Thanks to all my betas who contributed in different ways: lovingyouisbest, JD Bell; Joy Booth and Fredrica.
Final tweaking is my own.
Collect the moments
MA content
Drip. Drip. Drip. His dream had turned into some form of annoying water torture. "Lizzy, what are you doing?"
She was standing over him, naked (which was nice) and wet (she looked amazing but the water dripping on his face was less than pleasant). "Waking you up so that we can both take a bath in our giant restoration tub".
"You know that I'll get you back for that?"
"Of course. I'm counting on it."With that she flicked her hair and turned on her heel toward the bathroom. The sight of her delectable wet rear, wiggling as she walked was too much and Darcy quickly jumped out of bed, grabbing her around the waist as both fell backward on the bed.
He immediately began assaulting her neck with lush, deep kisses. His free hand made its way to her pussy, fingers splayed as they stroked her folds, knuckles grazing her most sensitive spot.
Her hand found his hard member, grasping and caressing him from base to tip, in time with his own ministrations on her person. Both of his hands were now pleasuring her, fingers entering her core and teasing her pussy at the same time, filling her with a gaping pleasure. The wetter she got, the more Lizzy moaned and the more persistent became her attention to his cock until he could take it no more.
Darcy turned her over, pulling her with him so both were on their knees as he entered her from behind. His hands grasped her hips, a gesture which was like an aphrodisiac to Lizzy. She ground into him as he moved, first slowly teasing her, as she felt him filling her up with every stroke. The rhythm picked up slowly and his thrusts, more and more powerful, until Darcy held her hips firmly as he pounded into her, the movements making 'slap, slap, slap', as she cried out 'aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh'.
She was close. He could feel it. So was he, but Darcy restrained himself until she came. Her strong orgasm nearly did him in, but he had practiced restraint so long that he was able to continue to withhold his own release for a bit longer. As her orgasm waned, he began kissing and playing with her, gently. This initially prolonged the orgasm, then kept her in a state of arousal as he built her up again.
The second time she came, Darcy held her down as he kissed and licked at her cunt, keeping his mouth firmly in place. The more sensitive she became, the stronger the next orgasmic wave would be when it overtook her.
Finally, he entered her again, this time on top. Darcy kneaded her breasts while thrusting slowly in and out, his pelvis stimulating her oversensitive nether regions. He could feel Lizzy's hard orgasm and allowed himself to release, convulsing strongly as Lizzy pulled him into a kiss. "Oh my g-d. I don't know if I can move after that." She whispered in his ear.
"I told you I'd get you back." They lay there, staring into each others' eyes until both dropped off to sleep. Darcy was the first to awake, about 45 minutes later, and he busied himself remaking the bath until she padded into the room. Both immersed themselves into the hot water which was redolent with the smell of Champa Oil.
PPPxoxNMxoxPPP
Lizzy was suspicious. Darcy had been well occupied at home with projects galore- after moving everything in, he'd set bricks for a patio out back, painted a mural on the back yard's block fence, and put in a number of plants that could withstand planting this time of year (that had just been the first two weeks).
However, he had also been unusually quiet about his art. That was unlike the man she knew who couldn't stop- a man who always had several projects going. Things in his studio didn't seem to have been moved from day to day. He didn't share new projects with her either, like she'd been eager to do with him.
It was lovely having someone- her man- to share ideas, progress, and frustrations with- when she got home and before she left for work. Why wasn't he talking? Had he used it all up in his off based attempts to woo her?
Surely not. The thought made her smile. No. Something was up. Fitzwilliam Darcy didn't lie well.
She'd been about to confront him one particular Friday. She'd already sat finishing the stitches of some cuffs she'd been working on- she called them Volupta the Wonder Goddess Gauntlets, rife with hand made lace, hand cast Milagros (both her work), and some wonderful resin and glass beads made by artist friends. Huh, maybe she should be the first to exploit the power of the Gauntlets. Just as Elizabeth was contemplating the merits of wearing them home, and what else to wear- or not wear- as she greeted her man, he called. "Hey."
