A/N: I know it has been a while since this has been updated. I have been slammed with R/L. I hate when things interfer with my writing. I will update all of my stories as fast as I can but with everything that I have on my plate right now it may be a little slow. I want to know how much I appreciate everyone who has reviewed and I love to read what you think of my stories. I also appreciate those of you who have added alerts and favorites.

I will do my best and will upload as soon as each chapter is done.

Thank You,

Tina Marie

Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulity, "What the hell do you mean that you're here to see David." She glanced at the clock, "Damn, Lydia David is in bed sleeping, you should know better than that."

Lydia glared at her sister as she stepped toward her with fists clenched into tight balls, "I don't give a damn if he is sleeping or not, he's my son and I want to see him now."

Bill stepped in between the two women to protect his wife, "Why don't you come back tomorrow at a more reasonable hour?"

"I'm not coming back at a reasonable hour." Lydia shouted in a slightly slurred voice, "I want to damn well see my son right now." Lydia tried to move around Bill and she shouted even louder, "If you won't get him for me, I'll just have to find him myself."

Bill caught her by the shoulders as he smelled alcohol on her breath and saw the redness in her eyes, "You've been drinking and there is no way that we are going to allow you to see David."

"You have no right to keep me from my son!" Lydia roared, "I am his mother."

"We're his legal guardians and we have every right to decide what's best for David." Elizabeth said as Lydia tried to get away from Bill, "You abandoned him and the court awarded us custody."

"Mommy, Daddy, what is all of the shouting?" The question came from a very tired Anne Marie who rubbed her eyes with one hand while the other was holding David's hand, "It woke David up and he was crying."

Lydia managed to drop to her knees, "My son, come to Mommy, darling."

David looked at the woman in confusion as he dropped Anne Marie's hand and ran toward the adults, "Mommy."

Lydia looked up at the Darcy's and snarled, "See he still loves his Mommy." She opened her arms wide to embrace her son.

David stopped when he reached Elizabeth and opened his arms wide as he looked up into her face, "Mommy."

Elizabeth wasted no time as she bent to take him into her arms and brushed his cheek with hers, "Lydia, please leave you've caused enough trouble for one night."

David clung to Elizabeth as Lydia shot angry daggers at her sister. She got to her feet and attempted to take David out of Elizabeth's arms, "NO!" David shouted as he buried his head in Elizabeth's neck and cried, "Mommy."

"Sweetheart," A masculine voice from the doorway and everyone turned to face the sound, "Why don't we come back tomorrow and you will be able to visit with young David here to your heart's content."

"Wickham," A snarl ripped through Bill's clenched teeth as he took in the appearance of the blonde haired man who was standing nonchalantly in the entryway of his home.

"Do you two know each other?" Lydia asked as she stumbled her way toward the newcomer.

"Darcy," George Wickham said pleasantly, "It's been a long time since we last met. What a pleasure to see you again." He glanced to Elizabeth holding David and looked down at Anne Marie, "What a beautiful family you have, Darcy." His eyes lingered on Anne Marie, "This must be Sarah's daughter; Anne Marie isn't it?" He smiled down at her, "You are even more beautiful than your mother."

Anne Marie hid behind Elizabeth as dark clouds of fury raged across Bill's face, "Get out of my house and get away from my family."

George's eyes scanned the room and settled on Bill, "We'll leave for now but we will be back." He grinned easily, "You have my word on that." He moved to wrap his arms around Lydia but turned for a moment to whisper into Elizabeth's ear, "You are a beautiful woman and I can't wait to get to know you better." His eyes roamed languidly over her body and his voice was suggestive.

Elizabeth took a step back and Bill's anger rose, "I won't tell you again to get out of my house."

"I'm going, I'm going." Wickham said with a smile as he led Lydia to the door before he turned and shot a lecherous look at Elizabeth, "We'll be back and I'm so looking forward to getting to know your lovely family better, Darcy."

