Author's Note: For Iambbq, she knows why.

Mr Weston and John Knightly were making inquiries at the third hotel since they have lost Mr Knightly to a hat indeed of rescuing from the wind. Mr Weston had began to think there was no hope in finding Frank and Emma in time to delay the wedding until they were home. He had never thought how big Brighton would be in comparison to Highbury although he was very much aware that towns and cities are much bigger than his home village it had never occurred to him it would take so much time and work to find his only beloved son.

"Yes, we do have a Mr Weston staying here," the somewhat harassed looking concierge said, "would you like to leave a message?"

The relieve and happiness to finally find his son flooded Mr Weston and overwhelmed his senses that he could not reply straight away.

"Father?"

Mr Weston and John Knightly whirled round to find Frank and Jane standing there looking surprised and rather fearful in Jane's case. Emma was nowhere to be seen as the two stood there together with their arms linked. Mr Weston hoped that meant Emma was preparing a dress for the ceremony and therefore the even had not happened yet as he rushed forward to his son.

"My dear boy, this is ridiculous, I beg you to come home and wait awhile until you marry," Mr Weston said quietly and pleadingly. "Such a blessed even should happen surrounded by your family not in secret far away from home."

"I am sorry, Father," Frank said solemnly, "but it is too late. I am already married and it had been the best thing to do in order to protect my wife from my aunt's ire. She would not have approved of my choice though I am certain you would."

"Of course I would!" Mr Weston burst out. "Anyone who makes you happy is most welcome to our family."

Frank beamed as he took Jane's hand. "Then Father I would like you to meet my wife," he pulled Jane before him, "Mrs Jane Weston."

"Jane?"

"I did say so," John Knightly said smugly to Mr Weston, "My congratulations you two."

Mr Weston was simply stunned. He had believed his wife when she had said Frank held a romantic affection for Emma and the thought of Frank loving Jane more than a foster brother had never occurred to him. Jane stared at him nervously and somewhat fearfully as if she expected him to disapprove of her in a most dreadful manner, perhaps with shouting and public humiliation. How could she think such things? While it may surprise him he cannot think of a better bride for his son, he held the same affection for Jane as he had for Emma and he was equally pleased to have her as a daughter in law as he would if Frank had married Emma.

He smiled and held his hands out welcomingly, hesitatingly Jane placed hers in his and he squeezed them comfortingly. "Welcome to the family, my dear Jane, I cannot think of a better bride for my son."

Jane simply looked radiant with happiness at the declaration as her eyes sparkled and a small smile formed on her lips and Frank looked like a little boy once more at Christmas he was so happy.

Mr Weston could not think of a happier couple.

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

Emma could not believe how pale Mr Knightly had turned when she announced he was too late. She had never seen him sick perhaps because her father would never allow a sick person visit Hartfield but Emma had been more inclined to believe Mr Knightly could not fall sick. To see him with such an ill complexion worried her so.

"Mr Knightly are you well?" she asked.

"H-how?" Mr Knightly breathed. He looked utterly destroyed and she could not understand why he would. "How did the wedding happen so soon?" he demanded in a louder voice.

Emma felt her stomach give out to a queasy lurch as she came to a terrible realisation. It was not Harriet Smith that Mr Knightly loved...it was Jane.

Oh dear lord! No wonder Jane was so resentful and insecure! To have the man you love fall for your dearest friend who is far superior to you. After all why would Mr Knightly not love Jane who is superior than Emma is in intelligence and accomplishments as well as beauty.

Life was very cruel; Emma thought to herself, it teaches you how to understand people in the worst manner possible.

"Well we already had one witness so it was only a case of finding another," Emma explained while masking her personal agony with a blank mask. "We're going to get it back dated to avoid any accusation of the marriage not being valid."

"No other reason?" Mr Knightly asked quickly.

The implication stood there between them and Emma felt completely horrified. While Frank had indeed been inappropriate at times with his kissing and barging into their bed chamber in a mad rush he had never dared compromise Jane's reputation or virtue.

"No! How could you even suggest -?"

"Of course, I apologise..." Mr Knightly looked ashamed of himself to even imply such a thing. She wished she could change it into a smile because of course a gentleman like Mr Knightly would never mean to make such an implication, he was merely concerned about Jane's well being. "I am..." he seemed stuck for words and Emma half wished she was not here to listen to this and yet she also wished she could comfort him. "Why did I not realise sooner, Emma? Why did I not act before him? And even if I did, would I have even be accepted? I am nothing but a constant presence would..." he trailed off unable to finish his sentence.

"Oh Mr Knightly," Emma said miserably understanding his sentiments exactly, "how could any lady with a shred of common sense refuse any offer you would make? I am sure if you had asked first Jane would have happily accepted you."

