I felt frozen, like I couldn't move. He was here. He was right here in front of me. I felt as though I were dreaming; it was surreal. I stared at him. He appeared the same as when I last saw him, his face and shape were strong and handsome. His face looked slightly haggard but as soon as he saw me, it lit up.

It was his voice what finally brought me back. "Lizzy," he said softly. He appeared just as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

"Are you two acquainted?" Mrs. Gardiner inquired, looking between the two of us. "Lizzy, you never mentioned that you knew Mr. Darcy."

"Miss Bennet and I are acquainted," Darcy told Mrs. Gardiner.

"Why Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner began, and I sensed a scolding. But then, thankfully, Darcy came to my aid.

"Perhaps, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, you would care to enjoy the rest of your tour?" he said graciously, signaling to the housekeeper to continue. "I would like a word with Lizzy. Questions about mutual acquaintances and whatnot, for I believe we have much to discuss after not seeing one another for so long," Darcy concluded, giving me a warm look.

Through all of this I had managed to keep my face as passive and indifferent as possible, and it took every ounce of energy I had in me to keep it that way. I was very grateful to Darcy for doing all of the talking for I knew that if I so much as opened my mouth I would either collapse in a ball of tears or possibly rush at Darcy in a quite unseemly manner.

"There is just one thing I would like to know," Mrs. Gardiner pressed, "How is it that the two of you are acquainted at all?"

"We met in America, madam, in New York. And I assure you that they were under very respectable conditions if that is what you are concerned about," Darcy said.

I felt a blush rising, and fought it back. Respectable conditions. I knew that it needed to be said sooner or later, and better sooner than later. But it still made me want to blush for some reason.

"Of course," Mrs. Gardiner said, looking slightly mortified herself.

The housekeeper then continued the tour as though nothing was amiss and thankfully led them into the next room.

I still stood frozen in place, even after their voices faded away. Darcy came closer, to stand in front of me.

"Lizzy?" He asked in a worried tone, "Are you alright?"

He brought his hand up to touch my cheek slightly, tilting my face up so he could look at me better. That was what did it. I didn't know exactly how I got there, but I found myself suddenly in his embrace. My arms were tightly wrapped around his neck and his arms were around my waist, lifting me up, off my feet. He buried his face in my neck, and breathed in deeply. I pressed my cheek to his coat and did the same.

"Are you really here?" I whispered, "Or is this all a dream? And when I wake up I will be at an inn or back at the Bennet's and we will be an ocean apart again?" I clung to him tighter at the very thought.

"No, my love. This is not a dream. This is very real and very wonderful," he replied, his beautiful voice muffled against my neck.

He then set me down and began to pull me through a series of rooms until we came to a small drawing room where he shut and locked the door. He then sat down in the nearest chair and pulled me into his lap. I curled up there, and found myself fighting to not burst into tears. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered that we must not be discovered. But at that very moment, I didn't care of the whole world knew about us and about everything. Darcy was here now, and I didn't have to face it all alone.

I was not sure of how long he held me and rocked me, but I knew that I was very disappointed when he began to pull away. I still sat in his lap, but he slowly unwrapped his arms and I was forced to sit up straighter. He pushed a few stray hairs away from my face, and I leaned my cheek into his hand.

That is when I truly got a good look at him. He was still just as handsome as I remembered. But there were circles under his eyes, and he looked slightly thinner than I remembered. His eyes though, were bright and happy, which immediately set any other doubts at ease.

I opened my mouth then, intended to tell him that I loved him and was so grateful he was here. But instead came a torrent of questions.

"When did you get here? Why did you not send word first? Why did you not come sooner? Why did you not come to Longbourn first? Does anyone know you are here? Did you know I would be here? How is Georgie? Where is she? And oh, I'm so glad you are here!" I paused to catch my breath, and then whispered, "I love you."

"And I love you," he replied. I saw the amused spark in his eye, and his mouth curled up into a gorgeous smile. He brushed his hand over my cheek again.

I waited, and then suddenly, he seemed to realize that I was expecting answers.

"I just got in now. I came here first, because I wanted to alert the staff that I was returning as well as write up the papers to authorize my stay at Netherfield Park and to try to contact Bingley. You have been here for a month now, but it took me not even ten days to decide to come after you. I have been on a ship for the past twenty days. I also wanted my arrival to be a surprise to you, which is why I did not tell you of it in my letter. When I wrote the letter, I did not know then that I was coming. I decided on coming very hastily and did not have time to write.

"As for Georgie, she is well. I have left her in the care of the Collins'. I believe Mrs. Collins to be very capable at taking care of Georgie."

