Thankyou all for the great comments that most people have left. I will say, that one guest left really rude comments and I was surprised that anyone would think those things as horrible as they are. I'm not going to go into them, but I hope that person thinks about what they said and what would motivate them to say those things. To the rest of you, we only have maybe 5-6 chapters left on this journey. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am!

Continued from last chapter.

The next day both Will and Richard woke up bright and early to make it to the hospital with a little time before hospital hours began. "How are you this morning, Bea?" enquired Richard as soon as he walked into the room.

She gave him a smile filled with emotion, "my headache won't go away. Hi Will. When do you go back to work?"

"Hi, Elizabeth. Morphine not helping?" asked Will.

"It's not that kind of a headache," she said ambiguously.

Richard knew instantly what had caused this emotional mood in his best friend. "Was Franny Bennet here by any chance?"

Lizzy looked away from them both pretending to be very interested in a stain on the wall.

"I'll kill that woman someday for the way she treats you," he spat.

"Oh, leave it, Ruff. I'm fine," she tried to placate him.

"No, what did she say this time?" he crossed his arms.

"That I was clumsy to fall down the stairs and crack a rib." Elizabeth tried to infuse that with humour but they both saw through it.

Richard was fuming now, "I presume you told her that you'd fallen to not worry her too much? It was Thomas who brought her here wasn't it."

She said nothing. Richard left the room fuming.

Will was stunned. How could anyone treat this beautiful, phenomenal woman this way? "You tried to reduce her worry by not telling her the truth and she rebuked you? You told me that you and she don't have a good relationship. But you didn't tell me that she treated you so critically that she'd blame you for something out of your control."

She tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace, "I've grown used to it. Sometimes I truly feel like a failure, I go around talking about human rights and can't get my mother to understand my own choices. But she is what she is. I can't change her."

"But you suffer, then," he said gently.

"I wouldn't really call it suffering. I just dislike it," she tried to talk without letting her emotions get out of control. They always seemed to be on edge these days.

"It's more than that, Elizabeth. I can see it."

"I've gotten adept at dealing with this."

"You shouldn't have had to."

A tear fell out of her eye landing on the pillow. He wiped it off her cheek. "

You don't always need to be so strong, Elizabeth. Especially now." Seeing her so sad pained him and he wished he could take away all her hurt.

She didn't say anything, but knew he was right. Seeing him reach out to her, tell her she deserved better made her feel safe in a way she wasn't sure she'd felt before. Richard would look out for her, but he rarely stayed by her side letting her talk like this because he was one of those constantly moving, constantly acting people like her. Will was more thoughtful, more reserved, she noticed.

Meanwhile, Richard was 'talking' to Thomas. They'd never gotten along. Despite the 'penance' that Thomas was doing for Lydia running away Richard thought he was an idiot though he'd not say it so directly. Ok, he was taking care of his wife. But it's not like he was helping his daughters much. In Richard's eyes he was still very much the indolent man that Bea had described to him before his daughter ran away. "You and I, don't like each other. And that's fine. But Franny won't be coming to see Lizzy until we decide otherwise. You can deal with her how you see fit. But enough is enough." He hit his hand on the table.

"Richard, I'd thank you not to tell me how to handle my family business."

"I'm more family to her than you are, Thomas. And if Franny comes around, I will give her a talking to that she won't forget."

Jane, ever the peacekeeper, "Lizzy is much more fragile than she lets on. And you know mom doesn't help."

Thomas walked off, unsure what to do now. Franny wasn't going to shut up about Lizzy until she saw her more often. She cared about her daughters, but she went about it in the wrong way.

As Richard walked into the hospital room, he didn't fail to notice the tableau in front of him. Will and Bea talking to each other softly and both of them looking at peace, their serenity was good to see. It made Richard recognize how right it could be between them.

She noticed him walking in, "you spoke to dad?"

"Spoke at him is more accurate. I don't know why you keep talking to them."

She knew that he wasn't wrong, but she couldn't admit it so candidly. "Richard, I can't keep having this discussion with you. I love my parents. Whatever they are, loud, indolent, embarrassing, idiotic. They're the only parents I have."

"I know, love. I know. I can't help it though." Richard smiled at her knowing that he only wanted what was best for her.

…

Lizzy was to be discharged, finally. She was so happy. She called G and told her that she shouldn't come to Netherfield. G was full of concern and wondered if her friend was angry with her about Wickham and that's why she didn't want her at Netherfield. Her self esteem was on the mend but it wasn't fully healed, her trauma not wholly processed. Lizzy quieted her worries, and told her about Richard, the cousin of one and best friend of the other. Lizzy had been putting this off for a few days knowing that G might be annoyed with her for hiding another thing. But she knew that she needed to give G the choice.

G was full of a different kind of worry at hearing that, "he's going to stay with you? Does he know where I am?"

