The next few months passed placidly at Pemberley. Bennett continued to grow at a steady pace, passing several milestones, including sitting up on his own and rolling over. Elizabeth and Darcy watched on with complete joy as their son accomplished these small feats. Since his birth, the Darcys' priorities had completely changed. Visitors were kept to a minimum for fear of the baby intercepting an infection or other illness and to keep Lady Catherine at bay. The only frequent visitors allowed were Jane and Bingley, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, and their son Lucas, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. All adored the youngest member of the Darcy family and payed wonderful compliments to his parents, which were graciously accepted.
Elizabeth spent her days taking care of Bennett and tending to her duties as a wife and mother. She had never felt so happy in her life as when she looked at her son. He was living proof of the love she had for Darcy. Bennett was the baby she had longed for when Jane gave birth to Beth, but feared she might never have after the miscarriage. He was the most precious thing Darcy could have ever given her. Years ago, Elizabeth might have despised the thought of becoming a wife and mother because of how much her own mother forced the opinion of it on her. Now, she couldn't imagine her life otherwise. Darcy was the most loving husband she could ever want and together they had brought a son into the world. She was happy to finally know the little one who, for months, had kicked every inch of her insides. Now he was a vibrant, healthy, precious baby boy that brought joy to his parents' lives.
Perhaps Elizabeth's favorite time of day was early morning, when the mist was still on the lawn and the sun was just rising over the horizon. She woke and slipped out of her and Darcy's bedchamber and walked to the nursery. When she came in, little Bennett was already awake and waiting for her. Lifting him out of his cradle, she kissed his forehead gently.
"You are an early riser too, I see." She cooed at her son.
When they sat down in the rocker, Bennett made a clicking noise with his tongue, indicating his hunger. Elizabeth unbuttoned her nightgown and allowed him to begin nursing. As he nursed, she rocked slowly back and forth, humming a soft tune. It was a quiet time for mother to spend with her son before anyone else was awake in the household. Elizabeth always insisted on taking care of her child without the help of a nurse or nanny. She wanted to bond with her child and develop a relationship much like she shared with her father, open and honest. Darcy, despite his own upbringing, agreed with her and wished to share the same relationship with his son. Just as she was thinking about her husband, he quietly slipped into the nursery and walked over to the rocker. He stood behind it with a soft smile on his face upon seeing his wife and child. For a while, he just stood there, watching over his family with love. Soon, Bennett was asleep once more, so Elizabeth rebuttoned her nightgown and cradled him close as she stood up. Mr. Darcy walked over and took the infant out of her arms gently, so not to wake him. The baby stirred for a moment before drifting back to sleep. Elizabeth kissed the crown of his head.
"He is rather content when he sleeps, is he not?"
"That he is." Darcy held his son close, fearing that the small child would fall out of his arms. "He favors you very much."
"I pray he will become like his father when he grows older." Elizabeth smiled.
"And what, pray tell, kind of man is that?" Darcy grinned slightly as he put their son into his cradle, pulling the blanket up to the infant's chest.
"A good man, loving and gentle." Elizabeth stood over the cradle, looking down at Bennett. "Fitzwilliam..."
"Yes Lizzie."
"I have been thinking..."
"A dangerous thing for you to do, my love." Darcy teased. "Please tell me your thoughts."
"I look at Bennett with so much love in my heart. I am overjoyed to have a son as wonderful as him, but I cannot help but feel as if a part of my heart is absent."
"What ever do you mean?"
"I see Jane with little Beth and even Lydia with her daughters. There is a part of me, buried in my heart, that wishes to attain what they have and I have not."
"Is what you desire another child, a daughter?" Darcy took her hands into his own.
"Indeed, but one could hardly blame a woman who was raised with four sisters." Elizabeth gazed into the eyes of her husband, almost pleading with him.
"Perhaps in time. Lizzie, I do not wish for you to risk your health so soon after Bennett's birth. You are only just well enough to stay out of our bed during the day. I want you in full health."
Elizabeth was immediately discouraged.
"But, I do give my word as your husband that when the time is right, we will try and conceive again." Darcy kissed Elizabeth's lips softly.
"Pray not all affection is forbidden?" Elizabeth pulled away and cast a seducing look at her husband. "I find your presence next to me is quite comforting before sleeping."
Elizabeth entangled her fingers with Darcy's, leading him from the nursery down the hall to their own bedchambers for it was still fairly early in the morning hours and no one in the house was yet awake. When they reached the door, Darcy leaned over and picked up Elizabeth. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling safe and secure in his arms. He walked four strides across the room before reaching their bed and gently placed Elizabeth under the sheets. A moment later he joined her and pulled her closer to him, kissing the back of her neck softly. His arm remained wrapped around her waist. Elizabeth loved the feeling of just lying with her husband. It was as if they were untouchable by anyone else. These were their most intimate of moments, where they were no longer Mr. and Mrs. Darcy as they were to everyone in the house, but simply Fitzwilliam and Lizzie.
"I could lie like this forever with you." Elizabeth sighed.
"As could I, my love. For when I am with you, I find that it is impossible to be anyone but my truest self." He lowered his voice to a gentle whisper. "You know me better than anyone, Lizzie."
"And you know me more than even Jane. I did not ever think it possible that anyone could know me better than Jane." She smiled lovingly, turning over her shoulder to look into her husband's eyes.
