The next few months passed quietly at Pemberley. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy remained close to their home as winter neared. Neither wanted to venture beyond a few hours travel in fear of a snow storm hitting and trapping them away from their home. For the time being, Mr. Darcy gently forbade his wife to go beyond a few hundred yards of their home when she went on her walks at twilight. Elizabeth, though she did not like the idea of being confined, complied for her husband's sake. During the bleak, wintery weather, Elizabeth would write her sister, Jane, and ask of her niece's progress. Jane reported that Beth, as the baby was affectionately known as, was just beginning to sit up on her own and babbling a few words. Elizabeth loved reading her sister's ramblings about her niece. It dulled the pain of not having her own child. Though she and Darcy had recently begun gently trying to conceive their own child, they had thus far been unsuccessful in their efforts. Each month would pass as another disappointment for Elizabeth. Unlike most husbands of the time, Darcy did not ignore his wife during this endeavor. Each month he would comfort her and tell her that they would try again. At night, he pulled his wife close to him and nuzzled his face into her neck, whispering words of comfort to her. One night, however, after another disappointing arrival of her courses, Elizabeth did not curl up next to Darcy, but instead climbed into their bed and faced him.

"Darcy, do you still love me?" Her eyes were full of question and doubt.

"Lizzie, why ever ask a question that you know the answer to? I love you dearly. You are everything to me and challenge me in ways no other woman but you could. I love your eyes, your smile, intellegence and wit, and everything down to the way your hair curls at the nape of your neck." He kissed her forehead softly.

"What if I can never successfully conceive a child? Will you still love me then?" Elizabeth's voice quavered at the thought of never bearing a child for the man she loved so ardently.

"We will cross that bridge together if it should happen that way, but I will still love you no less than I do now or when I first proposed to you. I have faith, however, that we will be able to conceive a child because I will do everything in my power to bring you with child." Gently, he brushed a tear from her cheek.

"I love you Darcy and I apologize for doubting you." Elizabeth averted her eyes in shame.

"Darling, do not apologize." Darcy lifted her chin to bring her eyes to his. "It is only natural to want reassurance of the love that others feel. I know that my duties have taken me from you for a good deal of time. In the future, I promise to put aside my duties to be with you more and to express my love more often when we are alone."

Elizabeth felt relieved with his reassurance. She turned over and enveloped herself in Darcy's touch. Within a few minutes, she was soundly sleeping with a peaceful look on her face. Darcy, however, remained awake in the tranquility of their room. It was moments like this that made him remember how precious Elizabeth was to him. She was his companion, his perfect match, his wife, his lover, and would one day become the mother of his children. In his mind, he could not comprehend how he could have been so fortunate to have found Elizabeth. He remembered the first night they had met. It was at the assembly ball to welcome his friend, Mr. Bingley, to Netherfield. When he passed Elizabeth for the first time, she did immediately catch his attention. Her eyes were filled with so much spirit. Later, when he saw her laughing with her sister, he noticed her eyes light up with life. Elizabeth Bennett was beautiful beyond anything Fitzwilliam Darcy had ever beheld. During the ball, Bingley found him and initiated a casual conversation.

"I have never seen so many pretty girls in my life!"

"On the contrary, you were dancing with the only handsome one in the entire room."

"She is the most beautiful creature I have ever met! But her sister Elizabeth is very agreeable..."

"Barely tolerable, I should think; but not nearly handsome enough to tempt me."

That reply, made in ignorance, sparred any chance of civily speaking with Elizabeth for a lengthy period of time. He did not know that she was nearby and had heard his snide comment. In truth, he was just covering the fact that he did take interest in Elizabeth. Inwardly, he laughed at himself for that remark made so long ago. He and Elizabeth would often jest at one another presently about it. It would forever be part of their private banter with one another when they were alone. At last, his mind able to rest, Darcy fell into a slumber until morning.

Winter melted into spring. All the snow was gone from the ground and the flowers were beginning to bloom. The weather was perfect for Elizabeth to begin going on her daily walks around the grounds of Pemberley once more. It was such a joy for her to see all the wonderful sights the outdoors had to offer. Though being indoors all winter had been unpleasant, the company was most agreeable in her eyes. Spending time with Georgiana during the day, listening to her music and talking about new books to read. At night, however, the company was completely of a different nature. Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed her alone time with Darcy, spent in the privacy of their room. Their bedchamber was always chilly at night, so it provided ample reason in her eyes to snuggle with her husband. Darcy held no objections in her affections, for he too enjoyed the company of his spouse. Quite often, they would stay awake most of the night, talking. Other times, however, were spent copulating in hopes that a child would be born, but out of the strongest love.

Once spring arrived, Mr. Darcy had to make his first trip away from Elizabeth since their marriage. He would be gone for nearly a month. Elizabeth was dreading spending the nights alone, away from the one she loved so much. Since their marriage, she found it near impossible to sleep without him in the bed with her. Elizabeth thought it silly at first, but soon realized that it was part of the deep love and devotion that she felt for Darcy that bound her to him in such a way. She knew Darcy to be much the same, for there was a time, early into their marriage, when they had fought and refused to share a bed. Elizabeth went to a different room that night and tried to sleep, but it was no use. For hours, she just tossed and turned without any luck of falling into any kind of sleep. During the early hours of the morning, she heard the door creak. When she turned, she saw Darcy standing in the doorway in his bedclothes. He climbed into the bed with her and took her hand into his.

