Hi! I'm new to Pride and Prejudice but I fell in love with the story and the characters most ardently to the point where my brain started coming up with little stories about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy here and there.

Anyway... English is not my first language so forgive my mistakes and I'm still researching about manners and behavior regarding Regency Period so feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

This story is NOT Historically Accurate though I will try my best to make my facts right.

This story is product of my overactive imagination so please refrain from copying. (It may be only tolerable– but it's mine!)

WARNING: It will be very different from canon.

NOTES: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are younger here than Canon. Elizabeth is eighteen and Mr. Darcy is almost twenty-six. As to why, I have my reasons.

Now without further ado, enjoy or at least… try to :)

It is a truth universally acknowledged that smiles from Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire were elusive. Not once had the Ton seen him enjoy a ball or a gathering. His countenance was the likes of his father and grandfathers before him.

Stern. Formidable. Silent.

So naturally, when Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam – Darcy's cousin and closest confidante –entered his cousin's study and found said cousin sorting out papers with a light smile plastered on his face, the Colonel was stunned.

It only added to his great surprise when Darcy greeted him with a lighter tone than usual and motioned for him to sit. Richard could do naught but sit down and stare as his cousin poured him a glass of brandy.

Finally breaking out of his trance, Richard furrowed his brows at the single glass on the table which Darcy pushed towards him. "No cups for you Darce?"

Darcy only shook his head and smiled. "No, I don't think I'm in need of it."

His younger cousin's reply only served to Richard's greater confusion. What has happened? Of course, he had seen Darcy smile before; they were as close as brothers after all. But Darcy never smiled more than once in a day. It was a like a rule!

"Are Aunt Anne and Uncle George returning to Pemberly soon? Have you heard from Georgiana today?" Richard could not help but ask, for surely his immediate family could only be the reason (other than the Colonel's stories and jests) for 'the elusive Darcy smile' to appear on more than one occasion in a spun of five minutes. But as far as he knew, Darcy's parents and sister were still going to stay in Scotland for at least another month.

"No, Richard. My mother insisted they wait until next month to return. I thought you knew about this already?"

"I did, but I thought I have to make sure seeing as you are acting strange today."

Darcy looked at him in confusion. "Strange? How so?"

"I suppose it could be considered a normal behavior for most but I've never seen you smile, no matter how small, for no reason at all."

Darcy froze at the Colonel's statement. Had he really been smiling? Was that why the house servants had been giving him odd looks all day. If so, why hadn't he noticed? But he went out today, was he smiling earlier when he left his house? Surely he was not. The only time he knew that he smiled was this afternoon at Hyde Park. His smile could not possibly last for hours, could it? What would his father say if he let his mask slip in public?

"You do not have any idea that you were smiling, have you cousin?" Richard's question brought him out of his thoughts. Darcy was instantly alarmed at the look his cousin sent him. He knew Richard and that look could only mean trouble.

"Now tell me, cousin. How was your day exactly?"

Groaning inwardly, Darcy sighed and sat on the chair across his cousin. He knew that he could not escape Richard's curiosity. Even if he tried to, his cousin would still manage to get his answers. Choosing the lesser of the two devils, Darcy decided to give in.

Perhaps he needed a drink of brandy after all.

-p&p-

It was after Luncheon earlier that same day, when Ackerman the Darcy House's butler, announced the arrival of Mr. Charles Bingley – one of Darcy's closest friends. Unfortunately for Bingley, Darcy's Aunt and cousin also happened to be in residence.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh was not fond of Mr. Charles Bingley at all. And contrary to what many may believe, it was not due to the young man's roots from trade. Though that was still a factor, the main reason why Lady Catherine disliked Darcy's university friend was because of his character.

A man who smiled too much, Lady Catherine could tolerate. (She could, after all, tolerate her parson who was an odd mixture of almost everything intolerable.) But a man at the age of three and twenty who was indecisive and easily swayed by others was something, in Lady Catherine's opinion, that was not to be borne!