There is a moment of silence as Mr Knightly looked at her as if she was the most stupid and silliest girl in the whole of England.

"Jane," he repeated. "Jane? Jane? Jane Fairfax? You thought I admired Jane?"

"Jane Weston now," Emma corrected him, "and do you not? I thought you were upset over their elopement."

Mr Knightly continued to stare at her as if he could not believe such stupidity existed. Emma was beginning to find it rather insulting. "Emma...I thought you were the one that was marrying Frank Weston, not Jane."

"What?" Emma yelped somewhat surprised. "How on earth could you come up to such a conclusion? Frank and I are nothing but brother and sister!"

"Your note Emma! It was not exactly clear on who the bride was!" Mr Knightly snapped.

Emma felt her cheeks heat up with embarrassment. She did not mean to be so cryptic in her note and cause such worries for her family and dear friends. "Ah," she said, "I wrote that in a hastily manner. We did not plan this well and we were running late for the coach, oh the chaos it had caused, we lost Jane's best bonnet in the rush and Frank would not stop calling out such curses until the coachman returned for us. Fortunately things improved afterwards."

The irritating expression on Mr Knightly's face quickly faded away into exasperation and amusement as Emma told her tale. She waits for a moment to see if he will laugh at her and Frank's foolishness (for no one ever could think Jane was foolish) but he did not. Instead he was looking at her with a new expression that she could not place.

"So you are not married?" he said slowly and quietly.

"No! I am not," Emma confirmed.

He then stepped closer towards her and cupped her face before planting the most gentle, delectable, and wonderful kiss on her lips! Oh she could not believe this was real! It must be some sort of dream or apparition. Perhaps she had fallen and hit her head?

He pulled away far too soon for Emma's liking and with a small smile that lit up his beautiful eyes he asked, "Would you like to be married?"

EWEWEWEWEWEWEWEW

They had decided to have tea in the tearoom. The service was good and John enjoyed the cakes that were served alongside the tea. After they had learnt the whole wild tale of Frank and Jane falling in love in Weymouth to their terribly planned escape to Brighton for a hasty wedding, John inquired on Emma's whereabouts it was of course his duty as her brother in law to ensure her safety.

If he did not he would not be welcomed to his wife's bedchamber until baby Emma was of age.

"Oh she had gone for a walk on the beach," Frank said dismissively, "she will return before supper. She is very excited about being able to see the sea, we could not keep her from it."

"How foolish of you!" John scolded immediately. "Did you not think something might happen to Emma? She is a vulnerable young woman in a strange place, someone might take advantage of her!"

Jane looked ashamed and worried all at once as did Mr Weston. Frank, however, grinned as he saw something behind John. "Em can take care of herself, besides it appears that when you found us, Mr Knightly had found Emma."

John turned to see George and Emma arm in arm while looking immensely happy with themselves. Immediately another two cups and chairs were sent for as the two of them hovered round the table in such a cheerful manner it made John's head ache.

"We have found your hat, Mr Weston," Emma said cheerfully as she passed the sandy hat back to the elder man.

"I do hope that is not an euphuism, Emma," Frank said jovially, "I do not think Highbury could bear another secret wedding in Brighton."

"Frank!" Jane cried out horrified.

"That is enough, son," Mr Weston chided.

"Although is somewhat true," Emma said happily as she looked up to George. John blinked as he wondered if he had somehow managed to get sand in his ear for he was sure he had just heard Emma declare that Frank was right about George compromising Emma. That would surely never happen as it is out of character of his older sensible brother. "However it will be a wedding at home in Highbury or Father would surely never forgive us."

There is a silence as everyone stares up at the pair of them. George was giving Emma his patented exasperated yet fond expression while Emma was staring up at him with her usual cheeky teasing look.

John had never expected such a match to be made but then again it would explain his brother's sullen behaviour recently.

Frank stood up and offered his hand to George, "It is about time you made a honest woman of our dear Em. She had been pining for you for months," he said.

"Frank!" Jane and Emma cried out.

George accepted Frank's hand and shook it firmly. "I should say it was about time she made it clear on which gentleman she held affections for or otherwise I would continue to pine away for her," he said cheerfully.

"Mr Knightly!" Emma hissed horrified as her cheeks flushed with either anger or embarrassment, John was not quite sure.

Once their chairs and cups arrived the pair settled down near John and enjoyed a cup of tea as they explained their own silly story of misunderstandings and foolishness. It made John very glad that Isabella had no doubt for his affection for her when they were courting. He was of course a man of a practical and straightforward mind who could not stand for such illogical silly assumptions. Why he had married into a family like the Woodhouses if he did not like illogical silliness was one of the reasons why love was so mysterious.

At least now George will suffer with him properly.