Currently this is a oneshot but I may add more to it in the future if reviews are good. Please R&R!! Pretty please!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters the most wonderous Jane Austen does. I'm just going to play with them for a while. No worries though, I'll put them back on the shelf when I'm through!

Early Morning Musings of a Newly Married Man

The light of the dawn peeked through the curtains as the master of Pemberley groggily opened his eyes. With his mind still fogged by sleep it took several moments for him to recount the events of the previous day. As his eyes adjusted to the light and he began to awaken further he noticed the graceful womanly form sleeping soundly in the bed next to him. A love so profound all the words he knew would not suffice to describe it, hit him as if he had walked into a wall. Without even thinking he reached over and gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. He still could not quite wrap his mind around the fact that she was his wife. Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.

He knew not how he had managed to win her, but he was tremendously glad that he had. She completed him in a way that he did not think was possible. He never would have suspected that Fitzwilliam Darcy, of all people, would ever fall in love so totally and utterly; and yet he had. As he took in all the features of his sleeping wife he was even more pleased that he hadn't abided by the wishes of his family and married a lady of their choosing. Certain members of his esteemed family, his Aunt being one, did not entirely approve of his choice in a wife but he had decided long ago that he didn't care for their opinions or the advice they so readily offered. He knew he could not have picked a woman better suited for him or one that he loved any deeper than he did the new Mrs. Darcy. He loved her for how she challenged his mind and every preconception he'd had about women. She certainly wasn't the quiet, docile type that was customary in the more well to do social circles, but he daresay that was one of the qualities he loved most about her. Some time ago he had thought that he would marry a woman who did his every bidding without question, but now he realized how completely dull such a marriage would have been. He and Elizabeth would surely have their differing opinions and arguments but he knew their relationship would never be lacking in passion.

At this moment the woman who occupied his thoughts was beginning to stir. He froze thinking his caresses had roused her but after adjusting her position she drifted back into peaceful slumber. As he lay in bed watching her, his mind drifted back to the day he met her at the ball in Meryton. At first he hadn't given her much thought; she was handsome enough but not breathtaking, but as he came to know her he found himself falling for her. It had all happened so slowly he'd hardly even noticed it. One day he was completely indifferent to her and the next he realized he was in love with her as he'd never been with any other before her and he knew he'd never love another for the rest of his days.

Thinking back on it more he realized just the day he'd began to fall for her… even if it was unbeknownst to him at the time…

Darcy sat with Charles and Miss Bingley in the early morning hours perusing over the paper as they ate a morning meal. Jane Bennett had come the day before to call and dine with Caroline and had caught a cold from the walk in the rain. Being the polite hosts they were the Bingley's offered for her to stay with them under their care until she was well again. She was resting comfortably upstairs under the watchful eye of the local doctor whom Bingley hired to care for her.

Caroline was prattling on about something or another but truth be told he was only partially listening and offering an occasional nod or mumble so as not to appear rude. There was a knock at the door and a servant came in announcing the arrival of one Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Instantly that brought Darcy to his senses. What was she doing here?! As she walked into room he all but leapt to his feet. She looked a mess with mud several inches up the hem of her skirt. Suddenly he realized why she must have come. Concern for her sister's welfare had caused her to walk the several miles to Netherfield to see her.

Suddenly Caroline chimed in, "Good Lord Miss Elizabeth. Did you walk here?" Darcy winced inwardly noting the rudeness of Miss Bingley's comment. He loved Charles' friendship dearly but he thought very little of his sisters. They were conceited, narrow-minded and pompous.

"I did." Elizabeth replied. Then after a pause she inquired about her sister's whereabouts.

"She's upstairs." I hastily answered. I hope my sudden reply hasn't startled her. Why do I let this woman unnerve me so?

At the ball earlier in the week she had done the same. When I first looked upon her I was drawn to her eyes. How incredibly beautiful they were. I felt as if she could see into my soul. It took all my training on proper social behavior not to stare at her the entire night. I was rather uncomfortable being in such a setting with so many people I did not know. I never did care much for balls. The entire night I felt as if I was an animal at auction the way people constantly talked about my marital status and my wealth. There were times when I wished to be rid of every pound of it just to avoid the scrutiny. When Miss Elizabeth had asked me if I danced I replied completely out of nervousness and only later did I realize how very rude I was. By the end of the night I had decided shy or no, I would ask her for a dance at the next possibility.

As she stood before me now with her hair all askew and covered in dirt I could only think of how she was unlike any woman I had ever met. She possessed all the social graces of a gentleman's daughter but she wasn't afraid of long country walks and she didn't wilt at the slightest exertion like most women. He almost laughed aloud at the thought of Caroline Bingley attempting such a walk. She wouldn't have made it a quarter of the distance before she fainted dead away from exhaustion. The first muddy hole she stepped in would've had her in a tizzy for days.

"Why my dear Fitzwilliam are you quite well?"

With a start Mr. Darcy was brought back from his reverie. Worry laced the features of his wife's beautiful face. He realized he must've looked quite strange.

"Oh! I'm perfectly well my darling. Perfectly well. Sorry to have frightened you I was just thinking."

"Of what pray tell?"

"Of you Lizzie… and when I first began to love you. I had never pinpointed the moment until now." he replied.

"Oh you must tell me of it!" she exclaimed with a laugh. So he drew her close, wrapped his arms around her, kissed her lightly on the forehead and began to share his revelation with his beloved wife.

A/N: Please review!