Author's Note: I am sorry that I have not been posting, but I had some unexpected health issues that arose and needed my immediate attention. Long story short, I have been having panic attacks, but I didn't know this until just a few weeks ago, but have been having noticeable issues since early September. I have just started to feel normal again and have gotten back to my stories. I wasn't able to concentrate on writing at all. The bodies reaction to anxiety is a trip, let me tell you. But, proper treatment helps.

As to my inquiries on a Bennet Brother fic, I find I disagree with many of you; I think Mrs. Bennet would want to secure a second son before closing her chambers to her husband. At this moment, if I go forward with the idea, I'm almost certain I will be making Mary a Matthew or Arthur.

Enjoy your chapter!

Her life was taking on a common theme. Every few weeks, everything would change. First, it was 'the incident' and getting married, then, just as she thought she might be finding her footing, her mother sends her 'the letter'. She begins to grow accustomed to the neighborhood, and then it was back to Longbourn, after which her sisters were brought back with them. Now, everything seemed back to how it had always been: Jane is praised, Lizzy and her wit are heartily embraced and enjoyed, Mary plays and reads, and Lydia receives a large portion of the attention. Everyone was pleased… everyone but Kitty, that is.

She felt a large amount of guilt for feeling that way. She had grown accustomed to receiving the bulk of the attention at Dalton, but she knew she had needed it at the time. This was giving her sisters the opportunity to grow from where they had been, and be given the skills they didn't know they lacked. For Jane, Bingley was to arrive at the beginning of March, though Kitty didn't know if she knew that yet. That was only a few weeks away.

Kitty's days were a bit different from before. After she had woken and dressed, she spent the morning with Mrs. Croft and her sisters. It seemed Jane had a knack for running a house and often inserted ideas that Kitty had never thought of, and was encouraged to keep doing so. At some point, she didn't know when, she had stopped providing her own opinions. She and her sisters would go to breakfast and everyone would talk about their plans for the day. Mrs. Smith would excuse herself and Lydia, who always followed behind with a groan, to their lessons for the day. Kitty, her remaining sisters, and grandmother would prepare to visit or receive guests. Her eldest sisters, of course, quickly became favorites in the neighborhood. Kitty thought that if she heard about how wonderful they were one more time, she would scream.

She found her friendship with Julia Bates to be a godsend. The day after their return, she had confided in her that she would be a mother by July. Kitty was thrilled for her friend, who admitted to feeling ill more often than not. An invitation was extended for Kitty to come and visit anytime, as she may not get out much, but that she would dearly love the company. So, Kitty did. Almost every day since her second week home, Kitty left Dalton to tend to her good friend who lived only two miles away. There she was able to leave her sisters and their admirers behind. The neighborhood obviously had speculations as to Mrs. Bates illness, but all praised her new friend's devotion to her. So, the two would spend hours talking and laughing. Mr. Bates, or Thomas as he insisted she call him, would join them on occasion. She found that she liked the couple the more she got to know them.

Once she returned home, she would visit with her sisters and then take a walk in the cool air of the garden, or sit in the library. In both places, one or all of her sisters would join her. She had taken to doing needlework at those times as well, since she spent most days away from the house. A few days had found her seeking the solace of her rooms. They dined at home most days. Through everything, Kitty worked to keep a cheerful attitude, and no one seemed the wiser.

Oliver was a subject all his own. She was angry with him, though she did her best not to show it, but he was an intelligent man, she knew he knew. Everything that she had endured had been from his decisions. She didn't blame him for marrying in the first place; Grandmother and Mrs. Smith had made sure she was well aware of what could have happened otherwise. No, she was angry because he felt the need to direct everything. She was angry he decided they should return with her sisters. He decided everything, and while she realized he was only trying to help, it would not hurt for him to at least ask for her thoughts and opinions on matters before he set them into motion. She supposed that he was only acting in the manner most men did, but it didn't make it any less vexing.

