The Beginning, Section II
Chapter Sixteen: There I Found Only You
When Elizabeth got home, it was early. So early the milkman of her hometown, Meryton, was still sleeping, quite comfortably in his bed. Elizabeth, had she known this, would probably have been envious, for she hadn't slept at all. When her aunt and uncle entered the house, she lingered behind them, feeling quite frightened. It had been about three months since she had last seen her father. Being devastated about the whole William affair, she didn't pay attention to the intercourse between her parents, but now she remembered there had been more quarrels than usual. Her mother, who had never been too motherly, had completely ignored her, but Elizabeth had thought she had at last learnt to be tactful. Learning the truth, that her mother had never truly loved her and that she probably never would, was a hard blow. When she saw her father, crying on the couch, with a lost, desperate look in his eyes, she ran to him and hugged him tight.
"It's going to be alright, dad!" She whispered, "I love you, I'm here, I'm never going to leave you."
Thomas Bennet hugged his only daughter and sobbed. "My dear... Now we only have each other."
The Bennets stood respectfully aside, watching the tender embrace and the true affection which father and daughter felt for one another. And yet, all Elizabeth could think about was of one William Darcy...
"Dad, do you want me to stay with you?" She asked, softly.
"Would you do that? You'd have to skip a few weeks of school..."
"I'll go back in time for the festival. I did promise Jane and Charlotte I would sing a song with them, but I can get my books here by post, and Charlotte and Jane can e-mail me about homework. Just now, you're my main concern." She said, looking at her father seriously.
"Thank you, my Lizzy. I really think I'll need you."
"She's ... not here?" William gasped.
"No. Apparently her parents are getting a divorce and her dad is devastated. She'll stay then until a few days before the festival. At least that's what Jane says." Charles answered, as he tried to write an intelligible essay.
"Great. Fate-1, Will Darcy-0, yet AGAIN!" William muttered.
"Why don't you go to her house? You just..." George piped in.
"No, thank you. You already played enough with our lives, keep out of it!"
"Play with your lives? Moi?" George said, offended.
"'Will, can't we play Lone Ranger? Why don't we go to Pemberley? Why don't you dive into the pond? Oh, what a surprise! It's Elizabeth!' Does that ring a bell?"
"You suspect I arranged that?" George said, with an innocent look. Needless to say, no one was fooled.
"You did it, bro, there's no denying it. I'd bet EVERYONE here was involved!" Will said, glaring at Richard and Charles, who looked away guiltily. "No, this time, I'll wait. When I see her, I'll tell her."
"Sorry? Is this Mr-I-spent-three-months-without-saying-a-word-to-her speaking?" George muttered.
"I heard that! This time, I'll do it right!"
"Oh, look! Some pigs! Look Will, they're flying and carrying a banner which says 'Will you bloody liar'"! George said, sarcastically.
"You asked for it, Georgie Porgie!"
"That was mean! What? Haha! Stop it, stop it!" George giggled, trying to get away from Will's tickling.
"Let that be a lesson to you! I don't need help with my love life!"
Richard, Charles and George rolled their eyes.
"Sure, cuz," Richard said, patting his back, "you keep thinking that, if it gives you comfort."
Elizabeth took her last sweatshirt and looked affectionately at her room. She had slept there since she was three years old, and everything in it spoke volumes about her. Her books, set up in a shelf upon her desk. Her bed, with her very favourite Teddy bear and a few cushions. Her desk, with her computer and several folders filled with lyrics, and her drawings, scattered all about the room, a few of them framed and hanging off the wall.
With a sigh, she folded the sweatshirt and put it on top of her other belongings in her suitcase. There. These last weeks had been like a pause in ordinary life, taking care of her father, making him laugh as often as possible, reading, writing, drawing... Only the memory of Will and her resolve to le him know what he meant to her, managed to cloud her otherwise complete happiness. She closed her suitcase and with a last look at her room, decided to take control of her life, once and for all.
"Ready, sweetheart?" Thomas Bennet smiled tenderly at her. He had always loved her daughter, but now he positively adored her. Her care and unselfishness had acted like a balm on his wounded heart, and for that he would be forever grateful. It's easy to love one's child, he thought, mischievously, but to like her, that's an uncommon achievement!
"Ready, dad. Will you be alright?" Elizabeth said, returning her father's smile.
"Yes, yes. I have lots of food in the fridge, and thanks to you a very slight ability to cook. I'll be fine. But you, must take care of yourself, my dear. You have been melancholy lately, and I don't like to see you like that."
"Don't worry, daddy," Elizabeth said softly, "I intend to do something about it as soon as possible."
