Hello, I'm back after a stressful weekend of UMAT. If you don't know what that is, good. You are slightly a bit smarter than anyone else who actually wants to attempt the damn thing (i.e. me.) :P

Anyway, back to the story. If you are reading this, be aware this won't follow the usual storyline, there will be a BIG twist. Hopefully it's big... If you were expecting it... Then damn you. You're no fun... :(

But I do promise that William Darcy will get his girl... eventually... I'm getting there... slowly... :\

Here we go...

xx faithinfools

It's like rain on the ground that doesn't fall
It's a thing that we should have seen before
We keep on searching for some more
But we won't find what we're looking for
We won't find it at all

Rain On The Ground - Jordan Millar

It was finally the weekend and Lizzy had Georgie all to herself. She couldn't wait. She had been in need of a shopping trip anyway... Her clothes were getting old as Caro loved pointing out every time they met.

"Georgie!"

"Lizzy!" They squealed and hugged each other delighted. "Let's go! I'm so excited!"

After hours of shopping both girls emerged with bags of clothes, ready for lunch.

"Oh. My. God. Will is going to kill me." Georgie squealed, laughing as the waiter took their order. They smiled at each other and ordered a club sandwich each. "Hey Lizzy..." Lizzy frowned. She knew that tone of voice. It was exactly when Jane wanted Lizzy to tell her something.

"Yes Georgie...?"

"Well.. I was wondering..."

"Yess...?"

"Why were you so scared when Bingley mentioned sporting agents?" She said in a rush. Lizzy tensed up, freezing her body rigidly. She wasn't ready. She knew she wasn't ready. She couldn't tell her. Not now. Maybe not ever. She took a deep shaky breath but nothing came out of her mouth. Her eyes teared up and she looked away. Georgie scooted over and wrapped her arms around Lizzy. "What is it Lizzy? You know you can tell me. You can trust me."

"I know, but I can't, I just can't. Not now." Lizzy whispered. Georgie held her tight and took a deep breath.

"Well Lizzy, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a little girl, and one day, she met a man. He was gorgeous with bright blue eyes, a seductive smile and the most amazing body. They went out on countless dates, each time, he persuaded her not to tell her brother what was going on. Then one day he told her he loved her and that they should run away and get married, without the brother's consent. She was thrilled and immediately said yes. She was on the moon with happiness, but she couldn't keep it a secret, she had to tell her brother, he should be at her wedding after all. So she did that night. Her brother was enraged and when the man came to their secret spot, he found her brother and cousin waiting for him. They wanted to punch the living daylights out of him but couldn't, they didn't want the girl to be more hurt than she already was. So the man settled for a large sum of money and left, never to return. And that girl was heart broken, she withdrew from all interaction with other people and barely spoke, but eventually she got better but the hole he had left in her heart wouldn't be filled. Not yet at least..." Georgie trailed off. She couldn't look at Lizzy.

"It was you wasn't it, the little girl?" Lizzy whispered.

"Yeah. He hurt me bad Lizzy." Georgie looked up at her older friend. "You're the only friend I have at the moment... I've never told anyone that story before..." Her smile was wavering, "but it felt good Lizzy."

"Who was it Georgie?"

"George... George Wickham... If you should ever have the misfortune of meeting him, don't listen to a word he says, but Lizzy, promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Of course." She smiled warmly at her friend. "I'm glad you told me Georgie."

"I am too Lizzy but please, tell me what happened, it will help."

"I can't. Not now. Maybe one day Georgie, but not now. I'm sorry, but it's too soon. But I can promise you, that one day I will." Georgie nodded.

"I understand. I'll keep you to that you know." Lizzy smiled. Their orders arrived and conversation switched to their families and homes.

"I know. Where are you from Georgie?"

"I'm from Derbyshire, it's in the country. It's lovely there and I live at a big mansion called Pemberley. It's a family estate. What about you?"

"Well, I originally come from the southern end of London but my family moved here when we were really young and we practically run the mountain, our whole lives revolve around running the place and all the lessons that go on."

"But what do you do in Summer then?"

"We migrate. We practically live in winter, all year round. I know. It sounds horrid but you get used to it after a while." Lizzy shrugged. "We run quite a few mountains around the world but here is where we usually stay. We own a couple in Japan, one or two in the Swiss Alps and a few in France and a lot in America and one in Australia. Dad usually takes business trips all around the different mountains to make sure they're going alright."

"Doesn't that mean you're rich?"

"Not really... In a way we could be, but a lot of the money we make from the winter seasons go into making the next season even better, we're continually making all the mountains better, or so we hope."

"That's awesome! What's your family like?"

