Thank you all for your great, great kindness to me. Honestly, receiving reviews from you guys is the highlight of my week. They encourage me so much to write more, and to write to the best of my ability, so thank you.

I hope you are all well, and feeling good, and that life is being kind to you.

There are exciting things coming soon for our beloved characters...( ;) )

xoxoxox

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Jane lay in her husbands arms for a long time after, listening to the sound of his beating heart with no desire to move from his embrace. Edward's lips were resting against her forehead and his hand stroked the small of her back affectionately. Jane drew her hands up to his chest and had thrown her leg over his comfortably. He kissed her forehead as she shuddered involuntarily, so he reached down and pulled a blanket from the bottom of the bed up around Jane.

"You get so cold so quickly" he commented, "I miss your pregnant days when you are always warm, then we did not need all these blankets.

"Thank you, but excuse me" Jane said, looking up at him, "I have no clothes on, it is natural I would be cold. It is only you who is perpetually warm"

"I know" he said, grinning mischievously and lowering his head to kiss between her breasts.

Jane closed her eyes and sighed happily, moving her fingers through his hair. She pulled on his hair slightly so that he looked at her. "Do not dare try and distract me, Edward Rochester".

He chuckled deeply, closing his eyes.

"Make me".

She pulled out from under him, wrapping herself firmly in the blanket so that his chances of distracting her further were ended immediately. He sighed deeply, looking disapprovingly at his wife.

"Temptress" he said,"What makes you think I won't just unfold you from that blanket and distract you to my hearts content".

"You would not dare" she said knowingly, "You would not risk my disapproval".

"Wouldn't I?" he asked leaning in to kiss her, but she drew back shaking her head. He stopped, and she lightly brushed her lips against his teasingly.

"Not for a moment, Mr Rochester".

"Mmm" he grunted, bringing his mouth inches from hers, "Kiss me"

She opened her mouth to him and he engulfed her in passionate kisses. She felt lightheaded and had lost all sense of her surroundings before such feelings were dissolved instantly. He pulled away from her. She moaned her dissatisfaction.

"You see Ms Rochester, I have power over you too".

"I never doubted it for a moment".

Smiling at him, and receiving an apologetic kiss, she lay down and once again covered him once again in blankets as she relaxed into his arms.

Some time had passed before he spoke her name thoughtfully into the night air.

"Hm?"

"Did you mean what you said earlier? About feeling guilty about the amount of time we spend together as of late?"

Jane paused, thinking.

"I do not fear the time we spend apart taking care of our son. Though I would like to spend every moment caring for him with you, it is simply not realistic. We would both burn out from exhaustion. But that being said, when Henry is asleep, or contented, there is no other place in the world I would rather be than with you, in whatever way or whatever capacity. But now that our family has been here for several weeks, all of that vital and fleetingly rare free time is taken up with tending to our guests. Many nights I collapse into bed without even giving you so much as a kiss. I only wake several hours later to find you asleep beside me. In that way, I worry that I am neglecting you in the face of everyone else, and that I am doing so because I trust you would forgive me of my shortcomings as a wife".

Rochester looked to Jane with a mingled look of confusion, incomprehension and sympathy. He answered with such a resonant honesty that Jane was left in no doubt of his feelings.

"You confuse me, Jane, because I must admit that since having Henry I have only felt stronger love from you than ever before. I did not know that having a child together could bond us in the way it has, just like I did not knowing that loving someone to the unfathomable degree that I love you was possible. It is unfortunate that our free time is taken up with unfortunate family problems, but as you have reminded me many times before when I am complaining of my house being constantly taken up, it is the price of having family".

"I would not change it" Jane said, "I do not forget the days I did not have cousins, friends, or you".

"I know you wouldn't" he replied, kissing her forehead, "I know that you are just tired, because you have been busy being an exceptional mother".

Jane shook her head,

"Please do not tell me such. You say it often, and it does not make me feel like it is any more true"

"I will tell you such, for although you hate flattery, you delight in truth".

Jane lifted her head, propping it up on her hand.

"Can I be honest with you for a moment? So honest that you may mistake it for flattery?"

"Of course" he said, "For you know I am far less pure than you and delight in being praised".

"Usually the people who love hearing their own praise are those unworthy of true compliments to their character"

"Exactly, so proceed".

