AN:
Sorry it took so long. RL is being a pain. But here you go. Enjoy!
I also realized I forgot to say something to you guys:
I do not own P&P. :'( I wish I did. But I don't. And I probably never will.

Chapter 14

"Lizzie. You've changed so much." Charlotte Lucas took one step into the room. "And please, call me Charlotte."

"Alright." She pushed herself up higher on the bed. There was an awkward silence.

"Mom, I thought we were going to see her?" A voice came from behind Charlotte.

"Jane, sweetie. Remember what I told you about how, sometimes, a mom can't take care of a child like she wants to, so she lets someone else raise her as their own?" Charlotte's eyes, never left Lizzie.
"Yeah. And we're here to meet my other mom." The voice was still quite, but rang of confidence and bravery. Lizzie bit her lip, trying to contain any emotions she felt.

"This is your other mom. Jane, this is Lizzie." She took another few steps into the room and was followed by a little girl. But not just any little girl, this was her little girl. Lizzie wanted to jump out of the bed and pick her up and hold her in her arms. But she just bit her lip harder.

"Lizzie?" The girl took a few steps in front of her mother.

"Hello, Jane." Lizzie smiled, holding back tears.

"What happened?" Jane took a some more steps so she was next to the bed and brushed Lizzie's face.

"I had a problem with someone, and they tried to hurt me. Its nothing I couldn't handle." She swallowed. She didn't want to tell this little girl about her father. She knew she should tell Charlotte, but she didn't want to ruin her daughters dreams, if she had any.

"Did he hurt you the way my dad hurt you?" She asked bluntly.

Lizzie was shocked. Charlotte had told her everything? "Not exactly." Lizzie inched over in the bed to create room for Jane. "Do you want to sit and tell me a little about yourself?"

Jane paused and slowly sat on the bed. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything. You wanna play 20 questions? That way we can both find out a little about each other."

"Okay, I get to go first." She crossed her legs excitedly. "What's your favorite color?"

"Dark blue. What's yours?"

"Green. But not a neon green and not a dark green, but like an apple green. What's your favorite animal?"

"Clarification, please. Animal as in a pet, or in general?"

"As a pet."

"Dog. What about you? Favorite animal to have as a pet."

"I would love to have a dog." She smiled. "Can I ask if you're married?" She looked at her hands.

"If you want to."

"Okay. Are you married?" She blushed.

"Yes. Don't worry, I don't think you're prying." Jane smiled and raised her head. "Favorite book is..."

"I love Harry Potter." She smiled. "Do you like Harry Potter?"

"It's only my favorite book series ever!" She smiled. "Do you play sports?"

"I play soccer." She smiled. "My team is going to state."

"Good job. I'm sure you and your team work very hard."

"What's his name?"

"What's whose name?"

"Your husbands." She was very confidant for her age, once she got to know a person a little.

"Lizzie?" All three heads turned to the door. There was William, standing with Charlie, looking confused.

"Hi." Lizzie smiled a little more. She turned back to Jane. "Jane, this is my husband William. William, this is my daughter, Jane." William relaxed and Charlie managed to slip out of his grip and hop back up on the bed, only to begin sniffing Jane, who started giggling uncontrollably. Charlie started licking Jane and the giggles turned into a full laugh. Lizzie joined in and gently pushed Charlie away from Jane.

"You have a dog?" She started wiping her face. "I want a dog!" She pulled Charlie into a hug by wrapping her thin arms around his neck.

"Well, you'll just have to visit Charlie and me all the time then." She patted the dog on the back.

"So you're Ms. Lucas?" William held out his hand.

"Yes. And if you don't mind, its Charlotte." She shook it. "Answer me one question. How much do you care for Lizzie?" She didn't break eye contact.

"I more than care. She's my best friend and the love of my life and I never want to let her go." He didn't break eye contact either. There was a high pitched giggle and the both turned to see Lizzie and Jane laughing and playing with Charlie. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you so concerned about Lizzie?"

