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Chapter Twenty-Three

Posted on Saturday, 17 July 2004

"Uh...Elizabeth? You there?"

Blinking her eyes slowly, she focused on the concerned face of Bernie Miller. It was then that Elizabeth realized she had spaced out right during the middle of their conversation.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"So you agree with me then?"

Elizabeth had no idea what he was talking about, but decided to shrug it off. The sportswriters were all good friends, with hardly anything but friendly competition between them, but she knew they had all picked up a little slack for her the past two months or so. None of them would ever complain or resent her, but the least she could do was pay attention to them when they were talking.

"Sure, yeah, Bernie." Once she had answered, Elizabeth sighed again and retreated into her own little world, not catching the smile pulling at the corner of her colleague's lips.

"Great. So we'll run that article on Sosa in next week's paper?"

"Whatever you-" Elizabeth paused, whipped her head around to stare at Bernie and stated incredulously, "What did you just say?"

Laughing, Bernie threw his arm across Elizabeth's shoulders and gave it a squeeze. He had worked with her long enough to view her as a daughter, but also to understand when she was having one of her 'thinking problems', as he liked to call them. Not usually an introspective person, there were times-when she was going though certain periods in her personal life-that Elizabeth was all but dead to the world. Her thinking problems had been going on for as long as Bernie had known her-sporadically, of course, but always there.

"I was kidding, Elizabeth. I don't think we'd be able to print any article you write about Sammy Sosa. It would probably be filled with expletives."

Smiling for the first time that afternoon, Elizabeth jabbed the older man lightly in the ribs. "It would not."

"You all right? Seriously now."

Gazing up at him with a sad smile on her face, she nodded. "I've just got some things on my mind I need to work out. Hey, I'm going to go down and see if I can get an interview with the Reds' manager. See you up there at game time."

As Elizabeth made her way to the elevator she thought she heard Bernie mumble something about thinking problems, but didn't really pay attention to it. She worked with him everyday of the season and wasn't about to pretend she could hide her moods from him. Other things she was very capable of hiding, though...

As it had done all day, her mind jumped back to that morning when Ana had poured her heart out. It was almost surreal-Elizabeth could hardly believe the amount of pain Wickham had caused both of them. But it had been...uplifting to hear her story. Ana was young, just starting out in her life. It would be absolutely unfair for her future to be constantly tainted with those fears he'd inflicted...like Elizabeth's life was tainted. Oh, she knew she was still considered young; after all, she was just twenty-five. Sometimes, though, Elizabeth felt so much older.

Elizabeth sighed, oblivious to the odd glances the elevator attendant was giving her. Just how was she to take this? Yeah, it brought back a lot of painful memories. Hearing Ana's story of how Wickham had used her had nearly been perfectly in synch with her own sad Wickham woes. She had spent the past two years trying to forget that time. As if she could. It was a useless preoccupation; with George Wickham there was no forgetting. So why had their talk ended the way it had? Why had Elizabeth run out, not even wanting to face Will? She had seen the initial hurt creep into his eyes as she mumbled a goodbye with her suitcase in her hand, but then she had detected the understanding that overshadowed the depths.

What was it then that had upset her so much? As the elevator stopped on the bottom floor, the door opening, Elizabeth sighed. She knew exactly what her problem had been. Will. Listening to Ana pour her heart out, Elizabeth realized just how supportive he had been of her. There had been no anger over the fact that his sister had gotten taken in by Wickham. No disgust that she had allowed Wickham that much control. Instead, it seemed he had simply shown Ana love.

It all certainly made a girl think. What if Elizabeth were to pour her soul out to Will? What if she were to tell him that at one point Wickham had had her so wrapped around his little finger that she would have done anything for him? Biting her lip to keep back the sudden wave of tears, she shook her head. Would he be as supportive of her? Or would he be disappointed? Disgusted? Sickened? Appalled?

"You're supposed to ask those questions aloud, honey. The manager's down the hall." The thick, gravelly voice startled her right out of her thoughts, but it brought about a bright smile of recognition.

"I thought they had forced you into retirement, young man," Elizabeth stated with a laugh. The tall, elderly man in front of her gave her a wide grin. Arnold had been the Reds equipment manager for a long time. A very long time. Not only had he run the equipment when Pete Rose had managed the team, he had been there when Rose was an integral part of the Big Red Machine. Rumor had it he'd been around at least a decade before that as well. He still looked much the same, except his gut had gotten conspicuously larger over the years.

"Aw, you. Get over here and give me a hug."

"If I can still fit my arms around your middle, Arnie," she teased, squeezing the older man as hard as she dared.
"Yep, the years have been tough. Too many late nights washing uniforms."

"Don't forget too many late nights with the booze." Laughing at the way Arnold pretended to get upset, Elizabeth dodged his playful swat.

"How dare you take advantage of an old man like that?" Arnold demanded.

"Oh, stop. You're not quite as old as you pretend to be."

"I heard a rumor that you got hitched, Elizabeth. My grand-daughter was mooning over the groom, too...told me he was a real hunk."

An involuntary smile crept at the corners of her mouth as she thought about Will. "Well, she's right. He is a hunk. Tall, dark haired, and handsome."

"But how he's willing to put up with you is beyond me."

Arnold obviously meant it as a joke, his old eyes were twinkling and the two had a very teasing relationship. For that reason, Elizabeth tried to hide how much his words disturbed her. And she tried her hardest not to see the truth in them.

"Hey," she said, forcing a smile on her face, "will you let me go do my job or what?" Stepping aside, she gave him a salute as she passed, heading toward field. To her surprise, she felt Arnold grip her arm to stop her.

"You all right there, Miss Elizabeth? You look..." the older man paused as if searching for the right word. When Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him, he shrugged. "Sad. You look sad."

She paused at his perceptiveness, but then gave him a grin. It seemed as if she was as easy to read as a book. If this problem was so obvious to everyone, perhaps she actually needed to work it out instead of simply attempting to push it out of her mind. "You're right. But I'll be okay. Trust me." Leaning up, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before jogging off towards the field, ready with her tape recorder to begin her interviews. There was a sad smile on her face. She had lied dreadfully; in all honesty, Elizabeth wasn't sure she'd be okay.

"If it wasn't for the humidity, sweetie, it would be a beautiful day." Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, Will grinned down at Leah. There was no doubt in his mind that she was the cutest baby ever. "Yeah, those sunglasses do make you look fashionable." Proud of her outfit - well, in reality, proud that he had actually picked out her outfit and dressed her-Will nodded at all the runners who were distracted by the baby and her floppy hat and sunglasses.

Checking his watch, he noted the time. Twenty minutes was hardly enough time for him to get in a decent run, but there was no way he was keeping Leah out in the warm weather any longer. Even if she was coated in seven layers of sunscreen, he didn't want to risk it. Plus, she needed a nap and he had to shower before Charles and Jane came over. Jogging back to the house in record time, Will walked into the air-conditioning and was greeted by Mac and Sammy. (He still had to repress a chuckle whenever he even thought about their names). Wagging his tail, Mac lumbered over to Leah to give her a welcoming lick. Apparently, Baby Coppertone really did not taste very good, if the dog's comical expression told the truth.

With Leah settled in his arms, Will checked the answering machine and then his cell phone. Neither had messages. He felt a little like cursing. Will had tried calling Elizabeth several times the day before. Okay, so maybe seven times. After she hadn't picked up that seventh time and he was sick of hearing the automated voice telling him that his wife was not answering or did not have the phone on, Will decided to give up. He knew she wouldn't be purposely ignoring his calls. No matter how awkward she might have felt when she left, there was no doubt in his mind that she would answer her phone when he called. So the exasperating woman must have forgotten to turn it on...or, he realized with a small smile, she could have forgotten how to turn it on. Still, it was enough to make him worry. Especially knowing that Wickham had called for her. Okay, it was enough to make him very worried.

Tired out by the run and lulled by the warm rays of the sun, Leah was practically asleep before Will laid her in her crib. Smiling down at her for a moment, Will gently rubbed her soft head. Protectiveness welled up strongly in his chest and he had to force himself to take a deep breath. "He's never getting you, sweetie. I'm never letting you go." After watching her sleep for a few moments longer, Will pulled himself away and headed toward the shower. His muscles were tired - it had been awhile since he had run - and the warm water would help him relax. Not wanting to waste too much time in the shower when Leah was asleep by herself in another room, Will hurried through washing, shampooing, and dressing. Checking on Leah once more before he went downstairs, Will smiled when he saw her sprawled out in a position only a one year old could achieve.

Glancing at the time, Will rushed his late lunch. Charles by himself would be at least fifteen minutes late, but Charles with Jane might actually be punctual. Exactly as he suspected, the two arrived exactly five minutes early. Getting up from the couch where he had been watching the beginning of the Fox baseball game, Will let the couple in.

Charles gave him the usual jovial greeting. "Hello, Will! How are you doing today?"

Will grinned and kissed Jane on the cheek. "I'm doing well. Hopefully I still will be after this meeting."

Immediately, Jane's brow creased in concern and her blue eyes reflected her alarm. "Please don't worry, Will. Charles and I both are certain that you and Elizabeth will win this battle."

Sighing, he smiled slightly at his sister-in-law's word choice. "That's what it is, isn't it? A battle."

"One we'll win. Trust me on this one."

Will looked at his best friend, a friend he had trusted for many years. Smiling, he decided to listen to what they had to say. After sitting down in the den and muting the television, the pleasantries were over. The transformation from good-humored, amicable people to serious-minded lawyers always amused Will. Charles and Jane were now ready for business.

"All right, there are several factors in our favor, Will. For one thing, although nothing was made legal, it seems pretty obvious that Lydia wanted her sister to care for Leah. Not only that, the fact that George was never around during the birth or while Leah was in the hospital does not bode well for him."

Will interrupted Charles. "You're sure Wickham wasn't around? At all?"

