The next morning, Will and Elizabeth were still in bed wrapped in each other's arms when they heard a horrible pounding on the door.
The couple looked at each other, wondering who would be at the door at 7:00am on Sunday morning. A few minutes later as the pounded continued, Georgie arrived knocking at their door while they were hastily dressing.
"It's Aunt Catherine with Anne and I'm not opening the door." Georgie was horrified and she shivered in disgust, "I'll be in my room, so let me know when they leave."
"Aunt Catherine." Elizabeth repeated, "This is the Aunt Catherine that your aunt warned me about. This is the woman who was your mother's best friend who wants you to marry her daughter Anne."
"The one and only." Will said with a sigh.
"Do you suppose she has found out about our marriage and that is her reason for appearing here so early this morning?" Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Yes." Will answered as he finished dressing and said, "I'll go downstairs and get rid of them."
"Not on your life," Elizabeth was adamant, "I have to witness this for myself."
"I don't think I'll ever understand you, my sweet." Will said with a laugh as he put his arm around her waist and walked her downstairs to the front room.
Will opened the door and an older woman imperiously entered the room, Elizabeth noticed that she was dressed impeccably but that everything she wore seemed a bit old-fashioned and she assumed this was Aunt Catherine. The other woman was slightly built with mousy hair but there was a look of confidence about her.
Will felt Elizabeth straighten her shoulders and then she walked across the room and threw her arms around Aunt Catherine, "You must be Aunt Catherine, I'm so pleased to meet you. I've heard so much about you."
As Catherine pushed Elizabeth away from her with a sour expression on her face, Elizabeth's eyes twinkled as she looked at her husband and there was a slight smirk.
"Who the hell are you to be addressing me thus?" Catherine said with disgust.
Will stepped in, "This is my wife Elizabeth, Aunt Catherine."
"No, I will not stand for this." Catherine looked down her nose at Elizabeth, "My lawyers will have this marriage annulled before you can say the words and then you will be free of this child."
Will just laughed, "There will be no annulment, Aunt Catherine." He strode over to his wife and kissed her soundly, "Elizabeth is my wife and I will not let her go."
"You are to be married to Anne." Aunt Catherine insisted with a catch of desperation in her voice, "It was the fondest wish of both your mother and me."
Will started to speak but Anne interrupted him, "Mother you know very well that I will never marry Will, he's not exactly my type." Anne smiled as she appraised Elizabeth and winked, "Now your wife is much more my type. Will and I seem to have the same taste."
Will laughed a hearty laugh while Elizabeth looked confused.
"Mother conveniently keeps forgetting that I am not into men and that I have a girlfriend back in New York." Anne explained before she turned back to Will, "Now if I had met your wife first I would have her dumped my girlfriend in a heartbeat."
"I'm flattered, but sorry." Elizabeth chuckled as she glanced at Will, "I only have eyes for my husband."
Will beamed with delight as he picked her up and kissed her, "Want to go upstairs? I'll show you how much I'm into my wife."
"Will," Elizabeth chastised him, "We have company, we cannot spend the day in bed. Plus I've got homework to do."
Will put her down and looked a little chagrined, "Elizabeth is still in her last semester of high school."
"What is she pregnant?" Aunt Catherine looked livid, "Is that the reason you married her?"
"No, I'm not pregnant." Elizabeth smiled and rolled her eyes, "Geez, can't a teenage girl get married without everyone thinking that she's pregnant." She laughed as she saw the look on Catherine's face.
Will joined in as she laughed and even Anne got a chuckle out of her mother's discomfiture.
"So how did you find out about our marriage?" Will asked with a grin at Catherine.
"Margaret told me and she thought it was quite funny." Catherine said with a savage snarl.
"I bet she did." Elizabeth giggled before addressing Anne, "I'm very pleased to meet you by the way."
"I'll bet." Anne said with a laugh, "Glad to see that I'm not after your husband is my guess."
"Well that's true." Elizabeth said, "He's had woman coming out of his ears for years and they keep popping up like weeds especially that bitch, Caroline Bingley."
"Oh her," Anne rolled her eyes, "I could tell you some stories about that one."
