Time-frame is the end of May. Lizzie arrives in her town on Thursday the 23rd, graduation is Saturday the 25th. Weekend before her 16th week of pregnancy.

Thursday finally arrived after a slow week of keeping busy. Lizzie was extremely homesick but also nervous about graduation, so there were a lot of mixed feelings when she and Darcy landed in her home town. She felt queasy, but when her doting boyfriend asked if she was alright, she blamed the baby because she didn't want Darcy to know she was feeling uncertain.

"I'm sorry, little one, but you know I don't mean it! It's just that mommy feels like she can't talk to daddy about this, 'kay?", she whispered to her bump while Darcy got up to get luggage out of the overhead compartment of the plane.

Sure, she had nothing to worry about anymore. Lizzie Bennet had her health, a college education, a wealthy boyfriend, a baby on the way, and was going to start her career online in a few months. But even all this didn't pacify her completely. She needed to have a nice long chat with Jane.

"Oh Lizzie, look at you! You're glowin'! Come give your mama a hug!", exclaimed Mrs. Bennet after answering the door.

"You're blocking the doorway, Franny.", stated Mr. Bennet as he squeezed his way through the front door to help Darcy with their bags.

"Oh, hush, Thomas! Come on in to the kitchen, Lizzie, dear. Lydia was helping me bake some cookies just for you! We gotta fatten you up! You're not nearly as big as I was when I was 4 months pregnant with each of you girls. But then again, y'all took after your father. He was so thin when he was younger…", she rambled on as she dragged Lizzie to the kitchen.

"Ahh. Home, sweet home!", Lizzie thought to herself with a smile as she allowed herself to be led by her mother.

Lizzie was able to get away by saying she and Darcy needed to get settled in. "Oh and by the way, mom, where is everybody sleeping? When Janie gets in tomorrow with Bing, I'm pretty sure all four of us won't be sleeping in my room."

"Don't be silly, Lizzie! Why would Jane sleep here when Bing's got that big house not too far from here?!"

"Oh yeah…", Lizzie thought sadly. She was hoping to have a long nighttime talk with Jane like they used to have. But that won't happen if Jane's sleeping at Netherfield.

"Yeah, Lizzie! How are Jane and Bing supposed to 'bing' here? Eww, gross.", Lydia whispered to her.

Lizzie gasped and then giggled. "Ah, good old Lydia."

On the way to her bedroom, Lizzie passed by the den and saw Mr. Bennet and Darcy on the couch. They were making small talk, but it didn't sound forced. Darcy was trying his best to be social and Mr. Bennet was trying his best to make Darcy feel at home. She couldn't help but smile.

Lizzie entered her room and saw their bags at the foot of the bed. She unzipped hers and made her way to the closet with some clothes in hand. When she opened up her closet, there, in the center, hung her graduation cap and gown.

She dropped the pieces she had in her hands and picked up the hanger with the robe. She ran to her mirror and pressed the gown to her body and looked at herself.

"I should try it on, right?", she asked herself as she slipped it off the hanger and onto herself. The bump was invisible beneath the royal blue gown, and although it was a little long on her, she knew that with heels, the gown would fit perfectly. All that was missing was the cap.

She put it on and stared. A few months ago she was clueless as to what her future held, and now she had so much to look forward to. She pressed her hand to her belly as a tear trickled down her face and onto the gown. She wiped her face and sighed.

"I should probably take this off before I ruin it…"

She put away her and Darcy's things in her room and went downstairs to hang out with her family, which was what she had been craving for weeks now.

The next morning was Friday, the day before graduation, and the day that Jane and Bing arrived from New York.

Lizzie had gone to sleep early last night, tired from feelings and the flight and the baby, so Darcy spent a few hours alone with the Bennets. They were really easy to get comfortable with and there was never a quiet moment with Francine around, so he enjoyed a pleasant evening with these new members of his family.

He went to bed fatigued from working, then traveling, and having to be more social than usual. He hopped into Lizzie's queen-sized bed and although it was not as big as their king-sized bed back home, he was more than comfortable squeezed into bed with her. He fell into a deep sleep and didn't stir when Lizzie awoke the next morning, startled.

