Gentle Reader,

I'm going to try to keep this AN short, I promise. The reason I mentioned Darcy's autism in the previous chapter is that I've always identified with Darcy. Awkward, staring too much, unreadable facial expressions and incapable of reading facial expressions, mistaking people's interest levels. Well, a bit over a year ago, I got diagnosed with Autism and some pieces fell into place. I felt like we deserved more positive Autism representation, and I'm going to do it.

Unrelated, but I have been through a lot lately. A lot. And occasionally, when I have time, I've been rereading the comments on my stories to feel better and distract me. So thank you so, so much to the commentors, and please know I've not abandoned any stories.

Love,

RobinDesBois

The morning of October third dawned bright and sunny. Darcy would know, he'd been up for about an hour when the sun finally rose. He didn't like sleeping without Lizzie, but having a traditional wedding had been his idea, so there he was, in the apartment alone, no Lizzie curled up and using his chest as a pillow. He wasn't worried – in a few hours, he would have the privilege of feeling the pressure of her head on his chest for the rest of their lives. He smiled at the thought and pulled himself out of bed to start getting his things together.

Lizzie woke up in the very fancy hotel room Darcy had insisted on booking for her and the bridesmaids, when they decided to follow that particular wedding tradition. The incredibly soft pillows and high thread count sheets didn't quite make up for the fact that she woke up rather cold, despite Jane's presence. She smiled, knowing she'd have a permanent source of warmth after today. Her tranquility didn't last long, however.

"Lydia, what do you mean, I can't wake Lizzie up yet?" Lizzie heard her mother shouting through the door. " It's the biggest day of her entire life! She should be up getting her makeup done. She's not as lovely as my dear Janie, but it's amazing what they can do with makeup these days. And how are they going to have time to do her hair? Honestly, it's like you're all conspiring against my nerves."

"Jane, your mother is here," she mumbled groggily.

"Before the sun rises, she's your mother," Jane murmured.

"Mmm, wedding day, that's the maid of honor's job," Lizzie closed her eyes again, then opened them again when they heard a rap at the door. Wondering who else could possibly want in right now.

A porter, that's who. He rolled in a cart loaded with breakfast. Eggs, toast, pancakes, fruit, coffee, tea, juice, and a bouquet of roses filled the cart to the brim. The porter assured her that the tip had been taken care of when she reached for her wallet, and handed her two envelopes before walking back out. Lizzie looked down at the notes in her hand, and recognized Darcy's distinct handwriting on both envelopes – one addressed to herself, and one to her mother. She opened hers while her mother was fussing over making sure that she, the bridesmaids, and Gigi all had enough to eat.

Dearest Lizzie, I've been waiting for this day since I saw you holding the bouquet at the Gibson wedding. I've heard that brides sometimes forget to eat on their wedding day, and while I have the utmost faith in your common sense, I want to take care of you always, so please allow me this advance on my coming pledge to love and cherish. I made sure they had a lot of cream for the coffee and Earl Grey available. I can't wait to see you this afternoon. I suspect your mother arrived before breakfast, so there should be plenty to go around. Please ensure she gets my note. Love, Your Will

"Well, isn't that sweet of him to think of you, Lizzie. I do like that man." Lizzie was startled out of her reverie with the letter by her mother's voice.

"Oh, Mom, the other note's for you," she said, coming back to herself. Her mother looked quizzical as she opened the note, then started to smile as she read. After, in an unusual fit of reticence, she handed Lizzie the note.

Dear Mrs. Bennett, I know the other ladies are getting bouquets of their own today for the ceremony, and I wanted you to have one, as well. Not just in celebration of the wedding, but as a thank you for raising the woman of my dreams. I love your daughter with all my heart, and I will spend my life ensuring that she is taken care of – not that she needs help from me, but because she deserves the best. Please take the flowers on the cart as a small token of the thanks I feel for having Lizzie, as well as your family, in my life. William Darcy

Lizzie glanced over at her mother and pretended not to see her wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I don't know how many times I'm going to have to tell him to call me Fanny." She whispered. Lizzie patted her hand and suggested they start eating.