Elizabeth linked her arm with Anne's and said, "Well let's find some privacy so that you can tell me."
As Catherine watched her daughter leave with Elizabeth she said, "So what is it going to take to get that little twit out your life?"
"Aunt Catherine," Will tried to be patient, "I love Elizabeth, I always will and she is part of my life forever."
"So if she's not pregnant, how did she get you to marry her?" Catherine's eyes were brutal.
"I'm the one who insisted on marriage." Will told her bluntly, "I knew she was too young but I wanted her to be my wife so badly that I rushed her into marriage. I'm not letting her go ever so if you want to have a relationship with Georgie and I then you had better get used to my wife because she is here to stay." His eyes lowered in anger, "And I don't ever want you to call her names again. Am I understood?"
He glared at Catherine who blanched and said, "Yes, I understand." She looked around and asked quickly, "Where is Georgiana?"
"She's upstairs hiding until you leave." Will said truthfully, "So if anyone from this house is going, it will be you."
Before Catherine could respond there was a knock on the door. "Boy this has turned into a circus today."
He went to the door and answered it to an older couple dressed casually, "How may I help you?" He asked politely.
"We're here to see our niece, Elizabeth." The woman answered, "I'm Melanie Gardiner and this is my husband Ed."
"Oh," Will said with surprise, "The Gardiner's, Elizabeth's told me about you." He motioned them to enter, "Come on in."
Elizabeth came into the room and saw who was standing there; she ran to her aunt and uncle and hugged them affectionately.
"So are you going to introduce us to your husband?" Melanie asked, "It's not like you even told us that you were dating anyone." She said with a laughing as she played the guilt card.
"It's not my fault that you two always take a 2-month vacation from Thanksgiving to New Years during the holidays every year." Elizabeth threw back at her aunt with a smile.
"You know very well that we feel that the children should experience different cultures instead of getting caught up in the commercialism of the holidays." Melanie stated her views.
"Speaking of the children, where are they?" Elizabeth asked as she looked around for them.
"We stopped by your parents and Jane offered to watch the children while we got to know your husband." Ed said, "She and her fiancé are going to bring them by a little later."
"So are you going to introduce us?" Melanie asked impatiently.
Elizabeth blushed that she had forgotten her manners, "Will this is my uncle, Edward Gardiner and my aunt, Melanie Gardiner." She continued with the introductions, "Aunt and Uncle this is my husband, Will Darcy, CEO of Pemberly Winery."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Melanie said as she hugged him.
Ed Gardiner slapped Darcy on the back, "I'm glad to finally meet you and now young man, you are going to tell me how you managed to win the heart of my favorite niece."
"I'd be happy to." Will said with a smile, "I'd like to introduce you to my mother's best friend, Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter Anne but to me she is Aunt Catherine."
After the pleasantries were completed the party sat down to talk.
"So you still didn't tell us how you two met." Ed Gardiner pursued his interest, "Since we've never heard of you before this should be good."
Elizabeth and Will looked at each other they had talked about how their relationship would be discussed with other people and had come up with an acceptable compromise.
"We met two years ago, Uncle Ed." Elizabeth said, "At the Pemberly Christmas Party when I went with Dad."
"I fell in love with your niece at first sight but because she was only 16, I tried to forget about her." Will told the half truth, "Just before she turned 18, she befriended my sister, Georgie and began hanging around the house."
"Will and I got to know each other well during those times." Elizabeth told him, "I still wasn't sure because of the difference in our ages but Will persisted and he took me on a romantic date for my 18th birthday." She stroked her husband's face, "It's no wonder that I fell in love with him."
"At the Pemberly Christmas Party, two years after we first met, I asked Elizabeth to marry me and she agreed." Will looked a little sheepish, "Elizabeth wanted to wait until she graduated but I convinced her to marry me the next weekend. I know it was impetuous but I love her so much I couldn't wait to have her as my wife."
"Idiot." Catherine stood in disgust and strode around the room, "You wanted this little piece of trash and she held out on you." Her voice was full of venom, "I can't believe that you fell for that load of bullshit."
"I told you earlier that you were not to insult my wife." Will's face was a dark cloud of furious anger, "You will leave my house and never darken my door again." Will took her by the arm and walked her to the door.
