She awoke to an empty bed and a sharp pain on the side of her back. She tried to sit up, but the pain grew worse. She winced and rang for Meera, who was there in an instant.

"Mrs. Darcy!" Meera gasped at the sight of her wincing mistress. Her face was screwed up in pain. Fat tears ran down her pale cheeks.

"Please, get my mother" She whispered; clenching her teeth as the pain gradually subsided. By the time she could open her eyes without wincing in pain, Mrs. Bennet was already in the room.

"Lizzy!" She hastened to her side, checking her forehead for fever, and then feeling her stomach. "Call for the doctor" She yelled to Meera. The young maid disappeared quickly.

"It is too early" Lizzy whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"Some children come early" Mrs. Bennet assured her.

"Not this early" Lizzy responded. "A few days, a week perhaps, but never a full month!"

"Elizabeth Katherine Darcy, calm yourself now" Mrs. Bennet snapped.

"William" Lizzy gasped after realizing that her husband was not there. "You must send for him!" He had left two days ago to go to Nottingham. Mr. Bingley had found an estate that both he and Jane liked; Jane had seen it in passing on her way to Pemberely. Mr. Darcy was asked to take a look at the fields, as they seemed a little under profit for such a large area. Thinking that she had a month left, Lizzy had made him leave, not that he wanted too. He was not expected back for another two days.

"We will, you mustn't worry" Mrs. Bennet warned her. Meera returned with a pitcher of water, and Mrs. Reynolds.

"The doctor is on his way" Mrs. Reynolds said. "I sent Patrick to Nottingham, Mrs. Darcy"

"Thank you Mrs. Reynolds" Mrs. Bennet whispered since Lizzy seemed a little out of it. Lizzy knew Patrick was one of the best riders. He would get to her husband in time.

Another wave of pain crashed through her body, she screamed, clutching at the bed sheets, tears pouring down her face. The pain left much quicker then the other time. Her breath was ragged. She felt moisture on her thighs, warm and sticky.

"Oh god, is that blood?" She sobbed. Mrs. Bennet tried her best to soothe her. She was surprisingly calm for such a nervous woman.

"Mrs. Reynolds, fetch Jane would you?" Mrs. Bennett asked, knowing that her eldest daughter was one of the only things that would call Lizzy down, at least for a few minutes. Mrs. Reynolds nodded, disappearing quickly to get Miss Bennet.

Lizzy was too lost in her pain, both physical and emotional, to notice the departure of the house keep. Within minutes though, Jane was through the door, still dressed in her nightgown, a robe hastily thrown over her shoulders.

"Lizzy" Jane put on a brave face and approached the bed. "Lizzy, dear, look at me"

"Jane, it's too early" She whispered, "And William isn't even here"

"All will be well Lizzy" Jane sat next to her on the bed, allowing her to clutch onto her side. She felt her sister's form tremble as she cried.

"How bad does it hurt?" Mrs. Bennet asked now that Lizzy was calmer.

"It comes and goes" Lizzy murmured against Jane's robe.

"Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet" Meera barged through the door, "The doctor is here, ma'am"

Doctor Williams was a middle aged, kind looking man with a heavy brow and thick grey hair. Lizzy was not that well acquainted with him, but Georgiana spoke nothing but praise, and William trusted him.

"Hello Mrs. Darcy" He smiled as he walked in, medical bag in tow. "Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet" Mrs. Bennet had insisted upon meeting him when she had first arrived.

"Doctor Williams" Lizzy had reluctantly drawn away from Jane and looked up at the doctor.

"Tell me where it hurts, please"

"My back, my side, my stomach. Everywhere" She told him truthfully, running her hand over her stomach.

"Mhmm" He approached and checked her forehead for fever. "I'm going to need to examine you now. If your sister would be ever so kind as to sit behind you and help you sit up" Jane awkwardly got behind her to support her back. Lizzy winced in pain as she did so. "Mrs. Bennet, if you would hold her left leg, Meera, dear, her right" Her mother brought up her dress as she held her legs.

"Is there blood?" Lizzy asked fearfully.

