Secrets From The Past

By Flo

Posted on Thursday, 24-Sep-98

he first rays of dawn creep into the rather unhealthily-neat dorm room. It is perfectly packed up, nothing on the desk, on the shelves. There are boxes and cases on the floor, as though the owner is about to vacate. Also on the floor are scattered some clothes, as though they had been torn off in a rush.

There are two occupants on the bed. The girl wakes first, and blinks her eyes as though she is not sure what she is doing there. She smells the whiff of alcohol and other scents in the air, and then her eyes rest on the boy beside her. Her dark eyes dilate with shock as she scampers out of the bed and gathers her clothes, dressing as quickly and quietly as she can.

"Lizzy?" the boy's voice is bleary with sleep and confusion. He looks about eighteen, the same age as the girl, and at the moment both wear an expression of mixed shock and guilt.

The girl tears her eyes away first and runs to the door.

"Good-bye, Will," her voice is almost inaudible and she slams the door, jamming it.

He has thrown himself out of bed without bothering to cover himself and is now working on the door, willing it to open. It does no good. He curses the fact that he had to get the room with the stubborn door, as it finally opens, and he runs outside, thankful that no one sane would be up at this hour. Lizzy is nowhere to be seen.

Twelve years later

"He tried to call me, but I refused to talk to him. He might have been my best friend, but I just couldn't face him again. The last time he came to my house, but I slammed the door in his face and told him I never wanted to see him again." The woman raised her eyes to look at the boy sitting on the armchair next to her.

"And when I found out I was pregnant, I was too proud to go to him. What for? He'd do the honorable thing, of course, and marry me. But I didn't want that. I was too young and proud and independent. I didn't want to be married, and certainly not to my best friend, and not under such circumstances."

She laid a hand on her son's knee. "Alex? You aren't too upset, are you?" she watched him anxiously.

"No, not really." He seemed to be choking back tears. He gave a small smile "I did ask, didn't I?"

"And I told you. I know it's been hard for you Alex, with all the other kids and the teasing. And I'm sorry for that. But now you know who your father is."

"William Darcy." Alex let out a breath "Now I think I know why you wouldn't tell me before now. You didn't want any scandal to hit the Darcys. And I just thought it was because you were ashamed of me."

"No. Never Alex. I could never be ashamed of you. And I was afraid. Afraid that if he found out about you and I refused to marry him he'd take you away. I couldn't risk that. You're all I have now." She held the boy tightly, and for a while, holding back tears.

"Who else knows?' Alex asked, curious.

"No one. I wouldn't tell anyone. Not my parents, or any of my family or friends. I haven't even told your Aunt Jane."

"Oh." Alex was silent. This must have been one of his mother's biggest secrets. He felt suddenly proud that she trusted him to keep quiet, not to tell anyone she wouldn't tell. But then he thought again. William Darcy! Son of the fantastically wealthy business mogul George Darcy and carving himself an even larger business empire. Not that his mother wasn't successful, he told himself. She was one of the top lawyers in the country, hence this luxurious penthouse apartment, the toys, books, clothes and gadgets most boys only dreamed about, and their many holidays to exotic locations.

But there was something missing.

All the other kids (well almost) had normal, two-parent families, why couldn't he? But he knew the answer before he thought of the question. His mother was extremely determined, stubborn, and refused to owe her success of anyone but herself. It might have be hard, studying for a law degree and then practicing, all the while a single mother, but she did it. And Alex knew that he was loved more than many of the kids with two-parent families.

"Alex?" his mother's voice broke through his thoughts, "Maybe you should go to bed. You have school tomorrow."

"Drat." The single word spoke volumes coming from the usually silent and morose William Darcy.

"What is it, Will?" his best friend and aide, Charles Bingley asked, poking his head around the door.

"Oh? Nothing. Just the Barton deal has more holes than I thought."

"Will. It's ten o'clock. It's Sunday night. Don't you ever go home?"

"I could ask you the same question, Charles."

"I went home. I came back because I'd forgotten some things. I'm going to New York tomorrow, remember?" Charles asked, raising an eyebrow, then walking over to his friend, carefully clicking 'Save' on the computer before physically pushing his friend out the door.

They were sitting at a café, drinking their late-night coffee.

"Will, do you ever realise that you have no life?"

"I do so. I breathe and…"

"Not that. When was the last time you did anything not connected to work?"

William did not answer.

Charles snorted. "Humph. Thought so. Don't you do anything else? Go on a holiday, find a girl…"

He stopped at the expression on Will's face.

"What, don't you like women?" Charles tilted his head "Well…it would get Caroline off your tail…"

Will shook his head, but the action couldn't banish the memory over ten years old, of a girl with blazing eyes…one who never wanted to see him again.

Georgiana Darcy paced up and down the Prefects' study, wondering how she managed to get into this. Sure, she was a Prefect; sure it was a pathetic little unimportant portfolio that no one really wanted - music - but that made no difference to her anxiety. She looked up at the boards that adorned the room, filled with the names of all the others who had inhabited this room, who had held nominal positions on leadership and authority. This room was hardly used for the purpose it was intended now, since the transition from boarding to day school was complete several years ago. It now served more as a place for impromptu Prefect parties. She paused in front of a window, and then with a gasp looked at what had captured her attention.

At first glance the boy could have been her brother at the same age. The same dark hair and dark eyes, the angelic beauty of the child just starting to change into the dazzling handsomeness of the man. But there was something different. The boy did not have her brother's rather solemn serious demeanor, but rather an exuberance and love of life. The smile that came so seldom to her brother's face was all over the boy's as he took in the surroundings.

Alexander Bennet looked around him. Here was his mother's alma mater. Here she was studied, spent so many years…here she met his father and where he was conceived…Well, not here in the boarding house, rather. He remembered her anxious expression as she dropped him off, as the Headmaster greeted them both, reserving a special recognition for his mother. He gave one more encompassing look. Yes, he would be happy here.

