Darcy and Elizabeth walked to the top of Oakham Mount, now their favorite destination throughout the land surrounding Longbourn, and laid next to each other in the country grass so they could look at the sky.

Elizabeth turned to her fiancé with amusement and asked, "Why do you love me?"

Darcy turned to face her. "Why do I love you?"

"Yes, I have already asked you 'when?' and now I am asking you 'why?' All I ever did was try to offend and insult you!" She laughed at her own stupidity and repeated the question. "Why do you love me?"

Darcy laughed heartily. "Hmm...Why do I love you? Because of your impertinence?"

Lizzie laughed in return. "Mr. Darcy, be serious!"

Fitzwilliam Darcy stopped laughing and looked at his fiancée with every sign of ecstasy in his face. "I think I love you because you didn't love me." He laughed again. "You were so terribly forward, yet so kind. I love your knowledge and your temper, your grace and your wit. I love the way you raise one brow when you are curious and the way it brings a glimmer to your eye and makes it shine the way it is right now." He looked at her with a small, sweet smile of unfeigned affection and softly kissed her forehead. Darcy then laid back, never taking his eyes off hers, and began to wrap her long, brown hair around his fingers. Darcy chuckled playfully. "You're beauty is just an added benefit."

"I, a beauty?" she replied with mock surprise. "I thought I was only 'tolerable'! Am I to understand you've changed your mind?"

Darcy laughed , but there was worry in his every feature. "Good God, you heard that?" She nodded. He took her hands in his and held them to his heart. "You are the most beautiful and vivacious woman I have ever known. It was my stupid pride that caused such ridiculous banter. And even if you were 'barely tolerable' it would not matter; because your heart and mind are more beautiful than any providence has created."

Lizzie smiled back at him.

"Good Lord, those eyes!" he exclaimed. Darcy then leaned close and in a deep, sultry voice, whispered in her ear, "They display your very soul."

It soon grew cold and extremely windy, so the engaged couple decided to return to Longbourn. Darcy stood and took Elizabeth's hands to help her up. As they stood face to face, each locking their gaze on the other, he kissed her hand. "Shall we return?"

Suddenly the wind's great power increased and caused Elizabeth's bonnet to fly off her head. The two chased after it till Darcy managed to catch it by its colorful ribbons. They fell to the ground again, crying for laughing so hard.

Somehow managing to speak amid the cascades of giggles and roaring laughter, Elizabeth cried, "I have grass all over me!" Darcy laughed, and as they sat up, began to carefully remove the grass from her hair.

The sun was beginning to set, and as they looked in awe at the sky's beautiful transformation, Darcy said, his voice filled with regret, "We should return."

Elizabeth agreed, and Darcy helped her up once more. As they held each other's hands they again turned to the sunset. The wind blew vigorously, and as Elizabeth's hair swept through the air, Darcy smiled at her and observed her in quiet admiration and awe. She raised her brow the lovely way he had seen so many times (at Netherfield, at Rosings, in his own imagination), and he kissed her. The sun shone so brightly that Elizabeth and Darcy were a silhouette in it's light. Then they simply smiled at one another as Darcy stroked her hair, and returned to the Bennet household.

THE END