"So... you and Charlie are together now?" Lizzie grinned. She was happy for her sister, she really was, but somehow she felt that the happy smile on Jane's face should also be on hers.
It was after Jane's first date with Charlie, and evidently it had gone very well.
It was late at night and Jane and Lizzie were reclined on their respective beds, Jane already packed for college, Lizzie with some half hearted attempts at putting books in boxes. She had two more weeks to pack, after all. They'd been awake, giggling, for quite some time now, the movie they'd been playing on the small television Mr. Bennet bought Jane for college was forgotten, and the popcorn lay on the floor, uneaten.
"Yes, yes!" Jane laughed. "You've said that twenty times in the past two hours! We're together," she said slowly, trying the words out on her tongue, then smiling wider, liking the way it sounded.
Lizzie sat up in bed. "So, where is he taking you tomorrow?"
"The Cape Codder," Jane answered dreamily.
Lizzie was about to say something in return when the doorbell rang and she frowned. "It's one o'clock in the morning, who could it be?" she mumbled and rushed out the door and down the stairs, Jane right behind her. Mrs. Bennet was already in the hallway, her hair in rollers, and about to open the door.
Her mother opened the door a little after peeking through the eye hole, but the figure on the other side pushed the door the rest of the way open.
"Ms. Bourgh!" Mrs. Bennet cried, awestruck. Jane and the other sisters gasped, and Mr. Bennet narrowed his eyes.
"Madame, what would you like with us at this... late hour?" he was trying to be gentlemanly, but it came out sounding tired and grumpy.
"I am here to talk with Elizabeth. I couldn't very well call, and it's too important to wait until morning." The lady was dressed as she normally was, and her air gave no evidence that she was tired in any way. Mr. Bennet was shocked at her rudeness, but Mrs. Bennet smiled falsely.
"Of course you can talk to Elizabeth!"
"Yes, I know," she replied simply, then turned to a very confused Lizzie. "Take me to your room. And make sure no one is listening."
"Yes, ma'am." Lizzie was insulted at Will's godmother's behavior, but decided to humor her for now.
They climbed up the stairs silently, leaving the stunned family down below. The very moment Lizzie shut the door to her room, her visitor exploded in a rage.
"How dare you deceive me like this, especially after how well I treated you last august! I am insulted and embarrassed."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're-"
"Is it, or is it not true that you are in a relationship with my godson?" Ms. Bourgh challenged directly, her eyes on fire.
The question hit her like a cannonball to the stomach, and she found it difficult to breathe. The image of Will's handsome face came to mind, his sad, broken hearted expression. She had caused him that heartbreak, and now she would never be able to fix it. No, he was not hers and would never be. "No," she answered slowly, dangerously, the anger and hurt building up in her.
Ms. Bourgh smiled with relish. "That's what I figured. If you had been in a relationship, there would have been a scandal, as you can imagine. Celebrities simply don't... fraternize... with small people like yourself. The newspapers would be on fire, tearing up every bit of his life, following you everywhere... it would be a great disappointment to the family."
Lizzie felt an iron mask come on her face, her expression hardening. Ms. Bourgh had often yelled at others, and recognized that her words had gotten to the girl. "You understand that if he were to ever be... involved with the likes of you, his friends would never talk to him again and he would lose all the hard earned respect he has in his business."
"Why?" she asked blankly, her rage now out of control. She feared that if she kept her mouth open for any longer she would say something she would regret later. "Is it the money?"
"Good heavens no," Darcy's godmother laughed. "It's the gossip already out. Your sister's disgraceful breakup with Charlie a year ago, and the recent escapade of your youngest sister and my Will's archnemesis. You coming into the picture would ruin my godson. He's already been embarrassed enough by your family, and I simply won't allow you to ruin whatever respect he's got left."
"Pardon me," Lizzie said in a tone that implied that Ms. Bourgh should do anything but pardon what she was about to say. "But your godson is too good to be put into the corner that you're chasing him into! He will never be cornered! And neither will I! You have insulted me and my family, and I suggest you leave before I say something I'll regret."
Ms. Bourgh puffed up her chest haughtily and frowned. "My dear, I think you already have."
