A/N - last two chapters up tonight. It's been epic guys, thanks for coming on this journey with me.

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Chapter 43. An ending, and a beginning

From that day on both Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were regular visitors at Longbourn. Jane and Bingley favoured quiet corners in the house. Darcy and Lizzie favoured walking together. There was always a chaperone for either couple nearby, but more often than not they were so wrapped up in each other that they did not notice.

One day Lizzie and Darcy were just setting out for a walk, Kitty with them. Mr Darcy was puzzling over Elizabeth's sister. He had noticed changes and decided to ask about them. Kitty stopped to practice waves against the flow of the stream and he began.

"Elizabeth" she smiled at the familiar shiver at the sound of her name on his lips "What has changed with Kitty?"

"Whatever can you mean?"

He smiled at her teasing tone "Her aura is stronger and more steady, and I have noticed she is more uh" he paused and blushed adorably "I mean when we talk it is" he trailed off again

"Interesting?" She nudged him and shot him a cheeky smile

"Not quite the word I wanted, but I suppose it will do"

"Yes well she seems to have had a revelation. I think she was always trying to get attention from anyone. Lydia seemed to be the centre of it and so she emulated her. It took recent events to show her what that behaviour will lead to. She decided that having training would be beneficial, and that flirting would not be. I think she wishes to never be a target of a man like, well like Lydia was"

A shadow passed across his face

"I have men looking for Mrs Forster. Wickham did not give much away. It seems he was in a relationship with her and had convinced her to find a way to gift him magic. Who knows how sincere he was. The colonel seems to have been completely duped by her. He had no idea what she was doing. Likely she told him of Lydia's flight as it allowed her to leave all the sooner and catch up with them, her intention all along. While he was coming here she was already plotting her next step." He took a breath, running his hand through his hair, a sure sign of his unease.

"The other man may have had useful information, we believe he was party to the plan, but we cannot question him. The two with swords were just hired muscle. They knew nothing. All we have gathered is they were a separatist group from a cult who's main objective was to steal and store Magic. I believe they were the only ones trying to gift it to Wickham. Most of these people would think a non magic user beneath their notice."

Elizabeth eyes were downcast, her voice soft.

"Are we in danger?"

Darcy lifted her chin with his fingers and smiled at her gently. "My men will find her I am sure, and if not you are more than a match for her. But it may be prudent to practice some offensive magic as well as defensive"

Elizabeth's eyes widened "You would allow me to learn that?"

He quickly looked around, no one was in sight so he gathered her in his arms and lent his head down, his lips brushing her ear "I would teach you myself if it kept you safe"

She drew back, looking in his eyes, seeing the depth of his love for her and the fear that she may be in danger. She smiled slightly at him then lifted her lips to meet his. A soft, tender kiss, sealing their commitment to each other. As Darcy drew back he saw something in Elizabeth's eyes, a longing that mirrored his own. She reached up on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his again. He responded as any man in love is want to do when kissed by the object of their desires.

He pressed against her and crushed her lips to his, moving against each other, moulding their mouths together. Their magic reacted to the proximity, auras combining, magic pulsing out. The ground shifted slightly, their earth magic meeting and causing a disturbance.

The movement caused them both to stumble slightly, they drew apart and both had a slight blush on their cheeks. Both laughed at their matching expressions, a mixture of surprise and desire. Darcy grinned at her.

"Well if that's the reward I get for suggesting you learn something, I shall have to think of more things for you to learn. What say you to Latin?"

She chuckled "quod non similis Latine"

He laughed again, "I see I shall have to be more creative then. I ink it would be safer anyway to stick to just the one lesson. I am not sure my self control could manage another." He smiled at her, dispelling some of the tension.

They continued on their walk, Kitty catching them up after a few moments to ask about what she was practicing, showing them her wind spiral, little gusts of wind cooling the warm faces of the engaged couple.

.

Neither couple wished to wait for a long engagement. Jane and Elizabeth did not wish to spend months planning a wedding, every day allowed Mrs Bennet to think of something more, bigger, brighter. Darcy was more worried about having Elizabeth under his roof, and his protection. Bingley would have made everyone happy if he could do, but was quite amenable to the suggestion of a quick engagement.