"I believe he came around once; I wasn't there. Nobody was, in fact, but Elizabeth. She didn't tell me much except that George was drunk and wanted to take Leah from the hospital right then. She got security to escort him out," Jane answered.

Disgusted that Elizabeth had had to deal with Wickham by herself, Will could not help his next terse question. "And you're sure he knew that Lydia was pregnant?"

Jane nodded. "Oh, yes. Lydia came home because Wickham kicked her out when she told him."

"Normally in these procedures, Will, we would hope to settle on an agreement with the parents outside of court. In this case, though," Charles went on quickly, holding up a hand before Will could burst in angrily, "there is no way we are even letting you do that. And honestly, I don't think George would agree. For some reason, he's dead set on full custody."

"To hurt us."

"Excuse me?" Jane asked, unable to hear Will's muttering.

"Wickham's sole reason in doing this is to hurt us. At first it was just Elizabeth, but I'm sure when he found out that I was involved, it only made the game more interesting. I will not allow Leah to be hurt by him. It will not happen."

Jane was quick to reassure Will, gently placing her comforting hand on his tense arm. "No, it will not. We are going to win this." Once Will nodded, Jane sat back in her chair and removed her hand. "Now, since we are not coming to any terms outside of court, proceedings have been set for a court date. I am confident that it will be quick. I do not foresee any judge granting George custody."

"When Elizabeth gets back," Charles continued, "we will speak more directly about the proceedings. I am sure that the judge will want a statement from both of you-but most definitely from her."

"What exactly influences a judge's decision?"

"Good question, Will." Charles smiled at him as if he was all of nine years old. "Obviously the judge is concerned with how his decision will affect the welfare of the child. Usually noted are who has been caring for the child, financial stability, and who can provide the child with the greatest emotional benefits."

Charles' answer satisfied Will. "Good. None of those conditions even remotely apply to George. He's always broke and he has never shown even the slightest care for Leah." Will's eyes glowered as he bit off the next sentence. "And I can guarantee he will never love her. George Wickham is only capable of loving himself."

Gently rubbing her temples, Elizabeth slumped up against the press room's wall in weariness. Oh, she loved baseball. There was no doubt, ever. But on nights like this one, when a regular nine-inning game lasted more than four hours, she didn't always like the sport. At least Elizabeth could be thankful that her team had won. It sort of made her forget about the pain in her head. Summoning up the strength to move, Elizabeth pushed herself off the wall and made her way to where she saw Arnold standing. Although it wasn't quite legal, Elizabeth knew he would put her on the very quiet and unattended service elevator-thereby allowing her to get to her hotel room that much faster. Not that she would sleep. If thoughts of Will and her situation didn't keep her up until the wee hours of the morning, strange dreams of her past mingled with the present would wake her and she'd find herself covered in sweat, the sheets twisted around her legs. Well, if she couldn't sleep at least the thrill of Tylenol was before her. She hadn't had a headache like this one in quite some time.

Arnie, seeing the pinched expression and the pain behind her eyes, shook his head. "You had better be heading to your hotel right now, missy. You done writing?"

Smiling, Elizabeth answered. "I am heading home and yes, thank God, I am done. Will you help me slip out?"

Taking her arm, Arnie pulled her through the authorized door and into the area where she was not supposed to be. "Good thing I've worked here so long they wouldn't even think of firing me. Now you head to the elevator and you get a good night's sleep."

Elizabeth thought about answering, but the pounding in her head was just too loud.

"Promise me?" The elderly man obviously felt the need to become her protector. Arnie's fatherly side often reared its head when it came to Elizabeth.

"Yeah, yeah. I promise. See you bright and early tomorrow."

"Nope, kid. It's already one. I'll see you later today."

Rolling her eyes at his correction, Elizabeth waved her hand in his general direction and made her way slowly towards the elevator. With every step she took, it felt as if her head was going to explode. It couldn't be a migraine, though - she was not nauseous, a benefit she truly appreciated at the moment. As she waited for the elevator doors to open, she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she was staring straight into the vindictive eyes of George Wickham.

The years of hiding her fear from him helped in stopping any visible reaction, but she knew that he had seen that first, instantaneous spark of panic. He looked her up and down and gave her that grin she had once thought was attractive, but now made her want to puke. So much for not feeling nauseous.

"What are you doing here?" she managed to hiss through tightly clenched lips. Hearing the break in her voice, Elizabeth squeezed her hands into fists to gain some control.

George laughed and lazily leaned his upper body against the wall, preventing her from entering the elevator when the doors finally opened. "I'd say it's a good thing I look like your dear Will. That old man was completely fooled when I laid on the charm and concern. 'What a nice a surprise', he told me." George's eyes narrowed as his false good-humor disappeared, his whole countenance becoming angry. "So, what do you say, baby? A good surprise?"

"You need to leave right now. I can't believe Arnold actually thought you were my husband."

"Like I said, we look remarkably alike. Although I have been told by numerous women that they much prefer me."

"Then those women were crazy, George. You are nothing like Will." Crossing her arms across her chest, Elizabeth spat out her next words. "You only wish."

The glimmer of fury that raged in his eyes was a common sight to Elizabeth, but she couldn't help but feel her pulse jump in alarm. Wickham was a dangerous man and if there was one thing she had learned, it was that he could only be provoked for so long. At his breaking point he would strike without warning. But not usually in a public place...Elizabeth glanced around desperately, hoping for a player or coach to miraculously appear.

Immediately understanding her thoughts, George smiled his chilling smile. "Sorry, baby, but we're alone."

Elizabeth's fingernails had all but carved half-moon indents in her palms, nearing the point of bleeding. The old panic - the panic she thought had long since disappeared - was suddenly engulfing her, threatening to choke. As she looked up at George's knowing expression-as if he fully knew her rising fear-Elizabeth began to feel helpless. Helpless against the fear, the old memories...helpless against George's manipulations.

"Ah, Elizabeth, it's been so long since I've made you feel this way. You really don't know how happy I am to see you like this again. You had gotten so disrespectful-ignoring my phone calls, hanging up on me, running to daddy. I was afraid you had changed."

As always, George knew right where to hit her. She felt as if he had punched her in the gut. "I have changed," she managed to blurt out, her voice sounding weak to even her own ears.

"Oh, that's right," George chuckled, suddenly moving from his comfortable distance and coming closer. "How could I forget? You moved on, didn't you? Quite a catch you managed, Elizabeth. The William Darcy." George paused a foot away from Elizabeth's stiff body. Without even realizing it, she had moved back for every step George had taken forward, until her back was against the wall. "How is your marriage, by the way? Has he fallen in love with you?"

Elizabeth remained silent, trying to think about Will and Leah and force down the oppressive memories that were trying to push into the front of her mind. But Wickham, who knew exactly what she was doing, was not going to let her.

"He has, huh? I can only imagine how that makes you feel. You told me once that you would never be able to fall in love again. Do you remember telling me that, baby? Are you going to be able to live the rest of your life with that guilt? You're keeping a man in a loveless marriage."

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Elizabeth jumped when George, almost gently, placed his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. His touch was appalling, and Elizabeth felt her body shiver in revulsion. The look in her eyes told George to get his hands off, but he merely laughed.

"But Elizabeth, let's get to the point." When he was sure Elizabeth was looking directly into his eyes, he continued. "How is my daughter?" Smiling at the sparks of anger that immediately lit her eyes, George moved his finger to stroke her cheek. "You've still got those eyes, Elizabeth. So beautiful..." He trailed off softly as he traced her eyebrow. When Elizabeth moved to turn her face, George gripped it with both hands, tightly and bordering on painful.

"You listen to me. I want my daughter."

Elizabeth tried to shake her head, her throat too constricted to speak, but George's grip was like an unmovable vise.

"Yes, I do. I understand Darcy has found a great affection for the girl...but he needs to realize he can only take what belongs to him."

"Why?" Elizabeth managed to whisper, tears threatening. Her body was limp, almost lifeless, and the expression in her eyes hinted that she felt beaten.

George grinned with malice while he took her in. "Because she's mine, Elizabeth. And I want what's mine."

Her eyes were closed in pain. "You're a monster. You'll never love her. She's just a baby, George. Just a little baby. Please..." Elizabeth's voice broke and she had to sniff loudly to hold back the torrent of tears. "Leave us alone."

Releasing her suddenly, George growled. "What you mean is that you want me to leave you alone, isn't it?"

"No, George, please listen. Do what you want with me. Please...just please leave Leah and Will alone. Haven't you done enough?" When she saw that she had his attention, she continued. "You obviously don't want Will to be happy. Do you honestly think he can be when he's in love with me and I...I can't love him?"

"That is true," he murmured, reaching out and smoothing her hair almost affectionately. "I have succeeded in making you useless. Well, it's what you deserve after you played me like that, Elizabeth." Abruptly, George smiled and pushed her away from him. "You almost had me there, baby."

Elizabeth knew her chance was drifting away, but before she could make an argument, George roughly covered her mouth with his hand.

"Shut up," he muttered harshly. "I really don't want to hear any more of your excuses. It's always the same with you-you've got an answer for everything." Eyes narrowed, face in a scowl, George nearly snarled at her. "I will get Leah, Elizabeth. My score with Darcy doesn't matter anymore. I know you. Hell, I practically created you." George sneered at her with a sly grin. "Darcy might love you, but it's not enough. It will never be enough."

His words stilled Elizabeth, until she was looking at him almost quizzically. "What did you say?"

Chuckling and eager to repeat his hurtful words, George walked straight to her and glared down at her. "I said, Elizabeth, that no matter how much Darcy loves you, it won't matter. You're messed up. And you always will be. Thanks to me, of course...You know, I don't even think you've ever even thanked me."

Glancing quickly down at her, George expected her eyes to be bubbling over with hatred. Instead, he was taken aback to see a strange light in them. In fact, she was almost glowing.

