A Plane the Next Day….

"Tell me again why you feel the need to crash the Pemberley estate." Jane insisted loudly from beside me as I glanced out the airplane window with a wince. I wasn't all that good with heights.

"Shhhhhh!" I hissed as I looked over my shoulder to where Mr. Collins was sitting quietly reading what looked to be a stock market type magazine. He looked up then and practically wagged his eyebrows at me. I fought to keep down the bile that rose in my throat before looking back over at Jane.

"For you. That's why. And because I'm highly pissed off at this point." I murmured as she shook her head gently.

"And bringing your aunt along as well as that messed up family of yours is supposed to accomplish what?" She asked as I shrugged. It just seemed like a good idea. At this point, I fully intended to be exactly who I was always meant to be—Elizabeth Bennet. If that meant quitting my job and allowing Mr. Darcy to see what my family could really be like then so be it. I was tired of playing games—tired of running around in circles. My aunt turned around from where she was sitting in front of us. I could tell she was looking forward to this little vacation I had offered her.

"Our little Lizzie wants to irritate the hell out of Fitzwilliam Darcy, that's why." Aunt Gardiner answered for me as Jane groaned. So, I wanted to take initiative for once. I was tired of being a puppet on a string—manipulated to suit everyone's purpose but my own. I closed my eyes as I heard a noise from behind my seat.

"You are looking exceptionally well for someone traveling." Mr. Collins complimented as I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Collins." I announced as Jane snickered. I was sorely tempted to open an exit and parachute myself out of the plane. Was I doing the right thing?

Fitzwilliam Darcy…

"You still haven't told me anything about this woman you're hung up on." Georgiana insisted the next afternoon as Will instructed some servants to make up all of the upstairs rooms in the house. His aunt Catherine was flying in with Lady Stephanie to help prepare for the upcoming nuptials and Charles's sister Caroline had insisted she be involved also. Not to mention that Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitwilliam, had decided now was a wonderful time for a visit as well. Will knew better than to try and relax. He looked over at his sister.

"That's because there is no other woman, Georgie." He explained futilely as his sister followed him around unabashedly. She seemed determined to pick his brain.

"Talk to me, William!" She demanded as she hurried behind him. "I know you, brother, and something is going on in that sophisticated head of yours. It may help to talk." She exclaimed as Darcy stopped moving long enough to grab his sister by the shoulders—looking her deep in the eyes as he sighed.

"There is nothing to explore, Georgie! No mystery. No hot, torrid affair. Just business and one big mess after mess that had to be fixed. And now, I find I want to settle down. Is that so hard to believe?" Darcy asked candidly as his sister pressed her lips together firmly. Her brother had never intimidated her. And she wasn't fooled by his denials.

"Yes, Will, it is. You don't love Stephanie. I know you don't." She implored as Darcy shrugged nonchalantly.

"And what law book says that I have to?" Darcy asked as Georgiana's mouth fell open slightly only to close as she narrowed her eyes before standing on her tiptoes so that their noses almost touched.

"Because you're not telling me something, brother. And if I'm not mistaken, you are in love with someone else." Georgiana huffed before pushing her brother's hands off her arms and spinning on her heels while Will looked after her incredulously. Love? Ridiculous! A butler tapped him on the shoulder.

"Sir, Lady Catherine DeBourgh and party have arrived." The man stated simply as Darcy rubbed a hand wearily down his face.

"Show them in, Jenkins." He said in a low, defeated tone. He didn't notice Georgiana watching him from the stairs.

Elizabeth Bennet…

Our first stop after landing was Longbourn only because Mr. Collins needed to stop by the office in Merryton. I wasn't at all put off by the pit stop because I had every intention of seeing my family. Even Aunt Gardiner was excited as we approached the estate, watching as the doors flew open upon our arrival to expose the excited faces of my sisters.

"Lizzie!" They yelled before surrounding me in the yard in front of the house. "Tell us everything! How was Italy? Are Italian men as hot as they say? How much wine did you drink? Did you go to any parties?" The twins asked me rapidly as Mary shook her head and rolled her eyes in disgust.

"I would think dear Lizzie would be more interested in Rome's history—the Coliseum, the structures, the baths, the church…." Mary droned on as mama rushed out the door to grab first myself and then her sister, my zia.