"I refuse to conform to you upper class snobs that think you can control everything and anything anyone does! You may think you're better than me, but coming into my house at a ridiculous hour just proves that you're nothing but a snob! The world does not conform around you, and neither will I!"
"I treated you like a daughter when you were in my house!" Ms. Bourgh screeched. "And the least you can do is to promise me that you will never go into a relationship with Will Darcy!"
"I can't and won't promise you that!" Lizzie answered levelly, her heart breaking. Just because she could never be with Darcy did not mean that she had to stoop down and act like Mrs. Bourgh's lapdog.
"Well I never-"
"You have no power over me or my actions," Lizzie's tone was both angry and dangerous. "I suggest you leave now before I call the police."
Ms. Bourgh huffed and raised an eyebrow. "I have never been more insulted in my entire life! You forget I have connections, Miss Bennet, and I am not afraid to use them. Goodnight and good riddance!" With that, Will's angry godmother turned on her heel and stormed out of the house, bulldozing Mrs. Bennet and Mary without even a glance of apology.
Jane was the first one to reach their room, and was greeted by the sight of Lizzie weeping on her bed. Jane's heart went to her sister, and she rushed over to hug her. "Oh Lizzie, what happened?"
"Jane just- just... leave me alone!" Lizzie buried her tear streaked face deeper into the pillow. Jane knew better than to argue and she sent the rest of the family away, then curled up next to her sister and comforted her until they were both overcome by slumber.
"Can you believe what Will Collins just told me?" Mrs. Bennet gossiped conversationally the next morning to a disinterested Mr. Bennet. Lizzie was picking at her muffin, more playing than eating, her mind in a complete other world. She'd barely had any sleep the previous night and her mother's nagging on what happened between her and Ms. Bourgh did nothing to calm her headache.
"Will just asked me to confirm if Lizzie was going out with Will Darcy! As if! You remember that boy from Lizzie's junior year, right hon? You know, sometimes I wonder about that boy. He only criticizes girls, and as if he's ever seen Lizzie more than another target!" Her mother's laugher only made her daughter's brain throb more and Lizzie groaned audibly.
Mrs. Bennet frowned. "Are you okay, darling?" Before Lizzie had time to answer, the phone rang. Her mother forgot that Lizzie looked ill and perked right up. "It's Charlie!" She picked it up. "Hello dear, how are you?... Yes, I'm fine. Are you taking Jane out later?... Lovely... yes, yes I did invite you over tomorrow for a barbeque, I was hoping the girls would take you out on the motorboat... Hmm, I'm sure one more won't be a problem, who is it?... Oh him. Sure." Lizzie was hardly listening, but the last sentence caught her attention. "I'm looking forward to seeing you both tomorrow. Wait, will you be picking up Jane here tonight?... well, I'll see you in a few hours then! Goodbye!" She hung up the phone and returned to the table.
"Charlie was wondering if he could bring over that Darcy character tomorrow. I said yes of course, but I wonder why." Then she launched into several possibilities, each more implausible than the former. Lizzie tuned her mother out and willed breakfast to be over.
The next day was windy, and outside they could see that the waves were pretty big, though not big enough to be dangerous. Lizzie had used the boat in far worse circumstances and she wasn't worried. No, her main concern was a certain dark, rich, handsome friend of Jane's boyfriend that would be coming over in a matter of minutes. It had taken her quite a long time to choose which bathing suit she wanted to wear, and after trying on all of them, she ended up picking the first she'd tried on.
She was so caught up in her own thoughts, the sound of the doorbell scared her half to death. The door opened to show Charlie, grinning and happy as usual, and a solemn but polite Will behind him. Lizzie smiled when she saw Will, but he quickly averted his eyes and she looked shamefully at her feet.
"Come on in! We were wondering if you wanted to go for a boat ride and then eat, or eat then go on the boat?" Mrs. Bennet squealed, hugging Charlie before he had a chance to kiss Jane and completely ignoring Will. That annoyed Lizzie immensely, and she wanted to make up for her mother's rude oversight.
"How are you, Will?" she asked silently.
Slowly his eyes made contact with her. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully before responding. "I'm fine, thank you. How are you?" He spoke slowly, and Lizzie was hanging onto his every word, trying to find a hidden meaning.
