Due to the absolutely amazing response to this story, I'm going with both endings. This chapter sets up the situation so I can diverge to the different endings. The Epilogue to follow will have two parts. Just choose which you want to read or both if you'd like.

Thank you to the guest who pointed out the facts about Testicular Cancer. These facts and other conditions are well known to me. You must have read my mind. To the guest and DannieRaRa, I took particular pains to paint Darcy as manipulative not a rapist. What he did, cohering Lizzy is unconscionable but she did not say NO, just did not respond to his advances. That is why I'm considering an M or MA chapter to describe the actual events of their first night together. Please let me know if this is what the main audience wants or if you just want to leave it to your imagination.

And now, on with the main event.

'You must go, Mr Darcy,' Elizabeth tried to remove the man from her bed. He had taken to leaving only at the very last minute and kissing her passionately as though he cared deeply for her. 'My sister and mother will soon be here to prepare for our wedding.'

'There is something I wish to ask,' Darcy would not let her go from the warm encirclement of his arms. Allowing one finger and thumb to gently squeeze her nipple, she let out a soft grunt. As he expected her breasts were very tender, more so than the last few days when he'd first noticed the change. 'When are your courses due? Elizabeth, do not toy with me. You know how important this is.'

'It is not a subject I though you would know of, 'she stated with embarrassment, 'or care to discuss.'

'We have been frank with each other these last two weeks,' Darcy frowned, remembering how their visit to the parsonage changed the direction of their relationship for the better. 'I have been given a gentleman's education which included bedding a woman. There are places a man of my wealth and connection can go to lay with a woman or purchase one for a mistress. I refuse to tell even you of my past encounters but know there will be no one except you from this day forth. You can expect no demands or visitations from any quarter in the future, especially once I am gone. I have left no illegitimate children or scorned women. Some women will not lay with a man while they experience that time of each month. We have shared a bed for almost three weeks and I have not seen evidence of blood on the sheets except for that first night which was to be expected. I must ask you, Elizabeth, is there any possibility that you are with child?'

'I believe so,' she stated breathlessly. 'I have all the signs according to Mrs Michaels.'

'I wondered at the length of you visit yesterday. Now I shall leave you to the mercies of your mother and sisters,' Darcy kissed her on the temple and climbed out of the bed. 'Thank you, Elizabeth, I could not have asked for a better outcome. I will take every care with you while your body holds my heir.'

'I will not break,' she allowed an eyebrow to rise, wondering what he could mean.

'I am sure you will not,' he smirked, pulling on his dressing gown. 'I will prove that once we are at Pemberley. We have a long journey before us for this affliction makes it difficult for me to be in a carriage for many hours at a time.'

'I have noticed you inability to sit,' she teased.

Lizzy had not come to terms with his capacity to accept his fate. Deep in her heart and mind, she wondered what could be done to cure Mr Darcy. If he were a sheep, she considered, watching him walk to the door, peek out and then leave without a backward glance, we would simply castrate him by tying a tight string around his testicle. I should not know such things but I have been watching and listening to the farm workers. Surely the same would work for a man. They simply fall off after a week without pain to the ram. Could the same not occur for Mr Darcy? Would it not save his life? Yet afterwards the ram cannot beget lambs. I might be with child now, but I know my betrothed wishes for as many children as we can manage before, but I will not think of that day on this, my wedding.

The thought would not occur again for many years. The wedding proceeded under the guidance of Paster Michaels. Mr Bingley hosted a small breakfast for his friends and neighbours. He'd found it strange, Darcy's insistence the Miss Elizabeth stay at Netherfield for their very short engagement yet is proved to increase the felicity between the pair. He'd hoped Miss Bennet would be allowed to stay as company for her sister but Mr Bennet had become furious at the suggestion which intrigued him greatly.

Finally as the sun hit the zenith, Darcy's carriage began to roll out the gates. It took five days to traverse one hundred miles to Pemberley. The newly married couple travelled only one hour in the morning and another in the afternoon, stopping often to see the country side. Any more and Mr Darcy found his lower anatomy swelling to a great size that caused pain.

Arriving at their destination, the couple took several days to adjust to each other and their new situation. It had been one thing for Mr Darcy to sneak into his betrothed's bed each night while surrounded by others at Netherfield. To live beside each other by day and sleep together each night became too much for Elizabeth. She required some time part from her new husband.