"Just a bit" He murmured. Lizzy felt that he was lying to make her feel better. She bit her lip as he continued. The pain was growing worse. In the end, the doctor told her that there was nothing he could do, that they had to wait to see what would happen. He wiped the blood from her, and gave her a dose of laudanum to alleviate the pain.

"Rest while you can, Mrs. Darcy." He patted her hand and moved over to the corner of the room where Mrs. Bennet was preparing a cold cloth for her daughter.

"Has Mr. Darcy been sent for?" He asked quietly. Lizzy could hear him though. The laudanum hadn't kicked in yet. Jane was humming above her, smoothing her hair.

"We sent a rider about a hour ago" Mrs. Bennet replied. "It's a two hour ride to Nottingham, do we have that time?"

"I do not know, but I fear that this will be a difficult birth"

Lizzy felt the laudanum kick in then. Her eyes drifted close, and everything went black.

Mr. Darcy POV

He awoke late in the morning, disappointed on having awoken so late then usual. He had been set on further examining the fields early on to get back to his wife quicker, but now he was behind schedule. Charles wasn't even awake yet though. He never was an early riser. He banged thrice on his door before giving up. He sighed and made his way to the common room to break his fast. The sun was hidden behind clouds.

"Here you are, sir" A pleasant older woman brought him a cup of hot coffee and a choice of several breakfast pastries and cheeses. He was halfway through his second cup of coffee when Charles made an appearance. His eyes were rimmed in sleep.

"Good morning, Darce" He smiled. "How's the coffee?"

"Better then that French stuff Caroline adores" He replied, motioning for the woman to bring another cup.

"What is the plan for today?"

"Examine the fields again, hope that we find something or nothing. I wish to get back to Elizabeth within a day."

"Ah, you plan to surprise her then" Charles grinned, nudging his arm.

"If you quit taunting me then I shall extend an invitation to visit to you, so that you may surprise Miss Bennet" Charles laughed and pretended to zip his lips shut.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Charles asked after a second.

"Well, Francesca Anna Darcy if it is a girl, although Lizzy is positive it is not" Darcy told him, "And Bennet for a boy. Lizzy is keeping her lips sealed on the middle name,"

"You two are ridiculous. I have never heard of a couple betting on the sex of their unborn child" Charles laughed.

"Perhaps Miss Bennet will make a wager with you when your time comes" Darcy joked.

"We shall have all girls, I am certain. She is one of five sisters and I have two. Our families are both cursed with females" Charles moaned. "Caroline keeps pointing this out to me, as if that would change my mind on marrying her"

"She is still against the match?" He asked, feeling bad for his friend. He did not know what he would have done had Georgiana not loved Lizzy on first sight.

"She is, and is quite vocal about it. I had to send her to Louisa in London, which she berated me on. It is getting out of hand. I fear I will be forced to find another arrangement for her, I cannot have her undermining Jane's authority in her own home, and I cannot see Caroline relinquishing mistress status without a fight"

"Miss Jane is much too kind to say anything to her, of course" He had heard from Lizzy all about Jane's naivety to her future sister in law.

"Jane is an angel," Charles sighed. "I almost wish she would put Caroline in her place, but it would pain her to do so" Darcy laughed at the thought of it. Jane had been nothing but compliant since her arrival. She diffused almost all tension between Lizzy and her mother, and always smiled about it. Not to mention that her and Georgiana had become fast friends. He knew that Georgiana wrote to Jane while she stayed in London even.

"I cannot even picture that" He said, still chuckling as Charles sent gloomy glares his way.

"Master Darcy!" He heard his name and swiveled in his chair to look for the culprit. He was surprised to see Patrick, one of the estates groomers. He was breathing hard and was covered in mud. "Master Darcy!" He stopped in front of the two gentlemen.

"Patrick? What is it?"

"Mrs. Darcy, sir, she, she – something is wrong. Mrs. Reynolds sent me immediately, before the doctor had arrived even" He panted. He was out of his chair in an instant.

"Charles, take care of my things, see that Patrick and his horse get fed and taken care of. I have to go"

"Yes, of course" Charles dropped a few coins on the table. "I'll be back," He told Patrick. "Darce, go get dressed properly. I'll get the horse saddled" Darcy clapped his shoulder and ran to his rooms.

Ten minutes later he was on his horse, racing back to Pemberely.