She shot him a warning look, but his innocent smile illuminated by the fire softened her feeble attempt at being stern.

"You are a better father then I ever imagined, even though I thought I had imagined the perfect father. You have managed to far surpass that. And as for a husband- I know that there is no better husband anywhere in this world. I do not care how long I would have to look, or how wide my searches stretched, I know I would never find a person who would not become a mere shadow in the light of your presence".

She paused, looking into his dark and feeling eyes.

"My god, how much I love you".

She sat up, letting the blankets fall from her shoulders. She reached her hand up and traced his face softly, taking in every line and every groove of it. She was positive she could do this in her sleep, for she had done it a hundred times before, but she never grew tired of surveying his face.

"What can you possibly see in me?" he whispered, looking to his wife for the answer he did not understand.

Jane ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes, opening then lazily only when her hands had left his mass of curls. A thin sheen of sweat from the nights lovemaking still covered his face, and the fire light illuminated the places where such traces remained most. Jane moved over him as he sat up and pressed her lips to his. She breathed into his dizzying mouth, feeling her mind dissolve into sheer feelings of love.

Jane wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer to her. The smile which played across his face caused a rush of warmth within her that had nothing to do with his experienced and overwhelming kisses. He groaned as his hands covered her smooth skin, resting in the small of her back and pushing her throbbing core closer to him. The masculine sound of his pleasure in her ear sent flutters through her body. She reached down, not breaking her kiss, and took him in her hand, guiding him into her slowly. She could not wait a moment longer for him. With one deep and intentional trust, she moved him inside her. Jane grabbed the headboard to steady herself as Edward groaned deeply. Then they moved together slowly, enjoying the maddening pace of soothing their desperate desires. Jane watched her husband, trying desperately hard to keep her focus on his contorting, masculine, face.

"Mmm" he moaned into her collarbone as he quickened their pace. It was a sound she knew was only for her, and it was the most beautiful melody the world had ever composed. Jane pressed her forehead to his, only able to brush her lips against his, for she needed her mouth for deep, steadying breaths. He smiled at her action quickly before his face contorted again into painful and urgent need. He pushed her hips quicker and deeper into him so that they were both gasping for air and release. With one final thrust, and with the sound of her surrender, Jane felt shock surge through her entire body, lighting every nerve within her. She concentrated very hard so that her husband could finish, and at the feeling of his release within her, she fell back onto the bed, landing amongst their pillows, trying very hard to catch her breath.

Still recovering with slow, steadying breaths, Edward turned over and placed his chin on his wife's stomach. She looked at him over her heaving chest, putting her fingers in his curls to show the affection for him that she couldn't yet speak.

"Mmm" she sighed, pushing her head back to look at the ceiling. She felt him kiss her stomach, resting his head on her. Without looking, she searched for the hand that instantly closed around hers reassuringly.

. . . . . . . .

Over the next few days, Jane felt wonderfully connected to her husband as they moved through their daily routines. This was not to say that she did not feel close with him before, but her slight insecurities of how she had treated him of late were resolved through talking with him, and the full confidence in her ability to balance all in her life had been restored. She noticed a shift in her husband too, for he was easier in mind and less concerned with his list of things to do. All felt very right between them.

The Franklin's had decided it was time to leave with Mary and return to their house in a neighbouring county. It was not especially far- perhaps a two and a half hour carriage ride, but Jane knew the distance meant far more to them than simply distance. Jane suspected that both Diana and Mary loved being in the Rochester home because there was such a sense of calmness and absolution in what was right. But on their own, Jane sensed it would be a different atmosphere between the sisters. Diana still cared very much for what the Captain's relatives thought of her, and although she never would have abandoned Mary for their approval, Jane felt that she was slightly apprehensive for what reprimands may possibly come. For Mary, however, the distance from the Rochester's home meant something far more personal. Nearly every hour of her free time had been taken up with assisting Father Andrew in some way. Jane was not sure if it was because she admired him, found him a comfort, or saw him as more, but there was a noticeable shift in her mood when she learned she would be moving so far away.

