twice as stressful so I'm glad we had fun while we could. When I dreamed of my wedding, I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance, a church filled with family and friends. But when I asked Charles what kind of wedding he wished fore he said 'one that would make me his wife.' I've got the best man in the world and I am so appreciative of all of you for letting this happen." Jane cried all the way through her thank you at the wedding rehearsal and was forced to be put to bed shortly after with a stiff night cap. Charles maintained only a little more composure and soon joined her.
"Jane is just too wonderful a woman for me. I don't know what I did to get her, but I'm glad I did what ever it was. Thank you all for coming, and I don't trust myself to say more than that.
The wedding was a blurred comedy of errors, but eventually, fifteen minutes late and one flower girl's dress later Charles Roderick Bingley III was joined in holy wedlock to Jane Amelia Bennet. Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. And God had never put two people who were so well fit in that regard than Charles and Jane. The ceremony was very romantic and traditional held at the Bennet family church. However the reception was at Lucas Lodge and all bets were off…
Ding Ding Ding Darcy tapped a spoon on his water glass as he stood at the front table. The room fell silent and he began, a bit unevenly, but started his wedding toast.
"Excuse me. Would anybody mind if I took this time to wish Jane and Charles a happy half hour anniversary?" There was laughter and some applause. "I would like to say thank you to The Bennets for all that you've done to make this the special day that it is. And, of course, my gratitude to the Bingleys for all of your support and all that you've done to make this, by all accounts, the perfect day. And finally, thank you, Charles for making such a good choice for the best man. Greetings Everyone, I'm Will Darcy. The best man (In so many ways) wink But this isn't about me - count your blessings for that. But about Charles. What can we say about Charles that hasn't already be said, well this is a family affair and I don't want to offend (or implicate) anyone with (in) Charles cough colorful cough past. So I've decided to edit out anything that might cause offence. So thank you very much and have a wonderful evening!" He sat down and there was more defined laughter and applause. Charles glowered good naturedly at his friend, Jane just blushed demurely. "Charles and I have been great friends for a long time now, and inevitably we've shared many things over the years: football; college; my driving license when he didn't have one - and now, a wedding table. Who'd have thought it? This whole thing is about like the Twilight Zone. This morning when Charles and I were getting ready, he turned to me and asked "Is everything okay?" I don't mind telling you that I was taken aback by this. In all the years that I've known him, that's the first time he's expressed any interest in my well-being. Oh sure, he's talked to me before, but it's usually, "Pass the chips", or "Don't stand in front of the TV", or "Did you pick up the beer?" This morning he wanted to know if I'm okay? I blame Jane for this sudden surge in sentimentality.
Now Charles is caring, he's generous, he's sensitive. He's paying me a pretty hefty clip to lie. He's also a changed man. Jane has changed my best friend. Actually, I should thank you Jane. You've done in 8 months, what I couldn't do in 8 years. I hope your streak of change keeps up. This is a piece of work to my right." Charles huffed, but the crowed cheered, Jane got a shade darker. "We shared an apartment or a short time, in college. Not long after finding a place together I realized his biggest hate in life – housework! And why? Because you have to make the beds and do the dishes. Then six months later you have to start all over again. I heard from a wise woman (a man I couldn't find) and she told me that marriage begins when you sink into his arms and ends up with your arms in his sink. Well, hopefully you can get him to do a bit more than I could ever. They say a toast should never say anything that insinuates that the groom is lazy, stupid, boozer, or was anything other than a saint in his past. But I don't believe in lying, especially when it means I get to slam a good friend. I'm going to be blunt, marriage is a three ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering.
I jest, I picture that in a few years this lovely couple will be happy with a mini - van, 2.5 kids, a dog, white picket fence that looks like Nancy Kerrigan's teeth. Jane emulating Betty Crocker, and Charles attempting to know best. They'll be very happy. Jane is happy and wonderful, Charles is well Charles, normally when you use someone's name to describe them it means they are an asshole. However I use Charles' name as an adjective because its the only way to describe him. He lives in his own little world, but it's okay, they know him there. And now Jane will be there as well and I don't know anyway to get this guy to smile more, save for a lobotomy. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life, I'm sure the world will just be full of happy and any guest will be wishing to be full of alcohol."
At this Charles just submitted to the roast and sat with Jane as he was laughed at. "I would share more stories, but I know Elizabeth is waiting for me to stop yammering so she can have a chance to add her two hours worth. So I shall close with this, management would not like you to stand on the chairs during this standing ovation - kidding. Anyway, Ogden Nash once said, 'To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the wedding cup, whenever you're wrong, admit it; whenever you're right, shut up.' My parents once told me that the two things for a happy marriage were a sense of humor and a short memory. And I would like to add here's to Jane and Charles, a life of years, free of tears, bottoms up and lots of luck. Thank you." There was about five minutes of standing ovation before a very flushed Elizabeth was handed the mike.
"Well Will, what a speech, damn, that's a tough act to follow. But I guess I have to do the best. For those few who don't know me, my name is Lizzy Bennet; the 'slightly' shorter, darker, fatter, cattier, meaner, younger version of our dear bride. For those of you, who do put the usual by my purse. Along with these two stooges next to me – I call them Larry and Mo, I'm Curly, and she's Shep, are the Bennet girls, save one who is off avoiding the stories we could tell about her. Of course Lydia has the fewest Jane has the most and we could tell them all." Mary took the mike from her sister and said,
"Like how Jane got a new Malibu Barbie with a full head of hair and a glamorous closet and I got a one armed bald Barbie 'thing' who enjoyed nudist colonies."
