"Forever on Thanksgiving Day, the heart will find the pathway home." - Wilbur D. Nesbit

Thanksgiving with the Bennet's

Elizabeth Bennet sighed as she exited her car in front of her parents' house. Light snowflakes swirled around her as she carefully walked up the path of her childhood home. She smiled as she spotted the fall decorations that her mother insisted upon each year with a fine layer of white settled upon them.

Elizabeth had been away from home for three months and just returned for a week at home. Fanny Bennet had insisted that Elizabeth come home for Thanksgiving and was pleasantly surprised when her normally headstrong child easily complied with her wishes. Although Elizabeth was enjoying exploring Chicago while she was there for her internship, she would have been heart-broken to be away from her family for the holiday, especially Jane.

With one more deep breath, Elizabeth opened the door only the find that her mother was already rushing towards her. Before she could speak, she was caught up in her mother's warm embrace. After a moment, Fanny backed up to look at her daughter.

"I am so happy you're home, Lizzy!" She exclaimed.

"I'm happy to be home, mama." Elizabeth said with a smile.

"Good, good…now come and help me in the kitchen. Your younger sisters are nothing but trouble when it comes to cooking!"

Elizabeth laughed as her mother continued to complain of her sisters' lack of culinary skills as they made their way towards the kitchen. Suddenly, her mother stopped and looked down.

"Why, Lizzy, where are your bags? Do you want your father to fetch them from the car?" She asked.

Fanny's eyes narrowed as Elizabeth bit her lip.

"Well, Mama, I'm actually going to stay at Jane's while I'm in town." Elizabeth answered quietly.

"Jane's! What do you mean that you're staying at Jane's?" Her mother screeched.

Elizabeth winced at her mother's voice before trying to smooth things over.

"Jane wanted to spend more time with me and we both knew you would have your hands full since Mary is home from college too. We thought that it would be easier if I stayed with Jane and Mary stayed home with you." Elizabeth explained calmly.

"What a bunch of nonsense! You know, it wasn't that long ago that all five of my daughters were very comfortably situated at home. Kitty and Lydia wouldn't mind sharing a room again if you and Mary wanted your own rooms while visiting!"

No sooner were these words spoken, then two loud voices sounded from upstairs.

"We are NOT sharing again!"

"There is NO WAY that I'm giving up my own room!"

Elizabeth looked at her mom and gestured towards the stairs.

"Well, they would do as I say, in any case. You don't have to run off to Jane's when you're only here for a short time as it is."

Elizabeth slipped her arm around her mother's waist.

"Let's just enjoy this time and not worry about sleeping arrangements right now, okay?"

"Fine, fine…we can discuss it later. Now, come and help me with the potatoes."

With a sigh of relief, Elizabeth walked into the kitchen behind her mother. She immediately inhaled the delicious aroma of dinner yet to come.

Fanny checked on the turkey in the oven as Elizabeth began peeling potatoes.

"Where's Dad?" Elizabeth asked.

"Oh, you know your father. He's off in the woods out back looking for a certain bird. Or a bug. Or something that I'd prefer he not return with him to the house! Sometimes, it feels as if I did have a son after all, the way your father brings things back in his pockets!"

Both women laughed at this before turning back to their tasks.

They worked companionably until loud footsteps sounded and Elizabeth's younger sisters burst into the room. Elizabeth stopped peeling and looked up before her youngest sister tackled her in a crushing hug.

"Lizzy! I've missed you so much! I'm so glad that you're home! You don't want to stay here though, right? I mean, it's so cramped and Jane's house is so much nicer, don't you think?" Lydia asked with a sweet smile on her face.

"Well, thank you for such a warm welcome, Lyddie." Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes and then continued.

"And, I'm sure that your heart will break to hear it but I am, indeed, staying with Jane and Charlie while I'm in town."

Lydia shouted, "Yes!" while Kitty just stepped forward and finally gave her sister a hug. Fanny began grumbling under her breath again about ungrateful daughters. Lydia and Kitty sat at the table to watch their mother and sister work.

"So, have you met anyone yet, Lizzy? I bet there are hot, older guys everywhere in Chicago!" Lydia exclaimed.

"Yeah, Lizzy, do you go out every night? Chicago has the best clubs…way better than the ones around here." Kitty said knowingly.

Lydia laughed and looked at Kitty.

"How would YOU know that, Kitty? You've never even been to Chicago!" Lydia accused.

"Everyone knows that, Lydia!" Kitty yelled back.

Fanny and Elizabeth looked at each other exasperatedly before Fanny spoke up.