"She never told you who I am?" William shook his head. "I was the cop she called after... I drove her to the hospital from the school, called her parents, if you can call them parents-"

"I know all about her parents. I was her next door neighbor." He crossed his arms.

"I thought your name sounded familiar. I always thought she cared for you." She smiled to herself.

"Really?" He was worried his jaw was hanging open in surprise.

"Your name was the first one she said. When I asked her if I needed to call anyone. Then she grabbed my arm and said that I couldn't tell you. Her parents wouldn't let her press charges, said she had to live with her choices." She sighed. "If you ask me, they didn't care about Lizzie at all."

"I didn't know about that. I do know she stopped talking to them once she got into college and they put her in a youth home-"
"They didn't put her in a youth home, I did." She crossed her arms.

"Lizzie told me her parents-"

"Thats what I told her to tell people. She came and lived with me for a few weeks after her parents disowned her. Then she said she didn't want to impose any longer and we found the home together. She didn't lie to you, Mr. Darcy. She told you what I had made her promise to tell anyone who asked. I grew to love Lizzie like a little sister."

"Is that why you took Jane?"

"Partly. I was also there when she was born. Lizzie wanted me to have her. She said that I could give her a future that she could never have." Charlotte smiled sadly, followed by a long silence.

"Thank you." William finally said.

"For what, Mr. Darcy?"

"For looking out for Lizzie. And Jane. And its William, if you don't mind. You're her family now, at least I want you to be."

"You don't need to thank me, William. Although it wasn't under the best circumstances, I'm glad I met Lizzie. I would love to be a part of her life, and I want Jane to be a part of her life too.

"What question are we on?" Jane said through a fit of giggles.

"I don't know..." Lizzie trailed off. "Lets just say 15."

"Okay. Do you want to have kids?" Jane grew serious. "Cause I would love to be a big sister."

Lizzie looked at William and Charlotte, who had grown quiet. "Actually, I'm going to have a baby before the end of the year." Lizzie smiled.

Jane threw her arms around Lizzie in a hug. "Can I babysit? I know I'm too young now, but when I get older, can I babysit? Maybe mom and I can babysit until then!"

"I'm glad you're excited. And I wouldn't have anyone else. As long as your mom says its okay." They both turned to look at her.

"PLEASE MOM!" Jane hopped off the bed and ran up to Charlotte.

"Oh, alright." Jane jumped up and down and hugged Charlotte. She pulled away and calmed down.

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy."

"For what?" He got down on one knee, so he was at eye level with Jane.

"For loving Lizzie." She hugged him, and it took him a moment to hug her back.

"Believe me when I say it is a pleasure to love our Lizzie." Lizzie smiled. Their Lizzie. She had people that cared about her. People who would love her unconditionally, who would protect her, who would support her. She had a real family, and that was something she had wanted for a long time.

"Come on, Jane. Time to go." Charlotte held out her hand.

"Can I come back tomorrow?" Jane looked at Lizzie.

"You can come whenever you want. I'll tell you before I go home, okay?"

Jane nodded, they said their goodbyes, and they headed out the door.

William came over and sat on the bed. "She is just like you." He held her hand.

"She is. Isn't she?" She laughed a little to herself.

"I don't know how I'm going to compete with two Lizzies..." He leaned gently into her. A sickened feeling entered her stomach.

"Really?" She hugged one of his arms. "Is that a good thing? That shes like me, I mean."

"Its an amazing thing." He pushed her out of his arms a little and moved to take her hand. "What's this really about?"

"You think I can be a mother?" She slipped her hand away from his and started playing with one of Charlie's ears. "I mean... With Jane, I knew what to do. But now. Now that I met Jane, and I have a chance to do something and... And everything is so different." Her voice had faded to whisper.

"Lizzie, look at me?" He gently forced her hands to release Charlie's ear, and she turned to look at him. "You are going to be an amazing mother." He pulled her into another hug. "You already are."