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Chapter 19

Posted on Thursday, 28 December 2000

Sunday, 9:00 am, Longbourn apartments, L.A., California

The floor creaked under his feet as William Darcy paced in front of the apartment door. Finally, he worked up his nerve, and raised his fist to knock on the door. Before his knuckles could touch the wooden door, however, it swung open, and Charles Bingley stood in front of him.

"Will," Charles said in surprise. "What are you doing here?

"I came to see..." for a moment William contemplated telling the truth. For a moment. "I came to see you. I figured I'd find you here."

"Ah," Charles said. His voice betrayed the fact that he didn't believe his friend. "Do you want to come in, or just stand out here for another twenty minutes?"

Charles stood aside and let William walk past him into the apartment. Music was blaring from one of the two bedrooms. "Lydia," Charles said motioning to the room.

The room William stood in was in great disrepair, just like the rest of the building. A big hole was hidden, but not very well, by the TV. There was a stain in the carpet, and cracks in the ceiling.

"Not a pretty place, huh?" Charles said, reading his friends thoughts.

William shrugged. "I don't know. Why don't you ask Jane to live with you, or something?"

"I did. It's against her morals, though. She says she has to marry a guy before she'll live with him."

William nodded, and strained his neck to see into the room with the loud music. "Is anyone else home?"

Charles looked uncomfortable, and shook his head. "Elizabeth and Jane aren't, if that's what you mean. I'm baby-sitting Lyd."

"You're not baby-sitting me, Chuck!" Lydia shouted from her room.

"I'm not baby-sitting her," Charles said. "Jane just wanted me to watch her, since it's close to her due date. She doesn't want Lyd to be home alone when her water breaks, or something."

"So, ah..."

"They went to the airport," Charles said.

"What?" William asked, disbelieving. "Who did?"

"Chuckie! I need something!"

"Jane and Elizabeth ... they went to the airport this morning. What Lyd?"

"Why? Is Jane going somewhere?"

"I said I need something!"

"I know, Lydia. What do you need?" He turned back to William. "No... she's staying here. Elizabeth... she decided she should go back to Casey."

"No," William said.

"Well, I'm not going to sit here yelling, Chuck!"

Charles rolled his eyes, and started making his way toward Lydia's room "It's true," he said to William.

"Why? Why would she leave without saying anything to me?"

Charles stood in Lydia's door way. "What is it?" He turned back to William. "I don't know..."

"I need ice cream... Chocolate chip cookie dough," Lydia whined.

I have to go, William thought.

"I'm sorry, Will," Charles said seriously.

"I have to go." William got up and sprinted out of the room, down the creaky stair case, and out the door.

When He got to his car, he could still hear Lydia whining to Charles about ice cream.

He got into his car. His car. His beautiful corvette...

I'm not going to be able to drive her home, he realized. He ran his hand down the smooth leather interior. If he drove to Casey, he'd get there much later than Elizabeth... what if she packed her things and left by then? What if she decided to leave Casey, her teaching job, and him to move back to California.

Impossible.

Why would she do that?

Because she knows I love her...

William licked his lips nervously, as he pulled onto the narrow street.

He sped to the airport, and left his car in the parking lot. "Be good," he whispered, as he ran his hand across the red, glossy paint. "I'll see you soon. I promise."

He left his car, without looking back. He only looked forward, toward his future with Elizabeth. Elizabeth...

9:30 am, an airport

"Are you sure want to do this?" Jane asked.

Elizabeth turned to her sister and nodded slowly. "It's the right thing to do, Janie. I can't be around..." Elizabeth let Jane finish the sentence for herself.

"Liz..."

"I know what you're going to say, Jane, but the truth is, I don't love him... I don't even like him. I never will, either. Nothing either you or he can say or do will change that. Sorry."

Jane sighed. Why couldn't love be as easy for everyone else as it was for her?

"Here's you ticket, Miss." the young man behind the ticket window said, as he pushed it out toward Elizabeth. He gave Jane a big, nauseating grin. As she picked it up, Elizabeth felt like she was taking her fate in her hands, and she didn't like how it felt. Why am I doing this? she asked herself. Oh yeah, because I hate William.

Jane felt a tear sting at the corner of her eye, as she watched her sister walk away without a second look.

As she turned to go, she hard a familiar voice shouting. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth Bennet!" She watched as William Darcy stopped in front of the ticket window. "I need a ticket to Iowa!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but there's only one flight to Iowa left today, and it's about to leave."

"Please," William begged. "I have to get on that flight. It's an emergency."

"What kind of emergency," the man asked suspiciously. "Your dad had a heart attack? Your mom is sick? Your goldfish died?"

"The women... the women I love is on that plane!"

The man nodded, but said, "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't let you on that plane."

William ran his fingers nervously through his hair. How was he going to get to Elizabeth now?

Jane stepped over to the ticket window, and smiled flirtatiously at the young man. "Excuse me... Ned. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with this gentleman, and I want to say you handled it beautifully."

Ned gave Jane a small, embarrassed smile.

"I just wish there was some way you could help him out."

"Well..." Ned said slowly.

"Come on, Ned. I hate to see anyone lose their love." she smiled, and winked at him.

"You're right, Miss. Absolutely right." Ned made a few phone calls, and in a matter of minutes, William found himself walking onto the plane. He'd have to remember to thank Jane one day.

Jane began to walk away from the ticket window, when she felt someone grab hold of her arm. She turned around and found herself looking into Ned's eyes.

"You said you hate to see anyone loose their love... what about me?"

Jane frowned. What had she gotten herself into?

Ned wrapped an arm around Jane's waist, and kissed her neck. "I'd hate to lose you."

Sometimes having a black belt in Karate was helpful.

9:35 am--Kent Jail

Caroline opened her eyes, when she heard the door of her cell opening. A guard lifted her up. "Visitor for you, Caroline," he said.

A women who looked to be in her mid thirties walked into the cell, caring a brief case. She was dressed very professionally, and Caroline knew in an instant who it was.

