Hi all! I'm new to this fandom and wanted to try my hand a modern AU. I hope you like it. I'm not English, while I've done quite a bit of research to get certain aspects right, I hope you forgive small errors. You will get updates every few weeks now, I've more or less completed writing it and will put it up once I edit each chapter!

I like modern adaptations, but many of them follow the cadence of the book too closely and the story becomes a bit predictable. I do enjoy that sometimes, but my favourite are the modern adaptations with a few twists. Hopefully it will appeal to you!

It has been rated mature only for certain scenes that describe some violence, but otherwise is teen rated. I can provide notes in the chapter summary of those scenes if anyone should wish to avoid them.

If there are any mistakes feel free to point them out. I'm open to all suggestions!

Some notes to begin with: - Meryton doesn't exist in Hertfordshire, I've based descriptions here on Broxbourne (maybe because it rhymes with Longbourne!) a small town of about 15,000 people.
- I don't particularly like the title, if as the story progresses anyone has suggestions please let me know!

This was it, the last coin she had left after her difficult journey to get away. She stared at the coin and thought about the past few weeks and how she had ended up here, in a town she didn't know the name of. She was brought out of her reverie by a chirpy barista. When had she walked up to the register? She meekly greeted 'Kitty' as it read on her name tag and asked for tea. Kitty said something that she didn't hear staring at the coin in her hand. She didn't need tea, maybe she should just leave here and save her coin for food.

Kitty waited patiently looking at the girl in front of her not sure who she was because she thought she knew everyone in their little town. The girl was staring at the 2 pound coin as if it were a life line. Kitty knew that look, and she decided to give her tea for free. She looked like she needed it, and a Bennet would never turn away someone in need. Making that decision, Kitty turned away from the register and started humming tunelessly. The girl was still looking at the money. Kitty softly said, "no worries on the bill. I make a mean cuppa. They don't like it when I experiment with the tea, but it'll be our little secret." Kitty smiled gently. She handed her the cup and saucer, "hopefully you'll like it."

Out of thin air, a steaming hot cup of tea appeared in front of the young woman. She hadn't really heard what Kitty had said. And tried to hand over the coin, when she heard this time, "no charge for you today. Just have a seat."

She nodded, saying nothing, and looked down at the tea wishing she could make conversation with this person. But she had no energy. She sat the cup and saucer on an empty table and took a seat. She noticed a toilet and decided she might as well see what she looked like. She was scared of what she might find reflected back to her, living the way she had been for the past few years. The cool water ran over her hands, and she almost forgot where she was as she stared into the mirror in the restroom. Her hair appeared unwashed and unkempt. Her coat barely protected her, but it had been a warm couple of weeks. Her once laughing eyes seemed almost dead as if the light had been stolen from them. She was surprised that the barista had even served her, she probably smelled worse than she looked. She wondered for a second why Kitty had given her tea for free, was it because she looked like she needed it? She tried to put that thought out of her head focussing instead on the kindness that allowed her to have tea this morning.

She sipped her tea and started thinking about her lot in life and how it had come to this. It was ironic that somewhere in London her brother had access to her large trust fund and here she was unable to buy herself tea. There was no wonder in the world anymore and it was all her doing. She wasn't even sure how she had managed to escape and get away from her so-called husband. It had been almost four years since she'd been duped by his character and eloped becoming Mrs. Wickham. It was obvious within the first few weeks that all he wanted was her body and money. He had no idea that she didn't have any control over her family's vast fortune as the trust had very specific instructions and she would not have access to it until she was 25. Till then all she had was her allowance. Her 'husband' had been distraught when he found out, never thinking to ask any questions, having presumed that she had access to her large trust fund.

She decided it was better not to dwell on the past and instead chose to look around this cozy looking café. She noticed that Kitty had come over with a scone and simply said, "don't worry, my sister Jane and her husband own this café. They won't mind me giving you a scone. I apologize in advance for this scone, Jane's the baker in our family and since she's not around mine just don't come out as well, no matter what I do!"

She tried to smile at Kitty, but it seemed like the muscles near her mouth had forgotten how to do that. Instead, she stared at the scone and said in a voice so soft that you'd miss it if you weren't paying attention, "thanks. I'll never forget your kindness." She started to get up when she finally noticed another person behind Kitty. A severe looking woman, a few years older than Kitty and herself. She'd spoken to Kitty, but only because she'd been so kind. This lady didn't seem kind and seemed to be scrutinizing her appearance. Her eyes widened realizing that she was being put under a microscope.

Kitty said, "oh, dear. Don't be afraid. This is my sister, Mary. I'm sorry if I overstepped, but if I read your situation correctly Mary could be of some help, or you could help each other."