Jane and Charlotte gave Lizzy a nice hug when they picked her up in Victoria Station. Elizabeth couldn't suppress a smile when she saw them there, grinning at her. They chatted all the way to the apartment, the conversation often turning towards Will, Richard and Charles.
"Lizzy, they are terribly sweet! They took us out to lunch the other day, and Char and I had little cards in our plates, each one with a short poem!" Jane said, happily.
"And that girl who came with Will laughed so much at Richard and Charles's puppy-like stares! At least, that's what she called them!" Charlotte laughed.
"Um," Elizabeth felt as if someone had taken hold of her heart with a firm grip, "who was that girl, the one who went with Will?"
Jane and Charlotte exchanged a knowing glance. "It was his cousin, Anne."
"Oh."
"Come on, Liz, cheer up! Tonight will be just to relax, and then we must start rehearsing for the festival! It's only one week away, and we're on holiday, so we have lots of time!" Charlotte said enthusiastically, "We'll have a great time!"
"Do, la, sol, la, re..." William muttered, as he read the music sheet again and again. The music part was quite clear, but he still had a problem with the words. He had never been very good at this.
"What are you doing, Will?" George asked, as he entered the music room, casually munching a biscuit.
"Working." Will said shortly.
"You should be trying to win Elizabeth back, instead of muttering to yourself and playing that stupid song."
"Thank you for yet another one of your pearls of wisdom. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to continue with this."
"You are SO stupid, bro!" George said, stomping his foot, "All you have to do is tell her how you feel!"
William stared at his brother, and suddenly slapped his forehead. "That's it! Thank you George!" He bolted out of the room, leaving behind a dumbfounded George.
"Well, it finally happened." George mused, "He's gone absolutely mad!"
After a week of rehearsing, watching romantic films and eating chocolate, Elizabeth felt surprisingly depressed. It probably had to do with the fact that Richard and Charles had been regular visitors, but they had told her Will was apparently back in Pemberley, and would come back the day before the festival. She couldn't stop feeling apprehensive. Perhaps for some bizarre reason, he didn't want to see her? Had she done something? Was it something she DIDN'T do?
She sighed. He would be home now. Was he thinking about her? She wrapped her blankets around her, and went to sleep, dreaming of a face framed with dark curls...
"Lizzy..." someone whispered, "wake up, sleepy head!"
Jane could be so damned cheerful in the mornings...
"Today is the great day! Festival, music, Will..."
That last word made her lift up her head. Ten minutes afterwards, she had managed to get out of bed. She even managed to give coherent replies and walk not too dizzily. When they arrived at the festival, she was positively beaming. She scanned the crowd, several times, searching for a profile she knew she could recognize anywhere. She was very disappointed when she didn't find him, and acknowledged Jane's gentle squeeze with a silent nod. She could wait for him.
"Hiya!"
"Richard!" Charlotte cried, hugging him.
"Nothing for me, then?"
"Charles!" Jane smiled brightly and kissed him in the cheek.
And there he was, behind Charles. With a soft smile, and his hands in his pockets, looking every inch the perfect schoolboy.
"Hey." He said, quietly.
"Hey."
"How are you?" He asked, looking intently at her.
"Fine." She said, smiling.
They couldn't talk much more, they were engulfed by the crowd. The festival was very successful, lots of people had worked to make it possible, and the performances were really good. Theirs was particularly welcome, and when the three girls ended their song, ("Just my imagination", by the Cranberries) they were rewarded with a warm applause. When they joined the boys, Will wasn't there.
"And now," Mr Hurst, who was acting as presenter said, "Our last performance. Will Darcy will play and sing a song he has composed himself.!"
Will appeared on stage, smiling. He took the microphone from Mr Hurst, and said, looking at Elizabeth, "I wrote this thinking of one very special person. I hope she gets my meaning, and that she can give me an answer."
He seated himself at the piano, and started to play.
Once I told you I loved you,
You didn't believe me then,
This song is my gift to you,
To try to say 'I love you' again.
I know I've been wrong about you,
And I know I've made you cry.
But I also know I can't get through,
If you're not right there by my side.
Why is this so hard to believe?
That I love you more than anything,
That I'd give all I have, even my life,
Just to hear your voice and see your smile.
You're the best thing that ever happened to me,
Look into my eyes, they say I'll be true.
I made a trip to my heart's core, baby...
And There I Found Only You.
So let me hold you, forever like this,
I've found my happiness in your arms.
I'd give the world to you, just for one kiss,
I don't care about it if I am wherever you are.