Elizabeth stood as she saw Anne get up to follow her mother, "Anne, you are welcome to stay if you would like."
"I should go." Anne said with a smile, "But Sandy, my girlfriend will be extremely entertained by what happened here today." Anne winked at Elizabeth, "And if you ever decide to switch teams, I wouldn't kick you out of my bed."
Elizabeth blushed as she walked with Anne to the door where Catherine was sputtering and mumbling to herself. Will hugged Anne as she left and shut the door behind her.
"Good riddance." He said with a trace of anger still in his voice.
Before they started back to her aunt and uncle, Elizabeth moved into Will's arms and kissed him until he forgot all about Catherine de Bourgh. He picked her up and swung her around in a circle. "What would I do without you?" He asked his wife in a voice husky with need.
"I was about to ask myself the same question." Ed Gardiner said and when Will and Elizabeth looked around they saw Ed and Melanie Gardiner standing in the doorway as well as Georgie.
"I heard a ruckus." Georgie said with a smile, "I came to investigate and am glad that I did, I wouldn't have wanted to miss that for anything in the world." She smiled and hugged her brother, "Aunt Catherine has deserved that for a very long time."
"Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, this is my sister Georgiana."
"Call me Georgie."
"And we're Uncle Ed and Aunt Melanie." Ed Gardiner said as he smiled, "I like this one, she reminds me of Lizzie."
Will groaned as he winked at his wife, "I know Elizabeth is a very bad influence on my sister."
"I've offered more than once to disappear from your life if that was an issue." Elizabeth said with a giggle.
"I also have told you more than once that you're good for a laugh or two and that I liked to have you around." Will kissed her with a passion that he couldn't deny.
"Uhumm." Georgie cleared her throat loudly, "They do this a lot and its better that we just disappear because they won't even notice anyone else is alive."
"That is not true." Elizabeth moved away from her husband.
"Yes it is." Will said as he pulled her back and kissed her again.
"Will, we have guests, you are being rude." Elizabeth pushed him away with a laugh, "We'll finish this later."
"I will hold you to that." Will said with a wolfish grin.
"Newlyweds." Melanie laughed as the doorbell rang again.
"Who could it be this time?" Will asked as he started for the door and opened it to Jane, Charles and four children who went running passed Will and threw themselves at Elizabeth.
"Cousin Elizabeth." They all cried together.
"These unruly children are ours." Melanie signaled to the kids, "They are Peter, Patty, Penny and Peggy."
"We're the 4 P's." The youngest Penny piped up, "Mother says that we could be a rock group when we get older."
"This is my husband Will and his sister Georgie." Elizabeth introduced everyone.
The kids surrounded Will and Georgie with the cry, "Cousin Will, Cousin Georgie." There was an abundance of flailing limbs and hugs all around.
"Wow." Georgie said after they had been greeted by all of the children, "They are a handful." She turned to look at Jane and Bingley, "I don't think that we've met yet, I'm Georgie."
"I'm Jane." Elizabeth's sister said, "Georgie, it's nice to meet you, I've heard lots of great things about you."
After an enjoyable afternoon spent with the Gardiners, Jane and Bingley, Will made a suggestion, "I think we should all go out to dinner tonight."
It was agreed and Will called to make the reservations at his favorite place. On the drive to the restaurant, Will, Elizabeth and Georgie led with the Gardiners following and Charles and Jane in the rear.
While they were waiting for dinner to be served, Georgie entertained the kids by taking them upstairs where the restaurant had a few video games.
There was a lot of talking and laughter at the table as Will and Elizabeth were lost in each other. After Elizabeth left to go to the restroom a horrible voice cut through the chatter.
"Charles, I didn't know you were going to be here."
"Caroline," Bingley said with a sigh, "What are you doing here?"
"This is my favorite restaurant." Caroline said with a flourish, "I'm a regular here." She pretended that she had just seen Will Darcy, "Will, darling it's been a long time." Before he could say anything she glanced at Jane, "And who is this?"
"This is my fiancé; Jane Bennet." Charles said with exasperated impatience.
