Posted on Monday, 21 June 2004, at 4:38 p.m.

William Darcy stood to his full 6'3" and silently watched the crowd, knowing full well that he would be picked out immediately. There were advantages to being this tall, especially when looking for someone in an airport such as this.

Elizabeth's warning had been clear. She hadn't wanted him to follow her here - had even run from his home in tears, but he couldn't let her make this mistake. There had to be some way to stop her. George Wickham was a dispicable man, bent only on using and abusing those around him for his own pleasure. If she married him, Elizabeth would live a life of misery.

He couldn't allow that for the woman he so desperately loved.

But what could he offer to stop her? She was determined that this was the only way she would survive. She wanted a home and family, and felt certain that George could give her these things. When she had questioned him if she would have any other choice, he had stood in silence, unable to answer.

How could he answer? He had no heart left. Caroline's bitter betrayal left him jaded, unable to love anyone properly without the shadow of suspicion and distrust. Elizabeth deserved better. And "better" was not George Wickham.

William knew the moment she saw him. Her eyes widened across the Concourse and she stopped dead in her tracks, locking eyes with him. Knowing she couldn't get around him, she slowly made her way towards him as he advanced towards her.

They stopped in front of each other, oblivious of the passengers flooding around them. Staring up into his intense dark brown eyes with an unreadable expression, Elizabeth asked softly, "How did you get in here? You have to have a ticket."

Swallowing the lump in his throat as his heart beat quickened, he murmured, "I own the airport."

A small smile lifted her lips and she let out a laugh, replying, "Oh yeah, I forgot."

They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment, staring at each other - he trying to find the words to say, she desperately wishing to hear them. When it appeared nothing would come from his mouth, Elizabeth sighed and murmured, "Well, I need to catch a plane."

She moved to walk around him, and he felt panic well up in his chest. Opening his mouth to say something, anything he suddenly blurted loudly, "I love you!"

What? he asked himself incredulously. What had he just done?

Stopping again, with her back to him, Elizabeth felt her breath leave her. Did she hear him correctly? Slowly turning to look over her shoulder at him, she searched his panic filled eyes and felt an irrational anger fill her. Glaring at him suddenly, she demanded, "You decide to tell me this now?"

Closing his eyes and trying to regroup, his curly hair fell over his forehead in unruly waves as he shook his head. Looking back up at her, he began, "He's only going to use you, Elizabeth, you can't go to him."

Her eyes narrowed and she shot back, "You just said that to keep me from going to him, didn't you?"

Groaning in aggravation, he replied, "No, Elizabeth, I didn't." Walking up to her and shaking her shoulders slightly, he changed subjects and asked her, "Don't you see that he's no good for you? He'll take everything you have and then leave you alone in the street with nothing. You deserve better!"

Shaking her head up at him, she asked in amazement, "Even now, as I go to another man, you still won't be honest with me!"

William's eyes contorted in pain and he told her, "I have nothing left of myself to give you. You don't understand!"

"No, William, you don't understand. If you'd but say the word, I would be yours - all of me - everything I have, everything I am. But you're so afraid of surrendering your heart that you'll hold so tightly to your pain and let it destroy you. You'll let every good thing God is trying to give you slip from your grasp to keep those stubborn walls of yours up around your heart," she told him, her eyes piercing his very soul. When he simply stared wordlessly down into her eyes, she shook her head again and whispered, "Goodbye, William."

Turning away again, she walked away from him, leaving him motionless in the flow of traffic.

As she walked away, he knew he had to make a decision - and fast. Swallowing thickly, he whispered, "No." Gaining courage, he shook his head and began to move forward. "No!" he yelled again, scaring passengers as he began to run forward, pushing people out of his way.

Reaching Elizabeth suddenly and twirling her around, he took in her shocked eyes peering up at him as she began, "What in the-"

And before he could stop himself, he had cupped her face in his large hands and crushed his mouth against hers in a desperate, passionate kiss. Moving his lips against hers, he felt his heart open up and warmth flood his soul as warm as sunshine.

They stood there like that for a good bit, enjoying the taste and feel of the other. When William finally pulled apart, gasping for air to fill his lungs, he let his forehead rest against hers with his eyes closed. "Marry me," he whispered, still breathing heavy.

"You don't mean it," she whispered in return, shaking her head against his hands.

"No," he whispered hotly, tangling his hands into her hair and hauling her face up to his again, searing her mouth with another hungry kiss. Pulling back once again, he told her, "I mean it with all of my heart." Staring desperately into her eyes, he continued, "I don't have much of a heart left, Love, but I'll give it all to you. Just don't go with him. I won't be able to watch the woman I love so desperately suffer at his hands."

Tears filled her eyes as he carressed her face with his large hands. "Y-you really love me?" she asked hesitantly.

Nodding, he whispered, "More than my very own life."

A relieved sob tore from her throat as she flung her arms around his neck and clung to him, burying her face against his shoulder. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and he stroked her hair, dropping kisses against the sweet smelling mass of dark brown curls as she sobbed against him.

When she began to calm, he whispered in her ear, "Will you? Marry me, I mean?"

Slowly nodding her head against his now soaked shoulder, William's handsome face broke into a brilliant smile. Beginning to laugh, he picked her up in his arms and began to twirl her around. She had agreed! She wasn't leaving, and she was staying with him! Forever! He somehow knew she would keep her promise. Caroline had been a witch out only for money, power, and prestige. But he hadn't listened to his intellect. He'd been too concerned with his colleagues approval.

But Elizabeth...no, she was not Caroline. Her loyalty reached beyond that of any human he had ever known. And she had pledged herself and her love to him. For eternity.

Hearing a strangled laugh come from her, he gently set her back down on her feet and cupped her face in his hands again, forcing her red, swollen eyes to meet his own tear-filled depths. "I love you," he breathed heavily, dropping another kiss against her lips.

Nodding her head, she smiled brightly up at him and whispered, "When?"

Grinning, he replied, "Right now."

Her eyes widened in shock and she laughed, "What? How would you manage to accomplish this?"

Grinning back, he told her, "We'll go to the courts. Right now."

Shaking her head and reaching up to caress his firm jaw, she replied, "No, Love, not today, but we'll do it soon." Picking up the bag she had somehow discarded, she smiled at him and took his hand in hers. "Come, we have much to do to prepare. We'll be wed before you know it."

Nodding, William smiled and allowed her to pull him along. Yes, before he knew it, they would be. He knew Elizabeth to be tenacious - nothing would stop her now. This time, he had never been more thankful for that in his life. Unable to stop himself, he pulled on her arm again, plopping her firmly in his arms. Grinning down at her like a silly fool, he kissed her again with all the pent up emotion in his soul.

A couple brushed by them, jostling them a bit to the side, but neither seemed to noticed and continued kissing. Watching the display of affection with a turned up nose, the woman shook her head in disdain. "Get a room," the older woman muttered in disgust, glancing at her watch to make sure she still had time to make her flight.

"Excellent idea," William murmured against Elizabeth's lips, his grin bringing out his dimples. But instead of moving, he dipped his head again, sealing their future for all time with a kiss.