"Hey yourself."She half smiled.
"Meet me at 2_ Calle de Guadalupe."
"The old tortilla factory in Mesilla? Why?" She frowned at his secretiveness.
"Stop asking so many questions and come out here when you're done." She could tell by his tone that he would brook no opposition.
"Alright, fine." She couldn't help but feel self righteously flippant and let it show in her tone.
Several minutes later, she knocked on the heavy wooden door and tapped her foot impatiently, wondering why he didn't tell her anything else. She didn't like being kept in the dark. Suddenly the door opened and….
An Accomplished Woman
"Surprise!" He said it in a way that let her know he was inwardly excited but characteristically maintaining his outward reserve. They greeted each other with a kiss and cheers erupted behind them.
Only then did Lizzy notice, there in the old tortilla factory, stood Jane, Charles, Koko, Mercedes Lucas, Aunt Phil and Uncle D, Maeve, Maya, and a other acquaintances and people unknown to Elizabeth. The space was of a size where a variety of stalls exhibited a variety of local wares, mostly ceramics, jewelry, clothing, visual art, but also select antiques and items which spoke to the unique Dona Maria culture such as an old altar piece, a square dance dress, an ancient saddle.
It was too much to take in at once. Lizzy's eyes swept over the scene, returning to her notice of the people. Everyone made some comment or other, then returned to their tasks, obviously intent on their preparations for a show. Or, possibly, because her boyfriend had already warned them to leave them alone. He could be intimidating and private that way.
It couldn't matter at the moment. She was too enthralled with the space. "I didn't know this place became a gallery."
He smiled with evident self satisfaction. "That's because it wasn't."
She pulled away, eyes narrowing at him, "Fitzwilliam Darcy, what do you have to do with this?"
He only grinned mysteriously. "Come," He took her hand and pulled her over to an area where Maeve was supervising a sweaty and grumpy Jane, who kept adjusting various dressforms, first one up, then another down, then the next was adjusted bigger, which was no small feat as each form wore various costumes from last season.
"Its ODC!"
Full bodied laughter escaped from Maeve, "He insisted. He wouldn't allow me- Allow! ME!? To put costumes on exhibit unless these were included. Sentimental, isn't he?"
His lip twitched.
Koko, who was putting up an installation nearby, piped in, "Who? My brother? He's practically dead, he's so stoic and boring."
"Men in love do unusual things, you know, like build the Taj Mahal, write sonnets that live forever, open a co-op with some friends to be near his lover, conspire with those friends to put his lover's work in the first exhibit." replied Maeve.
How could she have been so incredibly dense? She then saw an area where her Mourning Veil piece was displayed. Had she really not noticed that some of her work was missing? "What? How? When did you….?"
"I just removed it this morning with Jane's help. While you were in class." Darcy answered.
"Can I talk to you? In private?" She couldn't help but sound demanding.
Everyone, led by Koko, childishly responded "Ooooooooooooh!"
They went outside and sat in the Gazebo. "Darling, darling man. I love what you did, but I don't want to be in a show because I'm banging one of the owners of the gallery. Not to mention, I haven't made any arrangements for this."
He shoved his hands in his pockets, "You must know that everything has been considered, but, if you're insistent, this is a hell of a situation."
"Just take my stuff out and it will be fine."
"I can't." He looked at the ground and shook his head.
"Sure you can." She nudged him slightly.
"All I did was pick up things for the co-op. I didn't vote your work in." His expression was defiant but honest.
"You didn't vote for me? I knew it! I knew you really didn't support my work. How could I have been so-" she was cut off
"Have you lost your mind, woman?" He had interrupted her then silenced her with a deep kiss. He released Lizzy only when she was breathless.
