Warning: The characters will be OOC. That is my right, as this is my take on what should have happened. You all know you want it!

Chapter 1.

Elizabeth returned to Hertfordshire with Jane and wondered if life could get any worse. She regretted her harsh words to Mr. Darcy, especially regarding Mr. Wickham, who was now trying to ingratiate himself with her every chance he got. Now that she knew his true character, she could see his degenerate ways, and she sensed how his eyes roved over her and even her sisters. Spending time with Jane did not help her spirits, for she knew Mr. Darcy was the primary cause of Jane's unhappiness.

The days dragged on. Elizabeth refrained from going to Meryton, and she enjoyed spending time in the gardens around her home. Elizabeth never forgot the letter that she carried with her all the time. She regretted her speeches that were designed to hurt him, although she could not regret refusing him. He had suffered so much pain in his life. Her melancholy was over, however, and she smiled at the sun. Her mother was inside with her sisters, listening to the latest gossip from Mrs. Phillips. It was really insufferable to her now. She had too many thoughts inside to worry about who was courting the innkeeper's daughter, or whatever it was they were talking about.

As she stood their bathing in the sun's warm rays, she was startled by the sound of a horse coming directly to her. To her astonishment, it was Mr. Darcy. His horse stopped only a few feet away, and he walked directly up to her, until he was closer than she thought strictly comfortable. Unbidden, her first thought of him reentered her mind. She remembered how handsome he is, just as she had seen him at the Meryton Assembly nearly one year previous.

Mr. Darcy nearly forgot to greet Elizabeth in his haste to see her. He had thought out what he would say so much that he could no longer remember it. "Miss Elizabeth, have you read my letter?" He suddenly blurted out.

Elizabeth was confused, both by his forwardness and by his close proximity. "Yes, I have."

"Have you given any credit to my statements?"

"Yes, I am sorry for what I said then. I was wrong." A cloud of melancholy swept over her, and he instinctively moved closer.

"Then you must marry me, for I cannot live without you." He stepped even closer until his jacket was brushing against her dress. Without warning, he leaned down and kissed her as his arms drew around her and pressed her against him.

So shocked, Elizabeth forgot to respond, although she could still hear her mother's shriek from a window of the house. They had been seen! She was ruined.

The kiss was short, and he pulled away only slightly to observe her reaction. "I am sorry, my dear. I could not allow you to escape me this time. I will do everything in my power to make you happy."

As reality sunk in around her, she could only think of her anger towards him. In a sudden burst of anger. She lifted her hand and slapped him across his cheek. Her hand was aching with the pain, but she could not think of it. As her mother's wails continued, she fled from him and the house. She ran until she could no longer keep herself up. She fell against a tree, panting. Unbidden, her tears began to flow. What had he done to her?

Mr. Darcy watched her flight with pride. He had stirred something inside her, and he knew that she would be well. His cheek throbbed, reminding him that she was full of energy. He would enjoy putting that energy to better uses. He thought of following her, but he knew she would not welcome him now. Instead, he made his way to the house, passing his horse off to a servant to send to the stables. Mrs. Bennet was still in the parlor lamenting her daughter's shame. Mr. Darcy could hear her every word. When a servant met him, he asked to be taken to Mr. Bennet.

Once he was closed inside the library, he surveyed the older man before him. He sat behind his desk, with a book in his hands. He appeared more intent on the book than the disruption before him. "Good afternoon, Mr. Darcy. I did not know you were visiting us. I suppose you come to take refuge from whatever my wife is wailing about now."

"No, sir." He paused, wondering how someone could speak so of his wife. Elizabeth would never be treated with anything less than respect in his house. "I have come to ask for Miss Elizabeth Bennet's hand in marriage. I wish to marry her immediately."

Mr. Bennet finally put the book down. "Why must you marry immediately?" Suddenly, he wondered why his wife was wailing.

Mr. Darcy was not given a chance to explain, which he would have preferred. Mrs. Bennet burst into the room, not even noticing Mr. Darcy standing in the center. She brushed directly to Mr. Bennet's side. "Oh, Mr. Bennet. It is a disgrace. Your child has ruined us all. No one will marry her. She is ruined. You must find Mr. Darcy and make him marry her before anyone finds out." She screeched as she spoke, and tears fell down her face. She fanned herself to keep her wits about her.

Mr. Bennet stared at his wife for a moment, suddenly realizing what Mr. Darcy was about to say. Instead of answering him, he spoke with his wife. "Mr. Darcy is not lost, madam. In fact, he is standing in this room." He chuckled slightly as she gasped and stared at the gentleman.

Mrs. Bennet stood there dumbfounded. Mr. Darcy could not decide on anything to say that would improve matters, so he remained silent. Finally, Mrs. Bennet spoke. "Will you marry Lizzy? You must, after you kissed her in the open." She did not sound convinced.

"Yes, I already asked her to marry me."

Mrs. Bennet sighed in relief, suddenly thinking all was well with the world. "Oh, you are a good man! I will leave you two to it to settle the details." She began to walk out of the room, mumbling to herself. "Just think of it, a daughter married to Mr. Darcy. She will be mistress of Pemberley, and so grand. Ten thousand a year, and very likely more. What will Lady Lucas say?"

Mr. Darcy stiffened at this description of his suit. While it suited his purpose in this instance, he still disliked hearing his price bandied about. The door shut behind her, and Mr. Darcy was able to turn his attention to Mr. Bennet, who had turned white.

Mr. Bennet was unwilling to speak for some time, hoping to master his thoughts. It would not do to insult Mr. Darcy now. If he turned away, the entire family would be ruined. Eventually, he felt master of himself enough to speak. "When do you wish to marry her?"

"I was hoping that everything could be ready in a fortnight. I need to return to my estate to deal with a matter between some of my tenants."

"That is not enough time for the reading of the banns."

"I have procured a special license, and my solicitor drew up the settlement papers for your review while I was in town." He set them down on the desk, but Mr. Bennet did not take them.

"She did not tell me that she had accepted you. When did you propose to her?" Mr. Bennet eyed his adversary suspiciously.

"I proposed while we were in Kent. I was visiting my aunt while she stayed with Mrs. Collins." That was the truth, at least.

"Very well. I will look these over today and you can return tomorrow to set the date."

Mr. Darcy bowed and left the room. Mrs. Bennet had already left for her neighbors with Mrs. Phillips and her remaining daughters, so the house was remarkably quiet. Leaving the house, he found his horse in the stable and climbed up. He rode in the direction Elizabeth had fled, hoping to see her again. He wanted to tell her that everything would be well, and he also wanted to kiss her until she submitted to him. Unfortunately for him, she had heard his approach, and she hid below a bush until he was past.

AN: I will post more soon, I hope. Elizabeth will not be happy, but she will be compensated for her troubles.