Darcy was packed and ready to go the night before, so he had very little to do before the wedding. He burnt his eggs and left his coffee in the French press so long it got cold again, but he didn't even notice. He hoped Lizzie's breakfast had been good. He hoped his sister didn't mind spending the night with the bride's side when she was technically on the groom's. He reminded himself that it had been Gigi's idea. He hoped Lizzie didn't suddenly remember all the reasons she'd rejected him three years ago, and make a run for it. His relief when Fitz and Bing arrived to head over to the venue was palpable.

Lizzie had a surprisingly relaxed morning. She enjoyed a bowl of fruit while her hair and makeup were being done, then watched and chatted while the others were being taken care of. Jane had asked their mother, after they'd eaten, to please check that the ceremony space was ready, and yes, they would make sure her lovely flowers were sent to her room when they left. The ceremony space could never have lived up to Fanny Bennet's impossible but loving standards, so the girls didn't have to worry about her nerves. They just hoped she didn't have enough time to redo the entire space.

Darcy found that getting to the venue had not relaxed him as much as he had hoped. As it turns out, before the ceremony, there wasn't a lot for the groom to do. He went to check the ceremony space, to ensure that everything was ready to go, and found Mrs. Bennet carefully examining each floral arrangement and haranguing the caterer. He liked Mrs. Bennet, and he was starting to see her as a mother figure, but he didn't think running into her this morning was going to be beneficial to his current state of anxiety, so he started to slowly back out of the door when he heard a voice behind him.

"Not running away, I hope, son."

Two hours before the ceremony, the photographers knocked on the door. Lizzie was in the middle of her manicure, but Jane let them in to start taking photos of the getting ready process. Mrs Bennet finally returned for her hair and makeup, and after Lizzie's nails were done, Jane announced she and the bridesmaids actually had a little surprise for Lizzie. Jane handed her a small box, and when Lizzie opened it she started laughing.

"We couldn't just not wear pink on Mean Girls day, Lizzie. We're all wearing matching underwear, too." Lizzie continued to laugh as she pulled out the lacy pink garter. She slipped it on below the one she had reclaimed the day before from Darcy's nightstand.

"Two garters? You're not going to take the other one off?" Jane asked.

"We like to keep our relationship full of surprises, Jane."

"Don't worry," Mr. Bennet said, clapping a hand on Darcy's shoulder. "I know you're not avoiding my wife so much as avoiding being in the way of my wife. I'm doing the same. Let's go."

Darcy followed his soon-to-be father-in-law to lobby of the Julia Morgan ballroom, where they sat next to the fireplace.

"You look like you could use a drink. Here – don't tell Mrs. Bennet I have this." Mr. Bennet handed Darcy a flask, and he concentrated on the burn of the whiskey as it flooded his mouth.

"Thanks," Darcy said.

"You're more than welcome. I know exactly how you feel – you're scared she's going to realize she's too good for you and make a break for it, aren't you."

"How did you –"

"Oh, because I felt the same way about 35 years ago."

"I'm going to tell you the truth, William," Mr. Bennet continued. "She is too good for you. She's too good for everyone. All three of my girls are. But the way she smiles when she looks at you, the way you go out of your way to make her happy, the way you support her but respect her boundaries. Well, you're the closest thing I could've hoped for to being good enough for her. When you called to ask for my permission to propose, I told you that was her decision. And she chose you. She's been the happiest I've ever seen her the last two years. She's not going anywhere except up the aisle my wife is pedantically checking as we speak. So what say we go get dressed?"

Lizzie and the girls had gotten through all of the hair and makeup prep when Gigi announced it was time for her to go join the groomsmen for the rest of the waiting and the photos. Jane took the dress down from where it was hung for the photos and carefully lifted it over Lizzie's head. Lizzie emerged from the lace and tulle to see her whole family smiling at her and her mother already tearing up a little bit. The photographer worked quickly to get photos of Jane and Mrs. Bennet fastening the many buttons on the dress, and Lizzie couldn't help but to smile at her reflection when she saw herself in the dress. Once the last button was closed, the bridesmaids jumped into action. Jane had just finished Lydia's zipper when, in a rare moment of quiet, they heard Gigi's voice in the hall.

"Ok, no one tell Lizzie."