"I've been better," she breathed back. He hesitated before responding, but Charlie interrupted him.
"So does that sound good, Will?" Charlie asked, now linking arms with Jane, who was smiling up at him in adoration.
"Sorry, what does?"
Charlie smiled in his carefree manner. "Going down to the dock and going for a boat ride before having some hamburgers."
Will shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
They went down the stairs to the dock where the boat was tied up. Jane hopped in and reached under a seat, pulling out four life jackets. She tossed up three and fastened one to herself.
"Do either of you have a boating licence?" Jane asked politely as Charlie jumped in next.
"I do not, but Will does," Charlie offered up. "He likes to go fishing sometimes."
"Would you like me to teach you how to steer our boat?" Lizzie offered up, surprised that the words were coming out of her mouth. Darcy seemed surprised as well, and arched an eyebrow.
"I would love to," he answered quietly and began climbing down into the boat. He offered a hand to Lizzie as she climbed in, and she blushed a little. Around him she felt like a little girl with a first crush.
"Now- ah, all you have to do is steer with the wheel, and this controls how fast you go," Lizzie pointed to each on the board. "Here is the GPS. the speedometer, and this shows you how deep it is." Jane and Charlie made themselves comfortable at the bow, while Will and Lizzie stood together near the controls. "I'll lead us out of here, and after we leave the bay I'll tell you where to go," she glanced at the controls, oblivious to Darcy's stare. "You ready, Jane? Could you push us off, Charlie?"
Charlie pushed the boat off of the dock and since they were in a no wake zone, Lizzie slowly revved up the engine and sped along at a steady pace. They zoomed quietly across the waves, the boat slowly moving. Once they could crank up the speed in the ocean, Lizzie knew it was going to be a rough ride and she grinned. There was nothing she loved more in a boat than to sit near the bow and bump along with the boat on a rough day.
Despite herself, she found herself grinning as the salty air blew across her face, whipping her hair. The sun was shining off the water, and fish were jumping all around them. The trees were waving lazily in the wind, and only a few clouds were in the sky. Magnificently blue, Lizzie wondered if she'd ever seen such a beautiful sky. She glanced up at her silent partner to find that he was grinning too. It was a wide, sincere grin that nearly made her heart stop.
"Do you want to try? We only need to go through that inlet to get out into the ocean."
"Sure," Will replied, hoping he didn't sound too eager. It had been far too long since he'd been out on a boat, and he was excited to be at the controls again. He put his hands over Lizzie's and felt the spark. Their eyes met as Lizzie slowly removed her hands and let Darcy take control. He wondered if she could hear his heart quicken as they passed through the inlet and into the ocean.
"Hold on!" Lizzie called to Jane and Charlie, who were laughing at some private joke. They grabbed onto the railing as Lizzie held on to an iron bar.
Darcy cranked it up and the boat sped along the giant waves, bouncing and bobbing. Lizzie was laughing and laughing, with every sharp decline of a wave she felt more free, more alive, and she noticed that Will was laughing along right with her. He weaved through the water with skill and ease, knowing where they'd get the best bump. She cried out every time they hit a particularly big one, and she could hear Charlie's call of delight from the front, mixing with Jane's uncertain laughter. The wind whipped through Lizzie's face, and she saw several seagulls struggling against the wind up ahead. The small Ice Cream boat was tingling his bell, the large waves nearly swamping the back of his boat.
"We should throw out the anchor and swim for a while when we get to Sampson's island!" Jane called out to Lizzie.
"Sounds good!" she turned to the Captain. "Will, Sampson's island is right over there. I'm not really in the mood for swimming, but Jane wants to so we're going to anchor up."
"Perfect!" he laughed, his deep voice booming. He changed their direction slightly toward the island and began to slow down. Jane opened up the compartment where the anchor was kept and when they got close enough, she threw it in the water and secured it. As soon as they could, Jane and Charlie jumped off the boat and into the water. Lizzie and Darcy took this time to relax and they sat down next to each other on the bench in front of the console. Lizzie tried to not notice the fact that their legs were pressed together and their bare arms brushing.
They sat that way for a while, and Lizzie only began to speak after Jane and Charlie had swum a good distance away from them. "I never did thank you for what you did for Lydia... and for Jane."
