The next few days were spent preparing for the impending arrival of Elizabeth's family. It was decided that they would reside on the other side of the house, away from Elizabeth and Darcy's bedchamber. Darcy thought it best that his wife have the least amount of stress in her life just before the birth of the baby. That would be stressful enough. Nearly two weeks before the baby was due, Elizabeth was restricted to bed rest with limited movement. Though she was not happy about it, she consented for the health of her unborn child. Jane split her time between her own daughter and spending time with Elizabeth, so Charles and Darcy were left to their own devices. One afternoon, the men went out to Darcy's lake to fish. They stood on the edge and cast out their lines, the hooks plunking into the water making small splashes.

"Charles, may I be candid with you?" Darcy felt nervous.

"Of course Darcy. I think of you as nothing less than a brother."

"I must admit that I am apprehensive about Elizabeth's lying in. What if something were to happen?" Darcy fought back the lump in his throat and pulled on his fishing rod.

"I felt the same before Jane's first lying in. It's only natural that you want to protect your wife from everything. However, Jane will be with her when the time comes and you will be nearby." Charles pulled his fishing rod back to see if anything was on the line.

"I also worry about being a father to this child. The only child I've ever truly held was Georgiana, but she was not a babe."

"Darcy, you will be a magnificent father! There is truly nothing to be worried about. Elizabeth will help you learn as Jane did for me. I could not imagine my life now without being a father to Beth."

The two men stood in silence the rest of the fishing endevour, catching three fish between them. Upon returning, Darcy was surprised to learn his in-laws had arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were settling into their room as were Mary and Kitty. Darcy rushed up to his own bedchamber to find Elizabeth. She was sitting up in their bed, smiling and laughing with Jane when he arrived. Jane excused herself and allowed the two some time alone. Darcy bent over and kissed Elizabeth's belly, causing the baby to kick and Elizabeth to laugh. He moved to her face and kissed her lips softly. When their kiss ended, he sat next to her on the bed.

"When I woke this morning, you were not next to me. Pray, tell me you are feeling well?" Darcy was concerned for his wife's health.

"I am well. It was only a pained back. I walked around for a while to ease the pain." Elizabeth knew what he was thinking automatically. "But I returned to our bed straightaway. I did not wander from this room." Darcy gave her a reproachful look, but softened.

"Darling, I fear I have some unpleasant news to deliver." Darcy took her hands.

"Pray, tell me quickly."

"Your family has arrived from Longbourn. Presently your mother and father are settling into their room and your sisters are entertaining themselves."

"Might I be allowed to remove myself from this bed to greet my father?" Elizabeth smiled and gave the most innocent look she could muster.

"Only if I am allowed to carry you there." Darcy remained stern, but smiled lovingly at his wife.

"Must you be so protective? I have hardly moved from this very bed for nearly two days! I need to see my father." Elizabeth was insistent at this point. She wanted to see her father.

"Lizzie, I will not have you falling when you are this close to your lying in. Please allow me, if just to relieve my own nerves." Darcy held her hand softly, massaging her palm with his thumb.

"If you must..." Elizabeth knew it was of no use to fight what her husband insisted on.

Darcy helped Elizabeth to get dressed and gently lifted her from the bed to carry her. It astounded him how light she was at nearly full term. He walked down the hall to the nearest common room and set her down on the couch. When she was comfortable, Darcy sent for her family to be brought to the room. A few minutes later Elizabeth's family came through the doors. Mrs. Bennett rushed to Elizabeth's side in a complete fuss over her daughter. She made a fuss over Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy excused himself to allow his wife some privacy with her family.

"Oh Lizzie! My poor nerves have been in such a fuss since we learned that you were with child!" Mrs. Bennett crooned around Elizabeth, touching her stomach and fixing her hair.

"I am perfectly well mama. There is really nothing to fret about. Mr. Darcy has made sure that I am in the utmost care at all times."

"I was sure of that Lizzie, but I was not entirely sure that you would take precaution to ensure a son would be born."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Mama...that is ridiculous..."

"Oh but it isn't! Had I been told long ago, one of your sisters might have been a son. Lady Lucas told me of these precautions. Her own daughter used them before her own child was born and it turned out to be male."

