Disclaimer: I don't own anything, bla…bla…bla…we all know the jist of it.

A/N: Hello, I'm back again! Got bored and decided to write another chapter. A little bit of drama in this chappy. Still, I can't decide on what to call this story. What do I name it…?

POV: Elizabeth

Staying with the Collins' was dull to say the least but come Sunday she found herself listening to her cousin's deadly boring sermon. Thankfully, she was seated next to colonel Fitzwilliam who sat idly with a hazy faraway look within his eyes.

She smiled at such a sight and asked in a hushed tone: "How long do you plan to remain here colonel?"

His head swiveled to face her and gladly received any excuse to become distracted: "As long as Darcy requires my services, I am at his disposal until he deems it fit to return to his sister at Pemberley."

Elizabeth laughed at this: "Then I must pity his sister who henceforth must endure his lack of humor and companionship."

"Not at all, his future wife will be quite in luck, I hear he is quite the loyal companion."

"How so?"

"I hear, recently, he came to the aid of one of his best friends just in time. Apparently he saved him from a rather unsavory marriage."

Lizzie breathed in sharply and twisted in her seat to face the colonel: "Pray tell, who this friend of his was."

"I believe it was a fellow by the name of Charles Bingley."

"And…and why was this woman disapproved of? Because she was poor?"

"No, no, I believe it was her family that was most inappropriate in trying to secure her a marriage."

"And he separated them?"

"Yes, I believe he did."

POV: Darcy

It was pouring with rain outside when the sermon finally ended. The relieved churchgoers proceeded one by one into the wet, dark atmosphere. Elizabeth stood by the open church doors, staring out into the rain with an unfathomable expression resting on her face. Some thought or another seemed to twist her features. There was such a mixture of anger, sadness, determination and disbelief. Darcy felt a sudden urge to hold her and hurt whoever had caused such pain to her.

Unconsciously, he moved towards her still figure.

She was within arms reach, but she turned and something changed in her expression, her eyes hardened and she flinched away from his out stretched hand.

She swung away from him and bolted into the rain, her black hair coming loose of its fixations and flowed down her back, already drenched by the downpour. Without a look back, she ran.

Darcy ran his hands through his hair and sighed in despair. What had he done? Surely his advances were not so monstrous. He had to; no he needed to speak to her. He had held back long enough and if he would ever desire to secure her affections, he would need to act and reveal to her, albeit none too lightly as to his intentions. Oh great savior, this might turn out to be amusing.

With that thought firmly imbedded in his conscience he set out into the swirl of mist and rain; he had an idea where Elizabeth might have escaped to.

She sat on the edge of the fountain, her fingers trailing gently through the crystal clear surface. The raindrops fell one by one into the small pool of water causing little ripples of disturbance in the calm surface. She should have been cold, shivering, but she wasn't, her anger burned and warmed her. In a burst of anger, her hand swiped the water with impatience, destroying the reflection of herself within it.

When finally, the ripples of the water had calmed, her reflection appeared within it once more, beside her stood Mr. Darcy, staring into the eyes of her reflection.

She spun quickly on her seat, and lacking Jane's natural grace, slipped and fell backwards.

Oh god, must I embarrass myself now.

Before she fell backwards into the water, a pair of strong arms snaked around her waist and pulled her upwards. She collided with something solid and she raised her arms to brace herself.

Raising her eyes slowly, she met crystal blue orbs which shined with some unkempt emotion. She knew those eyes. With all her strength she shoved out of his arms and immediately realized that he was the only thing keeping her warm. Her cheeks were flushed with anger as she whispered: "May I help you with something, Mr. Darcy."

He surveyed her with a critical eye: "Perhaps we should proceed to the estate; it is nearer than the parsonage. You shall become unwell if you continue in such a manner."

"I am perfectly aware of my condition Mr. Darcy; I do not require your pity nor sympathy."

"I assure you lady, that I suggest this merely out of concern."

How ironic that he should care for me when he has done such an atrocious misdeed to my sister. She did not even deign to answer but simply glared with blazing gaze.

"Miss Bennet, I wish to clear up my misinterpretation of your situation here, I thought you married to Mr. Collins as I reached news of your engagement through my aunt."

"No, I refused his proposal. Mr. Darcy, there is something of which you wish to discuss with me, is there not?"