After their first week home, he no longer came for her in the library. She blamed this on her sisters. They always ended up in the library with her. Why, she did not know. There were hundreds of places they could be before dinner, and they chose her space. He still came into her room to say good night, but their conversations were short and flat. He had, however, began to travel often with her to see the Bates. He and Thomas would sometime go off on their own, and returned when it was nearing time to depart. It was almost as though he were trying to escape the presence of her sisters as well, which was odd because he had seemed to enjoy the society of Jane and Lizzy before they wed.

Today was one of the days that he decided to join her. They rode in silence, and she was happy to do so. The trip was not too long. They pulled in front of the house and went in to meet their friends. Julia was in her favorite sitting room that day, instead of her room, evidence that her condition was progressing and she was feeling better. Oliver excused himself to his friend's study.

"I am so happy to see you!" exclaimed Julia. "Thomas is having one of his days. If he had his way, I would never leave the bed. As though walking down the stairs is life threatening."

"It is if you trip."

"Oh, hush you! You had better hope Thomas isn't close enough to hear you. I would never forgive you if he forced me to remain upstairs," she laughed.

"But then you would be without company, though I am sure we could convince Anna Willard to pay you a visit."

"Hold your tongue! I'll have no more sass from you today. My heart simply cannot take it!"

Kitty laughed at her, but then grew a little serious. "How are you?"

"I am well. My sickness is waning. The midwife has informed me that I am coming into the more comfortable part. Now I will simply grow, until I reach the latter part in which I am told I will beg for it all to end."

"That sounds fascinating."

"Just wait, one day it will be your turn, and then we'll see what you have to say."

Kitty cleared her throat and asked how her husband was handling her condition.

"He is so stressed. As you know, he lost his mother and his baby sister to birthing, so he is very nervous, but he is excited as well. As I said earlier, today is one of his bad days, where he is hovering and constantly watching me. I ran him off minutes before you arrived. I do not see the gentlemen staying away long."

"Well, shall we continue on the quilt we started two days ago?"

"Yes, and tell me how things are at Dalton. I need to hear what's going on outside these walls."

They began to work as Kitty talked. "There really isn't much to tell."

"Is Lydia still making her displeasure obvious?"

"Of course. Lydia has never seen the need to hide her feelings. She complains, but still attends her lessons. Oliver will not allow her to partake in anything otherwise. We dined with the Viscount last night; Oliver spent the evening glaring at him and the Viscount smirked while showering Grandmother with his special attention. It was really quite entertaining."

"Oliver does make an adorable pouty face."

Kitty snorted. "It is truly something to behold."

They worked and laughed for a few minutes. She noticed Julia kept eyeing her. Finally, her friend spoke. "Catherine, I thought you mostly got on with your sisters. Why do you never wish to speak of them?"

Kitty sighed. She felt guilty for thinking the things she did, she couldn't imagine how she would feel talking about it, but talk she did. For the first time, she told someone about growing up as the fourth of five sisters, of never really knowing her place, of being compared to her near perfect eldest sister, watching her sisters become themselves while she latched onto her youngest sister, not being sure what was right for herself.

"And now, they are here. Jane is more capable than I am in running emmy/em home, and she and Lizzy are admired wherever they go. Mary has settled in and has even been taking Grandmother's advice on sprucing up her appearance, and Lydia has constant attention, because if she didn't there is no telling how much trouble she would cause. I feel invisible again. Even Oliver is distant. Before we left, it was as though he were trying, and now, I rarely see him. Sometimes, I think that maybe he realizes how unlucky he was to be trapped with me for a wife."

"Oh, Catherine, surely you don't believe that?"

"Sadly, I do," she wept. She hadn't even realized she had had tears falling. "Oh, dear! My aunt Phillips has always said you shouldn't work on something for a happy occasion when you are sad. I am sorry, Julia. You don't need this right now."

Julia had set everything aside with her and moved close to her. "You should never feel as though you cannot talk to me. My current condition does not prevent me from having compassion for my friends. And you are my dearest friend. Before you came, I was very much alone. The ladies here are nice, but it is so hard to become close with them when so many of them have grown up here. Never feel as though you cannot come to me. And don't feel guilty for honest feelings either. You can't always help how you feel, but you can control how you react. You have done well. Most ladies in your position would have made their displeasure clear to the world. You have kept your feelings carefully hidden, but I have an inkling that you are familiar with doing so."