So Mrs Darcy took to her duties easily, confiding in Mrs Reynolds and taking her cues from the older woman. The responsibility for Pemberley could not be learnt in a week or month. Elizabeth knew she would still be relying on her housekeeper in a years' time, especially with a babe in tow. All too soon she felt nauseous in the mornings and tired in the evenings. Enchanting her husband became a chore. Darcy felt the lack of intimacy but took it stoically with the inducement of continuing his line. However he refused to give up his wife's company at night.

'Darcy,' Elizabeth called in the middle of the night. They had not shared a bed for two nights at her insistence.

Immediately he attended her. It did not take long to understand her fear. On the pristine white sheet, spots of blood drove fear into both of them. In that instant, Elizabeth knew she had come to care for this man who had forced marriage and motherhood upon her.

'I will send for the midwife immediately,' Darcy rushed to the door, torn between wanting to comfort his wife and worry for his unborn child.

'No,' she cried, 'please just hold me. I am so frightened for there has been no other sign of complications. If I have lost this child it is God's will. Nothing can stop it now. Calling the midwife at such an hour will help no one.'

'At first light,' Darcy promised, taking her into his arms and carrying his wife to his bed, 'I will have the woman sent for. You are not to move until we are sure, one way or another.'

'Please, let me get a new nightgown,' Lizzy implored. When he frowned, she added, 'I will be able to establish if the bleeding continues.'

Placing her upon his clean sheets, Darcy striped her naked and covered his wife with the blankets. 'No, if there are any more signs, we shall see them upon my bedding.'

'It is normal, this type of spotting, so early in pregnancy,' the older woman couldn't hold back her smile. She'd asked her questions and examined Mrs Darcy. It came as no surprise that the baby would come less than nine months after their wedding. 'Now, I must tell you of the quickening. It will occur in about two or three months. The first time you feel the child move, Mrs Darcy, you stomach will flutter and the sensation will feel strange. You are not to worry but from then on I will come to you once a week. I can see this child is much wanted.'

'Yes,' Mr Darcy stated from his position across the room.

He'd made quite a scene, demanding to remain in the chamber while the midwife examined Elizabeth. Further, he left Mrs Merriweather in no doubt that he would attend every visit and the birth of his child. Mrs Darcy easily acquiesced to her husband's demands. The look between them confused the retainer.

'I am safe,' Elizabeth smiled up at him, 'as is our child. Do not frown so, Dearest, all will be well.'

'What about our physical relationship,' he demanded of the midwife before she left the room.

'I see no need to stop your activities,' she stated. The younger staff had informed her of the Master and Mistress's sleeping habits until Mrs Darcy's condition could no longer be hidden. It seemed his bed had only been used this last week as she became increasingly ill in the mornings. 'As long as your wife welcomes you and you are gentle for the next week or so, this child is in no danger. Indeed as the time draws near, it will be better if you practice much in whichever position Mrs Darcy finds comfortable. That is usually from behind or on her side to help support an extended belly. The month before the birth it is imperative you ready your wife if you wish for an easy entry of your heir into this world. Do you,' with this Louise Merriweather held two fingers in a curled position before her pubis. With Darcy's nod, she smiled slightly, 'good. You are to stretch the birth canal like this,' she pulled the finger wide apart with caused both Darcy and his wife to look to each other with bemused expressions. 'Massage will ensure no tears or strain. It will make further deliveries more pleasant.'

'Thank you,' Darcy found the forthright woman just what he had needed to sooth his confused mind.

'I will call again in a month, unless you need me before,' she smiled, curtseyed and left the couple to their own devices.

On the way out, she found Mrs Reynolds and suggested dry biscuits be placed at Mrs Darcy's bedside and other places she frequented for it would help with the morning sickness. The old retainer could count on her fingers and knew the child had been conceived before the marriage. She knew of the doctor's visits, the tincture of laudanum in the cupboard and her master's inability to sit for long periods of time. It did not take long to understand his hurry to marry and produce an heir. After all, Mrs Reynolds had seen the same symptoms with Mr George Darcy. After one son, Lady Anne had never conceived again. (Sorry, no Georgiana in this story which only makes Mr Darcy's situation even sadder.)