"Didn't you hear what I said, Elizabeth? You have no chance." When she didn't answer him, didn't even look at him, he began to get desperate. Grabbing her by the arms, George shook her. "What is the matter with you?"

A smile lit her face, giving her beautiful face an expression he had never seen before.

"Nothing is wrong with me, George." Elizabeth glanced up at him, the sass back in her eyes. "Let me tell you, though, that you have much too high of an opinion of yourself." Removing herself easily from his stunned grasp, she turned and hurried through the clubhouse to the door. She knew he wouldn't follow her. The look on his face was priceless-without his mind games, he was just a poor, weak excuse for a man, really. It disgusted her that she had allowed him such control for so long.

Before leaving, Elizabeth turned over her shoulder and gave him a grin. "You are right about one thing, George. I do need to thank you. And I'm sure my husband will also want to express his thanks...though I can't guarantee what methods he might use."

Smiling at her own joke, Elizabeth left the clubhouse, headache completely forgotten. In her mind, she was replaying a million conversations, but always outlasting any remembered words was Will's pledge of love.

"Miss Elizabeth, what are you doing out here? Where's your husband?" Arnold looked alarmed, probably due to her bemused state.

"Hmm?" she asked distractedly, before smiling and kissing Arnold on the cheek. "Oh. That wasn't my husband."

"That wasn't your husband? But he..." Arnold trailed off as Elizabeth's smile just grew and grew.

"Have you seen Bernie? Did he leave?"

"Well, I saw him leaving just a few moments ago. You can probably catch up with him." Arnold paused, peering solemnly into her face. "Can I do anything for you, Elizabeth?"

Suddenly all of Elizabeth's attention was focused squarely on the elderly man. "Actually, you can Arnold. Would you mind booking me a flight to St. Louis?"

"You don't have arrangements already?" He was growing more confused by the minute.

Elizabeth laughed. "Of course I do. I need a flight tomorrow morning, the earliest time possible." Nearly skipping away, Elizabeth rushed back quickly to kiss Arnold's weathered cheek. "He loves me, Arnold!"

"Who, missy? That man?"

"No, my husband!" Elizabeth laughed and began to make her way out of the stadium.

"You didn't know that before you married the man?"

"Well," Elizabeth paused before laughing again, "actually, no. But that doesn't matter. He does now-and I actually believe it."

Arnold, absolutely bewildered, watched the young journalist skip down the hall, her whistled song drifting behind her. He shook his head. "She's got a screw loose, that one." But he was smiling as he entered his office and picked up his phone.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Posted on Tuesday, 27 July 2004

Will was tired. His plan of getting up and going to church had seemed so simple the night before. As he unbuckled Leah from her car seat and carried her through the garage to the door, Will had to acknowledge he really had no idea how much it would entail. How in the world Elizabeth had survived taking care of Leah while holding a job was beyond him. He had enough trouble in one morning. Leah had woken up earlier than normal-much earlier. Barely awake, he had managed to lull her back to sleep for another two hours, waking at quarter to seven.

If that hadn't been enough to start his day out exhausted, the morning had gotten progressively worse. Someone had obviously woken up on the wrong side of her crib and getting the baby dressed turned into a twenty-minute affair. Of course, that did not even take into account the ten minutes it took him to decide on which little dress she should wear with which shoes, not to mention the time it took to search for her white socks with the ruffles he had seen Elizabeth put on her for church.

At least when he had finished, his daughter had looked absolutely adorable. In hindsight he probably should not have felt so proud of getting her dressed. Honestly, in hindsight he probably should have realized he should feed her before dressing her. The modest breakfast he had thrown together for Leah ended up all over her yellow dress. After cleaning up the kitchen, he had raced up stairs, Leah in tow, to dress himself and quickly change her outfit, while trying to make it to church no more than two minutes late. They walked in ten minutes after the bells had rung and he grabbed a spot in the back, surrounded by other harried parents with fussy children. It was halfway through the sermon when Leah was trying to stick her fingers up his nose that he realized she was wearing mismatched shoes.

Leah continued her mischievousness throughout lunch. Anything Will put in front of her was immediately thrown onto the ground, usually with a huge shout of laughter.

"Yes, I know, Leah. You have got a great pair of lungs." Finally, he had had to reprimand her, trying not to sound too severe. Leah's eyes filled up with tears, looking up at him, her lower lip quivering, as if he were a monster. Will was man enough to admit that he fell for it; Leah had him wrapped around her tiny pinky finger. Sighing, he placed a piece of cheese on the tray and watched her pick it up as daintily as a queen-her tears completely forgotten, drying on her cheeks-and drop it onto the ground.

"All right, so your mother is going to have to be the enforcer," Will murmured, watching her actually begin to eat. A sudden thought struck him at the heart with dread: Leah in about fifteen years standing next to her mother, both looking up at him with those pitifully woeful faces. He'd have to keep his wallet locked up in a safe-and not have any clue to the combination. Thomas Bennet-Will was going to have to get some advice from that man.

Finally lunch was finished, cleaned up, and Leah's diaper was changed. It was time for her nap, but he knew instinctively she would not fall asleep the normal way. If he had simply laid her in the crib and wound the music box, she would probably just scream her head off until he came in. She might start throwing all her stuffed animals and blankets onto the floor and then cry for him to pick them up. Or she might simply rappel down the side of the crib.

Instead of going through the hassle, he sat down on the couch with her on his lap and turned on the baseball game. He himself was growing tired and he could see Leah's eyelids slowly falling shut until she would sit up in an attempt to stay awake. Wondering why children always tried to force themselves to stay awake, Will watched the game unfold. After the Cardinals had hammered the Cincinnati pitcher hard in the first two innings and scored five runs, Will noticed that Leah had become a dead weight.

Glancing down, he instantly smiled at the baby. She was sprawled out on his chest, one arm wound around his neck, breathing with her mouth open, and completely asleep. The love he felt for his daughter-that was what he had considered her for quite some time now-was nearly overwhelming and Will squeezed the baby a bit tighter before kissing her smooth curls. Leaning back himself, he scooted down the sofa until he was lying with Leah on his chest. Her gentle breathing was soothing and soon Will found himself staring blankly at the television, his hand rubbing gentle circles on Leah's back. He was conscious of the Cincinnati pitcher striking out the side before he drifted off into a lazy afternoon sleep.

The toe tapping was really getting on her nerves. The incessant rhythm was starting to drive her crazy...tap, tap, tap, tap-tap-tap-tap-tap. Unfortunately she really could not get her foot to stop moving. Somewhere in her unconscious, her mind thought that the faster her foot tapped, the faster the taxi would arrive at the house. Unless she sat on her feet, the tapping was not going to stop.

Man, she had never felt so uneasy in her life. She was excited, too. But definitely nervous. And all that nervous energy had her on edge. The poor taxi driver probably assumed she had over-dosed on coffee. If only it were that simple.

After a quick talk with Bernie and a call to Sir Lucas, Elizabeth had been cleared to go home. Her articles for the big Sunday Sports spread had been completed and she had written her editorial comment for Monday's paper a day ahead of time. Bernie didn't ask her why she needed to get home, but he saw the urgency in her eyes. Nothing was going to hold her back from getting to St. Louis as early as possible. Elizabeth would have been satisfied with a three a. m. flight, but knew that a good night's sleep was necessary. Her flight had been changed to eleven in the morning, and although she hadn't been happy, she had agreed.

Now, only a few minutes from home, she was so nervous she felt her empty stomach complaining with slight nausea. Oh, she was certain that Will loved her. And she was more than ready to tell him her feelings. She also knew innately that her husband would understand the truth she had to tell and never hold it against her. In that was the problem, however. In order for him to understand the truth, she would have to explain it. And that was something Elizabeth was not looking forward to-no matter how much Will loved her.

But she was going to do it. Sighing deeply, deliberately forcing her nerves to settle for about the seventeenth time, Elizabeth tentatively smiled. The weight of her guilt was slowly easing-and it had been a heavy load to bear. Oh, she knew it would take awhile before Will fully convinced her that George Wickham was the root of her problem. After all, she had known deep down for two years now that to blame herself for their volatile relationship was ludicrous, but still had done so.

"Is this the house, ma'am?" The taxi driver interrupted her thoughts and Elizabeth glanced up to see the cheery exterior of their home.

"Yes, it is. Thank you." Paying the driver, Elizabeth grabbed her small suitcase and headed toward the front door.

Her heart was racing. Her palms were sweating. Her stomach was absolutely twisted into knots. As she stood on the porch, Elizabeth braced herself for revealing the ugly truth no one-not even her father or Jane-fully understood. It was quite nerve-wracking to know that in just a few moments, she would be baring her soul in a way she never had before. The intimacy of sharing her past-the secret she had battled every day-was incredible.

But it was relieving. So relieving.

Smiling at a sudden thought of Wickham's horrified and pitiful look, Elizabeth turned the doorknob. It was locked. Chuckling to herself, Elizabeth dug in her purse to find the house key. It was Leah's naptime-possibly, if Will had gotten her to sleep-and she didn't want to risk waking her by knocking or ringing the doorbell. How like Will to keep the door locked in the middle of the day. He wouldn't be happy to know that she kept every door unlocked during the days she was home and he was gone.

Once the door was unlocked and opened, Elizabeth dropped her suitcase unceremoniously on the foyer floor and headed towards the sounds of the television. Expecting to see Will sprawled out on the couch, reading through notes from some important meeting, Elizabeth entered with a bright, "I'm back!"

When there was no reply, she zeroed in on the couch. (Okay, so she took a glance at the television to make sure that the Cardinals were winning-the journalist couldn't be taken completely out of her even in circumstances such as the one she was facing). The sight she met with stopped her instantly, her breath hitching noticeably. Leah was lying on Will's chest with both arms around his neck as if she was hugging him even in her sleep. He was asleep as well, with his mouth open and an occasional snore breaking into the low noise of the ballgame.

