Each and Every Broken Heart

Eliza Christine

Beginning, Next Section

Part I - Here with Me

Chapter 1- Never Falter

Posted on Wednesday, 17 January 2001

Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I've been reading all of your stories for awhile and I thought maybe it's time I contributed since I had this feeling that I was turning into a true Dwiggie. It was kind of scary at first but I might as well succumb to my fate. =)

William

I wasn't sure whether I should've been sorry for her or annoyed at the realization that she had a brain the size of a peanut. Either way, I was extremely frustrated by our conversation and my mind had wandered off. I knew I wasn't missing much anyway. I might as well have been talking to a duck. She could certainly resemble one. No offense to the duck, that is.

"I would have to check my..."

"Oh, William, that would be wonderful! Pick me up at seven. I can't wait to see you!"

"I bet." I muttered under my breath.

Carol clicked off. Even if she heard my comment, I was far from believing she comprehended the sarcasm behind it. How did I get into this sort of mess? Not that Carol wasn't attractive. She was tall and slim, with long blond strands and everything that a swimsuit model needed to succeed. Which meant a brain wasn't required, much less a personality.

If it hadn't been for Charlie, I would've spent the evening doing something productive. I mean, what's wrong with a man sitting in his underwear listening to Madonna? Well, everything. But that was Richard. (Don't ask me! He's only my cousin. I couldn't explain it if I tried.) I, for one, wore boxers and preferred Counting Crows and good old hard rock. Now, I was going to waste the rest of the day with his sister. The things you do for a friend... No, this was not something you did for a friend. At least, not where Carol Bingley is concerned. This was something you did for your brother and that was what I considered Charles.

"You'll love her! I just know it!"

"Charlie, it wouldn't be good if I fell in love with your fiancée." My voice was even but I smiled as I listened to Charlie's exuberance over the phone. It finally happened. Yes, my best friend was in love and I was on my way to meet the lady who stole his heart. Elizabeth Bennet was lucky. No other man compared to Charles Bingley. His never-ending optimism, pleasant conversation, and warm heart endeared him to women within a fifty-mile radius, possible more. (And who said they were all women?) He had many acquaintances that attached themselves to him and sought his company. I could've been jealous. Everyone looked toward him rather than me in any situation, but how could I develop the green-eye monster when he never ceased to looked toward me, just to see me standing by him like glue since the day we met?

Elizabeth

"He should be here any minute now." Charles smiled at me like a schoolboy introducing his parents to his first sweetheart.

"I can't wait." When he turned around, I could feel my face screw up as I thought about this meeting. I wasn't sure if I wanted to meet the famed William Benedick Rinaldi Darcy. (Just rolls right off your tongue doesn't it?) He was Charles' friend after all, but he was Carol's interest. The two siblings were such polar opposites that you were sure they were related. So, why the common regard for one man?

I looked at Charles tapping his feet to the tunes of a rock song. He was simply itching to dance but he wanted to wait for his friend as well. I silently acknowledged my gratitude to William Darcy for that at least. Charles somehow managed to dance as though he had two left feet strapped in six-inch heels. Red. I could picture it in my mind.

I felt a tug on my arm and I knew that William had finally made his appearance.

"Oh, Charles!"

Carol's harsh and high-pitched voice pierced through entire conversations as she made her way over to us, dragging a man along with her. And what a man! This was William Darcy. I was certain of it.

His brown hair was combed meticulously but a few strands fell into his dark, brooding eyes. Medium height and built slim but well, I could not help admire his smooth facial features and strong physique. Lord Byron was my first thought but I dearly hoped that he was not a masochist. It would've been a real shame for someone that utterly gorgeous.

"Carol, I see you've finally arrived. Is that a new outfit?" I smiled sweetly though I groaned inside as my eyes took in the brilliance of a clingy orange cocktail dress. Why did she always looked like she had just sucked a lemon? Well, she probably didn't eat much more than that everyday. She was as thin as a stick and ready to fall over on her designer shoes.

"Bess..." I hated her for using my abominable nickname, but she had always thought it quite amusing. "Have you met my date, William?"

She pushed him towards me, and I had to bite my lip as he rolled his eyes at her. For a mere second, his eyes locked with mine, and I made no effort to avert my gaze. They were deep and dark, and G-d forbid, I could've drowned.

"So this is your Elizabeth?" He turned toward Charles and the spell was broken. My eyes focused on my trembling hands and my mind could not function properly.

From a far away place and a far away time, I heard Charles and William speaking to each other, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. It seemed as though I had to force myself to look up as he offered me his hand and smiled.

If I had thought his eyes were amazing, his smile had me stretching a grin from ear to ear. I couldn't understand it. Though I had conceded he was handsome the moment I saw him, there was something so genuine about the look that he gave me, nothing more than a friendly look, which sent me into a daze, like a shy school girl who had fallen in love at first sight.

Chapter 2

Posted on Thursday, 18 January 2001

William

"So, what did you think of her?" Charles grinned at me like a Cheshire cat and he had good reason.

"Green with envy."

"C'mon, Will, you're never green about anything."

I paused for a second. No, I was never green about anything at all, at least not for a long time. Whenever it came to Charlie, I was more happy for him than myself. It had always been that way and I suppose it would remain so for a long time. I hoped, forever.

"Perhaps. But I think she's wonderful and she's lucky to have you."

"She-lucky? I'm afraid you're mistaken. I'm the lucky one here."

It was always like Charlie to say something like that but somehow, I saw the truth in his statement and it troubled me.

"Of course, you are. I don't know how any girl with sense would marry you." I grinned and brought up my waterbottle in a toast. "To the luckiest man on Earth! Charlie, tell Liz I'll marry her once she figures you out."

He rose his coffee cup in acknowledgement and smiled. It seemed as though it was plastered on his face. For awhile, we just sat there on the couch, staring at the blank television in front of us. He seemed content with thoughts of Elizabeth but companionable silence usually meant I would have to have something interesting on my mind as well.

What do you do when you're sitting in your boxers? Philosphy didn't seem like the right answer to me so I pushed as much sense as I could muster out of my mind. I couldn't help but wonder how little time I would need to complete such a task if I were Carol. With an impish grin, I turned on the stereo. Charlie didn't seem to mind one bit. I might as well have been sitting next to a vegetable. At this moment, the Bingley siblings were as close in relation as they could ever be.

I sat back and began to sing along to the tunes of Weezer. Ah, a classic! I imagined it sounded like a cat trying to strangle itself, which would have been really intriguing as cats would have no reason to strangle themselves and lacked the opposable thumbs to do so. Charlie didn't mind so I commenced with my task.

Charles

I looked at Will. He was straining his voice so hard I thought I could hear him crack. Literally. Of course, I would usually join him in his tirades but I never knew how much love could change a man. Five hours and thirty-seven minutes since I've last seen her. I had to smile ruefully as myself. I am a lucky devil, aren't I? Too bad there's no one out there for Will, and Carol is certainly not an option. Is there anyone for him? He sounded like a squawking chicken, if chickens did squawk. I knew he had it in him to sing like a choir boy but he seemed to have more fun squawking. And you wonder why he's still a bachelor, don't you? Well, I'll just have to take it upon myself to change things, don't I?

Elizabeth

"Hey!"

I looked up and almost choked.

"Are you alright?"

I could feel my face burn up as he handed me a napkin to wipe the coffee which dripped down my chin. What was he doing here? With a forced calm I certainly did not feel, I managed to say, "So, what brings you out to these neck of the woods?"

His lustrous eyes wandered the shelves. I wished they would've wandered somewhere else. (I almost choked again, by the way.)

"Do you own this place?"

"Own what?" I had drawn a blank. It seemed as though I did that every time I was in William's presence. Well, this was only the second time I had seen him, and it had only been a few days since I met him at my engagement party. How odd, I almost forgot I was engaged...

"Hey, Liz! Are you still there?"

I blinked. "Why are you calling me Liz?"

He shrugged. "You look like a Liz."

"Oh."

"Well, it doesn't seem like you're much of a conversationalist today, or maybe Charlie has been lying about you."

I blinked again. Now I knew he was giving me funny looks!

He smiled disarmingly. "Charles recommended this place to me, but he didn't tell me you work here."

"Oh."

I knew I sounded like an idiot, but I couldn't think of anything to say.

"Do you think you could help me out? I kind of came here for a reason."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. There's this book I'm looking for called 'The Art of Anastasia.' Have you heard of it?"

"Oh..." I nodded slowly. Then it hit me, why would a grown man want a book on an animated movie about a Russian princess? I raised my eyebrow and found myself able to quip, "And you would be interested in animated characters because..."

"Because Anya's hot!"

"What?!"

"My niece, George, is obsessed with the movie and I thought I would feed her insanity by getting her anything and everything that has to do with it."

"Oh... Wait a minute... Her name is George?"

"Georgiana. But I've been calling her that since she was little. Sort of stuck."

"I know what you mean. My sister and I have nicknames for one another. I never liked mine and she never liked hers so we sort of came up with new ones for ourselves."

Looking around dramatically, he stepped backward. He struck a pose and gestured with his right arm toward the ceiling, crying out, "She speaks! She's capable of intelligent conversation."

Leaning towards me, he said in a stage whisper, "I apologize most profusely, but I almost figured you had the mental capacity of Carol when you refused to respond in complete sentences."

The mental capacity of Carol! My chin dropped in surprise. "Carol!"

He was about to speak but I cut him off.

"I would like you to know, mister, though I may be a book shop owner, I attended Colombia University and received a Bachelor's Degree in English literature, cum laude!" The volume of my voice raised a couple degrees as I spoke, and I didn't know why I was so angry. All I knew was I wanted him to know that I was not some bimbo. It was not my fault the intensity of his gaze turned me into jello.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I was just making a joke. I realize no one can truly be on the same level as her." He smiled carefully. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Oh, G-d, what must he think of me now... "No, no, I should apologize." I shut my eyes tight to get the image of his dark eyes out of my head but to no avail. I brought the corners of my mouth up, though the smile I offered was probably weak and unconvincing. "I'm just a bit stress about the wedding and everything. Business has been a little slow and with my sister coming back to town..."

"Of course. C'mon, let's go get that book and maybe you can lock up early and I'll buy you some coffee."

"You really want that book, huh?"

He simply smiled back at me. I wanted to scream at my frustration. Why did he have to be so handsome? I couldn't wait until Jane got back. I knew I could count on her. I knew I would be able to tell her everything and she could fix that nagging feeling at the back of my head and the pull on my heart.

Chapter 3 - Over the Coffee Beans

Posted on Friday, 19 January 2001

William

I had to admit she was interesting, but I hadn't applied it as the good sort of interesting or the other sort of interesting. From the moment I met her, she seemed to be in another world, as though she was caught in a fog. Maybe that's what love is. You're so confused, you don't know where you are half the time.

I looked over at her over the rim of my coffee cup. She immediately averted her eyes and a deep blush spread over her cheeks. She was probably thinking of Charles. If only I could find a girl who would do the same when she thought of me.

Elizabeth

Oh, he's looking at me again!

William

I squirmed in my seat. What was a man suppose to do when the girl he's having coffee with is thinking about another man the entire time? What was it with people in love? They all turn into vegetables. I was having coffee with a shapely zucchini! I looked at her.

No, zucchini wasn't the right description for her. Of course, I was using a vegetable to describe her in the first place. I sat back to get a good look. She had dark hair, though it was probably a shade or two lighter than my own. It seemed to have a reddish hint to it, glowing under the fluorescent lights of the café. Her eyes flickered under thick lashes and though they were nothing out of the ordinary, those lashes which fringed them made her look innocent and filled with curiosity. She was more of a... Oh, Charlie was much easier to describe. He was a cucumber. Definitely. Cool and laid back with all sorts of uses. Then, there was Carol. She was like a spud. Not a potato, but a rotten spud. As for Richard, he reminded me of a green bell pepper. (Do you really want to know?) Then there was John, who was an eggplant. That was because... What was my original train of thought? Oh, yeah, Liz. She...she was something else. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I squirmed in my seat again. She hadn't said anything in the last ten minutes! I probably looked like a second grader whose teacher wouldn't let him use the bathroom. I was so amused with the idea of squirming in my chair, crossing and uncrossing my legs and pleading with that horrid old witch (recollections of my disturbing memories in elementary school) that I started to laugh.

Elizabeth

Is he laughing at me? Is there something on my face? At this terrifying idea, I pulled out my compact and saw nothing obvious. Was it my teeth? Have I've been talking with spinach in my teeth?

William

"What are you doing?" I said between fits of laughter. She had pulled out a mirror the second I succumbed to my chuckling. (And to think, I'm the normal one in my family! Wait until you meet my cousin, Lloyd. I should explain his cooking in cowboy boots sometime. And then there's Uncle Lenny who barbecues in the nude. I suppose we were very liberal people.)

She looked at me. "Spinach?"

Spinach?! No, she didn't look like spinach. Maybe apricot... Wait, that wasn't a vegetable. I shook my head and she put her mirror away.

"Maybe broccoli..." I mumbled to myself. No, that wasn't right either.

"Broccoli? I have broccoli in my teeth? But I didn't..."

Chapter 4 - Against Destiny

Posted on Friday, 19 January 2001

William

I looked at the clock. I had five minutes before my lunch break began and Carol would be calling soon. Unfortunately for me, I was a creature of habit and she knew just about every daily custom I practiced. Reaching for the phone, I decided to beat her to the punch by tying up the phone line. Who was I going to call? I flipped through my card file and peered at the name. Elizabeth Bennet.

Why not?

Dialing while I tried to maneuver my sandwich from the brown bag (yes, I still use those brown paper bags!), I could not manage to punch in the right numbers. In frustration, I put the phone down to dial again. As soon as I had done that, it rang. I looked at it.

Should I pick it up?

Chapter 5 - A Simple Plan

Posted on Friday, 19 January 2001

Carol

There was something wrong with Charles. He wouldn't look at me and I knew he didn't want me here. Well, the hell with him. I wasn't about to leave William.

"So, Charles, you're going to meet all the lovely Bennets this weekend..." I looked at my nails as I awaited his answer. Was that a scar on my cuticle? Maybe he would hate her family and break the engagement. I mean, they were middle class all right, but they didn't have as much money as us. He needed someone with more wealth, more reputation...and more taste in clothing. Her style was so plain.

Charles beamed. Why did he have to smile so hard? He looked a silly child that way. "I can hardly wait to meet them! I can't believe I never met them before. Only Mr. Bennet."

"Yes..." I remarked as snidely as I could. "And why couldn't they attend their own daughter's engagement party?"

"Well, it was rather last minute, don't you think? Anyway, they live all the way in Idaho."

"Don't they grow potatoes there?"

He ignored me and turned toward William who had a silly grin on his face.

Charles

I tried to get rid of Carol as discreetly as possible but she would not hear of it. Or maybe she truly didn't get it through her blond extensions. Will looked as though he would bolt any second but that was how he always was around her. I guess I should've never forced him to take Carol to my engagement party but she was determined I do it for her. Well, I was determined to help my friend now.

"Carol, don't you have to go shopping or something?"

"Of course not. I'm having a perfectly good lunch with William."

That was the last straw. I had been dropping hints for forty minutes! I kicked her.

She gave a small yelp. I was rewarded with a deadly glare, a muffled chuckle from Will, and a few stares. I could hardly keep my laughter in as she turned red with anger and huffed, "Well, I know when I'm not wanted!"

Her dramatic exit was ruined as she tripped over her own feet and ran into the door. By this time, Will was grabbing his sides and shaking with laughter and unfortunately, I was in no better condition.

William

"Hey, did I tell you Liz called me yesterday?" I mumbled as I tried to wipe off the extreme excess of mayonnaise from my bread.

"Oh?" Charlie put it on his own sandwich to my disgust. I made a face at him.

"Yeah, I wasn't going to pick up the phone. I thought it would be Carol. No offense."

"None taken," he replied with a mouth full of tuna melt.

"Well, she called to tell me about some book she found for me."

"Anastasia?"

"Yeah, she keeps insisting that I'm getting it for myself."

Charles smirked. "Aren't you?"

I glared at his head of disorderly blond curls. That's where she's been getting those ideas! "Well, anyway, we ended up talking for awhile and I have to say, she's not bad."

"She's not bad? I thought you liked her."

"She's a girl in love. Sometimes, talking to you is less interesting than having a conversation with my freezer. With her, I thought it was the same. But we broke the ice after awhile and we kind of got it going. You better watch out, I might steal her away from you."

Charlie smiled back in return. Suddenly, his face twitched a bit. I looked at him. Whenever he did that, he was going to bring up something he didn't want to talk about.

"What's up?"