He took his eyes off the glittering waves and turned to her, his expression intense. "I hope you know it was all for you."
Lizzie swallowed and blushed. "I'd... hoped so."
He smiled a little, but his expression soon turned serious again as he studied her face. "I want you to know that I haven't changed my mind. I am still as much in love with you as I was last summer when I told you," he whispered, his eyes conveying the love he was confessing.
"I- I've been so wrong," Lizzie replied breathlessly. "I love you so much I can't breathe." She gave a half hearted laugh, and Will's breath caught in his chest.
"Me neither," he smiled. "So..." he trailed off, running a finger along her hairline and enjoying the way she closed her eyes at his touch. "What does this mean?"
"Well..." Lizzie began, her hand finding her way into his. "I hope it means that we're a couple now. I hope it means we can see each other often in college. I hope it means dates, and laughter, and happiness..."
Will's expression was filled with such tenderness as he laced their fingers together. "I think we can make that work." He laughed again, more joyously than before. "You know when I realized that you loved me?" She shook her head, giddy at his happiness. "Last night, when my godmother called me in a fit, telling me of everything you said to her. Especially when you refused to deny me." He brushed back the hair that the wind was blowing into her face with his free hand. "I knew you didn't... well, when I heard, I hoped that..." he grinned. "I'm so sorry for the way I treated you before."
"No I should be the one apologizing," Lizzie responded quickly. She felt as if she were in a dream, floating high in the clouds. "I should have gotten to know you before I judged you."
"It doesn't matter now. What matters is you're the smartest, kindest, and most beautiful girl I've ever met. You've made me so happy."
Lizzie turned away from him, looking up to the sky. "You're the one who's made me happy."
"He loves me, Jane," Elizabeth squealed, trying the words out like her sister had not too long ago. "He really does, and I love him too."
Jane was confused but happy for her sister. "But Lizzie, I thought you didn't like each other?"
Lizzie shook her head, her curls falling all about her face. "No, no! You see, he's the most kindhearted person I've ever known. Well, besides from you of course. You wouldn't believe the things he's done for me... for us!"
Jane smiled encouragingly as Lizzie began her tale.
Luckily Mrs. Bennet had invited Charlie and Will back again the next day and Lizzie could hardly keep from jumping into Will's arms when Jane opened the door to reveal the boys to them. But, she restrained herself. She and Will had discussed that they didn't want to go public yet, and they were going to tell Lizzie's parents that afternoon.
Mrs. Bennet was going to order pizzas in a few hours, which gave the couples time to do whatever they wanted.
"I'm going to take out the sailboat, okay dad?" Lizzie asked brightly.
"Sure thing. You've hardly been on it all summer!"
So with her father's blessing, the couples went in Charlie's car and drove to the beach. Jane and Charlie decided that they were going to take a long walk on the beach while Will and Lizzie went out in the boat. They set up the Laser together, then Jane and Charlie set off on their own.
"I've never been in a sailboat this small before," Will commented as they pushed off and Lizzie took hold of the tiller. Lizzie made Will in charge of the main sheet, and told him that she'd tell him when to let the line in or out.
"These boats go pretty fast. It's not quite as windy as it was yesterday, but when we get out in the ocean it's going to be pretty rough." Lizzie smiled as they glided on the water. She loved sailing more than she loved boating because she felt as if she were flying, part of nature. She stuck her hand over the side and watched the water flow through her fingers. Will was reaching over as well, trying to grab seaweed as they sped by.
Lizzie waved at a neighbor on his expensive Skiff with a giant triangular sail, and he waved back cheerfully. Lizzie and Will took that time alone to get to know one another better. She was thrilled to find out her suspicions were confirmed; that they were similar in mind and in temperament.
"Would you like to skipper?" she asked him. "It's pretty easy. Light movements, and if you want to go left, you turn the tiller right. Same with right, if you want to go right you turn the tiller left. It takes some getting used to but you'll catch on pretty quickly."
"Okay," he shrugged, a delighted grin on his face. They switched spots, and Lizzie grasped the main sheet in her hands.