"A little," she said wearily. They both had tears in their eyes.

"You mustn't do that, you know. It is just as harmful as taking your feelings out on others. Well, at least I have a reason for my tears now. Usually, I burst into hysterics over nothing at all!" she laughed, causing Kitty to follow suit. And that is how their husbands found them ten minutes later, laughing and crying in earnest.

"Take a good look, Oliver. I will forever say that an expectant woman is both beautiful and terrifying. At least tell me it's not my fault this time."

"Thomas!"

"Every time you cry, I am usually at fault, but I am almost positive it not me this time."

"No, Thomas, this is my fault," Kitty giggled. "At least, the start of it. The rest we can lay at Julia's feet."

Oliver seeming confused yet amused, cleared his throat. "Catherine, we will need to leave soon. We are to dine at the Willard's tonight."

"You poor dear," said Julia, before bursting into more laughter.

"You don't feel sorry for me at all!"

The gentlemen shared a look and began to ease their way from the room. Their wives never noticed their departure.

The evening couldn't end soon enough. The Willard's were always a trial for Kitty to be around, especially their eldest, unmarried daughter. Miss Anna Willard shared her family's constant visage of displeasure. Kitty and Julia had often said, between themselves, that she would be a very pretty girl if she would genuinely smile at least a little. Since meeting her sisters, the young woman had become even more unbearable. She apparently enjoyed the society of Jane and Lizzy, the former expressing her mutual enjoyment, as she usually did. Lizzy, however, seemed no more taken with her than she had been Mr. Bingley's sisters. The looks Miss Willard always directed at Kitty now, could only be described as calculating and smug.

She was currently making her way back to the party after seeing to a personal matter. As she glided along, she wondered if she could convince Oliver that they should leave a little early, but she quickly shook the thought away. He had actually been having an enjoyable conversation with the Viscount, and for Grandmother's sake, she did not want to ruin it. She was about to turn into the room when an irritating voice reach her ears, causing her to pause outside the door.

"I am still trying to figure it out. All the sisters are quiet on the subject, so I can only assume that a scandal is attached to the marriage," said Miss Willard. "They have nothing. Miss Bennet has informed me herself that a cousin is to inherit the estate. And Mr. Andrews does not display the usual actions of a man in love with his wife. He is cordial to her, but as one would be to their sister. If he was to marry one of them, surely he would much rather have married the eldest. She is very handsome, though it pains me to admit it. Or even the second. She is pretty and obviously intelligent. Mrs. Andrews is like a poorly done replica of them all. Even their youngest sister is better company. It seems all the charm passed the third and fourth daughters. No, I do not understand their arrangement at all, but that doesn't mean I won't."

She continued with her deductions, but Kitty had just tuned them out when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find her sister, Mary, standing there. She must have heard at least some of what Miss Willard said, for she sported a most pitying look. Kitty looked away and entered the room. She glanced neither to the left nor the right, but kept on her decided path. She found her husband and stood between him and their grandmother, pasted smile in place. Oliver looked at her questioningly, but she ignored it and added to the conversation where she could.

Later, Millicent helped prepare her for bed, and Kitty moved through the motions without saying much. If her maid found it odd, she wisely kept quiet on the subject. Her bed was turned down and Kitty climbed into bed and extinguished the light. She heard the knock followed by the door opening, but she remained quiet and waited to see what he would do. He stood there for several minutes before finally closing the door. It was many hours before she was able to stem her tears and rest.

"Madame?" a voice said. "Mrs. Andrews? Mrs. Andrews, are you well?"

Kitty blinked open her eyes. "Ugh, no, I feel awful."

"Should I send for the apothecary?" Millicent sounded worried.

"No. I just need a lie in, I think. Please inform Mrs. Croft that whatever she and my sisters decide is fine. Except for the linen. I actually do have an opinion on that. And send my regrets to Mrs. Bates. I am afraid I cannot visit with her today."