Now I've let you see my soul and my heart,
You've seen that place no one else knows.
I tried explaining, and yet we stayed apart,
Listen to my song, it lets my feelings show.
Why is this so hard to believe?
That I love you more than anything,
That I'd give all I have, even my life,
Just to hear your voice and see your smile.
You're the best thing that ever happened to me,
Look into my eyes, they say I'll be true.
I made a trip to my heart's core, baby...
And There I Found Only You.*
Elizabeth's eyes were filled with tears of happiness as she stared into Will's eyes, looking at that centre of his heart, where she only saw her reflection.
*Composed by yours truly.
Chapter Seventeen: Perpetual Bliss
William jumped down from the stage, pushing people out of his way and completely ignoring Caroline, who was crying, "Oh, Will! I'm SO flattered!"
When he found her, her eyes swimming in tears and with a happy smile that seemed to light up the whole place, he stopped, doubtful.
"Elizabeth, I..." He started. But Elizabeth, who didn't need to hear it again, threw herself into his arms.
"That was the most beautiful thing I ever heard." She whispered into his ear.
"You've clearly never heard your own voice." He whispered back.
They stood there, holding each other, and as Will buried his face in her hair, he thought there was no other place where he'd rather be.
"Lizzy!" Jane wailed, "Are you going to get out of the bathroom sometime soon? I need to use it!"
"Coming!" Elizabeth answered. Jane groaned and tapped her foot impatiently, wondering what could be taking her so long. When the bathroom door finally opened, Elizabeth came out, with a nervous smile.
"Do you think he'll like it?" She asked, doubtfully.
Jane looked at her, carefully. Her curly hair was down, and not completely dry. She wore a little make up, something really unusual for her, and she was wearing a long dark skirt, with a close fitting top and a light jacket. She looked very pretty, but what really made her beautiful was the happy gleam in her eyes, the smile, as wide as it could get, and the faint blush of her cheeks. She looked very much in love, and that made her radiant.
"You look perfect," Jane smiled, "Will is going to love it!"
As if on cue, the doorbell rang, and Jane lifted one eyebrow as she went to open the door, leaving a very nervous yet excited Elizabeth behind.
"Lizzy! It's for you!"
Elizabeth took a deep breath, and walked towards the door. With a smile that matched her own, dressed in jeans and a white shirt, Will was waiting for her. Jane wisely disappeared, with a pointed look at Will.
"You look wonderful." He said, simply, taking her hand in his own.
"You don't look too bad yourself!" She replied, with a saucy smile, "So, where's this place you're taking me to?"
"The key of surprises is that you DON'T know what they are!" William said, with a smile.
"I know, I know... You can't blame me for trying, though!" Elizabeth pouted.
"No, I couldn't blame anyone who pouted that way. But I'm not going to tell you where we're going, either." He smirked. Elizabeth shook her head, smiling, and followed him out of the flat. She gave him an incredulous look when she saw the limousine.
"William Darcy!"
"What?" He said, with an innocent look.
"You told me it wasn't a fancy affair and you bring a LIMO?" She said, with an accusing stare.
"Well, I won't deny we'll be travelling in style, but it most certainly isn't a fancy affair. Look." With this, he opened the door of the limousine, to reveal a picnic basket.
"Oh, so we're having a picnic?" Elizabeth said, smiling broadly.
William hugged her, and helped her into the limo, adding, "I could never resist an intelligent woman."
"I think Caroline never found that out." Elizabeth mused.
"Probably not. But let's talk about something else. Tell me about your Dad."
A long conversation followed, in which Elizabeth praised her father to the skies, and childhood memories were shared. Elizabeth was really happy to see how open William was now, and when she commented on the fact, he only answered, "I made the great mistake not that long ago of shutting you out and not sharing my feelings and memories with you. I'm not a man to make the same mistake twice." He said, looking into her eyes.
Elizabeth blushed, and as she did so, she tried to take her eyes off William's face. They landed on a folder, carefully left on top of the seat.
"This is..." Elizabeth gasped as she recognized the folder.
"I hope you're not mad at me for looking at your drawings. They helped me to understand your feelings, and gave me the courage to try again, to tell you what I felt, and to finish the incomplete melody my life is without you."
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears, "I always intended to show it to you, because it has as much of you as it has of me in it. I can't think of a life without you either."
The limousine stopped, and William smiled impishly as he picked up the picnic basket.
"Miss Bennet, if you please..." He said, as he got out and opened the door for her.
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy!" She said, laughing. William took her to a nice spot, with a tree and a wonderful view of the city.
"You know, Will, this looks strangely familiar." She said, looking at him quizzically.