"Uh...well, it's just that..." He paused. I knew this wouldn't be good. "Did you know Elizabeth's sister is coming to town?"

"You mean Jane. She's going to her parents' house instead. I think she'll be coming back with the two of..." Oh no... I knew what Charlie was thinking. I couldn't believe I did not catch it before. From the second he mentioned Liz's sister, sirens should have been blaring in my ears. "You've got to be kidding!"

"C'mon, Will, she's beautiful."

"Have you even met her?"

"No, but Elizabeth tells me-"

"I don't care if she's a supermodel. I can't believe you had the presumption to-"

"Well, you're not going to stand her up, are you?"

"No! You're going to cancel it!" My voice rose in anger. Get a grip on yourself, Will Darcy! Charlie was only trying to help. I immediately spoke in a low and exasperated whisper. "Call her and cancel the date."

"And if I don't?" I was hard pressed on wiping that smug grin off his face.

Author Notes: Anastasia has been one of my favorite movies. (It's just so cute!) Here are some links to some great sites on the web:
Anastasia's Palace of Dreams
Brandon's Anastasia Page
Anastasia: The Lost Romanov Princess

Chapter 6 - Trouble at Home

Posted on Sunday, 21 January 2001

Charles

"Do we have to go?" I could see Elizabeth pouting in the mirror as she combed her chestnut strands. I couldn't understand why she didn't want me to meet her family. Her father seemed nice, and he had a great sense of humor. And, of course, she was wonderful!

"Don't you want to see your family? I mean, we didn't decide to drive all the way up there for nothing, right?" I said as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

"Of course I'd like to see Dad and Jane...but the rest of them...." She seemed hesitant as she spoke. I knew she loved her family but there are always those you can't help but feel ashamed of. In that, I mean my sister, Carol.

"Well then, c'mon, let's finish packing." I pecked her cheek but she still seemed troubled. Her hand fingered her face for a second. It was probably nothing. I turned back to my suitcase.

Elizabeth

I love Charles! I love him! From the first moment I met him, he was sweet, caring, honest, and loyal. Yet, I feel like I'm about to settle into an unknown abyss. Why do I feel detached from everything around me? I'm not here. I'm not really here. Why am I so confuse? I'm just getting cold feet. It's nothing but pre-wedding jitters. It must be.

Deep down in the muddle I was in, I knew. I knew it was something which I was far from acknowledging.

We stepped out the car and I looked up to see the familiar brick house I grew up in. A feeling of nostalgia passed through me and I stared at my old bedroom window. Things were so simple back then...

"Lizzy, Lizzy?" Dad broke into my thoughts and took a good look at me. Apparently, he had been looking at me for some time. I could see my anxiety reflected in his eyes. Oh, if he could only solve my problems for me!

Problems? What problems?!

"So...where's Jane?"

"Now, darling, I know there's something wrong."

Dad and I were alone in the kitchen. The fluorescent lights and white tiles seemed so artificial and strange compared to the gray sky and soft rain outside.

"It's Mama. The way she addressed Charles..." I lied through my teeth.

I could hear him chuckle, and I knew he was shaking his head behind my back. "Wild horses won't chase that boy away from you. Don't you worry! So your mother's interested in his financial status. Her silliness won't hurt anyone, Lizzy."

"I suppose."

"Go to sleep soon." He kissed my forehead and smiled gently before heading upstairs.

"I wish Jane were here."

"I know, but she's been so busy. She promised she'd come down in a few days to see that fiancé of yours." He turned to go.

"Dad?"

"Yes, honey?"

"I have never had an unhappy moment with Charles."

He simply nodded and continued upstairs. I didn't know why I said that. It was true. But then, what if it was? Did it really mean anything at all? Did it mean I loved this man because he never made me cry and never let me down? Was I marrying for love or a twisted sense of obligation? And why all these questions now and not before? I needed a good night's sleep, and I futilely hoped everything would work itself out in my mind...and my heart by morning.

Chapter 7 - The Jealous Eye

Posted on Sunday, 21 January 2001

Elizabeth

"Hello?"

"Hey, Liz."

My heart began to beat at the sound of his voice. "Hi..."

"Can I request another book?"

"If you're looking for another book about..."

"Vegetables."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. A customer came in and I smiled though my attention was focused solely on the voice on the other line. "Well, what exactly are you looking for?"

"Um, I'm not sure... How about I stop by sometime?"

I thought I was about to faint. All I needed was William Darcy to complicate my sordid feelings for Charles. Of course, I couldn't bring myself to cut my ties with him. Ever since our initial coffee meeting, we had gone out to the coffee shop every time he came to the store. Well, I'll admit we've only known each other for three weeks, but I had this unexplainable feeling that I needed him and even if Charles and I didn't make it, I wanted him to be there with me. Oh, why couldn't I resist his charm?

"Sure..."

"How about tomorrow?"

I smiled. Why did I feel like a sixteen year old being asked out on that big date every time he came around?

"Of course!"

I could feel my cheeks redden at my exuberance. I tried to calm down to spare myself the embarrassment I was causing. Glancing at the calendar, I saw something that made me do just that.

"Oh, wait! My sister's coming to town tomorrow."

"Jane?"

"Yeah, I completely forgot."

"Me, too. It's kind of hard with Charlie reminding me all the time, but it's taking her so long to get down here that I figured she didn't even exist!"

I froze. Why was Charles mentioning Jane to my William? I froze a second time if that was even possible. My William?! When was he ever in my possession?

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why was Charles mentioning Jane to you?" My voice was tense as I spoke though I tried to remain neutral. William naturally took it the wrong way.

"It's not what you think Liz!"

"I'm betting it is," I muttered under my breath.

"He's been trying to set me up with her for weeks. I was against it at first, but I guess, it'll be all right. Anyway, you'll be busy with Charles. Someone has to keep her company while you two makes eyes at each other."

"When are you going to take her out?" I choked.

"The day after. But if it'll be more convenient for you, I'll do it tomorrow."

I didn't know what to say. I said the only thing that sounded reasonable. "That would be wonderful."

"Okay, no problem then. I guess I'll see you on Thursday instead."

"I guess." I clicked off immediately. Oh, what a mess I was in! I had wanted to talk to Jane about William (and Charles, too!), but now I wouldn't have the chance. Instead, I was going to have to sort through this on my own while my sister spent the night with the man of my dreams. Man of my dreams! Charles was supposed to be that man. How was it possible for it to change in three weeks? Maybe it wasn't about William and Charles. Maybe I was finally seeing that we were never meant to be. Maybe...

Chapter 8 - Introducing Jane

Posted on Monday, 22 January 2001

William

Have you ever encountered such a breathtaking sight that you feel your mind and body turn into a big blob of jello? The moment I met Jane Bennet, I was transformed into a blubbering idiot. My mind was washed of everything intellectual and I simply stared at the angel-hair beauty. And I didn't like blondes for that matter! For the rest of the night, I praised Charlie to the skies.

"So...I'm, my name is...ah..."

"You must be Will." She smiled warmly and I could picture myself turning into a puddle of mush right at her feet. "I'm Jane."

"Hi..."

"Hi!" She laughed as I looked at her dreamily.

I had been outright enraged when Charlie set me up on a blind date with Liz's older sister. I knew he was trying to be helpful and wanted me to be as happy as he was, but let's face it, no one could be as happy as Charlie. Until now...

As we continued to date, I seemed to find myself smiling all the time. It was getting rather distracting, but what did I care? The only anxiety I ever felt was whether or not she was feeling the same way. Every time she smiled or laughed, my whole spirit seemed to tingle. I could almost see the spark that connected us when we glanced at one another across the table at dinner. My mind was in such a wonderful whirlwind that I felt as though I was falling in love, hopelessly and undeniably.

"I never imagined myself as anything except a nurse." Her rosy lips parted as she took in the night air.

"What about taking the next step and becoming a doctor?" It felt like high school all over again as I attempted to casually drape my arm around her waist. She made no protest. It was silly! Why would she? We were both adults. Actually, we were both in our twenty-fifth year if I was correct.

"I've thought about it, and Lisa says the same thing, but..."

"Lisa?"

"Oh, Elizabeth and I used to hate our names."

Remembering one of those coffee conversations, I replied, "Yeah, hers was too long for her liking and yours was too short for yours."

She looked at me. "She told you about that?"

I nodded my head. Should I kiss her? We were walking along the street and the pavement seemed to glisten. Maybe it was my imagination. Anyway, if I could see the pavement glisten, it must mean something. I stopped mid-stride and kissed her.

We didn't say much after that. As though it mattered. We walked back to Liz's apartment slowly and I kissed her again before she walked in. The moon, the sky, and the stars became one as I watched her quietly close the door. Somehow, I knew I would never meet anyone like Jane and she was more important to my very existence than I could comprehend at that moment. All I truly knew was the sense of peace that enveloped the air around me. Never had I felt the way I did that night. Disillusionment? Maybe, but then, I had fallen in love and it didn't matter to me.

Chapter 9 - The Perfect Pair

Posted on Wednesday, 24 January 2001

Carol

I could feel the blood drawn from my face. How dare she! How dare that trash take Will, his perfect physique (well, he was too lanky for my preference but that could be easily fixed), and his net worth of 78.6 million dollars away from me! I didn't invest three years in chasing that man and bragging to my friends to have him stolen by a Bennet!

I could have gagged as he made out with her, right in front of ME. I mean, didn't he have any consideration for my feelings? Hah, I know her type! That slut is probably just a distraction. Well, if he wants a distraction, I could definitely provide one for him...

William

From the sour look on Carol's face, I knew she was jealous. Her forehead furrowed as though she was actually thinking, like she had a scheme hiding behind her catty eyes. I looked at her for a second. No, steam hadn't begun to come out of her ears yet... Her gears weren't cranky.

I could have sworn she was about to throw up as I gave Jane a quick kiss on the lips. The look of horror on her face was priceless and I could barely keep my laughter in. An outside party would have thought I was taking Jane for granted, which, of course, would never happen.

"I'll see you later tonight."

Her arms were wrapped around me neck, and we were both reluctant to move.

"Yeah..." She moved back suddenly to clasp her hands. "I completely forgot! Liz wanted me to help her with wedding arrangements."

"Tonight?" I knew the disappointment was heavy in my voice.

"You could come with." She smiled that beautiful smile of hers. Then again, everything about her was beautiful. I couldn't see a single fault and believed there was none.

"Sure, I haven't seen either Liz or Charlie in awhile."

"Yeah, I bet they both miss you. And...you haven't met my family yet."

"Oh, I almost forgot they came down this weekend."

"It seems both of us have been forgetful this past month."

"I wonder why..." I murmured under my breath.

"William, darling, would you-" This was the fifth time Carol had cut in. What was she doing at my office anyway?

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait," I replied as I walked around her, taking Jane with me. She probably shot daggers at Jane, but for all I cared, Carol could've flushed her head in a toilet. Actually, that would've been great. It was a show worth paying for.

"Will you come?"

How could I refuse her anything? "Sure, I would love to meet your family."

I gave her a toothy grin; yet, something gyrated in my stomach, making me feel nauseated all over. Since our first date almost a month ago, Jane and I had been seeing one another seriously. And I mean, serious. During her stay with Liz, we spent almost every day together. I felt guilty about stealing her sister away from her and completely ignoring Liz, but apparently not guilty enough to stop myself from falling out of touch with our lovely book shop owner since then. (More the reason to visit, I suppose.)

Actually, I think I'm guilty of falling out of touch with everything! After she went back to Chicago, we called one another each day and I even flew out there for a long weekend two weeks ago. Now Jane was on leave to help Liz prepare for the wedding and where was she? With me. Though I didn't mind one bit, I knew she should be with her family.

I don't think I've ever been nervous about meeting any of my old girlfriends' parents. What if they didn't like me? I felt a twinge of jealousy surge up and down my spine for a moment as I thought of how the Bennets loved Charles. And why shouldn't they? Everyone loved Charles and he would be part of the family in under three months. I looked into Jane's blue eyes. If I met the Bennets, would they accept me? Acceptance from them would mean the next step.

"Do you think they'll like me?"

"I can't see why not."

Chapter 10 - Steal Your Heart

Posted on Wednesday, 24 January 2001

Elizabeth

It had been over a month since I saw him last, though I knew he and Jane were dating. I was afraid my sister, my father, or G-d forbid, my fiancé, would notice the pain that flickered across my face at the mention of William Darcy. I didn't even know this man yet he invaded my thoughts and dreams. It drove me mad.

Lizzy, you are mad! Here I was dreaming of my beloved sister's boyfriend while I was engaged to another man. It was a soap opera, except I was the only one acting. Everyone had no part in it. I was alone.

I had thought my infatuation with William Darcy was due to the realization that Charles was not the man for me. But, no, it was not true. Every night I thought about these two men and in the morning, it was always William who I pictured smiling over me, saying something stupid about vegetables. Like, the largest squash in the world was 349.8 centimeters in length and twice that in diameter. Maybe I wasn't in love with Will, but I could be. I looked at Charles, and he waved to me before turning back to Mom. Oh, I could never hurt such a sweet man. But, would I hurt him more by marrying him?

Charles

There was something wrong. She was clearly distracted, but maybe it was the wedding. Somehow, I knew it wasn't about that at all. Don't tell me you don't love me, Elizabeth! What would I do without you?

There was always Jane...

I almost spit my wine into Mrs. Bennet's face. A physical blow would've had the same effect on me as my eyes widen and the room seemed to spin in confusion. Where did that come from?

William

"Jane!" My eyes went to her as I walked into the room. She smiled and made her way over, her pale skin contrasting to the olive green of her dress. As a man, I could not do justice by describing her beauty. I would be clumsy and hesitant, grasping for words.

I took her into my arms and kissed her forehead.

"Ready to meet everyone?"

"Sure..."

"Politics are not the problem here."

"Of course, they are! What better example than Bill Clinton." Mr. Thomas Bennet leaned forward. With the exception of his daughters, I could not find pleasanter conversation. (Well, his youngest daughter was another story. She counted as much as the amount of clothing she was wearing.)

"No, no. Don't give me Bill Clinton! Think of Thomas Jefferson and everything that surrounds his affair with Sally Hemmings. It's about society: our morals and the media."

"You can't blame everything on the media."

"Of course I can and so can everyone else. After all, it evens the balance. Our complaints and accusations would contain a kernel of truth, just like theirs."

"And all the rest is story telling."

"Exactly."

He smiled and I did the same. I hadn't seen Liz yet, though I greeted Charlie after the introductions, and after half an hour, Jane had left her father and I to our own devices.

"Well, son, what about Vietnam? Tell me whether that was politics or society."

"Both."

"How conventional, Mr. Darcy." He smiled slightly, apparently amused at what appeared to be the simple answer.

"When it came to the end of Johnson's term, we know Vietnam was purely political. Despite the Great Society and the wealth of good he did there, Johnson certainly did not 'join reason to faith' or..."

"Action to experience." He finished.

I smiled wanly. "You mean foolhardy, obtuse action to political experience."

"So, it is politics!" Mr. Bennet sat up straight in triumph.

I shook my head in resignation and stood up.

"Something smells great! Are we going to sit here all night or eat?"

"Let's eat!"

Charles

"Could you pass the potatoes, sweetie?"

Elizabeth nodded absentmindedly and passed me the corn. I looked at her dark, downcast eyes. What was wrong? She had been quiet all night.

I turned toward Jane. I could feel my face burn as I saw Will and her, talking quietly. She was practically sitting on his lap! And why should I care? She was simply my sister-in-law. Or, at least, she was suppose to be in June.

What's wrong with you, Charles? You're about to be married to a wonderful woman. My mind seemed to scream but my heart would not follow. Oh, why did everything have to be so hard? It had been easy with Elizabeth. We dated, we had fun, I asked her to marry me, she accepted. There was never any questions or hesitations. Was that the problem?

We always had a good time. Everything went well. We never bickered and we always compromised. This was a sixth grade relationship, not a union between two lovers. Everything was wrong.

Carol

I'll knock his socks off! Everything was perfect and I smiled into his bathroom mirror as I fixed the feathers in my hair. Won't William have the surprise of his life when he walks into his room tonight and finds me on his bed in lingerie?

Chapter 11 - The Coming of the Storm

Posted on Saturday, 27 January 2001

William

"I will never look at orange lingerie again without having nightmares!" I covered my eyes with my hands as I ran into someone. Opening them, I saw a startled Bennet blinked at me.

"Liz! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were there."

She starred at me with a blank look on her face. "Oh."

"Are you back to that again?"

"Huh..."

"Do you consider that a proper response because I don't feel obligated to answer that."

"Uh..."

She began to walk away and I was never more confused in my life. Well, that was, until she abruptly turned back and gripped my arms, pulling my gaze toward her. "Could you take me shopping today?"