Unsure what to do she blurted the first thing that came to her mind, "I thought you said your sister's name was Jane."

Peels of laughter erupted from Kitty and Mary smiled shaking her head at Kitty. "You're new to town, aren't you? Everyone knows the Bennet sisters here. There's 5 of us."

"You have 4 sisters?" again talking came naturally with Kitty than it had in a good long while and she was surprising even herself.

Kitty smiled, "yes, I do. I'm sure if you stick around, you'll meet our family. But never mind that. Mary runs a centre just across the road and she's in need of some help it since her previous caretaker has taken time off. You're obviously educated and perhaps you two could help each other?"

Wondering at the intentions of these people who seemed overly helpful she asked wearily, "how do you know that?" Why would they just offer her help? In her experience and especially at what she found in the past few years, people don't help you. They take advantage of you.

Kitty shrugged her shoulders, "I'm pretty good at reading people. You have a look in your eye that reminds me of Lizzy and Lydia, at least the Lydia I knew when we were children." She paused for a moment, looking off into the distance, and then continued, "when you came in it was clear that you hadn't always looked like this, you carry yourself differently from what your appearance suggests, an almost determined air. You didn't want charity and tried to pay for your drink. Plus, since you sat down you haven't been looking outside like most people. And it's not because we don't have a great view, it's the best view in Meryton and looks right out at the river. No, you've been staring at the bookshelf, and if I'm not mistaken staring rather longingly at the shelf one of my sisters has rather dramatically labelled, 'the best writers of days gone by' all women of course, Virginia Woolf, Mary Shelly, Elizabeth Gaskell and so many others from whom the inspiration for her own work arises."

During Kitty's explanation, the young woman at the table felt the quirk of her lips at the description of this other sister. She hadn't had company from women in the past few months in her 'whirlwind romance and elopement' to that good for nothing man, falling for his tricks that she should have been able to avoid. Kitty's forthrightness reminded her of herself, herself before these past few months. How her brother had loved her frankness.

She noticed that Mary hadn't said a word, just watching Kitty's assessment of her and her own reaction to that. But now, Mary looked her over, "you needn't answer Kitty's impertinent assertions. But she's right, I do need some help and perhaps you do too? How about for now, we just have some scones and tea?" With that she sat down directly opposite the young woman watching her discerningly. Mary had been through this countless times and she knew exactly how to size a person up. She ran a non-profit for those in need, in Lydia's honour, and she only took in those she thought wanted to help themselves. Sometimes, a person would come in and want food or money or a temporary shelter and she would happily grant them stay in what she called her overnight rooms. But she only really took in people for longer than a night or two who wanted to get back on their feet. The events in Lydia's life had served as lessons for all of them, and Mary knew that people could only change their circumstances if they wanted to. And this young woman looked like she was determined, and Mary knew immediately that she would help her as much as she could. Kitty was likely wholly accurate of this woman in front of them, although it might take some time for Mary to get the full story and decide if Lizzy needed to be involved or not.

Mary also hoped that in time this young woman would open up. Ever since Maria went on maternity leave, Mary needed increasing amounts of help with the centre. Maria had disappeared from their life when she went to uni. And she had returned after a toxic relationship needing the Bennets' help after her parents disowned her. Charlotte had been travelling and when she came back Maria had already been taken in by the Bennets. The childhood friendship between Maria and the Bennets had reasserted itself and Maria became an intrinsic part of the centre. Through this work Maria and Mary had quickly blossomed into something more a few months later by the time they found out that Maria was pregnant.

Despite Maria's warnings, Mary had thought she could do the work of two people. But it just wasn't possible. Mary could see that between the preparation of their coming child, the books, the crib, the nursery, and the centre's upkeep, she needed help. She couldn't say all that right now to this woman whose name she didn't know. She just had to wait, and it was nice to be able to take a bit of a break from trying to sort out how the electricity bill was nearly double what it should be. The centre wasn't in dire straits, but Mary was a sensible person and wouldn't allow for excess of any kind. She watched as the young woman carefully sipped her tea. In addition to Kitty's astute observations, it was clear this girl was from an old family, possibly part of the British establishment, by her accent, the way she held teacup and stirred her spoon. Kitty was right, this girl had been through the mill and had her own story to tell and would likely be perfect for taking over Maria's responsibilities.

So, I'm sure you've guessed by now who the mysterious lady wanting tea is?

Also, apparently the british upper crust has a way of holding a tea cup and stirring that I found a wikihow article about, so that's how Mary surmises more about the young girl's character.