"Well, I've got dad who runs the whole thing and he's pretty conservative and keeps to himself most of the time, my mum, she's another story altogether. She is obsessed into making us all marry at a young age to the wealthiest man possible but honestly, she can get stuffed. Then there's my four sisters. Jane, you've already met and she's a complete angel and Charlie is perfect for her. Mary is a 18 and is a study bug, she hates the winter seasons and keeps to herself most of the time. She rarely goes out on the slopes, she prefers to stay inside and finds solace in her books. Kitty and Lydia... Well... I love them but honestly they're so silly and flirt with anything that is male and moves. What about you?"

"Well... My parents died a long time ago..."

"Oh Georgie... I'm so sorry." Georgie shrugged. "It was a long time ago now... Anyway I have my older brother Will, who is an amazing person, he's just a little rough on the outside, oh and my co-guardian Rich. He's hilarious. I hope you get to meet him... He's pretty much awesome."

"Oh, I wonder why I haven't seen him around if he's on the mountain all the time..."

"Did I hear my name, or was it just me?" A masculine voice from behind them said cheerfully. Both girls jumped.

"Rich!" Georgie squealed and ran over to hug her cousin before cuffing him over the head.

"Ow! What was that for!?"

"For scaring us!" Lizzy turned around to meet a pair of intense green eyes staring at her. The eyes belonged to a handsome face, a mop of brown hair and a lean, tanned body.

"Oh."

"Oh Lizzy! I forgot, this is my cousin Rich, Rich, this is Lizzy Bennet, my snowboarding teacher and best friend." She beamed while Lizzy and Rich just stared at each other.

"Oh."

Lizzy blushed as she realised she had been staring at him for too long. He smiled warmly in return. He blushed and held out his hand.

"Rich."

"Lizzy." She shook his hand firmly and let it fall limp to her side. "What brings you here cousin Rich?" She giggled and he chuckled in return.

"Well Miss Lizzy, I am here to accompany my cousins, we're supposed to be on holiday."

"Supposed to?"

"Will never takes a break."

"Oh. Is that why he always has a scowl on his face?"

"That, and the fact that Caroline practically latches onto his arm every time she sees him." Lizzy and Georgie giggled while Rich chuckled. "Well, I best be off, I wouldn't want to ruin special girl time without Rich..." He pouted, trying to look sad while the girls laughed at him. "See you later Georgie, I hope to see you around Miss Lizzy." She smiled shyly.

"I hope so too Rich."

"Bye Rich!" Georgie hugged her cousin tight before he walked away, giving both ladies one last wave. They watched and sighed as his fit body blurred into the crowd. "He's great isn't he?"

"That he is." Lizzy replied softly.

"You like him." Lizzy turned and gaped at her young friend.

"I do not!"

"Yes you do, I saw it all over your face."

"That's just... crap!" Lizzy stammered, trying to look for the right words, blushing. "He's just so... friendly and..."

"Humorous?"

"Humorous."

"And cute."

"And cute."

"And hot."

"And hot."

"And sexy."

"And sex–" Lizzy stopped as she realised exactly what Georgie was trying to do. "Georgiana Elise Darcy! Stop putting words in my mouth!" Georgie giggled.

"So you DO like him." Georgie winked and nudged Lizzy in the ribs.

"You're not going to stop until I admit to this are you?"

"Yep."

"Finnneee. You're just about as bad as Jane. He's a very attractive and funny young man. There. Happy now?"

"Extremely." Georgie beamed.

"Let's get back to shopping otherwise we won't make it back in time and your brother will have my head for keeping you out late.

Lizzy got back to her apartment exhausted. It was only 7:30pm and she was already ready to drop dead on her bed. Instead, she chose the couch. The snow storm outside the house had already begun, the wind wailing and the sheets of ice were pounding down on the roof.

"Jane! I'm home! Have you made dinner yet? I'm starving!" Lizzy shouted. There was no reply. "Jane!" Lizzy sat up immediately. Her sister always answered her call. Lizzy leaped off the couch and sprinted into the kitchen, and finding a note on the counter, stopped her panic attack. She picked up the note and started to read.

Lizzy.
I am over at Charlie's house, he invited me for lunch. I should be home at about 6:00pm to cook dinner.
Love you lots as always,
Jane.

Lizzy relaxed, until she read the note again. Hold on. 6:00. It was almost 8 now. Lizzy sprinted to the phone on the wall and called her sister's mobile as fast as she could. When there was no reply, her panic attack had started to creep back and she dialled again. This time someone answered the phone, only it was an extremely masculine voice.

"Hello?"

"Jane?"

"Sorry, it's Charlie Bingley, Jane's sleeping at the moment."

"Oh Charlie, thank God! It's Lizzy."

"Oh Lizzy! I was just about to call you..."

"What is it? Has anything bad happened to Jane?"