"Louisa Hurst?" Caroline asked, rising to her feet.

The women nodded. "Sit down, Miss Bingley." Caroline took a seat on the bottom bunk of the bed opposite Louisa. "Okay," Louisa said, "Now I want you to tell me every single connection you have with Georgiana Darcy and Charlotte Gibbins..."

9:45 am, Kent Jail

"...After the divorce, I never really talked to Georgiana till the whole kidnapping thing."

Louisa stood up and paced in front of Caroline. She had a brilliant idea. "I have an idea," she said. "You're not going to take the stand, Miss Bingley, but I know Miss Darcy will. All we have to do is prove that she's not a credible witness."

"I don't think Georgie's told a lie in her entire life," Caroline said skeptically.

"Just shut up and listen. After the divorce, Miss Darcy was probably upset with you for breaking her brothers heart. She probably wanted to... hurt you, or your reputation, or ruin your life. All we have to prove is that she wanted to hurt you. Miss Darcy is your 'get out of jail free' card, and I believe I'm about to become your best friend."

Caroline grinned. "You're brilliant!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"I know," Louisa said simply. "Now, about Miss Gibbins... You said she was part of the plan, right?"

"I believe so," Caroline said. "Georgiana knocked me out, so I didn't know what was going on, but I heard that Cook--I mean Charlotte and Georgiana called to cops on Barney and George. I think they used Charlotte to fill my spot."

"Hmmm..." Louisa said. "You said something about Miss Gibbins having an affair with that Wickham character..."

"Yeah, I guess it was a few months after he broke up with me."

"Well, we can probably prove that she was jealous that you were back in the picture after your long history with Wickham."

"But she's married to Barney."

"She's getting a divorce right now," Louisa said. "I did my homework. I have to go now, but I'll be back to see you some time before your court date."

"When is that, anyway?"

"Wednesday, bye!"

"Wait!" Caroline said, before Louisa could exit the cell. "Could you do me a favor?"

Louisa rolled her eyes. "What?"

"Make sure no one knows about this. Especially William Darcy."

Louisa nodded, and made her way out of the cell. You really met a lot of nut cases working as a criminal lawyer.

Chapter 20

Posted on Thursday, 4 January 2001

9:36 am, inside the airplane

William scanned the airplane, looking for any sign of Elizabeth's dark, curly hair, peeking over the edge of one of the surrounding seats. Where is she? he wondered. He sat up so he could see above the seats, but he saw no sign of the brunette he had grown to love.

He turned to look around him once more before he gave up and "enjoyed" his flight. Nothing. She was nowhere to be seen.

Just as he was turning back around, he heard a gasp from somewhere behind him. He felt his heart leap, then begin racing like a herd of elephants in the middle of a hot African desert, attacking some animal that dared to disturb--never mind. He snapped his head around in the direction of the sound, and found himself looking straight into the eyes of Elizabeth Bennet.

He opened his mouth several times in attempts to say something, but his dry tongue seemed stuck fast, and the only thing that came out was, "Li--Li" in a dry whisper.

Elizabeth's eyebrows quirked, as she looked into the brown eyes that had suddenly attracted hers. She felt like someone had super glued her eyes to his. Finally, Elizabeth was saved from the dire fate of gawking at William forever, when he freed his tongue, and bellowed, "Liz!"

An attendant rushed to William's side and asked him if he needed any help. Embarrassed, he shrunk down in his seat, blushing deeply, and shook his head no. The flight attendant, who was a pretty girl of about 24, smiled flirtatiously at William, and said, "Well, sir. If you need anything at all, just yell my name again."

Elizabeth averted her eyes and looked out the window. There was a pang of something in her chest. It was something she had never experienced before. Could this be... jealousy? she wondered. Am I jealous of a flirty flight attendant who just happens to have my name?

For the rest of the flight, William didn't dare look behind him. He was afraid to meet her eyes. He was afraid he would make a fool of himself again. Although somewhat less important to the story, he was also afraid of attracting more attention from Liz the flight attendant (if he received anymore attention, she would be sitting on his lap, hand feeding him cherries, and cake, and champion).

Eventually, the plane landed, and William and Elizabeth found themselves once again in Iowa. William was in a hurry to talk to Elizabeth, provided he could talk, so he was more than upset when Liz the flight attendant wanted to slip him her phone number.

"Um, thanks," William mumbled as he crinkled the paper up and shoved it in his pocket.

"Call me anytime, Willie... I don't mind," Liz said sweetly.

William felt a hand touch his shoulder, and a familiar voice whisper seductively in his ear, "Call me anytime, Willie... I don't mind.. Dearest, sweetest Willie-pooh... Could I get you something, Darling... anything! I'm your slave!"

"Very funny," William grumbled.

"I thought it was." Elizabeth's brown eyes twinkled. "She was all over you, Will. She thinks your hot stuff."

"I'm not laughing, Elizabeth, "William said seriously.

"I am, William," Elizabeth said in a less than serious voice. "Come on William. Lighten up. Laugh..."

"It's embarrassing," William said.

"Oh... cry!" Elizabeth said. "I have a question for you," she said, in attempts to change the subject.

"If it has something to do with the flight attendant, I don't want to hear it."

"It doesn't."

"What, then?"

"Are you stalking me, or did you just feel like coming back to Iowa early... without your car, I might add. I can't believe you would treat that beautiful piece of machinery so... awful. Abandoning her in the middle of nowhere! I thought you loved her."

William found himself standing in front of a proverbial open door. "I left my car in California because I loved another--"

"Another car? What was it? A Lambergeni? A Porsche?"

"It's a woman, actually."

Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face. She had a pretty good idea who he was talking about. "Oh," Elizabeth mumbled. She walked ahead of William to the baggage claim area.

"You're not going to ask who I love?" William asked. He caught her arm. "But I must tell you anyway."

"William," Elizabeth hissed, motioning to the people walking by, giving them strange looks. "People are watching us."