"It is so good to have you back. And sister! My, you look well…I suppose. Did you rendezvous any with the handsome Mr. Bingley, Lizzie?" Mama asked as I sighed. I just had to keep reminding myself that I did love these people. Not to mention that I heard Jane gasp at that statement. I looked over at her quickly in order to reassure her that I had no designs on the man she loved before facing my mama again.

"No, mother, I did not rendezvous with the impeccable Mr. Bingley. I spent all of my time working." I answered as mama's face fell in disappointment. She really depended on the idea that I would marry well. I think that, in truth, she was more afraid of being left helpless and old as each of her daughters grew older. I couldn't blame her for that. I couldn't blame her for the fear of dying alone unable to take care of herself. And that's why I loved her despite her rantings because I knew she ranted for a reason. I just hoped she knew that even if I was as poor as a church mouse when she got too old to get around on her own, that I fully intended to find a way to take care of her and papa. I just wasn't marrying someone I didn't love in order to accomplish that. I smiled at her suddenly.

"How would you guys all like to join me on a business trip?" I asked them cheerfully as mama looked up and the twins squealed. Even Mary's eyes twinkled even though she tried her best to hide it. Mary was such a pretty girl, but painfully shy and awkward. She hid her beautiful blue eyes behind glasses, even though she truly didn't need the spectacles. She had luxurious, curly hair like my own but she kept it pinned up severely. Her complexion was flawless although she kept it constantly hidden behind a book, and she could play the piano like a dream as long as she avoided singing. Out of all of my sisters, she was one of the most beautiful but you wouldn't notice because she hid it so very well. As a matter of fact, she hid it well enough that she never received a second glance from anyone and at eighteen, five years younger than myself, it was time she found herself being looked at. I think she hid behind her books because she found it hard being born second in a family full of rambunctiousness. It was almost as if she was afraid to be anything other than intelligent. Strange how that made me feel close to her, because I knew she and I both hid, albeit in different ways. I smiled at her and winked. She grinned softly back.

"Where would we be going, Lizzie?" Mama asked as I smiled slyly before catching my aunt's and Jane's amused looks. Taking a deep breath, I faced my family.

"To Pemberley, the estate of my boss, Mr. Darcy." I replied simply as the twins laughed and mama groaned. I knew she had no affectionate feelings toward Darcy. Lydia jumped up and down excitedly.

"I've heard the servants here say that his home is as big as four three story houses put together. Maybe even bigger." She proclaimed as I tried not to roll my eyes. How easily it was for the twins to be awed. If only they knew the beast that resided there. Just the thought of him made my blood pressure rise both in a good way and in a loathsome one. Mama shrugged.

"At least the accommodations will be good, even if the company will be sorely lacking." She retorted as Aunt Gardiner chuckled suddenly and Jane bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Oh, Darcy wouldn't know what hit him.

"Pack up then." I announced before clapping my hands together soundly. "We'll be leaving as soon as a new employee of Mr. Darcy's finishes up a few things." I stated quickly as mama and the girls rushed back inside the house. Mama glanced back only once.

"This new employee? Is he rich?" She asked as I threw my hands up into the air in aggravation. Yep, that was my family for you. Mama didn't look the least bit contrite.

"By the way, Lizzie. A man by the name of Wickham came by here looking for you." Mama said quietly as she turned to head back up the stairs. My blood ran cold. Mr. Wickham in England? So near Imperial? My plan took on a new light. My brain was filled with warning bells, with the sudden need to warn Darcy, because even though I wanted to teach him a lesson, I also respected him enough that I didn't want anything to happen to his company. Too many people depended on it for a living. I looked back at Jane. She seemed to be reading my thoughts.

"What the hell could he want?" Jane asked in a loud whisper as I shook my head.

"I don't know, but it can't be good." I answered as the three of us—my aunt, Jane, and I—stood like a united front waiting for our troops to join us. Wickham had never met an angry Italian, with the exception of the toe stomping incident. He certainly didn't want to start out by angering an entire family of them. Even Mary could turn into a little tigress when pushed too far. I'd seen her do it and it was a remarkable sight. The battle cry had been sounded and we were headed off to war. My aunt sighed.

"Why do I feel the need to yell 'get ready to rumble?'" My aunt asked as Jane and I laughed.