"Ms. Bennet?" Lizzy looked up at the sound of her secretary's voice.

"Yes, Charlotte?" she asked.

"There's someone here to see you. A Mr. William Darcy."

Lizzy fought down waves of panic Calm down girl, she told herself. We're both adults now. What happened was over ten years ago. Done finished. But he's Alex's father! another part of her screamed Doesn't he have a right to know?

Noticing that Charlotte was looking at her rather oddly Lizzy took a deep breath.

"Show him in."

Part 2

Posted on Thursday, 24-Sep-98

"How's the first day as Prefect, Gi?" George Darcy asked as his daughter jumped into the car.

"Perfect, Daddy. I didn't think it was…Daddy, what's wrong?"

Georgiana followed her father's gaze to the small boy clambering into the sleek black car. It's the boy that looks like Will, she thought Dad sees it too.

"Dad! Dad!" she shook him to gain his attention.

George shook his head. The boy was gone.

"Come on Gi," he asked her "What happened today?"

"Sorry, your mother got called away Alex. I hope you're not too disappointed?" the woman tilted her head to look at the boy.

"No, she's really busy, I know," Alex answered, feeling the softness of the black leather seat. His godmother always had such nice cars. Not, of course, that his mother didn't, he thought hastily. But as comfortable and as gadget-laden as his mother's BMW was, it didn't compare to his godmothers' - always black, and sleek, with soft leather seats and every conceivable accessory, and a myriad of buttons that his hands itched to push but had been forbidden too.

"How was school, Alex?" she asked.

"Fine. It was great. I never knew it would be so much fun Aunt… I mean Meg," he stopped himself too late. His godmother disliked being called 'Aunt' - she said it made her feel old, yet Alex was never comfortable calling an adult by their first name, particularly one who never wore anything that wasn't black, grey or green and made everyone feel like a bug under a microscope.

"It must have changed since I was there," she observed "Do you like it?"

"Yes. It's much better than…hey, YOU went here too?"

"Where do you think I met your mother? I was her roommate for six years. And that's just at this place, not counting University."

"Oh. Do you know what she's doing now?"

"She said that she was discussing the development at Barton Park with William Darcy. You know, he was in the same year as us."

Megan Carter hid a smile as she saw her godson's eyes widen. Then she stopped. That wasn't awe in the boy's eyes. Could it be? Had she finally told him? "Is something the matter Alex?"

"No."

You're lying boy. I've known you since I dragged Lizzy to the doctor for that test.

"I'm your godmother, Alex. It's my duty to pry."

The boy took a deep, shuddering, breath Should I tell her? But mother hasn't…

Meg studied the boy as best she could while negotiating a tight turn So she has told him. Should I do this?

"He's my…my…"

"William Darcy is your father? I was wondering when your mother was going to tell you."

"How did you know? She said she hadn't told anyone, not even her twin. How?"

The boy's dark eyes were as large as saucers. Meg decided to put him out of his misery.

"Your mother didn't tell me. I worked it out for myself."

"How?" the boy wasn't angry, just curious.

"It didn't take an Einstein to work it out if you were in the right places and the right times like me. Firstly, they'd been practically inseparable during our last year. I remember it was a nightly ritual for me - finish homework, go to room, throw William Darcy out of room, threaten to call the housemaster, brush teeth, go to bed. The whole year knew they were going to…er…get together sooner or later. We even had bets running. Anyway, after the graduation, we held the traditional party in the Prefect's lounge - you know, the usual combination of loud music, cheap beer and underage drinkers. I left to do some final packing, but not before I noticed them…very cozy in the corner. And of course, if the fact that your mother didn't return that night didn't tip me off, her return the next morning rather disheveled certainly did. Not to mention the fact that she wouldn't see him again and spent the entire summer break erasing his messages off the answering machine. And when you turned up, I was sure. Happy now?" she asked the boy, tilting her head slightly as they pulled up at the apartment block.

"I'll walk you up." Meg told him, getting out of the car and handing her keys to the valet.

Alex knew his mother well enough to know that she was extremely upset when she walked in the door. He wished that Meg had stayed but a call on her mobile had drawn her away after she'd started to help him with his homework.

She did not ask him about school, or anything else. She did not say a word as she trudged into her room and into the spa, locking the door behind her.

Being an unusually perceptive eleven-year old, Alex left her alone. He could hear her crying and took it as a cue that they would be ordering dinner in. He took care to order her favorite and was just setting the table when his mother walked in. She gave him a small, appreciative smile.

"Thanks Alex, you're an angel."

There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, the only sounds the scrape of cutlery against plate.

Lizzy coughed "I saw William Darcy today," she began as Alex looked up.

"I didn't tell him about you." She answered the unspoken question. "It was just business. What I want to ask you Alex, is whether you want him to know."

"Rich, stop pacing, it's not as if you've never seen her before - you've worked with her for six weeks already."

William Darcy bit back a chuckle at the sight of his cousin, anxiously awaiting his partner in the foyer. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had recently been transferred from the military to something else he was tight-lipped about. His partner was a woman, and it was the first time Will had seen him this anxious about anyone.

"But it's the first time it's out of a business setting. I know we're meant to be watching someone, but it's too much like a date for comfort."

"So that's why you asked me? I thought it was for my fantastic company?"

"Fitzwilliam."

Both men turned at the voice. Rich's jaw fell open. His partner was wearing a spectacular dark green evening gown that brought out the green of her eyes. He swallowed.

"Will, I'd like you to meet..."

"Megan Carter," Meg stepped forward to shake Will's limp hand "We've met."

"Oh?" Rich raised an eyebrow "Should I be jealous?"

"He dated my roommate at school. I hear the overture. Shall we enter?" She took Rich's arm as she swept past Darcy.