"If by bad you mean she currently has a really bad cold and a fever then yes, something bad has happened." Lizzy gasped, horrified. "She decided to ski here, as you can see, it didn't end really well... I don't think she was wearing enough clothing. Relax Lizzy, I'll take care of her over here. The doctor can't come out to see her because of the storm, but I promise you she'll be safe." Lizzy shook her head. No. She had to go to Jane, she had to.

"No Charlie. I'm coming over, I hope you don't mind but I have to, it's Jane. I'll bring a bag of her stuff and my stuff over as well, just in case we have to stay for a little longer than expected."

"Sure, but Lizzy, how will you get here in all this snow?"

"Trust me Charlie. This Bennet always has a plan." With that, she hung up and ran to her bedroom, throwing all the things she thought she'd need into her waterproof backpack. Next, to Jane's room to collect her things. Lizzy quickly dressed as warm as possible and waddled into the wet room, quickly lacing up her boots and grabbing her board, she was ready to face the weather. Lizzy opened the door and gasped. She could barely see a metre in front of her, let alone navigate the mountain. This would be one hell of a journey.

It had taken Lizzy a good two hours to reach Charlie's house. She had gotten lost at least 5 times but had managed to find her way to his front door, even if the house did have no lights on, it was still pretty hard to miss. It was with anxiousness that she reached up and rang the doorbell. When no one answered, she rang it again and again, and again. Lizzy began to panic, what if something had happened to Jane... What if– The door opened and she was met with the girliest scream she had ever heard in all of her 24 years of life. The figure reared back when a red head came running to the front door, clearly half asleep.

"Will? What is it– Oh." Charlie beamed. "Hello Lizzy." And with that Lizzy started to laugh. The formidable William Darcy screamed like a girl. When she had finally stopped laughing she grinned back.

"Hey Charlie. Sorry I took so long, I got lost."

"Geez... You boarded here? You must be freezing! Come in, come in." Lizzy side stepped past Darcy, smirking at his expression.

"Sorry about all the ice and water and stuff... It's hell out there."

"That's alright. Come say hello to the gang, then I'll take you to your room and you can dry off and warm up before seeing Jane." Lizzy nodded and Charlie led her into another room where Will had suddenly appeared in the love seat next to Caroline who was wrapped up in him, Richard and Georgiana on the floor playing snap by the fire place. "Lizzy's here everybody."

"Lizzy!" Rich and Georgie exclaimed while Will stayed silent and Caroline just glared.

"Why are you here?" Georgie asked, surprised.

"Jane. She's here for her sister." Will answered. Everybody looked at him in surprise while he shrugged and looked down at his lap. Lizzy burst out laughing. She couldn't help it. "Shut up."

"Not my fault you screamed like a girl." Lizzy answered.

"Ohhh, so that was you who was screaming." Rich said amused, I thought it might've been Jane or Caroline it was so extremely high pitched." Everyone laughed while Will blushed. He muttered something under his breath.

"Yes Will?"

"She scared me."

"Now how could poor little Miss Lizzy scare big ol' you?"

"She looked like an abominable snowman..."

"A what?"

"Abominable snowman." Will muttered, embarrassed while all the others roared in laughter.

"Who knew you were so scared of snowmen." Charlie said shaking his head in amusement. "Come, I'll take you to your room." Together they walked up the stairs. "Here's your room. Jane's is that one across the hall. If you need any of us, we'll be downstairs in the room we were just in." Lizzy nodded.

"Thanks Charlie."

"You're welcome." Charlie smiled and walked back down the stairs.

Once Lizzy was dry and warm she slipped across the hall into Jane's room and breathed a sigh of relief. Jane was there, alive, breathing, sleeping. Lizzy pulled over a chair and sat down near the bed and slipped her hand into Jane's. Jane's eyes fluttered open.

"Lizzy?" Jane said softly, confused.

"Oh Jane." Lizzy began to cry, tears down her face.

"Shhhh Lizzy, I'm here, I'm safe."

"I was so scared. I didn't know... I just kept imagining–" Lizzy stopped herself and more tears fell.

"Come here." Lizzy held her sister tightly, relishing her embrace. "Shhh, shhh, it's alright. I just need rest that's all."

"I know, I'm being silly aren't I Janey?" Lizzy smiled and sat back, holding her sister's hand. "Go back to sleep Jane, you need the rest."

"Don't let go."

"I won't."

"I love you Lizzy."

"I love you too Jane." Lizzy watched her sister fall back to sleep, smiling at her sister's serene face. She would be alright.

I hope you liked it. Please review, what do you think? It's not too late to change the story plot but I want to follow and see where this one goes... Tell me what you think. Don't worry, everything will work out in the end...

xx faithinfools