"I don't care, Elizabeth. I have to tell you. I followed you here, and you're not going to stop me now."

Elizabeth sighed, and let William lead her over to a near by bench. Once they were seated, William took both her hands in his. Elizabeth felt her heart quicken, and began breathing faster. It's because I hate him so much, she consoled herself.

"I've known for a while," William began, "that you were someone special. I know we got off to a bad start, and I know we hated each other at first, but I have long since realized that I truly love you." William paused and noticed the unchanged expression on Elizabeth's face. "I have money, a good family who will love you... all the things you've never had--"

Elizabeth had heard enough. At the beginning she was starting to regret her decision to hate him, but now...

She pulled his hands out of his. "You tell me you love me, then you insult my family? I have money and love... and so does my family."

"Your sister takes care of your pregnant 15 year old sister in a rat infested apartment building. I hardly call that having money." William mentally slapped himself for saying that.

"Just because Jane isn't rich doesn't mean I need to take your money, William. I do have love, also. Even without your love... I never even asked for that, and given the choice I wouldn't have, either."

Elizabeth rushed off to get her bags from the baggage claim, leaving a befuddled William to piece together what just happened.

"Hey stranger," a feminine voice next to him murmured.

William glanced over, hoping it was Elizabeth, coming to tell him she had been wrong. I was the one who was wrong, he thought.

"Bet you thought you wouldn't see me for a while."

"Hi... Liz," he said with a heavy sigh.

"How 'bout you and me grabbing something to eat. I have a lot of time, and I know just who I want to spend it with."

Elizabeth pulled her bags off the conveyer belt, and turned just in time to see that Liz woman leading William off to who knows where like a puppy on a leash. I know he'd get over me fast, she thought. Shouldn't she be happy about it then?

12:30 pm, Wednesday--Kent Courthouse, California

"All rise!" Caroline felt her limp body being hoisted up by her lawyer, Louisa Hurst, as the judge and jury entered the courtroom.

"Be seated." Louisa pushed her back down in her chair.

"Has the jury reached its verdict?" the judge questioned. The head juror said they had. "Please bring it to me," the judge requested." After reading it over, he handed it back to the juror. "Very well," he said. "Read it to the courtroom."

Louisa hoisted Caroline up from her seat again.

The juror stood facing the court. "On the charges and specifications, this jury finds the defendant, Caroline Bingley, not guilty."

Caroline felt her knees go weak, and collapsed in her chair. Louisa hoisted her up once again.

"Court is adjourned," the judge announced. He pounded the gavel, and exited through a little door behind his seat.

"Thank you so much, Louisa. I am forever in your debt."

Louisa grinned. That's the idea, she thought. "Congratulations, Caroline." She shook her hand hardily.

As Louisa packed her papers into her brief case, Caroline looked around the courtroom. She stopped when her eyes met Charles' eyes. He shook his head at her, and got up to leave.

"Wait! Charles!" Caroline cried. She couldn't imagine life without her faithful, always good twin brother.

Charles turned around and waited for her to catch up with him. "What do you want?"

"Are you mad at me? Don't be mad at me," Caroline said. Her blue eyes widened. "You were just... wrong about me."

"Wrong, Caroline?" Charles scoffed. "You lied to everyone. I know you kidnapped Georgiana. I'm not dumb, Caroline."

"Obviously the jury didn't think that," Caroline said.

Charles sighed. "I have to go now. Good-bye."

Caroline watched broken heartedly as her brother stalked out the door without looking back.

1:10 pm, Kent Jail, California

"Visitor," the guard said, as he opened the prison cell. George and Barney looked at each other in wonderment. Who would be visiting them?

"Hello, boys," Caroline said. She flashed them a sparkling smile.

"Caro," George said breathlessly. No matter what he did, he couldn't make himself fall out of love with her.

"What are you doing here?" Barney asked gruffly.

"Visiting you."

"No, I mean what are you doing out of the slammer, here."

"My trial was today, and I'm 'not guilty.'"

George's jaw dropped. "You got off scott free, while we have to sit here and collect dust for 20-some years."

"Hey, I wasn't the one to come up with the crazy scheme," Caroline reminded them. "Georgie is my ex-husband's sister, and I would never dream of hurting the poor girl."

George and Barney rolled their eyes and nodded.

"I just came to gloat," Caroline said. "Now I have to leave. I'm free to live my life, and I have some serious living to do. Bye-bye, boyzies!" Caroline waved, as she waltzed out of the cell. Life was so incredible sometimes.

"I can't stand that women," Barney grumbled.

George shrugged.

"You still love her, don't you," Barney guessed.

George blushed heavily. "Always have, always will... she just throws me away like a used Kleenex every time we get close. It hurts, but somehow the love never really goes away."

Barney frowned. "That's not healthy, George."

"You should be the one to talk about health, Barney. Look at you."

Barney glanced in the mirror to see his hideous figure... his huge zits and warts, the fuzz on the top of his head he liked to call hair, the abnormally large bear belly...

"What?" Barney said. "I look healthy."

"Whatever."

"Whatever yourself, buddy." Barney raised a fist.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," George said temptingly.

"Why," Barney said, grabbing George's arm.

George grinned as Barney's fist slammed into his chin.

"Guards!" George shouted. A guard rushed to the gate. "This man is trying to kill me!"

The guards rushed in, and pulled Barney away from George. "Looks like you just got a couple more years added on to your sentence, Barney. It was nice knowin' ya'," George whispered in his ear.

George leaned back on the top bunk bed, and sighed. He felt like a king. He had his own cell and the top bunk.

Just as he was making himself comfortable, the cell door was opened again, and a big, burley man was thrown in. He spotted George, and got in his face. "My cell, my rules," He bellowed at George. "Number 1: I get the top bunk. Number 2: You always do what I say. If you do that," He pumped his fist. "Everything will be dandy. If you don't," he grinned, showing a mouth full of yellowed teeth, "Too bad for you, eh?"

