Many of the reviewers think that Elizabeth will end up with Wickham, while some still hold true to Elizabeth and Darcy. The whole point of this story was to break away from the fanfiction norm where you know Elizabeth will be with Darcy before you even finish the first chapter. Even I don't know what will happen, so be prepared for anything. =)

Standing across from Darcy, Elizabeth couldn't help, but notice the way he watched her and the expression in his eyes as he did so. To say it frightened her would be a gross understatement, but she was sick of being intimidated by him and her confidence in herself had been regained, with the help of Mr. Wickham.

The music began and they both stepped forward, their hands meeting. The light that shown in Darcy's eyes was missed by Elizabeth as the dance drove them apart, but it was seen by Charlotte, Jane and Bingley. Jane and Bingley met each other's eyes as they saw it, both worried. Charlotte smirked at the thought that a man as powerful as Darcy could be so trapped by her friend. In her opinion it was an excellent match.

Elizabeth continued the dance, oblivious to the scrutiny of many of the guests. Her only thought was to finish the dance as painlessly as possible. She was somewhat displeased, though not completely surprised, when Darcy started a conversation with her.

"I love this dance." She looked at him.

"Indeed, most invigorating." They were silent for another few minutes.

"It is your turn to say something. I made a remark about the dance, now you should make a comment about the number of couples, or the size of the room." This managed to elicit a chuckle out of Elizabeth.

"Are you giving me advice on proper etiquette? Really, Mr. Darcy, I sincerely doubt I need your advice on good manners." Darcy smiled; happy that he had finally broken through her impersonal mask and exposed the teasing side of her he knew and loved.

"At the time, Miss Elizabeth, it seemed that you were in more dire need of the advice than I." The dance separated them once more, giving her no time to answer, until they came together again.

"How so?" Darcy smiled at her as their hands met again.

"The response 'most invigorating' is something that I could easily seeing myself saying, but not you." Elizabeth grimaced slightly as he compared the two of them. He was right; her words had been fairly Darcyish.

"Ah, but if that is something you are likely to have said, you cannot chastise me for it. To do so would be hypocritical." Darcy chuckled at himself for falling prey to her logic and wit.

"It would be, but I did not rebuke you for your word choice, simply your general manner." Elizabeth grinned evilly at him.

"But would that not also be hypocritical? For you cannot say that you are an avid conversationalist or that you are very extroverted, so if I chose to be the same what can you say about it?" The corner of Darcy's mouth twisted up, breaking the poker face he had been trying to keep.

"I can say a great many things, whether hypocritical or not, for you cannot deny that I have succeeded in my goal." Elizabeth looked at him puzzled.

"Your goal?" Darcy nodded, a smile gracing his face once again.

"I enticed you to conversation, have I not?" Elizabeth paled as she realized he was right, but her color returned soon as she replied.

"It would be strange to dance the whole half hour without a word passing between us."

"I suppose it would be, but did that not happen in your last dance?" Elizabeth started, nearly missing the step.

"No, there was much talking done that dance." An unconscious smile rose to both of their lips at her reference to Mr. Collins' endless chatter.

"But words were not passed between you. He threw them at you, but you dodged them artfully." Elizabeth laughed at the picture his words conjured. She smiled at Darcy and he gratefully returned it. Both could tell she was much easier in his presence.

"I cannot deny that, but you cannot fault me for that either. I have heard enough about Lady Catherine to last me a lifetime."

"I can imagine. You may not know this but, she is my aunt and I must visit her every year." Darcy rolled his eyes, his feelings toward his aunt plain to see.

"Yes, Mr. Collins has thought it fit to tell me you are her nephew. Several times." This happened in between his degrading Wickham and inflating his own virtues. Collins saw it fit to remind her of Darcy's station and her own, clearly implying that a union between Darcy and herself was absolutely out of the question. They lapsed into silence once more, but this time the tension had been removed. The final notes of the dance sounded, and Elizabeth felt somewhat reluctant to leave. Darcy had been so amiable, and the battle of wits they had shared rejuvenated her.

"I believe this is the end." Darcy bowed to her, as was required by the dance.

"So it is." Elizabeth parroted her earlier words, and they held as much reluctance as they had the first time. Darcy smiled at her, and was happy that she remained with him, seeming unwilling to leave his side. Darcy led her off the dance floor, but did not leave her side.

"Perhaps you would wish to continue our conversation?" Elizabeth agreed and they passed the rest of the time until the next dance very happily. Finally the musicians announced the next dance and she had to leave to find Wickham.

"Thank you for the stimulating conversation, Mr. Darcy. It is always nice to stop and have conversation with a friend." Darcy stiffened. Had she truly just called him a friend?

"A friend?" Elizabeth smiled at him.

"Yes, a friend." She looked into his eyes, and retracted hers as she saw the intense gaze he was giving her. "Just a friend, that is all." She added forcefully, not wanting to give him any false hope. She turned away and left. Darcy stared after her, his mind going over happy thoughts for the first time in days.

Friends. Finally some improvement. Maybe it isn't so hopeless after all.

Just friends. She made a point to tell us that there would be no succeeding.

For now there is not, but the future? One never knows what the future holds.

But if we never improve in her esteem what then? We cannot simply wait for her our whole life. We are only friends, not matter how much we wish it, that's all we'll ever be.

I would rather have her friendship than the love of any other woman in the world.

Originally this chapter was supposed to have her dance with Wickham too, but it came out longer than I thought. So Wickham's dance will just have to wait until next time. =)

I have recently gotten a lot of free time, but school is starting soon, so updates may take longer. =( I promise Wickham's dance should be up in the next couple of days.