To Elizabeth's surprise, tears filled her eyes swiftly and for once she didn't stop them. How could she have ever doubted the love of this man? How could she ever have wondered about a man who so easily cared so deeply for everyone he knew? Catching a sob in her throat, Elizabeth finally acknowledged fully the magnitude of her feelings for him. She was going to love him, they were going to love each other, love and care for Leah, continue their family with babies of their own...This was going to be for forever.

The strange noise woke up Will, but he came to groggily. His eyes opened slowly and he instantly touched Leah's back to make sure he hadn't disturbed her. Expecting the television to have woken him up, he was surprised to see Elizabeth standing in front of him. Standing in front of him with tears rolling down her cheeks. Standing in front of him with tears rolling down her cheeks and looking as if something completely disastrous had happened. He was suddenly completely awake.

"Elizabeth? Are you all right? Why are you home early? Why didn't you answer your cell phone? Why are you crying? What happened?"

With every question, she seemed to get more upset. Her sobs became louder and she brushed at her cheeks carelessly. His alarm grew and grew with every sob. She just stood there looking at him, not moving or speaking. Will knew he had to move quickly.

"Stay right there, Elizabeth. Don't budge."

Carefully sitting up, supporting the sleeping baby all the while, Will all but sprinted up the stairs to Leah's bedroom. By the time Will had gently laid Leah down, gave her music box a few winds, shut out the lights and returned to the den, he expected Elizabeth to be gone. Instead, she was standing in the exact same spot-looking as if she had not moved a muscle-with the same tears rolling down her face

"What is the matter, Elizabeth?" He asked softly, still trying to reconcile the fact that she was crying.

"Will-I-we-" Her words were wailed as tears fell even faster from her eyes and she was unable to finish her thought. She was simply crying too hard.

Will did not know what to do. He was frozen. Absolutely frozen. His wife had never cried in front of him before. Never had even one tear escaped. Will looked right into her eyes. They were teary and red and showed a slight apprehension, but he was taken aback by the determination in them. And the joy that he was somehow able to discern in the brown depths.

"Did something happen this weekend?" he asked slowly, never taking his eyes off hers.

"Yes...something-everything."

He was at a loss for words, but thankfully Elizabeth didn't require any. She flung herself in his arms and it was all he could do to hold her close and try not to fall over. The sobbing did not cease, but was muffled by his chest. Her pain was tearing him apart and he was desperate to understand what had upset her, but he was also amazed at the strength she was surrendering for probably the first time in her adult life. She was actually letting someone else support her. The trust she was giving him was absolutely blowing Will away.

"I'm sorry, Will, so sorry. Please..." Elizabeth's words were mumbled into the front of Will's shirt, but he understood them all the same. "Please, Will...forgive me."

Of all the words he might have expected to hear, those certainly had not been it. With a good deal of surprise, Will pulled back and gently cupped his hands around her face. She refused to look him in the eye, but he was not going to speak until she was doing so. Finally, Elizabeth slowly raised her eyes up to his and locked gazes. She looked desolate and Will was having trouble with not simply crushing her in his arms and kissing her like mad. At least it would take that expression out of her eyes. Taking a deep, calming breath, Will smiled down at Elizabeth.

"Now what exactly do I need to forgive you for, Elizabeth?" To his surprise-again-her eyes began to water at his words.

"Please don't be so noble," she whispered. "You know exactly what."

Her eyes had slowly slipped down to stare at his neck and Will was going to have none of that. Kissing her quickly on the forehead, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged tightly before letting go. "Honestly, Elizabeth, I have entirely no clue. But if you would care to enlighten me..." He trailed off as he took one of her hands in his own and waited for her explanation. It was short in coming.

"You love me."

Lifting up his eyebrow exactly as she would have done, Will smiled gently. "Yes, sweetheart, I do." Bringing her palm to his lips, he kept his eyes on hers. "But I think that point is already common knowledge."

Elizabeth bit her lip. "But you loved me and I...and I..." Just when he thought she was going to get her explanation out, her eyes turned stricken again and she pulled her hand out of his grasp. "I'm so sorry. I was so stupid...so irrational."

By this time, Will really was feeling frustration at her apologies. Here his wife was, sobbing as if her heart would break-or was already broken-and she thought she needed to apologize to him. What she needed to do was explain herself. Her obvious pain was really starting to hurt.

"Elizabeth," he started tentatively, holding her shoulders, but she interrupted him suddenly.

Planting her hands on Will's chest, she gave him a push. He landed on the sofa. "Would you mind sitting down? I've got a lot to say and I don't want you distracting me." When she saw he was going to protest, Elizabeth held up her hand. "I can't think when you touch me, Will...I just-just end up wanting you to hold me forever."

It was amazing him that his wife was being so honest about her feelings. "Is that such a bad thing?"

Glaring at him with a look that was pure Elizabeth, she nearly growled. "Look, Darcy, I'm not going to pretend that this isn't hard. So, if you wouldn't mind, just sit there. And listen."

Will found he had little choice as Elizabeth suddenly ran her hand wildly through her hair and began to pace. Her words were quiet and almost distracted.

"I can't believe I've been so stupid. I've been so absolutely stupid. Here I've had you-this wonderful, caring man who takes care of Leah and takes care of me. A man who says he loves me and shows it in every action. And what do I do? I ignore him. I pretend that his love for me does not exist. Oh, sure, I let him kiss me every once in awhile...I mean, who wouldn't? His kisses feel so right and so perfect, and in the back of my mind I know he is, too, but I just can't bring myself to accept it. In the back of my mind, I know I'm too afraid...too afraid to admit the truth." Suddenly, Elizabeth's dark eyes pierced Will's, leaving him to wonder if she had meant to think her tirade instead of actually saying it. Before he could comment, she continued.

"And why am I this stupid? Why am I so stupidly afraid?" Elizabeth was at it again as she made another trip around the sofa. Her hair was now a tangled mess from the numerous run-throughs with her hands. She paused when she was back in front of him. "Will, I," Elizabeth stopped and gulped, "I saw someone this weekend."

Once he saw the utter pain in those beautiful eyes Will knew immediately whom she was talking about. Still, not wanting to believe it, he asked softly, "Who was it?"

Elizabeth looked down, then up, and down again. "Wickham."

At once, Will leaped from the couch to tower over Elizabeth. His entire body was tensed; she could tell from the way his jaw was tightened and the straining muscles on his forearms. Fists clenched and eyes flashing, he spoke. "Did he hurt you?"

Gazing at him for a few moments, Elizabeth finally shook her head negatively. "No...no, he didn't, Will." Before Will could draw a relieved breath, Elizabeth went on. "He helped me. He made me realize..."

"What do you mean? What did he make you realize? I swear, Elizabeth, if he hurt you, I'll-"

Again, Elizabeth's gentle hands were on his chest, pushing him until the backs of his legs hit the sofa. Reaching up her hand, she softly touched his cheek and the fight went out of him. "Will you sit down? Please?" Once Will was sitting, hands clenching his thighs in a painful grip, Elizabeth smiled slightly and continued.

"He didn't hurt me, Will. I don't think he'll ever hurt me deeply again." Staring over his shoulder, she smiled at her words. When she saw Will frown in confusion, she took a deep breath. It was time-it was time for him to know everything.

"I met George when I was fresh out of college, riding the high of winning the College Championship. It was at my second Olympics. I don't think my feet touched the ground that entire summer." She looked up to see Will hanging on her every word, his eyes never leaving her face. "You know, I'm not even entirely sure how we met. All I know is that during those crazy two weeks we hit it off. At first I figured it was just going to be kind of like a dating fling; half a month in a foreign country, winning a gold medal, the exhilaration of the Olympics to begin with-not exactly favorable to the long-term. Getting a serious relationship out of it seemed ridiculous. But at the end, George told me he would be back in America." Here Elizabeth paused, gathering her thoughts together. "He said he wasn't letting me go."

"Oh God."

Elizabeth looked up sharply at Will's interjection, but he seemed oblivious to saying anything. He looked composed as he listened-except for his grip on the sofa cushion. He was absolutely crushing it.

"I gave him my number and flew back to America with the team. Within a week of returning, he showed up at my doorstep. The whole situation was like a blur...I took him to meet my family, cooked dinner for him at my apartment, invited him along to any exhibition game." Elizabeth shook her head. "He was just so charming...and nice. It's like Ana said, he made you feel so special. So special, I guess, that I didn't even think to ask how he could uproot himself and move to St. Louis. I didn't even ask about his job or his family or friends. I was just so busy and so happy he could be with me." Elizabeth suddenly shivered, rubbing her goose-bumped arms quickly. "I fell hard."

"Well," Will broke in, aware that his voice sounded like a croak, "that doesn't sound too bad." He knew he was fooling himself to think that perhaps they had just had a fall out, that her romance had disintegrated. Elizabeth's pain went far beyond a failed relationship.

She laughed sarcastically. "It was bad enough. Soon he wormed himself so completely into my life, he was a fixture. Everywhere I went people expected George to be with me. It happened before I even realized it...before I even noticed."

Will had so many questions to ask, but he wisely chose to listen without interrupting. Although Elizabeth was telling him the story, her eyes were faraway, focused not on him but her past.

"And I suppose that in itself was the problem. I never noticed anything...until it was too late." Here Elizabeth paused to take a long sniff and then stuff her hands in her pockets. Will felt as if he was suffocating in suspense-especially at that last cryptic comment-and he silently willed her to continue.

"Like I said, George worked hard to make me believe I needed him. Looking back, I see that it was a big part of his plan, but at the time...At the time I was just thankful to have a boyfriend who cared so much about my career, about my life, about me. I gladly let him become my manager of sorts-to find me playing opportunities, sort through interview requests, handle my busy schedule. It had all seemed so innocent to me and I was working my butt off at the Post, my first year on the job. I just wasn't really thinking, I guess."

Will couldn't help but interrupt her, not able to silence the warning bells ringing in his head. "You mentioned that he cared so much about your career?"

