New College, Oxford

September 2004

He found her on the roof overlooking the Old Quad, a place that had become special to them over the summer. It was accessed by climbing out her bedroom window, and pulling oneself up on the ramparts; luckily, he had a key and could follow her there. She didn't seem surprised to see him, looking up on his arrival and apologising immediately;

"I over-reacted. I let Victoria wind me up. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"No, it's my fault. I was taking the easy way out again, trying to placate her instead of sticking to my principles."

"Maybe, but I have a massive chip on my shoulder about my family. I took the worst possible meaning from your words. It's just that Mum and Violet are always so ashamed of where they come from and I hate it. I know Rose and Onslow, and even Daisy, can be inappropriate and embarrassing, but they're my family and I love them. They would do absolutely anything for me, and probably for you too. I hate that they're judged on where they're from and how they dress, and I hate even more that I want to make excuses about it so that I'm not embarrassed."

"You didn't make any excuses."

"I didn't stick up for them either, not for hours when Victoria made all her snide little digs. Then you came over and said…"

"Oh, don't repeat it…"

"Well, you're not totally wrong. I can't imagine Victoria and Rose as besties."

He laughed, but a little cautiously, not sure it was his place.

"I'm sorry I ruined your graduation."

"You didn't ruin it. If anyone ruined anything, it was Victoria."

"I don't think she'd agree. I was the one who 'made a scene'."

Darcy grimaced and dropped down beside her; "I hate when she says that. She made rude comments about your family, but somehow it's your fault for getting upset?"

"So you're not pissed off at me?"

"Me? I'm here to beg your forgiveness!"

"But I'm the one that got angry."

"Because I was unkind about your family…"

"But you didn't mean it."

"I said it though, because…"

"Ok! Ok!" She giggled. "Enough! We're both horrible people."

He laughed more naturally at that.

"I think you're lovely."

"Charmer."

"I hope so. I'm really sorry I upset you. I can't promise my aunt will behave any better in future, but I promise I won't say what she wants to hear for an easy life. I'll stick up for your family."

That earnt him a heartfelt smile, and something eased in his chest.

"And I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt."

"I wish I could say I won't need it, but, well…"

That made her laugh.

"It has been a long day though, hasn't it? Family can be a lot."

"Yeah."

"I think I'm more annoyed at myself that you, you know."

"How come?"

"Because I kind of agree with Victoria. Not about the stupid stuff, like drinking beer instead of wine, or how posh the restaurant is, but about, well, you know…"

Darcy nodded.

"And being ashamed of her family is something I really dislike Mum doing, and I hate myself when I do it too."

He put his arm around her and drew her towards him.

"I get it. You know I do things Victoria has taught me, and its worse than messing up just by myself. The only thing you can do is try to be better."

She nodded thoughtfully, and they sat in silence for a little while, staring over the roof tops.

"Victoria reminded me of something I've meant to ask you for ages."

"What is it?" She turned her head to smile reassuringly at him; "I'll try not to jump down your throat."

Darcy smiled back. "Why is your Mum called Fiona when everyone else has a flower name? You told me ages ago there was a story behind it, but you never told me what it was."

Lizzy startled him with her laugh. "Mum will kill me for this. It's practically a state secret. Will you promise not to tell?"

"I'll pinkie promise if you like." His look was serious. "I hope you know you can trust me, Elizabeth Bennet."

She smiled a slow, private smile, just for him. Of course I trust you, Fitzwilliam Darcy...' He shivered with pleasure, completely forgetting why he'd ever hated his name. And then she bounced in place, despite their precarious position, her mood completely changed. This is why he loved her. "So, the big secret is," she gleefully drum rolled, "Fiona isn't Mum's real name!"

"Is she called Fuchsia or something?"

"Will! You've ruined it!"

He looked taken aback. "It is Fuchsia?"

"No, silly! It's Hyacinth. It doesn't sound quite so bad now you've given that alternative. But she absolutely hates it. I don't think she was keen on being lobbed in with her sisters anyway, but she was bullied at school too. Hyacinth is a bit more out there than Rose or Daisy or Violet. Her middle name is Fiona so she just started using it when she was old enough. Wouldn't answer to anything else. Rose sometimes calls her H to annoy her but everyone else plays along."

"It's impressive how determined your Mum is. She always carries through her plans."

Lizzy's eyebrows rose.

"Seriously. I know you get on better with your Dad and you see him in yourself more. But I see a lot of your Mum in your best qualities."

The eyebrow was now practically part of her hairline.

"She is a great entertainer; all her candlelit suppers, for example, and her work with the WI. And she can fit in with all the Oxford snobs just as well as with her family on the estate. One of my favourite things about you is how well you interact with people. You make them happy to be around you. You make me happy just by being around you. I'm a little jealous really. I'm much more likely to say the wrong thing and piss everyone off than make friends."

