A/N: I'm sure that most of you think that I've disappeared off the face of the earth. But I haven't. R/L have just kicked my butt and taken all of time. Everybody wants something from me right now and I didn't have much time to right. Plus when I did have a free moment I found my creative mind blocked. Hopefully that is over now. I will be updating all of my stories.
Thank you for your support and patience.
Tina Marie
The first day of school was hectic in the Darcy house as Elizabeth was starting her new job as a teacher and it was also Anne Marie's first day of kindergarten. Anne Marie was so excited to start school that she had barely slept the night before.
Anne Marie had decided to wear a pretty pink dress for the first day of school and was seated in the kitchen waiting for Elizabeth when she emerged from the bedroom with David in her arms.
"Mommy," Anne Marie shouted as she rushed over to Elizabeth and threw her arms around her, "I'm going to school."
Elizabeth smiled indulgently at her, "You are such as grown up young lady that I hardly recognize you anymore," She sat David down on the ground next to his big sister, "but I'm sure that David is going to miss you terribly today."
Anne Marie patted David on the head like a good dog, "I'll miss him too."
Bill came into the room damp from his shower while he finished up a call. He smiled at Elizabeth as he pulled her into his arms with a kiss, "You look beautiful this morning."
"Thank you, my kind husband."
The doorbell rang, "Barbara's here." Bill said as he walked to the door to let her into the room.
After greetings were exchanged, Barbara took a moment to examine Anne Marie, "You look very pretty for your first day of school."
"Yes I do." Anne Marie said with no false modesty.
With a smile and a hug, Barbara turned to Elizabeth, "Now just to get this straight, I am to pick up Anne Marie at 12:30 in front of the school, is that correct?"
"Yes, I'll meet you there as soon as class is over."
Elizabeth and Anne Marie collected their things and Bill walked them to the car. Once he had strapped Anne Marie into her car seat, Bill turned back to his wife, "What time will you be home?"
"I'm not entirely sure but my best guess is that I will be home about 3:30 or so."
Bill looked down at his wife with the love he felt for her on display in his eyes, "I should be home by six." Bill looked more closely at Elizabeth and saw her rocking from side to side, "Don't be nervous, you will do great."
"I hope you're right." Elizabeth sighed before she got into the car and drove to her first day as a teacher.
They arrived at the school a few minutes early and Elizabeth dropped Anne Marie off at Mrs. Whitehead's kindergarten class and introduced herself before going to her own classroom.
The morning went by in a flash and when the class was dismissed she filed out into the hall with the rest of the teachers.
"Mommy," She heard Anne Marie shout before the blur of pink threw herself into Elizabeth's arms. After a few minutes, she released Elizabeth and turned to her new friends, "This is my new mommy. She married my Daddy and I'm going to have a baby sister for Christmas."
Mrs. Whitehead approached, "She has a great deal of energy and has a tendency to say what she thinks all of the time."
"That is very true." Elizabeth smiled, "She is very much like her father."
"You look great for being 5 months pregnant." Mrs. Whitehead commented, "I wouldn't have known if Anne Marie hadn't announced it to the class."
Elizabeth just shook her head, "I'm not pregnant and even if I were there would be no possibility of a Christmas baby." She glanced at her daughter, "That was just something that Anne Marie got into her head before her father and I were even dating and she will not let go of the notion. Like I said, she's like her father and once they have their minds set on something they both are like a dog with a bone."
The teacher looked surprised, "Well I guess it's good that we won't be losing you in a few months."
"Anne Marie," Elizabeth called, "It's time to meet Barbara in the front of the school." She politely excused herself and walked Anne Marie to the car.
The rest of the afternoon flew by for Elizabeth and just after 3:30 she was walking through the front door to be greeted by the children.
Elizabeth looked up from the children for long enough to ask, "Barbara do you think you could stay for a little while so that I can make a few phone calls?"
"Sure, no problem," Barbara said good-naturedly, "Let me just get the rug rats out of your way and take them to the park for a little while." She herded the children out of the house and Elizabeth watched as they disappeared down the road.
Elizabeth walked into their bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed fidgeting and tapping the nightstand with her finger nail. The problem was that she wasn't sure whether she should get herself involved with this or how Bill would feel about it if she did. Finally with determination, she made up her mind and called the police department where Sarah Darcy's accident had taken place and requested the police report taken at the accident site.
Ever since she had met George Wickham, Elizabeth couldn't get rid of the feeling that something was not as it seemed about the accident. It just seemed too convenient that Sarah would die in a car crash and that Wickham would get all of her money.
