Disclaimer: I do not own P&P. For obvious reasons.

A/N:

Romance-luver222: Thanks! Sorry the updates are rather slow. I'll get faster as the term starts finishing. :D

ionalama: Depression is GOOD. Really. :D Thanks. Here's the next chapter. Like the name, btw.

tiga101: Hey Pali, when are you going to get an account on here? Thanks. I don't know how to take that. :D Meh… I guess writing reveals things in you that people don't normally see. Or maybe it's just you. :D Okay, okay… I'll lose the Shakespeare.

Me: Thanks! Update is officially HERE. :D

Bag of amino acids: I hope you don't mind that my word auto-corrected your name so that the first letter is capitalised. I'm too LAZY to change it. Dilute? What dost thou mean? Explain please! Yeah… as I said earlier… I like depression. But you probably figured that anyway? Thanks!

Kyra3: Sorry for the slow updates. Exams! Tests! Heads held in basins full of water! Ok, getting slightly carried away. :D I like both angst and fluff… but I can't write fluff. :D Thanks for reviewing!

FutureFamousMovieDirector: Where do you guys get the cool names FROM! Lol. I love yours too. :D Thanks! I would go through the whole apologizing for not updating quicker… but I think you'd have gotten my gist by now, no:D Thanks!

Drugged-on-chocolate: Another autocorrect name. :D would you REALLY be surprised even if I hadn't told you:D Thanks for being the first reviewer for this story. Appreciate it heaps. :D

Chapter 2: Good, better, worse.

For a while, it appeared that life was getting better. Lizzy seemed to make a miraculous recovery; her strength was returning to her everyday, until finally, she was able to leave her room.

Their daughter, who they had named Annabelle Elizabeth Darcy, was nothing like what Darcy had expected.

When Georgiana was a baby, Darcy had been at school, and had only seen her when she was toddling around. He had no experience with children, and was apprehensive, though excited about his daughter.

Lizzy, on the other hand, had three younger siblings. She knew exactly what to do with little Annabelle. In this way, each day was new and different for Darcy and Georgiana. Darcy loved and respected Lizzy more than ever for her newfound talent.

A year passed in this manner. Lizzy's illness was forgotten.

It was at the start of the new year, two lots of unexpected news decided to wreak havoc on the happy couple.

They discovered that Lizzy was expecting again, and that her illness had returned.

Darcy was delighted at the thought of another child… but when he heard that Lizzy might not survive this time, he sought out every doctor in the country in a desperate bid to save his wife.

Meanwhile, Lizzy grew weaker and weaker.

"Lizzy." Darcy's voice was insistent, cutting through her haze of inertia. "Lizzy…" There was no reply, but her eyelids flickered, and her hand squeezed his. "I've found a doctor who may be able to save you."

Her eyelids fluttered, desperately trying to open.

"Darcy…" Her voice was very soft.

"You will be transported to Venice for treatment, and when you are better you may return to England."

"Venice?" Her voice grew stronger. "You?" Darcy bowed his head.

"No, Lizzy. I cannot go. I must stay here to look after the estate."

"I will miss you."

"And I you." Darcy squeezed her hand. "Just promise me, Lizzy. Promise me, the moment, you are better, you will return home to me and Annabelle."

Annabelle. In his haste he had forgotten that Lizzy was expecting.

"I'm sure you will be allowed to look after our child. Just promise, Lizzy."

"Promise…" She whispered. Darcy leant in and held her tight.

"I will miss you, Lizzy."

Darcy watched as the boat left the dock. Inside his dying wife was lying… on the way to recovery… he hoped. For a moment, he felt like he had made the worst mistake of his life. What if she died in Venice, with no family around her? Family… Her family had accepted her journey quite well, if not in the traditional manner.

Mrs. Bennet had been ecstatic.

"My dear Lizzy is going to Venice? How exciting! Did you hear that, Mr. Bennet? You must take us all to Venice!"

"I see no occasion for that. Lizzy may go, and perhaps Darcy shall accompany her. I highly doubt that Lizzy would like a gaggle of mad women to surround her when she is ill."

"Mr. Bennet!"

"Darcy, are you going with Lizzy?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. Pemberley cannot be left unattended."

Darcy recalled the pang of guilt that he had felt as he had watched Mr. Bennet's countenance change.

"I… I suppose… you may look after your wife the way you please." Mr. Bennet replied with a slightly cold manner.

Darcy acknowledged Mr. Bennet's concern as just. He was deserting Elizabeth. But he couldn't leave Pemberley. It had been in his family for centuries. How could he leave it to derelict and despair?

He turned away from the docks.

I love you, Lizzy.