Hello, I know my summary was terrible so I give you much credit for clicking on my story and giving it a chance. I won't bore you with my pointless chatter though so on with the show...or story...which you prefer...show just sounded better...

It is often hard to imagine the relationship of a husband and a wife in the privacy of their own home. Many great men and ladies put on the appearance of the perfect union, one in which both parties married a person of a similar status and enjoyed the company of one another. In many cases, the truth lies far from this outward appearance. The Darcy's were certainly a fine looking couple, who showed every outward sign of happiness in being well-matched. It seemed clear to most that man and wife were perfectly suited for one another. Mrs. Darcy was praised for her learned mind, quick wit, and beauty; Mr. Darcy for his exquisite manners and good judgment. From the outside the appeared to be what every couple aspires to be: their rocky past of course unknown to those who were not directly related with Mrs. Darcy or who did not know the extent of their relationship in Hertfordshire.

The day was unusually bright as the Darcys sat leisurely in one of the large parlor rooms in Pemberly. Mr. Darcy looked up from the letter of business that he was writing to glanced at his wife. She was sat in a chair near the window gazing pleasantly out onto the vast woodlands of Pemberly. Finding himself unable to concentrate any longer on his letter Darcy stood and moved to a couch in the center of the room. His wife turned towards him as his boots clicked across the floor. She smiled warmly and he could not help but to smile in return. They sat in this pleasant and peaceful manner for some time, glancing at each other occasionally as though they were waiting for something.

The sound of a rattling carriage soon reached the ears of the couple. The noise caused Elizabeth Darcy to turn to her husband and smiled her wide playful grin. "Are you sure that you will be able to spend an entire fortnight or more with my vulgar family without harming either yourself or them?"

"My dear, have I not made myself clear when I told you before that I no longer care what your family is or how the act. It is you I married and it is only you that I care about and you are a positive facet of your family."

Elizabeth stood up and walked over to where Mr. Darcy sat. Sitting down next to him, she laughed, "You know as well as I that in marrying me you have married my entire family, particularly my mother. And then there is of course the reputation of my youngest sister to consider in all this as well."

Darcy kissed Elizabeth gently. "I no longer care what your family is. I love you and that is what matters is it not?"

Ending her laughing Elizabeth looked at him seriously." Yes, it is and you have been so good towards them it is hard for me not to believe that you have changed your feelings toward them. You have made me proud my dear Mr. Darcy." Then she broke into a smile. "But we shall see how long it lasts for a fortnight is much longer than the few days you have spent with them at one time."

"Now that you have challenged me I shall be sure to keep my feelings exactly were they are at this moment." Darcy replied and Elizabeth laughed. Darcy was glad that marriage had not changed Elizabeth's teasing nature. It was her quick-witted tongue that had caused him to fall so in love with her.

Mrs. Reynolds entered the room and upon seeing husband and wife so close merely cleared her throat to indicate her presence. Mr. Darcy stood when he saw her and she announced the arrival of the Bennet family. Mrs. Darcy rose and stood by her husband's side to greet her family.

Mrs. Bennet entered the room in a flutter. "Oh, Lizzy dear," she exclaimed as she gave her daughter an excited hug. "Or do your prefer Mrs. Darcy now? Mrs. Demounts said that her daughter preferred her family calling her Mrs. Higgins after she was married rather than Emma."

"Well, I am not Mrs. Higgins," replied Elizabeth, "And Lizzy is just fine Mamma."

Mr. Bennet greeted his daughter happily as he had felt quite lonesome at Longbourne without her. Then Kitty came bounding up. "It is so good to see you Lizzy." she whispered. "Longbourne is not the same without you. It is so quiet. Father spends even more time in his study if that is even possible and mamma is always quite distressed at the lack of daughters that are now with her at home. Mary of course is hardly good company. Do you think I will like Georgiana? Is she better company that Mary? I certainly hope so for I really cannot take Mary any longer."

"I do believe you will get along well." Kitty seemed to be gladdened by Elizabeth's response.

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and their guests sat. Mrs. Bennet complimented everything about the room in which they sat."What an extraordinary room. The furnishings are magnificent. They look very expensive."

Elizabeth blushed in embarrassment at the way her focused so much on Mr. Darcy's wealth. She knew of course that Darcy no longer cared that her mother was improper, but she could help but to feel embarrassed to hear her mother talk so. Darcy, however, responded graciously, "They were, madam. Imported from Italy, at least most of it."

"It is all so beautiful Mr. Darcy." Mrs. Bennet smiled at her once hated son-in-law.

"It is one of my favorite rooms. I feel it has a very unique style. My mother was quite proud of it." Darcy could not help, but to smile at the thought of his mother.

"Did she decorate this room?" Mrs. Bennet questioned still in awe.

"It is one of the rooms that my mother decorated or rather redecorated. She claims it was all of her own design, but my father would argue otherwise. He claims the idea was his and that she took the credit." Darcy chuckled.

"Well, no matter who designed it. It still remains a lovely room." Mrs. Bennet responded.

Mr. Darcy bowed his head in thanks and then looked over at Mrs. Reynolds who was still standing by the door. "Mrs. Reynolds, would you be so kind as to fetch my sister. I do not believe she is aware that our guests have arrived."

"Of course, Mr. Darcy." Mrs. Reynolds said before disappearing from the room.

"Oh, I have so looked forward to having the opportunity to meet your sister once again. We only met for a brief moment at the wedding, but I am sure she must have grown so much since then."

"She has grown exceedingly over the past months." Mr. Darcy responded.

"I am not surprised." Mrs. Bennet said. "Girls tend to grown up so quickly once the become of the age that your sister is. I swear it seemed as though my dear Lydia had only just become a woman and then suddenly she's married,married to such a fine gentleman too. He is such a good father. I swear, Mr. Darcy, you would not see a happier couple in all of England."

Darcy longed to make some nasty retort about her last statement, but instead he smiled politely. "I would have thought that position to be already occupied by your eldest daughter and Mr. Bingley."

Elizabeth glanced at her husband. She could see the pain behind his eyes as he thought of Wickham. She felt a pang in her heart as well as she thought of poor Georgiana. She was glad that this conversation was occurring while her husband's sister was not present.

"You are quite right Mr. Darcy, quite right. Jane and Mr. Bingley most definitely do occupy that spot. Lydia and Mr. Wickham, however, do come very close. Do you not agree Mr. Darcy?" Mrs. Bennet questioned.

Darcy, Elizabeth noticed, stiffened at the sound of Wickham's name, he replied, "From what you say, they do appear to be very happy."

Before Mrs. Bennet could speak anymore of Wickham, Elizabeth chimed in, "But you have quite forgotten me and Mr. Darcy." She looked fondly at her husband. "Are we not included in this debate for I believe that we are happier than them all." She laughed

Darcy laughed with Elizabeth, "Yes, I do believe we are."

"And that is good to hear Mr. Darcy for I want nothing more than for Lizzy to be happy." Mr. Bennet smiled at the couple. Just then Georgiana entered the room and the painful subject was dropped so that Mrs. Bennet could compliment Miss Darcy.

A/N: Hello, yes it's me again...the person who spoke to you at the beginning of this chapter. Yeah, I know I'm annoying, but anyway I must conform with every other author on this site and beg you to review because like all of the authors I love reviews, they are like a drug and you can't help but to want them. So if you would all be so kind as to keep me out of withdrawal I'd greatly appreciate it if you reviewed.

Thanks for reading!

ml9