When she went to bed last night, it was the first time in forever that she'd slept in her old bed. She'd gone to sleep alone, too, so it felt just like old times. When she woke up, she panicked a little when she felt Darcy's presence beside her. For a second, she thought her life for the past few months had all been a dream, but she was mistaken. Happily mistaken, though.

She stared at Darcy for a little while and watched his chest rise and fall with each deep breath. It was one of those rare moments where she rose first and she cherished his gentle expression. The urge to pee tore her away from the lovely sight, and she went about getting ready for the day. It turned out she was the first to rise in the entire house, beating even her parents, so she decided to make breakfast for everyone.

Later in the day, Darcy and Mr. Bennet headed out to pick up Jane and Bing from the airport. When they all arrived, Jane ran straight towards Lizzie and patted her bump.

"Lizzie, it's so good to see you! This is the first time I've seen you in person since you announced your pregnancy! You look lovely!", she raved and hugged her.

Lizzie hugged her sister tight. It had been months since she'd been able to hug her and she missed her sister's placid energy.

Jane then went on to hug Lydia tightly and then gave her mom a short kiss on the cheek before she began interrogating Jane about her relationship with Bing. Lizzie just smiled. Everything was as it always had been.

The family went out for dinner and a movie, and on their return from the theater, Lizzie invited Jane to her bedroom. Jane had noticed that Lizzie was a bit unusual today, so she immediately asked what was wrong.

"Oh, Janie! I don't know what's wrong with me! I keep telling myself it's just nervousness about tomorrow, but it's more than that…"

"What do you feel? Look past the nerves and try to see what's causing your uneasiness."

Lizzie and Jane were on the floor of Lizzie's room, with Lizzie's head in Jane's lap. Jane was fiddling with Lizzie's hair as Lizzie looked for the reason behind her feelings.

"Fear.", she said after a few quiet minutes.

"Hmmm?"

"I'm scared, Jane."

"Of what, Lizzie? Is it the baby?"

"No, Jane. Well, yes. But no, it's not the baby. I'm just scared. I need a break… With everything that happened with Lydia, and then falling in love with Will, and then getting pregnant… It's all too much. And now I'm graduating and I'm gonna start my new web show in a few months…"

"Mmhmm. You're life has changed drastically in such a short time. But all for the better, right?"

"Yeah but you gotta understand, Janie, I was totally lost a few months ago. I had no idea what I was going to do with my life or how I was gonna pay off my loans... But I have a future now, and it's terrifying. I've spent the majority of my life in school and now I'm done."

"I see… Well, baby sis, you've earned it. You worked hard in school to get your degree, you worked hard on your video project and it got noticed, and you had many not-so-good relationships to pave the way for the one you're in now. And that baby is just a little extra blessing on top! It may feel overwhelming but just take it one day at a time. Some people get relationships, jobs, degrees, and babies spread out over their lives but you were blessed enough to get them all close together. This chapter of your life closes with your graduation and a new one will begin. A very interesting one, I believe."

Lizzie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Jane continued playing with her hair while humming a song their mother used to sing to them when they were scared.

"Thanks, Janie."

"No problem, baby sis. You didn't tell Darcy about how you were feeling?"

"Nope. It's just that he wouldn't get it. I love him to death but sometimes, I need you or Char or Lydia to just talk to. I could've shared this with him and he would've been just as supportive as you, but I needed someone from my old life to hear me out. You get me, right? Our old lives. Before Bing and William and Wickham."

"I understand perfectly. And if you ever feel strongly about anything, you know you can call me anytime."

"I know.", Lizzie said, smiling. "Now, tell me about New York! How's your job? And how is it now that you and Bing have finally moved in together?!"

"Wait, wait.", Jane said as she texted Lydia to come join them.

The Bennet sisters spoke like they hadn't in months. Lizzie even asked Darcy to spend the night at Netherfield so Jane could sleep with her. The guys were sad to be parted from their women, but they understood. They could also take this opportunity to catch up with each other. After they left, Lydia brought in a sleeping bag and the three spent the night before Lizzie's graduation together.

Saturday morning, Lizzie woke up with a smile and a heart that was no longer heavy with fear, but instead with an eagerness for the next chapter of her life.