Darcy stared at her. The last time he had seen her was during the break between school and University. He closed his eyes "I'm sorry Will, but she doesn't want to see you again. Maybe it would be best if you left her alone" What had he done wrong all those years ago? He watched her now, the opera glasses not trained on the performers on stage but the occupants of the other boxes. Why do I meet her again now? The same day I see Lizzy…oh, all right, the Barton Park thing was just an excuse; I could have sent anyone to do that. He sat back in the chair. Why is all this happening to me?

Alex snuck into the room as quietly as he could. His mother had called saying that she wouldn't be able to pick him up until later and Meg was busy, so he had decided to explore the music section of the school. He made his way over the grand piano and gingerly tested the keys. He'd been having lessons for the past four years and was as good as any eleven-year old had a right to be. Any eleven year old prodigy. He sat down on the bench and began his favorite piece - Rondo "Alla turca" by Mozart.

Georgiana peeked around the door, then came in silently, studying the boy on the piano. He even plays like Will, she realized. Only he's not getting half the notes wrong. Alex noticed her and looked up, the piece coming to a ragged stop.

"Oh…Hi," he said shyly.

"You're fantastic," Georgiana went up to him. "I'm Georgiana Darcy, the music Prefect. Who are you?"

"Alex." He answered, and then looked past her. "My mother's here, I've got to go." He slid off the bench and all but ran out the door.

Part 3

Posted on Friday, 25-Sep-98

"Who was she?" Lizzy asked her son as he buckled on his seat belt.

"One of the Prefects. Her name's Georgiana." His mother froze.

"Georgiana Darcy?"

"Yes. Why? Oh…" he realized.

"She's your aunt, Alex. I'd almost forgotten about her. Funny, I thought she was a bit older. Then again, I haven't seen her since she was about five or six…" she drifted off, and then snapped back. "Are you sure you don't want me to tell the Darcys?"

Alex nodded, but inside, he thought, I don't want you to tell them, Mum, I want them to find out by themselves. His smile was not his usual angelic one, but one with far more cunning.

Alex knew he was supposed to be asleep, but that didn't stop him from listening at the door.

"When are you going to tell Will, Lizzy?" his godmother tapped her fingers on the table. "Alex is eleven now. Before you know it he'll be an adult and one day he'll run into his father. Don't you think Will deserves some warning that some kid is walking around with his face?" Meg glared at her friend. "And what were you thinking, sending Alex back to our old school this year, if you wanted to keep quiet about Alex? Surely you knew that Gi would be there. How are you going to manage to dodge the Darcys at those awful functions? And don't forget, there're enough people there who remember William Darcy as an eleven year old."

Lizzy sighed. "I always intended to tell him, but I just kept putting it off. When I was pregnant, I intended to tell him when the baby was born. When he was born, I wanted to wait until he was weaned. Then it was when he was a toddler. Then when he had started school. Now I suppose Darcy will just find out if and when he finds out."

Meg gave a rather unladylike snort, "Which will be sooner than you think. Have I told you I have a new partner?"

"What happened to the old one?"

"Decapitated. Rather nasty."

"Oh."

"His name is Richard Fitzwilliam."

"Not…"

"Yes. Will and Gi's cousin. Do you want me to pretend Alex doesn't exist?"

"No. Just…just don't tell them anything they don't ask about directly."

It was an extremely rare occasion when Elizabeth Bennet would go to an after-hours function. She made work her excuse, but more often it was to be with Alex. This time, though, Alex had seen the dinner-dance invitation and all but written the acceptance note and insisted that she go. He would be fine, he insisted he wasn't a baby.

Lizzy gave a small smile. If it were any other eleven year old, she would worry about his intentions, but Alex was different…more mature, somehow. Like his father. Lizzy was started out of the reverie by the object of her thoughts approaching her.

"Ms. Bennet." He almost bowed.

"Mr. Darcy." Her greeting was equally polite.

"Ahhh…" he started, and glanced at her hand No ring…good "Ms. Bennet, I wonder if I could have the next dance." He looked at her with pleading dark eyes, unaware that there were another pair like that, "for old times' sake."

She took his hand.

It was not the athletic tango they had learned so many years ago. It was just a dance, and when it was over she made to disappear into the crowd.

"Lizzy…" his eyes pleaded with her. She gave him one more look and turned away.

Suddenly, it was the holiday season. As was traditional, Lizzy and Alex packed their things and made ready to spend Christmas with Lizzy's parents. As was also traditional, they packed a wide variety of amusements, work and things to do. Alex was feverishly learning his audition piece for the school production of 'Oliver', where he was determined to get the lead role.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet greeted them in their usual manner, Mrs. Bennet fluttering all around Alex while ignoring Lizzy, except to observe that she still hadn't found a man yet, and Mr. Bennet with a quiet greeting to his favorite daughter and only grandchild.

Lizzy's sisters were also present, Jane, her non-identical twin, who was principal of an exclusive nursery school, and their younger sister Lydia, who went to two auditions a month and called herself an actress.

"Oh I almost forgot. The Bingleys are also down here for Christmas!" Mrs. Bennet almost-screeched at the dinner table. The Bingleys were a wealthy family who owned the huge mansion of Netherfield, but rarely stayed there.

"I dare say we'll see them around," Mrs. Bennet observed. "I hear Charles Bingley works with William Darcy. Jane, Lydia, you must try to impress Mr. Bingley whenever you see him."

If anyone had noticed Lizzy and Alex's discomfort, no one commented.

Lizzy wondered if it was luck or not when Alex suddenly vanished whenever Charles Bingley came around. Perhaps it was easier this way. Lizzy had been worried when she had found out that Charles Bingley was indeed William Darcy's close friend, and wondered if he would tell his friend about his little copy in Meryton. However the problem never came up, as there seemed to be a tacit agreement within the Bennet family that Alex did not exist.

As quickly as it had come, Christmas and New Years passed, and Lizzy and Alex found themselves heading back to the city. There was a comfortable silence in the car as the snowflakes fell.

"Will, I'd like you to meet Jane Bennet. Jane, this is William Darcy," Will stood and shook hands with the beautiful woman, suddenly reminded of another beauty, completely different, yet with the same surname.