"That's it, nice light movements... wait, no..." Will accidentally moved the tiller the way he wanted to go instead of opposite the way Lizzie told him to. The boat tipped over on its side and the mast fell into the water. Lizzie giggled as she swam over to the other side. "Here, help me jump on the centerboard to get this baby back up."
"Sorry," Will mumbled apologetically as he helped turn the boat back up.
Lizzie grinned and kissed him on the forehead. "Happens to me all the time. But I think I'll take over from here." She lifted herself back into the boat and Darcy followed.
He ran a hand through his now sopping wet hair. "That sounds like a good idea."
After a while of appreciating nature and themselves, they grudgingly decided to come back in. They didn't tip over any more with Lizzie skippering, and by the time they beached they were completely dry from their earlier tumble. They'd already taken off the mast and furled the sail and they were just draining the boat of any water when Charlie and Jane came running over to them.
"How was the sail?" Charlie asked, wrapping an arm around Jane's waist.
"Great. I tipped the boat once, but Lizzie was fantastic."
Lizzie rolled her eyes. "I've been sailing since I was twelve."
Will shrugged as they pushed the boat back in the water to flip it around so they could carry it back to the rack it went on. "Doesn't make your performance any less impressive. Now could you guys help us lift this boat?"
With four people the boat was no problem to lift, and soon enough they were on their way back to the Bennets house.
The pizza arrived five minutes after they did and they all sat down to eat. Afterwards, Will took Mr. Bennet aside to ask him if he could take out his daughter the very next day. The reaction at first was amused, then suspicious, and then finally confused.
"Lizzie, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lizzie nervously followed her father into the study where he sat her down. "Do you know why Will Darcy just asked me if he could take you out?"
"Because he likes me, and I like him," Lizzie answered firmly, all nervousness gone.
Her father arched an eyebrow. "That's not what I thought."
"Daddy, we thought wrong," Lizzie sighed, then launched into the stories of what her boyfriend had done for all of them. Mr. Bennet listened intently, gasping in all the right places and being a truly fantastic listener.
"We'll have to repay him," her father sighed.
"No!" Lizzie cried, sinking on her knees in front of her father. "He wouldn't want that, Daddy. The way you can repay him is by giving him a chance. Please?"
Mr. Bennet looked down at his daughters imploring face and sighed. "I suppose that would be fair."
"Oh, thank you daddy!" She hugged him joyously and ran out of the room to find Will.
When she did, he was on their hammock outside, looking out at the sunset. He stood up when he saw her, his anxiety written all over his face.
"Will, he said you could take me out tomorrow!" She ran up to him and hugged him firmly. "I would've gone anyway, but it's so nice to have his permission." She sighed as Will stroked her hair, grinning.
"I'll have to tell my godmother she's an old prune now," he laughed. "I've been waiting to do that for years."
Not caring who saw them, Lizzie leaned up and kissed him full on the mouth.
The next few years Lizzie and Will went through some pretty hard times, being at separate colleges. It helped that they saw each other three times a month and frequently skyped and called, but still it wasn't the same. Finally, when they both graduated they moved out to California. They lived in separate houses for two years, dating and relishing in each other's company until Darcy decided to propose. They moved into Darcy's family house, and Jane and Charlie bought a house nearby. They visited each other quite frequently, and their children were the best of friends.
George and Lydia remained married too, though they divorced after only two years. George did clean up his act and became a producer for cult films, while Lydia moved back into her parent's house since she hadn't graduated from college. Mary became a pianist, too busy for a husband, and Kitty married a landscaper.
Charlotte and Collins were in mutual agreement more than they were in love, and after Charlotte graduated they wed. Collins and Charlotte were the best of friends and traveled the world, preaching to foreign countries.
As for Caroline, she went through three marriages, six children, three of which were illegitimate, and several plastic surgeries. Georgiana on the other hand, became a well known diplomat and she became the best of friends with Lizzie.
Ms. Bourgh was furious at her godson at first, but after Lizzie's career picked up and the ex- designer decided she wasn't completely useless, she came around for Thanksgiving every year. Anne followed in Darcy's footsteps and became a television actress. She married a somewhat well known director and they lived a somewhat peaceful life. She kept in touch with Lizzie and they frequently had lunch together.
All in all, life was perfect.
And it could only get better.