Chapter 21

Posted Saturday, January 20, 2001

Monday, September, 17, 2000--2:45 pm, Garfield Senior High, Casey, Iowa

"Good afternoon, Garf!" Elizabeth sighed. She had forgotten how much she hated the announcements that interrupted her last class each afternoon, fifteen minutes before the final bell.

"Hey!" She shouted, exasperated. She tried desperately to get her students attention. All those Sophomores had to hear were those three little words, "Good afternoon, Garf," and they thought class was over. "If your not going to listen to the announcements, you're going to listen to me!" She cried over the giggles and loud talking. "Hey! You are the people taking this AP test in May, not me," she shouted over the ambiance.

"And that's all the announcements for today, but we'll be here again tomorrow! This is Tyler, signing off."

"Thank goodness," Elizabeth grumbled, as she sat down behind her desk and rested her chin in her hands. Tyler Drum was a junior and, according to the other kids, the biggest loser in the school. At the age of 17, he spent most of his time watching TV. Alone. He didn't have many friends, he just followed a group of people around, hoping maybe they would start liking him. He changed crushes like some people change clothes... by this time in his high school career, he had gone through all the girls in every grade, and was now working his way through the faculty. Elizabeth just felt sorry for the poor kid. At the beginning of the year several poor girls in her second hour gym class were crying over him.

Finally, ten minutes later, the bell rang, and her class poured out into the hallway. The day was finally over.

Elizabeth stood up, and began packing her things. Slowly. She didn't want to go back to work at Big Frankies. She had been able to call in sick the past couple days, but she knew she couldn't do that anymore. She needed the money too badly. On the other hand, was all the money in the world worth seeing that man?

Elizabeth swore as she picked up her blue cloth bag filled with papers that needed to be graded and her lunch bag. Slowly, she made her way out to the parking lot. Why did she put herself through this stress?

3:10 pm, Big Frankies, Casey, Iowa

William paced back and forth, in his outdated office, nervously rubbing his hands together. Would she show up today? Would she just call in sick again?

"How could I have been so stupid to tell her I loved her!" he muttered. He wanted her to know, but he hadn't expected her to react that way.

The old, buff colored phone sitting on his desk rang loudly, waking him from his thoughts. His pulse quickened. Would it be Elizabeth, calling in sick again? He hoped not. He hoped so. Why was life so confusing?

He picked the phone up. "Hello?" he asked anxiously.

"Hey, hot stuff."

Liz, he thought unhappily. "Uh, hi," he said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

"I miss you."

"Oh yeah?" William asked, trying to sound impressed.

"Oh yeah. So... how about you?"

"Um, I'm fine," he said. How about him, what?

Liz laughed. "No, silly! Do you miss me?"

"Sure." William checked his watch. It was almost time for Elizabeth's shift. "Look, Liz. Um... well, you see... I really have some... things to do. Um, I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"Hmm.. okay, Willie-pooh. I'll call you tonight." Liz sounded extremely disappointed.

"Well, actually, Liz, there's something I need to tell you."

"What?"

"I'm... I'm in love with someone else."

"Who?" Liz demanded. Her voice was angry.

"Liz, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. There's a logical explanation for this whole thing," Will ran his fingers nervously through his hair dark hair.

The phone line went dead. "She hung up on me," Will breathed. He felt both relieved and sad at the same time. He wished Liz could have understood his love for another.

Elizabeth stood, leaning against the wall. "I'm in love with someone else... Liz, I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you. There's a logical explanation." Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. She couldn't help but be impressed. Will? Sensitive? Understanding?

She glanced at her watch. It was 3:30, time for her to get to work. She straightened her pink and white striped uniform, and took another step toward the door to Will's office. After taking a deep, calming breath, she knocked on the doorframe.

William was standing in his office, rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger, deep in thought. At the sound of her knock, his head snapped up. "Elizabeth," he said, failing to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Hi, Will," Elizabeth said uncomfortably. "I guess you didn't expect me to show up today." She tried to smile.

There was something in Elizabeth's eyes that William had never seen there before. What was it?

William laughed, and averted his eyes from hers. "I guess I didn't."

"I, uh, overheard some of your phone conversation," she said suddenly.

William jerked his head up and gazed at her intently. "What did you hear?" he asked.

"I heard you telling someone you loved 'someone else,'" Elizabeth said lightly. Her heart pounded. She couldn't believe she was doing this. "I presume it was the infamous flight attendant, right?"

William pretended to be interested with the papers on his desk. "Yeah," he said. He bit his lip nervously. "That 'someone else' is... you, you know."

Elizabeth blushed, and turned to the side a little. "I guess I didn't really believe you actually loved me until you told someone else," Elizabeth said slowly. She kicked herself hard. She hated him so much. Why wouldn't her heart stop thumping? Why couldn't she stop talking? Why didn't she hate him? "I mean, until you told someone else who had feelings for you."

William didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything.

"I--I... I'm sounding pretty dumb, aren't I?" Elizabeth asked. She wondered at William's silence.

William jolted to life once again. "No--no, Elizabeth. Not at all... I just can't believe what I'm hearing."

Elizabeth nodded uncomfortably. "Well, good," She turned toward the door. "I guess that's all I wanted to say."

Ask her out William commanded himself. "Wait, Elizabeth," he said. He reached out and caught her arm. Elizabeth turned around and looked up at William. Hope flooded her eyes. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes," she breathed. She could still feel William's arm holding hers. She couldn't remember ever standing so close to him... she kind of liked it.

"Yes?" William asked. His heart soared. Maybe she wasn't in love with him, but at least she was talking to him. He didn't think he could bare life without her voice.

"Definitely," Elizabeth smiled. She couldn't remember what they were talking about. William seemed to be clouding her memory. Stop it, Bennet, she commanded herself. You're acting like an idiot!