Elizabeth smiled cynically and shook her head. "Obviously you know the man." She then nodded. "You guessed it. He took control of my softball career. And when I say control, I mean control. I let him have privileges of my contracts, promotions, money. When George saw me at the Olympics, he apparently saw a gold mine.

"Before we had even been together a year, several friends and my father called me out on my behavior. I had always been independent, with my own definite opinions, but George sucked the life right out of me." Elizabeth stared at Will with sad eyes. "Sometimes, when I'm feeling okay about the situation, I call it my zombie year. It was disgusting...I followed George around like some naïve little puppy, begging for his good opinion.

"I gave him all my trust. I gave him my heart, Will. Idiot that I am, I fully intended to marry the man. But he broke that trust. He turned on me...he-he made me feel so dependent on him."

Will was halfway off the couch when Elizabeth held up her hand. "Stop. I know what you're going to say. That I'm wrong-that I must have seen the situation different than reality-that I'm stronger than I give myself credit for." Elizabeth nearly snorted, her eyes tearing up again. "Well, I'm not. Did you hear me? I'm not. I woke up every day trying to please him in everything I did. God, I would cry when I made something for dinner he didn't like. He told me I was stupid; I believed him. He told me I was worthless without him; boy, did I believe him. He threw all this emotional baggage at me until I actually felt guilty for sneezing in his presence."

The bitterness in Elizabeth was building up and Will could hear it clearly in the tone of her voice. The Elizabeth she was speaking of was foreign to him; certainly not the Elizabeth he knew, who would cook meatloaf and if he didn't like it, he could starve. Certainly not the Elizabeth who told him she was quitting her job and he had better live with it. Certainly not the Elizabeth who defended her opinion with every breath she had. But he knew that she was telling the truth. That Elizabeth had lived-still lived deep down inside her in some forms. If there was one thing Wickham was an expert at, it was emotional abuse and manipulation. Why, it had worked wonders on Will's own father and for some time during high school on Will himself.

"And then he kept pressuring me into taking this offer from Major League Baseball. I would become sort of like the Ambassador to softball, traveling from club to club, pitching to live players, making appearances on television in a weekly baseball show. He had created the entire deal himself, presenting it to the Commissioner without my knowledge. It scared me suddenly how much control he had-and I was thinking simply of my material objects.

"When you love someone, Will, you don't think about trust. It's supposed to always be there, something intrinsic, essential, inherent. Trust should not be an issue. I did truly love him. And I really did trust him."

"What did he do?"

"Huh?"

"I've had a lot of dealings with Wickham. In my experience, he always has one major breach of trust that causes you to investigate the other ways he betrayed you."

"Well, you're right. Although if I had been smart, the facts that my behavior and attitude had changed so much even my friends were noticing should have been my first and biggest clue that things weren't right." Elizabeth sighed. "After he set up that deal behind my back I finally got smart and started examining all my finances and contracts." Seeing the look on his face, Elizabeth smiled. "Yeah, on top of the extremely large percent he was taking as my manager for softball related dealings, he was also skimming my general finances."

"And you dropped him like a fly, thank God," Will breathed slowly.

"Actually, I..." Elizabeth's face was pure chagrin. "I didn't. I didn't know what to do. Somehow, I couldn't confront him about it-I loved him. And I knew it had to be a mistake. So I quietly took over my own finances, but tried desperately to hold onto the relationship. It was crumbling, but he had me literally believing I couldn't live without it."

"No, you...I..." Will trailed off as Elizabeth turned red in mortification and he realized he really had nothing to say. But he had a thought and it wasn't going away. He absolutely had to ask. Addressing her lap-for he couldn't quite get his eyes to reach her face-he said, "Elizabeth...you said you always tried to do what he wanted...Well, I-I know what kind of a man he is and I can only imagine he tried to...Well, you know."

Elizabeth, catching on rather quickly, snorted. "You better believe he did."

Will blanched. "Oh. Well..." he was back to talking to her lap. "Well..."

"You think I would wait until I was married and in love with you but I would sleep with George?"

He shrugged, obviously feeling uncomfortable. "I'm sure he was pretty persuasive. And you did say you were going to marry him."

Letting out a breath, Elizabeth said, "The first few times he pressured me it was no big deal-nothing worse than high school. At my request he turned into the perfect gentleman. But after about half a year I could tell he was getting angry. He would leave when I told him no or he would-" She stopped and her eyes flitted up to his for a moment before she continued in a different direction. "He called me names, accused me of sleeping around at work, and was altogether a jerk about it. But that last time, I admit, still hurts. He rejected the relationship so harshly and threatened me so badly I went running. He wasn't going to take no for an answer and when I looked up and saw his eyes..." Elizabeth shuddered. "It was horrible."

Will found his throat dry, probably from the exertion it took not to hurl out obscenities. "And then you left for good?"

"I told my father and he had a few choice words for the man. Even though I was twenty-four and living on my own, my father forbid me to have any contact with him. But I had already decided that for myself. My stupidity kept the relationship going, but at least I found some sense at the end."

"Elizabeth, I really don't see why you are so hard on yourself. I mean, I know the guy was scum and I'd like to hit him for what he did to you, but George can't do anything to you anymore."

"I realize that now. Mostly. But don't you see, Will? When my trust was broken, he ruined me. Wickham had created me simply to use and ...you'll never know how hurt I was. After I left, I thought I would be fine. I told myself I would never allow that kind of control again. I thought I would get over whatever hurt he had caused me. Will," Elizabeth said, almost with a pleading tone, placing two fingers across his lips to stop his interruption, "I was wrong...so wrong. I couldn't love anymore! I couldn't give away my heart. It took me years just to get back to where I was before Wickham and I certainly wasn't going to risk letting it happen again. I didn't want to love ever again. Loving required trust-and I just didn't think I had it in me to trust again."

As Elizabeth admitted to her weakness, she felt as if her heart was being wrung out into lifeless flesh-the pain being inflicted by her own self. It was never fun to look back at what George had made her believe, how he had guided her to act. What always scared her was the fact that she had had the choice. And what scared her now was the fact that she still hadn't brought herself to tell Will what ashamed her the most.

The tears filled her eyes and spilled over again as she removed her fingers and lightly touched the hair at Will's temple. "But I walked in here and saw you with Leah...this gentle and patient man who has done nothing but show me what love could really be like. And all the while I was pretending I didn't see it. I was pretending I didn't feel it. I was holding back my own emotions. I was so afraid of being hurt."

"That's why you were crying?" Will asked softly, completely still.

Elizabeth nodded. "Do you know what the problem is? He's doing it again. I was so afraid to love that I let George rule over me anyway. The reason I couldn't do it was because I was afraid to repeat the past...but I realize now that that reasoning is stupid. You're not him and you never will be. And if I keep my feelings locked inside anymore, I'll just be letting him win. He'll be in just as much control as he was when we were dating. The past has already been repeated. And I can't do that anymore. I just can't let him win."

Elizabeth took a deep breath and then smiled a breathtakingly happy smile. "You love me, Will. You love me." Taking his left hand into hers, she tapped his wedding ring. "Seeing George yesterday made me realize that your love...our love...is much, much stronger. The only thing George can take from me is what I give him. And I'm done being his pawn. I'm done being afraid. You love me, Will. And I..." She looked up at him then, her bright eyes meeting his burning, intense dark ones, and smiled that same beautiful smile. It was a smile of absolute freedom, of trust, and of one other thing.

"Fitzwilliam George Darcy, I will love you, comfort you, honor and keep you in sickness and health, and be faithful to you as long we both shall live." She grinned. "Or something like that. This time I know I truly mean it. You needed to hear an honest vow."

She looked up expectantly, but was met with silence. His eyes were shining and he might not have been aware of the gigantic smile stretching across his face, but Elizabeth certainly noticed it. The man looked as if manna from heaven had just fallen before him. Smiling to herself, Elizabeth realized she kind of liked that analogy.

"Uh...so what exactly are you saying?"

Hiding her smile, Elizabeth walked up to him-he was so obviously stunned that he did not even move-and wound her arms around his neck. "What I'm saying, Will, is that I love you. That I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Take care of you when you're sick and laugh with you when you are not. I'm saying that I want to raise Leah with you. And I want more babies. Lots of babies. I'm saying that even though you are a Cubs fan, I can't help loving you more than anyone...especially myself. And if I love you more than myself, you better believe I trust you. I think I've finally learned that loving someone means knowing that for the rest of my life, I'm going to be putting you above me. In everything. You've been showing me exactly that for a long time now."

With every word, Will seemed to become more stupefied. Hugging him was like hugging a rather large log-unmovable and stiff. Well, if he couldn't understand her words, perhaps he would recognize them in a more demonstrative manner.

And apparently he did. She kissed him with all that was in her heart, but then he kissed her. Kissed her with all the passion and love and hunger he had kept hidden for so long. "I love you, too," he murmured as his lips made their way over her face and neck.

"I know," she managed to mumble, "but could you not talk?"

His burst of laughter was caught in her kiss, but he didn't seem to mind. As Elizabeth's feelings began to swarm out of control, and the heat that had stayed bundled in her stomach seemed to burst into her veins and travel from her fingertips to her toes, her head was giving her clear warnings. Tell him, tell him, tell him. The mantra never stopped even as Will wrapped his arms even tighter around her, as if afraid she would suddenly disappear-melt away was more like it-and lifted her off her feet. You've got to tell him. You've got to tell him before this gets too far and he doesn't have the option of rejecting you. Stiffening at the sudden attack of her old mindset, Elizabeth's hold on Will's shoulders became excruciating.

He noticed her stiffen before the pain, but that wasn't long in coming. Sighing, trying his best not to show his frustration, Will carefully set Elizabeth's feet on solid ground. Just when he was ready to swing her up in his arms and carry her upstairs and...Okay, it was probably best to stop now. Forcing Elizabeth an arm's distance away, Will stared intently into her face. He thought he would see hesitation at the sudden acceleration of their relationship, maybe even fear. The shame written plainly across her face was shocking.