"Yet, you still somehow find a way to astound me Lizzie. How could I have been so fortunate to have married such a wonderous woman?" Darcy brushed back her curls and kissed her forehead.
Elizabeth completely turned over to face Darcy. "Tis I who is the fortunate one. You have done far more for my family than anyone could have done. I owe not only my happiness to you, but that of Jane's as well."
"Only because I love you."
Darcy's hand rested on her waist as he continued to gaze into her eyes. In the dim light of the morning, he admired his wife from head to toe. He never thought it possible to love someone so much until he met Elizabeth. From the moment he met her, he was continually intrigued by her intelligence and wit. Until he had met Elizabeth, there had been no one that could match him in any intellectual conversation. Not even Bingley, his closest friend, could force Darcy to think above anything he already knew. Elizabeth challenged him in ways no one else could before. She was unlike any woman he had ever met nor would ever meet. He had never truly believed in unexpected love until Elizabeth happened. He needed no more proof of their love than moments like this, moments where he could just wrap his arms around Elizabeth and hold her. Inwardly, he prayed his younger sister Georgiana would find as much happiness in her own future marriage as he had.
They laid there for another two hours, uninterrupted by anyone in the house. It was as if time had frozen and all stood still just for them to be with one another. Darcy did drift off for a few moments, leaving Elizabeth to her own thoughts. She traced her husband's outline with her eyes, rememorizing every feature of his face, his scent, and even the pattern of his breathing. Elizabeth was suddenly taken back to a time when she was doing this very thing just after her marriage to Darcy. They had been married for almost a week and were still in London on their honeymoon, staying at the Darcy summer home. One night they lie in their bed, Mr. Darcy sleeping soundly with the sheets pooled around his waist, leaving his chest bare. Elizabeth was awake, lying on her stomach and facing him. Mesmerized by his breathing, she just stared at her new husband. She wanted to remember every little thing about him, all the curls on his head, every conture on his body, and his intoxicating scent. As she was doing this, he stirred and opened his eyes to hers.
"Lizzie darling, pray what are you doing?"
"I wish to remember everything about you."
"Everything? I do not understand how you could."
"It is not possible to remember everything, but some things I could."
Darcy looked at her quizically.
"The way you only smile when you are around myself or Georgiana, how gentle your eyes really are, and how your heart..." She placed her hand against his bare chest. "beats similarly to my own."
"Then I have memories of my own about you, my love." Darcy gently wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to himself.
"Pray tell, what might those be?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrow and smiled.
"When you smile, your cheeks have small indents, how curious and loving your eyes always are, your brilliant mind, and..." He leaned in and kissed her lips."...your kiss is so innocent that the angels in Heaven could not rival it."
Elizabeth remembered that night well, though it was three years previous. That night, many nights before it, and many after it had made her the happiest woman alive. She had a loving husband, a healthy son, and so many other blessings in her own life. The only possible problem was the fact that Lady Catherine still proved to be a looming threat over her and Darcy's happiness. For the time being, she decided to not concern herself with issues that could be dealt with later. She was living in the moment with her husband, the love of her life. A few moments later, he opened his eyes to her and smiled. She snuggled her body closer to his, feeling the warmth of his skin radiate to her own, bringing her a sense of security. Nothing in the world could have made her feel unsafe with Darcy holding her close. The sun was rising just above the horizon, bringing light into their room through the sheer curtains covering the windows. Elizabeth looked into Darcy's deep brown eyes and smiled. Before their marriage, she had never known such happiness as she knew now. Inwardly she laughed at something she had said to Jane.
"Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony which is why I shall end up an old maid."
Looking into Darcy's eyes, she knew how untrue the last part of her statement was. The deepest love had persuaded her into matrimony and she was most definitely not going to be an old maid. Darcy smiled back at her and kissed her forehead. Their moment was short-lived as the squalling of an infant was heard from down the hall. Elizabeth slid off the bed, but Darcy followed.
"Allow me to calm him." He grabbed her hand gently.
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, sitting back down onto their bed. Darcy walked out of the room and down the hall, leaving Elizabeth alone for a while. She sat on their bed for some time, just thinking about how truly blessed she was. A few minutes later, Darcy returned to their room, holding their son. Bennett was fast asleep against Darcy's chest, his little head crooked right under his father's chin. The baby's curls matched his father's almost perfectly and his little hands were balled into fists against Darcy's body. It was an all together perfect sight for Elizabeth to behold as he walked into the room, carefully so not to wake their son. Elizabeth got up and walked over to her husband, stopping to kiss the baby on his cheek before looking up at Darcy.
"I could not bare to put him down when he was sleeping so peacefully."
Elizabeth did not reply, but simply stroked the baby's cheek softly and rested her head on her husband's shoulder. This was truly a beautiful moment as they were a family. Her husband always continued to surprise her with the little things he did that most men of his station would not even think about doing. Elizabeth remained close to her husband and son, the two most important men in her life besides her father and for the rest of the day, the little family remained secluded in Mr. and Mrs. Darcy's room together. Elizabeth and Darcy played with their son, laying him on the bed and tickling his feet and stomach.While spending time with her husband and son, Elizabeth realized how much she looked forward to a house filled with children and laughter. Her only fear was of losing another child to miscarriage. But, that worry was for the future. For now, she was content in losing herself in time with her family.
A/N: I apologize for the lack of updates in a while...college life and personal family conflicts have kept me from writing. I hope that this is alright. Reviews appreciated much!