Epilogue
Christmas Day
The doorbell rang and the kids raced to open it. Bill and Elizabeth moved to stand behind them as Bill nodded to Anne Marie that she could open the door. Bill had his arm around Elizabeth's waist and she had her head laid on her husband's shoulder.
"Aunt Jane and Uncle Charlie!" Anne Marie shouted with enthusiasm, "Airplane rides… Airplane rides!" And David joined her with the chant, "Airplane rides…"
"Let your aunt and uncle get in the door and have a seat before you make demands of them." Bill said as he pointed and sent the kids scurrying for the living room where Aunt Jane and Uncle Charlie obligingly gave them airplane rides.
Bill and Elizabeth went to answer the door again as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived with Lydia, Kitty and Mary.
When Mrs. Masters arrived with an armload of presents for the children, the company was complete.
After Elizabeth got the attention of everyone in the room, she began to speak, "This had been a year of many changes." Elizabeth smiled, "Not all of us were able to get together for the Thanksgiving holiday so I thought for this one year, we could go around the room today and give thanks for what we have been given this year."
Charlie stood up with a smile, "I am thankful for meeting Elizabeth and asking her out on a date." Bill glared at him with disgust, "Because if it hadn't been for that fortuitous date, two things would never have happened. First, Bill would have never gotten the balls to ask Elizabeth out and second that Elizabeth would never have introduced to my lovely wife, Jane."
Everyone raised their glasses in response before Jane stood up, "I am thankful for meeting Charlie and I am thankful that we are all here together for Christmas."
Lydia stood up next, "I am thankful to Elizabeth and Bill for taking in David." Tears formed in her eyes, "I am also thankful that Wickham told me the truth when I went to see him in jail, he told me he had only used me to get to Bill and Elizabeth." Tears spilled down her cheeks, "I am also grateful upon reflection of my life to that date, I was given the courage to check myself into rehab."
Kitty and Mary gave what they were thankful for before Mr. Bennet took up the mantle, "I am grateful for my wife and family. I am also grateful we don't have to clean up after Christmas Dinner."
Laughter swept the room as Mrs. Bennet stood to speak. "I am grateful that Lydia found the help she needed." She looked to her second eldest daughter, "I am also grateful that Elizabeth filled me in on a few home truths about her marriage to Bill." She glanced at her grandson, "I thought I knew best at the time when I facilitated and supported the deBourgh's decision to adopt David. I only wanted Elizabeth to make the best marriage possible." She looked into her daughter's eyes, "Elizabeth told me that if it not been for David, she and Bill would have never married."
"It's true." Elizabeth agreed, "I didn't like Bill when I first met him and I would never have sought him out if I hadn't needed a babysitter for David." She smiled at her husband, "We would have never seen each other again."
Bill shook his head, "I hate to disagree with my wife," Bill said, "But I would have sought your company sooner or later." He glared at Bingley, "No matter what Charlie says."
"Darling," Elizabeth took Bill's hand, "That may not have made a difference because I only started to like you when I saw how you interacted with David." She shook her head, "I would never have agreed to go out with you."
Bill laughed, "In that case I would have been up the creek without a paddle."
The room laughed before Emily Masters stood, "I am grateful for Bill and Elizabeth's bravery in facing down Wickham and getting justice for Sara." She smiled at the children, "I am also thankful for my granddaughter and grandson."
Bill stood, "I want to say how thankful I am for my beautiful wife, my lovely daughter and my handsome son." His voice choked as he looked at Lydia, "I am grateful for you, Lydia for David and for doing what you felt was best for him in the end." Bill's eyes sparkled with unshed tears, "Some of you may not know this but before she went into rehab, Lydia signed the release of rights paperwork for David so that Elizabeth and I could adopt him." He crossed to his desk, "Elizabeth and I received these a few days ago." He held up some legal documents, "We wanted to wait until the whole family was together before we signed David's official adoption papers."
Elizabeth signed first, handed the pen to Bill so he could sign. He picked up David, "We would like to introduce you all to David Thomas Darcy." Bill smiled at his wife and daughter, "We would also like you all to know that Elizabeth has officially adopted Anne Marie as well."
The small family were all offered hearty congratulations. Elizabeth looked up to see Lydia smiling and she crossed the room to give her sister a big hug, "You made this all possible, I am so proud of you."