"Yes, and yes. He understands that you're not ready to meet him yet. And is willing to let you decide when you want to meet."

"He is?" she asked doubtfully.

Lizzy smiled saying, "yes, he understands me and trusts that I have your best interests at heart. I doubt he'd trust anyone else with this."

"That doesn't sound like Richard at all."

She reminded her young friend, "darling, you haven't known him in 4 years. You've changed, he's changed, your brother is changing too."

"He is?" again, G doubted this.

They decided that G would come talk to her before Richard arrived. They talked about many things, but the one thing G wanted to know was about her and Richard. She decided to bring up the topic herself and metaphorically patted her on the back for her courage that had been growing slowly with therapy, "how long will Richard be here?"

Lizzy shrugged, "I don't really know, love. A couple of weeks maybe."

"He took time off work?" this surprised G. Like Wills, the Richard she knew was a workaholic.

Lizzy nodded.

"How do you know him?" G asked.

"Well I work with the FVEY sometimes," said Lizzy ambiguously.

"You're best friends? Richard was always friendly. But for him to care so much about someone, take time off to be with them. That is surprising."

It was Jane who walked into the room and answered for her, "they're best friends and love each other platonically."

G's eyes became wide, "love?"

Innocently Jane added, "I used to think that she and Rich would make a good relationship. But I know better now."

Lizzy rolled her eyes, "look what you did, Jane." She continued for G's benefit "like you and I love each other, except Richard is a man." Was all she said to G, hoping that she'd get the picture.

G left back for the centre. She was intrigued. In the past few weeks, daily therapy had been so helpful. She was doing a lot better. She felt like she was truly enjoying herself. Wickham was in jail. She was getting a divorce. It was all thanks to Lizzy. She no longer felt the need to look over her shoulder anymore. It felt wonderful. But Richard, he was going to be here for some time. She didn't want to avoid Lizzy for that long, not when she still wanted to take care of her out of her love for her. She wondered how she would handle the next few weeks.

…

Richard helped Bea into bed. She rolled her eyes feigning annoyance and pulled open the covers of the bed inviting him in.

"It's been ages since we had a sleepover, Bea. Do you remember the last time?" he smiled.

"When you came back from Mozambique?" she said immediately remembering how broken he'd been when he came back.

Elizabeth still wasn't allowed to move much. "Yes, 2021." He had a hollow look in his eyes as he said that.

She said surely, "tell me about Belarus." It wasn't a question. "I can see your eyes, Ruff. Your big sad eyes."

He sighed, knowing that this conversation had been coming for a while, "we lost someone."

She looked at him sharply, "why didn't you tell me?"

"You needed time. I needed time. I don't think you ever met Moustafa. He was a good man with a family. It was very sudden. I couldn't help him. I wish it were me instead. But all I have is a scar and he lost everything."

Her eyes shone with tears, emotional when he shared his guilt with her. "I wish I could help you more. I wish I could take your pain away for you. I'm so sorry, even if it means very little."

He looked over at her, "love, you have no idea. Even now, you're the only thing that keeps me afloat. You're in enough pain for what you did for my family. Taking care of them when I couldn't is enough for me."

"I'm not in pain now," was all she said. She knew he needed to say it and she'd do what she could for him.

They spoke of Belarus for a little longer. He asked her about her time in the past 6 weeks. She gave him a brief version of events in the past few weeks, meeting G, how she felt about her friend, her family, Olivia, meeting Will, and how they'd started spending more time together.

He just listened and then said, "what dyu think it'll be like if you find someone?"

"I'm not going to date Will Darcy, if that's what you mean," she huffed absolutely certain that no course of action could possibly lead her there.

Richard smiled, "funny how your mind went there. I didn't say anything about him. I just meant generally, with us as we are."

She took his hand, hopeful that he would, "I'll be happy for you when you do, Ruff. You deserve someone."

He shook his head sadly, "how can I be with anyone when all I am is this broken old soldier? How can I take my darkness and taint anyone else with it?"

She wanted to hug him, but her damn ribs didn't allow that, "oh, love. A burden shared is a burden halved. Be gentle with yourself. It'll be worth it."

Richard kissed her temple, "I think, the love we have, the love we share, is enough for me."

"One day it may not be," said Lizzy.

He changed the mood with a tease, "as long as whoever you end up with doesn't mind me sharing your bed every once in a while, I don't mind."

She said seriously, "if they mind, then they're not someone I could be with."

They stayed up for a few hours talking, until he heard a soft snore on her side. He chuckled softly and continued talking to the empty room knowing there were somethings he needed to say out loud whether or not anyone was listening. He had his ministry appointed therapist, but he wasn't Bea.

