Jane, too anxious to see what was downstairs, did not take long getting ready. She sought a blue dress that had always been a little big on her which now fit perfectly and when it was on she pinned her hair back simply so that she was presentable. As she descended the staircase into the main hall she heard oddly familiar voices- but who was it? In rounding the corner of the sitting room her eyes fell upon Diana and Mary Rivers, talking enthusiastically with Mr Rochester. As soon as she had come into view the sisters had noticed her, and as all their faces became alight with happiness they pulled her into a tight hug, squealing with happiness. As Jane hugged them she opened her eyes to see Edward standing behind her. She smiled at him brightly and he smiled back at her.

"Diana, Mary! What are you doing here?"

"We are here to see you of course!'

'But how?" Jane asked, still surprised.

"Mr Rochester arranged it all. He wrote us to invite us, but made us promise to keep it a surprise".

"I do not know what to say!"

"My god Jane, you look so lovely, so happy. And you are-" , But Diana stopped.

They looked to Jane and saw her condition. Glancing at each other quickly, they looked back at Jane.

"You are with child?"

Jane beamed, unable to contain any of her raw emotions in the moment. She thought there was too much happiness in her, that it would just seep out from every fiber of her being.

"I am"

They were all pulled once again into a tight hug, and the girls repeated again and again how excited they were for Jane.

"Ladies" said Mr Rochester, "I do not wish to intrude on your reunion any further-"

"No, no you must stay" Mary said, "For we are family now, and we all shall be excellent friends to one another. We do not wish to expel you from our company".

Mr Rochester looked to Jane, who nodded warmly.

. . .

"So after you two were reunited, you were married within two days?"

"Yes, just enough time to acquire a priest"

"That is all it took?"

"Nothing of what had been planned before mattered anymore. No dress, no feasts, no carriage that was to head for Paris. To have each other was more than enough", Jane said warmly.

"But how did you know that you were truly right for each other?" Diana asked, almost leaning off her chair in earnest interest.

"Because the person you truly love will never requite thought or contemplation. From the moment I first spoke to Jane the question never entered my mind if she was the right person, for she was the only person I could ever love from that point on".

Mary, who's chin rested on her hand, sighed heavily.

"And was it the same for you, Jane?"

Jane looked to her husband and in their glance they exchanged a shared thought. They had discussed this privately before. But if Jane gave Mary the honest answer there would be something innate about the nature of their relationship that would be impossible to capture in explanation. She could never know, as her husband knew, how she grew to love him slowly as she came to realize he was the home she had always been in search of. So, instead, Jane answered honestly, but shallowly in comparison to what she truly felt.

"It was not quite love at first sight for me, nor even after our first conversation. Rather it came on gradually, with every word we exchanged, I believe I came to love him a little more and more".

Diana and Mary smiled at one another.

"And have you found marriage to be at all difficult?"

"In ways it is" Jane replied truthfully, "Because you hold the happiness of the person you love most with you at all times. You always worry if you are loving enough, supportive enough, giving enough. But if you know how to be honest, and communicative, then all can be worked out".

Edward nodded,"Marriage is more a responsibility than a difficulty. It should be an honor rather than a burden to want to hold your partner's well being with, or even above your own".

"How wonderful".

"But Diana, Mary, you must tell me more about yourselves" Mr Rochester said kindly, "I fear Jane has the pleasure of knowing you both, and I neither".

"Well-"

At that moment, Leah stepped around the corner.

"Sir, Ms, dinner will be ready in an hour or so"

"Thank you, Leah" Mr Rochester said. "Ladies, would you like to be settled in your rooms before dinner? I do not mean to cut your story short and yet I do not want you to be uncomfortable at dinner if you would like to rest for a while before. In leaving our narrative here, I shall have something to look forward to before dinner".

Jane was touched, and yet was not surprised, by Edward's kindness. Though he knew very little of them yet, for they had asked Jane and him a great deal of questions, he was listening with great interest- taking clear measures to make them feel comfortable and at ease.

"I'm sure after the journey you are tired" Jane said, touching Mary's shoulder, "Come"

"I would not refuse a chance for a rest" Diana said, gratefully.

And with that, Jane brought them up to their rooms while Mr Rochester went to answer some mail that had come earlier in the afternoon.

. . .

"Jane, he is a dream" Diana had said, sitting on her bed and smiling at Jane.

"I have never meet a man so intelligent, or kind. He did not treat us as inferiors, rather we were given the benefit of the doubt rather and not judged under preconceived notions".

"No, Edward is not interested in rank, or fortune as a way of dividing people. Rather he values people who are honest and interesting. I fear he is rather wonderful, in every way".

The door opened as Mary entered. Though they had just left her at her room across the hall she had quickly discarded her bags and come to join them once again.

"Look at you Jane, you are as gitty and as overcome as a child. What good friends we shall all be" Diana continued,

"Oh yes, I can tell it now" Mary agreed enthusiastically.

Jane smiled at them both, and they inquired after her look.

"I am just so happy to see you two again. I have missed you greatly and often wondered how you were doing".

"We are always quite well, Jane. Especially with all you have given us".

Jane shook her head, "I could never repay your kindness to me, not even for all the gold in the world".

They laughed together, "What strange notions of family you have, Jane".

"And speaking of!" Mary said, rising, "Jane, you are expecting! How dare you not tell us".

Jane laughed, backing towards the door.

"I must let you two unpack and freshen up. Otherwise we will be here until 2 this morning just talking. At supper we will fill each other in on everything".

And with that, she was gone from the room.