Lizzy beamed at him. "What else?"

"She's ambitious. She saw what she wanted and she got it. You want something different, but you've got the same ambition. She's tough enough to take everyone on and ignore the crap she gets, and in the end, everyone likes her. And she's caring and protective. A lot of her negative behaviour comes from fear and wanting good things for her kids. She might not express it very well, but that's what it is. And it's not just her kids; she's taken me under her wing too. I haven't experienced that protective kind of love since my parents died."

"You know you have it now, right Will? From me as well?" She took his face in her hands. "I love you so much. And I will always defend you."

He kissed her. "I know."

"Thank you for saying all those things about Mum. I need to start focusing on the things I love about her too, not just what annoys me. I think focusing on the negative, and worse, agreeing with it, makes me defensive. I'd much rather agree with all the lovely things you just said and be happy."

"Good."

"Can I tell her what you said?"

"Of course you can. Imagine the amazing dinner I'm going to get when she hears!"

Lizzy snuggled into him with a smile. He put his arm around her.

"Seriously, though. It's important to tell her how you feel," he reminded her. "Your dad too. You might not always have the chance.'

"Oh Will." She blinked back a tear. "You do know you share them, now, right?"

"Yes, I know that too. And so does Georgie, which is even better. I don't know how I got so lucky Elizabeth Bennet, to meet my soulmate and gain a family all at once."

"It was meant to be. Our love story was written a century before we were even born."

They watched the sun setting over the rooftops.

"Lizzy?" There was a quaver in his voice.

"Yes?" She looked at him with concern.

"I can't kneel here, I'm afraid."

Now it was confusion. "Kneel?!" she asked.

"No. I can't kneel. But that doesn't make this any less important to me. Elizabeth Bennet, I love you with all my heart. We are meant to be. Our fathers agreed we would marry before you were even born. I can't imagine ever being with anyone else. I love your family as my own. My sister adores you. Our whole lives are intertwined., and that's just how I like it. I know we're young, but I want to make it official. Will you marry me?"

"Will..."

Now her voice held the quaver and her hands went to her mouth, as she stared at the engagement ring that had appeared in his hands; it realised it had been his mother's.

"We can get a new one if you prefer, but I want to give you this one anyway. I want you to have something of Mum's. She would have loved you too, and not just because you're called Lizzy Bennet!"

"Oh Will, of course I don't want a different ring!"

"Does that mean you'll marry me?"

He looked so vulnerable. Her heart melted into a puddle. This was her life, right in front of her. And she couldn't wait to claim it.

"Lizzy?"

"Yes Will! Yes, yes, yes..." She planted kisses all over his face between yesses, and he knew he was grinning like a fool. Then they were laughing and kissing and touching and it was wonderful. He had never imagined he could ever deserve this happiness. It was too much. He would never have enough, of it, of her. He pulled back. He wanted to see his ring on her finger.

"We better do this before I drop it off the roof."

"Or we fall off instead," she laughed.

It fit her perfectly. Tears dripped down his face. He had a family again. He was so grateful to his mother, she had given him this after all, with her love of Austen. And his dad has helped, with his complaints about it! As much as she had resisted because of their names, he had always felt her name was a sign from his parents; and the more he knew her, the more convinced he was that she was meant for him, forever.

"Love, are you all right?"

"It's a happy sadness," he sobbed.

She held him, without judgement.

"This will sound stupid." He said after he had calmed a little.

"There's no such thing as stupid between us."

"I feel like Mum and Dad are watching over me. Like they knew they wouldn't always be here to look after me, so they gave me you. They gave us the names, so we could find each other."

"That's definitely not stupid. I think that too."

"You do?"

"I do. And I think they're looking down at us right now and they're really happy for us both."

"All the same, I don't think we should name our children after a book."

"We just got engaged and you're naming kids already?"

"You were naming them after only a few months together."

"Dammit, I thought you'd have forgotten that!"

"Not a chance! Plus your mum planned your wedding before you were even born, and she was right. I'm following the Bennet rules!"

"Walton rules, actually."

"Ok smartarse! I'm looking forward to you vowing to cherish and obey me."

She shoved him. "You wish! I think we should marry in a civil ceremony."

"You don't want a church?"

"I don't really mind. Do you?"

"I like the idea of marrying in the college church, like my parents. And it's where our life together began too. It's special."

"You are such a big softie, Will Darcy. That sounds lovely; where all the Darcys marry."

"Will you take my name then?" He sounded hopeful. "You don't have to! I just... wondered."

"Yeah. I feel like I'm meant to be Elizabeth Darcy, and I like the idea of us sharing a name. I know it's not very independent of me, but apparently I'm a traditional girl at heart."

"Thank you," he breathed. "I want you to choose, of course, but that's what I wanted you to choose. I don't want to be the last Darcy."

"You won't be, my darling."