William wasn't sure how long they had been standing there, inches apart, his hand on her arm, gazing into each other's eyes. It may have been two hours or it may have been two minutes or two seconds. Ask her out, you idiot!

Elizabeth could feel the electricity buzzing around her. Her body pulsated with it. His body pulsated with it. As if on instinct, Elizabeth reached her free arm up, and touched his cheek. William bent his head down, and brought his lips to hers. He gently let go of her arm, and hugged her closer to him. William was surprised to feel Elizabeth gently kissing him back. She brought her other arm up, and ran it through his thick hair.

Elizabeth smiled as she kissed her William. "I don't hate you anymore, William," she whispered.

The electricity in the little office in the Big Frankies of Casey, Iowa could have supplied the entire state of California.

Chapter 22

Posted Monday, 22 January 2001

4:00 p.m., A mall somewhere in L.A., California

Caroline stood in the long line at JC Pennies, waiting to buy a new orange and yellow tank top to replace the one Georgiana threw up on not long ago. She glanced at the price tag once again. "Thirty dollars for this thing," she grumbled under her breath. Well, it was worth it, wasn't it? After all, it was orange, and the one Georgiana had ruined had been forty-some dollars, if she remembered right.

"Miss," the women at the check out said in a nauseatingly cheerful voice. "Are you going to buy that, or just stand there?" She gave Caroline a huge, friendly grin.

"Oh!" Caroline said. She lurched forward and dropped the shirt on the counter. "Just this, please."

"Uh-huh," the women said. She chewed a piece of wint-o-green gum like a cow. "You know," she laughed, "a couple of my co-workers and I were just talking about this shirt the other day. We all thought it was kind of ugly, and couldn't imagine anyone buying it."

Caroline raised her eyebrows at the clerk. "Obviously you and your co-workers have no taste in clothes."

"Either that or you don't. Whatever, though."

"Yeah. Whatever," Caroline grumbled, glaring at the women who dared to call the tank top ugly.

The clerk read off the bill to Caroline, whose mouth dropped. It was much more expensive than she had expected. She folded her cash and put it back into her wallet, and pulled out her credit card. "You take this, right?" she asked nervously, handing the clerk a Discover Card.

"Yep."

The clerk slid the card through the machine, and waited, tapping her long burgundy nails on the side of the register, bobbing her head and swaying to the music coming over the P.A.

After several minutes, the cash register beeped. "Hmm," the clerk said, thoughtfully. "Looks like you've exceeded you limit... or something."

"What!" Caroline cried. She snatched her credit card back from the women. This couldn't be right!

"Yeah," the clerk said, turning the screen toward Caroline a little so she could see. "Number not accepted," it read.

Caroline let out a heavy sigh. "Something must be wrong with that thing," she said, pointing her beautifully manicured nail toward the register. "I know this card works. I just used it ten minutes ago, after all."

The clerk shrugged. "I assure you , Miss, that it is not this beautiful piece of machinery. You probably just met your limit at the other place you used it."

"Whatever," Caroline said. She shoved that useless piece of plastic some called a credit card into her wallet, and stalked out of the store. She decided she would never shop at JC Pennies again.

I need to get some money, Caroline thought desperately. Most of her savings had gone to pay for Louisa Hurst's lawyer services. She just had enough left to.. "To go on a trip," Caroline said. She grinned evilly to her self. She knew exactly where she wanted to go.

Friday, September 21, 2000--3:30 p.m., Casey, Iowa

William stood in the back parking lot of Big Frankies, grinning ear-to-ear. It had definitely been the best week of his life.

A blue Dodge Neon drove up and parked next to him. "Wow" Elizabeth said, popping open the door. She climbed out and stood next to William, "She's beautiful. I thought I'd never see her again."

"I know," William laughed. "I know exactly how you feel. When I left this car in California it didn't seem to matter, but I missed her a lot."

Elizabeth sighed and rapped her arms around William's torso. "I feel like I died and went to heaven," she sighed. "Either that or I'm in the middle of a wonderful dream."

"Then we must be having the same dream," William smiled and bent down to kiss Elizabeth's soft hair.

"Well, I'd love to stand here and ogle but I think she'll get self conscious," Elizabeth said. "And I have to get to work." She pointed to her watch. "I'm five minutes late now. You and this puppy here are just too distracting."

William grinned and bent down to kiss her lips. "I know," he whispered.

After a couple more seconds, Elizabeth pulled away. "I have to go serve the customers now." After a *quick* peck on the lips, Elizabeth dashed into Big Frankie's, leaving William alone in the parking lot once again. Her kiss still burned on his lips. William smiled. Yep, this was definitely the best week of his entire life.

3:45 p.m., the Gray Hound Bus Garage. Casey, Iowa

Caroline stepped off the big Gray hound bus. She ran her hand through her greasy hair. It had been a long trip from California to this one-horse town. Caroline had to laugh. So this was the place Frank had sent William.

"Excuse me, sir," Caroline said, pulling an official looking man's arm. He turned around and looked questioningly at Caroline. "Do you know where the Big Frankie's is?"

He nodded. "It's pretty close, actually... just down the street on the right hand side. It's right next to Bobby's Pizza... you can't miss it."

"Thank you," Caroline said, throwing him a smile. He blushed and looked bashfully at the ground.

Caroline walked slowly down the street, scrutinizing every old, dingy building. The town looked so worn out and wasted. Finally, after passing a little building with a big head on top, she found a newer building. "Ah," she said triumphantly. "Big Frankies."

She paused in front of the door, her hand poised on the handle. She stopped and stood motionlessly, listening. She heard a familiar, throaty sound. "William," she thought coyly. She walked around to the back, and sure enough, William sat in his corvette, smiling and listening to the humming engine.

William glanced up from the steering wheel and saw a women walking toward him. It wasn't... Caroline, was it? What would she be doing in Casey? As far as William knew, Caroline was still living with his uncle Frank.

She walked closer, and motioned him to roll down the window. William's mouth went dry.