Elizabeth addressed her family, "I am thankful that I was able to see Bill for the wonderful man he is, I am grateful to Lydia for David and I am grateful for Anne Marie for pushing me to marry her daddy." Elizabeth moved behind the Christmas tree, pulled out a large present and gave it to her daughter. "We held back one present from Anne Marie when she opened presents this morning as we wanted to tell everyone at once."
Anne Marie ripped into the wrapping a pulled out a life-sized baby doll and smiled. "Thank you for my doll, Mommy and Daddy."
"You're welcome, sweetie." Elizabeth said as she hugged Anne Marie, "But that is no ordinary doll, that is a doll used to train people before they have babies. It does everything a real baby does." Elizabeth took Bill's hand, "Because, although it was impossible to give you a baby sister for Christmas, you will have to learn how to help with a baby. I am going to have a baby and sometime in June, your father and I will be giving you either a baby brother or sister."
"Yeah!" Anne Marie shouted, "I want a baby sister not a brother."
Everyone laughed as Elizabeth said, "I'll pass along that request but I'm not promising anything."
"Now since that is out of the way." Bill said, "If I'm not mistaken it is time for Christmas Dinner."
August 8 – Bill and Elizabeth Darcy's First Anniversary
"It's difficult to believe that it has been a whole year since our wedding day." Elizabeth said with a sigh as she snuggled next to her husband on the couch.
"I can believe it." Bill said as he pointed to the baby in Elizabeth's arms, "Sara Jane is living proof of the passage of time. She was conceived the day of the accident which was such a beautiful gift from an otherwise traumatic day."
"We were not thinking of birth control that night and it was the perfect way to forget the horror of that day." Elizabeth reached up to stroke her husband's cheek, "Thank you for our vow renewal ceremony, it was beautiful."
"We never did get the traditional wedding day and I wanted to give it to you." Bill kissed her tenderly, "I knew you would never ask, so I just surprised you."
"It was a most wonderful surprise." Elizabeth tilted her head in thought, "I also have to thank Jane and Charlie for taking the kids today so we could have some privacy earlier this afternoon." Elizabeth commented, "Of course, they do need to get some experience with babies since they are going to be parents soon. But with a baby and two active kids they certainly had their hands full today." She smiled, "I am so happy that we've had Georgie around for the summer while she's her college break. Have you noticed she's keeping Anne Marie and David occupied to give us a little private time tonight?"
"I had noticed and both of our sister's are wonderful with the children. I also loved seeing Emily with Sara Jane today." Bill said, "She is thrilled to be her honorary grandmother."
"Yes, that was great and did you see John Lucas and Lydia today?" Elizabeth was thoughtful, "I would have never thought of them together but they are so perfect for each other."
"I know." Bill agreed, "I think we will have another wedding in this family very soon."
"My mother will be in her element if she gets to throw another wedding." Elizabeth stated, "She knows there might not be another for a while as both Mary and Kitty are too focused on college and careers to get married anytime soon."
Bill looked down at his wife of a year and stroked the side of her face, "Elizabeth Darcy, I love you to distraction and I feel blessed for every day I get to spend with you."
"Me too, but who would have thought one trip to the furniture store would have resulted in all of this love."
"I wouldn't have bet on it." Bill said with a smile, "I fought hard against loving you because I thought you were too young but you were everything I needed. I just did not know it at the time but I do now and I will never let you get away from me again. I didn't know that all of the time I was just looking for you."
"Bill Darcy, I love you so much, it's hurts to think of a time when I didn't love you. I will never leave your side."
"I will never let you." Bill grinned wickedly at his wife, "So what do you say we put Sara Jane in her crib and see if we can give Anne Marie a baby brother this time."
"I would say… I would love to make another baby with you Mr. Darcy."
Georgie watched from the hall as Elizabeth and her brother walked into their bedroom toward the nursery and smiled.
Anne Marie came out of her room, "Are Mommy and Daddy going to bed already? What are they doing? I wanted them to read me a story before bedtime."
"Anne Marie, do you know how babies are made?"
"Babies come from lots of kissing and hugging." Anne Marie said with confidence.
"Not exactly." Georgie said as she put an arm around Anne Marie, "I'll read you a bedtime story after I tell you where babies really come from."
"Maybe I should tell Mommy and Daddy I don't want a new baby for Christmas."
"You can tell them later," Georgie led her toward her room, "They are busy right now."
"Babies are a lot of work and I would rather have a pony."