Although he never showed it in any outward way, Edward was also glad that the guests were leaving. He was gracious and very good to them as always but, like Jane, he very much valued alone time, and the privacy of being free to conduct himself in his own home as he liked. Jane also guessed that it would be a relief to Edward to have some space from Captain Franklin, in spite of them being friends. Captain Franklin, though good-natured and humoured, was still young in ways and gravitated towards Mr Rochester's maturity in order to validate his choices and opinions. He often consulted his friend of an evening, and though Edward gave honest and fair answers that the Captain appreciated, Jane could tell at times Edward was bored with the self-conscious element of the Captain's character that always strove to impress the people he was surrounded by.

With all of this, it was also difficult to care for Henry with so many people in the home. Henry's parents were not able to walk him up and down the hallways at night, for in doing so they ran the risk of waking all the guests who slept along the same corridor. Neither Jane or her husband slept well anymore, so also being confined to their bedroom when they could have been up doing other things was hard to accept.

The night before the guests departed, Jane and Edward hosted a dinner that the Eshton's and Father Andrew were invited to. Jane and her husband talked at length about whether it was a good idea or not to invite Father seeing as it was sure to only break Mary's heart. But as Jane argued to Edward, no amount of physical space could have pushed him from her mind, just as such could not be done with Jane and Edward if they were to be separated from each other. In the end he had agreed, and Father Andrew arrived with much enthusiasm for the night. It made Jane very sad to watch them, for she was painfully aware of what Mary must have been thinking. She had at one time herself experienced what Mary must have been thinking- how do I go on living my life without the person I love? Of course it was different, for Mary's love was a far shallower river in comparison to the ocean of emotion Jane had for her husband when she had been forced to leave him. But this was all Mary had known of love and this was devastating to her.

After supper was finished, the ladies made their way into the sitting room in order to have tea while the men remained in the dining room for a drink.

"So" Anne said, sitting on the couch across from the one that Jane and Diana sat on, "Where is little Henry Rochester tonight?"

"He is upstairs with Jenny and some of the other girls" Jane said, "Thankfully they enjoy spending time with him, and it gives me and Edward a break".

"Which you desperately need" Anne said, smiling to Jane before taking a sip of her tea.

Jane smiled, "They say that the first few months are the hardest, and I pray to God that such is true, for I cannot imagine things becoming more difficult than this".

Mary rounded the corner, stepping into the room with a heavy, dejected step. Her hands were in front of her, and she gazed at the floor as she made her way over to the couches where the others sat.

"Father Andrew is just leaving" she said, sadly, "I thought I would say goodbye".

"Oh" Jane said quickly standing up, "Father Andrew's gloves were left in here. I did not know he was leaving so soon. Mary, would you like to bring them to him?"

She hesitated but shook her head.

"I have already said my goodbye, and do not wish to have another".

"Then I shall try and find him before he leaves, excuse me for a moment please".

Jane hurried from the room but there was no need to do so. Father Andrew stood in the doorway of the house, looking out into the night with as much pensive energy as someone willing to wait there all night. Jane stopped abruptly when she realised there was no need to rush and observed him from a far. He turned at the sound of her footsteps and looked upon her, his vicar hat in his hands. His smile was sad.

"Beautiful night" he said, somewhat passive in his clearly occupied mind. Jane stepped up beside him, standing on the front step with him.

"Indeed" she said, "Far too beautiful a night not to admire".

"I am lucky, my coachman is always on time, but tonight he is not. It has given me a chance to enjoy the lovely scenery here".

Jane noticed the sadness in his voice and couldn't help but wonder if it was because of the news he received mere hours ago of Mary's departure. She did not know what he thought of her in a potentially romantic way, but her certainly cared for her as a person, almost a friend- that much was evident. While grappling with herself in wondering what could be said, Father Andrew turned to Jane.

"Ms Rochester, you strike me as the type of person I could entrust my deepest secrets to and never fear that they would be shared".

"I try very much, Father, to not share the things people tell me in confidence with anyone else, although I do not keep secrets from my husband if he was to ask something".

"Oh no!" he said quickly, "No, I know that, and I would not ask you to keep something from him, for he strikes me as an equally confidential person".

Jane waited for him to proceed, but he did not. He sighed deeply, and looked up into the sky.

"You do not strike me as the type of person who has many secrets".

"No" he answered truthfully, shaking his head, "No secrets. I rather think that at times though I have my own personal predicaments that are unique to myself, that no one can truly understand. I am a vicar, you see, and it is my job to always be a beacon of hope and guidance to people. In Bath I was unimportant and often went unnoticed in my daily actions. Here, I am constantly busy, constantly being analysed- as any good priest should be kept in line. But it has made me think in great detail about my future, and my own right to happiness in it".