"Yes Ma'am. Anything else?"

"I do not wish to be disturbed. I shall ring if I need anything."

"As you wish, Madame."

Kitty quickly sunk into a deep sleep once more.

Oliver was perturbed. Something had changed in Catherine the night before, but he wasn't sure what. Something had just felt off. She had seemed to have an enjoyable time visiting with Julia Bates the day before, but at dinner and the ride home, something was wrong. Admittedly, things had not been right since they had departed Dalton in December. He was positive the presence of her sisters was a source of stress for her. They were a source of stress for himself, as well.

He didn't like sharing his home. When one had guests, there was always this restrictive feeling that came with it. Though it was his own home, he was obliged to see to the comfort of his guests first. He didn't like people getting in the way of what was familiar. Everywhere his wife was, at least one of her sisters was present. The eldest sisters were pleasant company, but he did not have the blinders that his friend's fondness for them offered. Miss Bennet's constant need to see the good in everything and everybody was boring, and Miss Elizabeth's wit was annoying in too large doses. Miss Mary, while improved in her attitude and dress, was still tedious in her lectures, and Miss Lydia was still too close to the spoiled child she was when they first left Longbourn, though he was pleased that she was learning what boundaries were. He missed it being only himself and his wife. He included his grandmother of course, but she never interfered as the sisters did.

When he was able, he went with his wife to the Bates' estate. He always enjoyed seeing his friend, and it was nice to leave the stress of home behind. It pleased him, also, to see Catherine happy. She and Julia got along very well. Thomas had shared his relief at his wife finally having someone she could become close with. He had feared he would need to take a house near her family soon. Both men loved their homes, but their female neighbors had always had a hard time integrating new ladies, often because they had wanted the local gentleman to choose one of their own daughters. They were positive their wives would lead the charge to make things easier for any new ladies who entered the area.

Catherine's absence from the breakfast table was now causing him further aggravation.

"Where is Catherine?" he asked, looking from sister to sister before settling on his grandmother.

"I don't know. I was just asking myself the same question," she replied.

He rang for Mrs. Croft. She usually saw her first thing, so he was sure she would know his wife's whereabouts.

"Her maid informed me that she was not feeling well this morning. She issued Mrs. Andrews orders for the day and said she had declined to send for the apothecary."

"Why was I not informed earlier?"

"I am sorry, Sir."

He strode from the room and made it up the stairs in record time. Not bothering to knock, he entered Catherine's room. It was dark, so he first went to a window and pulled back the drapes. There was movement and a groan from the bed.

"Catherine?"

"I asked to not be disturbed," he barely heard. Her words were muffled by her pillow.

"You are unwell?" She turned and sat up in bed, obviously shocked.

"Ugh, yes… no, I mean, ugh… I am unwell."

"Why did you not send for the apothecary?"

"I just need rest. I did not sleep well and we arrived home very late."

"Are you sure?"

He saw her frustration clearly. "Yes, now please, leave me alone."

"You're hiding something from me."

"I want to rest… alone. I will be fine tomorrow. Please leave." She laid back down and pulled her duvet over her head. Not to be deterred, Oliver walked over and pulled the cover back.

"What happened last night? Something happened to cause a change. What was it?"

"Nothing happened. Why do you feel as though you must know everything?"

"I don't appreciate being lied to, Catherine. What happened?"

She stared back at him defiantly. He might have found her adorable, had he not felt his own ire growing. She would tell him nothing. Taking her duvet once more, she covered herself and turned over.

"Fine," he growled. He stormed to the door. Yanking it open, he was surprised and further frustrated to see her sisters had been at the door listening. He swore he could feel the vein in his forehead pulsing like his father's used to. He composed himself and shut his wife's door. He eyed the shamed faced females before him. Well, three were shamefaced. Miss Lydia was amused.

"She wishes to remain undisturbed." Her older sisters nodded and curtsied. He had begun making his way to the hall door when he heard the youngest giggle.

"Not so perfect after all."

"Lydia!" Miss Elizabeth hissed.

Oliver decided to leave her to her sisters. He had enough to deal with.