This chapter was probably the easiest to write for me because it's all so happy! Enjoy! and don't forget to check out my other story Not Your Typical Family and vote in the poll. It's a modern Lizzy/Darcy, but we're having great fun!

Chapter 26

The day of her wedding to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth woke up to her mother ordering servants about, screeching. Elizabeth winced. She had not heard this tone from her mother in four years. She just wanted to tune out the world and focus on getting ready and spend some time with her darling children before they were to leave for the church. The wedding was to take place at eleven that morning, which meant Elizabeth had exactly five hours to get ready.

Elizabeth was not expecting a big wedding. She just wanted their close friends and family there, and was quite nervous about seeing what her mother and the Countess, with the help of Lady Abigail and Mrs. Gardiner came up with.

She rolled over in bed and stared out the window. Tonight she would share a bed with a man for the first time in over a year. She blushed at the implication that she had indeed been in bed with her soon to be husband before, but never had she spent the night with him. The plan was they would reside at Darcy House until they could travel to Pemberley in three days time. Elizabeth had not wanted a honeymoon. She wanted to settle the family as soon as she could, not to mention she would miss her children greatly.

So the children, it was agreed upon, would stay with their Dowager grandmother for a couple days, while Elizabeth and her new husband enjoyed a few days to themselves. Then they would all travel to Pemberley for a few weeks. Even a couple days was too much time away from her precious blessings, but her former mother-in-law had insisted upon it. She was very disappointed in her late son after discovering his infidelities, and wished to see the girl she still deemed her daughter, and only child now that William was gone, to be very happy. She would be there today, on the brides side of the church, happily. In a way she would be giving her away.

Elizabeth had promised her though, that she would be most welcome to visit Pemberley and her grandchildren at anytime, and that she would still have a hand in raising her titled grandchildren. The eldest Dowager knew that Elizabeth could handle that on her own, but none the less was pleased that she had such a sensible daughter, and beautiful grandchildren.

Lady Catherine made her presence know at Darcy House quite early in the morning to confer with her favorite nephew, though she would never admit that out loud even if it was a well known fact among the family. Anne was not well so she traveled alone, but relayed her best wishes.

She spent an hour relaying to her esteemed nephew on how he was to react around Elizabeth and her circle, and what was expected of him now. She gave him tips on fatherhood, for she was indeed fond of the children already as she was their great aunt by marriage, and now their great aunt through Darcy as well. She then proceeded to make it known that his house was too poorly decorated for a duchess and that he must let Elizabeth decorate to suit her fit, because indeed such distinguished guests were sure to dine here, and visit at times.

Darcy, who was in a very good mood today, it was his wedding day after all, allowed his aunt to impart her wisdom with great humor. Yes, he would be sure to let her decorate. No, he would not allow the children to be corrupted by relations attempting to spoil them such as her sister-in-law the Countess of Matlock. He let her know that he was not worried of Elizabeth's title or the position it put him in. He was thrilled at the prospect at new friends and acquaintances, which shocked him because that did not sound like him at all.

Simply put, his future wife had bewitched him body and soul. And he would not have it any other way. After his Aunt Catherine left for Devonshire House, she was indeed a guest of the groom, but was related to the bride as well so therefore assumed it her right to intrude on her for a little while as well.

Darcy finished his morning rituals, then at in his study, and simply prayed, for the greatest G-d, to bless him, and his union to his soul mate, her children, their families, their future children and all of their friends.

The Earl and Countess of Matlock woke up in each other's arms for the first time in years. They were quite affected by all the romance in the air, and were quite happy with their nephew's choice of bride. The countess spent the whole morning talking of the babies, and the children that were sure to come.

She also grew quite serious when she talked of Georgiana and her meltdown. She had hope that the children, as little William had done the night before, and also Elizabeth would be useful tools to bring her young niece to life again. She as well as the Earl knew Georgiana to be ridiculously shy, and they had seen that Darcy temperament at times, to their amusement she was quite adorable even when angry, but they had not known, how Georgiana had been feeling over the loss of her parents at such a young age, basically because she had not said anything about it. They were fools to think that she was not affected and were quite please after they saw Elizabeth last night, bring her out of that shell she still kept.

The Earl confessed that he had his reservations about his nephew's choice of bride, basically because of his loyalty to the late Mr. Darcy, but his nephew was now his own man, and he could not find any fault in the bewitching young woman, who was in a few short hours, to be his new niece.

He embraced the fact as he embraced his wife.

Mr. Bennet was all amusement in Devonshire House as his wife hustled about the house, commanding servants as if they were her own. She was also lamenting their stubborn daughters tardiness on the day of her wedding, much as she did some twenty years ago, when time and again her time had not come to deliver, what would be their second child, their baby girl Elizabeth Augusta, her name derived from Mr. Bennet's dear mother, and the summer month of her birth. At the end of the day she would be Elizabeth Augusta Darcy, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. He could not help but smile at his daughters fortune. The day she was born all he could do was stare at his blessing, she was the exact image of his dear mother, and was a bright light to the dark home.

And indeed, she had brought many years of light to their family, and would for many years to come he was sure.

Giving away his favorite daughter was sure to be easier the second time, for indeed this time, he could barely claim her his. She had been another's for so long, so when he spoke with the mother of his late son-in-law, she too was sad to be losing the company of her dearest daughter, and the two of them decided, though it would be quite unorthodox, would both give their Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy. They found that it would be an easy task considering the man himself showed show much love to this dear girl.