"Caroline," he choked. "Carrie... what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," Caroline said, playing up the innocence.

"Wh-why? Uncle Frank... he's treating you all right... isn't he?"

"Actually, Frank left me for someone else... I realized I was wrong," Caroline said, leaning into William's car.

William blinked his eyes in confusion. "Wrong about what?" he asked.

Caroline put on an apologetic face. "Wrong for leaving you. I realized it was you I loved, and no one else."

"Are you serious?" William asked. He couldn't believe his ears.

"As serious as I've been about anything." Caroline crossed her fingers behind her back. "William... forgive me. Take me back. Please, please... tell me you still love me."

Although William loved Elizabeth with his whole heart, and knew beyond the shadow of the doubt that he had never actually loved Caroline... he just had feelings for her... such strange feelings.

Now, as he faced Caroline and destiny, he didn't know what choice to make. Should he stay in Casey, with Elizabeth? Or should he go back to his old, moderately happy life with Caroline?

"William," Caroline whispered. She knew he had some sort of feeling for her, she just had to play on that. She reached into the car and took his chin in her had. She brought his face to hers, and kissed his lips. She smiled evilly, when she felt his returning kiss. She had won.

...Meanwhile...

Elizabeth smiled cheerfully as she waited tables. She was in love and William had his car back.

"You look pretty happy, Lizzy," on of the regular customers, an older man named Victor, said.

"I am," she laughed. "I'm in love."

Victor laughed with her. "I'm happy for you, ma'am. Who is he?"

"I'll go get him and show him to you," Elizabeth said. She hurried toward the back door. If she knew William, she knew he would still be sitting in his car.

She burst out the door. "Wi--" his name died on her lips. Will, she thought darkly. He was sitting in his car, all right. Some blond was tugging on his tie, pulling him closer, as his lips followed hers gently as if trained.

"No...," Elizabeth whispered. She couldn't believe she had given William her heart, only to let him stomp all over it like a used cigarette. "I hate you, William Darcy!" she whispered. "I really hate you, William Darcy!" she said louder. She stormed back into the building, embarrassed and hurt that William would treat her in such a way.

William heard her voice. Elizabeth, he thought. He mentally kicked himself. How could he have been so stupid? He pulled quickly away from Caroline. What had he done?

"It's no use," Caroline said, as William pushed open the car door and began sprinting toward the door Elizabeth had just stormed through.

"What?" William asked, annoyed.

"It's no use. She's mad at you now, and I'm sure she won't take you back."

William stopped and turned toward Caroline. She was probably right, but he didn't want to give up on his love. Not now. Not after he had tasted true love for the first time.

"William," Caroline said softly. "I love you and I promise I always will. Come back to me."

Chapter 23

Posted Friday, 9 February 2001

Saturday, September 22, 2000, 2:15 pm--A crowded air port in Iowa

William sat down on one of the benches, ready to wait for his flight. He saw Caroline sit down next to him a few seconds later. The two of them sat in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes, as the watched the busy people hurry past, uninterested in the couple sitting alone on the long blue bench.

Finally, Caroline spoke. She leaned closer to her ex- and future husband, and whispered in a cat-like voice, "Thank you, Will,"

William cast the women he had once thought he knew a sideways glance, before turning back toward the large glass window, portraying runway. He suddenly caught himself wondering if running in front of the plain speeding past the window would end his misery.

"Come on, Will," Caroline said, punching him playfully. "You can't be mad at me as all that, can you?"

William let out a heavy sigh, and turned to look at Caroline full in the face. "No," he said glumly, "It's not your fault. It's mine." Before Caroline could ask what he was talking about, William rose from the bench and stretched. "Let's go catch that flight," he said with fake enthusiasm.

"That's the spirit," Caroline said, as she stood up and wrapped an arm around William's waist.

Standing there in the midst of that crowded airport, with an arm hugging him close, William could almost imagine he was with Elizabeth. Elizabeth William thought darkly. Why was it so hard for him to forget about her and what happened between them?

2:30 pm, Saving Private Ryan's Hair, L.A., California

Charlotte Gibbens walked into the store owned by her boyfriend. She loved saying that. She loved telling people that Ryan Fitzwilliam was her boyfriend.

Ryan looked up from the hair he was styling, and gave her a bright smile. "Hey, Char," he said cheerfully.

"Hi, Ryan," Charlotte said in an equally cheerful voice. Ryan always made her so happy, which was why today was going to be so special for her.

"I'm almost finished up here," Ryan said seriously, as he quickly blow dried the woman's hair. He grinned ear-to-ear. He couldn't remember ever being as happy as he had been in the past few weeks, which was why he had made an uncharacteristically rash decision. If everything went according to plan, today would be the happiest day of his life... well almost.

When he finished the woman's hair and cleaned up the mess of hair clippings, he took Charlotte by the arm and said in a soft voice, "Let's take a walk in the park."

Charlotte grinned. Everything was working out just as she had planned. "It's like you can read my mind," she said.

The couple walked in silence through the park, just enjoying being so close to each other. Finally, the both spoke at the same time, then laughed. "You first," Ryan said, smilingly.

"No," Charlotte said, "You first." She squeezed the bag she was caring a little, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Well, if you insist," Ryan said. He was all smiles, as he took a little box out of the bag he was carrying. He bent down on one knee, opened the box and whispered, "Charlotte Gibbens, will you marry me?"

Charlotte dropped her bag, and fell to her knees. She pulled a similar box out of her bag and laughed. "Only if you'll marry me," she whispered, as she opened the lid.

Ryan laughed happily. "Of course, darling."

Ryan pulled her close to him and kissed her gently. There, as the kneeled in the middle of the park, Charlotte and Ryan felt the supreme happiness that neither of them had ever felt before. Charlotte felt Ryan slip the golden ring onto her finger. She pulled gently away and put her ring on his finger, then kissed it gently. "Do you know how much I love you, Ryan Fitzwilliam," she murmured as she lifted her lips from his hands.