Once they had left, Anne Marie found her voice, "Who was that man, Daddy? I didn't like him." She looked up at her father, "Did he really know my mother?"

Bill just looked at his daughter for a moment before he smiled, "It's after your bedtime Anne Marie, so why don't you go get in bed and we will come read you a story as soon as we get David back to bed."

"Okay, Daddy." She answered and her eyes lit up as she ran down the hall to her bedroom.

Bill and Elizabeth just looked at each other as they got David back to sleep. When they got to Anne Marie's room she was ready with the book she wanted them to read. They took turns reading until the young girl had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

As they walked back down the hall to their bedroom, Elizabeth said, "That was him, wasn't it, the man that Sarah ran away with."

Bill nodded his head as he confirmed, "Yes, she was in a car accident a few months after she left and was killed as the car plunged down a cliff." Bill opened the door to their bedroom and ushered Elizabeth inside, "The police called me because I was still legally her husband and when I saw the scene of the accident…" His voice cracked with emotion, "It was awful and they had to identify her by dental records because there wasn't much left of her left."

"That's horrible."

"What was even worse was that when I started to get her affairs in order," Bill said as he closed his eyes, "all of her bank accounts had been drained and her safe deposit box was empty. She had taken all of her jewelry with her and there were many expensive pieces." When he opened his eyes, Bill saw the confusion in his wife's eyes, "Sarah was wealthy in her own right as her family had money. She was entitled to the money that had been held in trust for her upon our marriage." Bill straightened as he sat on the edge of the bed, "There was no way that she could have gone through all of her money in those few months unless she was giving Wickham money." He slid into bed beside Elizabeth, "I had always suspected that he had a gambling problem even when we were in college."

Elizabeth cocked her head to the side as she looked at her husband, "Well then I don't understand what he could possibly want with Lydia because she certainly doesn't have any money."

Bill sighed, "Lydia is exactly the kind of girl that Wickham has always preferred." He pulled Elizabeth to him, "I've always suspected that his only interest in Sarah was her money and with the amount that he must have gotten from her, he's probably been living on it for all of these years."

"When you discovered the money missing, why didn't the police investigate her death?" Elizabeth asked.

"She had transferred all of the money into joint accounts held with Wickham and he was a signer on her safe deposit box." Bill answered, "The police could do nothing because the money was technically his when Sarah died."

"Well shouldn't the police have considered the money as motive for her death?"

"They didn't see it that way as the accounts were in his name as well as hers." Bill explained, "The money was his to do with whatever he wished."

Elizabeth looked at her husband and saw the exhaustion, "It's been a long emotional day; we should probably get some sleep."

Bill's voice was husky when he answered, "Elizabeth, I need you."

He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers in a demanding kiss. She opened herself up to him body and soul as they slaked their desire for each other long into the night.

The next day was a beautiful Sunday and after breakfast, Bill and Elizabeth decided to take the kids to the park. They walked the short distance and the kids were playing on the playground toys when Elizabeth got a phone call from Lydia.

"Where are you?" Lydia demanded, "We're at your house and no one is here."

"We're at the park, you can come visit with David here if you would like." Elizabeth said before she gave her sister directions.

When she got off the phone, Elizabeth explained to Bill, "I thought it would be better for her to see David here in a public place with witnesses."

Bill kissed his wife, "You're right, of course."

Fifteen minutes later, Lydia and Wickham pulled up in a car and as they got out. Lydia saw David across the playground; she rushed forward and scooped him up in her arms.

"My darling," Lydia crooned as David struggled to get down, "I've missed you so much." She kissed his cheek, "Have you missed Mommy?"

"Mommy," David reached out his arms toward Elizabeth and she lifted him from Lydia's arms.

"Why don't we go sit down over there?" Elizabeth pointed to one of the picnic tables near the playground. Lydia nodded her head and followed her sister.