"Let me help you remember." He murmured, as he put his hands around her waist.
Then it struck her. It was just like her drawing... The one where Will kissed her. And Will was right in front of her, with an unfathomable look in his eyes.
"Do you trust me?" He said, quietly.
"To love is to trust." She answered, tears threatening to escape from her eyes.
His eyes widened, and a broad grin appeared on his face.
"Elizabeth, I know we're both young, and I know people would say we don't know what we want just now. But if there's one thing I'm certain of, it's that I love you. And not in a friendly way, I love you with all my being, heart and soul. You are the most incredible person I ever met and..." He said, caressing her cheek, "I can't imagine my future without you in it. There's a long way to go, but I know I want to walk it by your side."
Elizabeth couldn't speak. She couldn't express what she felt with words, it was just too much. So instead, she gazed lovingly into his eyes. He smiled tenderly at her, and bent his head slowly.
As their lips met, Elizabeth felt a thousand sensations at once, all of them combined into the greatest bliss she'd ever known. She could almost hear the fireworks... Almost?
She turned her head towards the city, and she stared at the firework display that met her eyes.
"You see, I wanted to be accurate. These were an important part of your drawing." William whispered into her ear.
"But... How did you know...?"
"Ah, yes. Well, I'm afraid we weren't completely alone. Charles and Richard were looking at us with binoculars to make sure the fireworks went off in time."
"I must say two things: One, you're the most incredible guy I've ever met, and two..."
"Yes?"
"There was no need. I felt the fireworks, even without the display, because I love you."
"I love you too."
As they stood there, his arms around her waist, the rest of the world forgotten, William could say quite accurately that he had found his place, his home, and a new reason to live.
"William Alexander Darcy! Come here this instant!" Elizabeth cried.
"I haven't done anything!"
"I know you haven't dear, but it's time to go to bed."
The little boy pouted, but his mother mercilessly picked him up and took him to his room.
"Okay mommy, but I'm not going to sleep without a story!"
"I know, love. Now, what story do you want?"
"I want a real story! One about you and Dad."
"But I already told you everything about us when we were young!"
"No, I wanna hear how he asked you to marry him."
"You've already heard that one!"
"I want to hear it again!"
"Alright." Elizabeth smiled as memories flooded back. "As you know, your father and I managed to keep our relationship going although we went to different universities. And when we both got our degrees, he told me to wait for him at the park where he first kissed me. And there I went. I waited for him, and when he came, he was so excited... I supposed something great had happened, and I asked him what it was." Elizabeth paused, and sighed happily.
"What then?" Little William asked, eagerly.
"He told me he had been offered a position as composer for a very important record company. I was thrilled, of course, and then... He got on his knees, and told me he still felt the same as that night when he first kissed me, and that the thing he wanted more than anything was to live by my side. He got out a little box, and got out this ring," Elizabeth paused as her son took her hand to look at the ring, "and asked me to make him the happiest man on Earth and marry him. I accepted, we got married, and... " Elizabeth added, kissing her child, "Here you are."
"Mom!" William said, sitting up in bed, "But Uncle George says he was the one who got you two together."
"Your Uncle did help a little. As did your Aunts Jane and Charlotte and your Uncles Charles and Richard."
"Oh. Mum, do you love me?"
"Indeed I do."
"Even when I'm naughty? Even when I get a tantrum?"
"I love you every single minute of every single day. Now go to sleep."
William sighed contentedly and snuggled into his bed. Elizabeth looked as he closed his eyes, and got out of the room, only to find her other William.
"Is he asleep?" He asked, putting his arms around his wife's waist.
"Yes. He asked me to tell him the story of your proposal again." She smiled.
"Hmmm..." Was all he said as he nuzzled her neck.
"You know, I think he's too much like your brother when he was little."
William snorted. "My brother has yet to prove he's more mature now than fifteen years ago."
Elizabeth laughed. "But I do think he could do with a younger brother, or sister."
William held her closer and whispered into her ear, "I can fix that."
"I know. I think you might already have."
"Really?" He asked, looking at her in wonder.
"Yes. I still have to confirm it with the doctor, though."
"My love, have I ever told you how happy you make me?" William said, as he kissed her.
"You might have, yes." Smiling, she began to hum a tune. William laughed.
"I can't believe you remember that song."
"You composed it for me, how could I forget that?" She said, as she kissed his cheek. "But I think now I share your heart with our little Will."
"Yes, you do... But Elizabeth," He said, as he picked her up in his arms and took her to their bedchamber, "No matter what, you will always have that special place, right in the core of my heart."