Despite last night's being a late one, Lizzy was up and out the door for her morning run before anyone else had stirred. That being said everyone else had good reasons for sleep. Kitty and Lydia were dealing with the after effects of the party. Mrs, Bennet had was no doubt exhausted from all her effusions regarding certain millionaires… and Mr Bennet was no doubt exhausted from dealing with her. Jane on the other hand was, Lizzy would put money in it, dreaming about a certain red haired British boy who had captured her attention.

Both Lizzy's warm up and her grin faltered at this thought. Not that it was anyway unpleasant but rather it brought to mind the reason she herself could not sleep last night. The other British boy… Man… Condescending and regrettably beautiful creature. Fitzwilliam, she mused, despite deciding to use the name to spite him, Lizzy found she rather liked the way it sounded.

Taking her pace up a notch Lizzy once again replayed the night in her head; his rude dismissive comment to her friend, his patronising insistence on calling her Elizabeth, her calling him out on it… then something went awry. She had walked away feeling victorious in one-upping him yet oddly unsettled. A small part of her wanted to turn around a go back to the surprisingly engaging individual – if it were only to argue more or perhaps discuss Shakespeare. Perhaps her initial judgement had been harsh. Perhaps he simply comes off badly when you first meet him. Deciding to wait till they next met to form a concrete opinion, Lizzy put Fitzwilliam Darcy out of her head.

The street end was 100m away, cutting into a sharp 90 degree turn – off. Setting this as her goal Lizzy set off at a sprint, putting every ounce of frustration and unanswered questions into the run. She was only 10 meters away when someone else came flying towards her around the corner. Someone big, someone fast, and all too late she realised; someone British. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

They were both moving too fast.

"Shit!" he cried out, stumbling with his arms thrown out in front of him. As Lizzy attempted to dodge his failing body she stubbed her toe falling sideways into to road just as a car was making the bend. She was falling, the car was speeding and she couldn't right herself – suddenly a strong hand gripped her forearm and pulled her into a solid, surprisingly steady body.

"Elizabeth are you okay!?" He asked her frantically. Once again green eyes stared deep into grey ones. For that one second their bodies were pressed together, faces inches apart. The sound of an angry car horn broke their reverie.

"What" Lizzy demanded angrily pushing away from him, "were you thinking?"

"Excuse me?" He responded coldly "are you referring to me just saving your life Elizabeth? I Believe the appropriate sentiment is 'Thank You' though perhaps you are not familiar with common courtesy here in the United States?"

Lizzy's eyes narrowed in on her opponent.

"Fitzwilliam" she began in a composed, level tone, elongating his name. "Had you not been foolish enough to come around that corner at such a speed, I never would have fallen into the street. However", she raised her voice as he tried to cut in "I'm sure you feel the blame lies elsewhere so we may call it moot point and I thank you for the … noble act of saving my life" she allowed herself a brief grin. "as for manners, all I can do I apologise. I can only assume that with nothing going on in this 'pretty little head' of mine, my manners aren't as irreproachable as your own. Good day."

She turned and walked away leaving a slightly shamefaced Fitzwilliam in her wake. Shamefaced and thoroughly nonplussed. For the second time in 24hrs Elizabeth Bennet had turned her back on him – not something he was used to – and walked away leaving him speechless and slightly in awe.

Lizzy stormed into her house to find that the family had risen.

"Lizzy" Jane was the first to greet her with a warm but concerned smile "you're home faster than usual, is everything okay? Were you too tired to run?"

"I'm fine" she replied sharper then she intended "I'm sorry, I stopped sooner than planned, I fell" on seeing the look of panic of her sister's face she hurriedly continued "well when I say I fell, I mean, I didn't fall, I nearly fell. I eh, collided with Darcy…" she caught everyone's attention with this statement.

"As in billionaire Darcy ?" exclaimed Kitty.

"HOT billionaire" Lydia input.

Mary rolled her eyes.

"Charles' friend" Jane added dreamily.

"The boy with the audacity to insult your intelligence?" her father asked sternly over the top of his newspaper.

"The attractive eligible young man who though you were somewhat attractive last night ?" Fanny demanded.

Lizzy sighed. Why had she told them about his comments? A moment of madness. "yes" she replied, "yes, yes, yes and yes" nodding to each questioner in turn. "anything else?"

Her mother rose slowly from her seat.

"yes young lady, as a matter of fact I do have something to add." Fanny was flushing with anger "this boy, this wealthy influential boy by some miracle believed you were beautiful last night. Now you waltz in here and tell me you met him in the street looking like THAT! You are red, you are sweaty, your hair is abominable. How could you do such a thing? Don't you even care about securing this boys attentions?"

Lizzy stared open mouthed as her mother shook her head dramatically and left the room with her hand over hers eyes.

No one spoke so Lizzy herself began with "What the actual –"

She was cut off by a shriek that she would recognise anywhere as her Mother's. They all rushed towards the sound to find Fanny in the living room, staring at her mobile phone. She looked up at them her eyes gleaming.

"We are saved! Oh this is simply wonderful! Oh my Jane I just KNOW this is all for you!" she was making no sense. Lydia leaned forward and grabbed the phone from her and read the message aloud-

"Fanny" she began in a terrible impression of a British accent "it was lovely meeting your family last night. The younger ones were particularly spirited. Myself and Hurst must fly home this weekend to tie up a few loose ends. The kids will have the house to themselves and as they have expressed interest in your daughters we would like to extend an invitation to Jane and Lizzy to keep them company for a few days. Let me know if this suits. Louisa Bingley"

"I'm not going" Lizzy said straight off the bat

"Lizzy!" fanny replied "you will go, end of discussion. You must distract the others while Jane gets to know Charles."

"oh but mother I – " Jane began.

"But nothing Jane dear!" Fanny cut her off. "I will not let Lizzy ruin this with her selfishness. You will have a wonderful time." She smiled fondly at her eldest daughter who smiled apologetically at Lizzy.

Lizzy returned a small 'it's okay' smile before walking away from her dysfunctional, borderline psychotic Mother. That woman really was the limit.

So it seemed a weekend with the neighbours was on the horizon. The Fitzwilliam Dacry inclusive neighbours. This would be interesting…