Chapter 20:

"What the ell is your problem? Wasn't it enough that you destroyed my life, did you have to go after my entire family??"

"I don't know what this is about, but I demand an explanation NOW!" he started off with a clam yet menacing voice, which escalated into what sounded like a tribal cry of war at the end. "I am not accustomed to have orange juice spilled over me intentionally this early in the morning" he continued with a more calmed expression "and I should like to know to what I owe such distinction." His sarcasm was too much for Lizzy and like a wild animal struck against him hitting him with all her force, which, by now, was nothing; she was like one of those pipe waves, which grow very high and come down splashing but without much strength by the end.

"You pig-headed ass, you can't do this to me! Have you any idea what you have done?! Can you even possibly imagine a love greater in strength and more selfless than Jane's?! No, of course you can't; because you have never loved, you have never cared about anyone but yourself!"

He was dumbstruck. He has never seen any woman so out of control before, and it hurt his heart more than anything in the world to see the one he loved in such a situation, and knowing deep down that he could have prevented it; if not fully, but partially eliminate the reason, caused by him, which created her completely unbalanced state.

"Why do you always have to make my life shit? I was perfectly all right; had a balanced personal and a successful professional life before you, both time for goodness' sake!" she was crying now, but she didn't care; she already lost everything, there was nothing left for her. She felt she was in a black hole, with no way out, and the only thing she had left were her failures, her anger towards herself… But since, as it is human nature never to admit to ourselves that the fault is within us, she transferred all her angst into the person most involved in her misery. She couldn't take it anymore. People said she was so rigid, soulless even… they were sure she would never burst, they said she could take it all because she was indifferent… and evolutioned species of human beings that cast a dark shadow on the future of mankind. How wrong they were! Even she thought she could never really have an attack like that in movies and novels, she thought it was ridiculous; with discipline and common sense everything could be explained, everything could be endured; it was all about looking forward to the possibility of a bright spot, even when there is none in sight. But now…now she lost her talent of imagination, and the brightest spot in her future was the darkest she has ever seen anything. She was in space, in vacuum; she couldn't breathe as there was no air, had no direction as there was no light, and yet she was surrounded by the very thing she was being suffocated by, slowly destroying her, leaving nothing left. She cried and talked, more to herself, or rather, more to the wind; the messenger that would take her prayers to some strange energy force hat had powers beyond what she possessed, to make things right again. She had given herself over completely to that unknown authority, and never in her life had she felt so out of control.

"You are a coward! If you have any problems with me, face me, tell me directly, but don't go against my sister! What has she ever done t you?! You have no soul, no conscience! You-!"

He could take it no more. He realized he had to take control, but the site before him enchanted him more than ever. To see someone so cold so full of emotions… he was broken. He had his duty, his role as Prince and as son to his mother, as lover of Miss Bingley and friend of Charles, he had obligations that weighed more on him than the Himalayas would if mountains could be bourn on human shoulders. And then, he had other responsibilities, towards himself and the little voice that has been repressed for years, crying, craving, demanding her. He was torn, and he was lost… But he was clear-minded enough to know: best thing for her is to calm down. And that could only be done by-

"You slapped me!" she exclaimed, more in bewilderment after the seconds of shock worn down. She didn't even have enough time to feel embarrassed, she realized there was a strong arm pulling her away from what looked like a nicely crowded mass of unwanted spectators receiving a free episode of a telenovela-like scene.

"Where are you taking me?"

"There is a bend on the beach not far from here just a few steps away… A large cliff hides it, there we can get some privacy. Once there, she regained some of her normal, controlled appearance and demanded:

"How could you sink so low?" after no answer from him, she asked "What excuses did you find?"

"There were… objections against the family…" ha answered after a while, giving in to her command, yet ever meeting her eyes. The sun, which so little ago seemed bright and shiny was now loosing its impact, and in stead, grey, stormy clouds were arriving in replacement.

"Right… against us 'white trash's?" she answered, remembering a phrase from a long time ago.

"I am sorry. That was harsh, and it as completely against my education to have said so. I am deeply sorry, you don't know how-"

"But you do believe it, don't you? And you haven't changed you mind since then, quite evidently…"

"The behavior exhibited by most part of your family can be deemed somewhat.., questionable… yes, I suppose my mind hasn't changed on that matter." He admitted.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew her earlier supposition that it was done in revenge to her was unreasonable, yet she rather hoped her second hypothesis would b characterized similarly. Now calmed, she decided to wait over as the shock passes trough her body. She looked at the ocean, and the speedily disappearing sun and realized tiny droplets of water were falling from the sky; as if the heavens mirrored her inner storm, calmed and controlled but weeping… bleeding…

"I… I did not consider that excuse enough, however." A tiny voice behind her explained. She didn't turn around; though she was somewhat intrigued by what he had to say, she lost all sense of emotion; it was as if everything happening were miles away, and she could only hear and feel the echo… He continued, however, and every word she registered brought her out fro deep within, into reality.