"Elizabeth?" He murmured gruffly, aware that his voice sounded as if he hadn't had a glass of water in days. "I'm sorry if I...What are you..." He decided to try again. "Did I do something?"

She shook her head woodenly and sank down onto the sofa. "No."

This time Will wasn't going to sit by while she looked so distressed, but came down next to her and pulled her into his embrace. "Well, what is it then?"

Sighing as he began to stroke his fingertip slowly up and down her arms, Elizabeth wished she could just stay in the safety of his arms. Burrowing her head closer to his chest, she sighed again. He was strong. Solid. But so incredibly gentle.

"Elizabeth...I love you, remember? And you love me. Nothing you can say is going to change that." His words were stated softly and lovingly, but with a firmness that betrayed his seriousness.

"I know that now, Will. I truly do. But what I have to say is so painful...and...." Her last word was said on a sob and for the second time in one night, Will held his wife as she wept into his chest.

He was patient, silently rubbing her back and placing light kisses on her hairline. As the sobs wracked her chest and seemed to rob her of her ability to breathe, Will's arms tightened just another fraction of an inch. There was nothing he could do but hold her, love her, and wait.

"He hit me."

Her words were quiet, but clear, reverberating into the silence of the room. Instantly Will's arms felt like steel as they stiffened around her.

"What did you just say?" His voice was soft, but Elizabeth could sense the absolute anger behind his words.

She wanted to keep hiding in his chest, but she knew it was cowardly. And now that he knew her to be the extreme of all weak behavior, she figured she might as well face her crime with a little bit of bravery.

"George used to hit me."

He was afraid to look at her, knew that the anger in his eyes would probably scare her. And yet his whole body was shaking with unspent rage. He was clenching his fists behind her back to keep Elizabeth from sensing his utter fury.

And then he ruined all his effort with five soft words. "I'm going to kill him."

Elizabeth pulled back with a cry, knowing that at that very moment Will's anger was so strong he meant his words. "Don't say that, Will. Please. It's my fault anyway."

He stiffened again. Gripping her face almost painfully, Will looked into her red-rimmed eyes and spoke slowly, trying once again not to frighten her with the sudden savagery he was feeling.

"A man who hits a woman is weak, Elizabeth. There is no reason for it, except for his pathetic need to feel...dominant, authoritative-whatever. But it is not your fault."

"But listen to me first! I-"

"I will not hear it. This is why you told me you were weak, isn't it? This is why you feel so inferior. I'm not going to take it. Elizabeth, you are not weak."

He was still holding her chin, although his grip had lessened and his thumb was tracing her jaw line, and she could not help but stare at his unbending face. Her mouth trembling for a few moments as she held back tears, Elizabeth pushed his hands from her face and turned away.

"The first time I noticed bruises on my arms I was so confused. I had no idea where they had come from...what I had done to get them. It wasn't until our next argument when he squeezed those same bruises that I even realized he had inflicted them." Elizabeth's voice was dead and her eyes were suddenly lifeless. "But I just couldn't believe that my George had meant to hurt me. So I kept making excuses for him. One night he had had one beer too many. The next night it was the stress of his work and my refusal to sign the deal. One time was because I shrunk a whole load of his business shirts in the wash."

Will was sitting, digesting her words in seeming calm, keeping his hands off of her. He knew it was what she wanted.

"I was so weak I couldn't even step away from the relationship when he became abusive. I kept living in hell even when I had the chance to get out." Suddenly she reached out and grabbed his hand, lacing her small fingers with his. "I know you love me, Will. I know that this will not make you change your mind-even though a small voice in the back of my head has been telling me so for as long as you've been in my life."

"Elizabeth," he stated with a broken voice.

"And even though you love me, I can't help but feel...guilty. Unclean. Weak."

"But why?"

"Because I could have gotten out. Because I allowed him-the one man you despise-to prey on me. Because-damn it-I stood there and let him hurt me and then told myself it was my fault. Because..." Elizabeth finished, her demeanor softening, "Can't you see? I was just weak."

A long and heavy silence hung in the air between them before Will finally spoke. "Okay. Let's say that maybe-in those moments-you were weak." He would have had to be blind not to have seen the anguish that covered her face before she bowed her head. "Does that make you feel better?" She didn't answer. "No. I know it doesn't. Maybe in those few moments you were confused...scared...Who cares? It does not matter."

Immediately her head was up. "How can you say such a thing? How can those moments not matter? I-I think about them every day."

"Elizabeth," Will started, his deep voice breaking into her misery, "maybe what matters are not those moments but all the moments since. When I look at you, I don't see a weak woman. I see a woman who lived through a trauma, but gained strength from it. I see a woman who has a smile for everyone she meets-a woman who is loved by so many. A woman who approaches life head-on. I see a caring, wonderful, beautiful person who is more concerned with her eleven month-old niece than her own well-being." Elizabeth's tears were spilling over at this point, but she could not tear her gaze away.

"And do you know what impresses me the most? You, sweetheart, with so much to lose, so much hurt to overcome, laid it all out on the line by loving me. Now you tell me: how is that not a woman of strength?"

Words for Elizabeth by that point were an impossibility. All she could do was wrap her arms around his middle and hold him close. As Will rocked her gently, he whispered, "And how could I not love you?"

"Oh, Will." Elizabeth pulled back to look up at him. "Thank you. Thank you," she whispered.

And buried in Will's arms, her face resting over his beating heart, Elizabeth felt strong.

She wasn't sure how long she stayed in Will's arms. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. It didn't really matter. For the first time in three years, she felt at peace with herself. And it all had to do with the man whose heartbeat was gradually slowly and whose breath was deepening. Smiling, Elizabeth gently wriggled out of his grasp so she could get a look at his sleeping face-and admire the strength and gentleness that permanently rested on his features. Her heart absolutely jumped then when her eyes met his deep and blazing gaze.

"You-you're awake?" She asked stupidly, unable to tear her eyes away from him.

His only answer was to grab her gently by the shoulders and pull her onto his lap.

"Well..." Elizabeth said awkwardly, trying to break the uncomfortable silence. Or at least it was uncomfortable for her. "So..."

She trailed off as Will, the lifting of one corner of his lips the only change to his countenance, held her still and began to lower his lips to hers. "I think we've waited long enough, don't you?" He asked a scant second before he was kissing her gently.

Her mind processed his words and she gave herself three seconds of nervousness before his kiss completely overtook her cognition. It was a soft kiss...a kiss that assured his love for her...a kiss that told her she was his-but not in a way to scare her or overpower her. It was exactly the kiss she needed.

But, honestly, she was thoroughly reassured. She was done with feeling-and being-safe. Instead, Elizabeth thought as she wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, she was ready to take that next step. It was a risk to love Will-goodness, anything could happen to him-but she knew that by risking her heart, she was giving him all her trust.

Taking a hint from his wife, Will pulled Elizabeth closer, crushing her gently-she had not previously realized that one could be crushed gently-to his chest. Elizabeth was pressed so close against him she could feel his heart beating erratically. And then she realized it was actually the blood pounding in her own head. Once again she had no concept of time in her husband's arms and only lifted her head when she felt oxygen was absolutely necessary.

To her surprise, she found them lying on the couch, Elizabeth on top of Will. Somehow her hands had snaked under his shirt-she really didn't remember moving them from his neck-and his skin felt warm and solid. With every deep rise and fall of his chest, Elizabeth was jarred gently. He was looking directly into her eyes-his gaze warm and...determined? Why in the world did he look so determined? Did he actually think she was going to protest?

Glancing around her, Elizabeth's face suddenly spread into an impish smile. "I don't believe we've steamed up the windows yet, dearest."

Will grunted and gently unwound his fists from her hair without hurting her. "Don't goad me right now, woman."

"Woman?" Elizabeth propped her elbows on his chest and pretended to look affronted. "The prospect of making love to me turns you into Fred Flintstone?"

The sudden feral smile did not give her enough time to prepare. Within a few swift moments, Elizabeth found herself hanging upside down over Will's shoulder.

"What are you doing, you lunatic? I wasn't being serious!"

"You woman. Me man," he stated succinctly in his best cave man impression, quickly ascending the first few stairs.

Elizabeth laughed and was about to smack him on his Cro-Magnon rear end when she suddenly stilled. "Wait!"

Immediately, Will stopped climbing up the steps. He was unable, however, to curb the sudden bout of disappointment and frustration at her change of heart. "What is it, sweetheart?"

"How long do you think Leah is going to sleep?"

Grinning suddenly at her train of thought, Will shrugged and then laughed when Elizabeth had to clutch his shirt to keep from flying off his shoulder. "I'd say another hour and a half...maybe we'll get lucky and she'll one of her miracle three-hour naps. But it doesn't really matter." He finished, beginning to climb once again.

"Why is that?"

"I put that doll in her bed."

"Sally?"

"If you say so," he said shrugging again.

"Would you stop doing that?" Elizabeth hissed as quietly as she could as they passed Leah's room.

"You know that Sally is going to buy us at least an extra half an hour...forty-five minutes. I've never been more thankful for girls and their dolls."

Will nudged their door open with his foot and swung Elizabeth around to place her on the floor in front of him. He was content to gaze at her beautiful face for just a few moments, to stare at the love he finally saw in her eyes. Kissing her slowly, thanking God for giving him such a wonderful and loving woman, Will felt that void that had been inside him for so long close up.

"I love you, Mrs. Darcy," he whispered to her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"And I love you, Mr. Darcy. I really do." Lifting up on her toes, Elizabeth placed a kiss on his chin and gave him a cheeky grin.

He returned it full force. It was quite possible he had never even had a cheeky grin before meeting Elizabeth.

"So am I going to discover the hiding place of your scandalous tattoo?"

"What?"