"Oh Darcy, I have missed both of you so much!" I threw my arms around him once again, and he returned the embrace. I remembered something then. "Darcy. Why do I call you Darcy? Why not your given name, William? I mean, you do not call me 'Bennet'."

He paused at this. "I am not sure. You may call me William if you wish to, but I never really thought about it or noticed it before."

I thought about it then, "I think," I began, "that I will continue to call you Darcy for it is how I think of you. It is just something that struck me a while ago, and I am not sure why I blurted it out like that. I seem to be all out of sorts."

"I should hope so," Darcy replied, "For so am I."

I laughed then, and he joined me. Oh what a beautiful sound it was. I lay my head back on his chest for a while then and just let him hold me gently.

At long last, Darcy whispered quietly that he needed to begin drawing up the papers for Netherfield and that he also needed to write a letter to Charles. I sighed and slipped off his lap. A thought suddenly struck me.

"Why do you need to write to Charles? For what purpose?" I asked as he walked to his writing desk and sat down.

"Because I have some unfinished business with the Bingleys that I must take care of. Because Charles is my friend and I have not seen him in over a year. And lastly, because I heard of what happened between Charles and Jane. I know both parties involved there very well, and I do believe they would do well together had there not been any. . . interference," Darcy said all of this in a very precise and sure manner.

I noted his emphasis on the word "interference" and knew that he was aware of Charles's sister's wiles. This led me back to the question of Charles and Jane and what possible purpose Miss Bingley's interference would serve. Society seemed so muddled sometimes. It made me want to step back to our small cabin in the middle of the woods in America and never leave for the wonderful simplicity of it.

I took a turn about the room while Darcy began writing and observed the simple yet fashionable decor and furnishings. The room somehow felt like Darcy, and it was apparent that he used to spend much of his time in it. I smiled at the thought as I ran my fingers lightly over the surface of a small, round table that stood in the center of the room.

Several minutes later, Darcy sat back and announced that he was finished. He picked up the addressed letters and smiled at me. He then reached for my hand, and we exited the room and went back to the main foyer. Once there, Darcy looked down at our still entwined hands, and then gave me a questioning look. He was asking silently if I wanted to reveal our relationship just yet. I sighed resignedly and looked around. Seeing no one, I quickly stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek before withdrawing myself a few steps to put a proper space between us.

Darcy laughed, and I returned his smile. At that moment, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner returned from their tour, and I could see Mrs. Gardiner looking at me questioningly.

"Mr. Gardiner," Darcy said suddenly, "are you fond of fishing?"

Mr. Gardiner looked momentarily startled, and then immensely pleased. "Why yes sir, very much so," he replied.

"Good! Then might I interest you in some fishing? Our lake out back is very well stocked with no one to disturb its occupants for much too long."

I had to keep myself from smiling widely, and Mr. Gardiner appeared positively overjoyed.

And so it was, Darcy ordered a light picnic to be packed for the four of us, and he collected two of his apparently many fishing rods. And then we all set off for the lake. It was a very pleasant walk, and we found a nice spot under the shade of some trees.

Mrs. Gardiner and I sat under the trees while the men fished. Our talk was idle chatter. I inquired as to how she liked Pemberley and what she thought of the surrounding town. She replied that she liked it all very much and then came the inevitable question once again:

"Lizzy, how exactly did you become acquainted with Mr. Darcy?" she asked, but then hurried to reassure me, "And please do not think that I am in any way insulting your honor."

I laughed, "I met Mr. Darcy under what was probably not the best circumstances, but we grew to become great friends. And," I added, "perhaps more than merely friends."

Mrs. Gardiner smiled, "That's lovely, my dear. He seems like quite a fine young man. But I also must ask, have you heard some of the rumors surrounding him?"

"I assure you Mrs. Gardiner, I am quite aware of the rumors that circulate around poor Mr. Darcy and his family, but I must hasten to add that I also know of the truth and have no doubts concerning it."

"Well then," Mrs. Gardiner said, as she sat back with a satisfied smile, "I do wish you both the best."

Just then, Darcy and Mr. Gardiner returned with a line of fish. This led to Darcy insisting that we remain for a fish dinner. He used the argument that his cook prepared the best fish in the all the county. At this, Mr. Gardiner readily agreed, but then seemed to remember myself and his wife and turned to us for our consent. We both laughed and said that we would very much like to stay for dinner.