PPPxoxNMxoxPPP
She looked at him dazed as he sighed heavily and explained he proposed the cooperative gallery last year and had gone in with the Lucases, the University and a variety of established and new artists and merchants. The twelve contributed in different ways, including Aunt Phil, who helped them get a community grant. When the first exhibit was being discussed, the group all listed their own selections and cast votes, last spring.
Darcy was having second thoughts, having been soundly rejected by Lizzy that winter, and had told them he didn't know if he wanted to stay in the project. He didn't put any names in, only backing the effort until they could find someone else suitable to replace him in presence and investment. That person never materialized, fortuitously enough, as it turned out, since he found himself exactly where he wanted to be. Here, in Dona Maria of all places, with his love.
He took her hand. "I'm sorry if your feelings are hurt that I didn't vote for you. I just helped get this space started and then surreptitiously removed your work on their orders this morning. If you will recall the juried exhibit you were in mentioned opportunity for another exhibit.
You signed the consent for that before I had anything to do with this. You're the one who made it on your own merits. You still have to go and sign paperwork with the board and make arrangements for commissions. That's all you. But, if you still don't want to be in it because of my involvement, I'll understand."
She held his face and looked into his eyes intently, "It seems I'm destined to work with or near you, Mr. Darcy."
He embraced her, whispering, "I prefer that you work on me, Ms. Bennet."
"As long as you return the favor, my love." She teased back, her soft breath tickling his ear.
"Are you ready to go home, yet?" He asked.
Just then, she was truly hit with the simultaneous enormity and mundanity of the situation. Here she was, with him, and they were going home.
PPPxoxNMxoxPPP
If this revelation weren't enough, they were faced with an inconvenient synchronicity a couple of minutes after she started her car. "I was hoping to ask you this when we got home, but, can I get a jump?"
"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me. Don't you think my car is a little small for that?" Lizzy prodded.
"Hey, don't sound so excited. I thought you liked that swirly thing I did. I promise there's more where that came from. But I'm not talking about that kind of jump- yet. I went to move my car closer to the gallery and it wouldn't start." Elizabeth laughed as she turned the car around and headed back near the plaza to get her beloved' s engine going.
Their attempts were met with failure, at least failure of the automotive variety. "I guess I'm going to have to get it towed. Damn!" They made the requisite call. While waiting they found plenty of pleasurable ways to occupy their time, most of which involved fogging up the windows of her Toyota.
The only problem with this arrangement was its effect at blocking their view, and they received quite a shock when the tow truck driver rapped on the window. Both hastily repaired their appearance and Darcy stepped outside to meet the man. Once the tow was arranged, he returned to the passenger seat and she put on Iggy Pop. He sang along to what had to be the most appropriately timed song.
As he la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la'd, Lizzy could have sworn another voice joined in. It wasn't hers, it didn't come from her less than high tech car speakers. It felt like it was in the car, and bells accompanied the melodic woman's voice. Then at the end of the song Iggy announced: Aphrodite Darcy. everybody, give her a hand. Will chuckled as Elizabeth's eyes bulged.
"That did not just happen." She hit the back button and played the end yet again, but the song ended in the way it always had.
She kept hitting the back button trying to find that part of the song, futilely, until Darcy stilled her hand. "It's no use. The Lady has visited us already and will not grace us with her presence again tonight. Better just enjoy the ride," he suggested, fingering the pendant of his mother in profile.
She shook her head, as if to clear the fog, as if that would do anything after apparently hearing the ghost of his mother sing with Iggy Pop.
She now realized what he meant. Sure, she'd mentally understood it, accepted it.
But it wasn't real until that moment and it broke open yet another insight: Just like weeks ago when she initiated her plan to reunite with him: He was the passenger, along for the ride. Not only did she hold the keys, they were bequeathed to her by a woman worthy of being pleased. And that was profoundly pleasing to her.
Not The End, Just the Beginning of their HEA
Well, kids, we are almost done with this little fanfic. The epilogue and then we are through. Send me any requests in your comments and I *might* be persuaded to write additional outtakes or epilogues.