"I suppose."

"Good, I'll be ready in ten minutes."

There was something wrong. There was no doubt about it but I hoped it was nothing for Charles' sake. I would hate to see my best friend in grief and I would want to share his pain and resentment, but I didn't want to resent Elizabeth Bennet. Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with Jane or Charlie but with her. I barely knew her but there was something about the way she walked, or the way she smiled that made me like her. She was a good person and even if she jilted Charlie, I wanted to be her friend. Hopefully, I could be her brother-in-law as well.

I turned my thoughts toward Jane. Beautiful, lovely Jane with her clear blue eyes and pale white skin. Her twentieth-sixth birthday was in three weeks. Maybe Elizabeth could help me shop.

"Liz?"

"Yes?" She responded quickly. I couldn't help but glance at her curiously. It was as though she were on edge and maybe she was.

"What are you shopping for?"

"Oh, china and stuff." She replied with a wave of her hand.

"Shouldn't you do that with Charlie?"

"Do you want to look at wedding dresses?"

I simply looked at her. Why would she want me to do that with her?

"I don't want Charles to see me in my dress until I walk down the aisle. Anyway, I really don't have anyone to help me out right now and Jane's style is in direct contradiction of my own. We would never agree on anything, which reminds me. You can help me chose the bridesmaid's dresses as well."

Her explanation made my head spin. Not only was it odd, it was said in a speed that was only meant to be practiced by New York cab drivers.

"What did you mean by that lingerie stuff this morning?"

I looked up from the catalog I was flipping through to look at the dressing room doors. I figured she was in the one to the left but I couldn't be sure.

She was entirely confusing. Couldn't she be simple, just like Jane? The second she had entered the shop, she spotted a gown. She made me turn around and wait until she
had put it on. She was still in there and I couldn't understand why. How long does it take a woman to put on a dress?

"Carol."

"Oh?"

"I walked into my apartment last night after I left your house to find her on my bed."

I could hear muffled laughter. She was definitely in the stall to the left.

"How she got a copy of my keys...I don't want to know but I've already had the locks changed."

'C'mon. Darcy, get on with the good stuff." I could imagine her smiling.

"She looked like she would pounce on me. She had Barry White music on and her awful perfume stunk like yesterday's laundry. My eyes were watering over and I'll tell you, that was a good thing. She had some orange-"

"Maybe we could look at lingerie today."

"Oh, please." I closed my eyes, trying to rid myself of that awful image. Even though Carol was beautiful (in her own way, mind you), she was thin (too thin!) and lacked the kind of simple taste I preferred. It made me sick the way she threw herself at me.

"I'll be waking up every night in a cold sweat thanks to her."

"Are you always this nervous when girls throw themselves at you?" The laughter in her voice sounded like silver.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you seem to run away from all that. Carol may not be my favorite person but she's gorgeous."

"She's not Jane, and she can't hold a light to you, either, Liz."

There was a soft thank you from her stall and I continued. "You know, we haven't gone out for coffee in a long time. We could do that once you're finished. Talk about the wedding or something. You know what's a better topic of conversation?"

"Vegetables?"

I paused. "You remember that?"

"I haven't forgotten."

As I considered her response, she stepped out of the dressing room. I turned around and my mind went blank.

Elizabeth

"Well?"

My knees were about to buckle and all he did was stare at me. I felt uncomfortable under his strong gaze and I would've thrown up if I hadn't been too nervous to eat anything this morning. I had planned to ask him to come with me all last night. Why? I had no idea. It probably had to do with the fact I had fallen in love with him.

"Well?" I repeated as I held up the chiffon skirt, touched with scattered rhinestones all along the sheer material. It was heavy on the hem and shimmered as it caught the reflection of the lights. The bodice was laced in the back and the front was a simple scoop neck with light floral embroidery.

"Charles will love it." He finally managed.

"Do you?"

He nodded.

The pounding of my heart filled my ears and my hands twitched nervously. I didn't know what to do. I could barley think or breath. Never in my life did I feel this way.

"Help me with the veil."

I handed it to him without looking. Oh, why was everything so awkward? I didn't remember him taking it from me. Nor could I remember him turning me toward a mirror or setting it on my head. I had closed my eyes as he adjusted it and I could feel his breath against my skin. That was all I remembered. His breath against my skin and I was complete.

"Well?"

"Hmmm?" I opened my eyes and I had yet to face reality.

"What do you think?" He whispered as he gestured toward the mirror. I had one hand on his arm and we were both smiling, The veil and the dress didn't matter. I didn't see them. All I saw was him and me. It was perfect, simply perfect. But the spell did not last, it could not last. And why? Because it wasn't real. He wasn't mine to have and I wasn't free for him to have either. That is, if he had any feelings for me besides brotherly love. Oh, could he? Or was it simply Jane he dreamed about? Was it simply Jane he pictured as he stood at the altar? Was my sister the one who lived happily ever after with the man I was falling desperately in love with?

William

We never went to the coffee shop. After I put the veil on her, she ran back to the dressing room without a word. It was as though a wall came down. She would only respond to me in monotone syllables. Half an hour passed before I gave up. I didn't know why she was undergoing such weird mood swings, but I credited them to the upcoming wedding.

The dress had been perfect but with all great things, there was a catch. An eight thousand dollar catch. She laid it away quietly. I would have paid for it. I could have paid for it. As a wedding gift that is, but she wouldn't hear of it. This was between her and Charlie, I suppose. Though they were well off enough, the wedding was running high. There was no room for any extra fancies. But you know, I've always believed in the elegance of simplicity and if there was to be money spent on anything, it would've been the dress and the rings. Of course, if it were someone truly special, nothing would matter and those little details would be looked over.

She continued to pull on white after white. I may have nodded off in the process because when she shook my shoulder, two in the afternoon had become six in the evening.

"Dreaming of Carol?" She smiled down at me.

I was glad she had her sense of humor back. "I don't remember thinking about any ducks."

Elizabeth

I was sorry I dragged William with me. I mean, if I was going down, I might as well do it alone. He had dozed off for four hours while I looked for a dress, and I simply settled on a plain ivory dress with thin straps, a plunging neckline and a dragging train. I hated that dress. I almost despised it. I didn't even know why I bought the darn thing. I just didn't want to leave without getting a dress. Anyway, I figured I could come back the next day and return it.

As William slept slump against his chair with his mouth hanging open (and looking completely irresistible, of course), I decided I wasn't going to marry Charles. Even if William was always going to be out of reach, I wouldn't subject myself to ruining Charles' life and mine. I almost ask him to go to the coffee shop but what was the use? Wherever my life was heading, it wouldn't involve him.

William

As we headed back to the Bennets, we made jokes and waved at people standing on street corners. I think it was the result of a lot of shopping (well, sleeping on my part) and the double serving of ice cream we got. We felt so silly that we even stopped at a thrift store. Carol needed a bridesmaid dress and well, there was nothing at the bridal shop which fit her style! We came across an orange number with feathers hanging off it everywhere. It made me grimace. Liz said it was shaped like a bag. I said it was shaped like a spud. Either way, we agreed that it was perfect for her. We purchased it for a quarter. I think we paid much more than it was worth.

As we pulled up the driveway, we kept looking at each other and cracking up. It was as though we shared this special bond, created by our ability to act on the mental level of a six-year-old, and I wanted more than ever for her to be my sister-in-law. We sneaked up around the house as though we were breaking curfew.

As I turned the corner, I felt something drop inside of me. I didn't know what to think. I could barely move or function properly. Of course, I hardy expected such a sight, and the shock threw my senses into chaos. I felt Liz grab my hand, and it comforted me to have her there beside me. I seemed to be on the brink of so many emotions at that moment, and I didn't know what to do. My gaze fell onto Liz and our eyes locked. We stared at one another blankly for a second before I pulled her away from the scene of Charlie and Jane in a passionate embrace.

Part II- Never Let Go

Chapter 1 - The Aftermath

Posted on Saturday, 3 February 2001

Jane

As soon as our lips broke contact, I pushed him away. Perhaps, it would've been better if I had done that five minutes ago, but my mind had lost its ability to function and say, "This is your sister's fiancé!" when he leaned down toward me. Of course, it had been much the same when it happened the first time...

"I...I...." There were so many thoughts running through my mind. I couldn't think straight.

"Jane, please calm down." He held my hands and a burning sensation tingled through them, traveling up my arms. It reminded me of the way I felt when he had kissed me moments before and earlier that day. I shook my head. What a mess I was in! If only Lisa knew... But of course she wouldn't know! And if she did, then what? And William... What if William found out? I was wrecking four relationships! The wedding would be called off, Elizabeth and I would be incapable of trusting one another, William and Charles would no longer be friends, and the relationship which I started a month ago would be nothing but bittersweet memories. Oh, how did this happen?

"Jane..."

I looked into Charles' ocean blue eyes and felt myself shake. Did I feel the same way when I looked at William? Did I stare at him, until I memorized every part of his face? I had thought I did, but I couldn't be sure anymore.

Charles

I thought those stolen kisses with Jane proved something about me and something about us. We were meant to be together, but somehow, we became lost on our way to destiny. (Or does that sound too corny?) I didn't have any idea how we could or would solve this, but I knew I wanted to kiss her again.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"What are we going to do?!" She shrieked. It seemed as though she were on edge and somewhere, in the back of my head, I knew why. She gestured toward me and back at her again. "What about that?"

"What about what?"

She looked at me as though I was an idiot. "You're engaged, Charles! You're engaged to my sister! I'm also involved in a relationship with your best friend!"

I covered my eyes. "The only thing that would make this more complicated or worse is if Carol tried to seduce Will."

"Not true. If she tried to seduce my sister, that would certainly make it much worse."

I grinned at her. "It wouldn't make things more complicated. Elizabeth would kick her to the curb while she was professing her love."

We smiled at one another. She was so beautiful. But she wasn't mine. Could she be though? I knew it would be a long and complicated road, but what if she was the ONE? How could I not risk everything there was to make sure?

"We could make this work," I said softly.

She shook her head, making her blond strands sway. I walked up to her and put my hands on the sides of her face. "Do you want to make this work?"

She looked down. "I don't know..."

I leaned toward her ear and whispered, "Do you want this to work?"

I could feel her head nod, and then she stepped back. She did not look at me. "This isn't about me or you. At least, it's not restricted to that. There's other people involved."

"I kissed you. You kissed me back. There was no one else involved in that process."

"Why are you being so obtuse? You know what I mean."

"I don't want to hurt either Will or Elizabeth. They're special people in my life but if I'm in love with you, how can I step away from that? How can I marry your sister when there's you?"

"Will you stop acting as though we're meant to be?"

"But we ar-"

She cut me off sharply. "Look, if we were destined to be together, we would be. But we're not. We had a mutual attraction which simply got out of hand. You're getting cold feet, Charles. Maybe you're not good enough for my sister if anyone can turn your eye so quickly."

"You're not anyone." My voice was pleading but I didn't care. This was going all wrong, as though it were ever right in the beginning.

"You're right. I'm her sister." She turned toward the house and I couldn't do anything but follow. I was almost sure I had fallen for Jane and she for me, but there were so many complications. As I walked into the house, I knew, Elizabeth and I were not getting married.

Chapter 2 - Objections, Anyone?

Posted on Saturday, 3 February 2001

Jane

I could hear Charles' footsteps as he followed me into the house. I had hoped he would stay outside. I needed to cool down. I needed to think. I needed to build a wall between the two of us. There were so many thoughts and emotions spinning through me, I could barely comprehend the entire situation. All I knew was I didn't want to think about it. Maybe it was best for us all if Charles and Lisa didn't get married. Then, I wouldn't have to see him again and the guilt...

I looked behind me, and he was there, in the doorway. A thought flickered through my head about the way his hair shone in contrast with...

Shaking my head, I left the kitchen. His heavy steps on the tiled floor told me he had continued to follow me. Why won't he leave me alone? Thank goodness, William and Elizabeth weren't here. I couldn't face them right now.

As I walked into the living room, my eyes focused directly on William. I halted and Charles ran right into me, but I barely noticed. I saw Elizabeth on the couch next to him. She was looking at her hands while he stared straight ahead, not looking at anything at all. Just staring with a cold intensity. Though he showed no indications of it, no movement except the tightening of his jaw, as though it was a spasm, I knew he sensed our presence in the room. Indeed, from the first second I walked in, I could feel the tension tighten in the air. They knew.

Elizabeth

Jane had just walked through the door and from the fumbling Charles was making, I knew he had ran right into her. I couldn't bring myself to look up. In the time it had taken them to get in here, I had gone through a jumble of emotions. After the shock had worn off, I was angry. For goodness sake, Jane was my sister and Charles was engaged to me! However, as I sat and fumed about the betrayal, the feeling of relief began to creep through me.

I began to rationalize everything. William hadn't said a word and I decided he probably didn't want to talk just yet. That kiss really did solve a lot of difficulties but because of it, there was a whole new set of problems to deal with. Separating myself from Charles would be easier than I thought. Then, the feeling of jealousy slithered through me again. How long had he and Jane been kissing behind my back? What was their relationship?

"Lisa..."

I didn't look up. She sounded regretful... But she should've said something! Despite my feelings for William, it wasn't as though I'd ever kissed him though sometimes I had to restrain myself dreadfully. Charles came up.

"Will, Elizabeth..."

I felt William get up from the coach. That was when I looked up. I couldn't comprehend the expression on his face but his eyes were focused on me. He held out his hand.

"C'mon, we forgot to go to the coffee shop."

I got up and we left without looking back.

Chapter 3 - Coffee Grinds

Posted on Friday, 9 February 2001

Charles

Jane didn't say a word after both Elizabeth and Will walked out. She sort of sat down on the couch with a plop- and stared at the empty space in front of her. It shows what a bad influence Will can be. I mean, we're talking about the guy who got me into mud sliding. I sighed. Was Will in love with Jane? Was she in love with him? I went into the kitchen to make some coffee.

William

I had to admit I was poor company for Liz, but I knew she understood. Jane had just plunged a knife in my heart and Charles had stabbed me with another in the back. I couldn't believe what had happened. I wanted an explanation. But first, I had to calm down enough so I wouldn't punch Charlie in the face the second I saw him. I looked across the table at Liz. She kept stirring her coffee absentmindedly and I reached across the table to give her a reassuring squeeze on her hand. I tried to give her a smile as well, but it probably looked like a scowl.

Elizabeth

I could've given both Jane and Charles a good slap on their faces at that moment. He thought I needed comfort when he was actually the one who was hurting the most. Probably, the only one hurting at all for the reason everyone should have been in pain about. I gave a mournful sigh for him and looked at my coffee again. I couldn't bear to look at those deep dark eyes. But I still held onto his hand.

Jane

Where did this coffee come from? I picked it up. It was still warm and the aroma calmed my nerves. I remember making coffee for William one morning a few days ago. It was black. I always drank my coffee black. But I had been talking to Elizabeth and she had said (sharply, I thought) that he liked it with cream and two sugar cubes. At that moment, I had found it rather odd but I had soon forgot about it...

Carol

The moment I walked in, I knew something was wrong. I could smell the sorrow in the air. Perfect! I looked to see Jane and Charles at opposite sides of the room drinking coffee. They didn't even look up and from their motionless behavior, I could tell they had no intention of snapping out of their miserable reveries. Hmm, BOTH Jane and Charles were clearly upset... That would mean something happened with William and Elizabeth! Oh, could my day be any better? Wait...what if something happened with William AND Elizabeth?

"Charles!"

He jumped, spilling coffee on himself. He shot me a look, but what did I care? It wasn't my pants.

"Where's William?"

"He left."

"I came all the way here to see him! Now, where is he?"

"He went out, okay?" It was more of a shout than anything else.

"With who?" I shouted with equal force.

Charles mumbled something but I couldn't hear him. I took a step closer but just as I did, the front door opened. It was William...and Elizabeth.

"Where have you been?" I cried.

He walked right past me. What was it with those Bennet women? What was their spell over men?

"They're just a bunch of sluts." I muttered.

Everyone's eyes were on me.

"What?" Elizabeth questioned me.

I turned to William, instead, "Darling, what is-"

"Get out of here, Carol."

"What?"

He stepped toward me. His voice was dangerously low. "This is not your house. No one said you could come here. So why don't you get out before you're forced out?"

I didn't know what to say. Turning, I left only to trip down the front steps and skin my knee. Stupid Bennets!

Chapter 4 - Unknown Hearts

Posted on Friday, 9 February 2001

Charles

"So...anyone want more coffee?"