The dinner tasted wonderful, and the company was excellent. Darcy talked a great deal with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and asked many questions, and I could tell that they both liked him very much. I was perfectly content to sit and listen to them talk all night, but they soon noticed my silence and insisted that I join the conversation, which I did.

It was a very wonderful evening, and I could not stop smiling the entire time. I was seated next to Darcy, and our hands brushed on several occasions. He glanced at me a few times, and smiled. I had to fight the inevitable blush that arose every time he did.

Just before the dinner came to a close, Darcy asked, "Where are you staying?"

"At the Rose and Crown," was Mr. Gardiner's prompt response.

"For curiosity's sake," Darcy began, "what are your current plans? Is Pemberley your last stop, or do you plan on going further?"

"I do believe that Pemberley, and the surrounding town, was as far as we had planned to go before turned back to Longbourn," Mr. Gardiner told him.

"Well then, I have a proposition to make," Darcy announced. "Would it upset your plans too much to stay here at Pemberley instead of the Rose and Crown? I am planning on going to Netherfield in a day or so, and I was wondering if I might join your party? If it is not too much of an inconvenience, of course."

"Why, that is a marvelous plan!" Mrs. Gardiner exclaimed, "Do you not think so Mr. Gardiner? Lizzy, what do you think?"

"Capital, capital," was Mr. Gardiner's reply.

"I like it very much," I said, smiling at Darcy. I had to admire his execution of the whole idea.

"It's settled then," Darcy said, returning my smile.

After the meal, and before it became dark, we hurried back to the Rose and Crown to collect our things and then return to Pemberley. The owner of the Rose and Crown expressed his sadness at seeing us go, but it was obvious that it was our purses he would be missing. Once we arrived back at Pemberley, we were shown to our rooms. Mine was spacious and elegant, with a large bed. We went back downstairs to the main sitting room for an evening of cards, reading, and general conversation.

Eventually, Mrs. Gardiner announced that she was tired and was going up to bed. Naturally, everyone followed her example and goodnight's were exchanged. The Gardiner's left the room, and I went to follow them.

I passed Darcy at the door, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I will see you tonight, if it is permissible to you."

I smiled, and gave him a quick nod and squeezed his hand. Once in my room, I quickly changed into my nightgown, but found myself unable to read or relax. I tried pacing the floor and that seemed to work, for suddenly I found myself very tired. Curious, I looked to a clock that set on a shelf and discovered that it was past eleven.

I paced for a few more minutes before finally climbing into the large bed. Just as I had myself settled, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I said, and Darcy slipped in, closing the door behind him.

I slipped out of the bed and stood next to it hesitantly for a moment, before suddenly rushing into his waiting arms. He hugged me tight and then picked me up and carried me back to the bed. He sat on the edge and held me again.

I simply nuzzled myself into his arms. He held me tightly and buried his face in my hair and neck.

"I missed you," he said.

I moved into a sitting position, still on his lap, and kissed him. It started out slow and innocent but quickly became deeper. Oh how wonderful it felt to be in his arms again. His lips traveled across my cheek and down my neck before he kissed me on the lips again. We fell back onto the bed, still kissing. His arms ran up and down my arms and around my waist, but he was still acting the gentleman. I found that I wished he wouldn't act so polite anymore, and pulled him closer. I suddenly didn't feel so tired anymore, but when I opened my eyes, I realized just how tired Darcy was.

"My darling," I said, "When have you last slept?"

"I do not even remember," he whispered, as he laid his head down on the pillow next to me.

I then remembered a question I had and decided to ask it now, while we were alone. "Should we tell the Gardiners' about us?"

"I think that we should. Maybe not right away, but soon, before we reach Longbourn. I would like someone else to know the truth and what is going on, and they seem sensible and trustworthy people," Darcy replied. "What do you think?" he asked me.

"I agree with you," I said, "They seem to be very good people, and not once during our entire trip did I hear a spot of bad gossip from them. I do believe they will be able to help us, and it would be nice to have someone to back us when all is revealed in time to everyone else."

"Precisely," Darcy murmured sleepily.

I reached up and ran my fingers through his thick black hair and he sleepily kissed my temple before he let his eyes drift shut.

I laid there, wrapped up in his arms, and continued to comb his hair until he fell asleep, before I joined him.

Hi everyone! The response from the last chapter was amazing. My beta and I were thrilled while reading your reviews. Thank you for each and every one. And for the record, I'm not sorry for the cliffy. :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

In response to Christoph's question: No, the Gardiner's didn't know that Darcy would be at Pemberley. If you'll remember from the book and movie, his arrival was sudden and a complete surprise to everyone. That's kind of what I was going for.