"Charlotte had a son because she conceived a son, not because of some silly wives tales."

"Tell me Lizzie, have you been eating well?"

"Yes. My appetite has not changed." Elizabeth was now confused. "Mama, what does this have to do with anything?"

"Lizzie darling, have you...been with Mr. Darcy since you conceived your child?" Mrs. Bennett lowered her voice.

"What kind of preposterous question is that?" Elizabeth was angry that she would even bring that subject up. It was not proper to talk of such things, though she and Jane had numerous conversations about it in their private talks.

"Lizzie, it is a perfectly rational question. If you are with Mr. Darcy before your child is born, if the babe is a boy he will see your husband's..." Mrs. Bennett paused for lack of a decent word, "thing and be terrified of what he will become and change to a daughter."

"There is no evidence that such a thing ever happens. That notion is of your own creation mama. Even Jane will tell you that those things are not true." Elizabeth tried to be civil with her mother.

Mrs. Bennett quickly lost interest in her arguement with her second daughter as Jane came into the room with little Beth tottling behind her. All the women were taken with Jane's beautiful child, so Elizabeth got a few moments with her beloved father. He stood up and walked over to his favorite daughter, sitting in the chair next to her own. Elizabeth looked over at her father and smiled. She felt as if she had not seen him in ages. She leaned over and hugged his neck.

"Lizzie, my precious Lizzie." He wrapped his arms around her to hug her.

"How are you feeling papa?" Elizabeth sat back to look her father in the eyes.

"I am well, but the true question is how are you?" His gaze fell to her stomach.

Elizabeth laid her hand on her stomach and smiled. "We are both well. You need not fear for my husband has made sure that we are both protected and in good health."

"Good man." Mr. Bennett was happy to see his daughter was well looked after during her duration of pregnancy.

Father and daughter talked for a while longer about the latest books they had read and news they had heard. Elizabeth even told him of Lady Catherine's visit and subsequent removal from Pemberley. Mr. Bennett nodded in approval of Darcy's actions toward his aunt. Everyone knew the sort of vile woman Lady Catherine was. Her view was that if she should suffer, then everyone else must as well. A short time later, Mr. Darcy rejoined them, bringing Mr. Bingley with him as well. Everyone became busy with their afternoon distractions. Mary and Kitty engaged in playing with their niece, Beth, who adored the attention. The men began a game of cards while Mrs. Bennett sat in a corner, sewing a design on a cloth. Jane and Elizabeth were left to their own distraction. Quickly and quietly, they moved to Elizabeth's private parlor three doors down from the common room. Though Elizabeth was not supposed to walk, she figured that once wouldn't be enough to do any harm. She sat down in her chair and Jane closed the door. They giggled at sneaking away so easily. Once they were calm, they began talking like they always had done.

"The questions mama asked me were ridiculous!"

"I overheard. She does not really comprehend the word 'confident' as far as keeping her voice down. Those were the exact same she asked me before Beth was born. She is adament that we do not end up like her, with five daughters and no sons."

"Honestly, I would not mind having all daughters. We grew up with only sisters and Darcy has made it a point to tell me that he does not care if this child is a male or female. I've seen how he dotes of Georgiana and I believe that our daughter would be no different." Elizabeth rested her hands on her stomach, now fully protruding from under her skirts.

"What if it is a son?"

"Then I shall welcome him with just as much joy. So long as my child is healthy, it matters not if it is a son or daughter."

"Charles and I felt the same before Beth was born. Now, she is the light of our lives and we would not have it any other way. Caroline insisted we try right away for a son, but we wanted time to spend only with Beth before we considered another child." Jane poured some tea for both of them and handed Elizabeth a cup.

"I'm positive Darcy and I will feel the same once we meet the child who has, I'm sure, rearranged the entire inside of my body."

Both sisters looked at one another and laughed. Elizabeth felt more strong kicks from her little one within. They continued talking about how different their lives had become than they were nearly four years ago. Neither of them would change anything for the world. Elizabeth wondered to herself how she could love someone so much she had not even met. This child would change everything for her and Darcy, but in ways they had longed to know. She often pondered what kind of mother she would be. Certainly she did not want to be like her own mother, often times overbearing, but in some ways she did want to be like her mother.