"Elizabeth, I have a rotten soul. All my life I worked to show the world I wasn't prideful and selfish; I funded medical research and gave home to lost children… But I realize now it was all for selfish reasons. I haven't changed, and you were right. Please, accept my apologies, and hear my reasons… However much it may disgust you, I believe you deserve to hear the truth." He said, preparing to tell, for the first time, what really lurked behind his every action, admitting for the first time even to himself.

"I… I couldn't let hi have her. When you talked of marriage yesterday I realized how serious it all was, and how little it took them to reach complete and perfect bliss. I realized he loved her more than anyone, and that she loved him back with the same level and intensity… They have found each other, at the right time, under the right circumstances, so hat nothing would separate them… And you see, that was when my glass received the last drop. How could he get the woman of her dreams and not me, when it was I who had gone through so much, sacrificed and suffered to such great extent he couldn't in his dreams endure!" he took a deep breath and continued "I was jealous, Lizzy… I envied their happiness and also the ease with which they came by it… I was resentful because I still… I still couldn't have you."

At this point, realization hit her. He loved her. She caused her sister her current unhappiness, yet it was reversible.

She slowly turned around, and looked into his eyes; he was pleading for her not to leave, but she could se he was prepared to take any consequences she may initiate for his sinful actions. He gave himself, in his entirety to her; his future, both professional and emotional, depended on her, and her alone. He talked from his soul; like the heavy clouds above them, he was pouring out his soul; it could hold his feelings no longer: he had given up the fight.

The rain was now falling in heavy frequency, wetting both of their faces, and yet neither closed their eyes. She took a step toward him, so he was closer, close enough to be touched…. They could hear the tiny drops of rain furiously hitting the ground surrounding them, the waves, the water near them. She lifted an arm, and placed a hand on his cheek, caressing his neglected skin. Tears from her eyes mixed with drop falling on her face; but these were tears of happiness, calmed, silent, but pure happiness.

He grabbed her hand on his cheek, and she was grateful for the warmth, for the reassurance. She kept staring at his eyes, which were now more filled with love and caring, adoration, really, as he was looking at her like at a goddess. He couldn't really believe his luck, his good fortune, but he wasn't about to waste time dwelling on it, rather, he grabbed this fortunate change of events so tight he was determined never to let go if it. If it were a dream, he thought…. Let it never, ever end, lend me stay in come for the rest of my life as never have I felt so fulfilled; such absurd waves of joy from one, tiny touch of a minuscule hand.

All was forgotten. Nothing lived, nothing existed but the two of them, however cliché that sounds. It is, of course, impossible to say they saw nothing but the eyes of that special other, however… they cared not about details, they concentrated on and registered merely what was most important to them; and that, truly, were the eyes, and now mouth, of that very special other.

Soon she found his hand on her cheek, as they were slowly closing the distance between them; and from that moment, even when they were thousands of miles apart, they never separated from each other. Their kiss erupted from emotion, from love and caring and need, the need to know the other feels the same and that never again will they be alone, will they feel their life was passing by, unrecorded. The kiss was soft, and slow, both savoring every moment, every touch, every nerve impulse… He hugged her closer to him, and with her arms around his neck, she pulled him close to her as well, never wanting to let go.

The rain was still hitting the ground strong and empowered, purifying the earth, the air, the essence of the universe, making sure that those two, insignificant ants on a majestic planet had the new beginning they so much deserved; they had their path carved in gold and joined by diamond so they can be inseparable. Yes, the heavens looked down and sighed that, at last the two tragic heroes found their way to each other, and with them found that unexplainable warmth, sort of like the one that fills your gut while drinking hot chocolate after an exhausting victorious snow fight, or a long relaxing bubble bath after a successful but hard-working day… like sitting down in front of the chimney on a cold, winter day to hear grandpa unleash his fountain of wisdom and memories… It's the warmth when seeing a daughter married or a sister giving birth to a new life, except without the bitterness undeniably accompanying it…

The two were floating in air as the winds from far away cleaned away the dirt from around them, cleansing heir souls and extracting those sour thoughts…

They were back on ground, and the sun was coming out too; from the corner of her eyes she saw the magnificent rainbow painted over the heavens, and in turn, he saw her beloved face illuminated by the first rays of light, creating a creature more precious than an angel, and he knew she would never be lost to him.

"I love you" he whispered into her soul and she gave him a smile more radiant than the most blinding of sunrays.

I PROMISE next chapter is the flashback quarrel, the reason why they seoarated in the first place. I actually wrote that before this, but I hadn't had much time o, quite honestly, the mood to type it all down )don't get exicted it's not much) and post it, but it will be done hopefully before Monday.

Oh, btw, this isn't the end of the story. :P Tell me how you liked!