No one responded. Well, there goes for breaking the ice. A few minutes of awkward silence ensued my question and I could see everyone fidgeting in their seats as though we were all sitting on a rash. Finally, to my great relief, Will spoke up.

"How long has it been going on?"

I could not discern the feelings which hid underneath his flat tone, but I knew instinctively that he had been hurt badly. Foolish me to forget that when my best friend fell for a girl, he fell for her.

Jane spoke up immediately, "It's not what you think. It happened this morning."

"But we saw you an hour ago."

I could feel my face turn red. "It happened twice."

"I see."

I didn't like the way Will had said that. It was as though he was making an accusation. Like there had been a conspiracy behind his back.

"Look, it's not as though this was planned." I stood up.

"Nah, it just happened twice."

My fists balled up as I took a step forward. "Did you think I was trying to hurt everyone on purpose? Like this was some sort of sick game?" My voice rose in volume with each word. I was about to continue when Elizabeth slipped in a sentence, though quietly said.

"I don't want to marry you."

The room went silent. All eyes were on Elizabeth and she looked back at me calmly. She wasn't going to marry me... I was speechless. I never expected this. Slowly, I sunk down until I was seated again.

"Wh- what?" I could hardly believe it. True, I planned to break the engagement myself and Elizabeth seemed to be having some sort of weird case of jitters, but it never occurred to me that she would actually come right out and do it.

"Didn't you hear me, Charles? There will be no wedding."

Jane suddenly stood up. Worry was etched on her face. "Now, let's not be too hasty here."

Will stood up as well. "You want them to get married?!"

The door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet walked in. We looked at them and immediately sat down in unison. If we hadn't been involved in such a serious conversation beforehand, it might have been funny how we automatically bombarded them with questions and comments.

"I got my wedding dress today."

"Where's Valerie?"

"Oh, we didn't expect you back so soon."

"How are you doing? You guys look great!"

"Did you have fun? Where did you go?"

"Are you tired? Maybe you should go to sleep. It is getting late."

"I didn't kiss anybody today."

"Well, I know I certainly didn't."

"Where did you get that beautiful shawl, Mrs. Bennet?"

After we stopped, we looked at each other once again. Together, we said, "We weren't discussing anything."

Mrs. Bennet stared at us with wide eyes while her husband raised his eyebrows. "If you didn't want us here, you should've just said so."

I let out a deep frustrated sigh as they climbed the stairs. Once they were out of sight, I leaned back in my chair. This was going to be a long night. I needed much more coffee.

William

We commenced our rigid discussion in the kitchen where Charlie kept making pot after pot of coffee. He began to get jittery after awhile but our previous awkwardness did not fade. I didn't want to be here but Liz had convinced me that we needed to go through with this. The decision that we made at the coffeehouse had to be shared with the rest of them.

I looked up and caught Liz's eye. She nodded. Was she going to say something or was I? I peered at Charlie and Jane over the rim of my cup before I took a sip. Charles was squirming all over the place and Jane had refused to do anything but stare at the tile floor.

"Liz and I have an announcement to make."

"What? Are you two engaged or something?"

I shot Charlie a dark look for his sarcasm. "We decided that it would be best if we stepped out of the picture."

"What do you mean?" Jane asked cautiously.

"Just that. William and I will step out of the picture," Liz replied.

Jane opened her mouth, but she didn't say anything. It seemed like she was going to protest but there was nothing she could say. She finally gave up and returned to her newfound fascination of the floor. Charlie just took another drink of coffee. I looked at Liz who seemed to be staring into oblivion. So, there it was. An attraction between Jane and Charles. And it had been strong enough to disregard the feelings of their closest companions. There was nothing for me to do but allow them to find out if their gain was worth the loss.

Chapter 5 - Where Do We Go From Here?

Posted on Monday, 12 February 2001

Charles

The countless numbers had blurred into nothing but black spots. I rubbed my eyes. Will had been right. I should've never been an accountant. I didn't have the patience for it. Why was Will always right? Why was I always the one screwing up?

I closed my books and shoved them across that table. Picking up my coat, I left my apartment. It had been too long since I last talked to him.

"Hey."

Will looked up from his desk. Surprise was written across his face. Thankfully, there was no anger burning in his eyes but I still lingered at the door. He hadn't respond. He continued to stare at me and I had to avert my gaze. I hated it when he did that. Back at Harvey Mudd, Will did it all the time for the kicks and people would literally squirm. But I was never on the receiving end before.

"Hey..."

I snorted. "So, how long has it been?"

"Over a month, I suppose." He murmured as he waved me in. "I guess that's why my apartment's been smelling better."

I sighed with relief. Knowing Will as long as I have, I knew he had forgiven me. If not, he would have thrown me out. I sat down across from him. There was still a part of him which would hold onto his pain and anger for a long time coming. It was up to me to heal this breach.

"I heard you got a new project on board," I commented vaguely. Will always had some new project going. He liked the variety of doing three or more things at once. He had perfected it in college when he would listen to a lecture, write notes, doodle on his paper, wink at that cute redhead across the room...

"Yeah, it's a new commercial for this up and coming company, but I don't think you want to hear the details. C'mon, let's get some ice-cream."

I grinned. Ice cream. The world's cure all.

Elizabeth

"Hey, pretty."

I smiled at the sound of William's voice. "Hey yourself."

"Want to go for a ride?"

"Excuse me?" I picked up a stack of books to be reshelved but he came up and took half of them from me. As I watched his progress, I laughed, "You should have been a librarian."

"I don't think I look good with my hair in a bun." At the end of the pile, he turned over a pink paperback. He made a face.

"What?"

"Britney Spears."

"You don't like her?" I asked hopefully. I always tingled all over when I found we shared a common interest, or in this case, dislike. Over the last month, I had discovered that we had many similarities (or maybe it was my deep infatuation which was making all these conjectures) but I treasured every one of them. I even had a list on my refrigerator.

"I can't believe you carry this junk." He threw it in the rack.

"That junk sells well to thirteen year old boys."

He laughed and pulled me out of shop as soon as the lights have been turned off and the door locked.

"You've got to be kidding!"

I shook my head and refused to budge.

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"On the ground!"

"You are on the ground."

"Correction. The horse is on the ground. I'm on the horse, which makes me not on the ground." I pouted.

He only laughed at me. He leaned down and offered me his hand, but I still refused to get on that thing. "I hate horses."

"Oh, c'mon, don't tell me when you were little, you didn't want your own pony?"

"That's different!" I retorted. "Ponies are small. Horses are not."

He rolled his eyes at me. Suddenly, as though it were some sort of afterthought, he looked at me intently. It made me feel nervous. He had a funny expression on his face.

"What?" Somewhere deep inside of me, I was hoping he would declare his love for me but as it was, I was only going off with one of my fancies.

"Maybe some other time." He slid off the horse and started to lead it back to the stable.

"What?" I ran after him but he didn't respond. He spoke a few words with the stable manager and handed him the horse.

"Let's go to the park."

"Why?"

As we slowly progressed back to his Expedition, he stuck his hands in his pockets. I could tell he had something on his mind with the way his eyebrows furrowed. He took a deep breath and turned his back to the car so his eyes were on the darkening stables.

"How's Jane?"

I stumbled forward. I stopped as well but my eyes were fixed in the opposite direction. Well, I glanced at him from time to time but mostly, I just looked at the expanse of dirt with its multiple tire tracks.

"How would I know? Is that why you took me out? To talk about Jane?" I spoke bitterly though I had no reason to. I mean, he was Jane's ex-boyfriend, wasn't he? Of course he would be curious about her.

"No, I wanted to talk about Charles."

My eyes widen in astonishment. I turned toward him. That name hadn't been brought up in over a month. "Why?"

"Because I talked to him two days ago and..." He paused as he turned toward the car again and walked leisurely toward it. I didn't follow.

"You know, you and I have become good friends, haven't we?"

"Yeah," I replied as I kicked the dirt.

"We wouldn't have met each other if it weren't for him."

"What are you trying to say? Thanks to Charles, we're friends and miserable. We're miserable friends." I laughed with an edge.

"He's sincerely sorry."

"Yeah."

"I've known him for years and I don't believe that he would hurt anyone-"

"Are we going to stand here all day?"

He disarmed the car and climbed in. As I shut my door, he locked both sides and turned toward me.

"Are you locking me in?"

"Yes." He paused. "You said we're friends so let's discuss this as friends would."

"Friends don't lock friends in their cars." I looked out the window just so I wouldn't have to look at him. I didn't know why we had to talk about it. I thought we sorted everything out at the coffee shop that day, and he had been the one who was reticent about the subject.

I felt his hand on my cheek. He turned my face toward him but I still wouldn't look in his eyes. I felt his warm hand slide away from me and it was all I could do to stop myself from reaching out and stopping him.

"I want you to know that Charlie and are working on healing the breach that was made."

"That's great," I replied with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.

"Have you talked to Jane since then?"

"Sure, all the time," I lied.

"Liz..."

"Look, she betrayed me. She betrayed you! And Charles did the same."

There was silence. After awhile, I looked up. William was looking through the windshield at the gloom. He suddenly laughed. He turned to me and smiled softly, "It sounds like you're more angry with her because of what she did to me than what she did to you."

I didn't respond. So, he finally noticed?

"That morning, when we got your wedding dress, you were about to break it off with Charlie weren't you?"

I stared back at him. What was he thinking behind that beautiful face of his?

"I think I was the only one who was out of the loop. Let's see, you and Charles realized that you weren't meant for one another after all. I mean, that's a given."

"A given?"

"I never got the chance to pass judgment. If he had only asked me, I would have noticed right off that you weren't fit for him."

"I wasn't fit for him?" I asked incredulously.

"Of course not," he responded matter-of-factly. "I mean, you're just not Charlie's type. You seem more like the wife of a pro-wrestler."

It took me a minute to register the fact that he was messing with me. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Liz, the two of you had been going downhill for awhile."

I was a statement more than a question. I nodded my response.

"And then there's Jane. Obviously, she and Charlie were attracted to one another. When did they meet?"

"After you two had begun to date. It might have been a few days after you first went out with each other," I shrugged.

"You know, it really hurt when I saw the two of them together, but I don't like standing in the way of something great. I already decided not to but I haven't acted upon it yet. So, I'm going to follow my instincts and save a few important relationships to me and perhaps some other people. It's up to you what you want to do."

He started the car and drove me home to the gray stone condo. He didn't say a word on the way back. He was thinking but I had no idea what it was all about. It got me thinking too though and I suppose that was his entire purpose.

Jane

I pulled the covers over myself but the ringing still persisted. I fumbled for the phone and managed to knock it off the stand. Cursing under my breath, I slid from my warm covers onto the floor where I could reach the receiver.

"Hello?" I managed groggily.

"Jane?"

It was William. I stared at the phone for a moment. "Yes?"

"I'm outside."

I involuntarily choked. I hadn't heard from him since the disaster between me and Charles. "You're outside?!"

"Do you mind letting me in?"

"Um, sure." I put down the phone and grabbed a robe. Passing the mirror, I tried to fix my hair. As I tried to straighten my flying strands, I realized I was taking a long time. I ran to the door while trying to look presentable.

As the door swung open, I saw him looking as handsome as the first day I met him. He had a pot of dandelions.

"Weeds?" I pondered out loud.

"I always considered them very resilient flowers."

I smiled. "What are you doing here William?"

He walked in and placed the flowers on the counter. "I was in the neighborhood."

"So you took a walk from California to Seattle?"

"Nah, I took the trolley."

I didn't know what to say.

"You know, those red ones with the bell."

"Uh..." I pulled at the knot on my robe unconsciously.

"I think we need to talk."

"I'm surprised," I replied with pure honesty.

He looked at me.

Blushing a tomato red, I bet, I explained, "I thought you would never speak to me again."

He sat on one of the stools. "I thought about it but your cooking brought me back." He paused. "I've been talking to both Charles and Liz."

"Oh."

"You haven't talked to them, have you?"

I sat across from him and fingered the weeds...flowers. "No."

"You should, you know."

"Why would I talk to Charles?"

We were quiet, lost in our thoughts. True, I've been curious about Charles, but it was a road I shouldn't travel. One I couldn't...

William broke the silence. "I was really angry at what happened between the two of you, but if I've learned anything about you when we were together, it was..." He stopped and took the flowers to the sink, adding water to it. "I had this entire analogy prepared about us being both a weed and a flower. How we were delicate on the surface, wearing our hearts on our sleeves, pretending we were something that we're not."

He smiled, "But, deep down we return to what is true and real. It sounded much better in my head." He placed the dandelions down again and stuck out his hand. "Hi, my name is William Benedick Rinaldi Darcy."

I looked at him, confused. Cautiously, I shook his hand. "Jane Rochelle Bennet."

"You're a nurse, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I also freelance for the 'Seattle Times.' What about you?" I still didn't understand what he was doing but I decided to go along with his game.

"I'm in advertising."

"Don't you have a B.S. from Harvey Mudd and a Master's from some school in Massachusetts?"

"Oh, you mean that obscure school, MIT?"

"Yes, that one! I found it odd that someone with your credentials and brilliance in mathematics would become an advertiser."

"Well, ma'am, I full of surprises."

"I've noticed..." I replied.

"I thought we could start over," he explained. "And I thought of a way we could fix things between you and Liz...and you and Charles."

Chapter 6 - Never Too Late

Posted on Saturday, 17 February 2001

Elizabeth

I watched William hum a Matchbox Twenty song as he licked his fingers of Danish crumbs. He had been gone for a week yet he hadn't said a word about it. I was dying of curiosity but I didn't want pry into his life. Okay, so that wasn't exactly true. I wanted to be his life but seeing as that wasn't working out, I would like to know what he was up to. But that didn't mean I had a right to either...

"I'm going riding," he said as he waggled his eyebrows.

I shot him a look. "Have fun."

"Or I might go sailing if you want to come."

"I don't sail."

"You're boring."

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Have you read the 'Seattle Times' lately?"

I eyed him suspiciously. "You know Jane works there, right?"

"Oh, does she?" he replied too innocently. "I thought she only freelanced."

"Um, yeah, she works there occasionally," I corrected myself.

"What kind of articles does she write?"

"She does local headlines," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. This was the second time he brought Jane up in the last two weeks. Was he still interested in her?

"Oh, really? Because she wrote an editorial a few days ago. You should look at it..." He stood up and handed me the paper. I made no move to take it from him so he left it on the table and put on his coat. "I'm going to the harbor now."

He turned to go. Then, he stopped and said mockingly, "Where I'm going to ride a horse along the seaside and then, straight into the sea where I'm going to board a boat and sail the high seas. I'll be back in eighty days."

Charles

I didn't have the stomach for sailing but since Will suggested it, I went along with the idea. I was probably turning a yellow green as I clutched onto the mast. Will had that hero look going. You know, standing at the front of the ship, against the wind. Not holding on to dear life due to the stupid rocking of the ocean. I guess the guy who asked me to go sailing with him today was the one who still resented me because the last time I was on a boat, I spent the entire time vomiting over the side.

He started pulling some riggings and we slowed down. I fell on my knees as I heard him say some nonsense to me. "Wh-at?"

"I was just saying it would be better if you look at the horizon." His voice seemed muffled to me and he continued to speak but I was too sick to notice.

"C'mon, Charles, how about a Martinelli?"

"You want apple juice right now?"

"Apple cider," he corrected.

I struggled to get up and instantly leaned toward the left to heave my breakfast into the ocean's expanse. Apparently, I leaned a little too far because the next thing I knew, I was surrounded by sharp icicles of pain. I had fallen overboard.

"The ocean's bloody cold!"

"I'm glad you noticed, Charlie. See, due to the unique composition of water, specifically, the hydrogen bonds, H20 requires a lot of heat to rise even 1 Kelvin. Considering the vastness of the ocean, the temperature in this area is usually around 28 degrees." Will leaned against the side of the boat as he gave me the chemistry lesson. Or was it bio? I didn't know and frankly, I didn't care.

"Could you help me out a little?"

"Need a lifesaver?"

"Yes!"

My eyes widen in surprise as Will pulled out a roll of Peppermint Lifesavers from his pocket and threw one at me. I watched it drop down into the deep black bottom of the sea. I stared at him and he smiled back at me smugly. Then, he got up and went to the other side of the boat. I didn't know what he was doing but I waded in the water, wondering if he planned to leave me out here or simply teach me a lesson of betrayal.

"You have no faith in me, do you, Charlie?"

"What?" I was still confused and my legs were beginning to feel heavy.

"You thought I would leave you out here, didn't you?"

"Um..." Did this guy have some mutant ability to read my brain, or what?

"The look on your face, Charlie," he explained, which by the way, did not provide a negative to my previous pondering. He pulled out a camera from his pocket and took a quick snap before tossing me a real lifesaver.