"Don't think I haven't forgotten that little slip your mother made. Absolutely appalled she was that her daughter had marred such perfect," Will paused to brush a kiss on the base of her neck, "beautiful skin."

"You remember that?" she squeaked, wondering if her collarbone had always been so ticklish. And then really not caring when she felt his hands on the skin of her back.

"I remember everything about you," he murmured, lifting his lips off her skin and raising one eyebrow. "Now where is it?"

Laughing, Elizabeth reached back and shut the door. "I suppose you'll have to find it."

"Hmm...don't mind if I do."

That afternoon a miracle occurred. Leah slept for exactly three and a half hours.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Posted on Monday, 8 November 2004

Quietly opening the bedroom door and shushing his daughter softly, Will looked at the bed. Just as he suspected, his wife was still asleep. In the past three mornings since they had started sharing the same bed, the two had come up with a routine. So mostly the routine was Elizabeth throwing the alarm clock onto the floor and burying her head deeper into her pillow while Will carefully unwound his arms from her waist and got up to shower, but it was still a routine.

Setting Leah in the playpen in the corner of the room, Will sat down on his side of the bed and gazed at his wife. Man, she was beautiful. Although he really hadn't thought it possible, since they had fully become husband and wife those three days ago Will's love for Elizabeth had actually grown stronger. Seeing her face every night before he closed his eyes and waking up to her every morning-even if it was to hear her growl at the offending beeping of the alarm-was such a blessing.

Elizabeth shifted in her sleep and kicked the sheets off her legs. He chuckled softly. In the past few nights, Will had come to realize that she was quite the restless sleeper. She tossed and turned and kicked and mumbled all night until he finally grabbed her and held her close. He usually ended up with only a few kicks to the shin. Her tank top had twisted up a bit in her sleep and her shorts were of the low-slung variety so that he was able to see the five Olympic rings imprinted into her skin right above her hipbone.

Touching each ring gently, Will smiled as he remembered her outrage over his feigned disappointment at the placement of the tattoo.

"Well, that wasn't much fun."

Elizabeth had been quite distracted and a bit breathless, a condition he had arrogantly taken the credit for, and she had simply stared at him for a few moments as if he had spoken Russian.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your tattoo. I found it already. And it didn't even take much work. No fun."

"Where did you expect it to be?"

Will shrugged. "Somewhere a little more revealing, I suppose."

As Will got up off the bed to pick up a toy Leah had thrown onto the floor, he laughed silently to himself at her enraged reaction. First she had yelled to him that she was a decent, upstanding citizen and was not into revealing her nude body so any old tattoo artist could sketch rings into her skin with a needle. When he had asked what being a citizen had to do with any of that, she had threatened to kiss him just to shut him up-a threat she had fulfilled and one that he hadn't minded in the least. He didn't tell her how ridiculous he found her threats because-well, he enjoyed them too much.

Will gently sat down next to Elizabeth on the bed. It was time to wake her up and he enjoyed watching her groggily open her eyes and start in on him with her usual pre-nine a.m. surliness. Elizabeth sighed deeply in her sleep and turned her head, knocking a piece of her hair across her face. As he reached out to smooth it behind her ear, he couldn't help but lean down and kiss her temple.

It still amazed him that someone would physically hurt her. Will traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips as he pondered that thought. Wickham was one sick man to turn on her like he had. Oh, Elizabeth was tough all right-she'd probably be mad if he didn't admit that. But she was gentle, as well. So loving and caring. That George had taken advantage of that and turned her natural emotions against her was disgusting...and infuriating. He had tried since the afternoon she explained everything to not let her know how angry he was. But almost every time he looked at her face, Will imagined it with a black eye and blue bruises and then he became enraged all over again.

"Will? Honey?"

Breaking out of his mental stupor, Will looked down to see Elizabeth staring up at him. She was squinting up at him adorably and yawning.

"You up now, sleepyhead?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat and then sat up so the two were eye level. "What's the matter? You're looking pretty serious for so early in the morning." And she was certainly a bit too aware for just having woken up. Where was the groggy wife he had gotten used to?

"Where did he hit you?" The question was blurted out before he could think better of it. He had hoped to act with a little more finesse.

"What?"

Will shook his head. "Sorry. Never mind. It's not important." Quickly jumping up from the bed, Will headed to his closet to pull out a tie. When he turned back to her, she was still lying in their bed, staring at him. "I said to forget about it, Elizabeth." In his agitation, Will couldn't even get his tie on. Goodness, he had been tying his own ties since he was twelve years old.

Elizabeth got of bed and walked over to him, standing on her tiptoes to straighten it. "He made a conscious effort to hit me below the face. I don't think he wanted to leave any marks. The few times he was so out of control he couldn't stop himself, I made up some pitiful excuses."

"So he hit your face?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Some bruising on my jaw. One time he slapped me and it left the faintest hand mark. That's it, I guess."

She was acting nonchalant, but he felt exactly the opposite. He had the biggest urge to find George and give him a couple of black eyes. The heck with it. He'd rather break the man's jaw. But Will did not want her to see or even feel his rage. Instead, he gently cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

"I really don't know how he could mar someone so beautiful." He grinned when Elizabeth's cheeks turned bright red. "You're going to have to get used to my compliments, you know. I'm not going to stop." Leaning down, he kissed her again. "Good morning, by the way."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "You taste like coffee." He didn't deny it. "How long have you been up?"

"Long enough. I'm going to head to the office now so I can get home before you have to leave for the game. I already fed Leah so she should be okay for awhile."

"Thanks." Elizabeth looked up at him, gave him a grin, and then threw her arms around his neck. "I love you." Her bright smile was contagious.

"I love you, too." He really needed to get going, but Elizabeth was doing her best to distract him...and really, it didn't matter anyway, right? He was the boss. And since he was the boss he could very well come in five minutes late if he wanted. But as Elizabeth's fingers began to move up his neck and into his hair-making his unruly hair even messier, most likely- Will realized that if he didn't get a move on it soon, he was going to be much later than a few minutes. Grabbing Elizabeth's hands, he gave her one last kiss and peeled her away from him. "Remember to call Jane today. We've got to set up a time to meet."

"Well, you had better remember to call your sister. I told you she called yesterday, remember?"

Will looked at his wife and squinted in concentration. It was no use. He barely remembered his sister was gone visiting the Reynolds in Chicago before she went back to school.

"When did you tell me?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "After you put Leah to sleep."

Instantly, Will narrowed his eyes at his wife and crossed his arms. "And then you told me. Was that before or after you jumped me?"

Shock filling her features, Elizabeth smacked Will's arm. "How crude. I did not jump you. But if you want to know, it was before. I think she wants to go to a workshop before the semester begins."

"Who?" Will was too busy staring at a stray piece of hair that kept flicking across Elizabeth's face.

"Georgiana. Your sister." Seeing no recognition in his eyes, Elizabeth rolled hers in exasperation. "Just call her."

"Uh huh. Will do." He was sick. Absolutely sick. Here he was, a grown man-owner of a multi-million dollar corporation-and he could not stop staring at a piece of hair.

"I'm bordering on obsessive," he mumbled as he tucked the strand behind her ear and gave her a smile.

"What? I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

Ignoring her sarcastic query, Will picked up his briefcase, gave Leah a quick peck on the cheek and then gave his wife a much more lingering kiss.

"You know, I haven't even brushed my teeth."

"You think I really care? I'll give you a call before I leave this afternoon."

"Okay. And your sister, too."

"What?"

"Oh, never mind."

She was staring at his hands. He was idly circling the ice in his glass, keeping up conversation with both Charles and her father, but she could not look away. They were such neat, strong hands. Large with well-cut nails and those football calluses. Oh man...this was getting obsessive.

"Elizabeth?"

Her sister's voice startled her out of her fascination and she jumped guiltily. "Yes?"

When she looked at Jane, there was a knowing grin on her face and a definite mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "A bit preoccupied, sis?"

Giving her a glare, Elizabeth then shrugged. "Umm...a bit." As Will laughed at some remark made by her father, she felt her insides melting.

"You're beaming, you know." Jane smiled herself at her little sister's bright countenance. "I have a feeling you told your husband a certain something."

"Hmm?" Elizabeth loved watching Will interact with her father. In many ways, they were so similar. She considered it an absolute joy to see the two men she loved most in the world behaving as family. It was at that moment that Will caught her eye and his face broadened into a smile. She didn't see the way her face glowed with happiness and love, but Will could not help but notice. Nor could anyone in the room, for that matter. The look they shared was a warm, long, loving glance that completely ignored everyone else.

"Oh wow. That was like instantaneous."

"What?" Elizabeth murmured, not breaking eye contact with Will.

"That! That look! Do you want us to leave you two alone?"

Her sister's words broke through the Will Vortex. "Jane!" Elizabeth was certain her face was a bright red. "What are you talking about? Could you whisper things like that?"

Jane rolled her eyes. "Oh, it doesn't matter. I mean, honestly, I love you, Elizabeth...but it's about time." Before Elizabeth could protest, Jane stood up and walked over to where Charles sat-communicating to him through her eyes. Halfway across the room, Charles' face lit up.

By that time the entire family was watching them rather expectantly. And they did not disappoint.

"Now that we are all here, Charles and I thought this would be the proper time to make an announcement." Jane looked up at Charles and smiled as he took her hand in his.

"A few weeks ago I asked Jane to spend her life with me and she agreed. We'll be getting married in December."

The shrieks of Sue Bennet woke up Leah-even though she was upstairs- and Thomas Bennet, a look of pure relief on his face, quickly made his exit up the stairs.

Elizabeth was absolutely astonished. Elizabeth was thwarted from inspecting her sister's hand for the obligatory jewelry when Charles pulled Jane into his embrace. Will was sitting on the sofa grinning and watching with humor in his eyes at the way his mother and sisters-in-law were fawning over the couple. Jane was blushing becomingly while her mother tried to pull her out of Charles' embrace for a hug. Kitty was actually jumping up and down while Mary, though a little more subdued, was more or less shouting. As Will looked across the room at Elizabeth, his smile faded. His wife looked a little too serious for that kind of announcement.