Jane looked at him.

"You see, Ms Rochester, some people choose their own happiness over doing what is right. Other people choose their own happiness over what societal customs demand of them. I am not saying this is a good thing, or something I would encourage, but it has occurred to me that I will never have that option as a priest. Not even for a moment of consideration. My life always must abide within what people at large deem to be correct and proper, and indeed I wish to be that. But if I was sure my happiness would come from something that is not wrong, but also not acceptable, I would be forced to admit that I would always be unhappy in my future".

Jane had a horrible, sinking feeling that she knew what he alluded to. His words had confirmed her greatest fear- that he would never choose love over what society deemed to be right. She paused before responding, careful of the fact that her words may give away more of the situation than what Father Andrew believed people to know.

"You are right, it sounds like a very difficult situation to be in-"

"But I do not complain" he corrected himself quickly, "I love what I do".

"I am very sure of that" Jane said, kindly, "But I also know that to live under the constant eye of others judgement leaves you with a lack of individuality that must be difficult, in spite of how much you enjoy your calling".

He nodded, "Indeed. Especially because the goodness I seek is exactly that- good. I am just not sure what others would call it".

"Father Andrew, in yours and Mary's conversations, has she told you about her brother, St John Rivers?"

"Briefly. She told me he was a missionary and is abroad at present".

"Yes. St John is also a kind, good, selfless man who has devoted himself to serving God with all of his ability. He also asked me to be his wife and serve with him in India".

Father Andrew looked truly surprised at this. He paused, looking perplexed.

"I did not know" was his simple reply.

"You know of course mine and my husbands story".

He nodded.

"Well, when St John asked me to marry him there was no good reason for me to say no. He was decent and honest, and I knew would provide for me. He was the exact type of man that I have always been told would make a respectable husband. But when he proposed, there was only one person who entered my mind, and because I knew the honest and pure love of that person, I preferred to remain unmarried rather then trapped in a loveless marriage. St John chose what he thought was expected of him, and now he is in India, constantly ill, in poor health, and can only write on rare occasions. I speak only from personal experience for myself, but looking at all I have been given and how with my husband I can be free to be fully who I am, I made the right choice that many people would not have made out of fear of judgement. I allow God to be the only one with a right to judge my life, and for me that is enough"

The sound of a rolling carriage broke the thoughtful gaze between Father Andrew and Jane. He looked at her in wordless understanding and nodded.

"Thank you, Ms Rochester, for your honesty. Few people are able to show such with me, it is more refreshing than you know".

As his carriage stopped in front of the house, Jane curtsied customarily to him.

"Of course. Have a safe ride home. I am sure we shall see you very soon. Sunday, in fact".

"I look forward to us meeting then" he said, smiling.

. . . . . . . . .

When Jane returned to the sitting room she found it filled with Mr Eshton, Captain Franklin and her husband entertaining the ladies gathered there. Her heart warmed for the group, for they were all wonderful people that she valued immensely. They were all unique individuals who spoke and thought with a freedom that was encouraging. Although Mr Eshton and Captain Franklin were not the husbands to their wives that Mr Rochester was to Jane, they were respectful and kind, and loved their wives in their own ways. Most importantly, everyone gathered was happy- even Mary's grim countenance had lifted in the face of the people joined before her. She smiled and laughed with them, occasionally seeming to completely forget all the troubles that were sure to lay ahead for her.

When Mary caught sight of Jane hovering near the door she called to her and the group all turned to look at her.

"Jane, come, you must hear this" Edward said, "Eshton has been telling us all of his time in London and the interesting characters he meet there".

"You would have hated them" Eshton said, "I correct myself, Ms Rochester, you are not capable of hate. But you would have found them quite silly as you tolerate no nonsense, despite being married to Edward here".

"Excuse me, but I am sure the same could be said of you"

"Indeed, but Ms Eshton here is wise enough to not mention it"

"Or to overlook it completely" she murmured to Mary, who grinned.

"Come, tell me Mr Eshton, I should love to know" Jane entreated as she sat beside her husband. She felt his hand reach for hers and, for once, she obliged his affection in front of their friends.