"Another Bennet." Caroline's lip rolled in disgust, "They seem to be crawling out of the woodwork." She turned back to Will, "Thank goodness that you dumped that hideous Eliza Bennet. What you ever saw in her, I will never know."
"I'd say it was the sex." A voice from behind Caroline said.
Caroline nodded her head in agreement when she turned around and saw Elizabeth who walked passed her and crawled into her husband's lap and kissed him passionately.
"Caroline," Charles asked, "Have you met Will's wife Elizabeth."
"Will's…. wi… wif… WIFE." Caroline sputtered with disbelief, "He couldn't be married to that little tramp."
Elizabeth tore herself away from her husband and flashed her ring, "I can assure you that he did."
Caroline tried to collect herself and looked around the table where she spotted the Gardiners, "Who are these people, they must be more Bennets as they have no style and no class at all." Caroline was looking over the Gardiner's casual clothes with disgust.
Elizabeth laughed and Jane said quickly, "They have one of the most popular fashion houses in San Francisco."
"What for low class knock-offs." Caroline looked down her nose at them.
"Actually my wife designed the dress that you are wearing." Ed Gardiner said with some pride, "So unless you are in the habit of buying low class knock-offs then I would say no."
"But this is an EMG original." Caroline said with pride.
"And that stands for Edward, Melanie Gardiner." Elizabeth supplied with a giggle.
"You two are EMG Designs." Caroline swayed in place not quite believing it was possible.
"In the flesh." Melanie said with a smile.
Just then Georgie came back downstairs with the noisy children.
Caroline held her head and said snidely, "I don't know why the restaurant allows brats like those in here. I wonder where the idiot parents are."
Ed answered quickly, "That would be us."
"Oh no." Caroline staggered as she realized she had insulted the famous designers a second time. "Such sweet children." She patted them on the head.
"Caroline if you don't like this restaurant why don't you just leave?" Will said without any compassion.
"This is my favorite restaurant." Caroline said, "I always come here, this is our restaurant and I can't believe you brought your date to our restaurant."
"No Caroline, this has always been my place." Will suddenly understood, "You just come here on the chance that you will run into me."
Elizabeth said, "Yes, you've been here every time we have except for our first date." She blushed when she looked at Will.
Elizabeth stood up and looked at Caroline with angry eyes, "I would suggest that you stop stalking my husband, otherwise I will have to remind you that he is mine." Elizabeth eyes were flashing, "Do I make myself clear. You will not bother my family ever again or else, I will have to do something about it and you do not want that."
Georgie spoke up for the first time, "Lizzie's right, you don't want to make her mad. No good comes from that."
Caroline backed away when she heard another voice, "If you want any more of our clothes we will sell them to you at full price." Melanie Gardiner spoke softly but her eyes were cold with anger, "Lizzie is family and may have them at no charge."
Caroline turned and walked for the exit as fast as her legs would carry her. She did not hear the laughter that erupted from the table at her disappearing back.
"That was fun." Georgie said with a smirk and she asked Will, "Is there anymore of your ex-girlfriends that we can rough up."
Will was laughing so hard that his shoulders started shaking, "I think I can find a few addresses."
"You're just saying that because they always treated you like you were six." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"That's true but that bitch was the worst." She looked at Bingley, "No offense to you."
"None taken." Charles said with a grin at Jane, "I wouldn't tolerate her if she wasn't my sister."
"Now Jane tell me about your young man." Melanie asked her niece.
The rest of the evening was spent in enjoyable companionship. The little Gardiner's loved Georgie and would not leave her alone for the whole evening.
When they left the restaurant and the kids were loaded into the car and promptly fell asleep, Melanie Gardiner said to Elizabeth, "I approve of your choice." She looked at Will, "I don't think there is another couple out there who loves each other as much as you two do."
Will glanced at his wife and hoped that what her aunt said was true. "Are you ready to go home and go to bed, you did promise me that we would finish what we started earlier?"
"You know I never forget my promises." Elizabeth said with a smile before she gave her aunt and uncle a hug, "We'll see you soon."
Will helped Elizabeth and Georgie into the car. He sighed with pleasure as he thought of what he and Elizabeth would be doing in a half hour.