Darcy found himself impatient in a way he could not remember being. He felt like a child who wanted a toy and could not have it. He knew at time would pass and he would be able to take Elizabeth home but every day seemed to stretch before him. Snippets of life with her were all that kept him going. The two days he spent in London, attending the business of life and getting married, seemed endless. He raced to be back by her side and did not feel right till he was there. Stolen moments and kisses were bliss and torture combined.

He had started teaching her about magical fighting. The only practical application so far was to reverse the flow of power when someone was trying to steal it. Once the pull of magic was against you it was hard to reverse that, he was teaching her how. He liked this teaching as he needed to touch her skin to practice. Sometimes it was just fingers, but occasionally he would get to put his fingers on her neck, or shoulder. Bliss and torture.

Time passed as it was want to do and the day dawned for the joint wedding. Lizzie and Jane woke early and spent the morning together, knowing this was the last for a while. They giggled and smiled and cried their way through their toilette, each promising the other to always stay close and to meet very soon to discuss married life. It ended too soon and their mother bustled in shouting instructions and generally ensuring that everyone did what she expected.

By the time they were ready Lizzie was tired. She thought back and realised that the last weeks before the wedding had been trying on her nerves. She laughed at her own observation, maybe she and her mother were not so different deep down. Whenever Darcy was in company with her relatives she worked hard to shield him from the worst of their vulgarities. She knew he was accepting of her relations, but there was only so much one could be expected to take.

Stolen moments with him had been all that kept her going. Her intimacy with her betrothed was increasing and she could not help but be excited about what was to come. After all if their first two kisses has resulted in fireworks and an earthquake who knows what could happen?

It was not long before she was on her way to the church and all feelings of tiredness were forgotten. Today was the day she was marrying her Mr Darcy and she could not be more excited.

Happy was the day that Mr Bennet handed over his two most deserving daughters. As he looked around the church at the people who had come to celebrate he could not help but be content.

The new addition to the neighbourhood, Mr Sanderson, was a nice young man. He knew Mrs Bennet was already plotting he should marry one of the remaining unwed Bennet daughters. Mr Bennet was not so keen to lose anyone else so soon. He knew he would feel the loss of Elizabeth and Jane. Although Kitty had made some remarkable improvements lately.

He looked to the Lucases. Mr Collins and Charlotte had returned for a visit, he smiled to himself. Mr Collins had tried to dissuade him from allowing Elizabeth to wed Mr Darcy. Stating some ridiculous, Lady Catherine related, reasons. Mr Bennet had openly laughed at him. 'Twas a shame really, he doubted he would be hearing from Mr Collins any time soon and his letters were always so amusing.

He looked to the shy sister of Mr Darcy, and the smart Colonel. Both seemed friendly and he thought they would treat Elizabeth well. He had talked to Mr Darcy about how Elizabeth would be received in his circle, Mr Bennet could not help but worry about her being censured. Lady Catherine may be ridiculous but there were enough people like her in the first circles that they could make her life uncomfortable. Mr Darcy had assured him that no one would insult his wife and be admitted to his society. He only hoped that was likely to be true.

His eyes turned to Jane and Mr Bingley and he almost chuckled at the matching smiles on their faces, yes they would do well together. Both of them so obliging that every servant would cheat them and so generous they would likely exceed their income.

Finally he turned his eyes to Lizzie, her gaze was fixed on her husband's face. Eyes shining, full of love and respect. His attention was no less fixed and Mr Bennet felt a twinge of sadness that he has lost her. No, he shook himself out of such thoughts. She was marrying a good man who loved and respected her and would treat her well. He would visit often and would see her become a mother and a great woman.

He could not remember feeling such contentment before. A sense that everything had turned out right.

A/N - so that's my latest story. I tried to mostly keep to cannon with this one, more so than my others. I hope you have liked what I have done with it. I really enjoyed writing it and have a few ideas for a sequel. If you have liked it keep an eye on my profile.

i am still enjoying writing, my OH is pushing me to publish. I may think on it but I like to publish here, you guys are great.

My other what if story that keeps floating round my head is the what if Wickham managed to run off with Georgiana. I have only come across a couple of those stories and I didn't really like where they went. Is there any interest in that? I'd take recomendations for a good version of that story if I am missing some.

anyway, that's it from me folks. I'm not as good at checking reviews once I've completed stories. But any readers are gratefully received, review or not. So thanks for taking the time to read my story!