The day of her brother's wedding brought joy to young Georgiana's heart, not only was she gaining a sister, but a niece and nephew as well. And also a whole new family! And as she proceeded to prepare herself for the wedding she could not help but think of what her mother and dear father would be doing at this time. They were not sad thoughts.

They were, at least at this time, happy ones.

Jane Bennet woke up with a smile on her face, and Lydia Bennet snuggled into her. Lydia had a rough night last night, after a nightmare that sent her into hysterics, naturally she ran to Jane. Jane easily consoled the frightened young woman, and soothed her back to sleep. Now she could only think of her dear first sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth who had been there for her through so many tough times and she knew she would be there for many more to come.

When Lydia woke she hugged her older sister, and quickly got ready, before heading downstairs to spend the morning with her father.

Something about a father always made his girls feel safe, and Lydia was no different, as she curled up in her father's arms.

Mary and Kitty were the first of the girls down the stairs that morning, and though Mary hated lace and satin and ribbon, even she had to admit she loved her dress. It was similar to the dress she wore to her sister's first wedding, but much better styled, and much more expensive.

Kitty of course was in awe of the whole spectacle, and could not help but dream that her own wedding day, whenever that came, she could be equally as beautiful as she was now.

Lady Abigail was currently in a whirlwind of activity trying to get her children dressed and ready. They had two hours until they needed to be at the church. Her husband was not helping the matter at all, when all he could do was laugh when their youngest decided it was time to play, and not to get dressed at all.

Lady Catherine made it to Devonshire house an hour before the Bennet/Devonshire clan needed to be on the road to the church, asking briefly to see the bride, and her great niece and nephew, and she was not denied. She assisted Elizabeth in getting the children ready. Sophia's hair needed done, and she needed help into her dress, never had Lady Catherine taken to doing things herself, not even with her daughter Anne. She found it refreshing, and the children adorable.

Once her quest was finished, and her best wishes to Elizabeth and the Bennet family had been bestowed, she left for the church to meet up with her brother and his wife.

Darcy was being kept company by his cousin Richard, and Charles Bingley, who were currently being amused at Darcy pacing back and forth. The closer the wedding came, the more fidgety Darcy became, and they had never seen him like that.

Darcy was keen on reminding Charlie that in five weeks time he would be in the opposite position, which shut him up, albeit, briefly.

Darcy soon found that brandy was as soothing as any drink offered.

It calmed him considerably.

The church was filling, and quite large, and well wishers who were not to attend lined the streets, to get a glimpse of the Dowager. She had become a dear to them and they wanted to wish her well. Also they wanted to see what her dress might look like, she was one of the parties responsible for setting trends in London, and of course they needed to get a head start on all their friends!

The grooms family sat on the right side, the brides' on the left. Georgiana sat by herself representing the Darcy family, while the Matlocks, and Lady Catherine and cousins sat in the row behind her representing the Late Anne Darcy's side. Georgiana, was honored greatly to be representing the great Darcy family, and never felt lonely once. Many of the grooms friends, and business partners filed in behind the Fitzwilliam's, and in the end seventy-five filled the right side of the church.

The bride's family, naturally sat on the left, of course her closest family had not filled the church yet, that wouldn't happen until the beginning of the ceremony, but indeed the guest list of the bride was much more extensive. There were the Devereaux's, Cambridge's, Ellington's, Montagu's. Then there were the Wellington's, Westminster's and the Sutherlands, as well as the Wooten's, the Woodward's, who's children were present, well-behaved, and well dressed! Along with the Gardiners, the Lucas's, which included her still dear friend Charlotte, and some of the Cavendish family, whose presence were striking. Most of all who had come to offer their support to a woman who had become a friend to all of them.

At the start of the ceremony, the mother of the bride, oh how she loved that title, was ushered in by the groom himself! His way of showing her that she would always be taken care of. Each of her sisters followed in order of their birth, Jane, who looked ethereally beautiful much to Charles' dismay as he stood and watched by the groom, Mary, who was quite striking, Kitty, who was all smiles, and Lydia, who seemed intent to let her older sister have her day without fault.

Next came little William and Sophia, the two of them looked adorable, and got excited to see Darcy stand at the end of the aisle, they started to run towards him, but were stopped by their doting aunt Jane as she cleared her throat at them. They stopped and walked the rest of the way to the oohs and ahhs of the entire party, most coming from the Countess of Matlock, and all the women who did not have children yet were now glaring at their husbands, who shrunk in their seats uncomfortably.

Next came the bride, on the arms of her dear father and her mother-in-law. Darcy, nearly passed out when he saw her, and was held up by Richard and Charles, who had to admit that she was a fine catch, and so very beautiful.

They made their way up the aisle slowly, as the guest stood in honor of the bride. Nobody could deny that she was happy, or that this was a perfect match.

When she finally reached the front, she was handed off to the man who soon was going to be her husband. He accepted her hand, but not before bestowing a gentle kiss on her mother-in-law, and thanking her father.

They turned and the minister began.

Not long after were they pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, to the delight of all present, they signed the logs, and made their way down the aisle, excitedly.

William and Sophia led the way, so happy they were allowed to run, at least for now, but were caught by their new father, and to their delight were embraced and kissed, and tickled.

But only a little!