"Any relation to Elizabeth Bennet?' he tried to make it sound like a joke.

"We're non-identical twins."

"Oh," he had not expected that. He glanced around the table. Suddenly, for all his good looks, wealth and intelligence her felt like a bit of a loser. He was the only person (except for one, who he was studiously ignoring) on the table not one half of a couple. There was Bingley and his beautiful new girlfriend, Bingley's sister Louisa and her husband, as well as Rich and Meg (even if, strictly speaking, they weren't really a couple). That left Bingley's other sister, Caroline, who had been pursuing Darcy like a bitch in heat for the better part of seven years. Without success.

Lizzy yawned in front of the wide-screened television. Alex, who had been sitting on the opposite end of the couch with his laptop computer on his knees and claiming he was doing homework during the commercial breaks, looked up.

"Tired, mum?" he asked, almost hopefully, looking at his watch.

"Yes," she stretched. "I'm going to bed. You go to bed at a sensible hour, too, kid." She got up and went to her room.

The phone rang, and Alex made a leap for it before his mother could take it on the extension in her room.

"Bennet. Alex speaking." The person at the other end of the line seemed rather taken aback.

"May I speak to Elizabeth Bennet, please?" it was a man's voice, somewhere between tenor and baritone. Alex had a pretty good idea who it was. "May I know who's calling?"

"William Darcy."

That did it. Alex ran to his mother's room, yelling, "There's a William Darcy on the phone. Is he your new boyfriend?" making sure he was audible from the phone. Lizzy picked up the phone, glaring at her son, who hovered just out of sight near the door.

"Alex?" she seemed to be answering a question "Alex is…Alex is just Alex." Had Lizzy been listening, she would have been very surprised that her son knew those particular words.

"Well?" Meg asked, stirring her coffee. "Did it work?"

Alex sighed and put down his mug. Meg made the best hot chocolate. That was one reason why he had come over that Sunday morning.

"No. She just said that I was me."

"Hmm." Meg took a sip of her coffee, "It was worth a try. I admit, I had to all but dial the number for him and glue the phone in his hand. But there is one rather amusing thing. He thinks that either she had a girlfriend over or that she was baby-sitting."

Alex glared at his godmother before dunking a chocolate biscuit into his drink. "What next?"

"When's the play?"

"Just before the summer break. Why?"

"Can you wait that long?"

"I'll have waited twelve years by then."

"Have you got the part?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Probably. I've made it to the final round of auditions, so at the very least I'll be understudy or have a solo or something. That is, if my voice doesn't break."

"Is Georgiana Darcy in it?"

"She'll probably be in the orchestra. She is the only person who can play the harp, after all…but I don't remember there being a harp part in the original…"

"No, but back to the topic. You will probably see them at least one night, then. If that fails…" she stopped, and looked at him.

"Alex, has your mother ever taken you to the South Pacific?"

"No…but…"

Meg cut him off.

"Why don't you ask your mother if you can spend your summer break there?"

Part 4

Posted on Friday, 25-Sep-98

"Hold still Alex!" Meg muttered as she brushed the tinted power over his face, "It's hard enough getting the borderline-starving waif look on you as it is. I don't know why I volunteered for this." She muttered under her breath.

"Because you were the best make up artist we didn't have to pay," Georgiana laughed as she passed them. In the months since Alex had secured one of the parts of 'Oliver' (there were three boys playing the part, one for each night), she had stopped connecting her brother with this boy. She had convinced herself that it was just coincidence. Almost.

"Alex. Do you remember what I told you?" Meg whispered as soon as Georgiana was out of hearing range.

"Yes. Intermission. Go to bathroom. Run into one of the Mr. Darcys. Make eye contact. Vanish. I know, I know, I know."

Meg nodded. "Good." She put away her brushes "That's as close to starving-waif as you're going to get. You're too strong and proud, like both your parents." She looked at the boy. "That's a compliment, by the way."

She snapped the lids onto the little pots of powder and stood up. "Come on, then…" She was halfway out the door when she stopped, and then drew back. It was lucky that there was no one else in the make-up room, or it would have looked decidedly odd.

"What is it?" Alex whispered.

"We're in luck, boyo," Meg whispered back. "Look. Now you don't have to wait for intermission."

Alex looked. Two men, one dark-haired, the other formerly so, in suits had just finished exchanging a few words with Georgiana and were now studying some of the posters on the walls and listening to the orchestra tune up.

"Now," Meg turned to give him some last minute instructions. "Don't hold eye contact too long. Get away as soon as you register into their brains. The real fun should come on holiday…the South Pacific is more romantic than a school any day. You are going to that unpronounceable and exclusive resort, aren't you?"

Alex nodded.

"Now…go to it!"

"Offphh!" George Darcy felt the force of the boy running at full pace into him and knocking him into his son.

"Oops. Sorry," the boy said sheepishly, and George took a step back, That's almost like Will's voice as a boy

The boy was tallish and wearing the requisite torn clothes and smudged makeup that indicated that he was either one of the workhouse kids or a pickpocket. But what really caught his attention was the boy's startling resemblance to his own son. Then the boys' eyes met both of theirs. Will's eyes--yet, not quite--there was an exuberance and life that Will had never possessed.

The boy turned red. "Err...sorry…yeah," and with that took off at an even greater speed towards the stage door, leaving the two Darcy men to stare after him.

Had they looked the other way, they would have seen an aristocratic green-eyed woman in black and charcoal grey choking back laughter with some difficulty.

It was amazing how differently the school treated you after you left, Will thought with some amusement, as Mr. Collins, who was apparently the Assistant Teacher In Charge of Drama (whatever that meant) practically draped himself over Will and his father, bowing and scraping at every turn. Will had a sneaking suspicion that if he asked Collins to lick the carpet, he'd do it.

