Disclaimer: Jane Austen's, not mine. :(

Ch 17

Elizabeth stood stunned, his letter clutched tightly in her hand. He was leaving her? He loved her but didn't want to marry her? What could possible have happened?

Jane assured her that Mr. Darcy and everyone else knew of her regard for him. Why would he think leaving would make her happy?

She couldn't let that happen. The note said he would be leaving this morning. She had to stop him. Elizabeth hadn't just found the man she loved to lose him and not know why.

With that thought in mind, she ran from the house grabbing neither her spencer nor her bonnet.

Once out front she stopped. She would never get there in time on foot, even if she ran. She slowly turned toward the stables as her stomach dropped. It was the only way to get there in time. With that thought she raced on, trying not to be physically sick with dread.

To say the stable hand was surprised to see her would be an understatement. The fact that she asked him to quickly saddle Jane's horse came as an even bigger surprise.

The servant had her mount ready in a flash and helped her upon it.

Elizabeth looked up to the heavens and sent a prayer for herself to not die. 'At least I would die for love', she thought and steered the horse toward Netherfield.

Elizabeth's hair was coming loose and getting in her face. But too afraid to let go of the reins, she rode on with the hope of getting there in time. Her looks were of little importance at the moment.

With a continuing mantra of 'please don't let me fall, please don't let me fall,' Elizabeth gripped the reins as tightly as she could and rode as fast as her fear would let her.

Meanwhile at Netherfield, the Darcy siblings and their cousin were readying their coach to leave.

Georgiana was literally dragging her feet, determined to be as much trouble as possible. She wanted so much for Elizabeth to be her sister and was furious at her brother for preventing it.

She knew how much he loved Elizabeth but was doing a stupid thing by leaving without even a goodbye. With her luck, her brother would end up marrying some flighty painted-up shrew, high in society with tons of money. That depressing thought caused her to walk even slower.

Darcy and Richard stood by the carriage watching Georgiana as snails passed her on her way toward them.

"In my opinion, I do think you're making a mistake cousin," said Richard watching his cousin's ridiculously slow progress toward them.

"I do not require your opinion in this matter," stated Darcy rather firmly. "What's done is done and it was done for the best. Now drop it."

Five more minutes passed and a tear stained Georgiana was now finally standing by the carriage glaring at her brother.

"Well, we better be off then," said Darcy with a deep sigh and was about to help his sister into the coach when he heard what sounded like hurried huff prints on their way toward them.

Not a moment later, a disheveled, windswept Elizabeth Bennet appeared.

Darcy dropped his sister hand and stared towards Elizabeth in complete astonishment.

Elizabeth had stopped and was determined to dismount herself. She had, after all, made it here in one piece.

With a loud umph, Elizabeth gracefully dismounted (and by gracefully she meant 'slid off landing right onto her backside sending up a small cloud of dust').

Mr. Darcy quickly rushed to her aid and grabbing her hand, helped her up.

"Miss Bennet. Are you quite alright? You are not hurt, are you?" looking down at her small delicate hand that was red and raw for holding the reins so tight.

Elizabeth was furious and snatched her hand back. How dear he address her so kindly and formal?

"No Mr. Darcy, I am quite unwell. I had a rather nasty shock this morning. Would you care to explain yourself?" glared Elizabeth showing him the letter still crumpled in her other hand.

"Miss Elizabeth, please. All I want is for you to be happy and find true love. Everything I've done and will continue to do it for that reason alone. So please. Leave me to my misery and go on with your life," sighed Darcy slowly turning back to the carriage.

Elizabeth balled up the letter and threw it striking Darcy in the back of his head. He stopped in his tracks but did not turn.

"If you truly want those things for me, then you had better get yourself to the church tomorrow!" shouted Elizabeth.

Here, Darcy turned back toward Elizabeth. "Are you saying you love me?" asked Darcy intensely staring at her.

Still rather upset, Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and raising an eyebrow said, "... maybe."

Darcy was so overcome by joy, he raced over toward Elizabeth, firmly grabbed her shoulders and placed a kiss soundly on her lips.

Elizabeth's shock was great but found quickly that she enjoyed her current position and directly wrapped her arms around Darcy's neck.

The two finally broke apart when a cough sounded from nearby. They turned sheepishly toward the sound to find the Colonel grinning as Georgiana bounced up and down, tears of joy spilling down her face.

"You really should save something for the wedding night," joked Richard causing the two lovers to blush.

"Come Georgiana. I clearly think these two need a moment," said the Colonel motioning for her to return to Netherfield.

Georgiana squeaked happily, ran up to the couple embracing them both and swiftly headed inside.

Richard grinned wickedly as he said, "Now, behave you two," following his cousin inside.

Elizabeth and Darcy now stood in an awkward silence.

Elizabeth finally formed her speech first,"Mr. Darcy, it has been brought to my attention that everyone including you knew of my regard. How then could you think leaving would make me happy?"

Darcy lowered his eyes toward the ground; "I heard what you said about me in the garden yesterday."

Elizabeth flushed at the thought of Mr. Darcy hearing her confession of love. But she was suddenly even more confused.

"If you heard that sir, then why would you think my heart did not belong to you?" questioned Elizabeth.

Now it was Darcy's turn to be confused. "Because you said you did not love me."

"I said nothing of the sort," replied Elizabeth. "I said I was very much in love with you!"

"No, I know I distinctly heard you say 'but do I love him? No,'" said Mr. Darcy shaking his head.

Elizabeth, however finally understood. "Oh my dear Mr. Darcy!" she said clasping his hand. "Apparently you arrived late and left early on the discussion. The part you heard was Jane and I discussing Mr. Brown, my dear friend Charlotte's new husband. I was just being facetious. You left before I spoke of how much I love you."

Darcy didn't need to hear anymore. He had been a fool and had almost paid for it most dearly. With that in mind he once again grabbed his love, returning them to the position they were previously in.

The two broke apart a little while later in need of air.

Resting his forehead on Elizabeth's, Darcy breathlessly said, "I thought you were scared of riding a horse."

Elizabeth looked up into his eyes smiling, "Terrified, but let's just say the thought of losing you was far more worse."

"I know the feeling," replied Darcy and was about to kiss her again when they heard a knock from the window above them.

Looking up, they found Richard wagging a finger at them reprimanding them for their behavior.

"Perhaps my cousin is right about saving something for tomorrow," grinned Darcy.

Elizabeth's face mirrored Darcy. "Quite right. Perhaps we should go in."

Wrapping Elizabeth's arm around his own, the couple walked toward the entrance with huge matching smiles.

"I can't wait till Richard falls in love and I can torture him as he tortured me," joked Darcy.

"Yes and this time you'll have me by your side to help you," beamed Elizabeth lightly squeezing Mr. Darcy's arm.

"Forever," said Darcy.

AN: Hello again all! Thank you as always for your wonderful review and to my beta for helping me through this process.

Well I told you it would be fluff with just a drop of angst. All we have left is the epilogue so I hope you've enjoyed my story. Haven't decided if I'm wrapping up everyone's story yet or leaving a few open if I wanted to do a sequel. So I guess you'll see next week. :)

Again sorry for the bit of angst but I always felt Darcy did everything to prove his love for Elizabeth. I just wanted to give her the opportunity to do the same. Thank you all again!