'Push, Mrs Darcy,' Louse demanded, 'you have crowned. I must have the head out. Yes, that is it, now do not push, I need to turn this little one's shoulders to make it easier. There, all done. Now push, yes, and one more and your child shall be here.'

With that the child slithered into the world with an indignant cry. The cold, hard world of reality set upon the child as Mrs Merriweather's hands scooped the remaining goo from his nose and mouth. Mr Darcy, watching impatiently over her shoulder noticed the gender. A smile graced his face as his fingers itched to take the babe.

'We have a son,' he informed his wife.

'Sarah,' Louise's voice cut through the room, 'give Mr Darcy the receiving blanket. He is a bonny babe but he will lose heat quickly. I need your attention now, Mr Darcy. Take you son while I detach him from his mother. You must swaddle him like we practiced once I have completed my task.'

She made short work of tying off the placenta in two places. About to set the shears to the cord, Darcy watched in horror. Still he could not look away as mother became separated from son. As soon as the deed was done, Sarah demanded he wrap the little one.

'Give him to me,' Elizabeth demanded. She looked exhausted but exhilarated. A twelve hour labour had taken most of her strength.

Torn between his wife and son, Darcy took the swaddled bundle to the bed. Sheets still covered in blood and mucus, he lay beside his Elizabeth without care for propriety. Immediately she placed the child on her breast as Louise instructed.

'I will not have a wet nurse,' she declared.

Smiling, Darcy had been warned she would insist on doing everything for her offspring. They spent hours speaking with the midwife. Although not sure why he insisted upon attending the birth, Louise could not afford to alienate the Master of Pemberley.

'His name will be Alexander,' Lizzy announced.

'We decided on Edward,' Darcy really couldn't care about the name. The lump had become larger in the last month and caused much pain. In all likelihood he would not be around to call his son anything. However there were times it seemed to retreat and gave him an almost normal life before flaring up again.

'The next one shall be called Edward, if he suits the name,' she parried in a tone not to be ignored.

'And when shall we expect the next one,' Darcy found himself astounded and amused in equal part.

'One year from today,' she declared.

Mrs Elizabeth Darcy did not quite get her time correct. Master Edward Darcy arrived almost fourteen months later. All too soon the family grew again. Pemberley welcomed Master George Darcy toward the end of the third year of his parents' marriage. However his father knew his time on this earth grew short. His condition worsened when their youngest child turned one. Often he took to his bed, laced with laudanum as the pain reached into his belly.

'Darcy,' Elizabeth came to his side. 'I cannot lose you now. I have an idea and I wish for you to try it. Please say you will.'

'Tell me,' he whispered. So she did. Shocked, he did not know if it would work. Yet he had no other choice. 'Have you spoken with any of the doctors?'

'There is only one, Mr Sanchez, who will perform the task. I have invited him to Pemberley and he arrives in the morning to administer the castration,' she stated. 'I have something else to tell you, dearest, I am increasing again.'

'Then I will do my best to stay for the birth of our daughter. I wish a girl, my love,' he's words became a whisper as the laudanum once again claimed him.

'I will do my best, dearest,' Elizabeth felt the tears flow down her face. She could not help the feeling of melancholy encompass her. What had started as a horrendous and manipulative compromise had ended in a most happy marriage. 'We will call her Williamena, after her father.'

'No,' the long sigh came from the almost comatose man.

It made Lizzy laugh. It was so like her husband. Even in such pain he still had to be in charge and making decisions. She had long ago learnt he only went along with her ideas if they did not directly contradict his. If Darcy did not care one way or another, he allowed her to choose. It seemed Elizabeth Darcy would have to consider another name for a girl.

'No,' she allowed an elbow to rise, 'you shall be here to welcome your daughter and you shall choose her name the day she is born. I will have it no other way.'

Even in his medicated sleep, Darcy smiled. He would survive if only to ensure his wife delivered safely. Until then he would undergo any treatment that offered the least possibility of staying with his beloved Elizabeth and their children.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as a health professional I implore you to check your husband's, partners, lovers testicles once a month. Do not be shy to take them in your hands, roll them around and gently feel for lumps. For the partners, do the same for the ladies in your life. Breasts should also be examined once a month. I did not mean to write this as we come up to the world's greatest morning tea for breast cancer awareness but I guess it comes at a most fortuitous time.