The lights dimmed. "Who is playing Oliver this evening, Mr. Collins?" George asked, hoping to quiet him down.

Collins immediately launched into a speech about a boy named Alexander who was the best Oliver - who was not only a great singer, he could act and dance, and in fact, was so perfect for the part that…

The Darcy men rolled their eyes at each other, Will almost fearful about this Alexander boy. He had narrowly missed having Collins as a teacher himself, but his reputation had spread. Will was half expecting some ungainly, huge child with the artistic ability of a particularly tone-deaf rock by the time the curtains opened.

It was the boy who had run into them in the hall. And even though he really didn't look much like a half-starved waif--too tall and strong, for a start, his acting more than made up for it. He was a brilliant dancer too - and Collins had to interrupt the dance sequence with the oh-so-useful information, "They wanted him for the gym team…but he was going to be too tall…and…"

Both Darcys ignored him, and studied the boy carefully. He did look an awful lot like Will. And except for the fact that it was purely angelic when he sang, his voice was very similar to Will's boyhood voice (Will could barely hold a tune, even after years of music lessons.)

The boy received a standing ovation. He was good. Both George and Will had decided to find a program and find out just who the boy was. Or they could just ask Georgiana.

Alex was feeling elated as he walked out towards the car park where his mother would meet him. She had been there, watching every performance, but she preferred to spend as little time as possible in the stuffy theatre. He gave a small smile, as he realized who were the two men walking in front of him. The two Mr. Darcys. He bounced lightly on his toes, wondering if he should do this now, or wait until they got to the resort, like Meg had suggested. He gave a small smile and ran towards his mother's car.

The two Darcy's heard the boy's footsteps as he rushed past them, his strides long, springy and yet somehow very elegant and relaxed. It was a running style, that, until then, had been unique to one person. "He runs like you, Will," George observed after the boy pelted past them.

"Yes," his son agreed "It's very similar."

Lizzy was leaning against the car when she saw her son. Hang on, she thought Alex doesn't usually run like that. The only person I know who runs like that is...Will! she almost panicked as she saw the two men who followed him. She gave a smile (it looked much calmer than she felt) and then got into the car.

"You were fantastic, Alex," she told him as soon as she started the car, "You were better than some professionals I've seen."

The boy basked in the praise, though it was hardly unusual. Then he felt his mother's mood change.

"I didn't know you ran like that?" She made it a question.

"I've been going to see the coach," he told her Well, it's not totally a lie. Meg was coaching me.

"Oh." She answered Understandable, I suppose. Will did break nearly all the boys' running records. Still holds most of them, here she smiled. I suppose Alex got all our best parts, my music and his athleticism, she turned to her son, now starting to fall asleep, and a double dose of our brains.

"Would you like some more chocolate?" the stewardess asked as Alex did his I'm-so-angelic-and-adorable-aren't-I look that made most adults go mushy. He knew he was probably starting to get too old for the act and would have to spend a few years as the surly adolescent before trying the gorgeous-film-star approach to get some decent service. It worked, though. Since there were always very few children in First Class and those usually spoiled brats, he always managed to get the stewardesses' attention. And lots of expensive chocolates.

He looked out of the window to the wide expanse of beach below. It was where they would change to a chartered plane to take them to the resort. From what Meg had told him, the Darcys would also be arriving that day, albeit by private jet. He glanced at his mother, half-asleep and half-watching the period drama on her television screen. If I have anything to do about it, he thought, looking at his mother, I'll have a normal, two-parent family when we get back. He turned to gaze back at the beach. Jeez, it's like 'The Parent Trap' only I don't have a twin. I wish I did. It would make this so much easier.

Part 5

Posted on Saturday, 26-Sep-98

It was a beautiful place. Their condo was right on the beach front, with a fantastic view of the lagoon and open sea. Romantic enough that even Alex saw it as that. There were hardly any children, though a few wealthy teenagers, but on the whole mostly successful people - yuppies - his mother's age. The closest Alex could come to the pronunciation of the resort was 'Pemberley', though it was spelt 'Binamperli' or something like that. What had Meg said about it? Unpronouncable, impossible to spell, ludicrously expensive, but it's great. Just great She was right. The water lapped against the sand, perfect. It was as though the entire world's problems had been left behind at the airport. Alex took a deep breath. It was going to be very interesting.

"His name is Alexander Bennet. First form. Well, was. Second form. He's quite talented musically, as you've heard, and all the sports coaches are drooling over him. They can barely wait until he starts growing. Straight A's and A+'s. Seems quite shy but I think it's just an act. That's about all I know about him." Georgiana sounded almost apologetic. She stretched. School. Over. Now all she had to do was wait for her results and find out which University had accepted her.

Her father and brother sat back in their seats with a sigh. Even the little Georgiana knew was enough to whet their curiosity. Oh well, there was little they could do. What was the chance of the boy turning up here?

Alex was sitting quietly in the corner of the bar trying to build a house out of cocktail sticks. He had the first two levels done. It was a bit rough for windsurfing so he was waiting for the sea to die down a bit. His mother had come in for a coffee but had left after the rather unsavory-looking bartender had tried to chat her up. Alex was gratified that his mother trusted him enough that she let him pick his own activities on this trip. While he adored her, there were times he wanted to be alone - and to spy on his paternal family. It was easier than he'd thought.

He shrank into the corner when they came in, noticing in that corner of his mind that Meg had trained so well, that the unsavory bartender ducked out of sight and left the bar to his colleagues. It was just Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy senior, somehow managing to dress for the heat without looking totally stupid or breaking the dress codes. The only reason why places let Alex inside in T-shirt, shorts and reefs was because he was a kid and his clothing was all designer. He listened carefully, but was not able to grasp their conversation. Seeing that the wind had died down, he sidled out the door and went to get his windsurfer.

The wind was almost still. The beach was almost deserted, except for a kid putting his windsurfer away. George Darcy strolled silently in the late afternoon. Will had gone to phone some business contacts while Georgiana had found some of her school friends. For the first time, he realized that his children were no longer totally dependent on him, they were their own people. It made him feel both proud and a little sad.