I grasped onto that thing for dear life, which was ironic since I was doing the same when I was actually on the darn boat. He leaned back to pull me in. When I got to the side of the boat, my fingers gripped the railing, turning my knuckles white. My chest heaved in relief. Will came over and I put out my hand. He picked up the lifesaver. Turning his back to me, he began to wind up the string and put it back in its original position. I stared at him in wonder. When he turned back to take another picture, I glared at him. He took a picture of that too.

"I think we had enough fun for one day, don't you think?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"So, let's go." He started pulling at the riggings to my utter horror.

"You want me hanging onto the side of the boat the entire way back?" I choked.

"Oh, I knew I forgot something," he replied good-naturedly while smacking his forehead. He leaned over and offered me his hand.

Will reclined against the side of "Moonlit Glory," his prized boat which he himself renovated and polished since he was 17. As I was pouring out the sea from my shoes, he read a newspaper and did not look up despite the fact I kept throwing algae at him.

"What's caught your interest?"

"The personal ads."

I rose an eyebrow. "Seriously, Will."

"Single female, voluptuous, likes to have fun, goes by the name of Coco."

I snorted. Now, I knew he was kidding. I looked up as he stood and stretched his legs. Yawning, he walked pass me and threw the paper in my lap. "I think you should call."

I was about to set the paper aside when I caught the name of the newspaper along the header: 'Seattle Times.' Jane worked there. Sure enough, I looked at the article that Will had been reading. It was a editorial titled, "Behind Every Soft Petal," by Jane Bennet. Looking down the dock, I could see that Will was no longer in sight. I unfolded the daily and began to read.

Elizabeth

"...never my intent to hurt those that I loved the most. But I did. And now I am forced to face the consequences of my actions and swallow the bitter pill of my sister's resentment and that of two very important men in my life. For over a month, I was too afraid to speak to any of them and bring forth hurt feelings and confusion buried deep within all of us. Due to the estrangement, I became a miserable creature who went through the motions just to avoid reality. I have to admit I was holding onto the belief that one of us would step forward and bring us back together, as though nothing had happened at all. As the weeks went by, none of these fancies materialized and I did not have the courage to be the one who would step into the lion's mouth. Then, one miraculous day, there was a knock on my door..."

He went to Seattle! William went to Seattle! I paused in my reading and called the waitress over. I needed a big bite of chocolate before I could continue.

Charles

"...he was holding a fresh pot of dandelions and the first thought that crossed my mind was he despised me so much that he decided to drop off a pile of weeds and leave. That way, I could dwell on my guilt even more. I found it a fair punishment but learned that I had offered him a deplorable assessment of his character and worth..."

I was reading every word in the article and going over some of them four or five times. So, Will had gone to Seattle to patch things up with Jane... He had forgiven me and remained friends with Elizabeth. I wondered if he was trying to bring us all together. Of course he was. But, what about Jane and I? Was he willing to let us date? I shook my head. Jane didn't even want to see me. Well, she called me important...

Elizabeth

"...I had to admit his analogy fell sort of flat though the essence of it bore its way into me. During his departure, he polished it and I knew I had to share these words with the world."

I took a deep breath. What did he say to her? Did he want to start over?

"We shouldn't be afraid of being either a weed or a flower but we have the realize that we are both..."

Charles

My eyebrows shot up. A weed or a flower? What was Will thinking?

"...there are times in our lives where we need to fight stubbornly to retain our own ground and refuse to be anything less than courageous and noble, but there comes a point where you're no longer fighting for the cause but simply due to the fact that you're actually too scared to surrender. You don't want to be the one who gives up. You don't want to be the failure. And it's because of that, we do fail. And there are other times when we wear our hearts on our sleeves or back away because we don't want to deal with a confrontation. We live in the shadows. We become a wallflower and allow everything to dissipate into nothingness. Because we can't step forward, we cause regrets which can only be blamed on ourselves..."

Elizabeth

"...We don't go both ways because we can't. One thing we always do is return to our roots. They are what is true and real in this world. My sister, whom I have alienated because I acted upon two extremes, still keeps me standing. She will never be any less in my eyes than what she is: a wonderful and beautiful person who has discovered what she wants in life and strives after it with sincerity and honesty. She would've never hurt me in the way I've hurt her..."

I could feel the tears forming at the corner of my eyes. Oh, Jane! I'm so sorry!

Charles

"...I only hope one day that my sister will be able to forgive me for my betrayal. I know I ask a lot from her but I believe in her compassion and love. As for these two men I think about everyday, I only wish to convey my love to them. If you're reading this, Charles, I do want to make it work. I believe that you have the ability to affect my future happiness. I hope this message gets to you and you receive it with an open heart..."

The newspaper dropped from my hands. She wants to make it work! She wants to make it work! With squeaky shoes, I ran up the dock. I had to call her!

William

"Last but certainly not least, my flower/weed bearing friend, you have been the light in my life. I never appreciated you enough and I doubt I could ever possibly do so. You are someone I respect and admire beyond anyone that I've ever met. You took that leap of faith and reached out to all of us. You let us see what it really meant to be noble. Yet, you had the delicacy to bring us back to the world we belong without opening the rush of wounds which we created for ourselves and you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart though I can never repay you for everything you've done. I suspect that one day, you'll receive all that you deserve..."

At the end, Jane made a note to her readers about embracing the world and not holding back. Not being afraid to love and take chances. Not holding onto pain and resentment. And most of all, returning to what was true and real. And what if that's you, Jane? What if that's you?

Chapter 7 - A Little Sense of Peace

Posted on Saturday, 17 February 2001

Carol

"Today is their six month anniversary, and he's flying all the way up to Seattle so he can take her out to dinner!"

William's secretary nodded at me eagerly. Oh, what was her name? Maggie? Madeline? Mildred?

"Now, if my brother is this serious about her, then she's probably giving him something he can't refused," I said pointedly.

"Love?"

Love? I couldn't believe the incompetence of this girl!

"No, not love. Whatever gave you an idea like that?" I snapped.

"Well, I just thought-"

"Look, this girl was with your boss not too long ago. Then she just dumps him and starts another relationship with my brother. Now, William was too smart for the likes of her. He knew that she was only interested in the things he could give her. But he wouldn't give it to her so she moved onto an easier target, my brother."

"But I thought you said that she dumped him? From what you said, it sounds like Mr. Darcy was the one who moved on."

"Ah..."

Just then, my knight in shining armor walked in. "Any messages, Maria?"

"Oh no, sir."

"Well, it's been nice talking to you, Mary," I quickly said before turning my attention to William. I put my hand on his arm to stop him from entering his office. "Are you okay, darling?"

"Carol, what are you talking about?"

He sounded bothered. Well, why wouldn't he be? After all, Jane and Charles had betrayed him. I know how to make you forget all about them! "Well, you know."

"If you're going to waste my time..."

"Oh, William!" I pressed myself against him. "You must be in so much pain. I can't believe my brother would do something so awful to you. And Jane! I knew she was a slut and a gold digger since the beginning. Let me take you out to dinner and I could make you forget about your worries."

"I would love to."

"You would?" This was easier than I thought!

"But I have a date tonight," he turned and shut the door.

William

I reached across the table with my fork, but before I could reach the meatball, she slapped my hand.

"Hey, stop that."

"But it looks good."

"Maybe you should've ordered it."

I gave her my very best pout but she only smiled back at me.

"Are you sure you don't want any wine?"

"You know I don't drink."

She shrugged her elegant shoulders and took a sip from her glass. "So, how are you really holding up?"

"What do you mean?" I replied knowing that she was referring to Jane and Charles.

"C'mon, Darcy, don't play games with me."

I leaned back in my chair and gave a little puff of frustration. "You would think after all this time I would kick all these doubts and resentments to the curb."

"But you haven't," she stated.

"I should be happy for them. I mean it was my handiwork that got them together," I noted as I pushed the food around my plate. I finally put my fork down and placed my hands in my lap. "Well, back together. They've been inseparable for six months. I mean, Charlie flew all the way to Seattle, after screwing his clients over, so he could have dinner with her before he comes back down tomorrow for his deal with the bank." Under my breath, I muttered, "He's being completely irresponsible."

She didn't respond, and I didn't expect her to. She was going to let me stew in my own juices long enough to get some sense into myself. But I thought that would be a waste of time. I didn't have much sense in me before this whole mess started seven months ago and I didn't see any being inserted in my head anytime soon. "I'm just waiting for them to announce their engagement."

She sighed heavily. "You're pathetic."

I smiled wanly as I focused on the dark red carpet, "Thanks."

"Let's dance."

I rose my head slowly, not surprised that she asked me to dance (Correction: commanded me), but at the music playing softly in the background. I hadn't noticed it before, being absorbed in creating stick figures of Jane and Charles with my breadsticks. I leaned to the side so I could catch the words. She was looking at me funny but she always did that. "I don't think we should come here anymore."

"Why?"

Standing up and placing my napkin on the table, I looked into her eyes and said as solemnly as I possibly could, "Mixing country music with an Italian restaurant? It's simply unheard of!"

"I thought you liked country."

"I won't admit to such an accusation," I replied curtly. Then, I leaned forward and added, "Especially in public."

She took my hand and we danced slowly beside our table. For awhile, we just strained our ears to hear the music.

"I bet you know all the words."

"Only the chorus."

"Oh, really?"

"And part of the beginning."

She laughed into my shoulder.

"She'll watch me drive around her block. Gettin' courage up to stop."

My serenade only caused her to laugh even harder. I wondered if I could get her into hiccups. "To make her one more promise that I can't keep... The way I love the rodeo, I guess I should let her go before I hurt her more than she loves me."

"Darcy, stop..." She started giggling like a school girl. The waiter looked over at us and I gave him a little wave behind he turned his back.

I lowered my voice to get a more 'country' quality. "Wild horses keep draggin' me away..."

I received a hiccup for my effort. "And I'll lose more than I'm gonna win someday. Wild horses just stay wild and her heart is all I break. Wild horses keep draggin' me away.*"

She was into full hiccups by now. Smiling, I said, "I think we should get ready to leave."

"You know, hiccup, Darcy, I can see, hic-, you coming to this rest-, hiccup,-aurant for a long, hic-, coming."

"You think so, Anne?" I looked over to her.

"Yeah, it's perfect for..." She stopped to swallow the rush of air coming from her diaphragm though, to my amusement, it was still audible. "...the country loving Italian in all of us."

"I'm half-Irish."

"You lean toward the Italian side, Darce."

"No, I lean toward the country singing Italian side."

We paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. But not before I bit Charlie's head off and maybe one of Jane's arms... or maybe it was the extra tail I added. One could never be sure.

*Wild Horses by Garth Brooks

Author's Note: Will may know his country but he's still a hard rock punk in his own way!

Chapter 8 - The Short End of the Stick

Posted on Friday, 23 February 2001

Elizabeth

I had a smile plastered on my face for so long that my cheeks had begun to hurt. I wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. Laugh because I was being completely ridiculous. Cry because I wanted him to be mine. Mine, mine, mine!

I chewed on my hot dog with determination. I had been completely overjoyed when William asked me to come to a family barbecue. I even went out to buy a new outfit. Now, I don't want to sound conceited but I was dressed to kill and he was over there laughing with some freckled redhead. Looking at my watch, I had determined that I had been here for four minutes and 36 seconds and he still didn't know I was here.

I put down the hot dog that was shoved in my direction the moment I had arrived. Lost in a sea of bodies, I supposed I passed for some relative or family friend. My eyes immediately scanned the area for William, hoping that our eyes would lock among the crowd. When I found him, my hopes were dashed. Maybe she was his cousin or something. When I prodded the man next to me, who had the oddest salt-and-pepper eyebrows, and asked him her name and relation to the Darcys, he replied, much to my disappointment, "You mean Anne De Bourgh? Don't you remember when she used to date Will, Sascha?"

Sascha? What a name! Did I look like a Sascha? I shook my head and turned back to the figure across the lawn. My attention was more focused on William than any odd quandering of his relations. Well, if he wasn't going to come to me, I would go to him. Pulling my red leather skirt up a notch, I sauntered over as best as I could, though heels and grass make a horrible combination.

Richard

Oh, baby, break my heart! I eyed the petite brunette crossing the grass. Boy, did she know how to wear a miniskirt. Making my excuses, I made my way over as fast as I could. Please don't tell me you're some unknown cousin!

"Hey doll!"

She turned around while I took a better view of her. I nodded approvingly of the black halter-top which showed an inch of her midriff. She blushed deeply when she looked at me. But then, again, why wouldn't I make any woman blush?

"What's your name?"

"Um, Elizabeth."

"Well, Liz, do you think I could get your number?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't call me that."

Oh, the cold shoulder act, I see. "Call you what?"

"Don't call me Liz."

"Do you like baby better?"

"Ugh!"

"What?"

I watched her turn away and took much pleasure in it.

Elizabeth

The insolence of that man! I couldn't believe he would hit on me like that. For all he knew, I could've been Cousin Sascha! I was fuming by the time I reached William and his laughing Anne De Bourgh. I stopped a few feet short of him waiting for him to respond as I tapped my heels. He stared at me for a moment and impatient as I was, I blurted out, "Well, aren't you going to introduce me?"

William

I was sure my chin was grazing the grass the second I saw Liz. I couldn't believe what she was wearing. It was a far cry from her casual jeans and pastel blouses to say the least. She stared at me as I tried to tear myself from...uh, as I tried to look her in the eye without appearing like some adolescent who didn't know how to control his testosterone. Much good I was doing!

"Well, aren't you going to introduce me?"

She wasn't in a good mood. I shook my head in confusion. What was wrong? Maybe the cold was bothering her! "Uh, are you okay, Liz?"

Before she could respond, Anne put out her hand. "Hi, you must be Elizabeth Bennet. I'm Anne De Bourgh, an old friend of Darce."

To my surprise, Liz looked at Anne with narrowed slits. She seemed ready to pounce and tear her into shreds. Boy, what was brewing behind those shrewd eyes of hers, would I like to know! Just as I was about to pull her aside, Richard came up to us. His eyes were focused on Liz and I didn't mind keeping it to myself that his saunter looked more feminine than the old grade school walk we used to practice. Much to my embarrassment, yes, Richard and I actually did that... And turned around in the mirror to execute a smooth exit though I never had the courage to put it into use.

As Richard scooted up next to Liz, Anne couldn't resist telling him what she thought. Could she ever? "I think you're using too much hip in that, Richie."

Laughing, she left the three of us to ourselves.

"Hey baby."

Something swam inside of me. What right did Richard have hitting on Liz? Okay, so she was free as a bird since the catastrophe with Charlie but I still didn't like it. This was the one heart I would not let him break. For some odd reason, Richard could attract women like he was made out of clear-cut diamond. Not to say I would want to be in his place, but you have to understand him the way I do. I can't say he's any better looking than I am. To tell you the truth, I've thought about it but I can't really assess myself properly and I flat out refuse to check out his butt to see if it's any firmer than mine.

Anyway, we both got our share of girls throughout the years but it was Richard who usually had a different one each week. Hey baby, let's have some fun. See you later. I suppose I was more of the steady boyfriend material while he was Mr. Playboy. He had an endless string of them though some I would have done well without. You would think I would envy him but he seemed to be more worried about quantity than quality, and that wasn't my style.

I looked at the two of them. Liz was still sour but Richard was his old crass and charming self. What did she think of him?

Elizabeth

Who does this guy think he is?! Richard Fitzwilliam hadn't stopped ogling me in the last ten minutes, and we've been sitting down for seven! Will conducted a maddening whirlwind of introductions to his sweet cousin Georgiana, his sour Aunt Cathy, his salt-and-pepper eyebrowed great uncle Stewart (was he the one who liked to barbecue in the nude?), to his pierced and tattooed cousin's wife's ex-husband's new girlfriend Lydia, and on and on until my head had begun to spin.

When we finally settled down, I was happy to see Anne far away from William, but my joy was short lived when Richard took the seat next to me with a confident smile.

"How are you doing, baby?"

"I don't like being called that," I muttered.

"Do you prefer honey?"

I could feel his hand on my exposed thigh. I flinched for a second but I didn't remove it. I thought with bitterness and anger that William never so much as looked at me, as Richard was ogling, that he never touched me, as Richard was doing. He placed his other hand on my shoulder, trying to pull me toward him. What a jerk! A jerk who noticed me. A jerk who paid attention to the outfit I wore. A jerk who would ogle me.

