So...I'm back!

I'm incredibly sorry for the YEARS it has taken for me to come back around to this place. I can understand if you've all given up on me, and on this story

BUT!

I'm hoping that you haven't. As you can see, I've changed pretty much EVERYTHING to this story

So I've taken down all of the chapters.

This story was on my mind for the past week, and I felt that I should at least finish what I've started. So I opened up the files, intending to just continue the story, but when I reread everything, I realized that I HATED everything that I'd written. I liked the idea, the characters, the plot...but I hated how I'd applied it. So, I've completely redone everything, and I'm hoping that you won't let my change ruin your opinion of the story!

So, if you'd please buckle in, I'd like to introduce you to the NEW and *hopefully* IMPROVED...

Burning Up

A Pride and Prejudice Fanfic

By: LiaS

Disclaimer: If I'd written Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennett would have punched Darcy in the face for saying that about her. He would have had a bloody nose, drama would ensue, and in the end all would be well. Where that's not happened, we can assume that I am merely writing a fanfiction in homage to Jane Austen's wonderful work.

Funny how quickly the best things can become the worst things.

"Please, Aleze, just leave." He begged me, his face torn between pleading and remorse. I stood my ground.

"So you're leaving, just like that?" I pretended not to care. "Funny how my family warned me things would work out like this." I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, well, that being said-" I cut him off as he began tugging on the collar of his white shirt desperately.

"Tell me you don't love me." I stated simply, folding my arms over the slight bulge on my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was really that big, or if my mind made it bigger than it really was. "Tell me you never want to see me again, and I'll leave." He choked on his gum.

"You know I can't say that."

"Why not? You imply it very well."

"Like Hell!" He growled, stepping closer before suddenly stopping himself, held back by some invisible string.

"Then I won't leave. If you want me to leave, you have to tell me that you don't love me." Fighting back my growing temper, I waited.

Funny how things can change.

"... I… don't love you, Aleze." I almost felt my eyes pop out of my sockets, but my body went numb too fast for me to register said action. A cold, icy feeling took over.

"What?" I asked in disbelief. I felt the monster kick, but I knew it really wasn't him. Her. It? I wasn't sure. It was just my gut feeling taking over.

"I… can't be with you because I don't… I don't love you. I can't see you anymore, Aleze, please, please just leave." He looked down and scuffed his shoe on the cement. His brilliant azure eyes seemed glassy and fragile as he became suddenly interested in an ant that was running at breakneck speed over his leather dress shoe.

Funny how everything can crumble.

"Well…" My voice was hollow. "That changes things, doesn't it?" I said it more as a statement than a question, and he looked up, startled by my response.

"What?" He stupidly asked.

"Well, I should have seen it coming, I suppose. Who would expect you to live up to obligations like this?" I laughed coldly. "Not me, certainly. We all know how you can't have your family name tainted."

Funny how brave you can act.

"Aleze, it's nothing like that and you know it." He said sternly, but his eyes were looking down at the ant again. "We've grown apart, that's all."

"Apart!?" I nearly shrieked. "Apart!? If anything, this thing," I pointed at the bulge with comically wide eyes, "This thing has pulled us even closer! You think I want it? I don't. I just thought you'd be able to handle the knowledge maturely, that's all." Stepping back, I scoffed. "Just thought a Darcy would be able to own up to his mistakes."

"I do own up to my mistakes!" He all but shouted, his gaze snapping back up to mine. I was seething, my hands clenched into fists.

"Clearly not this one! 'It's okay, baby, we're going to be okay.'" I mocked him, and he flinched. "Is this what you mean by okay? Because if so, 'okay' is one shitty promise."

"Aleze, you have to leave. We can't be together, alright?" He looked back down to the ground, and my throat closed up.

"You mean that you're leaving me to deal with this alone?" I hissed. Something in me was ripping and tearing, and it felt like my intestines were being torn out through my belly button.

"I can't take care of it for you. You're going to have to do this-"

"Alone?" I shrieked. "You're abandoning your child!?" He flinched again, and stepped back to the door of his house, as if it could shield him.

"That's not my child. Do what you want, Aleze…but that's not mine. You're not mine." Without looking at me, he stumbled into the entryway of his house and closed the door.

Funny how fast you can fall apart.

I was running, my feet pounding the pavement furiously. I could hardly see, what with the tears that were blurring my vision and making my breath come out raggedly. I didn't know where to go –I didn't know what to do. All that I knew was that I was right all along. I should have never trusted Nicholas Darcy. I never should have let him in.

I never should have loved him.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Let me know in a review!

This chapter hasn't changed much, so this isn't where the ball gets rolling. Next chapter though, you're all going to see it. I'll update lickety-split!

-LiaS