"Yes, well, you're both very worldly teenagers with a vast knowledge of all club scenes." Fanny said sarcastically. "Now, if you're quite done arguing, either start helping or get out of the kitchen."

Kitty and Lydia glanced at each other and then headed out the door with a quick comment about painting their toenails.

Lizzy laughed at her mother while Fanny just shook her head.

"It's just as well. Last year, Lydia lost one of her nail jewels in the mashed potatoes. Disgusting!"

Lizzy laughed again as she continued with her job. The two women worked well together after years of practice cooking for a large family. Elizabeth's mind started to wander to her younger sister's comments.

Elizabeth wondered if she ever would meet someone worth dating. Recently, she had begun to believe that her discernment regarding men was in such error that perhaps she was meant to be alone. George Wickham immediately came to mind as an example of this. He was everything charming and Lizzy was completely drawn in by his looks and charisma. Unfortunately, Elizabeth found out too late that his charm did nothing to increase his intelligence. For example, he was clueless as to what the term 'exclusive dating' meant. Elizabeth still blushed at her naiveté and the embarrassing situation that finally led her to discover his cheating.

Mary King was a childhood friend who worked at the local coffee shop. Catching George with Mary in Elizabeth's own apartment had been absolutely humiliating; however, George's complete lack of remorse had not only hurt but humbled her. She had resolutely defended his character and felt completely foolish to find it was all a game to him.

Those thoughts brought up potent memories of the man who she defended George against. The man who, regardless of Elizabeth's own rude behavior, had done his best to protect her from Wickham. The man who Elizabeth had insulted even as he attempted to profess his feelings for her. A wave of shame came over Lizzy, as it always did when she allowed these memories to take hold. She shook her head slightly to clear it and glanced over to where her mother was preparing to put the green bean casserole in the oven.

As much as leaving her family pained her, she was overjoyed to have been selected for this internship. After the events of the summer, she needed to get away and start fresh somewhere. Somewhere there were no cheating ex-boyfriends or embarrassed baristas…or handsome, serious friends of her sister's boyfriend.

"Ah, Lizzy! What a beautiful sight to come home to…two of my favorite women."

Elizabeth smiled widely and hugged her father as he dropped a kiss on her hair.

"I've miss you, Lizzy." Her father said.

"I've missed you, too." Lizzy said.

"Well, I suppose I should go change for dinner before the rest of our guests arrive. I would not want to embarrass your mother with my dirty, outdoor clothes." He joked.

"There had better not be anything alive in those jacket pockets, Thomas!" Fanny yelled sternly.

They all three laughed before Elizabeth asked, "Fear not, Dad. I don't think that Charlie will be scared off by your dirty clothes. He only just got Jane to agree to live with him, he won't go running so soon."

"Oh, I know that! That boy is hilarious to watch in how he caters to Jane. I think that I could slip a bug into his pocket and he would forgive me, if only to make Jane happy!" Her father teased and then continued, "I was thinking that William is a bit too proper to feel comfortable having dinner next to me while I have mud on my pants."

Both her parents laughed at this but Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat.

"William? He's coming for dinner?" She asked.

"Well, yes. Charlie called to say that William was back in town and would be alone for the holiday. We could hardly allow the boy to eat a frozen pizza on Thanksgiving!" Her father answered.

Lizzy just nodded her head in agreement still trying to gain control of her beating heart. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

"Oh! That's right, Lizzy! Perhaps you'll change your mind about staying with Jane, now. If you stay there, then you'll be in William's company even longer and I know how you dislike him." Fanny added smugly, thinking that she had found the answer to keeping her daughter at her own house.

Before Lizzy could respond, they heard a voice from the front door.

"Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!" Jane yelled.

Fanny quickly looked to Lizzy and whispered, "Oh Lord! I hope that they did not hear me talking about William." Then she laughed a bit and headed out of the kitchen to greet her guests.

Elizabeth was still standing frozen as she watched her mother walk back into the kitchen with the new comers. Jane found her eyes and moved quickly to embrace her favorite sister. As she hugged her, she whispered quietly, "I know, I know, I know…it will be fine." Elizabeth did not respond but hugged her back before Charlie immediately replaced Jane to give her a quick hug.

"Welcome back, Lizzy! Jane has been missing her partner in crime!" Charles teased.

This finally brought a smile to Lizzy's face.

"Thanks Charlie. It's good to be home, even if it's only for a few days."

Gathering her courage, Lizzy finally looked over at the tall man, standing behind the crowd quietly.

"Hello, William." She said calmly.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Elizabeth."

A/N: This will just be a little two-shot that I'm throwing together for the holiday. I hope that you enjoy it. Let me know!