Part III - All This Chaos

Chapter 1 - Broken at the Bends

Posted on Monday, 26 February 2001

Anne

William's plan to set me up with Richard had failed horrendously. I had been in love with that stupid All-American boy since the day I met him. And he never noticed. Of course, he was the big man on campus, though I believed that during Will's time, his popularity, in general, was less than his cousin's. Richard had appealed to any girl with eyes and all them big boys (you know, football players and such) when he was a senior. However, when William was in high school, he was favored by just about everyone. At the time, he had been somewhat shy but it only added to his charm. While all the other girls, with the exception of the seniors such as myself who could not step down to a freshmen no matter how hot he was, forgot about Richard to trip over one another for this doe-eyed boy, I was still pining away for blue eyes and sun bleached hair.

William shifted in his seat. I tore my eyes from the screen. It didn't matter. I wasn't paying attention either. All I saw were insignificant pictures dancing in front of my eyes and meaningless sounds assailing my ears. Usually, when we needed cheering up, we would pull out ice-cream, the world's cure all, and a Mel Brooks movie which would have us cracking up and making imitations until we were fresh out of worries. Not tonight. A frown creased his beautiful face. I used to think it odd how beautiful it was but it just seemed to work so well for him. I always thought things worked out very well for him. Apparently not.

Here he was working over his infatuation with Jane and getting past Charles' betrayal when he hit a brick wall. I shook my head slowly. I never got a chance to spend much time with Will over our twelve-year friendship. He had a life. He went out and took action, hung out with his friends, found enjoyment in solitude, went out with girls, involved himself with hobbies, laughed at the incredible oddities of his family and himself, lived a social and personal life I envied. But whenever we got together, he always gave me his undivided attention. It made me feel special, and afterwards, guilty for having thoughts and hopes concerning Richard spin through my head due to association.

I slapped his hand. He was unconsciously picking at the cross-stitch on my pillow. He did many things unconsciously, like stare at a piece of lint floating in the air, snap his heels together when he was bored, or recently, talk about Elizabeth Bennet.

Goodness, he didn't even know he had fallen in love with her! And now, she was dating Richard. Ha! Two mix-matched relationships! Poor William. Perhaps his life had been too smooth till then. It all got pent up until it burst into these unintentional treacheries of the heart. It would boil down and result in his happiness. I was sure of it, but how was I suppose to tell him that? How could I, when I didn't even have belief in my own future?

Elizabeth

You've reached a new low, Liz! I noticed recently that I didn't refer to myself as Lizzy anymore but Liz. William had called me Liz since the moment we met. My heart wrenched in my chest as I thought of him. Every part of me missed him; yet, I didn't have the courage to pick up the phone or stop by. Since the barbecue two weeks ago, it was as though something had severed our bond irreparably. It was me. I, who spent the past few months thinking of nothing but his breath against my skin, sent our relationship tumbling down a steep slope.

I had grown tired of our friendship. I wanted more but how could I expect more when he was pining over Jane? But he had moved on! To Anne De Bourgh. Not me. Oh, I burned with jealousy and rage and the only way I could retaliate was move on myself. But I didn't want to. My heart refused to separate itself from the beating of his. By sheer will, or perhaps stupidity, I played nice with his cousin that afternoon. And since then, no more phone calls during his lunch break, no more walks in the park, no more stops by the store at the end of the day, and no more teasing about horses or boats. It was only Richard who called me and stopped by.

I have wondered for fourteen days straight why William, who went out of his way to know the fiancée of a friend who betrayed him, had decided I was no longer worthy of his attention but soon concluded that he was too busy with Anne. He probably didn't know I was going out with his cousin! Looking at the clock, I knew it was almost time for my date with Richard. I still had a half hour at least. He never failed to be late. My eyes met my reflection in the mirror. I tried to smile but I couldn't. Pulling out bright red lipstick, I applied it liberally. I hated the color as I had despised the wedding dress I bought over six months ago.

William

"I'm taking a walk," I mumbled more to myself than Anne. She didn't seem to care anyway. Pining over Richard. Again. Taking my coat off the rack, I pulled it on and slipped into the coolness of the night. It didn't matter whether I turned left or right. I was not going anywhere in particular and while I continued on my path, I forgot which way I had decided to go.

I rambled along the streets, prowling the pavement like a caged animal. I suppose I was, with the bars coming in on all four sides and me, stuck in the middle, trying to keep myself sane by thinking of Anne and Richard. Richard and Anne. Anne and Richard. I had known her for twelve years. Or so she thought. In actuality, I first saw her before she even knew of my existence. Her mass of red curls was under my observation when Richard was a senior. Anne had been a year under him, yet they were in the same English class. Richard never noticed each glance she sent his way as he flipped through his little black book, letting her work for an A which only one of them deserved but both would receive. I watched her from the stairs. I thought she was pretty and found myself attracted to her, being an older woman and all and me being nothing but a scrawny eighth grader back then.

We officially met my freshmen year. Despite our age difference, we became close friends. Don't get me wrong. I knew her only interest in me was my relation to Richard but I liked her enough not to care. I allowed her to tag along with me to family events so she could talk to Richard, but he didn't even remember her. I had saw the tears gather at the corner of her green eyes when he didn't recognize her or even recall an Anne De Bourgh in his long list of acquaintances. They had spilled over when he went on to a more appealing object. Between junior and senior year, she had changed in appearance much. New hair cut, new clothes, makeup and such. Oh, but it was not enough to catch his attention for over a second.

I shouldn't have encouraged her but I thought a good wholesome girl such as Anne would have done my "I'm a god" cousin good. I even let her pretend she was my girlfriend just to make him jealous. It didn't work. He was juggling too many girls to worry about anything he wanted from me. Recently, she had been gone for the hard-to-get routine by ignoring him. What a surprise, it didn't work. He went after Liz. And now my attempt to stay off what was foremost in my mind has circled back to my current despair.

I was at the park. Walking down those windy paths made something inside of me ache. I wasn't in love with Liz. I couldn't be. It was Richard I wanted to protect her from. Oh, Richie wasn't such a bad guy. It was his belief that he was the epicenter of the world, which led him to leave a long line of girls in agony, and I just didn't want her to be one of them. I sat on a lonely bench. To me, even the bench looked sad with its peeling paint and rust along its curling arms.

I really didn't know what to think. If I didn't have some sort of feelings for Liz, then why couldn't I bear myself to call her or stop by the store? Why did I spend so much time ignoring Richard? I clenched my fists. Stupid Richard. I was building a storm against him as I began to blame him for everything. He was supposed to be with Anne! Now she was sitting in her apartment staring at the television with dead eyes. He's not worth it. I had it all set up for him to take her to a Madonna concert in my place, though I never intended to go. Instead he spent his time chasing Liz. At the table, he had the audacity to put his hand on her but when she didn't move it, I got worried. I wanted to scream at her, "Why are you letting that jerk do that to you?"

She had continued to eat, almost as though she didn't notice. But how could she not? Richard made sure girls paid attention to him. So infuriated was I by the entire situation, I had left the table. I made sure I wouldn't encounter them for the rest of the afternoon. Let them do what they want! And a word has not changed hands between me and the two of them since.

Anne keeps giving me these apologetic looks and it makes me sick. Funny thing, though. She's the only company I have had for awhile. Misery loves company... I've turned down pizza and bowling with the boys. I've turned down Charlie's offer to play pool. I've even turned down a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. Now, according to John, there's something extremely wrong with me when I do something like that. Maybe I just figured my upcoming birthday, which would render me twenty-six, made me too old for bashing my head out to the tunes of "Parallel Universe." Yeah right. I went trick-o-treating last year.

I looked at the moon shadowed by dark branches, reaching toward the sky, swaying slightly by a wind that could not be seen but heard like a whisper across the night. The pain I suffered at the hands of Jane and Charlie was not the same that I now suffered. That pain I had held onto with resentment until I knew it was time to let it go. It had boiled within me until the steam had risen and dissipated in the air. Gone. Evaporated into nothingness.

Oh, this wasn't the same. Not at all. It was more of a dull ache. As though there was a void I never knew existed and now needed to be filled. But with what? The wind whispered in my ear; it whispered with an ageless wisdom, supported by the shedding of autumn leaves, the falling of gentle snow, the burst of green under rich soil and the blaze of glory by the sun. And I failed to understand it. Standing on that sorrowful bench with its peeling paint and rust on its curling arms, I looked at the moon. Face to face. Without swaying branches in the way. It was full and almost translucent against its dark drapery, shining in a dull way but burning brighter than the stars themselves. I sighed, broken at the bends.

Chapters 2 - Caught in the Act

Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2001

Elizabeth

I resisted the urge to spit in his face. Not because he was being a creep, but because he had the ability to be surprisingly entertaining at times. I supposed that was where William and Richard shared a connection, beyond the devastatingly good looks that is. I must've been turning red with laughter as I tried to swallow my drink at the same instant.

"So, he's screaming, 'What's the big deal about underwear?' And who turns the corner but Mrs. Healthdale. She's so red in the face but you should've seen Charles! Man, the rest of us were cracking up."

As champagne dripped down my chin, I stuck my face in a napkin, hoping to spare myself from the embarrassment that had once befallen Charles. I leaned back with a sigh after I had completely recovered, my mind tumbling over the differences between the two cousins.

Night and day. Yes, a mundane comparison but true to the objects of observation, nonetheless. William was dark, with brooding eyes and brown hair, which was combed with care, while Richard had an irresistible pair of laughing blue eyes and a messy mop of dirty blonde hanging over him. Like, I said, night and day. And that was only the physical aspects.

When it came to everything else, these two had an even greater disparity. From what I gathered, Richard and William attended the same high school, just at different times. Richard had been the star quarterback and Prom King. After he left Weston High, he continued on to a party school. What a surprise... and did everything a truant eighteen year old on his own would've done. Meanwhile, Will proved to have an impressive record in academics and popularity. He never told me himself but Charles (we're on speaking terms now) relayed to me his career as yearbook editor, captain of the soccer team, captain of the intramural hockey team, lead guitarist of his own band, Valedictorian, and, beating out Richard where it counted, Homecoming King.

While Richard ended up roaming around for a bit before working for his father, a successful banking executive, William studied at some of the highest ranked scientific and mathematical institutes in the nation. And decided he was sick of numbers. He settled on the advertising business for goodness knows what. I always considered him a starving artist who got trapped under his own intellect and revolting against the black and white lines of constants, numbers and equations, shed his own overbearing understanding of them to let his creative juices flow. Of course, that was how I considered him. He would've probably laugh in my face and said he just was tired of numbers.

"Hey, baby!" Richard was close to me, waving his hand in front of my face. "Oh, Elizabeth, are you in there?"

I blinked. So engrossed I was with thoughts of William, I forgot all about Richard. And what a disappointment to see him instead. I couldn't help but frown.

"What's the matter, babe?"

As I opened my mouth to reply, Richard pressed his lips against mine. Here we go again! Not that Richard was a bad kisser but I never felt anything worth the trouble to continue with this charade when I was with him. It was all too fake, like I was in drama class in high school. Richard was this hot shot Casanova who thought he could sweep every girl off her feet when all I really wanted him to do was pull back so I could get some air.

His hands were all over me. Like usual. I tried to control them without much success. We were in a public place, for Pete's sake! I could imagine what Jane and William would've done on a date. I could picture them sitting across the room, looking at this overwrought display of 'affection' with disgust. They would've turned back, into their own seclusion, and quietly whisper into each other's ears and hold hands under the table. Then, in a flash, I saw Anne. Anne was beside him now and Jane was never there. She and William were laughing and he reached up to touch her hair. As though I were avenging myself, I leaned into Richard. When we finally pulled back, he had this stupid grin on his face. I was practically panting for breath and as my eyes traveled the room, who should I see staring right back at me but Anne De Bourgh.

Anne

The second I walked into the restaurant, I saw them. I mean, everyone was either glancing in their direction or staring openly. It was only natural for my own eyes to follow the crowd's gaze. At a fancy table meant for business transactions and special anniversaries, Richard Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Bennet were going at it. It was as though I was being transported back to high school where I was a nobody in the hallways, watching the star quarterback, the man of my dreams, suck face with some bimbo.

Except...except a lot of things. As I stood there in my designer gown, with my hair pulled back with jeweled pins, watching them defy the laws of human nature (really, how could you breathe?), I found myself laughing at my own absurdity. Since the day I saw him. Since I arrived at Weston in the middle of my freshmen year. Could it be sixteen years?! Yes, I was thirty now. So much time wasted on that All-American boy. Oh, sure, it wasn't as though I spent my days following him around, hoping he would notice me without stepping on my tail and sending me on my way (though it would've been good for me). In the interim, I became relatively successful, went sky diving (and sworn never to do it again), got up the courage to talk back to my mother, and I even married a stockbroker. But how much did everything mean to me when I was all alone? How long did my marriage last when I was always dreaming of someone who was out of reach? For so many years, I aspired to mean something to Richard Fitzwilliam. The result? Ashes to ashes.

"Ma'am, your table is ready."

I turned to the man in the tuxedo. "Could you give me a moment? And if my date arrives, could you please direct him there?"

He nodded in reply, and I made my way over to Elizabeth who caught sight of me and was staring at me in utter surprise. Sucking face with some bimbo. I didn't think Elizabeth was just another bimbo. Everything I learned about her indicated quite the opposite. She was probably a sensible sort of girl who was falling fast and hard, grabbing onto Richard so she could survive the fall. I had thought William was the reason behind her tumult but I couldn't be sure. Not yet, anyway.

"Well, if it isn't the happy couple!" I said with a cheer I actually felt.

Elizabeth averted my gaze, blushing deeply. Meanwhile, Richard let out a slow whistle. "Anne..."

I raised my eyebrow at him. So, he finally remembered my name. Sometimes, I wasn't too sure. "Richie, don't you look splendid... That particular shade of lipstick is quite becoming on you, a favorite of mine too but it looks much better on you."

William always told me I could be brutally blunt but I think it who he who taught me to speak my mind. He could teach Elizabeth a few things too, I thought, looking at her messy hair and low-cut dress. Suddenly, I felt that it was time for me to leave before I burst into laughter. For some reason, I found the entire situation hilarious. It felt like we had been pulled into some modern day drama and none of us knew our lines. We just ad lib everything to the best of our ability and fell flop on our bellies. Even though I was going to have dinner with my lawyer, I couldn't help smiling sweetly at Elizabeth and saying, "Well, can't keep old Darce waiting now, can I?"

Chapter 3 - The Happy Couple

Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2001

Charles

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Why was this so hard? C'mon, Charles, what's wrong with you? I could feel the sweat on the palm of my hands, my grasp slipping from the bouquet of flowers in my hand. As I rose my fist to knock on the door, I felt myself hesitate. Oh, good Lord, I felt like I would vomit any second now. I put my head between my knees as I closed my eyes tightly. Hearing some movement, I quickly sniffed the area under my arms. All clear. I prepared to smile brightly as Jane opened the door.

"I was expecting you!"

Her beautiful face was all I could focus on. Everything faded away as I looked at her.

"You're so gorgeous..."

She giggled, "Charles, you say that all the time."

"It's true," I murmured, unable to do anything but stare at her.

She took me by the hand and pulled me in, while disengaging the flowers from my other fist. Closing the door, she left me where I stood to put them away. I followed her.

"White roses."

"I thought you would be tired of wild flowers," I replied quickly, shifting my feet as she filled a vase with water.

"Oh, but when you come visit me, you always bring wild flowers."

"I've missed you."

She stopped pulling the plastic from around the roses to smile brilliantly at me. "It's been a week."

"Seven days too long."

Coming up to me, she placed her soft hands on the side of my hands and kissed me. Heaven itself. I wanted to stand there and kiss her all day but I courageously told her to put her flowers away.

"Don't worry, Charles," Jane replied. "I take good care of everything you give me!"

She turned back to the flowers, trimming them and arranging the stems in the vase one by one, like she always did. It was a constant process which involved me standing on the kitchen tile for at least ten minutes, waiting impatiently for us to continue with our evening. Yet, I never ceased to get her flowers.

Snip. Snap. Snip. Snap. She started on the outside and one by one the flowers filled the vase. Snip. Snap. Snip- I watched her intently. Her face had turned from a quiet serene to a flushed surprise. Her eyes were focused on the diamond and sapphire ring in the center of the bouquet.

Slowly, she picked it up with shaky fingers. I didn't think she was prepared for a proposal and I wasn't sure how she would react. Say something! Just say something! Jane remained motionless, her hands enclosing the ring with its glittering circle of jewels. I couldn't take it anymore. Walking up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist. "Jane, this may be too early, but these past seven months have been the most amazing..."

I felt tongue-tied. It had been so easy with Elizabeth! It had been so easy because she hadn't been Jane. She hadn't been the one I wanted to grow old with and wake up beside every morning. Jane was. And now, the only thing standing between destiny and me was Jane's acceptance. I got down on my knee. Taking her hands, I kissed them and said with more confidence than I actually felt, "Jane, will you marry me?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded her reply.