Ryan pulled her close and kissed her. "Do you know how much I love you?" he murmured.

3:00 pm, Elizabeth's house, Casey, Iowa

"...I'll be in to fill out the papers sometime tomorrow," Elizabeth said. She held the phone in her shaking hand. When she hung up, she devolved on the couch, crying. "Why did this happen?" she asked. As she looked back on the past week, she saw everything as perfect, then all of a sudden, not ten minutes after the perfection, the pain had hit like a bomb on her happiness.

Elizabeth picked herself up from the couch and ordered herself to get over it. "It's pointless to be so upset over him," she said with loathing.

Elizabeth had made several decisions that deep down she knew she was going to regret one day. She had just quit at Big Frankies, and she had handed in her resignation papers at GSH. She tried to tell herself that it had nothing to do with William; that it was a nothing job in a nothing town, and those kids at GSH didn't really need her in the first place. She glanced back over the past couple weeks. "My first teaching job, and I'm calling it quits already." She mentally slapped herself.

When she thought about seeing William again--and in a one-horse town like Casey she knew she would--she felt her heart throb with pain. She never wanted to see him again, but she couldn't stand the anguish of being away from him. Her arms longed to hold his body close to hers. Her heart longed to forget the pain and carry William back into her life. Her brain, however, told her it was all foolish and silly. "If he hurt you once," she told herself, "he's bound to do it again."

The phone rang, waking Elizabeth from her reverie. "Hello," she answered.

"Lizzy," the panicked voice of her sister, Jane, came over the other end.

"What is it, Janie?" Elizabeth said, attempting to calm herself down. Her sister was usually so calm and collected. The panic she heard wasn't normal.

"It's Lydia. You have to come down here as soon as possible. Today, even. Please, Lizzy. We need you."

"Okay, Jane," Elizabeth said. "But what happened?"

"There was a car accident. Charles and I were both working... I know it was dumb. I should have stayed home with her since it's so close to her due date. Lydia... she's only fifteen... never driven before... oh Lizzy! I'm so scared!"

Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat. "Are--are Lydia and the baby--" Elizabeth didn't dare say the "d" word.

"The doctors delivered the baby, but Lydia..." Jane's voice broke. "Lydia hasn't woken up yet."

Elizabeth sat down hard on the couch. There was so much information flying at her all of a sudden, and she didn't know how to take it. "I'll be there as soon as possible," Elizabeth said weakly. "I'll be there tonight."

Elizabeth attempted to put the phone in its cradle, but it just fell out of her shaky hand on to the floor. Elizabeth rolled off the couch to the floor and burst into previously un-cried tears. She cried for Lydia. She cried for the baby. She cried for William, and she cried for herself.

Chapter 24

Posted Friday, 9 February 2001

10:45 pm, an airport in California

Charles Bingley stood in the middle of the crowded terminal, keeping his eyes pealed for Elizabeth. The flight was already forty-five minutes late. He paced back and fourth, nervously, trying to keep his mind off everything that was happening lately.

He sat down on a bench, only to stand up a second later. "Why did I promise Caroline I wouldn't tell?" he asked himself aloud. A few passersby gave him strange looks. "Sorry," he mumbled. If only he hadn't promised to keep Caroline's trial a secret, William wouldn't be marring her again. If William knew the truth, he wouldn't be marrying the kidnapper of his little sister.

Charles continued to pace until her heard a familiar vice shout his name. He looked up to see a frantic young women running toward him, waving her arms. Her brown curly hair swung freely. "Charles!"

"Elizabeth!" he cried.

"Charles! How's Lydia... and the baby... and Jane?"

"Jane blames herself," Charles said gruffly. "It's not her fault, though."

"I know, Charles. I don't blame--"

"It's mine." He sat down on the bench and rested his head in his hands.

"How could it be your fault, Charles?"

Charles looked up at her innocent face, and said, "Let me count the ways." If he had only been with Lydia-- if he could only tell the truth about Caroline-- He felt like he had ruined the lives of three sisters.

"Oh Charles," Elizabeth said. The tears were stung and threatened her eyes. "It can't be that bad."

Charles stood and took her hand. He forced his mouth to stay shut, for fear of what might spill out. "Let's go," he said tightly.

As they drove down the interstate in the direction of the hospital where Lydia was staying, neither of them spoke.

Eventually, tired of the silence, Elizabeth casually asked, "So have you heard from William lately?"

Charles choked and the car swerved. "Um... yes," he said, silently praying Elizabeth wouldn't pry any further.

"Did he tell you about his new girlfriend?" Elizabeth asked bitterly.

"You mean Caroline? She's his ex-wife. They're getting married again," he grunted.

"Ah," Elizabeth said, breathing deeply to keep herself from crying.

"Yeah," Charles said. The two drove in silence the rest of the trip. There was so much to be said, but it was all so difficult to say.

9:00 am, Hartfield Hospital, California

Elizabeth sat in a hard chair in the hallway in front of Lydia's hospital room. She could vaguely make out the soft "beep... beep" from the heart monitor. At least I know she's alive, she consoled herself.

Dr. Emma Woodhouse walked by with Dr. George Knightly. The two stopped in front of Lydia's room and continued in their heated argument.

Elizabeth raised her head from her hands, and shook her head. "Just tell her you lover her and kiss already!" She said angrily.

The two stared at Elizabeth blankly then looked at each other. "You love me?" Dr. Woodhouse asked.

"Yes," Dr. Knightly said. He leaned in and kissed Emma. A while later, he turned back to Elizabeth and said, "I hope everything works out for you, Miss." With that, the two walked away, arm-in-arm. Elizabeth sighed and wished love could be that easy for her.

Charles, who had been warring a hole in the floor in front of her the whole night stopped and looked intently at Elizabeth.

"Do you love William?" he asked abruptly.

Elizabeth flinched. She couldn't deny the truth, though. "Yes," she mumbled.