"Or how I was forced into submission because she would threaten to call Santa Clause when she was baby sitting." Kitty continued.
"But we won't." Elizabeth took the microphone back. "Instead we have a little song and dance number for you my dear. We've only been practicing for – well a lady never reveals her age, any who join in if you know the words. Hit it Mariah!" Music began to play and Jane screamed and hid her face. Elizabeth, Kitty, and Mary took out feathered fans and stepped in front of the table and began to sing.
Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters
- Never had to have a chaperone, "No sir"
- I'm here to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing ev'ry little thing that we are wearing
- When a certain gentleman arrived from Rome
- She wore the dress and I stayed home
All kinds of weather, we stick together, the same in the rain or
sun
Diff'rent faces, but in tight places, we think and we act as
one
Uh huh
Those who've seen us know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sisters
And Lord help the sister who comes between and my man
Sisters
Sisters
Sister, don't come between me and my man
The sisters finished and there was another ovation with hysteric laughs from almost everyone.
"The bride and groom will share the first dance, and they would have you with them if you would." Mariah announced as the DJ she was. Darcy off her his hand and they joined Charles and Jane on the floor.
The heart is not judged
By how much you love, but
By how much you're loved by others
Darcy held Elizabeth tightly in his arms as they slow danced, prom style just swaying and stepping, the distance between them more important than the technique.
I'll always remember the night that we met
Was it May or September, somehow I forget
We were taken surprise by the moon on the rise
And the stars in the skies matched the stars in our eyes
"Elizabeth do you remember when we first met?" he asked into her hair. She made a soft hum sound. "I didn't mean it, you will always be more than enough to tempt me."
"Some how I forget, Fitzwilliam, just remember that which gives you pleasure."
And then, oh, what a feeling
Taking our breath away
It's what they call magic
The stuff dreams are made of
It's comic and tragic
It's heartbreak and true love
The world keeps on spinning
It spins like a wheel
Young hearts are burning
Yearning to feel the magic
Feel the magic
"Good God, I love you so much." He whispered to her. "Words can't…" she silenced him with a kiss that held through the rest of the song. It was what they call magic.
From New York to London
From Tokyo to Rome
Some things never change
Wherever you call home
The heart speaks a language
The ear cannot hear
But, to body and soul
The message is clear
It says dance to your heartbeat
Fly on the wings on love
It's what they call magic
The stuff dreams are made of
It's comic and tragic
It's heartbreak and true love
The world keeps on spinning
It spins like a wheel
Young hearts are burning
Yearning to feel the magic
Feel the magic
The heart is not judged by how much you love
But by how much you're loved by others
It's what they call magic (repeat)
"Mariah!" Kitty hollered from the side of the room. "You owe me twenty dollars!"
"It's time for the bride to pass the buck – one wedding leads to another after all. Would all the single women gather on the dance floor? Remember ladies, no fists, elbows, half or full nelsons, kneeing or use of shoes." Jane smiled at the crowed of Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and about six others. The small nosegay was air born and in Elizabeth's hands in no time. There were some snide remarks but Elizabeth didn't hear anything as she met Fitzwilliam's eyes. There was nothing but him, unfortunately there were other things and she was soon surrounded by single men vying for the garter that Charles was removing with his teeth in a most risqué fashion. Darcy caught it.
"Now for the couple with the garter and the bouquet to share a dance." Mariah said cueing up the song, but Fitzwilliam stopped her with a wave of his hand.
"I was going to wait until after the wedding to do this, but fate won't let me be and to be honest it's been to long, so I'm sorry for taking your glory Charlie, but I've got to do this." Darcy said turning to Elizabeth and looking in her eyes. Slowly he sank down to one knee still holding her gaze.
"Elizabeth I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world and I've loved you longer than everything that wasn't included in the first statement. I loved you even when I was that arrogant prig you met back in August who thought you were a hippie. I was fooling myself with all those words, you have taken everything down to my core and given it a shaking – so that only that which was screwed to a sticking point has stayed. But in those old thoughts stead I have you and all that knowing you has given me. I was walking around with a hole in my head and my heart that I had no clue about until you. You've filled those holes past full. No one has made me feel like someone until you, till you I was a rich piece of ass, but you saw me as the man I was, not above reproach but also approachable. You've done both. I was going no where in a hurry, living some dull life and thinking that it was all to be got. But then there was you and I saw a world of color and spirit that I never thought possible. You've filled up my empty life, filled it to the brim. And I can't live with out you. Elizabeth Luciana Keene Bennet will you do me the honor and be my wife?" Elizabeth gasped and tears that had glazed her eyes began to fall. Her lips quivered but through them came a soft, breathy,
"Yes." Darcy pulled out the Tiffany box that had occupied his drawer for far to long to a dull roar. He stood up taking her left hand and slipped the band on it before kissing her passionately.
"In vain have I struggled, it will not do. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love... I love... I love you. I love you... most ardently... I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." He whispered against her lips in between kisses. When at last they parted for real they were met by a smiling Jane and Charles and several 'About (insert expletive here) time.' But neither of the pair really comprehended anything other than that feeling that was as old as time.
AN: Almost done, thanks for holding on this long! You all are the best, type can't convey my sincarity (only my misspelling sorry). I hope you catch some of the refrences and a factoid; a combination of the three wedding toasts used in this fic got me straight ones at the state speech contest. Thanks again for reading this far!