Chapter 12

Lizzie listened to half a conversation. And never had she found half a conversation so interesting.

"Hello? Yes. Oh, hello. Yes I remember. Would you mind coming to the hospital? No, just had a little incident. Yes, I'm sure it is. Yes, I will ask and get back to you. Okay. Hi. Yes. Yes I am. Do you? I'm sure she does, but not right now. Tomorrow. Bye. Yes. Goodbye." He smiled and silenced the phone before slipping it back into his pocket.

"Who was that?" She wiggled herself up a little farther on the stack of pillows behind her.

"Oh just a woman and a little girl. They wanted to know if they could meet with you." He smiled. Lizzie knew that smile. It was the smile William put on when he was hiding something.

"Who wants to meet me?" She prodded at his arm with a finger.

"Well..." He took her finger and kissed the tip of it gently. "I don't know if I should tell you." Now he was just teasing her.

"William F. Darcy, you tell me this instant!" She pulled her finger and stabbed his shoulder as hard as she could. It probably hurt him more than it hurt her, with all the painkillers she had at her disposal.
"OUCH! That hurt" He rubbed his arm and she glared at him. "Fine. The woman's name is Charlotte Lucas, and the girls name is-"

"JANE?" She gasped.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to meet her tomorrow." He smiled sheepishly.

"William Darcy. If I wasn't connected to this machine, I would pull you down on this bed and kiss you until you couldn't breath." She reached up to his neck.

The doctor cleared his throat. "Should I tell the front desk Mrs. Darcy will be expecting visitors tomorrow?"

They both blushed. "Yes, thank you." William managed to say.

"I'll leave you two alone then." And with that, the doctor vanished out the door. They both started snickering.

"Oh, I forgot something. I sent flowers to your work this morning." He stopped laughing and blushed.

"I know, William, thank you. Now everyone at work knows I'm married." She squeezed his hand. "They were lovely. A friend sent me a picture."

"Really?" To prove her point, she motioned for her pants. She pulled out her phone and flipped through the pictures.

"Yeah. Apparently, they filled up my entire classroom." She showed him the picture, her entire desk, and almost all the floor was filled with vases of all different types of flowers. "Did you order the entire store?"
"No." He paused. "I ordered half."

She laughed a little. "Oh, William... My co-workers wanted to know why they weren't invited to the wedding..." It was her turn to blush. "I didn't know they cared that much about me."

"They would be crazy not too."

"I have something for you when we get home for our anniversary.."

"Really?" Lizzie nodded. "Then I have something else." He reached into his pocket and felt the box.

"Three anniversary presents in one day! A girl could get used to this." She laughed a little again.

William pulled it out and looked at the ring before he showed it to her. Her hands flew to her mouth a she sat there, eyes wide. The ring had three perfect stones, one slightly bigger than the other, but none large enough to call attention to it. William knew Lizzie hated flashy jewelry. "I thought, since we're staying married, that you could actually use an engagement ring." Lizzie just sat there, tears welling up in her eyes.

"What did I ever do to deserve anyone as good as you?" She whispered.

"So you like it?" He sighed in relief.

"No, you dingbat. I love it. Go on! Put it on me!" She held her left hand out towards him. He took off her wedding ring, only to slide the engagement ring in its place. He kissed her hand, then slid the ring on. He rubbed the skin behind her knuckles and she gave his hand a light squeeze. "You're supposed to kiss me, Mr. Darcy."

"I apologize, Mrs. Darcy. I've never been engaged before, I don't know how this works." He leaned forwards and kissed her deeply. They pulled apart when she winced.

"I'm sorry." He cupped her face.

Lizzie kissed his palm and left her lips on the heel of his hand for a moment. "You don't need to apologize. I like it when you kiss me."

"Even when I hurt you?" He pulled his hand away. She grabbed it and put it back on her cheek.

"Even when it hurts." And then she yawned. He brushed her cheek with his thumb.

"You need sleep." Panic filled her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll be here when you wake up." He pressed his forehead to hers.

"That's not what I'm worried about." All her injuries started to hurt again.

"I won't let anything get you. Even something you dream up."

"Promise?" She whispered.

"Promise."

AN:

The ring I had in mind-
www dot mimiso dot com/shop/product/traditional-three-stone-engagemen t-ring/