Standing up, he made his way over to the couch, grabbed one of her hands, and pulled her up. "What's the matter?" he murmured.

Elizabeth shrugged. At Will's look she rolled her eyes. "Didn't you hear them? He asked her a few weeks ago!"

"So?"

"Why did they wait this long to tell us?" Without giving him time to answer, Elizabeth rushed on. "Because Jane knew I was struggling with my feelings! Oh, now I feel horrible."

Will grinned. "Look at them, sweetheart. I don't think it was a problem." Giving her shoulder a squeeze, Will plowed his way through the ecstatic females to congratulate his friend.

Before Will could reach him, Sue finally ripped Jane out of Charles' grip and was beginning to lecture her on bridal gowns and bridesmaid colors. Interrupting Jane's protests, she continued to shriek. "Two weddings in one year! Two daughters married! I can hardly bear it. Jane! Charles!" Sue turned on the couple-her happiness overflowing-and nearly pounced on them. "When is the date? Where will it be? Have you thought about the honeymoon yet? I'm sure you'd like to go somewhere warm, since it will be December..."

Jane, probably through years of practice, kept a pleasant smile on her face, but the absolute pure fear on Charles' face made Will chuckle. He looked as if Mrs. Bennet grown horns. Since Thomas had already ascended to his sanctuary, it was up to Will to save his friend.

"Sue!" Will announced, stepping directly in between his mother-in-law and the couple. "Have you forgotten why we invited you here? Don't you want to look at our wedding pictures?" Placing his arm gently around her shoulders, he led the older woman over to the couch before she could say a word. "I'm sure you will get ideas for Jane's wedding from them. After all-and I'm not being partial-I think Elizabeth was the most beautiful bride."

"Oh, Will, how thoughtful of you! Of course these pictures will help." Sue patted him motherly on the cheek before opening the album he had placed on her lap. Within moments-after she had grabbed Kitty by the shirt and flung her onto the couch next to her-Mrs. Bennet was happily dreaming about a Christmas wedding.

"Please tell me that ability comes the moment you marry into the family!" Charles whispered, his features in complete awe and his eyes never leaving the contented Sue Bennet sitting quietly on the sofa.

Will shrugged. "You get used to it, Charles. Just find something for her to do. I mean, when she's busy, her energy is already occupied."

Charles turned towards Jane and gave her a smile. "This is a smart man."

Laughing, Will shook his head. "I learned from the best."

"Who is that?"

Elizabeth came from behind and answered for him. "My father."

"Your father..." With a quick look up the stairs, Charles smiled ruefully. "But all he did is run away!"

Slipping his arm around Elizabeth's waist, Will chuckled. "Exactly. And left us to deal with h-" Will paused as his wife pinched his arm and gave him the eyebrow. "The situation. He left us to deal with the situation."

Charles laughed and kissed Jane on the cheek. "You're right. Smart man."

The group went silent for a few moments, with Jane and Charles smiling into each other's eyes and Will looking pointedly at Elizabeth. Even nudging her with his elbow didn't seem to work-she just shot him a glare.

Rolling his eyes, Will spoke up. "Elizabeth and I want to congratulate you two. We couldn't be happier for you."

Charles and Jane had matching smiles. "Thank you, Will." Both looked expectantly at Elizabeth, but her eyes were downcast.

Shaking his head, Will could tell that Elizabeth was close to tears. Since that night she had cried in his arms, Elizabeth had already cried three timed. He knew she wasn't a "crier" by nature, but obviously the tears she'd held back for all those years were resurfacing-hardcore. Squeezing her shoulders, he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Sweetheart, they don't care. Just tell them what you need to tell them."

He noticed Elizabeth's near imperceptible nod before she vaulted out of his grasp and into her sister's arms.

"I'm sorry! Janie, I'm sorry."

Exchanging glances over Elizabeth's head, Will smiled at Jane's shock.

"Elizabeth? What are you sorry for?" Jane glanced worriedly at Charles before pulling her sister away. "Are you crying?" Elizabeth sniffed, which was all the answer her sister needed. "You are crying!" Grabbing her by the arm, Jane dragged her sister into the kitchen, while Charles looked at the two in confusion.

"What...why..." Charles trailed off as he watched the kitchen door swing shut.

Will shrugged. "Elizabeth's upset about something. I don't know-something to do with feeling guilty about you and Jane."

"What?"

Will shrugged. "Women." Giving Charles a smile, he nodded up the stairs. "Why don't we go tell Thomas it's safe to come down?"

Once Jane had gotten Elizabeth into the kitchen, she sat down at the table and waited. It didn't take long.

"When did Charles ask you to marry him?"

Jane did not need to think, but she had a suspicion she knew where her sister was going. "After your engagement party."

Elizabeth looked up. "Really? That early?"

Jane nodded. "We both knew quite soon after we met that we wanted to marry. It was just a matter of when Charles worked up his courage."

"That only makes me feel worse, you know."

Jane grinned. "I know."

"I feel so guilty, Jane. I know the reason you didn't announce your engagement is because I was stupid and couldn't figure out my feelings..."

"No. Not because you were stupid, Elizabeth. Because you needed time. Charles and I could both see that Will was in love with you and we knew it wouldn't take him too long to break through your barriers. We were more than happy to wait." The corner of Jane's mouth tilted up. "Anyway, you saved me at least a month of mom's shrieking. I should be thanking you!"

Elizabeth laughed as she wiped any trace of tears from her cheeks. "That is true. I don't think Charles knew what to expect."

"That was obvious!" Jane exclaimed, chuckling. "You better now?"

Shrugging, Elizabeth didn't answer. At this point, she didn't exactly know why she had over-reacted to Jane's announcement.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, Janie. Ever since I...explained Wickham to Will, I've just been all messed up. I cried a few days ago when that new rookie pitched a spectacular game. I cried when Leah took a few steps while holding onto her toy. I'm just so-emotional."

Jane had to smile at the embarrassment she heard in her sister's voice. Only Elizabeth would feel self-conscious about having those reactions. "No, Elizabeth. You're just being normal. It wasn't good for you to hold in all your emotions those years...maybe it will just take you awhile to get used to it."

Sighing, Elizabeth heard the knowledge in her older sister's words. "Yeah." Then she looked up and laughed. "Poor Will. I don't think he knew he was going to marry a sensitive mess."

Standing up and placing her arm around Elizabeth's shoulders, Jane said, "I've seen the way you two look at each other. I think Will couldn't care less." Pausing, Jane waited until Elizabeth was looking directly into her eyes. "I'm so happy for you, Elizabeth. You deserve it."

With that, Jane gave her a smile and walked back into the living room, but Elizabeth stayed rooted to the same spot-hearing Jane's words repeat in her head. Four days ago she wouldn't have been able to accept them; she would not have felt she was deserving of anything. With a smile of realization, Elizabeth acknowledged that she did deserve Will. Or at least he had convinced her that she did.

Out in the living room with Charles and Thomas, Will noticed Jane walk through the kitchen door and be called over by her mother. Apparently Sue was already thinking about the color scheme of the wedding and desperately needed to know how Jane felt about chartreuse. When Elizabeth did not enter, he sent a quizzical look in Jane's direction-but she was too busy listening to her mother.

Excusing himself from the two men, Will walked across the room and pushed open the door. What he saw made him stop still. His wife was standing in the middle of the kitchen, her hip leaning on the island, with the most contented, joyful smile he had ever seen, staring into space. Her face was absolutely glowing. She was so completely beautiful-her heart shining so much through her countenance that he could not help but smile back.

Without moving, Elizabeth spoke directly to him. "I love you, William Darcy."

He wasn't about to stay put and within seconds Will had his wife wrapped in his arms. "And I love you."

"I know," Elizabeth countered into his chest, "but it just feels so wonderful to tell you that."

They stood like that for several moments, Elizabeth relaxing against the soft cotton of his t-shirt and hearing the insistent rhythm of his heart. It was great to be in love. Elizabeth had never felt so cared for-and actually relieved she had Will to shoulder some burdens. And he had bigger shoulders, too. Maybe it was about time he put them to more use-like talking to her mother on the phone for an hour every Monday afternoon so Elizabeth didn't have to do it. That thought immediately made her laugh. Will, who had been stroking her hair contentedly, stopped.

"Exactly what are you laughing about?"

She shook her head against his chest. "Nothing."

"Mm-hmm." He was about to question her further, when she hands wrapped around to his back and squeezed with all her might. Looking down, Will saw that impish look in his wife's eyes and his interrogation was completely forgotten. Man, she was distracting.

Before Will could show her just how much of a distraction she was, Elizabeth spoke. Hesitantly. "I love our family."

Waiting for her to finish, it took Will a few seconds to realize that sentence was all she was going to say. Getting information out of Elizabeth was like pulling teeth.

"I do, too. I can't imagine my life without you two."

"I'm sure it would be a lot quieter...a little more restful," Elizabeth teased, resting her hands near his collarbone.

Will did not even have to think before he answered. "My life before you two, Elizabeth, was dismal. I worked. I ate. I slept." His fingertips traced her cheekbone and then cupped her face in his palm. "You two have given me something to wake up for in the morning. I love watching Leah grow; I melt every time she looks at me and her face lights up because she knows me. I love her baby giggle and her tiny fingers and toes." Leaning down to brush his lips across hers, he continued. "And I love watching you with Leah. The happiness on your face when you hold her; the way you come alive every time she's near. I adore this family."

Elizabeth's eyes were glistening at this point and Will gently wiped away a tear from her cheek. The poor man was probably used to her crying now.

"There is no way I am letting any person or any thing ruin this. We are a family. And we will always be a family."

She knew she had changed when she looked right into Will's eyes-so serious and caring-and believed him.

Continued In Next Section