"Yes, I need to tell you…."

Elizabeth glared and Darcy breathed shakily.

"Tell me what?"

"That I…that I love you."

"What?"

"I…I love you. Despite your lower status in society, your family's impropriety, my aunt's disapproval, your lack of money and sometimes even you manner of behavior. But, you, you're the only thing resting on my mind, I cannot imagine life without you, I will do whatever you require of me, please just do me the honor of …of being my wife. I will even put up your crass family if you require it of me."

Silence.

"You…you selfish ignorant idiot, I abhor you for all you've done to my family. How could you not expect me to find out as to you despicable behavior. You must have mistaken my loathing attitudes for an emotion I am entirely unable to feel in your presence."

"Is that your answer?"

Lizzie simply raised an eyebrow.

"I see, is my proposal so entirely disgusting to you? What have I done to induce your dislike?"

"You do not know? What of Jane? You have wounded my dearest sister, you took Mr. Bingley away, and she is heart sore still. Do you deny it?"

"No, I cannot deny the truth, but I believe my motives to be true. The relations were entirely one sided. I carefully observed your sister during our brief acquaintance and she did not seem to return his affections with equal vigor. I was simply saving my friend from undeserved heartache."

"Jane's shy, you cannot understand her as I do."

"Charles is shy also, but he…"

"My sister barely shows her emotions to me."

Silence.

"Is that all the offences you hold against me?"

"No, there is also Mr. Wickam? You refused your fathers wishes and refused him his livelihood and effectively ruined his life, what have you to say to that?"

"Is that what he has told you? I see. Is this you final answer?"

Elizabeth simply stared then turned her back and walked away. The nerve of him, insult her family, break her sister's heart, ruin Mr. Wickam and then he has the nerve to ask such a question.

Stupid…stupid…stupid. Why did I insult her family, why can't I control my tongue around her? Stupid!

Fitzwilliam Darcy had already fled from Rosings estate after the disastrous encounter with one Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He had found her in the parsonage and given her an explanatory letter, hoping that she would read it instead of burning like he half expected her to.

It hurt to address her in her silent state, alone and unchaperoned. He would've given anything just to hear her insult him, anything other than that empty stare. Recalling the memory was simply too painful. He had flee to London and sought solitude, but Mr. Bingley, in all his gloomy glory, had come calling and despite his own desperate pining for one Jane Bennet, instantly sensed his anti-social behavior even more acutely than usual.

"Darce…tell me old friend, what is it that depresses you so?"

"Nothing of immediate concern. Do not stress yourself on my behalf."

Mr. Bingley studied his old friend carefully for a span of unusual silence. Suddenly, his eyes widened in recognition.

"Why Mr. Darcy, I am aware of that moping look."

"I am not moping Charles."

"Indeed you are, do not deny it. I see that very same look in the mirror every morning. Who is the dear lady?"

"There is no such lady. I intend to remain in bachelorhood for the rest of my natural life. I will not have desperate matchmaking mothers throw their brainless daughters at me."

"You could very easily resolve such a problem if you do marry."

"I don't desire such a union."

"Oh, I see…"

"Is that so, then tell me Mr. Bingley, what do you see?"

"She has rejected the un-rejectable Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. How extraordinary that such a woman should exist and be the only woman you desire who will have none of you. What a truly amazing lady. Pray, resolve my curiosity and tell me the angel's name."

"She is indeed an angel, though an angel who is not particularly fond of me."

"Out with it man, do not leave me in suspense."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the inscrutable Bennet girls."

"The headstrong, spirited sister of my dear Jane. Why, there must be something about the Bennet girls."

"Oh yes, she is a dear beauty. More lovely than I would ever imagine possible."

"She cannot rival my Jane, surely. But they are sisters after all. Whatever happened between you, it must have been awefully dreadful, you've been gloomier than I've ever seen you and that is some statement."

"Please do not force me to relive such events; you need not know the specific details of my downfall."

"Ahh…she has wounded your pride I see."

"She has wounded more than that."

Tada! Second chapter done! How did you like it? I think I totally lost the plot somewhere in it but oh well. Hope you liked it. Please, please, please review! REVIEW!

Thank you soo...sooo much to my reviewers, I love you all to pieces. Please continue to read and review!

Love C.