He felt a tightening in his chest, then a panic as he realized that it was not emotion. He gave a strangled cry as he fell onto the soft sand.

Alex heard the cry and dropped his windsurfer as he saw the man fall to the ground. He almost froze as he saw who it was. My grandfather, he thought, how… he couldn't think of the word as his instincts kicked in, administering CPR. Meg had trained him well. The man's heartbeat had just begun to steady when Alex heard a mobile ring. It was the man's. Still continuing one handed (Meg had taught him how to do that safely) he answered the phone.

"Some guy's phone."

"Who are you? What are you doing on my father's phone?" it was a man's voice.

"He's had a heart attack. On the South Beach. Can you get an ambulance?" Without waiting for an answer, Alex pushed 'end' and put the phone down.

Slowly, George Darcy gained consciousness. At first he thought it was Will, but then saw the very subtle differences in this boy It's the boy who ran into us in the hallway. Oh…what's his name? Alan? Why can't I say anything?

"Are you all right, sir?" the boy asked anxiously. Yes, George thought, closing his eyes That voice - just like Will's

"Your son called." The boy told him, "And he's going to get an ambulance."

Right on cue, the ambulance pulled up and a tall man jumped out of the car following it. A slender blonde girl followed and both ran straight to the man.

Alex stood up, unwilling to intrude on a family moment, But they are your family, part of his mind told him Tell them.

They had turned to face him, making him turn red.

"We can't thank you enough. What's your name?" the younger man asked as the paramedic placed his father on a stretcher.

"Alex," and, feeling uncomfortable in the silence that followed, Alex turned and ran back to the condo. He was going to be late for dinner.

"I'm very proud of you, Alex," his mother told him at dinner. "Do you know who it was?"

Alex mischievously waited until his mother had taken a drink before he told her.

"George Darcy."

While Lizzy did not spit out her drink as he had secretly hoped, she did look suitably shocked. She was speechless for several minutes as Alex calmly finished his desert…well, as Meg had said, their chocolate mud cake was very good.

"Oh."

"I thought it was rather ironic, myself," Alex remarked, carefully wiping his mouth with the napkin. He had very good table manners for a twelve-year-old…oh fine, for anyone.

"Are you finished, Alex?" his mother asked, and when he nodded, she signaled the waiter and indicated that the meal would go on their tab. The manager nodded, as they were already regular patrons.

They went out of the door just as the Darcys were coming in. Perfect timing Alex thought.

It took a few seconds for the Darcys to recognise him, in his 'nice' clothes. They came over and greeted him.

"Elizabeth Bennet," Lizzy held out her hand at the unspoken question in their eyes.

Will shook it numbly, followed by Georgiana and finally George. "Elizabeth…wait, weren't you at school with Will? Will!" he raised his voice, so his son stopped staring numbly at Lizzy and refocussed his eyes.

"Yes, we went to school together." His voice was dead.

"We can't thank your brother enough, Ms. Bennet," Georgiana began.

"Alex here saved my life." It seemed as though he would have said more, but the expression on Lizzy's face stopped them. Even Alex could feel the tension.

"I…I…have to check if I packed my windsurfer away properly. All the excitement and…ah…you know…" he left off lamely as he ran off into the dark, Use Will Darcy's stride, he told himself, it does work, you know , leaving his mother to face the Darcys. Feeling guilty, Alex turned back and hid himself behind a tree, still within hearing range.

"Alex is not my brother." He could hear his mother say.

"Is he your cousin then?" Georgiana asked.

Alex could see his mother shake her head.

"No." She drew a short distance away from them.

"Alex is my son."

She walked away into the darkness, and Alex could hear that she was just barely holding onto control. He stayed behind the tree. Behind her, the Darcys seemed to be in shock. Will came out of it first, and ran after the retreating figure.

"Lizzy!"

Part 6

Posted on Saturday, 26-Sep-98

"What's happening now?" the man asked his female companion.

"Shh" his partner lowered her night-vision binoculars and squinted onto the beach "I think they're having a fight." She raised the binoculars again.

Will had grasped Lizzy's wrists and was almost breaking them as he brought his face close to hers.

"Whose is he?"

"Mine." She answered defiantly, struggling against his iron grip.

He didn't budge.

"What happened? Did he force you? Or did you just go and sleep with some guy you never knew?"

She twisted her hands free and slapped him across the face. Faintly, over the sound of the waves she thought she heard a familiar female voice say, "Way to go, Lizzy!" but she dismissed it as her imagination.

"Don't you remember a summer night like this thirteen years ago?" she hissed. "Lots of loud music, cheap beer, the Prefects' lounge? What about waking up the next morning, covered in…stuff? Don't you remember a girl saying that she never wanted to see you again, a girl who gave birth to a baby boy nine months later? Work it out for yourself, Sherlock." She turned contemptuously and stalked away.

"Lizzy," his voice was one of disbelief, "Is he mine?"

Her laughter had a bitter edge "My, we're bright tonight, aren't we? Who else would his father be? Santa Claus? So, is that enough of an ego boost? That you can knock a girl up on her first time - and yours? The girl thirteen years ago never wanted to see you again. The woman is no different." She continued to walk away, this time, he did not follow her.

"Give those back," the woman made a snatch for the binoculars.

"I think we've seen enough," the man told her, putting them away. "We weren't even supposed to be doing this."

"It's a working holiday, Richard," she told him. "What did you have in mind?"

"Look Meg," he told her "as nice as lying on the beach all day with you in a bikini may be, we are supposed to be looking for Wickham here."

"I never knew you wore bikinis. I've always thought of you as shorts man." She made a joke "On another note, I've already found Wickham."

"Really, where?"

"I don't think even that can pick up Lizzy and Will," she motioned the binoculars and then the man on the beach below them. "Well, Richard. You have a new cousin. How do you feel?"