Lydia glared at Elizabeth as she crooned softly to David, "What have you done to my son?" She demanded, "Why doesn't he want to come to me anymore? What lies have you told him about me?"

"I haven't done anything and I certainly don't tell him lies about you." Elizabeth said as she rolled her eyes and when she looked down at David she saw that he was staring at Anne Marie, "If you want to go play with Anne Marie, you may."

David slid down off her lap and ran as fast as his little legs could take him back to his sister. Lydia's face softened momentarily as she watched the interaction between her son and the little girl.

"He really loves her doesn't he?" Lydia asked as she turned to Elizabeth.

"Yes, as far as he's concerned, she's his big sister and he loves her."

Lydia watched her son for a few more minutes before she turned to her sister, "So you're married to Bill Darcy now." Anger was etched on Lydia's face, "You're so high and mighty now that you have a rich husband but you're not any better than me." Lydia pulled out a white envelope from her pocket, "How dare you send me this." Her voice rose as she looked at Elizabeth, "I gave David to you, not to him." She pointed to Bill before she pulled out a sheet of paper from the envelope, "This says that Mr. and Mrs. William Darcy want me to release my parental rights so that they can adopt my child." She glanced over at Wickham who was standing nearby, "George says it's not right and he wants to go to court so that we can get custody of David."

There was shock in Elizabeth face as she took in Lydia's words, "Lydia you can't do that. David is happy with us and we're a family."

"He's my child," Lydia said stubbornly, "and George wants him."

"Georgie wants him," Elizabeth stuttered, "But I thought you said that he didn't want kids."

"He didn't." Lydia confirmed, "But he thinks it would be a good idea if we were to sue for custody of David."

Elizabeth has an epiphany as she looked from her sister to the letter on the table, "Did he see this letter before he changed his mind?" Elizabeth asked as she touched the paper with her finger, "Did he know that Bill and were married before he decided that he wanted you to sue for custody of David?"

"Yes," Lydia answered, "But what difference does that make."

"It makes all the difference in the world." Elizabeth said as she jumped up from the table and ran to Bill who was with the children.

"Elizabeth what is it?" Bill asked with concern as he looked towards Lydia and Wickham.

"Bill, Lydia wants to sue for custody of David because that's what Wickham wants." All of the color drained from Bill's face, "He knew that we were married before he told Lydia to sue us for custody." Comprehension dawned on her husband's face, "I believe that Wickham thinks he can get money out of us."

An angry fire lit up Bill's eyes, "I think you're right." Elizabeth watched as her husband stalked off to pull Wickham aside.

"What the hell are you playing out?" Bill ground out the words to the man he despised, "How much is it going to cost me?"

"Oh, I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about?" Wickham smiled pleasantly at Bill as he leered at Elizabeth before he whispered in Bill's ear, "But I'm going to have fun playing with your beautiful wife and your lovely family." Wickham chuckled darkly, "Wouldn't it be fun if I ended up with everything you love."

"Get away from my family, you bastard," Will spat the words with an angry vehemence, "and don't you ever come near us again."

Wickham smiled even more broadly as he said quietly, "You know I can't promise that." Wickham strolled over to Lydia and walked her back to their car.

Bill watched until the car pulled out of the parking lot and Elizabeth was at his side in an instant, "What did he say to you?"

"He wants to take everyone I love." Bill said as he squeezed his eyes closed in pain.

"Bill, I love you and the kids love you." Elizabeth assured him, "Nothing like that will ever happen."

"I know." Bill said as he looked into her eyes, "But…"

"No buts." Elizabeth said as she tugged on his arm, "Let's go play with our children."

Bill nodded his head as he followed Elizabeth. They stayed in the park for a few hours as they played with the kids. When they walked home, Elizabeth noticed that Bill had been very quiet and it concerned her.

Bill couldn't get Wickham's words out of his head and they seemed to play on an endless loop, "Wouldn't it be fun if I ended up with everything you love."