So when Mr. Bingley started talking along the lines of leasing an estate in a small county called Hertfordshire located on the North of London and was about to ask her nephew for help, Lady Catherine de Bourgh immediately joined the conversation. She started with telling them about what a coincidence it was for her parson was also preparing for a trip on the area.

She then kept on talking and talking jumping from one topic to another – a technique she had learned from a friend that was quite useful – before ending with a generous offer. "My Anne would make a wonderful mistress of a big estate and Netherfield does not sound that big at all. Oh, it would be perfect for practice." At the gentleman's puzzled look, Lady Catherine continued, "Is that not what you were going to tell my nephew? That you were inviting him for his assistance regarding the estate along with my daughter Anne to act as its Mistress?"

While Anne de Bourgh was normally quiet in company, she knew the look on her mother face when she was scheming something. And upon analysing the situation and the hidden hopeful expression of her cousin – that almost made her laugh – she decided to help her mother. "Is my mother correct Mr. Bingley? Am I to practice managing an estate? It was so generous of you to give me such an opportunity."

As much as Lady Catherine hated it when Mr. Bingley could not man up and say what he wanted to, the trait did serve its purpose and Lady Catherine could not help but smile inwardly at the young man's almost spluttering reply. "Of course, Lady Catherine, I suppose my sister, Caroline, shall also learn many things from you and your daughter."

Lady Catherine almost could not supress an eye roll at the word 'sister'. The mentioned sister was why Lady Catherine was doing this after all. She would not let some greedy shrew get its claws on her nephew. So with a small smile at her successful plan, she clasped her hands and said, "It is settled then."

After Bingley had left, Darcy gave his Aunt Catherine and cousin a grateful look (to which the two ladies only laughed at) and told them that he was going out for a ride.

He rarely went out whenever he was in London for fear of encountering unwanted company. However, seeing as it was most likely to rain, he decided it would be a perfect time to head out. Darcy need not worry of getting sick for he had always loved the rain as much as Boreas, his trusted steed. Years of riding together in the rain had made them both immune.

-p&p-

"You know Darce," began Colonel Fitzwilliam with a smile, "as interesting as it was to know what Aunt Catherine did to rescue you from the claws of Miss Bingley, I know for certain that it wasn't enough to make you act like this."

Much to the Colonel's amusement, Darcy sighed, got up from his seat and got himself a glass of his own brandy before proceeding with the story.

-p&p-

Darcy's prediction about the weather was correct and as he had expected, not one person could be seen when they reached Hyde Park. Or so he had thought… for not more than a minute of their arrival, he heard a familiar tune being sang. He instantly held Boreas on his tracks.

He could not make out the words, for it was raining heavily, but there it was. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him because he saw no one was there except for Boreas. Shaking his head, he looked up at the sky and watched the rain pour down.

That's when he caught sight of her...

She was sitting on a branch of a tree with her back facing him. Her cloak was a dark green, blending in perfectly with the leaves and if Darcy did not hear her sing, he was sure that he wouldn't know her presence.

As he listened to her, questions began to plague Darcy's mind. What was a lady doing out here in the rain? He was near enough to determine that her cloak was made out fine fabrics so he assumed that she was a lady of some means. But if that was the case, why was there not a maid or a footman to accompany her? And why was she up in a tree? It was not lady-like to climb trees.

Lost in his thoughts, Darcy did not realize that the lady had come down until she was standing on the bench beside the tree. As if only realizing she was not alone, the lady let out a sound of surprise making her fall out of the bench if Darcy had not come in time to steady her.

Darcy was about to inquire if she was alright when her eyes met his. They stared at each other for quite some time before the lady lowered her head.

"I thank you, Sir, for your assistance." She said removing herself from his hold. "I believe my companion must have now noticed my absence and a search party was now probably looking for me." The end she said with a laugh that caused Darcy to smile.