"I don't want to ruin your happiness," he said. "There's something I have to tell you. It's been eating at me since I heard William was marrying Caroline."

"What is it?" Elizabeth said, pretending to be uninterested.

"Caroline helped kidnap William's sister, Georgiana," he began. He told Elizabeth the whole story, including William's previous relationship with Caroline. He finished the story by saying, "The wedding is at 9:30... a couple minutes from now."

Elizabeth got up. A flame blazed in her dark eyes. She glanced into Lydia's hospital room. "If something happens, Jane has my cell phone number. If you'll excuse me, I have a wedding to crash."

Charles watched Elizabeth hurry down the hallway, then turned slowly away. For the first time in days he felt like he could look at himself in the mirror.

9:35 am, St. Elton Church, L.A., California

Since the divorce, Caroline had been attending the church of a self-proclaimed Saint, Allen Elton. She insisted that the wedding be held there, and William was too tired to protest.

"If anyone has a reason why William Darcy and Caroline Bingley should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your piece."

Caroline surveyed the small chapel. An evil smile crept across her face.

William wished someone would say something. He didn't know if he could bear spending the rest of his life with Caroline... not after he had found true happiness in Elizabeth.

The chapel door suddenly swung open. Everyone turned to see who was entering. "Wait!" Georgiana Darcy said, as she burst into the church, panting. "I have a reason!" She pointed a thin finger at Caroline. "That women kidnapped me!"

William's jaw dropped. "Is this true?" he turned an accusing eye on Caroline, who opened and closed her mouth mutely.

The door swung open once again, and Elizabeth stood holding the door open, letting a ray of sun light into the dark church. "This wedding can't go on!" she cried.

Reverend Elton gave Caroline a sympathetic look, and crept into an adjoining room.

Caroline sighed. "And why is that?" she asked Elizabeth.

"Because I love him and I believe he loves me!" Elizabeth said passionately.

Caroline turned back to where William had been, but he wasn't there anymore. He was already making his way down to Elizabeth. "William, you idiot!" she screamed. "Get back here! Reverend Elton! We need you out here now!"

William held Elizabeth close to him. "I thought you could never love me again after what I did."

"I thought so too," Elizabeth whispered, "but it turns out my love is too strong for that."

"William! The wedding... you're supposed to be marrying me today!" Caroline whined.

William pulled Elizabeth closer to him. "Never," he said resolutely. He drew Georgiana close to him. "I never want you to touch my family again. Ever. And that's an order, Caroline Bingley."

Together, the three of them walked out of the church into the bright sunlight.

Before they reached William's bright red corvette, Elizabeth's cell phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered it.

"Liz? This is Charles. Lydia woke up. The doctors say she'll be all right!"

The phone dropped out of Elizabeth's hand onto the grass.

"Elizabeth," William said, bending down to pick up the phone. "Is everything all right." Concern crossed his face.

Elizabeth stood grinning like a clown. "Everything is absolutely beautiful now," she said, and kissed her William. "It's never been better.

After dropping Georgiana off at Officer Joe's house, William drove Elizabeth to the hospital. The listened in silence to "Chicago's Greatest hits." Suddenly, Elizabeth's favorite song began playing. She grinned at William and the two sang along.

Don't turn away,
Cause there is something I just wanna say,
I need you to stay.

Don't ask me why,
'Cause I don't even know,
How I gave you my heart.
I gave it all to you,
Now there's no way that I can lose.

Every little look inside your eyes,
Is all it takes to make me realize,
We could last forever.

Every little moment we can share,
Gonna let you know how much I care.
I'll always be there.

*°•*°•*

Elizabeth smiled at her husband, as their three small children, a boy and two girls, ran around the lobby of the Big Frankies in Casey Iowa. A few customers laughed at the rambunctious children.

Elizabeth gave her husband a quick kiss on the lips. "I'm taking Georgiana to school and Charles and Charlotte to day care, then," she said, patting the brunette head of her eldest daughter. "Then I'll go to GSH..."

William smiled. "I love you," he whispered, and kissed her again.

"Eeew!" Charlotte, the youngest child, groaned. She buried her face in her mother's dress. Charles made gagging noises, and Georgiana began walking away. "Gross," she said. The customers laughed. Coming to Big Frankies always cheered them up in the morning.

"Good-bye, hon," William said, then he hugged all his children. "Be good," he ordered them.

Don't walk away
'Cause there is something I just wanna say.
I love you today.

Just ask me why,
You're all I ever need.

Now that you're in my life,
I really think you should know,
That I never want to let you go.

Every little look inside your eyes,
Is all it takes to make me realize,
We can last forever.

Every little moment we can share,
Gonna let you know how much I care.
Love lift us away

We could forever!

Every little look inside your eyes,
Is all it takes to make me realize,
We can last forever

Every little moment we can share,
Gonna let you know how much I care.

*°•*°•*

Epilogue

Posted Friday, 9 February 2001

Georgiana became the wife of a police officer when she married Officer Joe Barnes. They moved a small town in Iowa to be close to Georgiana's brother and his family, and to get away from the high crime rates of California (Georgiana had been very worried about her husband's safety).

Charlotte and Ryan were married soon after their engagement. It was a small ceremony with only a few guests. They were very much in love when they were married, and they continued to love each other for the rest of their lives.

Although some may believe that Caroline should have fared far worse than she did it this story, she actually came out happier than anyone could have expected. She visited George Wickham often during his prison sentence, and soon realized that she actually did still love him. For the sake of the author's posterity, we'll just say they deserved each other.

Barney Collens was released soon after George, but fared far worse than his co-kidnapper. He spent the rest of his life alone.

And finally, William and Elizabeth did last forever. Their names went down in history with Romeo and Juliet (although their story was somewhat less tragic), Anne and Gilbert and Emma and Mr. Knightly (and Karen and Jeremy Northam...). Elizabeth continued to teach at GSH, while her husband managed Big Frankies. Together the lived in love, and spread their happiness and joy to everyone they met.

The End.