"Not that surprised. I'm more surprised that she didn't tell him and they didn't get married all those years ago. Now about Wickham…"

"To tell the truth, I was fairly surprised when they didn't marry," Meg interrupted him. "Wickham is working part-time at the bar and makes the worst Harvey Wallbangers imaginable." She pretended to gag. "He thinks he's safe…and we just keep an eye on him and enjoy our first holiday together…"

"I like the way you think Meg…" Richard gave her a suggestive smile and picked up the binocular case with one hand, and placed his other arm around her waist.

"I think it's time we got some sleep…or not…" Meg observed as they walked back to their apartment.

Below them, spoiling the scene of a perfect tropical night, was a man crying into the sand (I'm told it's extremely uncomfortable), a woman staring out into the sky, and a very guilty-feeling twelve-year-old boy wondering what he could do.

Another man emerged from behind a tree. He had not heard the conversation between Meg and Richard, but had heard enough between Lizzy and Will to be very interested in the events.

It had not been as difficult as Will had thought to inform his family about the addition to the Darcy family tree. Georgiana did feel a little guilty about bringing the whole thing up, especially on observing the large bruise on her brother's cheek.

George Darcy, on the other hand, felt nothing but pride in his son and grandson, and, with some reluctance on Will's part, they set off the next morning to the Bennet's accommodations.

As early as it was, they were informed by a cleaner that, "Meez Bennet and the liddle boy," had already gone out. Where, the woman did not know, but told them that the Bennets were very neat and always left a tip.

They walked in uncomfortable silence for some minutes, "Dad," Will finally said, "I never knew about Alex. It just…happened. We were both a bit tipsy and the next morning…"

George looked expectantly at his son.

"The whole year was taking bets on when we'd 'do it', but we didn't - not until then. We thought that it would ruin our friendship." Here he gave a snort, "and it did. The next morning, we both regretted it. She just ran off, and when I tried to follow, she slammed the door in my face. All that summer, I tried to get in touch, but it got to the stage that she'd hang up when she heard my voice, send back all my letters - unopened, she even slammed the door in my face the last time. I thought that I disgusted her. I never thought…this…" he trailed off.

George held up his hand. "Listen."

It was the sound of a boy sobbing, as they neared the sound they could hear the words, "…But…I thought…you'd be happy to be together…that it would all be as if I'd never turned up…even Meg said she was surprised that you two never made up…I'm sorry, I just made it worse, didn't I?" the boy burst into tears.

"No Alex. You did the right thing. It's just me." She sighed, "I thought…I thought that he'd think I just slept with him to get him to marry me. And it wasn't like that. I did love him then…I think. But that was a long time ago." She said briskly. "And when I started to want to tell him…well, you were already about five or six…would he believe me? Or would he think I was just another one of the gold diggers who're always drooling over him. No, I couldn't do that. I was too proud." She sighed again.

"Mum…" the boy's voice was trembling, "Am I anything like him?"

Will and George could hear the woman take a deep breath.

"Sometimes you are so like him I think I've traveled back in time. You look a lot like him, you know that. You sound like he used to when you talk - and from the way your voice is breaking you'll sound a lot like him when you're older. You move alike too…though I think that's not entirely natural."

"No. Meg taught me how to run."

"Thought so. She always was the one of us who noticed things like that. And your characters aren't that different - sensible, logical, almost too mature for your age." She stopped.

"Would you like to see more of them? I don't think I should stand in the way if you really wanted to get to know them. They're a nice, normal family. No one like Grandma - well, unless you count your Great-Aunt Catherine - but still, relatively normal. Not like mine."

"But it would hurt you, wouldn't it, Mum? Seeing him when you don't want to…"

"No. If you really wanted to do it we could work something out. I don't want to lose you for good…and that's what I was so afraid of, all those years ago…that if he knew about you, he'd find some way to keep you away from me." She snorted, "And I've done the same thing."

"Mum…do you mind if I go off alone?"

"No. Go ahead. No one's going to kidnap you here. This place is crawling with security."

Will made as if he wanted to join one of them, but felt his father's hand on his arm, "Let them be, Will. It'll all turn out for the best, I promise."

Alex walked along the beach, wondering what he should do next. Either Meg had not anticipated things turning out like this…or…she expected it, he realised, she knew they were going to have a fight about it. But why didn't she tell me what to do? Then it hit him, she wants me to do my own thing. So I won't be reliant on her. So I can say, "Yeah, I got them back together", He sat down on the edge of the beach, just out of the water.

So, what to do now? Well, calm down boy, and think about it

Alex tried the meditation and grounding exercises that Meg had taught him. He was almost too good at them. So good, in fact, that he canceled out all the sounds around him, the warm winds, the lapping of the sea, every interference except for the sound of his own breathing and heartbeat.

Perhaps that was why he did not feel the man walking up behind him until it was too late. Not until he smelt the stench of alcohol on the man's breath and felt the chill of a revolver at his temple and the arm around his throat.

In the part of his mind that was not screaming with terror, he recognised the unsavoury bartender as he bent to speak in Alex's ear.

"You are going to be very useful, my boy."

The gun went off.

Conclusion and Epilogue

Posted on Saturday, 26-Sep-98

One

Alex counted as the drunk bartender shot into the air, gaining the attention of everyone on the beach. Dimly, he could see the crowds gather, and was aware that his parents were standing close together. The crowd made as if to surge forwards…

BANG!

Two

The second shot went off as Alex tried to free himself, but the man's grip only tightened around his throat. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw George Darcy with an expression of terror on his face. Alex turned, only to have the grip tighten even further until he heard it…

Click.

It was very soft, but it was definitely there. The gun was out of bullets. Grateful to the drunk bartender for being so stupid, Alex tried to squirm his way to the knife he kept strapped around his waist under his clothing. It had been a twelfth birthday gift from Meg.