The doorbell rang and Elizabeth ran to let Barbara and the kids inside the house but when the door flew open she was shocked to see George Wickham standing on the doorstep.
"Mrs. Darcy," Wickham said as he made a slight bow at the waist, "I was hoping that I would find you alone."
"I'm not alone." Elizabeth protested as she tried to block Wickham from the house.
Wickham pushed his way past her and shut the door behind him, "Yes you are," he eyes slid down the length of her body in a knowing appraisal and Elizabeth felt a shiver of disgust run through her, "Bill is on the job site. Your babysitter and the kids have just left and walked to the neighborhood park so I know that you are very much alone."
Elizabeth cringed with horror, "Why are you doing this?"
Wickham laughed mockingly, "You haven't guessed yet."
"Money…" Elizabeth's voice was rough, "You want money from my husband and I."
Wickham's harsh laugh surprised Elizabeth as she backed farther away from him, "I always love to take Darcy's money." Elizabeth had backed herself against the coffee table and Wickham drew close to her, "I have to admit that was all I wanted in the beginning."
As he closed in on her position, Elizabeth ducked and scrambled toward the well-lighted kitchen and Wickham followed her at a leisurely pace, "But when I met you something changed and now all I can think about is you." His eyes closed for a moment, "All I dream about is making love to you."
Elizabeth gasped, "But you're with Lydia and I'm married."
"You don't really believe that I care one iota about your silly twit of a sister do you?" He grabbed Elizabeth's arm, "She was just a means to an end but you're the one I want in my bed and I might even marry you because then I'll have you and Darcy's money too." Elizabeth struggled against him as she felt his hand tighten around her arm like a vice, "Everything I have ever wanted will be mine."
"You're delusional if you ever think that I would leave Bill for you." Elizabeth spat with vehemence, "I love Bill and compared to him you are nothing."
Wickham's voice was low and menacing when he spoke again, "Nobody lives forever, my dear Elizabeth, there is danger everywhere." The darkness disappeared from Wickham's face as he leaned toward Elizabeth, "If I were you, I would not discount my sexual prowess so quickly as I'm sure I can make you scream my name…" His eyes darkened with anticipation as he reveled in her fear, "Over and over again."
Elizabeth in one swift movement wrenched herself out of Wickham's grasp, ran to the door and flung it open and ran straight into her husband's arms. "Bill," She cried with relief.
"I guess you missed…." Bill's light-hearted teasing disappeared on his lips as he saw Wickham coming toward him.
When Wickham walked past the couple, he paused to run a hand along Elizabeth cheek before continuing, "Wonderful wife you have Darcy, quite accommodating and very welcoming." He turned and threw a glance over his shoulder, "Can't wait until she's all mine."
Bill walked toward Wickham with a snarl, "Get out of here and I don't want to see you near my wife ever again."
Wickham chuckled, "Can't guarantee that, old boy, she is just too scrumptious to resist."
After Wickham had left, Bill scooped Elizabeth into his arms and carried to their bedroom where he laid her on the bed and he said in gentle tones, "Are you all right, did he do anything to you?"
In a shaking voice, Elizabeth told Bill everything about her encounter with Wickham.
"Don't worry, darling, I won't let him near you again." Bill cradled her in her arms to comfort her, "He'll never have the chance to hurt you again."
"Bill," Elizabeth cried, "When I said I would never leave you, he said that nobody lives forever." She buried her head in his shoulder, "I'm sure he meant it as a threat to you."
"Elizabeth, don't worry about it," Bill assured her, "Wickham can't do anything to me, I promise." He saw the start of a purple bruise on Elizabeth's arm and he said angrily, "But if I ever run into him again, I will kill him for hurting you."
Bill left Elizabeth only briefly when Barbara returned with the kids and Elizabeth took a hot bath to calm her nerves.
During dinner, Elizabeth tried not to let the fear and worry show on her face as she told her family about her first day at school.
Anne Marie also regaled them with stories from her first day as well.
When Bill and Elizabeth were laying in bed later that night, Elizabeth felt comfort as she was enfolding in her husband's loving arms, "I can't believe that everything is changing, Anne Marie in school and Georgie leaving to go back to college tomorrow. The kids and I are really going to miss her." She stroked her husband's face, "You will too, I'm sure."
"Yes, I will." Bill confirmed, "But we will see her at the holidays."
"You're right." Elizabeth sighed, "I need to look on the bright side." Elizabeth smiled up Bill, "By the way, did I tell you that Anne Marie announced to the entire kindergarten class that I was going to have a baby for Christmas."
Bill groaned, "She will not let that go."
"She's way too much like her father." Elizabeth giggled just before she fell asleep.