JUST LIFE

A/N: THE STORY OF ELIZABETH'S EARLY LIFE BEFORE HER PARENTS DIE. IT WILL START WITH HER PARENTS MEETING. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE A LONG MULTI FIC. MOST LIKELY IT WILL NOT BE UPDATED ON A WEEKLY BASIS, UNLESS I AM FEELING ESPECIALLY WORDY AND GENEROUS. I WILL NOT ABANDON IT AND IT WILL BE COMPLETE, JUST MAY TAKE A WHILE.

I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO ANY OF THE CHARACTERS, EXCEPT THE MADE UP ONES.

Chapter 1 1960 UVA campus

Benjamin Adams, a 23 year old finance major at the University of Virginia, was sitting on a bench outside the library contemplating where his life was going. He was currently in grad school and was trying to decide if getting his Masters Degree was the direction his life was meant to take. He had gone into finance with the urging of his father so he could take over the family business one day. Adams' had been in finance for years and he was the next best hope to continue the legacy. Do I want to crunch numbers my whole life he was contemplating or say to hell with it and start his life anew in a different direction. He chuckled and thought that would stir up a hornets nest with his father and grandfather. Who was he kidding? He actually liked finance, which is why he did not put up a fight when his father suggested it. Shaking his head, doubts would wait for another day, he had a class to get to.

Suzanne James, a 21 year old architectural student in her senior year at UVA, is sitting in an upper level business course, wondering why she is taking this class. Her advisor had suggested it and got her in the class. The class would only have about 15 students in total, so it would be intense and packed with lots of information. As she looks around at the other students that have arrived, she observes a nice looking guy with beautiful eyes. He smiles at her when he catches her eye.

Professor Thompkins walks in and both divert their attention to him. "This will be an intense and information packed class. It is also a masters level course, so if you feel you can not keep up, please leave now so as to not waste my time and yours" he said addressing the class.

Benjamin was thinking this is the same lecture he gives to all his classes, he needs some new material. He glanced at the beautiful girl with the blond wavy hair and the beautiful blue eyes to see if Thompkins words had an effect on her. He observed her glance at Thompkins and smirked. She had him figured out and only 5 minutes in, smart girl.

Thompkins began explaining the course syllabus and the requirements for the course and went right into teaching the first class. At the end of the class, He asked Suzanne to stay behind so he could have a word with her. "I realize you are new to this department and my classes, do not hesitate to use my office hours and ask for help. You being in this class is a favor to Mike Simmons, your advisor, but I don't like to see my students fail," he explained. She thanked him and left for her next class.

Benjamin was hanging around in the hallway hoping to catch the girl with the captivating eyes. Just as he was about to give up so he wouldn't be late for his next class, she exited the classroom. She looked up and saw him and gave him a smile that had his heart racing.

He walked over to her and extended his hand, "Benjamin Adams, I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that if you need any help in the class I will be more than happy to help," hoping he didn't sound too nerdish. She extended her hand to shake his and once she grasped it, they both felt sparks and a tingling feeling not felt before. "Suzanne James, nice to meet you Benjamin. Thank you for the offer of help. My advisor suggested I take this class, I hope he hasn't gotten me in over my head," she laughed.

Benjamin looked down at their joined hands and blushed. He released her hand and asked, "Do you have a class after this?" "No, I am free the rest of the day, I am heading to the library to get a jump on some reading," she said. "I am free after my next class, can I join you if that is okay?" he said, hoping he wasn't being too forward. It was her turn to blush, "Sure I will be there until around 4:30." Benjamin bid her farewell until later.

Suzanne walked away thinking, this might not be a bad class after all. She walked into the library and took and went back to a private study room. She had learned early on the commons tended to be a bit louder and she needed some quiet to get her reading done. Once she had all her materials organized, she sat back in her chair and contemplated the encounter with Benjamin Adams. He was very good looking, had eyes that were such a gorgeous hazel and his smile was 1000 watt. She shook her head, I don't have time for a serious relationship or a relationship of any kind. I am a senior and need to expend all my energy and thoughts on my studies. She got down to studying and pulled out the book for her business class. The class would probably take up the majority of her time and brain capacity so she needed to get ahead in order to stay ahead in it.

Benjamin Adams was sitting in his Strategic Management and Business Policy class, but nothing the professor was saying was sinking in. His brain was locked into thinking about Suzanne and their brief encounter. He was thinking about her blue eyes and how they were mesmerizing, when the professor called on him to answer a question. Benjamin looked at the professor and asked "Can you repeat the question," as the whole class laughed. "Perhaps Mr. Adams, you should get your head out of the clouds and back in the classroom," the professor said. Benjamin ducked his head, but decided he needed to concentrate on class so as to not get another call out by the professor.

Benjamin was quickly making his way to the library, once his class was dismissed. He had to admit he was really looking forward to meeting up with Suzanne. He arrived at the library and began searching for her. He looked all over the commons area with no luck. He went down to the (tombs) as the students called it where a lot of old texts were housed, she was not there either. He was starting to think she had given him the blow off. He blew out a frustrated breath and headed back up stairs and exited the library. Dejected, he went to his apartment and decided that he needed to do some reading and try not to think about her.

Suzanne glanced at her watch and saw that it was now 3:30, she wondered where Benjamin was. He probably was caught up with his friends or even possibly a girlfriend.

She blew it off and continued her studies.

The next week in their business class, Benjamin approached her and asked her how her studying in the library went. She told him fine. He wondered not for the first time in a week, if she had deceived him and not gone to the library at all. She had been wondering all week, why he didn't show up. They both shrugged it off and settled down for class.

Several weeks pass by with nothing changing between them. Although they both were constantly bombarded with thoughts of the other.