It's practically the only legal thing you haven't got, Alex, she had told him, and it may come in handy. But if I even hear a hint of you using it irresponsibly, I will use it on you. Understood?

Well, it doesn't come more responsible than this, he thought, as he felt for the knife. Meg had called it a 'Paianion hunting knife', but all Alex knew was that it was small, sharp, and could pass through security at the airports, something he was very grateful about.

"So Darcy," the man was saying, thought Alex was unsure who he was addressing, "All these years you've been so high and mighty, and you've had this little bastard all along." The revolver ground unpleasantly into Alex's temple.

Had Alex been paying attention, he would have noticed that his parents were standing together, but he was too busy trying to wriggle his way to his knife.

"And to think…" the bartender was saying as Alex freed the knife and gripped it.

"Argh!" Wickham's scream of agony broke through Will's state of shock. He saw Alex break free, a small, bloodstained knife in his hand as Wickham made a lunge for him.

The gun had been thrown away, and not even Alex's speed or reflexes were enough against the fury and brute strength of the man. Before he knew it, Alex was on the sand, the man pinning him down. Luckily, Alex had had enough presence of mind to fling the knife away, remembering Meg's instructions, If you can't use your weapon, then don't let your enemy use it against you.

The man was coming uncomfortably close to throttling him when Alex felt him knocked off his chest, tackled by a man wearing the tackiest Bermuda shorts imaginable. As he sat up, he saw a woman in a dark green bikini and a tasteful batik-style sarong in green and dark grey handcuffing the bartender's hands behind his back and handing him over to the man.

The woman's face was screened by her fall of dark hair, but Alex knew who it was as soon as she started speaking.

"I'm not impressed Wickham," she told him "this was meant to be my holiday. And what do I find? You?"

"Meg!" Alex was overjoyed as she grinned at him "What are you doing here?"

"Taking a holiday," she replied, before turning back to the bartender and dragging him to his feet.

Turning. Alex saw both his parents, his mother close to tears with relief and his father with something close to pride. He wanted a hug, badly, but who from?

He glanced at Meg out of the corner of his eye, and when she smiled he knew exactly what to do.

He could feel only momentary stiffening as he put one arm around each parent, bringing them close in an embrace.

Six weeks later - Will and Lizzy's engagement party

"So Alexander darling," Caroline Bingley confronted him near the drinks table, "Aren't you absolutely overjoyed that your mother is to marry Mr. Darcy?"

"I am very happy for them," Alex replied calmly, accepting a glass of orange juice from a silent waiter.

"I am sure Mr. Darcy will make a very good stepfather," she oozed, taking a step nearer. At this distance, Alex could see the line between her lipstick and lipliner.

"I am sure I will be very comfortable, Miss Bingley. Thank you for your concern."

"Of course. But you are looking forward to having brothers and sisters, are you not?" Caroline Bingley was getting desperate. Why wasn't this boy jealous, or upset, or anything?

"It would be nice to have some younger siblings."

"Alex!" his grandmother screeched as she came up to them "I'm so happy that your mother finally found someone. Mr. Darcy no less!" here she leaned in to him "Don't do anything rash, Alex, if you get my meaning."

Alex smiled. Mrs. Bennet was acting as though he was going to murder his father. But then…they don't know. But I do look a lot like him…how could they not notice? But, hey, this is Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Bennet we're talking about here

He glanced at Meg, where she stood with Richard, her own diamond-and-emerald engagement ring flashing in the light. His parents were closer to the windows, oblivious to their surroundings. Both his grandfathers hung around in the background, and his aunts were scattered around the room.

"So Alexander!" Caroline was saying, "are you going to still be a Bennet?" here she tittered and drank some more of her champagne.

A small, rather devilish smile crept across Alex's angelic face.

"I've decided to take my biological-father's surname."

"Really!" Mrs. Bennet and Caroline Bingley were of one voice. Alex noticed that the entire room had gone silent, all looking at him. Meg, Richard and his parents looked expectantly at him, barely able to hide their laughter.

"How does Mr. Darcy feel about that, Alex?" Mrs. Bennet hissed anxiously, "You wouldn't want to upset him or your mother."

"Mr. Darcy does not mind," Alex replied, himself on the verge of hysterics, but hiding it well.

"Indeed." Miss Bingley sniffed, "And what this name you plan to take?"

The whole room was fairly drowning in anticipation as Alex waited until both Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Bennet decided to sip their champagne.

"Darcy."

Had Alex not sidestepped his new designer outfit would have been completely drenched. Finally letting out his laughter and running past the astounded guests to his equally elated parents.

Everything was going to be perfect.

Two years later

Almost in compensation for all the missed years of his childhood, there were two more additions to the Darcy family tree. Twins.

The boy was named Thomas George Bennet Darcy, after both grandparents. Fairly standard, as neither of their names had featured in Alex's. The girl…even Alex, who thought of himself as a mature, macho fourteen-year-old, had difficulty holding back tears when his parents announced his sister's name.

Megan Richelda Bennet Darcy was named for the other couple so important in Alex's life, who never saw their namesake.

Megan Carter Fitzwilliam, who everyone had thought would either die in the line of work or live out her days enjoying her not inconsiderable wealth, had bled her life away not three months previous, the result of a botched Caesarean (at least, that was the official reason. Alex suspected otherwise…but, never mind).

Her husband had moped around like a lost soul for several days, tidying things up and settling their affairs. Then, three days after his wife's funeral, Alex and Will, hoping to cheer him up, had found Richard in the beautiful house he'd shared with his wife. He'd taken the exact combination of painkillers to deaden the ache of his heart. Forever.

The Darcys had been appointed as guardians of the Fitzwilliam's daughter, and looking down at little Emma Beatrice Carter Fitzwilliam (the Fitzwilliams had picked out the name as soon as they knew the baby's sex), Alex wondered if her mother knew about today. He met his parents' eyes, he knew that his godmother was in their thoughts too. But he already knew the answer.

Of course Meg knew. She always did.

The End

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