"Lizzie, I find it is no longer possible for me to find sleep without you by my side."

"Tis the same for I."

"I apologize for my harsh words earlier. I should have never said those things to you because you are my wife and I love you."

"Darcy, the whole affair was my fault. I should have never provoked your anger. I love you as well."

"Let us never fight again and not speak to one another. From this day forward, we shall talk about our problems until they are resolved so that we never spend another night away from one another."

"I agree."

That arguement seemed like so long ago, when in reality it was only the previous year. Now they really did have to spend nights away from one another, but not in anger. When the morning of his departure arrived, Elizabeth found it hard to try and compose herself. She felt as if a part of her were being taken away for an extended period of time. Before departing, they shared a private goodbye with one another. Tears found their way down her cheek and he gently wiped them away.

"Tears? From my strong Elizabeth?"

"I'm a woman in love, aren't I?" She smiled at him.

"That you are, my dear. And I as much in love with you."

"Promise me that you will return home soon."

"I promise."

They shared a brief kiss before Darcy turned and mounted his horse. Elizabeth watched him ride until she could see him no more. After which, she turned and went inside. The next few days were expecially hard. There never seemed to be enough things to occupy her mind to keep her thoughts away from the fact that her husband was not home. She would wander around the house aimlessly, studying to portraits on the walls of Pemberley. When she came to Darcy's and stopped to look at it, she saw in his eyes the tender love he had for her and walked as quickly as possible straight to their bedchamber and cried for nearly an hour.

Nearly two weeks passed before she had any kind of routine to her day once more. In the mornings she would attend to the things around the house, making sure all the servants were on task and initiating polite conversation with several about their families. One morning, she took interest in one particularly young servant, no more than five years her junior, named Abigail. The girl was very quiet and reserved, but Elizabeth could tell she had a soft spot for a particular stable boy named Henry. Although she didn't show it because she would initiate a sparring match of words every time they would talk. It was very much the same attitude she had shown when she was falling in love with her own husband. Elizabeth made note to talk to Abigail and see if her intuitions were correct. For now, she would let things go to see which direction they would follow.

By the afternoon, Elizabeth was fatigued from walking about the house and attending to certain matters that the mistress of the house was obliged to do. To relax, she went to the library and found her favorite book, curled up on the couch, and began to read. The rest of the afternoon, to her surprise, passed quickly as the sun began to fade behind the horizon. Elizabeth shut the book, intending to begin reading it again later and walked from the library to the dining room where Georgiana was waiting for her. The two began to eat dinner together.

"Elizabeth, are you well? You look frightfully pale." Georgiana seemed genuinely concerned.

"I am well, Georgiana. It's just with your brother being away, I have not been able to sleep very well at night."

"You love him so much, do you not?"

"I do. I do not think I have loved someone so much as I do Darcy." Elizabeth could feel tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.

Georgiana placed her hand on top of Elizabeth's. "He will be home soon."

Elizabeth excused herself early from dinner and escaped to the comfort of her and Darcy's bedchamber. After changing into her sleeping clothes, she sat in their bed alone. Quietly she pulled Darcy's pillow to her chest, burying her face into the fabric. It still smelled of her husband, a comforting scent. She breathed it in, wishing it were actually him instead. A few tears escaped the corners of her eyes onto the pillow itself, dampening the material near her face. Being this emotional was an entirely new concept for Elizabeth. Never had she felt so alone and desperate for the touch of her husband, not even for the one night they had spent apart early in their marriage. Two weeks were torture and she still had almost two more weeks until he would arrive home again. It was almost unimaginable how she would survive another moment without him. After another few minutes of crying, Elizabeth fell asleep with her head on top of her husband's pillow. For a few hours she was comforted by a dream in which he came home.

Another week and a half passed until it was the day of Mr. Darcy's arrival back to his home. The entire house was buzzing with activity to welcome their master. Elizabeth made sure everything was perfect for dinner and that all would be ready for afterward. Separation from her husband had been very difficult and trying for Elizabeth. In the weeks he was gone, she finished six books, learned a new song on pianoforte, and finally mastered the art of knitting. All was done in an attempt to keep herself from thinking of missing Darcy. Elizabeth made note to tell Darcy that he must never leave her alone for this long ever again. She wondered if all wives felt the lonliness she did when their husbands were gone or if she was just more deeply attached than others. After all, she and Darcy did marry for love and not social status like most marriages of the day.

The afternoon sun began to dwingle into twilight. Elizabeth paced the floor in the entryway of their home, waiting for Darcy to walk through the door. Just as she was about to go insane, she heard hoof beats nearing the house. Her heart sped up. They came closer. She could almost hear her heart inside her ears. The noise stopped completely as did her heart. When the door clicked to open, Elizabeth could feel her heart jump into her throat. Darcy walked through the door and immediately took his wife into his arms. Their separation ended with a tender, loving kiss.

"I have missed you so!" Elizabeth could feel her tears threatening to fall.

"And I have missed you!" Darcy lowered his voice. "I never knew I could miss someone so."

"I never wish to be parted from you ever again, even if only for a day." Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder.

"Nor do I. Never again will I leave you alone." He kissed the top of her head.

A/N: Another chapter for you viewing pleasure. I hope that all is well with everyone. Thank you for all the reviews, I appreciate each and every one!! More chapters to come very soon.