There had been a time, years ago, when her mother had been the kind of mother every child would want to have. It was right after Kitty's birth, when Elizabeth and Jane were three and five. Mary was barely a year old. Elizabeth remembered her mother taking them out for walks by the pond in the morning, showing them the ducks and geese. During the afternoons, while Kitty and Mary napped, she would sit in their common room and sew while the elder two children played on the floor. Often times, she would even read to them fables and fairy tales. That was the kind of mother Elizabeth wished to be to her children, not the woman her mother became when Elizabeth was nearly twelve. She began pressing the importance of marriage on Jane, who was fourteen at the time, and Elizabeth as well. At every party or dinner from that year on, she would point out the eligable young men of fortune to them. Both sisters thought it annoying, but Jane never said anything as she was the obiedient child. From that point on, Elizabeth detached herself from her mother and began seeking her father's attention. He taught her how to think for herself and gave her books to read as often as she liked. They became inseparable as a father/daughter duo.

Elizabeth and Jane were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. They bid the person enter. Darcy walked through the door with a stern look on his face. Elizabeth knew she was in trouble. Jane excused herself to give her sister and her husband some privacy, shutting the door behind her. Guiltily, Elizabeth smiled at her husband as he strode across the room to sit next to her. She knew that he would not be too angry with her because of her present condition. At most, she expected a verbal warning. As Darcy sat down, he looked at his wife and immediately all anger he held faded. He could not stay angry at his beloved wife, especially because she carried their firstborn child.

"Lizzie, you cannot keep walking about and disappearing when I'm not watching." He took her hands.

"I apologize Darcy. I did not intend to worry you. Do not fret, I was only with Jane and walked a very short distance before sitting down. Jane made sure that I was well."

"But I do worry, not only for your health but the health of our soon to be born child." Darcy caressed the side of Elizabeth's face and kissed her forehead.

"I am but two weeks from lying in. The physician said that walking now might help when it comes time for birthing our child." Elizabeth was not giving up the arguement this time.

Darcy nodded in agreement. "Before your next walk, please allow me to know. I might wish to come along to spend time with you."

"You may spend time with me any time you wish." Elizabeth leaned forward and kissed him. "I would adore walking with you."

"Tomorrow morning?"

"Of course."

"I love you Lizzie." He bent down and kissed her belly. "And I love you as well."

"We both love and adore you." Elizabeth brought his lips back to hers and claimed them as her own.

With one swift motion, Darcy swept Elizabeth into his arms and carried her back to their bedchamber. He ordered that their dinner be brought to them. However rude it was considered to leave their guests unattended, Darcy did not seem to care. All he cared about was his wife and child at the moment. Jane and Bingley, more than anyone, would understand his worry and continue on with dinner downstairs with the others. Darcy and Elizabeth remained upstairs the rest of the evening, content to be in each other's company. They changed into their night clothes and laid together in their bed. Darcy traced patterns on Elizabeth's stomach, causing their child to move about and Elizabeth to giggle. Her smile lit up the room with joy. Darcy gazed into her eyes, which glowed honey colored in the candlelight, and saw all the happiness in the world. Elizabeth had been the only woman that ever made him feel this way. Her smile made him feel like he wanted to protect her from every evil imaginable. She was the queen of his life.

Elizabeth watched Darcy trace the patterns on her stomach, causing their child to flutter and move about. Watching him do this made her feel infinitely happy. Most people who knew Fitzwilliam Darcy would not expect him to be happily married and anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child. They would expect him to be married for social and financial reasons, to secure his family's continued dominant status. Frankly, five years ago, Elizabeth would have expected the same of him. No one really saw Darcy's true nature but Elizabeth and his sister, Georgiana. Outwardly, he put up a front of stern hostility, but inwardly he was a deeply caring man who loved more fiercely than anyone Elizabeth had ever known. It took her a year to see this, but when she did, she found that she loved him just as deeply. Elizabeth could not imagine loving anyone else, nor did she want to. Their love was endless.

A/N: Yay...another chapter successfully written within a month...less than two weeks actually! Thank you for your continued support through reviews. I appreciate each one. Keep them coming! Your faithful servant,
Vampirediva07