Lydia, Jane, and Mrs. Bennet helped Lizzie get ready for her big day. Jane styled her hair, Lydia did her make-up, and Mrs. Bennet busied herself tidying Lizzie's room and commenting on how proud she was of all of her girls.

"Lydia, you must follow in your sister's footsteps! They've managed to secure rich men and have their educations to fall back on, just in case. Very smart idea, indeed!"

The girls just rolled their eyes. Jane and Lizzie shared a look that expressed the unlikelihood of either one ever leaving their partner.

Lizzie put on her dress and shoes last. It was the first time she'd ever worn anything tight outside of Darcy's house. The white dress showed off the baby bump which looked a bit too odd shaped to be a full stomach. It was not a huge bump yet- she could still hide it with the right clothes, as she had been doing- but it was unmistakably indicative of a baby on the way and she was now ready to reveal her pregnancy to the world.

Lydia volunteered to hold Lizzie's gown for her until later so that it wouldn't get wrinkled in the car, but the cap was placed on her head by her mother before they headed downstairs.

"Good morning, babe.", Lizzie greeted Darcy with a hug. Although she didn't sleep alone, she did sense his absense, even in her sleep.

"Good morning.", he said before rubbing Lizzie's belly. He was glad to see Lizzie had finally decided to reveal their baby. "You look beautiful, Lizzie."

"Thank you.", she replied before fixing his tie and tip-toeing to give him a quick kiss.

The family headed to the graduation, all the Bennets in Mr. Bennet's car and Bing and Darcy in Bing's rental.

"We're gonna stop somewhere really quick. We'll meet you guys there!", Bing said before taking off.

"He's probably going to get you a really cool present, Lizzie!", Lydia guessed.

They arrived and Lizzie saw a lot of classmates that she hadn't seen in so long. She waved to a lot of them and was hit with nostalgia. "Breathe, Lizzie. You are moving forward.", she said to herself.

Lizzie had to go be seated and Bing and Darcy weren't back yet.

"They'll be back before the ceremony starts, don't worry, dear.", stated Mrs. Bennet.

"Yeah, you're right. Well, the next time I stand before you all, I will be Elizabeth Bennet with a Masters in Mass Communications.", Lizzie said with a smile, and headed inside with the rest of the graduates.

When Lizzie's name was called, there was a lot of noise. Apparently, a lot of her peers were fans of her YouTube videos.

Outside, Lizzie was greeted with hugs and kisses from her family. Her parents and sisters were extremely proud.

"Where's Will?", Lizzie asked, but before anybody could answer, Charlotte appeared from the crowd.

"Congratulations, bestie!", Charlotte ran toward Lizzie with a big balloon in hand.

"What are you doing here?!", Lizzie asked in shock as she embraced her. She had no idea Charlotte was going to make it to her graduation.

"I got here yesterday. Your dad and Darcy picked me up from the airport with Jane and Bing. They picked me up from my house on the way here.", Charlotte answered with a sly smile.

"Lizzie, get over here! We need to take pictures!", her mother called.

She took pictures with her bestie, her parents, her sisters, and then all together, but then asked again, "Does anybody know where Will is?!"

Darcy tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around, she saw he had two dozen white roses.

"Darcy, honey, pose for a picture!", yelled Mrs. Bennet.

Darcy gave Lizzie her roses and they posed.

"Take the gown off, Lizzie! You should totes show off my niece or nephew!", Lydia suggested.

Lizzie laughed but removed the gown and kept the cap on. They took some more pictures and when Mrs. Bennet was finally satisfied, she let them be. But Charlotte was on high alert for some candid photos.

"Congratulations, my love.", Darcy said before bending down to kiss her. He had been dying to do that since he laid eyes on her that morning.

"Thanks for the flowers; they're beautiful."

"Those aren't from me. Those are on behalf of Gigi and Fitz. They wished they could be present."

"I know if Gigi wasn't out of town she would've been here. How's she doing in Sanditon?"

"She's well. She apologizes profusely and so does Fitz. I ran and got these after you had walked across the stage because they asked."

"Aww, how sweet.", she said smiling.

"And this is from me.", Darcy said before pulling a black box out of his pocket.

Lizzie's heart skipped a beat. "Could it be?!"

Next chapter will host a big announcement... just giving y'all a heads up. :P