"Can I be of any assistance to walk you home, madam?"

"I thank you for your offer but you need not fret Sir for I am sure I shan't stumble on my way home. Goodbye."

With that, she curtsied and left.

-p&p-

"You mean to say that you are infatuated with a lady because of her fine eyes?" Richard asked as soon as Darcy finished his tale.

"This is priceless!" laughed the Colonel when Darcy merely nodded to confirm his question. "Do you think your father would approve of your choice?"

"I thought only a lady's imagination is rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment." Richard pretended to be offended at being compared to the gentler sex but Darcy ignored him. "By the fabrics of her cloak alone, she seemed to come from the first class of society."

"So Uncle George would approve then?" Richard did not need a response for he knew enough about his Uncle and Darcy's silence what the answer was.

"Are you planning on meeting her again?"

"Perhaps."

"Then, cousin, I must leave you to meditate more on the very great pleasure which a fair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow. I believe dinner is ready and I am famished."

And as the door to his study closed, Darcy was left alone with his thoughts once again.

-p&p-

About ten years ago, one cloudy day in October, Claire Bennet lay quietly in her bedchambers at the Longbourn Dower House.

She knew her time was coming to an end.

Never had she expected that she would soon say goodbye to the world without even reaching the age of seventy. But then again, she never expected to be ill.

Had this happened in her early thirties, she would not be bothered by the prospect of dying. After all, there was a time in her life when she wanted nothing but to leave the mortal world. However, now, there was someone who needed her.

As if on cue, she heard light footsteps approaching her chambers. Claire watched as the door of her room opened ever so slightly and moments later, music in the sound of the pianoforte reached the room.

The sweet child who was sharing her melody with her was the very reason why Claire found it difficult to leave. Elizabeth, or Little Lizzy as she fondly called her, was everything Claire wished for and wanted in a granddaughter so the thought of parting with her pained Claire.

Little Lizzy has been in Claire's care since infancy and the two of them were inseparable; Claire was not just Little Lizzy's doting grandmother but also her first teacher, governess, companion, confidant, and friend.

If Claire died now, how would Little Lizzy fare in the world? How could her dear granddaughter survive Fanny Bennet's censure? What would happen if Fanny becomes physical in abusing her Little Lizzy? And what of Thomas? Knowing him, he would always choose the easy way out. And Lizzy's sisters, surely they would be too scared to disobey Fanny when it came to Lizzy.

"Did you hear me practise, Grandma?" The sweet voice of her darling granddaughter interrupted her thoughts. Little Lizzy was grinning at her adorably and only continued talking when she nodded yes. "Mrs. Winters said that music can make people feel better so I played for you. I thought that you shan't be sick anymore if I played just right so I was ever so careful not to make mistakes."

"Such a dear girl you are my Little Lizzy." Claire smiled and opened her arms for her granddaughter, to which Lizzy eagerly stepped into.

That night, after putting Little Lizzy to sleep, Claire asked for some writing materials to be delivered in her chambers.

She would not let Lizzy suffer and even in her grave Claire would make sure that her granddaughter was well looked after.

And so, she started listing the adjustments she had to make on her Last Will for her visit with her solicitor on the morrow.

Fanny Bennet might try to make Lizzy's life miserable but Claire would counter it in every possible way she could.

First, Elizabeth would only have the finest clothes and the latest of its fashion.

A Footman and an Abigail would be hired just for her.

Lizzy would also continue to study with the Masters Claire had hired since Lizzy was four.

Sandra Winters would still be Lizzy's companion so someone would be able to shield her from Fanny's nerves.

Claire would also see to it that Lizzy could spend time with the Gardiners in London whenever she pleases.

And lastly, Claire Bennet would leave all her assets and saved fortune to eight-year-old Little Miss Elizabeth Artemis Bennet.

So, what do you think?

I changed the format because I've encountered some reviews that readers are having difficulty with the time line. Was this better?