She took his arm and together they walked down the cobblestone path. Usually these walks were accompanied by a mutual sadness between the two. However today wasn't like those days. It was a day of warmth and happiness.
"I'm so excited, William." She managed to say quietly.
"I'm… a bit nervous" He chuckled.
"She'll say yes. I know it."
The Darcy siblings were visiting their parents today. Their parents resting spot was by the pond and under a willow tree, a spot which a younger William tearfully picked out many years ago. Whenever the siblings would visit, a younger Gigi would try to joke saying that William should go for a swim in the pond.
When they arrived to the stones, there were ducks in the pond and the willow was softly whistling. There was no pain today. Not on this summer day.
Gigi rested two roses on the gravestone of William S. Darcy and her brother did the same on the stone of Anne F. Darcy. It was a routine for the kids; they would lay the roses down, kiss their hand and touch the top of the stone. The roses were tied together by their stems with a black ribbon. Many, many years ago, William S. Darcy asked Anne Fitzwilliam if she'd like to go to the theater to see The Phantom of The Opera, down the line whenever Anne was ill or tired, William S. Darcy cheered his wife up by giving her a rose with a black ribbon tied to it. It was the Phantom's signature and Anne's day would be made with this simple gesture.
The kids held each other's hands and Gigi rested her head on William's arm.
"She'll say yes. I know it" She repeated.
"Thank you, Gigi. For all the support you've given me." He replied in almost a whisper.
"And thanks for being the best big brother a girl could ask for."
William kissed the top of his little sister's head, and Gigi reached for something in her pocket.
"By the way…" She sniffed, "I know you said you didn't have a ring yet so, I thought…" Gigi handed William a black box.
Confused, William slowly took the box from his sister and opened it.
"It's her ring…. Our mother's… Georgiana how did you get this?"
Gigi didn't have to answer. William knew the second he finished asking her. They were young, so young, when their parents died. William remembered giving Gigi the ring, he thought that it was the least he could do since she was going to grow up without a mother and father.
William carefully asked, "Are you sure-"
"Yes, William. It'll fit Lizzie perfectly. Mom and Dad are so proud, I know it."
"Bu-"
"I know it, William. Just trust me."
He remembered the day his parents died. William told his baby sister that "Everything will be fine… Just trust me." And she did, Gigi always trusted him and always supported him. Now it was his turn to trust her.