Chapter 4- Share the Joy (Part I)

Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2001

Carol

I couldn't believe I was going to spend the evening with my brother and his snotty girlfriend. I figured it would've been better than eating take-out at home, but he could at least have the courtesy to amuse me while I was here! And where was William? Charles said he was suppose to be here and I made sure I was wearing my best orange dress (as in the lowest cut along the neckline and highest cut along the hem).

Ugh! I certainly wasn't going to sit around while Charles and Jane cozied up. At least she's not pulling William along anymore. No, sir, he's off limits! I left the dining room and entered the hallway, heading toward the living room and the TV. Just then, there was a sharp knock on the door. Well, well, well, he's finally here. I pushed my chest up, smiling at their firmness (these were worth it!), and opened the door to see not him but the next best thing. Or, maybe, an even better thing! Hello, baby... Wow, was this guy gorgeous! And he had a better body than that lanky frame of... oh, what's his name? Oh yeah, Darcy. Whatever.

Richard

Nice! I like the assets!

Elizabeth

Oh, please! It was enough that his eyes roamed my body but now they were taking in Carol Bingley. William would've never looked at that stick without cringing, but who was Richard to resist a blonde with a big pair of... Oh my, did Carol get a breast job? She was practically falling over with the extra weight! I pushed past the gawking pair. Good, they deserved one another. I was going to dump him anyway. Trying to forget William and quelling my loneliness with Richard had left me incredible tired and frustrated. After Anne's remark in the restaurant, I realized that I had to fight for him. And that was exactly what I intended to do.

Before I went to look for Jane and Charles, I headed to the bathroom. I had to look perfect tonight. I was told to dress with semi-formality so I picked out a simple black cocktail dress. I had my hair pulled up by pins and a few gardenias. My make-up was almost neutral. Simple. Simple. He wasn't the type to be impressed by a bunch of fuss, which was good since it took me six tries to put on a layer of mascara. I was so nervous, I could barely stop myself from poking my eye out!

Looking in the mirror, I found myself rather disappointed. Perhaps Jane and I were sisters, but we shared little physical aspects. I may not be ugly but I wasn't as gorgeous as Jane with her willowy frame and light features that won William over in two seconds flat. And what about Anne? Sure, she was pretty but I could level against her, couldn't I? Smoothing out my dress, I took a deep breath. Anne De Bourgh, watch out, William's going to be mine!

Chapter 4 - Share the Joy (Part II)

Posted on Sunday, 4 March 2001

Anne

I rolled my eyes at Charles, who literally had a grin on his face which stretched from ear to ear. C'mon, old boy, just tell us you're engaged! I leaned forward to tell him to get it over with when I felt a kick on the back of my leg. I turned around. It was William.

"Let him have his moment."

I made a face. "Alright, but you could've just tapped me on my shoulder!"

"I could've," he shrugged, turning away with a smile.

I picked up my foot and rubbed the back of my heel. Stupid boys! Don't they ever grow up?

"Hello, Anne."

I looked up and blinked. "Elizabeth?"

"You seem surprise."

"You could say that," I replied, noticing her seemingly aggressive stance. She was glowering at me under a thick fringe of lashes with her hands on her hips and feet shoulder width apart. If she had a rolling pin (and perhaps thirty extra pounds), she could play the part of an angry matron scolding a mischievous child.

"Could we have a talk?"

"Sure," I murmured as I followed her out to the hallway.

"It's about William." She looked me straight in the face.

I leaned against the wall, already aware of what she would say. It had been coming for some time, but I played along. After all, I could use a good ranting and raving tonight. The purpose of Charles' little get-together was as clear as an aluminum baseball bat smacking you in the head. I had been prepared to be bored out of mind, but if Elizabeth was willing to put up a scene for William, I was going to sit back and enjoy it as long as need be.

"I want you to know that you're going to be facing some competition." She paused as I patiently waited for her to continue. "From me."

I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised as I bit my lip, hoping not to laugh right out at her naivete. "Oh?"

"Now, don't say anything. I want to finish this." She began to pace with her hands behind her back. Letting out a sigh, she continued, "I know you and William share some sort of history. And in his time of need, you have comforted him... which would naturally lead the two of you to rekindle your relationship. But he doesn't need anyone who'll just help him along. He needs someone who will always be there for him. And that's me. I want to be there for him. Always. Now, I don't pretend I know anything about the state of your relationship but I know the state of my relationship with him. I know that I need him as he needs me. I know that he makes me happy and I hope to do the same for him."

"You're dating Richard."

She smiled weakly, "Not for long considering the way he and Carol have been getting along."

I remained silent. A part of me felt sorry for this poor girl. It wasn't long ago I had been blinded by my foolish infatuation for Richard who wasn't worth a sour lemon. But William was different. He was worth far more than he got. Was Elizabeth good enough for him?

"Why did you ever go out with Richard in the first place?" I crossed my arms, affirming my decision that Elizabeth Bennet had to prove herself.

She seemed astonished by my question. "Uh...I wanted more than a friendship..."

"With William, you mean."

"Well, yeah, with William."

"That doesn't explain anything."

"I don't know," she looked at me helplessly. A deer caught in the headlights. "I wanted to make him jealous, I guess..."

"You wanted to make him jealous?" I didn't wait for a reply. I don't know what drove me forward but I lashed out at her. Perhaps it was my own guilt for not truly appreciating William. Perhaps it was my desire to see him happy. Or it could be, for goodness sake, residual feelings for Richard. I stepped close to her and hissed, "Well, I'm sure a superficial relationship with his cousin will endure you to him! You did more harm to him and yourself than you would've done if you had been open about your feelings! Did you know how he felt after Jane and Charles betrayed him? It wasn't easy for him to get over the lost trust between them but you know what, he resealed the breach for the sake of each and every broken heart. You should stop thinking about yourself! If you truly have feelings for William, you would consider his feelings over yours. He deserves that."

Charles

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make!"

Jane

I hope William and Lisa are happy for us... What if they're not? What if they're angry at us. I began to fidget with the tablecloth. They didn't look particularly happy. What if they're mad? Maybe I should bake them a cake.

Anne

Oh, finally! I need to go to the bathroom so bad Don't think about it, Anne. You don't need to go. In fact, you're thirsty. You want another drink of water. Oh no, you don't!

Elizabeth

I should consider his feelings over mine. What if he loves Anne? I'll only complicate things by interfering. Does he love Anne? He doesn't look lovestruck. But he's been talking to her, not me. He's barely said three words to me all night! Okay, there was "Hello, Liz." That's two. Then there was "How are you doing?" That's four. Then he asked me to pass the potatoes...

Richard

Are those real?

Charles

I smiled at everyone around me and spoke from deep inside, "I've asked you here tonight because I wanted to share my joy with those I cared about most."

William

Let's see... There's Jane, Liz, Richard, Carol, Anne, and me. Didn't Charlie have any other friends? And Carol doesn't even count as a person! Does Richard?

Elizabeth

I'm not good enough for him! I'm not tall enough, I'm not pretty enough, I'm not considerate enough, I'm an awful cook (he needs someone who can cook!), I'm boring, I can't sail, I don't ride horses (oh, I bet Anne knows how to ride a horse!)...

I know about vegetables...

Carol

I crossed my legs suggestively at Richard and leaned back. What did you think about that?

Richard

Do I really care if they're real?

Charles

"Jane and I are engaged!" I looked directly at Jane, my eyes brimming with the love I felt for her. I was so happy. I could've burst with happiness!

Jane

All thoughts of William and Elizabeth faded from my mind. I stood up to kiss Charles. Oh, I was so blissfully happy!

Carol

They're so happy... It makes me sick!

Anne

Man, I need to use the bathroom. Maybe I could give them a quick congratulations and slip out without anyone noticing. Would anyone notice?

Richard

Plastic versus real... Plastic versus real... Oh, who cares!

Elizabeth

What's William thinking?

William

I could go for some s'mores right now...

Chapter 5 - Cornerstone

Posted on Saturday, 10 March 2001

William

"June 25th..." I circled the date on the calendar. "Why does that sound so familiar?"

"It's ten months since the day Jane and I met face-to-face," Charlie replied wistfully.

Ten months since the whole catastrophe had begun to build up. Great! I rolled my eyes. Did I sound like Charlie when I had gone out with Jane? Worse, my inner voice so nicely mentioned to my denying heart. What sort of vegetable would that make me? Probably lettuce. I was simply there, existing without any true purpose. Yes, Jane. No, Jane. You're perfect, Jane. If she wasn't the benevolent being she was, she could've chewed me up and spit me out. Without getting the least bit of nutritional value either! Which really sucks as lettuce compliments so many things...

"...worried about it being too soon, but who needs to wait when you're in love? When you know the time is right, you get marry! That very second if it's possible!" If I were talking to Charlie in person, I might've been afraid a vein in his head would burst due to his exuberance. Instead, I patiently waited for the sound of his brain hitting the receiver... Do be do be do... I guess it wasn't going to happen.

"What you're trying to say is she's holding out and you just can't wait, right?"

"Uh...no, of course not."

"Good for her!"

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"I'm like a diamond in the ruff, Charlie." Hey, if I wasn't in love, I wasn't a vegetable, right? "You know, those rare blue ones which are hard to find and are very expensive."

"What's your point, Will?"

"I'm the odd man out, Charlie. I don't think a relationship has to be based on physical attraction and lust."

"And it's not!"

"Of course, it isn't," I replied, the sarcasm barely prevalent in my voice. "But you're pretty eager to get married, aren't you?"

"If I wanted to get into this argument, I would be talking to my significant other right now."

"Aren't I your significant other, honey?"

"I thought we already discussed this, Will!" he cried good-naturedly.

I laughed in response.

"Look, Jane was a bit reluctant about having the wedding so soon, but really, if we're ready, why not?"

"Charles... If you want to make this special for her, then you should be willing to compromise. Wait till she's ready. It could be August 25th, a year since you both met. C'mon, stop thinking about what you want. It's about Jane, isn't it?"

I could hear him groan on the other line. "I'm going to be waiting for the day when you screw up, Will. I'll be waiting..."

"I'm sure you will be, Charles. I'm sure you will be."

Jane

"You're not disappointed at all?"

"Why should I be?"

I looked at Lisa. She didn't seem particularly depressed, but there was something... I knew I shouldn't bring it up, but I couldn't help it. "If it isn't Richard, then is it Charles?"

"Charles!"

I guess not. "I'm sorry, Lisa, but I thought maybe you still..."

"No, Jane," she replied, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "Good grief, I thought we got past this a long time ago."

"Well, if it isn't Charles and it isn't Richard, then what is it?" I threw my hands up in exasperation.

"Why does it always have to be about men?"

"It doesn't always have to be about men, Elizabeth. Now, gorgeous men, that's another thing!"

"You can say that again!"

"So, are you going to tell me."

"No."

"No?"

"It's my deep dark secret, Jane."

"And even I can't know?"

"And even you can't know."

"Does anyone know?"

"When are you going to move your things from Seattle?"

I give up! "I don't know. When I need them."

"August 25th."

"Yes, August 25th. How am I going to forget?"

Chapter 6 - Out to Sea

Posted on Saturday, 10 March 2001

Elizabeth

The docks looked eerie with the morning fog rolling along its wooden planks and the boats rocking soundlessly in the sea. My own footsteps echoed in my ears as I peered through the mist. I could barely read the faded signs or understand them. I shook my head. This had been a bad idea... Gripping the picnic basket, I looked at the gray clouds. I was getting nowhere. I turned around.

Bam! I fell back as I hit a brick wall, or what felt like one anyway. Strong arms reached out to take a hold of me before I fell to the floor. Looking up, I encountered those haunting dark eyes. Figures I would make a fool out of myself in front of William Darcy.

"Hey pretty, are you okay?"

I nodded numbly. Before I could stop myself, I reached out to touch the faded baseball cap on top of his head. He rolled his eyes up to discern the object of my fascination.

"I know. I'm a traitor but who doesn't like the Yankees?"

I laughed nervously. "We have a pretty good team here, too, you know."

"I don't think you came out here to discuss baseball."

"Maybe I did," I replied saucily as I followed him down the docks, momentarily lapsing in memory. I turned to see the basket I had carried moments before gone. I looked around and turned myself full circle before I saw it swinging with William's light steps. I ran after him.

"Didn't you tell me it's tradition?"

"What's tradition?" he replied, glancing at me.

I inhaled sharply. I just wanted to grab him by the ears and kiss him! But seeing as we had a falling out which I couldn't even begin to comprehend, I didn't want to seem too rash. It would be best if I had pretended nothing happened at all. Wouldn't it?

"To go sailing on your birthday."

He stopped and smiled. Oh, that beautiful smile. "You remembered?"

"Of course, I did." Was it so very odd I remembered? Did he think I memorized every single conversation just because I knew this little detail about him sailing at dawn on his birthday? Because he certainly shouldn't! I only remembered half of those conversations we had over coffee. His half.

"Why are you here, Liz?"

I was almost afraid he would send me away. He had more important things to do. Perhaps Anne was waiting for him. No, I had to prove myself. Despite my strong resolution, I replied meekly in my own ears, "I thought I could join you. I baked a cake."

I pointed at the basket he was still holding. He looked at it. Then at me. I couldn't tell what was going through his head, his eyes being dark and indistinct in the mist.

"I thought you didn't sail."

"There's a first time for everything."

He sighed. He wanted me to leave, didn't he? "You expect to go sailing in that?"

I looked down in surprise. I had dressed in khakis and a button-down shirt. Was there anything wrong with that? I suddenly felt my hand being pulled. My eyes followed my arm down to my wrist where it was in William's possession. I scurried forward so I would be beside him, instead of dragging behind. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Right off the bat I know you're an inexperienced sailor."

"I've never sailed in my life! You know that!"

"At least you're not wearing a skirt."

What did he mean by that? I was entirely confused by his manner and speech, but at least he was taking me with him wherever he was going. We slowed down as we came to what I assumed was a landing. It jutted out from the rest of the dock and boats swayed softly in the water.

"How long have you lived here?"

I shrugged. "Ever since I came out here for college. Must be six or seven years by now."

"And you never took advantage of the ocean?" he scoffed.

"I'm not as particularly fond of nature as you seem to be."

"And the shoes..."

His eyes were fixed on my black sandals. "What?"

"You've got a lot to learn, princess."

"About sailing?"

"About a lot of things!"

"You're pretty arrogant, you know."

"Yeah, but everyone is always so charmed by me that they don't notice!"

I laughed. How true his statement was! Why, he had painted an accurate picture of himself which was both modest and down right conceited!

"What do you think of her?"

He clambered onto "Moonlit Glory," a dainty sailboat with dusty blue and white trimmings. I stepped forward but was uneasy that it swayed so easily in the water.

"She's cute."

"Cute?"

"Cute."

He shook his head at me. "She's not cute. She is by far not cute. In fact, it would be a shame to the word 'cute' to call this boat cute."

A riddle in an enigma. I never did understand boys, but this one was particularly confusing. Why was there always a flaw with the gorgeous ones? "What's going on in that head of yours?"

He blinked in response. Well, not really in response. It was more like something seemed to have turned on or off. In that brief second, he changed... He looked incredibly serious and I wondered if I had offended him somehow. He was staring at the horizon, somewhat wistfully. I felt as though I was intruding on a personal moment. Walking into a deep reflection which meant so much but held little understanding for me.

"You know what...I don't know."

It was my turn to blink. At him. I stood there on the dock waiting for him to offer me something. Perhaps a hand so I could get on board. Perhaps a word so I didn't feel like some sort of stranger, out of place, unwanted. He gave me the former and I stepped on board.

I could feel the sea under me and I instinctively grabbed onto him. We were incredibly close, closer than we had ever been before. Physically, at least. I could feel his heat or maybe it was my imagination since he had on two thick sweaters, occupied with a wind breaker.

"We haven't even left the dock yet," he chuckled.

I smiled weakly. Oh, this was not good...

Moving away, he disappeared into the only cabin on the boat. A mere seconds later, he called out, "Maybe we could work with socks!"

"What?" I swiveled around so I would face him when he came back on deck but my imbalance made me fall forward. Luckily, very luckily may I add, into William's arms.

"You really aren't made for sailing, are you?"

I blushed under his scrutiny. It felt so warm and comfortable to be close to him, I made no effort to move though my mind told me that it was folly. He led me to a bench where he handed me a gray sweater with MIT etched across the front. Until that moment I didn't give any thought to how cold it was during dawn...or actually, before dawn.

"Liz, you're one silly girl."

I raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant and how to respond. Deciding it was best not to say anything at all, I pulled the sweatshirt over my head. Burning like fire. I looked down to see his hand pulling off my sandals and then pulling men's socks over my bare feet. Softly, I murmured, "So that's what you meant by socks."

"I didn't think you could fit into my fisherman's boots."

"Do you fish?"

"Sometimes."

He stood up. "Ready to go?"

"Yes."

"I doubt it."

Make it stop... Make it stop... please! I felt my stomach heave once again. Only, there was nothing left for it to heave. Why won't this boat stop rocking? I felt like I was going to pass out. I released the railing and felt myself slide down and come to a halt. I tried to look up but I couldn't make myself turn properly. I knew it was William though. William was standing over me while I was a puddle at his feet in the least romantic sense possible.

His strong arms lifted me up, but I resisted. And I never resisted anything when it came to William Darcy! I felt his breath against my ear. "C'mon, Liz, you're not going to crawl along the deck of my boat all morning, are you?"

"Who said I was going to be crawling anywhere?" I still tasted bile in the back of my throat and swallowed hard to get rid of it. The only purpose it seemed to serve was nausea, which I already suffered from.

I tried to settle on my feet, which felt numb and clumsy. William's arm wrap itself around my waist and I was content to lean against him. "I guess this is the closest we're going to get you to standing."

I nodded slowly in reply. Any sudden movement seemed to push me back to the brink of vomiting. "I'm sorry I ruined your birthday."

"It's still early. I've got the rest of the day and anyway, the sound of you upchucking over the side of my boat kept me company."

"Thanks."

"Open your eyes, Liz. You're missing a breathtaking sight."

My eyes had been firmly screwed shut and I had no intention of opening them. I was afraid if I so much as looked at the ocean, I would feel the effects of my horrid misadventure rush back to me. While I was against him, feeling the warmth of his arm and the muscles of his chest, an entirely different sensation encompassed me. I was in a world where I could pretend he was mine. That all my stupid mistakes never occurred. That love at first sight had ran its course and he loved me in return. I could lie to my heart and fill my soul with him. And there would be nothing else but the two of us.

"You didn't come all the way over here so you could deposit your digestive juices into the ocean."

"Maybe I did."

"Keep your eyes focused on the horizon. You'll feel better."

Sighing, I cautiously opened one of my eyes, as though I was afraid to see some monster from my childhood nightmares hovering over me. I gasped when I took in the view which William shared with me. As though with determination, the soft circle of pale yellow light, otherwise known as the sun, radiated among a dissipating morning mist. It cut through the sky, chasing away any pretence of a foggy gray morning. From a quiet amber, the heavens burned with brilliance into an endless blue.

With or without my eyes opened, I could still feel him. This time, however, there were no urges to grab the side of the railing and heave with all my might. And there was this odd feeling that somehow I had a stronger connection with him. Not because of any mundane analogy that I could make about how my eyes were now open, open to him, no longer blinded to the fact that he was the one who had to charm me over but me being the one who needed to make that step forward. Though all were very applicable. I wanted to cry out to anyone who was in hearing distance, I wanted to scream like a madwoman at the sunrise, yelp at the seagulls above me that I loved this man and at this moment, this very wrinkle in time, I saw what he saw.

Chapter 7 - On and Off the Hook (Loose Ends)

Posted on Friday, 23 March 2001

Anne

The cacophony of a constant ringing disturbed the pleasant slumber I was enjoying. My sleepy eyes focused on the clock. It read 7:36 A.M. Maybe if I ignored it...

My head fell against the pillow but five seconds later, I knew that I would not get back to sleep anyway. Reaching across the warm body beside me, I put an end to its miserable noise.

"Hello?" I hissed, irritated at such an early call. Especially after last night!

"Anne, I can't believe I just did that!"

It was William. He sounded frantic. His breath was heavy and labored, as though he had been running.

"What is it?" I asked, suddenly worried that something horrible might have occurred and here was me troubled by being up before eight.

"It's Liz."

Liz? Elizabeth Bennet? What could've possibly happened? As I was about to reply, Jim groaned. I shifted my weight off his back. He looked at me questioningly.

"Sorry, Jim, but it's Darce. It sounds like an emergency."

He nodded.

William's voice changed drastically from anxious to surprised wonder. It was as though nothing had happened beforehand. "Jim? Jim's there?"

"Darcy, what is it?" I asked, exasperated and unprepared to be put on the spot about my love life.

"We're talking about Jim here, aren't we? Your ex-husband, Jim?"

"Yes, but-"

"He's there pretty early, isn't he? Did something happen?"

"We're talking about you."

"Tell me this isn't an 'Oh, since you're in town' thing. Have you finally gotten yourself over Richard?"

"Yes!"

"So, what's going to happen?"

"I don't know. Maybe he can make an honest woman out of me. We've talked about starting over, you know. And this can work, I think. I mean..." I put an end to my wistful ponderings as I got myself back on track. "William Benedick Rinaldi Darcy, why did you call? And if it isn't good, then you'll be getting a licking the second I see you!"

"I screwed up."

"Darcy, you never screw up."

"Yeah, well, when I do screw up, or did, don't you think it would be something big?"

I inhaled sharply. "Explain."

"She told me she loved me."

"She did?!" I jumped up and down on my bed, much to Jim's wonderment. He simply shrugged and got out of bed before kissing me on the forehead and heading for the bathroom.

"Anne..."

"Wait," I reined in my exuberance. "What did you say to her?"

There was a moment of silence. I could almost picture him cringing beside the phone. "I told her I loved turnips?"

"What?!" I screamed into the phone. Turnips! What did he mean he loved turnips? I continued to jump on the bed but out of anger this time. I was about to bust the springs of the mattress.

"I-"

"She risked everything by revealing her feelings for you! Do you know how much courage it takes for someone to stop making mistakes and go after what is right?"

"Anne, I'm trying to-"

"Not everyone can be you, Darce. Not everyone can go through life without making hundreds of mistakes before they know what it is they want!"

"I want her!"

"What?" I ceased jumping.

"Why am I suppose to be perfect, Anne? Why am I always the voice of reason? You know what, I going to do this my way. Not because I have to but because I want to. I'm not going to patch everything up because things aren't as they should be. I'm going to make them fall my way."

The phone clicked off. I had hit a nerve with William. Something I have never done. I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Before I would've thought there was something seriously wrong, but I wasn't so sure. William, who always tried to fix all the problems in the world, who attempted to smooth over every flaw, was stepping forward once again but for a whole different reason. He was going to be selfish. I fell back on the bed with the phone in my hand. Oh, what in the world was he going to do?

Jim's face hovered over me, and I smiled.

"Anne?"

"And I've always thought I was the one who needed counseling."

"You do."

"Darce isn't perfect."

Jim shrugged. "No one is."

I shook my head at him. "I always thought he was."

Throwing the phone aside, I reached up to kiss my husband.

Richard

The answer machine picked up. Perfect!

Carol's nasal voice came to me through the receiver. "Hello, this is Carol Bingley. Obviously, I'm too busy to pick up the phone right now so you'll going to have to leave a message until I find some time to get back to you." I rolled my eyes. She was probably sitting right next to the phone, listening to it. I guess I would have to leave my name at the end of the message so she wouldn't pick it up until it was too late.

"If I never get back to you, then you'll just have to call me back. A girl like me has too many important things to do than worry about phone messages." Yeah, like losing a date Friday night! I tuned out the rest of her self-complimenting chatter until I heard the beep. Maybe I shouldn't have called at all...

"Yo, babe, I've got better thinks to do so I'm moving on." I heard the phone being picked up. I hung up. I'm sure she could figure out who it was.

Jane

"I love you."

"I love you."

"I love you even more."

"No, I love you more."

"No, I love you more."

"Aww, shut up!"

I laughed at the male voice in the background as it scolded my fiancé. I gave him a smooch over the phone before sending him back to the boys. "I'll see you later, honey. Have fun at William's birthday party and pass on my greetings."

"I'll be sure to do that, dear," he replied as tenderly as ever. There was a pause before he spoke again. "Will's a bit down."

I bit my lip as I waited for him to say something, wondering if it had anything to do with the two of us. Even after all this time, I couldn't help feeling the guilt cut through me when I thought of all the pain that we caused.

"I don't think it has to do with us."

I let out the breath I was holding. "Then..."

"I don't know. I really can't say. Maybe he's feeling old."

"Old at twenty-six?"

"He's a restless guy. You know how restless people are?"

"I don't think I follow," I gave a sigh of frustration. "Try to cheer him up, won't you?"

"Of course, love."

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you too."

"I love you even more."

"No, I love you more."

"Aww, c'mon, we're trying to eat here!"

Chapter 8 - The Wedding Day

Posted on Saturday, 31 March 2001

Charles

This was it! This was the day I was going to marry the woman of my dreams. An exact year since I met her. I took a deep breath before I had to put my head between my knees again. I couldn't believe this! It was the most important day in my life. I was a flutter of nerves, as one matchmaking mother might say of her own distress.

Where was Will? I looked among the faces in the crowd. Not one seemed recognizable to me. My back was aching from all the time I spent at the altar bending over like a quarterback. The wedding was going to start any second now. I was going to be a married man! Me, a married man!

"Charles," I turned to see my mother.

"Yes?" I managed to squawk.

She put a hand on my shoulder. She seemed troubled. "This is going to happen, isn't it?"

I laughed. The nervous tingles subsided as I allowed myself to relax. Yes, this was going to happen! This was going to happen! "Don't worry, Mom, I won't let this one get away."

I winked at her and she kissed me on the check before she took her seat. I smiled and waited for my beautiful bride with perfect calm. Yes, this was the first day of the rest of my life.

Anne

Good Lord, look at all those smiling faces! It was enough to make me sick, except I probably had the biggest grin in the crowd. I looked over at Jim and took his hand. He seemed to be laughing on the inside, his light eyes sparkling with amusement.

"What?"

"You seem so happy," he whispered against my ear.

"I am," I replied as I moved to the edge of my seat. I intertwined my fingers with his while I leaned forward. "Isn't this so exciting?"

"You hate weddings, Anne."

"Not anymore."

Carol

There's not one hint of orange in this wedding! What was Jane Bennet thinking? Stupid girl! She didn't even make me a bride's maid. I was Charles' sister. I should've been the maid of honor. Not as though I would wear the dress she picked out!

I eyed the little teenage flirt that went by. Oh, what was her name? She was the youngest Bennet, in some peaches n' cream number. I watched as Richard eyed her as well. Ugh, she's at least ten years too young!

Now, that guy! He smells like money. Okay, so he wasn't the most handsome man around but that Armani suit with the cape definitely meant something! And what guy without money to burn would wear a diamond collar?

"Hey, gorgeous, what's your name?"

"Billy, Billy Collins, at your service."

Richard

Carol thought I was looking at Valerie Bennet. C'mon, that girl was at least eighteen! Anyway, she couldn't compare with Jane and Elizabeth. Charles, that lucky son of a gun... Now, what I would do to get my hands on his fiancée! At least for five minutes...

Shaking myself from my unlikely reverie (even I had enough sense to know that Jane wouldn't go for a little on the side with anyone), I saw Carol flirting her best with Billy Collins. Now, that's what I call entertainment. That sweaty toad was totally falling for it. Too bad, someone should tell Carol that his diamond collar was made of nothing more than plastic. Nah, this was too interesting.

Jane

I wanted to remember every moment but I was already forgetting. They say smell brings back memories unlike any other sense. I put my nose in the array of white roses and wild flowers which served as my bouquet. Lisa told me it was an odd combination but it was about memories through the senses and that was exactly what it was.

Before I even made it down the aisle with my arm on Dad's, tears were filling my eyes. I was getting married! Today was my wedding day and Charles John Bingley was standing there waiting for me. I took a deep breath. This was the first day of the rest of my life.

Elizabeth

He wasn't here.

Charles didn't seem to notice as he stared with absolute wonder at Jane and she did the same but when it came to exchanging the rings, he would probably come to the conclusion he was short a best man and wedding ring. Was it me? Was it them? Why didn't he come?

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered her today to join this couple in holy matrimony..."

It hurt to think that I would've been married by now. I wasn't jealous that Charles and Jane were together. I was jealous of the fact that they moved on and found their happiness. They gave each other their hearts and found solace in one another. I had done the same but did not get anything in return.

Did it mean I should give up? A part of me knew that I would have to let him go but another part of me, or perhaps, most of me didn't want to. I couldn't let go of William so easily. He meant too much to me and I wanted to mean so much to him. I closed my eyes. I could almost hear him say to me, "Open your eyes, Liz. You're missing something beautiful."

"...speak now or forever hold your peace."

Who would even dare say something against this union? Jane and Charles. As it should be, forever.

"Wait!"

William was running up the aisle.

Chapter 9 ~ Till the End of Time

Posted on Monday, 9 April 2001

Anne

I inhaled as William came up the aisle out of breath. I gripped Jim's arm with such ferocity that he flinched. What was he doing? What was he doing?

I watched as he stopped in front of the altar. All eyes were on him. He held up a black ring box and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, I forgot this. I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

I leaned against Jim's shoulder to muffle my laughter as tears fell from my eyes. Sometimes, I didn't know about that boy... Oh, William, you better have a box of your own in your pocket!

Jane

"Charles John Bingley, it took me a long time to recognize that you were the right one for me. I was set against falling in love with you but I suppose my heart betrayed every rational thought in my head, and I have never been so happy that it did. I can barely say the words I need to say to convey my feelings toward you. All I can do is prove it throughout all the years of my life. I will love you for all eternity as I love you on this day, as I loved you since you made me fall for you."

I took the circle of gold and slid it on his finger.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

Charles

"Jane Rochelle Bennet, you are everything to me. You are my world, you are my stars, my moon, my sun. My life itself radiates from your beautiful presence. Because of you, I am a better man. Because of you, I will spend the rest of my life proving myself to be worthy of your love. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I promise that I will never give you any reason to leave. You complete me in a way that I cannot begin to describe. I love you beyond life itself and we will walk through this golden road forever."

I slipped the golden band through her finger.

"White roses and wildflowers," I smiled, promising her I would never stop giving her the flowers, which would from now on symbolize our love. "With this ring, I thee wed."

Author

You turn around
Then you ask me behind tears of doubt
Just what do I see in you

"Liz?"

Elizabeth looked up, her reverie broken by the intrusion. She had been consumed by the thought that William was still in love with Jane. That he had ran up the aisle to stop the wedding. That his heart, once taken, could not let go and mend once again. The feeling of losing him to another filled her with an ache that almost destroyed her. She had never lost him, she thought. She never had him.

However, as William stood over her, holding out his hand, she felt a little tug of hope and despair. She didn't want to believe it was more than what it was. But what was it, indeed... She smiled, tentatively taking his hand as he led her to the dance floor.

The dance between best man and maid of honor. Of course.

Please don't cry
I know sometimes it seems we barely get by
But you don't see how much you do
To get me through

William pulled her close, placing his hand on the small of her back. He held her trembling hand in his and slowly intertwined his fingers with hers. Elizabeth was holding her breath, her eyes closed. A single tear fell.

Leaning down, he whispered with his lips against her ear, "Open your eyes, Liz. You don't know what you're missing."

When the world is cold
And I need a friend to hold
You give me love...you give me love
And when my hope is gone
And I feel I can't go on
You pick me up
You give me love...you give me love

"Is it beautiful?"

I apologize
If I never told you
What you are in my eyes

William breathed against her neck and murmured into her hair, "Only if you think love is beautiful."

Oh, baby let me tell you now

Elizabeth pulled back.

Every day
Looks sweeter knowing you'll be there
In every way
Now how can you say that's not enough

She looked into his eyes. Those dark brooding eyes which she always drowned in.

'Cause when the world is cold
And I need a friend to hold
You give me love...you give me love
And when my hope is gone
And I feel I can't go on
You pick me up
You give me love...you give me love

She recalled falling under his spell, feeling like a schoolgirl who didn't know any better. Smiling simply because he was. Wanting to stand in place forever. Capture that wrinkle in time.

Everything my heart desires
Morning sun and midnight fires
Someone else to share my dreams with
With you I have everything

"I love you, Liz."

"More than turnips?" she asked, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

"Well, maybe not..." He replied teasingly before he bent down to kiss her.

When the world is cold
And I need a friend to hold
You give me love...you give me love
And when my hope is gone
And I feel I can't go on
You pick me up
You give me love...you give me love

Yeah, when my world is cold
And I need a friend to hold
You give me love...you give me love
And when my hope is gone
And I feel I can't go on
You pick me up
You give me love...you give me love*

*You Give Me Love by Faith Hill

~*Finis*~

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