…

G was struggling to come to terms with the information that she had been given at Netherfield. Richard and Lizzy were best friends? Her thoughts were jumbled and confused. She decided to think about it one at a time. Growing up she'd known that Richard hadn't been cut from the same cloth as the rest of the Fitzwilliams. He went along with things mostly because he was expected to. He rarely went for family events and when he did he showed his face made some small talk and left after 15 minutes. He'd wanted more from his life and had left for the army at 18 after which he'd been assigned to SIS. She didn't know much about what he did but if there was one person in her family who would get along with the Bennets she knew it'd be him. She'd also heard that Wills had been the one to get Lizzy to the hospital and she didn't really know what to think about that. Lizzy had said that he was changing. But she seriously doubted that changing meant that he'd throw his entire belief system out the window. She couldn't imagine Wills interacting in any way with Lizzy which wouldn't end in a shouting match. Though Lizzy had told her about some of their meetings that had been more than civil. She wanted to see it with her own eyes and perhaps that was the trick to let curiosity about that guide her rather than letting her own shame or fear in meeting them be the guide. Meeting Richard was less challenging in her eyes than meeting Wills. While she felt she'd let them both down, Richard had always been more forgiving than Wills, even if that wasn't saying much. She knew her brother could hold a grudge stubbornly till the world ended. She put her brother out of her head and concentrated on the decision in front of her. Was she ready to meet Richard?

…

Will Darcy wanted nothing more than to go to Meryton and see Elizabeth. He knew it wasn't a good idea. But he needed a distraction before going back to work. He called Richard instead and asked about her, hoping to hear her voice.

Richard smiled at his concern, "she's fine, Darce. Nights are still hard, she barely slept, but she's a trooper."

Darcy was wondering what he meant, "it's not like you're the only one helping her. Charles and Jane are there too."

Richard was shaking his head, he wanted Will to understand this. "My only reason for being here is to take care of her."

Darcy knew that she needed help. Despite her bravado, she was still fragile. He knew he shouldn't be jealous. But how could he not be. "You're sharing a room?' he asked flatly.

Richard laughed, "what? Are you jealous?"

Never one to dissemble, "well, yes. Of course I am."

Richard wondered how deep the jealousy ran. Would he let them be who they were, no questions or judgment, have a sleepover. He changed tact, there was no point discussing this when it's possible that nothing still might come of it. "On a more serious note, how do you feel about her. Now you've had time to think?"

Darcy smiled just thinking about her, "I think I love her. There's no reason for this. I just do. You told me about big things in her life, her sister, your mission. But it's the little moments that made me realize how much I care about her. The way she's dedicated, her kindness, her spontaneity, how her nose crinkles when she reads, how she laughs with her whole body, her eyes are the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I can't get those out of my mind."

Richard was happy at the Darcy's response. He thought he'd give them a hand. "Why don't you talk to her?" Without waiting for a response he went to her room and said, "you've a phone call, love." Richard said in a sing song voice.

Lizzy asked, "what? Why didn't whoever it is just call me?"

"Because they didn't want to bother you and thought bothering me would be less annoying. Hint: it isn't," he said feigning annoyance.

"I can hear you, you know," said Darcy

"I know, that was kind of the point," retorted Richard.

"Hello," said Lizzy putting her phone to her ear.

"Hi Elizabeth, I hope you're doing better." He said gently.

"I am. Thanks for calling. You can call me instead of Richard if you wish. He's always rather irritating."

"I know. I grew up with him," laughed Will.

"Oh yes! That's right. Will you tell me stories of when both of you were younger?" she asked eagerly.

"Need ammunition, do you?" asked Richard, listening in.

"You can leave, Ruff. I don't need you here."

Will was smiling listening to their banter. "of course, if you wish to know. I'll tell you about some of the trouble we got into as kids. I miss those times."

"Simpler, weren't they?" asked Lizzy wistfully.

"Yes," he said simply.

They were both silent for a few moments as if reminiscing.

"I go back to work tomorrow?" he said, not sure how to keep the conversation going.

"No fair! I want to go back to work tomorrow too. I'm stuck in bed. Everyone is babying me. I hate it."

He laughed, "I'm sure you'll be back to saving the world soon."

Is that how he saw her? She asked curiously, "is that what you think I do?"

His eyebrows scrunched together, "isn't it?"

She smiled, "I'm not a superhero, Will."

He chuckled, "after what I've seen you do, I don't think I believe that."

She changed the topic, "so what answer did you give Ms. Reynolds?"

He was woolgathering thinking about what all he'd seen her do, "hmm?"

"What answer did you give about your happiness?" she asked him, impatient to know his response.

He wasn't sure what to say. Not sure he wanted to tell her he'd told Harriet that his happiness lay in the woman he had fallen in love with. "I told her, family and friends, and a good bottle of scotch."

She nodded, "well, you're getting the specifics, but think more meta."

He was desperately wondering what her answer would be, "are you telling me your answer then?"

"Maybe someday."